Once Sydney and Kirby had finished laughing at me I asked where everyone wanted to go next and that's when Max surprised me by mentioning karaoke.
"Huh?" I said giving him a confused and he grinned back at me.
"Berto mentioned your pretty impressive skills with a microphone at the arcade. So I thought…" He said and I ended up grinning back.
"Whoa you can sing too?" Kirby said, looking impressed.
"That's pretty cool. Please say you'll sing." Sydney added and I nodded, making them both grin. And that's how I found myself standing once again in front of the karaoke machine. This time I had a harder time working out what to sing. Then it suddenly hit me and I smiled to myself. The moment the music started I began to sing a song I knew back to front, One step closer by Linkin Park. As I sang, obvious to everything else but the song I didn't notice that, once again, I gained an audience. The moment I finished singing people who had gathered around to watch started clapping. Standing there for a moment I gave a bow and replaced the microphone. Rejoining my friends Berto handed me my bag.
"You weren't kidding, Max. She's amazing." Sydney said and I couldn't help smiling.
"That was very cool. Looks like you were right Berto." Max said as Kirby nodded in agreement. Thinking Berto would speak up next I was a little puzzled when he remained silent.
"I wonder what's up with Berto. He hasn't said a word since you starting singing." Shock said to me and I shrugged. "Maybe you should ask him." Of course I never did get to ask him why because something happened a short time later that made me completely forget about it.
Two hours before inside Dredd's secret hideout Dredd was trying to come with a plan on capturing J-Shock. Actually it was more like Jason Naught had been ordered to figure out how to go about catching the Turbo user and he wasn't having any luck so far. The only time that she had been captured had been when the Ultimate Elementor had managed to knock her out and separate her from her Ultralink.
"This is impossible. With the Elementor imprisoned back at N-Tek, how do we go about bringing her here? With her Turbo powers she'll wipe the floor with us. Plus Max Steel will show up like he always does. So what do we do?" He grumbled to himself just as Dredd walked in.
"Mr Naught do you have a plan yet?" He seemed to ask but from the tone of his voice, it was more like an order. Cringing a little Jason shook his head.
"I can't figure out what to do. We…uh I mean I…have no idea how to capture J-Shock." He stammered, waiting for Dredd to use his stolen Turbo powers to throw him into the wall. To his disbelief Dredd began to laugh and that puzzled Jason who couldn't help staring at his boss.
"I knew you wouldn't because I've already worked it out. We don't need to seek J-Shock out. We just need to get her to come to us willingly." He said and noting the confused look on his lackey's face he rolled his eyes beneath his helmet. "We capture one of her friends and hold them hostage so she comes to us. Then we have J-Shock."
"But what about Max Steel? You know he'll come to her rescue." Naught pointed out and Dredd crossed his arms in front of himself.
"That's easy. He won't show up when we threaten to harm our hostage if Max Steel or anyone else shows up. "Dredd answered and that's when Naught smiled.
"Then we have a hostage and J-Shock. Brilliant boss." He said and Dredd laughed again. "I'll begin preparations immediately." Turning to the computer in front of him Jason typed in a command. Seconds later a dozen Dredd Naughts walked through the front door and made their way to the park.
Had I known what he had planned for me I would never had decided to return to the park for the rest of the day. It wasn't until after we arrived in the park that Shock told me he's picked up something. Taking Berto aside for a moment I relayed what my Ultralink had told me.
"What kind of signal?" He asked as he quickly checked his wrist computer. After a few seconds his eyes widened and he looked up at me. "Tell Max to get his friends out of here. " When I stared at him, he told me what I was dreading. "There are at least a dozen Dredd Naughts heading this way."
"I'll tell Max." I replied and hurried back to my friends. "Hey Max..." I started only to take a step back.
"Yeah what's up Jessie?" Max asked, standing on his skateboard. When he saw my face pale he frowned. At that moment something slammed into a tree a few feet away and burst into flames. With a yelp Kirby jumped back and hurried over to us. "Get Sydney and Kirby out of here." Max told me and I was about to protest when I remembered my promise to Berto. With a nod I hurried over to my friends as Max quickly excused himself and raced out of the park. Knowing exactly what he was doing, I called Sydney and Kirby over to me
"Where's Max going?" Sydney asked and, thinking quickly, I told her that he had to get home to check on his mom. When they nodded I told them to get to safety. Once I saw them leave the park, now out of danger, I told Berto to join them.
"What about you?" He asked and before he could speak, I told him I wasn't going to fight.
"I just want you to get to safety first, okay?" I said and after a moment he nodded and ran after Sydney and Kirby, only for something to come flying at him. Rushing forward I managed to tackle him to the ground as something hit the dirt where he'd been standing moments before. Coughing he sat up and looked over my shoulder as a robot landed nearby and that's when I realized it was Naught. Climbing to my feet I glared at him. I was about to ask what he wanted now when Berto quickly grabbed my arm.
"He doesn't know you're J-Shock." He whispered, letting go of my arm. Thinking on my feet, I continued to glare at Naught.
"Who are you and what do you want?" I growled and he laughed at me.
"It's not what I want; it's what my master wants. He wants you to come with me quietly or your friends will suffer." He replied and I glanced at Berto. "So I recommend that you come quietly."
"Leave her alone!" Max Steel suddenly yelled and I grinned when he flew overhead. Detaching Steel flew into Max's hands and they started to charge up. Instead of looking worried Naught grinned. Confused I stood there and that's when I saw someone standing nearby, aiming their hand at Berto. It took me a second to realize two things then; it was Miles Dredd and that he had charged up a blast of Turbo energy, aimed directly at Berto's head.
"I wouldn't try using your Turbo energy if I were you, Max Steel. Do you think you can hit me faster than I can hit your friend standing there? Would you like to find out who's faster?" He laughed and I stepped back, shielding my friend as best I could.
"We have to change to J-Shock." Shock told me and I shook my head. "Why not?" He asked me and I didn't answer.
"Relax this can all end peacefully. All I want is your friend there." Dredd said, pointing directly at me.
"Why me exactly?" I asked him.
"Because you're friends with J-Shock and if I have you as a hostage, she'll come to us willingly. Then I have an unlimited source of Turbo energy at my fingertips. So what will it be? Me or your friend's life?" Dredd asked and I stepped forward the moment he finished speaking.
"No Jessie." Berto said, moving to stop me and I looked back for a second, shaking my head. Frustrated he stayed where he was.
"I'll go with you. But only if you and Naught promise not to hurt my friends. Lay one finger on them and the deals off." I said and Dredd scratched his chin, thinking.
"Alright, we won't harm them. Let's go." He said and lifted off the ground. Taking hold of me, he ordered Naught back to base. Then he suddenly shouted an order to send his Dredd Naughts after my friends!
"You promised you wouldn't harm them!" I yelled as I shrugged to get free but he held me tight.
"I only promised that I and Naught wouldn't harm them. I never said anything about my robots." Dredd laughed and I cried out for my friends to run. As I was flown away I saw the Dredd Naughts open fire and I had no idea if Berto or Max Steel and managed to escape. I could only hope they did.