It caught Max a little bit by surprise that his parents decided to go on vacation. For two weeks! Two whole weeks! His mother hadn't been away from her job since taking over THI, and even before that there had been just weekend trips.

"Uh, where?" was all he managed, flabbergasted.

His father held up a brochure. It had a cruise ship of enormous proportions on it. "One week on a ship, one on a beach," he simply said.

"Beach. You. And Mom. Wow…"

Steel plucked the brochure out of Jim's hands and scanned over the photos and text. "Unparalleled freedom at sea. Premium all inclusive. It's not just any cruise," he read out loud. "The future of fun. That sounds like fun! When do we go?"

Jim chuckled. "We, that is: my wife and I, are going the day after tomorrow."

The Ultralink gave a good impression of a pout. "Without your old partner?"

"Without my old partner, who is now my son's symbiont and will stay here with him."

"Can you believe it?" Steel exclaimed, zipping over to Max. "They're going on the ultimate fun cruise with the platinum all inclusive package, and we're not invited!"

Max grinned. "Oh yeah, I can believe it. Have fun."

"Oh, we will," Molly replied, looking rather excited.

Max grimaced at the clearly suggestive tone, and groaned when his father winked at her. Steel just mumbled to himself, glaring at the brochure.

::Lighten up:: he told his partner. ::It's their time off. Their alone time. Away from all the crazy stuff::

::They could at least have asked:: came the petulant reply. ::So I could have said no::

::You sound like a five year old. You also would have said yes::

Steel shot him a half-hearted glare, then dropped the brochure, and with it the subject.

XxXx

Two days later they were on their way and Max was left with a place all to himself, which was neat all by itself.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Max took up Forge's offer for a talk with some drinks a few days later.

At a diner the next town over, which made a mean burger and a very rich, flavorful milkshake. His uncle got one of those, too. The extra-large version.

"What?" he asked with a grin. "Not like I won't work it off."

Max grinned and sipped at his own. "Yeah. Like Jefferson. The man eats like a machine."

"Look who's talking?"

Max glanced at the empty plate. He had decimated the food in no time flat. And yes, his body metabolized food rather quickly. Steel claimed the suit would keep him alive even without food, but food was yummy and he liked eating it. He loved fast food and junk stuff, too. It didn't go anywhere, simply converted into energy completely, so that was a bonus for being stuck in the SteelSuit for life.

Forge ordered a large coffee, black, and Max stuck to his shake as they talked about what had happened throughout the latest training. They were sitting in the far end booth, private, no one listening in, and Max felt more at ease out here than the base.

His uncle listened, face serious, eyes on his nephew, fully concentrating on the younger man. He asked a few brief, to the point questions. It was where the Commander in Chief shone through, but he wasn't here in that capacity.

So Forge let him talk.

Steel sat in the backpack, docile, barely commenting, letting his host get everything off his chest. Max felt him with him, glad for his support, glad for everything the symbiont had done for him in the past. In the recent past, but also throughout their partnership.

XxXx

As they walked to the car, Forge carrying a doggy bag filled with brownies, muffins and cookies for Jefferson, Kat and Berto, Max shot his uncle a smile.

"Thanks, Uncle Ferrus."

"Hey, none of that, kid. I'm here for you, always have been. I know we had our differences about what is need to know for you and what isn't." He smirked and Max rolled his eyes. "But I'm family. You're family. Never forget that. Goes for you, too, Steel."

The Ultralink peeked out of the backpack's open zipper. "Wow, Commander, I'm touched! I'd kiss you if I had a mouth!"

"Yeah, well, I'm glad you don't have one. You talk too much anyway."

"I love you, too, Uncle Forge!" Steel exclaimed.

Forge glared at the single eye and Steel slipped deeper into the backpack.

"Sir," he mumbled.

"Better. Now, about your future." Forge gestured at Max to get into the car.

"Yes?"

"Molly and I talked about your so-called college career. The N-Tek funded one."

"The cover story."

His uncle shrugged his broad shoulders. "Call it what you want, but you're getting a solid education, Max. Every soldier has one and while I hate to define your status as a soldier, you are one of my men. You're our best weapon against some of the weird shit that's been coming our way."

