A dark skinned, tall man of about 5'11 walked down the dauntingly quiet sidewalk of Belknap street after having stepped off the late night bus. He kept a consistent stride, hoping to discreetly reach his destination quickly while carefully scanning the dimly lit perimeter to make sure he was not being followed by anyone. His senses were on high alert. He saw steam coming out of vents, he could hear water running in the drainage pipes beneath the city street. It was about 1:20 a.m. and all the bars were open, but to his luck, not a single soul was outside. He could hear city noises of far off buses, rattling metal, music from the bars, the humming of the illuminated signs hanging randomly on either side of the street. All of these were normal noises one might hear when venturing out this late in the city...but this stranger had his mind on much more serious matters that any little noise at all made his skin crawl. He had to stop them no matter what the cost. He stood to lose everything he had worked for if he didn't. And if he failed, the cost would not only be his life's work, but his family's jobs and lives too. The people he worked for would not let him get off so easily again and he knew that. The regents were not going to be so forgiving twice. The stakes were getting higher as time wore on. The pressure to get back what he had lost was greatly wearing on him. He couldn't sleep, he couldn't eat properly. But he wasn't about to show the Regents, as they called themselves, how scared he was. He would do anything to get them back. Even if it meant temporarily working alongside his rival.

"I can fix this", he thought to himself. "The Regents will never care how I do this as long as it gets done" he justified to himself. He quickened his slightly as he stuck his hands in his tan raincoat pockets, pulling the coat closer to him. He turned right into a dark alley, suddenly feeling as if ice had enveloped his whole body, but that was only his nerves getting to him. He walked about half-way down the shadowy alley and waited. He hoped he wasn't being led on. He would pay greatly if he was. But after all, his rival stood to lose as much, if not more than, he did. So it was in their best interests for both party's to show he reasoned out as he continued waiting. An hour passed as he stood there, listening intently to every noise. Dogs barking, crickets chirping, the occasionally drunk walking passed every now and then. He was just about to give up and leave when he heard a familiar voice speak from behind him, making him even more on edge.

"Hello Vance, old friend. I see you accepted my proposal after all." Spoke a slightly shorter man, light cigar in hand. He wore a dark over coat and a gray hat, for it was very chilly and humid.

"Hello, Hammond. I figured it is in our better interests to work together, for the greater good you know."

"Well, I figured it was the least I could do for an old friend such as yourself. Especially after you let them slip through your fingers like that. It was a poor mistake Vance." Hammond remarked. He felt as scared as Vance did. Because he too would have to pay dearly if Max and the others were not brought back.

"I don't see how this is my fault in particular. But let's not dwell on the past. Let's get down to business." replied Vance coolly. He knew it was his fault, but he wasn't going to show his despair or embarrassment to Hammond. Not in a million years.

"We traced them to Texas. Max apparently cashed in an old favor from a college friend of hers." He continued.

"We will keep tabs on her. Let the grown ups handle the rest. We will speak again, old friend" Hammond said as he turned and walked off into the dark shaded part of the alley. Vance then regretted ever agreeing to such a preposterous idea in the first. What would the Regents say now?

"I want them DEAD! Is that too much for your brain comprehend Mazith? DEAD! They went to Texas to visit an old friend of this Max's. They are staying at the Sheridan hotel. Get your ass down there and get them. IS IT THAT TO COMPLICATED FOR YOU TO HANDLE?" Shouted Jack Hammond as he slammed his fist violently down on the desk in front of him causing the lamp shade to sway slightly.

"No sir. Consider it done." Mazith said, no emotion escaping his lips. His dark brown eyes radiating fear. His dark curly hair pushed back out of his sweaty face. He was tall and lean. Considered quite attractive to most ladies he encountered.

"And it shall be, or else on YOUR HEAD BE IT!" Hammond exclaimed. He stood up and made his way around the dark mahogany desk, over the dark red carpet, and to the door motioning for Mazith to leave. "I hope this won't interfere with your wedding plans." He continued, putting his hand lightly on Maziths chest and looking him straight in the eye, "we wouldn't want anything to upset your lovely bride."

Mazith looked over, eyes coldly piercing Hammond's gaze, a drop of sweat running down his face, "It won't." He said. Leaving the cold, cryptic office behind with a galloping stride. He knew that this so called 'Flock' were out to kill and destroy the Regents that he swore to protect and that he must stop them. The Regents business was their own and he knew better than to poke his nose where it did not belong. "But what could they possibly have done to anger Hammond so?" He thought to himself as he headed to the elevator. They must be a pretty dangerous gang if he was called in. He had received many long years of military and private training in self-defense and he was one of the top men Itex had. For them to call him in it must be pretty serious. He pushed the elevator to the top floor so he could begin Operation Saturn immediately. Nothing was going to tarnish his well protected reputation OR his wedding plans. He would see to that. Mazith reached the armory and packed on a variety of weapons ranging from knives, to shot guns, to hand guns, to night-vision goggles. Then he immediately proceeded to call up a team that was armed and ready to go at a moments notice. Itex had teams constantly armed and ready to fight at any moment because it could mean life or death for the Regents and that was what he swore to give if necessary, his life. They took shifts 24/7 in case of an immediate emergency. Every fighter clothed with black body armor and weapons hidden in various places on their person. He and a team of seven men came running up to a helicopter waiting to transport them from D.C. To Texas. It was going to be a long night.

