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Batman is getting too old for this, though he will never admit that out loud. He and Red Robin have pulled a few all-nighters trying and failing to access any information on Amity Park Illinois. It had been easy to hack the GIW's systems but again all of their “research” and “ science” was biased. Their experiments are cruel and gruesome, he could see why the Ghost king was ready for war.
They seemed particularly obsessed with Phantom and his “abnormal” physiology. They had file after file on him, from his body temperature to his flight patterns they had well over 50 files documenting him. But none of them told the Bats anything worth knowing.
All of their files on him reference Amity Park as his “Haunt” but there is a government issued media black out. Normally that's not an issue to hack but there appears to be a second line of defense keeping even Oracle out. Someone doesn't want anyone finding out about Amity Park and it's not just the GIW. Everytime Red Robin and Oracle get close to cracking their codes the codes seem to come to life and rearrange themselves putting the Bats back at square one.
It's been quiet for the last 6 days with no new Demons and no Ghosts. For the last 2 days it's felt like the world was holding its breath waiting for the other shoe to drop. It has all the heros on edge, even most of the Rogues and villains have been quiet.
Maybe that was why Batman and Red Robin were on their 6th attempt today (or maybe Bruce just felt bad for the Ghost kid). A sense of urgency was ever present with this case unlike other cases.
The sound of typing filled The Batcave, a fast but steady pace with brief pauses for caffeine intake. The two are close to cracking the codes (again) when it comes to life and seems to rewrite itself.
“Damn it!” Red Robin slams his fists on the console “Every fudging time! Whoever this is we need to hire them!”
“Hn” Batman responds
They are about to start again with the screens go black startling both vigilantes.
“That's not good!” Red Robin starts frantically hitting keys “I didn't even get a notice from my systems”
A small blinking green cursor appears in the middle of the screen as words start to appear.
[Seriously do you ever sleep! It's been days! We aren't going anywhere! Go take a nap or something!]
“Well that's new” Red Robin sighs “how do we respond? They have us locked out”
[We can hear you just fine]
The two Vigilantes scowl at the computer.
“What are you hiding” Batman the ever so blunt.
[That depends on who's asking]
“I highly doubt you don't know who we are” Red Robin adds
[Right let me rephrase that for you. You don't get to know because for all we know you're working for the GIW]
“Is this Phantom? We aren't working for the GIW but we are trying to gather information to help repeal the Anti-Ecto Control Acts” Batman defended
[You can call me pharaoh, I'm a member of Phantom's team. And excuse me if this come off rude but why do you care? The Justice League let the Acts pass and haven't done anything about them for the last 2 years. So why now? Because Ghosts saved you asses?]
Shame washed over both vigilantes before Red Robin responded “we aren't sure how they never tripped out systems but we know now and are trying to make it right”
[ We still can't afford to trust you. The GIW might have a lot of information on Phantom but they don't have it all and we aren't letting just anyone have it either]
“Are you not a ghost as well?” Batman questioned after a few seconds of thought.
[ No most of team Phantom are very much alive but different]
“Are you metas?”
[ No but I won't go into detail. If you want answer you'll have to ask Phantom first]
“How do we get in contact with him?”
[You would have to come to us so he can read you]
“Okay ignoring how creepy that sounds, we tried to investigate in person but every time one of us gets close we pass out” Red Robin was growing frustrated (not from a lack of sleep, No!) “Only Superman was able to get in and he just said the town was odd and no one wanted to talk to him”
[ Yeah that's Amity for you, the others that were sent must have been Liminal on some level. This is Phantom's haunt so he will have to invite you in before you can cross over]
“Is he that powerful that he can just do that?”
[ You've watched him throw down with a Demon and you're asking if he's that powerful?]
“Fare point. Can you ask him to let us in or to meet with us?”
[ Phantom has been busy lately so when I see him next I will. I know he said Batman helped him so I'm sure he will agree]
“You don't know where the leader of your team is?” Red Robin sounded shocked
[ First of all he isn't really our leader, second he's a ghost who has been fighting on the front lines to protect this realm from demons. So no I have no idea what realm, dimension, world, or time line he's in at this exact moment]
“Are you allowed to tell us how many demons are still a threat?” Batman interjects
[ I don't see why not, there are 3 still loose 2 are Kaiju and 1 is their king. She can swap places with her Kaiju and her Kaiju are smaller and slippery. They are really giving the hunting parties a run for their money]
“Is that where Phantom is then”
[ Like I said I don't know, he got the call and rushed off 2 days ago without saying anything. But I would assume that's where he's been. All we can do is hope they don't make it here]
And as if it was planned the whole Cave shakes and a booming roar is heard.