Teen Titans; The Fighting Life Epilogue Story: Chapter 7: Some Minor Adjustments
/
~The criminal known as Deathstroke forced Star City's mayoral elect to postpone his ceremony into office this week. ~
"A team up of super villains and heroes fighting isn't something we all haven't seen before," was what the newly elected official said to reassure citizens that the tireless efforts of the JLA stating also, "that they have kept us safe, so we should continue to work towards a safer, more secure solution to combat these nameless threats."
~Tom? Word on the street is still abuzz since this week's attack on the mayor's office had the citizens in a panic. Can you tell us what law enforcement is hoping to attempt in order to honor the new mayor's words to the people? ~
~ Yes, Katie. The people have spoken and down at the courthouse here in Star City, where a case was being managed around super genius and CEO of the neighboring City of Metropolis, Lex Luthor, who was subjected for numerous criminal convictions in the past was released on all charges. Word is out that he may have hired these "Injustice" anti – heroes to bring down the Justice League of America. The hired faces and names on this list include –
/
Slade didn't perch onto his arms as the coffee mug rattled to the ground, splintered; as it fell in pieces away from his work desk. His eyes were without remorse for those he had aided in the shit – show of a mission.
Luthor wasn't his own personal r favorite negotiator; he had a grudge and petty backstory with Superman from day - one. In this case, year one.
Of course he'd save their skins, yet again. However, the risk of being convicted AS a deal - breaker with a dark past, was what had put all of Luthor's accomplices to be roped in with this bozo – businessman..
Slade took to his work and sent a message, quick as lightening to the brooding, bald super – genius's head office. Mercy would have a lot to clean up in the meantime.
He didn't trust anyone with the data he'd personally received, then had sold that intel to the other crook. Mercy wa the real brains of the operation as far as hew was concerned.
Slade certainly wasn't the only assassin with that sort of notion in mind about Lex. Of all the people he'd rather share a maximum security cell with, it was not that man glowing with pride over the top of his computer's monitor.
A crafty and sly dog to his own ideals, Slade knew a rat – and Luthor, was likely to either keep his word or send his accomplices straight to the highest ranking security prison in the country while he went on, scot - free and without a care. Or? He'd have them set free in a freak accident jailbreak without a direct lead. A bit risky, but Robin woould starve or go mad if no one came back to stop him from...
Without knowing what that meant for his reputation, he'd be no longer a damned god, and going underground would make no difference..
Slade clutched the mouse and dropped his head down. His efforts were not without merit. Robin was healing and had even eaten the only food Slade did not lace with the continued serum for the boy's outgoing treatment.
A ripe banana from their new supply stock.
The bots had been dismantled, sorted and any evidence was disposed of to not stir "any alarm" from the local authorities.
The heat and rain should have been a clue as to where they were located on this all – expense paid trip to the end of the world.
In Robin's book, anywhere with his arch – nemesis was, was hell and back.
One thing , was the boy's language...
Slade looked at the time and frowned at the analog clock on his device.
"Training officially starts." Slade decided to help them both blow off some necessary steam while the ship was still in motion off the coast.
He put his device out of view and slipped his mask into place. Robin had seen the man's older one to compare and take notes – the novel uniform being complete with blood splatters for extra authenticity.
And now, this would be the time he'd craved the most.
~When Batman's ex – protégé finally succumbs to the thrill of an honest fight. He'll be up against a top assassin as his "well – versed" teacher in this killing art form. And that I intend to ingrain within that skull of his. I wonder if his mentor could be the perfect, motivation he needs to move things along ~
Slade wondered if being that indirect through way of psychological beat – downs was…a bit much.
All he knew was that he'd nearly succeeded in having the former child of Gotham made into a meta - human with superb fighting abilities – more so than when he was a Titan or mere side - kick to the Bat.
Speaking, he'd not seen Batman show up in Star City for the minor take over of the mayor's office.
A brooding bat was never a good sign.
/
Slade locked up his space and went to see if Robin had been starting any trouble so early in the morning.
As it were, he'd been well behaved. Right now, this attitude adjustment came as a shock to Slade, who'd donned his regular uniform from Jump's memory of the man's many criminal exploits.
Robin wore a martial arts piece; only slippers and his mask would do as extra accessries, The gi was just to have him not pass out from the heat, being as the gulf this time of year was no Icelandic fjord - scape.
