A/N: Sorry about the delay, but I needed to get a new computer. Also, I've put up a challenge on my profile. PM me if you're interested.
Disclaimer: Still don't own. If I did, Star Wars would still have the EU.
The pain makes it hard to focus, but I tap into the Force to guide me down a slope and into some dense undergrowth. I lie very still, trying to catch my breath, and think. Far above me, I can hear the wild boys yelling and shooting again. They sound like elephants crashing through the woods, and I don't need the Force to track them as they blunder right past my hiding place. I feel like an ogre has just beaten me all over with a club. My right arm hurts like fire. I try to stretch out my wing, only to suck my breath in hard as I discover it got hit too. I can't see it well over my shoulder, but going by the searing pain, it's bad. Slowly, I stand up, smothering gasps of pain. I need to get out of here. Trusting my senses to direct me, I start working my way north. I swallow a groan as I realize that Nudge and Fang are no doubt wondering where the heck I am. I messed up big-time. Angel is waiting for me too—if she's still alive. I've let them all down. On top of it, I'm hurt pretty bad and there's gun-toting maniacs after me. Crap.
Time skip
Stumbling through the woods, I silently curse my decision not to bring Bacta patches. My shoulder oozes thick red blood every time it gets jarred. This situation totally sucks, and it's 100 percent my own stupid fault, which makes it even worse. Of course, to add metaphorical insult to literal injury, it starts pouring rain. So now I'm slogging my way through wet woods, brush, clay and mud, wiping water out of my eyes, and only getting further chilled, miserable and hungry while growing more insanely furious at myself.
After what seems like forever, lights appear ahead. If it's a store or shed, I might be able to wait till everyone left and then hole up for the night. Moving quickly, I'm soon only ten yards away, hunching down in the darkness, peering through the trees. In front of me, there is a house. Scanning the windows, I spot movement. Ella. Must be her house. While I try to plan my next move, Ella emerges. She's carrying large umbrella and holding a leash with a low set, over-weight dog. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I take a deep breath and start walking towards the younger girl. "Um, Ella?" That elicits a startled squeak. I step forward a bit, out of the underbrush, so she's able to see my face. "It's me," I mutter, feeling even stupider. "The girl from before." Despite the rain and growing darkness, she notices the blood on my jacket. "Are you alright?" she gasps. I grimace, "The Neanderthal with the shotgun managed to wing me." Ella looks at me with astonishment. "Why didn't you got to the hospital?" "Don't know where it is. And frankly, I don't trust 'em," I admit. This, surprisingly, is accepted with a silent nod. "I understand," she says. "My mom can help. She's a vet, but she can do human injuries as well." The girl then turns and calls "Mom! Mom! This girl needs help!" A dark-haired woman with worried eyes appears at the door. "What is it, Ella? What's wrong?" "Mom, this is…" Ella stops, her hand in midair. "Max," I supply. Crap, I must have lost a lot of blood, 'cause there's no other reason I wouldn't give a fake name. "Max got shot helping me get away from José and Dwayne and the others." "Oh, no!" exclaims Ella's mother. "Please, Max, come in. Do you want me to call your parents?" I shuffle on the doormat, reluctant to drip rain, and blood, on their floor. "Um..." Then the woman notices my blood soaked and torn jacket. The whole situation changes instantly. "Let me get my stuff," she says gently. "Take off your shoes and go with Ella to the bathroom." I ditch my muddy combat boots and slosh down the hallway in my wet socks. "What stuff is she going to get?" I whisper. Ella flips on a light and ushers me into an old-fashioned bathroom with green tiles and a rust ring around the sink drain. "Her first aid kit. I told you, she's a vet," the girl whispers back.
Ella's mom returns with a plastic box that I recognize as a medkit. "Ella, please get Max some juice. She'll need fluids and sugar." After her daughter leaves, the woman says "I take it you don't want me to call your parents." as she starts cutting away my ruined jacket. I simply shake my head. "What about the police?" she asks. Shaking my head again, I explain "There is a group after me and there's a good chance they've got the cops under surveillance." The vet looks surprised by that but accepts my reply. It's at this point that Ella's mom removes my jacket. Her gasp of shock tells me I should have mentioned that I'm not exactly human. "Max, why are there feathers growing out of your back?" the woman queries. I laugh a little. "They aren't growing out of my back. They're growing out of my wings. Speaking of which, I think my left wing got hit." Gaping, she stammers "What are you?" Shooting her a look, I retort "Just… Just get my wing and back patched would you."
A startled squeak announces Ella's return. When I turn to look at her, she pales and almost drops the glass of apple juice she's carrying. Aw crud. My eyes must have changed color. One quick glance at the mirror confirms this. My reflection bares the red-flecked yellow eyes of a Sith. This is bad. As panic starts to build, blood loss catches up with me and I momentarily blackout. This gets Ella and her mother over the Sith eyes real quick. Ella, steadying me, all but forces the juice down my throat. Her mother then begins to study my wounds. Frowning she declares "You likely won't be able to fly for a month or more Max." Rapid healing plus Force Healing Trance means maybe a day and a half.
