HEROES Rebirth from the Ashes
Chapter twenty-five
Master of time and Space
THIS CHAPTER HAS BECOME THE LARGEST IN THE STORY SO FAR. SO MUCH HAPPENS IN IT! I HOPE YOU REALLY LIKE IT!
***IF YOU ENJOY THE STORY SO FAR – PLEASE WRITE A REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK***
Claire Bennet pulled at the harpoon in her chest as the Helicopter swept her into the air and away from the mansion. The harpoon had just skimmed her heart and pierced her lung, but she could feel the warmth of blood growing inside her chest. She screamed in a warbling voice and kicked at the air, as she soared higher into the morning sky. She swung her body left and right, trying to twist and grab the cable of the harpoon; but she was helpless. The cable was too far away and flopping around in the wind, she could not grab it. Hitler had captured her. She was desperate now; she had to try and escape. Her breath came in short raspy gasps as she could feel her lungs fill with blood from her heart. With each beat of her heart, she could feel her body loose its life blood and sink into cold death. She could heal; she would not truly die, but as long as the harpoon was lodged in her chest she would suffer and then her body would shut down. She craned her head back and shouted up at the helicopter in all her hatred and wrath. Hitler and the Pilot above ignored her as they watched something far below them near the surface. Claire watched as Hitler secured the harpoon launcher into a locking device beside his door to the aircraft and slid back into his seat. Something was happening. Was Peter here? Was she going to be saved? Claire twisted in the air and looked below her toward the mansion now so small, it looked like a child's toy.
She could see the burned and destroyed building and the small form of Tracy Straus kneeling in the grass at the edge of the grounds, near the stairs leading to the small private beach. Claire felt the moist touch of the dark storm clouds as she rose higher into the morning sky. Lightening and thundering shot across her from all directions. The very air seemed to crackle with energy. She could see the very ocean water itself shoot bolts of energy at the hull of the submarine. The waters in the cove tossed to and fro like an ocean storm. Small rubber rafts with the few men left from Hitler's fighting force struggled against the sea trying to make their way to the protection of the personal water craft. Then there was pure silence.
It was like all sound was sucked our of her ears. She could not hear the storm clouds or the thunder. The helicopter above made no noise as its engine struggled to ascend through the storm and escape. The waves and ocean were silent. She shook her head to clear her mind. Was she passing out? Was her body shutting down from the pain and stress of the harpoon through her chest? A Lightning bolt zipped past her with only inches to spare, but there was no sound. She looked back at the helicopter and could see Hitler pointing at the submarine and then at the horizon. The pilot nodded his head and turned the vehicle away from the submarine and toward the morning horizon sky. With each passing moment the engine got stronger. The helicopter flew faster. Soon the mansion and battle field disappeared into the dark clouds. The pilot finally brought the airship above the cloud line and into open sky, just as her ears began to hear sound once more.
Claire looked back, when suddenly from below the clouds she heard a tremendous explosion. An explosion that reminded her of the nuclear bomb tests her history teacher from high school showed through old movies to the class. A blast of hot air slammed against her and the aircraft. The dark clouds from the storm that had churned so violently moments before, burned away instantly as the blast of air caught the helicopters rotter-blades and lifted it above a growing yellow ball of destruction chasing after them. She watched in horror as the ball of flame and energy enveloped the mansion and the surrounding neighborhood as it expanded. The ball of fire encompassed the entire island and continued to grow. The mansion was gone. The Submarine was gone. Her friends, her father! The wall of energy chased the small helicopter through the sky. It was only inches away from her now. She struggled against the harpoon as the pilot far above pushed the engine and airship faster. They were now racing for their lives. Could she survive this? Could she live through the flames that now licked at her feet. She tried to curl her body into a ball, as she felt the cable begin to retract. They were pulling her put and into the helicopter! But it was too late! The flames enveloped her feet as the ball of energy expanded in all directions. The agony was unbearable as her shoes burned away and she could feel her feet and lower legs dissolve into ash, in the flames. Claire screamed a blood curtailing scream from horror from the incredible pain, then she fainted.
