Special (11/20)
Title: Special (11/20)
Summary: All over the world, people are waking up with extraordinary abilities. Not knowing how they got them or what to do, they will soon discover that they are not alone. They are all connected. They are all special. Based on NBC’s Heroes. Various Pairings.
Links to previous chapters inside.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Disclaimer: I’m not making any money off of writing this story. It’s entirely fictional and based on the performances given in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and not the actual soldiers. Any ideas or phrases borrowed from the NBC show Heroes belong to the writers of that show, not me. I don’t own anything…so please don’t sue me. I wrote it for your enjoyment so…enjoy!
Ronald Speirs, Los Angeles, CA
Ron sighed in frustration as he looked over his empty hospital room. He supposed he couldn’t fault either of them for taking off. Especially not Burton.
His young partner grew attached easily. But even more than that…Christenson was a very caring person…so a kidnapped kid? Of course he left. That fell into FBI territory anyway. Not to mention that from what his partner had told him about the Luz family…the person behind the kidnapping of Eli Luz was undoubtedly the person behind the kidnapping of his father as well as all their other abduction victims.
So it wasn’t just like Burton was off for personal reasons…he was following a lead. A very hot lead. Although…knowing him it was mostly personal.
Well Ron would be damned if he was going to sit around in a hospital bed while his partner was working.
He reached over to his arm, pulling out his IV and then switching it off so that medicine wasn’t spilling onto the floor. Taking off his pulse monitor he swung his legs over the side of his bed.
Hospitals were for people without work do to. Now where were his clothes?
He saw them stacked in a corner- where Lipton had stashed them after picking them up from the hospital staff.
He looked them over. They were bloody but for the moment- they would do. He began to dress- ignoring the pain of his injuries
Rummaging through the rest of his personal items he punched a series of numbers into his cell phone.
“Detective Moore speaking.”
“Detective this is Agent Speirs.”
“Speirs? I heard you were in the hospital.”
“Not for much longer. Look I need you to locate the number for Officer Lipton for me.”
The detective’s voice took on an irritated tone, “Lipton? I thought you were done barking up that tree? I don’t want you harassing-”
Ron cut him off, “He’s not a suspect Detective. Now get me his goddamned number.”
There was a moment of silence before the LA detective consented, “Fine.”
Speirs committed the provided number to memory, “Now was that really so hard?”
The answering dial tone was very telling. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and dialed the number to Lipton’s personal cell.
It rang for a while.
“Hello?”
“Lipton this is Agent Speirs. I need you to come pick me up from the hospital.”
“From the hospital? They’re releasing you already?”
“Not exactly.”
He could practically see the worried crease between the officer’s eyebrows.
“Well….I’m kind of on patrol right now.”
This time Ron did roll his eyes. He would get stuck with a goody good cop.
“Not anymore you’re not,” he informed him, “We’ve got work to do. I need to interview Sherry Tanner and you need to be there. To get inside her head.”
“But I-”
“Just get over here.”
There was a small sigh, “I’m on my way.”
“Glad to hear it.”
He hung up and then made the painful lean down to tie his shoelaces. Well that had worked out pretty well. Hopefully he would be able to boss his way out of here without too much fight from his doctors.
Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron, Philadelphia, PA
Bill glared at his little brother’s shut door for the umpteenth time.
“Are you going to stay in there all day?” he asked the door.
Silence.
Bill just sighed and then stood as a knock came at their apartment door. He made his way over to it irritably. He wasn’t expecting anyone and unless it was Dick then his sour mood wasn’t going to change.
Since he knew that wasn’t going to be the case he settled his face into an unhappy grimace- fully intended to scare off the person waiting in the hallway.
When he swung the door back he was greeted with the sight of a nervous, blond, teenage boy whose face was bruised and who had a row of stitches just above his eyebrow.
Bill frowned at him, “Who the Hell are you?”
The teen gulped nervously at Bill’s expression, “Um…I’m Chris. I’m Babe’s anatomy partner. Is he…is he here?”
Bill’s grip on the door handle tightened considerably but his face betrayed nothing as he put the name and the injuries the guy was sporting in sync with Babe’s earlier tale.
“What the Hell makes you think I’m going to let you talk to him?” Bill asked the boy.
It was then that the boy decided to stop being such a nervous bitch and try to assert his confidence. He had terrible timing.
“Man I fucking told him I’m sorry! It’s not like he’s helpless!” He gestured angrily to his face. “Now let me talk to him damn it!”
Bill’s free hand shot out and grabbed the boy’s shirt collar, jerking him forward and slamming his face into the door frame with a painful crunch.
He shoved the now wailing teen backwards onto his ass in the hallway. The boy clutched his bloody and broken (if it wasn’t before) nose in agony.
“What the FUCK man?” he cried from the floor.
Bill glared down at the pathetic excuse of a man before him. What had Babe seen in this punk anyway?
“You ever bother Babe again I’ll break more than your fucking nose. Got it?”
The teen nodded in horror.
Bill gave him a cold smile, “Good. Now get the Hell out of my sight.”
Chris scrambled up from the floor and took off down the hall. Bill rolled his eyes before he slammed and locked the door.
He hadn’t even sat down when his cell started ringing. He sighed. “No rest for the weary…”
He answered it quickly, “Guarnere.”
“Bill get your ass to HQ before we lock it down. There’s been a break out.”
That was all his boss said before he hung up the phone. Bill felt himself grow uneasy. A
break out? How? Who?
Shit. He was supposed to be able to watch Babe while Dick was in New York. He walked over to his brother’s room and tapped on the door.
“Babe?”
No answer. Big surprise.
“Look Babe I have to go into work there’s been an emergency...”
The door swung open and Babe made a face at him, “What…like…a paper emergency?”
Bill rolled his eyes. “Yeah…one of those. Look I know you really don’t want to hear this but could you just stay here?”
Babe, expectedly, frowned at him.
Bill changed his tactic, “Or if you DO go anywhere….call and let me know okay?”
His brother shrugged, “Anything else?”
“Yeah- that Chris kid showed up and I broke his nose- so stay away from him. I keep kicking his ass I’ll wind up in jail.”
Babe grinned at him, “That’s AWESOME. You’re like the best big brother ever!”
“Thanks for telling me what I already know.”
Manhattan, New York
“Wait-WAIT!” Joe flung his arm out across the entrance of the trailer that he, his mother and occasionally his father- called home.
There were four large, and armed, men standing in front of him. He looked over his shoulder nervously at his mother- who was passed out on their beat down sofa. He took a deep breath.
“Look,” he tried to reason. “If you kill us…you’ll never get your money. Just…how much does she owe you?”
The man sneered at him and looked around at the trailer, “More than you got kid. But don’t worry. Your mom can work it off the old fashioned way.”
The man made to move into the living room once more but Joe blocked it with his body and began to plead again, “No…no wait. Look there has to be SOMETHING I can do. To buy more time, or something…”
The man looked him over, obviously irritated and wondering why he didn’t just kill him. Suddenly he turned to the man behind him.
Joe listened to them whisper.
“We could use another runner ever since Pete got capped.”
“Good point.”
They turned to look at him again.
“Alright kid,” The ringleader spoke, “you want to get rid of your mother’s debt?”
Joe nodded, “Yeah please…I’ll do anything.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirteen.”
There was a pause before the man simply shrugged, “Fine. You work for me…for free until I decide that you and your mother are out of debt.”
