"Alright, after months of training, we finally got you up to par physically to be able to start your training as a Cooper." -A click sounds as a picture appears on the foldable screen from the slider; The picture is that of a drawing of me as a thief, mask and all- "Which means now, it's time to enter the Thievius Raccoonus which thankfully gives out very detailed instructions on how to be a thief of the Cooper Clan." -A click sounds as the slide show switches to a picture of the Thievius Raccoonus.- "This means the training will be much less than it would be if you were simply starting off from scratch."
"When did he get so good at slideshows?" Murray asked, very interested.
At that I shrugged, for all that I've known Bentley so far, I still haven't figured out how he got so good at slide shows. High School experiences maybe?
Either way, it was time to get started…!
Cue, the Training Montage...
Chapter 1, Sect. III, Cane Training
Thaddeus II - A Cooper's cane is his greatest weapon so it is best to use it well and wisely. For if a Cooper misuses their cane then so too shall they misuse themselves as well. To begin, a Cooper's cane is always one of character and refinement, all but the very tip is unique to all Coopers. For the very tip is that which allows us a connection with our great forefathers before us. The very tip forged by the Grandfather of the Thievius Raccoonus of fine gold dug out deep from the sandy dunes of Egypt. This is the tip that keys to the greatest of all fortunes and to our heritage.
Sir Galleth - When swinging thine cane, swing your cane as if thine elbow is one. As if thine elbow shall not bend… this will serve to speed up your swing and give thou the upper hand in battle. A Cooper can never be quite well prepared outside or in the knick of battle. Just as the sword and pen is a raccoon's greatest friend, so too is the Cooper's cane, theirs.
Henriette - Training Exercise Tips: Practice with how it feels to move with your cane first until you are one with it. Once that is complete, next swing until your elbow does not bend. When your elbow has no bending, next swing and swing until you gain the hang of it. Finally you play with it as if it were a sword until it is as sharp as your wit.
During the first month of training, I followed along with the book's training exercise. To say it went well...that is well...an understatement…
"Ok, Sly, let's begin! First try walking then jogging then running, we'll keep doing this until you get the hang of moving around with the cane!" Bentley called from his spot at a picnic table where he and Murray sat.
We had decided to train in the park at night since it was likely there would be less people around and we could hide if we got spotted. Bentley was sitting there with the Thievius Raccoonus open and with a pen and clipboard to chart my progress.
"Got it, lemme know when!" I replied, cane in my paw and at the ready.
"3..2...1...GO!" Bentley cawed as he set a timer and I began walking.
Walking was easy so then I started jogging and that's where the trouble started when I then decided to full out run way too soon. Before I knew out, I tripped over the silver-tipped bottom of the cane and with a squeak of a yelp, came tumbling down. That first time that I tried running with the thing, I had ended up falling down and nearly breaking a leg. Safe to say, I would not be pulling off that same thing again… It would take a couple of weeks before I was even able to run with the cane and then came the next part, swinging as if me, the cane, and elbow ,in Bentley's own words, were one. To say, that would be a challenge, well I think you get it...
"Ok, Sly, you ready!" Bentley asked from the same picnic table we always met up at before training like this.
"Ready Bentley!" I called, cane in the exact position that the book's instruction pictures showed for me.
"Good! We'll begin in 3...2...1...GO! Hit the target as many times as perfectly as you can!" Bentley instructed and with that I took my swings.
By the end of the final swing, my whole arm was on fire and my elbow bruised, so yeah, definitely not as one… That wouldn't happen until near the end of the month.
Speaking of which, come by that time, I got into the swing of things by practicing my swinging quite a lot until it felt like nothing, which also included hitting a poor tree repeatedly until either I swept all the way through or until a small indent was created with my swings. Before I knew it, it was soon time to move onto the next area of the Thievius Raccoonus. After of course reading through Chapter 1...after all, a little reading'll never hurt anybody, hehe...
Chapter 2, Sect. IV, The Mind
Riochi- Though you may now be one with your cane, it is important to remember that a ninja must never falter even when practiced. To be lulled into security, is to invite a shuriken or a kunai to the back. A ninja though sneaky, must too always be on his toes lest he invite death. A ninja must act quick, this is true but so too must he think clever as well to defeat his mighty foe.
Otto Von Cooper - Indeed, it is true for all Coopers. Though many are strong, they did not get by strength alone. I and a few of my predecessors are evidence of this, for though muscle is needed, so too is the brain. Your brain is the best defense! Keep your senses about you in the most trying of circumstances and you will always come out on top.
Bruce O'Coop - The brain can be trained just as the body and it is quite simple to do, simply train to notice your surroundings and how to act quickly when something unexpected occurs but as warned by predecessors, never get lulled, always be on your toes and you shall persevere.
In regards to brain training, well not much to be said, Bentley would just ask random questions while I was in the middle of reading or practicing my cane. So yeah, no flashbacks this time, sorry to disappoint.
Chapter 3, Sect. II, Way of The Thief
Sir Galleth- The following shalt be of the most importance as the following tells of the basics of being a Master Thief. Hath no fear, for wealth and fame is upon thine side. This is not to say that thou should merely rely on such as that is quite foolish of one to do. It is meant purely as a reassurance of self that your work shall not be in vain.
Rioichi- Remember, young Cooper that upon entering an area ,most especially on entering a heavily populated one, that it is important to survey your surroundings. Locate your hiding places and jumping platforms should trouble arise and you must escape. But most importantly locate the money and valuables of the area.
