Disclaimer: I do not own the Sly Cooper franchise. It is the property of Sucker Punch.
Authors note: Ok, first fan fic so…please go easy on me.
Sly Cooper gains more than he bargains for when trying to save his favorite Inspector for a fate worse than death, being trapped in the same building under the control of a mysterious group named the Assassins Circle. Working together and growing closer to one another however is a goal he did have in mind.
After the defeat of Clockla the Cooper gang decided to return home for awhile to nurse not only Bentley's wounds, but Murray's current state. It took awhile for Murray to fully come to terms with Bentley's accident and to slowly let it sink in that it wasn't his fault. Out of all three members of the team, he wore his emotions on his sleeves which often showed his anxiety and depression over the course of month to his friends. Not used to seeing their happy go lucky friend in such a damaging state, Sly and Bentley tried the best they could to get the old Murray back. Often times, they would hear Murray holding back himself from crying or using his physical brute to block out the pain he was feeling. They almost thought they lost him, but Murray slowly progressed back into his old self once again in a matter of two months.
Bentley on the other hand also had to come to terms with his condition. Not able to fully walk around again, he personally designed a wheel chair that allowed him a faster get away and the tools useful for outside missions. During the first few weeks of being in the wheelchair, Bentley internally the whole time struggled to not show his sadness around his two best friends, especially Murray. Never in his life had he ever thought that he would be permanently confounded to a wheel chair. The first month was the hardest for Bentley, to get up in the mornings, and have to rely on his new legs to carry him around. His envy also grew outwards towards Sly, though he knew it was not his fault. But seeing the raccoon easily jump from place to place with such acrobatic skills and never have a scratch or scrape on him made something in the bottom of Bentley's stomach ache of jealousy.
Soon after the passing two months, the Cooper gang was back in business to pull off more heist.
It started off as a regular day for the Cooper gang. Sly, the leader, at the moment was perched on the couch next to his teammate Murray while reading up on the "next heist" that Bentley was currently working on in Paris. Murray, on the other hand, was watching one of his favorite wrestling shows on TV. Two months ago, they were happy to be back home to take a break from the rough mission of stopping Clockwerk, or really Clock-la from reaching immortal status and destroyed her and the hate chip. But now, it was back to business…well sort of.
"Oh yeah! Hey Sly, did ya see that?" Murray said with excitement and awe moving his arms up and down as the Knuckle Buster made a finishing move on his opponent. Murray
finally had a chance to catch up on his favorite show he missed while they where away and it was safe to say that it partly helped Murray when he was feeling down.
"Yeah Murray, it was awesome" Sly said with a grin on his face reassuring his friend he was watching the show while not looking up from the paper work.
Lately the gang hasn't had much action, and watching wrestling was the closest Murray was going to get to violence for awhile. Bentley was stressing over trying to get a plan together for trying to steal a few "prized" jewels, and paintings from the museums which were coming to town in a couple of weeks. Though they may have previously stolen things out of museums before, this mission was going to be more difficult. But Sly liked a little danger, and difficulty in his life, it made the job much more interesting.
There was also certain something, or rather someone who also made the job much more; well you could say "exciting".
At the moment Sly felt like he was going through withdrawals since he hadn't had a run in with Inspector Fox in over two months since she helped him defeat Clock-la. He missed the adrenaline that ran through him while trying not to get caught, but at the same time he liked talking with her in a teasing manner, getting close enough to her to see her gorgeous face, with a scent to make any male faint of delight, and for being the only man she was obsessed with and possessive of. He heard once that after failing to capture him, many of Carmelita's coworkers offered to help her, or take the case off her hands completely. The last guy to do that also received a black eye for trying to take a case that was hers. Sly often snuck into her office or watched her from afar while working, and was surprised to see a certain coworker of hers trying to get close to her.
He was a rookie cop transferred from the local police precinct to Interpol and he was originally a paper pusher, and gofer. Off the back anyone could tell the kid was a mix breed which some people didn't like. The wolf, fox mix rookie however had a nice personality had, but too nice for Interpol which Sly chuckled about how Interpol could take on such a softy. But after seeing the poor kid get ridiculed day by day by every Interpol officer, it seems as if Carmelita became a softy too gave him a shot. I guess since they were both outcast to the office, him because he was a mix breed and her because…well she was a very beautiful woman, Sly could proudly announce. However, seeing Carmelita and the rookie together made something in Sly stomach ache with envy. She seemed calmer around him, and always laughed more than she did around Sly. But the one thing that irked his nerves the most was the nick name. Carmelita never gave anyone a nick name before she did Sly. To hear her shout "ringtail" made him feel special for having a pet name from her. But now, she shouts out "mutt" to the kid
everyday while the kid gives stereotypical comments about women which they both did in a very comical way. Sly was confident that when he returned on the scene with this new heist, that she will forget the rookie mutt and go back to the old Carmelita.
"Guuuh, oh man, I will never get to see what happens now!" Murray yelled while snapping Sly out of his trans.
It seems the news came on with a breaking new story that just occurred. Even Bentley steered his head around his work area to over at the television for once.
"I'm Brian Adora coming from studio 8 live with an action report. It seems that Paris High school, the largest high school in the city is in a state of terror as intruders have entered the building. As you can see from the captions here, it appears as if five or maybe six men have entered with reasons unknown".
