Iceman: Legacy of Frost
Scene: Years ago. Bobby Drake is fourteen, and walking out of school with his girlfriend. She’s laughing at something funny he’s just said when suddenly a shadow casts over them. A much bigger and slightly older boy has stopped them in their tracks. He grabs the girl by the wrist and pulls her towards him. She’s struggling against his grip. Bobby rushes him angrily but the bully grabs him by the head and flings him back into a bush. The bully is laughing as are several other of his friends, the girl is crying and still held firmly by the bully’s grasp. Bobby looks up angrily. The bully glares at him and then pulls the girl close to his face and puts his tongue in her ear. Bobby is now screaming angrily and stretching his hands out towards him. The bully looks curiously up, the girls wrestles free from his grip. In the next panel his face is frozen in terror behind a thick layer of ice. Everyone is staring at Bobby shocked and afraid. Bobby is bewildered. He turns to the girl who turns away even more disgusted by him than she was by the bully. She runs off.
Present Day: Iceman wakes up sweating profusely in his room at the Xavier Institute.
Narrator:
This is the Xavier Institute. A place for dreams. Good and bad.
Iceman glances at the alarm clock. It’s 4AM.
My name is Robert Drake. But ever since that first day my powers manifested, it made a whole lot more sense to call me Iceman.
He gets up and goes downstairs. Gambit is playing solitaire at the kitchen table in the dark.
Now I’m an X-Man. Protecting a world that hates and fears me. And so forth.
Gambit charges up a card to see him in the dark.
It was weird at first, living isolated like this surrounded by people with dangerous and sometimes even frightening abilities
.
Gambit:
Bon nuit, mon ami.
Narrator:
But in the long run, I’m glad there’s people I can relate to.
Iceman:
Don’t you mean morning?
Gambit:
If you’re Storm, yeah. If you’re me, not a chance. Insomnia M. Drake?
Iceman grabs a beer out of the fridge.
Iceman:
Something like that.
Gambit:
Smirking
Ah! L’amour!
Iceman:
Come again?
Gambit:
You can’t fool dis bleedin’ heart Cajun. You wake up in de middle of de night. Enter a dark kitchen, don’ bother to turn on de lights and go for an alcoholic beverage. You mournin’ a freeze dried love life?
Iceman:
I don’t know, are you?
Gambit:
Moi?! Rarely! But de difference between me and you is on de rare occasion when dere is somethin’ goin on, I ain’t afraid to talk about it.
Iceman:
You’re right. If I had a dumb accent I’d have much better luck with women.
Gambit’s smirk fades.
Gambit:
Touché.
Iceman:
Ok the thing is I’m going home to Long Island today. It’s my dad’s birthday.
Gambit:
And?
Iceman:
I hate that town. I hate everyone there except my family. And I hate my family for staying there after the way everyone there treated me.
Gambit:
Tough break.
Iceman:
It wouldn’t be so bad if I could find someone to come back with me.
Gambit:
Someone female, non?
Narrator:
Now I‘m getting psychoanalyzed by a thief who throws exploding playing cards. I can tell I’m off to a good start.
Later that afternoon.
Trips home really suck. It’s almost as bad as a trip to Egypt to battle Apocalypse. Even though it’s been getting better, I know I’m going to fight with my parents. I know I’m going to be reclusive and avoid everyone in that God awful town. In his ever so charming way, Gambit had it right. If I had a girl to bring back with me this would be a million times better. Hell maybe Dad would even like her.
Iceman is filling up his car at a service station on the way to his hometown. He enters to pay and finds an attractive woman at the counter arguing with the clerk.
Woman:
I am BEGGING you to have my car fixed before nightfall, my son has been waiting at the McDonalds across the street. A Happy Meal toy can only be entertaining for so long!
Narrator:
I know that voice…
Clerk:
I’m sorry lady. Your rent-a-car is shot. It’s gunna be a few days tops. You can try and call for a ride.
Woman:
I don’t have money for a cab! And I don’t have family in the country! There is no way I can--
Iceman:
Where are you going?
The woman turns around.
Opal:
Long…
She looks at Iceman very surprised.
…Island… Bobby?
Iceman:
Also surprised
…Opal. I didn’t think… um… You still want a ride?
Later in Iceman’s convertible, the top is down. Opal is in the passenger seat, her son Bobby who is about three is in the back sleeping.
Narrator:
Opal was one of those girls you never forget about. But not the one you think you’re ever going to see again. She was one of the best. Maybe the best. But she wasn’t keen on my mutant adventures getting in the way of… well… everything. She had a kid a few years back by some guy she met overseas. Named him after me. Tried to convince me he was mine. I didn’t buy it for a second, but I would have stayed with her anyway. The problem is she left again. Out of guilt that time. Guilt for wronging me. That was a new one.
During above, montage of the events described.
Iceman:
So what have you two been up to?
Opal:
After what happened in Japan, I came back to the states to look for work again. Little Bobby’s almost ready to start school and I need to have a steady income. I have an interview in Long Island.
Iceman:
I don’t suppose you two would have dinner with me and my parents tonight?
Opal:
I don’t know, Bobby…
Iceman:
My dad and I are getting along much better these days. He’s not the guy you met anymore.
Opal:
It’s not that… well its partially that…
Iceman:
Hey, no pressure or anything. But I’ll give you my cell number just in case you change your mind.
Opal:
Hey, before I forget, thanks for the ride.
Iceman:
I get to drive a beautiful girl around and I’m the one who has to be thanked?
Opal smiles.
Opal:
Don’t you start that.
He turns to her and lifts up his shades looking in her eyes.
Iceman:
You know I would have stayed, don’t you?
She smiles, but her smile quickly gives way to fear as she looks forward.
Opal:
Bobby, look out!
Iceman glances forward. A Sentinel is standing in the middle of the road about thirty feet ahead of them. It’s about twenty feet tall, and covered with gadgets but maintains the basic color scheme of a traditional Sentinel. He swerves around it icing up as he does so, the car spins 360 degrees and ends up safely at the side of the road. The Sentinel glares down at him.
Sentinel:
Target Acquired.
Iceman:
Oh for the love of sh--
Glances into the rear view mirror at little Bobby who is now awake and looking impressionable.
For the love of crumb cakes!
Sentinel:
Mutant threat Identified as Iceman. Termination authorized.
Iceman puts a giant Ice Wall between them and the Sentinel.
Iceman:
Opal, take Bobby and run in the opposite direction! I'll find you as soon as I handle the Killbot 5000 here.
Opal grabs her son and runs off into a field.
Sentinel:
Initiating gene sequence specific counter measures.
Iceman:
You know what I hate about fighting Sentinels.
He rises up over the Ice Wall on a trail of Ice and begins to blast the Sentinel with Ice beams.
They lack any sort of dramatic flair when they narrate their own actions.
Plasma Cannons on the Sentinel's shoulders begin to fire bolts of energy at Iceman. Iceman starts avoiding them, acrobatically leaping from one Ice slide onto new ones that he forms as he goes, periodically blasting the Sentinel with more Ice projectiles.
You see, Juggernaut might say "I'm gunna smash you to bits!" which is commendable for a guy with a Jr. High diploma. And Sabretooth can really instill fear in his opponents when he mutters some cliché like, "I'm thirsty for your blood," or "I'll scrape your bones clean!" But if you really want to set your goals high you'll take a page from the book of ole Mags and say "Soon mutants will rise up and squash the pitiful colony of mindless meandering ants that is mankind!" Except I'd recommend that you invert the mankind and the mutants because, you know, your trying to exterminate us not them and--
Sentinel:
Counter measures initiated.
