[ Wp ] Nerds and artists take over the world after everyone is given superpowers based on imagination .

I was there for it all. The big boom, the first tangible signs of the apocalypse, the Renaissance of the Imagination, whatever you want to call it. It was the biggest change in the order of the world since the invention of fire, and a hell of a lot bigger than the wheel. 
 
 That morning started off like any other, just a cookie cutter day in a monotonous life. Ready to drag myself to work, spend the day reading and writing instead of whatever it was I was actually being payed for. Not that I ever got caught. Not that it ever really even mattered. Then Kent ran to my desk. He was forty going on sixteen, with a light behind his eyes that invalidated his prematurely greying hair and soft face. We shared a passion for superheros and comics, which is what initially drew us together despite the decade between our births. Normally, his personality buoyed up his doughy appearance, but today he was positively glowing with unbridled enthusiasm. 
 
 `` It's happening! It's finally happening!!'' was all I could manage to get out of him before he dragged me to the nearest television. Was he always this strong? He pressed closer to the screen, where a number of people were staring with wide eyes and open mouths. 
 
 
 `` SUPERHEROS AMONG US'' read the headline. My dumbfounded expression was added to the others. `` This morning, at 7:56 ECT, people around the world have demonstrated abilities that can only be described as'Super Human!' People all over the globe have developed these abilities, apparently related to THE IMAGINATION AND MIND OF THE INDIVIDUAL'' the male suddenly began speaking loud enough to shatter the lens of the camera. ``... Ahem, sorry. I am a bit excited.'' He apologized as they cut to another shot. `` At any rate, it appears that this phenomena is not simply for a few blessed people, but EVERYONE ( *cough* sorry ) everyone to experience. So get out there and find out what you can do!'' 
 
 I turned to Kent, who just beamed at me while levitating a few inches off of the ground. `` Are you kidding me?!'' I exclaimed. 
 
 *Nope* the response from the secretary beside me echoed in my mind strangely. *Everyone can do the things they could only dream about before. * 
 
 `` I can **fly**'' Kent said rather belatedly. `` I am also super fast, indestructible, super strong, and have this neat laser vision!'' He turned and stared into a coffee mug, the contents of which began to boil. `` I'm just like my favorite hero!'' Suddenly, I realized that I was face to face with a somewhat chunky Superman. 
 
 `` Wow.'' I was totally floored. All of the things I had dreamed of over my 21 years of life flooded through my mind as I sank to my knees in wonder. Flight, invincibility, invisibility... all of my childhood heroes flowed like an insatiable torrent through my mind's eye. `` Everything... everything I ever dreamed... is real?'' There was a brilliant flash of light in every hue imaginable and unimaginable behind my eyelids, and everything cut to black. 
 
 When I woke up, I was back in my cubicle. Kent walked in, explaining that he had kindly put me in my reclining chair after I manifested and blacked out. I had apparently been laying there limp for the better part of an hour. I did a quick check of everything, and found that my body was still in order. Nothing amiss there... but what on earth was this strange tingling I felt in the back of my skull? 
 
 As if reacting to my conscious probing, the sensation began to flood to my limbs. I felt like I was on fire! I WAS on fire! A feeling of cold dread entered my stomach when I realized the damage I was causing to the chair and my desk, and the fire was instantly replaced by a deep, bone ravaging cold. Ice formed where there were once burn marks, and in a panic I called out `` STOP!'' 
 
 And it did. Time ceased, Kent still reaching out a hand to help. I took a deep breath and willed time to resume. Kent lurched forward, and realized that his help was no long longer needed. 
 
 `` I... I can do anything!'' I realized aloud. With a wave, the damage to my cubicle vanished. ``... Anything I wish... anything I can imagine... just happens!'' 
 
 Kent and I just stared at each other, then started laughing in unison. With a yell of joy we flew out through a window and never looked back. 
 
 That night was glorious, but it was a few months before we really began to grasp the implications of this widespread power outbreak. It started with simple looting, people who used to have nothing testing the limits of their new-found strength. That, of course, was rapidly snuffed out by the neophyte vigilantes playing at being superheroes. Kent even managed to stop a pyromaniac or two, while I was content with repairing the damaged property. Once the dust began to clear a bit, it became apparent that the strength and utility of our powers was directly proportional to our imaginations and innate intelligence. Kent was a bit above average in that respect, his love of comics sticking him firmly in superman-class strength levels. Common thieves and crooks were found to only have a single power or so like invisibility, letting them get away with more ( but not go toe-to-toe with someone like Kent ). The more imaginative people, like the artists and comic book crowd got multiple abilities. Some could bring paintings to life, others became super intelligent. Quickly it became apparent that the politicians running the country were among the least imaginative people on earth, content to simply live their lives in luxury and maintain the status quo instead of striving for real improvement. When the protests began, they could do little to stop them, as the armed forces were filled to the brim with similar leaders with lackluster powers and rigid minds. But the true nail in the head of the old system was the companies. Previously inflated companies bloated by monopolies and services that only they could provide were suddenly undercut by the genius types. Technology came out faster, better, and cheaper than ever before, funded and created by super powered ( and privately owned ) production lines. Without their customers, the corporations imploded, and without the political funding that came from them the politicians folded with it. Society degraded, and in the power vacuum the greatest Supers reigned supreme. 
 
 And here I stand before you, King of New America, Warrior of the Mind and Champion of the mighty. My power is absolute, and I am in absolute control. So, newcomer... where do YOU fit in MY new world?
