The Boys: Ice Time

Markus descended silently from the balcony, his movements fluid and deliberate. Frost spread along the steel beams as he passed, the temperature around him dropping rapidly. The guards on the warehouse floor didn't notice the change until it was too late.

The first patrol rounded a stack of crates, their breath fogging in the sudden chill. Before they could react, a shard of ice erupted from the ground, trapping their feet in a frozen vice. Markus emerged from the shadows, his eyes glinting coldly through his mask.

"What the—?!"

With a flick of his wrist, a spear of ice formed in his hand. Markus hurled it with deadly precision, striking the guard in the shoulder and pinning him to a wooden crate.

"Shh. Let's keep this quiet."

The second guard reached for his radio, but Markus closed the distance in a blur, freezing the device before it could make a sound. He slammed his palm into the guard's chest, a surge of frost encasing him in a layer of ice.

The second guard reached for his radio, but Markus closed the distance in a blur, freezing the device before it could make a sound. He slammed his palm into the guard's chest, a surge of frost encasing him in a layer of ice.

Markus stepped back, surveying his handiwork. The warehouse was eerily silent again, save for the faint hum of machinery deeper within.

Markus moved like a ghost, disabling cameras and evading patrols as he neared the central chamber. The sound of voices grew louder, accompanied by the whirring of lab equipment. He peeked through a narrow gap in the door.

Inside, a group of researchers huddled near a set of makeshift workstations, guarded by heavily armed men. On a nearby table, several vials of Temp V glowed faintly under fluorescent lights.

Markus tapped his earpiece, activating a secure line to Madelyn.

"I've got eyes on the researchers and the vials. Looks like they're being forced to replicate the formula on-site."

"How many hostiles?"

"Twelve, heavily armed. This might get messy."

Madelyn hesitated, her voice laced with concern.

"Noir's still five minutes out. Can you hold off until he gets there?"

Markus's lips curled into a faint smirk.

"I don't need five minutes."

He ended the call and pushed the door open.

The guards turned as Markus entered, their confusion giving him the element of surprise. He raised his hand, and an icy mist filled the room. The temperature plummeted, frost creeping along the floor and walls.

"Who the hell—?"

Markus didn't wait for an introduction. He lunged forward, conjuring an ice blade mid-stride. The first guard went down with a single slash, his weapon frozen solid before he could fire.

The remaining guards opened fire, but Markus was already moving. He created a wall of ice, bullets embedding harmlessly into its surface. With a sweeping motion, he shattered the wall into razor-sharp shards, sending them hurtling toward his attackers.

Screams echoed as the shards found their marks. Markus advanced, his movements precise and methodical. He ducked beneath a wild swing from a panicked guard, freezing his legs to the floor before delivering a swift, icy uppercut.

The last guard tried to flee, but Markus raised his hand, encasing him in a cocoon of frost.

"Not so fast."

The room fell silent, the only sound was the labored breathing of the researchers. Markus turned to them, his voice calm but commanding.

"You're safe now. Stay put until I give the all-clear."

As Markus secured the vials of Temp V, a faint rustle caught his attention. He turned to see Black Noir entering the room, his presence as silent as death.

Markus nodded in acknowledgment.

"Right on time."

Noir surveyed the scene, his gaze lingering on the incapacitated guards and the researchers. He gave a curt nod before moving to secure the perimeter.

Markus tapped his earpiece again, reconnecting to Madelyn.

Markus: "Madelyn, we've secured the location. Vials and researchers are intact. Noir's handling cleanup."

Her voice came through, tinged with relief.

Madelyn Stillwell: "Good work, Markus. Any leads on their backers?"

Markus glanced at a nearby terminal, its screen displaying a partially decrypted email chain.

"Not yet. But I've got something to work with. Give me a day to dig through it."

"Understood. And Markus?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He allowed himself a small smile.

"Anytime, Madelyn. I'll be in touch."

As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, Markus stepped outside, his breath visible in the crisp morning air. Black Noir stood silently beside him, his presence a reassuring shadow.

Markus glanced at the horizon, his mind already racing with possibilities. The Radiant Dawn was just the beginning, and he knew the trail would only grow colder from here.

'One day, one lead. Let's see where it takes us.'

