Assassin looked darkly at Sylar. "I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you."
Sylar glared at her. "Sorry? SORRY? Kate, why didn't you SAY anything?"
"I'm NOT Kate!" Assassin spat. "And I COULDN'T say anything, Sylar! What would you think if I TRIED?"
He looked at her for a long moment. "Oh…"
Assassin sighed. "Look. I'm not jealous of you and Grace. I'm fine with it. But this was bound to happen, Sylar! Either someone would want her dead, or she would find out about this whole thing!" She sighed again. "I'm sorry that this is the one that had to happen. Really I am. But this is our JOB, Sylar. This is what we DO."
Sylar looked at her for a long, tense minute. Finally, he sighed and looked down. "Tell him she'll be dead by Friday." He walked out the door, slamming it shut behind him.
Assassin sighed and picked up the phone, dialing the number she'd memorized. Sylar needed some time. They had two days.
Time's up.
Are you sure you want to do this, Sylar? I can… You know. Kill her before you have to look.
Just let me DO this, Assassin.
Look. I know she means something to you.
I don't CARE, if that's what you mean.
Oh, shut up, Sylar. You do and it's a fact. Now, I can do this for you. Just give me the word, and it's done.
Sylar sighed. For a long time, he didn't reply.
Finally, he decided. You do it. I'll look once you've killed her.
Done.
Assassin dropped down stealthily from her position in the trees, melting into the shadows like a nightmare.
Once she was certain she was alone with Grace, she emerged from the darkness.
Grace let out a gasp and whirled around.
"Sorry about this." Assassin said, throwing Grace against the wall. "Really I am."
"What?" Grace's eyes were wide.
Assassin shrugged. "Just business, Grace." She sighed. "We didn't want this."
"We?"
Assassin sighed. "Sorry…"
She concentrated, and Grace began to scream as a crimson line began to form across her forehead.
The Death Scream sounded out, and Assassin called out to Sylar. I need a little help here!
It's yours. Just finish it!
Assassin felt Sylar's telekinetic energy touch her own, making her ability stronger, allowing her to continue undisturbed. As the Death Scream rang out in her mind, it was the only thing that helped her to concentrate…
Grace wasn't dead before Sylar came in. He saw the look on her face. He saw the horror, the pain.
The betrayal.
Sylar gazed at her darkly. "I'm sorry, Grace."
Somehow, Assassin doubted Sylar's words as he finished the job, taking Grace's ability from her.
The next day, the newspapers reported another death. No one had known she was a hero until serial killer Sylar had struck.
That was just how things worked now. That was how they would always work.
A few months later, after Assassin had turned twenty-nine, Sylar called out from the other room. "Assassin?"
"Yeah?"
"I need to show you something."
Assassin entered the room. Sylar was smiling. That was rare.
"What?"
"Come here."
She came closer, and he placed a hand on her shoulder.
Suddenly, they were somewhere else.
Kate took a step back. "The Cretaceous? Really?"
Sylar smiled. "I thought you'd like it." He replied looking around at the creatures running away from him. "I don't think anything here could really hurt us…"
Assassin rolled her eyes. "That's a laugh."
Sylar nodded. "Isn't it just." He looked at her. "I knew you always wanted to come here, so I tried it." He smiled. "It worked, apparently."
She smiled as well. "Sylar, what's this about?"
He chuckled darkly. "You know me too well."
Then he pulled out the small, velvet black box.
Assassin's eyes widened, and she swallowed.
Sylar gasped as he came out of Assassin's memory.
Kate snorted. "Real romantic. Propose and fight a T-Rex all in one day." She rolled her eyes.
Assassin ignored her. "You only proposed to me because you didn't want what happened to Grace to happen again." She shrugged. "I wasn't going to argue. I knew that was what you thought, but…" She shrugged.
"That is SAD." Kate said. "Just plain SAD."
Assassin glared at her before continuing. "But I didn't really care. It seemed best." She shrugged again.
Kate snorted. "That's all that marriage is, then. A business deal. Nothing more."
Assassin's eyes landed back on Kate, dark fury burning behind them. "Maybe, Kate. But does it matter?"
"It matters." Kate spat. "Believe me."
Assassin rolled her eyes and turned back to Sylar. "Make sense yet?"
"Nothing makes sense." Sylar replied. "Nothing about you has ever MADE SENSE." He shook his head slowly. "Married…"
Assassin chuckled darkly. "Oh, get used to it."
"Especially when little Sylar jr. comes along…" Kate muttered.
Sylar whirled to face her. "WHAT?"
Assassin chuckled again. "No worries. It's not you. It's in your future."
