I took a mental health day today, went for a long bike ride up and down some big hills, cleaned my bathroom and recapped the latest episode. that's why this one's available so soon.

...And people tell me I don't know how to have a good time.

Heroes 2x02: Lizards

Wandering Rocks Pub, Cork Ireland: Peter has a bucket of water thrown on him (by the tactical officer from Star Trek Enterprise). This is followed by a couple of good punches from the black member of the trio that found him in the cargo container. Peter was bleeding. Now he's bleeding more. The leader of the trio leans against the wall, demanding to know what happened to the iPods. Peter doesn't remember anything. The leader isn't impressed. The beating continues.

Butler House, Costa Verde California: Mrs. Bennet makes poached eggs and drops her wedding ring in the boiling water. Claire comes by and fishes it out for her, suffering momentary scalding. Mrs. Bennet chides her for showing off. Claire understands she has to be fake at school, but she wants to be herself at home. Noah, who enters the kitchen, insists she lay low. Claire argues. Laying low in High School is a good way to get noticed. She thinks it's easy for Noah to pretend to be something he's not, but it isn't for her. Noah gets a little steamed. His job is keeping the family safe, and if that means Mrs. Bennet has to make breakfast instead of Noah, or if it means he has to wear a dumb shirt, then that's what he'll do. Claire realizes it's hard for him to adjust to normal too. Noah figures it's a nice vacation compared to what he used to do. Mrs. Bennet hands Claire a paper plate with a poached egg and some toast, and she's off to school.


After she's gone, Mrs. Bennet points out to Noah a newspaper article about the death of Kaito Nakamura. He knew it would happen, and although he doesn't want to explain it to his wife, she convinces him to talk about it. They don't have secrets any more. He pulls out a painting by Isaac identical to the photo of the death scene in the paper (no real newspaper would ever show a photo of a crime scene complete with DEAD BODY). The painting is one of a series of eight. Noah doesn't know what's in the other seven, but he's going to find out.

Roof of the Deveaux Building, New York. A police crime scene, complete with tape, photographers and someone questioning Ando. Matt and the Chief arrive. The Chief briefs Matt on the case and shows him the photo of Kaito with the half-helix symbol scrawled across it. It was in Kaito's pocket. Matt lies and says he's never seen the symbol before. Ando's said that he saw Kaito hit by someone who went over the wall too, but there's only one body. The Chief figures the perp either flew away or fell twenty stories and walked away, and wonders if Matt knows anyone like that. Matt tries not to look guilty. They found a fingerprint on the photo. It belongs to Angela Petrelli. Matt recognizes the name and wants her brought in. As the Chief heads off, Matt asks Ando about the symbol. Ando explains it and mentions Hiro, Kaito's son. Matt wants to talk to him. Ando does too.

Village of Otsu, Medieval Japan: Hiro runs up to the ruins, where some people still live, and asks after Kensai. An old lady points out Takezo passed out drunk at the base of a tree. Frantic, Hiro resorts to dunking Takezo into a horse trough in an effort to sober him up and get him to rescue the swordsmith's daughter. Instead, he holds Takezo under a little too long, and Takezo passes out. Desperate, Hiro spies Takezo's armor, complete with mask, under a tree. He dresses, mounts Takezo's horse and rides out. Ando's not going to believe this.

Costa Verde High School Science Class: The class watches a simulation of a newt regrowing its leg. The teacher drones on about cellular regeneration, which catches Claire's attention. She begins asking about human manifestations of the ability, but her teacher dismisses such things a possible future developments coming from work with stem cells. Human's would first get rid of the stuff they no longer need: appendixes, little toes, that sort of thing. She'll need an advanced degree in genetics to get the answers she wants. Her lab partner, West, watches her in surprise. Other students are looking at her too.

An office, Hartsdale New York: The Company recruiter, the man with the Midas touch (he turns everything into mufflers?), greets Mohinder as he walks into the room. Mohinder wants complete access to all their samples and lab equipment. Midas agrees, but first Mohinder's got to go on assignment. There's a man in Port au Prince, Haiti, dying of the virus. Mohinder's worried that, this being the third recorded case of infection, the virus might be spreading. Midas warns him that at the moment, only Mohinder's blood carries an effective antibody. He should try not to die.

