Fic: In the Forests of the Night - Chapter Ten (Part One)
Okay. Whew. Here it is. This week seems like it's been nothing but writing, but I'm pretty happy with the result. I've been playing in this sandbox for more than six months now, and I want to say thank you to everyone who has commented thus far-- your encouragement helps keep me going! I'm sad to see the end of this story, but I'm excited to hear what ya'll think of it. So, without further ado:
Title: In the Forests of the Night - Chapter Ten (of Ten)
Author name: brighteyed_jill
Characters: Ensemble, Peter/Nathan. Other slashiness if you squint.
Rating: R (for violence, adult themes, and angst)
Word Count: 14,000 (No, seriously. I’m not kidding.)
Warnings: Violence, angst, adult situations, minor character death.
Spoilers: Through the end of Season 1. Some Season 2 spoilers for character abilities only.
Summary: It all comes down to tonight.
Author’s note: All hail redandglenda for her indispensable help on this entire project. Bonus points also go to jaune_chat this week, because she painted the word picture of Isaac’s painting.
Peter couldn’t see anything, which was unusual. He thought his eyes were open, but he didn’t know where he was. He felt a sudden sharp pain, muted as if it was happening to someone else, and then he realized he could hear.
“What do you want?”
Nathan. It was Nathan. He was in trouble. He was in pain.
“Get up.” The man’s voice was harsh, impersonal, and Peter didn’t recognize it.
The room was dark, but Peter saw a man holding Nathan on the floor, twisting an arm up behind his back. Nathan struggled, trying to break the man’s grip, and a second man took a step closer, kicking Nathan in the side. The men were wearing suits and earpieces, and Peter saw a flicker of recognition in Nathan’s eyes as he squinted up at them. “Why are you doing this?” Nathan gasped when he got his breath back.
“They told us what you’re planning,” said the first man, glaring at Nathan as if he were lower than dirt.
“What?” Peter saw Nathan struggle through that claim and come up blank. “Who?”
“The game’s up, Mister President. We know you’re one of them,” said the second man. “Take him.”
“No!” Peter screamed. He bolted up in bed, tearing his out way out of tangled sheets. “Nathan!”
**************
An arm grabbed Hiro’s shoulder in the dark, and by the time the light came on, Hiro thought that Peter Petrelli was lucky to still have all his body parts. As it was, the Kensei sword rested delicately against Peter’s wrist, and Peter looked at it with one eyebrow raised in surprise.
“What is it?” Hiro asked, and lifted the sword’s razor sharp edge off Peter’s arm, leaving a line of split skin that healed as he watched.
Peter seemed not to have noticed. “It’s time,” he said.
Hiro looked at him blearily for a moment before the information penetrated. “Oh,” he said suddenly. “Let’s go!” He jumped out of bed, tangling his legs in the sheets and falling to the floor face first.
Meanwhile, Peter had taken off down the hallway, pounding on doors. Sleepy faces appeared, grumbling, but when Hiro called out into the corridor, “It’s time,” everyone sprang into action as they’d planned.
Hiro fumbled with his glasses, threw on clothes he’d tossed on the floor a few hours before, wrapped up in his coat, and carefully buckled his sword over his shoulder.
Ando poked his head in. “This is really it?” he asked. Hiro nodded gravely. “Put your shirt on right side out,” Ando said. “I don’t want to be seen with a frumpy hero.” Hiro grinned, grateful for Ando’s ability to cut through his nervousness, and Ando gave him the thumbs up.
After righting his clothes, Hiro followed Ando into the hallway. People were running back and forth, grabbing weapons and throwing on clothing, bundling up as they were used to doing for winter in the mountains: hats, coats, mittens, and scarves. In the midst of the jumble, Hiro saw Peter catch Molly by the arm.
“Molly! Molly!”
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I need you to help me find someone. My brother Nathan.” Peter was practically vibrating with impatience. “Can you find him?”
Molly nodded and closed her eyes. Peter closed his eyes too, and they stood together, an island of calm in the rush of preparations. Their eyes snapped open at the same moment. “The White House,” they said together.
Hiro caught Peter’s eye. “Don’t go alone. You’ll need all of us. We’ll get there the fast way.” Raising his voice, he called, “Everyone downstairs.”
Pounding down the creaky staircase came everyone who’d agreed to be a part of the fight: Gabriel, empty-handed and grim, Mohinder, gun bulging under his coat, Matt, who was handing off tazer guns to Molly and a grumbling Micah, Dean and Lara, each carrying a walkie talkie, Alai, who had a rifle slung over his back, a hand gun on his belt, and was tucking a third weapon into an ankle holster, Peter, pale and fidgety, and Ando, who shoved on a black ski cap before giving Hiro a decisive nod.
“Stand together,” Hiro said. “We must be touching.”
They gathered into a circle, hands joined, and Hiro gave one last glance around the room, locking eyes with each person for a moment before nodding to Peter. They closed their eyes together, and they all disappeared.
***********
The Secret Service agents wrestled a half-dressed Nathan out into the living room. He couldn’t say he was surprised to see Alicia Madden waiting for him with an escort of Homeland Security troops at her back.
“Good evening Mister President.”
“Alicia. What is this all about?” Nathan stood up straight, shoulders back, ignoring the throb in his kidney where he’d been kicked. Playing it cool, like this was just a mistake, a garbled memo.
“Did you know that the Secret Service is a division of Homeland Security?”
“I must have forgotten. Do you mind explaining exactly what’s going on, Alicia?” He put every ounce of his Petrelli haughtiness into his voice. Even if he couldn’t bluff Alicia, his Secret Service agents might have second thoughts about assaulting their Commander in Chief. “I’ve got a big speech to give tomorrow, so if you don’t mind-.”
Alicia nodded, and the Secret Service agent standing next to Nathan hit him once, hard, a closed fist to the stomach. Nathan began to revise his opinions about loyalty.
When Nathan straightened up, Alicia asked, “Where’s your family, Mister President?”
“I had them take an unscheduled vacation.” Nathan felt proud that he was able to deliver his line with much more bravado than normally displayed by a man clad only in pajama pants. He was afraid, though. Monty had warned him, so he’d taken measures to keep his family safe, but he’d never believed for a moment that he himself would be in danger. At least Peter was safe and out of this. At least he’d gotten to see him one last time.
“That’s interesting,” said Alicia. “Where?” Nathan shook his head. Alicia sighed, and the Secret Service agent hit Nathan again, this time in the side of his face. Alicia turned to one of the men behind her. “Call Ginsberg. Find out where the First Family is. I don’t care who you have to get out of bed. Tell them it’s a matter of national security.”
Nathan kept up a casual smile while she gave her orders. He was confident Heidi and the boys wouldn’t be found. No one had a reason to look for them in Texas, and they’d told no one where they were going. If Nathan didn’t get out of this, Peter would protect them. If nothing else, Petrellis knew to take care of family first.
Alicia glanced at her watch, then back at Nathan. She seemed to be waiting for something. Nathan had no way to know for sure exactly what Alicia had planned, but the Homeland Security troops standing at attention along the wall provided a strong clue.
“I take it this is some sort of coup,” he said as offhandedly as he could manage.
“Hardly. Just a return of power to the right hands. Another victory over the terrorists.”
“You can’t arrest the President. You don’t have the right.” He drew himself up to his full height and turned to the agent on his left. “Let go of me.” The agent didn’t move, didn’t even acknowledge Nathan.
