The Viper's Successor

by Somsiddha Deb Saha

  “Sent a security group and warn Tokyo police about OKAMI too.” Navan interrupted Hudson. “OKAMI, from next month will expound the trade supplies and marketing of AD5 in Asia Pacific regions, as Fulkan affirmed that day. As Adage has been incapacitated, OKAMI might take off its position. Trailers containing AD5 also were destroyed that day by plastic explosives before destructing the office. OKAMI might retained some AD5 for marketing purpose and I believe that’s in the list of Samurai too.”

  “Do you have an unswerved approach that the Samurai , that’s what you guys named him actually, is the mastermind behind all these? Can’t it be some other threat, can’t it be a personal enemy of Fulkan, tried to kill him? I mean can you corroborate the two incidents operated by the same person?” Armun said sternly. He thinks that he’s culpable for the death of Sidius and perceived himself to be unfledged. “ Let that Samurai come in front of me, I’ll mutilate him in pieces.” His senility spotted in.

  “Don’t get so excited Armun. Whoever is doing this, will be apprehended soon.” Hudson assured. “Find the satellite images of Auburn of that day and trace the activities of Samurai and the hovercar. Start with the carrier now, need to identify the driver.”

  “Waiiit..a sec… here it goes…Number plate 2758, maroon in color, registered in the name of Charlie Mena…resident of Auburn…parked at the opposite of Primewest megamall.” Sam searched for clues. “Cant get access to any mall cameras.”

  “Look for other CCTVs on the other side of road. Its clear that the criminal used the residents car as a diversion. Go on…Go on… stop, who’s that?” Hudson pointed. “ Rewind it a bit… and stop.” The car was accessed by a woman , wrapped her face in black veil and wore shades. She was a bit jittery and was constantly gazing randomly the avert suspicion. “Sam, keeping an eye on her , find out her whereabouts.” Hudson directed Sam.

  “She landed at Auburn two days ago before the incident. Ahhh… there she is waiting at the lounge. Is she is one of Vipers men ,sir?” Sam was flustered.

  “Not that I know of. Till now 13 of Vipers men has been encountered by COD in last 48 hours and the operation is continuing. Whats her passport ID?”

  “It says Jilly Mckenzie. Age 38, suffering from asthma and dementia, PHD in history.”

  Having a glimpse on the passport ID , Navan was going to say something, but he controlled himself to divulge his opinion. “Excuse me for a minute” Coming out of the room, Navan was introspective. Something is staggering his conscience but he could not catch it , the derth of clues is apparent. He was sceptical about Sidius , but was he so? Is there a connection between COD and Viper? Who would it be? Any why he’s trying to dissuade the errand of AD5 vaccine? No wonder He was paranoid about every single one in this world. Didn’t the despicable thought twice before vociferously destroying his fathers company?

  “Check out the collaborations and liaison of Adage with other companies, keeping the same link with Bhavishya and Cleocorp. Give me the reports of past 10 years.” Navan entered the room again and directed Sam.

  “Don’t know how relevant this is but anyway…” Sam handed over the tablet to Navan.

  “All I got is that, 2021 onwards, Adage disseminated Mordana and in three months Bhavishya group partnered with them. Later Cleocorp, Lucatrion and EN TRASTE were also in news before a year of apocalypse to provide secured chemical compositions as many flaws and discrepancies were found after vaccination. To stave off accusations, these 6 industries partnered worked on improvement. Because Adage was running through a disparity as classified information got revealed in market by false mails from Higher Biomedical. Fundings and donations also made by these companies to the Foundation which was disbanded later.” Navan researched and explained.

  “Wait… Lucatrion? This is a new information we just got exposed.” Armun started searching about Lucatrion and said “Yes, this company also used to adulterate in logistics and supply of bio serums, and this time they collabed with the other 5 industries too. For greater good all these 6 got exposed after the traps set by unknown, later apprehended by IBM EX FORCE, to be one of terrorist groups. I think Lucatrion also needed to be secured as I portend, similar destruction could take place. All the 6 continued their operations, blatantly after this too and didn’t stopped the swindle.” Armun surmised.

