|
by S.M. Shook Originally presented at DC/Marvel: The Merging as Generation Next #1-5 |
"Jono, I am warning you for the last time if you do not stop borrowing my clothes I am going to hurt you." Tom Palmer said with a half jesting voice as he combed his hair. Tom had the perfect looks that made other kids jealous and the girls flock to him. His hair a dark black was perfect a slight curl to it but not a strand out of place. His eyes blue with a slight twinkle.
"I am sorry Tom, I finally got a date with Cassie and I didn't have anything good to wear," Jono Palmer said as he laid on the bed. Jono obviously resembled his brother. Nice eyes and hair that was perfectly in place. Jono's major downfall were the bandages covering the lower half of his face and his chest.
"Did dad let you borrow the car? How do I look?"
"Does he ever? Who is she?"
"You don't know her she's not from around here."
Tom Palmer walked over to the rooms window and stepped out of it. He peaked in through the window. "Don't wait up." Tom flew off weaving over the street.
Jono, alone in the room said to himself. "It's the flying, chicks dig the flying."
Tom walked down the street with a blonde hair girl so gorgeous she could be a model. The two of them passed an alley where there was a girl who could be no older than 13. Her blonde hair was dirty as was the rest of her. Surrounding the girl was a thin layer of fog.
"Tom can I fly with you a little bit?" The cute blonde said in her most flirtatious voice.
"Yeah, it's about time I took you home anyway." Tom said half upset. He picked up the girl and flew off into the night sky.
Tom Palmer flew back into the window and hit the wall hard sending his fist through the wall. Almost immediately the door opened with Jono standing at it.
"What happened?"
"The only reason I ever get a date is because I can fly."
"You complain too much, I can't even get that much."
"I would be a hero if dad would ever let me use these powers. Then the girls would be all over me after I stopped one villain."
"The girls wouldn't care what I looked like if I was a hero."
"Is that all that you care about?"
"Oh give me a break Tom you know that is all you care about."
Tom gave Jono a nasty look then smiled.
"Yeah I do care a lot about that but don't you think it would be a thrill to fight some super villain?"
"Tom do you have some type of a death wish? Have you ever seen some of these guys? They would eat us for breakfast and use our bones to pick their teeth."
Tom gazed out the window lost in his thoughts of how much he would like the challenge of fighting one of those guys.
"Jono listen to me I know what they look like and I know the stories on how they got that way. I have seen the old pictures from World War Two on the net. I know these guys are nasty but think about the challenge, and the glory."
"Tom are you listening to yourself? You want to fight the nastiest people on the planet because you are bored. Ever hear of a video game? They are safer and if you lose you are not dead."
"Do you ever wonder why we have these powers Jono?"
"Dad told us that it was just some genetic quirk."
"I know a thing or to about genetics, we do not end up like this unless someone in our family had something similar."
"Are you saying you think Mom or Dad had some type of powers?"
"You never thought about it before Jono? Why would we both be like this at random? I mean how many kids do you know who can fly or have a good chunk of their face and chest missing?"
Jono looked down depressed. A feeling of resentment and pain passed through him at the damage his powers did to his face and body.
"Who do you think had the powers? Mom or Dad?"
"There is a chance that they both could have."
"Why would they hide it from us?"
"Would you like to fly with me?"
"Why?"
"I really feel like talking and I do not want to do it here." Tom had a serious look in his eyes one that Jono had not often seen before.
"Tom, you have me worried here, you are seeming a little more rigid than normal."
"Listen Jono, do you want to fly with me or not?"
"Let's go." Jono climbed into Tom's arms as he had done on many occasions before. And the two flew off into the night sky.
"Where are we going Tom?"
"Somewhere."
"I know that but we have been up here for some time."
"California."
"What is in California?"
"I took my date here earlier and there was someone that caught my attention."
"You are taking me on a girl hunt?"
"No, there was something about her that caught my attention. Something not quite normal. Don't worry Jono, if I am wrong, we will be back home in about a half hour."
"I thought you said we were going to fly there to talk."
Tom sent out red rays from his eyes that Jono could feel warm the half of his face that was still flesh covered.
"What the hell was that Tom?"
"I have no clue, I just found out about it earlier when I was flying home from France after dropping Chloe off."
"Chloe? The model?"
"Yep."
"Tom that doesn't explain the heat."
"I was angry and frustrated. I was grinding my teeth and I shot these weird beams from my eyes."
