The Boys: Ice Time

The boardroom was pristine and modern, bathed in natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Madelyn Stillwell sat at the head of the table, exuding her usual composed authority. Stan Edgar sat on her right, his face a mask of calm calculation, while Ameer Khan, Vought's Director of Global Security, looked far less composed. His fingers drummed on the table as he glared at the file before him.

The air in the room was thick with tension, an invisible weight pressing down on everyone present. On the agenda was the theft of several vials of Temp V from a covert storage facility and the kidnapping of two researchers directly involved in its development.

"Let's start with what we know."

Ameer cleared his throat, his voice tight.

"The theft occurred three days ago at Facility X-12, one of our off-the-books storage sites in Virginia. Security was breached at approximately 2:47 a.m. Eastern time. The team on-site didn't stand a chance—motion sensors were bypassed, cameras looped, and all six guards were neutralized. No fatalities, but all are still unconscious due to some gas exposure."

Madelyn leaned forward slightly, her brows furrowing.

"The vials?"

"Gone. Every single one. Along with the two researchers, Dr. Monica Ruiz and Dr. Benjamin O'Connor. They left us this."

He slid a printed image of a handwritten note across the table. Madelyn picked it up, reading aloud.

" 'Come after us, and the secrets of Temp V go public.' "

She set the paper down, her eyes narrowing.

"Do we have any leads on who's behind this?"

Ameer hesitated, glancing at Stan Edgar before continuing.

"We believe it's a new group calling themselves The Radiant Dawn. They've been gaining traction in certain underground circles—primarily anti-corporate, anti-supe, and deeply anti-Vought. Their manifesto popped up online a few weeks ago. It's... inflammatory, to say the least."

Stan adjusted his cufflinks, his calm demeanor unshaken.

Stan Edgar: "How inflammatory?"

Ameer pulled out a tablet, tapping it a few times before placing it in front of Stan.

"They refer to Vought as a 'corporate cancer' and label supes as 'biological weapons masquerading as saviors.' They've vowed to expose the truth about Compound V and any derivative projects."

Stan skimmed the document, his expression unreadable.

"Idealists. Dangerous, but predictable. Have they made any demands beyond the warning in the note?"

"None yet. Our analysts believe they're buying time to reverse-engineer the Temp V formula. If they succeed..."

"We'll have black-market Temp V in circulation."

The room fell silent as the weight of that possibility sank in. Black-market Compound V was already a nightmare scenario, but a temporary version—one that could turn anyone into a supe for 24 hours—was a ticking time bomb.

"What's our containment strategy?"

Ameer straightened as if he'd been waiting for the question.

"We've activated several assets to track down The Radiant Dawn. Surveillance teams are monitoring known associates, and we've flagged potential suppliers who might assist them. We've also scrubbed any mention of Temp V from our internal servers and public-facing systems."

Madelyn tapped her fingers against the table, her mind racing.

"Good. But it's not enough. We need to find those researchers before they give the group exactly what they want. And we can't let this leak—not even a whisper."

Stan finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"I'll handle damage control on the board's end. If this leaks, it could jeopardize everything we've built. The Seven, our IPO, global contracts—all of it. The public can't know about Temp V. Not now. Not ever."

The door to the boardroom opened, and Glacius stepped in, carrying a tray of coffees. The frost around his gloves betrayed the chill that naturally followed him, even when he wasn't using his abilities.

"Thought you all could use a little caffeine. You look like you've been staring at disaster scenarios all morning," he said with a slight smirk

He placed the tray on the table, earning a faint smile from Madelyn and a raised brow from Stan.

"Markus. How thoughtful."

Markus set a folder down beside the coffee tray.

Markus: "I've been digging into the Facility X-12 breach. Did a little recon on the crime scene myself before your security team had it scrubbed. Figured you'd want to hear what I found."

Stan gestured for him to continue.

"Go on."

Markus leaned against the edge of the table, folding his arms.

"Whoever hit that facility was surgical. No wasted movement, no unnecessary damage. They bypassed your biometric locks with a precision that suggests inside knowledge. Someone fed them your security protocols."

The room tensed.

"An inside job?"

"At least partially. I also found traces of a specific chemical compound at the scene—a nerve agent designed to knock out anyone within a 10-meter radius. It's military-grade, not something your average hacktivist group has lying around."

Ameer scowled.

"So they're not just idealists. They're well-funded."

"Exactly. And there's one more thing."

He opened the folder, revealing several high-resolution photos of a symbol spray-painted on one of the storage units: a stylized sunburst, bright red and jagged.

"They left their calling card. They want you to know it was them. They're not hiding—they're making a statement."

Madelyn stared at the photos, her jaw tightening.

"This just became a PR nightmare waiting to happen."

"Then we ensure it doesn't happen."

Markus straightened, meeting Stan's gaze.

"If you want my advice, this isn't just a security breach. This is a message. They're daring you to retaliate. And if you do, they're ready to escalate. You need to play this smarter than they're expecting."

Stan nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes.

"Noted. Thank you, Markus."

"Anytime."

As Markus left the room, the tension remained, but his insights had shifted the tone. This wasn't just a crisis—it was a chess match, and everyone in the room knew the stakes.

-A Day Later-

Madelyn sat at her desk, her perfectly polished exterior beginning to show cracks. The dim lighting of her office reflected the oppressive weight of the situation. Files were scattered across her desk, each one detailing the same frustrating truth: nothing substantial had been uncovered about The Radiant Dawn.

She rubbed her temples, leaning back in her chair. Her impeccable hairstyle had loosened slightly, and the faintest shadow of stress lined her eyes. This wasn't just another crisis—this was a direct threat to Vought's dominance, and by extension, her own control.