The Sentinel emits a cloud of super condensed heat that melts all of the Ice in a fifty foot radius and reverts Bobby back to human form.
Iceman:
Getting up out of a puddle of water he fell into.
Well that shut me up.
The Sentinel starts blasting him with plasma cannons from all over his body. Bobby jumps into a nearby ditch.
Narrator:
Not quite sure where I found the energy to avoid those blasts, probably all those Danger Room drills teaching me how to act on impulse. But now I feel like I'm about to pass out, like heat stroke or something.
The Sentinel fires a napalm rocket towards the ditch that explodes. Nearby Bobby's car explodes with it with it when the fire drifts towards it. Fire is everywhere.
This is nuts... I'm Iceman I should be able to overcome a little heat. That Sentinel has some pretty advanced power dampening equipment. Awfully specific to me I'd say.
The Sentinel starts to hover over towards the ditch.
C'mon, Bobby... concentrate...
Sentinel:
Commencing termination.
Aims all of its plasma cannons at him and charges them up. Iceman is focusing. The Sentinel's shoulders freeze and the ball and socket joints to its arms snap off. The Sentinel's arms fall onto the ground and all the plasma cannons power down.
Critical Damage sustained. Repair mandatory. Mission postponed.
Sentinel takes off into the sky.
Iceman:
Yeah no pressure, you just take your time.
Opal comes running up.
Opal:
Bobby!!!
Iceman:
I'm fine! Just behind a wall of fire is all.
He struggles to put out the rest of the flames with fire extinguisher-like beams.
That thing emitted some kind of pulse that screwed with my body temperature. I could barely make a snowball for a while there. I'll be fine in a minute.
Opal:
Good to hear. God I must be crazy!
Iceman:
Look, Opal, I'm sorry. If I had known that thing was looking for me I never would have put you and Bobby in danger. Hell I didn't even know they still made those!
Opal:
No. I must be crazy because I'm not mad at you. I think I was half expecting something like this to happen. And I still got in that car. And I still put my son in harms way. And I still...
Iceman:
It's not crazy to be optimistic... Look I don't think it's safe around here at the moment. I'm going to call the X-Men and inform them about these giant robot arms sitting in a ditch at the side of the interstate, then I think I should Ice Slide you guys the rest of the way.
Opal:
I don't want you to scare Bobby any more than he already is.
Iceman:
Then maybe you shouldn't have left him alone in a field.
She shoots Bobby and angry glare and walks back into the field to get her son.
Later that Night, the Drake house. The doorbell rings. Bobby's mom answers his dad isn't far behind, Bobby, Opal and little Bobby enter.
Iceman:
Happy Birthday, pop! You guys remember Opal, right? This is her son Bobby.
His parents are standing there looking at them in horror.
Did I forget to wipe my feet?
Madeline:
Tears welling under her eyes.
Bobby why didn't you tell us?!
William:
This is by far the most irresponsible--
Bobby glances down at young Bobby.
Iceman:
Oh my God! No! He's not mine! Jeez!
Opal:
Yes, um... his father's from... Europe.
Narrator:
Yeah that'll convince 'em. Bravo Opal.
Madeline:
How stupid do you think we are, he looks just like you!
Iceman:
Cripes, mom! I'd have told you if he were... you know...
Later at Dinner.
Narrator:
Well here's a fine situation. My parents think I knocked up a girl and haven't been supporting her. Ok so after about fifteen minutes of convincing they consented to Opal's story, but I can tell they still think he's mine. They just think I'm too stupid to know any better. Awfully tactful of them to have this drama unfold right in front of the kid too.
They're eating cake. Bobby's dad has just opened up a present from his mom. She glances over at him.
Madeline:
Bobby?
Iceman:
Oh right. Um... I had a present for you dad, but I left it in the car.
His parents stare blankly.
The car blew up.
They continue to stare.
I explained this already!
William:
So Opal, where did you say you were applying?
Opal:
Well to be honest the job is pretty much mine. The interview is just a formality. It's a small software company not even twenty minutes from here. Small but honest. A welcome change from my previous employer.
William:
Well you'll have to stay with us until you can find a place.
Opal:
Oh... I couldn’t impose. But thank you.
Madeline:
Oh, don't be silly, we'd be happy to have you. Ever since Will retired we've hardly had a thing to do. I'd be happy to watch Bobby during the day.
Opal:
Well that would save me the trouble of finding good daycare.
Iceman:
Hey dad can I talk to you for a sec?
They go outside onto the front porch.
Look, pop, I appreciate you being so nice and all, especially after the way you treated Opal before. But maybe you should take it easy. Eating cake with someone and asking them to live with you are two different things.
William:
Look, Bobby. We all have obligations, even if you're too naive to--
Iceman:
Oh for Christ's sake! He's not mine!
William:
Stop being such a dope, Bobby! It's like your damn baby pictures came to life!
Iceman:
He's not--
William:
How do you know?
Iceman:
Because I can do math, Dad. It wasn't possible for so many reasons. Trust me.
His cell phone rings.
I have to take this. I'll be right back.
He exits into the kitchen, and answers.
Hey.
Beast:
On the other end of the phone in the Blackbird. He is examining the two arms of the Sentinels.
Hola, my Antarctic amigo.
Iceman:
Hey, Blue. Where are you?
Beast:
Well I'm waving to your dad on the front porch.
Shows the Blackbird hovering above the Drake's house.
Iceman:
Gee thanks, Hank! That's what my parents need right now is a couple of freakin' heart attacks!
Beast:
Relax, the cloaking device is on. You might want to slide on up here when you get a chance.
A bit later.
Beast:
We've been studying the parts from the Sentinel that assaulted you earlier.
Iceman:
And?
Beast:
It's not like any model we've seen. Actually more of a conglomeration of different types of attack drones and mutant hunting cyborgs. Much of the technology derives from the nanotechnic Prime Sentinels used during Zero Tolerance, but the casing and joints are slightly more crude. Of course crude is a relative term.
Iceman:
That's nice, but where did it come from and why did it have to attack me the second I was finally about to connect with Opal?
Beast:
Warren and the Professor have taxed their resources to determine who could be manufacturing Sentinels at this time.
Iceman:
And?
Beast:
Nobody. Not the government, not any independent contractors. Even the wild Sentinels that Cassandra Nova oversaw were nothing like this one. And upon careful examination of the type of weaponry located in your adversaries brachial cavities, I would postulate that this particular--
Iceman is glaring at him.
Ahem... it was designed to fight you.
Iceman:
Splendid.
Later, Bobby is sitting in the living room, presumably by himself.
Narrator:
Looks like I won't be staying in Long Island too long. That machine wouldn't think twice about blasting through my folks, Opal, or the kid to get at me. So I get to get away from accusing parents and bad memories. But I'll have a killer robot on my tail. I'll check in on Opal.
He gets up and heads towards the door.
Bobby:
Hi, Bobby!
Iceman is startled and looks over to see little Bobby in pajamas standing in the hallway.
Iceman:
Uh... hi.
Bobby:
We have the same name!
Iceman:
Still a little bewildered.
We sure do. A mighty fine one at that.
Opal comes and picks him up.
