Author's note: AU. Story currently takes place during Season 1. Love reviews and feedback. ;) Mature rating for psychotic, dark themes.
Chapter 5
Elle sighs into her mug of black coffee, a headache beginning to form behind her eyes. She's never been much of a morning person. All she wants is fifteen minutes of uninterrupted bliss to consume her caffeine. It's part of her daily routine: Shower. Coffee. Paperwork. Morning victim. Lunch. Meeting with Daddy. Hand out pills. Research potential specials. Dinner. Post dinner victim. Sleep. But since Sylar showed up at the Company, her routine has been a bit...off. And he's only been here less then twenty four hours.
The normally empty break room is packed full with agents of all shapes, sizes, and evolution status. Elle frowns in response to the laughter and positive, buzzing energy. Apparently, capturing a big bad serial killer is good for morale. All of the tables are full of suits drinking coffee, munching on donuts, and blabbing away. Well, all of the tables minus the one that Elle occupies. Although she has been at the Company for over sixteen years, Elle has always been very isolated. A lone wolf. Doesn't play well with the other agents, or anyone for that matter. All of the bubbling noise in the break room is putting a damper on her morning, she likes to drink her coffee in the usual silence. The knot forming in her stomach is a warning sign of a developing irritable state. Such states typically end in somebody getting fried.
At a nearby table, an agent is loudly explaining a story to the rest of the suits. Elle's ears perk when she hears his name mentioned.
"- --Sylar, really sick fuck. I was there at the clean up, blood everywhere. We had huge crowd gathered around that was difficult to manage. I guess the psychopath striked during the high school homecoming."
Homecoming?
Elle doesn't believe in coincidences. She gazes into her black coffee, blocks out the sounds around her and contemplates recent events. On Elle's latest mission, Daddy had given her the solo assignment to spy on Bennet's adopted daughter Claire. The Company had suspected that little Miss Pom Pom may have developed an ability. Apparently, both of her bio-parents are specials. Like a pure bred prize dog, the cheerleader has the genetic jackpot for the blue ribbon. But Bennet has repeatedly reported with confidence that Claire has not manifested, making the higher ups suspicious. They decided that Bennet's word was worth baloney, so they elected Elle to do some reconnaissance.
Elle wasn't particularly excited by the idea of babysitting the cheerleader, but accepted solely on the fact that it would be her first assignment solo. Elle hated that One of us, one of them rule. It was pretty common knowledge that she hasn't had the best track record with partners. Majority of them end up dead. It wasn't really Elle's fault that the agents that made up the one of us are...well, human. Makes them weak, easier to be killed. Elle couldn't figure out why the Company had that silly rule anyways. The Company is all about specials- understanding abilities, tracking evolutions, and occasionally locking up the ones deemed too dangerous to be living amongst the sheep. But one of the founders must have had a weird sense of humor to require agents to be paired up in such an odd way- a special with a normal. Fucking normals. Elle is fully aware that she has a superiority complex, thinks less of the non-evolved agents. Elle believed that perhaps someone high on the chain of command must of realized that Elle is completely capable of handling an operation on her own. Espionage work in a high school seemed beneath her, but at least it was a start to prove her talent at working independently.
Elle never went to high school. Pulled out of elementary school after she had manifested. Elle had missed out on the entire school experience- no slumber parties, algebra class, swim team, or dances. Being cooped up at the Company since for as long as she could remember is probably a significant factor in Elle's lack of social skills. A captive and isolated environment is unhealthy for anyone. Throughout her youth, Elle was surrounded by very serious and scary adults. It was lonely at first, but once Elle learned to control her ability she became friendly with the inmates. They make the best playmates and toys.
Even though Elle is twenty four years old, she had no trouble passing for sixteen at the high school. Being naturally short and petite with an innocent face helped. As part of her disguise, Elle replaced the stilettos for a pair of black Converse shoes, lost the red lipstick, and threw on a black Ramones t-shirt over skinny gray jeans. She was to blend in as just an ordinary student at Union Wells High School. Ordinary. The thought made Elle snort in disgust.
While the idea of a solo mission was glorious, the reality of the experience was extremely boring and monotonous. Elle spent most of her undercover work sitting in the back of the classroom watching Claire-bear pass notes to her buddy Zach. Elle probably doodled a million variations of pictures of her electrocuting Claire. For twenty seven days straight, Elle was stuck in an uncomfortable metal desk contemplating terrorizing the students and teachers during the day and then cramped in a rental car recording the cheerleader's lameo after school activities. Elle thought that undercover work would be much more glamorous and suspenseful. Wishes she was in a James Bond flick~ wearing fashionable clothes, sleeping with handsome foreign men, and best of all- having a license to kill.