Robin found that Slade had not bothered to stock only the necessities, but his hair brand was in the bathroom cabinet like magic. Robin's determined features had been reduced; his resolve was unsafe here, so the boy was attempting balance his nightmares with his daydreams.
With his hands laced behind his back, Robin knew that his master's mood would determine his sentence here on this training barge.
Slade, also had his bitter moments where he enjoyed lecturing the teen. Robin just had to grin and bear the rest. It was for them, so he could discover some cure for both the Nano – bots' effects and the serum's everlasting immortality –
"Good Morning, Apprentice." Robin stood still and decided to keep his sentence light.
"Good, morning to you too….M….Aster…..Slade…"
"You don't seem too sincere by your words, Apprentice." Slade noticed Robin was still reluctant to use the man's unofficial title; even in conversation, the boy would need to consider the risks he'd take in the business. Slade was his gateway, EHEM, his cure. Or rather, a very expensive solution that did not come cheap.
"I'm, still… -
"That will change, given time." Slade stopped the boy. "For today, we going to test that power in a proper location."
"Slade…"
"You missed your cue, Robin." Slade had the controller to his wrist reflect back his intentions as the boy chocked on his thoughts.
~Just a word, you can say it…He's glad to have you onboard. Just, try to play along until you can find a way off…~
"Yes. MASTER…" Robin nearly rasped under his breath. He couldn't stomach it even after he'd written a full report sized packet that Slade had dubbed the boy's apology and oath contract.
"I will consider that a pass, don't refuse my demands again." Slade's reprimand was crystal as Robin nodded and tried to fix what brownie points he'd lost.
"Yes…Sorry for that, Master…"
"We did not decide that you could do a make – up test, apprentice." His cold stare shifted as Robin caught a brief view of the man's disconcerting gestures.
"Sorry…" Robin dipped his head in apology.
"Anyway, come. There is somewhere on board I want to show you."
Of the two padded to a secure spot on the back of the ship. A single door's latch lead under, which had Robin to question as he made the climb, just how large this floded fort really was.
A light flickered down below once he'd found his footing, and Slade had even graciously allowed the hero to go down into the dimly – lit, spooky tunnel first.
What a gentleman.
As they found the next exit, and then one more, this looked to be the middle of the ship. The accursed brig was another layer down, with Robin hoping he'd only get to see it upon shutting his eyes for bed.
"Only a few more steps." Slade reassured that Robin could not go it alone. He nodded to the man and walked on ahead until his feet stood parallel to a door that was there all on its own. It looked to be complacent by how it wasn't nearest to any other doors as much as the first. Yet, Slade enjoyed knowing that his "guests" could scramble for dear life and still feel as if the space was a complete mind – game to them. No windows, not a lot of doors to hide behind in case they were caught snooping about.
"We're here. Go on, open the door." Slade motioned his arm forward, and Robin did as he was spoken to.
The room was an oddity; for a war – criminal, this was nothing. The place resembled a dojo. A real one, complete with a wall littered with weapons snug in their cases.
Robin wondered if this place had the worst security on the ship. Or how he'd managed to keep the room from shaking like it had in the brig!
"Steady as she goes, this design was set to be for this; before I'd have my Apprentice back on his feet."
"You took a long time coming up with the details, sir?"
"Not really. It, all came naturally. As this dojo will be available whenever you want to punch something other than the robots."
Robin nodded and scaled the room gingerly on foot. He had to not back down or drop his guard. Slade could –
"Would you like to test it out? I gave you that uniform to have your stress reduced on our voyage. Thought it would be, refreshing to say the least."
"While my costume is at the dry – cleaners, I guess I could "use" less stress." Robin smirked and decided to try his hand at fighting the man without any need for weapons of choice that he owned.
"Good, then I'll let you take the first move. Hit me, anywhere you'd like."
Robin blinked. Frowning, he cautiously eyed the horrible man up and down. "Are you sure? I'm practically like you. Won't –
"You're powers are still under – developed. It'll take far more years of training to reach my level. We are, just seeing where we should get started. So, are you willing to throw the first punch?"
"Thought you'd never ask…" Robin crouched into a stance that made him feel lower than his taller mentor. He could rough up the man. That, would certainly fix his mood.
"Begin." Slade said this as Robin launched his body to hit Slade in the leg, he was blocked and flew back into the mat.