Sylar looked at her for a long moment. "Sylar Jr.? Really?"
Assassin smiled. "Yes, Sylar. But that's not going to be HER name."
Kate raised an eyebrow. "Oh, joy. I get to have a little girl with a talent for killing people. Where will the fun end?" She rolled her eyes.
Sylar looked at the two of them for a long moment. "What?"
Assassin smiled. "Kate, I believe we've blown his mind."
For once, Kate smiled as well. "Yes, Assassin, I believe we have."
Sylar glared at them. "Just give me a minute." He snarled.
Assassin chuckled. "It's ok, Sylar. Really. A lot has changed in fifteen years." She smiled.
Sylar took a deep breath, closing his eyes, trying to make sense of everything.
Kate walked over to him. "Sylar…" She sighed and faced Assassin. "I need to talk to him." her eyes darkened. "ALONE."
Assassin nodded once and melted into the shadows, disappearing.
For a long time, there was silence. Finally, Kate spoke up. "It's strange, isn't it?"
Sylar glared at her. "Strange that I would end up marrying… YOU?"
Kate glared back. "Not me. Get that idea out of your head." She sighed. "You marry Assassin, not Kate."
Sylar looked at her. "But it's still YOU."
Kate shook her head. "I… I…" Tears streamed down her face suddenly. "I don't know, Sylar! I don't KNOW anymore!" She started to sob, though she was trying desperately to wipe the tears out of her eyes, annoyed with herself.
Sylar raised an eyebrow. "You don't KNOW?"
Kate sighed, wiping away a tear that had escaped from her attempt to clear it away the first time. "Sylar, I've never knew what was going to happen to YOU. And I could barely handle THAT. Now I find out that something similar is going to happen to ME…" She trailed off.
"You're scared." Sylar realized with a small degree of shock.
Kate sighed and nodded. "Terrified. Assassin is ME, Sylar. Just like you used to be Gabriel Gray, she used to be ME. I've tried so hard to change YOU that I find myself BECOMING exactly like you."
Sylar nodded slowly. "Makes… sense."
"Sense?" Kate chuckled darkly. "Nothing makes SENSE." She pinched the bridge of her nose with one hand, and handed him something with the other. "Take a look." She said with a sigh.
Sylar looked at her for a moment, then took whatever it was from her. His face paled. "You're getting your father's ability?"
Kate sighed again. "You're missing the big picture." She placed the two pictures side by side.
Sylar looked at it for a long moment, then gave up. "I don't see anything wrong with this, Kate."
She pointed to a figure on the drawn picture. "THIS is Nate Thorsen. And, for some reason, I don't know WHAT, Nate CAN NOT be alive when Assassin is. These are two ENTIRELY different realities, two different futures. Time can go one way, or it can go the other."
Sylar raised an eyebrow. "Who are the other three?"
Kate looked at the others. "I know him." She said, pointing to one of them. "I don't know his name, but he was the one with Nate when I came back to life, after that battle with Tom." She shivered theatrically.
Sylar rolled his eyes. "And the others?"
Kate shrugged. "No idea."
Sylar sighed. "So, what's the problem? There have been different versions of reality all the time, Kate."
Kate shook her head fiercely. "Not like this. NEVER like this. Not at EXACTLY the same TIME. No one's ever painted TWO different futures at the same time. NO ONE."
Sylar snorted. "So... what? You're unique?"
Kate's eyes narrowed, and she sincerely considered slapping him. "NO. Sylar, just LISTEN for crying out loud! This is SERIOUS. We're talking, end-of-the-universe, PARADOX kind of serious!"
Sylar sighed through his nose. "We're talking about a choice. One that ISN'T ours to make."
Kate took an involuntary step back. "So you know?"
Sylar snorted. "It's not too difficult to figure out, KATE. Assassin said that someone's going to reveal themselves as a hero. OBVIOUSLY, that's what changes everything."
Kate nodded. "The problem is, we don't know WHO."
Sylar rolled his eyes. "We can always ask."
Kate snorted. "Sylar, Assassin's PREGNANT. Weren't you LISTENING?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" Sylar demanded.
"Sylar, if she told me who the person was, and I changed EVERYTHING, what would happen to HER?"
He thought about this for a moment, and then his eyes widened, and his face paled. "She'd never exist."
Kate nodded. "Exactly, Sylar. And, more importantly, her CHILD wouldn't exist. That's not exactly motivation to tell us who it is."
Sylar nodded slowly. "But why does it matter to me, Kate? Whatever choice this person made created this future." He smiled coldly. "And I don't personally have a problem with this future."
