Volume 5.5.
"IN DARKNESS DWELLS"
(The Future…)
Ami looked over at her husband. "Did you hear that?"
Patrick shook his head. He and his wife could not be any different. Ami was barely 5 foot 1, Japanese American, a lithe and lean slip of a woman. Patrick was a hulking, 6' 4" muscle bound Irishman.
"Can you go check on the baby?" Ami whispered.
Patrick mumbled but did as she asked, knowing only pain would come if he said no. He stumbled out of their room, making his way towards the nursery.
He never noticed the shadow of the man watching him from down the hall.
Opening the door, he could not help but smile at the room that lay before him. When Ami had first become pregnant, he had assumed that she would want to avoid all the trappings of a traditional baby's room, especially one for a little girl. Ami Hiroshi was not what one would consider to be a traditional woman. She had risen through the ranks of the Company, proving herself quite capably at tracking down and tagging supers. A skilled marksman and able to beat most men when it came to a footrace, she was more comfortable in trainers and sweats than dresses and pearls.
But to his surprise, Ami had wanted pink, pink and more pink, resulting in the candy coated dream that lay before him. As Patrick moved his massive frame through the room, he couldn't help the smile the formed on his lips as her stared down at his little girl.
A bundle of wiggly fluff gazed up at him, little fingers reaching up, and tangling themselves in his beard. He let out a soft laugh as Sophie tugged harder, trying to draw him closer. The 4 month old looked so much like her mother, but it was clear she was his; She was quite large for her age, and he just knew she would be a giant when she grew up.
"Awake, huh?" Patrick whispered, easing a meaty hand under his daughter's back and rising her up. The little girl looked up at her father, dark almond eyes locking with his before she let out a yawn. "Well, not for long. Come on, lets go show mama that you are fine.
Heading out of the room, Patrick thought about how much his life had changed these last few months. Sent with Ami on a long rang assignment here in Rome, the two of them had come no closer to find their target. Reports had come in of a mysterious man in a black outfit, which had been stitched together in such a way to appear both home made and professionally done at the same time. The figure had been on The Company's radar for months now, reports having him appear at the scenes of Sylar's murders, just before the bodies of the victims disappeared. Zach Taylor, Dale Simmons, to name two, were Sylar victims to later disappear, the mysterious figure sighted a sort time before or after.
But then, Ami hiding her 3 month pregnant belly, the two of them had gotten the call. The mysterious figure had moved into Europe, their domain, and the two had begun stalking him. At first, they had believed him possibly to be connected to Carter Daniels. But Noah Bennet had stated, after having a 2 hour long argument with the Company's second most wanted super, that Carter had no clue about the figure and would allow the Company to investigate in "his backyard".
Thus, the stalkout, the waiting, the sending out of reports…the waiting for further orders has their investigation turned up nothing…until it had all gone wrong. The news had come from Bennet: the Company was destroyed, the founders save for Angela dead, the agents cut loose. Primatech was gone, the Alaskan Base destroyed by Carter Daniels in his escape, Terrance Harper and the Elite Guard disappearing, and Securitech compromised with Helena Daniels joining her son and helping him engage in the hostile takeover that saw many Company assets now belong to Morbius INC.
Ami and Patrick had discussed their options…everything from returning to help Nathan Petrelli's new government funded operation (voted against by a nervous Patrick, who had heard that people like him were being locked up without question) to approached Carter and his group (voted against when Ami learned Carter was battling a civil war of sorts with other members of his new Alliance).
Finally, Patrick had suggested they merely retire. He come from money, his Uncle the lord or duke or something he couldn't remember, thus giving him wealthy and a title the burly Irishman had no need for. Thus, they had settled into a quiet life in Rome, enjoying the fact they were able to be with their darling daughter every moment of the day, if they so wished.
Patrick bounced the baby in his arms. "Now then…lets check to see if you are all clean…" He sniffed the air, only to freeze. Patrick's power made him like a bloodhound, able to track scents. He could smell drying blood a mile away if he knew the scent, and track down any object just by getting a good whiff.
But other than his daughter's clean diaper, another scent filled his home…a scent he knew too well.
Death.
