Trailer Music: Nation Rises - Killer Tracks
"As powerful as you are Max Steel," started Miles Dread, speaking to Max and Steel, the former in his Strength Mode. Around them were all their enemies, ranging from Ultimate Elementor and Metal Elementor to Toxzon and Extroyer, "Victory requires sacrifice..."
Behind Miles Dread, a massive machine began powering up, a drill-like machine that fired a dark red beam up into the sky. At the center of the machine, there appeared to be an Ultralink sphere, spinning around rapidly as Negative T.U.R.B.O. Energy began coursing across it.
"And I am more than prepared to sacrifice everything for what I want."
The next scene shows Max firing a beam of T.U.R.B.O. Energy from Steel, the beam striking the machine, the positive and negatively charged T.U.R.B.O. Energy mixing with one another. The energy being generated started to overload the machine before a massive explosion erupted from the center. A blast of energy followed the explosion, consuming everything too close, including Max and Steel as well as the gathered villains.
"Any idea where we are?" asked Steel, hovering just a few feet away from Max. The duo had just regained consciousness and saw they weren't in Dread's base anymore, but what looked like an alley.
"I literally have no idea, Steel," replied Max as he got to his feet, the mask retracting so that he could massage his aching head, "Besides, wouldn't you know? You're the one with a built-in GPS?"
"You suck the fun out of everything," groaned Steel, earning an amused snort from his human best friend.
"Of all the members of The Team; Max Steel is the most troublesome."
Vandal Savage was currently speaking to the other members of the Light. Around him were multiple screens depicting the mentioned hero, each one showing him involved with other heroes, thwarting their plans. Ranging from their efforts with Dr. Roquette the screen showing Max Steel in Turbo Spike Mode, taking on Cheshire, Black Spider, and Hook, along with the team. To Santa Prisca and the Cobra-Venom sale where the hero was in Strength Mode this time, trading blows with Mammoth and supporting Aqualad as the two brought the enhanced villain down.
"He and the Ultralink, N'Baro Aksteel X377 are far more capable than the other members," explained Savage, "and as such, pose the greatest threat to our plans."
"So, you're saying that we can't go home?" finished Max as he and Steel were speaking to the Justice League.
"Without knowing precisely which Earth is yours, we can't risk sending either of you back," explained Superman as he approached the young teen to rest a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry Max."
"So what are we gonna do?" asked Steel.
"You can use the guest room for now," offered Black Canary as she opened the door to the guest room in her apartment. Letting Max and Steel enter and look around.
"Just like your old room, huh Max?" joked Steel, earning a scowl from the teen and a chuckle from Dinah.
"We did good work here tonight," Aqualad noted, he, Max, Steel, Robin, Kid Flash, and Superboy stood before their mentors at the Hall, "The work you trained us to do. Together, on our own, we forged something powerful. Important."
"Is this is about your treatment at the hall?" Flash questioned, "The five of you-"
"Five," Aqualad glanced at Superboy, "The five of us. And it is not."
"Batman, we're ready to use what you taught us," Robin interjected, "Or why teach us at all?"
"Why let them tell us what to do?!" Superboy looked up, "It's simple, get on board, or get out of the way."
"Let's put it this way," interjected Steel hovering in front of the Leaguers, "We're gonna do our own thing, regardless of what you say or do, so how about avoid the headaches of punishments and just go with it?"
Batman just stared at the Ultralink for a few seconds before he gave his answer, "Give me three days."
"This cave was the original Secret Sanctuary of the Justice League," Batman stated as Max, Steel, and the others moved to the center of the hall, "We're calling it into service again since you six are determined to stay together and fight the good fight... You'll do it on League terms."
"Basically, how things were done for me and Steel back at N-Tek," commented Max as he looked around the hall.
"I will have that vial, Max Steel!" shouted Toxin as he deployed his sickly toxic green class from the gauntlets on his arms, "One way, or another!"
He leaped at the Hero, bringing down his claws just as Max rolled to the side, dodging the attack. The claws sliced through the steel wall behind him, leaving traces of toxic gunk on the slash marks.
