Spectrum Volume II: Resistance

Note: Heroes is owned by NBC Universal, and Fringe is owned by Fox. I'm rather sure that any song I post or make reference to is in public domain. I know I'm kinda defying the time I set in the first volume, but this is probably going to be very surreal anyway, just because it's based on a very surreal season.

Chapter 1: Change

Peter Petrelli–Present Day, Nathan's Press Conference

When Peter aimed the gun at his brother, he suddenly became aware that he did not travel to the past alone. He had his finger wrapped securely around the trigger and was just preparing to squeeze when suddenly all the surrounding people vanished. He found himself standing alone in a white room. Peter put the gun down and sighed in frustration.

"Peter Petrelli! Peter Petrelli!" The voice boomed all around him.

But Peter didn't even flinch. "Why did you come with me?" He turned around and looked at the beautiful twelve-year-old Japanese girl behind him, dressed in a kimono decorated with butterflies all the colors of the rainbow. She held up her head and gazed beyond him with a look of fear and concern.

"Why would you do this? He's your brother, your own brother!"

"Yes Hanami, but it has to be done. Ask your uncle; he'll tell you the same thing."

"He doesn't talk to me anymore. I'm worried about him. He's running from Mr. Masahashi."

"Does it stop you from talking to him?"

"He won't connect to the Ghost Network. But that's not important right now! You can't do this to Mr. Nathan! They're going to find out, you know, eventually."

"No, they won't. You don't understand now, but you will."

"You always say that, but I never do. Why must all these people be hurt? Why do they hurt each other?"

"Hanami, once I do this, people will stop hurting us. No more hiding from Mr. Knox with Gabriel and Dr. Bishop or Gam. No more hopping about through our minds in the Ghost Network. No more need to worry about the. . ." He couldn't say it. He couldn't talk about the destruction. So he just took a deep breath and said, "Things are gonna change."

"You know how I feel about change."

Peter shook his head. "You just need to trust me. Now, go home." Before Hanami could protest, Peter held up the gun and fired. Hanami covered her ear and screamed, and the dream scene faded away.


Gabriel Bonhomme–Paris, France

He felt weird. He didn't want to get out of bed. He wasn't sure why; he just felt kinda weak. And there was some weird quality on his skin. It felt kinda slimy and cold.

But he knew he had to get out of bed. He fell down on his knees and pushed himself off the floor. Just standing up made him feel dizzy! He slowly stumbled to the bathroom, got out the shaving cream from the medicine cabinet, closed the mirror-door, and screamed. There was a huge leech on his forehead. He grabbed it and pulled it off, but the leech reattached itself. "DESCENDEZ! DESCENDEZ!" (get off) he kept screaming as he continued to try to pry it off his skin, but every time he removed the parasite, it would get back on.

He was about to give up when he found himself in bed again. He put his hand on his forehead just to make sure. No leech there. "Un cauchemar" (A nightmare), he told himself. Yet when he stood up, he felt a bit woozy. "I just need some coffee."

When he was ready, he went into the kitchen and started brewing coffee. He turned on the TV as he started to make an omelette when he heard the news.

"An American politician was gunned down last night in a press conference. Nathan Petrelli–"

"Petrelli?" Gabriel said aloud. He turned the TV up and watched even closer. He watched as the amateur video came up of Nathan. Gabriel only saw him in a picture once; at the time, Nathan was missing. It was hard to concentrate on what Nathan was saying as the interpreter talked over him. Gabriel's ability allowed him to immediately translate any language and hear it as his own, French. Though the interpreter was in sync with the politician, it was still a bit distracting. Yet Gabriel caught the last words, the unfinished phrase, before the bullets came.

"J'ai le capacite–"

Le capacite, the ability. "He's like Peter! Oh, Peter, is he alright?" He ran beck to his bedroom, grabbed his cell phone, and search through the contacts until he found Peter Petrelli's number. Quickly, he called his old American friend.

"Hello?" a tired voice said.

"Peter Petrelli! C'est bien? C'est bien?!"

