I just noticed an inconsistency in my episode numbering. This is Vol 4, Ch 3, and also Season 3, Ep 16. Sorry for the confusion.

Numbers in brackets are keyed to footnote editorial comments.

Volume IV: Fugitives
Chapter 3: Building 26

Bennet House: The family eats waffles together. Noah's new job as a consultant will allow him to be home more. When Lyle wants to know what a consultant does, Noah stammers a non-answer that leaves Lyle sceptical. Claire's gets a text message from "Rebel," who needs her help to warn a target. She declines. Whan Sandra wants to know about her college trip, Claire's response is unconvincing. Sandra grows suspicious, although Noah has a number of convincing answers when he's asked about the trip. Claire grows disgusted with the ease of his lies and leaves the table. Noah pretends her behavior is due to ivy-league nervousness and gets up to follow her.

Claire's Room: Noah's angry. Claire can't lie the way he can. She has to though, because they're watching both of them. A plane crashed. Government agents died. Claire caused both, and she can't afford to do anything else out of place because it would bring the government down on the whole family. The last time Sandra knew something, she almost got herself killed. Noah pulls out a brochure. Claire's enrolled in Costa Verde community college: English Lit, History and Spanish. Monday morning, she'll be there of there will be Hell to pay. Noah leaves. Another message from Rebel arrives: "Warn Alex. Sam's Comics on Buford."

Situation Room, Building 26, Washington: Danko briefs a room full of agents in front of a board holding pictures of targets. Thanks to the Patriot Act, they have traffic cam feeds from fifty states. Wires are up and bank accounts are frozen. Claire has been granted a probation: they watch her, but she remains free until the senator changes his mind. Nathan appears, reiterating Danko's words. He's gotten double funding from Washington. Their mandate is to hunt their targets, catch them and bring them in alive.

Road: Luke and Sylar drive to the sound of "Born to Be Wild" on the radio. Luke wants to turn the expedition into a road trip with stops for pie. Sylar refuses to stop and demands to know where his father is. Luke just tells him to drive, which makes Sylar pull over suddenly. Luke tries to lie about Grey's location, but Sylar catches him in it. Luke tries another story. This time, Sylar attacks him and explains what he does to gain abilities. Luke accuses him of being a serial killer: he's got a pattern, only targets certain people, takes mementos... Sylar admits to the accusation, but the only reason he won't rip open Lukes skull is because then he wouldn't be able to find his dad. They drive off, watched by an under-bridge camera.

Building 26: A computer alerts an agent to Sylar's location. The agent tells Danko. Another computer nearby tracks Claire.

Sam's Comics: Claire enters and walks up to the counter where an older boy is stacking books. She tells him he's in danger and has to leave. He thinks it's a joke set up by a friend, and calls her a hot blonde. She convinces him by cutting herself and showing off her healing ability. Alex is convinced, but at that moment the door opens to admit Noah. Claire grabs Alex, demanding he move now. As Noah moves into the store, Alex and Claire duck behind some shelves. They need to get out of there, but Alex's car is parked out back. Noah asks a kid at a computer about Alex, and the kid points him toward the front of the store. As Noah nears the door, Alex comes around the corner of the bookshelf. Claire remains hidden. Noah gives Alex a story about him being from traffic enforcement, and he wants to go outside and talk about Alex's violations. Claire, thinking quickly, calls her Dad on his cell phone. She apologizes for the morning, hoping to distract him. Alex sees her and catches on that they are connected. He dumps a rack on Noah, knocking Noah down and knocking off the horn-rims, and runs out of the store. Claire runs out the back while Noah replaces his glasses and gets up. He races out of the store, but Alex is already around the corner. Claire meets him, and they climb into Alex's car. Noah calls for a backup team as Claire and Alex race away.

New Delhi: Hiro stands in front of a wedding pavillion and shows Ando a photo of Matt's painting. It's the right building, the right tent. All he has to do is stop the wedding. Ando's puzzled. It makes no sense to stop a wedding. He studies the painting as Hiro races off to find out when the wedding is, so he'll know when to stop it. Ando sees a woman walking by. It's the woman from the painting. He follows her into a building where a wedding cake and presents stand waiting. He introduces himself. She's Anapurha (sp?), and she's been crying. His name sounds familiar. He tells her to call off the wedding if she's not happy. She's been asking the heavens for a sign whether she should marry, and here he is. To prove that he's the sign, he sparks up his hands (although he seems to have difficulty doing it). Hiro charges in, wondering what's going on. When he realizes what's happened, that it's Ando's destiny to stop the wedding, not his, he's crushed.

Building 26: Nathan tells Danko that they haven't heard from Washington about reinforcements yet. A woman studies the targets board. Abby Collins is from Homeland Security, and she'll be taking over the operation. Danko is not thrilled. Nathan's uncomfortable, but offers her a tour. He's asked for a funding increase because Eagle Rock prison is inadequate for the kind of prisoners he'll be putting there. She's been sent by people concerned about the president's exposure to something that involves "magic" people. Nathan complains that his facilities are barely capable of containing the one prisoner he has. Abby can't believe he's imprisoned someone without charges or Miranda Rights. Nathan wants to speak to the President, but she overrules him and demands to see the prisoner.

Roadside Diner: Sylar pulls in. Luke's excited. Sylar warns him that if he doesn't stop trying to be friendly, Sylar's going to have to kill him. Luke points out a bird. Sylar's father is into birds. Grey Sr. used to get Luke up at 4 am and take him out birding in a red wagon. Sylar remembers the wagon and going birding. Luke reminds him that Sylar was sold for money. Grey Sr. told him once, maybe because Luke reminded the old man of Gabriel. Luke gets out of the car.

Building 26: Nathan and Abby enter a dark cell where massive heaters have been set up. Tracy's secured to a chair in the center of the room. They tried insulated gloves, but she broke through them. Abby and Tracy recognize each other. Abby can't believe what they've done to her. She's shutting the program down and laying human rights violation charges against Nathan. She leaves in a huff, with Tracy calling after her.

Costa Verde Parking Lot: Alex pulls in. He can't believe what's happening and doesn't understand why anyone would be interested in him. Claire asks about his power. He can breathe underwater. They are being watched by a closed-circuit camera on a light pole above them. She tells him not to go home, not to use his credit cards. He doesn't know what to do, but she promises they'll figure something out. She notices a car drive past. It's the second time she's seen the same car. They get out and hide around a corner as two other cars box in Alex's. He and Claire slip away as agents check out the car.

New Delhi Bakery: Anapurha and her friend Shayla run the bakery against her grandfather's wishes. The tradion-bound old man arranged her marriage to Deepak because he believes women should be at home raising children. Deepak is a powerful and dangerous man above the law. Figuring Ando must be hungry, Anapurha leaves to bring him food. Hiro is furious that Ando stole his chance to get his powers back. They argue. Ando stopped the wedding his way and Hiro thinks it was the wrong way. Hiro can't stand that Ando's the one with powers while Hiro's the sidekick. An angry man enters the bakery. It's Deepak and he storms into the back room after Anapurha. Hiro sends Ando in after him. Ando tries to break up the shouting match, but Deepak becomes enraged and goes after Ando with a metal pot. Hiro hears the noise and charges into the kitchen with a bread loaf for a weapon. Anapurha is sobbing. Deepak knocked Ando out and carried him off.

Sam's Comics/Building 26: Noah's on the phone with Danko. Alex got away. Danko's found Claire's car in a parking lot nearby. Noah saw that. Claire said she had some errands to run, and Costa Verde is a small town. Danko's suspicious. Noah grows concerned.

