The Viper's Successor

by Somsiddha Deb Saha

  The Viper’s Successor

  Somsiddha Deb Saha

  Disclaimer

  The characters and mannerisms inculpated in the book are purely fictitious and are not meant to disparage any community, cultures and traditions. Religious and Divine perspectives are totally author’s viewpoint. Any resemblance to reality is purely coincidental and unintentional.

  Authors note :

  Hello there!

  Let me take a moment to thank you for choosing my book! I’m humbled that amidst your daily chores and errands, you have managed to take out your precious time to get overwhelmed in this techno-thriller. Nowadays, because of the indigenous prevalence of eBooks, podcasts and audio books, the habit of reading paperbacks and magazines is slowly getting diaphanous. But no one could avert that enthusiasm of turning pages, smells of a new book, putting bookmarks and marking favorite quotes, while reading is unswerving. I still am indulged to primitive form of reading books as of what are available but it’s really tough for some to put concentration, as uncanny notification tones and time constraints put a snag on that.

  The habit of reading and writing one should not digress from, what I opine. It’ll augment your articulation and vocabulary, trivia about unknown facts. It helps you to tone your cerebral muscles and makes you stand out of the herd.

  Quite vehemently though, I have embarked on writing my first novel about a dystopian world in the near future where mankind suffers evil’s snarky endeavour. Emerging as a novice writer, there will be flaws and mistakes, so feedbacks are what I request. Always a pleasure to get opinions from your end!

  Lots of Love,

  Somsiddha Deb Saha

  Prologue

  (3 Years Ago)

  Takla Makan, CAMBODIA: Notorious criminal and the Kingpin of Bio Arsenals Jade Viper was killed in an air strike by the US Military yesterday. In this attempt, Lieutenant Tricas Alkin and his troops failed to survive, as it was purpoted that terrorists presumed the infiltration would take place and diabolically murdered them mercilessly inside Vipers campaign before the air strike. Incendiary reports have been retrieved and 3 hostages was rescued from the campaign. The hunt for rest of the Guild has been initiated as the perpetrators of Viper’s plans are still at large as per the testimonials and blueprint recovered from the campaign. From a disposed drive a plan of radioactive destruction charted across the major cities of world was retrieved, though detailed information, exact locations and strategies were not found.

  Earlier this evening, a Gun Salute was held at the premises of Washington monument for military’s valiant contributions and gallantry at the battlefield. As per the official reports of the press meet those troops and marines whose whereabouts were oblivious, the US security officials disavowed their identity. It’s still uncertain how many marines survived that day and further information was unavailable from them.

  Washington DC, NY: Today, the Honourable President showed heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyred; He affirms,

  “My solemn homage to the marines and troops and condolences to their family. But, fellow citizens, its no time for mourning. We have survived the plight of a virus outbreak previously, we have survived the precarious calamities, the abominable faces of Apocalypse including Dermatoxia and we must stay strong and square off the insidious threat too. We must show them as a nation we stand strong, we are united, and no threats could doom us. It’s a moment of reckoning for them not ours. This affliction to us caused by them will inflict themselves. No intimidation could survive the concoction of courage, tolerance and tenacity.”

  Mumbai, INDIA: The city just shooked by a devastating explosion this afternoon around 3pm, dilapidating the headquarter of India’s Tech Giant Bhavishya Group of Industries. and its adjoining neighbourhood and edifices. Approx. 6000 residents found dead and 1546 were severely injured. No employees and people inside the office survived. Bomb squad and ballistic experts are called immediately in action to scavenge the cause of explosion. Many are presuming that it might be the endeavours of Vipers protégées as per the conspectus of the plan was recovered 7 months ago at Cambodia. The Indian Government promulgated RAF and paratroopers for utmost security of the citizens.

  Somebody does care!

  Location: Unknown

  Time: 10:51 pm

  He fell out of the bed in pathos. A gloomy nightmare of his teenage life, his bygone days of joining as a cadet, his best friends demise incessantly haunting him now and then. He knew that his fighting days are over, he is incapable of any duties, and have to decompose at the corner of his room, dying with all those laments and suffering.

  “Your task is to infiltrate into the campaign and take a position to devastate the arsenal trailers and eliminate Viper. Remember no hostages are killed in action!” the mission report still sirens and bursts his heart. Just for a moments fault, he had to pay such a price? His friend Adik, Colonel Tricas, his troops?

  “Adik, don’t you dare leaving me! Listen to me! Adik!” The infidels were wiped off by air strike, and amongst the corpses, he was still holding his friend’s mutilated torso. Leftovers of war are just some bloodshed hues and mourning. He is still uncertain why Adik called the air strike inside the lair in the midst of nothing? His mission was to rescue the hostages and put them in safe zone for extraction. Why he suddenly altered his plans and entered directly into Vipers lair?

  Yes, Viper was shot dead by bullets punched to his forehead. But his final mission in battleground is stained with the blood of His pal and troops.

