Chapter 2: A Different Animal
New York. The New Company
"I found her file in my father's research. It seems she came to him when he was in New York. She wanted answers just like the others…" Mohinder trailed off as he read through his father's notes. "Here…she visited him the day before he died."
Noah left the observation window over to the computer where the electronic documents held Chandra's research.
"Look for any connections to Sylar and the full extent of her abilities."
"It only says she displayed the ability to make herself and other objects she comes into contact with invisible. But he notes that she asked a lot of questions about Sylar's abilities and their connection to hers. They must have crossed paths...or my father may have introduced them. He knew there was a connection between those with abilities." Mohinder looked up to see Peter rushing in with test results.
"That needle we found on the floor. The DNA tests said it's some kind of spinal fluid from Sylar…Mohinder what would happen if someone injected themselves with it?" He handed him the results.
"Spinal fluid? I don't know…spinal fluid is produced in the brain, therefore it does hold the genetic component for abilities." He started to compare the results to the samples taken from Kate. "This is strange…These new results aren't like the ones my father had done. Something in her chemistry is different. You think she injected the fluid into herself?"
Peter nodded, "we were at Sylar's apartment, but we didn't know she was there. We found this bag with a note attached addressed to Kate." He reached into his pocket and started to read, "'I promised myself I'd never wish this upon someone, but I know they'll come after you and with this they can never have you.' She took the bag before we had time to open it, but I'm pretty sure the needle was inside."
"Right...did you notice any changes in her?" The doctor scratched the back of his head.
"Uhh yeah...She seemed weak and in pain, also didn't try and use her abilities to escape or even run…" Peter was starting to realize other things. "Something else...she said she knew we were lying to her."
"Sylar must have discovered a way to transfer abilities from one evolved human to another. Of course it wouldn't be permanent because cerebrospinal fluid as a turnover rate of 3.7 times a day…in a normal human….unless..." Mohinder started clicking away on the computer.
Peter blinked his eyes having really no idea what he was talking about. "So you're saying Kate now has Sylar's abilities? How is that even possible? Didn't you say everyone's blood chemistry is different, meaning people obtain different abilities?"
He released a heavy sigh and highlighted the paragraph he was looking for. "Yes she does. You see it has nothing to do with the blood, but with the proteins our body develops. These proteins in that vile were fully developed when they were injected into the blood stream and into the brain. When new spinal fluid is being produced it used these proteins to create new ones, instead of using her own. So…her body will keep producing them so long as they are there. However…since Kate's body isn't meant to produce this type of protein all kinds of disorders could occur."
A loud scream erupted from one of the holding cells. Prompting Noah to pull his gun and run towards it with Peter close behind…but he stopped mid stride to return to Mohinder.
"Suresh…I need your abilities," Peter touched his friend's arm, gaining super human strength. Then he returned back to the cell's observation window.
"She's awake and not too happy to be here…as expected. Do you think you can get some answers out of her?" Noah asked of him.
"Sure I'll try." Peter waited for Noah to slide his card to open the door. As he walked inside he could see Kate's eyes watching him.
Kate was tied down to a lab chair, but was struggling to break free.
"Why am I here? And what have you done to me?" her voice was at a growl.
"What have I done to you?" Peter pointed at himself and couldn't help but laugh. "Nothing. The reason you're here is because what you've done to yourself Kate. Suresh says that shot you injected into yourself is dangerous." He started to wonder if telling her what it had done would be a mistake or not.
"He wanted me to have it. It doesn't matter what it was…if I can bring him back that's all that matters to me. You don't understand!" Kate cried out causing sparks to form in her hands.
Peter's eyes widened and Kate gave him a strange look. Then she realized the blue coils her hands were producing were from her intense anger.
"What the hell is going on?" Kate calmed down enough to make them stop and used telekinesis to remove one of her arm restraints in the process. She grabbed Peter by the neck and started seeing the conversation he had earlier with Suresh. Kate let go of him in fear as she felt something itch through her body.
Peter looked on as Kate's body started to shape shift into someone else. He looks over at Noah and sees him on the phone already.
"Look we're going to help you. Suresh is a scientist and he seems to know a lot about this."
He hoped talking to her like this would get her to calm down and not break the restraint on her other arm. Peter took some steps back as her body started to shift larger.
"No Peter." Kate realized bother arms were free, but they were now covered with dark hair, "This is so disgusting, I can't control it," she looked horrified.
He looked at her strangely, "You're shape shifting...you look exactly like me. How'd you do it?"
Kate shrugged, "I don't know...I touched your throat and then this feeling came over me. Oh my god..." She covered her mouth, "I have his powers! That's how I know all these things about you!"
He raised a brow, "what things?"
"Like…how you wanted to be a nurse. And how much you hated your father because he only cared about your brother and never made time for you…"
Kate gave an evil smile and broke her leg restraints and walked around the cell. "It's nice being you…being a man. I feel stronger, like others will take me more serious." She looked out at Noah tilting her head, his expression showed fear. "I like this…"
"Peter you need to get out of there NOW," Noah said in his unnaturally calm but stern voice. He then moved over to a box on the side of the room and opened it with a key. Inside was a single switch that would deliver a sleeping gas, but he didn't want the real Peter to be effected. Noah was also keeping a close eye on them to make sure he was getting the real Peter.
Kate shook her head, "no…we're both getting out of here. I'm harmless, you know I'm not like him…don't you Peter?"
