I thought I'd bring this up as it explains several complaints people were having about Peter (again). Why he didn't phase through the Pinehearst doors while invisible, why he didn't enter the room invisible (he preferred being prepared for a confrontation instead of passing unnoticed) and why he didn't read his father's mind. Sure, after he stopped "powering up" on electricity he could have switched others on, but I', willing to hand it to him that he was just completely flabbergasted to see his father alive.

Or did he use two when he fought Sylar? I think he used flight, electricity and super strength in succession.

fPeter was using various powers whilst covering up his scar with illusion, Sylar also did the same in the future when disguised as Nathan. I'm sure he had a telepathic conversation with Matt whilst pinning Hiro to the wall with TK at the end of season 2.

Maybe it's something he is slowly learning how to do, he can certainly call a power a lot better than he used to be able to. I think he'll be able to use multiple powers at once in the future.

I never said he wouldn't! FPeter frequently uses two powers simultaneously. But I think we can still be rather certain the present Peter can't use two powers at the same time. Except possibly regeneration plus another one, after the regen process has already set in.

Unlike some of the people on the show Peter's powers haven't fully evolved yet but we have seen glimpses of what he can do with future versions of him. I do think though when he gets his powers back maybe they need to take it on another step now and make sure his and others powers evolve to reach their full potential. For example Matt can't make illusions or put people in nightmares yet either.

JazzG: Yes, he can put people in nightmares - he did it to his father last season. I just think Daphne has him right; he's too good a guy to make use of it. And he's not a manipulator either.

It will be interesting to see where Peter's powers go now we know about his father. He's obviously going to gain greater control of the abilities he has absorbed (flying invisible whilst shooting fireballs from his left hand and electricity from his right, reading the minds of his enemies... in slow motion... disguised as Milos Milicevic) but what will the next step be for his base ability? Something simple like a greater range to his absorbing or maybe a twist on Arthur's? What if he could be a human version of the formula and activate dormant powers in anyone or rewrite their DNA to give them an ability he has already? Maybe as Arthur takes away, Peter can give back what was once theirs.

Pure speculation of course

Umm... I was kind of under the impression that Peter intentionally became visible again, pretty sure once he got to the room he was aiming for stealth was no longer an issue. The way he stormed in, seemed like he was setting the tone, showing off a little of his power to intimidate the people he was about to interrogate for answers.

And well, electricity is probably the best offensive power he had for this situation, so he didn't need to use more than that. Fire moves too slow, TK is invisible, an super strength is only good for close combat. But he has used 2 powers at once, healing and TK when he was in Ireland and TK and telepathy. BUT on the other hand, it can be argued that healing is passive and as such can be used simultaneously with another power, and the telepathy could have been Parkman's doing. Meh, guess we'll find out.

TK and telepathy? When?



I agree. I meant that he opened the door while invisible, instead of walking straight through it using DL's power. That would have been a lot less conspicuous than a door moving on its own. But he probably couldn't do that.

Oh yeah forgot about that one but I think he bought him there unintentionally and I'm not so sure he could do it again and can create other illusions like Maury has at will like him.

I think Peter kicked the door in because it was more dramatic to us, the television audience, and helped the pace of this part of the storyline. If this was "real life", it would've definitely made more sense to go invisible and phase in to catch them off-guard.

G7,

Peter has demonstrated the use of three powers at once (EM, RCR and TK). It's a mix of two always-on and one at-will. Do you imagine that IA, EM, RCR and TK (or any other at-will power) would not work together simultaneously?

Creator

I thought this had already been answered. Peter has already used 2 abilities at the same time.

1: In Isaac's loft. He used Invisibility + Telekinesis against Isaac.

2: The beat down with Sylar on Monday. There were 2 or 3 abilities on display there, at the same time I believe.

3: When he went to the virus future the second time last season, when he saw himself and Caitlin being hauled away, he used at least 2 or 3 abilities at once. They couldn't see him, so he was invisible. But he brought something back, so he obviously used time travel abilities as well. The argument can be made, since Adam swears he didn't leave, that he also used an astral projection ability as well.

He didn't use his telepathy on his father because Arthur Petrelli also has telepathy. And, does it really matter about him using invisability rather than Phasing? Likely Phasing costs more than invisability to show, and the writers used it on other special effects. Also, he was walking around the building - if he kept Phasing permanently wrong, he might just Phase through the floor. And he used invisability to avoid security. It makes sense.

