TT: Nights of Venom - Ch 4

CHAPTER IV

5:54AM PST, Sunday, 6 December
Jump City – Titans Tower

Robin strained his eyes as he fixated onto the computer screen in the main room of Titans Tower.  The detectives from JCPD had sent Robin a digital copy of the surveillance footage from the museum.  Unfortunately, the breaker panel Red X tripped to kill the detection lasers also cut power to the cameras; except the one in the southeast corner of the room, which happened to be on a separate panel.  The image was grainy at best but Robin could make out Red X as he entered the room, approached the jewel case, removed the Crimson Sapphire of Burma and then suddenly drop to the floor.  His hands immediately let go of the precious stone and grasped his leg, the same leg from which the two barbs had been removed.  On the left side of the screen, Robin could barely discern a helmeted black clad figure, reaching down to retrieve the gem after it slid across the floor.  The heavily pixilated figure now approached the downed Red X.  A brief conversation seemed to transpire before the new thief removed X's power core belt, then began making his way back to the exit.

The Boy Wonder smashed his finger on the pause button, freezing the image.  He then uploaded the still shot to a program Cyborg had developed that would enhance and clarify low-resolution images.  After a few minutes of running the digital through the program, Robin was rewarded with a crystal clear snapshot of the individual who put Red X down for the count.  The perpetrator was clad in some sort of combat armor, looking like a cross between a Stormtrooper and an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper.  His helmet was a full face, motorcycle style helmet with a protrusion on the top in the shape of an inverted 'T'.  Armor plates covered his shoulders, forearms, calves and knees.  His right arm sported a large, trapezoid shaped attachment, perhaps some sort of arm-mounted weapons pod.  The torso looked to be armored as well, on the center of which was a symbol that, upon closer examination, resembled the head of a venomous snake, its mouth agape, fangs protruding.  

Robin placed his hand on his chin as he stewed over this development.  He had no idea who this individual was and, worse, knew he lacked the resources to find him.  The Titans mainframe computer was capable of doing many things, but it was not connected to the National Crime Information Computer (NCIC) or to Interpol.  Robin did know someone who was, however.  Since the SOLAR event over six months ago, he and the Dark Knight had resumed their friendship and put aside any grievances that they had prior to.  There was a chance with Bruce on the East Coast that he had already turned in the cape and cowl for a business suit.  Undeterred, Robin removed the bat-communicator from his belt and thumbed it.  A brief pause ensued before the unmistakable voice of Batman came through.

"Yes?"

"Got something I need you to look at," said Robin.  

"What is it?"  Asked Batman in return.

"Photo from a surveillance camera taken early last night.  Someone tried to kill Red X while he attempted to steal the Crimson Sapphire of Burma," Robin replied.  

"Doesn't sound like anything unusual," said Batman, not sounding surprised by the development.  

"His attacker used barbs filled with snake venom.  Ring any bells?"  Asked Robin, hoping to pique Batman's interest in the matter.  The clue seemed to grab his attention.

"As a matter of fact…send me the still," Batman said.  Robin thumbed the key to send the image.  

"Sent," he said.  There was about a five second delay until the message showed up on Batman's side of the country.

"It's him," said Batman in return, a tinge of surprise tainting his voice.  That was the reaction Robin was hoping for.

"Who is he?"  He asked impatiently.

"Black Viper, a world renowned thief.  Only takes high paying or high value jobs.  He was in Gotham a little over two years ago, made off with some priceless artifacts from the ancient Egypt exhibit.  Wanted by almost every major law enforcement agency in the world.  Linked to multiple thefts on six continents, altogether over $20 million in losses.  In three separate incidents, security guards were hospitalized and treated for symptoms consistent with snake envenomation."  That modus operandi, to Robin, sounded exactly like what had transpired in Jump City last night.  

"Now it's four.  Know anything about his armor?  Capabilities?"  Asked Robin, trying to obtain as much information as he could.

"US Army prototype Armored Combat Exo-skeletal System, or ACES, suit.  Went missing out of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland three years ago, designed to give soldiers added strength, speed, agility with built in weapons and survival systems.  Project was shut down after the theft."  

"Any information on the person?  Name, age, background?"  Robin followed up.  He was typing frantically so that he could retain as much information as possible.  

"Not really.  What little security footage I've seen shows he's trained in hand-to-hand, ninjitsu and kung-fu judging by the style and technique.  His use of weapons and stealth could indicate a prior-military background, but without a name, it's all hearsay."  Said Batman in reply to Robins' query.

"So he's a mystery?"

"Pretty much.  Anything else?  About to go into a board meeting."

"Aren't those meetings always boring?"  Said Robin with a smirk, seemingly satisfied he was not going to get anymore information from his former partner and fellow sleuth.    