“I’m perfectly within my authority to detain a rogue evolved human,” Alicia said coolly.
Nathan’s heart sank. She did know, somehow. That’s why the Secret Service agents were so eager to condemn him. “People aren’t going to buy that argument.” Nathan sneered, but he didn’t believe it. He himself was proof that people would believe any lie if it came in the right packaging. “They’ll bury you.”
“If you think that, you really have lost touch with the people.” Alicia strode to the window and looked out over the lawn. “What America needs is fear, not freedom. You won’t be around to see it, but I promise the country will be a much better place with you out of the way.”
Nathan’s first instinct was to tell Alicia that she wouldn’t get away with this, but he stopped himself. He wasn’t quite that desperate yet. Instead, he said, “Did anyone ever tell you you’re a real bitch?”
Then the lights went out. “It’s all right,” Alicia called immediately. “Don’t panic.” But the guards had already broken out into muttering.
Nathan sprang into action. He broke the grip of one of the Secret Service agents and slammed his elbow back into the man’s face. The man crumbled with a cry of pain. A sweep of his legs had the other agent on the floor, and Nathan stumbled forward blindly. A pair of hands grabbed at him, and he dodged right into a circle of arms that wrapped around him and didn’t let go. Blue emergency lights flickered on. The agent holding Nathan roughly twisted his arms up behind his back.
“Sloppy,” Alicia admonished with a sniff. “The blackout means our friends are here.”
“You started without us!”
In the doorway stood a balding older man who looked vaguely familiar to Nathan. He was flanked by two young women, a brunette and a blonde, both sporting wicked smiles. “Are we late?” asked the man.
“Right on time,” Alicia said. “Nathan was just leaving.” Nathan struggled again briefly-they could be taking him anywhere, even out of the country. Two more agents jumped in to restrain him. “For God’s sake, how many of you does it take to handle one out-of-shape politician?”
The first agent opened his mouth to apologize, and Nathan felt his grip loosen a fraction. This might be his last chance. With a desperate effort he threw off the agents and launched himself toward the window. He couldn’t fly as fast as he wanted-couldn’t risk cutting his throat on broken glass-but he was almost there. He’d be gone before they knew what was happening.
Suddenly Nathan screamed in agony as he felt an electric shock rip through him. He fell to the floor, writhing in pain as aftershocks wracked him. When he opened his eyes, the blonde woman was smiling above him. “No no no,” she said, waving a finger at him.
“Impressive.” That was Alicia’s voice. “Elle, I take it? All right gentlemen. Elle is going to help you escort the President to his new home. Put him in the chopper.”
As the agents lifted him by the arms and pulled him toward the door, he heard Alicia say, “Let’s get started.”
********
The lawn of White House was a war zone: gunfire, explosions, fire, people fighting hand to hand.
“Move!” Hiro yelled, and the team sprung into action.
Peter felt something pulling him forward, an impending sense that if he didn’t move, his brother was going to die. He lost track of everything around him as he ran across the lawn at super speed. Flashes of the chaos penetrated his vision, but he didn’t stop to investigate: uniformed soldiers firing blindly into the darkness; a blonde woman kicking a man several feet across the lawn, a hooded figure throwing a knife.
Peter ignored it all. He had to find Nathan
****************
Gabriel froze the water in the fountain, effectively trapping the guards who’d fallen in after his latest attempt at telekinetic bowling. He darted back toward the cover of the bushes, scanning the lawn as he ran. He’d lost track of the others, but if he could just make it to the White House porch-.
“I know you. You’re the villain.”
Gabriel froze. This must be what going mad felt like, staring back at his own face, angry and cruel.
“This is our kind of party, isn’t it?” Sylar said. “You’ve killed lots of people. I bet you love this.”
“What-?” Gabriel backed up a step. This could not be happening.
“Come on, you can’t say it’s not fun! Look at all this!” Sylar waved grandly at the chaos unfolding around them. “And you were one of the first steps along the way. Making them afraid of us. Making them understand how we’re superior.”
“Shut up.” Gabriel shook his head to clear it, but Sylar didn’t disappear.
Sylar raised his hand, pointing, and Gabriel followed his eyes to where Micah and Molly were running side-by-side across the lawn, dodging and weaving. A quick flick of his wrist, and the ground heaved beneath them, separating the two and sending them tumbling. “Do you think we can take out all of them before anyone else gets a chance?”
Gabriel threw out a hand to toss Sylar aside with telekinesis. Nothing happened.
Sylar laughed. “I’m the stronger one. You’re weak. You always have been. That’s why you created me in the first place. To do what you wanted to but couldn’t.”
“Don’t.” Gabriel closed his eyes.
“We could kill all of these roaches. We could do it easily. I know you’d like to. Can you taste it? I know you think about it.”
“That’s not me!” Gabriel opened his eyes again, and immediately wished he hadn’t. Nothing was moving on the White House lawn anymore. The grass was carpeted with bodies, bodies that Gabriel recognized. Hiro, and Parkman, and Peter, but also Isaac Mendez and Dale Smither. And his mother. “No,” Gabriel whispered.
“This is your destiny,” Sylar said. “No one is as special, as powerful as us. Look at what you can do, what you were always meant to do.”
Gabriel recognized another face, lying right at his feet, dark curls framing a face distorted in terror. Sylar was close behind him, breath hot on his neck. Gabriel felt arms encircle his waist, pulling him back against a body that fit perfectly against his. “Now it’s just us,” Sylar whispered in his ear.
***********
Mohinder ducked behind the corner of the tennis court fence as two armed soldiers ran past. Truth be told, he wasn’t sure who all these people were, who was on what side. All he could do was try to make it to the White House alive. The pistol was warm in his hand, its weight dragging him down. “Come on,” he said to himself angrily, and with a last look around, he broke cover, heading in the direction he was fairly sure the others had gone.
Gunshots skittered across the night from far away, but the closest thing he heard was shouting. Someone nearby was repeating, “No no no no no,” in a panicked, desperate chant.
Gun at the ready, Mohinder crept through the night, toward the sound. It could be one of Hiro’s team, injured. Maybe he could help. Wind ruffled his hair, and the moon came out from behind a cloud, revealing a man curled up on his side, not twenty feet away. It was Gabriel, and he was whimpering, “No, I’m sorry. Please, no.”
A pudgy, balding man stood over Gabriel, smiling cruelly. Mohinder crept closer, keeping his eyes on the stranger, whose concentration seemed fixed on his prone victim. Gabriel began to claw at his face, and now his tone no longer seemed defeated. He sounded enraged. “I hate you,” he screamed, and Mohinder noticed he’d begun to glow. It wasn’t the pure white light that Peter had emitted the night they’d outrun Homeland Security. This was a deeper orange, an angry color. Mohinder struggled to remember what Gabriel had said about nuclear energy, and quickly came to the conclusion that this was not likely to be the harmless sort.
The man standing over Gabriel began to back up but didn’t take his eyes off his victim. Mohinder saw him reach for his hip, saw the glint of plastic in the moonlight, and readied his own gun. The man had no weapon, though. He raised a radio to his mouth, and over Gabriel’s shouting, Mohinder heard him ask, “Is he supposed to be glowing?”
Mohinder couldn’t hear the response that came back, but the stranger’s smile grew as he dropped the radio to his side. Now Gabriel was writhing on the ground, lighting up the lawn around him bright as day. He was screaming, “I’m not like you! I’m not!”
