"What is normal? What is special? Is there really any difference? For the special, they try to deny their differences and work to be that they can never be. For those that are normal, they cling to the idea that the little, pathetic things they do are special when they are not. In the end, normal and special are the same…they are both pathetic."
-Sylar
^&^&^&^
Carter and Madrid stared at Valencia in shock, their brains trying to wrap around what they had just heard.
"I'm sorry, I think I had some crazy in my ear." Madrid muttered, shaking her head. "did you just say we were…"
"Immortal…will never die save for a bullet to the back of the head…front works too." Sarah admitted. "Well, never tried it personally, but from what we've learned in school, that's how it works."
"School?" Carter croaked.
Gabriel shrugged. "Immortallity isn't that big of a thing anymore, thanks to big sis here." He grinned, eyes flashing purple. "Granted, I was born with the stuff…a benefit of immortal parents, I came pre-whammied. Sarah and Derek too…"
"Would you shut up, before you give away everything?" Valencia snapped.
Madrid frowned. "Don't talk to your brother like that…" Her eyes widened. "oh God, I'm accepting this!"
Vally patted her mother on the shoulder. "it ok mama."
"Yeah, its ok mama." Gabriel said, causing Madrid to groan and Vally to glare at him. "Wow, the Val stare in mini form…"
"No sass." Carter muttered. He paused, eyes flashing silver. "Someone's coming…they are a whirl of emotions…"
The group paused, tensing for what was to come…
Courtney stared at the group, raising an eyebrow. "Are one of you Carter Daniels?"
Carter slowly nodded.
"You need to come with me…Linda needs you."
^&^&^&^
Carter stared down at Linda, stroking her hair. "Hey…Professor Frey."
She smiled weakly up at him. "I thought we were past formalities."
Carter scoffed. "Think of it as respect."
Linda nodded. "Who are they?" She nodded towards the 4 Hunters.
"Long story."
"Make it short."
"Vally and her family from 40 years in the future."
"…make it longer."
Carter laughed softly at that.
Madrid glanced over at Terrence. Carter's brother was being placed in a wheelchair his agents had found, his legs reshattered. "Terrence."
"Madrid." He said calmly. "Vally."
Vally stuck her tongue out at him. "Bad man."
Valencia stared at her uncle. "Now isn't he a sight for sore eyes."
"Who is he, mom?" Sarah whispered.
"Your Great Uncle Terrence."
Sarah's eyes widened. "THEE Uncle Terrence…the one…"
"Shh." Derek nodded towards Carter. "I think this is important."
Carter lick his lips. "Has Terrence…?"
"He can manipulate nerves…he can't repair them." Linda whispered, fighting back tears.
Carter turned to Valencia. "You can me advanced healthy…could you…"
Valencia shook her head. "I do that now, and her body makes what it is right now the permanent default setting." At Carter's downcast eyes, she took a breath. "I can try…it will take a long time…longer then we'll be here…Vally will have to finish the job…and that will take longer…"
"I have all the time in the world, remember?" Carter muttered.
Linda steeled herself as Solomon and Gabriel worked to place her in the wheelchair they had found for her, setting her neck into the brace. "You said…you'd be here not that long…"
"There are a few things we need to finish…I'm not exactly for sure what."
"You don't remember from…" Madrid nodded at Vally.
Valencia shook her head. "Do you remember what you did as a 4 year old? I get snapshots, snippits…don't have any real solid memories until I'm about 5 or 6…even then they are foggy…old age and all that."
Sarah nodded. "Yeah, you're older than dirt." Carter glared at her. "Not that there is anything wrong with that, grandpa…you are a spryin' old man."
Terrence finally wheeled himself towards them, interrupting their private conversation. "It seems as if we have a common enemy, brother. The 7 Horns have attacked Company property…and at this point I can not allow The Light to fall into the wrong hands." He looked at Vally. "She's far to dangerous with you, let alone anyone else."
Derek shook his head. "Are you sure that's the same Terrence?"
"Oh yeah…got a nice snapshot of him…" She grit her teeth. 'Employer of the bear destroyer.' She thought, glad she had left her prized special bear with Gabriel. She may be old, but that bear was to be protected, damn it!
