"It is elemental, the need to protect those we call kin. It is how we survived to become the dominate species, how we now continue to rise and grow as a people. It is the driving force in all our actions, and a dangerous lesson for those that seek to prey upon us, both for hero and for villain: To attack one is to attack all."
-Mohinder Suresh
"Is there anything else I can get you, Mr. Daniels?"
"We're good."
The stewardess smiled. "I could get a blanket for her…"
Carter looked down at Vally, the little girl cocooned in his duster, eyes shut as she sucked her thumb, deep in the middle of what Carter could sense was a happy dream (and boy wasn't that weird being able to sense his daughter's dreams just through the way the chemicals in her brain were happily flowing?).
"Are you kidding? She'd kill me."
(The Daniels Family- International Flight 372 to Los Angles)
The stewardess nodded, staring down at the toddler. "She's beautiful." The woman batted her eyes. "She looks like her father."
"She has her mother's eyes…especially when she is mad." Carter smirked. "Oh yeah…there's the look."
The stewardess turned to find Madrid glaring at her.
"You're in my way." Madrid said, her tone icy. The woman moved, only for Madrid to grab Carter by his tie and drag him into a searing kiss. The stewardess smiled weakly and hurried off to help some other passengers.
The Spanish Beauty licked her lips as she released her husband, purring happily as she sat down beside him and made sure Vally was tucked in good.
"Geez, why don't you just pee on me to mark your territory."
"Who says I'm not planning to?" Madrid whispered softly, running her hand up Carter's leg. "You know…you adapt well to First Class. Glad I suggested it?"
Carter shrugged. "It made sense. Everyone may be after us…but it's a lot harder to kidnap one of the most famous faces in the world at the moment. And if we draw attention to ourselves, The Company and The Alliance members that are after us won't even think about making a move." He looked around the cabin. "Think it's a little too much though…would prefer coach to save the money…"
"Carter, you inherited 40 million dollars when you became CEO of Morbius…and Morbius itself is worth almost a billion…we don't need to worry about cash."
The young man chuckled. "I know…still getting use to it, though." He paused, looking past Madrid so he could watch Vally draw in another shallow breath. "You sure it is safe taking her?"
Madrid nodded. "First off, I love the fact that I am rich again. I really do. And the mansion is nice and all that. But I will never forget that Morbius INC, the "harmless little tech company"…is just one of the face companies for The Alliance…the group that took her from us once…I'd rather have her right here than any place else."
Carter wrapped an arm around her, kissing his wife's forehead. "And no one will again. The Alliance, the part I control and whoever remains to stand against us…will never hurt either of you again." His eyes burnt silver. "I'll kill them if I have to."
Madrid nodded. "I know." She sighed, stroking Vally's hair. "Heaven was beautiful, Carter…but I don't want our little girl seeing it just yet."
&
Renee frowned as she returned to seat, shivering in disgust. "If you need to use the bathroom…hold it."
(Renee and Charlie Raegan- International Flight 781 to London-Coach)
Charlie nodded. "That bad?"
"Worse." Renee stated. "Why are we flying coach again?"
"Because we are trying to save money. The government is going to be hunting us, trying to use us as bait to get to our daughter. That means our savings accounts are frozen." Charlie ticked the points off one by one. "Criminals always need money, food, transportation, and a place to crash. The first 24 hours are vital. Police know a criminal will seek these things out, so they cut them off, watch the most obvious places to gain them…and hope the criminal does something stupid." He leaned back, smiling softly. "But we have something on our side…30 years on the police force."
Renee scoffed. "I think it's my past that is going to help us."
Charlie couldn't argue with that, remembering just who it was that had gotten them the fake passports.
&
(Primatech Company-Odessa, Texas)
Terrence Harper looked over the file, sighing as he catalogued each inmate that had managed to escape Level 5. "The German, Knox..." Terrence rolled his neck. "Remind me to kill Elle if I ever find her."
"Kill…Elle." Terrence's assistant stated.
