A/N - I've decded to make the series much darker starting from the end of this chapter, and to do this I've decided to kill someone off and shatter a few character's sanity. So if you don't like that kind of thing don't read on. If you are reading on then don't forget to review. 20 redemption points for a review, I'm getting desperate here. Please will someone new read my story please!

Disclaimer - After a sudden change of fortune I managed to buy the rights to Maximum Ride off James Patterson. Being the person I am I put it on Ebay, but I'm sure no-one will want to buy it. Oh, someone's clicked the buy now button. I no longer own Maximum Ride, James Patterson bought it back.

Rogue Mantis Chapter 11

Max's POV

So this it, we're going to die. Normally I prefer being optimistic in these situations, but in this case I honestly can't see a way out. None of us can use our powers, well, we can't use the useful ones, Iggy can still feel colours but that's not particularly good for breaking out of prisons. I think one of Experiment 234's neurotic friends is getting to me, she's constantly telling everyone how we should commit suicide and save ourselves the wait. They aren't being particularly useful, one of them is bemoaning the loss of 'Mr head-basher' whoever heck that is, one keeps on trying to run through the walls and the other two are sitting on the floor, drinking tea. I don't know what he's taught them, but it isn't at all useful. So we'll just sit here, awaiting our death. Well, the others are awaiting death, that thought isn't exactly comforting though. I'm sure that traitor would be comforted no end by the fact that he's not going to die. I wonder what's worse, death or imprisonment for life? The suspense is killing me.

About 2 hours later, the doors swept open and a bunch of the new guards showed up. Every time I see them they look different, hooray, 'bots that keep changing. I'll call them change-bots; I could be more imaginative but the looming prospect of death kinda makes you prioritize survival over humour.

"The anomalies to be executed will follow." Barked head change-bot, everyone jumped to their feet but naturally made no move to go with them.

"And why do you think we will follow you?" I asked it, seriously, that's one thing they haven't learnt, we don't like getting killed.

"You will follow or else we will use force." No-one moved, the 'bots seemed confused by this. Itex never programmed their 'bots to understand rebellion. After about five minutes of waiting the change-bots stamped forward and grabbed Iggy and Nudge. Then all hell broke loose, the moment the 'bot grabbed Iggy, it burst into flames. I am not joking, it went up in smoke. Everyone was stunned, heck I was stunned, what did Iggy do? Confused by the sudden demise of one of their friends, the 'bots just stood there; at least until Iggy snapped his fingers and they caught fire too. So we ended up standing in front of a twisted pile of metal. The only people who weren't standing in a state of shock were Iggy and one of Experiment 234's crew.

"You're pyrokinetic." She stated, gazing at Iggy in awe.

"Pyro what?" Gazzy asked looking confused.

"Haven't you watched 'Firestarter'?" She sniffed, glancing around seeing our looks of utter confusion. "He can start and control fire." She explained like she was talking to idiots.

"Control fire? Awesome!" Cackled Gazzy, everyone else just stepped away from Iggy warily; we all knew he was a pyromaniac. His new power fit but probably wasn't sensible.

"Guys are we going to leave or just wait here for some more guards to show up?" I asked breaking the uneasy atmosphere, giving Iggy the ability to start fires might be worrying but without we'd be six feet under. Since no-one argued, I led the way and hopefully we were headed towards the exit. I just hope that they don't know we're escaping.

Experiment 234's POV

Alarm bells started ringing; I was just testing out my new arm and fixing my knives when it went off. I've been trained to not panic when alarms go off, no one else was either. That's what I like, efficiency, everyone calm and organised, not like the chaos of the flock. It's a good thing they're being executed. Oh great, that's just brilliant, I thought Itex had cleaned up their act. I just remembered escaping with the flock and team. There's going to be hell to pay, Ter Borcht had assured me that the execution would not fail, I was looking forward to the demise of the banes of my existence for the past month. I knew that if anyone was going to be able to stop them from escaping, I was. Once Itex started failing they would inevitably continue down the slippery slope. Sheathing my knives I stalked off to find Ter Borcht.

Max's POV

Alarms started ringing before we'd gone 10 feet.

"Run for it!" I called back to the group as I broke into a sprint. Dashing through corridors, doors flashing past as we ran turning corners at random, left, right, left again. We had no idea of how to get out. We just ran aimlessly, but we didn't meet a single guard, maybe they were on lunch break, I don't care so long as they're not killing me. I barrelled down a corridor, until I saw something that brought me to a halt, the others crashing into me. Experiment 234 was standing in the middle of the corridor; there was no way to get past him, typical, to come so far only to get cut down by Mr Psycho.

Experiment 234's POV

They were ridiculously predictable; I'd been standing there for about ten minutes before they showed up. I wasn't about to take on all eleven of them, especially with Iggy's new fire-starting powers.

"My quarrel is with Max, therefore I propose this. I fight Max, one on one, hand to hand, if I win you all get executed, if you win, I'll let you go free and have your weapons back. If you refuse my offer, you will all die." I placed my ultimatum before them.

"And why should we trust you?" Asked Dylan warily.

"Because if I'm not honest, I'm nothing."

"It's fine guys, I've got this." Max told them waving for them to keep back.

"Fine, if anyone tries to intervene, you all die." I had spent ages coming up with my challenge; I thought it was quite good. I'd fought Max before, both times I'd been at a disadvantage but now, I knew exactly how she fights and can predict her next move. And I have a mechanical arm which should make up the difference in strength between us. She lunged at me before I was ready, not that it made much difference. I effortlessly dodged her roundhouse kick and threw a right jab which connected with her jaw. The next minute was just me battering Max with a flurry of punches until she smashed me in the face and I felt my nose break. I stepped back to assess my condition, minor bruising and a broken nose, Max was looking much worse, I'd managed to black her eye and probably broken a few of her ribs as well. She snapped an uppercut that whipped my head back followed by a kick my kidney that sent me flying backwards, I hate being lighter than Max. In fact even Angel could probably pick me up and throw me across the room without difficulty. As I got up she launched a spinning kick that smashed me against the wall, I knew when I was beaten, besides I wanted her to beat me, I have a far worse way of exacting revenge.

"You win Max, here're your weapons, the exit's down this corridor and then on the second right." I told them handing back the weapons.

"Aren't you coming with us?" Lucy asked

"Why would I go with you? I am re-employed here, but this won't be our last meeting. Oh and Max, you might want to get to Arizona, Jeb's dead and they're going for your mom next." They ran out of there pretty quick after I told Max that her mom was next on the list. I walked back to the interrogation room where Dr Martinez was strapped to a chair.

"Now then Dr, tell me about Ella."

Max's POV

About 2500 miles southwest

"Mom? Mom!" We'd flown as fast as possible, Experiment 234's team had tagged along, they said they owed us for helping them get out of the institute. We'd reached my mom's house in record time, whatever his other faults and believe me he has a lot, Experiment 234 does not lie. I burst through the door and ran into the living room and you will not believe what I saw. Experiment 234 was standing there, with Ella and his knife at Ella's throat.

"What are you doing here?" I spat with such venom he almost flinched

"Like I said Max, my quarrel is with you and this is the best way to settle it. Oh and if any of you move, little miss Martinez here is going give the room a lovely new colour scheme."

"Let my sister go, I thought you said that my mom was next on the list." I told him through gritted teeth

"And she was when I told you, unfortunately the moment you left she was moved off the list and your sister took prime position." He was smirking at my obvious distress. "Sorry about this Ella, it's nothing personal, if the idea that you were used as part of a greater plan isn't comforting, blame it on your sister." And he slit Ella's throat.