Phantoms of a Wish: Catalyst War
"A New Enemy"
Castle Town, Hyrule – 2024
Groups of soldiers stormed the cobblestone streets of a large city. On the north end of the city was a glistening white castle. The soldiers wore grey camouflage and their sleeves were marked with the U.S. flag. Scattered throughout the city, engaged with the U.S. soldiers, were soldiers in beige uniforms, black vests and helmets. On their sleeves were patches bearing a picture of a red bird-like symbol. Above that were three golden triangles standing point-to-point to form a larger triangle: A symbol known as the Triforce. Atop the roofs of the buildings throughout the city were more soldiers in beige, laying prone and armed with sniper rifles. Fires rampaged across the city and only the soldiers could be seen scattered throughout the city.
"Echo Leader to Alpha Leader, status on the principals?" One of the soldiers atop the roof questioned into a mic, his rifle trained on an enemy squad leader.
"Principals are secure in the throne room." A voice responded from the other end. "Status on the forces?"
"We've got Frost Corporation mercenaries to the east, U.S. Army to the west and U.S. Marines to the south." Echo Leader stated, firing his rifle and taking down a squad leader. "Bravo, Charlie and Delta teams are fighting in the streets. Echo Team is on the roofs of the square providing sniper support. We'll hold them off as long as we can, but be prepared to evac the principals to Fire Base Loftwing."
In the north of the city, in the castle's throne room, a team of soldiers were guarding a group of seven individuals. Each individual's hand glowed with a different colored aura. The first was a light-skinned Black man with brown eyes and short curly hair. His hands gave off a brown aura and he wore a black t-shirt and jeans.
Next to him was a woman with lightly tanned skin, shoulder-length reddish-brown hair, hazel eyes and hands that glowed light green, dressed in a black tank top and skinny jeans.
Next to her was a brown-eyed, fair-skinned woman with pixie cut brown hair and a red aura. She wore a red tank top and gray slacks. Standing close to her was another fair-skinned woman with blue eyes, purple-framed glasses, blonde hair that was tied into a shoulder-length ponytail and wearing a light blue button-up blouse and black yoga pants. Her hands gave off a blue glow and she bore a noticeable resemblance to the woman with the pixie cut.
The fifth was a woman with a slight tan, green eyes, and curly blonde hair that cascaded halfway down her back. Her hands glowed orange and she wore a white tank top and slacks.
Behind the first five stood the final two. A fair-skinned man and woman. The woman was the youngest of the seven; She had green eyes and blonde hair tied into a ponytail that fell halfway down her back, as well as bangs that fell in a crescent shape. She wore an elegant lavender dress and her hands gave off a golden glow. In contrast, the man was the oldest of the group. He had crew cut brown hair, silver-blue eyes and wore red framed glasses. He wore a simple black muscle shirt and jeans, and at his waist was a handgun. Unlike the others, his aura radiated beyond his hands, cloaking his entire body in a shroud of shadows.
"That man… is me. The name's CJ. I'm the King of Hyrule. The woman next to me? My wife Shaylene. The Queen. And the other five are Alex, Aubrey, Janelle, Stacey and Jennette: our friends. The seven of us are the Sages of Hyrule. We are the latest in a long line of sworn protectors of this kingdom. And right now, that's exactly what we're doing.
I suppose I should go back to the beginning. Back to where it all began…
It was November 8, 2016. The day everything started going to shit. I guess that's not entirely true. Things had already gone to shit prior to that. But that's not the story I'm telling. I'm talking about our fight to save our kingdom, our world and all those like us… All those with superhuman abilities. Catalysts.
November 8 was the day everything was set into motion. That was the day when our old home, the United States of America, made a big mistake…"
November 8, 2016 – 21:47
Michigan, U.S.A.
A large group of people were standing in a large room. Scattered among them were reporters and cameramen.
"Good evening, America. Votes are still coming in from across the country."
"We're live from Hudson Campaign Headquarters in Michigan, where we're waiting for a statement from Senator Hudson himself."
"Various sources have already begun projecting Nicholas Frost as the winner and 45th President of the United States."
"Nicholas Frost was the owner of a multi-national private military company. He started small as a security firm in his home state of New York, providing security for schools, private companies and a few small government buildings. Business boomed after the September 11 attacks and he took his company across the country. Security for universities, concerts and sports events. Before long, he expanded again, turning what started as a small security firm into a gigantic military contractor.
He had been preaching about security throughout the United States for years, trying to snake his way into the government. He didn't hesitate to use any terror attack to boost his message. By Harrison McCormick's re-election in 2012, Frost had started branching globally, doing military work for several countries. When he started campaigning, he continued on his platform of 'Security for America', but he began targeting a new threat: Catalysts. He spoke of the Atlas Defense Agency, a corrupt task force that tried to paint myself and my friends as bio-terrorists guilty of releasing a chemical agent in the air that mutated people into Catalysts. But he spoke of the ADA as if they were a paragon of protection.
