Chapter 14: The showdown
In the meantime, as Sam and Skip hurried back to their respective offices, with the former to mobilize the police department and the latter getting relevant documents ready at his office, the gang and George are at the medical ward where medical personnel are keeping close observations on both Daphne and Dr. Orville.
By this point, the Blue Falcon has already left in search for the missing Dr. Corden.
As Velma and the boys looked on, George was speaking to the head doctor of Blake Medical, who is overseeing the team monitoring Dr. Orville and Daphne's conditions.
So far, Dr. Orville has returned to normal, though medical lab technicians are working quick to see if they can develop an antidote to permanently counteract the effects of the Hyde formula in the scientist's body.
In addition, after the antidote was administered, Daphne hasn't been showing any signs of complications from her potential contact with the Hyde serum.
Eventually, George returned to the rest of the gang after conferring with the doctor.
"How's Daphne?" Shaggy was the first to ask.
"Her condition is stable and there are no signs of any abnormalities yet, unlike what the medical team has observed in the early stages of applying the antidote to Dr. Orville." George said.
"That's good to hear, Mr. Blake." Fred nodded.
"Though I will like to know what could have possessed you kids to play detective." George said as he turned to the gang. "Don't you kids realize that it's dangerous and that you could potentially get hurt?"
"We know that, Mr. Blake." Fred said. "It's just that when there are strange things going on, I feel tempted to check things out and inquire for answers."
"I see." George nodded thoughtfully before frowning and added, "I believe a good talk with your parents is in order for you all. I certainly don't like how you kids took risks like that."
Meanwhile, Daggett and Scott were horrified as they found themselves face-to-face with a visibly-angry Mr. Hyde.
"Now...there, Dr. Corden." Scott said as he and Daggett tried to calm the beast down. "Take it easy there."
"Take it easy?!" Mr. Hyde growled as he marched menacingly towards the two corrupt businessmen. "After what you've made me into and you've told me to take it easy?!"
"Dr. Corden, if I recall correctly, we had an accord." Daggett said. "You do your work in sabotaging Blake Enterprises' reputation with the Hyde formula you're researching and developing, and we'll reward you dearly with a substantial increase in your pay once you come to work for us."
"Without regarding the negative side-effects of the Hyde formula I've injected myself regularly with?" Mr. Hyde gritted his teeth.
"When we give you money to do a job, Dr. Corden, we expect you to go through the due diligence of getting things right for our cause." Daggett said. "Besides, with the potential rewards of getting things right, you can afford to get the medical care you need in case of any..."
"Money may buy me the best medical care, Mr. Daggett." Mr. Hyde immediately cut the businessman off. "But it can never buy me health, especially given the frequent exposure to the formula has made it easier for me to transform without the need of injection, plus the antidote I've developed is no longer working. Do you honestly think a few million lousy dollars is worth the risk to my health?"
He then walked towards Scott and Daggett as he produced claws and added, "You two are responsible for my transformation, and you're going to pay for it."
As Mr. Hyde prepared to use his claws on them, Daggett tried to calm him down.
"Dr. Corden...perhaps we can strike a deal...if you let us live, I'll immediately...uh...hand over Daggett Enterprises over to you...and..." Daggett said, only for Mr. Hyde to snort and laugh.
"What a joke." Mr. Hyde laughed. "And just so you know, it's no longer Dr. Corden, gentlemen."
With his paws close enough to the necks of both of the businessmen, Mr. Hyde added, "It's Mr. Hyde you're speaking to."
As Scott and Daggett looked on in horror, Mr. Hyde prepared to use his claws on them.
However, just as Mr. Hyde was about to take a fatal swipe at them, a falcon-shaped boomerang suddenly appeared out of nowhere and wrapped itself around his claws.
"You'll be going no further, Mr. Hyde." A voice said, and the trio turned and saw the Blue Falcon in the room. "This is where your trail of destruction stops."
"The Blue Falcon!" Mr. Hyde growled as he turned to face the vigilante, giving the two businessmen the opportunity to get out.
However, just as Scott passed by BF, the vigilante, who hasn't kept his eyes off Mr. Hyde as he walked towards him, suddenly grabbed hold of him by the shoulder as he said, "Not so fast, Mr. Scott."
Daggett wasn't grabbed by BF as he fumbled for the secret exit, only to be stopped by the growling Dynomutt, who had dangerous knives out and ready and forcing the businessman to backtrack back into the room.
"You really think this rope can stop me, huh?" Mr. Hyde growled as he faced BF, nodding at the line attached to the boomerang that has tied his paws up before moving his wrists further apart and snapping the line tying his paws.
Looking at Scott for a brief second, BF shoved the businessman aside before wenting to confront Mr. Hyde.
"I was in the middle of settling some private business when you bursted in, Blue Falcon." Mr. Hyde growled. "You really should've minded your own business."
"Not when you're about to murder two businessmen who doesn't need your brand of justice, Mr. Hyde." BF said. "They'll eventually be tried in the court of law and pay for what they have done."
"Not good enough!" Mr. Hyde growled as he took a swipe at BF, who managed to duck. "They promised to reward me dearly with my work, but instead they rewarded me with this hideous transformation!"
"And had you been aware of any possible side-effects and dangers, Dr. Corden, as a scientist of good integrity and bounded by good ethics, you should've refused to take part in this scheme." BF replied as he took a swing at Mr. Hyde. "But it's all because of the money they promised you that drew you into this scheme, didn't it?"
