First of all thank you everyone who has reviewed so far and taken the time out to read this story.

Also a congratulations to the folks at Rockstar for releasing the controversial video game "Bully". Jack Thompson and his loser anti-video game activists have failed again. Even better, the game is more about humour and social subject matter then it is violence.

Of course now we must continue the story, let's check in on Gar at the principal's office.


Chapter 3: School Spirit

Sitting in his chair, rather uneasily, Gar looked across the room to the desk in front of him. It wasn't just the foreboding evil genius shape of the chair across from him that gave him the shivers, it was the larger amount of stuffed animals in the room as well. Gar always liked animals and seeing so many dead ones on display always creeped him out. Of course the real problem for him at the moment was the man sitting in the chair who was refusing to look at him at the moment. His chair was completely turned the other way as Gar heard him flipping through the pages of something. The principal finally turned his chair around and plopped a file in front of Gar. He was wearing a brown suit with a matching red tie. The principal's facial features were rather jaunted an distinct, like Gar had seen this guy somewhere before but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Allow me to introduce my self." He began "I am Principal Rageworth. My family has been attending and running this facilty since the year it was founded. And like the rest of our students it has turned us all into upstanding members of society. Which what brings you here my boy." Rageworth picked up the file in front of Gar and opened it. "Garfield Logan is it?"

Gar nodded

"You've done quite a few interesting things haven't you?" Rageworth asked as he flipped the pages of the file

"I can explain of them sir, it's not as bad as it looks." Gar assured

"Really, lets look over it all then shall we?" Rageworth flipped to a sheet of paper, pulled it out and began to read it. "Foul Language,"

"Everyoen has a potty mouth sir." Gar explained

"Disrespecting school staff,"

"Only those who gave me lots of homework."

"Vandalism,"

"The toilet was clogged, I was trying to fix it and all I had was a firecracker."

"Desecration of school property,"

"I was expressing my artistic side with a can of spray paint."

"Physical acts of violence."

"Hey, I was always the victim in those fights, they beat up me not the other way around."

Rageworth closed the file and stood up from his chair.

"Logan you'll quite possibly the nastyest boy I have ever encountered."

"I can't be that bad." Gar argued

"That's what they all say my boy." Rageworth said putting his face up to Gar's. "Let me assure you, your adolescent hijinks and tomfoolery days are over Logan. Here at the Academy we do not tolerate violent conduct, unpleseant behaviour or any other nonsense. Not at Rageworth, not on my watch."

Gar began wondering if Rageworth was actually watching his school and was even acknowledging how bad it had become. Of course the answer was no because if he didn't tolerate it there would be no bullies here. But now was not the time to challenge authority.

"Okay sir, I got it." Gar began "No more teenage angst and the like."

"I'm afraid you don't understand boy." Rage worth said with his back turned "Your fight against Mammy Mothrick-"

"You mean Mammoth?" Gar asked

"Yes, him." Rageworth said waving his hand "Whatever you and your fellow students call him doesn't matter. Your actions in the hall were purely unacceptable behaviour."

"But sir," Gar tried to explain "he was picking on a poor girl. Who knows what might of happened if I hadn't-"

"I don't need excuses Logan." Rage pointed at him "You must face the punishment now. You will be helping Mrs. May-Eye in the school kitchen as she prepares the school lunch. You will be done when the lunchbell rings and then you may go about your duties as such. But unless you want a worse punishment next time I suggest you try to act within the school rules." Rageworth pulled a book off his desk and plopped it into Gar's lap. It wouldn't have been so bad if the book wasn't about the weight of a ton.

"This thing is bigger then any of my text books!" Gar protested

"Yes," Rageworth acknowledged "Several chapters listing, rules, sub-rules, regulations, sub-regulations, procedures, sub-procedures, do's and don'ts, lists of those do's and don't and review chapters."

"Review chapters?" Gar said rather surprised

"Yes just incase you forget some of it." Rageworth explained "I'll have you know that I'll be watching you with a proverbial eye Logan, that eye being the school security and prefect student staff of course. If you break just one rule and we find out about it, and we will, your punishment will be even more severe."