Despite condemning the assassination of President McCormick by the ADA, which he blamed on Catalysts, he used much of his campaign vowing to turn back what the McCormick Administration had done. Including a late 2016 act by President Caroline Portman, President McCormick's VP, who stepped up following the war against the ADA.
He promised to stop illegal immigration, end the illegal drug and weapons trades, protect the 2nd Amendment, defend America from terrorists and fix the broken economy. He swore to be a champion for woman, minorities and the LGBTQ community. He promised better jobs and lower taxes. He cited his company's success, bragging that the Frost Corporation had done more in 2 years in the Middle East than the entire world had done in 15 years. He promised to make America a prosperous superpower.
And people ate it up like Halloween candy…"
November 8, 2016 – 22:05
New York City, U.S.A.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we've just received word that Senator Hudson is coming out to make a statement." A reporter said, as all the cameras focused on the stage at the front of the room. A gray-haired man in a suit walked out and stood at the podium.
"Thank you to all of you for coming out to support me in this race." The man, Michigan Senator Kevin Hudson said. "It's been a long, tough fight, but I want to officially congratulate Mr. Frost on his victory."
"You're hearing it here first, folks. Senator Hudson had just come out and officially pulled out of the race, making Nicholas Frost the 45th President of the United States."
In New York City, another group of people were gathered in a large conference room in a tall, fancy building. Signs around the room read "Frost 2016: Security for America".
"We're expecting a statement from Mr. Frost any moment now." A reporter said into a camera, as a man with dirty blond hair, wearing a high-end suit, stepped out on the stage along with a security team. "Wait, here he comes now."
"My fellow Americans, thank you." Nicholas Frost said. "We've done it. We've done it. I'd like to thank my campaign crew, my family and most of all, my voters for supporting me in this journey. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for standing by me, and thank you for trusting me. It's an honor to be chosen to lead this great nation. Together, we will rebuild this country. We will rebuild this economy. And most of all… we will protect the American people!" The crowds erupted into cheering.
"I had been monitoring the 2016 Presidential Election from Hyrule. Being a former citizen of the U.S., I tried to maintain a good relationship with the U.S. government following the defeat of the ADA. Under the McCormick-Portman administration, that was easy. But watching Nicholas Frost campaign, I was worried. He didn't hide his anti-Catalyst beliefs. And they were apparent in the countries that his company had expanded to. A lot of his military operations involved imprisoning Catalysts, typically on grounds of 'bio-terrorism' or something similar. He hadn't tried to open branches of his company in Hyrule or any of the other predominantly Catalyst nations, but his anti-Catalyst operations were successful in other nations because the people in power weren't like Harrison McCormick or Caroline Portman. They feared Catalysts. That was another thing that helped Frost. During the McCormick-Portman Administration, U.S. relations with a lot of the world faltered due to their pro-Catalyst stance. Nicholas Frost's views promised to change that.
Senator Hudson talked about taking guns out of the hands of criminals, disarming the nuclear capabilities of the world, strengthening borders while maintaining a culture of diversity and promoting gender and marriage equality. He talked about strengthening race relations and stopping the unfair targeting of minorities. He promised more efficient healthcare, tuition-free colleges and universities, and higher minimum wages, but also proposed higher taxes to support it all. He vowed to continue the previous administration's support for Catalysts, and try to foster better relations with nations who feared them.
With the exception of Frost's anti-Catalyst rhetoric, I could see why any American could have a hard time choosing between the two candidates. Despite running on opposite sides of the political spectrum, both made strong promises.
But I knew better. I knew they said what they thought voters wanted to hear.
Frost, for all his talk of equality, degraded women and minorities. He talked of women as if their only redeeming quality was their physical appearance. When talking about immigration, he slumped all immigrants together as criminals and degenerates. His supporters would defend him constantly, but he never clarified for himself, leaving his supporters unable to prove that he really meant what they said he meant. He was accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old singer that his company was providing security detail for, though the allegations were eventually dismissed due to lack of evidence. Not even a week later, he blasted the singer on a daytime talk show, claiming she was only after his money. There were even rumors that his company sold weapons to terror groups in Egypt and Syria.
Hudson was no better. He'd been through several marriages, several affairs and more scandals than anyone could count, despite his campaign promises of 'fighting for family integrity'. His first wife, another well-known Senator, cheated on him with one of her interns; a point that Frost's supporters frequently tried to use to discredit Hudson's campaign. Hudson was also part of a council that made a deal with China, giving them nuclear elements that many alleged were sold to North Korea.
During his first year, Frost made good on his promises to roll back protections for Catalysts. Many U.S. born Catalysts were imprisoned, some were killed, and foreign-born Catalysts were detained at Guantanamo Bay. Hyrule and the rest of the Catalyst nations could only sit back and watch as Frost began to utilize the same tactics in the United States that he had use throughout other parts of the world. Slowly, the predominantly Catalyst nations were becoming isolated, and the U.S. strengthened relations with countries that shunned Catalysts: Russia, China, Iran… Just to name a few.
