The Princess and the Papoose

Chapter 5

As the Princess and the Papoose played by the water, they began to grow sleepy. As they laid down in the soft, green grass to rest, dark clouds began to gather in the sky.

Rain and Bethany Ticket rode in silence in the backseat of Mohinder Suresh's taxi cab. Thunder rumbled overhead, though no evidence of actual rain was currently present.
Mohinder sighed, like he'd been thinking hard about his next words. He said, "I could rent a conjoining room next to you. It would give us more time to talk, and might help keep Sylar away if he finds you again."
"You mean you could keep an eye on us." Rain said.
"Well, yes. Not in a bad way! Simply that you are two very young ladies in a strange, dangerous place." He glanced at them in the passenger-watch mirror.
Rain looked out the window to avoid his gaze. "I suppose that would be alright." Honestly, here didn't scare her any more than home, but she knew that Bethany and her did need someone to watch over them. The situation did scare her, and, in a strange way, Mohinder made her feel safe. She sensed that Bethany felt the same way.
More neon lights came in to view, and the cab turned in to a Motel 8 parking lot.
"Last stop," Suresh said, smiling. "Everybody out."
Bethany had fallen asleep leaning against the window. Rain hated to wake her, but she couldn't very well carry her. Dr. Suresh helped them carry what little luggage they had to the designated room, then bounded off to the lobby to call the space next to them.
"Mohinder," Rain called as the three of them prepared for bed. "Could you leave the door unlocked?" She felt like a little girl again, asking daddy to chase away the monsters. She was at least that scared.
"Of course," he called back. "If you need anything, don't hesitate."
"Thank you."

The following day consisted of rain, thunder, and lightning. Harsh, pounding rain that echoed off of the motel's metal roof and kept general crowds off of the streets. Vagabonds crowded in doorways and old abandoned buildings. Business men and women huddled under umbrellas on their way to meetings and sales.
Sylar walked the streets and sidewalks in complete confidence. Water pattered down from the sky, stinging his skin and plastering his hair to his face because he carried no umbrella. Cold air whipped against him, chilling his bones and raising gooseflesh, yet no woman clung to his arm to keep him warm. For Sylar was stronger than all those stiff-necked suit-wearing business people that littered the sidewalks. He needed no protection from the weather, not doing what he was about to do.
His prey had escaped him once, then again by slipping away in the dark. But not this time.
No, this time, Sylar would have them piece by piece. He wasn't about to let them go that easily.
The predator was hungry.

Protected from the freezing water that poured from the sky and assaulted the inhabitants of Manhattan, cozy and warm in their little motel room, were two Ticket sisters and one Dr. Suresh.
Even with the heat cranked up, Rain shivered in her sweater, cursing whichever side of her family the cold gene came from. She and Bethany were again attempting to call forth these mysterious new 'powers' - but so far, no luck.
"This isn't gonna work." Bethany insisted, throwing her hands back in surrender.
"You can't give up now," Mohinder said, "it's not even noon yet!"
"It's my fault," Rain sighed. "I can't concentrate."
"What is it you're trying to concentrate on?" Suresh asked, thoughtfully.
"Calming down," Rain said. "Relaxing. That's what worked last time."
"Why do you think it's not working now?"
"Because she can't relax!" Bethany interjected. "Honestly, neither can I, but last time I got riled up, not calmed down."
"Do you suppose it's some sort of positive/negative thing?" The scientist suggested.
Bethany looked indignant. "Meaning?"
"Like, a battery, or a magnet. Opposites attract, so on." Rain exclaimed. "Maybe! Okay," she closed her eyes. "I'll try harder." She took a deep breath and released it slowly, then put her hands up.
Bethany furrowed her eyebrows and gritted her teeth, putting her hands up as well. When Rain opened her eyes, there was a brief flash of light, almost blinding in nature, and the beams were again visible. Rain watched in awe as her sister's eyes faded from a golden hazel to a deep, dark blue. The static beams slowly died away. Thunder rumbled outside. Both girls again began to experience that energetic 'alive' feeling.
Mohinder observed without saying a word.
"Okay," Rain stood up. "Yesterday, when Sylar broke in, I went to dial 911 and my finger busted a hole in the phone."
"So that's what happened." Bethany said. "Got it!"
"Yeah." Rain said. "I felt like...I don' t know. I got attacked by adrenaline on steroids. I thought I could break a table with my little finger." She turned to Mohinder. "After you left it was like my muscles turned to jelly."
He stared at her. Not as though she were crazy, but like she was on to something.
"I felt the same way," Bethany said. "I figured it was just the adrenaline wearing off."
"Maybe it was." Dr. Suresh said, quietly. "Rain, come here."
After a quick glance and a quirked eyebrow at Bethany, Rain crossed the room and stood next to Mohinder. He promptly slid off the bed and on to the floor on his knees. He motioned for Rain to follow. She did, though feeling rather awkward.
"This is going to sound a bit strange," He propped his elbow against the bed, "But I want you to arm wrestle me."
"Well, I guess it could be stranger." Rain mumbled. She took his hand. "Ready when you are."
"One," he steadied his grip. "Two...three."
Instantly, Mohinder's hand and arm were deep in the covers of the bed.
"Sorry," Rain said, "I thought you were ready."
Mohinder stared. "I was."
Their hands came back up, and both repositioned themselves. "Let's try again." He said.
He counted to three again, and again Rain had him instantly defeated.
"Really Doctor," she said. "You don't have to try and make me feel-"
"I wasn't." He interrupted. "That's just it. And I'm willing to bet your sister could beat me just as easily."
"Why's that?" Rain was examining her own arm and hand closely.
"Well...I have an ability too."
"You do?" Both girls said at the same time.
"Yes." He replied. "I'm strong, fast, and I can climb odd surfaces."
"Like an athlete?" Asked Rain.
"Sort of," Mohinder responded, "but like a super athlete."
"What does that have to do with us?"
"There's something else that helped me come to this conclusion." Mohinder sat back on the bed. "I told you before that Sylar has some sort of psychokenetic ability. I couldn't figure out at first why he didn't use them when he came to the hotel. The more I thought about it, I realized he couldn't. Now I think I know why."
"And you think it has something to do with me and Beth? Like, we're some kind of 'mute' button?"
"More than that." Suresh took a deep breath. "I think you...borrow the abilities of whomever you're around. Take it for yourself and leave them wiped clean."
"Oh, that's wonderful." Rain mumbled.
"It can be!" Mohinder exclaimed. "It means Sylar can't get to you."
"Uh, yes, he can," Rain protested. "We don't know any of this for sure, and besides that what does it have to do with the lightning thing?"
"We'll find out." He promised. "And...we will find a way to get you back home.
Rain wasn't assured.

"I'll have to take these samples back to my lab," Dr. Suresh explained, while gathering his things. "You two stay together, and keep a sharp eye out."
"We will," Rain promised. It didn't come out sounding nearly as confident as she'd hoped.
He gave them both a sad look. "Be careful. Stay safe."
"You too."
Once he was gone, Rain and Bethany felt that same, strange energy drain.
"I hope he doesn't crash," Bethany said, staring out the window.
"The weather's not so bad, now." Rain said. "If he drives carefully, he should be fine." It had been a long time since anyone's presense felt that comforting to Rain, and it seemed silly, but the thought of losing him now scared her. She knew she had to shake that state of mind, that often a strong, confident figure could be easy to attach to in a time of stress, or fear. But she didn't want ot think that was all it was. She wanted to believe that they had a special connection, that it was more than just a coincidence that they met.
Maybe she was being ridiculous and selfish. Who could really tell? Time, perhaps? She would see.