Theory:Claude Rains

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The following fan theories are about Claude Rains.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Claude taught Sylar how to control his powers.	When Peter Petrelli asked Claude if he had trained anyone else, Claude gave him a look and then blew off the question without providing an answer one way or another. (The Fix).	- It is unlikely that Claude taught Sylar, since Sylar would have simply killed Claude to gain the power of invisibility. - It is also unlikely that Sylar could have been able to see Claude, as it seems the only way to see him is to posses Claude's powers. - Sylar possibly learned to control his powers using the power he took from Charlie Andrews. - Because Sylar's own power is to understand how things work, it seems unnecessary to have someone tell him.
Claude was part of a former generation of heroes from the seventies and eighties. Because of this, he has trained or been trained by members of the last generation.	None.	+ Claude appears to be in his 40's which is far beyond the ages of the other heroes (all of whom are between 11 and 35). + His comment "Oh, one of those" may indicate that he has experience hunting down and training someone who has empathic power absorption- and as a possible former hunter, knows what's at stake if Peter doesn't control his power.
Claude trained the Haitian in how to use his abilities better.	None.	+ It appears Claude may have trained other evolved humans in how to use their powers. + Claude's history with The Company is confirmed in Company Man.
Claude is Patient Zero.	None.	+ Chandra Suresh was looking for Patient Zero, two days before he was murdered by Sylar. Claude appears to have had a power far longer than any other character. This could indicate he was the first person to have developed powers. Chandra was looking for Patient Zero in New York, and Claude's invisibility would make him hard to find. - Chandra's journal indicates that he had tracked more than five persons he believed to have powers; at least one of them, the Bangladeshi woman, was much older than Claude. - The term "Patient Zero" indicates that this is some sort of infection, rather than a genetic mutation. For there to be a patient zero in this case, taking into account the incredibly high number of people and families from across the globe who are discovering super-powers--not to mention the fact that this is a cross-generational phenomenon--that person would need to be hundreds of years old and intertwined in the lives of each family. While this could be Linderman, it is unlikely, seeing as we have seen him age from being young to old. - Sylar dossier states that Chandra termed Sylar his "Patient Zero."
Claude removed the tissue containing the tracking mechanism that was planted in his back by the Company.	None.	+ Claude may have had an "old school" device rather than a radioactive isotope. Technology has bound to have changed. The radioactive isotope used to track could be a relatively new method adopted after Claude dropped off the grid. + His scar looked like a crater, as if something had been burned out of his body. + Claude says that Peter led them straight to him.
The evolved human Claude was protecting was a character with whom we're already familiar.	Claude was shot for allegedly protecting an evolved human. (Company Man)	+ It seems likely given the show's penchant for character connections, that whomever Claude was protecting is one of the current roster of characters.
Claude was protecting a young Sylar.	Claude was shot for allegedly protecting an evolved human. (Company Man)	- It seems unlikely that Gabriel Gray's initial ability would have been detected so early, especially when Chandra could not detect it using modern medical equipment that can detect telepathy (such as the equipment measuring the resting rates of Matt).
The evolved human Claude was protecting was either Charles Deveaux or his daughter, Simone.	None.	+ Claude showed no interest in training Peter until he mentioned in passing that he had taken care of Charles Deveaux. Claude's hangout is on the roof of Deveaux's building.
Claude was protecting Meredith.	None.	+ Tim Kring said Claude and Meredith would have a connection, and it's possible that he found her later after the fire or was even him who suggested Meredith to create the fire and play dead. + It has been stated by the writers that the person he was protecting is "...someone we know." - Claude was sent to bag and tag Meredith (Trial By Fire). + Bennet was sent to bring Claire in to the Company, and arranged to have the Haitian stage a attempted murder and kidnapping. This does not rule out that Claude could have Meredith do the same thing.
One of the pigeons on the Deveaux's building roof is an animorph, and the evolved human who Claude was protecting.	None.	+ The only thing that worried Claude were the pigeons.
Claude trained the man who Molly called worse than the boogeyman.	None.	+ We know Claude trained someone who he considered dangerous.
Claude was invisible at the Kirby Plaza and he took a moribund Sylar with him into the sewer.	Claude appears among the other heroes in Peter's vision of his own explosion. (Godsend)	+ All the heroes from Peter's vision happen to be seen at the Plaza when he is about to explode (How To Stop An Exploding Man), except for Claude, and all of Peter's dreams have something prophetic about them. - Isaac and Simone also appear in Peter's vision, but are dead by the time Peter really explodes, so Claude is not the only one "missing" there. - Molly didn't appear in Peter's vision but appears in the real explosion scene. • Sylar may have been the person Claude was protecting.
Claude Rains is not his real name.	None.	• When Peter Petrelli asks him who he is, he states, "I'm Claude Rains, the invisible man." Now, for someone who doesn't want to be found, doesn't it seem unlikely that he would right away divulge his full name to a complete stranger? It seems more like he was being witty and referring to himself as the actor who played the Invisible Man in the original 1933 film. - He signed his name "Claude R" in the official report in The Golden Handshake
Claude Rains is protecting Claire Bennet.	None	+ When Mr. Bennet asks Claude the identity of the person he is protecting, Claude says, "What if it is your little girl?", implying that the child is the one he is protecting. + The fact that Mr. Bennet said that the Haitian should shoot him specifically in one spot so it wouldn't kill him, he shoots Claude Rains in the same spot right after Claude tells Mr. Bennet he might be protecting his daughter. - Mr. Bennet is protecting Claire.
Claude was protecting Rollo Fusor's accomplice.	None	- The accomplice died in 1990. Claude is ordered killed in 1999 for protecting an evolved human. - Claude was one of the woman's victims and has no perceivable reason for protecting her.
Claude is the hooded killer.	None	+ Kaito Nakamura recognized the killer, and would likely have known Claude from his Company days. Kaito might have still been under the impression that Claude was killed, so that would explain his "unexpected" return. + The killer seemed to disappear after Kaito's death, explainable by Claude's ability to turn invisible. - The fall would have likely killed or severely injured Claude. + Characters have been known to survive such wounds before, such as Sylar. Additionally, it is possible that Claude turned invisible and reached for something as he fell. - The killer is wearing a hooded coat probably to hide his/her identity, seeing as Claude can become invisible he has no reason to wear that. • Angela Petrelli is attacked by an invisible assassin, although it's unclear whether this was done physically or psychically.
Claude is one of the group of twelve.	None	- Claude is not visible in the picture of The Twelve. (The Kindness of Strangers) The Group of Twelve - While not being visible is usual for Claude, twelve people can clearly be seen in the photo. Were Claude a founder, Kaito would surely have referred to the founding 13 members of The Company when he talked to Ando. (Four Months Later)