Alaia Skyhawk: Here's the next one :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of the Guardians, the Guardians of Childhood, or any related characters etc. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes.
~(-)~
Chapter 94: Pre-emptive Action
Jack swept down from the sky over southern China, heading for the region where the bomb had gone off. Going to help Kosmotis made sense, and to be honest it was a welcome chance to get out and blow off some steam. But still Jack found himself musing over the immortal who had been targeted. Xiùlán only had a small range, but after her recent efforts to gain adult believers she was adored in that area.
Her believers had been especially vocal in the past couple of weeks, practically bragging about their 'Elegant Lady of the Orchids'. She was synonymous with blossoming flowers and the lush green of summer growth. The graceful gardens of tradition, and good crops for hardworking farmers. He could only imagine her small localised festival had been attacked simply because her believers had talked so much about her.
That and a small festival is easier to sneak a bomb into.
Perhaps it was just a small group of people being idiots, or a test run for an attempt on a larger festival somewhere else. Either way, the bomb itself had raised barely a blip on overall world awareness.
The winds found Kosmotis lurking in the narrow gap between two buildings, the Steward stood in observation of the site where the explosion had taken place. When Jack landed beside him, to likewise gaze upon the ragged hole in the ground, Kosmotis glanced at him wryly.
"Here because you think I need back-up?"
Jack smiled at the joke. That his fellow immortal had used humour at all was a good sign at least.
"Nah, just here to lend a hand." His manner turned serious. "What's the situation?"
Kosmotis turned to face him fully.
"Tracking down the culprits wasn't hard, they radiate Unnatural Fear like a beacon. I could snuff the fear out temporarily, but it would come back within days or even mere hours. It would be best if the local immortal could approach and talk to them. But as I am still not the most popular of individuals, I've not been able to approach her."
Jack grimaced. "Xiùlán high-tailed it out of here once her festival was over and she'd reassured her believers. She's probably lurking at home in the nearby hills, but will be jumpy."
The Steward paced past him.
"'Jumpy' or not, she's needed for this. We need to find her, get her to come with us, and then corner the men who planted the bomb. They obviously believe she's real, or why else leave the device in the middle of her festival. Once we can get them alone with her, seeing and hearing her shouldn't be too much of a problem for them. We just need to arrange for them to be calm enough to be rational when she talks to them. After all, their greatest fear is 'change'. They have let their uncertainties about her affect their better judgement."
Jack hefted his bow, his expression determined.
"Well if they become unreasonable, I'm sure I can get them to lighten up a little."
Kosmotis paused in his pacing, uncertain
"Are you sure about doing that? If the two of us keep doing this, and word of it spread, it could make the uneasiness worse."
The Guardian placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You're thinking like someone from the Old Golden Age, and not like a resident of this planet. If we want to nip this problem in the bud before it turns into some fanatic detonating a massive bomb somewhere that will kill thousands of people, then we need to get our point across first try with every group we confront. Call it a 'War on Stupidity'. You said it yourself, they're radiating Unnatural Fear. That means they're panicking and jumping to conclusions. So, like any reasonable person who sees another person all worked up for nothing, I'm going to proverbially slap some sense into them with this."
He held up his bow, and Kosmotis frowned.
"That's not going to work with them all."
Jack shrugged.
"No, but hopefully it'll work on most of them. That means fewer that you need to keep track of, so if you catch them trying to build bombs or gather weapons you can pass word to the local authorities and get them arrested and dealt with that way."
That made Kosmotis stare.
"Pass word on? Jack, I am invisible to all humans except your family and the people of Santoff Claussen."
Jack let out a long sigh, facepalming.
"You never heard of 'anonymous tip-off'? Go to Tooth and she'll write it down for you in whatever language you need, then you can put it where someone in authority will find it."
There was a moment of silence before Kosmotis responded, and he did so with a sigh.
"I shall consider it, but for now we should find Xiùlán. If she is as uneasy as would be expected, I should be able to locate her quickly."
Jack nodded, conjuring up a cloud of frostdust and sitting upon it as Sandy would sit on his cloud of dreamsand. Kosmotis couldn't fly, and so couldn't follow him through the air. And Jack couldn't shadow-walk and follow Kosmotis. The easiest solution was to provide transport.
"Hop on, and I'll give you a ride. Just don't blame me if you start to giggle from sitting on this."
