Black Ice
Disclaimer: "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinkin'."
Chapter 32: Sapphire Twilight Part 3: Return to Bayville
The skies over New York
A futuristic aircraft, emblazoned with markings indicating it was a SHIELD craft, flew over the fields of New York. Fontaine was piloting. In the jet were all the members of Freedom Force, in their costumes. All of them were there except for Thunderbird and Wildstar, who were watching over Iceman.
"Alright, everyone." Karma said to her fellow young mutants. "We have heard rumors that HYDRA may be…" As she laid out the mission, Lila was staring out a window. She wasn't really listening.
"Hey, Lila. Why the long face?" Terrell noticed. Lila sighed.
"I'm just thinking about Bobby." Lila answered. "God…what did he do to become who he is today?"
"Who knows." Terrell shrugged. "That boy was probably never right in the head to begin with."
"Probably." Lila shrugged. "But I can't help but wonder…what goes on in his head sometimes? What drives him?"
"Shouldn't it be obvious?" Terrell crossed his arms. "He hates everyone, and he constantly goes on about wanting to be alone."
"Yet he joined us." Lila remembered.
"I think that's pretty odd." Terrell nodded.
"I don't think he'll admit it, but I think he secretly doesn't want to be alone anymore." Lila shook her head. "Think about it. He's been alone for four months. Wouldn't you start craving some form of human contact?"
"A lot can happen in four months, girl." Terrell shook his head. Meanwhile, Gina Tolensky was also doing some thinking.
"Something bothering you, Botanica?" Shiro asked. Gina shook her head.
"Nothing." The Italian-American girl answered. "I was just thinking."
"About what?"
"Something that Kyle said." Gina answered.
"Thunderbolt?" Shiro's voice showed his surprise. He looked over at the electrokinetic, who was trying to stay awake.
"Yeah." Gina nodded. "He said that his grandpa told him that revenge was like a lemon car: It looks great, but the insides are terrible." Shiro blinked.
"That analogy is rather crude, but it is accurate." The Japanese mutant nodded. "I guess somebody in that family has to have some form of wisdom." What the other members of Freedom Force did not notice was someone else was on top of the plane. That someone was one Bobby Drake. He was dressed in his civvies, and had also on a pair of blue-tinted sunglasses. He turned his hands into ice, complete with clawed fingertips. Those claws held him to the plane.
Almost…Bobby grunted. Almost there. Soon, I will have my revenge. I will make them pay. I will make them all pay. Xavier, Sam, Rahne, Scott, Jean…They will all REGRET the day they turned on me! The insane ice-maker looked over the side of the aircraft. He noticed a city. The ice-maker's face formed a twisted grin. Bavyille, I'm comin' home! He released his claws and fell towards the Earth. In particular, he was falling towards the ocean. Bobby's crazed grin never left his face.
A local bookstore, some time later
Sam Guthrie looked at the books in the sci-fi section. He smiled when he noticed a particular book.
"Aw, man! Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"! Ah have got to buy this!" (1) The young mutant grinned. He picked up the novel and bought it. He started walking home towards the Institute, reading his new book. Some time later, he found himself in the local park, but he didn't really notice because he was so engrossed in his new book.
"Hey, man." A voice piped up. Sam looked up and blinked.
"Hello?"
"Over here." The voice said. Sam turned around and saw Bobby sitting on a bench. The human cannonball blinked.
"Bobby?" Sam blinked. Bobby smiled as he got up.
I got him right where I want him. The ice-maker mentally smirked. The dumb hick is actually buying the act! Bobby held out his arms.
"How're you doing? It's been too long."
"Bobby!" A laughing Sam ran up to his old friend and gave him a hug. Bobby chuckled and hugged him back. "Oh my God! Where have you been? I've missed you, man!"
"Around." Bobby chuckled. "How've you been?"
"Fine. Where we you? We missed you!" Sam grinned. "And the Professor looked everywhere for you!"
I'm sure he did. Bobby mentally scowled. And the X-Men missed me like they'd miss holes in the head. "I'm sure they did."
"Ah like your hair. You grew it out." Sam pointed at Bobby's hair, which he had tied in a small ponytail that reached down to the bottom of his neck. Bobby shrugged.
