"Light and Darkness…an eternal struggle. Where one is, the other fights. The darkness is strong, stronger then the light, perhaps. The brighter the sun, the darker the shadows. Every great work the light makes is twisted and corrupted by the night, till it is nothing more the nightmares and terrors."
-Mohinder Suresh
&
The brothers moved in tandem, their focus only Merrick. For Lee, Galatea, Madrid, and Tina, it was a startling sight, a mixture of beauty and terror that they had only seen once before, when the brothers had battled each other in Alaska. There, Carter and Terrence had been rivals, playing out roles as old as time itself, passed down from Cain and Able to Joseph and his brothers, to finally two men that should have never met.
But now…now these two warriors were united, facing a strength none had ever managed to face head-on before.
Terrence lashed out with his fist, driving it into Merrick's gut just as Carter delivered a devastating upper cut. Merrick's head bobbed back like a bobble-head dog, opening him for another of Terrence's attacks, this time held tight and sending Merrick's nerves firing red-hot.
The two brothers leapt away as Merrick stumbled, both nodding to the other before unleashing twin attacks. Merrick roared as his nerves sizzled and his brain went haywire, the two sons of Edward Ellis doing all they could to taking him down.
But still, Merrick forced himself back up, motioning for them to come at him.
Carter grinned beneath his flames, taking a running start before he leapt at Merrick. The head of the Delpine family smirked, holding out his hand…
…and whipping back to punch Terrence, who had been rushing him as well. Raising his foot, Merrick managed to high kick Carter in the jaw, rattling the young man's teeth and stopping his attack dead.
Of course, Merrick didn't count on the brother both grabbing one of his legs and tugging like he was a wish bone, sending him to the pavement and allowing them to dog pile him. The elegant fight turned into a street brawl as they three rolled about, trading punches, kicks and bites, blood and body fluid splattering all about them as them continued their struggle.
The rest of the group shared looks with each other, then turned back to watch as Riker and Sergei slowly began to inch towards the brothers.
"What the hell are we waiting for?" Lee asked, summoning some locust. "Lets kick some ass!"
The men and women cried out their approval, rushing towards the battle, the Company soldiers all keeping the perimeter secure. Galatea ripped a street sign from the sidewalk, using it to strike Riker as hard as she could. The rubber man laughed, letting the attack bounce off of him, before he began to pummel anyone he could get his hands one. Sergei was backing away, Biddy deflecting his shots while Hank tried to sneak Tina ask close as he could to him. Lee was doing his best to help Carter and Terrence, but the two seemed to have things under control. Ashleigh summoned several low level clones to protect her son, just in case these Company soldiers decided to attack them.
Merrick snarled, finally managing to push the two back. "You think this will stop me!" He raised his hands high, slamming them down as hard as he could.
"Move!" Madrid screamed, scooping up Vally while replicating several legs and arms to help her leap away just as Merrick pressurized the entire area, sending everyone but the two girls to the ground. Carter and Terrence picked themselves up as quickly as they could, resuming their attacks even as Merrick tried once more to send them to the ground.
"Linda!" Helena shouted. "Elle!"
Elle, who had been itching to take a crack at the supposedly deadly Merrick, glanced up. "What?" She asked snidely.
"Water and Electricity…fire together!"
Linda nodded, Elle grinning wickedly. The two prepared themselves, waiting for the right moment, then let their blasts fly. Carter and Terrence dove out of the way, Merrick shifting to his left leaving Riker to be struck.
"Shit." Elle complained.
"Language." Bob scolded.
&
"Hank!" Madrid called out, running over to where the young man lay. "Hank…"
"Damn it…" Hank groaned. "Broke a rib…"
Madrid nodded, replicating several arms to lift Hank onto her shoulder. "Lets get you out of here…"
"Biddy…" Hank groaned. "And Tina…"
"I'm fine." Biddy said, digging herself from the crater she'd made when Merrick had pressurized them. She was carrying a limp Tina, the psychologist bleeding badly from the temple. "She needs a doctor though."