  “PERILS OF WAR, MY FOOT!” Gun Salutes now are so incoherent for him, reparations cannot be compromised by professionalism. How will they know the solidarity at campaign night fires, the fun they had at simulations, the heartfelt camaraderie cannot be gratified and ingeminated?

  Alcohol is now his ally, and he is desperately searching for a moment to purge his emotions for the price of one drink. His psychedelic emotions help him to abstain from that excruciating subtraction. Intoxication of liver is just a mere addition; the world is already intoxicated. Not with poisons and gases, but the deception and espionages, the felonious acts and coercion; what a bottle of liquor will do?

  He’s surfeited. He had enough with this goody goody masquerades of community. Serving the nation also comes with a political agenda. Wheres the pristine moments of life skittering and fluttering in harmonic cadence? That euphoria of bonding? The blissful father-son moments?

  CLINK, CLINK!!

  “Now, who the hell is calling at this point of time?” Searching for his phone, he found it under his pillow. and picked it up.

  “Yes, Hello?”

  “Put on your coat and come out of your house within five minutes, there’s a car waiting for you at the premises. Do not forget to take your weapon.” A deep woman’s voice made him stupefied.

  “Who the f**k is this, HELLO, HELLO!!!!”

  Turning back, He was about to take his crutches, a flashbang dropped in the room breaking the window. His room was filled with smoke instantly. He jumped on his bed and wrapped his shirt around his face, to avoid inhaling the gas; then puts the phone in his pocket and took his crutches. He was about to fall but he controlled himself and rushed out of his room.

  “No time to lose” the voice of the other side of the phone, whispered, rejecting her phone.

  Stumbling down the stairs, he saw a grey AUDI was parked at the door front. A woman of mid-thirties opened the front door and yelled, “HOP IN! WE HAVE BEEN CHASED”!!!! He somehow, shoved the crutches at backseat and hopped.

  As soon as he jumped inside, she accelerated and drifted the car.” Heads down!”, she gasped, “they’re shooting at us! Try to evade the bullets!”

  “And who are you suppose
d to be?” he scoffed. “Who are they shooting? What is going on, need to know!”

  “Save the intro for later, do you have a death wish?” the car swooshes at 80KMPH, diverting the pursuit of unidentifiable and stopped at an unknown Junkyard.

  “Now for F**ks sake, care to tell me what’s going on? Who are those people trying to kill us? And who are you? Surely you don’t have any riddance to fulfill?” He got off from the car.

  “This might hurt a bit, but don’t worry, Navan, I’m not here to kill you!” She muffled, taking out a stun gun from her holster and pulled the trigger. He felt a shock at his chest, the whole world spanned in front of him. He became senseless.

  What’s going on?

  Location: Somewhere in Northern India

  Time: 9:05 am

  “Wake up Navan, had a crazy night, huh?”

  “where am I?” Navan’s vision is still dizzy, and he felt heavy and drowsy. “Chief Hudson? Is it you? Really?”

  “Yes, my boy, I thought you were dead. I tried to contact with my former department a thousand times to find you, but…but…God, I don’t want to remember that day.” Hudson whispered in astonishment. “Anyway, son, you’ve been asleep for 3 days. Get up, have some meal, and then report to me.”

  Navan was still fatigued, somehow, he got up and found himself in a steel confinement. His meal and clothes with crutch were kept ready on table. Decking up, he approached to the elevator. He had no idea where he is, and what Hudson is doing here. Is this some kind of prison? And how the lady from last night know his name?

  “Scanning…Scanning…Retina scan, complete. Hello Mr.Navan. Please proceed forward.”

  “Welcome to Covert Operative Department, Mr. Navan Gilman. COD is a secret operative guild initiated by Mr. Hudson Dale, former elite marine and supervised by operational directive delegates of the world. The improvisation executed is under their constant supervision and procedures implied. Our taskforce inherently and vehemently provide security and assistance against the impending threats around the world and our executions are not inculpated by Governments approval or enforcements, we are an entity for the betterment of the nation and obliteration of the iniquitous invasions indoctrinated by former marines, Navy and commandos. Our private satellites the Eagle Eye is tracking every single operatives of COD 24/7. Most of COD’s employees are consistent in their approach and irrespective of any nations they improvise their missions and achieve victory successfully. Please follow me, you’re about to meet Hudson in 2 minutes.” The AI Hologram accompanied him to the central office. Hundreds of officials working on computers on one level. The elevator stopped at another floor where simulation training and exercises are going on.

  “I was not sitting on my ass after I got expelled that day, you know.” Hudson walked towards him. “I respect Colonel Tricas, he was my role model, and it broke my heart when he castigated me because of that encounter he didn’t wanted to have.”

  Navan pondered the operation at Afghanistan. It was do or die situation, Hudson had only one round left and just to save the residents, he blank fired to the sky letting the Russian oil smuggler to escape. His medallion was ripped off and was banished from the troop.

  “Son let bygones be bygones. The reason why I called you here in my lair….”

  “Wait, wait, how you found me, first of all?

