Wow, look how long this is enjoy ;)

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He screamed for endless hours each of wave pain blotting out the voices of the ones he loved. "Forget them." Cole's voice echoed from far way.

Lights and sound was pierced together forming a picture, till it became a person. The words barely whizzed through his lips and noise scarcely vibrated from his voice box. Although dry, he still attempts to lick his lips with his arid tongue.

"Max?"

"What don't you just leave?" He watched the girl with Max's voice through bleary eyes. So that was Max, he let his eyelids close. For years it nagged on him on the flocks appearances. Only once had he seem them, but that's when he was very young. Sometimes he would forget, and their faces would get distorted.

Not this time. He willed his eyes open watching the tape being played again and again of that horrible and last moment. He tried mesmerizing her sandy and creamy streaked hair, and deep jeweled eyes. Her freckled face and the brown and white speckled wings that emerged from her back.

The projector shifted to a different scene, an image of a boy with olive-toned skin and raven-locks. "Watch it!" Fang rolled his eyes at the comment; again the projector went to a different image. An image of Nudge with her chocolate skin and even darker chocolate curly hair, pictures of the flock soon followed after. Gassy and Angel were almost identical the only difference was Gassy's cow-lick hair and Angel's curly locks.

Tears welled up in his eyes after so many years, he finally witness their true face not through touch of his hand and fingers. Then, the projector turned off, a black wall in front of him. A sharp electrical shock went through his entire, slender frame. His head snapped backwards as if he was hit in the jaw, and eliciting scream escaped his lips.

Images of the flocks rapidly flooded through his mind, and with another wave of pain they vanished. Although his mind went blank, his family no longer seared into his brain the stings of electricity did not cease. His body went into spasms with each jolt of pain.

Cole took a long drag of his cigarette. He knew it was cruel to reveal the images of his family, or his bonds. Then, take them all way, but he wanted to be thorough. Those bonds were severed.

-+-

The first specks of light were peaking along the horizon. Fang took the last watch, usually it was Iggy who took the last watch, but due to his absence Fang gladly took a double shift. The light showed on his dark face, revealing sharp features and his bangs pronouncing his cheek bones. This would be the time; he would be waking just waking up with a smile on his face.

The two boys would speak quietly to another brother to brother. It was one of the few times Iggy's ever admitted his burden to anyone. He has yet to tell Max, but mornings like these were he and his brother could just talk.

Someone yawned, their back cracking as they stretched. Max gazed around the flock before meeting Fang's eyes. They've made it through another night, but they could see the worry in each other's eyes. Their brother has been missing for more than day; the results could not be good.

Max broke the connection first, standing and wiping her dirtied hands on her jeans. "C'mon everyone get up!" The flock instantly gathered themselves off the ground. Gassy blinked for a moment; before he jumped to his feet he swayed a little his body not entirely awake yet. Angel yawned offering Max a smile, Total remained asleep, mumbling, "Five more minutes."

Nudge however was still asleep, "c'mon Nudge." Max gently shook her shoulders; with a groan Nudge was rubbing her sleepy eyes. Someone's stomach rumbled. Gassy smiled sheepishly, "sorry, hungry."

They were all hungry, but Iggy came first. A calloused hand came down on her shoulder, "we're no good to him, if we're fighting on an empty stomach." Fang's eyes were clouded, uncertain of the outcome. He wanted just as badly to skip breakfast and save their brother. Only their stomachs were winner the fight.

Max sighed, not liking the idea. Putting off a couple hours maybe a day was bad enough. In the end, she nodded.

They were in the air, flying high above treetops. With their raptor vision, a town became visible in the distance. "Oh, there," Nudge pointed, "Can we get the deluxe meal or how about a juicy steak burger, could I get one of those Max?"

Max rolled her eyes, "I just want to eat and go," Gassy mumbled forlornly. "Can we get doggie bag?" Total barked from Angel's arms.

