Chapter 34: The Beginning Of The End

Bruce didn't consider himself a confrontational person. Sure, he wasn't passive or unassertive (quite contrary to his entire appearance). He had taken down the fiercest intergalactic aliens, Government-obsessed officials, individuals starving for the power that burned inside of him. Yet, it wasn't like he had to be "himself" during those times. Banner simply took a backseat and let the Hulk's fists speak for the both of them (which usually worked out at the end of the day). However, there were rare occurrences where brute strength wasn't going to resolve an issue.

This definitely wasn't one of those times.

"I understand what you're saying", Banner relayed, already feeling like they had been going in circles for hours. "We're not trying to keep them here against their will. But I don't think they're ready to dismiss all that's happened to them."

"No, you just want to manipulate them!", Forge seethed, his resistance as mighty as a fortified wall. Molly shared his similar posture as well, though there were hints of doubt on her features. "Max and Steel's best interests are the last things you want. Fury probably put you up to this to convince us otherwise."

"Nobody is putting me up to anything", Bruce said, ignoring the other man's attempt to prod him with a proverbial stick (not realizing how big the bear really was). "Max's charts speak for themselves."

Bruce asked J.A.R.V.I.S. to pull up the specs once more and the A.I. complied, a detailed health history materializing from thin air. Forge looked at the information and turned away with a scowl, while Molly studied it with a weary sigh. Truly, Bruce couldn't blame them for this behavior (they obviously cared about the two to death). However, they weren't going anywhere with this discussion.

"We just want to give them an environment where they can safely vent with other people who know what they're going through. Something I wish existed when I was younger."

"Please! How do we know all this isn't something Stark cooked up?! You must think we're complete-"

"Forge, it's time to stop!", Molly snapped, cutting off his argument with abrupt finality. "We...have to face the facts sooner rather than later."

She took a moment to look at the holographic data once more before propping herself on a nearby stool. "If they really wanted to use them, I don't think they would have spent all this time and energy actually trying to understand who they are. Plus, we all saw what happened earlier with Max. Can we really say that wasn't real?"

Ferrus grumbled at that and crossed his arms in a huff. He hated to admit it, but she was right. Even their enemies would never even attempt the idea on their best day. And Max was proof enough that this was really happening.

"All this information you were able to glean from them in a few days?", the woman asked and Bruce gave a slow nod. "At N-Tech, we only hire the best medical staff and top notch physicians. Nevertheless, even this would take them more time to figure out. Something we can't just dismiss."

"What exactly are you trying to say Molly?", the Commander wondered, his senses silently guessing the answer to her question.

"What I'm trying to say, is that I never realized how much he had to carry", Molly contemplated and rubbed her temple tiredly. "We knew it was a lot, but I don't think we really got that. It also didn't help that...Jim always made it look so easy. Though, what always bothered me was that he rarely told you how he really felt. Which is the exact opposite of Max. So maybe, we thought he could be like Jim? We wordlessly pushed Max in that direction. In attempt to-"

"Replace Jim?!", Forge said, finishing her thought. This wasn't the way he imagined this conversation would go! "But...that wasn't our goal! I would never even think that, much less say it to Max!"

"It...doesn't need to be said", Bruce muttered, approaching with more sensitivity. "A lot of times, there's this expectation to meet the bar of those who have gone before you, especially with sons. When it can't be met, the results are often complicated."

The room became quiet after Banner's statement, the white noise of machines whirling and working in the background now clearly heard. Molly then stood up and exhaled, the day's events showing across her features.

"In my opinion, letting them stay here wouldn't assure that Max would get better. It would just add more craziness and instability. However...we'll talk with the both of them to figure out what they really want. Max and Steel went to all this trouble, so it's only fair for us to finally listen. Copper Canyon is their home as much as ours, but-"

"It's...up for them to decide", Forge confessed, realizing that the safety reins were coming off. "Besides, we need to make this right. Especially if they choose to stay all the way on the other side of the country. And they're only going to get older, stronger. Can't hold them back forever."

"But Max is still a minor", Molly warned, stepping up to Bruce in a threatening manner. "So if this is their decision, you better GUARANTEE his well being! Or we're going to have a problem."

"We already do."

