We spent the next week and a half trying to find out all we could on Itex. Hours and hours of time looking, researching.
My days were filled witht he flock and Itex. My nights were filled with Fang.
"Dammit" I said, tossing the papers from the manila envelope to the floor."I can't make out anything new.Nothing. We
gotta change the plan. We need more information, lots more, soon, We can't just crash here indefinitely." I said ,
rubbing my head.
"Max, I've been over these a thousand times now. The words are starting to get blurry and run together." Nudge
whined as she tossed her papers onto the coffee table. "And I am hungry."
"Let's try the internet again." Fang said. He had been updating his blog. Ig, Angel and Gazzy had already given up and
turned in for the night.
"Why not."I muttered. About twenty minutes later, I sat rubbing my head harder. The pain had increased, but I did not
want to admit that to them.
"I can get to the Itex home site but cannot get in. I've tried every password I can think of." Fang said as he pushed back
the computer. "Here Nudge, it;s all yours." She shoved the last of a bologna and cheese sandwich into her mouth and
slid the computer around to face her. Thank God the ATM card from Jeb still worked. We had used it to buy food and stuff
after I had let the flock convince me this was a saft enough place to stay while checking out Itex. I had to admit, it sure
beat a tree top of subway tunnel.
My head was pounding now. I squeezed my eyes shut, scrunching up my face in pain as I slid off of the chair and into
the floor. Both hands were on my head."Max, you okay?" Nudge asked suddenly concerned. FAng looked at me, then
came over and placed his arm around me.
"Another brain attack." he told Nudge. Tears streamed down my cheeks, my head feeling like my brain was going to
explode and ooze out of my eyeballs.I balled up, trying not to make any noise from the horrific pain surging thru my
head. Fang rubbed my back and stroked my hair. Suddenly the computer started to bleep. Fang and Nudge turned to
see the screen light up, and then a message flashed.'14769831-BIO-ENGINEERING1.
"Nudge, write that down." Fang told her, still stroking my back. The computer went off again, so did my head. I groaned
in pain, beginning to shake a little. Fang was pressing down harder with his hand rubbing my back, then he wrapped
both arms around me.
My headache was starting to subside. I opened myeyes just enough to look at the screen.
Fang, look" Nudge said in amazement. Another message crossed the screen.'MAXIMUM REPRODUCTION1' Anger and
shock crossed Fang's face, but he said nothing.
"Holy cow Max. What does it mean?" Nudge asked, still staring at the screen.
"It means we have to get in gear and get rid of Itex. " I whispeered, rubbing my head.
"You ok" Fang asked, pulling me up.
"Yeah, fine. Just give me a minute to think. Nudge,turn in. It is late. Fang, go back into the Itex website. Use the
phrases we just saw as the passwords. Let's see if this works." I said.
A few minutes later, the screen was full of file names, codes and dates. Fang scrolled down til he found the one witht he
title we had seen on the pc minutes ago-MAXIMUM REPRODUCTION1.
"Holy moly" I gasped as I read the information that had popped up.Fang just sat, staringat the screen.
"You seeing this? They want to"--I started.
"Cross the Invincible Maximum Ride with the Ever so Repugnat Rags." Fang finished my sentence. I was shocked, then
angry. Just who the hell do they think they are anyway?
"But why? I just don't get it." I said, now pacing. Like I got anything the whitecoats ever did. Yeah fight."we gotta keep
moving. They could come here at any time, looking to take me back. We shouldn't have stayed this long in one place." I
said, my mind spinning.
"Max, it has only been two weeks. And we are safe for now." Fang started, as he got up and turned toencircle me in his
arms. And I, for one, have enjoyed every day, and night, we've been here" he said in al ow vcoice and kissed me on the
neck. I couldn't help but hink of the last few nights, here with him. My face blushed.
I smiled, "Yeah, me too. " as his lips trailed up my neck to my cheeks. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his mouth on
my skin. Then lightly shook my head. "But we gotta move soon. We gotta find this place. Eipe them out before they
have the chance to--"
"They wont. " his voice stern, solid. "I wont let them do that" he said, a look in his eyes I couldn't ever remember seeing
before. Not even when we were looked up in the school . We were quiet for a while. Just sat there on the couch
thinking.
"So, they want to harvest eggs from me and mix tith Rag's... to make a new breed of avain-human-wolf hybrid." I
sounded redundant I know.
"Looks that way." Fang said.
"Gross. I think I am gonna be sick." I said. Then I got up and ran to the bathroom. I was sick. Literally. God don't let me
catching something now. Not now. I took a moment to wash my face, and look in the mirror. Pull it together Mx I told
myself. Fang was staring at me when I came out. "You okay? he asked.
Yeah, guess rhe thought of a my child being part Rags ws a little more than I could stand." I said.
"It'll never happen, Max. I wont let them touch you" he said. Since when did I need him to be my guardian?I was leader
here. Calm down Max. I told myself. He's just being over-protective again. Well, I can protect myself pretty well by
now.Still, it was sweet.