But it was in late 2017 where things really took a terrifying turn."
"Threat Level Orange"
December 15, 2017 – 15:00
The White House
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
President Frost stood at a podium in the White House, cameras trained on him. Several microphones were set up on the podium, poised to catch his every word. He had called a press conference to discuss the state of "Catalyst containment" and deliver a message to the American people.
"My fellow Americans…" President Frost said, addressing the reporters in the room as well as the millions of Americans viewing from their homes. "We've suffered a great many tragedies over the last few years. Including the tragic execution of President McCormick. In 2014, a small network of terrorists unleashed a chemical agent across the world, which caused some people to develop superhuman abilities. It also killed many others and mutated many into horrific and strange monsters."
"Mr. President, Sir! I thought that claim was proven false. I thought the self-proclaimed leader of Catalysts came forward and said that the claim of a chemical agent was a government cover-up attempting to hide the truth that these creatures and gifted humans developed their abilities naturally." Protested a reporter.
"These Bio-Terrorists will say whatever they need to in order to get us to sympathize with their cause and accept them into our society." Frost said. "We cannot embrace these radicals."
"Mr. President, sir. Catalysts have not caused any known issues in the past four years." Argued another reporter. "All known terror attacks have been perpetrated by humans, and incidents caused by Catalysts were a result of Alyson Hale and her Atlas Defense Agency."
"According to the investigation done into the ADA, those soldiers were free men and women. They were employed by the government, but the agency went rogue. Alyson Hale was convicted as President McCormick's killer. Surely you know that." Added another reporter.
"That investigation and its findings came from the previous administration; an administration tainted and controlled by Bio-Terrorists. Former FBI Director Pierce is a known Bio-Terrorist." Frost said. "In order to increase productivity in our searches for Bio-Terrorists within our borders, I am hereby reassembling the Atlas Defense Agency, using resources from both the Frost Corporation and our military. All potential employees will be screened for Bio-Terrorist traits prior to employment. I am also ordering the release of former CIA Agent Alyson Hale, who will be a Bio-Terrorist consultant and kept under strict government surveillance. In addition, any citizens, Bio-Terrorist or otherwise, found to be harboring or aiding these dangerous monsters will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you, and God Bless America."
"The Atlas Defense Agency… A task force assembled by the government to hunt and imprison Catalysts, including myself and my friends. When the ADA was originally formed, we were still U.S. citizens. Shaylene and I managed to escape capture by the ADA and then worked to free the other Sages.
During our war with the ADA, we lost two of our own. The Sages of Ice and Forest, whose powers were transferred to Stacey and Alex, the Sages of Water and Earth respectively.
Somehow, Alyson Hale managed to hypnotize Jennette and turn her against us, something I knew already happened in the near future… Or would potentially happen.
Originally, my friends and I gained our powers later in life, after some of us had even started families. But somewhere along the way, Jennette became some sort of power-hungry tyrant and seized control of the United States, ruling over it with an iron first. She turned on her own kind, and my wife and daughter were killed. I traveled back in time, forcing powers upon my younger self and the remaining Sages earlier than we had originally gained them.
Armed with the knowledge of the future, I aimed to change it, but only saw Agent Hale usher in that future earlier than it should've happened. She brainwashed Jennette into turning on her own kind and tried to paint us as small-town 'Bio-Terrorists' trying to form an uprising against the government. Tried to claim that we murdered the President – her handiwork, I might add – and assaulted a government facility. That second part wasn't wrong. I assaulted several government facilities, and a couple of military bases, in my quest to rescue my friends. Left a few bodies in my path, too – something I'm certainly not proud of.
Hale tried to paint the ADA as an organization out to protect the world from Catalysts. Ultimately, we were able to expose Hale as a Catalyst herself, not unlike the majority of her task force, and in doing so, undermined the entire operation. Vice President Portman stepped up following the ADA's assassination of President McCormick, and she and FBI Director Pierce conducted a full investigation into the ADA. Apparently, the ADA had been formed on government grants to aid Catalysts. President McCormick knew the people would be fearful of us, and sought to protect us. I found out through personal connections in the intelligence community that he was personally motivated in this endeavor – his daughter Savannah was a Catalyst. But, for some reason, Agent Hale went rogue and turned the agency against myself and my friends.
And now, not only had Nicholas Frost begun to imprison Catalysts, but he was going so far as to label anyone associated with a Catalyst as a traitor to the country. I knew I needed to act, but I also knew that I needed to tread carefully. The world was becoming very divided on Catalysts, and I knew the slightest pin drop could ripple into World War III…"
December 16, 2017 – 11:15
Hyrule Castle Town
CJ and Shaylene sat in a large conference room with several other people. A blonde-haired woman in a regal pink gown… A large, turtle-like creature with a green shell, spiked red tufts of hair on his head, and two golden horns… A large blue penguin-like creature wearing a red robe… an ape wearing only a red tie with yellow lettering that read "DK"… a gray-haired, fair-skinned man in a navy blue suit… and two anthropomorphic dogs: a brown bloodhound in a red suit and a Doberman in a black suit.
