HEROES: Duality p5 - Coyote
Disclaimer: I own nuttink!
Notes: Having written the bulk of "Darkness" before s3 played out, I found the show went in a different direction than I thought it would. I eventually figured out where my story and the show canon really diverged. Here's what happened in my AU, and it's all Matt's fault, as usual. (sorry, Grunny!)
Pinehearst and PrimaTech have been given government sanction. The President is readying to announce the existence of "Specials" to the world. Meanwhile, Sylar has found his true father and now searches to find his destiny with the reformed Company as a new drug has begun hitting the streets....
Angela woke with a start. She forced herself to calm down as she felt her heart race in her chest. As she did so, she reached for her bedside notebook and made some notes. She drew a lazy eight. A Moebius strip, she remembered it being called as a phrase ran through her mind. "Those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it."
She wrote this down, paused and without thinking wrote two more words: Coyote Sands.
She looked at what she had written. "It's time. It's been too long, Alice."
That morning was a flurry of calls to various parties.
-
Matt Parkman was not a happy man at the moment. Watching the news made him even less so.
"The President has appointed now-former junior Senator Nathan Petrelli from New York to head this new department, but is keeping details under wraps, but the position did require Mr. Petrelli's resignation before his post appointment, citing a "conflict of interest" with his Senatorial duties. You may remember that Mr. Petrelli was just recently appointed to the vacant Senate seat by New York's Governor Malden following an attempted assassination on Petrelli who was giving an impromptu news conference in Odessa, Texas. Petrelli has maintained a "no comment" status regarding that incident and has currently denied interviews for the time being, only saying he is working with the President on a matter of high importance."
Matt grumbled as he dialed a now familiar number and waited for the other person to answer. The reporter droned on in the background.
"In other news, a bank in the Los Angeles suburb of Valley Village was robbed late last night. There was no sign of forced entry, authorities are saying it's as if the money simply vanished from the vaults. Security cameras in the lobby show no one entering the bank or leav--" klik.
Matt shut the TV off as a drowsy voice answered, "Hello?"
"Pete, it's Matt," he said into the phone as he set the TV remote down. "You got a few minutes?"
"Mom called you?"
Matt hesitated. "Yeah," he replied gruffly. He started to jump as a gust of wind ruffled the morning paper at the table. "Daphne, what did I say about running in the apartment?" he said before he looked up.
"Sorry, Matt, it's just me," Peter replied, grabbing a chair. "You got coffee? You woke me up."
Matt gave him a dirty look and closed his phone. "What's with the wind, anyway? Hiro doesn't blow things over when he teleports."
"I didn't pick this up from Hiro," Peter shrugged. "I'm not sure who it was. I just started doing it after everything that happened at Pinehearst."
Matt gave him a wary look. The female private from Pinehearst, Rachel Mills, who was now one of their government liaisons, came to mind. Could that have been her secret? he wondered.
"What did you want?" he asked. "Having second thoughts about this 'camping trip' mom decided would be a good 'bonding experience' for all of us?" he groused.
Matt didn't have to be a mind reader or a detective to tell Peter wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea, either. "He's going to be there, isn't he?"
"Gabriel?" Peter asked. "Yeah, mom wants all of us to be there."
"Molly's not coming," Matt glared at Peter. "I'll stay home and we'll get to know each other again. I just got her back after Mohinder sent her to India without telling me."
"I'm sure mom will let Molly slide, Matt," he said. "Claire and Micah and his cousin are invited, but I think that's it for the younger group."
"Wait, Micah?" Matt asked, puzzled.
"Niki's son, the little jheri-curled kid from Kirby?" Peter replied.
"Yeah, you mean Molly's email, FaceSpace, Tweeter buddy?"
"I wouldn't know anything about that, but yeah, he and his cousin from New Orleans are coming. He's a technopath or something. Not sure what she does, but I guess I will later."
"He's a what?"
"Technopath, he talks to machines."
