Class was out and the halls were full of anxious chatter as Jimmy marched towards the main stairwell. He was nearly there when one loud voice cut above the rest.

"Whoa, is that Neutron? Hold up, Freshie!"

Jimmy craned his neck towards the sound and cocked his head in confusion. Two eighth-graders, back-to-back with their waists tightly bound together by rope, hobbled towards him.

"Well, well, well," the taller boy sporting a backwards baseball cap snarled. He led the duo and halted a foot from Jimmy. "If it ain't the mighty king of the Strikers. You know I'm still waiting to be principal for a day."

Jimmy pinched the bridge of his nose. "For the hundredth time, Mark. I am sorry, but I can't do that. I thought we agreed on you borrowing my hover car for a weekend."

Mark spat, barely missing Jimmy's polished shoes. "That's a lousy deal and you know it. Maybe that's why you're walking these halls alone. What's the matter, no one was willing to be your butt buddy?"

"I'm a bit busy-"

"Being scared?" Mark scoffed. "You should be, because with these asses locked down," Mark rubbed his butt in a circle against his friend's, "yours is gonna be next. The Black Atom's never gonna get us!" Mark clenched his fists and howled at the ceiling. "You don't know how good it feels to be immortal!"

Jimmy couldn't begin to fathom a response, so he stayed silent until Mark's shorter friend placed a hand on the taller boy's shoulder. "Lay off him, Mark. Not all of us run from the encroaching dark. The wisest accept their destiny, finding solace in the little time they have left. 'Tis the more enlightened path."

"The heck you talking about?" Mark struggled to twist his body around to see his friend. The two kept bumping into the sea of passing students until they managed to lock eyes. Mark stared into twin dark orbs - a portal to an empty future that he couldn't evade. "Wait…are you saying that the Black Atom is gonna get us all? That there's no escaping our fate? That everything is preordained and we're hurtling towards the end?"

"I'm gonna go," Jimmy jerked a thumb towards the stairwell and left the hypnotized teen behind.

Jimmy opened the door to the former computer lab and scanned the wide open space. A half dozen students milled about, preparing for the R.M.S. Report's next broadcast. They polished the anchor desk, dismantled the cardboard storage closet, and patched the drywall. Jimmy scanned the area, failed to spot Libby, and reluctantly asked the only kid he recognized for help.

"Meagan?" The Deep Dish star was seated at a work desk against the east wall, her back to him. Her spine straightened and hands clenched at his voice. "Do you know where Libby is?"

The girl's fists shook as she snarled, "You have some nerve coming into my house," Meagan spun around and froze as she caught sight of the genius. Her jaw dropped, she lurched backwards as though shot, and instinctively swiped a hand over her pixie cut's bangs. "Looking like that," she breathily whispered.

Jimmy cocked an eyebrow and studied his outfit. "I borrowed it from Clarke. Listen, I really need-"

"I see what you're doing," Meagan nodded and forced a half-hearted sneer on her face. She rose to her feet and stormed towards Jimmy. "It isn't gonna work. I don't care what Courtney thinks, I'm not some airhead. I'd never give up my story just because a hot guy asked me to!"

"Huh?"

"Sure, deny it if you want," Meagan bristled. Then a wave of understanding that Jimmy couldn't match made her stagger. "Oh my god…you're not trying to stop me."

"Right, I'm just trying to find-"

"Out what this thing between us really is," Meagan finished. "It all makes sense."

"No it doesn't."

Meagan ignored him. "You're into blondes and love/hate relationships. I guess we both knew we were just hiding how we really felt."

Jimmy shouted, "We've never even spoken to each other!"

"Sure, play hard to get," Meagan teased. "I can play hard to catch. I don't need a man, Neutron. Everything I've accomplished, I did it on my own!"

"I'm sure you did."

Meagan stumbled yet again, tripped over her chair, and landed in the seat. "I've never been so supported. Is this what it feels like, to finally have someone to call home? Fine, Jimmy. You get one shot at me. Candy Bar, 6pm, tonight." She jumped to her feet, bridged the gap between them, and jammed a finger into his chest. "But if you hurt me, it's your butt on the line. And you'll wish it was the Black Atom who found it."

Meagan flipped her bangs and walked out of the studio. Jimmy turned after her and saw Ike Burke standing in the entryway holding two paper cups of hot cocoa. He offered a half-grin and said, "Really doing Cindy dirty, huh?"

Jimmy swore he felt an aneurysm about to burst until Ike said, "Relax, I saw the whole thing. I'll vouch for you."

Jimmy breathed a sigh of relief as Ike joined him. "What are you even doing here?"

