Galaxy City is not the best known zone of Paragon City, especially among the newer heroes of the city. To the veterans though, it provides a relatively quiet, calm and stable section of town, with only a few Hellions, Clockwork and Vazhilok to worry about. There’s also an arena for pounding out frustrations.
There’s also a makeshift throne set up in front of the statue of the great Galaxy Girl. Sitting on it is a man in a red suit and a beard. A line of heroes stretches around the block.
"Ho ho ho," Teckstyle laughs as a catgirl jumps lightly onto his lap. "And what would you like for Christmas little girl?" The jollity of his voice is somewhat creepy thanks to the metallic tone of it.
"Tee hee," the catgirl says. "I wanna pair of pink claws to match my fur."
"Well, if you’ve been nice this year, then I’m sure you’ll find something special under the tree." Teck says. "Now off you go." He turns to an elf. "When’s the next break?"
"You’ve got time for one more," Flatfoot says, leaning over. Pointy ears have been taped to his head, and his costume is green and red.
"Right," Teck says and motions for the next hero. "Ho ho ho! Next please!"
A short Warshade runs and jumps onto Teck’s lap and looks around frantically.
"Ho ho ho! And what would you like, little boy?" Teck asks.
"You gotta help me Santa! Assassins are trying to kill me!" the Warshade screams.
"Umm…" Teck says. "Are you sure?"
"They’re coming this way!" the hero screams on Teck’s lap.
Flat looks around. "Is there any security around here?" he asks.
"Hey," the Warshade says. "You’re not Santa."
"Ho ho ho! Of course I am!"
"You’re beard’s held on with duct tape!" The hero looks around frantically. "There he is!" he screams.
"What? Where?" Teckstyle asks, looking around.
A Void Stalker steps out of the line and levels a quantum gun at the Warshade.
"Die Kheldian scum!" it screams and fires.
Teckstyle shoves the Warshade out of the way and fires at the assassin, sending him flying.
Teck looks around, fists glowing. "Nothing to see here, people. Santa’s gonna take a little break, then he’s going to be back, ok?"
The Warshade runs up and hugs Teck. "You really are Santa! Thank you!"
"Um. You’re welcome," Teck says. The Warshade then runs away. "Well Flat, how about that, eh?" Teck says. There’s no answer. "Flat?"
Flatfoot is lying several feet away on the ground, not moving.
"Flat??" Teck yells and flies over. "Speak to me buddy! Don’t go into the light!"
There’s no response from the scrapper. Teckstyle stands up, ripping the beard from his face. "I swear, on this day, you will be avenged. I will not rest until all Void Hunters are destroyed! Why did it have to be him?! He was two weeks away from retirement!!!"
"What are you talking about?" Flat asks, sitting up.
"Flat! How? You were shot!"
"No big deal. It didn’t hurt or anything."
"What?" Teck asks. "You don’t feel anything?"
"Well," Flat thinks. "I’m a little hungry…"
"That’s it?"
"I’m as surprised as you are," Flat says.
A gigantic explosion comes from Constellation Row. A familiar white shape looms in the distance. Flat & Teck look at each other, nod and rush off to it. A few seconds later, Flat speeds back to the throne and hangs an "Out to lunch. Be back soon" sign on it.
Flat catches up to Teck at the disturbance. "What’s the situation?"
"A pack of Winter Horde just came out of nowhere and started thrashing the block."
"Winter Horde?" Flat asks. "I thought those guys were toast?"
"Guess we just have to knock some sense into them," Teck says.
Teckstyle flies up to the face of the largest monster, a Blight, and starts shooting while Flatfoot jumps into a mob of Frostlings and starts swinging.
Minutes later, the two heroes are standing in the middle of a circle of appreciative citizens.
"Yeah! We jingle bell rocked their world!" Flat says.
"I can’t believe I lived long enough for you to say that," Teck moans. "Oh well, guess we’d better get back to the Santa station."
"That won’t be necessary," a voice says from above.
"Hey, nice Santa costume, mister," Flat says as a jolly looking fat man lands in front of them.
"I’ve been watching both of you very closely this year," the man says. "And while you haven’t been perfect, you have saved this city more than you’ve endangered it. You’ve disrupted the plans of the Council by destroying their base, you’ve brought in the dangerous Dr. Vazhilok, and saved the soul of some lady in Croatoa, not to mention you two have punished all the naughty villain groups out there for their misdeeds. I want you both to have these." The mysterious man hands the heroes two large boxes.
Teck holds his up to his head. "I don’t hear any ticking…"
"Go ahead, open them," the man says.
The two heroes rip into the packages, tossing the wrapping paper all over, then, remembering who they’re standing in front of, pick up the trash and throw it away.
"Hey, a brand new helmet! I‘ve been meaning to upgrade," Teck says, holding one up. "What’d you get Flat?"
"I…I don’t believe it," Flat says, pulling his gift out, a single tear of joy running down his face. it’s a jetpack. He quickly straps it on and starts zooming around the block. "WHEEEEEE!!!!!!" he yells gleefully before landing back in front of Santa.
"Ho ho ho," Santa laughs. I knew you’d enjoy the gifts, but I need to ask a favor from both of you."
"What is it?" Teck asks as Flat floats past him backwards, making swimming motions.
Santa leans in close to the blaster. "I’ve got to get to the Rogue Isles to deliver some presents to the well deserving boys and girls in Longbow, Wyvern and the Legacy Chain, but I need your help getting past the Arachnos guards there. Can you help me?"
Teck looks over to Flatfoot. "Whaddaya think Flat?"
"This guy gets me a jetpack? I’ll follow him anywhere."
"We’re in Santa. Arachnos won’t know what hit ‘em," Teck says.
A few seconds later, Santa, Flatfoot & Teckstyle are flying over Kings Row on their way out to sea. After they pass an alleyway, a purple flash of light and a yell signals the arrival of something falling into a dumpster. The shape crawls out and looks around. "What the heck was that?" he asks in a voice much like Flatfoot’s. The figure looks a lot like Flatfoot too, only wearing black instead of blue. His eyes are disturbingly lacking in pupils. "How’d I get here from Dark Astoria?"
...To be continued...
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