Disclaimer: I do not own Maximum Ride or any of it's characters. I do however own Carolynne, Nick, Derek, Harshad, Tabitha, Raina, and Avel.
Chapter 12:
Vipe and Thor


Max

Street fighting? I was totally prepared to make a fuss when it all sunk into my head. I could do that. Even though it's illegal business, it still is done. I could have argued but I didn't. How else was I getting out of the continental U.S.? I needed money. Sometimes his logic irritates me to the point of no return. Darn you, Fang. So, I asked him the question I bet every person would be thinking about now: Where?

"I know these people in Chicago who-"

"How do you know these people?"

"No time to explain. They're in this gang and I'm an honorary member." He winked at the last part and I couldn't help but wonder why. I hate secrets.

"We need to go now so we can get back by the time our flight is leaving."

"Our flight?"

"Yeah, I got Nudge to find us a flight. It leaves at six. It's a little late but I think we can make it," he replied.

Oh, Mr. Thoughtful. Did you think of everything? It was thoughtful but I would like to know about these things in advance. It makes me feel so, predictable. I can't argue now, I need to fight. The thought made me smile. Why would I do that? I can't help it but by the minute, I am growing more sadistic. With good things come bad. I am trying to make myself smarter by improving my vocabulary. When I tried to get the flock to try school I actually learned something. The strength of my animosity of Sam is growing by the second. See? I'm not crazy for trying. I'm actually a little disappointed. That just raised my sadistic factor by thirty notches. I'm a masochist failure.

It's just that I haven't had a real fight in a while. Just sitting around the house felt like days and my muscles are basically itching for a fight. Am I weird for thinking that? Maybe so. I put Iggy in charge while we left and we were off. It felt weird to be all alone with Fang. According to him, I have been before but the feeling felt new. While we were flying I glanced over at him. His face was serious and cute. Maybe that was why I liked him before or maybe I just have bad taste. There goes me being melancholy. Is that what world saving does to a person?

What it does to you is up to you.

There goes the voice acting dumb, as usual. Ninety-nine percent of the time it speaks in riddles. This is why I need to be smart. I need to understand what it's saying so I can understand it's meaning. Whenever it speaks to me, I want to understand. I want to be able to comprehend this and get this over with so I can get on with life. I want to fly in the skies without those stupid Erasers or Flyboys or whatever those forsaken scientists can come up with, fighting me. (a brain on a stick, are you serious?) Is that too much to ask?

Fang looked over at me, feeling my eyes boring onto his face. I quickly looked away, blushing, in fear of conversation because sometimes you don't want to talk. I think i understand him a bit more. I looked straight ahead and in my line of vision I saw him smirk and continue flying. Ha ha, you are so not funny, Fang. Jeez, he can be so sure of himself sometimes. I bet he looks in the mirror for hours trying to get his hair into that perfect style that is supposedly "natural". I know, I certainly don't. I'm not self centered. I've just got that natural Maxish glow and style to my hair.

We landed in Chicago in about forty-five minutes then spent another fifteen walking to the place. He thinks it's suspicious to land in a place out of nowhere. He's so paranoid. I am too. I found myself doing unnecessary 360's every time a bush moved or something stupid like that. We arrived at a large, seemingly abandoned building and Fang walked up to the front and tapped lightly on the door. Is this a movie theatre? Wow, it's barely recognizable. In about thirty seconds, someone answered. It was a tall guy with a tired expression and brown stubble. He was seemingly in his twenties.

"Hey my Money man. Long time, no see," he smiled his crooked smile but stopped to ask. "Whose the broad?"

Moneyman? Broad? I was about to question him but he simply replied. "You can call her Anne. Juice, we're here to tag."

"Alright, alright. What's the special occasion?"

"Our crew needs to get out of the country for a while," he said it in a don't-ask tone. The man understood. Where did Fang learn how to talk like this? It was definitely new and interesting.

"You got some payment?" his voice was low and hopeful.

"Yeah, I've got two hundred." Where did he get this money? We could've used this that night I was low on the stuff. What else is he hiding from me?

"Outta sight, we've got a party."

