Obligatory Disclaimer : I do not own anything (except maybe OC characters) all characters, places, worlds, universes…etc mentioned here belong to their respective owners and/or companies.

This is purely a work of fiction. Not meant to offend or incite, but to entertain and maybe inspire.

COLD HEARTS

Today was a good day. The morning sun was bright and lively, it's rays peaking into the silver walled room. Various programs ran on the blinking computer screens. Green glowing fluids bubbled in glass canisters, accomoanied by the smooth hum of well maintained machinery, and Dr Hank McCoy was looking dumbfounded staring at the teenager.

“Dr McCoy?” the blue eyed teen asked.

“....yes Mr. Drake” he slowly regained cognition.

“What do you think about my idea?”

“...It is absolutely amazing young man! I've been too busy with my experiments that it never even crossed my mind, but what you have just suggested here, could very well change the world. This could theoretically end global warming! This is what having powers should be about. I admit, such thoughtful applications of the unique abilities of mutants should be implemented in such a manner more often.” Dr McCoy, was astonished. The teen had come to him with a very sound idea that would actually benefit the world. The teen proposed the creative thought of refreezing the polar ice caps amongst many other environmental activities. He ran the numbers in his head, he did the calculations and the idea was scientifically sound.

He had to admit, he hadn't entertained such a creative solution to a glaring problem. Well, most of the xmen were crime fighters and rescuers - they had to be, the situation demanded it with all the enemies aiming for them - and when you live your life thinking of the combat effectiveness of your powers you tend to miss other aspects to it.

“Robert, I'll get in touch with my colleagues whose fields cover this subject. They will be as enthusiastic as I am to immediately gain a helping hand. How does meeting in the evening sound?”

“It sounds great Dr McCoy, I'm free this evening” The teen responded.

“Perfect.” The doctor nodded and proceeded to call his colleagues as the boy exited the lab.

|§§§§§§§§§§§§|

Well, that went better than I imagined. What was it? It was me rationally thinking of ways to use my powers to make some lasting changes to the world (After doing alot of reading on environmental sciences). Also to get good creds and PR for mutant kind. I'm not as naive to presume that these acts will suddenly change everyone's opinion on mutants, it will improve it. But there's also the chance that it will bring even more fear to the hearts of normal people.

Just imagine it, someone with the power to make worldwide environmental changes in a whim. And that someone is human. You wouldn't be able to trust that person, because humans have flaws and they are fallible. Add that to how the public stance is when it concerns mutants and there will be exaggerated reactions. I just hope to sway their decisions, maybe make them think twice when it comes to mutants. We're not monsters, even if some of us look like it. Well they'll keep it in the back of their minds that there are mutants out there who can fuck-up the planet.

What I'm aiming for is to get the scientific community and environmentalists at large to be my backing.

I walked to the assembly grounds, just further down the courtyards where all the other teams were already gathered. I searched for my teammates and saw Quill -the porcupine boy- wave at me.

“Took your sweet time captain” Mindee sneered.

“My bad, guys. I was a little caught up with Dr McCoy.” I apologized to my teammates.

“Be thankful that Mr cyclops isn't here yet, he seems to have it out for you”

I rubbed the back of my neck,“Yeah lucky me. I believe that this is the first time we're all officially gathered together(I missed the last meeting) so let's properly introduce each other once more.”

I pointed to myself,

“I know we don't have a lot of time so let's keep it short and sweet. I'm Robert Drake, you can call me Iceman or drake or Robbie -- no Mindee snowman wasn't taken-- I'm 16, I have cyrokinesis and it's nice to finally meet you all.”

The Burnette girl with flowers braided in her hair started. “Nice to finally meet you too Captain Rob. My name’s Callie Betto, codename Dryad. I have the power to control and communicate with plants, I'm 17, and...single.” She beamed, her easy going disposition well noticed. Mindee deadpanned at the end of the girl's sentence.

“Me next!”The yongu boy with porcupine spines all over him jumped up with his hand. raised, I nodded for him to take the stage “Hi everybody I'm called Max Jordan aka Quill, my powers are, uh, I make quills all over my body, I can also shoot them like bullets, I'm 14 and really stoked to be part of the team. Which is the most awesome team in the whole school” Max excitedly introduced himself. His personality very sunny.

“Damn straight” I high fived the jolly, energetic boy. Who easily brightened up the atmosphere.

Then it was the triplet’s turn.

“I'm Mindee Cuckoo, 17, we're all 17”

“I'm Celeste Cuckoo and it's nice to meet you all” the second sister winked playfully.

“Call me, Pheobe Cuckoo. The smartest and prettiest one, of the three”

“We all have telekinetic and psionic powers. And we can turn into our organic diamond forms”

“““We are the Stephford Cuckoos””” they said in strange psychic unison.