"That seems a little unfair." Gar said "It's like you're singling me out."

"Precisely, we have to watch the troublemakers all the time. This is a school Mr. Logan not a democracy."

Gar was still confused by this, it was his first day and it was like he commited a sin standing up to a bully.

"Sir," Gar said moving the book off his lap and onto the side of the chair "with all do respect I think you have bigger problems then me."

"Why do you say that?" Rageworth asked

"Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news," Gar said "but this school is full of bullies and maniacs."

Rageworth just seemed to smile at this and chuckle it off

"Nonsense." He said "That's just school spirit! Now off you go Mr. Logan we don't want to keep Mrs. May-Eye waiting."

Gar got up to leave lugging the large book in his arms.

"Oh and boy!" Rageworth called to him as Gar reached the door "That nose of yours, keep it clean."

Gar left without saying a word closing the door behind him.

"Who even says that stuff anymore?" Gar asked himself.

Just then a voice perked up behind him

"You're alive, congrats."

Gar turned to see Raven leaning on the wall next to him.

"Oh hey Raven. Why are you here?"

"Just wanted to make sure you got out of there okay is all." Raven explained, she then looked down at the book in his hands "I see he gave you the rule book."

"More like huge enclylopedia." Gar commented

"Listen just drop that thing," Raven toild him "its not going to due you any good. Chances are you'll just break a rule anyway. Even if you do memorize it all."

"What do you mean?" Gar asked

"On page 345 it says 'No loittering on any wall at anytime, especially near the principal's office.' Tell me Gar what exactly am I doing right now?"

"Wait a minute," Gar said the idea suddenly clicking in his head "You mean to tell me you know all the rules here?"

"Yep, and only half of them are really enforced." Raven explained "Its says on page 437 that 'Displays of affection with the opposite sex will not be tolerated at any time.' I see people making out everywhere, even the prefects do it."

"So what rules do get enforced?" Gar asked

"Whatever ones the prefects feel like." Raven said lifting herself off the wall. "They have special ties to some of the cliques here at the school and that's what gives them free range to do whatever they want. Principal Rageworth doesn't do anything about it because he doesn't care. He thinks that all the bullying creates strong character and teaches students about the harsh outside world."

"Sounds a little cruel." Gar said

"Its a school of har kinocks Gar." Raven told him

"Okay, that explains why I don't need this." Gar said throwing the book to the side of the room "Now why are you telling me this?"

"Because for the first time in all the years I've been here yoy're the first one who actually ever stood up to one of the bullies before. Well besides me of course, but I can only do so much really."

"You gave Mammoth a quick hit to the balls." Gar reminded her

"True," Raven said smiling lightly "but he's really the least of our problems. Listen, come to the cafeteria at lunchtime and I'll explain everything you'll need to know about this place. I'll introduce you to a couple of my friends as well."

"Uh okay," Gar said "what table do you sit at?"

"I'll wave you over, don't worry." Raven said assuringly "I got to go, see you at lucnh then."

"Okay, its a date." Gar waved jokingly

"Uh no, its not." Raven corrected him

"Then what is it?" Gar asked

"A colective meeting of intrest."

"That a fancy term for date?" Gar asked

Raven shook her head whispered something to herself that sounded like 'boys' and walked off. Gar just smiled, of course that disappeared when he remembered he had to report to the school kitchen.

(Back in the principal's office)

GR: Well that went well, you think he noticed guys?

(Blackfire comes up from under desk)

Blackfire: He didn't say anything so no, I don't think he did notice you were the same sadistic movie director whose been screwing him and his friends lives over for the past year or so.

(Pain pushes himself out of the large desk drawer)

Pain: God you need to dust in there, I thought I had asthma for a second.

GR: Son relax, I'd never let something so terrible happen to you.

Pain: Well next time give me a gas mask or something.

