Oh, hello there. Back for more I see. Curious what happened after I quit my dream job at the Mentality Society? Aren't we all. You've about caught up to me now. Most of my comic ideas have been thought up, and are either actually happening, or have happened, across the several dimensions that I thought I just made up. I still have not really been out of mine yet. The Inter-Neural-Dimensional Under-Cover Elite, or I.N.D.U.C.E., reached out to me from dimension between dimensions, when they heard about what happened to Benjamin. He is the one inter-dimensional traveler that they have not been able to track. Apparently he is blending in somewhere, just like he said he would. I worry about him now and again, but have neither the time nor the resources to conduct a proper search. I need more experience. I need to be able to afford my own apartment. Yeah, I had to move back in with my parents. The old hardware store I used to work at rehired me, and I am gradually saving. In the meantime though, I have been putting my abilities to good use. How? Well that's the fun part, so stay tuned.

Another day, another week. Another month, another year. Truth be told, it has only been a year since I was brought back on as a customer service associate at Ace Hardware. Everything was familiar. Even so, I had to relearn several different locations and nuances to the job, due in part the the little tweaks and rearrangements that had happened since I left. They have me behind the register a lot. I guess I am one of the only ones willing to stand in one place for more than a couple hours on a consistent basis. It bugs me a bit, but I make do. I love helping people. Sure I would rather be helping individual customers solve some of there house wares, plumbing, and garden problems; but helping whole streams of them get out the door is still pretty nice. I get to see more smiles, and greet more people. Anyway, Saturdays tend to be a day of respite for me. I can be out on the floor while a younger employee takes the helm for awhile. It was a Saturday in September that saw me finding one of my latest "targets." 

I was on the clock and filling out an inventory refill form, when I notice someone by our furnace filters modifying the price of a high quality product. Everyone else was too busy to notice. It seemed clear, that this young man thought he was not being watched. I threw my pen into one of the filters off to his right. He got the message. Almost as soon as it was thrown, it was reclaimed, the filter was undamaged, and I was back to work. My shift was almost over. Later on we closed, and all of us branched back out into the cool, rainy day. Well, my coworkers left. I lingered a little. The young man I had stopped from committing fraud was was hiding himself in the wall adjacent to the store's entrance. He revealed himself, saying:

"So, you're him then are you? The only man who quit the Mentality Society, and yet helps them round up the rogue agents, and other miracle abusers, eh? I suppose you could not have chosen a less conspicuous way to hide."

"Who me? I am just doing my job. If I find a miracle offender, I am not just going to sit by. Not when I know I can do something about it. I am always home on time afterwards, too." As soon as the last sentence was spoken, the rain froze in place. Cars stopped, people paused, and any observable object that had been in motion, no longer was.

"Okay, that's cheap. They didn't teach me that before I left."

"Me neither. This one you have to learn on your own. It actually isn't that hard. Just takes a little focus, or a lot, if someone tries to counter-belief you. Apparently, that is not in your best interest. Do you have somewhere to be?"

"No...well it can wait. I stuck around because I was surprised to see another miracle worker. I thought maybe you might have some pointers."

"Oh, good. So this is not going to result in a confrontation then?"

"What would you have done if I ran?"

"Paused time, and caught you. I always do. Sometimes they are willing to talk. Sometimes they don't know when to quit."

"Do you? I mean, come on! Finding us doesn't pay the bills! What drives you buddy?"

"I thought you wanted pointers. Hmm, very well. I knew a young man like yourself who was very much at risk of going rogue. He left. I guess I just feel like I need to make a change for others on a more personal level. Hunting down adolescents learning to cope with their unique capacities is not a great day job. With the right mindset, however, it can be a great hobby. Were you thinking of joining the cause, or something?"

"Nah. I am just trying to understand you. You seem like the type of guy who could hold the world at his fingertips, but instead you try to teach others the values of...what? Virtue?"

"I just don't want you guys to get in trouble. If I can give you a quick, or depending on your attention span in depth lesson on morals, all the better. I have come to accept that I cannot expect that much from everyone."

