Chapter 2: The Special's Pain

New York: Nathan's Office

"Nathan" sighed looking down at his watch. That was something new, ever since the whole deal with Building 26 he'd become addicted to watches. He collected to them, and even had a spot on his wall for all the watches he had. His mother had often told him how all the noise from the watches would drive him crazy, but he ignored her. He stood up, finally done with signing powers. That's when he heard a knock on the door, he walked over to the door opening it up. He spotted a woman he had met only three years ago, Sakamato a women who worked for Linderman. Beside her two men stood behind her, although neither of them were armed.

"Oh it's you? I thought after Linderman died, the police took care of you." Sakamto nodded "Well they took care of most of us. However if you remember, we recorded a tape of you, and one of former employee's also the woman who looks exactly like Tracy Strauss. Quite odd that only months after you met Mrs. Strauss she vanished. " I don't like what your insinuating, but I've done nothing to Mrs. Strauss. Now then if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my family."

As the Senator walked forward, one of the men grabbed him. "I think Mrs. Sakamato was talking to you." "Nathan" sighed "I really don't care, I'm a very powerful man. I'm good friends with the President, so I'd advise you to leave me be or else. POW! One of Sakamato's grunts had knocked "Nathan" unconscious with one punch. Sakamato smirked" Perfect, we need to get to the roof, our helicopter ride awaits us. The Grunts simply nodded, as one of the grunts picked "Nathan" up. It was late in the evening so there were very few..people around. And with that, the trio headed off to the Elevator.

………………

Seattle: The Docks

Three years...

That was how long Travis had been living underneath this dock. It had been three years since he'd seen the asphalt of the street. Travis hated thinking about it.

Travis took another bite of his lobster. He'd caught it a few hours ago underneath the dock. He was lucky. It wasn't often a lobster would come near the docks of Seattle. Nasty little beasts they could be if they were to pinch you, but Travis managed to catch it, avoid it's pinchers, and boil it in a pot he'd found underneath the dock about three years ago as well.

He loved the taste of the lobster. He loved the taste of pretty much everything he ate now. The list wasn't very big.

But he hated his life. He was called a freak by his own father. Travis didn't blame him. Travis was a telepath that could control water and even breath in it. He hadn't seen his father for three years, nor did he ever want to again. The abusive bastard was probably drinking himself to death again.

It had also been three years since he'd last seen her, Krystina. Travis found himself immediately thinking about something else. It had always pained him thinking of the last time they saw each other. She ran away from him. She was afraid of him. Travis didn't want her to be afraid....but he couldn't control that.

He sighed, as he finished his dinner. It was getting very late. He prayed a silent prayer as he always did, asking the Lord to help him get aback a life he loved. Then fell asleep...

Pinehearst, New Jersey

Pinehearst was an energy company, set to up to help people. That's what the public knew it as, in reality it was an organization formed by Arthur Petrelli. It was an army of specials, and the goal of the organization was to give everyone powers. About a year ago the organization was shut down after a massive explosion took place. However it was being rebuilt, and reconstructed. Inside a dark room stood Arthur Petrelli himself, staring at a wall with some pictures on it. Some of the faces were those of Peter Petrelli… and Travis Friedman's. The man had seemingly died after being shot in the head, but at that time Rene's power negation had been blocked.

I must thank Sylar. Our combined powers overpowered Rene's ability, allowing me to live. The Old Gang's back together, minus Sylar and my son. I suppose I should get them, but for now..it's time for Friedman..to come into my group. Arthur simply focused, and then vanished into thin air.

Claire's college

The Dark Haired boy continued to just stand there. There were less and less people coming by as time moved on. Still no luck. How is it that noone in this whole school has a single ability? He thought to himself. Almost as soon as he finished the thought though, he could sense another presence. It was another evolved human. A girl. As she walked by he didn't move. He didn't flinch. He didn't even open his eyes. He simply muttered a single statement. "It's nice to be free isn't it?"

Claire was walking down the path, still furious with her father and not really paying attention to who was around her. Thinking back on it, it was a stupid thing to do considering what she had just been told by Peter about her father being hurt but still, she was angry and when she got angry she kind of zoned out, lost in her thoughts.

However she was drawn out of them quickly when she heard a guy she walked past mutter a single statement which chilled her to the bone. Claire quickly turned to look at who it was and saw a man standing there.

"What did you say?" Claire said in a curious tone, trying to act innocent in case he had meant something else but instantly being on guard. As she was standing there Claire knew that she didn't have to be afraid of getting hurt... yet she did have to be scared of being locked up.

The teenager stood up straight and began to walk closer to the girl. "Don't be so on your guard all the time. I said it was nice to be free. You know now parents or guardians aren't here to order us around. Of course I wouldn't really know what that's like. My parents have been dead for years. I've been alone for as long as I can remember. So anyway let's stray from the gloomy stuff. I'm Magix, may I inquire as to what your name is?" Magix was taken aback a bit by her reaction. He didn't know what she could do so it was best to lie for now. Maybe talk for a short time before he blurted things out about abilities.

Claire still looked at Magix suspiciously. She wasn't sure if she trusted him but it seemed as if he had only been talking about normal things. Claire decided it couldn't hurt to talk to him and maybe even make a friend here if she was going to be stuck here. Unlike Peter she couldn't just go out and get a job which could help save the world.

"I'm Claire, and sorry, sometimes I get a little carried away with things" She said as she brought a smile to her face. "Are you just starting here as well then?" Claire asked as she tried to make some sort of conversation with him that wasn't about parents since it really was a gloomy topic and not just on his part. Her parents weren't exactly normal and things with her other parents were strained at the best of times.