Synch: I disagree.



That's not conclusive. To me, it looks as if he was throwing the paint containers by hand.



In quick succession, but never simultaneously.



I hold to the idea that he used astral projection and nothing else. Astral projection (or ethereal projection) would enable him to move to whatever point in time and space he wanted, and not be seen by anybody.

You're going to try and convince me now, but you won't. Let's agree to disagree there, and send a question to the next BTE...


Creator: I see both EM and IA - and whatever Arthur has - as a completely passive thing that isn't used consciously. Like a state you're in, which enables you to acquire powers in the first place. Similar with regeneration, though it has a more visible effect than either of the previously mentioned abilities. TK, Invisibility, Telepathy, what have you, are different in that they are initiated consciously. I still don't think he's ever used two of those simultaneously (and I still think it's a giveaway that fPeter seems to flaunt his powers. Whenever we have seen him, he was using two powers at once. TK and invisibility, flight and illusion, I'm sure there are more.

1: Paint cans didn't go invisible. When Peter grabs something while invisible, it vanishes.
2: Check the trajectory- it was a straight throw, no curve. Impossible for you to throw something that way.


I think we will agree to disagree here. All I'll say is that AP lets you do a lot- but doesn't let you bring something back with you when you return to your body.

I still hold to the belief that he used time manipulation and telekinesis to stop himself being tasered by HRG in Season 1...

And watch his arm as he catches Nathan after he explodes in Season 2, it clearly shows it healing, so he is using regeneration whilst flying...

Not to mention that scene in Ireland when he's pinning Will to the wall with telekinesis as he's body spits out the bullets...

I think we have seen him use two powers simultaneously, but seems so far to be using them instinctively when he's in danger... not as a conscious choice...

So when it comes to using intentionally using multiple powers, he's still no more than poodle...

when he was abusing Issac, he was invisiible and tossing stuff around with TK at the same time...He can use more than one power at at ime

he's just too dumb too take advantage of his powers, as we've clearly seen in his failed confrontation with his Daddy at Pinehurst

Think of Peter as a chick with a super hot body that wears baggy pants and baggy turtlenecks all the time

WRONG

In season 1, when he met that invisible dude and learned to use his powers. He flew away with him after he was shot with a sedative. He flew AND turned invisible.

End of Discussion.

True.

But not consciously. Not deliberately. He was borrowing Claude's invisibility.

Actually you are wrong but it can be argued he did use two powers in that scene. First of like you say he was invisible but he either stopped time or used TK to prevent himself getting hit by the taser. He then jumps off the building and then flies up with Claude, Noah sees him fly up and away but nor he or the Haitian can see him when he training with Claude and they still can't see him when he is throwing Claude and jumping off the building.

If you really want to be fussy you can say once the Haitian tried to get him with the taser he became visible, froze time, then unfroze time and turned invisible again. But to counter this you could say freezing time shouldn't prevent himself getting hit by those darts but that can be countered by saying Hiro did do something similar when he caused that ladies gun to misfire when she tried to shoot him.

We could go on like this all night if you want..

Just a nitpick- he didn't cause the gun to misfire. He rewound time for the bullet but nothing else.

Thanks a lot for your considerate input; I'll reserve the right to keep my own judgement on Peter's character if I may.

When Hiro stops time and is talking to Peter does that count as Peter using a power? Or is it Peter just being immune to a power? If the former, then he has used 2 powers simultaneously because in the paper factory he is having a stopped time chat with Hiro and then starts with the lightning.

I always took it as Peter being immune.

I just submitted that question to Behind the Eclipse, keep your fingers crossed.

errr, Peter is using two or more powers every time we see him use anything other than his native ability to copy, borrow, mimic, whatever other powers.

His native ability is always on and as far as I know, he can't control when he absorbs another power, he just does. I think Creator was saying the same thing, but the abbreviations made it confusing.

Even simpler. While on the roof with Claude, Isaac attempts to find Peter and paints, but Peter's not there in the paintings, because he's invisible and though Isaac knows where he is, he can't see him. Isaac even paints the footprints from the puddle, but no people. So, it's safe to assume that Peter and Claude were invisible the entire time.

