Inner Self

Inner Self is the twenty-eighth episode of the series, Mutant Drake.

Plot
On the ground, drifting no longer, the sky is a dim and getting darker, with an orange glare upon the horizon and the grey clouds pressing against the sky, adding to its darkening tone. The news van is seen propped against the side of the street within a city of some kind. There appears to be quite the amount of activity occuring in the background.

Kate and John are seen leaning against the side of the van.

Kate, looking around: John, it's nice out here. How'd you even know about this place?

John: Just heard some guys talking about it, I think.

Kate: You hear a lot, you realize that, right?

John: Well, I am a good listener.

They laugh a bit then look at each other afterwards, smiling silently. The silence is soon intrupted by a slam of the news doors. They look over and see Drake exiting the van in casual clothing. He turns and sees them looking at him.

Drake: ...What?

John sighs and Drake walks around.

John, turning back to Kate: You know when I said I wanted to take you out, I kinda just meant us two.

Kate: You guys aren't like fighting, right?

John: What? No, I just meant- (sigh) I just wanted to spend some time with you, in particular.

Kate: John, we spend a lot of time together but we also have a third wheel to take care of.

John: (scoffs) Drake's the third wheel? I thought I was the third wheel.

Kate: Well, you were like a year ago. I mean, if you want your old job back, I can just start hanging out with Drake more.

John: Okay, okay. You made your point. Anyways, we'll have more time to spend together, all three of us, since we're on shore leave.

Kate: Doesn't that only apply to people on ships?

John: That's a ship... it just flies, that's all.

Kate: Well, I'm just glad to get out of there. I really needed a break from all that MCA stuff. I can't believe I almost miss wooden desks, people rushing around with papers and the smell of coffee and sweat coming from my boss' office.

John: Sweat?

Kate shrugs.

John: Well, I can't believe I missed this van. Surprised they let it out of the hangar.

Kate: I'm surprised they didn't throw it out the second we were on board.

John: I dunno, maybe they're a fan of media after all.

Kate: Ha ha.

Drake makes his way over to them.

Kate: Hey Drake, you having a good time?

Drake, almost ignoring her: What are we doing here again?

John: We're just here, Drake, spending some time away from the Helicarrier. Stretch our legs, grab some real food- well, whatever counts as real food nowadays...

Drake: I'm fine. We should be focusing on the thread at hand. Right now it just feels like we aren't doing anything about it.

Kate: Hey, we're not giving up, we're just taking a break. John works extra hard on this and he can't keep constantly working on something.

John: Especially when none of the leads are coming up with anything. Maybe there's nothing to find or maybe we're just not looking in the right spots. I don't really know right now but this- (waves around) this definitely helps.

Drake looks between the two of them then lets out a soft sigh.

Drake: Alright, I understand... You're probably right, anyways.

John: We'll get back into it once we're back on the Helicarrier but, for now, just take a break. You don't always have to be a Vigilante, sometimes we just want to have Drake around.

John walks back Drake as he looks down thoughfully. John then goes to the front of the van and grabs a can of soda from the hood, taking a sip from it. A faint beeping is then heard coming from the van. John, hearing it, turns and looks through the passenger side window. He sees his tablet resting on the seat, an alert is appearing on the screen along with readings of the area. John holds hissoda in one hand and reaches through the open window with his other, grabbing the tablet. He pulls the tablet and looks at the readings.

John, to himself: Whoa...

The scene then cuts over to Drake and Kate having a conversation.

Drake: So what does Gumbo taste like?

Kate: I don't know, never tried it before...

As they're talking, John, still looking at the readings, approaches them slowly. Drake notices and looks over at John which catches the attention of Kate who turns around to look at him as well.

Kate: John? What's wrong?

John, looking up from his tablet: I'm not exactly sure but we should definitely check it out.

Drake: What is it?

John turns the tablet around, showing the readings of the area, it's unusual and emitting from their location.

John: This.

Drake and Kate then look at the tablet as the scene closes in on their faces.

Title Sequence

TBA

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The van is now seen driving along the street carefully as citizens are seen walking along it or even across it. Inside, John is seen driving with Kate in the passenger seat and Drake in-between them.

Drake: What did those readings mean, anyways?

John, driving: Like I said, I'm not exactly sure. I organized an algorithm to detect energy signatures which should help us locate items of interest.

Kate: Like those Xyrion bases you kept on finding?

