HEROES : VIGIL
What happened to the other survivors of Kirby Plaza?
Part 2: Secrets Past
Characters: Angela P, Arthur P, Maury P, Victoria P, Adam M, Daniel L, Charles D (cameo), The Twelve
NOTE: This chapter contains Mature Subject Matter!! Read ahead at your own discretion!
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When the Twelve Founders of the Company referred to their time as being "Thirty Years Ago", it really meant the end of that era, when Adam Monroe had been locked away, and the Group slowly dissolved as the members went their own ways.
One of the nails in the coffin of the Founders happened several years earlier. While Adam was hesitant to allow intimate fraternization inside the group (outside of the already married Petrelli's), he was also adamant that they were a new breed and should spread their seed where ever they saw fit, and become the foundation of the future leaders of the world.
While some were hesitant to accept his dogma, remembering the same dialogue tearing the world apart a few decades earlier, they saw a certain truth in his words: be fruitful and multiply. While some of Adam's disciples took to his words wholeheartedly and without care of consequence.
Of course, every action has a reaction.
Arthur Petrelli sided with Adam for the most part, and while not as eager to please Adam as his former army buddy, Daniel Linderman, and the telepathic Maury Parkman, he still saw merit in Adam's dialogues. This lead to his trusting Kaito Nakamura to see his wife, Angela, home on many a night so he might continue his discussions. A mistake he and Angela would eventually work out, and they thought would be put behind them.
Maury Parkman thought different. He had picked up stray thoughts (unintentionally, he swore later) about the affair, and had taken his master's words to heart: spread their seed where ever they saw fit. If Angela was willing to bed the Japanese member of their group, surely she would have him, too?
He approached her one night soon after she had broken things off with Kaito. As the meeting broke up, Arthur was once again sidetracked into another discussion with Adam and Daniel, this time on some legal matters with the Group.
"Angela?" Maury asked in his most innocent voice. "Is Kaito not seeing you home, tonight?"
"No," she replied. "He has...other matters to tend to, tonight." She glanced at Arthur as she said this.
Maury picked up on a hint of regret. "Well then, if I may be so bold, may I squire you home, my lady?" he chuckled as he said this.
Angela looked him in the eye, then back at Arthur, deep in discussion. "No. No, that's alright, Maury," she forced a smile. "Maybe some other time? I really must get home and check on Nathan." It was a half-truth, she knew Arthur would be furious again if he suspected her, especially now, but she was worried about Nathan, home with a fever.
"At least let me walk you down to your car?" Maury insisted.
"That's ok, Maury, I'll be fine," she replied, getting perturbed. She caught Victoria's eye, and she came to Angela's rescue.
"Angela? Are you ready to leave, now?" Victoria interrupted before Maury could say anything more.
"Yes, of course," Angela said to her friend as they moved toward the door. "I'll see you later, Maury," she said as the women stepped away, arm in arm.
As soon as they were out in the hall, headed for the elevator, Angela sighed. "Thank you, dear, I don't know what that was about, but I got the impression that he wanted something."
"You don't think...?" Victoria started as they stepped into the lift.
"Maury?" Angela said in mock astonishment. "God forbid! Perish the thought, my dear, and that's the last time I let you in on any of my secrets!"
The two women looked at each other and began laughing their heads off.
Victoria finally caught her breath, "You know, from what you said, I wouldn't mind giving Kaito a turn, if he's as good as you say!"
"It's the whole probability thing he does," Angela chuckled. "He knows what will drive you wild before you do!" They doubled over again in laughter.
"Yeah, but Maury?" Victoria asked. "Susan said she gave in to him one night, she was drunk off her ass--"
"No!" Angela giggled.
"Yes! And she said Maury was a lousy lay. And," she leaned closer, "she didn't realize he was Jewish!" They laughed again. "She said she gave him a few pointers, but she wasn't really up to seeing if he ever took his lessons." The women continued to laugh as the elevator reached the lobby and they made their way out of the Kirby Plaza Building.
"They never do, do they?" Angela teased, remembering she had to show Arthur a few special moves that she found pleasurable, but rarely used. "Now don't get me wrong, Arthur is good, but Kaito?" she paused, sighing, hand over her heart. "Oh, Victoria! He made me feel so...fabulous!"
This brought a new round of giggling as they hailed their respective drivers. They said their respective goodnights, kissing each other on the cheek and went their separate ways.
Upstairs, Maury watched them from a darkened window. He knew what they were talking about and he fumed. The light clicked on behind him.
"Maury?" Charles asked. "I thought you left?"