He let us in through the back and I fully saw the building. On the outside it looks decrepit but on the inside it was as furnished as a five star hotel. What are we getting ourselves into? We were left to sit in a room with all the other fighters. There were all kinds of people here. We weren't the youngest. There were even twelve year olds. I could see why this was illegal. We would probably get someone older than us. Darn my awesome face! In about five minutes Juice let us fight. Being dragged out of the ring were some gory figures. They scared me half to death.

We have bird kid strength I kept telling myself. We have bird kid strength!

Our opponents were also a team. The first one was a woman, about twenty-three and a man, about twenty-four. We can take them. We can take them. Fang said he was fighting first and made me wait outside the ring. They were fighting in a ring embedded into the ground. Part of me was scared for him but the other part just wanted to fight myself. He started against the man.

At first they circled the ring but then Fang got bored and lightly punched him in the gut. The guy staggered back a bit but got back up. It must have hurt because his face swelled with anger and he charged. With all his force he punched him and I could hear the wind being knocked out of him. I cheered him on and he looked at me. Big mistake; the guy took a low blow and punched him there. From then on, I was almost silent. He fell to the ground, but immediately got back up. He began to use one of my favorite fighting styles, annoyance.

How is that a fighting style you may ask? It's easy, all you have to do is slap em' around. Build their anger. Let them use up their strength while you build yours. At the moment their strength is up, knock em' down. It is very effective in this situation. He is so smart! Fang kept dodging the man, evading him just out of his reach. He got angrier and angrier too, like a charm. The man barreled over and Fang slapped him in a way that wouldn't hurt but would make a large sound. People watching started to go "oooh" and yelled insults at them.

The man finally tired and Fang went offensive. The man walked and he tripped and successfully straddled him bending his leg back. The man flung his leg back and it hit him inn the face, knocking him backward. Fang silently rose and started punching him in the face rapidly. Apparently he doesn't take well to being kicked in the face. Understandable. He quickly finished him off with a swift kick to the face. The man slumped to the ground and was beaten. The referee yelled, "K. O." and every one cheered like mad.

"Since, he has taken him down alone, their tags must take each other down alone," a guy near me said "his tags in for trouble, that lady's a feisty one." Another one agreed. Fang, you see what you do trying to be a gentleman? I mustered up my strength and courage; there wasn't much there.

Fang slapped my hand. "Be careful."

"I will," he kissed me lightly on the lips.

I was against the girl. Don't panic Max. Those guys were just talking trash. They have no idea what they're talking about. The girl hopped into the ring and deafening cheers erupted from the sidelines. I couldn't help but think about how well the walls were soundproofed because in the other room, I couldn't hear a thing. The woman broke me from my thought and gave a deathly cold stare. She scares me like crazy. The referee announced we would start. I prepared to circle like she did but she charged at me with out warning.

My legs were grabbed and I was spun around and around. She finally let go, and I flew into the wall. Black spots filled my vision and I knew she was in my league. I stood up walking really dizzy-like and she pushed me. My back hit the wall, which knocked the dizziness away, making me aware. I turned into fight mode and charged at her. I don't know why I did it. It just needed to be done. She landed her fist in my tummy and it hurt. I felt like barfing, or trying to regain my breath but I didn't. I jumped, with my fist on her hand, which moved to her head and suddenly I was behind her.

While she was processing what was happening, I grabbed her back, for a spin but she turned around and her blouse was torn. Cheers erupted, but I felt like I just signed a death sentence. Holding the bottom half in my hand and not knowing what else to do with it, I threw it in her face. Then, I charged and knocked her down. I was sitting on her chest, a leg on each side, pinning her to the ground. She struggled to move and I started punching her in the face. She used her legs, which I forgot about, to kick me with. I threw my hands back, doing a midair somersault. Then I threw my legs back under and kicked her in the jaw.

Mid-reel I did a second one; and punched her in the stomach while she gasped for air. I did too. She had knocked the wind out of me before and I had not been breathing for those few seconds. I was suddenly grateful for my air sacs; without them I would have passed out. During my breathing, she grabbed my stomach and tries to flip me over, to slam me onto the ground. Why do I have to be so light? I tumbled out of her reach, doing a duck and roll as I hit the ground. I stood up, fighting stance engaged. I am officially pissed.