"You're looking to strike an opponent who is stronger than you. Find his weakness, first…. My turn, I'll show you –
Robin rolled away before the man's deadly fists could come at his skull. He turned into a skid across the mat, and forced himself to stand. Dazed a bit, the man's force had been anything but contained. He was not holding back, by much…
Robin let out a low growl and got into a defensive stance.
Slade's lesson was two - part. He prepared to block.
"You! Are…! Going! –
Slade signaled to the boy that his chin was not being blocked enough. Slade whipped out a kick and Robin's clenched fists became useless. He was being backed into a corner.
Like with the Titans…. Get it together! –
Hyaaa!~ As Slade's chop came down, Robin slipped by only just, his breathing rapid. The wall's cracking folds were paper thin as the man made it seem…Concreate….He wa –
"Don't lose focus!" Slade warned the boy as he succeeded in doing what Robin could not. He tripped him with his body in the same crouch that Robin had started with. Getting flustered, Robin hit the mat, but Slade chucked the boy to hit the concreate wall instead. By grabbing his foe and gripping his arms and scalp to lay flat against the dojo's paper thin walls, Robin growled and felt his face becoming rug - burned by the added friction.
He was released soon enough, and fell to his knees; his breathing still uneven and forced.
Dripping sweat, the man in his full mask did not show signs of any fatigue. As if this had not even broken a sweat…
"You've been locked up, it is perfectly normal to believe that your stamina could be –
"I'm, not losing it –
"I didn't say you were. You just had a fight with over "fifty" armed androids. You're system was flooded with endorphins that have since, gone dormant. You're only beginning to scratch the surface of what I hope to teach you, Apprentice."
"That move…You –
Slade sighed and rolled his neck muscles. "Unlike you, I wasn't cooped up below deck like some precarious package. I had my rest, and I did my exercises as I might have any day of the week."
"I…lost it…my –
"You need to stop saying "no" to the meals I prepare for you. Did you think a banana was secretly, protein? It's sugar, you need to fix your intake."
"What….About the drug." Robin let his breathing steady as he slowly recovered.
"I'm only keeping you fed, not drugged. That stage is over. The rest will come from vitamins and supplementation, but the rest…You can rest assured."
"Can I…"
"You must, if it's to save them."
Robin bobbed his head and leaned a hand on to the wall for support.
"You can do individual exercises, I have protein supplements to fix your muscles up. They are, too relaxed. You've been starving yourself and as my Apprentice, you will be expected to follow the rules and protocol I've kept in place inside and outside, of the dojo."
"Yes, sir-
"Try, one more time." Slade looked down on his protégé as Robin breathed in to start over... He'd haplessly forgptten the man's new title. Robin grunted.
"Yes. Master. I understand."
"Very good. See? This is becoming second nature to you. That wasn't so hard."
"It, wasn't, master…" Robin felt his arms tremble as his legs moved to lift him clumsily from the ground.
"You look a mess. Hum, might be too soon. Why not go have a protein-
"I'll, eat something else. Thanks." Robin stopped his teacher. That vomit was wiped clean, but his memory of how its contents had tasted, still lingered.
"Fine, oatmeal? Fish? You've earned it." He praised the boy, hoping to undo Robin's costly mistake so that his body would not shut down.
"Oatmeal, just…" Robin sniffed and tried to think less positively about what he'd committed to. He bit his lip.
"No bananas…I don't want to spoil my appetite…"
/
Slade had given Robin a peculiar look when he'd turned down an oatmeal bowl with a variety of nuts, fibers, and carbs. He'd even rejected a poor defenseless fruit. Well, it was a problem for some to digest – maybe the virus from before had made a mess of the kid's stomach for the long - run?
He had an idea that it may have been something other than what he suspected.
Robin sat at a partially placed desk and ate; more, gorged his face off – the contents of the oatmeal at his mercy. A meager meal that was always as ugly as it tasted. Yet, it would fill Robin up long enough to recover his strength.
Then, he could move on to more meat products and of course, as long as his stomach held up.
Slade remembered how his appetite had been after the serum's effects had become permanently his own. The ordeal had made him tired, but the hunger he'd shown her? Slade chuckled under his breath as Robin went through the same habit. The same instinct to keep fighting.
He smirked beneath the mask. Just like him. How interesting.
