"I might have a way for you to find out what you want to know. There's just one slight problem." Shock told me.
"And what's the 'slight problem'?" I asked, afraid I already knew and Shock soon confirmed my fears.
"It involves going behind Forge's back." Shock told me.
"Then we won't get caught. Guys I'll take the blame if we get caught." I said and Berto smiled at me.
"Hey I said I'd help in any way I can and I meant it." Berto told me and that made me stare at him. "Why do you look so surprised?" He asked.
"I just didn't want anyone to risk getting into trouble for me." I answered unable to help smiling. "So what's our first move?" I asked.
"School." Shock said and I stared at him. "You do remember that before your…accident you had a test coming up." He told me and I groaned.
"You just had to remind me about that. Hang on I missed it so that means…I failed." I sighed as I wondered how much trouble I was in. "I was unconscious so I couldn't exactly take a test." I pointed out.
"Actually Molly called your school and told them you were in an accident. She didn't go into detail for obvious reasons but when they heard you were hurt they made the decision to let you come back and retake it. When you were well enough of course." Berto explained and I was actually glad.
"That's good news. Wait I'm actually glad I get to take a test? I must have really hit my head." I commented making Berto laugh. "So when do I retake it?"
"In two days. In the meantime what should we do about Makino?" Berto asked me and before I could answer Shock crossed his arms. "Hmm or maybe you should study for that test?" He added and I cringed.
"Fine I'll study if it'll make you happy, Shock." I grumbled and he rolled his eye at me. "So I guess we'll put off looking for Makino until after I sit the test. Fun."
"Will you stop looking so down? It's just a test." Shock said.
"Do you even know what a test is?" I asked my Ultralink who shrugged. "Then be glad you don't."
"What subject is it for anyway?" Berto asked me. When I told him he smiled at me. "Math? That's easy."
"For you, yeah but I've never been that great at it." I replied crossing my arms. "Still I have more time to study so who knows?"
"You'll do fine." Berto said patting me on the shoulder. "In the meantime I'll find out what I can on Makino."
"Just be careful, okay? If anyone gets into trouble I want it to be me." I told him and he nudged me in the arm, a grin on his face. "Hey what was that for?" I asked him.
"You keep going on about getting into trouble. I thought we agreed we'd all take the blame if we get caught." Berto answered as I rubbed my arm.
"Alright already. Then we all get into trouble together. Now that we've settled that problem what should we do in the meantime?" I said and to my horror I soon found myself sitting with one of my school books on the desk in front of me. As I stared at the book like it was going to attack me I heard Berto laugh in the background and I swiveled my chair around to glare at him.
"Hey don't look at me like that. It was Shock's idea not mine." He said and I raised an eyebrow.
"You two planned this, didn't you?" I asked as I spun around again to focus my frustration on the book. Chuckling at the expression on my face Berto stepped over and stood next to me.
"What do you need help with?" He asked and I looked up at him, grateful. During the next two hours Berto tutored me until I found I could understand everything. When we took a break I still couldn't believe it.
"Thanks for helping me. I'd never have been able to figure it out on my own." I told Berto as I set down my book. "Now I know I'll pass."
"De nada. Though I'm sure you would have figured it out. Maybe." Berto replied and I frowned.
"That's…not very encouraging. You didn't have to add that 'maybe'." I told him and he smiled at me.
"Just messing with you, Jess. You don't give yourself enough credit." Berto said to me as I stood. "Vaya estoy en problemas?"
"You should worry Berto." I said as I stood in front of him, arms crossed as I eyed him. Then I grinned suddenly and he grinned back at me, looking relieved. "Just kidding."
"What did I miss?" Shock asked as he returned to the room. Noticing that Berto and I were standing next to each other the Ultralink sighed as he flew over.
"Before you say anything Berto was helping me study for my test. So how did you do?" I asked him and he sighed again. "Not so good huh?"
"Nope. I managed to get access to Claire's computer again but I couldn't find anything new on this 'Makino. Sorry guys." Shock answered looking a bit down.
"Don't worry about it. We'll find out something." I replied and he nodded.
"So how did your studying for the test go anyway?" Shock asked me and I grinned, giving him a thumbs up. "That good huh?"
"Yep Berto tutored me and I know I'll have no trouble passing. As soon as the test's over I'll come back here and we can start looking for anything on Makino. I know the info's out there somewhere." I told them.
Thinking back I should have known it wouldn't be that easy to solve our mystery but I was feeling pretty good about my Math test and I didn't even consider that something could go wrong. When I sat the test two days later I was pleasantly surprised when I breezed through it and as soon as I was finished I handed it off to Mr Thornhill and hurried outside, eager to get back to N-Tek and start searching for any info on Makino.