John, driving: Exactly but they're usually localized, y'know? Like in one place. These energy signatures are off-the-chart. They're spreading and emitting from one place and become more intense with every passing minute.

Drake: What do you think it is? The Xyrions?

John, driving: I don't think so but your guess is as good as mine really.

Kate: I guess we'll find out when we get there.

John, driving: It's not exactly far. The readings are actually coming from inside the city district, back part of town.

The van is then seen driving through the street, now in a less populated area, appearing empty and clear with a few abandoned-looking shops along the side of the street. Kate and John look around through the windows as they continue driving through. The van then stops and the headlights filling the dim street cut off. A black cat is seen on top of a dumpster, looking up from the inside of it to look at the van. The doors of the van then open and both Kate and John step out, looking around. As they close their doors behind them, Kate and John move away from the van, walking down the street. A moment later, the sounds of doors closing is heard. Kate turns her head and sees Drake emerge from the behind the van, now dressed in his Vigilante outfit, hood up as well.

Drake: Do you know where the energy signatures are coming from?

John, looking down at his tablet: Drake, you wound me. (checking the readings) It's originating from one of these establishments over on the left side. (points) While the readings aren't too detailed, I will estimate that they are actually originated from the third building down based off of lightwave readings intensifying before they begin to spread across the area at that point.

Kate: Impressive.

John winks at her with a smile. Drake then walks down passing them. From the perspective of an unknown figure, Drake is seen approaching one of the shops on his left side. A heavy and slightly unsual breathing is heard. The scene cuts down to the street level with Drake stopping in front of one of the shops. He turns his head and looks at it. The shop has a sign above the door reading, 'Blaine's Magic Shop". Drake grunts softly then enters the shop, pushing through the door. He looks around, fists ready, before stopping and lowering his arms. He looks around. The view shows that the shop is empty and abandoned-looking. The wooden floor boards look old and worn, there are cobwebs in the corners and the entire place looks like it has been unkempt for years. Drake breaths out his nose before turning back and leaving the shop. Kate and John are seen approaching the shop slowly as Drake exits. Drake stops, looking at the ground, as if thinking about something.

John: Well? ...Drake?

Drake, snapping out of it: Huh?

John: Well?

Drake: Empty. Place looks like it's been abandoned for a long while. Might be coming from somewhere else.

John: Could have sworn it was this one. It could be underground like those other places.

Drake: What? You want to me to start knocking down walls now?

John: Your idea, not mines.

Drake then freezes for a moment as John and Kate engage in conversation. Their words trail off as Drake turns his head slightly. He hears a creaking noise above him. A plank from the roof of the shop is seen pressing down, causing the creaking. As Drake fully turns around, a shadow moves and the plank remains at rest. The sound of something tipping around is then heard from an alleyway close by, catching Drake's attention. He sees the black cat running off, a shadow lingering in the alleyway. John looks away from Kate and sees Drake slowly approaching the alleyway.

John: Hey, you alright, man?

Drake: No. I think we're in danger.

John: How? I thought you said there was nothing inside.

Drake: It wasn't inside. It was here this whole time.

Drake stares down into the alleyway, the shadow shifting slightly before it starts lurking forwards.

Drake, noticing: Get her somewhere safe, John. Now!

Kate: Wait, what's going on?

John looks down the alleyway, seeing the shadow approaching. He thinks for a moment before coming to a realization.

John: Oh no... (turning to Kate) Come on, Kate, we really need to get out of he-

A roar is then heard as a cloaked figure rushes out towards John and Kate only to be smacked away by Drake, using his ice-mace. The figure slams against the brick wall across the street and uncloaks, revealing itself to be Shadow Hound.

Drake: Shadow Hound... I thought I saw the last of you when I took down Ryden.

Shadow Hound gets up slowly, looking straight at Drake.

Shadow Hound: You... You took him away from us, boy.

Drake: He needed to be stopped.

Shadow Hound: You left us with nothing!

Shadow Hound then pounces right for Drake with ducks down as Shadow Hound rolls across the ground, using his claws and remain still against the ground. He then growls at Drake who turns back to him. Shadow Hound vanishes into a shadow-like mist with Drake looking around for him. Drake is then slashed in the back, dropping him down to his knees. As Drake turns his head, his face his scratched, knocking his hood back and revealing his hair. Drake looks up and is met by the cloaked fist of Shadow Hound which knocks him into the air and back onto the ground where he groans in pain. Drake then attempts to get up, breathing heavily. He looks around cautiously as the sound a quick paws against the stonework are heard, circling around him rapidly. Drake then yells out and slams his ice-mace arm into the ground underneath him, sending out a charge of electricity which spreads out around him, knocking Shadow Hound back into a wall, stunned. Drake then gets up and looks over at the fallen Shadow Hound, struggling to get up. He then grunts and storms over to him.

