Gabriel rubbed his head against Carter's bare chest, little fingers flexing as they tried to find something to hold. The baby was clad only in his diaper, eyes staring up at his father as Carter fed him.
The darkness around the house was nothing to Carter. The catacombs had been his darkest fear, and would stay in his mind for the rest of his days. But this darkness, with the half moon shining above, the stars casting their light on him as he fed his son his bottle…this was a good darkness, a welcomed darkness.
Rocking his child back and forth, Carter looked out over the dark landscape, his mind still troubled.
Drago's words echoed in his head. His family would be hunted…no matter how hard they hid themselves, they would be hunted…
"You know, you don't need to do that."
Carter turned to find Madrid standing in the doorway of the nursery. She moved towards him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"I mean…we have plenty of nannies."
This was true. When Malcolm had arrived, Carter and the rest had been horrified to learn that Drago and Adriana had teamed up, planning to turn the orphaned children into their own private army…the thought that the innocent babies would, years later, lead their own undead parents into war…
Lee had drawn up nurses and nannines, hundreds of them, who were now stationed in the ballroom, converted into a massive daycare center. It was a temporary fix…Vic had spent much of the evening calling Alliance members, to see who could help by taking in a child. Each, Carter knew, would have powers, and Malcolm's chaos vision showed that one day each would be very powerful. The babies would be protected, no matter what.
"The orphans can have the nannies. As horrible as it sounds…my son deserves only me." He leaned his head down, placing a gentle kiss on Gabe's forehead. The baby murmured, eyes fluttering before he finally gave in to sleep. "I'm so sorry." Carter said at long last. "I am so sorry I put you all in such danger."
"It is Drago that has put us in danger, not you." Madrid said, resting her chin on his shoulder. "And you beat him."
"He's still out there…I can feel it. There is a connection between us now…and it will not break till one of us is dead. And unfortunately, at the moment, we are both immortal."
"Immortal." Madrid whispered. "Hard to believe." She stared down at Gabriel. "Will he even understand what that means? He is one of the first to be born this way… will our son understand what we were once…"
"We will make sure of it." Carter said softly. He looked at her, shifting Gabriel slightly. "Do you ever regret it? Getting roped up in this life?"
Madrid smiled. "Never." She reached around him, her hand running along his chest. "My life would have been so empty without you…without our family. You gave me the greatest gift of all…" Her fingers exploded in red flames. "And not just with the whammy energy."
Carter chuckled, watching the flames. Gabriel, even as he slept, began to glow purple in response to his mother's fire. "Didn't realize that stuck with you after this little guy wormed his way out."
Madrid nodded. "Think I have it now forever…don't mind it so much now, getting use to it." She shook her hand, the flames flickering away, Gabriel returning to his normal, healthy pink color.
Carter was slight for a long time. Finally, when he spoke, his voice was utterly quiet. "He's going to hunt us. He is going to hunt us till the bitter end, and if he ever does catch up, he is going to kill me through hurting all of you. There is only one thing I can do now…"
"What is it?" Madrid whispered.
"If I do…what I am thinking of…everything will change. In the short term, we will be safe. But we have forever…and I don't know what will happen after too long."
Madrid pressed her face to his. "It doesn't matter what you chose…I will stand by you till the end."
^&^&^&^
(Eastern Europe)
Lyger looked at the remains of the prison in disgust.
His brother and master, Fredrick, had demanded he go and see to Adriana, to make sure the cyborg was doing her job. From the looks of the rubble that lay on the ground, it was clear enough that she had been failing.
Letting out a sigh, the dead man got to work, pushing slabs of stone aside in hopes of finding something, anything, that might tell him what had happened.
Heaving one stone aside, he stared at Adriana's body, watching it twitch and move about slowly. Shaking his head, he grabbed her by the scruff of her neck.
"Let's go." He said, pulling her up. He blinked, startled to find her arms and legs missing, her eyes wide with fear.
"R-r-r-r-r-r-run." She managed to get out.
SNAP
The ground exploded, Lyger just managing to twist away. As bits of stone rained from the sky, Lyger looked at hole formed in the destruction, a lone figure leaping out.
Joseph rolled his neck, a dark smile on his face.
Lyger pulled a gun from his pocket, firing.
SNAP SNAP SNAP
The bullets fell at Joseph's feet.
"Aaaahh….pointless."
^&^&^&^
Carter stood in front of his family and friends. He had just gotten done telling them his plan, and now they sat there, staring at him, wondering if he was serious. What he had just stated…it was insanity. It would mean the death of everything they knew…their lives twisted and transformed, their futures thrown to the winds. Even Malcolm could not predict their fates.
