Venom

Jei sat down at the table and Viper laid a plate in front of him. Jei picked up a fork and Viper watched Jei eat. Jei glanced up and stared at Viper. He laid down his fork and sighed.



"Am I that interesting to watch?" Jei inquired and Viper drew away.



"How does it taste?" he inquired as Jei took another bite.



"Fine. Why?"



"No reason. I'm going to see how the rest of the men are doing."



"You're going to leave me here alone?"



"Of course not. I'll just contact them here. I don't want you to get lost in this place. If everything turns out okay, I'll show you around the place when we've got free time."



"You seem quite content to settle into this relationship."



"What do you mean?"



"The relationship between us."



"I knew we were meant to be together when we first became partners. That's why I refused to see anyone after that incident."



"Do you think it'll be safe for me to contact my people?"



"It depends on what information Nightshade brings back with him. If that's Venom's man out there, then we'll have to take drastic measures. We can't afford anything happening to this place."



"How good is your security system?"



"How good is it? It's great. Are you doubting my talents?"



"No," Jei said as he stood up. "But chances are that Venom's got a tech person just as talented as you. If that is true then is it possible that they can break in?"



"We just can't allow them to do that. But I'm not going to do anything until Nightshade comes back."



"You called?" Wolverine inquired as he stepped into the room.



"Where are the others?" Viper asked and Wolverine paused.

"All of them?"



"How many are here?"



"Over half of our men."



"I'll just use the loudspeaker. Attention. Everyone at your stations. Venom may be outside. We may have to attack. Wait for my word," Viper said then switched off the inter-comm. "If we are provoked to fight, will you use your power?"



"Only if I have to. I'd prefer not using it, though. Besides, that guy may not be one of Venom's men. Maybe Nightshade is wrong," Jei said and Viper folded his arms.



"Nightshade is never wrong," Viper replied as Jei walked over to the window. "But to play it safe, keep away from the window."



"Okay here's one thing we never discussed. How are we going to stop Venom? He's obviously got more men than we have. How can we outmaneuver him?"



"We've just got to out think him."



"How?"



"Don't start panicking Stal....Cobra," Viper said as he glanced at Wolverine. "The battle hasn't even begun yet."



"If at all possible, I would contact one of my friends," Wolverine said and sighed. "But I don't think they'd be able to give me any information. They aren't in any top security positions."



"I see. Don't worry about it. We don't even have a confirmation on the suspect yet."



"Do you think we should inform the police?" Jei asked and Viper looked at him.



"One of my men has ties to the cops. I've just got to remember which one it was. I'm going to look up my personnel file," Viper said as he walked back to his computer.



"You are obsessed with that thing."



"Not so. You can't make love with a computer. Even with artificial intelligence, you can't speak to machines as if they were living things. At least not in the organic sense of living. Now let's see, which one is it? Condor. Do you know where he is, Wolverine?"



"I'll go search for him right now," Wolverine replied.



"Nightshade should be back soon. Would you like a drink?" Viper asked, once Wolverine had left the room.



"Sure," Jei said then watched as a tall glass appeared in front of him.



"Drink up, Stallion. It's quite good."



"Thanks, Rane."



"Now that's a name I haven't heard in a while," Nightshade said as he entered the room. He walked up to where Viper sat and sat on the table beside the computer.



"What did you find out?" Viper inquired and Nightshade leaned forward.



"Well he wasn't one of Venom's men but as I was heading back here, I noticed something strange attached to the side of a building opposite of us."



"And that was?"



"A bomb."



"What?!"



"Apparently, the bomb is placed in such a location that it would cause our place some destruction when the bomb went off."



"How much time is left?"



"About twenty minutes," Nightshade replied and Viper slammed his fists down on the table.



"I'm going to have to make some split-second decisions. I'm going to need our bomb expert and some guys that can defend him."



"I'll go since I know where the bomb is," Nightshade said and Viper looked at him.



"Are you sure?" he asked and Nightshade nodded his head.



"I'm sure. Besides, I might run into some old acquaintances."



Jei watched Nightshade leave the room then turned to Viper. Viper sat immersed in his data and Jei shook his head. He was such a nerd. He leaned back in his chair and sighed. He wondered what Nightshade had done to gain enemies in the syndicate. He stood up and Viper glanced up.



"Where are you going?" Viper inquired as he continued typing.



"I'm going back to the bedroom. I want to think about some things," Jei replied.



"Did I do something?"



"No. I just want to think about some things."



"Are you sure I didn't do anything?"



"For someone who's savage by night, you certainly are mild by day."



"I have my breaking point just like you. I simply haven't been provoked to it yet."



He watched Jei walk out of the room and pushed himself away from the computer. He stood up and walked over to the window and gazed down at where Night shade, Nitro the bomb expert, and some others were gathering. He hoped that the bomb wasn't merely a diversionary tactic. He turned back to his computer and accessed his security cameras. He zoomed in on one of them and stared at the face of a man with bluish gray curly hair and burning orange eyes. Viper stood up sharply. It HAD been a diversion. He pressed a round button located near the right side of his computer signaling an intrusion and starting the critical mode of his security system. He then picked up what appeared to be an ear clasp and put it on. After locking down his computer, he ran out of the room for the bedroom. Jei had to be informed of what was going on.