Okay my mind is officially boggled. Have an MPS8098 NPN, which measures as two diodes from B-E and B-C fine, but measures short from C-E or E-C. How in the world?

@rdtsc . . I was looking a data sheets to see what kind of transistor (planar, epitaxial, etc), but it is only described as "small signal". I can see how it the E and C were short circuited externally that you would get your measurements. But I have never encountered this either (die failure resulting in your situation).