A/N: Okay guys, I'm really, really sorry that I haven't updated in a few days but I had a full weekend. The good news is that having so much to do made me extremely tired and luckily I do my best writing when I'm tired. No joke, I can spin crap into gold when I'm well and truly exhausted. As such I have planned the next three or four chapters and I have to say, I'm really excited to see what you guys think. Unfortunately, I still have to type them up and I have a presentation due this week but after that I will get to focus on doing what I love most – updating and hearing back from you guys!

I put this chapter in as a break from Fang for a moment, since some of you said you wanted to know what was going on with Max. Next chapter we will join back up with Fang and see what happens with him. Also, I'm thinking about trying a few chapters in other characters' POV (maybe even Angel's, *gasp*). We'll see. And in the beginning of the next chapter, I will be answering any questions in the reviews I haven't covered yet so if you have one, speak now.

Well, that was a really long note, but I want to keep you guys up to date. Without further ado, I present chapter 9!


Max (still 2014)

By no stretch of the imagination could our arrival in DC be described as "smooth."

First, there was the fact that Gazzy insisted on trying some kind of Spiderman landing on the Washington Monument before we visited the White House.

Second was the fact that because of his stunt, there was a group of twenty armed guards waiting for us in front of the White House as soon as we touched solid ground.

Oh, and also we had apparently been "red flagged" as we soon found out. Not a good thing, judging from the looks some of the guards with Uzis were giving us.

We were escorted, in a not very welcoming manner, off the grounds to a nearby building, which apparently consisted mainly of different sized conference rooms. Don't ask me the name of the building, the guards weren't very good tour guides.

They led us to one of the larger conference rooms, forced us in at gunpoint, and left- shutting the doors behind them. When I say this room was large, I meant it would take more than a few wing beats to get all the way around. And there were no other doors to provide an escape.

"Look at this place!" Gazzy exclaimed. He then took off running around the table and sat at the swivel chair at the far end of the table. He put a pompous look on his face, folded his hands on the table in front of him, and affected a monotonous voice. "I declare this situation as severely hazardous, and the members of the government immediately outside the door as pushy and rude." He paused for dramatic effect. "Also, the guns they carry are extremely bad-ass."

"Language, Gazzy," I said distractedly, still scanning the room for an exit. Dylan shadowed me, and I did my best to ignore him.

Iggy walked over to the wall and stared closely at it.

"The walls are white."

"Yeah, seems to be a theme with these people," Nudge said, looking around the room distastefully. "I could do wonders with this space. A few pictures on the wall, a few well placed potted plants, a different coat of paint, obviously. Seriously, it's so stuffy. I bet people fall asleep regularly at whatever kind of meetings that go on in here."

"I believe they are super secret meetings in a super secret building with super secret members of the government concerning super secret matters of importance," Gazzy continued in his monotonous voice.

"Actually, we talk about the weather," a voice said behind us, "And discuss laws that might benefit the country."

We turned and saw that a group of people had come in behind us. Five people and five guards with guns. One guard per each one of us. If things got dicey, I'd say the odds were in our favor. I'd say that, but they have automatic rifles and we do not. So I'd better be on my best behavior.

"You mean the laws that give us the right to visit our nation's capital without being harassed?" I asked. Hey, can I help it if my best behavior is a bit lacking? I grew up in a dog crate, remember?

The guards fanned out around the room and shifted their guns menacingly. One walked over to where Gazzy was sitting and remained next to him as he swiveled 360 degrees around holding his hands in the air.

The man in the front of the group, who seemed to be about 24 and was in a suit that was clearly at least a size too big for him, stepped forward.

"Max, you may not remember but we've worked together before. I was one of the scientists working on the information we collected in Antarctica. I'm Mike," he offered his hand, but I wasn't about to shake it.

"You're right, I don't remember you. But if that's the case, you seem to have risen a bit in the scheme of things," I said.

He waved his un-shook hand in the air as if dismissing this, "It's true the government has been more willing to listen to what we have to say now. They understand the risks better than before, although convincing them of how to change that has been rather difficult."

"Well Mike, that's why we're here."

The men behind him shuffled around to look at me, muttering amongst themselves.

"Sorry?" Mike asked, looking at each one of us in turn.

I spread my arms wide, "We are here to help our fellow man see the error of their past ways. It is time to do or die. Put us to work, captain."

The group of men behind him erupted into loud protest. He turned to calm them and I waited for them all to shut up.