Maury was caught off guard, he reeled in his thoughts as he turned to his cohort. "oh! I was about to, I was going to ask Adam something, but I guess it can wait," he said, motioning to the trio still locked in debate in the windowed conference room. He seemed to study the men for a minute, before a gruff, "I'll see you later, Charles."
With that, Maury sidestepped Charles and left the office. Charles watched him hustle out the door and shook his head. Something wasn't right, but he wasn't sure what. He knew later, he should have said something, and regretted it almost every day after until his death. What he didn't know was his hesitation may have eventually helped save the world thirty-five years later.
As Angela arrived home, she checked in with the maid about Nathan, made sure he was tucked in and his fever seemed to have broken. She smiled and began preparing for bed, awaiting the eventual late night return of her wayward husband.
She had just climbed beneath the covers with a book when she heard a noise downstairs, the sound of the front door closing. Glancing at the clock she mused "Well, that was fast. Must not have been important, I guess." She yawned.
"Ready for some fun?" Arthur asked from the doorway, removing his tie with a mischievous grin. Angela, caught off guard, couldn't help but match his expression as he quickly crossed to the bed and took her in his arms.
Angela was momentarily taken aback by her husband's amorous advances, as it had been over a week and that was more of a rushed affair than anything else, perhaps more of a reclaiming what was his from Kaito. Not revenge fucking, but similar. She had chalked it up to the trials of young parents busy with their careers, but tonight was different.
This time, he seemed to know what she wanted the moment she wanted it. It was almost like being with Kaito again. It was great. She needed it and he seemed to need it as well, a long slow one without a care who heard. She glanced over to make sure the bedroom door was closed, just in case they woke Nathan. As this thought crossed her mind, Arthur seemed to pause, as if thrown off from his rhythm. For a moment, he seemed different, heavier, hairier? Then it went away, as he pulled her close and rolled over so she was on top. One hand pawed at her breasts, the other worked below, as he let her use him.
She loved every minute of him. He enjoyed this fact without being told. She finally collapsed in erotic exhaustion, murmuring, "We really need to do this more often, Arthur."
She fell immediately asleep and never felt him rise and leave.
She woke up to find her husband leaning over her, kissing her neck. "Sorry I'm late, you know how we lose track of time talking business."
"hmm?" she slurred, half asleep. "What are you talking about, is it time to get up, already?"
"Huh?" Arthur answered, "It's 2am, I just got in."
"Just got in?" Angela was now fully awake. "Then what were we doing...?" She stopped, she didn't want to finish that...thought. Husband and wife locked eyes, scared. What just happened to her?
They hugged, they knew what had happened without words. The next few hours were spent debating. She refused to go to the hospital and be treated like a criminal as they attempted to tell if she had been raped or not. She thought it was her husband, so it had been completely consensual. Would that hold up in court? Could Arthur risk his career, his life, even, on exposing Maury, and possibly the Group?
Angela eventually agreed to let Victoria check her out, while Arthur informed Adam of what transpired in his own bed.
Adam insisted they return to Kirby Plaza where Victoria could give Angela a full medical and they would confront Maury later. He was almost as furious as Arthur over what had occurred. The situation with Kaito had been handled discreetly, and Adam had not been aware of it until Arthur and Kaito came to him together, asking that Kaito not to be assigned with either Petrelli for the time being. Adam was not an idiot, and pressed no further than asking if the matter had been put behind them? They both agreed, but still needed some distance for the time being "to cool off".
Adam had agreed to let the men work out their differences that time, but this was an entirely different situation with his pupil, Maury. Unfortunately, he insisted Arthur wait for Victoria's prognosis before meting out any punishment.
Victoria's news was not encouraging. The sex had been consensual, so there were no injuries consistent with forced penetration. Adam made the Group take regular physicals as much to monitor their powers as their general health, so they knew Maury was clean for STDs since his last physical. The only problem was something they would not know for a few weeks: had Maury impregnated Angela?
Adam watched Arthur tense up at this last bit. "If she is, then we'll get rid of it!" he demanded. "I refuse to raise a child that isn't mine, especially not his! Not like that!"
Adam waved Arthur to calm down. "And if Angela wants to keep it? I know you two had problems carrying before. Do you really want to take the chance of losing this one? If she even is pregnant? And what if it is really yours? What then?"
Arthur stopped. "We haven't...it's been a week since--"
"Still plenty of time for you to beat him to the punch, as it were," Adam told him. "I don't like this either, Arthur, but we don't know for sure, do we?"
