IStory

iStory
iStory is a means to experience Heroes via interactive stories on the Heroes NBC website.
First mentioned:	November 8, 2008
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iStory (or "Interactive Story") is a part of NBC.com's Heroes Evolutions experience that allows players to literally interact and change the story.

Heroes Evolutions

Similar to a role-playing game, each user decides to begin a mission contract with either Primatech or Pinehearst. Each week, a new chapter is released for both the Primatech and Pinehearst sides, and players can choose to play one side or the other or both. The missions are entirely text based with a button to choose an action at the bottom of each scene. Occasionally, there may be video segments to watch and other tasks to perform off the NBC site. If a person chooses the wrong action and dies or gets captured, that person is returned to the beginning of the story and can begin again. No registration is required to participate.

The following summaries are for each chapter as to what must happen to complete the mission successfully. There are two separate and sequential storylines for two different players: one storyline is for a player that takes a contract with Pinehearst Research Group, and the other storyline is for a player that takes a contract with Primatech Executive Services.

Pinehearst Research Group Contract

Chapter 201: Operation Bad Blood

Pinehearst was attempting to recruit former Primatech agent Elle Bishop when a mysterious group tried to assassinate her. And Elle is not their last target. Pinehearst hires contractors for a daring mission...

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The player heads into the University of England's crowded main campus and meets with Professor Priscilla Van Cleef at her office. As chairwoman of Pinehearst's Strategic Human Initiatives Committee, Priscilla informs you that Pinehearst recently made contact with Elle Bishop. A small group of heavily armed individuals was planning to murder her, and one of their RARU tactical teams was able to divert her mysterious attackers before she was even aware of them. Priscilla's orders are not to just track down the attackers; but to infiltrate them, find out who they work for, and what their long-range intentions are. She directs the player to join one of the injured attackers whom they have followed to an underground medical facility inside town. The front of the facility is disguised as a liquor store. To make contact with the target, the player must decide whether to use the front or back entrance. If the player uses the back entrance, the player makes it in to a hallway where the player overhears a conversation. A man says he wants to get on a flight, and a woman discourages him from doing so currently as he's bleeding from a half-dozen holes. Following the voices, the player makes it to a recovery room and finds the man alone. If the player uses the front entrance, the player encounters a big guy named Mick, who tries to deny that the attacker is inside. However, a skinny lady with big, bleached hair comes out and asks Mick to take in a bag of medications to Robert Greene. Having been caught lying, Mick tells the player to go downstairs and give the bag to the guy with the baseball bat, and to tell him to take the player to the recovery room. The player does so and finds the attacker alone there. The player claims to have been following Elle Bishop, saw him when another group killed his friend, and wants to join him. After threatening to shoot the player, the man says to wait in the hallway while he makes a call to Sean. A little while later, the man beckons the player back inside, and says his name is Lloyd. He says that they are going to run a background check on the player, and in the mean time they are sending the player on a solo mission. Lloyd continues that the player needs to go to a warehouse that belongs to some friends of theirs and bring back a file. He gives the player the file number and sets the player off. Arriving at the warehouse, the player notices a guard at the front entrance, and decides to head in through a broken window. Unfortunately, there's another guard inside that spots the player entering, and that the player is forced to bribe him with some cash to get the file. The guard mentions it being dangerous working for Primatech, and tells the player to make it quick. The player then finds a USB flash drive and heads out to the player's car. Using a laptop in the car, the player discovers the drive contains a video file of a man with red glowing eyes locked in a cement cell. The words "Primatech Level 5" appear on the file properties. After copying the file to the laptop for Pinehearst to look at, the player returns to Lloyd Collins in the clinic. Lloyd asks if the player saw what was on the USB file, and the player admits to doing so. Lloyd isn't surprised, but says not to do so again. He then instructs the player on another solo mission. The new mission is to go clean up a building they don't need anymore by blowing it up. Lloyd says that they used the building as a base while they were pursuing Elle, and that there's a van outside full of explosives that should do the job. After helping him out to a taxi, the player heads to the hideout and finds it is a rundown apartment tower. The player sets the timer in the van and with it reading twenty minutes, heads through the front door to see what can be found. If the player knows that Robert Greene was Lloyd's alias, the player notices a mailbox with his name and heads up to his apartment on the fourth floor. In one of the bedrooms of the Greene apartment, the player finds a marked street map of New York City and a photo, and rolls them up. The player heads back downstairs with the items and hears footsteps near the base room. Sneaking a peek inside, the player sees loads of ammunition and weapons in boxes labeled as being from the Primatech Paper Company. If the player does not know Lloyd's alias, the player heads inside and overhears someone on the phone inside the base apartment. The person says that only rifles and remote detonators are missing, and that they think the Kill Squad is planning a long-range assassination. The person adds that this looks like they are going after Maya, but stops talking when a loose floorboard under the player's foot creaks. The player then dives out of the way just in time as the person in the base apartment shoots at them. Doors slam and the player learns that other people still live there. The player tries to negotiate for them both to flee before the bomb goes off, but learns the other person already took care of it. While the other person goes on about the player surrendering, the player jumps out a window at the end of the hallway and escapes. Later, if the player had gone into the base apartment first and overheard a woman's name, the player talks to Lloyd on the phone, informs him that someone else defused the bomb, and that they know Maya is the next target. Otherwise, the player talks to Lloyd on the phone and informs him that someone else defused the bomb, but that the player searched his apartment and took everything they could use against him. In both cases, Lloyd says that the next mission will be coming up within two weeks, to hang tight for now, and that he will call the player back with details.

