(no subject)
As the mobile chamber ground to a halt, Slade turned his head to regard his sleeping passenger. He quashed the vaguely paternal feeling that rose in the back of his mind and unsnapped his restraining harness. He stood, looming over Robin...
The sleep that had eventually drifted over him had been Robin's temporary escape from reality...a thankfully dreamless sleep, surprisingly. His mind poked at him all of a sudden, as his body felt the room stop rattling underneath him; and for a fleeting second, he had almost forgotten where he had been before allowing himself to sleep. In fact, he was almost startled to see Slade standing over him, but it didn't take long for his expression to fall into a glare... He released himself from the chair and stood up, shifting away from the man a bit.
"Good morning, Robin... I trust you rested well?"
"Yeah, I would have rather stayed asleep..."
Slade's eye narrowed. "We could arrange for that, if you'd rather... I know some researchers who are this close," he held up one hand, his thumb and index finger almost touching... "to perfecting a cryogenic chamber. You could sleep until nothing ties you to this life..." There was an air of sadness about those words, but it was quickly dispelled.
A frown fell over his expression, an he turned his gaze away from Slade. It was not exactly the way he wanted his life to end. Not that he wanted it to. He had just enough confidence, just enough hope to keep the thought away... -but for how long?- Robin simply shook his head.
Slade tilted his head to the side. "No? Too bad, really... the unfreezing process that we currently use is rather... interesting. Painful, yes, and it does seem to effect the memory a bit. But it has the useful side-effect of binding the subject's genetic code to the person who supplies their unique serum..."
Robin suddenly glanced to Slade with a rather fierce look... "So is that what you did to Terra? How you brought her back, while messing with her memories?"
"Terra?" Slade chuckled, "What good would it do me to freeze a stone?"
"There has to be some way you brought her back. If we couldn't figure it out, how could you?"
"My methods are somewhat less... ethical than yours..."
Glaring coldly, Robin decided to quit trying to get the answers out of him... After a moment, he realized he wasn't even entirely sure where they were. "Where are we?"
"My little home away from home, Robin." He opened the door, revealing a well lit hallway, complete with carpeting and wallpaper... far from his norm. "Welcome to The Institute."
His eyes widened slowly after a second, surprised by the atmosphere he had hardly expected. Gazing down the hallway, he still remained unsure what to expect in this place. In fact, he wasn't even sure what to say...
"Come along, Robin... I'll give you the nickle tour."
His expression fell back into its grim look, tilting his head downward. Robin trailed behind Slade, trying to keep his distance just enough...
"It must be difficult for you. Seeing me in this setting." Slade glanced back at Robin. "Trust me, you had better get used to it." He pulled a key card from some hidden pocket on his outfit and swiped it through a panel next to a large wooden door. He lead Robin into a rather posh office. The name plate on the desk read 'Slade Wilson, PhD.' "Surprised?"
And Robin was, in fact, a little too surprised. By the surroundings... and not just that, but when his gaze had fallen upon the plate, a sudden pang of annoyance ricocheted through his mind as he repeated the name aloud to himself.
"Slade Wilson..." He whispered.
Slade hadn't been a codename, it had just been his first name. All of this time, Robin had tried to figure out who exactly Slade was, and now it was just being flashed in front of him like he should have known all along. He didn't bother answering to the comments or questions...instead his brows furrowed slowly, observing the office slowly, taking in the abrupt change in surroundings while he could.
He could practically hear the indignation brewing in Robin, and he could guess at the cause easily enough. "Yes, Robin... that is my name, though the degree is honorary. I have a Social Security number as well... want me to tell you what it is?"
Silent for a moment, he seemed to entirely avoid looking towards Slade, even as he bitterly uttered a 'No'. Finally ceasing in glancing about the office, he managed to keep his gaze locked elsewhere, practically leering at the floor...
Chuckling to himself, Slade gestured to a chair. "Feel free to have a seat... I'll be with you in a moment..." Without waiting for him to comply, Slade walked to the other end of the room and opened a door, stepping into a small adjoining room. He raised his voice to be sure that Robin could still hear him. "There are clothes for you in the sideboard. We have a meeting, so you'll need to hurry." He paused for a second... "Don't worry, I'm in too much of a hurry to do anything... untoward." He closed the door, content in the knowledge that Robin would not attempt escape. Even if he did, he wouldn't be able to get through the door, let alone out of the complex.
