Chase watched the monitor as various news broadcasts displayed the attack on Tokyo. Midgardsormr was surrounded by dozens of military craft that buzzed him with bullets. A few heroes were already present, blasting at him with powers. Nothing seemed to stop him. He grabbed a bus and slammed it through the side of a building. Suddenly the news changed to show the famous Rainbow Bridge. Hotwings swooped around it, blasting the supports with lasers. The Wizard appeared at the center of the bridge and then cast a bolt of energy straight down as he flew up. The ensuing explosion split the bridge in half.
Horror riddled Chase’s eyes as she observed the unadulterated destruction. “Why?” She whispered.
“What was that?” Krampus asked from his station.
She knew better than to speak against his plans. So, she said, “I was just amused by the attack. What are you doing?”
He laughed, “the most important job.”
She left the distressing videos and approached him from behind. “The ruby? Is it put back together yet?”
“Not yet, but soon.” He watched as the shards hovered in that energy beam. They gravitated toward each other until several would align and then stick together. Once together, all the cracks between them would seal and they would become one solid piece.
“What will happen when it is fully restored?”
“It will be glorious. That is all you need to know.”
Chase left him and walked over to the corner where Krampus had placed the same chair he had strapped her into when this all began. Though, she was completely unaware of that now. Tied down and fastened to all the equipment was Strange Quark. He was still out cold.
“What are you going to do with him?”
Krampus slowly looked over at her. “So many questions. So curious.” He stood and walked her direction.
Chase, her back to Krampus, leaned over and looked into Quark’s sleeping face. “Why do I know this person? Why do I have these strange feelings when I see him?”
“Do you not know?” Krampus drew ever closer to her.
“Of course not. How could it? I have never met him. I mean, other than battling with him at Fort Knox. I... I just don’t understand... maybe if I...” she gingerly reached out and touched Quarks hand. Her eyes flashed, and she stumbled back. “What... what just happened?”
Krampus, now looming over her, his shadow darkening this corner of the room. “What did you see?”
She paused and considered the images that just flashed in her mind.
Krampus held up his claw toward her. “Tell me, now! What did you see?”
Chase calmed down and turned to Krampus. “I... saw myself battling him at Fort Knox. Strange, it was like I was reliving it. Not sure how that happened.”
“Anything else?” Krampus appeared like a lion about to feed.
Chase looked at him with trembling fear. “No. Nothing. Just that strange flashback. Why are you so angry?”
Krampus stroked a claw across her cheek. “I’m not angry. Now, monitor the situation in Tokyo. I have work to do.” He left her.
Chase stood there, keeping her calm. She wasn’t sure if he was telling the truth, or if he had other plans. What she knew was that she had lied. In her mind, replaying itself, was a powerful memory of her, Quark, and Gar in a movie theater, laughing and having fun. Though she still did not fully understand this, she knew more about who she was at that moment. She also knew that something terrible was about to happen, and she had to somehow stop it.
Nova stood in the middle of Operations barking out commands as he watched the terrifying destruction of Tokyo. Santa and EB waited behind him.
“Fifth Precinct, scramble your people into place. Get your leagues out there to the outskirts and help the evacuation. NMDS, I want you to help evac’ing hospitals and nursing homes. Aquatic heroes, get to the bay and ocean area, rescue those who have fallen or jumped in.”
Shinobi appeared in a window on the monitor, “Sir, we need help! Midgard is...” the image rocked as a massive explosion scattered debris across a street behind him. “This is crazy!”
“Help is on the way!”
“Good, we...” the image shook and then fuzzed.
“Shinobi!” Nova called out, but the image remained as fuzz.
“What do you want me to do?” EB asked.
Nova said, “Take the student heroes from this station that have passed the basic training level one, and get them there as quickly as you can. They are to escort people to safety. Do not have them engage.”
“Can do.” EB rushed away.
“Wait!” Nova said, and that white blur zipped back to him, landing on his shoulder.
EB batted his eyes, “wanna kiss goodbye, buddy?”
Nova shoved him off. “No. Once you get there, join the primary team and stop WMD. I want you to find out what’s wrong with them. This is not normal. They may be brash and Midgard can be loud, but they aren’t like this. Something has gone wrong.”
“I will try.” EB gave his usual salute and then rushed away again.
“What about me?” Gar asked.
Nova said, “This is obviously a distraction. I don’t know what Krampus did to WMD to cause them to go insane, but the timing cannot be coincidence. He has the shards, he has his sack back, and we are missing Quark. Suddenly, one of our most powerful Leagues goes out of their minds and attacks a city. No, this was meant to distract us.”
Gar said, “It is a smart distraction. We have to move heroes to Tokyo, or millions will die.”
“I’m glad you can see that. But, this means our job is clear. We need to move, now. We can’t let him off. Santa, I need your help.”
Santa gave a quick nod. “I will do what I can.”
“Good. Though we have nothing to go on as of yet. Get out there, search for evidence of Krampus. No one knows him better than you.”
“I’ve already searched. Starmaster and I searched for him and Chase for weeks.”
“Search again.” Nova said. “Logically, he would send the distraction as far from his location as possible. Use that as a starting point. Get on the other side of the planet. And... take Gar with you?”
“Me?” Gar asked.
Nova gave a solemn nod. “Yes. Help Santa find Krampus and Chase. I don’t have any heroes to spare and I know you will do whatever you can to find her, and that will lead us to Krampus.”
“Thank you, Director.” Gar almost hugged Nova, but refrained.
“Get down to the shuttle...”
Santa interrupted, “Nope. Get to the Arboretum, I parked my Sleigh there. We’ll get down there faster on that.”
“Oh, get to the Arboretum.”
“Yes, Director.” Gar hurried out of the room.
Santa stayed a moment longer. “You know, you should let him call you father instead of Director.”
“I’m not that boy’s father!”
Santa smiled, “I know. But, you are much more than just his commanding officer. He has such a wonderful child’s spirit about him.” With a touch to his nose, Santa vanished away in a red, sparkling mist.
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