"Yeah, Gabriel, I'm fine."

"Oh, I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No, I've been awake."

"I just heard the news. How is your brother? Is he going to be alright?"

"He'll be fine. I just know, he's going to be OK."

"Did they catch who did this?"

"Not yet, but I hear Matt's on it. He'll find 'em."

"Uh . . . Matt?"

"Oh, Officer Matt Parkman. I don't think you met him. He can read minds."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Listen, Gabe," (Gabriel winced; he hated it when people called him by his shortened name), "how've you been?"

"Uh . . . ca va." (OK, literally it's going). "A little tired, but–"

"Where are you?"

"I'm . . . at my apartment in Paris, why?"

"You're . . . not at Cambridge?"

"Cambridge? That's an American city, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's where Harvard is."

"I . . . don't go to Harvard. I'm about to graduate at Papa's university, remember?"

"Oh, that's right."

"In fact, I'm trying to look for a job. I'm a little stuck, trying to find a place best suited to my go–"

"Don't worry about that now, Gabe. Just stay where you are."

"Is there nothing you need me to do with you?"

"No, we got everything handled down here. Just stay put, and take care of yourself. D'accord?" (OK)

"D'accord," Gabriel said dejectedly.

"I mean that, even if you hear from anyone from the Circle, stay where you are. Stay in Paris."

Gabriel was getting worried at Peter's urgent tone. "Am I . . . in danger?"

There was a long pause.

"Peter? Are you there?"

"No, you're not in danger. It's for your own good."

But Gabriel knew there was something Peter wasn't telling him. Still, he trusted him because he knew how much Peter can do and that Peter was always a selfless hero. "Fine."

"Good. Thanks for calling, Gabe. I'll talk to you later."

"Why do you–?" But Gabriel heard a dial tone. Gabriel turned his phone off, too. Maybe it was an oversight.


Claire Bennet–Costa Verde, California

On the way home, Claire stopped by a new neighbor's house. A girl she knew from her home in Texas had moved in recently.

"How's she doing?" Claire asked the girl's mother.

"I thought it would be a nightmare adjusting to the change, but Harmony's found something to keep her occupied." Mrs. Miller opened the door to a playroom. A red-headed girl stared up at the television with an intense expression. Claire came closer and smiled as a familiar Disney character fell flat on his face.

"Pinocchio! I love that movie."

Mrs. Miller smiled. "Yeah, I didn't even know we had it." She gestured for Claire closer. "But the strange thing is, she won't watch the whole movie, just this one scene. She watches it over and over. It's enough to drive me nuts."

"Lyle and I used to be like that. We watched that luau scene in The Lion King so many times, we wore out the tape."

"Did you get upset if anyone interrupted you?"

"Oh."

"The good news is she is picking some echolalia. She can repeat words. I've heard her say 'Pinocchio,' 'Jiminy Cricket,' and 'Strombolli,' only she says it 'Strom-bully.'"

"So at least she's talking. I guess that's something. What about her dad?"

"He's going to be gone for a few weeks. Missionary trip."

"And her powers?"

"They've been under control, especially after she discovered this."

"Alright. Well, if anything happens, just give me a call."

"Hey, Claire, where's your father?"

"He . . . he's also away."

Just after the yellow-haired girl left, Harmony started the movie again. She had to learn the magic song, just like the good witch told her to, so she can feel her powers make her safe. She mouthed the words with Pinocchio,

"I got no strings to hold me down

To make me fret or make me frown . . ."


Gabriel just didn't get it. Why was Peter so adamant? Why can't he leave? He can't let this go on for too long. He needed a job so that he could pay the rent on his apartment. His inheritance won't cover it anymore since the rent was going up. He spent some time working at the campus adaptive technology lab, which specialized in computer technology for students with disabilities. It was a very empowering experience as he made new friends and connected with a community he was part of (Gabriel has Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism), but it still wasn't enough to pay his bills. He didn't want any old job, though. He wanted a job that will somehow move him toward his goal of winning the Nobel someday, something that will allow him to use his new skills to change the world forever. Perhaps there was still a way to get his foot in the door.

