ECHOES IN THE DARKNESS
Part XXXV - Nightmares Revealed
Laura stood studying the face of the young Asian man in front fo her. He was on the tall side, handsome and could not have been any older than 25. When he spoke, Laura was surprised his English was perfect with no detectable accent. He looked a lot like Mr. Yamagati but much younger.
Laura slowly approached him. "Who are you?"
"My name is Scott Yamagati." He bowed to her. "I am Taku Yamagati's nephew. He and my father were brothers."
She stood in front of him staring. "I know you. You have been in my dreams for many years."
"I have." He answered directly.
Laura continued to stare astonished. "I don't understand. How?"
"I too have an ability." He replied somberly. "I am able to delve into your sub-conscience."
"You mean like my brother Brandon does?" Laura asked.
"No, I am not a dream walker." He replied. "I cannot enter your dreams with you, but I am able to project myself into your sub-conscience."
"Why are you in my dreams?" Laura asked softly.
"I come to you when you need to be warned of something." He answered.
"What do you want from me?" Laura asked him
"I am your new teacher." He replied simply.
Laura laughed. "My teacher?"
He nodded. "If you are going to be victorious in your fight against Catherwood, you need to be in top form. I am here to help you do that."
Gabriel approached Scott with his arms folded. "Ok, please allow me to interject some logic here. I seriously doubt there is anything you can teach my wife that she doesn't know. And for another thing, you might have noticed her stomach protruding. She is pregnant and is in no condition to fight with anybody."
"Your child is safe." Scott half-smiled at Gabriel. "He cannot be harmed."
"How do you figure?" Gabriel asked staring him down.
Scott picked up a plate and tossed it at Laura's belly. Instinctively Laura's thrust her hands forward and flung open her fingers as the plate exploded in mid air.
"What in the hell is the matter with you?" Gabriel shouted at him. "You don't go throwing things at a woman who is carrying a child!"
"As you can see, she handled herself perfectly." Scott replied.
"Holy shit!" Laura whispered her eyes widening. "Did I do that?"
Scott nodded. "You will find you have many protective powers that you are unaware of, Laura. They are gifts from your ancestors. And your son has many powers. He too is gifted."
"Well, that is neither here nor there." Gabriel replied sternly. "She is not in any shape to be running around playing Kill Bill with you. And she is most defiantly not going to be used as a sparring partner or punching bag for anybody."
"Gabriel, the doctor says I can keep up with my normal activities as long as I don't over exert myself." Laura reminded him. "Besides, I have been getting soft and need somebody to train with if I am going to stay in form."
"Laura, how do we even know this guy is who he says he is?" Gabriel whispered to her.
"He knows about my dreams, baby." She replied softly. "How else would he know that?"
Gabriel put his hands on her shoulders. "Have you told anybody else about your dream you had the other night?" He whispered.
"No, only you." She replied curiously
He walked forward with his knuckles thoughtfully resting against his chin. "Ok Scott. The other night my wife had a dream. Just to satisfy my own curiosity, can you describe my wife's dream?"
"Two nights ago she dreamed that she was holding your child and you were pulled into the darkness. She was torn between saving you and holding on to the child. Your wife and child were being pulled into the darkness and you rescued them by leading them into the light before being taken into the darkness again."
Gabriel nodded, impressed by his insight. "Ok. One more question. How did you know to find my wife here?" He asked, eyes narrowed.
Scott smiled. "I am good friends with Hiro Nakamura. He told me where I can find you."
Gabriel stared at Scott in amazement. "Ok, you've convinced me."
"Ok girls." Claire came running down the stairs. "Lets go shopping!"
Claire looked across the room. She saw Scott who was already staring at her, instantly love struck. They both smiled as Claire looked down blushing.
Laura and Heidi's eyes met as they looked at the two of them smiling at each other. A fact that did not go un-noticed by Noah.
"Laura." Noah stood between Claire and Scott. "Why don't you and Scott go find a place to talk...blow things up...whatever while the ladies...and Gabriel head off shopping and the rest of us men watch the football games."
Laura looked at Scott. "Ok. That would probably be best." Gabriel approached her as they embraced.
"You be careful." He warned her.
"Honey, look at him." She whispered. "He's harmless. And look how he's looking at Claire...that's so sweet."