"This is no time to joke." The Company Elite Guard Agent stated coldly. "Thanks to her little explosion, Angela Petrelli needs me to hunt down firestarters and puppet masters and Jesse…" he scoffed. "Jesse…just what we need, a sound manipulator."
"Actually, Jesse can only fire off concussion screams. Now me…I'm the sound manipulator."
Terrence barely had time to turn before his assistant was sent flying through the air, crashing to the floor with a sickening crunch. The agent held out his hand, only to be sent flying as well.
"Oh Terrence…is that any way to greet your old teacher?"
"J…Joseph." Terrence groaned.
"In the flesh." Joseph said, holding out his fingers. "Now then…be a good boy and hand over those files, would you?"
"Never." Terrence snarled, reaching out and seizing Joseph's nerves. Joseph cried out, falling to his knees. "You always wanted to talk, Joseph…I saw too many targets escape because you never did what needed to be done." He sent another shock through his former trainer. "And then…because of one misunderstanding…you decide its ok to murder 145 Company agents?"
Joseph grit his teeth, fighting through the pain. It felt like his skin was melting and his blood was freezing at the same time. "MISUNDERSTANDING!?"
BOOM
Terrence cried out as he was sent flying again, the sonic boom from when Joseph had screamed. Before he could react, Joseph snapped his fingers, the mini sound blasts shattering his leg bones and causing the young man to scream in agony.
"No Terrence…the only misunderstanding was on their end…thinking they could do what they want." Joseph fingered his bomber jacket, touching the spots of old dried blood. "They took my world…now I am returning the favor."
Company agents poured into the hall, raising their guns. Joseph winked at Terrence, quickly snapping his fingers over and over. Gunshots rang out, Joseph using the echo from the shots and his own snapping to make a wall of sound that stopped the bullets dead.
"My turn.' Joseph said, snapping his fingers several times and sending the agents flying. "Bring my total up to an even 180, Terrence." Joseph said, snatching the file from his old student and looking it over as he went to inspect the dead agents' corpses. "Did I forget to mention that I killed 20 guards on my way in. Oh well." He continued reading. "I didn't come here for all of this." Joseph said calmly. "Sure, I did hope to kill some people, but all I really wanted to do was see how you were handling things. Heard through the grapevine that some Level 5 prisoners got out…you confirmed it, my boy. Knox, Jesse…maybe I should look them…"
Joseph raised an eyebrow, his eye twitching as he read over the document in his hands. He slowly turned towards Terrence, his expression grim.
"Why am I number 4?"
"What…what are you…" Terrence ground out. He'd shut off his pain receptors, but he was losing blood fast.
Joseph growled, storming over to him and getting to work to tie off Terrence's broken legs so to prevent him from dying of blood loss. "Ever since I began my vendetta against this Company, I was the most wanted man here. Now…now I've been bumped to FOURTH!?" He got right in Terrence's face. "Who do you idiots think is more dangerous than me?" Terrence looked down at the list. "Number 3…Gabriel Gray, aka Sylar…sounds like Skeletor's gay brother."
"Sylar…is a serial killer…" Terrence mumbled.
"And I'm not?" Joseph questioned.
"He steals…powers…"
Joseph raised an eyebrow. "Now that's interesting." He looked back at the list. "Carter Daniels…an empathetic beat me?"
"Not…empathetic." Terrence whispered.
Joseph read over the description. "Oh yes, now I see…emotion manipulator…Omega level A class…just like Mr. Sylar…good to see that you are keeping people of my level and class above me at least." Finishing with his work, and sure Terrence would survive a bit longer, Joseph pressed his final question. "So we have a serial power stealer-killer, and some boy that calls himself the Metatron, the Voice of God ahead of me…but tell, Terrence…why the hell is a toddler beating me?" Joseph held up the file, pointing to the number one name: Valencia Alverez-Daniels. "And why isn't this baby's power listed?"
Terrence shut his eyes.
"Answer me, damn it!"
