Untimely

- VII -

The door to the apartment creaked open, revealing only a skinny man sitting by a square table and working himself a scarf with the old knitting needles Mara barely used anymore.

"Klaus." she spoke in a low tone. "Where are the others?"

The now empty space was missing four out of the five siblings she had left behind, and Klaus, who just couldn't seem to read the room, gave her a smile and a wave.

But after seeing that she did not share the same sentiment, he put down his hand. His eyes darted from the unfinished scarf in his lap to Five's somewhat indifferent expression, refusing to meet Mara's burning gaze.

"They went out. Said something about checking what was left from our timeline." He stammered, eyes still pointed to his work.

"Are you kidding me right now?" Mara crunched her face as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "I asked them to do one thing. ONE thing."

"Why am I not surprised." Five walked past her amusingly, and sat in front of his brother on the table. "Probably should've told you that they never follow orders."

He looked back towards Mara with an expression she couldn't read and gestured to the seat beside him. Mara only sighed, remembering that there were more pressing matters at hand before plopping down into the chair.

"Just tell me what you found in the old man's office." She leaned back on her chair. Her body felt heavy, and she wanted nothing more than a soothing hot bath.

"No case?" Klaus asked, his earlier uneasiness etched off from his face.

"No case." said Five and rested his hands on the table. "Dad has got himself involved in some new world order though, and I think he plans to use the case for it."

"I'm sorry what?" Mara almost wanted to laugh. But then again, this was her father they were speaking of. He could be the goddamned leader of this new order for all she knew.

"I found a file." he continued, "It held plans to put themselves within the global governmental superpowers and heighten the tension between countries. The order would then aim to take control after everyone has bombed each other until all that's left its rubble."

"Holy shit." Klaus reclined back in his seat, leaning his head on the wall. "Seriously. Holy shit. I mean, I know Dad's insane, but who knew he was this kind of insane."

"Were you able to get a location?" Mara asked quietly, unable to believe it herself.

New world order? Government spies and a potential World War III? It was too much process all at once. To think that it was right above their heads, literally just rooms apart from where they would sleep peacefully.

"It didn't say exactly, but there's a building between Spring Avenue and Victoria Park that I'd like to check out."

"Genesis Telecommunications?" Mara arched an eyebrow. She knew that building. It was the largest construction in the state, and stood right beside one of her favorite parks.

"Gene-what?"

"It's the biggest telecoms provider in the world. That's where their headquarters are apparently."

Five's mouth formed into an 'O' shape and something seemed to click in his head.

"We need to go. Now." He stood up abruptly  and hurriedly started walking towards the door.

"Five, wait - "

Mara jumped up after him, but he had already warped.

She sat back down on her seat and turned to Klaus.

"Is he always like this?"

"You'll get used to it, honey." Klaus pulled his chair closer to her and grinned. "That kid waits for no one."

"He's a stubborn little bitch if you ask me."

"Well, you're not wrong. But deep down," Klaus paused and looked around, seemingly as to check if Five was still around around. He then leaned towards her and whispered, "I think he's a softie."

Mara snorted.

"I think I'll be dead when that happens."

"We'll see."

The man slide his coffee towards her and Mara gratefully took a sip. She let out a content sigh, the warm liquid warning up her body. In just a few gulps, she had already downed the whole cup.

"I have to go after him. He's gonna get himself killed." Mara stood up once again. She could already feel the caffeine working its magic. "Please do me a favor and find everyone."

"I can't promise anything, but yeah, sure." Klaus waved her off and took hold of her knitting needles, continuing his work on the scarf.

The Sparrow cast one last look at the man before her, before she turned and merged with the darkness.

She stood outside the apartment building now. The afternoon sun beat down upon her face and Mara tried not to cringe back into the shadows.

"I should've brought an umbrella." She muttered under her breath as she  held a hand up to her eyes and started walking.

Genesis HQ isn't that far off and she knew the surroundings well. Mara only wondered if she could get there before Five and possibly smack him upside in the face when they do meet.

Even though there is a lead to something nefarious, a part of her still questioned if helping him was the right choice. He could just be using her and lied about everything he just said.

Maybe Hargreeves isn't in a new world order.

Maybe there isn't even an order in the first place.

But still, she carried on. She knew his heart is still in a good place. She knew just how much a good resolution can come from a severe and drastic cost.

In no time, Mara found herself standing just a street away from the building and Five was no where to be seen.

Mara realized late that there was no way he would get here first without knowing the area. Truly, she wanted to see that smug face wiped off, but time is of the essence and she needed find something substantial before she checks back into the Academy.

Mara inconspicuously scanned the area. Tall concrete walls surrounded the compound and only one entrance standing. Workers coming in a vehicle would have to present an ID then lean out their car window and get their retina scanned. Three guards walked the line of the gate and two more occupied the controls.

If she wanted to get in using her powers, she needed to get a closer look of what's inside the gate.

Mara crossed the street near the gate, walking as she would. Since it was near a park, the crosswalk wouldn't be uncommon to walk in.

As she passed the midway point of the gate, a car drove by behind her and went into inspection. It was the prefect timing.

Mara pretended to sneeze, her head turning to the direction of the building and her eyes quickly assessed the limited view inside the compound through the open gate.

Not much spots to go to, but luckily, there was a huge oak tree standing by a parked white van. That should be enough.

Mara began to speed up a bit, and stopped until she reached the park. She looked around and after seeing that there wouldn't be much people to notice her, she disappeared into a closed newspaper stall.

She stepped back into the world and a sea of cars filled her line of vision. The cool shade of the oak rustled above her with the wind, and Mara turned around to asses her perimeters, looking for more dark spots to get where she needed.

Here we go.