"The world is fragile. We like to think that it is strong, that it can handle anything. But if we have learned nothing, it is that one small change will alter that fates of all"
-Mohinder Suresh
^&^&^&^
Joseph grinned, raising the godfire blade. "That was my (censored) toy you just fried…I have been waiting a long time for…"
Carter swung his fist, punching Joseph in the jaw and sending in to the ground.
Marie calmly picked up the godfire katana, swinging a few times. "Stay out of this, Joseph…mommy and daddy are talking."
Carter turned to Madrid. "Give me space."
Marie nodded, turning to her group, the wind catching her long white coat, billowing it behind her. "Leave the balcony…this is between me and the boy."
"Marie…" Lorenzo began.
"Now." She snapped, raising her sword, Carter mimicking her, his own black duster swirling around him. Madrid pausing, helping an already healing Sarah to her feet, putting distance between the two emotion manipulators as the remaining Seven Horns did the same, dragging a moaning Joseph with them. "You had to ruin everything." Marie snapped, circling Carter. "You killed my husband, turned my son from his chosen path, and now bring The Alliance, my Alliance to my doorstep!"
"Your Alliance?" Carter questioned. "Then you truly are confused. The Alliance was always mine, waiting for me to come, that is what was foretold…it was those very prophecies that led your husband to seek his death, by daring to attack my child." He raised his blade, skin glowing brighter till it appeared he was living energy. "Authority is not given to you to deny me my birthright."
"What birthright is that?" Marie roared. "I fought for the Alliance, I rose through the ranks. I have power and I use it as I wish." She smiled as the sounds of battle drifted around them. "But you still function with the mind of a man. Drago taught me long ago…we are not humans but gods and goddesses descended. You, Carter Daniels, are destined to stand with me, not at my throat."
"You know nothing of me." Carter stated, raising his blade.
"Then you will die." Marie said, raising her own.
The two collided with a flash of steel.
^&^&^&^
Valencia shook her head, trying to remove the cobwebs from her brain. She was glad that her father's powers were useless on her…all her life, Valencia had been the strong one, and with age she had been able to rapidly succeed her father. She now knew that in a fair fight…her father just might win.
Gabriel groaned. "What hit me?"
"Marie." Derek whispered, staring at the stronghold. "Sarah went up there…" he shook with rage. "I think she's hurt."
Gabriel grit his teeth. "Valencia…its up to you."
Valencia frowned. "Still can't rip the powers away…too many of our own men." She held out her hand, Gabriel understanding what she wanted. His purple flames danced around her fingers before they transformed into a massive claymore. She gripped the handle, glaring at the men before her.
"You have a choice." Gabriel said, his own armor forming around him once more. "Surrender."
The agents chuckled.
Valencia lowered herself, while Derek's hands glowed and Gabriel called upon two arm blades. "Then you choose death."
The three rocketed into the army, a swatch of death left in each one's wake. There was no mercy, no kindness. The three Hunters ripped through their opponents, seeking only to kill as many as they could on their way to get to Sarah.
^&^&^&^
"You ok?" Madrid asked as she struggled to get through the chaos that was the stronghold. Many of Marie's agents were abandoning their posts as the building shook, it clear that the Alliance had managed to break through.
Sarah nodded, rubbing her leg. "Don't heal as fast as the rest of you…growing girl and all the shit."
"Langauge." Madrid scolded.
"Yes grandma." Sarah muttered sullenly.
"See, now that is just sad."
SNAP
Madrid and Sarah slammed against a wall, glancing up as a pissed off Joseph marched towards them.
"So young and already a grandma." Joseph muttered. Sarah raised her hands, igniting them in flames. "Oooo…scared of me?"
Sarah grit her teeth. "No…anger seems to make me burn just as nicely." The small fireball flew at Joseph, the older man simply sidestepping it.
"Not quite enough…"
Madrid held out her hand, duplicating a gun into it. "I'd back away."
Joseph wagged his finger. "No no…won't be doing that."
Madrid fired several shots, Joseph quickly snapping his fingers and knocking the bullets away with ease. He rushed forward, Madrid just having time to leap over him and begin superspeeding out of the stronghold, Joseph snapping his fingers and breaking his way through.