Roadside Diner: Luke blows bubbles in his milk. Sylar wonders how long they have to drive. Luke ignores the question and instead boils the water in a glass held by a man down the counter from him. Sylar stops him. They don't need the attention. Their powers are not for amusement. Sylar usually uses his powers for a reason, although sometimes he disappoints himself. Sylar tells Luke to always have an objective, to know the end-game before lifting a finger, to keep a clear head because emotions make you sloppy, and to know what you want. For Sylar, it used to be about acquiring abilities but now it's about finding his father. He wants to know why he is what he is, and hopes Grey Sr. has some answers. Luke nods and reaches for a placemat. He scribbles down an address that's a two-day drive. Sylar realizes there's nothing to prevent him killing Luke, although Luke's hoping he won't. The door opens and a man in a suit enters. Another man enters a different door. Sylar knows they've been made and directs Luke to the emergency exit. They rise. Luke figures they can take two, but Sylar knows they're just the scouts. Riflemen enter. Sylar freezes as an agent in disguise cocks a gun against the back of his head, the "sweet spot." Luke looks frantically left and right, then breaks into tears, pleading to be taken back to his mother. He clutches at the man holding the gun to Sylar's head, distracting him. Sylar throws the man back over the counter, takes a bunch of bullets, throws a table at the riflemen then breaks the window between him and Mary's car. He and Luke jump out. Sylar slides into the driver's side. Luke's laughing over their escape, but Sylar doesn't open the door for him. Sylar says thanks for the address and drives off, leaving Luke to the riflemen. Luke is still gaping in surprise when he's shot with a tranquilizer dart.

New Delhi: Deepak will let Ando go if Anapurha goes through with the wedding. The ceremony begins under the tent. Hiro stops the wedding with a shout and explains about Ando's kidnapping. Anapurha's grandfather demands to know if all Hiro says is true. It is, and Anapurha and her friend share a significant look. Deepak insists that they had a deal, that the girl and the bakery are now his. Hiro steps in and punches Deepak to the ground before they can get far. He grabs the wedding cake knife and holds it like his katana (the scene reproduces Matt's painting). Deepak agrees to return Ando, and the wedding is off. Hiro enjoys a "YATA!" moment.

Costa Verde Car Park: Claire returns to her car to find Noah waiting. She tells him she applied for a job nearby, and when he calls her on the lie, she points out that she's learned from a master. He knows what she's been doing, and she's got to stop because others will begin to think he can't control her. They're right. He can't. Claire climbs into her car and drives off, leaving Noah looking worried.

Building 26: Danko reports Sylar's escape to Nathan. Abby enters with paperwork ordering Nathan to shut down the operation. Danko slips from the room as Nathan pleads with Abby for five more minutes to explain. Nathan leads Abby to an office and tries to convince her. In her cell, Tracy struggles with her chains, which run from her arm manacles to a bolt in the floor. There's a clank, and she looks back to notice that the bolt is loose. She struggles to loosen the bolt more. Meanwhile, Abby's not buying Nathan's insistence that because some people have powers, they are to be denied constitutional rights. Tracy yanks the chain free and stands up. Nathan's telling Abby that she can't stop a war before she's seen the front lines when an alarm goes off. The two of them rush into the hallway and see Tracy with her chain around a man's neck, using him as a shield against agents aiming guns at her. Nathan calls her name, and the hostage elbows her in the gut while she's distracted. Tracy reacts by grabbing his arm and freezing him solid. She pushes him into a wall where he shatters. Abby's horrified. An agent hits her with a tranquilizer dart and she goes down.

Later, Abby studies the target wall. Nathan apologizes for what she had to see. She understands. He'll have all the funding he needs.

Bennet House: Claire distractedly makes herself a sandwich. Sandra enters with laundry. Noah's bringing home Indian take-out for supper. She apologizes for pushing the college issue, but still wonders about their trip. Claire tells her the truth about what happened while they were gone. Sandra's shocked. It's worse than the Company because they're taking everyone, not just the bad guys, drugging them, hooding them, and taking them away. Noah enters with Indian food. Sandra sends Claire upstairs, then tells Noah that she can't take the lies anymore. They shout at each other, Sandra rhyming off his crimes and Noah protesting he had no choice. Claire listens from the top of the stairs.

Building 26, Cell: Tracy's back in position. Nathan doesn't know how she got out, but she's not getting loose again. Tracy thinks he's the one who loosened the bolt and unlocked the door. Nathan realizes what's happened. Tracy knows her escape was used to convince Abby, and the next time she tries to escape, she'll succeed.

Coffee Shop: Riflemen finish the site cleanup and pile into a black cube van. The doors close and the van begins to back up, then stops. Banging is heard inside, then screams. Agents monitoring the van from Building 26 are unable to make contact with anyone. The van rocks on its frame, then the doors open and a rifleman steps out. It's Sylar. The other men are dead. Sylar takes a computer and an unconscious Luke from the van and walks away.

Bakery, New Delhi: Ando apologizes for almost screwing up Hiro's destiny, but now Hiro realizes that he was sent to India to prove to himself that he could be a hero without powers. Anapurha comes over to their table with a fax. She recognized their names because the fax was addressed to them. It's from "Rebel." It has a Los Angeles address and says "Save Matt Parkman."

Bennet House: Noah enters Claire's room with a suitcase. She figures he wriggled out of his confrontation with Sandra and now is off on another assignment. Noah isn't. Sandra's asked him to move out of the house for a while. He's going to go learn how to be a better person and not tell lies. He'll be around, and they'll get through this. He and Claire both tear up as he tells her he loves her. They hug, he picks up his bag, and then leaves. Claire picks up a sleeping bag from her floor, and hands it to Alex, who's been hiding in her closet.

Highway, Night: Sylar drives. Luke thanks him for the rescue. Sylar denies it was a rescue. He needed the computer to figure out how they've been tracking him. Luke points out that Sylar didn't need to bring Luke along. Sylar turns on the radio. Luke chuckles as the strains of "Psycho Killer" by the Talking Heads fill the car. Sylar concentrates on his driving.

Building 26: Danko shuffles paperwork. Nathan enters and tells him about Mark Legget, the analyst who died during Tracy's escape. Nathan knows Danko let her out and sacrificed an innocent man. Danko's sorry a man had to die, but he and Nathan got what they wanted: support from Abby. It was necessary. Nathan suggests he try apologizing to Legget's blood stain, which a cleaning crew is trying to remove from the floor.

Hotel Bar: Noah drinks and fiddles with his wedding ring. He asks the bartender, a young woman, if she knows of any apartments for rent. She doesn't. Noah gulps his drink. His vision blurs and he weaves on his bar stool. He realizes he's been drugged just before he collapses to the floor. Matt, Peter and Mohinder appear and lift him up. They tell the bartender that he's had three too many, but they'll get him home safe...

[
1. Good lord. Hiro's teleportation ability is gone, but he's managed to get to India in less than twenty-six hours? HOW? Sometimes it takes me that long just to find a parking spot at the airport! And what about jet-lag? Mid day in New Delhi is mid night in New York and late afternoon in Japan. By rights, Hiro and Ando should be exhausted and disoriented by the time zone changes.

I don't think anything could really recapture the magic of the first season, when everyone was an unknown quantity. However, I'm enjoying this volume in a way I didn't enjoy volumes two and three. There's a lot of drama here, a lot of conflict and a fair bit of suspense. Nathan's trying to hold onto his own humanity while Peter seems to be on a dark path. Noah's morally grey life has cost him the things most dear to him. Sylar's got something to do other than kill people, although he's fitting a fair bit of that into his schedule as well.

I'm not saying this is great drama. However, it's a lot more watchable than what we've seen before. I'm going to keep watching.
]

Numbers in brackets are keyed to footnote editorial comments.

Volume IV: Fugitives
Chapter 2: Trust and Blood

We open with a summary of last week's episode end with the plane going down and Peter hanging on to Mohinder.

Petrelli Office, Building 26, Washington, 43 Hours Later: Nathan picks up a phone, dials and tells the far-end party what's happened. The plane broke apart, and some of the prisoners escaped...

