ECHOES IN THE DARKNESS
Part 50 – First Blood

Four Months Later

Gabriel awoke with a start. He felt a hard kick in his hip where Laura's expanding belly was resting against him. Smiling he reached over stroking her face. Laura opened her eyes slowly, smiling sleepily at him.

"Hey." She whispered.

"Hey." He replied kissing her gently. "You need to have a talk with our son about beating up on his old man."

"You could feel that?" She giggled.

Gabriel nodded quickly. "I think he's practicing his side kicks."

Laura laid on her back as Gabriel put his head against her belly. "What's he doing in there?"

"I'm not real sure, but I can hear him moving around." He smiled listening. "His heart sounds good and strong."

"All I know is every time I finally start going to sleep, he starts kicking." Laura smiled softly. "And then he starts shoving against my sciatic and it hurts like hell."

"Just three more weeks." He smiled thoughtfully. "I can't believe I'm going to be a dad."

"Well, not that I'm not excited about becoming a mom, but I'm even more excited about evicting him from my body." She groaned. "Not that I had the greatest body in the world, but I want it back. Even if it is covered with stretch marks and my stomach sags for a while."

Gabriel pouted. "And no sex for six weeks."

"Oh trust me…after watching what my body is going to go through during the delivery process; trust me, you won't want to have sex." She laughed.

"Bullshit!" He replied. "Even the last few weeks while you have had heartburn and emitting horrendous odors from your ass that would make any man proud, I've been wanting to nail you every waking second."

"Well, when you put it that way, it can't be anything other than love that keeps you around." She giggled.

"That, and overpowering lust." He smiled. "Why don't you stay there and I'll bring you some breakfast." He kissed her softly.

"You won't get any arguments out of me." She replied stroking his hair.

Gabriel jumped out of bed, pulling on a pair of boxers. Laura's eyes popped out of her head as she studied his physique.

"Holy shit honey!" She marveled at him. "You are getting buffed!"

"Tell me about it." He grimaced. "Since we started training, I've gained twenty-five pounds!"

"Well, don't say that like it's a bad thing." She smiled. "You always complained about being too skinny. But now, you have gained weight in all the right places and you are sexy as hell."

He looked at her narrowing his eyes. "You mean I wasn't sexy before?"

"Oh, you've always been incredibly hot." She replied tantalizingly. "But now you are just mouth-watering. And um, I'm not the only one that's noticed."

"Really?" Gabriel proudly raised his eyebrow. "Who else has noticed?"

"Pretty much every straight female in this entire compound." She smiled coyly.

"Wow." He replied dumbfounded. "Considering I couldn't get a date all through high school, this is a very proud moment for me." He looked at Laura who rolled her eyes.

"And it's all going to go right to your head." She shook her head incredulously.

He crawled back on the bed pulling her to him. "Well, something's going to my head, and it's hard as a rock." He began to kiss her neck and remove her nightgown.

"Does this mean I have to wait for breakfast?" She replied removing his shorts kissing his chest.

Gabriel pulled back looking at her. "Oh shit…I was going to do that, wasn't I?" He started getting up as she pulled him back on the bed climbing on top of him.

"Get your ass back here." She smiled kissing him as they became wrapped up in erotic fervor.


Peter stood at the bottom of the stairs listening to where the grinding sound he was hearing was coming form. Searching around the house, he finally found Micah on the back patio working on a large piece of machinery that looked like a radar.

"What are you doing, buddy?" He asked looking at the device in front of him.

"An ability radar." He replied concentrating on his work.

"Really?" Peter sat down intrigued. "How does it work?"

"I took one of the radars from the airport tower." He replied proudly. "I reprogrammed it by inputting the abilities of the people who live here. If somebody comes on the base that has an ability different than what is in here, an alarm will go off."

"That sounds like exactly what we need." Peter grinned clearly impressed with Micah's knowledge of machinery. "Very cool."

Niki walked out on the patio smiling. "How's your project coming along?"

"I'm almost done." He smiled proudly.

"Well, I hate to burst your bubble, baby, but we have a lot of people here whose powers have not manifested yet." Niki replied sorrowfully. "And then we have people like Peter and Laura who have multiple powers. Not even they know all the powers they have."