Mohinder took a step forward, tearing his eyes away from Gabriel to aim at his attacker. “Hey,” he yelled. The man whirled around, eyes widening as he stared down the barrel of a gun. “Get away from him,” Mohinder said, and pulled the trigger.
He skirted past the body of the man to kneel next to Gabriel’s prone form. “Gabriel?”
The nuclear glow had completely disappeared, and Gabriel’s skin felt cold to the touch. His eyes snapped open, but it took them a moment to focus on Mohinder, a moment more to register recognition. “Mohinder?” he said tentatively. Then Mohinder found himself crushed in a tight embrace, Gabriel shivering in his arms. “You’re alive,” he said, muffled into Mohinder’s shoulder.
“Yes, of course,” Mohinder said, confused. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so.” Gabriel pulled away reluctantly, and looked at the corpse behind Mohinder. “A nightmare. It was a nightmare.” His eyes snapped back to Mohinder. “Thank you.”
Gunfire shattered the night again, this time not far off, and both men stood at once. “We need to move,” said Mohinder.
“Stay close,” Gabriel said. “We don’t have far to go now.”
***************
Matt sprinted the last ten yards to the White House porch, taking cover behind a column. He was relieved to see Molly and Micah pressed against the opposite wall behind Alai and Lara.
“You guys okay?” Matt asked.
Micah nodded, and Molly gave him a weak smile.
Hiro came leaping onto the porch, sword bared, and Ando was close behind him, shoving a new clip into his gun. Matt noticed Hiro sweep his eyes over the assembly, taking a quick head count. “Dean?” he asked.
Lara shook her head.
“Where did Peter go?” Hiro squinted past the rose garden out onto the dark lawn where shouts and gunshots were still echoing.
“He ran ahead,” Alai said. “Just took off.”
“He’s inside,” said Molly firmly. “Somewhere.”
“Gabriel? Mohinder?”
“They were behind me,” Matt said. “A while ago.”
Alai poked his head out behind a column, and quickly returned. “I think I see them. We’ll help them out. Lara?” She raised her gun in answer, and the two darted off the porch.
“We should follow Peter,” said Hiro.
Ando tried the door. “Locked.”
Matt frowned in confusion. “Then how did Peter-?”
“Phased,” said Hiro.
Micah pressed his hand on the panel next to the door and concentrated. “The White House has a really cool system that locks down when there’s a power outage. It’s got its own emergency backup, so even if-.”
“Can you open it?” Matt interrupted.
Micah bristled only a little, and grumbled, “Duh.” He closed his eyes, and seconds later Matt heard the sound of a lock turning. Ando tried the handle again, and the door swung open. Inside, the halls of the White House were dimly lit by blue emergency lights.
Hiro looked at his friends, who were staring doubtfully into the dark recesses of the building. “We’ve got a world to save,” said Hiro. “Let’s go.”
*****************
With Nathan out of the way, Alicia took Bob and Candice to the third floor of the residence, away from the eyes of the Homeland Security guards. Bob was glad to leave behind the gun-toting men, who looked not only trigger happy, but had been eying him warily, as if searching for visual evidence of any special genetic marker.
“Jessica’s started the attack,” Bob explained on their way up the stairs. “Our people are ready to cut and run once we give the signal.”
“Not yet,” said Alicia. “The most important tactic in controlling a population is fear. That’s what tonight is about. A large body count on both sides will be best for the press.”
“My people aren’t here to be slaughtered,” Bob protested.
“Neither are mine. But you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs,” said Alicia. She stopped to fix Bob with a searching glare. “You knew that people would be killed tonight. I hope you’re not getting cold feet.”
“We’ve already taken out everyone in the West Wing,” Candice jumped in. “We’ve got this really talented girl who made the job super easy.” Alicia turned her attention to her for the first time, eying her skeptically. “You must be Candice.”
“I’m your girl,” she said. “And now that we’re alone…” She glanced around the hall where they stood. The air around her seemed to shimmer for a moment, and then Nathan Petrelli stood where she had been. “What do you think?”
“Very impressive,” Alicia said slowly. She reached out a hand to touch Candice/Nathan on the arm. “No one will know the difference.”
The look on Alicia’s face was almost predatory, and Candice smiled in return. Seen through the lens of her Nathan Petrelli disguise, the expression was highly disturbing. Watching the two interact, Bob felt as if he’d entered an arena with two hungry lions, but he was careful to show no sign of his fear. He would never have a better chance than tonight to get the information he needed. It was up to him to make sure the Company’s sacrifices were not in vain.
“Well,” Bob said, more to end the moment between the two women than to make a point. “Having a President who’s reasonable will make all our lives much easier.”
Alicia turned back to Bob quickly, as if she’d forgotten he was there. “I’m surprised that you are willing to participate in this,” she said. “You must not have much regard for your fellow specials.”
“As long as the people I care about are safe,” he said carefully. He knew he was playing a dangerous game. Alicia would never give Bob what he wanted unless the payoff was enough to override her distrust of evolved humans. Candice was the carrot that had the potential to solve that problem.
“That’s why you want the list,” Alicia said slowly. She turned to Candice. “Let me ask you something. Who’s on the list that you care about?”
“Just me, really,” said Candice with a shrug.
“A girl after my own heart.” Alicia and Candice/Nathan exchanged broad grins, and Bob got the uncomfortable feeling that the two women had reached a silent understanding.
“Bob.” Alicia turned back to him. “Remind me again why you’re here.”
“This is a simple business deal,” he said. He was trying to project confidence, but he suddenly wished he hadn’t sent Elle with Petrelli. “I help you create the circumstances you need to install Candice here as President and make the policy changes you want, and you help me make some small alterations to the list.”
“And you’ve done your part, haven’t you?” Alicia said. She looked expectantly at Candice. The two women turned to him, identical cruel smiles flashing in the blue emergency light. “I think we’re done with you.”
*********
Claire jerked back to life on the floor of the secretary’s office, and wasn’t too surprised to see that the emergency lights were on. The last thing she remembered was gasping for breath in a room that seemed to have been emptied of oxygen. Two Secret Service agents lay near the door. She scrambled over to feel for a pulse, but there was none. She wondered how wide-spread the effect was, and took a minute to be grateful that the White House had been fairly empty when whatever-it-was happened.
At this time of night, she was only here because-Nathan. If Bennet wasn’t coming to help, it was up to her to make sure nothing terrible happened to her biological father. She ran through the Oval Office, which was deserted, and down the hallway. At the foot of the stairs a shadowy figure crouched over a pile of uniformed bodies. She froze, realizing that she was weaponless. Keeping her eyes on the figure, she backed up, and accidentally bumped into a chair: its scraping against the floor was shockingly loud in the deserted building. The man’s head snapped up at the noise.
Claire stared. “Peter?”
“Claire!” It was him. His hair was shorter, and now he looked almost ready to burst with agitation, but it was definitely Peter. “What are you doing here?”
“I-.” There was no time to explain, no time to ask any of the thousand questions she needed answers to. “Peter, something’s happening.”
“I know. Where’s Nathan?”
“I don’t know. I’m afraid they’ve done something to him.”
“Who?” He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Claire, who?”
“I think it’s the people my dad works for. The Homeland Security people are going to make him disappear. They killed everyone so there’d be no witnesses.”
“No.” His eyes unfocused for a moment. “He’s not in the building. “They’re taking him somewhere.” He hesitated, hovering between her and the door. “I have to go,” he said finally. “I have to get Nathan.” Then he disappeared.
