Here is the edited version of this chapter! It's only changed around the end, so if you've already read my story, then just skip on down to the last couple of paragraphs. If you haven't, I hope you like my story! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride. (Obviously...)


It started as a plot, a simple little plan. As a wish, a dream that was kept in silence in the night, waiting to poke its head out and show the world its face.

And it became so much more.

She sat at her desk, looking over files, watching the monitors on the wall to her right, surveying everything. She had worked far too long for this, risked too much, lost so much, for this moment, this amazing part of history unfurling before her very eyes. Never did she think she would ever see this day, especially so young. But she will, and so much more!

This was it. Her chance at history. Her father hadn't understood her, way back when he was alive and running this whole shin-dig, running her. But now, he was dead, and she has moved on to bigger plans, a full agenda.

She couldn't wait to show them. It will have her father rolling over in his grave in shock, what she will do with the organization.

See, he wanted this to be an experimental facility for practicing medicines. The School itself was created to figure out the cure for cancer. But that wasn't important enough, she decided. She wanted to advance science, show the world what it could do. She wanted to take everyone's expectations and stomp on them, showing her full power. Thus, she went behind her father's back and told the scientists to begin experimenting. And experiment they did.

She leaned back against the chair, exhaling. This was it, she told herself yet again. This was actually it. The final piece of the giant puzzle that was her plan. She finally had it in her grasp.

The only thing standing between her and final victory were six bird-kids and their talking dog.

She sighed, shaking her head. They shouldn't be a problem anymore. They had been called for extermination multiple times now! Why is this one act so difficult?

Looking back at the file with the leader's face staring up at her, she studied her nemesis, the one thorn in her boot. For years she had been mocking her, coming into her grasp and jumping out again, her and her flock. But now, things should be easier. With her right-hand man being gone and Dylan being her only replacement, it should be a lot easier to get to her.

The woman smiled to herself, holding up the file picture of Dylan, her most successful experiment she had ever witnessed. Never before has anyone taken someone and duplicated them as she had, creating a clone with a dead super-model's DNA. Sure, he wasn't necessarily 'dead' when they had taken him, but that wasn't important. What was important, was that this plan succeeded. That this plan actually paid off. It would be her final attempt, and if she failed...

Shaking her head, she stood, walking toward the monitors. Each television showed the same house, the same woods, the same backdrop, only in different locations. For days, she had been monitoring their every move, keeping up with their plans, their everything. Things had become much easier since she had been given the CSM. Now, she would know wherever the flock went, placing them in high security houses herself.

And they couldn't be the wiser.

Going back to her desk, she pressed the intercom button. "Bring me Batcheldor," she ordered.

"Right away, ma'am," it returned, then silenced.

She sat back in her seat, lounging in the comfort of the cushions, lost in her thoughts of victory. So close, so very close, yet so far away. She had to get this done, now. She had to complete this, or else everything she's ever worked for, everything she's ever accomplished, will be for nothing. No matter what happened, that was the one thought she could not stand, could not imagine.

The door buzzed, then opened, revealing a very old and very tired Jeb Batcheldor. He had come back to her, reporting like the good ol' boy he was, wanting to join the Doomsday Group. Him and that woman, Valencia Martinez. Granted, they had to be two of the oldest people they had ever accepted, but given the circumstances and who they were, she made the exception. "You called, ma'am?" he asked.

She sat up, grabbing the files and stacking them, patting them against the desk to align them correctly. "I most certainly did. Please, sit down. We need to talk."

He obliged, sitting in the plastic chair across from her, crossing his legs. "Is there something wrong?" he asked, glancing at the reports, the monitors. "Is something wrong with the Plan?"

"No, not really. What would give you that impression?" she asked, folding her hands on her desk, inspecting him.

Jeb nodded toward the monitors. "Well, you're monitoring my daughter and her gang. Did she do something wrong again? Is she not adapting to Dylan like we had hoped?"

"Oh, she's adapting to Dylan just fine, Batcheldor," the leader said, smiling a small smile. "That's actually what I wanted to talk about."

"Ma'am?" he asked, confused.

"See, Jeb, you know that Dylan was first introduced to her for reproduction purposes, correct?" It was a lie, but he didn't have to know that.

"Yes," he said, nodding.

"Well, since then, his mission has changed. Instead of being there so we can see if their species can reproduce, we are going to use him to bring the flock closer to the Doomsday Group. Do you follow?"

Jeb looked excited, his tired eyes lighting up. "Really? That's positively amazing news! Will they really come join us?"

"That's what we're trying to accomplish, Jeb," she said slowly, as if she were talking to a child which, given his present state of mind, was what he was like. "But we also need someone else. Someone to bring them closer to the Doomsday Group. Do you follow?"

He looked completely lost. "Someone other than Dylan?"

"Yes," she said gently, patiently. "Someone like you and Dr. Martinez."

Jeb looked excited for a second, then his face fell. "But she doesn't like me anymore. Max doesn't trust me, and I'm guessing Dylan isn't far behind. They'll never accept me again."

"See, that's why I'm bringing Dr. Martinez, too. That way, she'll trust you again."

He thought about it, then smiled, liking this idea. "It could work."

"Now, before you go," she said, handing him a folder. "The flock is going to give you a cold shower, saying they're trying to reverse your brainwashing, as they would say. They think we actually brainwashed you!" She chuckled for affect.

He chuckled also. "Crazy kids," he murmured.

"Exactly," she nodded, appreciating the fact that he was now wrapped completely around her finger. "Now, once they are finished, you have to pretend you are one of them. Agree with everything they say, think whatever they want you to think. That way, it will be easier to bring them to us." She paused, leaning closer to him. "I warn you, though, once you are there, even with Dr. Martinez, they will not trust you as easily as they would. It seems they don't trust grown-ups anymore, no matter how heart breaking that is."

"Don't trust grown-ups," Jeb said, bewildered by the idea. "How?"

"I can't possibly begin to know," she said, waving her hands in the air as if it were something not even she could believe. "But no matter what, we have to get close again, show them the light. You agree with this?"

"Of course, ma'am."

"Then go, Jeb. You will be staying in section-C until the helicopter is here to pick you up."

"When will we be leaving?" Jeb asked, excited to be off.

"In about twenty-four hours," the leader said, picking up some papers and handing them to him. "This is just a list of things you should bring with you, also where you are to report and what time.

But I think you'll get the hang of it." She winked.

Jeb looked through the papers. "Blankets... Clothes... Syringe?" He glanced up at her. "What do we need a syringe for?"

"Oh, you know," she shrugged it off. "Just in case. I trust that we are giving you enough time to pack?"

"More than enough," Jeb said, only slightly curious now.

"Good." She pressed a button on her desk, and the door swung open. "You may go now. Tell Dr. Martinez for me, will you?"

Jeb stood, nodding his head. "Of course, ma'am. Anything for you." He turned and left the room, the door shutting behind him.

The woman sighed, sitting back and looking at the monitors once more. Max was right now sitting at her window, looking out through the woods of her Dr. Martinez's house, their 'safe-house' for now, it seemed. Safe indeed.

She smiled to herself. By this time next week, the world will be hers.


Alright, that's it! Please tell me what you think! :)