“But I guess you can also call us the three-in-one” the playful Celeste added.

“Thanks to headmaster summers” Pheobe grumbled.

“Well, I'm glad that we've finally got to know each other. And-- oh, he's here. We should meet up after we're done here, alright team?”

Dryad smiled: “Sure”

Quill pumped his fists: “Cool!”

Mindee crossed her arms: “Sure, whatever”

Celeste saluted : “Aye, aye captain.”

Pheobe nodded: “all right”

Scott Summers took steady steps as he ascended the center stage. Emma Frost who tagged along was as always, sexy, and she took great pride in making it known. Guess you can say white leather really is her color.

Joining them also was, Danielle Moonstar aka Dani, who in contrast to Emma had a healthy tanned skin tone, hazel eyes that amplified her ‘fit cutie’ look, her hair was braided cultural-Indian style with red beads on the end of the briads. She just had a really natural aura around her.

It was only for a moment but hers and Emma’s eyes locked on each other's lik they were about to tear each other down.

Cyclops loudly cleared his throat, drawing whatever stray attention he already hadn't.

“Welcome to field day.” he began reading through a notes on a honest to God, brown clip board, “We'll be holding exercises regularly, each a small scale mission on its own. The squad that wins the most points will be rewarded at the end of the semester.

“Today we've hidden an object on campus. This is meant to mirror a situation where a villain such as Magneto has planted a bomb somewhere around here. You don't know where it is or what it looks like.

Your mission is to find and retrieve this object using the clues left all around the campus before the timer set for 15 minutes goes off.”

“The only rule is that you're not allowed to offensively use your powers on members of the opposing squad.” Emma interjected.

“Break that rule and your sqaud looses. First up: The Cosairs vs The Hellions. Your mission begins in sixty seconds”

“Remember to have fun, may the best team win” Dani concluded.

The yard was cleared out as our respective squads grouped up to discuss a strategy.

“Drake” a very familiar voice called out. I turned to meet Cyclops's gaze, he gestured for me to meet him.

“Yes Mr. Summers?” I answered. There's no reason to be rude to him, things have been calm and quiet lately.

“For this assignment I want you not to use your powers”

“What?”

“You could easily pass this mission with your team, but that would make them overly reliant on you. Another reason is that you have to learn to know when and when not to apply your powers. I've seen what you can do, it won't be fair to others if they--.”

I interrupted. “I understand what you're saying. But aren't we mutants? I thought we were here to learn to actually use our abilities, not I don't know, put them on hold? Some abilities work better in some situations than others Right? So if that's the case with mine I don't see something wrong with it”

He ignored my offense and continued. “It's about descipline. You need to follow orders when working with a team. Your actions on the last battlefield could have had very serious consequences. And my orders to you are not to use your powers. We're done here” he said, leveling his gaze at me.

I smiled, why? Because it really didn't matter. Maybe he was still pissed at me, or maybe he had valid reasons. But it didn't matter. I'm not going to get angry over this. It's his school after all, the professor is no longer in charge. I guess all I needed now was to channel that inner batman and get to work.

“No problem Mr Summers” I replied confidently, watching his jaws twitch.

I walked back to my team with a wide smile on my face.

“What was that about?” Mindee asked.

“Nothing to worry about.” I clapped drawing everyone's attention.

“Ok, three-in-one I need you to be our scanners and information networkers, first can you create a mental communication link between the six of us?”

“We can do much more”

There was a wave of psychic energy and I could clearly feel and see the others around me even with my eyes closed. It felt like a conference call, but in your mind.

‘Everyone copy?’. I questioned.

‘Woah this feels weird. I can hear your own voice inside my head!’ Quill said.

‘The link is working fine’ Mindee added.

‘Good work girls. Next, I need you guys to perform a scan of the area, keep an eye on our opponents, we might be able to gleam some info from the stray thoughts of the others, or there could even be psionic hints to the mission object.

OK now, Dryad I need you to talk to the plants all over the school grounds, use that link to create a more detailed map, the three-in-one will help you project it, so we see what you see.’

‘I can do that’ Dryad nodded and went to work, placing her hands on the floor and closing her eyes. The grass swayed to her commands and a very detailed image began to form in my mind scape.

‘Quill stick to my side, we're the muscle and defense’

‘Sure thing, captain’

‘We're getting strange psionic signals from the hedgemaze’ the Stephford sisters reported.

‘The plants say there's something in the center’ Dryad added.

‘I believe that's our clue, let's go guys’

We steadily jogged to the giant plantmaze that occupied the center of the garden. I appreciate the fact that they didn't ask why I hadn't been using my powers.

‘Iceman, there are enemies blocking the entry. Looks like they got here before us’

From the mental map I could spot the large rock guy similar looking to the thing standinf at the entrance blocking it.