"I think Gassy has the right idea," Fang said.

"I do?" Gassy looked at him sideways.

"Eat and go," Fang explained. Max nodded, mentally kicking herself for not thinking it first. "Then, we can get Iggy faster," Angel beamed.

Time is of the essence, Max groaned. Of all times to talk now, the Voice had to chip in. She didn't even bother asking what it meant, knowing that it wouldn't answer.

Oh thanks, Voice, You're so helpful, Max sarcastically snapped. In a reply, the voice said, time is of the essence. With a roll of her eyes, she saw Fang watching her.

He tapped his temple, indicating the Voice. She nodded, "what's it telling you now?"

She shrugged, "something about how time is of the essence, what could that possibly mean?"

Fang pretended to think for a moment, holding his chin with his hand. When he was through, he just tapped his temple and smiled, "maybe it's the time of the month."

Max playfully slapped him, "ha-ha, you're so funny."

Fang beamed. "Yeah, I hear chicks dig that, humor." Max rolled her eyes, he could never be serious with her only in a fight or problem. How could he joke at a time like this?

"Hey, Max?" Gassy drifted beside her. She managed to tear her penetrating gaze away from Fang, soften her eyes at the blonde. "Yeah, Gaz."

"What's that?" The kid's been staring straight in front of him the whole time. His eyes locked on something. "Looks like smoke."

Max's raptor eyes followed his in the distance smoke was bellowing from the small town. That's when the explosion went off.

-+-

The Cole made sure the boy was comfortably surrounded by pillows when they were through 'cleansing' him. Ridding him of those ties he held tightly towards his family. He was certain that was the problem. The weighed him down, held him back, now that he has removed unnecessary equipment for his weapon, he was ready to test it out. He made sure the boy still had emotions, talking to a zombie would be meaningless. He liked to converse and brainstorm ideas for the next plan to action, two minds were better than one.

He tried his best not smoke near the boy, he knew it irritated him. And he would have to work on an equal level if the boy was going to be cooperative. His clothes were replaced with new ones. Sweaty and blood matted, was something he didn't want to the see his weapon dirtied. He wore a simple faded jeans and grey t-shirt that fits closely to his body frame.

The boy was slender, but unpleasantly thin. Cole would make sure to feed him soon before their first test. And his hair was in need of a cut as well. There was eye movement behind the eyelids, making Cole pause. The boy's eye lids fluttered open, knowing he only saw a blurry world rather than a dark one.

"You okay?" Cole's voice was as gentle as snow falling, but just as dangerous that could quickly change into an icy chill. Iggy nodded, and swallowed. "Here," A straw was brought to his dry, cracked lips. He drank it, till it was gone.

Cole set the drink on the stand beside the bed. He brushed the boy's strawberry hair out of his eyes, and dared to ask another question. "May I ask you something?"

Iggy raised an eyebrow, he expected the man to go right on ahead and ask anyway, whether he had a choice or not but he nodded, "anything." His voice was thick and raw.

"What are your feelings for your family?"

The boy furrowed his brow, "I have many feelings for them", he answered.

Cole frowned, his eyebrows a deep 'V', "Okay," he tried calmly, "What do you feel for the girl Max?"

"Abandonment". Cole nodded, it was better than the last answers. He continued, he grabbed a clipboard to the side of him and read over the notes.

"And the dark boy, Fang?"

"Betrayal".

"How about the girl Nudge or…Angel?"

Iggy shrugged, "neither this nor that."

Cole gulped, so far so good. These answers were even better than he hoped; he felt some resentment for his family although he preferred the boy to have no attachment whatsoever. This will have to do. "And the small, boy Gassy?"

"Who?" Cole sighed at least one of them was severed from his mind; he just nodded again setting the clip board off to the side. He crossed his legs with hands clasped over his knees.

"And, Ignatius what do you feel for me?"

"For you?"

"Yes, what are feeling towards me?"

