(A/N: Hey y'all! Read Maximum Ride and totally loved it. And I know I'm being a horrible author and ditching all my other projects but I just couldn't help myself. At least it's only a twoshot this time. And it's a completely random one too. Well, here it is, and I hope I can revisit this fandom in the future!

IMPORTANT: POVS (point of views) are as follows: Max, and then a third-person point of view. I put this because I hate those POV tags.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. If I did, you would see more Iggy, less Fax and more plot (I actually kinda like Fax, but it's dominating the storyline now and that annoys me. And of course Iggy is awesome)

The One Thing They Can't Do

Chapter 1

It began as a relatively normal day in the Martinez household. I say relatively because nothing is ever normal around here. Being in a flock of mutant-bird kids forever marks anything you do as abnormal.

My name is Maximum Ride. I'm a part avian, part human hybrid that was created to save the world. (Long story, trust me. If you really want to hear it all, read the books.)

Our "normal" day consists of my Flock and I, who are currently residing at my mom's house in Arizona, waking up that an hour that does not constitute as way too early, hanging around with my half-sister, flying around some…

Ok, I lied. That is totally not normal for us. My Flock and I are usually on the run, hiding in big cities, basically acting like runaway fugitives. None of us wanted to go back to the School where we spent the beginning of our lives. But I digress.

So, it really began as a relaxed day in the Martinez household. For once, my guard was as low as I could get it and I was enjoying chilling with everyone, looking at each other like "Hey, isn't it awesome that we're not in a near-death situation?" Times like this were really the only ones I could just enjoy the company of my Flock, my closest friends and family. I could never live without them.

There was me. Maximum Ride. The leader. The one who made all the decisions, all the plans. I guided us through our many escapades and we escaped with our lives. I think that's an achievement and I'm proud of myself for that. I had a "Voice" in my head (don't ask) and could fly at crazy speeds.

Then there's Fang. Mr. Rock. Dark and mysterious. He was my right-hand man, a calming influence on our group and the steady opposite to my passionate leadership. He was the one I trusted. Although recently, I didn't know what to feel towards him.

Next, Iggy. He's blind, but most of the time we barely noticed because of the way he's adapted. He's our very own sexist, six-foot tall, sarcastic pyromaniac. Oh yeah, Iggy is definitely one of a kind.

Gasman. Eight years old, with a perchance for blowing things up and is partner-in-crime to Iggy. He's called the Gasman for a reason, and trust me, you do not want him in a closed, air-tight space with you. Under any circumstances.

Last, but certainly not least, is Angel. Our own adorable little six-year old, complete with mind-reading powers, the ability to breathe underwater, and is working on perfecting her mind control skills. Sometimes, that girl just scares me.

Anyway, our day started nice enough. But with a warning, a scream and an amazing new skill, it all went to heck.

The Flock was crowded around a hazy television screen, glancing worriedly around at each other as the weather-report woman talked animatedly.

"What do you think?" Nudge whispered, lowering her voice like it would affect their newly-acquired news. "What should we do? This is bad, guys. This is really bad."

Max nodded, her lips set tight in a grim line. "We have to be careful. And to do that…" She set up an immediate action plan. "…we need to stay inside all day. This is a must, okay guys? Close all the curtains, stay away from windows and keep together." She gave the whole flock her infamous 'Max Glare' "No matter how boring it is. Agreed?" She hissed, still in a whisper.

The whole flock muttered their consent.

"Agreed to what?" Said a suddenly loud voice behind them. "GYAHH!" The Gasman shrieked, and Nudge fell off her chair in surprise. The rest of the Flock got into their battle stances.

"Whoa, whoa!" Ella backed up, her hands up in a calming gesture. "Chill, guys. It's just me. What's going on?"

The Flock exchanged glances (except for Iggy, of course) and Max whirled around to face her half-sister. "That." She tilted her head towards the television screen. "That is what's going on."

Ella glanced at the television. She raised an eyebrow. "O…kay?"

Max's eyes darted to the screen, and saw an episode of Sesame Street playing. "Uh, no. Not that." She grabbed the remote from a snickering Iggy, and with a final glare at him, flipped the channel back to the weather report for the day. "That."

Ella just seemed to look more confused. "…Yeah? So? That's not so weird."

Fang spoke up, his voice hoarse from a constant state of disuse. "It's bad news for us bird-kids. That has ruined many an avian mutant." He groaned in frustration at the five shocked stares sent his way. "You know what, guys? Maybe the reason I never talk is because you're always super-shocked when I do! Did that ever occur to you? Huh?"

The Gasman whistled. "That has got to be-"

"..the longest sentence I've ever said, yeah. I speak, you know! I can talk in complete sentences!"

Max beckoned to Ella. "See?" She whispered to her. "The cruel power of that is already working." She gestured to Fang who was still ranting. "It really messes with us. It makes us out-of-character, or something. We don't mess with that."

Ella shrugged. "Well, sure." She said. "Good luck with that." She beat a hasty exit.

Max sighed, looking wearily out of the window. "Guys." She said, still whispering. "Get going with those curtains."

"I'm bored." Iggy stated.

Max ground her teeth. "Yes, Iggy. We heard you the first two hundred times."

"Well, I'm still bored."

Hours had passed, and the Flock was huddled up in the darkened living room. This did not bode well for the hyperactive group.

"Play rock, paper, scissors or something." Max suggested.

"Done that." Iggy mumbled

"Guess which celebrity?"

"Did that too." Iggy muttered, picking aimlessly at his nail cuticles.

"Annoying songs?"

Iggy snorted "Did you not hear the "100 bottles of pop on the wall" refrain done twice?" He asked disbelievingly.

Max nodded. "Point taken. How about I Spy? A card game? Charades?"

"Max?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm blind."

"Oh." Max said, looking embarrassed. "Yeah. Sorry. I don't know, just occupy yourself, please."

Another few moments were spent in silence.

Nudge couldn't take it anymore. "Guys! I totally have to tell you something! So I was like, passing this car one day, and it was like totally spray-painted neon green! So I just pointed at it and laughed and then the owner rolled down the window and said…"

Angel groaned, rubbing her eyes. "I'm sleepy."

"Well, I'm still bored."

"Shut up, Iggy!" Max snapped.

"…what are you laughing at? And I was like dude, your car is totally spray-painted neon green! And he was like, no it isn't, and I was like, yes it was, and he was like, no it isn't, and I was like, yes it was go check! And he checked and he was like…"

Fang grunted.

"I'm bored." Iggy moaned

"…OMG, I totally did not see that! It must have been those damn teenagers! And then he said all these others things that Max would kill me if I repeated."

Angel groaned. "I'm trying to sleep!"

The Gasman farted. Immediate chaos was unleashed.

"Ew, Gazzy!"

"Open a window, for God's sake!"

"No! Remember what's out there!"

"Max, that cannot be worse than this…"

"No, you can't! Stay put!"

And in the midst of all the chaos, a figure slipped out into the night, an evil grin forming on their face.

(A/N: Okay…that came out a lot weirder than I expected. Seriously…this is really weird. So I decided to make it in two parts. Will Max ever calm down? Will Fang burst out into more speech? What is that? Who slipped out into the obvious danger? FIND OUT NEXT TIME!

Please review! They are very motivating!)