Opal:
I said it was time for bed.
Bobby:
G'nite, my name!
She carries him off then reappears.
Iceman:
I didn't know he could talk.
Opal:
He's a toddler. Of course he can talk. He was just shy around you. But I think now he's just curious about you. I've never had to answer so many of his questions before in my life. I gotta say I'm just glad he's not traumatized after today.
Iceman:
The kid's got some major coping skills. He could be an X-Man.
Opal glares.
I didn't mean anything.
Opal:
You're leaving me here with your parents?
Iceman:
I'll check back. I've got to figure some things out.
Opal:
Your parents seem like different people. I think I'll be okay.
Iceman:
They've come a long way.
Opal:
Maybe we can do the same.
Kisses him.
Cuts to Iceman sliding away from his parents house with a big grin on his face.
Elsewhere the sentinel is being repaired on a table by a hydraulic robot arm. A shadowy figure is working on it via a control panel. A com link opens up.
Voice:
This setback concerns me.
Shadowy figure:
Drake gave me more than I expected. But trust me, I will arrange everything again. It's well within the scope of my ability.
Voice:
Yes. Thanks to me. Don't forget, you owe me this if nothing else.
Shadowy figure:
Don't worry. This I would do for free.
Part Two:
Iceman:
Hey there, pretty lady.
Opal:
Wow, you're actually on time.
Iceman:
I've got something for you too, squirt.
Produces a Squirt gun from his pocket and gives it to Bobby.
Careful it's loaded.
Little Bobby fires it at his mom's face.
Bobby:
Cool!
Opal:
Charming, you're going to make a practical joker out of my son.
Iceman:
And what's wrong with that?
Bobby squirts Iceman in the face and starts laughing.
I'm not that obnoxious am I? Don't answer that.
Meanwhile at the bank across the street, a mysterious figure in a trench coat and hat enters. He approaches a teller and places a brief case on the counter.
Man:
Fill it.
The teller presses the silent alarm under the counter.
Don't bother with the silent alarm.
The man bursts out of his disguise with a brilliant flash of lighting revealing him to be Electro.
It's been shorted out.
Customers start panicking. The bank guards fire a few shots at him but he melts the bullets with bolts of electricity and takes them out instantly with the blasts.
Nobody move an inch.
Across the Street, Opal sees the flashes in the bank window.
Opal:
What's that?
Iceman looks with his temperature vision. And sees an infrared scope of Electro's beams flying at the guards.
Iceman:
I think there's a mutant in there. Call the cops and hang back.
Cuts to inside the bank. The door freezes and shatters, Iceman is standing on the other side.
Iceman:
Can't a guy get a bite to eat without a freakin' light show?
Electro:
You're one of those mutants aren't you? Mr. Freeze or something, right?
Iceman:
Sigh.
He blasts Electro with an Ice beam, but he dodges it at lightning speed. He fires several bolts back at Iceman who erects strategic Ice Walls to block them.
Everybody get out of here I'll cover you!
He makes a large Ice wall between Electro and himself and the hostages who all rush outside.
You know I'm not the biggest science wiz on the block, Electro. Or shall I just call you Cpt. Lighting out of spite. But, I don't think water and electricity go hand in hand. And as fast as you are...
He concentrates on where Electro is heading and fires a Beam to his destination forcing Electro into a block of Ice.
...you're pretty darned predictable.
Iceman turns his back, dusts of his hands and whistles. Meanwhile Electro's eyes glow and his blasts out of the ice with a radius of lighting bolts sublimating the Ice instantly.
Electro:
Only liquid H20 can short me out! Ice I can sublimate with a wave of my hand. Try again, freak!
Iceman:
You wear a star on your head and I'm the freak?
Electro nails Iceman with a bolt of lighting. He falls back against the wall. Electro flies over and charges up a big blast.
Electro:
Why does everyone hate my mask?! It's original!!!
Spidey webs in and kicks him into the opposite side of the bank.
Spider-Man:
True but what do stars have to do with Electricity anyway? I mean really, Dillon! Think about it!
Electro gets back up but Spidey quickly dodges a few of his blasts and thwipps him up in special insulated webbing. Electro falls harmlessly to the floor. He's emitting muffled screams and expletives.
Iceman:
I owe you one Webs.
Spider-Man:
Don't mention it, Drake. I never would have made it here in time if you hadn't been here to keep him at bay. I refined my insulated webbing to completely incapacitate the yutz. It was just a matter of waiting for him to strike again.
Spidey slings Electro over his shoulder to carry him outside.
The police can take him from here.
Iceman:
Well we better get out of here before we're arrested for saving the day.
Spider-Man:
Ugh! Tell me about it, I can see the Bugle headline already, "Spidey, Iceman and Electro Terrorize Local Bank."
They recite headlines as they exit.
Iceman:
"Spidey, Iceman and Electro Terrorize Bank and Sell Drugs"
Spider-Man:
"Spidey and Iceman Feed Puppies to School Children"
Iceman:
Looking up as the walk outside.
"Spidey and Iceman Tear Up Street Battling Sentinel"
Spider-Man:
That one's a bit of a stretch...
He looks up as well. The Sentinel is back with a new pair of bigger, deadlier, and more impressive arms. The NYPD are trying in vain to hold it off.
Oh...
It turns to face the two heroes ignoring the gunfire from the police.
Sentinel:
Subjects: Iceman and Unidentified Superhuman.
Spider-Man:
Unidentified? What a load of Crispex!
Sentinel:
Code Omega Level restraint initiated.
Spider-Man:
I don't suppose that thing has an off switch.
Iceman:
Sure, it's called beat the living snotworks out of it.
Spider-Man:
Somehow I doubt we'll find any snotworks living or otherwise in there.
Sentinel:
His arms start glowing with nuclear plasma beams.
Obliteration of engaged subjects initiated.
He fires the beams demolishing the front of the bank. Spidey and Iceman dodge the blasts in the nick of time diving in opposite directions. Spidey hangs Electro on an out of the way traffic light. Nearby the cops are still trying to take out the Sentinel with a rocket launcher. Spider-Man lands near them. Meanwhile, Iceman is holding off the Sentinel.
Spider-Man:
Look guys I appreciate the effort but you're better off trying to get citizens as far away from this thing as possible. Block off the streets, whatever it takes.
Officer 1:
Get lost freak! This thing wouldn't even be here if it weren't for the two of you!
Officer 2:
That's enough, Fenwick! These guys might be the only shot we have against this thing! Do what the Web-Head says!
Sentinel:
Primary objective: Iceman. Target locked.
Sentinel follows Iceman in its sights. Spidey swings up behind it.
Spider-Man:
Big mistake, Clunky! You should have kept your sights on the unidentified--
He swing kicks its head and bumps into it with a "thud" causing no damage.
"Thud?" Thud is not good.
The Sentinel swats at him with its arm. He dodges the attack and starts to pummel the Sentinel's chest.
What ever happened to the dime a dozen Sentinels we used to litter the streets with?!
Iceman:
Blasting it from behind:
This one's pretty souped-up. But it's only designed to counter my powers, so you might actually have a shot at wearing it down.
The sentinel starts to glow red hot, and Iceman's ice starts melting. Spidey dives away as his costume catches fire.
Spider-Man:
Ow! You weren't kidding! How am I supposed to hurt this thing if it's hotter than Psylocke mud wresting Elektra?!
He spies some nearby cars.
