"Down in a hole, feeling so small
Down in a hole, losing my soul
I'd like to fly,
But my wings have been so denied"

-Alice in Chains in "Down in a Hole"


Travis woke up immediately, shocked. Peter, who was in his face, backed away a bit. It took a moment for Travis to realize that he was sweating and breathing rapidly. Peter looked at him in confusion. "You okay?"

Travis didn't answer at first, but sat up, and rubbed his face. The dream he had, though rather blank, was very detailed, and almost as if he had been living it. Travis finally answered. "Yeah. Just a weird dream."

"Don't tell me your dreams predict the future now."

Travis looked up at Peter. "My dreams are some of the most fucked up things at some times. And they do anything, but predict the future."

"Some of us have abilities like that. Dreaming the future, seeing the future, even painting it."

"Painting the future? There's a new one." Travis said with a small scoff. But he believed it. This new world seemed capable of anything.

Peter sat on a couch opposite to Travis. "Okay, Travis. I know you're here for help and everything, but I can't help but wonder. Why are you here exactly? I mean yes you're here for help, but why New York?"

"You know, before I met you, I was wondering the same thing." Travis said, remembering the muggers and every other asshole in New York. "But New York, being the big place it was, seemed like the most logical place to go."

"Another thing. My father." Peter said. Travis hung his head. Arthur again? "You said you met him. Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Travis sighed.

"I won't go into details. He simply offered to improve my life. He didn't seem that dangerous at the time, but then again, I didn't know about other people like me. He said he could improve my life, but the ways he intended to do that were not okay in my book."

"What ways?"

Travis didn't give the direct answer. "He said I needed to grow up with my parents. My parents are gone, and I need to learn to live on my own."

"On your own, huh? Alone?"

"That's just it. There is another person, who I care deeply about, and I think Arthur knows about her."

"Her eh? So there's a girl in your life."

Travis sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yes. And she's all I have left from really driving me off the edge here. If your father knows much about her, what's to stop him from taking her from me? I mean, I told him, if anything were to happen to her..."

Peter held up a calming hand. "Settle down. What's her name?"

"Her name is Krystina."

"Listen Travis. You are going to learn how to control your abilities. And you will make sure Krystina is safe. I know this, because I'm going to help you."

"Are you always like this to people you pick up off the street?" Travis asked with a small smile.

Peter returned the smile and stood up. He grabbed his jacket and put it on. "Let's go."

"Where we off to now?" Travis asked.

"I'm going to teach you to the best of my abilities, just how far your abilities go. Starting with your telepathy."

Travis immediately got up. Telepathy? Perhaps finally for the first time in his life, his mind would gain peace. It was always overfilled with the thoughts of those around him, but now, Peter was going to help calm the fire.

***

Back on the New York Streets, Travis' mind was once again filled with thoughts. The thoughts of the average New Yorker. And Travis was rubbing his temples as he followed Peter, who was explaining the basics of telepathy. "Telepathy is a lot easier to master than you think. I mean, sure, it keeps branching out by the minute, but it's basics, I'm surprised you don't know them. It starts off simple. You are trying to calm your mind. I'm guessing you're trying to focus on everyone's thoughts. Unfortunately, that's rather hard. To calm your mind, you need to focus on YOUR thoughts. Put them to rest, and the thoughts of those around you will gradually cease."

"I'm sorry, but I am totally lost."

Peter sighed. "Here, let's try this. You try to focus on one person's thoughts. It also works, but it isn't always the easiest way to go."

"Well, okay..." Travis said uneasy. He focused on a woman passing by with her dog.

If that Henry thinks I was put on this earth, to be his slave...

The woman's thoughts muted everyone else's, but only for a short period of time, and Travis' mind soon was overrun by other thoughts. Travis sat down fast, rubbing his temple. He was breathing heavily, and his head felt like it was on fire. Peter simply shook his head.

"Focus harder, Travis! Come on! I know you have it in you."

Travis looked up. "You got that much faith in me?"

Peter smiled. "No, but you should."

Travis sighed, stood up, and focused again. There was a man across the street buying a hot dog.

I hope they actually manage to get them this time because they really failed yesterday to get these two...

