Volume Three: Villains

by Mike Coppola

After Nathan Petrelli is shot at a press conference, the heroes are put in danger. Sylar is back, but he isn't the only villain around.

1. Chapter One: Dark Visions

VOLUME THREE - VILLAINS

Sylar is sitting by a building. He injects himself with the cure. As the wounds on his face heals, he extends his arm out toward a spinach can. Soon afterward, the can shakes and flies into his hand. He grabs it with a victorious expression. He gives an evil grin.

Sylar: I'm back.

CHAPTER ONE - DARK VISIONS

Matt Parkman, Peter and Angela Petrelli
Nathan's Apartment

The three of them are in Nathan's apartment, waiting. Matt is sitting, still shocked from the experience. Peter is standing by the door, appearing to be in deep thought. Angela is facing away from them on the other side of the room with a somewhat guilty face. Finally, Peter walks over to his mother.

Peter: Mom, do you have any idea who shot Nathan?
Angela: I do, but we can't know for sure.

Peter grabs his mom's shoulder and violently turns her around.

Peter: Stop lying to me! Who shot Nathan!

She looks disgusted, but not shocked, at his behavior and gently brushes his hand off her shoulder. She appears to be crying.

Angela: How dare you! I know you're hurt, but don't express your anger at me! All we can do is wait and hope that the doctors will save him!

Peter knows she's lying, but doesn't continue. He steps back. Matt looks up at her and attempts to read her mind.

Angela: (mentally) I won't tell you anything, Parkman.

Matt looks shocked, realizing that she does know who shot him.

Peter: Please mother, tell me.

She walks over to the other side of the room. She looks over at Peter with a sincere look on her face. She finally gives in.

Angela: Fine, I'll tell you. The man who attempted to murder your brother was...
Before she can finish, her skin turns pale and her eyes widen. In mid-sentence, she falls over. She's passed out. Peter and Matt attempt to wake her.

Hiro Nakamura and Ando Masahashi
Yamagato Industries

Hiro is sitting at his desk, Ando is standing behind him, watching.

A delivery man goes to Hiro's cubicle.

Delivery Man: (in Japanese) Is this Hiro Nakamura's desk?

Hiro and Ando look over at him, surprised.

Hiro: (in Japanese) Yes?

Delivery Man: (in Japanese) Sign here, please.

Hiro stands up and signs the form.

Delivery Man: (in Japanese) Here you go.

He hands Hiro a package and walks away.

Ando: (in Japanese) Who sent it to you?
Hiro: (in Japanese) I don't know. There's no address or anything.

Hiro opens up the package and inside is an original painting by Isaac Mendez. Hiro looks excited at it.

Hiro: (in Japanese) Ando, this is a painting by Mr. Isaac!

The painting shows a blonde woman trapped in a burning building.

Ando: (in Japanese) Is that the cheerleader?
Hiro: (in Japanese) Maybe. She looks like she's in trouble.

Ando looks over at him. Hiro's face lights up with joy.

Ando: (in Japanese) Oh no, Hiro. We're not going to save her.
Hiro: (in Japanese) But we have to! Save the cheerleader, save the world! Remember?

Ando rolls his eyes.

Ando: (in Japanese) Fine! But where is she? How do we get there?
Hiro looks at it, puzzled.

Hiro: (in Japanese) I don't know. Let's find out.

He places his hand on the painting. Ando grabs his shoulder. Hiro concentrates hard at the painting. Soon enough, the two of them disappear, so does the painting.

Claire and Noah Bennet
The Bennets' Home

Claire is sitting on the couch, doing nothing in particular. HRG is standing behind her, staring at her sadly.

HRG: I know it's not going to be easy. Living a normal life.

Claire turns around and looks at him.

Claire: Why do we have to have a normal life?
HRG: It's what I've always wanted for you.
Claire: But we have special abilities. Special powers.
HRG: We?
Claire: You know what I mean. Shouldn't we be helping people?
HRG: Why? This family is all that matters to me. If something were to ever happen to you...I don't know if I could ever forgive myself.
Claire: A good friend once told me that if we don't save them, who will?

HRG sighs and sits down next to her.

HRG: Listen, I know it's gonna be tough. But you've got to believe me, it's the only way to ever by truely safe.
Claire: I know you mean well, but why would I be able to heal if it weren't for a bigger and better purpose?
HRG: Your purpose is to live. I don't want you to experience half the pain that I've had to experience in my life.
Claire: Who says I have to?
HRG: If they take you away, then you will!

