MUSEUM of HISTORY and ART, Gentleman Ghost

[Mr. Zsasz]

The Museum of Art and History was packed with celebrities and reporters. The atmosphere was more like the one you could encounter at one of Bruce Wayne’s extravagant parties. And why not? After all it was not every day that the monarchy of Khandaque entrusted one of its national treasures to the West. This was a major attempt to bridge the diplomatic gap between the two countries, and as expected aside from the politicians and celebrities there was also the very noticeable presence of the police and federal security on the scene. At the insistence of the Mayor, Commissioner James Gordon was also present, although his discomfort was evident. He should be downtown, or in the streets trying to put an end to the brutal killings that plagued the City, not here pretending to enjoy being dressed like the Penguin.

Winslow, Robert and Ben were trying to mingle with the crowd. But what they say is true; the clothes do not make the man. Even dressed as they were they stood out like a fly in the ointment? Robert had taken over the buffet and greedily stuffed his mouth with canapés, while Ben was trying to impress a model with his vulgar jokes. Winslow just stood in the corner, boredom obvious on his face, waiting for the boss’ signal. If everything went as planned the Fantom Diamond would be in their grasp shortly after the unveiling. The boss had arranged for the champagne being served to be drugged, so there should be no problem from the press and the other attendants. The knockout gas canisters hidden in the ventilation system should quell all other resistance, should the need arise.

With the corner of his eye, Winslow caught a glimpse of Gordon. With an almost comical lunge he hid behind a thick marble column. Gordon had put him behind bars nearly fifteen years ago in Chicago. He could not take the chance of being recognized. That would ruin the plan, and Winslow knew better than to screw up the plans of Gotham-based costumed master criminals. Imprisonment would be the least of his problems then…

Winslow could not take it any more. The anticipation was killing him. Also the tux was making him itchy. Then finally a tall blonde man began to speak. Something about brotherhood and trust and all that bull. Then they unveiled it. It was beautiful. The Fantom Diamond. It shouldn’t be long now, Winslow thought, and as if on cue white mist begun to appear behind the large display case. The boss had finally arrived. Soon they would all be rich…

[Mr. Zsasz]

The Gentleman Ghost stepped out of the white cloud and used his cane to trip the announcer off the podium. He then took a bow before the startled crowd.

“Please forgive the intrusion ladies and gentlemen, but I’ll try not to bother you for very long”. He walked towards the display case and gently tapped the glass with his cane. “I’ll merely liberate this catching bauble from its glass confines and be on my way”

Commissioner Gordon realized it was time to act. He had only heard of the Gentleman Ghost, and was determined not to let the thief pull one of his disappearing acts with the Fantom Diamond. Gordon tried to reach for his gun, but he realized his movements were uncoordinated. It was becoming harder to think. Most of the people around him did not seem to fare much better. “…The… drinks…” he managed to utter, before finally collapsing.

In the podium the Gentleman Ghost observed Gotham’s famous and influential drop like flies. If he had a mouth he would smile. The plan was working perfectly. Perhaps the knockout gas in the vents was just too much after all…

[Anne Onymous]

It felt good to be back in costume again, not only clothed with the tight black out and flowing cape, but with the city of Gotham wrapped around her. It had been a long time since she was here. A long time filled with confusing events, strange and sad moments, and possibly losing many of the trusts she had worked so hard to build up since No Man’s Land. But it was all necessary; necessary to bring down the League of Assassins, now leaderless and dispersed, as well as hurt the new and dangerous Society by not only defeating one of their leaders, Deathstroke, but defacing him in view of his fellow villains. She had infiltrated Deathstroke’s own hand-picked vendetta team of Titans. But now those missions were done. She was back to the one place she ever considered home, even when it lie in rubble, abandoned by its government. Gotham City, though still only recently rebuilt, held an aura about it of a city withstanding many generations, and that would withstand many to come. Yes, it was good to be back.

Cassandra Cain, or as she preferred to be called, Batgirl, stood on a roof across from the Gotham Museum of Art and History. According to her sources (her sources mostly being beaten up thugs in the bar downtown, “Dini’s” there was a score going down tonight. Even with the upped security at the insistence of the Khandaq government, Batgirl knew never to underestimate a criminal still willing to function in Gotham.

As if on cue, Batgirl spotted several denizens of the museum dashing out...but not many. Their body language communicated only one thing: panic. Batgirl realized quickly that not only was something happening inside, but most of the patrons were being prevented from fleeing. In a moment, she was across the street on a grapple line. Not wasting time, she kicked the roof entry door down. No alarm sounded. Under her opaque lenses, Cass rolled her eyes. Increased security. Sure...

The security cameras on the stairs would pick up nothing much more than a black blur racing down. A white mist under the door showed Batgirl she was on the correct floor. Again bursting through, Cass this time had to step over two security guards, each with a Champaign glass in their hands, presumably taken when they weren’t supposed to. No matter. Batgirl preferred to confront villains alone.

