Ch.10: The Darkness Within
Bentley's eyes widened when he saw the center of the volcano. Huge sheets of metal layed along one side of the gaint crater that housed the molten lava within the volcano. Something told Bentley that those metal sheets were brought down here by Luna and the gang.
Some of the metal sheets had already been put to use and the finished work layed along the side Luna and Shadow Wolf were dragging him toward. Blood Phoenix stopped and said to Bentley "Now it is time for you to become one with the Great Fear,"
"What?" asked Bentley "who is this Great Fear?"
Shadow Wolf laughed "Look all around you turtle and you tell me what you are going to resurrect,"
Although not in the mood for games Bentley looked closely at the finished metal parts Luna and her gang had made. When his eyes landed on the metal wings a volley of alarms started screaming through his head.
"It can't be" thought Bentley " those wings...thier going to...,"
Bentley couldn't finish his own thoughts but everything to him now was more than clear. Luna and her gang were making another Clockwerk and Bentley was chosen to become it. Danger had come and caught the poor turtle in it's trap. His only hope now is that Sly and Murray would find him in time to stop this.
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Sly and Murray were busy following Penelope with her tracker in hand. Carmilita and Dimitri were right behind them. The walk seemed to have lasted for an eternity and Sly's patience was getting restless. His mind kept on reflecting back to the day he and Murray had been thrown in jail and betrayed.
Actuaclly the betrayal came first. Sly had foolishy put his trust into a cop named Constable Neyla when he and the gang where on hunt for the parts of his old enemy, Clockwerk. Neyla had fooled the whole gang into thinking she was trustworthy and it cost them dearly.
Not only them but Carmilita as well. By framing her own partner Neyla had gained favor with the Contessa and Carmilita was thrown in jail along with Sly and Murray. Bentley had been far enough away from the action that he avioded being arrested it was up to him to save Sly and Murray.
It was tough to get through Contessa's forces but somehow Bentley managed to save Sly and Murray from the Contessa's web of terror. It was a rescue Sly would never forget.
"Sly!" shouted Murray interrupting Sly's thoughts "Penelope has found something!"
Quickly Sly jumped over to Penelope. "Did you find him?" he asked.
"I did" siad Penelope "but the problem is there are three people in there with him. The two standing close to Bentley may be Luna and Shadow Wolf, but I no idea what the fourth blip is,"
"Only one way to find out" said Sly " you coming Murray?"
"All the way," said Murray and plowed on after Sly into the volcano.
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Unfortunately what Sly and Murray saw was a shock to thier eyes. Bentley, no longer sitting in his wheelchair, was bolted to the framework that instantly sent a chill down Sly's spine. He would notice that design anywhere...Clockwerk.
"Well well" came a voice from above. Sly looked to see Blood Phoenix sitting on his self-made throne. "you finally managed to catch up, but I fear you are to late,"
"Let Bentley go," said Sly.
"Ah, but your turtle friend hasn't finished resurrecting the Great Fear yet" said Blood Phoenix smiling " or in your case...Clockwerk,"
"Blood Phoenix hmph!" said Dimitri "carrying a new gang under your bloody wings. If you continue that 'turtle' could be destroyed,"
"That is not of your concern Dark Lizard" said Blood Phoenix "this turtle's sacrifice will be our victory. Shadow Wolf! Luna! Now!"
Shadow Wolf and Luna ran up and ran thier claws through a mutlitude of ropes. One by one another piece of Clockwerk started to fall into place around the helpless Bentley and glue into the framework. Bentley screamed from inside the constructing machinery calling for Sly's help.
Sly instantly ran as fast as he could towards his friend but Shadow Wolf saw the attempted rescue and blocked Sly's path with his wolves. Murray and Carmilita moved in beside Sly.
"We'll deal with the wolves" said Carmilita to Sly "go and save your friend,"
Sly didn't need to be told twice and instantly sprinted past the wolves. The sounds of Murray's blows, Carmilita's shock pistol, and yelping wolves followed behind him.
Dimitri was in a jam himself. Luna had jumped down from her perch through one of her portals and confronted the former member of her gang. It had been years since Dimitri had been in a fight and Luna was about to see whether Dimitri still could.
Luna was the first to lash out and thrust one of her claws straight towards Dimitri. Dimitri dodged with amazing agility and struck a fatal blow with his tail. Instantly Dimitri was reminded of the time when he and Cooper first fought. Dimitri had come in second but proved to be Sly's equal when it came to fighting. It was no different with Luna.
Penelope observed all that was happening around her at that time. Luna and Dimtri were busy fighting each other, Carmiltia and Murray were trying to beat Shadow Wolf, and Sly was racing towards Bentley as fast as he could. All the the while Penelope noticed that Blood Phoenix didn't seem to be disturbed by any of this.
He just sat thier watching all the action take place. Penelope saw grin go up his face as Sly was just within a few yards of reaching Bentley. She did not take that as a good sign. Looking around she noticed why, the last piece of the Clockwerk outfit was approaching Bentley fast. It was the Hate Chip.
Just seconds before Sly came within range the new made Hate Chip was attached to the back of Bentley's neck making the turtle cry out in pain. Sly was to late. Soon Bentley's scream had changed into an evil screech and soon a horrific laugh.
All the fighting stopped as the new Clockwerk flapped it's mighty metal wings and soared through the top of the volcano. With a laugh that indicated victory Blood Phoenix ran outside with Shadow Wolf and Luna following behind.
Sly, in the meantime, could not move a muscle. The shock of one of his friend's becoming the suject of terrible experiment, like being forcibly turned into another Clockwerk, it was...words couldn't describe it. Carmilita saw Sly looking completely helpless and lost of all hope. Bentley was gone now...gone...forever.