"It is a question we all ask, when we find ourselves standing at the twilight, wondering if this will be the end. What can one do when they know they might not live to see tomorrow? Will they cry? Will they rage against fate? Or will they seize what is left, and do what they never got to do, or will again?"
-Mohinder Suresh
^&^&^&^
It was an unspoken agreement between them all.
They would leave the Chateau at dawn the next day, to face a woman that had frightened the Alliance for so long that they had allowed her and her associates to murder as they saw fit. Defeat would mean their deaths, and the sacrifice of the man that had brought them all together. Victory would change their lives forever. Before this, they had reaped the benefits of the Alliance, but only been on the cusp. But now, should Marie and the Seven Horns fall, Carter would be the last true power within the organization, with Lee and Hank both now the heads of houses, and with that title the duties they would need to perform.
Nothing would be the same again.
Thus, without saying a word, they all agreed to take one final day, doing what they needed to do.
^&^&^&^
Hank grunted, his arm moving back and forth rapidly, bits of sawdust falling onto his legs and arms. His eyes narrowed as he examined the piece of wood, before continuing with his project.
"Almost done?" Biddy asked, standing in the doorway, watching the man she had fallen for so quickly continue his work.
"Not quite." Hank said. "Still need to varnish it…but you can see what it will look like."
Biddy walked forward, looking about the room. It was decidedly green, pastel and neutral, a peaceful yet empty place. A small dresser sat to one side, a rocker in the corner, a toy chest by the closet.
The piece that truly defined it though was currently being set up by Hank.
A crib.
"He'll love it." Biddy whispered.
Hank raised an eyebrow. "He?"
She nodded, leaning up to kiss him. "Yup."
Hank nodded, wrapping her arms around her. "Biddy…I've been thinking…" he turned away. "I don't want my son to be a Delpine." He glanced back at her. "And you don't either…don't even try and pretend you do." Biddy shut her mouth, quieting her weak protest. "I want our son to have a better name…let the Delpines end with me…our son will not have my parents sins."
"And what name do you want? Bargo isn't exactly blood free either."
"Daniels." Hank finally said. "I want our son to be named Daniels." He looked down at her. "Carter has always said he is the head of the House of Ellis. Our son will honor him by being the head of the House of Daniels."
Biddy frowned, something tugging at her memory.
"Biddy…I might not come back from this."
"Hank…"
He shook his head. "My mother needs to die, for what she did to you…and she won't let me go easily." He cupped her face in his hands. "I want you to promise me something…if it is a boy, and I'm not around to see him…don't name him after me."
She smiled. "Then who? Should I name him after Lee? Vic?"
Hank laughed. "You could name him Carter…if he will be a Daniels." He wrapped his arms around her, never noticing the tense look on her face.
^&^&^&^
"Hand me that brush, mom."
Ashleigh hurried over, passing the brush along, then moving back to allow her son time to work. Paint covered the floor in little splotches, and Lee's face had smears from where he had rubbed his checks, unwilling to stop even for an itch.
All around them were brushes of different sizes and textures, most covered in paint. It was Ashleigh's job to run them to the skin and clean them before Lee needed them again, or worst, before they dried and became useless.
"A bit of passion red…." Lee mumbled, grabbing a tiny brush and applying it to the wall. He stepped back, considering the work. "What do you think, mom?"
Ashleigh smiled, wrapping her arm around him. "Its amazing."
Lee glanced over at her. "Worth wasting your day helping me with?"
"My day is never wasted helping you." She said, looking at the paint.
8 feet by 15, the mural depicted Galatea, half sitting, half laying, her head resting on her arms, a slight smile on her lips as she peered out at her audience through half closed eyes. She was wearing a long white dress, a rose pinned in her blonde hair, gems draped along her neck.
"The one painting I'll never use my powers on." Lee whispered. "As much as I want to."
"She loves it, Lee."
"You mean she would love it?"
"No…she does." Ashleigh said. "God, as I have seen these last few months with Carter, is a kind God. He would not let someone like her disappear…she's watching over you Lee…and she loves this picture."
Lee smiled. "Thanks."
^&^&^&^
Vally giggled as she pointed at a picture. "That's not daddy!"
