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 naked 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 gapped 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. "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?"
Carter's eyes widened, just before he shoved Sylar away from him. "Madrid, run!"
"Carter?" Claire asked, just as he grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her towards Madrid. He turned, holding out his fists and igniting them.
"Holy!" The woman that had been standing with Sylar managed to get out, moments before Carter rocketed at the dark haired man, punching him in the gut. Sylar slammed into a wall, shaking his head as Carter marched towards him. "Gabriel, something is wrong!" She ran up to Carter, tugging on his arm. "Carter, stop!" She tried to force him to look at him. "Its me…its mom…remember…" Audrey Hanson shook his shoulder, tears in her eyes.
"You are not my mother!" Carter roared, eyes blazing as he pulled away. "And you are not my father!" Sylar held up his hand, flinging Carter back and pinning him on the opposite side of the hall.
"Come on!" Madrid shouted, tugging on Claire's arm.
Claire turned, shaking her head. "What the hell is wrong with the two of you!?" Madrid continued to tug on her, trying to get her to run. "Let go of me, Madrid, before my brother kills our father!" Madrid refused to relinquish her hold. "I said let go!" Claire shouted…
…her body exploding in flames.
Madrid cried out, stumbling back, holding up a burnt hand to shield herself. Claire paused, watching as the burns healed.
"How the hell did you do that?" Both asked at the same time.
Carter grit his teeth, fighting against the telepathic hold Sylar had him in. The dark haired man was sweating, struggling to keep Carter still. Carter slammed against the invisible restraints, breath coming out in ragging blasts as he battled to free himself.
"He's…he's too strong…" Sylar gasped. He stared at Carter. "Carter isn't this strong…who the hell are you?"
"Your worst nightmare." Carter said, eyes glowing before he unleashed a blast of whammy energy from them. Sylar toppled, and Carter fell back to the carpet. "Time to go." Carter stated, superspeeding to Madrid. "Claire…"
"isn't Claire…she's a firestarter." Madrid stated.
Carter nodded. "We need some breathing room…run."
The others could only watch as Carter, Madrid and Vally superspeeded away.
^&^&^&^
"Sir?"
The brown haired man continued to stare at the mirror as he put his costume on. Around him, he could hear techs buzzing about the halls, relaying information to his associates.
"Yes?" he asked, checking his boots.
"We have spotted Azreal and Persephone downtown."
The man lowered his head. "Who did they kill this time?" he asked, bitterly.
"That's the thing sir…they didn't kill anyone…Wireless reports they…robbed a Sears."
The man slowly turned towards the messenger. "They robbed a store?"
"In their underwear." The messenger stated. "Without masks."
The man's eyes widened before he rushed to his clear display case, removing a silver mask. Yanking it on and retying his cape, the superhero known as the Silver Streak turned back to the messenger. "Is Vally with them?"
"…yes." The messenger admitted.
"Something is wrong…very wrong." The Streak muttered, before pressing a button. The ceiling opened up, and the silver hero only took a moment to place a communicator in his ear before rocketing into the sky.
^&^&^&^
(Los Angeles- 2 miles from the nearest Sears)
"We…have sunk to a new low." Madrid muttered, putting off Vally's pajama top and helping her into the pink t-shirt they managed to grab. "We are in an abandoned lot, in our underwear…I am topless, you are in boxers…trying to put on clothing we stole…from Sears. Huh." She tugged Vally's bottoms off and struggled to get the suddenly blashful 4 year old into some overalls, the toddler complaining about having to wear a "stupid teletubby" shirt. "I thought being kidnapped and held prisoner in Alaska was bad. I thought having your best friend's mother kidnap you and torture you was bad. I thought Tina having a viewing party of Army Chicks in the living room was bad…but this takes the cake!"
"Army Chicks was a fine film, you should be proud of it." Carter raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with Sears?"
Madrid looked up to the heavens. "A year ago I use to do fund raisers for people that shopped at Sears…"
Carter pulled a pair of jeans over his boxers. "Yes yes, you were once a B list movie star and now you are a super hero who is married to another super hero who is also one of the wealthiest CEOs in Europe…you truly traded down." He began to pull on a shirt. "This isn't that bad."
"Carter…that's a blouse."
Carter blinked, looking down at the frilly pink number. "Well, I'll be dipped."
Vally looked at her father, then back at her mother before bursting into giggles. "Daddy looks like a girl!" She squeezed the special bear tight as she laughed.
"Yes…yes he does." Madrid stated as she tied Vally's new stolen shoes, before focusing on getting herself dressed. "Seriously Carter…what the hell is going on?"
"I am as confused as you are." Carter said, wondering why he had grabbed all black clothing. Sighing, he threw on the black t-shirt as Madrid took his blouse from him. "Sylar hugged me…I think I need to shower a long time before I get rid of the cooties."
"I'm you sleeping with you until you do." Madrid commented.
"Daddy has cooties, daddy has cooties!" Vally sang.
"Claire wasn't Claire…Tina wanted to sleep with both of us…Syalr HUGGED ME!" Carter did a full body shiver. "Madrid, I am going to say it."
"Please don't."
"Nope, needs to be done." Carter held out his hands. "Can this day get any worse?!"
"Hello Carter." The Silver Streak said, descending.
Carter blinked. "Holy crap…just like on a bad sitcom."
The Streak was dressed in silver spandex with black lightlights on his gloves, boots and mask, as well as an ebony cape. A stick figure against a cloud was plastered on his chest, looking rather nice as the man struck a pose.
"What are you doing?"
Carter scratched his head. "Madrid…there is a man in spandex in front of me."
Madrid continued to get her blouse on. "I can see that."
"Good, just making sure I wasn't insane." He held out a hand to the Streak. "Uh…hi?"
