Chapter four. this one was longer than what i wanted but, heck, it'll do. somebody makes an appearance in this one too. dundunduuuuuuun!

I don't own Cyberchase. If I did, it would still be broadcasting episodes to this day. I do own Max. I also just randomly named one of the warriors Jethro. not supposed to be a NCIS reference but you can translate it however you want.

Chapter Four
Master Pi's Choice

Master Pi had to admit he was both surprised and amused when he received word of Max's interest to join the Shangri-La Warrior ranks. But he, like Mathias, was skeptical about Max being a Shield-Maiden. He met the girl, he knew who she was and what she was meant for, and this didn't seem like the type of thing she was cut out for.

Months after Max's initial start-up, Mathias proudly informed Pi that he and Motherboard were telling Max stories about the Shield-Maidens and Sword-Thanes of Shangri-La every night before bed. This news pleased Pi. It wasn't very often he got to hear about a young borg being interested in learning about a civilization alien to the one they grew up in. Nevertheless, Pi was concerned Max would want to become like the female figures in the stories. He didn't have a problem with borgs aspiring to be more, he just had a problem with that borg aspiring to be more.

His concerns were not unduly felt.

When Mathias called him, Pi made only one promise: he would come to Control Central and talk with Max. He didn't say anything about the possibility of Max joining them and he wouldn't say anything about her joining unless he had fully analyzed the situation. And the possible recruit. He requested for Motherboard to send him a Portal so he could see the recruit ASAP. No sooner had he dismounted from the Portal than he was stunned to see Ada Lovelace standing with Mathias; Motherboard was present as well. Pi thought this was curious. He had no idea what Ada's relationship with Max could possibly be that she would want to be present.

Mathias noticed Pi's look. He scooted close to Ada and threw an arm across his girlfriend's shoulders. "Ada helped me with some of Max's manufacturing. In some kind of way, Ada is Max's mother."

Pi nodded in understanding but said nothing on the subject. Instead, he turned his attention back to Max, who was now kneeling on the floor before him. Pi folded his hands over his trademark scepter; face betraying nothing as he scrutinized the young borg.

She was exactly as he remembered her and she was not built like the Warriors of Shangri-La. Her body was designed the same as Mathias': slim, light, and narrow for fitting into tight spaces; arms long, thin, and double-jointed for reaching around pipes and bars to make repairs; fingers thin and strong for wielding tools; legs built for lifting heavy objects.

While her appearance was the primary reason behind him not wanting to permit Max to train with them, the other was her personality which was a result of the copy-transfer between herself and Mathias before her start-up. True she was kind, friendly, and polite. But she was also impatient and impulsive. Those were the kind of qualities a Warrior should not have.

Pi took a breath. "I understand you want to become a Shield-Maiden." he said.

"Yes." Max said.

"You do know this is not an easy life?"

"Yes, I know."

". . . And this does not concern you?"

"No."

Hmm. Maybe there's hope for her after all. Pi thought.

"If I accept you as an apprentice, do you promise to do anything and everything I tell you to . . . without question, hesitation, or complaint?"

"Yes."

"Becoming a Shield-Maiden is also time-consuming. One does not just become a Shield-Maiden, the title is earned through hard work. Do you promise to bide your time, to wait for the decisions of your instructors to be made? Do you promise not to demand for me to give you the colors?"

There was a moment's pause. Max thought it made her look like she was thinking through everything he was asking. Master Pi saw it as a hesitation.

"Yes."

Pi stared at her, looking deep into the soft, brown eyes. She was telling the truth. She was promising to do these things now, but the future was still uncertain.

He still had one more question. This one he directed to Dr. Marbles. "Is she a good student?"

"In the ways of mechanics, yes. She has learned the skills I wanted her to learn quickly and with few mistakes. I don't know how good a student she will be in your art." Mathias said.

"Please, Master Pi. Her heart is set on it." Ada said, clasping her hands at her chest.

He sighed. "I will take her." he said.

He didn't miss the sigh of relief from both Ada and Mathias.

"Send her to me in two days. I will have everything ready then. Three days from now, her training will begin. Good day."

