"You can not be serious."

Kate shrugged. "Why not? You're Sylar. I'm stuck with Kate. What use is that?"

Sylar snorted. "Come on, Kate. That was nothing. I didn't want to be Gabriel Gray. Simple as that."

Kate rolled her eyes. "So? I don't want to be Kate Mendez. It seems fair enough that I can change my name too."

Sylar snorted again. "To what?"

"Well, that's why I asked you, isn't it? Everything I think of sounds… well, stupid. You thought of Sylar…" She shrugged.

Sylar rolled his eyes. "So… what? You want to search through random watch names?"

Kate sighed. "You are hopeless."

Sylar looked at her. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

Kate shrugged. "You got to forget everything about YOUR past. Why can't I do the same thing?" She sighed. "I don't want to be Kate Mendez anymore. Just like you didn't want to be Gabriel Gray. Because that's NOT who you are anymore." Her eyes locked on his. "It's exactly the same for me."

Sylar sighed. "Fine. We'll think of something."

Kate smiled. "That's all I'm asking."


Sylar looked at Kate, coming out of her memories. She was right; this wasn't Kate Mendez. This was someone else.

"So? What's your name?"

"Not Kate, obviously." She replied with a dark chuckle. She looked at him. "Assassin. My name is Assassin."

Sylar raised an eyebrow. "Assassin?"

She shrugged. "It was your idea, not mine."

The other eyebrow joined the first. "Assassin."

'Assassin' nodded. "That's my name, don't wear it out."

Sylar looked at her. "Assassin…"

Assassin's eyes searched through his own. "Sylar, we both changed. Maybe… it was for the better." She snorted. "It's not like I could have survived that future if I HADN'T changed."

Suddenly, her ears perked. "No." She whispered.

"What?"

"It's Kate." Assassin whispered.

Sylar's eyes widened. "How do you know?"

Assassin's eyes were dark. "Can't you HEAR her?"

Sylar looked at her. "Obviously not."

Assassin shook her head. "She can't see me." She hissed, and disappeared into the darkness.

There was silence for a long time. Finally, Kate's Telepathic Fingerprint began to hover in the back of Sylar's mind. Sylar noted the extreme difference between her Telepathic Fingerprint and Assassin's.

At last, Kate entered the room. "Hey Sylar." She sighed. "Where is she?"

Sylar shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Nice try, Sylar. But I can hear her." She looked in the darkness. "I know you're there, Assassin. Come out."

Assassin smiled darkly and emerged from the shadows. "I could never hide from you, Kate."

Kate glared at Assassin. "I don't want to HEAR it." She spat.

Sylar raised an eyebrow. "I take it you've met before."

Kate nodded slowly. "Long story. Involves me, Assassin, and Jonathon."

Assassin shrugged. "It's been fourteen years since I've seen him, Kate. I think I'm allowed to say hello to my little brother."

Kate glared. "Look, Assassin. I don't care WHO you are. I don't care if you ARE me. I just care about the choices you've made." Kate looked down. "Choices I never wanted to make."

Assassin chuckled darkly. "You think I wanted to make those choices, Kate? You think I wanted to shoot my own brother in the head?"

Kate sighed. "I know. That can so something to a person they'll never forget." Kate looked at the future version of her. "But look at you! You're NOT me, Assassin. You might have been once…" She looked down. "But not anymore."

Assassin chuckled. "Kate, don't even act like you wouldn't make the same decisions." She looked into Kate's eyes. "You already have."

Kate snarled and launched a bolt of electricity towards Assassin. "Just GO!" She spat.

Assassin smiled darkly, her blue eyes cold as ice as her hand whipped up to catch the energy." I'm afraid not, Kate. You see, I was given a little… present… from my husband." Her eyes locked on Kate's. "And I'm not leaving here until I get it."

Sylar raised an eyebrow. "Husband?"

"You." Kate and Assassin replied at the same time. Kate's eyes were dark.

Sylar took an involuntary step back. "What?"

Kate sighed. "Later, Sylar." She kept her eyes locked on Assassin.

