I'm sure you guys loved the cliffhanger. You're welcome for that. Thanks to those who reviewed and please do so again. Please excuse any mistakes I may have made. I don't own DC Comics or any of their characters. Thanks for reading and enjoy!
Richard was aware of a couple things. One, he was laying down on something hard. Two, he couldn't move his legs or arms around very much. Three, someone was in wherever he was with him. Four, this person was stalking around where he was laying down. Five, his head hurt and opening his eyes to a bright light didn't help. He winced, closed his eyes, and turned his head away from the light.
"I see you're finally awake." A rough voice said. The voice set of a lot of alarms in his brain, but he didn't know why. Why does that voice say danger? Where am I?
"Where-" Renegade started, but was smacked before he could even get past the first word of his question.
"Don't you remember how you betrayed me, apprentice?" The voice snapped. Apprentice...Oh. Oh.
"S-Slade, wait, I did it for a reason!" Renegade tried to explain.
"Reasons mean nothing. You betrayed me. After all I've done for you." He man said a quiet fury evident in his voice. Renegade finally opened his eye to see a grey room, the punishment room. That means he was chained to the raised metal slab in the middle of the room.
"I-I swear." Renegade tried. He received his head being slammed into the hard, cold metal below his. I'm definitely going to die today.
"You probably think I'm going to kill you, but I won't. I'm going to hurt you severely, then you will continue as a mercenary. My apprentice." Slade grabbed his face and forced Richard to look at him. " Do you understand?"
"...Yes." Richard replied, but was elbowed in the stomach.
"Yes what?"
"M-Master. Yes, Master" Richard fixed.
"You'll get back into things once I'm done with you." Slade said as he grabbed a knife and a blow torch. He began heating the knife.
"Do you have any connection with Batman?"
"W-What? No, of course not, Master." Renegade shuddered as he watched the knife turn red with heat.
"Then why did he, along with Cheshire though that's expected, yell your real name, Richard?" Slade accused.
"I-I don't know. Honest!" Dick yelled as the red blade came towards his arm.
"I believe you, child, but betrayal must be dealt with properly." Slade soothed and dragged the blade down Dick's arm, slowly. Dick cried out with the blade got to just below his elbow. Slade took that blade off when he got to Dick's hand. He then pressed the blade's side flush against Dick's cheek. Richard gritted his teeth, not wanting to yell out in pain. Slade retracted the blade and looked at Richard.
"You can rebel and be stubborn all you want, punishment will still happen." He said triumphantly.
Slade shoved the heated blade into Richard's stomach leaving it in to burn the surrounding tissue. Richard screamed. Slade yanked the knife out and looked at the blood. Richard was trying to hold the wound, hands being held back by chains. Slade grinned and continued to carve into Richards flesh. Dick screamed until his throat was hoarse, yanked on the chains until his wrist bled, and thrashed trying to get away from the pain. Four more days…
By the time the four days of punishment were over, Richard was physically broken. Face bruised, ribs broken, multiple stab wounds and cuts and burns, along with many fractured bones and a concussion. He didn't look good and felt even worse. Slight movement cause white hot pain to flash throughout his body. Walking was pure pain, and Slade had called him into the mission room. If Slade expects me to fight, I'm screwed. Renegade walked in and stood in front of his Master, then he knelt down, a new rule set by Slade.
"Master." Richard addressed. He was dressed in his uniform, but didn't have his mask on.
"I see you remembered the rule of kneeling when I'm giving you a mission, and addressing me as master." Slade said, pleased. Renegade stayed silent and Slade sighed.
"Anyway, you're mission is to kill the Ali family. John, Haley, David, and Susan. John is twelve, Haley is eight, David is thirty seven, and Susan is thirty five. You are to kill them at 3 A.M in their home. I don't care how, just make sure it gets done." Slade ordered and handed Renegade a file.
"If I may, Master, I have never killed children...I-I'm not sure if I can." Renegade admitted. One glare from the maskless Deathstroke was enough for Renegade to take it back.
"But I will, I promise I won't fail you." Renegade quickly said and bowed his head.