Pacing into the room hesitantly, he didn't turn to watch Slade close the door behind him; he only stood there for a moment, before stepping forth towards the sideboard Slade had mentioned. He gazed over the oddly civilian outfit, feeling a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach again. Pulling the clothes from where they had resided, he began to change into them, with the thought if he would ever actually see his friends again lingering.
He knocked sharply on the inside of the door. "Are you decent?" His smile was plain in his tone.
Hesitation was eminent in his reply, but his voice came, none-the-less. "Yes..."
Slade opened the door with a sweep of his arm, reaching up with his other hand even as he did, and doing the one thing he had left 'til last... Before Robin could fully react, Slade removed his mask and quickly covered his right eye with a black patch.
Robin started to turn towards Slade, but he felt a lump get caught in his throat that he would have sworn was his heart. His jaw dropped, accompanied by the widening of his eyes... he had never been sure what to expect beneath the mask. He only 'saw underneath' the mask once before, and that wasn't even the true Slade. It was his undead face. Robin managed to force his jaw to clench shut, but barely... "So there actually is a man behind the mask..."
"Shocking, isn't it?" Slade asked, running a hand through his usually confined white hair. "It does take some of the mystery away with it, but I find that my business partners react better to me like this."
Slade examined Robin's new look... the clothes would make it easy to pass him off as one of the more stable patients, or as a distant relation... not that anyone would question his presence... there was just one problem...
"Now, Robin... I know how attached you are... but you really must leave the past behind." That said, he reached down and plucked Robin's mask from his face, throwing it aside casually. "Much better."
Robin's face suddenly flushed in annoyance, almost making an attempt to grab the mask back, but he barely edged forward. Growling, he forced his cobalt eyes to look away before he got a stronger urge to throw punches at Slade...he already knew that would not work. The whole reason he even kept the mask, never even showed his friends, was he always seemed to get 'Oh, poor Dick Grayson... orphaned because of a trapeze 'accident'...'
"Not really." He snapped back quietly.
"Why not?" Slade asked, straightening his tie. "It's not like I didn't know who you were, Robin... Did you think it was some big secret?" He shook his head. "Really..." He shrugged into a light grey suit jacket, settling it over his shoulders before running a hand through his hair again... reaching down, he pressed a button on the phone on his desk. "Iris? Hold all my calls and tell the Committee I'm on my way." There was a pause before a young woman's voice replied...
"Welcome back, Dr. Wilson..."
There was only silence from Robin... one did not need to look at him to tell that he was boiling in annoyance. He was going to need to cope, whether he liked it or not; he barely shook his head, as if still trying to accept that there was obviously way more to this man than he thought. And who exactly was he meeting? That thought made his eyebrow cock upwards half-interestedly as he glanced towards the very different looking man. He almost looked like an entirely new person...
"Thank you, Iris." Slade said before releasing the button and turning back to regard Robin. "Well, are you ready? We have to go to this meeting and then I'll introduce you to your new colleagues." He started toward the door. "And do try to keep up, Robin... I'd hate for you to get lost..."
-New colleagues...?- he thought, but shrugged it off shortly. He would find out soon enough... unfortunately. Watching Slade after a moment, before making something of a distasteful expression without really realizing it. He only allowed himself to nod, trying to keep anything he would regret saying from rolling off his tongue. Robin's anger was already at such a high level that he was having trouble just keeping silent, following behind the man...trying to give himself answers about this volley of questions that had struck him.
They passed a young woman in yellow as they walked down the hall.
"That's my assistant, Iris... You'll get to meet her later." He smiled at Robin, something strange lurking beneath his charming outward demeanor. They continued along until they came to a set of impressive oak doors. Slade paused for a second before pushing them both open. The conference room had a large wooden table and leather backed chairs in the center of it... and little else in the way of furnishings. "Forgive my tardiness, gentlemen..." he glanced back at Robin, "Be a good boy and have a seat over there while I talk shop, hmm?" He gestured to a fire place against the far wall.. there was a book shelf and a wing back chair as well.
Robin had uneasily watched Slade, even as the smile formed... Different... Obviously. There was a peculiar feeling weaseling about at the pit of his stomach, one that was starting to send shivers down his spine. His gaze had followed the woman only barely, but it was otherwise focused on his surroundings, as he went. Robin found himself tensing again, so obediently having to follow orders. He had no choice, though, did he? Trudging towards the chair, he eased into it silently, his now revealed gaze slowly trailing over the book shelf half-distractedly, it was obvious his mind was on other things, however.
"Alright then," Slade said, turning back to his associates. "Someone tell me some good news." He moved to the head of the table and sat looking around. "Well? I take it you've all read my report by now?"
