For the third time in their discussion, an awkward silence took over the room.

Max didn't know what to say. Or rather, where to start. Until...

Max: Well, it's a survival mechanism.

Suddenly...

Tiffany: Ken? Tell him.

Ken: When you entered overload, your electricity productivity increased by a factor of about 9. Not only that, but your speed increased as well.

Max: Yeah?

Ken: So much so that you were able to take on Aloysius Wolfram. An opponent who'd made several preparations just to deal with your powers.

Max still didn't see what the problem was. Of course, the problem being that Tiffany had not yet gotten to the point.

Tiffany: Thank you, Ken, that will be all.

Ken: My pleasure.

Max: Well, yeah. So what's the big deal?

Rose flinched. She wanted to say something but was hesitant to.

Tiffany: Your mother already told us about your... "defence mechanism," and it is powerful. But there is one thing I need to know. But before that... I want to know everything about it. From you, specifically.

Max flinched. What was she going on about?

Max: Well.... what's there to know?

Tiffany simply looked at him.

Max ran loops in his mind. What on earth could be the big deal?

Tiffany: For starters, how does it activate?

Max: Well....

He didn't need to think much of it. After all, his mom had explained it to him once.

Max: .... when my life is in danger.

Tiffany: I see. And how exactly does it do that?

Max: Huh?

Tiffany: Ken, could you roll the clip back.

Ken: Sure.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

As he rolled the clip back, Max waited impatiently. What on eath was she on about, he thought?

Tiffany: Right there. Play the clip from that point on.

Ken did as she requested.

The clip? It was from the point during which Rose called out Max's name, trying to get him to respond.

Rose flinched in discomfort. The last thing she'd have wanted was to cause Max trouble. But even she had to admit, it was a bit disconcerting to know that Max didn't answer her.

Once the clip was fully played, Max slowly put two and two together.

Tiffany: That is what I wanted to talk about. Your "overload." When you're in that state, you're not conscious, are you.

That was true. He'd just never considered it to be a problem.

Max: (slightly nervously) Well... yeah... but.... What's the big deal?

Tiffany sighed.

Ken: Well, I suppose she will explain that to you.

Max: Huh?

Tiffany: Max, listen up.

Max: Ok?

Tiffany: If a team is going to work well together, all the parts of the team have to cover each others weaknesses. We have to communicate with each other.

Max: Yeah, yeah, I get it. But...

Tiffany: But nothing. Having a self defence mechanism that turns your brain off once you're out of energy to fight is a useful tool once you're on your own, but when fighting as a team, that could just as easily become a liability.

Max: What!?

Ken: She's not wrong, Max. To top it all off, with the level of power you exhibited, you running into dangerous situations puts everything around you at risk.

Max: But.... but.....

Was he about to be rejected for something he couldn't even control?

Max: But that's not fair! I can't even control that power!

Tiffany: Which is why it's even more of a concern.

Ken: Max, not that this is personal or anything, but your "overload" is so powerful that if we were to take you into a mission, we would end up having to protect you just to keep you from entering that state.

Tiffany: That's right.

Max: But it's not my fault I.....!

Rose started, not to interrupt him, but rather, Max was so loud that he almost didn't hear her.

Rose: Yeah. I mean.... it was pretty scary seeing you like that. I mean, no offence, protonites are super powerful.

Max suddenly paused just as she'd finished her sentence. Almost as if something had just occurred to him. Something truly bothersome.

He stopped protesting for a moment, much to all of their shock. But then continued almost immediately.

Max: It's not that big a deal. Besides, I can take pretty good care of myself. And, on top of that, my mom always said that my "overload" only ever attacks threats. That just means that I'll take the enemy down faster.

Tiffany sighed. On the one hand, she didn't want to do this, but on the other, she knew deep down that she had no choice.

Tiffany: And then there's your recklessness.

Max: Recklessness?

Tiffany: You rush into danger before even thinking things through. Honestly....

Max: Hey! That recklessness saved us that night.

Tiffany: And could have just as easily gotten us killed.

It was at that point that Ken noticed something. Something that made him smile. Not about Max, but about Tiffany and the way she was speaking to him.

Max: Well... well it didn't. Besides, like I said, it only ever goes after threats.

Tiffany: And then there's that rashness and bullheadedness.

Max: Rashness?

Tiffany: You don't even see the problem with your overload and the trouble it would cause.

And the Rose began to notice it too.

Max: Oh. Well, how about your dishonesty?

Tiffany: Dishonesty?

Max: Yeah, you said I could join the team if I asked my mom. And I did, and then you...

Ken: Young Maximillian Hunter.

Max: Huh?

Ken: You're already a part of the team.