A Portal opened behind him and Master Pi slipped inside. Max watched the mysterious Master, unable to contain the smile that was just bursting at the seams. Little did she know she had just set things in motion that would decide her fate in the future.

1

They weren't kidding when everyone told Max it wouldn't be an easy life. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't difficult either. It was a down-right challenge. A disaster waiting to happen.

Aside from waking up with the sun to help her father, Max was not a morning person. As it turned out, the Warriors were up even earlier. A fact that blew Max's mind and would continue to blow her mind for the full three years she would be staying there.

The first thing that happened when she arrived was she was shown to her room, which was situated on the top floor of a Bogota and contained a low table surrounded by cushions, a stand with wash basin and pitcher, a trunk for clothes, and a bed. After she got situated and put her things away, Max was taken around the Site for a grand tour. By the end of the tour, Max knew where everything was.

The next day, she was introduced to a schedule of events she was supposed to religiously follow: rise and shine half-hour before dawn, breakfast with the Warriors for twenty minutes, meditation for two hours, sparring practice in the training field, kick-boxing with the Warriors and dragons at the Good Vibration – the source of balance in Shangri-La – for an hour, twenty-minute supper, hour long meditation, and then sleep.

Her first day of training was fairly boring. Firstly, she couldn't get over the two-hours of silence and stillness. As a result, she received several glares from the Warriors near her and she had to mutter a few apologies under her breath. Secondly, she couldn't get over the two-meals-a-day thing either, or the twenty minutes to eat. It helped she wasn't allowed to speak with the other Warriors so eating went faster than her mealtimes with her father. Thirdly, she hadn't been allowed to choose a weapon. Of course, abiding by her promise to Master Pi, she hadn't asked when she would be allowed to get one.

On the third day, during practice time, Master Pi took Max aside and showed her to the armory.

"This is where you will choose the weapon that most fits your personality or soul. Every Warrior has a weapon they most specialize in. You must find yours." He indicated the rows and rows of weapons lining the walls on pegs or in stands. There were swords, spears, bolas, sparring sticks, scythes, bows and arrows, and more. "Take your pick, little one. I will not stand in your way."

Max did pick. She hefted each weapon off their pegs and tested them. Each was perfectly balanced and weighted. But, none of them felt right. Then, she found it.

A Cyber-ash quarter stave stained dark with age. Long, straight, and light. Its diameter fit perfectly in Max's hand. She gently lifted it out of the long box where other quarter staves were placed. This stave was perfectly balanced and it just seemed right for her.

She left the armory and did a few test-swings to see if it was right for her and she liked what she felt. Max grinned at Master Pi and showed it to him.

"I like this, Master." she said.

Master Pi nodded his approval. "I was hoping you would." he said. He took the stave from her and looked it over. "This staff has some history. Long before our time – even mine – the first Shield-Maiden was said to have carried a stave just like this. In fact, word has it this was the stave she carried. Word also has it that she had a relationship with your great-great-grandfather Siren."

"Really?" Max said.

"I can't guarantee the second part is true, but the first part has been recorded. Quarter stave measuring sixty inches in length, three inches in diameter, solid Cyber-ash. This stave is the one she might have carried. If she had, in fact, been with your second-great grandfather, than this stave belongs to you, her successor and heir." He handed it back to her. "Treat it well."

Along with the stave, Pi also presented Max with a hollow sheath which went crosswise over her shoulder and a decorated shield to wear over her arm. He explained that the shield had also been carried by the first Shield-Maiden but Max didn't have to carry it if she didn't want to. The shield was heavy to Max so she started storing it away in her room, having no idea what she would do with it or how she was going to use it.

During the first year of her training, Max learned a variety of techniques with the stave. Jethro, one of the tall, silent Warriors, was placed in charge of overseeing Max's training in this area. He introduced her to the art of Hapkido which they deemed the best art form for someone of her construction. Hapkido was a mix of many of the art forms studied on Shangri-La: Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu, and Kick-boxing. It instilled the art of using a staff, sword, cane, rope, and rods while still teaching a variety of joint locks, kicks, punches, and striking attacks. The training was arduous, but Max endured it and Jethro remained her teacher until she received her red belt. Then, Max's training was passed off to their resident Sword-Thane, the Red Warrior.