"What, like email and stuff? That Hana chick could do that," Matt explained. "Which reminds me, she would be a good member for the tech department or IT or whatever. Remind me to remind Noah about her," he said, making a note for himself.
"okay, whatever," he shrugged.
"She could talk to machines, too, I think," Matt explained. "I only met her once, when she contacted Ted and sent us to Bennet's to find the truth about what he had done to us."
"What did Noah do?" Peter asked, perplexed.
Matt sighed. "Apparently, nothing. Just a few tests, the basic bag and tag. At the time, we thought the Company had done this to us. That's when Ted nuked his house."
Peter laughed. "Okay, now I know what you're talking about. When you first met Claire?" Matt nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, she told me all about that," he laughed.
"Everything?" Matt groaned.
Peter smiled and made a finger gun. bang.
Matt leaned his head into his palm and grumbled, "Not my finest hour." Peter stifled a chuckle and Matt glared at him. "Anyway, tell your mother I'm not going."
"Come on, Matt, Gabriel is trying to change," he implored. "Everyone else is giving him a second chance. Why can't you?"
Matt stared at the table. "Molly still wakes up screaming from her nightmares. Mohinder, too. That's why."
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"They started again when she was in India," he said. "That whole fiasco when he broke in and shot Maya and threatened her and Mohinder started them off again." He looked Peter in the eye. "She's terrified he'll come back after me and Mohinder, Peter."
"Then leave her with someone you trust, and the both of you come on out. It's the only way you can see he's trying to change, Matt."
"Well...there is someone who could watch her. He's on the way to--where are we going again?"
"Some place in Arizona. Coyote Sands?"
Matt grimaced. "Sounds like that nuclear test site, White Sands. Why there?"
Peter shrugged. "Something about 'learning the lessons of the past to avoid the mistakes of the future,' she said."
Suddenly, another gust of wind blew into the room. Matt sighed. "No running, remember?"
"Unclench, Matt," Daphne said as she kissed him on the head. "What's up with you two?"
"We've been invited to a Company camping trip," Matt informed her. "I don't suppose your dad could watch Molly for a few days?"
Daphne gave him an exasperated look. "Uch."
"I just want her somewhere where she'll know she can be safe," he explained. "I can't think of any place better than way out there on the farm."
"You're such a city boy," she said in mock disgust. Peter chuckled. "Fine, I'll call and ask dad. Where and when's the trip?"
-
"Are we there yet?"
"No, we're not there, yet."
"How long until we get there?"
"As long as it takes."
"How long is that?"
"Lyle, so help me, you better shut up! Right now!"
"MOM! Claire's threatening me again!"
"Good." Sandra replied, exasperated with her bored teenager.
Noah glanced to his wife and smiled. "You know, there's a reason they call it Coyote Sands...."
Claire smiled tauntingly at her brother.
"MOM!"
"Shut up, Lyle."
-
"Are we there yet?"
"Shut up, Damon."
"Are we there yet?"
"Shut up, Damon."
"Are we there yet?"
"You know, there's a reason they call it Coyote Sands, Damon," Nana said in a warning tone, glancing at Monica behind the wheel. Monica and Micah smirked in return.
-
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Want some cheezy poofs?"
"No--wait, what?" Matt asked. "Where'd you get those?"
"That gas station ten miles back."
"I didn't see you buy them back there."
"I ran back and got some."
"Daphne, what happened to the 'no powers' rule for this trip?"
"We could have gotten there by now if I ran us out, Matt."
"She's got a point, Matthew," Mohinder noted.
Matt gave his former roommate a dirty look.
"No powers means NO POWERS," Matt reiterated.
"What if there's coyotes?"
-
Angela strode the campground. No, not a campground, she thought. Battle ground. She shivered at the thought of what happened here. How many lives were lost. The swingset frame and a coiled bouncy horse still stood in the playground area. She turned back to the weathered ramshackle cabins. The thought crossed her mind that they had been aged by more than the desert.
