Maximum Ride: The New Breed

Lynx-

Everybody shifted uncomfortably... and waited for someone to speak... the silence was getting unbearable. I looked desperately at Chaos, he shrugged...

Then spoke again. "Is anyone hurt?" Which was a stupid thing to say, because we could tell that they had had a pretty bad beating. But at least it got people moving.

I took the cue and said "Yeah, I've got some bandages." And so my nursing career took off in leaps and bounds.

Rose asked suspicously "Where'd you get these?"

"Stole 'em." She was still suspicious but let me dress her wounds.

"Now, what to eat," Chaos waited for somebody to pull out whatever they were used to eating. I could tell he was hungry. I rolled my eyes, sometimes Chaos was unbearably dense. Just because they've survived for what, two, three weeks they MUST be experts on getting food out of a wilderness right after a disturbing battle and a huge blowup.

I pulled out an MRE and a water bottle from my bag and tossed it to Stella. "Not exactly appetizing, but it's food."

And I walked out just to see the sun rising. ZT, Mayze and Lexi were flying towards the cave.

Reed-

I stood facing the sunrise thinking about the newcomers. I didn't know what to make of Chaos, he seemed odd, I didn't know a better word for it. But I thought I had seen Lynx before, and it was driving me crazy trying to think where. Then behind me, I heard someone say that Mayze, Lexy and ZT were on their way back.

((Mayze))

---Earlier---

I felt a little better when ZT took my hand. Our wings beat in unison so we wouldn't hit each other by accident.

"So what happened?" ZT asked, his voice careful.

I sighed, "Do you think I'm the leader? I mean, we all work together but I feel like I'm the one keeping everyone together." I guided ZT away from a gust of wind that was coming quickly towards us.

The gust nicked his wing but he recovered, "I think you're not quite the ring leader...yet. Reed's the strong guy who's most of our brawn but you're most of our brain. Stella too, she's really sharp."

I was puzzled, "So I need to become stronger?"

ZT laughed, he looked away and closed his eyes as the wind pummeled his face, "No, you're fine the way you are, I'm just saying that I don't think one person can man a whole flock alone."

I frowned, and watched the trees fly past us. We rose on one of the few thermals up until we could barely breather. ZT let go of my hand and closed his wings in. He spiraled upwards then shifted and plummeted down. I smiled and followed him. I fell faster and faster until we were the same speed. Right before we hit the trees I ripped my wings open to catch myself. We both laughed, our hair streaming back over our faces.

---Present---

"There's Lexy."

ZT voiced what caught my eyes. Lexy was lazily drifting around in circles and slowly making her way into the cave. She arrived before us and took her place in the back of the cave. ZT and I landed to find Lynx bandaging up a few of the flock.

"So, I'm assuming we've made the peace?" I asked.

"Well..." Stella responded, looking at our guests.

Chaos smiled at me, "No intros."

I gave a slow nod, "Well, I'm Mayze."

"ZT."

"My name is Stella."

"Reed."

"Rose."

Chaos moved his eyes around as each person stated their names, "You already know our names."

"Oh!" I added, "Lexy's the one back there." I gestured towards the back of the cave.

"They shouldn't be here." Lexy had raised her head up to glare at the newcomers, "Watch out, our fearless leader over there'll clip your wings and beat you bloody."

Chaos was amused by this, "Sounds like rebellion going on back there."

That hit me, "Rebellion from what?" I asked, my voice even, "I'm not the leader. No one seems to think so. We work as a team. There's nothing to rebel against. However, I feel I have a pretty good idea about what the flock is thinking as a whole. If I'm totally off base then tell me." I was addressing the flock.

[Chaos]

"Sounds to me like your flock isn't thinking as a whole at all," Chaos commented, his smile fading, "You're all just waiting to see if one of your flock mates is going to jump at your throat first chance they get. You can't function like a flock if you're suspecting each other every second."

Chaos knew they wouldn't exactly appreciate a lecture from him, but it looked like they needed it.

