Chapter 1: Bringer of Bad News

Queens, NY. Sylar's Apartment

"What do you mean this number has been disconnected?" Kate questioned the other voice on her cell phone. "I am trying to get a hold of Nathan Petrelli."

The man laughed, "yeah…and I have Nelson Mandela on speed dial. If you're looking to reach the Senator I'm sure you can call his publicist."

The line dropped. Kate threw the phone across the room. It had been six weeks since she'd heard from Sylar and this wasn't like him. So she went to his apartment looking for answers. The apartment was dusty, but there were clues about the plans he had made. But she already had some idea of the plan, which was to become president, by obtaining his form and impersonating him while being Nathan Petrelli. It was only obvious now that Sylar had failed, but what happened to him? The government did well to cover up any mishaps by stating a lone terrorist was apprehended after foiling his plans to attack the president.

"You're indestructible...what have they done with you? Or to you?" Kate frowned looking at the large map hanging on the wall. There were several cities marked by pins and colored strings connecting them. One marked her home…Quebec, Canada. It had now been four years since she left home to find answers in the United States, New York to be exact. She met Doctor Chandra Suresh and even Gabriel Gray one time as he left the doctor's apartment. He seemed like a different man back then and Chandra was so excited to see Gabriel's ability.

Kate snapped out of her thoughts as shadows appeared on the other side of the door to Sylar's apartment. No one else had a key. Quickly Kate's body responded to the threat by becoming invisible to the intruders, an ability she was glad to have at the moment.

Noah used a gun with a silencer on it after the door was discovered locked.

"See that wasn't so hard..." He commented after Peter tried to use his strength to push open the door.

"Show off," he laughed and went inside first. "So what are we hoping to find here?"

"This..." Noah said pointing to the map. "And any other odd things Sylar might have had."

Kate's eyes widened. They knew what happened to Sylar? She followed them swiftly around the apartment, recognizing them as Noah Bennet, the man that tortured and tried to kill Sylar and Peter Petrelli, the one who was always getting in the way, thinking that he could defeat him.

Peter was looking in the drawers when he found a bag with a note.

"I think I found something..." He called out and started opening the note. "It's dated the day we fought him. Looks like a letter."

"'Kate, you know well enough that things could go either way. I'm not going to lie to you like others have to me my whole life. The only way you'll find this is if I'm gone. In the bag is a present for you, I trust you'll be able finish what it is I've started and get revenge for what's happened to me. Or if possible you can help me get out if I'm still alive somewhere. I trust you Kate, you're the only one that knows their locations and how they play the game. Remember what I've told you and don't forget to have control. I promised myself I'd never wish this upon someone, but I know they'll come after you and with this they can never have you….Sylar'" Peter looked up at Noah after he finished reading.

Kate whimpered hearing that deep down Sylar really cared about her. It meant a lot to have his trust and it angered her that they found it first.

Noah pulled out his gun and looked around, "someone's here..."

Peter's hands glowed with flames in his palms, pyrokinesis, an ability he took before they left on this mission. "We know you're here…show yourself!"

Kate grabbed the bag from the table and took off into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her. Frantically she tore the bag apart to reveal a box. Inside it was a surgical needle filled with clear substance. She looked at it questionably, but Noah and Peter were already at the door. Kate jammed it into her skin, letting out a scream and emptied the contents into her body. The emptied needle fell from her grasp onto the floor. A strange feeling came over her, but she had to trust Sylar…because whatever was in the syringe was going to help her fight off these guys and get her answers.

With a gunshot to the door it opened and they entered ready to fight. Kate sat up on the bed looking at them, her skin was turning pale, her eyes red, and she looked weak.

"Who are you?" Noah demanded.

"Kate Ricard…now get out of Sylar's apartment before I call the cops," She groaned in pain, moving slowly to her cell phone.

"Sylar's dead…so this apartment is ours. Now tell me what was in the bag…or Peter here is going to force it out of you." Noah warned holding his gun still pointed at her.

Kate shook her head, "Never. I won't tell you a damn thing!" She then didn't realize it but her figure was fading out...becoming invisible.

"So that's why we didn't see you…clever. Let's bring this one in." Noah smiled thinking of his first partner that had the same ability. Reaching into his jacket he pulled out a different device and aimed it at Kate. "Don't worry Kate; we just wanna ask a few questions."

She struggled to get on her feet to run, knowing they wouldn't be able to see her. But she felt something strange after Noah said they only wanted to ask some questions.

"You're lying…I...I…know you're lying!" Kate found it difficult now to use her ability, making her a visible target.

Peter's eye caught something on the floor, "Do it now Noah..."