"You and I are basically just power chambers aren't we?"
"I don't know."
The two brothers softly landed on the street in the same area that Tom had been with his date earlier.
The phone rang twice before it was picked up. "This is the Department of Extranormal Operations how may I help you?"
"This is Agent Palmer. Please transfer me through to Agent Starsmore."
"What can I do for you Agent Palmer?"
"The readings on our sons are beginning to rise, their powers are growing in bounds now and I fear it is almost time to take them into custody."
"What are the readings, Agent Palmer?"
"Thomas is at six, Jonothan is at eight."
"You know the rules, Agent Palmer. When the readings get to ten, we take them in to custody. I feel Thomas has longer than Jonothan."
"How can you be so cold Sarah? They are your children too."
"These are facts that you know, Agent Palmer."
"Sarah, Tom's powers went up two points in one day."
"That isn't possible. No one has had that big an increase in one day."
"The readings do not lie, Sarah."
"Is he okay, Ray?"
"His chest didn't explode into flames like Jono's. To be honest I could not tell any difference in him other than the big hole he punched in the wall."
"Do they know you have cameras in their room?"
"Sarah it kills me to have to hide everything from them. They think you are dead, and I can't even begin to tell them about our past."
"Listen, Palmer, you are going to lose the boys really soon. You may want to be honest with them or they will really hate you."
"You sure are a good mother to them, Sarah."
"Let's not get started on this again, Agent Palmer."
"It must be nice to feel nothing."
Jono had a soft look in his eyes as he finally spoke, "She is beautiful."
"I do not think she is normal."
"Neither are we, Tom. But if she is sleeping on the streets, I think she could use a friend."
"Jono, no. Don't even think it."
"I am going to ask if she would like to stay at our house, Tom"
"Dad is just going to love this."
Jono touched the mist girl's shoulder softly. She woke up and the smoke swirled around her in spirals.
"YOU ARE NOT TAKING ME BACK THERE EVER."
Jono instantly put his hands for her to see. "I am just trying to help. Please calm down."
"What is wrong with your face?", the mist girl asked as she kept her eyes locked on Jono.
As Jono pulled the bandages down an in inch, a blue flame snaked up about an inch.
"Does it hurt?"
"Not really. I miss my old life, though. What is your name?"
"How do you talk without a mouth."
"It is sorta like telepathy. What is your name?"
"I am Suzy."
"I am Jonothan. It is nice to meet you, Suzy."
Jonothan held his hand out to shake hers. She took his hand and shook it. Jonothan could barely feel her hand only the soft mist.
"What do you want with me, Jonothan?"
"I want to help. I know that living on the street isn't safe or all that pleasurable."
"And how do you want to help me?"
"I want to take you to our home, if nothing else you can sleep in the basement. It is safe there. Probably more comfortable, too."
"Dad is just going to love this."
"You say you wanna be a hero, Tom, how about helping one person to start off? Suzy, would you like to live with us for a while?"
"What about your father?" Suzy asked timidly.
"With any luck he won't find out for a while."
"That is your brilliant idea, Jono? Hoping he won't find out? Dad is going to be quite upset to find out you are letting some girl move in with us."
"She will be our little Secret. Is that okay with you Suzy?"
"I am sick of running away, a home might be nice for a while."
"I can't let you do this Jono, I am not taking her with us."
"You will do this or Dad finds out about Paris."
"What do you know about Paris?"
"I am sure there are a lot of stories I can tell Dad about you, three drunken supermodels and all those bottles of wine."
"How do you know about Paris?"
"I have my ways. Are you going to help us or not?"
"Jono, I don't think I can carry both of you at once."
Smoke began to move around the three of them, surrounding then and covering them.
"What is going on, Suzy?"
"I am taking us home, Jono."
The billows of smoke surrounded them more and more. It covered their bodies until all that was left in the alley was a few final puffs of smoke.
"Where are we, and where are you, Suzy?"
A booming voice from nowhere spoke, "I AM HERE."
"Jono, I do not like this."
The loud booming voice replied, "THINK OF HOME AND WE WILL BE THERE"
The smoke slowly cleared and three people appeared in the basement of the Palmer household.
"What was that, Suzy?"
"Um, you do not want to know Jono, I mean that."
Meanwhile in Ray Palmer's room a beep became prominent waking him from a sleep.
"Oh, my god! A level twenty in my house! This can not be good."
