Korea casually walked into the lounge where he first ran into Dark Japan, Dark Hong Kong, and Dark Vietnam. Only, Dark Hong Kong was the only one in there and he was sitting on the couch bent over with a laptop. He didn't look up when Korea walked in. Instead, he only said, "Where were you?"

"What?" Korea asked. "Did you need me for something, da-ze?"

Finally, Dark Hong Kong glanced up at him. He watched Korea get himself a cup of coffee at the coffee machine before answering, "Belarus's hatred wanted you to help her handle Russia."

Korea didn't even know that Dark Belarus was there; he had heard a couple of stories about her from China who had heard them from Russia and he probably heard one too many stories about her. But he didn't let the new information register on his face and he only took a brief small sip of his coffee. "Can't she do it herself?" Korea asked.

Dark Hong Kong's eyes flickered to him and Korea had a mini heart attack; he thought that maybe that was the wrong thing to say but he relaxed when Dark Hong Kong said, "That's what I thought too but I guess she couldn't. You weren't anywhere to be found so China's hatred helped her."

"Hmm, I see, da-ze. Well, I'm here right now. Anything for me to do, da-ze?"

"Have you, like, figured out a way to get rid of Liechtenstein?"

Korea scoffed. "What do you mean, da-ze? All I have to do is get rid of her people and government and then shoot her, right? Not that difficult to think up of a plan, da-ze."

Dark Hong Kong lowered his gaze back to his laptop. "Whatever works for you. Here, come over here."

Korea allowed a faint display of interest show as he circled around the couch and leaned against the back, peering over Dark Hong Kong's shoulder. On the monitor of the laptop was a map of Germany's house and blue dots shifting around in it. "Let me guess," Korea said. "Those blue dots represent the people inside Germany's house right now, right, da-ze?"

"Exactly." Dark Hong Kong said. "Estonia's hatred planted trackers that could be picked up on their computers and ours."

Korea froze. He remembered that Dark Estonia had placed a tracker on his collar the day the doppelgangers broke out. As naturally as he could, Korea raised a hand to his collar, pretending to adjust it. His fingers brushed over the place where his tracker was supposed to be and was immensely relieved to find that his tracker was gone. Dark America had probably removed them to prevent the others back at Germany's house to know where the hideout really was.

"Well that's useful but so what?" Korea asked.

Dark Hong Kong glanced at the date on the laptop. "May 22nd is in three weeks."

"No, really? I had no idea." Korea said in a sarcastic tone.

Dark Hong Kong gave him a sly smile. "Just a reminder. I was afraid you've forgotten that we'll be taking over their headquarters that day. When we seize their control center we can finally take over them."

Korea attempted a grin. "Can't wait until then, da-ze. Is everything ready yet?" Korea hoped that he could get more information by asking questions that didn't give him away.

Dark Hong Kong crossed his arms and sighed wearily. "We should have been but unfortunately they're starting to find more and more countries that we've locked up. Right now they've, like, found Prussia, France, and Italy."

Luckily, Dark Hong Kong was facing away from Korea; Korea couldn't help but flash a small smile. He was relieved to hear that Germany and the others have found the three. But even so there were many more nations out there who were missing. Maybe Korea could find out where they were while he was sneaking around pretending to be his doppelganger.

America had said that it would be risky for him to be around the hideout like that; "Dude, what if the real doppelganger came back, huh?" America had asked.

"Well, if that happened, then we're in trouble, da-ze."

That failed to reassure America but Korea wasn't particularly worried about his doppelganger; he reasoned that he had some time and well, he was leaving for Europe the next day so even if they did find out that he was a fake, he would only head right back to Germany and get back up.

"Whatever dude," America had told him. "But uh, before you go, you don't mind finding me some food, do you? I'm famished."

"So that's why we're sending him over there." Dark Hong Kong was saying. "South Korea's hatred, are you like, listening?"

