This is the Way the World Ends. Chapter 20: What now boss lady?

Don't own Maximum ride; blah blah blah you get the picture.

Max's Pov:

Dylan fell into his cot asleep not even worrying about the blood that splotched him. I must have made a look at the sight of his tiredness because Fang whispered in my ear that it had to do with the battle that was going on inside him, reminding me that there was another problem I had to worry about. I laid Angel down in a cot that would be next to me; and Total, now in terrier form, curled to her side. I thought how it would be funny if wolf total just hopped in the cot. Fang noticed my smile and asked, "What's so funny?"

"I was thinking that it be funny if wolf Total tried to get in the cot with Angel."

"Only you would think that," he said with a half smile.

I looked him up down, his face was covered in dirt, grime, and some blood, same for his cloths. I didn't notice it before, but there was a gauss wrap on his arm with fresh blood soaking threw it. I walked over to him and grabbed his wrist; I think he was expecting something else because he looked half surprised. Emphasis on half; I peeled back the wrap to reveal a deep gash in his arm. I looked at him with a 'where'd-you-get-this-and-why-didn't-you-tell-me-look?' and yes that is a very specific look.

He noticed my look, "The temple this artifact was very old and ramshackle." What the heck does ramshackle mean and how does he know it. He must have realized my confusion to the word because he said, "It means that the place wasn't exactly stable."

"Well you need to let Tigris see this so she can heal it." I said in my leader tone.

"No," did he just say no to me, "You heal it," ok I know he didn't just say that.

"And how do you expect me to do that."

"If you focus your energy enough you can, I guess push your light into me and then my body will combine the light and the dark and together it will produce energy that will heal me. Another way to say it is when we combine our energies we can make the other energy's that our flock members possess."

"How do you know that," I said skeptically.

"You learn a lot walking through the tombs and temples that were left on this planet by whoever came before us."

I looked at the wound then in his eyes, he nodded and I turned my attention back to the wound. I let the floodgates of my energy open, but instead of pushing it out of my body quickly I focused a the energy into my hand causing it to be surrounded by a light blue haze. I lowered my hand over the wound and slowly pushed the energy out of my body trying not to slam him to the ground. I watched in amazement as the blue haze around my hand went over the wound and started to change black as Fang's body changed it. The wound slowly began to shrink, skin forming over it until there was nothing not even a scar. I looked back to his eyes and there was a small flicker of amazement in them. We stared at each other for a few seconds until he pulled me up to him and we began to kiss. We fell onto the nearest cot, me on top and started to move from kissing to making out.

Kyle's Pov:

I left the med bay early not being able to deal with the memories of labs and the smells of anti-septic. I found a stream right near the edge of the camp that led into the one of the small woodlands. I was throwing stones over the water then using my powers to control the water into a whip cracking the rocks in two. The night was beginning fall upon the camp and I decided to return to camp. I went to our tent to see who was in there, but quickly turned to the armory seeing that Fang and Max have already taken the tent as there own. I found Gazzy in there with a bundle of wires, metal, a packet of some sort of clay stuff and a closely watching Assassin that looked really nervous.

Gazzy's Pov:

I was building some bombs for Iggy's and mine pack. Now I was given full access to the base like the rest of us, so that meant I had full access to supplies witch also meant that the guy from Fang's team he had with the Assassins, Hawk Eye, who also happened to be there bomb expert was looking over to me frequently. I guess a 14-year-old bird-kid that shoots fire out of his hands handling highly flammable and explosive materials seems like a bad idea, but then again I am an expert.

The new kid who we found Itex came walking in looking jittery. He must be nervous from all the new things that are happening, I know what that feels like, when you first get out of the labs everything is nerve racking, the smallest sounds freak you out, being around new people is almost impossible, and then when you get hurt and have to get medical help forget about. He sat down and seemed to be debating to say something, but I knew he'd never be able to do it. A packet of ANFO was sitting right by his arm, thankfully just out of reach so that meant I could say. "Hey pass me that bag right there."

He picked up and tossed it to me and easily snagged it out of there. Like I hoped he continued the conversation. "What are you making?" he said picking up one of the finished, baseball shaped bomb.

"Bombs." He was flipping the bomb around his hands looking out it, but then I heard the clicking of the triggers safety being slid off. SHIT. "Be careful," I yelled grabbing the bomb out of his hands and flipping the safety back on, "You'll blow us up."

