ECHOES IN THE DARKNESS
Part 48 – The Summit
Washington DC – January 6, 2010
The Summit
"Senator Callahan, you are telling us that there are people residing in the United States, and around the world that possess what you refer to as "Special Abilities"? Are you prepared to furnish our panel with proof of your claims today?"
Callahan cleared his throat. "That is correct Madam Speaker. I have brought video of several occurrences involving many of these people. They are known in the science community as Super Genomes because they carry a gene that gives them these abilities."
"Very well Senator. You have five minutes to present your findings and when you are finished you may speak to the panel, followed by a rebuttal by Dr. Mohinder Suresh. Is that agreeable to you both?"
"Yes Madam Speaker." Mohinder and Callahan both replied.
Callahan briefly leered at Mohinder before beginning his talk as Mohinder glared defiantly at him.
"Could we lower the lights please…."
"Mohinder looks good on TV." Candice remarked as they all sat in the recreation room of the Officers Club watching the summit on CNN. "I bet they will be talking about that gorgeous smile on the internet message boards tonight.
"He should have been a model." Hana replied.
"He was." Laura smiled. "He used to model underwear when he was in college. That's how he paid for his education."
"What I wouldn't give to have those pictures on my wall." Niki sighed. "Hell, I'd buy the calendar."
"Ok, enough!" Gabriel glowered at them annoyed. "The rest of us really don't give a shit about Mohinder's package."
"Jealous much?" Claire teased him.
"The guy's a scientist!" Peter sneered through gritted teeth. "I'm sure he didn't spend all this time in college for you ladies to be studying his ball sack."
The girl's all snickered at the men's obvious jealousy.
George cleared his throat telling the group to be silent.
"In this video we have Daniel Lawrence Hawkins attempting to enter the home of his aunt in New Orleans, Louisiana. Now watch carefully. He realizes he doesn't have a key, so he phases his arm through the door."
A wave of astonishment swept through the panel as they reacted with cries of repulsion.
"Well, if I knew I was going to be on TV when I did this, I would have worn my jeans with the ass worn out on them." DL grinned as everyone laughed.
"In the next sequence, we see footage from three years ago in Odessa Texas of a cheerleader running into burning train wreckage emerging with a transient. When the fire captain went to treat her burns, her skin was unmarred. We also found this footage of the same cheerleader jumping twenty from a grain silo landing on the ground, her shoulder dislocated and broken ribs. Notice as she pushes her shoulder back into place."
"Where in the hell did they get that?" Claire looked at her father horrified.
"More than likely from Zach." Noah replied soberly.
Claire shook her head. "Zach wouldn't rat me out."
Noah looked at his daughter grimly. "I seriously doubt he was given a choice, Claire."
Claire's eyes widened in horror as she realized what her father was saying. "Oh Dad!"
Noah put a comforting arm around Claire. "I'll look into it."
"And these files come from the FBI vault as regards a serial killer that goes by the name of Sylar. Although the FBI does not have a name or a face, for over a year the FBI was hot on his trail as he went on a killing spree across the country murdering people that possess special abilities. Sylar's trail went cold two years ago. It is possible he is dead or incarcerated for another crime."
"You know damn well who I am, asshole." Gabriel sneered angrily as Laura looked at him anxiously. "Just saying."
"This footage goes back to 2006 at Kirby Plaza in New York City, captured by the security cameras at an ATM. We see a battle taking place between a man who has been identified as Peter Petrelli, brother of former Congressman and, relatively speaking, my former running mate Nathan Petrelli."
"Shit!" Nathan muttered. Peter nodded in agreement.
"…unknown male fighting against Petrelli We can only assume this is Sylar We couldn't get him at a good enough angle to verify this."
"What can I say? The camera loves me." Peter grinned smugly.
"Let me get this straight…" Gabriel sneered. "They get Petrelli's ugly puss on film, but mine is blurred? I'm the hot one!"
