Bennet's face twisted in disbelief as he watched Su Zhan stand unharmed in the center of the laboratory. The Haitian's power, which had forced countless superpowered individuals to their knees, seemed to have no effect on him. For a moment, Bennet could only stare, panic rising in his chest. He had seen the Haitian suppress abilities that could shatter mountains, yet now, the man's gift seemed to falter.
Desperate, Bennet turned to run, but Su Zhan simply waved his hand. Instantly, the laboratory door slammed shut, sealing off any hope of escape. Without hesitation, Su Zhan's body blurred into motion. In a flash, every scientist and guard in the room collapsed to the ground, stunned into unconsciousness by a precise strike. The Haitian's power faded as he fell, and the oppressive numbness that had clouded the air disappeared.
Su Zhan paused, catching his breath. He realized the Haitian's ability had not truly failed. It was simply that the strength of his own powers—especially the fire and telekinesis—far surpassed the Haitian's suppression. His freezing and location abilities had been blocked, but the rest had pushed through.
He looked down at the Haitian, considering. This was an opportunity he absolutely could not miss. The power to suppress and erase memories was too valuable to leave behind. Yet, for now, Su Zhan could not devour it. He would have to bring the Haitian with him, wait until his body had fully adapted to the recent influx of powers, and then try again.
With a gentle touch, Su Zhan used his mental control to influence the Haitian, just as he had done with Kira. He could not devour the power yet, but he could ensure the Haitian would obey and remember only what Su Zhan allowed. He woke the man and ordered him to erase the memories of everyone else in the lab, one by one, leaving only Bennet untouched. For Bennet, Su Zhan did not erase his memory but instead placed him under the same subtle control, ensuring his loyalty.
"Take me around and show me the place," Su Zhan instructed.
Bennet nodded, his movements smooth and compliant. The Haitian followed silently behind, his expression blank.
As they walked through the facility, Su Zhan took in the sterile corridors and locked doors. It was a place built on secrets and fear, a prison for those unlucky enough to be born different. Yet, as he explored, Su Zhan sensed another presence—a mind that stood out from the rest, honest and open, tinged with worry and confusion.
They entered a small office where a heavyset man sat at a desk, flipping through a police report. He looked up, startled, as Su Zhan entered. His name was Matt Parkman, a police officer with the rare ability to read minds.
If Su Zhan had not intervened in the timeline, Sylar would have been responsible for the murder of Molly's parents, and Matt would have been drawn into the case, eventually discovering Molly and becoming her protector. Now, fate had shifted, and Matt was here, still struggling with the burden of his gift.
Su Zhan smiled warmly. "Give me a room to rest. I will stay here tonight, and tomorrow, I will need to see you again."
Bennet arranged a room, and Su Zhan let him return to his duties. The Haitian remained close, his power now under Su Zhan's control. Su Zhan spent the evening quietly, focusing on integrating his new abilities. The night passed uneventfully, and as the sun rose, Su Zhan felt the difference. The freezing and location powers were settling into his body. He tested the freezing ability, watching as a thin layer of frost formed on his palm. It was not yet perfect, but it was progress. Yesterday, he could not even manage this much.
He left his room and went to find Matt. The officer was visibly nervous, his eyes darting between Su Zhan and the Haitian.
"Who are you? Why are you arresting me? Let me go—I'm a police officer!" Matt shouted, trying to sound brave.
Su Zhan raised his hands in a calming gesture. "Relax. You will be free soon. But first, I need your help with two things."
Matt's face twisted in confusion. "What are you going to do?"
"It's simple. You can read minds, yes? Try to read mine," Su Zhan said, nodding to the Haitian. The man closed his eyes, suppressing his power.
Matt focused, his brow furrowing in concentration. After a long moment, he shook his head. "I can't. It's like something is blocking me."
Su Zhan smiled. "And now?" He signaled the Haitian to lift the suppression.
Matt tried again, and this time, his eyes widened in surprise. "You want to take my ability."
Su Zhan nodded. "It seems the mental barrier from my ring can block your mind reading. That means your power might not work on people with strong mental defenses unless they let their guard down. Still, it's a useful ability."
Matt looked at Su Zhan, fear and resignation mingling in his eyes. He could sense the truth in Su Zhan's thoughts—there was no malice, only necessity. He relaxed, giving up his resistance.
"Since you know, I will not hide it," Su Zhan said gently. He placed a hand on Matt's shoulder and focused. The process was smoother than before. Matt's mind-reading ability flowed into Su Zhan, merging with his own powers. When it was done, Su Zhan gently erased Matt's memory of the encounter.
He turned to the Haitian, considering his next move. With Matt's power now his, Su Zhan felt a new clarity. He could sense the thoughts of those around him, a chorus of voices at the edge of his awareness.
Su Zhan decided it was time to leave the institute. He instructed the Haitian to follow, bringing Matt along. Once outside, Su Zhan found a quiet place to let Matt go, erasing any memory of their meeting. He kept the Haitian with him, knowing the man's power would be invaluable in the days ahead.
Back in town, Su Zhan sent the Haitian to buy food while he sat in the car, studying a map. He was preparing to use his location ability to track down Sylar when a knock sounded on the window.
He turned and saw Claire standing outside, her blonde hair shining in the morning sun, a bright smile on her face.
Rolling down the window, Su Zhan grinned. "Claire, what brings you here? Shouldn't you be in school?"
Claire laughed, her eyes sparkling. "I went to the hotel to find you, but the owner said you weren't there. I didn't expect to find you here!"
Su Zhan was about to reply when he heard her thoughts, clear and earnest. She was worried she would never see him again, that he might disappear from her life forever.
"Are you worried you'll never see me again?" Su Zhan asked, his smile gentle.
Claire's cheeks flushed. She had not expected him to guess her feelings so easily. "I explained everything to my dad, but he still doesn't believe you're safe. He wants me to stay away, but you're my friend—my benefactor. I wanted to thank you in person. Do you… do you have time? I want to invite you to dinner."
Su Zhan listened to her heart's nervous hope, her desire for reassurance. He nodded, his own smile warm and genuine. "Of course. But let me do the inviting this time."
Claire's face lit up with happiness. For a moment, the world felt simple and bright, filled with the promise of new beginnings.