Empathic mimicry

Empathic mimicry
Peter mimics Isaac's precognition
Held by:	Peter Petrelli
Ability to:	Ability to mimic other powers on an empathic level.
Examples of empathic mimicry

Empathy is the ability to "connect" with other people on a mental level. Empathic mimicry is an effect of this power that allows for the duplication of the superhuman abilities of other evolved humans.

Characters

Peter Petrelli is the only character known to have this ability. Claude, however, seems to have enough familiarity with the power to coach Peter in its use, suggesting there may be (or have once been) another person with similar abilities.

Limits

Peter possesses an empathic ability which has multiple effects.

One aspect of his power is the ability to duplicate or "absorb" the powers of other evolved humans near him. At present he has only absorbed powers that have been exercised in his presence, and he has not yet demonstrated unexercised powers of those he has come near. The exact range at which this occurs is not known, but the distance at which he can mimic the power of Claude is just several meters. He is able to duplicate Claude's ability almost immediately upon coming within range. Whether the maximum distance and minimum time is the same to mimic any power is uncertain. However, in Don't Look Back, Peter shows traces of Isaac's precognition the day after accompanying Simone to Isaac's apartment. This suggests some variability in his ability to use different powers outside of close proximity to the person being mimicked. Peter's control over other powers that he mimics varies; powers that require active concentration seem to be more difficult for him to manifest or control. Peter seems to absorb powers involuntarily, but he may not be aware of absorbing a power that requires active concentration to use.

In Distractions, Peter discovered the ability to recall a power (regeneration) that he had absorbed weeks before. He has since reproduced at least four other powers -- flight, invisibility, space-time manipulation, and telekinesis -- without the original holder of the power being nearby.

Peter sometimes has dreams involving other people that coincide with important events in their lives. He had a dream about Charles Deveaux at the time of his death, and he dreamed that Nathan was in trouble at the time of his automobile accident. He has even seen people that he hasn't even met in his visions, including Niki Sanders, Micah Sanders, D.L. Hawkins, and Claude Rains. Some of his visions appear to predict future events, but his predictive accuracy is uncertain, and may be a result of his having absorbed Isaac's precognitive powers.

Selected Examples

• Peter duplicates his brother Nathan's ability to fly after Nathan drops Peter. Later, Peter doesn't realize that he is walking on air while in Nathan's presence. (Genesis, Don't Look Back)
• Peter duplicates Isaac's ability to paint the future. (Don't Look Back, Hiros)
• Peter duplicates Claire's ability to heal the fatal injuries he received in a long fall. (Homecoming)
• Peter duplicates Matt's telepathic ability, causing a disturbing feedback loop between them. (Fallout)
• Peter duplicates Claude's invisibility; Peter and Claude can't be seen by anyone but each other. (Godsend, The Fix, Distractions, Unexpected)
• When Peter is impaled on top of a taxi, he regenerates, though nobody with that power is nearby. (Distractions)
• Peter blocks a swing from Claude using telekinesis. (Unexpected)
• Peter flies away, carrying Claude with him. (Unexpected)
• An enraged Peter tosses Isaac around his studio using telekinesis. He turns invisible when Isaac goes for his gun. (Unexpected)

Possible Examples

• Peter tells Nathan that when he got out of bed that morning his foot hovered before it hit the ground--for a split second--like he was floating. (Genesis)
• Peter may or may not have duplicated the abilities of:
  • space-time manipulation; Peter is able to communicate with Future Hiro when he stops time, and is at this point the only person with whom Hiro (present or future) has interacted normally during a time stop. Whether this is Peter's or Hiro's doing is still unclear. (Collision, Hiros)
• See Peter's visions for a list of dreams/visions he has experienced.

Memorable Quotes

"Before I hit the ground when I knew what was about to happen. I had this flash in my head of this girl that I met in Texas. This cheerleader - she could heal herself. God she's a sweet kid. Sad little smile, she just-- You were wrong! I don't have to cut her out. I have to remember her! Remember how she made me feel!"

- Peter Petrelli (to Claude) (Distractions)

Notes

• Press materials released before Heroes aired skirted the issue of Peter's powers, saying instead that he was "trying to convince his brother he could fly." The exact nature of his ability did not become clear for several episodes.
• Empathic mimicry should not be confused with power theft, Sylar's method of stealing or acquiring the powers of other evolved humans.
• Mohinder says that Peter's power is "like a sponge" to the powers of other evolved humans (and not like a "chameleon"), and it could be dangerous for him to get near someone with an "unstable" power. (The Fix)
• Claude opines that it is fitting for an "empath" to be a nurse, as though he has had a prior familiarity with people of Peter's ability (The Fix)
• In an interview, Tim Kring elaborated on the similarities and differences between Peter and Sylar's powers, calling them "two halves of a similar coin".

  "Both are able to absorb people’s powers, but in two very different ways. Peter’s is based on his empathy and his ability to connect with people and when he’s around them. Sylar actually has to take your brain and do something with it."

• Milo Ventimiglia (Peter Petrelli), in a behind-the-scenes video, reveals that Peter passes out at the end of "Fallout" because he is overwhelmed by all of the abilities he has been absorbing.
• When Peter yells at Isaac, some have speculated that he may have (unsuccessfully) used Eden's power of persuasion. However this is more likely a reflection of production effects rather than the use of a power. The sound effects for Eden's persuasive voice (listen) and Peter's yell (listen) are very different (Unexpected). In an interview, it is stated that the voice change was for the "coolness factor."

Gallery

• 
  Nathan attempts to save Peter, but drops him. Peter then flies in order to save himself.
• 
  Peter levitates in Nathan's presence.
• 
  As Claude walks away, Peter is no longer invisible.
• 
  After Claude pushes him from Charles Deveaux's rooftop, Peter manages to recall Claire's regeneration.
• 
  Peter mimics telekinesis.
• 
  Peter freezes time.
• 
  Peter mimics flight to carry Claude to safety.
• 
  Peter hurls Isaac across Isaac's apartment.