X-X-X
As the ball of flame and released power expanded to its maximum, the energy dissipated into a burst or thunder and a crackle of lightening that froze the engine of the Aircraft high in the sky above the dangling Claire. The Helicopter dropped out of the sky toward the waters below like a brick, as the Pilot struggling to get the engine started again. Hitler sat calmly in the passenger seat, as they fell out of the sky. He watched as the limp form of his prize fell beside them in the air, and for just a moment as she fell through the morning sky a ray of sunlight touched her face. She hair and face lit up like gold and fire. A halo effect glowed past her body with pinks, and oranges, and golds, She floated there like a goddess. Her arms and legs limp in the wind like she was sleeping on a bed of wind. He shook his head to clear his thoughts, and brought his attention back to the pilot and the falling helicopter.
The Pilot struggled with the controls as he watched the waters of the ocean draw nearer to them by the second. He was panicking as his hands covered in sweat from nerves and fear flew over the instruments trying to restart the engines. Hitler said to him in a calm voice despite the urgency of the situation, "Corporal please start the engines," Hitler commanded and punctuated his demand with pressing the barrel of his pistol into the temple of the pilot. "NOW!"
With hands flying over the controls, the pilot shut down all power to the engines, and then re-engaged the fuel while manually adjusted the intake valve. He pressed the starter once more as they were only feet from the ocean surface. The engine kicked on and the blades spun to life with a roar. He pulled back on the stick and pressed hard on the foot pedals to bring the aircraft level as it slammed into the ocean on its flotation struts, and bounced back up into the air. The Helicopter surged back into the air more than a dozen feet before the engines failed again and they fell back into the waters with a splash. They were alive. They has survived the yellow flames. The pilot let out a slow breath of air as he calmed his nerves, hearing a falling scream, and a splash far behind the craft in the ocean waters.
"Bring in the girl, and then take us to head quarters." Hitler ordered as he adjusted his seat and stared out the front window of the aircraft, showing no signs of the trauma affecting him. "Aye, sir. Hail Hitler, sir!" the pilot raddled off as he climbed into the back loading area of the Helicopter. What had hit them? Could he fix the ship and get them back into the air?" He took a look back at the man in the passenger seat, "nope, best not to fail. Yep, best not to fail."
Hand of over hand the pilot reeled in the unconscious girl from the ocean waters. He looked around in all directions and could not see land. They had had a bumpy ride, but covered many miles before they crashed. Claire Bennet's body bumped against the helicopter. She was face down in the water, and not moving. The harpoon stuck out her back, with the cable attached and draped into his hands. The pilot stepped down onto the floating strut of the aircraft and grabbed the end of the harpoon with his gloved hand and with a firm twist released the cable from the shaft. The cable dropped into the waters beside the unconscious girl as he used his foot and rolled her over onto her back. The blade and barbs of the harpoon lifted out of the water as he rolled her over. Blood covered her body and the harpoon. He held his balance on the edge of the helicopter and with a swift pull, yanked the harpoon through her body and tossed it away into the ocean waters.
He squatted on his heels and grabbed a handful of golden hair and tugged her out of the water and into his arms. She was small and light. She weighed less than he expected as he grabbed her around the waist and tossed her with a loud flop onto the floor of the craft behind him. "Hmmm," he thought out loud to himself, "she's got no shoes on…" He could see her pant legs were burned away, up to the knees. Her lower legs and feet looked clean and smooth like new baby skin.
"Interesting!" the Pilot whispered to him self as he turned to climb back into the Helicopter when something grabbed his ankle from the waters of the sea. "Ahhh!" he called out in surprise. Swiftly he turned drawing his sidearm and shot into what ever was grabbing his leg. "What are you doing?" Hitler called from the cockpit. "Something grabbed me, sir" the pilot yelled back as he turned the body of a man over in the water. "It's Captain Mitchel, sir."
"Is he alive?" Hitler wondered as he unbuckled his safety belt and climbed over the center control section of the helicopter and joined the pilot in the rear of the aircraft. "I am not sure sir, I just shot him." the pilot confessed sheepishly, "three times!"
Hitler pulled off his right leather glove and reached down pressing two fingers into the neck of the man before him, "There still is a pulse." He hovered his palm over the Captains open mouth and could feel a weak breath, "and he is still breathing." Hitler growled at the pilot, "barely!" He stood back to his full height, straightening his uniform as he stood. "Pull him in Corporal, and get us back to base quickly. The Captain will need medical attention!" Hitler demanded. Captain Leslie Mitchell was extremely important to his over all plans. Praise the winds of fortune that he would survive. He must have been caught in the same updraft of air they were. Captain Mitchell was his oldest, and most loyal servant, and the closet he had to a friend.