"Never." Terrence snarled. "I'll never tell you about Valencia…" 'I'll never tell you about my niece.' He thought.
Joseph nodded. "That's ok, Terrence…don't tell me…I'm sure I can find out myself…after I get through with dealing with Sylar and the Metatron." Joseph held up his hands, slamming them together, sending a massive sonic blast through the building. As the walls began to crumble, he calmly walked to the door. "Its time to rattle the cage, my boy! Its time to rattle the cage."
&
"We are pilgrims in an unholy land…once again." Lee stated, looking around New York in disgust.
(Lee and Galatea- New York City)
Galatea glanced at him. "Calm down…it isn't that bad."
"Yankees are going to win it all in 08, baby!" A man called out. "Red Sox suck!"
Galatea restrained Lee. "Calm down or I will knock you out." She meant it too. "We are on a mission."
"Fine." Lee grumbled, heading into the auction house and adjusting his tie. "Had to take out my ear piercings, had to wash the dye out of my hair…" He touched his dark locks in disappointment, already missing the purple that usually streaked it. "Damn."
Galatea rolled her eyes, her Jessica side deciding to take charge. Which was ironic, as she was letting Galatea do the talking. "Mr. Winthrop?" She called out, a huge smile on her face. "Tea and Lee Malion…how are you?"
Mr. Winthrop, a tall, perfectly groomed British man, smiled and shook their hands. "Hello my dear. So good of you to make the trip. When we heard that Morbius INC was interested in the sketchbook, we were shocked."
"Mr. Daniels is a fan of Isaac Mendez…he was turned to it by Tina Linderman…Daniel Linderman's daughter."
"Of course…" Mr. Winthrop led them out of the main entry way and into a showroom. "We have quite a few different groups showing interest, of course. I hope you brought your checkbooks."
"We did." Lee said, finally snapping out of his stupor. He looked down at the sketchbook, which was contained I a glass case. "There it is…" He whispered. "The ELSEWHERE sketchbook."
"Yes." The man stated.
Galatea nodded, letting Jessica take control once more. "Tell me…do you have any photos of the sketches? We wish to verify that this is a true Mendez."
Mr. Winthrop frowned. "I'm not sure that is possible…"
"We have several other groups that claim this sketchbook is a fake and they have the real one. We only want to verify that we are not…wasting our money…"
Mr. Winthrop nodded. His auction house could not afford a bad rep from the likes of Morbius INC. "I…do have one photo. It is of one of the middle sketches. Would that be enough?"
"For now, if you swear in writing it is in the book." Galatea/Jessica said.
"OF course." Winthrop answered, pulling the photo from his pocket.
Lee's eyes widened as he stared at the image. "We need to send this to Kelly and Tina…now."
&
"Looks at this…" Quint, the First of the & Horns, said to himself. "All sos pretty and loverly." He watched as Biddy and Hank made their way down the street.
Biddy was admiring her new engagement ring. Hank had decided to surprise her with an evening stroll along the boutiques, letting his girlfriend pick out exactly what she wanted to wear after the baby was born and she was, quote: "No longer the size of a whale."
"Hank, have I said thank you yet?" Biddy asked.
Hank smiled, running a finger along the nape of her neck. "Several times…but its me that should be thanking you…I got you a ring…you made me a daddy."
"Not that." Biddy said. "You…I don't think I could have made it these last few months without you. Carter vouched for me…but you made the others trust me." She smiled sadly. "I've never had friends…I lost my family thanks to Riker…Carter gave me back my sanity, but you gave me back my life…a better life."
Hank wrapped an arm around her. "You did the same for me." He took a breath. "I was so bad to Carter…mistreated him, bullied him. I didn't think I'd ever make it up to him. But you showed me that…that even when you do something horrible, you can still fight to make up for it. I'm going to be always grateful for this."
Biddy nodded, looking up at the stars. "Sometimes, I wonder how long things can last this good before they turn bad."
