October 24, 2015

Tyler Johnson skates off the ice, after the Tampa Bay Lightning lose to the "Stanley Cup Champion" Chicago Blackhawks. He is frustrated with himself. So many chances and so many shots, but no goals for the team. He enters the locker room and slams his helmet down on the shelf and then puts his gloves on either side.

TJ heaves a sigh and spins around, coming face-to-face with his captain, Steven Stamkos. Steven looks at him, clearly stifling some kind of anger or jealousy. "Hey Stammer, what's up?" he asks, ignoring the strange look from his captain.

"Look, I don't exactly like this, but, can you come with me to the equipment room, please?" Steven whispers to him.

"Sure."

TJ follows Steven out of the room. They pass by Cedric Paquette, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Erik Condra on the way out. The three are talking amongst one another. In the hallway outside of the locker room, Nikita Kucherov and Ondrej Palat are hanging out, leaning against the wall of the tunnel. They glance up and smile at TJ, who pauses to greet them.

Steven grabs his friend by the hand and yanks him away from his linemates. "Sorry Kuch and Pally, but this is important and I need TJ."

Nikita and Ondrej chuckle and return to talking to one another as Steven yanks TJ into the equipment room and then slams the door shut and locks it. TJ looks at the older man and sighs, "What is this about, Stammer? What is so important that you--?"

Steven steps forward and smacks a hand over TJ's mouth, silencing him at once. "Shh, keep it down, look I'll explain everything. Cooper trusts you with knowing this secret, don't fail him." He removes his hand.

"What?" TJ hisses.

"There's a magical Lightning Bolt, which allows Tampa's offense to thrive. Cooper wants you to go check on it."

"Me? Magical Lightning Bolt?" TJ gasps, cocking his head to the side.

Steven glances around, still not sure that they were completely alone. But he takes his phone out and pulls up a picture. "There's a reason no one touches my phone or messes with it, TJ. But...this is the Lightning Bolt..." He tilts the screen so TJ can look.

The second line centerman blinks in disbelief. In the middle of a neck-high tall holder, there is a solid blue-tinted lightning bolt. It is sparking and alive with electricity. TJ shakes his head and looks up at Steven.

"What the hell?" TJ manages.

"Pretty cool, huh? Dave Andreychuk and Steve Yzerman found it. I don't know how and no one will give the full story, but it is somehow linked to our offense. Each month one of us, either Cooper, Steve, Julien, Pat, Tom, Stacy, Rick or any of the coaching staff or me, will go and refuel it."

"Refuel it?" TJ questions with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah. There's this special potion that repowers the Bolt. That loss tonight, means the energy is low. It must be refueled and given you're a veteran now of the team, Coop and the others trust you to take care of it. I don't know why it has to be you, but they asked me to tell you. It's up to you to take this potion," he pauses as he reaches into his pocket and withdraws a bottle of shiny blue liquid. "and repower our offense."

TJ takes the bottle and grips it in his hands. He looks at it in amazement, watching as the neon lights over head turn the liquid different shades of blue. He looks back up at Steven. "I can do it. I'd love to know how it is connected to the offense...but that's cool. And no one on the team knows about it?"

"Nope. Only me and you and the staff. And you can't tell them."

"Because if I did...they might tell others...?"

"And then the NHL would know and that wouldn't be good for us." Steven slaps TJ on the back. "But you won't say anything, will ya?"

TJ shakes his head and winks at his captain. "You and the others can trust me. After all, this team welcomed me and gave me a chance, when I wasn't drafted, I can't not repay them. I'll quickly do this and then keep it a secret. I promise." He smiles sweetly.

"Good," Steven says, smiling back. "You're a good man and player TJ. You deserve the alternate captain role."

"Well, there's a ton of guys. I don't mind, as long as I am helping this team out."

Steven pats him and unlocks the door. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

"You got it." TJ dips his head and pockets the potion. He returns to the locker room with Steven and quickly changes into a nice button-down, white, short-sleeve shirt and black pants.

Then he exchanges a nod with the captain and walks out of the locker room and heads down the hall. He pulls his phone out and pulls up a message from Steven Stamkos. He begins to talk to himself as he reads the directions, "Head down the hall and enter the back ice area." He emerges into the vast open area, where a ton of equipment and staff are running about. He returns his attention back to the phone. "Continue heading toward where we load the trucks for away games and make a sharp right. Open the door and enter the room."