"I know what this means…to each and every one of you. I understand that what I am asking…will change everything. I have already dragged you all deeper into this than I ever wished. I…I never wanted this. But it is the only way." He licked his lips. "I will be leaving tomorrow…Madrid, Vally and Gabriel will be going with me. I do not expect any of you to come. I do not want you to. I would see you all leave…to turn from me, to run and hide yourselves. This war…we have known that it was coming. But now that it is here…I do not want any of you to fight." He looked out at all of them. "To any that feel they owe me…your debt has long been repaid. Do not stand by me…live your lives…and my God watch over you."
They all sat in utter silence, the weight of what Carter had said echoing in their thoughts.
And then…
"I always knew you were an idiot." Hank said at last, his words angry. "But never this dumb."
"I know it is a dangerous plan-"
"Shut up." Hank snapped. "This has nothing to do with your plan. This has everything to do with you thinking any of us would turn away from you now." He stood up, poking Carter in the chest. "You saved my life…not just physically, but spiritually, mentally. I shudder to think of the man I would have been, had you and I not left Flint in that car, one year ago." He looked over at Biddy, who cradled Derek in her arms. "You gave me a wife…a son…and when they were in danger, you gave yourself in to torture to see them safely brought back here." Hank lowered himself to one knee. "I will live forever…and I doubt even that will give me the time to pay my debt back to you." He looked up at him, clasping Carter's hand. "I can not think of a better fate than standing beside you, my friend, brother, my king."
Kelly rose next, giving him a small slap. "I was there since the beginning, Carter. I have been a part of this since the first time your powers appeared. I started this journey with you…and I want to see how it ends."
Linda shook her head. "You were always my best student, Carter Daniels, but you still have much to learn." She leaned in her chair. "I will be happy to stay and teach you."
Lee rose. "I hated you…but I did not know you. You so easily could have taken the path of darkness as I did…but you chose the light. And more than that…you brought me out of the darkness, and showed me the type of man I could be. Now that you face darkness again, I will serve as your guide, as your ally."
Tina smiled. "You and I are unlikely allies, Carter…be a shame to break up such a good team."
Sarah just glared at her brother. "You don't protect me, baby brother. I protect you. And that means keeping you from getting yourself killed."
Helena and Vic smiled proudly at their son, no words spoken.
Terrence shook his head, but still smiled. "Already a disgrace…lets make it official little brother." West and Micah nodded in agreement.
Malcolm finally stood, Ellie's hand clutched in his. "I do not know what the future will bring this time, Carter. The chaos lines are too tangles. But I do know, if there is one man I am going to bet on…its you."
Vally scrambled over and hugged her father's leg. "Not getting' rid of us!"
Carter smiled, tears in his eyes. "Ok…ok. Let's go."
^&^&^&^
"From the darkness the shapes take form...one of a man, powerful and just, sword in one hand and a flame in the other"
^&^&^&^
Carter looked at the Chateau one last time before stepping into the limo.
^&^&^&^
"The other a monster, cloaked in the night, his strength and fury a disease upon the world"
^&^&^&^
Joseph trudged along the barren landscape, dragging the bodies of Lyger and Adriana with him.
^&^&^&^
"But dawn breaks and you see nothing more than shadows dreamed by a restless mind. It is only in the light of day… that the true question you should have asked is revealed:"
^&^&^&^
In a Parsian park, the ground rumbled and cracked…befor Drago pulled himself free, Fredrick's unconscious form under his arm.
^&^&^&^
"Are you the monster...or the man?" -Mohinder Suresh
^&^&^&^
End of Volume 5.5
^&^&^&^
Volume 6 Brave New World
^&^&^&^
(New York City)
"What is going on?" Hiro asked Ando, watching as Claire climbed to the top of the Ferris Wheel. Samuel had been defeated, and Hiro had believed that, at long last, it would be time to finally rest.
"She is changing everything, Hiro." A man said in Japanese, stepping next to the two men.
Hiro frowned. "Do I know you?"
"In a way." The man said in English. "I am Takezo Kensei's great grandson." The man paused, turning to smile at Ando. "Good to see you again…and not with my sword at your throat."
Ando's eyes widened. "Carter? Carter Daniels?"
"You know him?" Hiro asked.
"While you were lost in time…your father and I tracked him down."
"Water under the bridge, as they say." Carter said calmly, tilting his head to watch Claire climb. "I was coming to ask my sister something…but it appears that she has already decided upon her answer."
Hiro frowned. "She is going to reveal us…the world will know of our powers." He turned to Ando, the implications sinking it. "How can we retire now?"
"Retire?" Carter asked, his duster swirling about him. "No…our kind does not retire, Hiro." Carter glanced at him once more. "Atleast, not this day."
"What do you mean?" Ando asked.
"A war is coming…a darkness. One that threatens each and every one of us, and will seek to destroy all that would hope to oppose him. He will snuff out free will and turn the world into his slave, until all are merely reflections of him. He is a greater threat than any either of us have faced." Carter locked eyes with the time-traveler. "The time has come…that we can no longer ignore each others presence…no longer can we exist separately. We will unite together…or we will die all alone."
