So the Drama - Diablo
Chapter 3 : A new student and a failed facade
Ron woke early the next morning, he was a bit cranky as his sleep had been restless. Something was bothering him and he couldn't figure out what. He sighed….there was so few people he could talk to about this. Only Brick, Felix and Wade….his parents too, but those were the only people that knew his secret. Brick had accidentally found out yesterday but accepted it with a shrug saying it made no difference to him.
It was times like this that made Ron wonder just why anyone put up with Bonnie…..god she could really get on his nerves. Part of what was really bothering him was the fact that he realized that his façade was failing. Brick hadn't been to surprised that Ron had powers and said he suspected something like this for a few years now.
Did everyone else suspect him or did he have them fooled? Wade and Felix had been harping at him for the last three years to stop hiding and at least act like himself. Ron had of coarse insisted that his buffoonish façade needed to stay in place and eventually be shed a few years down the road. Now that he had started….everyone seemed to expect it.
"This damn façade is more trouble than it's worth." Ron grumbled and got out of bed to start his day.
Ron did his morning rituals and then got dressed in some of his new clothes. A pair of tighter fitting black cargo pants, his biker boots and a tight emerald green tank top with a runic dragon design on the front. Ron then grabbed his leather jacket and riding gloves, Rufus was sleeping as usual so Ron just left the little guy be…..he hadn't been so active lately and Ron figured it was because he was getting old.
About an hour later Ron was tearing down the streets, for once he was glad that Kim had gotten a ride from Monique. He needed to let out some of his frustraition and a quick ride on his Harley was the best way to do it.
He wasn't sure why he was agitated but something felt way off about today, that coupled with little sleep had left Ron in a rather sour mood. Unfortunately this was not a good thing for people that liked to push his buttons as they wouldn't get the usual façade induced response.
Just as Ron was about to pull into the school parking lot a dark red street style motorcycle buzzed right past him, it nearly hit him. Ron let out a loud curse that caught several people's attention but one death glare from Ron sent them scattering.
Ron roared up behind the young man who damned near ran him down as he was getting off his motorcycle.
"HEY!" Ron shouted. "Next time you come into the parking lot watch where the hell you are going!" Ron snarled.
The young man removed his helmet to reveal a handsome face and nicely styled brown hair. "Sorry man….I'm new here and I didn't want to be late." The young man said scratching his neck. "The name is Eric…Eric Mitchell….what's yours?" He asked extending his hand.
"What the hell….his adams apple doesn't move when he talks." Ron thought but accepted the offered hand. He noticed his skin felt strange to the touch as well….almost like it was synthetic.
"I'm Ron Stoppable…..welcome to Middleton high…." Ron forced out to be polite.
"Thanks!" Eric said with what he thought was a charming smile. "Sweet ride you got here dude! I love my bike…sometimes when it's just me and my machine I just kinda lose myself ya know?"
Ron's eyebrow twitched as he put on his shades, that was one of the stupidest remarks he had ever heard…not to mention a dangerous way to think. "Uhh…yeah…well I gotta go and park….later." Ron said and took off.
"Whatever's clever." Eric said and walked off towards the school.
That was the start to one of worst school days of Ron's teenage life. It had only gotten worse from there. Kim had been elected to show the new…guy….around the school and Ron had hoped that she would detect the same weirdness that he did but instead she acted weird around him like she had when she crushed on Josh as couple years ago.
Ron so he wouldn't be late for his first class had taken a short cut through D-hall which resulted in a encounter with the usual bullies. As expected a rather large boy started in on Ron and pushed a few of the wrong buttons…this resulted in said boy suffering from a broken nose and Ron getting a Saturday detention.
That should have spread around like wild fire but surprisingly no one but Brick, Felix and Wade knew about it.
Ron had calmed down a bit by the time lunch rolled around and went into the cafeteria with Brick and Felix. Felix was carrying a small box of minerals with him for a geology project and Brick was carrying his chem.. book.
The three friends got their lunches…..now that they were seniors it wasn't so bad. They took a seat at their usual table and waited for Kim to pop on over like she always did. Ron was tossing one of the rocks up and down in his hand while lazily scanning the room.
