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[newguy]

[There's a bit of wavering as the image is centered on its subject. It's not complete ineptitude, but there's definitely a 'oh man, nessie?' feel to the jerking camera motions.]

Right, now, don't move--

[The subject is certainly not going to move....considering that it's dead. It looks like a triceratops, and Steve approaches it slowly.]

I got all the nutcase broadcasts--present and accounted for, yeah, no one's lying, I get it--but who's going to actually explain this thing?

Or me, you know? I'd settle for someone explaining me. Last time I checked, I wasn't supposed to have a pulse.

But then, neither were these guys.

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[abetterway]

[Her smile is slight, as is her nod.] I didn't believe you had.

[She's not trying to pry, really, but she can generally tell when people are sincere; some of it is her ability, some of it is simply experience. No, he isn't lying on either count.]

That will come in handy, in a land of strangers. Have you always known you could do it?

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[newguy]

I guess?

[Steve seems a little uncertain, but when he glances back to the dinosaur, he quickly refocuses.]

I mean, when I was a kid, I thought everyone could tell. It comes in handy, but I'd like to think I'm not in a world filled with people trying to trick me. I did that once, and it got old fast.

[There's a moment's hesitation, as he tries to reconcile the choices that led to this apparently posthumous fate which his perception of his religion. He'd done right. He'd sacrificed a lot to do right.]

It wasn't good enough?

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[abetterway]

[Her voice is gentle, expression weary and sad.] Sometimes nothing is.

I was ten, when my power began to manifest. It wasn't enough to - [She shakes her head. There's no need.]

I'm glad you remain willing to trust people.

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[newguy]

My ...powers?... don't bother me. It's just a quirk, I guess. A weird talent. It's not a thing where I'm from.

[He doesn't sound demeaning, but he's from a normal-day Earth, so the idea of a superhero-filled universe is pretty far off for him. Besides, seriously, what kind of superpower is knowing when people are lying? If powers were being handed out like that, couldn't he have been a real psychic or something? Not that he wants the responsibility, but only knowing when someone is lying is kind of the dollar-store version. You don't even get to know the truth, or how to make things right.]

Most people aren't bad, really. I mean, there are exceptions, and it's a lot easier to trust people when you can tell if they're pulling your leg, but more people lie to prevent harm than to cause it.

So wait. You're from some kind of place where a lot of people can do stuff like that, right? Are we dealing with multiple Earths, or are you from the future or some other planet? It's 2011, where I'm from.

[Then, there's a hesitation, and Steve looks over the world around him as he frowns and bites his lower lip.]

Is this some kind of afterlife?

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[abetterway]

[There's a hint of envy in her gaze. She really would love to think that such abilities would never become an issue on her world, that they would never mark people as threats to be eliminated, exiles to be shunned, commodities to be used. She knows better.]

I'm from Earth, yes - 1956. People born with unique abilities are called mutants, and I believe more are being born every day. [More to protect; more, potentially, to fight.] I'd hoped to meet more of them, when I ended up here.

I...hadn't considered that this might be some form of afterlife, no. [She was never a particularly spiritual person, even as a child.] I suppose it's possible, though it's not like any I've ever read about. [She looks troubled. Had she simply died that day, in Haifa?]

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[newguy]

I expected to be reincarnated and all, but the usual deal involves being a baby with no memories. This pod thing wasn't part of the plan. And it's about--well, if you're from Earth, you probably know how Buddhism works.

My job has records of people unintentionally imprinting seemingly supernatural abilities on normal objects, but unless there's some conspiracy I'm not aware of, there hasn't been a major increase in people born with special quirks. We're not called mutants or anything. Most people just joke about it. I was a running gag at my first job.

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[abetterway]

[She gives a slight nod, a faint smile.] Yes. I suppose it's possible we got it wrong.

That's...quite fascinating, actually. What was your job?