Chapter Two

Tom picked up his cell phone from the gurney. Meghan still had a shocked look on her face.

"Are you alright, Tom?" she asked. "Let the guys do a quick check to make sure you're alright. I insist."

Tom looked at Meghan and then past her at the concerned-looking NTAC Medical team, or rather, what was left of them. He got up and put his hand on Meghan's arm.

"I'm fine, Meghan," he said. "First we have to find Jordan Collier."

"No kidding," said Meghan. "That's top priority on our list, we need him to lift the communications blackout on Seattle."

"That's great, but it's more important than that," Tom said, making an attempt to move past Meghan. "Jordan might be about to do something he would regret. We need to get to him first."

"Where do you intend to start looking?" asked Meghan. "We've been searching everywhere."

"I'm going to see my son at the 4400 Center," Tom replied and left.


Shawn Farrell cracked open his blinds and sunlight crept into his office. He began to clear the campaign flyers and posters into his trash can, then set them by the door and took a seat on the couch on his wall. The past week had been more than he ever expected he'd have to handle. There was no point in announcing his pulling out of the race for Seattle city council since, as far as Jordan Collier and the promicin-positive citizens of Seattle were concerned, Seattle no longer existed.

Promise City. It grew from just a small part in the south of Seattle to the entire city. Jordan Collier's dangerous movement, the movement that threatened half of the population of the world. Shawn wasn't sure which way he wanted to go now. He could still try to help those people in Promise City who didn't have abilities cope with the new society, but Jordan had cut off communications entirely. It would be difficult to get a message out to so few people without at least a television or phone.

The door to his office opened, and Shawn's cousin, Kyle walked in.

"Hey, Shawn," said Kyle. "How are you doing?"

"I don't know, honestly," replied Shawn, but he got up and hugged Kyle.

"To be perfectly honest, I'm surprised you're here," said Kyle. "I don't think I'd be here, were I in your situation. But I was told you'd be here."

"Yeah," Shawn said, sitting back down on the couch. Kyle sat down next to him. "I have nowhere else to go. Even Kevin Burkhoff is out looking around Promise City. He's in shock, but he and Tess are out there, helping everyone adjust."

"You have no obligation to do the same," Kyle said. "I know you must feel like there's no other choice."

"No kidding," Shawn said. Everyone in the 4400 Center had gone, practically. The need for a 'safe zone' for certain 4400s vanished overnight when Jordan Collier had come to power. Most of his staff was gone. "I just feel so useless now. I still don't believe that Jordan is doing the right thing."

"I don't see how you can believe that," Kyle stated. "After all that's happened, don't you see that what we're doing is for the better?"

"Kyle," Shawn said, moving away from Kyle suddenly. "The man is threatening to hurt people. That is not the right path for any movement! There might be another answer out there, you have to give it more time."

"Actually," Kyle said. "You may be right. My ability, it's been telling me to go to you. You're important to the movement. So is Kevin Burkhoff's work. You need to do what you do best."

"Heal people?" Shawn asked. "I can't even spread the message that anyone who needs healing can come to me. Jordan's blackout –"

"Jordan hasn't blacked anyone out," Kyle interjected. "We don't know who is behind the communications blackout, but Jordan thinks that it's a promicin-positive individual in Promise City. That's why my dad is coming later."

"What about NTAC?" Shawn asked. "What position are they taking on the blackout?""I have no idea," Kyle said. "We'll have to ask. I wanted to let you know before my dad gets here that I'm going to be leaving Promise City soon to retrieve Richard Tyler. My ability told me where he is, and that he's going to be needed before long."

"How are you going to get out of Promise City?" Shawn asked.

"I already have, once," Kyle answered. "I just took Jennifer Swan and left. I went to go talk to the Governor."

"What's going on outside the city?" Shawn sat up straight.

"They're going through the motions of declaring war on Promise City," Kyle said. "Which is why we need to find out who is causing the blackout soon before something bad happens. I'm set to tell Jordan tonight, and then I'm leaving tomorrow morning."

"Kyle, stay longer," Shawn said. "Help me find a way to convince Jordan that he needs to back down. We can do it together, he'll listen to you, and you know I can help."