Kate sighed. "I figured you'd say that." She turned to face the door, and started to walk out. Suddenly, she stopped, and turned to face him again. "But you don't know the future either, Sylar. And like you said, this isn't my decision to make." She sighed again. "But then, what do I know?"
She started to walk out again, and Sylar sighed. "Kate."
She looked at him.
His eyes locked on hers, and there was silence for a moment. Finally, he sighed again and spoke. "Good luck."
Kate smiled. "Thanks, Gabriel."
Sylar couldn't say anything for a moment, and Kate took advantage of that, walking out the door and leaving him behind, stunned.
"Kate."
Sylar smiled coldly.
"I came for my brother, Sylar."
Sylar smirked. "So I figured." He turned to face her. "Why can't you let Assassin see him, Kate? She is, after all, you. She hasn't seen her brother in fourteen years, Kate."
Kate shook her head. "It's who she is, Sylar. She ISN'T me. She's someone else."
Sylar chuckled. "I can see that you won't listen to reason…" He smiled.
Kate rolled her eyes. "Look. I just need to know something."
Sylar gestured for her to continue, his smile widening.
She sighed. "Who is the hero, Sylar?"
He shook his head. "Oh no, Kate. This isn't your decision to make. It's HIS."
"And who is HE?" Kate demanded.
He smiled. "I can't tell you."
Kate sighed. "Fine. We'll wait on that one. And while we're waiting…" She glared at him. "What about my BROTHER?"
Sylar chuckled softly. "I'm afraid he's not too happy with you, Kate."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Family matter. Last I checked, you were NOT family. So keep out."
Sylar smiled, shaking his head slowly. "I'm afraid I am family, Kate. It's the past version of me that isn't. So it does include me."
Kate's eyes narrowed. "Stay out of it, Sylar. Where is he?"
Sylar sighed. "If you must know…" he stood to one side, where Jonathon was behind him, sitting on a chair. There was nothing to show visually that Jonathon was unable to move, but Kate knew. Sylar was keeping him there telekinetically. Hate and fury burned in Jonathon's eyes when he saw his sister.
Kate sighed, and raised her hands, surrendering. "I won't fight you, Sylar. I wouldn't stand a chance."
Jonathon's eyes widened. Kate was… giving up? She wasn't going to FIGHT? This was KATE MENDEZ, for crying out loud! She'd fight until her last breath!
But Kate looked defeated. "I can't stand it, Sylar. Knowing this. Knowing my FUTURE. It does things to a person." She smiled darkly. "I mean, look what it did to Peter. He went insane, for crying out loud!"
Sylar looked at her for a long moment, and suddenly, a smile swept across his face. "That's all I needed to hear."
Jonathon gasped as the telekinetic energy released him.
Kate looked at Sylar, one eyebrow raised.
Sylar smiled. "This whole thing, Kate. Did you think this was all for Assassin?" He smirked. "Please. Of course, part of it is. She gets to see Jonathon again, but I get something as well." His eyes locked on hers. "I get to hear you finally admit that you CAN'T WIN. That something's too much for you."
Kate's eyes narrowed. "That's IT? THAT'S what this is about?"
Sylar sighed. "Kate, you don't understand." He looked at her. "I KNOW that this future can't happen. I've seen it for myself. So, I figured that if this was going to end…" he shrugged. "I'd have to finish a few things first.
Kate thought for a moment, then finally decided to smile. "That sounds like you." She said darkly.
Sylar smirked. "Of course."
She sighed. "The question still remains, though. Who is the hero?"
Sylar sighed as well. "You're not going to like this…"
Kate looked at him. "Who?"
"Tom Terronson."
"How could you keep this from ME?"
Kate sighed. "I'm sorry, Jonathon. Really, I am. I just…" she trailed off, suddenly unable to speak.
"Just WHAT, Kate? Didn't TRUST me enough? Didn't think I could HANDLE it?"
"That's not it, Jonathon." Kate whispered.
"THEN WHAT WAS IT?" He demanded.
Kate sighed, her eyes locked on her shoes as though they were the most interesting thing in the world. "I didn't think I could handle it."
"What in the world does THAT mean?"
A small tear streaked down Kate's face. "I can't stand knowing my future, Jonathon. I just… can't."
Jonathon glared at her, his eyes burning with an unnamable fury. "You just need to TRUST me."
She looked at him, her face dead, emotionless. "Do you trust ME, Jonathon? Or is it all a bunch of LIES?"
Jonathon took a step back. "Kate, what is WRONG with you?"
Kate sighed and kept walking, the words of an old friend ringing in her ears.
One day, Kate. One day he will betray you. And you will have NOTHING left. When that day comes, who will you be?