"Maybe he is, but I am not comfortable leaving my wife with a man she has known for five minutes." He replied hesitantly.
"Why? Are you worried about what I wanted to do to you five minutes after I met you?" She bit her lower lip mischievously. "I am trusting you in the company of five beautiful ladies. Just remember, when you get back here, you are all mine." She held him by the collar kissing him.
"Count on it." He replied returning her kiss.
"Behave yourself." She glowered at him.
"Now why do you feel you always have to say that?" He smiled wryly.
"Because you tend to be a bit of a brat." She giggled. "I love you."
"And I love you." He kissed her tenderly then left with the group to go shopping.
"Gabriel, would you be a dear and drive?" Angela asked him.
"Only if your riding shotgun, mama." He smiled goosing her ass as she let out a scream hitting him with her purse to which George, Nathan and Peter fell over laughing. Laura stood shaking her head.
"The more time I spend with my husband, the better I like my dog." She wrinkled her nose making a face.
Laura returned to Scott. "Lets walk." She said grabbing her jacket and gloves.
There was six inches of snow on the ground as Laura and Scott walked around the Petrelli estate. Laura was astounded at how much Scott looked like Mr. Yamagati. He was the same height and possessed the same intellectual features. She noticed he kept staring at her which made Laura feel uncomfortable.
"Your staring at me." Laura smiled at Scott while they walked.
"Please forgive me." Scott laughed somewhat embarrassed. "I was told you are a very beautiful woman, but you are even more beautiful than I ever could have imagined."
"Thank you." Laura half-smiled.
"Please." Scott replied. "If I have spoken inappropriately, I have not meant to offend you."
"No, it's quite alright. I'm very flattered." She smiled at him. "So tell me about you, Scott. From the way you speak, I assume you didn't grow up in Japan."
Scott laughed. "No, I grew up in San Francisco, not too far from you. I moved east to attend Harvard and I graduated last year with my degree in criminal law."
Laura looked at him impressed. "A California boy who graduated from Harvard! You have managed to make a favorable impression on me. And I see you have three stripes on your belt, Sensei. What do you think you can teach me?"
"There is nothing I can teach you." He replied. "I am here to keep you focused and guide you when you get to Okinawa."
"We are not going to Okinawa." Laura replied confused. "We are going to Tokyo."
Scott shook his head. "No. You must go to Okinawa. There is somebody in your organization that has told Catherwood where you will be staying. He will be watching you."
"We have a spy?" Laura replied disbelieving. "Who?"
"That I do not know." Scott replied sadly. "I only know what the prophecy tells me."
Laura laughed. "You sounded just like your uncle."
"Think of the prophecy as a large puzzle, Laura." Scott told her. "There is a big picture that will become clearer as the time draws near. But until that happens you will be learning in small pieces."
"The entire organization is prepared to go to Tokyo." Laura stopped walking folding her arms. "How do I suddenly tell them we are going to Okinawa? What do I tell Kaito Nakamura."
"Uncle Kaito is already aware of the prophecy." Scott replied.
"Uncle Kaito?" Laura nearly gasped. "Hiro never mentioned he was related to Mr. Yamagati."
"He isn't." Scott smiled. "The Nakamura's have been family friends for many generations. I call him Uncle as a term of respect and endearment."
"I see." Laura nodded her head. "Ok, so Kaito knows we must move the operation. What do I tell the others?"
"You do not tell the others anything." Scott warned her sternly. "You will go to Tokyo as planned. When that happens, everyone will be transported to Okinawa. There is an old US Army base on the island and it will be your home. There are homes and it is being renovated to accommodate the organization."
"Ok, so if we have a spy, won't they tell Catherwood we are being transferred?" Laura shrugged.
"They will not know they are being transferred to Okinawa." Scott replied matter-of-factly. "They will only be told the operation is moving."
Laura shook her head. "Well, I hope I am supposed to be confused, because I really am."
"Of course you are." Scott half-smiled. He stopped walking. "And now, I have to ask you something."
"Ask me anything." Laura replied.
"Who was that babe with the rockin' bod in there?" He asked smiling.
Laura laughed at his sudden change in demeanor. "If you are talking about the beautiful young blonde girl you were panting over, that is Claire Bennett. The way to her heart is through her father. She is a daddy's girl all the way."
"Which one is her father?" He asked.
