BATMAN: Phantom in the Dark
Batman and related characters are property of DC Comics and Warner Bros. Phantom is my property.
Chapter 1: Invisible Intruder
Flugelheim Museum– Gotham City
"'Go into the security biz,' they said. 'It'll be easy money,' they said." a lonesome security guard groused as he wandered through one of the halls. "I mean, it's not like I don't like pacing around an empty art museum from midnight to the crack of dawn, popping caffeine pills every couple of hours, or being perpetually bored out of my skull night after n–"
Just then, there was a clattering noise in the distance.
"Chief, this is Freeman. Think I heard something down near that touring Aztec exhibit. I'm gonna go check it out."
"Copy."
A few minutes later
"What the heck happened here?" Freeman asked to nobody in particular as he took in the scene. There, lying on the floor a good few yards ahead of him, sat the cover of an overhead air vent. "We got rats in the ducts or something?"
Just then, there was a striking sound from a nearby corner.
"Okay, who's there? I don't have time for this!"
"Neither do I."
Before Freeman could react, he saw the vague outline of a shape drop down from the ceiling, its feet hitting the floor with a distinctive clack.
"Come out and face me already, you son of a–"
Before the guard could finish, he felt something slam against the back of head, and all went black…
"…and in other news, police are reporting a significant robbery at the Flugelheim. According to a museum representative, the missing items include a number of statuettes, pieces of jewelry, and other various and sundry pieces. As of press time, the GCPD has not announced any potential suspects. This is Summer Gleason for Gotham Insider."
The sound of a brief, quiet click filled the air, followed by the image of Summer Gleason's face disappearing from one of the Batcomputer's monitors and subsequently being replaced by a pin-dotted map of Gotham.
"Looking for a venue for the next Wayne Foundation event, sir?" a nearby Alfred snarked.
"Not at the moment. They're the places that our phantom thief decided to grace with their presence." Batman replied, gesturing to the pins.
"Find anything interesting, sir?"
"As a matter of fact, yes. Thus far, all the break-in sites have been high-security venues: museums, bank vaults, safety deposit boxes, and more than a handful of private residences. Additionally, the security systems at said sites appeared to be operational at the time of intrusion– all except the motion sensors, that is."
"And I presume you have ideas as to just how our phantom thief is pulling off these capers, sir?"
Right on cue, the image on the monitor shifted from a map of Gotham to schematics for some high-tech device.
"About six weeks ago, this was stolen from a Wayne-Tech R&D facility near Blüdhaven."
"Sir, might I inquire as to the nature of this contraption?"
"It's a prototype thermo-optic camouflage device."
"A which-what?"
"It's a device that allows the user to activate a special camouflage system that lets them blend in with the environment, making them near-invisible across all visible spectrum and thermal imaging."
"And you think that our thief might just be using this device?"
"Given the timeframe and the nature of the crimes, it's too much of a coincidence if you ask me."
"I see. Now, tell me, sir– which suit are you planning to wear to tonight's event?"
Batman blinked. "What event?"
"That cocktail party you received an invitation for two weeks ago. The one being held by that technology fellow– Hikaru Go…Go–"
"Hikaru Gõto?"
"Yes, that's him. Now, about that suit…"
"The gray flannel one will do nicely."