Exterior, Crash Site, Night: Helicopters and riflemen recovery teams swarm the wreck, recapturing those who try to escape. Hiro runs, pursued by a number of riflemen, until he falls into a dry riverbed. Matt and Mohinder grab him and pull him into the shadow of the riverbank where they stay hidden from the searchers. Hiro doesn't have his powers back. Hiro saw many of the others running. Matt realizes the riflemen were ready for their powers, and they can't win a fight. As they start to move upriver to where there's more cover, Matt suddenly turns away. When Mohinder grabs him, he sees that Matt's eyes have gone white.

Exterior, Road above Crash Site, Night: Claire and Peter run. Noah appears out of nowhere, grabs Claire and points his gun at Peter. He insists they come with him. Claire can't understand how he could be part of the round up, but Noah insists it's much more complicated. Faced with a choice between shooting Peter and letting him go, Noah decides to let him go. Claire wonders how he'll get away with everything when people are going to know what happened. Bennet assures her that people won't know anything. Jets roar overhead and a moment later rockets destroy the wreckage.

Petrelli Office: Nathan's on the phone still. The crash was a nightmare, and the worst part was Danko (leader of the riflemen)...

Crash Site, Day: Nathan's shouting at Danko as they survey the wreckage. He doesn't understand why Danko called in the air strike. The moment the plane crashed, the prisoners were re-designated terrorists, and Danko put them down like rabid dogs. Claire turned a simple flight into a national emergency. Nathan promises to take care of Claire, who's tied up and guarded on a chair nearby, while Danko promises to continue doing his job.

Forest, Day: Peter runs through some bushes and finds Tracy hiding behind one. She's scared, and Peter convinces her to come with him. She can't believe that Nathan would cause all those people to be rounded up. Peter insists that if she wants to remain free, she needs to come with him. He's going to fight Nathan.

A Trailer: Matt, Mohinder and Hiro approach a lone trailer surrounded by junk. In his trance, Matt sees the Guide enter the trailer and close the door. Matt, unable to open the door, takes the pointed end of a patio umbrella to the handle and pries it open. Hiro and Mohinder don't understand what he's doing, but are about to follow when Matt bursts out of the trailer carrying a sketch pad and some pens. He sits down at a patio table and begins sketching. The Guide appears next to him, encouraging him. Mohinder and Hiro pull clothes from a nearby clothesline, intending to change from the bright orange jumpsuits they currently wear. The shirt Hiro grabs says, "Rednecks make better lovers." He shrugs and begins to change.

Marketplace Tokyo: Ando's on the phone, trying to get a ticket to Russellville, Arkansas, but the travel agent on the other end of the connection has no idea where that is, and hangs up. Daphne zooms into the scene. Matt didn't come home last night, didn't even call (he always calls). She's worried, and she knew about Hiro's secret hideout so she turned to the only people who might be able to help. Ando explains about Hiro's kidnapping, and Arkansas. Daphne grabs him and they take off.

Trailer: Hiro and Mohinder have changed. Mohinder tries to convince Hiro to leave, to turn himself in and explain that he has no power any more. If Hiro does that, Nathan's people may lose interest in him. Hiro refuses. Matt comes out of his trance. He's drawn four pictures:
Upper Left: Two people pulling machine guns from a car trunk in front of a window.
Upper Right: Daphne with a plane tail behind her, blood erupting from her arm.
Lower Left: A tent or pavilion with buildings in the background, under which it looks like a ceremony (wedding?) is in progress. A man sits on the ground in shadow while another man with glasses and a suit on holds back a blonde woman in a red dress.
Lower Right: A dark-haired man screaming.
They puzzle over the paintings, then Matt leaves. He has to go back to the crash site and warn Daphne. Mohinder protests, but when Hiro runs after Matt, he has no choice but to follow.

City Street, Newark NJ, Day: Police have pulled up outside the Gray Taxidermy shop. A woman gets out of her car on the other side of the street. Her son, Luke follows, carrying a bag of groceries. He's just spent the night in Juvenile Detention for a fight, after someone called his mother a whore. They enter their house to the sound of a television. She can't believe she left it on, but then she sees someone sitting in a chair in front of it. She tells Luke to call the police. He sets down the groceries, but doesn't obey. Mother grabs a poker from the fireplace and rushes around in front of the man watching television. It's Special Agent Simmons. His mouth has been duct-taped, and his hands have been pegged to the arms of the chair with steak knives. Sylar enters, turns off the television with a remote and throws mother Mary Campbell and son Luke into chairs, holding them there. He's gotten their names from the mail. Agent Simmons has been very resistant to torture, even after losing a few fingers. Now Sylar's going to torture mother and child until Simmons spills everything.

Crash Site, Day: Daphne and Ando zoom onto the scene, above the crash. They take refuge behind some wreckage as they spot the soldiers, Claire and Noah. They figure if Claire's okay then Hiro may be alright too. Plus, since Ando's supposed to kill Hiro in the future, Hiro can't be dead. Reasoning that they have to be sneaky while they look for Hiro and Matt, Daphne takes off, leaving Ando behind.

Forest: A rifleman scouts the forest while Tracy watches him. The rifleman spots another lying on the ground and radios "man down" back to base. When he goes to check out the downed soldier, Tracy rustles some branches and breaks cover. As the rifleman tries to aim at her, Peter steps out from behind a tree and brains him. He then begins stripping off the rifleman's clothing. He's going after Nathan, who's probably at the crash site sweating bullets. Peter's discovered that he can only hold one power at a time, but he's going to go back and take out Nathan. Tracy has a better idea because she knows how Nathan thinks. She thinks the same way.

Crash Site: Noah drags Claire to a tent. She demands to know what he's doing, and he wants to know why she was on that plane. Claire has no idea what she's gotten into, but Noah doesn't realize how sick she thinks the whole thing is. Noah's made arrangements to protect her and his family. Claire doesn't see how that can be, since she and Nathan are both specials. Nathan joins them after getting off the phone. She's going back to Costa Verde where she'll go to college and pretend nothing's happened. Nathan tries to explain, but Claire doesn't buy any of it, she doesn't know either of her fathers anymore. Noah draws Nathan aside to remind him of the deal that's supposed to keep his family out of things. Nathan hasn't forgotten. Danko may be overenthusiastic, but he's useful... until he's not. Before Nathan can explain, Daphne zooms into the room, unties Claire and zooms out with her. Nathan's furious, turning on Noah. Claire's running out of favours. Noah reminds him that Danko doesn't know Nathan's got powers too, but that could change.

Petrelli Office: Nathan tells the person on the phone that his mistake was expecting his people to act responsibly. No one could have expected what happened on the hillside, and he has no idea what brought them all together at the crash site. Danko's men totally overreacted.

Hillside: Matt and Mohinder arrive in the shadow of the plane's tail. They hide behind a boulder until Matt catches site of Ando hiding under the tail. Daphne and Claire arrive a moment later. Hiro pops up from behind a rock. Claire reminds them that they have to get out of there. Daphne's just going to run a quick recon, when she's suddenly shot by a rifleman who's popped up on the hilltop above her[1]. Claire sends Hiro and Ando away, then runs out and tries to intercept some of the bullets, but Daphne's already down. As Claire falls and other soldiers appear on the hill, Matt uses his power to get inside one of the soldier's heads and turn him against the others. The solider shoots all the others down. Mohinder pulls Matt away as Danko appears behind the crazed rifleman and shoots him. Danko then captures Claire, who's shaking off the effect of the bullets.

