I happened to be speculatin' about whether the Shanti virus (or the like) would be a threat to the HEROES here, and besides what we saw in this episode, I also got an answer to my question from the live blog last night:Here are some questions I was wondering about...

Do ya think the writers will use the virus as a sort of kryptonite to the HEROES when they wanna kill off a person's character? Is it a plot device to help keep Claire's and Peter's powers in check? Will Mohinder will make a cure derived from the anti-bodies in his blood, or from whatever power Alejandro has? Will someone exploit the virus to purposefully harm the HEROES?

Just wondering what you thought. I was thinking at the end of last season that the Shanti virus would come into play when Molly was affected by it, and it's fun to see that that may be a plotline to follow!

I'll bet that the virus will be a central plotline for this season, as will Maya's power, whatever that is. I think Maya's power will be more important, if only because the ARG has now shown evidence for her presence in both Hana's blog, as well as the GN introducing her. That's a lot of tie in for just one character.

It's probably been discussed elsewhere, but if Alejandro can supress Maya's ability to carry a virus, or has the cure for it in the immediate vicinity, and since Dania's a regular (iirc) and Shalim isn't, then if that means Alejandro dies sometime in the season, it'll be more critical of a storyline to help Maya before she gives everyone along her trail to NYC a really bad day.

i think the "virus" is a cover story that HRG and Mohinder came up with to get Mohinder into the Company. There's no way that Mohinder can infiltrate the Company unless he has something they have a significant interest in.

Because of what the new glasses guy said about, what would happen if it mutated and crossed over into the general population. I think the company created it as a way to not have to kill the heros who could hurt people, but something happened along the way and it became a virus that not only took their powers but also killed them. It also seems like they really want Mohinder and not just for his research, i think Mohinder and HRG have gotten in over their heads and Mohinder is gonna need some saving Hero-Style!

I don't think that what Maya has is a virus or an infectious entity, or at least, the same virus that Molly and Shanti have. Her power kills more quickly than the virus that infected those two girls. It's also obvious that Alejandro has some kind of neutralizing ability for Maya's curse and when they are separated, anyone around her loses his protection if he is not near. It is an interesting thing, and one would have to ask if his (Alejandro's) power is just to neutralize Maya's power, or can he neutralize any special power?

So does anyone think the virus/plague will be used like kryptonite to slow down/weaken the HEROES, since everyone can't get a stick or shard o' glass to the back of the head to "disconnect" the switch that may give 'em their special abilities?

i doubt its gonna be a weapon used by the company, or the goverment even, they'd screw it up! & it would be just like superman 3 , where richard pryor added tar to kyptonite to complete the list of contents, imagine 2 versions of every hero in a junkyard fighting themselves..cats & dogs , living together , mass hysteria !

agree with you there tex , maya doesnt have the same virus , no chance, it affects specials only as far as we've seen. maya kills all around her..

back on point , i don't think many of the heroes need a disconnect , except peter & sylar...cannot remember who on the boards said this ( probably hordakalpha ) with great power comes great stupidity , that covers peter, sylar well he seems pretty allergic to maps or swords through the chest...

We know 3 people that have had this virus:

- Shanti
- Molly
- Patient in the hospital in the GN "Blackout" pts 1 & 2

We know 3 people that have had this virus:

- Shanti
- Molly
- Patient in the hospital in the GN "Blackout" pts 1 & 2

Correction, we knew of two people who had the virus.

Shanti & Molly, both young girls, who possibly could've had the same ability, and therefore the same disease that came with that ability.

The patient in the hospital in the GN did not have the virus, he was suffering from absorbing so many electrical currents. Mohinder realized this before the company man came in.

Maybe what Maya can so generously share is a mutated strain that would affect all people? That's why I included "(or variation thereof)" in the discussion...

So Hero, are you saying that you think this virus is *contagious*?

Oh, what I meant by generously sharing was that when Maya's around others, without the neutralizing effect of Alejandro, all others are indiscriminately receiving whatever Maya is dishing. I don't know if it's contagious, but that would sure be no fun if it was.

So, it's like cancer and radiation. Maya is the radiation and the Shanti virus is the cancer?
And it acts like kyrpotonite right?
Just trying to understand what you're saying :/ lol

I guess for now, that could work, with a lack o' details to go on. So Alejandro's the lead to block the radiation?I was callin' it a kryptonite, as in, it could be a plot device to give the HEROES a vulnerability... But it was just a thought. I did submit questions for Joe and Aron to hopefully be answered in next week's Behind the Eclipse, though (the details are here, and I dared themightytruk to post about it, so he gets the credit for the scoop...).

Woo-hoo! Do I get a brownie for speculatin' about the Shanti virus before this season even started?