In the bustling city of New York, our heroes had finally arrived at a hotel, a rare luxury for their travels. Inside, Max was at the reception desk, talking to the clerk while Gwen examined a welcome card.

"Wow, this hotel has everything! An indoor pool, a full-day spa!" she said excitedly, thrilled at the thought of spending a night away from the RV. "Don't get used to it," Max warned as the clerk went to fetch their room keys. "It's only for one night."

Meanwhile, Jen's eyes sparkled as she noticed a nearby Sumo Slammer arcade room, but before she could head over, a hand gently stopped her. "Nicht heute, Jen," (Not today) came the voice of the German, Micheal.

"But... but they have the new Sumo Slammer video game in there!" she protested, trying to free herself from his grasp.

"Mmm, no," Micheal replied firmly, pulling her back.  "Max hat gutes Geld für unseren Aufenthalt hier ausgegeben. Versuchen wir zumindest, einen Tag lang an dem Plan festzuhalten." (Max spent good money for us to stay here. Let's at least try to stick to the plan for one day)

As they rejoined the others, Max glanced at Jen, already sensing her intentions. "I know what you're thinking, so no sneaking back in there."

She sighed, a little irritated. "I wasn't going to," she muttered, though her tone suggested otherwise.

With that, Max and Gwen moved toward the elevator, ready to settle in. Seeing her chance, Jen tried to activate the Omnitrix—but Micheal, who'd anticipated this, stayed behind and quickly stopped her, raising an eyebrow.

"Jen... please, just listen," Micheal said gently, guiding her into the elevator. Jen folded her arms, pouting but letting him lead her along.

When they reached their floor, Max handed over keys to Micheal and Jen. Normally, they'd all share one room, but this time, the clerk had insisted that no four-person rooms were available, claiming they were all full. Oddly, he seemed unable to even look Jen in the eye.

Nothing suspicious about that at all.

Entering the room, Micheal set his bag down and glanced over at Jen, who had already flopped face-first onto her bed, clearly disappointed about missing out on the new Sumo Slammers game. With a sigh, he sat down beside her and gently patted the back of her head.

"Alright, alright," he said with a small smile. "If you're really that heartbroken about it... how about we check out one of the local arcades instead?"

Jen peeked out from behind her pillow, her face turning a shade of pink as she processed what he was saying. "R-Really?" she mumbled, still trying to hide her blush.

"Yeah," Micheal chuckled. "Let's go have some fun—just the two of us."

Jen practically leaped up, her eyes shining with excitement. "You're the best!" she exclaimed before realizing she was being a bit too enthusiastic and quickly tried to play it cool.

"Come on, what are we waiting for!" Jen said, grabbing Micheal's hand and pulling him out of the hotel, her excitement contagious.

Walking around the sidewalk, they finally, they spotted a bright neon sign that read Total Zone—their arcade destination.

Inside, the arcade was bustling, with rows of games and flashing lights. Jen's eyes lit up when she spotted a baseball game. "Oh, I'm so good at these!" she said confidently, stepping up and grabbing the bat. The game began... but ended just as quickly as she didn't manage to hit a single ball.

"Game over already?" she whined. "I swear this thing ate my tokens!"

Micheal chuckled, taking the bat from her. With a quick, focused stance, he managed to score three home runs in a row. "Jen read the signs, Spielen Sie auf eigene Gefahr." (play at your own risk) Micheal said while Jen pouted, hands on her hips. "This place is a ripoff."

"Your right, the games here stink." said a voice. "Yeah. Wait who said that?." She said looking behind to see a black hair boy with a chain that looked like a lock around his neck.

"Here, you owe me one," the boy said casually as he placed his hand on one of the machines. A small surge of electricity sparked from his fingertips, and the machine poured out a jackpot of coins.

Micheal's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa! How'd you do that?" he asked, stepping closer.

The boy shrugged with a smirk. "Just got some skills."

Jen, noticing how close Micheal was getting to the newcomer, instantly felt her 'competitive'  side flare up. "Skills, huh? Well, let's see who's really got them!" she challenged, pointing at a Mortal Kombat machine.

The boy grinned, clearly entertained. "You're on! Name's Kevin, by the way."

