Building 26

Building 26
Nathan walks through Building 26.
Location:	Washington, DC
Purpose:	Nathan's operations' headquarters

Nathan Petrelli leads his operation of hunting down evolved humans at Building 26.

Notable Employees

• Analyst
• Noah Bennet
• Building 26 employee
• Central commander
• Emile Danko
• Homeland Security agent
• Homeland Security agent
• Janitor
• Mark Leggett (deceased)
• Med tech
• Rachel Mills
• Nathan Petrelli
• Tech

Notable Occupants

• Elizabeth Axelson
• Eric Doyle
• Curtis Hovsepian
• Daphne Millbrook (formerly)
• Cyril Sharp
• Tracy Strauss (formerly)
• Mohinder Suresh (formerly)

Notable Visitors

• Abby Collins
• James Martin
• Matt Parkman
• Peter Petrelli

About

Trust and Blood

Forty-three hours after the Flight 195 crash, Nathan Petrelli sits in his office at Building 26, talking to Angela on the phone. He recounts what happened at the crash site to Angela. After finishing the phone call, an analyst comes into the office to tell Nathan that someone is ready for him. Nathan nods and heads out of his office, walking down a corridor before walking into the back of a truck. Rachel Mills and another guard unmask a battered Tracy, who, after trying to persuade Nathan to let her go and ultimately failing, yells desperately that Nathan is one of them.

Building 26

Danko is briefing his team in the control center of Building 26. He tells them about surveillance efforts and the status of their operation. He points out that Claire is "on probation". Nathan enters the room and points out that the evolved humans are still human, and are now scared. Because of the difficulty in capturing the fugitives and keeping their prisoner, Nathan has requested extra funding from The President.

Thinking her a representative of the president, Nathan and Danko meet Abby Collins in Building 26. She states the president is worried about their operation and that the Department of Homeland Security is now overseeing their team. Danko doesn't like another politician getting involved, but Nathan leads Abby on a tour. They discuss why Nathan's requested the funding, leading Abby to admit she thinks his ideas of people who can time travel and read minds is absurd. Nathan asks who she works for, and Abby informs him she's his new boss. Nathan lets it slip they're holding a prisoner and Abby demands to see her.

Tracy Strauss is chained to a chair in a room full of heaters. When Nathan shows this to Abby, she's horrified. She tells Nathan that she will file a complaint against him at the Justice department for humans rights violations.

While Nathan and Abby argue over whether or not his operation will be shut down, Tracy discovers a loose bracket on her shackles and pulls herself free. The alarms sound and Nathan and Abby both head towards the prison. They get stopped in the hallway outside, where Tracy is holding Mark Leggett hostage. When Tracy sees Nathan, she freezes Leggett and shatters him against the wall. Abby is speechless as Tracy is sedated and recaptured. Nathan apologizes, admitting that he wished Abby didn't have to see that. Abby has changed her mind about the funding, however, and gives Nathan the promise that he'll have all he needs.

Once Tracy is reshackled in her prison, Nathan visits her and tells she won't be escaping again. Tracy then tells him that she knows it was he who released her, and that she will escape next time.

Nathan confronts Danko about Tracy's accusations, revealing that it was Danko who orchestrated the event. Danko says he did it to protect the agency, and Nathan sadly informs him of Mark Leggett's name.

Cold Wars

Matt searches through Noah's memory and finds the day when Noah and Danko first met. They disagreed over how to run the operation. Noah suggested the "one of us, one of them" principle, but Danko preferred to use units of agents instead.

Later, Matt finds in Noah's memory of Daphne being brought into Building 26. Noah had sedated Daphne to keep her from going into shock.

Exposed

Danko yells to the analysts that Matt and Peter are their top priorities. He orders for them to be captured by any means necessary, but Nathan disagrees on using lethal force.

Matt and Peter infiltrate Building 26 after receiving a message from Rebel that tells them that Daphne is there. Peter replicates Matt's telepathy and the two use it to get past the guards without anyone stopping them. While Matt mentally controls two guards to hold off Danko, Peter hacks into the building's computers to try to find Daphne. Ultimately, he learns that Daphne is no longer there: she has been moved to a medical facility, but Rebel brings up a video file that was in the computer system that shows all of the captured evolved humans being put on Flight 195. Peter copies the file to a flash drive, but Noah Bennet activates Building 26's fire alarm system disrupting their telepathy. Rebel knocks out the building's power, shutting down the alarm and allowing Peter to escape while Matt is captured by Danko and his men.

Later, Nathan tells Danko and Noah that Peter made a deal with him. Nathan tells Danko to prepare the trade-off but Danko has his own plans: he leaves the building, ready to kill Peter on the spot.

Shades of Gray

Nathan walks through Building 26 and meets Danko; he asks what Matt Parkman is doing out in Washington, DC with a bomb strapped to him. When Danko says he doesn't know, Nathan heads to the roof via stairs, leading Danko to be suspicious.