‘It's ok, we can create another path. Dryad?’

‘On it’ the plants separated and unraveled forming a new doorway for us to pass through.

‘Five people in the maze Drake, two flyers and another who seems to be phasing through the plants.’

‘Dryad, alter the paths of those on the groud. Create walls out of the hedges, confuse and disorient them.’

‘Isn't that an offensive use of powers?’ Quill asked.

‘Nope, we're not attacking them. Just blocking their paths’ I answered.

‘That's smart’

‘Let's move people!’

We didn't have to run blindly through the maze. Dryad kept making doorways through the plants, and the mental map made sure we were on the right course.

We dashed through the maze at record speeds. While it was good, it also drew unwanted attention towards us.

‘Drake, one of the flyer’s homing in on us, really fast!’

‘Dryad can you create high walls, and something like this’ I projected an image of what I wanted her to create.

‘I can, but it'll take a while and I have to be standing still to do all that.’

‘Why do we have to create walls when they could just fly over it’

‘We know that the flyer is coming down to try and stop us, not escape, that's because we're in the lead. The only two people with flight capabilities in the Hellions, is; Jay the guy with wings, and hellion with his telekinesis. Jay won't be able to stop us all using only his wings, so it's most likely going to be hellion who can create telekinetic barriers to block our progress instead.

And from what we can all see, this person doesn't have wings which means it's a 90% certainty that it's hellion. Plus the wall is just a distraction for something else.’

‘Why don't you just use your powers?’ Quill asked.

‘It's complicated, and it doesn't matter right now. We can do this, you can all do this, even without me.

We're splitting up: Mindee, Phoebe and Quill, you guys head straight for the package.

Celeste, Dryad you're with me, we'll be actively blocking the flyers and those on the ground. Here's how the plan goes…..’

‘All right move out people, operation blanket is a go!’

***

The maze’s interior began to visibly darken. The flowers over the top intertwined to blot out the sunlight from reaching into the maze by creating a thick roof above it all. It would limit everyone's sight except ours. As we had a mental map and a very accurate one at that to work on.

I could feel Hellion tear through the plants as he raced to intercept us. He arrived with an angry expression on his face.

“What do you think you're doing?! This isn't part of the rules”

“Creativity is quite the weapon isn't it?” Celeste retorted.

I could see the green aura around him flare as his telekinetic might rose.

“If you attack anyone, you're disqualified” I reminded him.

He didn't appreciate that. His gaze was dripping with rage as it landed on me.

If looks could kill, I'd be dead 10 times over already.

“You've got two options Hellion, stay here and get lost in the dark, or leave now and help your trapped teammates.”

“This isn't over between us” he spat out as he left.

‘We've got the package’ Phoebe confirmed through the mindlink.

‘Good job everyone, we're getting into phase two now. Quill you know what to do.’

‘Yeah!’ He replied.

‘Dryad hand it to me and create a path.’ A doorway was created through the maze.

‘Everyone ready?’

‘‘‘‘‘READY!’’’’’ They responded in unison.

I bolted out with the girls running by my side. The object wrapped securely in my jacket and held to my chest.

As I suspected, the opposing team was waiting to snatch it away from us.

“Go Drake! I'll stop them!” Dryad shouted, creating walls of flowers behind me, blocking the opposing members from reaching me as I dashed for the cafeteria.

“Go on without me captain, I'll only slow you down” Celeste said with a playful salute.

Most of the hellions were blocked behind the flower walls, the rock man just bulldozed through it all and those with flight took to the air, coming at me.

Thudd!

A rock pillar shaped like a hand fell smack in front of me. It would have nearly mushed my legs if I didn't dodge to the side.

Rock-guy was shooting his arms out like projectiles. I'm sure that's not allowed in rules, but I can't complain right now.

He shot his other hand, and this time it was with the intent to damage. Damage my damn back.

I didn't think much about it, if you've ever dodged a bat swing or a knife throw you always know it's smarter and easier to duck, what no one expects you to do is to perform a full somersault backwards. Don't try it if you've never practiced, it would mess up your spine.

The look on their faces was well worth it.

“That's just unfair” I heard someone mutter.

I should've paid attention to my path instead, I ran straight into a dust storm. Sand was getting into everywhere, the grains scrapped against my face, blocking my vision.

“Hi Sooraya” I greeted. “Didn't see you last Saturday”

A cold metallic sensation spread along my fingers and the object, along with my jacket was liberated from my hands.

“Suck it Corsairs!” A female voice said materialising from the metal fluid, Mercury. She hurriedly handed the package to the smirking hellions who sped off to the cafeteria only a few meters away.

“Hello Robert, sorry for the sand” Sooraya said.

