"We are an evolving species. We always seek to change ourselves, to better ourselves. We push ourselves to grow and change, to put away the childish things of our youth and become the men and women we wish to be. But what happens when those that knew us as we were…see us as we are now?"

-Mohinder Suresh

Peter and Sylar both threw up their hands, Carter's body hung in mid-air as they struggled to hold him. His fires ragged all around him, threatening to engulf them if they came a step closer. He never let his eyes drift from either of them as he used all his strength to test the new bonds he found himself against.

"Calm down!" Peter shouted, sweat appearing on his brow as he fought to keep Carter in line. It was like trying to stop a mack truck.

"Make me!" Carter snapped, eyes glowing silver as he slowly began to raise his right hand, only for Sylar to reach out and force him to stop.

Peter shook his head. "I understand you are upset, but you need to listen! Gabriel has changed…whatever he did to you, he has repented."

Carter grit his teeth. "I'll be the judge of that." His eyes flashed, and Peter let out a scream as a blast of whammy flames shot from Carter's pupils and struck him in the chest. Sylar's concentration broke, giving Carter the chance to rip free of the invisible restraints and strike at the older man. Sylar braced himself as he went hurtling through the wall, Carter chasing right after him.

Peter slowly stood up, fighting to shake off the whammy effects, only to get punched in the gut by Madrid.

"I am getting sick of unwanted visitors!"

Peter groaned, grabbing her hand. "You need to calm down…" He blinked when a second hand grew from his wrist. "What the?"

Madrid rolled her shoulders, 4 more arms sprouting from her body, each balled into a fist. "I heard you like to copy powers…mine has a steep learning curve." Peter just managed to throw up his arms as Madrid came swinging at him.

Angela Petrelli looked at the glass of scotch that sat on the table. It was such a MAN'S drink. Arthur had been known to down them, from time to time. Nathan too. Peter had preferred a cold beer, but that was to be expected. Peter had never really become a man, not in her eyes. He didn't have the guts to do what needed to be done, to understand what true sacrifice was.

Not like his father

Not like his brother.

Not like her.

Angela grabbed the glass and drained it within moments.

Her cellphone rang and Angela considered just letting it keep blaring. But that wasn't her, not by a long shot. She was someone that took things head on…even something as simple as a phonecall.

"Hello?"

"Still betting on the wrong horses, are we Angela?"

Angela's eyes narrowed. "Martha."

The Englishwoman chuckled over the phone. "I'd be dead if words could kill…and I could still die." When Angela said nothing, Martha continued. "We need to talk."

"And here I thought we were," Angela said dryly.

Martha's tone was filled with poisonous humor. "I mean face to face. My fight has just landed, but if you hurry you can meet me at the gate."

"Flight…you are in New York?"

"Very astute. Yes, I am. Now then, why don't you get in that limo of yours and come talk with me."

Angela frowned. "About what?"

"About how you, for once, you are going to pick the right side."

And with that, the phone died.

The building shook as Carter burst through another wall, fast on the heels of the retreating Sylar. "So, this is the whispered nightmare of all heroes? The fallen one? The Company's #3 man?" Carter scoffed, grabbing a file cabinet and hurling it at Sylar. "Pathetic…no wonder I'm Number 2."

Sylar got to his feet, the cabinet laying just to his right. "I don't want to hurt you."

"That's ok…you won't get too." Carter grabbed a desk and let it fly, Sylar reaching out with his telekinesis and stopping it before setting it down. He then raised his hand, firing bolts of blue lightning.

"But I will protect myself," he informed him, forcing Carter to back up. "You are powerful, but I am just as strong."

"No…you're not." Carter focused, his fires receding into his skin as he entered his ascended form. "You have power, that is true," Carter intoned, standing up even as the lightning danced along his skin. "But you don't know how to use it." Carter rolled his neck back and forth. "What powers remain with you, Sylar? I've read your file and it seems you are always gaining and losing abilities. The shape shifting is new, as is the lightning. Whatever happened to that ice ability you had?"

Sylar ignored him. "I understand how to use my abilities, and the danger that comes from them. Unlike you."

"Is that a challenge?"" Carter asked, pausing for a moment. "I will give you a freebie…use that first ability of yours on me."

Sylar nodded, focusing on Carter, listening to the rhythm of his body, searching for the mistakes, the imperfections he was sure to find.

What he found…

"You're…you're perfect. Not a single thing wrong."

Carter smirked. "A gift from my daughter. She has made me into perfection." His hand began to glow hot as he slowly approached Sylar. "Time to show you just how powerful she made me."

Sylar, however, continued to focus. "Your power…it allows you to manipulate emotions, to control and read them. Matt Parkman said he could read my mind, but not my heart. You could do that…you could read my heart."

Carter's fires died down. "I suppose I could…and I could also rip your mind to pieces." He gave Sylar a dark smile.

"I have changed…if that is the risk I must take to prove it…"

Carter's had ignited in flames. "This is going to hurt."

"I know."

It was the last think Sylar was able to say before he began to scream.

"Malcolm?" Ellie asked, entering their bedroom. Carter had bought up several floors of one of New York's posh apartment complexes to serve the group while they were in New York, and Ellie and Malcolm had taken full advantage of it. "You in-"

The words died on her tongue as she saw Malcolm standing in the middle of the room, arms flung out and eyes pure white, face twisted in pain. She rushed towards him, practically feeling the energy vibrating through his body.

"MALCOLM!" She screamed, her cry finally managing to break him out of his trance. Malcolm fell to the ground, panting hard. "What happened?"

"The Second Coming…" Malcolm whispered, shaking. "The Second Coming."

"Daddy?" Vally squealed, hurrying into the room, dragging a little wagon that held Derek and Gabe. The infants cooed, their eyes glowing in response to the power they felt coming off of the man.

And with that…it was over.

Carter removed his hand, staring at Sylar, who was panting hard.

"Daddy…is everything ok?"

Carter turned to his daughter…and smiled.

"Yes princess, yes it is." He lifted his daughter up, hugging her close. "I want to introduce you someone…" he waved his hand at Sylar. "This Gabriel, Gabriel Gray."

Sylar blinked in surprise.

"Hi! I'm Vally!" Vally giggled, waving her hand.

"Uh…hi." Sylar murmured, still shocked by Carter's about-face.

Vally pointed towards the wagon. "That's Derek and the cuter one is my baby brother. He's a Gabriel too!"

Sylar looked at the infants, then Carter.

"It's…along story." Carter admitted.