“Nothing,” Randall said. “There hasn’t been any mention of it in three days.”

“Four guys with poison gas tanks on their backs are arrested at a crowded street party and it’s not in the news,” Marcus said.

“This morning nothing is on the news,” Randall said, “except this.” He nodded towards the wide screen LCD TV in his office. The picture showed Frank Bukowski, otherwise known as The Fireman.

*****

Mike heard it on the radio first, as he ate in the small kitchen of Mireya’s house. He was eating cereal and Mireya’s mom had the radio on in the sewing room. After the shock of the first story he rushed to the living room and turned on the old style square TV. He flipped channels with the remote.

He must have heard wrong. It was impossible.

It was on almost every channel. A picture of the face that Mike slept under for years. The poster of The Fireman was the biggest and most cherished superhero poster in Mike’s room. He was older and grayer in the TV picture, but very much the same man.

The Fireman was a Chicago fire fighter. He never claimed to be anything more. He never took money for what he did. He lived on a fire fighter’s salary despite offers of millions. When he was really pressured to make deals for posters and comic books he gave the money to a charity for the families of fire fighters who died in the line of duty.

His name was Frank Bukowski. His grandparents came from Poland early in the twentieth century. He never liked the name The Fireman and only answered to his real name.

He wore fire fighter gear, not any fancy superhero costume. He was always honest. Occasionally he got short tempered with reporters who crowded around him.

He could walk into any fire, any size and with any amount of heat, and come out without even a tan. The Fireman saved more lives than any other fire fighter in history. He was flown to fires all over the world to do what no one else could. In a world full of colorful costumed figures with immense powers, Bukowski’s simple ability to walk into a blaze and walk out carrying survivors seemed the coolest of all.

The Fireman was young Mike Santis’ biggest idol. As he grew up in Casa Linda, New Mexico, he wanted to be like many of the costumed heroes he saw on TV, but The Fireman above all was his role model.

“Legendary hero The Fireman,” a blonde head on Channel 5 said, “has been arrested at his Chicago home this morning.” The video showed Bukowski being taken in handcuffs from his modest brick home with his tearful wife behind him.

This can’t be, Mike thought. It can’t be true. His gut turned and twisted inside him.

“Chicago police say Bukowski will be charged with arson and accepting money to commit arson,” the blonde continued. “It is thought that he started fires just to that he could rescue people from them, and possibly accepted money to start fires for insurance fraud.”

No, no, no, no. Not him. The Fireman was the one who never failed, never lied, never did anything wrong. Other superheroes might have scandals, might be alcoholics, might beat their wives. Not The Fireman. Not him.

Mike’s knees wobbled and he sat heavily on the floor. The Fireman became his hero when he was six years old, and the poster stayed up until the day he left home for L.A. This couldn’t be happening.

“¿Mijo? ¿Hay una problema?” Mireya’s mom came into the room.

Mike didn’t want her to see him cry. He jumped to his feet and fled out the front door. He jumped off the steps and his light went on without a thought. He flew high and fast.

*****

A text message came in from the operative who was watching the house. Tom read it then reported to Jeremy. “He just left the house.”

“It’s about time,” Jeremy said. “We’ve been running the news reports since five a.m.”

*****

There was only one place to get some answers. They may have kicked him out, but Tom would talk to him. Tom was a good guy, an ex-Protector. Tom might have met The Fireman.

The 10 freeway was crowded at this time of the morning. Mike followed the ribbon of slow moving cars east, towards the cluster of tall buildings that marked downtown. He had almost forgotten what the Society building looked like, but he picked it out as he got closer. It wasn’t the tallest, and it’s glass sides were quite ordinary, but Mike was able to find it.

For one thing, his sense that allowed him to find powered people went off like a car alarm when he looked at the building. They must have more heroes working for them than just Tom, otherwise known as Chrome. That made sense, the whole purpose of the Society was to help people with powers.

Mike landed on the roof and walked towards the elevators. The helicopter landing pad was empty.

*****

“He’s on the roof,” Tom said.

“Everyone know their parts?” Jeremy said. “Tom? Missy?” Tom and Missy nodded. “This is it, people, we have set the hook and we need to reel him in.”

*****

The elevator door opened before Mike got to it. Tom emerged from the elevator. “Hey, kid, what brings you back?”

“Is it true?” Mike asked. He let his light go out. He was wearing only shorts and a t-shirt. His bare feet felt the morning coolness of the cement.