Joe nodded, nervous and scared to be dealing with people who were well known thugs. But he didn’t have a choice. His mother’s drug habit was going to run them into the ground if he didn’t do something.
“What would I have to do?” he asked the man.
The man laughed, “Whatever I tell you to. And guess what? You start right now. Come on.”
The man reached in and grabbed Joe roughly by the shoulder, dragging him out of the trailer. Joe scrambled to lock the door behind him.
What had he gotten himself into?
Joe sat up with a gasp before he calmed and took a deep and ragged breath. What the fuck? That hadn’t been a dream…it had been a memory. A very vivid memory….
His eyes began to refocus and he looked over to see Winters sitting next to him with a concerned look on his face.
He looked at the red headed man warily, “How long was I asleep?”
Winters shrugged and looked at his watch, “Can’t say. I just came in to talk to Eli. Good job watching him by the way.”
Dick gave him an amused half smile.
Joe shook his head, “Sorry…I’m just…exhausted.”
Winters nodded, “It’s fine. Go back to sleep.”
Joe nodded absently and slid back down onto the small bed he was laying on. He couldn’t even remember falling asleep. One minute he had been talking to the kid…
He couldn’t even let his thoughts continue…the result of not having slept in two days pulling him into what was sure to be another restless sleep.
“You lied to him. You’ve been here the whole time.”
Dick looked over to the child sitting atop the second bed on the other side of the small room.
“Yes,” he admitted, “I have been.”
He turned to the slumbering young man to his left and made to put a hand on his forehead but was interrupted by Eli.
“What are you doing to him?” the child asked.
Dick sighed and let his hand drop. He quirked an eyebrow at Eli, “You don’t already know?”
The boy shook his head. “No…I can’t…see things the way I normally do. Not when you’re here.”
Dick nodded and looked back to Joe.
“I’m looking for something.” He answered Eli.
The boy’s eyes widened, “You’re reading his mind?”
“No…I’m sifting through his memories.”
“What are you looking for?”
He gave the child a small laugh, “I can’t tell you that.”
“So that’s your power? You look through people’s memories?”
“Yes…and no.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a feeling you’ll find out on your own.”
Eli now looked confused, “But…you can do more than one thing?”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t they think it’s you?”
Dick frowned, “What do you mean by that? Did you have a vision?”
The boy stopped abruptly and shut his mouth. “Um…no?”
Dick was up off of Joe’s bed and in front of Eli in seconds. He crouched down in front of the 8 year old.
“Eli listen to me…because this is very important.”
The child nodded, frightened by the man’s intensity.
Dick continued, “If you have any sort of vision that tells you about the person they’re looking for. Any vision at all….you tell no one. Do you understand?”
“Not even you?”
Dick shook his head, “Not even me. Eli…do you understand? Can you do that for me?”
The boy nodded, “I know you’re good. I promise.”
Dick sighed and patted the boy’s knee, “Thank you Eli.”
If what they thought about Babe was true (which at this point they were practically certain) and Eli had a vision about it…it could lead the Company right to him.
Hopefully the boy would keep his word. If not…then he would have to do all he could to take the information out of the head of whomever the boy chose to share it with.
Speaking of information…
He looked back over to Liebgott…who was now sleeping peacefully since Dick was no longer pulling up painful memories. He felt a pang of regret for having to force the teen to relive some of the more depressing memories he had.
Unfortunately…Dick needed to look through his mind in order to discover the nature of his relationship with Webster and more importantly…what his motivations were behind joining up with the Company. Bill thought he could be a possible ally.
So far he had yet to come across anything useful. However he had discovered that Liebgott’s past was littered with violence, danger, and abuse. The young man’s files couldn’t properly translate all that he had suffered. He had truly led a horrific life.
Dick knew that in some ways he was lucky that the Company had taken him in….he could have resorted to living the kind of life that Joe had lived as a youth…or…as more of a youth than he was now.
But were the things the Company had him do really much better?
At least, he supposed, he’d once had a happy home. Although he was beginning to love the home he had built for himself.
It was certainly something worth protecting. He only hoped that Liebgott could find something worth protecting in this life as well. After all he’d been through…Dick supposed he deserved that much.
Eugene Roe and David Webster
“So how are you hoping to find him?” Gene asked as he looked around the library they were in.
Webster just laughed, “I’m a college student Gene….I google.”
“Of course.”
“Now you said his name was George Luz and that she went by her maiden name. So let’s put her full name in with his name…New York…and…alright…I got something.”
Gene scrambled to the computer, “What?”
“Hmmm it’s a story about her disappearance. It’s about 7 years old. I’m guessing she never mentioned this to you?”
Gene shook his head, “No…but that’s about the time her letters say she was held captive.”
David nodded, “Right…well let's try it with just his name. George Luz…Luz. Huh…
that’s kinda weird. Okay Luz…Luz…”
Webster typed for a few moments. Another news article was at the top of the search.
“Wow that was...way too easy,” He commented before clicking on it.
“What’s it say?” Gene asked as he leant down to look at the screen.
“It says he was attacked at his home in Brooklyn….but he’s alive and in stable condition.”
“Does it say what hospital he’s at?”
“What makes you think he’s in a hospital?”
Gene rolled his eyes, “‘Stable condition’? That’s hospital talk.”
David scrolled down the article, “Huh…looks like you’re right.”
“Does it say where?”
“Yep.”
“Excellent. Let’s go.”
San Francisco, California
He checked the hallway around him to see if anyone was roaming about. Not so surprisingly the halls were empty. This place was, for lack of a better word, a dump.
He put his hand to the lock on the door and began to freeze the metal. After a moment he gave it a rough, telekinetic shove- sending the door flying open.
He looked over the bare and rundown apartment- distastefully eyeing a broken beer bottle in the kitchen.
Truly pitiful…another person dwindling their gift away by living in squalor. He examined the name on what appeared to be a school book. This…Joseph Liebgott wasn’t any better than any of the others.
He would have to suffer for his arrogance just as they had. Unworthy….the whole lot of them.
Turning back around he quietly shut the now busted apartment door. He grimaced as the pain in his shoulder stabbed at him.
He couldn’t wait until he found the FBI Agent that shot him….this was just getting ridiculous. He hoped this Liebgott was a healer of some sort.
Unfortunately the second ability he ever stole only allowed for him to sense when someone with an ability was, or had recently been, nearby. Liebgott’s apartment was certainly a hotspot.
This particular ability…it didn’t tell him who it was with an ability…or even what that ability was. But considering his recent activities…it was more than a little useful.
He would have to remember to thank Dr. Jones should they ever meet up in the afterlife.
The thought brought a disturbing smile to the man’s face.
Noticing that the answering machine next to the couch was blinking a red light- he couldn’t resist going over to have a listen. He pressed a button and the messages began to play.
“Joe what the Hell are you thinking kid? You CAN’T just leave your taxi in the airport parking lot! I don’t know what kind of stunt you’re pulling but I had to PAY to get that out of the impound. When you come into work we’re going to have a LONG talk about your future here. You got that?”
The next message was the same voice, but less angry.
“Kid where the Hell are you? It’s not like you to blow off work. As a matter of fact you’ve been acting real strange lately. Call me and let me know what’s up with you.”
Hmmm…so Joe wasn’t going to work? How…interesting.
There were a few more of a similar thread. Concerned co-workers…
One message certainly got his attention.