"Sorry I didn't mean to." He said almost un-heard. I immediately felt sympathy again.

"Dude it's cool. Just don't flip this safety unless your planning on blowing something up because once it's flipped either you can activate by pushing this button or if its hit hard enough, then BOOOOOOM!" I said waving my hands in a circle to make it more dramatic.

"I'm really not a big fan of fire because they turn liquid into gas and I can't control it in that state." He said. It was kind of random but that's what happens especially since he probably doesn't have amazing social skills, but I went along with it.

"Ummm, yea I guess you have a point. Where like opposites, I mean your not a big fan of fire and I'm not a big fan of liquids, well unless it's explosive; but why can't you control gas isn't that technically a liquid."

"No, it's a whole different stage of matter, but I was suppose to be able to do it."

Ok this is where things get dangerous, if I accidently push it to far to a point were it brings up the past in Itex, then he'll probably freak and run. I'm going to take a risk right here. "Why can't you?"

"I think it's because I haven't had my powers for a long enough time."

Now I shouldn't push my luck it's time to change the subject away from our past.

"They kept me in cryogenic-stasis for most of the last years of my life." Well looks like were not changing from this topic. "But that's over now no point of bringing up the past."

I don't think he noticed I let out a sigh of relieve not having to go into that conversation. I capped of the last bomb and pushed them into my bag making sure none of them were off of safety. I stood up and began to leave the armory, but stopped when I realized Kyle didn't follow. "Come on lets head to the tent and get some shut eye before tomorrow." I said motioning him to follow. We left the tent and I swear I heard the Assassins inside let out a sigh of relief. In the tent there were five cots on one side and four on the other. On the Five side Fang and Max pushed the two closes to the door together and were intertwined; Next to them was Angel who had Total curled to her side. Dylan was on the last cot on the four side of the tent. Kyle laid down on the cot one up from Dylan and went strait to sleep with out saying a thing. Tigris wasn't in any of the cots so I pushed my bag under the cot next to Angel, then made my way to the med-bay.

When I got there I found her looking out what I think were charts of the soldiers of the Russian army and the few bird-kids were in there. She didn't notice my entrance, so I did something I've seen Iggy due to Nudge and Fang to Max, back before he left that is. I walked silently behind her and wrapped my arms around her waist. At first she tensed up, her cat ears standing up, her tail twitching, and, Ow, her claws in my leg. She looked back and saw it was me and relaxed, but her claws WERE STILL IN MY LEG! She noticed that to and carefully removed them from thigh.

"Sorry, I- it's just the cat reflexes."

"You should come get some sleep, I'm sure the doctors here can handle everything."

"It's ok I'm use to getting little sleep. It's partially the cat part of me, but also just from being with the Assassins."

I turned her in my arms, but she was looking down. I pushed her head up and looked into her eyes. They were spooky since they were cat eyes, but they looked really good on her. "You no sleep is important and were probably going to have to something stupid and dangerous tomorrow."

She pushed me back and turned to the monitors that she was occupied with before. "No, I-I need to watch Iggy and Nudges vitals."

"What are you scared?"

She turned back around. "Scared of what."

"This." I said pulling her to me her and pushing my lips to her. I'm not sure if I'm moving to fast, we've barely had time alone and the only time we kissed was when we thought were going to die and even then it was a small kissed, but this one was different it was lasting long. Our lips began moving in unison. I pulled her closer wrapping my arms around her waste and hers came around my hair. Also her tail wrapped behind my legs and I swear to God she was purring.

After what seemed like hours we broke apart and looked into each other's eyes. I was searching her face to any clue of how she felt. A small smile crept onto her face. "Ok, I'll come with you, but first let me just check one more thing." I nodded to her and she parted from me.

Max's Pov:

I was dreaming and so far it was not good.

I stood in a dark room, it was about the size of a school cafeteria. The wall and floor was made of some sort of soft, moist, copper colored material. The stuff seemed almost like it was alive. I walked forward a few feet, the strange material squishing under my feet.

"Hello, anyone there. Where the heck am I!" I yelled, but the responders voice was way to fucking familiar. Sorry about the language.

