Hey Everyone, I'm here with another update.
Apologies for the delay, I had to re-read and re-write a lot in this chapter.
So in the last chapter we discovered: (1) How the Seasons came to being and how Winter was split into five pieces. (2) The Moon believes Jack is ready to become a Leader. (3) Jack has gone to Gotham City in search of Doctor Freeze.
CAST
(In Order Of Appearance)
Characters And Voice Actors
Jack Frost - Chris Pine
Dr Victor Fries - Arnold Schwarzenegger
Nora Fries - Vendela Kirsebom Thomessen
North - Alec Baldwin
A few seconds after Jack spoke the words. The inside of the Snow globe began to spin and grow hot as the Spherical Device glew bright green. Soon a beam of green light shot out from it and projected a circular image of the destination. Green smoke streamed from the heated doorway when it met the coldness of the Northern air.
Jack was rather surprised, the old snow globes usually activate when the user throws them to the floor, but with this new design there was no need. 'Well this is a new snow globe, perhaps North ran out of the older models after using them all,' thought Jack as he walked through the portal.
Expecting to feel the ground on the other side, Jack walked straight through the doorway to suddenly find himself falling from a high altitude. Out of the confusion he began to realise that the portal had opened in the air. Even though this would be fatal to anyone else, Jack just smiled as he put the Snow globe back into his pocket, 'It's a good thing I control the winds,' he thought as he came near to the ground.
"Ok wind," he commanded and just before hitting the ground a gust of wind shot him back into the night sky like a snowflake in a Winters breeze. 'Ok, now where do I find Dr Fries?' he thought. During his search high in the air Jack thought about the Guardians of Winter and the task that he had been burdened with. 'I would never have expected Victor or Lucius to be part of this team, but it certainly has been a long time since I last spoke to either of them.'
It wasn't long until something caught his eye as he passed by the main street, 'What's that,' he thought as he altered his course to investigate. He landed outside a convenience shop which had a newspaper stand box outside. The name of Dr Victor Fries was mentioned upon the front page, "I hope it's nothing bad," he said.
He quickly looked right to left to make sure that he wasn't being watched, the coast was clear. He turned back to the newspaper stand and placed his hand upon the glass. From his hand; ice started to travel all over the glass and soon the molecules within shattered and broke exposing the newspapers inside. Jack quickly grabbed the top copy, the headline read:
THE GOTHAM TIMES
EX-CRIMINAL MASTERMIND RELEASED!
FREEZE FREED AFTER HUGE SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH SAVES MAYOR'S LIFE!
It went on to say:
"Dr Victor Fries saved the Mayor of Gotham City from a fatal disease known as MacGregor Syndrome. Although knowing the disease personally, Dr Fries is adamant that there are more cures to be found."
"This granted Dr Fries a pardon from his past wrong doings. Fries states that he will take this time to find new cures as well as the one that matters the most, a cure for his dying wife."
A smile appeared on Jack's face as he read through the newspaper, 'It's good that he saw the error of his ways and decided to make a life worth living. But who could blame him? He only turned to crime to fund his research in finding a cure for Nora,' he thought. 'Even though I knew what he was doing was wrong, I couldn't intervene as he was a friend and he was doing it out of love; which separates him from many other criminal masterminds.'
As Jack read on; he came across the address to Dr Fries' residence. 'Great,' he thought and dropped the newspaper, he looked up into the cold night sky.
"Ok wind, take me where I need to go," he called and with a roar of wind he took off into the air once again. 'Ok, according to the newspaper, Dr Fries lives on the outskirts of Gotham in a huge white Mansion next to his place of work 'Fries Research Laboratories'.
As Jack flew across the forest on the outskirts of Gotham, he saw rising in the distance was Dr Fries' residence. A huge white warehouse the size of a small football stadium with the blue company logo was the first thing to come into view, Jack was most impressed to see that the newspaper headlines weren't wrong at all.
As he arrived at the complex he noticed that none of the lights were on. So assuming that the company had closed for the night, Jack decided to land. He spied out a pasture of grass within the company grounds; and with a cold gust of wind he landed freezing the grass beneath his feet. After he touched down he quickly looked around, the complex appeared to be deserted. Jack was slightly frustrated, 'Why did I come here first, it's abandoned and it seems like I've come all this way for nothing,' he thought as he looked around the complex.
