When humanity is threatened only the super-powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. A season of danger and excitment has arrived for the National Heroes League. With untarnished hopes and untested vigour the campaign begins. For the Maple Leafs it is a time to show the rest of the league what true power looks like.

Conor Brown and Tyler Ennis approach the smoldering boulder from opposite sides. The Ottawa Senators heroes are nervous, but at least they are familiar with the city. Toronto used to be their home, they used to patrol these streets all the time, now they are visitors but they are still heroes.

“Dare you to touch it.” Tyler says.

“Don’t be dumb.” Conor replies. “What even is that thing?”

The boulder glows with a pulsating red light, a faint wave of heat comes with each pulse. When they have closed to two feet the Senators stop. For several heartbeats they watch the boulder. It is Conor who first notices that his heart is beating in time with the pulses. It is Tyler who first hears the faint buzz that tickles the inside of his skull. Simultaneously the Senators realize they are no longer in control of their bodies.

Conor picks up a hunk of concrete and hurls it at the plate glass window of the cafe behind him, then another and another. Tyler picks up a fallen parking meter and beats in the windshields of the nearby cars. The destructive mayhem continues and it is this scene which the Captain arrives to.

He lands lightly on the rooftop of the building with the cafe on the ground floor. It is the first time John is on a mission with his new powers and he likes it. The power of flight is awesome, the terror aura will augment his own supreme chill powers well. In short, John Tavares was meant to don the mantle of the Captain and he will wear it well. Others might have done a fine job, but in this version of reality it has, and always will have been John Tavares.

The Captain looks down at the pair of former teammates rampaging in their small way. It only takes a second to see that the boulder in the middle of the street was having some sort of effect on the Senators. Beams of red energy extend from the rock to both of their heads. The rock pulses with energy that flows into the two enslaved heroes.

“Are you watching this?” John asks.

“I see it.” Morgan Rielly answers, the Leafs technopath is always there. “It looks like the rock is controlling them. That red coil you see, it’s actually a siphon. The longer they’re in it’s control the stronger it’ll get, until it sucks them dry.”

“I guess I better stop it then.” John says.

“Be careful, Captain.” Morgan is always worried.

John flies down to the street and lands beside the glowing boulder. He immediately feels the rapacious will trying to latch onto his own. Even unaltered, his will might have been able to resist. The power of the Captain easily bats aside the attempts to dominate it. The faces of captains past float by John’s imagination and he smiles to know that he is one with the timeless glory of the Maple Leafs from now unto eternity. He places his hand on the boulder, John lets his super chill flare out in time with the red pulse of the menacing stone.

The Senators both cry out in pain. They turn and glare at the Captain, who glances quickly at the two before sending out another burst of cold into the boulder. Conor and Tyler flinch and snarl then leap, as one, to tear into the Captain. Keeping one hand on the boulder, John fends off the feral attacks of his old friends. He lashes out with his power and blasts the boulder with absolute zero. The red glow goes out and the Senators collapse.

“You guys alright?” John asks with genuine concern.

Before they can answer Auston Matthews lands with a tremendous crash, obliterating the boulder and sending the Senator heroes flying to opposite sides of the street.

“What the hell was that thing?” Auston asks the Captain, who stands unfazed beside his young friend.

“Not sure.” John says. “But I think we’re going to find out.”