“Any suggestions as to how we get out of here?” growled Mr. Epitome as he spun around and hurled the door at the security forces charging them from within the building.

    A cab screeched to a halt in front of them. “Get in!” called Katarina from the front passenger seat. Hatman limped to the car and Zdenka gently helped him in and then jumped in after him. Dominic raced around to the other side and slid in.

    “Go!” cried Kat, and the cab sped off.

    “You were to get to safety, yes?” Zdenka checked with Kat. Her tone was light however, as if she wasn’t surprised that the young shopkeeper had stuck around.

    “You know the boys can’t get by without us,” she grinned back at her new friend. Then a look of concern took over her face as she took in the condition of Hatman and Mr. Epitome.

    Both men’s costumes were blood-stained and ripped. Kat could see the mark from the garrote Kwatrain had tried to decpatitate Dominic with. One of Hatman’s eyes was swollen shut, and he was favouring his left arm.

    “Are you okay?” she asked them. She had indicated both men but her gaze was locked on Dominic.

    “We’ll be fine,” he grunted. “Where are we headed?” he turned to Hatman.

    “Back to Parodiopolis,” said the Capped Crusader. He was leaning up against Zdenka, cradling his arm. She was lightly stroking his hair.

    “I thought we were turning ourselves in.”

    “We are.”

    “--comment on--"

    “--statement regarding--"

    The Parodiopolis Police Commissioner raised his hands and motioned for the crowd of reporters to be silent. Standing next to the Commissioner were Hatman and Mr Epitome, cleaned up and wearing fresh uniforms. The throng of reporters eventually quieted down to allow Commissioner Graham to speak.

    “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. You have all, no doubt, seen the footage in the news of these two men, Hatman and Mr. Epitome, brawling in downtown Gothametropolis York. I turn you over to Hatman now, as he has a statement to make.”

    Don Graham stepped back to allow Hatman to take the podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, good day. I am here today not to offer excuses, but I would like to put forth an explanation, at least for our presence within Gothametropolis York.

    “Mr. Epitome and I entered Gothametropolis at the behest of the Super-Menace Principal Undercover Directorate, S.P.U.D. We were on a covert mission that, unfortunately, I cannot disclose the details of. If you speak to Dan Drury I’m sure he can confirm for you that we entered the city on his behalf.

    “That being said, however, I cannot excuse the brawl you have all witnessed between Mr. Epitome and I. We had a…disagreement while on the mission, and I allowed my temper to get the better of me.

    “The law in Gothametropolis states that superpowers are not be exercised within the city limits. Whether I agree with that law or not is irrelevant, the point is it is the law. And as we did use our powers outside of the mission parameters specified, we broke the law. Consequently, Mr. Epitome and I have come forward to face the charges against us and have surrendered ourselves into Police Commissioner Graham’s custody.

    “The Lair Legion is not above the law. Thank you.”

    The press erupted with questions, jostling and shouting to try and gain the specific attention of any of the men on the podium.

    “--man, will you be accepting an Obedience Br--"

    “--embarrassed at losing to Hatman--“

    “--jurisdiction Commissioner Graham--“

    “--Obedience Brand--“

    “--SR1066--“

    “--mutate rights--“

    “--Jenni and Trudi Wooster quoted as--“

    “--Sir Mumphrey Wilton’s thoughts--“

    “--OPS--“

    “--Patriot Brand--“

     Commissioner Graham took the center again. “I have spoken with Gothametropolis’ Police Commissioner, and he has agreed that Hatman and Mr. Epitome will remain in my custody. Given the exemplary service records of these two men we are still deciding what, if any, charges are to be laid. They have agreed, upon Mr. Epitome’s suggestion, to repair all the damage they caused.”

    “Will you be holding them pending charges?” asked one of the reporters.

    “No, we will not. The only way we can hold these men is if they let us,” answered Graham.

    Hatman leaned over to whisper in Mr. Epitome’s ear. “When Mumphrey gets through with us we might wish we did get locked up.”

    Dominic was forced to nod his head in agreement.

    “Indeed. I was unaware just how…colourful, British idioms could be,” agreed Mr. Epitome.

    The two were seated in a corner booth at the Bean and Donut. After the earful Sir Mumphrey had given them, the two men had wanted nothing more than to go their separate ways to brood in their respective rooms. Dancer would have nothing of it.

