"S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier – Command Center"
The room was alive with flashing red lights, the sound of blaring alarms echoing through the command center. Agents rushed from terminal to terminal, their faces filled with urgency as the massive holographic display in the center of the room showed a live feed from The Raft, the maximum-security prison for super-powered criminals.
Nick Fury stormed in, his trench coat swaying behind him. His eye narrowed as he turned to Maria Hill, who was already at the main console, fingers flying over the keyboard.
Nick Fury: Maria, what the hell is going on?!
Maria Hill: Sir! The Raft is under attack someone breached the facility!
Fury's jaw tightened. The Raft being attacked was never good news.
Nick Fury: Who was it?
Maria's screen flickered, showing grainy security footage. The feed revealed a man standing in the middle of a flooded corridor, rain pouring from the ceiling, lightning crackling in the distance.
Maria Hill: Sir… it's Marco Mardon.
Fury's face darkened.
Nick Fury: Oh, hell no… Marco…
Before Fury could process the full weight of the situation, another voice chimed in Agent Phil Coulson, standing nearby.
Nick Fury: Coulson! Call any available heroes near The Raft!
Phil Coulson hesitated, checking his tablet. His face was grim.
Phil Coulson: Sir… there are no heroes available.
A tense silence filled the room. Fury clenched his fists.
Nick Fury: Damn it…
The Raft was under siege. The Weather Wizard had returned.
"The Raft – Maximum Security Prison"
The Raft was in chaos. Water surged through the halls, alarms blared, and the reinforced doors of high-security cells were being torn open one by one. Thunder roared outside as lightning illuminated the darkened corridors.
In the middle of it all, Marco Mardon better known as Weather Wizard hovered above the ruined floor, electricity crackling at his fingertips. Behind him, Blizzard, Pyro, Spot, and Boomerang stood near their shattered cells, newly freed from their imprisonment.
Blizzard narrowed his eyes, looking up at the man responsible for their escape.
Blizzard: Who the hell are you supposed to be?
Weather Wizard smirked, lowering himself to the ground.
Weather Wizard: The name's Marco Mardon… but you can call me Weather Wizard.
Pyro stretched his arms, cracking his neck as flames flickered from his fingertips.
Pyro: Oh yeah? And what do you want, mate?
Weather Wizard: I need you four to join me.
Pyro burst into laughter.
Pyro: And what if we don't wanna, huh? I only take orders from Magneto!
Spot crossed his arms, shaking his head.
Spot: Same here. I got my own plans. Spider-Man ruined my heist and put me in here. I owe that web-head a slow death.
Boomerang spun one of his signature weapons in his hand before glancing at Blizzard.
Boomerang: What about you, ice boy? How'd you end up locked in here?
Blizzard clenched his fists, ice forming around his fingers.
Blizzard: The Flash. He caught me after what I did on Savage Island.
Weather Wizard grinned.
Weather Wizard: Then it sounds like we have a common enemy.
The storm outside intensified, thunder rumbling ominously.
Weather Wizard: So what's it gonna be, gentlemen? Are you in… or do I leave you here for S.H.I.E.L.D. to throw back in a cell?
The four villains exchanged glances, smirking as they silently came to an understanding. Blizzard was the first to step forward, cracking his knuckles as frost spread across the floor beneath him.
Blizzard: How about… we won't join you?
Weather Wizard's confident expression faltered for a brief moment.
Weather Wizard: Wh-what? What's that supposed to mean?
Boomerang lazily spun one of his weapons in his hand, grinning.
Boomerang: You see, mate… we don't exactly like being bossed around.
Pyro ignited flames in both hands, stepping forward with a mischievous grin.
Pyro: Sooo… we're just gonna kill you instead~
Weather Wizard's face twisted with rage.
Weather Wizard: You would dare!
Blizzard smirked, ice forming around his arms.
Blizzard: Yeah. We will. Right here, right now.
