Chapter 67: Surveillance
Batman moved silently through the narrow passages as the Aegis Protocol's enhanced systems mapped his route and monitored for any signs of detection.
"Robin, I'm inside the perimeter," Batman whispered into his comm unit. "Deploying surveillance network now."
Batman reached into one of the suit's specialized compartments and withdrew a compact deployment device containing twenty micro-drones, each no larger than a quarter and designed to mimic common insects. With a flick, the mechanism released them into the facility's ventilation system.
"Drones are active," he reported quietly. "Full facility coverage in one twenty seconds."
Through his HUD, Batman watched as tiny green dots spread across a 3D map of the prison complex. Each micro-drone transmitted real-time video feeds, thermal signatures, and audio monitoring directly to his helmet's integrated display system.
"Copy that," Robin's voice crackled through the comm. "External surveillance shows no change in patrol. Whatever you're doing, they haven't noticed yet."
Batman emerged from the maintenance tunnel into the facility's basement, where laundry rooms, storage areas, and mechanical systems filled the level. The Aegis Protocol's night vision guided him through the darkness without much effort.
The prison's architectural layout appeared on his HUD as a wireframe overlay, with guard positions marked as moving red dots and camera blind spots highlighted in green. The facility's lax security became immediately apparent—too many gaps, too few guards, and predictable surveillance.
"Robin, I'm accessing the facility's security network," Batman reported as he approached a wall-mounted electrical panel. The Aegis Protocol's integrated hacking suite made quick work of the outdated security protocols. "I need eyes on Firefly's location."
"Standing by for data upload."
Batman's fingers moved across a compact keyboard interface built into his gauntlet, infiltrating the prison's computer systems. Within moments, he had administrative access to guard rosters, prisoner locations, and facility schedules.
"Firefly is housed in Block C, Level 2," Batman confirmed, studying the incoming data. "But according to these logs, he's been granted laboratory access for 'consultation work' with federal agents. He's not in his cell."
"Laboratory? What kind of lab does a minimum security prison have?"
Batman's enhanced optics scanned the facility schematics. "Former medical wing, converted to technical consultation space. Crawford's been allowing Firefly to work on his equipment in exchange for cooperation."
Through his micro-drone network, Batman watched the prison's routine on his HUD. Guards moved along their rounds without much attention, inmates lingered in the common areas watching television, and staff sat at their desks sorting through paperwork.
Everything appeared completely normal.
"Robin, any movement at external access points?" Batman asked as he moved toward the facility's central stairwell, staying within camera blind spots.
"Negative. No vehicles, no foot traffic, no thermal signatures approaching the facility. Given that Firefly is still alive, I would say Architect's not here yet."
Batman reached the stairwell and paused, consulting his tactical display. The laboratory was two floors above his current position, accessible through a corridor that passed three guard stations and four surveillance checkpoints.
The Aegis Protocol's stealth capabilities would need to be put to the test.
Batman activated the suit's active camouflage system, watching as the armor's surface shifted to match the surrounding environment. The technology wasn't perfect invisibility, but combined with his natural stealth skills and knowledge of guard patrol timing, it would be sufficient.
He began his ascent, slipping through shadows and blind spots. Every step was measured, every pause timed to the rhythm of guard patrols and camera sweeps.
"First floor clear," Batman reported softly. "No detection."
The second-floor corridor stretched ahead, every step a risk of exposure. Fluorescent lights cast sharp shadows, cameras swept in fixed arcs, and faint voices of guards carried from the far end.
Batman consulted his HUD, watching the patrol patterns play out in real-time through his drone network. Two guards were approaching from the east corridor, their routine conversation about sports scores masking their footsteps. A third guard sat at the security station, focused more on his smartphone than the monitor displays.
The window of opportunity lasted exactly forty-seven seconds.
Batman moved.
His enhanced speed carried him through the corridor as the Aegis Protocol adjusted his path to avoid sensors and cameras. Within thirty seconds, he reached a ventilation grate near the laboratory section.
Batman positioned himself in the shadows of an equipment alcove, with clear sight lines to the laboratory entrance. Through his micro-drone surveillance, he could observe the interior of the converted medical facility that had been repurposed into a technical workspace.
The laboratory was filled with workbenches covered in flame-throwing equipment, fuel mixture containers, and prototype incendiary devices. And hunched over one of the workbenches, completely absorbed in his work, sat Garfield Lynns—Firefly.
"Robin, I have visual confirmation of Firefly," Batman whispered into his comm, watching through his drone's camera feed. "He's alone in the laboratory, working on new equipment."
"Any sign of the Architect?"
"Negative. Maintaining surveillance position."
Through his micro-drone surveillance, Batman could see the facility's normal operations continuing undisturbed.
The man who had burned twenty-three elderly residents alive just days earlier was humming quietly to himself as he assembled what appeared to be a new flamethrower prototype.
Firefly's humming became clearer through the audio feed from Batman's surveillance drone. The burned killer was singing to himself a twisted version of a children's nursery rhyme:
"Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream..."
Firefly paused in his work, holding up a fuel injector component to examine it.
"Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a scream..."
The perverted lyrics were disturbing even through the electronic feed.
"Burn, burn, burn the flesh, watch it melt away..."
Firefly resumed his assembly work, connecting fuel lines while continuing his disturbing song.
"Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, screaming all the way..."
"Still no movement at any external access points," Robin reported through the comm.
Batman settled into his surveillance position, the Aegis Protocol's systems running continuous scans of the facility. Every corridor, every room, every potential entry point was monitored through his drone network.
Through his surveillance network, Batman watched that everything seemed normal.
But Batman knew better. The Architect was coming.
Firefly's singing grew louder as he attached components to his prototype flamethrower:
"Thirty little children, sleeping in their beds..."
"Down came Firefly, and burned off all their heads..."
"When the morning came, there was nothing left to see..."
"Except the pretty ashes, falling just for me..."
"Robin," Batman whispered into his comm, "Be careful. My intuition is telling me he will strike tonight."
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