Turning around, they all noticed that Stark and Natasha had entered the room, both with serious expressions. The door closed behind them and Bruce gave a dramatic exhale (an unexpected escalation approaching fast). Of all the times Tony had to make a "grand entrance".

"What now Stark?!", Ferrus demanded, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "We've already transferred the money for the damages from today."

"You mean damages that you caused?", Tony chimed and Widow gave at the billionaire with a foreboding expression (which he took as his cue to stop talking).

"We're not here about compensation", Natasha explained. "There's another issue. Max and Steel are gone."

"WHAT?!", the three of them shrieked, Tony and Natasha noting their freaked-out expressions with a wince.

"Steel is too smart for his own good", Stark informed, asking J.A.R.V.I.S. to pull up the Tower's camera feed. "Not only does he get in my system AGAIN, after I bumped up security. But then he locks my own A.I. out! Forgot about the security footage though."

The recording from the nearby room played and they watched as Max stood up from the gurney to transform. Disappearing from sight, a nearby door then opened on its own and closed.

"Stealth mode?", Widow asked and Molly gave a slow nod. "They have a suit for everything."

"One that's nearly invisible on all visible spectrums. Found one that could see them though", Tony explained. "Looks like they headed to the roof and after that, flew off to God knows where. Barton saw their light show out the window and that's when J.A.R.V.I.S. was finally able to get back in."

"We'll find them!", Ferrus swore, calling up Berto to begin tracking their signature.

"Yes, and that's the other problem", Tony addressed, the Commander raising his head for the explanation. "We can't follow where they went. For some reason it's like their trail vanished into thin air. Even my locator isn't able to pinpoint their location."

"Which is the same thing that happened to us!", the female McGrath stated. "After they left, N-Tech sensors weren't able to tell either. Not even an exact direction."

"Another thing Steel is responsible for", Forge concluded with an exhale. "I feel like that bot secretly loves to start confusion."

"Would their other friends be able to find them?", Natasha asked. "Isn't Ven-Ghan a tracker? Or the one who piloted their Racer remotely during the fight with Dredd?"

"I'm sorry, who did what now?", Molly retorted and Ferrus ran a hand on through his hair. They had known about Ven-Ghan, but everyone had skipped over that other detail!

"Right, the 'H' girl", Tony recalled, remembering their brief encounter. "Max never told us her name, but she did provide a good distraction. Might have an idea on where they went too."

"At least...Max made a new friend while he was here", the female McGrath murmured, another person to add on to the growing to-do list. "As for Ven-Ghan, he's more known for being an Ultralink Hunter. We were able to get in touch with him after we entered the city, but were not sure where he is now."

"He's laying low", the Commander stated with a frown. "Especially since he figured out where they were, and then decided not to tell us like we agreed upon. A fact I was less than thrilled about when he called."

"Well, call him back up because we're gonna need it", Tony said. "And before you say anything, we are going to help and there's nothing you can do about it."

Forge gave a look to Molly, the female thinking for a moment and then nodding her head. Ferrus then groaned inmand gave the billionaire a hardened look.

"Fine."

MEANWHILE

Tense couldn't even describe the atmosphere that surrounded Hazel at the moment, the word inappropriate for this scenario. No, she would consider it more cut-throat if anything, the usual cozy feeling of their coffee house sucked out and replaced with whatever "this" was. However, she managed to sit in uncomfortable silence across a table from Hill and Coulson, the two of them giving her suspicious glances. Her Father then sighed from beside her, asking if they could just get this over with.

"We'll get to the point then. It goes without saying that this pertains to your previous investigation into Ultralinks", Hill informed. Coulson then pulled out some sealed paperwork from a briefcase.

'Did she just say...Ultralinks?!', the teen pondered, keeping her composure but powerless to stop her foot from jittering. 'Oh my God! Why couldn't it be about a world-ending bomb or some secret relic? Anything other than this subject!'

Now Hazel definitely knew to keep her mouth shut. She wasn't about to sell out her new friends to the Government (which was so cliché and trashy)! Even though technically...Max and Steel had done it themselves by teaming up with the Avengers earlier.

So, why was S.H.I.E.L.D. only showing up now? Wouldn't the Avengers just give them the information they wanted to begin with? And how did her Dad know about Ultralinks anyway?!

