Numbers in brackets are keyed to footnote editorial comments.

Volume III: Villains
Chapter Six: Dying of the Light

Mohinder narrates over some scenes:
Mr. Petrelli in his hospital bed at Pinehearst HQ.
Peter lying on a bed in Level 5.
Angela lying motionless but awake on a bed somewhere.
Matt pushing a luggage trolley through an airport. The trolley carries a wire cage containing a turtle.
Nathan taking Tracy's hand in a cab.
Sylar meditating in his cell.
Mohinder looking up from his microscope to see Maya webbed up in a corner.

The Bar: In a repeat of last week's scene, Daphne and Knox confront Hiro and Ando. Knox takes a sword from the wall and insists Hiro kill Ando as proof of Hiro's bad-assed-ness[1]. Hiro stops time, then teleports to what looks like a Japanese costume shop. Hiro takes a duplicate fake sword and a couple of fake blood packs. He teleports back to the bar two hours before Daphne and Knox arrive, just before Adam starts the fight. He hands Ando the blood packs and hastily explains about the stabbing to come. He then teleports back to the bar in the present and proceeds to stab Ando with the fake sword. Knox is impressed, Daphne is outraged. Hiro's supposed to be one of the good guys. Hiro wants to be taken to Daphne's boss, but Daphne hands him a folder instead. He gets an assignment like everyone else. It's the Guide in Africa, a precog. The Boss does't want anyone who can see the future left free. Hiro's to bring him to Pinehearst HQ, but it won't be easy because the Guide will see him coming. She leaves. Ando stands up. Now he knows what it's like to be killed by his best friend, so they're even. They're going to Africa, but first Ando has to change his shirt for something less bloody.

Bennet House: Claire heads for the door when she discovers where Meredith has gone. Sandra tries to stop her, but when that fails, she grabs her purse and joins her. Noah always said: one of us, one of them.

Doyle's Marionette Theater: Doyle and Meredith sit at a well-laid table. He's going to make her love him again. Meredith refuses and swears she'll kill him. That's not how it works, though. She can't make any move unless he makes it first. He makes her pick up a wine glass, break it against the edge of the table and hold the jagged edge to her neck until it draws blood. She will love him. He forces her to set down the glass, then calmly begins eating.

Pinehearst HQ: Knox brings Adam to Petrelli's room and throws him inside. Something Arthur Petrelli says into his mind terrifies Adam, who tries to escape. Knox blocks the door and, powered up, grabs Adam. Adam pleads that he could be of use. Knox takes Adam to Petrelli's bedside and forces Adam's hand into Petrelli's grasp. Adam ages and dries up, falling into a heap of dust beside the bed. Arthur sits up and pulls the tube from his throat, the incision closing over quickly. He's stolen Adam's power. It's good to breathe again.

Airport: Daphne reads through her assignment folder, which contains Matt's picture. She thinks a moment, then sighs and throws the folder in the garbage. Linderman appears. She wants out, but they're doing so much for her that they wouldn't be able to do for her anymore if she were to miss her assignment. Daphne looks scared, then retrieves her folder. Linderman points out Matt, who's carrying the cage with his turtle[2]. As she walks to intercept him, Linderman vanishes and Maury Parkman moves away in the background. The turtle has led Matt home, but he wonders what to do next and asks for a sign. He spots Daphne, a good enough sign, and calls her name. She's confused that he knows who she is, but recovers and invites him to go somewhere to talk.

Suresh Lab: Mohinder opens the door for Tracy and Nathan, who enter. He's in the middle of sensitive trials, but pulls his shirt sleeves down over scales on his arm before the others can see. Mohinder believes Tracy is Niki until Nathan sets him straight. Mohinder's excited to hear that a doctor gave her her powers, which she demonstrates for him. She hasn't noticed any side effects (unlike Mohinder), but it's only been four days. It came over her while she was in a heightened state, afraid, agitated. She wants it removed. Mohinder believes they can be of great assistance to each other.