“This is Palmer. Connect me to Starsmore immediately.”
“Again, Ray? What is it this time? One of the boys have a cough?”
“This is not the time to get smart, Sarah. There is a level twenty in the house.”
“WHAT? Which one of them is a level twenty, Ray?”
“We need to get a force here quickly, this could be dangerous for a lot of people.”
“Ray, be calm. You know how to handle these types of situations. Besides, all our forces are out right now dealing with that disturbance in California.”
“What disturbance in California?”
“We had one break out, she was born as a level six. When she broke out she was a level eighteen.”
“Let me get this straight, Sarah. A level eighteen is more important than the level twenty in my home?”
“No, Ray, it's just that all of our people are still out there. I will sent the message, saying you need assistance. We need to keep track of these high leveled ones. This isn’t like it was in the old days.”
“I am surprised you still think of the old days, Sarah.”
“I was talking about the JSA, Ray. We should never have put on costumes, ever.”
“You still have your powers, Sarah?”
“Yes, Ray. They do not just come and go.”
Ray Palmer heard two sets of footsteps coming up the stairs.
“I think the boys are back. I gotta go now, Sarah.”
“We will have people there as soon as possible, Agent Palmer.”
As soon as she said this she hung up on him, leaving him sitting there with the phone in his hand.
“I love you too, Sarah.”
The boys walked up the stairs as quietly as they could.
“Jono, be quiet or you will wake up dad,” Tom whispered.
“I am moving as quietly as I can.”
They both jumped as their father’s door opened up.
“Uh oh!” they both said to each other as they saw their father standing in the doorway.
“Where did the two of you go this time? Paris? Rome? L.A.?"
As their father said L.A. the two brothers looked at each other.
“You went to L.A. again? What is your fascination with that place?”
“Sorry, Dad. When I was on my date tonight I saw something I knew Jono would like so I took him there. Please don’t be mad.”
“I am not mad at the two of you. But, you are my boys and I would really like to know when you run off somewhere.”
“We can take care of ourselves, Dad.”
“I know that, Jono, but I am your father I have a right to worry.”
“Sorry, Dad. I'll tell you next time before we fly somewhere.”
“That is all I ask, Tom. There are some very powerful bad people out there I do not want anything happening to my boys. Now you two need to go to bed.”
“Okay, dad, see you in the morning,” Tom said as he walked to his room.
“I'll see you in the morning, dad,” Jono said as he walked to his room.
“Good night boys, I love you.” Ray walked back into his bedroom.
“What is happening to me? Ever since I went to Paris Island for the weekend things have not been quite right.”
Virgil was becoming nervous. What would happen when people noticed his hands were in his pockets all the time? Would they think he was some type of weirdo? When they saw what was actually happening to him would they think him a monster? He did not know and hoped he would not find out. He slid his hands into his pockets and walked outside.
“Why do I have to be so ordinary? Why can’t I be special?” she wondered aloud.
Almost in a response to that Paige’s skin began to flake slightly and fall off revealing a costume underneath that matched the original Black Canary’s. She looked down and noticed this and peeled her skin back more, revealing more of the costume. She peeled off the layer of skin completely, she now looked like her personal hero Black Canary.
“Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!” Paige said softly over and over again as she walked to the bathroom to look in the mirror.
As she looked in the mirror she saw her life’s dream. She could actually be a super-hero now. Suddenly the world seemed greater to her.
Sarah Starsmore looked at her computer terminal noticing the increasing number of yellows and reds. She thought to herself that soon she would be back in the field taking care of these matters.
Contrary to what she told her ex-husband she did miss the old days, running around in a silly costume fighting the bad guys. It was all a game, really. Fighting crime was not all she missed though. She missed her husband and her two sons. It had been so long since she had seen them. Even though Ray sent her pictures regularly it was not quite the same.
Ray, as usual, was the first one downstairs. The boys were never up early even on school days. Much to his surprise though the boys were both up within fifteen minutes of him, this was very odd since they both looked tired.
“What are you boys doing up so early? You should be in bed for another three hours.”
“Couldn’t sleep,” Tom answered, not telling his father his reason for his long sleepless night.
“Are you okay Tom?”
“Yeah, Dad. I'm fine.”
“Okay. Why are you up, Jono?”
“I am rested and happy.”
“Oh, ok. I am glad to hear that,” Ray seemed kind of distant this morning. He had a dozen things running through his mind.
