Heroes Rising Fiction: Santa's Little Helper Part 8

 It was a long, hard night in the small tent they had set up for him. Dragonborn spent the night bundled up in a thick blanket. What was worse, he couldn’t sleep. The unfamiliar, uncomfortable surroundings weren’t to blame. Something plagued his mind and he couldn’t shake it.

His phone stayed on and he was using it all night. When the first sunlight hit the tent, he realized the night was over and he hadn’t rested. This wouldn’t be the first time he was up all night, but most of the time it was at a party, not like this.

“Christmas eve. Guess mom and dad will be happy that I’ll be home for Christmas this year. I wonder if they’ll even be there.” He went for his phone and it went dark. “Crap, battery’s dead. Wonder if I can find a charger around here?”

Unwinding all the thick blankets and sheet, he sat up on the edge of the cot. The illusion around him flickered and faded in places. Santa’s power was waning. “Great, I’m going to surprise these people when they see me.”

Yelling and screaming alerted him to something outside. He shoved his way up from the cot and ripped open the zipper.

“What’s going on?” He asked aloud.

People were running in a panic around him. The heavy beat of helicopter blades roared in the distance. Barbara dashed over to him. “A giant mutant snow monster is attacking the town. It just came down from the mountains and is heading this way. We have the rescue helicopters in the parking area. We need to evacuate.”

“Evac? But what about the town?”

“The town’s lost. We can’t get ahold of the rangers. Come on!” She looked up and rushed over to open a tent and alerted someone else.

Dragonborn quickly left his tent and looked back to see a gathering of random helicopters prepared to lift people out of here. These were the same helicopters that helped rescue people after the hurricane.

A powerful roar followed by an icy wind caught his attention. Dragonborn looked back to see a strange monster that looked like a giant man, but solid white and with claws for hands.

“That can’t be.” He knew this. It was a snow monster that Krampus once used. BADGE initiates studied that battle in their history class. “Krampus is dead. Just great, one of his monstrosities came to life again.”

The little girl who had followed him around last night came running over and grabbed his leg. “Mister! Mister! Help! I can’t find daddy!”

The sound of her pitiful crying at the loss of her house still ached in his heart. “I’ll call for help.” He tapped his phone, ready to contact his BADGE instructor and get them down here. “Damn, phones dead.”

“SAM!” Her parents rushed over and grabbed her up. “We have to get out of here!”

Dragonborn watched her leave as she buried her face in her father’s shoulder. The world slowed down. He saw the panic-stricken, tired people who have gone through so much. They had fought for months, only to lose it all right now.

“They have so little. Why does this have to happen? THIS IS NOT FAIR!” Righteous fury burned in him and he made a choice that he would never have made just two days ago.

The monster was nearly in the city, Dragonborn hunched slightly and ran hard toward it. He leapt over people, did a flip through the air, and landed right in front of the monster. With a powerful breath taken in, he unleashed an intense ball of fire that blasted clear through the belly of the beast.

With a cocky smile he said, “I may want to leave BADGE, they I still trained with them.”

The monster reeled back, a gaping hole in the snow of its gut. Then it lurched forward and swung a clawed arm down at Dragonborn. He jumped and tried to avoid the snatch, but the monster’s fist got him. As it squeeze, the surrounding illusion evaporated, and he was completely himself.

Struggling against the grip, he took in air through pained lungs. Screaming, he let out a stream of blue flames that cut the arm of the monster off. Dragonborn crashed to the ground among the snowy remains of the hand that had clutched him.

The monster seemed to feel pain at that, screeching and roaring as it reached for the destroyed appendage. With its remaining arm, it went to smash through the medical aid tent. Dragonborn grabbed a broken telephone pole and swung hard. He nailed the monster in the face and stopped it from destroying the tent.

“DO NOT HURT THESE PEOPLE!” He felt the depth of his own power and bellowed an earth shattering scream that came out as a huge, blue fire that split the snow monster in two and melted its remains across the ground.

Breathing coming and going in great heaves, Dragonborn stood before the soaked earth, making sure the monster was truly gone.

Turning around, the town stood behind him, cautious joy in their eyes. Steve and Barbara were the first to say something.

Steve asked, “Young man, are you a Ranger?”

Dragonborn looked at his arms, knowing they saw the real person finally. “No. I’m not with the Rangers or any League. I am not even a hero, actually.”

Barbara said, “Yes you are. You’re our hero.”

The town erupted in applause and jubilation as they met him with hugs, handshakes, and great thanks.

Dragonborn walked out into the Mess Hall of the BADGE space station. It was Christmas afternoon. The heroes and agents who stayed here for the holidays played games, had hot chocolate, and chatted amiably.

“Nova!” Dragonborn realized who was approaching him directly.

Nova smiled and gestured for him to sit. He sat with him at the table. “Did the pilot make a mistake? Some of these pilots get their orders mixed up. I can have you home in an hour.”

“The pilot didn’t make a mistake. I asked to come back.”

“Oh?” Nova said this as though he knew something already.

“I don’t know if I’m really hero material, but I think I’m ready to give it an honest try this time.”

An all too familiar voice approached, saying, “Seems like you found something down there.”

Dragonborn looked up and saw Santa standing there. “When did you get here?”

“Just now. I was waiting for you.”

“Why? Last time we talked, I told you I was through, done, ready to go home.”

Santa joined them at the table. “I saw a spark in you that was growing into a fire. Not the fire you breathe, but the fire that fuels compassion. Son, a hero is nothing without compassion. That was why I brought you there. If you could not find compassion in you, then you would never make it as a hero.”

Dragonborn looked at both of them. “This was your plan all along.”

Nova said, “Not exactly. There are those who truly don’t have it in them. And I had my doubts about you. But I wouldn’t be a good leader unless I tried everything to reach you.”

“You saw a spark in me just because I felt sympathy for a crying child? That’s a small spark.”

“That was just the glimpse. What happened next, well, proved to me you had changed.”

“You mean the monster attack?”

Nova frowned, “Monster attack?”

Dragonborn said, “Yeah, a giant snow monster attacked the city. It looked just like the one in the lesson about the snow monster that Krampus once created.”

Nova slowly turned his eye to Santa. “Care to explain?”

Santa said, “There was no genuine danger. I just needed to see if he was ready to be a superhero.”

“YOU SENT IT!” Dragonborn yelled.

