Intuitive aptitude

Intuitive aptitude
Gabriel diagnoses a problem with Chandra Suresh's watch.
Originally held by:	Gabriel Gray
Absorbed by:	Peter Petrelli (lost)
Ability to:	Analyze complex systems

Intuitive aptitude is the ability to understand the structure and operation of complex systems without special education or training. However, it also compels the holder to understand as much as they can.

Characters

• Sylar naturally possesses this ability.
• Peter absorbed this ability from Sylar Homecoming and didn't demonstrate it until much later (I Am Become Death). But He lost this power to his father (Dying of the Light)

Limits

Sylar

Sylar's ability seems to be constantly active, unconsciously helping him to analyze any system that he encounters. For systems that he already understands (like watches), he can detect and identify flaws in the mechanism with only a cursory inspection. Systems that he has never seen before may require more extensive study, but he seems to be able to comprehend them far more quickly than any ordinary person could, and he requires far less technological equipment.

Sylar's ability seems to work for analyzing both mechanical and biological systems. Whether it would work on other types of systems (such as electronic hardware or computer software) is not yet known, although he has claimed that it allows him to rapidly analyze human behavior (Fallout).

With this ability, Sylar is able to study the brains of evolved humans to analyze their powers and copy them, adding them to his own. He can also learn to control them more quickly than the original owners can (e.g. emmitting multiple controlled pulses of radiation from his hands after only just aquiring Induced radioactivity.

Angela explained to Sylar that his ability creates a hunger that can be controlled with structure. In the present, he has not been able to control the hunger, but one of his future selves managed to do so.

Peter Petrelli

Peter needed a future Gabriel to explain how the ability works. Gabriel gave Peter his broken watch to repair; performing the repair allowed Peter to manifest the ability. Afterward, Peter was able to understand Nathan's thought process and wanted to explore his thoughts more by slicing his head open, but stopped.

Future Gabriel also explained to Peter that the ability creates a hunger (i.e., an obsession to understand as much as possible) that is hard to control, and made him a killer. When Peter teleports to Sylar's Level 5 cell, Sylar notes that Peter now has the same hunger that Sylar has because of the ability.

Examples

• Gray (Sylar) detects a mechanical flaw in Chandra Suresh's wristwatch from across the room within moments of Chandra entering his shop. (Six Months Ago)
• After seeing Brian Davis demonstrate his power of telekinesis, Sylar seems to "listen" to Davis's mind, indicating that he is able to "fix" Davis. Sylar then attacks and kills Davis. Shortly thereafter, Sylar is able to use telekinesis himself. (Six Months Ago)
• After pushing Peter into a wall telekinetically, Sylar notes Peter being "just like me" and wanting to "see how that works". (Parasite)
• Whilst visiting his mother he notes that her clock is not working correctly and proceeds to fix it. (The Hard Part)
• After removing the top of Claire's head, Sylar appears to understand the workings of her brain. He locates which part of the brain controls her power, and after examining it, seems to mentally alter himself. After doing so, he successfully imitates her ability by healing a knife wound. (The Second Coming)
• Angela Petrelli is convinced that Sylar's hunger for new powers and his murderous nature are side effects of his ability, rather than character flaws. This is supported by his message on Chandra's answering machine. On the other hand, Sylar continued killing and attempting to steal powers even after he was infected with the Shanti Virus and his intuitive aptitude was suppressed.
• After learning to access this ability from Sylar in the future, Peter repairs a watch using telekinesis.
• He later reads Future Nathan's mind to tell if he's telling the truth, determining he "thinks [Nathan's] doing the right thing but [he's] wrong", and is consumed by the hunger to see more of how Nathan's brain works. He attempts to open his skull in the same manner as Sylar but stops before completing it, killing Nathan.
• After being punched by Knox; Sylar says, "I understand your power, you get stronger with fear." (I Am Become Death)

Gallery

• 
  Gabriel intuitively knows how watches work.
  (Six Months Ago)
• 
  Sylar examines Claire's brain and learns her ability.
  (The Second Coming)
• 
  By accessing Gabriel's ability, Peter understands how to fix Sylar's watch.
  (I Am Become Death)

Memorable Quotes

"I can fix it."

"My watch isn't broken."

"Actually it is. Yeah, the self-winding coil is loose. Your watch is running two seconds slow."

"How did you know?"

"Just a talent I have for the way things work, how the parts should go."

- Sylar, Chandra (Six Months Ago)

"You're broken."

"What?"

"Suresh was right. It's so clear now. How it all works, pieces fitting together. It is in the brain."

"So you can help."

"Don’t worry, Brian. I can fix it. It's an evolutionary imperative."

- Sylar, Brian Davis (Six Months Ago)

"I restored timepieces. Do you know why I was so good at it?"

"No, why don't you tell me."

"Because I can see how things work. What makes things ... tick. Like you."

- Sylar, Mr. Bennet (Fallout)

"My ability is not just understanding how things work; there's a hunger that comes with it. To know more, to have more. I couldn't control it; it turned me into a killer, a monster. And every day is a struggle, every hour. But I fight it...for him. And I am not going to willingly condemn you to hell!"

- Gabriel (to Peter) (I Am Become Death)

"Tell me your secrets! Or maybe I'll just rip open your head and find them myself..."

- Peter (to Angela) (Angels and Monsters)

Notes

• In Sylar's cell, a restrained Sylar feigns his death. When Hank removes the restraints from Sylar, the characteristic "tick-tocking" associated with his power is heard. (The Fix)
• Future Sylar, under the guise of Nathan Petrelli, tells Future Mohinder, "I understand how things work." (Five Years Gone)
• When he first met Gabriel Gray, Chandra did not recognize this ability at all. (Six Months Ago)
• Sylar typically learns to control stolen abilities far more quickly than the people from whom he acquired them. It is possible that his own intuitive aptitude helps him to rapidly analyze and assert control of new powers, which now appears to apply to Peter Petrelli as well.

Trivia

• Sylar's dossier describes his intuitive aptitude as "his intuitive understanding of the biological workings of individuals."
• In a podcast interview, Bryan Fuller describes Sylar's intuitive aptitude by saying, "He has an understanding of how others' powers work."

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Intuitive aptitude for fan-created theories and other speculation.

Evolved Human Abilities edit
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