A New Flock Member

I woke up and stretch feeling very refreshed-until last night's events crashed down on me like a sack of bricks. I looked over at Fang and NO WAY! Those weirdish scares were gone-along with his shirt, his face was normal, he breathing was normal, his amount of moisture was normal, and next to him, sleeping, was someone who was not normal.

"Wake up! Wake up!" I screeched. Everyone shot up. Chuck, Fang, Optimum.

"Fang shook his head, then noticed Optimum. "Hey who are you?" he asked suspiciously.

"The person that just saved your sorry life," Ops informed him.

Fang checked himself over and then stared at Optimum like he'd suddenly morphed into an Eraser. Chuck was staring his mouth open trying to take it in, and trust me, so was I. Looks like last night's little episode wasn't a dream after all, I should be more careful about who I give membership in our family to. Fang gave me a look that stated the same thing: 'why? Is? He? Here? And why? Is? He? Staying?'I shrugged.

Chuck just stared at me then stared at Optimum. "Is he your older brother?" he asked wide-eyed.

I glanced at Optimum. Tall-all bird kids were tall, wings-we all have wings, long sun bleached hair and dark tan, eyes like sparkling puddles in a dessert. He was kind of good looking, but not my brother.

"I don't see it." I said.

"But he has your face and his hair would be the same color as yours if it wasn't so bleached out. His eyes are the same as yours and so is his mouth. He just kinda carries himself that same way y'know?" As Chuck described the similarities between Ops and myself I began to see them. It was a slightly horrifying revelation.

"Get used to it, Max; I'm your big brother."

I think my eyes almost fell out of my skull.

"I'ma not but I," I stammered helplessly.

"Well not actually, I'm sort of a clone of yours that they slightly modified."

I'd say those changes were more than slight bucko, look at you!

"I guess they were pretty major," he admitted.

"What was that?" I demanded, cause it felt like it did when Angel read my mind. Creepy.

"I can read your mind, you could probably read mine if you tried. Us Alphas were meant to work together seamlessly."

"Alpha?" this was getting, interesting.

"Oh you know, me, you, Ultimate," he said casually.

Actually Optimum I don't know because no one ever tells me these things until they're sitting on top of me! Thank you voice, and Jeb. Jeb, oh yes, Optimum had his icey blue eyes. It would be hard to trust him now that I was also seeing the Jeb and Ari in him. 'Cept Ari hasn't looked like Jeb in ages, oops.

"Excuse me if I don't get all this, but what do you mean by 'Alpha' and 'clone' or 'brother' or whatever you think you are?" Fang said bristling.

Optimum looked mildly surprised. I'd say stuff like this is either under his control or interesting 'cause he doesn't see it much. I mean as lab rats we're kind of deprived of real life experience. Maybe Ops thought he was well trained enough that he didn't have to worry about Fang and his insignificant anger. Optimum, meet Ari he's kind of experience in the Fang's Anger Department.

"I well I'm closer to her brother then you are. I'm brother in nature, not just in name. And we Alphas were meant to save the world. I'm still not sure what Betas like you were created for, but I'm sure you'll find your niche." Ops said it with a sense of superiority. Exactly how we talk to 'flying Erasers.'

Fang glared and his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't see what makes you so special. In fact, I don't think I could tell you from an Eraser!"

Optimum face twisted into a snarl. Careful who you compare a bird kid to; it might be the last thing you do. I guess Ops, for all his superiority, had the same buttons as we did.

"Watch it beta," he snarled.

"Don't tell me what to do in my own family you-"

An abrupt punch in the nose cut Fang's sentence short. Fang retaliated with a quick side-kick. I tried to get between them and break it up, but Fang shoved me aside.

"I can take care of myself!" Fang said.

"Yeah, let the baby beta take care of himself. He's man enough to take a beating."

Like wow, man pride, what can you do? I decided to let them duke it out.

Optimum quickly took the winning side. He threw Fang to the ground and kicked him in the ribs over and over again. When Fang rolled out of the way and got to his feet Optimum spun him around and jerked his wings together. Fang screamed in agony.

I stepped between them, "stupid pride or not I'm not letting you beat up Fang!"

Optimum shoved me out of the way threw Fang up against a tree choking him. "You get it now? You're never going to-"

I cut him off with a sharp side kick that left him gasping, a little. He released Fang though, who dropped to the crowd in a heap. I rushed to his side and tried to help him sit up.

"Get off," Fang growled shaking off my hand. "I don't need your help."

Hey! He's mad at me? His manly ego did this I tried to stop it! "What? Do I sense hostility?"

Fang glared.

I guess I do. Fang hopped backwards for a few steps then turned around and tore out of the clearing. I looked back at the rest of the Flock, who were just as stunned as I was, and followed him.

"Fang! Wait! Fang!" I called as we charged through the woods at breakneck speed. Branches whapped my neck and arms and the uneven rocky ground nearly tripped me. "This is stupid! Get back here!" Fang, the silent, didn't reply. Too soon I lost sight and sound of him. Either he'd holed up or taken the skies, at that moment I didn't care if Erasers had him.

"If you ever feel like coming back, we'll be waiting." I yelled angrily. "If you can swallow your pride, that is!"

I spread my wings and flew back to our clearing.