Micah looked dejected. "So, I did all this for nothing?"

Peter looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, can you make do something else? Like alert us when there are people approaching the entrances?"

Micah smiled excitedly. "Yeah! I could set it to keep a scan on the parameters and sound an alarm if there is anybody outside the gate."

"We might have to have people check in and out as they leave the base, but I think you have a great invention, Micah." Peter patted his back.

"I'm so proud of you, baby." Niki hugged him.

Micah rolled his eyes. "Mom, I'm almost twelve!"

"And almost ready for college." Niki sighed. "My little boy is growing up."

"Don't worry mom." Micah hugged his mom. "I'll never be too grown up that you won't be my mom."

"And what am I?" Peter grinned. "A grilled cheese sandwich with a side of maggots?"

"No, you're a tuna fish with head lice." Micah laughed as Peter tickled him.

"Micah, you told your dad you were going over to have breakfast with him this morning." Niki reminded him. "Why don't you go get ready."

"Ok mom." He replied giving them both hugs then running off.

Peter noticed Niki looked apprehensive. "You feel it too, don't you?"

Niki nodded. "For the last few days I've been feeling like something just isn't right. Are you feeling it too?"

"Yeah." Peter folded his arms leaning forward thoughtfully. "What do you think this is all about?"

Niki walked over sitting on his lap. "I don't know. But I'm scared to death and I don't know why."

Peter pulled her into his arms as she rested her head against his shoulder.


After taking a shower, Laura slowly made her way down the stairs as to not trip over her now unseen feet that were hidden by her enormous belly. As she reached the bottom of the steps she could see Gabriel sitting at the kitchen table absently mindedly stirring his coffee as he stared out the French doors into the back yard. Zeus lay at his feet with his head resting against his foot.

"Gabriel?" Laura approached him slowly. He did not respond. "Baby?" She bent down so she was looking directly at him. He jumped as he became aware of her presence.

"Sorry." He half-smiled shaking his head to wake himself up. "I guess I was daydreaming."

"You have that look in your eye." She stroked his hair gently. "Are you ok?"

"Did we do the right thing by coming here?" He asked her worriedly.

Laura cocked her head. "Why do you ask?"

"Suddenly something just doesn't feel right." He said softly. "I feel like we need to get out of here."

"Are you homesick?" She asked sitting in the chair next to him.

Gabriel shook his head. "No. Not really. I don't know what it is, but all morning long I've been feeling like we shouldn't be here."

"We've been here almost four months." She said softly. "You've even learned to like Sushi. Why the sudden change of heart."

Gabriel took a deep breath. "Just a feeling I guess. It's probably nothing."

"Well, it's only a matter of time until Catherwood's people find out where we are." Laura replied taking a bite of his toast. "But I think we're ready. We're all trained and looking good."

"I guess you're right." He smiled. "Are you heading over to see Melissa?"

"Yeah." She nodded smiling. "Are you coming with me?"

"I would love to." He scooted closer to her kissing her. "But Peter, Nathan, Brandon, Hana and I are going to test the security alert system. Peter says Micah is working on a radar detector that just may just be useful in alerting us in case outsiders wander into the parameters."

"That kid amazes me more every day." Laura marveled. "That could have been you if you got the right nurturing and support growing up."

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me."

She quickly kissed him. "I'll be back in an hour." She started to rush off, but he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap.

"I love you, Mrs. Ryan." He whispered as he pulled her to him kissing her. "You still take my breath away."

"And I love you, Mr. Ryan." She stroked his hair kissing him in return. "You still make me swoon at the sight of you."

She carefully stood up holding her stomach and started heading for the door.

"Laura?" Gabriel called after her. She turned around. "Hurry home, ok?"

"Ok." She smiled as she walked out the door.

Gabriel sat looking at the door for a moment after she left. He stood up putting his coffee cup and plate in the dishwasher. Sitting back down he looked at Zeus who was looking up at him happily panting. Gabriel reached down scratching his head. "I wish I was as happy and optimistic as you are, buddy. But between you and me, something just doesn't feel right."