Santa said, “Yes. But only to test you. It would have hurt no one or anything. If you had fled with everyone, it would have fallen apart. But you stood up to it and did a fine job.”

“It tried to kill me.”

Santa said, “If I was going to kill you, you’d be dead.”

“So, the snow monster was my compassion test? That’s one hell of a test.”

Santa said, “The snow monster was your graduation test. All heroes must prove they can stand their ground against a foe. You passed the compassion test at 4 a.m.”

Dragonborn cleared his throat and looked around. “What… uh… do you mean?”

Santa let out a deep laugh. “Someone ordered a shipment of very nice toys, candy, and games for all the kids in that town. Quick, expensive shipping to get it there by this evening. And, that same someone just purchased fifty industrial grade outdoor heaters, a professional water purification system, and…” Santa was choked up at this as he put a hand on Dragonborn’s shoulder, “a new home for that family.”

Nova said, “What is all this?”

Dragonborn said, “I loved to sit back and imagine the luxurious vacation home I was going to buy myself. I loved just thinking about it. Last night, after I got into that tent, I laid back and wanted to get lost in that fantasy. But… I couldn’t. I kept thinking about how unfair it was to be longing for the extra expensive home I would have while these families had nothing.”

“How are you paying for all this?” Nova asked.

Dragonborn shrugged. “Dad gave me an extra million to buy a house on the beach. I just used that. You’d be surprised at what half a million dollars can do to buy a house in those mountains. Another half million for toys, clean water, and some food. I burned that little girl’s home...well, a bonfire with parts of it, but still enough. I owe her something. Besides, what do I need with a mansion of my own? I can find hot babes on a beach...when I’m not helping keep the world safe.”

Nova said, “Son, I wanted you to grow up and learn that other people matter. I never expected it to be this profound. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks. I feel like a new person,… and I like it.”

Santa smiled and said, “Keep working on it, keep focusing on what is right. Being a good person is a daily practice, but with wonderful rewards. Now, I have a lot to take care of. Merry Christmas.” He stood up and reached for his nose.

Dragonborn stood up as well and held out his hand. “Thank you, Santa. Whenever you need my help, just call. Merry Christmas.”

Santa shook his hand and then touched the side of his nose, vanishing in a flash of red sparkles.

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Santa's Little Helper Part 7

 The icy winds turned bitter, cutting around the remnants of the downtown. Dragonborn clutched his arms around himself, each stiff breeze like a splash of frigid water. This parking lot was dark, only a few flashlights bobbed about as the people prepared a pile of wood that was much taller than he expected.

“Where’s the fire?” He muttered.

“I’m cold.” The little girl said, hugging herself.

Dragonborn stopped a man walking by. “When will the fire be lit?”

“As soon as we find a way to light it. We’re having some trouble getting it to burn.”

Dragonborn looked around. In the dim light, he could see more people approaching, hoping for some warmth in this frosty night. Against his leg, a little child shivered so hard he could feel her trembling.

“I guess I can do something.” He said and then looked down at the child, “Wait here, I’ll be right back.” He didn’t want her to see what he was going to do. It might frighten her.

She stood there as he walked over to the pile of wood. A man fought with a soggy fire-starter log that wouldn’t ignite. “Can I help?” Dragonborn asked.

The man let out an annoyed grunt. “We ran out of the dry starters yesterday. I wasn’t expecting an outdoor crowd tonight. This stupid thing won’t light.”

“Let me give it a try. This is kinda my specialty.”

The man held out the lighter to him. “Have fun. I’ll see if I can find some lighter fluid.” He left.

Dragonborn snorted a laugh at the lighter and tossed it aside. He leaned in and took in a deep breath. As he released it, a flame came from his mouth that burrowed deep into the pile of wood. He kept breathing this for a moment and a fire started in the pile's heart. It spread quickly. As it spread, he realized this wasn’t just logs and twigs; it was oddly shaped bits of wood.

Then came a hard, terrified screech and wailing.

Santa walked toward the second lot when the parents of the child met him.

“Sam?” the father called out.

“I believe your daughter when that way with my helper. They are at the bonfire.”

“Oh, thanks, we…” There came a terrible scream.

“Sam!” The mother rushed away followed closely by the father.

Santa hurried after them, a perpetual look of worry on his face.

Dragonborn rushed around the burning fire and found the little girl curled up on the ground, wailing in great cries. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought she was hurt, but she seemed fine.

“Kid, kid! What’s the matter?” He came to her and put a hand on her back.

She tried to say something, but the crying and blubbering made her words incomprehensible.

“Come on, are you hurt? Did you get burned? DOCTOR!” He looked around for help. Other people were approaching, just as curious.

Her parents rushed in and came quickly to her side.

“Sam! What’s wrong? What happened to her?” The mother asked.

Dragonborn said, “I don’t know. We started the fire, and she went ballistic.”

“Oh, my god…. Honey, take her away. Get her away from here now.” The father’s eyes were glued to the fire.

The mother worked to get her daughter off the ground, which proved to be difficult.

Dragonborn asked. “What’s wrong? For Pete’s sake, why is she losing it?”

The girl suddenly screamed, “MY HOUSE! MY HOUSE!”

The mother finally scooped up the girl into her arms and ran hard.

Dragonborn had a dark feeling rush over him as he looked back at the fire. The father stood there, pale and in a fog, there was a glint of a tear on his cheek. In the pile of burning wood, Dragonborn realized it wasn’t random timber or logs. They were burning remnants of the destroyed homes from the hurricane. There were banisters and wooden siding with markings visible through the flames. Wall paper, with flowers on it, marks scratched into frames for doors. Family history turning to ash. However practical it was to burn it, it was their homes and businesses being set on fire to warm them.

Santa appeared at his side, looking deep into the blaze. “I tried to stop you. I didn’t know it would be this bad.”

Dragonborn felt choked up. He could still hear that horrified scream the moment the fire lit. “Why would they do this?”

“In dark times, people do what they have to.”

Turning on Santa, Dragonborn yelled, “Why didn’t you warn me? That girl shouldn’t have seen this?”

Santa said, “Funny, that almost sounded like you cared about someone other than yourself.”

Dragonborn had flames in his mouth, his rage bristled out of every pore. “I don’t need lectures on your damn morality and stupid seasonal crap. I don’t need to be force-fed this heavy-handed lesson on the pitiful lives of the less fortunate. I don’t need…”

“What do you need?” Santa asked.