"Funny.  Let me know what else you find…and Robin?"  Replied Batman with his own quip.

"Yeah?"

"Watch yourself, and your team.  He may not be a run-of-the-mill villain, but he is definitely not someone you want to get the drop on you."  Warned Batman, the sentiment in his voice as close to conveying concern as Robin had heard.  Robin thought briefly back to the conversation.

"Those three guards, did any of them-"

"Gotta go.  We'll be in touch," said the lighter, friendlier voice of Bruce Wayne, the dark overtone of Batman now devoid from his voice.  The line went dead subsequently after that.  Robin stood up, looking at all the intelligence he had gathered in the last few minutes.  He decided that instead of waking the team to discuss his findings, he would try to get some much needed rest, albeit for a short period.  The information, as critical as it was, would have to wait until later in the day, when he was more lucid to relay it.

---

The ebony Kawasaki Ninja ZX-12R flew into the corner, the red and white "candy stripe" flashing by in quick succession.  Viper had leaned the bike over to the point where he almost dragged his right knee but set the bike upright again as he blasted through the subsequent straightaway, now at full tuck, the 1,200cc in-line four-cylinder engine roaring as he opened the throttle wide.  

The roar of an L-set V-twin followed shortly thereafter, the gloss black Ducati 1098S it emanated from cut the same corner and held the same line as the Ninja, the rider following Viper's move of setting the bike up and opening the throttle through the straight section.  The rider rolled the throttle on the Ducati so it jumped from 90 to just shy of 150 mph before applying slight pressure to the front brake lever and rear brake pedal, then let off both and pulled the clutch lever, downshifting to fifth gear before taking a long sweeper curve to the right, rolling on the power through the turn.  

Bianca knew that she would never catch the Ninja, but she was sure as hell going to try.  The Kawasaki made more power coming off the turns and in the straight-aways, but it weighed more and had to brake sooner than the almost 100 lb. lighter Ducati.  The Kawasaki also needed to be revved somewhat higher to make use of the powerband.  Biancas' Ducati, meanwhile, while not so flat-out fast, had more torque and useable horsepower lower in the rev range, meaning she could pass him, providing she was close enough and it was on a turn.  If her bike could beat a Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera on the track, it should be able to take the ZX-12R.   

The 1098S Ducati was capable of many things, yet no matter how hard Bianca thrashed it, she could not keep pace with her husband.  The onyx Ninja continued to stretch the distance between the two machines.  Viper slowed and threw the 1,200cc monster into a chicane before the final straight, leaving no way for Bianca to overcome the gap.  She slowed and maneuvered her own steel horse through the chicane as she looked ahead to see the ZX-12R fly across the white line marking the finish, a full five seconds ahead of her.  Normally on a weekend, especially Sunday, the road course at Crash Alley Raceway would have five to six leather-clad motorcycle racers flying through the curves.  Today, only the sharp whine of an in-line four and the throaty V-twin roar of the two aforementioned bikes could be heard.  Viper was one who hated to share, especially with squids* who had more money than talent.  He had compensated the track management $25,000 for 2.5 hours for just he and Bianca; money well spent in his eyes.  They were both running pump gas and street tires; once the time expired they would simply ride off to go get new rubber and replenish their fuel.  

Bianca decelerated as she downshifted into fourth, third, then second gear.  As she entered pit road, she lifted her face shield up on her helmet, the wind rushing the now exposed area.  Viper was off his ride, helmet and gloves removed, racing leathers zipped down to his abdomen.  She secretly found him all-to-sexy when he was dressed in race leathers, especially as he was now, with a slight smile evident on his face, indicating he was content in his victory.  Bianca paid it no mind, however; she would get him back.  She always got him back, usually when he least expected it.  She engaged the clutch lever and clicked the shift lever to first gear, then pulled the brakes and stopped adjacent to the black zed, then turned the key to 'OFF' to kill the ignition.  

"You almost had me back there, what happened?"  Asked Viper quizzically.  She turned to face him, pulling her helmet off as she did so.

"It's called power, Kent.  You know this V-twin can't keep with that thing in the top end," she replied as she set her helmet down on the seat and began to pull off her left glove.  

"You moved up a whole one point three seconds from last time though," he said excitedly as he approached her.  

"One point four, actually," she quipped back.  She reached out for him, and he took her in his arms, the smell of their gear filling their nostrils with the rich scent of kangaroo leather.  

"My apologies," he said as he kissed her lightly on the lips, holding her tight.  His scent was a mix of sweat, leather, shampoo and that indiscernible smell that Bianca would instantly recognize as being unique to her husband.  

