Al shook Joe awake so he could have the bed for a quick nap. He decided to leave out the details of their crisis, figuring some things were best left unsaid until he had a plan. Harvey was asleep at the console, so it was up to Joe to make coffee. Rummaging through the kitchenette he found a half-empty canister and a percolator. Within a few moments the aroma of wakefulness wafted through the hideout. Lawrence stirred and slowly sat up.

“Coffee?”

“Coffee. Pull up a chair.”

Lawrence did as he was told and sat down, yawning. “How’s it going?” Joe slung him a mug.

“Pretty good, had a decent sleep, all things considered.”

Lawrence nodded in agreement. “Got any sugar to go with this?”

"Let me check.” Joe got up and rummaged in the cupboard. “Looks like all we have is some honey and powdered milk.”

“Just like Mama used to make. I’ll have some.”

Joe laughed. “Your funeral. Say, your bruises are healing nicely.”

“I’ve always been a quick healer. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. Plenty of vitamin C.”

“Sounds like clean living to me. I suppose I ought to try it sometime.”

They ran over what they planned to do once they got out. As Joe pulled out a loaf of bread from the freezer to make toast, the vault door suddenly groaned.

“Holy crap,” said Joe, dropping the loaf on the floor. ”What was that?”

The door groaned again, louder this time. Joe sprinted over to wake Harvey. Harvey grumbled and opened his eyes.

"What’s going on?”

The door heaved.

“That!” cried Joe, pointing frantically at the door.

“Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit to the fourth power!” Harvey struggled out of his chair and, with legs still, hobbled over to Al.

“Al! Al, wake up!”

“Admiral!” The King blinked, blearily. “We just have laid down for a brief respite, and already the Hounds of Beelzebub have come nipping at our shirt tails?”

“I…” Harvey blinked, the illusion of stability shattered like so many Elvis-owned television sets. “I’m afraid so, sire. What are we going to do?”

“Well, if the Duke and his Nobles have indeed discovered our secret kingdom, then let their uppance come!” He bolted to his feet, trembling with vigor. “Our sword, fetch our noble sword! They shall rue the day they tasted the bitter retort of our ire!”

“Uh, you don’t have a sword, sire.”

“Surely not?” his eyes pleaded. “How can we be King without our sword!”

“You have a gun, sire. So do I, in fact. See?” He unholstered the pistol for demonstration.

“That will have to suffice, then. But we shall have to take thy weapon too.”

“Why? Without it I’m defenseless!”

“But if thou has one and we the same, then who is King?”

Before Harvey could reply, the door heaved backwards into the sally port, crashing loudly amidst the fried wiring. Joe and Lawrence ducked behind the kitchen counter just as Captain Tanzer sprang through the hole, guns drawn. Harvey swung his pistol up, aiming dead between the Captain’s eyes.

“So, it’s come down to this, has it, Sergeant? You traitor!” Harvey trembled, finger shaking over the trigger. Suddenly, the commandos stormed into the room, machine guns out. “I’d put that thing away before you get hurt.”

“Drop the weapon, son!” Lieutenant Hale bellowed. “Do it. Now!”

Harvey raised his hands and let the gun fall to the ground.

“Get your hands up, all of you. Nice and slow.” The King blinked incredulously, but raised his hands. “I am Lieutenant Kevin Hale with RG Security. Dumb fuck over there is Captain Tanzer, VirCorp Police. Now, calmly tell me who you are.”

“I-I’m Sergeant Harvey, VirCorp Police.”

“You’re a hard man to find, Sergeant. We’d like to ask you some questions concerning your whereabouts yesterday. Come quietly and you have my word that no harm will come to you.”

“O-OK?” Harvey jerked his head forward, inquisitively.

“Yes, please step forward. Sergeant Zimbardo will take you into custody.”

Harvey stepped forward with hands held high, as Zimbardo moved in like lightning, cuffing the trembling man before handing him off to the other guards.

Hale eyed the disheveled King. “And who are you?”

“Rapscallions! We shall thee flayed alive and sent to the Four Corners of our Kingdom before we would ever consider speaking to one such as thyself.”

“O…K. Zimbardo? Take this fruit bat into custody. We’ll speak to you later, your Lordship.” Following the same swift movements, Zimbardo restrained and passed off the King.

Hale glanced around the room, and then saw four hands clutching the countertop. “You, behind the counter! Come out where I can see you.”

Cautiously, Joe and Lawrence inched their faces into view. Suddenly, Tanzer screamed, “Look out, Lieutenant—they’re armed!” and opened fire. Joe and Lawrence ducked for cover.

“Cease fire!” Hale barked.

Tanzer charged the counter, muzzles blazing.

“Cease fire, Captain or I will kill you where you stand!”

Eyes wild with fury, Tanzer leapt into the air. Hale opened fire, dropping Tanzer on top of the counter with two carefully placed extremity shots. The Desert Eagles spun out of his hands and banged against the cabinets, skittering onto the floor.

Hale rushed over behind the counter, weapon aimed at the cowering men.

“You aren’t armed, are you?”

Joe and Lawrence shook their heads in terror.

“That’s what I thought. Sit tight.”

Hale bent over the prostrate figure of Moritz Tanzer. He took his pulse.

“Martins, rig the stretcher. He’s alive, for now. You and Devlin get him topside to the medical facility.” He gently patted Tanzer’s wounded shoulder. He winced, sucking air over his teeth. ”We’re going to have a nice long chat once real soon, Captain.”

Hale walked back around the counter. “Well, you must be Noone and Lawrence.” They nodded together. “You look familiar.” Hale blinked at Joe. “Have we met before?”

“No, sir. I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. W-what’s happening?”

“I don’t know if I’m at liberty to say, son. You’re wanted back at the HQ.”

“Are you going to kill us?”

“Heavens, no. But I believe the Captain there wanted to. I am, however, going to have to place you into custody. We have much to discuss. But if you come quietly, there’ll be no more unpleasantness. Can you both walk?”

Lawrence looked at Joe quizzically, then both men nodded.

“OK. Get up and I’ll take care of you personally.” Slowly they stood up and turned around. Hale gently clapped on the cuffs and led them back to the squad.

As they marched into the sally port, a myopic dwarf of a man looked up from the helm of a small but powerful forklift. “Did I do it, or did I do it?”

“Thanks for your help, Mister Guffman.”

“Just a simple sling job, not much to it but raw power after that.” He revved the engine playfully. “Something’s only as safe as the mechanism protecting it, I always say.”

“Well done. Make sure you speak with our payroll officer before you leave to collect your fee. All right, boys. Show’s over. Let’s get out of here.”