AUTHORS NOTE: Anyone who has read my story Crisis on Infinite Etherias will know all about how I got a DC vibe from watching She-Ra. Well, funny thing. I started watching Carmen Sandiego, and I got the exact same vibe. I looked it up and, like She-Ra, DC did a handful of comics based on Carmen Sandiego back in the 90s. So, obviously, I felt compelled to write this (especially after the title popped into my head).

From Carmen Sandiego's point of view, this takes place between 2x07: The Crackle Goes Kiwi Caper and 2x08: The Stockholm Syndrome Caper. From the Crisis on Infinite Earths point of view, this takes place between Batwoman 1x09: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 2 and The Flash 6x09: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 3.

Chapter 1

Oxford, 10 December 2019

Carmen Sandiego leaned back in her chair outside the coffee shop as she sipped her evening coffee. Taking down a massive criminal organisation one caper at a time was tiring work, so it was nice to take a break every now and then. She set her coffee down as her earpiece beeped, letting her know that Player had some new information for her. She reached up to switch it on, only to hear a lot of static.

'Red, can you hear me?' Player's voice pushed through the static.

'Barely,' Carmen replied. 'What's wrong with the comms?'

'It's these red skies,' Player said. 'They're messing with communication systems all over the planet.'

'Yeah, what's up with the skies today?' Carmen asked. The skies had turned red all over the world all at once early that morning, which was very unusual.

'Well, I'm in the NASA database,' Player began. 'And according to them, the red skies are being caused by rising levels of anti-matter in the Earth's atmosphere.'

'What's anti-matter?' Carmen asked.

'Everything that exists in the universe is made up of matter, and anti-matter is the opposite,' Player explained. 'Oh, that doesn't seem good…'

'What's wrong?' asked Carmen.

'The paper on anti-matter that I'm looking at seems to suggest that if the levels of anti-matter in the atmosphere continue increasing, it could reach a level high enough to cancel out the entire planet. And everyone on it,' Player said.

'Are you saying that the world is going to be destroyed if the anti-matter isn't removed?' Carmen asked, worried.

'Pretty much,' Player confirmed. 'The paper does theorise that quantum pulses could potentially unravel anti-matter energy.'

'So where do we get a quantum pulse?' said Carmen.

'Well, NFX Laboratories have been working on a quantum engine for clean energy use,' Player said. 'That could work. And you're in luck! The prototype is being stored at their Oxford facility.'

'That is a stroke of luck,' Carmen agreed, stepping onto the street, and hailing a taxi. 'I'm on my way there now.'

A taxi pulled up, and Carmen got in, telling the driver where she wanted to go.

'Alright, Player,' Carmen said, as the taxi began its journey. 'What can you tell me about the city of Oxford?'

'Well, Red, right now you're passing the famous Oxford University,' said Player. 'It was established around the 11th Century, making it one of the oldest universities in the world. It also has the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which contains the most complete specimens of the Dodo, the flightless bird that went extinct in the 17th Century.'

'One of the most popular activities among tourists is punting,' Carmen joined in. 'Which involves sitting in a wooden boat whilst your guide pushes it along the river with a pole.'

'And did you know that those rivers are the reason that Oxford got its name?' asked Player. 'The name Oxford comes from the old English word 'Oxanforda' which refers to a shallow part of a river where cattle, or Oxen, could cross safely?'

'Well, Oxford certainly is a fascinating place,' said Carmen.

The taxi arrived at NFX Laboratories, and Carmen thanked the driver, paying the fee. After slipping down the alleyway at the side of the building, she let her hair down, and opened her rucksack, pulling out her trademark fedora and coat, taking off her hoodie and putting them on. She then concealed the rucksack and hoodie behind some discarded crates.

'Alright, Player, I'm in position,' said Carmen. 'Are you ready?'

'Yep, I am in the security system,' Player confirmed. 'Lucky it's night over there, or the place would be bustling. All you have to worry about is the security guards, and I can keep you away from them easily.'

Carmen reached her arm up at a window overlooking the alleyway and fired her grappling hook at it. It caught on the window ledge and she pulled herself up to the window, picking the lock and gaining access easily.

'So, what do I do when I find this quantum engine?' Carmen asked Player.

'Well, I'm looking at the schematics,' Player replied, tapping away at his computer. 'There's a button on the side. Pressing that will activate the engine. Since it isn't actually hooked up to anything to power, it'll just release frequent quantum pulses, which'll hopefully disperse the anti-matter, thereby saving the world.'

'Whoa, hang on a minute. Are you saying that saving the world is as simple as pressing a button?' asked Carmen.

'Yeah,' confirmed Player. 'I guess sometimes it really is that easy. Red, stop! There are security guards right around the corner!'

Unfortunately, it was at this moment that the comms decided to break down, and Carmen didn't get Player's warning. She froze as the three guards saw her. Then she unfroze, and ran, the guards giving chase.

'Freeze!' she heard one of them yell as she dived around the corner into another corridor. The guards followed her, only to find… no-one. The corridor was empty. All the doors were still locked.

'Alright, fan out!' said one of the guards. 'Find the intruder!'

The three guards dispersed, hunting for Carmen. After they were gone, an air vent popped open, with Carmen crawling out, having hid in the ventilation shafts. She immediately turned her attention to her comm, just as Player's voice broke through the static.

'Red, are you ok?' he asked, worried. 'The anti-matter levels increased, and it knocked the comms out.'

'I'm fine, Player,' Carmen replied. 'Just bumped into a few security guards. They're searching for me now. I need to find the quantum engine quickly.'

'Ok, according to the NFX files, the quantum engine is in Room 32b,' said Player. 'It's right around the corner from you.'

Carmen approached the corner stealthily, keeping herself tight to the wall. She peeked round, and after confirming there were no guards, ran across the corridor to the door to Room 32b. She tried the door, but it was locked. Carmen noticed the keypad next to it.

'Player, what's the entry code?' she asked.

'Getting it now, Red,' he replied. 'Got it! 1-9-8-5.'

Carmen entered the code and smiled to herself as she heard the door unlock. She flung the door open, setting her eyes on…

Tigress.

With the quantum engine in her arms.

'Too slow, Sandiego,' Tigress mocked, before leaping onto a table and jumping into the ventilation shaft above, leaving Carmen in shock.