The Professor

The Professor is the twenty-ninth episode of the series, Mutant Drake.

Plot
On the road, back to traveling, the sky is a bright blue with a light amount of clouds. Surrounding the road is a forest-like environment, with several trees and fields where the trees aren't. The news van is then seen driving along the road.

Inside the van, John is seen driving while Kate is seen in the passenger seat.

John, driving: Remind me again why we're driving all the way out here?

Kate: Okay but don't expect me to keep repeating myself. It's a journalistic nightmare.

John, driving: Sorry but the more you say it, the better of an idea I get so I can explain it to Drake.

Kate: Is he really that impatient?

John, driving: You know him. He prefers a whole different type of questioning when it comes to interviews.

Kate: Well, if I'm going to stay with you guys, I need to hand in something to the Chief so I figured while we're taking this time off, I could catch up on some potential reports.

John: Like that crazy guy up in Alabama.

Kate: He wasn't crazy... but yeah.

John, driving: So what can we expect in Nashville?

Kate: That's for us as journalists to figure out.

John, driving: Well, you're the journalist here... At least, you and Drake, I guess.

Kate: Yeah, but you're clever. Drake is...

John gives Kate a look.

Kate: Innovative?

John, looking back to the road, driving: (dry chuckle) Yep, that's one word for it.

Kate chuckles. The scene then shows the van approaching the city district's gateway. In the distance, a figure is seen watching them. While the figure is in the shadows, it appears to be a man wearing some type of armor. The man then grunts and places a helmet over his head, backing into the darkness more. The scene then cuts to later with the van driving through the city. In the van, John is still driving but Kate, while still seated in the passenger seat, is now looking out of the window, in a thoughtful manner.

John, driving: What are you thinking about?

His eyes still fixated on the road ahead of him. Kate looks up before turning to face John.

Kate: How'd you know I was thinking about something?

John, driving I can sense it.

Kate, smirking: Really?

John, driving: Yeah. You fall silent, you say "Hm" and then your nose crinkles. It's adorable.

Kate: ...You know me so well.

John, driving: Yeah... I guess, I do. (clears throat)

Kate: John, look- uh, you're my best friend. A really good one... and I just can't help but feel like- like...

John looks over at Kate.

John: Like what?

Kate: (scoffs) I don't know. I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you for being my friend.

John, driving: If anyone should be thanking anyone, it's me. All I really had was Drake. People just knew me but they never really taken a step towards being friends with me. Except you. I mean, without you, I probably wouldn't be the guy I am now.

Kate: I honestly doubt that. I mean, you changed a little but, despite all that, you're still the guy I first met, deep down.

John then looks over at Kate. They both then smile at each other. The van is then seen driving along the street. A man then comes into view, walking along the sidewalk. He's wearing a brown tweed jacket, with a blue waistcoat underneath over a white shirt. He also wears brown glasses and a striped grey tie. He looks out, seeing the van approaching. He nearly steps forwards but stops himself.

Man, to himself: It must happen... I- I can't change it.

He then turns back and starts walking away before he holds the side of his head, as if gaining a migraine.

Man, to himself: No... I won't... I can't! Uh...

The van continues approaching when an energy blast of some type hits the front of the van, veering it around. The van then comes to a stop, smoking off of its hood. The man turns back and sees the van, looking slightly surprised. Inside, Kate and John are seen, not moving.

Title Sequence

TBA

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The van remains where it is in the middle of the street, smoke emitting from its hood. A noise is then heard, like an engine. Kate is seen awakening, raising her head from the dashboard, as the noise gets louder. Kate looks over at John, leaning back against the chair.

Kate: John? (after no response) ...John?!

Kate shakes him, a sense of panic appearing to come over her as she does so. John then awakens shortly afterwards.

John: Huh? What? (groans)

Kate sighs in relief.

Kate: You're okay.

John: What happened?

Kate: I don't know, there was this- blast and- (sighs)

After a moment a silence between them, aside from the noise getting increasingly louder outside, the panel to the back opens and Drake emerges.

Drake: Hey, are you okay?

John: We're fine.

Drake: What happened?

Kate: We don't know.

John: Felt like someone attacked the van.

