Chapter 3

Julia looked out of the window at the red skies. She grew concerned as she saw frequent bursts of lightning ricochet all around the plane, accompanied by loud rumbles of thunder. She just knew, in her gut, that whatever was really going on was getting much worse.

At that moment, her partner, Agent Zari, walked up to her and handed her a coffee as she took the seat opposite. Julia took the coffee and sipped it distractedly as she continued to gaze at the red skies.

'The pilot says we shall be landing in 5 minutes,' said Zari, ever focused on the task at hand. 'Do you have any suggestions for apprehending Miss Sandiego?'

'I believe we should begin by examining the scene of the crime,' replied Julia. 'All we know for certain is that Carmen Sandiego was sighted at NFX Laboratories, and that their prototype quantum engine is missing. That does not necessarily mean that Carmen is the one who took it.'

'Then why would she be there?' asked Zari.

Julia remained silent, thinking as she tried to distract herself with the case.

Carmen groaned as she regained consciousness. She remembered tracking Tigress to a warehouse, and then being knocked out… but why? Suddenly, it all came flooding back to her. The anti-matter storm. The quantum engine that could save the world. Tigress stealing it first. She woke with a start, discovering that she had been tightly tied to a chair.

'Aw, looks like my prize is coming round,' Tigress said, chuckling. 'I tell you, Carmen, delivering the quantum engine and you to V.I.L.E? I can practically smell Shadowsan's old seat at the Faculty table in my immediate future.'

'Tigress, no!' cried Carmen. 'If you don't give me the quantum engine now, then there won't be a future! You don't understand what is happening!'

'Hmm. And I suppose you're going to tell me?' Tigress asked rhetorically.

'These red skies?' began Carmen. 'They're being caused by anti-matter. It's been building up for hours. If it gets high enough, it'll unravel the entire molecular structure of Earth! It'll destroy the planet!'

Tigress just stared at Carmen, unblinking. Then she blinked. And then she burst out laughing.

An undisclosed airfield

Julia stepped off the plane first, shivering at the cold December air. Zari soon followed.

'New orders from Chief,' she said, holding up a computer tablet. On the screen was a photo of Carmen Sandiego outside a warehouse. 'These satellite images show Miss Sandiego entering a warehouse. Perhaps to meet a buyer for the quantum engine. We are to go there immediately to apprehend her and recover the device. Fortunately, it isn't too far.'

Julia nodded, as they both headed towards their A.C.M.E issued car.

'Seriously?' Tigress spluttered, in between laughs. 'That's what you're going with? Out of everything you could have said, you're going with 'It's the end of the world!' What's next? Are a bunch of superheroes about to show up to save the day in their ridiculous costumes? Just how stupid do you think I am?'

'I'm telling the truth!' Carmen yelled, frustrated. 'Look, just call the Faculty, ok? Dr Bellum should be able to confirm what I'm saying!'

'You know as well as I do that whatever is really causing the red skies is messing with communications,' said Tigress. 'After all, it was a sudden surge of interference that allowed me to get the upper hand and take you down.'

Tigress held up a small earpiece. Carmen's eyes widened at the sight of it. It was hers.

'It fell out when you collapsed, in case you're wondering,' said Tigress, tauntingly, whilst examining it. 'I'm sure that the Faculty will be very interested to find out who's on the other end…'

'No!' cried Carmen, furiously rocking the chair in an effort to get free. 'Don't you dare!'

'Ooh, looks like I've struck a nerve,' Tigress taunted.

'Tigress, please,' Carmen said, trying to remain calm. 'You don't have to believe me…'

'That's good, because I don't,' Tigress said.

'Look, just activate the device, ok?' Carmen begged. 'It's our only chance of survival!'

'Yeah, no. I'm not going to set off an unstable power source just because you asked me to,' said Tigress.

Before Carmen could think of a new angle to try and convince Tigress with, they were both distracted as the doors to the warehouse burst open, revealing two of A.C.M.E's finest, Julia and Zari.

'Carmen Sandiego, you are under arrest!' exclaimed Zari, before noticing Tigress.

'Who are you guys?' Tigress hissed, launching herself at them. Julia attempted to block Zari from Tigress's attack, only to be knocked to the side. Zari attempted to pull her knockout gun to use it on Tigress, but Tigress managed to knock her out first.

Tigress then turned around to deal with Julia, only to instantly get a blast of knockout gas in the face from Julia. Tigress collapsed instantly.

Julia ran over to Carmen, and began to untie her. 'I knew you weren't the thief,' Julia said, glad her hunch had been correct. 'You were at NFX to protect the device from her, weren't you?'

'Actually, no,' said Carmen, standing up. 'I just needed to activate the device.'

'Why?' asked Julia.

'The red skies, they're being caused by anti-matter. The quantum pulses produced by the engine are the only chance at saving Earth,' explained Carmen, as she put her earpiece back in, trying to regain contact with Player.

'Player, can you read me? Over,' said Carmen. The static cleared for just a few moments.

'Red,' came Player's voice. 'We've got a problem! The anti-matter levels are too high! There's a wave of the stuff heading right-'

At this moment, the signal went dead. No static. No nothing.

'Player!' Carmen cried. 'Come back! Player!'

'Carmen, what is that?' said Julia, looking at the sky. Carmen joined her, and gasped as the red sky was consumed by a wall of energy, heading straight for them.

'A wave…' Carmen whispered, understanding Player's final words. As the wave got closer, Carmen turned and took a running leap, hand outstretched, desperately reaching for the quantum engine's 'ON' button.

The wave consumed her before she could reach it, and the world was obliterated.

AUTHORS NOTE: Ok, go and watch Arrow 8x08: Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part 4. By the time you do, none of this will have happened, and all will be well.