Shadow Hound: You...

Drake, approaching him: No.

Shadow Hound, trying to finish: You-

Drake: NO!

Drake slams his ice-mace across Shadow Hound's head. He then gets down on one knee and strikes him again with his regular arm.

Drake: YOU tried to take things from me! You and her and- and him. You did! Not me!

Shadow Hound: You...

Drake: YOU DID IT TO ME!

Drake hits Shadow Hound again with his fist then once again, and again. The doors to the Magic Shop then open as Psyche emerges from within. She turns and sees Drake beating on Shadow Hound.

Psyche: No...

Voice, from within the shop: Please, you need to get back inside.

Psyche: He's hurting him. I have to do something.

Voice, from within the shop: It's not safe. Please!

Psyche, ignoring the voice, runs out from within the shop. John turns his head, seeing Psyche approaching Drake.

John: Hey, wait! Don't- (realizing) Wait a minute, that's-

Psyche then stops before Drake and throws his arms out. A red glare fills her eyes and she twirls her fingers around. Her energy then overcomes Drake's arm, preventing him from throwing another punch. Drake then turns back and sees Psyche manipulated energy around him.

Drake: ...Psyche.

Psyche yells as she throws Drake away from Shadow Hound. He flies across the street and hits the side of the news van before dropping the street. Psyche then becomes engulfed in energy which fires out from her hands and spreads across the area.

Shadow Hound, getting up: Psyche, no. Don't! It's not-

Psyche, ignoring Shadow Hound as well, releases a blast of energy down the street. Drake then, seeing the massive blast coming, gets up and tackles both Kate and John out of the street, just narrowly missing the blast. The energy then continues down the street, hitting a market at the end of the street and blowing it up completely. Drake turns back to Psyche and sees her energy demishing. She then drops to her knees and falls unconscious before laying upon the street. The street is a silent for a moment.

John: ...Whoa.

Shadow Hound then gets up and moves over to Psyche.

Shadow Hound: Are you alright? Psyche, answer me. Answer me!

Voice: Enough.

Shadow Hound looks up and sees a figure emerging from the entrance of the Magic Shop.

Figure: She needs healing.

Drake gets up, along with John who helps Kate up.

Drake, approaching the Figure: Who are you?

The figure turns to Drake and steps into the dim lit street, showing himself to be a man in late 40's dressed in a brown frock coat, over a blue shirt with a navy blue waistcoat. He has dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He also has a long mustaches and a goatee.

Figure: My name is Blaine Winters and I am here to save this child. Your assistance would be most helpful.

Both Drake and Shadow Hound: Assistane? Don't you know who that is?

Drake and Shadow Hound look at each other with stares filled with hate.

Blaine: I have a sense of an idea. Now we don't have much time to waste before her lifeforce drains even more than it already has.

Blaine walks into the street and carries her in his arms. He turns back and enters the Magic Shop. Shadow Hound then snarls at Drake before entering the shop as well. Drake turns to Kate and John before turning back to the shop.

Drake: Hey! Hey, we're not done here!

Drake chases after them, moving in through the entrance of the shop. He stops at the entrance and looks around, surprised.

Drake, to himself: What?

The view shows the shop, neatly kept with an active fireplace, a uniquely designed rug at the center of the room, a counter in the back with a cash register on top and a rocking chair by the fireplace. Blaine has Psyche resting against the rug while Shadow Hound is gathering supplies behind the counter. Drake walks ahead, slowly, looking around, confused. His ice-mace deactivates, returning his arm to normal again.

Blaine, examining Psyche, to Drake: You must be wondering how an abandoned shop wound up to be not abandoned after all?

Drake: Yes.

Blaine: I suppose you want an answer.

Drake, turning to Blaine: Psyche- she changes things with her mind, makes you see things that aren't there. This is a trick.

Blaine: An illusion, yes. You're good.

Shadow Hound: Her murdered my father.

Drake: He deserved it.

