The next morning, Stephanie awoke. She turned to go wake Max, but Max wasn't there. Stephanie bolted toward her
parents' room, "Max is gone!"

Stephanie's shouting awoke both Darlene and Richard.

"Oh no, Richard!" Darlene panicked as she hurried to dress herself.

Richard had gotten up and dressed and went down to look around. He turned to his daughter, "Check the basement!"
Darlene came downstairs and he turned to her, "Check around here, I'm going to check outside." They nodded at each
other and both moved off in separate directions.
 

Max had chosen the tallest tree in the yard. She had climbed it and sat perched on a limb. It appeared as if she was
keeping watch. Max had been sitting there almost all night. She had waited till Darlene and Richard were asleep before
making her move.

Richard came out and began looking around. From Max's spot she heard him shouting her name. She looked down from
her high spot but didn't move. He was near the tree but hadn't bothered to look up.

Darlene then ran out of the house, toward Richard, "I called the police. They said they'd send someone over."

Max overheard. She picked up the sound of an oncoming car and turned to look. She saw that is was a police car....an
unmarked police car. Max used quick hops from branch to branch, going downward. The car was coming closer to the
house.

Max took one quick look at the car and noticed that it was closing in fast. She still had some distance to the ground and
the hops weren't enough. Max then moved over and decided to jump for it.

Upon contacting the ground, Max rolled to shield her body from any sharp pain. The roll wound her up at Richard's feet.
When she stood up to bolt away, Richard grabbed her, "Hey, where do you think you're goin?"

The drivers of the car were approaching Richard at that time. They had noticed the jump Max took. They also noticed the
strength Max used to break free from Richard and knocking him down. Their chief had told them to keep an eye out for
any child who exhibited anything unusual.

They nodded at each other, and approached Darlene and Richard.

"Hi. I'm Det. Phil Warren." Phil points to his partner, "And this is my partner, Det. Sam Pearson." They all exchanged
handshakes.

"Nice to meet you detectives." Richard spoke, dusting some dirt off of him.

"Likewise." Phil replied.

Sam then stepped up, speaking directly to Max, "So...that was a pretty good dive you took, huh?"

Max looked at him, unclear of what to do. Richard glanced at Max, trying to make sense of the situation.

"So.....is this the child you called in missing?" Phil questioned.

Darlene smiled, "Yes, Detectives. Guess we won't need help after all."

Richard suddenly remembered, "Honey, were going to miss our appointment."

Darlene gasped and nodded, "Oh my gosh." She turned to the detective, "Sorry, but we have to go now."

Sam and Phil nodded and left. Phil called out, "You have a nice day now." And they drove off.

Darlene ran into the house and grabbed Max's coat. Soon Richard and Max were piled into the car. Darlene kissed them
goodbye and watched them pull away.
 

The drive to the doctor was in silence. Richard didn't know how to address the situation earlier, and Max certainly
wouldn't say anything. They pulled into the lot and entered the professional-looking building. Max followed Richard to
the secretary's desk.

The lady looked up, "Can I help you?"

Richard smiled, "Yes. We're here for our appointment with Dr. Richter."

The lady smiled and nodded, "Yes. Down that hallway, turn right, and the second door to your left."

"Thanks." Richard politely said, then headed the correct way. They reached the room and Richard knocked.

Dr. Richter looked up at her open door, "Why, hello. Come on in!"

Richard and Max entered and seated themselves. Dr. Richter paged her assistant, "Linda, could you come to my office
please? Thanks."

A few minutes later, Linda entered, "You wanted to see me?"

Dr. Richter, "Yes, could you take Max here to the playroom, while I talk with her father?"

Linda nodded and took Max to the playroom.
 
 

Meanwhile, Phil and Sam approached their chief.

Chief Rawson looked up, "Well, what happened?"

Sam answered, "Well, the girl was found by the time we arrived."

Rawson nodded, "Ok, then case dismissed."

Phil stepped up, "Um, Sir?"

Rawson looked back up from his paperwork, "Yeah, Phil?"

"Well, didn't you want us to report to you about any unusual children?'

Rawson nodded, and Phil continued, "Well, the girl...basically she jumped from a tree, maybe from 40ft up and didn't get
phased one bit."

Rawson stood up, "Thank you. You're free to go."

Once Phil and Sam left, Rawson reached for his phone. It didn't take long for the other end to pick up, "Hello?"

Rawson stumbled briefly, "Sir? We got a tip from here in Billings, Montana. A girl."

"Good. Keep an eye on her." And the other end hung up. The man turned around and faced his men, "Move out to
Billings."

One of the men stated, "Yes sir, Gen. Lydecker."
 

The playroom was also an observance room. There were about 12 kids in there, all being watched and studied. Max was
busily faking interest in a toy, but keenly kept watch on the one way mirror.

On the opposite side of the mirror, stood five nicely dressed professionals, men and women, who all noticed Max right
away.

"Take a look at this one." A figure wearing red spoke.

"Is it me or does it seem like she's watching us?"

"It's odd."

Just then, Dr. Richter entered with Richard, "Well, come up with anything?"

"She has yet to interact with the others, but-"

The woman in the red stopped in mid-sentence as they all noticed that Max had pushed one of the others in the room.
Apparently, the kid tried to take something from Max, and Dr. Richter and the others watched as Max violently took it
back.

Dr. Richter turned to Richard, "Ok, I think I've seen enough for today. Why don't you bring her back tomorrow and I'll do
some one-on-one testing with her?"

Richard stood up, "Ok, I'll bring her tomorrow."

"Linda, get Max and bring her out here."

Linda nodded and went to get Max. Soon, Max and Richard left the office building and headed home. On the drive home,
Richard decided to do some of his own testing.

"Why did you push that kid, Max?"

Max looked at him and shrugged. But then she pulled out the object the kid was trying to take. It was a rock. But not
just any rock, a rock given to her by Zack. It was during one of their training sessions back at Manticore. A week before,
when Max let go of her balloon, Zack gave her a rock to make up for it. She has since kept it in her pocket, taking it out
occasionally to remember her brother.

A short time after that, Richard had pulled the car up the driveway. Richard got out and went over to the passenger
side, to see that Max had let herself out.

"I bet after all that you're hungry. Let's get something to eat." Max nodded and followed Richard into the house. Though
neither of them noticed the unmarked car sitting, covered by some shade, parked across the street.

~~**++**~~
to be continued