Pain. That's all I could feel when I woke up. Though I guess I should be thankful that I could feel anything at all after what happened to me. The next thing I noticed was the sound of voices, one in particular that sounded pretty angry to me. I tried to open my eyes and pain flared behind my eyes. With a groan I rubbed my face and heard someone speak to me. Not sure where I was or how I had gotten to be there, I called out. To my surprise my voice sounded weak. With a cough to clear it I tried again. Again someone spoke to me and I realized it was Berto.
"Are you okay?" He asked and I wondered why he didn't walk over to me. Managing to open my eyes I found myself lying on top of some sort of couch or table. Sitting up and trying to ignore the pain radiating through my body, I climbed to my feet. As soon as I went to take a step forward I fell. Instead of ending up on the floor I smacked face first into an invisible wall. With a yelp I stepped back, rubbing my nose. The pain in my nose seemed to wake me up and I gingerly touched the wall. I walked around, keeping my hands out in front of me as I looked for a way out. Finding none I started to worry,
"Where am I? What's going on?" I asked. Finally I saw Berto and Forge standing a few feet away, watching me.
"You're in the Turbo energy chamber." Forge told me and I stared back at him, confused.
"What are you talking about? Get me out of here!" I called out, starting to panic.
"No can do. You've started to generate Turbo energy. Since you have no control over it we've had to take safety measures. For now, you've been moved to that chamber." Forge explained and the panic I felt before began to disappear, replaced by anger.
"How long will I be here?" I asked, looking at him.
"Until you're no longer a danger to yourself or anyone else in Copper Canyon." Forge answered and as I watched he just up and left. Frightened, I saw Berto staring at me.
"Please get me out of here." I begged and as I watched he slowly shook his head. Before I could ask again, he left too. Alone, I hit the wall with my fist. Eventually I realized that no one was going to help me and I slid down to the floor. Bringing my legs as close to my body as I could, I wrapped my arms around my legs and buried my face into my knees. Trying not to cry, I hoped someone would help me.
Back in the com room, Forge was pacing the floor, while Max and Steel watched on.
"What are we going to do about Jessie?" Max asked and Forge stopped pacing. With a sigh he turned to Max.
"I just don't know. I never thought we'd find another Turbo user." Forge replied and Steel flew over to him, hovering just in front of him,
"What about an Ultralink?" He said and Forge frowned at him.
"You know why we can't do that." Forge said and a question mark appeared on Steel's face.
"So what happens to Jessie? She stays in the Turbo chamber?" Max asked. Before Forge had time to answer, Berto came storming in. Instead of speaking he just glared at Forge. For a full minute there was an uncomfortable silence then Berto finally spoke.
"Why are you doing this to Jessie?" Berto asked, trying to keep his voice even and his temper in check.
"Not this again. If Jessie gets loose and can't control her Turbo energy…well you know what will happen." Forge answered and Berto whirled on him, charging over until he was face to face. A little surprised at Berto's change in attitude, Forge just stared at him. Even Max and Steel looked on in shock, use to Berto's usual calm personality.
"Do you realize what you're doing to her? Instead of trying to help her, you locked her up!" He shouted. For a moment he continued to glare at Forge. Then to everyone's shock he suddenly turned on his heel and walked away. Once he left, Max was the first to speak.
"He's right. We have to help her." He said and Forge moved a hand through his hair.
"I know but she's a danger to herself and others. If she was Ultralinked it wouldn't be a problem but…" Forge answered.
"But you won't let an Ultralink out, in case it turns against us. Even if it can help her. So Jessie stays locked up in solitary confinement." Steel finished for him.
"Look I'm not doing this because I want to. It's for everyone's safety. End of discussion." Forge said. Not sure how to respond, Max and Steel just looked at each other. Taking the silence as an end to the discussion Forge walked out, heading for his office. Once he was out of earshot Steel asked Max what he thought they should do.
"I want to help too but you heard what Forge said. We can't let an Ultralink out." Max replied. "Let's go and see if THI's back to normal. Plus I want to check how mom is." He added and Steel shrugged, realizing that there wasn't anything else they could do now for Jessie. Giving up, Max took out his phone and dialed his mom's number. Waiting for her to pick up, he wondered where Berto had stormed off to. Not surprisingly Berto was currently in his lab. The minute he stepped through the door, he walked straight over to his computer. After a moment's hesitation he tapped a button and an image of the Turbo chamber appeared onscreen. Reaching over he placed his hand on the image and an instant later he could see into the chamber. Inside the chamber, Berto could see Jessie sitting on the floor, looking lost. As he watched she reached out and placed a hand on the wall in front of her. With the other hand she wiped at her eyes. Inwardly cringing he wondered what he could to help her. Eventually he came to the conclusion that there was only one solution to her problem and that was to get her an Ultralink. Unfortunately he had only just left the lab when someone collided with him, almost knocking him to the ground.
"Sorry Berto. " Max said as Berto dusted himself off. "Where are you off to?" He asked and Berto shrugged. "You're going to get her an Ultralink, aren't you?"
"Yeah that's what I'm doing. Go ahead, tell Forge." Berto answered looking Max straight in the face. Instead of answering Max just grinned.
"Are we going to find Jessie an Ultralink or what? I thought that was what we came here for or did the plan change again?" Steel asked. With a grin all three headed for the restricted sector where all the captured and inactive Ultralinks were being kept.
At the same time I was sitting inside what I had decided to call the containment chamber. Sitting on the cold floor I had finally made up my mind to escape. The only thing standing in my way were the four invisible walls that were keeping me separated from everyone. Angry at Forge and the injustice of my confinement I almost didn't noticed the power, or Turbo energy, build up inside of me until my hands began glowing again. I was a little worried at what was happening until I accidently sent a blast of energy at the wall in front of me. To my surprise the wall began to spark and then there was a flash. Carefully I stepped forward and was amazed when nothing stopped me. Happy I moved towards the door of the chamber. It was then I saw Forge and a group of five other N-Tek agents in armor run towards the door and stand in front of it, effectively blocking my escape. Angry I stepped forward and was shocked when all five trained their weapons on me. When Forge stepped forward and ordered me to stay where I was, I was furious. Glaring at him from inside I told him to try and stop me. To my disbelief he too trained his weapon on me, some sort of high tech gun.
"Take one more step and I will be forced to take drastic measures." Forge warned me.
Confused I took a step back. As I did I felt the same energy from before building up again, starting from my hands like before. This time, however, it kept building and soon I had begun to glow a light green color. Afraid I called out for help. As I felt the energy begin to overpower my body, I cried out for help.
"Someone help me, please!" I yelled and was stunned when something shot into the room, a small silver and orange metal ball that smashed through the Turbo chamber's window and almost struck me. Just as the energy was about to engulf me, the energy waves that surrounded me stopped and as I looked on the metal ball unfolded itself, revealing a small robot about the same size as Steel.
"Human, do you want me to stop you from exploding?" It asked as I looked on in confusion. Not sure what to say to it, I nodded instead and as I watched on it moved towards me. Before I had time to register what it was doing, the robot held its arms out and latched onto the spot just under my collarbone. There was a brilliant flash of green light and when I opened my eyes I gasped.