Niki Sanders

Template:Heroes character box Nicole "Niki" Sanders is a fictional character portrayed by Ali Larter in the television series Heroes. She is the wife of D.L. Hawkins and mother of Micah Sanders. Niki has an alter ego, Jessica, who has exhibited superhuman strength when she takes control of Niki's body. It is unknown as of now if Niki can also use superhuman strength.

Character history

Early years and six months ago

Niki grew up with a wealthy father named Hal Sanders. An abusive alcoholic, Hal would often beat Niki and her sister, Jessica, during his drunken rages. Eventually, Hal choked Jessica to death and abandoned his remaining daughter. As an adult, Niki had no memory of her father's actions and simply believed he ran out on her. At some point in her life, Niki herself became an alcoholic and a problem gambler, but she managed to overcome her problems. On her first anniversary of sobriety (April 24, 2006), Niki attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. There, she was reunited with her father, Hal, who wanted to make amends. Niki introduced Hal to her husband, D.L., and her son, Micah. Hal gave the boy a computer, but when he became angry at his grandson for taking the expensive gift apart, Niki demanded that he leave. After her father's departure, Niki's personality was replaced by Jessica's, and she went to confront him. Jessica told her father that she remembers everything he did to her, including his responsibility in "[her] death," even though Niki doesn't remember any of it. After assaulting him, she forced the check Hal gave Niki into his mouth and ordered him never to contact her again.

Single mother

As of October 2006, Niki was in Las Vegas, Nevada and struggling to raise her ten-year-old son, Micah. She had been working as an internet stripper to pay the bills. Her husband, small-time criminal D.L. Hawkins, was in jail, accused of stealing two million dollars from a sports booker and murdering his own gang. To help pay Micah's tuition at a very expensive school that Niki believed would encourage his gifts, Niki borrowed money from Mr. Linderman, a reputed mobster who used to employ her husband. Not having enough money to continue paying tuition or repay the loan, she withdrew Micah from the school. The two went on the run, as they attempted to elude thugs and police that Linderman sent after her. As Niki attempted to deal with her predicament, she occasionally left Micah with her friend Tina. Niki finished the payments to Linderman after she was the bait in a Badger game with congressional candidate Nathan Petrelli, producing blackmail material Linderman could use against Petrelli later.

During times of stress, Niki began seeing her reflection in mirrors and other reflective surfaces moving differently than herself, leading her to be concerned about her sanity. After Linderman sent two thugs to her house to collect the money she owed him, an altercation occurred, with Niki apparently blacking out after being hit by one of the thugs. When Niki recovered consciousness some time later, she was shocked to find the two thugs dead and horribly mutilated. Niki would have other blackout spells over the following days, one time losing four hours, always with no recollection of what has transpired. Niki eventually realized that she possessed a split personality, the other being far more sinister and amoral than her usual self, and which possessed superhuman strength.

Return of D.L.

Niki was reunited with her husband D.L. for a time. He had escaped from jail to return home and clear his name, maintaining that he was framed. Later, Niki's alter-ego revealed that she was the one who stole the money, killed D.L.'s crew, and framed him, planning to use the money to give her son a better life and keep him out of D.L.'s influence. After a short but violent fight, when D.L. revealed the phasing powers that he had used to escape from jail, Niki was defeated and lay unmoving on the floor while D.L. took Micah away.

The next day, Niki recovered from her injuries and confided in her friend Tina about her dreams and her alternate personality. When she called Nathan for assistance, he simply pretended he did not know who she was. Jessica then resurfaced and told Tina that Niki would no longer need Tina's help. That night Jessica answered a telephone call from Micah. She persuaded Micah, who knows that she is not his mother, to tell her where he and D.L. were staying. Soon after that, Jessica purchased a sniper rifle, and went in search of D.L. and Micah. When she finally found them, she took aim at D.L. from a hidden location across the street and attempted to kill him. Her first shot hit D.L. in the shoulder, but he phased through the one meant for his head and successfully escaped with Micah by the time she reached their car. After a short chase through the woods, during which Niki fought Jessica for dominance, Jessica attempted to kill D.L. again. She inadvertently threw Micah against some rocks when he tried to restrain her, which allowed Niki to regain control. She apologized to D.L. and Micah and explained to them her problem. Niki revealed that Jessica is stronger than she is, and that as a result, she can't be trusted. Concerned that Jessica would eventually take over and put her family in danger, Niki turned herself in to the police and requested that they arrest her for murder.