He dialed Mohinder's number. After a couple of rings, he heard an Indian voice answer, "Hello?"

"Mohinder?"

"Oh, Gabriel! I was hoping to get in touch with you. I have some exciting news."

"Really? What is it?"

"I think I found a cure!"

Gabriel's heart sunk. "A cure?"

"Yes, I found a very strong connection to adrenaline. I'm in the process of isolating the strand and creating a serum which will counteract it. I wish you could be here to see it. History is in the making."

Gabriel felt like he was going to be sick. "Mohinder, how . . . why? You know how I feel about this."

"Well there are some who are less fortunate than you, Gabriel."

"But they shouldn't be ashamed for who they are!"

"Gabriel, I have a friend here who kills people when she weeps. This is something that must be corrected."

"Oh wait, you mean . . . this is a cure for the things your father hypothesized in his book."

"Yes, of course! What did you think I was talking about?"

"Autism."

"Oh. Well, that's not really my field, you know."

"But I don't understand. Didn't your father say this was evolution?"

"Yes, that was his claim."

"Then why are you trying to interfere with it? Evolution is a force. It can't be stopped, right? If we try, we won't evolve."

"Don't worry. I'm even trying another serum, which, if my hypothesis is correct, will add abilities to those who have none."

Somehow, that didn't seem right either, but Gabriel couldn't think of a reason why. "Mohinder, I was calling to see if you need someone to help you with your research."

"What?"

"I'm looking for a job, any job that will help me . . . you know–"

"Get the Nobel?"

"Oui."

"Well, I don't need help right now, but I'll keep my eyes open."

"Merci, mon ami. Bonne chance (good luck) on your work." Gabriel hung up, and almost the exact second he did, it rang again. "Allo?"

"Gabriel!"

The boy recognized the enthusiastic Japanese voice immediately. "Hiro!"

"I was hoping I'd reach you!"

"How are you doing?"

"Oh, I'm alright. I'm the head of my father's company now."

"What about your sister?"

"She left to look after Hanami."

"And how is she?"

"She's a bit more withdrawn, but she's alright. Listen, Gabriel, I called to say Father's option is still open."

"To work at Yamagato Industries."

"We have an opening in Research and Development, but I'll be happy to promote you from the start. In fact, I'll bring you here personally." (Hiro chuckled.)

"Do you have anything about adaptive technology?"

"Oh yes! That part always needed a lot more help. Yes, that'll be good if you could join them."

"I just might then. Let me think about it first."

"Please take the job, Gabriel. It would be good to have another friend here, along with Ando. I'm so bored. I just wish Father left more for me, like a way to find my destiny."

"I understand, but you know, I am still looking for mine."

"If you work for us, I will do all I can to help you find it."

"That's what I like to hear. Well, I got a few places I'm checking on. I'll get back to you."

"I'm glad to hear it. Merci, mon ami."

"Hai. Sayonara." Gabriel hung up and stood to put the phone back on the hook, but he was immediately hit with a wave of dizziness. He fell back on the couch, feeling as weak as he did in the morning. But how could a dream do this to him?


Michael Bonhomme–Paris, France

Across town in an office on university campus, Gabriel's father was trying to grade papers, but he was distracted.

Michael Bonhomme went through a traumatic experience. He was kidnaped and experimented on

for four years. Gabriel was told his father was killed in a car accident, but during that time Michael was regressed. Like his son, Michael had a mild form of autism, but the experiments gave him savant abilities. He couldn't stop playing the piano, and sometimes when he wanted to stop because his hands hurt, they forced him to keep playing. Then one day, without explanation, he turned into a bird and flew away. He found he was a transfigureer–he could turn things, and himself, into other things. He tried for a long time to escape he experience by continuing to transform himself into animals, but that power suddenly stopped working. Then he met Peter Petrelli and became reunited with his son. But the memories of that terrible place still plagued his mind. The Haitian refused to take them away.

