What?

Chapter One

He walks up to four giant monitors that have blood vessels enlarged with small machines flowing in the blood streams on each screen, "Nanoscopic probes. The Chronoton Detonator was merely the bait for a much larger trap. You see, with the push of a button, my probes will destroy your friends from the inside out."

'Stay strong.' I think to myself and hear myself replying with a look of disgust and detestment on my face, "You can't control them. No matter what you threaten, they'll never obey you."

"This isn't about your friends, Robin. It's about you. It's always been about you," the words flow from his hidden lips like a waterfall; smooth at the top, yet sinisterly harsh when they hit the bottom.

"What?" is all I'm able to say in total confusion without stuttering. 'Why? how? what?' Why did this have to do with me? I feel a bit of fear creep up my spine and know that while I can't really tell what he looks like under the mask, he's enjoying the look of confusion on my face as he paces around me.

"Sending trouble your way, leaving cryptic clues for you to unravel; I was testing you. For some time now, I have been searching for an apprentice. Someone to follow in my footsteps," he walks over to me and leans into me close and my eyes narrow in disgust and anger, "And Robin, I've chosen you. Congratulations."

"No way would I ever work for..." I begin, but that button; he waves it in front of me.

"If you join me, if you swear to serve me, if you never speak to your friends again, I will allow them to live." I don't care if he can easily read my face. My jaw hangs slightly ajar in fear of what he's asking of me. He wants, he wants..."But... if you disobey even the smallest request, I will annihilate them, Robin. And I'll make you watch," his eye narrows in cruelty. One thing crosses my mind.

'I hate him.'

"So, do we have a deal?"

I stare at his open hand. He had shown me that once before, when I had undertaken the identity of Red X. I had only done that to find out who he was under that mask. Now, I really saw what kind of devious plans he could come up with. The entire night, I had been obsessed with trying to bring him down, trying to stop him and a fake Chronoton Detonator; a decoy to mask what the true plan was. As of now, I want the mask, the cover, back on.

They were all just tests. He was testing me to see if I could really prove to handle it, if I could be the one that he'd chose. Unfortunately for me, he did. He chose me. Now I really feel defeated.

I shake his hand once and quickly turn away, not wanting to see him. What have I just done? I'm...owned. No, I just am agreeing with the arrangements. I'm doing this for them. I'm doing this because...

"I thought you'd see it my way."

He walks up from behind me. I don't want to see him. I don't want to see my new...master. He places a cold hand on my shoulder. I keep the scowl on my face and move away as quick as I can, as though his touch was stinging and prickling my skin. I can tell that he's enjoying the upset expression on my face that is trying to contain emotions: hurt, scared, enslaved, sad... I try to keep my lip from trembling. I think I'm successful at that, but I really don't know. I'm not happy with these arrangements, but if it will keep them alive, I'll do it.

"Those won't be very handy when it comes to eluding the cops," He says, indicating my nomex, "You'll need something a bit more... sleeker, not as colorful."

He walks on over to a wall and stares back at me. I walk over, knowing he wants me to follow. I find myself walking over feeling like I'm backstabbing everyone I know, care and love. I won't follow in Slade's footsteps. I won't! The only one I'll follow is my dad. Only him.