Said Father then took the files and opened them, murmuring at different parts of the past report. However, as fast as the paperwork was opened, he shut the folder and slid it back.

"You already have the information I originally dug up, so there's nothing else to add", Joe revealed with a frown. "And since when is S.H.I.E.L.D. interested in 'urban legends' anyway?"

"Since finding out that they're real", Maria revealed and the other man's eyes widened in shock. "Very real and capable of destroying entire planets."

"Earth seems to be their main target", Coulson remarked. "Which is why if there's anything you left out of these files, it's imperative that you tell us-"

"There is nothing left out", Joe criticized, the shock of the previous moment gone in an instant. "No hidden detail, no secret information, no cover-up."

"You can honestly say that?", Hill asked and the other man clenched his fists. "We've studied this file top to bottom, and there seems to be different sections that were purposely left out-"

"Fury fired me before I could finish it! Then dragged my name through the mud afterwards!", Mr. Williams growled. However, he soon calmed down when he noticed his daughter's concerned expression. "But...it doesn't matter. I left that behind and chose to start over. Therefore, I suggest you do the same and stop wasting your time tracking down dead people."

"Really? And the recent 'hire' that started working here isn't related to your work at all?", Coulson questioned and Hazel felt her heart pause a bit. Oh no...

"Recent hire?", Joe repeated, confused (and sadly out of the loop). "Only one other person has started working here."

"Yes. Maxwell McGrath", Hill remarked and crossed her arms. "Remember anything now?"

"He started working here before I returned from my conference", the older man denoted, everyone not noticing Hazel wiping sweaty hands on her jeans. "Don't know much about him, but he seems like a good kid. Why are you asking anyway? Plant a teenager to spy for you or something?"

Hill and Coulson then shared a glance at one another, clearly unhappy with such an honest reply. They then shifted their attention to Hazel, who had just finished drying her hands.

"Oh, so now you want my input?", the teen stated sarcastically and placed a hand under her chin. "Afraid you're out of luck with me too. Met Max when he started coming in here for meals and desserts. Offered him a job after that because we were short-handed and I could bribe him with food. Nice guy, but he does have a habit of talking to himself."

"So you haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary with Maxwell?"

"He's got a sweet tooth", Hazel answered, making her tone as innocent as possible. "Loves anything related to marshmallows or sugar. And he can definitely pack it away."

Though her word choice was interesting, it seemed to do the trick, as the two Agents in front of her deepened their frowns. Yet Hazel wasn't as prepared for their next inquiry.

"I doubt you'd mind if we could have a look at your cell phone then?", Hill asked and the teen gave a face, placing a protective hand over her pocket. "Since you've been working with Max the longest, it's no doubt that you've probably communicated with him outside of work."

"And what? Because Max and I are teenagers, it automatically makes us besties that share our deepest, darkest secrets? What's so 'special' about Maxwell that you're asking for all this information anyway?"

'Hazel...", Joe warned, his tone leaving room for no other argument. "The sooner they realize nothing is here, the quicker they'll leave."

She whined in protest, yet pulled out her phone and handed it over. Hill took the device and began to search through it, while Hazel sat back in her chair to wait. Her Dad was right, there wasn't anything on there (news articles and food blogs on a continuous loop). A cute dog video mixed in or two-

"Also...who is this 'Steel' in your messages?", the female spy asked and Hazel paused, every cell in her body screaming in surprise. "All he texted was an address."

'Which was from the time I came over!', Hazel thought, wanting to slap herself for forgetting to delete that. She then hurried for some type of response to give to the Agents (and her Dad with a look of curiosity).

"He's...a friend I was meeting up with", she supplied, but the response wasn't as convincing this time. Something Coulson took as a dead giveaway. Pulling out his own phone, he then typed in the location.

"You typically hang out with friends at abandoned fire stations?", the older man asked in a sharp tone.

"Well, it was near where he lives", Hazel explained. "We were just meeting there to walk-"

"Nowhere, because according to your phone's GPS, you didn't move from this location for hours", Hill explained, raising an eyebrow. "And later, somehow got back to your home in less than twenty minutes."