Alan sat in the morning sunlight soaking in the atmosphere that surrounded him. It was as if time stood still. Though Okinawa was modern in its style, there was still an old world appeal about its culture. "The old ways are always the best." He smiled to himself drinking his coffee.

As he was sitting there, a young Japanese man sat down across from him. "Shuichi. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me." Alan smiled.

"This is not a social visit." He replied composedly. "Did you bring the money?"

Alan pulled out an envelope and tossed it at him. "You can count it if you wish, but it's all there. Half now, and the other half when the job is complete."

"Understood." Shuichi replied as he counted the money. "Tell your employer we will not fail."

Alan leaned forward. "As far as you are concerned, you work for me. I have no employer. Do I make myself clear?"

"Placidly." He replied as he took his money and abruptly stood up. "We will talk again after it is done."

Alan nodded as Shuichi left. He dialed his cell phone.

"Senator." He smiled into the phone. "It's on. Tonight when they are all asleep. They won't ever know what hit them. I'll call you when it's over." He hung up.

Alan sat back taking a sip of his coffee. "Yes. It's a great day to die." He laughed to himself looking at his watch.


"You my dear are perfect!" Melissa smiled at Laura as she removed her stethoscope. "Your baby is right on target. Your weight is just where it should be, your blood pressure is good and you seem to have your diabetes under control. Are you still having contractions?"

"All the time." Laura replied. "I hope I'll know when the time comes when it's real and not just the Braxton-Hicks."

"Girl…trust me…you'll know!" Melissa told her as she pressed on her pelvis.

"I've heard of women who go to the bathroom and the baby falls in the toilet." Laura made a face. "I hope that's not going to be me."

Melissa laughed. "Honey, I have been doing this for six years. My daddy was an OBGYN for thirty years and in both our experience, it has never happened. Don't worry. You have me, Peter and lots of ladies here who have given birth. You're in good hands."

"I know, I know. I just wish I could get past feeling like a manatee." Laura groaned. "I used to be able to do triple flips and now I can't even get out of a chair without my husband pulling me up or a winch."

Melissa giggled. "What you are going through is perfectly normal. Don't worry; just a few more weeks you'll be holding that sweet little boy. Did you want to talk to me about any concerns you're having?"

"Well…" Laura bit her lower lip as her cheeks turned pink.

"Oh, a sex question!" Melissa smiled knowingly. "I can always tell. So is this going to be about how much longer you can do it, or what position you should be in…."

"Um…toys." Laura grimaced as she pulled on her top.

"What…kind of toys?" Melissa encouraged her.

Laura rolled her eyes. "Barbie's, Lego and Tonka Trucks! Common Melissa, you seriously aren't going to make me sit here and spell it out for you, are you?"

Melissa began to laugh. "I knew what you meant…I was just having too much fun watching you get embarrassed. I mean, you're usually so unflappable, so it's really amusing to watch you writhe in your chair."

"Great! Thanks!" Laura threw a piece of wadded tissue paper at her. "But seriously. Are they ok?"

"Do you mean the electronic variety?" She asked her.

Laura nodded. "Yeah. Partially."

"Um, yeah." Melissa shrugged. "I don't see why not." She continued to stare at Laura.

"What?" Laura asked feeling ill at ease.

"Nothing really." Melissa answered thoughtfully. "But speaking as your friend and not your doctor, you don't seem like the type that would be using sex toys."

Laura looked at her, knocked for six. "You're kidding, right?"

"Well, Gabriel does, but you just seem so…."

"So…what?" Laura laughed wrinkling her nose.

"I don't know." Melissa replied. "You seem like the romantic type…not the kinky type."

Laura leaned forward. "Well, kinky can be romantic."

"Yeah, your right. But speaking again as your friend…" She shook her head. "I don't think I want to know about that. But as your doctor, a little bit of electronic ecstasy is fine. But I would stay away from ben wa balls if I were you."

"That didn't even cross my mind." Laura giggled. "So how are you and DL settling into life in Japan?"

"Well, it took a little getting used to, but now that we have gotten to know everyone, it's been fine." She replied thoughtfully. "I really miss New Orleans thought. We both grew up there and that's where our roots are."