Shadow Hound looks as though he is about to pounce towards Drake but Blaine rises from the floor, extending his arms out as if to seperate the two of them.

Blaine: Not in the shop! My shop, my rules. You want to get rowdy take it outside, you want to save this poor girl, you remain silent until spoken to.

Kate and John then enter, looking around.

John: Dude, I thought you said this place was abandoned.

Drake: ...It was. (looking down at Psyche) What's wrong with her?

Blaine: Her lifeforce is draining from her body due to the destablization of her abilities.

John: I don't know about that lifeforce stuff but this could explain the energy signatures we picked up. If her powers are to manipulate energy and they are growing unstable, we could be looking at a powerful explosion waiting to happen.

Kate: How powerful exactly?

Blaine: Extremely powerful, I assume.

Shadow Hound: Well, Blaine, is she stablized?

Blaine: I'm afraid not. My healing does not seem to have the effect it once had.

John: Healing? Does she need a medic? Because I'm a nurse, part-time.

Blaine: Thank you for your offer, child, but I have this situation under control.

John: How? You're just- (looks down) Oh...

Drake looks down along with Kate and sees Blaine's hands glowing a bright yellow over Psyche's body, transferring some form of energy into her.

Drake, turning to Blaine: You're a Mutant.

Blaine: I have abilities, yes, if that's what you mean.

John: And you're using them to heal her wounds.

Blaine: They're far greater than just regular injuries, child. Her lifeforce is depleting and her soul is growing unstable. My abilities help hold them together but her condition has become far too destablized to maintain any longer.

Shadow Hound: What can we do, Blaine? There must be a way to save her...

Drake: Since when did you care about her? You two were always fighting with each other.

Shadow Hound: When you have no one but her and you travel for so long together, the bitterness becomes overshadowed by other feelings. I would not consider myself perferably close to her but she's all I have left.

Drake looks at Shadow Hound before looking towards the ground. He then looks away.

Blaine: There is only one thing we can do now. We must travel within her mind.

John: Sorry, what?

Blaine: No outside force can help her. The only way to restore this girl and her abilities is from within. By saving her soul, her body will become maintained.

Drake: I don't understand. How can we travel inside her mind?

Blaine: My abilities aren't just for healing, they'll allow me to pass your sub-consciousness within her own. There, you will be able to interact with her soul and restore order to her being.

Shadow Hound: Then I will volunteer myself, of course. To save her.

Blaine: I'm sorry, Shadow Hound, but you can not partake in this.

Shadow Hound: Why not?!

Blaine: Your mind, while superior than others like your kind, is not like her own. Only minds similar to her own can enter her.

Drake: ...Then I'll go.

John: Drake-

Drake: No, John. I'll go. She needs help and I can save her.

Shadow Hound: Why save her? What madness is this? You are our enemy!

John: Although this might sound crazy, I agree with the mutated mutt. Shouldn't we be fighting these guys instead of helping them?

Drake: It's like you said John, if we don't help her, she can explode. That explosion can hurt a lot of people in the area. Besides, I tried saving her before and I failed. This is my chance to set things straight between us.

Blaine: You can partake. I sense your mind is compatiable enough.

Kate: Well, I'm coming too.

John: Kate-

Kate: I have to go.

Drake: Kate, don't. I don't know what could happen. I actually don't know what's happening right now. Lifeforce and souls, this is new to me. I don't know what we're getting ourselves into but if I can save her and everyone in this city then I will take that chance but it's a chance I can't have you take.

Kate: I don't know what we're getting into either, Drake. This is new for all of us but you didn't exactly win her heart over the first time around, okay? I was there too. If we have a chance, we have a chance together. You and I.

Drake looks at her then lets out a sigh.

Drake: Okay. Okay, fine. (turns to John) John-

John: I'll keep an eye out in the real world, working my real world science to figure this out. I don't know how this is gonna work out but just be safe in there, alright? She's a crazy one... who knows what's in that head of hers?

Drake nods. He turns to face Blaine.

Blaine: Are you ready?

Drake turns to Kate who nods. He turns back to Blaine.

Drake: We're ready.

The scene cuts to a moment later where Drake and Kate are seen laying on the rug next to Psyche with Blaine Winters in the middle, between the three of them. Shadow Hound is propped on top of the counter, watching, while John is checking his tablet while sitting in the rocking chair.

