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The following contains MAJOR SPOILERS for "Powerless," the Season 2 finale of the NBC show "Heroes."

The biggest enemies of NBC's "Heroes" may not be Sylar-like enemies. In fact, falling ratings and the writers' strike have forced the show to conclude its second season early.

What does the future hold for what was once a rare break-out hit for the Peacock network?

According to a TV Guide interview with creator Tim Kring, there has been at least one good thing about the strike. Zachary Quinto, who brings Sylar to life, was going to be busy playing Spock in the J.J. Abrams "Star Trek XI" feature film during much of the third volume. Now, if the strike continues to drag on, he'll be back when "Heroes" starts up production once again.

But what about the fate of several characters left hanging in the balance by "Powerless"? Like Nathan, who was gunned down by an assassin's bullet? Or Niki, who apparently died in a fiery explosion? And does electric Elle become a good girl?

Kring says all these storylines are "up in the air and will be determined when we come back after the strike. But things are fairly dire for (Nathan and Niki)."

Meanwhile, there's an ironic twist for Adam the immortal to consider. Hiro teleported Adam into a coffin buried in the same Japanese cemetery where Hiro's dad Kaito, who was slain by Adam, also is buried.

"It's poetic justice to have Adam end up in the same graveyard as Kaito," said Kring. "We've given the audience no reason to believe that Adam can figure a way to get out of there. The fact that he can live forever makes this the most gruesome of internments. If this happened to any of us, at least we'd know we'd soon have the mercy of death. Not here."

Will one good act make Elle turn into a hero? Maybe, Kring said.

"Kristen Bell gave us the perfect reaction in that scene" where Elle saves Mohinder and Molly, he said. "For a moment there, Elle sees she's been given an opportunity to use her powers in a good way. And she absolutely likes the sound of that word 'hero.'"

Even though Elle may be joining the heroes, Kring said that the bad guys won't be hurting for members on their side. After all, Volume 3 is called "Villains."

"We've introduced a cadre of them over the course of the show, and we're going to see them rise up," Kring said. "Just as the heroes have found each other to save the world, the villains will do the same with the opposite intent."

Are there actually more villains than heroes? "The Company has catalogued many of these people over the years," according to Kring. "There may be more of them down in that basement than we have alluded to so far."

Will Sylar be like Lex Luthor, working as the leader of this "Legion of Doom"?

"Sylar getting his power back does not bode well for our heroes," said Kring. More than that, he won't say.

But he hopes fans noticed the subtle salute to long-time pop culture hero Popeye the Sailor Man when Sylar telekinetically grabbed a can of spinach and said, "I'm back!"

"Heroes" airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET on NBC.

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