The Streak looked down. "What is your game?"
Carter leaned back. "Game?"
"Out in broad daylight…not in costume…taking Vally with you…robbing a Sears…"
"We would have robbed a Gap, but that was closer." Carter joked. When he got no response, he grimaced. "Tough room. Ok, we've had a really rough day…"
"Save it…I don't know what the game is, but I am going to ask you to stop, Carter. I'm not in the mood."
Carter shook his head. "ok…that's nice…by the way, I have no idea who you are…"
"Or why the spandex." Madrid said, stepping forward, Vally cradled in her arms.
The Streak shook his head. "Going to play it like that, huh?" The Streak reached up and removed his mask. "Wireless is blocking the cameras within a 3 mile radius anyway."
"Nathan?" Carter asked, shocked. "Nathan flippin' Petrelli?" He burst into laughter, clutching his sides. "Oh my God!"
Nathan just watched the three as they giggled at him, growing more and more annoyed. "Ok, enough of this, alright?" he took a step forward. "Listen, I know you hate me…think I abandoned you…think that me not killing the criminals I catch makes me less of a hero than you…"
Carter took a few breaths."not kill….wait a minute, if this is about Merrick…"
"You…you killed Merrick?"
Carter frowned. "Months ago…Marie too."
Nathan shook his head. "Stop! Ok? Just stop! Enough of your mind games!" He took a step forward. "I don't care what you have planned, I really don't! But you need to stop!" He jabbed his finger towards Vally. "You have a daughter now, and while I am the last person to five you parenting advice, I thought when she was born you would see you needed to slow your vendetta down…not drag her into this!"
Madrid glared at Nathan.'We aren't planning anything. We woke up in strange beds, with people acting all psycho mantis on us…we are just trying to figure this all out!" She yawned. "And who the hell is whistling?!"
Vally blinked, laying her head on Madrid's shoulder as Carter panted, Nathan pulling back on his mask. "Mama…I'm sweepy…"
Nathan turned, glaring as two more men entered the lot. The first was dressed in long, loose robes, his face seemingly hidden by rags that were wrapped around all but his lips. The other wore a golden, simmering uniform, only the top of his head visible.
"Snooze…" Nathan said to the rag man, "Knox…what are you…" He took a step forward, but the two continued to approach the Daniels family.
"Sorry Streak…but we aren't turning down a fine opportunity." Knox said, as Snooze conintued to whistle, the sound causing the three in the lot not wearing masks to become more and more drowsy.
"We had an agreement…my son was not to be tagged like this…"
"Son?" Carter asked weakly, on his knees. "Why am I everyone's son, suddenly?"
"Ha." Madrid managed, slumping down. Knox took a step forward, grabbing Vally, Madrid weakly clawing at his ankle.
"Set her down…"
"We allowed this to go on because you said Carter was calming down…that he was slowing down, not killing as many people. But trust me…we've wanted to take down this murderous son of a bitch for a long time…and now that he isn't putting up a fight, we are going to do it right here."
Nathan grit his teeth, unable to argue with the logic. "I'm sorry Carter." He whispered.
"Vally…" Carter mumbled, trying to get to his sleeping daughter. "no…"
"Don't worry Carter…I'll watch her…" Nathan said, reaching to take the 4 year old from Knox.
Vally jerked from his hands, flying in the arm.
The three masked men turned to stare at the new comer, dressed in black and blue spandex, his face covered with a mask so only his eyes, hair and mouth were visible. A large stylized S was on his chest. He held his hand up, drawing Vally to him.
"Don't worry…Grandpa has you."
"Sylar." Madrid whispered.
"NOW!" Sylar bellowed.
From the rooftops, 5 women, clad all in bullet proof tights, sleeveless shirts, and domino masks leapt down, each raising a gun. Each girl sported a different colored outfit, matching their short bob cut.
"Freya, take out Knox!" Sylar commanded, the girl with white/blue hair holding out her hands and firing blasts of ice as the golden man. He punched his way through the ice swarming him, only for another girl to rush him. "Hestia, you get the Streak!"
Nathan took to the sky. "Claire…don't do this…"
"Save it, dad." She snarled, igniting her hands and firing fireballs at him.
Sylar pointed at another girl with red hair. "Atalanta!"
"I got him!" She said, superspeeding at Snooze and knocking him out cold. Carter and Madrid slowly rose to their feet as the man's power faded. "Artemsis!" The speedster shouted.
Tina, her hair dyed dark blue hair, ran up to Madrid. She pulled out a domino mask and pushed it onto the woman's face, making sure it stuck. "Sorry about this…I know you aren't from here…they should have woken me upwhen you guys went nutty…could have explained this…Carter!" She tossed Carter a black executioner's hood. "Get that on now!"
"Carter?" Madrid questioned.
"One enemy saved Vally…the new ones were going to take her…I can't believe I'm saying this…" Carter pulled the mask on. "Let's stick with Sylar."
Sylar ran up to them, throwing a dumpster at Nathan with a flick of hiswrist. "Come on! Amazons, scatter!" The women nodded, holding Nathan and his allies back as Sylar lifted a manhole cover off with his mind and guided Carter and Madrid down. Tina followed, motioning for her fighters to follow, the women diving in after Sylar and the Daniels. Knox raced forward, just missing Freya as she iced the hole shut.
"Damn it!" He roared.
Deep in the sewers, Carter looked at Sylar. "What the hell is going on?"
"We were hoping you could answer that…starting with who you were and what you did with my Carter."
Author's Note: Army Chicks, the movie Carter and Madrid talk about, is a reference to a film Madrid did where she did nude scenes. It is strongly hinted it was a bad film that only made money because Madrid got naked in it. The cast of Elsewhere as made fun of the film in the past.