Coldsnap: Storm's Call

Chapter 36: W.H.R.R.L. Unleashed

We last read Chapter 35, in which W.H.R.R.L. receives a call from Galeforce verifying the "success" of their plan to manipulate the United States into conducting a strike on Russia, kickstarting World War III and completing the Storm Sect's plan of wiping out humanity with nuclear weapons. After Galeforce assures W.H.R.R.L. that nothing could possibly go wrong now, things promptly start going wrong, with Coldsnap abruptly returning to Skycrest and bringing the full might of the Mage Aspects to siege the capital alongside her; in addition, her best friend Firebird breaks into the Royal London Hospital—where the President is currently recovering from the motorcade attack—in order to convince him to call off the strike. This time, the fate of humanity hangs in the balance as the Mage Aspects begin racing against time to foil Galeforce's plot. Will they succeed, or will untold millions be killed by impending surge of radiation.....?

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W.H.R.R.L. took a handgun from a nearby incapacitated Secret Service agent and threw it to the President before pulling one for himself right out of his suit. As they both took aim at the fiery heroine, however, Firebird gently set her tranquilizer gun down on the floor and slowly raised herself back to a standing position, raising both of her hands up as though she were surrendering.

"You probably might want to aim that gun to your left, sir," Firebird suggested, nodding slightly to W.H.R.R.L.'s position using her head.

But W.H.R.R.L. wasn't having any of it. "Shoot her right now, Mr. President," he said. "This woman took out my security detail, entered my safehouse unauthorized, began asking me questions, and making demands of me as though she owned the place. And now she's back to do the same thing to you."

"I'm not here to hurt you," Firebird reassured the President. "But he is."

The President turned his head towards W.H.R.R.L.

".....Advisor Weiss? What is she talking about?"

"Sir, she is clearly delusional," W.H.R.R.L. insisted. "I have served you for many years, and would not have the slightest idea of hurting you."

Firebird initially looked a little annoyed, wondering how she could possibly expose W.H.R.R.L. in front of the President.

Then, she remembered.

The true Wallace Weiss was a nice person to everyone he met, regardless of who they were or where they came from. He was always willing to compromise and was remarkably slow to anger, unlike this new impostor.....whoever he was. This new "Wallace Weiss" had absolutely refused to entertain her visit to his safehouse, and already slung mud at her name and rudely dismissed her once before.

Perhaps if she began teasing and insulting him, she could get him to blow his cover.

"Mr. President, your 'advisor' is a spy," she accused. "He is a traitor who does not keep the country's well-being close to his heart."

The President slightly lowered his handgun and heard Firebird out for a moment; after all, she was still one of Earth's heroes, however infrequently she visited. "Really? And what possible proof do you put forth?"

"This should be interesting....." W.H.R.R.L. commented. "Answer him, Firebird. What could possibly make you come to the conclusion that I'm a spy?"

Firebird smirked; she was going to enjoy this. "Well, for one thing, the Wallace Weiss that the United States knows would never push you to do something so harsh so quickly," she started. "He would encourage behaving reasonably, and tell you to think things through. But clearly those are two things that this impostor wouldn't know."