Would the others understand? Could they? She braced herself again for what was to come. There were secrets she had to share with them, others she could never share. She practiced locking those away once again.
"Mom?" Peter called to her.
"Over here, dear," she replied, turning back to the impromptu semi-circle of large tents being set up by her two sons and Gabriel. A smile came to her lips as she saw Nathan struggling to assemble his, while Peter and Gabriel had a pair of tents each already erected. "I thought we had a 'No Powers' rule this weekend?" she scolded the younger men.
Peter and Gabriel shared a smirk. "You okay? You look upset," Peter asked.
"I'm fine," she interrupted. "Just memories," she explained, "of the last time I was here." She forced a sad smile. A revving engine caught her attention and the quartet turned to see a pair of SUVs pull up.
Matt and Mohinder exited the first one, Daphne came running up from the side, causing Matt to roll his eyes. "Hi, just stretching the legs a bit," she explained cheerily.
The second one contained two young black boys, who came tumbling out as soon as the vehicle stopped. Two women, one young, the other old stepped out behind them. "Micah! Damon!" the younger woman called after them, "Behave yourselves!" She turned to the rest. "Hi, sorry about them," she apologized.
Micah had bolted for the SUV they had followed in. "Molly! Hey Molly!" he called out.
Matt intercepted him. "Micah? Sorry, my man, Molly couldn't make it." He knelt down on one knee to face the youth at eye level.
"What? Why not?" he demanded.
Matt glanced toward the tents and one man in particular. "I didn't feel she was up to this after being away so long," he explained. Adding mentally, "Let your family know -discreetly- that if that guy with the eyebrows over there, Sylar, if he steps out of line towards any of you, give me a shout as loud as you can, you understand?"
Micah frowned, but nodded in understanding. He tried not to look directly at the man in question, but he had to.
He saw Peter and Mohinder greet each other warmly. Mohinder also seemed to shy away from the man with the eyebrows, but shook hands with Nathan.
Matt caught his attention again. "You want to introduce your family?" Matt waved over to the Petrelli's as he said this.
Nathan greeted the pair first. "Hey Matt, how are ya?" he said, shaking his hand. "And this must be Micah? I'm sorry about your mom. She was a good woman."
"Thanks," Micah replied. "She died trying to save us. She was a hero."
"That she was," Nathan replied warmly, patting him on the shoulder.
"Hello young man," Angela greeted him, them turned to his great-aunt. "Hello, Nana."
"Angela," Nana Dawson replied coolly. "Long time, no see."
"How long has it been?"
"Not long enough for my tastes," she replied. Both sides took this in and felt the tension in the air.
"I'm not in charge this time," Angela explained. "I'm only giving the occasional bit of advice."
"Which is the reason you asked us out here?"
"That, and I felt I owed it to young Micah to help shape the Company that helped take his mother's life."
Nana raised an eyebrow. "Niki died in a fire."
"True, but the damage was done before then," Angela countered. "Mistakes were made. Mistakes we are here to learn from."
"You're the last?"
Angela forced a grim smile. "Yes, unfortunately. We lost some good people along the way. Niki included."
Nana still regarded her coolly. "I know why you asked us here. Micah and Monica. This is my grandson, Damon, by the way."
Angela greeted the young trio with a forced smile. "Nice to meet you." Not one of them bought it.
Still, Monica replied the same before she finally got a chance to greet Mohinder. "How are you doing?" he asked. They caught up while he introduced her to the Petrelli brothers, Matt and Daphne, and cautiously, Gabriel.
Nana stood beside Angela and surveyed the ramshackle buildings. "I heard the stories about this place. Paulette and I almost came here. I can't imagine how hard this would be for you."
"I lost my family, but found a new one here," she replied.
"I'm sorry," Nana replied sincerely. "I can feel them, you know. The spirits still linger in this place."
Angela sighed. "That's what I was afraid of."
At the sound of another engine, Angela turned to see Noah Bennet finally arrive with his family. She was glad for the distraction. "Ah, here comes my granddaughter. Would you care to meet her?"
