Chapter 81: 81

| Chicago - July 31 Etienne Du Vipere was born a French nobleman in the 18th century, but his destiny would take him far beyond the gilded halls of aristocracy. Enamored with the ideals of the American Revolution, he sailed to the colonies to aid in their fight for independence. It was on the battlefield that his latent metahuman abilities first awakened—powerful psionic gifts that made him a formidable force. Yet, his abilities unnerved those he fought beside. John Adams, wary of his unnatural talents, mockingly dubbed him "Count Viper." The name, once meant as an insult, became his legacy. When the war ended, Viper returned to France, only to find his homeland in turmoil. He sided with the revolutionaries, but during the Reign of Terror, he met the guillotine. It should have been the end. Instead, it was a revelation. As the blade fell, his most potent ability activated—the power to transfer his consciousness into another body. In an instant, he escaped death, taking over the body of an unsuspecting onlooker. For decades, Count Viper wandered the Earth, often using his abilities to aid the nation he still loved. But over time, his admiration for America soured. He grew disillusioned with its trajectory and resolved to seize control, believing only he could restore it to its true path. His plan began in the shadows of Chicago's "Netherworld," a slum teeming with impoverished metahumans. Using centuries of accumulated wealth, he established himself as a crime lord and acquired the Meta/Tech corporation, intending to mass-produce superpowered individuals through genetic experimentation. His ultimate goal: forge an army of metahumans and reshape the country as he saw fit. Viper had initially seen a kindred spirit in Katar Hol, the current Hawkman, another admirer of America's ideals. He had considered offering Hol a place in his new order. But before he could make his move, Hawkman disappeared—and in his place, a new hero emerged. Nova. Viper had no illusions that Nova would accept his vision. He was an obstacle, one that needed to be removed before he could jeopardize everything. He sent William Kavanagh, codenamed Airstryke, to eliminate the young hero, but the attempt had failed miserably. Whether Nova had uncovered any information about him remained uncertain. If he had, it hardly mattered. In fact, it might even work to Viper's advantage. His current body was aging, growing weaker. But Nova? He was young, powerful, and—most importantly—connected to the Justice League. If fate was kind, the next time they met, Count Viper would walk away with far more than just his life. He would take everything Nova had. ** | Mount Justice - August 3 The hum of the Zeta-tube faded as the teleportation sequence completed. "Superboy B-04," the system intoned. "How did your trip to Metropolis go?" Joseph asked. Superboy grunted and walked to the side of the room without answering. That probably meant his meeting with Superman hadn't gone well. Joseph didn't understand why the clone kept seeking out someone who was clearly uncomfortable with his existence. If someone made a clone of Joseph without his consent for unknown reasons, he wouldn't be thrilled about it either. The team were all suited up and gathered for Black Canary's training session. Joseph was without his Nova helmet as there was no need to wear it if they were in Mount Justice. The hum of the Zeta-tube sounded again as another teleportation sequence completed. "Black Canary 13, Martian Manhunter 07," the system announced. Black Canary and Martian Manhunter stepped into the mission room. "Ready for training?" Canary asked. Kori's eyes narrowed as she took in the cut on Black Canary's jacket and the bandages underneath. "You're injured. Are you sure you can proceed?" "It's just a scratch from an earlier engagement," Canary said dismissively. "Now, let's get started." She strode toward the center of the room, which doubled as their training area. As she stepped onto the circular platform, it lit up beneath her feet. "I consider it an honor to be your teacher," she said, turning to face them while tugging at her jacket. "I'll be throwing a lot at you—everything I've learned from my own mentors..." She paused briefly, a sharp intake of breath escaping as she shrugged off her jacket, revealing her bandaged arm. "...And from my own bruises." "What happened?" M'gann asked, concern in her voice. "The job," Dinah answered simply, tossing her jacket aside. Her expression hardened as she addressed them. "Combat is about controlling conflict—putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting, never reacting." She scanned the group before settling on Joseph. "Joseph, you have some martial arts training, right? Step forward." Joseph stepped forward, facing Canary. Without warning, she threw a quick jab. He blocked it, but she immediately dropped into a low sweep. They moved in sync, trading strikes in a silent agreement to keep it purely physical. Joseph held back a lot, but even so, he was faster and stronger. Yet Canary was one of the League's most formidable fighters, her skill allowing her to hold her own against both human and superhuman opponents alike. She baited him—an opening too tempting to ignore. He willingly fell for it wondering what she'd do next. Her kick shot up. He blocked, but the force sent him out of bounds apparently judging from the floor showing his fail status. Joseph straightened, rolling his shoulders. "You fight like someone I know. Did Wildcat train you?" he asked. Canary raised an eyebrow, impressed by his deduction. "Good eye. Yeah, Wildcat was one of my mentors." She nodded in approval. "Your technique is solid, but you need more experience reading your opponents. Anyone else—" "Hmph." The scoff came from Superboy, cutting her off.