Epilogue

„All right, we need to keep them in there until the drugs get here." Bennet said when they reached the door to the primary tank room. „I called the Company, they are sending someone here in this moment."

„We can get Sylar out there now." Peter mentioned. „Give me a mask, I pull him out."

Bennet only shook his head. „He stays in there until the drugs are here."

„That was not the agreement." Peter recalled.

„The agreement was to let him help us catch Nobody." Bennet recalled right back. „He did. Now he goes back to his cell."

„Peter is right, that was not the agreement." Mohinder supported the young man. He was still holding his wounded arm. But right now the pain seemed to be forgotten. At least for the time being.

Bennet threw him a dark gaze. „I never made an agreement with Sylar." he stated matter of factly.

Mohinder held the gaze of the Company man sternly.

„No." Peter affirmed Noah´s statement and turned to Lassiter. „But you did." he said. „Chief. So what´s it gonna be?"

Everybody looked at Lassiter, who seemed caught off guard for a moment. But only for a moment.

„I´m a police detective." he stated matter of factly. „Right? And he´s a murderer. If you expect me to let him run free now that we finally have him, you must be out of your damn mind."

„No one expects you to let him run free." Mohinder argued.

„But what?" Bennet asked. „Put him on probation? Because it worked so well last time."

„It would have worked if I would have given him the chance." Mohinder cried.

„So you are really standing up for him now."

„I just say that he is ready to do his part." the geneticist replied. „You saw that when you talked to him." he addressed Lassiter and immediately turned back to Bennet, adding: „And I say that he deserves that chance."

Peter nodded at him approvingly.

„And who is gonna watch him?" Bennet demanded to know. „You?"

For a moment the geneticist was startled, caught off guard just like Lassiter before. Just like him only for a moment.

„Yes." he answered coldly when he´d overcome his surprise. „If you ask me like that."

„You would really do that?" Bennet asked with his brows raised. „How? How can you guarantee … that he won´t kill again?"

„C.E.R.N." Mohinder answered without having to think about it. „Frank Wieland offered me a job at C.E.R.N." he explained. „My own lab. I´m gonna accept that offer. Let me take him with me. That´s a save environment. No specials around to tempt his hunger and he could help me to keep up my research. He´s actually the only one who can help me with my research. All the samples that I need are in his body."

„You are really serious with that." Juliet found an amazed expression in her eyes.

The scientist looked at her a little surprised himself. „Yes." he stated nonetheless. „I am."

„Mohinder, this man is a murderer." Bennet emphasized. „He killed your father."

„I know that." the geneticist shot back. „And I´m living with that knowledge since that day when I heard about his death. But this man in there is not my enemy anymore."

„And what is he?" Bennet challenged him. „Your friend? You can´t be serious with that."

For a moment it looked as if the Company man had won the argument. Because everybody knew that he was right, that Suresh would never call Sylar his friend. But then the geneticist opened his mouth and gave them his answer.

„He´s my assignment." he said. „Noah. If you give it to me. I´ll watch him. I keep him in line. You trusted me with this once already. Are you brave enough to trust me again?"

After that Bennet´s gaze went through three different stages. The first one was surprise over what the geneticist had just come up with. The second one was contemplation and at last he was smiling, even chuckled silently over the fact that this scientist had put him in his place like this.

„Switzerland, hm?" he asked. After another moment, he turned around to Lassiter and asked him: „What do you say, Carlton? Should we let them go?"

The head detective and current chief of police stood there and was uncertain what to say. Beside him, Shawn Spencer smirked and nudged his shoulder with his own.

„Aw, come on, Lassie." he said. „Give your heart a little nudge. Second World War is over."

„What?" Lassiter cried and turned to the fake psychic irritated. „What the hell are you talking about?"

Shawn just shrugged. „Switzerland." he said.

„In the second world war, people ran to Switzerland because it was neutral ground." Gus explained.

„Yeah, I know that." Lassiter stated with a kiss my ass face. „You don´t lecture me about that war, Guster. Right? My grandfather fought in that war."