A House in Coatepeque, Guatemala: Nidia, an older woman opens the door for Maya and Alejandro. She recognizes them, even though she hasn't seen them since they were children, Maya born first and Alejandro right behind. She encourages them to rest. She's a station for running people into Mexico and others will be arriving soon. She cannot take any money from them either. Guatemala is no place for young people to make a life. Maya doesn't feel right about risking Nidia and the others, but the police have their pictures and they have no other choice. Alejandro assures her that no one else will die. He won't let them.

Back Room, Wandering Rocks Pub, Cork, Ireland: Peter's been tied to his chair, hands held behind his back by several wraps of thick rope. His face is bloody and he's covered in sweat. The door opens and a woman enters. She begins cleaning his wounds, asking about his necklace and his name. He has no answers for her. She introduces herself as Caitlin (sp?). Peter wonders about his fate, but that's in Caitlin's brother's hands. The job he interrupted was something they were doing for McSorley, and they'd promised delivery for today. When Peter wonders what will happen to them, Caitlin begs him to remember anything he can. All Peter remembers is being found by Caitlin's brother's crew. He thinks the spark that blew “Tucker,” (name not clear without subtitles) back came from his hand. Caitlin looks stunned, but not by Peter's revelation. She's been washing a lot of blood off him, but he hasn't got a mark on him.

A House in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti: Mohinder enters to find a man lying on a cot. It's the Haitian. Mohinder offers him the cure, but the Haitian refuses. He thinks his illness is a judgement from God for the wrong he's done. Mohinder counters that his presence is a sign that God isn't quite done with the Haitian just yet.

Nidia's House, Guatemala: Maya wakes up to find Alejandro watching over her. There are other people in the house now. One of them, a woman, recognizes that they're twins and wonders if Nidia is going to help them cross as well. Alejandro tells her his sister is sick and they are going to get her help in America. The woman is a healer too. She comes over and takes Maya's hands, then enters a trance. Maya's is a new illness that she fears will spread. Maya fears herself. The woman begins twitching, like Matt does when he's reading minds. The thing inside Maya is black, and there's enough of it to kill the devil. The woman throws Maya's hands aside in horror. She's cursed, and the healer won't cross with them. Nidia objects, but the healer and another woman with her leave the house in a hurry.

A Forest, Feudal Japan: The swordsmith's daughter is surrounded by swordsmen. She attacks them, but they laugh and easily keep her from doing much damage. They toy with her. She curses them, and their leader threatens her. He only needs her father alive. She's expendable. Suddenly, they're interrupted by Hiro, wearing Kensai's armor and demanding that they let her go. He calls himself Takezo Kensai, the greatest swordsman in Japan. The leader points out that he doesn't have a sword. Hiro concentrates and suddenly all of their swords are out of their hands and stuck in the ground around him. Their leader tells his men to take up their bows, but Hiro takes them as well. He threatens to take their clothes next, but they run off and he tells them to call the encounter the battle of twelve swords in their history books. The swordsmith's daughter is grateful for the rescue and accepts his offer of a ride on his horse.

Wandering Rocks Pub, Cork, Ireland: Peter struggles with his bonds while Caitlin, her brother and the boys are out in the main room beyond the open door. Caitlin's brother has to go. She's to keep an eye on Peter, and use the gun if he causes trouble. As they leave, Peter struggles more, but gets nowhere. Then he closes his eyes and relaxes, and the ropes slip right through his wrists. He stares at them a moment in surprise and disbelief, then gets up and goes to the window. He grabs a shirt from the back of a nearby chair, then peers through the doorway to see if he's been noticed. He hasn't. Caitlin is bussing the empty tables when two men enter. She apologizes that Ricky and the boys just left. They don't care. Peter listens, sensing trouble, but then clears off a shelf and climbs up to the window, ready to make his escape. Out in the pub, one of the newcomers gets too close to Caitlin and she grabs a gun from under a rag on the bar. Before she can use it, she's grabbed. She fights, but her assailant throws her down against the bar and raises a tire iron. Peter appears and raises a hand, hitting the man with a lightning bolt. The second man draws a shotgun, but Peter uses telekinesis to throw it out of his hands. The man punches him, and Peter retaliates by throwing him across the pub and into the wall. He and Caitlin stare at each other, neither with any idea how Peter did what he's just done.

Costa Verde High School: Claire closes her locker to find West right beside her. He's surprised she's into lizards. She seems more the unicorn or whale type. She's happy to surprise him, but denies any interest in genetics. He's upset she keeps hiding everything interesting about herself. He's found this book (Activating Evolution, of course) that talks about cellular regeneration in humans and individual evolution. He'd like to bring it over so she can read it. She again denies any interest while digging in her purse for her keys. When she looks up, though, she discovers that her Nissan Rogue is missing. The parking space is empty.

