"YAAAAAAAY!"

The Gasman was hanging out of the side of our jeep, acting like a total idiot. Our jeep was part of a small convoy that sped along at a brisk pace on the dirt trail that cut through the heart of Diego Garcia. I sat next to Angel, who was holding Total. "It's so pretty." Angel said, taking in all the tropical flowers and green, rainforesty vegetation.

"For once we're not stuck in some godforsaken hole. I could hang here anytime," Total sighed dreamily, no doubt imagining pina coladas with little striped umbrellas stuck in them, hot girl dogs lying on beach towels, and ocean breezes. I hated to rain on his parade, but that's just not how our lives seem to ever work out.

I glanced at the jeep behind us. I saw Fang wedged between Iggy and Nudge, looking moody. I looked away and sighed, trying to forget the morning's events.

"Sit down! I mean, you can fly and all, but chill," Lennox ordered Gazzy. He was the one driving us around on a wunnerful tour of the island.

"So we're not supposed to fly around here? I heard one of the brass fussing about my little stunt earlier," I called to Lennox.

He nodded. "It's too risky. The last thing we need is for the wrong set of eyes to see you. Or worse, Decepticon optics."

"I see you have improved your vocabulary," A deep, mechanical voice growled. I nearly jumped straight up. A motorcycle came up beside us, matching the jeep's speed.

"Oh. Max, this is Knockout. Autobot, duh," Lennox gestured at the bike. "How's it goin', Knockout?"

"Very well. I am interested in the children. I have never seen humans like them," Knockout said, rounding a turn with us.

I scowled. "We're actually only 98% human. The other 2% is bird DNA."

Gazzy was staring at Knockout, goggle-eyed. "Can I ride him? Pleeeeease?"

Before I could say "heck no", Knockout answered for me. "Yes, you may, as long as you do not, DO NOT, scuff my chrome."

"Cool!" Gazzy jumped out of his seat and landed perfectly on the bike seat. He grabbed the handlebars and grinned wickedly. "Awesome," he breathed.

I watched as Knockout sped on ahead, the Gasman clinging to him. "How many other Autobots are there anyway?" I asked.

"More every week. They come to Earth to join up with Prime and the rest so they can regroup against the Decepticons. Some of them haven't seen each other in thousands of years," Lennox told me.

"Huh." I raised my eyebrows. "Long time no see, for real."

"The Autobots are wholly inorganic beings, but they understand our human thought processes and actions very well. We have civil wars, they have civil wars. Besides fighting Decepticons, the Autobots are proficient at giving advice. Very helpful advice," Lennox told me.

"They should make Optimus president," Angel piped up.

"He's not a natural citizen. Born, or whatever, on a whole different planet and all," I answered her. She scowled, disappointed.

"I wonder if we're even natural citizens. Us being genetically-altered mutants and all," Iggy called over, having heard my statement. Raptor-perfect hearing is but one of our many fun characteristics.

I thought on that. "Having presidential aspirations, Ig?"

"Might as well. I could do a better job than the people who run our government any day," Iggy retorted. I saw Lennox grin slightly.

I pictured Iggy in a suit, addressing Washington politicians. It made me want to have a stroke.

We made a pit stop at the beach. It was a secure area inside a lagoon, sheltered from prying eyes. Gazzy was already there. He had stripped off his shirt and plunged into the clear water, wings and all. Knockout was in bipedal form. I personally thought he looked… well, dangerous, even for an Autobot.

"Last one in's a rotten mutant egg!" Nudge hollered, running as fast as she could toward the water. Iggy scrambled after her. Fang stayed in the jeep, stone-faced.

"Come on, Max. I want to show the Army men my skill!" Angel said, tugging at my sleeve. I hopped out of the jeep and ran with Angel. We splashed into the warm water and a splash war instantly started.

Fang climbed out of the jeep and walked by himself down the beach, away from us. I watched him out of the corner of my eye, wondering what he was gonna do. He took off his shirt and I couldn't help but notice that his lanky form had taken on some musculature. Make that a LOT of musculature. He spread his dark wings and let the breeze run through and over his feathers, staring pensively out at the endless stretch of ocean. What I wouldn't give to know what goes on in that male brain of his…

"Max."