Gus held the gaze of the angry detective without blinking. „So did mine." he replied unimpressed.

„Seriously?" Shawn asked.

„Yes, Shawn." Gus told him. „And so did yours."

Now Shawn was really confused. „Honestly? How do you know?"

„Don´t you remember the stories he always told us when we were kids?" Gus cried.

„Of course I do. They were about him and his buddies running around fields, playing hide and seek."

„That´s what I´m talking about."

„But that doesn´t make any sense, dude …"

„Shawn."

„If you would say that …"

„Would you just stop that." Lassiter hissed when he couldn´t hear it anymore.

Next to him Juliet threw her head in her neck, rolling her eyes in exasperation. „All our grandfathers fought in that war." she stated matter of factly to end this conversation.

„Mine didn´t." Mohinder raised his finger all the sudden and blinked when everybody halted and looked at him. „Oh my god, I´m doing it." he realized in shock. „I start to act like you guys."

„You certainly do, dude." Shawn grinned. „You´re one of us now." He held out his fist for the scientist to bump it, but the gesture wasn´t answered.

Juliet shook her head. „Those facts we just settled, won´t help us a bit … to solve the problem we´re facing right now." she stated to get the talk back to the point.

„Right." Bennet agreed. „So what do we do?"

Peter gave him the answer. „I´m getting Sylar out of there now." he told them. „Mohinder."

The geneticist nodded and without paying any more attention to Bennet and the others, he followed him to the door. Peter took some deep breaths and then held his breath, ready to enter the room. Mohinder opened the door for him – using only one arm didn´t seem to be an issue for him – and closed it again after Peter´d passed it, to keep the gas inside. After a minute or so, he saw Peter through the mist and opened the door for him again. The young man dragged Sylar out into the hall and lay him on the ground. Mohinder closed the door again safely.

„He´s dead." Peter found, after he´d checked the pulse.

„Oh, he´ll heal." Bennet assured them all and took out his gun. Lassiter immediately did the same and caught a reproving glance from Juliet.

As if on cue, Sylar started to breath again and immediately started to cough when his lungs went back to work. He rolled around and practically roared at the ground with his coughs. Juliet lay a hand on her own throat and made a face of sympathetic pain. Gus and Shawn made similar faces and even skipped back a little as if afraid they could catch what made the killer cough so hard. Bennet only watched the whole thing with a stony expression.

At last Sylar managed it to breath normal again. With a shaky voice he asked: „What happened?"

„It worked." Peter told him. „Nobody is out. You got him."

The killer looked at him and then around for a moment as if he couldn´t believe it. „Then it is over?" he asked. When Peter smiled at him he mirrored that smile.

„Not yet as it seems." Bennet spoke up, his gun trained on Sylar. „We still haven´t decided what to do with you." he told him.

Sylar looked up at him startled first but then he understood. Bennet nodded.

„Mohinder offered a solution." he informed the killer. „Which we still have to decide."

„What solution?" Sylar wanted to know.

But before anyone could answer his question, some men came down the hallway, the second plant manager was leading their way. „Chief Lassiter." he called out. „These men say they belong to you."

„Yes." Lassiter answered and threw Bennet a glance. After that he addressed the two Company men and told them as if he´d never done anything else: „Get the man that lies in that room out of there. Make sure he is no threat and then bring him to the Company." After this he halted and looked at Bennet. The Company man smiled and nodded at him approvingly.

„We´ll take care of that, chief." one of the two agents said and after they´d put on their masks, they opened the door and entered the primary tank room to do what Lassiter had just ordered them.

Juliet turned to the plant manager. „Would you turn off the gas in there now, please?" she asked him. „Thank you."

„We already did this." the manager answered and threw an uncertain glance at their group. Sylar had stood up by now but the whole thing still had to look strange to him. „Please, excuse me." he said at last. „I need to bring the factory back online."

With that he turned around and left, obviously glad that he didn´t have to see or hear any more of this government business.

