Author's note: I'd like to apologize for the delay in posting. Originally I thought this would be a relatively short story, but It took on a life of it's own. That led to my not getting it finished before my mom's surgery. Anyways she's recovering well. I'm back and to make up for it I'll be posting again in a few days. Hope you guys enjoy.
As soon as Sylar rushed inside he was greeted by Angela holding a box of maps. Or rather he ran into Angela carrying a box of maps headed the other way. Sylar took in the scene analyzed it and had Angela in a telekinetic hold up against the wall before most people could have fully realized what was inside the box.
"You arranged for Molly to be near by, and you're going to her before I could even deliver the news that I couldn't catch up to my father." Sylar's voice was pitched low and held the sort of menace that even Angela would be a fool to down play. There was no question in his words, he stated them as fact, but still the unspoken question hung between them. What was Angela's game this time. Sylar wanted to know and Angela knew it.
Suddenly Angela slid to the floor as Sylar's power gave out. Sylar turned on his heels to see Rene standing not far from him. Angela began to pick the maps up off the floor. Just then Peter and Noah entered the house.
"Where is Claire?" It was the first thing Noah said when he saw Sylar.
"I lost them." Sylar's voice was soft and as apologetic as it could possibly be when talking to Noah.
It was the cracking in Sylar's voice, as if he actually felt pain at the thought, that stopped the rage Noah was prepared to level on Sylar. Noah tilted his head as if the thought that Sylar might have human emotions was confusing, and then he noted Angela picking up the maps.
Sylar was kneeling down to help as Noah began to speak.
"What's going on?"
Sylar looked up. "What's going on is that Angela is playing an angle again. Only this time she's putting Claire at risk to do it." His words were calm and measured, but his eyes had the murderous look that Noah expected to see on Sylar. This oddly reassured Noah. Noah thought, This is the world as I know it; I know how to help my daughter in this world.
"Still, Angela is headed to see Molly apparently, and right now that's the best move we have." Sylar turned to Angela and he didn't need his telekinesis to be working to pin her in place. I don't know how you managed to fool my lie detecting when you said the element of surprise was the best chance we had, but know this I will be watching you and if you play me again I will kill you."
Angela stood up with the last of the maps in her hand. " I didn't lie Sylar, it was the best chance for what needs to happen. We don't have time to waste though. I'll call as soon as Molly has her location, it will go faster if you aren't there."
Angela picked up the box placing the last map inside it. She spoke as she walked out the front door. "You may still thank me when this is over with Sylar."
Sylar said nothing no one said anything, but a general sound of disbelief followed Angela out the closing door.
-0-
Molly was only ten minutes form the sprawling estate, thirteen from the front door were Angela's car was parked, and Angela made it there in seven.
As soon as Molly had the location Angela was on he phone. "I'll stay here and you can call to get an update if you need it."
When Angela was sitting in the living room afterwards with Suresh, and Molly was in her room, the questions that Angela had been anticipating began.
"What's going on who was that man that took Claire?"
"His name is Samson, and Sylar is helping us try to protect Claire."
"How do you know he's trying to help I never knew anyone that could best Sylar one on one, but he claims he lost them."
"Samson isn't just anyone his original power is intuitive aptitude as well, and has more evil in him then even Sylar when he was at his worst. Sylar at his worst was fully insane and still wouldn't cross certain lines. Samson was never insane he just never cared."
"Could anyone be worst then Sylar?"
"Have you ever know Sylar to harm a child? Samson hasn't only harmed other children it's known he beat his own son, sold him off and sliced open his wife's head when she protested. Oh, and did I mention he did it while his son watched."
Suresh had to admit he hadn't known Sylar to ever harm a child. Even when he was killing people with seeming no provocation he left children unharmed, well at least physically.
"Still what makes this Samson so much worst when it comes to Claire, and what makes you so sure that Sylar won't betray you.
Angela stood up and went over to the window stalling for time.
"Angela I'm not in the mood for subtext or secrets! What are you not saying?"
"I know for three reasons. First I have dreamt it. I know that Sylar is the key to saving Clarire."
"You've not always understood your dreams. You've been wrong before, that's no guarantee."
"True, but as I said that's not the only reason I'm trusting him. Second you underestimate Sylar's" Angela hesitated, "relationship to Claire. He's not going to let Samson carry out what he plans to do to Claire. Especially since it's a meant to be revenge on Sylar."
"Wait what?! Sylar sliced open Claire's head, and harming her is supposed to somehow be a revenge on Sylar."