All around the area was huge wire and brick walls along the outside of the business separating itself from the world. There were only two roads in and out which was Guarded by three security members, there was also a small hut provided which stood in between the two roads. It did begin to feel like Jack had come all this way for nothing, until he noticed a light on within the Mansion living room. Jack was unsure at first if anyone was in until he saw a shadow pass the blinded window.
Meanwhile inside the Mansion, Dr Fries was sitting down in his white armchair dressed in his faded white dressing gown. Next to the unlit cobweb covered fireplace with a mug of ice water. He was re-watching his wedding video upon an old box television of him and his wife. They were dancing to their song with their lives' full of joy and peace. A tear came to his eye and streamed down his cold cheek before freezing into ice.
As he peeled away the frozen tear; he made a pledge to his wife, "Soon my love, we will be reunited once again. Now that I have been freed, I will be able to use all the resources at my disposal to bring you home."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. Dr Fries switched off the television and got his freeze-ray gun from the fireplace which was the size of an anti-tank gun with blue lights and made from silver and steel. He made his way to the front door and stopped a few metres away.
"We're closed for the evening, come back tomorrow," he called.
Jack stood closer to the door. "This cannot wait until tomorrow," he replied,
"What is your business?" asked Dr Fries,
Jack called out "I have come to recruit you," he replied,
Dr Fries armed his gun, "I've told you before and I'll tell you again. I have no interest in joining any gangs or robberies. My days of crime are over," he called and blasted the door freezing it shut. "I hate it when people waste my time!" he moaned as he shuffled back into the living room.
Meanwhile outside Jack noticed that Dr Fries had frozen the door shut. "Ok then, I'll make my own way in," he said confidently.
Jack placed his left hand upon the steel door and soon ice began to travel along the outside of the door causing the steel to become brittle. Once when the door was completely covered in ice, Jack took six steps back before raising his staff into the air. With his staff pointed up the wind began to swirl around it. Once Jack had summoned enough wind, he pointed his staff at the door. Like a strong fist it barged its way through the door causing the steel to break into pieces and collapse to the ground.
Dr Fries got up from his white armchair and ran to the door armed with his freeze-ray gun. "Jack?" asked Dr Fries as he lowered his weapon.
"Hello Victor," he greeted,
Victor rested his gun against his side, "Ah hello, please come in," he greeted,
Jack smiled, "Sorry about the door," he joked as he made his way into the Mansion.
Victor just shrugged as he led Jack into the living room. "It matters not, at least you weren't anyone else," he replied,
Jack smirked, "You know...for someone who can only live in sub-zero temperatures, you certainly do have a temper." he teased as he walked into the living room with his staff over his shoulder. The living room was covered with icicles and frosty steam which fell from the ceiling keeping the room within a sub-zero environment.
"Yes well, my retirement from the crime business didn't go around so well with many of my clients, so I can never be too careful," he replied as he placed his weapon back on top of the fireplace.
"So what brings the Guardian of Happiness to Gotham City?" he asked as he sat back down in his armchair.
Jack walked over to the second white armchair (Nora's Chair) which stood opposite Victor. "Unfortunately I'm not here to say hello," answered Jack as he sat down with his staff laid upon his lap, "I understand that you're rebuilding a new life on a foundation of great deeds. But the world needs you elsewhere," he answered.
Victor leant forward in his armchair with his hands clasped together. "Who's the threat? And why does the world need me of all people?" he questioned.
Jack also leant forward, "The Guardians of Childhood commonly refer to him as either the 'Boogeyman' or 'Pitch Black'. But he would prefer the title as 'The King of Nightmare's'. He has returned to avenge himself after his defeat. His purpose is to put the world into endless fear. But as to why you; there has been a sign from the Moon. He has appointed four new Guardians and it so happens that you are one of them." explained Jack.
Victor sat quietly for a few moments, he took a long sip of his ice water before getting up from his armchair and then approached the unlit fireplace. He gazed upon a portrait which hung above the fireplace of his wife. She had long blonde hair and wore a white dress with a silver snowflake necklace which was a wedding present from Victor. A tear came to his eye and rolled down his cheek before freezing into ice; as he thought upon that life changing memory.
