HEROES Rebirth from the Ashes
Chapter two
A few left Standing

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Claire Bennet gazed up into the night sky, her blond hair whipped around her face in the swirling wind of the helicopters above; as her father Noah Bennet called out her name from the crowd surrounding her. Claire craned her neck in the direction of his call; she would forever here and recognize his soul of anguish voice from this night forward. They caught each others eyes across the carnival grounds. Noah Bennet lifted his hands in the air in the silent manor of asking "why?" Claire crossed her arms and stood tall. She stuck her chin forward and held her ground. She was going to make a change in this world. If she could not have a normal life, she had decided to have an incredible one.

Reporters despite the blustering wind from the helicopters continued to shove microphones in her face. One reporter, a big man, towering over her small five foot height demanded her attention, "What is your name, young lady, did you know you were going to survive when you jumped?" Claire smiled; this was it, time to change the world.

Claire opened her mouth to reply to the reporter's question, when there was a gun shot that echoed throughout the carnival grounds. The reporter's chest exploded and covered her in the man's fresh blood. The man fell to the ground in slow motion as more gun fire resounded and men dressed in all black soldier gear stormed into the area firing on the people, Claire watched in horror as men and women, carnival staff and spectators were gunned down with out mercy before her eyes.

The Helicopters above open fire on the crowd below with rockets aimed that the different carnival rides and tents. A group of Carnies ran for the large main tent, with the children that Claire had just the other day sat before and told a bed time story too. She held the sides of her face and screamed at the top of her lungs as the tent erupted in flames from rocket fire. People of all ages, ran every which way in fear as mysterious attackers mowed them down one by one.

Matt Parkman stood in a back to back defensive position with Noah Bennet; as the soldiers in black, one by one continued to terminate every life in sight. Matt Parkman took aim and shot a man through the back of the head as he tried to kill a woman and child running past, "That's four!" he called out to Noah Bennet behind him. Noah Bennet had two guns out, one in each hand each gun blasting away, "Nine, Ten!" he shouted back as he felt Matt slam against his back and knock him off balance. Matt Parkman rolled to the ground with a bullet hole through his left eye. Noah Bennet grabbed Matt's revolver and dove behind a carnival cart for cover. To his left he could see Ando defending the still body of Hiro Nakamora; red flames shot from his hands and men that he hit vaporized instantly. Suddenly Ando was caught in a cross fire and he fell to his knees shot twice through the chest. Noah opened fire to try and protect him, "Eleven, Twelve!" he counted off continuing the game he and Matt had been playing.

Ando let out a scream of pain and anger and he hoisted the limp form of Hiro onto his shoulders and stood to his feet. Step by step he trudged across the carnival grounds toward the single untouched form of Claire Bennet, bodies covered the ground. Hundred maybe thousands were dead and more continued to die. Noah stood and gave him cover fire. Twice more Ando was hit in the chest, but he kept walking. Noah felt a brand of red hot fire blow through his leg; sending him to one knee, he continued to fire, "Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen come one Ando…Sixteen." But he watched helplessly as Ando collapsed in the mud dead, with Hiro rolling clear beside him, a few yards from Claire feet blood flowing from many bullet holes.

Sylar ducked and ran for Claire as the soldiers attacked. Several times he had been shot, but his healing ability kept him going. He grabbed a carnival camper with mind and lifted it into the air. He braced himself and threw it at the nearest helicopter and grunted with satisfaction as it exploded into the nights sky. Claire can reveal her abilities, but what made him special was that know one knew he existed. He could have flown to Claire, but then the soldiers and cameras would have seen him and then they would have known there were others like her. A hand reached out and grabbed Sylars arm. He turned and looked in to the eyes of Peter Petrelli. Peter looked him in the eyes and reached down deep into Sylar's soul. Peter needed to find Sylar's original power; the source that allowed him to gain all his other abilities. He began to glow a pail blue light as Peter could feel the ability replicate in himself. Peter could feel his cuts and injuries heal as not only did he gain the source power, but all Sylar's abilities that he had stolen over the years, through murder and terror. Sylar smiled a wicked smile, "hello brother Peter, ready to go play?"