One of the stranger memories kept coming back to him. He remember numb all over, so much so he couldn't control his body. He was paralyzed. And he was so cold. Someone pulled off all his clothes, except for his boxer shorts. Michael felt himself lifted up and carried and then placed in a shallow pool of water. He floated! It was like being in the Dead Sea, it just held him up. Michael tried to shiver, but he couldn't; it was awful. He saw a shadow fall over him, and he heard a voice with a strange accent.

"I am sorry about this, but I have no other alternative. If you had a child, you would understand."

He couldn't see the speaker, just the shadow. Michael felt his lips quiver as he tried to say what was on the tip of his tongue. The doors closed above him, shutting him into darkness. For so long, he just tried to say that thought on his mind, just tried to shiver. Slowly, slowly, he felt his skin tighten into goose bumps. His lips moved, and he found his voice.

"But . . . but . . . I am a father."

Suddenly, images of his son flashed before his eyes at breakneck speed. He had been trying to forget Gabriel so he could distance himself from the pain. Now, it wouldn't stop. His head throbbed, and he heard a strange ringing in his ears. He screamed. And then, he was surrounded by a brilliant green light, and he had no idea where it came from.

No idea until recently. It came from inside of him. It was his power made manifest. For reasons he still didn't know, those on the spectrum could do that. It usually worked on its own; the only certain time it appeared was when they were all together.

Michael didn't know exactly why he was so fixated on this memory, except for one feeling he couldn't explain. He was so proud of his son, but something about what Gabriel was doing . . . made Michael very worried.


Gabriel opened his eyes. "Oh, I must have taken a nap on the sofa," he thought out loud. "Well, it's probably just what I needed." But as soon as he said that, he groaned. "Oh, my head!" Suddenly, his arm felt all cold and slimy. He lifted his left arm and saw a gigantic leech hanging on it. "Not again! Get off, you sangsue!" He pulled and he pulled, but it wouldn't come off. His arm ached, and the leech only grabbed tighter.

Then, with a jump, he woke up again. The leech was gone. "These dreams are strange. I wonder if my mind is telling me something is wrong me. Do I have a parasite?" As he sat up, he felt dizzy again and fell off the couch. "Oh, I must go to the clinic."

But the moment he opened up the door, he was confronted by a young woman with short, platinum blond hair and big eyes. "Hi," she said curtly.

"Oh, je suis desole, mademoiselle. I was sleeping, and I didn't hear you knock."

"Didn't," she said with a shrug.

"You didn't knock?"

"Well, I didn't have time to. I just got here. You kinda quick for someone who just took a nap."

Gabriel scratched his head. "Well, I–"

"'Course, I'm quicker!" Gabriel looked up and saw the girl was gone. Then he felt a tap on his shoulder, and he turned around to see her behind him.

"How'd you do that? Can you teleport? I have a friend who can do that."

"No," she replied in a rather annoyed voice. "Look, you're Gabriel Bonhomme, right?"

"Uh, oui mademoiselle."

"I was sent to tell you that an internship has been reserved for you." She put a business card into his hand.

"Pinehearst?" he read. "I've never heard of it. Where is it?"

"Don't worry. Transportation and everything else will be arranged."

"What business are they in?"

"Oh, the kind of business I think you know something about." She raised her eyebrows at him as though she knew everything about him.

"Well, please tell them I'll think about it. I have a few more offers. Yamagato Industries just called me earlier, and I've received a few letters from Massive Dynamics."

"Yeah, think about it. When you're ready, just call the number on the back of the card."

Gabriel turned it over and saw a phone number. He felt a very strong breeze, and he looked to see the girl was gone. He shrugged, put the card in his pocket, and continued to walk down the stairs. The second he stepped off the last step, there was another strong breeze and she was there again.

"One more thing. Um, I'm kinda new in town, and I haven't met many people around here who speak English as well as you do. Would you mind showing me around sometime?"

"Perhaps later. I'm going to the doctor now."

"Cool. Well just look me up. Name's Daphne."

"Daphne. OK."

She nodded and was gone in a purple blur. So, she's a roadrunner, Gabriel thought.


