"But Bane, we-"

"Shut up and haul the crates!" Bane grunted as he shoved another box into the back of his futuristic, high tech, big van. It was equipped with all the gadgetry he had invented, things like satellite tracking systems, police radio monitors, and more esoteric things. Rock was standing nearby, indescision on his face.

"You're sure that they-"

"Yes I'm sure! We're compromised, and if we don't move, we're toast. Come ON Mega, don't just stand there." Rock finally moved, helping haul the heavy boxes. Two light ones Bass deposited near the front door of the van.

"What are those?" Rock asked, hoisting another box inside.

"Books and munchies." Bane answered absently.

"Are we going to wait for the copy to get back?" Rock asked, scrupulously not looking at Bane. A small shudder ran through Bane's shoulders.

"...No. We gave him permission to go for the whole day. He won't be back until evening." Bane finally answered, and looked up to meet Rock's gaze. "We go now."

"Bane... he'll get caught. We can't just leave him..." There was pain in Rock's face, voice.

"Shut... up. Please." Bane shoved a box into the van with unnecessary force. "He's got the lifespan of a gnat, and if we stay or go looking for him, we will too. So please... just shut up."

They packed the rest of the equipment in silence.

hr

The copy of Bane, only a month old, was sensing something. Something not right. Someone dogging his heels...

He ducked into an alleyway, looking around searchingly, then kept moving-

IBBANG!/I/B He was knocked back, feeling nothing for a second... then a searing, burning agony as he collapsed onto his back. With no armor to protect him, the bullet had entered his stomach and exited his back.

"Hff..." He tried feebly to lift his head as two people came to stand over him, blocking what little light there was. He could see shiny black boots, suits... "Ung..."

"Is that the one?"

"No. It's just that copy." The voice sounded very quiet, very gentle.

"Shall I get a repair team, sir?"

"No. He's not worth it. Let me talk to him for a minute." Said that same quiet voice, and the copy blinked back tears. Then...

"AIIEEE!!!" A boot slammed down on his hand with a violent crunch. The copy spasmed, gasping.

"Where is he?" Said the voice, still so quiet, so calm. "Do you know where Bane is?"

"N... no... just a... copy... hfff..." Then the foot slammed into his stomach. "AUGHHHHH!"

"Do you know where he is going?" The calm voice asked again as the copy blinked back tears. But he couldn't hold them back, and they slid down his cheeks slowly, to the dirty ground.

"No... please... please don't... hff..." The copy whimpered as the boot ground deep into his injured stomach. "Please..." Then he saw the person draw a gun.

"I don't want to die, I don't want to die... please... no..." Another shot rang out, and the pleading stopped...

hr

Bane and Rock drove silently through a desert landscape. They were already two states away from the... incident... and hopefully they'd be able to stop soon for a rest.

"I hope the copy is okay." Rock finally said.

"If you mention him one more time, Rock, I swear to God I'm going to find the nearest cliff and drive us right off it." Bane said grimly, and Rock shot him a quick glance.

"It bothers you, leaving him behind?" He finally asked.

"Hell yes, it bothers me! He's only been alive a month. He has the life expectancy of a fruit fly now. Yes, yes, it bothers me. Now would you be quiet about it?" He burst out, shooting Rock a malevolent glare.

"...." Rock looked at the two boxes in the front. "Mind if I open the books and munchies?"

"No, go right ahead. What they're here for." Bass said, in a more natural tone. Rock quickly popped them open, getting out a book to read. The rest of the trip passed in something resembling peace.

hr

"It's done." Bane wiped a hand across his forehead. They were in a small, rental house on the beach. He'd rented it under a false name he'd never used before, and they hadn't been found yet. It was about to become a moot point.

"It's... nice Bane." Rock said diplomatically. To him, it looked like some kind of odd teleporter. "But what's it for?" Bane grinned, wiping off his hands on a small towelette.

"It's a dimensional phase teleporter." He said proudly, surveying his handiwork.

"Wha?" Rock said, confused, and Bane laughed.

"It creates "holes" in reality, leading to new realities. It's possible for something to be sent through those holes. As long as its not a ridiculously excessive mass, my calculations indicate the dimensional "fabric" won't suffer." At Rocks disbelieving look, he smiled. "Remember those probes we made that kept disappearing?"

"Yes, and you said they were being shot down, you scum. So this is where they went." Rock eyed the setup askance. "Are you sure its safe?" Bane shrugged.

"I've got two answers to that. The first is, no, not at all. The second is, it's safer than staying here and risking having the entire might of the world turned against us, don't you think?" Bass patted the console fondly. "I've rigged it with an explosive set to off a minute after we use it, too. No one will be following us anywhere. So, let's get on the panel and-"

"Unh, Bane." Rock waited until Bane looked at him. "I realize your eager and everything, but shouldn't we get, oh, equipment, food, money, those gold bars you put our savings into, things like that?"

"Oh..." Bane blinked as if the thought had never occured to him. "I suppose your right. How stupid of me." Rock couldn't help but smile.

"It's times like this, you really remind me of Dr. Light." Not a lick of sense for practical matters. Bane was better, most of the time, since Bass had always liked to be prepared... but sometimes the other side cropped up...