Campbell House, Newark, NJ: Sylar tries to wake up agent Simmons with the smell of coffee, and when that doesn't work, pounds on one of the knives through Simmons's hands. Simmons insists Grey Sr. is in custody, but Sylar's truth sense tells him that's not right. It's time to get started. He decides on Mary. She demands to know why he's doing this. Sylar figures it's just that they're in the wrong place at the wrong time. He could have been a flood or a tornado, there's no difference, really. He turns to Luke for input, but Luke's not giving him anything. Sylar figures there's some dysfunction in the family: single mom, troubled teenager... judging from the tiny alimony check, Dad's been gone a while. Sylar clamps her mouth shut and begins strangling her. It's what Luke had wanted to do for years. Luke protests, but Sylar insists he's lying (although there's no truth-sense tingle). Luke pleads with Sylar to let his mother go. Sylar's wonders if he's being genuine, or if he's been preconditioned. He's been in Luke's shoes and knows what Luke really wants. Luke tells him to go to hell, struggles while Sylar's busy choking his mom, then gets a hand free enough to send out a wave of heat that explodes the coffee cup in Sylar's hand. Everyone's surprised, but Sylar's not seriously hurt. He and Luke need to talk.

Crash Site: Danko drags Claire into the command tent, blaming her for the deaths of good men. She points out that those men were hunting her. He doesn't see any difference between her and Sylar, and pulls his gun. As he presses it against the back of her head, Nathan rushes up and stops him. Noah arrives a heartbeat later and escorts Claire from the room while Danko and Nathan exchange belligerent looks. Noah takes her to Nathan's car. He knows Danko won't stop at anything once he's targeted someone. It's time for Claire to go home and lead that normal life she's always wanted. Nathan emerges from the command tent, watching them. Noah promises to do what he can for Peter and the others, but it's too big for anyone to fight it. Nathan watches as Claire's driven away. Danko wonders how Nathan thought things would go, whether he expected the specials to just surrender. Nathan's irritated by his attitude, and when Danko points out that Nathan's political career depends on the success of the mission, Nathan reminds him that they're all replaceable. Nathan's phone rings. It's Tracy, some distance away. Nathan insists that it's a private call. Danko emphasizes that he won't let Nathan's affection for the animals cost him any more men. Nathan insists Danko call them people. Danko walks away in disgust. Nathan tries to talk Tracy into surrendering, but she wants to trade Peter for her freedom. Nathan agrees. He'll meet her alone, with no tricks. She can trust him.

Forest: Peter buries their jumpsuits. Tracy tells him Nathan's on his way.

Campbell House: Sylar sets an action figure on a table, and Luke melts it. He can burn, or boil or melt things as though he were a human microwave, and smiles as he mentions disrupting pacemakers. Mary looks horrified. Sylar doesn't think it's a coincidence that Luke lives just down from Sylar's father. Luke insists he's nobody. He has no friends and his mother hates him. Mary protests, but Sylar knows the truth. Luke wishes he could be someone else. He got into a fight at school, but didn't use his power because he knew it could kill. Sylar demands to know everything about the man down the street. Agent Simmons pulls his hands up out of the knives and jumps for his gun. Sylar doesn't see what's happening, but Luke does and throws Sylar out of the way. He uses his power on Agent Simmons, burning him horribly. Mary's horrified.

Night, Exterior Campbell House: Sylar exits, followed by Luke. Luke begs Sylar to take him along, but Sylar refuses. Luke killed Sylar's only link to his father. Luke may have saved Sylar's life, but Sylar didn't kill Luke, which is a big deal for him. Luke claims to know where Sylar's father is, and Sylar can tell he isn't lying and may know how to find him. Luke can't bear to stay with his mother. Luke knows Sylar's looking for his father because he needs to know why he's the way he is. Luke dangles the keys to Mary's car, and Sylar snatches them from his hand. They leave together.

Exterior, Abandoned House, Night: Nathan drives up. Peter and Tracy are hiding behind a tree. Tracy's supposed to incapacitate Nathan with her ability, then they can use him as leverage with the government. Tracy approaches Nathan. She ices up a palm as they talk, ready to put Nathan out. Nathan insists that his offer of amnesty for her in exchange for Peter was real. Tracy hesitates. Nathan can trust Tracy because they think alike, but Peter's dangerous and will end up getting everyone killed. Tracy thaws her hand. Peter sees this and steps out of hiding with his gun raised. Laser sight dots appear on Tracy and Peter. It's Danko and Noah, Danko demanding that Noah take Peter out. Noah insists he doesn't have a good shot. Peter grabs Nathan, demanding Nathan call off the team. An armored transport pulls up with floodlights. Peter promises this is only the beginning of the fight. He absorbs Nathan's power and flies off, leaving Tracy behind crying out against Nathan's betrayal. Noah and Danko brush past Nathan, Noah still insisting he didn't have a good shot. After Danko's out of earshot, Noah admits he had the shot and didn't take it. Nathan thanks him.

On the phone, Nathan insists he didn't want open hostilities. He wanted to contain the specials, protect them from themselves. But now, with blood spilled on both sides, the next move is Peter's.

Unity Light Baptist Church, Day: Matt and Mohinder wait outside. A beaten-up pickup roars up. Hiro and Ando climb out of the back, Hiro promising the driver that they will send money. A moment later, Peter lands nearby. They have to ditch their cellphones. If they can find each other, others can find them. He figures they have fifteen minutes. Mohinder shows him Matt's drawings. He recognizes a building in the picture of the wedding. It's in New Delhi, India. Hiro recognizes himself. He needs to regain his powers. It's his destiny to go to India. Ando's not happy with the news. Mohinder shows Matt the picture of two men with guns. Matt doesn't want to seek justice. He wants them to pay for Daphne. Mohinder's shocked. It's not like Matt. He wants to take the war to the people who started it. Peter tells them they have to leave everything behind: friends, resources, every part of their old lives. They have to survive long enough to be ready when the riflemen come for them.

Sylar and Luke drive Mary's station wagon down the highway.

Bennet House, Costa Verde: Claire sits on her bed, deep in thought. Sandra, who thinks she's been away scouting colleges, enters. Claire's thinking about staying home for a while, getting a part-time job. Sandra's pleased with the idea, kisses her on the head, and leaves the room. Claire's cell-phone rings. A text message from "Rebel" reads, "There is hope. You can still fight back." Claire texts back that she's scared. Rebel replies, "Me too. Can't give up. Be ready."

Building 26: Nathan's been talking to Angela. He wants her to "do the right thing" when Peter contacts her. Angela knows that he really called because he sees now how this could all go wrong and he's looking for reassurance. Angela refuses to give it. She's got a folder on Danko, indicating some civilian deaths in one of his operations. Nathan's on his own. She hangs up.

Back of a Truck: Tracy's inside, strapped down with a black bag over her head. Nathan and some guards enter. Tracy's terrified. Nathan tries to justify what he's doing, but Tracy's not buying it. As the guards hook her up to drugs and bag her head again, she screams that he's one of them. Nathan walks away.

[
1. Okay... time travel and prophesy suck. Hiro's seen a future in which Ando kills him, while Matt's seen a future in which he and Daphne have a baby. Yet Daphne's now dead (I think) but Ando was supposed to have faith that his future career as a murderer ensures Hiro's still alive? Logic flaw, I think.
]

Quote:

Though, this is totally, late here is my commentary for Season 3: Episode 15,

Volume 4: Chapter 2: Trust and Blood

The beginning recaps picture of Noah stabbing Peter and Mohinder. Tracy and Mohinder getting kidnapped and Nathan asking Peter one last time if he was with him.

Sylar also walks into a trap looking for his bio-dad.

And Claire stows away in the airplane. This is where Claire realizes that Mr. Noah also is in on the kidnappings while Peter crashes the plane. We still don't know who flew out of the plane.

It's 43 hours later and Nathan realizes he messed up and has to explain what has happened. Yup Claire did get on the plane, all hell got lose. The plane crashed and now we have Hiro running while chased by goons.

Run Hiro Run!

Oh it's Matt and Mohinder to the rescue while dude with a flashlight looks for them.

No Hiro still don't have his powers. Matt sees the light and starts to crossover but Mohinder doesn't want him to go yet. Well, actually he got into the Isaac trance.

