ELSEWHERE Chapter 68: Into Asylum, a heroes fanfic

(Daniels' Chateau)

Vic stared out from the stairway at the members of the Alliance. Each one of the men and women here were heads of their houses, some of the most powerful people in the world, both known and unknown. There was the man that had shown Bill Gates how to program a computer. The woman that had built her fortune by salvaging ships…without a boat. There the true ruling family of Austria, the current politicians their puppets.

Vic had seen them grow up, as well as their parents and their parents' parents. For several centuries he had watched over them, working with them to ensure the world remained safe.

And now, he would come to them on his knees.

For the boy that was his grandson by blood, his son by choice…was gone.

Captured by a sadist.

Tortured even as he stood there.

And the Alliance was his only hope.

"Will they listen?" Helena asked, wrapping her arms around her husband. It was still a bitter pill to swallow, that the man she loved had lied to her, that he was immortal, that he had founded the organization that had tormented her son and his family. But who was she to judge? She had worked for the Company, who had wanted to see Carter die. It had taken effort on both their powers to forgive one another…and even stronger wills to finally convince Carter to open his heart to them again. If it were not for Madrid and Vally, who had begged Carter to speak to them…she knew her son would have been lost to them.

And yet…

"They will have to." Vic whispered.

"I want him back, Vic." She said softly. "I want him in my arms again…I want to see his bright eyes and hear his voice." She shuddered. "We can't leave him to die."

"We won't…I promise you, we won't."

^&^&^&^

(Marie's Stronghold)

Carter didn't know where he was. All he knew was that it was dark, it was quiet, and the only item in the room was the crucifix he had been nailed too.

'Marie has a sick sense of humor.' He thought, looking at the steel spikes that had been driving into his wrists. 'I might be God's voice, but I doubt the Creator is going to let me come back after 3 days…'

BOOM

Carter looked up, cocking his head to the side as he tried to figure out what the hell was going on.

BOOM!

Light burst from the darkness, forcing Carter to close his eyes. He felt arms grasping him, the steel spikes ripped from his body and the collar tore from his neck.

"Hey, come on…" A familiar voice said.

Carter frowned. "Claire?"

Claire Bennet smiled, helping him stand. "Hold on big brother…the calvary has arrived."

^&^&^&^

"Mama?" Vally looked up at her mother, fidgeting slightly. "Are we gonna get daddy back now?"

Madrid smiled sadly. "I'm gonna try."

Vally nodded. "I want daddy back."

"I know." Madrid steeled her nerves before finally entering the dining room, unnerved that she was surrounded by power players that made the world go around. She was dressed in a pantsuit, though she felt she should be in battle armor, all things considered.

She glanced at Lord Tully, who was grumbling that he had been brought there under false pretenses. And there was Orlando, looking occasionally at Lee. The rest of Madrid's group was seated behind her, watching as she prepared herself to speak. Vally had come in and plopped herself in Ellie's lap, the special bear in her lap. The only chair that was empty was Malcolm's, the British man stating he had work to do.

"Ladies and Gentlemen…" Madrid began at last. "You know me. I am Madrid Daniels, wife of Carter Daniels, the head of the House of Ellis. I come before you…humble, and in need. My husband…my beloved…he has been taken. Marie Delpine, leader of the Seven Horns, the militiant arm of the Alliance, has captured him, and if he is not…" She struggled for a moment, "…dead…he needs us now.

"Carter has done much for you, but I know that many of you do not trust him. His father, Victor Daniels, created the Alliance to serve Carter, but you still do not believe he is the one destined to lead you. I understand…I truly do. I am not asking to take his place, for those that wish him to be the commander he seek. And I do not ask that you even accept him as some…mystical superhuman messiah. He is not that…he is a man…a powerful man, yes…but he is just a man…a husband…a son…a friend…a father.

"I am here to ask you all to look at those gathered before you, and to see that we need your help. Carter has given so much to help us all…we must help him." Madrid forced herself to continue. "I, acting for my husband, call for a vote of war against Marie Delpine and the Seven Horns, for their act of attacking another of the Alliance."

The room erupted into shouts both for and against the call to arms. Madrid watched as Vic stood up, pleading for calm.

An Indian man whistled. "Let us vote…why squabble when we can decide this fairly." Madrid breathed a sigh of relief. "I vote no."

"What?" Madrid whispered.

Slowly, more joined in turning down he declaration.

^&^&^&^

Carter coughed, his superhealing working overtime to fix him up. Claire was guiding him through the ruins of Marie's stronghold, a determined look on her face.

"How?" Carter whispered.

"Nathan…my dad…he found out, and I was able to get some people together…"

"You got him?" Another woman called out, running towards them. She was dressed in a black infiltrator suit, several guns strapped her chest.

Carter cocked his head to the side. "Who are you?"

"A friend." The woman said. "The United States Government can have you dead, not when France would threaten war. I came out of retirement to help you." The woman began leading them through the halls. "The rest of the team is taking out Marie's forces…don't worry Carter, we'll get you out of here."

