A/N: WELCOME! Welcome to The Final Adventure 2: Ace in the Hole. This is the sequel to Maximum Ride: The Final Adventure, which should be pretty obvious, but just in case…

For those of you just joining us, I'd highly recommend reading my fic mentioned above, but I'm pretty sure that you'll be able to get by without it. Just so you know, it is post MR3. MR4 (and, eventually, MR5) is basically dead to me in this story.

I'm super excited for this! One big change from TFA: I'm not doing the whole author's note at the beginning and end of every chapter thing anymore. If you want news, check the link to my homepage, it's on my profile. I think the story will flow better if you don't have me chattering in your ear all the time. XD You won't see one of these babies again until the end (holy cow). So, since you won't see these all the time, here is my one and only request: REVIEW!!

So are you READY?! Without further ado, The Final Adventure 2: Ace in the Hole.

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Prologue
One Year Later
Berlin, Germany

The Director of Itex was not having a good day.

Marian Janssen sat at her desk and tapped a ballpoint pen impatiently against the polished wooden edge. The reports on the human/ursus hybrids were due two days ago, and they still had not made their way to her yet. She needed them if she was to follow through with the next stage of the newly reinstated By-Half plan. Also, there were the Animins, the new wonders of Itex. They had finally succeeded in locating and removing the human soul, but it had some previously unforeseen complications that were just waiting to mess everything up.

And then – then there were the human/avian hybrids. Her eyes narrowed at the very thought, and she left off tapping the pen and began twirling it in her fingers. They were like an itch she couldn't scratch. No matter how hard Itex tried to exterminate them – all in the hopes of a better world – they continued to defy them and, somehow, escape the clutches of the multi-billion dollar company.

How did they do it? How did they escape again and again? It shouldn't be possible. Itex had resources and tools that no one had ever heard of. Once the new world was created, the world completely ruled by experiments and a few choice humans, Itex would literally rule the world, with her at its head. Just thinking about it made her back straighten with importance.

But not yet. Not while the Flock was still alive. For now, her priority would have to be finding and retiring the avian hybrids.

Sighing, she replaced the pen on the table and turned on the television. Marian didn't wish to think of such unpleasant things. They were beneath her. When she ruled the world, people of a far lower rank than her would do the dirty work. For now, it was simply an obligation, required for her to reach the top.

For example, that man, Zachary Hail. He was beginning to tire of his job, and wished to expose them and all that they had worked so hard for. He had to be disposed of, and quickly. She made a mental note to dispatch a team of Animins as soon as possible.

Marian began to rise from her desk, intending to go and survey the development of a new experiment, but then stopped. The newspaper headlines had caught her eye, and she smiled thinly. She always loved to read about the effects of her plan – it made it much more real.

She pulled the paper towards her and turned to the world news section. China had officially declared war on the United States, claiming that they used up too much of the world's resources than was allotted to them. It was a perfectly mundane excuse – how many wars had been fought over resources in the past? – but it had all sorts of underlying implications that few were privy to.

As she began to skim the article, she was startled by three sharp raps on the door. "What?" she asked, irritated. "Get in."

Dr. Morgan, her assistant, flung open the door. "Director Janssen," he addressed her formally, though excitement was clear in his voice. "We've received news on the avians. They're without the oldest female, but the remaining five are not far from here, only twenty miles away."

Marian smiled and chilled her assistant to the bone. It wasn't a normal smile. It was feral – a predator's smile.

"Excellent," she replied slowly. "Send a team of the animus minors immediately. Give them orders not to kill. I want them brought here - to me."

"Yes, Director."

Marian's day was finally looking up.