A/N: Hi... Yeah, this is my first fanfic so... if it sucks feel free to tell me. Oh...just to let ya know...I'm under the influence of cold medicen. I am not responsible for anything I say or do while on meds. Just thought I'd tell you that so no one thinks I'm psycho or anything... *Nervous Laugh*...

Disclaimer!: I do not own any of the Maximum Ride Characters. Though I would buy Fang for a reasonable amount of money. Does anyone know if Walmart stocks him? Anyway... Here it goes.

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Chapter 1: Ready...Set...No Go?

Max's POV:

Crack! My head whipped up, my eyes still cloudy with sleep. My newly aquired watch read 4:37 A.M. I groaned at the terrible hour mother nature had chosen to wake me. Crack! That sound again?! I scrambled to my feet, looking frantically around me, at the innocent bystanders. Fortunately the "innocent bystanders" were the trees. We were in the middle of frickin' nowhere! The nearest McDonald's was something like 75 miles away! And when you're a mutant bird kid who needs a minimum of 3,000 calories a day...not having a place where you can get two or three bigmacs and a couple M&M McFlurries is not good. My flock was fast asleep. Angel was curled up in a tree, Total and Celest nestled in beside her. Nudge was stretched out peacefully on her back on a long branch of the same tree. Iggy and Gazzy leaned against eachother for support at the bottom. And Fang was leaning back against-- Wait! Fang wasn't sitting up against the big rock to my left like he'd been when I'd drifted off to dreamland! (Which by the way had been very awkward...The whole thing was Fang and Lissa frenching in a hottub. The end was okay though. Jack the Ripper came in and began chasing her with an ax.) But...back to reality. Where the krill had Fang gone?! I went over and began feeling my way around the boulder, knowing he had the tendancy to disappear if he sat too still for too long. I was swatting around when I heard another crack directly behind me and nearly shot throught the treetops. (Which could've actually happened.)

"Max? What are you doing? Have you gone blind too?" I didn't need to turn around to figure out who it was. I'd know that voice anywhwere. Fang... My heart was still beating irregularly fast from being interrupted from my little episode. But I quickly regained controll of my thoughts.

"Jesus Christ, Fang! Don't sneak up on me like that! And where have you been?! You had watch! You can't just wander off like that! What if Erasers had attacked? We would've all been killed! How could you--"

"Hey, calm down." Fang said, interrupting my rant. "I only went out there 'cause I thought I heard something. I went to go check it out."

"Well...you should've woken me up!" I said, looking for excuses. I didn't like being told I was overreacting. "It could've been a diversion. How could you be so stupid?!" I could fell the tension from the past few days seeping into my words. And they were directed at my best friend... Fang could tell I was starting to loose it.

"I couldn't wake you. You looked so calm. And for the past few days...that emotion has been nonexsistant for you." He grabbed my shoulder and steered me towards my designated sleeping space. I slumped down, trying to relax. We'd been on the run since forever, but in the last few days, we'd had at least eight eraser attacks, and I was spent. My breathing was uneven, my hair was a mess, my eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. I probably looked like some sort of rabid animal. Not that my wings helped that rabid animal theory or anything. Fang looked down at me and sighed. I must have looked exhausted , because he offered to take watch for me. "Go back to sleep, Max." he said. "And try not to freak out over every little thing." I glared at him before rolling over and squeezing my eyes shut. I heard Fang walk away and before I knew it, I drifted of...

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"Max?! Max, I'm hungry!" I groaned loudly. I knew Max's happy time couldn't last long. I glanced at my watch...5:30. Wow that was a super long nap! (Sarcasm there, if you didn't catch that, folks.) Max! I--"

"I'm coming! I'm coming." Jeesh! The kids were pushy today. I was stiff and sleepy as I stumbled my way towards Nudge's tree. I imagined myself looking something like Iggy on drugs.

"Max! You're finally up! I thought you'd never wake up! I mean...hello?! I'm starving here! And there you are, conked out in la la land. I want eggs, and pancakes, and orange juice. Oh! And waffles, strawberries--"

"Nudge?! I hate to break it to you, but...we're in the woods. Bugs, dirt, and rocks are on the breakfast menu."

"Yeah...about that." she continued. "I think we should, like, take a day or two off, and just kick back and relax. We could fly into town, and rent a movie... Oooh! How about Highschool Musical 3?! That's supposed to be good... We could get popcorn, and candy, and soda. My favorite's Cherry Coke. Do you like Cherry Coke? Igggy likes--"

"Nudge! Can you just shut up for, like, fieve seconds?! You are being so frustrating right now!" Nudge looked slightly hurt by my outburst. She clamped her mouth shut, sharply.

"Well..." she said rather scornfully, " Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed...tree...whatever."

"I'm sorry Nudge." I sighed appologetically. " I just...could'nt get to sleep last night. Now, what were you saying about waffles?" Nudge smiled, and happily continued the re-telling of her breakfast fantasy. And before I knew it, everyone was up, complaining about how hungry they were.

"Aww, Max! I'm soooo hungry!" groaned Gazzy. "Listen to my stomache! It sounds like Chewbacca!" I rolled my eyes. Yes, Gazzy had seen the Star Wars movies. It was back when we were at my mom's house. I'd been a little nervous about Iggy and Gazzy getting ideas about light sabers, but Ella had announced that it was un-American for us not to have seen it. Hence the Chewbacca comment.

"Yeah, Max. Can we please go into town? Me and Celest are starving!"