I looked down. Angel was giving me a small smile. "He just needs to be alone for now. He's kind of confused about some stuff."

"I know." I rolled my eyes, then brightened. "Hey, show them your skill!" I turned to Lennox and Epps, who were standing by the jeep. "Hey, check this out!" I yelled, pointing at Angel.

She went under. Minutes passed. I could see the men's smiles vanishing to be replaced by concern, then fear. "What's going on?" Epps demanded, jogging toward the water. "Is she okay?"

"Here I am!" Angel called, having surfaced after a whopping seven minutes underwater. "I can breathe underwater like a fish," she told the men.

Lennox and Epps exchanged an incredulous glance. "I guess seeing is believing after all. You told us that back when the brass were questioning you, but… wow," Lennox admitted.

I waddled out of the water, flicking my wings to let the moisture roll off. "Yeah, and y'know what else? She can talk to fish too."

"Didn't hear you mention that," Epps muttered.

A series of swift thuds made me turn around. Knockout was approaching the water, still bipedal. He stopped short and peered at me. I cocked an eyebrow. "You must be Maximum Ride," He growled.

"Yep. Wings and all," I said pleasantly. "What, do I disappoint?"

"No. I am simply interested in your genetic makeup and abilities. Your personality is rather engaging as well. We could not converse during the drive, so I wish to do so now," Knockout rumbled. Then his head turned sharply and his eyes flashed. "Oh no," he muttered. He sounded upset.

"What? What is it?" I demanded, looking all around. No Flyboys, no Decepticreeps, no Erasers.

"Them," Knockout groaned.

I heard a loud roar and almost took off. Then I saw the two compact cars speeding down the beach toward us. Lennox saw them and sighed. "The Twins," he said, jerking a thumb in their direction. "Knew you'd have to meet them eventually."

"What? Are they dangerous? Do they dislike birds?" I asked, nervous.

"Uh, well…" Epps looked half amused, half nervous. "Depends on your definition of dangerous."

I almost yelled in alarm as the compact cars hurtled toward us, not slowing down one bit. (Note: I almost yelled, not screamed. Wussy pussies scream. Not teenaged mutant avian hybrids). My yell died in my throat as I watched both cars change shape and gracefully leap over us. Lennox and Epps watched with wry grins. The Flock stopped all activities and stared. Gazzy let out a heartfelt "Coooooool."

Then…

Then Twin 1 landed on top of Twin 2, who let out an indignant howl.

"Whaddya think you doin', ya friggin' meathead?" Twin 2 demanded, shoving his "brother" off.

"Thith ith your fault, thtupid," Twin 1 shot back, rolling neatly. He hopped to his feet and kicked his counterpart in the face. "I wath gonna impreth 'em with my acrobatic thkills! An' you methed it up!"

"Yo face is messed up," Declared Twin 2.

"Tho's yours, geniuth. Twinth?" Twin 1 waved his arms emphatically.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Break it up, guys," Epps approached the pair, who immediately quieted down and swiveled their heads to look at him. I noticed they were shorter than the other Autobots and… maybe, if I guess right, a lot younger?

"Flock, meet Mudflap and Skids. Mudflap, Skids, meet the Flock. Optimus briefed you about them, I presume?"

"Sho' did," Skids replied.

"Wingth, huh? Thweet." Mudflap studied us, no doubt scanning us through and through with his odd blue eyes. "Wish we had wingth."

"You'd be the freakinest lookin' thing this side o' the universe, bro," Skids stated.

"Like you'd look any better?" Mudflap retorted.

"Hey. Save the banter for later," Epps shook his head. He was about to say something else, but then his pocket radio went off. He clicked it on, listened intently to something important, then clicked it off and put it back in his pocket. He sighed. "Beach party's over, people. Bird kids, hustle back to the Jeeps. We got some company to go see. Some very important, very very top-secret company. C'mon, triple time!" He clapped his hands for emphasis. We scurried out of the water, dripping wet and more than a bit confused. I actually got into the same Jeep as Fang. We exchanged skeptical glances, more preoccupied with survival than our previous quagmire.

Just who these top-secret guests were, I would like to know. So I could decide whether or not I needed to kick their butts at first sight.