[Fic] Heroes - Argus 12/13
Title: Argus 12/13 - Senator Petrelli Gives the Grand Tour
Author: themaskedmckay
Rating: Gen
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: None
Words: 995
Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me.
Warning: Character death & implied character death. But death isn't always as final as it might seem.
Spoilers: Up to the end of season three. The story takes place between seasons three and four.
Summary: Sylar the cockroach becomes Sylar the planarian when his cell regeneration ability evolves. Senator Nathan Petrelli welcomes Dr. Suresh to the new research facility.
Author's Notes: A HUGE thank you to luckykitty for the beta!
Argus Illustration
[ All Parts to date]
Senator Petrelli Gives the Grand Tour
"How are you settling in, Dr. Suresh?"
"Senator Petrelli, why am I not surprised you're involved in this?"
"Please, Mohinder, you can call me Nathan." I extend my hand towards him but he pointedly refuses to take it. I let it remain extended until we're both feeling some discomfort then let it drop to my side. "You're angry."
"After everything you've done, yes! Of course I'm angry! And now I discover you've had a hand in restarting the Company?" He's always been so earnest and passionate; I wish it were something I could take from him and make my own. The things I could do with the strength of his convictions...
"I was wrong, Mohinder. I'm trying to make up for it. Don't you think this new threat of Sylar's is bigger than both of us and whatever bad blood may be between us?" I try to keep my apology vague, there are still gaps in the memories I've lifted from Nathan's belongings and I don't want to tip him off that there may be something odd about me.
Mohinder sighs and I know I've won a small victory. "Perhaps you're right. The rate of duplication is startlingly fast; and I really could use better facilities to conduct my research."
I spread my arms wide, the grandstanding politician, to indicate the magnificent facility we're standing in.
"Yes, it's very impressive.” Mohinder’s voice is an even monotone. He’s still angry at Nathan for whatever Nathan did. Maybe it was the program he spear-headed that was formed to round up specials? ”Even more impressive is how quickly you were able to secure it."
I wonder if he realizes he has a habit of biting the hand that feeds him. My expression must have changed because he is suddenly contrite. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, this is very helpful."
"Thank you. I don't expect you to worry about how we secure our resources. I need you to do what you do best, leave the rest to me."
"Of course," he replies with a nod of his head. I don’t believe for an instant he's ready to put aside his questions. His desire to understand reminds me strongly of my own. "I'm sure my progress will be much faster now that I'm here."
"I'm glad to hear it!" I actually go so far as to slap a hand on his back and leave it here for a moment. It's a gesture Nathan uses when he wants to enforce a sense of alliance.
"You're a lot safer here, too. After that mess with the duplicate being beheaded in front of your apartment..."
"Yes, that was unfortunate." He shrugs my hand off and steps away. "I had been working with that duplicate. I could really use a cooperative specimen."
"Oh, is that all?" The teasing tone of my voice earns me a glare; oh yes, he hasn't forgiven and forgotten at all. "Come with me, doctor."
The best part of this facility isn't the equipment we brought in for research; it's the equipment we brought in to contain the duplicates. The freezer is the largest in the country. We can put hundreds of duplicates into cold storage; a frozen army of ability-stealing specials that only need to be unthawed to be put into service. And if, sometimes, that service is to have the top of their head removed and their brains rifled through for new abilities to add to my collection? Well, they won't be complaining.
"Oh, my God," Mohinder gasps when I lead him to the viewing port on the freezer unit. "Are you insane?"
And with one question he's deflated my pride and put me on the defensive. "What do you mean?" I know I sound a bit petulant but I can't help it, I was pretty proud of my containment plan.
"What if the power fails and they all thaw out?"
"Do you really think we wouldn't have contingency plans? I'm insulted, Mohinder."
"Well, forgive me for being less than confident in your methods. They haven't proven to be fail-proof in the past."
I nod, graciously conceding the point. "Well, I'm being very careful, this time." I almost said things would be different with me in charge, but Nathan had been in charge last time, too. It’s a constant struggle to rein my ego in around this man.
"I suppose I don't have a choice," Mohinder said. "Like you say, the threat Sylar poses is bigger than both of us."
"I guess it's hard to keep a good villain down," I quip. As disturbing as it is to have dozens of duplicates of myself running around I'm rather proud I'm foremost in people's minds again.
"A villain?" Mohinder laughs. "No, Sylar isn't a villain. I'm sure he'd love to be identified as such but he doesn't have the... the plans a real villain does. Where are the grandiose schemes for world domination? No, he's a selfish little man with an inflated sense of self-worth."
Tell me how you really feel, Mohinder. It seems time has softened Mohinder's memories of me but I'm not in position to remind him of my villainy, not yet. When I finally reveal to him who I am, after he has seen all I have accomplished as Nathan Petrelli, he'll realize how wrong he is.
"Yes, well." My voice is tight. "There are those who wouldn't agree with you."
He looks at me sharply. "Are you a fan of his work, Nathan?" It takes me a moment or two to compose myself enough to reply.
"No. Of course not. But I think you underestimate him."
"I don't want to fight with you, Nathan. That's not why I'm here."
"You're right; I'll leave you to your work. But, Mohinder," I make sure our eyes meet. "You should never underestimate what Sylar is capable of."
He stares into my eyes for a long moment before he replies, “I never do.”