"I've called you here for one reason." CJ said. "I'm sure you witnessed the press conference called by President Frost."
"Of course." Stated the woman in the pink gown, Mushroom Kingdom Queen Peach. "What are you thinking?"
"At the very least, we need to form a united front protecting Catalysts." CJ said. "If possible, we need to get as many out of the U.S. as we can."
"How do you propose we do that?" Asked the turtle, Mushroom Kingdom King Bowser.
"I don't know." CJ said.
"That's the tricky part." Added Shaylene, addressing the other leaders. "We propose at least opening our borders to Catalysts and granting them asylum from the United States. Possibly even a simple path to citizenship."
"We've had measures in place since you fought against Atlas." Peach said. "Our kingdom is open."
"Anyone seeking protection from President Frost is more than welcome in the DK Isles." Stated the ape, Donkey Kong.
"Same is true of Corneria." Stated the bloodhound, Cornerian Head of State Pepper. "Especially those from the United States."
"Our borders are open as well." The man, President Grey of the United Federation, said.
"And you, King Dedede?" CJ questioned, looking at the penguin.
"Sure. They can come to my kingdom." Stated King Dedede, ruler of Dream Land. "After you all can't take any more."
CJ sighed. "Fine. Good enough."
"The process had begun to free Catalysts from Frost's grasp. Our borders were open to Catalyst refugees. We had begun to work to form an alliance between Catalyst nations. But first, we had a new task at hand…
Savannah McCormick. 17-year-old daughter of President Curtis.
Intel indicated that she was somewhere in DC. For whatever reason, Frost was treading carefully with her. Maybe because, despite all the trash talking Frost did to her father's administration, she was still the daughter of a former president."
"Behind Enemy Lines"
February 23, 2018 – 02:07
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Alex, Stacey and Janelle laid on a rooftop overlooking a tall building somewhere in D.C. A cold air pierced the night sky as snowfall descended on the United States capital. At ground level, scattered on street corners nearby, were the other four Sages.
"All call signs, radio check." CJ said.
"Lightning Seven, check."
"Spirit Five, check."
"Thievious Thirteen, check."
I thought we agreed on Tsunami Three, but fine. CJ thought.
"Boulder Ten, check."
"Inferno Two, check."
"Cyclone Three, check."
"Shadow Command, copy all." CJ replied. "Intel reports that Athena is being held in the Sullivan Hotel. 4th Floor, Room 419. Our mission is to get in and extract the target quickly and quietly. If Frost gets wind of a foreign operation happening on American soil without his approval, it could mean war. Especially if he discovers it was Catalysts. Lightning Seven, when I give the signal, cut the power to the hotel. And let's try to avoid lightning."
"It's just a little thundersnow. No big deal."
"Like I said… Quietly." CJ said. "When I give the word, cut the hotel's power. We need to sneak in, secure the HVI and exfil."
"We need to what?" Stacey questioned.
"Get in, get the girl, and get out." CJ said.
"Oh. Why didn't you just say that?"
"Can we focus?" CJ questioned. "Boulder Ten, Inferno Two and Thievious Thirteen, you're on overwatch. If this goes south, we'll need backup from outside the hotel."
"Got it." Alex said.
"Spirit Five, you're on point. Scan for energy signatures as we approach each floor. Just in case our intel's off." CJ said. "Cyclone Three, you watch our flank. Everyone clear?"
"Clear." Aubrey said.
"Got it." Jennette replied.
"10-4." Shaylene said.
"Got it." Stacey and Janelle responded.
"Good." CJ said. "Shadow Command to Delta One, come in."
"Delta One here. What's the status on the HVI?"
"Delta One, be advised we are preparing to enter the target building now." CJ said. "We will re-initiate contact once we have secured the HVI. Shadow Command, out. Squad, group up across the street from the main entrance. Maintain stealth." The Sages on the ground met up across from the hotel. "Shay, kill the lights in 3… 2… 1…" An entire section of the city went dark. "Let's move." The team entered walked toward the main door. "Stand by. Clerk at the front desk." He watched as the clerk stood up and walked to the back office, mumbling something to themselves. "Clear. Jennette, take point. Across the lobby and up the stairs." The Sages rushed through the lobby, led by Jennette. She led them up the stairs, stopping halfway up.
"Hold up." Jennette said. "Scanning for targets. No Catalysts. There's one security guard at the east end of the hallway. Stand by. Okay, he's moved into the eastern stairwell. We're clear." The Sages moved up the stairs, reaching the second floor. As they neared the top, CJ took the lead. He held up his hand, signaling the other Sages to wait, as he peeked around the corner of the wall atop the stairs, scanning the hallway.
"Clear. Move up." CJ said, as he slipped across the hall to the next set of stairs. The rest of the Sages followed as Jennette took the lead again. She stopped halfway up the stairs.