For a moment, there was silence then Weather Wizard burst into laughter. His chuckles echoed through the ruined cell block, his fingers crackling with raw electricity.
Weather Wizard: After everything I've done to free you… this is how you repay me?
He narrowed his eyes, his smirk turning into a sneer.
Weather Wizard: I dare say… you four disgust me for some reason.
Thunder rumbled outside, and a bolt of lightning flashed through the shattered ceiling, illuminating the scene.
Weather Wizard: Okay then.
His eyes gleamed with deadly intent as he raised his hands, storm clouds swirling above.
Weather Wizard: Do your worst!
Blizzard's eyes glowed with icy determination as frost spread beneath his feet.
Blizzard: You hear him! Finish him now!
Without hesitation, he unleashed a freezing blast of zero-temperature ice, sending a wave of frost toward Weather Wizard. The cold mist filled the air, frost creeping up the walls as the attack shot forward.
At the same time, Pyro grinned and hurled a wave of fire from the opposite side, the heat clashing violently with Blizzard's cold.
Pyro: Burn, you storm-chasing bastard!
Spot, staying back, opened a swirling black portal beneath Weather Wizard's feet, attempting to grab hold of him and disorient him mid-air.
Spot: Time to send you somewhere real nasty!
Boomerang, standing off to the side, looked around frantically before spotting a rusted steel pipe lying among the debris.
Boomerang: Oh, hell yeah!
He picked it up, aimed carefully, and chucked it with all his strength.
Boomerang: Please work!
The pipe spun through the air, cutting past the ice and fire before slamming directly into Weather Wizard's leg with a loud "CRACK!"
Weather Wizard: Gah!
He staggered, nearly falling to one knee as the pain shot through his body.
Boomerang's eyes widened in disbelief before he pumped his fist.
Boomerang: It worked! Hah! I knew it!
As Weather Wizard struggled to regain balance, the four villains closed in, ready to finish the job.
Pyro, fueled by rage, rushed toward Weather Wizard, his flame jetting out from his hands like a blazing comet.
Pyro: He's mine now!
Before Blizzard could react, Pyro was too close. Weather Wizard's hand shot out, his fingers crackling with energy as a surge of electricity shot into Pyro's body. Pyro's entire body stiffened as the electrical current coursed through him, causing his flames to flicker and die out.
Blizzard: Pyro, get back!
But it was too late. Pyro collapsed, twitching from the electrical surge, his body smoking as he struggled to stay conscious.
Spot, who had been circling around, saw the opportunity. He appeared behind Weather Wizard, crowbar in hand, and swung it with all his might toward Weather Wizard's head.
Spot: Gotcha, bastard!
The crowbar smashed into Weather Wizard's skull, but something felt off. A fog began to swirl under Weather Wizard's feet, filling the air around him.
Spot: What the—
Before Spot could react, the fog exploded, a burst of force that threw him backward and caused him to lose his grip on the crowbar. He quickly opened a portal to escape, grabbing Pyro just in time as the explosion rocked the area. They vanished into the portal, narrowly escaping the blast.
Blizzard and Boomerang, who had been taking cover against the walls, exchanged tense looks.
Boomerang: Any plans, Blizzard?
Blizzard gritted his teeth, his eyes burning with determination as he formed a sharp ice sword in his hand, the air around him turning frigid with his power.
Blizzard: We hit him harder. So hard that he won't even see the stars tomorrow.
Weather Wizard walked through the destruction he had caused, his storm raging around him. Sparks crackled at his fingertips as he sent arcs of lightning into walls, debris, and anything in his way. His eyes scanned the wreckage, searching for his enemies.
Weather Wizard: Come out, come out, wherever you are!
His voice echoed through the ruined prison block. He blasted another lightning bolt at a collapsed ceiling, sending chunks of concrete tumbling to the ground. His frustration grew as there was no response.
Weather Wizard: Come out now, you cowards! You four will feel my wrath!
