It was just past 9'oclock, which to Claire Bennett marked the end of another fun-filled day of working for the Federal Government. For three months now, she could be seen inside any news magazine in the country. Claire Petrelli hired by Government to be liaison in affairs of "Abnormal Genome Complex" community. Claire hated two things about this story and the variations that came from other magazines; one the Government's insistence that she take on the recognizable name of her biological father and two, the title "Abnormal Genome Complex."
When representatives of the President's PR branch approached her to act as a sort of spokesperson after her big reveal, she had been reluctant. Their answer, when one leaps from a Ferris wheel and forces an inestimable number of the public to be seen in a new light, that person should see their action through. Unfortunately, the name Petrelli was already recognized through the "Abnormal Genome Complex" community and not in a good light. What else can you expect when dad led a secret operation to round up any evolved people they could find evidence of. Most people in the PR branch don't seem aware of that little botch up and Claire certainly wasn't going to give anyone the idea. That road was probably best left untraveled…. again.
The name "Abnormal Genome Complex" was chosen because the words special and super both hinted at superiority over the general public. So the obvious answer was to create a name that instead placed a certain amount of inferiority in the evolved community.
Letting out a final sigh, Claire turned out her desk lamp, while grabbing her jacket off the back of her chair. That was when she noticed the silhouette of a woman standing in the doorway of her office.
"Can I help you?" Claire asked, checking her watch.
" I think the question here is, can I help you."
Claire's face contorted into a look of confusion, "I'm sorry. I'm not sure I understand."
The woman then stepped into the light of the lamp near the office bookcase. She seemed to be about 5'10 with long auburn hair; striking green eyes and an over confident smirk gracing her fair skinned face.
"You took a pretty big gamble with your little carnival stunt. Pretty young for all this responsibility, dontcha think?"
"It was time" Claire answered," you can't expect these people to live in the shadows forever."
"No, I guess not", conceded the woman, "puts you in a pretty dangerous position though, there's a lot of angry and confused people out there. "
"You must spend some time in the mail room; that's where most of the angry and confused people send their sentiments. Or are you a little more intimate with the angry and confused?"
The Woman smiled, " You don't seem too worried about that."
"I don't bruise easy." Claire answered.
"Right, you're the indestructible cheerleader. I guess I can see how the threat of violence could be less frightening for you, than others. Still, doesn't mean you couldn't disappear. Your security here is pretty pathetic." The Woman sank in the over priced leather chair in the middle of the room.
"Hypothetically, if someone were to try to take off with me, I would have a security team downstairs prepared for a situation just like this."
The Woman snorted, "Yeah, I caught Joe Schmoe at the guard desk. Something tells me he might have succumbed to the charms of a box of homemade doughnuts, laced with a particularly strong brand of good, old fashioned arsenic."
Claire's face fell slightly. "He wouldn't have really been an obstacle."
"Oh, that's right. He's not dear Uncle Peter who can match pretty much any "Evolved " opponent he comes up against. Then there's daddy dearest, Noah Bennett. who handles weaponry like a kid in candy store. I'm shaking in my boots!"
Clair glared at the Woman. "If you'd done better research, you would know that there's another player. Goes by the name of Sylar, maybe you've heard of him? He's a pretty big deal to some people."
"Of course, how could I forget? And you're probably right, he would be a small obstacle, enough to irritate me at the very least."
"Oh, I can assure you, he'll do more damage than that. He's a force to be reckoned with."
The Woman pursed her lips in consideration, "Explain something to me real quick; not that I'm doubting you or your team here but, where the hell are these badasses?"
"What?" This conversation was getting weirder and weirder as it went on. Claire knew that threats and attacks would be part of the territory and to be perfectly honest that wasn't too big a difference from the life she had led before.
"You would think someone would be here by now. To check on you? Since it's been 15 minutes since you turned out your desk lamp there."
"So, what happens now?" Claire asked.
Standing the woman answered, " Let's discuss wages, boss."
"Wages?"
"The way I see it, you're looking at prime security real estate. I told you I was here to help."
Claire's eyes narrowed, "Next time, maybe you could refrain from killing people already IN employment here. Then, maybe you might have a chance."
The Woman nodded," Mmmmm, I can see where that would cause tension….if any of your staff were actually in a life threatening situation, right now."
Claire's eyebrows shot up. "You mean they're…"
"Perfectly fine, completely oblivious to my presence? Yeah, that's what I mean. Joe Schmoe might have a little bit of a headache when he comes to, though. Sorry, girl's gotta get her kicks somehow. The others? Probably haven't even noticed that your desk lamp is out, yet. It's nice to see you have genuine concern for your employees, though."
Claire was surprised by the sobering tone the Woman had in her last sentence. She collected her bag from the edge of her desk and walked closer to the center of the room, where the Woman stood.
"So you're looking for a job? In my security department?"
" For starters. I happen to believe I could be of help. Without getting all mushy, I cried, you know…. when your stunt hit the airwaves."
"I think that was a lot of people's reaction."
"You'll do things different, right? No, locking us up in cells to study us, or talking us into camps set up in the desert where people will "cure" us? No attempts at creating a serum offering up powers to those without them?"
Claire's eyes widened, "How do you…"
"I know a lot of things. I should warn you though, some of the old generation won't be very happy, if I get involved. But I'd like to help do things right. If that's what you're shooting for."
Claire eyed the woman suspiciously then checked her appointments in her Blackberry. "Can you be here tomorrow? Around nine in the morning? You can meet some of the people in my … team, for lack of a better word. We'll see what they think about your offer."
" Go team! I live around here, it won't be much of a stretch." The Woman chuckled, heading for the doorway of the office. Wow, must be loaded Claire thought, it's pretty pricy around here. The Woman's lip twitched, as if she had heard her.
"Hey!"
The Woman turned, "Hey back."
"What's your name? So I can give it to the front desk, that way you won't have to go sneaking around tomorrow. And maybe the day shift will have better luck withstanding any sweets than the night shift."
"Rose," the Woman answered.
"Just Rose?"
The Woman smiled, "For now."
" You're not going to turn out to be some kind of wanted felon are you?" Claire said rolling her eyes.
"Well, if I am, I'll go along great with your serial killer. No one would be able to say you aren't an equal opportunity employer."
Claire laughed at that, "You have a point."
"Your boys are getting curious as to why you're taking so long now. They're on their way up."
With that, Rose turned and walked out the door. Once Claire heard the doors to the stairway close, she turned out the bookcase lamp.