"Maaaaaax!! I'm hungry!!"
Of course you are, Nudge. I thought to myself. "Alright guys. Time to get some chow!" There were cheers and whoops from the various members of my flock. Well, except Fang, who's determined to keep up his Mr. Emotionless rep. Right now, we- "we" being me (Max), Fang, Iggy, Nudge, the Gasman (or Gazzy), and my baby, Angel- were flying over Southern California to see my mom in Arizona. My day was going surprisingly ok, but I was still alert, because my good days usually end horrible and I would really like to break that streak. But apparently today was not that day, because right then and there did the Voice decide to ruin my day.
Hello, Maximum.
Aww, come on! Why do you keep showing up in my already messed up, dysfunctional world?
Now, now, Max. I'm here to help you. You should have figured that out by now. And I am here to help you again.
I don't need your help. I've gone the first 12 years of my life without you, and as soon as I figure out how, I'm going to go the rest of my life without you!
Whatever you say, Maximum. Now, you need to get to Los Angles as soon as possible. There is someone you and your flock must meet.
Who? And of course, I got no answer. I shook my head as I came back to reality, and noticed 5 pairs of eyes staring at me. Hmmm, I wonder how long that little convo with the Voice was…
About 15 minutes, Max.
Really, wow. The voice really knows how to keep a girl talking.
Angel giggled, and I realized she was listening to my thoughts.
How many times do I have to tell you this, Angel? GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!
Sorry Max!
The flock was still staring at me like I had two heads. "Don't worry guys. Just keeping up a very annoying talk with an even more annoying Voice in my head." And with that, they went back to what they were doing, Iggy and Gazzy were leaning over something, more than likely a bomb of some sort, Angel and Nudge were arguing about the newest fashion and trend, and Fang was just staring out in front of him, silent as always. "Hey guys! We are heading out to Los Angles to buy us some grub!" that's when I realized, I didn't even who we were searching for.
Hey, Voice? Who exactly are we supposed to be looking for and why?
I thought you'd never ask, Max. Her name is Shadow. She is an avian-human hybrid, like you and your flock. The School has been after her for a while, and she is in dire need of your help, although she may not admit it.
Alright, that answers my first question, but how am I supposed to know what she looks like! As soon as I thought those words, I instantly regretted them, because the Voice decided to give me a brain attack as I like to call them. I felt like someone was driving a huge, rusty, iron stake through my brain. My wings snapped shut and I screamed like there was no tomorrow. As I free fell from the sky, I could see images of a girl about my age, with long black hair and tanned skin. She looked vaguely familiar, like I've seen her before, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I guessed she was the girl we had to go to because she also had jet black wings. Then all of a sudden, I saw a whole bunch of documents and codes flash before my eyes, and then that was it. Everything went dark.
I was standing in the middle of a huge factory that was fully equipped with the latest in machine technology (Not that I would know. Just taking a random guess here). I knew I must have been dreaming because there was no way I was back at the school. And also the fact that somewhere in the back of my mind a little voice (no not the Voice) was telling me that I was still unconscious from that brain attack that the Voice had so kindly given me. Although for a dream, everything was so life-like and sharp. I noticed a figure out in front of me sitting cross- legged on the floor. I started walking towards it, and as I drew nearer, I saw that it was the figure of a girl. Once I got about a foot away from her, she looked up at me and said, "Hello, Max. I've been waiting for you for a very long time."
"Who are you?" I asked.
"You mean you don't know. I would have thought that you would know the person who gave you those wings." She said getting up. She was about a head shorter than me and gave me the impression that she was not to be messed with, but when have those impressions made any difference to me?
"So, you're the director. I thought I scared you off in Germany."
"Oh no Maximum. I am much more than that measly director. I am the woman who created the school, who created Itex itself. I am the Lieutenant."
"So Lieutenant, what do you want with me?"
"Oh nothing, really. I just want to make you a deal."
"What kind of a deal?" I asked, suspicious.
"A deal that will determine the life or death of your flock. See all I want you to do is help me capture the girl that your Voice so happened to tell you about."
"Shadow?"
"Precisely".
"What do you want with her?"
"Oh, there is so much that I want from her, but I will have to settle for one thing, her life." Things were starting to get a little hazy and I guess the Lieutenant noticed too because she started to panic.
"Quick Maximum, before the connection is lost! Will you help me, in return for your flocks freedom and life?" By now, I could hear my name repeatedly by voices from a distance. My body had started to sway and my eyes had begun to flutter, and before I could answer, the ground had rushed up to meet my face, and I lost "consciousness" again.