"Wake up, Talon."

Talon opened his eyes.

He was lying on his back, on a large and comfortable bed, in the most luxurious room he had ever seen. It had marble pillars and antique furniture and a smart TV the size of a cinema screen. It had a dressing table with three gold-rimmed mirrors. He could see the entrance to a private bathroom with a sunken bath and gold taps. It was the kind of room he had planned for himself, when he ruled MAD.

Through the windows, he could see fish swimming by.

Three beautiful mermaids approached the bed, bearing trays of fruit and chocolates and other delicious snacks. As they came near, Talon saw they weren't really mermaids, but three extremely beautiful models in their late teens, wearing only bikini tops and mermaid tails. Still. They would do, for him.

He was wearing a pair of pyjamas fashioned from black silk, with a golden T on the breast pocket. They were a perfect fit.

He looked around.

"Did I die when I wasn't looking? How'd I make Heaven?"

There was a light, female laugh. Talon could see speakers now, mounted around the walls.

"Eat. Rest. Enjoy yourself. Then, I'll be down the corridor. We'll talk."

The mermaids smiled at Talon, and he smiled back.

There didn't seem to be anything to do but obey.

Two hours later – for he had been told not to rush – Talon finally left the bedroom and made his way down an equally ornate corridor. He was now wearing an expensive suit that he had found laid out for him. The mermaids had been ready and willing to help him bathe and dress. Now he was awake, Talon recognised them as some of the swimmers who had disappeared.

He had spent ten minutes in front of the mirrors, before he was ready. He was feeling blissfully happy as only the selfish can, though a little sick from too much chocolate, and more than a little guilty about Penny. He was still wearing his wedding ring.

He entered a large and equally well-furnished drawing room.

A tall, beautiful blonde was waiting for him. She was wearing a long, flowing dress of blue and white, as if she had been fashioned from the waves. Talon tried to act nonchalant. He grinned.

"So, who do I thank?"

The lady smiled.

"My name is Jacqueline Pincer."

Talon snapped his fingers.

"Of course! Cousin Jaq. I was... five, last time you came over. So... this is Atlantis? I asked the girls."

"It's the Imperial Palace of the City of Atlantis. The King and Queen once lived here."

"Looks like the Queen still does."

"Talon, please stop flirting. For one thing, you're too young, and for another, I'm your cousin."

"So how'd I get here?"

"A space/time portal."

"And why?"

"Because I need you."

"I'm a good guy, now."

"Are you sure? Maybe I should ask the girls."

"I work for HQ! Back in Metro City. I quit MAD. It's over."

"It's fast being rebuilt. Albeit in the Pincers' image. We have great plans. Come and see."

Talon followed her to a window, and Jaq drew back the curtain.

Outside, amidst the ocean currents, ruined buildings were being excavated – none too carefully. Young men and women, dressed only in swimming gear, were trying to handle shovels and pickaxes, digging and cutting their way through the ancient stonework. Talon flinched as he heard a distant explosion.

"My business partner and I have put money into this place – all we had. We aim to make it back, twenty times over. Twenty million dollars' worth of gold is lying here somewhere, Talon. The Lost Treasure of Atlantis."

Talon scoffed. "I heard about that, it's just a legend."

"It's documented. It was all that was left of the Treasury of the ancient city. The King had it hidden, before the waves came. Gold was heavy enough not to be washed away."

"What you might call, a cash flow problem."

"Shut up, Talon."

"OK. So, why do you need me?"

Jaq smiled.

"Can't you guess? Why we want the money? What we plan to do with it?"

Talon frowned.

"You threw a great career away, Talon, when you defected. And I know you still dream of wealth and power, I read your therapist's report."

"Look, I thought the doctor was a girl, OK?"

"This could be your second chance."

Talon took another look out of the window. He saw children now, with their protective forcefields, struggling in the impossible task of digging underwater. He heard another stick of dynamite go off, saw a distant monument explode in a cloud of dust.

He looked at the wedding ring on his hand.

He glanced back towards the bedroom, with all its luxuries.

Then he turned back to Jaq.

"Tell me more."

Jaq picked up an envelope from the desk beside the window. It had the same parchment colour as the ancient documents, but was new. It was sealed with wax, in the traditional manner.

She handed it to Talon.

"Take this. And when you're ready... it'll tell you what to do."