“You’re safe,” he called out to reassure the Father Christmas. “What happened to you?”

“Krampusteufel,” the simple response came back.

Brad nodded knowingly. “How far out?”

“Just over Newfoundland. I was heading for my route.”

“Where is your route?” Brad continued his questioning.

“Texas,” he replied, checking his clipboard then tossing it back into the sleigh.

“Hmm, right ok. So I believe there’s a replacement coming to take your route over. The SRART are having difficulty getting out for some reason, which is why we’re here to protect you until then. Then we’ll get you back to NoPo.”

“Fine,” said the Father Christmas clone rather robotically.

“Hi, by the way. My name is Kimona." She gave a goofy starstruck wave. "This is Mindy and Holt.” The Father Christmas looked between the three and then back at Brad, without saying anything back. “He’s not very talkative, is he?” she said to Brad.

“He’s just a clone, Kim. They’re not intellectually gifted. They’re just… workers. Produced for a role. And they’ll all be gone by sunrise.”

“So how many of these clones are there out there tonight?” Holt asked.

“For America alone? Two thousandish. Roughly forty going to each state. Across the whole world in total, I’d say there was a hundred and fifty thousand. Seven hundred odd per country, give or take, depending on its population.”

Kimona and Mindy’s jaws dropped. “That many? Replicated by one guy?”

“It’s pretty impressive right? Why do you think he does it once a year? Think of all the energy consumed to perform that kind of thing. He takes the rest of the year off to hibernate just to rest and be ready to do it again a year later.”

“It all makes sense,” Kimona marvelled.

“Guys, I’m going airborne. I sense approaching company,” announced Holt. The atmosphere turned tense, an eery hush contagiously spread between the group. Holt silently breached the tree canopies. Father Christmas readied his gun, looking down its sights.

In the distance, some bells rung out.

“That’s them,” the Father Christmas whispered.

“Them?” Mindy asked.

“They hunt in packs.”

“Hunt?” Kimona repeated. “Who hunt in packs?” Her heart rate quickened.

Holt dropped to the ground. “We have a dozen surrounding us from all points,” he informed.

Brad took charge. “There’s five of us, don’t fret. Those guys are Krampusteufel. Avoid the chains they wield. And their horns on their skull mask helmet things. They’re big, and they are savage. Fight hard.”

“You don’t need to tell me,” Holt snarled, clenching his fists and bringing them up in a ready position.

The bells sounded again, this time a bit louder as their wearers got nearer.

Amongst the trees, some figures appeared. Horned figures.

Brad wasn’t exaggerating. They were big.

“Are they even human?” Kimona asked, locking eyes on the three ahead of her.

“Once, but not anymore.”

The Krampusteufel continued their approach, some physical details becoming clearer. They were dark in colour, covered in mangy, matted fur cloaks. Their heads were covered in a skull looking helmet, with deadly looking decorative curled horns. They were dragging a length of chain from one hand.

“Let’s take the fight to them, I don’t want to be pinned,” Mindy decided. The others silently agreed and as a collective, they charged, fanning out in a circle to take on the Krampusteufel head on.

Father Christmas ran out, rapidly shooting quick bursts at the few he was taking on. Brad reached out with two fists on the end of very long arms. Holt and Mindy went for the aerial approach, dive bombing in and out between the savage horned beasts. Kimona ran and went for some close quarter combat. She was able to manipulate the snow like she could with water, due to the snow’s water based properties, but these beasts were snow dwellers and it wouldn’t have much impact against them.

Their enemies though were quick and they were dodging the bullets. And the elongated arms. And the swift swoops of the siblings. They were also managing to swing their chains too. This was not an easy fight.

Mindy took to the ground, wrestling a Krampusteufel one on one. She grabbed it’s chain as it tried to whip her with it and wrapped it around itself, spinning gracefully onto its shoulders. It struggled and ferociously grabbed for her as she twisted and choked it around the neck. She continued to squeeze until she decapitated it.

Father Christmas continued to fire shots at the beasts, filling them with lead, aiming proficiently at the enemies near him. When he was close enough, he was able to use the gun to beat them but the fatal blows were given with the silver dagger he produced. The one closest to him took a stab to the abdomen. He thrust it all the way to the hilt, and with a hard tug, slicing across the gut, causing the innards to spill out.

