Chapter 11

(Third Person P.O.V.)

Max, Yuuko, Jake Nez, Rachel, Kat, Miharu, Kubo, Roberto, Jean Mairot and Dr. Yevchenko were all at N-Tek HQ being briefed on their new mission in the briefing room by Max's elder brother Akito.

"Alright Team Steel, here is the low down, earlier today we lost all communication with the N-Tek Satellite Space Station Saber after an accidental collision with a wayward com satellite, not only have we lost all ground remote control operation of saber but the crew on board who handle manual operation of saber are not responding and saber is slowly falling out of its own orbit, now this all could have just been a coincidental accident with the collision with that wayward com satellite but in the worst case scenario, we can assume that com satellite colliding with saber was a little present from Dread, now saber has been our eye in the sky for the past 16 years, so at Jean's recommendation, we're sending two members of Team Steel up there to investigate and hopefully keep saber from falling out of orbit and crashing into a populated area." Akito said in calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"We have already decided on who will be the two agents to go up there, agent Jake Nez, your NASA training will be invaluable to this mission, so we are send both you and Max up there together." Jean Mairot said in a calm and collected tone of voice and matching facial expression in his signature French accent.

"Wait, you're sending me into space?! Whoa, that's wicked." Max said in a shocked, surprised and awed tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Hey wait a second, what about me?! why can't I go with Max and Nez too?!" Yuuko said in an annoyed and irritated tone of voice and matching facial expression as she quickly stood up from her seat.

"Yuuko, I know you feel like you are being left out and you are also worried about Max, but the reason why you're not going as well is because, well, we don't have a female space suit that can fit you, so you'll have to stay here, unfortunately." Akito said with calm and collected but awkward and slightly uncomfortable tone of voice and matching facial expression, with his hand close to his mouth as if he was trying to cover up a cough.

Yuuko then looked at Akito and then looked at Max who just shrugged, not knowing what to say, before looking at herself, because of her late bloomer body and hung her own head dejectedly.

Afterwards Max and Nez were both suited up and on their way to N-Tek's space shuttle, The Phoenix.

"Hey Nez, don't I need some special training for this?" Max asked in curious tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Sorry kid no time, but don't worry, I'll be there to help you every step of the way." Nez said in calm, collected and reassuring tone of voice as the two made their way to the ship.

"Max Steel, allow me to introduce you to The Phoenix." Nez said in a calm, collected and slightly enthusiastic tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Whoa, I think I'm in love." Max said in a surprised and astonished tone of voice and matching facial expression.

After boarding The Pheonix the two went through the countdown and blasted off towards saber as Max shouted "Yihaaa!" and they switched ground control over to Team Steel's Ops room.

But as Phoenix left Earth's atmosphere and entered space another ship was in hot pursuit of Phoenix.

"Heads up guys, our tracking stations here on the ground have just detected an unauthorized launch headed your way." Roberto said in calm, collected but still serious tone of voice.

"We've got visual. Commencing evasive maneuvers." Jake said in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice as he and Max saw the intercepting ship on their monitor screen.

Just then the intercepting ship started shooting lasers at them and landed a direct hit on them.

"How bad?" Max asked Jake in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Hull damage, Max Probes have initiated self repair." Jake said in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression.

Back at N-Tek in ground control Roberto looked to Kubo, Rachel and all of the other members of Team Steel and said, "Even Max Probes have their limits." in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression.

Back in space the Max Probes in Phoenix's hull continued to work and completely repaired the damage to the hull.

"The interceptor ship's weapons outclass Phoenix's, I recommend activating Star Hawk." Rachel said in a very calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial from ground control.

"We're way ahead of you." Jake said in response in a very calm and collected but still serious tone of voice.

While the interceptor ship continued to fire lasers at Phoenix, Phoenix launched Star Hawk with Max piloting it as Max shouted "Yihaaa!" as he and Star Hawk launched and separated from Phoenix and flew behind the interceptor ship to engage it in combat.

"How's she handling?" Jake asked Max in a calm, collected and curious but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Just like Hawk, but without the wind sheer. Flanking target, now" Max replied in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Luke Skywalker eat your heart out." Max said in calm, collected and joking but yet somehow still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression, as he fired two missiles at the interceptor ship, which destroyed the missiles with rear fired lasers, which completely shocked and surprised Max as the interceptor ship flew around and got behind Max and Star Hawk.