Never mind.
He starts hurling cars at the Sentinel.
Iceman:
I hope those people are rich or insured.
Spider-Man:
Don’t start with me, Drake!
The Sentinel is staggered. Iceman starts freezing it.
Iceman:
This thing needs to seriously cool down.
After the Sentinel is completely encased. Spidey swings back next to Iceman.
Spider-Man:
Nice job.
Iceman:
Yeah I wasn't too concerned.
Spidey's spider sense goes off.
Spider-Man:
Look out!
He grabs Iceman and webs back away as the Sentinel erupts another heat wave melting all of the ice around him. The street is riddled with small pockets of flame.
What was that?
Iceman:
That's how he knocked out my powers last time. There's got to be an easier way to do this.
He looks at the Sentinel which is approaching them again, some of it's circuitry and wiring is exposed.
I got it! Follow my lead!
Iceman slides in the direction of Electro. He grabs him and freezes the web casing then hurls him at the Sentinel. Spidey sticks Electro to the Sentinel's chest with a web and as the Sentinel heats up the frozen web shatters and Electro bursts out.
Electro:
I'LL KILL YOU JERKS!!!
Electricity is radiating out of him frying all of the Sentinel's circuits.
Iceman:
I figured the thing was Ice resistant, but it couldn't possibly be insulated against an electrical interference of that scale.
The Sentinel falls over lifeless.
Spider-Man:
Very clever, Drake. But would now be a good time to tell you I've already run out of insulated webbing?
Electro flies over to them charging up large balls of electrical energy on his hands.
Electro:
I'm going to fry you like a bug in a fly zapper... and an Ice-cube in a...
Iceman and Spidey's expressions of fear turns to confusion.
Shut-up! Argh!
A stream of water from behind starts to short out Electro but it is short lived and only serves to distract him. They all glance over to see Opal with the squirt gun Iceman gave little Bobby.
Electro:
A squirt gun?! You tried to stop me with--
A large powerful stream of water blasts him from the other direction.
Opal:
I was the diversion while they hooked up their equipment you yutz.
Firefighters responding to the Sentinel's flames have hooked up their hose at a nearby fire hydrant and are blasting Electro who is shorting out wildly. Spidey and Iceman escape the radius of his electric discharge, Iceman grabbing Opal on the way. Electro lands in a puddle of melted Ice and is completely discharged. He goes completely limp.
Iceman:
After kissing Opal:
Wow, I love you.
Opal:
Bobby it was the firemen who actually--
Iceman:
Yeah, yeah.
Kisses her again.
Spidey is examining the defeated Sentinel, he picks up its half detached head and begins to open it up. Iceman joins him.
Man I am really getting sick of Sentinels! When I find the guy who's been sending this thing after me I'm going to shove icicles up his--
Spider-Man:
Taking out the CPU and examining it closely.
I wouldn't recommend that.
Iceman:
Why not?
Spider-Man:
This thing is a Sentinel on the outside only.
Iceman:
I don't follow. It looks like a Sentinel, it acts like a Sentinel, it even sounds like one.
Spider-Man:
Yeah but check out the main CPU. This isn't a Sentinel...
He points to an inscription on the casing of the CPU that reads "Made in Latveria."
...it's a Doombot.
Picture by J.T. Molloy!
PART 3:
Latveria.
Castle Doom shown, Doom’s Dialogue beginning.
Dr. Doom:
I take it the border squabble was settled.
Cuts inside to Doom’s throne room. The attendant is reading the hourly report off of an electronic clipboard.
Attendant:
Yes, my Lord. The enemy will think twice next time.
Dr. Doom:
Very well. Bore me no longer with the dreary details of border patrol. What truly concerns me is the peace and prosperity of my beloved people.
Attendant:
All is well as usual. That artist with his… “unique” interpretation of my lord has been taken care of.
Dr. Doom:
Splendid. Cubism should be left to Picasso. I trust it was painful for him?
Attendant:
Yes, my Lord.
Dr. Doom:
Give me a security check.
Attendant:
As I’ve already stated, my lord, borders are secure. Air Space is secure. Motion sensors are normal-- Wait. This is odd.
Dr. Doom:
What is it?
Attendant:
It’s starting to snow.
Cuts to outside where flurries are beginning to fall over the castle.
We aren’t scheduled for snow today.
Dr. Doom:
Obviously not, fool. Give me a readout of the weather regulators.
Attendant:
They’re normal my lord.
Doom gets up out of his throne and crosses to the window. A blizzard is raging over his courtyard.
Dr. Doom:
Who dares?!
He looks up. Written in the sky in flame is “Can Victor Come Out and Play?”
Iceman and the Human Torch are waiting in the air just beyond the castle walls, Torch generating the message, Iceman on an ice slide creating the blizzard.
Iceman:
You think we got his attention?
They look down and observe a fleet of Doom Bots flying towards them firing beams.
Human Torch:
I’d say so. Flame On!
The Torch and Iceman start battling Doombots making their way to the castle during the following narration.
Narrator:
Victor Von Doom. Probably the most dangerous man on the planet, and apparently he wants me dead. Normally I’d find this all to be in good sport. But Doom’s actions have put my girl Opal and her son Bobby in danger twice so far, and quite frankly I’m tired of not being able to be near people I care about without some killer robot getting in the way.
Usually I’d have a team of X-Men backing me up, but as it stands both teams were occupied. Havok promised me we’d get to Doom within the next week, but that wasn’t good enough for me. That’s why I called up my pal Johnny Storm, the Human Torch. We’re ending this now.
Torch and Iceman battle their way through the Doombots and end up at the front Entrance of Doom’s castle. Doom appears in the doorway.
Dr. Doom:
Cease your assault immediately, or suffer the most dire of consequences.
Human Torch:
Can it Doom. We’re the ones making the demands today.
Doom Blasts them both with energy beams and they both are knocked backwards through the snow.
Dr. Doom:
Fools.
Narrator:
Hmm, Could it be rushing into a confrontation with a guy who’s swallowed the universe for breakfast a couple of times wasn’t the best idea?
Doom appears above them looking extremely pissed, energy coursing through his armor.
Dr. Doom:
Explain your actions before I incinerate you.
Iceman:
Well--
Human Torch:
Forget it gruesome! We’re not playing your game!
He blasts Doom back into the castle wall with a concentrated beam of heat.
Iceman:
Nice shot, Johnny, but I’m starting to wonder if this is the best idea.
Human Torch:
Trust me, Iceman, I know how to handle Doom. He’ll manipulate you. Whatever he’s up to, we’re going to have to beat it out of him. If we let our guards down for so much as a second he’ll blast us and we learn nothing.
Iceman:
Point taken.
Doom rises up out of the rubble and chants in Hell Tongues:
Dr. Doom:
Death to Intruders
!Multiple pentagrams form all across the courtyard and spew hellfire out of them melting all of the snow Iceman placed. The Torch and Iceman barely avoid the eruptions. Iceman clears the field of hellfire and falls onto the ground as his ice slide melts from a nearby blast.
Iceman:
I am really getting sick of fire based attacks.
Doom appears over him.
Dr. Doom:
Then perhaps I should just simultaneously stimulate every pain receptor in your nervous system.
Narrator:
It’s rare that a super villain actually scares me.
Doom fires bolts of electricity that send Iceman writhing in pure agony.