Even as Daphne was running, she suddenly was surrounded by white walls. "What the–?"

"Miss Daphne?" Daphne turned around and saw Hanami looking at her with all curiosity.

"Who are you?" Daphne said annoyed.

"You don't know me yet, but I know who you are. Why did you take the formula from Uncle Hiro?"

"That was your uncle?" Daphne scoffed. "Look, it's nothing personal. I did it because I was hired. I was told to!"

"People are hiding because of that piece of paper. People are afraid of getting hurt. Some people are dying."

"Where? When?"

"It's going to happen."

"Well, it's none of my concern! I'm not gonna worry about it."

The girl walked slowly up to her and lifted her face toward Daphne's eyes. "You're ashamed, aren't you?"

Daphne was really taken aback at that. "What? Ashamed? What have I got to be ashamed about? I'm not ashamed about being a thief, if that's what you're saying."

"No. You know what I mean. Gam always says you can't be ashamed of who you are. Don't be ashamed of who you are."

Daphne shook her head. How can this stupid, creepy little Japanese girl know anything about that? "Look, I don't know who you are, but . . . just leave me alone!" Daphne quickly turned her back on her and ran away.


The doctor came back into the examination room. Gabriel looked up expectantly at him, but the doctor shook his head. "All the tests we ran are normal. You don't have any parasites. I really think according to the symptoms you described to me, you're running low on electrolytes."

"Electrolytes?"

"Yes. It would account for the dizziness and the weakness. Just drink some water, or better yet some sports drinks, and try to get plenty of sleep."

Gabriel nodded doubtfully. "Alright, doctor."

The doctor raised his eyebrow at Gabriel. "Is there a reason why you thought you had a parasite?"

"There is, but I'm not sure if you'd believe it. It's not really medical."

"Go on. Tell me."

"Well . . . I've been having this dream. I'd wake up, and I'd find a sangsue on me. And the more I tried to pull it off, the more it hung on. And every time I woke up, I'd feel dizzy and weak, and it just got worse. I thought something was wrong with me, and my mind was trying to tell me."

"Dreams are . . . usually a bit more metaphorical than that. Perhaps there's someone in your life that you feel is draining you of your time and money."

"No, I don't think so."

"I think to resolve this dream, you need to find out who that person or thing is. It might even be you. Your body thinks your taxing it of its energy, and maybe you need to take a break."

"But I got to find a job, and quick!"

"Ah, maybe that anxiety is contributing. Whatever it is, you need to find it and resolve it. That will take care of your dream."

Gabriel just looked up at him. He didn't understand how real it felt.


After Sylar's attack, Claire walked alone on the streets, thinking. She passed by Harmony's house and saw the girl curled up and hugging her knees on the front porch swing. Claire tried to work up a smile as she walked up to the porch. As she came closer, she could hear the girl whisper to herself the lyrics to "I Got No Strings." "Hey, Harmony," Claire said in a dismal cheery voice.

Harmony didn't respond.

"So, did you see the whole movie?"

Harmony didn't look at her but shook her head as she continued to whisper the lyrics.

"You know, you ought to. It's a good movie, not just that one song is good. You know, there's another song I used to really like." She felt a little silly singing it, but if the girl didn't see this part, she probably never heard it. "When you feel temptation and the urge is very strong, give a little whistle. (Whistle) Give a little whistle. (Whistle) Something, something, something, and you don't know right from wrong, give a little whistle. (Whistle) Give a little whistle. (Whistle)"

Harmony still didn't pay any attention. Claire stopped for a moment. She remember when she really loved that song, about when she was five. She and Lyle used to sing it all the time. One day she was in the playroom by herself, and she started singing the song without thinking. The TV was not on, but she could have sworn that she heard someone answer her whistle. She looked everywhere around the room, even through her whole toy chest, but she couldn't find anyone. Nobody knew what she was talking about, and nobody really believed her. Somehow she convinced herself that it was her dad, even though he was away again. So she started believing that even when he was away, if she were in trouble, she could whistle and wish him back, and he'd return to help her. Oh, how stupid was that! If she knew then what she knows now . . .