Mr. Liebgott this is Officer Jackson, we spoke the other day. We were calling to check in on you to make sure you were safe. We know you denied protective custody but you’re in even more danger than we previously believed. There was an attack in LA and although the intended target is safe…we believe this serial killer may still be in California. We’re going to send a couple of uniforms to check on you-”
He didn’t listen to the rest. Great…Liebgott was missing and police could show up at any moment.
After the mistake at the Tanners, he wasn’t particularly pleased with the idea of having to kill any more people without abilities.
Yet…what was it that cop had said? The ‘intended target’ was safe?
So they had the girl in custody...
It looked like he needed to go back to Los Angeles…
Philadelphia, PA
Babe walked around their living room, feeling restless. He hadn’t been hiding in his room for as long as he had because he was having a hissy fit…he just didn’t know how to explain away the fact that there was no longer a bruise on his face.
How was that possible? First these strange, almost prophetic dreams…and now disappearing wounds? What the Hell was happening to him?
He couldn’t just stay stuck in this apartment. It wasn’t that he was feeling rebellious…he just needed to go for a walk around the city…that always cleared his head.
Of course after last night’s incident maybe he should take something with him for protection…he’d been getting into a lot of trouble lately. He couldn’t carry a gun…and pepper spray was for girls. He had his fists but…oh he knew just the thing!
He slinked into his brother’s room and went through his bedside stand’s drawer. He grinned and pulled out a set of brass knuckles which were allegedly a keepsake from an old friend.
Although Babe had heard Dick imply that they were more like a trophy from an old fling…though Dick hadn’t said that to Bill’s face.
Babe had always been curious about it but Bill was oddly protective of them. Well…as long as he didn’t lose them…then Bill never had to know that he had taken them.
He probably wouldn’t need them anyway since it was just going to be a short stroll. Just to clear his head…
Bill looked over the chaos on Level 5 as their control teams continued to look through the multiple cells. He spotted Sobel surveying the search from the observation panel.
Level 5 was where they kept their most dangerous detainees…and as such had special modifications to the cells as well as the entire floor. The only floor below this one…was the morgue. He made his way over to his boss.
“I heard the break out was on Level 4?” he said in greeting.
Sobel looked beyond pissed, “That’s right. Eugene Roe is gone. I know I don’t have to tell you how unhappy the higher ups are going to be.”
“Seeing as I’ve never known who the higher ups are…I think you might.”
His boss glared before he turned to face him and slammed a series of surveillance photos to his chest... “Our little friend Webster is the culprit.”
Bill flipped through the pictures, but you could only just make out the man’s profile in Roe’s cell. “Which one?”
Sobel shrugged, “Undetermined. Does it matter? Maybe if you had killed one of them when you had the chance this could have been prevented.”
Bill took the jab in stride and crossed his arms, “If he’s from the future than he’s trying to prevent something. You think that if that were the case he would have come to this level instead.”
It wasn’t a question.
Sobel inclined his head. “However if he’s the current version then he must have insider information.”
“Liebgott?”
“It does seem the obvious choice. Although your partner has already vouched for him and Dick’s word is usually good enough for me.”
“Not this time?” he asked Sobel.
The man tapped his fingers on his thigh as he watched the checks wind down. “I’m going to look into it. However this security breach isn’t good. If one inexperienced time traveler can bust a detainee out from right under our noses then not only are we not doing our jobs….but now we have to relocate one of our most dangerous acquisitions.”
Bill gaped at him slightly. He knew exactly who Sobel was talking about. “You want to transfer Malarkey? Sir don’t you think that’s a bit risky?”
Sobel rolled his eyes, “He’s in a medically induced coma Guarnere…what do you think is going to happen?”
The agent shook his head, “I can’t say but I think we should wait for Dick before we even think about moving him. Better safe than sorry sir.”
“Normally I would agree with you. But we don’t have the time. Once this building is properly secured-you, along with a control team will be escorting Malarkey to Manhattan. Once you’re there…if Dick doesn’t have any information connecting Liebgott to Webster you’re to relieve him of his post and send him back to me. Any questions?”
“Just one sir. How long will I be in New York?” he asked.
Sobel frowned, “Until I tell you to come back Guarnere. Perhaps you should consider hiring a baby sitter for your little brother. I know how you worry.”
Bill watched him walk away with a grimace.
Brooklyn, New York
When Gene had imagined meeting George Luz…he hadn’t envisioned that it would be in a hospital. He certainly hadn’t anticipated the madness that would be surrounding the man.
He and Webster were approaching the room number that Gene had managed to sweeten out of one of the nurses. She had warned them that it might be “a bit crazy” but he hadn’t quite believed her.
There were police officers, suits, photographers and even what looked like a camera crew. He heard shouting up ahead.
“NO I don’t want to do any fucking interview! I do however want to know how your cops could be so FUCKING RETARDED THAT THEY LET SOMEONE STEAL MY SON RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER THEIR GODDAMN NOSES!”
They slowed and exchanged glances. They only made it two more steps before there were police men blocking them from going any further.
“Sorry sir but you’re going to have to go around a different way or just wait…there’s an investigation going on and we can’t let any more people onto this floor right now.” One of the officers informed them.
“Um actually…we’re looking for someone in particular.” Webster spoke up, “His name’s George Luz. Is he on this floor?”
The two officers looked at each other before the same one answered, “I’m afraid he’s not allowed visitors at the moment.”
Gene threw up his arms in exasperation. This was just great. Well he hadn’t gone through all of this just be turned away now.
“Look I really need to see him.” He pleaded, “Just tell him I’m a friend of his wife’s!”
The cops weren’t having it, “Unless you know where the kid is… I don’t think he’ll-“
“Wait- WHAT did that guy just say?” they were interrupted as a head popped out of the nearby hospital room.
The shouting stopped and the commotion had died down. All eyes were now on them.
Gene looked over to the man who had spoken.
Sure enough it was George Luz. It was the same guy who’d been featured in Renee’s photo albums. Except instead of a happy and goofy expression- the small man looked pale and tired. He had a bandage around his head and a doctor hovering next to him.
He pinned Gene with an unreadable look, “You know Renee?”
Gene realized then that it was a look of hope. “I did…yeah.”
The hope fell away from Luz’s face. “Did?”
“We need to talk.”
George nodded and waved the officers away, “Let him in guys.”
Carwood Lipton and Ronald Speirs, Los Angeles, CA
“What exactly do you plan on asking her?” Carwood questioned the man sitting next to him in his police cruiser.
Speirs just looked out the window impassively, “Don’t sound so worried Lipton. I’m not going to interrogate her.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Aren’t you?”
Lipton paused, “Well maybe a little.”
“Why?”
“Well you’re rather cold. You don’t seem like much of a child person and she’s emotionally exhausted and very young. I’m afraid you’ll upset her.”
Speirs looked away from the window and pinned Lipton with a stare, “You’re an incredibly honest person.”
The man, again, looked horrified with himself. “Apparently only around you. I’m sorry. That was really rude of me.”
“What did I say about apologizing?”
“That I do it too much?”
“Yes...but it’s alright.”
besides…it’s kind of cute….
Lipton smiled at the stray thought and Speirs caught him looking at him.
“What?” the agent asked.
This time….Lipton kept his mouth shut and shook his head. “Nothing.”
Speirs nodded, “Well then watch the road. Not me.”
“Please…I wasn’t…” Lipton fumbled over his words as he glued his eyes to the road.
Ron just smirked to himself.
Company HQ, Manhattan, NY
“You probably won’t believe this but…I knew your mother.”
