Revelations, Part 2

[urdrago]

Sister Mary Moltar sat quietly at her desk. Classes had long been dismissed, but certain students had violated school rules. She scanned the detention room of students. The room was full with the usual suspects. Sister Mary frowned at the thought that a few of these students were frequent visitors to detention. Saint Joseph School was supposed to train students to become the heroes of the future, but some students had yet to mature let alone learn how to use their powers in a responsible manner. Steven Knight had already received multiple detentions for using his powers for childish antics. So far he had been caught creating wind gust to lift other students skirts and expose their undergarments. And he has been known to create freezing rainstorms over other female student when they’re wearing white tee shirts. What was worse Sister Mary thought was that he hadn’t learned how to control his powers enough to be useful, as a hero should. Then there was John Drago. Although not a disruption, he was known to skip classes and not turn in assignments. Surprisingly, he scored high marks on all his tests. What disturbed Sister Mary was that John seemed to be a violent person and anti-social. Although he has only been involved in one incident with another student since joining Saint Joseph School, he has been in more than plenty altercations with non students outside of school (not including his usual patrols). In fact, he was a suspect in a serious investigation by David Conrads. Sister Mary’s gaze drifted to an empty seat. Another troubled student, Tawney Daniels, would have usually claimed the seat. Sister Mary had always hoped that Tawney would come around but now it seemed that was to late. The other students were in just for minor infractions such as disrupting the class or missing assignments.

John Drago sat quietly; he turned a page from his book every now and then. To all those in the room, he was studying for his test on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. When in fact he had not read anything at all. He was deep in though about the revelation that his brother was the villain known as Extreme Ravage. Not that it was hard to believe. Because if the world had ever reached the utopia society that most heroes strive for, he himself, with his warrior mentality would than be considered a villain. He had chosen his war against crime on that it could never be won. For a warrior without war was nothing but a thug. His brother never got a chance to pick some cause to fight for. He had been incarcerated for retaliating against a heroine who he had blamed for putting his little brother in a coma. Drago knew his brother had always been more aggressive than he was. But now Daniel had not only become a thug but a murderer as well. He would have to get to his brother first before some other super did. He needed to know if there was a possibility that his brother could redeem himself.

The ring of the classroom phone broke the silence of the classroom. Sister Mary quietly answered the phone. Drago could hear David Conrads on the other end. “ Mr. Drago,” Sister Mary called out, “you’re wanted in Mr. Conrads’ office.” Drago wasted no time packing his things and heading out of the room. He had heard Mr. Conrads ask for him, probably better than Sister Mary who had the phone up to her ear. He had already been giving detention for skipping classes earlier in the day and had no ideal why Mr. Conrads had wanted to speak to him about. The slow walk to Mr. Conrads’ office had been uneventful. Drago reached out with his senses to see if he could gain any information to clue him in on the contents of the meeting. But to no avail, he didn’t sense anything out of place. Drago knocked lightly on the door.
“ Please come in Mr. Drago,” answered Conrads. Drago focused his thoughts than entered the office. Mr. Conrads was an empath and could sense emotion. But Drago had gained the discipline to hide his emotions through his mystical training with Qui-Pah, his sensei.

