Free True Heroes by Myles Gann Page A

chest jutted out, but now it keeps changing and seems just out of reach, yet somehow familiar.”
                  “So you have been practicing with them?”
                  “Eh, more like casually playing with them.
                  The old priest rubbed at his forehead, aggravating some of his deep wrinkles. “My boy, what you’ve just described to me sounds like the beginning of your journey.”
                  Caleb snapped his eyes open. “No, it isn’t that.”
                  “Then what would you call it?”
                  “A hint.”
                  They smiled at each other as Father Lawrence glanced at the clock. “Bringing our conversation together, let me give you what advice I can.” He waited for Caleb’s undivided attention. “God created the Earth in seven days, supposedly brought ten deadly plagues upon the populous, and allowed for an infinite amount of heavenly bodies to be created under his careful eye. These numbers are simply that, numbers, and would it be a stretch to say that we’re some sort of experiment? Not to me, no, but you have to look at any other experiment. They all have a constant, a variable, and a desired conclusion. So, we can put normal humans and their actions as a constant, the internal mind, or free will, and,” waving his hand at the intently listening boy, “mutations are the variables, but nobody can say for sure the mission of God. Maybe it’s for all of us to kill one another so we can rejoin His kingdom or maybe for us to take to the stars and leave Earth forever….”
                  The old man’s smile and twinkling, daring eyes gave him away and allowed for Caleb’s lips to curl into their own smile. “But, you don’t think it’s either of those.”
                  Father Lawrence laughed loudly. “Leave it to you to see right through me. All right, I’ll cut to the bone. If we are some sort of experiment, then what does that make you? As far as variables in results go, you’re in the furthest part of the paradigm. I believe you are the only one among us who can see the world at its most basic levels, which means you’re in the best position to see everything for what it truly is. If we accept God as perfect, and you as approaching a state of divinity, then I must conclude that you are the closest God has ever come to creating a perfect creature. That is God’s plan, in my mind: for one of his creatures to rise above the others and become the bridge between humanity and the heavenly kingdom. The human race began in Eden—in a state of perfection—and has been clawing its way back to that golden standard ever since. God has sent us a message, and you’re the operator picking up the phone. Let’s face it Caleb, this mission is nothing but a pissing contest between you and every other human being on Earth. You’ve done it though. You’ve got the way to piss further than all the rest buried inside of you, and it can make you a superhero within the same realm of perfect.” He smiled and leaned back in his chair to catch his breath. “The grand advice of this old fart is simply this: Go. Go use your gift and show the world the path to Enlightenment through a modern day savior. Don’t you dare settle for anything less than the limitless potential we both know you have inside you.”
                  Caleb leaned back and allowed his mind to become truly wrapped in his potential for the first time. ‘I think I’m finally intrigued by these possibilities, endless possibilities….’ His power, slightly extended out of excitement, feeling vibrations of encroaching footsteps from the hall. He felt Carol’s unmistakable presence behind the closed door at his back right before a knock resounded against each wall of their chamber. Father Lawrence, being the noticing person he was, bought Caleb a few more seconds to recover by