  Hudson explained, “We had initiated a search operation of the troops made out alive from Cambodia that day. We came to know that Tricas Alkin was conducting this mission and have tried to connect with them to provide additional supports. But no response came from their side. So from the past records of that we started finding them, after the salvage operation at Cambodia and suspected missing soldiers. As I was a part of his troop formerly so shortlisting the deceased one was not tough enough. But finding the alive ones was seriously tedious. Our tech guy tracked every corner of the world from our own satellite and found only one name, Navan Gilman. Are you the only one survived that day?”

  “I believe no one made out from that air strike. We’ve lost 6 hostages too. Adik pushed me in a trench to save me but still, the proximity of bombardment permeated a huge part.”

  “All thanks goes to MS. Lucy Ferdoria, our Machine and robotics expert. She has been providing us with necessary tech supports and innovations of bio-ammunitions and paraphernalia required to successfully accomplish missions. As soon as we got information of your whereabouts, she took the whole responsibility to whisk you here. Ahh, there she is.”

  “Hello Navan, nice to meet you again.” She came by his side, Cleaning her rimless spectacles. She was wearing a suit of Adage industries and looked so different, more radiant than that night.

  “You! You managed to take such risk in to save me, ahem, rescue me? Have we met before? And who are those chasing us? “

  “Calm down, Mr.Navan. I have heard about your heroic deeds from Chief Hudson. And I was the fiancée of Adik.” Her last words were full of despair. “At least I could do something for his bestest friend, his pal. Adik would be immortal forever in our conscience and conversations.”

  “I…I am so sorry, Lucy, for your loss. But he didn’t told me that he is about to get married. Forgive me for my fault that I couldn’t have save your beloved.”

  “Don’t feel culpable, at all Mr. Navan. Its just a consequence of his adamant and reckless behaviour. He wanted to give you a surprise.” A penitent smile was on her face. “Ok, Mr.Hudson, notify me when the conference is over.”

  “Yes please. BOYS, SEE YOU IN AN HOUR!”

  “SIR, YES SIR!” The officials saluted.

  Navan had no idea about what’s going on, for a moment. Why a crippled soldier like him became so important? He presumed his fighting days are over. And why this Lucy is concerned so much about him, he felt a little sceptical. Conspiracy? Hudson is generous and a patriot, no doubt: but Lucy? Adik have not mentioned her, even though he used to share all with Navan. Yes, he was a bit rebellious but is the information justifiable?

  Mission Briefing

  Location: COD Headquarters

  Time: 12:16 pm

  “Attention all personnel’s, this is Navan Gilman, former elite marine sharpshooter. Navan, let me introduce you to Sidius Carter, Ex- RAW officer. He’s our detective in charge.”

  Sidius came and shook hands with Navan. He has a stout figure with a bold look. There was a scar in his right cheek; War mark might it be. “Welcome Mr Navan, to COD.”

  “To your right, he is Mr. Armun Dave, expert in explosives, ballistics and armed combats. He’s been working with us since the beginning of COD.”

  “Hello! I saw you today morning when you were unconscious. Hats off to the bravery you executed at battlefield!” Armun smiled at Navan. He has thick eyebrows and rough beard, and continuously adjusting his hair.

  “And this kiddo is Sam Ray, our Tech Expert. Graduated at the age of 16, and PHD in Computer science and programming, much eager to work for the country.”.

  Sam looked really kiddish with his goofy glasses and innocent smile. Keeping his tablet on table he came and also shook hands. “Hello sir, I’ve heard so much about you!”

  Navan felt a bit alienated amongst them. It might be the reason of joining in a conference at briefing room after so long or his physical inability.

  “The evidence we have retrieved from the disposed blueprints had been researched thoroughly to assess possible locations of destruction plans. No signs been detected yet. We led another operation to trace the businessmen with whom the Jade viper traded the Bio ammunitions and have got 27 names of Vipers men disguised among common after his death. For the past 3 years as per our intel, we have been tracking the possible activities of Vipers henchmen and his aficionados across the globe since the explosion at Mumbai, India. Previous year we led a mission out of their activities of launching a plan and successfully disarmed an explosive device at Greece and traced two masterminds behind this. The Cleocorp industries were saved just by an incongruency of their plans. One of th
e air vents was not working properly and was detaining the flow. Sidius and Armun with our other officials acting as assets worlwide was there beforehand, tracing 6 of Vipers men to capture. Analysis of Bhavishya Group and Cleocorp shows that both industries had many collaborations and we have created a report too based on the locations of the blueprint, still couldn’t managed to find the next target. We don’t have that much of unreserved premonition that the targets are corporate headquarters only and what Vipers men are up to but by our constant effort we apprehended them and got possible location of the next explosion. Sam, show us the findings.”

  “Yup!” Sam with his tablet and goofy looks, continued “tracing one of their previous hideouts at NY it was found he travelled two times at Amsterdam. The airport server records show that May 1 and 27 he took a flight off to Netherlands, both as a tourist. He stayed at two different hotels. God knows why.”

  Sidius with a bit husky voice added “but here’s a point to ponder. Those two hotels had a basement interconnected to each other, down the canal. My teams implemented a full security protocol leaving no stones unturned.”