The thought of Sylar triggered her skin to visibly crawl and her body shifted again at an accelerated rate; making her cry out and fall to the ground at his feet.
Peter went to help her up, but she didn't move at all.
"Kate? Can you hear me?" He was about to feel for a pulse when the familiar face of Sylar turned to look at him.
Opening her eyes, the pain had faded and she was greeted with a different look from the man. She could feel the hatred he now had towards her...only it wasn't towards her but the face she now showed him.
"It's Sylar isn't it? I don't have a mirror…but judging from that look I'd say we have a winner." Kate looked him deep in the eyes then to Noah, "I have some questions…" In a flash she was out the door and at his side. "I wanna know what happened to my fiancé. I think I have the right to know the truth...but I don't need your word for that do I? Just your memories," She smiled and placed a hand on his head while her other held him in place against the wall.
Noah had started to laugh as Kate announced herself as his fiancé, but the pain commenced as he was forced to look back.
Her nose started to bleed as she finally saw the truth for herself. Nathan was dead by Sylar's hand, but they used Sylar…turned him into Nathan by using Matt's abilities.
Kate removed her hand, "you sweet little LIAR!" She flinged him across the room and turned to Peter. "They've lied to you…Sylar isn't dead, Nathan is Sylar…your brother is dead!" She erupted in laughter and glee, "Oh my god…he's really alive…alive! They…" She paused and started to shake uncontrollably then collapsed on the floor outside of the cell.
Peter was furious and confused, Kate really had no reason to make anything up…and he knew that she probably had the ability to know the history of things.
"Tell me the truth! Is Nathan dead?" He stood in front of Noah as he was still resting on the floor from being thrown.
"I can't give you the answer Peter. This is something you need to ask your mother…not me," Noah dialed the staff members to bring in a shunt. But now it was too late for that, since he watched as Peter approached Kate.
Peter walked over and picked up Kate. Thanks to Mohinder's ability he carried her in a different direction to avoid getting caught.
"I need to know what you saw," he whispered to her.
Once they were clear of the building he sat her down. He tried to think of a safe place for them to hide, but really the only place they could go was an abandoned firehouse. A place he visited lately to let off steam.
Kate started to wake up after being unconscious for an hour.
"Peter?" she questioned seeing him there and was shocked to realize they were no longer at the Company.
"Listen Kate, I know you have Sylar's abilities and I really don't have a reason to trust you. But is what you said about Nathan true? Is he…dead?" He paused noticing her nod yes.
"Who has this ability to fool us? Is it some kind of illusion?" Peter sat down next to her with his back against the wall.
Kate coughed from the dryness in her throat, but continued to talk as best she could. "I saw it. Noah, Matt, Angela. You brought Sylar to them, and then sent you to find Claire. Matt Parkman did it, at your mother's request. They didn't want you and Claire to know the truth."
Still in Sylar's form she sat up and looked at him, "Nathan deserved what he got. He was dangerous…and self-serving."
"And Sylar wasn't?" Peter snorted.
"You don't understand. Sylar was good and still is. You just need to give him a chance."
He looked down trying to hide his emerging grief for his brother, "never. He's going to pay for killing my brother. I can't believe my mother would keep this from me…she thinks I'm so weak sometimes."
Kate laughed, "Kill him? Is that right? 'Cause right now he thinks he is you're brother…You couldn't actually murder your brother, could you?"
Peter sighed, "No, that's what I need you for." He leaned back his head and stared at the wall, nothing really seemed to be sinking in just yet.
"Change your form again before I accidently kill you," he said under his breath.
Angela Petrelli - Two Hours Later.
She walked into the building and got into the elevator when her phone rang.
"I'm on my way up right now…"
Her facial expressions hadn't change much after hearing what Noah had to say. "We'll deal with this just like we always have. Russell will go with you to find them."
Angela stepped off the elevator and was greeted by an associate, handing her a chart. Stepping into her office she sat down and started to read the notes compiled so far.
"Hmm," she hummed as she glanced through four pages of notes complied by the Suresh's.
The notes were in detail about Kate's original abilities and photographs taken of her that spanned the past three years. On one particular photograph Kate was holding hands with a man that looked familiar. Angela reached into her drawer and pulled out Sylar's folder…inside were photographs of identities he had taken on. The man in the picture with Kate was Sylar.
Along with photos were more recent notes and test results. Quickly Angela picked up the phone and called Russell James, an illusionist and agent for the company.
"Hi Russell, I was wondering if you could meet me in my office? I have an assignment for you," Angela hanged up the phone and saw Claire standing by the door.
"Have you seen Peter anywhere?" She had her arms folded across her chest, but was already ready for work…dressed as a waitress.
"Yes...I have. Peter is doing a favor for me. I'll let him know you're looking for him," Angela smiled.
"Okay...thanks." Claire sighed and left the office.
For now she needed to Claire to think everything was okay...the less she knew the better. But Peter now knowing their secret and taking Kate with him was beyond dangerous…more than anyone could ever imagine. Although She didn't have to imagine it, because she already had seen it.
Not long after Claire left Russell arrived. He had worked for the Company in the past and was someone Angela trusted.
"Peter has run off with a level 5 threat. You and Noah are going to locate them and bring her back alive. Noah will have all the equipment you need and he will brief you more."
Angela smiled and waited for him to leave. They needed to find Kate before the hunger kicked in, if it hadn't already.
