Theory:Vault

Main Article Theories about the vault Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about the vault and its contents.

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Theories about the vault itself

Theory	Citations	Notes
The vault keeps items that have both real and emotional value for the Company.	None	+ Most of the items don't look dangerous or powerful: + The only items that obviously appear to be important in the vault are the brain and the Strain 138, and maybe the Key. The others may be rare or unique but don't show no signs of being special or dangerous. - They are locked. - Some of the apparently harmless items may actually be dangerous. - They may be evidence against the company.
The vault contains emblems of some sort for all of the Company's founders.	None	+ The brain might represent Maury Parkman's mind control. + The cards might represent Arthur Petrelli's ability-which, while currently unknown, might have been able to affect a poker game. + The cards might represent three of the women (Victoria Pratt, Paula Gramble, and an unknown female) who were founders. - Angela Petrelli was a founder. + The gold key might represent Bob Bishop's ability of alchemy. • The vault also contains a kris, as carried by St. Joan-this might mean that another founder also has muscle memory. + The kris could also represent Kaito Nakamura's ability; and could be stolen by Monica later. • Following this line of reasoning, we might expect that the Trojan Horse represents a person who appears to be one thing, but is something else altogether in reality. + The empty stand may represent an invisible person like (or possibly) Claude. - Claude is not one of the Company's founders. - The items were in a high-security vault. Why would they be in there for purely figurative reasons? + D.L.'s medal of valor is important to Micah. It's just a piece of wood, but it means something to him. This is quite possibly the same case with the vault contents. The items could also be rarities, one of a kind. - If they had emotional significance, the founders would likely have kept them close to themselves; why place them in a vault next to a deadly virus?
The items may be literally (not figuratively) linked to each person's abilities.	None	+ There must have been a strong reason for the items to be locked in a high-security vault. - D.L.'s medal of valor is important to Micah. It's just a piece of wood, but it means something to him. This is quite possibly the same case with the vault contents. The items could also be rarities, one of a kind. - If they had emotional significance, the founders would likely have kept them close to themselves; why place them in a vault next to a deadly virus? + A living, preserved brain seems significant; couldn't they keep that it in a Company laboratory if it were for study? Why in a vault for protection?
The vault is a rogue gallery of villains the Company has encountered before.	None	+ The Shanti virus was kept there. + In an interview, Tim Kring says that "The Company has cataloged many of these people over the years. There may be more of them down in that basement than we have alluded to so far."

Theories about the brain

Theory	Citations	Notes
The brain in the vault is from another character capable of rapid cell regeneration.	None	+ The only way to stop a regenerator is to damage or remove the brain from the body. - It could be the brain of an evolved human with a different ability that the Company wanted to preserve. - They had Adam's brain to study for 30 years. They did not have to preserve a separate brain to learn about cell replacement.
The preserved brain comes from an evolved human with a powerful ability.	None	+ This could be the reason why The Company goes to such great lengths at apprehending Sylar just to keep him alive. They may want to utilize his intuitive aptitude to extract the power from the brain. • The company may have also detained Peter for the same reason. He may also be able to extract the power from the brain. • It has not been shown that Peter is able to use Sylar's ability of intuitive aptitude, nor that his empathic mimicry could be capable of absorbing an ability from a dead body part. + It would be a very valuable item which would need to be locked in a high security vault. - Why not study it in a Company lab?
The Company spent considerable resources saving Sylar's life because they need him to extract the power stored in the brain inside the vault.	None	+ The brain is stored alongside assorted mystery items, including a virus with the power to wipe out the human race, suggesting it holds high value or significant power. + Despite the incredible danger Sylar poses to all evolved humans, the Company has gone to great lengths to preserve his life; forbidding Mr. Bennet from killing him in Season 1, and treating him with several major surgeries to save him from the stab wound from Hiro's katana. + The crew commentary to Powerless suggests that the vault items are major clues to future plot points. + Sylar is the only character to be associated with brains as a plot element. - It would be insane to willingly give a powerful ability to someone as dangerous and uncontrollable as Sylar. + The brain's power may be of a highly valuable but non-combat-related nature, such as Bob's ability to turn base metals into gold. - It's still the same premise; if it's so powerful that they need to keep it in the vault, they wouldn't give it to a psychopath. • The Company may believe that they had the means to control Sylar, i.e. by having Maury Parkman mentally dominate him, or by having the Haitian wipe his more vicious impulses. + It could also be the reason why the company kept Peter in a cell. • It has not been shown that Peter is able to use Sylar's ability of intuitive aptitude, nor that his empathic mimicry could be capable of absorbing an ability from a dead body part. + The creators confirmed that Peter has absorbed all of Sylar's abilities. Angela was aware of his empathy, and Noah was given strict orders to keep Sylar alive. Put two and two together...
The brain could possibly be Linderman's brain, retrieved from his dead body.	None	+ Linderman has "vanished" after his death. The Company might have taken him and kept his brain to be of later use. + It has been hinted that Linderman might return in one form or another. - On the same note, Linderman is missing and why would they just keep the brain? + With rapid cell regeneration, the only body part required for resurrection is the brain. - D.L. mutilated Linderman's brain when he phased his hand into Linderman's head. The brain appears to be unharmed and "fresh".
The preserved brain comes from the person with the ability to resize matter referenced below in the pyramid section	None	+ Relating to the pyramid below, it could be the brain of the person with the ability to resize matter, thus making the ability required to return the pyramid to it's original size. • This also links back to why they would need Sylar, and that it is the brain of an evolved human.
The brain could be that of someone important to the history of The Company, such as Arthur Petrelli or another deceased founder.	None
The brain could have belonged to Matt Neuenberg.	None	+ Elle states in Hana and Drucker's Plot Discovered that the Company would find a way to retrieve the mainframe information stored in Matt's brain. - The events in The Man with Too Much Brains and Hana and Drucker's Plot Discovered take place in 2008, which is after the events in Powerless.

