Black Ice
To Klinoa: Hey there Klinoa! Yep, it's the traditional 'get to know the characters' chapter. They're important to a story, I believe. They help establish the characters. Ace Starr/Wildstar, Terrell Mason/Velocity, and Kyle Wildfire/Thunderbolt are characters in my Misfit-verse fics. In those fics, they are members of the California-based West Coast Misfits. Ace is a feral mutant who has a lion-based mutation and can fire blue laser beams from his claws, Terrell is a speedster who also has the power to manipulate air and wind. Thunderbolt is an electrokinetic who can also mold electricity into constructs and use electrical power to fly. Will Bobby join up? Find out next Enjoy the new chapter!
To Raliena: Hey there Rae! Yeah, I don't intend for Bobby to meet the X-Men for a while. I don't want the X-Men in this story right now. I just want to focus on Bobby and his issues for a while. I may show them at some point, but for now, the focus will just be on Bobby and on Freedom Force. Enjoy the new chapter!
To morring star: Hey there star! Nice to hear from you. The decision is really up to Bobby. I don't want to feature the X-Men in this story at this point. I just may do a confrontation between Bobby and the X-Men in this story in the future, but as for now, Bobby is the focus, and Freedom Force plays a very important role in this story.
To todd fan: Hey there todd fan! I read your new stuff, and I loved it! Thanks for talking about storyline ideas with me. It's a real help to me figuring out what directions to take this story. Anyway, here's the new chapter for you! I hope you enjoy it!
To Red Witch: Hey there, Red Witch! I'm glad you like the story so far! I hope you like the new chapter! Enjoy!
To Aaron: Hey there Aaron! I'm glad you liked the last chapter. Yeah, Freedom Force does come from varied backgrounds. I'm glad you liked seeing my version of Karma. I thought she would make a good leader. I also thought my choices would make for a fun little team. I needed a feral for Freedom Force, and who better than Ace to fill the job? I think Bobby and Ace would get along pretty well, too. Will Bobby join Freedom Force? Find out next! Enjoy the new chapter!
Disclaimer: "Did you shut off the alarm, Cartman?" - Kyle Broflovski, SouthPark: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut
Chapter 5: Decision Time!
Freedom Force HQ, California
Robert Drake, the former X-Man and master of pranks known as Iceman, sat on top of the roof of Freedom Force HQ. The headquarters looked like one of those houses that could be seen on a reality TV show. The house was situated over a beach. Bobby was watching the ocean waves crash into the sandy beach. The ice-maker heard a thumping noise. He quickly turned his head and saw Ace Starr climb up on the roof. The leonine teenager grinned, showing that he had fangs.
"What do you want?" Bobby scowled.
"Hey, dude." Ace grinned as he got up and sat down next to the ice-maker. "How you doing?"
"Fine." Bobby replied darkly, maintaining his scowl at the feral. Ace blinked at that.
"Hey man, what's with the anger?" Ace waved out at the sea. "Look at that! You got sun, sand, sea…This is great! You're in California, man! Paradise! What's the anger for, my friend?"
"Sorry. Heat doesn't…agree with my powers. Sometimes it makes me irritable." Bobby grumbled. Ace nodded in understanding.
"Understandable." Ace nodded. "You're an ice-maker. You naturally prefer cold. So, I guess it'd be dumb to ask why you were in Canada."
"Yes, it would be." Bobby's voice held a dark monotone. "And besides, it wouldn't be any of your business, anyway."
"Well, you can't help but wonder why in the name of God a man would want to be in the frozen wasteland of Canada for four months." Ace shrugged. Bobby growled.
"I said…it's none of your business." Bobby snarled threateningly. Ace rolled his eyes.
"Fine. I won't pry." Ace responded to Bobby's threat. "So…what're the X-Men like? I heard they're insane."
"They're a bunch of self-serving jerks." Bobby snarled. "Wolverine's a bully, Forge is a nerd, Cannonball is an inbred redneck, Magma's a spoiled brat who could use a kick in the mouth, and the rest are all just a bunch of CRAZIES!" Bobby exclaimed angrily. Ace got knocked back a bit by the volume of Bobby's voice. Ace also noticed that there was a lot of venom in the ice-maker's descriptions.
"I guess…being an X-Man wasn't exactly a fun time for you." Ace blinked.
"I was the joke of the bunch. No one took me seriously." Bobby's eyes glowed light blue as his rage built up. "I was considered the weakling of the bunch. I hated it. I never got any respect. So I left." Ace whistled.
"Those X-Men have weird standards." Ace burst out laughing. "If they consider you weak, then what do they call you being able to give the Wendigo a pounding?" Bobby sighed.
"I practiced with my powers during those four months in Canada." Bobby glared at the horizon. "I figured that I was not going to be a weakling anymore. I don't need the X-Men. I hope they all rot." Ace couldn't believe how much venom Bobby used in reference to the mutants.
"I couldn't have been that bad. I'm sure you probably had a couple friends."
"Not really." Bobby never turned his head to Ace. He constantly kept his gaze on the horizon, his face a mask of anger. Ace decided to change the subject.
"So…have you thought about the offer?" Ace asked.
"A little. I'm not really in the mood to be involved in mutant teams again."
"Yeah, but…it could be a fresh start." Ace smirked. "Think about it, Iceman. We're here in sunny California. You know, I am a proud California boy. I got connections. I know people. You'll go far when you know me, baby." Ace laughed happily. For the first time in their conversation, Bobby turned to Ace.
"And why are you here?"
"Me?" Ace pointed to himself. Bobby nodded his head once. Ace thought about it, and then smiled. "Well…adventure, to be honest with you. I come from a…rather…unusual family, so mutation is not the craziest thing we've seen. You wanna know something cool? The spying game runs in my family a bit. I have an uncle who works for the English government. You think my dress sense is retro? The last time my uncle's wardrobe was in style, kids our age were waiting for the latest Beatles single." Ace burst out laughing. Bobby raised an eyebrow.
"I'd hate to be you."
"Why?" Ace blinked.
"Don't you ever get laughed at because of your fashion sense?" Bobby scowled. "You look like Jon Bon Jovi during 1985!"
"Surprisingly, that doesn't happen much." Ace snickered. "I know, it's amazing." Bobby snorted.
"Yeah, sure."
"Maybe you should join up, man. We're a lot cooler than the X-Men." Ace snickered. "We do get to see the world on occasion." Bobby raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of things does Freedom Force do?"
"Well, we fight the bad guys." Ace grinned. "You know, villains, malevolent folks, even the occasional terrorist." Bobby inwardly smirked.
Hmmm…perhaps a new team is just what the doctor ordered…Bobby inwardly smirked. Outwardly, he just nodded. "I see."
A few minutes later
"Shan?" Bobby walked up to Shan, who was watching TV.
"Yeah?" The mind-controller replied. "What's up?"
"I was thinking…Maybe I will give Freedom Force a try." Bobby smirked.
Next: Iceman moves in!