^&^&^&^
"Run stupid!" Kelly shouted, turning tail. She just avoided the Spike-man's fist slamming into her spine as she darted away from him.
Hank grit his teeth. "No way." He pulled out his gun and went invisible. "You be bait."
"Why am I the bait?!" Kelly screeched, rolling away as the man rushed her. "Hank?" She called out, getting no answer. "HANK!"
The Spike-man laughed, the metal blades extending even further as he lashed out at her, trying to turn Kelly into a pincushion. The young woman was scurrying like a bunny, doing all she could to keep out of harms way.
"Hank…any time now…" She hissed, finding herself in a corner, the agent slowly advancing on her.
BANG
Steel-man howled as the bullet tore into his back. He snapped his arm around, blindly trying to find Hank.
"Over here, big man!" Hank called out, firing again. The man grunted, falling to one knee as Hank rushed to Kelly's side. "Where's Carter?"
BOOM
Joseph slammed the wall, sending the agent crumpling under the weight of rock and stone. Hank grabbed Kelly, making them invisible just as Joseph turned their way. Huffing, he marched back towards the gate.
"Around" Kelly muttered. The building shook. "And I think we are better off changing plans."
"To wait?" Hank asked, going invisible.
"As I said before…RUN STUPID!"
^&^&^&^
The sounds of their battle rang through the stronghold, the two of them locked in a dance of sweat and steel. One would push the advantage, the other would reclaim it shortly. Neither gained a true edge, neither gave the other a inch.
Carter and Marie had long since left the balcony, their duel taking them deep into the stronghold. Sparks flew from their swords as the two lashed out at each other, their skill and speed matched. Even with Carter enhanced strength and speed he was finding that Marie's years with a blade gave her the edge to meet him full on.
"Drago taught us much." She stated, swinging for his head. Carter ducked and jabbed forward, just missing her stomach.
"And then you killed him. How nice." He brought his blade up, catching hers and twisting it to the side. He pressed forward, forcing Marie up a winding staircase, their shadows flickering among the light of fires that had popped up all along the stronghold.
Reaching the top, Marie used her height advantage to kick at Carter, nearly sending him toppling back down. He caught himself and leapt above her, the older woman just managing to avoid his blow.
A door was smashed open as Marie tackled him, sending both sprawling on the roof. Shaken for only a moment, the two went back to their contest, blades twirling faster and faster until they struck, locking together. Carter and Marie both shot out a hand, sending their mind warping powers at the other. Both screamed as the energy built up in their skulls, till they were thrown back.
Both paused, holding up their hands and tinkering with themselves, fixing the damage before leaping into battle once more.
^&^&^&^
"Hey!" Vally called out from where she lay upon Malcolm's shoulder, watching as the stronghold grew smaller and smaller as they made their escape. Malcolm had circled around the battle, only having to fire at a few agents that got to close for comfort. "Hey!"
"Quiet Navi." Malcolm muttered, ducking behind a rock outcropping.
"No." Vally said stubbornly. "Help daddy."
"Aren't you suppose to be back home?" Malcolm questioned.
Vally grew sullen.
Malcolm glanced up, waiting for the grouping of agents that had gotten too close to them to move. "Besides…" He pointed to the stronghold, Vally able to see much better than him Carter and Marie dueling one another upon the roof. "I think your da has it handled."
Vally crossed her arms, little feet kicking Malcolm in the back. "Want to help…"
Vally froze when she felt Malcolm stiffen, his powers activating.
[Adriana glared at Ellie, pulling out her gun. "Out of my way." She snapped. "This wasn't my war, and I want out!"
She fired, and Ellie fell to the ground, blood trickling down her forehead.]
"NOOOOO!" Malcolm roared, eyes fully white. Before Vally could get her bearings, Malcolm had leapt into battle, rushing past men and women, shooting at several as he dashed towards his wife.
The chaos lines were in full control, Malcolm's body twitching as if he were a puppet. He leapt onto the shoulders of one agent, taking a moment to fire and electro-bullet into the man's skull before he reached up and snagged a flying agent's belt. He swung him and Vally up, placing his gun under the man's chin.