"You hate to lose as much as I do, Apprentice. Finish your food as you need to. You've earned it. Well, done." Slade put a hand to his protégé's shoulder, feeling the boy lightly flinch at the contact. His first instinct must have been to ask himself - When had he shown up?
Slade smiled. Praise would keep Robin bound to his promise. Eventually, he'd lose contact with his former friends and learn that the techniques Slade had stored up for only he, which would become of some greater purpose than remaining a useles crime fighter.
Robin ate a bit slower, as if trying to stall.
Slade did not care. They had some time. It was the first of many decades he'd been willing to have a decent equal as his right hand. Robin would have to cope. He was no longer like how he'd been since birth, and to death? He'd be Immortal, almost to a T.
Slade still had limitations to his powers. Regeneration was a no; he could reattach a limb through the power of science and medicine, but it had to be at the right time. He'd once almost lost an arm by not going to the med lab – it had nearly turned his poor body into a stubby –
Pirate talk. He wasn't Hook, he was Deathstroke.
Robin identified him as a threat now, but once they were out on a contract, he'd be just as surprised.
Slade was not only a skilled fighter; he was also a fearless killer. An assassin who'd gone toe to toe with…
Slade stopped himself. Batman…He didn't tell Robin about that, which mean the rodent KNEW who Slade was.
Obviously. A great detective like him? They'd even met out of costume once or twice...
He could use that…
Not yet. The going had gotten, and his Apprentice was still not up to par with his Master's tactics like before.
"I'll be upstairs in the main control room. After you are finished, I want you to join me."
Being curious, Robin lifted his head. The oatmeal had run cold. Two bites remained and he was already too full to force down another spoonful.
"Yes. Sir…M- Master, sorry…. I'll…Be there, shortly." Robin tried to keep his stress down. The food was what he'd needed. It, was too much…
~I'm faking but, why am I glad to be getting this much from my kidnapper? Star, guys…Don't hate me. I am just trying to find a way back. ~
Slade had left the room, and no later had Robin shoved the food away from view, his eyes grew moist with tears. His head fell to his sides as he let his emotions flow out, a boundless stream without a reason to flood but this…
Maybe it was from low blood sugar, or high stress, and trauma? He had to get out! But…
Robin bit his lip as he tried to pull himself together, afraid of Slade and his working paranoia, cameras sold separately.
~Robin…! ~ The hero jolted out of his seat. Was the stress getting to him? Did he hear, her voice?
~ Raven? ~
~Robin, I'm searching…. you can't… have not gotten far…Slade…. he…. are you there! Say something…We are trying…. –
"I'm here! Raven! Please!" Begged the hero in a strained voice. "Take me out of this place…. I can't stay... Slade…He's –
A hand on his shoulder turned into an icy vice.
Robin swerved around, only to be knocked unconscious, and into the arms of his current protector.
~Robin, I've lost you…. Robin! ~
/
"Was that what you needed the extra time to scarf down your meal for? To betray my trust? You signed your very life into my hands, so don't think that the Titans would forgive you for that…."
Robin groggily opened his eyes while his ears had since stopped ringing. He'd been –
He blathered out of habit here.
"I didn't...know…. -
"Then why didn't you "ignore" the empath? Was she looking that hard? Honestly. It looks like I should have broken you like every other person I've had to indoctrinate through my means of control…. You obviously were the wrong choice –
"Where…" Robin looked up and saw where the man had put them. He wasn't going to stay. This wasn't the end. Slade had a living yet unwilling gold mine on his hands.
The brig.
Immediately, he panicked.
"That little stunt you pulled behind my back will cost you, and don't expect to be fed until you've cleared your head of anymore thoughts of attempting an escape –
"I'm serious! I didn't know she'd contact me!" The boy rebuked, wild - eyed and full of rebellion.
"I. Don't. CARE If she did it of her own volition, boy." Slade coldly said this through clenched teeth and fists. Just as the jaws to Hell spewed their fiery fumes the teen's way; welcoming his end if he'd ever intended to cross the man, again…
"In fact, I've got plenty of reasons listed under our little contract to do what was intended." Slade languidly stepped away as Robin's bruised eye made the boy blind to his intentions.
The Nano-bots, Robin gawked. Then he was talking about his friends!
"No…You can't! –
"Then what are you going to do? Hmm? Try to right this "wrong" the way you did earlier on MY ship?"
Slade eye grew too wide in his mask. Just intimidation, but a damn good timing for it!