The room went silent, his eyes roaming over the room from the ceiling to the wall. Then, he furrowed his brow in confusion. What did he feel from this man? It was more than one emotion, more than one feeling.

"Acceptance."

Cole stood up, pleased once more. He grasped the boys shoulder, "good, now let-."

"friendship, loved…Father," Iggy was going one, but he felt Cole stiffen. "Supportive, umm you still stink though." Cole wasn't really listening after the word, 'Father'. That last bit made his cold heart break with happiness. Things were going so well. Everything was going to plan, now to put it into affect. "Enough, Ignatius."

Ignatius was silent. "You've said enough, now come. I have something I wish to share with you."

It took no effort for Iggy to get out of bed. He swung his legs over the bed, as if he hasn't been shocked over and over again. Like it didn't happened, because Cole made sure the boy didn't remember that either. Just in case he wanted to rebel.

"Come, it's time for your final test".

He placed his arm around the boy's shoulder, something black caught his eyes. The boy's expiration date was soon.

-+-

"NO!" Cole's fist came down hard on the equipment before him. The boy failed every test, what was with him? Was he lazy, just plain stupid? No, it was eyesight without he was useless. He seen the boy in hand-to-hand combat with several Erasers and robots, but the boy could not accomplish a simple obstacle course. He hoped the boy wouldn't need to see to overcome it.

He didn't want to resort to this. It wasn't his method, beating his children. But he was out of options. "Jebidiah!" He called the white coat, tears were threatening to pool over his eyes. He remembers when Iggy didn't have to go through this repeatedly, he hate seeing this child getting torture again and again.

"Yes."

"Fetch the boy; see to it that he understands what it means to fail." He ripped a cigarette pack out his pocket, lighting it and inhaling deeply. "Contact me when he understands it." He stalked out of the room, without waiting for a reply.

Jeb nodded anyway, looking at the beaten boy now unconscious. Blood trickled from the corners of his mouth, and several bruises marred his neck. He exited from the room and went inside the testing room. Carefully, he picked up the limp boy in his arms. His head lolling to the side, with a sigh Jeb set the boy carefully on a nearby stretcher . To the best of his ability, he cleaned of the wounds then reeled him away.

Once, he was the room Cole specified, he took Iggy into his arms and tossed the boy in. He was in for a rude awakening. Reflecting eyes and dripping fangs stared at the morsel with blood lust in their eyes.

-+-

They tore into him, beaten him senseless.

"Look at the cute little birdie." One growled, others laughed. Iggy gasped, curling into a fetal position. "Come HERE!" One grabbed his leg, something heavy slammed on his kneecap.

Crack

He screamed, in agony. Hairy claws went around his mouth silencing him, digging into his cheek. He desperately tried to move his leg, he feared it broken. Another claw went for his arm turning him over flat on his back, before a kick sent him flying across the room.

An Eraser caught him shoving him into another Eraser who grabbed his wrist, and twisted it. "Agh!" Again, he screamed his chest heaving.

Where was he? Where is he?

"Father!" He was calling out his name, but he knew couldn't be heard. He himself couldn't even think straight. The Erasers were so loud! Their musty breath suffocating him and their laughs scalding out his own senses, till he had nothing left.

"Ooh what this?" A claw raked over one of his wings.

"It's very nice, too bad I don't have one."

"Guess you were pretty special to get something like that." Another one went for his wings, but instead took a handful of his feathers and ripped them out!

He screamed once more, an ear-splitting scream muffled as another hairy claw wrapped around his face.

"N-n-no, I'm not special." Iggy mumbled uselessly.

"Shut up!" A fist collided with his cheek, his head whipped sharply to the right. "Let's play, huh birdie wanna play?" A claw dangled in front of his face, before it raked over his cheek in a gentle caress. Two hands held him restrained, arms behind his back. His chest was heaving in freight, it was coming closer. Those daggers, which would sink into his flesh and end it.

"Now let's play." And the Erasers gathered in.