Chapter 202: Operation Bad Blood

Pinehearst has been attacked, and a teenager with a horrific ability is missing. With the building full of very special guests, Pinehearst's Risk Analysis & Response Unit quietly reaches out to a contractor for assistance in investigating the mysterious assault.

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The player goes to New York, having been instructed to meet Lloyd Collins in a diner. Lloyd suggests checking out the menu, and the player finds a photo of a Latino girl inside. Lloyd says her name is Maya Herrera and warns the player about her poisonous ability. At that point the players phone rings - it's Priscilla Van Cleef, the woman who hired the player to meet Lloyd and infiltrate the Kill Squad. The player acts as though he's talking to a girlfriend so as not to raise Lloyd's suspicions, meanwhile listening as Priscilla orders him to return to Pinehearst as there has been a "robbery". After the player hangs up the phone, Lloyd says that he will make contact later by phone, and the player heads back to Pinehearst. Reaching Pinehearst, the player heads inside to the laboratory after recognizing Senator Petrelli leaving with a "stunning blonde". Inside the lab, the player finds the room in a shambles, with equipment overturned and medical personnel attending to several injured Pinehearst employees. Carla Klaus is there, and the player recognizes her as head of the Pinehearst Risk Analysis & Response Unit. She says that the damage was caused by two Pinehearst employees who turned on each other after being affected by the abilities of the man with the red eyes, referencing the video that the player found and watched in Chapter 1 of the Pinehearst Contract. She also informs the player that a teenager named Anna - who has a horrific ability - has gone missing. Carla instructs the player to solve the mystery of what happened by examining the scene, interviewing the witnesses, and eventually talking to Dr. Suresh. Carla implies that Dr. Suresh usually keeps to himself, but the player, as an "outsider", may convince him to talk. Questioning the witnesses confirms that the scientists in the lab fought with each other for no apparent reason, although one man says that he was unaffected and has a cold - theorizing that if "Red Eye"s ability works in a biochemical manner, through pheromones, that could explain his immunity. Examining the scene of the overturned desk and smashed drug cabinet reveals that several syringes of a tranquilizer have been taken, along with three boxes of a medicine that a passing scientist identifies as useful for reversing the effects of certain sedatives. The player then leaves the scene of the fight and goes to Dr. Suresh's lab, finding it gloomy, lit only by the glow of computer screens. Dr. Suresh is monitoring a patient under the sheet who at first appears to be a corpse but later moves and moans, showing that the subject is alive, but in pain. The player gets the attention of Dr. Suresh, who covers the patient quickly, but not before exposing the lesions and sores on the back of his neck. These he also hides before brusquely addressing the player, demanding to know what he wants and stating that he didn't see anything of the attack so the player should look elsewhere. The player tries many different tactics to get Dr. Suresh to share information - asking about the patient under the sheet leads to a discussion about Anna, who Suresh says was taken away from a Siberian orphanage for abusive and violent children, where she suffered after having destroyed her family (apparently with her aforementioned horrific ability). Suresh laments the horror she has experienced, and that she has now been taken from yet another home, before returning to his work. The only other successful tactic seems to be threatening to delay Suresh's work with a lengthy and thorough investigation, at which point he reveals more information about Anna's ability - she can remove the higher brain functions in individuals around her, essentially turning them into zombies. As the player turns to go, Suresh asks one final question - was Anna trying to escape and "Red Eye" assisted her, or was this a kidnapping? The tranquilizers and anti-sedatives taken from the lab suggest a kidnapping, but Suresh has a different theory altogether. He reveals that Anna's ability to remove higher brain functions would make many individuals more susceptible to Red Eye's power to make them turn on each other - by removing inhibitions, judgement, and control, Anna could expand Red Eye's power to such a level that he could turn a whole crowd into a raging mob. At this point Suresh's patient moans even louder, causing Suresh concern and providing the opportunity for the player to leave. Returning to Pinehearst, and reflecting on Red Eye's true purpose in kidnapping Anna, the player is surprised to meet the same blonde woman he saw earlier leaving with Senator Petrelli, now returning. The two ride up in the elevator together, and the woman is unphased by a momentary power outage, after which a phone call interrupts - it's Lloyd, instructing the player to get to Hyperion Industrial Park. Lloyd hangs up and sends a text message a moment later with an address. Upon arriving at the Industrial Park, the player finds a side door suspiciously unlocked, and upon entering it is captured and held at gunpoint in the dark. When the lights come on he is face to face with Lloyd and a stranger with an assault rifle. The man identifies himself as Sean Fallon, hands the player a rifle, and welcomes him to the Kill Squad.