But I’ve never felt physical pain like this in all my years as an X-Man. It’s beyond the worst torture I can imagine.
The Torch flies down and blasts his glove ending the assault and knocking Doom back.
Human Torch:
Hands off the X-Man, Doom!
Dr. Doom:
What exactly is it you two simpletons are trying to accomplish?
Human Torch:
Don’t play dumb, Chrome Face! Drake is retaliating and I’m his backup!
He blasts Doom again with fire, but it seems to have no effect this time. Doom blasts him with a beam from his gauntlet.
Dr. Doom:
My armor has adapted to absorb extreme temperatures, Storm. The mutant should have waited for Richards to become available.
Narrator:
The pain’s stopped, but my whole body is throbbing. I have to fight it.
He blasts Doom with an enormous Ice-beam, but it melts as it hits him.
Dr. Doom:
Insect.
Panel from Bobby’s perspective of Doom firing massive beams of energy in his direction.
Narrator:
As of now, I’m going to label this whole operation officially a bad idea.
Interlude: Long Island. Madeline Drake is playing with Bobby as Opal enters.
Opal:
Hello, Mrs. Drake.
Madeline:
Maddy, please.
Opal:
I’m sorry, Maddy. I keep forgetting. Was Bobby any trouble?
Madeline:
Oh he was a delight, a perfect little gentleman! We played Hungry Hungry Hippos until a marble somehow found its way up his nose.
She hands him to her.
Opal:
Ewww!
Bobby:
Grinning:
I didn’t do it!
Opal:
Of course not.
She puts him down and he runs into the other room.
Madeline:
So how is the new job going?
Opal:
Great. So much better than Winterbrand.
Madeline:
Tell me about his father, Opal.
Opal:
Shocked:
Mrs. Drake, please. I appreciate what you’ve been doing for me and my son, but he isn’t your grandson.
Madeline:
I’m sorry that I have to be so frank, but he looks exactly like my son. I’m not a fool.
Opal:
Sighs:
Okay.
She sits down.
I met him in England at a pub, while on business. Honestly, for about an hour I thought he was Bobby. He had a goatee and was dressed in Armani, but the likeness was absolutely dead on. I tried to avoid him for most of the night. Bobby and I hadn’t ended our relationship well that time. But after a while I decided I owed him at least a Hello. Much to my surprise the guy didn’t know me. He said his name was Andrew. He even acted like Bobby. A little more serious, but the voice, the inflections, the mannerisms were uncanny. I was stupid and we got drunk and spent the night, but he was gone the next day. No number. Nothing. So unless you have relatives in England or Bobby had a long lost twin brother…
Madeline:
That’s hard to believe... But it’s hard to believe that my son battles terrorists like Magneto. I don’t think you’re lying to me, Opal. My son obviously cares about you very much, and that’s good enough for me.
Opal:
Sighs again:
Thank you. But if you didn’t believe me, I wouldn‘t blame you. It’s an awfully strange coincidence…
End Interlude.
Back to Latveria. Doom has Iceman and the Torch on the Ropes driving them away with an onslaught of power blasts.
Human Torch:
Having fun yet, Bobby?
Iceman:
This is getting ridiculous! We should have waited for the rest of your family, Torch! He can blast us as much as he wants but we can’t so much as get a spark or snowball at him!
Human Torch:
Doom’s armor is state of the art. We might have to get creative.
Iceman:
I got it! Follow my lead!
Narrator:
Doom’s smart. He can handle the extremes of our attacks individually but I learned basic physics. (I had to, there’s no way to cheat on a test administered by a psychic.) If we both attack from opposite directions it should be impossible for him to shield himself from both hot and cold. We’ll overload his regulators.
The Torch maneuvers to one side of Doom and Iceman to the other. They lay on their attacks dishing out all they can at him. Doom is staggered. Half of him is engulfed in flame the other caked in Ice. Then he maneuvers his arms free and grabs the beams with his gauntlets, sucking in the energy from each attacker. Iceman and Torch look surprised. He then turns around reversing his arms and sends the Torch’s attack back at Iceman and Iceman’s back at the Torch. Johnny falls to the ground and Iceman falls backwards half melted.
Well that went well.
Doom approaches the Torch and lifts him by the throat.
Dr. Doom:
How nice of you to deliver yourself to my doorstep, Torch! I’ll personally deliver your bones to the Baxter Building.
Narrator:
Oh no. What have I gotten Johnny into!
Iceman:
Struggling to revert to human form:
Doom stop! The Torch is only here on my behalf. If you want me you can have me.
Dr. Doom:
Why do you insist on this, boy?! What on Earth would I want with an X-Man?!
Iceman:
That’s what I’d like to know. But it was your Doombot that tried to kill me.
He produces the CPU out of his uniform. Doom tosses the Torch aside and takes the CPU from Iceman.
Dr. Doom:
This is indeed one of my designs. Where did you find this?
Iceman:
Cripes! Like I said, in your freakin’ robot!
Doom glares at him.
I mean, in a Sentinel that attacked me… sir.
Dr. Doom:
Sentinel? Those mutant hunting robots the Americans created? Why would I power an inferior model with my superior methods?
Iceman:
Well who else has access to your technology?
Dr. Doom:
None. When a Doombot is destroyed I detonate it’s CPU by remote. I keep tabs on all my soldiers using a tracking system within my armor. It doesn’t make mistakes. I don’t make mistakes. Tell me then.
He grabs Iceman by throat and lifts him.
What kind of ruse is this? Has Richards copied my work? Am I to study this device only to have it set off some elaborate trap? Have the Fantastic Four finally decided to take the initiative in our feud and enlisted X-Men to help them?!
Iceman:
That’s crazy! Why would we let you nearly kill us for something like that?!
Dr. Doom:
Lets go of Iceman:
You wouldn’t. Besides, neither of you has the brain power to spearhead such a plan. To be honest, your claims intrigue me, Drake. I intend to discover where this came from. However, I have no need for rash young hotheads who would ruin my exquisite landscaping. Now leave my country before you find yourselves guests in the torture chambers.
Iceman:
No problem there.
Doom walks back into the castle. Doombots begin to clean up the mess made by the fight. Iceman rouses the Torch.
We gotta go, bud.
The Torch gets up and flames on.
Human Torch:
Where’s Doom?
Iceman:
Gone. And we should do the same.
Human Torch:
But what about that robot?
Iceman:
Doom’s too proud to admit it, but I’m starting to think whoever is doing this has made him as much of a pawn as me.
Human Torch:
Now that’s scary.
The Fantasticar lands nearby.
C’mon, we’ll figure this out back home.
Narrator:
The Fantastic Four were about as helpful as they could be. But I’m still back to square one. Someone is after me and I have no idea who. All I know is that they custom designed and built a Sentinel powered by Doom’s technology to take me out. At the very least I know that Sentinel is history. Whoever did this could build another one but it’ll take time. Meanwhile, I think I owe someone another date.
Iceman picks Opal up and is taking her and little Bobby to a Hockey game in the above narration.
At the moment, I’m not worried about whoever it is that’s after me. I’ve got the Prof. working on it among other people. Whoever it was didn’t have the muscle to take me out. Why else would they need a robot? Now that it’s over it’s almost laughable that I thought it was Doom. But the haunting thing is: Who the hell has the nerve or the skill to steal from Doctor Doom?
During above Iceman and Opal buy tickets and enter the stadium. A panned out shot shows a mysterious cloaked figure watching them. Close up on his face reveals him to be Mesmero.