Claire cried out, the cameras following her as she fell.
"That's my cue." Carter said, walking away from Hiro and Ando. It was only as he stepped away that Hiro realized that Carter was not alone; he was followed by a group of people, young and old, two women clutching babies, a little girl darting about.
"My name is Claire Bennet, and this is attempt number...I guess I've kind of lost count."
With those words, the world began to change. People all over were now witnessing a new age, a new world, taking form.
The reporters swarmed Claire, mobbing her and trying to get a statement. Both Noah and Peter were ready to step in…when Carter forced his way through the crowd.
"Back off! I said back off!" He shouted, his friends and family helping pull the reporters away.
Claire looked at her half brother in shock. "What are you doing?!?" She hissed, fearing he was going to try and undo what she had just done.
Carter merely smiled. "Family stands by each other."
And with that, he burst into flames.
"Oh my God." Sylar whispered.
Carter focused, going into his Metatron form. The reporters stood there, slack jawed, staring. Behind him, Madrid, Valencia, Gabriel and Sarah burst into their own fiery forms. Tina let acid fall from her fingers, Malcolm and Kelly's eyes went white, Lee held up a sheet of paper, creating a small bunny, Hank went half-invisible, a fountain exploded as Linda called the water to her, while the others remained with them, united.
Lauren turned to Noah. "This…this…"
Noah, for the first time, could not find words.
Carter cleared his throat, taking Claire's hand in his. "My name is Carter Daniels…and the time has come for the world to know of my story."
^&^&^&^
To be concluded…
^&^&^&^
And now, the trailer for Elsewhere- Volume 6: Brave New World
^&^&^&^
For four years, they have remained separate
(We see Carter taking on Merrick, then Peter attacking Samuel)
Two sides, one world
(We see Madrid growing an extra set of arms, then Claire healing after she stopped Ted)
Now, the time has come…for them to unite
(The picture fades in on Martha, sitting with Angela Petrelli)
Martha: Drago will never allow Vally to come of age. She alone holds the power to unite us all, to defeat him and all like him. Should she die, the world will fall under a darkness I doubt it will ever emerge from. But should she survive, she will usher in a golden age that will surpass all that we dare hope.
Angela: (frowning) What would you have me do?
Martha: Give Carter the army he needs.
(We see Hank Delpine and Matt Parkman watching the New York skyline…buildings on fire)
Matt: Who could do such a thing?
Hank: Guess.
(We see Drago walking about the streets, Fredrick and Adriana at his side. We cut to Claire, standing in front of a large group)
Claire: I know you are all scared…that you wish this darkness had not come during your life. But…all heroes have wished these things. And I will tell you this…if we are not willing to die for the most innocent of us…then our lives are worth nothing!
THIS FALL
(We see Malcolm holding out his hands, silver lines flaring about him)
Malcolm: All that matters in this life…is how you use the time given to you
TWO WORLDS WILL UNITE
(We see Sylar place a hand on Carter's shoulder)
Sylar: I will stand with you…till the very end.
(Carter places his hand of Sylar's and nods.)
Carter: Thank you Gabriel.
AND AN EPIC JOURNEY WILL COME TO AN END
(We see Hiro and Ando holding Gabe, running down an alley)
FOR EVERY FALL, THERE IS A RISE
(We see Joseph smiling, snapping his fingers and shattering buildings)
FOR EVERY CRIME, THERE IS JUSTICE
(We see Terrence staring down Fredrick)
FOR EVERY VILLAIN, THERE IS A HERO
(We see Tina and Kelly gunning down Fredrick's zombies)
FOR EVERY PAST GENERATION, THERE IS THE NEXT
(We see Vally backing away in terror, Sylar pushing her behind him as Drago approaches. We cut to Helena and Bennet standing together)
Helena: We can no longer protect them…we can only hope.
(We see Tracy and Linda working together to take on several gunmen)
FOR EVERY BEGINNING, THERE IS AN END
(We see Matt hiding a building with Madrid)
Matt: I don't think we can win this.
Madrid: We don't matter…we only have to give Carter and Peter their chance.
(We see Peter holding Carter, flying him out of the city. The camera pans up…to reveal a gigantic black dragon high in the sky. Carter and Peter nod, before rocketing towards it's mouth…and the screen goes black)
ELSEWHERE- Volume 6: Brave New World
The final act begins
Fall 2010
^&^&^&^
Author's Note: And so we come to it at last. 100 chapters...4 years of work. And now, at long last, Carter and his team unite with the cast of HEROES. What you will see this fall I will keep to myself, but it will take Elsewhere, writing wise, in a new direction. And even if Heroes is canceled, I will be finishing there story.
It is wonderful and a bit bittersweet...this story has been a part of me for a long time, and now we are closing in on the end.
BUt what an end it will be...