Once I was back in Flight mode, the four of us took to the air. Even though I enjoyed being able to fly under my power, my mind kept going back to the earlier incident in the training room. As if he could sense how I was feeling, Shock spoke through my head again. Pretty much use to this now, I listened as he asked me what was bothering me.
"I can't help feeling that I'll be no use in a fight with the Elementor." I said out aloud, completely forgetting that Max and Steel could hear me. Moving his head slightly Max looked over at me.
"You'll be fine." Max said as he flew beside me.
"I don't think so. Think about it; I have only two modes, no battle experience of any kind and I haven't exactly been able to hold my own in a fight so far." I answered as Max focused on the path in front of him.
"I know you're scared and that's fine. We haven't been able to beat the Elementor since Air, Water, Earth and Fire merged together but we keep trying." Steel told me as I struggled to focus on finding the Elementor. It was true; I had my doubts that I'd be any use if we did find our target.
"Yeah I guess it's just nerves. I need to put more effort into finding the Elementor and not my own fears." I replied and Max nodded.
"You can do this." Shock said and I nodded slightly in agreement. After a while I thought I saw something on the ground far below. I stopped in midair which caused Max and Steel to stop as well and join me.
"There's something down there." I said as I squinted, hoping to catch a glimpse of whatever it was. Of course from this high up, I couldn't make it out. Giving up, I dived down towards the ground below.
"Did you see something?" Shock asked me as I got closer and closer to the Canyon floor. As soon as I realized what I was seeing, I stopped suddenly and hovered in midair. Once Max and Steel caught up with me, they could see it two. It was a jet black jet, similar to N-Tek's though something was off about it. For some reason I felt a sense of dread the closer I got to the jet.
"That's not from N-Tek, is it?" I asked Max and Steel, moving closer to it only for Max to grab my arm.
"It's Miles Dredd's. We have to tell Forge." Max told me, releasing my arm and motioning me to follow him. I was almost going to follow when something held me back. Before they could stop me I flew at the jet and, after landing beside it, decided to climb aboard. Checking to see if anyone was aboard and finding no one, I walked up the ramp. Ignoring Shock's voice in my head, I continued inside and found myself alone. Finding the cockpit I walked around and wondered if I could fly this thing. It was then I heard a beeping noise coming from my pocket and I stopped what I was doing to take out my phone.
"Hello?" I said and was instantly greeted by Forge.
"What are you doing? I thought you were looking for the Elementor, not taking Miles Dredd's jet on a joyride?!" He shouted and I held the phone away from my ear. When he finished shouting, I placed the phone against my ear again.
"How do you know where I am?" I asked him and he told me that Steel had called to let him know what I was doing. Silently fuming, I responded that I knew what I was doing and hung up before Forge had time to shout at me again. It was then I realized that I had company.
"Who are you?" Jason Naught asked me, having just walked into the cockpit. When I didn't speak, his eyes narrowed at me. "You're not Max Steel?" He added and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do I look like a guy?" I responded as I looked for a way out. Staring back at me for moment, Jason turned his head and called out to someone nearby. Before I knew what I was doing, I shoved Jason into the wall as I rushed past. Caught off guard he collided with the wall as I made my way outside. But just as I reached the bottom of the ramp, I found Max and Steel fighting with the Elementor. Without thinking I rushed at the Elementor only stopping in time when Shock reminded me that we should change modes. Feeling stupid I changed back into Strength mode and continued towards the monster. This time I was ready for a fight. Seeing me come rushing over, Max and Steel stepped back.
"Are you giving up?" The Elementor asked as its hands began to flare up.
"Nope. Just letting someone else have a shot at you." Max responded as I smashed my fist into it, causing it to fall to one knee.
"Ugh. Who are you?" It asked climbing back to its feet and turning to glare in my direction.
"The name's J-Shock, ugly! You want a piece of me?" I shouted at it and it roared, mad now.
"J-Shock? Really?" Shock asked as I dodged and sweep its feet out from under it. It hit the ground face first with a thud and struggled to its feet.