"Well, this is where it gets complicated." Laura smiled. "Nathan Petrelli, the man who answered the door is her biological father, but Noah Bennett, the one who was playing alpha dog when he caught you eyeballing his daughter, is her adoptive father. He is the one you need to make nice with."
"So I have to kiss his ass to get her to go on a date with me?" He asked narrowing his eyes.
"Well, generally speaking, yes." Laura replied. "But I'm warning you, if you aren't sincere he will know right away. He can smell bullshit a mile away and if there is one thing Noah Bennett doesn't like it is bullshit."
"I'll keep that in mind." Scott grinned. "Now lets take a look at some of your powers. You show me some of the powers you know and I'll tell you about some of the powers you probably aren't aware of."
Laura walked with him over to a clearing. She showed him how she could hover, run up the side of a wall using a tree for an example, how she could acquire an object by calling for it, and how she could dissolve solid matter. Then she closed her eyes and showed him how she could astral project herself in solid form.
"Do you remember what you did earlier?" He asked her. "You blew that plate up."
Scott picked up a rock and tossed it at her. Once again Laura thrusted her fingers forward and the rock exploded into fragments.
"Wow!" Laura smiled. "I had no idea I could do that."
"You see those rocks over there? Flick your fingers again and think about lightening."
Laura shrugged, but did as he asked. She made fists with her hands holding them up, then extending her arms out she opened her hands as lightening flew from her fingertips.
"Fuck me!" She whispered astonished as she began to laugh. "What else can I do?"
"Do you see that stream over there?" He asked pointing across the property.
"Yes." Laura replied looking at him with bewilderment.
"I want you to run and jump across at it's widest point." He answered her.
"Your kidding, right?" She laughed. "That has got to be twenty feet."
"Don't ask." He replied solemnly. "Just do."
Laura did as he said. She sprinted toward the stream. As she ran she felt herself pick up speed. As she got to the edge of the stream, she leapt into the air doing a series of forward flips. She felt almost weightless as her body soared through the air landing safely on her feet on the other side, almost ten feet from the streams edge.
Laura's eyes became big as saucers. "That had to be thirty feet!"
Scott nodded. "And you will find the protective powers you possess have grown as you have."
"What do you mean?" Laura asked curiously.
"Your body is almost invincible." Scott replied dryly.
Laura smiled nodding her head. "Cool."
"There is something else I need to tell you." Scott half-smiled.
Laura cocked her head. "Tell me."
"I am your new watcher." He replied nodding.
Laura laughed. "What do I need a watcher for anyway."
"To observe and record. But never interfere." He said simply.
"So in other words, you stand around side stepping my questions and speaking to me in irritating riddles like your uncle used to do, right?"
Scott laughed. "Well, I'm a techno guy myself, so you probably wouldn't see me doing a side step, but otherwise, yes."
"I see." Laura replied. "So you record. What do you do with this information?"
"It goes into the book."
"Book." Laura shrugged. "What book?"
"Your family history book." He replied.
"Why haven't I seen this book?" She asked fractiously.
"It is not yet complete." He answered her.
"You know, you are every bit as exasperating as your uncle was." Laura replied exacerbated.
"Thank you." Scott smiled wittingly as Laura shook her head.
George and Angela briskly walked through the snow. They slowed down the pace and held hands coming to rest on a bench in front of the house.
"I haven't enjoyed taking a walk so much in years." Angela smiled. "This has been very enjoyable." She rested her head against his shoulder.
"Yes it has." George replied. "Your company has made me very happy, Angie."
"After Mr. Petrelli died, I didn't think I would ever be so happy again." She said thoughtfully. "But having you and your wonderful family in my life has made me happier than I can ever remember."
"We both have some amazing children, don't we?" He grinned.
"We do." Angela replied.
"So what do you say we make this thing legal and make our kids brothers and sisters?" George replied taking a ring out of his pocket.
Angela looked at him knowingly. "George Ryan, are you asking me to go steady with you?"
"Get with the program lady!" He replied gruffly. "Do you want to be my wife or not?"
"Why yes George!" She smiled. "I would enjoy waking up every morning and make your life a living hell until the day you die."
George chuckled. "So you accept my offer?"
"Absolutely." She smiled.
He put the ring on her finger as they leaned in and kissed. "So what do you say we go tell the kids?"