Drake: Someone attacked us?

John: Well, when you sit through one car crash, they all sorta feel the same...

Kate, looking outside: You guys hear that?

John: Sounds like some sort of engine. Maybe a Jumpjet?

As Kate continues looking outside, her eyes widen with surprise.

Kate: It's not a Jumpjet...

Outside, the figure is seen landing through the smoke surrounding the van, using a jetpack. As the smoke passes over him, his outfit is shown; he's wearing a purple helmet with red lens shaped like a "T". He's wearing a violet vest with green bar codes on the side. He has black sleeves, with black gloves and a purple utility belt. On his back, is a jetpack fashioned from a modified thruster. He whips out some type of blaster pistol and points it at the back of the van. He then approaches the van, steadily. He then stops and reaches carefully for the door handle. He grabs it and pushes it. A click is then heard. Just then, the door flies open and the man is knocked back. He looks up with a grunt and sees Drake, in his Vigilante Suit, his ice mace form activated.

Bounty Hunter: You! Oh, I've been waiting a long time for this... (gets up)

Drake: You're a Bounty Hunter... I've fought one of you before.

Bounty Hunter: Yeah, I heard about your little fight. I'm here to make sure you regret it.

Drake: How'd you know I was here?

Bounty Hunter: I didn't but glad to see our little theory checks out.

Drake: What are you talking about?

Bounty Hunter: Sightings confirm you're always in the presence of this van but more importantly the people inside it. I only have one name and one description. Either one brings me the Vigilante.

Drake: Well, I'm right here.

Bounty Hunter: (scoffs) Unlike the other guy, I'm not as impatient.

The Bounty Hunter stands there, throwing his arms out. Drake then bears his teeth and charges towards the man, readying a strike with his ice mace. The man easily evades the attack, ducking down and striking Drake in the side. Drake strikes again, the man dodging again. The man throws his gun up, aiming it at him. He shoots just as Drake smacks it from his hands. The street then explodes, shattering pieces of the street into the air with smoke. Drake strikes the man in the head with his regular fist, which, it being armored, doesn't prove as effective. The Bounty Hunter then strikes Drake in the face twice, knocking him back. He then ducks down, activating his jetpack and launching forwards into Drake, throwing him into the van door. Drake then drops to the ground. The Bounty Hunter then drops down, deactivating his jetpack. The engine dies down as he looks at the fallen Vigilante. He then turns, picks up his gun and walks towards the front of the van, as he does so he adjusts the setting on his gun. He then stops before the door, listening for a moment. The scene then pans to the right, showing Kate inside of the van, cowering out of view. Her breathing sounds rapid and trying to be silenced. The Bounty Hunter reaches for the door but then stops, gripping his gun. He then turns around and shoots. A needle then sticks John in the arm and he drops down to the ground. He had his blaster in his hands. The Bounty Hunter then grunts and turns back to the door, throwing it open. Kate then screams as he reaches in, grabbing her.

Bounty Hunter: You're coming with me.

Kate kicks the Bounty Hunter in his knee and elbows him in his neck, although his grip on her is still solid. As Kate continues her struggles to get free, The Bounty Hunter holds the gun up to Kate and fires a dart into her neck. She then becomes tired and falls unconscious. The Bounty Hunter then sighs and rubs his neck.

Bounty Hunter, muttering to himself: Tough one...

He then puts his gun away and secures his grip on Kate before activating his jetpack. He then starts to take off. Drake looks up and sees the Bounty Hunter flying away at a low altitude. As he flies away, his jetpack is shot and he starts to drop. The Bounty Hunter turns back and sees John, half-asleep holding onto his blaster, smoke emitting as if it was recently used. John then passes out as Drake gets up. Drake goes over to John, looking down at him.

Drake: John?

He looks back seeing the Bounty Hunter drop to the ground, with an unconscious Kate.

Drake: John?!

John remains unconscious. Drake gives a short sigh and turns back, the Bounty Hunter no longer there. Drake looks around, finding no sign of the Bounty Hunter anywhere. He does, however, see the man in the tweed jacket looking down the street. He then turns to see Drake watching him. The man backs away, turns around and starts walking away. Drake then starts to hurry across the street, following the man.

