Hey guys, thanks for checking out my long delayed return to fan fiction. It's been way too long since I've written anything and submitted it here, and I thought this show was the perfect possibility to bring me back. This story focuses around my own group of heroes (all original, though I will have to borrow the flight ability from the Nathan. Sorry guys). Please review if you get a chance, any criticism or compliments are greatly appreciated. Enjoy.

Author's Note: I do not own any ideas, characters, or properties of the show "Heroes" All characters in this story are original and fictional. Any similarity to anyone, alive or dead, is purely accidental, and unplanned.

Chapter one: Different

Terry Schwartz

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The clock struck 6:30 A.M. and the grating ring of the alarm sounded. Terry Schwartz's eyes flicked open in a sudden reflex to the mind tearing noise. He quickly reached over, hit the clock until it stopped and rose to his feet. His curly brown hair bounced as he wearily stepped into the shower. He always hated getting up early, especially for the purpose of going to school.

Terry was always a smart kid, no one could doubt that. At the age of 8 he was eligible for the gifted program at his school. He breezed through each grade as if it were nothing. He would surely have a scholarship to any school he pleased at his door when the time came. Of all the things he had, one of the things he lacked was popularity. He wasn't terribly overweight, but he had just enough of a gut to alienate himself from the "upper class citizens" of the high school world. No good grade, or ingenious mathematical theory he came up with would ever allow him to be one of the chosen ones, one of the kids that everyone loved, and respected. He excepted it, but loathed his fate all the same.

It was 7:00 A.M. when he finally left his house, and started walking to school, accompanied by his best friend Orlando Sierra. Orlando was the polar opposite of Terry. He was good looking, captain of the football team, beloved by the female population of the school. The two became friends in kindergarten; long before the social divides came into effect. The two were close friends, but Terry felt like he was an afterthought of the more popular crowd Orlando was forced to associate with.

Today was going to be a bad day all around. Not only was it a Monday, implying another full week of school ahead, but it was also the day that Terry and Orlando's gym class would have to partake in the state appointed "physical fitness test" which was the official term for the mile run that Terry dreaded so much. He was never the athletic type, so Terry often felt left out when his friends would want to play football, and he would either decline, or play the game and be laughed at for his inadequacies. Running was no different for him. Orlando made the promise every year that he would run with him, but he would always end up a full lap away from Terry. It hurt his feelings, but the pain was something he lived with.

Terry and Orlando made their way into the school's locker room. As if it weren't bad enough that he had to run it in the first place, but Terry had it first period, eight in the morning. He reluctantly changed into his sweats, and walked with shame past the football stars, and popular kids as they chuckled at him.

"What's up big T!" Orlando said with a smile as he patted his best friend on the back.

"Nothing much. Hey is it normal for suicide to sound like a good idea?" Terry asked with the sarcasm a lifetime of seclusion gave him.

"Chill man, it's ten minutes of your life, and then it's over. Hey, you okay bud? You're looking a little sick." Orlando asked with concern

"I know, I've felt a little weird for a week now. A cold's been going around, so that's probably it."

"Just pace yourself bro, we've got four laps to do in 15 minutes, so you can walk it if you have to."

"No, I'm gonna try to run the first lap at least. I figure if I can push the first lap out of the way, I can walk the rest comfortably."

"Just don't hurt yourself bro'." Orlando said nudging his friend a little.

They made their way out to the track to see coach Miller standing in his way-too-tight green shorts, and matching shirt and cap.

"Alright guys, you know how this goes. Four laps in under fifteen minutes or you run it again next week. I'm not asking for a 4-minute run, I'm asking for you to give it your best, and maybe even work up a little sweat." He walked around, checking off the names of everyone that showed up, then walked up to Orlando.

"Listen Orlando, you got a big game this Friday. We're gonna need you on the field at full strength, so if you want to sit this one out, I'll give you a six minute score, so you can just lay low. What do you say."

A smile crossed the coach's face that made Terry sick. Orlando simply shrugged and said "Thanks coach, but I'm gonna keep my boy Terry company out there."

"Of course. Good luck boys." Miller said as he walked away and blew the whistle signaling the start of the run.

