Chapter 15

Kill the Storm

The morning sun had begun to rise as many Danger Beasts woke up from there slumber. But on the other side of valley, the four Elementors were standing on top of cliff overlooking the valley, discussing Air Elementor's plan.

"And sure this "Imperial Arms" can give us the power we need?" Water asked doubtful

"Indeed, its power allows the user, to change its form to whatever they desire" Air explained

"And where is this so called Arms anyway?" Fire asked crossing his arms

"Kept in lock down by the ones known as the "Revolutionary Army"" Air replied making Earth scoff

"And what do you think we should do, just barge in and take it?" Earth asked

"For once Earth is right, if we barge right in they'll send Max Steel to stop us" Water said until Air snickered at this

"Unless, Max Steel is too busy to help" Air said confusing the three

"What's that supposed to mean?" Fire asked

"It means, it's time for Max's friends to be blown away" Air replied as he floated off the ground

"You should know, those humans won't go down that easily" Water said

"I'm counting on it" Air said

He then turned into a gust of wind as he flew away and went off to find Max Steel and his friends.

Back at Night Raids hideout, all the members had woken up and were having breakfast together. All the members were really enjoying themselves, all expect for one.

"I keep telling Chelsea, I'm good" Max said to the auburn haired girl

The girl in question was trying to feed Max some rice, much to Max's dismay.

"Come on just let me feed you please?" Chelsea said, shoving her chopsticks in his face

"No thanks, really I'm good" Max said but she was quite insistent

Leone then put her arm around Max's chest and pulled him close to her as glared at Chelsea.

"He said he was good" Leone growled at her, making Chelsea finally back off.

"Alright then" Chelsea said as she returned to her meal

Max then let out a sigh of relief as Leone then pulled Max closer to her.

"Thanks" Max murmured to her

"Anytime" Leone replied

"I'll say, since when did you become chick magnet" Steel said

"How should I know?" Max replied

"Don't know what?" Sheele asked as everyone sweat dropped at this

"Um Sheele, he wasn't talking to us?" Mine said making Sheele confused until she remembered

"Oh you were talking to Steel weren't you" Sheele said as she looked down in embarrassment

It was true that most of Night Raid has gotten use to Max and Steels habits, including there "link talks" as they dubbed them.

"Now that everyone has had their fill, it's time to get busy" Najenda said getting everyone's attention.

Najenda then started to list off the teams duty's today, since they didn't get any assassination jobs today they decided to take precautions and reinforce the safety of their base, since they didn't want another Dr. Stylish moment again. Everyone was given their assignments, Akame and Su were sent to hunt Danger Beasts straying too close to their base, Lubbock and Mine were sent to check Lubbock's barrier and check their surroundings, Sheele and Tatsumi were sent to gather supplies for the team and the base, and, unfortunately Leone and Chelsea were paired together to check inventory as evident by the two giving each other glares.

"Finally Max, Steel I want to fly out into the valley and make sure of no incoming Imperial forces of any kind" Najenda said as they nodded in confirmation

"Sounds good" Max said

Once everyone was outside, they all set out on their assignments, with Max changing to his flight mode and preparing to take off, until Leone came up and gave him a quick hug.

"Be careful out there babe, promise?" Leone said making Max smile underneath his helmet

"I will, I promise" Max replied

"I mean of course he will be, I mean it just recon" Steel said making the two chuckle

With those parting words, Max then took off into the sky as Leone looked at him fly off.

"You sure spend a lot of time with don't you?" Najenda said getting Leone's attention

"Well he's my boyfriend, why would I?" Leone said but Najenda knew better

"Leone, why?" Najenda asked simply, making the blonde sadden

"I'm not stupid boss, I know that Max is from another universe from ours and I know that one day he will have to go back one day" Leone said as she clutched the area her shirt, just right above her heart, "I don't know how, maybe he will walk through some portal of some kind or he'll just poof into thin air, but before that happens I want to spend as much time with him as possible" She said looking into the sky as a stray tear went down her cheek.

