The Man Behind The Mask Part 3
((You know you love it...
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?-
... I swear... we'll get to the real plot stuff soon. Just trying to give you a little background on the plan... not that you can use it, of course.))
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?-
... I swear... we'll get to the real plot stuff soon. Just trying to give you a little background on the plan... not that you can use it, of course.))