Heroes Rising Fiction: Golden Hunt part 16

Part 16

Nova grabbed Dr. Blake, “Organize a search team, I am picking up a signal right here from Chase.”

Dr. Blake frowned, “Here? As in, this spot?”

“Yes. Search the grounds, find anyone who can get to her.”

“Understood.”

Nova backed up while the winged doctor grabbed a few people to help search.

Krystal Fae looked at her comm, “I don’t get it. If she is trapped under the shield, how could she be getting a signal out?”

“I don’t know.”

They stood further back as heroes ran around the hills, scanning the ground with both devices and powers.

Nova quietly asked, “Krystal, how dangerous is this gold? Should we try to collect it now and get it away from the people?”

“The curse on it is not strong now, but it could get worse. I think if we get it to the crock quick enough, it might undo itself. Frankly, I don’t have the answers. This form of magic is strange to me.”

“WE FOUND SOMETHING!” Crimson Guardian yelled as he pointed at a small hill.

Krystal came over, “What?”

“The power signature, it just got bigger. Like, something is using this power right now.”

“She could be in trouble.” Dr. Blake said, “I’ll sort this out.” he prepared a blast of energy. Just as Nova was about to stop him, he released the shot and the hill exploded.

Nova and the other heroes around him all stood still as their eyes fell on the destroyed hill.

“Oh...my god.” Dr. Blake whispered a tinge of fear in his voice.

“What have you done!” Nova yelled. “I said find her, not destroy the place.”

Krystal said, “Looks like we found the Leprechauns home.”

Just then hundreds of heroes and thousands of civilians noticed the commotion.

“Search the rubble!” Nova called out.

Furious Squirrel jumped into action, putting his goggles on and focusing them. He got down on all four and carefully moved tiny items around. Dr. Blake gently picked up chunks of sod that had fallen in. Zen, the Penguin, waddled around in the debris.

“SIR!” Furious called out.

Nova came close, “What?”

“I have something. It’s a tiny person...smallest person I’ve ever seen.”

A crowd leaned in as he moved a miniature armchair and found a tiny man in a green suit. Furious carefully picked him up. This drew a round of gasps, more than one person said, “It’s a Leprechaun.”

“Ooh, my head.” The Leprechaun groaned. He opened his eyes and found a gathering of people staring down at him, “YAH!”

“Don’t be frightened. I’m Director Nova with BADGE.”

The Leprechaun gazed at the faces with fear in his and then forced a smile for the director. “Oh, how wonderful. You got me message.” his Irish brogue grew thicker as he spoke.

“Yes. My people have found many of the coins from your crock, but there is a barrier between us and it.”

“Aye, a nasty fellow with a dark hood did this to me. He was after me power.”

Nova asked, “What about my agents?”

“Oh, yer agents. I canna say I’ve seen them.”

Nova almost asked another question, but Krystal Fae came back, “We’re making progress with the field.”

The Leprechaun almost sneered at her, “You don’t say?”

“Oh, my. A Leprechaun.” Krystal didn’t seem too pleased to see him.

“Not A Leprechaun, THE Leprechaun. Only one that really exists. But, I’m not really a Leprechaun, now am I? Just took this from human myths. But, a fae, such as yerself, should know that.”

Just then the barrier buzzed and appeared like the surface of a soap bubble for a moment and then dissolved. Everyone held their breath as they looked at Krystal. The civilians all realized something had changed, but were reluctant to move. Krystal held up her hand and put it right through the air where the barrier had been.

“It’s...down.” She whispered.

Dr. Blake quickly flew over the distance, “I don’t see Chase!”

“Get me coins to the crock!” The Leprechaun bellowed.

Just as the heroes were about to lunge for the crock, Nova stopped them. “HOLD!” The heroes held still, but the civilians started a rush toward the cliff, some even jumping off into the water. “STOP THEM, NOW!”

Martial led a contingent of heroes to create a line to stop the crowd. This time the civilians struggled and fought with the heroes. The prospect of getting to a real Leprechaun crock of gold was too tantalizing.

“GET MY COINS BACK IN THE CROCK!” The Leprechaun demanded.

“I beg your pardon, sir. But, I believe it would be wise to get the crock back to BADGE and then return the coins to it. It will mitigate some of this.” He pulled up his communicator, “Heroes, find Chase and get...”

The Leprechaun grabbed the comm device and spoke into it, his voice echoing across the field, “For each hero who returns me coins, a gift will be granted now!”

The heroes lost sight of orders and obedience and climbed over each other to get to the crock. Hundreds reached the crock in moments. Each time they tossed their coins in, something would appear in their hands. The unadulterated greed flared in their eyes as they fought one another to get to it first. This only incited the crowds of civilians to fight harder, they attacked heroes and each other in their efforts to get to the crock.

Nova held the Leprechaun in his hand. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!”