"Accepted," she replied.  "So, how did your meeting with the client go last night?"  She asked inquisitively.  Though she was always a part of the transactions taking place between Viper and his clientele, she was never there face to face.  Half the time the clients were unaware there was a second hand to Viper's operation.

"Good.  He asked me to take two jobs for him," replied Viper.  Bianca turned to face him with a smile that betrayed her real feelings.  

"Did you tell him you weren't for hire?"  She asked.  

"Yes…initially," replied Viper with hesitation, turning his head away and down as he muttered the last word.  Bianca had to strain to hear it.  

"What do you mean, initially?"  The surprise and harshness in her tone conveyed that she was not at all satisfied with this turn of events.  Viper looked back up, fixed his gaze upon her and saw the smile vanish from her face.  His nearly emerald eyes could not pierce her granite-like expression.

"He offered me five mil for each job," he said coolly.  Bianca already had a retort ready to go.

"Did you happen to ask him where he was getting this money from?"  Her arms shot out to her sides as she asked him the question, her expression a mixture of anger, frustration and disbelief.  

"Not particularly, no," replied Viper, now turning his whole body towards his wife.  She let her arms fall.

"Kent, what if it's dirty?  Then we could get charged for laundering, or even hit with RICO," said Bianca to the open air more so than to Viper.  She let out a long sigh before crossing her arms in front of her chest, the leather rubbing against itself.  After about a minute, she looked down at the ground and asked her next question, just above a whisper.  "What did he ask you to steal?"

"An F-35B," said Viper.  Her head shot back up instantly.

"An F-35B?  As in the Joint Strike Fighter?  There are only three in existence, the closest one being at MCAS Miramar, which is a secure military installation," barked Bianca as she pointed errantly with her left hand in the general direction of the Marine Corps Air Station.  A slight grin came to Vipers' face.

"Hasn't ever stopped me before," he said nonchalantly.  Bianca threw her arms up in the air and looked away, then stopped and placed her hand on her forehead, closing her eyes.  

"What's the second item?"  She asked with closed eyes, not really wanting to know the answer.  

"We can worry about that after I take the jet," replied Viper as he walked over to his wife.  She looked back up at him, this time with an icy stare, dagger-like from her steel grey eyes.  

"OK, fine.  But promise me something?"  

"What?"

"That this is it.  After this job, no more.  I want to live a normal life, Kent.  I want a house with a yard, a fenced yard, with nice neighbors and a dog and some kids."  Her eyes seemed to well up as she envisioned her little piece of the American Dream, something that seemed to so far out of reach for her at the moment.  

"Bianca-" Viper started to respond, but she cut him off before he could finish.

"What?  Why is that so wrong to want those things?  I don't have to be here, you know.  I could have done other things.  I have two masters degrees, Kent, two!  I could be doing something with my life, but you know what, I gave that up for you because I love you!"  Bianca was close to yelling, her raised voice attracting the attention of some of the track hands some distance away on the other side of the pits.  She stopped briefly, took a breath, and then started anew.  "I've done everything you've ever asked me to do, Kent.  Everything.  After these two jobs we'll have over $20 million.  That's more than enough to keep us going for a long time.  Kent, this is it.  Either you give up this life, or you give up me."  She was staring directly into his eyes now, conveying how serious she was about her threat.  Viper closed the small gap between himself and his wife, taking her left hand in his right.  

"Bee, I would walk across a field of broken glass for you.  You're worth more to me than any amount of money.  If that's what you want, really what you want, then I promise that's what I'll do," he said as he caressed her left hand, the wedding ring on her finger capped with a huge diamond that he rotated around.  She smirked a bit before evoking her reply, crass as it was.

"You're such a mush."  

"Yeah, well, I got it from you," he said in return, kissing her lightly on the forehead.  

"Sure you did," she replied coyly.  Vipers' watch suddenly began chirping incessantly, indicating that their $10,000 per hour fun fest had ended.  

"Looks like our time's up babe.  Ready to jet?"  Viper asked as he made his way back over to the ZX-12R, the faint popping noises from the engine still audible.  

"Lets.  Need to start looking into how we're going to get you on that base, Lieutenant Davis," retorted Bianca as she straddled her own two-wheeled denizen.  The pseudonym she was referring to was the one Viper had used to gain access to Aberdeen Proving Grounds at Fort Dietrich, Maryland three years ago when he stole the ACES combat armor.

"Oh, hell no.  I am not about to be some lowly el tee.  Maybe a lieutenant colonel," Viper said as he pulled his helmet down over his head and began securing the retention strap.

"It's a Marine Corps base, baby.  Anyone with that rank is bound to be twice your age, have visible scars and a lot of fruit salad.  You can't even fake a major," Bianca answered to Viper's delusion of grandeur.  

"Well then, I guess I have to settle for a pair of captains bars."