"Yes, Dr. Wilson..." The man to his left began, looking uneasy.
"But?" Slade asked, his gaze moving to Robin for a moment. "What seems to be the trouble Mr. Chairman?"
"You've destroyed another facility... I don't know how much longer--"
Slade slammed his fist against the table, making it shudder. They all jumped and he smiled pleasantly, coldly. "Do I need to remind you who funds this little project, Mr. Chairman?" The man shook his head, terrified. "Good. Next order of business."
Robin's preoccupation had been shot away with what felt like an elephant gun, when he heard a fist slam into a table, his attention jerking towards the source of it, eyes clearly wide and in surprise. He had partially expected to someone looking hurt, but he saw terrified people instead. Frowning in an objective way, he swiftly turned his attention away from the distraction... rather pretending to be looking at the books this time. He knew better this time than to have expected Slade to deal with this any differently...
The meeting went quickly after that... the others gave their reports and Slade commented when necessary... but for the most part he just watched Robin pretending to read a book. It was obvious that the boy was listening to every word, no matter how trivial. He suddenly realized that the others had stopped speaking and were looking at him expectantly. "Is that all?"
"Actually..." The man at the very foot of the table said, half raising his hand. "There was one other matter..."
"Oh?" Slade drawled, leaning forward. He knew exactly the effect that he had on people...
"Your new... business associates."
Flipping a page every so often, attempting to make it look as convincing as possible, and it was upon the last comment that Robin paused barely, flicking a quick glance up towards the table just enough. His eyes gently narrowed before shifting it down towards the book once more, listening as carefully as ever. Robin was more than interested in what they had to say, that was for sure.
"They haven't caused you any trouble in my absence, have they. Mr. Simmons?" Slade asked, addressing the timid man at the end of the table. "I should think something like that would have made your reports."
"No, Doctor..." Simmons paused, looking at the others for support... none of them would meet his eyes. "There was a power failure in one of the labs... We had to revive several of them--"
"What?" Slade interrupted, his voice deceptively calm. "You were under express instructions not to revive any of them without my consent."
"Yes, sir... but there was no other choice. They would have been lost."
Slade fumed for a moment and then nodded. "You did what you had to do, Mr. Simmons. An admirable quality... and one that so many people don't understand." That last was clearly directed at Robin... "Very well... how are they now?"
"Stable..." Simmons said, but it was clear he wasn't saying everything...
"But?" Slade prompted, tiring of their reticence.
"The imprinting didn't..." Simmons paused to take a handkerchief from his pocket and mop his brow... "It didn't go as planned."
Slade shook his head. "If this ever happens again, and trust me you had better hope it doesn't... but if it does, you are to contact me immediately. No matter what."
"Yes, sir." The table chorused...
"I have some other things to attend to first, but I expect you all to be in the labs when I get there."
"Yes, sir..."
Slade shook his head and stood, walking over to Robin's chair. "Learn anything interesting, Robin?" He was not talking about the book...
Robin shifted uncomfortably slightly, having clearly caught the comment directed towards him, as most likely intended. It only made his eyes narrow, even as Slade approached him. Acting as if he hadn't even noticed the meeting end, he glanced up slowly.
"Plenty of things, actually..." He said stand-offishly, setting the book back where it had been before... and he wasn't lying. He doubted that his facade had fooled Slade, but it was enough to keep attention from drifting towards him, at least.
"Good." Slade said, not fooled in the slightest. "You'll have to come to more meetings then... I can always use an extra pair of ears..."
Robin allowed a barely audible snort to part from him. "You seem to do just fine without me." The bitter tone had returned, no less would be expected, he didn't even want to be here.
-You don't have a choice, remember?-
"Of course. But now and then it's nice to hear a different perspective, don't you think?" He nodded toward the door. "Come along... time for your introduction."
His expression became morose. Introduction? Without his mask? Clamping his teeth together, Robin reluctantly followed, the only thing he seemed to be doing lately. Much to his dislike, in fact...
Slade lead him down another hall, entering a larger, less formal room. Several familiar faces were seated around the room, but the majority of them would be strangers to Robin. "Robin... meet your army."
His head had lifted upwards, surprise finding it's way into his features.
-Army?- he thought. Robin's glanced over the several people, stiffening slowly when he saw faces he had thought he wouldn't see for quite some time. Turning to Slade, he simply assumed he knew what-- and who-- he was talking about... "What are they doing here?"
