The scene of MetaTech Industries building was chaotic, to say the least. The whole place had to be evacuated and cordoned off, the gigantic crack in the building worrying all who saw it. Not to mention the draconic corpse of a genetically engineered bioweapon laying not two blocks away, and the very public helicopter crash of the CEO down the street from it. The police had their hands full just trying to keep everyone back, the emergency crews couldn't make it through the streets.

"Clear the way, clear the way!" an EMT shouted, forcing the stretcher Dirge was on through the throng of people.

"Hey, it's Dirge! He's hurt bad!" Like the Red Sea, the crowd parted to the ambulance, and they loaded him inside. He was critical, but stable, on his way to the ICU where hopefully his life could be assured.

"-like I said, three years under that bastard's thumb." Rose said as she and Detective Armstrong passed the vehicle going out.

"Wow, ok. So, I'm not going to arrest you, but you might be taken into protective custody in the near future. With your testimony, and Jason's corroboration, we'll put Knightsbridge away forever." Armstrong said.

"Hmm. I suppose that's good enough." she said coldly. Small spikes involuntarily jutted from her shoulders, and Armstrong leaned back.

"Look, if we make an exception for him, we have to make an exception for everybody, and then it's not an exception. Cops aren't executioners." Armstrong said with a wistful sigh. "It's make some things easier, but I didn't sign up for the easy road."

One of the EMTs chuckled as he overheard them, making his way through the crowd. It was easy to lose sight in the gathered mass, no one noticed one of the medical personnel slip off.

The EMT whistled as he walked briskly from the scene, sticking to the back alleys. The air was chilly, but with the undeniable smell of spring on the wind. His whistling was intermittently interrupted by uncontrollable snickering.

He kept up his jaunty tune as he went to the corner of 5th and Morton Street, jangling his leg as he peered down the empty road. He checked his phone, and grinned when a pink Cadillac pulled up to the curb.

"What kept you?" he said as he sauntered in the back seat next to the other passenger, throwing his hat out the window.

"Some meaningless drivel yes yes. But ah! Now is the time we escape! Louie, to freedom!" Dr. Thunder said.

"Yeah, boss." Louie rolled his eyes and pulled out.

"Sweet ride, Dr. T. You like to spend the money I give you on the finer things, don't you?" Knightsbridge said, running a hand through his hair.

"A great deal! But that is of little consequence in the end. I require a great deal of funding for my experiments, or did you forget? Without your company, I see little reason to still work with you, as you can no longer fulfill my needs." Dr. Thunder said. Knightsbridge held up his hands.

"Easy there! You're acting like I don't have anything else. I've been skimming and privately investing for years, just in case something like this happened. When you're rich, it's easy to stay rich, after all! Speaking of investments, how many of those flash clones you have left?" he asked.

Dr. Thunder reached down and opened up a briefcase, with five canisters of dark green ooze inside. They gave off a faint illumination.

"Izzat safe?" Louie said, glancing back nervously.

"Perfectly, just some natural bioluminescence. As you see, I've managed to prepare five more containers of quick-growing clones of you. Just break it open and voila! Instant clone, with all your memories, the perfect decoy! Hardly a challenge for the great...Dr. Thunder!" Thunder said dramatically.

"Excellent. How long will he last?" Knightsbridge asked.

"About a week, give or take. They'll dissolve into protoplasmic goo, and they'll know they captured a fake. I hope you have a backup plan."

"Run like hell!" Knightsbridge said with a grin, and Dr. Thunder's lips stretched over his teeth in a smile.

"Very astute and appropriate. However, that doesn't give you the authority you once enjoyed. If you cannot provide the proper resources, then I don't see how you'll keep up your side of the bargain." he said. Knightsbridge just smiled wider and reclined even more.

"Doc, doc, doc! You may know your science, but leave the business to me. True, yeah, we don't have what we had before. But labs are easily replaceable, especially with your genius backing us up. We'll have no shortage of investors, trust me."

"Still, the fact remains MetaTech-"

"-is finito, yeah. We can't create and study supers and supertech there anymore, we were the top superpower research company in the world, blah blah blah." Knightsbridge cut off.

"You don't seem that broken up about it."

"It was Dad's company, not mine. Sorry to see it go, but hey, way it goes." Knightsbridge shrugged. "MetaTech Industries was the top of the field, true. But tell me something, doc. What happens when the top dog suddenly goes down in front of a rival pack?"

"It gets ripped to pieces I suppose." Dr. Thunder said.

"Exactly." Knightsbridge grinned wolfishly. "NewTech, Volgo Enterprises, SankariCorp, not to mention the good ol' US of A government, they've all wanted a piece of our action for years. You think our scientists and projects won't get scooped right up by other parties? Use that big brain of yours, doc." He leaned back and rested his head on his fist. The passing streetlights dancing across his smiling face, giving him a look that was diabolical.

"All those goodies and toys...in all the chaos, who'd notice one or two or ten missing? Certainly not the authorities, not for months or years at least. A few less-scrupulous individuals could make a tidy sum selling our secrets on the black market, after all. And it's not going to stop there. What do you think all these interested parties are gonna do with the projects they have on hand? Sit on 'em? Nah doc, they'll want more. And they'll make it. No doc, while it might not be under our control anymore, I've basically accelerated the timeline. This's a win, if anything. Now we could sit back and watch the flames spread, but where's the fun in that? What we have is an opportunity, once we set up. We take a look at the stuff they make, and refine it ourselves."

"So what do you think? Am I keeping up my half of the deal?" Knightsbridge said. Dr. Thunder's grin was so wide it threatened to cut his head off.

"I see I see! Very clever indeed! Do you have any idea what we'll do next? You have my genius at your disposal, sir." he said.

"Why not lie low, get some R&R? I've got contacts, but they'll need time to set up for us." Knightsbridge said with a shrug. Dr. Thunder let out a cackle.

"Excellent idea, my boy! After all, whatever move we make next is the right one! The world is our clam!" he laughed.

"The expression is oyster." Louie said.

"Shut up you! Don't talk back! I am the lord of this world, the masses simply must be made aware!" Dr. Thunder snapped.

Knightsbridge let his gaze set out to the dark highway, the lights of the city fading behind them. He'd be back, oh he'd be back for sure.

But for now, he just watched the sign passing by: Now Leaving Silver City.