Chap. 32

(Am I really the only person who is pissed over the ending of Angel, by JP? Jeez. lol)

(Fang POV)

I gaped up at Angel, my mouth hanging open like a fish. What was she doing here? Why was she looking down on me, and not helping me?

"Angel?" I asked, questioning the obvious.

"Hey, Fang. What's up?" She asked casually, as if we weren't two miles underground in a metal facility that does questionable tests. What the hell?

A loud clang erupted from the next room, and a swear floated out to us. Angel glaced backwards, and she seemed confused. Then, like she suddenly made up her mind, she held out her hands to Iggy and I.

We ignored it. Standing up, we could clearly see the metal room, and the whole emptiness of it. Angel looked hurt by our rejection, but suddenly hid it with a smile. "What are you guys doing down here?" She asked, wringing her hands behind her back. I knew it was the solitary move she did when she was nervous. My eyes narrowed, exploring hers. Her eyes searched mine, and she looked away from my accusing stare. She's definitely hiding something, all right. The question was, what was it?

The door of the next room flew open, and another small figure stepped out, flanked by a woman.

Angel. Number two.

First thought that flew into my mind: Damn. As if one evil demonic blonde haired girl wasn't enough. Second: how was this possible? Is this why there were two Maxes, Fangs, and now another Angel? What's next? A clone of Iggy?

Angel glanced back and forth between her other self and the two of us. She furrowed her brow, before murmuring something along an apology. I was about to reply, until the floor met my face, and a scream ripped itself out of my throat. Then:

Darkness.

I groggily opened an eye. Where was I? Who was I? What was going on? After a few minutes, I fully opened my eyes, to notice I was strapped to a chair, with a monitor beeping beside me. I thought a few swear words, and surprise crossed me when I realized what that machine did. It read and displayed my mind. I cursed again, quickly thinking of an escape plan, or route that I could take.

My breathing hitched when I saw a few tools on a table to my left. A knife, scalpel, some toothpick like instruments, and some other things I won't even try to imagine the name or purpose of. I sighed deeply. Where was Ig? I got him into all of this, and now I don't know where he is now. I wonder if he's...

Curse Max. Damn Fang. Fuck the Flock. Iggy's mind went berserk, cursing out everything that had caused him problems. Curse the scientists. Damn the School. Especially Jeb.

He sighed heavily and seriously wished he could see. That would make up for everything he'd ever wanted, and he wished he could. Just for a day. Or a week. Sight. How did Max look now? Fang? Blind wasn't his thing. He didn't choose to be blind. He didn't want to be blind. He didn't ask for a disability. The Flock always underestimated him; he could kick some serious ass when he wanted to.

This was one puzzle he had to wait for some help with. He sighed again, and banged his head aginst the seat he was in. His hands were strapped, and he heard a faint beeping nearby. He smacked his head aginst the chair in frustration, then winced when the bump on his head throbbed in protest. When did he get that?

Probably when he was knocked out.

"So, you want to see again?" A voice asked. Iggy looked up. That sounded exactly like Fang. Who was that? Before he could open his mouth, the voice had already answered him.

"Yes. I'm Fang's twin. My name is...Maxis. Dr. Maxis. You all are in my cloning facility. Also a testing facility. So, you wanted sight, right?"

Iggy swallowed. Where was this man going with Ig's blind issue? Again, before he could speak, the man spoke ahead, cutting him off.

"No. I cannot read minds. There is a monitor near you projecting your thoughts to me. Iggy, listen." He moved something, maybe a chair, in front of Iggy. He sat down, and sighed. Iggy's mental picture of him had him rubbing the bridge of his nose. Poor Fang II, I mean, Dr. Maxis, he thought.

Maxis continued. "I can cure you. I can make you see again. Let me help you. I will give you enhanced vision, that nobody else on the planet will have. Just..."

Iggy interrupted him. "What do you mean? Give me new eyes? Why should I trust you? You stole Max, did heaven knows what with her, and now you have me. Possibly Fang. Why should I trust you?"

Maxis was silent. "You're right. I guess we'll have to do this the hard way." Directed to someone else in the room, he said: "Wheel the bird child away, and have the surgery performed. Extra nitrous oxide dose for him. Make sure he's out cold."

"No! Wait, I don't want this! I-"

"Iggy. You want it. I see it in your useless eyes. I see it in your mind. I see. You can too." Pause. "Take him away."

