The Viper's Successor

by Somsiddha Deb Saha

  We were about to reach the final stage on that day, you know when you got the news. Couldn’t it be just a week later? What illicit activities I have committed that the almighty took everything from me? Rony could not come too from his campaign. And, how could he? How could we? The entire world had seen the drastic image of quarantine zones, accursed with virus. I stood as a total failure, a joker of the society who could not save his own loved ones and I blame myself for that. Suvantika died because of my malediction. Why is love always to get cursed?

  But no emotions work in professional fields. With persistence I achieved the breakthrough within the very next two months. I also got my hands on the Idium, wanted to sculpt something out of it and clone it into infinite incendiaries. For the army that has unwavering approach for protection of the country, I wanted to do something for them as this Idium when compressed, is impregnable.I wanted to share it with Rony too, but later I realised it was too late. For my envision was a disease-free world, and secured with utmost tranquillity where everyone thrives peacefully despite maintaining distance and touch. What is love without a gentle touch, a pat on the shoulder, cuddling, warm hugs and kisses? I wanted that no one should suffer the same fate like me in this world. But with my provisions only I had to resort to one of my classmates, the big shot entrepreneur of NY, to seek distributable indoctrinations. I have not wanted any help from him before, but unable to seek and other way, I had to. But turned out, self-benefits and politics are intertwined with this society, there is nothing left for generosity. The world itself is suffering from the disease of amassing powers to imbue, what could this simple virus do?

  Failed and despondent, my subconscious mind instigated me to take the path of Demon. I ran out of my optimism, tolerance, and tenacity. The dark side of mine had engulfed me, pressurized me, slowly but steadily. The same hand I used to cure thousands, turned into the hands of choking and killing millions. Yes, this man, your dad is the cause behind as he was dead inside, long before mercilessly stomped by politics and businesses. Murdering hundreds of customs duty officers, port trust managers, start-up venturers I started trading biological weapons and chemicals with foreign and underdeveloped countries, to their corporates to defile the World class enterprises and industries deals in pharmaceuticals and drugs. But still could not succeeded to collapse them as entrepreneurship surpasses smuggling, duping, and bootlegging you cannot even imagine the mendacities. Deluding our contracts they threatened to kill me . They stood strong because of their political power and they intimidated me with stoppage of sending medical assistant to resistance, forces, guild and terrorists, whom I have been supplying with live saving drugs and weapons through these corporates, working as a medium. I had not believed these felonious beings from the very beginning and as presumed they showed their real stance. What could I do instead? How could I trade without a middleman? An entity? Conciliation with enemies should not be done, I understood finally. Berkserked and deranged I led the Zombie Apocalypse of 2028, a virus made from Donnovan Gilman’s blood. That same blood which flowed continuously during happy moments during our harmonious relationships and splattered during treachery. It pervaded and extruded the regions. I was not into myself. I took oath to save people, not killing them.

  Then I realised, what have I done in aggression? Just for my grievance, mankind is paying its price? This is not what I wanted, to kill children, women, and men! Deepti and Suvantika is watching me from heaven and regretting what end this man has brought to mankind. I did spread the carrier, but…but Dermatoxia was not my invention. It grew from those decaying bodies, whose justice had not been served, waiting on deaths threshold to skew my heart. The common people, noble-personalities, social workers, all are suffering the same fate of the miscreants.

  I always was worried about you two. Contacting you was unable from my side; you can get that. But how could I contact Rony? And with what impression? Your father is no one but the erring Jade Viper, the one on whom a shoot at sight has been enforced just bootlegging and contraband of weapons and chemicals? The inspiration, the bearer of the family is a mass murderer? Zombie apocalypse was my execution, no one in this world knows that and I am telling this to you only. If possible, with your skills spread this news in press and media as people will never know who was behind this. This is not some incongruencies of nature, but a deed of this abominable creature, they need to know that.

  I have realised that my end will be no time sooner, so I’m writing you this. Create a good identity of yourself and don’t live by my name. And I am happy that you are doing what you wanted, and not polarized by something else. And the cure for Dermatoxia, yes, I have invented it. It is ready yet a couple of adjustments need to be done and you can do that, I have unreserved faith upon you. If possible, distribute them without cost to the society, the locations are given below. Do not trust and coincide with any contractual agreement with anyone at all.Before dying, all I want is atonement of my own sin. Its not a benevolent deed. Jade Viper should die and need not to be alive anymore. I love you two more than anything in this world and wish you success with whatever blessings I have left in me, a criminal.

  There was an enclosure attached with the letter, including another white paper of handwritten formulaes and location marks. He contemplated upon them and couldn’t sleep the whole night.

  The next move…

  Location: Auburn, Alabama

  Time: 2:06 pm

  “Navan, is it really you? Where have you been all these years? You kept no contact with me after that accident and disappeared suddenly. You might hold that it was I to blame, about what happened that day, but believe me, I didn’t. Your dad was such a humble and generous man. Who would have done such ghastly murder? And what are you doing right now? This company is yours, son. Don’t let your Dad’s company collapse in the hands of an unfledged like me.”