Eli looked at the man sitting across from him at the cafeteria table in astonishment. “You did?”
“Yes…I knew her pretty well actually.”
“What was she like?”
“Oh she was a lot like you.”
“What do you mean?”
Dick smiled at the boy, “Well…for starters- you look just like her.”
Eli nodded, “That’s what my Dad always says.”
“He’s right. And…she was special…like you and your father.”
“Really? What could she do?”
“She could see the future…like you. Only she saw it in her dreams.”
Eli looked down sadly, “What happened to her?”
Dick put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Honestly Eli…I don’t know.”
“Did she…did she ever miss me?”
He gave Eli’s shoulder a squeeze, “Every single day. If there’s anything you should know about your mother…it’s that she loved you and your father very, very much.”
The boy just nodded.
He stared down at the dead body in front of him in agony. The gun in his hand felt cold and heavy despite the fact that he had just discharged it a moment before.
Someone jumped excitedly onto his back. It was probably Ray.
“Shit you’re one hell of a shot kid!” the man cackled in his ear before slinging an arm over his shoulder. “I’ma go grab his stash- that’s what that fucker gets for trying to rip us off!”
“Yeah we sick this little killer on him,” Lucas punched Joe in the shoulder lightly before rubbing at his nose, obviously tweaking.
“Damn straight,” Ray grinned before pointing to the front door of the crusty apartment they were in. “Now you two look out. Someone had to have heard them shots. Anyone starts shit just have little Rambo here smoke ‘em.”
Lucas laughed and went to stand in the hall. Joe stared down at the body…the dead man’s blood was seeping into the filthy carpet…his eyes were opened wide.
He knelt down and lowered the man’s eyelids.
He sat there for a moment and listened to Ray ransack the man’s room. How had this happened?
All he had wanted was to save his mother’s life…get her out from under the thumb of her drug dealer. But the deal he made…it turned out…was for life.
He’d started running the drugs when he was thirteen. Now he was running with the gang- collecting debts and dishing out punishments.
Maybe he could say he had never used but he was turning into the people he had wanted to protect his family from.
It was too bad that once they’d gotten their claws into Joe…they just kept supplying cocaine to his mom. She was more cracked out than ever.
And now he’d killed someone. Sure Joe had only shot at him because, in his drug induced state, he had pulled a knife on them and tried to slit Ray’s throat. But still…
He was still staring at the man’s body solemnly when Ray came out of the bedroom, nose red and a gym bag- no doubt filled with money and drugs- tucked under his arm.
“Yo kid what are you doing?” he demanded.
Joe stared up at him, “I’ve never shot anyone before.”
Ray laughed as he took a look at the bullet wound in the corpse’s head, “I find that hard to
believe.”
“I can’t believe I killed him…”
The older thug rolled his eyes, “Yeah well you best gets used to it. There’s more bodies to put in the ground. That’s what you signed up for son…”
“I never wanted this.”
Ray marched forward, grabbing Joe roughly by the arm and pulling him up off the floor, “You listen to me. You best snap out of it! Braum hears you been getting all weepy over capping some jackass he ain’t gonna need you no more. Motherfucker he’ll kill you or worse! You feel me?”
Joe nodded dumbly.
“Good…then let’s get the hell outta here before the police show up. Not like they give a shit about this fool being dead…but he had a mountain of dope on him.”
Joe tucked the gun into the back of his pants and followed Ray outside.
He was only 15…and it was a school night. He couldn’t dwell on this too much…he had algebra homework to finish.
There was a hand on his shoulder that pulled him out of his memories. Still on edge from the images he had been recalling Joe shot up and struck out-hitting the jugular of whoever was standing over him.
The person choked and Joe kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backwards and crashing into the bed on the other side of the room.
When he realized that he wasn’t being attacked he stopped abruptly. Shit…he shouldn’t have watched those martial arts tapes…it was practically reflex to strike out now.
He jumped up to aid whomever he had attacked, praying it wasn’t Eli.
Fortunately it wasn’t. It was a young man with dirty blonde hair and a button down shirt. He was wearing a tie and had a pencil shoved behind his ear.
The man was gasping…but Joe knew he hadn’t struck his throat too hard. He rushed over to help him.
“Shit man…I’m sorry. I was...having a nightmare or some shit. Here sit up.” Joe talked to him gently and helped the guy sit up on the bed.
The man finally got his voice back, “I don’t get paid for this kind of treatment.”
“Look…I’m sorry…?” Joe trailed off not knowing the man’s name.
“Warren Muck…but call me Skip,” the man croaked out.
Joe laughed, “What? Is that your hero name hotshot?”
The guy rolled his eyes, “Nooo…I don’t have an ability. Unless you consider working tirelessly for little pay to be a power. I’m a research assistant. Dr. Jones sent me to get you. He and Dr. Spina have some exercise they want you to do.”
Joe helped him to his feet, “What kind of exercise?”
Skip shrugged and rubbed at his throat, “Something to help determine the way in which your ability functions. Dr. Jones says it’ll be faster than running tests on your blood. Although I have a feeling that the function of your ability is to kick people’s asses without even opening your eyes.”
Joe shook his head, “Hey when I figure out how it works…I’ll let you know.”
Skip frowned, “Super. Well at least I can add getting my ass kicked by a skinny teenager to my list of accomplishments.”
Liebgott glared at him, “You wanna go again?”
“Not…particularly.”
“Great. Then shut up and start walking.”
“Seriously don’t get paid enough.”
Joseph Toye, Philadelphia, PA
He glanced around the park nervously- keeping his eyes open for familiar faces. Maybe they couldn’t see him…but he had to be prepared.
He had sworn he’d never, ever come back to Philadelphia. Yet here he was.
Joe sent the piece of paper in his hand a vicious glare. Damn dead woman controlling his life!
He read over the scribbles once again. The page had been torn from a journal…just like the others he had been sent. He knew they weren’t coming from her…knew she had to be dead by now.
Once she’d escaped…he’d tried to help her….to hide her. But they all got it in the end…any time the poked their head out…the Company would find them.
And Renee…well she could never just drop off the grid. It wasn’t her nature. But if she wasn’t sending these to him…then who was? And how were they finding him?
He read the page again.
Joseph Toye has to be at the racetrack in Philadelphia on the seventh on the month of his birth…ten years from now.
A sixteen year old boy will walk by him at 3 o’clock…he’ll be carrying something that used to belong to Joe.
This boy is in need of guidance. If he doesn’t learn about his powers, his past, and the dangers he’s facing…then the terrible future that has plagued my dreams will become a reality.
Joe must help him reach his potential…or all will be lost.
Great…he’d flown under the radar for years and SHE drags him back to the heart of all his troubles with her prophetic warnings and the guilt tugging on his heart. She was going to get him killed too.
But he knew why he was here…why he’d shown up.
He’d failed to save so many of his own kind…people he had once hunted down while he was working for the Company.
And he’d be damned if he couldn’t help this one. He’d be damned if he couldn’t save them all through this one.
He glanced at his watch…it was 2:59…
He took a deep breath and tucked the paper into his jean pocket and decided to look up.
Suddenly a teenager with bright red hair walked by, looking around the empty part of the track nervously. Joe’s eyes dropped to his hand where the boy was wearing….brass knuckles.
He re-examined the boy’s face. No…it couldn’t be…
“Oh fuck me.” He muttered under his breath.
He then chose that moment to cease being invisible.