The whole gang's blood ran cold as they all peered at the captions of the five men that were captured on camera. They knew exactly who they were and possibly the damage that they would create. Every criminal has heard of the old legend of the Assassin's Circle, an elite group of cold blooded men who randomly target people and locations for unknown reasons. They have massacred towns, wiping some of them completely off the radar, and do it for pure enjoyment. But the question was, why target Paris and why that high school? The team might attack people, villages, and cities, but they always gain something from it. Why go attack children? It seemed kind of weak.
"We have report that Interpol is on their way, and it seems their team will be lead by Inspector Fox."
Sly's ears perked up as he heard Carmelita's name. He knew she was in danger, and though she was able to defend herself, that was not the case, she had no idea of the amount of damage this crew could do.
"Chief Barkley is holding a press conference at the moment, let's tune in".
At the podium, stood Chief Barkley in his uniform, with a chagrin look on his face. His fellow officers stood below the podium for crowd control while he attempted to put everyone at ease. He tried his best not showing the fear that he had for the children and his team. Normally when the gang sees Barkley he is always yelling and upset, mostly at Carmelita, but never have they seen his face so full of worry, stress, and anxiety. He knew, as much as they did, how difficult and dangerous this mission was.
"At this moment, the best police force in the city is on its way to the school right now. Our major concern is for the safety of the children and staff working at the school that had to witness this heinous act. Right now I have an Interpol staff; along with the local police working side by side to make sure that everyone comes out safe and to bring the suspects to justice".
"Though they have Interpol and the police working on this, I doubt that they will be able to stop the Assassin Circle", Bentley's voice projected in a tiresome tone.
"Yeah, I bet you they have like, super weapons that could really do some damage to Interpol", Murray said with a worry expression on his face. Murray might have a violent streak in him, but he did not want to see innocent people being hurt, especially children.
Just sitting there waiting for the news to project the out come of the situation, Sly began to feel very anxious, especially for Carmelita's safety, and the children who lives depended on the police. If the police failed, then the children were at the mercy of murderers and something like that had to be stopped. Not paying attention to the rest of Barkley's interview, Sly made his way off the couch and into the near by closet to get his things.
Taking his cane and his equipment Sly knew that he was going on a suicidal mission, but rushed towards the window to make a dashing rescue.
"Sly where are you going?!" said the nasally voice across the room watching his partner go off on a self destructive mission.
"I have to go save Carmelita; she has no idea what she's up against Bentley".
"Look, I know that you have…affections towards Inspector Fox, but just going right into their trap just to save her is dangerous Sly. You could be killed! We have only heard of certain things this gang can do, we really don't know what they are fully capable of, you have to have a plan before you can act. That's how we have always worked."
"Yeah Sly", it was Murray this time, "that gang is messed up, you gotta listen to Bentley".
Both of his caring and loving friends, who were like brothers to him, did not want Sly to be in danger or worse, dead. They both had a hurtful expression on their faces, as if he was choosing the Inspector's life over theirs. If Sly died, a piece of them would too.
"Those kids are in serious danger guys, many innocent lives are and I can't stand around waiting to hear how this turns out because I didn't help." Stepping down from the window, Sly did his best to stand his ground against his two friends. He just couldn't let this all play out tragically while he sat in the shadows. Sly had taken down the Fiendish Five, and the Klaww Gang before, and though they are nowhere near as dangerous as the Assassins Circle, he knew he had to try.
"I'm sorry guys, but I have to do this".
Bentley drew out a long sigh, before making his way to his computer. Sly, who noticed his movements felt a glimpse of hope that Bentley would help him.
"Alright Sly", he began. "If this all works out, you'll be a hero. I am going to get the blue prints to the high school and hack into their system to bring up their camera's installed in, and around the building. With that I will be able to not only locate the children who are trapped inside, the police, and Inspector Fox, but also the Assassins lurking in the building and maybe their plans." Good old Bentley always thinking fast.
"Make your way over to the school, and take this device with you" he tossed the radio over at Sly, who eyed it for a moment. "It's an radio I stole from Interpol awhile back, with it you will be able to hear every move they are about to make and where, if you loose connection with me at any time, at least you will know from their end how the situation is going. Just take it just in case".
Sly smiled, his friends always had his back. No matter how hideous things got, Bentley and Murray stayed at his side.
"Also, if you could, take these as well", Sly rushed to Bentley's side to pick up another strange device that he concocted. "It's for the audio inside the school, see if you can drop them off in the same location's as the camera's if you have time. That way we can at least have audio and video of the gang. They should not notice these bugs, at least for awhile".
"And you know I got your back Sly!" Murray, said hitting his fist together readily for any action.
"Murray, Sly will need a fast getaway driver in the distance…when he does come out ok, I need you to get the van ready drive to a location that is somewhat away from all the commotion and wait for Sly".
"What! Aw man, that's going to be the most, boring job Bentley, can't I go in with him?"
Bentley already knew the consequences of Sly going in by himself, he couldn't afford to loose another friend, besides if Sly did make it out alive, he will no doubt be exhausted and would get away from danger faster on wheels than on foot.
"No Murray, this is an important job, at any moment Sly could need to get away from the gang, the police…anybody, and he needs to depend on you getting him out of danger".
Murray's expression perked up when he heard the word danger. He then went to grab his gear out of his room and picked up the keys to the van. "Oh yeah, the Murray will no doubt help a fellow friend escape from harm!" Sly felt better about the situation, instead of going in alone, at least his friends backed him up. "Alright, let's get going Murray, time is ticking and we have children's lives to save. And Carmelita too, he thought as he was once again excited on seeing his favorite Inspector once again.