So while they are invisible, Peter calls upon TK.

Also pPeter uses the "TK power" at the same time he uses the "know how thing work power" when he goes to kill nathan and his mom. There were other example this year of pPeter using multiple powers at one time but cant think otf them right now. I don't know where you guys got the idea that he cant.

Peter used tk to hold Future Nathan in place and telepathy to read his mind before he sliced his head up.

We've seen Peter use two powers at once before.

Let me rephrase my statement then - apart from "always on" abilities that Peter doesn't have to trigger but which trigger themselves, Peter can't use more than one ability at the same time.

The reason that Peter didn't phase through the Pinehearst doors is very simple: Heroes is a TV show. If he did phase through the doors, we would have 20 seconds of watching a blank screen, and thats just not interesting. As it is, the door swinging open shows the audience exactly where Peter is gone and adds some drama to the scene.

Oh! I missed the second half of this thread. That's actually the first occurrence I'd accept as Peter using two powers.

Peter being invisible while fighting Claude on the roof I'd also attribute to Peter being included in Claude's invisibility. Peter never tried to remain visible around Claude, or remain invisible while Claude went away from him, until much later. I always saw that as automatic use of powers too, not done consciously.

G7,

You're probably finishing up having dinner right about now. I'm sorry to take so long replying.

Here's what I believe. I believe that Peter, just like you or me, learns to use his powers (once aware that he has them) consciously (even as we learned to talk, sing, walk, run, jump, ride a bike, drive a motorcar...). But eventually, as with all learned and practiced skills (or powers) he (like us) achieves true "mastery" (unconscious competency).

Your question was about whether or not Peter used two (or more) powers simultaneously. And, while I believe that IA and EM are "always-on" powers (RCR too), that was never the issue. It is apparent to me that Peter uses two or more powers on any number of occasions, e.g.:

• In Ireland while healing (RCR) from gunshot wounds he grabs his assailant using TK.
• Atop the DeVeaux Building practicing with Claude, he obviously had to be using two powers at once, either TK and invisibility or TK and EM plus invisibility.
• At Kirby Plaza he uses EM (absorbing DL, Micah and Molly's powers [and Candice's as well, I believe]) while deploying Niki's super strength to beat Sylar senseless.
• Time-Space control and body stuffing (or un-stuffing) at the bank (F_Pete).

I fail to understand why these examples would not satisfy your inquiry. But, if not...

Creator

Just a bag of potato crisps for me tonight. I'm properly ashamed of myself.

As I said in reply to Wolfbro, it makes a difference for me whether Peter uses two powers consciously, or one simply "ignites" all on its own, without him doing anything about it. Or if he's just reflecting someone else's ability, like invisibility or freezing time, which is also never initiated by him.

RCR, IA and EM are all powers that he has never used consciously, whose very point it is that they're always running in the background. I just find it very conspicuous, too, that Future Peter frequently uses several more flashy powers at the same time: in the very first scene we see him, in the bar in 5YG, he pulls a glass towards him with TK while invisible. Or flying and illusion when he saves Claire from the train.

The main reason why I still WANT to maintain that he can't use two powers at once is because people keep expecting him to, and then call him an idiot for not doing it. I say he's not an idiot, he's just not proficient enough to, say, read his father's mind while calling electricity from his hand.

But as I said, I concede the point to billyprilgrim - pinning Nathan to the wall while trying to read his mind was two consciously used powers in my book. But to me, it's still the only time he's done anything as complex.

Wouldn't that technically be three powers: Intuitive Aptitude, Telepathy and Telekinesis he was consciously using on fNathan?

You might add his always-on EM, AND possibly still regeneration from the cuts Claire gave him.

No, seriously, I see your point for including IA. Wanting to know what made his brother tick in that moment. But I still think IA is something that uses you, rather than you using it.

I see your point too.. It just seems to me Gabriel and Peter were consciously using it to puzzle out the Sylar watch.. very confusing. Kinda makes you wonder about the German who invented that watch so long ago, nein?

You'd say, "nicht wahr?"

I agree, figuring out the watch was conscious use - I took that to be much like the way you learn to ride a bicycle. At first you have to concentrate on how to do it, but once you've got the hang of it, you do it automatically. I see how Peter probably used it consciously on Nathan, and possibly Angela later, too, though.