Mesmero:
Mind over matter, Iceman. You’re mine.
Part 4:
Opal:
I’m glad, you’ve finally found the time to do this. We don’t usually get out much, you know.
Iceman:
Yeah, neither do I surprisingly. But when there’s someone like you to spend time with, I get a little extra motivated.
They hold hands and just watch the game contentedly during narration.
Narrator:
I’ve always connected with Opal better than anyone else. I could have committed to her years ago, but we were from two different worlds. As if fate didn’t rub this in my face enough, those worlds were and are human and mutant. She didn’t want a boyfriend who was a hotspot for trouble, and I couldn’t come up with any reason for her to think otherwise. But now it feels like all of that’s melting away.
Bobby:
Tugging on Iceman’s sleeve:
Thanks for the jersey, Bobby!
Iceman:
You’re welcome, kiddo. You ever been to a Hockey game before?
Bobby:
Nope.
Iceman:
Pay close attention, kid. It’s one of the only spectator sports where you actually have to keep track of the action.
Bobby:
We don’t go to sports.
Iceman:
Turning to Opal:
What are you doin’ to this kid?
Turning back to Bobby:
You’re lucky I came along when I did. It‘s not the pros but it‘ll do.
Narrator:
It’s hard to believe how much I’m actually getting along with little Bobby too. Considering the circumstances and all. She tried to pass him off as mine… but in a lot of ways it almost feels like he is mine.
Suddenly the crowd starts panicking and Iceman looks up.
I should have known better.
Hoards of Sentinels are swarming the arena.
I should have always known with the life of an X-Man, the second things start looking up, they’re about to get seriously bad.
Iceman:
Shooting off on an ice slide:
Get Bobby out of here!
Opal:
There’s no way out! They’re everywhere!
Iceman:
Then take cover!
Narrator:
I don’t like this. Whoever’s after me just seriously upped their budget. Last time I got a secondhand Sentinel that had to be repaired to fight me again. Now, suddenly there’s an army. I’ll have to draw the Sentinels’ fire upwards away from the crowds. They’ll make Swiss cheese out of the roof, but it should stay supported in time for a decent chunk of the crowd to evacuate.
He does so.
Now there’s enough space down there for me to take their fire away from the top and really cut loose without worrying about making bomb pops out of all those sports fans.
He begins to freeze them in large chunks against the empty bleachers, but it seems for every one he entraps several more arise.
This is insane! I’ve never seen so many sentinels go after one mutant before! But the bleachers are clear enough for me to get even more brutal!
He starts firing humongous icicle projectiles at super speed that impale sentinels in the chest shocking their systems.
One thing I’ve learned about these guys, give them a second and they’ll go supernova on you. But I can only get the drop on so many.
Iceman goes into a defensive tactic. Heat beams are nailing him from every direction and he falls down onto the ice.
There’s too much going on here. Even for such advanced robots, I’ve never seen such coordination in battle. They’re improvising and strategizing as a unit. It’s like fighting a team of X-Men. There has to be some kind of human mind coordinating this personally, and I’d go as far to say they’d have to be here in this room to do it.
He slides around the rink dodging heat blasts that are incinerating everything around him, while scanning the area with thermal vision.
There!
On the scoreboard there’s a human form that he couldn’t see with normal vision. He struggles to get up off the ground, avoiding more heat blasts and collides with the scoreboard, he drops down off of his slide and forms a new one back towards the bleachers as the Sentinels obliterate the board with heat beams. Mesmero’s psychic shielding lapses as he stumbles and falls with the demolished scoreboard. A Sentinel swings down and grabs him carrying him over to Iceman.
Mesmero:
How in God’s name did you know--
Iceman:
Cold vision. You have a LOT of explaining to do Mesmero. You wouldn’t go through all this trouble to get at me.
Mesmero:
What makes you so sure, Drake?
Iceman:
Out with it! Who are you working for?!
Mesmero’s Sentinels surround Iceman all of them charging up their beams.
Mesmero:
Somehow I don’t think you were ever in a position to be making demands.
Iceman shoots out a 360 degree wave of ice that completely coats every sentinel around him, leaving only Mesmero’s head peering out of the one mass of frozen Sentinel. They all fall to the ground. Mesmero’s landing onto a section of the bleachers. Iceman Slides over to him.
Iceman:
Why all this? What is this all about? And I wouldn’t try any tricks. Hypothermia isn’t very conducive to using one’s hypnosis powers.
Mesmero:
Shivering:
W-What do you think it’s all ab-b-bout, D-drake?! Someone like me needs muscle to go with my m-m-mind. Hence the robots.
Iceman:
No kidding? Tell me something useful, like who’s stealing Latverian technology to make robots that are specifically designed to fight me?!
Mesmero:
M-m-me of course.
Iceman:
You’re lying!
He pulls the ice further up onto Mesmero’s face, leaving only his eyes and mouth exposed.
Talk!
Mesmero:
You m-m-m-m…
Iceman:
What?!
Mesmero:
You m-missed one!
Iceman turns to see a Sentinel about to fire a heat beam from another section of the bleachers. He instinctually shoots out another super fast icicle projectile. As it nears the Sentinel, another one of Mesmero’s illusions dissipates to show Opal and Bobby. Iceman’s expression turns from one of anger to one of horror. The ice spike shoots straight through Bobby’s chest impaling him into the seats behind them.
Opal:
Screaming in agony:
Bobby!!!
Mesmero and his Sentinel fade away as another illusion. Iceman rushes over to Opal and Bobby.
Iceman:
Reverting to human form as he approaches the scene:
No… this isn’t happening… Opal… I…
She punches him in the jaw and shoves him downward several rows.
Opal:
Get away from us!!!
Iceman:
Opal, I-I thought it was a Sentinel…
Opal:
You’re a monster, Bobby Drake!
She breaks down crying next to her son.
Iceman:
Opal…
Opal:
What in Gods name drove you to do this…
Iceman looks around him. The entire arena is filled with mountains of ice. Hundreds of Civilians are trapped in their seats underneath it all, looks of absolute terror frozen on their faces. The rink below is covered in ice spikes, players are sporadically frozen in place. Some of them are half encased in ice and screaming for help. There are no sentinels nor is there any evidence that there every were any, and Mesmero is nowhere in sight.
Mesmero:
His voice resonating in Iceman’s head:
You’re an idiot Iceman, but a useful idiot.
He breaks down crying into his hands. A ghostly image of Mesmero appears over the scene as the panels pan out to show the entire ice arena demolished by Iceman’s power.
Maybe you should have anticipated exactly how much I can fake. Maybe you should have been a little more careful when dealing with a master of manipulation and illusion. I tried to make it easy for everyone, but you drove us all to this. You know what? I think you are a murderer.
Part 5:
The Ice Arena. Police, Fire, and FBI agents are everywhere two investigators approach the crime scene flashing their badges and an officer lets them inside. As they approach the rink a psychic illusion fades revealing them to the readers as Iceman and Prof. X. All around them officials pass by them as if they flies on the wall.
Iceman:
I still can’t believe that any of this happened… I think this was a bad idea, Professor.
He looks around at the arena, it’s still filled with ice, the bleachers are completely demolished in many places. The scoreboard has crashed into many places on the ice. There’s shards of metal, wood, and glass everywhere. Most of the people have been rescued, but there are still a few survivors being carried out on stretchers.
