Apocalypse by SLynn

Summary: Three years have passed since the explosion and life has drastically changed for everyone. This isn't the world they imagined they'd be saving.

Spoilers: Up to 'Fallout'

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and will return them all when I'm done, virtually untouched.

Notes: It's been a few days, but I've been busy on a side story that I'll post later. Thanks again for all the great reviews and comments and the like! I love the feedback! And thanks again, Tripp3235!

Chapter 23: Plans

"When was this decided?"

"Earlier today," Henry Jacobs said.

"And how do they know? How can they be certain that this information is real?"

"It's real."

David gave him a hard look before turning to Albert and Beatrice for support he knew he wouldn't receive.

"No one has given approval…" he continued.

"I don't need your approval," Jacobs interrupted. "Neither do they for that matter."

"You might want to reconsider that statement if you have plans for coming back."

"The plan," Jacobs said, now completely ignoring the other man, "is for four of us to leave tonight."

"Which four?" Beatrice asked.

"The boy and his father, the time bender and myself."

He waited for her to nod in acknowledgement before continuing.

"If everything goes well, we'll be back by the end of the week."

"And if it doesn't?" Albert asked.

"Then we won't."

"Why you?" Beatrice asked. "You don't know…"

"I know Matt," he interrupted once more, his playful manner entirely gone. "I left that man in an alley thinking he was dead. I left him behind. If he dies now, it's my fault."

"And the rest of their group? The other three, what are their plans?"

"To stay here," Jacobs answered. "They all want to stay here, but they don't want their friends to die if they can help that. None of them want to do this, but it has to be done."

Beatrice nodded slowly.

"Is there any way we can help?" she asked.

Jacobs shook his head.

"Good luck then," she said. "We'll look forward to your return."

Niki shook her head as she watched her husband pack a small bag with clothes and a few other essential items.

"I know why you want to do this," she said. "I really do, but…"

D.L. stopped and walked over to her; sat beside her and pulled her into his arms.

"It's going to be alright. We'll be back before you know it."

Niki nodded her head mechanically, automatically, but it wasn't really sinking in.

"He'd do this for me," D.L. said resolutely.

"I know he would," Niki echoed, still unable to look him in the eyes.

D.L. kissed her temple, hugging her close for a moment.

"Just promise me you'll come back," Niki said softly. "Promise me that you and Micah…"

"We'll come back."

Niki turned and met his gaze, wanting to believe what he said. Needing to believe it.

"I promise you," he repeated before leaning in with a kiss.

"There's been a slight change in plans."

"I don't like the sound of that."

"I know," Beatrice said into the satellite phone, her only connection to the men who ran Primatech, "but it's unavoidable. I know we promised you Henry Jacobs but…"

"You still have Claire Bennet?"

"Yes."

"Then send her along with anyone else you choose."

"And in return?"

"We'll be sure to drop another shipment off for you. The usual items, food and clothes."

"Just the usual?" Beatrice questioned. "I was under the impression you really needed…"

"Are you unhappy with our arrangement?"

"No," she said quickly. "Not at all, but I thought…"

"Good," the man said, ignoring the second part of her response entirely. "Then you might want to remember it. You still haven't given us Peter Petrelli."

"I told you, we're working…"

"Work faster."

After spending much of the previous night talking with Claire about who he really was, this Peter he didn't remember, Jonah hadn't been able to sleep. Instead he relieved one of the guards on night watch to pass the time, to hopefully take his mind off it all and give him something useful to do, but it hadn't helped.

His thoughts kept returning to the dreams he'd been having and that face, that look he couldn't place.

Was it Claire?

If everything she'd said was true, it probably was. He'd even thought he'd caught something of it earlier, in her smile and in her sadness.

So why couldn't he remember?

Not knowing was painful. Not remembering, not being certain of anyone or anything. How had he become this way? If he did have powers, gifts like everyone else, why couldn't he use them? Was it because of the amnesia?

Did something happen to change him?

Jonah traced the scar across his face and tried to remember.

He had a mother named Angela and they had told him he'd gotten that scar trying to protect her.