*****************
“Captain, I need you to sweep the rest of the building. Kill anyone with a tattoo on their wrist. Anyone who displays anything that might be a power. I’ll be back with you shortly.” Alicia hung up the phone and turned back to see Candice/Nathan wiping off her knife on Bob’s shirt.
“So now that I’m the President,” Candice said without looking up. “Don’t all those Secret Service guys think I’m a traitor? Aren’t they going to try to kill me?”
Alicia shook her head. “Anyone who saw the real President leave will be killed tonight. That will keep you safe, and add to the body count, which is what we need to make this really hit home.”
Candice stood and re-folded her knife, tucking it into a pocket. “Well what’s next?”
“You’re going back to the second floor, where you’ll be safe from the nasty terrorists. I can trust you not to get yourself killed, can’t I?”
Candice glanced at Bob, then back at Alicia. “Uh huh.”
“I’ll be in the West Wing, making sure the rest of the attack goes as planned. I’ll send a team of Secret Service agents to give you your speech for tomorrow. It’s going to be a big day.” She headed for the stairs, then paused and turned back. “Candice.”
“Yes?”
“I’m starting to like you,” Alicia said. “But do not double-cross me. I don’t care what little illusions you have up your sleeve, if you betray me I will gut you like a fish. Understand?”
Watching Alicia sweep down the stairs, Candice muttered, “Okay then.”
***************
Noah Bennet snapped his cell phone shut. “Claire’s still not answering her phone. Damnit!”
“That doesn’t mean anything for sure,” said D.L. Bennet ignored him. The Haitian, following behind them, said nothing.
The three strode up to the north White House gate. Bennet started to get a bad feeling when he saw that instead of the normal guard, the gatehouse was bristling with a group of Homeland Security task force soldiers.
“Mr. Bennet!” An officer waved at them, and Bennet recognized him immediately. He was one of the Homeland Security strike force leaders, and there was no reason for him to be here. “Sir,” the man said, pulling Bennet into the guard house and shaking his hand. “Thank God you’re here.”
“What is your team doing here?”
“Secretary Madden called us in,” he said. He seemed surprised that Bennet had asked. “Special Executive Order for protection of the President. They attacked just after oh-two-hundred. The Secretary told us the Secret Service would secure the interior. The power went out maybe ten minutes ago, and we haven’t been able to get it back.”
“Claire…” Bennet spared a glance for the White House, which was ominously dark. “How many men do you have?”
“Twenty-two left. There’s another squad on the south lawn right now, holding them off, but…” He shook his head. “Sir, we’re getting killed out here. The terrorists-.” An explosion echoed across the grounds, lighting up the sky on the south lawn, beyond the White House itself.
“They’re specials. Damn it.” Bennet turned to the Haitian. “Stay here. Help as best you can. Keep an eye on him.”
“Let me come with you,” D.L. said. “I can help!”
“I don’t think so.”
Bennet turned to go, but the Haitian stepped in front of him. “You should not go by yourself. You don’t know what’s happening in there.”
“Watch him,” Bennet said, and made a break for the White House.
**********
Ando jumped around the corner and was greeted with another empty hallway. He dropped his gun and turned to the others. “We’ll never find anyone at this rate,” he said hopelessly.
Hiro eyed the empty hallway with trepidation, but he finally nodded. “Ando, you and I will go that way. “You three will go upstairs. Will you be okay on your own?”
“Of course,” said Molly. “We’ve got Matt with us.” Micah rolled his eyes.
Ando and Hiro disappeared down the hallway, leaving Matt looking around uncertainly. “This place is like a maze,” he muttered. “No wonder politicians are so angry.”
“There was a map in the computer,” said Micah impatiently.
Matt sighed. “So which way, wonder boy?”
Micah glared until Molly said, “Stairs, maybe?”
“This way.” Micah pointed down the hall, and Matt led the way, gun at the ready. The creak of the staircase seemed overly loud in the unnaturally quiet house, and when they reached the third floor, the residence was dark and empty. Matt was just trying to build up the courage to check one of the rooms when he heard Molly shout.
“I think I found a body.”
In an instant, Micah was beside her, feeling for a pulse. “He’s not dead,” he said.
Matt knelt on the other side, quickly assessing the situation by the weak blue glow of the emergency light down the hall. The man was older-maybe he was some sort of Presidential assistant. If he saw what happened, maybe he could help. Matt put his hand on the man’s chest to feel for breathing, and encountered the warm stickiness of blood. Whoever this man was, he wouldn’t be helping anyone for very much longer.
With a grunt of pain, the man’s eyes snapped open. Micah and Molly jumped back a little, and the man focused his gaze on Matt.
“Madden-,” he croaked.
“It’s okay,” Matt said. “Don’t try to speak. Just think. I can hear you.”
The man stared intently at him. You’re Parkman.
“How did you know that?”
Never mind. He reached weakly for Matt’s arm, clung to it. We came here tonight to get the list, to destroy it.
“Mohinder’s list? Why?”
If they don’t know who we are, they can’t hunt us.
“Who’s we?”
You’re one of us. Matt’s skepticism must have shown on his face, because the man shook his head weakly. I used to work for the Company. You know them. But I came here to destroy the list.
“Losing the list won’t change anything.” He looked at Micah and Molly, who stared back at him in confusion. “He’s from the Company,” Matt said contemptuously. They drew away from the dying man as if he might bite them.
The list is a symbol, the man thought at him. I promise that destroying it will change things.
Matt snorted in disbelief. “Why should I listen to you?”
You’re a pessimist, just like your father.
Matt froze. “What?”
There’s a master copy of the list. Alicia Madden has it. She wouldn’t tell me where. You can find out. You have to destroy it.
“How?” he asked, despite himself. He listened, but the man’s eyes had gone glassy and vacant. He was dead.
Micah and Molly looked at each other, then at Matt. “So, what did he say?” Molly asked.
“He said someone named Alicia Madden had a master copy of Mohinder’s list, and that we should destroy it.”
“If he’s from the Company, we shouldn’t do anything he says,” Micah said firmly.
“But Alicia Madden is the Secretary of Homeland Security,” Molly said. “Remember when she came to visit our school, Micah?” She shuddered. “I’m pretty sure she’s one of the bad guys.”
“Well, just because he told the truth about one thing doesn’t mean he can be trusted,” Matt grumbled.
Molly looked searchingly at him. “What else did he say?”
“It’s nothing,” said Matt. “Something about my father. I don’t know what he meant.”
“Hm.” Matt was pretty sure Molly’s wasn’t buying it. “But if we could destroy the list, think what that would mean,” she said slowly. “They wouldn’t know who to arrest anymore.”
“Yeah.” Matt pulled up his sleeve to show his helix tattoo. “It wouldn’t be obvious at all.”
“No, she’s right,” said Micah. “They get kids when they’re young nowadays because the list tells them who’s going to be different. If they didn’t know…”
“Okay, fine,” said Matt. “So destroying the list would be a good thing. What do we do about it?”
“We have to get Alicia Madden to tell us where the master copy of Mohinder’s list is and destroy it? That’s it?” Molly asked.
“What do you mean ‘that’s it?’” Matt asked.
Molly rolled her eyes. “Find Alicia Madden.” She pointed to herself. “Get her to tell us where the list is.” She pointed to Matt. “Destroy it.” She pointed to Micah. “How could this be more simple?”