Prof. X:
I know this must be difficult, Bobby, but if we hope to piece together any sort of coherent account of what actually happened here tonight, I’m going to have to draw psychic perspectives from multiple witnesses and investigators. Unfortunately, proximity to those people and this place is crucial.
Iceman:
I still can’t get over any of this. I feel like Mesmero’s still swimming around inside my head, I don’t know what’s real and what isn’t.
Prof. X:
I can assure you that Mesmero’s gone repeatedly for the next few days, and I still don’t think that would be enough to convince you. There’s a residue of his hypnotic control on you that’s probably going to linger for some time. He’s always been a powerful mutant, but never this powerful. Perhaps he’s undergone a secondary mutation. Regardless he’s no longer registered with Weapon X and there is no way to track him down. He comes up completely blank on Cerebro.
Iceman:
Icing up and growing extremely angry:
There has to be a way to find him. Someone, somewhere in this arena had to see him and where he went!!!
Prof. X:
Please calm yourself, Bobby.
Iceman:
How can you expect me to be calm after what he did. He’s a murderer Professor, and he’s going to pay…
Prof. X is silent. Iceman reverts to human form and sits down on a bench next to the Prof.
…do your thing.
Prof. X:
Placing his hands over Iceman’s head.
Please. Try to relax.
The scene is around them changes revealing the real events of when Mesmero attacked. He is standing at the entrance of the rink focusing on Iceman and Opal. Suddenly Iceman shoots off on his Ice Slide, he begins by freezing exits, then proceeds to entrap crowds of terrified civilians in large blocks of Ice on the bleachers. The look in his eyes is horrible and violent. Security guards open fire on him but the bullets have no effect and they are quickly frozen. He smashes the scoreboard and stops across from Opal and Bobby on the Bleachers where he had his imagined confrontation with Mesmero. Suddenly the psychic scenario ends abruptly and Prof. X and Iceman are snapped back into the present. They’re both breathing heavily.
I told you to relax!
Iceman:
How can I?!
Prof. X:
Calming himself:
I’m sorry. I understand this is strenuous for you. Why don’t you just tell me what happened after that for now.
Iceman:
You know what happened then… but… but after that… I thawed out as many people as I could and I took off to find Mesmero… but I didn’t know where I was going… Why would he do this??? To a defenseless little kid???
He starts to tear up.
Prof. X:
That’s what we’re trying to figure out. I suspect it’s part of a much larger conspiracy that is concerned with tarnishing the X-Men’s reputation even further… I’m sorry Bobby. I never wanted my students to have…
Iceman:
It’s not your fault Professor. I made my own choice. I brought this life on myself.
Prof. X:
Bobby, when I first met you I…
Prof. X’s voice starts to overlap with Doom’s Hell tongue.
realized here was a fool to whom I owe a small debt.
Iceman:
Professor?
The Ice Arena fades away into a non-descript black void and the image of the Prof in his hover chair morphs into Dr. Doom sitting on his throne sipping brandy.
Dr. Doom:
Hello, Iceman. Please, forgive my astral intrusion.
Iceman:
Growing very angry:
Doom! It was you!
Dr. Doom:
Please, boy, calm yourself. You seem beyond distressed, but I assure you I have no personal vendetta against you. Rather I have decided to award you some information I came across.
Iceman:
A mutant named Mesmero claimed to have stolen your Doombot.
Dr. Doom:
I am aware. And I’m most grateful that you brought the crime to my attention. His mental powers were unnaturally strong, and I am loathe to admit that I too was subject to them. He arrived in my castle, downloaded blueprints and borrowed parts without anyone’s notice. And now that I am aware of his transgression I will make him pay.
Iceman:
Not if I get to him first.
Dr. Doom:
By all means, Drake, be my guest. But I should warn you I am not a patient man. Through backup micro-generators in his stolen equipment I was able to pinpoint his exact location. He is in Boston, and when you come to you’ll know exactly where.
After a flash of Hellfire Iceman finds himself back at the arena with the Prof.
Prof. X:
Bobby, who was that. Mesmero?
Iceman:
I’m sorry, Professor. I have to go.
He ice slides out the door and into the air.
Back at her appt. Opal is arriving at her appt escorted by a police officer. William Drake is waiting outside her building.
William:
Opal, are you ok?
She tenses up.
Officer:
Do you know this man?
Opal:
Yes.
William:
My wife and I are very concerned about you… so is my son.
Opal:
Please… go away.
Officer:
You heard the lady, beat it.
William:
Fine… but if you need friends, don’t hesitate to call.
Officer:
Who was that guy?
Opal:
Nobody, a friend from work…
Boston, a warehouse. Inside, Mesmero is meditating, a shadowy figure emerges in the darkness of the room and speaks to him.
Voice:
Mesmero, Drake is coming here.
Mesmero:
Impossible. There is no way he could have followed me.
Voice:
Unless someone with real power tipped him off. I told you you had crossed too many lines.
Mesmero:
You doubt your own skill. My influence is fathomless. Using my new powers on someone like Von Doom clinched it. I can control anyone.
Voice:
Hardly. Again, I assure you it will never work on me, Mesmero. But I think you’re about to receive a most crucial opportunity to prove yourself to me.
The wall freezes and shatters, Ice shooting in every direction. Iceman enters the room. He has enhanced his molecular structure and is covered in crazy Ice armor.
Iceman:
Mesmero!!! I’m going to make you suffer!
Mesmero waves his hand and brings Iceman to his knees.
Narrator:
Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! I shouldn’t have come here alone. I can’t focus on anything.
The room is twisting and spinning under Mesmero’s influence.
Voice:
Mesmero’s enhanced powers are most admirable, aren’t they Iceman? But every service has its fee. And he’s almost repaid his debt to me. Finish him.
Mesmero:
With pleasure-- ACK!
Mesmero grabs his throat which is burning and melting under some supernatural influence. Cuts to the Astral Plane where Doom is strangling him with hands engulfed in hellfire. Cuts back to the room. Iceman regains his composure and looks at Mesmero writhing in agony on the floor.
Iceman:
You pissed off the wrong people, Mesmero.
Mesmero is choking and gasping for breath as he struggles to scream.
And you… show yourself.
The light goes on at the other end of the room revealing a round metal platform.
Voice:
There’s no need for hostility, Iceman. Let’s talk, shall we?
Iceman gets on the platform which is an elevator and lowers into an elaborate lab.
While I am disappointed with Mesmero’s failure, I am at least grateful for this opportunity to offer you some explanations.
Mr. Sinister is waiting for Iceman at the bottom of the elevator.
It just might give me some closure on this particular project.
Iceman prepares to fire Ice beams at Sinister.
I wouldn’t, Drake. That wont fix anything really, and you do want answers don’t you?
Iceman:
Powering down.
What do you want with me?
Sinister:
I got everything I needed from you years ago. Do you remember Madelyn Prior?
Iceman:
Jean’s clone.
Sinister:
Art shows Sinister’s experiments in flashback:
Correct. But what nobody knows is that she wasn’t my first successfully cloned X-Men. I originally planned to duplicate all of you, a plan I’ve since left to the wayside. But I hardly wanted to experiment blindly with Grey or Summers DNA. So I started with you. It was a test and it was successful at first, but soon I learned that dear Andrew’s lifespan was shortened significantly every time he used his powers. It was a problem that was easily adjusted with each subsequent clone, but yours became a low level pawn as a result.