A gentle knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in."

Markus stepped into the room, his presence as steadying as the chill that seemed to follow him. He carried his usual calm confidence, but there was a softness to his expression that Madelyn noticed immediately.

"You look like you've been wrestling with the devil all night, Madelyn."

She sighed, offering a wry smile.

"Feels like it. I assume you didn't just come by to point that out."

Markus closed the door behind him, walking around her desk to stand behind her chair.

"I came to check on you. You're running yourself ragged."

Without waiting for permission, he placed his hands on her shoulders and began to gently massage them. Madelyn tensed for a moment but then relaxed under his touch, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.

"You don't have to—"

Markus interrupted her before she could finish "I know. But someone has to remind you to take care of yourself. Can't have you falling apart on us."

She let out a small laugh, leaning into the comfort he offered.

"You're too perceptive for your own good, Markus."

"It's part of the job."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence punctuated only by the faint hum of the city outside. Then, unexpectedly, Madelyn's voice broke the quiet.

"You know, you're the only one of them I trust."

Markus paused, his hands stilling for a moment before he resumed.

"That's a hell of a compliment, coming from you."

"It's not just a compliment. You understand the dynamic—the balance between Vought and The Seven. The others... either don't care or they're too blinded by their egos to see the bigger picture. But you... you get it."

Markus moved to sit on the edge of her desk, his ice-blue eyes meeting hers with a steady, reassuring gaze.

"It's because I know what's at stake. This isn't just about playing hero—it's about maintaining the illusion, protecting the brand, and keeping everything running smoothly. I signed up for that, and I don't have any delusions about what it means."

"You make it sound so easy."

"It's not. But it helps when you have someone you can lean on."

Madelyn let out a small, humorless laugh.

"You're good at that too, aren't you? Being the steady one."

Markus reached out, taking her hand briefly.

Markus: "Someone has to be. And you can lean on me anytime, Madelyn."

He stood, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead—a gesture that was both comforting and unexpectedly tender.

"Now, as for our little Radiant Dawn problem... I've got a plan. Just give me a day."

Madelyn looked up at him, a faint flicker of hope in her eyes.

"You think you can find them?"

"If there's a trail, I'll follow it. And if there isn't... I'll make one."

As he moved toward the door, he glanced back, offering her a rare, genuine smile.

"You can lean on me anytime, boss lady."

Madelyn chuckled softly, shaking her head.

"Get out of here, Markus, before I start expecting this kind of treatment regularly."

Markus grinned "Wouldn't be the worst thing, would it?"

With that, he left the room, leaving Madelyn feeling just a little lighter. For the first time in days since the incident, she allowed herself to hope that they might get ahead of this crisis.

-16 Hours Later-

The dimly lit warehouse reeked of oil and mildew, the perfect location for an off-the-grid operation. Markus "Glacius" stood in the shadows of a second-story balcony, surveying the area below. Armed guards patrolled the floor in staggered rotations, and faint voices echoed from a room deeper within. He had tracked The Radiant Dawn here after hours of sifting through encrypted data and interrogating sources.

Pulling out his phone, Markus dialed a familiar number.

"Madelyn."

Madelyn's voice came through after the second ring, weary but sharp.

"Markus. Please tell me you have something."

He leaned against the railing, keeping his voice low but steady.

"I've got a lead. I'm at one of their safehouses. High traffic, armed guards, and I can hear movement inside. This might be where they're keeping the researchers."

Madelyn exhaled audibly, the tension in her voice giving way to relief.

"That's... good. That's very good. Do you have eyes on the vials?"

"Not yet. But if they're here, I'll find them."

There was a pause, and then Markus's tone shifted.

"I need you to link Stan Edgar into this call."

Madelyn hesitated, her voice softening.

"Markus, are you sure? I can—"

"Madelyn. Please."

With a resigned sigh, she pressed a button on her end. After a brief delay, Stan Edgar's measured tone entered the conversation.

"Markus. I assume this is important."

"It is. I'm at a Radiant Dawn location. They're here, and they have the researchers. I need to know how you want this handled."

Stan's voice remained calm, his authority unwavering.

"What do you need?"

"Do you want survivors?"

A long silence followed. Madelyn held her breath, waiting for Stan's response.

"Survivors are a luxury. What I need are answers. Find out who's funding them and how they obtained the information. Neutralize the threat, rescue the researchers, and secure every last vial of Temp V. No loose ends, Markus."

Markus's voice was calm, but his words carried an edge.

"Understood. I'll need Black Noir sent to my location. He's perfect for cleanup."

There was a slight pause, followed by Stan's approval.

"He'll be there. Anything else?"

"Just make sure the media and law enforcement stays out of this. I don't need noise and distractions while I'm doing what needs to be done."

 "Handled. Good luck, Markus."

The call ended, leaving only the faint hum of static before silence returned.

---

Abandoned Warehouse, 15 Minutes Later

Markus crouched near the edge of the balcony, his icy breath curling into the air. He was now in his full attire minus his mask. He tapped his earpiece, activating a private line to Madelyn.

Markus: "Madelyn, Noir's ETA?"

"Ten minutes. You're going in alone until then?"

"Wouldn't be the first time."

Madelyn spoke softly "Be careful, Markus. You've already done more than enough."

His voice softened, a rare moment of reassurance.

"I'm just doing my job, Madelyn. Don't worry—I've got this."

She sighed, her voice tinged with gratitude.

You always do."

Markus disconnected the line, pulling his mask over his face. The cold began to radiate from him as frost formed along the railing he touched. His breath slowed, his mind sharpening.

"Time to get to work," he murmured.