Fly Cooper Part 2

Chapter 12 The Bane of Existence

Hey guys Fly Cooper is back! I think I did well in my preliminaries if anyone cared about that but now back to the story. I'm not giving too much away now but all will be reviled in upcoming chapters. Promise.

I watched the train slowly pull out of the station with anxiety knotting my stomach. My body was telling me things were going to go wrong, but that was also experience talking. I've learnt so much since I struck out on my own as a thief, the main one: things never go according to plan.

"Are you alright?" I head over the crackly communicator. The voice was male but full of an honest concern.

I nodded, then remembering he couldn't see me responded. "Yeah, I'm alright. Just nerves." I told him earnestly.

"You've been doing this how long now and you still get nervous?" The male voice asked light-heartedly.

I bit my lip as the scenery sped past me in a green blur. "You know things never go like we want them to." I told him sternly.

"That's not true there was that time in New York..." He tried to argue.

"When the whole building caught on fire?" I replied sitting back and closing my eyes against the bright carriage lights.

"But other than that everything was fine. And it's not like the burning building actually affected us in anyway did it?"

I just smiled and shook my head loosely. "Bane just let me concentrate alright? You know I hate situations like this."

"Still worried about your parents?" A voice said suddenly jarring me from my relaxation.

"Bane!" I hissed looking around but smiling and moving over to let the grey wolf come and sit next to me. "You're not supposed to be here!"

"I was worried about you. You sounded more worried than usual." He commented putting his arm around me, I laid my head on his shoulder.

My parents. It's been nearly five years now and I'm still worried about them catching me? The second time I had disappeared it had been a lot less covered in the news, that's the way my father had wanted it. He knew why, he just didn't want to admit it. I don't know if he ever told my mum or not. If this is anything like the amnesia thing I would assume not.

They're still cops, just my luck I guess. My mum somewhere deep inside is still determined to find out what happened to me I think. For my dad's sake I hope she never finds out. I looked at Bane out of the corner of my eye to find him looking down at me too.

Bane was the only family I had had for so long I sometimes forgot that my parents were actually my parents. He had been the one who saved me that night from all that chaos. He was a thief like me and had previously been watching me. At first I had been appalled by this but there was little else I could do. It was stay with him, go back home, or go out on my own. The most likely chance of survival lay with Bane and for some strange reason I thought I could trust him.

It had turned out to be a very profitable relationship, he added more muscle to my... I don't know manoeuvrability? He was my Murray but he also helped me through some of my rougher times. I owed him a lot. More than he would take credit for certainly. Bane tightened his grip around my shoulders as I stared at nothing in particular.

"Um, excuse me love birds but in case you have forgotten you have a train to rob?" Another voice told us both from over our communicators.

"Alrighty," Bane replied standing up and stretching. He turned to me with his little smirk and held out his hand for me. "Shall we proceed milady?"

I giggled and took his hand. "The pleasure would be all mine." I mocked giving him a half-hearted curtsey; I heard the third voice groan over the com-link.

The young voice over the communicator was Bane's younger sister by seven years, Tori. She was a wolf as well and she was our brains. I had first met the she-wolf when she was only six, and at first she had been very timid and shy despite her brother's encouragements. She had warmed up to me eventually and I had gotten to know her very well. She was very smart despite the fact her and her brother were on the wrong side of the law.

My partner rolled his eyes before pulling me towards the next carriage towards the front of the train. I had never asked how the two of them had ended up is the positions they are in, nor had they ever told me. Thoughts of how things had ended up in this situation often floated into my mind as I was on a job, especially when I was working so closely with Bane like this. But it was their business and I would never force them to tell me.

Bane opened the door for me and we climbed up to the top of the train together. Wind blew hard, stinging my skin and ruffling my fur. I stood low against the train base with Bane lingering close to my side. We travelled along the top of the train towards the main carriage. There was little disturbance in the direction we travelled making it easy to stay on top of the fast moving vehicle.

Finally the two of us reached the front of the train. Bane reached into the overcoat and took out his two sabres. I still had mixed feelings about his choice of weapons but they were highly effective and much more intimidating than my cane.

I still had the old heirloom, I was a Cooper at heart and as such I would continue to carry on the Cooper name. I left the calling cards at every heist and I enjoyed to watching the television report where my mother openly stated that I was merely a copycat. Needless to say my father had said nothing during that conference. Fine, whatever, if he wanted to ignore my existence see if I care.

"In position." Bane told Tori creeping closer to the gap between the drivers and us.

"Just hang on a little longer..." She replied slowly. "Alright we're all set, go."

Nimbly Bane leapt down behind the two drivers and before either of them could react one of his sabres was pressed lightly to the driver's neck and the other pointed at the co-driver. I was right behind him and I saw the co-driver reach beneath the driving console.

"I really wouldn't bother if I were you." I told him crossing my arms. "The alarms have all been disabled and the train will soon be coming to a complete stop." I continued as I watched him glance back at me.

I walked over to the door and slid it open. The previously calm compartment erupted into chaos as wind blasted into the confined space. I nodded towards the door and moved out of the way. Bane did the same motion and carefully lead the drivers out the door. I watched them roll onto the grass next to the tracks and abandoned them to their fates.

Bane marched into the cart full of passengers completely confident as he began his little speech. "Okay everyone I would like you to remain calm and please exit the train at the nearest convenient point thank you." He said in one breath."

There was uncertain chatter and some doubtful shakes of heads as passengers disputed what to make of his threats and what was going on. I walked along the sides opening the doors, six in total, and air again gusted through the cart. Bane seemed to becoming annoyed as I rejoined him.

He sighed agitatedly and pulled the sabres from behind his back. "Oh, did I mention I'm armed?" he commented holding the weapons aggressively.

People flocked to the sides of the train now; it had slowed down to a near stop so there was little hesitation when choosing between jumping from the vehicle or facing some maniac with swords.

"Why are we publicising ourselves so much?" I asked watching the train roll past the passengers. I know that Tori had told me before but it had been briefly and I hadn't been paying much attention.

"We need the first two karts of the train." Was all Bane told me as he opened the door that lead to the next carriage and undid the connector.

While he did I just stood there scowling at him until he turned back at me with his crooked smile. "We're going to be meeting one of you old friends."

I am giving credit to Ceri from whose character Tori is based on. And just in case anyone still confused it is 5 years since the last chapter. Fly is 18 now, Bane is 20 and Tori is 13. Hope you all enjoy the return of Fly.