"What's wrong with that name? I thought it sounded cool." I replied, watching on as Max and Steel changed into Strength mode and smacked the Elementor around for a while.
"I guess it's okay." Shock responded as I ducked a claw swipe and slammed my arm into its knee then followed that up with a roundhouse kick that sent it flying. "By the way we're doing pretty well on the fight front." Feeling a little full of myself I have to admit, I wasn't paying nearly enough attention to my surroundings. It was at that point that started teasing the Elementor and found out too late why that was a really bad idea. Forgetting that the Elementor was four elements and not just one, I was suddenly sucked into a tornado. With a yell I pulled into the air and slammed into the ground, ending up in a heap. Without giving me a second to recover I was again sucked up and smashed into the canyon wall this time. Lying there groaning I saw Max and Steel try to help me, only for the Elementor to send a massive boulder it ripped from the ground at them. This time they slammed into the ground. Struggling to my feet, I stumbled towards the Elementor trying to fight back. It was then I saw a flash of light and something hit me in my shoulder, picking me up and slamming me headfirst into the canyon floor. The force of the blow caused me to return to base mode. Dimly I could hear Shock telling me to get up and I tried to stand, before my legs gave way and I fell to the dirt floor. I felt Shock detach and as I watched, he fired at the Elementor. His blasts of Turbo energy only seemed to make the Elementor angry and as I watched, helpless to do anything, the monster grabbed him and threw him into the canyon wall.
"Shock." I managed to gasp before everything got dark.
When I came to sometime later, I found myself somewhere unfamiliar. Aching all over I tried to lift my head and that's when I discovered that I'd been tied to some sort of table or couch. I struggled for a few minutes but I wasn't able to move and gave up.
"Shock?" I called out and when I got no answer I felt panic set in. Realizing that freaking out wouldn't help me; I forced myself to take a deep breath and calmed myself. At that moment I heard someone speaking to me from across the room. Unable to move my head, I called out to them.
"Who are you?' I asked and I heard an all too familiar laugh. I knew it was Miles Dredd even before he walked over and stood over me.
"I heard that there was another Turbo user in this city but I wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't seen you with my own eyes." He said, peering down at me. "Just who are you exactly?"
"Like I'm really going to tell you my name. Are you really that stupid?" I replied and I heard someone laugh in the background. As I watched Dredd turned around and glared at someone, who had the common sense to shut up.
"No matter, you're here now." He said, turning back to me, and I frowned at him from under my helmet.
"What exactly do you want? I'm not Max Steel, just in case you're eyesight's getting bad in your old age." I remarked and as I again heard a laugh, Miles spun around.
"Naught, would you be quiet? Better yet, make yourself useful and leave us." Miles said and with a glare for me, Jason Naught left. As soon as he was gone, Miles turned his attention back to me.
"Again, what is it you want from me?" I asked with a growl and that's when I could swear he was smiling at me, even though I couldn't see his face from underneath the helmet. He raised his hand and suddenly I felt my Turbo energy being ripped from me, exactly like in the training room. I gave a cry of pain and then blacked out to the sounds of laughter.
Meanwhile back at N-Tek, Berto was trying to figure out where I was. Using the communications computer he was trying to pinpoint where I was but it wasn't going well. While he was doing everything he could to find me, Max and Steel were helping Kat and Jefferson search for clues to my whereabouts in Copper Canyon. Even Shock was doing whatever he could to find me.
"Has anyone had any luck finding Jessie?" Forge asked, joining Berto in the Communications Room. Not looking up from the keyboard, Berto sighed in frustration. "We'll find her." He said and Berto finally looked up.
"She only has an hour left to link up with Shock before…" He shook his head, unable to finish.
"I know. Wait a second; can you track her energy signature?" Forge said and Berto face palmed. His hands rushed over the keyboard and soon a green dot appeared on the screen. "Is that where she is?"
"That's where she is! We have to go and find her now." Berto said and Forge placed a hand on the young scientist's shoulder.