"Get over it!" Laura rolled her eyes.
"Dr. Suresh, you have ten minutes to state your case in favor of people with abilities."
"Thank you, Madam Speaker. Respectfully, Senator Callahan is correct. There are people around the world who possess special abilities. My father began his research forty years ago after my sister was born possessing special abilities. I have lived and worked among these people. While it is true there are good and bad in all of them, just like the general population, it is my opinion that they do not present a threat to national security…"
"Speaking national security, where's Brandon?" Peter asked Laura. "I'm surprised he isn't here watching this."
"Good question." She replied looking around. "He has a lot of demons to fight, but we need him." She stood up. "I'm going to go check on him."
"Good luck." Peter whispered.
"Dr. Suresh, how can you stand there and assure us that people like Daniel Lawrence Hawkins do not pose a threat to National Security? He is a former criminal and he can walk through walls. What is to stop him from walking into someone's home or a bank vault?"
"Senator, Mr. Hawkins was acquitted for all of his crimes. He is a good father and a model citizen."
"And what about Peter Petrelli who possesses multiple abilities.He can radiate nuclear energy from his hands, he can fly, and he is able to regenerate. What is to stop him from hijacking an airplane and then flying away?"
"Now why in the hell would I have to hijack a plane when I can fly or teleport anywhere I want to go, asshole?" Peter retorted.
"I'm afraid Mohinder is getting annihilated." George sighed. "He has put forth a valiant effort, but he is just no match for Callahan."
"Thank you Senator Callahan and Dr. Suresh. We have heard convincing arguments on both sides of this debate. The Senate will hold a special session on January nineteenth to make a decision how we should move forward. Thank you both for your time."
Gabriel telekinetically turned off the TV. "Well, we're fucked."
"Um, Gabe…there are kids here." Nathan pointed to the group of children playing video games on the other side of the room.
"Sorry." Gabriel held his hands up. "But you guys know no matter what happens, people like us are going to be persecuted rather it be by law or by the public."
Hana nodded. "And those of us who were unfortunate enough to have our images on TV…those images will be burned into people minds."
"Rather or not the Senate takes action is a moot point." Nathan replied. "It is going to be just like the blacks living in the south in mid twentieth century. There are laws that supposedly protect them, but the law is only as good as those who uphold it and we all know if the law keepers are narrow-minded; may God help us all."
"The bigotry of people has always been the downfall of the world." Angela said softly.
"History repeats itself once again." George whispered gravely.
Brandon laid in bed watching the summit on his TV. Two days ago was when he discovered his marriage was a lie. He was angry and hurt, but this morning he could only think of his boys. Laura had told them about their mother and he knew they needed him, but he was not ready to face them yet.
As he wondered if he would ever be ready to move on with his life, he heard somebody walking through the house. Without thinking he pulled out his service revolver pointing it at the bedroom door. He cocked the trigger as Laura walked in. She jumped when she saw the gun pointed at her.
"Are you fucking crazy?" She shouted. "Put that away! What in the hell are you doing with a gun lying around when you have two little boys living in the house? What were you thinking?"
He closed his eyes lowering the gun, putting the safety back on. "I thought you were an intruder. And the boys aren't here."
"An intruder?" She replied angrily. "You're kidding, right? What are you really doing with a gun, Brandon? Seriously!"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm not sitting here playing Russian roulette, Laura." He wrapped the gun back up in the canvas case and put it on the top shelf of the closet then flopped back down on the bed. "There. Happy? What did you really come over here for?"
"I came over to see how you were doing." She replied inquisitively. "Looks like it's a good thing I did."
"I'm fine." Brandon answered irritably. "So now you can go home."
"Like hell you are." Laura sat on the bed next to him.
