[Barbara Gordon's POV]
Robin stumbled into the Batcave, his face bruised and battered, a look of shock etched onto his features. When I asked him what had happened, he refused to speak, but I could tell he had been in a fight like last time. I quickly tended to his injuries, and he retreated to his room, exhausted and depleted.
I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, so I decided to investigate further. Using the tracker on Robin's utility belt, I traced his movements and discovered that his last location was a property belonging to a man named Tom. I did some research on Tom and uncovered some intriguing information.
As Robin slept, I delved deeper into my findings, determined to get to the bottom of what had happened to him.
At first glance, Tom's profile appeared to be completely ordinary, with no suspicious or incriminating information. However, my suspicions were aroused when I noticed Jason standing behind me, fear etched onto his face.
When I asked Jason if he knew Tom, he was hesitant to speak at first, but eventually opened up about his encounters with him. I decided to investigate further by visiting Tom's house and seeing what I could uncover. If someone with Tom's power and influence had such a normal profile, then he was definitely hiding something.
I went over to his house a few nights after his encounter with Jason, in hopes of getting information concerning him and not the perfect version of him that was painted on his records.
When I arrived at Tom's apartment, it appeared to be a perfectly ordinary dwelling. I deftly picked the lock with a pin and entered cautiously, making my way through the living room and slowly working my way towards the bedroom.
At first I thought he would attack me so I was prepared and ready to evade whatever came my way and strike back, but the first words I heard was a friendly hello. It was completely unexpected and here I was offered tea by the potential-threat stranger.
"So, are you here to get revenge on Robin's behalf? If so then I'm sorry but you are in for a load of disappointment." He said with a calm tone as he set two cups on the counter and poured tea into each.
He extended a cup to me but I was a bit suspicious of him and was hesitant to take up his offer.
"How am I sure it isn't poisoned?" I asked him and he just burst into a nonchalant chuckle. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he might be psychologically unstable.
"You literally saw me make the tea and poured it right in front of you, I even took a sip before handing you yours." He said, trying to stop himself from his series of laughter.
I winced at his reaction to a serious question I had asked him. "Sure you made the tea right in front of my eyes, but I can't be sure you didn't lace my cup with poison. What else would you invite an intruder for some tea?"
"Damn, the thought of you thinking I'm that maniacal keeps cracking me up. But you've got a point there, okay forget the tea and let's just talk while I enjoy my tea all by myself." He said as he brought the cup towards his mouth, while giving a gentle blow of air to the surface of his tea before taking another sip.
"First, I'd like to know why you roughed up Robin like that?" I asked him as I made sure to remain in the shadows, with minimum light reaching me.
"You have to be a little more specific about that. Are you asking about the first time, or the second?" He asked as he crooked his eyes a little, he seemed to enjoy talking about that topic and I was going to use that to my advantage so I could get him talking and get answers for the shuffling in my head.
"I would like to know about the first and second time you encountered Robin. You don't seem violent, so I don't understand why you would do that to a kid you are not too older than." I gave a more elaborated insight to my question.
"Well you see, the first time I was driving off in my motorcycle, minding my own business when Robin attacked me and it almost resulted in an accident."
"That's a lie, Robin won't just attack a civilian without a valid reason or warrant on their head. If not, that'll be assault or misuse of power." He let out a sigh, then shrugged off my interruption before continuing.
"Believe it or not, he actually did. That's what I thought at that time, and yet the brat had it in him to give me a fucked up reason that just doesn't make any kind of sense."
"What did he say was his reason?" I asked him with curiosity clearly noticeable in my voice.
"Well a few minutes before then, I witnessed a man who got his ass handed to him and would have probably ended up dead if someone didn't interfere." He paused then looked at his tea for a second, realizing his cup was empty already.
"And you helped him right? So where does Robin fall in?" I asked cutting him short of what he was saying.
"Nope, I looked him in the eye and realized it was none of my concern and saving him wouldn't benefit me in any way. If I saved him, then I would have to save all the unfortunate people in Gotham who found themselves in similar circumstances. So I drove off and Robin somehow witnessed me abandon that dude and was pissed off by it." He reached for the tea he had poured for me and took a satisfying sip from it. I should have at least taken the tea, it might have had me calm enough to listen to this.
"That sounds like Robin but he wouldn't attack you for it." I said to him, I knew Jason really well and he might always be in his head and want to prove himself, but he wouldn't do such a thing.