"That's just not in the plans, Shawn," Kyle replied, and put his hand on Shawn's shoulder.

"So, what?" Shawn threw Kyle's hand off of his shoulder. "You'd just leave all these people here to die because your ability tells you to find Richard Tyler?"

Kyle sighed. He got up and turned away. When he turned back, Shawn noticed that he didn't look as sure as he had since he'd gotten an ability. He looked scared, like he didn't know what was going to happen.

Just then, the door opened again and Tom walked in. He looked from Kyle to Shawn, and asked, "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah," Shawn lied. "We were just talking about the blackout."

"Interesting," Tom said and entered the room fully. "That's, uh, one of the topics I was interested in talking about, though I didn't want to jump into it. As long as we're here, though, what can be done about lifting the blackout?"

"That's a good question," replied Kyle. "I'm sure you think that Jordan is behind the blackout as well?"

"I have no good reason to believe otherwise," said Tom. "Now that he's taken over a city, he might be planning all kinds of horrible things."

"Jordan isn't planning horrible things," Kyle retorted. "There's no benefit for anyone to not be able to call out, to let their families know that they're safe. Jordan knows this, he's leading a team to try to find out who is causing the blackout."

"So we don't know who's behind this?" Tom asked.

"We're still working on it," said Kyle.

There was a silence that lasted for a moment, and some of the tension in the air dissipated.

"How are you feeling, Shawn?" Tom asked him. He looked genuinely concerned, but Shawn didn't seem to notice.

"Just trying to cope, Uncle Tommy," said Shawn. "Trying to figure out where to go from here."

"I understand," said Tom. "If you need anything, you let me know. I'll see what I can do. NTAC is still willing to work with the 4400 Center to achieve a peaceable solution to this whole situation."

Shawn laughed derisively. "There is no more 4400 Center, Uncle Tommy. Kevin Burkhoff took off with Tess, and since Jordan took over there's no need for this place as a safe haven."

Tom thought for a moment. "But what about Kevin's research?" he asked. "Doesn't he need proper facilities to finish his work? He was close to a solution, I thought."

"I suppose," said Shawn. "But I couldn't convince him to stay. Anyways, I'm sure he'll be back because he left his research here. I don't think he can do anything until communication comes back."

As if in response to his name, an elderly man with brown eyes and a bald spot came into the room smiling broadly. He nodded to Tom, and turned to Shawn.

"Shawn," greeted Kevin Burkhoff excitedly. "I found a few p-negatives who are going to help me finish my research. I don't have to even leave Promise City. Good news, huh?"

Shawn looked genuinely happy for the first time all day. He got up and grasped Kevin's hand. "Excellent, Kevin! How did you find them? They're willing to do what it takes?"

Tom and Kyle exchanged glances, and retreated out of the room for a moment. Shawn stopped Kyle on his way out.

"Don't go anywhere," he said. "I still want to talk to you."

"Don't worry," assured Kyle. "I will stick around long enough."

Outside of Shawn's office, Tom embraced Kyle in a massive hug, and Kyle returned the compliment. They smiled at each other for a quiet moment, and reflected on the good fortune that they still had each other. Kyle looked into his father's eyes, and felt pity. Tom had had so much pain in the last few days, and over the course of the last year he was lucky that he even had Meghan and his son left.

Tom put his hand on Kyle's arm, and sat down in a chair. He tried and failed to hide that he had began to well up.

"Dad," Kyle sat down next to him. "It's really good to see you. You are welcome to join Jordan's cause at any time, all you have to do is take that shot."

"I took it, Kyle," Tom said. He looked deep into his son's apprehensive eyes. "I took it this morning. I had a vision."

"That's great, Dad," Kyle said. "I'm excited for you; what kind of vision?"

"Kyle, you're not going to like it," said Tom. He looked away. "Well, some of it."

"What did you see, Dad?" Kyle looked very worried now. "If it involves my death, it has to be for the cause."

Tom choked visibly, and grabbed Kyle in a hug around his neck. "No," was all he managed to say. "It wasn't about your death. For the love of God don't talk like that, I can't stand to think about it right now."