Assassin smiled coldly. "Come on, Kate. I just want to see my brother. Is that so wrong?"

"I don't want YOU near him!" Kate spat.

Assassin laughed darkly. "Awww… You're breaking my little heart." She rolled her eyes. "If you won't let me see him, Kate…" Her hand started to sparkle with electricity. "Then I'll TAKE him."

Kate snarled. "NO CHANCE!"

Assassin chuckled. "You think you can STOP me? I'm a MILLION times more powerful than YOU, KATE!"

"WRONG! You ARE me, Assassin!"

Assassin shrieked. "DON'T EVEN, KATE! I'm NOTHING like YOU! YOU ARE WEAK!"

Kate laughed, her eyes bright. "You see, Assassin? You sound just like HIM." She spat the words out.

"Unlike you, Kate, I don't see that as a BAD thing. He IS my HUSBAND, after all."

Kate snarled.

"Hold it." Sylar came into the picture, unsure why he was even bothering to stop them. "I'd love to see how this works out, but I think I should have a few answers first. So if you BOTH want to make it out of here alive…" His eyes grew dark, and a radioactive glow lit up his fingers.

Assassin sighed. "All right." She glared at Kate. "I suppose I owe you that."

Kate snorted. "I don't owe HIM anything." She spat.

Assassin rolled her eyes. "Then just stay out of it." She snapped, before turning back to Sylar.

She took a deep breath and let it out in a gust. "Look, Sylar. You stopped ageing and…" She looked down. "It… It's better if I just show you."

Sylar nodded slowly, and Assassin closed her eyes.


Sylar sighed.

Assassin grinned. "Awww… is poor widdle baby Sylar lonely?" She teased.

"Shut up, Kate." He replied, sending a bolt of electricity in her direction.

Assassin rolled her eyes and caught it. "Please, Sylar. That's not my name."

"But it works." Sylar growled. He stood up.

"Where are YOU going?"

"Out." He snarled.

Assassin smiled. "Ok, ok, I'm still on your side. Eeesh, get a sense of humor while you're gone."

Sylar snarled and slammed the door shut behind him.

Once outside, he took a deep breath. He wasn't really mad at Assassin. It wasn't her fault…

Sylar started walking. He had a lot to think about.

A lot had happened in so little time. After all, Assassin was already twenty-eight. Where did that leave him?

He sighed. He'd stopped counting when he'd stopped ageing. It didn't really matter anymore.

But what did matter was that Assassin would die, eventually. And then he'd be alone. Again.

Sylar could handle being alone. He was used to it. It didn't matter to him anymore. But still, it would be nice, once in a while, just to have someone who WASN'T Assassin…

The coffee shop was an old one. There were a few tables outside, though they were deserted. People had the strange idea that they might be safe from heroes if they were INSIDE a building.

He snorted and sat down. Things were different, that much was certain. He had no doubt that this would all disappear eventually, but for now, he had a job. He had a different life. He was an assassin.

"Is this seat taken?"

The voice sounded out in his ears, and Sylar turned around. He raised an eyebrow.

She had long, dark hair that fell below her shoulders. Deep green eyes gazed at him.

Sylar's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Why not?"

Sylar had no answer for that one. He gestured to the seat. "All yours."

She smiled. "Thank you." The words sounded simple enough, but there seemed to be nothing simple about her. She looked at him, her bright green eyes searching for some hidden secret. "I know you from somewhere…"

Sylar snorted. "Right."

She looked at him. "I'm serious." Suddenly, her eyes widened. "Sylar." She breathed.

Sylar raised an eyebrow. This should be good.

They sat there for a long moment, and, finally, she relaxed. "Whatever. You seem harmless enough." She shrugged.

This time, HIS eyes widened. "Harmless?" He asked darkly.

"Relax, hero." She sighed. "I used to be CIA. You know, before everyone freaked out about heroes." She snorted. "People have no taste. Heroes aren't THAT dangerous." She looked at him. "Not all of them, anyway."

Sylar looked at her for a long moment. "And you think I'm not one of those heroes? The dangerous ones?"

