As he continued working on his famous list, he slowed to a pause. Setting side the parchment and quill, he looked around. “Something isn’t right.”
Stepping away from his desk, he walked out directly onto the main floor of the workshop. Hundreds of small elves dashed around, taking care of the finer details of this operation.
“Sir?” An elf rushed up to him. “Something wrong? Is the list ready?”
“No, sorry, the list isn’t ready yet. However, there is something terribly wrong.”
The elf asked, “what?”
“I don’t know. I feel something... unusual. Have some elves go outside and look around for signs of any intruders.”
“Intruders! But, no one can find this place.”
Santa shook his head, “almost no one can. However, it is the few who can that I’m most concerned about. Go, quickly.”
The elf spared no more time and rushed to gather help. Santa slowly walked along the railing above the main floor and pondered the feelings in him. Suddenly his eyes widened, and he said, “no...it can’t be.” He hurried away, a look of genuine concern on his rosy face.
Leaving the manufacturing floor behind, he rushed passed the stables and to the most precious room of this entire facility. Throwing open the doors, he entered the Sleigh room. “Angela!” He called out.
The room was as it should be, the sleigh, his coat, his bag, and no one else. He approached the sleigh and felt it. Then he looked at his coat. Finally, he headed for his bag, only then realizing what was missing. His eyes fell upon the hook opposite his bag.
“No.”
Chase walked into the League HQ of WMD and tossed the green, ragged sack on the table.
“There it is. Not sure why you wanted this dirty old thing, but I got it.”
Krampus stepped away from a dark corner and slowly approached the sack. His eyes were as that of a child on Christmas morning. For the first time, he didn’t hurl an insult her direction the first thing. His hand shook as he slowly reached down and picked up the sack.
Chase waited a moment for him and then finally asked, “what is with this thing, anyway?”
Krampus held the sack in his claws, his eyes glistening as he looked at it. “This is my talisman, this holds the other half of my power.”
Chase said, “it wasn’t really that hard to find. Though, it was deep inside Santa’s workshop.”
“You need not worry about that. You brought it back to me, that is all that matters.”
Suddenly there came a strange thumping sound. Chase looked down, “What’s that?”
“Just something under the floor. Nothing to worry about.”
Chase looked around the room, “Hey, where’s that blue guy?”
“I have prepared him for the next phase of this plan. That is all you need to know. Go, watch the sensors and monitors. I want to know the moment WMD begins their attack.”
“Why?”
“JUST DO IT!” Krampus bellowed and then walked over to the ruby shard station, activating elements of the process.
Nova left the elevator for the Food Court on the BADGE station. The student heroes and workers were gathered around tables, eating and chatting. Construction crews continued to work on the damaged systems. Several exposed bulkheads were being held together by temporary force fields. Large, cumbersome looking robots carried debris away for dematerialization.
Leaving the main floor, Nova traveled via two more elevators to a special Fight Club floor. It wasn’t a real Fight Club like the ones on Earth, but it had all the same features for Meta-humans. The exercise equipment could handle super powers, the walls, floor, and ceiling could withstand incredible impacts. And there was a holographic system to create extremely dangerous sparring opponents.
Dr. Henderson stood outside the door to the Fight Club training room.
“Oh, Director, I’m glad you came. He’s worse today.”
Nova waited a moment as he heard screaming, thumping, and crashing sounds. “How long has he been at this?”
“Seven hours. I tried talking to him, but he doesn’t want to listen. I’m an expert counselor, but even I have my limitations for how to deal with this kind of aggression.”
“I had hoped he would have released this rage after some time punching a few holograms.”
Dr. Henderson shook her head, “Sir, you know what he needs. Only you can help him.”
“I know. I don’t like it, but I know. I have to go in and talk to him.”
“Be careful.”
Nova said, “I can handle it.” He punched the button and opened the door to the training room.
As soon as he entered the room, a large punching bag flew by him and exploded against a wall. Sand and other material scattered everywhere. Three holograms appeared and yelled as they rushed at Gar. Gar screamed right back and punched the first so hard the holographic matrix exploded. He grabbed the second by the throat and slammed him into the third. The third hologram was on the ground, being pounded on by the body of the second, as Gar used the hologram like a hammer. Each time he slammed one body into the other, he yelled.
“Computer, deactivate training holograms.” Nova commanded.
Gar wasn’t prepared for this. Just as he was about to slam the one man into the other on the floor, both vanished. His fist made a large indentation in the floor. He looked up with a shot and glared at Nova. “I wasn’t done!”
“Yes, you were. This has gone on long enough. Come on, let’s go.”
“No.” Gar stood, dusted himself off, and turned from Nova. He found another punching bag and throttled it with both fists.
Nova approached, showing no fear of the enraged man. “I understand why you are furious...”
“No, you don’t! To you, heroes are just tools. These are my friends! You don’t care about them.” He punched the bag so hard his fist went clean through it.
Nova was actually impressed. “You’re stronger than I give you credit.”
“Then let me go down there and find them. They are my best friends.”
“Where would you start?” Nova asked.
“Earth is that way.” Gar sarcastically answered, gesturing out of the room.
“We are searching, the heroes...”
“Chase was missing when you allowed that League Wars. How many heroes were looking then, huh?” Gar walked past Nova, intentionally hitting him with his wing as he did.
Nova did not react to Gars rudeness. “Listen. I know what you are going through. I have lost a lot of friends over the years. I have had to face tough decisions. Yes, we held League Wars while she was still missing, but that doesn’t mean we stopped caring about her or looking for her. This is a complicated situation. I can’t just have heroes running around without organization. We will find her and Quark.”
Gar, looking at himself in the floor-length mirror, said, “I will find them. You can’t keep me here any longer.”
“No, you can’t...”
“I CAN AND WILL!” Gar turned and said, “I lost my father and no one was there to help me. I will not lose my friends while no one helps them.”
“BADGE will do this. You can’t go.”
Gar headed for the door. “You can’t stop me.”
“YES, I CAN!” Nova spoke, his voice booming in an unnatural echo.
Gar froze and turned, looking at Nova with fear.
Nova said, in that same voice. “KNEEL!”
Gar knelt. “How... are you doing this?”
“THAT IS NOT YOUR CONCERN!” Nova’s voice returned to normal. “Gar I... I can’t lose you. I’ve spent so many years fighting for the Earth alone. I had allies and even commanded legions of heroes. But, the truth is, you’re as close to family as I have ever had. I care about you in a way I have never cared about another. You’re like my son. Chase and Quark are also my friends. We have formed a unique companionship among us, and I won’t rest until they are safe. That means I must protect you. Do you understand?”
“Do you understand that I must find them? I must know they are safe. Every day we wait to find them hurts so much more than the last.” For the first time, Gar stopped raging and let out the sorrow.
A new, friendly voice said, “I might be able to help with that.”
Nova looked up and actually jumped, “Santa! How the hell did you get in here?”
“I’m Santa.” Was his entire explanation. He came closer to them and said, “I have disturbing news.”
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