“I… I need… to not feel like this. I was happy with my life yesterday. I was content and ready to leave this stupid program. Now, I feel like crap. I don’t need this. I don’t need you.” He stormed away.

Santa followed him. “And just where do you think you’re going?”

Without looking back, Dragonborn said, “I will find my way. I can leave this program and even the mighty Nova can’t stop me. My parents are loaded. We’ll hire the best lawyers and make BADGE pay for holding me against my will and putting me through this.”

Santa grabbed Dragonborn by the shoulder and turned him around. His face was as fierce and focused as Dragonborns. “Fine. Run back to your life of luxury, run away from this world. Do you think that’s all that matters? Do you think this world is just for your pleasure? This exercise isn’t about making Nova or BADGE happy, and it certainly isn’t about satisfying me. It is about you. All we wanted was what was best for you.”

Dragonborn threw Santa’s hand off of him. “If that was true, then you would let me go home.”

“You can’t run away.”

“Yes, I can. I can hire a private jet and finally get back to my life how I want it.”

“I don’t mean running away from me or this place. I mean, running away from what is in you.”

Dragonborn yelled, “What? What the hell is in me?”

Santa softly said, “For the briefest of moment you finally felt something for someone else. You cared deeply, passionately about the pain in another. For a moment in time, your ego took a backseat to compassion. You want to know something. No arrogant feeling is as profound and moving as compassion for another. You can’t run away from that, no matter how many private jets you fly on.”

Dragonborn had tears in his eyes. He spent a moment with rattling breath and trembling hands. “Fine! Yes, I did. I heard that kid crying and saw her home in that fire...which I started… and I hurt. I haven’t ever hurt like this. God! Why does it feel like this? Why!”

Santa let out a little smile. “Because you finally realize that other people’s feelings do matter. Imagine, my boy, how wonderful it can feel when you let yourself feel other people’s joy with the same power? Selflessness can be horribly painful, but also wonderfully fulfilling. Don’t run from it, embrace it.”

Dragonborn wiped his eyes and looked at his illusionary, dirty hands. “This is too much. I can’t handle this. I want my life back. It might be shallow, but I understand it. This… this is too much for me.”

Santa’s smile faded with a sorrowful sigh. “Then I will graduate you from this program. I’ll tell Nova that you are clear to leave. You don’t even have to go back to BADGE.”

“Really? Why?”

Santa said, “Because I failed. I gave it my best, but you simply don’t have it in you to truly feel compassion for the less fortunate.”

“Find some other person to be a saint. I just want my mansion, money, and hot babes.”

Santa looked at a BADGE comm unit under the sleeve of his coat. “I’ll report that I find no risk of you becoming a villain, but that you’re not fit to finish the program. BADGE can’t send a shuttle right away. This time of year is awfully busy for all of us. The shuttle will be here to pick you up tomorrow afternoon.”

“What do I do tonight?”

Santa looked around. “They have a small tent set up for you. You can get some dinner and sleep. I won’t ask you to do anything else. Your assignment with me is over.”

“Are you staying the night?”

“Goodness no. This close to Christmas, I have a million things to do. I won’t see you again. Once you head back home, you won’t be part of BADGE, and only BADGE heroes may know exactly who I am. I hope you have a happy, fulfilling life, Micheal Messenger.” He held out his hand.

Dragonborn took hold in a firm grip. “Thanks for trying.”

“Here’s your phone.” Santa pulled Dragonborn’s phone out of the air and handed it to him.

“I thought I left this in the sleigh.”

“You did. Now, I must be going.”

Before Santa walked away, Dragonborn stopped him. “Hey, uh, are you going to do something nice for that girl for Christmas? I mean, she’s upset and…”

Santa smiled. “I will make sure she has a happy holiday. I’m glad a little of the lesson stuck.”

“Sure, yeah, uh, bye.”

Santa left, as he walked away, he turned invisible.

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Santa's Little Helper Part 6

 The high-end apartment building sat vacant; its windows were shattered and parts of the building broken by flying debris in the storm. They were a sad sight. Next to them was an open parking lot where the tenets would rest their cars for the night. Only a couple of cars sat in their spots at the moment, but the rest of the lot was no longer empty.

A grand display of several Christmas Trees surrounded the center of the lot. Lines of twinkling lights bobbing in the light breeze hung between the trees to frame the open area in the middle. Tables waited with colorful paper table cloths. On the tables, stacked high, were dazzlingly Christmas themed tins brimming with candies, cookies, fruits, fudges, and nuts.

The disheveled and disheartened members of the small town approached this scene. A blossoming look of joy setting into the eyes. Smiles slowly replaced tired faces. Children burst into mad dashes toward the sweets while their parents met in friendly hugs and handshakes. A young man set up an old boom box and tuned it to a local radio station that was playing Christmas music round the clock.

Old friends who hadn’t seen them in a few weeks met the family who had just arrived back in town. Their little girl running to play with friends she has been missing.

Santa smiled and said, “Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight?”

Dragonborn, standing next to him, muttered, “Yeah, in the mirror this morning.”

“Truly, you bury your feelings behind such a facade of ego that you cannot allow yourself even the smallest joy in the moment. Come, let’s see if we can find that elusive Christmas spirit and feed it a cookie before it starves to death.” Santa walked with him toward the crowds.

Dragonborn walked with him over to a table covered in treats. People greeted them like family all the way and the cheer was bristling in every smile, happy eye, and light step.

Barb, the woman they first met at the storefront, met them with a big grin on her face. “Glad you could join us. This is… more festive that we thought we’d see this year.”

Santa said, “It is nice. I’m glad you indulged that Christmas spirit.”

“We needed it. Steve and I thought it was just not possible to have anything like this. You can’t imagine what this place was like before the Hurricane. Every church had a pageant. Lights and decorations adorned the old homes up the hills. We had a parade, and there was a street festival every Friday leading up to Christmas. It was the best time of the year. I thought we lost it.”

Santa smiled and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Not lost. Just set aside for more important matters. It will be there when you look for it. Like now. This may not be four weeks of celebration, but it certainly has all the spirit.”

“You’re right. This is exactly what we needed. Oh, Steve needs me. Excuse me. Enjoy yourselves.” She hurried away.