"Nows…I guess that's be my cue!" Quint chuckle, the laughter rolling along his bulk and causing his brown bangs to bounce about. "YO! HANK DELPINE!"
Hank turned towards Quint.
"YOUS MAMA SENDS HERS LOVE!" Quint shouted, veins bulging under his skin.
Hank barely had time to grab Biddy before the earthquake hit.
&
"How exactly are you going to do this?" Madrid asked, shifting the sleepy toddler that was currently in her arms from one hip to the other.
(The Daniels Family- The Bennet House)
Carter shrugged, looking at his watch. "I'll probably just tell her the truth, and let her know I am going to do everything to hunt down Sylar…of course, I'd love to do that sometime that isn't 3 in the morning." Carter knocked on the door. "Bet they are going to be real happy to see me."
The door swung open, revealing the last person Carter expected.
"Aunt Claire?" Vally murmured, staring at the older woman that had answered the door. She looked at Carter. "She older than I thought."
Madrid nodded. "Have to go with Vally on this one."
Meredith Gordon frowned. "Aunt Claire? What do you…" Her eyes widened as she took a step forward. "No…is it really you? Mr. Bennet told me you might come, but…"
Carter remained unmoved. "Yeah…its me."
Madrid frowned. "You know her?"
Carter shook his head. "No…I never knew her." Meredith flinched at the incrimination in the man's voice. "Madrid, Vally…meet my birth mother."
"You're mother?" Madrid whispered. "…the woman that gave you to the orphanage?"
Carter seemed to withdrawal into himself, jaw working as he closed his eyes. Vally stared on, frightened as she watched her father's hand tremble. "Y-y-yeah." He stammered.
Meredith looking back and forth between the two. "I think I'm missin' something here." She held out a hand, trying to make a good impression. "Hi, I'm…"
BAM!
"In the world!?" Mrs. Bennet cried out, coming to the door just in time to see Madrid summon an extra arm to punch Carter's birth mother out cold.
The Spanish actress smiled as she enter the house. "Mrs. Bennet, I presume. Madrid Daniels, nice to meet you." She used her third hand to shake Mrs. Bennet's hand while she carried Vally and pulled her luggage in. "Sorry about the trash I left on the floor."
&
(Carter Daniels' Mansion)
"I'm getting a fax from Lee!" Kelly called out. She leapt off the bed, hobbling to the fax machine, trying to keep her toes, and the cute French tips Tina had given them, off the rich plush carpet.
"You are so cute when you get excited." Tina said, leaning back and watching her girlfriend, practically vibrate waiting for the fax. "Like a puppy on Christmas or other shit like that."
Kelly stuck out her tongue. "Come on…wouldn't you be excited to see your future…heck, you might get too, if this book is the real deal."
Tina frowned. "The future was my dad's deal. I focus on the here and now."
Kelly nodded. "Yea yea yea…but still, funny to peak once and a while…" She snatched up the fax. "Wonder if it shows Carter as an old man with wrinkles and all that creepy…"
Kelly's rambling died in her throat.
"Kel?" Tina asked, worried as her girlfriend turned two shades of white. The tracking-powered woman's eyes rolled into the back of her skull, Tina leaping forward and catching her before she fell. "Kelly!" Tina screamed, trying to rouse her. "Kelly, what…"
Tina froze, staring at the fax.
&
"It is an elemental need, that can easily cause the greatest of us to fall."
&
The sketch was of Carter and Madrid…but never as she had seen them before.
Madrid was slightly behind Carter, dressed in a midriff and tight pants, breasts jutting out and hips cocked. In one hand she held a gun, the other licking away blood from the back of her hand.
Carter stood just in front of her, his head tilt slightly down, a sneer on his face. His duster billow in the breeze, a tight shirt showcasing his muscles. He gripped his sword, the godfire, tightly, the blade soaked in blood. In his other hand was a severed head.
At their feet lay dead bodies.
The only color in the entire image was their eyes.
Their blood red, wicked eyes.
&
"You are either one of us…or one of them."
-Mohinder Suresh