A few minutes later finds Max walking through the door of the apartment, his mom still at work and Steel nowhere to be found.

"Hey Steel, where are you buddy?" Max calls, taking his shoes off and walking through the apartment looking for his partner.

<You home?> Steel responds through their link,

<Yeah, but where are you?>

<I'm around, look just go in your room and sit down on the bed. It would be bad if you fainted and hit your head,>

<Ok,> so Max walked into his room and laid down on his bed. <So what's up, and where are you?>

<Well, you remember how Berto needed my help with something?>

<Yeah, what about it?>

<Well, he needed help testing a new invention. I was setting up a few targets for it, but the thing malfunctioned and ended up blasting me!>

<It did, dude are you alright?> Max asked, sounding concerned.

<Generally speaking yes, but there is one slight issue.>

<And what's that?>

<It shrunk me to an eighth of an inch,> Steel says quickly.

For a moment, Max doesn't respond. Letting the fact that his partner and best bud is now small, well smaller. He finds his voice to respond after it sinks in, but can't find the words to say.

<Max? You ok? Come pal say something,> Steel says. Trying to cox Max out of his trans,

<Where.... Steel where are you?> Max asked, stuttering a bit.

<Do you really want to know?>

<Yes, yes I do. Steel, please. Where are you?>

<Huuuh, I'm in a safety pod that's been shrunk down.... and is stuck to you. ....Berto figured it would be best until he fixes the machine,>

<Wait a second, that's what he stuck to me earlier? Oh dang, I've been trying to get it off for a good half hour. So you're stuck to the side of my head until Berto can fix that thing?>

<Yeah pretty much. Upside is, I can come out when I want. But it's mainly for the purpose of linking up so I don't power down and you don't explode.>

<Oh! Ok then..... so now what do we do?>

<Well I think it's about time to link up, I'm getting pretty low on energy and your coming close to your max, Max.>

<Real comedian aren't you,>

<I try,> with that Steel presses the green button and floats out of the pod.

He's greeted by the view of everything that is so familiar to him, suddenly towering over him like skyscrapers. Even Max himself was now much larger then he had ever been to Steel, and this coming from someone that can sit comfortably in the boy's chest.

<Wow! Everything is so huge from down here, even you. By the way, would really appreciate it if you don't move a muscle till I'm done.> Steel says, sounding nervous.

<No problem Steel, just make it quick. I can only control certain things,>

<Roger that. So uh... how are you doing?> Steel asks, making his way to where he thinks Max's chest is.

<Uh, fine I guess. Little sore, but what else is new?>

<Why, your dad beat the snout out of you?> Steel jokes,

<Haha very funny. No actually it was when Berto and I were skateboarding earlier, ended up went over the jump jets like ramps again and crashed into a wall when I wasn't paying attention. Pretty sure I'm gonna have some nasty bruisin tomorrow,> Max explains.

<Well can't be as bad as this,> Steel states.

Max chuckles, <gotta agree with you there. So what's it like being that small?>

<Depends what you mean by that. It is very facilitating but it's also one way to fry your sercet board. I mean everything is absolutely massive, just you alone is like looking up at a skyscraper. And you're laying down.>

<Wow! So you done yet? Cause I'm getting stiff just laying here,>

<Be patient, I'm almost there. So how did training go?>

<Not bad, it was mainly hand to hand combat skills and stuff like that. Also helped me finish my chemistry homework,>

<That's good. Means you don't need to do anything tonight, and that Mr. Thornhill won't be yelling at you.>

<Yeah, so what you wanna do tonight?>

<Not much I can do at this size, I honestly just rather sit here all night.> Steel replies when he reaches his destination.

He quickly links up with Max before detaching and just laying there. He feels the ground beneath him slowly rises and falls with the half human's breathing, as well as hearing the massive heart below beating strongly.
Though he and Max didn't have any similar parts, he for some reason still felt a strong connection with his friend, besides the fact that they were linked for life.

<Hey Steel?> Max calls, his deep voice vibrating the air around the tiny ultralink.

<Yeah Max>

<Could I... uh you think I could...>

<The fact that you're having this much issue asking if you could see me with your own eyes is quite humorous. As for an answer, yes you can. Just . . be careful,> Steel says getting off of Max's chest and floating up to his head.

Being sure to stay clear of the huge mouth, he makes it to where he's just out of Max's vision.

<You sure you're ready for this Max?> Steel asks before showing himself to his partner,

<Can't be that bad Steel, just show me.> Max says, trying to catch a glimpse of his shrunken pal.

<Alright, but please don't freak out,>

Before Max has a chance to answer, Steel floats into view and Max's eyes grow wide.

<Well, this is a new one.>

<You're telling me,>

They both stay like this, saying nothing and staring at each other, before Max shifts to sit up and lean against the wall. Seeing the movement, Steel immediately hovers backwards to avoid getting knocked out of the air. When the movement stops, he hovers back over to where the pod is, behind Max's ear, he doesn't go in the pod, but hovers next to the massive ear of his friend.

<So~, now what?>

To be continued...

Squirt out🤠