Dragonborn walked up to Santa, a tree-shaped cookie in one hand and a critical gaze in his eyes. “One little party is hardly a season.”

“It's enough to at least brighten a dark time.”

Looking at the cookie and then around, “So, I thought you said you didn’t give gifts, just brought Christmas spirit... whatever that is.”

“Christmas spirit is this, and that is exactly what I brought. I didn’t conjure up all this stuff in a twinkle of my eye. I’ve been at work for weeks now, getting people in the spirit of the season. A nice little church in Morristown, Tennessee, wanted to do something nice for these hurricane victims. I inspired them to consider sending along a Christmas celebration.”

“These people need warm homes and hot food, not tinsel and cookies.”

Santa’s warm smile grew. “I see you care about their needs.”

“Quit pivoting from my point when I say something! These people need a hot meal, not cookies and candy.”

“Feeding the spirit, encouraging the soul, is so important in times of sorrow and grief. They have lived this pitiful life for months now. This time of the year, they need this more than another bowl of chicken noodle soup. There is plenty of food in that pantry to help these people through the weeks. Don’t worry about them.”

Dragonborn looked up at the night sky, a streak of light zoomed by. “Was that a hero?”

Santa looked up, “Yes. I believe that was Crimson Star. She patrols this area now and then.”

“They have a league this far in the backwoods?”

Santa said, “No assigned league, just a few Rangers. They have little villain activity out this far, but it can happen.”

Dragonborn asked, “What happens if a villain attacks and no one is present? These people could be in grave danger.”

Santa said, “It hasn’t happened yet, so we don’t know. But, hopefully, someone will be near enough to assist.”

“Let’s hope someone is nearby.”

Santa said, “That almost sounded like you care.”

Dragonborn snorted and walked back toward the cookie table. “I just don’t want to be caught here in Hillbilly Hell if some bad guy shows up and causes trouble.”

“Sure.” Santa had a glint of a clever look in his eye as he touched the side of his nose.

A new song boomed out from the radio that had hot techno beats and a wall of bouncy sound.

Dragonborn frowned and looked back. “I love this tune.”

“A Christmas song?”

“What? No, this plays at my favorite club back home.”

Santa said, “Vilhelm Bulldozer is a Christmas music group. They just have their own take on the classics.” He watched Dragonborn’s shoulders moving. “Why not go out to the dance floor?”

“No… I can’t. I mean, I could show these bumpkins how a real dancefloor looks.”

“You do that. Take this hoedown up a notch.”

Dragonborn smiled and said, “Think they can keep up?” He walked toward the center of the four trees.

Santa picked up a cookie and watched as Dragonborn strode out to the middle of the floor. Only a few daring people were indulging the beat. The hidden hero among them took his place and struck a pose. The dance was a choreographed movement that all the trendy kids knew and could throw down at the first beat of this song. Dragonborn was perfect in every movement, every beat. However, to his surprise, he wasn’t alone. High School kids and a few adults joined him and were moving at the same pace. Soon, younger kids jumped in and tried to follow. The song kept going, longer than expected, and more people joined. Dragonborn was in the center of this dance party and he was in his element.

As the song continued on, Dragonborn lost himself and found someone else. He was laughing, moving, and having fun with these people. The little girl he had met kept following his movements around the floor and he would even stop to show her how to do it better.

When the music stopped, the crowd erupted in applause and more than one person rushed over to thank Dragonborn for getting them started. The next song had far more people jumping into dance. He had sparked a sensation and everyone was bouncing to the rhythm.

Dragonborn had the little girl following him off the floor and nearly running circles around him, as she was so excited.

“THANK YOU! THAT WAS FUN! CAN YOU SHOW ME ANOTHER ONE! I LOVE DANCING! I TAKE BALLET!”

Her parents came over and retrieved their ecstatic child. They thanked Dragonborn profusely for being so nice and then left to get some hot cider.

Santa met Dragonborn with a smirk. Dragonborn said, “Don’t say it. That was just… a thing.”

“Can’t you admit you enjoyed yourself? Can’t you accept that joy can be found where you make it?”

“Can you not be so cryptic all the time? Sheesh! Fine, so maybe these people aren’t all ignorant dolts and I was too harsh. There, I said it! Are you happy now?”

“Almost. I still sense a part of you would flee this place for the nightlife in a big city if I let you.”

“In a heartbeat.” Dragonborn stated.

Santa watched the little girl bouncing around and still trying to do the dance moves to the song that ended. “Still, you grew just a little a moment ago.”

“Not much. Wow, can you make this illusion around me thicker? I’m freezing.” He held his arms around him and shivered.

“The magic only is illusionary. I’ll see if I can find you a real coat. I think there were some inside in the donation box. You can borrow it for the night.” Santa went back to the building.

Barb walked over and said, “The cold sets in pretty hard as the night goes on. We’re starting a bon ire over in the next lot if you want to go warm up.”

“Thanks.” Dragonborn walked away.

The little girl rushed over to him. “Where are you going?”

“To warm up by a fire.”

“Can I come?”

He shrugged, “Sure, why not.” While he walked, the bubbly girl followed on his heels.

Santa stepped out with a coat and saw Dragonborn and the girl in the distance. “Oh, no.”

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Santa's Little Helper Part 5

 Dragonborn sliced the tape on boxes with the claws on his fingers and stacked cans of food on tables and shelves. Santa took the newly emptied boxes and filled them with a prescribed arrangement of the various foods.

“So, is this supposed to show you how good I am at sorting food?” Dragonborn broke the long silence.

Santa folded down the top of a box and set it with others ready to go out. “No, this is just doing something good.”

Dragonborn picked up another box of canned veggies and plopped it down on a table. As he dragged a thumb claw through the tape to open it, he said, “This is a load of sh...”

“Tell me more about yourself.” Santa interrupted Dragonborn.

“You saw my file.”

Santa looked over his wire-rimmed glasses, “I want to hear you talk about your life. BADGE has a dry way of putting things. Did you have a fun childhood? Do you have ambition for some form of work? That sort of stuff.”

“Fine.” Dragonborn lazily set out cans of green beans on a shelf. “I was born in the Hamptons, went to private schools, and had all the fun I wanted. My father is Dr. Matthew Messenger, a top surgeon, my mother is the daughter of a senator. We have loads of money, we love money, and I have whatever I want. Dad set up a fat trust fund for me that became all mine when I turned twenty. My ambition is to take my trust fund, buy a party mansion in Fiji, and surround myself with sexy girls. I’ll have a private jet so I can be seen at all the best places by all the best people.”

