Dominion (Futuristic Four)

"Maybe I Didn't Think That Part Out."

The living room was pleasant, lit with a golden glow from lights mounted on the walls. There was no sign of Doctor Callaghan.

"Am I supposed to just walk around until I find him?" Hiro asked as he turned back to Violet.  She did the odd invisible shrug again.

"You figure him out, I'll deal with everyone else," she said.  Her head and hands vanished.  Moments later the door clicked closed.

"Uh, Doctor Callaghan?  Are you home?" Hiro called.  What did you say to your idol when you broke into his house?

"Hiro?" Doctor Callaghan rounded a corner and stopped just inside the room.  "What are you doing here?"

"Doctor Callaghan!  So good to see you!" Why didn't I think this through? Hiro's mind screamed.  "I, uh, needed to talk to you."

"So you just . . . walked in?"

"It's really important, sir."

Doctor Callaghan looked Hiro up and down.  "I see.  Why don't you sit down and tell me what's going on."

Hiro sat down in one of the cushioned couches while Doctor Callaghan claimed an armchair.  How much can I tell him?  What's safe?  What will ruin time forever?

"Why aren't you at the presentation?" Doctor Callaghan asked.

"Why aren't you?" Hiro blurted.  "You have to be there!"

"Are you worried about your acceptance letter?  If that's the case, there's no need.  My assistant is at the presentations and I already know you're a gifted kid-"

"But you have to be there."  What can I say?  What can I do?  "I need the confidence boost."

"I've never known you to be short on confidence."  Suspicion had begun to creep onto Doctor Callaghan's face.

"Please, sir.  It's just really important."

"I'm sorry, Hiro, I can't."

"You have to believe me.  Please."

"I want to.  But unless you tell me why, I can't."  Doctor Callaghan leaned forward.  "I need you to trust me."

I have to tell him something.  Anything!

"Something terrible might happen tonight," Hiro blurted out.  Doctor Callaghan frowned as Hiro plowed on.  "There's a guy out there, a really scary guy, and I'm worried about what he might do.  He's after me and my friends.  He's going to kill Tadashi."

"Kill Tadashi?" Doctor Callaghan repeated.  "Who is this man?  Did you bring it to the police?"

Oh, if you only understood.  "I can't."

"I can go with you.  Together we'll bring the matter to the proper authorities-"

"All I want is for you to come to my presentation.  To keep an eye on things.  Please."

Doctor Callaghan stood up.  "Come with me to the police, and then you and I can see about the presentation."

"But-"

"We have to protect you first.  If we leave now-"

The room plunged into darkness.  At the same time the door slammed open.  Hiro felt a pair of arms wrap around him, grabbing him securely by the chest and dragging him backwards over the couch.

"Callaghan!" Hiro shouted as he reached out to grab something, anything.  Immediately his attacker repositioned his hold so that Hiro's arms were pinned at his sides.

"Hiro!" Doctor Callaghan shouted.  "I'm coming!"

Hiro was yanked backwards out of the house and onto the street.  He had the perfect view to watch as Doctor Callaghan burst out of the house and ran after them.

"Someone he-!" Hiro started to yell, but a hand clamped over his mouth and silenced his protests.  While being dragged backwards so quickly Hiro couldn't get any traction to try and free himself.  All he could do was watch Doctor Callaghan slowly fall back.

Who is this? Hiro thought.  Is it Kyuubi?  The stranger from before?  Someone I don't even know yet?

Is this who kills Tadashi?

Gradually Hiro began to recognize their surroundings as the streets passed them.  They were moving towards more people, closer to the presentation.  What . . ?

Another slamming door, and then Hiro was pulled into a dim storage room.  His attacker released him and Hiro stumbled away.  He turned around, fists raised.

The figure, someone not much taller than Hiro and dressed in some sort of ninja costume, pulled off their wolf mask to reveal a very familiar face.

"WILBUR!" Hiro shouted.  "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"Shhhhh!" Wilbur held up a finger and glanced back at the door.  "Getting Callaghan here, what else?  I made sure we had a little time, but he won't be that far behind us.  Let's go join the others, quick!"

"You kidnapped me in front of Doctor Callaghan!  What made you think that was a good idea?"

"We needed to give him a good reason to be here.  This was the best way."

"When he finds me he's going to flip!"  Hiro groaned.  "When he find Past me he's going to flip out even more!"

"Oh.  Maybe I didn't think that part out," Wilbur mused.

"Maybe you didn't think at all!"

Wilbur shoved Hiro behind a stack of crates as the door opened.  Doctor Callaghan ran inside, glanced around quickly, and hurried to the door which led into the main area.

"Look, he's here, ok?"  Wilbur grinned as he stood up.  "That's all that matters!  Time is back to normal!  Point Wilbur!"

"If time is back to normal, then why don't I have my memories back?" Hiro demanded.

"Oh."

Never had a more perfect word been spoken for that moment.