Devil Inside

Whispers stirred Ray from sleep. He found half his body hanging off the bunk and peeked over to find Sophia curled up still beside him on the bulk of the mattress. He peered into her face and barely made out her eyes shut, sound asleep.

"Ray, she's still deep asleep, it's me - Dragon, come outside I must speak with you urgently", Dragon's voice ever so low issued from the room systems.

Dimly the floor runner lights made a path for Ray to follow. He pulled on a shirt from his pile of possessions and shuffled out of the room. The hallway was empty and the door shut quietly behind him.

"If you wouldn't mind making your way to the small break room on this floor", Dragon's voice still low coming from seemingly nowhere in the hallway.

"Mhm, sure".

Ray shuffled through the passage and found a tablet being held up by one of the foam spewing basketball sized drones, Dragon's familiar face looked all business, her polite smile absent on the screen.

"Please, sit, Ray."

Ray pulled a chair out from under a small table holding a coffee maker and small buckets of spoons and various coffee creamers and sugars.

"What's going o- wait, you can see in the barracks back there?"

"Yes, Ray, part of what I am being ordered to address."

"Ordered?"

"I am aware you have had a lot happen in a short time but there are a number of observations that have been made regarding impropriety between a probationary Protectorate member with a Wars in PRT care, accusations of arson and public endangerment-"

Ray's thoughts crystallized and the fog of sleep lifted, "Hey, I can explain - all those things, Dragon. I-"

Dragon continued, "continued use of unauthorized lethal force during patrols, assault of a Ward, in addition to existing infractions that were pending review for Shadow Stalker. Ray, there is a lot that has been overlooked in regards to her behavior but both your reports, counselor notes from the hostages, and the testimony of those apprehended at tonight's hostage raid, construct a narrative pointing the fire as not that of the Gang members."

"But we saved those people! People get to go home, back to the people who love them because of what we did!"

"I find asking a person to calm down does much the opposite, so I ask you to just keep talking to me."

Ray slumped in his seat, "They were kidnapped by racists, training other racists how to fight and the more of them that can fight the more people they can take, Dragon. I - Jesus, they were tied up sitting in their - I can't".

"Yes, Ray the hostages are safe, but whatever happened that fire was set before the fight started. So due to this - Shadow Stalker is being taken into custody, right now."

Without thinking Ray now stood in the small break room. The sound of boots grew in the hallway and the dragon drone reared back still holding the tablet while Dragon shook her head.

"I-I-I it was me, Dragon. We were haunting, trying to scare the Chosen - we - I didn't know there was anyone to endanger when I set the fire while So- Shadow cut off their generators. It's me - I dragged her out on patrol against Piggot's orders because I like her and I wanted time with her."

"Ray, your behavior while risky, is more in line with someone of your age - your behavior would not suggest arson or destruction of private property. I'm sorry but-"

Two sets of four PRT officers blocked the hallway on both sides and the drone hovered in the doorway, Ray was trapped. The smell of stale coffee hung heavy in the air.

"If you would just follow me to the conference room, please?"

"Dragon, there is a hero in there, buried beneath all that anger and barbs- juvie will just make her turtle up and she'll be alone with just hate and ugliness. Shadow fought the Endbringers, she got betrayed during the last fight and she's given so much - she's owed by this city."

He balled up his fists and the PRT officers stood their ground unflinching.

"Ray, when we - you grow close to a person, sometimes you can lose objectivity, glossing over behavior and actions that would worry others. I am not saying she is irredeemable but those actions have consequences."

Ray shook his head, "It was me, I set that fire, I hate the fucking white trash fuckers that hassled my neighborhood growing up. Now I have the power to do something about it so I could scare them like they scared my folks for years!"

He held out his fists in front of himself, "Now take me in. I won't struggle. I promise."

The Dragon Drone hung back for a moment before pushing into the break room again.

"Dust Devil has the ability to pass through containment foam and can possibly use the same ability to escape restraints. Sedation is recommended", one of the PRT officers read off from a data display attached from their forearm.

"I believe him when he says he won't struggle", Dragon's voice from the tablet sounded very clear and with authority.

The same Officer sighed, walked over behind Ray, took hold of his arms, and frog marched him out of the break room.

~~x

Part of him wished he had been taken to the conference room to face down Piggot but here he was in a cold cell, days had been passing as they waited for his time in court. The cell defensive systems threatened daily to flood the room with a sedative if he tried anything blatant with his powers so they held him here downtown instead of the county jail or for his expedited court date.

Shadow Miser and Dragon were the only two who were allowed to see him, Dragon on the viewscreen on the cell wall, Miser in the hall of the cells through the security glass as Ray's legal representation.

Ray sat on what passed for a bed, staring at the floor. Movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention. He looked up and Clockblocker stood in front of the security window. He had a very nice body, including a surprisingly nice pair of breasts. 'Clockblocker' hit a key on a panel by the window.

"You're a moron", Sophia's voice admonished him with a mix of anger and something unfamiliar.

"I missed you, too."

The faceless white helmet rested it's forehead with a clink against the glass.

"How're you holding up?"

She didn't answer for a long moment, "Called my friend."

A smile crossed his face, "I'm glad you got someone to reach out to."

"She - knows about this part of my life, she said you probably did this to protect me. Not to be too pissed off for turning yourself in. Reminded me of my deal and the years I'd serve in juvie if I was caught."

"Yeah, exactly", Ray nodded.

"Huh, so it's true. You could escape from here. Go on the run, maybe get amnesty if you show up at the next Endbringer fight?" She sounded uncharacteristically helpful with her suggestions.

"Nah, my attorney says the help I've provided in my short time in town and not knowing the people were down there, whom we saved, should give me a reduced sentence should I have to serve time."

"You're an idiot", she placed the open palm of her white gloved hand against the glass.

Ray stood up and pressed his hand against hers through the glass, "See, it's that winning smile of yours that lets you get away with saying anything."

"I still can't believe we got caught. I'm on shitty double secret probation for sneaking into the barracks and for patrolling with you. Piggot seemed absolutely thrilled to have this hanging over my head. Like she gets off cowing capes. Bitch."

He sighed, "Hey, I'd rather be away for a few months than to go years without you. Besides, I'm Mexican - I'll join a Latino gang, get tattoos, get really jacked, and then probably a nickname like 'Bocino' or 'Cornudo', cuz of the horns."

Sophia didn't respond.

"But seriously, are you going to be okay? You're not going to try to bust me out or go on a rampage? I want to be able to see you again when I get out."

Sophia remained silent again.

"How about you wait on the whole - score evening thing, better I'm there for it. Be it two on one or if they hired mercs or got back with their buddies, two on many than you lone wolfing it, right?"

She pulled away from the glass and stepped back, "Dragon said she'd give us a few minutes, I should go."

Ray's heart sank as she turned away and walked off through the security door in the hallway.

~~x