Peter let go of Sylar's arm and they ran for Claire just as she is rocketed by bullets and collapsed to the ground. Claire seemed to be the center of the attack. She seemed to Peter to be the reason of the attack. Peter stood over Claire's body and fired off bolts of lightning and fire towards the attackers, each bolt of lightening blasting the attacker's dozens of feet into the air.

Noah Bennet thought at first this was a government attack, but then as the soldiers opened fire on the civilians he knew this was a plot to capture or kill Claire. She was the center, of all that was happening. Somehow they knew she was here and they wanted her and her alone. "Peter, get Claire out of here!" Noah yelled over the chaos. He lifted his left gun and shot "Seventeen!" and then the weapon clicked on an empty chamber. He tossed the gun aside. He was on his last few rounds of ammunition. He saw an attacker's weapon a few yards away and dove for the gun. He rolled over and looked straight into the muzzle of a machine gun. Slowing, he placed his gun down in the grass and raised his hands, in disgust.

Sylar and Peter were both wounded and bloody, but their healing ability keeps them going. They look around and everyone was dead. Reporters, innocent bystanders, the carnival specials were all dead. They were surrounded by a dozen attackers all dress in black soldier gear. Sylar turned to Peter with a smile, "Three for me, you can have the rest" when a spike connected to a chain shot through the air and pierced him in the chest and yanked him away into the darkness.

Peter wrapped his arms around Claire just as she stood to her feet swaying unsteadily beside him, and launched them into the air (using the flight ability Sylar had taken from his Brother Nathan). He soared past the nearest helicopters, and thought he was in the clear when a Helicopter higher up in the sky opened fire with a side mounted cannon sending Peter and Claire back to the ground crashing together in a heap, next to the body of Hiro Nakaumura, broken and apparently dead.

The remaining mercenary soldiers spread out to secure the perimeters as a woman, dress in a white business suite and high heeled shoes walked slowly through the dead. She looked at the bodies around her lying in the mud, as she walks toward Claire. Her eyes were focused on the still, lifeless form of Claire Bennet. The woman paused and looked down at Claire's body, "All this for one little girl." She signaled to men to pick up the body of Claire Bennet. "Make sure the rest of the bodies are destroyed. No evidence!"

As the men rushed to do her bidding; Hiro gasped for breath in a last effort of the moments of his ending life reached out and grabbed Peter and Claire and they all vanish. The woman screamed in her anger and rage. "Lost! Lost! All this and she is lost!" she swung her fist at the nearest mercenary and broke his jaw. The soldier dropped to the ground out cold, his machine gun flying up out of his hands into the air. The woman in white, deftly grabbed the gun and shot him through the head. She then killed two other soldiers before her temper cooled. The remaining soldiers now only a handful stood at attention ready to run. But she turned and walked coldly away, passing the prone form of Noah Bennet held and gun point in the mud by one of her remaining men, "Bring him!"

X-X-X

Janice Parkman stepped through the living room gingerly, silently navigating the obstacle course of toys left by the children, while making her way towards the kitchen and the rest of her half eaten lunch. She would clean the toys up in a few minutes, she thought as she slipped into the bar stool at the kitchen counter and lifted her half eaten sandwich to mouth. She sipped at her glass of lemonade, as she thought of her husband Matt Parkman, where was he? He was in so much trouble when he finally thought to call her.

Matt had not called her in several days and she was getting worried. Normally he checked in several times a day. But since this last case he said he was working on, he had been irregular in his calls. He had been gone for several days now and only one call, and then he could only speak for a moment. He said he was in New York City! What would bring him all the way across the country? He was going to pay when he got home; that was for sure. She thought of another little Hubby do task, and quickly made a note in her mind to add it to the job jar. The jar was so full now; he would be stuck home for a month. She also made a mental note to call that really posh restaurant downtown "Larino's" and make a reservation, it required a evening gown and black tie to get in, she didn't own a nice evening gown, but she was going too, as soon as Matt got home.

