Disclaimer: I do not own the Maximum Ride books. Or upcoming movie. Do I even look like James Patterson?

Okay, it's shoutout time!

VictorianBlackRose, thanks for your comment, and seriously, don't die. Here's a bouquet of roses, though, just in case. Slightly longer chapter for you because dead bodies take a while to clear away.

COOKIE MONSTER, space or no space, here's your shoutout from an unhappy Geoffrey in a skimpy cheerleading outfit.

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: It's Jeffrey.

Me: Go on.

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: Do I really have to do it?

Me: What do you think?

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: C-O-O-K-

Me: Louder!

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: I-E

Me: More emotion!

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: Okay, COOKIE MONSTER, this is me. Shouting out. In a cheerleading uniform consisting of a halter top and a mini skirt. Is that not enough?

COOKIE MONSTER: No.

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: And I'm disclaiming, too-look! Maximum Ride belongs to James Patterson and Fang's dirty mind! And I'm disclaiming while cartwheeling with one hand! Oh, watch this! A triple round-off! A flyspring! An Arabian front!

Me: Are you sure you're not making half of this up?

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: Fine! So I can't really do a cartwheel!

Me: Sting like a butterfly, float like a bee!

Geoffrey/Jeffrey: What?

COOKIE MONSTER: So... You're an Arabian butterfly?

Chapter 13

"What do we do now, all-knowing one? I asked Maya.

"How about we stop fighting?" Maya snapped.

"But then the world would end! Our fighting is the only thing that's always certain!" I said, glaring at Fang out of the corner of my eye.

"Don't bring Fang into this."

"Why not, when he's the one that brought you?"

"Truce." Maya whispered quietly.

I couldn't understand how she could ask for peace. We were supposed to be enemies, to always argue over Fang and dying and who was weaker.

Maybe it's time to stop, the Voice interrupted.

Maybe you have to rethink who your enemies really are.

"I know perfectly well who my enemies are!" I shouted, just as a wild stream of images burst into my head, a never-ending river of information and illegible data. I gripped the railing, jagged shards of agony stabbing themselves into my consciousness, drawing out imaginary blood from non-existent wounds. Throbbing explosions full of crimson and pain burned in previously happy memories, and soon it was unbearable. I leaned over the edge, wanting to let go. If only I could jump over, it would all stop, but I didn't have enough energy. Instead, I curled up, the pain and the hurt singing me to sleep.

"Max."

I woke up from a dark, dark sleep to a million sets of eyes boring into me. Well, not a million. But close. With my hand pressed to my head, the pain was gently subsiding, but I still had a hangover-like feeling (Don't ask me how I know that.). Trying to sit up, I felt someone trying to push me down, back under, down to the cold floor. "Dylan?" I mumbled. Every action brought back the pain. "He left, Max." Fang said gently. I heard Nudge and Gazzy muttering to each other, and everyone else was just standing awkwardly around, like they were at my deathbed. Oh, I guess I might be dying after all. Sighing, I felt Fang's darkness put me back to sleep.

I woke up again with a very excited Nudge at my side. So basically, Nudge as usual. I realized that I still feel like heck, but then, that's just me as usual. I strained to sit up, and saw a tube connected to one of those medicine-bag-on-a-pole things. And the tube was connected to my arm. "What did you let them do to me?" I screamed angrily at Nudge as I ripped out the tube, but it came out sounding as a dopey, pitiful cry. That's me, the damsel in distress.

When was the last time I had felt like this? Actually, with who? Fang, of all people in the world, had to be at my sappy love confession. Angel was gone. Nudge was excited. We were at the School. My thoughts were going haywire, crazily running around like Iggy and Gazzy after they'd found out about me and Fang being, you know...

Something that we weren't anymore. And never would be again. Fang must be part of the School. Fang had done something terrible, and that's why he left. Because of him, worse things had happened. I didn't care that we had been friends for so freakin' long, since we were put in those stupid dog crates, since we had escaped together with the flock. I would never forgive him now, because he had killed my Angel.

Did I ever mention how I talk out loud to myself? The conversations with said self were supposed to be private, but Nudge was standing there, along with a troop of paramedics just waiting to see the circus freak. Well, freaks. Luckily for me and my insanely chatty impulses, a certain dark and silent bird kid was not there. Dylan came in just then, saving me from an untimely death. I can imagine it now: Oh, Prince Dylan of Schmancy, you have oh-so charmingly rescued me from that big imaginary dragon! Please accept my everlasting thanks! As I said, I'm terrible at waiting for young, handsome guys to sweep me off my feet, or whatever it is that they do in the movies, so I jumped up, ripping off the rest of the wires. Everyone else was paralyzed, and then I realized that we weren't at the School. This was just an average hospital, not exactly well-equipped in handling matters of the bird kid type. As my favorite drug wore off (I was going to kill Nudge later for that), I leaped out the window, feet first, my two least favorite mutants right now following behind me.

Posting this on 11/11/11 at 11:11 am as a tribute to those that died and sacrificed their chance at life for our freedom.

Make peace, not war.

Lest we forget.