Terry and Orlando began to run as the kid in front of Terry stuck his leg out and tripped Terry, causing him to hit his chin on the track surface.

"Hey, what in the hell are you doin'?" Orlando said as he stared down the kid that tripped Terry. His name was Jake Harrington, the football team's running back.

"My bad, I had to tie my shoes." Jake said with a smirk. Orlando cocked his fist back in preparation, but Terry grabbed his friend's arm before he could throw.

"Don't. He's not worth the suspension." Not once did Coach Miller do anything but stand aside and watch.

"You okay Terry?" Orlando asked brushing his friend's shoulder.

"Never better. Let's just get this over with."

Terry and Orlando began running again, and as Orlando began to challenge his friend by running a little bit in front of him, Terry felt a strength in his legs he never did before. He suddenly pressed forward and felt wind whistle pass him, and before he could blink again, he didn't recognize his surroundings.

Terry stopped running abruptly and found himself in the middle of the city. He looked around to see where he was, and saw the football stadium a block away. Philadelphia was at least an hour's drive from his high school, but somehow he managed to get there in the blink of an eye. Terry looked around for any sign of the impossible joke he thought someone had played on him. Yet he could find no tricks, he was in Philadelphia.

Adam Bentley

San Diego, California

5:00 was an ungodly hour to be getting up for work, and Adam Bentley knew it. He had spent so many years doing it, but never found it to be any easier. He loved his job, as a matter of fact it was his childhood dream to be a construction worker.. He always loved the idea of building skyscrapers with his bare hands. It made him feel larger than the mediocre life he thought he had lived.

Adam had a family once. Her name was Sadie, and to this day she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. She gave him more than he had ever been given in his whole life. She gave him all the love she had inside of her, she gave him happiness whenever he felt upset. Most importantly, she had given him his little boy. Adrian Bentley was the apple of his father's eye. He was only four, but absolutely everyone said the two could have been twins. He adored his son, and his heart broke every time he left to be with his Mother. Sadie had won majority custody of the boy, and Adam only saw him for three days every other week. This was one of those other weeks where he didn't see him at all. It was waking up alone that got to Adam to most.

It was 5:45 when Adam pulled up to the site of his latest job. "Sampson Systems: the company of tomorrow!" had asked Adams company to build there newest office building just outside of San Diego. Adam only new the basics about the company: Medical advancements, military research, and biological sciences. Quite a company Adam thought. He never did care to learn much about his employers. He built their buildings, and he got their money. That's as far as he needed to go.

"Mr. Bentley, lovely morning is it not?" Frank Redding said handing Adam his coffee. Frank was never officially named Adam's assistant, but his constant brown-nosing earned him the title anyways.

"It could be a little better; I could still be in bed." Adam said hastily taking a sip of coffee.

"I know that feeling, so what's the agenda for today boss?"

"Well I want to get the fifth story at least started today, and we should really add another support to the east wall of the third story. It's looking a little shaky."

"I'll tell the boys. How's your son doing?" Frank said with a smile as he inadvertently crossed the line.

"Right, I'm so sorry Mr. Bentley, if there is anything I can do to make up for thi…"

"No, just tell the guys I want to get started now." Adam said cutting off Frank, who was scared out of his mind.

"Yes sir…sorry sir." Frank said as he waddled away in a frenzy.

Adam hung his head in frustration. He was so tired of this life he lead, and he would give anything to go back five years, and bring his son back to him forever. He put on his hard hat, and made his way around the building to the mentioned east side. He looked up at the solid concrete and steel of the building. It was only in the beginning stages, but the look of it made chills run up Adam's spine. He still loved his work, just not a lot else in his life made him as happy.

His quiet moment was ended with the sudden screams from inside the building. Adam quickly looked up to see the first steel pillar of the fifth floor falling right towards him. There would never be enough time to run out of the way, and in a desperate reflex, Adam held his arms up hopelessly, and shut his eyes.

Seconds passed by with no indication of impact. Adam opened one of his eyes to make sure he still could, and looked up to see the steel beam, which weighed well over a ton, held effortlessly in his hands. Every single worker, and bystander stood in awe as Adam calmly dropped the beam next to him. He looked at his hands, and saw no evidence of injury. He looked around to see the numerous eyes glaring at him.

