AN: My goodness guys I almost forgot again today! I'm so sorry! So here's the new chapter... Hope you enjoy.
Josephina woke with a small smile, stretching as she looked up at the ceiling. It took her several long moments to realize that she wasn't surrounded on all sides by stuff. Frowning she sat up cautiously to avoid hitting her head on the Clockwerk wings, only to find they were several feet away. She looked around her and realized that there was now plenty of space in the back of the van, rather than the cramped quarters they'd been subjected to prior to her falling asleep. Confused she cleared her throat and Bentley turned to look at her.
"I may have taken some ideas from a certain british sci fi show and made them a reality..." He said with a shrug before she could even ask her question.
"So it's-"
"Bigger on the inside now. Yes. Not by much but we'll eventually have a mobile hideout..." Bentley shrugged. "For now it's only been expanded by three feet to allow for the parts we've gathered so far."
"Oh..."
"We're about two hours away from Monaco." She blinked in surprise, she hadn't thought she'd slept for almost five hours. The twins were curled up around one another like kittens in a basket, and Sly was quietly resting in the front.
"Have you slept?"
Bentley paused, not expecting the question. "I... I have not."
"Why not?"
"I'll sleep when we get to the casino." The turtle sounded exhausted.
"Bentley-"
"I'm fine. Honestly..." Bentley gave her a sleepy grin. "It's only a few more hours anyway. I've got work to do, information to compile and contacts that need... contacting..." He groaned softly and his head fell into his hands. "Yeah... I need to sleep. But it's only a few more hours. I can do that..."
Josie giggled at the turtle's stubbornness. "Whatever you say."
Bentley was asleep minutes after they arrived and checked into the hotel in Monaco. Smirking Josie settled down on the floor and quietly sorted through her bag as Murray and the twins ordered room service, and Sly grumbled about having to stay in bed.
"My leg is fine." He said, attempting once again to stand, despite Josie's strict instructions to stay put until Bentley could take a look at it. Josephina didn't even look up from what she was doing.
"Sylvester Thaddeus Winslow Cooper, if you don't get back in that bed and stay there until Bentley can determine whether you need to go to the hospital or not I will handcuff you to it." Sly stared at her in shock.
"How do you know my full name?"
"Bentley told me."
"Oh well that's just not fair! Now you know more about me than I know about you."
"Sly stop complaining and get back in bed before I have to force you again." Sly grimaced but slowly returned to the bed. "That's what I thought." She said.
Frowning at the state of her things she quietly set aside her dirty clothing and double checked the charge packs for her shock pistol. "I need to buy at least one new charge pack..." She muttered as she set both the weapon and extra ammunition aside. A glint caught her eye and she frowned, turning back to her bag and pulling out a diamond encrusted sword.
"Woah! Where'd you get that?" Nat said racing over from her place on the couch.
"Cairo... I'd forgotten about this thing..." Quietly looking over the sword she smirked. This should have been returned to the museum by now. Heck this whole operation should have been done weeks ago, but... She looked at the sword then up at the gang, the friends, she'd acquired. It'd only been roughly a month and they'd already grown on her considerably.
"It's really pretty!" Nat grinned.
"Yeah..." She set the sword down on the ground and silently looked at it with a small frown. Could she really afford to get attached?
"I don't think I've ever been more bored in my life..." Nat said as she watched Bentley examine Sly's leg. "I'm trapped up here, can't go have fun downstairs, this place doesn't even have a pool..."
"You hate swimming." Nate muttered, not looking up from the packet on computer coding that Bentley had given him.
"But at least I would have something to do..."
"You have your laptop, do some writing..."
"I tried that. There's no creativity here!" Nate glared at his sister over the top of the packet, watching as she slid slowly until only her head remained on the couch.
"Go for a jog then."
"Ew running..."
"Then order room service, cry about how you're out of shape even though you're not and sleep until noon like you always do..." He said with grimace.
"But that just makes me depressed!" Groaning Nate set aside his homework and glared at his sister.
"Nat, what will it take to make you stop whining?"
"Play a game with me." Nate sighed heavily.
"I'm busy with a lesson Nat..."
"Just one game... come on I'll even let you pick." Ears flat on his head Nate caved, standing and grabbing his laptop.
"Fine. Minecraft, one hour, work against each other, the one with the best stuff after an hour wins." Nat grinned.
Bentley smirked as he felt Sly's leg for any breaks. "I believe you just sprained it, but I'm confining you to this bed until we move out. If we had more time I'd have you stay in bed for at least a week to let it heal..." Sly rolled his eyes at his friend.
"You worry too much, my leg is fine, as I said earlier."
"You fell and landed wrong Sly, you're lucky it isn't broken."