"Shit..." Travis mumbled to himself. And before he could warn Peter, a gun was pressed against his back. The life drained out of Travis, almost as if the barrel of the gun sucked it up. The hair on Travis' neck rose. Travis slowly put his hands up to his neck.

"Hello again." the man known to Travis as Knox said. Elle appeared behind Peter. Travis did not expect to be found again so soon by these people. Travis, not finding any other words, simply said "Hi." to the man behind him.

Knox dug the weapon even further. Elle spoke to Travis with a curling smile.

"You know, water-boy, we actually don't want to hurt you, we just want Peter. But it's like Peter to drag unwanted people into our business. And when that happens, well..." Elle chuckled and made a small flick of electricity in her palms. "Things get ugly."

Travis said nothing.

"I'm sure your brother knows how much it hurts to be tazered, Peter." Elle said. "Just come with us, and no one will get hurt."

Peter looked at Travis. Cooperate. Let them take me. Get away from here. I'd rather not have my father have two people he wishes right now...don't worry about me. I'll find some way out of this.

Travis received the thought, but did not take action. Not while Knox still held a gun at his back. Travis was in silent prayer. Elle walked over to Travis and looked at him in the eye. Other agents came around and handcuffed Peter. Elle touched Travis' cheek. A slight zap went into his face, and Travis grimaced. Elle chuckled. "No heroics. It's your lucky day. I'm letting you go free." Knox put the gun away. Travis looked at Elle. He said nothing. Elle turned away. "Piss off, before I change my mind."

Elle began to electrocute Peter knocking him unconscious. Travis watched, but then shut his eyes. A black van pulled up and Peter was loaded inside. Travis turned and began to run to Peter's apartment.

***

The training had sucked. Travis barely knew how to control his telepathy, and his teacher was now in Pinehearst's grip. This was not going well at all. Travis went into Peter's apartment, and turned the door knob. Travis then remembered this was New York. You'd be a complete fool to leave you apartment open. And Travis had no key. Travis may had regretted what he was about to do, but he was desperate. He found a paper clip, and he bent it out of shape, and began to pick the lock. The door opened.

Travis was relieved to be safe for now. But he didn't stop to rest. He immediately began looking through papers, for a number anything. He remembered the few friends outside the building Nathan was in. Peter had to have one of their numbers somewhere! Travis was making a fine mess of things, but he didn't care. Then he came across a file. Travis recognized the photo of the man on the paper. It was that Hiro guy! And there was a number. A Yagmato thing. Travis immediately picked up the closest phone and dialed the number.

The phone was ringing. Travis held it to his ear.

"Come on come on COME ON PICK UP THE PHONE!"

Someone answered and began rambling in Japanese.

Travis held the phone away from his face and he began on a minor swearing frenzy, but calmed himself a bit. He returned the phone to his ear. THe person had stopped talking, but had not hung up.

"I hope to God you can understand me, I need to speak to Hiro Nak- Naku- Nakumura." Travis said pronouncing the last name.

"Uh...this him. Who is this?"

Travis was in a rush.

"This is Travis. I helped you guys yesterday-"

"Oh, Water-man!"

Travis rolled his eyes. Water-man? Thank God, Hiro didn't know he could breath in water.

"Listen closely. Peter's in trouble! Pinehearst just captured him about thirty minutes ago. I don't know what they're planning to do with him, but if we don't stop them, I fear the worst! I need help!"

Travis was hearing another voice on the other end. "Petrelli in trouble?"

"Yes! Am I getting through?"

"Get through what?"

"Never mind! I need help rescuing him!"

"We help too! Ando and I, we help you!"

"Great!"

"Water-boy, I not know where Pinehearst is. How can we help? So sorry, we cannot help right now..."

Travis slammed his fist on the desk, causing some of the papers to fall to the ground. Then he remembered the card!

"Wait! Hiro! I know where it is!" Travis said frantically taking the card out of his back pocket. THe card had sustained minor tears and water damage, but was still readable.

"You know where Pinehearst is? We come help!"

"That's great!" Travis said shouting in joy. "Meet me at the docks! I'll see you guys here soon!"

He then hung up the phone and ran out of the apartment.