Theories about the playing cards

Theory	Citations	Notes
The cards belonged to Arthur Petrelli.	None	+ In Graphic Novel: War Buddies, it is mentioned how "Dallas" Petrelli is incredibly lucky at cards.
The cards represent the women in the founders.	None	+ If Angela does have some kind of persuasion ability she'd be the queen of hearts. • The suit spades is associated with death, clubs with war, and diamonds with riches. - There are 4 female founders. + There are 4 queens in a deck of cards, maybe the absence of one of them is significant. + It could possibly represent that Victoria Pratt severed her ties with The Company.

Theories about the gold key

Theory	Citations	Notes
The gold key opens something important and might have a important role in the future.	None	+ It is locked behind a very resistant door with other important items. - It is made out of gold, not the strongest material for making a key out of. + The key is not necessarily made of pure gold. There may be a gold foil only.
The key is the first piece of metal that Bob used his powers on.	None	+ Bob is capable of turning objects into gold. For example, he transmuted the spoon used by Mohinder. - Doesn't seem significant enough to keep in a vault next to a deadly virus.

Theories about the kris

Theory	Citations	Notes
The dagger will somehow find its way into Monica's hands, and will become her signature weapon.	None	+ The dagger in the vault is identical in appearance to the dagger being held by St. Joan on the cover of her 9th Wonders comic.
The Company knows that the dagger will be wielded by Monica and is waiting for her to claim it.	None	+ The Company could have found out about Monica through someone with precognition or through Isaac's comic book. - Bob tried to take away Monica's ability with the Shanti virus.
The Company knows that the dagger will be wielded by Monica and is trying to keep it away from her.	None	+ The Company could have found out about Monica through someone with precognition or through Isaac's comic book. + This would explain why Bob wanted to take away Monica's ability.
The dagger belonged to Kaito Nakamura.	None	+ Kaito is an expert with the sword. He may also be an expert with other types of mêlée weapons.

Theories about the pyramid

Theory	Citations	Notes
The pyramid is an important artifact discovered by the Company.	None	+ The item's placement, in a secure vault, suggests it is an item of great importance. + The item may signify the Company's belief that powers existed as long ago as ancient Egypt and that telekinesis was used to create the pyramids.
The pyramid is just a fancy box which contains something else far more important inside.	None	+ The Company may have disguised its most valuable secrets for extra protection.
The pyramid is just a collector's item.	None	+ Linderman is known that have had a great collection of historical archives. The model pyramid could be part of this collection. - Linderman stored his collection in Linderman's Archives. - Why would the Founders keep a simple collector's item in a vault?
The pyramid is an actual pyramid.	None	+ The pyramid could have been shrunken by an individual had the ability to resize matter. The Trojan Horse suggests that the Company may have known of such an individual. + A miniaturized pyramid would be a good place for the Company to store its most prized research.
The pyramid was made in Egypt.	None	+ The pyramid has a pointed top, like those seen in Egypt and unlike those in Central and South America. - The pyramid is gray and made of a material different from the Egyptian pyramids.
The pyramid represents the Illuminati pyramid with the "eye of Horus".		• The "Eye of Horus" is known to be the "all seeing eye" in Egyptian mythology. It can also be the verb for "to do" or "to make." + If each item represents a power of the founders, this could be representing whoever has the "dream projector." • This is either Angela Petrelli or Charles Deveaux. + If it represents "to do," it would represent Angela because of the possibility of her having the persuasion ability. - There is, however, no solid canonical evidence that Angela or Charles have abilities. + There have been solid comments on the fact that they all had power. Even the creator says they all have power.
The pyramid itself is its original size. However, the Company used someone with space-time manipulation to place a large amount of matter inside.	None	+ Theoretically, a person able to manipulate space could be able to take an object and store it in a smaller space.

Theories about the Trojan Horse

Theory	Citations	Notes
The Trojan Horse is an important Turkish artifact discovered by the Company.	None	+ This may be the actual Trojan Horse from the legend of Troy, evidence of someone in ancient times who had the ability of resizing matter. Said person could have shrunken several men to fit inside the horse along with his or her self and later returned them all to normal size so they could open the gates to the city of Troy from the inside.
The Trojan Horse is just a fancy box which contains something else far more important inside.	None	+ The Company may have disguised its most valuable secrets for extra protection. + The legend of the Trojan Horse is a perfect metaphor for this model hiding something inside.
The Trojan Horse is just a collector's item.	None	+ Linderman is known that have had a great collection of historical archives. This could be part of this collection. - Linderman stored his collection in Linderman's Archives. - Why would the Founders keep a simple collector's item in a vault?

Theories about the empty stand

Theory	Citations	Notes
The empty stand contains an invisible object.	None	+ There is no reason for the stand to be shown so prominently if it were not of importance.
The empty stand contained a stolen object.	None	+ There is no reason for the stand to be shown so prominently if it were not of importance. + Adam Monroe had plenty of time to pocket another item besides strain 138 of the Shanti virus before Hiro interrupted him.
The empty stand contained the vial of strain 138 of the Shanti virus.	None	+ It is likely that Adam quickly found the virus because it was in a display. + It is unlikely that a glass vial of a deadly virus would be kept off of a stand for fear of it being released accidentally.
The empty stand contained some kind of tracking device that will allow Adam's latest bride to find him.	Adam believes that soon, his latest bride will find him and free him from his coffin. (The Ten Brides of Takezo Kensei)

See also

• For theories about Strain 138 of the Shanti virus, see Theory:Shanti virus.