Stab.

Gut.

Repeat.

Brad snaked between blows, dodging and ducking. Him and Kimona hard the toughest jobs as they were just relying on their enhanced strength, which wasn’t enough. Father Christmas realised this, and tossed Brad the silver dagger, and after some close quarter, he was able to gut his prey in a similar fashion.

Holt finished drilling his solar beam into the face of a downed Krampusteufel and slowly descended back into the bloodied snow covered ground.

His teammates had finished defending themselves against the last remaining and were stood surveying the graphic and violent remains of their foes. Brad tossed Father Christmas back his dagger. The hilt was ornately decorated, and the blade serrated.

“Is anyone hurt?” Brad puffed.

One by one, they declared themselves safe and unharmed.

A voice crackled from the sleigh. Father Christmas walked towards it, wiping the blood off the dagger on his sleeve as he went. Kimona couldn’t make out the conversation, but after a minute he returned.

“The SRART are five minutes out,” he informed in a matter of fact way. Kimona was relieved. She trudged off after Father Christmas towards his sleigh. After all this, she at least wanted to check out his ride and maybe pet some reindeer.

The sleigh was large- half the length of a rock band’s tour bus but also the height of it. It was solid wood, with no roof and was beautifully decorated in a rich red colour with gold and black finishes. The sleigh sat on sturdy, carved wooden landing skids, which had left the tracks they were following earlier. It was just like you’d imagine one to look like.

Up front were the eight reindeer, in four rows of two, stretched out for twenty metres. It was one of the front ones that was injured and Holt was knelt down beside it trying to heal it.

Kimona traced her hand along the paint work as she slowly walked around, examining it. On the right side was painted in white the words, ‘The Spirit of Christmas’.

“They have a bunch of different names, like boats do,” Brad said, appearing from behind, startling her somewhat.

“It’s beautiful,” was all she could say, mesmerised. “And all the presents are inside?”

“Well, packed within a quantum vacuum sort of thing. There’s some magic that means it can store more stuff in the back than it looks like it could actually carry.”

“That’s crazy Brad,” she whispered under her breath. He didn’t say anything, but his beaming smile said it all. He was glad she was impressed. And deep down, a little bit pleased with himself.

“Heads up, the calvary’s arrived,” Mindy announced, pointing up. Over head two beams of light shone down- one from a new sleigh and another from a large jet similar to what The Collective fly around in.

Kimona couldn’t stop smiling. “Looks like Christmas is saved.”

***

Kimona sat in the cockpit of Eagle-One as they approached the North Pole. Ahead of them was the old, out of action recovered sleigh, empty of the presents which were transferred to the new sleigh for the children of Texas. The new sleigh and the replacement Santa clone had taken over the route ensuring no one was missing out.

“Well I can’t see anything out there, it’s just a mass of ice and water. But you’re going to take some joy in telling me there’s some magical reason for that aren’t you?” Kimona asked, cottoning on to the fact there was always an explanation behind the magic.

“You learn quick, young one,” Brad replied back in a funny voice.

“So go on, what is it. Where are we going? How are we getting there?”

“It’s just up ahead, where that ice sheet is. Remember that cloaking technology that concealed the sleigh earlier? That same technology is used to cloak the entire North Pole operation. You’ll see in a minute. The factories, the stables, the residential area. It’s a basically a town, all hidden under a holographic barrier.”

Sure enough, within ten seconds, the view changed instantly as they had passed through the barrier, and what a sight.

The town was sat at the bottom of some snowy mountains that towered over the left side and the back of the town. The tops of the roofs and trees were blanketed with snow, the lights in the houses glowed orange and were decorated with multi-coloured festive lighting.

A river flowed along the right side of the town, where on the other side, the more ‘industrial’ gift giving production was situated. There were rows of warehouses that were as big as movie production studios, an endless number of stables and paddocks with thousands of sleigh take off pads dotted around to facilitate the departure and arrival of the sleighs. At the top of the mountains was a house. A huge, stone brick mansion that looked more like a small castle.

“And that’s where St Nicholas lives,” Brad said pointing to the mansion, noticing Kimona’s eyes were drawn to it.

Eagle One came into land on one of the Sleigh landing zones, where Mindy and Holt joined up with them.

“This place is beautiful! Did you see all the lights?” Mindy exclaimed.