"Look, what in the fuck do you want from me?" He shouted at her. "I just saw my wife die right in front of my eyes. I found out I am the son of a monster who, by the way, my wife was feeding him information on us. My entire marriage was a con! How in the hell am I supposed to be?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. You tell me. Look, I know it's only been two days. I'm not going to sit here and tell you what you have to do because quite honestly I have no idea. But I am going to tell you whatever you are doing isn't working. Just laying around with your beard growing, not showering and wearing the same clothes for two days isn't going to make this better."
"So what do you suggest I do?" He shouted. "I haven't eaten! I haven't slept. Every time I close my eyes it replays in my mind all over again. It's like a nightmare I can't wake up from."
"Well honey, I hate being the one to tell you, but you have to wake up." Laura told him firmly. "You need to get your ass out of this bed. You need to take a shower, and shave and brush your damn teeth because your breath smells like ass. And then, you need to somehow find the strength inside of you to take care of those two little boys. You lost a wife, but they lost their mommy. They need their daddy. And you need them!"
"I can't do it Laura!" He began to sob anguished. "I'm not ready."
"You're going through hell Brandon." She said softly. "Everybody knows that. Nobody expects you to just jump up and be all over it after just a couple of days. But honey, even if you just spend an hour with them today. Just let them know you love them and that you didn't leave them too." She reached over touching his face.
He turned looking at his sister tearfully. "I don't want them to see me like this."
Laura reached over putting her arms around Brandon, resting her head against his shoulder. "You need to find your strength, Brandon. Where have you always found your strength?"
Brandon swallowed hard. "My family. My boys. My wife. God." Tears began to stream down his face. "And now it's all gone."
Laura lifted her head looking directly in his eyes. "Gone? It's not gone. Brandon, I don't know what to tell you about Robyn; I can't even bring my mind to go to wherever she was, but you still have your sons. And God is still up there. He will never leave you. And you have me. And Gabriel. And Peter, Niki, Micah, the Bennetts and…." Laura looked down as her voice trailed off.
"Dad." Brandon nodded angrily. "You were going to say Dad."
Laura nodded. "It just came out, Brandon. Are you going to make life hell for me for a slip of the tongue?"
Brandon half-smiled rubbing her head. "No."
"Well for now I won't sit here and defend how Dad handled things to you. You're angry. You have every right to be angry. But Brandon, you are so wrong about him. He didn't give you up because you were not his son. He gave you up so Catherwood would never find you. He loved you Brandon. He still does."
Brandon closed his eyes taking a deep breath. "Laura, maybe what you say is true. But I'm just not ready to forgive him yet."
"Ok." Laura nodded. "All I'm asking is when the dust settles down you'll hear him out, ok?"
Brandon shrugged. "I promise I'll think about it." He looked up at his sister sadly. "So all this pain. What am I going to do?"
Laura sat down beside him grabbing a hold of his hands. "You are going to take every ounce of that pain, and you are going to use it! Use it to fight Catherwood and his army. And tomorrow is the first day of combat training and no better way for you to get back up on that horse and start riding again!"
Brandon shook his head. "I'm not ready. I think I'll have to sit this one out."
Laura angrily stood up. "And you call yourself a soldier. How in the hell did you make it out of Iraq alive? What did you do when the enemy bombed your camp and ten of your war buddies got killed? Did you lay there and say I'm not ready to move forward? No! You picked up your battle flag and you went out there and kicked some ass! Well this is the same battle, different war Brandon! We have an enemy who wants to kill us. To take our powers! Do you think I want to fight in this war? Do you think I want to be the chosen one? No I don't! I would rather run away and find a place where Catherwood will never find me with my husband and my son. But I can't do that. Because If I do, he wins and we're all fucked. I don't want to be the one, Brandon. But then I think about Seth, and Jake, Colin, Micah, Molly, Simon, Monty and the other kids out there that may or may not have abilities. Try living with that on your conscience sometime. It seriously sucks!"
She sat down next to him. "Brandon, I don't mean to sound harsh, honey. But the more you lay around here moping over something that none of us can do anything to fix, the longer it is going to take for you start living again."