Kosmotis leapt lightly onto the cloud and sat down, unfazed as Jack then ushered it up into the air and followed the directions his fellow immortal gave. They headed out towards the depths of the bamboo forest on the closest cluster of nearby hills. Gliding above the tall swaying stems in search of the local Legend.
They found her sitting beside a spring, gazing at the waters which trickled musically over the surrounding rocks. She flinched in surprise when the cloud of frostdust and its passengers descended into the clearing, almost tripping on the hem of her robe as she stumbled backwards.
Jack dismissed the cloud, allowing him and Kosmotis to drop lightly to the ground.
"Relax, Xiùlán, we're here on work. Namely to talk or knock some sense into the idiots that bombed your festival."
Xiùlán, who was almost as short of stature and fragile-seeming as Ariko, regarded them warily. She did not have the same underlying bold pride as the Spirit of Spring, nor the same inward strength of presence. She lived up to her name, more like a delicate bloom to be handled with care, than a stalwart and study spirit.
"Then why seek out me? Go talk to them, if you feel you must. I have no interest."
Jack started to move, but stopped when Kosmotis stepped forward. Surprising both Legend and Guardian with his calm but earnest words.
"So you have no interest in correcting the wayward path of three of your own believers? They live in that very town, the one they harmed with that bomb. They fear that things will change, now that you are visible to most here and acknowledged by all the world as real. What interest would you have in a small place like this, when there is all the world out there?"
Xiùlán stared, tension replaced by shock and then concern as she rose to her feet.
"They fear I'll abandon them? Then why try to hurt me and their fellow believers?"
Jack gave her a wry smile.
"Sometimes mortals do stupid things when they want to get attention. That's what I'm guessing." He then glanced at Kosmotis. "You never said that was their problem."
The Steward gave him a sidewards glance.
"I said their greatest fear was 'change', which is an accurate summary. I'd have come here and told her sooner, were it not for the fact she would have run away if you were not with me." Kosmotis saw her twitch at that, his smile turning slightly bitter. "It has been seven years now since I was freed, and began my new role working for my daughter. Surely by now I am due at least a little grudging trust. After all, I am here to help. Letting the Unnatural Fear fester in those men's hearts, will do no favours in keeping the Fearlings weakened. If you refuse to work with me on this, I will be forced to consult with Tsar Lunar on the matter."
Xiùlán averted her eyes, hands anxiously gripping the sleeves her her robe, until she then let out a shuddering breath.
"That won't be necessary. Show me where they are, and I will speak to them."
Jack recreated his frostdust cloud, leaping aboard it followed by Kosmotis, before gesturing for her to sit on his other side. She was nervous, and sitting on the frostdust would calm her without him being obvious about it.
Xiùlán glided over and settled on the offered spot, the tension draining from her almost immediately as Jack sent the cloud back towards the town. Kosmotis directed them to one of the poorer areas, although not the poorest. To a building of the same, not the largest or the smallest to be found in the settlement.
When he attempted to open the door, it didn't move. Causing the Steward to sigh.
"They've bolted it. One moment, and I will let you inside."
He stepped into the shadow at the side of the doorway, the quiet sound of a bolt being drawn coming a moment later after he emerged from a shadow inside. The door was then eased open silently, and he gestured for the pair to step inside.
Jack lowered his voice, speaking quietly just in case.
"Where are they?"
Kosmotis pointed to the stairs.
"Up there, in the rear room. They are nervous, and the undertones to their fear tells me they may be considering building another bomb."
When Xiùlán made a sharp move towards the stairs, Jack stopped her.
"They're believers in you, and will be able to see you. Let me and Kosmotis chill them out a bit before you show yourself."
Reluctantly she nodded, waiting at the foot of the stairway as the other two immortals went up. There were only two rooms on the upper floor, the larger of which had been turned into an assembly area. There were components for bombs littered about, although it appeared there wasn't one being put together at this time. Instead the three Chinese men sat on mats around a low table, talking in hushed and nervous murmurs to each other.
Jack didn't need to glance at Kosmotis, who stepped forward without prompt and made a tugging gesture at the trio. The three men paused in reaction to the sudden absence of their fear, at which point Jack took aim at them over Kosmotis' shoulder and fired a frostdust arrow into their midst.
It was only mild, enough to make them feel brighter and more optimistic. Like they'd had a good night's sleep and woken up feeling as if it were going to be a pleasant day.