An analyst preps the detonation of the bomb that is attached to Mat's body. Danko comes by and hurries the analyst up. Noah tells Danko to slow down, and they find that someone has jammed their operation. By the time they get the detonator working again, Nathan has defused the bomb already. Later, the analyst says that they couldn't track down whoever jammed their system.

When Nathan returns, he tells Danko that he's fired. Danko begins looking for evidence that could implicate Nathan as an evolved human, and tries to get the truth out of Tracy Strauss, who does not tell Danko anything since Nathan had previously stated that he was her only hope. But Danko does not give up, and eventually pushes Nathan out of a window, only to watch him fly away. He turns to Noah and says that Noah had better not known about this.

Cold Snap

In Building 26, Danko brings Mohinder to a room marked "Human Resources". The room is full of evolved humans, all lying sedated on hospital beds with IV bags going into their noses. Mohinder is shocked at the lack of humans rights, but Danko considers it "gun control". Mohinder sees Daphne and rushes to her side. He's upset that she's been moved from the medical facility, which Danko says was because of the American taxpayer. Mohinder then states that Daphne needs to be taken to the hospital right away and demands to speak to Nathan. Danko tells Mohinder that Nathan flew away. Mohinder then says he can't help Daphne where they are. Danko admits that he doesn't want him to and that he'd tricked Mohinder into willingly entering the room. An operative then tazers Mohinder and Danko orders him to be hooked up to one of the beds. He then orders his men to prepare another bed for Tracy Strauss.

Tracy, meanwhile, sits in her prison, trying to make ice. She manages to freeze her breath and smiles.

Danko brings Noah to the same room he brought Mohinder. He tells Noah he has a present for him, which prompts Noah to ask if that's the lie Danko told Mohinder. Danko takes Noah over to Eric Doyle, who has also been sedated. Danko tells Noah that he thought Noah would like to see the Puppet Master brought down since he tormented Noah's family. Noah tells Danko that since he's in a giving mood, he would like to return the favor. Bennet offers to take down Rebel if Danko allows for Tracy to escape. Noah believes that Tracy knows who Rebel is and would lead them straight to him. Danko is skeptical at first, but agrees to the plan when Noah promises to kill Tracy himself if anything goes wrong.

A team hunting Angela Petrelli call Bennet in Building 26 to inform him that they lost their target. Danko thinks she was tipped off while Noah states she can dream the future. Noah says they can use Angela's cellphone to track her, but is interrupted when the building systems shut down. Noah realizes what's going on and says, "Rebel, Rebel."

In Tracy's cell, the heat lamps turn off and her door unlocks. She freezes her restraints and leaves the cell. Rebel uses the security cameras to guide Tracy to the room where the prisoners are being held. Tracy frees Mohinder and Matt Parkman. Matt immediately frees Daphne and lifts her from the gurney. Tracy says Daphne will only slow them down and when Matt and Mohinder refuse to leave her, Tracy takes off without them. Rebel leads Tracy to the door, but doesn't open it. Agents burst through the door as Mohinder and Matt (carrying Daphne) catch up with Tracy, but Matt telepathically masks their presence and the guards run past them. The escapees can now leave via the front door, but Tracy says that when she gets out, she'll go alone.

Danko tells Noah that this won't happen again. He says if Tracy does lead Bennet to Rebel, Noah should to kill them both and chalk it up to self-defense.

Into Asylum

After James Martin murders an entire team of Danko's agents, save Agent Jenkins, Emile Danko briefs a new team on the importance of finding Martin and swears to not let the recent deaths be in vain. He swaps Sylar's picture on the board of "At Large" targets, placing James Martin as the most wanted. Noah Bennet compliments Danko's passion but prefers Sylar to be their main mission. Danko asks Noah for a plan, and Noah brings back the motto of his old job: "One of us, one of them." Danko doubts the effectiveness of such a team, but Noah views them as weapons to be utilized in war. Noah then brings Sylar back into the conversation, stating he believes Sylar is in the area and they should hunt him. Danko gives Noah the files to a different assignment, as he wants Noah to instead capture Angela Petrelli.

Later, Agent Jenkins checks in with Danko at his office before leaving for the day. He shakes Danko's hand and compliments him on his inspirational speech. On a box, Danko's phone then rings and he answers. Danko is shocked that Sylar is on the other line, telling him he found a body that Danko's team missed. Jenkins is excused as Sylar prompts Danko to open the box where his phone was just sitting. Inside is the head of the real Agent Jenkins; Martin is a shape shifter. Danko grabs a team of men and chases James Martin into the parking lot of Building 26. Martin grabs the hand of a janitor and then shifts into him. Danko's team grabs the janitor as they pass, but Danko continues pursuit until he gets to the open street, where the crowds of people and stormy weather make it easy for Martin to get away.

Turn and Face the Strange

A skeptical Noah Bennet examines Sylar's dead body as Emile Danko tries to convince him that Sylar really is dead. A agent comes in and tells Noah that his wife has arrived. Noah is surprised; Danko tells the agent to send her up.