Micah and Matt exchanged a nervous glance. Micah shrugged, so Matt couldn’t argue. “Let’s go,” he said.
On to Part Two
Title: In the Forests of the Night - Chapter Ten (of Ten)
Author name: brighteyed_jill
Characters: Ensemble, Peter/Nathan. Other slashiness if you squint.
Rating: R (for violence, adult themes, and angst)
Word Count: 14,000 (No, seriously. I’m not kidding.)
Warnings: Violence, angst, adult situations, minor character death.
Spoilers: Through the end of Season 1. Some Season 2 spoilers for character abilities only.
Summary: It all comes down to tonight.
Author’s note: All hail redandglenda for her indispensable help on this entire project. Bonus points also go to jaune_chat this week, because she painted the word picture of Isaac’s painting.
Peter couldn’t see anything, which was unusual. He thought his eyes were open, but he didn’t know where he was. He felt a sudden sharp pain, muted as if it was happening to someone else, and then he realized he could hear.
“What do you want?”
Nathan. It was Nathan. He was in trouble. He was in pain.
“Get up.” The man’s voice was harsh, impersonal, and Peter didn’t recognize it.
The room was dark, but Peter saw a man holding Nathan on the floor, twisting an arm up behind his back. Nathan struggled, trying to break the man’s grip, and a second man took a step closer, kicking Nathan in the side. The men were wearing suits and earpieces, and Peter saw a flicker of recognition in Nathan’s eyes as he squinted up at them. “Why are you doing this?” Nathan gasped when he got his breath back.
“They told us what you’re planning,” said the first man, glaring at Nathan as if he were lower than dirt.
“What?” Peter saw Nathan struggle through that claim and come up blank. “Who?”
“The game’s up, Mister President. We know you’re one of them,” said the second man. “Take him.”
“No!” Peter screamed. He bolted up in bed, tearing his out way out of tangled sheets. “Nathan!”
**************
An arm grabbed Hiro’s shoulder in the dark, and by the time the light came on, Hiro thought that Peter Petrelli was lucky to still have all his body parts. As it was, the Kensei sword rested delicately against Peter’s wrist, and Peter looked at it with one eyebrow raised in surprise.
“What is it?” Hiro asked, and lifted the sword’s razor sharp edge off Peter’s arm, leaving a line of split skin that healed as he watched.
Peter seemed not to have noticed. “It’s time,” he said.
Hiro looked at him blearily for a moment before the information penetrated. “Oh,” he said suddenly. “Let’s go!” He jumped out of bed, tangling his legs in the sheets and falling to the floor face first.
Meanwhile, Peter had taken off down the hallway, pounding on doors. Sleepy faces appeared, grumbling, but when Hiro called out into the corridor, “It’s time,” everyone sprang into action as they’d planned.
Hiro fumbled with his glasses, threw on clothes he’d tossed on the floor a few hours before, wrapped up in his coat, and carefully buckled his sword over his shoulder.
Ando poked his head in. “This is really it?” he asked. Hiro nodded gravely. “Put your shirt on right side out,” Ando said. “I don’t want to be seen with a frumpy hero.” Hiro grinned, grateful for Ando’s ability to cut through his nervousness, and Ando gave him the thumbs up.
After righting his clothes, Hiro followed Ando into the hallway. People were running back and forth, grabbing weapons and throwing on clothing, bundling up as they were used to doing for winter in the mountains: hats, coats, mittens, and scarves. In the midst of the jumble, Hiro saw Peter catch Molly by the arm.
“Molly! Molly!”
“What’s up?” she asked.
“I need you to help me find someone. My brother Nathan.” Peter was practically vibrating with impatience. “Can you find him?”
Molly nodded and closed her eyes. Peter closed his eyes too, and they stood together, an island of calm in the rush of preparations. Their eyes snapped open at the same moment. “The White House,” they said together.
Hiro caught Peter’s eye. “Don’t go alone. You’ll need all of us. We’ll get there the fast way.” Raising his voice, he called, “Everyone downstairs.”
Pounding down the creaky staircase came everyone who’d agreed to be a part of the fight: Gabriel, empty-handed and grim, Mohinder, gun bulging under his coat, Matt, who was handing off tazer guns to Molly and a grumbling Micah, Dean and Lara, each carrying a walkie talkie, Alai, who had a rifle slung over his back, a hand gun on his belt, and was tucking a third weapon into an ankle holster, Peter, pale and fidgety, and Ando, who shoved on a black ski cap before giving Hiro a decisive nod.
“Stand together,” Hiro said. “We must be touching.”
They gathered into a circle, hands joined, and Hiro gave one last glance around the room, locking eyes with each person for a moment before nodding to Peter. They closed their eyes together, and they all disappeared.
***********
The Secret Service agents wrestled a half-dressed Nathan out into the living room. He couldn’t say he was surprised to see Alicia Madden waiting for him with an escort of Homeland Security troops at her back.
“Good evening Mister President.”
“Alicia. What is this all about?” Nathan stood up straight, shoulders back, ignoring the throb in his kidney where he’d been kicked. Playing it cool, like this was just a mistake, a garbled memo.
“Did you know that the Secret Service is a division of Homeland Security?”
“I must have forgotten. Do you mind explaining exactly what’s going on, Alicia?” He put every ounce of his Petrelli haughtiness into his voice. Even if he couldn’t bluff Alicia, his Secret Service agents might have second thoughts about assaulting their Commander in Chief. “I’ve got a big speech to give tomorrow, so if you don’t mind-.”
Alicia nodded, and the Secret Service agent standing next to Nathan hit him once, hard, a closed fist to the stomach. Nathan began to revise his opinions about loyalty.
When Nathan straightened up, Alicia asked, “Where’s your family, Mister President?”
“I had them take an unscheduled vacation.” Nathan felt proud that he was able to deliver his line with much more bravado than normally displayed by a man clad only in pajama pants. He was afraid, though. Monty had warned him, so he’d taken measures to keep his family safe, but he’d never believed for a moment that he himself would be in danger. At least Peter was safe and out of this. At least he’d gotten to see him one last time.
“That’s interesting,” said Alicia. “Where?” Nathan shook his head. Alicia sighed, and the Secret Service agent hit Nathan again, this time in the side of his face. Alicia turned to one of the men behind her. “Call Ginsberg. Find out where the First Family is. I don’t care who you have to get out of bed. Tell them it’s a matter of national security.”
Nathan kept up a casual smile while she gave her orders. He was confident Heidi and the boys wouldn’t be found. No one had a reason to look for them in Texas, and they’d told no one where they were going. If Nathan didn’t get out of this, Peter would protect them. If nothing else, Petrellis knew to take care of family first.
Alicia glanced at her watch, then back at Nathan. She seemed to be waiting for something. Nathan had no way to know for sure exactly what Alicia had planned, but the Homeland Security troops standing at attention along the wall provided a strong clue.
“I take it this is some sort of coup,” he said as offhandedly as he could manage.
“Hardly. Just a return of power to the right hands. Another victory over the terrorists.”
“You can’t arrest the President. You don’t have the right.” He drew himself up to his full height and turned to the agent on his left. “Let go of me.” The agent didn’t move, didn’t even acknowledge Nathan.
“I’m perfectly within my authority to detain a rogue evolved human,” Alicia said coolly.
