In New York, Peter Petrelli is the younger brother of Nathan Petrelli, an overly ambitious and unscrupulous candidate for the next New York congressman. Peter begins having strange dreams and begins to believe that he can fly, but Nathan is skeptic to his younger brother's claims. Peter decides to prove his theory and jumps from the roof of a building in an alley and his brother flies and saves him... revealing that Nathan has the ability to fly, not Peter. In Texas, cheerleader Claire Bennet learns that she is literally indestructible and can not harm herself or die. She saves a fireman from a fire on a derailed train, but does not take the credit. In Tokyo, Hiro Nakamura believes he can control time and space continuum and goes on a quest to convince his co-worker, Ando, of his power. In India, Mohinder Suresh moves to Brooklyn, New York, where his father who was researching a secret project, called Genesis, about genome and DNA, is killed in a taxi cab. But a mysterious man wearing horn-rimmed glasses might pose a threat to him. In Lower Manhattan, artist Isaac Mendez paints pictures of the future in which his girlfriend and drug sponsor, Simone, is skeptic to his claims to see in the future. In Las Vegas, stripper Niki Sanders borrows $30,000 from a powerful local mobster to get her young son, Micah, into school, but does not have the money to pay back her loan. She sees a different image of her in the mirror, and when two gangsters come to her house to collect the money, one of them hits her and she faints. Later Niki wakes up, and the two thugs are dead... literally torn apart by her evil alter ego Jessica. In Los Angeles, Matt Parkman is an overly ambitious beat policeman who discovers that he can 'read' peoples thoughts and is forced to help the FBI search for a wanted Saudi national, named Ted, who also discovers that he has the ability to create nuclear radiation in which his former AQ cell wants him to build a nuclear bomb for them. In Utah, Niki's husband and Micah's father, D.L. imprisoned for robbery charges, discovers that he can literally 'walk' through walls.

In Manhattan, Peter Petrelli is the younger brother Nathan Petrelli an overly ambitious and unscrupulous candidate for the next New York congressman, and he dreams and believes that he can fly. He decides to prove his theory and jumps from the roof of a building in an alley and his brother flies and saves him. In Texas, cheerleader Claire Bennet learns that she is literally indestructible and can not harm herself or die. She saves a fireman in a fire in a train, but does not take the credit. In Tokyo, Hiro Nakamura believes he can control time and space continuum. In India, Mohinder Suresh moves to the Brooklyn, New York, where his father, that was researching a secret project called Genesis about genome and DNA, is killed in a taxi cab. In Lower Manhattan, the painter Isaac Mendez paints pictures of the future. In Las Vegas, stripper Niki Sanders borrows $30,000 from a powerful local mobster to get her young son into school, and does not have the money to pay her loan. She sees a different image of her in the mirror, and when two gangsters come to her house to collect the money, one of them hits her and she faints. Later Nikki wakes up, and the two thugs are dead... literally torn apart by her evil alter ego.

When Nikki wakes up, she sees the two criminals dead in her garage. She brings her son and finds a brand new Cadillac in her name and the bodies in the trunk, with instructions and a map to bury the corpses in the desert. Peter awakes in the hospital and his mother tells him that his father was depressed and committed suicide. When Peter decides to jump from the terrace of his building, his brother Nathan discloses that both can fly. Hiro is teleported to the Times Square and finds a comic book written by Isaac Mendez telling his saga. He goes to Isaac studio, finds him dead and is arrested by the police. A man pretending to be an exterminator bugs Mohinder's apartment, but he fights with the guy and is helped by his next door neighbor. In Los Angeles, the Police Officer Matt Parkman telepathically hears the voice of a child in a murder scene and is arrested as a suspect. Claire hides her heroic rescue in the fire and her seemingly evil adoptive father discloses her abilities in her stolen tape.

As the "Heroes" continue to test their newfound extraordinary abilities, Claire tries to maintain a normal social life when a romance with the football quarterback takes a tragic turn. While Hiro convinces his friend that they are destined to travel to America to save the world, a frightened Niki follows instructions from a mysterious, unknown source that directs her to the middle of the desert. Meanwhile, Nathan uses Peter's accident to propel his political campaign. The elusive Sylar is being hunted by both Matt and the FBI, as well as Suresh, whose father's journal leads to potential clues.

Suresh finally tracks down one of his father's fabled genetically advanced "supermen." In Las Vegas, Hiro's plan backfires when he cautiously turns time to his advantage at the gambling tables. Niki's mafia debtors use their leverage to their benefit in a more elaborate scheme, while Nathan pays a personal visit to a wealthy Vegas contributor to raise additional campaign funds. Following a tragic turn at a bonfire, Claire's uncanny healing abilities are put to the ultimate test, but according to Isaac's paintings, her future could be fraught with even more peril. Meanwhile, Matt's abilities are gauged by a pair of men who seem to know a great deal about people with special gifts.

Niki is questioned by police about her fugitive husband's whereabouts; Matt's relationship with his wife, Janice, benefits from his mind-reading abilities; Claire divulges her secret to her father; Hiro has a violent run-in with Las Vegas high rollers; Peter receives a life-changing message; and Mohinder contemplates leaving New York---and his father's research---behind.

