Let it never be said that resurrection was painless.
Carter had awakened in a morgue with a scream, piercing the silent metal room with the cry. Lungs that had shut down burned as air filled them. A throat that had been stilled felt like sandpaper was being rubbed against it as he screamed. Eyes that had dried out let loose bloody tears. Nerves that had inactive suddenly fired on all cylinders, letting the young man know all the pain at once.
A lesser person would have succumbed to the experience, gone mad from it. But Carter Daniels was no mere man. He had not spent a year in the Afterlife training with Eden, just to give up at this moment.
Instead he had silenced the scream, forced himself to his feet, and took stock. He knew he was in the same building as his daughter…he and Eden had gone over the floor plan for months. He knew Madrid's cell was about 100 yards away, down some corridors. He had to get them out, get them hidden…protect his daughter and her sister/mother.
But first…he needed some clothes.
Luck had been on his side. The morgue attendant had left his clothing in a bin, probably to be thrown away. The shirt was ruined, but the pants would do, as would his duster. He stuffed his shirt in his pocket anyway.
Practicing the stealth he had been taught by Eden, Carter had made his way into his daughter's room just as the son-of-a-bitch guard had ripped the 'special bear' apart and was about ready to beat Vally. Carter had seen red, and the combat skills that had been engrained in his memory came to the forefront, allowing him to stop the guard and snap his neck.
Now, however, he had a sobbing toddler to deal with.
"Hey." Carter said softly, unsure what to do. Considering he had just murdered someone in front of her, he wasn't sure the protocol when it came to father/daughter meetings. "My name is C-C-C-Carter. You're Vally, r-r-r-right?" Vally nodded slightly. "Haven't stuttered in a month…must be the nerves…" Vally just looked on. Carter knelt down next to her, locking eyes and trying to think of what to say. "I'm…sorry about not being there for you…" Vally said nothing. "And your bear…sorry about the bear…but I can fix it…" He gathered the bits of stuffing and held them out. "My mom taught me to sew…I can make him better then new…touch him up even and make him better then when you got him…" He looked down at the bear's tummy, at the strange S symbol on the bear's stomach. "That's my mark…" He turned so Vally could see the back of his jacket. "See…it is a symbol for the House of Ellis…my family's symbol. Makes sense you would have it, me being your…well…" He shrugged.
Valencia looked at him, licking her lips. "Daddy?" She whispered, hope coloring her words.
Carter's eyes blinked away tears. "Yea…."
The little girl leapt into his arms, and father and daughter cried as they met for the first time.
&&&
(Lee Malion, Location Unknown)
Lee stared at the wall in disgust, shaking his arms back and forth as best he could. Which, infact, was hardly at all. The damn bitch that had taken him here had done her homework, tying him up in metals bands so he couldn't move…could draw anything. At best, he could make slight imprints on the padded floor, which didn't lend itself to drawing anyway.
He went over and over in his head exactly how this had all gone so wrong. The beginning had been fine…making Galatea, experimenting. But he was willing to admit that he might have gone overboard with the bank robbery. And yea, the mint thing had been stupid. Not because it was somehow wrong or anything like that. Mainly because Lee hadn't thought things through.
Next time though…
Thoughts were interrupted when the sounds of screams echoed from behind the cell door. Lee perked up, listening carefully as cries of pain pierced the air, causing him to shiver. A boom silenced the screams, leaving only a dreaded stillness to the area…which was cut short when the cell door was ripped from its hinges.
Lee's eyes nearly popped out of his head as he took in Galatea. Dressed in a heavy coat, jeans and combat boots, she was a strange and welcomed sight.
"Thank god." Lee said with a grin, watching as Galatea approached him. "About time you got here…now, get these stupid restraints off me…"
His words turned to gurgled when Galatea's hand wrapped around his throat.
"I want to make some things very clear." The woman said in a voice that screamed, "I'm-not-Galatea!". Infact, had a young boy named Micah been there, he would have informed Lee just how different this person was from Galatea. "I don't like you. You are like every man I have ever dealt with. You destroy everything you touch, make pretty things into broken shells. If I crushed your windpipe, I would be doing all of womankind a favor…" She let her hand relax after a moment. "But luckily for you, my little sister has a crush on you, so I only get to boss you around." Her hand snaked back towards him, grabbing his chin and forcing him to look at her. "I am in charge. You do what I say, and I won't have to break anything…got it?"
"Got it." Lee squeaked, Jessica throwing him aside, ripping off the restraints as he fell. She tapped her foot, waiting for him to hurry up and get up. He finally stood, rubbing his sore wrists, looking at her nervously. He wasn't in the mood to make her mad. Nodding, Jessica marched out of the door, throwing a clipboard at Lee, not turning back to see if he caught it. "Come on, we have work to do."
"Work?" Lee murmured. Jessica didn't say a word, marching towards a set of cells.
He did not like this new arrangement at all.
&&&
"They certainly have a strange choice in meeting places."
Claire crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not talking to you."
