CHAPTER 13

SAVING THE WORLD, AGAIN

Zim rushed into Fitz's bedroom to see Sylar pointing his finger at the ceiling. Stuck like a bug in a web was Fitz, a red line of blood cut across his forehead. He screamed as the line lengthened and blood started oozing down to the floor.

Fitz was going to be mad about that later, Zim thought. He hated it when the carpet got stained.

Zim drew his blade and rushed forward, intent on cutting Sylar's arm off, but the watchmaker was too quick. He saw Zim from the corner of his eye and held up his other hand, flinging our hero against the wall in much the same fashion as Fitz was on the ceiling.

"Ah, good," Sylar said. He turned his gaze up to Fitz. "I guess I no longer need you."

Fitz dropped with a shout, and when he landed he did not get back up.

Sylar approached Zim. "I thought I'd lost you. Lucky me."

Hiro and Ando burst into the room, and the former drew his own blade. "Sylar." Hiro's voice was low and guttural.

Sylar smiled. "Two for the price of one." He went to hurl Hiro against the wall, but as soon as he lifted his hand, Hiro squeezed his eyes and vanished . . . only to reappear five feet above Sylar's head, his sword pointed down.

Sylar responded so quickly Zim couldn't believe it. The villain shot his arm up, and Hiro flew and struck his head against the ceiling. Ando rushed forward, his fists raised, but Sylar—his hands too busy—kicked at him. He nailed Ando in the balls, and Hiro's closest friend fell to the floor, gasping for breath.

"Any more surprises?" Sylar asked.

The window exploded, and Noah Bennet leaped in, gun at the ready. The Haitian stood behind him, his eyes boring in on Sylar. The villain turned his gaze to Noah, who began to sweat. Beads stood out on his forehead and his neck strained as his gun hand started to turn on himself. The gun's barrel came around, pointing slowly at his head.

"Something's wrong," the Haitian said. "He's not responding to my ability."

"I can tell," Noah said. He gritted his teeth as the barrel came closer to his skull.

Fitz crawled forward and without hesitation plunged a pencil into Sylar's foot. The villain screamed, and Zim and Hiro fell to the floor. Noah's gun hand dropped, and he grinned. "I've waited a long time to do this, Sylar."

Noah lifted the gun, and Sylar vanished. "FUCK!" Noah yelled. "Fuck fuck fuck!" He turned to the Haitian. "Why didn't your power kill his?"

The Haitian shrugged. "I don't understand."

Hiro gasped. "Flyman!"

Nathan Petrelli wasn't the only one to appear at the window. Wearing a blanket around his body to protect him from the dim sunlight of an overcast day, was Angel. The senator had lowered the vampire from the sky gently, and as soon as Angel was on solid ground, he turned to the others. "Sylar has the Orb of Gethsamane. As long as he wears it around his neck, he'll be protected from all of you."

Zim sat up. "You. I remember you."

Angel paused, and if it were possible, he became paler. "Oh fuck."