Finally one man stepped forward to address us. He was short, shorter even than me, with a balding head and a red face. "How dare you show up and just expect to take over?! Why should we even listen to you- an uneducated, underage, delinquent female?"

I stepped up to him and punched him in the nose. I held back, so as not to break it. Wouldn't want to get blood on their sparkling white carpet. Then I curtsied, in case my femininity was in question.

"Firstly, I'm nineteen- not a minor. Second, I've no criminal record. Third, my education… Well, you have me there. But the issue of my gender is probably best unmentioned." These people really didn't want me to go all feminist on their- well, as I said, we need to work on our language.

The man held his nose, his face going even redder. I could see tears in his eyes, but that didn't hide the rage that was in them. He stepped back with a glare at me.

Mike stepped forward again, a little wary, "Frank was out of line, Max. And I'm sure he's sorry," he added, glancing at him, "But what exactly do you mean to do? We are only a small part of the government, but nobody really knows what we are supposed to do from here. There's no plan for this. Nobody is really in charge-" One of the men behind him coughed significantly. Mike rolled his eyes, "The point is, we don't need more underlings. What we need is a leader."

He met my eyes suggestively. I looked at the men behind him, and saw they were looking at me the same way. Well, except for Frank.

"Whoa, you're saying you want me to lead?" I glanced at the Flock behind me, but they looked just as shocked as me. I studied the faces of the guards, but they seemed oblivious to the conversation that was going on. "Look guys, I'm flattered and all but I couldn't even stop Gazzy from playing around on the Washington Monument. You seriously want me to run a country?"

"You wouldn't really be running the country. You would just be advising us on what to do. And it would only be until we get a solid plan in order and a few government members replaced. It would only be temporary," Mike assured me.

"Very temporary," Frank muttered behind him, his voice nasally and high. I glared at him, but Mike ignored him.

"And you wouldn't be doing it alone. You would have all the government helping you, and the advisors to the President!"

"You mean whatever's left of them," I pointed out.

He continued, "You would have the resources to make a difference! You would give us the fresh start we need."

I shifted uncomfortably, "There's got to be somebody better qualified. Somebody who knows the proper procedures and the laws and everything."

He shook his head. "All that is not going to matter. Those people are trained for what to do in times of peace. Nobody knows what to do in a time of chaos."

"You do have plenty of experience with chaos, Max," Gazzy said from his swivel chair.

"And you always know what to do in a bad situation," Iggy said.

"And you have us," Dylan said, reaching out to touch my arm.

I shifted away from him, mulling it over.

"You guys don't want me. See, I can't even decide whether or not I want to be the one making decisions! That's got to be a bad sign, right? I don't want to do this."

"Haven't you ever heard the expression that people who want power shouldn't be allowed to have it? You should only give it to people who don't want it," Mike pointed out.

"No, I haven't heard that. I'm uneducated, remember?"

Mike sighed, "Why don't you just give it a try, Max? In a few days, if it's not working out, you can back out. Nobody will think less of you."

I looked around the room. Everybody was looking at me expectantly. No escape.

"Agh," I groaned, "Fine! But only for a few days."

Mike clapped his hands together and beamed, "Excellent! Now, a few problems we've been having. Firstly, food is becoming rather scarce. We need a way to ration it out. Oh, and we haven't been able to get into the President's computer yet. He has important information on it and we can't access it. We have some of our best tech guys on it but no luck yet-"

I shifted into leader mode. If I was going to do this, I was going to do it right. "Okay, Nudge, you take the computer. Gazzy can go with you, we need to stay in pairs." The Flock nodded, that was a given. These people hadn't earned our trust yet. I mean, come on, they greeted us with armed guards. "Iggy and I will see about planning some food recon. Dylan-"

"I go where you go," he said quickly, stepping closer to me.

I pushed him back with one finger. "You go keep an eye on Gazzy while Nudge works on the computer."

He opened his mouth to protest.

"Ah-ah!" I said, waving a finger. "Leader, remember?"

He scowled at me, but nodded and joined the other two as they followed a guard out of the room. Gazzy was practically skipping with joy.

I yelled at their retreating backs, "And if anyone finds a large red button in the President's room that says "Do not press!" then for the love of God, don't press it!"

A leader has to think of everything.


A/N: 'Kay, so you want to know what would be really great? If we could reach 60 reviews in under 10 chapters! I think it could happen, because you guys are just the best! So go ahead and prove me right and press that review button!