Laura stood up again. "They way I look at it is this way...you've hit rock bottom and right now there are only two ways to go; straight up, or sideways. I'll let you decide which one that's going to be."
Without another word she turned and walked out the door.
Brandon sat for a moment taking a deep breath. Looking at the mirror on the dresser he jumped when he saw himself. He stood up and went into the restroom closing the door behind him.
Mohinder sat in the café n the Museum of Natural History enjoying a cappuccino and croissant. In a few hours he would be boarding a plane to Florida where Hiro would then secretly teleport him to Okinawa Japan to join the others. But for now he took a moment to look the modern and ancient marvels of the world.
As he was finishing up his coffee, a beautiful young dark haired woman stood next to where he was sitting.
"Dr. Mohinder Suresh?" She asked him quietly.
Mohinder looked up immediately enchanted by her loveliness and refinement. She was wearing a dark blue dress and her long dark hair was swept to the side in a loose braid. "Yes."
"My name is Celeste Di Parto." She smiled. "I am a page at the House of Representatives and I saw you today at the summit. You were amazing."
Mohinder smiled broadly. "Well thank you. Please! Have a seat."
"Thank you." Celeste sat down across from him crossing her legs. Mohinder stared at her taking in her splendor. Her dress was cut just low enough to see the top of her cleavage. Quickly he averted his eyes so she would not see him staring. But the proud smile on her face told him it was too late.
"Would you like anything?" Mohinder offered.
"A cup of tea would be nice." She replied graciously.
When the hostess came by, Mohinder ordered a pot of tea and cakes.
"So there really are people living in this world that possess special abilities?" She asked leaning forward. "Have you met any of these people?"
Mohinder nodded. "I know them and I work with them. It was my father that began the research, but I am continuing his quest."
Celeste reached into her backpack and pulled out a copy of Activating Evolution. "Your father, Dr. Chandra Suresh."
Mohinder reacted with surprised. "Why yes, that is correct. Many people believed my father was a fool. Unfortunately he died before he saw his dreams fully realized."
"I'm so sorry." Celeste replied in kind. "What happened to him?"
Mohinder lowered his head. "He was murdered by one of his subjects."
She shook her head. "That's horrible."
The server brought their tea. Mohinder went to pour it, but Celeste had already beaten him to it.
"I'm sorry." She laughed. "I guess that was awfully forward of me. I guess your wife is more submissive."
Mohinder chuckled. "I'm not married. But I was in a relationship with a very independent American woman, so I have gotten accustomed to woman taking the lead."
"Are you still involved with her?" Celeste asked pouring his cup of tea.
"No." Mohinder replied thoughtfully. "She married somebody else."
"Crazy girl." She smiled handing him his tea, her pinky finger dipping inside as she handed it to him. "Oh, that was clumsy of me." She licked her finger.
"It's ok." Mohinder smiled. It will just make it all the sweeter." He stirred some milk and sugar into his tea. "Here's to new friends." He raised his cup as they clinked cups.
They each took a sip of their tea. Celeste leaned forward resting her chin on her arms. "So what time is your flight?"
Mohinder lowered his cup smiling at her.
Laura laid back on the couch her legs draped across Gabriel's lap. The both tried to read, but kept grimacing as Colin, Jake and Claude sat on the carpet watching show after show of Sponge Bob Square Pants, all of them laughing uncontrollably.
"Kill me, please." Gabriel whispered to Laura through gritted teeth.
"It's just for a few more days until Brandon gets himself together." She whispered back. "And then in another five years, you'll most likely be sitting on the floor with Seth watching the same shows."
Gabriel laughed softly. "And you're probably right." He leaned over kissing her.
They heard somebody knock at the door as Gabriel jumped up to answer it. On the other side stood Brandon, showered and clean shaven.
"Hey!" Gabriel greeted him pulling him in, hugging him happily. "It's good to see you man."
"Thanks dude." He smiled affectionately. "Thanks for looking after my troops."
