Chapter 6: Special
Although Noah had managed to remain oblivious and forcibly ignorant to the display of intimacy and passion between the immortal lovers for the most part, he had decided to take up an even more observatory and non active position from then on. He had been sure that Claire did not know that he was awake, although to tell the truth it was more likely that she had completely forgotten about his existence and presence. Her detachment was what he had been anticipating, yet he felt disappointed.
Simultaneously, he was starting to comprehend how much the world has changed since his time. He could only conclude from their behaviour, they were doing what they thought was within acceptable limits and the remaining few days to their destination were not too bad after all.
Claire had been in a much better and relaxed mood ever since the event Noah tried to blank out, but whatever the reason was, the results seemed very beneficial for his bizarrely reinstated ties with his daughter. They have made an effort to recall some pleasant and amusing memories from the time they were living under the same roof and reminiscenced about things of the twenty-first century. A father-daughter relationship would never be possible under the circumstances, but they found the connection was still there and Noah arrived to a point where he could actually hope that Claire would not just be happy, but also comfortable with keeping him in her life.
His prospect for second chances didn't come to a close with that possibility though because planet Annunna turned out to be his next surprise. All the way down from orbit and the glide over to their landing pad, Noah could see no evidence of civilized developments, and intelligent life only represented itself in some sporadic, mainly circular edifices that walled the excessive vegetation off.
When they came to a halt above a middle sized circle, slowly hovercrafted inside and parked their vehicle next to the interior wall, Noah wondered why they went there in the first place and what benefits could come to such a stop, when it appeared that there was nothing exciting around, what's more, the population was either zero, or close to it, as he could see nobody around.
The little group started towards what he could assume was their accommodation, a dwelling that resembled a huge whitish shell with a pink tint. A figure tan towards them happily from that direction, and soon it became clear that it was a human woman, barefoot and scarcely dressed, bar for a long, white dress that did not leave much to the imagination given its virtual see-throughness. She was blond, lithe and beautiful, and leaped around the newcomers in an overactive manner, undoubtedly happy with the arrivals.
The thee immortals hugged her back at length as well, then the host's attention drifted to the vehicle they arrived with, "looks like she needs a charge, doesn't she?" And it was only when the barefoot woman with short hair emanated a blue light from her palms that she directed towards the thrusters that Noah recognized her as Elle Bishop.
"There's plenty of time for that later, Eleanor, thanks," Claire put a hand round the back of the other golden-haired beauty, "it's Sylar who I think could do with your attention," she turned Elle back towards the taller immortal, "he had overestimated the strength of his powers as usual," she rolled her eyes.
The electricity manipulator slowly snaked her hands up Sylar's arms, her eyes solely focussed on taking him in now. Claire turned to his father's direction to explain, "Elle refined her ability and is able to charge up any entity, living or not, with their respective appropriate form of oomph they require and that includes an aptitude to self charge. That is how she had not only stays alive when physical harm comes to her, but can give herself little charges to enliven her cells and make herself look young."
The person in question looked sharply back, her lips slightly parted while her puzzled inner thought process gave no results whatsoever. Then her head tilted, "are we sharing info because we're killing this one anyway?" She asked in an impious manner, that made Noah wonder whether she was joking or not.
Sylar saw great potential for awkwardness and discomfiture for all participants, so it was him who took the chance to talk, his wayward streak manifest, "Elle, may I introduce you to one of your oldest partners ever, Mr. Bennet."
A slow smile spread over the electric woman's face, followed by an appreciative nod and whistle, "minor problem here Noah, your gun would be seriously outdated."
"I've seen enough different types of projectiles during my so far short time in this future, so I think I can manage," the ex agent reciprocated, stunned, but finding that somehow secretly he was happy another one of those doubtful evolved human lives turned out to be all right.
Elle directed her questioning eyes towards the other woman, once again curling her fingers around Claire's arm in a confidential manner. Her whole behaviour was catlike, elegant and charming, Noah found it hard to decide whether that was because she had changed and became more tactful or rather because she had kept her penchant towards the wicked and nefarious.
Claire must've had a favourable opinion of her seeing that the two women chatted cordially and harmoniously while on the short walk up to the house or whatever the rather flat, concave structure was, they were heading in the direction of.
It was Peter's turn to be his guide and the Petrelli explained that pretty much everything on the planet, including the technology necessary to allow for and maintain the required conditions for the abundant flora and the favourable atmosphere was provided by their still quite capricious Elle Bishop. In other words, this was her planet, one of the main sanctuaries for the fugitives of the Samuel Sullivan Sovereignty.
"Oh, he needs a room to himself, doesn't he?" Elle looked back at Noah when they reached the spacious hall area inside the house. She winked at Claire and touched one of the walls, pushed it a little gently in different directions with every finger, which resulted in the interior starting to shift slowly, making a hollow that was forming at the side of the large room, like a small bedroom as apparently the walls were made of and could function the same way as clothes did, changing to requirement.
Peter nonetheless filed the time traveller towards a large, low, round table, around which the others had already sat down. Noah was not sure where Elle produced a peach pie from, but he surely enjoyed a plate of cuisine reminiscent of the twenty first century, as opposed to the rations they ate while aboard the ship, provisions he did not as much as recognize the texture of, let alone know what it was made of. That the peach pie presumably had no real flour or peaches in it in fact did not matter to him at the moment, he comforted himself with the little bit of familiarity the taste gave him, reminding him of his time he had spent in the tradition of "one of us, one of them" of the company, when he had been paired up with the Bishop girl and had the chance to savour her cooking.
Continuing with the feeling of the moment, dinner passed in quiet, happy conversation that Noah could relate to in its atmosphere, even if he did not know of the people and events the chatting was about. The participants swapped places slowly and unnoticeably, but while at the beginning of the meal it was the two women that were in close proximity, now Sylar was rubbing to and ended up practically attached to Elle, their bodies adhering as if they were conjoined while Claire held hands with Peter, although in a much more reserved manner.
"Just take him to bed already!" Claire sighed finally exasperated. It was perhaps strange, but she sometimes still found it hard to share her lovers with others still, after all these years, although she had no trouble with sharing herself.
Elle and Sylar's soft, but wayward smiles melted together the same way as their bodies did and when they disappeared behind another newly formed wall, Claire leaned back in Peter's arms, looking for his comfort. She may as well occupy herself with her older looking lover as she knew from experience that Sylar will not do with just one night of disappearing with her electric friend. It could be days before those two emerged, but at least by then Sylar will be completely charged and fit and she had to also admit that her ability was not the sole reason they liked having Elle around. They were a tight circle, the four of them were unique in a way that nobody else in the universe understood. Her gaze rested upon her father, so oddly and improbably having ended up with them. How could she make him understand what Sylar, Elle and they all meant to each other?
She shook her head. She'll have to talk to Peter and figure out a plan of what to do with Noah Bennet and where to deposit him where he could be safe and bother no one. Cause sure as hell he did not understand evolved humans ever, and he was not much more likely to appreciate them now.
The End.
