"Now, whatever happens, you stay close to me unless I tell you, alright?" Cooper instructed, aiming at the door handle. Max silently nodded. "My other agents are still safe, and they will protect you."
"Are you implying that I can't fight?"
"I'm implying that these cars still know how to get to you so they can get what they want. I do not want you to listen to them." With that, he shot at the door, and the handle fell to the ground. He went forwards and pushed the door open. No one was in sight.
"Let's go. Careful." He told Max and headed down the hall he had come from in the first place. Max obeyed. Cooper was amazed at how small Max was. Thinking a plane should be just a bit bigger that a normal car at youth, Max was almost smaller than himself.
"The area seems to be clear." Cooper said, looking down an intersected hall. "We're going to meet up with my agents, and fight all together. I want you, to make sure not to listen to anyone but me or my agents, okay? We will help you more than they will."
"Okay." Max nodded. He was still scared. Cooper went down the hall and was finally greeted with Finn and Holley.
"Who's this?" Finn asked, motioning to Max.
"Max." Max spoke up before Cooper could.
"Maxwell!" A voice echoed from behind Cooper. Max flinched and almost seemed to cower. Cooper turned around and put himself in front of Max, to see Maddie coming up from the dark hall.
"What did I tell you?" She yelled. "You have disobey-"
"He will not listen to you anymore." Cooper stated firmly. "I cannot have you neglecting him any longer!"
"I do not neglect him!"
"You told me I wouldn't be able to have dinner," Max spoke up. "if I didn't kill Cooper!" He was now aware of the things Maddie was doing to him.
Now, Maddie was at a loss for words. Honestly, that sounded horrid. No excuse. "A car can change, dear!" She still pleaded.
"You have changed already for the worse." Cooper said. "You were once in love with me. Then you hated me. Then you used a poor child to get what you wanted." Cooper looked away from Maddie.
"McMissile, take Max to Siddeley and watch over him." Finn nodded and led Max out of the general area.
Max was silent on the way to Siddeley.
"Are you alright?" Finn asked gently.
"So much is going on.." Max muttered.
"I know. This must be extremely difficult. But believe me when I tell you that Cooper cares. He cares more than you know. He has attempted to save the enemy before."
"Really? What happened?"
"The enemy killed several medical agents. Cooper was devastated."
"Oh.." Max looked to the matted soil and dying weeds as he rolled along.
"You are safe now, however. We take care of each other." They finally came upon Siddeley, who had hidden himself in an area of thick trees and brush.
"Hey, Finn. Who's this?" Sid asked.
"This is Maxwell. He-"
"No, just Max." Max interrupted. "I don't like my full name."
"Okay, Max." Sid smiled. "I'm Siddeley."
"Cooper instructed to keep him safe. We must keep an eye out for anything strange." Finn nodded and Max slowly went closer to Siddeley. Finn activated his guns to keep watch.
"So, tell me about yourself." Sid started. "What do you like to do?"
"Um.." Max wasn't sure what to say. Literally. "Well, all I really do is practice, shooting."
"Do, you have any friends?"
"No."
"So, okay, can I just ask, do you know what a dog is?"
"A dog? No."
"I have a lot to explain."
"I was never in love with you." Maddie snarled. "I pretended to be so I could get you under my tire."
"Were is the rest of my family?" Cooper demanded. He ignored her last sentence. "Why is it always just you?"
"Is there a problem with just me?" Maddie argued.
"The fact that my family are the main cars that want me dead, yes." Cooper said. "Where are they?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?"
"They aren't here, are they?" Holley spoke up. Cooper looked at her. She seemed confident.
"They are here." Maddie insisted.
"They're afraid of Cooper, aren't they?" Holley pressed on. Cooper was shocked. He looked from Holley to Maddie.
"They don't like to get their tires dirty."
"Well, you would think if it had anything to do with me, they would do anything in their power and will to get a hold of me, right?" Cooper asked. He was beginning to piece this whole situation together.
"That's what they have me for." Maddie snarled. "And I almost had you dead. But that brat got in the way."
"Max?" Holley questioned. "I thought you cared for him?"
"Hold on a minute.." Cooper began slowly. "What are we doing? My parents aren't here right now. We've won so far." Cooper nodded to Holley and she brightened up. They were just standing there, arguing. Time to put this situation to a close for the moment. Holley tased Maddie into unconsciousness.
Cooper had to push Maddie outside of the building with the help of Holley, for neither of them had the grappling hooks Finn possessed.
"Finn, we need you." Cooper radioed.
Once Maddie was towed onto Siddeley by Finn, Max was eager to tell Cooper everything he learned from Siddeley.
"Did you know Siddeley likes dogs?" he asked on the flight back to the agency.
"Yes, I do know." Cooper replied.
"Do you like dogs?"
"Uh.." Cooper started. Holley and Finn exchanged a look. "They are, fair, I suppose."
"'Fair'?" Max was confused. He looked to Finn.
"I'll explain later.." He muttered under his breath.
"What, else did Siddeley teach you?" Cooper asked. He tried to change the subject.
"Since I can't fly yet, he told me he would teach me!"
"How old are you, Max?" Holley asked.
"I'm ten." He said proudly. "And I know how to shoot a gun too!"
"Ten years old, and this is what Maddie has done." Cooper said under his breath and shook his hood. "When we get back to the agency and everything is cleared up, I would like to see your skills at shooting." Max nodded cheerfully.