Blaine: Open your minds, let yourself go. It will be like moving through a tunnel and finding yourself in a new space. She will be in there somewhere but you will have to search for her. No matter what you see in there, do not let it overcome you otherwise this will have been in vain. You must allow her to overcome what is keeping her back and that is for you to find out. Good luck, children. Save this lost girl. I believe that you can.

Blaine then opens his eyes, which roll back until they are completely white. His eyes are then overcome by a glaring yellow energy. He then extends his arms out and twirls his fingers around as energy overcomes his hands as well. He then points his hands downwards and his energy reaches down, encasing the heads to Drake, Kate and Psyche. Blaine then stands there, energy emitting from his hands as the atmosphere starts to calm.

Blaine, eyes still glowing and energy still emitting from his hands: It is done. Their minds have now passed over into hers. Now... we wait.

John: Great...

John rocks in the chair, creaking noises let out with every rock. Shadow Hound's ears twitch and he sharply turns to John, snarling. John looks straight at Shadow Hound before stopping his chair in mid-rock.

John: (sighs) Who thought this was a good idea again?

The view then shows Drake's face as he remains there, laying against the rug. The scene then zooms into his face, transitioning into a bright, grey, void-like space. Drake sits up and breaths heavily. He looks around, seeing nothing.

Drake: Kate? ...Kate!

His voice echoes across the void-like space. Kate then sits up as well, appearing from the cloud-like floor next to him. She looks alarmed, looking around. Drake holds her and helps her up.

Drake: It's okay, It's alright. We're in. How are you feeling?

Kate: Bizarre.

Drake, looking around: Yeah, I think I have that same feeling...

Kate: Where are we?

Drake: I don't know. Doesn't look like anywhere. Just- nothing. Maybe we're too late.

Kate: No. Even if we're late, there's always something to find.

Drake: Something from work.

Kate: From Dad's work, actually. Something he would tell me to help when it came to journalism.

Drake: Okay, let's see if we can find something. Come on.

Drake and Kate walk along, through the void-like space.

Drake: Do you remember what Blaine said?

Kate: Something about- We have find her somewhere here, saving herself within her own mind would save her body.

Drake gives Kate a look.

Kate: I know, I know. It sounds a bit ridicilous but we live in a world where Mutants run around and our best chance for survival is a teenager in a hood who jumps across rooftops picking fights with his weapon arms.

Drake: Weapon arms?

Kate: I don't know. What do you call them again?

Drake: Forms... And I guess you have a point. Back when it was just the city I had to look after, I thought this was it. There was nothing else out there. Then these guys show up. Psyche and Shadow Hound, they actually give me something to look for. People like me, Mutants that can talk and act on their own, use their powers for their own purposes. But it turns out, they weren't like me at all. They were criminals, monsters, real bad guys. No closer than becoming the creatures people are afraid of.

Kate: Now we have a jumping guy, a fast guy and a guy who can turn into a beast among other ones.

Drake: Yeah, the world keeps getting more and more... bizarre.

Kate looks over at him. He looks at her nonchallant and she smiles. Drake then walks into a wall of some sort that ripples upon impact. He places his hands against the wall, creating a liquid-like effect, allowing them to see what's on the other side but in a blurred view.

Kate: This must be it.

Drake: I think I can-

Drake presses against the wall until he phases right through it.

Kate: Drake?

Kate presses against the wall as well but she phases through it as well. Kate then falls onto the ground. She reaches her hand out and grabs the grass in her hand, fresh and green. She looks up and sees that she's in a small garden by someone's yard. Kate gets up from the ground and looks around, seeing a whole neighborhood. Drake stands by the street, looking around as well.

Kate: Where... Where are we?

Drake: I don't know... it looks like home.

Kate: Home?

Drake: From what I remember. Houses were... like this. Everything just felt- right.

Kate: Well, we're in her mind, right? This must be one of her memories... from before the Incident.

Drake turns to her. He looks as though he's about to say something but is intrupted by a voice from off-screen.

Voice: Faith! Come inside, it's getting late.

Drake turns his head again to see a young child moving out from the back of the house, carrying a flower in her hands. She's wearing a pink dress with no sleeves, purple pants and pink shoes.

Characters

 * Drake
 * Kate
 * John
 * Psyche
 * Shadow Hound
 * Blaine Winters (First Appearance)

Villains

 * Psychological Ryden
 * Psyche (Temporarily)
 * Shadow Hound (Temporarily)

Trivia
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