Jack now waved to Xiùlán, bidding her come upstairs, before he and Kosmotis stepped aside to allow her to pass.
The pair of them heard the trio of men gasp when they saw her, but didn't stay to listen to whatever words of reassurance or lecture she chose to give them. Instead they beat a tactful retreat and headed outside, leaving her to it.
They'd strolled most of the way along the street before Jack glanced at the Steward beside him. Kosmotis was nodding to himself with a small smile, clearly pleased with whatever he was sensing from the house.
"Any more I can help you with?"
Kosmotis returned the glance, his expression wry.
"A few."
Jack grinned.
"Then let's get going."
~(-)~
Another two months passed as things calmed down further, with the Guardians on less of a high alert and Jack gradually cutting back on the time he spent in the Hall of Mirrors. Instead he put his mind to other tasks, such as re-assessing his collection of Lieutenants. Three months of sending them out in teams with his experienced Lieutenants, to do what should have been very simple Southern Winter weather duties, had revealed a number of them were lacking in the innate skills for it. A 'feel' for weather couldn't be taught, and it was weather workers that he needed. He ended up cutting a full eighty-three from his roster, all of them animal types, and setting up an alternate 'off season' home base for them in the Arctic as compensation... Well away from the Workshop, of course.
And well out of his hair, after the headache they'd given Zuě Hu, Yuki, Kiyiya, and Marzanna. Half of those dismissed had been involved in an incident that had almost created a Grade Eleven freak snowstorm headed for South Africa. With a mistake of that magnitude, Jack just couldn't risk them continuing to work for him. Yes they were still learners, but even learners should have been able to see what was going on and call for help from someone experienced enough to fix it.
Northern Winter's prelude would start in the northernmost latitudes in three weeks, and would reach Burgess two months after that. Jack fully intended to be back to his usual routine by then, which meant getting all his 'housekeeping' done now. In fact he was beginning to feel rather less stressed and rather more cheerful as he finished up the current day's weather report. He was just sending it off when a call came in on his computer, and he answered it without pausing even a moment in his task.
"Yeah, what it is?"
He wasn't really paying attention to the image of Marcia that popped up at the top left of the screen, and so he didn't notice the disapproving glare he was in receipt of. In fact she didn't utter a word until he did look, at which point she held up several printouts of notes in many different languages. The only common visual theme of them was the image of a spread-winged raven perched in the middle of a ring of vines, which served as signature for the person who sent the messages.
Marcia raised her eyebrows.
"Perhaps you could give me an explanation about where these are coming from? And as to how they keep appearing on the desks of high-ranking law enforcement officers, in buildings that are supposed to be completely secure."
Jack's expression remained bland, and he shrugged nonchalantly.
"Kosmotis, the Steward of Natural Fear, can sense the Unnatural Fear radiating from those with a strong paranoia against Immortals. Including the variant of it where some of said individuals are inclined to get guns or bombs to either have a go at immortals or harm their believers. He's just been tipping off the cops closest to each case of would-be terrorists that he picks up on during the course of his work."
Marcia put down the printouts, planting her hands firmly on her desk.
"And the two-dozen cases where groups of 'would-be terrorists' have come forward and confessed to recent bombings after handing themselves to the authorities?"
The corner of Jack's mouth turned up in a slight smirk, and he chuckled.
"Kosmotis and I just gave them the opportunity to think rationally without all that Unnatural Fear screwing up their thought processes, and then introduced them to whatever immortal they were trying to target. We always left just as the lectures got started, so I don't know exactly what was said to each group. The ones that refuse to be reasonable, Kosmotis delivers a tip-off about them."
Marcia frowned in concern.
"I thought direct interference with mortals was forbidden for immortals."
Jack leaned back in his chair of ice, completely casual.
"Yes and no. Lesser Immortals aren't allowed to unless a Greater Immortal gives permission or is present. Greater Immortals will only act or grant permission if Tsar Lunar has given them express licence to. As a Top Tier Greater Immortal, naturally I have that licence."
Her frown became a scowl.
"You don't seem to be taking this seriously."