They both locked into the game, but despite Jen's determination, Kevin beat her three rounds in a row. "Alright, next game!" she said, undeterred.

Game after game, from FIFA to racing simulators, Kevin managed to come out on top every time, with Jen growing more flustered with each loss. Micheal and Kevin couldn't help but share a laugh each time she failed, only making her more determined to win—though, unfortunately for her, with the same results.

"Alright, next up, air hocke—" Jen started, but Kevin's attention shifted as he noticed two guys approaching them. "Nah, I gotta bail," he said, slipping away quickly.

As he walked off, Jen scoffed. "See? Total trouble."

"Oh, come on, Jen, he's not that bad," Micheal began, but just then, one of the boys who had been approaching shoved him aside as they moved closer to Kevin. Jen's eyes narrowed. Without a second thought, she charged forward and dropkicked the guy right in the back of his head, catching him off guard.

"What the—?" his friend said, stunned, while another boy with a blue mohawk joined them, sneering at Kevin. "Aww, look, the freak got himself a girlfriend," he taunted, but his smirk vanished when Jen landed a swift punch across his face.

"Don't ever call me his girlfriend." She said as the third boy backed away immediately, turning and bolting in the opposite direction.

Kevin stood there, momentarily stunned, while Jen crossed her arms. "Don't think I saved you because I wanted to," she snapped, casting a sideways glance at him. "I only attacked them because they pushed Micheal." She then grabbed Micheal's hand, leading him toward the exit.

As they were about to leave the arcade, Kevin reappeared. "Hey, wait up! You guys helped me out, so I owe you one. Want a tour of New York?" he offered. Jen scoffed, "Yeah, no... I think we're good. Right, Micheal?" She looked up at him, clearly hoping he'd agree.

But Micheal shrugged with a smile. "Komm schon, Jen, was ist daran schlimm?" ("Come on, Jen, what's the harm?") he replied, making Kevin look puzzled. "Oh, sorry," Micheal said, noticing his confusion. "I'm from Germany."

Jen was about to argue, but a familiar voice echoed in her mind. 'Go with him... make sure your Micheal doesn't get taken away.' Venom's voice whispered, spurring her to reconsider. For some reason, Venom has been quite. Well not quite as he kept talking to Jen but quite in a sense as he doesn't talk about Micheal as much as he used to.

With a reluctant sigh, Jen crossed her arms, casting a suspicious look at Kevin. "Fine. But just one tour.

They strolled through New York City, snapping photos at iconic landmarks like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, and the Empire State Building, Central park. The city lights flickered against the darkening sky, adding a bit of magic as evening fell.

As they walked, Jen eyed Kevin warily. "So, how did you get your powers, exactly?" she asked.

Kevin smirked, shrugging casually. "Oh, I was born with it. I'm like an energy sponge. Motors, air conditioners, lights, batteries—whatever. I soak it up and dish it out whenever I need to or want to."

"Das ist ziemlich cool," Micheal said with genuine admiration. Jen quickly translated. "He says that's pretty cool."

Kevin chuckled. "Well, thanks! Alright, come on, I'll show you where I live." But Micheal stopped him, shaking his head. "Oh, no, no. We can't go now. It's already late, and I wouldn't even have a proper gift to bring at this hour."

"Gift?" Kevin asked, a little confused. "Ja," Micheal explained, "in German culture, it's customary to bring a small gift when visiting someone's home for the first time. I couldn't possibly show up empty-handed."

Behind him, Jen's expression shifted to a pout. "Where's my gift?" she mumbled just loud enough for herself, making sure Micheal couldn't hear.

Jen watched as Micheal bumped fists with Kevin, feeling a pang of frustration as the two laughed together. Her grip tightened, and her thoughts grew heavier. Her Micheal was getting closer to this guy, a stranger who had already pulled him along into his world. And now Kevin was leading the way toward his place, further solidifying a bond that made her uneasy.

'See?' Venom's voice echoed in her mind, smooth and coaxing. 'Let him stray too far, and you'll be left behind. Left all alone.'

Jen shook her head slightly, trying to dismiss the unsettling thoughts. But she couldn't ignore the creeping fear of being sidelined.

"Alright, let's go!" Kevin called back as he sprinted ahead, beckoning them to follow.