Forest, Japan: Hiro, still disguised as Kensai, lowers the swordsmith's daughter from the horse. They stand in a grove of cherry trees which are in bloom, and auspicious time to meet. She owes him an apology for doubting his honour. Hiro talks up Kensai's nobility and promises her father will be rescued. They see a deer gazing nearby, which Hiro's father once said could be used to carry wishes to heaven. The swordsmith's daughter already has her wish: someone to save them all. She wants him to remove his mask, but he refuses. He cannot say some things unless he is masked. Their love will be the stuff of legends. She blushes and closes her eyes, waiting to be kissed. Hiro freezes time and stands, conflicted. When he restarts time, the princess is pleased to find herself in a shower of rose petals, but then she realizes Kensai and his horse are gone.

A House in Haiti: The Haitian is now sitting up. His hands are steady as faith. Mohinder stares at his laptop and microscope, making notes on a paper. The antibody is working, which means the Haitian had the virus, which means it's spreading. Mohinder doesn't have faith in a god that could let such a virus loose on his people. He has to take the Haitian back to the Company for further tests. The Haitian rises. There is always a company. Mohinder stares at him. The room spins. Suddenly the Haitian is gone and Mohinder is facing Midas, who demands to know where the Haitian is. Mohinder's been out of contact for hours. Mohinder draws a blank. His memory is gone. Midas shakes his head and chalks this up as a rookie mistake.

Mexico/Guatamalan Border: Nidia leads Alejandro and Maya through the jungle. The police patrol the river, and they shoot trespassers. There's a metal pipe, a tunnel that leads under the river. Nidia unlocks the gate across it and Maya joins her. Before Alejandro can follow, lights appear. It's the police. Maya and Nidia climb into the tunnel and cross to the other side. Alejandro does his best to hide in the bushes. Nidia tries to lead Maya further once they come out of the tunnel, but Maya balks. She huddles aside, praying. Nidia grabs her shoulder and tries to pull her along, but when Maya turns, she stumbles back. Maya is crying black tears and her eyes are solid darkness. Nidia falls to the ground, blackness leaking from her own eyes. Maya calls for Alejandro, but he does not arrive in time. He takes her hands and sings softly to her. The blackness leaves her eyes and enters his, but after only a few moments, his eyes clear again. At the same time, Nidia recovers, but she scrambles away in fear. The healer was right, they are both cursed, and she runs off down the tunnel, leaving them with no idea where to go.

Copy King, Costa Verde: Claire enters with hesitation to see her father stacking candies in a bin. He sees her and smiles. She doesn't return it. His smile collapses and he tenses up. She tells him about the car, and he sighs in relief. She figures a stolen car is nothing when they're running for their lives. She left it unlocked, and discovering that finally makes Noah angry. He has to be able to trust her with things. They can't afford mistakes. He takes her into a back room while she babbles on about not knowing what she can do, not knowing her limits. He tries to squelch the conversation, but she won't stop. She's frustrated by not knowing if she could help people. Noah shouts her down, then turns to a whisper. If the Company gets her, they'll test her so far past her abilities that she'll wish she could die. She may feel confined, but it's better than the cage they'd put her in.

Interrogation Room, New York: Matt and the Chief face off against Angela Petrelli. She explains her presence on the rooftop as a conversation between old friends. Kaito made a distasteful remark about her son's death, and she slapped him. She's a major shareholder in Yamagato Industries. Most murders are committed over either money or sex. Angela dismisses the idea. She didn't need the money and she wasn't sleeping with him. . . not for a long time. Matt slides Kaito's photo across the table and asks about the symbol. It's the logo of her husband's law firm. Matt asks why anyone would kill Kaito, and her thoughts tell him that Kaito did something terrible and someone's out for revenge. Matt asks about revenge, and Angela immediately demands her lawyer. Matt presses the point, but the Chief slaps him down. Matt focusses on Angela and immediately hears her yell, “GET OUT OF MY HEAD!” She quickly smooths over a smile.

