“This had better be good,” Jono said indignantly.

Tom grabbed him by the hand and ran upstairs with him to the attic. He led him directly to the trunk that he had found. Jono looked inside the trunk and was as blown away as Tom had been.

“Is that real, Tom?”

“Look at it, Jono. Do you know what this means?”

“We know why we are like we are.”

“Yes. And Dad can't say anything now, when I become a hero.”

“You're still not thinking of that, are you?”

“Actually, there's nothing stopping me now.”

“I'll tell Dad.”

“You tell Dad about this, then I'll tell him about Suzy.”

Jono gave Tom a dirty look at the mention of Suzy as a blackmail tool.

“Sorry, that was wrong of me to say. I just really want this Jono. You know I have since I was a kid. Back then I always wanted to be a part of the JSA and now . . . . Well I can’t be part of the Justice Society, but I can be a hero.”

“This is the same speech you're going to give Dad, isn’t it?”

“It was until I found his costume.”

Jono took the costume out of the trunk and held it up looking at Tom.

“It looks like it would fit alright,” he said.

“Are you saying I should wear Dad’s costume?”

“You have a better one to wear?”

“Does this mean you approve?”

“It means that I can't stop you. Just try to do the name some justice. okay?”

Tom hugged Jono. “Thanks. I'll work hard.”

“Shouldn’t you try it on or something? Let go of me and get to those acts of valor you want to do.”

Tom let go of Jono and took the costume to his bedroom to change into. Jono stood in the attic looking in the trunk. He picked up a picture of his Dad and his Mom both standing there in superhero costumes.

“Oh my god, they both were heroes.”

As Jono made this revelation Tom stood in the bathroom putting on the costume looking in the mirror as he put the mask over his face. It was amazing - the costume fit perfectly. Tom Palmer was now a superhero. What would his name be though? The Atom didn't really fit. His powers were nothing like his Dad’s, and he was never a big fan of the original Atom. So, what was he going to call himself?

Tom went back to the attic wearing the costume, but without the mask over his face.

“Hey, Jono, I have a problem. I don't know what to call myself.”

“Go perform those acts of valor, and I'm sure the media will give you a name like Wonder Boy or something.”

“Find anything else in that trunk?”

“Yes.”

“What did you find?”

“It’s a picture of Mom.”

“Agent Palmer, you have to understand that these kids need someone like the DEO to train them in the use of their powers. They cannot stay with their parents. They are hazards to everyone they love.”

“Director," Palmer replied, "I have seen the training environment that these kids have to endure. And I have seen what you use them for when you are done training. And I have to say I do not think I can let my boys endure something like that.”

“Well, Palmer, you really don't have any say on the matter.”

“We will see about that, sir.”

Ray Palmer stormed out of the office slamming the door behind him. Agent Emerson stood behind the desk watching him as he left the DEO office.

“Have a nice day, Agent Palmer,” he said, politely.

As Ray Palmer walked down the street he looked up in the sky and saw a very familiar costume flying around, seeming to be patrolling the city.

'He found it,' Ray thought with a bit of a smile.

'Finally, my public debut,' he thought.

Tom swooped down and walked into the bank. As soon as he stepped in, a shot rang out and hit him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. He had never considered getting shot before. He knew that he was invulnerable to practically everything but this really hurt. Maybe being a hero was not all that he had thought it was.

“Stop right there, evil doers!” he said, with as much authority as he could muster.

The two bank robbers looked at each other and chuckled. “Evil doers? Who talks like that anyway?”

When they made fun of him, Tom got angry and charged the one who had said the mocking comments. He tackled the man to the floor and with one punch knocked him out. He then went after the other robber, who was now noticeably panic stricken. The other thief shot at Tom. Yet this time when the bullet struck, the pain was considerably less. He tackled this man to the floor and with one punch rendered him unconscious, same as the first. Without any real strategy he had foiled the bank robbery and performed the first heroic act of his life.

“Wow! What a rush!”

A beautiful woman who saw the whole thing walked over to him.

“Are you alright?" she asked. "That bullet looked like it hurt.”

He swallowed as he saw her, “I'm fine. . . . It was... all in a day's work.”

He was then almost instantly surrounded by people as the cops and news vans pulled to the front of the bank.

The police called “This is the police, come out with your hands up.”

Tom walked over and grabbed the one thief and slung him over his shoulder. Then he grabbed the other thief and flipped him over his other shoulder. This was it. He would finally make his public debut. He walked out the bank doors carrying the two goons as the police and reporters watched him.

He said in the best mature, hero sounding voice he had, ”Here are your men, officers.”

“Oh great, we have our own meta now,” the officer in charge said with a very sarcastic tone. He took the two thieves off his shoulders and set them on the ground.

“Gee, officer. I'm sorry to make your job easier. Want me to put them back in the bank so you can get into a shootout?”

“What is your name, boy?”

Tom seized up for a second. He had not picked out a heroic name. He had hoped that the media would do it for him.

“Valor,” Tom said, kinda surprised that he had picked that name.

The officer in charge extended his hand to Tom. Tom took his hand and the two shook.

“Well, Valor, it is good to have you as an aid to the city. I will be keeping an eye on you.”

“Do not worry. I won't let you down, Captain Smith.”

As the two shook hands, the photographers took many pictures, knowing this would be front page material. As soon as Valor left the Captain’s side, he was surrounded by reporters. Superheroes were big news, they always had been. He was bombarded by questions that he did not know how to answer.

“Central City has a new protector. And his name is Valor.”

As soon as Tom said his name he flew off into the open sky. He thought to himself, 'That was an incredible rush.' He knew that this is what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a professional superhero. Except he would have to work on better dialogue. He didn't like the way the thieves and cops laughed at him. He would also have to search through the pockets on this belt as he would need to know their purposes. Right now though, Tom wanted to go home. His shoulder was sore and he was hungry.

“What did I do?”

“Virgil Hawkins, you are wanted in connection to a murder on Paris Island. You have a right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

As they read him his rights, Virgil noticed that these men were not police. They all had equipment that was registered to the DEO. He had no idea who the DEO were or what they wanted with him but he was honestly afraid.

“Yes, Miss Guthrie, our school would be perfect for someone with your aptitudes.” the visitor said.

Paige’s mother spoke finally, “You mean our daughter is a genius?”

“Well we do not really prefer to use the term gifted at the Deo Academy.”

“Well how much is this academy going to cost?” Paige’s mother asked.

“Well Mrs. Guthrie that is the great thing, it will not cost you a single penny. Your daughter will get the finest education possible for free.”

“Well Paige sweetie, what do you think of this whole thing?”

Paige looked at her mother with a questioning look. Afraid of leaving like Sam had.

“I think this would be really good for you, Paige,” her mother said.

“Well Ms. Rourke, show me where to sign up,” Paige answered.

“Nice costume.”

Tom turned quickly and saw who it was.

“I can explain everything, Dad.”