-+-

"It could be yours", one them whispered. The blind avian boy looks from one member to the next. Although, he really isn't looking, he's hearing their voices. Listening for each syllable, for each vowel, and for each consonant that rolled of their tongues. Their words were important to him, they were the key whether he would live or die.

There he sat in the middle of a room, with one light shining down on the small yet tall bird boy. He blinked once, his eyes somewhat fuzzy. "We only gave half of what you can really have". Another one of their voices bounced off the walls, rebounding into his ear canal.

Every part of him ached. They tortured him, beaten him, even threatened him to no end. His hands were bounded behind his back that his arms ached in protest. His wings that were stretched then teased with as if he was some puppet, hung limp off his back. No longer could he feel his legs, they've been broken long ago. Thus, his inability to fly out of this wretched place. And when he thought all hope was lost, they gave a small spark of it. A small spark that now resides in the dark reaches of his pupils, which allowed him a vision that was slightly fuzzy, if not entirely grey.

"Do you not want it? We've gave a portion of your eyesight, if you succeed in your tests than you shall have it."

He wanted it, didn't he? But something's changed he realized he wanted something more. He wanted to please the one man that took care of him, who was still taking care of him. And if that meant doing whatever he damned near pleased to him, then he didn't care.

He raised his heavy head and nodded.

-+-

Perfection.

It was a perfection of sight to him. Everything was so brilliant, so beautifully curved and shaped and colored. This world was truly amazing. He ran his hands over things again and again. He studied the video game for long hours on end after his surgery.

When they took him under, Cole added that his wounds be treated as well. And once the bandages were off, everything was bright. The fluorescent lights stun his eyes and he was afraid he loose them again. Quickly, shielding his eyes with his hands from the wicked light.

However, a cool hand rested over his, gently prying them away from his face. Revealing a beautiful and marvelous world, all thanks to the man beside him. A man who wouldn't leave him, who would stand beside him like a brother, maybe a father. In return, Iggy would do whatever the man asked him to do.

He would do anything for him.

So after an hour or two, Cole let the boy enjoy himself for a little awhile before he expired. But first, he wanted to test his weapon before the actual plan began. And marvelously Iggy passed with flying colors, Cole were overjoyed taking the boy in comforting, and warming embrace.

Iggy was surprised to even receive a kiss on the top of his head. With his hand on the small of his back, Cole dragged him to the equipment room. "Here, is everything we need to construct whatever explosive your heart desires."

Iggy's heart swelled; there were so many wires, TNT, wicks and much, much more. He could make the perfect weapon, "thank you." He mumbled feebly. Cole slapped the boy's back, leading him to a work table. They spent long hours working on the wickedest explosive he could create. It was even more special that Cole was working alongside him, who seemed interested personally into the boy.

After awhile, Iggy yawned, it must be getting late. "So what's this for?" He asked innocently. Cole was silent, staring at the boy for a moment. The boy could feel the icy glare on his face; the hairs on the back of his neck were rising. "Sorry," he mumbled, "not my business."

Cole stood, walking away from the table with hands clasped behind his back. "If we are to work together, they're must be no secrets, isn't that right Ignatius?"

Iggy gulped, the screwdriver poised over the bomb. He was unsure of how to answer, "Right." It sounded more like a question.

"Then, I will tell you Ignatius."

With that, Iggy's eyes got wider with each sentence that spilled from his mouth. But if it was what he wanted, then Cole would have it. "So do you see, my boy the importance of this. We need to do this." He squeezed the boy's shoulder when he said, 'need'.

"Yes, I do understand." He resumed working on the device in his hand when he was finished Cole inspected it for any malfunctions. The boy crafted a perfect masterpiece.

"Perfect." He whispered,

Iggy smiled, "thank you."

"Let's try this bad boy out." They tested they bomb on the closest nearby city.

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Please review, this is extra long anyway. Anyway, thanks for reading. ;)