"Okay, but you seem just as lost as any of the rest of us. Could you do more in the midst of a team of miracle men? You look like you might even be able to run one? That guy you talked about. Rumor has it you were able to balance him out. He was a bit of a hot head as I recall."

"Ahem! I will thank you to speak of him with more dignity, mister Coffman!"

"Alright that's it! No one reads my mind!" He made as though to rush, but soon found himself encompassed in asphalt.

"I am sorry, Jerry. I should have asked. This is not a great excuse, but most of folks I find fight me anyway when I ask their name. Of course it is a common courtesy, and I aught to redevelop that habit. Now, if you don't mind my saying, it appears as though you are testing me. whilst in your mind I saw that you already knew my name, Benjamin's name, and far more about my situation than I feel comfortable with. I am even beginning to entertain the idea that you are setting me up Jerry. So tell you what, I will remove the asphalt, if you tell me what is going on."

"Okay, Okay I admit it! I got freaked out by everyone's strange abilities on day one, and just left! The only things I have mastered so far are mind-reading and minor morphing capabilities. I read your mind to find out more about you before I revealed myself, and as you were calmly talking to me a moment ago."

"Mind reading is pretty advanced. It took me a few days to pick that one up. I suppose it was one of your main focuses. You wanted to come prepared when talking to people? As we both just demonstrated, that is an inappropriate invasion of privacy."

"Yeah, I get nervous easy, and it helps to know what is on everyone's minds. I keep away from most of the really private stuff, honest!"

"A huh. Is there something else you wanted to tell me. Maybe why I should not bring you in for attempting to steal? My guess is you have succeeded in snagging yourself "good deals" before."

"Yeah, I mean...nuts! I live in an apartment for minimal rent, and I just wanted to make the place a little nicer for my girlfriend...and myself...okay I don't have a girlfriend yet..."

"I've heard enough. I take it you intend to continue."

"Please, I just want some advice. Say, maybe I could make my own stuff! Right? I mean, then I can just get rid of it as needed, you know? Keep it out of the public eye, or at least make it believable."

"You could. That is pretty hard to maintain. The best thing to do would be to use your abilities to enhance your life in calmer ways, less in your face ways. The truth is we need to blend in so as not to cause a panic. We were initially recruited by the Mentality Society to save lives without those involved even knowing they were in danger most of the time. Anything you can do along those lines, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated."

"Okay...uh can you let me go now."

"Can I trust you Jerry?" The young man continued to look nervous in response, but eventually he softened, collected himself, and said:

"Yes." There was no reason to believe that he would be lying, and even if he had been, Steven could have done a quick mind check to see. Evidently, he had really just been trying to find Steven, so he could get some help.

"Would you like me to teach you how to return the asphalt to normal?"

"Could you? I have never morphed something this big before."

"It is not that different from the little stuff, you just need to take a bigger leap of faith. Come on, just imagine it melting off of you and flattening out again."

"Uh, sure no...urgh...problem." It took almost a full three minutes, but as soon as he was able to build his confidence, the rest was easy.

"Don't go abusing that power now."

"Thanks, Mr. Dittman, er...Steven!"

"Say, do you mind telling me what you want to do with your powers?"

"I've got a cousin who could use some help with his metal forgery business. She makes statues and stuff with her brothers. He stuff is really good and in high demand. I was going to help her meet her quotas."

"Not a bad idea Jerry! As I said, every bit helps. I am sure she will be very grateful!" I started time back up, and sent the young man on his way. Honestly, it was nice not have to fight the kid. Guys and gals of like sense come about every now and then, but most of them seem to want to cause mischief. At least, those are the cases I tend to get.There are other agents on the look out for miracle users who don't know how to control themselves properly, or to make sure that the rest mean no harm. Over the last four years, more and more of us have popped up. We are my no means the majority, but before I die, I might get to see a world that both comprehends and accepts us. Maybe not. Only time will tell.