By that point, the punch managed to land Mr. Hyde onto the floor, and he wiped his face as BF walked towards him, ready to cuff him.
There was some silence from Mr. Hyde as he sat up and looked at the vigilante, but provoked by the words and BF's questioning, Mr. Hyde growled as he suddenly took a swipe at BF's leg.
BF was caught off guard by the counterattack, and he ended up with several scratches on his leg.
"Now who's the fool?" Mr. Hyde taunted BF as he got up while the vigilante gritted his teeth in pain.
Gritting his teeth, BF looked at Mr. Hyde menacingly.
Mr. Hyde then turned towards Mr. Scott and marched towards him.
"Now to finish what I've started." Mr. Hyde growled as he walked towards Mr. Scott, who swallowed as he faced him.
"Not so fast." BF said as he suddenly produced another falcon-shaped boomerang and threw it towards Mr. Hyde's feet.
The line attached to the boomerang wrapped itself around Mr. Hyde's legs, causing him to trip and fall over before he could reach Mr. Scott.
Then, Dynomutt produced a Taser, stretched one leg over to the down Mr. Hyde and gave him an electric jolt.
"Yahhhh!" Mr. Hyde growled in pain as around 10000 volts of electricity surged through his body. He then slumped onto the floor, not moving.
"There." Dynomutt said as his taser-leg stretched back into his robotic body. "I suppose the case of Mr. Hyde has been wrapped up, BF."
"Right." BF nodded before turning to the two businessmen in the room. "As for you two gentlemen, you've got a lot of answering to do."
"So what are you going to charge us with?" Daggett sneered. "Industrial sabotage?"
"You've got no solid evidence that we actually masterminded the Hyde attacks and framed Blake Enterprises for it." BF said. "And besides, even if you do have evidence, how does the law know that your word is to be trusted?"
"The law may have doubts on the Blue Falcon's word and testimony." A voice suddenly said. "But not when an officer of the law, or in this case, several officers of the law, were present and have heard the whole conversation."
Everyone turned and looked. At the doorway to the office stood Inspector Sam Rogers, Captain Jared Stephenson of Major Crimes Division, Assistant District Attorney Skip Jones and several heavily armed police officers, all of whom had their weapons aimed at the motionless Mr. Hyde.
"Mr. Hyde is right there, gentlemen." Sam said as he pointed at the downed figure, and several officers wearing protective gear immediately went over to handcuff Mr. Hyde and brought him up. "He is to be sent to Blake Medical for strict observations as they work on developing a stronger antidote."
The officers nodded as they grabbed Mr. Hyde and took him out of the office, leaving Sam, Stephenson, Skip and four more police officers.
"I got your message and got here as soon as we could, Blue Falcon." Sam said as he held out the falcon-shaped radio device on his breast pocket.
"And along the way, we've listened in to a very interesting conversation that pieces together the puzzles on the conspiracy to frame Blake Enterprises for Mr. Hyde's appearances." Jones added as Sam proceeded to play an excerpt of the recorded conversation.
"And you'll be pleased to know that my partners and I have been keeping track of Dr. Corden's activities in the past few weeks." BF added as he turned to the two businessmen. "Activities that led me to your office, Mr. Daggett."
"You planted a bug in my office?!" Daggett exclaimed in disbelief.
"My friend did." BF said casually with Dynomutt nodding. "We've only played our parts."
Furious, Daggett and Scott turned to Sam and company.
"You heard what that lunatic just say, Inspector?" Daggett asked. "He just admitted to illegally planting a recording device in my office, which is the ultimate invasion of my privacy!"
"You should have them arrested and charged for invading our privacies and illegal surveillance, Assistant DA Jones!" Scott added as he and Daggett turned around to gesture towards BF and Dynomutt, only to find that they're nowhere to be seen. "Those...what the?"
"Where did they go?" Daggett asked as they looked around.
Sam, Skip and Stephenson all shared a look and shrugged, with Stephenson pocketing a CD that mysteriously made its way into his hands during the conversation, the CD containing recordings of the conversations at Mr. Daggett's office.
"I honestly wouldn't know, Mr. Daggett." Sam shrugged as the two businessmen turned to face them again. "But there's one thing we do know for sure."
"Yes indeed." Stephenson nodded with Skip showing his CD copy of the recordings. "There's going to be a lot of outrage and a major shakeup in Coolsville's business world in the next few days."
"Yes, as Daggett Industries founds itself under investigation for corporate sabotage." Skip added. "You two gentlemen are looking at at least ten years at Ohio State Pen."
"And even if your lawyers managed to have you acquitted, I highly doubt you'll be able to recover your giant fortune." Sam said. "Word has it that the RCMP north of the border has ordered the freezing of Daggett Industries Canada's assets."
"As the largest foreign subsidy of Daggett Industries, there's no doubt that your company is going to take a major hit, especially as the Gotham City District Attorney's Office is building a solid case in investigating your company's headquarters there." Skip added.
Daggett and Scott both looked at the trio with unmistakable rage in their faces.
"Curses!" Scott exclaimed as the four police officers walked over to handcuff him and Daggett.
"This isn't over, Jones!" Daggett added as he and Scott were escorted away by the officers. "We'll fight every single charge in the courts, and we'll drag this to the Supreme Court if it's the last thing we'll do!"
One more chapter to go, folks!
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