Felix and Brick shot their heads up to look at Ron when they heard a slight growl come from him and a crunching noise. Rock fragments now covered the table and the piece of granite in Ron's clenched hand was now nothing more than dust. Both boys gulped…it wasn't like Ron to let his temper shoot off like that.
Then the looked and saw the source of Ron's sudden anger. There sitting next to the new guy Eric was Kim, she had a vacant look on her features and seemed oblivious to everything around her.
"Ron!" Felix hissed. "Amp down! You're going to blow the lights again!"
"What's wrong dude?" Brick asked curiously.
"The new guy….Eric….something isn't right about him." Ron stated quietly. "Watch him when he talks…his adams apple doesn't move and neither does his chest. I also can't get any mental thought waves from him either."
Felix and Brick studied Eric for a few minutes and discovered that Ron was right. He looked fine, acted fine and was quite animated in his gestures but his adams apple didn't move when he spoke and he didn't appear to ever take a breath.
"What the hell?" Brick muttered.
"That's not normal." Felix finished for him.
"I know." Ron said narrowing his eyes as the bell rang.
"Shit!" Brick cursed. "I gotta get to chemistry class….keep me posted on the freak over there ok guys." Brick said and dashed off.
Ron and Felix watched as Kim left with Eric…she hadn't even noticed or said hi to them like she usually did. Something wasn't right and both boys knew it.
Several hours later Felix and Ron stood at Ron's locker with Wade on talking to them on Felix's chair link.
"Hey Wade could you do me a really big favor?" Ron asked.
"Sure thing buddy…as long as it won't get me into trouble." Wade chuckled.
"Fair enough…..there is a new guy here named Eric Mitchell. I was wondering if you could run a check on him." Ron said.
"Sure, that shouldn't be hard….but why do you wanna check him out? Kim has been around him all day and she seems to like him." Wade said but regretted it when he saw the scowl on Ron's face.
"Look….there's just something not right about him." Ron said with a bit of a snarl.
"Enlighten me then." Wade stated.
"Alright the dude's adams apple doesn't move when he talks, he doesn't appear to even breath and when I shook his hand this morning it felt like it was synthetic…I can't even get any mental waves from him…it's like he a damn walking talking corpse." Ron explained.
"Ron you do realize that that is utterly impossible….you just described as dead man or a android." Wade stated and Ron nodded. "What about you Felix?" Wade asked.
"I'm with Ron-man on this one….something is really off about that guy." Felix confirmed.
"Good enough for me." Wade said. "I take it we are keeping Kim in the dark about this?" He asked.
"You got it." Ron answered. "She'd freak if she found out I was snooping around like this and until I have some proof I can't say anything."
Wade nodded. "Alright Ron I'll see what I can dig up and I'll get back to you ASAP….Wade out." Wade said and then vanished from the small screen on Felix's chair.
"Well Ron…the ball's in your court now and that freakishly good hearing of yours." Felix mused.
"I'll tell you something I didn't Wade….I never heard a heartbeat." Ron said quietly.
"Could it be an android then?" Felix asked.
"I don't think so buddy, I didn't hear and mechanical parts or servo motors either." Ron stated. "I'm betting that either Drakken or Dementor are behind this as well but I'm leaning towards Drakken…this doesn't seem like Dementor's style."
"Well if it's Drakken could this be one of his creations….maybe a clone." Felix suggested.
"No a clone would be alive." Ron answered.
"A Syntho-drone then." Felix said.
"That's possible but not very likely….how would he program it with emotions. The base of those things is Syntho goo. He would have had to of figured out how to solidify it a bit but leave it flexible and then give it a proper AI unit. We also saw Eric eating and drinking….I don't think a Syntho-drone is capable of that." Ron said while looking deep in thought.
"It's times like this that make me wonder how you can play stupid all the time." Felix muttered. "Whatever it is if it's good enough to fool Kim, we might be in big trouble."
"Don't worry about it buddy, that damn thing can't fool me or my powers….and they go nuts whenever he's in close proximity." Ron said.
Felix shook his head and sighed. "I know you all to well Ron-man, you got a major thing for Kim….something that you never tell anyone about…"
"Now is NOT the damn time to be talking about shit like that!" Ron growled.
"Dude I'm not trying to rub it in or anything. It's just you might make a rash decision…remember the Moodulator incident." Felix said.