A hissing sound made them all look around. Suresh was holding his arm once again and his face was distorted with pain. Sylar had a hand on his shoulder to make sure he was okay. The scientist nodded.

„What was that solution you talked about?" Sylar asked, when he was sure it was really better and not just the doctor´s pride talking.

„I told Noah that I´ll work at C.E.R.N. from now on." the geneticist summarized. „To keep up my studies … and that I could need a test subject."

Sylar immediately understood and smiled amused. „So instead of being a guinea pig for the Company, I have the choice to be a guinea pig in Switzerland." he said.

„You don´t have to take the deal." Bennet said. „It wasn´t my idea. But you should be grateful for that choice."

Sylar looked at the Company man and his smile was gone. „I am. Noah." he said. „I was kidding." Having said this he started to smirk again. „Have you ever been to Switzerland?" he asked the Company man.

„I will get there if you make any kind of trouble." Noah promised.

Sylar lay his head askew. „I was only trying to say only an idiot would deny the chance to go there." he said. „That´s like holiday."

„That´s true." Gus agreed and got a highly irritated glance from Bennet. After another moment, the Company man turned back to face Mohinder instead.

„I want constant reports about his behavior." he demanded and got a demonstrative surprised face from the geneticist.

„I didn´t agree to work for you." he stated. „You have no right whatsoever to claim reports from me as if you were my boss."

„If you take him as your assignment then you are working for me, Mohinder." Bennet insisted.

„So you are going to pay me?" was the straight reply, combined with a stony and blank face of the scientist.

For a moment the two men just stared at each other. But in the end Bennet just couldn´t help and cracked a smile.

„I would appreciate a word from you once in a while." he rephrased his request. „Just to know that everything is all right. Okay?"

Mohinder kept staring at him for another minute but then he just shrugged. „Why not." was all he said.

„Dude, that´s so awesome." Shawn exclaimed and instinctively gave Sylar both thumbs up.

Gus who instinctively had just gone along with his friend´s action, realized first what they were doing. „Shawn, what are we doing?" he asked.

By now realisation had reached Shawn´s consciousness as well. „Did we just give the killer thumbs up?" he wondered.

„I believe we did." Gus affirmed.

„Why would we do that?"

„I don´t know."

Sylar looked at them and his smile made them both raise their brows in uncertainty.

„Carlton." Juliet´s concerned voice interrupted the situation. She was standing at the door to the primary tank room, looking through the window with a concerned frown. Lassiter stepped to her side and looked inside as well.

„What is it?" Bennet wanted to know.

Instead of answering his question, Juliet opened the door to let the two Company men step out. They were still carrying the hose and infusion bag they´d brought to contain Nobody. Now they were taking off their masks and shook their heads.

„He´s dead." one of them said. „Seems the gas was too much for him."

For a moment they all just stood there, shocked over that revelation. Really none of them had expected this to end with Nobody´s death. Not after all that he´d survived so far.

„I thought you said it wouldn´t affect him that much?" Shawn asked confused. „I mean … he was one of you guys. Wasn´t he?"

„He was still only human." Peter said and then faced Noah. „We left him in there too long."

The Company man didn´t flinch at that accusation. „Maybe it´s better that way." he said. „Who knows if we would have been able to control him."

„So you chalk it up to self defence?"

„It was … self defence." Juliet chipped in, stepping between the two men. „Please." she begged for peace. „It´s over."

Bennet nodded in agreement, looking at Peter expectedly. The younger man needed a little longer but in the end he agreed too. There was no sense in keeping this up. Nobody was dead and no argument would change that. Bennet nodded at him and then turned to look at Sylar again.

„I bet now you regret it that you didn´t take his power." he said.

The killer reacted surprised at this. „No." he replied. „I didn´t take it for a reason. It was my choice."

This time it was Peter who raised his hand to make peace. „Let it be, Noah." he demanded. „The decision has been made."

„Unfortunately. But that´ll never change what I see in that … monster."

Sylar held his gaze without a change in his expression but didn´t say anything.

„What are we supposte to do, sir?" one of the two Company men asked.