"I think we all feel the same way." Laura smiled sadly. "I miss New York and California, but I just hope when this is all over, there will be a life for us to go back to." Laura looked at Melissa who all of a sudden looked fretful. "Melissa? What's wrong?"

She shook her head. "I'm not really sure. When you were talking about having a life to go back to, I just got this bad feeling. I can't really explain it."

Laura looked at her taken aback. "That's odd. Gabriel said the same thing this morning."

"What do you think?" Melissa asked her sitting on her stool.

Laura shrugged. "I've been worried ever since we've come back from rescuing Mohinder from Catherwood three months ago. He said something then that had me worried, but we got back here and all was well. But ever since then I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"I hope we're wrong and it's just a feeling." Melissa replied apprehensively.

"I hope so too." Laura replied grimly.


Two o'clock am. Laura and Gabriel lay sleeping in bed. Zeus began barking, as Gabriel suddenly bolted awake, his eyes widening in fear. "Oh God!" He whispered with dread.

Laura opened her eyes slowly sitting up. "Baby, what is it?"

"I don't know." He replied looking around. "I thought I heard gunfire."

Laura listened for a moment. In the distance she could the fire of machine guns. "I hear it too."

Gabriel jumped out of bed pulling his shirt on. "Stay here. I'm going to go call Peter."

"Stay here my ass." Laura retorted pulling a sweatshirt over her pajamas, grabbing her sword as she followed him down the stairs.

As they ran down stairs they heard pounding on their door. Gabriel looked out the window then opened the door seeing Peter, Niki and Micah on the other side. "I was just going to call you. What's happening?" He asked them.

"We're being attacked." Peter replied rushing inside. "They are attacking the barracks!"

"Shit!" Laura shouted as she picked up the phone dialing.

"Who are you calling?" Gabriel asked her.

"Hana!" She replied. "We need to warn everyone. Hana! Code Red! We're being attacked! Send out a message and tell everybody to get to the fallout shelter immediately!" She shouted into the receiver than abruptly hung up.

From a distance they could hear the gunfire getting closer. Laura looked up at Gabriel, terrified.

"Oh my God!" Gabriel shouted as they all ran out of the house heading for the shelter.

"Zeus! Common!" Laura called to her dog, who ran after them barking.

They collided with Nathan, Heidi and the boys as they ran out of their home.

"Did you get the message from Hana?" Nathan asked them.

"Yeah!" Peter replied quickly picking up Monty as Nathan picked up Simon.

She looked at Gabriel. "Go get my dad. I'll go get Brandon and the boys."

Gabriel nodded as Laura ran across the street to Brandon's house, running into the Bennetts coming out of their home. "Everyone at the barracks is dead." Noah shouted.

"Get to the shelter."

"Not without my brother and nephews." She replied running past him. "Take care of your family. I'll be fine." She shouted back at them.

"Wait! I'm going with you." Claire ran after her.

"Claire! Get back here!" Noah ordered her.

"Dad, I can't get hurt!" She called back to her father. "People have kids that need help."

"I'll keep her with me." Laura assured him grabbing Claire's hand and running toward Brandon's house.

Noah hooked up with the others. Peter grabbed his arm. "You get everyone to the shelter. I'm going to go find Gabriel and help as many of us as we can get over there. Nathan is flying around to see where the gunmen are."

"Ok, be careful." Noah called after him as he grabbed Heidi and the others running to the shelter.


Laura and Claire ran to Brandon's house just as he was running out the door with the boys. He and Laura embraced quickly.

"What in the hell is going on?" He asked them.

"We are under attack." Laura replied hugging her nephews. "They have killed everyone at the barrack apartments and God knows who else between here and there. We need to get everybody to the shelter."

Brandon nodded taking out his gun. "Ok Claire, you take my boys and get to the shelter. Think you can do that?"

Claire nodded quickly. "Yes, of course." She replied.

"Daddy, we want to stay with you." Colin said crying.

Brandon knelt down to them. "Guys, I need you both to be really brave right now and do what I say. I'm going to go make sure Grandpa and Grandma Angie are ok and see who else I can help and I'll be right there, ok?"

