Mission time is here again. With a small sigh, Billy removed himself from his latest side project. Confirming that his morpher was strapped to his belt, he dutifully reported to the Observation Deck.

His surprise continued to mount as he read over the mission briefing. They were visiting another Earth-like planet---another painful reminder that his own was gone. But now wasn't the time to resurrect that pain again. He clicked on the cultural database and examined it. Similar to his own planet in some ways, but with some differences.

The part of the briefing that really widened his eyes was the mission statement. A spiritual entity at the North Pole? The legend of Santa Claus immediately came to mind.

"We're expected to restore the spirit of Christmas." But could they?