Blackfire: I'm just surprised how well this is all working. I mean, none of the Titans suspect a thing.

GR: True very true. Robin was the easiest to warp because his brain pattern was predictable. Crime, Heroics, Slade, Crime, heroics, Starfire, I'm better then everyone else, Slade, Slade, Slade, blah, blah, blah! God he is so predictable.

Blackfire: I still don't understand why you choose Beastboy to play the part of the everyman for this story.

GR: Because although he has many problems and acts a little dumb at times I believe the kid has potential. Besides Robin is too much of a prick.

Blackfire: Good point.

GR: Let's just get out the old security cam and see where "Gar" is at the moment. (Flicks a button and a small monitor rises from the desk) Ah there he is reporting to the cafeteria as ordered.

(Suddenly something grabs the Camera and starts licking it)

GIR: Tastes like Bacon! (Runs off)

GR: What the...?

Blackfire: Isn't that the stupid robot that came here with that even stupider alien?

GR: GIR! I lost track of him after the Retro-Laser incident. I thought he left Jump City!

Pain: So why is he still a robot?

GR: Because I didn't program his brainwaves into the machine! All things, even Artificial intelligent lifeforms have brainwaves. How elese do you think I got Atlas to think he's a teenage boy?

Pain: So why isn't GIR effected?

GR: His brainwaves were not preprogrammed into the machine, I didn't count on him being here at all. The machine therefore didn't target his branwaves. Now he's stuck in the school I created running around like a dork! And he still looks like a robot!

Blackfire: That's bad right?

GR: Well if the kids see him they may actually remember something of before they were hypnotized, because GIR isn't controlled by thr beam. We must capture and isolate him before he screws us all over.

(GIR scrambles into an airduct)

Blackfire: Looks like he's headed into the ventilation system.

GR: How will we catch him now? The only person small enough to fit in there is... (Looks at Pain)

Pain: Oh hell no.

Gar had arrived at the kitchen and was greeted by Mrs. May-Eye. A fat pudgy woman with warts all over her and the most appauling cook outfit ever. Considering the haior net was too loose and the apron was incredibly messy.

"Hello there Garfield, I was told you were coming to help." Mrs. May-Eye said holding out a wooden spoon. "I'm Mrs. May-Eye and you'll be helping me today."

"What's that smell?" Beastboy asked sniffing the air and recoiling

"That the month meat I have the cuboard." Mrs. May-Eye esplained "I have to use a giant pack of ice to keep it cool cause the fridge isn't working."

"Well that's pretty...uh...creative...I suppose." Gar said, seceretly thinking of how many different ways he could hurl at the moment, thats how bad the smell was

"Alright kiddie, its time to prepare the lunchtime stew." She said "Go fetch me that bunch of ingredients over there."

Gar looked to where she was pointing and was slightly confused

"Uh...Mrs., that's a garbage can." Gar pointed out

"Your point?" Mrs. May-Eye asked

"Well it's just that-"

"Just bring it over!"

Gar did as he was told and dragged the can over to Mrs. May-Eye

"Okay pull something out son." Mrs. May-Eye asked

Gar reached in picked up an empty carton of milk.

"I think this still has milk inside it." Gar said looking inside the carton

"Rinse it out and put the carton in the stew." Mrs. May-Eye asked

Gar was puzzled

"Mrs. that doesn't sound like soemthing you'd put in a stew." Gar told her

"What are you the health inspector now?" Mrs. May-Eye questioned

Gar, nopt being in any position to argue did as he was told. Several more items ended up in the stew, including rotten apple cores, chesse puff bags, a banana peel, and eraser and something Gar could not identify. When Gar asked if any of this was even healthy he was met with the same response from Mrs. May-Eye.

"I dunno."