"Stand by. Scanning." Jennette said, as she focused her energy. "No catalysts. Security's moved up though. Coming in our direction."
"He's probably moving from floor to floor. Fall back to the second floor." CJ said. The Sages backed down the stairs as Jennette continued to focus.
"He's past the central staircase." Jennette said, as the Sages began to creep back up the stairs. "He's moving toward the western stairwell." She peeked around the corner, scanning the hallway. "Clear."
"Move up." CJ said, leading the Sages to the next staircase. Jennette began to focus again.
"Bad news." Jennette said. "Security skipped the fourth floor. He's still in the west stairwell heading toward the fifth floor. I'm detecting three Catalyst signatures. Two guarding the room and one inside."
"Good news is, those guards are most likely friendly." CJ said. "Hold up. I'll handle this." He walked down the hallway toward the guards. "Morning boys." As soon as he greeted them, the guards quickly drew their guns.
"Identify yourself!" One of the guards shouted. CJ activated him comm.
"Lightning Seven, brighten up the hallway."
"On it." Shaylene focused for a moment and the lights on the fourth floor came back on.
"Your Majesty." One of the guards said. "We've been expecting you."
"Team, we're clear. Move up." CJ said. The other Sages caught up to him as the guards let them into the hotel room. Inside, sitting on the bed, was a 17-year-old girl with curly brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a light blue silk nightgown.
"Savannah, do you know who I am?" CJ asked.
"The King of Hyrule." Savannah said.
"We're here to get you out of here." CJ said. "Back to Hyrule." He turned to the guards. "Where's the former First Lady?"
"Can we… talk outside?" One of the guards asked. CJ turned to the girls.
"You three stay here." He said, stepping outside. "What's going on?"
"President Frost arrested former First Lady McCormick." One of the guards said. "Wouldn't tell him where we had taken Savannah."
"Sorry, I understand you're friendly, but who are you exactly?" CJ asked.
"Jason Pendleton, ex-Secret Service under President McCormick." One guard said.
"Cameron Knox, same." The other guard said. "After Frost got elected, all of us Catalysts from Harrison's Secret Service started doing what we could to protect our own. Savannah was top priority. We've been moving her around for a while. Frost tried everything to find her, including arresting the former First Lady. We knew we needed to get her out. That's why we tipped off your intelligence agency."
"That's what you meant when you said you've been expecting us." CJ said.
"Yes." Jason said. "We'll leave the extraction to you. We still have work to do." With that, the three re-entered the room. "Savannah, the King and the others will take you to Hyrule. You'll be safe there. We'll work on tracking down your mother."
"Thank you." Savannah said, looking at the Sages.
"You're welcome." CJ activated him comm. "Shadow Command to Delta One, HVI is secure. We're moving to exit the target building."
"Copy, Shadow Command. Primary exfil point is secure." Delta One replied.
"Copy. We're on our way. ETA 10 mikes. Shadow Command out." CJ said. "Let's move team. Our exfil point in on Roosevelt Island." A short time later, the Sages met with a group of soldiers waiting near a strange green portal in the woods near a memorial. One of the soldiers stepped forward and greeted CJ.
"No sign of Frost's men, sir."
"Good work, Delta. Let's get home." With that, the group stepped into the portal, which vanished once they were all through.
"We were successful in sneaking Savannah out of the United States, and as far as we could tell, Frost was none the wiser. Former Agents Pendleton and Knox were working on a ring to smuggle Catalysts out of the United States. They would sneak them to Mexico, and the rest of us would take over from there.
The process was slow at first, but by late 2019, things were in the works that were going to make everything much easier."
"Diplomacy"
December 19, 2019 – 14:30
Hyrule Castle Town
CJ and Shaylene sat in a conference room with the leaders of the various Catalyst nations. On the back wall were a series of monitors showing video of the offices of several other world leaders.
"Thank you all for agreeing to meet with me this afternoon." CJ said. He turned his attention to the monitors. "Especially all of you. I know it was nothing for the people in this room to gather with me, but for the rest of you… Hyrule and the other Catalyst nations represented in this room are countries that seemingly sprung up overnight. Land masses that appeared out of nowhere. And I want to thank you for the work you've done accepting not only our nations, but also our people and the strange events that have transpired these past few years."
"We may not understand Catalysts, or the other creatures that inhabit your countries, but your right to life is no different than us humans." Stated the German Chancellor.
"I presume you've called us here to discuss the situation in America?" Asked the British Prime Minister.
"Yes I have." CJ responded. "I cannot sit idly by while President Frost continues to persecute my kind. Because of this, the six nations represented here, as well as the Poke Union, are officially uniting under the banner of the United Catalyst Alliance – an alliance built on Catalyst representatives from all nations. Unfortunately, the members of the Champions League are busy dealing with a threat to their nation and were unable to attend our meeting. But I would like to ask all of you today to stand with us against President Frost and the hateful anti-Catalyst rhetoric of the United States."