Peter and Claire are discussing how the volume is insane and Noah aims a gun at Peter, but Claire convinces Noah to leave Peter alone and then Peter takes off.

Noah tells Claire no one will ask questions because he is blowing up the plane as the title screen comes on.

Back in the office Nathan is one the phone discussing the nightmare and Nathan goes off on the Hunter about the air strike. Nathan didn't want them killed just captured. Looks like he F-ed it up good. And Noah just loves to play with that gun.

Tracy and Peter are running around in the woods. She tells Peter than her life used not suck but now it does again and asks what many fans want to know, why did Nathan go off the deep in. He doesn't know.

Matt breaks into a traler with Matt and Mohinder nearby. Ah he wanted to play with crayons as he gets a visitor from an Universal Studios tourist. Mohinder and Matt help themselves to some t-shirts.

Daphne find Ando and talks about their concerns about Matt and Hiro being kidnapped. They decide to look for them together.

Mohinder wants to know how Hiro lost his power. I wonder if he somehow lost his memory the last two months. Umm... Arthur? Mohinder checks out Matt's paintings.

He is impressed. Looks like they are heading to India soon. Is Molly there?

Now we are with two characters we haven't seen before. A son and mother. There is a someone in the house but actually there is two. Sylar is on his mission to find bio-dad again.

Yes, he will torture them all until he finds out where bio-dad is. Agent Simmons and both current residents.

Now like their Matt's painting, Ando and Daphne are at the crash site. Daphne and Ando mention killing Hiro in the future... That he's not dead yet because of that.

Well, the future changes. But since it is mentioned that does bring some concern into the mix.

Peter and Tracy beat up some goons. And then Peter confirms that he only has one power at the moment. He only keeps the last power of the person he touched.

Tracy has a plan.

Noah tries to reason with Claire. People with abilities need to be controlled.

Nathan is one of them too but only because of a formula. Claire can heal. Where Noah and Nathan decide who is right. Claire says she doesn't know who either of her dads are anymore. Yay for Daphne who saves Claire from her daddies.

Noah asks Nathan what the bigot, I mean the Hunter would do if he found out he was one of them. Good question. Something that will be in question later.

Matt and Daphne are reunited and so are Hiro and Ando. Claire tells all they need to get out of here, and all agree. Then a bunch of shooting happens. Daphne gets shot, Matt makes the goons shoot each other and the Hunter shoots Claire several times but can't kill her so he captures her.

Sylar tortures Luke and his family about where bio-dad is some more. They all have some witty batter, Sylar uses Doyle's power and knows that Sylar is Luke is lying.

Well Luke gets sick of that and attacks back. Oh boy he has a power too, some kind of microwave power and Sylar decides they need to have some kind of talk.

Back at the Prison camp, the hunter takes Claire back to the camp and decides to kill her by putting a bullet back to her head to kill her just like Sylar.

"I told you to leave my daughter alone."

But Nathan stops him, and tells Noah to take Claire home.

Seriously is a healer really hurting him so? But he blames her for helping the others. Noah tells Claire that they will go after her, Sandra, Lyle.

But she is worried about Uncle Peter and others. The Hunter though is after blood and tells Nathan he doesn't care if he is the President's Golden boy, he will go down (politically or more)!

And then he will go back to play house with Mommy. But Nathan says they are all replaceable. Hint that big character will be dead this volume?

Nathan gets a phone call from Tracy. The Hunter calls them animals, Nathan calls them people. But Hunter is upset that his "men" are getting killed because the "Heroes" don't want to be murdered.

But Tracy has Peter and wants a deal. She wants her life back, Peter for her life, but she and Peter have a deal.

Luke and Sylar play show me what you can do. Sylar is impressed, Mommy is shocked. Luke kills the agent and Mommy screams "Who are you?" Aww, Sylar found himself a Bosom Buddy to join his find his daddy quest. "Who are you?" Their mutual battle.

Peter says what is probably one of the saddest thing in this series:

"He isn't my brother anymore."

But then again Nathan said something as equally sad in "Dual"

"It would not be what I would have done."

Petrelli bro fangirls everywhere are turning to different shows to get their brother fix.

Nathan tells Tracy that he knows this was likely a trap but his offer still stands. Give him Peter and he will let her go. Tracy seems tempted.

Nathan tells Tracy he's not the devil, he can trust her that he isn't like Peter who thinks everything is alright. Peter comes out and spews rhetoric that Nathan thinks he is crazy and then he wants to lock him up. They have different opinions on how the world will be saved.

Noah has a gun on Peter and the Hunter goons want him to shoot. Nathan thanks Noah for not killing Peter.

Peter decides it's time to stop using the cell phones. They study Matt's pictures, and Hiro claims he needs his sword so he have the power.

Peter tells all "Our lives are not ours anymore".

Yes, it's a fact some fans are having a hard time accepting, that the show is not the show they loved anymore. Not that they don't still like the show but we aredealing with some harsh truths that the show is not the same show anymore.

Claire is back home with her mother Sandra, and she decides that she wants to stay close by for awhile and get a part-time job. Sandra is all for that. And then

Claire gets a mysterious message from a character calling him or herself "The Rebel".

Who is it? Our new 360 experience of course!

"Be Ready!"

The show ends with Nathan on the phone, and we find out who he was talking to through the episode. It's mother Angela. He knew he messed up, did something stupid in anger and is feeling very upset. Being the Mama's boy he is, he needed her assurance that he did the right thing or that he will be redeemed.

But Angela tells him she won't give him that reassurance. He messed up, he should have trusted her, kept the family mantra "The Family is only as powerful as the secrets we keep", not went to the government, and now he has to deal with it.

To quote a wonderful line from Practical Magic...

"Clean up your own damn mess."

Sad, Sad, sad.

Yet better than last week!

...and we're back after a half-season of something that wasn't quite good but actually came closer than the abortive second season. I have high hopes for this one even though they're stealing a long-running X-Men plot, because there are a lot of interesting stories that can be told within this framework. I hope they find one or two.

As always, numbers in brackets are keyed to footnote editorial comments.

Volume IV: Fugitives
Chapter 13: A Clear and Present Danger

Interior Apartment, Day: A phone rings. The door opens. Tracy Strauss enters and answers the call. It's Governor Malden, who tells her to turn on the television. Nathan is in the middle of a televised interview, which Tracy knows nothing about. She hasn't seen Nathan in two months. The interviewer is concerned about the breaches in civil liberties that have come about as a result of Nathan's heading the Senate Committee on homeland security. Tracy hangs up and starts to get undressed[1] when she notices an open window. It raises her suspicions. As the interview continues, with Nathan dodging questions about what he's up to, she walks out into a hallway. Men in black coveralls with hoods and goggles chase her into the kitchen. She tries to freeze one, but her power doesn't penetrate the suit. Each man aims a rifle at her, and she's subdued but refuses to beg. A final masked man enters and shoots her with a tranquilizer. The others cover her hands while he makes a phone call to tell Petrelli that they've got the first one.

Tokyo, Japan: Ando stands with his eyes closed while Hiro opens a garage door. When he opens them again, Hiro welcomes him to the lair. Ando understands. With Hiro's power gone, he's trying to live through Ando, who's new power of supercharging is useless without another power to supercharge. Hiro shows him Ando's superhero costume, a white spandex number with a red lightning bolt[2]. Hiro's also gotten Ando a motorcycle, which impresses Ando, and a communications setup, which doesn't. The setup requires a password, the name of someone very important to Hiro, and Ando can't know what it is. The setup will allow Hiro to track Ando through the use of a GPS locator. When Ando asks about it, Hiro injects him with it and shows Ando where he's injected his own. That's the last straw for Ando, who refuses to become a superhero, hops on his motorbike and takes off, leaving Hiro calling after him.

New York: At the scene of a car accident, Peter works as a paramedic, trying to revive an accident victim and unable to give up even when his partner insists that it's too late. Peter's beating himself up because he should have gotten there faster, should have been stronger.