An old friend. A mortal enemy. Not Sylar this time. Assassin.
Assassin glared at Sylar. HER Sylar. "Why did you let him go?"
Sylar sighed. "Because I can't interfere with time. If you want to see him, it will have to wait. You have to bring me back first." He sighed. "And by then it will be too late for her."
Assassin took an involuntary step back. "You mean…?"
Sylar nodded, carefully observing her reaction. "Yes. You bringing me back sets off a chain reaction that leads to his death."
Assassin stumbled backwards and all but fell into the chair. Her face was pale, and her eyes held a glazed look. "No…" She whispered. "Oh no…"
Sylar looked at her. "I'm sorry. But it all makes sense. His hatred for Kate, his desperation to show the world everything…"
Assassin's blood ran cold. "But he can't…"
"He does."
"You said it was TOM!" Assassin spat at him, suddenly on her feet. "You said TOM did it! You promised…"
"I lied, Assassin. I changed your memories. I had to."
Assassin fell back into the chair, tears streaming down her face. "But Jonathon…"
"He made his decision, Assassin. It was his choice."
Assassin's face was blank. "But you told me… But… Tom…"
Sylar placed his arm around her shoulder, sitting next to her. "Assassin, I knew it would hurt you too much to know that your brother made that choice. I had to do it. For your sake."
Tears rolled down her cheeks. "But… he couldn't…"
Sylar gently stroked her hair back. "I'm sorry Assassin. But it hurts you too much."
She looked at him with wide eyes. "No… you can't…"
Sylar slowly shook his head. "I have to." He sighed. "There were times, Assassin, when you actually ASKED me to do this. To take it away. To make you forget."
Assassin was on her feet in a second. "Take a step closer and you'll never see daylight again." She hissed.
Sylar raised his hands up, moving slowly towards her as she backed away. "It's for the best, Assassin. Can't you see that?"
Assassin took a step back. "Not for her…" Her hand flew to her stomach, and her eyes locked on his. "You know you could confuse our memories. It's happened before."
Sylar shook his head slowly. "Don't you see? She's going to die, Assassin."
Her eyes widened, and her face went white. "What?"
Sylar sighed. "She dies. She's never born." His eyes locked on hers. "I'm so sorry."
Assassin backed into the wall, and slid down until she was sitting on the floor. "She… dies?" She whispered, her voice cracking. Another tear fell down her cheek.
Sylar sighed again and came over to her, sitting next to her. He placed his arm on her shoulders.
"Wouldn't it be better?" He asked softly. "To forget everything? To not know what will happen? What HAS happened?"
Assassin looked at him. Her face was the picture of pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her eyes were hollow. "No." She whispered, but it seemed more of a denial of reality than an actual answer.
Sylar gently stroked her cheek. "Shhh… It will all be over soon, I promise."
Assassin tried to move away from him, to stand up, but she couldn't move. Shock drained the strength from her. "No, Sylar, please…"
"Shh… it's all right…" He gently kissed her lips, and his hand went to her forehead. Assassin's eyes closed, and she again tried to run, but it was too late. Sylar sighed as he stood up, leaving Assassin unconscious on the floor.
He gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face and shook his head slowly. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "But it's better that you forget."
He closed his eyes, and disappeared out of time itself.
Assassin woke up with a splitting headache. She groaned and rubbed her head. Her hand instinctively went to her stomach.
Suddenly, tears fell down her face. Her child was DYING. There was nothing she could do. NOTHING.
Her eyes began to blaze with fury and hate. SYLAR. She would kill him. She would KILL him! How DARE he try and erase her memories! HOW DARE HE!
She was on her feet in a split second. The problem was, he'd mostly succeeded. Assassin remembered her child, but nothing else. She knew there was something else he had tried to keep from her, but she had no idea WHAT.
But wasn't that enough? Wasn't it enough that he'd tried to erase the memory of her child's death? And what did he plan to do when she died? Erase the memory of her child ENTIRELY?
The thought send shivers down her spine. No. She could never forget her. Never.
Assassin swallowed. What if Sylar forced her to forget? What if… what if she forgot everything?
Her face paled as another thought occurred to her. What if Sylar had always been making her forget? What if… What if he was the reason she hated Kate so much? What if he'd changed not only her memories… but her very thoughts as well?
A knot tied itself in her throat. Sylar wouldn't do that… would he? She twisted the gold band around her finger. He wouldn't! He'd married her for crying out loud!
And yet… he WAS a killer. What would stop him from doing that to her?
She shivered. A new choice was open for her. One that, though she didn't know it, could change everything…
