When humanity is threatened only the super-powered might of the Toronto Maple Leafs can be counted on to save the day. All over the continent small seeds of chaotic force have been seeking to control the powers of the National Heroes League. The battle to save the planet is on, and it is fierce.

Exhausted, Morgan Rielly sways but keeps his feet underneath himself. Six filthy Mitch Marners coalesce into a singularity. Auston Matthews veils his light, his body still quivering with energy. The Maple Leafs let out a collective sigh of relief, each hero appreciates the narrow margin their survival teeters upon. Today they were saved by the implacable will of a Russian cyborg but Alex Ovechkin will not always be available.

For Auston he feels the sting of being rescued as a defeat. He knows his strength and knows his powers have not reached the limits of his potential. It is as though all the glory of the universe is within his grasp and all he need do is close his hand yet he cannot. Tonight he pushed hard and it wasn’t enough. Tomorrow he will push again.

Mitch hates dying. Every single time it happens he feels like a small part of his core is lost. Tonight he only died once after getting tossed hundreds of feet in the air. A little bile comes up in Mitch’s throat as he recalls the ground rushing at him so fast. He shakes off the feeling. Every death is a lesson. If the loss is to be valued it must be remembered. Life and death hang in the balance of every breath we take. Mitch knows this and he faces the challenge with pride.

Morgan can hardly feel his legs but will not fall down. It’s been a long night for the Maple Leaf technopath. Not only was he fighting for his life with his team, he was also maintaining his constant vigil over every digital system on the planet in hopes of finding the key to unlocking the pattern behind the invasion of chaos plaguing the world. So far the search has yielded nothing. Doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea to look, it’s taxing and it draws on Morgans reserves, but it’s not a bad idea. Morgan can handle it.

The Maple Leafs did not save the day today. But they will stand ready to save the day tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.