Hiro and his buddy embark on their heroic journey to New York, when they are stopped by a Vegas high-roller who offers them a deal they can't refuse. As H.R.G sets up a meeting for his daughter Claire with her biological parents, she hopes that questions about her newfound indestructibility can be answered. Meanwhile, Isaac receives another confusing call from Hiro, but Peter is there this time to pick up the phone and relay a life-saving message. Suresh bids farewell to Eden as he heads back to India to bury his father. An unexpected visitor shows up at Niki's home.

Lyle Bennett learns of his sister Claire's secret after watching her video of her trying to kill herself. Hiro Nakamura helps D.L. Hawkins save a woman from a burning car by freezing time. Isaac Mendez has gone M.I.A. with his painting.

Back in India, Mohinder has weird dreams about his parents. Audrey and Matt talk to Ted.

As Homecoming approaches in Odessa, Claire's father makes an effort to save Claire's life. Peter, having tried to contact Hiro, flies to Texas in his effort to save the cheerleader. Hiro decided to head back in time in an effort to save the waitress, and Suresh can't get a dream out of his head and feels it has some answers about him and his father.

Claire Bennett is at home reading when the cheer leading captain walk in with a uniform and informs Claire that another cheerleader dropped out and the spot is hers if she wants it. Hiro Nakamura has traveled back in time to the Texas diner but realize he can't after she tells him she has a terminal disease. Nathan Petrelli and Peter Petrelli are preparing to take down their dad D.L. Hawkins and Niki Sanders are newly weds. Chandra Suresh has come to America to find and contact the people he thinks have taken an evolutionarily step. Sylar is the first but doesn't appear to have extraordinarily powers but then has the power to move things with his mind after he invites and kill another person on Chandra's list and then goes back to Chandra

The question on everyone's mind regarding the cheerleader is that, since she's still alive, does the bomb still go off? This is especially true for Hiro, who meets with Isaac to discuss their next course of action. Having confessed her abilities to her father, Claire seeks other answers that her friends and family can not give. Having captured Sylar, Claire's father keeps him in a room of total darkness, totally unaware of Sylar's true strength.

Nathan stops at nothing when it comes to getting some kind of help for his unconscious brother. Hiro goes on a hunt for the sword he's seen in Isaac's paintings. Nikki tries to convince the police of her need for help in dealing with her split personality.

Outside forces and new faces drive the "Heroes" into different directions.

Claire finds it increasingly difficult to keep lying to her father, all the while knowing exactly what has happened all around her, while she makes plans to visit her biological mother. Nikki's husband makes a deal for her release. Hiro's father wants him to return to Japan, and he scrambles to find a way to stay his own course, searching for the sword. Peter convinces Claude to help him understand his own powers, including Claude's invisibility.

While the scandalous truth about Claire's real father is revealed, her adoptive mother faces a crisis. Matt takes a job as a bodyguard for a crooked attorney, which puts him in the cross hairs of Linderman's new assassin. Hiro and Ando return to Las Vegas to find the sword, but get sidetracked by a damsel in distress. Suresh finds someone on the list and unknowingly puts himself in grave danger. Meanwhile, Simone turns to some unlikely help in her and Nathan's struggle to find Peter.

Peter painfully learns that someone close may have betrayed him and Claude. Matt's world spirals out of control when radioactive man Ted Sprague and Hana Gitelman, a fierce young woman with "wireless" mental abilities, drop into his life. After blood is spilled, Hiro makes a difficult decision about his mission. Claire is unable to contain her anger at her father.

H.R.G.'s past catches up to him as Matt and Ted Sprague come to Texas looking for answers, and take him, his wife, son and Claire hostage -- leading to a tragic, explosive showdown.

With the election and NYC's destruction looming, Nathan has a disturbing face-to-face meeting with the shadowy Linderman. Hiro's attempt to steal the sword steers him into a grim new direction. Suresh makes a breakthrough on "the list" -- at great cost. D.L. begins to suspect all is not well at home. Isaac paints his most terrible painting yet. New "hero" Candice Wilmer makes an illusive debut.

After "helping" Suresh search for more people with special abilities, Sylar's rampage continues with two "heroes" being confronted by the stronger-powered serial killer. Nathan must factor what he's learned from Linderman into difficult decisions that will shape the future -- for him, his family, New York City and the world. As Thompson uses every tool at his disposal to find Claire, Linderman drafts Jessica into his far-reaching plans. Meanwhile, Hiro's resolve to "save the world" strengthens in the face of a grim reality.

Hiro and Ando find themselves five years after the destruction of New York. People with extraordinary abilities are labeled as terrorists and Sylar, who has assumed the form of Nathan, is the President.

As Nathan and his family ready for the election, Hiro and Ando face the hard part of saving the world.

Peter feels the need to control his newly absorbed power, as he overhears Sylar's thoughts on the streets of New York. Mohinder finds another hero and agrees to help find a cure for her fatal disease, as Parkman and Bennet close in on the building they are in, looking for a link that could set them free. Niki/Jessica and D.L. are convinced that Linderman is behind their son's disappearance, as Linderman convinces their son to do a job for him.

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.