"Actually, I rather think I've taken it far more seriously than you." Jack gave her a long look. "Kosmotis can't read minds, but he can sense the underlying reasons for any act driven by fear. Between him, me, and the immortals we keep bringing in to give the lectures... We've whittled down the potential sources of trouble to maybe a thousand people at most, and that's likely to keep decreasing. Yes, there's some he can't track which are driven more by anger than fear, but then those people are what police forces are supposed to deal with. We've just made sure they can focus on the important ones, without being snowed under by the less important ones. Stop assuming that being the Guardian of Fun, means I don't know what I'm doing. Dealing with Unnatural Fear is part of my job, and I'm nearly three-hundred years older than you."
There was a warning edge to his voice now, making clear his displeasure at her calling him with the gall to reprimand him like a child. She'd overstepped a line, and from the way she cringed she realised it. He'd treated her for the most part like a friend, or at least a trusted ally.
Still wincing, her expression became apologetic.
"I'm sorry, I should know by now that what you do is none of my business. I'm just concerned that these tip-offs will lead to a loss of goodwill from the general public."
Jack let out a sigh, discretely hitting himself with a bit of frostdust to take the edge off his irritation. Marcia was only trying to do her best for the Immortals.
"Which is why I have some good publicity coming up. I've had one of my Lieutenants, Cernunnos, making contact with every human-type immortal created in the past fifty years. I should have a list of names and prior addresses for you by the end of the week, to be used to track down any living relatives. I figure finding out a loved one who was declared dead after a body couldn't be found, is alive and working as an immortal, could provide some additional Christmas Cheer if we can get a few reunions done by the start of December. But the first one will be for fifteen of my newest Lieutenants, since they all know where their relatives are. Those fifteen have all been immortals for less than a decade, so getting in touch should be easy."
Marcia now looked startled, before she started to smile and nodded.
"I'll see about securing funds for flights and hotel costs, and start arranging the details for a press conference to be held at another location from the reunion so we can keep the guest anonymous."
Jack quickly scrawled a note on a piece of paper, depositing it into the Bennett House via a mirror.
"No need to look for funds. I've just given word for a hundred-thousand dollars to be transferred out of my personal account and into a costs account to pay for anything. A card to be used to debit from that account, I'll send to you as soon as I get it."
The woman on the screen was now staring, mouth agape.
"You have your own account? And can afford that much?"
Jack laughed.
"You're looking at the great sculpture artiste, J Overland. If I make and put several larger works up for auction, I can rake in ten times that amount without even trying. Now if you'll excuse me, I have today's frostdust distribution to get done. I'll call you when I have that list."
He closed the connection, regarding the screen for a few more moments before he burst out laughing. Shocking people like that never got old.
When the day did arrive, a week after the Festival of First Snow in Burgess, Jack and his fifteen newest formerly human Lieutenants descended upon a modest conference centre and auditorium on the outskirts of Washington DC. It was still early, with the various guests not due to arrive for just over an hour, but the wait was short enough that his Lieutenants wouldn't be kept standing for long.
All fifteen of them, thirteen former winter sports enthusiasts and two would-be South Pole hikers, had an undeniable case of nerves and anticipation. They'd not been told which of their relatives were here, but that didn't matter. After several years of being invisible to them, believed to be dead, this would be the realisation of a barely dared dream.
Jack led them inside to the room where the event was to take place, which had a lectern and fifteen small stands lined up against the wall. The lectern was set-up with a speech-to-text screen and microphone, but apart from that and the stands the room was empty. The only thing that remained to be done, was for each Lieutenant to place the name-card they carried onto one of the stands, so that the name was face-down and hidden.
Once that was done, Jack turned to them.
"Remember, you're to emphasise that you won't be able to visit too often, because of your work. And to any adult relatives, when you get the chance, make sure you get them to understand the need to maintain a certain distance. You can love your families, interact with them, but never forget you need to build a wall around your heart. Otherwise when they grow old and die, one after another, it's going to hurt you more than anything you've ever known. I speak from over three-hundred years of experience in interacting with the descendants of my sister. I care for them dearly, but at the same time if it were a choice between them and duty... I'd choose my duty. Because to do anything less would be a betrayal of my responsibilities as the Spirit of Winter. You'd be fools to ignore this advice, so remember it well. As you cherish the memories you'll now be able to make, but at the same time brace yourself for the farewells that will eventually come."
He said nothing more, simply taking up his place at the lectern and remaining still. Allowing them to think on his words and prepare themselves as the time ticked closer.
