The Key

Chapter 4

Uh Oh

Near looked up at the huge impressive looking robot tank. He also looked down at her, but not for as long as she did.

"Introduction: I am Cytro." He offered holding out his own hand to the ever curious Near.

"I am Near." She shook his hand with the biggest smile anyone ever did with him. Everyone always just looked on in disbelief or didn't even take his hand because they were afraid of him. Near jumped when she felt something on her leg. She looked down to see a small cat winding itself through her legs or around them.

"Oh look at you. I've never touched an actual cat before. I've only seen one on a poster at brothers school. "

"Brother?" Rayne asked. Max shrugged his shoulders.

"Since dad made her and Steel woke her up she's been calling us as if we were family. Even calls Steel her dad."

"How does your mom take it." Alex asked poring himself some coffee.

"She was a bit mad about it at first, but she realized we needed Near this way. Even talked about clothing at the moment. Only problem is her shoes." He pointed down to the fact that she was still padding around in the black socks she was before.

"What?" She looked up when Barto walked into the room carrying some heavy boots.

"Its all we have in the stock room that look like they might fit her. Near looked over the shoes and then down at her own feet.

"Do I have to?" She looked at Steel. He shrugged and pointed to the boots.

"I don't want you to hurt your feet Near." Steel said motioning for her to scan the shoes. She did as he asked and looked back down at her feet.

"Oh that never gets old. I wish I could do that. Just scan a picture on a wall and wear whatever the model has on." Rayne said watching Near walk around the room trying out the new shoes.

"They're so bulky." She said and looked down at Bertos feet. She smiled scanning his shoes and put those ones on instead but made them a bright blue.

"Much better." She giggled bouncing up and down in them.

"I know right?" Berto chuckled at her choice of foot ware.

"Oh no..." Steel slapped his forehead.

Forge walked into the room having heard the noise from across the hall. He had never met the new connect tech key and had no idea Near was one.

"Alright what did I tell you all about bringing new people in without authorization?" Forge asked glaring at his cheif science officer.

"Shes an Ultralink Commander."

"An Ultralink?" He went for his gun. Everyone in the room jumped in front of the commander who reacted on instinct.

"Its alright Forge..." Jims voice said as he walked by the room. "She's with Steel." He finished.

"What do you mean hear with Steel? Jim?"

"Oh she's the Key I was telling you about."

"And you only waited till now to tell me?" Forge grumbled looking at Near who went up to his chest plate and touched the tear in his armor.

"You have seen your fair share haven't you?" She said Forge looked lost for a second there before looking up at Jim.

"She is very curious." Jim said motioning for Berto to follow him.

"Yeah I can see that." Forge said looking on as Near walked around the room looking over all the things in the lab, but not touching anything. Steel watched from his spot next to Max. Suddenly Near turned and walked over toward Max who seemed to turn around and nod to her. She must have said something or Steel did. Steel disappeared into Max's chest like he normally did. But Max put his arms around Near who then also disappeared. This was unusual to Forge he had never seen a double link like this. He wasn't aware a link like this could accrue. A first of its kind.

"Max...doesn't that...hurt?"

"Actually no, its just...warm." He said touching his chest. "She doesn't talk all that much, just listens to instructions or giggles. She is a bit heavy though." He said jumping up and down.

"Heavy?" Forge asked pushing Max a little to make sure he wasn't physically heavy.

"Yeah, she's supposed to be additional armor or weapons brought through from the connect tech." Max said and motioned for Forge to step back. Near stepped from her hiding place within Max.

"But I will only be used as a defense for others. I refuse to be a toy." She said picking up a magazine that Berto had.

"Of course you aren't a toy. I never see Steel as a toy. Actually I seen him as family." Max said. Near nodded her head and showed a picture of an advertisement in the magazine.

"I also see you two as family. Jim doesn't wish for me to call him dad as I do Steel. But that is also alright. He is free to do so...but you are alright with me calling you brother then?"

"Of course. It might help with the confusion of you just popping up in town. Although I don't know how I'm going to explain you to Sidney."

"Sidney...this girl you have feelings for?" Near asked. Max nodded and sighed sitting down in a chair.

"Just tell her the truth. She already knows you are Max Steel, she's known for some time. No more secrets between you two is what you agreed on." Near said

"Yeah your right."

"Alright now that we've got that figured out...an hour in the sim might do you five some good." Forge said chuckling as the sub adults began to grumble. "What did you think you were going to do here? Show of your new baby sister and get away with it? Time to show of for her team!" Forge said motioning for Near to follow him so she could watch from the viewing area above the room.

"They'll be alright?" Near asked Forge who laughed.

"Of course they've used this room and destroyed in hundreds of thousands of times. " Forge pushed a few buttons and watched as an army showed up all around the team.

"This is supposed to promote team work?"

"Yes it is. Also to be ready for anything." Forge changed the elements in the room so it would make it harder for the team to work with. By the time they got out of the room, they were wet, muddy, and smelly.

"Are you alright?" Near asked hearing the groans and grumbles.

"No problem babe." Steel said shaking the mud from his faceplate.

"I'd hug you but your all dirty." She giggled She gasped when Rayne grabbed her and hugged her tightly.

"Just sharing the wealth." She giggled and ran toward the bathroom.

"My sister can be pretty...generous." Berto said handing a towel to Near.

"I see...perhaps I should think of a way to pay her back for her generosity?" Near said