"This isn't Samson's first attempt to take Claire's power Sylar stopped him the last time."
"Okay." Suresh drew out the word like it could open up a pathway though the tangled mess that he found himself trying to sort out. "I don't think that one of your dreams is enough reason to trust Claire's safety to Sylar. Your second reason I don't understand, and I'm not sure I want to or could ever be convinced you're right about it. So, what's the third reason? What is it you've been building up to Angela? What is it that will make me continue with this and not get on the next plane to India with Molly?"
Angela took a deep breath and turned from the window. "The only person that Sylar hates more then me and Noah is Samson. There are reasons that Sylar would never allow Samson to enjoy immortality. There are reasons that if Samson can have a worst nightmare it's own it's way to him right now."
"If you expect me to keep Molly this close to Sylar. I'm going to need to know what those reasons are. I'm going to have to be convinced that Sylar will not turn on us. I wouldn't have come if I'd known he was involved."
"I know that's why I didn't tell you. The answer is simple, but I'm only saying this because we may still need Molly to help Claire. If it wasn't for that I wouldn't be saying anything it's not my place. It will be best for you to forget I said anything once this is over."
"I'm running out of patients with your stalling Angela."
"It's not stalling it's the truth, don't ever bring this up to Sylar. I say that for your own good."
"Fine. What is this great secret?"
"Samson's last name is Grey."
At first Suresh was puzzled and wondered, What the hell is she talking saying? What does that have to do with anything? Still the name struck a cord in Suresh's mind. He knew from the way that Angela said the name that she meant it as a complete explanation. He knew from the tug at his memory that he was forgetting something important.
"Angela, I'm sorry, but I'm not making the connection."
Angela let out a breath, and gave Suresh a look as if he she had just pointed to a pink alligator and he'd said he couldn't see anything."As you know Sylar isn't Sylar's legal name. Sylar was born Gabriel Grey."
Oh, that's what I had forgot. It was the sort of thought that happens in a millisecond, but seems to take an eternity to form. To be fair I'd only been informed of that once and a lot has happened since then. Suresh was not entirely sure why he was felt the need to justify himself even in his head, but he did it just the same. The revelation was effective, Suresh decided he would stay and let Molly help.
-0-
Sophie was trembling as she collapsed onto the mattress that was the only furniture she had in her new place. She trembled afraid that she had given up the safety of her Oklahoma house for nothing. She'd just finished listening to the news report about the apparent kidnapping of Claire Bennet. Sure she knew that the Clinic would still be opening in a couple of days, but she was only just realizing how much faith she had placed in being able to at least meet Clarie. To meet the one that was courageous enough to reveal her self to the world. How much Sophie had been depending on that to help sustain her own courage was a great part of the reason she had come, but now Sophie was unsure if anyone would ever get to see this Claire again. No one was sure it seemed.
-0-
As soon as Sylar got the call he was off. The only consideration that he gave to Noah and Peter was to say, "they got her location," as he sprinted out the door. When he reached the location that Molly had picked up though all he found was blood and a video of Samson taking Claire's power. Samson hadn't been alone he'd turned it into twisted ritualized thing just to mock and taunt. There were men there that had stripped Claire bare and held her down as Samson cut open her head. Sylar watched with growing rage as Claire trashed and cried.
Samson's spoke and Sylar knew why with absolute certainty that his own evil had been inevitable, for he was truly the spawn of evil incarnate. "Claire, if you're this distressed now what are you going to do when you begin your new life. This is just the ceremony, the coronation. You're just playing the role of the sacrifice to to appease the gods. More precisely to appease the god, me. The is how the story of Zeus and Cronus should have ended, with Cronus rising to teach Zeus a lesson before destroying him for his insolence."
Claire's face was horror stricken. She knew in that moment she was dealing with the epitome of both evil and madness. She knew no matter what she thought about Sylar she was infinitely better off with Sylar instead of Samson.
Sylar couldn't read all that from Claire's face on the recording but he decided then and there power or not he was going to destroy Samson. He was going to carve the kill spot from his flesh and watch it burn. In that moment he understood he was going to need the element of surprise to do it, he didn't care if that was what Angela had meant or not. Things were never that simple with Angela anyways, but he did care that Angela could get him what he needed. His mind was working at it's peak and he knew what he needed to do.
Sylar flew from the warehouse just in case it was being monitored. He landed in a field about a mile away, and took out his cell to call Angela.
