The Rogue Files

Mystery Gift: Day #20

It was a long day of work for TRF, and the agents came back to Headquarters to find a small wrapped box in the middle of the table.

"What is that?" Andy asked, stepping forward to look at it, "I thought we had already done a gift exchange." He looked at the tag and read,

"To: TRF
From: ?
Merry Christmas. Have fun and good luck."

"Who's it from?" Asked Pink.

"We don't know," said Andy. "Whoever it is, they clearly want to keep it that way."

"I'll open it!" Offered Alpha. He stepped forward and ripped open the wrapping paper, revealing a black metal box with two hinges keeping it closed.

"What the hell?" Remarked Pink. "What is in that?"

"Only one way to find out. Open it." Tris said.

Alpha grabbed the hinges, but immediately fell on the floor, having been shocked by the box.

Janae screamed and hid behind Tessa, who held in a laugh.

"Th- that's not from a villain, is it?" Janae asked softly.

"We don't know.." admitted Andy. "Just don't touch it, we'll dispose of it properly later."

"No, I want to know what's in the damn thing," said Alpha, getting off the floor. He braced himself and grabbed the hinges again, but again was given an electrical shock by the box. He stumbled back, holding his hand in pain.

"Maybe it's conflicting with your powers," offered Tessa. "Let someone else try. Pink?"

"Not unless it's a milkshake," Pink responded, shaking her head.

"Maybe it is!" Tessa said.

"Ooooo" Pink ran to the box and grabbed the hinges, only to have the same thing that happened to Alpha happen to her. "Owww!" She said, stepping away.

"Ok, now we pretty much know its from a villain," said Andy. "There might be a bomb in there for all we know. I'm getting rid of it." He stepped forward and grabbed the box with one hand, but he was shocked as well. "AGH- THAT FUCKING HURT," he said stepping away.

Everyone erupted into conversation about what to do, when Messi had an idea.

"Why don't we take wooden sticks and flip the hinges? Wood doesn't conduct electricity, it shouldn't shock us."

"Good idea, but who knows what will happen when it's opened?"

"Again, only one way to find out," Tris said, "just do it, someone make a forcefield around it in case it's a bomb or something. I'm a bit curious as well."

Pink made a forcefield around the box and the sticks that Messi were now holding as he carefully flipped the hinges upward and poked the box's lid open. Everyone gathered around and looked carefully to find... confetti?

"What the?..." Pink put down her forcefield and sifted through the confetti to find nothing more. "Awwwww no milkshake" she said sadly.

"Is this some kind of joke? Maybe it triggered an alarm to the person who sent it, be on guard." Andy said, activating his bionic arm. Everyone else drew their weapons, looking around carefully for some kind of trouble. Then they heard laughing.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHA," The voice said as it came around the corner. "That was more entertaining than grenade baseball!"

"...ACE?!" Aj exclaimed, "THAT WAS YOU?!"

"Who else? Surely not... a ViLlAiN" he said as he teleported behind Janae, who screamed. "Oh, that was great. You all looked so confused.. and ANDY GETTING SHOCKED, THAT WAS THE BEST PART OF IT ALL"

Andy stared at Ace with a shocked, blank expression. After regaining his composure, he said "two weeks of training for you."

"AWWW BUT-"

"Three weeks."

"BUT ANDY I-"

"A month."

"...fine. As long as I get iced coffee."

"A month and a half?"

"OK OK, A MONTH." He said with a groan. "But I'm still getting iced coffee."

Janae picked up the box, which had been disabled since it had been opened, and dumped the confetti on Ace, followed by blasting water in his face.

"WHY YOU LITTLE-" Ace teleported his scythe and chased Janae out of the room, while Alpha took the box and chucked it at Ace's head as he disappeared around the corner.

"OW!"