"You are a guest for now, but I can have you bound and gagged the entire way." His eye narrowed back at the boy.
Slade steps drew even closer.
Robin inched towards the opposing wall as he'd started to hyperventilate. The man, he wouldn't!
"Did you know? Your powers can also make you immune to hunger as well as heighten the senses. If you were properly trained, you could avoid those hunger pangs from earlier. They'll only be much worse if I leave you here to rot –
"But! -
Slade threw up a finger into the air and turned around to counter the boy's protests.
"Your body will go straight into survival mode, so hunger after that stage, will mean that your last meal in the kitchen today, will have been your ONLY meal you can digest for say…About five weeks." Guessing it varied as it had in his case, Robin wouldn't be so lucky without the extra military background to help him suppress his urges. Going to the toilet, was the only urge he could not withhold for longer that a day. He was still growing, and that in itself…would ache to its core.
"Not…. that's not possible…. You'd….you aren't going to do that, are –
"I can, unless…. You do me the honor of completing the full oath –
"I did the letter out in –
"Stop." Slade put up a full palm this time.
"In about a month, nothing less, I'll have an assignment for you. It will be to prove your loyalty to me like before – but, the catch is that you are not to under any circumstances, to use your new powers while on the mission."
"Huh?" Robin did not understand. "I'm trying not to already. So, why is that –
"I'll be decreasing your meditation training, that way you can understand how different controlling one's "self" and going purely on instinct will be. You'll have to dull your senses…When that is clearly impossible." Slade pointed to his own skull.
"My…. Wait? Not just my body…That's –
"If you'd taken my lessons seriously, but I'll give you one last chance. If you can find it in yourself to do away with your silly escape, when I'm done and your contract is complete, perhaps you'll finally see what it is that I'm trying to teach you…"
Slade stood over the boy, and Robin's anger soon returned. The man….was insane!
"I'm…supposed to say yes or…. –
"You won't just lose your team. I will personally promise to break you. Does that answer your question?"
Ruthless.
Coward.
He….couldn't stand losing them…
"I'll….I'll do it. For them –
"This is your second strike, Robin." Slade crossed his arms and put some distance between them.
"If you truly wish to serve me, show me. Show me how deep your loyalty will run." Kneel. Now, that's an order."
Robin got into position. It was just a stance. An oath, and Raven had heard his screaming. He would go home…He wouldn't fall to the dark side –
"Head lowered, good. Now, repeat after me; I solemnly swear to serve my master with dignity and precession in all tasks expected of my service."
"I…. s…o….solemn –
"I really don't think you are being very sincere, Robin. At the push of a button, I can end their suffering –
"No…I solemnly swear! To serve my master…with dignity and precession, in all tasks…. expected…. of…my…service…."
"And in this time, I've been granted by my master, I will uphold all that he strives to achieve; to remain by his side for better or worse. GO! –
~You've got to be! –
"Now, Apprentice. Finish what you've started, or it will be them…and you will pay the price –
"AND in this time, I've been granted by my master, I will uphold all that he strives to achieve; to remain by his side, for better or worse!"
"And without question, without hesitation, I will take the lives of my contracts as expected and will use this newfound ability to reach new heights by my master's expectations of my apprenticeship. When I have outlived my purpose, I will expand in his name, build in his image both connections and through the progress he intends to achieve with an iron fist –
~Dear god…. Make it stop! ~
And…without question, without hesitation…. I will take the lives of my contracts as expected and will use this new found ability to reach new heights by my master's expectations of my apprenticeship…When I have outlived my purpose. I will expand in his name. build in his image both connections and through the progress he intends to achieve with an iron fist…"
Besides bowing into a kowtow and swearing loyalty to a dictator, Robin felt that the words as they came, were the sharpest of blades that he'd ever had to protect himself from.
Slade was going to psychologically take everything the boy knew dear, and there was not a thing Robin could do without his own means of CONTROL.