"Umm…Back to work." Adam said with a nervous chuckle.

Helena Erickson

Miami, Florida

Today was going to be amazing. Helena Erickson had spent her life in pursuit of "the rush." That feeling of perfection that only happens when you're doing something you never thought you could, or would. Today would be a special occasion, as it was her first skydive, and she couldn't wait. Her two friends, Anthony, and Tina who were more experienced then her told her that it was a feeling that could never be duplicated or described. Her heart pounded out of her chest, and she was already dieing of anticipation.

Helena was twenty-four years old. She graduated from college a full two years before, but never got around to getting a full time job, much to the dismay of her Mother. Her father would have been just as upset with his little girl had he not passed away when she was only eleven. She never did tell anyone, but all of her friends knew she did the crazy stunts she did to hide herself from the lingering pain of her father's passing.

"How you feelin' sweetie?" Her best friend Tina asked Helena who looked as though she was caught between horror, and ecstasy.

"Great. A little nervous, but that's normal right?"

"You're about to jump out of a plane for the first time…you bet your ass that's normal." Anthony said as he patted her leg playfully. She smiled a nervous grin and looked at the pilot's cockpit.

"Alright guys, We're ready to go." Their fellow skydiver said from the other side of the plane. They didn't talk to him, or know anything about him, other than that his name was David, evidenced by it being written on his jumpsuit.

Anthony smiled at his two friends, and took the plunge out of the plane. They could hear his joyous screams as he fell. Tina was next, and as she winked at her friend, Helena suddenly became nervous.

"You wanna go, or should I?" David asked, standing next to the doorway.

"Go ahead, I need a second."

"Hey, you can stay on the plane if you like, it's not something you have to do." David said trying to comfort her.

"No, I want to do this. I just need to get ready for it."

"Once you do it once, you'll want the rush again and again." David said with a smile as he jumped out of the plane.

Helena took a deep breath, and looked at the clouds and sky below her. She said a silent prayer, and took the leap. The feeling was more amazing than any other sensation she had ever felt. The clouds soon passed her by as she continued her drop with the smile on her face. She could see her friend's parachutes farther down, but what she didn't see was David's chute.

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she heard the unintelligible screaming of David from a couple feet below her. He signaled that neither of his parachutes were coming out, and asked for any sort of help that Helena could give him. Helena dropped her arms to her sides to speed up her fall until she was next to him on the way down.

"Please, help me!"

"I don't know what I can do!"

"Let me get my arm in your harness. If I hold on, the chute should be able to support both of us."

"Won't that break your arm?"

"Better a broken arm than dieing! Here, help me." David said as he tried to get his arm inside the straps. He accidentally unhooked her shoot, and she came loose from the chute.

"Oh my god! Oh my god! What now?" Helena asked in sheer horror. David quickly felt around his harness for any pull string, or openings that might help him.

"I suggest we start praying." David said in defeat. A tear rolled down Helena's cheek as they fell to dangerous levels.

They continued to fall for many feet until suddenly, Helena felt a strange sensation inside of her, and she suddenly stopped falling in mid-air. She looked in confusion at her surroundings and saw nothing but the ground below. She then shifted her weight up, and moved slightly towards the sky. She then looked down and saw David still falling. She shifted all her weight straight down, and moved faster than she had ever before. She reached David in mere seconds, and grabbed hold of him.

"H..How are you doing that?"

"I have no clue." Helena said as she secured David in her arms, then went to the ground safely. She landed a few steps away from Anthony and Tina, who stood with looks of horror and confusion.

"Yeah….I don't know either. But it's really cool!" Helena said mere seconds before suddenly taking off into the sky again.

In the Next Chapter…

Two more Heroes learn of their extraordinary gifts.

Adam continues to explore his new strength

Terry uses his new power to right the wrongs in his life

Helena confronts a mysterious visitor who says he can explain her new skills…

Well, that was chapter one! Thanks so much for checking it out, I really hope you enjoyed it (and even if you didn't, I'll do my best to improve it.) Please review if you have the time, and keep on the lookout for the next update. It should be up very soon. Thanks again.