  “But we have no intels regarding this Swiss Industry! How are you so confident about this?” Sam scoffed. “If we include Lucatrion , 6 industries are in target then?”

  “Don’t forget that Switzerland was also marked in Viper’s blueprint. We cannot keep Lucatrion on the reject list. And notice the pattern, the specific headquarter is been attacked where the number of deaths in Dermatoxia is incessant and formidable. India had the largest number of mass affected last year end. Followed by Greece and Italy. Don’t know who it is behind the façade and why this execution, but this is exacerbating each hours passing. We must stop the future events to take place.” Hudson introspected

  “Ohh..right, I didn’t see that coming! Sam yelled.

  “The execution is in anticlockwise direction starting from India, followed by Greece, Italy and US. Lucatrion is the new addition to the list. If I speculate OKAMI will be next, then what about Lucatrion of Switzerland? It comes amidst Italy and US, so why the skipping of Lucatrion?” Navan was in a dilemma.

  “Maybe because he didn’t wanted to attack Lucatrion after events of Italys are still condescending.” Sam chortled a bit.

  “Viper protocol is not kids playground Sam! And Navan and Armun I don’t know the viability of your prediction but still I am enforcing command on task force for protection. Every loophole we are covering.”

  “Navan, you got the call from that unidentified several times. Why on earth does he calls you? And how can you corroborate that the Samurai and the voice behind the call, both are same? COD is not the only Investigation agency in the world. RAW, ISI, MI6, and Mossad are prowling everywhere including other spy agencies. Out of all, why he targeted you only? Its because you are Gilman’s son, the great Navan Gilman? Who couldn’t even saved his own company and Sidius?”

  “Behave yourself Armun. You are crossing your limits! This is not acceptable; Everyone is working on solving intractable problems to find the Viper’s successor and it not you who is aggrieved because of this situation.” Hudson said sternly. Navan was not wistful at all. He stood at his place unruffled.

  Armun ignored Hudson and said “What happened Navan? Has the cat got your tongue? Or you want to boast about your achievement about killing Jade Viper? Coming out seeking adulations, but listen , COD can operate with or without you too. Just by stopping an explosion don’t think that youre the boss, supervising others.” He stomped his foot on the ground.

  “Enough is enough! This disdainful attitude of yours cannot be tolerated anymore. Out of the room Armun!” Hudson enraged.

  “It seems my endeavours are not fruitful for COD. And why it wouldn’t be? You’ve got your superhero, The great Navan Gilman, who can run faster and jump limitlessly. Whats the need for us then?”

  “Armun!!!!” Hudson was infuriated. He slammed the tablet on table. Navan, still was calm. He slowly moved out from the conference room. Sam accompanied him out, he looked despondently.

  A conspiracy?

  Location: COD Headquarters

  Time: 8:09pm

  “Don’t lose your hope Mr. Navan. By our synergy we can accomplish the protocol. Im still working on getting the van drivers ID. Have kept our subordinates to keep in contact with every police officels over the world. And as Red alert been heralded, clues and hints cease to exist now. Don’t know why Hudson had done this.”

  “Thats needed to be done. We are unaware that only 27 of Vipers men are there or more, eradicating the malignant will make the contender futile. And Sam, leave me alone for some time.”

  “Will you be okay, sir? You seem stressed.” Sam was concerned about Navan.

  “And before you go, leave me some investigative details. Need to wor
k on something.”

  “What Mr.Navan? Don’t make me access the classified information like the last time. You almost had putted me in criminal list that day at the airport.”

  “ Lemme have a look at the ID of Jilly Mckenzie. Need for biomapping her face with suspect lists. Share the file,Sam.” Navan was phlegmatic and composed. He was exposed to some glint of hint, so he didn’t want any intervention of anyone, so he took those files and continued the biomapping process in his cubicle. Before coming he asked Sam, “Sorry for interruption, but Ms.Lucy is present today at the office?”

