บท 159: Issue #3
Author's Note: Small change. I have been using the word troublemaker when describing Jack's squad members before. I think the words 'problem children' are better.
Also gonna make this chapter a little longer since I don't wanna split the introduction to the team into 2 chapters.
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The first to walk into the room was Felicia and Laura. Felicia was in her black bodysuit while Laura was wearing a deep purple crop top and pants, she also wore her matching arm bracers, a locket, and boots. Both of them wore matching silver belts with the 'X' symbol on them.
After the pair walked in, next was someone that Jack remembered back from his time at the Massachusetts Academy. She was the only person that had dared to talk to him.
Anastasia walked into the room wearing a uniform similar to her father, Kraven. Unlike her father and siblings that developed their enhanced abilities from a mystical serum, Anastasia had also taken the serum and was thought to have undergone the same changes.
But after further testing by her mother, because she had additional abilities her family didn't, she found out that her abilities were because of an X-Gene. Thus, the young lady came here.
After Anastasia, another young woman walked in. When Jack saw her, he wanted to punch Scott and Ororo.
'I already have enough rumors about me always being around women. Is my entire training squad going to be young women?'
This young woman had brown hair and was wearing the standard black and yellow X-men uniform. She seemed the most normal of everyone but Jack knew that she had to be on his team for a reason.
The last 2 came in together, with one holding onto the chain of the other. One of the kids that just entered was a disembodied brain inside of a glass globe. The one holding the chain was a young man with a pink mohawk that was wearing a weird t-shirt.
Unlike all of the other training squads, Jack's team did not have a designated uniform. The only part of them that matched were their belts.
The 6 walked in front of Jack's desk and looked at him in confusion. Jack was also puzzled.
"So... let's do introductions. I haven't read any of your files because I wanted to get to know you myself and not what other people think of you.
I want you all to introduce your normal name. your code name, your powers, skills, and a little bit about you.
I'll go first. My name is Jack Frost, codename is... I haven't used one in forever. Just call me Mr. Frost. I am the most powerful mutant that has ever existed. I have too many powers to list but the main things you should know about me is that I have cryokinesis of the highest level, magic that strays from the normal, and some of the most powerful psionic abilities around.
I have 6 daughters I don't remember putting in my fiancee or raising, have been a member of the Avengers and a few other groups, am currently the leader of Excalibur, though we haven't had much to do, and have a deity.
Laura. You first!"
Most of the others were stunned by Jack's declarations. All of them had only heard about his ice powers as well as how he could change his scent. The other thing he could do was news to them.
After recovering from her surprise, Laura stepped forward to introduce herself to the others.
"Laura Kinney. Talon will be my codename. I have a healing factor, claws, and powerful senses. I am a trained assassin and an even better fighter after being taught by Mr. Frost. A little bit about me? If I smell a certain scent, I will go into a frenzy and kill everyone in my immediate vicinity."
Again, the others couldn't recover from her declaration immediately but after some urging from Jack, Felicia was next.
"Name is Felicia Hardy. I go by Black Cat. As for my powers, same as Laura but my claws are not as sharp, senses are not as good, healing is not as fast, and I can give other people bad luck. I am great at breaking into places and stealing stuff from others. I don't work well with teams."
"Anastasia Kravinoff. You can call me Kraven. My powers keep my body at peak human condition and also allow me to gain the abilities of any animal that I have seen before. I am a hunter of the highest order and have killed prey all over the world. I prefer to hunt alone since I know that I am better than anyone else I work with."
Then there was the normal-looking girl.
"Melody Guthrie. I go by Aero. I produce light around my body that allows me to fly. Besides that... I am the middle child of my family so I am good at housework and taking care of others. My parents gave birth to 10 children and I am the 4th one to awaken their mutant powers."
Next up was the brain. And just like Jack had expected, they couldn't really speak due to lack of mouth and vocal cords and other things needed to speak. Instead, she used telepathy.
{Martha Johansson. A few of my friends call me No-Girl. I have telepathy and can use it for several things. I'm not skilled at anything else. There is nothing interesting about me or worth noting.}
Jack furrowed his eyebrows when he heard her codename and how she talked about herself.
'I need to talk with Scott and Ororo about this later.'
Jack knew he couldn't just leave at the moment so he turned his attention to the only male on the team. He was also someone Jack recognized but not because of any good reasons. Jack had to talk with him several times due to his poor attitude.
"Sup, Frost. You already know me and my powers so there is no need to introduce myself," the boy said.
"It is 'Mr. Frost' to you, child. And you must still introduce yourself. Everyone on my squad must," Jack told him coldly. The best way to deal with this child was to meet him with force and intensity. He did not respond well with gentle words and pleading.
"Tsk. My name is Quintavius 'Quentin' Quire. Codename is Kid Omega. I am an Omega-level telepath and have some skills in telekinesis. Besides that, I am a super genius. As for some stuff about me, I believe that Xavier's dream is nothing but bullshit."
Jack nodded at him.
