I think there was something missing from MAX; some element just wasn't there. Jimmy Pats gave us what we asked for, more Fax, more fights, snappy dialogue, but to me it all seemed like fluff. It seemed almost insincere, in a way. It just didn't seem lie a real fight-for-your-life kinda deal. And what's up with Bridgid? Is she a for-real character now? I thought---excuse me, hoped she would never return again. Anyways, so here's my alternate ending. Yeah, I know, It's kind of ripping off the ending of the second Quantum Prophecy Series book (don't tell me ANYTHING about the third book, I haven't got it yet!) but I thought it was the wake-up call Maximum needed.

Oh, I almost forget, I don't own anything, yadda yadda yadda. I mean if I did, why would I write it on a fan fiction site anyways?

Oh well, enjoy.

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Max and Angel are just about to bust into the under water lab. Here's a bit of actual text, so you know what's going on:

As we got closer I could tell that the whole dome wasn't clear---it was metal on top, with a wide band of windows around the middle. Three different air-lock entries would admit submarines, which meant Mr. Chu had access to extradeep-diving subs. Maybe he had connections with some military organization? Maybe he was so stinking rich that he had bought his own private fleet of submarines?

"I can barley hear Gor," Angel said in frustration. She stood up and dropped her towel. "I have to got out again."

I had forty-thousand tons of reasons why I didn't want her to go back out, but . . .Instead I accepted the inevitable, including the even more gross inevitable that I should go with her.

"Yeah, okay," I said, reluctantly unwrapping my towel. "I'll go with you."

"Wait! Max, stop!" cried a khaki clad officer running into the room. "You can't go."

"I turned to look at him, "Um we're kind of in the middle of something here, and plus, I think we proved we know more than you about what we can and can't do."

"No, Max," he said between pants, 'It's your mother."

In the next instant we were racing down the hallways. All I could think was "Oh no, oh, God, don't let it be to late!"

We ran into a room with a bunch of recording gizmos in it. Brigid was holding a phone and had a severely worried expression on her face. She held out the phone to me.

"Take the phone, Max," said a man behind one of the machines, "were recording everything you say."

I looked at my flock. Except for Fang they all looked worried and Nudge had tears in her eyes. I studied Fang's face; to anyone else he would appear nonchalant and totally unconcerned. I knew better. The slight down turn at the corner of his mouth, and the almost invisible glint in his eye told me he was worried. Really worried.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, preparing myself for the worst. What ever happened, I would not let the flock see me cry. I took the phone.

"Yo?"

"Hello, Max." It was Mr. Chu.

"What do you---" I started, but he cut me off.

"This is your last chance, Max; will you work for me?"

"Never," I breathed, putting all my hatred, contempt, and anger into this one little word.

"This is your final warning, Max," said Chu, "join me now and you could prevent yourself a lot of trouble and suffering; don't join and I will make things much more difficult."

How many times had I heard that before? "Ah, how 'bout never. Man, when are you guys going to get it through your heads---"

"Very well, Max," he said, interrupting me again, "You're probably wondering why I called."

"Well, lets see," I said, beginning to get annoyed, but the creep cut me off again.

"Max," Chu said sternly, "in this room with me I have you mother and a group of kids who support CMS."

I sucked in a breath but said nothing.

"I also have a gun."

I could feel the blood drain from my cheeks. A cold rage began to swell up inside of me. Chu was a sick, sick man.

"In a minute, one of the two is going to die; however, Max, you choose which one that is."

I gasped and the room began to spin. I looked at each face as it spun. An expression of horror that I could only imagine mirrored mine began to spread on each face as they comprehended what was happening. Angel, Nudge, and Brigid were crying. I closed my eye because the room was spinning so fast I thought I would throw up.

"Prove it."

"Excuse me?" said Chu, sounding surprised.

"Prove to me," I said more strongly, "that my mom and those kids are really in that room."

Chu was silent for a moment, then he said, "Fine, Max. Here is Doctor Martinez." As the phone was roughly handed off, my worst fears were confirmed.

"Max. . ."

"Mom!" I cried, momentary joy at hearing my mother's voice subduing the threatening situation. "Mom, is it true?"

"Yes, Max, its true. It's all true. And I know you'll make the right decision. This is bigger than just us, bigger than just me. What we've started, it's created a world-wide explosion. Whatever happens, Max, they can't stop this movement. It needs to continue, for the sake of the planet. . .and Max, I love you."

"I love you to, Mom." I felt so helpless, so confused.

"Max, you really are amazing. I know you'll know what to do."

"Mom, I----" but the phone was gruffly pulled away from my mother.

"MOM!" I cried but it was useless. Mr. Chu was on the line again.

"Hello, Maximum. I trust you're satisfied? It's time to make your choice; save your mother, or a bunch of CMS kids you never met. You have one minute, if you don't choose, both will die. Ready, go!"

I started to look around, but stopped. I couldn't bring myself to see their faces. They couldn't help me; this was something I had to do on my own.

"Personal, if it were me," Chu said, "I know who I'd choose."

And then I knew what I had do.

"Save the kids."

And then I heard a gunshot, and a muffled cry.

"Dr. Martinez is dead," he told me.

I didn't doubt it.

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If I get enough replys/critcisms/whatevers I will continue, most likley adding Fax'n'stuff. . .in a way, this is so ironic because I just finished Along Came a Spider and was thinking about how I'd sure like to read a patterson novel where no none dies for once!. . . oh well. . . .
Hope you enjoyed!