When Gar finally got away from the crazy Lunch lady at the end of the punishment he went into the cafeteria to find Raven and hopefully find something to eat that was the least bit edible there. The place was packed with hungry students, all giggling and gossiping and trash talking each other. Also a few people we're butting the smaller kids right out of line, some of them to get the best food for themselves, others just so they could talk to their friends. It was rather annoying, especially the same old excuse of them "holding their friend's place in line" considering the 'friend' was sometimes two to three people. The ones who got cut tried to argue, but eventually they just backed away. When Gar finally got his lunch it consisted of an apple, a cookie and of course a tomato sandwhich. Gar was still a vegetarian of course and smelling that rancid meat only made sure he'd dtay that way as long as he was here. Eventually he spotted a hand waving at him and saw the purple-haired girl he was looking for. Raven was sitting at a nearby table with three other boys that Beastboy thought he recognized he sat down at the table beside Raven with his tray.

"Glad you showed up." Raven said

"I had to," Gar replied "after seeing what the lunch lady puts in her stew I felt I should at least come to warn you about it."

"Really?" Raven said looking at her bowl of stew she hadn't touched yet "Its that bad huh?"

"Yep" Gar replied

"What's in it exactly?" Raven asked

"You don't really want to know that." Gar answered.

Raven pushed the bowl away from her.

"Well I've just lost my appetite." She said "Anyway I want to of course introduce you to my other friends."

Raven pointed behind her to three glasses wearing boys with large board game in front of them. Beastboy immedietly recognized one of them as Seymour, the Presidential wannabe he had helped out before. The other one was the Bald head little kid he saw getting picked on in the hall and the last was someone Gar had not met yet. He was a fat red-headed kid with obviously poor hygiene. It was at the point where this one rolled a die and lifted his hand in the air triumphantly

"Hazzah! I get the sword of Drackmere!"

Seymour and the bald headed kid immedietly dropped hteir heads in shame.

"You hang out with nerds?" Gar said turning to Raven with a surprised look

"Yes I'm that desperate for friends in this school." Raven explained "Their the only decent guys I've met so far in this school. Although their respect for woman only stems from the fact that they've never had one."

"Not true Raven," The red-headed kid said "I have lots of wrenches."

"Rioooghht" Raven said sarcastically rolling her eyes back to Gar. "Allow me to introduce them. The big glasses guy is Seymour."

"Yes we've met." Seymour acknowledged holding out his hand

Gar was reluctant to shake it.

"Um dude, did you sneeze in that?" Gar said looking at the wet palm

Seymour pulled the hand back and started wiping it on his chest.

"Oh sorry, sinuses and stuff."

"The short one is Mikron," Raven said "but we just call him Gizmo because none of us know how to spell it. Not even him."

"Hello cludgehead." Gizmo responded

Raven leaned over to Gar

"Don't worry," She said "that just means he likes you."

"What does he call you if he hates you?" Gar asked

"Anything he wants really." Raven explained pointing to the last nerd "And fat boy here is Clarence Fosters."

"Erm Hmm!" Clarence said clearing his throat

"Sorry," Raven said shaking her head "Control Freak. He only repsonds to the name he gave his character in 'Dungeons and Dragons.' I suggest you call him by that name too if you ever want to talk to him."

"Greeting young sir knight." Control Freak said giving a weird hand gesture "Raven has told us many good things about you."

"Specifically how you dealt with Mammoth." Gizmo smiled

"That sounded so cool." Seymour added

"So did you use magic missile or did you summon a troll?" Control Freak asked

"I hit him in the head with a locker." Gar explained

The nerds all nodded quick succession

"Acceptable." Control Freak responded

Gar couldn't believe that these guys had actually managed to stay here and not loose their cool. He would have snapped by now if had been in their situation.

"How are these three still alive?" Gar asked Raven

"Its more or less thanks to me actually," Raven answered "of course I do get help from the only other girl they associate with. Where is she anyway?"

Suddenly stumbling to the table was a young girl with her haired placed inside a pink scrunchy on her head. She had thick glasses on, with lenses like crystals. She dropped to the seat beside Gar with a huff as she began to ramble on an excuse

"Sorry I'm late, the line was real bad today. Its like common moral respect has disapeared completely, not only that but my cold soles are really acting up and I can't seem to-"

"Kole." Raven said sternly haulting the young girl's rant. "Relax okay. You're gonna blow a gasket."

