A/N: Pet peeve of mine, since – well since yesterday. Don't get me wrong people, I'm totally flattered that you'd add me to your favourite stories list, but if you're going to, or if you've read it and you like it, please take the time to review. It means a lot. Alternatively if you hate it, feel free to flame. I'm totally open to criticism or suggestions to make it better. Just write something! (Also a big hug goes out to all my reviewers. Thank you!!)

After collecting Iggy from the prom – he'd already dropped Ella off, so we avoided that bomb shell- we raced back to our house.

Every part of me burned to go into hyper speed, so I could get to the house faster. The thought of those things touching Gazzy, Nudge, or god forbid Angel... I tried not to think about it. They could fend for themselves, they always had. And it would be stupid to split up right now, when we didn't know what the situation was. Even so I couldn't help worrying. I would not let my family be broken up again.

Rationally I had nothing to worry about. Well aside from giant metal monsters taking over the world. But who really cares about that anyway?

The house had top of the line defence. Bombs (courtesy of our handy-dandy pyros) where rigged all over the area to warn about approached enemies and to head them off. It was also practically invisible from the air, and was loaded with different kinds of weapons. What can I say? I'm paranoid. But wake up more than once with duct tape over your mouth and trust me, it won't sound so weird.

We arrived at the house, which was miraculously in one piece, and not even slightly charred.

Well bonus.

As soon as we touched down Nudge came running out of the house. 'Ohmygoddddd how was it??' she beamed at us. She should be asleep by now – it was practically midnight. Then again waking up Nudge once she was asleep was a task that I didn't have time for. It required at least a solid hour for thought process and some coffee.

Nudge, coffee. Coffee, Nudge.

If you're not frightened right now, then you have some scary things in your lifetime.

Nudge's big brown eyes searched ours, and she frowned. No doubt wondering if I had fallen and collapsed the DJ stand. Ah, if only it were that simple.

Angel came running out of the house next, followed by a sleep zombie-fied Gasman.

'Max!' she cried and threw herself into my arms. I held her tight and stroked her hair. Angel was one tough physic cookie, but having this happen after two years of near normalcy – it hurt.

'Wasgonninon?' mumbled Gazzy, his blue eyes widening as he took in Angel. Tired or not, he knew it took a lot to freak his sister out. I couldn't bear to tell him. I looked at Fang.



'We're back on the radar,' he said bluntly. His face showed no emotion, but his tone held a different story.

'Oh no!' cried Nudge, despair colouring her voice. I felt my heart break. This could not be happening again.

'Well not necessarily,' came Iggy's voice from behind me.

We all turned to look at him in surprise.

'Well I mean, yes there are giant unidentified metal things flying through the sky-'

'WHAT?' exclaimed Nudge

'-but who says they're coming for us?'

Fang snorted in disbelief and I smiled sadly at Iggy. 'Ig, they are always coming for us.'

'But why!' he cried in frustration. 'They're gone, dead, done with. We're through with this!'

And I wanted him to be right. So badly. But years of being on the run had taught me better. There is always another option. A nicer one, a better one. Personally, I like that option. But so far? It hasn't held up so well.

'Ok so let's just think about this-' I began.

'IS SOMEBODY GOING TO BOTHER EXPLAINING WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!' yelled Gazzy, now that he was awake.

'Yeah!' added Nudge, 'we're not all mind readers here!'

Iggy cracked a smile and I relaxed, glad to have at least a little reality in the unreal situation.

When we were done explaining Nudge and Gazzy sat, wide eyed, staring at us.

'How many ?'

'We're not sure, but at least fifty,' said Fang grimly.

'Fifty?' Nudge said weakly.

'What do they look like again?' Gassy asked, his brow furrowed.

'Think junk yard gone wrong,' I told him. 'Sort of a mangle of different parts put together with eyes. They're getting sloppy.'

'Cool...' muttered the Gasman, and I could tell he was picturing what kind of contraption he could turn them into. Maybe it's a guy thing...



'They'd be a lot cooler on a movie screen,' muttered Nudge, and I completely agreed with her.

'So, does this mean we leave?' asked Angel sadly.

I opened my mouth to answer, but Fang beat me to it. 'I don't see why.'

I stared at him. 'You mean apart from the things trying to find us and kill us right? Cause those are just minor details.'

He shrugged, 'I don't see the point in moving until we absolutely have to. This place is well armed, its a good a place to stay as any.'

'Yah, but they know where it is,' put in Iggy, saying the very thing that was on my mind.

'Exactly.'

And number 13 on the list of why Fang's mind is slowly rotting from the inside...

'No, see we can use that to our advantage,' he started, when he saw the look we were all giving him. 'We're going to have to face them eventually, if they are looking for us, so we might as well be prepared right?'

I nodded slowly, he had a point.

'And we might be able to find out some information about them. Namely who sent them and what they want.'

'We know who sent them,' said Angel quietly.

We all fell silent. The School. The place of our not so warm and fuzzy child hood memories. The reason why we couldn't stand white rooms, people in lab coats, and why we could never enter Pet Planet without wanting to scream. If we got sent back there... No. We wouldn't. We couldn't. I would not let them near my flock again. Never again.

'Does this mean we get to make more bombs?' piped us Gazzy excitedly.

We all laughed, and it felt good to shake off the dread and think about something else for awhile.

'Yes Gazzy, you can make lots and LOTS of bombs.'

He and Gazzy ran to get their bomb kit from where I had hidden it my room. I didn't want to know how they knew where it was – with those too it was better not to ask.

I looked over and caught Fang's eye. It was back to work. Stay alive – save the world.