Chapter One: Aaron's Story

That's it. This is the thought Sly feared the most. His nightmare has come true. He doesn't want to believe it, but it's true. The window breaking and the baby's cries fits in with Aaron's jumbled explanation. Can Sly make it in time? Could he get to the baby before something bad happens? What will Sly do if he doesn't make it? No, he must. He will make it in time. If not, then he'll retrieve the baby within the next minute. There is no other option for him. There is no other option he will take.

His son is in danger. Scott is in danger. He's wanted by a madman.

Vex.

There was no time wasted before Sly and Carmelita enter their baby's room, only to find angular glass fragments at their feet. There's no genius needed to tell from the shattered window, torn curtains, missing baby and fleeing helicopter that the little foxcoon was taken.

Taken, and held hostage in that helicopter. A father will take his chances to save his child. He knows that his child is currently crying inside that helicopter. That's all he needs to know.

The raccoon allows no thoughts, emotions, nor do questions occupy his mind. His mind is set on one goal and one goal only; get Scott back. He has no idea what will happen once he gets in that helicopter but it will happen. No doubt. Leaving the growling fox behind him, Sly leaps out the window and clings against the wall; his strong fingers dig into the side of his house until he reaches the gutter beside him. Before he knows it he is standing on his roof. Oh, but this is far from progress to the childless father.

The helicopter strays away from him; adding more furious angst to Sly's plate. It has to be at least one-thousand feet from the ground, and there seemed to be no building or tree nearby for Sly to get to it. There's only one thing left to do right now.

Sly's legs charge across his roof and jumps on rooftop after rooftop, tailing the flying machine. The air being sliced above him descends to a violent whisper as it climbs higher in the dark and partly cloudy sky.

"No..."

It feels colder on Sly's face. The cold breeze is constantly summoning goosebumps as she races quicker than before. He could hear Carmelita swearing up a storm as he watches the helicopter gradually make its way to invisibility. All Sly wants is his child back. He could pay Vex all he has. He could do anything if he can have Scott back in his safe arms and not worry about something like this again. Is this a dream? A nightmare? This seems too tragic; too terrible to be true. The thing is... Sly doesn't remember falling asleep. He's hoping that he is back on the couch, ready to wake from this terrible nightmare. He doesn't want to bear it anymore.

He's not waking up.

This is real.

Just before the helicopter beats the race, bursting electric bolts aim their paths straight for it. Great idea! Hopefully the immense amount of shock will paralyze the helicopter...

"C'mon you damn badger, COME BACK TO SETTLE THIS-"

But paralyzing the helicopter would mean stopping it completely, causing it to plummet in an explosion. As much as Vex deserved a tragic death so badly right now, Scott didn't.

"COP TO COWARD!"

The helicopter flees the scene and when Sly slows down, Carmelita continues to speed ahead; still shooting away as if her pistol was a machine gun.

"CARMELITA!" Sly jolts. "Don't shoot!"

"I have to kill this son of a-"

"Scott's in there!"

After a gasp hits her chest, she stops. Not only refraining to shoot, but she stops moving overall. The two distraught animals never cease their eyes from the dark sky. The chopping noise isn't heard anymore and they can finally hear the cars and wind again. That's just it then. This is real. Their little foxcoon is gone from their reach, safety and home. The worst thing is they have no idea where Scott is headed, what is happening to him right now, if they will ever see their son again, and...

The red and yellow shock pistol falls past through dead fingers. Those thoughts alone can convince anyone to dig up their own grave and bury themselves alive. It doesn't seem that bad, considering a big chunk of their lives have been bitten off savagely. The thoughts of what their son could be going through right now in the hands of this madman is unbearable and repulsive... that is, if the little foxcoon is living.

These worst possible situations that attack Carmelita's sanity causes her to fall to her knees. All the blood in her legs vanished, and now they are numb. Never has she felt so angrily hopeless, not even when her father passed. Both pairs of brown eyes look away from the sky; refusing to blink as blue hair falls in front of the fox's face. Normally she never shows her emotions when it comes to things like this. It was never good to get emotionally involved in a crime, for she wouldn't have the strength while doing her job. But this was different. Way different. This is her child, the being she couldn't love another as much as, and not caring nor realizing Sly was there, her head drops while her back curves. Thus, the hyperventilating starts. This emotional bond was never possible to prevent and break.