  “Don’t know about that, Lucy might be at her Laboratory. But I think itll be a waste of time to research about Jilly. I had biomapped her face, but the result says, there’s no existence of her. It is a farce to operate such executions. Im sending those in a minute.”

  Navan proceeded at laboratory to have a conversation with Ms. Lucy. There’s some dilemma Navan wanted to clear out but it needed cooperation from Lucy too. Searching for her, he asked one of the scientist’s “Excuse me, where’s Ms. Lucy? Need to talk to her.”

  “But sir, Ms. Lucy is on a vacation right now, 3 weeks before. Said she’s on some important project right now and should no be disturbed. I could give you her number but its useless to call her, its switched off.”

  Important research? 3 weeks? Means from the week their mission at Albama started? He came to his cubicle and started biomapping Jilly McKenzie’s face. During the process he tried to gain access the official’s identity of COD by because of encryption he could not do so. Navan thought, should he call Sam for additional support? “Nah, he might be jittery again and could make the whole process meandering. Its better to continue myself.”

  He had mild scruples about his team. Are all diligently performing their duties being patriotic? What about Hudson? Yes, he does stipulate the red alert but his immense disposition on himself is a bit exaggerating. Why beforehand at the point when Bhavishya Group got destroyed the team didn’t researched about its connections with others?

  And Armun? He holds professional jealousy about Navan, thinking he might outflank him. He is deranged because of Sidius’s death and holds accusations about Navan. Just by premonitions he stated that Lucatrion also needed to be protected other than OKAMI? And Sam, he looks nerdy, but holds much sense where situation demands. Otherwise how he holds information about the metal of Apophis, which got concealed and classified? And why is he reluctant every time to lure viable information when there’s a moment of oblivion?

  “Can you provide the video testaments of my operation? Needed it urgently.” Navan requested the surveillance operator. But instead got a negative response as those are confidential. But, the subverted inculcation of the “BALA” what Lucy described Navan, can that be processed and solidified? Sounds too insurmountable and fictional. He checked for socket connectibles at his femur and projected that to screen.

  Theres a convoluted course Navan had stride on, he understood. From suicide bombers to destruction of Adage and now this Samurai, all has diluted as a farrago. From where to start and where to contemplate upon is a matter to ponder. Pretty sure that the carrier didn’t exploded dashing into the office, but the driver inside, like what happened at Italy. Could that be Sleeper cells? Nah. These are not some extremists, but someone is having riddance on them. What would be his fate? Would that be the same if he becomes the CEO of Adage today? Would he suffer the same fate like Fulkan, like his father? Speaking about Fulkan, where is he now? Is he still alive or diabolically murdered by the Samurai they confronted? He was in a dilemma that this Samurai is the carrier of Viper’s stratagem or not. There’s no such threats in the past 3 years , and the Samurai unravelled himself verily on Foresthill bridge that day. Is he trying to follow the path of Viper, or he has some other plans. Till now no one knows the real identity of Viper. Before the mission in Cambodia, Colonel Tricas Alkin just wanted the force to encounter Viper in one chance. But no mission forces or investigative agencies in the world have got any viable source of information about Viper’s whereabouts. No photo identity too, ever ascertained as Viper used to conceal his face with a dark green mask. And what was Hudson talking about? Idium? Navan searched for all relevant reports regarding Idium.

  99942 Apophis, an asteroid of diameter 370 meters was in proximity to earth and accelerated leaving a part of it plummeted on Nepal in December 2004. The impact of the strike was not harsh, instead a semi viscous substance was retrieved from it. Scientists had later named it Idium, a black coloured metal with magma like fissures on it. The research was funded and orchestrated by Adage industries. The metal had some supernatural capabilities and was yet to discover. But it was stolen mysteriously from research laboratory and assumed to be done by one of the scientists. A part of it has been endowed to Salar Jung museum of India for exhibition.