Micheal looked at her, his eyes shining with excitement. "Come on, Jen!" he said, reaching back toward her.

Her heart softened, if only for a moment, as she took his hand and they both hurried to catch up. As they descended into the subway tunnels, Jen cast a wary glance around, feeling both out of place and resolute. She wouldn't let anyone take Micheal from her without a fight—even if that "anyone" was supposed to be his new friend.

The house which was inside the subway tunnel, well it was more like a hideout. It was filled with a faded Sumo Slammers banner hanging crookedly on the wall, broken TVs stacked haphazardly, and boxes scattered all over the floor. Micheal stepped inside, eyes wide with surprise.

"You live here?" he asked, glancing around at the disarray. Kevin shrugged nonchalantly, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, it's home," he said, then gestured toward the empty space around them. "What about your family?"

Kevin's tone turned flat. "Long gone. They weren't too thrilled about having a freak for a son." He plopped down on one of the boxes, his posture relaxed. "But, hey, at least I don't answer to anyone." Micheal's frown deepened at the words. "Don't you miss them?" he asked softly.

Kevin didn't look up. "Nah, not at all," he replied, his voice cold but calm. He lay back, arms folded behind his head. Jen raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to this story but didn't push it. Instead, she asked, "So why were those guys after you?"

Kevin's lips twisted into a small smirk. "I kinda... trashed their hangout under the 39th Street bridge," he said casually, as if it were no big deal. Jen tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. "And what's up with you, huh? Why so grouchy?" Kevin asked her.

"I'm not grouchy," Jen snapped, crossing her arms and pouting making Micheal chuckle.

"She's just upset because she couldn't play the new Sumo Slammers game," Micheal said chuckling. Kevin raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"The new one that doesn't drop until Christmas?" he asked, his tone skeptical but curious. "Yeah," Jen muttered, her arms crossed defensively.

Kevin's eyes lit up as an idea crossed his mind. "I heard there's a new shipment coming in today. Maybe we can go in and... 'liberate' a few of them," he suggested with a grin as if the plan were the most natural thing in the world.

Micheal looked at him in disbelief. "What? You mean steal them?" he asked, his tone incredulous. Kevin shrugged nonchalantly. "Yeah, why not? We go in, take 'em, and nobody's the wiser," he said, getting up from his seat with a gleam in his eye.

Micheal frowned. "Kevin, that's stealing. We can't just do that." Kevin scoffed, unfazed. "And who's gonna stop us? The cops?" he said with a dismissive wave. "Come on, they won't even know we were there."

Jen, who had been silently listening to the exchange, crossed her arms and made her way toward the door. "We are going straight to the cops if you try that," she said firmly, her voice colder now.

Micheal followed after her, but before they could leave, Kevin grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Come on, Micheal," he said, his voice almost coaxing. "You don't need Jen. We can do this ourselves, no problem."

"No, Kevin. I won't, and Jen is too important to me," Micheal said, pulling his arm free from Kevin's grip. The tension in the room spiked as Kevin's face darkened. Without warning, Kevin raised his hand toward the door, and electricity sparked from his fingers, slamming the door shut with a loud crash.

"If you aren't gonna help, then you can't leave," he snarled. His hand moved to one of the nearby TVs, drawing energy from it, and the screen crackled with a surge of power. He charged at them, electricity arcing off his body.

Micheal's reflexes kicked in. He rolled and darted out of the way, narrowly avoiding the surge of energy. Meanwhile, Jen's eyes narrowed, and before Kevin could get another shot off, she transformed into Heatblast. With a fiery punch, she struck Kevin square in the chest.

Kevin stumbled back in surprise, eyes wide. "What the hell?" he exclaimed, stunned by her sudden transformation. Jen stood tall, her body now surrounded by flames, and with a swift kick, she knocked him to the ground. She towered over him, her fiery aura burning bright. "Has anyone told you you're hot?" Kevin muttered from the ground, attempting to regain his breath.

Jen glared down at him. "You're in no place to talk," she retorted sharply. Micheal stepped forward, his voice calm but urgent. "Jen, let's just go."