Primatech Executive Services Contract

Chapter 101: Operation Splinter

Meanwhile, Primatech was about to capture the Kill Squad, a splinter group of former Primatech personnel with a lethal grudge against people with abilities, when an unidentified third party interfered. Now Primatech must go outside the Company to get to the truth...

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Upon receiving an e-mail from Primatech, the player heads to a big gym in Chadspear, a town four kilometers outside of London. There, amongst many people working out, the player meets Agent Jeremy Woo and follows him into the facility. Once inside, Agent Woo briefs the player about the Kill Squad's attempt to kill Elle and shows a related photo. According to Woo, the Company has formed a new team called Task Force KS6 who have been assigned to track down and eliminate the rogue squad. KS6 was to take down the Kill Squad during their assault on Elle, but an unknown third party interfered and killed one of the Kill Squad's men. Since it is unknown as to whether KS6 was compromised, the player is sent alone on a reconnaissance mission to find out more about what occurred. As directed, the player heads to a car rental agency that rented out a van that exploded during the incident. The player encounters a skinny man who works there, and based on a selection of interrogation method is able to learn either that the van was rented by Robert Greene or that there is a second identical van that was rented by the same person that has yet to be returned. When reporting back to Agent Woo by phone, he directs the player to head to the local police station and find out what they know. By offering to trade information with one of the detectives at the station, the player gets to see a picture of the Kill Squad's next target that was found at the scene. It is a photo of Maya Herrera. Upon leaving and calling Woo back, Woo uses speakerphone to allow Marie Dunn of Operations to direct the player to head to the Primatech safe house ahead of a Primatech recon team. Marie notes that they think the Kill Squad may have taken supplies from the safe house. Upon arrival, the safe house turns out to be an old apartment building. If the player learned earlier that there were two vans, the player will be directed to disarm a bomb in the second van before heading inside. Once inside, the player heads into the Primatech apartment on the ground floor, notice that only high-tech sniper rifles appear to be missing, and take photos with your cell phone. Just then, an intruder shoots and just misses the player, the bullet skimming the player's leg. The player then has to try and negotiate with the intruder. The intruder will then flee upon the sound of sirens and the player heads back to a hotel room. If the player instead learned about Robert Greene, the player will instead be directed to notice Robert's name on one of the mailboxes. Once inside the building, the player goes directly to Robert's apartment on the fourth floor. Upon entering Robert's apartment, the player photographs via cell phone a marked map of a large city and a picture of a studio apartment. The player is then shocked onto the ground by a large explosion outside, and the building catches on fire. The next step is to flee, and the only safe way out is to jump out the window. Just before the player jumps, there's a large explosion on the ground floor and some of the building gives way. Luckily, the player survives falling four stories with only slight injuries and heads back to a hotel room. Agent Woo arrives to the player's hotel room, takes the player's cell phone photos and informs the player that the Kill Squad has fled the country and that KS6 is right on their tail. He adds that he will need some work done the Kill Squad's next target, Maya, so to keep a look out for a new e-mail.

Chapter 102: Operation Splinter

The Kill Squad has struck again, and one of Primatech's secret facilities is in shambles. But Primatech Executive Services has turned up evidence that not all is as it seems. Intelligence Chief Jeremy Woo calls on a contractor to expose the truth about what really happened that night.