Tom walked over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup of coffee. Ray noticed this and looked a little disturbed.
“Tom, you never drink coffee.”
“A long night, need a pick me up.”
“Oh, well. Boys, it was good to see you this morning but I have things I have to do.”
“Okay, dad. We’ll see you later,” Jono replied.
“Jono, take care of your brother. Tom, get some rest. I love you boys and will see you in a while.”
Ray left walking with a slight limp that was barely noticeable.
“You spent all night talking to her, Jono.”
“Yeah, so what.”
“What about Cassie?”
“Who?”
“The girl you finally got a date with.”
“She is nothing compared to Suzy. Suzy doesn't think I am a freak. Suzy doesn't like me so she can get close to you.”
“Is that what this is about? You are jealous of me again?”
Jono gave him a look of total disgust and stormed off to the basement to talk to Suzy.
“Oh, good. She has made him even moodier.” Tom sat there quietly sipping his coffee.
Jono stood at the top of the basement steps and saw that Suzy was asleep. After all that she told him he knew that she had to be tired. He stood there for a few moments watching her and the way her body produced the light, dancing, smoky mists even as she slept. He gained a sort of peace by just looking at her.
“Sleep well Suzy,” he whispered.
“Sir, before you take another step I am going to have to ask you to take a retinal scan and a finger print analysis,” a young man behind a desk said.
Agent Palmer did exactly as he was instructed. Both tests showed that he was who he claimed to be.
“Good morning, Agent Palmer. What can we do for you?”
“I need to speak with the Director about my sons.”
“Just your luck, sir. The Director is currently unoccupied.”
“Thank you, Emerson. I am sure that in no time you will be a field agent.”
Agent Palmer entered the dimly lit Director’s office.
“How did this place get so messy?”
Tom cleaned up fallen stacks of ten year old magazines and looked through old clothes as he was cleaning. He came to an old chest that he had never seen before. He was very curious as to what was inside. Tom thought it was really odd that even though nothing was setting on the chest it wasn’t dusty, like it had recently been put there.
“Never seen this before.”
Tom noticed that it was unlocked which was very strange because the lock was sitting next to the trunk. He opened the lid and saw something that blew him away.
“Oh my god. This can’t be true.”
In the trunk he saw old photographs and news clippings of his Dad and Mom. These were pictures he had never seen before. Also in the trunk he saw a blue and red costume.
“My Dad is the ATOM.”
“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.”
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.
"You should quit trying to get loose Tom," Agent Chase said, "It will be a lot more painless if you just sit and wait until we get back to headquarters."
Tom strained and moved until he was shocked by an electrical jolt from the handcuffs. The jolt was powerful enough that Tom collapsed backward.
"What did you do to him?" Ray Palmer asked upset at his son's pain.
"Does this mean you do not recognize one of your own designs, Palmer?" Hall said rather smugly.
Tom Palmer sat there leaning against the wall trying to figure out the whole situation. Before too long the large carrier stopped and the agents stood up. Agent Chase moved next to Tom, Agent Hall moved and stood next to Jono, and Agent Emerson stood next to Ray.
Agent Emerson whispered to Ray. "I'm really sorry sir, I had no idea that this was going to happen. If there's any way that I can help you just tell me."
"It's okay, Emerson. I told you that you would be a great agent someday. Your father would be proud of you."
Without a word Emerson slipped his handcuff key into Palmer's hand. Palmer looked at him rather shocked and confused.
"You are a good one, Grant Emerson."
The Agents accompanied the Palmers into the building. The took them immediately into a cell leaving them there safely behind bars. The Agents walked out the door leaving the Palmers completely alone in the holding cell.
"I would like to commend all of you a job well done today. I thought it would have been much more of a challenge to subdue Palmer and his children. Thanks to the lot of you the DEO has grown much stronger today. Bravo."
Grant Emerson stepped forward. "Sir, may I ask what your plans are with the prisoners."
Mr. Bones responded, "You may ask, Emerson. But you will not receive an answer."
Emerson looked at the Bones, then stepped back in line.
"Sorry sir."
"No worries Emerson, I am sure with more training you will go far in this organization."
Director Shelley spoke up again. "Today, I tested the lot of you to find out how you would be as Agents. In the fifty years that I have been in charge of this organization I would like to say that I have never seen a group so young work so well. But, all of you need more training. The threats are worse now than they have ever been. These people now are a lot more reckless than the days of the Justice Society. They can not be trusted."
