"Thanks, Leo. I'm standing in front of the Militants' former headquarters near Pier 23. With me is San Francisco's super-powered protector, the Gnome. Can you tell me what happened here?"

"Certainly, Mr. Hopworth. I was on my usual patrol, which often takes me by this area. I feel it is necessary to inspect it from time to time, you see. When I passed the base earlier this night, I saw many colored flashing lights inside, like a show of fireworks. Naturally, I became curious and, believing magic was involved, stopped to study the effect with the aid of one of the tools I carry."

"That golden thing you have there?"

"Yes. It is a Miller Medallion. It is called that after Joachim Miller, who crafted the first of this kind in 1536-"

"Uh, I see. Thank you. What happened next?"

"The lights were magical, but I could not determine their cause, or see inside to guess what was creating them. I did not want to enter the building, for doing so would break the wards that protect it and possibly release whatever might be causing the display. So I waited where I was, using the Miller Medallion to track the progress of the effect. After a few minutes, there was a white flash and-pfft!-it all stopped. And then the police came. As you can see, they are investigating."

"There was no damage to the building? No, ah, spells going off?"

"None I could see. The wards have been broken, but the medallion reports no other effect."

"Can you replace the wards?"

"Not easily, I am afraid. I am only an enchanter, not a true magician, and it would take me a great deal of time and effort to construct a device that would take the place of the wards. Since there does not seem to have been any harm done, I feel the effort is not worth wasting."

"Could whatever have happened be connected with the Militants' last foe, Sebastian the Sorcerer?"

"It is certainly a possibility, but I do not think so. I sensed nothing evil about the occurrence. I do not believe that we have anything to fear. But I will of course be watching this area in the future."

"Thank you, Gnome. I'm sure the people of the city will be glad to know that. For KBRD Action News, I'm Bob Hopworth. Back to you, Leo."

"Okay, shut it off. Bob, what was that? I told you not to mention Sebastian!"

"Yeah, but -"

"Please, Lynette. I did not mind. It seemed a natural enough question to me."

"Look, Milo, we've been over and over this. You know that there are enough crazies out there who think any kind of magic is evil. And there are a lot of people in this city who were hurt by Sebastian. We don't want to remind them of him. We don't want you to remind them of him."

"I cannot believe that is likely. I have been in this city for over a year now, and I think people know the difference between him and me."

"Maybe ... but you don't need to have your name linked with his every time you show up. And, Milo, I keep telling you-you have to sound more positive. Not so many 'I don't know's or 'I can't do that's. Superheroes are supposed to know everything and be able to do anything."

"I will 'know' when I find some answers. Until then, it would be foolish and unprofessional of me to venture an opinion."

"Well, find some answers soon."

"Perhaps I shall have time to work on the problem when we return from the matter in New Orleans. But the obvious threat there must be more important than the strange but harmless mystery here, yes?"

"Yeah, yeah, you're right. I'm just trying to look out-"

"I understand, and I am grateful. But we have always agreed that I am to go about this business in my own manner. And I do have a patrol to complete. Have a good night. I will see you at home soon. Good night, Mr. Hopworth. It was a pleasure to meet you."

"Thanks."

"Bye, honey. Stay out of trouble."

"Ah, but if I stayed out of trouble, you would have nothing to report, I think. Good night."

Crossover Earth Home