Lit Note: This is my first Maximum Ride story. It's set directly after Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports. It was started almost directly after that book was released, too, but I just decided to (re)post it now. If you recognize it, I posted some of it last summer, but recently decided to pick up the story again. Anyway, this is just my version of Book Four. It's going to have short chapters, just like the original books, but expect quick updates, at least at first. I have a lot of this pre-written.
DISCLAIMER: Well, I'm not the Director, so I don't own Maximum Ride...
Prologue:
The slideshow progressed at a dull pace. A picture of the ice melting in the arctic. One of the ozone layer, and how it was thin-to-nothing. A photo of one of the last clouded leopards on earth. And then a picture of the earth, looking a lot less crowded and a lot more…aquatic.
A picture of subject six.
And then the photos faded out to black. The lights slowly brightened the dim conference room. There was a single long table set up, and at the far end of the table was one person. The rest of the table was littered with various other people, but whoever was standing at the front of the room seemed intent on whoever was sitting at the head of the table. "So, as you can see, Global Warming is our new objective."
The Director leaned forward, still hidden in the shadows of the room. "And this will conceal the By-Half Plan? You are certain that it will take Subject Six out of the picture?" The voice was harsh, and the eyes narrowed as the lighting in the room steadily became lighter. The person at the front of the room gave a grim sort of smile.
"Max has a bad habit of playing the hero. It's gotten her into trouble before, but I know it will keep her out of trouble this time." He paused, staring straight at the Director. "I know her. I was the number one agent in her case. I know how she'll react to almost any situation. And I know we can't terminate her yet. She might come in handy in the future."
"Subject Six hasn't cooperated in the past, Batchelder," the Director reminded him in a dull tone. "But I don't have time to chase them around the world, and I certainly don't have the money to waste on sending someone after them. If you can keep them out of my way, perhaps we can let them live. For now."
Jeb nodded. "You won't regret this."
"I'd better not." The Director nodded to one of the whitecoats near the door. "Initiate Operation Global Warming…"