Supervillainy
Read between the lines of this story. If that's not a perfect setup for the creation of a supervillain (mad scientist flouts safety in his ambition for fame, something goes Horribly Wrong!), I don't know what is. We've got an "accident" with a laser, the disappearance of classified nuclear materials, and a frantic shutdown of the facility.
I'm just saying, when Dr. Nucleo makes national news next week demanding ransom money or he'll destroy California with his Class 4 Laser, you heard it here first.