Madrid nodded, motioning for the former assassin to follow her.
In an alley across the street, Sergei flexed his hand, black blood pool around his knuckles. "So long, lover." He whispered as he aimed at Madrid's head.
Vally, who was still being held by Madrid, turned in time to see Sergei taking aim. Her body shook with rage at the sight of another person trying to kill her mother. "No…" Vally growled, startling Madrid, Hank, and Biddy. "NO HURT MAMA!"
Pink flames burst from Vally, causing Madrid to drop the girl. Vally trembled, the fire suddenly pulling back into her and causing her skin to glow red, as if she was suddenly radioactive.
"NO! " Vally boomed, running right at Merrick…
…at super speed.
Sergei barely had time to register what was happening before Vally was on him, the little girl leaping up and socking him in the jaw. Madrid's own jaw dropped as Sergei rocketed into the air several stories. Vally, not done, leapt up ala Superman, intercepting Sergei as she slammed her little fists into his face, shattering his skull and sending him crashing through a building. Vally tucked herself and fell, rolling with ease before super-speeding back to Madrid.
"What the hell?" Hank finally yelled in shock.
Vally smiled as the energy faded from her skin, leaving her normal. "up!" She held out her arms, Madrid dumbly lifting the toddler to her chest. Vally snuggled in, kissing her mommy on the check.
"Again, I ask 'what the hell'?!" Hank screamed.
Bob Bishop shook his head in shock, having witnessed it all. "Its true…the light."
"Once last time…'what…the…hell'?!" Hank bellowed, looking at Vally, who merely smiled at him, sucking on her thumb. "I thought Vally could just block powers." He glared at Vally. "And I'm not buying the thumb-sucking thing." Vally pulled her thumb out and grinned.
"Any advance them." Madrid said. "That's how I came back to life…and how I'm guessing you and Kelly suddenly got better control of your powers: Vally can strength a power."
"That doesn't explain her suddenly going Flash on us." Biddy said. "That was a new power."
"Natuwal." Vally said softly to Madrid.
"What?"
"Natuwal abili…i…" She looked rather confused, trying to remember the word.
"Abilities." Bob whispered. "Of course."
"What are you talking about?" Madrid asked, holding Vally a little tighter at Bob's almost salivating gaze.
"The things we do…they aren't special abilities."
Biddy frowned. "Sound special to me. Not a lot of people that can deflect bullets." She said politely.
"For you it isn't special…you do it naturally." Bob said. "This isn't like the comic books Miss Linderman enjoys. We didn't receive these powers from some chemical or radiation…we were born with them. For us, they are as natural as being able to run fast or how strong we are.
"Your daughter, Madrid, doesn't control powers. She controls the abilities of a person…all of them: speed, strength, intelligence, resistance to pain, stamina, and in your case, replication. Or in Hank's case, his invisibility. She can weaken them…or strengthen them. With a thought, she can make the greatest man a kitten, or turn herself into…the display you saw there." He paused. "And because of her power…I think she knew.
Madrid licked her lips, looking back at her girl. "Vally…did you know this and not tell us?"
Vally ducked her head. "Oops?"
Before any of them could respond, Carter stumbled back, flames flickering out. "Things…aren't going so well." Terrence fired another blast, only for Merrick to strike back. He rose to his feet. "I've never encountered anything like this…he's immune to my best shots." He rolled his neck, bones popped, before slowly summoning more of his flames. "I'm firing on all cylinders and he just wags it off like nothing." He groaned, rubbing the back of his head.
"What if we gave you another one?" Madrid asked.
"What?" Carter asked, grimacing as his mother and Marshal made a run at Merrick, only to be struck down by a pressure strike.
Madrid shifted Vally. "Vally can boost abilities Carter…she could give you the jump needed to take out Merrick."
"You're joking." Carter said, surprised.
"She's right." Bob said, watching as some of his own men were crushed by Merrick. "You've shown yourself to be powerful, Mr. Daniels…but Merrick Delpine is beyond anything we have. He's been trained to resist even the strongest attack…we need to use something beyond what he has ever faced that won't harm others…I believe you are our only choice."