He gets up and leaves, Claire is almost crying.

Mohinder, Molly, Maya, and Elle
Isaac Mendez's Loft

The four of them are watching a news report on Nathan being shot.
Reporter: At a press conference, politician Nathan Petrelli was shot by an unknown assassin. No official descriptions of this killer has been made, but police are investigating it as we speak.

They all look shocked.

Mohinder: I can't believe it.
Molly: Is he going to be okay?
Mohinder: He'll be fine, Molly. I'm sure he will.

Suddenly, Sylar enters. Elle prepares to zap him, but he quickly throws her into the wall using telekinesis. She is knocked out. Mohinder pulls out the Company gun and shoots at him, but Sylar stops the bullets and telekinetically holds them up.

Sylar: No sudden movements, or everyone dies.

Niki Sanders
Duzac's Diner

Monica runs out while Niki attempts to hold the flaming wood up. Monica, outside, runs toward a scared Micah and comforts him. Niki's about to pass out when time freezes all of a sudden. The flames freeze, and the wood seems much lighter.

Niki: What the...?

Behind her are Hiro and Ando.

Hiro: Are you the cheerleader?

Niki turns around, completely surprised.

Niki: Who are you?
Hiro: I am Hiro. And this is Ando (points to Ando).
Niki: What's going on?
Hiro: I can freeze time. We are here to rescue you.
Niki: Really?
Hiro: Yes.

Ando recognizes her as the webcam stripper he constantly dreams about.

Ando: (in Japanese) She's pretty hot for a cheerleader.
Hiro: (in Japanese) I don't think that's her.
Niki: What are you two muttering about?
Hiro: Uh, he's a big fan.

She looks disgusted.
Niki: Pervert.
Hiro: Don't mind him. Please, take my hand.

She unwillingly does so. The three of them disappear. Time resumes. Outside the building, Monica and Micah screams as it blows up.

Back to Sylar. He threatens them with the floating bullets. Molly is crying, Maya is too, Mohinder is afraid.

Mohinder: What do you want?
Sylar: (with his cool voice) Revenge.

The bullets drop. Suddenly, he hurls Maya using telekinesis, turns sharply back at Mohinder before he can shoot again, and chokes him telekinetically. Molly screams and Mohinder drops his gun. Sylar throws Mohinder through the door, knocking him out as well. Molly is terrified. Maya awakens, but is weak. She tries to get up, but her ankle is injured. Sylar walks toward her and extends his arm.

Sylar: I think it is unwise to try to escape.

He begins to slowly move his hand across her forehead. He is cutting her head open. She screams as she does so. Molly runs to Mohinder.

Molly: (whispering) Wake up. Please.

We then return to HRG, who is standing outside the house talking to Bob.

Bob: You've made the right choice.
HRG: I hope so.
Bob: Well luckily for you, we already have a new target.
HRG: Who is it?
Bob: He's a man who recently burned down his apartment in L.A.
HRG: He can burn things.
Bob: Yes.
HRG: Like Ted Sprague?
Bob: No. Like Meredith Gordon.

HRG looks at Bob coldly.

We then return to Mohinder. Elle is standing over him. She gently shocks him on the nose and he shoots up.

Mohinder: What happened?
Elle: I'm so sorry.
She's crying and points inside. Mohinder stands up and slowly enters. He gasps and almost faints at the sight. We see the top of Maya's head cut open. There's blood everywhere. Over by the couch, we look up Molly's lifeless body and although we don't see her head removed, it is heavily implied that it is. Mohinder is about to throw up. Instead, he looks over at Elle.

Mohinder: How are you still alive?

Elle looks at him, still sobbing at her apparent failure to save them.

We then see Sylar on Charles Deveaux's rooftop. He appears to be removing someone's brain, but we can't see who it is. We slowly turn until we see that it's Claire. She's screaming for her life, but he finally gets her brain.

Sylar: I've waited a long time for this. It's time to finish what I've started.

We suddenly pull back and see that it's in someone's eyes, like when Peter had his explosion vision. Angela is seeing the vision. Peter and Matt are still trying to wake her. She suddenly sits up, frightened. She gasps.

The episode ends.