Unfortunately, as the vet is bandaging my injuries, there is a knock at the door. Ella hurries out of the room to answer it. A few second later, a gruff voice carries to us, "We're searching for a young woman around five foot eight with brown hair. She's wanted in connection with a triple murder." Ella's reply of "Haven't seen her" is followed by a pained yelp. A man who is obviously not a cop appears in the bathroom doorway, a gun in his hand. Fed up with this, I draw my lightsaber. Ella's mother, seeing the crimson blade erupt from the black weapon, almost faints. Before my opponent can aim, I blast him with Force Lightning, causing him to morph. This leads to the vet fainting. Pressing my advantage, I slice the Eraser's thoracic cavity open. The stench of ozone and seared flesh awakens my unconscious host to me preparing the corpse for disposal.
Feeling sorry for putting the family in danger, I decide to spend as little time with them as possible. "Just get me some food and I'll be on my way," I state. The vet simply nods and heads off to the kitchen. A few minutes later finds me walking out the door carrying a bag full of sandwiches and fresh-made chocolate chip cookies.
Time Skip
After a night spent in a healing trance and half of the sandwiches, I'm healed enough to begin the trek to Lake Mead. Less than an hour into my walk, I spot Fang flying towards me. "What the Hell Max! We need to rescue Angel! She can't afford any delays!" he shouts. Wow. That's the most he's said at one time in months! I meet his gaze and instantly regret it. His obsidian eyes are filled with worry and desperation. Part of me wants to lean in and kiss him. Bad Max! Bad! Suppress the hormones and get going! At this point though, my teenage hormones are hyped up enough to by-pass my self-control. Luckily, Fang chooses that moment to grab my arm and start dragging me towards the lake. As we jog through the woods, my attention keeps getting drawn to Fang's silky raven hair and… Gah! Why do my hormones have to flare-up on a rescue mission? My best friend's voice snaps me out of my internal self-beratement. "Max, you seem…distracted lately. What's up?" Sighing I reply "It's hormones, we can deal with it when Angel's safe." He smirks. "And those hormones are directed at me aren't they." I hang my head. Laughing, he says "That's not very Sith-like." I punch him. "I left the Sith remember? And I did it for The Flock… mainly you though," I admit.
Time Skip
Around nine hours have passed since my sort-of confession and we've finally reached the cave where Fang sent Nudge when he went after me. Much to our surprise, Iggy and Gazzy are waiting there as well. Knowing my imminent question, Iggy answers it. "Erasers were going to seal the house off with a landslide." Noticing the look on my face, he adds "We were out numbered about thirty to one." I sigh. "Did you get as much out as you could?" Gazzy answers "Yep. Grabbed Bacta, field rations, a few blasters, and the bug-out kits." Nodding I ask "Locked everything down?" He bobs his head slightly. "Good. Now let's get moving, we've got a little girl to save," I announce.
Time Skip
The rest of the day is spent flying hard and fast. Dusk sees us entering Death Valley National Park, a place that is rather appropriate for the School; although the National Park Service would likely appreciate us removing that hellhole from the park. Now, while a night attack would be quite effective, we're too tired to launch an assault yet. Hold on just a few more hours Ange. We're coming for you. As the Flock settles down for a two hour rest, headlights flare. Damn. The headlights belong to the military-grade multi-terrain passenger vehicles belonging to the School. Erasers begin pouring out of the vehicles, followed by Doctor Batchelder and someone I never thought I would see involved in this: Ari, Batchelder's son. That bastard turned his son into an Eraser! I'll kill that arrogant asshole. Then, just as a warning reverberates through the Force, there is the whoosh of tranquilizer darts being fired. A sharp prick and everything goes black.
When my consciousness returns I immediately reach out with the Force, seeking my Flock. In the crate nearest me is Angel. Fang and Iggy are across the aisle. Gazzy and Nudge are stacked above me and Angel. No other living thing is in the room. Without opening my eyes, I remotely activate my lightsaber and call it to me. Twenty seconds later, the weapon comes spinning through the door. I direct the blade into the lock on my cage and retrieve my energy sword. With the Force and fifteen seconds, all the cages are torn open. The sound of tearing metal awakens Angel. As soon as I finish extricating myself from my crate, the little blonde girl launches herself at me, crying "Mommy!" Yeah, I'll let her. Fang snickers and I shoot him a dirty look, then realize that the only reason I'm not jumping him right now is that the others are here. Curse you hormones!
The events of the past week force me to realize that the two Flock members most important to me are Fang and Angel. Unfortunately, this realization hits at the worst possible time. A dozen Erasers burst through the door, having followed my lightsaber. Sh… no, no swearing with Angel around! Lightning erupts from my fingertips, stunning the monstrosities. Feeling the power of the Dark Side rising within me, I force my eyes to retain their natural color. For Angel's sake.
A/N: No, Max is not OP. The School's forces are just mooks. The Big Bad's troops will be stronger.
Character Bios
Name: Iggy
Aliases: none
Species: Homo volatilis
Hair: strawberry blond
Eyes: ice blue
Height: 1.90 m (6' 2") at 14
Mass: 46.27 kg (102 lb.) at 14
Wing Span: 4.57 m (15 ft.) at 14
Wing Color: ivory and off-white