More introductions followed, Sandra glad to finally meet her daughter's 'bio-dad', as Claire jokingly called him. Noah greeted the other men, introducing his son, Lyle, to them. Nathan apologized for not bringing his boys along, as Heidi refused to let them come out, even with Peter co-chaperoning them.
"You didn't bring the dog?" Matt teased Noah, winking at Sandra.
"You didn't bring the girl," Bennet countered. Matt's grin became a scowl, as he tossed a glance to Sylar. "Ah, silly me," Noah said in realization. That's when he noticed Lyle taking it upon himself to meet the brief partner of his father's who he had not been introduced to yet.
"You must be Claire's brother, Larry," Gabriel said, taking the young man's hand. "Nice to finally meet you."
"Larry? Nah, dude, I'm--"
"Lyle!" Noah shouted at his son as he and Matt came running over. "What did I say about wandering off out here?" he chided, both men scowling at the man they still thought of as a cold-blooded killer.
"Dad, chill," Lyle countered. "I was just introducing myself to your friend, here."
"He's not my friend, Lyle," Noah informed him, keeping an eye on Sylar. "Go help your mother and Claire."
"But dad--"
"Go." Noah pointed back to his wife. Lyle sulked off.
Gabriel smirked and glanced between the two. "He came to me, Noah. I was just minding my own business over here."
"Don't even think about it, Sylar," Matt scowled, leaning forward.
Noah put a restraining arm against Matt's chest. He pointed his other finger at Sylar. "The only reason you're not dead right now is because of Angela. She's the only thing keeping you breathing right now," he warned. "Believe me, there's more than a few people out here that would love to be the one to put you out of our misery."
"I'm on my best behavior, guys," he countered, holding his palm up flat. "Scout's honor."
Matt scoffed. "Like you were ever a Boy Scout."
"Got me," he smirked. "Would you like me to swear I'll behave on my mother's grave?"
Matt started to charge him, fists clenched, but Noah grabbed his shoulder. "Don't play his games, Matt. He's not worth it." Gabriel regarded the pair coolly. "We'll be watching you," he warned and led Matt back to the rest.
Gabriel watched them go, then noticed Claire watching him. He waved, but she turned her back on him.
"Give them time, they'll see you're trying to change," Peter said as he walked over. "Eventually."
"And until then, I have to tolerate the dirty looks and scowls from everyone?"
"After everything that Sylar has done, can you blame them?"
Gabriel watched the others talking and laughing, even as they gave him nervous looks. "No, I guess not."
By this time, the last two members of their new Company had arrived. Ando and Hiro still arguing in their native tongue over a missed turn causing their delay.
Angela soon organized a quick tour of the buildings to the group, explaining how she and her family had come there in early 1961 in hopes of curing her of what they just thought of then as nightmares. She had met a group of young people as diverse as the abilities they possessed. "Among them were Charles DeVeaux, Daniel Linderman, and Bobby Bishop. As a matter of fact, the first man I met here was the head doctor, Chandra Suresh. I believe some of you may have read his book?"
Mohinder was taken aback. "Excuse me? My father never mentioned coming to America at that time," he argued.
Angela nodded. "Being new to the--how should I put this--web of secrecy and lies that would soon dominate our lives, we weren't aware that other parties might have already organized a task force of others with Special abilities. We believe that the US Government wiped his memory of his time here," she explained. "It was probably for the best, really. He was one of the few survivors of the massacre that took place. It was really a mercy on him to erase what happened."
Mohinder's horrified look spoke volumes the others dared not imagine. Matt put a consoling hand on his friend's shoulder.
"For what it's worth, I do believe now that his heart was in the right place," she consoled him. "It's just that the people who really ran this place had other ideas." She tossed a casual glance to Matt and the Japanese duo.
As night began to fall, the men quickly built a bonfire from the fallen boards of the buildings which Gabriel then used his electrical ability to ignite.