^&^&^&^
"Police can't (CENSORED) with the Juggernaut…"
All eyes turned to Carter as he quickly pulled out his cellphone. At Madrid's chuckle, he narrowed his eyes. "Two worlds: My Humps."
Madrid stopped smiling.
Carter hit the talk button on his phone, giving his wife a smirk. ""ello." He paused as the chaotic noise hit him. "Wait…slow down…they did what…no…no…." he grit his teeth. "You're…no, tell them to stay at the damn airport. I'll get them." He snapped his phone shut, shoving it in his pocket before grabbing a large piece of machinery and hurling it across the factory, bellowing in outrage. Terrence and his agents took a step back as Carter slammed his hands into the cement floor, denting it. "Terrence, we're cutting this short. Get back to the company and let them know to batten down the hatches…I'm bring the rain." Moments later, his head snapped up, eyes glowing dark silver as he locked in on Derek. "You there, son-in-law…you're like Hiro Nakamura, right?"
Derek nodded quickly. He'd seen Carter in battle like this, and knew how deadly he could be. "Yeah…Hiro bends space…I can rip it and reseal it. Cut it apart then stitch it back up…"
"Then get your knives ready, boy. We have a few stops to make."
^&^&^&^
Hank paced up and down the concord, watching as yet another plane that should be taking him anywhere but where he was currently took off. He let out a hard breath before resuming his pacing.
"Would you calm down already?" Tina asked as she chopped on the fries Kelly had grabbed for her.
"If Kelly were being tortured by your dad, right now?"
Tina nodded. "Resume pacing, I will shut up and eat more yummy fries. Just call me Xander. Yum yum yum."
"Good girl, have another fry." Kelly said, scratching her head and handing her another salted stick. Hank glared at her, only for the black woman to return his stare. "Don't try and out angry black woman me, Hank Delpine. We are all frustrated, all angry, all afraid. Biddy is gone, your mom is nuts, and we have a picture that looks like Carter is going to kill a lot of people…"
"Been there, done that, got better, wish I was still sick."
The 3 of them turned to find Carter marching towards them, his eyes blazing, black duster swirling about him.
"Sir," a airport guard called out, "may I see your…"
Carter held up his hand, whammying the man.
"Its ok, I just told him to go to sleep. I've learned all sorts of new tricks." Carter nodded at the girls. "Got your bags?"
"Only carry ons…" Tina began, before pausing. "Wait…how the hell did you get here…"
"You'll see soon enough, come on."
Kelly frowned. "how can we trust you…after what the picture showed…"
"Seems to me you know damn well why I killed those men." Carter snapped, not in the mood to fight. Kelly lowered her head. "Hank, you want Biddy back? Well, you best follow me."
Hank nodded. "Where are we going?"
"To gather the troops."
^&^&^&^
Helena leapt a few feet in the air when the rip in space appeared, a glowing blue light that jaggedly appeared right in front of her. Moments later, Carter emerged, a light haired man following after him.
"Get dad and Ashleigh…" He paused, noticing Renee and Charlie, "…and Mr. and Mrs. Ragean, apparently."
^&^&^&^
(Chicago)
Lee Malion stuffed his hands into his jacket, looking out over ball diamond. He knew Carter would be a while, but still he held hope that his friend might come sooner rather than later.
Besides, it was better than sitting alone in a hotel room trying to ignore the beer bottles singing "Drink me, drink me!"
So, he was stuck in the windy city, waiting for what could be days, maybe weeks, for Carter to show up…
"Liked that little riddle, did you?"
Lee turned, watching as Carter moved to stand beside him. "Had to make a joke about the Red Soxs?"
"It worked." Carter muttered. He glanced over at him, then back at the field. "I heard about Galatea." He placed a land on Lee's shoulder. "I'm so sorry Lee."
Lee shook his head. "Do not feel sorry for me…I have no room for it. I am filled with hate…and I will not have room for much else until I unleash it on the 7 Horns." He paused. "We are going to unleash it…right?"
Carter nodded. "Oh yea."
^&^&^&^
"Are we in?" Carter asked calmly, watching the technicians work. They buzzed about the studio, prodding and poking at machines, getting the connections in order.
Helena nodded, typing in a few commands. "A lot easier when we had Hana linking up…but I'm managing. Your dad has some good contacts."
