Hell's Sniper | J. Todd

XVII - The Adults are Talking

They've been sayin',
"You're sophisticated"
- The Strokes

I've decided.

I'm actually going to do something about that piece of tech I stole from Lex Luthor's... Sniper rifle? Superhero killer? There's lots of words I can use to describe whatever he created, but I think the best thing to do is not try.

At work, I start by searching up different places he could've gotten the part built or where the materials for it were sourced from. I find little information in the collective hour and a half between calls, but I do find three potential locations.

There's likely more, I know. But these three are a start.

Someone enters the small office, and I raise my head, closing the tabs quickly.

It's one of the eight recruits I'm overseeing, alongside Reyes, a medic from my old team, Brandon West, and another man from my old team, Chris Turner.

I don't recognise the new recruit- give me a break, it's been four hours- but the name tag says it's Victor Bennett.

"Bennett," I say. "What's going on?"

"Uh, Commisioner is here to talk to you."

Gordon. He could be here for any number of reasons. "Does he look like he's mad?"

Bennett frowns. "Umm..."

"Facial expression, Bennett. What's his facial expression?"

"Uh... Bored? He's got a coffee in his hand, so he's probably not miserable. Unless it's a bad coffee-"

"Get back to work."

"Yes ma'am," he replies dutifully, leaving my office.

I close my computer before heading over to where Gordon is, holding a coffee and looking annoyed at how long it's taking Reyes to figure out the new microwave. He's got a perfect view from where he stands, the break room window the only interesting thing for him to look at.

Poor Reyes. I don't think he's notice the user manual on top of the microwave yet.

"You wanted to talk, sir?"

Might as well draw the attention away from my spotter's misery.

"I did. Black Mask's death has put the criminal underworld into a washing machine on the highest temperature and spin speed, so to speak."

"I'm sorry?"

"With Black Mask's criminal empire lacking a leader, there's a brutal competition going on to see who gets the title. There's drugs sitting in cargoship containers, warehouses and all sorts of places the he once oversaw. Not only are the people in Black Mask's organisation trying to gain power, but people from rivaling groups too."

"Are you saying I shouldn't have done it?"

"No. But it will certainly make our jobs harder." He pauses, picking at the soggy rim of his paper coffee cup. "But you saved lives in that gala. Killing him was the right decision. But sometimes, the right choices aren't always with the easiest consequences."

I take in his words silently, thoughts interrupted by a loud bang as Reyes slams the microwave door shut in frustration, giving up on his microwave meal. He glowers on his way out of the break room, beginning to speak to me before he reaches the doorway.

"How complex can a microwave be? I mean, seriously, it's a-" his eyes widen. "Oh hey. Commissioner. Sir. Sorry, I'll go."

I sigh, watching him head to the training room. "We haven't settled in just yet."

The Commissioner makes a tired sound of agreement. Now that I look at him properly, he does look noticeably tired. "Long night?"

"Something like that," he grumbles. "Anyway, I've bothered you enough, with the promotion and all. Have a good rest of shift, alright? And just keep what I said in mind. I'll be sending the SWAT teams to make many, many relevant arrests soon."

"I'll be looking forward to it," I say half sarcastically.

***

I continue the research I was doing at work when I get to the safe house. Roy's there too, tinkering with something I can't be bothered to attempt to understand.

The dogs are sleeping around the couch where I sit like I'll vanish if I don't. Two heads on my lap, Simo twisted in a way that must be uncomfortable to rest his head on my shoulder, and the other three dozing along at my feet.

"Where's Jason?" I ask.

"It's been an hour and you're only asking now?" Roy points up. At the sound of conversation, the eyes of the dogs open, but they lay still.

"I'm working on an important case."

"What kind of case?"

The question would make me uncomfortable normally, but Roy is a vigilante. His question goes beyond plain curiousity. "I haven't got much on it yet. Could be big, or might be nothing."

Roy's eyes shine with interest, drumming his fingers on the workbench. "Alright," he says finally, deciding to lay off it for now. "Tell me if you need something."

I nod a quick thanks as we both go back to work.

I zoom in on some photos of Lex Luthor and the CEO of a company that could've provided the elements of the part, but it's a blurry photo with them only in the background. Besides, LexCorp is responsible for all sorts of tech, not just this one sniper rifle. They make things like planes, computers, even part of a rocket ship one time.

This CEO might be associated with Lex, but that doesn't mean she isn't associated with the sniper rifle or part I stole.

Speaking of the part, it's still in my apartment. I don't trust it there by itself, considering what it is and who it belongs to.

"I think I might've left some stuff at my apartment. Medications and stuff like that. Jason made me pack in a bit of a rush."

"I'll go with you in just a minute," Roy says without looking up from his project.

"I can go by myself."

That gets his attention.

He raises his head, staring at me. "I can take the dogs. Nothing bad will happen. Hellhounds, remember?"

"I know, I know. But Jason would kill me anyway. I'm going with you, alright?"

Well that might be a bit of a problem. How the hell am I supposed to get the tech without him noticing?

I'm alive again guys! Ignore how it's been a year since I posted the last chapter and four months since I said I'd be picking this story back up.

Oopsie

Ummm I have an actual plot now. Before I was kinda writing what I wanted by I took the time to actually get a rough outline I'm happy with that I'm hoping you guys like too! Anyway, that'll take like over thirty more chapters so expect a bit more from me hopefully in the next month or two. Buh bye