Summary: While on a cruise set up by the CSM, Max and the flock try to have a good time. The CSM says that everything that they have been doing was in the flock's best interest. All are fooled; all except Max. As their vacation prolongs, Max becomes more and more uneasy about the situation they are placed in and the flock comes to realize that nothing is how it seems to be. It was all just an illusion.

Disclaimer- I do not own Maximum Ride. James Patterson does.

Claimer- I own this plot and any new characters that may come into play.

-Chapter one-

"A cruise?" I asked, unable to believe what I was hearing. "You have to be kidding me!" There was absolutely no way that I was going on another boat after everything that had happened over the last few months. I could barely walk on land without falling on my face, let alone trying to walk on a constantly rocking boat.

"Come on, Max!" My mother said; a grin plastered to her face. I noticed the soft folds appearing in her skin. She looked older, much older. Her smooth complexion was no more; all that remained were the small bags beneath her eyes. I told her not to hang around Jeb and that he could bore you to death but did she listen? No. "It'll be fun! Don't worry, sweetie." She pulled me into a small, one-armed hug and I shook my head.

"No, mom, I have to worry. That is my job. I really don't think this is safe for the flock." I said, getting frustrated. She may know what it feels like to love kids as your own, but she knew nothing about how it felt to be me. Only fourteen years-old with five other kids depending on you for survival. If I didn't make the executive decisions, we could be put into life or death situations. Situations that required quick decisions that only I could make. The ones I'm famous for. The ones that will either get us killed of save our butts. Hopefully the latter if the two. I needed to keep them safe. I needed to protect them and this cruise was not the way to do it.

"You know it'll be fun and you'll have all of us on board with you." Dr. Brigid Dwyer (a.k.a. Dr. Amazing) said, gesturing around her at the line of CSM members standing across the room. Great, all I needed. Dr. Amazing encouraging me to go on that deathtrap some dare to call a boat.

"No." I said firmly, finally putting my foot down. "It's not a good idea. I'm sure of it." I glanced between Brigid and my mother, seeing them both roll their eyes in annoyance. I crossed my arms over my chest and set myself, knowing his wouldn't go over easily.

"Fine," My mom said, waving her hand at something behind her. "We'll just have to bring in reinforcement." I felt confusion mask my face as Nudge and Angel trudged into the room, determined expressions displayed on their faces. Oh man, I was in for it. "We took the liberty of telling Angel and Nudge about the cruise last night, knowing that you would be difficult. They're very excited for it." mom explained, placing one of her hands on each of their shoulders.

"Max!" Angel said, well, angelically. "Please, pretty please with sprinkles, no, cookies on top can we go on the cruise!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands together and holding them out in front of her. She gave me a pleading grin, showing off the small gap where she had lost one of her front teeth.

"Yeah!" Nudge screamed from beside her. I saw Angel flinch from the volume of her voice. Nudge looked around nervously and started talking again. "Please! I really want to go on the cruise! It would be so cool! We could finally relax and lay on the deck and get a tan, well, you could get a tan. I think I'm too dark already." she noted, inspecting her arms closely.

"No." I repeated again, feeling confident in my decision. "I'm sorry guys, but I can't wrap my mind around doing this. It's just something bad waiting to happen."

Angel pouted as Nudge opened her eyes wide (to about the size of dinner plates), jutting out her bottom lip. "I guess we'll have to use out secret weapon." Angel said sweetly in my mind. I knew what she was talking about. I was dreading it. Bambi eyes.

As if on cue, they both looked up at me through sparkling eyes. I tried to keep a straight face as long as I could but it seemed impossible. I felt my heart melt as I took in their faces, so sweet and innocent (even though I was sure they were thinking devious, demonic thoughts).

"You know you're going to lose this argument, right?" a deep voice said from behind me. I whipped my head around and saw Fang standing there, hands in his pockets. His dark hair flopped over his eyes and he ran a hand through it. I smirked and nodded.

"It's inevitable." I mumbled under my breath. "Fine!" I said, turning back over to Nudge and Angel. "We'll go on the stupid cruise; but if I see one thing I don't like, we're leaving." I struggled to raise my voice over their constant cheers.

I glanced around, looking for the rest of my flock. I had Angel and Nudge standing in front of me, jumping up and down in anticipation; screaming gaily. Fang was standing close behind me, his dark brown eyes following my every move. That leaved Iggy and the Gasman. They were nowhere to be found; and we all know Iggy + the Gasman + no adult supervision = trouble with a capital T.

I spun around, hectically looking for the last two flock members, not seeing them anywhere. "Fang?" I asked, not bothering looking at him. I knew he was listening. "Where are Iggy and the Gasman!?" I spun in circles, unable to find them anywhere. I looked up at Fang, who was about to say something but I felt my eardrums explode before he could get a single word out.

I felt strong hands pull me to the ground as a mushroom cloud erupted from the room next door. I looked through blurry eyes, seeing dust and silt swirling around the room. Once I was sure that the room was safe enough I looked around seeing doctors in white coats sprawled out across the floor. My mom had Nudge and Angel pinned down beneath her arms as she bound herself to the floor. Brigid was sitting up, fussing over her hair which, honestly, looked like a bird made a nest in it.

I finally looked up, realizing something. I was pinned down to the floor. I looked straight ahead of me and received a very good view of Fang, lying on top of me, hands on either side of my head, knees straddling my waist. I stared into his deep, abysmal, brown eyes and felt a blush creep up my cheeks.

"Thanks." I whispered, my eyes never leaving his. I saw a smile play on his lips as he, much to my distaste, rolled off of me. Although I would never admit it to anyone, I needed him in much more of a way than is perceived.

I sighed and sat up, looking over at the door. I caught glimpses of doctors and scientists checking their equipment; making sure nothing was too damaged. I saw a man in a khaki uniform walk into the doorframe, holding two boys up by their collars. Iggy and Gazzy.

"I found these two in the weaponry." khaki-man said, sliding his thumbs across the upper rims of their shirts. "If I were you, I'd keep them on a short leash."

Iggy looked over at me, focusing his unseeing eyes about two inches above my left eyebrow (how he got so close, I do not know). He smiled sheepishly at me and the Gasman followed his lead, folding his hands behind his back, twisting slightly. They were in so, so much trouble.

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