Story: Inexorable
Chapter One: Burst
Rating: T
Disclaimer: Maximum Ride is owned by James Patterson…and Fang. xD
Summary: With the resurrection of a former enemy, things go haywire as Max and the flock try to decode the mystery that surrounds them. New obstacles and old ones pursue them with even more dangerous plans than before. Drama, humor, plotbunnies. Fax.

Max: Review! Or I'll set my little Angel on you.

Chapter One: Bu r s t
Max's P.O.V.

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The whole windows breaking experience isn't exactly like how it's described in books. It's actually pretty close to an explosion. Time seems to slow down and even without amazing raptor vision, it's almost possible to see every glittering shard of glass spiraling in every direction. Even worse, if that was even probable, was the dark black object hurling itself at me.

In most cases (actually, all of them except for those miracles and whatnot), a normal person would've been carved into a million bloody pieces before being crushed and smashed against the ground. Sorry for those horrible images people, but hey! It's true.

Then again, I'm not exactly normal.

Heck. I'm not even human.

Well, I'm mostly human I guess. About 98%. But the 2% that's not human makes a pretty big impact on world and everyone else's.

If you didn't already know, my name is Max. Actually, the whole thing is Maximum Ride but no one really calls me that. Not even an annoying talking dog who's growing wings.

Yeah.. About that. Listen, you're probably thinking I'm some kind of crazy kid who's had a little too much fun with Advil and permanent marker if you know what I mean. And believe me when I say recreational drugs shouldn't be used by for well, recreational purposes. It makes you say weird stuff that people will never forget. But trust me. Or don't. In any case, it's not such a good idea trusting people nowadays. Especially adults.

…I'm getting a little too off topic here. The point is, I'm a bit stronger and faster than the average fourteen year old. Whereas a punch in the stomach by your lovely neighborhood girl could probably leave you a lovely bruise, my punches can actually break a couple of ribs. Not to mention I'm about 5'8 and can pass off for a twenty-five year old. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but I am what I am. And I'm a genetically modified kid.

Thaat's right kids! GMK. Step aside GMF (M1), Maximum Ride's in town. Did I mention I can fly?

Yeah. I've got levitation abilities that allow me to fly to Pluto. Pff. Actually, I have wings. They're about thirteen feet spread out and white with brown specks.

Well, I'm not alone. I'm the leader of the Flock which is a group of GMF.

First up is a six year old girl named Angel ( AKA my baby and no, I don't mean the lovechild that pops out of a girl's er.. special place. I mean metaphorically, I love her like a baby.), and her older brother by two years Gazzy (You should never get in the same enclosed room with him if you want to live. Even without his seriously messed up digestive system, he's dangerous. Heck yes I'm proud.) Angel has the ability to read minds, control what people do, change her appearance without makeup OR plastic surgery, AND can breathe underwater. Normal? I didn't think so.

Next would be our little radio who also goes by the name of Nudge. Her real name's Monique, but the name stuck after the flock came up with The Nudge Channel. It's all Nudge, all the time. She's a pro-hacker and magnetic. Uhuh. I don't really get that either.

The third oldest is Iggy. Unlike the rest of the group, he managed to find his parents… and he's blind thanks to the messed up scientists who tried to "alter" his eyes. Turns out his parents were cool with him being blind, and even cooler with the wings thing, but in a bad way. They tried to use his wings to gain fame and money.

Finally, there's our dark, broody and silent boy Fang. Fourteen like me, he's got raven hair, eyes, and wings! No wonder people call him emo. There's not really much about him except for that fact that we have some sort of special bond where we can literally send messages through stares. Another thing, he can blend in with his surroundings when he doesn't move. Figures that Mr. Impassive has the ability to disappear. And he's also a kissing monster (1). There's no other reason that would explain his continual kiss attacks!

We make one heck of a good team. Apart from the mutations (you know, the whole magnetic/mind-reading/invisibility ability), we're the super team AVIAN KIDS! HYPER FORCE GO!

Not really. We just want to be left alone by the crazy scientists who are hell bent on capturing us.