"Ok daddy." Both boys replied as Brandon hugged them both.

"I love you guys." He said softly. "Do whatever Claire tells you, ok?"

The boys nodded as they ran off into the night with Claire.

When the boys were out of sight, Brandon removed his gun from his belt. "Lets go get these bastards."

Laura nodded pulling her sword from her sheath. "I'm ready."

"So am I." They turned around as Matt ran up to them holding his PDA and gun. "I heard gunshots coming from the other side of Nathan's house; we've got to get over there!" Matt told them racking his pistol.

"Oh shit!" Laura looked up at them terrified. "Candice and Hana!" She ran off as Brandon and Matt followed her.


Claire ran with the boys toward the shelter as someone grabbed her from behind. She let out a loud scream. Turning around she saw Scott standing there. "Oh God!" Claire cried as they embraced kissing passionately.

"You need to get to the shelter." He told her. "Common!" He picked up both of the boys and started running with Claire following close behind.

They stopped dead in their tracks as two men stepped in front of them. Before they could react, one of them opened fire at Claire shooting her repeatedly in the chest.

The boy's eyes were frantic with horror. "CLAIRE!" Scott screamed out. He gasped as the other shooter stepped in front of him. "Oh God! NO!" He screamed trying to shield the boys as more shots rang out. When the gunfire stopped, he looked down and saw blood on his hands.

Colin went limp in his arms. "Oh no!" He whispered horrified. Colin was dead. Reacting quickly, he hid Jake behind him as the gunman began stood in front of him with his gun aimed at his head. Scott closed his eyes waiting for the right instant to kick the gun out of his hands.

At that moment they heard two shots ring out. Blood began to trickle out of the shooters mouth and nose. As he fell over dead, Scott could see Claire standing behind him holding a gun. She had pumped two bullets in the head. Instantly she turned around aiming the gun at the other shooter, pumping three shots into his chest, killing him. Dropping the gun, she ran to Colin. She stopped as she saw Jake with his hands on his brother's chest where the bullets entered.

The small boy looked up at them with tears streaming down his face. "I can't help him. I tried to take it back, but I can't."

Claire began to sob burying her face in Scott's chest.

Scott walked over and picked up Colin as Claire took a crying Jake leading them to the shelter.


After taking George and Angela to the shelter, Gabriel and Peter ran through the streets toward the gunfire. Their first stop was DL and Melissa's house.

"Oh Fuck No!" Peter shouted in horror as he saw the form of two bodies lying on the walkway in front of the house. They both ran to them, turning them over. DL and Melissa lay there dead from gunshot wounds to the head.

"This can't be happening." Gabriel whispered horrified.

"It looks like he was trying to phase the bullets to protect Melissa, but the gunman got her from behind." Peter said sobbing.

They heard a sound behind them and they both quickly turned around to find Hana standing there holding a semi-automatic weapon.

"You almost got your head sliced open!" Gabriel hissed at her.

"Wouldn't be the first time you tried to kill me." She replied sarcastically. "Who's still with us?"

"We don't know." Peter shook his head. "A lot of our people have made it to the fallout shelter. Laura and Brandon are out searching for survivors."

"Ok, let's team up and stay together." She told them looking down at DL and Melissa's bodies. "There's nothing we can do here. We have to keep moving."

Gabriel and Peter nodded. As they turned around to run, Claude emerged in front of them with Mohinder and Andre. Claude and Hana embraced each other.

"Oh Thank God!" Hana said embracing all of them. "Common. We need to get whoever we can find to shelter."

"Did anybody find Ando, Hiro and Kaito?" Mohinder asked them. "We didn't find them at their house."

"They're at the shelter." Peter told them. "Hiro wanted to come with us, but Kaito was having heart palpitations so Hiro stayed with him."

They heard gunfire coming up the street toward them.

"Shit!" Gabriel whispered. "Common!" They all grouped together as Claude took them into invisible mode.

They watched as a young Japanese woman walked down the street holding an Uzi kicking open doors and shooting. They followed her into Gabriel and Laura's house.

