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Anne Walker's Guide to Raising Six Gifted Children

Summary:

It starts as an average mission. Find the six erratically flying objects and figure out something to put in the official report. Instead, Anne comes to realize these kids just need a home. Slice of life AU, Anne is not with the School.

Chapter 1: When Dealing With A New Mission

Notes:

So it never sat right with me that Anne turned out to be working with the School. It was something dramatic that Patterson threw in for shock value and then never capitalized on it. (I mean, ultimately I feel like he actually didn’t have a plan or plot, but that’s for later books, which coincidentally I’m not going to touch upon.) This is an AU, but also a writing exercise for me. But looking back at the Max Ride series I’m curious where the functional adults are (Dr. Martinez was interesting, but that surgery in the third book just rubs me the wrong way after all these years.)
This is all mostly from Anne’s perspective. It’s me trying a new tone and medium. And it’s also me having very little idea where this is going. But enjoy the ride!
(Also, I’m being generous in my description of the FBI. I apologize if you’ve ever worked there, I have no idea how it works beyond what media and some research has told me.)

Chapter Text

Three unidentified flying objects over California reported by Agent Harrison. Too high for visual. Too small for satellite confirmation. More info will be needed.

***

Objects increased to six. One almost fell out of the sky over northern Arizona. Second object seems to have caught first object. Happened too fast for confirmation. Flying objects now thought to be five to thirteen feet or smaller. Look at past UFO logs for more info.

***

Potential object confirmation. Six people “dine and dashed” in downtown New York. They left using avian features…namely wings. Wings! (This is gonna take some rewording for the official report.) Traveling to New York to be closer.

***

Previous log correction reported a “dine and dash” inaccurately reported. Video surveillance shows that truly it was just a dash. Previous reports were missing vital information. The oldest of these people couldn’t have been more than sixteen, if not younger. Three boys, three girls. Currently commencing a search for their families. No hopeful prospects.

***

Monitored the air traffic around New York. A lot of unauthorized drones. But no flying children. Despite their age, they seem adept at avoiding notice. Continue searching.

***

Amendment to previous log. The flying children had a part in blowing up an underground mad scientist lab. Initiating a gas explosion protocol for the local news.

Inside, though, I worry for these children, mad scientist lab is an appropriate description. Cages and tools put to use in a way I wish I had never known. There’s a reason I took a state-side position. Also, I’ve now canceled my gym membership after seeing the lab’s approbation of their gym. Schedule personal psych appointment.

These children would need one too—though now it’s apparent why they’re so adamant to stay out of sight. Higher-ups now looking for them. I’ve reached out to HR and CPS.