"SILENCE!" That voice it was the same deep, dark, evil voice that has been in my head, it's the thing the Assassin commander called the Mentem. The ground started to shake and rise in front of me. A blob started to form that was made of the material the floor was. I new I should move, but I was actually frozen in fear. After a few disturbing convulsions the blob grew 8 legs and a head. Oh, no please don't be a giant spider. I got lucky though after a few more convulsions the head extended away from the body and was on about a ten-foot neck and the legs formed together leaving only six. The head grew a face. There were six disgusting black eyes, and slits for a nose. It was the mouth that got me. After stretching open a few times it became a snout full of long sharp teeth. Remember how I said I was lucky, well I lied. I slowly backed away but a wall of the material sprung up behind me.

"And were do you think your going." It said lowering its head down to me.

"Well judging by the fact I have no clue were I am probably no where." I said trying to not to sound scared.

"You hide your fear well, but all fear me, even you."

"You still haven't answered my question." I gathered all my courage, stepped forward, and with all my will power said, "Where Am I." I couldn't really tell if it was surprised I had the gut to do that, but it seemed not.

"You are in your own mine, I merely here as a guest." It said taking a step forward.

"Well if this is my mine and your guest, then I want you to leave."

Its laugh was deep and full evil. "Make me," it said lowering its head to mere feet away. Damn, this thing is big, but I'm going to take a chance on this one. In one fluid motion I pulled my hand back and released the floodgates of my power. It quickly entered my hand. I sent the energy out of my body and with all my energy I hit with a blast that actually was enough to whip the monsters head back. It definitely did nothing more then make him angry. It raised its head and let out a blood churning howl, then it snapped out me, but I pushed back with my wings just in time. Its front two legs became tentacles and they shot out at me. I dodged one and it slammed into the wall getting stuck. With my new opening I pulled the beast to the ground increasing the gravity around him to that of Jupiter.

Form the ground the creature started to laugh again. Why the heck was he laughing? "because your power is much more then controlling gravity, you've only just started with your ability." How did he know what I was thinking? "I know everything you think. Me and you are connect more then you'll ever know."

I was furious now, how dare he say that we are connected in any way besides the fact he is in my head without my permission! I felt rage in my body and with power I didn't even know I had I sent the monster all the way to the other room slammed it into the wall. I held it to the wall, but it started to convulse and contort. Its skin began to bubble and fall off into the wall and floor. The head, neck and legs pulled back into the body and the body became a ball of bubbling goop. I dropped it to the floor fearing that just holding it with my power was too much. The blob started to grow legs and arms; a head pulled itself out of the mess. What the fuck is this thing. The seizing stopped and the newly formed person now was standing up as, what seemed to be just a black haze circled around it, cloaking it in a shroud. It took steps coming closer to me. I started to back away; I don't know why, but this-this thing was putting fear in me. It was now standing a foot from me; I was staring into the blackness that covered its face.

"What are you?" I asked stupidly. The entire room rumbled and dirt that I didn't even know existed fell from the roof. The creature was now looking around, then its gaze focused on me.

"You know what I am." The Mentem. "Yes." There was another rumble. "And now its time for you to return and meet your death."

I tried to say what does that mean, but I was stopped when its fist met with my jaw. There was know pain, but it caused everything to go dark for what seemed to be the tenth time in the last few days.

There was a harsh ringing in my ear and the sounds of yelling and explosions were just audible. Everything, besides the ringing, was far away. Someone was yelling my name. I had to open my eyes, but I couldn't. The yelling became louder and I could here the urgency in the voice. With all my will power I forced my eyes open and was immediately met by blinding light and the sound of an explosion.

"MAX, MAX, MAX, MAX!" I was able to see through the light, barely. Fang was standing over me, yelling my name, his eyes were filled with more emotion then I've ever seen. I blinked away the last bit of light and was able to get a look at was happening. Dylan, Gazzy, Tigris, Kyle, and Angel had their body armor on, beside that they just had their supply belts to. They were standing behind Fang looking anxious, well except Gazzy who was looking at the tent. "Max! We need to go now." He said literally dragging me to the bench with our armor on it.

He took the body armor and pulled it over my head. Wow I'm really useless right now. He pulled my left wing back and around the shoulder sling then activated the magnets that tightened the back and front together. He didn't move my right wing from below the part of the armor that wrapped my stomach and back. "Fang my wing." I muttered. Jeez why am I so tired?

"What?" he asked not understanding what I mumbled.

"My right wing, pull it up." He loosened the armor and pulled my wing out.

"Are you good now." Is he serious, I can barely stand. "No."

I'm not sure what the hell was going through his mind, but he smacked me. I was furious. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" I screamed. He just smiled at me. Is he fucking serious right now. But then it clicked I feel better now. Why does him smacking me do that? "Ok, I'm better."