Following the mist, Batgirl soon came to the room where the Fantom Diamond was held. Most of the crowd were unconscious, and the few who weren’t were too afraid to do much. One woman was about to make a run for it—Cass could tell. Quickly descending into the mist, Batgirl was to this woman with her black-gloved hand over her mouth in an instant. The woman’s eyes lit up with panic, but Batgirl put a finger in front of her own mouth, signaling the woman to be quiet. She pointed to the ground, signaling for her to get down. The woman nodded. Cass let her go, and the woman complied. Batgirl took the moment to survey the scene. It looked like three thugs...and their leader. But this is where Batgirl gasped. Their leader appeared to be...a ghost?! his gentlemanly suit, cape, top hat, and even monocle seemed to be all dressed...on nothing! Cass had faced her share of supervillains, even metas. But this was something she hadn’t seen anything similar to since the Shadow Thief.

But Batgirl recalls: the Shadow Thief went down like any other crook. This... “gentleman ghost” would do the same.

First thing first, though: The henchmen. Taking them out fast would throw the ghost off his game.

[Anne Onymous]

Batgirl worked fast, as she always does. When the supposed ghost had his back turned, she rush forward and picked off the henchmen standing furthest back. He wasn’t even able to make much of a sound; a rush of black through the white mist and he was gone, already unconscious thanks to a precise pressure-point move. Actually with the right amount of pressure, it’s fatal, but Batgirl knows exactly the right way to use the move. Sometimes one must know how to kill in order to avoid it.

She didn’t have the stealth luck with the other two, however. The biggest of the three happened to turn back to say a joke to his friend. Seeing him missing, they raised their guns. “Benny?” he said aloud—just before he was struck with a batarang, one designed to be heavy, not sharp. He fell forward dropping his weapon.

The last thug opened fire in Batgirl’s supposed direction. Thankfully for Batgirl, he was off. However, he was firing where she had deposited the first thug. Acting quickly, Batgirl revealed herself, leaping into the air, cape flying into an imposing shape of bat wings. The thug was intimidated, but only to the point of losing his aim. He opened fire at the Bat, and Cass was forced to drop down and dash behind a nearby exhibit.

By this time, the supposed specter was alerted to the presence of an intruder. The gunfire certainly wasn’t silent. Batgirl removed several flash pellets form a pouch on her belt. Chucking them over her head, a bullet hit one prematurely, but the desired effect came about none-the-less. The crook was blinded, momentarily stopping his gun fire.

A moment was all Batgirl needed.

Just as he was raising his gun again, she was on him, swiftly upper cutting the goon, then kicking him in the midsection so hard he was knocked into the podium where the white-clothed villain was still standing.

Batgirl rose up and stood in a ready fighting stance. It appeared as though she was silently challenging the ghost. In truth, behind her black eyes, she was checking the 2nd thug, who was stirring.

She now had a divided front, and was revealed. It was time to wait for which would act first...

[Mr. Zsasz]

The Gentleman Ghost looked at the dark figure standing before him. She moved with a fluid grace and silence that put many of his… acquaintances… to shame. This must be the new Batgirl he had heard of. During his time with the Joker and the others he had faced the redhead one, but this one was different. She was all business.

Undaunted by this turn of events the Ghost began to clap with velvet gloved hands. “Congratulations. A truly impresive entrance milady. The costume is a bit ominous. But then again who am I to talk…”

Nothing. Not a single move. And her cowl concealed her facial expressions. She might as well have been a statue.

“So milady, if you could please enlighten me.” The Ghost took a few steps backwards and rested on his cane. “ I’ve been in Gotham City shy of two weeks now, and I had the distinct pleasure of encountering every young squire the Dark Knight has at his disposal. But what of his Dark Lordship himself? When will he come out and play?”

Winslow knew what the boss was doing. He had no idea whether it was working or not though. The Penguin had said that she was a ninja, all Kill Bill and stuff. Still, this was as good a chance as any. He took out his gun and squeezed the trigger…

[Anne Onymous]

The ghost had tried to distract her, stall her, keep her attention away from the henchman. A smart move, but a telling one. Even without a visible body, she was able to read his stance and voice. He wasn’t going to make the move. He was communicating for his hired help to do so.

The move she was waiting for was made. As Winslow picks up the gun and fired, Batgirl was already dropped below his aim, and before he even realized she had moved, he felt a sharp batarang dig into his arm, forcing him to drop the gun.

“AH!” he called out, but then the gun was kicked from in front of him. He raised his head. When did she get here?! Was she part-Flash or something?!

The kick to the face came before he could vocalize the question.

Batgirl turned back to the ghost on the stage now...but instead of finding the seemingly floating white suit and cape, a new puff of white smoke was in his place. Possibly just hiding behind this obstacle, Batgirl threw another two batarangs—regular ones, not knowing where she might hit him behind the smoke. The projectiles entered the mist quickly...and exited the other side, spinning opposite each other, and returning to her hands. Was he no longer there? She would have seen him depart...Cass saw the mist clearing and waited, taking in her surroundings.

Even as she did all this, though, the girl thought about the words spoken to her. She had not actually seen Batman, Robin, or Oracle since her return, having simply returned to being in costume and getting to work. What would Robin say to her after being an un-knowing part of her ruse in the League of Assassins and the faux Titans East? Batman had wanted nothing to do with her when she left over a year ago. And Oracle...Barbara...She was like a big sister to Cass. Did she feel betrayed, too?

