Vigilante Struggles

Chapter 26

Unknown Location
08:45

"He should be completely under your control now" Psimon spoke, monotone as always. Deathstroke hummed in reply, not giving the Alien the satisfaction of praising words. His kind do not belong on this planet, that is what Deathstroke believed. He had been disgusted when he learned of his newest colleague, he preferred the old fashioned way of force and torment, a slow process with a more satisfying result from one's own efforts. Nevertheless this telepathic method was cleaner and faster. The drug in Grayson's system kept him docile and compliant, giving no room for the infamous Nightwing to realise he was being played like a fool.

"However" Psimon began, pulling Slade's attention. "Oracle remains a problem, she is still his weakness. I can also detect subtly radio signals, she has managed to track us down."

Deathstoke had made sure Psimon had not delved too deep into Grayson's mind that he figured out the Batfamily secrets and identities, that was a privilege Deathstroke had earned. Allowing this freak to delve freely and take what belonged to him was never an option. Psimon fully understood that the job he had been set is the type of job where "less is more". The cold metal against the Alien's exposed brain was very effective in convincing the telepath to leave 'things' alone.

"That shall be his test" Slade spoke slowly, as if he was testing the words in his mouth. Altering Grayson's memories  left him with his integrity and more useful traits intact. He was coaxed to the winning side with a series of strategic simulations to delicately alter Grayson's morals, where he totally believed that all things evil was really for the greater good. That Deathstroke was a hero, an idol. A father. His father, and no child defies a parent.

"The girl's death will solidify the process, although I had expected another week of her insistent searching, I have underestimated her" Deathstroke thought aloud as he moved to the window displaying Nightwing, a prize he has waited long for. "See that she is brought here...alone" he ordered, his attention mainly focused on the boy in the room before him.

Only when the metal creak of the door behind him died, did Slade Wilson allow his guard down.

"You are mine Grayson."

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Barbara's apartment
21:35

Barbara grogily lifted her head to the sound of beeping. She pulls her body from her desk, feeling a soft blanket fall from her shoulders. "What?..." Her hand rubs small, gentle circles around her eyes. She sighs heavily, locating her glasses and sliding them up her slender nose. She glances at the clock over her desk. She gasps audibly, shocked to realise she has slept through the whole day! She quickly regains her focus, activating her computer systems, biting at her nails in anxious suspension, worried to have missed anything vital regarding Dick. Her monitor screen flashes a notification. "FOUND" "Found?...FOUND! OH MY GOD! Dick!" She shouts, her previous exhaustion dissipating quickly.  She checks the location quickly, scowling. "Right in plain sight Slade, very clever" she mutters as her fingers scuttle across the keys.

She finds Bruce's contact with the intention of ringing him immediately. Her index finger stops short of the 'enter' button, the cold plastic awaiting her command. Barbara never hesitated but a strange feeling in her head and a....voice? That was something no one could ignore.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you Oracle" Barbara whips her head around, her eyes expertly looking for any sign of life. "You're in my head" she states. "Very observant...I like that" came the voice. It was unnerving, the voice in her head. It wasn't her losing her mind, hearing voices. She was sure. The entity speaking with her was definitely Male; and last time she checked, she was a girl.