"You were supposed to control him, Vista." Emily Piggot bit out her words.

"It, well, I didn't…"

"Didn't what? Didn't think that Clockblocker joking that nobody had to worry about Santa breaking into their houses because we'd Birdcaged him wouldn't go over very well in front of an audience of parents and kids?"

"I'm never getting off of console duty, am I?" Clockblocker asked.

"Oh, no. For this failure, for this utter catastrophe that has had my phone ringing off the hook with everyone from the Youth Guard to Director Costa Brown wanting to yell at me, I've come up with something special." Director Piggot had a look on her face.

Vista gulped. Don't do that again. Don't say anything, remember she can smell fear…

"There's a presentation at the Brockton Mall."

Oh no.

"Santa Claus will be there. You'll be going undercover…" She reached under her desk and pulled out two…

Elf Costumes.

Missy prayed fervently for intervention.

A rampaging Lung would have done about right.

Sadly, no such salvation appeared.

"As Santa's elves."

"To, um, fight bad guys?" Clockblocker asked.

"No. To keep kids in line. To get Santa his water. To never, ever let anyone know you're wards. To spend the same six hours I spent on the phone this afternoon, in conditions that were about as comfortable. While you're standing there, Clockblocker, you can think about what is and isn't appropriate, and you, Vista can consider the importance of keeping your teammates in line and not making the PRT look stupid.

Missy glared at Clockblocker, then sighed. "Yes, Ma'am. Who will be in charge?"

"Santa. For the next six hours, you'll treat him like he was Alexandria. If he asks you to sing a song, you'll ask him what song he wants. The Day will be successful. You will carry out your duties, and make certain nothing goes wrong."

"If you want me to even think about getting back on board, you'll do this." Kayden said to Max.

"I can send some people—"

"No. This is Christmas, you'll get the presents, and you'll get them yourself, Max. You'll walk into that Mall, and you'll take time." With that, Kayden turned and walked out of the room.

"Goddamn," Max finally said. The Mall would be a nightmare, worse, he couldn't go with a large group, because he'd be going in his civilian identity. If something went wrong, he would need…

Wait a minute. I know. Max smiled. After all, if he was going to be spending all day being miserable… He made a quick phone call.

A few minutes later Hookwolf walked in the door. "What is it bo—" he raised his hands, catching the cheery, holiday-themed clothing. "What the fuck is this?"

"Your disguise. I've got to go shopping at the Brockton Mall, If anything goes down, I need someone tough enough to handle it, and who would dream that Hookwolf would be dressed up as Santa Claus."

"Holy shit. You're serious. I don't know the first damned thing about being Santa."

"So? According to the guy I just paid to take a break today, you'll have two elves standing by at every moment. Ask them."

I just couldn't believe it. Rob a mall. Of Action figures?

"Sure, Skitter," Tattletale said with a grin. "It's too close to Christmas to order more, people will be paying through the nose to get the figures, so we distribute them to some of our associates for a 5,000 percent markup, and best of all, no federal crime. We rush in, get the delivery truck and charge off. No heroes, no PRT, just a bunch of angry housewives that are going to have to explain to their brats why they can't get the newest action figures." A vulpine grin split her face. "You've faced Lung. What's the worst some angry moms and security guards can do?"