"Yea, I know that's why I did it." He handed me a pistol and clips, then went back to the bench and on Nudges and Iggy's body armor he pushed a button that caused the armor to fold in on its self, making a small square. He ran over to the other side of the tent and slung the armor on to the belt of Gazzy. Ok, it's been about 5 minutes since I woke up and no one has told me what the heck is going on, so I'd say now is a good time to ask. I pulled Fang around by his shoulder. "What is happening?" I said demandingly. An explosion lit up right out the tent door making us all jump to the ground. Fang was already getting up and offered me a hand; I ignored and stood up myself.

"Where under attack." He said showing some nervousness.

"Really now," I said sarcastically. "Let me guess by Itex." He nodded and pulled me to the door, peering out side. There was a whistle followed by some sort of new flyboy's landing in front of the door. They weren't robotic, but they had jet wings grafted to their backs and what I think were jet engines on their legs. Their fur was silver, I'm positive that it was some sort of bulletproof metal. Each arm sported machine guns that looked like they were bolted on.

"They sure don't look friendly." Gazzy said looking over my shoulder. "What's the plan boss lady?" Ok, I'll address the weirdness of the way he asked that later. Now I need a plan. The flyboys were getting curious of our tent. "I think we should start with taking those guys out." I said bulking up and using my leader tone. "On three were going to run out guns blazing. Each of us are going to move to that building and get to cover, from there we'll continue you shooting till there down." They all nodded.

"Angel, stay close to me, ok." I said to her in my mind and she nodded in response and moved to me. I could see nervousness in her eyes, but she was trying to hide and stay strong. That's my little trooper. I looked at the Flock that was with me and then made the call. "Ok guys." They all got ready to move. "One, two…. THREE!" Fang was the first out and instead of going to the building like I told him he ran more forward unloading on the Flyboys. The creatures were taking the bullets like they were nothing, but I could tell there were somewhat affected. That didn't matter right now because Fang was now standing there about to die. I motioned my flock to keep moving and they did safely making it to the building were they started to fire on the flyboys. The flyboys raised their own weapons, one at me. Shit. Fang noticed this and of course like an idiot dived in front of me. I had to pull him around he was not going to die for me. I was grabbing his shoulders to pull him back, but for a split second I saw a black haze move off his wings and to his left arm and it formed into a black shield. That covered us from the onslaught of bullets. Ok, I'm really cursory on what I just saw, but right now I can't worry about it. The Flock continued there fire on the flyboys until, I think Gazzy got annoyed and shot a flame from his fist burning the to flyboys. They must not have the ability to feel pain or something because they seemed to just die with no yelling or fear. It was creepy.

The shield on Fangs arm, almost instantly, turned to the haze and melted into the wing. I don't even think anyone noticed, but me. The Flock gathered around me, in the distance I could here fighting.

"What's the plan Max?" Kyle asked taking up the rear of the group. Fang put his hand to his ear; I knew this meant someone was contacting him. I mouthed to him what channel. He whispered what I believe to be six. So I took out the small communication device and swiped my finger on it till the screen said six and put it into my ear.

"- need you to get your ass to the airstrip and give us back up, NOW!" it was lizzie and she wasn't sounding to happy.

"Ok, ok hunker down I'm on my way." He responded staying strong.

"I'm coming with you." I said strongly. "NO, Max you need to go get Nudge and Iggy, from there you can go to the airstrip and, if everything goes to plan I should have two Falcons waiting for us." He said in a no-nonsense tone.

"Your insane if you think I'm letting you out of my sight-."

"MAX," he cut me off, "You need to get Nudge and Iggy, they're your job to keep safe; I need to get my team, they're my job to keep safe."

He was right I had my job to do and he had his. "Ok, but you promise to be there at the strip when I get there."

"I will be there don't worry." He started to walk away, but turned back. "Tigris your with me." He ordered her, wait ordered, what the heck.

Gazzy was the one to respond. "What are you talking about, she's coming with us."

"No, Gazzy I'm an Assassin. I have to go help them, that's my job. Also Fang is my superior officer." She responded sounding very serious. Thankfully Gazzy didn't ignored just hugged her and whispered something into her ear I didn't catch.

Fang said good luck, and then ran off with Tigris at his heels. God if he gets hurt I'll kill him.