Now Hazel knew she was finished, unable to think of a lie that would explain how she got home that quickly in late-night traffic. Even so, she certainly couldn't tell them that a green-skinned alien had dropped her off in his space ship either!

"We're going to ask you one more time", the female Spy stated, setting the phone down and giving a threatening look. "You really don't have any information about Maxwell McGrath? Or something you want to share about Ultralinks?"

"Umm…", the teen stammered and nervously glanced around. Even her own parental unit now had a skeptical expression. However, she couldn't be too mad (knowing that if the roles were reversed she'd be the one right now with the doubt).

Nevertheless, before Hazel could spill everything, someone did manage to come to her rescue.

Noticing something amethyst colored growing in her peripherals, she turned her head and watched as it grew bigger and bigger. Eventually it grew to be an oval portal, the power of it knocking over chairs and spare napkins on tables. And stepping out of it, the familiar bounty hunter Hazel was all too familiar with.

"Hazel!", Ven-Ghan began, quickly closing his entrance with a brisk hand. He took note of the shocked occupants in the room, but shook his head and continued. "I understand this may not be the best time to interrupt. However, I require your assistance."

"Right now?!", she shrieked, placing a hand on her forehead. Least he was straight to the point (except his timing was terrible!). "What are you even doing here?!"

"There isn't time to explain right now-"

"Well you don't need to!", Joe asked, getting up from his chair. "She is NOT going with you! Hazel, you better explain this!"

Both Coulson and Hill then reacted as well, grabbing hidden weapons from their hips and pointing it at the newcomer.

"Stand down!", Coulson ordered, the one in question tilting his head at the command. "This is your first and only warning."

The Hunter sighed, pretending to raise his hands in surrender. Though once he raised them high enough, he flicked one of his wrists and activated another large portal. Moving faster than the Spies (or bullets) in front of them he moved the opening and they were swiftly swallowed. Before Hazel could blink, he closed that hole and made another, quickly sending it towards the final obstacle in the room. The portal enveloping where Hazel's Dad once stood and blinking out, she then did what any sane person would do and freaked-out.

"VEN-GHAN!"

"They're fine!", the green-skinned alien assured. "I only teleported them a few streets away."

"EXCEPT ONE OF THEM WAS MY DAD!", she hissed, clearly angry at him for sending her Father to some random location.

"...Sorry", Ven-Ghan bluntly offered. "Regardless, we need to leave before they return with reinforcements. I won't be able to fend off more and it's imperative that we locate Max and Steel."

"Wha-Why?!", Hazel asked, surprised at the other's words. "I...just assumed that they were chilling with the Avengers or something."

"Not anymore", Ven-Ghan answered. "They disappeared a short time ago. Which means I have to track them down again. And you're coming with me."

"But, how am I supposed to help you?", she reasoned, trying to make sense of his logic. "I can't do the things you do Ven-Ghan. I'm not an Ultralink Hunter."

"Well, you won't be doing much of the assisting", he admitted and rubbed the back of his neck. "I...may have revealed your identity to Forge after he sent in a transmission and questioned me. He then insisted I bring you along after your previous involvement."

Hazel screamed in frustration and placed a hand on her forehead, clearly defeated at this point. She had just wanted to help out. Maybe (secretly) play a small part of their team. But, now it was the last thing she wanted to do! Plus, she was gonna be in so much trouble later on with those weirdos Spies and her Father! Hazel opened her eyes and saw that Ven-Ghan was waiting for a reply, so she took a moment to put herself back together.

"You're one-hundred percent sure my Dad and those other two are fine?!", Hazel questioned sharply and Ven-Ghan nodded. 'It wasn't like he had sent them half-way across the globe', she reasoned. "Then...let's go. No like I have much of a choice now."

She grabbed her phone off the table and then quickly went around their shop's coffee bar, grabbing her backpack (filled with stress snacks) from under a cupboard to put on.

"Those two knuckleheads better have a good excuse for why they took off."