"Yes and I made the right choice….she wasn't herself. I broke up with her because it wasn't right to try and take advantage of the situation." Ron said in his defense.
"True….but do you honestly think she ever got over that little incident?" Felix asked with a arched brow.
Ron shrugged. "Sure she did….there was nothing ever really there to begin with."
"Really…I've watched her scoping you out when she thought no one was looking. She's got for you bad, bud." Felix said with a grin.
Ron rolled his eyes. "I think your seeing things dude."
"Hardly." Felix snorted. "I'm not the only one who has noticed either dude, just ask Josh, Tara, Brick or even Monique. I guarantee they'll tell you the same thing."
Ron sighed. "Look…Felix….there's no way in hell I could be that lucky….besides…it's not worth…the….risk." Ron said slowly as his emotions tried to start an inner battle.
"Okay…" Felix sighed with a shrug. "But I'm going to tell you this now….I told ya so."
"Yeah….thanks for nuttin." Ron grumbled as Josh rounded the corner and walked up to them.
"Hey Ronster…what's up?" Josh asked cheerfully.
"Same shit different day." Ron answered.
"I hear that." Josh chuckled. "How about you Steel wheels?"
Felix chuckled. "Ditto."
"Hey did you guys get a load of that new guy Kim is hanging out with…talk about an odd-ball." Josh asked.
"Yeah….I noticed." Ron said through clenched teeth.
"I mean the dude's adams apple doesn't even move when he talks….weird huh." Josh stated.
"See Felix…I'm not the only one who noticed." Ron said.
"Hey I noticed too!" Felix retorted.
"Only after I pointed it out." Ron smirked.
"Well Ron-man if you ever plan on making your move…you better do it soon." Josh said and Felix got a smug look on his features.
"What the hell are you talking about dude?" Ron asked confused and very frustrated.
"Kim." Josh answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You mean to tell me….you never noticed!" He asked surprised.
"Get to the point! Noticed what?" Ron growled.
"Amp down buddy." Josh said. "The way she's been looking at you this year…she's got it bad for ya bud." Josh said and Felix had to stifle a chuckle.
"Could Kim really have feelings for me…that would be great…but…." Ron thought. "I still say you guys are seeing shit." Ron said as an emotionless mask crossed his features.
Just then Tara came up to her boyfriend and said hi to Ron and Felix. Ron's frustraition was getting to dangerous levels at this point and he didn't want to take it out on his friends. He was good at masking his emotions but they could tell he was having a inner war with his emotions at the moment.
"Hey Ron looks like the new guy might be making a play for Kim, if your going to make your move you better hurry up." Tara said and Ron groaned causing the other two boys to laugh.
"God…not you too." Ron groaned.
"I am a girl after all…I know these things." Tara said as matter of fact.
"No Comment." Ron growled...his temper was starting to get the better of his judgment.
"Ron is it so hard to just ask her?" Tara asked nicely and got another growl in response.
"Dude….what's eating you man?" Josh asked suddenly concerned.
"Forget it…I don't want to talk about it." Ron snapped a bit colder than he had meant to.
Tara shook her head. "Well it's your loss Ron. You're going to lose your chance unless…uh-oh….too late." Tara said with a slightly saddened look, Josh and Felix stiffened and Ron got a puzzled look on his face.
Ron turned around and there arm in arm was Kim and Eric walking down the hall like they have been a couple for months. Ron face went stoic but the lights in the hall flickered as his power spiked. Ron had a nearly uncontrollable urge to rip Eric apart with his bare hands and use his head for a bowling ball. However Ron swallowed it and kept a somewhat calm if not agitated appearance.
"Hey Ron!" Kim greeted. "I hope you don't mind but Eric has offered to give me a ride home tonight after practice." She said cheerfully.
"That's fine KP." Ron growled and began digging through his locker.
Kim was a bit surprised at his tone. "Ron…come on, please…it's not like I'm dating him." She said but didn't notice him flinch and stiffen, the others however did.
"Look I said it was fine…don't start on me today Kim…I'm not in the mood." Ron snapped.
Kim looked a little hurt. "You know…if you need to talk about it, I'll be home all night." Kim offered.
"Yeah….Fine….Whatever…." Ron grumbled.