Angela continued her story and explained she didn't know until after they had arrived that her father possessed some sort of shockwave blast ability. She happened to see him demonstrate his ability to the staff on an impromptu firing range a few days before the massacre took place. This was also where her sister, Alice, had revealed to Angela her ability to summon storms. That was how she knew it had all gone wrong that fateful night.
Peter and Nathan protested about this mystery aunt of theirs. Angela told them to be quiet, listen and learn why she never spoke of this place before as she continued her story.
She was among a quartet of teens who had snuck out, she explained, believing things at the camp were not as they seemed on the surface. More soldiers had been arriving than many were comfortable with. They were trying to find someone to believe their story when they had stopped at a nearby diner, the news reports came over the radio of a freak storm centered over the camp.
"I knew it had to be Alice," she explained. "No one else here had an ability like that. We received news of what had happened from the only three people we knew that made it out alive." She looked around at the group. "You know of two of them. Adam Monroe, who claimed he was working undercover as a guard." She focused on Matt. "The other was Maury Parkman."
Matt gasped. "What? Excuse me?"
She nodded. "The five of us returned to New York after hiding out in Las Vegas for a few months until we thought things had cooled down, as it were. Three of us were from the area originally, so it made sense at the time. No sooner had we arrived than Maury found out his family was in trouble. We helped them move to California for safety. He never told you this?"
Matt shook his head. "I never knew the real reason they moved across the country. No one would ever discuss it."
"The secrets we keep to protect our loved ones," she said, still watching him.
Matt sensed there was something else she wanted to say, but Nathan cut her off.
"Ma, how come you never told us any of this before?" he asked.
"You were too young. We were too ashamed," she replied. "Ask Noah, very few at the Company even knew about this place. Those that did hear about it were told to forget it even existed by those who were here." Noah nodded his confirmation. "As far as those few survivors of this place were concerned, the fact that we managed to keep it hidden so long proved our methods were working." She forced a grim smile in the firelight. "How wrong we were."
"You never came back?" Peter asked. "Not to check for survivors or anything?"
Angela shook her head. "No. We knew it would be a foolhardy venture and we would be shot on sight by any surviving soldiers. Maury and his one friend managed to stay hidden until Adam found them and smuggled them out." She turned to Matt. "From what your father told us, they were extremely lucky."
"Who was his friend?" Matt asked. "Who else made it out?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't really know the boy," she replied. "As soon as we had met up, he was insistent on returning home to California with some family friends, I believe, then back to Japan."
"Huh?" Hiro and Ando suddenly gasped. "He was Japanese?" Ando asked.
"I believe so, Mr. Masahashi, but I can't be certain," she replied. "It wasn't Kaito, I know that much," she told Hiro with a sad smile. Hiro gave her a courtesy nod.
"So what happened to all the bodies?" Gabriel asked. Everyone stared at him. "I'm sorry, you did say it was a 'massacre' that occurred here. Did they bury the bodies here or take them elsewhere, to a lab or something?"
This time, it was Nana Dawson who answered. "They're here. All around us," she said. "I could feel them the moment we arrived. Some spirits still remain, restless, they feel trapped, angry." She hugged her shoulders.
"Grandma, what are you talking about?" Monica asked.
"What, you think we were all invited out here because of you and Micah?" she scoffed. "The Company tried to recruit my sister Paulette and I back when we were your age." She locked eyes with Angela. "Paulette bought into their lines, but I was too smart to fall for that."
"We offered you a chance at a better life," Angela countered.
"Is that what you call what you did?"
"Ladies, please," Noah interjected. "Not in front of the children." He gave a quick nod toward Micah.
"Shall we continue?" Angela said, motioning Nana back to her lawn chair.
As Nana took her seat, she mused, "Anyone know any good ghost stories?" Nathan and Gabriel chuckled. "Nice to see some of you still have a sense of humor," she noted. "Now, down to business." She surveyed the group, then pointed at Matt. "You, Officer--?"