“It’s magical. Better than how I could have imagined it to be,” agreed Kimona.

“St Nicholas has some time to see you now,” declared an official who had come from one of the warehouses. “Move it on now, he’s a busy man.”

“Is he… is he an elf?” Kimona whispered to Brad as they followed the hasty worker.

“That’s not exactly politically correct… but yes.”

The ‘elf’ shot a glance back at Kimona. “We prefer the more culturally sensitive term, ‘Huldufólk’. We’ll excuse you this one time due to the whole… bewilderment phase you’re going through.” He continued to lead them towards a waiting lite helicopter which was going to be taking them up to the castle. “This will take you up to the castle.”

Kimona didn’t get the tour she was hoping for and instead the four visitors were led directly to a warm and cosy library and invited to sit on a selection of grand armchairs. An open log fire danced in the fire place for their attention, coaxing them with its heat and alluring flame. Holt stood by it embracing it’s call, while the other three sat politely.

The doors opened abruptly and the group simultaneously turned to look.

“Greetings, my children. A merry Christmas to you all!” a wise, deep voice boomed. It was St Nicholas himself. Dressed in a full length, rich red robe with white trim, the tall man proudly walked further into the room. He was large and looked like an old man- certainly not the seventeen hundred years he actually was, but like he could be in his eighties at the very least. He had a solid head of white hair on his head that also led south of his face into a beard. Just like he looked on the TV adverts. “I owe you all a big thank you for saving Christmas for some Texan children.”

“It’s our pleasure to help,” Kimona offered, curtseying for the gift giver.

“Oh please, there’s no need for that,” he said, politely dismissing the gesture.

“Aaah my boy,” he said to Brad who was nearest to him, and clearly was a recognised face. “It’s been a while hasn’t it? Oh dear, I feel there’s a weight of guilt you carry on your shoulders.”

Brad blushed and nervously looked away briefly. “Merry Christmas, Saint Nicholas,” he replied, then changed the subject, “These are my friends. Kimona is sat over there and then this is Holt and this is Mindy.”

St Nicholas looked at the new faces and beamed warmly. He left Brad’s side and approached Kimona who was closest.

“Kimona Jones, it’s a joy meeting you. You’re a long way from home aren’t you, but you show immense strength at the adjustment. Everyone is really proud of you. And Mindy, Holt. Welcome to the North Pole. I sense loss from you both," he sighed. "Holt, my boy, yours burns strong. I’m sorry I can’t fix that for you.”

“It’s ok, St Nicholas. But thank you, we are healing with time.” Mindy snuggled close to Holt and supportively squeezed his arm.

A slight awkward silence was cast upon the room whilst Brad and Holt noted each other’s emotions that were called out by an empathic St Nicholas. A lot of time had passed and they had moved on in regards to their feelings towards each other, but clearly there was some harbouring of feelings that still continued.

“You two will make up, I’m sure,” St Nicholas continued, clasping his hands together like a hopeful grandpa. “Time is a great healer, Holt. You’re right my dear boy.” Holt and Brad looked at each other and smiled awkwardly.

He really is all knowing, thought Kimona, extremely impressed.

“But, if you’ll excuse me. It’s a busy night for me. You know how it is. I just wanted to thank you personally for saving Christmas. Osbane will be here in a moment to walk you back to your jets. A merry Christmas to you all!” And with a twinkle in his eye and a broad smile, he turned and left the room.

“Mind…. Blown,” muttered Kimona when St Nicholas had gone. She leant back into a slouch on the sofa.

Osbane, another Huldufólk with a rifle turned up. “You all ready to follow me?”

“Let’s get you all back to the cabin in time for Christmas Morning. It’s been a wild night,” said Brad.

Kimona agreed, “I’m pooped. I feel tired but I also know I'm not going to get any sleep after tonight! I’m excited to see Do’Lânqwa’s boys open their presents from Santa.”

“Remember, keep the magic alive!” Osbane said.

“Oh believe me, I will guard this secret until my last breath.” Kimona linked her arm around Brad’s as they walked towards the grand staircase of the castle. “Thank you, Brad.”

“You’re welcome Kimona. Thanks for giving me a hand out there tonight.”

“Brad...” Kimona began after a brief pause.

“Yes?”

“What’s the deal with the tooth fairy then?”