"Aye, Sir" The Pilot mumbled as he looked at the semi-unconscious Captain, "Where do I grab the guy?" He mumbled to himself, "I'm sorry Captain Mitchel, but…"The Corporal looked away in shame as he grabbed for the Captain to pull him into the aircraft, "You got no clothes on!"
X-X-X
Angela Petrelli watched from the North wing of the mansion as her grand daughter was whisked off into the morning sky. All their sacrifice, all their struggles could not end in such a desperate situation. Where was Peter? Where was Gabriel? Her anger fueled her clarity of mind. The storm. The lightening. The power drain of the mansion. Something was on that submarine. Something, or someone. Was Peter in trouble? She thought back to a few years ago when Peter had revealed to her that he was the source of the explosion that would flatten New York City. He would loose control of his powers. She believed him, but she had nefarious motives at that time to allow the explosion. She had known of the pending doom months before and had carefully crafted, orchestrated a series of events that would bring about a new world. A world where she would be the mother of the President of the United States. She would have power and the ability to fashion the world in a new image.
She would rebuild the world into a better place. One where good people would have abilities and gifts to see their dreams come true, and evil people would be shut away, or disposed of. She would be the queen bee and all would heed to her wisdom and guidance. That seemed to be a lifetime ago in her past. But when she lost her son Nathan, something broke deep inside her. Her lust for power and control seemed to pail in comparison to the need for her family that the love; yes the love of her one remaining son towards her.
She had always babied Peter. His older brother growing up had called him a Mama's boy. And Peter wanting to be a Nurse had not helped as they grew older. She made sure he wanted of nothing materially, through his childhood and early adult life. But she never could bring herself to really love him. She loved the idea of him as her son. She had loved the luxury of having a bonus son. But Nathan was her pride, he had been her joy. Nathan had followed her to the ends of morality and beyond. He truly had been his mother's boy. Peter was always too moral. He was too righteous and rigid in his convictions of right and wrong. She was unable to lead him into her planned future openly; she had to lead him through mirrors and smoke.
But in the last several weeks, since her abduction and being forced into the accomplice to murder of many thousands. Having her grand children and daughter-in-law from Nathan executed without mercy. Watching everything she had built and cared for being torn down, and away from her day by day through the power and hatred of one evil man; something began to grow deep inside her. As her hard shell cracked and peeled away painfully she learned how to truly love. Hitler was like her. He was a mirror into her very soul. His lust for power haunted her mind. He wanted what she had desired so eagerly. But being on the receiving side of that push for conquest, her eyes were finally opened. All that mattered now to her was Claire, and Peter. Power was hollow, wealth fragile, family was more valuable than both to her now.
The only one she could imagine that would have the ability to create a storm of nature, with such incredible magnitude would be Peter. He and Gabriel had said they were going hunting. They were hunting Hitler. She knew that even as they left, though they said nothing. Would they have been so successful to make it on the submarine? Yes, she believed in Peter. He had become to her more than just her son. He was her superior in every way. He was her champion, her hero, her savior.
If they were on the submarine, and it was Peter that was causing the blackout, the thundering, the lightening, the very rumbling of the earth; something bad was happening? The last time she could think of anything similar, was that night in New York City where Peter could not contain the energy from all the powers he absorbed, by too many specials being in one place. If Peter lost control, or what if it was Gabriel? "RUN!" a voice yelled out in her head. Her mind locked on to the command.
Angela turned and ran, tears flowed from her eyes. Her legs filled with adrenaline, carried her through the rubble of the third floor. Her heart beat like a marathon athlete, desperation for survival spurred her on. She had only one place she would be safe. The tunnels below the house. She slid to a stop by the elevator and dove in as she heard an explosion that shook the house and earth below it. The elevator car snapped free from its cable and plunged into the darkness of the shaft below. Angela held on as the darkness surrounded her. Then came the fire.
