Ben's team are saved by an Arachnichimp named Simian, who wants to retrieve a crystal in order to prove his worth as royalty on Aracha. While Ben is willing to help, Gwen and Kevin have their suspicions of him.
- Chekhov's Boomerang: The ear cleaner that spits out acid strong enough to melt the floor. Initially it seems to be a gag, then it gets used both to expose Simian's ruse and pull the Poisoned Chalice Switcheroo later on.
- Evil All Along: It turns out Simian's story about being a prince was all a lie. The crystal was a power source for the moon's intergalactic communication center, and Simian was hired by the Highbreed to steal it so Earth won't be able to call for backup when the Highbreed invade. Fortunately, Ben caught on to his scheme and tricks Simian into taking the Highbreed's ear cleaner instead.
- Good Is Not Dumb: Simian tries to exploit Ben's Chronic Hero Syndrome to manipulate him into helping him steal the crystal that powers the moon's intergalactic communication center. Gwen and Kevin are suspicious of him, but Ben is willing to help him after hearing his false story. Simian believes he's got Ben fooled, but he unknowingly blows his cover to Ben by asking about the DNAlien ear cleaner, with Ben feigning ignorance and outwitting Simian instead.
- I Never Said It Was Poison: Ben had his suspicions about Simian from the moment he recognized the DNAlien ear cleaner, despite claiming to have never heard of the species.
- Not So Similar: While Ben feels kinship with Simian because the Omnitrix can allow him to turn into his species, the two are more different than one would think. Ben is a genuine hero who is willing to treat others, even strangers, with compassion when it calls for it. Simian on the other hand is a mercenary who will lie and sell out to the highest bidder.
- Oh, Crap!: Simian can only react with horror when he sees the ear cleaning gadget in the container he gave to the Highbreed instead of the crystal he promised, realizing too late that Ben tricked him.
- Out-Gambitted: Simian believed he had Ben in the palm of his hands, but Ben catches on that Simian isn't who he claims to be the moment the Arachnichimp asked about the DNAlien ear cleaner. He tricks him by deliberately removing the crystal and making Simian think he placed it into a container, when the container actually held the device instead.
- Running Gag:
- People making monkey puns next to Simian and following up with "No offence".
- Lu the technician complaining that he has to fix the stuff Ben and Simian break.
- You Have Failed Me: When the Highbreed sees an ear cleaner in the container Simian promised had the crystal, Simian realizes too late he had been duped by Ben and tries to explain himself. The Highbreed instead decides to punish Simian with the acid.Simian: I— It’s a mistake!
Highbreed: It certainly is. We distinctly told you to bring us the crystal. Maybe you didn’t hear us. Maybe you need to have your ears cleaned!