It was her day to baby-sit the neighbor's boy Joey. He was the same age as her little Matthew. They played so nicely together all morning. But then her Matthew had developed a fever and a bad rash, when his breathing began to be raspy she had called her friend, and Matt's ex-partner, Jesse. Jesse had swung by and took him to the clinic quickly while Joey rested during nap time. She loved being a mom, but hated the worry that came with the job. Jesse was such a great friend and was excited to learn she and Matt worked together in the department. She had better give Jesse a call and find out what the doctor had discovered with her son. "Please not let it be allergies." She finished her last bite of her sandwich looked back at the living room, with an exhausted sigh. She resolved herself to cleanup the toys, before she called Jesse. Just to give her few minutes more and not appear to much as an over protective worry wart. "Time to setup for play dough and paints for when little Matthew gets back."

Suddenly there was a banging on the door, "I'm coming." Who could be banging on the door at this hour, she thought as she set her half full lemonade back down on the kitchen counter. If that was Jesse, she had a key why was she not using it? Could she be carrying Matthew and can't open the door? Could her boy be that sick? She reached for the door knob, just as door broke in and several men dressed in all black military gear; each having a patch with a red eagle just above the heart, stormed into her house.

Janice screamed as she ran around the corner and grabbed her husband's spare service pistol, from the drawer of the end table. She lifted the gun to defend herself and Joey, against the mysterious men. The men surrounded her and lifted their weapons; their mission: nothing lives; kill the mother and the boy.

X-X-X

Mohinder Suresh smiled as he watched young Molly set the table for their late meal. It had been several days since they had had time for a "family meal". Molly was growing up so quickly, she was going to be twelve years tomorrow. He had to call Matt Parkman and talk about her birthday plans; his last phone call had revealed he was in New York City and would be stopping by in the morning if he could clear his schedule. She wanted to have a party with both of the men that had stepped in and raised her these last few years. She wanted to paint her room a bright orange. He cringed at the thought of orange on the walls in her room. But then she was just a girl and he would most likely be painting over it in few years anyway.

Molly was all smiles as they talked about school and how well Molly is adapting. She was enjoying school now that her dreams of the evil man had stopped. The other children liked her at the new school. She had made a few friends and she wanted to tell him everything, as her mouth struggled to keep up with her story.

Mohinder took off his makeshift apron and tossed it over his shoulder to the kitchen counter as he placed a steaming bowl of Macaroni and Cheese on the table. "Dinner is served my Princess; Lobster and Caviar for the lady." Molly giggled. "Please ignore the cheesy flavor and the pasta like taste, but then the Lobster is from Alaska and the Caviar is from California." Mohinder sat into his chair.

Molly leaned over and placed a loving kiss on his forehead, "I love you Mohinder. It looks wonderful." just as there was a pounding at the door. Mohinder put his napkin on the table and stood to open the door, when it was kicked down and Men dressed in black military gear stormed into the apartment, red eagle patches flashing in the apartment light. Mohinder grabbed the closest attacker and using his incredible strength threw the man like a rag doll at the nearest wall. The man broke through the wall into another part of the apartment. He then grabbed another attacker and punched him in the face dropping him to the floor, dead with a crushed face. He then lifted a third man and threw him into the rest of the attackers trying to come through the broken door. Multiple shots were fired and Mohinder fell to his knees, dead with several holes in his chest. Molly screamed as she was grabbed by the leader of the soldiers, "destroy all the bodies, we have the girl. She is our mission."

X-X-X

Monica and her cousin Micah paused against the cool cement wall to catch their breath, they were in a military facility on an island was all that they knew. It had been months since their capture by the US government and placed here. They had drugged her and Micah so they could not use their abilities. Over time she had managed to escape from her cell and with quick action had freed her cousin Micah as well. In their socks and medical gowns, they scurried quietly down a long hallway. They had been in confinement for most of their time here and she only new the basic floor plan in her mind. Micah was leading them when he lifted up his hand to force her to wait, as he carefully looked around a corner.

Across the hall was a set of double doors. Micah didn't know where they led. But at one end of the hallway was a window with bars, and the other say a guard at a desk. He reached back and grabbing Monica's hand they slipped across the hall and through the large double doors.