"Max, if Toxzon is here-"
"Then there is a good chance Dread made it too," Max finished Steel's sentence. He narrowed his eyes as he focused on an image of Dread. Steel was hovering just behind his best friend, a look of concern in his single eye.
"Max Steel is indeed many things, a challenge is indeed one of them," said Miles Dread as he stepped into the light, joining the Light's meeting, along with his newest right hand, Roulette, "But what Max Steel isn't, is easy to deal with. Take it from someone who knows, Mister Al Ghul; Maxwell McGrath is not one that is simply dealt with."
"And what is it you suggest, Dread?" inquired Vandal, giving the former CEO his attention. Behind his mask, Dread grinned darkly.
"You are all beneath us, human slugs!" roared Ultimate Elementor, in his air form, floating above the Team, minus one Max Steel. The beast formed from the combination of four Ultralinks then switched to Fire, "But you'll all burn the same!"
Ultimate Fire Elementor then shot a massive stream of fire from his mouth down at the gathered heroes. The fireball grew larger and larger as it closed in on them.
"If I had any advice to give, Maxie," said Jade as she leaned into Max's shoulder, slipping under his right arm as she wrapped one arm behind his back and placed the other on his chest, "Don't pile everything on yourself. You're just one person."
She then used her right hand to tilt Max's head toward her so she could lean in to give the hero a passionate kiss, one that the hero returned as he brought his hands to her waist to pull her closer.
"A rather simple idea, one that a former associate inspired me to take further."
Dread took hold of a device and stabbed it into his arm.
"No!" Shouted Max Steel as he tried to stop the villain, but the endless swarm of Dreadnaughts made getting to his enemy difficult.
"When you cannot defeat your foes using your own methods..."
Suddenly, Dread's body began to radiate Negative Turbo Energy, similar to how Max's did when he first linked with Steel. In a similar fashion to that fateful linking, an Ultralink Sphere flew towards Dread and burst into a flurry of red triangles and a familiar Ultralink appeared, N'baro Aksteel X376, only with more black parts instead of gunmetal gray.
"use theirs."
The Ultralink then flew in front of Dread's chest, locking into position before slamming into Max Steel's enemy's chest in a burst of energy
"It's about time we finished this, Max Steel," stated Metal Elementor, having shapeshifted his right hand into a spinning blade and squared off against the hero who was in Turbo Heat Mode.
Max Steel and Miles Dread could be seen charging towards one another, Max in Strength Mode with his right hand pulled back, fist glowing with Turbo Energy while Dread did the same with his left hand. Once the two got close, they both threw their punches at each other, resulting in a massive burst of Turbo Energy.
Young Justice: Turbofied
*Bonus Scene*
Max had just got back to his shared apartment, having had a long day and an equally long therapy session with Dinah. It went without saying that Max had a lot of emotional baggage ever since coming to this world; he and Steel couldn't go home, he couldn't even let his mom, dad, or even his Uncle Ferris know that he was fine. Then there was also finding out that not only had Dread survived the explosion, his other bad guys had also survived and been here as well.
It was just a lot to deal with.
"You okay, Max?" inquired Steel as he disconnected from Max's chest in a burst of Turbo Energy, "You've been kind of quiet."
"I'm alright, Steel," answered Max, though that wasn't quite true, "Just had a lot to think about."
"Is that why you've been seeing Canary beyond just living out of her guest room?" concluded the Ultralink, cocking an eyebrow, or rather his digital eye made it look like he was cocking on, "Anything you can tell your best buddy?"
"Just thinking about how we're stuck here and we can't call home to let mom and dad know we're okay. Not to mention, out of everyone on the team, I'm the only one who really has enemies, like how Batman has Joker or Superman has Luthor," explained the teen, "Just have a lot on my mind."
"But that isn't everything, isn't it?" surmised Steel, figuring there was more to it than just that.