Airport: Daphne and Matt sit at a table in a food court while Matt examines a Pinehearst business card. Pinehearst knows a lot about Matt, but as Daphne rattles off the information, it's clear that much of it applies to her as well. Matt doesn't think it sounds like she's convinced about her own involvement. She brushes him off and wonders who told him her name. He explains about his dream of the future, but it frightens her. It's getting kinda stalky. She starts to leave, but Matt reveals that they named the baby Daniela, after Daphne's grandmother. Daphne's sufficiently unnerved by this that she tells Matt to wait for her in the court. She has some things to do, but then she's coming back.

Suresh Lab: Mohinder injects Tracy and Nathan with something he calls a genetic marker. They won't notice anything, but it'll help his work enormously. Nathan can't believe his father would alter him like that. Mohinder understands: he didn't get anywhere blindly following his father's research. He only made progress when he started thinking for himself. Suddenly, Tracy collapses. Nathan starts to lose consciousness, realizing that he's been fooled. He stumbles into the plastic curtain hiding the back lab and tears it down. He has time to see the people stuck to the wall before passing out.

Sylar's Cell: Flint walks along the hallway outside, and Daphne suddenly throws open the door. She's come to free Sylar. Sylar doesn't want to go, and grabs her with his telekinesis. Daphne works for someone who knows all about Sylar. The Company is trying to change him. Her boss likes him just the way he is: a killer. Sylar denies he's a killer anymore, but looks uncertain and lets Daphne go. She leaves him a Pinehearst card. He does not go with her, though. Outside, Daphne grabs Flint and the two of them race out of Level Five before the guards arrive.

Peter's Cell: Sylar enters and frantically disconnects Peter from the drugs, then frees him from the restraints. Peter comes out of his drowse, rolls off the table and tries to get away from Sylar. Sylar needs Peter's help. Sylar thinks he can control his hunger, and that means Peter can do it too. Peter remembers future Sylar suppressing the hunger. Knowing that gives Sylar hope. They have to work together because their mother needs their help.

Africa: Ando and Hiro appear in the middle of the Guide's rock gallery. Hiro finds something familiar about the painting of Matt. Ando's having second thoughts. All they were after originally was Hiro's father's formula. Now they're in Africa kidnapping someone so they can get in good with the bad guys. Hiro dismisses his concerns. Hiro's going into the Guide's hut the front way, Ando should go around the back. Hiro enters and examines the paintings that line the walls. One of them shows him getting hit on the head by a shovel. It's still wet, and Hiro turns around in time to see the Guide behind him with the shovel. The painting comes true.

Outside Doyle's Marionette Theater: Claire and Sandra, in their car, argue about whether to go in. Claire makes up her mind, although Sandra thinks they ought to have a plan. Claire hefts the taser she got from Noah's closet.

Inside Doyle's Theater: Doyle and Meredith dance on stage until he hears someone coming. Meredith swears she didn't tell anyone where she was. Doyle clamps her mouth shut with a gesture. Out at the box office, Sandra sets off an animatronic talking parrot and before she can shut it up, Doyle appears. She makes up a story about wanting to book a party for her son Lyle, who's six and loves puppets. Doyle doesn't do parties anymore. She's willing to pay cash, and when Doyle sees the wad of bills she pulls from her purse, he asks her to fill out a form and bring it back. She pulls out a pen, and is about to fill the form out right there when there's a noise from the back. She tries to escape, but Doyle crooks his fingers and she stops. He demands to know who she is.

Back of Doyle's Theater: Claire busts in the back door, making the noise that alerts Doyle. She finds Meredith on the stage, still frozen the way Doyle left her. Claire tries to get Meredith to follow her, but Meredith is frozen[3]. Claire tries to free her, but Meredith uses her eyes to indicate where Doyle and Sandra are walking down the aisle toward them. Claire pulls out the taser, but Doyle controls her arm. The taser has only one shot, and Doyle makes Claire fire it at a doll, then drop it. He thinks that's much better.