"I think it's a good idea.." said Iggy. I could see where this was going. They would all turn against me, and force me to do whatever it was they were planning. They may be cute, but their demon children, I tell ya! Demon children!

"I don't know guys..." I said, a war going on inside me. Part of me wanted to relax in town, but the other part was worried about erasers and flyboys, and stuff.

" I say, let's take a vote!" said Iggy, always the political one. "All in favor of going into town for a day off, raise your hand!" Every single hand and one paw shot into the air, with the exception of mine and Fang's.

"Ha ha!" said Gazzy. "Majority rules!" I groaned. There would probably be a movie based on today. Except...instead of being a fun-filled comedy, this one would be an action adventure horror. And there was no way I was singing "Twist and Shout" on a parade float. I'd seen that movie at Ella's as well. She's, like, in love with 80's movies, or something. They all looked at me expectantly. I looked over at Fang, who gave me an It's-all-up-to-you look. And I gave him a Thanks-so-much-for-the-help look. (And if you did'nt catch that sarcasm, you need to see a doctor, or something.) He just shrugged his shoulders. Ugh! Typical Fang... I sighed, exasperated.

"I...guess...we could...go into town for a little bit..." I said, slowly.

"Yes!" everyone shouted.

"A little bit! A little bit!" I shouted, trying to calm them. They were still celebrating their victory of sorts when the rustling started. Me, Iggy, and Fang reacted immediatly, jumping in front of the kids. I took a fighting stance, and the others followed. I glanced at Iggy out of the corner of my eye, trying not to take my sight off the direction the rustling was coming from. He appeared to be concentrating on the noise.

"Whatever it is...it's huge." he whispered to us. I braced myself even more (if that's possible) and prepared to launch myself at our attacker(s). More rustling occurred. It was definetly closer. Braches were breaking, deep breathing could be heard, a huge shadow loomed before the bushes! I braced myself bravely, waiting for the worst. And then.... A cute squirrel emerged from the bushes. I dropped my stance in confusion.

"What the hell?" exclaimed Fang. I didn't even bother to tell him to watch his language. I was too surprised. Iggy looked confused.

"But...I'm never wrong..." he murmered mostly to himself. We all started to relax. Gazzy even started to giggle a little. Then Angel. Soon we were all giggling at the tiny little squirrel that had scared us. Suddenly, a giant foot emerged from the bushes and crushed the little squirrel. My jaw nearly hit the forest floor. Even Fang looked shocked. Because, that giant foot was attached to a skyscraper of a robot. It stood at least ten feet tall with flame throwers for arms. It's eyes glowed green and menacing.

"I am Omega II." it said in a robotic, monotone voice. "I have been sent to destroy you."

"No! We thought you were selling Girl Scout cookies!" I shouted.

"Darn...we sure were looking forward to those Thin Mints!" Iggy continued. Suddenly the giant raised his arms, ready to fire. "Aww crap...man, I'm soooo sorry! We never really thought you were a Girl Scout! Honest!" Iggy begged. Omega II seemed more preoccupied with blasting us to smithereens than apologies. His arms lit up with flame and started to smoke. His eyes glowed greener and he cackled evily. And then....he exploded. Nope...you read that right. He exploded... I was so surprised, I didn't even think about diving for cover. Someone grabbed my arm, and I tumbled to the forest floor, all the while being showered with robot parts.

"What the he--" I was cut off by a coughing fit that was occurring behind me. I turned my head. Fang was kneeling on the ground, coughing his guts out, his eyes watering. I tried to ask if he was okay, but couldn't find my voice. He seemed to get the message, though.

"I'm...fine..." he said between coughs. As the dust cleared, I could make out all the members of the flock. Iggy was sitting by Gazzy who was lying on the ground, but moving, thankfully. Nudge was helping Angel up, and I could see Total's nose poking out from under some shrubs.

"Report!" I cried urgently. I had a strange sense of Deja Vu. (I wonder why...)

"Fine!" called Iggy. "Gazzy's okay too."

"We're alright!" Angel and Nudge said in unison. I nodded. Aside from the usual bumps and bruises that came along with an attempted attack from a ten foot robot, everyone seemed to be okay. Total crawled out from under the bushes and began to shake himself off.

" I'm getting really tired of stuff blowing up." he said dejectedly. I frowned at the wreckage around us.

" I don't know if town is such a good idea, guys." I said.

"No, no, Max! We're fine!" Nudge jumped up. " I wanna go so bad!"

"Please, Max?" Angle pouted, giving me the bambi eyes. Damn those cute little eyes. Whoever created that look deserves a special spot in hell. Those eyes melted me inside. Me and bambi eyes are like the wicked witch of the west and water.

"Well...I suppose." I said. "But if something goes wrong, we head straight out!"

"Of course." said Nudge as the others cheered. "But we have to see a movie! And get breakfast at Denny's! I want those little pancakes with the--" I blocked out the next couple minutes of chatter. My mind was on the subject of making us so vulnerable. I sighed. I was really stressed. Maybe I did need a day off. I brushed the last of the robot rubble out of my hair and turned to face my flock.

"Who wants Denny's?"

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A/N: Wow...that was a long chapter... So I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Review peoples. Review. Review, and I shall give you all baskets filled with cookies and cakes. Er...well...I'll give you a cookie. Okay...I can't give you anything. But, you can imagine me giving you baskets of treats. So reivew...and IMAGINE...