But Kevin's eyes shifted to the Ultimatrix on Micheal'swrist, and a twisted grin crept onto his face. "Oh, I see now. I knew something about your watches was off," he said, stepping forward.

Jen narrowed her eyes, keeping a tight grip on the situation. "And what are you going to do about it?" she challenged, moving so her face was inches from his. Kevin didn't flinch. "This," he said softly, as his hand shot out and touched the Omnitrix emblem on her neck.

Before Jen could react, she felt a sharp jolt of energy. Her eyes widened in shock as Kevin siphoned the power from her watch. Desperately, she tried to pry his hand off her, tossing him to the side, but her struggle was interrupted.

A fireball blasted her from behind, sending her backward into a wall as her body seized up. She timed out the Omnitrix completely out of power

Micheal rushed to her side, but just as he reached out to help, Kevin unleashed another fireblast, striking him square in the chest. Micheal was thrown backward, crashing into Jen's fallen form as they both tumbled to the ground.

"I absorb energy, remember?" Kevin smirked, his voice dripping with confidence. He moved toward Micheal, but Jen's instincts screamed at her to act.

"NO, DON'T GET NEAR HIM, IF YOU DO WE WILL BE FINISHED!" Venom's voice roared inside her mind, panic and fear flooding her thoughts. But Jen couldn't just leave Micheal. She had to help him.

Ignoring the warning, Jen took a step forward, but Kevin, sensing her movement, reacted faster. He shot a bolt of fire straight at her. Jen gasped as the blast hit her, and both she and Venom screamed in agony, their bodies writhing in pain from the intense heat and energy coursing through them.

"JEN!" Micheal screamed, his voice filled with desperation.

Seeing her struggle, Micheal's fury ignited. He slammed his hand onto the Ultimatrix, activating it and transforming into Humungousaur. His massive form towered over Kevin, and he swung his colossal fist toward the boy. "Ich werde dich platt machen!" (I will flatten you!) he roared, charging at Kevin with unstoppable force.

Kevin, quick on his feet, dodged the attack just in time, but not without taking advantage of Micheal's momentum. He swiftly fired at his legs precise strike, causing Micheal to stumble backward.

Seeing his opportunity, Kevin dashed toward the main subway, trying to make his escape.

"Micheal!" Jen cried, coughing trying to catch her breath, her voice weak from the pain but determined.

Micheal quickly moved to Jen, his large hands gently lifting her up. "Hey, you okay?" he asked, his concern clear in his eyes as he held her tightly. "Yeah, I'm good," she said, her voice still a little shaky as she clutched her chest.

Micheal nodded, determination in his eyes as he chased after Kevin, who retaliated by firing small fireballs at him, each one crackling through the air in an attempt to slow him down.

Seeing a train barreling toward them on the tracks, Kevin smirked and sprinted to the nearest railroad switch. With a flick of his wrist, he activated his powers, forcing the switch to change, sending the train hurtling directly toward Micheal.

Kevin launched himself high into the air, using his fire powers to propel him above the oncoming train. The train, now out of control, was heading straight for Micheal, who braced himself to stop it. With incredible strength, he slammed his free hand down onto the train's front, managing to halt its momentum, though the effort left him breathless.

But Kevin was already gone, disappearing into the shadows of the subway tunnels. As Micheal's Ultimatrix timed out, his massive form reverted back to his normal self. Panting and exhausted, he scanned the area for Kevin, but he was nowhere to be found.

Micheal sighed in frustration, looking back to Jen, who was still hurting from Kevin's earlier attack. Without hesitation, he gently lifted her onto his back, giving her a piggyback ride as they made their way out of the tunnels. He kept his pace steady, the urgency of the moment pushing him forward as they made their way back to the hotel.

"Bleib bei mir, Jen,"(Stay with me, Jen) he murmured as Jen coughed and kept getting louder.

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As soon as they reached the hotel, Micheal rushed into Max and Gwen's room. Max was sitting on the couch, absorbed in the news broadcast showing footage of a strange dinosaur spotted in the subway tunnels. The anchor was speculating about the creature's origins when Max turned to look at Micheal, his face shifting from curiosity to concern as he saw Jen's battered state.

He immediately stood up. "Mind explaining this?" Max began, but then he saw the pain in Jen's expression. His tone