“The Fireman?” Tom asked. “We don’t know. Jeremy is trying to find out if he was set up.”

“He must have been,” Mike said. He couldn’t imagine anything else. His thoughts rebelled at any thought the news reports were true.

“Come downstairs, everyone wants to see you.”

Mike followed Tom into the elevator. It was a short ride to one of the higher floors in the building. Everyone wants to see me? Mike thought. They kicked me out. Mr. Bromgren did. He hadn’t talked to any of the others since then.

When he stepped out of the elevator Missy wrapped him in a hug. This was the second time she hugged him. It felt really good. “We’ve been worried about you, Mike,” she said.

He had a mental flash of Mireya, but he pushed it away.

Mr. Bromgren shook Mike’s hand. Mike was wary, but the man’s smile didn’t show any anger. “Good to see you, Mike,” he said. “Let’s talk in here.”

Mike had a lot of questions for these people. Questions about the Sun Man comic book and movie. Mr. Bromgren said he couldn’t be Sun Man unless he signed a contract. Who was going to play him in the movie? Who was getting the money from these things?

This morning, though, he could only think of The Fireman. Mr. Bromgren took them into a small office with a glass-walled view of the city. He gestured towards a couch, and pulled a comfortable looking armchair closer so they could talk.

Mike sat at one end of the couch. To his surprise, Missy sat next to him. Her perfume invaded his senses. She put a hand on his hand and gave him an understanding nod. I’m on your side, she seemed to be saying.

Tom sat in another armchair. “It’s a real shame about The Fireman,” he said.

“Did you find out anything?” Mike asked Mr. Bromgren.

“Just what’s in the news,” Mr. Bromgren said. “My sources aren’t talking.”

“Tom,” Mike said, “you can call The Protectors, they’ll talk to you.”

“Gee, kid, it’s been a while since I left -“ Tom said.

“You must know someone who’s still there.”

“That’s a good idea, Tom,” Mr. Bromgren said.

“It is?” Tom said. “Oh, yeah, sure. It’s worth a try.” Tom got up and walked towards the door. “I have to use the, uh, secure line, uh, in the security room,” Tom said.

Mr. Bromgren smiled. “You do that. Let us know what you find out.”

Tom left the room. Mr. Bromgren turned to Mike. “Now, according to the news, Mr. Bukowski was more of an arsonist than a superhero -“

“No!” Mike said. “I won’t believe that! There has to be some supervillain out there who set him up!”

“Who, Mike?” Missy asked. “The Fireman doesn’t have the usual kind of enemies. He’s never fought crime, or saved the world. All he does is what any fire fighter does.”

“He’s just a fire fighter with a freakish ability to not get burned,” Mr. Bromgren said.

“He’s not all that special,” Missy said.

Mike pulled his hand away from Missy’s. “He’s not just a fire fighter. He’s brave, and honest, and never turns down a chance to save someone.”

“Honestly, Mike,” Mr. Bromgren said. “If you know you can’t get burned, how brave is it to walk into a fire? It’s like you walking into the water on a beach. You know it won’t hurt you.”

Mike stood up. “I came here for help. I can’t believe you’re talking like this! He’s The Fireman!”

“All right,” Mr. Bromgren said. “You’re right, he has done a lot of good. But it looks like somewhere along the way he lost his way, began starting fires for money.”

Mike felt like he was being stabbed. The Fireman was the shining icon of good. He could never do anything bad. “No he didn’t!” he shouted. He walked away from the couch.

*****

Tom entered an empty office and sat behind the desk. He wiped sweat from his forehead. How could Jeremy ask him to make that call? He knew The Protectors kicked him out. They would have prosecuted if their lawyers didn’t say it would be bad publicity.

Now Tom had to fake making a phone call, and he had no idea if the kid could hear him. He chose an office on a different floor and the other side of the building, but it might not matter.

He picked up the phone and dialed. A recorded message said, “Thank you for calling Pizza City. We are now featuring the Double Cheese Stuff special.”

“Protectors ID code 0017Omicron,” Tom said into the phone. That actually was his code back in the day. He didn’t think Pizza City would care, and besides they were closed.

If Mike had discovered the rest of his Overseer powers, he could hear Tom from miles away. The powers only worked when the light was on, though, and he hoped Jeremy was keeping the kid from lighting up.

If Mike has discovered all his powers and become angry, Tom thought, no one in the building is safe. The long distance vision and hearing are the least of it. If Mike has discovered the molecular beam, we will all be dust in the next few minutes.

