==>

January 20, 2021

President Crocker Disappears at Inaugural Ceremony

CEREMONY DISRUPTED BY "MAGIC" OR PYROTECHNICS

WASHINGTON DC C — Chaos unfolded today at the inauguration ceremonies for the most-watched presidential election in the history of Earth C. At twelve noon, Jane Crocker was sworn in outside the Barack Obama Memorial White House as the 21st planetary president. A massive, minutes-long burst, described by some observers as "magical sparkles" and some as advanced flashbang-like pyrotechnics, then disrupted proceedings. After five minutes of sustained explosions and fog, President Crocker was nowhere to be found.

In the tumult, multiple Crockercorp bodyguards discharged their pistols, leading to one injury by friendly fire. Vice President Motter Ataxia and all other attending dignitaries were unharmed. While police and military officials began a search, the Vice President was quickly whisked to a secure facility to direct the ongoing effort to locate President Crocker.

Large troll-led protests against the inaugural event were disrupted by police across the capitol region shortly after President Crocker's disappearance. Authorities believe the event has a connection to the disappearance of multiple Creators this week, according to the President's press secretary.

Jane Crocker, 23, has been among the Creators most involved in public life since their return seven years ago. Her decision to run for office spurred Karkat Vantas to oppose her and seemed to mark a permanent shift in planetary politics. She is the youngest president, and the first to claim affiliation with no political party since the office was established as a successor to the Quad-Kingdom Pact first negotiated by the Mayor.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for President Crocker's disappearance. Political tensions run high across the planet, and no Creators were available for comment.

*** The news media, baffled. What's happened to their new leader?