High above the valley, Max was flying over keeping an eye out for anything, so far it has been quiet but because of this Max's thoughts drifted.

"Hey Max, earth to Max" Steel said trying to get the teens attention

"Yeah, what's up?" Max asked wondering what the Ultralink wanted

"You okay? You've been quiet since we left" Steel said making Max frown

"Sorry, it's just…well I was think about me and Leone" Max replied

"What about it?" Steel asked concerned

"It's just…Steel one day we will have to go back home right?" Max said

"Oh…oh dear" Steel said knowing what Max was getting at

"Yeah exactly, one day we'll go and I don't want to leave her" Max said as his face went downcast

"You know, we can bring her with us" Steel suggested

"That brings up another problem, my parents" Max replied, "I don't know how they will react to me dating an assassin" he said

"Oh come on Max, you how reasonable your parents are, heck your dad is an alien, I think they would accept her no matter what…it's Forge that going to a problem" Steel said

"Yeah, defiantly" Max said

"Worst case scenario is…" Steel started to say until he then went quiet

"Steel? What's up?" Max asked, confused by his friends silence

"Not sure, but sensors are detecting a change in air flow not too far away" Steel answered confusing Max

"Wait, are you…watching the weather?" Max asked

"Yep, with the Elementors running around, I decided to expand by scanners to detect other unnatural phenomenon, seismic activate, thermal energy and air flow just to name a few" Steel explained

"Cool, so you think we should check it out?" Max asked

"Couldn't hurt, could be just a storm heading this way" Steel said

Max increased his thrust and sped off into the sky, heading to the location of the wind disturbance. Max then came up on a mountain and a forest down below, although Max couldn't help but notice a large amount of Danger Beasts that seemed to be fleeing the area.

"What do think got them spooked?" Max asked

"I think that did" Steel said

Max then turned his head and his eyes went wide in shock.

"Uh oh"

Back at the hideout everyone has finished their assignments and were assembled at the front of the hideout to give there report.

"Alright everyone, how did it all go?" Najedna asked

"No Danger Beasts were found near our base" Akame said

"My barrier is still in intact and still going strong" Lubbock said giving a thumbs up

"We were able collect many herbs for medicine and wood for fire" Sheele said

"And our inventory is fully stocked and ready" Chelsea said with a smile

Hearing this Najenda then gave a nod and a smile spread on her face.

"Well done, and once Max gives us his report then I can say…" She said until the sound of Max's thrusters could be heard.

Everyone then turned to sky and found the Turbo Hero flying toward them. He then landed in front of them as Steel detached from him.

"Ah, your back so how was…" Najenda then started to say until Max cut her off

"We have a big problem!" Max said causing everyone to snap to attention

"What is it? Did the Imperial army find us?" Akame said gripping her blades handle

"No worse" Steel said making everyone tense up

"Worse?! You mean the Jaegers?!" Tatsumi said with fear in his voice, not wanting to meet the ice queen Esdeath again.

"Not them either" Steel said as he projected a map of the area with his eye with a slow moving red dot on it, "It appeared out of thin air and it's heading straight for us!" Steel said

"WHAT IS?!" everyone shouted

Steel then showed a video of what they saw, which caused all of Night Raid to go silent.

"Oh that is worse" Najenda said with a deep scowl on her face

Cause on the holo-screen was the image of giant raging Tornado.

Everyone was now mounted on the Air Manta, minus Chelsea, as everyone prepped their weapons for the possible coming battle, with Max flying alongside them.

"Are sure this is what we think it is?" Najenda asked the Turbo Duo

"Definitely, there so change in weather patterns and that tornado is moving in strange movement pattern, it's definitely not normal"

"But how were going to stop a tornado?" Tatsumi asked now wearing Incursio

"Don't know but right now we need get to it before it gets to the hideout" Najenda replied, "There is clearing it has to cross through, we'll meet it there" she said as everyone nodded

The group then came up on said clearing and landed. Once everyone disembarked the Air Manta then started to fly back to base, as everyone stood in the clearing waiting for the tornado to come. Everyone then stood at the ready, all of them gripping their respective weapons tightly. Max then looked over at Leone who was next to him and saw her sweating quite a bit.

