Black Ice
To Aaron: Hey there Aaron! I'm glad you liked the last chapter, man. I'm glad you liked my choices of roster for Freedom Force. It accompanies a little of everything: We got a powerhouse, speedster, a couple elementals, and a quick form of transport. I came up with Lila's codename because when she teleports, she makes her way through the stars, so Starway. How will Bobby react when he meets Freedom Force? Well, we'll find out. And there's still one more member Bobby's not met yet. I chose Karma as a leader because I have never created an Evo version of her, and I think in the comics, she led the New Mutants for a while. Plus, she contributes to the diversity of Freedom Force (If you read the comics, you'll know about Karma). Actually, I think Fury would want to keep Freedom Force under wraps from Xavier and Logan. Fury is an ally and a close friend of Logan, but he's been in the spy game for years. He knows he's going to need something if the X-Men ever go rogue, and that maybe a reason he formed Freedom Force. Also, Freedom Force could be used to cast mutants in a positive light. People may not be so afraid of mutants if they see a group of young mutants using their powers for the government. Enjoy the new chapter!
To Klinoa: Hey there Klinoa! Nice to hear from you! I'm glad you like seeing how this fic is going so far. I've been talking with todd fan about possible ideas, so she helped out immensely. I wondered what happened to Bobby after 'To Err is Human' myself, which is the reason why I'm writing this fic. I had some ideas of what happened to him, so here we are. Todd fan has made this fic part of Sidney Chronicle continuity, so I hope I do a good job on it. Yes, Bobby has gone out there a bit. One of the things I hope I do with this fic is show Bobby fighting off the darkness within him. Enjoy the new chapter!
To todd fan: Hey there, todd fan! Yep, Freedom Force works for Nick Fury. They answer to him. I thought that would be an interesting twist to put in. I still have one more member of Freedom Force to introduce. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!
To Red Witch: Hey there, Red Witch! I read your new stuff and I loved it! Yeah, things are getting very interesting around here! The Patriots are going to the Super Bowl again? Looks like I'll have to work on "Misfit Bowl II" or something like that. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!
To Raliena: Hey there Rae! Actually, I wanted Nick Fury to keep Freedom Force sort of under wraps from the X-Men. He formed them to put mutants in a more positive light, and as a card he can play if the X-Men ever go rogue. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!
To Readerrr Grrrl: Hey there Reader! I'm glad you like this story. How do I do it? Well, to be honest, I make up a lot of my stories as I go along. Anyway, enjoy the new chapter!
Disclaimer: "I had to ride my bike! My behind is killing me!" - Eric Cartman, South Park
Chapter 4: Getting to Know You!
Freedom Force HQ, California
The members of Freedom Force were gathered in the living room, sitting around in the couch and chairs.
"Well, you are a motley bunch." Robert "Iceman" Drake said to the members of Freedom Force.
"You don't look like much yourself, shorty." John Proudstar crossed his arms. "You one of those X-Men we heard about?"
"Not anymore." Bobby scowled. "And don't call me shorty."
"Pal, when you're me, practically everyone is short compared to you." John smirked.
"How is the weather up there anyway, Thunderbird?" Kyle Wildfire teased.
"Keep it up Bolt-boy, and you'll be seeing California from space!" The large Apache snapped.
"Bring it on!" Kyle snapped back.
"Calm down, you two." Shan and Lila prevented the two boys from pounding each other's heads in.
Sheesh! With their tempers, I'm surprised they waited until now to start brawling. Shan mentally sighed. She then noticed something. "Hey, has anyone seen Ace?" Shiro snorted.
"That feral is always so easily distracted." The Japanese mutant scowled, crossing his arms.
"Who?" Bobby blinked.
"Ace Starr. He comes from right here in California. Los Angeles to be exact." Shiro grumbled.
"He thinks he's David Lee Roth or something." Lila chuckled. "He dresses like an 80s rocker. He's a feral mutant with a feline mutation. He's got enhanced abilities, a healing factor, plus the ability to fire blue laser beams from his claws."
"Knowing Ace, he's probably hanging out somewhere in town and either playing music at a club or cruising the beach, looking for a date." Shiro grumbled.
"Lucky punk." Terrell groaned. "Ace Starr never has trouble getting a date."
"I do not see why Fury recruited him." Shiro growled. "He takes nothing seriously."
"Ace is dedicated to the team, Shiro. You don't need to worry." Shan re-assured. "He's always been there when he needed us." The group heard a door slam. "Speak of the devil."
"Aaaaaaaow Ace Starr, the Wildstar, the Ace of Hearts, the King of Rock Beasts, has arrived, baby! Whoo!" A handsome teenager, around 16, whooped as he entered the room. His handsome face looked a little cat-like, and his wild hair was two-tone: brown with black tips. Ace's hair looked like the mane of a lion. He was dressed in an old AC/DC concert t-shirt, tucked into a pair of acid-washed blue jeans, with a black studded belt. He also wore a blue leather jacket with black sleeves, small silver spikes on the shoulders, and the back of the jacket showed a white-and-silver lion. His hands were clad in black biker gloves, and his claw-like fingernails were painted bright blue. His chocolate brown eyes twinkled with a fun-loving attitude. His left eye had a birthmark of an eight-pointed star, with the cardinal points of the star longer than the other four. Around his eyes, Ace wore silver make-up. His wrists were decorated by various bracelets each, some studded.