He had a brother named Nathan who ran the Order with an iron fist, locking away or eliminating the misfits from society.

There was a woman named Claire who smiled sweetly at him, who seemed to care so much and something else. Something more. Something he had to do?

It was intangible.

He was close, he was so close to knowing but something wasn't connecting. Somehow he just couldn't make it come together in his head.

They had all gathered in at the main entrance, ready to go.

"We'll bring him back," D.L. assured her. "We will."

"I should be going with you," she said shortly, refusing to meet his gaze. "After everything… No one owes him more than I do."

"Yeah, well, nothing would piss him off more then me letting you come along," D.L. returned and Claire couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "Okay?"

Claire nodded at him, offering up a small smile.

"Alright," D.L. said, smiling back. "We ready?"

Goodbyes were said and promises made as Claire, Ando and Niki watched the others set off.

"I won't sleep a wink until they're back," Niki said with a sigh as she turned and made her way back into the main part of the colony's epicenter.

"Do you think they'll do it?" Claire asked. "Really do it?"

"If anyone can it's them," Ando answered.

"I still wish I could have gone," Claire returned.

"Me, too," Niki seconded.

Ando nodded, wanting to be a part of it as well.

"What now?" Niki asked.

"I'm going to get some sleep," Ando offered. "I'm scheduled for kitchen detail tomorrow morning. Early tomorrow morning."

Both Claire and Niki looked at him, surprised.

"Already?" Claire asked. "I don't think they've even got me on the roster."

"Me either," Niki seconded.

"Well, I imagine they have their reasons," Ando said flatly.

"Is it because you don't have any powers?" Claire asked angrily.

"Claire, I'm sure it's…"

"Is it?" Niki asked, also angry.

"I don't know," Ando admitted.

"D.L. wasn't scheduled," Niki continued. "Was Hiro?"

"It's really not a big deal," Ando said, trying to gloss the whole thing over.

"No, it is," Claire continued. "That's not fair. If that's how things are done around here I'm not sure…"

"How what's done?" Peter asked, having just joined them.

"Do they only schedule people without powers for duties around here?" Niki asked, getting straight to the point.

"It's really not that important," Ando tried to interject, but without success.

"Yes it is," Claire said firmly, before turning to Peter. "Well?"

"No," he answered. "Well, yes and no."

"Which is it?" Claire asked.

"It's complicated. People that have gifts are expected to do other things; they're used in other places. So yes, they are still scheduled but no, it's not typically for things like kitchen detail or housekeeping."

Claire shook her head, still not liking it. It seemed unfair. It seemed like something the Order would do.

"I know what it sounds like," Peter said, "but it's really not like that. I'm always doing perimeter duty, it's just expected. I don't mind…"

"It's not a question of whether you mind it or not," Claire said, growing upset. "It should be equal. We should all be equal."

"But we're not," Peter said flatly.

Niki and Ando were now watching the exchange with equal parts curiosity and unease.

"I'm sorry if that upsets you," he continued, "but it's true. There are people here that can do extraordinary things. Doesn't that entitle…"

"No," Claire said decisively. "It doesn't. We're all…"

"We're not all the same," Peter interrupted. "What you do, what she does, that's special. I can't do that. No one else in the world can do that."

Claire just stared at him, not believing what she was hearing.

"I know that in the Order things are different. That people like you are feared, I know how you're thought of there, but here…"

"What is this place?" Claire asked, narrowing her eyes and shaking her head. "Who… I don't want special treatment. I don't want to be privileged. I want to be normal."

"Why would you…"

Claire waved him off.

"Peter, we've… I know you don't remember, but we've had this conversation before. We talked one night, all night about how these things we can do, they're not gifts; they're obligations. We're not special because of them. We're not different. We're still the same people we were before. Now we just have more responsibility."

"I don't…"

"I don't expect you to understand," she said shaking her head and looking away. "Not now. Not… not after what they've told you, taught you… whatever this place has done."

"Claire…"

"No," she said shortly. "This isn't right. I can't… When D.L. brings back Matt, we're leaving."