Helena smiled, pointing at the same picture. "Yes it is…that's your daddy."
Vally shook her head, pigtails flopping about. "That's a little boy…daddy's big and strong!"
The picture was the very first one Helena and Vic had of their precious son, taken the day they had adopted him. They were in the airport, 7 year old Carter clinging to his mother, her trying to get him to smile, the noise and chaos of the airport causing him to try and hide against her shirt. Next to it was a picture of 7 year old Carter on his father's shoulders, watching in amazement as a plane took off.
"But daddy started off as a little boy." Helena said gently, smiling down at the child who sat in her lap, Vic sitting beside her, turning the pages of the photo album.
Vally frowned. "You sure?"
"You saw the older you…same here."
Vally nodded, considering this. "Do you have baby daddy pictures?"
Vic frowned sadly. "No…no we don't. We adopted your dad when he was 7…before that he lived in the orphanage."
Vally narrowed her eyes. "His other mommy was a bad mommy." She grinned. "I told her so."
Helena raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
Vally began to excitedly tell her grandparents all about her trip to see Aunt Claire.
^&^&^&^
Micah Saunders, aka the mysterious Rebel, smiled as he watched Hiro and Ando continue on their voyage to protect Matt Parkman Jr. Turning to another screen, he paused when his cellphone began to ring.
He paused because no one had his number…
Deciding to take the risk, Micah picked up the phone, doing his best to disguise his voice.
"Hello?"
"Micah…what the hell is wrong with you voice?"
Micah's eyes widened. "Aunt Linda?"
Across the ocean, Linda Fray smiled. "Hey…long time no see. Last time I saw you was…" She sighed, frown fading.
"My mom's funeral."
Linda closed her eyes. "Yeah…I'm so sorry Micah."
Micah forced himself to remain calm. "Its ok…really…I'm dealing…"
"You shouldn't." Linda said. "Listen…I have something…something I'm dealing with. But once its finished…I swear I will come and see you…"
"Now's not the best time…" Micah said, turning back to one of his screens.
"You're not the only one saving the world, Rebel."
Micah froze.
"How…"
Linda chuckled. "Carter Daniels is staying in touch with his sister…you know Claire, right?" Micah groaned. "Not that hard to figure out, kiddo, when you remember what you can do." She cut him off before he could protest. "I'm the only one that knows…and I know people with deep pockets…we're the ones keeping the government from looking your way, hiding what you can do. They know about your powers, they just don't see you as a threat." She paused. "I promise you…once we have our stuff finished…I'll help you with this…ok?"
Micah nodded. "Ok."
"Hey…you and I need to stick together."
^&^&^&^
"Mrs. Daniels?"
Madrid turned her personal assistant, something she had sorely missed from her Hollywood starlet days and was glad to have back. Granted, the young man, Reinhold, was a lot better at his job than her previous assistants had been.
"Yes Reinhold?"
"The men you hired have arrived…"
Madrid smiled. "Show them in." She turned back to her desk, discreetly touching the gun she had strapped to her thigh, glad to know it was there. The men she had tasked with this were not through normal Alliance channels…no, this job required something different.
Thus, she was dealing with friends of Renee.
That made her nervous.
The three men entered, a scruffy bunch that work ill fitting suits and needed a shave. She didn't care about their hygiene or their looks, as long as they brought what she needed.
"Do you have it?"
The apparent leader nodded. "Right here…don't image you'll want to show it off, anytime soon…when they figure out we stole this…"
Madrid took the package for them, taking it over to her desk. After a moment, she brought it back. "You may return it."
"…what?"
"Double your fee, take it back. It is not what I require."
"But…"
Madrid shooed them away. "Thank you, don't come again." Slamming the doors in their faces, she went back to her desk, where the item she duplicated lay. "Carter is going to love you." She whispered.
With ease, Madrid lifted up the Kensei blade.
^&^&^&^
"When were you going to tell me?"
Derek glanced over at Biddy, startled from his prepping of his guns. "Uh…what?"
"I deserve to know the truth…things suddenly add up." She took several steps forward, poking him in the chest. "The way you act skittish around me, why you protected me when escaping Adriana's…but more than that, its something Linda told me…then something Hank just said."
