Chapter 5: Here's the Plan

Iggy's POV

I was flapping my wings hard. I was trying to get to Max and Fang's as quickly as I could. I was surprised that the kids could keep up with me. Then again, they do have mine and Nudge's endurance.

"Iggy, why are we going to our aunt and Uncle's house? What's going on?" Crystal asked.

I sighed. "How much has your mother told you about the School?" I asked.

"You mean the place where you guys escaped?"

"Yea."

"Well, she said that that's why you guys have wings, and that you guys took down the company, but that's about it."

"Ok. It looks like there was an underground part of the company that we didn't know about. They've stayed hidden ever since we destroyed the building when we rescued you from the School. I imagine that they want something from us."

"But what does that have to do with our mom?" Nad asked.

"The School created these things called Erasers. They were hybrids like us except they were a cross between humans and wolves. They got rid of all of them a long time ago, and just started making random hybrids. When your mom called me, she mentioned something about Eliminators."

"What are they?" Tiara asked.

"They're like Erasers, only worse. They're a cross between humans and tigers. They are deadly."

"So why aren't we going home and trying to help mom!?" she freaked.

"Because they've already captured by now. She told me to protect you and keep you safe. We're going to Max and Fang's so we can regroup and plan a rescue mission."

As we came upon Max and Fang's house, we landed in the front yard. Max and Fang ran out onto the lawn. I could see they had worried looks on their faces.

"Max, we have a problem." I said.

"I know."

"What? You know about Nudge?"

"What about Nudge?"

"They captured her with some new type of hybrids called Eliminator. They're a cross between humans and tigers." I explained.

"Oh god. They got her too?" Max asked, her voice shaking a little with anger.

"Too?"

"Taylor called me. Angel and Gazzy were ambushed right in front of their house. She saw it, and called me and Fang. If they got Nudge too, then that means that they want us for a reason."

"It's not just us. They want the kids too." I said in a low, angry voice. They were taking my family away to that hell hole. I have to do something.

"What!?" Crystal panicked. "They want us!? For what!?"

"Calm down. I'm not really sure, but I promise, you're not going anywhere." I said reassuring her.

Just then Nat and Nexi walked out of the house. "hey guys. what's goin on?" Nat asked.

"We're having a little family emergency that needs to be taken care of. Everyone come inside." Max said in her leader type voice. God how I missed that.

We all filed into the living room. We started thinking up our options. "Well we can't all go. Someone needs to stay here to watch the kids." Max said.

Fang and I agreed. "I think I should go. Alone." I said, looking at them both.

Max gave me an 'are you crazy ?' look. "No Iggy. You can't go alone. You'll never make it. One of us should go with you." She argued.

"No. you guys should stay here. If they come looking for the kids, at least you two can stay together and fight them off. I have nothing left to fight for other than to save my family."

"Yes you do." Fang said.

I looked at him like he was crazy. "Oh yea? What?"

"You have your kids. You're all they have now. If they lost you, then what?" Max asked me.

"I know it's tough, but I have to do this. I have to save them, and I need you two to stay here and protect them. Please Max." I begged.

She looked at me with reluctant eyes, but agreed. "Ok. Get your bag packed."

"Thank you." I said hugging her.

Once I was all packed, I stood outside on the lawn. "Iggy!" Nad called after me. I turned around to see the three of them standing there. "Where are you going? Please don't leave us…" he had tears in his eyes.

I walked over to them and hugged them. "Don't worry guys. I'm gonna go and bring your mom back. Besides, I still gotta keep my promise to find you dad."

"Iggy." Max and Fang were standing in the doorway. "You know you may not come back. Maybe it's best you tell them the truth."

I looked in her eyes. I could see that she wanted them to know almost as much as I did. I let out a sigh of relief. "What truth?" Tiara asked.

"The truth is…I'm your father." I said in a low, shaky voice.

"You're our dad?" Crystal asked in shock.

"Yes."

"I knew it!" Nad said, hugging me even more. "I knew I was right! I knew it!"

"But why did you tell us?" Tiara asked.

"Your mom and I were waiting for the right time. But considering the fact that I may not come back, I wanted you guys to know that you're the best kids a dad could ask for."

They were all crying now. The girls grabbed onto me like Nad, and held tight. "Please, be careful." Crystal said.

"I promise I will. I have to come back to my princesses and my pal." I said as a tear came to my eye. They released their hold on me, and I turned toward back toward the direction of the School. I took a running start, and jumped into the air, extending my wings their full length, and taking off.

I swear, I will come back. I left you guys once, but I swear, I won't do it again. I'm coming Nudge, Gazzy, Angel. I'm coming.

Crystal's POV

We were sitting in my cousin's room. I hadn't said a word since dad left. It's been at least 2 hours. Nad won't stop talking. "I can't believe it! We got the coolest dad ever! I told you I was right!" he said, taunting Tiara.