"I'm sorry, Dad," Kyle said, returning the hug in earnest.

"It was about Collier's work," Tom tried to continue. "Kyle, he might be about to make a big mistake. I need you to tell him that as soon as the communication blackout is over, he needs to tell the world to wait for a few months until Burkhoff's research is done."

Kyle looked at his father. Seriousness bore into his soul, and Kyle knew that his father's account corroborated what his ability had told him. Jordan was in trouble, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Footsteps made Kyle look up, but Tom didn't seem to notice them. He recognized the girl entering the room, the girl with red hair and a distinctive blue pendant: Cassie. She was Kyle's ability and guardian, she knew things that it was impossible to know, but she had never led Kyle astray before. This was only the second time she had appeared in the presence of someone else.

"He's the only one who can talk to Jordan," said Cassie casually. "You're going to be busy finding Richard Tyler. And you should leave soon; it won't be long before someone else gets to him. You remember the address I gave you?"

Kyle nodded vigorously, and Tom noticed. He looked curiously at Kyle, and then at the space where Cassie stood.

"Kyle, what do you see?" he asked. Kyle looked at him.

"It's my ability," Kyle replied. "Her name is Cassie, she's a sort of guide."

"Oh," said Tom, looking back at the spot where Cassie was supposed to be standing. "Okay."

"I don't normally like to bother you during family time," said Cassie, "but this really is important. Tell your dad that he can find Jordan Collier at city hall, on the second floor in the old mayor's office. He needs to tell Collier what he knows, and then they can track down the criminal behind the blackout."

"Dad," Kyle started, and explained what Cassie had just told him. "I have to go now."

"But Kyle, you just got here," Tom interjected as Kyle rose.

"Don't worry," Cassie said to Tom. "You'll be getting a phone call as soon as you've talked to Collier."

"I'll call you, Dad," said Kyle, and he hugged his father one last time before leaving the 4400 Center.


Maia ate her Cheerios in silence. She looked out the window, and then glared at her mother. Her mom wouldn't let her go outside and see her friends. Her friend, Lindsay Hammond, had on called her several times, showing up at the front door. Her mom tried to hide it, but Maia knew what was going on.

Across the table, Diana played with the cereal in her bowl. Angrily, she dropped the spoon and looked at Maia.

"What?" she asked finally.

Maia merely glared at her mother.

"Maia, honey, I don't know what to do anymore," Diana said. "It's been three days, and I can't stand this anymore. What do you want?"

"I just want to go outside and be with the others," Maia shouted. "Why won't you let me be with my friends?"

"Your friends?" Diana asked. "How many of these people do you really know, Maia? They're… they're accessories to some of the largest-scale terrorist actions the world has ever seen; Maia, these people are criminals."

Maia threw her bowl away from her and marched off to her room, slamming the door loudly behind her.

Diana closed her eyes and cleared her mind. The gap between here and her daughter was growing larger by the hour. She had to face the truth: Maia was growing up and wanted her independence. Marco had been right.

She picked up the bowls, still filled with milk, and put them in the kitchen sink. Then she walked over to Maia's door and opened it a crack.

"Go away!" shouted Maia from within, throwing a pillow at the door. Diana shut it suddenly.

"Maia, I just want to talk," Diana said.

"Shut up!" was the only response she heard.

"Maia, listen," Diana replied, and waited a long moment. Maia's quiet sobs from the other side of the door slowed down slightly. "I can't hold on to you forever, Maia. And I don't want to lose you this way."

Silence met her ears, and she had no idea if Maia was still listening. She opened the door a crack, and saw the light coming in from the window shining across Maia's face as she sat up in her bed. Tear tracks streamed down from her eyes, and Diana could tell that she was genuinely upset by their argument.

"I have a secret to tell you," said Maia very quietly.

"Maia, honey, you don't have to tell me," Diana said, but part of her curiosity tugged at her. "Let me finish, and then you can tell me, okay?"

"Okay," Maia said.