"Well as you can see, I had no other choice but to give the lad a befitting beating." He had a satisfying look on his face as a smirk slowly found its way to the side of his cheek as he lips spread onto it.
"Okay, how about the second time?"
"Well he somehow tracked me down to my place, sadly he did not learn anything from his first beating. So he came for another lesson and I wasn't in the mood for that, but who was I to reject the chance to educate the lad." He made emphasis on certain words, which made him seem more scary than he looked earlier.
"You are one twisted bastard, you know that?" I asked him as he seemed to revisit the event in his thoughts and relish in it once again, the creepy smile that appeared on his lips was a dead giveaway.
"I know, but this world is fucked up and it slowly twits the soul of everyone in it. You either adapt to its fucked up ways, or you die." He put down the cup as he seemed to be done with that one too.
As we sipped our tea, Tom seemed to relax a bit and take a deep breath before speaking. "Tea is truly a calming elixir," he said. "But now, can we wrap up this questioning and you can leave? I need to get some rest and pick up where I left off. The tea has definitely hit the spot, and I feel like I could fall asleep right now and have a satisfying slumber."
"Sure I guess I'd narrow them down to just one."
"And what is that?" He asked as he cocked up an eyebrow.
"Robin mentioned you have some kind of weird powers. Can you tell me about your ability? It was a long shot but I had to take my shot at it.
"Sorry sweetheart, no can do. Well, that's that and I would like you to take your leave now." He stood up and gestured to the door, signifying for me to head out. As I headed out, I decided to give it one more try and with a little push.
"Well I won't push it, I'm guessing you are self conscious about your powers. There wasn't any record of you being a meta human, so I was curious as to what kind of powers you have. Also when and how you got them." He didn't seem to give my statement any thought before closing the door behind me and locking its locks.
"Well, that's that." I muttered to myself. Despite his casual demeanor, I couldn't help but feel like there was something off about Tom. As I made my way out of his apartment, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had barely scratched the surface of what was really going on with him.
Tom sat in front of his laptop, lost in thought as he contemplated the latest developments in his mission as Ghost. He had been tasked with a new mission, and it seemed urgent.
Just then, a beep from his laptop snapped him back to reality.
Tom's eyes were fixed on the glowing screen of his laptop, his mind preoccupied with the latest developments in his top-secret mission. Suddenly, a notification popped up on his screen, indicating a new job request for Ghost.
However, this particular request came from an unknown source, and Tom felt a sense of caution. He was not used to working with unfamiliar clients, especially when it came to high-stakes operations like the ones he handled.
But at the same time, he knew that anyone who was able to reach him must have connections in high places. He wasn't one to take on small jobs for small-time clients
As Tom reviewed the request, a sense of unease began to settle in the pit of his stomach. This was no ordinary job. It wasn't a request to steal anything or to carry out some nefarious scheme. Instead, it required him to analyze the blueprints of a remote warehouse and create a blueprint of his own. But this wasn't just any blueprint - it was a plan for maximum security, outlining where the surveillance cameras should be placed and how to fortify the building against potential threats.
Since he was so good at evading and bypassing security systems, the person wanted him to observe the warehouse and produce a top notch security program for the warehouse which would make it impenetrable without detection.
Tom's mind raced as he tried to make sense of it all. Why would someone need such a detailed plan for a warehouse in the middle of nowhere? And why did they need the services of Ghost, one of the most skilled operatives in the game? The whole thing felt like a trap, a setup designed to ensnare him and leave him at the mercy of his enemies.
But Tom was no fool. He knew that danger was a part of the job, that there were always risks involved when you worked in the shadows. And he also knew that he was the best in the business, that no one could match his skills when it came to breaking into high-security buildings and stealing sensitive information.
Tom couldn't help but let out a sarcastic growl of exasperation as he read the job details once again. "Wanting a contractor who makes top security seem like a piece of cake, to design a security program. Haa, the irony." he mused, shaking his head in disbelief.
But despite the apparent absurdity of the request, Tom knew that the pay was too good to pass up. He had made a name for himself in the industry by doing what others thought was impossible, and this job was no exception. If anyone could create a security program that was impenetrable, it was him.