TJ opens the door and then looks up and finds himself staring into a blue tinted room. In the middle, he spots the Lightning Bolt. He turns his phone off and steps forward, pulling the door shut behind him. He pads forward and rounds the sparking Lightning Bolt. It is pale white in color.

"I guess it's not supposed to be white..." TJ whispers to himself, pulling out the potion. He uncaps it, ready to dump it on the Bolt.

"And chances are, you're probably right!" a voice sneers.

Before TJ can figure out who the voice belongs to, he is jumped from behind. The potion falls from his hand and lands on the ground. The bottle shatters. TJ gasps in shock and kicks back at his attackers, attempting to put up a fight. Both of his arms are snatched and he is easily overpowered.

They force him to remain still in-between them, gripping him tightly by the arms with black gloved hands. TJ grunts in frustration, his struggles gradually lessening and he stares ahead of him, as a figure steps forward.

"Tyler Johnson, isn't this a shock. Here we set a trap for your dear captain and we instead get you. Luckily you're easier to deal with than him because you're so tiny and light as a feather," the person sneers, continuing to step foward.

TJ grunts. "Who are you? And how do you get in here?"

The person stops beside the white Lightning Bolt and removes his hood. "I'm Andrei Markov of course, and you stupid idiots left the door easy to break into. How do you not recognize me?"

TJ stares at Markov, who smirks wickedly at him.

"You'll find that you are being held by Brendan Gallagher and Matt Carle..." His evil smirk widens on his face at the second name he says.

TJ swings his head from side to side as both men lean forward to wink at him. He frowns at Carle. But he is shocked to see his teammate there, holding him as a hostage. "What are you doing, Carle? You're--"

"A Lightning player?" Carle finishes his thought for him. "Yeah, I am. But see, the fans don't really like me and they joke about why I am still here, plus I get benched most of the time for a Russian. It's just not fun, you know. I actually befriended Gallagher during the playoffs. He's a funny ass guy."

"I take pride on my on-ice behavior. Vladdy knows all too well how fun I am." Gallagher snickers to himself.

TJ looks back to see Markov gripping a black bag in his hand. He turns and throws it over the Lightning Bolt. Then he ties the top of the bag with rope and sets it on the ground at his feet. "Whoops! Did I do that?"

TJ's eyes fly wide and he begins to yank at the grips on him. "Put that back!"

Markov puts his hands on his hips. "Why? Why should I do that?"

"Because it's Tampa's!"

"Last I checked, it fuels Tampa's offense, and as a Montreal Canadien, we just can't allow you all to win. You've got to suffer. After all, can't have a repeat of last year's playoffs now. Maybe you guys won't even get into the playoffs...not without your precious Lightning Bolt. Yzerchuk as I recall it being named...after Yzerman and Andreychuk that is." Markov smirks.

"NO!! How do you--?"

"How do I know? Ask Carle." Markov snickers to himself and grabs the bag with the Lightning Bolt in it.

"I followed Stammer one day and discovered it! Best part is, he has no idea I know...or Montreal. Also, because you know, Markov said it'd be best if you came with us!" Carle explains.

TJ jerks at Carle and Gallagher's grasps on him with fury. "I won't let you get away with this! I was tasked with helping the team out! They trust me!"

"Well, how's this? I take the Lightning Bolt and we kidnap you and Stammer thinks you stole it?" Markov slyly remarks.

TJ gulps. "No, you can't!! This is cheating!"

"Eh, we like to think of it more so as helping the Habs to win!" Gallagher sneers.

Markov turns on his heels and starts toward the door. "Tie him up Gally and make sure he can't alert his friends! Carle, return to your team's locker room."

"What about the potion on the ground and the broken bottle, Marksy?" Carle asks, as Gallagher and him bind TJ's wrists together with silver duct tape and then wrap more tape around TJ's elbows and chest. Then they bind his ankles with it and lastly cover his mouth, wrapping the tape around three times, before tearing it from the roll.

"It's unimportant and thanks for your help. We'll make sure to not run you through on the ice and I can put in a good word with Coach."