Apparently, life doesn't work that way and we're always on some kind of chase. Whether it works in our favor, let's just say we're pretty good with adapting to situations.

I was currently alone in my room, relaxing on the bed and enjoying the precious minutes with the green iPod my awesome mom/scientist Ms. Martinez had bought me. Even though the music had been put on the lowest volume bar, it was still pretty loud to my sensitive ears. Amazingly, no one was home to bother me. Fang was at the mall, (probably buying more black clothes) Nudge was busy chatting a few rooms away on her new cell phone (to who, I have no idea), Iggy was trying to paint the walls all white so he could see (yeah, another weird mutation power thing) with Gazzy helping, and Angel helping my half sister Ella and Mom making my favorite snack of all time. Chocolate cookies.

And yes, I'm probably 1% Cookie Monster. I am Maximum Ride 101% through and through.

Dad? Well, I don't call him that. He's just Jeb Batchelder to us. I don't care where he is and what he's doing as long as it's not involved with recombinant DNA.

While we're on the subject of life threatening situations, I'd say the dark object about to ram itself into me counted as one.

With a heavy oof, it slammed into me, nearly pushing me backwards by a couple of feet.

I threw my arms in front of me to protect myself from the flying glass shards. A few pieces cut through my arm, leaving vertical cuts that slowly oozed. I winced but continued to hold my stance until the ringing buzz finally ended.

A single splinter of glass had managed to slice a pretty deep cut on my face but that didn't worry me. Pain wasn't all that bad. Years of forced training had strengthened my endurance and body.

After quickly assessing the surrounding and making sure my room was intact, though for sure the bead would definitely have to be replaced, I glanced at the black object in my arms.

Then came the shock.

Oh god oh god oh god. I panicked, emotions quickly welling up, destroying the self containment I had built up over the years.

First, I noticed the slim yet muscular body clad entirely in black. With horror slowly building, I noticed the horrible gashes and wounds that bleed profusely. Carefully examining the injury, I leaned closer. The injuries almost looked like… bites.

A muffled groan laced with unrestrained pain reached my ears through the disbelief and I felt something wet against my jeans. I looked down and no surprise, found blood.

"M-max.."

Without warning, a trembling hand grabbed my neckline, pulling me closer. My own brown eyes stared into unwavering onyx ones that tried so desperately to tell me something. Fang suddenly pushed me away, hands still laced tightly in my shirt, coughing violently. I quickly raked his body with my eyes, noticing a wing that stuck out awkwardly.

"Max, I-I.."

I returned my gaze to Fang, trying to hide my terror as best as I could. Even though he was obviously in an enormous amount of pain, he wore the look I had recognized to be a 'mission expression'.

Anger quickly replaced fear and I placed a finger over his cold lips. Leadership was involuntarily kicking in and I finally was in control of myself. "Don't talk. You'll just hurt yourself even more."

With surprising strength, Fang wrenched my finger away and forced me to lean closer.

"Just listen to me!" he tried to shout before relapsing in a horrifying coughing fit.

I widened my eyes and clamped my mouth shut.

Eyes half-lidded, Fang whispered a few words in my ears before passing out.

I hardly noticed the dead weight in my arms. I never even realized that Ella had burst through the door, about to ask if I wanted some cookies before screaming after seeing the wreck of my room and an unconscious Fang. I didn't even respond when Angel tried to talk to me, first verbally, then mentally.

All that ran through my mind was one thing.

Ari was alive.

(M1) That stands for gosh. These (insert number) things pretty much make my complicated life a tad bit easier. By about .001%. But hey, when you've got huge organizations chasing after you with a killer intent, you start to appreciate everything. Oh, the GMF thing. That stands for Genetically Modified Food. Don't think it's as unique as other things, say bird kids, but it's actually really common. All those tomatoes you buy from supermarkets? Yup, you've got it right. Those are all actually GMF. – Max

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(1) Currently, Max is clueless about Fang liking her. That's why she thinks Fang's a kissing monster.

A/N: I hoped you liked the super short prologue of the story! It's my first whack at a Maximum Ride fanfic. Gotta get away from manga and anime at some point. xD Reviews are most indefinitely appreciated! Thanks.