When she came down the stairs she was met in the jaw by the back of Hana's fist. They all came into view as Gabriel grabbed her gun, shoving it into her head. The woman stood staring defiantly at them.

"Ok, you fucking bitch!" He hissed at her. "Where are the rest of your people?"

"You might as well kill me, because you won't get anything out of me." She sneered at him.

Gabriel grabbed her hair and shoved his gun harder against her head. "I am about to pump your head full of bullets. If you're a good girl and tell us where your people are, I may just let you live."

"Eat Shit Asshole!" She shouted spitting at Gabriel.

"EAT LEAD, BITCH!" Hana screamed as she opened fire killing her instantly. The others looked at her in amazement. "She wasn't going to tell us anything."

"Remind me not to ever piss you off, darling." Claude replied pulling her in kissing her.

"Ok, you two can save your little love fest for later." Mohinder replied grabbing the gun from Gabriel. "We need to get out of here and find the others."


Laura, Matt and Brandon crouched down hiding in the shrubs in front of the caretaker quarters that Hana and Candice shared. Laura felt a hand on her shoulder and quickly turned around to find Niki standing behind her.

"Oh thank God!" Laura gasped with relief as she hugged her friend. "If Micah is safe, we could sure use your help."

Niki nodded. "He's safe. And so are we!" She smiled firecly pulling out a machine gun cocking it. "What's going on here?"

"We heard gunfire when we were down the street coming from here." Matt told her. "We were just getting ready to go in and check it out."

"Ok." Niki replied. "I'm ready."

"Let's go." Brandon replied racking his pistol as Laura took her sword out of its sheath.

Niki kicked down the door as they all carefully ran through the house room to room looking for Hana and Candice.

"Brandon, anything?" Matt shouted.

"Clear." Brandon answered. "Niki?"

"Nothing back here." She replied. "Laura, where are you?" She didn't answer. "Laura?"

They heard sobbing coming from the kitchen. Slowly they all entered to find Laura cradling a bleeding Candice in her arms.

"Is she alive?" Niki whispered.

"Barely." Laura replied between sobs. "Niki, go get Peter." She looked down at Candice. "Hang in there, honey. Peter can heal you."

Candice put her hand on Laura's face shaking her head. "No." She whispered, her voice rasping as she spoke. "He won't get here in time."

"Don't talk like that, Candice." Laura whispered stroking her face. "You're going to be ok."

Candice shook her head. "Talisman." She whispered to Laura than began to cough.

"You want my Talisman?" Laura looked at her puzzled.

Candice nodded. "My power. I want you to have it to fight that bastard. Hurry Laura. There's no time."

"Candice, just hang on." Laura tried to encourage here, but she could see in her eyes the girl growing weak.

"Give it to me." Candice whispered feebly.

Laura reached into the velvet pouch that was tied onto her sheath and pulled out the talisman, handing it to Candice. Candice held the Talisman in her hand, then took Laura's hand and placed it on the hand holding the idol.

A warm glow began to overtake Candice as it spread throughout her body. The glow than moved to her arm and through her fingers into the Talisman. Then Laura could see the glow enter her hand and she watched with astonishment as she see it taking over her body. It felt warm, powerful. And then it stopped.

They all looked down at Candice tearfully. She weakly smiled up at them. "Thank you all for being my friends for short time. I never knew what it meant to have friends or family." She began to shake. "I love you all." She whispered as she closed her eyes forever.

Laura began to sob uncontrollably as Niki cried on Matt's shoulder.

At that moment, Gabriel, Hana, Peter, Mohinder, Claude and Andre came running in.

"Oh God!" Hana screamed! "Not Candice! She didn't deserve this! Not her!" She sobbed as Claude held her.

Just then they heard shots ring out again as two gunmen burst through the kitchen door. They all hit the ground as Gabriel laid across Laura, then held up his hand stopping the bullets in mid air, then flinging them back at the first gunman killing him.

The second gunman opened fire with a spray of bullets. When the gunfire stopped, Gabriel jumped up and ran after him. As he came around the corner he found himself face to face with the shooter his eyes widening in horror he lifted his gun preparing to shoot.