New York, Petrelli Mansion: Claire pores over college calendars for some of the best schools in the country, but she's upset by it instead of excited. Angela enters. Claire appreciates all that Angela has done for her, but she doesn't feel she can do this. Angela's discussed it with both her fathers, and this is the best chance for her to have a normal life. Claire doesn't understand how any of them can have a normal life while Sylar's loose. Angela points out that they watched Primatech burn, that they found dental evidence. Claire believes that Sylar's killing again and everyone is keeping it from her. Noah's got articles about specials in his desk and he's going on business trips and it's all starting again. They're trying to keep Claire out of it, but she refuses. She walks out on her grandmother.

Harbor Watch Repair, Baltimore, Maryland: Sylar enters and looks longingly at the tools and parts scattered across a worktable. As a phonograph plays, "I don't want to set the world on fire," he begins taking apart a watch. An old man enters, levelling a shotgun and accusing Sylar of being a thief. Sylar calls him Martin Gray, and relates the story of his leaving Gabe and his mother. Gabe is his son, and he's got some questions.

An Apartment, New York: Matt sits at a small table, eating and looking through bills. Daphne zips in. He's upset with her for using her abilities. She can't stand taking all the time necessary to do her job as a messenger at normal speed. Matt points out that he's not using his power to make his way to the top of the NYPD. Daphne points out that he's a security guard making $12/hr when he could open his own detective agency. He tells her that after all the craziness of their lives, he just wants to get back to normal. However, before he can finish the words, he sees The Guide and realizes that normal's still out of reach. Daphne sees nothing, but agrees to pretend normality, kisses him, and walks away, leaving Matt to wonder what's next.

Petrelli Mansion, New York: Claire comes downstairs to find Angela on the phone, talking to someone about Claire. Claire sneaks over to an extension. It's Nathan. He's asking Angela to keep Claire out of things while his teams pick up Peter and Parkman. Claire turns to find Angela staring at her. Claire hangs up and stomps out. Angela tells Nathan that they now have a bigger problem.

Watch Repair, Baltimore: Martin tries to explain that he's not the man he was, but if Sylar has questions, now's the time. Sylar wants to know why Martin left. Martin figures Sylar really wants an apology, but Martin's sorry he ever had a child with a sick, unstable woman. Sylar's truth sense tingles. He's not Martin's son, and demands to know who he is. Martin wanted out of a loveless marriage, but was too much a coward to walk away. Sylar's mother wanted a child and Martin's brother had a child but needed money. The man is still alive. Martin jots an address down on a bill of sale and asks Sylar to leave. Sylar pauses, his fingers twitching as he considers whether to kill his mother's husband, but then leaves Martin alone.

New York Street: Peter watches the accident scene cleanup. As he and his partner pack up the ambulance, his partner wonders whether Peter's planning to see his brother while Nathan's in town. Peter didn't plan on it. They haven't spoken in months. They're not getting along. His partner emigrated from Iran, and the kind of talk coming out of Nathan's mouth disturbs him. Peter knows what he's talking about, as hard as that might be to believe. Peter's cell rings. It's Claire, walking down some other street. She's in New York. She tells Peter about Nathan and Angela's plans, that they're rounding up people with abilities. She's on her way to warn Matt. Peter says he'll go talk to his mom. He hangs up and hails a cab. It's Mohinder. Their greeting is strained, until Peter repeats the words of their first conversation. They laugh. Mohinder hasn't seen any of the others, except Nathan, who's been on the television almost constantly. Mohinder doesn't think Nathan's wrong. Peter's concerned that Nathan's approach might lead to segregation, internment camps... Mohinder insists they agree to disagree. They part with civil words and Peter leaves the cab. Another man gets in. He pulls out a gun and tells Mohinder to drive. It's the man who tranquilized Tracy.

Deserted Parking Structure: The cab comes to a halt near a black van. Men in suits and goggles appear, holding tranquilizer rifles. The man in back of the cab orders Mohinder into the van. Mohinder steps out of the cab and holds the open door a moment, then rips it off its hinges. He bats the man from the back with it, then holds it as a shield against the tranq darts. One gets through. Mohinder drops the door and runs. The riflemen check on their boss while Mohinder sprints down the levels of the car park. A couple of levels down, a car pulls out in front of him. It's Noah, and he demands Mohinder get in. As they take off down the ramps. Noah demands to know whether he's had contact with Claire, what he told Peter. Mohinder can't understand what's going on, where Noah came from. The car stops. In front of it is a line of riflemen with Mohinder's passenger in their midst[3]. Noah apologizes, then pulls a taser from his glove compartment and zaps Mohinder in the leg. Mohinder stumbles from the car as the riflemen close in. Noah gets out and stands over him. Noah and the passenger exchange relieved looks.

Petrelli Mansion: Peter enters, calling for his mother, but Angela's not there. Nathan is. He's got the whole country thinking he's talking about terrorists on television, but Peter knows who he's really talking about. Their mother isn't involved. It's all Nathan. He wants to get Peter's advice on some ideas Nathan has. They'll have dinner. As Peter turns to leave, Nathan wonders what other powers Peter's acquired. Peter only admits to flight.

Parkman Apartment: Matt's getting a midnight glass of water when he notices his turtle crawling on the floor. As Matt bends down to retrieve it, the Guide appears. He's an illusion. He knows how difficult it can be to become a prophet, as Matt has been chosen to become. Matt wants a normal life. The Guide insists that he's a prophet, that he can paint the future. Matt can't even draw, but find himself sitting in front of a pad and pencil only a moment later. As Matt resignedly begins to wonder what he's supposed to do, his eyes cloud over and he begins to sketch frantically.

Hiro's Lair, Tokyo: Hiro's GPS work has finally found Ando outside a strip club. After a few attempts, he makes voice contact with Ando, who has discovered that the Andocycle is a chick magnet. Hiro and Ando argue as various girls circle the bike, but it ends strangely when Hiro suddenly cries out. Ando, when he receives no response from Hiro, hops on his bike and leaves the girls behind. Back at the lair, riflemen drag Hiro out through the door.

Parkman Apartment: Matt continues sketching until there's a knock on his door. He shakes off the trance. He's drawn a picture of himself and a girl standing over a desk. He grabs a gun from his desk drawer and opens the door. It's Claire, who has come to warn him that Sylar and the Company are planning something, and intend to take him down. Matt's more impressed by what he's drawn, considering that he couldn't draw before: a picture of Daphne with a man (Peter?), Claire and Matt standing at the desk looking at a drawing, Claire and Matt standing behind a window, Matt with a dart in his neck. It's supposed to be the future, but before Matt and Claire can figure out the meaning of it, a dart comes through the window and incapacitates Matt. The door bursts open and as it fills with riflemen, Claire raises her hands.

Peter's Apartment: Peter enters to find Nathan waiting for him. He decided they shouldn't wait for dinner. Nathan tries to apologize for the way he's treated Peter the last few months, but what he's doing is too important. Peter needs to understand that before he makes a decision. Peter's not normal, and if he understands that, Nathan can make arrangements and provide Peter with the protection he needs. Peter turns and locks his door. Nathan just needs to know that Peter's with him. Peter can't. He'll fight Nathan any way he can. Nathan understands and gives his brother a hug[4]. After the hug, Noah comes up behind Peter and tases him into unconsciousness.

Home of Samson Gray, Taxidermist: A run-down house in the poorer section of town. Sylar opens the unlocked door. The place seems empty except for stuffed trophies and photographs. One of them shows a young Sylar on a tricycle. A snowglobe of the Taj Mahal sits on a desk nearby. He finds a burning cigarette and stubs it out. Suddenly riflemen erupt from the surrounding rooms and tranquilizer darts thump into Sylar's chest. A wrangler's noose tightens around his neck and two others around his arms. Then Sylar reacts, throwing off his attackers using telekinesis, expelling the darts, loosening the noose. He throws the men back and fries most of them with lightning bolts. As the last man crawls away, Sylar telekinetically drags him back and props him up for interrogation. When the man tries to remain silent, Sylar starts to pop his top. Agent Daniel Simmons talks. He doesn't know where Samson Gray is, and refuses to talk about who sent him. Sylar likes a challenge.