"Finally, he arrives." Shiro glared at Ace. Ace shot the Japanese mutant a grin, showing his fangs.
"Oh come on, Shiro." Ace laughed. "I've never been late before. Traffic was murder." Ace noticed Bobby and raised an eyebrow. "Who's the newbie?"
"Are you wearing eye make-up and nail polish?" Bobby asked. Ace smirked.
"I love 70s glam rock. Besides, girls find men who wear make-up very attractive. Just ask Gene Simmons, brother."
"Gene Simmons looks better with make-up anyway." Kyle rolled his eyes.
"Bobby, this is Ace Starr, codename Wildstar." Shan explained. "Ace, that's Bobby Drake, aka Iceman. He was one of Xavier's students."
"I left." Bobby said simply. "I have some personal business to deal with, and I didn't need Xavier's help." Especially since I was able to increase my powers on my own. "So, what is this Freedom Force thing about?"
"Nick Fury had gathered us up to help put mutants in a more positive light." Shan answered. "The theory is that if there's a team of mutants that are being trained by the government, Joe and Jane Q. Public won't be so hostile and fearful of the mutant population."
"How'd he convince you guys?" Bobby wondered.
"Ah, the usual stuff: Fame, Money, Girls." Ace quipped.
"We all got involved in this stuff for our own reasons." Shan explained.
"I wanted to do something useful with these powers of mine, man." Terrell said. "They first came to me when I ran across the street to grab this girl off. You see, I grew up in Compton. Tough neighborhood. These two gangs were about to bear down on her in cars, more interested in their little drive-by confrontation. I ran across the street, and before I knew it, I was a speedster. When the gangs fired at each other, they nearly caught us in the crossfire. Luckily, my wind powers also emerged to blow the bullets away into a wall."
"I…don't talk much about my past. Let's just say it involves jerky parents and space travel." Lila grumbled, crossing her arms.
"The Thunderbolt comes from a family of pro wrestlers." Kyle smirked proudly. "The Thunderbolt says his family is proud of that! The Thunderbolt's daddy was World Champ, and his grandpa was World Champ!"
"Kyle's powers make him a living generator." Shan explained. Bobby smirked.
"Electrical powers. I know a couple people who can pull electrical tricks." Iceman smirked.
"He has the ability to generate electricity and shape it to his whim." Shan added. Kyle demonstrated by forming a statue of Bret Hart out of electricity.
"All the Thunderbolt has to do is think it, and it becomes it. Just like the Green Flashlight." Kyle grinned. Bobby raised an eyebrow.
Wow. Berzerker couldn't do that with electricity! Bobby whispered.
"I am like Lila over here." Shiro crossed his arms. "I prefer not to speak about my past. I am from Japan, and I have the mutant power to fly and generate plasma."
"Suit yourself." Bobby shrugged.
"As for me…" Ace smirked. "You would love my life story. Born on the back of a tour bus to a roadie and a groupie, settled in LA. Played guitar since age 4, did some commercials as a kid. I'm a star, baby! I'm a man with heavy metal wishes and rock 'n' roll dreams."
"Not to mention Ace never has trouble getting a date." Rictor chuckled. "Lucky stiff. As for me, just call me Rictor. I'm from Mexico, and I can generate sonic waves from my hands. I can use them to give out one heck of a punch or create small earthquakes."
An rocktumbler, just like Avalanche. Bobby thought.
"They call me Thunderbird around here." John smirked. "I'm essentially a super-athlete. I'm very strong, very fast, and very tough. I am a proud member of the Apache tribe, and I want to restore glory to my people."
"And what's your story?" Bobby shot a look at Shan. The Asian girl seemed to look a little nervous.
"Well, I don't like to talk about my past much. I'm from Vietnam, and my uncle is not exactly…nice." Shan explained. "I had it rough as a kid. Nick Fury and an old friend of his rescued me and my siblings from Vietnam and my uncle, and we've lived in America ever since. I've done a lot of the raising of my siblings, so when Fury formed Freedom Force, he asked me to lead it. I felt I had to pay him back, so here I am."
"How'd he find all of you?" Bobby cast a suspicious look at Freedom Force.
"You think that cue-ball Xavier is the only one who has ways of finding mutants?" Kyle smirked. "Fury has ways."
"So…" Bobby leaned forward. "Have I been recruited?"
"This ain't the draft, Icicle." John said. "You don't want in? That's fine."
"It's a voluntary thing, Bobby." Shan said. "If you'd like to join, that's fine. If you don't, just tell us where we can drop you off, and you can go from there." Bobby thought about it.
"I'm going to need to think this over." The ice-maker replied.
Next: Iceman makes his decision