"Are you talking of a declaration of war against the U.S.?" Asked the Israeli Prime Minister. "Do you understand the implications of such action?! You would likely drive us into World War III! I cannot stand with that."
"Prime Minister, I have no plans to declare war against the United States." CJ said. "I would like to try a more diplomatic approach first. I want to unite us under the banner of protecting Catalysts and giving my kind the same basic rights as other humans. Maybe if enough of us band together under this cause, we can put the pressure on President Frost to turn the attitude of the United States around."
"And if we can't?" Inquired the Italian Prime Minister.
"You're free to turn down the invitation." CJ said. "I would like to believe that this can be achieved peacefully, but if need be, military action will be taken against the United States. However, I aim to use that only as an absolute last resort. I do not want to lead the world into another war. My goal is to protect lives, not destroy them."
"Know this: Germany will stand by the U.C.A." Stated the German Chancellor. "But understand that Nicholas Frost is an impulsive man, and we must prepare for a rash response following the public announcement of this alliance."
"Following your announcement of this alliance, we shall go public with our intent to join you." The British Prime Minister said. "Catalysts are more than welcome on British soil, and we will not hesitate to make our stance well-known to President Frost."
"Madam Prime Minister, Madam Chancellor… Thank you." CJ said.
"We will not follow the footsteps of President Frost and condemn Catalysts." The Israeli Prime Minister said. "However, I do not want to risk publicly allying with the U.C.A. I cannot risk the possibility of the United States turning against us. Catalysts are welcome in Israel, but I do not want an enemy in the United States."
"I understand." CJ said. "At the very least, thank you for your support."
"I understood the stance of the Israeli Prime Minister. A surprising number of Middle Eastern countries had begun allying with the United States against Catalysts. To publicly join our alliance would be a certain death sentence for Israel.
On the bright side, we had made some powerful allies ourselves… The United Kingdom, Italy, France, Canada, Mexico. We had managed to secure alliances with both nations bordering the United States.
With the help of the Catalysts of the former Secret Service, I expected minimal difficulty smuggling Catalysts out of the country.
But, as the German Chancellor warned, President Frost did not take lightly to our new alliance…"
"The Alliance"
December 20, 2019 – 09:19
The White House
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
"Mr. President, Sir, there's something you need to see." A government agent stood in the Oval Office with President Frost, holding a laptop under his arm.
"What is it?" President Frost asked. The agent placed the laptop on Frost's desk and began to play a video on it. On the screen were CJ and Shaylene. On the wall behind them was the Hylian Royal Seal: the Triforce above the red bird-like symbol, known in Hyrule as a Crimson Loftwing. Standing behind CJ and Shaylene were Peach and Bowser, King Dedede, Donkey Kong, President Grey, and Corneria's Pepper and Prime Minister Boxer.
"We, the Catalyst nations of the world, are coming to you this morning to formally announce that following the re-establishment of the Atlas Defense Agency, we are uniting together to create the United Catalyst Alliance. We are coming together under one banner to protect Catalysts around the world. We are extending an open invitation to the nations of the world to join this alliance, and we will build a U.C.A. Council made up of representatives from the original Catalyst nations, as well as Catalyst representatives from any nation willing to ally with us." President Frost cut the feed, slamming the laptop shut.
"Assemble the media." President Frost said. "I need to respond to this."
A short time later, President Frost had gathered in the White House Briefing Room. Cameras were trained on the podium at the front of the room. Around the United States, news anchors had interrupted scheduled programming with announcements of an "emergency address from the President". As news feeds cut away from anchors to the image of the podium, Frost stepped up and began to address the nation.
"My fellow Americans… Late yesterday afternoon, the King of Hyrule stepped up and announced an alliance between Hyrule, the Mushroom Kingdom, and various other nations known to harbor and protect 'Catalysts'. These Bio-Terrorists have been a threat to our nation for several years now. Effective immediately, all travel to and from these nations is prohibited. In addition, anyone found guilty of aiding these nations harbor Bio-Terrorists will be arrested and charged with treason."
December 20, 2019 – 12:45
Hyrule Castle Town
CJ and the other Sages were gathered in a room deep below Hyrule Castle, along with the other leaders of the Catalyst nations, watching a broadcast of President Frost's speech.
"In other news, President Frost has declared a travel ban on several nations, including Hyrule and the Mushroom Kingdom, citing threats from Catalysts. He has also begun a manhunt for any citizens aiding Catalysts, and declared that anyone found guilty will be arrested and charged with treason. Despite a surge in President Frost's approval rating, opponents of Frost claim that the travel ban is unconstitutional, and that Frost's administration is discriminating against Catalysts. House Speaker Richard Carmine and Senate Majority Leader Linda Goodwin have both spoken out against President Frost, with Speaker Carmine announcing that he intends to run against President Frost in the 2020 election."
"This is a problem." CJ said. "Frost's approval ratings have begun surging following this declaration."
"What do we do?" Shaylene asked.
