It took a sleepless week of data-crunching, but Bentley was finally able to locate where the gang was being held. He found them to be locked up in the Contessa's rehabilitation prison located in Prague. While studying criminal psychology, the Contessa married a wealthy aristocrat, but a few weeks after their wedding, he "suspiciously" died, leaving the widowed spider the estate as she soon turned it into an iron fortress, also landing her a spot on Interpol due to her hypnosis ability. As soon as Bentley figured out how to drive the van, he headed for Prague. Once there, he looked around, heading to the Contessa's manor to see if he could find any clues as to where everyone was locked up. Though it didn't take long before a certain spider had showed up.
"Ah-ha! The Contessa is making her rounds." Bentley perked up. "Wait a second...the feathers on my sleep darts vibrate near sound. If I maintain my position on this parabolic dish, I should be able to hear the frequency at a distance." He said to himself. "This is great! If I tag the Contessa with my darts, I'll be able to listen in on whatever she says...I might even learn where she's locked up Sly, Murray, and Rai!" Bentley said joyfully before firing off a dart, tagging the Contessa.
"That blasted Cooper Gang! The fat one...what's his name? Murray, yes, Murray... He'll be the first to break. I should spend a few sessions probing his feeble mind; I can only imagine the wealth they have accumulated over the years." She said, pondering that thought for a moment before she was tagged by another dart.
"I was unaware the Cooper Gang had a fourth member... The Scarlet Rose... What a foolish name... To think she could have worked with me! Her strength, mental ability, and agility... Oh well, soon enough she'll break and I can begin to make her my puppet." The spider chuckled.
Bentley quickly tagged the spider again as she continued. "That Sly Cooper...such a complex and rebellious mind, just like that Scarlet Rose... A month or two in "The Hole" should break his spirit. Let him squat there week after week...he's seen that the guards along the wall all have motion detectors; there is no escape. Slowly the reality of his captivity will set in, and then I will get to work on his mind." The Contessa smirked, but still continued.
"I cannot wait for Scarlet Rose to finally collapse so that I may play with her brilliant mind, though it seems she is not an easy pray to capture... Kisara was ready to throw that blasted fox into solitary, but unfortunately, the Scarlet Rose is no fool... Hmm..." The Contessa then smirked. "Perhaps I could bait her into getting into a little brawl with one of the other inmates, then I will be able to throw her into solitary myself so that I may get to work on her wonderful mind." And with that, the spider gave a chuckle as she crawled away, Bentley's jaw dropped.
"Inconceivable! She's no health care professional! Why, that's the most heinous crime I've ever heard of! Putting inmates in hypnosis so they'll tell her where they've stashed their loot! It dishonors both law enforcement and thieves at the same time! I should get to work and figure out how to break Sly out of "The Hole" so that we can rescue Rai before it's too late." Bentley said before heading back to the Safe House to form a plan.
Ting, ting!
"Hm?" Robin perked up when she heard soft clanking against her cell.
"Knock knock." Rai said as she peered her head in.
Robin lifted her head to see the fox, grinning as she pushed her goggles up onto her forehead. "Ah, there you are, Rai. And here I was about to come lookin' for ya." The blue bird greeted. "Come on in, I've got somethin' to show ya."
Rai nodded as she entered the cell, approaching Robin. "So, whatcha got for me, Ro?"
"You're gonna like this." She smirked, holding up one of the tracking anklets. "So, I managed to get my hands on one of these little trackers and got to work on how to detach them from your ankle without setting off the alarm."
"Alright, so what's the scoop?" Rai asked.
"Check this out." Robin set the anklet down before grabbing a flat head screwdriver, which she then proceeded to use to stick into the thin slot of the tracker as she pried the top off to reveal all the wires inside. "So, from what I've noticed, if any of these wires are tampered with, it'll automatically trip the alarm, so obviously you can't mess with them, i.e. you can't go cutting them." Robin explained.
"I guess that kinda makes sense, that way if anyone does mess with the wires, the alarm will go off to notify the guards."