Africa: Hiro awakes to find Ando standing over him. Ando suggests he go back in time and catch the Guide before the shovel gets used. Hiro swore never to go back in time again. Ando points out that Hiro did it to save Ando from the stabbing. Hiro agrees to try. He materializes outside the hut a minute before his other self gets hit. Unfortunately, he materializes right beside a painting of him getting hit again. He has a moment to realize what's about to happen before the Guide pops up behind him and flattens him with the shovel. On the edge of consciousness, Hiro gets to watch himself get clonked again.

Airport Foodcourt: Daphne zooms back to find Matt still waiting for her, then zooms out again.

Suresh Lab: Mohinder opens the door to find Daphne outside. She's come to offer him a job. Her bosses have already figured out how to do what he's trying to do: to give people abilities. They need his research to help save the world. She hands him a card and is about to take off, when she hears a noise from the back room. She zips in to find Tracy and Nathan stretched out on gurneys, barely conscious. Daphne takes in the people slimed to the walls. She's disgusted that he's just as bad as the rest of them, but before Mohinder can grab her too, she zips out the door.

Africa: Hiro comes to, grabbing his head. He stumbles into the hut just in time to see his other self teleport back in time. Ando's confused at first. Hiro's frustrated and angry that time travel won't work. Hiro decides to try the old fashioned way: hide and wait for him to come back.

Doyle's Theater: Doyle places a gun in the middle of a table with the women arranged around it. There's one bullet in the gun, and since Claire interrupts his explanation, Doyle makes her spin it first. It stops, pointing between Sandra and Meredith. Claire protests, but Doyle makes her pick up the gun. When Sandra protests, Doyle guesses that Sandra's Claire's mother. That makes Meredith the "fun aunt" that "Barbie" (Claire) really looks up to. Claire begs not to be made to shoot, so Doyle decides to choose for her, making Claire point the gun back and forth between the two other women. It stops at Meredith, who swears to love Doyle forever if he stops what he's doing. Doyle doesn't believe her. He orders Claire to pull the trigger, and makes her do it when she refuses. The chamber is empty. Everyone is relieved except Doyle, who makes Claire put the gun back on the table. When Claire tries to threaten him, Doyle shuts her mouth. It's Sandra's turn. The spinning gun stops at Claire, and Doyle makes Sandra pick the gun up. He unzips Claire's mouth to give her a few final words. She tells her mom to pull the trigger. Sandra does of her own free will, three times, until the gun shoots and Claire flies back onto the floor, dead. Doyle goes around to check, and when Claire fails to show any signs of life, he turns his back on her. As he gloats, Claire gets to her feet and knocks him over the head[4].

Angela's Hospital Room, Company HQ: Sylar explains to Peter that she's in a coma. Peter doesn't understand why Sylar cares. She's the only one who's ever accepted Sylar for who he is. He begs Peter to look into her head and see what's wrong. Peter tries, but gets thrown back. He couldn't see anything in her head except a symbol that he draws on her chart. It's a DNA helix. He's seen it before. So has Sylar, who pulls out the Pinehearst card and shows him its logo.

Doyle's Theater: Noah gives Doyle a shot of something to the neck. It'll keep him down for a while. Meredith's proud of Claire, who got her nerve from Sandra. Noah can't believe she's responsible for taking down Doyle. Claire walks away from him. He doesn't understand her. Meredith tries to explain that Claire doesn't need anyone protecting her now. Noah gets that, but there are a lot more people out there like Doyle. He needs some help, and Meredith might be just the person.