“I’m sorry.” Santa said as he finished another box.

Dragonborn paused as he went for another box. “Sorry? About what?”

“You must have an empty life to want to fill it with such worthless things.”

With a cocky snort, Dragonborn said, “Weren’t you listening? Nothing I want is worthless. I’m worth millions.”

“Life isn’t about how much money you spend. Only when you figure that out can you truly be happy.”

Dragonborn slit another box open. “I don’t care what the poor people say. Money can buy happiness and I’ll prove that.”

“Can you?” Santa said. “What happiness can money buy that can’t be taken away?” Santa asked.

“No one is going to take my stuff. Even if they do, I’ll buy more.”

Santa looked up with a glint of a smile. A knock tapped on the door. “Yes?”

A man looked in, “Barb... oh, hello. I was looking for Barbara and Steve.”

“They’re outside working on Christmas decorations. Can we help you?”

The man looked around the room. “I have a family out here who need food boxes. Are there any ready?”

“Sure are. How many do they need?”

“Two per family is the limit right now. Go ahead and bring out four. We’ll need them soon enough.”

Santa patted Dragonborn on the shoulder. “My friend will bring them out right away.”

“Thanks.” The man left.

Dragonborn scoffed, “Why can’t they come and get them?”

“Rules are rules. Now, take four boxes out and give them to those nice families waiting for their dinner.”

Dragonborn, still disguised as a normal citizen, slumped over to the table with the filled boxes. “Glad I’m not eating this tripe. This stuff’s garbage.”

“It might not be champagne and caviar, but it is what is needed. Now, hurry. They’re waiting.”

Dragonborn picked up the four boxes, two on each shoulder, carrying them out with ease. Each weighed twenty-five pounds, a mere feather to his morphon enhanced strength.

Outside, he found a table under a tent where two people checked off names and addresses on a long sheet of paper. Two families waited in the chilly December air.

“Wow! You’re strong!” A little girl called out.

The man who had come in, and was now looking over the list, looked up and his eyes bugged. “Good heavens, that is strong. Set them down there, please.”

Dragonborn set the boxes on the table. “Is that all?”

The man was about to answer when that same little girl rushed over. “Strongman, are those for us?”

He looked down and gave a brief nod. “Sure. Lots of food.”

She grabbed his leg in a hug. “THANK YOU!”

“Uh...” He was not accustomed to being around small children.

“Sam, Sam!” Her mother rushed over to peel the child off. “I’m sorry. Samantha has had little to eat today and we’ve been traveling a long way. Sam... let go of the nice man.”

The little girl backed up and looked at Dragonborn with glittering eyes. “Daddy said they had lotsa nice people here.”

“Yah, real nice people. I have to go.” Dragonborn turned around to head back inside the building. As he did, he heard the conversation that family was having with the people at the table.

“Sorry, we have your address listed in the red zone.”

“The what?”

The woman flipped the pages. “Your house was …”

The mother moved the happy little girl away and knelt down to get her attention so the child didn’t hear this conversation.

The man had an understanding look in his eyes as he glanced at the girl and her mother. Speaking in a whispering tone, he continued, “Your house was destroyed. You’ll have to wait inside while we find you a tent to stay in.”

“We can’t stay outside. It’s cold.” The father protested.

The man said, “These tents are nice and warm, donated by The Elk Sporting Goods. Plus, we have a bonfire each night. Just stay inside the collection office here for a bit. We’ll have something for you tonight, I promise.”

Dragonborn walked in, unable to wrap his mind around the idea of sleeping in a tent in this weather among this rubble of a town. He hardly noticed when he made it back into the food pantry room.

Santa was filling another box when he saw him. “Something wrong?”

“I...I just had a strange feeling.”

Santa chortled while folding up the box, “Experience is the greatest educator in this world, but it can also be the heaviest burden.”

Dragonborn looked over at Santa with a curious feeling in him. Could this man have known this would happen? Did he foresee that child and her family showing up at that moment? Why did he feel like this right now? He pushed all that down as hard as he could and focused on doing his work and getting this little experience over with.

Santa finished filling many boxes while Dragonborn worked through unloading the shipment. There was a lot more food to unload, but Santa felt they had done enough for the day. The small storefront they were currently working in had a few old tables sitting around. Some families who had recently arrived were sitting at the tables, waiting for news.

“What do we do now?” Dragonborn asked.

Santa said, “I would like to see how they are coming with their little impromptu Christmas celebration, but first...” He walked over to the small child, who was the only person in the room that had any joy on her face as she danced around aimlessly.

“Hello, my dear. What is your name?”

“Sam. Who are you?”

“Oh, just a kind old man who has two hands and likes to use them to help. Why are you in here, sitting around?” He directed this at the parents.

The father said, “Our house… is not… in shape for us now.” He censored himself in front of the girl.

His wife said, “The government gave us a room at a hotel in Knoxville, but it was only for a short time. We were told to leave and come home... but...we don’t...”

Santa said, “I understand.” He smiled, his cheeks a cheery red. “Why don’t you come outside? They are setting up a nice Christmas celebration. I know it isn’t much, but a little cheer is helpful in times of darkness.”

“Christmas!” The little girl ran around harder.

The parents, far less enthusiastic as their child, stood and joined Santa and Dragonborn on their way out the back of the building.

Dragonborn held Santa back to give them some distance from the family. “This isn’t fair. They don’t have a home and that little girl will not have Christmas presents. Why do this to her?”

“Be careful, Micheal, you almost sounded like you cared.”

“I’m not a monster.”

Santa smiled, “No, you are not. But you also don’t realize that Christmas isn’t about the presents.”

“Yeah, I watched the Grinch as a kind.”

“But, did you learn anything from it?” Santa asked, but didn’t wait for an answer as he left with the family.

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Santa's Little Helper Part 4

 As they descended, Dragonborn looked down to see all the people out and about. No one paid any attention to the ornate sleigh, reindeer, or Santa Claus landing near them.

“Am I the only one who didn’t realize you were real?”

Santa chortled in a deep laugh, “The people cannot see us because I don’t let them. While you are in this sleigh, you are invisible.”

