"Stay," Clark said to me, pointing a finger at me. I felt like a dog. "Great, I'm downgraded to pet." I whispered. Chloe smiled, patted my head and followed Clark into the apartment. It was several minutes before Clark allowed me back in. The guy, Oliver, was shirtless, buff, and a sweetie. I smiled at the sight of him. "Oliver, this is Max," Clark said. I frowned. "You're not auctioning me off," I growled at him. Chloe nodded in fake seriousness. "Nice; I can see what you saw in her," Oliver teased. "What I saw was the after-affects of alcohol," Clark muttered. I stuck my tongue out at him. "Very mature," Oliver said, pointing his towel-grasping hand at me. I nodded. "I'm very mature when I want to be," I said. "Just not when I don't want to be," I added and clasped my hands behind my back. I turned on my heel towards Chloe. "Feisty," Oliver growled under his breath. "Oh, yeah; I'm fiery," I said sarcastically. But I'm guessing that didn't help my case. It didn't even make sense! "Why'd we even come here, again?" I asked in a low tone to Chloe. "Oliver can help with your Itex situation. He's been actually trying to rehabilitate some of the experiments that they had in one abandoned branch that we found. You two could help each other out because he hasn't found the avian brands like you and might be interested." Chloe said. "Yeah; most people are interested." I whispered back and pulled a finger across my throat and dangled my head with my tongue sticking out. "I am interested in the Itex corporations so that I can help the experiments grow back to their most humanly healthy forms." Oliver suddenly intervened.

I turned back to glare at him, looking him over yet again. He didn't seem like the most business-y like person. He didn't seem like the most generous person. He just looked like a pretty poster boy for teenagers to drool over. I was suddenly back in the shoes of my fourteen year old self, trying to evaluate this person without stereotyping. I was trying to strip down any facades he might hold up. I hadn't had to do this in a while. "Why would you be interested in any of the experiments?" I asked. Chloe rolled her eyes but sighed in defeat. "The experiments I found were unstable in both physical and mental forms. They were humans from the start and I plan to help them back into that spot again." Oliver said with his chin held up high. It was a defensive move. "The question is why are you so interested in any of these experiments? You couldn't have known about this while it was still going on." Oliver said. He was referring to me being a teenager when this was going on. "Same with you," I shot back. "My reason is personal; my dad was one of the scientists and I despised him for that. I want to fix my dad's mistakes." I said. Oliver cleared his throat, obviously embarrassed and nodded. "Fine; one of the experiments spoke of one of the very first experiments in particular," Oliver said and moved over to an area filled with monitor screens. He clicked a few buttons, accessing a video file. On the screen in the middle showed a video of a kid. He had green scales and was gulping water like no tomorrow. He was obviously part fish. "There was the first experiment. She was the first rebel. They spoke of her often. They wanted her more than anything in the world. They kept saying that she could screw everything up." The fish boy said. "She was a role model to all of the other experiments and me. She was an avian hybrid and a bad one. The scientists said that she was the daughter of one of the ex-scientists who committed treason against Itex. She was special; she had the power to fly super fast. I saw a picture once. She looked like a normal girl, I suppose. She was really pretty though. They wanted her for breeding so they could make more successful experiments that wouldn't rebel." The kid said. Then he gave a loud croaking noise and then died. The video was closed and Chloe was standing by me, shocked. She was crying.

I patted her shoulder. "How many experiments have you encountered, Max?" Oliver asked. "A couple branches full. One in NYC and one in Germany." I said. "I wasn't able to find any more branches after that but I keep track of some of the closed ones that had been abandoned so that we could see if they come back." I said. "They're too smart for that." Oliver said. "Or they know that we're too smart to think that they're too dumb to do that so they would truly be the smart ones in going back; an unexpected move." I corrected him. Oliver raised his eyebrows at my logic in surprise. "I know how they think. My mom was once kidnapped by them." I added. "Your mom's name would be….?" Oliver prompted. "Valencia Martinez," I answered, hoping I wouldn't give off too much. He didn't put two and two together. I left when it was time and no one confronted me, at least, on who I was.