In the hallway outside of the body storage room, Sandra Bennet paces impatiently as she waits. When Noah and Danko appear, Sandra and Noah get into an argument about the current location of Claire. Noah changes the subject to his disbelief regarding Sylar's death. Danko introduces himself to Sandra with a handshake, but Sandra acts hostile to him. She reveals she knows that she's had surveillance placed on her house. Danko merely states "it was nice to meet you", and makes his way towards the bathroom. Noah begs Sandra to go home, but she is going to stay until Claire is found. She doesn't give Noah time to argue as she leaves.

Upon entering the bathroom, Danko locks the door and walks over to the urinals. The real Danko looks up in surprise as Sylar comments on how much fun it is to be him and command respect. Danko warns him that this is not a game, thinking that Sylar wants to kill Noah. Sylar goes to the mirror and changes back to his natural form. As he examines his face for mistakes, he reveals he doesn't want Noah dead; he wants him destroyed.

Noah walks through the hallways of Building 26 as Angela Petrelli calls him in regards to a dream she had. She wants to gather him and her family to a place called Coyote Sands to reveal the truth. Noah wants to check out Sylar's wound one last time. Angela pleas with him to let it alone, but Noah ignores her. He enters the morgue and discovers the bodies were moved to the crematorium for barbeque. Hanging up on Angela, Noah hurries to catch the body on time.

Matt Parkman is waiting in a car outside Building 26 for Danko. When Danko finally comes out, Matt incites paranoiad and tells him that he has to check on the person closest to him. Danko hails down a taxi, and Matt follows.

After removing the spike from Sylar's head and revealing that he cannot heal, Noah sends the spike in for DNA analysis. He then heads back to his apartment where Sandra serves him divorce papers. He prepares to sign these papers at his desk in Building 26, but stops when he realizes that it's not Sandra's signature. Suspicious, Noah calls the DNA lab and asks technician Nigel to give him the results on the DNA sample. Nigel informs him the blood belongs to James Martin, and Noah realizes Sylar is now a shape shifter. Grabbing his coat, Noah heads off to Sandra's hotel.

Later, Noah walks through the control room without his glasses and enters Danko's office. When he closes the blinds, Danko asks what he wants. Noah suggests he's Sylar and hands Danko a file that Noah had been keeping from him. Danko takes the file stating the he wasn't surprised Noah had been hiding things. Noah draws his gun and asks Danko if he's surprised now. Noah takes Danko's firearm, criticizing Danko for trusting Sylar. Noah wants Danko to reveal where Sylar is. Danko tells him Sylar is posing as Agent Donner from Team 6, currently on mission. Noah holds Danko at gunpoint as he waits for their return.

Team 6 arrives back at Building 26 and Noah congratulates Donner on his achievements. As Donner turns away, Noah points his gun at him and commands the other agents to aim at the back of Donner's head. He reveals that Danko told him Donner was Sylar, but both Donner and Danko deny the accusation. Noah, betrayed, tells the agents that Sylar and Danko are working together, but Danko suggests Noah is just stressed out. Donner blames Noah's pending divorce, but this confirms Noah's suspicion. He fires at Donner's head, but another agent bats his hand as the gun goes off. The bullet hits Donner's back and Noah insists that everybody give him room to regenerate. After the body doesn't revive, Danko checks his pulse and declares him dead. Noah panics and holds Danko hostage as he starts backing out of the room. Noah releases Danko when he gets to the door and runs away. On Danko's order, the rest of the team chases him across the lobby and out the front door.

Danko, meanwhile, apologizes to Donner as he recovers from his wound, revealing he really was Sylar. Sylar is angry that Danko nearly got him killed, telling him that he could have tricked Noah into shooting Agent Foster instead. Danko points out that Foster would have actually died. Sylar is still angry, but Danko appears amused that Sylar could bleed as he did. Sylar reveals he "squeezed out" some extra for show.

Some time later, Danko calls Alena and tries to convince her that he really is a good person.

Trivia

• According to Greg Beeman's blog, the design concept for Building 26 is that it should be "a very anonymous space that this organization moved into quickly and could move out of quickly. Almost like a boiler room where shady phone solicitations could be made from." Greg calls the design of the building the "no aesthetic-aesthetic." Ruth Ammon countered the very plain design by "creating windowed offices at the perimeters of the set... She brought in lots of practical light sources on the desks and mixed and matched them. Ruth also added "tubes of computer wiring and electrical wiring coming down from the ceiling, being twist-tied together as the lines dispersed to the various desks."
• According to an instant message sent by "Rebel", Building 26 is located at 283 E Street S.W. in Washington, DC.
• The name of the building is pronounced "Two-Six" instead of "Twenty-six". Usually this would be indicated by a dash between the 2 and 6, but this has never been shown when the headquarter's name is displayed on screen.

See Also

• For other uses of Building 26, see Building 26 (disambig).