"Well I'm will Nat, I need to get out of this room for a bit. I'm gonna wander the casino for a bit, see if I can't get some extra cash..." Josie said, stepping towards the door.
"I'll come with you, I wanted to try out my new card counting theory..." She nodded as the turtle waddled after her out into the hall. The casino floor was bustling with activity and noise. Josie watched as Bentley found a table and sat down to play and followed him, placing a hand on his shoulder and smirking.
By the end of the night Bentley had racked up plenty of cash and was grinning like a mad man. Josie herself had beaten several top dog poker players out of a rather large pot, much to not only their shock but Bentley's.
"I would not have pegged you for a poker player..." He said as she claimed the prize.
"It's all about reading people Bentley. And that happens to be one of my specialities." A tall raven woman stepped up beside them with a small smile.
"Bentley Greene I knew you and your gang would clean me out." She said, causing the turtle to turn to look at her. Josephina froze as she turned to see a tall raven woman standing behind them with a smirk firmly planted on her beak. It faltered for a moment as the raven spotted her but she quietly turned her attention back to Bentley.
"Evangeline! Always nice to see you." Bentley grinned.
"A pleasure."
"Did you get the information I asked for yet?"
"I did some digging, but please, let's retire to my office and away from prying eyes, spying ears and wagging tongues." They followed the woman to her office, and found themselves in a lavish apartment on the top floor. Evangeline tisked to herself as she settled down at her desk. "Such noise on the ground..." She frowned.
"This is a lovely apartment." Josie said.
"Thank you darling. Bentley love you haven't introduced me to this young lady."
"Oh, of course... Evangeline Linville this is Josephina Augustine. She's recently joined our team." Evangeline's smile faltered again.
"Ah! Bonjour mon ami. I'm sure you'll find yourself a place in their little team."
"Thank you." Josie said with a polite smile at the other woman.
"You're welcome. Now to business. Bentley, I've found a lead on the Klaww Gang for you." She pulled a file from a drawer and handed it off to Bentley. The turtle glanced over at the file with a smirk.
"So the hares are members of the Klaww Gang. How did-"
"Bentley please, you already know that this casino is full of spies. My ravens watch every public space, my cameras and bugs hear all. The duo came in and my ravens watched them as requested. They left just prior to your arrival."
"This flyer-"
"Current and up to date. I have checked, they are in fact making lengths towards Kaisten in the Black Forest for the last show of the season before heading back to their hometown in the United States."
"Anything else I should know?"
"My ravens found evidence of drugs and weapons in the circus caravan, and I believe that there is a rather sizable group of police coming after you."
"I already knew of the police. We'll take use the utmost discretion for your sake."
"Thank you... That is the extent of my knowledge. Miss August we should get to know each other before you leave."
"I have time now..." Josie said. "We have to give Sly at least a day to recover."
"Perfect, shall we take a walk the two of us?"
"I would like that..."
"I'll see you back in the hotel room." Bentley said and Josie smiled as he waddled away.
"So." Josie flinched as the friendly tone became clipped. "Josephina is it? I distinctly remember you telling me your name was Angeline Masson."
"Well to be fair I was a spy at the time we met."
"I had no idea that you knew the Cooper Gang."
"I didn't. Until recently." The raven woman nodded.
"Well then, would you like to accompany to the spa?"
"I wouldn't mind a relaxing spa day, catching up with an old friend and confidant."
They left for Germany two days later, finally coming to a stop in the small village of Kaisten, hidden deep in the Black Forest. WIth only a population of 200 people it was mostly a farming town that survived on tourism. Josie looked out the front window as Murray pulled up to the circus.
"Everyone remember your lines?" Bentley asked with a small sigh.
"I really hate the circus..." Josie muttered as a clown walked past. "It's like half of my worst nightmares all squished into one tent of suck..."
"That... That didn't answer my question."
"Are you absolutely sure that we have to join up with them?"
"We've discussed this several times, its the easiest way to get at the Clockwerk weapons..."
"What's a circus want with the weapons of a crazy mechanical bird anyway?"
"They're using them in their acts..."
"Oh yeah that's normal." Josie rolled her eyes as the turtle threw open the back doors and they all climbed from the van. Several performers glanced their way as they walked into the big top, where the Harlequin Brothers were practicing.
"Caesar and Cassian Aquila?" Sly asked, a terrible italian accent spilling from his lips as they walked up to the pair.
"Si? We are they." The hare in gold and half sun mask said with a proper Italian accent thickly curbing his words.
"I am the Amazing Cooperelli!" Josephina held back a pained groan. "And these are my fellow performers, we have heard of your amazing show and wish to join up with you!"
"And what can you do that would benefit our troupe?"
There you go guys. I'll see you tomorrow with a new chapter.