In this episode, we are introduced to Peter Petrelli, a young man who dreams of flying, and his brother Nathan, a ruthless politician who thinks that Peter is dreaming his life away. Meanwhile, ordinary people from all around the world are starting to suspect that they have abilities beyond those of normal humans. Artist Isaac Mendez believes that he is painting the future, high school cheerleader Claire Bennet is suddenly able to recover from any wound almost instantly, Japanese businessman Hiro Nakamura tries to convince a friend that he can bend space and time, and single mother Niki Sanders starts seeing strange things in mirrors. Upon learning of his father's passing, genetics Professor Mohinder Suresh begins to look into his research for a clue to why he washuged. When he follows his father's trail to New York City, however, Mohinder learns that someone else is on the trail of the same research. Someone who mayhug to protect the secrets of the next step in human evolution.

Los Angeles police officer Matt Parkman is working crowd control at a cuddle scene when he alone begins to hear the muffled cries of a little girl somewhere in the house. Claire's heroism brings her unwanted attention. Peter comes closer to learning the truth about his and Nathan's powers. Hiro finds a comic book which leads him to Isaac.

Claire's romantic interlude with the football quarterback takes a tragic turn. Hiro convinces his friend, Ando, that it is their destiny to travel to America to save the world. Meanwhile, Nathan uses Peter's accident for his own political gain. Officer Matt Parkman, Mohinder Suresh, and the FBI are all on the trail of the mysterious Sylar.

After her night with Brody, Claire wakes up in the last place she would have imagined. Matt meets a couple of men who seem to know too much about him. Mohinder Suresh finds one of the heroes. Hiro's plan backfires in Las Vegas. Linderman's assistant makes more trouble for Niki just as Nathan arrives in Las Vegas to talk to the crooked casino owner about a campaign contribution. Isaac paints a bleak future for Claire. Peter receives a cryptic message from a very unexpected source.

Matt uses his abilities to help his marriage. Niki, distraught over another blackout, arrives home to learn that her husband, D.L., has escaped from prison. Claire tells her father about some of the things she's been through lately. Down and out in Vegas, Hiro finally connects with another hero. Peter must figure out what to do with the mysterious message.

Hiro and Ando plan to continue on their journey to New York, but they are given a tempting offer by a high-roller while still in Las Vegas. Mr. Bennet, the man in the horn-rimmed glasses, arranges a meeting for his daughter, Claire, with her biological parents. Claire hopes that this meeting can shed some light on her abilities. Hiro calls Isaac's again, but Peter answers and is able to relay the message from the future. Mohinder returns to India to bury his father, saying goodbye to Eden. Niki receives a surprise visitor at her home.

Niki opens up to a friend when her son becomes the subject of a crisis. Hiro overcomes his doubts about his heroism. Nathan and his wife come up with a strategy to win the election and Peter provides some unexpected assistance. Claire finds out what happened to her missing video tape. Matt and Audrey continue their investigation of the serial hugger Sylar.

While mourning for his father in India, Mohinder begins to have strange dreams of the past. Niki begins to understand herself. Hiro and Ando meet an interesting person while stopping at a diner. Matt and Audrey follow a lead regarding the mysterious Sylar, but it leads to something unexpected. Claire is getting ready for homecoming with hopes of returning to a normal life. Meanwhile her father locates another hero, and urgently requests his help.

Events in this episode take place on the day of Claire's Homecoming game. Claire's father is growing desperate to stop the villain who is coming after Claire. Nathan gets the painting from Linderman, and is horrified by what it depicts. Mohinder's dreams hold secrets about his father. Ando waits for Hiro who still has not returned from the past. Peter must try to save the cheerleader and also himself.

This episode shows the heroes six months ago. Chandra Suresh, Mohinder's father, arrives in New York looking for special people. He meets up with an individual that embraces the chance to be unique. Peter graduates from nursing school. Nathan plans to prosecute a case that could cause complications for the Petrellis. Niki receives a visit from her father which brings out the worst in her. Hiro tries to alter the future for someone important to him. Claire discovers her abilities right after joining the cheerleading squad, and her father meets up with someone special.