The young Agents stood listening to Shelley's speech. All but Emerson believed the propaganda.
"How could you not tell us this, Dad?"
"I'm going to make it up to you, Jono."
"How?"
"After we get out of this I will introduce you to your mother."
Ray Palmer undid his handcuffs with the key then shrunk down to microscopic size allowing him to get out of the cell.
"Mom's alive?"
As Jono was sitting in the cell Ray Palmer left the room and reemerged to his normal size. He had not come up with a plan yet but he knew that he needed all the help that he could get.
"They said I was going to be going to a special school," Paige said.
"Yeah, well they said I murdered someone. They lie", Virgil replied.
"But I didn't do anything."
"Neither did I, but we're still stuck here."
"But they said I was going to a special school."
"I thought I made it clear, they lie."
Ray Palmer opened the door a little and looked inside. He saw the two sitting there and somehow knew that they would be able to help. He closed the door and went in search of Grant Emerson. Ray Palmer shrunk back down to microscopic size when he heard approaching voices.
"I feel kinda bad about taking the Palmer family like we did", Agent Chase said.
"They were holding one of the biggest threats to national security. And the two boys are powerful enough they are threats too", Agent Hall replied.
"They didn't seem like a threat to me."
"You heard what Director Shelley said. All non-regulated super powered beings are threats. This isn't like the days of the Justice Society. These mega powered people have no respect for human life."
Ray Palmer stood there against the wall not believing what he had heard. He did not know how they could believe these things.
"I did not think they were threats but I guess Director Shelley and Mr. Bones know better than we do."
After Chase and Hall were by him he grew back to normal size and continued his search. He had to find Emerson quickly. He moved as quickly as he possibly could. Every time he heard a voice he shrunk down. Finally he saw Grant Emerson.
"Grant, I need your help."
"Who is that?"
Ray Palmer grew to normal size in front of Grant.
"Grant, I need you to help my sons out of the cell. I have a plan."
"Mr. Palmer, I am not really sure that I should."
"Do you trust me Grant?"
"Yes sir."
"Then trust me now. I have a plan."
Ray shrunk down and Grant put him in his pocket. They went to the room where Ray's sons were being captive. Jono was sitting there depressed and Tom had finally recovered from the heavy shock. Grant walked over and unlocked the cell.
"Thank you Grant, I need to ask one more favor though."
"Mr. Palmer, I really shouldn't. I have already done too much."
"I understand. Thank you Grant. I hope we can take it from here."
Ray Palmer and his sons left the cell. Grant stood there thinking of all that he probably had thrown away by helping the Palmers.
"If I let you go will you help me take down the guy who put you here?" Ray asked them.
"I can only speak for myself, but I want out of here now," Virgil replied.
Ray Palmer walked over and put the key in the lock and swung open the door. He extended his hand to Virgil.
"I am Ray Palmer."
"I am Virgil Hawkins. Thank you Mr. Palmer, I owe you one. Are you coming Paige?"
Paige Guthrie sat there on the stool in a state of shock. Tom Palmer walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"We want to help you."
Paige looked into his eyes and nodded. She stood up and walked to the door of the cell.
"I am Paige Guthrie. They lied to me."
"Oh there she goes again," Virgil replied rather irritated.
"We are going to take care of that. We want your help."
Paige nodded.
"I am Ray Palmer."
Ray introduced his two sons to Virgil and Paige and then began to tell them the plan he had worked out. They worked out all the details of the plan, making a couple of changes accommodating Virgil and Paige's abilities. They left the small jail area and were about to carry out their strategy. As they stepped out of the cell they saw Grant standing there.
"I want to help."
"I know," Ray Palmer said.
Grant looked at him rather shocked and disturbed.
"Let's go pay our good friends Mr. Shelley and Mr. Bones a visit."
"Doing better than usual."
"I've been playing on the computer."
"I have never liked those things. They do have their upsides though."
"Checkmate."
"Bravo Bones."
As they sat there about to play another game the door blasted open. Bones was thrown away and knocked unconscious by the force. Jono Starsmore stood there in a flame looking very angry.
"WHERE IS SHE?" Jono's voice boomed.
"This is getting old quickly."
Shelley pulled out his gun and shot Jono. The bullet melted before it hit Jono. Jono walked at them as Shelley emptied his gun at Jono. The bullets all melted before they hit him.
"WHERE IS SHE?"