"No, not at all. You bore me, da-ze."

Dark Hong Kong gave him an irritated look. "Well you know, if you're that bored, why don't you, like, just get out of here and get ready?"

"I already told you, da-ze." Korea said, copying Dark Hong Kong's irritable tone. "There's no need for me to get ready, da-ze."

But when Dark Hong Kong stood up to give Korea a death glare, Korea stifled a shudder and said, "But hey, I'll go check on the prisoners, da-ze."

"If that's what you're doing then give them their dinner." Dark Hong Kong scowled, sitting back down in annoyance.

Korea was wondering where to get their food when he went back down to the cells. He heard an odd buzzing sound when he entered the hallway where he saw Hungary get thrown in. "Oh, that's where." he murmured to himself when he spotted a cart at the end of the hall. On the cart were four plates, each with a card beside them with a name.

"Korea!" a voice hissed as he passed by the fourth cell.

Korea slowed to a stop and glanced at Hungary, who neared the electrified bar cells.

"Shhh," Korea held a finger to his lips, shooting glances up and down the hall. "Be quiet!"

Hungary gave him an irritated look. "I called for you when you came down here last time to check up on America. What happened to him? And why are you not captured?"

"Shhh!" Korea hushed her again, only more fiercely. "Be quiet, da-ze!" he whispered hurriedly. "Look, I went to America for advice-"

Hungary clamped her mouth shut with her hand, trying not to laugh uproariously and Korea grinned ruefully. "I know, da-ze. But listen, I can't go to you since, well, it's not pleasant for our little Liechtenstein to hear, if you get what I'm saying, da-ze." He peeked at a sleeping Liechtenstein in the corner of the cell. Even though she had her eyes closed and was breathing slower than usual, he couldn't say anything in case if she was feigning sleep, and feigning sleep was an easy thing to do.

"Alright, fair enough." Hungary said nervously, glancing back at Liechtenstein. She wondered what news Korea had that wouldn't be pleasant for Liechtenstein. Was it too cruel for someone as sweet as her to hear? Was it something that would scar her? Hungary decided not to ask anything about it. "So what did America say?"

"He has a plan," Korea said in a low voice. "But I have to let you know, I fooled the doppelgangers here by pretending to be Dark Korea, da-ze."

"Let me guess, you told them you had contacts, right?" Hungary asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It was kinda obvious, da-ze." Korea said, giving her a shrug. "But anyway, I'll be gone for a couple of days, just to let you know."

Hungary nodded.

Korea took a deep breath. "Alright, well, I was worrying over how I could get you out of the cell but well, I got a solution, da-ze. I have to feed you today and there's got to be a way to get the food in without getting...electrocuted, da-ze."

Hungary's eyes brightened. "You're letting us free? But what about you? We can't leave you here-"

"I'm not letting you free." Korea said, rolling his eyes and placing his hands on his hips. "That will leave the doppelgangers to suspect me, da-ze. I have a reputation you know."

Hungary's eyes dulled again. "So what are you doing?"

"Giving you the key, da-ze."

Hungary gritted her teeth impatiently. "Won't the doppelgangers miss the key? And if you give me the key, how can I unlock the door from the inside, huh?"

"They have spares." Korea said. "Can't you reach through the bars without getting electrocuted, da-ze?"

"Why don't you try it out?" Hungary asked challengingly.

Korea hesitated but he shrugged. "As long as you stay five feet away from the bars, da-ze."

"Why?"

"Because I'm afraid you're going to bump into me and shock me, da-ze."

Hungary laughed. "I would do that just for fun. Alright, I'll go." She scooted away from the bar and watched with fascination as Korea reached into the cell slowly, his hand trembling a little. The bars were roughly three inches away from each other, so Hungary assumed that slipping a hand through the bars wouldn't be a challenge. However, trying to fit a key into the keyhole and unlocking the door might be.