X-X-X
Tracy Straus watched as the helicopter lifted into the morning sky beyond the clouds and her view. With anguish and a broken heart she collapsed her head into her hands. They had tried so hard. She had failed. Claire had only been inches away from her grasp. If she had just been a second faster. Her heart felt like it was going to burst in her chest. What would she say to Noah? How could she face him after failing to save Claire? Could she face him? Peter how could you leave us to fight alone? How could you abandon us in our greatest time of need? She threw her head back and screamed with all her anguish and sorrow. Tears rolled from her eyes as all the emotions and turmoil of the weeks leading to this day rolled out and gushed through her mind. Despite the trials of the weeks since she was brought into the fight by Noah and Molly, she actually was beginning to enjoy the closeness of the group. She was feeling like she finally had a family.
She never knew her parents, being raised in a group home as a ward of the state. It wasn't until much later in life after carving a living out of political favors and frivolity, that she started to wonder if she would ever be able to have a family of her own. She was called the ice woman in the political circles as she would not let her emotions cloud her actions and her path to her goal. She was a hidden woman. She had been a gift, and or a weapon from one politician to another depending the situation. She had been used to garner votes or favors. She had also destroyed many careers with just one nights work. She hated her life. After discovering her abilities she had tried to return to her old life, and it no longer fit. Like trying to sit in her first grade desk, or last years bathing suit. It was no longer who she was.
She ran from that life. Noah had helped her. He had created a whole new identity for her. Tracy Straus had officially died that night in the parking garage. She was reformed into a different woman. She remembered sitting across from the small table in a fly specked diner from Noah Bennet. He had slid an envelope across the table to her. "Inside you will find a bus ticket, a new passport, drivers license, social security card, and birth certificate." He had waited patiently as she opened the envelope and fingered through the contents. "There is also 10,000 dollars for a new start. It was all I could afford, without anyone asking questions."
"No one is going to know where I am?" She had asked. "What if I don't use the bus ticket?" Tracy had put the money in her wallet and the envelope in her purse. "What if I don't trust you, and I just disappear?"
Noah had waited as the waitress filled their coffee cups and placed their ordered meals on the table before them. "No one knows you are alive. You are safe. Go live your life. Get married, have children. Grow old, but stay off the radar. AS long as you don't do anything stupid, no one will question anything and you will be just fine."
Tracy thought back to the table, to that meal. She hated Noah so much then. He had taken everything away from her. Her entire life reduced to a single envelope of some false documents and $10,000. She wanted to hurt him, kill him, but she needed him. He was the only one that could help her. He had been a real hero, and now she had failed him. She had let Claire slip through her fingers.
Tracy snapped out of her thoughts as the ground began to quake. The earth beneath her shook and groaned as her eyes looked to the waters of the cove. The Submarine had cracks in the hull. A bright light flashed through the cracks and seemed to push the sides of the submarine out in all directions. Her eyes opened wide in fear, as the submarine exploded in a massive yellow orb of fire, flame, and unharnessed energy. Tracy liquified and dug deep into the ground. She could feel the heat above her. Her body began to steam. She was burning up. She had to dig deeper. It was so hot, she was dieing. She was not going to survive this. She felt her existence breaking apart. Her mind was fading as she molded around a sprinkler pipe, it had a crack in it from the earthquake. Water! She squeezed in and merged with the water of the pipe, just as she blacked out.
X-X-X
Alfred rushed across the room as the earth began to quake. The ceiling above him cracked and cement mixed with dirt rained down upon him and the wailing young Noah he had tucked in his arms. The ground shook violently and he crashed to his knees. It had been only a few minutes since he lost contact with the group on the surface. Now it seemed that the entire place was tumbling to the ground. His bunker was going to be his grave if he did not move fast. As his knees slammed into the concrete floor he rolled on to his back and shoulder in a half somersault and back to his feet in a full sprint. The Elevator would be offline and not functioning. It would also be a death trap in the earthquake. Beside the elevator was an alcove fitted with a single brass pole. Master Peter's favorite superhero had been Superman. He had collected over the years every edition and stored them perfect in mint condition in a vault below Grand Central Station in New York City. His second favorite had been Batman. Thus in this bunker of a cave he had not lost the irony of Master Peter installing a Pole to descend into the tunnel that Hans had built beside the transport platform. The room shifted and moaned as the ceiling collapsed. The water pipes above his head ruptured and burst.
