Comments | jla_watchtower: The Interrogation of Jack Slater aka Black Knight One

blackknightone in jla_watchtower

The Interrogation of Jack Slater aka Black Knight One

Jun 22, 2006 20:48

He didn't resist, doing just as he was told to do. Walk into the large empty room and sit in the single chair in the middle of the room. The room was impossibly dark save for a light beam of light that illuminated the chair. He sat with the slightly nervous look of someone awaiting an unpleasent unknown ( Read more... )

black knight one, green arrow ollie queen, green arrow connor hawke

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blackknightone June 27 2006, 22:51:51 UTC

Slater pauses for the best way to answer. He knows Green Arrow doesn't want to hear what he has to say. However, the question was far more complicated to answer than to ask. Green Arrow wanted to know....understand one thing. Slater tried to be blunt and gave Green Arrow an answer that covered as much of the House Operation as possible. He just couldn't be that cold about it. It hurt to acknowledge what he did. It hurt to have Green Arrow just staring at him.

The 'House' Operation was ordered by very highly placed men in the US Government for selfish and polictical reasons. I am not trying to shift blame for your son's abduction to anyone else. I was given the order, I planned the operation, I carried it out. I was working under a set operationial template that was suggested for this operation by Checkmate. The template is a framework to build on, you fill in the blanks and then you can work to accomplish several small goals to complete the mission. We've been using them for years. The template's application was not focused on your son. In fact, the template was focused on... you.

You are a very passionate man, well connected in the hero community. A family man, very willing to protect your family at all costs...except the cost of anthor family member. Your son had the best chance to survive the 'House' for the during of the operation. You also have someone close to you that can be considered a Granddaughter. My mission was considered highly classified and it could not be leaked out for any reason. I had only myself and a 'Pawn', a term for Checkmate support personnel, for this mission and I would be completely surrounded by Powered Criminals. In kidnapping your son I garuteed that you could come for him, and you would not be alone. There was the chance that you could interfere with the completion of my mission. If you did, I had leverage.

The reason I kidnapped you son, was to get you and as many members of the JLA to attack the 'House'. The attack gave me all the cover I needed to complete my mission.

It hurts so much to look back at Green Arrow. It hurts so much, and it is just the beginning of the pain.

straight_arrow June 28 2006, 00:27:20 UTC

I'd figured out that much, spook juice. No offense to whatever fascist nutbag came up with that 'template', but it wasn't exactly subtle. And you'll notice that the League wasn't in there. Just me, Black Canary and Deadshot.

GA puts his foot on the seat of Slater's chair, right between the former spy's legs.

What gets me is why, with the ties Connor in specific has with you government black-ops types, or better yet Roy, you couldn't --

He shoves with his foot, sending the chair back a bit.

-- have popped your greasy little heads up --

Shove.

-- and ASKED FOR OUR HELP!!!!

blackknightone June 28 2006, 02:55:17 UTC

Slater's shame turns quickly to anger with Green Arrow's pressure, but he's biting his lip. Slater knew this is how it was going to be.

Because Luthor doesn't like his business deals in the open. He had a problem with Senate Minorty Leader Trent Cannon on the Ways and Means Committee. When Luthor found out that the first Checkmate Knight sent to the House was killed, he didn't care. He only cared when he found out that the Knight killed was Nathaniel Cannon, Trent Cannon's brother. Luthor got Trent to cut a deal if the people who killed his brother were brought to justice.

I wasn't just Checkmate's Black Knight. I worked directly for the President.

straight_arrow June 28 2006, 05:49:28 UTC

So this was Luthor's personal black bag? And it didn't occur to you to bend things just a bit? Or are you just a drone, doing his master's bidding?

blackknightone June 29 2006, 01:49:04 UTC

There was a time when...yes, I was that drone... I learned quickly, but then I was stuck between Amanda Waller and Luthor himself. In later missions I tried to leave information...clues that could be tracked. The Billy Batson case, the abduction of that Protestor Girl from LexWatch. Everytime I tried to get the word out what was happening.

straight_arrow June 29 2006, 04:37:47 UTC

Just not in advance. And not to the victim.

They call that a headsman's apology, buddy. And it's worth squat! You kidnapped people and let them rot! Oh, sure, you drop a line to make sure SOMEONE -- not you but SOMEONE -- can get them out. But In the meantime, they're trapped in some of the ugliest places around, rotting, and you get to

kick on the chair

COLLECT

Kick! This one slams the chair into a wall. Green Arrow is looming above Slater, screaming into his face.

YOUR FAT PAYCHECK!!!!

connor_hawke June 29 2006, 22:02:23 UTC

He's been watching this from the shadows, arms folded, thinking. Unlike his father, he appears the very picture of calm. It's a typical picture of contrast for those familiar with both Green Arrows. It's also classic good cop/bad cop.