*****

“Mike,” Missy said. She came to him and laid a cool hand on his arm. “We don’t know anything for sure yet. I bet the charges will be dropped soon. You’ll see.”

“Missy’s probably right,” Mr. Bromgren said. “I tend to look at the cynical side of things. But The Fireman setting fires? It does seem unlikely.”

Tom came back in. “I made the call,” he said. “Graviton says they were already looking into it. If anyone can help The Fireman, he can.”

Mike tried to bring his ragged breathing under control. They were already on it. Of course they were. He just wished he could leap into the air and do something that would help. For someone with so much power, he felt useless.

“As long as you’re here, Mike,” Mr. Bromgren said. “Maybe we could discuss your coming back? You really belong with us.”

Mike turned, both angry and surprised. “You kicked me out,” he said.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Mr. Bromgren said. “I’m sure we could work it out.”

“And what’s with the comic book and the movie? How did you do that so fast?”

“Just building up the Sun Man brand. If you come back we’ll just slot you right in and it will be like you never left.”

Missy leaned close to Mike’s ear and whispered, “I missed you, Mike.” Her breath tickled his ear and her touch on his arm was electric.

“Yeah, kid,” Tom chimed in. “I can still train you to be the best. I bet The Protectors will beg to have you in a few months.”

“I—“ Mike couldn’t think. He came here full of rage and it was hard to tamp that down. “There are people who have been nice to me. I promised to help them.”

“That’s great,” Mr. Bromgren said. “I’m glad you’ve found friends. But can they turn you into a world class superhero?”

“Hey, you could go help them when they need it,” Tom said. “Do your training here and you’ll be even more help to them.”

“I guess,” Mike said. His head whirled. Could he really be Sun Man again? And still help the Neighborhood Heroes?” He had a thought. Maybe the resources of the Society could help him find out who that Knighthawk guy really is.

“Can I think about it?” Mike asked.

“Of course,” Mr. Bromgren said.

“Then I’ll come back when -“

“Call me,” Mr. Bromgren said, handing Mike a business card. Mike put the card in the pocket of his shorts.

Everyone went back up the elevator with Mike. They emerged on the windy roof together.

Mr. Bromgren offered his hand. Mike shook it. “Don’t be a stranger,” he said.

Tom punched Mike’s arm gently. “Looking forward to working with you again.”

Missy pulled Mike away from the other two. Mike went along, unsure where she was taking him. She stopped near the edge of the roof.

“Mike,” she said. She ran her hand up his belly to his chest. “Is this it?” she asked. She fingered the disk that gave him his powers. “Can I see it?” Without waiting for an answer she pulled up his t-shirt.

“It’s pretty,” she said. The disk shined in the morning light.

“I don’t think about it that much,” Mike said. All he could think about was her fingers on his chest.

“Please come back,” Missy whispered. “I want you with us. With me.” She wrapped herself around him and kissed him. Mike was surprised to find that her tongue was in his mouth. He was surrounded by her. The promise of being inside her was there.

“I’ll see you,” she said. “Soon.” She walked away, holding his hand until she had to drop it. She waved as she walked back to the others.

Mike was intoxicated on 100 proof Missy. It took him a minute to gather himself together mentally so he could turn on his light. By that time he was the only one on the roof.

He was glad that, with his light on, no one would see the bulge in his shorts.

He flew west, towards the familiar little house near the 405 freeway. He looked back as he flew.

Somewhere above Los Angeles, Mike stopped and stayed still in the air. One way was the warm and homey house. The Neighborhood Heroes. The other way was what he always dreamed of. Fame, The Protectors, movies, money, being a world class hero. Sun Man versus Light Man.

Missy versus Mireya.

He hovered there for a long time.

*****

“You really ruined The Fireman just to get to the kid?” Tom asked as he and Jeremy and Missy went down in the elevator.

“It was Void’s plan,” Jeremy said.

Tom shuddered. He hoped never to meet the owner of that voice, the voice of murder.

“He has to learn that there are no heroes,” Jeremy continued. “No one does anything to help others. The world runs on self interest.”

“He hasn’t figured out all his powers,” Tom said.

“He can’t until he is with us. We have to be the only ones he trusts, his true family. We have to remove his ties with those D-list heroes.”

“Doesn’t he have family back in his podunk town?” Tom asked. The elevator came to a stop. The doors opened.

“That’s your next assignment,” Jeremy said as he exited the elevator.