Robin turned around without any hesitation, figuring that if this psychologist couldn't even take Jason out of here, then the subsequent treatment wouldn't be effective either.
Although he knew this matter was probably not that simple, and he couldn't figure out Batman's intentions yet, he decided to cooperate. More importantly, during Batman's absence, he has to take care of Gotham as the current Robin.
After the others had left, only Shiller and Jason remained in the lower level of the Batcave. Jason sat deep inside the cell, one leg bent sideways, the other extended straight. His back pressed tightly against the wall as he stared at Shiller, saying, "What the hell are you up to?"
Shiller's back was turned to him, seemingly busy writing something in his notepad. As the silence grew longer, the unease in Jason's heart began to intensify.
The emotional swings of the night had already sapped his energy, and the earlier nightmare had only made matters worse.
Many unpleasant premonitions haunted Jason regarding the sudden appearance of this psychologist. Anxiety usually points to the same negative course of action, which is the desperate need to turn the unknown mishap into a known one.
No matter how many bad things there are, no matter how bad they could be, I'm waiting right here to grasp the sense of safety that comes when disaster strikes, the "It's okay, I knew it was going to happen" feeling.
"I think you can relax a bit, Jason." Shiller was still busy with his own work, seemingly tinkering with the device Batman had left him, as if most of his attention was focused on the task at hand, even his reassurances seemed perfunctory.
"You're definitely up to something." Jason slowly drew his legs in, took a deep breath and said: "No matter how you've gained Batman's trust, whatever he told you isn't true, I'm not sick."
"I'm not necessarily here to treat an illness." Shiller's voice retained its jovial tone, "I can also choose not to be a doctor. I don't think you need to set the tone of our relationship this early, don't you think?"
"Sweet talker," Jason evidently had no intentions of cooperating. He replied with a somewhat sharp tone: "Anyway, Batman evidently made another mistake, you're not a good person, nor could you be a good doctor."
"The two don't necessarily go hand in hand." Shiller shook his head, intently dealing with a wire on a bat device, "Batman thinks I am a kind and highly skilled doctor, and has sympathy for your situation, hence he hired me to treat you. Do you think that is how it happened?"
Jason didn't respond, but it was clear he thought this was the case because he couldn't conceive of any other possibility.
They had just weathered a long night, each taking several tumbles in the torrents of disaster. For Jason, the night felt exceptionally long – something Batman had just realized.
So he must, like a savior, do something, be it out of sympathy or a desire to make amends.
Shiller appeared just in time, also conveniently a doctor, so what else could it be other than what Shiller suggested?
Jason was waiting for the doctor to dish out some hollow words of comfort so he could refute them one by one, until he had nothing left to say.
Shiller finally turned around. Jason saw a recording device in his left hand, and a bundle of neatly arranged wire in his right. He heard Shiller say,
"Sorry, but I'm trying to figure out how to use this bat-shaped microphone clip."
Shiller strolled up to Jason's cage, opened the door under Jason's astonished gaze.
As Shiller returned the key to his suit pocket, he said, "As you see, Batman gave me the key, and as I said, under these conditions, nothing will have much effect. Would you like to come and give me a hand, Mr. Todd?"
Jason carefully got up from the ground, first examining his armor unobtrusively, assuring himself Batman didn't leave any tiny explosives on him while he held him.
When he found all his gear to be working properly, his Adam's apple bobbed in his throat.
"You know I could take you down in less than three seconds, don't you?"
"Then why not do it?"
Jason gulped again, not aware of when his reactions had become so slow. The moment the cell door was opened, he should have dashed out to subdue every living creature in front of him.
"What are you up to?" Jason asked, staring at the object in Shiller's hand.
"This is a special therapy process recording device prepared for me by my client, that is, Batman."
"A tape recorder?"
"I don't think an ordinary tape recorder would have such a difficult to use microphone clip." Shiller was fiddling with the bat-shaped clip, "It appears that this clip does not open at the top when you pinch the bottom part."
"Will our conversation be heard by Batman?"
"Well, I suppose he would be more interested in our conversation than the one he's about to have, don't you?"
"I'm not going to tell you anything. It's better if Batman gives up this idea too. Just because he dresses up his preachiness and outdated morality doesn't make it actually good for me."
Jason stepped out of the cage, his arms hanging by his sides, intending to make Shiller believe that the doctor was powerless against him.
Currently, it did indeed seem to be so. Perhaps the doctor had some trap up his sleeve, maybe Batman had left a contingency in him, but Jason could choose not to provoke him, and simply turn and leave.
That was precisely his intention, in fact, he had already turned around, then he heard Shiller's slow, calm voice behind him.
"Jason, don't forget, you're the one who found me."
Jason suddenly remembered that dream.
What was that about? Jason turned around, casting a doubtful look at Shiller. Did he have the ability to interfere with dreams? Or did he, like the Mad Hatter, have a device that could invade the human brain?
"Jason, do you know?" Shiller said, turning to look at Jason, "I believe Batman is primarily responsible for the way your relationship with him has developed."
"That's why I said I'm not here to treat you. If we have to talk about how I will fulfill the duties of a doctor, then it's obvious that treating both of you is equally important."
"Batman would never…"
"Yes, but he's the one who found me." Shiller repeated the phrase, then said, "This means he's willing to change, at least more so than you. This means he is an easier problem to solve, and I have experience with this."