A/N: This is a bit short, but important, in a weird, non-action kind of way...

Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride; James Patterson does.

Claimer: I claim the plot and the words as mine! Mwahahaha.

Chapter 11

"Max?"

"Hey, Angel." Happy for the distraction, I asked, "What's up?"

"Why's Fang so scared?"

I blinked. There had to be something wrong with my hearing.

"What?" I asked.

"Fang's scared. What's going on?" She sounded scared herself.

I just gaped for a moment before finally recovering my voice. "I think he's probably just worried, hon."

She cocked her head thoughtfully, then said, "Both."

The implications of this gossip dawned on me. And Angel should not have been reading his mind…but I wanted so much to know just what could scare Fang.

She giggled. "You, of course."

Huh? I didn't scare Fang—he seemed to take particular pleasure in defying me, actually.

Reluctantly, I made myself say, "Angel, thanks for telling me, but there's nothing to worry about. And try to stay out of other people's thoughts, okay?" I smiled at her to show I wasn't angry.

She nodded and smiled, reassured, then swooped off to mess with the iPod.

There was a pause, then my Voice said, Sometimes you surprise me.

Glad to hear it, I thought sourly. I already regretted not asking her for more information on his mind. Stupid morals…

I sighed, fighting the urge to go back and throttle that boy.

I…well, okay, I hated that dead look to his eyes. I seriously doubted I could scare him, but he sure scared the living daylights out of me. At least, he did when he looked like that. And when he was seriously pissed, like whenever Ari came within sight.

Fear is a weakness.

I chose to ignore my built-in philosopher, but something about that phrase made me think I was missing something. Fang…scared…weakness…hate…pain…Flock…hurt…fear…It was like that word association game, but I couldn't figure out what tied them all together.

About an hour later, nothing bad had happened. Everyone gasp! It must be a new record (Anne's house exempted, of course.)

School…dead…threat…fear…Voice…world…family…

We stopped for lunch and gave our wings a break, then launched back into the air. Still nothing horrible. Assuming you don't count Fang becoming a mute bad.

Save…Fang…fear…fate…hate…destiny…

It clicked.

You've surprised me again, my Voice said dryly. I barely noticed it.

It all came full circle­—the threat, Fang, me, Itex, the Institute; even smaller pieces, like my brain attacks and the Martinez's…

They all tied together quite neatly into one demand: save the world.

It could end. All of it. No more threats, no more Itex, no more Voice…Basically, I'd get freedom. Just one yes-or-no decision; that's all it would take.

Which was what worried me so much. It was too easy.

I've told you, Maximum, all you have to do is exist. Go with the flow. Don't fight it.

I've spent my entire life fighting, I spat.

Don't fight your destiny.

I made some sort of growling/grumbling noise in the back of my throat. Worthless fortune-cookie.

But I glanced over my shoulder anyway, watching my Flock. Iggy was flying steady, while Gasman darted around him like some sort of bug, chatting eagerly. I probably didn't want to know what about. Nudge and Angel were side-by-side, serene compared to the two boys. And Fang…

He flew above us, the most isolated. Which was exactly what he wanted. I couldn't see his expression from below, but his arms were crossed, fists clenched.

I sighed and gazed ahead, all blue sky and greenish horizon. Something was hardening in me, steadily congealing. A determination, I thought. No…a decision.

About five minutes later, I had decided.

I had freaking decided. Final. Set in stone. I was going to do it, and I was going to do it now. Screw caution and logic. Heck, all traces of logic had fled the moment Angel put 'Fang' and 'scared' in the same sentence.

'He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words,' quoted the Voice.

What the hell does that—oh, never mind. I had bigger fish to fry.

Like saving the world.

Dragonology's Dictionary: "I'm tired of avoiding her, so I will meet my Destiny…I just don't think we're fated to get along very well." –Anonymous

Another Completely Pointless Author's Note: The Voice's quote was said by Elbert Hubbard.