Angel: Because you didn't have enough stories you were working on!
Me: Oh shut up. This one has been bugging me.
"Will I be able to see them?"
"Yes, Ms. Meridian, you'll dress as a nurse a see them once a month."
"So they won't even know I'm their mother?"
"No, Ms. Meridian."
Mary Meridian sighed. Pregnant with quadruplets, unknown father, these kids weren't going to have a bright future anyways.
"What DNA samples again?"
"An avian, a bat, a Newfoundland dog, and a panther."
"Is it safe?"
"We're almost positive we have the correct dosage."
"...Alright."
So the document was signed, 4 children to science.
Mary looked over the newborns, beaming with pride and joy.
2 boys and 2 girls, all tampered with, yet perfect all the same.
The oldest by 2 minutes, the avian boy, Thomas Aang Meridian. He had his mother's dark hair, but he had dark, predatory eyes and dark wings on his back.
Next was the bat girl, Stella Soara Meridian. Her mothers hair and green eyes, but leathery wings, and no doubt near-sightedness.
Then another girl, the panther mix, Ebony Grace Meridian. Dark hair, and feral green eyes, with dark cat ears and a dark tail, for hearing and balance. She had no human ears.
Last was the dog boy, Nathanial Apollo Meridian. With his dark hair that was fluffy and everywhere, and his over sized ears, as well as a tail.
Mary had never been happier or sadder in her life.
The scientists checked them over and started to take them away.
Mary's heart broke into a thousand pieces on the spot.
For 3 years, the quadruplets had mixed emotions about life.
On an average day, they were hardly fed and put through a lot of pain.
But once a month, the tests stopped, they were fed more, and a nice lady came. These were the days the kids lived for.
Thomas was an odd child. He didn't babble like the others, or complain during tests. Every now and then he spoke very clearly, using simple words, to convey how he felt or what he wanted. But even at 3, he was the rock for his family, the thing that kept them down.
Stella was an everywhere kind of kid. No matter what, she couldn't sit still and never stood in one spot for longer than 10 seconds. She babbled endlessly until she learned real words. Her babbling soon turned into happy words.
Ebony shyed away from everyone. There was babbling and then words, but never about feelings. Ever. In fact, there was a reason. The panther in her said when her family was weak, hungry, or in pain, now would be an excellent time to attack. So even as a young child she fought to keep her human and panther side to herself.
Nathanial was the sweetheart. He couldn't stand pain, whether he or his family was experiencing it. Emotions were more his forte than the others, because he made them feel better by crying with them.
Mary made the observations about her children and felt better. Knowing what they were like made her feel closer to them.
When the quadruplets turned 4, Thomas started disappearing. The scientists would take him, and wouldn't bring him back for 2 weeks. 2 weeks later, the cycle repeated.
Thomas wouldn't tell the others were they took him.
On the other side of the laboratory, 2 avian hybrids wondered where their friend went every month.
Once when Thomas left at age 4, he returned to see Nathanial cradling a mess of pink blankets.
A little girl with green eyes and chocolate brown hair blinked at the kids, little feathered brown wings peeking out from her back.
The scientists said she was their baby sister, named Luna Cassiopeia Meridian.
Luna went away for a while, and returned as a 2 year old to her 6 year old siblings.
2 years hadn't changed them much. Their odd personalities remained. Stella knew more words, and had grown less babbly, but still talked plenty. Thomas still remained quiet and disappeared every month. Ebony still restrained herself. Nathanial still loved them all, and became overprotective and Luna.
Luna often asked Thomas were he went, but Thomas didn't answer. He almost wanted to, with those big green eyes looking up at him.
1 year later, another package arrived, this time swathed in blue.
A little boy with amber eyes and flyaway blond hair, little yellow cat ears, and a tail with a tuft at the end. Leo Nicolas Meridian, part lion.
They kept suffering through, living only for that day a month.
At age 10, Thomas went to one of his bi-weekly what-they-ares and didn't return.
The other 10 year olds, the 6 year old, and the 3 year old all grew restless, but less on the 3 year old. He didn't really understand, and he had a friend.
Ever since they were introduced when Leo was just 1 ½ Leo and Ari were best friends. Ari laughed at Leo's half lion transformation, and Leo laughed at the jokes Ari told.
It was the best friendship in the world, between 2 boys locked up in a lab, so innocent.
Stella had assumed a leader-like position. Ebony was slowly becoming more in control of her panther side. Nathanial hardly ever left the side of Luna and Leo. Luna was a flighty dreamer who, whenever given the chance, floated about a room. Leo thought he was the fiercest of the fierce, and roared and giggled and wrestled with Ari.
After a year, they accepted Thomas wouldn't come back. 2 months after that, Leo had to struggle to accept Ari wasn't either. The little boy had just stopped coming all together.
That was about when the nice nurse stopped as well. Which left 3 11 year olds, a 7 year old and a 4 year old who missed their brother and had lost what kept them living.
Automatically they tried escaping.
They came close a couple times, but were always caught.
Until the one special day. The day it all went right.
They weren't sure why security was looser that day, but it was. So that was the day the got out through smashing a window.
Stella and Luna flew low to the ground, and Nathanial, Ebony and Leo ran.
5 kids, aged 12, 8, and 5, were finally free. But alone and clueless, about to resort to desperate measures and steal.
Meanwhile, Thomas 'Fang' Meridian dreaded having to get up and face his substitute family, thinking only of his real one.
There. And it was awesome.
Angel: ...Fine, it was okay. Flying doesn't own Maximum Ride.
FLying out.