Max gave his best friend a look, which really told the Ultralink everything he needed to know: there was more, and it wasn't easy for the teen hero to talk about. Steel would know, he was there when IT happened and he couldn't really blame Max for not wanting to talk about it. It was a very touchy subject, especially when they find out Miles is still alive. Of course, they suspected Dread had survived the explosion, they had and the Turbo Car and Cycle made it too. It's just suspecting and confirming can make people feel different ways and honestly, it was difficult to accept.
"Max, you know you can't blame yourself for what happened," stated the Ultralink as he hovered over to his best friend as he went to sit down beside the couch, "It was an accident."
"I know that, Steel," replied Max as he rubbed his hand through his hair, letting out a tired sigh, "I just can't help it sometimes."
"Beating yourself up over something that wasn't your fault?" said a familiar voice, causing both Max and Steel to look towards the doorway heading to the bedroom. Leaning against the frame was Jade, she was wearing black spandex pants and a dark green sports bra. Her hair was brushed back, or as well as it could have been given how wild her hair usually is, "How very heroic of you."
Pushing off the doorway she made her way over to Max.
"Jade?" said Max, surprised to see Artemis's sister here, "How'd you get here?"
"And are you sure, it's a good idea for you to be here?" inquired Steel, as Jade stopped in front of the couch, "This is a leaguer's home."
"I don't think Canary will mind too much," shrugged the Vietnamese assassin as she gave Max's best friend a smirk, "Besides, what she doesn't know won't hurt you or Max."
"That is also true," admitted the Ultralink as his processor then realized what Jade was up to, "In which case, if you are caught, I don't want to be here when Canary yells at you. I'm gonna go see if Darci is doing anything."
"Wait, Steel!" gaped Max as he watched his partner ditch him.
"Tell Miss Mason I said 'hi'," said Jade as she waved bye to the Ultralink as he flew out the nearest window.
"Traitor," muttered Max as he glared at the window where Steel escaped.
"You don't really have much room to say that, Maxie," said the League of Shadows member as she then sat down beside him, leaning against the couch, "After all, you are seeing me, aren't you?"
"What do you want Jade?" asked Max in a tired tone, turning over to the olive-skinned sibling of his teammate.
"I couldn't help but overhear how you're dealing with a lot of emotional baggage," explained Jade as she scooted closer to Max.
"Want to help take my mind off of things?" inquired Max as Jade leaned in, gently placing one hand on his chest and the other on his cheek.
"If it'll make you feel better," whispered the assassin before she pressed her lips against his. She leaned more into their little kiss as she shifted her body so that her right leg was hooked into Max's lap as she pressed herself closer to the hero. Max, by that point, had already begun returning Jade's advances and placed one of his hands on her hip, bringing her closer until they fell back onto the couch, with Jade on top and Max beneath her.
Suffice to say, there are many ways to take your mind of things that stress you out, and Max found that Jade really knew how to take his mind off things.
Yeah, I had no reason to add this bonus scene, other than because I could, but also to really state that this story is gonna be Max x Jade. Just wanted to make that very clear. Also, by this point, I think it's clear I'm invested in the idea of making this a full-on story. But in case you haven't seen the post I made to the previous chapter, I'll add it here too.
Given how dark Young Justice gets later on, I may make this story rated M given how mature some of the themes in Season 3 are, and the whole deception thing is pretty dark too. That being said, I feel like people wouldn't mind if I made this story rated M. As you all might guess, this story is gonna have Max paired with Jade, as in my opinion, the first and second seasons were pretty one-sided in Roy's and Jade's relationship. It wasn't until season 3 that their relationship was more developed. However, I'm only saying this because I haven't read the comics, so I could be missing some info. Either way, for the story, Max and Jade are gonna be paired together. Also, for the story, I'm gonna make Max a bit older, like the same age as Roy was in season 1, mainly because I can. Also, I may do some adult things with Jade because I am an absolute degenerate and I don't care what you all think. I'm following in the footsteps of HandassassinSpider-Man and he pretty much has a lemon scene in every story he writes. So deal with it.