Okay so this will probably be a quick update just because I had to do an evil standardized test today, and I'm sick of writing. Answering three open ended questions about mindless subjects and then writing an essay can do that to you. Actually, it's just the endless waiting (4.5 hours worth of waiting) that got to me. However, I can never grow tired of Fang and Max, so I'm updating. I don't want to make you guys wait any longer. By the way, have you all checked out the MR5 excerpts on JP's website?

I do not own Maximum Ride.

Chapter 14

Fly By Night

FPOV

It's a good thing that sleep isn't forthcoming because Omega decides to make another appearance. You didn't really think he'd just walk away, did you?

I'm nestled comfortably in the middle branches of a tree, but I can't seem to drift off. I hear a noise below. It's slight, almost imperceptible. I try to categorize what I'm hearing as it's too dark to have a clear view of the ground. Is that whisper of a wing? The tap of a light footstep? The quiet intake of breath?

I let myself become invisible. No one is as good at staying unseen as I am. I refuse to let even the smallest displacement of air betray my whereabouts.

The intruder is carefully avoiding the thready patches of starlight that are my only source of light. The nights is dead silent, another give away. The animals are never quite so soundless at night. They are aware of the danger, of the brewing conflict.

I'm able to get a sense of the intruder's direction. There's something distinctly familiar about his/her movements. My heart leaps a little. It couldn't be…

I decide to take matters into my own hands. I drop from the ground, directly into the path of my companion. The straight posture and cut movements give him away. It's Omega. My heart falls. Of course. Why would Max be sneaking around in the forest anyway?

"Yo," I say, since he hasn't noticed me yet. Apparently, Omega's difficulty with quick movements is still standing. I landed too swiftly for him to see.

He doesn't start, but I see the faintest tensing in his already tight posture. He turns his eyes towards me. The spotty, pale light glints off of one of his eyes.

"Fang." He inclines his head. I don't say anything. "You are wondering why I am here?" I incline my head fractionally. "You see, our orders were only for Maximum. However, I see no reason to let you go unscathed. You are also on the termination list, after all."

He springs at me. I dart my hand out, too fast for him to see, and break his nose. I feel like Max for a moment. My style is usually much less bloody. Why waste energy and time? For the first time in my life, my anger is taking over my fighting skills.

I close myself off to the anger and pain. I seal Max away in my mind until I have a completely blank mind. Omega and I move in a fluid dance. His moves are military and precise. He lands multiple hits on me. My body aches with cuts and bruises, but he hasn't broken anything.

My style is more conservative. I wait until I see an opening, and then I strike. I've only hit him a few times, but he's definitely worse for the wear. I'm pretty sure I've broken something (other than his nose).

The moment of truth arrives. We both move at the same time. Omega goes straight for my arm, trying to break it. His moves are too mapped and obvious, and I easily avoid him. Emotion returns to me, and I let anger control as I grab his neck. I have him pinned against a tree. I can't bring myself to kill him. This isn't his fault. He was made to be this way.

"You can go," I hiss as I release him. He stumbles to the side. "Go," I say, angrily. I turn my back on him, and look skyward. So much for getting sleep. I unfurl my wings. A noise alerts me. Omega cannot shake his training. He saw a weakened opponent and attacked with the single minded purpose to kill.

I don't have time to think. I turn as he attacks. In the next moment, he's dead. I don't even know how it happened, but he's lying on the ground. I can hardly believe it.

I don't have time to waste. The Flyboys will be on me in no time. I take to the sky. I have a lot of time to think about what I've done, but I can come to no conclusion. It wasn't a premeditated act. It was self-defense. That's what they'd say in court, but this isn't court. I've long since stopped believing in human justice. There are too many things that the normal world doesn't take into account.

I wish that I could talk to Max. More likely, she'd be doing the talking. She'd somehow manage to bare my soul before me while I sat there dumbfounded, not saying a word. Max always knew what to say. No, Max always knows what to say. When did I start thinking of her in past tense?! Max isn't dead. I'm going to find her.

I force myself to get back on track. I can't change the past. I don't want to. It was a choice between his life and mine, and I chose to live. Now, I have to put that aside. Max is waiting.

------Later-------

I've spent so many nights among the stars that I've begun to lose sight of the ground. The moon is more familiar to me than the earth. I've scoured the globe, and I have not found what I search for.

I'm starting to lose hope. I've looked everywhere, followed every lead. What if Max is…I can't think it. Max has to be alive. She has to be okay. There would be no world without Max. It's impossible.

I thought that I understood how much I loved her before, but I was wrong. I need her. I think about her constantly. Max is part of me.

I think my bird DNA must be swan. Swans mate for life. Once they fall in love, they can't let go. It's forever. That's how I feel. It's as if I won't be whole until Max is in my arms again.

I wasted so much time. There are so many days that I took for granted. If only I had known. There are so many things left unsaid. If only I could tell her…

I'm still determined to find her. I have this terrible feeling that she's in trouble. If anything happens to Max…it's too horrible to think about.

I never realized before, but Max is my world. If I had a Voice, it'd be telling me to save her. Not that Max has ever needed saving. At least, she never acts like it. Max is always the brave one. She never failed to put on the courageous front. She's the leader. Even when we're not together, she's the leader. Without her, there's no Flock, there's no me. I'm utterly lost without her.

Wow. That wasn't so quick after all. I actually intended to put some MPOV in there, but I like it better this way. The next MPOV will probably be prologue-time anyway. I have a new poll up. This on actually pertains to MR. So go vote and review!