Chapter 7: Kevin 11

The Tennysons check into a fancy hotel in New York City with the IFF as VIP guests.

Gwen: Wow, this hotel has everything! Indoor pool, full day spa…

Max: Now, don't get used to it, it's only for one night.

Ben, who was bored, suddenly sees a Sumo Slammers-brand kiosk installed in the mall.

Ben: Woah, the new Sumo Slammer video game's in there!

As he reaches the entrance, a guard stops him.

Guard: Pass?

Ben: Oh, I didn't realize there was a pass requirement. I guess I'll wait until it comes out officially.

Guard: Hey, look on the bright side kid, you are one of the first people to show up and ask about this. Look, give me your name, and I'll make sure you get one of the first copies for free sent to your home.

Ben: Really? Thanks! The name's Ben Tennyson from Bellwood.

Guard: Got it!

Ben walks back on over to Gwen and Max.

Max: I know what you're thinking, so no sneaking back in there.

Ben: I won't! Especially since I'm getting a free copy sent home.

Max: Well, that's good. One less thing to worry about. (Calls up to Xoruxshy) Hey, how's the new suit working?

Xoruxshy: Like a charm! The new metal variant you suggested is handling the heat very well!

Clerk: Sir, we have a problem with your room registration.

Xoruxshy: Looks like you have an issue. Mind if I come check it out?

Max: Please do.

(5 Minutes Later…)

(The Elevator door opens and Xoruxshy in a snazzy-looking dress with a purse walks up to the desk)

Xoruxshy: What seems to be the problem with the Tennysons' room registration?

Clerk: Well, there was a power outage last night and the room data was messed with. As such, the data was lost.

Xoruxshy: Hmm… Give me a second, and I might be able to recover the data.

Act 1

Xoruxshy: There we go. Took a little longer than I might like, but it should be restored.

Clerk: Thank you miss.

Xoruxshy: No problem. And I suggest next time you have the electrician here, have him switch the plugs to surge protector outlets.

Clerk: I'll do that. In the meantime, I'll have your room all readied for you. It should take an hour or two, so please, feel free to enjoy our amenities until then.

Gwen: Xoruxshy, you are now my favorite person. It's SPA TIME!

Xoruxshy: No problem, Gwen. Hey, Ben, I'm going to get changed and then head over to the arcade. I heard that there's some unsavory business going on over there involving Eggman from my sources. You wanna head to the arcade?

Ben: Oh, boy!

At the arcade, Ben and Xoruxshy sees many people Ben's age playing on arcade machines. Ben boots up a baseball-batting game. As the digital pitcher throws the ball, the screen immediately flashes "Game Over".

Ben: "Game Over"? It just started! (to a nearby employee) This thing ate my tokens!

Employee: Read the sign, kid. It says "play at your own risk"...? (He walks away.)

Ben: This place is a ripoff, you know that?

A kid with long dark hair standing near Ben and Xoruxshy chimes in.

Dark-Haired Kid: You're right. The games here stink.

Xoruxshy: It doesn't help that these arcade machines were designed by Dr. Eggman.

Dark-Haired Kid: That whackjob? He's the reason these are like this?

Xoruxshy: Yep. He and I have a long history. About as long as the distance I can smell that guy's breath! MAJOR case of 'sewer mouth'!

Dark-Haired Kid: (chuckling) You're funny! Here, you own me one.

The kid lays his hand on a machine, but Xoruxshy stops him.

Dark-Haired Kid: What?

Xoruxshy: If you're going to absorb any energy, I think it would be wise not to do it with Eggman's machines.

Dark-Haired Kid: How do you know about that?

Xoruxshy: You've got a whole energy field around you.

Dark-Haired Kid: You've got some skills. I'm Kevin.

Xoruxshy: I'm Xoruxshy and this is Ben. Wanna play some air hockey, or do you want me to help you with the thugs behind us?

Kevin spots the aforementioned thuggish kids behind Ben and Xoruxshy.

Kevin: Nah, I gotta bail. (He motions to Xoruxshy otherwise as he walks off in the other direction.)

Ben: He seems like an okay guy.

The two thuggish kids walk forward, bumping Ben and Gwen aside. As they follow Kevin, a half-bald kid and a strong-armed kid block Kevin's way, surprising him.

Half-Bald Kid: Long time, no see. Where you going, freak? Home to recharge your batteries?

Kevin backs up; the two behind him each grab one of his arms. Xoruxshy steps forward.

Xoruxshy: (to Kevin) Need some help?