HOURS LATER

The dimmest stars shone across an endless stretch of whitish sand and dark waves. A picture-perfect shore finally empty, its usual crowd of tourists and beach bods long gone after a sweltering day of fun. Something Max was relieved for as he sat humbly near the coast's edge, his eyes focused on the far-off horizon. He then gave a glance and eyed Steel for a moment, the Ultralink's busy once again with calculations raging up and down his plating. However, Max didn't seem to mind, tilting his head down to find a skinny piece of driftwood near him. Picking it up in one hand, he used it to absentmindedly etch in the sand while wondering how on Earth did they even end up here.

After leaving Avengers Tower, Max didn't think twice and flew off in an impulsive direction. Heading nowhere at a mind-blowing speed, they made it in record-breaking time into the more residential towns and neighborhoods of Maryland. Tired (but not wanting to land near suburbia), they eventually made it to the shoreline of a beautiful ocean side beach, smoothly landing after scanning the sandy shore and discovering it was surprisingly deserted.

Still, Max didn't know why in particular he had chosen this area (and this wasn't exactly getting some "air" he realized). Nevertheless, the waves did calm his nerves a bit, foamy water brushing against his feet and washing part of his sketch along with it.

"Finally done!", Steel sighed, his eye coming back into view and a digit rubbing his face tiredly. "Who knew erasing our trail again AND warding off signals from N-Tech could be so much work."

"Thanks...", Max expressed and the bot bobbed in appreciation. "I just wanted to be alone for a while."

"Welcome", the Ultralink continued and floated over to view his drawing. "And don't take this the wrong way Max. But I would just stick to my day job and leave art to the real professionals if I were you."

"Really?", the teen murmured, a small smile forming across his face before turning back to neutral. "I'll keep that in mind then."

"So...we're gonna talk about this or what?"

The teen tilted his head and viewed his partner's no-nonsense stance, the Ultralink's eye and appendages crossed. Steel had accommodated his wishes to get away, so there wasn't really any option to avoid the subject. Plus if he didn't comply, it wasn't like his partner couldn't call up everyone and tell them where they currently were (exact coordinates included).

"...Yeah", Max exhaled and raised his head to look at the constellations. "I don't even know how things got this terrible."

"Could be worse-"

"You've already said that before", Max pointed out, remembering the previous conversation with Hazel (wondering briefly how she and Ven-Ghan were even doing). "Our trip got hijacked. The city got trashed by Dread and A.I.M. This was supposed to be fun, not a-"

"Car crash?", Steel supplied and the teen murmured in agreement. "I do admit things could be….better. Yet it's not as bad as you're making it sound, Max."

"Feels like it", he stated and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, and let's not forget my passing out every once in a while to add the finishing touch. I mean, how did things even get so serious?! And here we are. Running away from our problems AGAIN. No wonder...Uncle Ferrus said that stuff about us earlier."

Steel exhaled and placed a sympathetic arm on Max's shoulder.

"In my experience with Forge, it's best not to take his criticism to heart", the Ultralink explained. "He can be a handful, especially when fired up about something. And when he gets caught up in the moment, he always says stuff that he doesn't really mean. We all do that on occasion."

Max hummed and closed his eyes for a moment, thinking back on the times when his Uncle rarely did get angry with him. It was usually for something (the teen could admit) he had done wrong, and things were sometimes said on both sides. Max had even called the man names before as well when ticked off. Yet, Uncle Ferrus was always the first one to come back and admit where he could have done better.

"Being an adult means admitting when you screwed up", his Uncle once said, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to apologize.

And it always worked because Forge wasn't the type to be mad forever, something he and Max were similar on. They weren't perfect, yet liked to let disagreements get washed away. 'Fitting...', Max thought, watching another crest of waver coming down on the shore and then taking all the mess around with it.

"So...about the Avengers", Max supplied, switching gears and lightly shaking his shoulders (clearly unsure about the offer they were given). "Big if being that they still want to work with us after all that's happened."

"I don't think N-Tech tearing their place up is a deal breaker", the bot surmised. "It probably made the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. want us more. What's the expression again? 'You always want what you can't have' or something along those lines."

"Still though, it would be a big change. HUGE", Max said, starting to list things off his fingers. "If we took the job, we'd have to permanently move, learn the rhythm of a whole new team. Train and study a lot more-"

"You're forgetting something", Steel mused and the teen thought for a moment before his expression winced at the thought. "It would mean leaving N-Tech permanently. Your Mom, Forge. Let's not forget Sydney and Kirby too. I don't think you're cut out for long-distance relationships, so would you really want to do that?"

