Author's Note: Hi everyone and welcome to my post Brave New World, Season 6 fanfic! Now I know most, if not all, of you have read these before. I'm hoping that although the theme is the same, my story will be completely original and different from stories written before. My idea of making it so that the Specials weren't revealed has been done once before, that I know of, but the rest is all my idea, or at least I hope so. For those fans of my Journey Through Time story, you know I'm a creative and unconventional writer. Also, I promise that I will continue with that story. I'm working on the next chapter and I hope to have it up soon. I just got this idea and I thought it would be a fun thing to write while I was waiting for inspiration for my other story to strike. If any reader, new or old, likes this story, then please review so that I'll be encouraged to continue. Enjoy! :)
Just a warning: This chapter goes a bit fast because it is just to set up for what is to come. I wanted to get through the events leading up to the second part of the two-chapter start to my story fairly quickly. I apologize if it seems rushed. Consider the first two chapters as one and it may help.
Sullivan Brother's Carnival, Central Park, NYC
Claire stood on top of the Ferris wheel, gazing at what was left of the Carnival spread below her. Everyone's faces were turned upwards to see what she was going to do.
The news people, still frantic after the "show" put on by the former carnival leader Samuel Sullivan, were excited to see what fresh new entertainment this strange place had in store for them. They had been told that the rumbling and the earth cracking had just been stage effects and that any harm that may have been caused was accidental. Even if the carnival had never intended anyone to get hurt, they still had a huge story for the entire nation to see. To these people, this stunt was just another hundred or so dollars in their pockets if they caught it on film. They were completely oblivious to the implications this single event could have on the world.
Noah Bennett, Claire's adoptive father, was watching his daughter, hoping that she would realize what a terrible mistake she was about to make. He pulled out his cell phone and texted an old friend just in case.
Peter and Sylar stood side by side, both avidly focused on Claire. Sylar was grinning, still awed by how good it had felt to be the hero for once instead of the villain. He was perfectly aware of the disastrous effects Claire's decision could have on all the Specials, but he admired her drive to do what she thought needed to be done. He was excited at the prospect of a brave new world where Specials didn't have to hide anymore.
Peter was the opposite. He couldn't believe his own niece of all people was standing up there, about to reveal to the world that Specials existed. She had just helped stop Samuel from doing the very same thing. He realized at that moment that perhaps she actually had believed in Samuel's idea that the world needed to know of them. She just didn't agree with killing thousands of innocents to do it. Instead of respect out of fear like Samuel had wanted, Claire wanted respect through mutual understanding. Peter knew that the public would ultimately turn on them. He had seen enough futures to be certain of that fact.
Claire stood on the precipice of not only the Ferris wheel, but of the fate of the entire human race. She thought about what this would mean for the world. She took a deep breath… and stepped back. She couldn't do it. She wasn't a coward, but she couldn't hurt her dad this way, or risk the safety of those she cared about. She couldn't be selfish. She climbed slowly down the ladder, tears sliding down her cheeks. She ran to embrace her dad as the news people and remaining spectators groaned in collective disappointment. Their were a few sighs of relief however, mostly from the other Specials.
Noah pulled Claire close and patted her on the back, soothing her. "You made the right choice Claire. Don't worry. I brought an old friend in to make sure that the public doesn't remember any of this. They didn't know this, but the live feed had been cut off before you even climbed the ladder. Only the people here saw what you almost did." he said.
Claire pulled back and smoothed her ruffled shirt as she nodded in resignation. "I guess it's for the best." she murmured.
Noah smiled in satisfaction that his daughter had seen the sense in what he had told her while they had been buried together underground. He watched as a black van pulled up and a few Company agents stepped out to start smoothing things over. His attention was on one person in particular however. A serious looking dark-skinned man stepped out of the vehicle and walked over to Noah, nodding a silent greeting to Claire. "I got your message. I will see what I can do." he said simply.
"Thank you Renee." Noah replied.
The Haitian approached the stunned pair of Hiro and Ando and spoke a few words to Ando as Noah and Claire looked on. The Haitian returned with the two by his side.
"I will help you, as long as Hiro and I can return home afterward." Ando said. Both he and Hiro looked tired and just wanted to go home and rest before their next adventure that was sure to come.
Noah gave them a genuine smile. "Of course Ando. The two of you helped save the world again. That's the least we can do to repay you." he told them kindly.
Hiro nodded at Ando and Ando took the Haitian's hand. Together they erased the memories of the entire normal human population that had come to the carnival that night. The Haitian had been instructed to only take the memory of Claire's attempt at revealing them to the world. The events of the night before that were to remain.
With everything now over, Noah shook Renee's hand and the Haitian left with the remaining Company operatives. Noah put an arm around Claire's shoulder. "Are you ready for me to take you back to your dorm Claire-Bear?" he asked.
Claire nodded vehemently. "Yes please. I feel like I could sleep for a century." she said, yawning widely to emphasize her point.
Noah chuckled quietly and the two of them left the carnival, which was now deserted except for the remaining Specials.
Hiro looked at his best friend and soon to be brother-in-law Ando. "Ready to go home?" he asked hopefully.
Ando looked more than ready. "Yes, I just want to get home to Kimiko, and my nice warm bed." he replied.
"Until the next adventure calls my friend." Hiro said. With that, he teleported the two of them back to their homes in Tokyo.
Peter ran a hand through his hair and after a moment's hesitation, turned to face Sylar. "This has been the longest day of my life. If you want to... you can come and stay with me at my apartment, at least for tonight. The couch is pretty comfortable." he said.
Sylar had been contemplating Claire's decision to not go through with her plan, slightly disappointed that she had backed out. He shrugged it off and when he registered what Peter had just said, he turned to him in shock. "Are you serious? After everything we've been through, you're going to let me stay with you?" he asked in disbelief.
Peter shrugged like it was no big deal. "You earned my trust when you saved Emma and didn't kill Doyle. To me, that proves that you really are willing to make this new path you're on work. I want to help you to not revert back. Besides, I spent five years with you alone in your mind. What's one night in my apartment?" he replied cheekily.
Sylar grinned. He couldn't believe this was happening. He had a friend. Peter of all people had accepted him, even trusts him. He turned at the sound of Emma approaching them. She had been trying to help the remaining Carnies figure out what to do now as best she could.
She kissed Peter on the lips and then gave Sylar a shy hug. "Thank you both so much." she said gratefully, a beaming smile on her face.
Peter pulled her into another hug and glanced at Sylar with a mischievous smirk. "See what you've been missing? Being the good guys has its rewards."
Sylar laughed. "Yeah, it is nice to have beautiful woman hugging me instead of screaming at me for a change."
Peter laughed at that and punched Sylar playfully on the shoulder. Emma stepped back and smiled serenely at the two of them. She was glad to see them getting along. They were her two favorite people in the whole world. Then she looked down at the ground. "Peter…. I'm staying with the carnival, at least for a little while. I want to help them find a new place to live. They're lost right now and I want to fix that." she explained.
Peter looked sad but he nodded in understanding. "Alright Emma. Just be careful okay? Come see me whenever you get the chance alright?" he requested.
"Of course." she replied and sealed the deal with another kiss.
After she left with the other carnies to find their new home, Peter and Sylar both found a spot away from probing eyes and flew high into the sky, both of them ready to end this long night as well.
To be continued….
Okay, that's the end of Part 1. Part 2 is on the way. This was just to wrap up the events at the carnival. Now the real fun can start. Please read on if you want. The drama starts next and it's going to be exciting, at least I hope so. :)