Chapter Thirteen: Hats off to You!

Scales slipped into the private jet that Lloyd and his friends used most of the time for their capers, a frown on his face. "I didn't stop him from stealing that smart fabric."

Lloyd groaned as he ran a hand down his face, turning to face the rest of his friends that were there. "Zane? Any idea on what they possibly could be using smart fabric for?"

Zane typed at his laptop for a minute, before shaking his head. "Nothing... perhaps once Cole and Jay get back from their pizza run I would have found something."

"I have a hard time believing that you don't have an HQ of your own." Scales shook his head, amusement slipping in as he eyed the four friends that were present.

Kai shrugged as he stretched luxuriously across the seat that he was hogging. "I don't see why not. We've got a plane... and can afford five star hotels without using Darkley's money, since a couple of us happen to be filthy rich."

Nya swatted him at that comment, rolling her eyes skyward. "Don't let Cole hear you call him that."

"Call me what?" Cole walked in just then, balancing three extra-large pipping hot pizza boxes. Jay followed him closely, carrying a medium pizza box and a large sack full of paper cups and plates, as well as several liters of various sodas.

"I get the feeling that Kai was commenting on the fact that you and Zane have a lot of money in your bank accounts from your weekly allowances that your parents give you." Jay piped up as he dropped the bag less than gracefully onto the floor, before slipping the box down onto the small serving table. "By the way, we picked up a dessert pizza while down there. They had a sale going on."

"Sweet!" Kai rubbed his hands together, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

Cole gave Kai a flat look at that, shaking his head at him as if he didn't think it was so great. "It has chocolate on it." Kai immediately deflated.

Zane placed a hand on his shoulder, giving him the smallest of smiles. "We still have some strawberry caramel swirl ice cream leftover. You can have that for your dessert instead."

Kai brightened back up at that, before flipping open the first pizza box and grabbing a slice out of it. As if that were a signal for the others, all six of the teenagers lunged forward, piling food onto their plates. Once they backed away from the three extra-large boxes... only one slice of each remained. Scales shot his eyebrow upwards in surprise, they ate for more than most teenagers for sure, he grabbed a plate and placed the last three slices on it. At least the dessert pizza hadn't been opened yet. And there was that comment about Kai not eating the dessert pizza due to it having chocolate. "Why does whether or not something as chocolate on it affects if Kai will eat it or not?"

"The fact that I'm deathly allergic to the stuff." Kai tore a large piece of pizza off with his teeth, seemingly undisturbed about his lack of manners.

Scales nearly choked at that, before thinking about on it and realized that... well, it actually made sense. Kai never ate chocolate if he could help it. Scales had just presumed that he just didn't like that stuff. "Do we know anything about..."

"There's a fashion show going on in Milan where they will be paying tribute to the original Medici fourteenth century attire. As in they will have it on display on the catwalk along with the latest fashion statements that the show will be showcasing. Those pieces happen to be worth quite a bit..." Zane broke off, glancing over at Lloyd, who nodded thoughtfully.

"We're running them into debt. Something like that would sell for millions of dollars on the black market." Lloyd nodded slowly, understanding flashing in his eyes.

Nya rolled her shoulders, as if to relief some tension there. "Then we best get going and stop these guys from making off with the antique clothing."

….

Lloyd rolled his eyes skyward as he paused, watching as the security at the fashion show stopped Scales from entering. Scales scowled at them, but stood back without putting up too much of a fight. "Split up. We can cover more ground that way." Lloyd glanced down the left hallway, figuring he'll start down there.

"Got it." His friends, all five of them since this could very easily turn into an all hands on deck scenario according to Zane's statics, chirped in unison.

Lloyd quickly left them to their own devises as he disappeared down the long hallway. Now just to stop Darkley's before its too late!

….

Lloyd could feel his heart pound loudly in his chest as he dodged a kick to the head that one of the mind-controlled models threw his way. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Pixal managed to knock two more models down on her own. She was pretty good, and maybe if she were a freak like the rest of them he would ask her to join them. Unfortunately she wasn't so they had to make due without her assistance.

"Greenie! The dresses are secured!" Kai's voice crackled over the earpiece that Lloyd was wearing.

Hand darting up to his ear, Lloyd pressed the small device down so as to activate the tiny microphone. "Got it hothead. I want everyone to reconvene at the predestined meetup point." Concentrating on the battle at hand, he threw a few more punches, knocking a few more models down. Now if only they would stay down! Even as this thought crossed his mind, the models surged back to their feet.

"Perhaps we should call for backup?" Pixal nervously suggested as she backed up into a wall.

Before Lloyd could sarcastically ask her if she had any in her back pockets, Zane lunged forward seemingly out of nowhere, ice spewing from his outstretched hands. Scales darted into the room not long after him, quickly tearing off two of the hats that the mind control device was sewn into. Immediately the two models fell to the ground unconscious. "Get the hats off! They'll do the rest!"

….

"Come on... surely there's something here that you like?" Lloyd grumbled to Scales as he crossed his arms in a huff. He was waiting in a clothing store not far from where the fashion show was being held, buying an entirely new wardrobe for Scales... who was being very hesitant about getting new clothes.

Scales stepped forth in his new outfit, a pair of tan suit pants, and a light brown button shirt with a loose fitting black trench coat. He glanced down at what he was wearing, then nodded in confirmation. Seemingly out of nowhere, he pulled out a pair of designer sunglasses, perching them on his nose. "Can I get these?" For some reason he sounded like a child asking for parental permission to eat candy.

"Sure... Darkley's can afford it." Lloyd shrugged, trying his best not to smile at Scales. At least they were finally getting somewhere with him about his wardrobe choices...

"Greenie? Father and Lou both have agreed to fund an actual base for us. They have even found what they believe is the perfect base for us. Shall we leave to check it out?" Zane's voice sliced through the air, making Lloyd lift a hand up to the earpiece in his ear.

"Sure. Let's get going."

A/N: Ella: Uh... Sky? Isn't the whole chocolate allergy your headcanon?

Skyla: You were the one that asked me to write the first half of this chapter! Besides that, have you looked over the plotline?

Ella: You're referring to the fact that we basically either have to make up how they all meet, or just skip this next episode of Carmen Sandiego.

Skyla: Well... that too. I was actually referring to the fact we're getting close to the part where we basically leave Carmen Sandiego behind since... well spoilers for all our readers.

Ella: Oh yeah! I forgot about the kidnapping and mysteries that are coming up! That's going to be so much fun!

Skyla: Well... I better get going. Since it's Monday you probably will want to get going on your other stories.

Ella: Bye Sky! Oh! Before I forget, my email ain't sending me nothing from here... so yeah Sky is supposed to remind to go on and check for reviews! Follows and favorites aren't as easy to keep track off without a working email. I don't know what it going on with it. Thank you for your patience!

SkyTalon & Ella