  Why it’s like all of the activities are interlinked with Adage? The aspersion of the people spawns to obtain undue advantage from the benevolent, since time immortal. Now how to connect the missing links of these industries,Viper and Samurai?

  “CLINK, CLINK!” Navan’s phone rang. Distressingly, he picked up the call, sticking his eyes to the hologramed reports.

  “I beg your apology Mr.Navan. But I had to do it. Had no other options for vindication and redemption.”

  The call, again!

  Location: COD Headquarters

  Time: 8:24pm

  The strain of Dermatoxia has much lessened in the past one year. With the impediment of AD5 vaccines abeyance, dermatology and infectious disease experts are speculating that in next 7-8 months the need for vaccine is incoherent as many residents from Asia Pacific regions suffering from ailment has recovered completely. No medications had caused it and it was mind boggling for the doctors. The body too didn’t generate any anti propulsion to avert this disease to overcome. In other countries the recuperating abilities among common has not been seen as much and Zombie corpses are prevalent in some states. The scientists further warned that the spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories, often by world leaders themselves, is worsening the threat of conflict and the incidental emergency. The plans for economic recovery worldwide, they added, needed a greater emphasis on low-petroleum investment in extirpating Zombies. In aggregate, the G20 countries had committed approximately $240bn to stimulus spending that supports fossil fuel energy, versus $160bn for clean energy. At present, national plans for fossil fuel development and production are anything but encouraging.

  Addressing the world’s population density and survivability chances, the US and Russia continued to accelerate their modernisation efforts, while North Korea, China, India, and Pakistan pursued “improved” and larger nuclear forces to confront the atrocities in the near future after surviaval from zombies. It, once again, urged world leaders to eliminate the threat posed by Viper’s successor for good.

  “Youre dead meat! You don’t know whom you’ve messed with this time! Navan thumped on the table with his lag and it caused a dent. “My dad’s entire life’s aspiration, his dream you’ve just turned to cinders. Nobody would stop me now from killing you.” He hissed.

  “Calm down Mr.Navan. One cannot tweak what’s already written in fate. And believe me I don’t even have any reaction about killing Vipers Henchmen is enough to stop me. Chill, whatever happens is for the betterment of humanity; and you don’t want any decimation of mankind, right I am? Its too late to resort to plan B as my other protocols have failed. ”

  “If only I could get an opportunity to put my hands on you at bridge, you couldn’t survive that day. Investigations from 195 countries are operating incisively, for how long will you put disguise in a flippant Samurai armour made of a stolen metal?”

  “Its because you are special Mr. Navan, and I can predict that you will be the protector of mankind whenever they will suffer from adversities. God’s exists among us, we are just too blind to see them.” The voice was strangely calm.

  “God? Following the trail of Viper,
and even after committing numerous crimes still you hold faith in God? Such hypocritical anarchist we are dealing with! You know Karma right? If not God, your sinful actions will surely show you your ultimate destination.”

  “Mr. Navan, Karma is a self-sustaining paradox, one cannot be so analytical about their doings. Think about it, how you judge your sin metres elevating? Just by assuming that you’ve committed a heinous crime? What’s a crime to common? Now if today a butcher disembowels a goat for one’s meal, does that hold as a crime? Or being ravenous if you kill a deer in dense prairie, does that? By murders or taking lives of someone, crimes cannot be judged. This Red alert initiated by your organisation; it also engages in murder. So? The viciousness lies within our subconscious mind to outflank and outcompete someone in today’s world, by hook or by crook. An average human being is more snarky than a ravenous tiger and his devious attempts are most sinful and abysmal crime.”

  “Hear! Hear!” Navan was a bit suspicious and started working on computer, continuing his conversation. “I’m gonna kill you the moment I get your identity, but I still cant comprehend that you are behind this iniquitous acts. Do you have any grievance? Do you want to take vengeance? For what purpose you are doing all this? You must be encountered, no other options, and people wont care what principles you follow for you actions, neither you will be answerable to them.”