"They're gone," were the first words out of his mouth.
"I'll get Molly."
"No wait. I need you to do somethings for me immediately. I need some powers."
"Sylar you can't be suggesting..."
"Don't act high and mighty now you had no qualms about it when you pretended to be my mother. Still, I'll take the powers empathicly. I need a tracking ability we don't have time to be picky, but the more precise the better. I need stealth or teleportation Hiro's ability would be best. Get Matt here I need his ability for sure, god I wish I hadn't avoided that one now, and if possible find me a speedster. I'm sure that Samson has that ability that's why he could so easily out fly me. I think he combined flight and speed; the chase was just him mocking me."
"Okay, tracking, teleportation, Matt Parkman, and a speedster if possible. You know Molly..."
Suresh cut off Angela, "absolutely not!"
"Suresh he's going to take the abilities empathicly."
"I don't care Sylar is not getting that close the Molly."
"This is for Clarie."
"Claire is your family and Molly is mine you'll have to find another way."
"I'll do it."
Suresh and Angela looked up to see Molly standing in the archway of the living room.
"Molly, no," came Suresh's voice.
"I'm not a little girl anymore. I heard what Angela said. This is for Claire and he's going to take the abilities using empathy. I'm going to do it even if I have to walk out of here and go find him myself. I'm sure that Micah can get his cell number for me."
Sylar could here the entire exchange through the phone and couldn't believe what he was hearing. I killed her parents, and yet she was still willing to help me, no that wasn't right, she's willing to face me to help Claire. Since when was little Molly so brave.
Suresh set back with a look of defeat on his face, "fine," was all he said.
Angela gave Sylar the address, and got on the phone with Matt to arrange for him to take a private flight to New York.
-0-
Noah was going crazy he got the address for where Angela was out of Rene and had Peter take him there. They actually landed the same time as Sylar. The tension was palpable as the three men walked down the steps to the condo that housed Suresh and Molly. As soon as they were inside Noah began accusing the Sylar of betraying them. Noah punched Sylar hard in the face not caring that Sylar could kill him in an instant. When Noah went for a second blow he found himself frozen in mid swing.
"I don't have time for your tantrum Noah. I have to get Claire back or have you forgotten!?"
"You were supposed to stop her form being taken in the first place!"
Peter began to object to that, but Sylar cut him off.
"Then why don't you take that up with Angela. I frankly don't care what you accuse me of, but if you get in my way you've already had your warning. Understand?"
It was the sharp intake of breath from Molly that ended the confrontation.
Sylar turned to look at Molly and let go of his hold on Noah. Noah turned to Molly as well. How old is she now 15, 16, she's about the age that Clarie was when this psychopath cut open her head. Why the hell is Suresh letting Sylar this close to her?
"This is to rescue Clarie right?"
"Yes," came Sylar's reply, "but still you don't have to do this."
"I want to, as long as it's true."
"As long as what's true?"
"You don't kill anymore. You're not going to track down victims using my power."
"It's true."
"When Matt gets here and tells me you're telling the truth. I'll show you how my ability works. Do you have to do anything special to use your empathy?"
"I have to understand something about you, truly understand."
"Does that mean we have to talk? Like really talk." Molly's voice held an uncertainty that it didn't hold before. Both Noah and Suresh clung to that ray of hope.
"You shouldn't open up to this monster," they said in unison.
Molly had expected this from Suresh and could understand him, but she turned to Noah with a look of disgust on her face. "She's your daughter," was all she said before turning to Sylar. "I eased dropped earlier on Angela and dad, I think I know what to talk about. Can we go for a walk? I don't want to talk in front of them."
"Now!?" Was Sylar's shocked reply.
"Yes, before I lose my resolve."
"Okay."
Sylar and Molly walked out the front door and down the last flight of steps.
-0-
When they returned Sylar found out that Angela had been busy. She told them that she had called Hiro and wasn't sure he'd be willing to share his power with Sylar, but he was willing to come and help. She'd sent out a media release saying that tomorrow evening there would be a meet and greet at the Petrilli Manson for any one who wanted to find out more about the Clinic before the official opening on Saturday. This she said was in case they could not get Hiro to agree or find a replacement through any of their channels.
"Oh and Parkman should be landing about one in the morning. I suggest that we all get some sleep. We can all go to the estate. Noah, Suresh and Molly can ride with me. Peter and Sylar, you two can of course fly there. Matt's going to be brought by helicopter once he lands.
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