Imprisonment

Two weeks later, Niki is in prison, awaiting trial. She is returned to her cell after being in solitary confinement. The prison staff is very cautious, as Jessica injured one of the guards during an attempted escape. During a meeting with the public defender assigned to her case, Niki is informed that the prosecution seeks the death penalty. Her lawyer asks Niki about the two million dollars, but she feigns ignorance. A rowdy Jessica then emerges to state that Niki is lying. Soon, Jessica recommends the lawyer bring in a "shrink" to analyze her apparent multiple personality disorder; Niki insists she's not crazy. Later, a meeting with D.L. and Micah indicates that D.L. gave Linderman back the two million dollars. D.L. regrets the whole situation, but Niki believes that it's for the best. She states that she still thinks of Jessica as a completely separate person and not an alter ego. Micah is very distressed by the whole situation and Niki asks the guard for permission to hug him. The guard denies her request, but Niki asks persistently, advancing on the guard as she does so. When the guard attempts to strike her with his nightstick, Niki grabs it and breaks it in half with her bare hands. She appears to be surprised after she does so, as there was no clear indication that the superhuman strength came from Jessica. A now straitjacketed Niki is sedated and placed in a room with padded walls.

File:Nikisanderspsych.jpg

Dr. Witherson trying to help Niki

In "The Fix," Niki awakes to find the straitjacket removed, the drugs wearing off, and a female psychologist, Dr. Witherspoon, looking at her. Niki insists that while the straitjacket is useless, the drugs make Jessica weak. The psychologist isn't interested in sedating Niki further, and believes she can help Niki. Niki is visited by D.L., who used his powers to enter her room and proposes breaking her out. D.L. states that he is having trouble raising Micah alone, but Niki is still resigned to her fate. After Niki gives him a bit of advice, D.L. leaves. Later, the psychologist comes back and Niki agrees to talk to her. The psychologist insists on talking to Jessica. Niki is opposed at first, but the thought of being able to see Micah and D.L. again eventually leads her to give it a chance. Niki reminisces about her sister Jessica's piano playing abilities due to the metronome that the psychologist is using to bring Jessica out. Jessica eventually comes out and threatens the psychologist. As the psychologist reaches for the taser she brought with her, Jessica grabs it and proceeds to attack her repeatedly with the taser. Some time later, Niki wakes up to the prison guards bursting into the ruined room. As they pick Niki up, the psychologist's twitching body is seen on the floor (it is not indicated whether she is alive or dead), and Niki mutters "I told her not to bring her out." Later, while in her padded cell, a man walks into her cell and tells her to get dressed. When asked for an explanation, he tells Niki that a death row inmate has admitted to the killings for which she was being held and that DNA evidence verifies the inmate's story. He also says that all of the charges against Niki have been dropped; she is free to go. She realizes the man is one of Linderman's agents. She asks what she'll owe for this and he replies, "Don't worry about tomorrow's problems today." Once home, Micah is clearly ecstatic to have his mother home and asks her to play a game with him. Appearing to be his mother, Jessica replies that she would enjoy that, and Niki is shown to be hitting a mirror, begging for release. Jessica merely looks at Niki and replies, "You were the one who wanted to be locked up, Niki."

Working for Linderman

In "Run!," Jessica has covered up the RNA-like tattoo which hints at her existence and is attempting to fool D.L. and Micah. Jessica is now Linderman's new assassin, and it was revealed that she arranged to be released from prison. Jessica has already killed Aron Malsky, by literally tearing him into two halves, and her next target is Nathan Petrelli. Also of note is that when Niki and Jessica were fighting for dominance when Jessica was about to kill Malsky, Matt Parkman was able to hear them both, a fact which surprised Jessica. Another thing that seemed to surprise Jessica was when while passing down the stairs she kept looking in the mirrors to talk to Niki, but as she gets to one, Niki isn't there. She is instead outside the mirror on the stairs. A brief look of surprise crosses Jessica's face before they argue. As they argue, Jessica falters when Niki says, "This is my life."