Max nodded.

"Molly, Jim and I drew up a study plan for you. Aside from regular training, you get to hit the books."

Max sighed. "Fun."

He had finished high school with a good grade, though never among the top or with the best of his year. Fighting bad guys and saving the world had been bad on his grades, but overall he had passed, which was the most important bit. Max knew his life wouldn't and couldn't change; he was part of N-Tek and would always be. His family had founded the organization.

"Probably." Forge chuckled and turned the car to head into Copper Canyon. "You'll be learning hands-on, not just books. Ven-Ghan volunteered to help out in some areas."

Max groaned softly. "More ass-kicking."

Steel echoed the groan. "I just got the last repairs done!"

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

They were getting better.

Max had to fight against the surge of protective instinct and the memories of what had happened whenever someone or something hit too close to where Steel was firmly anchored to him. Nothing had ever happened to the Ultralink in the past, but the memories, the nightmares, were too real.

Steel himself was no better, but he was working through it his own way, not hindered by human emotions, despite being linked to a human-Takonian hybrid.

It was this more detached way, how he viewed matters, that helped Max in turn. Steel knew they were stronger now, that nothing could separate them, and that knowledge was enough for him to go into a battle without doubt.

Max adopted that state-of-mind after a while.

It got him an appreciative nod from Ven-Ghan, which almost felt like a pat on the head.

So when they went after two rogue Ultralinks that had come out of hiding, terrorizing the neighborhood, Max Steel was back one hundred percent.

They fought together like one unit, shifting between Modes fluidly, using only a fraction of a second, and deep-linking was becoming second-nature. It gave them faster communication, combining reflexes, knowledge and skill of both partners in way no one could have foreseen.

The Chief was watching it with a frown and a smile in one. Forge was proud of his nephew, for how much he had achieved, was still achieving, and how quickly he had adapted to what life had thrown his way. On the other side he was wary of this new connection. Ultralinks were capable of so much, and Steel was unlike any of his brethren. He would never consciously hurt Max, but unconsciously?

Forge had long since conquered the fear that any kind of malevolent programming might break free and turn the bio-organic being back into the evil version, but a niggle of worry remained.

"They'll be okay, Forge," Jim said calmly, joining him in watching yet another training session in Berto's Danger-Room, as Max had dubbed it with a grin. "Steel would never do anything to hurt my son. Ever. He'd rather tear his own circuits out."

Forge briefly glanced at him. Jim and Molly had come back three days ago, sun-tanned and relaxed, handing out extremely tacky, cringe-worthy souvenirs, and it an absolutely good mood. The gifts had been a bet between Molly and Forge: find the worst and mostly cheaply made souvenir and give one to everyone of their team.

They had.

And they were so ugly and loud, it was almost painful to look them for too long.

"I know, Jim. And he's suffered as much as the next soldier under my command. Old habits, I suppose."

The Takonian chuckled. "Yes, maybe." He grew serious. "I saw my world fall under their attack. I witnessed what they could do. I also found that not all are evil. One Ultralink who turned against Makino was enough for me to believe we could win one day. Steel and I have fought together for a long time, but he never opened up to me as he did to Max. And he grew exponentially. Both of them."

Forge nodded. "They're perfect for each other."

Jim smiled a little wistfully. "Not sure I would have wanted them to bond. Well, the me from eighteen years ago wouldn't have wished that upon a child. But Steel made the right decision when Max went out of control and instinct wasn't wrong."

In the simulation room the opponent was destroyed, falling to simulated pieces, and Max turned from Strength to Base Mode again, dusting off his hands. The wide grin was almost infectious. He was in perfect form and all readings told them just that. Berto looked a little miffed that his simulation had been beaten again, but he always took it as a challenge to come up with something better.

"They share a life now. For real."

The Commander nodded, arms crossed in front of his chest. "Forever."

"We'll make sure they can handle it," Jim added, his expression reflecting his decision to be there for his son, all the way.

