Welcome to the inner workings of the President's brain.

This series of one-shots is best read together, but I believe each one could be read and understood on its own.

I, as the President Sylar, reserve the right to use my own work from my Facebook profile page. You are not, so you don't. Stealing my work warrants a fierce reprimand, and I have a magnificent imagination to use to your disadvantage. I am not Tim Kring, however, so I do not own Heroes.

(To find me on Facebook, search for "Gabriel Gray" in the New York, NY network. My profile picture usually says "President Sylar" somewhere on it.)

Her hair was long, pulled into a tight ponytail at the back of her head. I stared at it--well, the back of her head. Something felt out of place. It was blonde and long, falling down the length of her back. What was it? What was so different? I listened to her heart, stared at the back of her neck. When she turned around and walked toward me I jumped a bit. I'd been tuning her out, but now she was pleading with me.

"Nathan, please…" Her voice was fragile, broken. "After Peter…I don't know what to do." Her eyes bored into mine. "I'm alone…" I wasn't sure exactly what she was asking for. I'd never seen this woman in my life and now she turned up asking for favors. I couldn't get over this feeling…something about her just wasn't right. Her voice faded as I tuned it out again and all I could hear was the beating of her flustered heart. I do know her, don't I?

Remember? Five years ago…Kirby Plaza…

It hit me and I felt a smile spread across my lips. I almost couldn't contain myself. Of course….she's broken. I looked back into her eyes, the smile attached to my face. Her brow furrowed. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but that hardly mattered anymore. What was her name? It didn't matter.

Suddenly I noticed the silence that had fallen on the room. It was prominent, almost suffocating. She stared into me, her lips pulled tight. Had I done something wrong? I let myself take a cursory glance around the room. I glimpsed at the doors, the windows. Not a soul was to be found. I focused on each entrance and simultaneously every lock in the room closed itself with a sharp click. I returned my focus to the woman in front of me. She glanced around nervously, but kept her pleading eyes glued to mine. What was her name?!

"Miss…" I paused for a moment, trying to pull her name out of my mind. If she'd told me I should have remembered, but even with my eidetic memory I drew a blank. "What did you say your name was?" I questioned coolly.

"Oh God, Nathan! Don't give me that shit." She was angry suddenly. "Every single time I try to come to you for help you refuse it! I know you're married…I'm not asking you to…" I ignored her. This monologue was hardly something worth listening to. I listened, instead, to her heart…heard every valve open and close. I listened to the blood rushing through each chamber, heard it pulse through every vein. I quickly formulated a plan, watched it unfold in my mind… "Are you even listening to me?!"

"No." I answered, letting my careful mannerisms slip away. A warm feeling spread through my body, beginning in my mind and flowing through every limb. I let the room around me melt into an empty space. If anyone should walk in, they wouldn't see what was happening. They wouldn't hear her screams.

"What are you doing? Nathan!"

I let the same warm feeling flow through my body. This time, though, it felt colder. Her face paled as I let Nathan's image fade, replacing it with my own. That smile was still attached to my face. That wonderful ability…

"Sylar." She shook, stepping away. "Oh God…Sylar…" Her whispers were nearly inaudible. "Peter was right…"

Suddenly I felt anxious. I didn't bother to explain. I lifted my arm and pointed at her forehead. "Your ability," I chuckled. "I'd like to see how that works."

Abruptly her stance changed. Her weak visage vanished and her quivering frame stood tall in confidence. "You bastard," she hissed between clenched teeth. Before I could react she charged at me, digging her nails into my neck. I let her body phase through mine, and calmly I threw her body against the wall with my mind. She staggered to her feet, coughing, and looked up at me with what might have been terror in her eyes. It was hard to explain the look on her face…she seemed shocked, disgusted. I walked toward her, and the hard demeanor that had held her before melted into a frightened, sobbing girl.

"D.L…God, D.L…." Her quavering voice pounded in my ears.

I stood over her shaking body and pointed my finger at her forehead. With one last effort she threw her body against mine, clawing at my coat, dragging me to the floor. I felt her terrified heart beat frantically against my chest and I forced her body against the wall. Brushing my dark jacket off, I stood and pressed my hand against her mouth out of caution. I knew my illusion would stop the sound from being heard, but...

You're afraid.

"No…I have nothing to fear…"

I raised my free hand and pointed it at her forehead, pulling it across her pale skin in a perfect line. Red appeared where my finger traced, and the hot blood spilled over my fingers. Her kicking slowed and her frantic heart relaxed. The blood pooled at my feet and flowed down her back and the wall. Her long blonde hair was stained crimson. As I finished the line I heard her failing heart skip a beat and fade away…until there was nothing but silence. Tangible silence.

I let her limp body drop to the ground, making my way around it until I stood in front of her exposed head. I reached out and severed the nerves, taking the gray matter into my hand and pulling it up to my face. I followed its curves, ran my fingers along each twist. Somewhere something clicked and I understood.

"I can fix that."

Like hell you can…

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