Theory:Niki Sanders

Main Article Theories about Niki, Gina, and Jessica Sanders Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about Niki, Gina, and Jessica Sanders.

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Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
The Company (or Bob) did something with Niki/Jessica so she'll do everything Mohinder tells her to do.	None.	+ There are other evolved humans who are slavish to someone who works for the company. - The "slavish" actions were because of Eden McCain's power of persuasion, however she committed suicide in Fallout and there have been no other confirmed cases of this power. • The Haitian is kind of slavish to Mr. Bennet. • The Haitian was brought to Bennet as a boy, and Bennet probably gave him the same care he would a son. This could mean that the Haitian reveres Bennet like a second father, and would explain why he works with him in all seeming cases.
Despite the events of Powerless, Niki is still alive.	None.	+ We never actually see a body -only the explosion of the building Niki was in. It is entirely possible that she managed to escape somehow. + The explosion of Peter led viewers to believe that both Peter and his brother, Nathan, were dead at the end of Volume 1. It's possible a similar bait-and-switch occurred here. - The previews suggested that two Heroes would "fall". Nathan was one and Niki seems to be the other. + The same sort of prediction was made when Noah was shot. This may mean that Niki is down, but not completely out. It also could easily have referred to Maya getting shot. - Not even Niki could have survived that explosion, as she had no exit and it happened almost immediately after Monica went out. • Tim Kring said in an interview regarding Volume 3, that Niki's fate was "up in the air and will be determined when we come back after the (Writer's Guild) strike." + Maybe her power is taking on the personality and powers of those that die near her. Might even be more specialized to include those that she is close to or she can choose who. If she was able to take on D.L.'s power, she could have gotten out of there. Or, if D.L. is somehow still alive, he may have gotten her out of there. - Gina wasn't a person but an alias Niki took when she ran away as a teenager to Los Angeles.
Gina was the one who attacked Bob in Fight or Flight, not Niki or Jessica.	None.	+ At the end of Season 1 Niki and Jessica integrated into one personality, so Jessica couldn't be the one who attacked Bob. + In Four Months Ago Gina is the current personality existing in Niki before she turns herself into The Company. + Gina, just like Jessica would be able to access Niki's super strength. - Maury was taunting Niki with nightmares, only on a motive to kill Bob, as indicated in Fight or Flight and Out of Time. + Bob stated when Niki was in her room that dealing with a split personality disorder will be difficult to cure. • Sometimes, Bob is explaining his viewpoint in events like Niki's attacks on Bob. Either his motives on Niki were not enough explored throughout volume 2, or he wanted others like Mohinder to help Bob save himself from Maury. - Gina seems more focused on fun and hedonism rather than violence.
Jessica will be one of the villains of volume 3.	None	+ Tim Kring says in an that "We’ve introduced a cadre of [villains] over the course of the show and we’re going to see them rise up." [1] This suggests that the villains are characters we already know. + It is possible that after the traumatic experience of being trapped in a burning building, Jessica will return. - Though Jessica is arguably evil, her main motivation seems to be protecting Niki and Micah.
One of the villains of volume 3 will be a new split personality for Niki.	None	+ Tim Kring says in an that "We’ve introduced a cadre of [villains] over the course of the show and we’re going to see them rise up." [2] This suggests that the villains are characters we already know. + It is possible that after the traumatic experience of being trapped in a burning building, a new personality will emerge. + Bob has stated that the emergence of new personalities is possible. + In Fight or Flight, Niki, under the influence of another personality, attacked Bob. Jessica has already been reintegrated into Niki's personality and Gina seems to be more of a party girl than a fighter. This may be the villainous personality.
Niki is the descendant of Adam Monroe.	None	+ Adam took the alias Richard Sanders. + He had a wife in Los Angeles in 1958, this would be around the time that Hal Sanders, Niki's father, is conceived. - Adam didn't mention having any children with the ninth wife. - Adam killed her. If she was pregnant at the time then the baby died with her. + She may have given birth to Hal before 1958, leaving Hal as an orphan since she died. • Niki may be a descendant through another of the wives or out of wedlock. - If she was descended through out of wedlock then it's unlikely that "Sanders" would be the last name. • She may be descended from the Maria from Italy who had two sons. + The fact he took Richard Sanders as a name is very likely not to be a coincidence. • Even if Hiro never went back into the past, are they related?
Niki is an ex-wife of Adam, or is his eleventh wife but has simply tried to block him out of her memories.	None	- Niki was married to D.L. Hawkins.
The Company lied to Niki when they diagnosed her as having multiple personality disorder. They really wanted to keep her under their control until she was needed.	Rather than treating her condition directly with therapy, as is usual practice in most cases where MPD is brought on by trauma (as it was in Niki's case), The Company just used medication to keep her heavily sedated. Four Months Ago	+ The Company is not above lying to people in the guise of trying to help when they are really more interested in controlling them. Most of their activities involving Peter are proof of that. (Four Months Ago) + For that matter, "The Haitian Pills" that Peter was given to neutralize his powers didn't seem to have the same sedative effects as the medication Niki was on. It seems unlikely, if The Company truly had the means to chemically neutralize a person's superpowers, that they would use such things on a time-bomb like Peter and not on someone who really had no desire to use her powers and just live a normal life like Niki... unless they had a use for Niki in mind.
Niki's survival of the events of Powerless will be brought about, somehow, by D.L. Hawkins.	Niki was last seen trapped inside a burning building in Powerless. This was the exact same situation that D.L. Hawkins used his powers to escape from in both Four Months Ago and Man_on_Fire	+ The show has used repeated themes and foreshadowed echoes before. Niki being saved by her fire-fighter husband would continue the trend. + This would also fit with the theory that Niki is a medium who can access the powers of dead souls.