But Korea didn't stick around to test it out; he pulled his hand away and dashed over to the food cart and brought back two plates of Chinese food ("Aha!" Korea had exclaimed. "I was right, da-ze! Dark Aniki cooks too!").

Hungary woke up Liechtenstein for dinner as Korea shut off the electricity (while balancing the plates of food on his right arm like an expert) by pushing a button on the wall a foot away from the first bar of the cell. The electricity turned off and they could safely touch the bars. Korea unlocked the cell with his free arm and lowered the arm with the food down so that Hungary could take them off of him.

"Do they expect us to eat without hands?" Hungary exclaimed when Korea gave them no utensils.

Korea shrugged. "Well, on the bright side, the chicken doesn't have a lot of sauce. Now you won't get sticky hands, da-ze."

Hungary sighed. "Oh well. Oh, but hey, when will I get to use this?" She held up the key.

Liechtenstein's eyes widened in shock. "We can escape," she whispered incredulously.

"When America gives you the signal, then you can escape, da-ze." Korea answered.

"And how is America going to escape from a five inch iron door, hm?"

"Actually, three five inch iron doors." Korea corrected her.

Hungary gave Korea an exasperated look. "Well that makes things a lot better, doesn't it?"

"Actually, da-ze, it doesn't-"

"I was being sarcastic."

"And I knew that, da-ze."

Hungary shook her head and said, "Whatever you say. So...just to sum things up...you'll be gone for a few days and somehow, America will get free and give us a signal to use this key. Then what? Don't tell me that's all I do!"

Korea gave her a small laugh. "Yeah, that's about it, da-ze."

Hungary resisted the urge to punch him. Holding down her good punching arm, she said sweetly, "I see...so then what are you and America doing?"

Korea uneasily stepped away from her. He slipped back outside of the cell and shut the door, turning the electricity back on. "I'm..." He glanced at Liechtenstein, who was watching him back. "I'm on a top secret mission, da-ze. America was in a straitjacket but I freed him. He's going to escape by tricking Dark America, da-ze. I'm not too sure how but he said that if that fails then we move on to Plan B, da-ze."

Hungary frowned. "What's Plan B?"

"I don't know, da-ze." After seeing Hungary's distraught face, Korea added, "But don't worry, da-ze! There are twenty four more other letters in the English alphabet-I think- so there's plenty of other names for other plans, da-ze."

"That...doesn't make me feel better."

Korea shrugged. "Oh well, da-ze. Not my fault it doesn't make you feel better. Well, see you later, maybe, da-ze." He left their sight and continued down the hall to find the food cart. Pushing it along the hallway, he turned the corner and traveled all the way near the end.

Picking up America's plate, Korea went up to a number-pad and punched in the password that was given to him on the back of America's name card near the plate.

The first iron door slid open to the right and the second slid open to the left. Then the last iron door swung open. "America!" Korea called, walking in. "I'm-"

"Falcon punch!"

Korea dropped the plate as he was lifted out of the air by a strong fist aiming at his stomach.

"Hollywood Spartan Kick!"

Korea barely had the time to block a 'Spartan Kick' from the American movie '300'. The kick was very strong and his hands that had blocked the kick throbbed and moaned.

"George Washington's..." Korea hissed in alarm. How many times did he have to go through with this? "Cherry. Tree. CHOP!" America had 'chopped' Korea in the stomach, his words dictated with each blow.

"Stop, stop, da-ze!" Korea scowled, stumbling backwards while wiping a small trickle of blood from his mouth. "You idiot, are you trying to kill me, da-ze?"

America halted his attack and laughed. "Oh, it's only you!"

"What do you mean it's only me, da-ze? Didn't you notice who you were attacking when you first saw me, da-ze?"

America cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head. "Ah, well, I had to make sure you're the real Korea and not the doppelganger. You um, are the real one, right?"