The room was filled with medical beds and equipment. The lights were low, almost off. Monica remembered this room, when they first arrived. She pulled in front of Micah and led the way through the room to the far side under the windows. "We're lost Micah!" Monica gasped out as they rested against the wall. Micah looked around, "Where are we?" he stood and looked out the window. The ocean waters for miles around flowed in the setting sunlight.

"This is the medical ward where we were checked in; we have to be getting close to the front gates." Monica said as she watched the doors where they came in, in case someone followed them.

"How do you think we can get past the guards? They are going to know we are out of our cells any moment." Micah whispered over his shoulder. "Wait, I see something on the water, it's a boat. There is a boat coming to the island."

Monica turned and looked out the window. Sure enough far below them she could see a red boat fast approaching the island. She could just make out that there was a man sitting in the rear of the boat talking on a cell phone. "If we could get down to the docks, we might be able to stow away on that boat back to the main land."

"I miss Grandma," Micah said flatly.

Monica replied, "me too." Just then the lights in the room flashed on. They turned at the same time, as a Doctor and several soldiers stepped through the double doors into the large room. They were caught! "How did you two get here?"

X-X-X

The boat traveled at high speed toward the top secret military island base in USA waters. A man sat in the rear of the boat talking loudly into his phone. "So sir your telling me that on this base are a group of national terrorists captured and held without warrants?" there is an unheard reply. "They have special abilities? What kind of abilities Sir?" the man asked into the phone. "They have been gathered from around the world?" another pause in the call "Yes, Mister Secretary, I will figure this all out. Over 5000 souls are being held against their will at this base?" another pause…"How could this happen without us knowing?"

The man stood and looked out over the front of the boat at the island as he saw a little turn on is a large room straight ahead, "Yes, sir we are docking now." He ended his phone call and stepped off the launch boat along with his personal escort onto the moaring dock. He looked over the island and base before him with intelligent eyes as they walk down the boardwalk to meet the island base guards.

The man reached into jacket pocket for his identification as a whistling sound from overhead caught his attention. He turned and looked up into the sunset sky along with the military staff around him, as a large bomb split through the clouds and impacted the ground a 100 feet away with an incredible explosion; both the man and base vanished into dust and smoke.

X-X-X

Hiro, Peter, and Claire appeared out of time and space in small barn in a non-discript country side somewhere in time. Claire and Peter are healing and start sitting up; but Hiro will not live long enough to see them back on their feet. Peter held out his hand to Hiro, as Hiro vanishes into time saying to Peter, "You're safe now." Peter and Claire looked around; they were safe, but trapped in time.

Peter staggered to the door of the Barn and pushed it open. The two of them stepped out into the sun light just as a group of men on horseback came around a corner on a dirt road leading past the front of the barn. The leader of the pack raised his hand and the assembly came to a halt spreading out around the ragged individuals, each drawing their muskets and balancing them across their saddles aimed at the strange couple before them. "Who art thou, young man and why are thou in Master Franklin's barn?" The leader of the detail of men demanded. Peter looked at the young man before him. The leader looked to be in his early twenties. He had the face of a warrior, and the uniform of the British army from late 16th century. His voice commanded respect and attention. His blue eyes were piercing and drilled right through Peter and tried to look into his soul.

"We are travelers, your Lord. We beg forgiveness if we have trespassed." Peter smiled and stated trying to mimic the language style of the man that just spoke. "We have been attacked, and only sought safety and shelter before we consider our options and direction." One of the men within the group spoke, "Ye wear strange clothing" he pointed at Claire in her t-shirt and pants and laughed…"is that a girl or a boy?" Peter smiled even bigger; "we are traveling performers, but we have lost all our goods and wears in our attack. We are in need of some food and proper clothing. Do you know what town we are in, and what is today's date?"

The man in command laughed a hearty laugh that made everyone around desire to join in the merriment, even if they did not know why they we laughing. "Ye have had a terrible day indeed to have forgotten today is Christmas Day, 1753 in the year of our king, King George the II."