"I don't…" Derek began.
"Don't lie to me." Biddy said harshly. "When were you going to tell me who you were?" She grabbed his by his shirt, pulling him close. "When were you going to tell me you were my son?"
Derek looked, ashamed. "I…I couldn't risk the timeline…you never said anything before, about meeting me…mom."
Biddy reached out, fingers gently lifting his chin up. "You have your father's eyes."
Derek smiled. "You always say that."
She nodded. "I suppose I do…" She leaned forward, kissing his brow. "I don't know what will happen…but know that in any timeline, I love you very much."
Derek nodded, tears in his eyes. "I love you too, mom…and I swear, I'll bring dad home."
She nodded. "I know you will."
^&^&^&^
"Funny…it takes the end of the world to get us around the dinner table."
Kelly and Tina frowned. "It isn't the end of the world, dad." Kelly commented, cutting into her steak.
Renee frowned. "You are facing off with a group of super powered people, who are trained to kill people with powers. There is this Adriana, who invented something that can block powers; Lorenzo, who controls bugs; any agents and soldiers they have gathered…and oh yeah, Marie, who has Carter's powers." She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, not the end of the world."
Tina shook her head. "Listen, the odds are not great, but its not like we are facing Doomsday here."
"Who?" Charlie asked, taking a bite of potatoes.
"…non-comic geeks…" Tina muttered.
"The point is…I don't like it Kelly."
Kelly leaned forward. "Listen…Carter has saved us so many times, I've lost count. I need to do this for him. Besides, thanks to Vally…" Kelly took her knife and snapped it in half. "I'm a lot stronger and faster."
Tina frowned. "Don't remind me…you and Hank nearly killed each other during the eclipse."
Charlie grit his teeth. "Seems like that eclipse caused a lot of these problems."
Kelly nodded, grabbing another knife. "Live and let live…we can argue about this and that, or we can have a nice meal. What do you say?"
"…I stole Lord Tully's wallet." Renee admitted.
"mom!" Kelly shouted.
Renee grinned.
^&^&^&^
"Aunt Linda?"
Linda turned, motioning for Sarah to enter the bedroom. The college professor was shifting herself off her bed and into her wheelchair, much to her annoyance.
"Don't mind me…what's on your mind?"
"You…actually." Sarah sat down on the bed, looking at her hands. "I was trained by a lot of you." She said softly. "Grandpa Carter taught me swordwork…my mom and dad are helping me with my powers…but you are the one that is teaching me about life." She smiled. "Not just school work…but the real world. I…never really got to thank you, back in my time, for taking me on all those field trips…"
Linda smiled. "Boring museums?"
"Mountain climbing." Sarah answered honestly.
Linda frowned. "Two problems with that, Sarah…first off, I'll be…what, around 60 when you are, or already are…" She growled, frustrated with time travel. "You get the idea."
Sarah smiled gently. "Its as Uncle Gabe said…mortality is so last year."
Linda held up a hand. "I know what you are hinting at…and I don't want to know about it. I can't imagine living to 90, let alone forever." She paused. "Second, how could I take you mountain climbing in…" She gestured at her chair.
Sarah sighed. "Took a long time, from what mom tells me, for you to get better…she did say you would walk again, it would just take…"
"years. Years upon years."
Sarah nodded. "Aunt Kelly trained me too." Linda frowned at the strange of conversation. "You can't tell now, but she will be the greatest thief that ever lived. At least…until I begin really trying." Sarah lifted her hand up, revealing a small syringe, filled with a red liquid. "I think this will make a good start."
"What is that?"
"Adam Monroe's blood." Sarah said with a smile, suddenly jamming it in Linda's leg. Linda yelped as Sarah injected her…then frowned as she realized that she felt the needle.
"How…"
Sarah smiled. "We're going to need you out there tomorrow…I'm breaking the rules…but time can deal."
Linda didn't hear anything else, tears pooling in her eyes as, for the first time in months, she moved her legs.
^&^&^&^
"This isn't how I wanted to do this?" Malcolm whispered as the priest droned on.
"You mean you wanted to do a big fancy event?"
