"After we'd destroyed the world from Itex, any person would've thought that Flyboy attacks would stop, right? Apparently not.

Thanks for the warning, Jeb. Sarcasm, of course, one of the things I would never live without.

"Up guys! Flyboys on their way!" I yelled, my voice heard by everyone. They all snapped awake at once, rubbing their ears then getting into fighting position.

"No, no," I said, watching the others getting ready to fight. "After all that there is NO WAY I'm risking you guys in an unnecessary fight. U and A. NOW!"

The flock snapped out their wings and immediately took to the air. We flew northwest, fast. A quick glance around told me that the Flyboys were catching up.

"Guys! These are new models! They can out fly us!" Fang shot me a look that said They can out fly every one but you. That gave me an idea.

"Nudge, Angel, hold my hands! Fang, Iggy, look after Gas and fly as fast as you can! I'll be back for you," Nudge looked confused but Angel immediately saw what I was going to do and grasped my hand. Nudge tentatively reached out and held on tight. "HANG ON!" I yelled, and went super speed.

With the weight of the two youngsters to carry as well, my wings were burning and I couldn't go as fast. It didn't matter though – I just had to get them out of there. When we were about 200 miles away (two minutes later) I stopped and told them to keep flying northwest for as long and as fast as they could. I gave them quick hugs and kisses and I promised I'd be back for them, just like I'd done to the boys. The boys! I had to get back to them.

I flew super speed again, getting back to the guys in less than a minute. I held Gazzy in a hug and sped off, a little further this time so he could fly with his sisters. I flew back again and I saw that the older boys had managed to gain some distance on the Erasers, but we all knew they wouldn't be able to keep up this speed for long. I was out of breath, but I could still manage to get them out of there.

"I can only take one of you at a time," I puffed, knowing that even that would be a struggle, since they both weighed more than me and I was already tired from the four trips. There was a minute of silence between us. We all knew that the one who'd be left behind, the one I didn't take, had an almost certain chance of getting caught.

"Take Iggy," Fang said. "I'm the strongest flyer and fighter and I should be able to keep the Flyboys off for longer than him." I nodded, close to tears, and grabbed Iggy. I flew off, only managing 150 mph will all his weight. As we were flying, I don't know if it was leaving Fang behind or the strain of carrying Iggy at this speed, but I found tears leaking out my eyes. I quickly blinked them away, and tried to lighten the mood.

"God Ig, what do you eat? Rocks?"

I dropped Iggy off at the same place that I had Nudge and Angel and I trusted him to catch up. I told him to fly northwest, and I watched him leave before flying back to Fang.

There was less than thirty feet between them now, and I knew Fang was struggling. I was too, because six trips on super speed, three while carrying other people took just about all the energy (and breath) I had.

"Go!" he said. "We won't both be able to make it!" I shook my head.

"I'm not leaving you." I grabbed Fang around the waist, ignoring the tingles of electricity running through my body, and I flew. I flew as hard and as fast as I could, only just managing 110 mph. I summoned all my energy, and flew 120mph for the rest of the way. Iggy had caught the others up, and they we're all discussing Erasers, and Nudge was talking non-stop about how cool it'd been to 'ride with me.'

I had absolutely no energy left, and my wing beats were slowing. I think Iggy noticed because he nudged Fang and nodded his head back at me. Fang opened his mouth to say something but my eyes widened at the sight behind him and he instantly whipped round.

In front of us were over 300 Flyboys.

I looked behind us. Far away, I saw a swarm of Flyboys closing in around us. We were surrounded.

We were going to have to fight it out.

The Flock stared in horror at each other and closed into a circle so all our backs were touching and we had eyes in every direction. The Flyboys closed in around us and we had to try and battle our way out. I had absolutely no energy left, so I expected I would be one of the first to fall.

"WHAT DO YOU WANT?" I screamed at a Flyboy, as I aimed a punch at his nose, not really expecting an answer.

"You are all we want. Those are our orders. Get Maximum Ride and get out." I gaped at this. The Flock could get out so easy? The speaking Flyboy held up a hand and all the Flyboys stopped fighting and just stood there motionless. The Flock looked around, confused, and then spotted me staring into the eyes of the Flyboy.

"Deal." I said immediately. "But I want to see the Flock fly away first."

"Max, don't do this," said Fang, obviously realising what was happening. I chose not to hear this.

"Deal." the Flyboy said back. "Let them go."

I nodded towards the flock, and I made the special sign with my fingers, which meant I'll be okay. Even though I was 99.99 per cent certain that I wouldn't be.

The Flyboys bound my hands and wrists, and chucked me in a helicopter. We were on our way to the School, which apparently hadn't been destroyed when we defeated Itex.

And do you know what the sad thing is?

I just let them.