Company Hallway: Sylar tries to stop Peter from going after Pinehearst by himself. He's not under control enough to help Mom. Peter flies off the handle when Gabe calls him that, and the two of them get into a fight. Sylar insists that he knows what Peter's going through. The need for power will consume Peter, control him. He has to let Sylar help him, but Peter won't listen. He flies Sylar down the hall and into a wall. Sylar uses telekinesis to throw Peter off of him, but Peter comes up throwing lightning. Sylar goes down. Peter jumps on top of him and begins punching. Sylar's too weak to stop Peter. Peter knows what all that power feels like now. He's the most special. He puts Sylar down with a last punch, then drags him into Peter's old cell and hooks him up to the drugs.

Suresh Lab: Mohinder works at a bench near Tracy, who's strapped down. She knows what it's like. He didn't mean for any of this to happen. He's trying to fix it, but everything he does makes it worse. It all got out of control, but that girl (Daphne) who was there gave him a way out. Mohinder realizes Maya was right. He's a monster. Tracy understands, and offers to take Mohinder's hand. Mohinder gives it to her. She squeezes it reassuringly, then freezes him. He pulls back immediately, so that only his arm is frozen. While he's down, Tracy freezes, then shatters, the restraints and frees herself. She goes to do the same to Nathan, who's still woozy. She gets him up in time for them to duck a flying table, thrown by Mohinder.

Airport Foodcourt: Everything is closing up and the cleaning staff are in full operation. Matt decides he can't wait anymore and gets up from the table with his turtle. Daphne zooms in. She's supposed to recruit him for Pinehearst, but she doesn't think he'd fit in. They're bad guys, and he's not. Matt knows about Pinehearst, and how they got future Daphne killed. Matt explains about the precog in Africa, and Daphne recognizes the reference. She doesn't trust Pinehearst, or Matt, but she refuses to leave them. Matt wonders what they have on her. He swears he can protect her, but Daphne doesn't believe he can. She speeds off.

Africa, Night: Hiro and Ando notice a fire outside the hut. The Guide is home. They run up to the door, and Hiro asks Ando to go first. Ando refuses until he sees the shovel left standing outside. Hiro grabs it. Inside, the Guide is warming his hands over another fire. He's wearing a Universal Studios t-shirt. He begins speaking as Hiro and Ando start to sneak up on him. Hiro's been relying too much on his powers and he's forgotten how to think[4]. Finding the Guide was a test. He stands and points to a painting of four men around the helix logo (one half of which is now clearly the half-helix symbol which appeared with such frequency in the first season). Those are the villains Hiro seeks. He can take the Guide to them, or he can follow his own path. Hiro stares at a second painting showing two men embracing.

Pinehearst HQ: Peter teleports into the outside gardens, then turns invisible and enters the building. Inside Arthur Petrelli's office, Arthur has a drink while looking through some papers. The door opens and Knox, Daphne, Flint and Maury walk in. Arthur starts a speech, calling them all villains, when Peter bursts through the doors with hands full of lightning. Flint and Knox take up fighting positions, but Arthur calls them off. It's Arthur's son, after all. Peter's confused. Arthur's supposed to be dead, and now he's the one behind everything. He's the one who hurt Angela. Arthur dismisses all that. They need to talk, but first, Peter has to give his old man a hug. When he does, Arthur's power does something to Peter, causing him to scream and thrash. Everyone else looks horrified by what's happening and Daphne looks on the verge of either running or bursting into tears. Then Peter falls to the ground. He raises a hand and tries to throw lightning, but nothing happens. Peter has no powers any more. Arthur's taken them all. He demonstrates by charging up one hand.

[
1. Please, Heroes, don't force me to use such badly compounded words ever again.

2. He calls it a turtle. It could easily be a tortoise. Most turtles live in water. Most tortoises live on land.

3. PIS. Doyle's power is detailed in his file. There's no reason Claire shouldn't have known what she was getting into.

4. A lot of people lapsing into unconsciousness this week. Hiro holds the record for two, Doyle, Nathan and Tracy are all at one.

5. Hey, an actual in-story acknowledgement that Hiro's an idiot.
]