(Claire and Noah Bennet- FEO Swartz Toy Store)
Mr. Bennet frowned. "Come on Claire…if you won't talk to me…" He picked up a strange, yellow stuffed animal, waving it at her. "…will you talk to Pikablu?"
Claire's eyes slide murderously towards her father. "First off, despite what you might think, I am not 5. Second," she snatched the plushie from her father's hands, shaking it in his face, "this is Pikachu. If you are going be condescending, get the name right." She tossed the doll over her shoulder, before flipping her head away from him, hair smacking him in the face.
Bennet sighed. Every since Kelly had spilled the beans about Carter and Claire's connection, Noah had been unable to get her to talk to him without a snide comment. She had demanded that her father spill all the intel about her brother, and would not take no for an answer. So he had told the entire story: how Claire's mother had been raped when she was a teenager by a man named Ellis, the baby given up for adoption. 7 years later, Carter had been beaten by the head of the orphanage, resulting in his associate, Helena Daniels, removing him and taking him home. Now Carter Daniels, he had led an uninteresting life…until his powers had suddenly flared up, causing him to attack 3 men. The Company had decided to bring Carter in, for his own good…
'She took that news well.' Bennet thought with a groan, remembering the 5 minute screaming tantrum Claire had thrown over the idea that her brother had been turned over to the company. Claire had grown quiet when her father had informed her that Carter had managed to escape, along with his news editor, professor, and apparent mortal enemy.
The same three people they were waiting for.
"Pikachu?" Kelly asked with a smirk, catching the doll Claire had thrown. "Always was partial to Bulbasaur."
"What about Squirtle?" Linda asked.
Hank shook his head. "Big shock, the water controller likes Squirtle."
Claire managed a smile, holding out her hand. "Claire Bennet."
Hank took her offered hand, shaking it. "Hank Delpine. This is Kelly Raegan and Linda Frey." He couldn't help but grin as he looked at Claire. "You look so much like Carter…" he shook his head, jawing working slowly. "I wish he were here…he wanted to meet you so bad."
Claire nodded. "I…I wish I could have met him too."
Mr. Bennet cleared his throat. "This is all well and good…but I am assuming you called us for reasons other then shaking hands?"
Kelly frowned. "Who shoved the stick up your ass?" Bennet looked down at the short 22 year old, Kelly not back down. "I am a black woman from Flint…you really think you can scare me, white boy?"
"Ok, race relations aside…" Linda said, deciding to act as the only adult in the room. "…we have a lot to talk about." She motioned towards the exit. "We have a hotel room…we only ask for a few hours. Please…"
Mr. Bennet looked at the teacher before relenting. "Lead the way."
&&&
"Readthe guest list." Jessica said, grabbing one of the cell doors and ripping it from its hinges.
Lee glared at her, but did as he was told. "Sergei Aradiky. Russian American, lawyer. Taken in about 6 months ago…apparently his blood can harden when it hits the air, creating a nearly indestructible polymer."
Jessica gave the dark haired Russian a once over. He was good looking, in a rough sort of way, but good looks would not help them escape. "We're only taking people that can help us. And hard blood…"
Sergei raised his hands, finally free from the restraints the Company had put him in, and clenched them into fists. Three shallow cuts on each hand split open, firing off a total of 6 steel hard blood barbs.
"Does that answer your question?" He said stiltedly, rubbing his wrists.
"…Lee, the next cell?" Jessica said, leaving Sergei to watch on, slightly amused.
"Right…Tina Linderman…"
Jessica snarled. "Linderman." Before either man could react, Jessica tore through the door like paper, grabbing the dark haired woman that sat in her cell, ripping away the restraints that held her in place and slamming her into a wall. "I am so sick of the Lindermans."
"Welcome…to the club…" Tina gasped, hands going to Jessica's wrist. Tina's attacker was about to comment on how such actions could not save her, when Jessica felt the skin on her wrist begin to melt away. Screaming, she dropped Tina, who held out her palms, acid dripping from them.
"…her sweat is actually a highly dangerous corrosive that can eat through anything."
Tina nodded. "So next time you decide to jump to conclusions, don't." She growled in disgust, eyes locking on Jessica. "Now…let me guess…my dear ol' dad did something to you…used you, abused you, took everything you loved away?"
Jessica frowned. "Yes."
Sergei leaned towards Lee. "What are they talking about?"
"No clue, considering we never met a Linderman…but then again, I don't think that is my Galatea."
Tina continued on with her rant. "well guess what…my father's a jackass. He knocked up my mom, left her, never came to see me until a few months ago. And even then, the only reason he contacted me was because he wanted me to use my doctorine in child psychiatry to help him kidnap 2 kids and use them for his own twisted goals. When I tried to escape, I get locked up in this stupid place…" She wrinkled her nose. "Someone needs to punch a hole through his head…"
Jessica began to laugh at that. "Consider your wish granted…he's dead."
Tina stared at her for a moment, before letting out a sigh of relieve. "Good…real good…I'll want all the details when we get out of here. Gummi Bears and chocolate would be good props to go along with it."