"Parkman," he answered, raising an eyebrow. "Detective Parkman."
"Very well, Detective, you sit there," she ordered, pointing to her right. "It's the way you carry yourself, by the way," she smiled at him. Matt nodded, but couldn't help but notice it was 3:00 to her 12:00 position. She pointed at Mohinder next. "I need you beside him," she pointed to a spot to Matt's right. She then pointed to Nathan and Claire. "Petrelli's, I need you there," she said, pointing to a spot opposite herself across the bonfire. Claire gave her a questioning look and joined her father. Finally, she pointed to Peter and Gabriel. "I need you two over there," she pointed to a spot opposite Matt and Mohinder. "Finally, Angela and Kaito's boy--?" she pointed to Hiro.
He gave her a confused look. "Hiro Nakamura, but I no longer have powers?" he questioned.
She gave him a warm smile. "That doesn't matter, young Hiro," she said. "Please, have a seat here by Angela and myself. He gave her a small bow and did as she asked.
She looked around the group once more. "No, we need a few more. This isn't balanced." She glanced around the remaining group. "Monica, please sit across from me." Monica shrugged and joined Claire and Nathan. "And you, Mrs. Parkman," she pointed at Daphne, "please join your husband.
The group fell quiet. "Uh, we're not married." Matt finally spoke up. "Not yet, anyway," he added quietly so even Mohinder barely heard it sitting beside his friend.
Nana smirked at him. "I'm sorry, did I speak out of turn?"
Matt and Daphne looked at each other. She rolled her eyes. "I told you, it's fate," he mentally joked. She went to sit by him and smacked him in the head, which he laughed off and hugged an arm around her.
Nana looked around. "We're missing someone. Who didn't make it?"
"Molly!" Micah piped up without thinking.
Immediately, Matt was on his feet. "NO! I told you, I'm not letting her anywhere near him again!" he shouted, pointing over to Gabriel.
Nathan and Peter rose to their feet as well, Peter putting his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. "Calm down, Parkman," Nathan scolded him.
"Shut up, Nathan!"
"Boys, please!" Angela called out. She turned to Nana. "Is the girl necessary for this?"
"I'm afraid so," Nana replied. "Are you sure, Mr. Parkman? Can you bend your rule this one time?"
Matt still glared across the fire at Sylar.
"How long will this take?" Mohinder asked her. "Maybe we can bring her out here for whatever you need to do, then send her back to--"
"NO!" Matt interrupted his friend. "She's been through enough! I won't put her through this as long as he's here."
"Matt, please," Daphne asked. "None of us would have come if it wasn't so important." She glanced at Angela, who gave her an impressed smile.
"The girl has guided several lives here tonight without any of you realizing it," Nana told them. "Did you never realize she was the one who started you on your journey here, Matthew?"
"What?" Matt asked, dumbfounded. "What are you--?" Then he realized what she was talking about. "Molly was the first voice I heard. I guess I never realized, in an extremely roundabout way, she brought me into contact with Sylar, Audrey, Ted, Noah, Claire, Peter, Nathan, and Mohinder."
Daphne cleared her throat and elbowed him.
"So, it really is all my fault, bringing her into your life," Gabriel said. "Isn't that right, Matt?"
Matt glared at him. "You killed her parents and who knows how many others," he snarled.
"Then it's up to the girl to forgive him," Nana said.
Daphne gripped Matt's clenched hand as he looked to Mohinder, who nodded his assent.
Matt held his gaze at Sylar. "Anything happens to her, to anyone here, and there will be no force on Earth that will stop me from ending your life. Do you understand me?"
"Fair enough," Gabriel replied calmly.
"Rage, anger, it's wasted energy, Matthew," Nana informed him.
Mohinder looked across the fire. "Peter?"
Peter rose and walked over to Matt and Daphne. "You want me to take the both of you?"
Matt looked to Daphne, who nodded. "Yeah, I can run back if three is too much for you," she told him. Matt informed him of Molly's location mentally. He nodded and grabbed both by a shoulder and the trio disappeared in a gust of wind.