Forge Ferrus knew he would be there for the kid, too. He loved Max like his own son, would always love him that way, even after the presumed-dead father had returned.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Close to eight months had passed since the fateful encounter with Deg'ne-rok. Max was busy with his new N-Tek academy life, living by a tightly woven schedule. He was learning a ton of stuff about engineering, cybernetics and mechanics, as well as politics, both alien and human. Some of it was mind-numbingly boring, other things were exciting and he easily grasped the concept. Even Berto was surprised how well he picked up certain aspects.

There were also lessons on how to handle all of N-Tek's machines and weapons. While he and Steel could adapt easily to a new situation, make any vehicle their own, both Jim and Uncle Ferrus insisted he learn to drive and fly the regular way.

It was fun. Scary fun, sometimes.

Battle training was as before. His dad was around more, using his own Takonian battle suit to train with Max and Steel. Ven-Ghan kept coming at him with the Skewer in new and more inventive ways, giving Max something to sweat about.

But the nightmares and the moments of panic when seeing the weapon had passed.

Steel hovered at his side as Max sat on top of his apartment building, the roof quiet and high enough to make it a remote place to be. He liked the quiet now and then. It calmed him, especially his mind, and he sometimes spent an hour or two on his back and gazing at the night sky.

There was a whoosh of purplish light and he sat up as Ven-Ghan stepped out of one of his portals.

"Hey, Ven-Ghan," he greeted him.

The hunter briefly scanned the area, then nodded his greeting. "Max. Steel."

"What brings you here?" Steel asked curiously. "Is it time to kick our asses again?"

Max grinned and shook his head in amusement. Ven-Ghan simply ignored the words, as he so often did.

"Deg'ne-rok has been found and arrested."

"Really?!" Steel zipped closer. "You caught the freak? Now what? He's thrown in the deepest, darkest hole you can find and we lose the key?"

Ven-Ghan looked unimpressed, even with the featureless helmet hiding his face. "The Tribunal will take care of his sentence."

"Huh. One down and how many will come next?" Max asked.

Ven-Ghan sat down next to him. "There might always be one or another."

"How comforting."

It got him a slight head-tilt. "You will be ready."

"Yeah, well… thanks to you training me, I guess. I learned a lot."

"That is the objective."

"I just wish we didn't always have to look over our shoulders," Max added softly. "It's… I mean, Makino's gone. We get a few Ultralinks now and then, the usual bad guys, but Deg'ne-rok was different."

Ven-Ghan watched him, not moving a muscle. "You are a warrior, Max Steel," he finally said. "You are the guardian of this world, its protector. It is your life and you cannot change it anymore."

Yeah, Ven-Ghan wasn't one for sympathetic coddling and verbal hugs. In a way, Max needed that. He didn't need pity of sympathy; he needed someone to simply talk to.

"Like yourself?" he asked calmly.

The hunter nodded once. "I am your guardian."

Steel snorted. "Baby-sitter," he muttered, barely under his breath.

Ven-Ghan shifted his gaze to the Ultralink. Steel squirmed a little.

"I am not in charge of you," the hunter said, looking at Max again. "I would never presume to be. I am a guardian. It is my honor to share my knowledge and my training with you, as I have been taught by mentors."

Max smiled. "And I very much appreciate it. It's my honor, too."

"You are a fellow warrior and hunter, Max Steel. That is what we share. A warrior's bond. I will fight by your side."

Ven-Ghan held out a hand and Max clasped it. "Thanks. Really. For everything. Even if you sometimes fight dirty."

The other tilted his head a little, the smile invisible, but most likely there. "I teach the way it has to be done."

Steel snorted, crossing his arms.

There was a soft pinging and Max felt a smile bloom on his lips. "That's Sydney calling. Uh, mind if I take it?" he asked his companion.

Ven-Ghan inclined his head. "I will monitor the Tribunal's sentence," he simply said. "Remember we have an appointment tomorrow."

Steel rolled his eye. "Yes, mom."

Ven-Ghan teleported away without a comment.

Max picked up the call that Steel had kept waiting. "Hey, Syd!"

"Hi, Max. Bad time?"

"No, perfect time. So, how's college life?"

They fell into an easy conversation and the call lasted over an hour, with no awkward lull or an exchange of banalities.

"You still got it bad for her," Steel commented.

"We're friends, Steel. Friends talk."