Noah used a stun gun on her and after Kate fell unconscious Peter showed him the needle.

"I think this was in the bag. What do you think it is?"

"Put it in the bag and we'll have Suresh test it," he said picking up the young woman. "I'll call it in...You get some pictures of the map and do one more sweep, I'll be in the car."

Nathan Petrelli – Washington DC

He sat at his desk reading over the speech he was about to give to the press about the need to act against Global Warming. After memorizing the speech his attention turned toward a pile of papers on his desk...Files that contained information about those with dangerous abilities that need to be brought in. Usually it was his mother's and Noah's job, but he and Peter were forced to help until a full staff was hired.

The first one he opened held a familiar face, it was Tracy Strauss.

"This was my fault…" he sighed, thinking back to Building 26, seeing her chained to a chair with hot lamps on her. Carefully Nathan slid the file into his desk drawer and locked it after writing down an address on a post-it.

"Sir, they're ready for you," a young man said from behind the door.

"Thanks Tony, I'll be right there." Nathan replied nodding his head.

He went into the bathroom to comb his hair and looked into the mirror fixing his collar. Nathan left his office after grabbing some papers and met his assistant to walk him down the hall before going on camera.

Comfortably he stepped up to the podium and looked out at the press. "I've come today to address the issue of global warming. The Earth is in peril and together we can help by doing things in our own community to prevent unnecessary waste of materials and pollution. Next week I will join other Senators and encourage them to sign a bill that will promote clean energy. Questions?" Nathan cleared his throat and looked out at the crowd.

As he waited for the first question Nathan started to feel like he couldn't breathe or see. Not wanting the press to see this he grabbed tightly to the podium and looked down. Closing his eyes images started to appear, a woman clutching her bleeding chest...and as he looked down his hands had blood on them. Blinking his eyes the images were gone.

"Excuse me...I have an urgent call from the president," he said after grabbing his phone and walking away. Nathan went into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. "What the hell is wrong with me," his voice was hushed as he went to the sink to splash water on his face. But then his phone rang for real. "Hello?"

"Hi Nathan...remember me?" A woman's voice responded.

"Tracy? Of course…" He tried not to sound hesitant.

"I thought so...but you see I wasn't too sure when you left me in that room to die!" Growing anger was evident in her voice.

"There was nothing I could do then Tracy…it's over. Danko is gone; no one is going to come after you. But tell me something...are you the one responsible for these drowning?"

The phone line went dead, leaving him to wonder why she called him...or even how she got his new number…since his mother had it changed six weeks ago.

Nathan rubbed his head as a headache started to form. "Not again…"

The image of the woman still startled him; he wanted to just forget what he had seen, but this wasn't the first time strange images appeared with headaches.

"Mr. Petrelli? Sir, are you alright?" One of his men knocked on the door.

Nathan went to the door and unlocked it. As he walked out the man looked worried about him.

"Your mother has asked to see you; she's waiting in your office. Do you need to see a doctor?" He asked seeing a drop of blood running from his nose.

"No...That's ridiculous, I'm fine. Why would my mother be down from New York?" Nathan wiped away the blood with a cloth and popped a few pills into his mouth before swallowing them down with a cup of water he got from the cooler outside his office.

When he entered, Angela was admiring some of the awards on the wall.

"Ma what are you here? Shouldn't you be in New York at the Company? Is something wrong?" He took a seat at his desk.

"Oh Nathan, must it take something wrong to happen for me to visit my son?" She walked toward his desk. "I'm worried about you Nathan. A lot of us are."

"Us? Who are us are you referring to?" Nathan raised a brow.

"Your mother, daughter, brother, your staff even" Angela continued until he put up his hand.

"Alright I get it Ma. But I've gotten better, I swear...I even saw a doctor and he said I was as healthy as I can be," he started to get frustrated because ever since Sylar's death she had been worried about him.

"Are you sure? This family is full of good liars Nathan. And I know the fight with Sylar was very traumatic for you, and you've been working nonstop since then. When I got here they told me you had locked yourself in the bathroom?" Angela noticed this surprised him.

Nathan shook his head, "You're right…I have been working hard, but it's what I do Ma. Now I have no reason to lock myself in a bathroom, you know that. The door must have locked by accident."

He stood up and walked over to her chair, "I am sure that I'm fine. Peter is the one in the family that needs your attention…always getting himself into trouble. But if it will make you feel any better, I'll come home for a week and you can see for yourself, alright?"

Angela stood up and gave him a hug, "that will be great. Your family misses you dearly, they'll be happy to hear it."

She left knowing he was lying, but she hoped nothing would progress in a week's time. And that would give them enough time to deal with Kate and the problems she would create.