"We will, don't worry. Everyone we've located Jessie." Forge said, giving everyone the coordinates. He was about to rush off when Berto told the Commander he was going too. Forge was about to tell him no when he saw the look on Berto's face and instantly softened. "Fine but hurry up. And bring C.Y.T.R.O." He added and Berto nodded, tapping a button on his wristband computer. As soon as he rushed into the corridor, C.Y.T.R.O followed him into the hanger. Once he was aboard, the Jet lifted off and flew up and through the roof entrance. The instant they cleared the entrance the jet picked up speed and rushed towards their designation.
At the same time I woke up feeling weaker than I had ever felt. Getting my bearings I moved my head and noticed that no one was here besides me. I again tried to break free from my bonds and, finding myself unable to get free I lay there. As I lay there I wondered how long it had been since I had linked up with Shock. I soon got my answer when my hands started glowing with a brilliant green light. They were soon followed by green light flashing from my eyes. At first I was a little unnerved by this until my hand brushed against the computer just to my right. As soon as my hand touched it, the computer sparked and with a bang it blew up. Coughing from the smoke escaping from it, I found myself able to sit up and discovered I was no longer bound. I slid off the table and to my feet just as an alarm sounded. Running over to the door, I was confronted by of Jason Naught standing in the doorway. Puzzled he just stared at me.
"How did you escape?" He asked me. I raised my hands and he took a step back when he saw the green glow coming from them.
"With these apparently." I replied and as he started for me, I rushed forward and dodged him. Even feeling weak from whatever Miles Dredd did, I still managed to give him the slip. Before I had time to figure out what was happening to me, I raced along the hallway at a speed I'd never reached before. Confused I kept running until I caught saw a dead-end right in front of me. Already running too fast to stop, I braced myself and closed my eyes. When I didn't collide with anything, I opened my eyes only to slam into someone. Sprawling to the floor, I was instantly helped to my feet.
"Lo siento. Didn't mean to do that." I heard Berto's voice, coming from C.Y.T.R.O towering over me. Dusting myself off I looked up.
"No problem. How did you find me, anyway?" I asked just as I hunched over in pain, green light making my hands and eyes glow again.
"We have to get you to Shock." Berto said as C.Y.T.R.O picked me up and carried me down the hallway, despite my protests that I was able to walk on my own. As we walked he told me why my powers were going haywire.
"Your Turbo energy's overloading so we need to get Shock to regulate it or you'll explode." He told me and my eyes went wide. Noticing the frightened look on my face, Berto told me not to worry.
"It's a little late for that. You just told me that I'm gonna blow up and now I'm supposed to keep calm." I replied grimacing as another wave of Turbo energy coursed through my body. By that point I was beginning to panic and before Berto could stop me, I jumped down. I only managed to get a few feet from him when I fell to my knees, waves of pain rushing through me. It was then I heard Shock call out to me as he slammed into me. Instantly the pain coursing through me dimmed then subsided altogether and I was able to breathe again.
"What took you so long?" I managed as I climbed to my feet and he laughed.
"A thank you would have been nice." He said and I laughed this time. "Berto managed to track your energy signature and that's how we found you."
"Thank you both. Oh and Berto, sorry about before." I said as C.Y.T.R.O walked over.
"That's okay. I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. Are we still cool?" He asked and I grinned up at C.Y.T.R.O.
"Sure." I replied." Can we go home now? I think I've had enough excitement for one day. Or one lifetime." I said. Laughing Berto led the way as we left the corridor. Soon we came across a huge doorway and, thinking we were finally leaving this place I hurried towards it. To my disbelief Miles Dredd came through it and stood in our path. Frustrated I growled at him.
"You didn't think it would be that easy did you?" He said as his hands began to glow a dark orange color.
"Wait a second, you have Turbo energy too?" I asked and he snickered.
