"It is a call we all feel, at some point. The urge to leave behind the familiar, to move on to the fantastic. Or perhaps, it is the hope of abandoning the darkness of unwanted situation, and find the light at the end of the tunnel. For what ever the reason, there is but one hope…that what we travel to is worth journey."
-Mohinder Suresh
"Are we dead yet?"
"No."
"Are we dead yet?"
"No."
"Are we dead yet?"
"No!"
"Are we…"
Galatea turned around, glaring at Tina, the woman chattering her teeth hard "We'll tell you when we're dead, ok?"
"…okay." Tina said sullenly.
(The Fugitives-The Alaskan Plains)
Lee chuckled to himself, but grew silent when Galatea glared at him. He would rather focus on driving the sled then deal with his creation's new found temper.
After Tina had stopped cursing, the group had quickly decided they needed to get a move on, as fast as possible. No one was for sure how long Carter's blast would hold off the guards, and none really wanted to find out. Unwilling to head back inside and find where their captors kept the snow mobiles, Lee had stepped up, drawing on the side of the building with one of Sergei's barbs and the artist's own blood as paint. In 5 minutes, he had managed to bring his creation to life: 10 large sled dogs that could live off of just snow; with bones growing out of their backs and forming a large sled.
It had been Madrid, cradling a shivering Vally, who had pointed out that they were all (save Carter) in thin cloth outfits and were going to be riding in an open sleigh in the middle of November in Alaska. Lee had quickly drawn up crudely made living mink blankets, which helped cut down on the wind chill, but not enough.
Even the minks were hiding their heads beneath their warm underbellies.
Infact, the only person that was having a good time was Vally. She was hiding under one of the blankets, sitting between Madrid's legs, giggling as the mink licked her hands, Carter's leather coat wrapped tightly around her little form.
Carter sat next to Lee, helping the other man guide the sleigh, cold but handling it real well. The group was trying to share body heat, the girls in the back, the guys in front, acting as windshields. Sergei sat on the other side, holding the blanket as tight as he could.
"My father, he spoke of such winters back in Russia. Never understood what he meant until now." The Russian said. He glanced over at Carter, who wore little more then a shredded shirt and a mink blanket around his shoulders that billowed like a cape. "You seem to handling the weather better then the rest of us. What is your secret, Mr. Metatron?"
Carter smirked. "I'm from Michigan."
"oh…my condolences." Sergei replied.
Carter frowned, confused, while Lee laughed.
&&&
"What does it say?"
(Anthony Delpine-New York City)
Ashleigh Delpine looked over the folder, then at her father. "They'll make a recovery…why we care, I don't understand." In a move that should have been possible, Ashleigh both stood up and remained seated; dividing in two, the standing 'drone' moved to replace the folder and gather other items the main Ashleigh desired. "They tried to kill Hank."
"You think I don't know that?" Anthony asked, raising an eyebrow. "You believe me so old and stupid that I don't see when 2 people try to murder my grandson?"
Ashleigh rolled her eyes, stylish black heeled boots swaying in front of her as she perched on the desk, one hand moving to play with the pendent around her throat. Shaped like a trumpet, upon it was written "9:13". "I'm just commenting, dad, just commenting."
Anthony nodded, motioning with his hand towards her as her clone returned, merging back with her. "The file…what did it say?"
"The boy, Riker, he'll recover. Transfusion in place…if it weren't for his power, he'd be dead. Skin would have ripped right off."
"And what of the normal examinations?"
Ashleigh nodded, recalling the info. "The girl, BeeBee, is the only one with any serious problems. Our cat scan showed she suffered some sort of trauma years ago. We had a med guy run some tests," Ashleigh licked her lips, "they showed she has a slight chemical imbalance, causes her increased aggression and anger. Maybe even a totally different personality then before the accident. Nothing we can't manage."
"Good." Anthony said. "Very good. I need them both for this to work."
"And what are you planning, dad?" Ashleigh asked.
"Daniel Linderman is dead. The Company is in shambles. Noah Bennet is in hiding, Helena Daniels is off the radar. The perfect time to strike." He turned to his daughter. "I need you to make a one of your General Clones, instruct it to watch over BeeBee and Riker."
"As they do what?"
"I need them to get into Linderman's office and get me some information…"
"I could do that." Another voice added in, long silent during the conversation.
Anthony frowned. "I prefer stealth to this mission, Merrick."
