"For the purposes of my explanation lets imagine the human mind as a house. When we're born the house is flimsy, made of ply wood and glue. Over the year that flimsy ply wood house is demolished and rebuilt again and again. Each rebuild the house is made of better materials with better construction techniques. As we get older and our house is sturdier and more solidly built. We begin adding onto our houses instead of demolishing them and rebuilding. We forget how to start over.

"There have been numerous studies by the changed genius physiologist, psychologist, physicist and biologist, Mr. Martin Goldi that support this. There for this is why I believe young adults, teens and young children are immune to mind control. However as we have seen with multiple Heroes, one of which being our own professor Mrs. Collins, also known as Omni during her time as an active Hero. Some of the changed are immune to mind control regardless of age. But they weren't always immune to mind control. The current theory is that these changed became immune to mind control after breaking through a kind of mental barrier. Or using my previous metaphor for the mind. Their house was demolished and rebuilt while being mind controlled. This is normally coupled with the victim experiencing an Breakthrough event. This is only believed to have a 8.77% chance of occurring as a result of mind-control. Those that have already experienced a Breakthrough event tend to build up a resistance to mind control over time. However they are never immune.

"Omni, or rather Professor Collins's Breakthrough event that she experienced in 2028 during the Battle of New York, better know as The Dawn of Mindsync. In which she fought against Mindsync and his changed mind controlled slaves. Omni's team kept back Mindsync's mind controlled minions while Omni confronted Mindsync. It was during this battle that the first recorded Breakthrough event occurred. Omni was to fly into Mindsync's range as fast as she can and ram into Mindsync, killing him before he could stop Omni and turn her against her team. However Omni was hit by friendly fire mid flight. She was knocked off target and miss. Then she was mind controlled and forced to kill her own team members by Mindsync. Scientists believe that Omni's Breakthrough event was triggered by near fatal levels of adrenaline and stress, in addition to her mind set at the time."

"Anger, grief, horror, shock and a indescribable desire to kill the one that cause it all." Professor Collins interrupted. The class all suddenly finding their desks incredibly interesting. After a moment Professor Collins nodded for the student to continue their presentation, "Sorry, please continue Rachael."

"Omni's Breakthrough event marked the most historic event since the flickering light began lighting the night skies in 2002. It also marked the end of her career as an active hero. Omni first became active in the year 2000 and was since recognized as the first Changed Hero. Though Omni didn't actually become changed until 2016. The first actual Changed Hero was in fact Danie Williams from South Africa. Now commonly called Voodoo by most worldwide media despite his protests. Thank you for listening. That is the end of my speech thing."

The class and Professor Collins all applauded Rachael as she went to retake her seat. The Professor return to the front of the class and addressed them. It somehow reminding her of the days when she'd speak to her team before a mission.

"Thank you Rachael. Her homage to my time in active duty as a hero means a lot. I'm su-" A young man at the front raised his hand.

"Yes Mr. Miller?"

"Are you really retiring?" The young man asked looking confused.

The corners of the Professors mouth raises slightly at the question, "Yes. I am. I'm sure you could all figure it out fairly easily if you search for it online. Despite my youthful appearance I am in fact turning 189 this year. No, I am not joking and it is not a typo. My aging slowed when i gained my powers and stopped when I had my Breakthrough event. I may or may not be effectively immortal. No one wants to say for sure. No one can say for sure. My powers make testing next to impossible. I went over this during Assembly this week. Now, as I was saying. I'm sure you all want to hurry and begin enjoying your summer. So who am I to stand in your way. It's 10 minutes early, but I don't care. Class dismissed. I'll be here for the next few hours grading your presentations. Even if I am retiring you should still feel free to come talk to me if you feel the need. You know where I live."

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To my surprise instead of leaving they all approached me to say their goodbyes. Milling about, some of them crying, some of them determined, other confused and even a few that were happy for me. One young female student was being nursed by her friends as she had broken down crying. I doubled my efforts to force a smile. I've always hated goodbyes.

Eventually the student grudgingly left. Only to replayed by more students walking in that had just been let out of classes. A steady stream of students entering and leaving what was my classroom for the last 40 years. 160 years ago I never would of thought I'd end up teaching high school students. I also never would of thought I'd still be alive by this point, but that's beside the point.

The sun was well below the horizon by the time that last student said their goodbyes to me. Their parent there with them to take them home. My retirement would probably be mentioned either in the news or in the news paper if not both. The initial bustle and hustle of journalism having died down since the age of Heroes and villains first began. Now a villain attack and another new changed cropping up is just a normal part of everyday life. The public having become tired of the subject matter after the initial flood.

I look down at the papers I hadn't gotten the change to grade yet and quickly decided it didn't really matter to me. So I gave everyone top grades for their presentation. Deciding my replacement can deal with getting it fixed if they aren't happy with the grade I gave. I left the classroom and walked the hall of the school one last time. The rest of the staff having returned home hours ago. Leaving only Berry the security guard and some cleaning staff still present.

"Enjoy your retirement Mrs. Collins." Berry said to me with a nod as I passed him by. I waved him goodbye for one last time after finishing for for the day. I'm strangely going to miss Berry's fresh out of the military attitude that he never really managed to shake off.

I got into my car and simply sat for with the keys in the ignition for a time with the lights on. Trying to take in that I actually retired. It was a long time coming in all honestly and it was something I needed. My time as a hero was short but traumatic. However life just kept going and then it felt like suddenly I was old. I admit now that I'd run away from my responsibilities as a hero and drowned myself in my work. It was only in the last few decades that I truly dealt with my demons, faced reality and did something I truly wanted to do.

I admit that if I don't start actually feeling old in the next few decade I'll probably either return to working or return to the hero scene. Thought at the moment I intend to do a lot of nothing and maybe write a book or two.I might even get back into gaming. I was really into gaming from 2003 - 2020. Everyone's mostly into VRMMO's and such lately as far as I can tell. I remember when they where just a screen you put on your face. The idea of it is kind of laughable now. It was embarrassing when I asked about it at the store and they laughed and asked me how many centuries old I was. Don't they pay attention in history class...? no of course not. No one ever does except the weird or intellectual ones...

I sighed to myself and started my car. The drive home was quite. A thing I've had 150 years to get used too. My children never quite looked at me the same after I killed their father. Though I was mind controlled at the time. It's just not something you simply move on from. Killing the one you love with your own hands. I still haven't completely moved past that. Maybe in a few more years I'll of worked things out... maybe. I frowned as my thought took a darker turn to places I haven't let them go for decades.

Yes... I'll have plenty of time alone to let myself mope now. I'm going to become a recluse until I run out of money, I can just tell. Maybe I'll finally get to yell at some kids to get off my lawn? I chuckled to myself as I admitted to myself that I always wanted to at least pretend to act my age.