"Fly." He said, stilited. The agent nodded, zooming forward.
^&^&^&^
"Slow down grandma!" Sarah pleaded as they burst from the stronghold's main gate.
BOOM
While Madrid had taken the twists and turns, Joseph had gone for the direct approach, blasting his way out.
"Uh…I don't think so." Madrid muttered. She did, however, find herself skidding to a stop when she saw Valencia, Derek and Gabriel ripping through Marie's agents. The ground was covered in blow, the screams of the dying choking out any other sound.
"Mommy is very angry." Sarah whispered, watching as Valencia leapt into the air, letting out a primal scream as she fired her whammy flames and ripped the powers of agents right and left, leaving them ready for Gabriel to slice down.
"Lets give her something to get mad about, then." Joseph said calmly from behind them, kicking Madrid down and aiming at Valencia. "Would prefer to break the little one…but her future self will do quite nicely…"
SNAP
Valencia cried out as she was struck, Gabriel rushing to catch her as she fell.
"NO!" Madrid screamed rushing Joseph. She wrapped her arms around the old man and leapt high into the air, her strength and rage sending high into the clouds.
"Sarah!" Derek called out, rushing to his daughter and giving her a hug. "You ok?"
"Yeah." Sarah said, watching the clouds.
"…where did your grandmother take Joseph?"
"I'll tell you where he's not." Sarah stated. "Safe."
^&^&^&^
Lorenzo hurrying along the outskirts of the battle, doing his best to avoid the conflict. He had tried to warn Marie, tell her that this was a bad idea, that there were more sly ways to take out Carter and his band…instead, the Seven Horns were nearly wiped out, with only him and Marie left.
And he did not doubt Marie would soon fall.
No, Lorenzo knew his best bet was to get back to Washington, back to the President, and see what he could do to turn this situation to his favor. ANd to do that, he would need to get out…
"Hi."
Lorenzo slowly turned.
Lee glared at him.
"This is for Galatea."
"WAIT!" Lorenzo cried out.
BANG
Lee slowly walked up to the body, placing his gun under Lorenzo's chin. He fired several more shots, reducing the man's head to mush.
"Happy?" Ashleigh asked.
Lee shook his head. "No." And with that, he made his way back to the battle.
^&^&^&^
"Son of a bitch!" Madrid roared, slamming her fists into Joseph's face. The two of them tumbled through the air, at each other's throats, trying to take out the other. Joseph kept trying to sonic blast Madrid, who merely regenerated and would return to punching him with everything that she had.
"Langauge, bitch." Joseph snapped, kicking out of her grip. He held his hand towards the ground, not caring about those below him.
SNAP
Joseph hurtled back up into the sky, waving at Madrid as she fell.
"Enjoy the climb back up, bitch!"
Madrid held out her hand, duplicating another arm from her palm. Again and again this happened, a chain of arms shooting at Joseph and capturing his ankle. Madrid tugged, flinging herself back into him.
"I did." Madrid said, headbutting Joseph. He reeled, Madrid lifting him up over her head. "Now its your turn!"
She roared, hurling Joseph back down at the stronghold.
^&^&^&^
Tina fired her acid at an agent that got to close. "Linda!"
Linda held up her hands, a geyser of water striking a group of agents to her left. "Busy here!"
Ellie fired one of the guns Malcolm had left her, taking out another agent. "If you don't get bloody un-busy soon, Carter is gonna burn."
Linda looked to the stronghold, flames leaping out the windows. In the sky above, Madrid and Joseph battled.
"Got ya." She held up her hand, a pillar of water catching hold of a sheet of metal from the stronghold and bringing it too her. "Be right back!"
Ellie turned to Tina. "Do you think we are going to be ok with out her?"
"I don't see…"
BOOM
Tina and Ellie were thrown back, groaning as they tried to shake the echoes of the explosion from their eardrums. Lifting their heads, they saw Adriana storming towards them, a grenade launcher perched on her shoulder.
"I hate being wrong all the time." Tina muttered, throwing up her hand and firing off a blast of acid. It connected with the launcher, melting the nose of it and forcing Adriana to abandon it in favor of a large uzi.