"No, I mean I didn't want to do it in France." He leaned in closer, the priest glaring at them but continuing. "I'll make it up to you, I swear."
Ellie smiled, nuzzling him. "Don't…being here with you is enough."
"Malcolm Grant." The priest intoned, "Do you take Eleanor Mardest, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, for all the days of your life?"
"And beyond." Malcolm said with a smile.
Ellie adjusted the cheap white veil she had bought on her way to the church. "And do you, Eleanor Mardest…"
"I bloody well do!" Ellie shouted, grabbing Malcolm by the lapel and forcing him into a deep, hot kiss.
"…well then…by the power granted to me by the Almighty and by lady France…I pronounce you husband and wife…and since you got to the kissing…" He turned to Valencia, who had served as their witness. "I give to you Mr and Mrs. Malcolm Grant."
Valencia grinned. "About damn time." She walked up to the happy couple, giving each a hug.
Ellie pulled Valencia close. "In your timeline…my Malcolm was too stubborn to have you whammy him, right? Refused doing it, because he wanted to prove himself." Valencia nodded. "And now he's going to leave me to risk his life…I see you forgot a wedding gift, Valencia….nudge nudge."
Valencia, taking the hint, placed her hands on each of their shoulders, Malcolm turning from his thanking of the priest when the chaos lines flared and his body went rigid. He could feel his powers snapping into place, growing stronger, in control…and feel a strength fill his limbs and coat his soul. He turned back to Ellie, who grinned, feeling the same power.
"You did say you'd have me forever." She whispered, kissing him before he could protest.
^&^&^&^
Gabriel held out his hand, a futuristic audio device appearing. Selecting a song, he leaned back as Nickelback bean to play.
My best friend gave me the best advice
He said
each days a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone
unturned
Leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less
traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
If
today was your last day
If tomorrow was too late
Could you say
goodbye to yesterday
Would you live each moment like your
last
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate every dime you
have
If today was your last day
Going against the grain
should be a way of life
What's worth the price is always worth the
fight
Every second counts cause there's no second try
So live
it like you're never living twice
Don't take the free ride in your
whole life
If today was your last day
If tomorrow was too
late
Could you say goodbye to yesterday
Would you live each
moment like your last
Leave old pictures in the past
Donate
every dime you have
And would you call old friends you never
see
Reminisce old memories
Would you forgive your enemies
And
would you find that one your dreaming of
Swear up and down to god
above
That you'll finally fall in love
If today was your last
day
^&^&^&^
"Not smiling now, are you?" Joseph taunted as he played with Carter's sword, using it to slice the young man's skin every so often. "Where's your messiah now?" He sneered, stabbing Carter in the leg.
Carter grit his teeth in pain, the collar shocking as his body tried to heal its wounds. He muttered something, Joseph tilting his head.
"What was that…didn't hear you."
"They…will…forgive…you…"
Joseph grabbed Carter by the scalp. "One more time? I'm the master of sound and even I can't understand…"
"Your wife…your unborn child…" Carter whispered, blood dripping from his lips. "The ones the Company killed…they will forgive you."
Joseph tried to hide the fact he was trembling. "You…don't talk about them…"
"But Joseph…" Carter whispered. "I need to tell you something…come closer." Joseph, against his better thoughts, did so. "I'm not going to kill you…that would be too easy. You are going to live…I'm going to lock you up…make you wait decades…before I let you see them again…let all the blood on your hands dry and stain…then I'll let them see you as you truly are." Carter chuckled weakly as his vision got cloudy. "Suck…on that...bitch."
And then he was out cold.
Joseph tore the sword from Carter's flesh, staring at his blood covered reflection in the blade.
Suddenly torture wasn't as fun as it had been.
^&^&^&^
Since Volume Two
(We see Madrid and the rest of Carter's allies standing together, in front of hundreds of Alliance members and soldiers)
The Seven Horns Have Terrorized Them
(We see Carter coughing up blood)
Next Week
(We see Marie walk up to Carter)
Learn How It All Began
(Marie talks a chair and sits down)
Marie: Tell me…Carter Daniels…did you truly think you were the first Voice of God?
Elsewhere
Volume 4
Fugitives
The Final 3 Chapters Begin April 13th