Hiro's Lair, Tokyo: Ando sits at the computer trying to puzzle out the password[5]. It's not Kaito or Kensai[6]. It's Ando. A moment later, Ando's found Hiro on a map.

Airport Hanger, Night: Nathan waits with riflemen and a black S.U.V. as a couple of Hummers pull up. Doors open. More riflemen emerge, then a row of prisoners in orange jumpsuits with black bags over their heads, ear mufflers, blackened goggles, and chest-mounted control panels attached to tubes that vanish up into the hoods. They stand docile as they're chained together. A second S.U.V. disgorges the head agent. He tells Nathan that Sylar evaded capture, but that a cleanup crew is en-route. Also, he has one prisoner brought forward. It's Claire. They strip off her bag and goggles. She's so dopey she can barely stand, but she tells Nathan she hates him. Nathan asks the team leader for a moment alone. He takes her to a car and dumps her in the back seat. He's giving her a chance the others won't have. He gives the driver instructions, then walks away, the team lead watching him suspiciously. As the car drives off, the other prisoners are hearded into the belly of a cargo plane.

In the car, Claire's healing power causes her to suddenly recover from the drugs. She kicks the driver's head against the side window, and the car comes to a gradual stop. She frees herself as the plane taxis toward the runway, and runs toward it. She catches up when the plane stops to wait for clearance, and climbs into a wheelwell. Nathan watches the plane climb into the sky, then heads back to his limo.

Plane Interior: A couple of guards armed with a tranq rifle walks up and down between rows of chained prisoners, who are too doped to know what's going on. Claire sneaks out of a hatch near the rear of the plane and takes in the sight. She hides behind equipment crates until the guards fall into conversation near the front of the plane, then sneaks over and begins removing hoods. Hiro is first. She pulls the drug tube from his nose and puts his hood back on. Peter's next, but he's not strong enough to break the chair restraints. Mohinder's beside him though, and when Claire has unhooked Mohinder, Peter reaches over and touches him. Sparks fly, and something moves from Mohinder to Peter. Peter tears off the shackles holding him[8] and tells Claire to wake everyone up while he finishes unhooking himself. Tracy's next, then a woman we don't know, then Matt. Meanwhile, Peter's freed himself and is taking on the guards. One of them drops a taser. Claire picks it up and heads to the cockpit. She takes out a guard just inside the pit, then threatens with pilot with the taser, ordering him to land. She turns to find Noah in the copilot's seat.

Peter tries to free others, but is hit from behind by one of the guards. He falls against Tracy, and something passes between them. Suddenly, Peter's strength appears to be gone. He's no match for the guard, who throws him against the fuselage. Peter rests his hand on the wall as he tries to rise, and watches in surprise as frost forms on the metal under his hand. It spreads to a wide patch which, rendered fragile by cold, suddenly shatters. In the moment before it goes, Peter lunges across the cargo space to grab one of the cargo nets. The plane lurches. A guard flies out the hole. Peter dangles from the net.

The pilot radios a mayday. One of the prisoner seats, complete with prisoner, tears loose and flies out the hole. The clasps securing the net Peter's holding, begin to let go one by one. Just as the last one gives way, Suresh grabs Peter's hand, holding onto one of the plane ribs to keep himself still. As the ground becomes visible outside the cockpit, Peter's hand begins to slip from Mohinder's...

[
1. Once again, Ali Larter provides the show a voyeuristic thrill.

2. Very similar to that worn by the Flash.

3. How did the rifleman and their boss get down to the bottom of the park before Noah and Mohinder?

4. Peter... not a fast learner, that boy.

5. Passwords, people, should not be a dictionary word or a name. The best passwords are random scrambles of upper case and lower case letters, numbers and a few special characters like & or _, and they ought to be LONG. A four-letter password is about as secure as a tissue-paper seatbelt.

6. Or Charlie either. I'd have bet on Charlie.

7. Excuse me? Someone kidnaps Hiro, and in the time it takes Ando to drive across town, has taken him across the Pacific and most of the U.S. to New York? And the riflemen kidnapped a foreign national, the C.E.O. of a powerful corporation without anyone but an ex-office drone raising the alarm? Unless Petrelli's capture squads have mastered teleportation too, something's serious amiss logistically.

8. I wonder if there's significance in the movement of Peter's power from being empathy-triggered to being physical-contact triggered. What does it mean for his character?

Well, I certainly can't say they've wasted any time getting into this story. The action starts about two minutes in and doesn't let up. The excitement is here, and there's plenty of conflict. The only question is whether it will develop into watchable drama. Unfortunately, for that, we'll have to wait and see.
]

Hello! Stef here commentating her first episode directly since Volume 3: Chapter 7: Eros Sum Quod.

The episode starts with Tracy on the phone with the governor. Do you all remember the governor? Tracy was in cahoots from him in the beginning of Volume 3 as well, and I was in fact wondering when he will show up again.

Nathan has the president's ear and Tracy has the governor's ear. What are the agendas of these two political bodies? The president seemed to be receptive to Nathan's wacked out plan about rounding up "specials' but the what about the Governor? He previously generated a plan with Tracy to find a senator as his pawn. And according to a recent graphic novel, "What we have Wrought", Tracy at the time still seemed interested in giving everyone powers. Mohinder though fouled that by breaking the assumed last vial with his shoe. Still, I have to say this
intrigues me. What's the dealio with the governor?

Nathan and his claims to protect the American people by attacking American people definitely perplexes but we will continue later. But still, Tracy tells the governor that she doesn't have clue what Nathan's true dealio, claiming she hasn't
seen him in two months. She decides to go to bed.

Steven the reporter mentions if Nathan really wants to destroy civil liberties.

Yup. That would be a fair assessment. Then Tracy gets attacked by some goons; she attempts to freeze a few, does the TV-14 version of telling them where to go, and then the goons use an upgrade of the Primatech taser devices to restrain her.

The end of the scene ends with the loaded claim from Nathan that he is a God fearing man. From my calculation that phrase could have been a muli-layered statement. Samedi saw himself as a god. In a way Nathan feels he is protecting the public that would use their power to hurt and destroy the "common" man. There are many different ways to hurt a person. Let's us cut the ways shall we? ha ha

Next up is a scene where Hiro is with Ando trying to help train them. They even have a lair now and he presents Ando with an spandex costume with a lightning bolt on it. "Very badass Hiro" claims.

It's Ando's destiny to be super hero if he likes it or not, and he even gets an Ando cycle. Oh it just makes me think of the shell cycle. Hiro then sets up a GPSsystem that he injects into Ando that drives him nuts. Hiro sets up a password for the surveillance equipment. "The password is someone that is really important to
him."

Aww, we later find out it's "Ando" when Ando uses it to find Hiro after the goons get him. Hmm... did that GPS system remind anyone else of the system Hana gave her first life to destroy?

Ah New York, Peter is now a paramedic. Is that a step up from being an Hospice nurse? I am not sure, but for Peter that had to handle so much death and near deaths the last three volumes perhaps he found being an EMT would give him a chance to stop some death. But it doesn't always work that way as we find out where we Peter try to will a dead patient back to life. Peter can't save him. And Peter remembers a time where he used to have Elle's power to shock his heart or used the healing ability he used to have. Or be stronger like the power he got from Niki once upon a time. All before Volume 3 changed the rules, eh?

Oh seems that Claire got her GED. And now is trying to get into colleges. She knows Sylar isn't dead because well, he has her ability. She had a stick in her head before, and she was in a fire
before.

"They found dental records", Angela said.

"But I also once watched a movie called Species," Claire replied.

