PROLOGUE
EIGHT YEARS AGO
COLONEL ROBERT MANTE BUILDING, GOTHAM CITY
"Are you nervous, Major?" Dr. Patel asked.
"Of course I'm nervous, wouldn't you be?" the major, also a doctor, replied as he opened up the cage. The chimpanzee reached out and put her arms around his neck. He picked her up and held her like a toddler. "Hey there, Suzie. How are you?" The chimp responded with a kiss on his cheek.
The two men worked for the United States Army Center for Chemical Research Institute or ACECHEM, as it was more commonly called. ACECHEM was a subordinate lab of the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC), and a sister lab to the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), all of which were run by the Department of Defense.
The official mission of ACECHEM was to develop strategies, products, information, procedures, and training for medical defense against chemical agents. Their labs were used by the FBI, CIA, ATF, and many other federal agencies during investigations. Unofficially they created chemical agents to be used for the special and covert operations community. Poisons, neurotoxins, truth serums and many other types of chemical weapons were created here.
While USAMRIID was housed at Fort Detrick in Maryland, ACECHEM was located in it's own office park on the outskirts of Gotham City. The office park was on ten acres of federal land, housed three research buildings and a cafeteria and employed both military and civilian scientists. Highly specialized support personnel as well as a company of marines for security were also there.
The major carried Suzie over to an examination table and briefly examined her. "She looks healthy, nothing on the charts for concern. I think we're ready."
"Okay, let's do this."
Suzie was taken to a laboratory room and placed her in a different cage. This cage was bigger than the one the chimpanzee was normally kept in. It was also made of clear, durable plastic and had holes for breathing and passing items back and forth.
"It's a shame you won't be able to play Tarzan with her anymore," Dr. Patel joked. The major ignored his comment as he checked the video recording equipment in the lab. "I'm sorry, did I offend you?"
"I just didn't think it was funny," the major said. "Sorry, I just know what this substance will be able to do. Just thinking of it is disturbing."
"At least you won't have to deal with it in the field. I couldn't handle all that up close."
"I've already been up close in the field, just not with this stuff," the major replied. "I know what death can look like."
"Were you a field medic or something?" Dr. Patel asked.
"My MOS was 37F before I got my doctorates. That's PSYOPS." Dr. Patel gave him a quizzical look. "Psychological operations. Basically my job was to mindfuck people. That's all I can say."
"You've never mentioned this before."
"Not something I talk much about. I also have a doctorate in psychology."
"Well, you are full of surprises, Major," Dr. Patel said.
"Guess so. Let's get started."
The major turned on the video recorders in the lab and gave their names as well as the location, time, and date. Dr. Patel walked to a refrigerator in the corner of the room and took out a banana and a syringe filled with greenish liquid. He injected the banana and walked up to the plastic cage Suzie was in.
The major looked directly into the camera lens. "This should be our final test. Dr. Patel and I believe we have finally made the formula stable enough. It can be weaponized as gas, ingested, or injected directly into the bloodstream depending on the needs of the objective. If this works today, we finally are ready. Dr. Patel, will you do the honors?"
Dr. Patel walked up to Suzie's cage and handed her the banana. She grabbed it and began eating the banana whole. Less than ninety seconds after she was done Suzie's facial muscles began to contort. She started to breathe in gasps that were getting shorter and shorter as the toxin did its work. Her facial muscles tightened even more and her breaths were short wheezes as the full effect took over. After a minute of excruciating pain the chimpanzee dropped dead, her face horribly contracted. The doctors made a full summary of the toxin's effects and shut off the video recording.
"Congratulations, Dr. Patel," the major said as he shook the other scientist's hand.
"Thank you, congratulations to you too," Dr. Patel replied. "Ironic, don't you think?"
"What's that?"
"You never like jokes and yet you create a toxin that will make people look like they're laughing to death. No offense."
"None taken. Never thought of it like that." The major checked his watch. "It's late, I'm sure my wife is irritated I'm not home yet.
"How far along is she?"
"Five months now. Just found out it's a girl. I'm taking off, I'll send my full report tomorrow to the DoD. Congratulations again."
"Same to you. Good night, Major." Dr. Patel waited for a few minutes after the major/scientist had left and then pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. The cell only had one number programmed in and was strictly used only for that number. He dialed and waited for the other end to pick up.
"It's ready. He's heading home now," Dr. Patel said.
"Good. Stay there." the man on the other end ordered.
"I will, don't worry. I know not to cross the Red Hood."
The major opened the door to his house and stepped in. Tonight was going to be a celebration. The toxin was a success that would be recognized by the Department of Defense and those who were cleared to know of it's existence. He would have his choice of high paying jobs in the private sector once he left the military. And leave he would. He had served his country well and seen the horrors of war up close. He still had nightmares about Bosnia and Kosovo. But all of that was behind him now. Civilian life would be easy and peaceful.
"Honey," he called out. "Break out the sparkling cider. We have something to celebrate!" No response. "Honey, you home?"
The major stepped into his living room and abruptly stopped. His wife sat on the sofa with tears streaming down her face. An m1911 pistol with attached silencer was aimed at her head. Surrounding her were four men all dressed identically in black fatigues, jackets, and combat boots. They each wore customized dark red tactical helmets with blood red face masks.
"Hello, Doctor," the man closest to him said. "Do as we say and she won't be hurt."
The major pulled his BMW up to the front gate and flashed his badge at the marine at the security post. The marine saluted and passed him through. The major drove to his designated parking spot, parked, and walked around to open the trunk of his car. Two Red Hoods got out and stretched.
"Good so far, Major."