Kim sighed sadly and walked off with Eric. Tara followed behind as she had cheer practice as well.
"Ron you need to calm down." Felix said.
"To hell with it." Ron growled. "I'm going to the weight room."
"Hey I'll come too….I could use a spotter while I do my reps." Josh said.
"Ummm….I'm not so sure…." Felix trailed off.
"It's alright Felix….Let's go Josh." Ron said and the two walked down the hall and out of sight. Felix watched on worriedly, Ron's façade was coming down faster than hell. At this rate it would be just a matter of time before Ron finally got fed up with the whole thing and dropped it.
Josh had finished his warm-ups while Ron took some of his pent up frustraition out on the punching bag in the room. Josh winced at several of the blows as he saw the 1000ilbs sand bag buckle under the force of Ron's blows. He'd never even seen Brick hit the thing that hard.
Josh also noticed that Ron's fighting style was actually very good. He himself had taken Judo lessons and knew how to spot a competent fighter, Kim was one and Ron….if he didn't know better he'd almost swear that Ron might be better than Kim.
"Yo dude….that guy Eric….I think he's 500 miles of bad road, something is way off about him." Josh commented.
"No arguments from me." Ron grunted as he slammed his fist into the bag one last time.
"Hey Ron-man?" Josh asked. "I'm just being curious and I've never thought that you got the credit you deserve…..but you know something, what's up? What is it?"
Ron sighed. "Do you really want to know what's up?" He asked, he knew he could trust Josh but he wanted to see how much Josh suspected before he spilled his secrets.
"Look Ron-man…..I know that you hide behind some kind of false mask or façade, I also know that it's eating you up. Just go ahead and tell me buddy, I promise to keep your secrets, I swear on the Bushido code." Josh said solemnly.
That caught Ron's attention, he knew Josh did a few martial arts but he was surprised that he knew of the code….the Warrior's code, the same code that he lived his life by. Using a bit of his powers Ron was able to tell that Josh was telling the truth and had nothing but friendly intent towards him and would be loyal to the end.
Ron looked Josh in the eye gave him a small smile and nodded. Ron then walked over to the weight bench that he had set up with a 800 Ilbs barbell. To Josh's awe and shock Ron hefted the whole thing with one hand and hardly any effort. To further prove his point Ron tossed the barbell up and down a few times before putting back on the bench with a thud.
"WHOA!" Josh exclaimed in awe as Ron continued a modest display of his powers.
"As you suspected…I am not what I made myself out to be." Ron said.
"That was AWESOME!" Josh exclaimed. "I never would of thought that though, When and how did it happen?"
"Remember my first battle with Monkey Fist four years ago?" Ron questioned.
"Yeah, I've heard Kim and her friend Monique talk about it a couple of times." Josh answered. "You got hit by some kind of power."
"It's called Mystical Monkey Power…it's true name was lost centuries ago. It's the full mastery of the powers of the mind, body and soul. Monkey Fist tried to become the master of the power but later I found out that I was prophesized since ancient times to be its master, Monkey Fist merely got a copy of my power….a generic version if you will. However this power has some side effects that the general public shouldn't know about so I kept it hidden for the last four years under that façade you mentioned." Ron explained.
"So I was right." Josh mused. "You aren't even close to being the buffoon everyone thinks you are…it was all an act! The mistake was laying it on so thick!" Josh chuckled. "So…not even Kim knows about this huh?" Josh added.
"No…she wouldn't understand and I have a duty to fulfill as the true master." Ron stated.
"I think you underestimate Kim bud, she's much more stable that you think…otherwise she would have wigged out on you years ago." Josh said.
"Kim is stable but she also tends to jump to conclusions and it's dangerous for me to let to many people know….for her safety I kept this a secret." Ron sighed. "It's not only that but this is my gift….my curse….and I must do it alone, according to the prophecy a time will come when I'm all that will stand in the way of this worlds destruction."
"Dude that's deep." Josh said sympathetically. "But shouldn't you at least tell Kim something…so she at least has some info about your noticeable changes?"
"It's not that easy, she'd dog me until she got every last bit of information…she's just like that….I think it's a girl thing." Ron said with a smirk.
Josh laughed. "I hear that…Tara won't let me have any secrets!"