Tom's brow furrowed as he scrutinized the blueprint and the scant details provided. His sharp mind quickly deduced that something was amiss as he observed the information which was sent to him, it wasn't detailed enough and there weren't security cameras around that region that he could hack into. Maybe they were purposely left out, maybe his employer didn't know they were important. Those thoughts went through Tom's mind but he had a bad feeling about it, almost like there was a sense of malice behind it.
He shrugged off the feeling and continued with the work, after all, "what's the worst that could happen?" He muttered to himself as he called on to his AI for assistance.
"Scan through the blueprint and building plans, then bring me options on the best ways of how we could max the security within the building and in all sections of the warehouse." He said with his hands laced together behind his head as he made a small twirl with his chair.
"Okay master Tom. Analyzing documents and providing options."
'It feels good being called Master.' He thought to himself, with a smile on his face and his eyes closed he relished in the feeling.
"Having someone do a small fraction of the job sure feels relaxing, I gotta put my plans of mobilizing my team into motion soon." He muttered to himself.
"Master Tom, here are the possible options on how to maximize the internal security of the warehouse." The voice of his AI butler snapped him out of his thoughts as multiple security blueprints and write ups started popping up on his computer screen.
Looking at the screen, he picked out two options and just merged them together, resulting in an internal security system with no blind spot or loophole. "Perfect, maybe I should start up a security company." He said to his AI.
"You could, but I doubt you are actually interested in such." Replied to his AI.
"You are beginning to know me all too well, Arthur." The names he decided on calling his AI.
"I believe it's only logical, being that I spend the most time with you."
"That's…Actually true."
Tom's fingers flew across the keyboard as he finished up the internal aspect of the security program hw was mapping out for the employer. With a wicked smile on his face, he leaned back in his chair and stretched his arms. He had done it - he had designed a security program that would make the warehouse nearly impenetrable.
But there was still a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. He knew that he couldn't rely solely on the internal security to ensure the safety of the warehouse. He would need to go out there himself and analyze the surrounding area and cook up an external one.
The thought of making a drone to survey the area came to mind, but he quickly shrugged it. There were certain regions that he wouldn't be able to get a clear picture of, and he could only do it by foot as the area was surrounded by tall trees.
That evening he strolled down to survey the surroundings of the warehouse so he could get a vivid idea on how to go about the external security and ensure there wasn't any blind spot intruders might take advantage of.
It'll be kind of ironic if he was given a job to help some outlaws infiltrate the warehouse in order to steal some valuable shit when it gets put into use, because it's only logical to assume that valuable stuff would be kept at that warehouse, considering the amount of security demanded to it.
While going through the area and scouting out possibly blind spots, going around the building, he was met with a striking image of a man who has seen the ravages of time and war but he wore a security guard uniform and sunglasses. His face is etched with deep lines that speak of a life lived in danger. There is a sense of restrained power in his every movement, as if he could unleash devastating force at any moment.
As his eyes meet with Tom's, there is a palpable sense of unease that spreads through the air. It is as if the very atmosphere recognizes the presence of a dangerous predator. His sharp, angular features are etched with scars, some old and some new, all testament to the many battles he has fought.
He carries himself with a calm, almost regal air, but there is a coldness in his gaze that chills the very soul. His presence commands respect, and yet there is a sense of danger that lingers around him, like a storm cloud waiting to break.
"That's odd, no one ever comes around here. What are you doing here kid?" He asked Tom. His voice is deep and commanding, filled with a sense of authority that brooks no dissent. It is the voice of a man who has seen it all, and who has the scars to prove it. Every word is carefully chosen, every sentence carefully crafted, and there is a sense of power and control in every syllable.
"I was wandering around the area and got lost."
"Oh, I see that. Gotham City is the worst place to wander off to an unfamiliar area. Don't worry kid, I'll point you in the right direction." He said as a smile came across his lips.
"Thank you, I pretty much appreciate your help." He said to the man as he pretended to head in the direction pointed to him by the man, he was done with his scouting mission and needed to leave anyway so there was no need for an excuse that'll make him stay longer.
"Okay if you say so, stay safe out there kid. Not everything is as it seems." The strange man said in a manner that made it seem like it wasn't wisdom, maybe it was the white air that painted that picture of wisdom for Tom but he needed to leave, he was on a mission and couldn't afford to sat any longer than he already had.
"I'll be heading back now, thanks again." Tom said as he left the area, leaving the man who just gave a short wave in response.
Please kindly visit my to read 20 chapters ahead./Maverick_DaSupreme