Iceman:
Oh my god… Bobby’s father…
Sinister:
Correct, Drake. Miss Tanaka seduced him while he was performing an errand for me in England, never guessing for a minute who he really was. Once I'd tracked them down, I hired Mesmero to retrieve her offspring, but you got in the way.
Iceman:
So who in God’s name was she really hurting?! Opal and Bobby didn’t care about you or your clones or your agenda?!
He grows angry again expanding his ice form for combat.
Why couldn’t you just leave innocent people alone?!
Sinister:
Again, you prove yourself a rash imbecile, Drake. I had no intention of murdering the child.
A light comes up across the lab, revealing little Bobby in a submersion tank with all sorts of wires and tubes sticking into him.
I abducted him to save his life.
Iceman:
He’s… he’s alive…
Sinister:
Quite. His father, however, is not. If I hadn’t gotten to him before too long his unstable DNA would have been beyond repair. It was a simple procedure.
Iceman:
Then why is he still in that tank? What are you doing to him?!
Sinister:
Fires a beam at Iceman knocking him back into the wall.
Don’t worry, Drake. Under my supervision the boy will access twice the potential of a slacker like yourself.
Iceman:
Erects massive Ice shields on his hands that are blocking Sinister’s energy blasts.
You wanted us to think he was dead so nobody would come looking for you. You had Mesmero convince me and Opal and everyone that that really happened so you could kidnap him and keep him!
Sinister:
Grinning deviously:
Yes. I am the boy’s grandfather, after all. I assure you nobody would have missed him. At this moment I’m priming him for accelerated growth, soon he’ll make an instant Marauder. He’ll be at his physical and mental peak, and he’ll answer only to myself.
Iceman reaches Sinister and the two erupt into violent battle.
Granted Mesmero was to play some part in the boy’s reprogramming once he’d reached the appropriate age, but there are other ways to--
Iceman:
Shut up!!!
He freezes Sinister from the inside out, spikes of super dense Ice erupting from his innards.
Sinister:
Cries out in agony:
It… p-p-pleases me to know that the boy will b-be stronger than this…
Iceman lifts him with giant ice hands and smashes him onto a table full of chemicals and beakers. Sinister melts the Ice and regains his composure. He smashes Iceman with more energy beams beginning to melt him.
Sinister:
This is a most impressive display from you, Drake. But I assure you it ends now. Thank you for your genetic material, it may indeed prove invaluable.
Iceman struggles against the beams and gets back up on his feet. He pulls himself together and steam starts pouring out of him at an increased rate. He forms a massive Ice beam that begins to counter Sinister’s energy blast and move towards him. Trails of Ice are moving outward from him freezing everything in the lab.
Iceman:
Have you ever met the Hulk, Sinister?
Sinister:
Incredible…
Iceman:
Yeah that’s the guy. The funny thing about Hulk is the madder he gets the stronger he gets. I think I’m finally starting to understand that, Essex. Because right now I am seriously PISSED!
Iceman’s beam reaches a climax shooting back at Sinister and flash freezing him while simultaneously vaporizing him into tiny ice particles, similarly everything in close proximity in the lab is frozen and instantly shattered and the room is full of steam. Bobby crosses the room to the submersion tank where little Bobby is still floating unconscious.
Cyclops:
Over Bobby’s Intercom:
Iceman! Come in! We’re over your location in the blackbird right now! Iceman!
Iceman:
…I’m here…
Cuts outside into the Blackbird where Cyclops, Angel, and Beast are all gathered.
Cyclops:
What in God’s name is wrong with you?! You took the minijet and left the Professor all but stranded! You’ve got a lot of explaining to--
Angel:
Taking over intercom:
Bobby, It’s Warren. Is everything ok?
Iceman:
Is Hank there?
Beast:
I’m here.
Iceman:
You guys have to get down here and help me. Little Bobby’s stuck in some kind of machine and I don’t know how to get him out.
Beast:
Little Bobby?
Iceman:
Bobby, Opal’s son… he’s alive. But he’s hooked up to all these tubes, you have to get down here and--
Beast:
Easy there, Frosty. How is he alive down there?
Iceman:
What do you mean?
Beast:
Well let’s just say that before we can come down and help you you’re going to have to seriously lay off the cold. The jet’s sensors are reading lower than negative 900 degrees down there. Nobody should be able to survive that but you.
Iceman is surprised by this information not having known the extent of his own attack. He looks closely to see little icicles growing on Bobby as he breathes.
Days later, the mansion.
Narrator:
Bobby’s going to be okay. It’s Opal I’m worried about now, she spent a long time debating whether or not it was worth being around someone like me. She doesn’t have that choice anymore.
Opal has come to get her son. Iceman takes her to the infirmary where little Bobby is playing with some of the other mutant students.
Professor X speculates that after the experience in Sinister’s lab his powers will manifest even sooner than puberty. I’m just glad he’s going to be in the hands of someone who loves him. Even if he’ll never be any safer than I am.
Opal gets him and leads him away. She and Iceman embrace and she gets into her taxi and leaves.
Opal still doesn’t want her son to grow up with violence around him, but I guess she’ll have to learn some lessons by herself. As long as her son has my genes he’s doomed. Life’s not fair for X-Men. Life’s not fair for mutants.
Opal is at the airport reading a magazine in the terminal waiting for her plane. Little Bobby is asleep next to her. Madeline Drake approaches her.
Madeline:
Hello, Opal. Your landlord told me you were moving again.
Opal:
Please, Mrs. Drake, don’t try to change my mind.
Madeline:
I’m begging you to listen to me, Opal.
Opal:
Firstly, he’s not Bobby’s son. Secondly, Bobby fully supported my decision to go somewhere safe.
Madeline:
There’s no “safe,” Opal.
Opal:
Mrs. Drake, please--
Madeline:
All I want is five minute of your time.
Opal puts down her magazine.
I know what’s going through your head. You and I are so much alike I can read you like a book. You’re going to smuggle your son off to some distant land where you can raise him to be a lawyer or an accountant and he can live in peace like a normal human being.
Opal:
Yes.
Madeline:
That’s a load of crap. You’ll spend your whole life preoccupied with what other people think of your son. You’ll bend over backwards to make him fit in. And you know what you’ll accomplish?! Everyone will hate him regardless. And on top of that, on top of the fact that the whole world will despise him for being born, he’s going to have to live with the fact that his own mother resents him too.
Opal:
I love my son, Mrs. Drake!
Madeline:
And I love mine, but he probably tells you more than he does me. Did my son grow up thinking we hated him? Did my son go through the most difficult years of his life feeling guilty because his parents wanted him to be normal for everyone’s sake?!
Opal is silent.
I’m not blind anymore, Opal. To hell with the rest of the world! Our children are mutants, and if we’re going to force ourselves to live in a world where mothers can’t love their children for who they are then what’s the damn point?! Some day your son is going to have to come to terms with who he is. And who is he going to turn to for support? A mother who insists that he “fits in” with everyone else? A psychopath like Mr. Sinister?
Opal:
Charles Xavier doesn’t have all the answers. All I want is some more time alone with my son.
Madeline:
Then cherish it… But I hope I’ve given you something to think about… Good bye, Opal…
She gives the sleeping Bobby a kiss on the forehead and leaves.
Opal:
Goodbye, Maddy, and thank you.
END