"I'm not exactly Mr. Popular with everyone here," Gabriel informed Nana. "Are you sure you need me for this?"
"Yes," she replied. "I think some changes in placement are needed, though." She mused for a minute, then said, "Nathan and Claire, please join Gabriel." Claire glanced to her father before the pair moved. "Yes, and the girl can sit with her fathers, Peter and Mrs. Parkman can sit with Monica."
Mohinder laughed. "I'm sorry, they're still not married," he told her again.
"No, not now, but they will be," she replied with a smirk. A few chuckles were heard scattered around the fire.
Beside her, Angela let a warm smile curl her lip before she noticed Mohinder looking at her. She shot him a dirty look.
Suddenly, Peter and Matt reappeared, Matt holding a sleepy preteen girl. She looked around in confusion at the faces around the fire, recognizing very few.
"Molly!" Micah called out and ran to the trio. This seemed to wake her up and she hugged him as soon as Matt set her down.
"Daphne will be back in a minute," Matt explained, retaking his seat. He paused and looked around at the seating changes.
"Peter, please sit with Monica, Daphne can sit with you when she returns," Nana informed him. She turned to Matt. "Your daughter can sit with the two of you. Fair enough?"
Matt tossed Sylar a glance, then looked to Nathan, who nodded. Matt gave a grim nod and pulled Molly down between himself and Mohinder. Molly finally noticed Sylar and hugged Matt for protection. He put a protective arm around her. Mohinder placed his hand on her back for comfort.
Daphne came running up at that moment. "Sorry, I had to talk to--" Matt sent her a quick mental reminder not to say where they had kept Molly. "um, never mind. Where did you want me?" she asked, seeing that her seat was now taken.
"Over by my granddaughter and Peter, dear," Nana told her. When Daphne had taken her place, Nana began her tale.
"For generations upon generations, certain people have risen above and stood out, making their mark in history. Why does this happen? Why are certain people chosen to answer this call and not others? Why are we here? We may never have the answers to any of these questions, but it is the wise men and women of the tribes who know where to look to help their people find their way. Medicine Men. Witch. Wizard. Shaman. Prophets. Messiahs. Angels and Demons. Astrologer and Astronomer. Scientists, Saints, and Sinners. All of these names and more. Who knows, perhaps the gods of old were merely ordinary people with special abilities just like us. Reality spun into myth and legend as time passed. The Aesir and Vanir of the North, The Greek Titans begat the Olympic Pantheon, which were adopted by the Romans. The Egyptian Ogdoad and Ennead. The African Vodu and West Indian Loa. The Persian gods of Babylon and Mesopotamia. The Hindu Daevas and Slavic Dievas. The Japanese Shinto and Chinese Xian. The Australian Dreamtime and Uluru. The Judeo-Christian and the so-called Pagan beliefs. Even the Americas had their share of spirits they called gods, Inua, Manidoog, Aztec, Apu. Earth Mother, Sky Father. Water Nymph, Fire Sprite. Warrior and Healer. The Good of Justice and the Evil Trickster. Death and Rebirth. Immortals, Anthropomorphs, Incubi and Succubi. All these and more. Common traits are found among almost all communities."
As she spoke, the wind slowly began to pick up. The bonfire roared and grew. Those not included in Nana's circle noticed at first, then those inside the circle began to notice as the fire grew into a pillar of flame.
"We have come here to learn from the past and find our destiny for the future."
The winds grew into a gale force. Angela stood, facing out into the night. "no, it can't be," she whispered.
"Are you all willing to set aside your differences for the sake of the planet, the future?" Nana asked.
Beside her, Angela had become frantic. "Alice?" she called out. "Alice! It's me! It's Angela! It's Banana!"
The ground rumbled. A wall of earth suddenly formed around the circle.
"ALICE!!"
Lightning struck the growing pillar of fire.
TBC________________