Carter nodded, walking over to his father, watching as he adjusted some dials. "Encryption?"
Vic pointed to several grungy looking men. "Still wish I could have brought in my own people."
"But are they working?" Carter pressed.
The older-than-he-looks man reluctantly nodded. "Yeah, they got so real good."
Kelly grinned. "That's why you always trust dvd pirates." She moved to a tv camera, inspecting it. "If they can release the newest Harry Potter film and not get caught, they can encrypt a signal enough to hide us."
"Oh, they'll break through." Vic said. "We just need them to take a long time doing it."
In the back, Valencia, Gabriel, Derek and Sarah all watched, none of them quite believing what they were seeing.
"I…I saw this in school…I watched the old films on this…I can't believe we are going to see it." Sarah whispered.
"Me neither." Gabriel stated softly, watching the younger version of his father glanced at a mirror, before turning and allowing Madrid to fuss over him.
"You sure about this?" She asked gently, brushing his bangs away from his eyes.
"Getting cold feet?" Carter asked.
"I'm worried, yeah." Madrid whispered. "Why wouldn't I be? After this, we are going to have enemies coming out of the woodwork…"
"Then you don't want me to do this?"
Madrid sighed as she checked him over one last time. "The moment I accepted I was the mother of a super toddler and could duplicate anything I gave up any hope of normal. Decided to make with the special route. And considering it gave me you, I'm all for it. And I know that this…this is the only way we are going to make special a bit more normal. Going to be very rough for a while…but it will be worth it. Doesn't mean I'm not scared." She tugged him forward for a quick kiss. "Now go get them, tiger."
Carter smirked, making his way to his position, and a destiny that had begun far longer than he could possibly know.
^&^&^&^
Around the world, on that day, at 4:57 pm, the leaders of every government, as well as the leaders of all the major organizations and players within humanity, legal or illegal, all found their televisions and communication devices receiving one frequency. The message that followed would go down in history as among the most world shaking speeches ever given, right there with Martin Luther King Jr, FDR, and more. School children would memorize it, historians would debate it, and that date, in many years time, would become a celebrated point in the evolution of the human race. For in that moment, the boy that had become a man, the man that had become a father, the father that had become a hero…would become a legend.
^&^&^&^
"Attention…ladies and gentlemen. Many of you know who I am. My name is Carter Daniels…I am the CEO of Morbius, INC. And more than that…I am a hero.
"If you are hearing these words, you then fall into one of two camps. You are either a head of state…or someone that truly runs said states behind the scenes.
"If you are the former, know that you have nothing to fear from me. Remove yourself from my business, and you and your people will find no harm from me.
"But to the latter, and those that would align with you, I send this message. You have attacked my family…you have maimed us, killed us, broken us. Just as you have done to countless others. You have built your domains on the suffering of others, on the backs of the innocent and weak. You have sought control of all you see, and allowed pain to come to any that would stand against you.
"No more.
"I had believed, that with my strike against one of your own, that I could lead a quiet life. I was wrong. You continue to attack me…but more than that, should you have even ignored my family, you would have only chosen another target for your twisted games. I can no longer allow this to happen.
"You wanted a war. You wanted to show your power. You wanted to deliver a message of fear and pain.
"Message received.
"My reply is this: You will have your war. You will see my power.
"My name is Carter Daniels, and I send this message to all those that oppress the innocent: Spread the word to your brothern, that today, the weak and the innocent have stood up, and in one clear voice proclaimed your reign over. We are small, you are mighty…but we will not be stopped.
"Spread the word …I am here…I am coming.
"The Resistance begins."
^&^&^&^
END OF VOLUME 3
^&^&^&^
Volume 4: Fugitives
(7 Weeks Later)
Marie Delpine shook her head in annoyance. From the other side of the room, Lorenzo Bast stood, arms crossed over his chest. "How's the prego?"
"Frustrating, but the baby is fine. The girl does not understand the honor I am giving her…her child is going to be the weapon that destroys Carter Daniels and his damn family once and for all."
"And why would any mother not want that?" Lorenzo muttered sarcastically.
Marie didn't even bother to comment on that. "Who do we have left?"
