Sorry for the delay. Family troubles. Don't want to go deep into it. Thanks.

Fang: Lazy dork...

Me: Shut up! T.T

"Do we have confirmation on the whereabouts of the flying freaks?" David Benz, a well-researched chemist and ex-marine, sat in the back of the military van staring at a row of screens on the inside wall. He was speaking into a mouthpiece that was connected to the headset he wore. There was no reply for a while. Just static.

Suddenly, his earphone rang piercingly, and a reply came through. "Yes, we have the kids in our sights. The target took off five minutes ago due west at 200 mph."

He whistled lightly. "Wow."

"Sir. We are ready to move in on your command. Ready to receive orders."

David smiled a toothy, wolfish smile. He just loved these new operatives. They listened well and obeyed every command. Deadly as hell too. "Refrain from moving in." Too bad he wouldn't see them in action tonight. "Orders from the top say to wait until the next phase is in position. Remain where you are and watch them closely. Report everything you see to me first."

"Roger that, sir." Then the feed went back to static. David could only wonder what they'd do with their time now that they couldn't fulfill their nature with a good hunt. He almost felt bad for the bastards, but orders were orders. The bird kids would die some other night.

Switching the frequency on the headset, he spoke into the mouthpiece, "Hey Tom, you there?"

Again, there was static for a second, but a gruff voice replied, "Yeah, what is it?"

"What's the deal with these new guys, anyway? Is it safe? I mean it, is it really safe?" David was friends with Tom. They were in the marines together before having been reassigned to this position. The two of them loved their jobs and loved doing what they did, but the new operatives made them nervous. Maybe a little jumpy.

"That's not really a matter at the moment. The higher ups are just test driving them on the freaks out there. Getting the kinks out."

David could only chuckle for a minute. "Yeah, send some freaks out to fight the other freaks. Makes sense."

"Kinds reminds you of X-men, doesn't it?"

He frowned, flipping some of the screens to a different angle. "I didn't care for that movie." Though, he did kind of see the irony in it. However, in this little scenario, he knew for certain which side was going to win, and no amount of freak power was going to change it.

Back in the woods, deep within the foliage, five sleek figures moved through the darkness, not making a sound. They moved like shadows, seemingly coming to life from their surroundings. None of them spoke as they made their way toward the cabin at the other end of the forest. They had cut off the feed from David, already having their orders.

They had to obey said orders. It was how they were taught. Severe punishment followed suit if they disobeyed.

As they trekked the woods with almost inhuman speeds, they came upon an empty space absent of trees. A small clearing. The sky was open from the parted trees and the stars shown bright, sparkling like priceless diamonds scattered upon a velvet black sheet. Slowing to a stop in the clearing, the five figures clothed in black looked upward. Their faces were covered with the same black cloth, but their eyes were still visible, which were magnificent to behold as the next. They were alive, it seemed. Flickering from deep violet to a bloody ruby red.

Predator eyes.

Silently, the figures read the stars. They calculated the heavens for future events, preparing for the hunt that would be. This time they would only watch and wait. It was going to be a hard wait.

They could hear the bird kids, the failures. The ones in the way. It was their job to take out the failures. Max and the others were the honored ones to have the new operatives try out their abilities for future missions.

Wordlessly, the small group suddenly sprinted off into the undergrowth, their nimble footing not making a sound. It would be now that they'd make the plans, scout out the area again, and set the traps for the failures. Everything was almost already planned. All that was missing was the leader of the Flock.

They needed Max.

It was either take the whole Flock out or they'd be put to sleep. They couldn't be sloppy. Things had to be perfect. From the earlier reports they had to read, this group of rejects worked spontaneously. Just a group of randoms. Easy enough to take care of.

Before they even reached the border of the forest, sounds and smells from the cabin reached them and they calculated everything from that information alone. They could smell the gas stove being used and the hamburger being pressed into the pan. They could hear the sounds of the two flying freaks in the front yard with their dog. The conversation was boring at that, so they thought.

From the information they got without even seeing the cabin, they headed back toward the van to report their findings. The more information they got, the sooner they hoped to go on with the mission. Their bodies ached and yearned to do some action, to fight, to give chase, and to hear the screams of their victims.

After all, it was what they were raised to do, and they were best at what they did.