Summary: All over the world, people are waking up with extraordinary abilities. Not knowing how they got them or what to do, they will soon discover that they are not alone. They are all connected. They are all special. Based on NBC’s Heroes. Various Pairings.
Links to previous chapters inside.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Part 10
Disclaimer: I’m not making any money off of writing this story. It’s entirely fictional and based on the performances given in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and not the actual soldiers. Any ideas or phrases borrowed from the NBC show Heroes belong to the writers of that show, not me. I don’t own anything…so please don’t sue me. I wrote it for your enjoyment so…enjoy!
Ronald Speirs, Los Angeles, CA
Ron sighed in frustration as he looked over his empty hospital room. He supposed he couldn’t fault either of them for taking off. Especially not Burton.
His young partner grew attached easily. But even more than that…Christenson was a very caring person…so a kidnapped kid? Of course he left. That fell into FBI territory anyway. Not to mention that from what his partner had told him about the Luz family…the person behind the kidnapping of Eli Luz was undoubtedly the person behind the kidnapping of his father as well as all their other abduction victims.
So it wasn’t just like Burton was off for personal reasons…he was following a lead. A very hot lead. Although…knowing him it was mostly personal.
Well Ron would be damned if he was going to sit around in a hospital bed while his partner was working.
He reached over to his arm, pulling out his IV and then switching it off so that medicine wasn’t spilling onto the floor. Taking off his pulse monitor he swung his legs over the side of his bed.
Hospitals were for people without work do to. Now where were his clothes?
He saw them stacked in a corner- where Lipton had stashed them after picking them up from the hospital staff.
He looked them over. They were bloody but for the moment- they would do. He began to dress- ignoring the pain of his injuries
Rummaging through the rest of his personal items he punched a series of numbers into his cell phone.
“Detective Moore speaking.”
“Detective this is Agent Speirs.”
“Speirs? I heard you were in the hospital.”
“Not for much longer. Look I need you to locate the number for Officer Lipton for me.”
The detective’s voice took on an irritated tone, “Lipton? I thought you were done barking up that tree? I don’t want you harassing-”
Ron cut him off, “He’s not a suspect Detective. Now get me his goddamned number.”
There was a moment of silence before the LA detective consented, “Fine.”
Speirs committed the provided number to memory, “Now was that really so hard?”
The answering dial tone was very telling. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes and dialed the number to Lipton’s personal cell.
It rang for a while.
“Hello?”
“Lipton this is Agent Speirs. I need you to come pick me up from the hospital.”
“From the hospital? They’re releasing you already?”
“Not exactly.”
He could practically see the worried crease between the officer’s eyebrows.
“Well….I’m kind of on patrol right now.”
This time Ron did roll his eyes. He would get stuck with a goody good cop.
“Not anymore you’re not,” he informed him, “We’ve got work to do. I need to interview Sherry Tanner and you need to be there. To get inside her head.”
“But I-”
“Just get over here.”
There was a small sigh, “I’m on my way.”
“Glad to hear it.”
He hung up and then made the painful lean down to tie his shoelaces. Well that had worked out pretty well. Hopefully he would be able to boss his way out of here without too much fight from his doctors.
Bill Guarnere and Babe Heffron, Philadelphia, PA
Bill glared at his little brother’s shut door for the umpteenth time.
“Are you going to stay in there all day?” he asked the door.
Silence.
Bill just sighed and then stood as a knock came at their apartment door. He made his way over to it irritably. He wasn’t expecting anyone and unless it was Dick then his sour mood wasn’t going to change.
Since he knew that wasn’t going to be the case he settled his face into an unhappy grimace- fully intended to scare off the person waiting in the hallway.
When he swung the door back he was greeted with the sight of a nervous, blond, teenage boy whose face was bruised and who had a row of stitches just above his eyebrow.
Bill frowned at him, “Who the Hell are you?”
The teen gulped nervously at Bill’s expression, “Um…I’m Chris. I’m Babe’s anatomy partner. Is he…is he here?”
Bill’s grip on the door handle tightened considerably but his face betrayed nothing as he put the name and the injuries the guy was sporting in sync with Babe’s earlier tale.
“What the Hell makes you think I’m going to let you talk to him?” Bill asked the boy.
It was then that the boy decided to stop being such a nervous bitch and try to assert his confidence. He had terrible timing.
“Man I fucking told him I’m sorry! It’s not like he’s helpless!” He gestured angrily to his face. “Now let me talk to him damn it!”
Bill’s free hand shot out and grabbed the boy’s shirt collar, jerking him forward and slamming his face into the door frame with a painful crunch.
He shoved the now wailing teen backwards onto his ass in the hallway. The boy clutched his bloody and broken (if it wasn’t before) nose in agony.
“What the FUCK man?” he cried from the floor.
Bill glared down at the pathetic excuse of a man before him. What had Babe seen in this punk anyway?
“You ever bother Babe again I’ll break more than your fucking nose. Got it?”
The teen nodded in horror.
Bill gave him a cold smile, “Good. Now get the Hell out of my sight.”
Chris scrambled up from the floor and took off down the hall. Bill rolled his eyes before he slammed and locked the door.
He hadn’t even sat down when his cell started ringing. He sighed. “No rest for the weary…”
He answered it quickly, “Guarnere.”
“Bill get your ass to HQ before we lock it down. There’s been a break out.”
That was all his boss said before he hung up the phone. Bill felt himself grow uneasy. A
break out? How? Who?
Shit. He was supposed to be able to watch Babe while Dick was in New York. He walked over to his brother’s room and tapped on the door.
“Babe?”
No answer. Big surprise.
“Look Babe I have to go into work there’s been an emergency...”
The door swung open and Babe made a face at him, “What…like…a paper emergency?”
Bill rolled his eyes. “Yeah…one of those. Look I know you really don’t want to hear this but could you just stay here?”
Babe, expectedly, frowned at him.
Bill changed his tactic, “Or if you DO go anywhere….call and let me know okay?”
His brother shrugged, “Anything else?”
“Yeah- that Chris kid showed up and I broke his nose- so stay away from him. I keep kicking his ass I’ll wind up in jail.”
Babe grinned at him, “That’s AWESOME. You’re like the best big brother ever!”
“Thanks for telling me what I already know.”
Manhattan, New York
“Wait-WAIT!” Joe flung his arm out across the entrance of the trailer that he, his mother and occasionally his father- called home.
There were four large, and armed, men standing in front of him. He looked over his shoulder nervously at his mother- who was passed out on their beat down sofa. He took a deep breath.
“Look,” he tried to reason. “If you kill us…you’ll never get your money. Just…how much does she owe you?”
The man sneered at him and looked around at the trailer, “More than you got kid. But don’t worry. Your mom can work it off the old fashioned way.”
The man made to move into the living room once more but Joe blocked it with his body and began to plead again, “No…no wait. Look there has to be SOMETHING I can do. To buy more time, or something…”
The man looked him over, obviously irritated and wondering why he didn’t just kill him. Suddenly he turned to the man behind him.
Joe listened to them whisper.
“We could use another runner ever since Pete got capped.”
“Good point.”
They turned to look at him again.
“Alright kid,” The ringleader spoke, “you want to get rid of your mother’s debt?”
Joe nodded, “Yeah please…I’ll do anything.”
“How old are you?”
“Thirteen.”
There was a pause before the man simply shrugged, “Fine. You work for me…for free until I decide that you and your mother are out of debt.”
