The chase tore through the alien city's skyline, the thugs desperately leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Neon signs and flickering lights cast eerie glows across the sprawling undercity, making their shadows dance wildly against the walls.

Jen, her symbiote tendrils lashing out like dark whips, swung effortlessly between the buildings, keeping close on the thugs' tails. Michael rode atop Shockwave in his vehicle mode, wind rushing past his face as Shockwave's engines roared. Rook followed with remarkable agility, his feline-like movements letting him bound across the rooftops with ease.

"There's a whole city of aliens down here!" Jen called out, voice tinged with both awe and annoyance.

"You sound surprised, Jen dude," Rook replied from just behind her, his tone cheerful and oblivious.

Michael laughed despite himself. "Nenn sie einfach Jen," he said in German, his voice carrying over the chase. (Just call her Jen.)

Rook blinked in surprise, but nodded mid-leap. "Verstanden, Michael, Alter." (Understood, Michael dude.)

Michael raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You can speak German? And just call me Michael."

Rook landed on a ledge, keeping pace easily. "Understood. I studied a little before coming to Earth, knowing it was your first language." His voice was earnest, though still lighthearted.

Before Michael could respond, a black tendril shot out and yanked him off Shockwave's back. He barely had time to yelp before he was pulled into Jen's arms mid-air. She held him tight as they swung between the buildings together.

"Darling, don't talk to him," Jen said sweetly—but there was a dangerous edge to her voice. Her eyes flickered dangerously, and Venom's fanged grin spread across her face. Michael sweatdropped, giving an awkward chuckle.

"Jealousy isn't a good look on you, Liebling," Michael teased, though he wisely didn't push it further.

"Mine," she whispered possessively, snuggling into him even while swinging at full speed.

Up ahead, Rook, still blissfully unaware of Jen's growing fury, called out excitedly. "Come, partner! We must catch those lowlifes who have wrecked Baumann's store!" He leaped ahead with impressive speed, completely missing the death glare Jen shot his way.

Michael groaned, already knowing how this was going to go. "Oh boy..."

Jen's voice was soft but deadly. "He. Is not. My husband's partner." Her tendrils whipped faster, her speed picking up.

"Jen, we're still chasing the bad guys—" Michael tried to reason, but she just held him closer.

"They can wait," she said with a sweet smile that didn't match her tone.

Shockwave, racing below them, chuckled dryly. "This is the most entertaining mission I've had in weeks."

The three thugs suddenly split up, darting down different paths. Without hesitation, the group split as well — Rook pursued the robot lady, Shockwave chased the chicken thug, and Michael and Jen stayed on the leader's trail.

Rook moved swiftly, leaping over crates and scaling walls with ease. The robot lady glanced back, her mechanical arm splitting open and firing a grappling hook. It latched onto a nearby rooftop, yanking her away at high speed.

Rook didn't miss a beat. He tapped his Proto-Tool, which shifted into a grappling line of its own. He fired, the line snapping around her ankle. With a powerful tug, he yanked her backward, sending her crashing into the ground.

She groaned, trying to rise, but Rook flipped his Proto-Tool into blaster mode. He fired an energy web that exploded outward, wrapping her up tight.

"Do not resist arrest.," Rook said with a small smile, spinning his Proto-Tool and holstering it.

The chicken thug wasn't faring any better. He leapt for a rooftop, wings flapping wildly for extra lift, but Shockwave was faster. The Decepticon launched himself into the air with a powerful thruster burst, intercepting the chicken mid-jump.

"Going somewhere, poultry?" Shockwave rumbled, voice dripping with amusement.

The thug squawked in panic as Shockwave grabbed him by the leg and slammed him into the concrete below, leaving a small crater.

The chicken groaned, dazed. "Bawk... I think I laid an egg..."

Shockwave chuckled dryly. "Scrambled."

Meanwhile, the leader sprinted through a dark tunnel, panting hard. His lungs burned, but a smug grin spread across his face as he glanced back.

"Haha! I lost them!" he wheezed, chuckling to himself.