„Bring the body out of here." Lassiter ordered before Noah had a chance to open his mouth. „Bring him to the morgue. Then we´ll see."

Bennet threw him a glance and added emphasizing: „The Company´s morgue."

His glance was answered with a frown. „Of course." Lassiter said. „That´s what I meant."

„Dude, what is just happening here?" Shawn asked, looking from one of them to the other while the body of the dead criminal was taken care of.

„I don´t know, Shawn." Gus stated. „And I don´t care. I just wanna get out of here."

With that his friend turned around and made his words true by marching down the hall to finally get some fresh air, where he had to see no more dead bodies. Shawn hurried after him, still trying to talk to him about these recent character developments they´d just witnessed in their team. And of course he was ignored.

...

Outside of the factory, the body of the deceased criminal was loaded into the van of the Company under the watchful eyes of Lassiter and Bennet, who had both followed the body outside like two dogs following the scent of some sausage. The doors of the van got closed and the motor got started when everybody else joined them.

„We take the next flight to Europe." Mohinder decided before they were even at the gate. He was holding an ice gel pack to his arm, that Juliet had managed to organize for him.

„What, already?" Sylar cried in an almost whining tone. „Can´t we stay just for a day or two?"

Mohinder placed himself in front of the killer to make him look at him instead of Shawn and Juliet.

„You really wanna tempt fate?" he asked him and threw a meaningful glance over at Bennet.

The Company man was looking right back at them. Sylar only smiled at him and gave him a mocking salut with his finger. Bennet didn´t give him the satisfaction of a reaction but that only made the killer smile even more.

Mohinder grabbed his arm and turned him around, away from Bennet. „Obviously you do." he grumbled and made the killer go on.

„Don´t worry, Mohinder." Sylar said in a lighthearted tone. „Even if he would try to catch us. Our car is faster than his."

The scientist frowned confused. „No, it isn´t." he found.

Sylar just shrugged. „It could be. If you let me drive." He held up the keys. „He´ll never catch us."

Mohinder was about to protest when Peter had already snapped the keys out of Sylar´s hand and passed the two of them.

„I drive." he stated matter of factly. „I take the plane back to New York and you two …" and with that he looked at Sylar. „should see that you get to Switzerland. For some people the war will never be over."

With that he went to the car and got behind the wheel. When Sylar only grinned, Mohinder pushed him to move on.

„Dude." Shawn whispered to Gus, watching the whole thing from a save distance. „Is it just me or is this the beginning of a wonderful friendship?"

Gus only looked at him as if he were crazy. „It´s probably just you." he said.

„Agree to disagree." was all Shawn would say to that. In the corner of his eye, he noticed a movement and turned his head. It was Bennet and he was approaching Sylar and Mohinder. Shawn immediately started to jump.

„Dude." he cried over to Sylar and made the two men swirl around. „Bennet´s coming." he cried, still jumping and waving. „He´s coming. Run. Go. Run. Run."

Gus grabbed his arm and forced him down to make him stop. But his excitement had already caught up. Sylar smiled.

„Get in the car." he urged Mohinder and immediately leaned down to Peter, holding out his open hand. „Give me the keys." he cried still grinning.

Peter only gave him a face. „Don´t be ridiculous." he said.

But then he heard Bennet address Mohinder and hurried to get out of the car. Sylar held out his hand as if to calm down Bennet and stop him from attacking. Mohinder took his arm and urged it down.

„Stop that." he hissed. „What´s wrong with you?"

„What is it, Noah?" Peter wanted to know.

„I´d like to have a few words with Mohinder if you don´t mind." Bennet said. „In private."

Peter nodded. He gave Sylar a signal to stop fooling around and enter the car.

„I´m right there." Mohinder assured him and this time Sylar complied. Not after one last checking glance at the Company men though.

„What is it?" the scientist asked Bennet as soon as the doors were closed.

„Just a short advice." Bennet said confidentially. „From someone who took an assignment once too. Don´t get attached."

„What?"