She doesn't have time to go elsewhere to deal with this privately like she normally does. The helicopter disappearing was enough to drain Carmelita's... everything.

"N-No..." she whispers, her voice trembling as Sly makes his way to her. "No! This isn't- NO!"

Next the voice not only increases in volume, but she sends gurgling shrieks and growls in the air. The shrieks sounded so painful, angry, frightened, worried, and so undomesticated. Not only is Sly feeling the need to do the same, but tempting to touch her feels the least wise of a choice at this moment.

"MY BABY! YOU TOOK MY BABY! You... Y-You..."

Hence the one tear falling from her eyes. With so many thoughts at once, crying wasn't even physically or emotionally possible. Finally, the raccoon kneels down with her and he can hear every whimper, incessant breathing and exhausted wails. It feels right to join her but instead he has his mind set on something, something he does not want to sleep before accomplishing. He will find this good for nothing badger, retrieve his son whether he would be dead or alive, and take the lunatic's life away from him. Thieves in the Cooper family shall never kill but oh,

This was different.

This was no thieving matter. This is a family crisis, a crisis that shall be solved in any way possible to get back what rightfully belongs to them. Ending this man's life was a titanic part in that plan.

But first, get his son. At all costs. The first step?

Aaron, the young son of Vex himself who came over before the incident. He knows information that Sly needs. This is just like the time his sister was kidnapped by the same deranged man. Tracking him down will be a piece of cake.

But what if Aaron helped his father do this like last time? If so...

Aaron would wish he wasn't ever born.

"Someone please shut him up!" Bentley bleats while typing in his laptop. "I'm trying to concentrate here!"

"On it!" Murray shouts, making his fists more visible to shut the badger up. As a bonus, Rachel points her gun to the moaning badger's head; her cold finger resting eagerly and hungrily on the trigger. As for Isabella, things were a different. She gets why he is here, but not why he keeps glancing at her. His glances both infuriate and deject her. How dare he, he of all people, continue to look at her after what happened between them. How dare he look at her after never coming back to explain or talk to her for almost a year! Seeing Aaron pinned against the wall with two dangerous weapons in his face seem both pleasant yet worrisome to the raccoon. Every time she would look at him; those eyes again, she can feel her stomach flip. But this time it wasn't because she liked him. Keeping the idea of despising him seemed the most amusing, no matter how many occasional feelings told her she felt otherwise. Isabella's current plans were to simply sit there and wait, and also unintentionally failing to avoid the badger's stare.

It has been almost fifteen minutes since Carmelita and Sly left. Could this really be happening right now? Isabella can't wait to wake up and tell the gang about this crazy dream where Aaron comes into Sly and Carmelita's house saying Professor Vex is still alive, says Vex is building an army, and Scott gets kidnapped. She must see the ending to tell the gang. Or what if this was real? In that case she hopes when Sly and Carmelita returns in the front door, Aaron will join their hackling laughter, for all of this must be a joke. If not, then they will return with Professor's blood on their clothes and a serene baby in their arms within the next few minutes. You don't mess with those two. They'll have their baby in no time.

"Drat!" Bentley types furiously. "The helicopter signal is gone! How is that possible?! My radar can go for over fifty miles with detecting this stuff! What is that badger up to?!"

"I-I have a-"

"SHUT UP!"

Everyone gasps. Neither of them has seen Bentley this frustrated before, especially with a raised voice. "Just shut up! I already told you, no one is to say anything until Sly and Carmelita return! They will not miss out on whatever you need to say. Right now I just need to try to track down that helicopter again and have an idea where it's headed. If you don't mind-"

Widened eyes catch movement from the hallway. It's Sly, and oh goodness he looked nothing other than being possessed. He was alone and from the living room they can see his flaming eyes salivating for his prey. Those eyes were giving Aaron the chills as they dug right inside his skin.