“Interesting.” Dragonborn mused, “Why are we landing here? This is a tiny town in the middle of the mountains?”

“They celebrate Christmas here too, you know.”

“Sure they do. Probably some hokey pageants and dumb little parties.”

Santa carefully navigated so they could land without a problem. As he situated the sleigh in an empty area, he asked, “What makes you so informed about how the people here celebrate Christmas?”

“I watch television, like anyone else. Towns like this, quaint, cute, away from civilization, and dirt poor. They have all the charm of a Sunday morning in church. They’ll have some sweet romancing between couples and...”

Santa gave Dragonborn a comical glare, “Don’t tell me you only know about small town Christmas from sappy Christmas romance movies?”

“Uh.... the thing is...” he folded his arms and sat back. “Look, they may be sappy, but they have hot girls. Besides, it was educational.”

The sleigh landed, and Santa dropped the reins. “Hardly educational. You won’t find the cutesy little town with romance around every tree lot for the wayward cute girl and burly, handsome guy. This is the real life. And this town has lost a lot of its charm.”

Dragonborn looked up, only now realizing something he hadn’t seen before. “This place looks awful. Who blew up these houses?”

“A nasty hurricane blew through here a few months back and they are still cleaning up the mess.”

“Wow, what a pile of junk. Again, why aren’t we in Paris, or New Amsterdam, or hey, I hear Neo Utopia is nice this time of year. Think of it, thousands of people in need of Christmas presents, not just a few backwoods hicks.”

Santa said, “Listen, son, you aren’t making a good impression. Nova said you want to leave the program?”

“Yes.”

“Then stop with the attitude. It doesn’t matter if we are in London, England, or Greene County, Tennessee, you’re here to work with me. Don’t get any ideas that you’re going to party with hot babes while I do my job. You want out, then do what I say.”

Little tendrils of smoke sizzled out of Dragonborn’s nose, but he begrudgingly said, “What are your orders, sir?”

“First things first, we can’t be recognizable. I’m Santa and you’re a scaly half naked man.” Santa tapped the side of his nose and he changed into a different looking old man.

“You look like a bum... and WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!?” Dragonborn jumped up at the sight of the ragged clothes and flabby arms. “I’m ugly!”

“No, you look normal. Don’t have a panic attack. This is only a temporary illusion.”

Dragonborn was twisting around in a pointless attempt to look at his butt, “I hope so. My body is a temple to sexiness.”

“Sure it is.” Santa sarcastically stated. “Come on. We have some work to do.”

Santa got out of the sleigh and walked with Dragonborn into the city square. Half the buildings had power, the other half were dark and shattered. Piles of debris still clouded street corners. In the parks, aid workers continually helped people and set up tent villages.

“Okay, Nova gave me your bio report. You have level 2 enhanced strength, breathe fire, can withstand fire against your body, and you have iron hard claws.”

“Not for long. If I get out and take the stupid drugs, then I’ll just have a great body. I hate the fire breathing, makes my mouth taste like sulfur, and I’m not that strong.”

Santa said, “Level 2 is on the lower end for superheroes, but it’s still considerably stronger than a normal human.”

“Sure. So, what do you want me to do, punch some looters or something?” Dragonborn sneered as he watched people greet him with weak smiles.

“I don’t know. Come, let’s go here and see what we can do to help.”

Santa walked him into a rescue center set up by a gathering of various churches in the area. Men and women worked with stacks of food boxes, medical supplies, and power generators. Cots lined the part of the room where people were sleeping. There wasn’t a flurry of activity, it was more subdued.

“Why aren’t they hauling ass? I mean, seriously. They want this place to be a dump forever?”

Santa glared at him as two workers approached. One, an older man with gloves on, said, “I would have you know that we’ve been cleaning up and helping people twenty-four hours a day for three solid months.”

Santa elbowed Dragonborn and then said, “Excuse my friend, he’s new here. How can we help?”

“Welcome to the SBD center. We can always use extra hands to help. What brings you here?”

Santa kindly said, “Just felt a need to volunteer. I understand you received a large shipment of Christmas decorations and supplies. We could help set them up.”

That shocked both workers. The man said, “Yes, we did. But how did you know?”

“The elves told me.” Santa chuckled.

The woman gestured to the back. “Yeah, we had them arrive this morning as part of a supply shipment from BADGE. We aren’t really able to celebrate Christmas this year, with all the damage still around and lives still in disarray.”

The man said, “Plus, the Christmas spirit is... low right now.”

“That’s too bad.”

The woman said, “We have a lot of boxes of food and medical supplies that need to be moved back there and sorted. We build the food boxes in the back and it needs to be divided up. Simple, menial work.”

Santa nodded, “Somebodies got to do it. My friend here, Mike, will help you carry those boxes into the back.” Santa patted Dragonborn on the shoulder, insisting he move with a look.

“Oh, sure. I can do that. Sounds like a real party.”

“Great, this way. I’ll show you.” The couple directed him.

Dragonborn was curious and kept looking back to see what Santa was up to. He watched as Santa held out his hand and blew across it like he was spreading the seeds from a dandelion. A faint red mist fell over the room for a moment.

When they returned, people in the room had perked up and several were approaching the couple. Santa watched Dragonborn returned to him.

“What else can we do?” Santa asked.

The couple were about to answer when three people walked up and asked about looking at the Christmas items. There was a strange cheeriness present that had not been there moments ago.

“Looks like we might need help to set up some seasonal stuff.” The man seemed thrilled to say that.

Santa said, “Why don’t you take charge of that, sir? Do what you need to do to get some Christmas spirit going. My friend and I will help here, cleaning up and sorting the food cans for you.”

The woman asked, “Do you have any experience working in a food pantry?”

“More than most.”

She said, “Great. Our box assembly area is pretty self explanatory. If you have questions, we’ll be out back.”

The locals all left to get into the Christmas items while Santa directed Dragonborn to the storage room.

“They trust us just like that? Boy, these bumpkins are real dolts.” Dragonborn muttered.

Santa said, “Drop the attitude, kid. These people are just people. And there’s nothing ignorant or stupid about them. They have persevered through hell since that storm decimated their community.”

“Fine. Then why are they so willing to trust us with this?”

Santa tapped his nose. “I have that effect on people. They trust me.”

Dragonborn snorted, “Guess that helps when you break into millions of homes every year.”

