Kevin couldn't help but let his thoughts wander as he admired the enchanting night scene of New York. The city of dreams sprawled before him, its twinkling lights and vibrant energy sparking contemplation about the possibilities that lay ahead.
Perched on the roof, his gaze traced the winding roads, the luminous buildings, and the shimmering billboards that adorned the cityscape.
Kevin didn't think that he was going to have any sort of problem today. He was sure of it. Contemplating the prospect of facing problems, Kevin couldn't help but feel a sense of assurance. If challenges arose, his potential opponents would be wise to say a prayer. He was better than them. It was a fact.
Kevin knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he outclassed the adversaries often confronted by the Fantastic Four. Well not maybe Dr Doom or Galactus. But he certainly outclassed others. The essential point persisted—he wasn't foolish enough like their normal enemies.
Observing the webs draped across the buildings near the Baxter Building, Kevin recognized the handiwork of a singular hero. Kevin was aware that Spider-Man was an ally of the Fantastic Four, a connection frequently highlighted in the news. The damned news channels hardly did anything other than to glorify heroes, discredit villains and the mutantkind. Not a surprising thing.
Kevin had watched those videos showcasing Spider-Man's battles against various foes—ragdolls of action clips circulating the internet, filmed by various people on their phones.
Upon analysis, Kevin swiftly recognized the otherworldly nature of Spider-Man's abilities. The speed of his movements and a seemingly innate sixth sense for imminent dangers were evident. In the clips he observed, Spider-Man's muscles tensed and demeanor shifted seconds before the arrival of a new threat, marking a level of agility and preternatural awareness beyond the realm of a normal human. Whoever the man was, he did hold back much on his opponents.
Kevin had however already plans regarding the web boy. He wasn't foolish enough to not research on his enemies after Nullvoid.
The gauntlet watch on Kevin's arm held the answer to Spiderman—it was a design crafted specifically with Spider-Man in mind. Something which he had to make the trick the man declaring himself as the Spiderman.
Glancing at the watch on his wrist, a slight nervousness crept over Kevin. At 3 in the night, a time when most people were typically asleep, the cameras of the Baxter Building revealed Reed Richards still engrossed in his work within the lab.
Reed Richards' unique powers enabled him to function at a level surpassing that of an ordinary human. He skillfully exploited this advantage, evident in his extended hours of work within the lab. The desertness Kevin initially envisioned seemed to be slipping away, especially with Reed Richards still actively engaged in his lab at this late hour.
With limited options and no time to linger, Kevin found himself compelled to proceed with the plan. The prospect of daily surveillance on the Baxter Building wasn't a feasible use of his time. Not when he had already messaged the interested party for the deal tomorrow evening.
'Time for action' Kevin thought with a smirk. He put on the bandana and finally covered it with a mask.
Activating the jet pack, Kevin swiftly soared towards the summit of the Baxter Building. He didn't want to waste any moment now. Besides he was going to make it quick.
His discreet landing atop the Baxter Building went unnoticed, the late hour and the disinterest of passersby contributing to the cloak of anonymity. Stargazing at 3 in the night wasn't a common pastime, and people were more inclined to sleep in their beds than to notice the silent arrival of a jet pack. Adapted to the unusual, people had developed a knack for overlooking the strange. In a world where the extraordinary had become almost routine, surprise had become a scarce commodity.
Kevin executed his soft landing on the rooftop of the Baxter Building. While the cameras recorded his presence, the security system was already hacked by him. The cameras remained functional, but their recordings were discreetly compromised. The computer systems refrained from sending alerts to any of the Fantastic Four members, providing Kevin with a stealthy advantage as he wanted to move undetected through the building.
Kevin glanced at his gauntlet, sighing at the inconvenience. Transforming into any alien would strip him of his clothes and the technology on his body, a frustrating disadvantage that weighed on his plans. Still, he had no choice. But there was also an ace in his pack of cards.
His skin shifted, and his body contorted as the transformation began. Unlike earlier experiences, the change was not accompanied by the intense pain Kevin had endured in the past. With each transformation, the pain seemed to diminish, evolving from an unbearable agony to a mere sting.