The ceiling at the center of the room caved in as water splashed and rained over the destruction. Little Noah screamed with fear. He was unhurt. But the earthquake and bombings made him scared. He wanted his Claire. He wanted his mother. Alfred reached out for the pole and lifted his foot to slide down the pole when a ear splitting cry of pain filled the room behind him. Before his eyes the water solidified and a form of a woman tumbled through the rubble and laid amongst the mud and water. Steam lifted from her bare skin. Her clothes were burned and mostly rags. Her blond hair cascaded over her face as she pulled her legs and body into a fetal position. "Tracy!" Alfred gasped. She was alive. He could hear the ceiling groan. he had only seconds. Should he abandon the woman and save himself and the child? With a jump he held the child with one arm and reached out with his free hand. His fingers closed around a handful of golden hair. He heard the ceiling give way as the floor cracked under his feet.
With all his strength he pulled and with milometers to spare the three tumbled through the archway and down the shaft. The Brass pole beside them. Alfred held little Noah close as he fell. They would fall fifty feet to the rock floor below. They has about 5 seconds before they hit bottom. He closed his eyes and whispered a prayer of fair well and then his head hit the brass pole and all faded into black.
X-X-X
Noah Bennet yelled anguish as he helplessly watched his baby girl drug through the grass and into the air by the helicopter. He dropped his machine gun and grabbed a grenade launcher and from the hip tried to aim it at the aircraft. He had to save his daughter! He had to save Claire. "Claire Bear!" he called out as he shot the first grenade into the air across the lawn at the helicopter. The grenade missed and exploding in the trees beyond, while the helicopter continued to gained altitude. Noah cursed under his breath and through gritted teeth as he loaded another grenade. Noah lifted his weapon and sighted down the barrel, but dropped his hands in defeat as the helicopter faded into the clouds and out of range. The soldiers below ran for the submarine as the ground and the remains of the mansion shook violently with an incredible earthquake. Noah held his balance as young Hiro and Molly huddled together for protection.
Molly was desperate. She had held herself together through out the battle, but with the loss of Claire and the fleeing of the soldiers she lost her composure and began to cry. Tears rolled down her small face, as her emotions overwhelmed her young soul. They were going to live. Angela had been wrong. They had not died. Her heart ached for Claire. They had to go get her. They couldn't let this be the end of the story. She was like a sister, aunt, and best friend rolled into one. She watched Noah's shoulders as they dropped in a broken heart. They had tried with all they had. They had fought back, they had killed in war, but they still lost.
Molly's breath came in short gasps in between tears and shakes of overwhelming emotions as she walked slowly across the room and gently reached her small arms around Noah Bennet's waste. She held him tight and finally her tears flowed with inhibition. Noah started off into the clouds, watching for any sign of his Claire, but she was gone. Molly stepped back as Noah lowered himself to the floor and sat down. His face was covered in grime and blood. One eye was blood shot and he had a long gash across his left cheek. His face hung in resignation of the reality around him. He was deep in thought and sorrow. Molly stood before him and took his face in her small child sized hands and lowered him to her shoulder and just held him close. Noah Bennet was a man she feared with awe and reverence. He was a giant in her world. He could do anything he set his mind too. She prayed one day she would have a father like him that would love her like he did Claire. They had to save Claire!
Hiro stood by the window and watched the soldiers run toward the staircase that led to the beach and the cove below. They had won! The ground heaved and swayed under the earthquake. He and turned and saw Molly and Noah. For a moment his heart hurt. Both his parents were dead. His mother had passed years ago when he was a small child. His father had been murdered. He was alone! His only family alive was his sister and she was thousands of miles away in Japan. He wiped away a tear from his dust covered face as the room was hit by a blast of burning hot exhaust. The room burst into flame as Hiro was knocked back on top of Molly. They tumbled away from Noah Bennet as he stood to his feet and covered his eyes against the burning air, then with a gust he was tossed through the air, and crashed against the door on the far side of the nursery.
Molly screamed as she and Hiro saw a golden ball of fire head their way. The ball of fire was traveling faster that they could comprehend. It was swallowing everything in its path. Molly closed her eyes and buried her face into Hiro's arms. Angela was right they would all die today after all! Hiro placed a protecting arm around Molly and in pure power of resolve and determination, lifted his arm up with his palm out like Superman. "NO!" he yelled and all time froze.