"Let's just get this over with," the major said.
It was late at night and security was light by now. Roving guards were easily avoided along with cameras. The trio made their way to the Mante Building, stopping at the entrance.
"Slide your card, step in, do what we asked, and be cool," one of the Red Hoods instructed. The major nodded his head in compliance.
The major did as he was told and stepped through the glass doors but made sure not to let them shut all the way.
"Evening, sir," the marine behind the front desk said.
"Corporal, do you mind holding the door open for me? I have some boxes of notes I have to bring in and I can't swipe it and carry them at the same time."
"Yes, sir."
The marine stepped out from behind the security desk and walked towards the entrance. When he was within ten feet the major stepped aside. One of the Red Hoods stepped in and fired a subsonic bullet into the Corporal's forehead. He was dead before he hit the floor.
"You guys are ex-military," the major said. It wasn't a question. The operation had obviously taken planning, and the men moved with a sense of purpose. Their training showed.
"Shut up and keep moving."
The group made it's way quickly and quietly toward's the major's office where his notes were kept on a computer tablet in a safe with a biometric lock. Once inside his office he walked up to the safe, punched in a numeric code, and put his palm on the scanner. The safe opened and he took the tablet out.
"This is all of it. Notes are also backed up on a server, though," the major said.
"We already took care of that, smartass."
How the hell did they know about the server? the major wondered.
"We need a sample too. Move to the lab."
"I...I can't get the samples by myself. Dr. Patel and I both have to use our codes to get into the lab itself."
"No shit. Get moving."
The group walked down the hallway and through a set of double doors to another hallway. At the end was the door to the lab itself. Dr. Patel was standing there, waiting. The major finally understood how the Red Hood had planned this operation so precisely.
"Rakesh!" he yelled as he got closer. "Have you lost your fucking mind?"
"I am sorry, Major," Dr. Rakesh Patel replied. "The money was just too good. You're the brains behind this toxin. You probably could have even made it without me. I'll never be worth what you are."
"Do you have any idea what these men are going to do with it? These are terrorists!"
"We're not terrorists, asshole," one of the Red Hoods said. "We just sell to them. Now open the fucking door."
The major and Dr. Patel simultaneously swiped their cards, put their eyes to the retinal scanners and typed in their individual codes. The hermetically sealed doors whooshed open and the four men stepped inside. They went to the lab with the refrigerated sample. Dr. Patel opened up the refrigerator, grabbed the box containing vials of the liquid, and handed them over to the Red Hoods.
"You know they're going to kill you now," the major said to Patel.
"Don't be so cliche," one of the Hoods said. "We're going to pay him and leave him alone. Bad for business in the long run if you kill your inside man. Word gets around. Let's go."
The quartet made their way back towards the entrance. As they went into the first hallway all four stopped short at the sight in front of them. The Batman was in the hallway, coming towards them. Both Red Hoods reacted instantly and without hesitation. They leveled their weapons at Batman and began firing. There was nowhere in the hallway for Batman to move and multiple rounds struck him in the chest. He collapsed to the floor.
Both Red Hoods pushed the doctors back the way they had come.
"Go! Go! Go!" the first one yelled as they retreated.
"Holy shit, he's real!" the second one said.
They both reloaded their pistols. The group went through the hallway and back toward's the doctor's offices. They all went into Patel's office and stopped to catch their breath.
"Shit, what now?" Dr. Patel asked. "I can't go to prison."
"You won't," one of the Hoods said as he raised his pistol. He fired a round through the doctor's right eye. The Red Hood looked at his partner and shrugged his shoulders. "He knew too much to get caught."
"Any ideas?" his partner asked.
The Batman slowly got up and leaned against the wall. He checked his body armor to see if any bullets had penetrated. None had. It might have saved his life, but the multiple impacts had knocked the wind out of him. There would be multiple bruises in the morning and possibly broken ribs.
He had been tracking the group known as the Red Hood for months now. The Red Hood was a group of former Navy SEALs who had gone into business for themselves after being discharged. They were the first in the black market arms chain. If an arms dealer wanted a particular type of weapon the Red Hood was called to procure it. A tip from PENGUIN had led the Batman here. Oswald Cobblepot knew that chemical weapons were not something Gotham City needed on the black market. It would bring law enforcement down on him like never before.
Now months of work were down the drain because of something as simple as a hallway with no adjacent rooms. The Batman had heard the group coming but simply could not get out of the way in time. He was preparing to toss a flash bang but the group saw him first. Such stupid, small things could ruin an operation.
The Batman rounded the hallway and stopped. One of the Red Hoods was walking towards him, holding a syringe in his hand. Batman immediately threw a batarang at the Hood's fist. The Hood dropped the syringe, which landed in his foot. He immediately screamed and quickly pulled it out. Batman could see that most the syringe was still filled with a greenish liquid. As he started to walk towards the Hood another Hood jumped from around the corner and began firing. Batman was struck in the cowl and fell to the ground unconscious. The Hood and another man dressed in slacks and a dress shirt ran past him and towards the entrance of the building.
The major was in horrible pain. One of the Red Hoods had forced him to trade clothes, including the red helmet, and attack Batman. When the batarang hit his fist he had dropped the syringe right into his foot. A small drop of the liquid had gone into his bloodstream, but not enough to kill him. He could feel the effects of the toxin, though. Breathing was difficult and his face was twitching. Still, he was alive. He looked down at the unconscious Batman in front of him. He was afraid that if the Batman woke up he would not believe the major wasn't really a Red Hood and take him to the police. The major had to go save his wife and unborn child. He took off the red helmet and raced for his house.