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The player arrives at a farm in upstate New York, and meets up with Jeremy Woo, Tim Pope, and Marie Dunn in a corn field. Marie's Operations tactical team are roaming around near the farm house. The player is briefed that the farm house is a Primatech detention facility that missed a 48-hour check-in a few hours ago. A tactical team was sent over. The team found two agents badly hurt and the prisoner missing. Per the agent's reports, the Kill Squad attacked this facility two days ago, but they underestimated the prisoner and he got away. Tim Pope explains that the escaped prisoner is named Ricardo Silva, codenamed Red Eye. Ricardo is a biochemist, researcher and part-time professor. He manifested in a Primatech lab, killing a few people, and has been kept in Level 5 and other detention facilities ever since. Tim continues that he has the ability of primal rage, and it turns people on each other like a dog fight. Jeremy then instructs the player to enter the facility to further investigate it. The player enters the farm house, and sees the two wounded victims wrapped in bandages: one victim is badly wounded and one only lightly wounded. There is also an interrogation table in the middle of the room, a notepad on a small desk, and a file cabinet lying on its side. Papers are spread out covering the floor. Questioning the badly wounded victim first, the contracted player learns his name is Harris. He claims one person entered alone wearing a commando mask, stuck him in a cell and beat him when he tried to fight. Harris continues that the attacker then took Red Eye out of his cell and tortured him. Harris couldn't hear what was said in the cell; but he claims another man came in during the torture, and Red Eye made them fight each other, then escaped. Next, the player listens to the lightly wounded victim, named Carter, who claims he was sent from headquarters when a file on Red Eye went missing recently. Carter says that the Company thought the file might be in the facility. He continues that when he entered, there were two men, one standing over the other, with a gun. Carter says he didn't get to see the guy's face before he blacked out. He adds that he recalls grabbing the file cabinet and throwing it, feeling angry and scared, and then nothing till he woke up in a cell with a nasty bump on his head. The player then checks out the interrogation table. It has straps to fasten someone down on it, and they are well-worn. There are also stains on the fabric of the straps. Paper from the file cabinet stick to the player's feet. Blood has fallen from the table on top of the documents. Finally, the player examines the notepad. Bloody fingerprints indicate that the torturer wrote something on the notepad, but the top page is torn off. The player needs to pencil over the new top page of the notepad to see what the previous page had said. The message revealed reads: KS HQ AK 60-139 MAYA HERRERA (USE ANNA?) Heading outside with the notepad, the player finds Jeremy, Tim and Marie being briefed by an agent in a Command tent. When Jeremy asks the player what happened, the player needs to report that Harris is lying. The player shows the others the notepad, and notes that it looks like Red Eye was doing the interrogating, not the Kill Squad member. Jeremy then asks if there is any other evidence that Harris lied, and the player should note that the blood around the interrogation table was on top of the papers from the file cabinet. The papers should have been on top of the blood if the Kill Squad member was torturing Red Eye before Carter arrived as Harris claimed. Based on the evidence, the player deducts that Harris must be hiding that he was the one being interrogated and that he is a Kill Squad member. Harris took Red Eye out to kill him, but Carter walked in on them and Red Eye turned them against each other, and then tortured Harris for information about the Kill Squad. Jeremy asks how would Red Eye know that Harris was with the Kill Squad, and the player replies that Harris might have said something before he tried to kill him, but it's also possible Red Eye already knew Harris because the Kill Squad and Red Eye have clashed before. The player continues that the next problem is that Red Eye may be planning revenge on the Kill Squad during their next operation. Marie notes that it's Maya Herrera, and Tim thinks that will be good for them to tear each other apart. Jeremy then explains that it is a problem cause Task Force KS6 is in the area in hopes of abushing the Kill Squad when they go after Maya, and notes that it would be a massacre that will most likely include civilians in the area. Marie then emphasizes the urgency to find Red Eye immediately, and Jeremy reaches for his phone. Two hours later, it is getting colder and almost sunset. The player arrives outside a beat-up apartment building where Ricardo Silva used to have a second floor apartment. It appears thieves and vandals have stripped everything valuable from the building's exterior, and junkies and gang members are entering and leaving the building. A stoned, blond teenager is slumped on the front steps as the player approaches the entrance. The blond teenager asks for help. The player recognizes her accent to be Russian, learns she has not lived there long, and suggests she come inside to get out of the cold. The girl replies that she can't walk, and it's dangerous inside. She clarifies that a man said so and that the player should stay outside. The player then asks to enter, claiming to want to visit an old friend, and the girl says that she's dangerous too. The player then recalls a name from the farm house in upstate New York, and asks if her name is Anna. She is interrupted from answering by angry shouting inside the building. Next, a gunshot lights up the upstairs windows in the twilight. The player asks if the man's inside, and she says she said so. Then the front door opens and the player sees surging bodies, a baseball bat, screaming mouths, and a pair of glowing red dots. Suddenly, the player becomes enraged as well, screams back, draws a gun, and clenches a fist. The player then focuses on Anna, and aims the gun at her.

Notes

• The first chapters for Primatech and Pinehearst were released on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The second chapters for each were released on Wednesday, November 19, 2008.

External Links

• NBC Universal press release about the Heroes iStory, 11/19/2008

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