"You okay?" Max asked snapping the blonde from her thoughts

"Yeah, I'm good just can't stand this anticipation" Leone replied

Max then reached down and grabbed hold her hand and gave it a squeeze.

"Don't worry, you've got my back, I've got yours" he said making her smile

"Thanks" she replied

Najenda then grabbed a cigar from her pocket and started to light it, only for a gust of wind to blow out her flame.

"Hmm, windy" she simply said as she relit her lighter

The wind then blew again, snuffing out her flame again, suddenly the wind then started to pick up causing the leaves to be blown off the trees causing everyone to tense up.

"Here it comes, everyone ready!" Najenda shouted causing everyone to take their stances. The ripping of trees from the ground could be heard and was coming closer, then out of the forest came the towering tower of wind. Once it emerged it then stopped in its path and just stood in front of them catching everyone by surprise.

"Well we can really cross a normal tornado off the list" Lubbock said

Max then looked down and saw some pebbles roll pass their feet, causing him look up at the tornado again. Then on cue the tornado then disappeared, only to leave behind a hulking figure in the air. Its body was completely made of twisting air; the only part being solid was its face with a large red orb on its forehead.

"Air Elementor, just as we expected" Steel said as they looked up at the final Elementor

"Nice to see you again blowhard!" Max shouted up at him, making Leone snicker

"Nice to see you again as well, Max Steel" Air said in a very raspy voice

He then looked around and saw the other members of Night Raid.

"And I see you brought some friends" Air said gesturing to the group

Najenda then stepped forward and addressed the flying creature.

"We are Night Raid, and unless you want to live, I would highly suggest you surrender" She said to the Elementor

"Funny, I was about to say the same thing!" Air shouted

He then crashed down to the ground, causing a huge gust of wind to bellow out and sweep across the clearing.

"Brace yourself!" Max shouted

The wind smashed into them, causing the group to be sent flying across the clearing and into the forest, hitting trees and rocks. Air then flew up in front of them and gave a low chuckle as the team stood back up.

"That's it! I'm tired of these Elemental freaks!" Mine shouted as she aimed Pumpkin at Air, "But I do have to thank you for that little gust because now Pumpkin is much stronger now" she said with a smirk

Mine then pulled the trigger causing a larger beam to be fired out muzzle, but as soon as it looked like it would hit, the beam just passed right through Air causing it to hit a cliff-side in the distance.

"What the heck!" Mine shouted as Air chuckled

"Oh, that tickles" he said

Tatsumi then jumped forward toward the air beast with his spear in hand, his target was Air's core. But Air Elementor then thrusted his hand forward, causing a tornado to erupt from his palm catching the armored teen midair until throwing him to the ground causing Tatsumi to make a hole on impact.

"Tatsumi!" Akame shouted running to the armored teen

"Are you okay?" she asked as Tatsumi sat back up

"Yeah, I've had the wind knocked out of me, but I've never been knocked out by the wind" Tatsumi said getting back on his feet.

"Then how about I make it permeant!" Air shouted

He then came down with a twister in his hands like a club causing the two assassins to dodge the attack. Air then thrust his hands forward causing a blast of wind to fling Akame into the air. Akame flew through the air about to smash into a tree, until Lubbock then sent out his strings catching her and pulled her to the group.

"Oh okay?" Lubbock asked

"Yeah, but this Elementor is probably is the strongest one out of four" Akame said

"Yeah, we know what you mean" Max added

Air then summoned another tornado and sent it at the group catching everyone's attention.

"Scatter!" Najenda shouted out

Everyone then jumped out of the blast just as the tornado made contact causing several trees to be ripped up from the ground.

"How are we supposed to beat this thing, none of Imperial Arms can touch him" Sheele said as she and Mine ducked under a blast of air.

"Not to mention getting that core is harder than it looks" Lubbock said jumping out of the way of a mini tornado.

"Then we can't beat him" Akame said as everyone took cover behind the tree line.

