Illumination
Chapter 1: A Strange Greeting
"The future isn't written in stone"
Claire looked up at her father with a mix of understanding and relief that he had finally come round to her way of thinking. Peter was glowing, brighter than ever. Kirby Plaza was engulfed in a warm glow. The surrounding buildings reflected the light back down onto the ensemble. Sylar's body lay on its side, arms outstretched; a pool of crimson seeping from the puncture created by Hiro's sword. D.L., Nikki, Micah and Molly huddled together by a column.
"I took his power, Nathan." Peter had his arms raised a little, illuminating Nathan's somewhat tired face. "I can't control it. I can't do anything"
"I'm not leaving you Peter." He turned towards his brother and walked to him. Peter backed away from him. "There's another way to end this and you know it"
Peter shook his head.
"I can't let you die"
Nathan looked him dead in the eye. He held everyone's lives in his hands
"And I can't let everyone else." He looked back at Claire. "You saved the cheerleader. So we could save the world.
Finally, a freezing wave of acceptance overwhelmed the younger Petrelli. Everything they had done, everyone they had met, everywhere they had gone, all came down to the next few minutes.
"I love you Nathan"
"I love you, too"
Nathan looked up at the sky. His sons would remember him as a hero, as would his wife. He looked back at Peter.
"You ready?"
Peter nodded. "Yeah"
Nathan lunged forward. He grabbed Peter around the torso and shot into the sky.
After the initial shock of take-off, Peter couldn't help but enjoy himself on the way skywards. The roaring wind whistled through his hair. He should have frozen to death, but the radioactivity was warming him. Some of the heat must have helped Nathan, warming his chilled flesh. The two brothers soared into the air, higher and higher. Peter felt a surge of power inside him.
"It's happening, Nathan!" he yelled. "You have to drop me!"
"No!" Nathan bellowed. "I'm with you Peter!"
"Stop being a hero! Drop me!"
Nathan didn't reply. He continued to gaze upwards.
"Nathan."
He looked down at his younger brother.
"Please."
Nathan nodded. He pushed Peter away from his body. Slowly, as if in slow motion, Peter began to fall.
A blue telephone box appeared from nowhere. The doors flew open, Peter fell straight into it.
"Peter!" Nathan hollered, and flew in after his sibling. The doors slammed shut behind him. He slammed into a huge cylinder and crashed onto a circular table below.
Peter had already gotten up and was staring and a man dressed in a blue suit, and tie, converse trainers and a pair of bold glasses. They looked each other up and down and at the same time, uttered one word which summed up Peter's feelings completely.
"What?"