Max contemplated this before groaning loudly, plopping himself on his back and staring at the murky milky way above him. "I...don't know. And wait a second, how are you thinking so calmly about this?! Being a part of a superhero team is like your biggest dream Steel."

"NOT TRUE!", the alien nervously jested and flicked his digits (which definitely wasn't a lie). "I mean sure. Would it be great? Incredible?! Working with the greatest heroes of all time. Definitely yes!"

Steel did a flip in the air in excitement, but paused as Max watched him with a knowing smirk. "But, this isn't just about me! And if we do choose that, things will never be the same or go back to normal."

"Well, it's not as if I want everything to go back to normal", the teen sighed and sat up. "Then we'd be right back to where we started. But..."

"You don't want to leave everything the way it is now?", the Ultralink answered and the younger male tilted his head, surprised at how Steel had spoken one of his hidden thoughts out loud. "Because if you do, things will only get worse or become nonexistent. Especially between you, Forge, and Molly. Something the Avengers or S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn't give you."

"How are you...so smart?", Max acknowledged, rolling his eyes and standing up to stretch. Steel puffed himself up at the praise, yet the teen knew that the android's thoughts rang true. If moving away and starting over with a new team meant that his former relationships would only continue to disintegrate, it was too high a price to pay. Max wasn't interested in a quick fix or something that would feel good for a moment (and being an Avenger WOULD definitely feel good for a while). However, things needed to be resolved first before rushing into anything else.

"Ready to go face the music?", he asked, gesturing with his head toward the way they came. However, his partner gave no response. Instead, it seemed that something had caught the Ultralink's eye in the far distance. Something that sorta looked like…

"Get down!", Steel cried, crashing back into the armor at full throttle and forcing Max down with it.

However, the Ultralink wasn't fast enough.

Max screamed in pain as his body collided with a sickly green energy blast, his frame knocked into the ground with a heavy thud. His armor shielded him from getting completely fried, but odd electrical crackles danced across the suit and surrounding earth as a after effect. Slowly forcing himself off the ground with a heavy groan, Max then forced his helmet back into place and took a hard look at what was coming straight towards them.

Racing across the shoreline, multiple assault vehicles hurtled toward them, as foreboding as the shadows around them. Skidding to a stop a short distance away, our heroes noticed a hexagonal design on the doors before they opened, revealing masked soldiers with fierce artillery.

"These are...A.I.M soldiers?!", Max stammered, blasters now surrounding them. "But didn't we get rid of them?"

"Apparently not all of them", Steel said with a gulp.

"I think this is a good time to call for help", the teen stated and side-stepped, avoiding another blast from almost grazing his shoulder.

"Yes, except there's one problem", the android said in a grieved tone. "Whatever they hit us with, it short-circuited my communication system!"

"Ok, so that means no backup", Max affirmed, rolling his body and tumbling forward. "We need to get out of here. So that means it's time for a speed boost."

Max dodged another attack and braced himself, yelling "Go T.U.R.B.O. Speed" with dire urgency. Steel confirmed the command and their suit responded, a bright surge of their power coming forth. Except, this time something didn't go the way it normally did.

Instead of slimmer armor and sapphire laced foot soles, Max found his armor still on its Basic Mode.

"WHAT?!", he screamed, dodging once again avoid another shot from their enemies weapons. He clambered over his feet and then ran, quickly jumping over a large sand dune in order to get some shielding. This...this couldn't be right!

"Steel, you really think this is the time for a joke?!", Max asked, taking a look behind his hiding spot to note that the soldiers in front of them were stepping closer.

"No…", the Ultralink stated, searching through his system and finding nothing. "Max, this is REALLY BAD! Not only did that beam mess up my comm link, but I can't access our T.U.R.B.O. Modes!"

"WHAT?!", the teen shrieked, his heart and adrenaline now through the roof. Was a beam of energy that powerful to even knock out all their abilities?!

So now there was no S.O.S., no T.U.R.B.O. Modes, absolutely nothing!

"Oh great...", Max shuddered, pulling up his fists and tightening his muscles. This was definitely a fight he couldn't afford to lose!