CHAPTER 11

Noah, Nathan and Angela stood in the den.

"So why is she here?" Nathan worried.

"Because she needs to realize we're not the bad guys," Angela reminded him. "She's your boys' nanny. She's tied to this family. Suppose someone wasn't out to get Mira. Say they thought she was Heidi…" she trailed off as her son stood, deep in thought.

"So now it's our problem, trying to figure out who's after her?" Nathan wanted no part in it.

"Until we make sure it has nothing to do with you, your wife, or sons," Noah chimed in.

"Nathan, darling…She can be beneficial to our cause," Angela reminded him. "She's one of the very few who have power over Sylar. She can help us stop people like him. She could disarm him."

"So say she could. But what if she doesn't? I saw them together. They worked together, like a team."

"We make her feel like part of the family. We have her turn on Sylar. If anyone can get him, it's her."

"How are you going to turn a nanny into a hero?" Nathan asked, sarcastically.

"She'll learn from the best," Noah said, referring to himself.

"I don't know if I trust her. She wanted me dead," Nathan reminded them.

"It was just self-preservation. If you thought someone was trying to kill you, wouldn't you consider killing them first?" Nathan was silent, she knew he understood.

"Maybe we should sit down with her, ask her some more questions," Noah suggested. "Speaking of questions…what the hell were you doing going after Sylar? You were supposed to be with Claire, protecting her."

"Peter tipped me off about his whereabouts. I had an opportunity, and I took it," Nathan stated, flatly.

"You can't take on Sylar, on a whim. And either way, I thought you were out of that business…"

"It's Sylar," Nathan reminded him. "If we don't take him down, no one will."

"I think we're finished here," Angela noted as she turned around, leaving the men to themselves.

"Be careful," Nathan warned Noah. "Just remember, she's in there, with your daughter, alone right now. There's no knowing what Sylar's already told her, or done to her. Don't risk Claire."

Noah quickly walked back inside. Angela was in the kitchen, and he walked towards the bedroom Mira stayed in. He saw her sitting with Claire and Peter.

Hopefully, this works…he thought to himself.

*

(A month later)

Peter watched Mira from a distance. Noah had been helping Mira with her powers. She was much stronger than she realized. She had learned to control her telepathy and hone her powers of persuasion. She was finally ready for her first test.

Peter had finally sat down with Claire, and told her what he knew about Mira. Claire was torn. She couldn't understand how anyone would want to be near that psychopath, Sylar, yet somehow she truly seemed to care about him. Maybe she could make him a better person.

"So, I don't get exactly what I'm training for," Mira finally spoke up, during an exercise.

"It's kinda complicated," Noah admitted.

"I won't have to kill anyone, will I?" He stared at her for a moment.

"I'm not planning on it. You do need to have a good arsenal, though. You will need to defend yourself."

She laughed in disbelief. "Defend myself from who? First, it was Nathan's men. Then, it's Sylar. And then you…who is it this time - the Boogeyman?"

"Look, Mira. I want to tell you more, but the truth is I don't know anything else. I don't have all the details. I was just told to get you away from Sylar, and teach you everything I know about self-preservation."

"Am I working for the people that attacked me?"

"Does it really matter as long as you're doing the right thing?"

"Uh, yeah. To me it does. Someone shot me with poison darts!"

"I can assure you it wasn't me, or any of the Petrelli's. Angela wants to help you find out who was after you."

"Can't I just leave? Run away and start a new life somewhere?"

"Unfortunately, that's not an option. And, honestly, it doesn't work anyway," Noah spoke from experience.

She and Noah left Angela's home, and soon ended up at an old factory. He led her into a room in an underground facility beneath the cement walls.

"Where are we going?" she asked. He stood in the doorway. I have a test for you," he told her. They were on the opposite side of a 2-way mirror. She stared at a cold gray room with two cots. A woman with dark hair sat with her back to them.

"Am I interrogating someone?" she asked. Noah chuckled to himself.