"I thought I needed a new look." Bobby shrugged. "No big deal. So, how is everyone?"
"Oh, fine." Sam nodded. "Jamie's a little depressed about Gina, but he's moving along…Oh that's right, you weren't there for…"
"He'll get over her." Bobby shrugged.
"I guess so." Sam nodded. "Rahne and I, we're alright. The X-Men are doing okay. Roberto and Ray still fight like roosters, Tabby still flirts and shops with Amara in tow…" While Sam talked, he didn't notice the angry flicker in Bobby's eye.
I knew it! They didn't care at all! They just went on with their insignificant lives, not caring in the least about me! I could've died and they wouldn't care! Well, they'll care now! Bobby mentally snarled. He started clenching his fists.
"…and of course, Toby and Imara are growin' up like weeds…are you alright, Bobby?" Sam blinked. "Your hands." Bobby looked at his hands.
"Oh, it's nothing."
"Are you alright?" Sam narrowed his eyes. Bobby shrugged.
"I'm fine." The ice-maker answered. "Man, so much has changed." Sam nodded in agreement. "Wow. I guess I should've come back earlier. You see, I left to do some thinking."
"For several months?" Sam crossed his arms.
"Yeah." Bobby nodded. "After the whole thing with Nightshift, and my…actions regarding your sister (2), I left to think."
"Think about what?" Sam blinked.
"My life." Bobby put his hands in the pockets of his trenchcoat. "The people in my life in particular. You see, after the whole craziness that led me to leave the Institute, I started to think about those in my life." Bobby sighed. "You see Sam, I thought about you, and the other X-Men. And in the process, I came to a realization."
"Huh?" A confused Sam scratched his head. Bobby chuckled.
"I had to find out who my friends truly were. If you were truly my friend." He looked up at Sam with a twisted smirk. "You're not my best friend." Before a shocked Sam could react, he got nailed in the gut by an icy fist. Sam howled and coughed as he hit the ground.
"Bobby…" Sam wheezed, looking up. "W-why?" Bobby's face turned into a cold mask of anger.
"You never cared about me, did you Sam?" Bobby snarled, pulling the Kentuckian blond New Mutant up to his knees. "DID YOU?" He punched Sam across the face with his fist, which went back to normal.
"Uch…" Sam coughed. "Bobby…stop…"
"You turned your back on me. I considered you a brother!" Bobby punched Sam in the face again. "A brother!" Another blow. "A BROTHER!" He threw Sam onto the ground. "WHY? YOU TRAITOR! YOU BETRAYED ME! I WANT TO KNOW WHY!" Sam coughed, and struggled to get up. His mouth and nose were bloodied.
"Bobby…stop." Sam wheezed. "Please…why?"
"You betrayed me!" Bobby snarled. "Your tramp sister turned her back on the X-Men and she led me on! She broke my heart."
"Bobby…Ah…Ah…"
"I lashed out, and you took HER SIDE!" Bobby screamed. Sam couldn't believe it.
"What-what's gotten into you, Bobby?" Sam coughed. "Ah…"
"Don't you remember?" Bobby snarled. "At the Institute, after we battled Nightshift and the Hellfire Club…"
Begin Flashback (A/N: Scene (which has been slightly fixed up) courtesy of todd fan. Thanks, tf! I owe you!)
A few hours later in the infirmary, Sam watched his sister with a sigh. Though now conscious, she was sleeping on a bed. With all those piercings out and her make-up gone, she looked like the sister he'd grown up with. He had been shocked when they brought her in, bleeding and unconscious, he had thought the worst. But she had pulled through, and Hank and the Professor had been running tests to be sure everything was fine. The infirmary doors opened quietly as Bobby stepped in. He frowned at Lizzie's still form on the bed, then looked at her brother.
"So...you're kinda worried about Lizzie, then?" Bobby asked with a nervous laugh. Sam didn't even look up from his place. Bobby blinked, relaxing slightly, stepping forwards. "She'll be fine. She bounces back from most things." Bobby cracked a smile. He gave a squeak of surprise as he was suddenly hefted up by the front of his shirt as Sam stood up and grabbed him in one motion. His feet didn't even touch the floor. He'd forgotten how tall Sam actually was. "Err...Sammy...that kind of hurts." He gasped, trying to twist his shirt away.
