Viper's Bite

Chapter 26: New Beginnings

As the heroine led Duncan off the observation platform, the two of them turned around one more time to witness the Bertolli Device discharging the antidote into the air instead of the serum itself. "Does that mean that....?" the doctor mused as he rushed back towards the railing and saw the affected citizens below turning back to normal. 

"Yep, it looks like the antidote worked!" The Viper said cheerfully. Thanks for your help, Herman, she thought to herself. The doctor chuckled weakly. "Yeah....I suppose it did. I guess you won." 

The two of them exited the front door at the base of the Space Needle, where Duncan was officially apprehended by the MHPD. Once everything was said and done, and the patrol cars were driving away into the distance, The Viper went to check on Herman at the wreckage of the Chinook. 

A combined team of paramedics and firefighters were sent in, to put out the fire and attempt a search-and-recovery of Herman's father. After what seemed like forever, the EMTs exited the Chinook with its pilot on a stretcher. He was badly burned and had several cuts and bruises present on his body, but miraculously, his breathing was relatively normal, his eyes were still half-open, and he retained the ability to speak. 

"He's going to be just fine," one of the EMTs reported. "Don't worry. You know.....not many people survive being at the epicenter of such a devastating crash.....this man should consider himself lucky." 

Tears of joy began streaming down Herman's face once he heard the news. "Hey," The Viper began. "That was very brave of you, you know? The way you ran in and took on the Crimson Skulls despite not having training.....not to mention your father's going to be okay! You also created the antidote for the Herculean Serum. Herman.....if it weren't for you, I honestly don't know if the outcome of this mission would've been the same," she said admirably. 

"I'm really glad I could help you," Herman replied. "And look! There's Jaden and your parents!" 

He and The Viper immediately rushed over to the three of them, who were being tended to by officers. "Viper, can you please tell these guys that I am okay and do not require medical attention? They've basically been asking me the exact same questions for the past five minutes," Jaden said, annoyed. 

The Viper spotted her parents, but while they knew that she was behind the mask, the police didn't. So, she decided to keep up the act for the time being. "Are you two okay?" she asked. 

"I'm alright, Viper. Thanks for checking in," Dean responded. "I'm just waiting for these guys to give me the green light to head home. My daughter's still at our house and she must be worried sick about me," he continued, lying in order to preserve the heroine's identity. 

"Yeah...." Amy added. "Let's just hope she doesn't wake up to find that we're gone." 

"Oh yeah, that wouldn't be good...." The Viper muttered, before turning to the security team. "I can assure all of you that these three will be fine. Sure, they might be a bit shaken, but there doesn't seem to be anything physically wrong with them. I'd suggest letting them go as soon as you can." 

"Hmm....very well," the lead officer replied. "You all can go." 

Dean and Amy offered to give Jaden a ride home, Herman accompanied his father into the ambulance, and the last of the patrol cars departed the Space Needle. 

Now all alone at the base of the building, The Viper breathed a huge sigh of relief. "I actually did it...." she mused to herself. "There's just one thing left to do now." 

She readied her grappling hook and propelled herself all the way back up to the observation platform, pulled out an explosive from her pocket, and stuck it onto the now-useless Bertolli Device. Then, she swung away into the night without looking back as the machine erupted in a spectacular explosion behind her.