Salim Al Kupar - Remember that when swinging, face the direction that you wish to swing in. With your head facing the direction of your swings, do well to be mindful of your surroundings. Children, valuables, etc.
Sir Galleth- Remember that when jumping to throw thine weight a certain way. Though it should be noted that throwing thou weight of thine body in front of your nose is never a good idea and rather foolish. Rather, it would do well that thou keep in a crouched position, with your nose to your knees when jumping or using the cane to perform a move such as the Raccoon Whirlwind or such.
Henriette- Remember too young lad that when thieving, it is important to use your surroundings to your advantage but also of importance is to avoid fear for fear shall lead too to failure. When going up a ladder ,for example, never look down. If an enemy is behind you, look not behind, but rather concentrate on getting up that ladder. Jump up, skipping steps if necessary. But by all means, BE SAFE!
Chapter three of the Thievius Raccoonus was the longest and the hardest to master, it was also thankfully yet worryingly the last of the pages that were present in the book I had. I wouldn't complete it until a few months later. Soon enough though, I was ready for my first heist.
"Ok, guys, this is it, the first heist! The beginning of the introduction, the beginning of the Cooper Gang, the le montre of-"
"Bentley, it's only a heist."
That made the turtle fluster up and begin to stutter and sputter quite a bit. True, I was nervous about the heist since you know, the first heist but I still feel pretty confident. With Murray's physical training and the training from the Thievius Raccoonus, I felt fully ready to steal my way home...after some practice that is… Currently we sat inside Murray's van ,and future Cooper van, me and Murray sat together on a beanbag. Looking on at a screening where a slideshow by our resident turtle genius.
"Just a- THIS IS NOT JUST A HEIST, SLY! THIS IS THE FIRST HEIST, YOUR FIRST HEIST! YOUR ENTIRE FUTURE IS LITERALLY HANGING IN THE BALANCE IN THIS FIRST HEIST!" Bentley screeched, sputtered, stuttered, and stumbled.
Bentley's freakouts were a bit more animated than the games made it seem. I can now see why Sly could sometimes get annoyed by it.
"Bent, I know this is the first heist but I'll be fine. I mean how tough can he be?" I asked with a chuckle.
"He's a crime boss that runs a small drug empire, Sly, that isn't exactly small." Bentley replied, showing a picture of said boss.
"I still wouldn't worry. With your genius and Murray's driving skills, we can do this!" I said, attempting to encourage him and wouldn't you know it...it worked.
Kind of…
"You and your raccoon logic...ok, so here's how we'll do this. Sly, this is very simple and should be an in and out job. Especially since the boss is arrogant enough to keep all of his important files and valuables in one place." -A click sounds as the image shifts to another of a drawn room with an open safe filled with files and valuables- "That one place being his apartment. Unfortunately, this means he may have guards in there." -A click is sounded again, the image shifting to one of drawn guards that guard an empty room- "This means, you'll have to put your sneaking skills to the test. You remember how to sneak, properly, right?" The turtle asked, gazing over to me.
Smirking and with a tip of a hat, I replied. "Course I do, Walk windfully and with care as if your feet and the air were one in the same. Pressure upon toes and balls of forepaws raised is the way of the ninja and of the Master Thief."
"You really love quoting Riochi, don't you...well at least this means, you can do it. Ok, let's do it!" He yelled the last bit loudly, the box turtle did have a tendency to yell when nervous very often.
"Ready when you are, Bentley." I spoke, popping an ear piece into one of my grey furred ears and spinning my cane as I got in a crouching position, ready to move out of the doors and do the heist.
"Go for it, Sly! GOGOGO!" He yelled, gesturing wildly.
Doing just that, I bolted out the door. WIth a jump into the alley, I began to climb my way up the nearby fire-escape, making my way up it and towards the window. Finding it locked, I reached down and into one of my pockets.
"A ninja's greatest tool is stealth, whether it be walking with air or simply picking a lock." I whispered to myself as I took out a small lockpick kit, courtesy of one Thief Net.
Hearing a certain turtle groan at my quoting, I snickered and got to work. Carefully and skillfully, I slowly moved the hooks around until with a click, I moved them out and slid open the window. Once open, I hopped in, cane twirling as I gazed around the room. There were a couple of guards here and there but they hadn't noticed me as I looked for the room where the safe would be.
Spotting the door to the boss' door and letting out an inner bingo, I snuck my way there. Maneuvering here and there, around the few guards present. Once there, I took out my ever faithful thus far lockpick kit and slowly and quietly picked the lock to the door. Upon hearing a quiet click, I opened the door and snuck my way inside.
With the door closed behind me, I put a couple of my fingers to my earpiece to talk to Bentley. "Any clues on that safe Bentley?"
"The safe should be behind one of the paintings. When you find it, let me know and I'll tell you the combination."
"Solid work, Bentley, thanks for finding that code." I replied as I began looking behind paintings.
It didn't take long given the small amount of paintings in the room. The safe was similar to the ones from the first Sly game, it seems the drug crime boss loved being old school.
"Alright, the combination was very easy to get. This is what he gets for being too arrogant for his own good, the combination should be 5-7-1."
Tuning in each gear to that sequence, the safe opened with a click, revealing the documents and a couple of valuables. Grabbing them all and placing them in my backpack, I soon after left but not before leaving behind a single calling sign.
The classic call sign of the Cooper Clan.
Cheesy I know, but what's the worst that could happen…? After all, I would be gone after I dealt with the Fiendish Five.