It's been a few days at the hero society and nobody takes me seriously enough to take me on a mission. They nicknamed me "The Dry Cleaner" and usually use me as a gopher and quick launderer. Even the clerk likes me now. Not only am i doing things he gets asked to do, he himself asks me for favors too.

If i was trying to become a real super hero, that would be a bad thing. But i'm not. I'm trying to learn the ins and outs of the office. People need to see me and like me, and expect me all over the place, especially near the famed computer, which i haven't located yet. Only The Parrot is wary of me. But everyone just tells me that's how he is to everyone.

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Over the weekend, The Parrot saw me walking around and asked me why i was working then. Didn't i have a life? He actually called me Marsokan, my official title. I respect him already.

Putting on my best face, "i'm just so excited to be here, i'm still taking it all in."

"Cut the trash, please. Why are you here?"

His eyes felt like they were piercing into my soul. I couldn't lie. "I wanted to see the computer. It's been my dream since i was a kid." That was the truth, even if not the whole truth.

He smirked and turned away. Then, stopped suddenly, turned back, and asked me to clean his suit. I tried and failed. "This is organic?"

"Yes. They're real parrot feathers. Oh well." And he walked away.

Like every super, i have a major and minor power. My minor power is mind manipulation, sort of like the Jedi mind trick. I can't fool anyone who is paying attention. It just makes whatever i am selling seem better, perhaps giving them a disposition to liking it. My major power is matter manipulation. It's has to be non-organic and it only lasts for a few moments. I clean materials by causing them to separate from the dirt, so when it reverts, the dirt is simply not there any more. If the Parrot spoke to me, he's building a file on me. That was a test.

I spent the rest of the weekend, rather, a few hours each day, cleaning stains all over the walls and desks. The following week, it was well received. That's great. Because now i have to move past their respect, and gain their confidence as well.

With the weekend over, i concentrated on helping people more, under the guise of trying to convince them to take me along on a mission. It was becoming a joke, when they would put The Dry Cleaner on the roster, only to tell me to stay there and wait to clean their clothes and vehicles when they got back. Slowly, though, they would tell me where they were heading and what they were doing, and by the end of the week, they were discussing things with me.

Overall, i learnt a few things that week. All the heroes, save The Parrot, are class A jerks. I mean, they give no respect to anybody except each other. And even then there are cliques. They'll take any job as long as it fits their image and they think they can win, otherwise they will make up an excuse. And then there's the side jobs. The Rhyming Wizard let it slip that he takes side job to pay the bills, and its best the public does not know about that.

I used to worship the Super Hero Society when i was a kid. I began to hate them when i saw how they acted elite, but i still though they were cool. Not any more. These guys and gals are more corrupt then the people they are protecting.

In the third week, the Parrot called me over and asked me to clean the computer. He explained he was doing an experiment and spilled some oil on the console. It would be easier to have me around to clean it then to take the whole thing apart.

This was an obvious trick or test of some sort. What was he up to? I didn't have time to think it through before he led me into the room, going through all sorts of doors and security measures. I finally laid eyes on it. It was instantly recognizable from when it showed in the news. It, the room, all was perfect. He got me to work right away, advising me to be careful. In the middle though, he got an emergency call and went off. On the way out the door though, "don't touch anything until i get back."

I reminded myself this was obviously a setup. This was too much, too quick, too convenient. And so, i sat down while waiting for him. I fell asleep, and dreamt about using the computer and finding the files on the Elemental Queen. When i woke up, The Parrot asked me why i wanted to see those files. He read my mind?! I was scared. "She's evil, i know, but really, really beautiful." I always spoke the truth to The Parrot. Purportedly, his minor power is detecting lies. I'm pretty sure he smiled, so i continued. "Do..do you have any pictures of her?" He shook his head and had me finish the cleaning.