"Ok Jack, for old times' sake, I will help you. I need to make an amends for my past actions," he replied as he reached to one of the single candle stands upon the mantel piece, he grabbed it and pulled it back like a lever. As the candle stand moved back, it clicked, followed by a small silver room illuminated with blue light opening up behind them beneath the staircase. Dr Fries walked into the small room and Jack followed him. When Jack got inside the extremely cramped room, he noticed three light switches upon the wall next to Victor.
"Ok… so you've got a secret and very small room beneath the stairs, but why have three switches to the only light in this room?" he pondered. Victor looked at Jack with a smirk and flicked the middle switch. This was followed by a large glass panel rising up in front of them from the floor, it stopped once it connected to the ceiling of the small room locking Dr Fries and Jack inside. A rather anxious Jack turned to Victor who stood calmly with his arms folded. It took Jack sometime until he noticed the small room was moving down.
"You have an Elevator beneath the staircase?" said Jack sarcastically.
Dr Fries laughed, "Now don't tell me for as long as you've known me; that surprises you?"
Jack smiled back, "No, I guess not," he replied.
As the Elevator left the living room Victor thought about the Guardians of Winter. "So who are the Guardians of Winter," he asked,
Jack looked at Victor, "Well, there's Me, You, Lucius Best, Icy and Queen Elsa of Arendelle," he replied.
"Ah Frozone, goodness, I haven't seen him for a long time," pondered Dr Fries, "Is there a Leader for us to follow in this new order?" he asked.
Jack really didn't like that word 'Leader', having been a loner for most of his life. He sighed as he answered the question, "The Moon has chosen me to lead this Team," he answered.
Victor looked down at Jack, "Finally, someone's got the sense," he smirked,
Jack glared at him, "What?!" he questioned,
Victor laughed, "Jack, there's no one better than you to lead this team. If I remember your story correctly, you've been upon this Earth for more than 400 years and in that time you've managed to understand yourself and your abilities. To me, there is a lot of sense in making you a Leader, plus on my part, it's great to follow someone you already know,"
Jack was shocked, "Thanks, I appreciate your honesty," he replied. 'Yikes, no pressure,' he thought,
Victor smiled, "You're Welcome. I guess I should say Congratulations, Leader of Winter."
Soon the Elevator began to slow down as it neared its destination, "Does anyone else know about the Guardians of Winter?" asked Victor,
Jack shook his head, "You're the first one I've come to," he answered,
Victor put his hand upon Jack's shoulder as the elevator came to a stop. The lights of the basement were somewhat blinding after being in a small space with dim lighting for some time. After the elevator stopped; the glass panel withdrew into the floor.
"I'll dim the lights," said Victor as he turned a dial upon the lower floor.
As Jack regained his sight he saw in front of him was a black hallway with three large spotlights parallel to the wall illuminating the grated walkway. At the end of the small hallway was a cryogenics floatation tank containing Nora, still frozen alive awaiting a cure.
"So how far are you from finding a cure?" asked Jack,
Dr Fries looked upon his computer screen which stood next to the tank, "Unfortunately, nowhere near I was expecting," he said sadly.
Jack put his hand upon Victor's shoulder, "Well for what it's worth, I believe in you," he reassured, Victor gave a reassuring nod.
"So why are we down here," wondered Jack as he noticed there were two exits either side of the tank.
"This way," said Victor as he wiped away a frozen tear. He walked through the left exit which led into an underground laboratory. As they walked through the secret room, Jack noticed along the left wall was suits upon suits of different designs; which Victor had created to help him breathe outside temperatures of sub-zero degrees.
Jack glanced to his right and saw an arsenal of ice weaponry, "Didn't change very much did you?" he joked.
Victor stopped in his tracks and turned to face him, "Give me a chance, I was only released two days ago; and who knows, my ice technology may help with the global warming crisis," explained Dr Fries.
Jack smiled, he was glad that Victor was beginning to look upon the bright side of life instead of the life of a criminal. "Ok then, I'll shut up," he laughed as he put his hands up in surrender.
Victor took Jack into a large Laboratory positioned directly below the 'Fries Research Laboratories' complex above, it was at least two football pitches larger than the surface complex. Inside the whitewashed lab was extremely expensive equipment which was made brand new and state-of-the-art. There was machinery still working away mixing various drugs and experiments while a computer analysed the results. Further down the room were at least 10 cryogenic tubes, similar to the one which occupied Nora outside, in a line hooked up with all the necessary gear and awaiting occupants.