"Peek-a-boo."

The voice came from beside him. His blood ran cold as he whipped his head around, only to find Michael, now in his Swampfire form, leaning casually against the wall.

"What's up, hotshot?" Michael smirked.

The leader barely had time to react before another figure stomped into view—Jen, now transformed into NRG, her bulky containment suit glowing with heat.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "Why'd you pick NRG?"

Jen glanced at her Omnitrix and sighed. "New Omnitrix, still figuring out the controls."

Michael rolled his eyes. "You've had that for six months."

"I blame Azmuth. Your old Ultimatrix was way better than this thing." She huffed, crossing her metal arms.

"Maybe you're hitting the watch too hard?" Michael teased.

Before the leader could even think about running, Michael raised his arm and fired a cluster of seeds from his back. The seeds hit the ground around the thug and instantly erupted into thick vines, wrapping tightly around him. He struggled, but the more he fought, the tighter they constricted.

"Let me go, you freaks!" he yelled, thrashing.

"Yeah... no," Michael deadpanned.

Jen waddled over in her heavy armor, wrapping her arms around Michael in a playful, clunky hug. "Your Ultimatrix still wouldn't make you hotter than me though," she teased, resting her head on his shoulder.

Michael chuckled, patting her glowing helmet. "Obviously."

Dragging the tangled thug along with a vine, Michael and Jen emerged from the tunnel to find Rook and Shockwave waiting, both of their targets already incapacitated.

"Nice going, Rook—for a newbie, I mean," Michael said with a grin as he and Jen tapped their watches, shifting back to human form. Jen clung to his arm, still shooting an occasional glare at Rook.

Rook smiled earnestly. "Thank you, Michael."

Meanwhile, deep in the tunnels leading to Undertown, the green figure crouched low to the ground, his hand brushing against the dirt. His reptilian eyes scanned the area, unblinking.

"Where are you... friend?" he murmured, voice low and deliberate.

His hand landed on something small. He lifted it, revealing one of Swampfire's seeds. He studied it for a moment before his expression darkened. The dog-like alien at his side growled, sensing the familiar scent.

"Gotcha." The green alien stood up, sharp teeth flashing in a grin. He let out a sharp whistle.

The dog snarled, its body shifting and twisting. Muscles expanded, claws elongated, and its skin darkened to a leathery hide. It now resembled a twisted hybrid of a hound and a lizard, its eyes glowing a fiery red.

"Hunt them down."

The beast let out a distorted, warbling howl before darting into the tunnels, moving with unnatural speed. The green alien followed, his footsteps silent.

Back with the group, Michael dragged the still-tied thugs through the bustling streets of Undertown. Aliens of all shapes and sizes gave them a wide berth, some watching curiously, others pretending not to notice.

Rook walked alongside them, his brows furrowed. "I know I'm the new guy, but shouldn't we take them back to the Plumbers?"

Michael glanced back, eyebrow raised. "How long do you think this place has been here?" he asked, gesturing to the sprawling underground city around them.

Rook considered the question for a moment. "Probably since Earth became an open system."

Shockwave trailed behind, his red optic scanning the market stalls filled with alien tech, odd foods, and glowing crystals. "Smart guess."

"Don't worry about it," Michael shrugged. "Any minute now, their boss is gonna send someone to break them out. That's when we'll find out who's pulling the strings."

Rook looked uncertain but nodded. "If you say so, Michael."

Michael waved him off. "Where'd you learn to fight like that anyway? You were pretty quick back there."

Rook blinked, surprised. "Oh. Well... this is actually my first time off-world. Back on Revonnah, my home planet, I was a scientist. I only became a Plumber recently."

Michael raised an eyebrow. "You're a scientist?"

Rook nodded with a smile. "Yes. The most exciting thing on Revonnah is keeping rodents out of the grain silos."

Michael and Jen both tilted their heads. "You learned to fight by protecting... crops?" Jen asked, Venom's voice chiming in from her tendrils. "Weed defense?"