Korea shot America a weary look. "Yeah, I'm the real one, da-ze. Look what you made me do! I dropped Dark Aniki's food, da-ze! No dinner for you..."

America scrunched up his nose and crouched down by the shattered plate, poking at the food with his index finger. "Oh well. I was in the mood for Mexican anyway." America shrugged. "So what's up?"

Korea held a hand tentatively to his stomach. "Well you just jumped me, da-ze." Korea groaned.

America gave Korea an apologetic grin. "Sorry 'bout that. But like, no seriously, is Hungary aware of the plan?"

"Yeah, I told her. But are you sure you can escape?"

America laughed. "Of course! But if that doesn't work out then we'll go to Plan B!"

"That's what I told Hungary, da-ze." Korea said. "But that exactly is it, da-ze?"

America thought it over. "Hug every doppelganger we see and hope that they'll melt away from the kindness?"

Korea groaned. "That's only in movies, da-ze."

"Yeah, and darker versions of people coming to life is also in movies too." America retorted. "Besides, I'm still a bit hungry. You think you can sneak me some ice cream before you leave?"

Korea shook his head as he left the cell. "Forget it, da-ze. You can always ask the doppelganger that feeds you tomorrow, da-ze."

As he locked America back up by pushing a 'lock' button on the number-pad (because the number-pad also had other buttons that weren't numbers), Korea pushed the cart to the next gigantic cell, muttering how painful America's fists were.

Opening the doors to Russia's cell, Korea could feel a slight change in atmosphere. Somehow, he felt like the mood had gone from painful to scary and cold. He hesitated before entering Russia's cell.

"Hello, da-ze? Russia, are you here, da-ze?" Korea called.

Then he stopped, staring at Russia in the middle of the cell. The Russian man had a straitjacket just like America, but he was also bound in place by long, thick chains that wrapped around his limbs and torso. Russia slowly looked up at Korea, his eyes clear of any warmth that he usually had (which was always the 'scary' kind of warmth).

Korea whistled. "And I thought the doppelganger's aura was bad...Hi Russia, da-ze! Long time no see, right, da-ze?"

Russia said nothing. His cold, hungry eyes locked on Korea. Shifting, Korea wondered how Russia was supposed to eat if he was all chained up.

"I'll feed you then, da-ze." Korea declared, nearing him. And then he realized that there were no chopsticks. He could always use his hands to feed him...

I'll only get my fingers bitten off, da-ze... Korea thought weakly.

"Ahaha...on second thought, what if I let you free from the chains and straitjacket, huh? You'd like to move around, right, da-ze?"

Russia said nothing.

Anxious to get out of there, Korea undid the straitjacket. He couldn't find a way to break the chains but it didn't seem to slow Russia down; the moment the straitjacket was off, Russia yanked at the chains and within minutes he had broken a few of them. He was still bound to the spot but he could move his arms and hands.

"Glad to see you're moving, kinda, da-ze." Korea smiled. "Well, I'll be seeing you. And no, I'm not Dark Korea. I mean, well, 'South Korea's hatred' you might know him as. I'm the real one but uh, don't blow my cover, da-ze, okay?"

He didn't stick around to see if Russia had an answer. He left the cell at once and locked it back up. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the food cart back to where he found it.

"Well what do you know," Cameroon mused. "There was a switch not too far away to turn off the electricity in the bars. Who knew?"

When New Zealand had wandered around the area to see if there were any doppelgangers lingering around, he had found a switch and dared to switch it off. When that happened, Cameroon and Malaysia no longer heard the faint buzz of the bars and tested to the see if the electricity really was off, which it was.

Cameroon and Malaysia were able to bend the bars back wide enough for them to slip by; Cameroon and New Zealand went into Prussia's cell and tried to brainstorm a way to free Gilbird while Malaysia slipped into France's cell and ungagged him.

France, it turned out, had a lot to say; so much that the reason why he was gagged in the first place was to prevent him from spreading word.