  “Mr. Kane I’ll tell you everything later, and I’m not here for trover of this company. You are worthy to ramp it up. but first we’ve to arrange for adequate security measures apart from police and bodyguards. I have premonitions that there will be attack today, here.”

  “What are you talking about? From where you got the news? I appreciate your concern but special forces of Z plus security are taking care of me and my family 24/7. Adage is a multi-million-dollar company now and we have kept no flaws in our protections and contingency plans. This year we could reach the crescendo. If only your dad is alive, he could’ve cherished this success, but because of shortage of space and trade deficits, we have revamped our headquarters and 10 lakh employees are under our vertical, serving. No harm can reach to Adage now.”

  “We won’t intervene in your process. But we have to indoctrinate such. Just spread the news among your officials that were here for additional safety measures.”

  “Okay then, to keep your word only, I’m taking your initiative in consideration. But please meet me once the event is over. It feels good to see you again Navan.”

  Navan’s instinct was telling him that the sabotage will take place today only, as per the phone call of the unidentifiable. The evil might show up, as this is totally a breakthrough to cure the world from the aftermath of the apocalypse, The Dermatoxia. All four of them worked tirelessly to assess the guest list of the event, Fulkan past business deals and blueprints of the headquarters architecture. Sidius himself took the risk to disguise himself as an employee and secretively retrieved the storeys of server, CCTV rooms, air vents and emergency exits, what is pertinent. Armun and Navan too had a conversation with NYPD about an extra hand in this, without mentioning else. Sam took time to take out the guest list and Kane’s assistants as the servers were in shutdown process once during a third party sneak. For this adequate support from COD was provided by Hudson and his teams.

  Previously, Hudson was a bit sceptical about this assumption, but later because of Navans confidence and his true prediction about the previous mission made him herald this operation. That evening after the call they connected
to Hudson about their plans. Sidius was off to COD the very next day and from there he started his infiltration operation.

  “No hostages should get affected. And your objective is to capture the person not killing him in pursuit. Don’t get yourself identified like the previous time Navan, and all of you. The task of COD is to work furtively.”

  One thing was bugging Navan continuously. Why the identity deviates from explosion and emerges on shooting Kane? And just after the vaccine was announced? Kane is involved in his mission and have betrayed him before? Or he was with Jade viper? Or the Adage Industry will be destroyed like Mumbai? Fortunately, Italy had not experienced much but was he up to blowing the EN TRASTE of Arezzo? Which was a couple of miles from the bridge. From the investigation of EU GRANOI hotel, a couple of ID cards, tabloids and a hand drawn map of the parking lot has been retrieved. One of the Big Cheese of technology and bleeding edge hovercars? How this errant is choosing companies out of the masses and destroying them? And for what purpose?

  This was the plan of Jade Viper, for sure as from the disposed blueprint the radioactive explosions were mentioned. But there were no connections with those industries. 6 countries of the world have been marked with red cross to indicate, Greece, New York, Japan, India, Switzerland, and Italy. Now to start from a trace, all of these countries possess numerous companies and tech giants belong to Global manufacturing and contribution and flourishing rapidly, their businesses. No possible connections were found at all. Which among them have to suffer the same like Bhavishya group?

  Two days ago, they have landed at Auburn, Alabama. Navan recalled his hometown, his childhood moments he spent here. Just at the opposite of Auburn university, his encomiastic puerile moments etched. Just some few hours’ drive from there lies the Adage Industries, found by Donnovan Gilman in the year 1999. Serving the vertical of pharmaceuticals and medical services, Adage immediately gained success in its first five years of inception. Enlisted in fortune 500 in 2016, Adage ensued its operation to all over the world via e-services of doctors and appointments. They launched an appbot called “Clickadage” through where consumers can order medicines delivered by drones and bots at doorstep, book appointments of doctor and that too comes with additional discounts offered. Hospitals and nursing homes were also supplied with A-droids, their personal healthcare assistants. The patients and the indisposed gets a thorough surveillance and medical care without any intervention of physical staffs. Also, they keep a supply record of each customers ordered medicines available at the stores in vicinity. Not as an aggregator, but a real time saver and effective measure was what Donnovan thought of.

  Donnovan’s demise really shook the corporate world. Providing service selflessly for over 21 years was what is respectable and honoured. Fulkan Kane afterwards, was unable to retain the goodwill of the company. He started charging more than a minimum value from the expectations and that’s why the ratings of Clickadage dropped fast. To sustain some of its shares were sold and the company for the last 11 years running on debt. For this the amount present in the treasury of AFS (Adage For Society) were splurged. In 2028, Adage also promised a proximity alert of drones from Zombie hordes but later they had failed to incorporate it.

  Shareholders started evading purchasing the company shares and they had no other option than to terminate the Clickadage project. Until this month, Adage rose to gossips and center of conversation as they have achieved the breakthrough of Dermatoxia. The future is just uncertain, and the premonitions cannot be averted. Still the Shine of Adage because of its past contributions to the society and the healthcare domain did not faded off, it stands high amongst the odds. Comprised of 180 storeys, the office has itself a droid operated hospital on 56th floor, 3 conference halls on 2nd ,48th and 60th floor, AFS (Adage For Society) foundation offices, solar panels and self-retaining electric towers are installed at rooftop. For a minuscule contribution towards carbon footprint, Adage forms, uses and runs on its own generated power.