Okay she didn't say that but you get my point. I mean she also cut her toe off. It means nada. Besides, this show is filled with Company Men, people can switch bodies or fake deaths.

Claire then talks about how they found a building with a complete floor filled with salt water. That was in a recent graphic novel as well. "Under the Bridge."

Primatech and Pinehearst might be gone. But as the Haitian once told Mohinder, "There's always a Company."

Ah the dead Sylar shows up in Maryland. And he runs into a Martin Gray. We get a clue on the meaning behind the name of that shop in Queens. "Grays and Sons".

Turns out that Gabriel has an uncle. And this uncle gave Martin the baby because he needed some money. Or in my guess is the Company was perhaps onto him maybe. Martin took off on Virginia and Gabriel by going to the store and not ever coming back. Sylar wants to know where this "uncle" is. Martin Grey gave Sylar a piece of paper with some info. Sylar notices that Martin is telling the truth he pauses for a second wondering if he wants to kill him maybe but doesn't and leaves.

Martin removes his glasses and looks sad.

Matt and Daphne seem to have a normal enough life. Daphne hates not be able to use her ability because the bike is so slow. She is a delivery person and he is a body guard. Daphne doesn't want normal and Matt doesn't want bizarre. Matt sees dead people now, talks to turtles, and for some reason can now tell the future. Too bad Matt because you have bizarre.

Claire overhears Angela talk to Nathan on the phone. And she realizes that all the character development that Nathan had in the end of Volume 1, all of Volume 2 and half of Volume 3 went down the tubes because they wants Claire out of the way so he can go after Matt and Peter. Claire has flashbacks of that time at Nathan's office when she was talking to Thompson but it's even worse.

Peter's partner tells him that Nathan is back in town and he is scared of him because he don't like people that are different and his family is different. Peter looks up at him but the partner really specifies what he means. Claire calls up Peter and tells him that Nathan and Angela is up to something. she thought it was
Sylar but it wasn't. She tells him that she wants to round up people with abilities and that they are after Matt.

Oh Peter goes and catches that cab just like Volume 1. Even with Mohinder all over again. They try some small talk and then they start talking about Nathan. Mohinder mentioned that he does believe that some people with powers are dangerous but Peter mentions do you really think they should be segerated? They agree to disagree.

Ah here comes another parallel from Volume 3. But it's not Noah this time. But another punk with a gun. They go into a parking lot and well, Noah shows up after all. Saying he is going to help but in reality is there to capture him as well.

Peter shows up at the Mansion to talk to the pod creature formerly known as Nathan.

Nathan says that the last time he tried to out them, he got shot and that "He's a quick study."

Seriously?

Peter isn't buying the garbage either and told the Nathan to kiss his ass.

Nathan than asked Peter on how many abilities he has now.

Peter instead replied, "What was the last thing you saw me do?"


"You flew."

A hint that Peter's powers are super different perhaps? Nathan asks Peter one last time if he is with him or against him.

Peter doesn't agree with Nathan's plans even after Nathan actually pleads for him to agree so he "can protect" him. But Peter knows what Nathan plans are messed up.

So he refuses so Nathan lets Noah stab him with the taser thing.

"Don't hurt him," Nathan ordered.

Uh... Nathan did have a look of near regret. But you know what they say...And this situation is not a game of horseshoes. Oh Nathan... how could you do this to your brother? That thread of regret is helpful but you are doing unforgivable things
here. Peter hugged you and then you let Noah stab him!? (shakes head)

So it seems Sylar was sent to a trap. Well, it's only chapter 1 it was too early for him to find his answers. Sylar escapes the goons though.

The goons bring Claire instead and it turns out that her too creepo daddies had some deal to spare her. Still messed up because both Daddies lock up people she cares for and loves. Both are corrupt and more that a bit sickening.

Noah should have known how Claire would react...just a few weeks ago she let him have it about that one blackhole dude.

Claire runs for the plane in order in order to help Peter and her friends that are "just like her", including Hiro that got his powers taken away by Grandpa Arthur while Nathan just watches.

Once on the plane, Claire first helps Hiro and then goes to Peter, he doesn't have his strength anymore so she helps Peter get it from Mohider.

We see Peter reach out and grab Mohinder's arm and some power transfer thing happens. Perhaps the formula gave Peter the ability to take the power from the last person he touches now. Apparent a way to limit Peter's "god-like" powers. But Sylar still gets to have a buffet-style meal of powers via his power and maybe other fans were totally okay with Peter having all those powers.

Well, I guess this is some kind of compromise since people cannot please everyone.

Anyway, now that Peter has Mohinder's strength, he is able to free himself while Claire goes wakes the others.

Peter handles some of the goons while Claire goes to the cockpit and finds out that not only her bio-dad but her other daddy is a creepo too.

While all the craziness continues, including Peter freezing a breech in the plane, some random person flies out and Peter nearly falls out until Mohinder saves him holding onto him. Who will survive as the plane crashes into the snow... what month is on the show now? Or are they in some foreign icy country? We shall find out next time.

So what do I think of this volume four so far? To be totally honest, Monday night I was more than a bit upset. However parts of the storyline were kinda interesting and it's early yet.

Let's see what the future holds. Turtle Power !

This report will discuss a recap of some of the Heroes 360 materials from the last few weeks. First up a quick discuss on the Recruit websiodes and then a slightly more detailed discussion on the last six graphic novel chapters. The first two of the six I read awhile ago. Some will be commented more than others.


You can watch the Recruit Mini Episodes Here: The Recruit

This series detailed a recruit to the formula program. Turns out one of them was a daughter of someone with an ability. So she was in the same boat as Nathan I suppose. She injected herself with a vial of the formula before trying to escape where Angela snatched her. I am sure she will probably show up on the show again maybe or she got herself blown up. Time will tell. But Angela did call her undead mommy Leona. So hmm. Seems that they were old friends.

~*~

The Red Eye : Graphic Novel Chapters 117 & 118

This graphic novel mentioned a character that was first mentioned in the istory that had the interest of both Primatech and Pinehearst plus the Death Squad (people that want to kill all with an ability). What is of interest of this episode on the made show is that Claire is visiting a college and meets a fellow young student who always has a powers. Aww. Claire is making powerful friends.

Under the Bridge: Graphic Novel Chapters 119 and 120

Oh Nathan is on his hunt. In these two chapters, he indirectly runs into two different people with abilities, one of which that impalled his wife with some weird type of quill power. What's the point of that power? Well, Nathan is acting really scary in this. Look at this picture for reference.

Picture Link

~*~

Chapter 121 - What Have we Wrought

Now this issue restores my faith in the story, if just a little. This chapter is Mohinder and Tracy, taking place exactly from the last time we saw them. This issue is worth a read! So I linked this one above, and you should click!

Don't have time? Well, let's say Tracy asks Mohinder to reproduce the catalyzed formula for her and presents the last sample of formula that she took from Pinehearst.

Well Mohinder refuses her offer regardless how much money she offers telling her that he will not risk his soul or the world to play God again. He then rolls out of the moving car and then after a second of hesitation, smashes the last vial with his shoe. Whoo! Mohinder is back. I guess that is one good thing.

Chapter 122: Almost Famous

This last chapter before the new episode tonight was about Matt and Daphne just trying to have a normal life. Matt is in security again and ends up using his ability to save a wacko stalker from killing this singer. He then uses his ability to hinder the singer's memory so he would not be found out. Back home he kisses Daphne and says, "I almost blew our cover today."

~*~

Ah! Less than three hours to go (as of my myspace posting) in the Eastern and Central timezone before Volume 4 Fugitives begins.

Seems like a pretty depressing chapter volume to me. I am probably tainted by the idealistic nature of Star Trek, actually I know I am. But seeing Mohinder remind me why I love the man is always awesome.

I should nip my whiny comment until after the show, right? Yeah, I will do that.
(or try...)

Go Heroes!