Sorry I'm updating so late!

It's been a busy day. And I have a feeling tomorrow will be just as busy, so I'll do what I can to get another one out tonight or tomorrow.

In case anyone is wondering, this story is prewritten! That's why I can post so quickly! I prefer to finish writing a story before posting. It's much easier! ;)

CHAPTER 31

Max POV

A week passed, and we were still at the Lerner's School. We'd been preparing for the final battle any way we could. Mostly, we were perfecting our abilities.

Anne and Jeb managed to get their hands on some old, broken Flyboys for us to practice on.

Nudge could pick a Flyboy apart in a matter of 3 seconds thanks to her magnetic ability.

Iggy and Gazzy put together bombs that would be the most destructive with the make of the Flyboys.

Angel even perfected her mind reading ability, which I haven't yet decided if that was a good thing or not. On the brighter side, she can read Jeb's mind finally. Turns out, he really was telling the truth about everything since we've been here.

Anyway, Fang could read someone's emotions like a book if he concentrated. We learned that he had a hard time using it during a fight, though (aka: our sparring matches).

I was surprised by how much our time there was helping us. All of us mastered every obstacle course they had. They fed us all kinds of healthy foods that boosted our stamina easily. Plus, we all had our own beds. We all stayed in one room for Angel's sake, but at least we had beds.

Unfortunately, time was running out. It was only a matter of a few days before we went into battle. Itex sent us a warning message that told us to either give up or they'll make us. Ha! Like I would give up to them.

"We never did figure out how Itex had been finding us," Iggy stated as we finished breakfast.

I let out a sigh. There was only one way I could think that they would keep finding us…

Fang POV

Hesitantly, the flock, minus Max, had an X-Ray done. We had to see if the rest of us had chips in our arms. Jeb said he only recalled Max having a chip because that was the only one they followed. Max was not so excited to hear that.

We all sat patiently, well, almost patiently, waiting to see the X-Ray.

Anne came back with the transparencies in hand. One-by-one, she slid them onto light as we all gathered around to see.

"Well?" Max asked, not taking her eyes away from the X-Ray.

"Angel," Anne stated. "You're clean. Nudge. Gasman. You, too."

She paused and looked over mine and Iggy's again. Then, I saw them. Iggy and I had little spots in our forearms on the X-Rays. Just like Max did before it was removed.

"Fang. Iggy," Anne continued solemnly. "You each have one in your forearms."

Iggy tensed while Max just became furious.

"Jeb," Max growled in a low, menacing tone. "Explain this."

Jeb sighed, "Yes. I remember now. We placed the chips in you three when you were babies. When Nudge was born, we didn't see a need to do it anymore because we never thought you'd escape."

Max and I were relieved that the younger kids didn't have chips, but Max wasn't satisfied with Jeb's response. She clenched her fists and teeth, shouting, "You son of a—"

"Max," I interrupted, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Her muscles relaxed slightly under my hand, but her anger was still pulsing.

"Remove the chips," Max demanded, glaring at Jeb still.

His face became apologetic. "Max, I wish I could. Anne, could you?"

"I'm not sure I could," Anne replied, but still looked hopeful. "Max, didn't Dr. Valencia Martinez remove yours? We could call her and get her assistance."

Max thought a moment and said, "Yea. I'll call her and see if she can come."

"Wait," I interjected. "When she removed Max's, Max lost the use of her arm. What are we going to do about that?"

"Oh yea," Max muttered. "But it worked when we got to the School."

Again, she glared at Jeb and Anne. This time, the rest of us joined her.

"Well?" I asked them.

"We'll see if Valencia can do it," Jeb replied calmly. "If anything like that happens, we'll take care of it. You have nothing to worry about."

Max POV

Like we haven't heard that before.

Whatever.

We called my mom soon after and she agreed to help. The flock was excited to hear my mom was coming. Iggy was even more excited to hear Ella was coming as well.

Jeb managed to set up a private jet to bring them here, so they would arrive quickly.

I was sitting out in the courtyard for an hour or so, thinking things over, when Fang silently joined me.

Nodding towards his wrist, I said, "I guess that explains why you and the boys were attacked and the girls and I weren't when we were in Europe, destroying Itex in Germany."

Fang nodded, not looking at his arm. "Guess so."

We sat quietly for a few minutes until Fang stood up, holding a hand out in front of me. "Come on. Jeb said Dr. Martinez would be here pretty soon."

I smiled and took his hand before walking back to the cafeteria with him.

Either my computer or FanFiction is freaking out about me trying to put in those horizontal rulers.

Well, let me tell you, horizontal rulers: I don't go down without a fight!

Anyway, super duper special thanks to my reviewers! =D