"Good. I heard there was an issue with the introductions this morning," Jack stopped mid-sentence and looked at Laura and Felicia, the latter smiled at him, before continuing "So I wanted to give you all a chance to properly introduce yourselves.
That will be all for today. We will have our first training session tomorrow at 6 pm. Come to my office after you eat your dinner."
The kids nodded and left the room one after another. Once they were all gone, Jack turned to his computer to read the information on the children.
At first, he wanted to meet them to get to know the kids. Now that he had met them, he needed to know their history if was going to teach them all properly. But as he read paragraph after paragraph, the temperature in the room got colder and colder. Soon, Jack's entire office was covered in a small layer of ice.
Jack already knew Laura's history. Not just from her telling him but also when he raided the base, he also gathered the info the what they had put her and the Cuckoos through.
He was also familiar with Quentin since he had to deal with him so often. The others were mysteries to him.
Felicia was behaving very differently than the psychological profile on her suggested.
'Greedy, vengeful, and cynical. Hates men. Not the way she portrays herself on the outside but most don't bare their fangs to everyone.'
After reading her history, he could understand why they came to that conclusion though.
Felicia lived a hard life. Her father was a career criminal and raised her to always be the best, never settle for second place. He was strict with her until the day he got locked away in prison.
But that was not what truly froze the young girl's heart. 2 and a half years prior, Felicia was almost raped. Someone saved her and became a close friend but after a few months, he finished what the other man interrupted. And a week after that, he died in a car accident.
'That would explain why she hates men and also why Ororo placed her on my team. Since I seem to be the only man that she doesn't hate, I guess my job is to try and help her heal.'
Anastasia had a similar history. She was raised to always be the best but her family was more brutal due to their occupation.
As a hunter, she always had to be the best, or else she would die on the hunt. Hank could find traces of all the severe injuries she had sustained over the years, even with her healing factor.
'Over 70 broken bones from different injuries. Fucking monsters!'
Melody was a much easier read. There was no issue per se with her but it was more than the girl lacked confidence.
Compared to her other siblings, her powers were much tamer. Her oldest brother was practically indestructible while using his, her oldest sister had some of the coolest and most diverse powers in her opinion, and her older brother could fly like hers but he wasn't as flamboyant with such little payoff.
When Melody looked at all her siblings, she felt like the odd one out.
'Not so much confidence. I can work with that easily.'
The last one Jack had to read was Martha's. And each line sickened him more and more.
Martha's mutation was not that she transformed into her current state but that was done to her by the U-Men. They took her body apart, piece by piece until there was only her brain left.
And then, they were not done with her. They used drugs to force the young girl to use her powers for their sake.
It was only after Scott and Jean rescued her that she had escaped from the U-Men's clutches.
But her pain did not stop there. Because even after she got to the mansion, she was still stuck in her current form. And teenagers were an entirely different type of hell to deal with.
Martha's "friends" gave her the codename No-Girl as a way to mock her. Few students showed any pity towards the girl which caused Jack to feel both furious and frustrated.
'I can't make them be nice to her. At least she is close to Quentin. Even if he is a little prick, he's a sincere one to her.'
Jack reached into his drawer for some of his best whiskey but when he opened it, he saw it was empty.
'Damn you, Logan!'
Unable to drink his frustration away, Jack reached out to talk with Ororo and Scott.
{Just met the team and read their files. In that order. I wanted to get to know them a bit first before I read their history. Quick question: What the fuck?}
{I know. We have gotten quite a few students who need help. And we think that you are the best one for that.} Scott said honestly
{Scott's right. Felicia nearly cut off Hank's arm when he got too close to her. She also shows complete hate when she sees other men. It's only you that she shows a smile to.}
Jack nodded. He could undertake the responsibility. It was good practice for when he invited the mutants to Okkara.
Jack was about to end the communication when one more thing crossed his mind.
{About Martha...}
{We can't do anything about the kids. We are also trying out best to help her but our resources are very limited in that department.} Scott explained
{He doesn't care about that, Scott. He is asking about them.} Ororo explained to the straight-laced man. {Don't worry. Scott already had X-Force deal with them. Every last one of them.}
Jack frowned when he heard that.
'Tsk. Wish I could have handled them myself.'
{Wow, Scott. Finally got that stick out your ass?} Jack asked with mirth in his voice
{Piss off, Jack!} Scott said jokingly
This was why Jack didn't mind Scott being the leader of the X-Men and co-headmaster of the school. While Scott and Ororo were both Xavier's best students and most likely heirs before the whole 'hidden X-Men team thing', they were not direct followers in his dream.
While they believed in his dream, they were not direct followers. Like people who believe in a certain religion but don't take all of the text literally or accept all of the teachings in said religion. Each of them wanted for mutants to coexist with humans peacefully but neither of the was afraid of kicking ass or shedding blood to do it.
Jack ended the call before he looked around his office and noticed it was frozen. He made sure to melt it all before he began planning how he would make his squad the best.
'But first things first. I need to give them a name.'
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