She laughed. "Yeah right. No, you're defiantly dangerous, but I know everything about you, Sylar." She shrugged. "It didn't take a genius to put together why you did what you did, once I knew about…" She looked at him. "Other heroes…"

Sylar raised an eyebrow. "Other? You're one as well?"

She chuckled. "I knew you'd catch on eventually." She shrugged. "It's not like you could hurt me, Sylar." She smiled and shrugged again. "I'm invincible."

Sylar looked at her. "Invincible?"

She smiled. "I can't die, Sylar." She laughed darkly. "Or, at least, I can't be killed." She smiled. "I'm not scared of you."

Sylar's eyes landed on hers. He looked into her eyes for a long time, waiting for her to look down.

He looked down first. "You know, enough telekinetic energy could rip though anything." He said, simply as fact. "Even something… impenetrable."

She looked at him, her piercing green eyes seeming to stare straight through him. "Probably." She flipped her hair behind her shoulders. "But I don't think you'll hurt me. It's not your style." She looked around. "Certainly not in a public area."

Sylar looked at her for a long moment. Finally, he sighed. "Can I get you some coffee?"

She smiled. "Why not?"

Sylar got up, but turned to face her again.

Before he could ask, she answered his unspoken question. "My name's Grace, by the way."

Sylar smiled. He turned around again. Grace.

Things had defiantly changed…


Assassin wasn't jelous of Grace.

That's what she always said, anyway.

Truth be told, Assassin was nervous. Grace was in the way. If Sylar got a call, and Grace overheard…

She didn't even want to think about it. Grace had no idea of Sylar's 'job.' All she knew was that he had been a killer.

And, like Kate so long ago, she wanted desperately to change him.

The phone rang.

Assassin picked it up. "Hello? Yeah, that's me. Tonight? All right. Who is it?"

Assassin's eyes widened. "I can't do that."

The words were out before she could stop them. Shortly afterwards, the question she dreaded came to her ears. She sighed and gave the most reasonable explanation she had. "No way. This one's a hero."

Another question. She sighed. "Look, my powers are useless against hers."

Her eyes widened. "I can't do it, sir. I'm sorry."

She listened to the person on the other end go on about her not being reliable, before replying. "Spare me the lecture. I told you I can't do it. That's my final word."

Another lecture. "I know we're the only ones who stand a chance, but…" She sighed.

One last lecture, and then, "Just… give me some time. I need to ask around. I'm sorry. I know you want her gone by tonight, but I CAN'T HELP YOU." She sighed again. "I… I'll give you my decision in two days. Then we'll talk." She hung up without waiting for a reply.

"Assassin?" Sylar came into the room. "Who was that?"

Assassin shrugged. "No one. We can't help him."

He raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

Assassin looked at him. "So. Where's Grace?"

Sylar shrugged. "She went home."

Assassin stared at him for a long moment. "What are you two doing tomorrow?"

Sylar looked at her. "Does it matter?"

She shrugged. "It could."

"We're going to the movies. Is that ok, or do I need your permission?" He spat the words at her.

Assassin raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. "Eeesh, bite my head off." She sighed. "Sylar…"

"What?"

She looked at him for a long moment. "Nothing. Never mind."

She walked out of the room. She was unable to cry anymore, incapable of feeling anything strong enough TO cry. But had she been Kate Mendez, Assassin had no doubt she would have cried.

Things had changed. And not for the better.


Sylar picked up the phone. "Hello?"

"Is this Sylar?"

"Who wants to know?" Sylar replied, his eyes naturally narrowing.

"I already had a conversation with your… associate."

"And?"

"Did she mention anything?"

"Depends on what the 'anything' is. You're not the only person to call." Sylar said the words darkly.

The man on the other end sighed. "Look. I want to get rid of someone. I know she's a hero, and your associate said she'd give me two days before she gave me her answer." His voice grew cold. "It's now been three days."

Sylar sighed. That was Assassin. Forever forgetful.

He looked up, and suddenly saw her there. Her dark blue eyes were cold.

She made no motion towards the phone, so Sylar kept talking. "Who is it?"

"Her name is Grace."