"I will never swindle, cheat, or lie to my master, I will uphold his good name and not take advantage of the gifts he has provided for me. I will never exonerate those in favor to my master or to my master for my…. treatment while under his care and watchful eye. "
"I will…never swindle, cheat, or lie to my master…I will uphold his good name and not take advantage of the gifts he has provided for me…I will never exonerate those in favor to my master or to my master, for my treatment while under his care and watchful eye…"
In other words, if I do anything to piss him off, he'll bring up my contract as a killer - in training and his apprentice. Big whoop. He's going to pay for humiliating me like this…
"As this contract is forever binding, by my master's life I swear to stand as his faithful soldier, for as long as he is still able to function, and once after his removal from the assassin's league, I will still continue with his work until I am sure I have entirely fulfilled the contracts and promises depended on by him. I am the continuation and as thus, my role is to foresee to the prosperity of his growing empire to its fruition. This is my role, my vow as I cast off the role of my previous life. I am now, and forever will be, the Apprentice of the honorable Slade, and Deathstroke the Terminator –
Robin stopped.
THAT!
Robin realized how much of a little idiot he's been not to have seen it…
He's? Batman must….Holy crow!
"Robin? We aren't finished. You still have six total lines left to recite. I would imagine that it might be best not to aggravate my wrath further. Continue! –
"Yes! Master Slade! –
Shit! Where did that come from? The shock?! Was I secretly replaced with one of his monster robots? Dammit!
"As this contract is forever binding, by my master's life I swear to stand as his faithful soldier, for as long as he is still able to function, and once after his removal from the assassin's league, I will still continue with his work until I am sure I have entirely fulfilled the contracts and promises depended on by him. I am the continuation and as thus, my role is to foresee to the prosperity of his growing empire to its fruition. This is my role, my vow as I cast off the role of my previous life. I am now, and forever will be, the Apprentice of the honorable Slade, and Deathstroke the Terminator….!"
"And that, will conclude today's lesson." Robin saw as the man nodded. His eyes were less stern that before.
Robin was learning to follow orders, and before long he would be properly trained to control every inch of himself.
"Wait…" Robin stopped the man as he raised his head up, his body still to the floor in a kow - tow out of caution.
"May…May I get up, Master? –
"You forgot the magic word."
"Oh, right…. May I please come out of my position now, Master?"
"You may."
Robin was elated but his legs were anything but ready. He was crushed in such a way that his joints had to work a little harder to undo the pinching he'd forgotten to feel while bent in such a way against a concreate floor.
"You'll retire to your room for now." Slade turned to face the exit. "I expect you up and dressed tomorrow by the time someone comes to retrieve you at the earliest. We'll begin working on this "warped mind" of yours first. Blueprints and robotics courses should have you well entertained. After that, we'll go with stealth exercises and you will begin basic re - training in styles in the dojo. I should be a very, productive Friday for the both of us. Your key card to your room is in your pocket, I made sure to have another one made that cannot be altered or used on any other doors but the restrooms and the kitchen. You'll be preparing your own meals, with my permission. As of today, you will not starve, deprive yourself, or reject any meals that are being given to you. The same goes for your training, we'll work at a level that is comfortable and adjust if necessary."
"Yes, master…Thank you…"
"Yet, Robin?"
The boy was to standing as he dusted himself off. Giving the man his fullest attention, he waited for a reply or threat to come. None of this was imaginary. He'd face it all and find his opening through gaining the man's trust.
"Yes, Master Slade?"
"If you by any means are putting on any acts or lying in regards to the oath you solemnly swore to me, I won't hesitate to reenact my earlier promises to you. Are we clear, then?"
"Yes sir, Master Slade." Robin did mock militaristic bow and spoke to clear the man's suspicions of him.
"I swear, on my life and on my apprenticeship to you, that I will not intend to harm of hurt this contract in any way. I am in debt to you, for as long as the contract is binding under our oath."
"So noble, but those Titans are now your enemies. Remember that when you'll be forced to take their lives with your own hands, someday. This is your future, Robin!" Slade's arms dramatically flung out to his sides as he made it so in a proclamation that had Robin's head spinning sideways.
"If I tell you to kill, You'll have no reason to hesitate. That serum was originally created to counteract "Truth" serums in the army. You'll find it can be just as effective in having you follow basic orders without wishing to defy me!"
Mad man…..Crazed…..lunatic! What had he done? Why was this happening? Robin just did a basic salute and showed next to zero emotion. To get closer to the enemy, he had to become just like them.
Without compassion, or a will of his own….Even if…
~It's for them. For all heroes. This man is obviously trying to take over the world with his plans! He's that ambitious…And he gets what he wants from pushing around others. ~
"Yes, Master. I give you my word."
The rest was done and sealed up tight, as Robin readdressed his prior lesson plan by following behind the man and out of the accursed brig.
