Hey guys! So I just wanted to correct something I wrote in the last chapter. I wrote that New Mexico is 19 hours away from New York. Well, I Googled it and it's actually 29 hours. Still super long, but just more boring.

This chapter is gonna jump around a bit, but it fits with the story and I was really excited to write it. It's starts out with Steel's perspective, so I hope everyone likes it. Let me know in the comments what you guys think and I hope you enjoy it. =)

Chapter 8: Are We There Yet?

Steel enjoyed being on the road.

Whether it was just cruising around town with Max or burning treads in rugged wastelands, he enjoyed the feeling he got when riding in a vehicle. Being able to go anywhere, see anything, and with absolutely nothing to tie him down to the speed limit. Which he was currently breaking taking the back and beat dirt roads out of New Mexico. Sure, they had stayed within the permitted speed three hours ago (when Max was driving). But judging from his human partner's constant yawning and the bags under his eyes, the stress of the day had finally taken its toll.

So, Steel had converted the truck into the TURBO racer, synced himself into the controls, and ordered Max to sleep until they got to their hotel for the next day. The teen reluctantly agreed he was out cold in no time flat. Even if Steel ran over a big bump or two.

Steel looked back with his cameras at the slightly snoring teen in the backseat and sighed (a trait he had all to quickly picked up from humans). Steel knew it was partly the Makino programming seeded into his processors (none of the take over the Earth commands thankfully), but it was one of his priorities as an Ultralink to make sure his "host" stayed functional and usable. Which for Steel included Max's physical, mental, and emotional health. The automaton could see the exhaustion in Max's movements and how his vitals had been stagnant for months now.

Plus, it was hard to watch his best friend get partly ignored by both his parental unit and mentor about his wishes/concerns. Or, how he had let Sydney or Kirby down by being late to an outing or forgetting snacks for a picnic date in the park. Which was why Steel had suggested the trip in the first place.

Steel was even surprised when Max agreed. His human partner wasn't too spontaneous (at least in his home life). And after seeing him triple check what they were bringing ("No Max, you don't need THIRTY pairs in underwear. TURBO suit remember?") and being jittery around his Mom or Forge for days, Steel was afraid he was gonna crack and decide to bail at the last second. Which was why he was even more shocked when Max had quickly flew them back to their apartment, loaded everything in his truck and sped off into the night. Steel barely had time to hack into the Copper Canyon street cameras or confirm his timed email to Forge for late tomorrow morning.

But thankfully, everything had gone off without a hitch. Max had finished his side of their escape the day before and his note was carefully planted on his night stand. On the way out of the complex though, he had stopped by the Young's Apartment and slid another paper under their door. He said that he needed to write Rina and her folks before they left (which Steel could understand) and say how he had seen the accident "on TV" and that he hoped Rina would get better soon.

Steel knew Max really wanted to see her before they left (they had even passed by the hospital she was in), but it wasn't what they had planned for. And someone would of probably have noticed them and called. Which was why a letter would have to do.

Yes, this was exactly what they both NEEDED, Max especially. Partly because of Makino, partly because of Max's disappointments in life, and mostly because he worried for his best friend. And Steel would never admit it, one of the few people he could trust with everything.

So he was gonna let Max rest, drive all the way to Oklahoma City, and handle the rest of their arrangements. Because that's what he was programmed to do. To make sure his host was functional, usable, and happy.

THE NEXT MORNING

Molly McGrath exhaled as she put the keys into her apartment door and opened it with fatigue. Dragging her tired body into the foyer, she barely made it to the living room before plopping herself on their couch and tiredly groaning. She had finally finished her work for the business term (something she was more than relieved for) and was able to breathe a bit. She picked her head up and looked at the time on a nearby clock before moaning again. 'It's already ten?', she thought to herself and used her elbows to prop herself up.

She turned her head and noticed her son's room was still shut before closing her eyes in remorse. Molly knew she had been hard on him last night, but Max had NEEDED someone to be strict on him. When she had noticed him around the house lately (the few times she was at home), he had seen so distant and absentminded. Sure, maybe it had been his finals or the fact that he was excited about the break. Or maybe something was going on between him and Sydney (a girl she really liked), but Max wasn't focused like he normally was. And that kind of inattentive thinking could get him or someone else hurt. Like it had last night.

'Or it could end in the alternative', she thought and shuddered.

Max was truly all she had of her husband left. Someone who had changed her life, the entire planet's life, and then just vanished. Disappeared into nothingness like the black emptiness of space he hailed from. She wondered what would Jim even say to Max to help him. He could probably relate to him better, seeing as they both have the same abilities. She had wanted to try and talk to him after he stormed out of N-Tech, but Forge said that Max just needed some space and he usually would come back in an hour or two. So she trusted the man and headed back to the office. She was starting to question that decision though.