“Amusing. Never heard that one before.” Santa’s sarcasm was thick. “Start opening boxes. We have work to do.”

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Santa's Little Helper Part 3

 Dragonborn lay on his back, on the couch, flipping through a magazine that was technically against the rules to have on this station.

Once again, the music and videos came to an abrupt stop, and the lights turned on to their brightest.

With a heavy groan, and without looking, he said, “What is it now, Nova?”

A gentle, deep voice said, “That is Director Nova to you, young man.”

Nova added, “And I’m not alone.”

Dragonborn tilted his head back to look at his unwanted guests. He saw the familiar sight of Director Nova. Next to him was the most convincing Santa Claus he has ever seen.

“What’s this? Toys for Tots is collecting down in the Library.”

Nova led Santa over to a pair of chairs opposite the couch. As he sat down, he commanded, “Sit up and put that disgusting book down!”

Rolled eyes followed as Dragonborn flopped the book on the ground and sat up. “What is it this time?”

Nova said, “Your chance. You want out of here?”

“Sure. What, you want me to play a Santa’s little elf while kids come and get pics with this dude?”

“Not exactly,” Nova said with a fiendish glint in his eye. “However, you will be Santa’s helper for a couple of nights.”

“What? Look, I don’t care for Christmas and I’m not the guy for this kinda stunt.”

Santa boldly said, “This isn’t a stunt. This is very important work this time of the year.”

“Oh, so you’re gonna tell me you’re the real Santa and we’re going to go spread Christmas Cheer.”

Santa let out a deep laugh and looked at Nova. “Clever kid. He figured it all out himself.”

“I was kidding!” Dragonborn grew worried.

Nova said, “But you hit the nail on the head. I want you to spend time with Santa and let him assess you. I trust his judgment more than my own.”

Dragonborn folded his scaly arms. “Are you trying to tell me this is the real deal? There isn’t any real Santa.”

Nova said, “one secret that heroes learn about once they are fully initiated as a hero is that Santa is real. Also, he works with us and heroes work with him this time of the year, as it is his busy season.”

Dragonborn frowned. “You gotta be kidding me.”

Santa said, “Haven’t you seen the Easter Bunny running around the station?”

“Yeah, but I thought he was just some morphon guy who got the short end of the stick.”

Nova said, “EB and Santa aren’t morphonic humans. They are… something different. And this is your chance. All I ask is that you work with Santa for two nights. If He says you're fine to leave, I’ll sign your exit papers right away and let you go.”

“Is this my only choice?” Dragonborn laid back against the couch.

Nova said, “No. I could put you through the full assessment program for people wishing to leave. It takes about three weeks and comprises hours of psychologists, psychiatrists, medical tests, and a few rounds of .... “

“Fine! Fine! I get it. Two days instead of weeks of stupid crap. Fine. Whatever. I’ll go and get this over with.”

Nova extended his hand, asking, “So, do we have an agreement?”

Dragonborn shook his hand. “Sure. When does this little probation period start?”

“Right away. Santa has to leave in fifteen minutes. Go, get yourself ready and meet him at the main docking bay.”

Dragonborn stood up and shot Santa a dismissive look. “I ain’t wearing any stupid elf outfit for this.”

“Don’t worry. You can wear what you want. Just know, it might get cold if you’re just in those tiny shorts.”

“I can handle anything.” He strutted out of the room.

Once the door closed, Santa laughed, “Psychiatrists and medical tests? What was that all about? The exit tests take five hours, if I know your program correctly.”

Nova stood with Santa to leave. “He needs this.”

“Are you worried he’s at risk of becoming a villain?”

Nova shook his head. “No. A boy like that is too selfish to be a villain. But, he has other problems. I think you might know exactly how to help him.”

“I have some ideas.”

“I thought you might.”

Still in his super-briefs and nothing else, Dragonborn sat next to Santa in the famous sleigh as they zoomed high over the land. He folded his arms tightly over his fit chest while his teeth chattered.

“I told you to be ready for the cold.”

“I’m fine.” Dragonborn lied.

Santa chortled as he reached behind him and produced a thick scarf. “Here. This might help.”

“Is this Versace?” Dragonborn marveled at it.

“It is what you wanted it to be.”

Dragonborn wrapped it around his neck. “I guess this will do. Wow, it really warms you up.”

Santa had a twinkle in his eye. “You have a taste for the finer things.”

“Oh yeah. Always have.”

“I know. Back when you were five, when your other friends wanted bikes or skateboards, you wanted a RenPhone 3. You couldn’t possibly know how to use it as it was designed, but you wanted to look good.”

“How did you know that?”

“I’m Santa.”

Dragonborn scowled, “of course.”

Santa pulled and the eight reindeer veered to the right as they zoomed down toward a populated area. “It is very good. See, Nova wants to know how you think and who you really are.”

“He knows me well enough.”

“My boy, you don’t know who you are.”

With a hard scoff he answered, “I’m Micheal Messenger, my hero name is Dragonborn. I know who I am.”

“Do you? You’ve hidden behind fashion, ego, and hubris for so many years, no one knows who you really are, and that is especially true for yourself.”

This hit something in Dragonborn that made him pause. He watched the darkened land approach with millions of twinkling lights. The cold air and lofty clouds in the night sky quietly passing by. He tried to dig deep, to rebut Santa’s statement with a thoughtful reply about who he really was. However, he couldn’t find the words. It was rare that Dragonborn was at a loss for a snide retort. Finally, he scoffed again and said, “Let’s just get this job done. If I wanted the psychiatrist's treatment, I would’ve stayed on the station.”

“I see. Well, we have a stop down here in this area.”

Dragonborn looked over the side at the mountains covered in thick trees and light snow. Lights from scattered towns dotted the surface. “Okay, first thing, Santa, it’s the twenty-third. If you’re here to drop off some gifts, we’re a little early.”

“Ah, that sarcasm is so well ingrained in your mouth you can’t hardly speak without it spilling out. The fables and myths about me are not all true. In fact, many are untrue. I don’t deliver gifts only on Christmas eve. I work throughout the season.”

“Doing want, precisely? On Christmas Eve, Santa leaves gifts; therefore, people discover them in the morning. That’s how it works. Come to think of it, no one I know ever really found surprise gifts on Christmas morning. Their parents would bring them. What do you do?”