Carter frowned. "Everyone forget that the last time I broke open the dam, I DIED?!"
Madrid slowly walked over to Carter, placing a hand on his check. "This is different, Carter. Vally will be helping you…" She leaned in, kissing him softly, "…and I believe in you Carter…I believe in you." She stepped back, letting Vally down. "I love you."
Carter nodded, blinking away a tear. "I know." He locked eyes with his little girl, a million words of praise and love passing between them in that one moment. "Do it."
Vally nodded, Madrid placing comforting hands on her shoulders as the toddler focused, calling up the most terrible of the fires that had always laid in her soul, the ones that she had worked so hard to master and yet still now feared. Eyes glowing like golden ponds, her body erupted into pink flames that bordered on blood red. Hands shaking ever so slightly, she took one final breath before she locked onto her father's silver form and fired.
Carter bent down, body convulsing as Valencia ripped away the damn he and Eden had built around his powers; the only thing that had allowed him to gain control over his abilities. The silver flames shuddered patches of Carter's skin being revealed to the group. They all watched as small, paper-cut styled slashes began to crack along his skin, energy seeping out. His eyes were held open, the orbs going a brilliant ivory as more and more of the energy was unleashed. Vally grit her teeth, her little mind working to force the raw energy to obey her commands, to come to heel like a puppy at its master's feet.
The silver flames were now gone, in their place brilliant white energy that burst from the cuts and slashing that ran along Carter's flesh. He trembled, a primal roar thundering from his throat. It wasn't one of pain or suffering; it was one no unlike God's first bellow as the deity came into existence. Along his back, two mighty cuts ripped open, energy flaring out like angel wings.
And as soon as it began…it ended.
Vally panted slightly, but still, a smile graced her lips as she beheld her father at his full potential, his true power unleashed.
The Metatron's glowing eyes focused on Merrick, his body stiffening as the white energy cracked and flowed from his body. Some wafted near Vally and Madrid, the caresses from it soothing away the pain and fear they had tried to hide. It moved about them all, each affected differently. Some only smiled in joy, their hearts beating stronger. Galatea broke down into happy tears, while Biddy held her head in shame until the energy seemed to assure her of her place.
Hank fell to his knees in supplication.
Sergei moaned in agony.
"Merrick Delpine." Carter said calmly, smoothly. Every time his mouth opened, Merrick could see a glow coming from deep in his throat; as if there were a miniature sun glowing within the boy. "Have you come to confess your sins?"
Merrick grit his teeth as Terrence tried to hold him still. "N-never."
Carter merely nodded, clenching his fist, his entire hand burning bright. Bob Bishop had a horrible flashback to Ted Sprague as Carter made his way towards Merrick.
"So be it." He said simply, tensing slightly before he reduced the many yards between him and Merrick in seconds, his speed the same as Vally's. Not even pausing, Carter decided to steal Vally's playbook and socked Merrick into the air, leaping up and pummeling him all the way down. Terrence backed away, letting his little brother work, wondering if he could somehow trick Vally into amping him up into a Greek God of steroids.
"You think this will stop anything?" Merrick taunted even as Carter continued to his quest to break all the bones in Merrick's body. "You think you can hold back the night, Daniels? Please…you are pathetic. Your strength is nothing but a flicker against my will. Break my bones, shatter my body…I'll get better. Imprison me and I'll escape. Kill me…and you are no better then me." He spit out a thick wad of blood. "Though…kill me now and you avoid the inevitable." He laughed weakly, all the while readying to crush everyone around the Metatron. "You come here and judge me…think you are God's little messenger. Let me tell you a secret." Merrick leaned toward the Metatron. "You're not the first one to hear God's will and go running out to do it. There are a million suckers that fell for that line…hell, look at Hank. Perfect example of what is to come for you, Daniels." He rolled back his head. "I've heard about you pronouncing judgment, acting as a judge of man…how is what you do any different then me? How is the blood on your hands cleaner then mine? It isn't. You are just like me, Daniels…and it will only take so long before you find yourself facing some foolish upstart ready to kill you and try his hand at ruling. Like Uranus was killed by Cronos, and Cronos by Zeus…it's a circle, you fool." Merrick raised his hands suddenly. "But I'm breaking the cycle."