"What's the matter Night Raid, too scared to fight" Air mocked chuckling

"AH, I hate this; I wish I could punch him!" Leone said through gritted teeth

"But how, we can't even touch him!" Mine shouted back

"Well there is one way" Max said getting everyone's attention

"There is? How?" Akame asked

"Well…it's hard to explain just watch and follow our lead" Max said getting a nod from everyone

"He's your enemy Max just show us what to do" Najenda said

Max then stood up as Steel flew into position.

"Ready Steel?" Max asked his partner

"Oh yeah, let's turn up the volume!" Steel shouted back

"GO TURBO, SONIC, FLIGHT"

The flash of light appeared once more causing everyone to cover their eyes, once it died down they saw Max in his third Duo Strike Mode. This one had four spinning blades on his back like a helicopter, his helmet now sported a large blue face visor with the bottom of his face shown and to end off with some speakers on different parts of his armor with orange light flowing along the black parts of his armor.

Max then took off into the sky at a greater speed then ever charging at Air Elementor.

"Round two, windbag!" Max shouted at him as he circled the large wind beast

"We'll see about that Max Steel" he responded

Air then shoot out a tornado blast from his hand causing Max to change course to avoid it. Max then went over Air's head until turning around and speeding right at him. Suddenly the wings on his back then flipped around, now reveling speakers on the inside of them.

"Now here is a little song dedicated to you" Max said

Max then shot an orange blast of sonic energy at Air, but instead of going through him Air was then hit causing him to tumble to the ground, crying out in pain.

"Guess he wasn't a fan" Steel said

Everyone stared in shock, seeing Max's attack.

"They hit him? They hit him!" Mine shouted voicing everyone's thoughts

"Yep, that right" Max said hovering above the group

"But how, he's body is made of air?" Sheele asked

"Well that's thing, thanks to our friend Breto back home, we learned that to hurt this Elementor we needed to disrupt his flow of air basically with blast waves or high frequency sonic att…ahhhh!" Steel explained until Max was then sucked in by a twister and was swung around in the air.

"Ha, caught in bad weather!" Air taunted until throwing Max into the ground

"Max!" Leone shouted after him

"Blast waves…like an explosion, how are we going to do that?" Tatsumi said as everyone racked their brains for ideas.

Mine then noticed a few good sized boulders around the area causing an idea to come to her head.

"Leone, I want to throw one of those boulders at Air" Mine said confusing the blonde

"What's that going to do?" Leone asked causing Mine to sigh

"Don't argue just do it!" Mine snapped

Air then hovered over Max, as he groaned in pain in his crater, until Air lifted his hand and formed a sphere of pressurized air in his hand ready smash his enemy.

"Say goodbye" he said ready to slam the sphere into Max Steel, until a voice caught his attention

"Hey Windy, catch!" Leone shouted chucking a boulder at him, but Air just chuckled

"Please like that would work" He said

Suddenly Mine then shot a blast from Pumpkin, her target being the rock, and once it made impact the boulder explode, causing the shockwaves to hit Air causing him to be sent back into the trees with a shout of pain.

"Haha, it worked!" Mine shouted with glee

"Good thinking Mine" Max said crawling out his crater

"Well you know what to do now, let's make some noise!" Steel shouted as Max took flight

Air then burst up from the tree tops looking quite angry, he then sent out a wave of air at Night Raid causing them to jump out the way. Max then came up behind Air and blasted the Elementor with another sonic blast, causing him to go sailing across the clearing. Tatsumi and Susanoo then rapidly sliced down a huge line of trees, causing them to fall over and create a huge crash causing Air to be hit by the resulting shockwave, causing Air to yell out in pain.

"Take that, you're not so tough!" Tatsumi taunted the wind beast

Only for Air to recover and blast the two assassins causing them to go flying and hit a rock formation causing the Tatsumi and Susanoo to grunt in pain.