"Right sorry Rae." Kole said before turning to the blonde haired boy beside her. "Well um...whose this?" She asked nervously

"This is the guy I was telling you about in the hall Kole." Raven explained

"Oh...wow." Kole said in amazement "He took down Mammoth? Thats weird because I thought he'd be buffer, or maybe taller, or maybe he'd be tall and buff, or maybe he'd just have some big muscles or-"

"Kole," Raven stopped her "you're rambling again."

"Whoops...sorry." She said calming down.

Raven just shook her head and turned to Gar

"Listen Gar," She started "I can tell you aren't like other kids I've seen come in here. You don't actually want to hurt anyone smaller then you and you aren't looking to beat up those weaker then you."

"Well I sorta belong to the weak and small group." Gar explained "I just have street smarts from all the other schools I got kicked out of."

"The fact is you actually stood up to Mammoth at the risk of your own personal safety. And I admire you for that." Raven said smiling "Its the first time I've seen anyone actually try to stop the bullying here. That's why we need you."

"Huh?" Gar wondered with a confused look

"This school is hell Gar as you can obviously see." Raven pointed out

"This school is full of wild beasts!" Seymour announced

"Its a microcosom for the whole world!" Control Freak added

"And if any of us are going to get out alive were going to have stick together." Raven explained "But we're not leaving this school without showing these bullies that they can't push us around any more."

"So you want to give this school a taste of its own medicine." Gar said sratching his chin

"Precisely." Raven answered "Up till now we've failed miserably because...well...these guys aren't the fighting type."

"Ah!" Gizmo screamed "My pocket protector broke!"

Raven rubbed her forehead in discontent

"And as much as i hate to admit it I'm more brains then I am brawn." Raven confessed "I think you however are exactlly the muscle we need to beat these guys once and for all."

Gar didn't need to think this over, he'd already been handed Rageworth's worst and he wasn't going to let this school bring him down anymore, nor was he going to let other kids have to deal with what he had to face all his life.

"I'm in." Gar said without hesitation

Control Freak was spastic

"Welcome to the guild Sir Gar!" He said shaking his hand obsessively

"Okay, okay I said I'd help!" Gar pleaded "Please stop shaking me, your palm is sweaty!"

"Whoops," Control Freak said pulling his hand away "Sorry."

"Good to have you on board." Raven said "Now lets get aquainted with the opposition." Raven pointed over to a table where there were a bunch of clean dressed up stuck people gossiping. "Those are the preps, the richest kids in the school. They got in here because their parent could afford it and they let everyone else know everyday in more way then one." Raven then pointed over to a table with a bunch of teen dressed in leather and wearing too much hair gel. "Those are the greasers."

"Like the musical?" Gar asked

"Well yeah," Raven acknowledged "but they're more like punks really. They think that because they've been on the bad sides of town that they know more about life then others. They don't admit it but they're just as high on their horse as the preps."

"How so?" Gar asked

"They think that their clothes and tough guy additudes make them cool." Raven explained

Gar just shrugged in aggreance. And noticed Dick was among the group of Greasers.

"I see you're not looking to plesantly at their leader huh?" Raven asked

"Who? Dick?" Gar wondered

"Yes him," Raven restated "real jerk that guy. He likes to overshadow people he thinks he better then and he doesn't like others challenging his autority."

Raven then pointed over to a table of muscle bound kids edgeing each other on in a arm wrestle match.

"Those are the jocks, the big sports fanatics of the school." Raven said "They're all on the football team and they think they deserve everyone's respect because they win us games. So essentially they think they can do whatever they want."

Gar noticed a tall black guy looking over all the other jocks.

"Whose the big guy?" Gar asked

"Oh thats Victor Stone." Raven told him "He's the star quarterback of the team. He doesn't really do much off the field he just hangs out with the others. I've never seen him do anything to another student though. I think he's the good apple in the barrel of bad ones. Not sure though never talked to him."

