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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