In place of a human form, an Ectonurite now stood. Its appearance was hauntingly ethereal, with a slender, ghostly figure enveloped in a dark cloak-like shroud. Luminescent tendrils extended from its body, creating an eerie glow that cast an otherworldly aura. The face, concealed beneath the hood, emanated an unsettling presence with glowing, piercing eyes.
Kevin phased through the floors of the building with the jetpack, clothes and gauntlet on his arms. Phasing effortlessly through the floors, he navigated towards the storage vault. Despite being on the 19th floor, where security was at its peak, Kevin moved with spectral ease, leveraging his knowledge of the building's layout to avoid detection. Or more specifically the disabling of the security here by his hacking skills. The latter was more to it specifically.
Effortlessly passing through the storage vault door, Kevin finally infiltrated the secured chamber. His eyes looked around for the vibranium stored. Spotting the desired item inside a transparent jar, Kevin noted its abnormal nature, an unusual container that drew his attention.
The jar, crafted from unstable molecules, stood as a secure enclosure safeguarding a substantial pound of Vibranium. If his suspicion held true, then only a wave of a specific frequency would be required to unlock the jar—an ingenious move by Reed Richards, Kevin silently applauded the strategic safeguard. A well play indeed by Mr Fantastic.
Despite the advanced security, the fact remained that phasing through the material was still a viable option—a flaw that Kevin intended to exploit. The detail was not there in the security system. It meant that this was something which Reed Richards wanted to keep secret.
Kevin skillfully phased his hand through the box of unstable molecules, grasping the Vibranium. Slowly, he rendered the pound of precious material intangible, utilizing the unique abilities of Ectonurites to make other objects intangible through physical contact. The skill which he used to have the clothes, gauntlet and jetpack on his body.
A smirk played on Kevin's face as he considered his options. Leaving the box behind would undoubtedly sow doubt in Reed Richards' mind, adding an extra layer of mystery to the robbery. Something which amused him to no end.
Kevin weighed his choices. Absorbing some Vibranium and leaving the whole thing behind would create a perplexing scenario for Reed Richards. Alternatively, taking the entire piece with him presented its own set of advantages. The decision lay in the potential impact he wished to leave on the situation. He finally settled on the latter part. It would also make them unaware of his skill set. If he left the whole piece here, they could somehow detect his powers by putting twos and twos. Something which he wanted to keep a secret for now. Let them think the obvious reason first. It would be enough to deter them.
Choosing to take the box and Vibranium with him, Kevin rendered them intangible and phased through the walls of the building, making his exit with ease.
In his invisible state, Kevin hovered at the 19th floor. Looking at the cars and buildings. He immediately decided to make his way to the hotel, carrying the Vibranium, the box of unstable molecules, and the various items he had brought along.
He had succeeded in getting the Vibranium he wanted. It was just a matter of time now.
Nick Fury scrutinized the reports on his desk, his lone eye scanning the contents displayed on the screen.
"Any reports on our intruder?" Nick Fury inquired, directing his question to the woman standing before him.
"No sir. Nothing on our radar," Maria Hill reported promptly.
"What did Richards say?" Nick asked looking at Maria. He had inklings already on what he would had replied.
"He claims it's a glitch in the system. No unauthorized entry detected," Maria responded, meeting Fury's gaze.
"So his systems were hacked. Not many could do that," Fury mused, his expression a mix of contemplation and acknowledgment of the intruder's skill.
"Alert our informers. Ask them to be on high alert. Check the Black Market carefully." Fury commanded, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance in the wake of the security breach of Baxter Building.
T'challa must have already known about it. He would have had the same recording as him. Nothing related to Vibranium escaped from his notices.
Nick's gaze roamed over to the man's body tensing up and immediately becoming invisible. They had probably a mutant as their criminal here. A mutant who could become invisible and intangible immediately. He should probably contact some of his friends here. They would know what and how to deal with it. T'challa must be investigating already. The man's resources were vast like the S.H.I.E.L.D.
It was just a matter of time now. Who would catch him first?