Nathan’s heart sank. She did know, somehow. That’s why the Secret Service agents were so eager to condemn him. “People aren’t going to buy that argument.” Nathan sneered, but he didn’t believe it. He himself was proof that people would believe any lie if it came in the right packaging. “They’ll bury you.”
“If you think that, you really have lost touch with the people.” Alicia strode to the window and looked out over the lawn. “What America needs is fear, not freedom. You won’t be around to see it, but I promise the country will be a much better place with you out of the way.”
Nathan’s first instinct was to tell Alicia that she wouldn’t get away with this, but he stopped himself. He wasn’t quite that desperate yet. Instead, he said, “Did anyone ever tell you you’re a real bitch?”
Then the lights went out. “It’s all right,” Alicia called immediately. “Don’t panic.” But the guards had already broken out into muttering.
Nathan sprang into action. He broke the grip of one of the Secret Service agents and slammed his elbow back into the man’s face. The man crumbled with a cry of pain. A sweep of his legs had the other agent on the floor, and Nathan stumbled forward blindly. A pair of hands grabbed at him, and he dodged right into a circle of arms that wrapped around him and didn’t let go. Blue emergency lights flickered on. The agent holding Nathan roughly twisted his arms up behind his back.
“Sloppy,” Alicia admonished with a sniff. “The blackout means our friends are here.”
“You started without us!”
In the doorway stood a balding older man who looked vaguely familiar to Nathan. He was flanked by two young women, a brunette and a blonde, both sporting wicked smiles. “Are we late?” asked the man.
“Right on time,” Alicia said. “Nathan was just leaving.” Nathan struggled again briefly-they could be taking him anywhere, even out of the country. Two more agents jumped in to restrain him. “For God’s sake, how many of you does it take to handle one out-of-shape politician?”
The first agent opened his mouth to apologize, and Nathan felt his grip loosen a fraction. This might be his last chance. With a desperate effort he threw off the agents and launched himself toward the window. He couldn’t fly as fast as he wanted-couldn’t risk cutting his throat on broken glass-but he was almost there. He’d be gone before they knew what was happening.
Suddenly Nathan screamed in agony as he felt an electric shock rip through him. He fell to the floor, writhing in pain as aftershocks wracked him. When he opened his eyes, the blonde woman was smiling above him. “No no no,” she said, waving a finger at him.
“Impressive.” That was Alicia’s voice. “Elle, I take it? All right gentlemen. Elle is going to help you escort the President to his new home. Put him in the chopper.”
As the agents lifted him by the arms and pulled him toward the door, he heard Alicia say, “Let’s get started.”
********
The lawn of White House was a war zone: gunfire, explosions, fire, people fighting hand to hand.
“Move!” Hiro yelled, and the team sprung into action.
Peter felt something pulling him forward, an impending sense that if he didn’t move, his brother was going to die. He lost track of everything around him as he ran across the lawn at super speed. Flashes of the chaos penetrated his vision, but he didn’t stop to investigate: uniformed soldiers firing blindly into the darkness; a blonde woman kicking a man several feet across the lawn, a hooded figure throwing a knife.
Peter ignored it all. He had to find Nathan
****************
Gabriel froze the water in the fountain, effectively trapping the guards who’d fallen in after his latest attempt at telekinetic bowling. He darted back toward the cover of the bushes, scanning the lawn as he ran. He’d lost track of the others, but if he could just make it to the White House porch-.
“I know you. You’re the villain.”
Gabriel froze. This must be what going mad felt like, staring back at his own face, angry and cruel.
“This is our kind of party, isn’t it?” Sylar said. “You’ve killed lots of people. I bet you love this.”
“What-?” Gabriel backed up a step. This could not be happening.
“Come on, you can’t say it’s not fun! Look at all this!” Sylar waved grandly at the chaos unfolding around them. “And you were one of the first steps along the way. Making them afraid of us. Making them understand how we’re superior.”
“Shut up.” Gabriel shook his head to clear it, but Sylar didn’t disappear.
Sylar raised his hand, pointing, and Gabriel followed his eyes to where Micah and Molly were running side-by-side across the lawn, dodging and weaving. A quick flick of his wrist, and the ground heaved beneath them, separating the two and sending them tumbling. “Do you think we can take out all of them before anyone else gets a chance?”
Gabriel threw out a hand to toss Sylar aside with telekinesis. Nothing happened.
Sylar laughed. “I’m the stronger one. You’re weak. You always have been. That’s why you created me in the first place. To do what you wanted to but couldn’t.”
“Don’t.” Gabriel closed his eyes.
“We could kill all of these roaches. We could do it easily. I know you’d like to. Can you taste it? I know you think about it.”
“That’s not me!” Gabriel opened his eyes again, and immediately wished he hadn’t. Nothing was moving on the White House lawn anymore. The grass was carpeted with bodies, bodies that Gabriel recognized. Hiro, and Parkman, and Peter, but also Isaac Mendez and Dale Smither. And his mother. “No,” Gabriel whispered.
“This is your destiny,” Sylar said. “No one is as special, as powerful as us. Look at what you can do, what you were always meant to do.”
Gabriel recognized another face, lying right at his feet, dark curls framing a face distorted in terror. Sylar was close behind him, breath hot on his neck. Gabriel felt arms encircle his waist, pulling him back against a body that fit perfectly against his. “Now it’s just us,” Sylar whispered in his ear.
***********
Mohinder ducked behind the corner of the tennis court fence as two armed soldiers ran past. Truth be told, he wasn’t sure who all these people were, who was on what side. All he could do was try to make it to the White House alive. The pistol was warm in his hand, its weight dragging him down. “Come on,” he said to himself angrily, and with a last look around, he broke cover, heading in the direction he was fairly sure the others had gone.
Gunshots skittered across the night from far away, but the closest thing he heard was shouting. Someone nearby was repeating, “No no no no no,” in a panicked, desperate chant.
Gun at the ready, Mohinder crept through the night, toward the sound. It could be one of Hiro’s team, injured. Maybe he could help. Wind ruffled his hair, and the moon came out from behind a cloud, revealing a man curled up on his side, not twenty feet away. It was Gabriel, and he was whimpering, “No, I’m sorry. Please, no.”
A pudgy, balding man stood over Gabriel, smiling cruelly. Mohinder crept closer, keeping his eyes on the stranger, whose concentration seemed fixed on his prone victim. Gabriel began to claw at his face, and now his tone no longer seemed defeated. He sounded enraged. “I hate you,” he screamed, and Mohinder noticed he’d begun to glow. It wasn’t the pure white light that Peter had emitted the night they’d outrun Homeland Security. This was a deeper orange, an angry color. Mohinder struggled to remember what Gabriel had said about nuclear energy, and quickly came to the conclusion that this was not likely to be the harmless sort.
The man standing over Gabriel began to back up but didn’t take his eyes off his victim. Mohinder saw him reach for his hip, saw the glint of plastic in the moonlight, and readied his own gun. The man had no weapon, though. He raised a radio to his mouth, and over Gabriel’s shouting, Mohinder heard him ask, “Is he supposed to be glowing?”
Mohinder couldn’t hear the response that came back, but the stranger’s smile grew as he dropped the radio to his side. Now Gabriel was writhing on the ground, lighting up the lawn around him bright as day. He was screaming, “I’m not like you! I’m not!”
Mohinder took a step forward, tearing his eyes away from Gabriel to aim at his attacker. “Hey,” he yelled. The man whirled around, eyes widening as he stared down the barrel of a gun. “Get away from him,” Mohinder said, and pulled the trigger.