Strong-Armed Kid: Heh, he's gonna need a lot more than you. (He knocks Xoruxshy backward, strangely feeling like metal.) Now beat it!

Xoruxshy: Heheh… I had a feeling some of Egghead's robots were hanging around here keeping an eye on things.

Strong-Armed Kid: Shit, he figured it out!

Xoruxshy: (Summons Keyblade) Now, then. Shall we take this somewhere a little more private?

(Teleports the group to a circular grey room with a black void of nothingness)

Kevin: Whoa, what the?!

Xoruxshy: Quick Hit Blitz! (Flickers between the robot bullies and targets their vital joints, destroying them instantly, and leaving behind black boxes with the Eggman logo on them)

After destroying the robots and collecting the black boxes, Xoruxshy returns the surroundings to normal.

Xoruxshy: We should probably get out of here.

Ben: Definitely.

Kevin: Cool! Hey, want a tour of New York?

Xoruxshy: Well, Ben's got to get back to the hotel. His Grandpa booked a room at a snazzy one that has a spa and everything. But I can stick around with you.

Kevin and Xoruxshy walk through the city.

Xoruxshy: So, how'd you get your power?

Kevin: I was born with it! I'm like an energy sponge. Motors, air conditioners, lights, batteries, whatever! Soak it up, then dish it out when I have to… or want to.

Xoruxshy: But have you ever lost control?

Kevin: (winces) Once… it wasn't pretty. Now, I try to keep myself in control by only absorbing a little bit at a time. But let's get out of this funk. Come on! I'll show you where I live!

Ben gets back to the hotel room, which Max and Gwen have settled into along with IF, Ratchet and Clank, who have moved the TARDIS from the Rust Bucket to the room.

Max: Ah, you're back. Where's Xoruxshy?

Ben: About that…

Xoruxshy and Kevin arrive at an abandoned subway station. A few TVs and game consoles sit on the floor, an ATM sits next to the abandoned ticket booth, and a tattered Sumo Slammers poster hangs on the wall.

Xoruxshy: You live here?

Kevin: Yeah, by myself!

Xoruxshy: What about your family?

Kevin: Long gone! They weren't too thrilled having a "freak" for a son, but it just means I don't answer to nobody.

Xoruxshy: That sounds lonely. Your family's awful. Anyways, why was that gang of Eggman robots after you?

Kevin: (embarrassed) I kinda trashed their hangout/base under the 39th Street bridge. Oh, what about you? Why are those bots after you?

Xoruxshy: Promise not to freak out?

Kevin: Promise.

Xoruxshy: (turns off her perception filter that makes her seem human) There.

Kevin: You're a Mobian! That's so cool. Sometimes I wish I could be a Mobian…

Xoruxshy: Well, the only way that would be possible is if you either A: Came with me to Mobius, or B: Became one of my Sisters.

Kevin: What do you mean 'Sisters'?

Xoruxshy: Besides being a Mobian, I'm also a Time Lord, as well as a CPU, or Console Patron Unit. With the Sister CPU Title, you get immortality after a certain age and a female body.

Kevin: I think I'll stick with the first option, thank you. But how would we get to Mobius?

Xoruxshy: By TARDIS.

Kevin: Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

Suddenly, Dusk Nobodies appear out of nowhere.

Kevin: Whoa, what are these things?!

Xoruxshy: Nobodies… Look alive, Kevin. This might be your first battle against these things, but with how I know things like this occur, they might come for you again!

After Xoruxshy dispatches the Nobodies and Kevin comes out of hiding.

Kevin: You know, maybe I should stick with you for a while.

After returning to the hotel

Max: Kevin Levin, huh? I think I knew your uncle. He was a good man. Good soldier too.

Kevin: I think he was one of the only decent people in my life.

Max: And you mentioned Nobodies?

Xoruxshy: Yeah, I think my past may be starting to catch up with me. So, I guess this is where we part ways. Ben, remember what I taught you about not misusing the watch. The creator is watching.

Epilogue

Xoruxshy: (narrating) So, with the arrival of Nobodies, IF, Ratchet, Clank, our new acquaintance Kevin E. Levin, and I said our farewells to the Tennysons. By this time a year had passed on Veldin and it was time to return to Ratchet's universe. So with that, we headed back there. But before we could land, we were struck by one of Vilgax's drones that had followed us through the Time Vortex, damaging the TARDIS's internal systems and piercing my stomach, AGAIN… I cannot catch a break. Somehow, I have a feeling this next adventure will be ELECTRIFYING.