Molly opened her eyes at the sound of Hiro's voice, was he angry at her? She and looked around in wonder; Noah Bennet was frozen in the air just past them near the doorway of the nursery. He was frozen in time against the doorway. Frozen flames licked the walls and the furniture of the room. It was like the room was on the verge of spontaneous combustion. The room was so bright Molly had to lift her arm to shield her eyes. Hiro let go of her and walked to the front of the room. Before him was a wall of golden yellow energy. The submarine was gone. The ocean was gone. The lawn was gone, even the front wall of the mansion was enveloped with the wall of flame and power. The wall crackled with lightening and seemed alive even in its frozen state. Everything was gone! They would be consumed with fire if he restated time.
"Wow, so this is what its like!" Molly's voice called out from behind him. Hiro suddenly remembered that she was stuck in frozen time too; and turned back to her, "I knew it! Your powers are back. I could feel it earlier today!" Molly clapped her hands together in jubilation, "Now You can go back in time and make everything right again." she ran to Hiro and threw her arms around him in a big hug. She rested her head on his should for just a moment, "you can save us all." Hiro stood there his arms at his side, stunned. Molly stepped back and looked into his eyes. "What? Hiro talk to me!" she lifted her arms into the air and twirled around in glee for just a moment, "we have all the time in the world."
"Molly, I can't change the past. I have tried. Every time I try God, or fate, or time itself always finds a way to correct my changes and put things back the way it happened. I can only make changes to the present or the future." Molly stared at Hiro, she had not expected that answer "Snot, boogers, scabs and band aides!" Molly exclaimed as she stomped her feet in frustration. "Are you telling me that we can't go back in time and make everything better? Can't we at least try? It might be the only way to save Claire! What about Mohinder and Matt Parkman, we have to bring them back!"
Hiro reached out and drew Molly back into a hug. This time Molly cried on his shoulder. She would never see Mohinder or Matt Parkman again. Her heart hurt as Hiro held her tight "The last time I tried, it got worse not better. Something about a butterfly; I'll explain it to you later. Right now we need to get somewhere safe." Molly lifted her head as she heard a low hissing sound, "Why? aren't we safe now?". Hiro pointed at the edge of the flaming wall, she squinted her eyes to see through the brightness of the wall of flame and could see the edge the wall of energy was not frozen, and was moving slowly through the room towards them. As they had been talking the room was now half burned away. "Time is not frozen, only slowed way down. My powers are not back, only starting to bloom,"
Molly's eyes grew wide with fear, "What do we do?"
Hiro spun Molly toward the hallway, "I have an idea, give me a hand with Mr Bennet. Hurry Molly, time is running out!"
X-X-X
Claire Bennet awoke to the deceleration thrumming of the Helicopters blades slowing their spin and slice through the air. She held her breath and did not move. She listened intently. Where was she? She was in a Helicopter. Was it the same one that stolen her away? Was Hitler in the airship with her? There was no talking and no movement of the aircraft. They had landed somewhere. Where they at their destination or were they still on the water? She took a long single slow and shallow breath, hoping that now one would see her move. She could smell the sea, but it seemed far away. Was she close to the water? Was she near the ocean or a large lake? With careful intent she opened one eye to look around. All she could see without moving her head was the backs of the pilot's chair. She closed her eyes tight once more as she heard boots grind on gravel behind her. "Take the girl to the scientists and prepare the procedure. I want to be ready before sunset. Take the Captain to the infirmary. When the Captain is back on his feet send him to me at once." Claire's spine squirmed at the sound of Hitler giving commands. His voice would forever be etched into her memory.
Claire could feel rope around her bare legs and wrists. She had to get away, but with her wrists and ankles bound, she knew she would have to try something more covert. Rough hands grabbed her and pulled her from the aircraft. She played limp as the soldier draped her over his shoulder with her hands and face hanging against his back. With sudden movements that startled the man she turned on her hip and struck out with her knees into the mans face and heard his nose crack. As the man fell to the ground Claire rolled away and with her cheerleader gymnastics placed her bounds hands on the ground and sprung at another soldier feet first.