Seeing all this equipment made Jack fearful that Victor was slipping back into villainy. "Er Victor, what is all this equipment?"
Victor turned to face Jack, "Fear not Jack, I'm not making any villainous come back," Victor comforted. "But the equipment and machinery you see before you was indeed built for a sinister purpose. A little over 5 years ago before my prison sentence I was approached by some bald technology entrepreneur who donated all these instruments and hardware to me. I was ordered to invent a machine which could remove the powers and abilities of super powered individuals and convert them into mortals. After removing the powers from the selected victims, this next generation tech could also bestow the captured powers unto another person."
"I'm guessing the machine was never finished?" Jack wondered.
"Oh no, it was finished. I completed its creation a year after. Although rest assured it has never been used. However this technology has opened so many possibilities, particularly in developing a new style of bio-technology which can not only heal injuries, but from what the resulting data explains, can also restore the spirit back to the body."
Jack halted on the spot, "Woah doc, you lost me several sentences back. What are you saying?"
Victor put his hand upon Jack's shoulder and looked into his eyes. "I have the technology to revive and restore you to your human body."
Ice formed around Jack as mixed emotions filled his head. Never would he have thought it possible. But to be alive again, even the thought of it scared him. This was one of his many dreams. A dream which had visited him for a long time, like for 400 years of his service to the Moon. Jack had dismissed these thoughts and dreams as mere fantasy. He had come to terms with his spiritual self, but now hearing that Victor had the capability to revive his body was something Jack desired more than anything else.
Victor noticed the forming ice around the undead boy. It was understandable a lot to take in. He cleared his throat and continued, "But all of this comes down to theory," he answered. "This work requires advanced research and analysis but above all it needs time. The only issue is that there hasn't been a suitable subject to test this on."
Unfortunately none of what Victor had said really got through to the paralyzed Guardian. The only thing which brought Jack out of this thought provoking trance was when his pocket started to vibrate. It was coming from the Snow globe North had given him.
"Excuse me for a minute," he said as he removed the Snow globe from his pocket. It was glowing green, Jack shook the Snow globe and an image of North's face appeared inside it.
"Hello Jack," said North,
Jack greeted North back, "Hi North, what's wrong?" he replied,
North's facial expression became serious, "Pitch has been sighted! We need you here now." said North.
Dr Fries stood with a percentage of interest as he observed the conversation between an immortal boy and a talking head inside a Snow globe.
"Ok, I'm on my way," replied Jack, North's head disappeared from the Snow globe. "Damn," said Jack as he banged his staff upon the Laboratory floor with frustration.
"Anything wrong?" asked Victor as he took interest in Jack's predicament.
"Plenty," said Jack as he put the Snow globe back into his pocket. "I was hoping to gather all the Guardians of Winter before Pitch showed up, but as it appears; that's not going to happen." Jack started pacing back and forth thinking of what he was going to do.
"I'll get Lucius," suggested Dr Fries as he walked up to Jack and put his hand reassuringly on Jack's icy shoulder.
"Thanks Victor," he replied as he turned to face him,
"I need to pay him a visit anyway, it's been a while since I last spoke to him," Victor explained.
Jack smiled and withdrew the Snow globe from his pocket. He held it up to his lips and said "The North Pole," but something strange happened, instead of the Snow globe creating a projected doorway it fizzed and shook which was then followed by a small crack scarring across the top.
Jack put the Snow globe back into his pocket, "Every new model always has its advantages and disadvantages, it would seem this new generation Snow globe has run out of white matter, I should imagine that it'll need an hour or so to recharge." he grunted, he then turned to Victor, "Can you please show me the way out?" he asked.
Victor smiled, "Sure, the way out is on the right opposite the cryogenics tank, it should take you into the garage. You can find your way out from there."
Jack smiled and held out his hand, "Meet me in two days at Burgess Forest, you'll find a pond at its centre, I'll join you there," he said.
Victor took Jack's hand and they shook, "See you there," he replied. Jack gave a final smile and ran out of the room and exited through the garage then with a gust of wind he took off into the clear night sky.
During Jack's haste to reach the North Pole, secretly other forces had been set in motion. For it was not only Pitch Black to have arrived, but other beings from a much more further distance had also arrived too...beings from another dimension to be precise.
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This will be my last updated for some time. Probably get the next chapter up in October