"What…what is your name?" Carter asked, hissing as the skin on his right arm sealed up.

The woman smiled. "Sydney…Sydney Bristow."

^&^&^&^

"I vote yes."

"No."

"Yes" Orlando said.

"No."

"Yes"

Vic sighed, lowering his head. "That is 20 votes for no, 19 for yes…the nos have it…we will…not declare war."

Madrid stared at Vic in horror. "There…there has to be some mistake…"

The Indian man shook his head. "There is no mistake. Marie Delpine is merely avenging the death of her husband…your husband killed him."

Kelly stood up. "Merrick Delpine kidnapped an innocent child!"

"Which was in his right…I believe Vic's records show his associate Seth explained this to you?" One woman stated.

Tina grit her teeth. "You are supporting a woman that held a pregnant woman hostage and let her associates terrorize the innocent!?!"

A 40 year old man in a suit sighed. "We can not expect you to understand…"

"Damn right we don't understand!" Linda roared. "I was crippled because of them!" Sarah reached over, placing a hand on Linda's shoulder as the Professor raged. "Marie Delpine and the Seven Horns are monsters!"

"Enough!" Yet another no voter called out. "The vote is passed, you have lost…"

"Cowards." Ellie snarled. "My Malcolm told me about you, and how you all stood by, letting Carter do your dirty work. You don't mind sending others to die, but when you are asked to fight."

"She is right!" One of the yes voters called out. "We must end this. The Delpines have pushed too hard for too long…we can seize the moment…"

"And we can ignore the rules that govern us." Lord Tully stated. "You kidnapped me, treated me like cargo…well, I happily vote now, and hope your Carter dies a rather slow death."

Vally growled, her entire body glowing blood red. Ellie's eyes widened as the little girl began to hum with energy.

Lord Tully backed away slowly. "You would not dare…you attack me, little girl, and I will have you in irons!"

Madrid snarled. "You will not threaten my daughter!"

"I will do as I like!" Lord Tully shouted as Valencia and Derek grabbed Vally, working on calming her down before she wiped out everyone's powers.

"We must attack!"

"The vote is done!"

"This is foolishness!"

Lord Tully stood up, yelling over everyone. "You don't have the votes! All the houses have spoken."

Hank stood up. "no…they haven't."

^&^&^&^

Carter frowned as he sat on the hard bench. They were in a cargo plane, the sound of the engines surrounding him and the team that had gotten him out of that place. Claire had said that they were taking him someplace to recover, before they got him back to his family.

Carter was just confused.

He kept staring at Sydney, trying to place her, knowing that he had seen her somewhere before…

"You ok, big brother?" Claire asked, sitting down next to him.

Carter shook his head. "Just trying to get my head on straight."

"Being tortured will do that too you, makes sense that you would be all twisted around."

Carter nodded, though not agreeing with the statement. "Why would the US Government care about me? I threatened them…"

"Sydney explained that…"

Carter frowned. "And that another thing…something in the back of my mind…about her…"

Claire smiled, taking ahold of his hand. "Just forget about it."

"Are you hungry?" Another woman asked. She had long black hair, and was wearing a school girl uniform.

Carter nodded, accepting the muffin. "And you are?"

"Kagome, Carter-sama." The woman said.

Carter frowned, his brain buzzing again.

^&^&^&^

"What are you talking about?" Lord Tully demanded.

"Not all the Houses have spoken." Hank said, taking Madrid's spot, the Spanish actress taking Vally from Derek's arms and cradling her. "Tell me, how does a house split?"

"What?" Lord Tully questioned.

"A house! How does it become two?"

Lord Tully frowned. "A son may challenge the head for his right to freedom. Should he secure it, be seen by the head as independent, a new house will be formed."

Hank nodded. "As I thought." He stood a bit taller. "I am Hank Delpine, spiritual brother of Carter Daniels, head…of the House Delpine-Daniels."

Lord Tully shook his head. "You can not declare yourself a Head of House…"

"Yes he can!" Helena shouted. "Hank fought Merrick, and he won. He earned his freedom. He has denied his father, and he is declared himself family to my son."

"That does not work…" Lord Tully shouted, growing desperate.

Biddy stood, placing a hand on her extended belly. "Marie Delpine told me that Hank is no longer her son, that my child is her heir…Hank is no longer a Delpine, he is free! And by your laws, he is the head of a house."

Several members murmured, before the Indian man sighed. "She…is right."

Hank smiled darkly. "I vote for war."

^&^&^&^

Apparently, the safe place Claire had been talking about was a tropical island in the Caribbean. Time had seemed to speed up, and Carter found himself on a beach, more of the women that had freed him buzzing about, trying to help him.

That was the strange part…everyone there was a woman, except him.

Carter frowned, glancing over at a young woman with reddish brown hair. "This isn't right…"

The woman smiled. "Its perfectly fine, Carter."

