Hi, guys. I have no idea what I was originally going to do with this chapter, because as some of you know, I haven't updated this story since Christmas. A million apologies to all of you. I started writing a Christmas fic and then got extremely busy with school. But it's back now, so yay. :)

Chapter 21

Nudge II and Max II walked through the trees, looking for the rest of their group. They traveled in silence, except for the occasional pained noise from Max II as she switched between wiping blood away from her nose and cradling her broken arm.

Seeing her leader's struggle, Nudge II fought off another wave of sympathy and the urge to offer assistance. She had no idea where the sympathy was coming from. She had been trained to be everything but sympathetic, even toward her leader. She had just killed someone, and rather enjoyed doing it. Sympathy shouldn't have even been in her vocabulary.

Nearing the edge of the trees, they both spotted two bodies a ways off. Angel II was kneeling over Iggy II, who was sprawled out on the ground. Nudge II and Max II walked over while keeping their pace with no particular sense of urgency.

Angel II was holding Iggy II's hand with her eyes squeezed shut, and Iggy II just lay there, staring straight up.

"Report," Max II commanded.

Angel II didn't open her eyes. "Iggy II has sustained a serious neck injury needing immediate medical attention. I am still at a hundred percent. Gasman's location and status are unknown."

"And the flock?"

"They… escaped."

Max II's jaw tightened angrily. "Let's go, Angel." She turned and started walking away, with Nudge II tailing her.

"What?" Angel II hissed in disbelief to Max II's back, finally having opened her eyes.

Max II halted and turned back around, revealing how much of a bloody, beaten mess she was. What little patience she had was quickly disappearing.

"We can't help him. He is no longer of use to us. Now let's go," she said, giving Angel II a look that just dared her to disobey her orders.

Angel II glanced down at Iggy II's face. He didn't look back at her, afraid of what she would do and at the same time not wanting to influence her decision.

"No," Angel said quietly.

Iggy II closed his eyes, not wanting to reveal his feelings or see what Max II was going to do to her for saying that.

Max II advanced toward Angel II, leaving a fearful Nudge II behind her to watch.

Max II reached down with her good arm and wrapped a hand around Angel II's neck, using pure brute strength to lift her up in the air and let her dangle there as she struggled to get free.

Max II tightened her grip and repeated, "Let's. Go."

Angel tried to swallow but couldn't. She struggled as much as she could, but it got her nowhere, and she knew she couldn't control Max II no matter how hard she tried. She stopped the struggle and simply stated for the second time, "No."

A red fury flashed in Max II's eyes. She yelled, "Fine!" as she lifted her victim higher and then slammed her to the ground.

Iggy II cringed as Angel II shrieked in pain. She immediately crawled on her knees back to him, hesitantly taking his hand again and holding in her desire to scream and beat her former leader into the next century.

Max II looked at her with disgust, appalled that she would disobey her orders for a useless piece of nothing.

"You're not going to last on your own, you little rodent. But have fun playing patty cake with a dead man," she said to Angel II, who closed her eyes and ignored her. "Oh, and here's a parting gift." She raised her steel-toed boot and struck Angel II in the side of the head with it. She crumpled sideways, her hand slipping out of Iggy II's.

Max II gave the two of them a sick, smug grin as she wiped her boot on the ground, as if touching the traitor with it made it dirty.

The Gasman II suddenly appeared at her side, looking slightly dazed.

"Report," Max II barked at him, once again cradling her broken arm.

"Was knocked unconscious. The Gasman escaped."

"Of course he did," she muttered. "Whatever. Let's get out of here." She noticed him looking at the two on the ground and said, "They are no longer of use to us."

He nodded and turned with her to leave without a second thought. Nudge II followed, stopping once to glance back, only to deny her conscious and catch up with her leader and the Gasman.

Angel II struggled to her knees once again, on the verge of tears.

"Stay with me, don't give up now. I won't leave you. You're going to be fine. They promised they would come back and help. They promised," she said, wondering if her faith in her former enemies would end up in Iggy's death.

He moved his fingers a bit, and she took his hand once more, still slightly hesitant to make the affectionate gesture. She started sending him calm thoughts again and monitoring his pulse.

As the two sides of her heart conflicted with each other, she thought, You better come back, Angel.

Please review?
I'm hoping my writing has improved since I started this story. I'll be going back and editing the first 20 chapters so they're not so newbish.
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you soon. Figuratively.

-Skye