No Regrets Chapter 5, a maximum ride fanfic

A/N: Thank you guys for the favorites and alerts! Always makes my day.

And thanks to the reviewers, for actually reviewing:

The Muse

anonymous

Asidill- I get what you're saying. Of course, there are the people who have my story as a favorite, or on alert, but haven't reviewed once. Plus, it's a little depressing to get 30+ hits when you first put up a new chapter and then only get 3 reviews. Thanks for still reviewing though. ;)

And a special thanks to my unofficial beta reader, AKA my sister. So if you see any mistakes, it's all her fault. JK. Thanks sis!

So here we go with Chapter 5:

Max's POV

Okay, during my life as a mutant bird-kid, I've seen the strangest things. I'm not even exaggerating here. (As a mutant, would I even need to exaggerate anything?) I mean, first of all, there's me.Would you really believe a kid could fly unless you actually saw one soaring with some sweet wings? And then there's all the stuff I've seen growing up in the School: kids with scales, feathers, fungus, and fur, not to mention animals with a mixture of all aforementioned traits. And then there are things like the brain on a stick I saw on one of my more recent trips to the School. And, oh yeah, can't forget Box-Boy with the visible organs. Ew.

And then there's Indestructible Women, who I met- am meeting- right now. Get this; her skin is seriously made out of metal. Like, steel skin. And it's weirdly bendable which, believe me, is quite a sight to see. A human with impenetrable skin. I mean, wow. With her black eyes, I must admit she looked kind of robotish, especially with her hard-yet-flexible skin.

I'm thinking we need a quick recap here, although I assure you not much happened since I first regained consciousness. But here we go: I woke up, feeling extremely pissed, especially at my know-it-all Voice. I was in a plain, white room that contained a single cot and actually came with a simple bathroom. And then I made the discovery that my captors- their kindness never ends- had apparently removed the bullet in my shoulder and had stitched up my wound. Shortly afterward, some friendly robots escorted me to the room I was in now.

"Max," smiled the steel woman, her smile giving her face an eerie look. "Welcome to North Carolina."

"Y'know, I am really stumped as to how someone lives with metal skin. I mean, do you take a shower, or would you, like, rust?" Look, I think we all know I haven't got the best manners. Or more like none.

The woman nodded patiently as if I asked a simple question. "There are special materials in my skin that protect against anything like rust. As for personal hygiene, I'm surprised you've actually heard of a shower. I wouldn't have guessed looking at you now."

Well, I honestly did not expect that.

"Well maybe I'd have the luxuries of a home if people like you weren't always after me," I snarled, immediately switching to attack mode. "I mean, get a life. Or maybe a robot boyfriend. Maybe you could little botlets."

"I am the new director of Itex," the woman said smoothly as if I hadn't spoken. "Either you can join me, or you can be just another subject for us, to test and dispose of when needed."

"Like you weren't another subject yourself?"I sneered. I mean, this was unbelievable. "So, you become the new director, and have your own subjects? Totally disregard the fact that you were once like me? Forget the fact that 'subjects' are actually people?"

"Max, this may be hard for you to understand, but I'm working for something bigger than your attitude. Either way, you're useful to me, but it's up to you how the rest of your life goes."

The director's black eyes steadily looked at me. "Your choice. How about I give you a day to decide?"

I was about to say to her that I didn't need a day, that I wouldn't join her if my life depended on it, although it kind of did. Unfortunately, her stupid robot guards grabbed me and marched me down to my cell.

Which reminded me, I needed to have a serious talk with my Voice. I had just met the new Itex director. So I was 99.9% sure I was in the Itex headquarters, the main Itex building, the one where all the important information is kept. You know, the one that the Voice said was in Ohio.

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3rd person POV

Nudge sat up and gazed around blearily. "Where's Max?"

Iggy nervously tapped his foot as Fang answered calmly, "She left, Nudge."

Nudge brightened. "To get food? I'm soooo hungry right now. Is that why she let us sleep in? Are we gonna have a real breakfast? Why didn't we just go to IHOP again? I like IHOP. Or are we just trying to lay low for a while…"

Nudge glanced from Fang to Iggy. "What? What is it?"

Fang sighed and called, "Gazzy, Angel!"

The younger members of the flock snapped awake, while Total also awoke unhappily. "What? You forgot about me? Who cares about us canines, right? We have feelings too!"

Akila barked her agreement from over by Nudge.

"What's wrong?" Gazzy asked. Angel silently picked herself up and went over to Fang. He gave her a little smile and pulled her into his arms.

Nudge couldn't contain herself. "What happened? Did Max not come back?"

Fang's voice was slow and steady. "Max left us because Itex is tracking her. We don't know when, or if, she'll get back to us."

The clearing was silent, the only noise the rustling of the trees surrounding them.

"That's not funny," Total said flatly.

Fang turned his dark gaze on to the black Scottie. "It's not supposed to be."

Gazzy and Nudge looked like they were struggling to understand what Fang had told them.

"Will she be okay?" Gazzy finally asked in a small, scared voice.

"I don't know," Fang said softly.

Ten minutes later the flock was soaring in the sky, feeling downcast. No one, not even Nudge, had the appetite to eat breakfast at the moment.

"Why don't we find the nearest pay phone and give Dr. Martinez a call," Fang suggested. "There's a chance Max might've checked in with her."

"So what?" Iggy said bitterly. "We can find her and kidnap her, and make sure she never leaves us again?"

Fang frowned slightly, not really down with the whole 'leader' thing. "No, Iggy, we'd be able to see if she's okay so far. And if what Max is doing is working, then that means no one is after us. Max's mom is the only person we'd be safe to stay with."

Nudge looked up, faintly surprised that Fang talked more when he was leader.

"What are we gonna do?" asked Gazzy. "Like, are we just gonna wait for Max to come back? What if she doesn't come back?"

Fang studied the 8 year old boy, seeing him try and pull it together for his sister. "I don't know," he said finally. "Maybe we'll just hang out at Dr. M's for a while, and see what happens."

"Great plan," Iggy called sarcastically.

"He's trying," Angel snapped, unexpectedly defending Fang. "At least he's not thinking of how Max is probably going to die all the time."

"Well, just stay out of my head," Iggy growled.

This was the second time Fang had been leader of the flock for a period of time, and he wasn't doing well. Trying to keep it together for the remainder of his family, Fang kept his face smooth, hiding all anxiety. "I see a phone, guys. Let's land."

I hope you all don't mind I switched to 3rd person POV there. I find it hard to write in a guy's POV since I'm a girl and all.

Now, IMPORTANT QUESTION: Would you guys prefer longer chapters and longer updates, or shorter chapters and quicker updates? You can still answer the question, even though I've already updated!!!

As always, the readers' opinion counts, so please review!!!