Blizzard and Boomerang crouched behind a wrecked steel door, watching from a distance. Then, from the corner of their eyes, they spotted a swirling black portal forming silently on the ground.
Boomerang: That's our way out. Move!
They slipped toward the portal without making a sound, stepping through just as Weather Wizard sent another arc of lightning in their direction, missing them by inches.
Weather Wizard turned his head, sensing movement, but before he could react, another portal opened this time right above him.
Weather Wizard: What the fuck?
Pyro, Blizzard, and Boomerang fell from the portal, crashing down onto Weather Wizard, slamming him into the floor.
Before he could react, another portal snapped open in front of him, and Spot's fist came flying through.
Spot: Surprise!
The punch connected with Weather Wizard's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He gasped, his body jerking from the unexpected hit.
Weather Wizard groaned, trying to gather his strength, but before he could react, Pyro grabbed him by the collar.
Pyro: Oh, you think you're all that, huh? Giving me that stupid shock attack earlier?
Pyro reeled back and slammed his forehead into Weather Wizard's skull.
"CRACK!"
Weather Wizard gasped in pain.
Pyro: That was for me!
"CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!"
Pyro headbutted him again and again ten times in total until Weather Wizard's nose was bleeding and his head was spinning.
Boomerang: My turn.
With a smirk, Boomerang swung a steel pipe at Weather Wizard's head.
"THWACK!"
Weather Wizard groaned in pain, but Boomerang wasn't done.
"THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!"
Boomerang: That's five for you, mate. Hope it hurts.
Weather Wizard's legs gave out, but before he could collapse, Blizzard stepped forward, raising both hands.
Blizzard: You're not going anywhere.
A blast of freezing air hit Weather Wizard's legs, instantly encasing them in solid ice.
Weather Wizard struggled, gritting his teeth.
Weather Wizard: You damn!
Before he could finish, Spot appeared beside him, portals swirling.
Spot: Oh no, no, no. You're not using those hands either.
Spot opened two portals, one on each side of Weather Wizard, and shoved both his arms through them.
Weather Wizard: What the?
Spot: Let's see how tough you are when you can't move.
Trapped, frozen, and battered, Weather Wizard struggled, his anger rising, but he was completely at their mercy.
Blizzard tightened his grip on Weather Wizard's face, a cold smirk forming.
Blizzard: Hold him tightly, boys. I'm just gonna slice him…
He raised the ice sword, its blade gleaming with deadly frost.
Weather Wizard's eyes widened in panic.
Weather Wizard: No!
With a burst of desperation, he summoned a violent gust of wind, shattering the ice sword into fragments.
Blizzard: Damn you!
Fury flashed in Blizzard's eyes as he released the broken hilt and grabbed Weather Wizard's face with both hands.
Blizzard: Spot! Let go of him now! I'm gonna freeze this man alive!
Spot hesitated for a moment, then smirked before releasing Weather Wizard's arms.
Spot: Have fun.
The moment Weather Wizard was free, Blizzard unleashed a surge of freezing energy, his hands glowing with icy mist.
Weather Wizard: Wait stop!
Before he could finish, his entire body was encased in solid ice, frozen in a perfect block. His eyes, now locked in terror, were the only part of him still visible.
Pyro stepped forward, cracking his knuckles.
Pyro: Alright, I'll finish the job.
He raised his hands, flames flaring to life, but Blizzard immediately stopped him, holding up a hand.
Blizzard: No! You might melt my ice on him!
Pyro paused, blinking.
Pyro: Oh… is that so? My bad.
Boomerang grinned, stepping up and gripping his steel pipe tightly.
Boomerang: Then let me do the honors.
With a wicked swing, Boomerang smashed the frozen Weather Wizard with full force.
"CRACK!"
The ice shattered, and Weather Wizard's body broke into countless frozen shards, scattering across the floor.
Boomerang smirked.
Boomerang: Now that's how you take care of a problem.... Wait...
Boomerang: Heh. One more for good luck.
"CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!"
The frozen figure shattered into countless icy shards, scattering across the floor.