Peter is in police custody after being mistakenly arrested in Odessa, forcing Nathan to take time out of his Congressional campaign. Claire deals with the implications of telling her father the truth. Matt and Audrey pursue a new lead in the hunt for Sylar unaware that the hugger has been captured by Mr. Bennet. Hiro and Ando arrive in Odessa, too late to "save the cheerleader." After Niki learns of Jessica's recent actions, she must make a difficult decision to keep her family safe and so she decides to get herself arrested. Mohinder takes fresh steps down his newly-chosen path by coming back to New York and continuing his fathers research. Isaac's painting of the exploding man comes into context with major consequences for the future of a certain hero, just as an even more mysterious painting is unveiled.

Matt reveals his abilities to his wife. HRG confers with Mohinder. Now that she knows the truth, Claire tries to make sense of her life. Hiro seeks the sword that he is destined to own. Niki must face the consequences of her decision to turn herself in to the police. Simone and Nathan are worried about Peter, who has been in a coma for two weeks. Peter meets a new hero. Micah visits his mother.

Hiro continues to search for a sword while being chased by mysterious figures. An invisible man named Claude has something to teach one of the heroes. D.L. takes on new family responsibilities, and Matt opens up to his wife. H.R.G. continues to focus on the captive Sylar. Claire seeks out the Haitian and then her birth parents. Mohinder looks for those on the list, and receives a surprise visitor. A psychiatrist offers to help Niki.

Hiro deals with explaining his new heroic path in life to his ambitious sister and tycoon father. Niki has the chance to reunite with D.L and Micah. Claude's mentoring of Peter leads Peter to question those closest to him. Claire goes to a trailer park looking for her birth mother. Sylar wears a disguise and makes a move against HRG.

Matt enters the private security business and receives an objectionable client. Suresh finds another person on the list. As her home-life worsens, Claire strives to learn more about her birth parents. Hiro and Ando get sidetracked in Vegas again while searching for the sword. Nathan is forced to deal with a secret from his past. Still indebted to Mr. Linderman, Jessica resorts to unsavory methods that could spell doom for a fellow hero.

Peter learns that he and Claude may have been betrayed. Matt's reunited with the radioactive Ted Sprague and Hana Gitelman a woman with "wireless" mental abilities. Hiro makes a tough choice about his mission. Claire can no longer hold back her anger towards HRG.

Matt Parkman and Ted Sprague arrive in Texas in search of answers and take HRG and his family hostage. More is revealed about Mr. Bennet, the agency for which he works, and how he found Claire.

As the election and destruction of New York approach, Nathan meets up with Linderman. Hiro attempts to steal the sword heading him in a new path. Suresh and Sylar make progress with the list at great cost. D.L. begins to suspect problems at home. Isaac paints an even more terrible painting. A new hero, Candice Wilmer, appears.

Sylar and Peter face off. Linderman reveals his plans to Nathan, and enlists the aid of another Hero. Claire finally meets her real father, and Bennet, Matt and Ted attempt to escape from Thompson.

Hiro and Ando find themselves five years after the destruction of New York City. People with extraordinary abilities are labeled as terrorists and are being registered, hunted, andhuged. Hiro and Ando meet up with darker versions of the other heroes in preparation for a showdown with the President. This includes a darker side of Matt, a Jessica/Niki with a clear winner in their battle, a brown-haired Claire, and a man named Andy, who's a big hearted Texan. It also features an event at an upscale gentleman's club.

Jessica and D.L. discover some of the stuff that Linderman wants from them and Micah. Sylar questions his path when he realizes what he is predestined to do and reunites with his mother to seek validation. Hiro and Ando follow him, and Hiro's resolve is tested when he realizes the enormity of hugging another human being. Meanwhile, Angela Petrelli tries to convince Nathan to go along with Linderman's plan. And Peter tries to prove to Claire that they are both destined to save New York. Also there is a new hero who is supposed to be holding the key to stopping Sylar.

Angela Petrelli is forced to play a bigger role in Nathan, Peter, and Claire's life. The truth about the passing of Nathan and Peter's father is finally revealed along with his true identity. When Nathan finds out that he may have a chance to become more than a Congressman, he is confronted with a decision that he must make. As election day nears some try to leave NYC. HRG and Matt learn another surprising secret. Also, Sylar is eating another hero's brain. Hiro's dad returns.

Can Sylar be stopped? Will Linderman's vision live on with Nathan? What will it take for Peter to save the world? What sacrifices will be made? With all the horrible predictions unfolding before them, the heroes face moments of pain and peril in Kirby Plaza.