"More like stolen Turbo energy. "Berto said and I felt angrier than before. "He siphoned it from you earlier. That's what he does." When I heard that I rushed Dredd who side-stepped and grabbed me around the throat. Gasping I struggled in vain to get free. Trying to help C.Y.T.R.O ran forward. But it was at that moment that Jason Naught appeared in his robot form and fired at the robot, which dodged just in time. Clutched in Miles' hand, I found myself unable to breathe. As I fought to break free, Shock detached and fired at Miles who held up his other hand and fired a shot at the small robot. Caught off guard he hit the nearest wall and lay there with a groan. Preoccupied with Naught, Berto couldn't help me and neither could Shock. Trapped by Miles and unable to break free I had almost given up. Lifting me higher off the ground he started siphoning my Turbo energy from me. Dizzy from a lack of oxygen and in pain, I suddenly swung my arm up at Miles Dredd's face and as he recoiled I managed to get loose. Falling to the dirt floor, I still managed to jump to my feet. Furious Dredd advanced on me and I sent a wave of energy at him only for him to absorb it. Out of ideas, I rubbed my sore throat and wondered what to do next. Thankfully help arrived just in time as I heard an explosion outside the building. Halting Miles Dredd looked mad.
"N-Tek!" He growled and left me alone. Knowing he could return at any moment, I decided to help C.Y. and Shock. Rushing over to the robot, I picked him up.
"You okay?" I asked as he flew out of my hand and hovered in front of me.
"Define 'okay'." He replied, linking up with me. Changing into Strength mode he said "Who should we take down first?" I nodded towards Jason with a grin. Walking over to Naught I tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention.
"What is it? I'm kind of busy at the moment." He said, turning around. When he saw me, he flinched. "Oh no."
"Oh yes." I said, slamming him into the furthest wall I saw. "That's for shooting me and beating up C.Y.T.R.O!" I called as I helped the robot up.
"Thanks. Want to go and take down an Elementor?" Berto asked and I nodded.
"You bet! Bring him on!" I shouted as I rushed outside, leaving his robot to catch up. Just outside I found Max Steel, Jefferson and Kat fighting about half a dozen robots as well as one furious Elementor. With a roar it charged at Max, who jumped out-of-the-way and changed modes in midair. This time I saw him in Strength mode and as I watched on, he picked up Steel and sent a massive blast of energy at the monster. At the last second it dodged and the blast hit a jump jet.
"Oops." I heard Steel say as I ran over to them. "Hey glad you could join us."
"Is this a private party or can anyone join in?" I asked and Max motioned me to go right ahead. Sprinting for the Elementor I flipped into the air and kicked it in the jaw. It fell to one knee and I aimed for the four orbs in its forehead. As I smashed my fist into its face, it toppled forward and hit the ground in a cloud of dust. "How do you like that?" I shouted at it as it lay stunned on the ground, unmoving.
"Nice shot." Jefferson called out as he and Kat took out the rest of Dredd's robots. When the dust settled, I joined them.
"Thanks. I guess I'm getting the hang of this hero thing after all." I said. Looking around I noticed C.Y.T.R.O wasn't present. "Hey where did C.Y.T.R.O go?" I soon got my answer when it showed up missing one of its arms. "What happened to you?" I asked and the robot gave me his equivalent of shrugging.
"I managed to stop Jason but not without losing an arm. On the plus side I beat him, unlike last time." Berto told me. "Where's Miles Dredd?" We soon got our answer when I saw his Jet fly overhead, with Jason waving at us. With a groan I put a hand over my face.
"Not again. How do they keep doing that to us?" I grumbled as Berto laughed at me.
"We'll get him next time. Anyway we should really be getting back. I'll call Forge and tell him that you're safe and well." Kat told me as I looked up.
"Safe, sure. Though I'm feeling a little woozy ever since he siphoned my energy twice." I said as I started for the Jet. To my surprise I was again picked up.
"Want a lift?" Berto asked as I blushed, slightly embarrassed. Secretly I was grateful since I didn't think my legs would get me to the Jump Jet in one piece. As he headed for the Jet, he bent down at one point to retrieve his arm. By the time he walked up the ramp, I was exhausted and barely able to keep my eyes open. Setting me down C.Y.T.R.O stood over me as Jefferson flew the Jet out of the area. Moments later my eyes began to close. Shock detached from me and hovered in front of me, touching my face with one of his arms.
"Jessie?" He said as my head slumped forward and I dozed off.