Tom sat there looking at his dad, with no idea what he meant.

“Tom, I was a hero a few years back with a variety of others. My code name was the Atom.”

“Dad, I know. I saw the clippings.”

“I'm not done yet, Tom. Your mother was a heroine, her name was Power Girl but she changed it to Power Woman as her career went on. Well there was a point in my career when I got injured, that is why I have this limp. When I got hurt I had to retire from the hero business.”

“And what about Mom?”

“Well your mother retired with me to help me cope with the injury. So we decided to just become Mr. and Mrs. Normal. The government was even nice enough to set us up with a job at one of their more prominent organizations, the Department of Extranormal Operations. They knew we had been heroes and were finding a way to make use of this.”

“I have heard of the DEO. I thought they were only an urban legend, though.”

“Tom, that costume was made for you. It was not the one I wore. I've been hoping that you would find it for a while. I set you up so that you would find all those things. It was why I wanted you to clean that attic so badly.”

“Dad, I don't understand why.”

“It all goes back to the DEO. They have a policy very similar to the draft. If you are a meta-human on a certain level they take you and turn you into one of their soldiers. They do not take heroes who the public knows though. It would not work well since they prefer to stay a secret.”

“How do they know when people are at certain levels?”

Ray Palmer looked down in shame as his son asked this question. He had played this scene over and over in his head and it never ended well.

“Dad, you're getting a little quiet on me.”

“They send out agents who keep track of these people. They act as substitute teachers and sports coaches and other things.”

“Have you seen any of the agents 'round here, Dad?”

“Tom, I am the agent in this area.”

“You are assigned to keep an eye on us?”

“No, I keep an eye on you and your brother because I love you. I don't want you to be drafted by the DEO.”

As the Tom and Ray sat in his room talking, someone started pounding on their door downstairs.

“This can't be good,” Ray said.

“Is it them, Dad?”

Ray shrugged rather nervously. “Tom, I want you to stay in this room, I am going to get your brother and if it is them I want you to fly out of here.”

“You want me to abandon you?”

“I want you to buy a little time.”

“Dad, there is something I have to tell you.”

“It can wait, Tom.”

“There is a powerful girl staying in the basement.”

“I know. She's a level twenty. I also know that the she is the reason they are here. And I know that when you stopped that robbery you jumped in power a great deal also and will be taken by them.”

“I'll stay here. Dad, please be careful.”

The knocking on the door continued as Ray went to his son Jono’s room.

“Jono, this is very important. I need you to go to your brother’s room and if he tells you that you have to fly with him, do it.”

“What's going on, Dad?”

“The DEO is here to collect the girl living in the basement and your brother.”

Jono gained an angry look in his eyes. “I understand.”

“Mr. Shelley, sir, let me tell you what an honor it is for me to meet you.”

“We are here for the girl and your son, Palmer.”

“Well, sir, much to my dismay my son has become a costumed adventurer.”

“We know, however since he has only been out once no one will notice that he disappeared. Now tell me where the girl and your son is.”

With a defeated look Palmer pointed toward the basement showing where the girl was. Shelley pointed a group of his men to move in the direction. Jono Palmer, having ignored his Dad’s instructions, sat at the top of the stairs watching. He had a very dark angry look in his eyes.

“Chase, Espinoza, Hall. Agent Palmer will take you to the subjects. Emerson, Granger, and I will remain here as back up.”

Reluctantly Ray Palmer led the three agents to the basement where they saw Suzy sleeping quietly on the floor. Agent Hall removed an apparatus that was strapped to his back. He aimed at the girl and almost instantly she had disappeared into a containment tank. Ray Palmer looked down ashamed of his actions.

Agent Chase put her hand on Ray’s shoulder.

“You did the right thing, Palmer.”

The group walked back upstairs and stood before Shelley.

“Did you get the girl?”

“Yes sir, she's in the tank,” Hall spoke up quickly.

“Give me the container, Hall.”

Agent Hall handed him the containment vessel that Suzy was in. Her face was pressed against the glass casing. Jono looked down from the top of the stairs. He saw how his Dad had given her away. His rage and anger consumed him.

“Now, Palmer, where is your son?”

“Are you sure that you have to take him?”

“Take the agents to him.”

Ray Palmer walked to the stairs looking down ashamed of his actions. No one saw Jono standing at the top of the stairs.

“I'VE HAD ENOUGH”, Jono’s normally meek voice filled the room. The bandages that normally covered the bottom half of his face and his chest were gone revealing the massive amount of power the boy contained.

“Jono, go to your room.”