"Good. Dismissed." Deathstroke said and returned to whatever he was doing. Renegade shakily stood and struggled out of the room. He checked his wrist holo-computer. We're in Metropolis? Anyway, 10: 48 P.M. Five hours until three. Better look over the file. Renegade went into his 'room' and sat down at a desk. Damn, everything hurts. He pushed through the pain, opened the file, and focused on the papers. A picture of a little girl, Haley, she had dark skin with brown hair and eyes. The boy John looked the same, but his hair was lighter and eyes were lighter than Haley's. The woman, Susan, had lighter skin and blonde hair with hazel eyes. The man, David, had extremely dark skin with black hair and dark brown eyes. Judging by the last name and appearance, they might be Indian. A picture of their house was included. It was one story, painted a light green with gray roofing. It looked nice and cozy. I hate to ruin it. But I have my orders and I barely survived. He got up and began cleaning and sharpening his weapons and reloaded his sniper rifle. Once he had made sure his weapons were good and everything was in order, he checked the time. 11:35. I'll change my bandages then try to sleep, the anniversary is in nine days. He quickly got bandages and cleaning supplies from the room and and shuffled back to his room. He stripped off his shirt and took off the dirty bandages then threw them away. He grabbed a cleanish towel and doused it in alcohol then forced himself to clean what seemed like millions of wounds. He groaned and clenched his teeth in pain. Once that was done, he tightly bandaged and wrapped his wounds, put on his shirt, and slowly laid down on the mattress that occupied the floor. In nine days, it will be the anniversary of my parents death, and I won't be able to mourn. Just like all the other anniversaries. He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but kept thinking about his parents, how they were nice and accepting, how they never really hurt him, how his mom would pet his hair when he couldn't sleep or had a nightmare. How we flew together. How they fell. How kids in the orphanage, before Slade 'saved' him ,called his family the Falling Graysons. That hurt, a lot. He didn't know he was crying until the tears had formed a small pool beside his face. He didn't know if it was from the pain of losing his family or from the injuries covering his body, but he cried all the same. The pain in his life was too much for a twelve year old. I'm twelve… He just realized how young he was, but he was never allowed to act that age or have some happy and easy moments. He cried harder. He cried for the child he never got to be, the family he didn't save, the pain in his life, and most of all the unfairness in his life. He cried for all those things and thought about all the things that should've, could've been, but never were. He stayed crying, curled up in a ball until 1:45 in the morning. He got up from his curled position painfully, and went to clean himself up. His bandages had a fair amount of blood on them and he changed and clean his wounds again. By the time he was done, it was 2 A.M. Might as well go and find the house. He shuffled out of his room with his katana and went to inform Slade that he was leaving.
"Don't fail. Keep you com on." Was all the man said to him. Renegade pulled up his mask and limped out of the room. He walked out of the base. It was one of the only above-ground bases Deathstroke had. It was a warehouse, really. He limped to a spot where he could grapple up and swing to where he thought the house was. He held up the gun and shot it, then swung up, and shot the gun to another building and swung. He continued this, even though each shot produced pain from the jerk of the sudden catch and pull. He swung to a neighborhood on the outskirts of Metropolis and swung down to the streets. He limped along the middle of the street and looked for the unique house. He spotted it on the right of the cul de sac at the end of the one and half mile long neighborhood. There it is.
He tested each window and found that a small one on the right outside wall of the house was open. He opened it silently and struggled as he climbed inside. His quiet feet landed on tile. Bathroom. He opened the door and crept out into the hallway and down towards an open door. He silently walked inside and saw a large bed with two sleeping forms. Susan and David, I'll try to make this quick. I'm sorry you have a price over your head, but I have to get the youngest first. He crept back out and down a picture lined hall that went left from the master bedroom. There was a door at the end of the hall and an open door on the left side. The door at the end was closed, so he assumed it was John's, the boy's, room. He tip toed into the room on the left and saw a pink room with a purple bed and a small form wrapped in covers. He drew his sword and went to the edge of the bed. Kill her. His hand trembled. Come on, Renegade kill her….Why? She doesn't deserve this...But she has everything you ever wanted. He suddenly felt anger boil up. She doesn't get punished or is forced to kill, but you do. And that could be just getting punished if you would start feeling nothing or enjoy killing people who don't deserve what they have or are evil. Renegade succumbed to the darker voice in his head and raised his katana and grinned. She doesn't deserve what she has. He lined his sword with the girl's neck and sliced. Blood immediately got on him and the girl's eyes opened wide and she made a gurgling sound as she bled out onto the pillow. He went out and closed the door. Next was the boy. He was laying, sprawled out on the floor. Too easy. Renegade stabbed the boy in the heart and continued to stab. He's your age. You're supposed to have all of this! Not him! He angrily stood, forgetting stealth, and stalked into the master bedroom. He then sliced up the two parents and grinned and laughed as he did. Once he decided that the gruesome amount of blood was enough, he left through the front door, and returned to base. He sauntered in and went up the Deathstroke, pulled down his mask, bowed, and smiled.