Blizzard crossed his arms, looking down at the frozen remains.
Blizzard: Well… that's that... uhhh... I don't know what to say?
Spot leaned against a broken wall, arms crossed, his black-and-white form flickering slightly as he glanced at the others.
Spot: So… what now? We're out of our cells, free men. What's the move?
Pyro chuckled, stretching his arms.
Pyro: Good question. We just offed that psychopath who wrecked a plane last year—Magneto mentioned him once. So what now?
Boomerang smirked, flipping a small boomerang between his fingers.
Boomerang: I got an idea. How about we form a team? Just the four of us.
Pyro scoffed, giving Boomerang a sideways look.
Pyro: And how the hell do we form a team when we just took down the Wind Dude?
Blizzard stepped forward, ice crackling around his fingertips as he spoke.
Blizzard: Simple. We form a team, but we don't just do it for the hell of it. We take our hatred and focus it on one person the one enemy none of you truly know.
Spot tilted his head.
Spot: Oh yeah? Who?
Blizzard's eyes glowed cold as he uttered the name.
Blizzard: The Flash.
Pyro raised an eyebrow before suddenly grinning.
Pyro: Ohhh, you mean the guy we took down? Yeah, I heard he's currently in Sinister's lab.
Blizzard's face darkened.
Blizzard: What do you mean?
Pyro shrugged.
Pyro: You know Sinister and his whole 'experimenting-on-metahumans' thing. Probably slicing and dicing him up right now.
Before Pyro could say another word, an ice dagger was suddenly pressed against his throat. The air around them turned frigid.
Blizzard: Listen to me. No one harms him. No one. Unless it's me… or us.
Boomerang raised an eyebrow.
Boomerang: Us?
Blizzard lowered the ice dagger and turned to face them all. His voice was steady, commanding.
Blizzard: From now on, we work as a team. And there are rules. I have a strict moral code, and each of us is expected to follow it.
The air grew tense as the three men listened.
Blizzard: No Rogue may inherit another Rogue's identity while the original still lives. No members do drugs. And no killing speedsters like the Flash or Quicksilver, no killing capes, and no killing women and children.
He looked each of them in the eye.
Blizzard: So tell me… who's with me?
The silence hung for a moment before Boomerang gave a short chuckle.
Boomerang: Heh. Why the hell not? I'm in.
Spot smirked, opening a small portal and punching his own fist through it in a mock handshake.
Spot: Sounds interesting. I'll bite.
Pyro sighed, then grinned.
Pyro: Alright, fine. But if Magneto calls, I ain't ignoring him.
Blizzard nodded.
Blizzard: Good. Then from now on… we're the Cold Front.
Boomerang rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.
Boomerang: So lame!
Pyro laughed, shaking his head.
Pyro: Cold Front? Yeah, that's lame as fuck.
Spot smirked, twirling his fingers to open a small portal.
Spot: Lame.
Blizzard clenched his fists, ice cracking beneath his feet as his eye twitched.
Blizzard: You bastards! Alright, what name do you guys suggest then!?
Before any of them could answer, a bright light cut through the night sky. A massive shadow loomed over them as the roaring engines of a "S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier" filled the air.
A booming voice echoed from the loudspeakers.
Nick Fury: Attention Villain! This is Director Nick Fury. You are ordered to surrender immediately or face the consequences of your escape… and the murder of Marco Mardon.
The four criminals looked up at the massive airborne fortress. Spot let out a low whistle.
Spot: Well… that's new.
Blizzard, still glaring at his team, exhaled sharply and turned back to them.
Blizzard: You know what? You guys are right. Cold Front is a lame name…
Boomerang, Pyro, and Spot all looked at him and Blizzard raised his hands, ice swirling violently around him as the temperature plummeted.
Blizzard: How about we call ourselves… "THE FUGITIVES!"
With that, he slammed his hands forward, summoning a massive glacier and launching it straight at the "S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier!"