„No matter what he did or what he might have told you." Noah started to lecture him. „He´s still Sylar and Sylar will always be a killer. He murdered your father, he murdered your cousin and his wife. Don´t forget about that."

„I won´t." Mohinder assured him, a little startled that Bennet actually thought it was necessary to remind him on those facts.

Bennet nodded. „Don´t believe that he is your friend just because he appears to care once in a while." he said. „He is and will always be a monster. And one day he´ll try to kill you to get your powers. You should be prepared for that day, Mohinder."

The geneticist raised both brows. „Don´t worry." he said. „I will." When Bennet didn´t give another response he asked: „That all?"

Bennet nodded, his gaze intense and warning. Mohinder turned around without another word and got in the car.

„What did he want?" Peter asked him while starting the motor.

Mohinder looked out of the window into Noah Bennet´s eyes. His gaze hadn´t changed a bit.

„Nothing." he said. „Let´s go."

Peter looked at the geneticist for a moment. But when he didn´t get any more from him, he just started the car and drove off. They had a plane to catch after all.

End of Volume Four

...

Volume Five

– „Harris´ Heroes" –

While the car with Sylar, Mohinder and Peter in it, drove away from the plant, heading for the airport, another vehicle drove in the exact opposite direction. The driver of the van that harbored Nobody´s dead body radioed in to the Company in Durham Street to report that they would arrive in about twenty minutes. After that the van drove on for exactly seven more minutes.

It reached the highway, which was almost empty at this time of the day, and crossed the bridge. When the street followed a long bow, a motorcycle came from the other direction. Before it actually passed them, the driver steered sharp to the left and right in front of the van.

The driver gripped his wheel and stomped his foot down on the brake. The motorcycle raced past the hood of the van, missing the bumper about only a few inches and then just drove on, vanishing in the distance. The wheels of the van blocked and the big vehicle lost the grip to the road. Within only ten seconds the world lost its contours for the driver and his colleague.

Metal shrieked and sparks began to fly when the bodywork scratched over the pavement. Another moment later the van, that was still moving extremely fast, despite the fact that it was lying on its side, collided with the guarding rail and crashed right through it. Once again, the world started to spin when it rolled and jumped down the hillside until it finally came to a stop at the concrete pier of the bridge it had just crossed.

Gasoline was spilling out of the ripped tank but neither the driver nor his colleague were paying attention to that. They were both dead. As dead as the body they´d been transporting. In the distance the roaring motor of a motorcycle approached the place. It circled the van one time and then stopped. Shortly after that the biker was accompanied by another van that drove up to the shattered one.

Two men got out. One of them opened the back of their own vehicle while the second one went over to the crashed car to open that one. Experienced movements and the trained work of a long time team accomplished the task they´d come for in less than a minute.

After the van had left the place, the biker took a match out of his pocket and lit it on the heel of his boot. For a moment he just stood there, the little flame dancing before him, reflected in the shield of his helmet. Then he just threw the match into the gasoline. The van went off in flames almost instantly.

...

A few dozen miles away from that burning van, a man stood at the window of his office. He was only in his mid-forties but his hair was as white as snow. The prematurely grey hair did not take any of the strength and determination out of the man´s face though. He looked out of the window regarding the peaceful sight of the woods he could see from there, while he listened to the report of his man on the phone. The mission had been a complete success. But that was something he hadn´t expected any different.

„Good work." he praised nonetheless. „Bring him over. He´ll be of great value for us."

That instruction given he hung up without waiting for a response. After that the only sound in the room was the ticking of the clock and the never ending course of his own thoughts. Things were set in motion. And as soon as something was in motion, there were very few things that could ever stop them again. Very soon the time would be up. And then nothing would be left that could ever stop it again. Fate couldn´t be stopped. Never. The time he´d been waiting for for so long now, would be there soon.

To be continued …


Here you go. The last chapter. For now. You may stay a little longer to read the Author´s Note if you like. Or you just skip that and take a break. Anyway you chose I hope to see you back again for the next story, as soon as it comes out.

And thank you all for reading.