Max's training up until being handed off to Red had been fairly simple. She couldn't leave Shangri-La and she had to stick to the daily schedule. Max had worked hard to receive her red belt, which was the next to last step before receiving her Shield-Maiden's colors. Red informed her it wouldn't be an easy journey from here on out and she knew it.

Now, Max's training involved leaving the Site on certain missions. All of them were directed under Red. Red only accompanied Max as a way of watching how she did. He dealt out information on how the mission was to be conducted and of the situation on the various Sites they were to visit. After that, Max was left to take care of the situation.

By the age of six, Max felt she was finally ready to accept the Shield-Maiden's colors. But, in many respects, she felt Pi and Red were holding her back. The belt around her waist was now dull in color to her and she couldn't help but feel disgusted by it. She didn't understand. She did everything they asked her to and yet it seemed like they didn't appreciate any of it. With a jolt, Max realized she was getting tired of all the training. She was so close to getting the black belt she could almost feel it.

"Master, can I ask you something?" she said to Red one day.

"You are welcome to say what you like, young one." Red told her with a bow.

Even by age six, Max was still head and shoulders taller than Red. But, his diminutive size was very much deceiving. She had seen him in the practice field and knew he could take on any number of Warriors and still come out on top. She bit her lower lip, now thinking about the wisdom behind asking the Red Warrior anything.

"Max?" he pressed.

Ah, what the heck. Max thought, resignedly. "How far away am I from achieving the Shield-Maiden's colors?"

"You are not far." Red told her. "A few more missions and the sash is yours."

That thought caused Max to relax and she couldn't wait for the missions to come. Unfortunately, the missions took too long in coming. Max grew impatient and with her impatience came the decision that she would regret making later on.

Max went to Master Pi's own Bogota and bowed at the foyer before entering.

"Master, can I talk to you?"

"Of course, little one. What would you like to discuss?"

"It's about the title of Shield-Maiden, Master. I decided, it's not right for me. At least, not right now." she said, ashamedly hanging her head.

Pi remained silent for the longest time. "I see." he finally said. He laid aside a stack of reports he had been reviewing prior to Max's visit. "So, these three years of training have gone to waste on you, have they?"

"Oh no, Master! That's not what I meant at all!"

"Then what?"

"I just don't feel like I'm ready to become a Shield-Maiden is all."

"Then, what will you do with the training we have presented you with?"

Max shrugged. "Keep working on them, I guess." she said. She untied the belt from around her waist and shrugged the sheath off her shoulder. She placed both on the floor at Master Pi's feet. "I should give these back, then, since I am no longer fit to use them."

Pi shook his head. "You may keep them as long as you promise to come when I call you. You may not be a Shield-Maiden, Max, but you are a Warrior of Shangri-La for as long as you wear those colors."

Max took the objects and put them back on. She bowed again. "Thank you, Master. I promise to answer when the gong sounds."

Pi stared at her. "I take it you plan to leave Shangri-La."

"Yes, Master. My father needs me back home. So Control Central is where I will be." Max said.

Pi's hand left his scepter and he gently touched Max's head. "So long, then, Maxanne Marbles."

When Max left Pi's room, she headed up to her own and packed her things. Things that included the shield, nunchuks, extra gi's, an assortment of knives stowed in a leather roll-up, and clothes that she brought from home. Underneath her bed, she found her SQWACK Pad and dialed in Motherboard's number.

"Max? Is there a problem?" Motherboard asked.

"No, Motherboard. I'm – I'm just coming home for a while is all." Max said.

"You didn't make it to Shield-Maiden, did you?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now."

"Alright. I'm sending you a Portal. Are you ready to leave?"

"Ready as I'll ever be."

A Portal swirled to life. Max shouldered her bag and jumped in. After a half-minute of twisting around in the vortex, she landed on Control Central's floor with a loud "Oof!"

"Sorry, Max." Motherboard said. Her apology was followed closely by a voice she had never heard before.

"Are you alright? Here, let me help you."

Max was hauled upright and her gaze was met by a pair of black eyes that sent chills through her circuits.