"I can't wait to hear their reaction." Angela replied.
As they walked into the house, they heard loud moans of pleasure coming from the kitchen. George instantly realized they were coming from his daughter.
"Oh my GOD! Oh! Oh my GOD! Give me more! This is amazing! Oh YES!"
"Oh, this is just going too far." Angela bristled. "There are young children in this house."
"I'm going to put a stop to it right now." George stomped angrily into the kitchen.
"For pity sakes! Would you two please have some decorum!" He bellowed as he burst through the french doors leading to the kitchen. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Ever since we arrived, you two have been moaning all over this house like a pair of dying buffalos. You know I raised you better than this, young lady!"
"What in the hell are you talking about, you crazy old geezer?" Laura looked at her father bewildered.
George followed his daughter's voice and found her sitting around the granite kitchen island with Gabriel, Peter, Niki, Scott, Brandon and Heidi eating chocolate covered chocolate chip cookies.
"Oh, your eating cookies." Her father replied somewhat embarrassed.
"Yes, Dad. We're eating cookies." She stared hard at her father, then realizing what he had thought. "Oh common, you really didn't think we were getting freaky in Mama P's kitchen, did you? Give us a little credit please!"
"Yeah, we save that for home." Gabriel smirked as Laura fed him a piece of cookie.
"You want some?" Laura motioned to the large plate of cookies. "They are absolutely to die for."
George and Angela pulled up two more stools and each took a cookie. "Who made the cookies?"
"Heidi did." Peter replied stuffing his face.
"Yeah, who needs sex when you have these cookies?" Niki laughed.
"Speak for yourself." Brandon replied taking another cookie as the others laughed.
"So, did anybody get in touch with Hiro?" Angela asked Laura. "Can we expect more people for tomorrow."
Laura nodded as she munched on another cookie. "Hiro, Ando, Kaito, Claude and Mohinder will be here tonight. Hana can't get away from Callahan without raising suspicion so she won't be here. And Janice Parkman has the flu, so they won't be able to make it."
"So why are all these men coming tonight?" George asked.
"Because we are going to have the most kick-ass bachelor party this house has ever seen." Gabriel grinned looking at Peter.
Laura nodded. "And us girls are going to have a good old fashioned bachelorette slumber party tonight."
"Yes we are!" Heidi replied happily. "We are going to stay up, tell dirty stories about our men, and have Jell-o shots!"
"And the bride and matron of honor can't have any." Laura pouted. "And you will be there too, won't you Mama P?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." She smiled.
George and Angela looked at each other. "Peter, Niki, I know this is your special day and all, but I wondered if you would mind sharing your wedding day with another couple."
"Another couple of what?" Gabriel snickered as Angela smacked him on the side of the head.
"Dad! No way!" Laura shouted happily as she saw the ring on Angela's finger.
"Mom! Your getting married!" Peter stood up hugging his mother.
"Hey! Congratulations you two!" Brandon smiled. "I guess I'll be pulling double duty this weekend!"
"Well, that's of course if Niki and Peter don't mind." Angela looked at Niki.
"Well, of course I don't mind!" Niki replied happily. "In fact, I would be honored!"
"Ok. It's settled then." George clapped his hands together in finality. "Tomorrow we will have a double wedding."
"So it looks like you, me, Sandra and Claire are going to be doing some cooking." Heidi said looking at Laura.
"And your husband and my husband will be helping too." Laura looked at Gabriel who closed his eyes in disgust.
"Great! Fucking fantastic." He smiled derisively .
"What's the matter, dear." Angela taunted him. "Did you fail the home economics course in prison?"
"Don't you have a brew you should be stirring or something?" He smiled making a face at her.
"I could make an ass out of you, but why should I take all the credit?" Angela smiled sweetly at him.
"Would anybody mind if I used the restroom?" Scott asked quietly.
"Not at all." Heidi replied smiling. "Just down the hall third door on the right.
"You may want to exorcize the place first." Peter called after him as Niki glared at him. "What?"
As Scott came out of the restroom, he turned the corner toward the kitchen and ran into Claire.
"Hi." He said shyly.
"Hi." She replied giving him the once over. "I saw you earlier."
"Yeah, I saw you too." He nodded. "I'm Scott."
"I'm Claire." She replied bashfully.