Racing back to the bedroom, Sophie cradled against his chest, he skidded to a halt at the sight before him.
There was his wife, eyes wide, fingers clawing at the dark clothed arm that was now wrapped around her throat. Just over her shoulder, the black mask of the man in black they had been stalking loomed.
"You." Patrick whispered, the baby fussing in his arms, as if sensing her mother's distress. "Let her…"
"You are in no position to give commands." The dark clothed man stated calmly. His voice was a strange one…it sounded as if he were of Chinese decent, trying to mimic the cultured tones of one from Martha's Vineyard. "You have a simple choice in this matter…back away, or I will kill her."
"What do you want?"
"Set the baby on the bed." The man said coldly.
Ami struggled to shake her head no.
"No." Patrick stated, just as coldly. "Never."
"No harm will come to the baby…set her down…or I will kill her."
Patrick took a step towards the dresser. "No…you won't."
"I will kill her."
"No…you can't. If you wanted Sophie, you would have taken her while we slept. Instead, you made a noise…awoke us…" He took another step, Sophie letting out a quiet sob. "You can't kill her…you want them both."
With that, his hand went for his sock drawer, ripping his handgun from it. He raised it up, firing right at the man's head.
The man in black's head reared back…before he snapped it back, dragging a struggling woman towards the window.
CRASH
Patrick rushed towards the window frame, staring out into the night as the man in black leapt into the sewers.
^&^&^&^
(The Present…Thanksgiving Day)
5 am
Carter rubbed his eyes, stumbling into the kitchen. He wasn't surprised to see Biddy seated at the table, along with the new man in her life.
Who would have guessed that Hank could be replaced by someone short, chubby and bald.
"Biddy…Derek." He mumbled.
Biddy smiled tiredly at Carter, baby Derek Carter Daniels sucking greedily at his bottle. "Good morning."
"Is it morning…I can't tell." Carter stated, groggy as hell. He sat down at the table, resting his head against the wood.
"You ok?"
"Peachy." He whimpered. "Madrid kicked me out of the bed…literally."
"Thought I heard a wall break." Biddy quipped.
Carter groaned. "I think I still have a foot shaped bruise on my side." He buried his head in his arms. "God…I will be glad when the baby is born."
"Then you just got your wish."
Carter turned to see Madrid standing in the doorway, her large, 9 months pregnant stomach hanging out, her chest only clad in a sports bra, her hair wild and unkempt. Her pajama bottoms were soaked.
"My water just broke."
Carter's eyes went wide.
"Don't panic." Biddy warned.
"MAYDAY!" Carter screamed, superspeeding through the house, waking everyone up.
"He freaked." Biddy stated.
"Gabe's coming!" Vally squealed, super-speeding into the room, then out once more to join her father in awakening everyone.
"You think?" Madrid muttered.
Malcolm groaned, stumbling into the room, looking at everyone. "Why the hell is he freaking out? Even without my powers, we all know Gabriel will be born, will be happy and healthy, if not a bit too snarky, and will grow up to become the Sword of God, the Lord of the Bloody Purple Flame."
Biddy chuckled as she gave Derek a pat. "Even though I know Derek's future, that doesn't mean I worry about him." She paused. "But you know that, don't you?"
Malcolm shrugged. "Just grumpy, love." He moved to the cupboard. "Madrid, love, maybe you want to sit down, I will brew some coffee…"
"No time!" Carter shouted, racing back into the kitchen. Madrid blinked as, in one moment she found herself seated in one of the limos Morbius INC demanded their CEO and his entourage take to work.
In several fiery blurs, Madrid found herself seated next to Biddy, Derek in her arms, then the rest began to appear in the limo: Hank, Sarah, Kelly, Tina, Charlie and Renee, Malcolm, Ellie, Lee, Ashleigh, Vic and Helena.
"What the hell?" Linda Fray exclaimed as she was dumped in the limo. "Why are we all in are pjs…" She covered her eyes. "Except for Kelly and Tina."
The two women blushed, covering themselves.
"CARTER!"
Carter appeared. "Oh, sorry." He sped away, reappearing with shirts and sweatpants. "There we go…time to go!"