"Shut it you little twerp. Ok, you were right. But I feel so useless right now. Mom's been captured, Dad's on his way to free them, by himself. It just doesn't feel right. We should out there helping him." She complained before punching the wall.

"I know. But there's nothing we can do about-" there was a sudden slamming noise.

All five of us ran out of the room and into the hall. My aunt was pressed up against the door, which was trying to be broken down by something. No! they're here for us!

"Fang! They're here!"

My uncle ran in, and tried to hold the door with my aunt. "What are we gonna do?"

"Like we planned. Kids!" she looked at us. "inside the garage, there are 5 backpacks with your names on them. We feared it would come to this, so we packed you some supplies. You 5 have to grab your packs, and find Iggy. We're going to hold them off as long as we can."

"What!?" Nat shouted. "No way! We're not leaving you! We can fight with you."

"Yea." Everyone else agreed. Everyone but me.

"No." I whispered.

Everyone turned to look at me. "What?" Nat asked.

"I can't. I can't fight. I can't do this!" I broke down and started crying.

"What's with her?" Nat asked.

"Now's not the time to argue Nat!" Aunt Max yelled. "You have to go. I promise we'll be fine. Find Iggy. He'll know what to do."

Nat looked at his parents for a moment, but reluctantly agreed. "Ok mom."

"Nat, I want you to lead them. You have to protect them all no matter what."

"I don't know if I can do that." He said, doubting himself.

"I know you can. Your Max's son." His dad said.

"That's right. I'm the son of Maximum Ride. I can do this." He nodded. He shifted his hat so that the front was turned to the side . "Let's go!" he shouted, leading us all to the garage.

Once inside, we closed the door. We ran over to the corner where our backpacks laid. We grabbed our respective pack, not checking to see what was in them, and opened the double garage door.

Once it opened, we ran outside, unfurled our mighty wings, and took off. We took a quick U turn and headed in the direction my dad was heading in earlier.

As we got further and further away, Nexi turned her head, and watched as the Eliminators tried to break in. "Nexi!" Nat called from the front of our 'New Flock'. She turned her head and looked at him, tears streaming from her eyes. "Stay focused. We're gonna find Iggy, and we're gonna go, and we're gonna save mom and dad. We cant do anything right now except find him like mom said."

"I know. I'm just worried, that's all."

"I know. We all are." He said. We instinctively formed a kind of V shape. Nat was in the middle and front since he was the leader. Tiara on his left, and Nexi on the right, with me and Nad bring up the rear, him on te left, and me on the right.

We're on our way Mom. We're gonna help dad rescue you guys. I swear. I thought.

Iggy's POV

It was getting late. The sun had set about 2 hours ago. I'd been flying for at least 8 hours now. I was tired, and decided to rest. I looked around as I scanned for a good place to land. I was over a forest. As soon as I say a clearing, I lowered myself into it.

I walked into the forest, and found a good place to setup for the night. I collected firewood as I went along so as to start a fire to cook dinner.

I was lying against a tree as my hot dogs slow roasted over the fire, when I heard a rustling in the bushes. I slowly stood, and walked over to it until I was close enough that I pounced onto the person. I was about to start fight when I saw who it was. "Whoa! Dad, stop! It's me!" it was Nad.

"Nad? What the hell are you doing here?" I asked as I helped him to his feet.

"We came looking for you."

"We? Your sisters are here too?" I asked, anger building inside me.

"Them, Nat and Nexi."

"Why did you come looking for me? I told you to stay with your Aunt and Uncle."

"We were under attack, so they told us to grab the packs they made for us and to come find you." He explained.

"Well were is everyone else?"

"Behind that bush. They saw the fire and sent me to check it out."

"Well you weren't very stealthy." I turned back toward the bush he came from. "It's ok. You can all come out. I know you're there."

Tiara and Crystal came running out of the bushes, and tackled me in hugs. "Daddy!" they said as I laid on the ground with them on top of me.

"Hey princesses." I said getting to my feet. "So it looks like it's just the six of us now. Ok. From here on out, you're going to learn how to survive. We won't all ways be around to protect you."

"So what do we do?" Nat asked.

"Does anyone know how to fight in combat?" I asked.

"I can." Tiara said, raising her hand.

"My dad taught me know how fight using double swords." Nat said, pulling them from his backpack.

"Mom said you couldn't?" Nexi said, smiling at him.

"And dad said I could. She can use num-chucks." He said, pointing to Nexi.

"Alright. Nad, what about you and Crystal."

"I'm a champ kick boxer at my school." He said proudly.

"I can't fight at all." Crystal said weakly. "You're probably ashamed of me."

"I could never be. And don't worry. I'll teach you a little something. First lesson, never let down your guard."

To be continued…..

And the new adventure begins! What will happen to the New Flock? Idk. You'll just have to wait and see. Hope you're enjoying the story, cause it's only going to get better! I promise!

Remember: Keep reading, writing, and reviewing!

Later!

-dt2009