"This is going bloody well!" Ellie shouted, going for her gun. She cried out when the gun was shot out of her hand, like out of a western.
"Ruined everything…" Adriana muttered, punching Tina when the young woman tried to attack her. She grabbed Ellie by the hair and lifted her up, putting her gun under the british woman's chin. "Ruined everything…someone needs to pay…"
Ellie closed her eyes as she felt the barrel press against her throat.
BANG
Ellie's eyes ripped open just in time to see Malcolm leap from the sky, Vally slung over his shoulder, one of the flying agents falling to the ground, an electro-bullet in the back of his head. Malcolm landed before them, punched Adriana once, then tossed Vally over to Tina, the toddler squealing in surprise.
"That…" PUNCH "Is…" PUNCH "MY…" PUNCH "WIFE!" Malcolm's fist flew as he attacked Adriana, eyes still milky white as he was lost in the commands of the chaos lines. Adriana swung at him, Malcolm crumpling before the hit connected. His hand snaked out, snatching one of the used electro bullets from an agent's corpse.
He twisted to the side, sweeping her leg and sending the inventor down. Adriana cried out, hopping back up, only for Malcolm to strike.
"Dear God." Tina whispered, covering Vally's eyes as Malcolm drove the electro-bullet's needle into the side of Adriana's left breast. He twisted it up and down, sneering, before ripping out of the front, a hot splash of blood soaking his shirt.
"Malcolm…Malcolm, stop!"
Malcolm was lost to them, the vision of this woman killing his Ellie driving him to the breaking point. He shoved Adriana onto her stomach, visiously slamming her face into the ground over and over again, grinding her head into the soil and rock.
"MALCOLM!" Ellie shouted, yanking him away. Her husband stared at her, confused, before his eyes returned to normal. "She's dead, Malcolm…she's already dead…let it go."
Malcolm turned away from her, taking a deep breath. "Yeah…ok."
Ushering the women away from the brutal scene, none of them saw Adriana's eye open, her hand flexing slightly.
^&^&^&^
Carter and Marie froze as Joseph slammed through the roof, the sonic blast he had shot out cushioning his fall but leaving the stonework in ruins. Cracks quickly formed, and the two of them found themselves racing for the doorway, the roof crumbling under their feet.
Nearing it, Marie let out a curse as the doorway fell down as well, leaving her and Carter standing on rapidly weakening ground. Turning her head, she raced forward, Carter on her heals as she dove from the roof, tucking her body and landing once more on the balcony.
Pausing for breath, Carter and Marie glared at each other before resuming their battle, katanas swinging as they focused on finish the other, even as the stronghold collapsed all around them.
"Carter!" Linda shouted, the professor riding a hunk of metal lifted by geyser of water towards the balcony. "Hop on!"
Giving Marie a smirk, the Metatron leapt on, giving her a mocking salute as Linda pulled them Marie. Snarling Marie raced forward, leaping forward and landing on the metal as well, swinging at Linda, only for Carter to catch her blade. Linda let out a gasp, concentration broken and the water crashing to the battlefield below.
Carter and Madrid landed, not pausing to see if anyone was hurt, focused only on striking their opponent down.
"You can't win, Daniels…I will not allow you." She chuckled. "And when you are dead…I'll go after your bitch and kill her infront of your daughter."
If that was suppose to throw Carter off…it failed horribly.
Carter grit his teeth, letting out a savage roar. He tripled his efforts, slamming his blade against Marie's over and over, sending her to her knees. He continued, over and over, until without warning the godfire blade snapped in two, sending Marie into the dirt. Carter held his blade at her throat glaring down at her.
"Do it." She whispered.
Trembling with rage…Carter pulled his blade back.
"Get one of Adriana's power blocking collars." Carter narrowed her eyes. "It will do until Vally can rip her powers away."
One of the Alliance members did as told, snapping the collar around Marie's neck. Only then, when he knew her powers were locked away, did he dare turn his back to her.
It would be his worst mistake.
Marie reached down, grabbing the shards of the godfire and rushed, raising the blade to strike Carter in the skull.