Jessica snorted, before turning towards Lee. "These two will do. Lets go." She only got two steps when she noticed that Tina wasn't following her. "You want to hurry up? We have guards on their way."
But Tina shook her head. "Got to help a friend first…" She touched her hand to the celldoor, melting through the lock. Once it was reduced to goo, Tina shoved the door open, grinning as she finally came face to face with the woman she had spent the last night talking to through the air ducts. "Madrid Alverez, I presume?"
Madrid nodded, standing up quickly and grabbing Tina in a hug. "Thanks."
"Like I'd leave my new gal pal behind." She looked behind Madrid, grinning. "mmm, I like your ass." Madrid quickly let Tina go, the other woman laughing. "Come on, lets go."
Jessica frowned as Madrid and Tina began heading off. "The exit is this way."
"And my sister is this way." Madrid countered over her shoulder, turning a corner…
…and running smack into a guard.
"What the…" The guard stammered, startled by the girls' appearance.
Tina turned back towards Jessica. "We're going to have company!" She turned around, ready to slug the guard that was raising his gun at Madrid, but checked her punch when the man fell to his knees, clutching his head, screaming in agony. Behind him, Madrid and Tina stared at the newcomer, his hand held up and silver energy dancing around his fingers. Cradled in his left arm a little girl looked at them, a grin spreading on her face.
"MADDY!"
Madrid's body trembled. "Vally…" The young woman whispered in awe. "VALLY!" She cried out in happiness, then she over the guard, hurrying to Valencia and snatching her from the stranger's arms. "God Vally…how did you…"
Vally nuzzled her shoulder. "He saved me!" The little girl said. "He said mama and daddy sent him to save us…he's the Megatron."
"Metatron." He corrected.
Madrid locked eyes with stranger, still clutching her little sister to her. "Thank you, Metatron." She whispered.
Jessica, Lee and Sergei finally came to see what was going on, and when Jessica saw Carter, she instantly reverted back to Galatea. "Carter?"
"Galatea?" Carter slowly looked at the man beside her. "Let me guess…Lee?"
"Y-yea?" Lee asked, unsure what was going on.
"Nice to finally meet the man that killed me." Carter said, shoving Madrid and Vally behind him, hands glowing. Galatea instantly reverted to Jessica, ready to protect her other half's pet, while Sergei aimed his barbs at the newcomer's throat, ready to protect the two that had freed him. Tina was at Carter's side, acid dripping from her fingers, deciding to stand with the man, this Metatron, that had saved her new friend's sister.
No one said a word, staring each other.
A Mexican Standoff.
&&&
"…clones of the founding fathers?" Claire asked as they emerged from the toy store.
"I kid you not." Kelly said. "Carter took them all out though…"
"…and that's what killed him…his powers going out of control."
Hank nodded. "A sacrifice to an uncaring God." He muttered more to himself.
Claire ignored the comment, not wanting to get into a debate, and instead focused on Linda and Kelly. "So, tell me more about this mysterious smoke guy…"
&&&
"Ready BeeBee?"
"Ready Riker."
The man and woman nodded, hiding out of sight in the rented apartment, sniper scopes locking onto Claire's head as she left the toy store.
"Boom, ya rich &." BeeBee, pulling the trigger.
&&&
1. How do Carter's powers work? He shoots 'whammies' towards the person
he wants to manipulate, but Eden and Claire do not when she uses her
powers. Why is that?
There are two answers: The original answer, and the new, story answer.
The original reason he had whammies was to give the audience something visible to imagine. It is hard to imagine a distorted voice, but glowing hands? Also, Carter came first with powers, so you could ask, why doesn't Eden have energy?
The current reason, the story reason, ties in with his family. Carter was the last scion of the Gordon and Ellis line. The Ellis line is famous for manipulators. Carter's mother was a fire starter. As such, Carter's whammies are a reflection of his mother's genetics controlling his power.
Vally, the current last scion of the house of Ellis and Gordon, has glowing eyes like Carter sometimes has (the eyes come from Isaiah, who had the power of perfect telescopic vision. The glowing eyes mark Carter as the Heir of Isaiah. Interestingly…Linda Frey's eyes glow too…meaning that she is also somehow connected to Isaiah), and will one day have pink flames when activating her power.
2. If one of your characters could be chosen to be on Heroes: Origins,
who would it be and why? How would you condense his or her story to fit in an hour episode?
Carter would be the pick. It would start with Carter meeting Hank, attacking him with his powers. Next section would be Carter lamenting his powers, only to end up meeting with the company. The next would have Carter's escape, and meeting with Seth. The final 15 minutes would have Seth explaining Carter's family history, handing him a file. The last shot would be Carter and Kelly driving to California, the file open to reveal that Carter is Claire's brother.
3. Do you have a set date for when you plan to end Elsewhere, or do you
plan to keep it going as long as the series does?
Right now, even if the show is canceled, I know there will be a season 3 of Elsewhere. I could end it there, but I also have lots of ideas. New Eden still needs to be made.