Raven then pointed at another table with a bunch of differently uniformed girls who all looked like cheerleaders

"Of course that table is where the most popular girls sit. Mainly head cheerleader Kitten Mothington. She's a real bitch that one."

"She keeps sending me crude pictures and notes about how ugly I am." Kole said solemnly

"Dude," Gar said "has she looked in a mirror? You're way easier on the eyes then her."

"Really?" Kole asked reassuringly

"Trust me," Gar affirmed "I want to throw up when I see her."

"She probably just looks in the mirror then to do so." Raven said "Since that's how she keeps her figure. Throwing up, I've seen her practicing sticking her finger down her throat."

Kole had herself a good laugh at that. Gar turned back tot he table and saw another blonde girl, rather thin one, get up from the table and walk away. He caught a glimpse of her face and just couldn't kjeep his eyes off her. Raven flicked his head and he snapped out of it.

"Earth to Planet Garfield, are you there?" Raven asked sarcastically

"Uh, yeah, yeah." Gar said snapping out of it "Uh, who was that last Cheerleader who just left?"

"That was Terra Marakov." Raven said with a slight hint of venom "Second seat next to Kitten as head cheer squad captain."

"Rae doesn't like her because she thinks she's stuck up." Seymour said

"All cheerleaders are stuck up." Raven explained "It doesn't matter. What matter is that we try to make these other cliques in the school heirarchy understand that we are tired of being pushed around and we are not going to take it anymore."

"Our quest for social acceptance begins!" Control Freak announced before getting hit with a spit ball to the back of the head. "Who did that? I'm a level 20 Battlemage! Treat with respect or prepare to defend yourself."

"Sit down Control Freak." Raven said pulling the pudgy nerd back down

"So when do we get started?" Gar asked

"I'm going to come up with some plans tonight." Raven told him "In the meantime just try to get through your classes without getting yourself in too much trouble for today."

Suddenly a loud screeching noise opened up above them as most everyone in the cafeteria covered thier delicate ear drums. An annoyed, high tempered voice started speaking over them.

"Your attention please! All students please stay away from all air duct entrances until further notice! Which may mean next week, next month or even next year, or forever. Just stay away from them okay! To make sure every airduct in the school is being screwed up tight just in case any of you get any bright ideas abotu playing in them. We all remember what happened to little Bobbly Denton when he got too nosy in one of those things last year. So for once can you all just obey the rules...just once." The inrercom screeched dead

"Secretary Hive needs to fix that stinking microphone of hers, its giving us all a headache." Raven protested trying to clean out her ears

"I don't get it." Gar said scratching his chin "Why would they close off all the airducts?"

"Beats me," Raven shrugged "another one of Rageworth's stupid rules no doubt."

(Principal's office)

Pain: Dad I'm not doing this.

GR: Son this is the only airduct I can afford to keep unscrewed. I need you to go in there, find GIR and lure him back to here so we can keep him from blowing our cover.

Pain: I better get a few extra birthday presents for this.

GR: Fine, sure whatever. Its not until next year for the love of god. Now remember your basic survivor skills and don't worry we'll be in contact the whole time. You remebered to charge your miner cap?

Pain: (Annoyed) Yes dad.

GR: Good now go get him son.

(Pain crawls into airduct)

Blackfire: Good luck Pain! Mama's proud of you!

GR: Alright honey, you better get into character and down to the students so you can keep an eye on them for me okay.

Blackfire: No problem Rageikins, It will be just like my days at Tamaranian High School. I was so much more popular then my sister back then...until she let it slip I couldn't fly and she was next in line...bitch.

GR: Just make sure if you see her you don't let her know its you.

Blackfire: Oh relax knowing Starfire she probably got stuck as the ditziest girl in school!

GR: Hmm, well not exactly. Remember that High School is never what it seems.

Next: Pain's hunt for GIR and Gar's next class.