Molly then picked herself off the sofa and headed to her son's room. Punishment or not, she was gonna talk to him. Try and get him to open up to her like he used to. 'Maybe we can go out to breakfast?', she hoped and her stomach growled in agreement. Yes, she could allow that on his punishment.

"Max?", she questioned and lightly knocked on the door. "Look, I know you're probably still upset about yesterday, and I'm sorry if I came off as harsh. But I just want to talk."

Silence, no response.

Molly shifted from one foot to the other and changed tactics. "If you would like, we could go out to eat and talk, just the two of us. Or three with Steel of course", she said slightly laughing. "Come on, Blueberry pancakes and coffee? Sounds good." Still no response. "Max, I know you still can't be sleeping", she exclaimed and slowly opened the door.

And immediately she knew something was wrong.

Half of his personal items were gone. His laptop, skate board, and even his bed sheets. GONE. She immediately ran to his closet and quickly pried open the door. Some of his clothes weren't there as well, and the travel case she had bought for him when they had moved to Copper Canyon was no where to be seen as well. She immediately starting running her hands through her hair in worry, and noticed an envelope with the words "To Mom" on the front on his night stand. Grabbing it with urgency, she opened it quickly and read what was inside. And the more she read into the letter, the more tears begin to spring into her eyes.

'Mom,

You were right. I really have been distracted lately. And I know that my responsibilities deserve my full attention. I know that I need to focus better and you only want to keep me safe, but I just can't do it anymore. I can't keep up with everything. Chores, school, supervillians. Everything. It's just to much.

I don't want you to worry. Trust me, that's the last thing I want. But the one thing I really need right now is to take responsibility for myself. And that includes making sure I can rest and just try and find my focus again. I want to be there for you, for Uncle Ferrus, everyone at N-Tech, even Copper Canyon. But I can't do that in the condition I am right now.

Which is why Steel and I will be going away for a while. We'll be okay, as long as we...'

"No, God no. I can't lose him", she said, her hands shaking and wrinkling the note in waves. She quickly rushed out of the room and grabbed her phone out of her purse. Quickly dialing her son's number, she was shocked to hear a dial tone saying the number was no longer active. She cursed under her breath and swiftly typed in N-Tech's number.

"Cat, it's me", Molly said and rushed out of her apartment to her car. "I'm coming in right now. It's urgent." Molly hung up the phone and took off in her car with lightning speed. She had to find Max. And N-Tech would know where to start. She just had to.

COPPER CANYON FIELD INTERNATIONAL AIR PORT

While Copper Canyon did have a lot to offer, one thing it definitely needed to work on was its airport. The cramped building and terminals were swarmed, busy with people trying to take off for exotic places for summer break. Bodies were pressed against windows, crammed into tiny (and overpriced) food courts, or huddled into tiny corners (with only one or two outlets to charge smart devices).

Yet in spite of this craziness, two lone figures stood next to one another and observed the madness. And on the surface, it seemed like they were just two regular travelers. But to the trained and perceptive eye, these individuals definitely had a hidden agenda. One was a gentleman with cool shades, just drinking a large Starbucks coffee and crowd watching.

After taking a long swig, he looked to his female companion and grinned lazily. She had fiery red hair was trying to find something on her cell phone while humming in confirmation.

"So what do you think 'Tasha?", the man said and tossed his disposable cup in the trash. She looked up for a second, rolled her eyes and went back to her phone.

"I think it's overcrowded and gross Barton. Like any other ratty airport", she replied curtly and put her phone in her jean pocket. The man laughed and then picked up their tiny travel cases with ease. "Well, hopefully the city isn't like it", he said and they headed for the airport's entrance/exit. "It would make it less 'interesting'.

"Don't make me shoot you before we even start Clint. It's to early", Natasha replied and hailed down a taxi. Laughing at her, Agent Barton and Natasha Romanoff hopped in and headed for the rocky metropolis of Copper Canyon.

And Bam! Finally! I've been wanting to introduce these two to Copper Canyon for the longest time. And with everyone looking around for Max and Steel, it's gonna be hard to notice the S.H.I.E.L.D agents sneaking into town and learning all their business. =)

I'm gonna try and update soon. I'm still not used to writing regularly and the holidays are about to pick up. Which means more working. =( But expect an update by early November. The next chapter will have Steel and Max finally in New York. And more Natasha and Clint I promise. Thanks everyone so much and see ya soon.