(A/N: Welcome to the first chapter of the rewrite! Again, I know I said I wouldn't work on this till December, but I felt you guys needed a better story. So, welcome to the rewrite. After I rewrite the first 3 chapters, I will stop working on this till December. Specifically, after you guys review. I've already explained why I need your reviews. Now, in this chapter Cobra finds out about Itex's experiments. Using COBRA's money. The Leader of Cobra, isn't happy about that.)
Cobra Commander was sitting in his bunker, awaiting the Baroness' report. She had gone over to Itex, a company they supplied funding to, for an inspection. Just what they needed HIS money for, he had to know. He remembered the first time, he met the Director of Itex.
He walked through the door, and set up his digital image, to create the business deal. He saw her. A woman, about an inch or two shorter than him, but her heels made her look equal with him. She had long blonde hair, and glasses. He couldn't see her eyes, but he knew her. He could tell, that deep down, she was similar to him.
She said, "Mr DeCobray, how nice to finally see you." Her expression changed from delight to sadness, "A shame we can't meet in person. I'd love to discuss this deal personally." She seemed to be truthful. But the Commander knew, she was hiding something from him.
He said, "Let's skip the pleasantries, Director. Right now, I'd like to know what it is, you need from me, and my corporation." He had been in the middle, of quite the World Domination plan, when the Director called.
She said, "Very well. I need your funding. I need money for a certain experiment."
This surprised the Commander. He asked, "May I inquire what kind of experiment, Dr Janessen?" This was their first time doing business together, and already she was asking for money?
She said sternly, "You may not. All I need is your money. YOU need my new line of weapons, just like you need those new armor suits, from your buddy, McCullen. So..." She leaned closer, to the screen, "Do we have a deal?"
The Commander replied, "I don't like giving money, when I have no idea what it's for." He then smirked, "But if it helps me, to get this new 'wolf/man hybrid gene you've been working on..." His digital image smiled, "We have a deal."
The Commander had his suspicions is to what Itex was up to. Including the suspicion, that perhaps, they were trying to do HIS job. World domination. He sent the Baroness to inspect them. He knew she would never disappoint him.
At Itex's lab in Death Valley, CA, The Baroness was looking through the cages, to see what they 'needed,' the Commander's money for. In one of the rooms, she saw something. Something, that disturbed her.
Six children, all of whom were locked in dog crates. The oldest girl, around ten or so, with blonde hair, messy and un combed. Her blonde eyes, staring at the Baroness with fear. In the cage next to her, was a boy about her age. One with black hair, similar to that of the Baroness. His eyes, like the girl beside him, looked in fear of the Baroness. Something about each of them looked... Familiar.
She thought, The Commander will want to hear about this. She picked up her communication device, and called the Commander.
At Cobra Commander's control room in his bunker, he waited for the Baroness's report. Suddenly, the Baroness came on the screen.
She said, "Commander. Itex has required our funding, for something called 'the Angel Experiment'" That was interesting. The Russian woman continued, "They merged human subjects, with Avian DNA." She showed her leader, the pictures. He recognized one of the scientists, in he background.
He points to the scientist, and asks the Baroness, "Do you know, who that is?" He did want to believe... But it'd hat to be.
The Russian noble replied, " Batchelder. Head of the experiment, and chief care taker, of the subjects. He showed me them. It is disgusting, what they have done." The Baroness looked enraged, at the scientist's mere name.
The Commander was sharing, a similar feeling. He and Doctor Batchelder had... A disagreement, some years ago. He thought, I never thought I'd see him again! Guess I'll have to do THAT, myself.
The Baroness shamefully said, " Batchelder even subjected his own daughter, to the experiment."
That... Was a shock to the Commander. Jeb... Had a daughter? By God.
The CEO of Cobra Industries said, "Contact MindBender. I'm going to investigate Itex..." He said in creepy manner "Personally."