The only plus of the mission was discovering the wonders of cherry Slusho. The delicious uber sugary substance helped her get through the boring classes and long stake outs. So addicting, she drank three a day.
Over the span of nearly one month, Elle was not able to acquire any indication of the cheerleader being special, so Daddy cancelled the assignment a week prior to the high school's homecoming game and dance. Wonders what would have happened if she stuck around for another week.
Did Sylar attempt to kill Pom Pom at homecoming? Elle is extremely agitated about being left out of the loop. Everyone but her seems to know all of the details surrounding the Sylar case. Energy circulates inside her body, itching to be released. Needs to get some answers. But she'll deal with this later...after her coffee. Elle takes a sip, savoring the flavors in her mouth.
Unexpectedly, a loud alarm sounds, making all of the suits in the break room jump in unison. Elle remains calm, ignores the flashing lights and sirens. She's still determined to finish her morning beverage per usual.
All of the agents leap from their seats, scampering out of the break room with guns in their hands. Elle can hear someone yelling orders over the alarm in the hallway.
A prisoner is attempting to escape.
Elle stays seated alone in the break room, now irritated by the commotion. Every morning on the job, all she wants is fifteen minutes of silence to enjoy her coffee. Couldn't he have waited until after 7:15?
By the time Elle finishes her morning dose of caffeine, Sylar has killed a number of agents- both specials and normals. Unfortunately for the escapee, the Haitian was on the premises, neutralizing his abilities. The Haitian tends to ruin the day.
Elle stalks down the hallway silently, observing the massacre with a smile. Broken bodies are scattered throughout the hall, blood everywhere. Some are literally torn apart, while others are frozen solid. Quite a beautiful scene. Makes energy pulse throughout Elle's entire body. She knows her skin is softly glowing with blue sparks. Sometimes it's hard to cover up her excitement, especially now with such a landscape reeking of death, destruction, and power.
There is a crowd gathered. Twenty plus agents cautiously hover around Sylar, their guns aimed steadily at his head. The Haitian is standing silently nearby, ensuring that the dance is over. Sylar is laying on the floor, face down. Bennet is on top of him, pushing his knee into the escapee's back while yanking Sylar's arms behind him hard. Sylar is struggling wildly to get Glasses off of him. Another agent plunges a needle into Sylar's arm, fills him up with a strong sedative. Elle is sure that the tranquilizer probably has enough kick to it to knock out five elephants.
Elle is impressed by how close Sylar is to escaping. No one has ever been successful, but Sylar has managed to get the farthest.
"The bastard killed Eden." One of the agents cries out.
Elle raises an eyebrow at the statement. Looks like the Wicked Witch couldn't control him with her evil voice. Evidently, Eden had gone against strict orders and over-confidently used her abilities to command Sylar to kill himself. Got herself killed instead. Silly for a weakling like Eden to think that she could control such raw power.
Bennet cuffs Sylar's hands behind his back. Sylar's lip is split open, blood slowly drips down his chin. Bruises are beginning to appear on his face and arms. He's conscious, but his body is sagging from the immediate effects of the potent drugs.
"Hand cuffs?" Elle laughs. She is leaning against the wall, playing with a ball of electricity with both hands. All eyes drift to her. She smirks at the attention. "You can't be serious?"
"Somebody get Elle out of here. Now." Bennet orders. The other agents shift uncomfortably. No one makes a move, they all know the consequences.
Elle glares at Bennet, annoyance apparent in her voice. "What's your dealio anyways?"
"I don't have time for this Elle." Bennet growls, anger fuming from his entire body.
"Well somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Her voice is sing-songy. Bennet ignores Elle and begins barking out orders to the other agents.
Elle's blue eyes slide to her soon-to-be-victim. It's the first time that she's truly acknowledged him during the uproar. For a half second, her aura shifts cold, emotionless. Allows the darkness to briefly peak through the playful façade, gives Sylar a little preview of what's to come. A ghost of a smile plays on his lips. Reveals something akin to recognition mixed with anticipation. Their eyes stay locked as Bennet and the other agents drag him down the hall back to his cell.