*wow I've been gone for a day and BAM! 1 1/2 pages lol*

(Lexy)

I felt like I couldn't breathe and my vision was starting to fade I'd been bitten by that damn rat! I looked down at my hand to still see the bone and the dried blood, the only finger I could move was my ring finger. I took my other hand, the only one that actually worked and I moved it across my bruised ribs. I winced in pain and then looked at the new comers.

"You shouldn't be here." I said again, "nothing personal, but I'm running out of people to trust." I said.

"You won't have that problem with us." Chaos smiled.

"I've heard that so many times its not even funny." I said my face pale.

"I'm serious." Chaos said stepping forward. "Can we take a look at your cuts?"

"Unless you can bring my hand back, there really is no point in see them." I said.

I started walking out of the cave.

"Where are you going, now?" ZT asked.

"Out." I growled. "And this time if anyone follows me they're going to wake up very confused in Cuba."

(ZT)

Cuba, I thought. Where the hell is that?

Then I thought back to what Mayze had said. How she was the one holding us together. I believed it. It wasn't my job, that was easy to tell. I was a warrior, not a leader. I followed orders, not gave them. Didn't I?

Maybe the flock didn't need a leader. Maybe we needed to work together, and just trust people.

No, not people. Mutants. We had to trust the mutants.

Or maybe we should just split up, and if you wanted to stay with a group you could. But that wouldn't work.

I knew what we had to do... besides trust each other. But obviously, not very many people were going to completely trust anyone.

We had to get rid of the whitecoats. Help the old flock.

And I had to tell the new flock that we had to. Because I was the one who could fight--who wanted to fight. I knew that I would give up my life if the rest of the flock would be okay. I maybe wasn't the leader of the flock, but I was going to have to be the one who could lead them into battle. Now. Before anyone else--except maybe me--died. My throat clenched as I thought of Blade.

I stepped up where the flock could see me. It was actually a great place, the moon shone straight down on it, illuminating me slightly. I called out, and most glanced to me.

"Here's what I say we do," I said. "And it's not my choice, just my idea. I don't think it should be any one persons choice. You decide if you want to come or not. But I'm going to go to the whitecoats. Go to fight the whitecoats. I'm going, even if it's alone. I know it sounds crazy, a suicide attempt, but... if we stay out here and just keep getting all beat up... we're going to die. The whitecoats will never run out of Erasers. But we can run them out of whitecoats. It's the only way that we won't all end up dead... like Blade." I felt real tears running down my cheeks. I wasn't just pretending, but I was sure that it added to the drama. "I don't know if we'll all make it out of there. But I'll lead you all on. Okay? If anyone does, I'll be the first to die. But it's your choice."

I couldn't think of a better ending, so I started to step down. Then I did think of something.

"That's my plan. I say we go out and kick the whitecoat frickin'..." I raised my hand in front of my face like I would slap someone, grinned and then left it hanging, just for fun. Then I finally stepped off.

I waited to see who would go with it.

Lynx-

"Well, that settles that," I said with sarcasm

ZT must not have caught on to that because he smiled and said "I KNEW this was a good plan."

"I'm going to Cuba."

He looked at me like I was wacko. "So there IS a Cuba?"

Are all guys stupid???

"Seriously, kulling whitecoats is the craziest idea ever!!! What do the Flybots do without the whitecoats? They terrorize not only us but the rest of the world. AND there are too many whitecoats to kill."

ZT's face hardened into a sneer. "You've grown FOND of whitecoats!"

"Yes, I am fond of some of them. Not all whitecoats are bad. Just like not all mutants are good."

I stared directly at Lexy.

*erm, that's all I have*

[Chaos]

Chaos gave Lynx a confused look, "What on earth are you talking about?! Of course whitecoats are bad! They may think they're doing the world a favor or making advances in science or whatever but they're smart people. They know what they do to us. And how could you single out one of us as a bad mutant! The bad mutants are Erasers! And Flybots! We are good.

"What are you thinking?! Besides, without the whitecoats, the Flybots wouldn't keep coming. They have expiration dates! We could take them out! And all we have to do are kill off all the leaders of the whitecoats, the rest suddenly become unemployed. Honestly, don't you think at all?!"

Chaos took a moment to breathe, then turned angrily to ZT, "Count me in. There's no other way."