"Anytime." Gabriel grinned. "It's the least I can do after what you've done for me."
"DADDY!" Colin and Jake shouted as they ran to him. Brandon kneeled down smiling taking one in each arm he held them tightly.
"Oh, have I missed you guys." He looked at both of them tearfully.
"That's ok Daddy." Jake put his hand on his face. "You needed to say goodbye to mommy in your own way."
"Yeah." Brandon smiled surprised by his son's insight. "That's right."
"When can we come back home, Daddy?" Colin asked. "I like staying here with Aunt Laura, Uncle Gabriel and Claude, but we miss you."
Brandon smiled. "What do you say you go get your stuff and we go back home right now and work on being a family again? It's going to be hard guys. Your mama's gone and we're all going to miss her, but we have a lot of people here that love us. We can do this, guys. You want to give it a try?"
Both boys nodded.
Brandon stood up. "Why don't you run and get your stuff?"
The boys happily ran up the stairs to gather their belongings. Brandon turned and looked at Laura who was smiling proudly at him.
"What?" He asked playfully.
"Nothing." She smiled.
Brandon pulled her in hugging her tightly. "Thanks for the can of whoop-ass."
"I'm glad it worked." She whispered.
They released each other and stood back. Brandon looked over at Claude. "Thanks for spending some time with the boys."
"Some time?" Laura smiled rubbing Claude's arm. "He hasn't left once."
Brandon reached out shaking his hand. "Thanks man, I owe you one."
"Not necessary mate." Claude grinned, slapping Brandon on the shoulder. "I lost my mother when I was their age. My father had a hard time too and a family friend was there for me. I guess I'm just paying the favor forward."
Everyone heard a phone ringing. They all looked at each other not sure which phone to pick up.
"It's the satellite phone." Gabriel went to answer it. "It must be Hiro. Hello? Yeah, we're here. Ok…see you in a minute." He hung up.
"Was that Hiro?" Laura asked.
"Yeah." Gabriel replied. "He sounded kind of panicked. He's teleporting here…."
Just then Hiro appeared in front of them.
"Hiro?" Laura put her hand on his shoulder. "What's going on? Where is Mohinder?"
Hiro was frantic. "I went to the meeting spot to teleport Mohinder here. I waited and waited, but he never arrived. I tried many times to call him. I left messages at his hotel, but they said he had checked out that afternoon. I fear something is very, very wrong."
"That's not like him." Laura shook her head nervously. "Has anybody talked to him?"
"I spoke to him this morning which was yesterday afternoon for him." Claude replied. "We went over the coordinates and the meeting place. He knew what he was supposed to do and exactly where to meet Hiro so he couldn't be traced by Catherwood's people."
"Catherwood's got him." Laura whispered horror-struck. "I can feel it." She looked up at Gabriel.
Gabriel put his arm around here. "Ok, we need to get a team together and go look for him. Hiro, are you up for one more trip back to the states?"
"Yes." Hiro nodded quickly. "I come help too."
Gabriel turned to Brandon. "I know you got a lot on your mind, but if you're up to it, we could sure use your help."
"I'm in." Brandon nodded turning to Laura. "I hate to ask…"
Laura waved her hand. "The boys can stay here as long as you need them to." She put her hand over her eyes thoughtfully. "Ok, I obviously can't go, but you need to take some folks with you. So besides you four, take Scott, Hana, DL, Niki, Peter and Candice. That's ten, Hiro's teleporting limit. We could get ten more with Peter, but he needs to save his strength."
"It's enough." Gabriel replied. He turned to the others. "Why don't you guys go and spread the word around to the community. We'll meet back here in ten minutes."
"Ok." Brandon, Claude and Hiro ran out the door.
Gabriel turned to Laura pulling her into an embrace. "Are you going to be ok?"
"No, I'm going to be scared shitless until you get back here." She replied tearfully. "That and I wish I was going with you so I can kick some ass."
"Well, we could use you, but you got Seth to take care of." He kissed her softly.
