The Competition Mission Re-Write

The Boss

Mr Wilson didn't hesitate to show me to my room, or my cell should I say. It was similar to those at the Asylum, minus the padding. A singular bed with toilet and sink, heavy metal door that had lasers that could be activated the other side to prevent escape. No window. No roommate. No cameras.
"You're the bosses contact," I said as he closed the door behind us.
"And you're the Boy Wonder," He replied, "Welcome to your new life."
"Why is he doing this?" I asked.
"Because he can," Wilson replied, "Because he's fed up of hiding in the shadows, he wants to make a name for himself. But not enough to get noticed by your kind, that's why he has you to cover. You and the Bat don't share your identity with anyone. Easy targets."
"Is he actually going to blow up the stadium?"
"Of course not," He replied, "You've been caught. To continue the plan would only raise suspicion. Enjoy the solitude Richard, you're going to be here an awfully long time."

Isolation was hell. I'd been allowed out of my room once a day for half an hour for exercise for the past week. I was starting to understand how people could go insane.
"Nightwing? Nightwing?" I perked up at the sound of my name, but no one was around, that's when I realised the sound was internal.
"M'gann? What is it?" I asked.
"We've got another lead on the Boss man, I was told this was the only way to contact you," She said, "Um, they said to say Bette woke back up and gave some of the strongest info we've had in a while. The man, the Boss, his suit only had one eye hole. They think he only has one eye."
"Which one?" I asked, Mr Wilson coming straight to my head.
Maybe he wasn't a contact for the Boss, maybe he was the Boss.
"His right eye is gone," M'gann said.
"Tell Batman to look into someone with the surname Wilson," I said, "Tell him he's with me."
"Where are you?" She asked.
"I can't tell you that," I said, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. Stay safe," And she cut the line.
I looked over to the door where Mr Wilson was probably stood right now, being my personal guard and all. He'd outplayed us every step, every move had a counter. He had us cornered. And then he got cocky. He thinks it's over, but he'd just brought everything back down on him. We'd turn him in, get him to confess and I'd be free again. The game wasn't over yet, and I felt the first smile on my face in days.

It was only another hour before Mr Wilson came into my cell to bring me out for the exercise. And this time I really took him in. Excellent physical shape, six foot four, walked silently. He was trained, he fit the physical description and he had no trouble getting his own way with the prisoners or the other officers.
"Eyes front," He ordered as he noticed me staring.
He even talked like a solider, which would mean he'd be trained with weapons. This was the man that had taken everything away from me. And it was time to play the Uno reverse card.
"Mr Wilson, permission to speak?" I asked.
"Permission denied."
"What did you do with Wally?" I asked anyway.
"Did I say you could speak?" He turned his eye to me.
"No, but what are you going to do about it?" I retorted, "You've already destroyed my life, taken away everything. Because let's be honest here Mr Wilson, you're the Boss. And you've messed up."
I barely even registered as I was suddenly pinned up against the wall. As he was suddenly cutting off my airway.
"You might think you're smart Grayson, but what you're failing to understand is you have no evidence. No ties. You're a convicted terrorist, you admitted to it. I'm just your personal guard, assigned to you by luck. There's nothing you can do anymore," He whispered, "So I'd start behaving or you're going to regret it."
"Is this prisoner giving you trouble sir?" Another guard asked.
"Not anymore," Mr Wilson replied as he released his hold and I sucked in as much air as I could, "He's just moving to exercise for the day. And then he has a special meeting."
The look in his eye was enough to scare me alone.

The meeting consisted of me being cuffed to the wall and being used as a punching bag. And then being dragged to the showers where I was forcibly washed and scrubbed so layers of skin starting peeling off under the burning water. I wasn't sure if I walked back to my cell or if I was dragged there. I just knew I was grateful when I collapsed on the cold floor. When the door closed and I was left alone. I just had to keep in mind that we were ahead of him, we knew who he was, we just had to find the evidence. Well, the others did. I just had to wait. And I hated waiting. Especially if it meant I'd have to do this everyday. I crawled up onto the bed, no softer than the floor but it felt more dignified. And right now, dignity was all I had left.

I put up with it for god knows how long, time had lost all meaning to me, every now and again M'gann would give me updates. They'd been slowly finding out about this Slade guy. He had been in the military, part of some biological experimentation. He'd been married once, two children. Wife dead, children missing. He'd been through it. But then it got interesting, offshore payments going into his account. But no record of holding a job up until two years ago when he took up a job here at Blackgate, working up until he stood where he was now. That meant he'd been planning this for at least the last two years, if not longer to account for time in getting the job and why he'd need it. He'd planned it well, every step of the plan, every step leading up to the plan, but he hadn't planned for what came after he won. He hadn't planned that even once I was stuck in a cell, even once I was a convicted terrorist that we could get ahead of him. That we could still cut him back down to size.
"Lunch."
I jumped as the tray was slid through the door, the usual meal. Mash, sausages, peas and gravy. I moved over to the tray, all I had was a spoon, but it was all I needed to eat. My health had gone right down the drain, I was still fit, yes, but not like I used to be. I used to fight every night, train every day for at least three hours. Now, I was in a cell all day, barely any sunlight apart from the two hours I got to train every day. Then I got punishment most days if I did anything against him. Sometimes just because he felt like it. Never mind these pitiful meals. It was no surprise that people hated it here, that it was where the worst went. The worst that were sane anyway. And it was no surprise that after people were let out from here when they were arrested next they pleaded insanity and went to the asylum instead. I didn't really taste the food anymore, maybe it was made with no taste. Wally would hate it.
God, Wally. What must be going through his head? As far as he knew Robin had just abandoned him the moment that his boyfriend was framed and sent off. What had Bruce told him? That I was just too busy for my best friend? Told him the truth maybe? No, don't be stupid. Whatever happens to me, he won't know. He couldn't. It didn't matter that I loved him. I had told Bruce I wasn't going to tell him, and he'd respect my wishes. But after this was over, I was going to tell him. It wasn't like he wasn't already part of the superhero life, he could handle himself. But after having kept it for so long, after all this. I felt like I'd debated this endlessly, but he was the only thing letting me hold onto hope. Yes, everyone else was on my case to bring in Slade. But between Bruce and Wally I knew they'd solve it, I knew I'd be safe and home again. But how long would it take to be there again? How much longer did I have to stay here?
How much longer could I hold on?