Merrick Delpine glared, fingers twitching slightly. He was dressed in a tight muscle shirt, black pants, and combat boots. His long brown hair was done up in a ponytail, dyed to hide the gray streaks that were beginning to show. Around Merrick's neck hung a pendent like Ashleigh's. But upon his trumpet was inscribed "8:7"
"Why bother with stealth?" Merrick asked snidely. "Smash and grab, dad…smash and grab."
"We can't afford to hurt the humans…"
"Let'em be hurt." Merrick stated. "Gods don't worry about insects."
Ashleigh scoffed. "It because of that thinking we have to be so careful. We'll have half of the Alliance after us after they find out what you did to Lord William."
"Let them come…the other half will stand by us…and if they don't." His finger twitched. "I'll just crush'em."
Anthony had lost all patience. "ENOUGH!" He shook his head. "While you go about destroying this and that, we live in ever fear of the prophecy!"
Merrick laughed. "The prophecy? It has been proven false." He recited it off the top of his head. "There shall come, from the land of the fire starters the Heir of Isaiah. He shall find, from the land of the sun the Guardian and the light-bringer. When three together, from night to day, they find the hunted children. And beneath the flesh of giving Earth, Eden will rise again." He sneered. "The Heir of Isaiah is dead, father, or have you forgotten? Only two male heirs were born to Edward Ellis: Terrence and Carter. Only Daniels fits the prophecy, and he died saving Philadelphia from himself. Gabriel is not the heir, for the heir's father must be of the line, not the mother, and the rest of Edward's progeny are daughters."Anthony shook his head. "And what of the other prophesy; the one speaking of our downfall?" He too recited this from memory: "From the pines will come first a son. Down his forefathers' path he will travel, of his own will and conviction. Time will provide his new path, and the son will leave the forest and join with other believers. The sins of the father will not past to the son, for he will tear down the old land and a new house shall he build.
"From the pines will come second a lion. Wild and dangerous to all, he will find purpose through god's voice. While in the shadows, the forest will not fear him. But when the light pierces the past, and the hidden roslyn found, woe be unto the pine from which his sire split free." Anthony stared his son down. "The pines is us…and we know who the son could be."
"More children's fairytales." Merrick said simply. He shook his head in disgust, making for the door. "Do what you wish, father. But soon you will come to me…and you will see that my way is best."
Ashleigh jumped slightly when her brother slammed the door shut. "He will cool down, father…he always does."
Anthony frowned. "The loss of his child stings him still. Hank will come unto his powers soon, and your brother longs to be their to guide him. Let us thank God that Carter Daniels is dead…" He shook away the dark thoughts. "But now is not the time for this. Go, prepare your General. I will see that BeeBee and Riker are ready when she is."
&&&
"So…that was fun." Claire said sarcastically.
"Why is it our trips always end like this?" Kelly asked.
Hank frowned. "We're cursed.
(The Travelers, Claire, and Noah-New Jersey)
Bennet got right to the point. "We need to separate."
Claire looked at her father, agaust. "What? No!" She glared at him. "I want to know about my brother, and splitting up…"
"…is the smartest thing." Linda said, getting over the emotions that had left her frozen after attacking the Rubber Band Man. "Look…as 5, we travel slower…"
"And we need to still get your mother and Lyle." Bennet added.
"Now we're at 7…"
"8." Claire corrected. "Mr. Muggles."
"Muggles…as in the ordinary people in the Harry Potter books?" Kelly asked.
"Witch-craft." Hank muttered, forgetting for a moment he had renounced God after Carter's death. "…yea for it." He added lamely.
"I doubt mom named him after that…" Claire said, thinking it over. "Though, I'm not totally sure…"
"We're not here to discuss dog names." Bennet snapped. "We need to split up, and we to do it now." He paused, thinking things over. "You have Helena's phone number?"
"Yea…" Linda said. "We're suppose to call her as soon as we found Claire."
"Well don't." Bennet said. "This proved The Company still has their sights on us…Helena might be bugged." He tossed Claire's cellphone, to the teen's horror. "I'll look into it, make sure she is ok…don't contact her until I contact you with the okay."
"Hey, make them use your phone!" Claire shouted. "Mine has all my ringtones on there."
"I'll buy you a new one…a better one, ok Clairebear?" Not looking to see if he had pacified her, Bennet turned back to Linda. "Am I clear? Not a word."
"Crystal." Linda said sullenly, not liking Bennet, the least of all which him forcing her to take a life. "And let me guess…no calling you."
"Smart." Bennet said. "We'll have to go back to the city, get our car. You guys…"
Kelly jerked her thumb towards the van that had gotten them to New Jersey. "The Mystery Machine will get Shaggy, Scooby and I out of her while you go on your merry way, Freddy."