Then he saw blood spurting out of the gunman's chest as he fell to the ground. Laura pulled her sword out of his back, swiping it through the air to remove the blood. Their eyes met as Gabriel ran to her. As he took her in his arms, he could feel her body trembling.

"It's ok baby." He whispered.

Laura looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "I've never killed anybody before. I've always trained to defend myself, but…oh my God! Gabriel. He was going to kill you." She whispered horrified.

"You saved me." He replied softly as he took her face in his hands. "You saved my life again."

They held each other crying for a moment than went back to the kitchen to rejoin the others. Their eyes widened in horror as they saw Hana lying on the floor with Claude lying over her lifeless body sobbing.

"Oh God." Laura whispered, as she sat on the floor covering her face with her hands, devastated.

Peter touched Claude's shoulder. "You gotta let her go, man. There may be others out there that need us. She would want you to go and help the others."

Claude looked up at them devastated, nodding slowly. He leaned down and kissed Hana softly one last time, then taking his fingers, gently closing her eyes. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out two pennies and laid one upon each of her eyelids. "That is so she will be able to pay the ferry man when he takes her across the river Styx to her judgement. If you don't have enough to pay the ferry man, your soul remains in limbo forever."

Everyone nodded consolingly. Claude reached down picking up Hana's gun, cocking it. "Ok, I'm ready. No lets go kill these mother-fucking assholes before any more blood is shed." He headed for the door followed by the others.

As they reached the door, Nathan and Noah came inside both armed with weapons. Peter quickly hugged his brother.

"Ok guys, what's the status?" Laura asked them looking out the window.

"We got everybody at the shelter, except for the ones who lost their lives." Noah replied gravely. "There are three more gunmen out there. The last Nathan saw them heading toward the Officers Club."

"Let's go!" Peter replied heading out the door followed by the others.


The halls of the officers club were dark, except for the flashlights of the three gunmen; two men and one woman. Slowly they walked up and down the corridors looking for movement.

They spoke to each other in Japanese.

"Anything?" The first gunman asked.

"No." The woman replied taking out her walkie-talkie. "Is anybody out there?" She shouted into the receiver. No answer.

"They are all dead." They turned to see the third gunman walking down the hall. It was Shuichi, the ring leader. "I received the signal. All of them are dead."

"So it is just us." The first gunman shook his head. "We're fucked."

Shuichi began to laugh. "You should not be so pessimistic my friend. There are less people now to share the wealth."

The three shooters began to laugh joyously.


Outside the officers club, Brandon, Noah, Peter, Gabriel, Niki, Laura, Nathan, Claude, Matt, Andre, and Mohinder carefully circled the parameter.

"Can you see anything?" Noah whispered to Matt as he peered in the window.

"Negative." Matt replied, his gun drawn.

"I just heard laughter and three voices speaking in Japanese." Gabriel whispered. "There are two men and one woman."

"Where did you hear it coming from?" Mohinder asked him.

"Just outside of the dojo." Gabriel replied.

"Ok, there are four doors that lead right to that spot." Laura told the group. "We'll break up into four groups and surround them. Mohinder, you go with Claude and Niki. Nathan, Matt and Brandon, you three go together. Andre, Noah and Peter, you three team up. Gabriel, you're with me. Let's go!"

They all scampered off in their groups to their posts.

"Ok…on the count of three." Noah whispered into his headset. "One…two…three!"

They all burst through the doors as the gunmen took off on foot.

Laura's eyes met with the gun woman's. She instantly recognized her as the waitress from the sushi house she and Gabriel went to frequently. The woman ran down the hall with Laura on her heels.

"You guys get the other two." She shouted. "This bitch is mine!" Laura closed her eyes multiplying herself. Her second organism took off running after the woman as Laura walked slowly after them.

Laura found the woman cornered in a small conference room.

"Sorry babe." She smirked at her. "There's only one entrance and one exit. And guess where I'm standing?"

The woman pointed her weapon at Laura.

"Oh please do." Laura taunted her. "It's been a long night. I could use a good laugh."

Raising her gun she began firing; bullets spraying everywhere. When she was finished shooting, she saw that Laura was still standing there unharmed.

"My God!" She whispered horrified dropping her weapon. "You are protected by the spirits."