"Well, I was working with Meagan on a new Deep Dish segment. This was for her, by the way," he shrugged and passed Jimmy a steaming cup.

Jimmy took a calming sip and said, "Thanks."

"With her gone," Ike's face fell an inch, "guess I'll head back to The Spitoon."

Jimmy nodded; he guessed Ike's newly sanctioned bar was full to bursting today. "Do you happen to know where Libby is?"

Ike motioned his drink towards the studio's side door. "She's in her office. But I heard she's got her hands full."

"I'm going to lighten her load. Maybe I'll see you at the saloon later?"

"I'll save you some Martinelli's."

Jimmy smiled and left his friend behind to knock on the door.

"Better be good," Libby's annoyed voice answered.

Jimmy headed inside and couldn't help but smile at the sight of his friend. Finally, he thought while spotting Libby and Courtney behind the art teacher's desk. They were huddled behind a computer with a dozen documents spread out on the table. Libby's blazer was draped over her chair; a necklace that Jimmy didn't recognize graced her neck. "Ladies," he greeted them. "Could we talk?"

The girls looked up from their work, studied Jimmy's attire, and shared a confused glance. Libby shook her surprise aside and said, "We're pretty swamped, Jimmy. We can chat at lunch."

"It's about the Black Atom."

Libby chewed her lip and leaned back in her chair. "We're listening."

"Actually, I was hoping you and I could discuss this alone." He cast Courtney an apologetic look. "No offense."

Courtney narrowed her eyes but answered, "It's fine. I have to head out in the field anyway." She grabbed a walkie-talkie from a nearby charging rack and clipped it to her belt. "Just remember my memo, Libs."

Courtney walked past Jimmy, giving a not-so-subtle shove with her elbow. Scalding cocoa stained his gloves, and he was once again thankful for Clarke's forethought.

Once the reporter was gone, Libby motioned at the rows of desks. As Jimmy hopped atop one, she asked, "What's up?"

"Clarke asked me to find the Black Atom. I got some intel, but with your resources, I figure you must have picked up a few facts as well."

"I did, but I'm sure you already know them." Libby narrowed her eyes. "Wait, do you not watch my show?"

"Of course I do," Jimmy promised. "But did you really mention every detail? And you haven't learned anything new since the broadcast? Seems like you've got quite the team on this."

"Alright, you got me," Libby smiled and took off her necklace. A key that had been hidden by her dress shirt dangled at the end, and she unlocked one of her desk drawers. Jimmy leaned forwards in anticipation, but was disappointed when a decanter of purple liquid was revealed.

"Glass of Concord?" she asked while pulling out two tumbler wine glasses.

"Thanks, but…" he lifted his cocoa and took a sip as Libby tucked one glass away. "So we share what we know?"

Libby poured herself a double pour, swirled the dark purple liquid, and took a deep drag. She turned her chair away from Jimmy and studied the blackboard behind her. Jimmy noticed that the slate was covered with plans for future stories and tasks for each reporter.

"I was hoping I'd catch them," Libby admitted. She took another swig of juice and rose to her feet. "Today was our most-watched show ever. If we didn't just report on the Black Atom, but stopped them? That'd be a ticket to the big time." Libby turned around and met Jimmy's gaze. "Another shot at public access TV - the whole town could watch us."

Jimmy stayed seated and watched Libby silently debate whether to reveal her cards. "Libby, in a month you've built an empire that any kid would kill for. You don't need to compromise your morals to soar even higher."

Libby's fingers danced along her glass. "I'd read Bennett's reports on the attacks, but hearing it in Alex's own words, seeing how broken he was," Libby shook her head, unsure of where her voice would take her. "What I want doesn't matter, does it? We can't let anyone else get hurt."

"That's what I think," Jimmy answered. "But you have to make this call yourself. Just know that last month…I wish I'd had someone to pull me back from the edge. So if you're willing, I'm here." He removed the glove from his right hand and offered it to his friend. "To working together?"

Libby stared at his palm, sighed, and clasped it. Jimmy felt his heart beat faster and swallowed hard - he and Libby's eyes found each other before quickly darting away.

Their hands stayed connected for another second, then they shook on their deal.

Libby ran her hands through her braids, then crossed her arms and rubbed them. "You first, detective."

Jimmy nodded and hopped back on his desk as Libby sat in her chair. "I talked to Butch."

"We considered him, but he doesn't fit the physical profile."

"Agreed, but he knew about the victims. They're all from Earhart Elementary."

"We know that too. You could have saved time and come to me first," Libby flashed a playful smile.

"They're all bullies," Jimmy added.