"Anyway," she said with a sigh, "if anything ever happens and your powers aren't good enough, you can just whistle for me. You know that, right? I'm your friend, Harmony. I'll help you. You do know how to whistle, right?"

Harmony answered by puckering her lips and blowing. It made barely a sound at all.

Claire nodded. "Not bad." She turned away and got back on the sidewalk. The last verse occurred to her, "Take the straight and narrow path, and you start to slide, give a little whistle, give a little whistle, and always let your conscience be your guide."

Do I even have a conscience anymore? she wondered.


That night, Mohinder had the serum in his hands. He had the greatest temptation inside, and the only way to know the truth was to act on it. But even as he drew the needle closer to his vein, he was stopped by brilliant white walls appearing around him.

"Dr. Mohinder!"

He turned around. "Hanami? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in Japan?"

"I'm in your mind, doctor. What are you doing?"

Mohinder looked up dramatically. "Making history happen."

"This is going to turn you into something you're not. This isn't supposed to happen to you, doctor! You're supposed to win the Nobel!"

"You sound like Gabriel."

"It's what he says all the time."

"Well, Gabriel needs to understand that they don't just hand Nobels out, you know. They need concrete proof, and what better proof than this."

He grabbed the needle again, but she approached him begging. "Don't change, doctor! Please! Be happy with who you are!"

"Hanami, survival of the fittest could take hundreds of years. How can mankind evolve if we all don't evolve?" Before she could answer, he jabbed the needle into him.


"Gabriel."

It was a soft, female whisper in his ear. He felt a nudge on his arm.

"Gabriel, wake up!"

How could this be? Gabriel slowly opened one eye and saw a older woman with black hair and very red lips looking down at him. "Vous!" he whispered in shock. He only saw this woman in person once in his life, and it was a very long time ago. He tried to sit up, but he was too tired, so instead he stared at her. "What are you doing here?"

"I know, Gabriel," she whispered. "I know how you feel about me, and I apologize. You misunderstood my intentions."

"What intentions? The only intentions you had were to take me away from my home."

"There was more to it than you think. We don't have time to talk about it now." She knelt down so that she looked him directly in the face, which Gabriel found very uncomfortable. Then she smiled and put her hand on Gabriel's face. Her hand was so cold, and her fingers were wrinkled. Gabriel turned away from her touch. "Listen to me, nephew. Things are going to change very soon, and I know how much you hate change."

He couldn't look at her. "I don't wanna leave home. I love France! Viva le France!"

"This isn't about leaving home. It's a lot worse. But Gabriel, you can stop it. You can keep it from happening."

He glanced at her. "What do you mean?"

She looked at his bedside table and chuckled at the title. "Disability Studies?" She turned back to him and gave him a sad smile. "You don't have a disability, Gabriel."

"But I do! I have autism!"

"You don't know. You don't realize it, but you have the greatest ability of them all. It can be your salvation. It can be our salvation."

"I don't understand." How is automatically translating everyone's language better than time traveling or healing or invisibility or all those things Peter can do? Could she mean something else, like his connection to the Circle? Suddenly, he felt a sting and a slimy cold feeling on his arm. He turned over and saw the large leech attached to his left arm. Moreover, he saw his bed was full of leeches! Gabriel screamed and fell out of bed. Leeches splattered all over him, each one of them biting him, clamping onto him. He could feel them sap his strength right out of him. His great aunt was now standing, looking down on him, doing nothing to help. "What's happening?"

"Beware, Gabriel," she said sternly, for the first time speaking above a whisper. "There's always someone who'd stop at nothing to make you vulnerable."

"Sylar?"

"No, worse. Always be alert, be suspicious. Never let your guard down, not for a second, not even for a friend."

"What should I do?"

"Resist, Gabriel, resist!"

"HOW?!?" It took a while for Gabriel to realize that she was gone, and so were the leeches. It was all another dream, but what did it mean?

To Be Continued . . .