Joe nodded, nervous and scared to be dealing with people who were well known thugs. But he didn’t have a choice. His mother’s drug habit was going to run them into the ground if he didn’t do something.
“What would I have to do?” he asked the man.
The man laughed, “Whatever I tell you to. And guess what? You start right now. Come on.”
The man reached in and grabbed Joe roughly by the shoulder, dragging him out of the trailer. Joe scrambled to lock the door behind him.
What had he gotten himself into?
Joe sat up with a gasp before he calmed and took a deep and ragged breath. What the fuck? That hadn’t been a dream…it had been a memory. A very vivid memory….
His eyes began to refocus and he looked over to see Winters sitting next to him with a concerned look on his face.
He looked at the red headed man warily, “How long was I asleep?”
Winters shrugged and looked at his watch, “Can’t say. I just came in to talk to Eli. Good job watching him by the way.”
Dick gave him an amused half smile.
Joe shook his head, “Sorry…I’m just…exhausted.”
Winters nodded, “It’s fine. Go back to sleep.”
Joe nodded absently and slid back down onto the small bed he was laying on. He couldn’t even remember falling asleep. One minute he had been talking to the kid…
He couldn’t even let his thoughts continue…the result of not having slept in two days pulling him into what was sure to be another restless sleep.
“You lied to him. You’ve been here the whole time.”
Dick looked over to the child sitting atop the second bed on the other side of the small room.
“Yes,” he admitted, “I have been.”
He turned to the slumbering young man to his left and made to put a hand on his forehead but was interrupted by Eli.
“What are you doing to him?” the child asked.
Dick sighed and let his hand drop. He quirked an eyebrow at Eli, “You don’t already know?”
The boy shook his head. “No…I can’t…see things the way I normally do. Not when you’re here.”
Dick nodded and looked back to Joe.
“I’m looking for something.” He answered Eli.
The boy’s eyes widened, “You’re reading his mind?”
“No…I’m sifting through his memories.”
“What are you looking for?”
He gave the child a small laugh, “I can’t tell you that.”
“So that’s your power? You look through people’s memories?”
“Yes…and no.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have a feeling you’ll find out on your own.”
Eli now looked confused, “But…you can do more than one thing?”
“Yes.”
“Then why don’t they think it’s you?”
Dick frowned, “What do you mean by that? Did you have a vision?”
The boy stopped abruptly and shut his mouth. “Um…no?”
Dick was up off of Joe’s bed and in front of Eli in seconds. He crouched down in front of the 8 year old.
“Eli listen to me…because this is very important.”
The child nodded, frightened by the man’s intensity.
Dick continued, “If you have any sort of vision that tells you about the person they’re looking for. Any vision at all….you tell no one. Do you understand?”
“Not even you?”
Dick shook his head, “Not even me. Eli…do you understand? Can you do that for me?”
The boy nodded, “I know you’re good. I promise.”
Dick sighed and patted the boy’s knee, “Thank you Eli.”
If what they thought about Babe was true (which at this point they were practically certain) and Eli had a vision about it…it could lead the Company right to him.
Hopefully the boy would keep his word. If not…then he would have to do all he could to take the information out of the head of whomever the boy chose to share it with.
Speaking of information…
He looked back over to Liebgott…who was now sleeping peacefully since Dick was no longer pulling up painful memories. He felt a pang of regret for having to force the teen to relive some of the more depressing memories he had.
Unfortunately…Dick needed to look through his mind in order to discover the nature of his relationship with Webster and more importantly…what his motivations were behind joining up with the Company. Bill thought he could be a possible ally.
So far he had yet to come across anything useful. However he had discovered that Liebgott’s past was littered with violence, danger, and abuse. The young man’s files couldn’t properly translate all that he had suffered. He had truly led a horrific life.
Dick knew that in some ways he was lucky that the Company had taken him in….he could have resorted to living the kind of life that Joe had lived as a youth…or…as more of a youth than he was now.
But were the things the Company had him do really much better?
At least, he supposed, he’d once had a happy home. Although he was beginning to love the home he had built for himself.
It was certainly something worth protecting. He only hoped that Liebgott could find something worth protecting in this life as well. After all he’d been through…Dick supposed he deserved that much.
Eugene Roe and David Webster
“So how are you hoping to find him?” Gene asked as he looked around the library they were in.
Webster just laughed, “I’m a college student Gene….I google.”
“Of course.”
“Now you said his name was George Luz and that she went by her maiden name. So let’s put her full name in with his name…New York…and…alright…I got something.”
Gene scrambled to the computer, “What?”
“Hmmm it’s a story about her disappearance. It’s about 7 years old. I’m guessing she never mentioned this to you?”
Gene shook his head, “No…but that’s about the time her letters say she was held captive.”
David nodded, “Right…well let's try it with just his name. George Luz…Luz. Huh…
that’s kinda weird. Okay Luz…Luz…”
Webster typed for a few moments. Another news article was at the top of the search.
“Wow that was...way too easy,” He commented before clicking on it.
“What’s it say?” Gene asked as he leant down to look at the screen.
“It says he was attacked at his home in Brooklyn….but he’s alive and in stable condition.”
“Does it say what hospital he’s at?”
“What makes you think he’s in a hospital?”
Gene rolled his eyes, “‘Stable condition’? That’s hospital talk.”
David scrolled down the article, “Huh…looks like you’re right.”
“Does it say where?”
“Yep.”
“Excellent. Let’s go.”
San Francisco, California
He checked the hallway around him to see if anyone was roaming about. Not so surprisingly the halls were empty. This place was, for lack of a better word, a dump.
He put his hand to the lock on the door and began to freeze the metal. After a moment he gave it a rough, telekinetic shove- sending the door flying open.
He looked over the bare and rundown apartment- distastefully eyeing a broken beer bottle in the kitchen.
Truly pitiful…another person dwindling their gift away by living in squalor. He examined the name on what appeared to be a school book. This…Joseph Liebgott wasn’t any better than any of the others.
He would have to suffer for his arrogance just as they had. Unworthy….the whole lot of them.
Turning back around he quietly shut the now busted apartment door. He grimaced as the pain in his shoulder stabbed at him.
He couldn’t wait until he found the FBI Agent that shot him….this was just getting ridiculous. He hoped this Liebgott was a healer of some sort.
Unfortunately the second ability he ever stole only allowed for him to sense when someone with an ability was, or had recently been, nearby. Liebgott’s apartment was certainly a hotspot.
This particular ability…it didn’t tell him who it was with an ability…or even what that ability was. But considering his recent activities…it was more than a little useful.
He would have to remember to thank Dr. Jones should they ever meet up in the afterlife.
The thought brought a disturbing smile to the man’s face.
Noticing that the answering machine next to the couch was blinking a red light- he couldn’t resist going over to have a listen. He pressed a button and the messages began to play.
“Joe what the Hell are you thinking kid? You CAN’T just leave your taxi in the airport parking lot! I don’t know what kind of stunt you’re pulling but I had to PAY to get that out of the impound. When you come into work we’re going to have a LONG talk about your future here. You got that?”
The next message was the same voice, but less angry.
“Kid where the Hell are you? It’s not like you to blow off work. As a matter of fact you’ve been acting real strange lately. Call me and let me know what’s up with you.”
Hmmm…so Joe wasn’t going to work? How…interesting.
There were a few more of a similar thread. Concerned co-workers…
One message certainly got his attention.