Libby's grin twitched. "We learned that about John and David, but we were still looking into Alex." Libby unclipped a walkie-talkie from her waistband and activated it. "Courtney? We've got confirmation that Alex was a bully. Switch targets - move on to finding a common victim they all share."

"Copy," Courtney's crackling voice answered. "Over and out."

Libby set the transceiver on her desk and asked Jimmy, "Learn anything else?"

"Nothing concrete, but Butch thinks the Black Atom is someone more fit than him. They have to have excellent muscle control, so probably someone athletic."

"Hmm, that fits with Courtney's suspicions."

"And what else do you know?" Jimmy asked.

Libby drummed her fingers on the table, clenched her hand into a fist, and nodded to herself. "What I'm going to tell you is top secret, Jimmy. You can't tell anyone that's not involved in your investigation."

"You have my word."

Libby waited a long moment, then said, "Remember Alex's interview? Did you find it weird that Alex got a look at the Black Atom, but only noticed their mask?"

Jimmy shrugged. "Not really. He was in a heightened emotional state; it's normal to have tunnel vision and only focus on certain details."

"What if I told you that the other two victims got out of their wedgies quick enough for a glimpse as the Black Atom got away?"

Jimmy nearly dropped his cocoa - more hot liquid splashed on his gloves. "You're telling me that you've had a description this whole time?"

"If you want to call it that." Libby sighed and said, "All they saw was a chrome mask."

Jimmy cocked his head. "I thought you meant they saw more."

"They did - there just wasn't anything there."

"I don't understand."

"I'm telling you that John and David both saw the Black Atom leave the room. There were no arms, legs, or clothes - just a floating silver mask that went out the door. It's like they were attacked by a ghost."

Jimmy took a long moment to absorb that, then said, "A ghost couldn't have done this."

"I know that. I'm not an idiot!" Libby snapped. "But if the rest of the Black Atom was invisible…"

It only took Jimmy a second to realize her point. "Then they have access to my technology."

"I assume the answer's yes, but do you have an invention that makes someone invisible?"

Jimmy set his cocoa down and clutched his forehead. "Yeah, I do. I was designing an aerosolized light refraction mist when Forrester contacted me. I didn't have time to finish it before I launched the war, but let's just say I had a little time to kill during my suspension."

Libby asked, "Any idea who took it?"

Jimmy hopped off the desk and began pacing back and forth. His voice struggled to match his racing mind. "This shouldn't be possible. You, Cindy, Carl, and Sheen have emergency access to my lab. Vox keeps a constant eye on surveillance footage - she would let me know if anyone else got inside."

"Could someone evade your cameras? Or hack the system?"

"Hack the system?" Jimmy scoffed. "That thing has ten different firewalls. And there's cameras scanning on every square inch - they'd be impossible to sidestep."

"Then you know what that means," Libby finished her glass and set it on the table with too much strength. "I hate to say it, but either Sheen or Carl have to have taken your invention."

Jimmy considered the idea of the girls breaking into his lab; that seemed far less likely. "They have done it before." He weighed the thought further and added, "But there's no way Sheen or Carl are the Black Atom."

"Agreed," Libby voiced. "I'm guessing they were either tricked or took your invention for themselves and lost it."

"I have to find them. Carl should be in math, right?"

"He should be, but he told me he's using his I.O.P time to help the Neutronauts."

Jimmy froze. "What are they doing with Carl?"

"Same thing you always do." Libby shrugged and added, "Using him as a guinea pig."

"I gotta go," Jimmy tossed his cocoa in the trash, raced for the door, and pulled back at the last second. "Wait."

Jimmy turned around and stared at Libby. "The idea of the Black Atom being invisible sounds crazy, but you knew I had to have the technology. And two separate eyewitness accounts makes it credible. Why didn't you report on this?"

Libby chewed her lip and dropped her gaze. "That big brain of yours can't figure it out?"

It already had. Jimmy leaned against the door and said, "You knew everyone would think it was me…so you sat on it." He shook his head in disbelief. "And you didn't even suspect me?"

"For a minute," Libby admitted. "After last month, I had to. And you're still Courtney's number one suspect. But I know you. Even at your worst, you don't have it in you to hurt someone like that. So I figured the last thing you needed was another reason for people to gang up on you."

The kids stayed quiet until Jimmy finally said, "You're a good friend, Libs. I don't know if this means anything to you, but if I do catch the Black Atom? I'm willing to offer an exclusive interview."

Libby's face brightened as she asked, "Would you do a reenactment?"

"Sure."

Libby beamed at him. "Then consider us even-steven."

Jimmy smiled back and tightened his scarf. "Let me know if you find anything else." He gripped the doorknob and said, "Time to find Carl," before heading to the basement.