"Not for another few weeks," Victoria said. "If she has any signs, morning sickness, cramps, cravings, I want you both here so I can examine her again. If she is, it will still be some time before we could tell who the father is."
"I don't want it," Arthur said again. "I will NOT raise his child!"
"I don't expect you to, Arthur," Adam consoled him. "First we have to make sure if she even is pregnant, and then who the father is. You have to relax, and I'll handle things from there."
"You'll handle-?" Arthur shot back. "YOU? What about me? What about ANGELA?!"
"Your anger is misdirected, Arthur. Daniel is bringing Maury in, now, I'll talk to him first, then you can...discuss things your own way. Fair enough?"
Arthur clenched his jaw, "Fair enough." His fists tightened at the thought of 'discussing the matter' with Maury.
"Very well, for now, I want you and Victoria to see Angela home and make sure she gets some rest. The next few weeks will be stressful enough. Hmm?"
Arthur followed Victoria out of Adam's office towards her lab. "I can give her some sedatives to let her sleep, do you want some to calm you down, Arthur?"
"No. I want my anger."
"Keep it up, you'll give yourself a heart attack," she chided as they entered her lab. Angela was finishing getting dressed in the examining room off the office.
Arthur hugged his wife as Victoria reminded her what symptoms to look for if she was, indeed, pregnant, and to come in immediately if she had any signs. She scheduled a weekly check-up just in case before they took Angela home and put her to bed.
Meanwhile, Adam met Daniel and Maury in the Kirby Building basement. It was a room Maury had not known was in the building. Bare concrete, it almost looked like a supply closet or...a prison cell?
"So what have you been up to, tonight, Maury?" Adam asked, trying to be nonchalant.
Maury looked between the two men. All Linderman had said was that Adam needed to see him, immediately. "N-nothing, Adam, Maury stammered nervously, "I went home, watched a little Carson, turned in for the night before Danny, here, woke me up and told me you wanted to see me."
"And how is dear old Johnny, hm?" Adam asked, straightening Maury's collar. "Some old jokes?"
"I guess, I dunno," Maury lied. "I missed the monologue, didn't care for the guest."
Adam shoved Maury into the wall by his shirt. "You know what I don't care for, Maury?" Maury shook his head. "I don't like it when my people LIE TO ME!" Maury started to protest, but Adam backhanded him across the mouth. "What were you doing tonight, Maury?" he demanded.
"N-nothing! I--" he began. smack!
"What. Were. You. Doing?" Adam punctuated each word with another slap.
Maury didn't have to be a telepath to know he'd been found out. Adam's slaps were keeping him just disoriented enough to stop him from pushing Adam away. Maury knew he wasn't the first telepath Adam had met, and he had developed psychic defenses for it. Linderman, however, was not as learned as Adam in these matters.
Adam was momentarily taken aback when Linderman suddenly tackled him to the ground. As the two men wrestled, Maury tried to make a run for it, but found himself locked in the room by a security keypad he hadn't noticed earlier. He looked back to see Adam throw Linderman to the side and draw a Luger from beneath his jacket.
"Make him stop, now." Adam ordered. Maury stared at the gun for a moment, then closed his eyes.
Linderman was already charging Adam, but stumbled as he found his mind was his own again. "W-what happened?" He looked around, and immediately knew he had been used. He started to charge Maury, but Adam stopped him.
"No, Daniel," Adam ordered. "I think someone else would like to do that before you, don't you think so, Maury?"
"I didn't touch her!" he pleaded, backing into the corner.
Adam glanced at Linderman, and motioned toward the door. The healer left his mentor and the telepath alone.
"Her?" Adam asked as if he didn't know what the man was implying. "Her who?" He stepped forward, the muzzle pointed between Maury's eyes.
"Angela!" he cried. "I admit it! I did it!" He was shaking, he knew this confession may be his last moments on Earth.
"Why?"
"Her and Kaito!" he blubbered. "If she let him have her, then I figured she would have me, too!"
"Maury, please," Adam said, dripping with disappointment. "Please, the woman has standards. Kaito is a true gentleman and has admitted his faults." He smirked slightly, remembering his own heartbreaking betrayal at the hands of another Nakamura, four centuries before. "You, on the other hand, are nothing but a brute with a talent I found useful. Until now."
Maury whimpered again. "Please, Adam, I don't know what came over me! I'm sorry! I'll never do it again!"
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to," Adam said, before he pulled the trigger. Maury slumped to the floor, bleeding. "Heal him, and then meet me upstairs," he told the healer, as he was leaving the room.