Carter didn't listen. "Sydney Bristow…Liz Sherman…I know for a fact your Pam Beasley…" The woman grinned, moving to feed him a grape, only for Carter to turn away. "Elizabeth Swan, Selene, Padme Amidala…" The women, hearing his voice, began to swarm him, all offer to help him. "Jean Gray, Wonder Woman…" The amazon princess began rubbing his shoulders and Jean massaged his feet. "Lara Croft…Arwen…" The explorer and the elf princess giggled, grabbing pillows from nowhere and playfully fighting each other. "Princess Jasmine…Ariel…" The Disney princesses began to strip and dance. "…I'm hallucinating, aren't I?"

"Of course your not!" Kelly Raegan shouted, appearing out of no where. "Now, I just decided I'm bi sexual…want to try me out? I'm hot to trot!"

"Yup, dreaming." Carter said, ignoring her as she tried to distract him

"No you're not!" Linda said quickly, Carter raising an eyebrow when he saw she was wearing a chocolate bikini.

Carter sighed, watching as Tina Linderman and Kate from LOST rubbed suntan lotion on him. "Pretty sure I am."

The women all groaned.

"No fun!"

"Had to figure it out!"

"Big meanie!"

Carter stared skyward. "I'm knocked out, still in Marie's estate, aren't I?"

Claire smiled sheepishly. "Maybe…."

"I never escaped. I'm still there, and in a while I will wake up and get tortured again."

"Got it in one." Marie Delpine said, on all fours and letting out fake sexy ooos as Princess Fiona spanked her. "I'm a bad girl…a baaaaadddd girl!"

"This is just my mind trying to escape." He said. "Though…is a bit worrisome that you are here, Claire."

Claire shrugged. "Don't look at me, I'm just a figment of your imagination. You're the one dreaming about your sister." She paused. "I'd be more worried about the Tranformer being here."

"That's Arcee." Carter stated, before frowning. "Yup, I'm learning all sorts of strange things about my taste in women every second." He decided to ignore Claire, who was currently trying to nuzzle him, and focus on the rest of the women. "So…there is nothing I can do to escape what Joseph has in store for me?"

"Sorry." Madrid said, appearing before him and stroking his cheek.

Carter closed his eyes. "Just great." He shrugged after a few moments. "Well, might as well make the best of it." The fantasy women all cheered as they surrounded him. "Arcee, you feed me grapes. Bulma, you can fan me…Madrid, you sit on my lap and watch as Buffy and Dawn Summers mud wrestle…"

^&^&^&^

"That is 20 to 20." The man in the suit, one of the no voters, declared. "Another vote must be held."

"And what if it is another tie?" Madrid asked, hopeful.

"We vote again…and again…until one side wins."

Madrid felt defeat crush her once more. None of the no voters would side with them…it was far more likely that one of teir allies would switch just to end the meeting. Even with Hank's last minute play…they had still lost.

Orlando stood up. "Wait!" he held out his hands. "What Hank has done…has made me think. Lord Tully, you did not tell the full account." He turned to Ashleigh. "Ashleigh, of the House of Delpine…you no longer carry that name, isn't that so?"

Ashleigh considered this. "I…I did take Malion as a last name."

Orlando smiled as he looked at his friend. "Should one of the alliance marry into a new family, and should this family contain a majority of super powered individuals…that family will be declared a House of the Alliance, if they are recognized by another house." He pointed to Lee. "I give you Lee Malion, who, with his mother, form a majority!" The room burst into exclaimations. "Therefore, I recognize the House of Malion, and call for them to vote!"

Lee smiled. "I call for war."

^&^&^&^

Joseph frowned. "Why the hell are you smiling?"

Carter flashed his torturer a grin. "Had a nice dream…lets get this over with, the girls are waiting for me."

^&^&^&^

"That is 21 to 20…the yes votes have it…" Vic smiled. "The Alliance declares war on Marie Delpine and the Sevens Horns!"

"You mean 22!" The Indian man said, deciding that he did not want to be on the losing side. "I change my vote!"

"As do I!"

"And I!"

Quickly, many of the heads of houses changed their votes, till only Lord Tully stood as the one vote against.

"I will never vote yes…even if you do declare war and raise an army…you have no where to march!"

"Yes we do."

All in the room turned as Malcolm Grant marched in, a large elctro-dart gun slung over his shoulder, dressed in one of the duplicate dusters Carter had gotten Madrid to create with her powers, his stocking cap over his head. He paused, looking at everyone.

"And what makes you say that?" Lord Tully demanded.

Malcolm grinned. "Because I know where Carter is…I know where Marie's stronghold is."

^&^&^&^

Author's Note: Carter's bit in here is one of my favorite things I have written. I love the fact that I appear to go against Show Canon for the first time in the story, then reveal that this is all a fevored dream. Of course, if I really wrote for heroes, I'd never get all these guest stars in...