Drake: Hey, Hey!

Drake increases in speed, chasing the man who walks in a reasonable pace before turning into an alleyway. Drake follows him into the alleyway, a clear path towards the man who then stops walking, holding his head as if getting a headache. He then turns, seeing the Vigilante approach him. The man then looks around, taking a step back before, a truck backs out, seperating them. Drake looks around, surprised by the truck's appearance. He then activates his ax-forms and stretches his arm out. It clings to the side of the building and Drake repels upwards and over the truck, pulling his arm in. It returns to its normal position as he drops down, continuing to chase after the man who had continued escaping casually. Drake exits the alley way and sees the man crossing a busy street. The man stops the middle as a truck nearly hits him. He then turns back, seeing the Vigilante watch him cross. Drake looks surprised as the man walks through the busy traffic, avoiding the cars and trucks. Drake looks up and sees a lamp post on a small island in the middle of the street. Drake stretches his arm out, wrapping the ax-head around the lamp post and uses it to swing over the traffic. He lands on a truck, runs across it and jumps, still swinging over to the man who is now standing in the middle of the street. The man turns, seeing the Vigilante about to grab him, but steps back as the truck approaches. Drake looks surprised as the truck hits him. Drake then climbs to the top of the truck and sees the man successfully crossing the street and continuing to walk away. Drake then grunts, deactivating his form. He then gets up and runs down the truck, jumping off and onto the top of a car, driving behind it. The car swerves, as if in reaction to the sudden drop on its roof. Drake then jumps onto the car behind it, leaping from car top to car top until he makes it to the clearing, jumping and landing there from a truck roof. He looks up, the man walking along. He then stops and looks around. Drake runs towards him, the man then holds his head and leans against a building. Another man is standing by him, looking up as a woman is heard above them.

The Other Man, looking up: Come on, babe! I swear it won't happen again.

Woman, unseen, from above: For the last time, It's over, Deacon!

Drake approaches the man, running towards him.

Deacon, looking up: Rayna, please... Can I at least have my stuff back?

Rayna, looking out of the window: You want your stuff back, you jerk?

She disappears, walking back into the room. Deacon looks down, scratching the back of his head, he then turns, seeing the Vigilante approach him.

Drake, approaching: Out of the way!

Deacon: Sure, dude! Sure!

Deacon runs off while the man is still leaning against the wall, holding his head. As Drake gets closer, the man starts to walk away.

Drake, calling out: Hey! Get back here, I need you to-

As Drake runs forwards, he's struck in the head with a microwave, knocking him to the ground. The man continues walking away, casually. Drake then gets up, holding his head.

Rayna, calling from the window, unseen: There's your stuff, you jerkface!

Drake looks up at the window then down at the ground, looking at the microwave.

Drake: What... (sighs) This is the second time this happened...

Drake continues pursuiting the man, chasing him into an alleyway. The man runs down the alley way, he makes a turn and sees a dead end ahead. The man stops, looking worried. He then approaches, looking down at his watch; the glass is fractured. Time is 1:48.

Man, looking at his watch, stopping: No, no... It's too early.

He then gasps and turns around, seeing Drake standing at the end of the alley way, looking at him.

Drake: Too early for what?

Man: Don't harm me.

Drake: I won't. I just want to talk.

Man: That's what they always say. Leave me be! I've been fine for these past years, why bother me now?

Drake: What are you talking about? You saw something, I just want answers.

Man: I have seen many things, young man. Somethings I can not un-see.

He holds his head, getting another headache, it appears. He then looks over at Drake, approaching him.

Man: Very well then. You want answers, yes? You want to hear what I have seen? All I'll say is whatever you plan on doing to me, it won't happen.

Drake: Really?

Man: Yes, you'll be far more occupied with your prisoner than you are with me.

Drake, now standing close to the man, looks at him carefully.

Drake: I don't have any prisoners.

Man: That call presents quite the rebutal.

Drake is about to say something when his comms activate.

Director, over the comms: Drake, report in.

The man gives him a look. Drake takes a step back and puts his hand to the side of his head.

Drake: What is it?