"Tag I'm it!" Max said in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression as the interceptor ship began pursuing and firing lasers on him.

"Chips and Dip Jake, feel free to join the party!" Max said as his way of telling Jake he needs backup, in a calm and collected but still slightly nervous tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Just waiting for an invitation. Targeting, and firing now." Jake said in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression as he fired Phoenix's laser at the interceptor ship.

"Direct hit on main thrusters, targeting secondaries." Jake said in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression as he tried to lock on to the enemy ship.

"Please take your time." Max said in a calm and collected but still slightly nervous tone of voice and matching facial expression.

Just then one of the enemy ship's lasers hit the wing of Star Hawk, blasting off, causing Max to lose control.

"I'm hit!" Max said as Star Hawk began to spin out of control.

"Eject! Eject!" Both Kubo and Roberto shouted to Max frantically over the communicator.

"No kidding!" Max said in response as he ejected by separating flying off in Star Hawk's secondary body, leaving the main body to continue to spine out of control before exploding, as Max was still being pursued by the enemy ship.

"Targeting!" Jake said before firing Phoenix's laser on the enemy ship again, scoring a direct hit which caused the enemy ship to explode.

"Uh Nez, were you trying to do that?" max asked in a curious and surprised tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Uh no, beam should have crippled, not vaporized." Jake said in a shocked and surprised tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Hey well not that I'm complaining." Max said in a calm, collected and relieved tone of voice and matching facial expression before bringing Star Hawk back into Phoenix and the two now heading towards Saber.

"Visual contact with Saber, but no response from the crew through communications, and no sign of the com satellite." Jake said in a calm and collected but still serious tone of voice and matching facial expression as Max took his seat next to him.

"Check out the Earth, it's so beautiful." Max said in an astonished and awed tone of voice and matching facial expression.

"Initiating docking procedures." Jake said in a calm and collected tone of voice and matching facial expression as Phoenix began to dock into Saber.

To Be Continued.

Flashback Omake

In Fumizuki Academy Miharu was running towards Minami happily, arms out as she said, "He's gone, the disgusting pig is finally gone, now there is nothing in our way my love!" happily to hear Akihisa was gone in a loud and happy tone of voice and matching facial expression.

However her happy dream was shattered by reality, in this case Minami's fist in her face making her fall and land on her back holding the side of her face in pain as she looked up at Minami and saw the anger and hate in her eyes as she shouted, "SHUT THE FUCKING HELL UP! I AM NOT INTO YOU! IF I HAVE SAID IT ONCE I HAVE SAID IT A MILLION TIMES I DON'T SWING THAT WAY, I LIKED AKI AND NOW BECAUSE OF YOU AND SO MANY OTHERS HE IS GONE AND I WILL NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN! AND IT IS ALL YOURS AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER PEOPLE'S FAULT" in a tone of voice filled with emotion, mainly anger and hate, with a matching facial expression, as Minami then kicked Miharu in the stomach while she was down before getting on top of her and punching her in the face repeatedly.

Miharu screamed her mental image of, she hated the boy, and was simply playing hard to get had completely shattered. As she only now finally saw and realized that she not only liked the boy but she hated her, and she treats people she likes like people she hates, so If she was into her then their relationship would be nothing but abuse and this sudden realization of reality that she now knows, grasps and understands hit Miharu like a ton of bricks crashing down on her all at once, as she now finally realized and understood this she cried and screamed in pain as she mentally said to herself, "Oh my god, Akihsia wasn't a pig, he may have been an idiot but he wasn't a pig, no the real pigs are Minami and that Mizuki girl and all of the teachers and principal of this school for how they constantly physically and verbally the lower ranking students like Akihisa. Miharu then screamed as Minami continued to punch her in the face and head while on top of her until she left Miharu's face battered, bruised bleeding and swollen, as Minami finally stopped punching Miharu and got off of her as she walked muttering something in German.

While the heartbroken Miharu laid there in too much pain to move, which was a good thing as it meant she was damaged, not broken. She then groaned before mentally saying, "Oh fuck...I need to somehow find him and make it up to him..." She said internally to herself while crying. "When I get up I am going to find a way to leave Japan and travel and hopefully find Akihisa... I can't believe I am such a fucking idiot for not truly seeing, realizing and understanding it all sooner." Miharu said internally to herself in a sad and frustrated tone of voice and matching facial expression as she wiped away her tears and any blood from any open wounds Minami inflicted on her.

End of Flashback Omake