    The pair sat in silence for the next few minutes, Hatman idly stirring his whipped cream into his hot chocolate. Mr. Epitome kept his gaze locked on his coffee cup. Finally Hatman broke the silence.

    “You kept files on us,” Hatman said quietly.

    “I did what?”

    “While you worked for the OPS. You kept files on the entire Lair Legion. Personal weaknesses, tactical deficiencies, exactly how to exploit us. That’s what I found at that B.A.L.D. instillation, if it actually was B.A.L.D.”

    “Ah,” was Dominic’s response. “That would explain why you punched me through the wall.”

    “That would be why I did it, yes.”

    “I do question your judgment on the time and place to do so.”
    Hatman slammed his mug down on the table. “Dammit, do you realize what you’ve done? The government has files on the Lair Legion, on exactly how to take us down. And you provided them!”

    Mr. Epitome set his own mug down. “When were they dated?”

    “What?”

    “These files that I allegedly provided, what was the date on them?” questioned the Star-Spangled Splendour.

    “Early last year. The when doesn’t matter though -“

    “Actually, it does. These files you found would have been provided to the OPS before my age regression. From all accounts, I am no longer the same man, and as such I am not sure I’m entirely culpable for past actions.”

    Hatman was about to respond in angry rebuttal before Mr. Epitome continued. “However, your rage at discovering this, betrayal, of the Lair Legion, is understandable.”

    “I’m not sure you entirely understand.” Hatman paused and took a deep breath. “What really upset me was the betrayal of me.”

    “Of you? I think you’re taking this a little too personally.”

    “No, I don’t think I am. You may not remember this, but there was opposition to you joining the Lair Legion, the first time. Dream was threatening to quit the team, Trickshot was ready for all out war with you. Even some of the more level-headed members were leery of letting you in.

    “I vouched for you. I made the case for the merits of your membership. Dream and I almost came to blows over it. And in the end, it turns out that he was right.”

    Dominic remained silent for a few moments. “I am no longer the same man I was. And I cannot promise that I will not one day become that man. None of us know what the future holds. But, that being said, I understand your concern and your reaction to what you discovered.

    “However, that does not mean we are friends. Despite all your assertions of doing what is right and your reputation for being a big boy scout, you have still attacked me, unprovoked, twice.”

    “Unprovoked?! You threw a bowling ball at a Juniors head!” Hatman shouted before feeling the gaze of the other patrons. He sat back down, slightly embarrassed.

    “But I did not attack you, is my point. Regardless of whether my actions were warranted or not, you have not attempted discussion first in either case. You reacted with violence, just as the SR1066 proponents are claiming we do.

    “I am not saying I support this new bill. From what I have gathered, it has not gone through the proper government channels. I am ready to stand with the Lair Legion, and you, in the face of this new threat. At the juncture, I do not believe we are ready to ‘bury the hatchet’ and share a drink at the pub together. That being said, there was a time that I regarded you as a professional, as I know you regarded me. For the time being, I suggest that we put aside our personal differences to work as civil men, as the professionals we believe we are.”

    Hatman’s face was grim as he contemplated what the Exemplary Man had said. “You’re not wrong.” He rose slowly from his seat. “We aren’t ready to bury the hatchet. But I agree, this isn’t the time for in-fighting within the team. But know this.

    “I will be watching you. If I have any suspicions, any inkling that you’re betraying us to the government again, I will be there to stop you. With Sir Mumphrey’s permission. I didn’t tell him about the files, and I won’t. Yet. Now isn’t the time. But I’m sure that if he did know, he would sanction any action I deem necessary in the future. Are we clear?”

    Mr. Epitome locked a steel gaze on the Capped Crusader. “I appreciate your candor.”

    Hatman held out his hand. “Professionals. We work together as necessary to get the job done. To the job, Mr. Clancy.”

    Mr. Epitome rose and accepted Hatman’s hand. “To the job, Mr. Boaz.”

    Hatman tossed a few bills on the counter and turned to leave. “See you at the Mansion.” He walked out the door, pulling his Winnipeg Jets cap from his belt along the way.

    Sarah Shepherdson walked over to the Star-Spangled Splendour. “So did you two big he-men patch things up?”

    “No,” admitted Dominic. “But we have an understanding. For now.”

    Her subordinate suitably chastised, the mayor of Gothametropolis York leafed through the print-out of Dominic Clancy’s Lair Legion report.

END