The group felt the limo shift.
Hank stood up, moving to the sunroof. Popping his head out, he stared in shock as he found that Carter was CARRYING the limo, superspeeding towards the hospital, Vally sitting on top of the limo's roof, flashing her flames and making ambulance siren sounds.
"He lost it!" He called to the occupants.
^&^&^&^
(The Past…4 months before Genesis)
Dr. Fredrick Frauzen rushed past the police cars, ignoring the calls for him to stop. One police officer tried to grab ahold of him, but he didn't let that stop him, shrugging off his suit jacket. His brown hair, normally slicked back and styled, was a mess, is eyes wide with panic as he made his way up the driveway to his families estate.
He heard the police whispering things…about family reunions…of horrible scenes…of a man called…Sylar…
Fredrick froze as he stared at the burning rubble that had been his family home.
His scream ripped through the night as he saw the burned remains of his family being removed.
^&^&^&^
"Who is Sylar?"
Audrey Hanson stared at him. "Who is Sylar?"
"Don't mimic me, and don't lie." Fredrick said, his tone crisp and sharp, hiding the utter defeat he felt in his soul. "I am a trained psychologist, with several focuses including body language, mental defenses, and manipulations. And right now, all three say you know more than you are telling me. So, stop lying and tell me about who Sylar is!"
Audrey looked away from him for several moments, before finally returning his gaze. "We don't know much about him…only the murmurs of a witness that survived long enough to tell us his name. He is a killer that can…do things we don't understand how to explain."
Fredrick closed his eyes. "My family…each and every one of them…were murdered by a serial killer?"
"…yes."
Fredrick lowered his head. "I want to see the bodies."
Audrey was silent.
"I said I want to see them…is that a crime?"
"The bodies…your family was caught in the fire…those that Sylar didn't attack. Your family estate crumbled…"
"I want to see them…my mother, my father, my brothers and sisters…"
"They're done." Audrey said. "Reduced to ash and bone shards."
Fredrick shook his head. "I…I saw them pull a body out…"
"Your sister-in-law, Tess. Her body was the only one to remain in one piece."
"I want to see her, now!" The psychologist demanded.
Audrey shook her head. "That isn't possible. Though your brother was married to her…you are not family. Her parents have been contacted, and they will be arriving…"
Fredrick caught her by surprise, grabbing her shirt and slamming her head against the metal table in the medicinal examiner's waiting room. "I worked as a prison psychologist for a time…I know how to defend myself." He slammed her head once more and stormed off, leaving Audrey dazed.
^&^&^&^
Dr. Frauzen was not a religious man. He felt that religion was merely the human mind's way of coping with death and the cruel world, no different than a child creating an imaginary friend.
But that did not mean that he was a cold person, able to face death any easier than one that believed. Some would say it made him more ill prepared.
Thus, he was not surprised to find his hands shaking as he pulled the sheet away from Tess' face, staring at his sister-in-law. The gash on her head looked horrifying, and her skin was cut and scratched all over. And yet…she looked so peaceful, as if she were sleeping…
Fredrick fell to his knees, sobbing.
"I am so sorry, Tess…I am so sorry." He whispered. "Why…why did this happen?" He whispered to the darkness.
He lowered his head, tear falling freely, Tess' fingers running through his hair, the cold floor hurting his-
Fredrick's eyes went wide.
He leapt away, pushing himself farther and father until he his another cold metal examining table.
He watched, body trembling…as Tess' corpse slowly sat up, her pale bluish-white face showing confusion as she wrapped the sheet around her naked form. She looked at him with blank eyes, and Fredrick wondered if he was going mad.
"Tess?" He whispered.
She trembled, but for a moment, and though her body remained cold and lifeless, her smile, the one only she could wear, appeared.
"Fredrick…what's wrong?"
Fredrick leaned back. "I…I thought you were dead…"
"Tess" laughed. "Fredrick…Fredrick…Fredrick…you were right on both counts." She walked towards him, kneeling before him. "You are going crazy…but you are not hallucinating…" She leaned towards his ear, and he could see her skull and muscle peaking out form the slash on her forehead. "And I am still dead."