Issue #7

(Early release)

While Jack was talking with the Inhumans, Tony, Steve, and Natasha gathered in a secret room in the tower where Nick Fury the 1st and 3rd were waiting for them. Each of them took a seat,

"So how did he take it?" Nick the 3rd asked

"Jack accepted the position. As for which members we should put on his squad besides 'them', we are unsure," Tony replied

"Are you all sure we should do this?" Steve asked the others. "Even if we are unsure about his origins, we can always just ask him."

"I actually have to agree with Steve on this one. I have been watching Jack carefully," Natasha followed up. "The guy has been treating the others like true team members. Janet and Sue also love how he is with the kids. Even the phone calls that he makes go to the same few people outside of the Avengers. Emma Frost, that Leah kid, and Illyana who is a student at the Xavier Institute."

"That's what makes me trust him even less!" Fury the 1st slammed his fist into the table

"The kid comes out of nowhere and saves Spidey's biggest fan? He spends a large amount of time looking through records on villains in our database. His identity also doesn't check out. We have gone through all of Winston Frost's records and conducted a DNA test. He is not related to the man at all," Fury the 3rd added on

"Can any of you prove who Thor, Ares, Hercules, or any of the several other mythical heroes we have met are truly who they say they are?" Natasha countered

"And we have policies in place for all of them. But Jack Frost? We have no idea of his full limits!" said Fury the 1st. "Cryokinesis, flight, intangibility, bulletproof, and now we learn he can use magic? What other secrets is he hiding?"

"The way he has also gotten close to every woman on the team except for maybe your sister is another concern. It is unknown if that is just his charisma or an actual power of his." Tony said

"Oh. I didn't know being popular was a bad thing. And I think you are forgetting that he also gets along with Johnny, Spidey, Luke, Tyrone, and Clint all get along with him as well." Natasha immediately shot back

"If you all were unsure about him, we should not have invited him to join. Now you want to test his loyalty to the Avengers by putting him in charge of a squad? This means that if you're right, we are risking the lives of Avengers. And if you're wrong..."

"We are wronging an innocent man," Tony finished the sentence. "I completely understand what we are doing and what it means but I also will not regret it. I rather wrong a man and ask for forgiveness than being wronged by a man and unable to recover from it."

Natasha stood up and shook her head. She knew she could not talk the three out of her plan. She also could not defy it but did not wish to be any more a part of it than she had to. She left them with a few words as she walked out the door.

"When the day comes and he shows you that he is a true Avenger, I hope you remember this night. And I hope you remember the words you said tonight and say them with just as much conviction to Frost's face."

Steve agreed with this and left soon after Natasha. The 3 remaining men were left in the room alone. Whatever other plans they had discussed and made, the other two wanted no part in them.

This would be the first major and true divide among the latest iteration of the Avengers. And this crack would lead to many events in the future that none of those in the room would ever had expected. And the one who was at the center of it was in an entirely different room having a different conversation.

Jack stood facing Black Bolt and Medusa while the other members of the Inhumans stood to the side. The pair were thinking over the offer he had just made him.

"You are saying you wish to help us? What is your goal?" Medusa asked on behalf of Black Bolt since he couldn't speak

Jack thought for a moment before telling 2/3rds of the truth. They didn't need to know about him wanting to help them claim back the throne to get some more powers.

"2 main reasons. First, I haven't had a real fight with my life on the line in a while. I have teammates with the Avengers and backup anytime it gets even a bit dangerous. I miss the feeling of dancing on the edge of the knife.

The second reason is that I'm a mutant. We are already on humanity's bad side just because we are different and the hero community's bad side because all mutant groups are radicals when it comes to their place in the world. As the first mutant, you meet, I want to leave a good impression on you all before you are influenced by others' opinions."

Medusa and Black Bolt shared a look before they started talking telepathically about the offer Jack had presented them. He gave them 4 paths for the future that they could choose from.

1. Let him take out most of the rebels while they came back and reclaimed the throne if they were lacking the will to kill those that needed to die

2. He could assist them in reclaiming the throne if they were lacking in combat strength

3. Have him stand aside while they handled their own matters

4. Truly give up their roles as king and queen of the Inhumans if what they desired the most was peace

After a few minutes of talking, both decided on option one. They could not kill their own people. At least not yet. Even after they had lost so many to humans and were betrayed, it was still their people.

When they told Jack their choice, he nodded. They also told him, several people, that they wanted to be kept alive at all costs. The leader of the rebels who was also Black Bolt's brother was number one on this list.

"Understood. I can have it done by the morning if Lockjaw takes me there now," Jack responded feeling confident in his strength

"Thank you, Jack. If there is anything you need for your people in the future, please let us know. We will try out best to help you. This is our promise to you as king and queen of the Inhumans," Medusa promised solemnly.

She then turned to Crystal and asked, "Where is Lockjaw? Let's have Jack depart soon so that we may return home."

In another part of Avengers Tower, Jack's bedroom to be exact, Goose stood on Jack's bed while the other Pet Avengers stood around him.

{Hello, my comrades. I am glad to tell you that we have another member added to our ranks after only a month. Please welcome Lockjaw!}

The other Pet Avengers sent telepathic congratulations to their newest and largest member. With the addition of Lockjaw, their mobility had increased to a high degree.

At the same time in the tower, 3 different meetings took place. All making their own plans and putting different things into motion. When the others would find out what happened, that would be undetermined.