"We need to increase our efforts in Mexico and Canada. Strengthen our forces and help the former Secret Service agents smuggle Catalysts out of the U.S. In the meantime, we and the other U.C.A. nations need to fortify our defense against the potential threat of an attack by President Frost."
"Do you think that's actually going to happen?" Aubrey asked.
"I'm not ruling it out as a possibility." CJ said. "Frost is irrational. He sees Catalysts as threats. I don't want to expect an attack, but we need to be prepared. As more nations come out and declare an alliance with the U.C.A., Frost is going to feel increasingly threatened, and we need to be prepared to defend ourselves against a cornered beast."
"If we start mobilizing troops, won't Frost see that as a threat?" Jennette questioned.
"Maybe." CJ replied.
"Don't you think this might be a time for diplomacy?" Alex asked.
"Normally, yes." CJ said. "But this is a man who's severed all ties to Catalyst nations and has gone so far as to label U.S. citizens as traitors simply for being associated with Catalysts. We need to prepare for the worst. War may very well be on our doorstep."
"I wanted to be wrong. I wanted to think that we weren't potentially about to begin World War III. I wanted to believe that Frost's cabinet members would calm him down, or Congress would fight his anti-Catalyst rhetoric. I wanted to believe the people would fall into the hate he was spewing.
I wanted to, but I knew that wasn't the case."
"Tension Rising"
January 6, 2020 – 09:00
The White House
Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
President Frost sat in the Oval Office as a gentleman walked in. He had slicked back jet black hair with streaks of grey, brown eyes, and wore a black suit.
"Former CIA Director Arthur Capewell, and Frost's pick for Vice President. I didn't know it at the time he was elected, or while he was the Director of the CIA, but Capewell called me on the banks of the Potomac in 2015, after we broke Alex out of an ADA facility at Quantico Marine Base. He was pressured to resign following our work exposing the ADA, and there was a lot of controversy over Frost choosing him as VP. Not enough to prevent Frost's victory, of course. With Capewell as Frost's VP and Alyson Hale released from Gitmo, I knew it was only a matter of time before my ghosts came back to haunt me."
"Arthur, good morning." Frost said, getting up to greet his VP.
"Good morning, Mr. President." Vice President Capewell greeted, shaking Frost's hand.
Frost walked back to his desk and sat down. "Arthur, there's no need to be so formal. You know you can call me Nick."
"Sir, Miss Hale is here to see you."
"Excellent. Let her in." Frost pulled a laptop out of a bag on his desk as Capewell opened a door built into one of the walls. Through the door walked a woman with brown eyes and short brown hair, dressed in a grey suit.
"Good morning, Mr. President." Former CIA Agent Alyson Hale greeted, walking over to Frost's desk.
"Good morning, Miss Hale." Frost stood up and shook Hale's hand. "How is life beyond the walls of Gitmo treating you?"
"Good, sir. Thank you." Hale took a seat and pulled a small flash drive out of her pocket.
Frost took the drive from Hale and connected it to his computer. "I take it this is what I asked for."
"Yes, Nick." Capewell said, taking a seat. "The intel we could gather on the King of Hyrule. Including information on his group's battle with Miss Hale and her agency."
"During your tenure as Director of the CIA?"
"Yes, sir." Frost began combing through the files.
"Am I reading this correctly? His queen is 20? And they've been together since she was 18?"
"Yes, Mr. President." Hale said.
"Both of them are U.S. born, correct?"
"Correct, Nick."
"Any suspicion of misconduct between the two of them before her 18th birthday?"
"Of course, Mr. President." Hale said. "They have a long history. Known each other since she was 6. But we have no way to prove anything."
"What is your plan, Nick?"
"I'm trying to find something I can use against the King." Frost said, opening another file. "And I found it."
"What exactly did you find, Mr. President?"
"Why were formal charges never brought against the King for the murders of several federal agents in New York?"
"Because of my history and that of the agency." Hale said. "After exposing me as President McCormick's killer and the mastermind behind the ADA, any potential charges were dropped. My agents and I were deemed as rogue government operatives. Many of my men were sent to Gitmo along with me. As far as the justice system was concerned, he was a hero and I was a terrorist."
"We're going to need to work hard to wipe out that history." Frost said. "I've already planted the seeds, painted the McCormick Administration as an administration that was funded and run by Catalysts."
"Mr. President, you do understand that I am a Catalyst, correct?" Hale questioned.
"Of course I do." Frost said. "But your expertise in this matter is invaluable. You're a valuable asset to us in our war against Catalysts. And our war against their bio-terrorist King."
"Nick, is there more to this than just Catalysts?" Capewell questioned.
"Caleb Arlington." Frost said.
"He was one of our agents killed in New York." Hale stated.
"Carla…" Capewell gasped.
"Who's Carla?" Hale questioned.
"My daughter." Frost said. "She and Caleb were married three weeks prior to his murder."
"I should've suspected a personal connection." Hale said.
"And with official CIA intel suspecting him of the murder of several federal agents..." Capewell interrupted Frost.