Laura rolled her eyes. "I know." She stroked his face. "You be careful. Come back to me."
"Try to keep me away, my love." He whispered kissing her passionately. "I love you."
"I love you." She replied, her voice weepy. "You go get ready; I'm going to check on the boys."
She started to walk away, but Gabriel grabbed her arm pulling her in embracing her again. He pulled away and looked down at her. "For good luck."
"You won't need it." She smiled kissing him again before running up the stairs.
Mohinder opened his eyes. Unfamiliar with his surroundings, he looked around panic stricken. He was unable to move as he was tied to a chair. "Where am I?" He wondered aloud.
"Don't worry Dr. Suresh, your safe." He heard a female voice respond to him. Looking in the direction of the voice, he could see Celeste sitting in a chair across the room.
"What did you do to me?" He whispered.
"I sort of drugged you." She smiled. "Do you remember when I put my finger in your tea? I emitted a mild tranquilizer into your tea. See, it's my power. I'm able to turn liquid into just about any kind of substance on the market."
"The last thing I remember we were sitting at the café." Mohinder replied weakly.
Celeste laughed. "Well, I also added a mild aphrodisiac in the mix to make you horny. I invited you back to my hotel and you graciously accepted. We never got there because you passed out in front of the Smithsonian. Our people brought you back here."
"Here." Mohinder looked around. "Where is here?"
"Never mind about that right now." She gently rubbed his face. "My employer will be here soon and he will answer all your questions."
Mohinder laughed sardonically. "Your employer. Phillip Callahan, I presume."
"You would presume correctly." She replied simply. "Please don't worry. No harm will come to you."
"You may do whatever you like to me." Mohinder sneered. "I will not tell you anything."
The door opened and Phillip Callahan stood in the doorway. "Dr. Suresh. Welcome."
"Don't treat me like I am a treasured guest." Mohinder spat at him. "What do you want from me?"
"We are hoping you will tell us where your friends are hiding." Callahan replied. "Actually, I'm hoping you tell us without restraint, because if you don't, we have little choice but to use means of force and I don't think you want me to."
"Go to hell!" Mohinder scoffed angrily. "You might as well kill me because I am not going to tell you anything!"
"Oh, Dr. Suresh." Callahan shook his head slowly. "You have it all wrong. I have no intention of killing you. But knowing how valuable you are to your company, I am sure they will send a team to look for you after they locate us. This is what we were counting on. We have been working day and night to locate your people, but with it being winter there are storms in the Pacific; alas, our efforts have been ineffectual."
"What are you going to do?" Mohinder asked him nervously.
"I am going to take what is mine." Callahan replied sitting in the chair across from him. "I will have both of my son's at my side before the night is over."
"Both of your sons." Mohinder nodded sarcastically.
"Of course." Callahan smiled. "Surely you knew Brandon Price is my son. I know you analyzed the DNA sample Hana Gietelman provided you."
"I don't deny it." Mohinder replied flatly. "But that is a secret I will take with me to my grave. And who is your other son?"
"Gabriel Gray is my son." Callahan replied straightforwardly.
Mohinder began to laugh sarcastically. "Are you mad? Gabriel RYAN is the natural born son of Harold and Virginia Gray. He is not your son."
"He is the re-embodiment of my son Phillip who was born in the year of 1503." Callahan replied angrily.
Mohinder shook his head. "How do you figure?"
"I have been alive for six-hundred years." He hissed. "You think I don't know my own son?"
"Perhaps your right." Mohinder replied. "But both of your son's hate you. How do you plan to have them stand at your side as you call it?"
"Well, that is why I am keeping you as my guest." He grinned. "When they come looking for you tonight, I will have them right where I want them. So you just sit back and relax while I wait for them to walk into my trap." He began to laugh maliciously.
Mohinder stared grimly at him. "Peter, here me." He tried to reach Peter telepathically.