Mr. Liebgott this is Officer Jackson, we spoke the other day. We were calling to check in on you to make sure you were safe. We know you denied protective custody but you’re in even more danger than we previously believed. There was an attack in LA and although the intended target is safe…we believe this serial killer may still be in California. We’re going to send a couple of uniforms to check on you-”
He didn’t listen to the rest. Great…Liebgott was missing and police could show up at any moment.
After the mistake at the Tanners, he wasn’t particularly pleased with the idea of having to kill any more people without abilities.
Yet…what was it that cop had said? The ‘intended target’ was safe?
So they had the girl in custody...
It looked like he needed to go back to Los Angeles…
Philadelphia, PA
Babe walked around their living room, feeling restless. He hadn’t been hiding in his room for as long as he had because he was having a hissy fit…he just didn’t know how to explain away the fact that there was no longer a bruise on his face.
How was that possible? First these strange, almost prophetic dreams…and now disappearing wounds? What the Hell was happening to him?
He couldn’t just stay stuck in this apartment. It wasn’t that he was feeling rebellious…he just needed to go for a walk around the city…that always cleared his head.
Of course after last night’s incident maybe he should take something with him for protection…he’d been getting into a lot of trouble lately. He couldn’t carry a gun…and pepper spray was for girls. He had his fists but…oh he knew just the thing!
He slinked into his brother’s room and went through his bedside stand’s drawer. He grinned and pulled out a set of brass knuckles which were allegedly a keepsake from an old friend.
Although Babe had heard Dick imply that they were more like a trophy from an old fling…though Dick hadn’t said that to Bill’s face.
Babe had always been curious about it but Bill was oddly protective of them. Well…as long as he didn’t lose them…then Bill never had to know that he had taken them.
He probably wouldn’t need them anyway since it was just going to be a short stroll. Just to clear his head…
Bill looked over the chaos on Level 5 as their control teams continued to look through the multiple cells. He spotted Sobel surveying the search from the observation panel.
Level 5 was where they kept their most dangerous detainees…and as such had special modifications to the cells as well as the entire floor. The only floor below this one…was the morgue. He made his way over to his boss.
“I heard the break out was on Level 4?” he said in greeting.
Sobel looked beyond pissed, “That’s right. Eugene Roe is gone. I know I don’t have to tell you how unhappy the higher ups are going to be.”
“Seeing as I’ve never known who the higher ups are…I think you might.”
His boss glared before he turned to face him and slammed a series of surveillance photos to his chest... “Our little friend Webster is the culprit.”
Bill flipped through the pictures, but you could only just make out the man’s profile in Roe’s cell. “Which one?”
Sobel shrugged, “Undetermined. Does it matter? Maybe if you had killed one of them when you had the chance this could have been prevented.”
Bill took the jab in stride and crossed his arms, “If he’s from the future than he’s trying to prevent something. You think that if that were the case he would have come to this level instead.”
It wasn’t a question.
Sobel inclined his head. “However if he’s the current version then he must have insider information.”
“Liebgott?”
“It does seem the obvious choice. Although your partner has already vouched for him and Dick’s word is usually good enough for me.”
“Not this time?” he asked Sobel.
The man tapped his fingers on his thigh as he watched the checks wind down. “I’m going to look into it. However this security breach isn’t good. If one inexperienced time traveler can bust a detainee out from right under our noses then not only are we not doing our jobs….but now we have to relocate one of our most dangerous acquisitions.”
Bill gaped at him slightly. He knew exactly who Sobel was talking about. “You want to transfer Malarkey? Sir don’t you think that’s a bit risky?”
Sobel rolled his eyes, “He’s in a medically induced coma Guarnere…what do you think is going to happen?”
The agent shook his head, “I can’t say but I think we should wait for Dick before we even think about moving him. Better safe than sorry sir.”
“Normally I would agree with you. But we don’t have the time. Once this building is properly secured-you, along with a control team will be escorting Malarkey to Manhattan. Once you’re there…if Dick doesn’t have any information connecting Liebgott to Webster you’re to relieve him of his post and send him back to me. Any questions?”
“Just one sir. How long will I be in New York?” he asked.
Sobel frowned, “Until I tell you to come back Guarnere. Perhaps you should consider hiring a baby sitter for your little brother. I know how you worry.”
Bill watched him walk away with a grimace.
Brooklyn, New York
When Gene had imagined meeting George Luz…he hadn’t envisioned that it would be in a hospital. He certainly hadn’t anticipated the madness that would be surrounding the man.
He and Webster were approaching the room number that Gene had managed to sweeten out of one of the nurses. She had warned them that it might be “a bit crazy” but he hadn’t quite believed her.
There were police officers, suits, photographers and even what looked like a camera crew. He heard shouting up ahead.
“NO I don’t want to do any fucking interview! I do however want to know how your cops could be so FUCKING RETARDED THAT THEY LET SOMEONE STEAL MY SON RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER THEIR GODDAMN NOSES!”
They slowed and exchanged glances. They only made it two more steps before there were police men blocking them from going any further.
“Sorry sir but you’re going to have to go around a different way or just wait…there’s an investigation going on and we can’t let any more people onto this floor right now.” One of the officers informed them.
“Um actually…we’re looking for someone in particular.” Webster spoke up, “His name’s George Luz. Is he on this floor?”
The two officers looked at each other before the same one answered, “I’m afraid he’s not allowed visitors at the moment.”
Gene threw up his arms in exasperation. This was just great. Well he hadn’t gone through all of this just be turned away now.
“Look I really need to see him.” He pleaded, “Just tell him I’m a friend of his wife’s!”
The cops weren’t having it, “Unless you know where the kid is… I don’t think he’ll-“
“Wait- WHAT did that guy just say?” they were interrupted as a head popped out of the nearby hospital room.
The shouting stopped and the commotion had died down. All eyes were now on them.
Gene looked over to the man who had spoken.
Sure enough it was George Luz. It was the same guy who’d been featured in Renee’s photo albums. Except instead of a happy and goofy expression- the small man looked pale and tired. He had a bandage around his head and a doctor hovering next to him.
He pinned Gene with an unreadable look, “You know Renee?”
Gene realized then that it was a look of hope. “I did…yeah.”
The hope fell away from Luz’s face. “Did?”
“We need to talk.”
George nodded and waved the officers away, “Let him in guys.”
Carwood Lipton and Ronald Speirs, Los Angeles, CA
“What exactly do you plan on asking her?” Carwood questioned the man sitting next to him in his police cruiser.
Speirs just looked out the window impassively, “Don’t sound so worried Lipton. I’m not going to interrogate her.”
“I’m not worried.”
“Aren’t you?”
Lipton paused, “Well maybe a little.”
“Why?”
“Well you’re rather cold. You don’t seem like much of a child person and she’s emotionally exhausted and very young. I’m afraid you’ll upset her.”
Speirs looked away from the window and pinned Lipton with a stare, “You’re an incredibly honest person.”
The man, again, looked horrified with himself. “Apparently only around you. I’m sorry. That was really rude of me.”
“What did I say about apologizing?”
“That I do it too much?”
“Yes...but it’s alright.”
besides…it’s kind of cute….
Lipton smiled at the stray thought and Speirs caught him looking at him.
“What?” the agent asked.
This time….Lipton kept his mouth shut and shook his head. “Nothing.”
Speirs nodded, “Well then watch the road. Not me.”
“Please…I wasn’t…” Lipton fumbled over his words as he glued his eyes to the road.
Ron just smirked to himself.
Company HQ, Manhattan, NY
“You probably won’t believe this but…I knew your mother.”