Director, over the comms: There's no time to talk about it. I need you on board as soon as you can. It's an emergency.

Drake looks at the man who just stands there. He then clenches his fist, showing his teeth.

Director, over the comms: Drake!

Drake: Yes, I'll be there.

Drake deactivates his comms and punches the wall, letting out a yell. He turns back and sees the man standing there.

Drake: I could take you with me.

Man: You would but... well, funny thing, despite how strong you think you are, a man of my- (clears throat) weight might slow you down. Besides, that entire "chase", if you call it that, must have tuckered you out to some extent. I could just go on and on about how your momentum and stamina but, frankly, you don't have much time, do you? And even if you do try and take me with you, unlike your friend, I'm sure my efforts in fighting back wouldn't be as pointless.

Drake glares at the man.

Drake: This isn't over...

Man: Prehaps but, well, let's just say you're quite, predictable, either way.

Drake continues glaring before turning around, running out of the alleyway. Once he turns the corner and leaves the scene, the man sighs in relief. The scene then cuts to the sky where the MCA Helicarrier is seen hovering. The Jumpjet is then seen approaching it from below.

The scene then cuts to the inside of the Helicarrier, in the central area. The doors to the hangar bay are then seen opening as Drake and John emerge from the hangar; John is holding his shoulder while leaning his head slightly as if in a groggy state. The Director steps out of the elevator and turns her head, seeing the two of them approach.

Director: I appreciate your compliance.

John: Yeah, well, we're not all that eager to be back.

Drake: We were attacked, Kate was taken. We should down there, looking for her!

John: What can seriously be more important?

Director: Subject SCV22.

The two of them are silent for a moment.

Drake: What about him?

Director: He's... awake.

John: What?

Director: His vitals starting spiking, he's more so waking up than fully awake but that's why I needed you two here. You were there when you recovered him so you know more about him than we do. Besides, if he's a danger, we need our powerful asset to assist in containing him. (looks at Drake)

Drake: Alright, let's just- do this already so we can get back to finding Kate.

Director: If only it were that simple. This way.

The Director turns to lead them through the corridors of the ship. The scene then cuts to the face of the teenage boy that was in the container. His eyes then open slowly. He lifts his head and looks around, seeing that he's in the medical bay, surrounded by empty hospital beds and several pieces of medical equipment. His breathing then starts to sound heavy as he continues looking around. He is wearing a blue shirt, that appears snug on him, over a white long sleeve shirt. His hair is shaggy, blonde hair and brown eyes. One of the nurses then walks past the window and enters the room through the sliding doors. The boy flinches as the doors open and close again. He watches the nurse approach him; she seems concerned but more so interested.

Characters

 * Drake
 * Kate
 * John
 * Agent Owens
 * Director Harper
 * Professor Lloyd Richards (First Appearance)
 * Jake Lincoln/Subject SCV22
 * MCA Officers
 * Deacon (First Appearance)
 * Rayna (First Appearance)
 * Citizens

Villains

 * Agent Seventy-Seven (First Appearance)

Forms Used

 * Electro-Icer
 * Stone Slicer

Allusions

 * The couple that broke up during the chase scene between Drake and the Professor, Rayna and Deacon, were an allusion to the main characters from the series, Nashville; it's also the main setting for the episode.
 * Drake's comment about the microwave, as well as the way it hit him, were allusions towards the iconic hallway fight scene from the series, Daredevil, during the episode, Cut Man.

Trivia

 * During production, Doctor Who was used to help set the tone of the episode however, that didn't always help, so Young Justice was used instead, which provided more eleborate chase/fight scenes.
 * Originally, Agent Seventy-Seven was going to demand that Kate exit the van, only to have Drake respond with an attack. Conversation would have been during the fight, itself, rather than before it.
 * During the fight, it was considered having Drake only put on the goggles and the hood-piece of his suit as the Agent did catch them off-guard with the blast but given him enough to conceal his identity.
 * There were no citizens planned to be in this episode but the lack of them undermined the chase scene between Drake and the Professor. In fact, the chase was only supposed to be within the neighborhood, not the actual city but since it expanded beyond the houses, it only made sense to include the citizens of the city, itself.

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