Venom

"What the hell...?" Jei asked as Viper licked his lips. 

"I didn't think he would go that far but I should have expected it from him," Viper replied then kissed Jei's neck.

"Is that why he's got enemies in the syndicate?" Jei inquired and Viper nodded his head.

"Yes and you can bet this death will not rest well with Venom. He's sure to demand retribution. How does that feel, Stallion?"

"It feels good. I think I may be getting dependent on you," Jei said and Viper grinned.

"I see you've learned your place, Stallion," Viper said and gently bit Jei's neck.

"Only until my other side comes out. Then you won't be domineering me."

"Well until that happens, you're my bedroom slave."

"Savage..."

"Less talk and more action, Stallion.  I want to hear your cry out my name. I want to hear you scream. Who knows when we'll be able to do it again?"

Jei closed his eyes as Viper nipped Jei's skin. Jei could feel the heat within him growing as Nightshade entered the room. He closed the door behind him and folded his arms. He watched the two going at it for a moment then Jei pushed Viper away. Viper's eyes flashed in anger for a moment as Jei sat up.

"Don't you ever knock, Nightshade?" Jei inquired and Viper glanced behind him.

"Welcome back. Did you get any information from him?" Viper inquired and Nightshade looked at him.

"Information?" Nightshade repeated and Viper sighed.

"Information. You were supposed to find out what Venom was up to."

"We already know what he is up to."

"That's not what I meant. Never mind. Just go take care of the body, Nightshade. It was your kill after all."

"All right. I'll leave you two alone so you can play master and servant. I believe that's what you're doing, isn't it?"

"Just get out of here," Jei said and Nightshade waved a hand in his direction.

"I'll see you later, Stallion," he said and walked out of the room.

"How can you keep someone like that in your employ?" 

"He's loyal. Besides, he wasn't doing it to be disrespectful to you," Viper said as he pushed Jei back onto the bed.

"He's not going to walk in like that all the time, is he?" Jei inquired as Viper began kissing him again.

"No. Right now with Wolfbane out of action, he is my most trusted employee. Which reminds me, I need to pay him a visit. I hope he's doing okay. Nightshade will have to tell me which hospital he's in. But that will keep for later," Viper said when he noticed the look on Jei's face. "Let's get back to what we were doing. You'd like that, wouldn't you, Stallion?"

"I would like it a lot."

"Let's get started then."

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Near a large corporate office building, a security guard was patrolling. He wore a dark uniform and carried a rifle. The street lights surrounding him grew unusually dark and the guard looked up. Probably a transformer overload, he mused. Nothing more. Something moved in the shadows and the guard pointed his gun. Something was out there. Something with bad intentions.

"Stop right there or I'll shoot!" he declared, hoping that the intruder would listen. The guard caught sight of a hand and he began firing. A body fell to the ground just as the lights turned themselves on again.  The guard stared at the bloodied figure of Hades, opening and closing his mouth in shock. Why hadn't he given the password? Why had he allowed himself to be shot?

"Be a good boy and return this to Venom," a voice beside him hissed and the guard struggled to turn around.

"You'll die for this," the guard gasped and the voice laughed.

"Not by your hands, I won't. Shadows can play tricks on a person's mind. And now, you will sleep."

The guard dropped his weapon and fell to the ground unconscious. Nightshade glanced in the direction of a security camera and his dark eyes flashed with anger. He raised his hand and the shadow dragon sprang forth and with one quick swipe, destroyed the camera. Nightshade folded his arms in satisfaction as the dragon returned to him. If the syndicate wasn't already worried about the loss of their information, they certainly had cause to worry now.

"When it is time to fight, Venom, I will show no one on your side mercy," Nightshade hissed and disappeared down the street. Moments later, the relief man for the post ran up to his fallen comrade and violently shook him.

"What happened here, Jackal?" the relief guard demanded at Jackal picked himself up. He glanced wildly around then stared at where the corpse of Hades lay.

"Hades...I shot him," Jackal replied slowly and his relief stared at him.

"What?! You idiot! What were you thinking? Hades was sent out on an important mission and any information that he had gathered is now lost. Do you have any idea what Venom will do to you?" 

"I know. But he didn't give a password or anything. I thought he was an intruder."

"How did you manage to get that wound in his chest with a gun? It almost looks like he was attacked by an animal."

"So I didn't kill him? That makes me feel so much better. Now I know I won't get killed for pissing Venom off."

"Did you see who brought the body here?" the relief asked and Jackal shook his head.

"All I heard was a voice that said 'Be a good boy and return this to Venom'. I tried to turn around but I couldn't. Hey, maybe the security camera captured the intruder," Jackal said and his relief turned to where the security camera was hidden.

"The camera's been completely destroyed. I wonder if any images it captured was able to be sent to the control room. Come on, let's go find out."

"But what about the post?"

"This is more important. Besides, we might get a promotion out of it. A possible raise is always more important than anything else. Come on!"

*****************************************************************

Wolfbane gazed out of the window and sighed. He should have been more alert. He should not have allowed such an obvious attack get past him. The shadow of a bird passed by the window and Wolfbane glanced away. He was not dead and he was thankful for that. However, he was now useless to Viper. The doctors had estimated at least three weeks in bed until he had fully recovered from his injuries. The sound of the window unclasping from the outside made Wolfbane alert and he glanced back at the window. There was nothing there.

"Don't tell me the accident affected your senses," Nightshade said and Wolfbane sat up in shock. Nightshade was sitting in a straight-backed chair with his legs propped up against the edge of the hospital bed smoking a cigarette.

"How did you get in here?" Wolfbane demanded. "Put that out. There's no smoking in the hospital."

Nightshade snuffed out the cigarette and stood up. He walked over to where Wolfbane lay and sat beside him. Wolfbane watched him carefully and Nightshade grinned.

"You haven't figured it out yet? I came in the only way I could. Through the window."

"I didn't even see you. How did you move so quickly?" Wolfbane asked and Nightshade placed a hand on his forehead.

"So that's why," Nightshade said and drew away. "You've been given a sedative. It's probably to help you sleep while your injuries heal. That's why your senses have slowed down."

"What are you doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious? I came to visit a sick comrade."

"Why aren't you with Viper?"

"I had to return a package from a friend. I'm afraid I grew bored with his present."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Wolfbane demanded and Nightshade leaned close to him. Wolfbane gazed into his dark eyes for a moment then flinched.

"We had an unexpected visitor in the base and I returned him to his master," Nightshade replied and Wolfbane's eyes grew wide.

"Are you serious? Who was it?"

"Hades."

"And you let him go? You let him go back to Venom?"

"He's back with Venom but he won't be telling any tales. I used my special ability."

"The Shadow Dragon?"

"Exactly. Now I'd better get back before Viper starts to worry about me. His little stallion was getting upset with me so I decided to allow them some time alone."

"Just don't let Cobra hear you call him that. Hey, if he were ever to unleash his power, do you think your dragon could stand up against him?" Wolfbane asked and Nightshade grew serious.

"No. My dragon would never have a chance if Cobra decided to use his final attack. I doubt any of us would be able to stand up against him," Nightshade said then made his way to the window. "You get better. We're going to need you."

"I know. Tell Viper I'd like to see him when he gets the chance."

"I will."

Wolfbane watched Nightshade leave then slowly shut his eyes. He HAD to get better. He refused to be left out of the final confrontation with Venom. He had the feeling that Cobra was going to have to use his ultimate attack and that was something Wolfbane did not want to miss.