-
"He'll live, if that's what you want," Linderman informed his elder as he entered the man's office. He was not happy with whatever was going on.
"For now," Adam said, gazing out the window. "Did you hear what he said down there? Answer truthfully."
Linderman maintained his composure. "No, sir, I did not hear what he had to say after I left."
"Good, there are some things you are better off not knowing right now." Adam swiveled in his chair, facing the healer. "Tell Arthur to see me when he comes in."
Linderman nodded, "Yes, sir." He turned and left the room.
-
"Where is he?" Arthur demanded, still barely keeping cool.
"Downstairs," Adam replied. "Have you eaten? I don't recommend torture on an empty stomach."
"I want to see him. Now."
Adam sighed, "Very well, follow me." He strode from the room, Arthur on his heels. They stopped at Linderman's office, first. "Daniel, if you would be so kind to join us downstairs later? No need to rush."
"Yes, sir," Linderman answered, glancing at a fuming Arthur. "Say an hour?"
Adam glanced at Arthur before answering. "That sounds about right. See you then?"
In the elevator down, Arthur glared at Adam.
"Relax, I only let him heal the initial gunshots," Adam explained. "He doesn't know why we're doing this, but I trust him to keep his mouth shut, at least."
Daniel Linderman would later complain to Adam they waited almost too long to heal Maury's injuries. The broken bones were one thing, but the cattle prod? He also insisted he should have healed Maury before Arthur's minor hand fractures. Adam reminded him he wouldn't have the luxury of healing his own wounds if he were to find himself chained in the basement, as well. Linderman never mentioned what happened that day to anyone after that.
-
The next month, the Petrelli's did not partake in any missions and Maury found himself on missions he was unprepared for. Linderman and Victoria Pratt were usually the triage for any injuries suffered, but she was unusually held back as well. The rest of the Group found this odd, but did not bring it up during their meetings. They were smart enough to pick up on the fact Maury had done something wrong and was being punished for it. Since Angela had not been on many frontline missions since Nathan was born, they really didn't notice her absence at first.
Then came the morning sickness. Angela called Victoria right away. She confirmed it, but urged her not to tell Arthur immediately.
"I don't know if I can do that, dear," she told her friend. "Is there no way, no test you can run now to tell me who the father is?"
"I'm sorry, Angela," Victoria consoled her, "not yet there isn't."
Angela nodded, placing her hand on her belly. She smiled a moment, remembering when she found out about Nathan. She was lost in that thought before she realized she was seeing glimpses of this child's future. She gasped.
"Angela? What is it? What's wrong?" She grabbed Angela's arm, breaking her grip on her belly.
"I saw him!" Angela cried. "I saw my son!" Victoria smiled at her friend. Angela's smile melted away to a pained grimace. "I can't--!" she suddenly cried. "I can't raise him!"
Victoria teared up. "It's Maury's?" she asked.
"Yes," she replied. "He has to raise my son."
Victoria went to the phone, "I'm calling Arthur and Adam."
Angela grabbed her arm, "No, not yet. Give me a moment."
Victoria put the receiver down, hugged her friend and left the room.
Angela felt her belly again. "Matthew," the name rolled off her tongue and she smiled. "Matthew. I must do this, I'll love you, always, my son, but I must give you up to save the world." She cried.
When Arthur and Adam had been informed, they agreed it would be a fitting punishment. Maury had admitted to seeing another lady who wanted kids, but was unable to have any. He agreed he would marry her, and tell her a half-truth, that the child was his and that the mother had willingly given it up for him to raise. She would tell everyone that the child was hers.
Adam's only stipulation was that she or the child would never be influenced by his powers in any way, she would retain her free will while with Maury, and she would never be told the real truth behind the child's birth.
When the time came, the Petrelli's agreed to say they lost the baby at birth. That Angela had a troubled pregnancy was not a surprise. She had trouble carrying Nathan, and would later have trouble carrying Peter.
Adam insisted Arthur stay away for the birth and nearly refused to let Angela see the child. He finally relented at Victoria's insistence.
Angela held the newborn in her arms, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Hello, Matthew. I love you, but I must do this to save you," she told him, "and, perhaps, to save what little soul I have left. Be brave for me, my son." She kissed his still damp black hair.
Victoria smiled down at her friend, brushing Angela's own sweaty dark hair out of her face. Angela smiled up at her and turned away, closing her eyes. Victoria gently picked up the newborn from his mother's arms. Matt began crying as Victoria took him out of the room, away from his mother for the next thirty-five years.
"Be brave for me," Angela whispered.
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Next: Come Together