Part Six - Influence - Part Three

There is nothing but darkness…a void. Like a tidal wave, it recedes to reveal a dried out stone pathway. The camera is positioned like someone has it resting on the ground. Suddenly a pair of black shoes walk in front, past the camera. The sound of steps breaks the silence and they echo like a ticking clock, tick tock tick tock. They walk out what seems like forever until a faint figure is in the background. The person turns around towards the camera and holds his hand out to summon it. The camera zooms in a hurtling speed to the man. The camera rests on the lower half of the man's face. He presses his lips and whispers something.

"Boom."

Suddenly, the screen flashes and a fiery aura of red engulf the whole area. The man's hair and clothes rustle upward as if a wind is blowing. His eyes are red.

The scene shifts to Trevor staring at a barrel with a fire going. He is illuminated red like the dream. He is still dressed in the black outfit from the last chapter. It looks like Trevor is underground in the subway or in a poorly lit slum.

Opposite of Trevor is Frank Tanner. He is unconscious but wakes up.

Tanner - "The instructions have been delivered. Are you sure we should be doing this, Trevor? It's not our problem."

Trevor tosses more newspaper into the barrel to feed the fire. Embers flail about.

Tanner - "We don't know what's going to come of this…"

Trevor - "We can never really be prepared for that which is wholly new…to face drastic change without inner trembling, though heaven shall fall, let thy will be done."

[Eric Hoffer and Anonymous Latin Quote]

Tanner - "I don't like it. We're exposing ourselves again."

Trevor - "Everything hinges on this, Frank. The future, the factions, the co-op, Undaunted, Mulligan, The Watcher; everything. This is our purpose."

Tanner - "I hope you're right."

Trevor - "Don't dwell on that for too long."

Trevor reveals the briefcase he's been carrying around.

Trevor - "Give Seal my regards."

Tanner reaches for the briefcase. He looks up and Trevor is gone. James Kelly teleports next to Tanner.

Trevor walks down the street. A store display has a hat and a sign reading "$35 black outback-style cowboy hat." A newspaper with a headline about Nathan Petrelli flies past.

[Zach Wilson, John Mulligan]

DECEMBER 2, 2007

CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK

UNDAUNTED - in Heroes title font - graces across the panel.

INFLUENCE - PART THREE: VISION- in Heroes title font - pasted on the grass

Trevor sits down on a park bench, bundled up in his clothes, trench coat buttoned up and hands in his pockets. He looks up at the sky and exhales. Someone walks to the bench.

Man - "Excuse me, but you mind if we split this bench?"

Trevor - "No, go ahead."

Man - "Sorry, man, you want to be alone?"

Trevor - "I am."

Trevor looks up to see Kurt Hasian. Kurt takes a seat.

Trevor - "Well?"

Kurt - "These guys are pretty hardcore. They're ready to go cloberrin' time on the Watcher. But without Mulligan around, things are getting pretty tense."

[Marvel Comics - Fantastic Four]

Trevor - "That's what you five are for."

Kurt - "Five? Don't you mean four?"

Trevor - "Kelly was involved from the start."

Kurt - "Huh. Everybody's got a secret I guess…but we've got another problem. According to Adam Soo Hoo, John switched sides and is working for the Watcher."

Trevor scoffs, probably already figuring out the two are going after the Carnival.

Kurt - "Soo Hoo sees the truth. There's no other explanation."

Trevor - "What once was truth is now pliable, untrustworthy, and slippery now."

[DC Comics - Seven Soldiers: Shining Knight #3]

Kurt - "Did you just go Shining Knight on me?!"

Trevor - "I'll be in touch."

Trevor stands up. He looks ahead, the pathway has been changed gold.

[The Wizard of Oz]

Trevor - "Really?"

Kurt - "I couldn't resist it."

Kurt looks down and clicks his shoes together three times.

The world is so full of people.

Utah - Seal is helping an elderly woman cross a street.

So crowded with these miracles that they become commonplace.