When the crowd of various relatives arrived, via several cars from several hotels, they clustered loosely into fifteen groups. It was Marcia's aide who entered the room to greet them, seeing as she was eminently recognisable by now. That man addressing those present in a solemn voice.
"I welcome you here and thank you for agreeing to attend. Now I'm sure you are all wondering why you're here, and in truth it is to do with loved ones that each of you lost a few years ago. To skiing accidents, and in two cases to a South Polar trek that ended in tragedy."
A chorus of startled chatter broke out, the wife of one of the missing men calling out.
"You've found my husband's body?"
It was at this moment that Marcia entered, headed to stand beside Jack at the lectern.
"Firstly I'd like to introduce you to someone else who is in this room. Jack Frost, the Spirit of Winter, is the one who requested this be arranged."
One young boy, about twelve years old, pushed his way to the front of the gathering. He'd spotted Jack when they'd entered, but had been shushed by his mother when he'd tried to point him out. But now, as Jack sent frostdust through the room in preparation, the boy spoke to him.
"You found my dad?"
Jack's smile was kind, as he spoke into the mic so those whose belief had not yet clicked into place could know what he said via the screen.
"Not exactly, but I know where he is. As well as the others whose families are here." He paused, aware that many of those present were now looking at him directly. "How many of you can see me now?"
Almost two-thirds raised their hands immediately, and after ten seconds or so the rest hesitantly followed suit. His smile then widened, and he glanced to the side. "Guys, how about you each pick up your name-cards and show everyone who is here and where they are."
All fifteen cards were lifted by unseen hands and turned over to reveal names, and Jack's gestured to the row of Lieutenants either side of him. "I know where they are, because they work for me. And I've brought them here to see you."
There were cries of surprise and stunned joy, as the revelation of names allowed all the Lieutenants to be seen by all present. The young boy who spoke spotted his father, throwing himself at him to be picked up and whirled around.
Each Lieutenant approached their family, to be enveloped in each crowd of hugging, crying relatives. Question upon question asked about where they'd been and what they'd been doing, filling the room until it was difficult to make them out above the general noise.
But one question did come clear, from the young boy who still clung to his father.
"Dad, what's it like to be an immortal?"
His father paused to glance at Jack, before he reached out to ruffle his son's hair.
"It's... different, and definitely lonely in its way. But having friends among the other immortals, helps. The hardest part has been to be invisible, especially to you and your mother."
Jack edged towards the door, indicating to Marcia that she should follow him. As soon as they were outside the room, he then sighed and got down to business.
"When is the press conference taking place?"
Marcia leaned against the hallway wall, serious.
"In an hour, and ten miles away from here. This is down as a private hire for a function, with a buffet and drinks set up in another room. There'll be nothing to connect the two, and we'll be advising the families to remain anonymous for now."
Jack nodded.
"Well when they decide to go public, and believe me they will eventually, let me know. I've been working on some protective charms, with some help from my friend North. Any known close relative of an immortal could become a target, and the charms will create a shield to provide protection for about ten minutes in addition to alerting me. That's more than enough time for me to arrive and intervene. Any family that goes public, will be needing them just in case. Make sure they understand the risks."
Marcia nodded.
"I will."
"Jack!" The interruption startled both of them, as none other than Bunny came bounding up the hallway at full speed. He skidded to a stop next to them, not even pausing for breath as he spoke. "Workshop, news-feed monitoring room, now!"
Jack didn't need telling twice, conjuring a mirror immediately and dashing through with Bunny and Marcia at his heels. In the room everyone was gathered around Baby Tooth's screen, although they parted quickly to allow Jack through.
What he saw on the screen was a news-channel repeat of a transmission from twenty minutes previous, of David Bennett stood at a lectern at the top of the Burgess Museum's steps. The banner along the bottom of the screen said all that was needed to be said.
'Burgess Philadelphia: Family reveals blood relation to Jack Frost.'
Jack was gone before anyone could say a word, his mirror changed to take him to the pond in Jackswood Park.
Bunny took charge of Marcia, thumping his foot twice on the floor to open a burrow.
"I'll help you finish up that reunion. Jack's got other things on his mind right now."
~(-)~
Alaia Skyhawk: Yep, I'm evil. I just couldn't resist that cliffhanger lol :P
And for those wondering, Xiùlán means 'Elegant Orchid' and is pronounced Sheeoo-lan. Or at least that's what the list of Chinese names I got it from, says hehe.