The next morning, Markus stood in the sleek, glass-paneled conference room at Vought Tower. Across the table sat Madelyn Stillwell, her posture rigid yet composed as she sipped her coffee, though the faint circles under her eyes betrayed her lack of sleep. Beside her sat Stan Edgar, stoic as always, his fingers steepled in front of him as he regarded Markus with calm intensity.

On the table lay a digital tablet, its screen displaying a map of the hideout Markus had raided the night before. A few confiscated items—phones, a hastily sketched blueprint, and a single empty syringe—were neatly arranged in evidence bags.

"You have the floor, Markus. Let's hear it."

Markus nodded, stepping forward and placing his hands on the table.

"The operation was successful. All researchers recovered unharmed, and the Temp V vials were secured. As for the hideout itself, it wasn't just a storage facility—it was a production site. Small scale, but functional. They had the equipment to synthesize Temp V in limited batches."

Stan's expression didn't change, but Madelyn leaned forward her brow furrowing.

"So they're manufacturing it themselves now? That's a problem."

"It gets worse. I had my team comb through the phones I recovered from the guards. Most of it was burner data—encrypted messages, wiped call logs—but we managed to piece together some intel. The Radiant Dawn has been gathering materials for months, sourcing components through shell companies."

He tapped on the tablet, bringing up a list of company names and procurement logs.

"These names stood out. They all funnel money back to one account, offshore, in a jurisdiction we don't have immediate access. I'll spare you the specifics, but it looks like their funding isn't coming from small-time sympathizers. This is corporate money."

Stan leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing as he processed the information.

"Interesting. Any leads on who's behind the funding?"

Markus shook his head.

"Not yet. Whoever's pulling the strings is keeping their hands clean. But I did find something else—plans for a larger facility. It's vague, but it looks like they're planning to expand their production capabilities. We also recovered security footage from the hideout, but it's incomplete. I'll need more time to review it."

"What about the guards? Any idea who they are or where they came from?"

"Most were mercenaries, hired through intermediaries. A few had military backgrounds, but nothing high-profile. I suspect they've been promised a cut of whatever the Dawn plans to do with Temp V. One of them, though, took the serum during the fight. He was stronger, faster—but not smarter. I neutralized him without too much trouble."

Madelyn sighed, her fingers rubbing her temples.

"And the researchers? Did they say anything useful?"

"They're shaken but unharmed. None of them were Radiant Dawn members, just scientists forced to work under duress. They didn't have much intel, but one of them mentioned overhearing a conversation about 'testing the product.' Sounds like the Dawn might be planning to use Temp V in the field soon."

Stan's lips pressed into a thin line, his voice calm but firm.

"We can't let that happen. If the public finds out about Temp V, or if it's used in a way that draws attention, it could jeopardize everything Vought has built."

Markus nodded.

"Agreed. I've already started tracking their movements based on the data I pulled. There's a pattern to how they operate—always one step ahead, but not perfect. If we tighten our net, we can corner them."

Madelyn glanced at Stan, then back at Markus.

"You're doing good work, Markus. We need to end this before it spirals out of control."

"I intend to. But to do that, I'll need more resources. And I'd suggest we keep this internal for now—no other supes, no unnecessary attention. The Radiant Dawn thrives on chaos, and we can't afford to give them an advantage."

Stan nodded slowly.

"Very well. You'll have what you need. But remember Markus—our interests come first. Secure the vials, eliminate the threat, and find out who's funding them. No loose ends."

Markus straightened, his icy blue eyes meeting Stan's with steady resolve.

"Understood. I'll get it done."

As he turned to leave, Madelyn called after him.

"Markus... thank you."

He paused, offering her a small, reassuring smile.

"Anytime. You can count on me."

With that, he strode out of the room, already planning his next move. Back in the conference room, Stan and Madelyn exchanged a glance, both understanding the weight of the situation.

"He's reliable, but make sure he stays that way. If he falters, we'll need a contingency."

"He won't falter. Not Markus."

Stan didn't reply, his expression unreadable as he returned to the tablet, already calculating the next steps.

In an undisclosed location, the leaders of the Radiant Dawn gathered in a dimly lit room, their faces shadowed. The atmosphere was tense, the earlier defeat weighing heavily on them.

"We lost the lab and the vials, but the plan isn't derailed. This was a setback, nothing more."

"Setback or not, we underestimated them. Glacius is a problem."