More times; how he'd wondered if the new bots would be just as easy to keep at bay as before.
"I think one task may come to help you recover, in a small way. Just so you'll better understand tomoorow's given task." Slade walked to another door by the lower deck's hall and turned a corner. Robin blindly pushed on and followed with his slippers as solidly planted to the ground as his master's steely boots.
The room read; Lab. As in…
Experiments. While, the device to de - activate the Nano – bots was on the other way, towards the last door at the end of the hall before they'd made the turn.
"This, will be in a way, extra credit." Slade casually opened the door was a palm up to the pad he'd unlocked in front.
"This room is heavily guarded. Just, so you won't get any bright ideas about reprograming my bots while I'm away on missions." He turned back to Robin who nodded and stayed straight as an arrow before the man.
"You'll be seeing to any blue prints I've printed out, or to any weapon's upgrades later to your suit –
"Was I going to be allowed to have any in a fight, before?" Robin asked dumbly, so he could see if the man still trusted his Apprentice to follow the rules.
"I would have granted you that chance, eventually. Most of the weapons I carry are a bit advanced."
"Batman didn't play nice either during our training rounds. Almost ended up mauled by a robot from one of his session –
"He was pretty intense with his lessons, hmm... You seem to see him in a different light that he'd have others to believe of the Dynamic Duo –
"I'd, well…" Robin stopped and tried to fix his broken sentence.
"If I'd infected your mentor with my Nanoscopic probes, who would you have saved first?"
The question threw Robin a cursed curve, again. He looked up as bewildered by the question as a student to its professor.
"Why, would you -
"I could. The technology has been tested. Your team was the perfect group of –
"I'd…rather just go in and finish for now….master…please…" Robin tried to control his emotions with every withheld ounce of pain he'd kept bottled up. The bruises were not still smarting as from earlier; he had believed himself unwell. He felt that way now.
Slade was willing to fill his head with doubt to deter Robin from breaking his contract off – as with his friends' survival, Robin was told in said piece of paper, that he would have to sit down and shut up. No matter how much it hurt, Slade was allowed to have Batman or the Titans brought up. Just to see the hero squirm full of his miserable regret…
"Alright, since you did ask so politely, I'll allow it."
Robin blinked up at the man. As if feeling gratitude towards a tyrant wasn't at all unusual, Robin went inside to find the "Lab" to be nothing more than a garage styled to look important. Almost, like a work place for machine parts and their intricate designs or functions to be analyzed, he had a feeling he'd be spending a lot of time in this room for the next couple of weeks.
"Am I starting today?" Robin asked the man while taking a good look at the placement of a lot of the man's more important devices. It was not like Robin's tower. The area looked bare, all but the walls. A collection of bot's parts were to one end, while simple gears and the like were to the opposite side of a longer table. A mini fridge was there and a second room to use the toilet stood –
Wait…. Was he going to be making this place a regular visit?
"You'll find all you need to get started, unless you are too tired from earlier. We will be picking up this lesson tomorrow after breakfast." Slade pointed to the wall that had anything and everything for pulling apart the bots. The other walls had been for re -assembly, only. Slade was very organized. Well, being lost at see could cause cabin fever. He must have done this in his spare time.
Slade was, despite all of the world – dominating villains out in Gotham and Jump, a fascination to watch. He was a man with cooler ambitions than simply what Robin and his team had believed.
He was strategic.
Ruthless.
Versatile.
Given his position, well – spoken and thorough in negotiating his plans –
His PLANS were to wipe out the Titans.
His intentions were anything but virtuous…
Robin realized it too soon. This boat, this set up. He was trapped in a never - ending distraction that he'd had no control over from the very beginning. Robin's hands started to shake.
NO. Biting the corner of his cheek, he stopped.
~ The man has the ability to take from you. ~ Robin warned himself.
~ He's a soldier, and a deadly adversary. A complex killer who knows how to pick his fights. And, how to draw out the worst in his opponents. ~
That being noted, Robin would have a ton of intel to leak to his team, as long as this game was played right to its finish.
No, Master." Robin spun around, nearly coy as a kitten with its hopes no longer trampled to the Earth.
"I'm feeling much better, so? When can we get started? I want to see what makes those bots you have so special." A smirk, or a grin. Anything to fool the man, his opponents, and possibly, to keep the Titans far from this moving vessel.
