March 2007, Two-way ambush

[ellectrical]

He's taking forever. Elle knows she shouldn't be surprised by this, but she hates standing on the sidelines while the others are already out. She's leaned up against the back of the black van, tapping her heels on the pavement and listening for anything. She doesn't know she should be watching more than listening, but even if she did, there's not much to see yet.

If they'd done it the way they were supposed to, Bennet would be dead and her job would be done. And instead the professor is taking forever.

Elle always hated waiting.

She's playing with the golden loop on her necklace when that sound of a car pulling up finally comes. Her hands drop, but she doesn't move out from behind the van, not even stepping to the side for a peek at who's there. She can hear the doors open and slam shut again, and his voice –

"Who's your partner?"

"Excuse me?" Suresh sounds nervous, but it won't matter soon.

"Company policy," Bennet explains, smoothly (more so than Elle would like, were she paying enough attention). "One of them, one of us. Who's yours?"

And as if to answer, Elle steps out from behind the van, glancing once behind her before turning her full attention to Bennet. Her gaze is wary at first, but softens as she takes a few step closer.

"Elle, huh?" he's speaking to Suresh, but his eyes don't leave her.

"You know her?" Suresh asks, and not for the first time, Elle regrets that he's her partner. But Bennet's reply makes her smile –

"Oh yeah."

She stops, briefly, looking over him once (his empty hands, eyes straight on her rather than the gun Suresh is pointing toward his head). "Hey you," she calls.

When she steps forward again, her hand folds at her side, and a small, sparkling blue electric sphere forms in her palm, visible to no one. Or no one she knows about.

Her eyes stay on Bennet's as she walks forward, moving to close the distance enough so she knows she won't kill him when she raises her hand. Bennet's eyes stay on her.

We do it the doctor's way. That's her job.

Bennet's eyes stay on her.

It's only a few steps farther, and she dims the sparks in her hand just slightly. Because she doesn't want to, because it could be over by now, because it's her job.

Bennet's eyes move. Above her, to the right.

Elle stops, and turns.

There's a blur -

- she can't aim in time -


she's not standing anymore.

(A location of a boy.


West Rosen. Tagged outside St. Louis, Missouri.


Capacity for human flight.)




It's too late.





[ooc: Dialogue lifted from Heroes 2x09, "Cautionary Tales."]