"Besides…" Ron added. "I have my fate and she has her destiny. I can't let her try to take on my burdens as well."
Josh nodded. "I see your point but I still think your fate and her destiny are intertwined."
"I doubt it dude, when the time comes I'm supposed to face an army of armored demons that blacken the skies." Ron stated.
"Ouch…." Josh mumbled. "Well I don't think that anyone should have to shoulder that alone….just something to think about….I'll help to when the time comes….I couldn't live with myself if you went something like that alone."
"Thanks for the offer buddy but I won't let you endanger yourself or anyone else endanger themselves like that….I've got my powers to keep me safe." Ron stated.
Josh nodded and decided to change the subject as Ron seemed to be getting tense again. "Now about the Eric dude, am I the only one that thinks he should be six feet under?"
"No…I did as soon as I first met him, Brick and Felix noticed it to when I pointed him out to them." Ron answered.
"Well the guy is definitely a freak of nature, he shouldn't even be talking…or walking for that matter." Josh said.
Ron's Kimmunicator chirped and Wade popped on screen. "What's up Wade…did you get any info?" Ron asked as Josh walked over to join in.
"Yeah I….Josh…what's he doing here?" Wade asked.
"Don't worry about Josh Wade….he's cool…and he knows." Ron said simply.
Wade nodded. "Well prepare to be freaked….I found files on Eric Mitchell…..he died ten years ago of lymphorna in Upperton community hospital. I even got a picture of him when he was alive." Wade said and posted the picture.
The photo was of a middle aged man with red hair and a beard. "What the hell!" Josh and Ron muttered in unison. "That's not the same guy we saw KP with." Ron added.
"Well that is the real Eric James Mitchell. Any idea's what this Eric or who this Eric is?" Wade asked.
"Could he be some sort of robot or cyborg?" Josh asked.
"No…that's far too simplistic to act as human as he does. A Syntho-drone wouldn't do it either. I'm banking on him being some type of advanced android or bio-droid. The questions are…Who was his creator, why was he created, what is his purpose and how do we expose him." Ron said while in deep thought.
Josh looked at Ron and shook his head. "You're a lot smarter than you played yourself to be to aren't you?" He asked bemused.
"Ron's IQ is actually higher that mine." Wade commented. "It's because of Ron that some of my newer experiments are moving along like they are…..he's a great assistant when he's not trying to knock someone's lights out." Wade smirked and Josh chuckled.
"Well shouldn't we tell Kim that the guy she's hanging out with isn't human?" Josh asked.
"Not at the moment…she wouldn't believe us." Ron said.
"I still say you should let her in on this buddy." Josh sighed.
"Don't bother Josh, Felix and I have been trying to get Ron to spill to her and act like himself for three years now." Wade grumbled.
"Well then what should we do?" Josh questioned curiously…he wanted to help.
"The best thing we can do now is wait and watch for Eric to show his hand or we can get some proof. Human's aren't perfect and neither are machines as they are human made. Something will happen sooner or later and that is when we strike." Ron said.
"I agree." Wade said. "What we all need to do is keep an eye on him and wait for him to screw up."
"Well that takes me and Felix out." Josh muttered.
"Why's that?" Ron asked curiously.
"Well the dude is a machine right…..well he could detect that badass char of Felix's a mile off and…well I wear a pacemaker and he would detect that as well." Josh said.
"You have a heart problem?" Ron asked. "I'm sorry…I never knew."
Josh waved him off. "Don't worry about it, I've had a problem ever since I was ten and it's actually gotten better over the years. I'm still able to do everything I enjoy as long as I live healthy."
Ron nodded. "Well that only leaves me and Brick….we need someone else."
"Tara could do it." Josh suggested. "She's awesome at keeping secrets and I know she'd like to help bud."
Ron sighed. "Well there really isn't any other options at the moment…alright we'll let her in on it. Can we use your art studio to do it…I want privacy for this?" Ron asked.
"Sure thing dude…I'll go talk to her." Josh said and walked off to find his girlfriend. Ron and Wade gave each other a nod and cut the line.
While Josh was taking care of the preparations with Tara, Wade had contacted Brick and Felix and told them to meet up with Ron at Josh's studio apartment.
