Plus, if you've got a reeking stinky mattress on the floor, it darn well better have someone use it to ambush the guards by the end of the story -- Chekhov would be proud. *g*

lol, thanks! I did try to bring things around full circle in part 2, you know, connect the themes ;) (channeling Xander Harris) Well, the other theme was "buy American", but it got kinda buried...

Thanks so much for your comments -- I'm very glad you stopped by and that you enjoyed the story :)