"You're sure in a hurry." Shock commented as I ran through the hallways of Copper Canyon High, glad to be out of there.
"The test's done and now I'm free. Plus now we can go looking for Makino." I answered as I stepped outside and headed for the alleyway entrance. With no one but us around Shock flew out of my bag and I sent a blast of Turbo energy at the brick wall which called the car that took me into the entrance. But just as we arrived inside the building I received a call from Berto.
"Where are you now?" He asked me and when I told him that I was inside N-Tek he told me to hurry to the Com Room. Puzzled we hurried there and found Forge, Max, Steel and Berto waiting for us.
"What's going on?" I asked as Shock looked on. And that's when I found out that Extroyer had managed to escape. "What! I thought he was safely locked away for good." I said and Forge ran a hand through his hair, looking a little embarrassed.
"He was until last night." Berto said as I walked over to him. "We were making some upgrades for the stasis cells and there was a power surge. For a few seconds the stasis cells shut down and he managed to escape using his morphs. Now we don't know where he is." He explained as I stood next to him.
"So now he's loose? Great." I complained and then I realized something. "Does that also mean…?"
"The Ultimate Elementor escaped in the confusion too." Forge added and I sighed.
"So now we're back at square one. This keeps getting better and better." I said arms crossed against my chest. " So what do we do?"
"We go looking for them. Well Max and Steel will go looking for the Ultimate Elementor. Kat and Jefferson are already searching for any sign of Extroyer. You, however, will be staying back and helping Berto." Forge told me and I blinked, confused. "And before you say anything its only because you need to make sure you're completely healed after your accident." He added before he left me standing there.
"Is that what we're calling it now? An accident?" I commented and it was Berto's turn to sigh.
"Look he said that because he worries about you." Berto told me and I rolled my eyes. "We all do."
"He's not my dad and he has no right to act like it. Frankly I don't even know where my dad is but that's beside the point. Okay now I'm getting off topic. Anyway I want to go looking for Extroyer." I said and Berto shook his head at me. "Why not?"
"Because last time you went off on your own you got hurt. Besides you heard Commander Forge and he told you to stay here and help. So help me look for Extroyer and then we can find Makino." Berto asked and I eventually agreed to do what I could.
Of course I was really considering going after Extroyer despite what I had told Berto. As he used the computer in the Com Room to search for Extroyer I stood by, watching him work while I thought about bringing in the villain with Shock's help. It took some time and I was getting pretty bored standing around doing nothing. Before I could even begin to complain Berto grinned suddenly.
"Found him. He's in…the Arctic?" He said puzzled and I grinned. "Not far from the other base too." He added, his hand under his chin as he tried to figure out what Extroyer would be doing out there. "Of course! For new animals to morph into." Lost in thought he didn't hear me rush out of the room and by the time he turned around I was already outside and on my way to catch our villain. "Oh no…Jessie." He groaned. Leaving the room he hurried to his lab. The moment he entered the room he started to type something into his computer and within seconds he called me.
"Before you say anything I wanted to catch him this time. Last time you and Max Steel got to have all the fun while I had to sit on the sidelines." I told him as Shock and I flew towards the Arctic, courtesy of Flight Mode.
"If you recall you got knocked into the water and ended up sick with a fever." Berto answered and I sighed in frustration. "Look if you're going to go after him…please be careful okay?" He asked me.
"I promise I'll be careful. If anything starts to go wrong I'll come back to N-Tek safe. Okay?" I told him and there was silence for a few seconds. "Berto?"
"Okay. Keep in radio contact and don't do anything reckless." Berto said and I grinned. After agreeing to come back safe I continued towards my destination. When we did arrive the first thing I discovered was how cold it was when I changed back to Base Mode.
"It's freezing!" I complained and I heard Shock laugh as I shivered.
"It is the Arctic. What did you expect? Sunshine?" He said to me and I rolled my eyes before I started walking only to come to a halt when I realized I had no clue where Extroyer was. When I asked Shock he sighed and detached before bringing up a map of the area. "Let's see he's…Jessie look out!" He yelled suddenly but just as I spun around something slammed into me and I ended up with a mouthful of snow.
"Thanks for the heads up, Shock." I grumbled as I climbed to my feet. Shrugging he linked with me and together we faced Extroyer. In black tiger form he stared at me for a moment.