TJ screams into the tape over his mouth in anger and then he is hoisted over Gallagher's shoulder. Markov leads the way out of the room, followed by Gallagher and TJ, who is is kicking and squirming on the Canadien's shoulder.

"Would you knock it off?" Gallagher snaps at him.

TJ grunts a response and attempts to knee him. Gallagher rolls his eyes. Carle darts off, leaving them as Markov closes the door enough so that it is cracked and looks like TJ stole the Bolt. Then he signals to his friend and they both walk off, heading out of the arena, through the "loading truck" exit, which is halfway open.

They vanish from sight with Tyler Johnson and the magical Lightning Bolt in their "clutches".

****

November 29th, 2015 (Present Day)

Meanwhile, in Montreal, Vladislav Namestnikov makes it to a hotel near the Bell Centre. He wants to be as close to the arena as possible, so that they can rescue TJ as soon as they possibly can. Luckily for him, Steven has called the hotel to let them know and he is able to get to his room and lie down for a tiny bit, before the others arrive.

About an hour later, Steven, Nikita, Evelyna and Dani arrive in Montreal. They take a cab to the hotel and join Vladdy in the lobby.

"Oh my Gudas, this is happening!" Dani states as her eyes land on Vladdy.

Evelyna laughs. Do not be swayed by the Russian...do not fall in love with him, you have a boyfriend. You are loyal to him and only him! She watches as Vladdy's sparking blue eyes come to lock on her hazel ones. Damn blue eyes! Shit! Look away, Evelyna!

(In reality, I don't think this would happen? I'd be swayed.)

Vladdy shakes his head and Dani's mouth falls open. Evelyna forces herself to look away but Dani watches Vladdy, starstruck. His hair seems to bounce on his head like a teen model in slow motion. "Why is he so hot?" she says aloud.

Luckily for her Vladdy doesn't appear to hear her as he halts and cocks his head, eyeing the two girls. "Dani and Evelyna...wait, haven't we met before?" He nods to Dani, who giggles and blushes.

"Yeah at Fanfest."

"Right, right." He winks at her and she giggles again. "Relax, it's just me! I'll never understand you fangirls and why you lose your minds."

"Oh you know," Evelyna says. "I'm pretty sure you know."

Vladdy blinks and then shrugs. "I'm just a guy."

"Yeah, 'just a guy,' you tell yourself that Vladdy." Evelyna laughs and keeps facing away from him.

"I am. And why are you not looking at me?" Vladdy remarks.

"I think you mean that you're a super cute, hot, sexy guy!" Dani blurts out.

Vladdy wrinkles his nose up, which makes Dani squeal and lose it.

"I'm not looking, cause I'll probably end up betraying my boyfriend. I love Russians, you should know," Evelyna remarks. "I don't want to distrust him, because he really doesn't deserve heartbreak."

"Maybe if you try envisioning me as less attractive...?" Vladdy suggests.

"Yeah, right...you try that with any number of hot models, Vladdy!" Evelyna scoffs.

"Look..." Vladdy says softly as he reaches out and guides her face to look at him.

She finds herself gazing into his pretty eyes. He smiles at her and she sighs romantically and says, "I hate you so much Vladislav Namestnikov."

"Just don't think of me as attractive," Vladdy states.

"It's easier said than done though, Vladdy," Evelyna remarks. "I can't do it. It's too hard. You're too cute and--"

"Think of Stammer as you look at me," Vladdy suggests with a laugh.

"Vladdy!" Steven scolds.

"That actually...works! Sorry Stammer." Evelyna giggles. "Thanks Vladdy. Maybe in another world I can have you."

"Yeah, maybe." Vladdy remains staring at her with his hand on her face.

"But in this one, I don't find Steven Stamkos attractive and you should also probably remove your hand...uh..." Evelyna says as Vladdy finally lowers his hand and apologizes.

"Okay, now y'all are being mean." Steven folds his arms. Nikita chuckles.

"Sorry Stammer, but I gotta. Now...TJ?" Evelyna apologizes before she musters a serious look and glance between all of them, getting them all back on track with their search.

"Yes! TJ!" Vladdy exclaims. "I have a picture from Gally on TJ's phone!" He gets it out and shows them all. They gasp as they see the forward's dire state. Steven looks at his feet, shaking his head. He had no idea and he'd judged him. He feels awful.