"NO!"
Carter turned to see Derek fall, staring at the steel that now lay in his heart. He fell to his knees, hands flashing as blood poured from his wound.
BANG
Marie fell to her knees, her own hand touching where the bullet had ripped into her lung. She looked up at Biddy, who lowered her weapon.
"Get the hell away from my son." She hissed, watching Derek has he continued to stare at his hands.
"Son?" Hank questioned.
"Dad?" Sarah whispered, her father trembling as he stood up.
"Run." He whispered, his flesh flashing a dark purplish black. "RUN!"
The explosion took them all by surprise, shoving them too the ground. Dust swirling about them, the air crackled as thunder echoed overhead. Where once had stood Derek there was now a raging, ragged hole in the fabric of space and time, tendrils of energy and black lightning coming from it. The sun was bloated out by its power, the earth cracked and broken by the lashing out of the destructive force.
Marie let out a weak scream as she was sucked into the vortex.
"Carter!" Madrid shouted, finally spotting her husband. Carter hung in the air, tossed about like a fish on a hook, his leg snared by one of the energy tendrils. He was trying to pull himself free, failing miserably.
"Daddy!" Vally wailed from where Madrid held her, watching as Carter was slowly reeled towards the vortex.
Madrid's hand snapped forward, another arm growing out of her palm, then another, then another, until a lifeline of arms caught Carter's wrist.
Carter grimaced, feeling the tendrils of energy wrap around his leg. "Madrid…you can't hold on forever."
Madrid clutched his hand tight, one of her extra arms wrapped around Vally. The toddler stared at him in terror, pleading for him to not let go. "Carter…Carter we can do this!"
Carter smiled weakly. "No…we can't." He felt her grip loosen. "It gots me good, and it doesn't want to let go." He felt himself almost ripped from her, Madrid just managing to hold her grip. "Madrid…I'll find my way back to you…I promise."
"Carter…" Madrid pleaded, eyes filled with tears. "You don't even know where you're going! You don't know if you'll even survive!"
He closed his eyes. "But that won't stop it from taking me." He locked eyes with her. "Say goodnight, Babs." His grip loosened.
And then he was falling, hurtling into the dark vortex, being sucked through the air into the great unknown.
And still he held Madrid's hand.
"I don't know where you're going!" Madrid shouted, pulling herself to him, Vally settled between them. She wrapped her arms around her husband tightly, resting her forehead on his as they entered the vortex. "But your family is coming with you!" And with that she kissed him, Carter embracing the two as the vortex devoured them whole.
"NO!" Hank screamed, trying to break free of Biddy's grasp. "Carter!"
"I…I don't believe it…" Malcolm whispered.
[Malcolm Grant]
The Englishman's eyes went cloudy, shock written over his features as, for the first time…the chaos line TALKED to him.
[You must go]
"What?" he whispered.
[Before its too late…they will need you]
"Need me…need me where?"
Ellie grasped Malcolm's hand. "Malcolm…what's wrong? Who are you…"
[On the other side]
"But…" Malcolm went ramrod still as he felt himself instinctively giving into the commands of the chaos lines.
Malcolm pitched forward, Ellie screaming as the rough earth they were standing on broke free, soaring through the sky and sending them into the vortex.
"MALCOLM!" Linda cried out from where she hid.
The vortex seemed to pause, before it began to pulse hard.
"Something's wrong…" Lee began.
^&^&^&^
"The world is fragile. All it takes is one misstep…and every we know…could end."
-Mohinder Suresh
^&^&^&^
The vortex exploded.
^&^&^&^
At the bonfire, as they all began to move away, Peter and Nathan looked up at the sky, startled as it flashed purple, a wave of energy blasting through them.
^&^&^&^
Reality blinked.
^&^&^&^
End of Volume 4
^&^&^&^
Volume 5
Redemption
^&^&^&^
Carter blinked, staring up at the white ceiling.
The last thing he remembered was the vortex…then…poof.
He made quick observations of his location.
He was in a bright, white bedroom, it obviously being morning.
He was laying in bed, naked, a thin sheet covering him.
Madrid, equally naked, was curled up beside him.