He thrashed against the ropes that held him down, and tears flooded from his...useless eyes. He didn't want this. Maybe he did, but...definitely not this way. He wriggled and writhed against the ropes, and promptly gave up.

A woman's voice came to him. Low, curious. "Don't worry honey, this will be over quickly. Looks like the nitrous oxide doesn't affect you, so we'll do this as fast as possible. Don't worry, it'll just hurt a pinch."

After that, screams and shrieks of pain echoed in the hallway for three hours straight.

Jeb sat, scratching his balding head. Whew, good thing he had that chip implanted in Max. He had known where she was throughout her whole life. When she had Rose, or where she was raped. Twice. She was in dire trouble now, in an underground facility, with her best wingmen stuck down there with her.

Time for Jeb to take action.

During Max's life, Jeb had been secretly testing and creating more bird children in his tubes back at the lab. After many failures, he had created the two perfect children.

Maddy and Dylan.

Technically, they didn't have last names. So he let them name themselves, like he did with Max. Maddy chose Swagger, Maddy Swagger. Dylan chose...nothing actually. Just Dylan, plain and simple.

Maddy was outstanding, a small, petite figure. Long, flowing brown hair reached to the small of her back. Her ice blue eyes were loving at times, but could be cold and calculating. She smiled, and always kept to herself, losing herself in her novels she read.

Dylan, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. He had dirty blonde hair, and was sturdy and muscular. He smirked and used heavy sarcasm every chance he got. Not the most innocent mind either.

The two were partners in crime. Stealthy and sneaky, they were the perfect rescue team. Completed missions James Bond couldn't handle. Eighteen year olds made for undercover missions. Private investigations. They were made for Max and her Flock.

Pressing a button, a secret door near him opened. Maddy stalked out, upset that Jeb had disturbed her nap. Dylan was estactic with happiness, for they hadn't had a fun mission in forever.

"What do you want, Jeb?" Maddy asked, folding her arms over her chest. She huffed whenever Jeb didn't reply. He simply pointed at ont of the multiple screens, the one with MR label.

"And that stands for...?" Dylan asked, practically reading Maddy's mind. He grinned when she glanced at him, and he smacked her butt playfully. She growled at him, and sat in a chair in the corner, huffing again. Who dares take her away from her book, Cross Fire. It was almost like NCIS in book form. Of course written by James Patt-

"Maximum Ride." Jeb interuppted her thoughts. "She's your next mission. She must be taken out of the facility, alive, with her comrades. They must not be hurt either. Also-"

Dylan interrupted. "Why is this chick so important? Why's she so special?"

"-because she is the saviour of the world. If you two fail, that will be the end."

Maddy rolled her eyes. Dramatic much? Jeez. What was up with this guy, it was like he always had a-

"These will be your gadgets," Jeb started. Maddy and Dylan shared a glance. What the hell? All the missions before this hadn't needed useless spy equipment. Were they in a James Bond movie, or something? He continued, ignoring their incredulous stares. "This will be able to disable the power, as in electricity. Simply stick it in a power plug, or fence, it will be shut off for only an hour. Since the facility is underground, and the power will be out, you will need night vision goggles." He held up a few pairs of sunglasses. "These cannot be worn during the day, or when you are around light." Pause. "You both will wear these hearing devices that allow me to speak to you at any given time." Pause. "Here is where the area is located." He stared at them as he handed them each two backpacks, full of the said gadgets.

Maddy smiled at him sweetly, to hide the anger that was bubbling inside her. This man clearly underestimated them, he had the nerve to give them "gadgets!" Dylan shared the same thought, feeling offended also.

They went back into their room, and packed the essentials. Extra clothes, extra food, and more stuff. Especially food.

They came back out, and Dylan mockingly saluted Jeb behind his back. Maddy had to swallow a giggle, by covering her mouth and holding her breath.

Squinting as they stepped out of the door, both flared their wings out. Maddy had dark grey wings with black tips, and Dylan's were simply breathtaking. Both at fifteen foot wing span.

The two lifted into the air, carrying their backpacks on one shoulder. Maddy sighed, and spoke to Dylan in a...different tone. "Okay, Dylan. You ready?"

He merely nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his full rosy lips. Together, they headed south, into the unknown dangers that lay ahead.

(Do you guys mind that I added two new characters to the story? I'm just curious. Tell me what you think, pwease! :3)