The Aqua-Auto initiated it’s swim protocols immediately, but I didn’t want the heroes to track where I was going next.

I took in a giant breath of air before I smashed open the window. For good measure, I crushed the hood too. The smiling dolphin face became a twisted grimace. Daulphin would not be getting back his fancy car in operating condition anytime soon. The crushed vehicle floated upwards, bublles drifting around it.

I propelled myself deeper into the water until I saw the particular rock formation that led to the underwater cavern I’d made into one of my backup bolt holes in case of an emergency.

A swarm of tentacles shot out from behind the rocks.

“Nelly, it’s me!” the words turned into bubbles.

The tentacles slowed and the monster's head poked out.

I waved and continued swimming. Nelly moved out of her hiding spot and swam next to me. When I reached the cavern I pulled myself up and gasped in a sweet breath of air.

Nellie bobbed her head out of the water. I patted her head.

“Whew,” I squeezed some water out of my hair.

Nelly looked at me, her adorable rectangular pupils pulsating. A twinge of guilt hit me for not visiting her more often, “I wish this could be under better circumstances, because then I would have those jelly beans I promised you.

Nelly drooped at that.

“I will bring you some,” I promised, “we had an unexpected encounter with the Hero Union and I had to get away.”

I rummaged in one of the closets for a dry set of clothes and a new telephone. Our backup HQ wouldn’t get up and running by itself.

While I made my phone calls I began going through local video surveillance to see what was happening. Dark and Knight were still going at it.

On another screen, I put on the news that focused on hero and villain action, The Daily Duel.

“The Hero Union has just made a surprise strike against the recently discovered lair of Villain Corp.—located in an affluent business district near Lake Reynard. Reports have come in that Dark and Knight are still engaged in battle. No reported captures yet. Just in, we have footage from the fight.”

The footage played. I saw Red Scar engaging Gorgona in battle on the ground, and an assortment of other fights. The Duel had footage of our villains fleeing, and used some pleasant words like ‘cowardly’ to describe us. I rolled my eyes.

I held my breath as footage played of Circuit running up our building and then smashing through the glass.

Moments later, Circuit plummeted out of HQ. They managed to get a shot of Knight's face, even at the speed he was flying at. His eyes were aflame, as he looked up at a lady in business attire with a blue mask on. Me.

Would they realize who I was?

They didn’t. Relief washed through me and my posture softened.

Now for the actual important part—who had the heroes managed to capture?

“The heroes have managed to take several villains into custody, such as Leonine—

I groaned.

“—and big fish Metality.”

“Shoot.” Metality was a big fish. We needed him.

Along with setting up our new HQ, finalizing a few more details for the company trip, and raids against the heroes, now I would have to coordinate a prison break too.

Lovely.

Many hours of work later, Nelly slapped her tentacles behind me.

“Yes, Nelly?” I didn’t look up from the computer.

“Miss Bell, if you could be so kind as to get me a drink, I would appreciate it.”

“Dark.” I got up. Dark was slumped by the entrance of the cavern, a puddle forming around him.

“How’d the fight go?” I asked.

Dark chuckled, “Stalemate, of course.”

“Yes, but who would’ve won if you were both serious?”

“Me. Knight was really off his game after seeing you.”

“Hmmm…” I set about brewing a pot of coffee, one thing that every bunker was supplied with. It smelled like heaven, all the more so after we’d lost our latest HQ.

I poured two mugs and handed one to Dark. Steam drifted across mine, and I blew at it, soft curls flowing across the surface.

“Our new base is gorgeous,” I said, and took a sip, “but it will probably be two months before it’s operating at the capacity of the old one. I had to destroy a lot of files that we can’t have duplicates of.”

Dark lifted his mug, “Good coffee. Where is our new base?”

I smiled, “Snowview City.” I took another sip, “Metality and Leonine and a few others were captured during the raid, so I’ll be needing to borrow Merlina.”

“Please. Metality must to go on the retreat.”

“I also scheduled a tele-station for you to Snowview. You can go any time after nine, unless you’re up for a road trip.”

“I’ll take the tele-station,” Dark said in a dry voice.

“And...I’m on the news, but they didn't realize it was me.” I said.

“Knight and Circuit know.”

“I don’t think they’ll be the ones to tell the public.” I said.

Dark nodded, “True,” he stood up, “take a break, Miss Bell. I’ll take over for now.”

“I would appreciate it. Thank you. There should be clean clothes over there,” I pointed to the cabinets, “I’ll head home for a bit. See you in Snowview?”

“Yes. Tread carefully. Knight does know how you operate, to some extent.”

I swallowed the last of my coffee, and the bitterness of the dregs resonated with the feelings in my heart. After the day we'd had...and after seeing Knight again after so long, the emotiion swelled in my chest.

“Knight does not know me. If he did, we wouldn’t be standing here today.”

Dark met my eyes. I held his gaze.

“Miss Bell,” he said my name in the softest, most personal voice I’d ever heard, "Knight was a fool, then."