"Uh-huh."

"Friends," Max insisted.

"Keep telling that to yourself."

"I also talk to Kirby."

"Not the same."

He rolled his eyes. "C'mon, let's go."

They took to the air, lazily gaining in height until Max cruised aimlessly over the Canyonlands that stretched seemingly endlessly behind Copper Canyon.

Steel was a silent, warm weight next to his own mind, the link open and flowing easily between them. No words were needed and he wouldn't be able to put what he felt when they were Max Steel into words. He had no idea what his life would be, what his future would be. He was incredibly young, nineteen going on twenty, and he had everything still before him.

He was Max McGrath and he was Max Steel.

He was a student and a special operative for N-Tek.

He was human and he was Takonian.

And he was also Steel.

Something shivered along the link, like an embrace, a confirmation.

Yes, they were one life. And he would enjoy it to the fullest, whatever their way would be, whoever they would encounter.

He had a family that kicked ass. His mom, his dad, his uncle. He had good friends who kicked as much ass. Kat, Jefferson, Ven-Ghan. He had good friends who weren't warriors and still had his back in a different way, whether they knew he was Max Steel or not. Sydney, Kirby, Butch.

And he had a symbiont who was his best friend.

::You're mine, too:: was the quiet reply.

Max twirled through air, smiling, clouds brushing him by. There was no way he could complain about his life, especially after meeting Steel. There had been ups and downs, there had been really bad days and fantastically good ones.

::Yep. Really good ones:: Steel commented, clearly listening in. ::Yeah, no:: came the immediate reply to those thoughts. ::You. Broadcasting. End of story::

Max chuckled and rose higher, smoothly switching to Rocket Mode when he broke the final barrier, leaving Earth's atmosphere behind.

Below him, Earth glowed a gentle white and blue, interspersed with brown and green. The times he had seen it like that had been far and few. Mostly he had been fighting against Makino and his Ultralinks, trying to keep him from destroying his home world.

Now…

"Looks beautiful," Steel murmured.

"Yeah."

And they would protect this. Against whatever came Earth's way, whatever wanted a piece of this, even if it was a resurrected Makino himself.

Steel groaned. "No. No, you can't say something like this. Or think about it! He's not coming back! Ever! He burned in the sun and it nothing charred bits, ashes to ashes, and so on!"

Max placed a hand over his chest where Steel sat, his mind calmingly reaching out to his symbiont.

"He won't be back," he said softly. ::Ever::

Steel shuddered a little, then pulled himself away from those thoughts.

Max cruised a little, enjoying the view, then slowly descended again.

Time to get back to N-Tek. Grab a bite to eat on the way, then see what was going on. Berto had been talking about a new simulation, some kind of new weapon he was experimenting with that was meant for Max and Steel to work.

::Sounds like fun::

Max grinned. Yep, it did. It always was.

"Okay then, off to Berto's it is."

XxXx

No one talked about how they blew up the simulation, and with it the new C.Y.T.R.O., way too early.

Or Berto's wide-eyed, slack-jawed expression.

Max just shrugged.

"Better luck next time!" Steel crowed, really pleased with how they had handled themselves against the rather tough and complicated simulation.

It had paid off training with Ven-Ghan.

"C'mon. Chocolate cake's on me," Max called.

Berto grumbled, but Max knew he couldn't resist chocolate cake.

And he didn't.

They were good. Not that Berto held a grudge, because every time Max managed to best one of his simulations, he was driven into building a better one. Just like he kept improving C.Y.T.R.O.

Max slung an arm over his friend's shoulders, Steel hovering next to them, and they headed for the cafeteria.

A call came in just as he was about to bite into his chocolate cake and Max sighed. Berto smirked.

"You go be a hero. I'll take care of your share."

And with that he bit into it.

Max rolled his eyes, already heading off to the hangar.

"Time to go T.U.R.B.O.?" Steel called excitedly.

"Yep, time to go T.U.R.B.O., buddy. Flight!"

And time for Max Steel to kick bad guy butt again.

XxXxXxXxXxXx

fin!

Thank you all for reading! It was quite a ride and I enjoyed my venture into this tiny fandom!

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