I kept to myself until we got to Chloe's place. "We never speak about last night?" I suggested to Clark after Chloe had gone up. "Never," Clark agreed in relief. "Not even if we remember," He added. I nodded and headed up after Chloe. When I got to my room I checked the monitors for anything. Nothing had disturbed the Itex branches. Maybe I was wrong….or maybe I was looking in the wrong branches. I instantly pulled up a web browser and Googled the branch that Oliver kept an eye on. It was somewhere in Toledo, Ohio. "Great, I probably missed the most important place because this Queen dude thought he was too smart for this." I muttered as I checked around my room. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed Nudge's number. "Nudge," I said. "Yeah?" She answered absently. "I need you to go to Toledo, Ohio," I said and scrolled down the news article. "Damn, no coordinates; just go to the center of town and pull out your resources or whatever," I said. "Fine, Max," Nudge said irritably. "What are you doing?" I asked, snapping back to my conversation with her. "Um, nothing," She squeaked. "Nudge Tiffany Crystal Ride, you better not be doing what I think you're doing while you're talking to me!" I hissed at the phone. "Oh, hush, Max! I wouldn't dare do that. Not while talking to you; you're like my mom and that would be gross but some people think it's erotic. Do you know why some people think that?" Nudge suddenly asked. "ADD, Nudge; what are you doing?" I asked. "I was having some alone time with Chad but now that that's done for I guess I'm talking to lonesome you!" Nudge growled through the phone. "I'm sorry if this is important for our safety but you need to stop having monkey sex and get to Ohio!" I said and groaned in frustration as I pounded the end button. Monkey sex? What was up with the Monkey Sex?!!

Now it was even odder. I knew that I had gone to bed fully clothed and in my own bed. I knew it but I still woke up next to Clark Kent, naked. I checked the calendar. It was the next day but the same situation. "How did this happen?" I asked as I got into my pajamas. Somehow they had ended up on the floor. "I have no clue," Clark said as he got changed. "I certainly did not come here last night and you certainly did not come and pick me up because I would remember that." I said. "I would too. We were sober last night." Clark said. "Weren't we?" We asked in unison. I shook it out of my head and looked around. "Now, how did this happen?" I asked. It's where you're meant to be. You have to stay to help him. A familiar Voice suddenly said. "Ha!" I yelped. "What?" Clark asked. I kept my eyes widened but gave a small smile. "Nothing," I said. What is that supposed to mean? Why are you back? My mission is through!! I thought. Your saving the world mission is but this is a new mission. This is the mission to keep your life safe and happy. Itex is run out, you are safe. The Voice said.

I blinked as I listened, frozen. "Are you alright, Max?" Clark suddenly asked. "Yeah, I am but I have a little headache," I said. Okay, Voice, I know we need some bonding, reminiscing time but now is not the best of time. We'll speak or think or whatever when I get home. I thought. You are home, Max!! You can't leave because Clark needs your help! He doesn't know it yet but he needs your help!! You won't even be allowed to leave because Jorel has a lock on this house. The Voice said. "Who's Jorel?" I asked aloud. It was meant for the Voice but Clark answered. "Where did you hear that name?" He asked seriously. I looked back at him. "Me? Where did you hear that name? Why does he have a lock on this house?" I asked feverishly. "What do you mean?" Clark asked suspiciously. How to explain, how to explain… Don't bother, Max. You two are meant to help each other throughout your life so just tell him everything. The Voice said. No, damn it, Voice! You need to tell me what's going on! I was screaming in my head so much it made my head pound. "Kell-L," A loud booming voice suddenly echoed around the house. "What was that?" I asked as my eyes darted around the house. "And Maximum Ride," The voice added. "Your Voice is correct. You two are meant to help each other and I refuse to let you out of this house until you two have explained everything!" The voice boomed. Then it was cut off. "Crap," I whispered. I rushed out of the room and down the stairs. I whooshed open the door and it came open easily. However, getting out was not so easy.

"Why does Jorel want me to talk to you?" Clark demanded of me. "Why does the Voice want me to know you?" I shot back as I pressed my hand against the invisible field that kept us locked inside. It rippled in front of me, making the air shiver beneath my hand. "Jorel's put a lock on this house so we can't get out." Clark said. "Well, that's just dandy," I hissed as I pressed against the field. It was like a large, solid bubble. "What do I need to know about you?" Clark asked. "What do I need to know about you?" I retorted. Clark froze defensively. "Are you from another planet?" Clark suddenly asked. I narrowed my eyes at him. "No," I said, my face growing more serious. Who wants to play Learn the Freak's Secrets?! YAY!!