"I know." Scott said confidently. "Laura told me."
"So how do you know Laura?" Claire asked him.
"My uncle was her Karate teacher and her watcher." He replied. "I am here to take over as her watcher and help keep her focused in the battle."
"So your going to Tokyo with us?" Claire looked excitedly at him.
"Yes, I am." Scott grinned. "So that means you'll be going too?"
"I am taking the semester off from Columbia." Claire replied.
"What is your major?" He asked her.
"Criminal law." She told him proudly.
"Get out!" Scott laughed. "That is what my degree is in."
"No way!" Claire beamed at him folding her arms.
"Way." He laughed. "If you ever need any help, let me know. I graduated from Harvard with honors."
"I will." Claire smiled. "Well, I'm going to go get some of those cookies before they eat them all."
"Ok." Scott smiled. "I'll see you around."
"Yes, you will." Claire smiled as she walked away.
Scott smiled to himself. "Yes, you will, Claire. My God, you are beautiful."
Noah sat on the back patio watching the snow fall. He had never seen the snow growing up in Texas. He always loved to watch the lightening storms off in the distance, but he had to admit watching the snow come down creating a thick blanket of white as it clung to the trees was the most beautiful show nature had ever created.
As he sat there George came out the door sitting next to him silently.
"So I guess we are having a bachelor party here tonight." Noah smiled.
"Ah, save it for Peter." George chuckled. "This is his first wedding. I had my bachelor party many years ago, when I married Laura's mother. Let the boy have some fun with his last night as a single man."
Noah could see George looked troubled. "Anything you want to talk about?"
George continued to stare out in front of him. "You know what it's about."
"Yeah." He nodded. "We have to fill Gabriel in on this sooner or later, you know."
"I know." George replied almost tearfully. "I think he will agree to it, but my daughter is going to hate me. My son already does."
"Just remember what we're doing this for." Noah replied. "Catherwood thinks we are giving him Sylar as his assassin, but Gabriel will be under deep cover."
George nodded. "But what if he becomes Sylar again? The temptation is going to be there and the sickness still lives deep down within his soul, you know."
Noah leaned forward. "You know how I feel about this, George, but it is a chance we have to take. But Laura brought him to the light once. If he does become Sylar, lets hope she can save him once again."
"I just pray to God we are doing the right thing." George looked up to the sky, tears brimming over in his eyes. "Because if Catherwood knows what we are up to, it's all over."
Noah looked at George in ominous silence.
"Armada Rose." He heard her say in her sleep.
Gabriel looked up from the laptop where he was surfing the web reading bachelor party etiquette (or lack of) as Laura decided to take a nap.
"Armada Rose." He thought to himself. "Why does that sound familiar?" He remembered Hiro whispering it to him when they were at the summit two months earlier. At the time he looked at Hiro like he was loco, but why is Laura dreaming about it?
Gabriel brought up Google and typed in Armada Rose. It brought up several hits, but they all referenced a Spanish war ship that was built in1509. It currently rested off the coast of Borneo.
As Gabriel read further, the ship is rumored to contain the wood of a ship once sailed upon by Christ himself and evil could not enter. "I'll be damned." He whispered.
"I thought you already were." He heard Laura whisper behind him.
He looked over his shoulder smiling at her laying there, her eyes half closed. "I hope I didn't wake you up."
"No." She answered his sleepily. "We both need to get ready for the party anyway."
"Armada Rose." He said softly to her as she stared at him stunned.
"A Spanish war vessel." She whispered.
"You said that in your sleep." He told her rubbing the back of her head. "What does it mean?"
"I don't know." She looked at him thoughtfully. "It was whispered to me in my dream. I could see it in sitting in the water off the coast of Borneo. Only the good can enter its doors."
"It is said that the wood was once part of a ship sailed by Jesus." Gabriel said.
"I wonder what it all means." Laura asked snuggling against his chest.
"I don't know." He replied softly as he put his arms around her leaning back against the pillows. "But I guess just like everything else we'll find out soon enough." He kissed her forehead. "I guess we should both be getting ready for the parties tonight."
"Not yet." She smiled closing her eyes. "This just feels so good right now. I don't want to let go."
"I don't want to ever let go of you." He whispered. "I love you Laura."
"I love you Gabriel." She replied softly as they both drifted off to sleep.
End of Part XXXV