Rook didn't seem to catch the joke. "On Revonnah, the rodents run rather large."

Shockwave let out a low chuckle. "He's not kidding. Revonnahkhs deal with swarm beasts—things the size of hoverbikes. Vicious little monsters."

A massive dust cloud erupted in front of them, cutting off the group's path. Michael's eyes narrowed as his instincts flared.

"Sieht aus, als wären sie hier." (Looks like they are here) He muttered, slamming his hand onto the Ultimatrix. A flash of red light enveloped him, morphing his form into Shocksquatch—sparks of electricity arcing off his fur.

Jen tapped her Omnitrix, aiming for Fourarmsm but the dial glitched. Another burst of light, and she emerged as Stinkfly instead.

"Seriously?!" she groaned, her voice buzzing through her new insectoid form.

The dust cloud began to clear... but instead of more thugs, what emerged made Michael's stomach drop.

A hulking, quadrupedal creature stepped forward, a grotesque hybrid of lizard and hound. Its leathery hide glistened, jagged spikes running down its spine. Its maw, lined with serrated teeth, dripped with saliva. Eyes glowing a sickly orange locked onto them, and it let out a distorted, rumbling growl that reverberated through the area.

"Oder legal." (Or never mind) Michael muttered nervously, sparks crackling along his fists.

The creature didn't hesitate. It lunged, faster than something that size should be able to move.

Michael barely had time to react, slamming his fist into the ground. A shockwave of electricity exploded outward, forcing the beast back mid-leap, but it landed smoothly, claws scraping against the concrete as it circled them.

Jen took to the air, wings buzzing. "Let's see how you like this!" She fired a stream of green slime from her mouth, aiming for the creature's face. The slime splattered across its head, sizzling on contact — but the beast shook it off like it was nothing.

It snarled, then lunged again — but this time, it was faster.

Before Jen could dodge, the creature pivoted mid-air and slammed into her with bone-crushing force. She let out a sharp cry as she hit the ground hard, groaning.

"Jen!" Michael shouted, electricity sparking violently around him.

Jen tried to push herself up, but the creature was already on top of her. Its jaws opened wide, ready to clamp down on her head. Instinctively, Venom's black tendrils erupted from her sides, wrapping around the monster's throat and legs to hold it back. She readied her stinger, but.

The creature exhaled a thick, green cloud of gas straight into her face. Jen's limbs wavered. Her vision blurred. The tendrils weakened. "W-What is this...?" she slurred, her strength fading fast.

The beast tore through her tendrils and reared back for the kill.

Michael didn't think — he acted. "Hands off my wife!"

He roared, surging forward with a burst of electricity. His massive fists slammed into the creature's ribs with enough force to send it flying into a nearby wall. The impact shook the tunnel, dust and debris falling from the ceiling.

"Jen! You okay?" Michael knelt beside her, his voice full of worry.

Jen groaned as she sat up shakily. "I hate this Omnitrix..." she grumbled, her voice weak.

Shockwave stepped forward, his red optic scanning the creature as it pulled itself out of the rubble. "Why would you choose a Lepidopterran? Buglizards are natural hunters of Lepidopterrans."

Jen shot him a tired glare. "Well, nobody told me that before it tried to eat me."

"Can you fix my watch later?" she muttered, staggering to her feet.

Shockwave gave a rare nod. "I'll see what I can do." He unslung his railgun, charging it up with a low hum.

"Uh... guys?" Rook called out from behind them, sounding more worried than usual. Michael turned to see the tied-up thugs scrambling to their feet and taking off down a side alley.

"Oh, come on!" Michael groaned.

"I know I'm the newbie, but should we stop them!?" Rook asked, already moving after them.

Michael looked at Jen. She was still swaying on her feet, but she met his eyes stubbornly.

"Jen, go with Rook. Track those idiots down. Me and Shockwave'll handle this thing."

Jen blinked in surprise. "But, darling — what if—"

Michael cut her off, gently pressing a finger to her lips. "I'll be fine. Do this for me, and I'll give you a reward later." He smirked.