Sly's teeth grit. "Murray, Rachel. Get away from him."

"Sly!" Murray gasps. "Where's Scott?"

Even Bentley stopped his work to watch, and Rachel joins in. "And Carmel-"

"Now." Sly growls. Slowly, Rachel lowers her gun and Murray's fists drop; their legs slowly shaking away from the badger. Drumming heartbeats vibrate the room as worried faces watch them. To the gang and cop, this raccoon looked like he was going to participate in a murderous bloodbath ritual. "S-Sly?" Bentley stutters. "D-Don't end his l-life yet. We didn't use him for potential informa-"

"You..."

The raccoon inched closer; his voice more satanic than ever and his body is tensed up. He finally made up the stairs. For seconds he looked like he can perform more strength than Murray or Rachel. Now that was beyond scary. A raging emotion paints his face, but the paint seems to get darker. "You," his voice shakes in utter wrath. "Every time I see your face, something like this happens." His feet leave footprints of fire in the living room rug, now speeds past Bentley. "YOU!"

Isabella's lungs felt as if they were squeezed without warning. She watched her vicious brother turn into a malicious wild animal as his hand tightly grips the badger's neck. As he chokes, Sly picks him up and forces him in the wall; still grasping his neck tight. Aaron's hands try as hard as they possibly can to pry Sly's cold fingers from his neck but it's no progress. It makes Sly increase strength. "Why, WHY must your damn family do this to mine?!"

Even if Aaron wanted to, it was not possible for him to answer... or breathe. Legs below his torso flail helplessly as Bentley, Rachel, and Murray watch; dumbfounded. They have no idea what to do. If they lost their child, would they act like this too? They can't blame Sly, yet they feel this is not the wisest choice. As for Isabella, her heart races quicker by the millisecond.

"WHY? WHERE IS HE HEADED?!"

"Put him down!" an agitated young voice calls from behind. The older raccoon turns to look at the younger one, whom already had her cane pulled out. In shock he drops Aaron, still looking at her. "Are you MAD?!" he coughs, crouching by Sly's feet.

Isabella glances at his bloodshot eyes and sighs. Why did she tell him to stop? Was it too scary to witness her brother doing such absurd actions, or could it be because of the sake of Aaron's life? Sly has every right to be mad, but perhaps Aaron should be given a chance, even if he helped his father kidnapping Isabella herself. He didn't seem to enjoy it. Maybe this time, he didn't help his father. Maybe he helped his father yet again and regretted it. There are too many questions to be unanswered if this badger was to be killed. However deep down, Isabella has a feeling that wasn't the reason why she wanted him alive.

She brushes further thoughts away. "He's wanted to talk to us; to explain everything. Let him."

"Isabella..." Sly starts. "This is the guy who-"

"I know what he did!" she shouted, sounding a little pained. "But last time I recall, he helped you guys rescue me. Have I heard wrong?"

Since when did Isabella get so authoritarian?

"Err... no, but-"

"But nothing. It doesn't matter what he did before. He made it up by helping you guys. Don't you find it a little contradicting that he came to us and warned us tonight? I bet if we answered him right away instead of standing there wondering who it was at the door, all of this mess would be prevented! Maybe he helped his father again, maybe he didn-"

"I didn't!" Aaron cried out. "I didn't, I swear!"

After a low grunt from Sly's throat and an ugly grimace from the girl raccoon, Isabella continued. "So he could be helpful with his information. He's not the true enemy here Sly. His father is. That I know. Get answers from him. If it makes you feel any better… if you must," she pauses to sneer at Aaron's stare. "Bribe him. Coax him as an angered childless father that you were moments ago. That should be fun."

The gang stood there, only looking as Isabella. Next, her ears detected sobbing upstairs. They sounded just as painful as the ones she overheard in ancient Egypt. "I'll calm Carmelita down. I don't want to be in this room any longer." Without another word said to or from her the raccoon made her way to Scott's room, and Sly's full attention directed back at the crouching badger. "Well, you heard her," Sly hisses. "Please, do explain. You have a lot to explain."