"Ye are in the outskirts of the township Philadelphia, in the Pennsylvania colony. Ye are trespassing on the property of Master Josiah Franklin the father of our host tonight; Postmaster Ben Franklin." The man stepped down from his large white horse and reached into his saddle bag and pulled out what looked like a large woolen blanket. He swung it open and wrapped it around Claire Bennet's shoulders. She found that is was actually a long coat with sleeves and a belt. As she adjusted the new garment the man spoke once more, "Thou will consider yourselves my charges, until you have been introduced to your accidental host. We are on an official correspondence errand for the Governor Dinwiddie of the Virginia colony and the King of England."

The soldiers lifted their muskets out of range from Peter and Claire, as the man lifted Claire up onto his horse and positioned her legs in a side saddle manor. He grabbed the reigns of his horse and the detail began to head down the road once more. In the distance now Peter could hear the sounds of the town come into focus. He hurried to catch up to the man leading Claire on the horse, "My name is Peter Petrelli, and this is my niece Claire." He offered trying to gain any information he could.

The man walked silent for a few yards then spoke, "it is my honor to know you master Petrelli, and I am at your service until I can turn you both over to our host. I am Major George Augustine Washington."

X-X-X

A lone New York City Detective pulled into the temporary dirt Carnival parking lot. He had received reports of gun fire, lights, and explosions just a few minutes before and stopped to check it out. He and his family had been at the carnival just a few days before and he remembered the location immediately once the alert went out. The sun was just coming up over the horizon as he climbed out of his patrol car. The grass and dirt in all directions was burned and pitted with massive holes. The Carnival was gone; all the tents, rides, and game booths gone.

The detective wandered out into the empty field amongst the burning ground and smoke. He could feel through his boots that the ground was still very warm. What ever had happened here last night had happened just within the last hour. A natural fire would not have burned everything away without leaving some form of evidence. He silently made a notation in his handy notebook: no bullets or casings, no bodies, no evidence: everything has been removed. He kneeled down beside a single foot print out in the middle of the burned field. Standard military issue, special operations. What happened here? Was this a terrorist attack, or something by our own soldiers?

A second patrol car pulled into the dirt lot its lights flashing and siren blaring; a younger detective jumped out of his car and hurried up to the first man, his eyes wide with alarm. "Sergeant, headquarters wants to speak to you. Something weird is happening. There are thousands of missing persons reports flooding in. Whole families are being reported missing. They all have the same last know location: here at this…" The detective stopped suddenly and looked around for the first time at the empty burning, ripped apart with wholes, field, "Carnival?"

The older detective took out his phone and looking at it he realized he must have turned it off by mistake the last time he used it. He turned it on and dialed headquarters. Placing the phone to his ear, "Hi Mable, what do you have for me?"

"Over 3000 missing persons reports in the last 60 minutes throughout the city? Are you kidding me?" the detective growled to himself. "No Mable, the carnival is gone, there is nothing left." The sergeant growled under his breath again "See if you can get me satellite images from last night: let me know as soon as you receive them." The detective paused and took a slow look around once more, this was big. Whatever happened here was more than he could handle. The detective closed up the cell phone and shoved it deep into his coat pocket.

"Let's get back to headquarters, something is not right here and this place is giving me the creeps." The older detective started to walk to his car, as the younger detective followed behind. "If it's OK with you sir, I am going to stop by my house on the way. Marlene and the girl's were supposed to be at the carnival last night while I was on patrol, and I haven't heard from them all night."

X-X-X

The carnival field sat quiet and burning as the sun began to lift over the horizon. A bird landed and began to dig through the fresh dirt for worms or seeds. A stray dog ran past nearby along the shore of the lake as it chased after a squirrel. There was a ripple of water along the shore of the lake as a hand, bloody and covered in mud reached out from the water and dug into the grass along the shore. The hand pulled and another hand came out of the water to help, and slowly a man drug him self out of the lake and rolled onto his bank staring wide-eyed at the last moments of twilight. Sylar Grey wiped his face clean of water and mud with a shaking hand, as a morning jogger approached his burned and beaten form, "Mister, are you OK?"

***IF YOU ENJOY THE STORY SO FAR – PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK***