Miso: yep, yep! I redid the prologue! So now it sounds more plotty and Fang doesn't sound like a sexist pig! (to those reading this for the first time, don't ask)

I've redone the WHOLE story and writing: from beginning to END. That's right. Now it won't sound as stupid as it did before (trust me, it did). I'd like SOME reviews, though, PLEASE. Just so I can get a pointer or two for ideas and such... and a confidence boost. Don't make me beg. :c I'm gonna keep all the reviews I had before, mostly because those people gave me support even with how stupidly everything was going and they STILL liked it (gasp!). Their praise meant a lot to me. c:

The summary will edited frequently until I can find SOMETHING to catch someone's attention. Until then, just gonna leave it there so people know that this story's been edited.

Disclaimer: this is going to be the ONLY disclaimer for this whole story. I don't see the need to repeatedly say it if it's already said once. It's not like I can claim to be James Patterson. Most of you would demand proof, of which I don't have. SO. On that note.

I don't own Maximum Ride nor any of the story's characters. I don't even own a car.

Hawk Eyes
Prologue

The last thing I wanted to find upon waking up was him.

"Jeb." I never thought I could say someone's name with so much venom and hate as I did in that one moment. Not even Aubrey could gain this kind of reaction from me.

He was standing there with this impassive look on his face. But I knew he was as slimy inside as the frogs I'd dissected in AP Biology.

I wanted to punch him, wipe that infuriating fake look off of his face but realized I was surrounded by glass. I was encased in one of those test tube things like those ones from a bad Scifi movie.

And I was naked.

Hastily, I scrambled to cover myself with my arms and did a fine poor job of it, too. There was barely any room for me to stretch my legs let alone use my wings as a makeshift curtain. The tiny space I was in was cramped and I had to fight back a sudden rush of claustrophobia before I started hyperventilating.

Jeb didn't respond at all. He never took his eyes away from mine. I should be thankful he wasn't a pervert (because not only would that be wrong, it would be creepy), but for some reason that just made me madder.

"What have you done?" I hissed at him, wanting to slap him more than ever now. "Where's Fang?" Oh, God, Fang! I just realized that he wasn't here with me. We (meaning Jeb and I) were in, what looked like, a lab. Only this was more Dr. Evil lab and less friendly Dexter's Laboratory lab.

Along with my glass prison, there were three more but empty. A solid steel table was centered in the middle of the room with one of those huge lights they use to blind their experiments suspended over it. A wheeling tray of sharp, torturous-looking surgical tools was next to to the table.

I shivered but no matter what I couldn't find Fang.

"If you've hurt him…" I started threateningly, not sure what I would do, but I'd be damned if I didn't think of something. "I'm going to pull your navel out through your nose and play 'Operation' with your intestines before pulling them out through your ass!"

Jeb quirked an eyebrow at me. "Lovely image, Max. Truly, I applaud your imagination," he said dryly. "But that's not why we're here. I don't know about your boyfriend—you were all we needed—but I'm sure he left him alone."

My eyes widened. 'He'? "Who's 'he'?" I asked.

"Unimportant," was Jeb's response. He locked eyes with me. "Neither of them are."

Bullshit. "See, that's where you're wrong, Jeb dear," I said with enough sarcasm to fill a thirty foot well. "Unlike you, the rest of us don't have an ice block for a heart nor cold black sludge for a soul. I care about Fang. More than anything. And so help me, God, when I get out of here, because I will, I will make sure you regret hurting him."

Jeb sighed. "Max," he shook his head as if disappointed. "I admire your tenacity. If only you had cared half that much for the world."

I was about to tell him where he could shove his world when he swiveled around in his chair to a computer I only now noticed was behind him. Large, the monitor was as wide as a table and glowed green with command prompts racing across the screen.

"What are you doing?" I asked, standing to try and get a better look at what he was typing.

"If you won't do your job, then we'll use your creation to do it for you."

I frowned. My creation? "What are you talking about…?" I trail off, my mouth going slack.