"Laura"? Gabriel called out as he came down the stairs. "Babe?" She did not answer. "Where did she go?" He asked himself looking around.
Before he could look for her, Hiro teleported back into the living room with Peter, Niki, DL, Candice, Hana, Claude, Scott and Brandon. Hiro wore his sword across his back while the others carried weapons.
"Are we about ready?" Peter asked Gabriel.
"Yeah." He replied. "Was Molly able to locate Catherwood?"
Hana nodded. "Hopefully we aren't walking into a trap."
"Well if we are, we're ready." Claude replied racking his pistol.
"Do we have everybody?" Gabriel asked looking around.
"Not everybody." Everyone turned to find Laura standing in the doorway dressed in combat gear with her sword across her back.
"What do you think you're doing?" Gabriel looked at her shaking his head.
"I'm coming with you." She announced unflinchingly.
"Like hell you are!" He replied defiantly. "You are in no condition to fight. Are you even thinking about the baby?"
"The baby cannot be harmed." Scott replied. "He will protect her."
"It doesn't matter." Gabriel retorted angrily. He looked around at the others. "Help me out here guys?"
"Sorry man." Peter shook his head holding his hands up. "I ain't arguing with her."
"Me either." Candice shook her head.
"Where are my boys?" Brandon asked looking around.
"They are next door at Nathan and Heidi's." Laura replied. "Sandra and Claire are over there too. Don't worry, they are in good hands."
"It doesn't matter." Gabriel replied angrily. "You aren't going. I am not taking any chances with your health. Laura, you are five months pregnant! You have diabetes! You have high blood pressure!"
"And I can multiply." Laura retorted. "Gabriel, you need me!"
"Laura, this is no time to play Buffy." He shouted. "You can play hero all you want after the baby is born, but until then, there is no way in hell I'm letting you go."
"Oh shit!" Peter groaned. "Now you've done it."
"You're on your own, man." Brandon threw his hands up in the air walking away.
Laura turned to him glaring with her hands on her hips, her green eyes blazing with anger. "You're not letting me go?" She laughed audaciously. "This is not the eighteenth century and I am not your submissive little mail-order bride who cooks your dinner and has your slippers waiting by the fire when you get home from a hard days work in the field, mister!"
"No, but I am your husband and the father of that child you are carrying and you are not going!" He retorted. "If I have to tie your pretty little ass to a chair you are staying here."
She stood directly in front of him, arms folded her eyes narrowed. "You….and what army is going to stop me?"
"I don't need an army!" He sneered. "I am an army of one!"
"Shithead!" She hissed!
"Spoiled brat!" He retorted.
They stood face to face at a standoff.
"Gabriel, we could use her." Hana tried to reason with him. "We need her powers."
"She's right." Niki replied in agreement. "Gabriel, you heard Scott. The baby is as powerful as she is."
"Well, if she stays here, she won't have to worry about being protected." He replied still staring down his wife. "You, are staying here! That is my final word!"
"Fine!" Laura shouted furiously at him. She stomped to the couch, threw down her sword then plopped down, arms folded. "Flatulent prick!"
"But I'm your flatulent prick." He grinned tauntingly.
"Somebody's sleeping on the couch tonight." D.L. whispered to Peter as everyone snickered.
"We'll talk about this when I get back." Gabriel whispered to her, but she only stared at him resentfully. He shook his head than turned to the group. "Let's go."
"I think we should teleport in two groups so Peter and I don't deplete our strength." Hiro suggested.
"Good plan." Peter agreed. "Ok Hana, Niki, DL, and Candice, you come with me. Gabriel, Claude, Brandon and Scott, you go with Hiro."
Everybody gathered into their teams. Peter took his group first.
Hiro closed his eyes and began to teleport. Just then, Gabriel felt somebody grab his arm.
"Surprise!" Laura smiled insolently at him.
"Shit!" Gabriel muttered rolling his eyes as Hiro teleported them to Washington DC.
END OF PART 48