David Conrads watched Drago enter the office. As usual Conrads couldn’t get a read on Drago’s emotions. “ Please sit John,” Conrads said as he gestured to the chair in front of his desk. “ I’m doing an evaluation for the school and need to ask you some questions.” The fact that he could not read Drago’s emotions had always bothered him a bit. But with the severity of this interview, Conrads was a bit unnerved by the fact he couldn’t get a read on this students state of mind. Conrads waited a moment to see if John had anything to add than continued. “ How have you been adjusting to Saint Joe’s John?” David opened up a folder that he had been reviewing. Drago just shrugged. Conrads frowned; he had hoped Drago would be a little more open. But expected the resistance from him. Despite Drago’s unwillingness to open up to him, Conrads had always seen the potential in John. He knew the student was a fighter but had to find a way to get through to him. He needed to find out if John Drago was capable of rape. After about fifteen minutes of casual question Conrads switched the conversation. “ Within your first week here, you were involved in an altercation with another student. Tell me Mr. Drago, what had happed?”
“He was nothing more than a bully who preyed on those who feared him,” replied Drago strongly. Conrads knew well of the altercation. It was the school’s first glimpse of Drago’s potential. The bully had super strength and was nearly invulnerable. Clearly outmatched in strength, Drago never backed down. The fight didn’t even last ten seconds. With one punch Drago had knocked the air out of the bully’s lungs. Then follow with two vicious strikes to his throat, kept the bully from regaining his breath. Since that day the bully had left all other students alone.
“ Yes, you were defending Mr. Knight. But did you think you could have dissolved the situation without violence, “ asked Conrads.
“No. He would retaliate against Steven as soon as I wasn’t around. A brute like him only understands violence, “ replied Drago. Conrads started to sense Drago losing control of his emotions. He jotted down some notes on his pad. This new turn of events worried Conrads. The fact that he had so easily broke Drago’s calm meant that the student had a lot on his mind; possibly the guilt of sexually assaulting a fellow student. He felt anger radiate from Drago before retreating back within. He knew he needed to push further to find the answer before Drago fully regain his control.
“Have you attacked any other student of this school?“ asked Conrads accusingly. Drago’s control started to melt. Conrads felt the anger swell from the student. Now the time was right Conrads thought. “At the night of the dance did you attack one of the female students?” he asked very calmly. For the first time since David Conrads had met John Drago; Drago lost all control of his emotions. Conrads was overwhelmed with a sudden burst of emotions. There was no anger, just pure confusion. Drago was stunned, mouth opened, unable to speak. At that moment Conrads knew John Drago had nothing to do with the attack. “I apologize, Mr. Drago. I assure you that you are not under any suspicions.” Conrads closed the file and placed it back on his desk. He smiled warmly at Drago,“ you may head back to the dorms.” Confused Drago gathered his things and began to leave the office. He paused at the Door.
“ Is something going on? ” asked Drago. Conrads only smiled.
“Again, I apologize John. It was just a standard evaluation,“ answered Conrads. Drago silently closed the door leaving Conrads’ office more confused. Conrads regretted pushing Drago so hard, but it was necessary to convince himself of Drago’s innocence. What worried him even more was how easy it was to break Drago’s control. Something is wrong he thought. Conrads put the thought out of his mind; he had more important things to investigate at the moment. He only hoped that at some point he might be able to help the troubled youth.

Drago slowly headed over to the dorms. Qui-Pah wound have been so disappointed by his loss of control Drago thought. He didn’t doubt that Conrads believed he had nothing to do with some attack. But as a living lie detector, he knew Conrads lied when he told him it was just a standard evaluation. If there was an attack or not he wasn’t sure. But it would be best if had just distance himself from that whole mess.

As Drago reached the doorstep of the boy’s dorm, a couple of students leaving the building caught his attention. “ Hey Drago, want to hit up D’s?” invited one of his roommates, Ezekkiel Kane. D’s, or Pocket D as it is known, was a nightclub in some strange pocket dimension. It had quickly become the top spot for heroes and even villains from the Rouge Isles. It also had some strange magics about it that kept anyone from any physical violence.
“Sure, it will help me clear my head,” answered Drago. With any luck he might run into his brother and talk some sense into him, he thought. The group of students traveled together to one of the few entrances to Pocket D. The group included several students; Ezekiel Kane, Jaygo Jones, Ayani Kreuz, and John Drago himself.

Once inside, they gathered in their usual spot. During the evening more students came and gone, including Ezekiel. But Drago never saw any sign of his brother. They socialized for a while, even Drago himself, forgetting their daily problems. With the evening winding down on the students, who had school in the morning, they started to prepare to leave when a couple of drunks wondered into the vicinity. “ Nice skirt cutie,” remarked one of the drunks to Ayani.
“Back off, before I make your hair curl,” replied Ayani sharply, clearly annoyed. Drago was already on his feet moving to the aid of his fellow student.
“I’m just trying to start a conversation,” the drunk answered back. Drago moved himself between Ayani and the drunk and crossed his arms over his chest. Drago was at least a foot and a half taller and just as broad.
“Well on that note I am outta here. See you boys on campus,” replied Ayani, hoping to defuse the situation. She said her good byes and headed out of the club. Neither Drago nor the drunk moved. Jaygo calmly remained seated at the table. The drunk grew a little cocky despite Drago’s statue.
“What, your pissed at me now?” asked the drunk slyly.
“No, I’m pissed at the world,” stated Drago strongly, “ your just first in line.” By now the second drunk joined the first. Drago knew that while they were in Pocket D no physical confrontation would occur, but he doubted these two had enough brain cells between them to figure that out. In fact, if it weren’t for the enchantment, Drago would have already taken them down.
“It’s two of us against just one of you,” threaten the second drunk missing Jaygo sitting at the table behind the two drunks.
“While don’t you get a third. Then it might be a fair fight,” answered Drago without thought. Jaygo stood up and made his presence felt. After delaying a bit, the drunks left having no desire to fight the two students. The rest of the evening past without incident, the two remaining student headed home.

Later in the night Drago perched on top of the school science building. The few hours at Pocket D had helped him clear his head. Something big is going down, thought Drago again. He scanned the empty school grounds. “ I must be prepared for when I’m needed here,” whispered Drago to himself, “so this thing between us my brother ends tonight.” Drago pulled on his mask and without hesitation hurled himself into the air heading toward Independence Port.

[Kali Jade]

me thinks the doodie doo is about to hit the fan here