Santa drove the sleigh low over the mountains, heading for a town. “The magic of Christmas isn’t the stuff we give, it is the heart behind giving. Giving a gift shows that one person cares about another. Friend, family, even strangers showing compassion to other strangers. At the end of the year, after all people have been through, this season helps bring the world back together in ways few other things can.”

“That wasn’t an answer.” Dragonborn stated.

“It was the correct answer, and you will see why soon enough.”

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Heroes Rising Fiction: Santa's LIttle Helper Part 2

 

Nova made his way through the station. The holiday spirit was palpable. Decorations and celebrations were in every nook and cranny. The theater was running non-stop Christmas classics; the laboratory had the smell of freshly baked gingerbread wafting through the halls, and the stations musicians had organized an impromptu band to play for the upcoming parties. Even stone-cold Nova felt the warmth and liked it.

However, he turned a corner and walked into one of the student lounges and found the holiday spirit completely missing. Loud metal music echoed off the walls, the two large televisions had action movies playing violent scenes, and the one occupant laid across a couch while thumbing through a rather risque magazine.

Nova paused, the onslaught of the lights and sounds inside this room were almost painful after his walk here. He beheld the occupant with a critical gaze for a moment. The young man was twenty, wearing nothing but a pair of super briefs, and his body was lithe but muscular. His skin had a shine of greens and browns that were glistening off of the lizard-like scales. His black hair he spiked with bright red, and dark green claws adorned his fingertips.

Nova casually walked over to the wall and punched a button exclusive to instructors. The lights changed to bright white; the televisions went dark, and the music came to an abrupt halt.

“What the hell! Who killed the music?” The boy launched up from the couch, ready to strike. His wrath turned to shock at the sight of Nova. “Oh, sorry, sir. I didn’t know you were coming. I thought everyone was busy with all the holiday nonsense.”

Nova cocked his head and looked down at the magazine on the floor. “You know we don’t allow those kinds of publications on the station.”

“I know. Don’t care.”

Nova, still holding the file in his hand, strolled closer. “What are you doing here?”

“What’s it look like? Enjoying myself.”

Nova looked down at the file, “Micheal Messenger. You asked us to let you exit the program early. So... why are you even here?”

“I was dumb and signed on to take your classes.”

Nova said, “They aren’t ‘my’ classes. This is an education program designed by several of the brightest minds in hero theory and practice. They’re here to help you maximize your potential with your powers.”

“Nice speech, gramps. I don’t need the recruitment brochure, I know how this works. I signed up, that was a big mistake, now I wanna go home. If I read that brochure correctly, it says I can opt to leave the program. So, I opt.” He flicked at his claws with a practiced dismissive attitude.

Nova refrained from responding in kind to this attitude. He has become accustomed to the arrogance that can be part of gaining powers. “Okay. Before I let you leave, I want to know why you are even here? You barely began before you started purposefully flunking out of everything. I saw your powers when you came up initially. You could prove to be a useful hero in this world. Recent events repeatedly show our ongoing need for heroes.”

Micheal plopped down on the couch. “I didn’t want to run around fighting the bad guys. Don’t care. Let someone else deal with them. I just thought, if I gave up my powers, I would lose this...” He gestured to his overly exposed body.

“Your... skin?”

“The scales, the claws, the abs, the gorgeous pecks. And, have you seen my ass... the ladies like it.” He smiled.

Nova sneered, “You signed on to be a hero because of your appearance? I’m not following.”

“Look, I just worried that if I took your drugs or whatever it takes to reduce my powers, that all this would revert to what I was before. Now, I can eat like a hog, and still be hot. I want two things in life: fun and babes.”

Nova pushed aside the sermon building in him at this attitude and chose a different path. “Don’t you think of other people? Heroes are just as glamorous as you want to be. They get the attention from people, even the... babes,” he loathed to use that term, “At the same time, those heroes also save lives and protect this world. Doesn’t that matter to you?”

Micheal kicked his legs up on the coffee table, “You got lots of heroes. I don’t need to be one of them. Besides, unless it’s a hot chick, I don’t care if I save them or not.”

Nova said, “Son, you have a serious attitude problem.”

“I know. Don’t care. Now, are we done? I’d love to be on the first shuttle back to civilization.”

“We aren’t done. I must impress on you the seriousness of this. Even if you go back, you will still need to be responsible for keeping up with your power suppression. Big egos lead to villainy. I can’t let anyone leave here who might choose to use their gifts against us and endanger the world.”

Micheal laid his head back and let out a hot sigh, “Look, old man, I ain’t gonna go out and start robbing banks or trying to take over the world. I don’t care. I want the nightlife in the big city, I want the hot girls around me, I want to lie on a crowded beach and show off these guns. So, don’t worry about that.”

Nova turned and headed for the door.

Micheal sat up, “So, can I leave or not?”

“No.”

“Wait! The rules say that I can opt to leave. I’m leaving. You can’t stop me.”

Nova turned around and smiled as he looked at the furious lizard, “If you read the rules all the way, you would find there is more to it than just deciding to leave. I need to be convinced you are no risk, no danger.”

“I just said I’m no risk. I don’t want to become a villain. That’s not on my to-do list.”

Nova said, “You can say all you want. Actions speak louder than words.”

“What do you want me to do? How the hell do I prove I won’t become a villain?”

Nova said, “Join in the festivities tonight. We can talk and discuss your plans later.”

Micheal plopped back down again, “I’ll pass.”

“You really don’t like Christmas?”

“Kid’s stuff. Don’t hate it, but really don’t care about it.” He snarled, “It’s so sweet and gooey and cutesy. I’d rather do just about anything else.”

With a clever look, Nova said, “I think I just figured out a way you can prove to me you are fit to leave the program.”

“How?”

Nova shook his head. “I’ll tell you later. I will bring someone here to help.”

“Gonna bring in a head shrinker to see if I’m a psychopath?” Sarcasm dripped from each word.

“I had considered that. But I have a better choice.”

“Who?”

“You’ll find out. Just be ready. He’ll be here soon.” Nova headed for the door, “Oh, and get that out of your briefs before he gets here. It’s undignified.” Pressing the button on the wall, he canceled the instructor lock and everything returned to all the noise.

Micheal watched Nova leave. Once the door was closed, he pulled the rolled up sock out of his briefs and tossed it aside. He plopped back on the couch and picked up the dirty magazine.

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