"Maybe leave the trash talking after the fight" Su said as he dusted himself off after the attack

"Yeah, good point" Tatsumi replied

Air then picked up the fallen trees with a two of his tornado's and hurled them at Night Raid, only for Akame and Sheele to jump forward and slash the trees to splinters. Air then flew in front of the two assassins ready to smash them with a ball of pressured air, only for Leone to jump in front him and did a thunderclap making a shockwave causing Air to be blasted back. Air then skidded to a stop as he glared at the blonde.

"Wrenched Human!" Air sneered at her

Only to be blasted into the ground by Max as he flew over to the group.

"How are you guys doing?" Max asked

"So far so good" Najenda replied

Air then blasted out of the ground with a roar, as the group turned back to see the angry Elementor.

"Geez, what does it take to keep this thing down" Lubbock said

"Max?" Najenda asked the turbo hero

"We gave him some good hits, but to really take him down is to hit that orb" Max replied

"Easier said than done" Tatsumi added

"I know which why we need you" Max said pointing at Mine

"Me?" Mine said shocked

"Yep, you've got the best shot out all of us, so hit that orb and were good" Max said

"Okay, but it wouldn't be easy" Mine replied

"We'll help out" Akame added

"We'll keep Air busy so that you can take your shot" Tatsumi said as everyone nodded

"Alright everyone let's do this!" Najenda said

Everyone then charged at Air, Max then blasted him with another sonic blast causing the Elementor to cross his arms to block the attack, but was pushed back slightly. Air then sent out blast of air but Max then dodged it. Akame and Sheele then jumped at the air beast and tried to make a slash at Air's core only to be diverted by a gust of air. Tatsumi and Susanoo then came up behind and swung at Air's core only to be caught in a tornado and thrown at the ground, but landed on their feet. Lubbock then wrapped his strings around Leone and swung her at Air only to be dodged causing her to land on a tree's branch. During this entire time Mine was aiming down the sights on Pumpkin and finally got her target in sight and pulled the trigger and released bolt of energy that struck Air right in his core, causing the Elementor to roar in pain until collapsing to the ground. Everyone then surrounded the giant air monster, seeing that the threat was finally defeated.

"Way to go Mine, you just broke wind" Steel said as he detached from Max causing the hero to go back to base mode.

"Oh very funny Steel" Mine replied, rolling her eyes

"Glad that's over, now what do we do with him?" Leone asked

"Interrogation sounds like…" Najenda stared to say until a panicked Chelsea came from the forest

"Boss, boss!" she shouted getting everyone's attention

"What's wrong?" Najenda asked

"A message from the Rebels!" Chelsea said handing a rolled up piece of parchment to her

Unfolding it, Najenda then looked over the letter, but as she read her face twisted to horror.

"Boss?" Akame asked worried

Once Najenda finished, she then crumbled the paper as she turned to the others.

"The Revolutionary Army…was attacked by other Elementors!" she said causing everyone to gasp

"Just as I planned" Air suddenly said rising into the air getting everyone's attention

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Najenda demanded from the monster

"It's simply, I wanted you to fight me" Air replied making everyone confused

"You wanted to fight? Why?" Max asked confused until realization hit Akame

"You were keeping us busy weren't you; you had no intention of beat us did you?" Akame asked as Air chuckled

"Exactly, I knew if my comrades attacked your Army, they would fail due to your interference, but give you something to punch and you came running to get it" Air said as the everyone glared daggers at him

"But why attack the army?" Steel asked

"To acquire a certain Imperial arms you have, the one you call Creator's Maelstrom" he replied making Najenda gasp

"What's Creator's Maelstrom?" Max asked

"A very powerful Imperial Arms, with the ability to become anything inorganic that the person wants, within reason of course" Najedna explained

"Yes, and know that we have it, we can finally complete our mission" Air said getting everyone attention

"Mission? What mission?" Leone asked

"You'll see, soon enough!" he shouted as he swept his hand outward causing everyone to blow away and slide across the ground.

"As you humans say, hasta la vista" Air said as her tuned into a tornado and flew away.

As everyone got up they could help but look after Air retreating form as they all thought the same thing.

"What now?"