Chapter 5: Terror on the Track

With Carmelita finally getting her wish of seeing her team the Llamas win gold in soccer, she had hoped that this day, which was all about Track and Field events, would be just as glorious as yesterday. After all there were plenty of events and she loved those events just as much as soccer, among her favorites were the high jump, 100 meter dash, and the 4x 400 meter relay. Sly liked these events just as much, his favorites were the pole vault, the 400 meter dash, and the shot put.

Coming out onto the track were two favorites: North American's alligator favorite Bolt Jenkins and his newfound friend from Africa lion Kit Ngogo, who got to share a gold medal from the 100 meter dash after Bolt won, but felt Kit was better. Accompanying Bolt was a female alligator, larger than average, with a red bandana and black hair. Up stepped on of the most in-your-face commentators, the turkey Rugs Turkell.

"Bolt Jenkins, welcome back to the track and with your good friend Kit Ngogo! How does it feel?" asked Rugs.

"Well Rugs, I'm here with my good friend and my great coach who knows a thing or two about Track and Field, it's all good, ready to score more medals!" Smiled Bolt, his friend Kit smiled back.

"We're competing in the 100 meter dash again, and this time whether we get the gold or not it's all good." added Kit.

"Bolt Jenkins is my star pupil, he'll go far..." added the female alligator, her smile was a bit eccentric. From afar, Sly noticed this, it seemed that Bolt's coach was actually someone he met before, but much more sinister. He decided to hold himself, until he found enough evidence to justify his claim, by remaining silent and watching the sports action rather than sneak off under Carmelita's nose, which he was famous for doing to toy with her, knowing her vicious temper.

The first event was the 100 meter dash, Bolt and Kit were both the favorites in this event, along with two newcomers: a zebra, and a roadrunner. Both Bolt and Kit were determined to make the same if not better feat like the last games. Everyone put on their drag suits and goggles and revved up for the starting light, no one in the audience wouldn't dare blink as it would be over in a flash. As soon as the green light shown, the runners were off, no one could even see who was taking the lead. As soon as the smoke cleared across the finish line, a slow motion camera showed on the screen what had happened, and appeared that both crossed the finish line together. It was a glorious moment, two friends getting gold at the same time, embracing each other, though Bolt's coach was secretly smiling behind their backs. Though the Cooper Gang cheered with the audience over the success of the stars and the great display of sportsmanship between the two, Sly was still wary about the coach. This time Carmelita noticed Sly's uneasiness. When asked, Sly secretly whispered to her about his suspicions.

The next event was the Pole Vault, which Bolt himself aced in the previous games, and Kit qualified for this event as well. Bolt feeling confident in his abilities, sharpened his mind with the pole in his hands, and commenced his run towards the high bar. He increased his speed as he approached, but as he was more than halfway there, he felt his right foot begin to hurt, he slightly winced and he planted the pole into the vault, the boost wasn't as strong due to the pain. As he rose up over the bar, he felt his right foot hit the bar, but not enough to knock it off. He landed on the mat with his foot still hurting, but no sooner did he step off the pain stopped, it was all so strange to Bolt. From afar, his coach was fiddling with a strange doll that looked just like Bolt, she was jabbing the right foot area with a needle, but was doing it without Bolt knowing. From the audience's stands, Sly and Carmelita, looking through their binocucoms saw this, Sly's fears were confirmed; it was Mz. Ruby a member of the Fiendish Five, who disguised herself as a coach for Bolt.

No sooner it was Kit Ngogo's turn, he performed better, clearing the bar with relative ease, unlike Bolt's small folly that cost him the perfect jump, not that that was his fault. The Cooper Gang had to get through the crowds and onto the arena floor, showing they were part of Interpol who was always welcome as security reinforcements. As soon as they got there and Kit's turn was over, Carmelita fired a shock bolt at Mz. Ruby, stunning her to the floor, they then surrounded her.

"Interpol! You're under arrest Mz. Ruby!" shouted Carmelita.

"Well well, the same inspector who arrested me back in Haiti, figured you'd be here!" she grinned evilly.

"Shut up gator! You're going spend the rest of your voodoo life in jail!" With that Mz. Ruby was carted off the field to prison. At the ceremony, Bolt got silver, while Kit got gold. Rugs Turkell approached Bolt with a microphone and the Cooper Gang behind him.

"Bolt how does it feel to get the silver?" he asked.

"Well that wasn't my fault you know, it was outside work, but Kit deserved that all the way." he smiled at his good friend, who smiled back wearing the gold medal. "I didn't know my coach was a voodoo practicioner, glad we have good security to catch the crooks here! As a token of my appreciation for stopping a nefarious scheme…." he turned to Carmelita. "I want you Inspector to take my place in the High Jump event for me, I won't be in tip top shape for that event, you've earned yourself an opporunity of a lifetime!" When Carmelita heard this, her eyes widened in disbelief, and then gave the broadest smile ever at the opportunity, she would never shirk a moment that was granted to her.

"I'd be willing to give it a try!" She replied, the Cooper Gang cheered her name.

The third event was the High Jump which Bolt also aced as well, even beating out his idol the frog Boris Amphibiensky. But since Bolt was sitting this one out, it was Kit, Boris trying his luck again and Carmelita to compete. Kit did a great job clearing the bar, except one of his feet touched the bar, he felt it well seconds after he landed on the mat. He rose up with a slight disappointment in his eyes, but he was sure Bolt would be proud of him. Up next was Carmelita herself, she took off her inspector jacket, threw it to Sly, and then readied herself, with a confident smile on her face. She ran towards the bar, almost like a gallop and then leaped upwards with all her lower body strength up to the bar, and sailed over it with relative ease from all the times she chased Sly from rooftop to rooftop. As she landed, she felt the most glorious moment in her life, she never dreamed she would get a gold medal so unexpectedly, the audience, the Cooper Gang, plus Kit and Bolt all cheered for her. Rugs Turkell stepped forward.

"Inspector Fox, how does it feel, for a police officer like yourself to clear a bar and get a gold medal?" he asked her holding the microphone up.

"Well Rugs, that was so unexpected, to be here, and accomplish that from all the hard working years of busting criminals, especially one particular..." she peered at Sly, who grinned nervously, "to earn a gold medal, is one of the proudest moments I'll never forget!" she smiled. The award ceremony was most glorious, her getting the gold and Kit getting silver. Even the Cooper Gang was the most pleased with her. With that accomplished, the Cooper Gang returned to being audience members as they watched many more track events including the 400 meter run with Bolt and Kit running again, this time Bolt accomplished first this time, with Kit taking it well. The other events were all in the same day such as the hammer throw, shot put, discuss, the relays, the hurdles, and the bicycles, all good, but not as great as the previous events.

(Graham Gouldman's "Now that we've made it" plays)