I ran at her for a third time and used her to propel myself to her back. Standing, I swept my feet and tripped her. She landed flat on her face and I put my foot on her back, pinning her down. Or so I thought. She threw me to the other side of the ring and I bit my tongue, hard. Blood was streaming from my mouth and I caught a glimpse of Fang. He was concerned, so sweet but also looked in awe. He is such a boy. I held on to the side of the ring, as she tried to throw me to the other side. My grip was strong and she only tore my top completely off, revealing my undershirt. I was so embarrassed. Anger swelled in me and I ran at her.

She had thought I was going to try to get behind her again but I didn't. Where I usually bounced off her head I grabbed her mane of thick auburn hair and yanked it. She fell to the floor and I dragged her to a wall and slammed into it. I picked her up and threw her across the ring. I thought she was down for the count, but she got up and pulled my hair. As if to say, you want to play dirty? She pulled me towards the wall and I pushed her away with the force of my legs. She staggered and I knocked her down. I started punching and hitting her. Soon we were rolling around. Wow, this is such a girl fight.

I kicked her with no mercy. Then, as she hit the wall, I kicked her over and over, more and more. She tripped me and as I fell she got up. This needs to end, I thought. I quickly got to my feet and connected my foot with her jaw, and broke it. This should be the end. I turned to the referee and waited. He said nothing. I looked at Fang but he was waving frantically. What? A pair of hands grabbed my throat; I was being strangled. That's so original. She backed me up against the wall and black was blurring my vision. I gasped for air but none was making it through through my airways.
Death was like a shroud, consuming. My body kicked into overdrive and energy filled my body. It was like I was on something, all hyped up, full of youthful vitality. It felt like an out of body experience. The back of my legs climbed up the wall and bent over her head and we both fell onto the floor. I should've blacked out, but I didn't for a reason unknown, didn't. I got on my feet the best I could; her hands were still around my neck but weakly. The way I got but was the way when you're on your back, without your hands, using just your feet. I rose like a dead person. I must have looked like a contortionist. Her hands fell to the ground. I turned to her and waited. She was unconscious from the knock on the head.

"K. O.!" the people cheered and swayed. Some even muttered under their breaths about bets. It was over and I was surprisingly, okay. I was still on my newfound strength and felt unstoppable. We exited into the waiting room and Juice met us there. In total we had earned four and a half thousand dollars. We left and Fang winked at him, and Juice did back. We left out of the back. "That was amazing. I didn't know you were so.. flexible."

"Shut-up,"I didn't want to hear this. i had just gotten my pride handed to me. I want encouraging words, at the least.

Fang had been brushing my hair. "Are you okay to get back?"

"Yeah. I'll crash later."

He nodded in disbelief and we took off. I was in the air for thirty minutes when I felt light headed. Fang must have noticed because he took me in his arms and flew me to the house at hyper speed. We got there in fifteen minutes. I had to be almost two-thirty. Fang set me down on the porch and I was wobbling in place. He knocked on the door, Iggy answered. "Finally you guys are back. How'd you get the money?"

Fang whispered in his ear. He nodded, then flinched, and then smirked. I had a feeling I knew what he was talking about. I pushed past their whisper fest and sat on the couch. My energy was gone and I felt like crap. Lyn and her group entered the living room, all with suitcases in tow. She sees me on the couch, all ruffed up. "Where have you two been?" she gasped. "Max, where is your shirt?"

She touched my cheek and I flinched. "We needed money, chill out."

"Did you rob someone?" her voice, alarmed.

"No, it's okay. Just go to the airport and we'll meet you at the school," I reassured her.

"You're lucky we have to go. I'll question you later!" She said as they opened the door.

They all left and we were alone in the house. Angel, Nudge and Gazzy emerged from the basement. They knew about what I was doing and dismissed it nonchalantly. Nudge sat down next to me and stroked my hair. Angel sat beside her.

"Who'd she get?" Gazzy whispered.

"Vipe." Fang said in a voice so low I could barely hear it.