"But even if you did spread the word to Italy and Prussia, who would they spread that word to?" Malaysia asked.

France sighed. "Well Austria came here and Italy could talk to him."

"True. So what do you have to say?"

France squirmed; other than being gagged, his hands and feet were tied together with rope. As Malaysia freed him, France said, "Oh it was horrible, I tell you! I was simply enjoying my breakfast of croissants and coffee and then this...this...thing that impersonated me came in and attacked moi!"

France grimaced as his hands were freed; the rope had left burns on his skin and he rubbed it tenderly. "And he stabbed me in the leg." France added. Shaking his head, he struggled to stand after his feet were free. France stumbled a little but Malaysia caught him and helped him out of the cell.

"Then you were brought here?" Malaysia asked.

"Not exactly, mon ami." France said gravely.

As he and Malaysia made their way back to Austria and the others, Austria had Cameroon bend the bars of Italy's cell, freeing Italy. Cameroon went back to Prussia's cell with New Zealand, who was trying to see if the walls were scalable.

"So what happened?" Malaysia asked, helping France sit down next to Austria and Italy.

France sighed irritably as he brushed off dirt from his soiled clothes. "I got a lot of information from that wannabe. It doesn't make sense but..."

"It's okay." Malaysia said quickly. "Just tell us."

France eyed them, yawning heavily. "Well...maybe after a nap-"

"No, no naps." Austria snapped impatiently.

France whined, "Awww, Austria, why must you be so mean to me?"

"France..." Malaysia said in an urging tone.

France clicked his tongue and folded his arms. "Well that wannabe said something about transferring me to Chicago and how that they're getting most of their weapons transported there from China and North Korea or something. I don't know, I'm tired, take me home."

Austria and Malaysia gaped at France. "Wait, say that again." Malaysia urged.

"Chicago, transfer, weapons from China and North Korea." France said haughtily and impatiently.

Austria frowned. "Why would they want weapons? Do they plan to attack us?"

"Who? What are they?" France asked.

"Our physical hatred." Malaysia answered for Austria, who was calling Japan again. He explained to France everything he knew and France had paled when he heard that people all over the globe were transformed into these unstable hate-powered humans.

"We're leaving to go back to Germany's house, now." Austria said sharply after he reached Japan. "Cameroon, New Zealand, do you have the bird yet?"

New Zealand slipped out of the cell with a small birdcage in hand. "Got it. We climbed the wall. Cameroon fell a couple of times so I climbed onto his shoulders and tried from there. Are we ready to go?"

"Where's Prussia?" Malaysia asked.

"He said he'll be waiting for us outside." Cameroon said, hissing as he bumped one of his new bruises. "Let's get out of here. Italy, whose doppelgangers are around here?"

Italy looked nervously around them. "Umm, umm, there's Canada's, Australia's, and mine...I think there's one more but I can't remember!"

"That's not too bad. Let's just hope we don't run into them anyway. Let's go, let's go!" Malaysia said hastily, heaving France over his shoulder.

The six of them hustled down the narrow hall and out the door and into the fresh crisp air. They were relieved to see a hole big enough for someone like Prussia at the end of the alleyway ("Digging up is easier than digging down." New Zealand said.). "Great, now where is he?" Cameroon asked as they burst out onto the streets.

"You guys!" Prussia's voice called. It came from behind them.

Austria turned his head around, expecting to face a gloating Prussia, bragging about how he escaped by himself. "Stop yelling and- oh dear."

"What's wro-oh...that's what's wrong..." New Zealand said nervously.

Malaysia and Cameroon glanced behind them and a groan escaped their lips. France and Italy merely stared.

There were two Prussias standing before them, both of them exactly alike. Both had identical expressions of alarm, red eyes wide with bewilderment. The real Prussia's eyes were red, and the doppelgangers were known to have red eyes, and that meant that they could not distinguish the difference between the real one from the doppelganger.