The Apprentice II

Control

Robin, stepping forth from the darkness to hold up the blaster. He is standing in a single spot of light.

"Excellent, Robin. I'm pleased. You're already proving to be the perfect apprentice." Slade chuckles.

"This deal can't last forever." Robin shot back.

"It can. And it will." Slade smirks.

Behind Robin, a row of monitors comes to life, all showing blank white screens. He turns to face them, one shows static, then an image of the decoy detonator.

"The Titans still have no idea that my chronoton detonator was more than a decoy. Now that my probes are inside their bodies, they could remain undetected for years-decades." Slade smiles devilish.

***

Flashback

The detonator shorting out; the other four staring at the smoking remains on the speedboat; the weapon emerging from the prow to strafe them; the four being blown off the deck; a pan across the magnified views of their probe-laden bloodstreams. Finally the monitors go white again.

Present

***
"Unless, of course, you disobey me-" Slade steps in view. "-and I decide to destroy your former friends with a push of the button."

He holds up his hand on the end of this line; said button is nestled in it.

"Sooner or later, you'll let your guard down. I will get that controller, and the instant they're out of danger, you will pay." Slade steps toward him.

Both are silhouetted against the monitors.

"That sounds like a threat, young man." He takes the blaster from Robin. "Quite a good threat, actually. Betrayal, destruction, revenge. We really do think alike."

Robin grits his teeth in a quiet snarl that quickly builds in intensity before he throws himself at Slade. The charge goes bad in a hurry; Slade grabs Robin's wrist and bends his arm back sharply. From the sound of things, one or more bones are within an inch of breaking.

"I monitored your vital signs during the mission. Elevated heart rate, adrenaline, endorphins." Slade tilting his head. "You won't admit it, but at some level-" Robin's straining face. "-you enjoyed stealing for me. It was a thrill, wasn't it?"

He releases his hold; Robin stumbles away and rubs his overstressed arm.

"You're going to keep stealing, Robin." Slade removing blaster muzzle. "And you're going to keep getting that thrill." He turns back. "And sooner or later-"  Slade smirks. "-you will see things my way."

He has put the weapon back together now. Robin is still holding up his right arm.

"Who knows? I might even become like a father to you." Slade walks towards him and chuckled.

He clamps the blaster onto it, so that the muzzle points out along Robin's arm. The sullen young apprentice, who lowers it.

"I already have a father." Robin said softly.

Tilt up into the darkness overhead and stop at the ceiling of the lair. A few bats fly out through the openings between the blades of an enormous blower and disappear into the night.