Meanwhile, at Itex, Jeb Batchelder had intercepted the transmission. He was debating what to do. Part of him was ashamed, that he took part in this. When the Baroness said, "Batchelder subjected his own daughter to the experiment" it made him ashamed. True, Jeb... Disagreed with Cobra Commander, on a number of things. But when Jeb was reminded, that he put his own daughter, in the experiment. It feels kinda evil, when you put that way. Another part, said that he should defend his job, at Itex. He had no idea, who's wrath to fear more. Itex's Director... Or the Commander of Cobra. The Director sells people, because they didn't follow orders. The Commander Decapitated one of his own followers, who tried to explain something to him. (A/N: Given that line up, who would YOU fear more?)
Jeb KNEW, however, that he had to get Max and the Flock, out of the lab. If Itex, falls to Cobra... No telling WHAT that madman would do, to them. Jeb went to each crate, containing each kid.
Max asked, "Jeb? What are you doing?" This was the first time, anyone had opened the cages at night.
Jeb said, "Max..." He looked down, and sighed. He said, "I wanted to hold off, on telling you this. Maybe I should've told you sooner. But..." He looked her in the eyes, gasped and said, "I'm leaving the lab. I'm taking the six of you with me. I'm bringing you to Max's father." He wished he could have told her the truth. But... Now wasn't the time.
Max said in shock, "My father? I... Thought he was dead." She looked up at Jeb, "You told me my parents were dead."
Jeb replied, "I said that because I was told to. I had my orders. But I now know, that I can't trust them anymore." He looked into Max's eyes, "You are more important, than anything this corporation says." He pulled out a map of the "School."
Max smiled, and hugged Jeb. She then said, "Does Ari know?" She hoped he did. After all, Ari WAS Jeb's son.
Jeb then realized two things. One, Ari didn't know that just yet. Two, he had no idea, where Ari was right now!
Then Ari came up, from behind Jeb and asked, "Do I know what?" Jeb bent down, and hugged the seven year-old.
The scientist said, "I know a way out of here!" He handed Max, a map of the "School." He said," Lead the Flock, down to the escape point I highlighted, on the map. Take Ari with you, and once you get there, don't stop until you see the sunlight!" He knew two things. One, the Director would be here soon. She would NOT be happy, about the experiments escaping. Two, he DEFINITELY heard helicopters over the building. No doubt, it was Cobra Commander, or at least his lackeys. They needed to leave, and NOW!
Max asked, "What about you?" She just now learned, that after ten years of being in a cage, she would meet one of her parents... She couldn't let the man taking her to them, be killed.
Jeb replied, "I'll hold them off. I'll meet up with you, once you get to the river. GO!"
They started running. The Director walked in, just as they left.
She asked, "What the hell, happened here, Jeb!? You were in charge of this project! You just let them go!"
Jeb smiled, "It was the right thing to do. They are more valuable, than you give them credit for."
The Director replied, "They are not human! Our biggest mistake, is treating them like they are! That makes them think that they are! Hence, causing them to rise against us! If we can't control our experiments, they MUST BE DESTROYED!"
Jeb replied, "I know a man, who said the same thing. I used to work for him." He clenched his fist and said, "I quit working for him, as all he wanted to do was conquer the world. I came here, as your words sounded better." He looked down, "Now I realize, that all you did was somehow make his words make sense."
The Director said, "If you're referring to Decobray, I must say I see no comparison. He's trying, to conquer the world. WE are saving it!"
Jeb looked at her in disgust, and said, "Why don't you tell him that yourself."
The Director looked confused, and asked, "What do you mean?" Then an explosion was heard.
Meanwhile, on the roof, Cobra soldiers were breaking in. The Baroness yelled, "Fire!" At the soldiers. They raised their laser riffles, and shot down the door.
They burst in, and shot up the lab. Up until, all the surviving employees, were all lined up in one room. The Director and Jeb, being among them.
The leader of Itex said, "Cobra Industries? What are you doing here? You're not getting your money back, you know." Oh. How cute, she thought it was about money.
A voice, from behind the troops yelled, "This has nothing to do with money!" He walked up, and his voice got louder. He said, "It is about what you did, to these children. One of whom... Is part of, MY family."