"Oh good," Slade drawled, "you've met. I called in a few markers and got our good friend Blackfire transferred to a... more secure facility. The others are here because of you, Robin. No hard feelings, I'm sure."
"An army of criminals? You can't keep them all under your control." Robin said, curious just how he was keeping them here. Of course, he hardly knew the depths of it. All he knew was that the three he recognized here seemed far too independent to be in something like this."
"Can't I?" Slade asked. He moved further into the room, addressing the crowd. "Your attention... this is Robin... some of you might recognize him. He will be joining us... treat him with the same respect that you treat me... He's your new boss." A murmur rippled through the gathered criminals, but one of assent and complacency, not the anger and indignation that one might expect.
Unsure at first, Robin's gaze had followed Slade for a moment, and then trailed to the group of criminals, his eyes widening slightly. Clenching his jaw once again, he didn't seem to take kindly to his new appointed 'position'. And was Slade actually trusting him with this? Or was it to prove he knew exactly what he was doing? Either way, Robin didn't like it. Hesitant for a moment, he slowly approached Slade just enough... "I don't get it, Slade... why are you doing this?" There was a tone of annoyance...confusion as well. What if he tried to turn the tables on him?
-He wouldn't be that careless...-
"All in good time, Robin... first we have some business in the labs..." he turned his back on the room full of criminals as though they were harmless, and walked back into the hall... "And then we will discuss your first mission..."
Slade lead the way, nodding to a few of the scientists... there was no terror here, just a level of respect that one might find surprising.
And Robin did find it surprising. Having only known Slade as a criminal, someone out to get what he wanted, no matter the cost, perhaps even to rule the world... the same routine all of the criminals seemed to be going through these days. Taking over by fear and tyranny, but the scientists didn't seem to be bothered by him. It struck him as more than a little disturbing...
Slade produced the key card again, letting them into a small antechamber. He pressed his palm to a biometric scanner and then stepped up close to let it scan his eye as well. "Slade Wilson." He stated evenly, and the inner door slid open. He smiled at Robin. "And now the real lesson begins..."
Robin barely even aknowledged the comments with a glare, but that expression seemed to be the only one he had worn lately. He wasn't even sure he wanted to see what was behind the doors... he already had a good idea of what was, but actually seeing it... tha was an entirely different story. He had no choice but to follow, at this point, but he was hesitant as ever.
The lab was a subdued bustle of activity, swirling around a row of sterile metal pods. They shone dully in the static glow of the flickering lights. It was cold, colder than cold, like the heart of midwinter packed tightly into a room ill-equipped to hold it. Slade reached over to a rack next to the door and handed Robin an over sized parka... he didn't take one for himself.
"Welcome to the Alpha Lab, Robin."
The chill almost seemed to freeze Robin's breath, such a sudden change in temperature making it hard to even draw air into his lungs. Eyeing Slade, he slowly raised his hand to take the parka, slipping it on shortly after, not seeming to mind the bagginess in the cold. His attention had followed on to the world around them, the world of science that he knew so well...
Slade walked up to another coatless man. He had his gray brown hair tied back and his sleeves rolled up, exposing his arms to the chill... he showed as much concern for it as Slade did.
"I heard we had a bit of a problem down here, Walter..."
The man turned from the readouts he was scanning and smiled, pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.
"Ah, Dr. Slade..." he spoke with a heavy Romanesque accent, and it was obvious that he had no fear for Slade. "A bit of a setback, but nothing big..." he glanced at Robin. "I take it this is why you have been away so long?"
Robin found himself thinking he would never get used to Slade being referred to as 'Doctor' or anything of the like. It always gave him an awkward feeling, as he'd seen him in a totally different light for all this time, and never once saw this side. Now he wasn't even sure he wanted to see this side. His cobalt eyes shifted up towards the doctor for a moment when he realized he was being spoken of, only slightly narrowing his eyes before looking away again, inaudibly snorting, deciding to keep to himself.
Slade smiled at Robin's obvious discomfort.
"The son of an old friend, Walter. I could hardly turn my back."
Walter rolled his eyes and winked at Robin.
"Don't let him fool you, boy... he's as ruthless a business man as you'll ever meet, and a hell of a scientist to boot..." He looked at Robin a little closer, his eyes widening. "But if I'm not mistaken... you'll be knowing all about that, won't you Master Grayson?"
Robin flinched, annoyed that even this man he had never met knew him. -I'm sure he is...- he thought at Walter's comment upon Slade. He finally glanced back towards the scientist, glaring again at the sound of his name; he was hoping no one else would use his 'given' name again. With everything else that was going on, he didn't need their pity as well.