Claire's feet struck the man in the center of the chest and the pair hit the ground with a grunt. As her weight pushed against her restraints of her ankles the rope snapped and she ran at full speed toward a grove of trees. "Grab her!" a man yelled as she ran. Three soldiers chased after her drawing their weapons and opened fire. Bullets ripped through her flesh, but it did not stop her. Her legs pumped harder as a military jeep ground to a haul in her path. With nimbleness from years of practice and the benefit of her size, she launched her self over the hood of the jeep and grabbed the windshield with her bound hands to stop her in mid-air. The force of her jump combined with her weight, swung her legs around and with full connection struck the driver of the jeep in the face with her feet. The man's head snapped back and his eyes closed in unconsciousness. Claire swung into the drivers seat and shoved the man out and to the ground. She bent over and turned the key with her wrists tied together, but the jeep had stalled and the engine would not turn over. Soldiers ran from all directions and surrounded the jeep. She was not going to be turned into a miracle potion for a mad man. She dug at the ropes around her wrist with her teeth, and broke the bindings quickly. As she spat out rope fibers from her mouth, she noticed a shot gun laying on the floor board of the jeep, and grabbed it with a fast reach of her arm.
One soldier stepped in to distract her, she fell for the deception and lifted her shot gun to take aim. Just as a second soldier grabbed her around the shoulders from behind. He wrapped his arms around her arms and forced her to drop the weapon, but Claire was not giving up. She threw her head back into the soldier's face and she felt his nose crunch. She spread her fingers and with her fingernails ready jabbed at the mans groin. The man hollowed in pain as she pulled from his grasp and jumped over the man and to the ground beyond the jeep. Another man faked a grab at her and she turned toward him as a soldier grabbed her around the waist and squeezed. She could feel the breath in her lungs escape, and her head began to swoon. With all her strength, she swung her elbows left and right into the man's ears and face and felt something crush under her force. The man dropped her and she stepped under his uplifted arms and grabbing the soldier by the uniform swung her knee into his face twice and pushed him the ground, out of her way. She smiled at the men still surrounding her, "come on boys, show me what you've got." Three soldiers surrounded her and a forth, looking very much in charge stood off to the side with his arms crossed watching the events play out.
One soldier drew a small club, and rushed in swinging at her face. She lifted her arm and blocked the blow. She could feel her fore-arm break under the blow. The man was too strong for her to withstand; but she would heal. She dropped to her left knee with her right leg stretch out for balance and with her right fist punched the man with all her force in the groin. A Second soldier rushed at her from behind and she rolled away and grabbed the first man's club with grace and smoothness from hours of practice with her father. She swung the club at the rushing soldier just at the base of the rib cage and the man stopped dead in his tracks. She then swung backwards and connected with his temple, dropping the man in a heap at her feet.
She turned just barely in time as the last soldier rushed at her. His knife held low and ready. The blade of the knife pierced her chest like warm butter. The pain was excruciating as she fell backwards to the ground. The soldier fell with her as she ignored the pain and crossed her legs around the man's neck. As she hit the ground she twisted her hips and smiled as she heard a loud crack as the hit they dirt. The man was dead before he knew what hit him.
Claire Bennet rolled free from the man and back to her feet, pulling the long knife from her chest and swung around to face the soldier in charge. The soldier drew his gun and shot Claire in the face. The bullet cracked her cheek bone and tore out her skin behind her left ear. She smiled a lopsided smile and threw the large knife at him, "That hurt!" the knife struck the soldier in the chest in the center of his right lung; dropping the man to the ground. The soldier was still alive as she straddled him and with her bare fists pounded on his face. The soldier covered his face and head with his arms, as Claire wailed on the man with her bare hands. "You will not take me alive!" Claire yelled. "I will not be turned into a lab rat! You will not…" Claire fell to the ground her eyes staring off into space; her body convulsing with small charges of electricity jumping all over her small frame.
Hilter stood beside Claire with a stun stick in his hand, and waited calmly as the lieutenant commander now bloody and holding the knife in his chest, painfully got back to his feet. Hitler with out saying a word, handed the stun stick to the soldier, and walked away, "Hail Hitler!" the man saluted with great pain. He looked at the setting of the stun stick and adjusted the stun setting to full power, just to be safe.