The Director was shocked, to this man up close. Jeb, however, simply had an angered expression, on his face.
This man was tall, about 6 or so feet. Unable to say, how many inches. He wore a blue, military uniform, with buttons on the sleeves, over a red shirt. He also wore black combat boots, red socks, and a mask. The mask covered most of his face, with a small bit of skin, and a surprisingly red eye. Also, he was bald and had a cane, with a golden snake-shaped handle.
The Director asked, in surprise and fear, "Decobray? Is that you?"
He said, "Decobray, does not exist. You will address me... AS COMMANDER!"
Director Janessen said, "Well, Commander, petty threats won't hurt me. Those children, don't know their own power. Since you didn't create them, neither do you, my dearest funder. Hence, you need me."
The terrorist leader told her, "Like I need, throat cancer." He hit her in the face with his cane. He then beat her with it, turned to his soldiers, and said, "Kill her."
They fired. Twenty-three guns, forty-four bullets.
Then, Cobra Commander saw Jeb, and approached him. The disabled man said, "Dr Batchelder. How long, has it been?"
The scientist replied, "Not long enough." He looked disgusted at the Commander, "I take you're here, for the Angel Experiment. Why? What importance do they have to you?"
the Commander asked Jeb, "The children's files. Where are they?" He needed them. If he was going, to use those children, he needed to know them.
Jeb replied, in total disgust in the criminal businessman, "File cabinet to your left. Top drawer." The Commander searched it, then laughed in victory.
The Leader of Cobra told Jeb, "You may leave. Rejoin the children." He then whispered something, no one but Jeb could hear.
Jeb replied, "Thank you, Sir." Jeb ran. The Flock needed to be safe. But what ever the Commander had in store couldn't be good.
The Commander broke the cabinet, and searches the files. He found what he needed.
The eldest girl, among the six experiments, was named 'Maximum.' Her file also said, she preferred to be called simply, 'Max.' It also said, her parentage. It confirmed, what the Commander needed to know. Perfect.
The Baroness asked, "Commander. What of the other, Itex employees?"
The disfigured terrorist said, "Kill them all." His soldiers readied their guns. He said, "Fire!" After two minutes, the employees of Itex, were dead.
Meanwhile, Jeb met up with Max and the others.
Ari asked, "Why were those men, at the school, Dad?" Soldiers in weird blue uniforms, raiding the lab, and forcing them to escape, was not a good sign.
Jeb looked down, and sighed. He said, "I should have told you. All of you, a lot sooner." He looked to Max and Ari, " I truly should have told you two, everything. They were after you, all six of you. I don't know why, the wanted the rest of the flock..." He looked Max in the eyes, "But I KNOW, why he wanted you." He put his hands on her shoulders, and continued, "Because your father... Has a... Disagreement with Cobra's leader."
Max was shocked by this. She asked, "What kind of disagreement?" If it was so bad they were going after her, then her father must really have hated them. And they must REALLY, have hated him.
Jeb said, "A familial disagreement. On how their family should work. Their leader wanted to capture you, because of that. To get teach him a lesson." His face went Grimm, as he said, "Because their leader... Is your father's father." This shocked Max, Ari, and the entire Flock as well.
Meanwhile, in his bunker, Cobra Commander was smirking under, his mask.
He said, "Let it be known, that my blood successor is something more terrifying, than a man. A woman. Let the world tremble in fear, at my lineage. Let every last bit of mankind , that scours across God's Earth know..." He picked up the files, to look at the picture and name, of his successor. He finished "That Maximum Ride... Is Cobra Commander's granddaughter."
(A/N: Please review. If I'll rewrite up to 'Baron Fang,' and then the rewrite will be done. But THAT point, I'll need your reviews. Okay? I'll need your reviews, because I need to know, which member of Cobra, you guys want me, to relate the Flock to. I got Max's relation to the Commander, and one other. Please, review and tell me, which ones, you want. Okay? Commander out. Peace to the US and Russia!)