Before he cold activate his powers, Metatron ceased him turning him around…
…right into Vally's aim.
Pink flames struck him hard, causing him to gasp as the toddler ripped away his powers, reducing his ability to call upon them to dust. Terrence charged his hands, he and Elle firing together to send Merrick twitching, the Metatron gritting his teeth as he took on the aftershock.
"You're right, Merrick. There have been others claiming what I claim. And you and I both act to protect our beliefs. But there is one thing that will keep me from ever becoming you."
&
"Yes, the night is strong, the darkness horrifying. But its strength is its weakness. For the darkness, with all it claims, must use all its strength to damp out good, to eclipse the light. But it only takes a single ray to wound the darkness. And more then this…there is one light, glorious and simple, that can, no matter how small, drive back the nightmares…"
&
The Metatron wrapped his arms around Merrick, forcing the older man to his chest. The Voice of God's skin began to glow hotter, the cuts growing longer and deeper as his skin seemed to clear and reveal the pulsing energy within the young man.
"Why I fight…is what keeps me from being you." The Metatron spoke, pulling Merrick and himself away from his friends, family and the Company agents, Bob already giving the retreat command. "Do you wish to know what I fight for?" The Metatron asked, closing his eyes. His body trembled, the two of them slowly engulfed in whammy energy, Merrick beginning to moan in pain.
"What…what is going on?" Elle whispered.
Her father watched on in awe. "Carter Daniels…is saving the world."
"For all that was." Carter whispered.
Visions of all those heroes that had come before him appearing in his mind. Isaiah, Stormrider…Seth…his sister Sarah…the victims of Sylar and Merrick and those like them.
"For all that is."
He saw his mother and father…not the ones that had birthed him, but the ones that had saved him. The friends he had gained: Kelly, Hank, Linda, Tina, Lee, Galatea. His allies: Marshal, Ashleigh. His family: Claire, Terrence…the sisters he'd never met… Madrid…Vally.
"For all that ever will be."
He saw his daughter grow, mature into radiance. He saw the friends she would make, the loves she would have, the victories in life and in battle.
He saw her meet a man that would hold her heart better then Carter ever could.
He saw her hold his grandchildren.
"This is why I fight, Merrick…" he whispered, a tear running down his cheek. "And this is why you fail"
&
"…hope. Hope is a candle against the night…hope can drive back the darkness…and bring a new dawn."
-Mohinder Suresh
&
"Panic"
Carter exploded.
&
Time seemed to stand still as they all slowly rose to their feet, their sight returning. The last they had seen was Carter and Merrick engulfed in whammy energy, a tower of flames that touched Heaven. The whirling vortex had flashed once, before they were all struck, the entire town flooded. But where they had expected pain and fear, all of them only felt love and reassurance.
Now, they looked about, trying to get their fried eyes to work, to see what had happened…
"Carter?" Helena called out. "Carter…" She took a step forward, Marshal groping and pulling her back. "Don't you dare do this to us again!" She screamed in agony, tears falling free.
Galatea shivered, Lee holding her tight. Tina and Kelly tried to deny it, to hold onto hope that was fading. Hank and Linda could only stare, their nightmare revisited. Biddy and Ashleigh offered what comfort they could to the others, while Terrence stared dumbly about, even Elle a shade paler as Bob rubbed his eyes, trying to rid himself of the tiny dots of light that bounced around his sockets.
Madrid and Vally remained standing, blinded eyes slowly clearing.
"He's ok…" Madrid whispered. "Daddy's ok…"
"No one…could survive that." Elle whispered, Bob turning to glare at her for her blunt comment.
"You'd be surprised what you can live through."
Helena looked up slowly, blinking. "C…Carter?"