Jono grabbed Shelley from the chair and picked him up.
"How are we doing?" Paige whispered to Grant.
"All we have left are the Palmers."
"Is that Palmer?" Hall said.
Ray Palmer looked and saw them.
"Virgil, take care of Granger. Tom, you and I will take Hall."
Electricity shot from Virgil's fingertips as he approached Agent Granger. Ray and Tom Palmer. approached Agent Hall cautiously. Palmer instantly shrunk trying to figure out a way to defeat Hall.
"Do you enjoy being a freak?" Shelley asked.
"What? Where is she?"
"You don't have to be this way, Jono."
With a wave of Shelley's hand Jono's face appeared to return to normal. Jono looked very handsome a lot like his brother Tom.
"What are you doing?"
"This could be you again Jono."
With a wave of his hand Jono's face returned to normal. Jono let go of Director Shelley and stepped back in fear.
"So are you willing to talk now Jono."
"Granger, Hall, cease and desist immediately." Shelley said. "Ray, Tom, Virgil, I want you in my office now. I will send for Guthrie and Emerson immediately."
"Why should we do what you say?"
Jono stepped forward and looked at his father and brother.
"Dad, I think you should listen to Director Shelley."
"Agent Palmer I must say I have been impressed with your work today."
"My name is Ray."
"Hear me out Palmer. These kids seem to respect you. They also seem to have gotten a pretty bad initial encounter with the DEO. "
"You kidnaped me."
"I know and we are sorry for that Mr. Hawkins. As Agent Palmer, Ray, can tell you the DEO is not evil. We can actually be the greatest thing to happen to you."
"Get to the point Shelley," Ray said.
"Fine. Palmer I want you to teach these kids as well as other young metahumans."
"Why should we trust you?" Virgil spoke up.
"You can ask Palmer here, you will be adequately compensated and you will learn to use your powers. I guess the closest thing I can describe it as is the military."
"I'm in," Jono said.
Tom and Ray Palmer both looked at him shocked.
"What about Suzy?" Tom spoke up.
"She will be under the training program," Shelley replied.
"So this is kinda like a special school?" Paige asked.
"Yes, Miss Guthrie."
"Then I'm in, too," Paige said.
Agent Starsmore entered the room. Ray and Tom both looked shocked.
"I hope I am not late," Agent Starsmore said.
"Mom? Is that you?" Tom said.
"What does she have to do with this meeting, Shelley?" Ray asked still stunned.
"She is part of the teaching staff."
"I'm in," Tom replied immediately.
"Me too," Emerson replied.
"That leaves only you and Virgil, Agent Palmer. Might I add Mr. Hawkins that you will no longer have problems controlling your special abilities. We will teach you how to be normal."
"No matter what you say, you people kidnaped me. I am not in."
"You are free to go then I guess." Shelley said without a moment's thought.
"Join us Dad," Tom said.
"Who are my students, Shelley?"
"Outstanding. Well Mr. Palmer you have the entire group in this room. Your sons, Miss Guthrie, and Mr. Emerson. You also have Agents Hall, Chase, Granger, Espinoza and an agent you have not yet met Miss Monetti and Miss Rourke. Also you have Suzy."
"Okay, Shelley my question is why?"
"There are rogue metas all over the place. The DEO needs to keep up. We need young heroes to take care of these threats."
"Like Young Justice?" Paige asked nervously.
"Yes, after you get more trained you will be taking on Young Justice," Shelley replied.
"Where will we be located?" Ray asked.
"With military cutbacks you will be in an abandoned military base."
"Wow, you have this all planned out." Ray said.
"You are in control of Generation Next of the DEO, Ray. When you arrive at the base, everyone will have uniforms and dorms set. Teach them well and we will be monitoring your progress. The truck is outside waiting for you." Shelley said.
All the people left the office and filed on to the truck.
"What are we getting into?" Palmer said to himself while sitting on the truck.
Originally published as Generation Next #1-5 at DC/Marvel: The Merging, and may not be reused or
republished in any way without the permission of the author.
DC/Marvel: The Merging is a fanfiction site, and is not affiliated with nor
endorsed by DC Comics or Marvel Comics, nor any company that owns these
characters. All of the stories here are written for fun, and the authors are not
making any profit from them, and do not intend any harm to the original
creation. This site is for entertainment purposes only. DC/Marvel: The Merging
concept created by Chip Caroon, developed with other writers.
http://dcmarvel.cjb.net