The Whitmoore Apartments - Christmas Party

Rufus helped Gideon wheel the third tray over to the table. Baron Rufus looked out over the assembled heroes..."No, assembled friends" he thought. Everyone was smiling or at least seemed to be having a good time. As the last of the serving dishes were placed on the table, Rufus grabbed his wine glass and held it up before him. Within moments, the room fell quiet as "the Baron of Paragon" silently requested the privilege of making a toast.

"We're gathered here tonight not to discuss a battle plan, or to declare a Task Force, or to overcome a crisis. We are here in the spirit of friendship to celebrate the holidays with people who matter to us. As I look out over this table, I don't see crusaders, or capes, or masks, or mutants, or aliens, or magicians, or any other classification the media would give us. I see those who put themselves on the line to make this city, world, and cosm better for everyone who lives here. I see family. I see friends.

"I've been accused recently of trying to get myself killed in the line of duty, a sort of 'vocational suicide'; taking obscene risks and sticking around in situations where I was over my head. Maybe I was. I think we've all lost something that was special to us; family, friends, sometimes ourselves. I was reminded that I don't do this for those who have fallen. I do this for those who are still here. I do this for you, my friends and family, so that together we might make the world a better place..."

The table exploded as the energy of the teleportation rift expanded outward from its pinpoint source, proving the Archimedes Principle that no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time. In its place, Two Rikti Armored Gunmen leveled their cannons at Rufus. "Baron, your interference is at an...what?"

Behind them 4 Circle of Thorns mages appeared, they began incantations and gestured towards Muratan. "Muratan, prepare to reap what you have sown when you crossed paths with...uhhh..."

The Window to the balcony shattered as 3 Sky Raider Winged officers crashed through. "Time to pay the Piper, Silver-Strea-....ah..."

The front door crumbled as a Capo kicked it in. 3 "Capos" followed him in with submachine guns drawn. "Hey! We’re crashing this party, and taking you out with it Stateswom-mmm-mama mia."

The villains froze at the sight around them. The heroes were holding their wineglasses, many now covered in food. Sammy had a bowl of potatoes resting, inverted, squarely on her head like a helmet. Halorin was wearing a plate or roasted asparagus on his shoulder. Anna had gravy all over her sweater. For the second time today, Baron Rufus was covered in ham. What was once a dinner party became something more, as various party-goers began to glow with power and ignite with flames. Several flexed and cracked their knuckles. 4 new beings arrived from nothing as Malcalypse summoned his Army.

Each villain had thought now would be the perfect time to hit their target, when they were vulnerable at a party. They never thought that the party was being hosted and attended by Paragon’s elite heroes. Their mouths dropped open at the grave mistake they had made. They looked at the heroes and at the other villains who ironically chose the same time as they did to strike.

Baron Rufus clenched his fist and set the goblet calmly down on the serving cart. He looked at the Rikti, but continued his toast to his friends.

"...and sometimes I do this for the sheer satisfaction of kicking someone's ass."

Several pairs of hands reached out for the intruders.

Noelle immediately sent out a wintry blast of arctic air that further confused the various attackers, while laying down a slick layer of ice on the food-covered carpet that caused many more to slip and fall. "Hey, Glow Boy! Check out the floor show -- Villians on Ice!"

Silver-Streak's eyes lit up with a nearly blinding silver glow and the glow spread along his body as he stood up. His muscular upper body pulsing with power as his feet lifted off of the floor.

"I. Have. Had. It. With. You. Raiders!!" Silver-Streak let loose a torrent of energy into the trio of Winged Raiders. "Have you no Holiday Cheer? Have you no manners! Uninvited guests are supposed to bring presents for the host of the party!" Silver blasts of energy leapt from his hands as the all three jet packs were blasted clean off of the Raiders.

"And next time use the front door!!! Didn't your mother raise you with any manners?" Silver-Streak zipped forward and brought both of his fists down squarely onto the helmet of the lead Raider. The Raider collapsed into an unconscious heap on the carpet as his helmet skidded across the ice covered floor to land Stateswomans' dainty feet.

Riot Force whipped turkey gravy out of her eyes as she wrenched the Raiders free of the Earths Gravity.

"Oi! Buggah off ya wankahs!!" She flung them into the air and out over the balcony that they had just flown through. "And a Happy Christmas ya bludy tossahs!!"

Several hours later...

Baron Rufus took a swig from his Sam Adam's Winter Warmer, the cool taste quenching his thirst. In his other hand he held a wooden fish. He reclined comfortably on Anna's couch, Anna herself relaxing next to him. Their feet rested on the remains of Anna's coffee table. The apartment was quiet now, most of the other party goers had gone home. Rufus left early but came back with a new table for Anna's dining room. The door and the sliding windows had been replaced by the time he got back. Whitmore apartments knows' it's tenants, and keeps an overstock of replacements in the boiler room.

"Merry Christmas, everyone." Rufus raised his bottle in toast and heard a worn and weary, but still festive chorus in reply. He finished his beer, set it down, and reached for a new one from the "cooler".

A dented Sky Raider's helmet filled with ice and Sam's.

Anna looked a bit downtrodden, but seemed to be getting better. She protested at first when Rufus offered her one of his antiques to replace the table that was destroyed by the Rikti, but she finally accepted it after Rufus pulled the "But I now have something to give you for Christmas" card.

"Thanks for the table Rufus, I'll try and make sure it doesn't break." Anna mumbled as she sipped her beer.

"Don't worry about it, just keep it cleaned and cared for. It's old and will need some upkeep. It was owned by the Tudors." Rufus replied.

Anna’s eyebrow raised up, "You mean Phillip Tudor of Founder's Falls fame?"

Rufus continued to drink. "No, Elizabeth Tudor, of 'The Queen of England' fame." Anna sat there slack-jawed for a moment. Rufus continued to speak, "All and all, it was a great party. I haven't had this much fun in a while. Good friends, good times, good food, heck even a good beating. Next time we'll throw it at my place, I've got more space in case the 'Gallery of Villains' decide to attack us again." He chuckled as he thought about the Rikti that sailed through the air after Anna's haymaker punch.

"I suppose."

Rufus finished his beer and stood up. "I need to get going. Anna, I know you think the party was ruined by the attack, but really, I think it worked out for the best! No one was hurt (on our side) and the only damage was a few pieces of furniture, your door, and a window. I know the family heirloom meant a lot to you, but you've got a new table now. Make it a new heirloom. Someday, you'll have little Phalanxers of your own and you get to tell them all about how some bad guys interrupted a party, blew up your table, and the Legendary hero from the Storm Knights Local 23 extended his gratitude for saving his neck by giving you a replacement that royalty once ate at." Rufus retrieved his coat and walked to the door. Anna escorted him. He faced her and put his knuckles under her chin, tilting her face up to look at him.

"You did good, Anna. The Alliance, the Phalanx, all of it. You did good. The Stateman and all the Survivors are proud of you. Very proud, so don't you forget that. Happy Holidays, Anna." Rufus kissed her forehead and Anna smiled and hugged the old warhorse from the Storm Knights. After a minute, Anna's smile turned into a nervous frown.

"Rufus?"

"Yes, Anna?"

Anna paused, "...you still smell like ham."

Rufus sighed.