Colorado - Marc is directing an AA meeting and puts his hand on someone's shoulder, using his power to help them.

And we forget…I forget.

Boise, Idaho - Mack Johnston has pulled over to the side of the road. He looks under the hood while the driver is at the wheel. The truck suddenly comes to life and the driver cheers whole heartedly. Mack closes the hood and gives a high five to the driver.

We gaze continually at the world and it grows dull in our perceptions.

Tennessee - Azuteor is in his room buried in textbooks and folder paper. He stares up at his clock and mumbles to himself.

Yet seen from another’s vantage point, as if new, it may still take the breath away.

Paris, France - Clara Zhang is at the top of the Eiffel Tower. She smiles as if the City of Lights is putting on a show for her.

Come…dry your eyes, for you are life, rarer than a quark and unpredictable beyond the dreams of Heisenberg.

New York, New York - Trevor stands out as he walks in a fully crowded street. Across the street on the other side, Mulligan suddenly appears, having been cast out of the Carnival after a chilly reception. Trevor doesn't notice and keeps on walking.

[iStory - Purpose]

The clay in which the forces that shape all things leave their fingerprints most clearly. Dry your eyes…and let's go home.

The Garden of the Gods, months ago, every member is standing in a circle around Seal and listening intently.

[Watchmen]

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

James Kelly teleports with Frank Tanner. They look around and see Seal talking to an elderly woman. She walks away with a smile.

Seal - "Frank. James. Great to see the both of you. What can do I owe this pleasure?

Frank frowns and hands the briefcase to Seal. Seal has a confused look.

Tanner - "Trevor gives his regards."

There's silence.

Seal - "I see."

James - "Factions are banding together to take down a common enemy. We should reactivate Undaunted, Cielo."

[HSG - Seal's new name]

Seal - "I'll take it into consideration. It was good to see you both."

Tanner looks at James. James holds back. He half-smiles and nods. He then puts his right hand on Tanner's right shoulder and they teleport away.

Seal looks at where they stood, lost in thought. He snaps out of it and looks at the briefcase he's holding. He holds it up and opens it. The briefcase is empty. Seal is puzzled but remembers this was from Trevor. He closes it and hurries into an alley.

The screen splits in two. One with Seal, the other with Trevor.

Seal is feeling the inside of the briefcase. Trevor is still walking. He is looking out at something or maybe just zoning out.

Seal stops and tears the inside padding of the briefcase out. He smiles. Trevor crosses the street as cars and trucks honk at the pedestrians.

In silver permanent marker, the words "Save The World," with an arrow pointing down.

[HSG - The World View of Undaunted]

Seal looks down and sees something he's not quite sure of. Trevor makes to the other side. He sees a young Asian girl blowing a pinwheel with glee. Trevor smirks. Trevor looks up. Nothing. The girl is in front of him and gives him the pinwheel. Trevor takes it with care. He looks at it with amazement and blows into it. He hands it back to the girl. She walks away blowing into it. Trevor stands back up straight, amazed something like that can still happen in New York.

Seal is looking inside a red file. It is marked "The Bard." Another in the briefcase is marked "Mulligan, John." Trevor walks to the corner of the frame, a man bumps past him walking up to the crosswalk and stops for some reason. He holds his hand out. People walking past him look at him then keep on walking.

[iStory Purpose Chapter 4]

Seal is sitting on the ground. The files are back in the briefcase. He is thinking.

The man's eyes glow red and he whispers - "Boom."

The man explodes. The frame is on slow. The explosion creeps up and Trevor turns at the last minute to see it. Close up on Trevor as he lights up, then the screen flashes at regular speed covering it in white. Seal is making a call on his cell phone. An automated voice comes up.

Automation - "The number you are dialing is unavailable. Please leave a message for…Trevor, at the tone or if you like to page this person please press 2."

Seal - "Pick up, Trevor. It's time."

A phone lies on the pavement, cracked on the screen. It buzzes silently. A hand is near it, not moving.

TO BE CONTINUED…