"Harsh." He knew who it was? He let me fight her? An anger rose in me and I didn't know what to do. How come he didn't let me take the guy? That would have been the gentlemanly thing to do. I dodn't care if I sound crazy right now. If I didn't get moving, I would strangle him right here. Just like Vipe did to me. Except I won't lose.

Angel, probably hearing my death threat rose to action. "Let's go shopping. Our flight is in a few hours," she said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Whatever." I grumbled.

I mustered enough energy to get through the rest of the day. We went to a Sears or something stupid like that and bought clothes for colder weather. The bulky stuff wasn't needed anymore so we everyone got some stuff they needed. I needed a new shirt, as previously stated. Nudge needed a new jacket; Tab had put a tracking device in it. We all needed new clothes that don't look like we've been in multiple fights. If we can, we look presentable. When everyone checked out we had only spent a little under three hundred. I also gave Angel and Gazzy a hundred dollars each, for emergency money. I split the remaining money (minus plane ticket money) among the four of us. We all pocketed `six hundred twenty-five dollars each.

We then went to the airport. At this time it was five-thirty. I sent Iggy to buy our tickets since he looked the oldest out of us all. He returned fifteen minutes later with them. They were passed out and we waited by the entrance. "Flight 089C for Moscow Boarding."

We got our bags checked and we boarded the plane. Why did we get a plane for Moscow? I thought we had to go to St. Petersburg. As if he understands my expression Iggy spoke. "Moscow was the closest flight we could get."

"Oh."

On the plane, I looked for our seats. We were all in a group, good and I had an aisle seat. At least there were no crying babies. I don't think crying babies need to go to Russia. That was good, because I was dead tired. Fang was seated at the window with Angel next to him and Nudge next to her. He gets to sit with girls, serves him right. I was in the aisle with Gazzy in the window seat and Iggy in the middle. I think Fang was mad that I was next to Iggy but I didn't care. He didn't like me like that, I dodn't think.

This jogged my memory of time when we were at Amiele's. I remember sitting on my bed, at my cleanest that week and was thinking. I remember I was mad at Iggy but I don't remember why. It seemed like so long ago. It was a time when I was alone with Iggy. It was a time where life was a little simpler. Even though we were silent most of the time it was like and adventure. I liked it…

Max's Dream

I sat up, breathing heavily. I was in a bed. I saw that and leapt out. I was refreshed and full of energy. The room disappeared and slowly turned into a fancy room. The walls and floor were made of fancy materials like marble and cream wall fixtures. The furniture was nice and made of very dark wood. The prettiest of all was the large fireplace. I sat in a large comfy chair and watched it. Soon, a dark figure was in the frame of the door.

I glanced over and the figure came to light. It was Nick. I stood up and looked at him. Here I thought he was kidnapped but he was standing before me. He looked overall the same but he was dressed differently. He sported a dark blue jumpsuit with a number. 0323. I did notice there were weird things about him. His eyes weren't their usual chocolate, happy brown; they were dark, almost black and soulless. His walk didn't have that Nick-like swagger. It was perfectly straight and soldierly. He stood in front of a table and motioned me to sit with him.

I did. Now that I was closer, I could see that his skin was scarily pale. This wasn't Nick. He was happy, cheerful and nice not at all like this creep. "The infamous Maximum Ride. How nice to make your acquaintance."

Huh? "You've met me before."

"Oh, this guy. He's just my Shell. I'm using him to communicate with you, dear."

Who are you then? "Who are you then?"

"Oh dear, I'm D. That's all I can tell you for now."

He was really ticking me off with this "dear" thing. "Okay D what did you do to Nick?"

"I just needed to prevent something. He's too important. To have him with me ensures my victory, child."

Like child was better, "What victory?"

"All in due time. Right now I need to use you to give a message to your friends."

He was making no sense. "To tell them what?"

"To stay out of my business."

Before, I could ask anything else, I felt an insane pain in my chest. It was horrible. It felt like something was clawing it's way out of my form. The pain was unbearable. I wanted to loose consciousness but I couldn't. It was like he wanted me to be awake for this. I tried to scream but not even a sound would escape. My lips were glued together. My arms were stuck at my side and I couldn't see well. I was losing control of my body, fast.