"Claire. That's a nice name." Magix nodded to her question as he was now casually walking with her. "Yes it is my first day here. New school, new faces, new problems. Everywhere you go through your bound to have a problem no matter how big or small. You could be hit by a truck or step in gum. It's destiny to have problems. How you deal with those problems though is the true test of character." Magix stopped himself there. "Oh look at me, I'm ranting. Sorry about that. It's just sometimes I wish I was a different person. You know some that for some reason is... special." He began to draw the conversation nearer to their abilities. He was trying to get a feel for how she felt about having one. "So Claire, have any hobbies?"

Claire smiled a little bit as he continued to rant about it in a way that was slightly amusing. "Mmm... I think everyone wishes they could be something they aren't" Claire said with a sigh as she ran her fingers through her long blonde hair. "Umm my hobbies..." She said as she tried to think of what they were. "Well I used to be a cheerleader in high school so I enjoyed everything that came along with that. As for now though I am just trying to start over and figure myself out" Claire said with a smile.

"So what are your hobbies?" Claire asked, feeling the need to return the question.

Magix kept walking with Claire. So a cheerleader. He had a feeling that she was keeping alot from him though. "Cards. I like to play cards." He ended it at that. He didn't really do much of anything else. "Claire... I'm going to be honest with you." He took a quick look around. They were still alone. In truth it was odd but not unwanted. "I know you have an ability..."


Seattle: The Docks
The day was warm. The tide was low. And Travis Friedman was swimming unusually near the shores of Alki Beach that afternoon.

At one area, there was an unusual amount of crab, Travis was trapping for his diner, and possibly breakfast, near a vast amount of rocks. That was when a familiar voice entered his head.

The voice sounded like the heavens...Travis knew the voice well. It was her. Krystina Margret Jackson. It had been three years since Travis had last seen her. Travis immediately surfaced. He looked around. She was with another guy. It didn't surprise Travis, but it did pain him.

He continued to watch from a distance, he picked up a thought from the guy, whose name was Carl Smith, saying he was going to go get them both some food. Travis waited until he left her, then Travis submerged.

He wanted to talk with her again...

He swam up to the rocks she was on. She was looking at some sea anemones. Travis surfaced nearby, she didn't see him.

"Krystina?"
She looked up, rather startled. It was her all right. Her brown eyes, her dark blonde hair, and of course her small size of only about 5'4''.
"Travis...what are you doing here?"
"I would have asked the same thing." Travis said climbing onto one of the rocks.
Travis was trying not to read her mind. It was working a little but he could still pick up tiny thoughts about how startled she was by Travis just suddenly appearing.
"I'm sorry to startle you, but I wanted to see you again..."
"I'm sorry, Travis." Krystina said. "It has been a rather long time since we last saw each other."
"Three years."
"I'm sorry..." she said again, meaning it. That's what Travis liked about her, she wasn't one to tell a lie.
Travis already knew the name of the guy she was now with but felt the need to make small talk.
"Who was that?"
"That was Carl. We met a few weeks ago."
Travis slowly nodded.
"Travis," Krystina asked, "I've always wondered....since we last saw each other....where have you been living? I never saw you in class again?"
"Krystina....honestly, I'm surprised I'm still alive and talking to you."
"Travis don't say that."
"I mean it. That night when you ran away from me, I tried to kill myself. You were the last person I'd think that would do that to me!"
Travis and Krystina gazed at each other for a minute.
"I'm sorry, Krystina....it's just been so hard living on without you. I've been living underneath the docks ever since that night."
"Travis...how is that even possible?"
"I've always wondered the same thing, Krystina...I have no money and therefore could not rent any apartment room, and my dad had already kicked me out...and here I am......"
"Travis.....that's right......your father died two weeks ago."
Travis said nothing.
"It doesn't surprise me." he said rather stern, but with pain in his voice.
"I shouldn't have told you that..."
"No, you had to." Travis said, rubbing his eyes to get rid of a few tears.

His father never was that kind to Travis, or to Krystina for that matter, but he was still family to Travis...and Travis had a sense of grief coming.

"Travis....I- I..."
"Krystina.....remember that night? I asked you if you thought I was a freak....you said no....were you lying?"
Travis looked at her.
"I was afraid, Travis. I didn't know how to react."
"I know....but did you lie?"
"Travis....you are one of the people I cared most for. I could never think of you as a freak."
"Then why didn't you come back? I called you to come back..." Travis dropped the sentence. It was no use making both of them feel upset. "Ever since that night....I've always thought of you, Krystina. Because you cared for me too. I loved you...I still do..."
"I know Travis, but-"
"Krystina, I don't think there is a 'but.' " Travis said, looking up and seeing Carl coming back. "But I can understand why things are as they are now...Not many would want to live with me anyway now..." Travis said before jumping back into the water and swimming off very fast. He'd rather not get in any trouble with this Carl.

Krystina said "Wait," but Travis didn't bother, he was already feeling the grief get to him. Krystina was seeing another person, his father was dead...life seemed too empty now.

I'm sorry Krystina...sorry I am a freak...

The last thought Travis picked up from her was her lying about her not being hungry anymore.
Travis swam as fast as he could back to dock 88, forgetting about the crabs, and trying to forget all that had happened. But suddenly he stopped swimming, as he detected another presence. Turning around he looked up spotting an older gentleman, in a black tuxedo. The man was also inside the water, he had appeared..out of thin air. This man was none other than Arthur Petrelli, who had come to meet Travis.

"Hello Travis Friedman...it's nice to finally meet you. "