"How did you figure out where I was?" He asked me and I shrugged. Frankly I had no clue myself because Steel never told me that he had planted a tracker device on Extroyer after the first time they'd fought. And apparently he'd never realized himself. "N-Tek." He growled and I grinned beneath my helmet. "You must think you're so clever, following me all the way out here but you walked right into the lion's den. Or should I say polar bear's den?"
"You call that a comeback?" I commented as I stood there. Unfortunately I had no clue that this was one fight I'd soon wish I never picked. With a roar Extroyer began to change forms and as I watched on, black claws sprouted from the ends of his hands. Before our eyes Extroyer morphed into a full sized polar bear. Fearlessly I stood my ground and he laughed at me before he charged. Knowing next to nothing about this animal I was taken by surprise when he slammed into me and I was sent flying for the second time today. Of course this time it hurt more than my dignity as I ended up hitting the ground and rolling. Struggling to my feet I called out to Shock. "Let's rock, Strength mode!" The moment I changed modes I rushed at Extroyer who just stood there. "You're making this too easy!" I yelled only for Extroyer to plant his feet and grab me. Before I could get over my shock he head-butted me and I saw stars. Off balance he grabbed me and threw me and I ended up landing in a snowdrift instantly finding myself back in Base Mode. Aching all over I attempted to stand, only to cry out and fall over as my leg buckled.
"What's wrong?" Shock asked, worried. As I made another attempt at standing I saw Extroyer watching us and when he saw that I was wincing and not putting any weight on my left leg he laughed.
"You're wounded. This is perfect. Now I can finish you off once and for all." He laughed as he began to walk towards me. Realizing I couldn't stand properly, let alone run, I tried to figure out what to do. Then I got an idea and I began to build up as much Turbo energy as I could.
"You're going to use Turbo Flare? But that'll use up most of your energy and leave us defenseless if it doesn't work." Shock said, speaking into my head so Extroyer wouldn't hear. Nodding and leaving Extroyer guessing my hands began to glow green and soon my eyes did as well. Confused Extroyer stopped and watched me as I grunted, the sudden power surge taking a lot out of me.
"What are you doing?" He growled and I didn't answer, my attention completely focused on my Turbo power alone. Getting angry at being ignored he ran at me but before he could even register what I was planning I let out a yell and unleashed Turbo Flare on him just before he hit me. This time he was the one sent flying as the energy ripped through the snow and ice, instantly creating a fog that covered the ground. Even though I had more control on my power and I stayed conscious the instant energy burst wore me out and I found myself with barely any Turbo energy left.
"That was…wow." Shock commented as we watched Extroyer change back to his human form. Or what passes for human now after his attempt at double-crossing Miles Dredd.
"What was that?" He asked now standing and looking more than a little shocked.
"That would be Turbo Flare Mode." I replied, grinning. Thinking I had won I went to change modes only to find I didn't have enough energy to and I cringed. "Oh no." I whispered and noticing I wasn't coming after him Extroyer began to laugh.
"So you're out of Turbo power? Too bad since I don't need it to be a force to reckon with." He growled as he changed to his Gorilla mode. As he charged me Shock asked what we were going to do now.
"I have no clue. Any ideas?" I whispered as I stood my ground. Just as I was getting ready to be slammed into the ground all over again the wind began to pick up and that stopped Extroyer in his tracks. Confused I watched on as he looked up at the sky. Suddenly he seemed to realize something and changed to his black tiger form.
"I don't need to finish you off. The blizzard that's coming will save me the trouble." Extroyer said and as I stared at him he ran away. I had no idea that he'd come prepared and was hurrying towards his jet that had brought him all the way out here. Returned to his human form he sat down in the cockpit and laughed as the jet took to the sky. "I got what I came here for and got rid of J-Shock as a bonus." He said to his henchmen Dwayne and Vin who sat, shivering, in the back of the jet. Laughing he left the Arctic far behind and headed back to Copper Canyon. Puzzled his two henchmen looked at one another, both wondering why he was suddenly so cheerful but not being brave enough to ask. Still standing in the snow I asked Shock if he knew what Extroyer had been talking about.
"I've scanned the area and he's right. There's a blizzard rolling in fast. We'd better find somewhere to shelter first before we get caught in it." He told me and I quickly nodded. Having no clue where shelter was I decided to just keep heading forward and hope for the best. With my left leg hurting I could only manage a slow pace and soon I found myself caught in the middle of the blizzard, unable to see more than an inch or two in front of my face. Unfazed I keep going and as I stumbled along in the cold wind and snow I wished I listened to Commander Forge and stayed back at N-Tek.