"M-May I sit down?" the British accent asked.

Sly rolled his eyes. "Just do what you can to tell everything to us."

The badger huffed for more breath as he sat down. After he sighed, still shaky, he talks. "Well, my father survived the collapse, as you can see. I was hiding nearby to see if he really was dead or alive; waiting for you lot to leave. In a nearby tree I waited and waited until I saw my father's hand erupt from the pounds of debris. I did not dare to make myself visible, for I never liked my father's ways. I never wanted to be involved in his family thieving ways. So I watched him, I watched him rise from the debris and stumble around. There were barely any survivors except the ones you tied up in the coat room. That's all he had left. No treasures, no underground lair, no son; not that he cared about that one, he had nothing. Not even his right eye, for his right side of his head was worn down to his school. He also had an amputated leg. Yes, but he survived.

"I've been following him around. Not once did I hear my name from him. Those who were loyal to him stayed and did everything he ordered them to do. Before I even realized, he was back on his feet. Before I knew, that was the start to this disaster. He has been traveling a lot everywhere in the past few months. He went to prisons, disguised as a visitor each time. Every time he left those prisons, massive outbreaks occurred and followed him. It was like he planned them out every time. I sat there, baffled. It was ingenious, and also one of the greatest victories my father made; to have all those people follow him. I wasn't there during his discussions and meetings months ago. It would've been too easy to be seen. Yet recently, I found out he made numerous hide outs all over the world.

"I was clueless yet curious of his plans. I know how my father is with revenge. There was that vague feeling that he was going to target you, the Cooper gang… well, more centered on the head of the family. And just this night I watched him soar straight for France. At that point I knew… he was after your family. Knowing my father, whatever he had planned was worse than taking… Isabella," Aaron closed his eyes to those terrible memories, but fought through them. "I didn't know anything was worse than that. I went to you straight away, just as he arrived. I didn't know what his plan was but I knew it would be worse than before. Once I heard your baby screaming,"

Sly sighed as Aaron continued. "I knew that was who he was after. Your child. Your most valuable treasure besides Isabella. But I know there's more. As competitive and loyal to his family name he can me, I know there has to be more. This is merely a game to him, and I never saw him live and lose one. He has something planned."

The raccoon sits down in a chair beside him, now running his fingers through his stressed hair. Bentley and Murray look as need to comfort him, but they know they have no power to do so at the moment. All ears are on Aaron. "I'm not like my father. I never wanted to be in his shoes; to be expected to carry out the Vex tradition. How the Vex family handles things are wrong… They use weapons that are… not from nature. I never felt close to my family, I never felt like I belonged, I never felt I was a blood-lusting Vex. Yet I wonder to this day if I really am. I'm willing to help you get your son back."

Now, all shocked eyes are on the serious badger. "To prove myself that I am not like them, I'm willing to help you go against my kind. I don't even think my father knows I'm alive but I don't care. He never mentioned me anyway," Aaron stands. "I'll help in any way possible, for I know my father and his capabilities more than either of you. Using me would be a great help to saving the Cooper legacy by saving your son and… even, hopefully, put an end to my father's unnecessary rule. For your benefit, you must trust me."

Bentley, Murray and Rachel are speechless, feeling they have no word that they are allowed to say. From Sly's tension to Aaron's devotion, they feel whatever they say now would be looked down upon. All they can do is watch and observe.

"He has an army Sly, and he knows all about your gang, ancestry, and your parents."

Aaron expected Sly to cringe to the flashbacks of his parents but no such thing happened. Instead an exhausted exhale was performed once again; a painful exhale. "An army, you say?"

The badger nods to Sly's eyes piercing through his. "Then I know what we must do."

"S-Sly?" Bentley speaks with no confidence.

"It's the same method that worked last time. We must fight back. Hard."

*Instead of posting two chapters, I thought to give you one instead. Just so you have something to hang onto. I''m baaaaaacckkkkk! :D I love you guys!*