Her eyes widened. Then they sparkled. "Reward?"

"Reward." Michael confirmed with a grin.

Jen grabbed Rook's arm so fast he barely had time to blink. "Come on, Rook! Let's get those thugs!" she shouted, flying after them with newfound energy.

"I'll be waiting, darling!" she called back, voice sing-song.

Michael shook his head fondly. "Works every time."

Shockwave stepped up beside him, railgun fully charged. The beast shook off the rubble, growling even louder now — eyes burning brighter.

"Alright, Shockwave," Michael growled, sparks crackling through his fur. His fists clenched, buzzing with electricity. "How do we kill this thing?"

Shockwave's red optic narrowed. The railgun hummed dangerously. "Painfully."

The Buglizard snarled, its claws digging into the ground as it pulled itself up from Michael's punch. Its orange eyes locked onto him, flicking between him and Shockwave with primal hunger.

Shockwave's red optic flickered. "It's a hunter. Fast, strong, and stubborn. It won't stop until one of us is dead."

Michael, cracked his knuckles, electricity sparking around his fists. "Gut, dass ich auch stur bin." (Good thing I'm stubborn too)

The Buglizard lunged again, faster this time. Michael barely managed to sidestep, slamming his charged fists into its side. The electricity coursed through the creature, making it yelp and skid across the street, but it got back up immediately, smoke rising from its scales.

"Didn't even phase it?" Michael muttered, his confidence wavering.

Shockwave stepped forward, his railgun spinning to life. "It's got thick armor. Blunt force won't cut it."

The Buglizard growled lowly, circling them now, more cautious.

"Alright, Shockwave. You got a plan or are we winging it?" Michael asked, his voice a mix of adrenaline and sarcasm.

Shockwave's railgun hummed louder. "Distract it. I'll find a weak spot."

Michael grinned. "Yeah, sure. I'll just... distract the alien murder-lizard. Easy."

Without waiting for a reply, he charged.

The Buglizard lunged to meet him. Michael slid underneath its swipe and grabbed its tail, hurling it into a streetlight, which bent and snapped from the impact.

"Come on, you overgrown gecko!" Michael taunted, electricity crackling around him. The Buglizard snarled, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth, before it roared and spat another burst of that strange, green gas.

Michael jumped back, but the edge of the gas cloud brushed him — his muscles instantly felt sluggish, his head spinning.

"Urgh... what is that stuff?" he groaned, staggering.

Shockwave scanned the gas. "Paralytic neurotoxin. Stay out of it."

"Gee, thanks for the heads-up!" Michael barked, barely keeping his balance.

Shockwave took aim. His optic zoomed in, analyzing the creature's movements.

"There—base of the neck. Thinner armor."

"Could've mentioned that sooner," Michael grumbled, shaking off the sluggishness. He charged again, zig-zagging to avoid the gas. The Buglizard lunged, but Michael ducked under its swipe and grabbed its arm, electricity surging through his body.

Seizing the moment, Michael's fists crackled with power. He smirked. A massive surge of electricity erupted from his body, blasting the Buglizard backward. It hit the ground hard, skidding across the street and kicking up debris.

Michael exhaled sharply, his fists still sparking. "What is this thing made of? That should've fried it to a crisp."

The Buglizard staggered to its feet, smoke rising from its scorched scales. It snarled, its eyes narrowing. Then, without warning, it lunged again — faster than before.

Michael swung, but the creature twisted mid-air, using him like a springboard to propel itself straight at Shockwave.

Shockwave's optic flared. He sidestepped just in time, but the Buglizard snapped its jaws around his empty arm socket, metal screeching under the force of its bite.

"Persistent little pest." Shockwave growled, unfazed. He twisted his body, using the creature's momentum against it, and delivered a powerful kick to its side. The Buglizard yelped as it was sent flying into a pile of rubble.

"It's learning," Shockwave observed, his voice low and analytical. "It's adapting."

Michael's fists sparked again as he cracked his neck. His