Niki's return

Niki manages to "escape" a few times. She puts the photo of Nathan Petrelli on D.L.'s pillow, which causes D.L. to question Jessica, who is still pretending to be Niki. Jessica lies and tells him that Linderman called to ask her to be a "dealer" at the casino. Jessica kisses D.L. and assures him that it is nothing more. He leaves the room but is still suspicious.

Jessica murders the two FBI agents, who are working with Nathan to take down Linderman. Later, Niki confronts Nathan in his room and confesses everything to him. She then advises Nathan to either take his family and run or to accept Linderman's offer. Nathan refuses, and then suggests that he kill Linderman. Niki gives him her gun, which Jessica had intended to use on him. She tells Nathan that she does not have much time and begs him to knock her out so that Jessica can see that she is not in control anymore. Nathan complies.

In a preview for "Five Years Gone", Niki is seen kissing Peter.

Powers and abilities

Niki Sanders has an apparent split personality in the form of an alter ego who surfaces during times of great stress. The alter ego goes by the name of Jessica, Niki's late sister. When Jessica surfaces, the transformation is instantaneous and almost unnoticeable; but becomes apparent because Niki becomes violent and strong-willed with seemingly no warning. When she undergoes the drastic personality change, she demonstrates superhuman strength. Her strength has allowed her to pull out the door of a safe box with her bare hands, throw her husband several feet across a small area with a single hit, break away from restraining cuffs strong enough to hold down an elephant, and literally tear her opponents apart. She's displayed signs of physical resistance, being able to endure a physical blow from a sledgehammer in Fallout. She also gains a peculiar tattoo resembling an RNA helix on her right shoulder, a symbol which has appeared often throughout the Heroes series.

Jessica seems to have been aware that she is sharing Niki's body for longer than Niki realizes, leaving notes, gifts, and instructions for Niki, and telling a thug not to "threaten our son." Jessica has at least been a part of Niki since the actual Jessica's death, since she remembers the event while Niki herself does not. She was also the dominant personality during the various beatings Niki's father gave her while drunk. For many years, when Niki reasserted control of her body, she could not remember anything that happened while Jessica was dominant, feeling as if she had blacked out. Niki became aware of Jessica with the aid of reflective surfaces such as mirrors, and began communicating with her. Jessica's ability to surface seems to have increased over time, as Jessica is able to actively surface more often and more easily than she did in early episodes. The blackout effect on Niki also seems to have lessened over time; the two personalities often directly fight each other for control and seem aware of what is said even when they are not active.

Jessica's murders

Since the beginning of the series, Jessica has taken over and slaughtered people to protect Niki. Jessica has killed at least 10 people as of "Parasite". Had she killed those she caused serious injury to such as her father, the thug in the casino elevator, D.L., Dr. Witherspoon, a prison guard, and Aron Malsky, she would surpass the serial killer Sylar by two murders (when Eden McCain's suicide is not included). The following is a list of her victims:

Victim(s)	Episode/ Graphic Novel	Notes
Three of D.L.'s gang members	Stolen Time	The three men were initially helping Niki steal the $2 million from Linderman, but they threatened Jessica, so she killed them.
Two of Linderman's thugs	"Genesis"	They broke into Niki's house after she left, and when she returned, they attacked her in the garage, but Jessica slaughtered them, and had Niki bury their bodies where D.L.'s gang members were.
Three of Linderman's mobsters	"Better Halves"	They had information for D.L. regarding who killed his crew.
Aron Malsky	"Run!"	Upon retrieving the $2 million from D.L. that Jessica stole, he kept it for himself, and Linderman had Jessica kill him.
FBI agents Quesada and Alonzo	"Parasite"	They were working with Nathan to take down Linderman

Trivia

• In a panel discussion, Tim Kring said he originally created Niki with the power to be in two places at once, which stems from her life as a single mother. Niki was also originally written to be a showgirl. However, Ali Larter did not have the proper physique to portray a showgirl, so the character's profession was changed to internet stripper.

• Niki's name was originally spelled with two K's. In the pilot, her instant messenger screenname was XXXNikki4u.