Electric manipulation

Electric manipulation
Elle generates electricity.
Originally held by:	Elle Bishop
Absorbed by:	Peter Petrelli
Ability to:	Generate electricity
Examples of electric manipulation

Lightning is the ability to generate electricity.

Characters

• Elle Bishop has this ability.
• Peter Petrelli has absorbed this ability from Elle.

Limits

Users of this power can generate electricity between themselves and other people or objects. The amount of current that such arcs can carry is not known, though Caitlin has referred to it as "shooting a 1000 volts." Users of the power are not usually harmed by the electrical currents that they create themselves, although they can shock themselves if they attempt to generate arcs under unfavorable circumstances. For instance, Elle shocked herself when she was wet and her feet were immersed in water in Mr. Muggles's metal doggy bath (Cautionary Tales). Noah states that the brain is not meant to handle the amount of electricity to which Elle was subjected during testing when she was first brought into the Company (Cautionary Tales). He implies that this is at least in part why Elle has some psychological issues.

Elle Bishop

Elle has extensive control over her power. She is able to adjust the strength and power of the electricity she generates, such as creating a small spark which causes a minor electric shock, a medium-level bolt which stuns or produces concussive force and a powerful surge which can kill. She does not need to use her hands to use her power, as seen when she zaps Peter with her mouth (Four Months Ago...) or when she uses her whole body to generate it (Cautionary Tales). It has been implied that Elle can manipulate existing sources of electricity, causing a major blackout (Four Months Ago...). Elle is not immune to the electricity she creates, and being wet can turn her power against her. Additionally, Elle does not seem to be able to absorb large amounts of electricity, if any at all (Cautionary Tales).

She can also create ball lightning. After creating it, Elle can immediately release it, charge it for more powerful bursts, or simply use it to intimidate. Elle can even levitate her ball lightning. Elle has been shown firing both sheet lightning and ribbon lightning in battle. She is able to hone her finesse for sharpshooting, firing small, pinpoint but very powerful lightning bolts that can shatter glass and cause objects to catch fire. (Cautionary Tales)

Peter Petrelli

Peter can fire lightning bolts, but unlike Elle, lacks the degree of fine control that she displays with her powers. The only levels that he has demonstrated is a powerful concussive blast (Four Months Later...), a stun effect (Lizards), and a bolt of electricity strong enough to leave charred and blackened flesh (Out of Time). Peter can also control the lightning by making it in a ball form. (Truth & Consequences)

Selected Examples

• 
  At a New York hospital, Elle takes Peter out with a blast of electricity.
  (Four Months Ago...)
• 
  Elle attempts to subdue Adam by sending a blast of electrical energy his way.
  (Four Months Ago...)
• 
  Elle unloads a ball of electricity towards West.
  (Cautionary Tales)
• 
  Peter manifests electricity in a ball for battle against Hiro.
  (Truth & Consequences)
• 
  Peter creates electricity which conducts on Hiro's sword.
  (Powerless)
• 
  Peter destroys a fusebox with electricity.
  (Powerless)
• 
  Elle threatens Noah with electricity.
  (Powerless)
• 
  Elle blasts at Sylar.
  (Powerless)

Notes

• Peter describes the ability as "sparks" from his hand. However, the Assignment Tracker's map describes it, under Elle's entry, as generating electricity.

See Also

• For other uses of lightning, see lightning (disambig).
• For the similar power to absorb electrical energy and release it in direct electrical arcs, see electrical absorption.
• For the similar power of creating and directing electrical arcs as well as levitating using electromagnetic repulsion, see electromagnetism.