Lorenzo sighed. "Quint was killed trying to get Biddy and Hank the first time. Rodreck was killed in the raid, most likely by those turncoats Renee and Charlie. Your husband is dead, Ashleigh has sided with Carter. Gabriella is missing, presumed dead…we are the only two left."
"Not quite."
The two of them turned, startled to find Gabriella standing there. The left side of her face was twisted slightly, the skin burned and scarred. The beauty that had once made her the envy of all shattered by a few light scars and discoloration. She moved forward, the lamp on Marie's desk flickering as Gabriella stole its light, the room growing darker.
"It seems my death notice was premature."
Marie raised an eyebrow. "Not that I am not overjoyed, but how did you manage to survive the explosion? All of your men were killed, as were several of Carter's men and many Company Agents…"
"She had help."
Marie stood up, tensing as the older man entered the room, his graying hair matted down, his body wrapped in blood-specked bomber jacket.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Joseph, and I am your new leader. Now…you can bow to me…" He held up a hand as Gabriella wrapped herself around him. "…or die."
^&^&^&^
To Be Continued…
^&^&^&^
(Nickelback's Gotta Be Somebody plays. A caption appears: "In 2009, they will be hunted. In 2009…one man will unite them")
This time I wonder what it feels like
To find the one in this life
The one we all dream of
But dreams just aren't enough
(The screen fades to Carter walking down a dark street, his duster billowing as he heads forward. All around him, we see reporters silently crying out at him. He moves on, ignoring them)
So I´ll be waiting for the real thing.
I'll know it by the feeling.
The moment when we´re meeting
Will play out like a scene straight off the silver screen
(Now photographers are trying to push their way towards him, Carter covering his eyes from the flashes but continuing his march)
So I`ll be holdin' my breath
Right up to the end
Until that moment when
I find the one that I'll spend forever with
(Now there are protestors, crying out silent slurs. Carter moves on, even as they continue to taunt him)
`Cause nobody wants to be the last one there.
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Someone to love with my life in their hands.
There`s gotta be somebody for me like that.
(One of the protestors throws a rock at Carter, catching him on the forehead. Without slowing, Carter wipes the blood away and continues walking.)
`Cause nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they´re not alone.
Somebody else that feels the same somewhere.
There`s gotta be somebody for me out there.
(A hail of rocks pelt Carter as he continues to march forward. We see in the crowd flashes of Joseph, Marie, Lorenzo, Gabriella, Sylar, Nathan, and several heads of state, including the President)
Tonight out on the street out in the moonlight
And damn it this feels too right
It´s just like Déjà Vu
Me standin' here with you
(Carter pauses when he notices a rock didn't hit him)
So I´ll be holdin`my breath
Could this be the end?
Is it that moment when
I find the one that I'll spend forever with?
(He turns to find Madrid smiling softly. The rock she caught drops to the ground as she links her hand with his, the two moving forward)
'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there
'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Someone to love with my life in their hands.
There´s gotta be somebody for me like that.
(Carter finds himself being shielded by others: Vally, Lee, Hank, Kelly, Tina, Linda, Vic, Helena, Renee, Charlie, Ashleigh, Valencia, Gabriel, Derek, Sarah. They all surround him as they join him on his march, pushing the crowds back, blocking the hail of rocks, shielding him from the taunts and jeers. Carter raises his head proudly as he continues)
`Cause nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they´re not alone.
Somebody else that feels the same somewhere?
There`s gotta be somebody for me out there.
(We pull back to reveal people pushing their way out of the taunting crowd, joining the march. People of all shapes, all sizes, all races and creeds join in the march, helping to protect Carter.)
Nobody wants to go it on their own
And everyone wants to know they´re not alone.
Somebody else that feels the same somewhere?
There `s gotta be somebody for me out there.
(The camera pans down on a close up of Carter, his body beat down but his spirit strong)
Nobody wants to be the last one there
and everyone wants to feel like someone cares.
Somebody else that feels the same somewhere?
There `s gotta be somebody for me out there.
Elsewhere
Volume 4
Fugitives
February 2nd, 2009
"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
^&^&^&^
Author's Note: Now…where have we seen Ando's power before?
Also, all those that review this chapter will recieve a link to the exclusive ELSEWHERE computer wallpaper image