"No. You're actually going to spend 72 hours in that room. My friend, Rachel, here, will be with you, to help you hone her powers."

"You're locking me in a cage for 3 days?"

"You'll have company."

"This is complete bull-" she was cut off as he tossed her in the room.

"If you need anything, just press this button," he stated as he pointed towards a large red button on the wall. A guard will come and get you whatever you need. I'll make sure they bring you some food and water in a little bit."

"Bennett! Wait!" she yelled as he shut the door. She was stuck. She almost forgot someone else was in the room with her.

"So you're…Rachel?" Rachel nodded. "Aren't you pissed they stuck you in a cage for 3 days too?" Mira asked in surprise. Rachel shrugged.

"I've been through worse," she admitted. "And I can leave anytime I want to." Mira stared at her, puzzled.

"So how are you going to help me 'hone' my powers? I pretty much know what I'm doing," she asked, disbelievingly.

"We're going to see how far you can take them."

"I already know. So far, I can make people feel whatever I want them to."

"How long does it take?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know…a minute or two," she responded, trying to think how long it took.

"We can help you learn to do it instantaneously," Rachel offered. Mira considered it. "I was informed you may have some of Sylar's powers. What can you do?"

"Nothing…barely anything, really," Mira quickly answered.

"Nathan told us that you shocked one of his men," Rachel countered. "And Peter said you inherited a few other powers too…including telekinesis, lie detecting, and regeneration," Rachel listed. Mira listened, angered that Peter would give her up like that.

"I can barely do any of those things," she lied. "The most I've done is give someone static shock."

"These powers may get stronger. You need to learn how to control them."

"I haven't seen Gabriel in days. Dr. Suresh said I can't get any stronger if he's not here," Mira corrected.

"Maybe. Truth is, Dr. Suresh was just taking a shot in the dark." Rachel stood up, and without any warning, disappeared into thin air. She suddenly appeared on the other side of the glass door. She waved good-bye before walking away.

"Wait!" Mira screamed. "Get your ass back here! You can't leave me here alone!" She focused on Rachel and suddenly, Rachel felt very guilty for leaving her. She turned back to join her. She popped back into the room.

"I feel bad for leaving you like that," she said once she returned.

"Damn right you do." Mira narrowed her eyes at her. "If I'm stuck here, you are too…" she warned. Rachel nodded. "What the hell was that anyway?" she asked, bewildered.

"I can teleport," Rachel admitted. She quickly changed the subject. "Well, you're empathic powers are pretty strong. I don't think we'll be working on those too much."

"That was a test?!"

"Yes. You did well. Now we're going to do something else." Rachel went into her pocket and pulled out some change. She threw it on the table. "I want every piece of change spinning at once."

Mira laughed. "You really think I can do all that change at one time? Surely you jest…" Rachel shook her head.

"You can do it…" she ordered. Mira concentrated on a quarter. It began to shake, and suddenly was spinning on its side. Rachel smiled as she watched Mira focus on the coins. She drew her hand over the change, and began to move her fingers. Quickly a dime began to spin too, and then a penny. Soon, 6 out of 10 coins were spinning. Mira's head began to throb and she began to sweat. "Keep going you can do it!" Rachel yelled. Mira's hands began to shake as another piece of change began to spin. It was too much for her, the coins flew across the room and Mira sunk down in her chair.

"I'm tired," Mira stated. Rachel pushed the button and a guard came down. "Can we get some lunch?" He nodded and left and soon returned with some sandwiches. Mira and Rachel ate quietly.

"You're stronger than you give yourself credit for," Rachel mentioned as Mira finished her sandwich.

"So why are we doing this then?"

"Mira, you're proof there are good people, like us, out there. We need your help stopping the bad ones. And if you do, we'll make sure you're provided for. And if you're going to help us, we need you in the best shape you can be in."

"I've managed to survive this long, I'll be fine," Mira retorted.

"Don't you want to master your powers, so you can make sure?"

"Fine, but three days is a bit drastic…"

"But three days can prepare you for the rest of your life."

*