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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Afraid of losing the love he thinks he's found, Peter denies his past and doesn't look in the box while an unknown woman tries to track him down. Parkman and Nathan are led to Philadelphia to track down Matt's father, unknowingly being led into a trap where Nathan stumbles into the city that blew up after all. Mohindar takes Molly to the Company in search of help for her, just as Nikki shows up, while another hero begins to discover her powers in Texas.

The identity of "Rebel" is revealed with chilling consequences - Emmy Award-Winner Zeljko Ivanek, Brea Grant and Swoosie Kurtz Guest Star.

Sylar begins to feel confused and more uncertain about himself when his new shape-changing powers begins to get out of control. He begins to imagine his late mother giving him advice on what to do, while Danko continues to use him to find and kill people with abilities and wants to zero in on 'Rebel'. When Sylar discovers that Rebel is in fact Micah Sanders, he saves him. Sylar decides to change his ways after figuring out that Danko is plotting a so-called 'Final Solution' to exterminate all people with abilities once and for all. Meanwhile, Parkman plans to return to his home in California with his infant son unaware that there are more kill-squad agents after him, Hiro and Ando rashly decide to make a heroic, and probably futile, attempt to make an assault on Building 26.

Claire, back home in California, begins attending college, but is having difficulty adjusting when a mysterious death of a student during the orientation puts her back in the spotlight. In Japan, Hiro and Ando continue their quest to help people with abilities and go so much as to advertise themselves. Meanwhile, Angela fears Nathan/Syler will discover his true identity. Matt tries to settle down back in Los Angeles and raise his son and not worry about unexpected visitors. Elsewhere, Peter is using his ability for good when a mysterious carnival clan, led by Samuel Sullivan, arrives in town which could spell trouble for him and everyone else.

Matt goes to extreme measures to extinguish Sylar, who continues to torment him. Elsewhere, H.R.G. calls in a favor from Tracy to save a troubled young boy whose misfortunes resemble her own. While Claire and Gretchen are being hazed by their new sorority sisters, they realize pledging might not be their biggest problem.

Claire attends Nathan's funeral while Peter struggles with his grief in his own way by wanting to seek revenge. Meanwhile, Noah and Lauren interrogate a captured Edgar for information to where to find Samuel's carnival. Elsewhere, Sylar returns to Samuel's carnival where he and Lydia try to find a way to emotionally get inside the killer's head to make him see what is troubling him.

H.R.G. recruits Matt to help him take down Samuel, as they use his long-lost love, Vanessa, to lure him to them, but Samuel has his own plans for Vanessa in the works. Meanwhile, Hiro and Ando go to extreme lengths to save Dr. Suresh. Elsewhere, Peter's introduction of Emma to his mother brings forth visions of a very grim future.

Hiro's life hangs in the balance as his brain tumor worsens, prompting him to subconsciously deal with some of his past decisions. Meanwhile, Sylar pays Claire an unexpected visit to get answers as to why he isn't quite himself. Elsewhere, Samuel's plan to impress his long-lost love, Vanessa, takes a terrifying turn.

H.R.G. enacts his plan to take down the Carnival with the help of Lauren and Suresh. Sylar visits Matt looking to understand his desire to make a human connection, but Matt has a plan of his own. Meanwhile, Peter warns Emma of Samuel's intentions after his grim vision of the future.