MAX'S POV

I jerked up from a sound sleep surveying the dark room around me. Suddenly, I didn't feel safe. I sat up completely and looked around only to see a dark outline of a desk, two chairs, and the crack where the curtains met. I then looked down at Fang who looked relaxed for the first time in weeks. Was the stress finally getting to me or was my urge to run legit? Something you need to know about me. I get vibes. I used to get feelings of things being upset, out of place, when I was a little girl. Then they went away. But these last few weeks with Itex and CIAI on our trail they have become strong again. And tonight I was getting the strongest vibe I have ever felt. I tried to ignore it and laid back down to go to sleep. No way in hell was I going to wake Fang up over me being paranoid. He, Iggy, and Nudge needed all the rest they could get after these past weeks and so did I. My mind drifted on to everything that had happened since we left CIAI. Things were starting to sink in. I had no home. No job. Barely any friends I could trust. We were running out of money. We have no plan on how to stop Itex and CIAI. We don't even have a relatively decent laptop with which to gain information.

I was tired. I just wanted to give up and get to sleep for one night. I suddenly wished I was back in college with Thomas. Happy, safe, secure, well rested...and then suddenly that seemed like a million years ago. A million years since I saw my family happily together. My parents laughing and smiling at one another, Ella happy and bouncing around the house causing mischief as she always did..and Dylan. Dylan and I laughing together, talking together, crying to one another when something went wrong. I missed my old family and I missed my best friend. I would have, at that moment, given anything to never have heard of Itex or CIAI or anything like that ever again. I wiped the tears from my face that had begun their long journey down my cheek and curled up in Fang's side, wrapping his arm around me. I bent down to kiss his arm lightly when I felt him stir beside me and moan a little.

"Max? What are you doing?" He slurred. Fang removed his arm from me and propped himself up on left shoulder facing me.

"I..couldn't sleep. Bad dreams." I said. I felt kind of bad because I did not mean to wake him but at the same time I was glad he was awake so I wasn't alone. His arm reached out and caressed my cheek lightly sending shivers down my spine.

"I'm sorry.." he said as leaned in to kiss me. Fang tried to pull away after a few seconds but I wouldn't let him. I was tired and I was scared. I touch my lips lightly to kiss then pushed him down beneath me and started kissing his neck. I could hear a slight sigh escaped from his mouth. I pushed his dark hair back and kissed his lips again. I could feel a slight smirk plant itself firmly on his mouth.

"It must have been a pretty bad dream huh?" He asked and I nodded. I finally just laid my head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around me. I finally felt I could get an ounce of sleep for once. Because I never know when it might be my last.

In a dark room filled with a round table and 13 chairs sat the head of the New Order. A group of men joined together for one cause. The confinement and study of human beings and animals. They hoped to create a super strength army that could wipe out all other armies in the world. They were out for power, money, and control and they would stop at nothing to get it. A light shone in the middle of the room but yet even it was so dim they could only make out the outline of one another.

"David, I am greatly ashamed of you. You told me you had this under control. What happened? We stand to lose a great deal because of you." demanded Charles, an older man of about 70 years of age. He was a bit heavy and white hair. His trademark was constantly being seen smoking a cigar. "I was born into this New Order and I have sworn to protect and defend our cause. And now because of you. Everything we have worked for is challenged. What have you to say?" He continued.

"I—I-will fix it. I tried to keep it from getting out but I.." David stuttered. This man of about 57 years old was more terrified at this very moment than he had been in all of his life. He was directly responsible for CIAI and everything that happened there he answered for before anyone else. That flock was going to cost him his life. His own carelessness was going to cost him his life.

"No...you won't fix it. You have done enough to hurt our cause. Soon, you won't be able to hurt it anymore." spoke Rupert. He was never seen and always stayed in the shadows. He was the man behind the curtain so to speak. David arose from the table and ran out into the spotlight. Turning and looking at every dark rimmed shadow of the men who now held his life in their hands. Panic filled his heart and his voice began to tremble as he spoke.

"I'm sorry! Just one more chance! I beg you! Please! Don't do this!" David pleaded. He had brown hair and green eyes and was quite chubby. Sweaty ran down his wrinkled, red face and onto his blue business shirt. He stood there holding the gaze of the shadows that were Charles and Rupert.

"Alright. We forgive you." said Rupert. David felt his nerves calm just a little. He was safe. He had another chance to make it right. To save the cause he so desperately believed would lead to the enlightenment of humanity. Then all of the sudden, he felt a knife stab his back right into his left kidney and cut deep into his spine. "Your sacrifice will only further our cause." David felt the life draining from his body as he slowly fell to the floor of the quickly darkening room. He felt no pain, fear, or emotion of any kind as he saw his entire life flash white before his eyes. His first admittance into this sacred brotherhood when he was 21. The birth of his first child, the death of his wife...then the room in which he was now dying came clear to his view. He let a painful hiss escape his lips as he fell over lifeless on the floor. Charles stood up looking at the lifeless body laying in a pool of blood.

"David kept his oath to the end. To protect and defend The New Order. And now we shall continue to fight. To perfect humanity. To rid it of all it weaknesses." Rupert said as he joined Charles in standing. Ten other men stood and bowed to one another as they left the dark meeting room. The New Order would create equality, perfection. There was to be no rich, no poor. No cultural differences. It would be one perfect world. One group of elite men would rule everything. Rupert saw the big picture forming in his mind as he left that room. "But we must take small steps" he reminded himself. "Start at the bottom. With this so called flock. And from there we can fix the mistakes that were made."

Hey guys! Whatcha think? Read and review please! I hope you all enjoyed your Summer as much as I did! :)