"No kiddin'." Sam growled. "You have no right to be down here, Bobby. You did this. No one else. Ah don't know why you did it, and Ah don't rightly care."
"You're going to kill me now, aren't you?" Bobby squeaked.
"No." Sam answered, narrowing his eyes. "Momma always taught me that violence isn't the answer. But…" Bobby's eyes widened.
"But?" Sam's grip tightened ever so slightly at that.
"If you ever step foot near any of mah family again, you'll find out exactly how easy ice can shatter when it's hit with a cannonball." Sam threatened ominously, before dropping Bobby on the floor. "Get out." Bobby numbly got up, frowning, dusting himself off.
"Fine. Take her side. Of course you would, you're family." Bobby muttered, stomping off.
End Flashback
Sam's jaw dropped. The Kentuckian staggered to a bench, using it to hold himself up.
"Bobby…" He stammered apologetically. "Ah…Ah…Oh God, Ah'm so sorry. Ah…Ah never intended to…"
"Liar." Bobby snarled, his eyes glowing blue with rage underneath his glasses. "You're a liar."
"No…" Sam shook his head. "Ah know you didn't mean to hurt Elizabeth. Ah was angry, and Ah was hurt. Look, Ah'm sorry."
"No you're not!" Bobby screamed in rage. He blasted Sam with an ice beam that knocked him off his feet, covering him in a light layer of frost. "You're not sorry! You never were!" The enraged ice-maker raced up to Sam, and slashed him across the chest. Sam screamed in pain. His shirt was slashed open, revealing that Bobby had cut him open. "You betrayed me! The X-Men just continued with their lives, not caring if I lived or died!" He grabbed a moaning Sam. He took him by the back of the neck and bottom of his shirt. With a scream, Bobby pushed him into the bench. Sam's shoulder slammed into it, causing him to flip over and the bench to topple. Sam screamed again as a sickening POP was heard from his shoulder on impact. Bobby threw off his trenchcoat, panting like an eager, bloodthirsty animal. "You never listened to me! You never cared about me! You took that tramp's side! YOU BETRAYED ME!"
"Oh…" Sam whimpered. "Uh!" Bobby grabbed him and put Sam's bloodied face up to his. The blond's nose and mouth was very bloody, and he had a big shiner over his right eye.
"What right did you have to betray me?" Bobby snarled. "After all the times I was there for you? That's your way of thanking me for being your friend? NYEAGH!" Bobby formed his ice claws, and slashed Sam across his face.
"ARGH!" Sam screamed. "Please…Bobby…what…w-what do you want?"
"To punish you." Bobby snarled. "I'm not doing this out of revenge, Sam. Revenge leads to nothing. I'm merely going to teach you something. You shouldn't have screwed with me. You shouldn't have lied to me. Because now…" Bobby's face formed a crazed psychotic grin. "I have a lot of power now, Sammy. I can take away everything from you. Just like you took away everything from me."
"Please…" Sam begged. "Don't…don't…"
"I know, I know." Bobby smirked. "I'm not going to kill you, Sammy." He laughed. "What's the fun in that?If I killed you now, you wouldn't learn anything. There's no point. I plan to let you watch me take everything away from you. Your friends, your family, everything. I have nothing to lose thanks to you, Sam. I'm going to make you suffer even more than you made me. Only fair, isn't it? Heh heh." He knocked Sam out with one final punch. Bobby looked at his fist. "Thanks a lot. You got blood on me."
Next: Sapphire Twilight Part 4: Reunion Bobby returns to the Xavier Institute, and his former teammates in the X-Men. And he plans to give them a gift they will never forget…
(1) - In the comics, Cannonball was a huge sci-fi fan. In particular, his favorite author was Robert A. Heinlein, who wrote "Starship Troopers".
(2) - In "To Err is Human" by todd fan, Bobby lashed out, accidentally injuring Sam's sister Elizabeth.