A Thief's Tale

Chapter 21: Relocation and Revival

Torigun emerged from the shadows in his palace. DeathEye, Skull, Swords, Raleigh, Rajan, Arpeggio, and Tsao were in the room waiting for him.

"Master, Méllon wishes to speak with you." DeathEye said, "He said he wants all of us."

"Good," Torigun said ripping the junked armor off, "I wanted to talk to him anyway. Come along, I'm anxious to learn what the world will be like without Coopers."

Méllon's room…

A crow sat meditating in a blood red robe in front of a large pool of water with an extravagant birdbath-like structure in the center.

"Méllon!" Torigun shouted.

"Ah, Torigun, I'm glad you got my message." Méllon said getting up from meditation, "I have urgent news."

"That can wait." Torigun said, "I need you to look into the future for me. What will the future be like now that the Cooper name is dead?"

"I'd answer that if I could." Méllon said.

"What are you talking about Méllon?" Torigun asked, "I thought you could see into the future for centuries. I'll I'm asking is a few years."

"I can't tell you because the Cooper name's not dead yet." Méllon said.

"WHAT?" Torigun yelled.

"That's why I wished to talk to you." Méllon said, "The team's mystic surrounded your power core in his shield. The explosion happened, but his field contained it."

"No," Torigun said clutching his head, "This can't be happening."

"If you want to kill the Cooper, then you will have to heed my advice." Méllon said pulling out a strap of leather, "Use this, it will dramatically increase your chances of succeeding."

"A leather strap?" Torigun asked, "How can this possibly help?"

"The resurrection spell." Méllon said, "This strap was owned by someone who not only has skills to aid you, but the determination as well."

"Thank-you Méllon." Torigun said turning towards the others, "Get the supplies ready for the resurrection spell. I plan to bring this dead help back to life."

Paris…

"Bentley, you know I don't usually second guess you, but are you sure that thing will work?" Sly asked.

"Absolutely Sly." Bentley responded, "This will make our relocations a lot simpler."

"What are you two talking about?" Carmelita asked.

"Bentley insisted on building a ray that would shrink anything we attach a special computer chip to." Sly explained, "It was designed so we could relocate easier after a large heist or if a villain finds a safe house."

"Do you guys really have to relocate that often?" Carmelita asked.

"Not really," Sly said, "And normally we leave most of this stuff behind, but Bentley figured being able to bring some of the larger items might prove helpful."

"Well it will." Bentley said, "Especially when it comes to my equipment, which by the way, I already tested this on. It worked perfectly."

"Just hurry up and shrink the rest of the furniture." Sly said rolling his eyes. While Bentley got busy shrinking the furniture, Sly noticed Panda King was deep in thought, "Hey Panda King, what's on your mind?"

"I was just thinking about my daughter." Panda King said, "I have not seen her since I joined your gang."

"Well tell you what," Sly said, "We do need to disappear for awhile. Try to drop as far off Torigun's radar as possible. So, why don't we go to China, see Jing King?"

"Are you sure? There won't be much to steal." Panda King said, "And I would appreciate it if you didn't steal what little there would be."

"Relax, I can control myself." Sly said, "Besides, this will be more for you than anything."

"Thank you Cooper." Panda King said, "That will be greatly appreciated."

"Oh! That made me remember something." Sly said, "I have to go talk to Bentley. And I'll talk to the others about going to China." Sly ran up to Bentley, who had just finished shrinking the last piece of furniture.

"Hey Sly." Bentley said, "What do you want?"

"Is there somewhere we can talk?" Sly asked, "You know, alone?"

"Well, I've already disabled the elevator," Bentley said, "So we'd have to head to the alley behind the safe house."

"Let's just go there." Sly said.

Alley behind the Safe House…

"So what did you want to talk with me about?" Bentley asked.

"Well, I was wondering," Sly said, "Do you think you'd be able to build Carmelita a new shock pistol?"

"Huh?" Bentley asked.

"Well, last night I was thinking," Sly said.

"While you were sharing a bed with her." Bentley said with a judgmental tone in his voice.

"All we did was share the bed Bentley, nothing else. I don't want to rush anything." Sly said, "Either way, I was thinking, Carmelita can hold her own in hand-to-hand combat, but with Torigun still around, she needs something to fight long range with."

"Well, I'm already busy making her a biocom," Bentley said, "But I could probably build one."

"Good," Sly said, "Try to have it done in a week."

"A week?" Bentley asked in disbelief, "Are you crazy?"

"What?" Sly asked, "Carmelita's birthday is in a week and I figured a new shock pistol would be a great gift."

"Alright," Bentley said, "But I have to finish her biocom first. Then I'll get to work on a shock pistol."

"Thanks buddy." Sly said heading back for the safe house, "Just make sure it's better than standard issue for Interpol."

"Better than-oh come on Sly!" Bentley said wheeling after him, "Are you trying to make me suffer a nervous meltdown?"

Torigun's Palace…

Torigun stood in front of a large symbol of ancient origins. Various candles have been placed at certain points around the outside of the symbol. In the center of the symbol, the leather strap provided by Méllon.

"Everything is assembled master," DeathEye said, "You can perform the ritual."

"Perfect." Torigun said crossing his arms, "Oh great spirits of Krav Krox past, hear my call. Come to this circle and restore the life of this item's master!" The symbol began to glow a bright blue, "Rescue from Death's icy clutch the one I seek, pull them forth from the realm of spirits!" Pale blue mist began to seep up from the ground and surround the leather strap, "May what the reaper has taken return to this plain. May their life be changed from mere memories to flesh and blood once more." The blue mist began to swirl around the center like a tornado, "And now, with one final command that reaches across the realms of life and death, of heaven and hell, may the gatekeepers of the afterlife release them to me!" Torigun uncrossed his arms and the whirlwind exploded into a burst of spiritual energy. The figure, still hidden by the fog, let out a low groan, "Welcome back to the realm of the living."

"Thanks," The figure said in a female voice said, "It's good to be back."

"That voice," Arpeggio said, "It can't be…"