"Mmmm…" He said, deciding that he might not want to know what was going on, and just take advantage.
"Morning lover."
He froze when he heard that statement made from the opposite side of the bed…the side Madrid wasn't on.
Carter turned just in time to find himself suddenly pinned by Tina Linderman, she herself nude and not hiding a thing. He could feel her warm flesh pressing against his, her breath tickling his skin as she sensually rubbed herself against him.
"Up for some morning delight?" She whispered, licking his ear.
"WHOA!" Carter screamed, throwing her off and tumbling out of bed. Tina landed on Madrid with an 'omf!', awaking the Spanish beauty.
"What the?" Madrid asked, confused to find Tina and herself in a very awkward position.
Carter snatched a pair of boxers from the floor, backing out of the room. "Sorry Tina! So sorry!"
Tina frowned. "Hey! Where do you think you're going!?! I thought we were going to…"
Carter slammed the door before she could finish that thought.
"Hey!" Carter turned, startled to find Claire Bennet standing in the hallway, wearing a wifebeater and baggy pants, her hair cut incredibly short and dyed orange. "The last thing I need to see in the morning is your bare behind post-boinking."
Cater gaped like a fish, struggling to put his boxers on. "Claire…what…what are you…doing here?"
Claire raised an eyebrow. "Duh…I live here. Geez, you really hit your head hard last night."
"Last night?"
"Daddy!" Vally squealed, running around a corner and leaping into her father's arms.
Carter hugged her close. "Vally." He whispered, hugging her tight. "Are you ok?"
Vally shook her head. "Something's wrong."
"Damn right it is!" Madrid snapped, shutting the bedroom door, sheet wrapped around her. "Why did I wake up to Tina trying to dry hump me? And why is your sister here? What the hell is this place? And why did Tina just try and have sex with us?!?!"
"Whoa! Watch the language in front of little ears."
Carter and Madrid slowly turned, tensing as they gazed at the newcomer, Vally hiding her face in her father's shoulder.
"Sylar." Carter whispered, moving to pull Madrid behind him.
Sylar was dressed in a pair of Scooby Doo pajamas, a woman 10 years or so older than Carter at his side in matching pjs. The two of them walked up, arms wrapped around each other, giving Carter and Madrid teasing grins.
"I see you got back." Sylar said pleasantly. "Good to see ya, after all these months." Carter could only tense as Sylar walked up…and HUGGED him. When Carter did nothing, Sylar pulled back, a goofy smile on his face. "What? Too old to hug your dad?"
^&^&^&^
To Be Continued…
^&^&^&^
REALITY HAS CHANGED
HISTORY HAS BEEN REWRITTEN
AND ONLY 5 PEOPLE KNOW THE TRUTH
CARTER
VALLY
MADRID
MALCOLM
ELLIE
ELSEWHERE CROSSES OVER WITH "THE PATH LESS TRAVELED"
THIS FALL
DISCOVER A WORLD FAMILIAR…YET NOT OUR OWN
ELSEWHERE
VOLUME 5
REDEMPTION
BUT BEFORE THAT…
In Volume One
(We see Noah Bennet riding in a taxi)
You met them all
(We see Helena Daniels walking through an airport terminal)
You learned of their powers
(Noah gets out of the cab and walks towards a house)
And of their destinies
(We see Helena opening the door to her house)
They this was the beginning
(Noah opens a bedroom door, while Helena walks into her living room)
They were wrong
(Noah smiles as a five year old girl runs up to him, dressed in pink, a teddy bear in her hand)
Little Girl: Hi daddy!
Noah: Hi Claire.
(In Helena's living room, a nine year old Carter burrows his face in her shoulder, wrapping his little arms around her as tight as he can)
Carter: M-m-m-m-missed you mama
Helena: Missed you too, sweetheart.
(We see flashes of Drago, Joseph, a man in a hooded sweatshirt, a young Kelly Raegan, a young Elle Bishop, and finally Claude Raines, Noah Bennet, Helena Daniels and a man we've never met before standing together, looking at a crime scene, very similar to the first Sylar killing)
Every story has a beginning
HEROES: VOLUME 0-Prologue
Coming this May