Reed-

"I totally agree with Lynx." I said, "There are way to many whitecoats to kill. If you go off to kill the whitecoats thinking that this is the only part of the world where they are, you're wrong, dead wrong most likely. Right now we're just a menace to them, but if we attack one of their buildings, killing us is going to be high on their priority list."

"If you hadn't noticed," ZT said spitefully, "they already did kill one of us. We need to attack now while they're regrouping. You're just like Lynx, you just want to be friends with the enemy! What about you Mayze, are also as dense as those two?"

((Mayze))

What an awkward situation. I needed to think, "Well," I ventured, "It's scientifically impossible for every single Whitecoat to be totally and completely bad. And the Erasers and Floybots are programmed to hunt us, they're the victims too."

I started pacing, "But, majority of them have been turning rotten. They're like spoiled children and we're the puppies. When the little doggie doesn't want to play, the kid has a fit and tries to get it to obey him. Of course, the dog has instincts, he aren't going to listen."

"But we aren't animals." Lynx added.

I shook my head, "We are. Some people have just forgotten. We're domesticated animals."

I sighed and placed my cold fingers against my temple, "I see Lynx's point, I myself have grown to almost enjoy the company of a few of the kind scientists who've been sucked up into this mess but I agree more with ZT. Cut the plant down by its roots."

ZT and Chaos nodded. I grinned, "I don't think we should kill, however. You know how I said they're spoiled children? If they get their toys taken away, and I mean all of them, they'll be the helpless cry babies they really are."

Chaos cocked his head slightly, "So what are you proposing?"

"I think we should round up all of our mutant friends. Maybe even Max and the gang, everyone under one banner, and then we can get some big guns and take out their toys."

"What about the toy makers? The Whitecoats certainly don't make their own toys." Reed asked.

I felt very small for a moment, "We'll need a big army."

I caught Chaos' eye and motioned towards the cave entrance, "I need to talk to Chaos alone. We'll be back."

ZT looked at me, "But what if he..."

I held up a finger, "What happened to working together and trusting each other?"

Stella frowned, "You're acting like a monarch again. We'll miss all the stuff you'll be talking about."

I smiled at the flock, "I won't talk about anything important. I just want to get better acquainted. Plus," I added, looking toward the fire, "We're gonna need more wood."

No one objected after that, no one enjoyed coming back with an armful of splinters and heavy wood. We took off and flew to the part of the woods where most of the wood was dead and dry.

"Well, what do you need?" Chaos asked, his eyes curious.

I picked up some firewood and piled it in his arms. He looked surprised and then amused, "I just wanted to get to know you. I think I might be the only one who trusts you."

Chaos nodded, "What about Lynx?"

"I want to talk to her after. So, what about you? Where did you guys come from? How'd you meet? How'd you escape? What're you guys like? What's you favorite..."

"Whoa, whoa! One at a time." Chaos grinned.

[Chaos]

"Well let's see," Chaos muttered, backtracking a bit, "What was the first one?"

"Where did you guys come from?" Mayze answered, smiling in encouragement.

"The recovering Itex facility in Germany," Chaos said with a straight face, trying not to smile. It sounded weird.

"Yeah you told me that, I guess. So how'd you meet?"

"In the testing lab, they were doing stress testing on us, trying to see how we would hold up in a fight. We both refused to fight. We got thrown together every once in a while after that and we decided to escape.They didn't have too high security, they were counting on the guards. We just kinda tricked the computer into opening our cells and then took out the guards. Simple," Chaos shrugged.

Mayze nodded, smiling. Probably remembering her escape. "So what are you guys like?"

"Uhh... well I'll let Lynx tell you about herself but as for me, I'm just... me. What do you want to know?" Chaos shifted the firewood in his arms, waiting for a reply.

((Mayze))

"I'm just interested in your...physique." I tried to hold laughter back but I bent over laughing.

"I'm sorry." I apologize tears streaming from my eyes, "That was such an odd way to put it."

I looked up to see a grin on Chaos' face, "Geez, didn't know you laugh so easily."

I shook my head, still chuckling, "I don't. I guess I haven't laughed in so long I needed to let it out."