"Then we eliminate him. Vought may think they have the upper hand, but they've made one critical mistake—they're fighting a war they don't even understand yet."

The group murmured in agreement, their resolve hardening.

"Let them enjoy their little victory. Soon, they'll see what the Radiant Dawn is truly capable of."

The scene faded as the group began laying out their revised plans, the stakes growing higher with every passing moment.

Markus leaned against the expansive window in his quarters, his phone pressed to his ear. He stared out at the sprawling city below as he updated Madelyn and Stan on the broader operation.

-Small Time-Skip-

"Since last night, I've had Black Noir sweeping through the secondary locations flagged from the phones we recovered. He's already hit three sites. Minimal resistance so far—mostly grunts and low-level operatives, no sign of leadership."

"And the bases themselves? What are we dealing with?"

"Smaller storage facilities. Weapons caches, some Temp V components, but nothing significant yet. They've compartmentalized their operations. Every location we hit seems to be two steps removed from the main players."

Stan's voice came through the line, cold and precise.

"What about the grunts? Anyone worth interrogating?"

"No one with meaningful intel. Either they don't know anything, or they're too scared to talk. The Dawn is good at keeping their people in the dark. Noir is working his way through the list. I've tasked him with flushing out anything useful while I continue tracking their financial channels."

"Good. Let's keep the pressure on. The more we disrupt their operations, the harder it'll be for them to regroup."

Markus nodded, even though they couldn't see him.

"Noir will handle the groundwork. I'll stay focused on the big picture. We'll pin them down soon enough.

Inside a dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of the city, a dozen Radiant Dawn operatives moved in hurried chaos. Crates of weapons and equipment were being packed, and orders were shouted as they prepared to relocate.

The sound of shattering glass broke the frantic rhythm. One of the grunts turned toward the source, his rifle raised. Before he could react, a throwing knife embedded itself in his chest, and he collapsed with a thud.

From the shadows, Black Noir emerged. Silent, methodical, and relentless, he advanced through the warehouse like a predator stalking prey.

Two guards opened fire, their bullets tearing through crates and equipment, but Noir was already moving. With the fluidity of a shadow, he dodged, closing the distance with terrifying speed. His katana flashed in the dim light, cutting down one guard before spinning to disarm the other with a single, precise strike.

A larger grunt, wielding a sledgehammer, charged at Noir. The enforcer didn't hesitate. Dropping low, he swept the man's legs out from under him, following up with a brutal strike to the temple that left the grunt unconscious.

The remaining operatives scattered, shouting in panic as they attempted to escape. Noir was relentless, dispatching them one by one.

One particularly desperate grunt managed to inject himself with Temp V, his muscles bulging and veins glowing faintly green. He let out a feral roar and rushed at Noir, his strength shaking the floorboards with every step.

Noir stood his ground, sidestepping the first wild swing. The enhanced brute's second strike was faster, forcing Noir to deflect with his katana. Sparks flew as the blade scraped against reinforced skin.

The brute smirked.

"You think that toy's gonna stop me?"

Noir didn't respond. Instead, he reached into his belt, producing a small, spherical device. Tossing it at the brute's feet, the device exploded in a blinding flash of light and sound.

Disoriented, the grunt staggered, clutching his head. Noir capitalized, driving his katana into the back of the man's knee and dropping him to the ground. Before the brute could recover, Noir delivered a swift, final blow, rendering him unconscious.

The warehouse fell silent, save for the crackling of damaged electronics and the labored breathing of the few grunts still alive. Noir surveyed the carnage, his expression unreadable behind his mask.

Moving with practiced efficiency, he began gathering evidence—documents, laptops, anything that could provide intel. In one corner, he found a map pinned to a bulletin board, marked with several red circles. He took a photo with his phone before slipping back into the shadows, vanishing as quickly as he had appeared.

Later that evening, Markus stood in his quarters, his phone vibrating with an incoming message. He opened it to find the photo Noir had taken of the map, along with a brief text:

"Found potential leads. Sending coordinates."

Markus studied the map, his mind already working through the possibilities. He tapped out a quick reply.

"Good work. Keep pushing. We're closing in."

He leaned back, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders but tempered by the progress they were making. The Radiant Dawn was running out of places to hide, and Markus intended to make sure they had nowhere left to turn.