"Targets are eliminated." He said, proud that he had done it. He could tell Slade was suspicious and knew that he probably just had an angered melt down.
"Good, dismissed. I must tell you though, I've been watching Zucco and I think you would be very delighted to kill your parents murderer." Slade grinned, probably thinking that now was the time that he could break the boy's reluctance to kill. Renegade's head snapped up and looked at Deathstroke with a silent plea.
"Right now, he's in the warehouse three blocks from here." Deathstroke hinted. Renegade stood and walked out. He didn't care that he wasn't dismissed. He felt that rage boil even higher and went to Zucco's warehouse. He stopped in front of, listening for any indication that a hero was around. None. Renegade pushed the large warehouse doors open, surprising a few thugs that were packaging and making drugs. They tried to attack him, but he flipped and weaved around them and slice their necks or stabbed them straight through vital organs and continued on his murderous rampage towards Zucco. The black haired white man was in a red button up with black pants. Nice color. Renegade stalked up to him and punched him in the stomach and slammed his head down.
"Do you remember me?" Renegade asked lowly as he pulled his mask down and threw his domino mask on the ground. Zucco gasped in recognition.
"So you do. Well, your death is going to be very slow and painful." Renegade informed and plunged his blade into the man's lungs, puncturing it.
"You're going to drown in the very thing you spill." Renegade spat and watch as the man tried to breathe.
"You took everything from me." Renegade said and bent to drag the man by his hair out of the warehouse.
"Now, I'm going to kill you like you did my parents." Renegade said and grappled to the top of the four story warehouse. He dangled the suffocating man off the ledge.
"Have a nice time in Hell." Renegade viciously said and let the man go. No one screamed or gasped as the man fell, clawing at the air. He landed with a sickening thud that Renegade was delighted to hear. He went down to the street and beat the body until it was unrecognizable and left to return to the base for the second time. I thoroughly enjoyed that. He grinned and walked past Slade. He saw Slade give a pleased smile and knew he had watched the whole thing. I just killed over twenty people. That thought shook him from his vengeful trance and he collapsed in his room, embracing the pain from his injuries. He looked at his reflection and saw how bloody he was. Blood covered his face, hands, arms, chest, and thighs. Some splattered on his legs. What would mom and dad say? What did I do? What have I become?! I ENJOYED that! Richard torn off his blood soaked uniform and crawled back into bed. He wanted to just forget what he had done, but they images of all the victims faces flashed through his head and he cried for what he had done, what he had become. A monster. A murderer. He curled up and cried himself into a restless sleep.
Slade had yanked him awake at 3 in the afternoon through his communicator.
"Renegade! Get up and answer me."
"Master..?"
"I just sent a file to your wrist computer, the things in that warehouse are very important to Bane and I's plan for an island controlled by Kobra. Get the intruder out. Now." Slade hissed through the tiny piece and the sound of fighting was in the background. Must be out on a mission.
"Of course, Master. As you wish." Renegade responded and suited up.
He was out the door and on top of a building when he looked at the file. Warehouse eleven supposedly one of Bane Slade's weapon houses outside of Gotham. Five intruders. Four are meta-humans judging by the door scans. Great. It'll take at least five minutes to get there and Slade said "Now." so better not chill or slack. With that thought he leapt off the building, shot his grappling gun, and swung towards the co-owned warehouse. He landed on the roof of the building across the street from the warehouse. He saw no movement from outside, but the lights were on inside. He decided to sneak in from one of the higher windows and drop down into the rafters. He immediately heard voices, familiar voices and saw them just as quick. Sidekicks? Really?
"There's nothing that stands out. What are we here for?" Kid Flash questioned.
"Batman believes this is a weapons facility for Bane and we are to-." Aqualad responded.