Bennet frowned at Kelly's snarky attitude, but let it go. Claire looked at the three, sad she wouldn't be able to hang out with her brother's friends. They seemed like good people, and she could understand why he had traveled with them. "Where will you be going."
"Best not to say." Hank said coldly, glaring at Bennet. The fact that he had known about Carter and done nothing had earned him the contempt of Carter's former enemy. Plus…his distrust of them had gotten on Hank's last nerve. "You know…until we are sure ya ain't bugged."
Bennet merely nodded curtly, before motioning for Claire to follow them. The cheerleader glanced at the group one final time, and made a move to leave. Kelly darted forward, pulling something from her pocket and handing it to Claire, smiling slightly before letting her go.
"Where to now?" Kelly asked, once Bennet and Claire were out of sight.
"Las Vegas." Linda said. "I've…got friends there. Friends that need to know there is a woman running around with one of their faces."
&&&
"What did she give you?" Bennet asked after a few minutes of silence.
Claire didn't say a word as she stared at the picture. It was a photo of Kelly, arm wrapped around a young man with short yet shaggy brown hair, his smile one she saw in the mirror each morning; his eyes so much like her own. She ran a finger along the picture, memorizing every feature and wishing she could have seen this face in real life.
"My brother." Claire whispered, tugging the picture away. "My brother."
&&&
Carter looked down at Vally, shaking his head. "No."
"No?" Madrid asked, insulted. "What's wrong with her outfit."
"Isn't it obvious?"
"No, it isn't."
Tina glanced over at Vally, dressed in a pink shirt and shorts, a little backpack on. "Look, its Dora the Explorer! Hola Dora!"
Madrid blanched as Vally frowned, ripping the backpack off. "No!" She snapped at Madrid. "No Dora!"
Madrid sighed, looking around the Goodwill Store. It had taken all night to get there, but somehow, the group had survived the cold and made it into a small town. Armed with some cash Madrid had managed to duplicate (Carter thanking God he had grabbed his wallet from the morgue and that it had some 5s in it), they had set about getting new duds. The clerk hadn't given them a second look, not after Carter had whammied her, leaving them free to shop.
"What do you want them, sweetie?" Madrid asked, kneeling down next to Vally and pulling the shirt off. Madrid had gone with the non-descript: red hoodie with a kitty cat on it, a pair of old jeans and usable tennis shoes.
"Want stuff like this!" Vally said, yanking on Carter's coat. "Look like Da…"
"Dangerfield." Carter said quickly. "She wants to look like Rodney Dangerfield. Get the respect he never got…ha ha…ha…" He shot Vally a look, the little girl looking at him, confused. He made a note to talk to her about her calling him 'daddy' in public.
"…you are a strange, strange man." Madrid said, dragging Vally away to do some more shopping, muttering about "crazy glowing men".
Carter, noticing he had been left alone (since he was the only one with almost a full wardrobe to start with), moved towards the cash register and grabbed the teller's cellphone, ignoring her as she just kept muttering nursery rhymes. 'Have to remember to set her back right before we leave.' He thought as he dialed a number. After a few rings…
"Thank God you picked up." Carter said. "Nice to talk to someone I trust that isn't 2 years old. Listen…I don't know how much time I have, so I'll make this quick. Galatea is taking us to Las Vegas. She says she has some old scores to settle, and Tina thinks she can access her dad's bank accounts. I think we're going to send our captors a bright red flag saying "Catch Us Here!". I need you and your friend in Vegas, ready to get me, Vally and Madrid the hell out of there if things hit the fan."
&&&
Helena Daniels nodded, turning to Marshal as they drove across the US/Canada border. "We'll be in place before you arrive, Carter."
&&&
Author's Note: DON'T READ IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE NEWEST EPISODE!
Sometimes, I wish I was a writer on HEROES, mainly because I come up with scenes that would work in the show but not in Elsewhere. In this case, it would involve Matt's dad and Carter. Something that Carter hasn't revealed is that, thanks to his death (forcing the whammy energy into him), Carter's brain was rewired to the point that he never dreams, or has nightmares. As such, as I watched the Matt and Nathan suffer, I suddenly was struck with a scene: Matt's dad confronts Carter, as Matt's daddy wants Vally. Carter refuses to move, and Mr. Parkman does his nightmare attack, saying that he will make Carter see pure fear. Carter's head snaps back, before he lowers it to smile at Mr. Parkman. Parkman asks, "What the hell are you?"
Carter: I'm fear incarnate.
The scene ends there.
It joins the Eden/Carter battle and the Carter/Sylar battle as scenes I wish I could have written.