"I am sorry that I've been holding you here," said Diana. "You're not a prisoner, and you're not in quarantine. I just… don't want you to end up back in quarantine. What's going on outside Seattle, outside Promise City, there is no controlling that. And Jordan Collier is not the safest solution."

"Okay," Maia said. "Can I tell you my secret now?"

"You're not going to tell me that you see dead people too, are you?" Diana asked, trying to laugh as she said it.

Maia smiled slightly. "I've sneaking out to see my parents over the past few weeks. There is a man, his name is Byron, he can sort of bring people back from the dead, as ghosts. They're the real people, but they can't touch anything."

Diana thought for a long moment. Maia looked at her, but she couldn't return the gaze.

"I still love you, mom," Maia said at last. "I will always come home to you."

"Oh, Maia," Diana said and stifled tears. She let go of the door and it swung slowly open. Diana took a seat on the edge of Maia's bed, and her young adopted daughter moved over to hug her. She hugged right back, feeling relief and fear creep up in her, knowing that she never wanted to lose Maia like she had once lost her fiancé; happy that Maia considered her a mother and a confidant, and that no matter what she would think so. The pitiful argument ended quickly and seemed stupid in retrospect, but stood as a testament to their powerful relationship.


Meghan looked up as the phone on her desk began to ring. She reached for it, and at the same time Marco Parcella stepped into his office, holding a file folder of information. She held up a hand to silence him and answered the phone.

"Meghan Doyle," she said.

"Meghan," Tom's voice sounded almost excited on the other line. "It's me, Tom. I know where Collier is, I'm on my way to talk to him right now. Any word from Diana?"

"You're on your way to see Collier?" Meghan asked. "Where's he hiding? I haven't heard from Diana, no."

"He's downtown, in city hall," Tom said. "But he's not the one we're after. He's looking for the person responsible for the communications blackout as well. If you can get a hold of Diana, let her know that I need to talk to her."

"Will do, Tom," said Meghan. "But don't you want anyone to go with you?"

"It wouldn't do any good," replied Tom, and the line went dead. Meghan slowly hung up the phone.

Marco took another step forward, and looked at the full vase of flowers on his left, then at the half-empty box of pens on his right. Smiling knowingly, he held the file folder out to Meghan.

"What is this?" she asked him.

"Something you'll be very happy to know," said Marco, still smiling. "I think we've traced the epicenter of the blackout, and if it is being caused by who we think it's being caused by, Jordan Collier has nothing to do with the blackout."

"So I've heard," said Meghan. "Tom was just on the phone telling me all about it. So do you know what's causing the blackout?"

"It's definitely a promicin ability," said Marco. "And it's certainly someone with access to a major network access link."

"So that's how many people?" asked Meghan.

"Could be one of thousands," Marco said, his excitement growing slightly. Meghan had an annoyed look on her face. "The access terminals are everywhere, and anyone who knows how to use them could easily block out a small area for a short time."

"How does that help us?" Meghan asked.

"If they were going through an access terminal," Marco continued, "it would show up on the grid as to which terminal he was using."

"And it took you three days to work this out?" Meghan hated it when he played this game.

"Hey, lay off, we're working with only two brains down in that theory room now," Marco said defensively. "But that's only the first part. We checked the grid on the first day. Nothing at all showed up, of course. It wouldn't be much of a blackout if it were. But this morning, the blackout weakened, and changed. It's unlikely that anyone would notice, because it seems to flicker for only a few seconds, but what it's actually doing is winding down into its central point."

"Like a tornado dissipating?" Meghan asked.

"Sort of," Marco replied. "We did a scan of the air, and it seems like someone's ability is to launch a sort of chaff into the air, effectively confusing all communications in the Seattle area, and probably a little ways around it, too. It seems resistant to wind or other weather patterns, which is unusual to say the least, but when it's done it seems to return to its point of origin."

"So there's going to be a visible target at the epicenter of the chaff," Meghan posited.

"Right," Marco confirmed. "And we'll be able to pinpoint it as long as he doesn't launch the chaff one more time."

"Sounds easy enough," said Meghan. "Whereabouts is our culprit likely to be located?"

"Well, it looks right now like the upper east side," Marco said.

"I'll call Tom," said Meghan.