Heroes- String Theory

Strings!Previously on Heroes: There were Heroes, and they had power. They saved a cheerleader, but what if they didn't save the world?

Hiro and Ando are right where we left them, among a string maze of article clippings at Isaac's studio with Future Hiro. It's the five year anniversary of the explosion in NYC. Future Hiro (FH) explains to Past Hero (PH) that he was supposed to have killed Sylar. Saving the cheerleader meant keeping her powers from Sylar which meant making him mortal so he could be killed before he blew up and destroyed NYC. Wait...Sylar blew up? Just as FH explains that PH has to go back in time and fix the mistake, Future Parkman busts in with a swat team. They grab PH, but FH and Ando escape.

FH explains that Parkman is in Homeland Security, and that FH is considered a terrorist. Because Homeland has the power-blocking Haitian, they need help to rescue PH. Help is in Vegas in the form of Peter Petrelli, who despite his healing abilities is sporting a gnarly scar on his face. He's now with Nikki/Jessica, and the two of them are all kindsa badass. We learn that they used to be on FH side (she calls him General Chow), but they now just want to hide. They send Ando and FH after Bennett.

Back in New York, Parkman interrogates Past Hiro. He accuses him of teleportation, stopping time, prison breaks, and attacks against US interest. The problem is, when Parkman searches PH's brain, he finds none of it. Because PH hasn't done those things yet, he doesn't remember them. Confused, Matt calls the as-forseeen President Petrelli with news of Hiro's capture and evasion of mind-reading.

The President calls in Mohinder, who we learn is working with him to develop a "cure" for the Hero gene. It's been 5 years and nothing has worked. Maybe, Nathan suggests, it's time to just kill them. Mo has his doubts, but wisely says nothing. He heads off to interrogate Hiro with Parkman.

Upon his arrival, Mo discovers Hiro's string history of the events leading to the explosion in NYC. He remembers when Peter was visited on the train, and told to "save the cheerleader" and "save the world". He realizes Hiro is trying to go back in time and fix it.

We cut to Primatech, where an older HRG and some unknown foreign chick give Heroes covers so they can live in society undetected. They want his help, but he can't risk his operation. Ando reminds him that Hiro is the one who saved Claire. HRG seems to soften and says he'll see what he can do.

Speaking of Claire, she's now brunette, a waitress, engaged, and WAY more Texan than before, y'all. HRG comes to her diner with news. Someone knows about her, she has to leave immediately. When she protests and tells him about the wedding, HRG is sorry, but does not relent. She has to go. Claire sighs, but seems to agree.

Waiting for HRG at Primatech, Ando asks Future Hiro what happened to him in the last five years. FH is about to explain when Parkman busts in and takes him down. His mind is thoroughly blown when he sees that there are indeed, two Hiros (maybe they're indentical cousins?). Things look bleak until we see that Peter has had a change of heart. He shows up, freezes time, grabs FH and Ando, and teleports out. Parkman and his team unfreeze only to find their targets are gone.

HRG gets back to the office and we learn that he told Parkman about FH and Ando. He cooperates in order to keep the harmless Heroes safe. He's been keeping Parkman's wife and son safe all this time. The two men share a touching moment. Out of the corner of his eye, HRG sees his foreign lady-partner has been shot. So much for touching moments. Parkman has turned on him. He reads HRG's mind to get Claire's location, and then kills him.

At Claire's diner, she convinces her fiance to elope with her. Happy with the turn of events, she goes to help a customer who is of course...Matt Parkman. Well, shit.

In New York, Suresh tries to get to the bottom of the Hiroses plan. PH simply explains: "if you could save lives, wouldn't you?" Hmm. You think Mo might take that to heart what with the impending Hero genocide he's supposed to participate in?

Having teleported to Vegas, Peter and Ando talk while FH is out cold. Peter reveals that Ando died in the explosion, and that Hiro hasn't been the same since. In fact, it's why he's tried so hard to make everything right. Aw. I haven't seen a hetero male relationship this sweet and gay since Frodo and Samwise.

On a less happy note, President Petrelli shuts down Suresh's plan to use Hiro to avoid the explosion and all the problems since it. Wow, Nate really wants to be President, because he's become pretty evil. He tells Suresh to kill Hiro (and thus the chances of stopping the bomb). He's going to announce there is a "cure" for the Hero gene, and when people start to die he'll tell them... oops.

Evil President Petrelli heads home where a recently captured Claire is waiting. He launches into a speech about how powerful he is, and how a lady named Candace helped him become President. Oh shit. It's Sylar, y'all. He wants to eliminate the Hero competition, and he can, just after he gets Claire's power. Commence head-cutting.

Unaware in Vegas are Hiro, Ando, Pete and Nikki. While FH and Ando talk about how much they like each other, Nikki chews Peter out for getting into this mess. She tells him it isn't always his job to fix things. Then Peter drops a bombshell (forgive the pun): he's the one who blew up NYC. Not Sylar. Nathan/Sylar used Sylar's name to protect Peter and himself. I guess that explains the massive scar. Nikki tells him if he leaves to do this, it's for good. Peter walks out without hesitation, telling FH and Ando: "let's go fix it".

While Nathan/Sylar gives a speech commemorating the 5 year anniversary of the explosion and announcing the "cure" for Heroes, Peter, Hiro and Ando go to free Past Hiro. They battle the first guards easily, but getting upstairs where the Haitian is is another matter. Thankfully, Mohinder takes him out with the injection he's supposed to give PH. Yay for Mo's conscience! Well, it was his conscience and the fact that Isaac drew him doing it. Nonetheless, Yay!

Mo, Ando, Pete, FH and PH are all united and happy. Future Hiro tells his past incarnation that he can take him to the spot five years ago where eveything changed when Parkman busts in and shoots FH dead. Now we just have one Hiro! Peter clears Parkman out of the room with a wave of his arm. Parkman calls Nathan/Sylar at the service and tells him that Pete's in the picture. Seeing no other choice, he turns and flies off, leaving a confused crowd.

Arriving in a flash, Nathan/Sylar reaches through the door and pulls Peter out. Well huh. Brother Nate didn't have that power, now did he. Sylar returns to his normal self, and he and Peter begin a hot-handed duel. As they battle, Sylar and Ando beg Hiro to teleport out and change the past. Hiro is too shocked at seeing his own death to do anything. At last, he makes the move. He and Ando end up on the rooftop in New York, pre-bomb.

Hiro looks down at Isaac's drawing of him killing Sylar and turns to Ando. "Now, the hard part!".