Eli looked at the man sitting across from him at the cafeteria table in astonishment. “You did?”
“Yes…I knew her pretty well actually.”
“What was she like?”
“Oh she was a lot like you.”
“What do you mean?”
Dick smiled at the boy, “Well…for starters- you look just like her.”
Eli nodded, “That’s what my Dad always says.”
“He’s right. And…she was special…like you and your father.”
“Really? What could she do?”
“She could see the future…like you. Only she saw it in her dreams.”
Eli looked down sadly, “What happened to her?”
Dick put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Honestly Eli…I don’t know.”
“Did she…did she ever miss me?”
He gave Eli’s shoulder a squeeze, “Every single day. If there’s anything you should know about your mother…it’s that she loved you and your father very, very much.”
The boy just nodded.
He stared down at the dead body in front of him in agony. The gun in his hand felt cold and heavy despite the fact that he had just discharged it a moment before.
Someone jumped excitedly onto his back. It was probably Ray.
“Shit you’re one hell of a shot kid!” the man cackled in his ear before slinging an arm over his shoulder. “I’ma go grab his stash- that’s what that fucker gets for trying to rip us off!”
“Yeah we sick this little killer on him,” Lucas punched Joe in the shoulder lightly before rubbing at his nose, obviously tweaking.
“Damn straight,” Ray grinned before pointing to the front door of the crusty apartment they were in. “Now you two look out. Someone had to have heard them shots. Anyone starts shit just have little Rambo here smoke ‘em.”
Lucas laughed and went to stand in the hall. Joe stared down at the body…the dead man’s blood was seeping into the filthy carpet…his eyes were opened wide.
He knelt down and lowered the man’s eyelids.
He sat there for a moment and listened to Ray ransack the man’s room. How had this happened?
All he had wanted was to save his mother’s life…get her out from under the thumb of her drug dealer. But the deal he made…it turned out…was for life.
He’d started running the drugs when he was thirteen. Now he was running with the gang- collecting debts and dishing out punishments.
Maybe he could say he had never used but he was turning into the people he had wanted to protect his family from.
It was too bad that once they’d gotten their claws into Joe…they just kept supplying cocaine to his mom. She was more cracked out than ever.
And now he’d killed someone. Sure Joe had only shot at him because, in his drug induced state, he had pulled a knife on them and tried to slit Ray’s throat. But still…
He was still staring at the man’s body solemnly when Ray came out of the bedroom, nose red and a gym bag- no doubt filled with money and drugs- tucked under his arm.
“Yo kid what are you doing?” he demanded.
Joe stared up at him, “I’ve never shot anyone before.”
Ray laughed as he took a look at the bullet wound in the corpse’s head, “I find that hard to
believe.”
“I can’t believe I killed him…”
The older thug rolled his eyes, “Yeah well you best gets used to it. There’s more bodies to put in the ground. That’s what you signed up for son…”
“I never wanted this.”
Ray marched forward, grabbing Joe roughly by the arm and pulling him up off the floor, “You listen to me. You best snap out of it! Braum hears you been getting all weepy over capping some jackass he ain’t gonna need you no more. Motherfucker he’ll kill you or worse! You feel me?”
Joe nodded dumbly.
“Good…then let’s get the hell outta here before the police show up. Not like they give a shit about this fool being dead…but he had a mountain of dope on him.”
Joe tucked the gun into the back of his pants and followed Ray outside.
He was only 15…and it was a school night. He couldn’t dwell on this too much…he had algebra homework to finish.
There was a hand on his shoulder that pulled him out of his memories. Still on edge from the images he had been recalling Joe shot up and struck out-hitting the jugular of whoever was standing over him.
The person choked and Joe kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backwards and crashing into the bed on the other side of the room.
When he realized that he wasn’t being attacked he stopped abruptly. Shit…he shouldn’t have watched those martial arts tapes…it was practically reflex to strike out now.
He jumped up to aid whomever he had attacked, praying it wasn’t Eli.
Fortunately it wasn’t. It was a young man with dirty blonde hair and a button down shirt. He was wearing a tie and had a pencil shoved behind his ear.
The man was gasping…but Joe knew he hadn’t struck his throat too hard. He rushed over to help him.
“Shit man…I’m sorry. I was...having a nightmare or some shit. Here sit up.” Joe talked to him gently and helped the guy sit up on the bed.
The man finally got his voice back, “I don’t get paid for this kind of treatment.”
“Look…I’m sorry…?” Joe trailed off not knowing the man’s name.
“Warren Muck…but call me Skip,” the man croaked out.
Joe laughed, “What? Is that your hero name hotshot?”
The guy rolled his eyes, “Nooo…I don’t have an ability. Unless you consider working tirelessly for little pay to be a power. I’m a research assistant. Dr. Jones sent me to get you. He and Dr. Spina have some exercise they want you to do.”
Joe helped him to his feet, “What kind of exercise?”
Skip shrugged and rubbed at his throat, “Something to help determine the way in which your ability functions. Dr. Jones says it’ll be faster than running tests on your blood. Although I have a feeling that the function of your ability is to kick people’s asses without even opening your eyes.”
Joe shook his head, “Hey when I figure out how it works…I’ll let you know.”
Skip frowned, “Super. Well at least I can add getting my ass kicked by a skinny teenager to my list of accomplishments.”
Liebgott glared at him, “You wanna go again?”
“Not…particularly.”
“Great. Then shut up and start walking.”
“Seriously don’t get paid enough.”
Joseph Toye, Philadelphia, PA
He glanced around the park nervously- keeping his eyes open for familiar faces. Maybe they couldn’t see him…but he had to be prepared.
He had sworn he’d never, ever come back to Philadelphia. Yet here he was.
Joe sent the piece of paper in his hand a vicious glare. Damn dead woman controlling his life!
He read over the scribbles once again. The page had been torn from a journal…just like the others he had been sent. He knew they weren’t coming from her…knew she had to be dead by now.
Once she’d escaped…he’d tried to help her….to hide her. But they all got it in the end…any time the poked their head out…the Company would find them.
And Renee…well she could never just drop off the grid. It wasn’t her nature. But if she wasn’t sending these to him…then who was? And how were they finding him?
He read the page again.
Joseph Toye has to be at the racetrack in Philadelphia on the seventh on the month of his birth…ten years from now.
A sixteen year old boy will walk by him at 3 o’clock…he’ll be carrying something that used to belong to Joe.
This boy is in need of guidance. If he doesn’t learn about his powers, his past, and the dangers he’s facing…then the terrible future that has plagued my dreams will become a reality.
Joe must help him reach his potential…or all will be lost.
Great…he’d flown under the radar for years and SHE drags him back to the heart of all his troubles with her prophetic warnings and the guilt tugging on his heart. She was going to get him killed too.
But he knew why he was here…why he’d shown up.
He’d failed to save so many of his own kind…people he had once hunted down while he was working for the Company.
And he’d be damned if he couldn’t help this one. He’d be damned if he couldn’t save them all through this one.
He glanced at his watch…it was 2:59…
He took a deep breath and tucked the paper into his jean pocket and decided to look up.
Suddenly a teenager with bright red hair walked by, looking around the empty part of the track nervously. Joe’s eyes dropped to his hand where the boy was wearing….brass knuckles.
He re-examined the boy’s face. No…it couldn’t be…
“Oh fuck me.” He muttered under his breath.
He then chose that moment to cease being invisible.