He skirted past the body of the man to kneel next to Gabriel’s prone form. “Gabriel?”
The nuclear glow had completely disappeared, and Gabriel’s skin felt cold to the touch. His eyes snapped open, but it took them a moment to focus on Mohinder, a moment more to register recognition. “Mohinder?” he said tentatively. Then Mohinder found himself crushed in a tight embrace, Gabriel shivering in his arms. “You’re alive,” he said, muffled into Mohinder’s shoulder.
“Yes, of course,” Mohinder said, confused. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so.” Gabriel pulled away reluctantly, and looked at the corpse behind Mohinder. “A nightmare. It was a nightmare.” His eyes snapped back to Mohinder. “Thank you.”
Gunfire shattered the night again, this time not far off, and both men stood at once. “We need to move,” said Mohinder.
“Stay close,” Gabriel said. “We don’t have far to go now.”
***************
Matt sprinted the last ten yards to the White House porch, taking cover behind a column. He was relieved to see Molly and Micah pressed against the opposite wall behind Alai and Lara.
“You guys okay?” Matt asked.
Micah nodded, and Molly gave him a weak smile.
Hiro came leaping onto the porch, sword bared, and Ando was close behind him, shoving a new clip into his gun. Matt noticed Hiro sweep his eyes over the assembly, taking a quick head count. “Dean?” he asked.
Lara shook her head.
“Where did Peter go?” Hiro squinted past the rose garden out onto the dark lawn where shouts and gunshots were still echoing.
“He ran ahead,” Alai said. “Just took off.”
“He’s inside,” said Molly firmly. “Somewhere.”
“Gabriel? Mohinder?”
“They were behind me,” Matt said. “A while ago.”
Alai poked his head out behind a column, and quickly returned. “I think I see them. We’ll help them out. Lara?” She raised her gun in answer, and the two darted off the porch.
“We should follow Peter,” said Hiro.
Ando tried the door. “Locked.”
Matt frowned in confusion. “Then how did Peter-?”
“Phased,” said Hiro.
Micah pressed his hand on the panel next to the door and concentrated. “The White House has a really cool system that locks down when there’s a power outage. It’s got its own emergency backup, so even if-.”
“Can you open it?” Matt interrupted.
Micah bristled only a little, and grumbled, “Duh.” He closed his eyes, and seconds later Matt heard the sound of a lock turning. Ando tried the handle again, and the door swung open. Inside, the halls of the White House were dimly lit by blue emergency lights.
Hiro looked at his friends, who were staring doubtfully into the dark recesses of the building. “We’ve got a world to save,” said Hiro. “Let’s go.”
*****************
With Nathan out of the way, Alicia took Bob and Candice to the third floor of the residence, away from the eyes of the Homeland Security guards. Bob was glad to leave behind the gun-toting men, who looked not only trigger happy, but had been eying him warily, as if searching for visual evidence of any special genetic marker.
“Jessica’s started the attack,” Bob explained on their way up the stairs. “Our people are ready to cut and run once we give the signal.”
“Not yet,” said Alicia. “The most important tactic in controlling a population is fear. That’s what tonight is about. A large body count on both sides will be best for the press.”
“My people aren’t here to be slaughtered,” Bob protested.
“Neither are mine. But you can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs,” said Alicia. She stopped to fix Bob with a searching glare. “You knew that people would be killed tonight. I hope you’re not getting cold feet.”
“We’ve already taken out everyone in the West Wing,” Candice jumped in. “We’ve got this really talented girl who made the job super easy.” Alicia turned her attention to her for the first time, eying her skeptically. “You must be Candice.”
“I’m your girl,” she said. “And now that we’re alone…” She glanced around the hall where they stood. The air around her seemed to shimmer for a moment, and then Nathan Petrelli stood where she had been. “What do you think?”
“Very impressive,” Alicia said slowly. She reached out a hand to touch Candice/Nathan on the arm. “No one will know the difference.”
The look on Alicia’s face was almost predatory, and Candice smiled in return. Seen through the lens of her Nathan Petrelli disguise, the expression was highly disturbing. Watching the two interact, Bob felt as if he’d entered an arena with two hungry lions, but he was careful to show no sign of his fear. He would never have a better chance than tonight to get the information he needed. It was up to him to make sure the Company’s sacrifices were not in vain.
“Well,” Bob said, more to end the moment between the two women than to make a point. “Having a President who’s reasonable will make all our lives much easier.”
Alicia turned back to Bob quickly, as if she’d forgotten he was there. “I’m surprised that you are willing to participate in this,” she said. “You must not have much regard for your fellow specials.”
“As long as the people I care about are safe,” he said carefully. He knew he was playing a dangerous game. Alicia would never give Bob what he wanted unless the payoff was enough to override her distrust of evolved humans. Candice was the carrot that had the potential to solve that problem.
“That’s why you want the list,” Alicia said slowly. She turned to Candice. “Let me ask you something. Who’s on the list that you care about?”
“Just me, really,” said Candice with a shrug.
“A girl after my own heart.” Alicia and Candice/Nathan exchanged broad grins, and Bob got the uncomfortable feeling that the two women had reached a silent understanding.
“Bob.” Alicia turned back to him. “Remind me again why you’re here.”
“This is a simple business deal,” he said. He was trying to project confidence, but he suddenly wished he hadn’t sent Elle with Petrelli. “I help you create the circumstances you need to install Candice here as President and make the policy changes you want, and you help me make some small alterations to the list.”
“And you’ve done your part, haven’t you?” Alicia said. She looked expectantly at Candice. The two women turned to him, identical cruel smiles flashing in the blue emergency light. “I think we’re done with you.”
*********
Claire jerked back to life on the floor of the secretary’s office, and wasn’t too surprised to see that the emergency lights were on. The last thing she remembered was gasping for breath in a room that seemed to have been emptied of oxygen. Two Secret Service agents lay near the door. She scrambled over to feel for a pulse, but there was none. She wondered how wide-spread the effect was, and took a minute to be grateful that the White House had been fairly empty when whatever-it-was happened.
At this time of night, she was only here because-Nathan. If Bennet wasn’t coming to help, it was up to her to make sure nothing terrible happened to her biological father. She ran through the Oval Office, which was deserted, and down the hallway. At the foot of the stairs a shadowy figure crouched over a pile of uniformed bodies. She froze, realizing that she was weaponless. Keeping her eyes on the figure, she backed up, and accidentally bumped into a chair: its scraping against the floor was shockingly loud in the deserted building. The man’s head snapped up at the noise.
Claire stared. “Peter?”
“Claire!” It was him. His hair was shorter, and now he looked almost ready to burst with agitation, but it was definitely Peter. “What are you doing here?”
“I-.” There was no time to explain, no time to ask any of the thousand questions she needed answers to. “Peter, something’s happening.”
“I know. Where’s Nathan?”
“I don’t know. I’m afraid they’ve done something to him.”
“Who?” He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Claire, who?”
“I think it’s the people my dad works for. The Homeland Security people are going to make him disappear. They killed everyone so there’d be no witnesses.”
“No.” His eyes unfocused for a moment. “He’s not in the building. “They’re taking him somewhere.” He hesitated, hovering between her and the door. “I have to go,” he said finally. “I have to get Nathan.” Then he disappeared.