"Look in the crates, Baywatch." Artemis said quickly. Traitor. If I kill any of you it's gonna be you Artemis. Why did she interrupt? In a flash, all the crates tops were shifted. (See what I did there)
"All of them have guns and some have syringes with a red liquid." Kid Flash said. That's probably important. Renegade shifted a little and Superboy immediately looked in his direction then looked at Megan. Renegade stilled and felt a presence wash over his mind. Well, might as well make an appearance. Renegade gracefully jumped down and landed behind the group.
"Hello, again." Renegade said happily. He smiled, but they group could only tell by his eyes closing and his head tilting to the right.
"Renegade." Aqualad hissed. Renegade's gaze rested on Artemis.
"Arty, I see you've gone and betrayed us. Without a word too." Renegade said cheerily, but anger was evident in his voice. The rest of the team sent her questioning glances and Renegade took this time to begin explaining that they weren't welcome.
"Well, kids, I need you out of this place. You see, it's very important to my Master." Renegade said.
"We aren't leaving until we find why the place is so important to Bane." Kid Flash responded. There's another reason they are here, but what could it be?
"So the hard way, of course. You heroes are so righteous it's annoying." Renegade said and went into a fighting stance, not wanting to get messy after the morning missions.
"Shall we dance?" Renegade said and attacked Superbo. He punched the clone in the face and then kicked out at Aqualad as he charged forward. Artemis was getting to high ground on top of the now stacked crates thanks to Miss Martian. Kid Flash started running circles around Renegade creating a blurry yellow ring. Too easy. Renegade simply stuck his arm out and clothes lined the speedster. The boy coughed and fell to the ground. Superboy and Aqualad were in a fighting stance, they looked at each other and went forward to lung at the boy. An arrow stopped them, piercing into the cement floor in front of him. Renegade looked at Artemis, she was looking wide-eyed, like she couldn't believe what she had done. Superboy and Aqualad looked at her in confusion.
"Thanks." Renegade said and kicked Aqualad in the knee knocking him down and punched Superboy in the face, again. He then kicked Aqualad in the chin and knocked him out. As he laid sprawled out on the floor, Renegade noticed his belt symbol was glowing. He contacted the League. Renegade threw a hand up to his earpiece and contacted Deathstroke.
"Master, the league-" He heard static. Crap.
"Can't contact your Master?" Miss Martian grinned. Then it clicked. They're after me. Not paying attention, a crate smashed into him. He was thrown back by the levitated crate and felt some chest wounds start bleeding. That's not good. He got up and dodged another crate. He jumped up onto a stack of crates and tackled the martian out of the air. He had her pinned when Superboy came and punched him off, he flew into the wall and created a crater. More wounds bleed. A familiar set of footsteps came from behind him. Aw, crap. He dove out of the way and rolled into a crouched stance. Batman stood there for a second and then attacked. Renegade dodged left and felt Batman's fist knick his ear. Renegade kicked at the Dark Knights face, the man caught his foot and flipped him over his shoulder into the floor, hard. He let out a short yelp of pain. Oh, that hurt way more than it should off. Something's wrong. Stitches probably tore, which is very bad. He got up and heard something drip onto the floor, he looked down and saw blood. From him. Batman glared.
"It's nothing." Renegade snarled and prepared for the next attack.
Renegade was focusing on Batman that he didn't notice Aqualad was behind him until he heard him. Everything slowed. Batman was throwing a punch from his left and Aqualad a kick from his right. Move! Duck! No! Jump! JUMP! He gracefully jumped and flipped over the two limbs and landed easily to the right of the heroes. They looked at him. Aqualad shocked. Batman glared.
"You guys gave me a run for my money, nice. " Renegade complimented and checked on his side. Still bleeding, worse now. He was feeling it too. He felt sluggish and was sure he looked pale. Batman glared, again.
"Stop glaring." Renegade said and lunged forward with a fist raised. Batman dodged and as they were fighting, Batman landed a punch right on a stab wound, inflicted by Slade, in his stomach, causing him to cough blood, the red liquid soaking into the mask on his mouth. Renegade stumbled back and held his now bleeding stomach. He was light-headed and knew his black suit and mask were nearly blood soaked, though the heroes couldn't see the amount of blood he had lost. He stood there, not as tall as he normally would, and breathed heavily. He coughed up more blood and fell to his knees, then on his side. He saw Artemis rush to his side before everything went black. Arty...