We made it to the med-bay quickly not running into much difficulty; most of the fighting is focused near the airstrip. The airstrips were Fang was going. We needed to make this quick or I think I'll freak not knowing if Fang was ok.

The med-bay was chaos of doctors running left and right treating men and women with various injuries. A man was pushed past us with the lower half of his arm missing making Angel burry her head in Gazzy's shoulder to avoid the gruesome sight. We found Nudge out side of Iggy's room looking very anxious. As soon as she saw us she ran to me. "Guys what is happening, what's with all the commotion, people keep saying were under attack by Itex." She blurted out almost to fast to understand.

"Were under attack and we need to get to the airstrip and on Falcons. Here put this on and take this." I said handing her the armor that I un-hooked from Gazzys belt. "How's Iggy?" I said already moving to the door. She followed me in and I saw Iggy starting to stumble as he stood. Nudge and I caught him at the last second.

"Guy's I'm fine." He said shrugging us off then walking a lap around the room. He came back in front of me. "We're under attack aren't we?" He said. I told him what's happening and what we need to do. With some assistance from Nudge he got his armor on and took Kyle's pistol.

My comm buzzed to life and Lizzie's voice filled my head. "MAX, the airstrip was compromised, but we got out and are now on our way in a Falcon to you."

"Where is Fang?" I asked quickly.

"He's right here. A flash grenade destroyed his comm. Get your Flock outside. You have Erasers and Beeks on their way. You need to hold them back were 5 minutes away." Hawk Eye, told me.

"How close are the enemies." There was an explosion outside and an automated voice blazed through the halls. "ALL COMBAT PERSONAL TO FRONT OF BUILDING. ENEMY FORCES DETECTED.

Dylan who had stayed quiet till now said, "That close." Moving past me to the exit.

Dylan's Pov:

The med-bay had pop up covers that came out when the buildings computer security system was triggered. I immediately hit the nearest cover and began taking down enemies left and right. The rest of the Flock, except for Angel who was ordered by Max to use her powers from safely inside the building, was under cover fighting the enemies trying to kill us. A beast came running and even thought bullets blew through its body it didn't stop. I jumped the cover and met it half way prepping to slice it in the gut, but was quickly met a hard fist. I spun in a circle, but again was met by a fist. Son of a bitch. Now I was pissed. With all my anger I ripped into the beast killing it slowly.

Max's Pov:

The familiar roar of the Falcons engine over through the sounds of battle. It whipped around revealing its open underbelly. Inside Fang and the rest of his team shot a multitude of guns on the remaining Itex creations. I thought to Angel for her to get out here and in a split second she was by my side.

"Echo 1 to Max, I can't land in this small space, but there is a good landing area on past the buildings to your left. Fang is coming down to guide the way." The Falcons pilot said into my comm. Just like she said Fang came hovering from the belly of the plane; While the Falcon flew down behind the buildings. I ran right over to Fang and hugged. Yes, I know that's out of character, but I needed it. Not even saying any thing he began to lead us through the buildings. We came out to a waiting Falcon. Fang ran strait to it, but stopped before the opening and let all the Flock in first. I was hopping up on to the deck of the bay, but was stopped by a blood-churning screech. Everyone turned their head to the-the thing standing on the building above us. It looked like a beast, but its body was contorted, bending in ways I didn't even think possible. It's skin looked like the material from my dream. And its face was the worst, the material pulling the features apart leaving it a disgusting mess.

"OK, lets go now." I said pulling Fang into the Falcon. "Echo get out us here, NOW." I yelled. Into my comm. We took off leaving the monster standing and screaming. "Echo take that thing out."

"No problem Max." she said spinning the ship around and with one shot from the 20-caliber chin gun, she turned the monster into a pile of meat.

I looked back at the now packed people bay. "What now boss man?" Hawk eye asked Fang. So, that's where Gazzy got that. Echo's voice came through the bays speaker and informed us that Commander Spallone wanted to meet us on a Air craft carrier just of the coast.

"Ok, looks like we got a plan." I said leaning against the now closed bay doors leaving seats for everyone else. "Get us their Echo." I yelled to the pilot.

"Aye, aye captain." She snickered.

"Hmmmm, captain, I like the sound of that." I said to Fang who leaned next to me close enough so we were touching. "Yea, don't ever expect me to call you that." He said with a small amount of emotion and a half smile.

Sorry that took so long, have had a lot going on between midterms and sports. Also, Hawk, email me about the character you want in the story.