"Nick, you might want to open the video file attached to that file." Frost opened the video file, scanning the images on screen.
"This is security footage, clearly showing him attacking the guards." Frost said.
"Yes, Mr. President."
"And, they died as a result of these injuries?"
"There were no injuries, Nick. Those attacks killed them instantly."
"We have definitive proof now that the leader of the U.C.A. is responsible for the deaths of several federal agents." Frost said. "We can rain Hell on the King of Hyrule, and Catalysts soon after."
"What is your vendetta against Catalysts, Mr. President?"
"Aside from the fact that one of them killed the love of my daughter's life? They're a threat. You know this. You turned on your own kind."
"The ADA was formed to protect Catalysts." Hale said, clenching her fist beneath the chair. "I took control of the agency to use its resources for personal reasons. I intended to bring justice against the King of Hyrule and his friends, and once that was done, I had every intention to use the agency to protect my kind."
"I suppose it's my turn to ask you… What is your vendetta against the King, Miss Hale?"
"My nephew Derek had the power to enter and manipulate dreams. His own dreams as well as the dreams of others. He was also what the King and his friends called a 'Light Eater' – a type of Catalyst that must draw power from certain other Catalysts in order to use their gifts. Derek needed to absorb light energy in order to enter and manipulate dreams. The most abundant source of light energy that Derek knew was Shaylene, before her days as the Queen of Hyrule. They were classmates in high school. He would draw from her energy from time to time, and it was enough to keep his power sustained." Hale said. "He also had romantic feelings for her. But he messed up and tried to rape her. That didn't end well. She pulled out of school for a while and he wasn't able to draw from her energy. CJ started protecting her more, using his power to shield her, especially once she returned to school. Derek started entering her dreams and absorbing her power there. She sought refuge in Hyrule, which at the time was merged with their hometown. He tried to find her and was attacked by CJ. I got a text from Derek that day. He was terrified of the 'Shadow Catalyst protecting Shaylene'. Said he threatened to kill Derek if he came near her again. It wasn't long after that I got a call from my sister. Derek had been hit and killed by a car."
"I'm sorry for you loss, but after what he did and who he was, maybe it was the world taking its course." Frost said.
"He made a mistake!" Hale shouted. "He was just a kid! He didn't deserve to lose his life over it! Nor did he deserve to lose his life for being a Catalyst!"
"And yet, you were willing to kill several Catalysts because of an accident."
"Derek wouldn't have been hit by that car if he wasn't running in terror from the King of Hyrule! And none of us would've become Catalysts if the King and his friend didn't detonate that device! I could live with my powers. I could live with what I was. I could protect our people from the threat of those who feared us. But I couldn't forgive what the Sages did to my family."
"My son-in-law is dead because of your personal vendetta to avenge the death of your rapist nephew." Frost said, his blood beginning to boil. He pressed a button on his desk phone. "Agent Anderson, Agent Barrett, come in here please." A pair of suited men walked in.
"Yes, Mr. President?" Asked Secret Service Agent Vaughn Anderson.
"Send Miss Hale back to Gitmo." Frost said. "Her services are no longer needed."
"You'll never get away with this!" Hale exclaimed, as she stood up and her hands gave off a fiery aura. The Secret Service agents drew their guns, which Hale quickly melted in a blast of fire, scorching the agents' hands in the process. Almost immediately, a gunshot rang out and Hale dropped the ground, a wound in her skull. Behind her stood Frost, a smoking handgun in his left hand.
"Gather the press." Frost said. "I have an announcement to make."
A short time later, Frost was standing at the podium in the White House Briefing Room, news cameras trained on him.
"My fellow Americans, this morning I received a briefing on the Atlas Defense Agency prior to its de-funding a couple of years ago. Following investigations by those with no conflicts of interest in the case of Bio-Terrorists, we have discovered that the ADA, as stated, was using Bio-Terrorist prisoners of the country, and was headed by former CIA Agent Alyson Hale, who was also a Bio-Terrorist. Miss Hale has once again been formally charged with the murder of former President McCormick. We also discovered surveillance footage implicating the King of Hyrule in the murder of several federal agents at a Bio-Terrorist containment facility in New York." Reporters immediately began bombarding President Frost with questions.
"Mr. President, are you saying that you intend to bring charges against the leader of a foreign nation?"
"Mr. President, do you intend to prosecute the leaders of the Catalyst nations in the U.C.A.?"
"Mr. President, what of the nations of the world that have announced alliances with the U.C.A.?"
"Settle down, everyone." Frost said. "I have no intentions of bringing charges against any of the nations in the United Catalyst Alliance at this time. However, effective immediately, I am deploying troops on the ground in Hyrule and the Mushroom Kingdom."
"That was where tensions rose and the conflict began. As soon as Frost received word about my deeds back on South Brother Island, I knew war was on the horizon. He had bypassed Congress and ordered troops on the ground in Hyrule. I knew if I made the first move, the U.S. would strike back, claiming that we attacked first. But I was not going to let Frost walk all over my kingdom."