-------
[ All Parts to date]
On to part 13
Author: themaskedmckay
Rating: Gen
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: None
Words: 995
Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me.
Warning: Character death & implied character death. But death isn't always as final as it might seem.
Spoilers: Up to the end of season three. The story takes place between seasons three and four.
Summary: Sylar the cockroach becomes Sylar the planarian when his cell regeneration ability evolves. Senator Nathan Petrelli welcomes Dr. Suresh to the new research facility.
Author's Notes: A HUGE thank you to luckykitty for the beta!
Argus Illustration
[ All Parts to date]
Senator Petrelli Gives the Grand Tour
"How are you settling in, Dr. Suresh?"
"Senator Petrelli, why am I not surprised you're involved in this?"
"Please, Mohinder, you can call me Nathan." I extend my hand towards him but he pointedly refuses to take it. I let it remain extended until we're both feeling some discomfort then let it drop to my side. "You're angry."
"After everything you've done, yes! Of course I'm angry! And now I discover you've had a hand in restarting the Company?" He's always been so earnest and passionate; I wish it were something I could take from him and make my own. The things I could do with the strength of his convictions...
"I was wrong, Mohinder. I'm trying to make up for it. Don't you think this new threat of Sylar's is bigger than both of us and whatever bad blood may be between us?" I try to keep my apology vague, there are still gaps in the memories I've lifted from Nathan's belongings and I don't want to tip him off that there may be something odd about me.
Mohinder sighs and I know I've won a small victory. "Perhaps you're right. The rate of duplication is startlingly fast; and I really could use better facilities to conduct my research."
I spread my arms wide, the grandstanding politician, to indicate the magnificent facility we're standing in.
"Yes, it's very impressive.” Mohinder’s voice is an even monotone. He’s still angry at Nathan for whatever Nathan did. Maybe it was the program he spear-headed that was formed to round up specials? ”Even more impressive is how quickly you were able to secure it."
I wonder if he realizes he has a habit of biting the hand that feeds him. My expression must have changed because he is suddenly contrite. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, this is very helpful."
"Thank you. I don't expect you to worry about how we secure our resources. I need you to do what you do best, leave the rest to me."
"Of course," he replies with a nod of his head. I don’t believe for an instant he's ready to put aside his questions. His desire to understand reminds me strongly of my own. "I'm sure my progress will be much faster now that I'm here."
"I'm glad to hear it!" I actually go so far as to slap a hand on his back and leave it here for a moment. It's a gesture Nathan uses when he wants to enforce a sense of alliance.
"You're a lot safer here, too. After that mess with the duplicate being beheaded in front of your apartment..."
"Yes, that was unfortunate." He shrugs my hand off and steps away. "I had been working with that duplicate. I could really use a cooperative specimen."
"Oh, is that all?" The teasing tone of my voice earns me a glare; oh yes, he hasn't forgiven and forgotten at all. "Come with me, doctor."
The best part of this facility isn't the equipment we brought in for research; it's the equipment we brought in to contain the duplicates. The freezer is the largest in the country. We can put hundreds of duplicates into cold storage; a frozen army of ability-stealing specials that only need to be unthawed to be put into service. And if, sometimes, that service is to have the top of their head removed and their brains rifled through for new abilities to add to my collection? Well, they won't be complaining.
"Oh, my God," Mohinder gasps when I lead him to the viewing port on the freezer unit. "Are you insane?"
And with one question he's deflated my pride and put me on the defensive. "What do you mean?" I know I sound a bit petulant but I can't help it, I was pretty proud of my containment plan.
"What if the power fails and they all thaw out?"
"Do you really think we wouldn't have contingency plans? I'm insulted, Mohinder."
"Well, forgive me for being less than confident in your methods. They haven't proven to be fail-proof in the past."
I nod, graciously conceding the point. "Well, I'm being very careful, this time." I almost said things would be different with me in charge, but Nathan had been in charge last time, too. It’s a constant struggle to rein my ego in around this man.
"I suppose I don't have a choice," Mohinder said. "Like you say, the threat Sylar poses is bigger than both of us."
"I guess it's hard to keep a good villain down," I quip. As disturbing as it is to have dozens of duplicates of myself running around I'm rather proud I'm foremost in people's minds again.
"A villain?" Mohinder laughs. "No, Sylar isn't a villain. I'm sure he'd love to be identified as such but he doesn't have the... the plans a real villain does. Where are the grandiose schemes for world domination? No, he's a selfish little man with an inflated sense of self-worth."
Tell me how you really feel, Mohinder. It seems time has softened Mohinder's memories of me but I'm not in position to remind him of my villainy, not yet. When I finally reveal to him who I am, after he has seen all I have accomplished as Nathan Petrelli, he'll realize how wrong he is.
"Yes, well." My voice is tight. "There are those who wouldn't agree with you."
He looks at me sharply. "Are you a fan of his work, Nathan?" It takes me a moment or two to compose myself enough to reply.
"No. Of course not. But I think you underestimate him."
"I don't want to fight with you, Nathan. That's not why I'm here."
"You're right; I'll leave you to your work. But, Mohinder," I make sure our eyes meet. "You should never underestimate what Sylar is capable of."
He stares into my eyes for a long moment before he replies, “I never do.”
-------
[ All Parts to date]
On to part 13