Marching towards them, the limp body of Merrick Delpine in his arms, was Carter Daniels, the energy that had been pouring from the razor-thin cuts now gone, leaving only beads of blood.
"DADDY!" Vally screamed, rushing to her father. Carter laid Merrick down gently, scooping Vally up in his place, barely managing to stand before Madrid collided with him, sending the three toppling as she peppered him with kisses, the three laughing.
"Don't you ever do that again!" Madrid scolded, smiling as the rest of their group rushed him, all trying to hug him at once, no one minding the blood that got on their clothing.
Ashleigh and Hank were the first to look down at Merrick, noting his shallow breathing and glassy, dead eyes. "What did you do to him?"
Carter sneered. "He said it himself…to kill him would make me like him, but there was no prison that could hold him. So I made him one." He narrowed his eyes.
"His mind." Tina said, first to realize it. "You trapped him in his own mind."
Carter nodded, voice eerily calm. "Its amazing what changing the chemicals in the brain can do. He was resistant…but I broke through. I altered everything…he's a vegetable…as close to the line between life and death a man can be. I left him everything…he can hear us, he can see us…but he can't do anything. His body is useless now…" Carter leaned slightly closer to his enemy. "And he is going to live a very…very long time…with only what I left him to keep him sane."
"What…what did you leave him?" Kelly whispered.
"Fear." Carter said coldly.
"Well done, Mr. Daniels." Bob praised, slowly clapping his hands. "Well done. Now then…I would suggest you begin to make your retreat…we will clean up the damage."
"Retreat?" Carter questioned.
"You really expect to destroy half of Flint and not have people ask questions?" Bob questioned. "But before you go…about our deal?"
"Merrick is yours…Vally left Sergei in the building, no idea where Riker went. Anthony was on the building…you might find his remains." Carter said.
"Very good…now, if you could hand over the others."
"Others?" Galatea questioned.
Bob nodded. "Merrick's son, his sister, and Riker's partner."
Linda glared at Bob. "Hank's not part of the Alliance…"
"He is a Delpine…"
"In name only." Helena said. "He is my son's brother…he is a Daniels…he belongs to us."
Lee stepped forward. "The Ashleigh that worked with Merrick is dead. This one merely wears her face…an innocent."
"And Biddy suffered torture and brain damage from Riker." Hank snapped, moving to defend the woman, Biddy touched.
Bob merely nodded to his men. "Safeties." The soldiers aimed their weapons at the group.
"Safeties." Madrid echoed, summoning a pantheon of arms, each with a loaded gun. The river behind the Company roared as Linda called to it, Marshal snarling and Lee readying to call his troops, Tina's acid dripping from her fingers. At the forefront, Carter and Vally stepped forward, both bursting into their flame forms. Madrid smirked. "Mine are bigger then yours."
Bob nodded, holding out his hands. "Stand down." The men did as he commanded. "I'll give you 5 hours…in exchange for Mr. Delpine, Miss Delpine, and Miss Bargo staying with you."
Carter frowned. "And Marshal and my mother are free of any duties."
"They will be treated as the fugitives you are."
"Nice doing business with you." Madrid said, dropping her extra guns and retracting her arms. "Come on…lets go." The group nodded, Linda summoning the river once more. The gang piled into Merrick's discarded van, Carter pausing to collect Seth's body, the Flint River pulling it back into the channel. By the time anyone would be up to see the odd sight, the group would be on their boat, heading for open waters.
"What now?" Hank asked.
Helena looked down at Seth. "We make for Alliance Headquarters. We return Seth's body to them…then we break Vic out."
Carter nodded, remembering well that his grandfather still held his adopted father prisoner. "And if they don't play nice…we continue what we started here." He glanced at them all. "This was only the beginning…the Alliance won't back off now, and neither will The Company…if anyone wants out, to try and make it on their own…"
Lee shook his head. "We're with you Carter."
Madrid laid her head on his shoulder. "All the way."
Carter nodded, smiling slightly. "Then lets go save my father."