Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes or StarGate. If I did, I would have anticipated the events in last night's "Heroes" episode and would have spoken to the writers before it aired.
A/N: Thanks to all of you for your wonderful reviews! They were so encouraging!
"I hope we have enough sources," Claire said as she and Cassie emerged from the basement.
"We have three books, two lectures, and six online sources," Cassie replied, laughing. "I think we have enough!" Claire laughed along with her.
"Maybe you're right," she said sheepishly. "But you can't be too careful." Cassie rolled her eyes and they laughed again.
"Well," Cassie said, glancing at the hall clock. "I need to be getting home. My mom'll freak if I'm not home by dinner."
"Do you need a ride?" Claire asked as they walked towards the door. She couldn't drive her, of course. Claire had only recently gotten her permit. But Peter could take her.
"No thanks," Cassie said, grabbing her backpack. "I don't live too far from here. I'll see you tomorrow, Claire."
"Bye!" Claire called, watching her new friend walk out the door. The door shut and then there was silence. Claire wandered into the large living room, where the TV was blaring the latest political news. Bored, Claire sat down to see what was wrong with the world today.
"…..no one knows how the fire got started. Police are investigating, and further updates will be given when they're known. In other local news, Presidential candidates are heading our way. We've just received word that Senators Gregory Stevens and Nathan Petrelli are on their way to visit the city and will be hosting several campaign rallies over the next few weeks." It cut to Nathan Petrelli, who was making a speech:
"I guarantee that when I am elected president, things will change! And let me assure you, my friends, things will change for the better-!" There was a tiny pop, followed by a static crackling as the television was abruptly turned off. Claire looked up and saw Peter standing in the doorway.
"Don't you want to hear his speech?" she asked.
"No," he answered, walking into the room and sitting down beside her. "We're going to have to pray that he doesn't get elected."
"So much for your brother of the year award," Claire said dryly.
"You know what he would do!" Peter argued. "He'd want to get his entire family in the picture, and sooner or later, someone would see something. You start to fall off the stage, I catch you without moving, people will notice. It's too dangerous, Claire." Peter sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair. "As much as I hate to hurt Nathan, we have to stop Nathan from winning the election."
--
"Agent Barrett!" called a voice. He looked up from his phone conversation.
"Yeah, I'll get back to you." He said before hanging up. "What is it?"
"We got an ID on the girl who entered the target's house. She just emerged."
"Who was it?" Barrett demanded, striding over. The assistant handed him a piece of paper and he scanned it before pulling out his cellphone.
"Samantha Carter, please."
--
"Well?" Nathan Petrelli asked, adjusting his tie. "How do I look?" he asked, spinning around to face his campaign manager.
"You look fine," Daphne answered with a shrug. "Why wouldn't you?"
"Flattery," Nathan said with a smile. "That's nice."
"I'm good at it," Daphne said absently, looking at her clipboard. Nathan pulled her clipboard away from her. "Senator-!" she began.
"C'mon," Nathan said mischievously. "Don't you ever get tired of work?" Daphne looked him in the eye. Nathan felt his heart race. He could just picture the next thing she would do: Lean in……….and grab her clipboard back before superspeeding away. Nathan chuckled. He'd get her next time.
--
"From what I've been able to ascertain about the last device we found on P4S-678, it's like a health scanner," Daniel said. "The writings that were found with it translate to mean: 'determining physical welfare', so it must've been something along those lines." He looked at the table of artifacts that he'd set out and then up at General Hammond. "That's the last of them, sir."
"OK, let me get this straight," Colonel Jack O'Neill broke in. "You're saying that after all the weeks and weeks of digging, we didn't find any weapons?"
"No."
"Nothing cool?" Jack persisted, a hint of pleading in his voice.
"Sorry," Daniel said with a shrug. Jack sighed.
"I give up," he said. "The next time we visit a planet and you say that it might be useful for us to stay, I'm ignoring you."
"Excuse me, sir," Walter Harriman said, sticking his head into the briefing room. "There's a call for Major Carter." Samantha Carter stood up and followed Walter to a nearby phone.
"Who is it?" she asked. He shrugged, handed her the phone, and then walked away. Sam sighed and held the phone to her ear. "Carter,"
"There's a voice I've missed," said a familiar voice.
"Agent Barrett," she answered, a bit surprised. "To what do I owe this call?"
"Can we meet?" Barrett asked, sounding edgy. "It's important."
"Uh, sure," Sam said, looking at her watch. "One hour?"
"Sounds good." Barrett said before hanging up. Sam stared at the phone and then hung up, told General Hammond where she was going, and headed to the surface. As soon as she reached the meeting spot where she and Barrett were supposed to make contact, two men approached her.
"Major Carter?" one asked.
"Yes?" Sam replied.
"We'd like you to come with us," the other man said. Years of training kicked in and Sam took a step back. The first man chuckled.
"Really, Major, is that necessary?" he asked. "We're NID." Sam opened her mouth to reply, but something pricked her neck before she could speak and she dropped to the ground, unconscious. The first man looked at his companions, one of whom had crept up behind Carter and jabbed her with a tranquilizer.
"Well that didn't go as planned," he commented. "Get her in the van."
--
Nikki Sanders walked out of the grocery store, loosely carrying a bag of store goods. It was nice to be able to walk down the street without being afraid of what could happen, she thought, glancing at her reflection. To her pleasure, Jessica was nowhere to be seen, having left Nikki to herself for the day. Nikki smiled. A day off from having split personalities and superstrength was a good day in her book. She glanced both ways before crossing the street and walking towards where her car was parked. Scarcely had she gone a few feet when she heard the sudden roar of an accelerator behind her. She spun around just as a huge black van came barreling towards her. Nikki leapt back, dropping her groceries in the process. A part of her begged reality to let the driver just be some careless idiot, but another part of her knew that this wasn't true. She wasn't that lucky. The back doors of the van burst open and three men tumbled out, charging towards her. Nikki tried to run, but her foot caught on a loose can from her bag and she went sprawling.
Deep within her mind, Jessica woke up. Something was wrong. Nikki was panicking. Why? She thought, feeling a chill. What's going on? Feeling her own panic levels increase by the second, she instantly assumed control of the body. Nikki was trying to scream, but she couldn't. Someone was holding her. Who? Jessica felt a surge of rage towards whoever it was. She let out a snarl and lashed out. But there were too many of them, and not even Jessica's superstrength could help her. She was caught.
--
Barrett was waiting for the team to get back when he got the call.
"Barrett,"
"It's me." The agent instantly straightened.
"Chief!" he said smartly. "What is it?"
"I've just received word that Nikki Sanders has been apprehended outside a local grocery store."
"That's correct."
"Have your friends at StarGate Command keep her under guard until I can get there."
"Are you sure? I mean, I haven't even talked to Major Carter yet-!"
"Are you questioning my orders, Agent Barrett?"
"No chief."
"Good. Then get it done." Then the line went dead. Barrett stared at it and then went into the room where the men had put Carter. She was just waking up, going into fight mode.
"Easy," Barrett said soothingly. "It's OK."
"What's going on?" she demanded.
"Sorry about the abduction," he said with a sheepish smile. "Orders."
"What do you want?"
"Do you know this girl?" Barrett asked, handing her a photo.
"That's Cassie." Carter breathed, alarm flashing across her face. "What's going on? Why do you have this picture?"
"We got that from a surveillance op we're running." Barrett said carefully. "Can you get in touch with her?"
"Yeah, why?"
Barrett took a deep breath.
"She's in danger."
There! Another chapter! Again, thanks to all of you for your reviews! Enjoy this chapter!