Nathan signs for his mother. Matt calls out to him, and Nathan recognizes him. Matt quickly explains that they met in Texas when Nathan came to “lawyer up” his brother. He's sorry for Pete's death. He offers to lead Nathan to his mother, but Nathan figures she doesn't want to see him. She called him because she doesn't have anyone else. Before Matt can ask about this, the lights flicker and dim and Angela begins screaming from the interrogation room. Matt, Nathan and other police officers try to enter the room, but the door is locked. That's impossible. Matt and Nathan run into an adjoining room where they can see Angela through a one-way mirror. She's thrashing about against the wall, wounds appearing on her face and hands. Matt grabs a chair and breaks the glass. Angela subsides against the wall, bleeding from a dozen wounds as Matt and Nathan reach her. Whatever attacked her is gone. The lights come up as she sobs in Nathan's arms. Matt demands to know who did this. Angela doesn't answer, but Matt takes a photo from her hand: it's Angela, her face obscured by the half-helix.

Pub, Cork: Peter uses ice and bandages on Caitlin's hand. She wants to know what he did, but Peter doesn't have any answers. Before she can press him, her brother arrives. Ricky's furious. One of the men Peter busted up was McSorley's son. Pete figures he should have just left them alone with Caitlin. Ricky pulls a gun. Pete's turned a fixable monetary problem into a blood feud. At Caitlin's insistence, Ricky puts away the gun. Pete's going to make this right. He's going to help them with a job big enough to drop a fat stack of bills on McSorley's desk. Pete's not a thief. Ricky figures, after what he did, he's something. Pete'll help them, if not out of common hospitality, then for want of what Ricky now pulls out of a bag near the fireplace. It's a small metal box. Ricky calls him Peter. It's something he read. What's in that box is everything Peter had on him when they found him. Could be credit cards, or a train ticket, or a loveletter. It's all his for his help. Pete steps forward to take it, but Ricky holds it out over the fire (why not just use TK to seize the box?).

Otsu, Medieval Japan: Hiro enters a tavern, calling for Kensai. Kensai comes up behind him and begins haranguing him for taking the armor and leaving him horseless. Hiro explains all that he did, and Kensai is skeptical until the swordsmith's daughter (Yoriko?) enters, bubbling enthusiastically and handing over the sword he was supposed to use to rescue her father. As their hands touch, there is a moment of chemistry that causes Hiro to look sad. Then Yoriko turns around. It's time for them to go, and they should meet her at the stables. Kensai stands confused until Hiro reminds him to go rescue her father. Kensai agrees to go, so long as Hiro can make him the hero Yoriko already believes him to be. Hiro can do it if Kensai stops drinking. Kensai can't promise, but Hiro can live with that.

Kensai steps out of the tavern only to be confronted by the bandit leader and some of his men. Before he can react, the bandits shoot Kensai full of arrows and he falls to the ground. Hiro is horrified. The bandits run away as Hiro kneels by his fallen hero and pulls one of the arrows out. With his dying words, Kensai apologizes. Maybe he'll be a hero next time around. He dies. A moment later, Hiro notices the arrow wound closing. He's overjoyed. A moment later, Kensai coughs himself back to life and stares at Hiro in shock.

Suresh Apartment, Brooklyn. Molly sleeps in her bed while Matt sleeps in a chair nearby. In his lap is a notepad scribbled with eyes and helix symbols. Mohinder enters. He checks on Molly. His cellphone buzzes and he steps out of the room to answer it. It's Bennet, who's working the night shift at Copy King. Mohinder reports that everything went smoothly, and Midas (who's name is “Bob”) seemed more angry at himself for trusting the bungling professor than he was suspicious. Bennet knows they'll be watching Mohinder more closely now, but that's okay. Bennet can get the other paintings himself. Mohinder's given him everything he needs. Mohinder hangs up and Bennet turns to smile at a customer. It's the Haitian.

Bennet House: Claire paints her toes as she and Mr. Muggles watch video of Mr. Muggles golden days on the dog show circuit. Mrs. Bennet happens by and demands Claire turn it off and stop torturing the dog. Claire complies, but Mr. Muggles whines until she turns it back on again. Claire picks up a science book and stares at the lizards pictured therein. Then she eyes her toes and the scissors on the table nearby, remembering what her teacher said about things humans no longer need. There's actually a mark, or blemish on her next larger toe. When she cuts her little toe off, she gasps in pain and the wound doesn't heal for several seconds. Then her toe grows back, surprising her. There's a movement at the window and she looks up to see West staring at her. When he realizes he's been observed, he bolts. Claire runs outside (leaving her severed toe on the living room table?), but he's nowhere to be seen. A book left in the driveway turns out to be Activating Evolution. Mr. Muggles, who has run outside with her, looks up and barks.