DL
Walking down the path, DL rubbed his chest. The bruise still hurt and he was sure the scar would never go away. But it was okay, as long as he didn't think too much about it, it kind of went away. Besides, that was easy tonight. He had plenty of other things on his mind…
Nearly 1 year ago…
He had no idea what happened. One minute, he was in Kirby Plaza. There had been screaming. He was lying in Nikki's arms, holding on to Micah… The pain had been so bad and he was sure he'd lost too much blood… Then, everything went dark… Nikki… Micah… And then the next thing he remembered was opening his eyes, earlier that night, to find a man standing over him. He'd been in a hut, and the man standing over him had the strangest eyes… The guy himself didn't look much over 40, but his eyes… they seemed… old. As though there was a thousand years' worth of sights and experiences behind them…
Then the man had spoken. He had said, "You would not be here if I had not brought you back, Mr. Hawkins. So you would be well-advised to listen to what I say next: You must find Candace. She will be difficult to track down, but as long as you use your head and your heart, with your… ah… gift, I trust you will succeed."
And just like that, he had left. If DL hadn't been so disoriented, he might have tried to follow him… but he had been so tired and it had taken him the past hour just to force himself to stand up. What the hell was going on? DL thought.
Rounding a corner, DL saw the diner. The same diner where Jessica tried to put a bullet through his head. Funny how things came full circle like this. He phased his arm through a car door and unlocked it. Sitting inside, he started the engine, still thinking of Jessica, and Nikki, and Micah… Would he ever see them again? Were they even alive? Bitterly, he realized there were more important matters at the moment. He pulled away, heading east. That was where this had all started, New York City. He owed that strange… old?… man his life. What had he said his name was again? DL thought. That was it… Kane.
---
Sylar
Sylar leaned against the side of a building ignoring wary glances of the innocents passing by. He looked at the sign hanging above his head, "Ray's Club". Aware that other SGs could be anywhere, he pulled down the brim of his hat and turned to look through the window of the club. Before he could gaze farther than his own reflection, he noticed yet another wanted poster that happened to be hanging in the window. This was one of the more uncommon ones, it had only his face on it, distinguishing it even more, and some kid had drawn a baseball cap and sunglasses on it. Chuckling to himself, Sylar threw the shoddy disguise on the ground and continued down the street.
---
Candace
Well, here Candace was again. Kirby Plaza. She had ditched the old lady a while ago and became herself again. Turning every which way she could to see the damage, Candace felt like she wanted or needed to cry, but she wouldn't… she couldn't… never… not in a million years. She sat down on what was left of a fountain and looked up at the skeleton of a building before her and realized something. Linderman was wrong. Candace thought. This bomb was wrong. It can't possibly heal the world!
She sighed deeply, running both her hands through her hair. This is so screwed up, I can't possibly figure anything out. I don't know what to do anymore! If Linderman was wrong about this bomb helping people like us out, I mean come on, this guy could heal things! How in the world could he be wrong? Slowly it dawned on her, and she looked back up at the skeleton and stood up.
"The Petrelli's." Candace said to no one in particular. In fact, if someone had been walking by, they probably thought she was talking to the old building.
"Linderman kept mentioning them, about how important they were. Nathan Petrelli." She smiled to herself. "Maybe I have to find them. Help them." Candace shook her head and wanted to pull out her hair. How can I find them?
---
Nikki
"Another great night, Jess." said the club manager as he gave Nikki what she had earned. She thanked him and headed home. Nikki lived a few miles away from the club. It was a normal house, nothing out of the ordinary. She got into her car and drove home.
Nikki had to wait for Micah to come home from school. She looked around the house, there were some pictures of her and Micah, and of her and Jessica when they were kids. Regardless of everything that was happening, they looked so happy. When, Jessica died Nikki cried for 2 days straight. She always thought that when DL died she would feel extremely sad, but she just felt a little sad. Toward the end of their relationship, it must have taken a turn or something because she didn't feel as in love as She once had been. Micah should be arriving home from school any minute now. She thought. Just then, the door burst open.
"Mum, I'm home! Good news, Dad's alive!" Micah yelled.
---
Nathan
Nathan Petrelli was finally walking back to his D.C. office after hours and hours of meetings, speeches, a luncheon, and even a late dinner with some other congressmen following the landmark early morning vote. He opened his door to find his assistant Smithers getting his coat, ready to leave. A big box was also in his hands.
"Smithers, what are you still doing here? What's in the box?" Nathan asked him.
"I'm sorry sir. I tried to get my things together before you got back, but it wasn't easy. What did I do wrong? I can do better… no need to fire me… I'm sorry, I'll just leave" Smithers replied.
"What? Who fired you? Last time I checked, I was your boss."