"No." Laura replied walking to her with her sword drawn. "I'm what you call a pariah. A side show freak. But I walk with God beside me." She raised her sword aiming it at the woman's neck. "What about you? Are you ready for the afterlife?"

As Laura drew back her sword, she felt the metal barrel shoved against the side of her head. She gasped with terror as she heard the clicking of the trigger echoing inside her ear. "Oh please God, no!" Laura whispered closing her eyes. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she thought of Gabriel and Seth.

And then she heard the shots ring out. She waited for the darkness to follow, but all she heard was the gunman fall over dead at her feet. She turned around to see Claude standing there holding a smoking handgun.

"Mother-fucking git!" He sneered as he stepped over the gunman hugging Laura. "Are you ok, kid?"

"I'm ok." She whispered. "You saved my life."

"You can thank me later." He replied. "We need to get to the shelter."

From the corner of her eye, Laura could see the gunwoman running for her gun. In a quick instant, Laura hurled her sword at her; it went right through her chest, killing her instantly.

"Shit!" Claude shouted in amazement. At that moment, Gabriel and the others came running in. Gabriel ran right to Laura who was still reeling from almost being shot.

"Baby, are you ok?" He asked holding her stroking her face.

Laura nodded tearfully. "It's because of Claude that I am alive." She smiled at him. She walked over to Claude hugging him tightly. "Thank you for saving Seth and me."

"You would have done it for me." Claude replied humbly.

Gabriel stood in front of him. "You saved my family today. I owe you everything." He heartily embraced him.

"Hopefully you'll never have to return the favor." Claude grinned slapping Gabriel's shoulder.

"Where's the other gunman?" Laura asked the others.

"He got away." Peter replied.

Laura noticed it was only Peter, Niki and Gabriel that were there. "Where are the others?"

They all looked at each other apprehensively. Gabriel put his hands on her shoulders. "They all went back to the shelter. Laura, something horrible has happened." He closed his eyes as tears began to brim over. "Little Colin was killed tonight. Scott tried to protect him, but he got shot."

Laura's eyes widened in horror. "Oh God, NO!" She screamed falling to the floor in anguish! "No!" She screamed! "Not Colin! Brandon just lost his wife and now he has to go through losing his son! It's not fair!"

Gabriel sat on the floor gently cradling her in his arms as she sobbed. Peter and Niki held each other sobbing profusely.

"I need to go be with my brother." Laura sniffed back tears.

"Ok." Gabriel gently helped her up from the floor.

Suddenly, Laura gasped as she looked up at Gabriel. "Oh fuck me sideways!"

"Baby, what is it?" He asked her.

"My water just broke!" She whispered stunned.

"Oh shit!" Gabriel shouted. "Peter…"

Peter held his hand up. "Don't say it…let's go!" He replied as he teleported them all to the shelter.


George and Angela sat beside Colin's lifeless body sobbing as Brandon came running in. He stopped shaking his head as he looked at his son's body.

George looked up at Brandon crying. "I'm sorry son." He stepped away, from Colin sobbing. "There was nothing anybody could do. He's gone."

Brandon fell on his knees beside his son, burying his face in his hands sobbing loudly.

Gabriel, Peter, Niki and Laura teleported in. Laura ran to Brandon. She knelt down beside him crying softly as he stroked his son's face for the last time. Laura looked up at Gabriel, as their eyes met over Brandon's head. Laura closed her eyes sobbing in anguish, as tears streamed down her face. Gabriel could see her wince with pain from a contraction.

"How far apart are her contractions?" Niki whispered to Gabriel.

"Um, about five minutes." He replied. "She was seventy-five percent enfaced this afternoon."

"She's going to deliver soon." Niki shook her head nervously. "I know she needs to be here for Brandon right now, but that baby is coming fast."

Gabriel nodded watching Laura and Brandon, tears streaming down his face.

Brandon looked around the room, then back down at Colin. "No." He whispered as he cradled his son. He looked up at Laura shaking his head in disbelief as the others watched in sadness. Brandon broke down, sobbing loudly, his face buried in Colin's chest. "Oh God NO! NO!"

END OF PART 50