*****************
“Captain, I need you to sweep the rest of the building. Kill anyone with a tattoo on their wrist. Anyone who displays anything that might be a power. I’ll be back with you shortly.” Alicia hung up the phone and turned back to see Candice/Nathan wiping off her knife on Bob’s shirt.
“So now that I’m the President,” Candice said without looking up. “Don’t all those Secret Service guys think I’m a traitor? Aren’t they going to try to kill me?”
Alicia shook her head. “Anyone who saw the real President leave will be killed tonight. That will keep you safe, and add to the body count, which is what we need to make this really hit home.”
Candice stood and re-folded her knife, tucking it into a pocket. “Well what’s next?”
“You’re going back to the second floor, where you’ll be safe from the nasty terrorists. I can trust you not to get yourself killed, can’t I?”
Candice glanced at Bob, then back at Alicia. “Uh huh.”
“I’ll be in the West Wing, making sure the rest of the attack goes as planned. I’ll send a team of Secret Service agents to give you your speech for tomorrow. It’s going to be a big day.” She headed for the stairs, then paused and turned back. “Candice.”
“Yes?”
“I’m starting to like you,” Alicia said. “But do not double-cross me. I don’t care what little illusions you have up your sleeve, if you betray me I will gut you like a fish. Understand?”
Watching Alicia sweep down the stairs, Candice muttered, “Okay then.”
***************
Noah Bennet snapped his cell phone shut. “Claire’s still not answering her phone. Damnit!”
“That doesn’t mean anything for sure,” said D.L. Bennet ignored him. The Haitian, following behind them, said nothing.
The three strode up to the north White House gate. Bennet started to get a bad feeling when he saw that instead of the normal guard, the gatehouse was bristling with a group of Homeland Security task force soldiers.
“Mr. Bennet!” An officer waved at them, and Bennet recognized him immediately. He was one of the Homeland Security strike force leaders, and there was no reason for him to be here. “Sir,” the man said, pulling Bennet into the guard house and shaking his hand. “Thank God you’re here.”
“What is your team doing here?”
“Secretary Madden called us in,” he said. He seemed surprised that Bennet had asked. “Special Executive Order for protection of the President. They attacked just after oh-two-hundred. The Secretary told us the Secret Service would secure the interior. The power went out maybe ten minutes ago, and we haven’t been able to get it back.”
“Claire…” Bennet spared a glance for the White House, which was ominously dark. “How many men do you have?”
“Twenty-two left. There’s another squad on the south lawn right now, holding them off, but…” He shook his head. “Sir, we’re getting killed out here. The terrorists-.” An explosion echoed across the grounds, lighting up the sky on the south lawn, beyond the White House itself.
“They’re specials. Damn it.” Bennet turned to the Haitian. “Stay here. Help as best you can. Keep an eye on him.”
“Let me come with you,” D.L. said. “I can help!”
“I don’t think so.”
Bennet turned to go, but the Haitian stepped in front of him. “You should not go by yourself. You don’t know what’s happening in there.”
“Watch him,” Bennet said, and made a break for the White House.
**********
Ando jumped around the corner and was greeted with another empty hallway. He dropped his gun and turned to the others. “We’ll never find anyone at this rate,” he said hopelessly.
Hiro eyed the empty hallway with trepidation, but he finally nodded. “Ando, you and I will go that way. “You three will go upstairs. Will you be okay on your own?”
“Of course,” said Molly. “We’ve got Matt with us.” Micah rolled his eyes.
Ando and Hiro disappeared down the hallway, leaving Matt looking around uncertainly. “This place is like a maze,” he muttered. “No wonder politicians are so angry.”
“There was a map in the computer,” said Micah impatiently.
Matt sighed. “So which way, wonder boy?”
Micah glared until Molly said, “Stairs, maybe?”
“This way.” Micah pointed down the hall, and Matt led the way, gun at the ready. The creak of the staircase seemed overly loud in the unnaturally quiet house, and when they reached the third floor, the residence was dark and empty. Matt was just trying to build up the courage to check one of the rooms when he heard Molly shout.
“I think I found a body.”
In an instant, Micah was beside her, feeling for a pulse. “He’s not dead,” he said.
Matt knelt on the other side, quickly assessing the situation by the weak blue glow of the emergency light down the hall. The man was older-maybe he was some sort of Presidential assistant. If he saw what happened, maybe he could help. Matt put his hand on the man’s chest to feel for breathing, and encountered the warm stickiness of blood. Whoever this man was, he wouldn’t be helping anyone for very much longer.
With a grunt of pain, the man’s eyes snapped open. Micah and Molly jumped back a little, and the man focused his gaze on Matt.
“Madden-,” he croaked.
“It’s okay,” Matt said. “Don’t try to speak. Just think. I can hear you.”
The man stared intently at him. You’re Parkman.
“How did you know that?”
Never mind. He reached weakly for Matt’s arm, clung to it. We came here tonight to get the list, to destroy it.
“Mohinder’s list? Why?”
If they don’t know who we are, they can’t hunt us.
“Who’s we?”
You’re one of us. Matt’s skepticism must have shown on his face, because the man shook his head weakly. I used to work for the Company. You know them. But I came here to destroy the list.
“Losing the list won’t change anything.” He looked at Micah and Molly, who stared back at him in confusion. “He’s from the Company,” Matt said contemptuously. They drew away from the dying man as if he might bite them.
The list is a symbol, the man thought at him. I promise that destroying it will change things.
Matt snorted in disbelief. “Why should I listen to you?”
You’re a pessimist, just like your father.
Matt froze. “What?”
There’s a master copy of the list. Alicia Madden has it. She wouldn’t tell me where. You can find out. You have to destroy it.
“How?” he asked, despite himself. He listened, but the man’s eyes had gone glassy and vacant. He was dead.
Micah and Molly looked at each other, then at Matt. “So, what did he say?” Molly asked.
“He said someone named Alicia Madden had a master copy of Mohinder’s list, and that we should destroy it.”
“If he’s from the Company, we shouldn’t do anything he says,” Micah said firmly.
“But Alicia Madden is the Secretary of Homeland Security,” Molly said. “Remember when she came to visit our school, Micah?” She shuddered. “I’m pretty sure she’s one of the bad guys.”
“Well, just because he told the truth about one thing doesn’t mean he can be trusted,” Matt grumbled.
Molly looked searchingly at him. “What else did he say?”
“It’s nothing,” said Matt. “Something about my father. I don’t know what he meant.”
“Hm.” Matt was pretty sure Molly’s wasn’t buying it. “But if we could destroy the list, think what that would mean,” she said slowly. “They wouldn’t know who to arrest anymore.”
“Yeah.” Matt pulled up his sleeve to show his helix tattoo. “It wouldn’t be obvious at all.”
“No, she’s right,” said Micah. “They get kids when they’re young nowadays because the list tells them who’s going to be different. If they didn’t know…”
“Okay, fine,” said Matt. “So destroying the list would be a good thing. What do we do about it?”
“We have to get Alicia Madden to tell us where the master copy of Mohinder’s list is and destroy it? That’s it?” Molly asked.
“What do you mean ‘that’s it?’” Matt asked.
Molly rolled her eyes. “Find Alicia Madden.” She pointed to herself. “Get her to tell us where the list is.” She pointed to Matt. “Destroy it.” She pointed to Micah. “How could this be more simple?”
Micah and Matt exchanged a nervous glance. Micah shrugged, so Matt couldn’t argue. “Let’s go,” he said.
On to Part Two