X-X-X
A man stood up out of the waters and waded through the waves of the island cove. His bare feet stepped out of the waters and walked across the sandy shore of the beach. The small pebbled sandy of the beach sizzled with steam as he walked slowly across the shoreline. The water from his body rose in wefts of steam enshrouding him with a white mist the caught the golden rays of light from the sun. There was no life on the beach, as if a huge flame had burned it all away. Rocks, dirt, and empty space, was as far as the man could see. The sand itself was black from an intense heat. As he put his weight down he could hear a cracking sound as if glass was breaking under his toes.
The man did not know where he was. His memory was clouded and vague. He knew this was an important place for him, as if his life depended on his reaching this island. He had a gnawing feeling he should be looking for something; someone on this island he was to find and protect at all costs. The world looked like an alien planet; no grass, brush, trees, or other signs of life of any kind. The man grabbed at the soil of the bluff and with hands and feet crawled up the side of the plateau that overlooked the ocean and cove behind him. The long climb was rewarded as his fingers reached the crest of the bluff. The man lifted one of his long legs and hoisted his body over the edge and stood to his feet; before his eyes was an expansive island where all life was burned away; everywhere he looked it was bare rock and dirt. The man stood at the edge of the crest of the plateau. Something important to him had been here. The earth was scorched in all directions. Stone foundations remained of a massive house in the center of the island. amongst the foundation stone a large metal room sat at an odd angle that suggested it had been dropped there from a great height.
The metal box was larger than a box car from a train, lying on is side where it must have dug into the ground as it fell. The outside of the box was burned and melted. Black soot covered the surface and steam flowed from the box and its heat. The man looked around and could see steam rising everywhere he could see. He rushed to the box placed his hand on the side of it. The outside of the box was incredibly hot, like it was the surface of mercury having just circled he sun. He banged on the box to see if anything or anyone would respond. He banged again, "Any one in there? Can you hear me?" but there was no response. The man walked around the box slowly looking for a door or window. Maybe if there was anyone that was inside the box, they had escaped. On the far side of the box, he found a large door. It was sealed and he saw no finger prints in the soot to show any signs of someone from the outside trying to get in.
The man picked up a rock from the ground, it burned his hand but he ignored it as he pounded on the side of the box. His intuition told him something was inside. He had to help. He couldn't let them die. Them? He thought. Could there be several survivors in the box? He pounded harder. The metal of the box began to dent in as he banged harder and harder. He stopped, holding the rock above his head. Did her hear something inside? He placed his ear to the side of the box, ignoring the sizzling sensation of his skin. There was a tapping coming from inside the box. Some one was inside.
The man grabbed the handle of the large door and began to pull. His hands turned red from the heat, but he would not, could not let go. His body glistened now covered in sweat as he put all he had in opening the door. The lock was released, but the door was stuck. He pulled and pulled until he heard a crunch and the door slowly opened. It opened a few inches and then he had to take a break. He was exhausted. He leaned over and called into the box, "are you alright? Is everyone okay?"
A slim small hand covered in dirt, blood, and sweat snaked out through the small opening and grabbed his wrist. "Help us, Help us please!" The man took the small hand and cupped it in his own. Somehow he was no longer tired, he was needed, people needed him and a child was in danger. "I will get you out!" the man grabbed once more at the door. He placed his feet on the side of the box and pushed with all he had. The metal crunched and buckled under his efforts. The metal cracked and finally the door opened. He felt a gust of hot air escape from the large box.
The man fell to the ground, his energy spent with the door now open more than a foot. He landing in the dirt face down. He lay there for a few moments before he could muster the strength to turn over and sit up. "Help me please Mr. Bennet and Hiro won't wake up!" The man turned his head and looked to the sound of the young voice. A girl stood in the doorway her face a picture of pleading. She looked to be about 12 or 13 years old. Her brownish blond hair hung around her face as if she had been in a sauna. "Gabriel, help me please!" Gabriel, Gabriel...yes at the sound of his name the man's head filled with memory. He was Gabriel, she was Molly. They were family. They had to protect Claire. He needed to help Noah Bennet. He jumped to his feet and rushed to the young girls side. He opened his arms wide to greet her with a warm embrace. She was his family! She needed him. She could fill in the missing pieces. Molly lifted one hand and pressed it against his chest and stopped him from giving her a hug. She had her eyes closed firmly. She turned her face away slightly, while her other hand held out a large green blanket toward Gabriel, "Put this on first, you're naked."
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