"Sir? Your mother called and said you wanted me out now. I'm sorry, I must have been snippy with her after the 10th call today. It won't happen again, just give me another chance."
"Smithers, put that box down and go home, get some rest. You're going to have to put everything back in the morning. I'm the congressman, not my mother, and you're my right arm."
"Okay? You won't regret this sir, really. I'll even be in early to get it all done before you get in."
"Second thought, Smithers… take tomorrow off and then come in on time, not early the next day. I'm going home for a bit and won't be in my office for a few days."
"Yes, sir." Smithers saluted Nathan and left quickly before Nathan could change his mind again.
Fire Smithers? Nathan thought. What in hell would make her do that?… She called 10 times today… That might get her in an uproar, she did ask me to call after the vote this morning, but I had things to do, people to see… Have to remember to tell Smithers to stop the saluting thing… We're not in the Air Force anymore. I'm his boss, not his captain. Good kid though…
What to do next… I don't know, maybe Mom… Wait I said it, now I need to follow through with it… I'm the congressman, not my mother… I can make my own decisions. I make good decisions… Air Force was a good one, but then that led to Claire's mom… Becoming a lawyer was mine, but then I went after Linderman and dad died, my wife got hurt… Well, then I went after Linderman… Hell, I got two agents torn in half and almost lost my own life…
Maybe I'm not doing so well in the decision department… Mom was right… wait that is Mom talking…
Claire was not a mistake. She's a lovely girl, wish I knew she was safe. My father made his own bed, his suicide, or whatever isn't my fault. And Linderman did need to be stopped, now I need to fix this somehow… Wow, mother will not like this, but maybe Peter was right…
I need counsel on this and mother isn't my counsel anymore… Wonder what Mohinder is doing?… That Isaac guy could help too. I haven't looked in on him since we were looking for Peter…
Oh, god my head is swimming with ideas and I'm tired… long day… really long day… It's late enough, maybe I'll fly home… Someday I need to take the car… noticed dust built up on the tire… not good.
Nathan put all his papers and things he needed in his titanium briefcase. The leather one didn't do well in flight.
Man, I need to ask for an office on the top floor, or get back to the weight room and the track… Flying doesn't do as much for the belly as I would like… You'd think I would stop these flights home after the vote today, but man is it fun…
Nathan made his way to the roof. He wasn't sure if it was the strain of the day or his anger over his mother's medaling, or whatever but he felt like he was being followed. On the roof Nathan waited to one side of the door, but nobody showed up.
Alright Nathan, get a hold of yourself, it's been a long day and you're tired… Just the mind playing tricks on you… Just take off and let the night sky clear your thoughts…
As Nathan faded into the dark sky, Smithers came out from behind a ventilation duct. He opened his phone and dialed a number without even looking, as if it were ingrained into the fiber of his being. It rang a few times and the recipient answered.
"It's Smithers." He said into the phone. "Yes… He just flew off… No, nobody saw him, well nobody alive saw him… Thank you, I love my work… Bye."
Nathan woke up the next morning with Heidi in the shower. He could see her from the bed.
Wow, look at that. Nathan thought. Those legs… It's still great to see those legs moving… Like when they wrap… never mind. What's on the news?
"This morning a janitor was found with a broken neck at the bottom of the stairs of the Congressional Offices. Police are thinking it is an accident, but our sources say this janitor was assigned to the capitol public areas not the Congressional Offices. And the stairs in question lead to the roof where nobody ever goes."
"Honey!" Nathan called out to Heidi. "I'm going to New York! I need to see my mother!"
---
Kane
Kane finished his cup of coffee and pulled out a blank envelope. He wrote Claire on it, wrote a note, and sealed it inside the envelope. As Kane did this he glanced up because he knew someone was staring at him. Some guy was grossed out by Kane's horribly disfigured face. He was used to it, but it was far from ok. The same look was in all humans' eyes no matter what country or what century.
Kane allowed himself to grin back at the guy. Your kind's time is almost up and you don't even know it. Kane thought. He slumped up and pinned the envelope to a bulletin board near the entrance on his way out. He stuck to the shadows as he has always done for centuries.
He started to think of the one where he went wrong. He turned down my offer, maybe someday he'll change his mind. thought Kane. The trouble with Sylar is he actually had love for humans and deceit towards SGs. I'd hoped he would be our 'General' in all of this when the time comes. Perhaps he felt insulted that I didn't want to borrow his power.
Kane started to think of the other prospect. Peter Petrelli, now that boy has talent. He wouldn't accept my offer though, he has too much love inside his heart.
Kane stopped in his tracks and whispered, "but what if his heart were to bleed?" Kane then wondered to himself, "How many humans would assassinate a congressman if they knew he could fly?"