"So, Billy and I weren't the only ones. Who else, Slater? Who and what else? Whatever you've done, you know we'll find out about it. Better to learn it from you than on our own."

blackknightone June 30 2006, 02:43:17 UTC

He's been staring back at Green Arrow I, not even bothering to wipe away the spit on his face. He heard Connor's suggestive retort and ignored it for the moment. It seemed Green Arrow I was rapidly going out of control, but Slater knew better. Slater wasn't a common criminal, he was a well trained spy and experienced in rough interrogation. They both made valid points and should be answered. However, the idea that he got a reward for the things he did or that he left these people to rot burned in his gut. He bit his lip again, choosing to slow this down.

"There was this guy named William Rudge. Back in the 80's he was a classic cold war brain washer working for the US. After the war they cut him loose based on lack of need and the political implications. He started his own Cult of mind controlled minions that he trained as Snipers to start a terror program.. I was assigned to stop him... but I failed and was captured. He used his skills on me and I found they were very effective. He broke me." It was not only a painful admission, but also a subtle message. "That wasn't the only time I have been in the brain washing chair. Checkmate did thier work too and for a while it would work, but not like Rudge. I eventually captured Rudge and turned him over to Checkmate. While I was tracking down his minions Luthor stepped in. He forced Rudge to make a deal. Rudge would work for Luthor, if Rudge got me. Rudge didn't like having to work for someone again and he took it out on me. I became one of his minions. I ended up using my own abilities and a secured JLA frequency to track down JLA members. I... ended up finding Billy Batson. I gave the information over to Luthor and he made the decision to have him kidnapped. At that point there was no stopping the inevitable, Billy Batson was going to be attacked. It was a matter of who was going to do it...Rudge's Terrorists or Me. Even under Rudge's power I knew that if I let his people do it Batson's family was going to die. I... didn't have the strenght then to resist Rudge, but I could... as you say 'bend' what he wanted. I took Billy and spared his family." Slater shifted in his chair and got closer to Green Arrow I. "My reward was having every single test, experiment, or method tested on me before being used on Billy. My fat paycheck was having my brain fed to same worms used on Billy. I left information about where to find him and once the JSA came... It was me who butched Rudge and his minions to get to Billy's cell. It was me who got Billy out of his cell. It was me who brought Billy to the JSA, and I about got killed by Green Lantern. That Protestor Girl, who gave the information where to find her Who helped Black Canary get around the security? Who covered thier escape? Black Canary may not have needed my help, but I did. The JSA, they may not have needed my help, but I did."

He leans to the side to look at Conner "You're very right, Connor. You all would have figured this out on your own. I've felt that JLA... JSA... Teen Titan pressure for the past two years."

Slater cursed himself for taking the shot at Connor, but it was really for Green Arrow I's sake. Connor had listened where Green Arrow I just screamed, and it was unfair to turn on him like that. Slater had tried to explain that he too had been the victim of Lex Luthor without throwing into thier faces, but let the pain in his gut speak for him.

connor_hawke June 30 2006, 03:25:52 UTC

They were dealing with a henchmman. A damn good henchman, but still someone little different than the broken Arkham "patients" that the Joker used for muscle.

"So that's why you turn yourself in? To get free of Luthor?" He thinks a bit more. "And it wasn't just 'capes' you went after, but Luthor's political enemies?"

blackknightone June 30 2006, 03:58:40 UTC

"There was this girl at a Lex-Watch protest, she was one of the leaders. Luthor went nuts when he saw her and sent me to get her. Amanda Waller was pushing to make sure I stayed close to Luthor so I had to do it. This girl... she took me by surprise, she could turn into animals and about ripped me to shreads. By the time I subdued her the Secret Service was right there. We took her. Amanda Waller didn't give a darn about her, but I did. Mercy was calling the shots for this operation for Lex and she didn't trust me at all. Mercy had me monitored at all times to make sure I was loyal to Lex. To pass the information on about the girls whereabouts I had to jump some guy in a red mask. I was sure he was one of Batman's group or could get Batman involved. I was ...relieved to see that Black Canary got the information.

There was also Doctor Kupperberg, she worked for Kord Industries on a Stealth Suit Technology. Luthor wanted her dead becauseshe could leak information about Luthor steal the plans. He wanted to trade the plans for exclusive drilling right to Uranium in some Africa country. He didn't tap me for the job. He picked some freelance guy to kill her, but Waller wasn't going to let that happen. Waller has her own agenda and this time it included me getting to Kupperberg first and taking the Doctor to an old Checkmate Safehouse. Then I was a member of her Suicide Squad with a shape charge ready to blow my hand off. I failed, she died in my custody from a sniper shot as I was driving away.

connor_hawke June 30 2006, 04:27:19 UTC

"Hmmm. We'll have to verify this."

Between this and the Amazon War, it looks like Lex is getting nastier. Maybe more desparate, as his term's running out.

straight_arrow July 3 2006, 14:43:52 UTC

Green Arrow takes his foot off the chair, steps back, and a tight, almost menacing grin appears on his face.

That's what I've been waiting to hear.

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