Ben, Gwen, and I look over at Grandpa Max, waiting for an explanation. 

Max: “ Hmm, where should I start?”

“ How did my arms change?”

Max: “ I figured you’d ask that. Your mother is an… alien.”

“ What?”

Max: “ She’s part of an alien species known as Changelings. They look like humans, but they all have the ability to change their body at will, though they are not able to fully change. Which is why only your arms changed.” 

“ Do you know how crazy this sounds?”

Max: “ I said the same thing myself when I found out aliens existed.” 

Ben: “ What about this?” He holds up the strange watch-like device. 

Max: “ It’s called the Omnitrix, it’s a device that allows the wearer to transform into any alien species that is cataloged in it. That’s all I know.”

“ Do our parents know about all this?”

Max: “ Yes, they do.”

Gwen: “ So, to clarify. Alex is half alien and Ben has an alien watch strapped to his wrist.”

Grandpa Max nods in confirmation. 

Gwen: “ This is…. all so hard to take in.”

Ben: “ It’s all true though, we saw it for ourselves.”

“ What should we do now?”

Max: “ We continue our trip and along the way I’ll help the two of you get a better handle on your new abilities.” 

Ben: “ Sounds good to me. What about you guys?” 

“ I still want to see the Washington Monument.”

Gwen: “ Sure, better than sitting at home all summer.”

Max: “ Let’s hit the road.”

Grandpa Max starts up the Rustbucket and pulls out of the campground, heading towards Washington D.C.