Ron was still in a rather foul mood and wanted nothing more than to tear into Eric, but until he had proof his hands were tied. As much as he denied feelings for Kim to the others he couldn't to himself and it was frustrating him to no end. But he knew it was best that she be kept in the dark…..it was for the best.
Monique was just leaving the girls rest room when she noticed Ron walking down the hall. She was about to say hi when she saw a disgruntled Bonnie stomping towards him. She knew this wasn't a good combination as both had been in bad moods all day.
"You know loser it looks like Kim has a new lapdog." Bonnie jabbed. "Go figure the little slut would grab him up as soon as she saw him."
"Uh-oh…" Monique breathed from her spot as she saw Ron stiffen and several lights flickered.
"What did you say?" Ron snarled.
"None of your buisness loser." Bonnie snapped.
"When it's about KP I make it my buisness." Ron growled, his temper was at it's limit and he felt like he was about to explode.
"Oh I'm so scared…NOT!" Bonnie jabbed further.
"Just what the hell is your problem?" Ron asked.
"Like I said loser…..it's none of yours or your bitch master's buisness." Bonnie said snidely.
"BANG!" Ron's temper finally snapped and in his rage he rammed his fist into and through the nearest locker. This wouldn't have been so bad had not half the student body been present for it. Most of which were to shocked to even move at this point.
"Now you listen to me you little self centered bitch, I'm sick and fucking tired of your constant bull shit and insults towards me and Kim!" Ron roared and Bonnie blanched. "Now either you spit it out or go spout shit to someone who gives a fuck!" Ron's scowling face got just within inches of Bonnie's terrified face. "If I hear you calling Kim such a disgusting name again I might just forget you're a woman and RIP you apart with my bare hands….GOT IT!"
Bonnie nodded and whimpered in fear before taking off like a shot in the other direction. Ron just growled and removed his fist from the locker door leaving a sizeable hole in his wake. He then simply cracked his knuckles and began walking off….not a drop of blood had been shed. The student's that had witnessed the event were so shocked at Ron's language that they nearly forgot that he rammed his fist through a carbon steel door.
Ron looked at the door, he had finally done it….he had let his temper go to far. "Shit….this can't be happening." Ron grumbled.
Monique walked up behind him and put her hand on his shoulder. "Unfortunately it is Ron….do you want to talk about it?" She asked softly.
"No I don't." Ron answered gruffly.
"Ron look….that was way off the scale on the weird shit o meter. I know there is more to you than you let people see….please talk to me, I'm your friend and I'll keep your secrets." Monique asked pleadingly.
Ron sighed and looked at Monique; he had to admit she looked real cute with a pleading look on her face. He knew that he could trust her too but dammit everyone seemed to know things without him saying a word about it.
"Listen Monique….we can talk about this later….I promise…just not right now and please just keep this between us….don't tell KP." Ron said, his voice going back to normal.
"Alright Ron….I'll call you later tonight….ok?" Monique asked.
Ron nodded and walked off into the crowd of students milling about and vanished. Monique sighed a bit as she watched Ron walk off. He looked so troubled and yet so cute at the same time. Had it not been for Kim Monique would of dated Ron a while ago….but she didn't want to make Kim upset…she knew how possessive Kim was of Ron.
Tara walked into her boyfriend's apartment, he had asked her about a week ago to model for his "Helen of Troy" painting and she was more than happy to do it. She was surprised to walk in and find her old crush Ron Stoppable there with Felix, Josh was sitting on his couch drinking some tea and Ron was pouring himself a cup.
"Hey guys what's up?" Tara asked curiously.
"Sorry I'm late bro's!" Brick said as he charged into the room after Tara. "I had a bit of trouble with the ol Ramcharger."
Ron glanced over. "Don't worry about it dude, I bet I could have her in perfect running condition in no time. Just bring her over to my house tomorrow or this week end and we'll fix it up." Ron offered.
"Oh thanks dude, you're a helluva lot better than most garages around here." Brick said.
"Okay…..now that that's out of the way." Tara said with slight amusement. "What's going on?"
"Tara….Josh told us that you can keep a secret….and well I need your help." Ron said scratching the back of his neck.
Disclaimer : We do not own Kim Possible
Authors : DragonMaster & Doug4422