He turned to me and tilted his head to the side, expectantly. Then he pointed at me, or more specifically, my stomach. "The life growing inside of you. The one you and Fang made together. The strongest life made by two of the strongest recombinant weapons in our arsenal against those who would destroy the world. The life that will help all living lifeforms." He paused to let his words sink in (and, I suspected, para impresionar, for effect). "We will harvest this child to the best of our ability when it is time. For now…" Trailing off, he turned to the computer again and typed something.

There was a sudden whoosh from above and I looked up in time to have water shower down on me. Or at least, I thought it was water. When I rubbed my thumb and index finger together, I found that it was rather sticky and a thick viscous blue.

I looked at Jeb as realization dawned on me and tears welled in my eyes. "Don't do this."

"I'm sorry, Max," he said, looking truly contrite in that instant. "But this is how it's going to be. You abandoned your post, your job. You weren't supposed to do that."

"Yeah, because I was supposed to mindlessly follow a bunch of mad scientists in their stupid quest to take over the world," I couldn't help but say sarcastically. "That's right up there with letting them experiment on human embryos and turning them into half-animal slaves for their own benefit!"

"We gave you chances, Max. But too many failures have led you to this day."

I shook my head. "I was just a child, what could I have done?" I whispered.

"So much, my child, yet you chose to repeatedly ignore it. Don't worry, honey, this will only put you in a stasis long enough for the child to grow. During that time, we will conduct studies as well as experiments to further enhance the child's abilities. You will feel no pain whatsoever—you won't even know what's happening."

I glared. Did he think telling me that would make me feel any better?

By now the gooey fluid had reached my waist and I shivered at the coolness on my skin. Desperately, I looked around for an escape but with five inches of glass surrounding me, I didn't see how I could possibly break out without uselessly breaking my hands. That didn't stop me from trying.

I hadn't even gotten a scratch in it by the time my knuckles burst open and blood dripped down my arms and splattered the glass in front of me. I cradled my fist to my chest and tried not to sob.

I was trapped. Wholly. Completely.

Hopelessly.

Jeb gestured above me. "I suggest putting that on so you wouldn't drown."

I looked up again and noticed that what he was referring to was an oxygen mask. A long tube connected it to the top of the glass tube from which I would be able to breathe without fear of swallowing the thick anesthetic fluid.

For one sick moment, I considered just letting myself drown. If I did that, I could escape this hell. Plus, it would probably piss him off and ruin whatever little evil plans he had for me.

But then I thought of Fang and how I had a life growing inside of me. Our life, combined and made by the both of us. As much as I hated what Jeb was forcing me to do, I couldn't help but touch my belly in pure awe. I was pregnant. That meant it wouldn't be just me that would die. I had to put it on.

Besides, if I didn't, I had no doubt he would just gas me and submerge me anyhow. Bastard.

Approval shined in Jeb's eyes as I reached up and grabbed the mask from above me. I didn't bothering covering myself. In the next few moments, dignity would be the last thing on my mind.

As the tube quickly filled up and I could see only the blurry blue image of Jeb through the glass, I thought of the previous months before I was abducted.

Everything was normal. Too normal. I kept thinking that maybe it was too good to be true but after four years of peace I had actually gotten used to having friends and going to school. Only having to worry about beating the crap out of popular snobs; worrying about passing tests and quizzes; worrying about which college I would go to; riding horse for fun; fighting over boyfriends; maintaining a job; fending off lesbians; fending off ex-boyfriends that didn't get a clue; blowing up birthday cakes.

With the exception of Max II making an appearance...

I felt normal.

I had wings and all, but for these past months I'd actually thought I'd have a chance at a real life. Even better if Fang was at my side.

Fang.

He's going to be devastated when he wakes up to find me gone. He's already lost so much. And I've already done this to him once before. It's not my fault now, but Fang wouldn't automatically assume that I'd been taken against my will.

At that, I never thought I could hate Jeb anymore than I already did.

-prologue end.

So what do you guys think? Better prologue than before, neh? I have chapter 1 ready to post but I'll just be doing some touch ups so probably tomorrow.

Ja ne!