G7,

• Time-Space control ["HE STOPPED TIME"] and body stuffing (or un-stuffing) at the bank (F_Pete).

BTW, F_Peter is still Peter.

• Clairvoyance and Time-Space treavel while in the future to locate F_Gabriel.

Creator

You're ignoring what G7 said.

She admitted that the Future variant used multiple powers. She's not talking about him. She's talking about P_Peter. (And has stated so)

Synch,

Thanks. G7 has, from the onset, provided a moving (continuously re-defined) target. I re-stated the first bullet to respond to her statement that Peter never stopped time. My second bullet addresses P_Peter and her re-defined inquiry.

Creator

Creator: No, I never moved that particular target, although it could be I didn't mention it clearly enough. The very title, "still", does imply that he will be able to use two powers at one point, but he hasn't got there yet - quite. Not in a way that he can juggle his abilities around the way fPeter does. I went ahead to clear that up as early as in the second reply in this thread.



Then, I agree, I was convinced that pPeter used two powers when he cut open Nathan's forehead in the future episode.

As for IA, EM and RCR not counting - I should have clarified that, and didn't think to do so, but with the single exception of fixing the watch, they looked never really consciously initiated to me. You yourself call them "always on" powers; for me, it simply went without saying.

And Creator, I didn't say he never stopped time - I said he (present Peter) never stopped time on his own while using another ability consciously at the same time. Future Peter was never my point, I'm fully aware Peter will eventually be able to use two powers at once with as much proficiency as fPeter. And of course I'm aware that they're the same person; but one had mastered what the other hasn't yet.



Weeeeeeellllll, that doesn't really convince me either, I'm afraid. Mohinder "told" him where he would find Sylar. And even if he was using Molly's ability (and I hope he wasn't as I would hope for him to actually realise he'd discovered a new ability - same with Micah's) he would have used it to locate Sylar and then he would have teleported.

G7,

So, what's for lunch?! Yes, I realize now what you're up to. Thanks for the clarification (and your patience). Peter realizes he can freeze time. He's seen this demonstrated by his future self and Hiro. He'll have it now. I can see him using it in a showdown with Arthur (thus eliminating any outside help from Arthur's henchmen).

I do believe that he is using Clairvoyance and Teleportation, but that remains to be proved absolutely.

So, we need to see examples of two at-will powers called upon by Peter...co-incidentally. Other than what has been offered I can't think of any. But, I'm certain that this will be rectified in short order. Good topic. Great mental exercise. Enjoy Monday's episode.

Creator

lol, thanks, Creator. As I said, keep your fingers crossed for the next BTE - I submitted it as a question. In very clear terms, too, I hope.

P.S. Mashed potatoes with roast turkey and sweetcorn.

I really don't understand how people can say Peter is incapable of using two "at-will" powers at the same time. It's already been pointed out more or less beyond doubt that Peter couldn't possibly have been throwing those paint cans at Isaac by hand, because not only did the cans not turn invisible but they flew on a straight trajectory that is physically impossible with a throw.

ehh, Peter's stupid.
Still love him though.

I don't want to start a new thread for this but does anyone remember what happened to the Haitian's neckless he put around Peter's neck in the second season?

As for as conscious powers go, we might be overlooking Peter's Empathic Mimicry. We saw in S1 the tendency for that power to overload when absorbing powerful, or several medium abilities simultaneously, or when Peter gets stressed. So in effect, his supression/control over his core gift which is conscious should be considered. Remember he told Nathan in the air that it "taking all his power not to explode" meaning to me it is something he must be actively controlling.

Magnifico: I understood it to be his will power suppressing his radioactivity. Not sure if he can use his EM consciously at all. Like, turning it off when he's around a power he doesn't want. (That would have been useful near Ted. )

Trihan: The trajectory of the paint cans might also be determined by the way they had to pull the strings during filming, as nobody was there to push them

Renrut: I need to rewatch it, maybe it was taken from him during the decontamination? He was still wearing it in Ireland, not sure up to what point. Pity though, you're right - it held quite a bit of significance back then and I'd have liked it to be addressed when it suddenly disappeared...

GoldSeven: Well think of it like this then. If Peter had been throwing them physically, Isaac would have known exactly where he was. Telekinesis would have been the optimum choice.