No time to think about that now. The silent fighter stood ready to confront the supposed ghost as his white smoke dispersed.

[Mr. Zsasz]

“Alas, good help is so hard to find in this century” The Ghost’s mocking voice echoed in the large room.

Retaining her battle-stance, Batgirl began to scan the area for traces of her allegedly-ghostly opponent, but nothing. His voice came from everywhere and nowhere…

“In any case, I don’t believe we have been formally introduced. I am Gentleman James Craddock…”

Then suddenly Cassandra felt a strange presence appearing out of nowhere right behind her!!!

“Pleased to make your acquaintance…”

[Anne Onymous]

Cass reacted fast and swift. Anyone foolish enough to sneak up on Batgirl regretted it with a broken nose. Her arm swung faster than a normal person could react to, her palm striking...

...nothing.

She stood in this pose, but turned her head quickly from left to right. She heard laughter, but unable to judge its direction was unable to deduce where it was coming from. She formed another fighting stance, not holding a weapon, merely her open-palmed hands.

Finally , she spoke.

"Show yourself"

[Mr. Zsasz]

“Whatever do you mean by that?” The mocking voice filled the room yet again. “I haven’t budged an inch” came the voice from behind her.

Moving with the reflexes of a born athlete, Batgirl turned and faced the Ghost. He stood right there. Right in front of the glass case with the Fantom Dianond. Resting on his cane. Exactly were he was before the smoke. Was he there all along? Was her mind playing tricks?

“So you CAN talk” The Ghost stood erect and began to circle the case. He rested the cane on his shoulder, and gently traced his gloved hands on the glass confines of his quarry.

“So, pray tell, whatever happened to the original Batgirl? Still alive and kicking I expect”

[Anne Onymous]

"You talk too much," came Batgirl's reply. Darting forward, the young Bat took a swing at Craddock.

And again missed.

Her arm seemed to pass through nothing, and when she recovered, the Ghost was on the other side of the case. Cass was getting frustrated with this. She prefers opponents she can either clock unconscious or spar with evenly. But this trickery was getting old.

"Not leaving here with the...diamond." She said, masking her frustrations and keeping the imposing Bat-attitude famous in Gotham.

[Mr. Zsasz]

The Ghost snickered malevolently. This was fun indeed, but it was taking too long. It was time to stop with the games and finally claim his prize. With a gentle movement the Ghost revealed a button concealed at the top of his cane.

“These unfortunates have ingested a potent anesthetic agent. Now can you imagine what would happen to them in this weakened state if they also inhaled the knockout gas my lads have stashed in the vents?”

The Ghost paused and looked at the slender shadow standing before him. He knew he had her attention.

“Now I suggest you allow my associates and I walk away with the bauble, or I press this button and… well… we’ll see how many of these good people come to join me… on the other side…”

[Anne Onymous]

The girl stood poised. Reading the body language of a man with no visible body was difficult, but not impossible. The suit did not move to show signs of lying or bluffing. This Craddock character seemed to be telling the truth, which Cass could not risk.

In a quick swoop, Cass pulled her cape around her and stood straight up. She had to admit she no longer had the upper-hand in this situation, and she would not risk the lives of these people just to regain her pride. She stood motionless and silent again, but was keeping an eye on this gentlemanly crook and his stirring cohorts. This wasn't the end.

[Mr. Zsasz]

“Splendid” Said the Ghost triumphantly. “Now Gentlemen if you please. We DO have other pressing engagements.”

Winslow was the first one to regain his senses. Maaaan! This Bat chick could teach the Batman a trick or two about hitting people. When the room finally stopped spinning he heard the boss summoning him, and knew it was time. He helped Ben and Robert stand up and the trio sluggishly approached the display case. For a few seconds they all stood there staring quizzically at the case, the boss and the Bat. It was Benny who finally got out his gun and shot the case, shattering it into a hundred glittering pieces.

“Crude but effective” sneered the Ghost.

As his men retrieved the diamond, he turned to Batgirl. It was evident that this was tearing her apart. Just standing there, watching him and his men literally walk away. He was certain she was up to something. She was a Bat after all…

[Anne Onymous]

In truth, it'd already happened. When the ghost was distracted by the gunshot and shattering glass, Batgirl pretended to simply be shielding herself from the glass. In reality, she took the moment to throw a small device from her pouch, which landed on the pantleg of Winslow. The shot had distracted him as well. It was a tracker. If she had to let these low-lifes go for now, she would catch them later. Only next time, she would be ready.

[Mr. Zsasz]

With a gentle flick of his wrist the Ghost signaled his men to depart with the prize. He then bowed theatrically at his adversary.

“Milady it was indeed a pleasure” He sneered as he pressed the button on his cane, and thick white smoke rushed forcefully through the museum’s vents to fill the room. “Please inform the Dark Knight that I do look forward to our next encounter…!”

As the Ghost disappeared amidst the white fumes Batgirl stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by the unconscious forms of the drugged visitors and security guards…