"Unfortunately." Robin said coldly.
Walter glanced at Slade and then back at Robin.
"I didn't mean to bring up a painful memory... ?" He trailed off, at a loss for what to call Robin without making his percieved blunder worse.
"He goes by 'Robin'." Slade offered and Walter smiled gratefully.
"Robin it is then. You are the assistant that Dr. Slade was hoping to enlist?"
Glancing towards Slade only for a moment before he returned his attention to Walter...his features pulled gently, biting his tongue not to snap something he would regret later. He simply nodded, but that simple movement seemed strained and hesitant. It was there, though, and that was enough for him.
Slade placed his hand on Robin's shoulder, exerting just enough pressure to remind him why he was here...
"Robin is quite skilled in your own field, Walter..."
Walter gave a start and pushed his glasses again, looking down his nose at Robin, clearly skeptical...
"Theoretical Element Manipulation, or my work with experimental power sources?"
Slade laughed shortly.
"Both. In conjunction. He designed the Xenothium core in the suit you've been studying."
Walter's eyebrows scaled his forehead and he held out his hand to Robin.
"Impressive... It's no wonder that Dr. Slade wanted you badly enough to bring you in himself. He's been half mad working on 'the project'."
Robin shifted just slightly with the pressure upon his shoulder, resisting the urge to glare at Slade. Resisting with great difficulty. -Like I'd ever help you recreate it... it was a mistake-, he thought angrily. But he couldn't say that. And he knew it. Robin simply glared at the hand for a long moment, but he slowly raised his own to give a brief shake.
Walter opened his mouth, looking for all the world like a child with a new toy, but Slade cut him off.
"I'm sure he'll be more than happy to give you a lesson, Walter... some other time. Where are the subjects that woke while I was gone?"
Walter looked at his charts, chewing his lip nervously.
"Ah... they were moved to the Infirmary in the West Wing..."
"And the trouble with the imprint?" Slade prompted. Walter shook his head.
"We aren't sure..."
Robin took his gaze away as soon as he could, with the thought of Or how about never?, lingering in his mind. He had no intentions of remaking the mistake that was his Xenothium-powered suit, there had to be some way to keep it from happening... and if he managed to figure something out, he was willing to chance it.
Maybe.
Or was he? Shoving the thoughts away for a moment, he listened keenly... not quite sure what to think about these labs yet. They gave him a strange feeling, as if he didn't already have enough to make him uneasy.
"Well... I know you have your hands full down here. I'll just have to go check for myself... Robin." He turned back toward the door, glancing over his shoulder. "I'll be out of town for a day or so again, Walter, but when I get back, I'll need your report on that 'special' project."
Walter gave a start and then nodded.
"Of course, Dr. Slade..."
Slade nodded again and went back out into the hall, not bothering to check if Robin was still behind him. Really, where else would he be?
His expression had pulled into something of thoughtfulness; he might be able to manage to figure out what Slade's real plans were, and find a way to sabotage them. Just what exactly do you take Slade for? You know he's expecting you to try something... he thought bitterly. Now wasn't the time to allow doubt to filter in, but it wasn't like he wasn't trying to fight it off. He simply began to follow Slade again; it was all he could do right now. Slowly his eyes lifted to the shock of white hair again; for some reason he just couldn't shake off the feeling of difference he'd gotten since Slade took the orange-and-black mask off that Robin had been so used to seeing. That doesn't change anything, he insisted inwardly. That's what he thought.
Slade paused when they reached the Infirmary, looking back at Robin.
"I'm sure you won't believe me... in fact, I know you won't.... but we are trying to help these people."
Robin paused in mid stride, a clear expression of doubt and anger washing over his face. It didn't take him but a moment to glance up towards Slade.
"You call this helping people? By torturing them with your sick experiments?"
Slade sighed, his features patient but dark, and turned his back to the door, leaning against it with his arms crossed against his chest.
"There is a boy, no older than you, who nearly killed three people when he turned into a six foot tall wolf on his thirteenth birthday." He stated emotionlessly, as thought reciting something he had memorized by rote. "He went a year, never knowing when or if it would happen again." He paused, watching Robin's reaction closely.
"It did." He still let no inflection mar the depth of his words. "He attacked his sister. She died." He forestalled any response Robin might make by lifting his hand, index finger raised. "Let me finish... We did not 'steal him away'. Nor was he forced to come here... he went into stasis for the good of his family, by his own choice."
-And so what if he's the exception to the rule?-