End.


Iggy

Max had fallen asleep on my shoulder. For the most part I didn't care. I liked hearing her slow, steady breathing; it was relaxing. I talked to Gazzy for an hour or two. He fell asleep too because it was getting late. I would sleep but I had gotten up from a drug-induced sleep this morning. Maybe it the drugs acting, but I wasn't sleepy. I was wide-awake. Angel has fell asleep a while ago which left Fang, Nudge and awake. I shouldn't even count Nudge because she was nodding off to sleep.

In half an hour Nudge was asleep and I was blankly staring at some movie playing on a screen in a chair in front of me. I wasn't really watching it, I was just thinking. When Max and were outside, were we going to kiss? It seemed so. It seems that that's happening a lot. I get so close to kissing her and then… bam! A problem pops up. I get into a fight or Angel is eavesdropping. It's not fair. It seems that Fang gets it so easily to him and I well, don't. They even got to go street fighting. Illegal, yes but fun, double yes. I could've taken care of her. I could have taken Vipe and we could've come back happy.

She came back beat and Fang was just dandy. It made me mad. I know I may seem like the carefree guy but I'm not. I am also good at hiding my emotions. If I didn't have the restraint, I would've punched him right there. Who in his or her right mind would let's someone go against Vipe? She was an animal, a beast. You don't mess with her. If he was a real gentleman, he would have taken his tag or they could have taken her down together. Thor is all talk. All you have to do is make him angry and, easy win. With Vipe you have to rely on instinct, not just on muscle. She was a challenge and although Max won, she was not prepared for that. It was her first fight, for cryin' out loud. Someone like Thor would've been a perfect choice.

Fang is a dumbass. I can tell Max is mad. She heard Gazzy talk about their fights. Can no one whisper in this house? I believe Max would be described as around the pissed off variety. Fang took the easy way out and that is inexcusable, even for him. I felt that my hand and was suddenly aware that I was absentmindedly stroking her hair. I glanced over at Fang, who was scowling. Serves you right, I thought. The gesture seemed really familiar, and I felt like I needed to stop. I did.

As soon as I did, Max clutched her chest and silent tears started rolling down her cheeks. I was sure it wasn't my doing. I held her by her shoulders, wiping away each one. "Max. What's wrong?"

She didn't respond and I got a bit scared. I started shaking her softly, whispering nice things into her ear. Fang got up to see what was wrong but a flight attendant stopped him as he reached us. "Please stay seated during the flight, young man."

He was forced to sit in his seat, sporting a scowl, while I held onto Max. I held onto her, and helped her. The crying subsided and i was glad. She was still and I held her close to me. I wiped her tears and for the moment I thought she was okay. I thought she was just upset. I remember a long time ago she started crying in her sleep. I thought she was depressed or something but she didn't want to talk to Fang about it. She said he wouldn't understand. We started talking and after a while we got closer. Normally when I touched her she would wake up but now she wouldn't. For a few minutes she slept soundly but things started up again.

This time she started shaking and I thought it was a seizure. This was new. This had never happened before. I tried to keep her calm while trying to wake her up. For a few minutes she shook uncontrollably. She wouldn't stop but suddenly she did. I don't know why but she did. She didn't wake up after either. It seemed like she was beat and scared. I felt protective and held her closer and soon we were asleep in each other's arms.

In a few hours, the flight attendant woke us up. My shirt was wet with what I guessed was tears. Max's arms were around me too because I felt them, their warmth seeping through my skin. She woke up too and saw her arms were around me. She immediately moved away, blushing. I felt my face get hot too. The kids were waking up. I sat up and greeted Gazzy, seeing if he was okay. I think Max followed because she started talking to Angel, avoiding my gaze.

"We are currently landing at our destination, Moscow, Russia. Please stay seated and we will be with you in a moment," her voice was oddly cheery. In my opinion I'd call that nauseating. I was in a bad mood. Was Max warming up to Fang? If so, game over. A small part of brain was hopeful. It thought, keep at it and find out for sure. How would I even be sure? She moved away from me therefore she doesn't like me.