AAOOOSC! #10

Chapter 31: "No Way!"

In Ottawa, Ontario, the three hockey players, Sidney, Toews, and John are filing into a secret elevator from the back of the NHL Headquarters.

The elevator doors slide close and since the elevator works on its own terms, they must wait for it to begin functioning.

"So, when are you able to have that time machine available, John?" Sidney asks from behind Toews and John. Since he is so short, only the top of his hair is visible between the two taller skaters.

John turns around to face Sidney. "Right after this visitation, we can utilize it."

"Oh, goodie!" He claps his hands happily. "Finally, those Gulls can go back to the future!"

John sighs as he turns away from him. "I should desist from working with time-related apparatuses," he mutters to himself.

Suddenly, the elevator's lights snap off and the edges, floors, and ceiling glow a neon blue right before it makes a daring plummet downward.

Meanwhile on the floor the elevator is rushing toward, the found of the NHL, Thomas Gorman, or Tommy for short, is at his computer. He is lounging on his swivel chair, immersed in an intense game of outdoor lacrosse.

The reporter is just as enthusiastic as Tommy's facial expression: "running down the fielding, looking to pass to someone...!"

DING!

The hologram-like man spins around in his chair to face the elevator as its doors are sliding open; John, Toews, and Sidney stumble out of it.

"You necessitate putting to rights that elevator," John points out as him and the others near him.

"I've tried to so many times," Tommy replies, "yet it keeps acting up. So I decided, 'Fine, act up.' Why fix it if it's not broke?"

"Because it just might break me," Toews mumbles, rubbing his head.

Tommy leans forward and pats Toews's head. "Oh, don't worry, my right-hand ruler. You're durable."

Sidney throws his arms out from his sides. "Tommy!"

Tommy reverts his attention to the small captain. "Ah, Sidney! Oh!" His eyes light up. "I have great news! Galchenyuk and Zadorov are back to normal! They have no memory of them having powers and anything that has to do with that." He dusts his hands against each other with a smirk.

"Oh, thanks, Gorman," Toews replies with a huff of relief.

"Moral of that:" Tommy raises his index finger in the air, "do not attempt to teleport the Stanley Cup. One might just get in the way."

The three gaze at him with confused expressions.

"I was attempting to teleport the Cup. The two Slavics just got in the way and the whole powers situation thing happened to them."

"Oh!" They then nod their heads with understanding.

"So, with that to say: What brings you men here?" His attention is now fully on them, despite the fact that the lacrosse game is still showing from behind him.

John and Sidney eye Toews.

Toews turns to look at both of them from each side. "Uh..." He faces Tommy. "I just want to let you know that we got rid of the EHP and the League Leaders."

Tommy's eyes grow wide with surprise; his jaw drops. "You really did?"

"Yeah!" He blurts out with more confidence. "John and I, we put them all in some portal..."

"Some portal?" Tommy seems skeptical with that expression of his.

Toews nods his head while fiddling with his fingers against his chest. "Yeah, I have no idea what the portal led to, I mean, I did see what was on the other side, but I had no idea what world or whatever that was was."