User:Stinkfly~enwiki/Omnitrix

Proper article: Omnitrix right|thumb|The Omnitrix before attaching to Ben. The Omnitrix (a combination of the Latin words omni- and trix, literally meaning "all forms") is a fictional alien device in the American animated television series Ben 10. It allows the main character, Ben Tennyson, to briefly transform into his choice of various alien forms (although, he usually doesn't get what he wants). In Ben 10, the Omnitrix is described by Vilgax (the main evil guy) as the ultimate weapon. Once the omnitrix has attached to a wearer, it's very difficult for them to remove it, but knowing it's power no-one would want to.

The Omnitrix's creator is revealed in Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix. The Omnitrix may have more powers, but is unknown. Many places call it a prototype, possibly because they may have been plans to create a full version.

The alien forms shown, is only a fraction to which when Ben is named Ben 10,000 (and he's about 31) to what it could be (it may not be 10,000 as the maximum, but is unknown).

The forms currently known are: Image:Diamondhead_image.jpg|Diamondhead Image:Fourarms_image.jpg|Fourarms Image:Ghostfreak image.jpg|Ghostfreak Image:Grey_matter_image.jpg|Grey matter Image:Heatblast_image.jpg|Heatblast Image:Ripjaw_image.jpg|Ripjaws Image:Stinkfly_image.jpg|Stinkfly Image:Upgrade_img2.JPG|Upgrade Image:Wildmutt_image.jpg|Wildmut Image:Xlr8_image.jpg|Xlr8 Image:BenMummy.JPG|Benmummy (non-original form; purple lightning creature) Image:Benvicktor.jpg|Benvicktor (non-original form; purple lightning creature) Image:Benwolf2.jpg|Benwolf (non-original form; purple lightning creature) Image:Cannonbolt.jpg|Cannonbolt Image:Ditto.jpg|Ditto Image:UpchuckAlien.jpg|Upchuck (programmed by another alien) Image:Ben_10_Waybig.png|Way big (programmed by another alien) Image:Plant_alien_image.jpg|Wildvine

Description
The Omnitrix is a small, watch-like alien device. The face of the device, which rotates, displays various alien silhouettes when spun. When the face is pushed down after selecting one of the aliens, the Omnitrix binds the selected alien's DNA to the user's own, transforming them into the alien of their choice. In addition, the transformation can change the user into an alien of greater or lesser mass, or one composed of a completely different element.

The Omnitrix's original intention was to provide the various species of the universe a better understanding of each other, as told by Azmuth, its creator. Vilgax, however, only saw combat potential in such a device and sought to possess it. Azmuth, fearing for his own safety, sent the Omnitrix away to parts unknown; this would eventually lead it to Earth.

Because of the manner in which it operates, the Omnitrix becomes difficult to remove once attached. Large amounts of energy seem to work, though not consistently, and removing it through amputation also works. The device is described as a prototype by the show's creators, who also hint that Vilgax had something to do with its creation.

When used normally, the Omnitrix only allows the wearer to occupy a specific form for a limited amount of time, usually around ten minutes, after which it beeps and flashes red to indicate its deactivation. When it finally deactivates, it remains red until it recharges and turns green again. The recharge time is never consistent, even within a single episode, ranging from a few minutes to almost a quarter of an hour. It may also implement a change other than the one Ben selected. It has even refused to activate on several occasions, actually resisting Ben's attempts to push the face down. When damaged or under the influence of a virus, it can malfunction, causing strange mutations in the various alien forms.

Various methods exist to bypass its normal limits, most of which require some technical knowledge of the device. Four buttons on the face of the Omnitrix act as a combination lock for the Omnitrix's full potential. When a proper code (out of billions) is entered, the Omnitrix will receive some form of enhancement, such as unlocking a new alien form. Another code allows the user to remain in any form indefinitely and switch between different forms at will. Ben accidentally discovers this code, but is forced to clear it later. It is clear that he was able to reactivate it at some point within twenty years into a possible future. By pressing the symbol seen on Ben's alien forms, the user can either switch from any alien form to another or deactivate the Omnitrix, though only Vilgax and Ben's future self have shown the ability to do so, suggesting more to the feature than the simple touch. On one occasion, the Omnitrix was hit by a power surge in Vilgax's ship, forcing Ben to morph from alien to alien at random for a limited time.

Design
Every part of the Omnitrix contains alien DNA, as well as its own power source. This is noted in "Dr. Animo and the Mutant Ray", where the face of the Omnitrix, when separated from the device, mutates several creatures and generates a massive amount of power on its own. The Omnitrix also has its own defenses against enemies, though such defenses are mainly in defense of itself and not its host. Should anyone attempt to remove it by force, it will emit a large feedback pulse to repel the assailant. Conversely, those who know how to operate it can do so safely, regardless of whether or not the current user wants them to. It will protect its host on occasion and can recharge instantly if the user is in danger, as it did when Ghostfreak tried to possess Ben in "Ghostfreaked Out" or when Kevin tried to skewer Ben in "Grudge Match" as well as in "Last Laugh" when Ben was confronted with a major villain directly after a fight which ended with the watch timing out.

The DNA in the Omnitrix is collected from various aliens across the galaxy. The Omnitrix can also absorb and integrate alien DNA into itself, as shown in various episodes in the third season. In "Benwolf", the first instance, a gradual transformation takes place during the process, slowly transforming the user into that alien. The later episodes merely have the Omnitrix quickly adding the form to the total selection. A few of the originating species have been featured in various episodes, such as Tetrax (a Petrosapien). Several versions stored in the Omnitrix have noted enhancements from the species they're based on, removing some of the more debilitating weaknesses of those species.

It's been shown that each alien tends to have its own personality, which somewhat intermingles with Ben whenever he becomes them. Ben first notes this in "And Then There Were 10", where he says that it felt like he was both himself and someone else while being Heatblast. Ghostfreak, whose personality was trapped in the Omnitrix, had a particularly strong influence on Ben while Ben was using the form, thus Ben was usually apprehensive about using it. Grey Matter, on the other hand, shows a lighter side of the personality mixing. While in that form, Ben will often make a complicated scientific analysis, then have no idea what he meant by it.

The aliens have also been shown to age as the user does. The thirty-year-old Ben in "Ben 10,000" had alien forms with obvious differences to those of present Ben; future Ben's Stinkfly had much more pronounced insect features and visible pupils, for example. In addition to the aliens changing, the Omnitrix itself had also become larger and changed shape, either by expanding itself or being artificially modified. Conversely, all of Ben's aliens become children when Ben is exposed to water from the Fountain of Youth. The aliens also adapt the user's clothing; all of Ben's aliens wear the same shirt. Future Ben's Diamondhead and Cannonbolt also have coloring schemes matching his inverted clothing compared to present Ben.

The Omnitrix possesses a self-destruct protocol, which was created in case it ever got into the wrong hands. However, its paranoid creator went somewhat overboard in designing it: not only does it destroy itself, but the resulting explosion will create an energy ripple that will disintegrate most of the universe along with it. Only the Omnitrix's creator, Azmuth, knows how to shut it off.