  EMP attacks could be inherent to shutdown the powers, and also auxiliary powers could be disrupted too. After thorough introspection of the Offices blueprints, Sidius found that the auxiliary powers run on analog control and it takes manual operation to reboot the power system. If theres any malfunction with the power supplies, measures will be carried out by officials present ordered by COD, working in unison with NYPD. Fire alarms and emergency shutdowns had also be revised and checked. Since 2 days before the event, Armun mapped every basements, emergency doors, parking lot, panic rooms and halls for unanticipated causes of incongruencies. Threats could come from anywhere, so Sam kept an eye on the activities of guests and cops, their records, professions, hotel boarding, flight data etc. 30 armed forces and 12 IT experts were sent from COD to assist the four. There is some informant in NYPD too, they’ve managed to get into their operative synergy along with other cops. The event will take place at the 2nd floor, from 12 am onwards and press will cover the story till 3 am. As this is a sole initiative of Adage and no government interventions are there, the security department arranged for the NYPD protections. Fulkan will be guarded by 4-armed Black cat bodyguards throughout the event.

  The four were revising the mission plan once again the night before with the other members of COD. The forces of COD and NYPD with apt synergy mapped and monitored every intricate details.

  “Since no protégé of Jade Viper is at NY right now, it increases the chances of their head to be present tomorrow. Keep an eye on Fulkan continuously and do not let him escape from your sight. The washrooms are also protected, and sufficient measures been taken.” Sidius delegated.

  “Whats your status about the proximity alert and CCTV, Sam?” Armun questioned.

  “ I have set the optimal frequency of the analog radio controls to trigger the alarm if theres any anomaly. And I have started the recording of the footages of every camera from 6.30. Also, 8 additional micro drone cameras will be pointed to Fulkan from either direction tomorrow. If theres any interruption in his speech due to hostility, the drone cameras will mark the point of action automatically.”

  Totally unexpected!

  Location: Adage Industries

  Time : 12:21pm

  Greetings, ladies and Gentlemen from the Adage Industries, one who always stand by your health and personal care. The Past decade was horrific for us all. For our livelihood, for our existence for our mother earth. Disaster prevailed and a protracted bedlam persists to decimate humanity, for two consecutive times. We have lost our aspirations, our friends, families, acquaintances and what not, we forgot to share our weal and woes, unable to pursue our career choices. We got locked ourselves at home during the virus outbreak, protected ourselves from Zombies with arms which we have not expected at all to yield guns and bombs. Numerous assurances came to save the world, but no one kept promises. We had to get stoic and unleashed our grit in those situations, and showed that we can stand united, irrespective of all nations, when there’s a threat. We kept our wounded head raised high, our blood-drenched hand persistent and our will indomitable, and for that we owe you a token of our gratitude. First of all, I would like to extend my profuse thanks and homage to our scientists and doctors, who with an unwavering approach and sleepless nights, obliterating any respites with family, invented a cure for Dermatoxia. Though the apocalypse has not faded away completely, the society inflicted with Dermatoxia is still fresh, A large part is still affected. Warding off flies’ insects and mosquitoes are of no use as the carriers does not get killed by repellents or disinfectant sprays. The disease can spread through some other ways too like air conditioners and through dust particles. For the past 3 years as per the consequences, symptoms of the disease has been dissected into three stages; psychedelic actions and behaviour in stage 1, internal bleeding in stage two and resulting into bursting of thoracic aorta followed by the rest in stage three. After successful human trials, today we are pleased to announce you that we are launching AD5, a cure for Dermatoxia. We are proud to announce you t
hat OKAMI venture like the earlier times, is with us in this process and next month by our liaison and synergy they will start distribution on orders. Mr.Akatomi apologized for not being present today, as he has some important works to do.Next month he will himself inaugurate the launch at OKAMI. But like executions of Adage in the past decade, this will not be available in pharmaceuticals, nor it will be free of cost. Online bookings will be available for a single vial and our medical department will be at your doorsteps to prepare the injection and push in your veins. There will be no physical sales or transaction of this vaccine as the components required to produce is too costly and rare to produce a 50ml of it. One single vial will cost $41504 plus extra charges for the service provided. We believe in fortitude and Adage has always been by people’s side during their moments of diagonistics and contributes for a hale and hearty life. Thank you!

  The city of Auburn is still safe and sound, and thousands of people with reporters and press coalesced in front of Adage. Maximum security and policemen are in duty to detain the commotion outside. Media and news reporters are constantly covering footages of the pandemonium. Navan with his team reached there by 8am, and from then they are keeping in touch with the guards on duty at every corners of the office including the neighbourhoods and buildings in proximity. Snipers are set on roof, rotating their muzzles constantly in suspicion. Till now 256 persons including reporters are present at the hall, with 18 employees and doctors with Fulkan Kane. He has decked on Kevlar suit inside his tuxedo, to avert bullet penetration.Two NYPD choppers are in action, surveying the building. Till now nobody got any signs of malfunctions and distress.