“Don't worry about it. Let's get to the destination” I chuckled.

“Why do you laugh when you just lost? It doesn't upset you?” she asked.

“Oh, we didn't lose”

****

“WHAT!?!” Julian roared as he removed the object from the jacket. It was a bunch of roses forming a square box. The realization dawned in him that they had been fooled when he saw Quill and rest of the corsairs grinning as they stood with relaxed postures.

In Cyclops’ hand was a black box with a timer on it, the real mission object.

It was a damn good strategy. I knew they'd come after us, me to be specific since he had a grudge with me and I was also the captain.

But my plan in the maze was for Quill to retrieve the object and deliver it to the teachers. Quill was fast, faster than an average human his mutation granted him an above average physique. He was the guy for the delivery, while everyone's attention was focused on me. And the part with Dryad’s and Celeste’s acting was quite good, if not great, to be honest.

“Captain! I did it!” Quill yelled and rushed to grab me when I reached the cafeteria.

“Of course you did. Everyone of you guys were awesome” I congratulated the team.

Cyclops walked up to the stage. A somewhat displeased Emma and a beaming Dani standing next to him.

“This test was one of very creative thinking. Each and every one of you performed beyond expectations. However in the end, the Corsairs, using their cunning strategies and cohesive teamwork, stood victorious. Although property damage made to the hedge will be an issue to be dealt with.” He took out a paper showing our scores and posted it on the notice board.

Julian complained about the legality of creating walls and covering the maze, but that was quickly dashed as it wasn't offensive.

“You're quite the leader, Drake” Mindee said.

“Wow, that's the first compliment you've actually said to me. I always knew I was legendary” I stroked my chin.

“Don't go inflating your ego” she added.

Our teams dispersed, some to the cafeteria, others to the dorms to go boast to their friends. And some to sulk it off.

Hellion was walking alone down the pavement. His fists were squeezed and his gait spoke of anger.

“Hey Julian” I called, walking up to him.

“The heck do you want.” He took a subtly defensive posture.

I took a deep breath and imagined John. ‘Do what John would do’ I said to myself.

“Look, I apologize” his eyes widened in surprise. I continued “I'm really sorry for what happened last time in the cafeteria. I lost control over my temper and took it out on you. Please accept my apology” I maybe did over react that time, it's better to correct my errors than be set in them. I'm human in the end.

He stared blankly at me for some minutes and then he burst out in laughter. “Oh, that's rich. Really rich, you think saying sorry fixes all of it? You broke my f**king finger if you forgot. And you think a flimsy apology makes it all go away? We're going to get even, Drake” His rage was directed at me, his psychic field wildly fluctuating.

“I was hoping we could sweep it all under the rug, but guess I was being too optimistic. Whenever you're ready, I'll be waiting for you, just don't regret it” I stared back at him.

He turned around to leave and I called him again. “Dude, you've got my jacket”

He stared at his closed fist and noticed the leather jacket hanging from it. There was just a hint of embarrassment before “stupid!” he yelled and tossed it away. He immediately took off in flight. I silently chuckled.

I thought back to Cruz, while I walked to pick up the jacket.

‘We're not good guys, we're monsters and fuckups, we're scum of the earth, we're terrible people. Where we go, peace ends, we hurt everyone around us. We don't have good ends. We don't have happy fucking endings. We don't have a future. After all the shit we've done, haha, you think we can change? Don't fuck with me. Don't fucking lie to yourself. Hell was created for people like me and you’ I don't know Cruz, I'm doing pretty good. Maybe we can find some sort of happiness if we looked for it. But we don't deserve it, do we?

I pulled out a cigarette from the pack in the jacket and walked deeper into the woods. Maybe even people like us can change after all. My mind drifted in the hypnotic smoke of the ignited cigarette stick, I saw the screaming faces and pools of blood. I saw horrors, I gazed into the abyss of darkness and I saw…my reflection.

HALLO!! My wonderful people!!

You all having a great weekend? I hope I made it even better with a brand new chapter straight outta the super mega factory in my skull.

So what have we learned so far? Our Boi ice Drake is trying to change, to liven his new life from the dark of his past one.

Press down that Fave, follow and vote button to show some affection aka to motivate me. Leave a review, really, leave a review. It helps me know how well this story is going. I love all your feedback..

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On Twitter: https://twitter.com/RainReider

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BOMBASTIC SHOUTOUT TO LE PATRONS OF MINE, (Secret lovers on the low low..hah!) SKULLY(the silent death giver).

BIGTOFU(the Goliath king slayer),

JEP148(The vibranium ninja) and

KEVIN J ROSARIO (The mandalorian of durasteel).

And welcoming to the crew

THE BREAKER (The forger of Endtimes)

Rain away!