He smiled and dumped the wood into my arms, "Well, Lynx and I are made differently. Our wings, for example," he stretched his enormous wings out, "are more muscled. They're also shaped differently. I think it's just what type of bird they used, though."

I ran a hand down the length of his wing, there definitely was more muscle there. I stretched my bleach white wings out next to his, I had never noticed how they looked almost pinkish, like the inside of a pearl. His wings were a foot or so longer than mine and his were thinner. Mine were wide instead of long, used for endurance instead of speed. His looked like they were made for both.

"And our features too. We look more like birds than you guys do." he suddenly grinned, "And you should see us fly."

I nodded thoughtfully, "Anything else?" he asked.

I shook my head, "Nothing else, for now. We better get the rest of the wood and get back, the flock might think you killed me."

He grinned and went to get more tinder.

**Sigh* My character acts like an idiot when anyone else is using him. First, I know what sarcasm is... and second, Firestar... I never would've said that last line. Sorry, I'm just kind of... changed by the way I'm controlled. And I do trust people... at least I'm trying to.*

(ZT)

Mayze and Chaos came back, finally. Well, it really wasn't that long. It just felt like it. Maybe I was bothered by Mayze being alone with another guy... besides me. I mentally kicked myself for the thought.

I stood up as they got back, but then Mayze called Lynx, and they left.

I almost called Chaos over to say, "So, how'd it go with my girlfriend?" Except that I didn't know the term then, and I wasn't really sure if that's really what we were.

I made a mental note to ask Mayze. Then I scratched it off, thinking it would sound stupid.

Finally, I just decided to wait and see what would happen. And if anyone else would agree with what I said.

(Lexy)

I went out of the cave, since all of the others were lost in their conversation of whitecoats. I rolled my eyes and flew off into the night, as soon as I saw a beach I stopped, swooping down and landing softly on the sand as I watched the waves come in and go out. I closed my eyes for a second and then, opened them again this time, there was a figure standng in front of me. I glared and spoke,

"What are you doing here? I thought I told you not to follow me. I don't need the flock on my tail..." Or my wings in this case. I looked behind me to make sure none of the flock had followed me, but I couldn't be sure.

"Just came up to check up on you. You didn't spill our secret did you Alexandra?" The figure said.

"It's Lexy, and no, I didn't tell them. I'm not that stupid, they would kill me if they found out." I spat.

"You better not." The figure jabbed its finger at me, "Or else you'll have much more to worry about instead of your stupid flock. I will kill them all and have you clean up the mess. Understood?"

I glared for a long moment.

"Understood?!!!" The figure grabbed my chin, hard. I felt tears blurr my vision, but only because it hurt.

"I understand." I said.

"Good, and I want you to bring me the two new commers. I have some plans for them." The figure said.

"Why do you want them? Do they know you?" I spat.

"No, but their gonna." The figure smiled evilly.

"And if I don't?" I challenged.

"I will kill the closest person to your heart." The figure chuckled.

"You wouldn't dare." I said glaring

"Don't challenge me!!!................ Oh and Lexy... Don't keep me waiting. I don't like to wait." The figure yelled and then... dissapeared. It would be a miracle if none of the flock had heard the whole conversation. I sat at the beach and cried for the longest time, people just had a bad habit of dying around me, I had to leave the flock, before anyone else got hurt. If I make one simple mistake, it might cost me more than I can bear.

Lynx-
--earlier--

I could see why Mayze was the leader. She was smart, trustworthy, and peaceable. But I still avoided her, I don't know why. I was feeling responsible for what happened to her when she was in the... But I didn't know WHAT had happened to her. Did I?

And, I completely trusted her. I hated myself for not having a ready reason, but there it was... I saw Lexy leaving and, hoping I might ask her a few questions, I followed.

I saw her land on the beach, facing somebody. I dropped into a tree, trying to listen to what they were saying. A breeze touched my face and I could just make out what the other was saying.

"... bring me the two new comers. I..."

I was in a state of shock. I redirected the feeling toward an unfortunate squirrel and flew back to the cave, staying close to the tree-tops.

Rose stood up, "Where have you been? And where's Lexy?"

I took a breath and told the lie. "I went out for some fresh air. I haven't seen Lexy..."