Jono walked down the stairs slowly. “LET SUZY GO NOW.”

“Are you sure that he is not a level ten yet, Palmer? He looks like he's powerful”, Shelley said, ignoring the boy.

“I SAID LET SUZY GO NOW!”

Jono Palmer walked slowly down the stairs. The psionic flames that were normally covered by the bandages raged out of control.

“Sir, should I take care of the boy?” Agent Granger asked.

“Palmer, take care of your son.”

“Jono, go to your room. We will discuss this later.”

Jono sent a massive psionic burst out filling the room with his flame and knocking all but Shelley down.

“Very impressive. Palmer, we will be taking both of your sons and the girl. What an unexpected treat.”

During all the commotion, Tom Palmer had left his bedroom and was peering down the stairs. He did not like the way that man in charge had been talking. He was rather shocked at the power that Jono was showing. Everything was going by so quickly that Tom did not know how to act.

Ray Palmer stood up with a look of anger.

“I will not permit you to take my boys.”

Shelley pointed at three of the agents to go after Jono and the other two to take Ray. Agents Chase and Hall attempted to subdue Ray. Agents Espinoza, Granger, and Emerson went after Jono.

Chase placed her hand on Ray’s shoulder as she took out a pair of handcuffs.

“Please do not make this any harder than it already is, Ray.”

Agent Chase slipped the cuffs on Ray and put him over with the tank that Suzy was in. Agents Chase and Hall then moved over to assist in the takedown of Jono. Shelley stood there pleased. He had intentionally brought along a younger task force to see how their training was going.

Jono stood there as he struggled to keep the agents away from him. Agent Chase put her hand on Jono and he quit struggling. Agent Granger put the cuffs on Jono and took him over with his father and Suzy.

“Good job group, but you still have to deal with his other son,” Shelley said, quite pleased.

Tom Palmer stood at the top of his stairs. He was frightened that his Father, Suzy and Jono had all been taken with such little effort. Now they were talking about taking him too. Should he fly away or should he stay and fight and lose? These were probably the people Suzy had been running from. Tom decided then he would rather fight than run for the rest of his life.

He flew down the stairs faster than ever before and landed in front of Shelley.

“Let them go or I will kill you.”

“Go ahead boy.”

“I'm not joking. I'm sure your hired goons here will have no clue what to do without you.”

Ray Palmer looked up at his soon with a futile look in his eyes.

“Don't do it Tom, you can't win.”

“Don’t listen to your father Tom. Kill me. Go ahead, try.”

Tom was losing his temper more and more. This man had come into his house and destroyed his happy life. Without any further thought he swung at the man with a force that could level a building. Shelley dodged the blow without really working too hard.

“You are going to have to do better than that Tommy boy.”

Slowly the agents moved into a formation. They needed about thirty more seconds of distraction and they would be able to take down Tom Palmer and complete the mission.

“What are you waiting for Junior. Kill me. Do it.”

Tom Palmer swung at Shelley. It was an earth shattering punch and Tom connected squarely on Shelley’s jaw. As the punch landed Shelley’s head snapped back and a loud snap was heard. Shelley collapsed to the ground.

“Oh god, what have I done?”

Tom stood there looking at Shelley. The agents stopped there maneuver and stood there in terror. Tom turned around and looked at them.

“I didn’t mean to do it,” Tom said pleading with them.

He put his wrists in front of him and stepped to the agents.

“Please, take me away. Don't let me do that again.”

Agent Granger put the cuffs on him. The whole room had gained a somber and sad tone as Director Mitchell Shelley, the founder of the DEO, lay lifeless on the ground. Agent Hall picked up the containment unit that Suzy was in and put it on his back.

“Tom, I am sure it will be okay,” Ray said, trying to calm his son.

The Palmers stood there. All three of them with handcuffs on. All three of them with the power to get loose if they wished. The group of agents stood around as if they were waiting for something.

“Can you please just take us into custody or whatever you have planned?” Jono said rather indignantly.

Before any of the agents could answer, Director Shelley stirred and stood up. Jono, Ray and Tom Palmer all stood there in a state of shock.

“Bravo, boy, no one has managed to do that to me in at least twenty years, You will make a great agent.”

Ray Palmer stood there with a look of understanding. “That's why they call you the Resurrection Man.”

Shelley smiled. “I haven't heard that name in some time. Agents, take them to the carrier.”

The agents took the Palmers and Suzy to the carrier, leaving Shelley in the house to admire the work for a moment.

“This is going better than planned,” Shelley said to himself.