"Right, and we can't have that, now can we?"
"God no... So what then? If not the wires, what can we do to get these stupid things off?"
"Well, from looking inside of this thing, I've noticed something that I can use to our advantage in deactivating these things."
"And that is...?"
"Ya see this little chip right here?" Robin directed.
Rai leaned over a bit to see what chip Robin was indicating to. "Oh, that thing there?" She pointed.
"Yup. Well, it's a special sim card, and in order for us to get these things off, we'll have to first isolate it's networking system, then from there, we can hack into the mainframe and shut it down long enough to get the thing off before the tracker turns itself back on."
"But how are we supposed to do that without a computer of some sort to hack into the mainframe?" Rai asked.
Robin smirked. "Well, now that's where you come in. If you can get me to one of the terminals in the warden's office, I should be able to hack into the system to shut down the trackers for a few minutes, then from there, all you've gotta do is pick the lock and you're free, and I'm sure with Brianna and Sakura's help, we can get a good portion of these girls outta here. So, think you're up to the task, Foxy?"
Rai gave a smirk this time. "When do we start?"
"Free time, which lasts up to an hour, and trust me, that'll be all the time we need to pull this off, just so long as nothing goes wrong."
"That means we've gotta do something about the Contessa and Kisara."
"Don't worry about the Contessa. During free time, she's busy doing her rounds outside of the prison. As for Kisara, I'm sure Bri can keep an eye on the cameras or something while I do my thing on the terminal."
Rai gave a nod. "Alright, then let's get outta here."
"Heh, couldn't have said it better myself!" Robin smirked.
Once free time had come around, Rai peered out of her cell, making sure the coast was clear before she motioned for Brianna, who followed after the fox. "Alright, so I've already informed Sakura on the plan, and all we have to do now is go get Robin so we can get this show on the road." Rai told the rabbit.
"I'll go wait with Robin then, and once you've gotten into the warden's office, just use one of the control sticks to move one of the cameras in the rec. room to signal us so we can meet up with you." Brianna said.
Rai nodded. "I shouldn't be long, so I'll see you soon."
Brianna nodded. "Good luck, Foxy."
"Mm." Rai acknowledged before being on her way, quickly heading for the warden's office.
Once Rai had parted from Brianna, she leapt, grabbing onto a nearby rebar as the fox began to swing on the metal bar before flinging herself upward, kicking in a shutter that led into a ventilation shaft. After placing the shutter back into place, Rai began to crawl through the vents, making her way toward the warden's office. It took some doing, but after she managed to navigate her way through the shafts, Rai had finally reached the Contessa's office. She peered out of the shaft through the shutter, Rai's eyes narrowing when she saw Kisara exiting from the office, locking the door behind herself. After tucking the key away in her back pocket, the feline turned and strut away in the opposite direction. Rai waited until Kisara was definitely out of the vicinity before she quickly leapt down from the ventilation shaft. After taking a quick glance around herself, Rai pulled out a lock pick from her pouch as she crouched down in front of the door. Seconds later, the door was open, Rai swiftly slipping inside as she closed the door. Once inside the office, Rai head over to the monitor on the control panel on the far side of the room as she grabbed one of the joysticks and began to wiggle it back and forth. From inside of the rec. room, both Brianna and Robin exchanged looks before they got up and made their way to the Contessa's office. It didn't take very long to get to their destination, avoiding the guards around the area as they went, and once they arrived, Robin knocked on the door. Seconds later, the door opened to reveal Rai, Robin turning to Brianna.
"Would you mind waiting out here in case someone comes this way?" Robin asked.
Brianna gave a nod. "Yeah, I can keep watch out here, you two just get into that mainframe because time is of the essence here."
Both nodded before Robin head inside with Rai, closing the door behind them. After the door was closed, Robin quickly sat down at the computer terminal while Rai went over to the monitors. "I'll keep watch of the cameras while you hack into the security mainframe." Rai said.
Robin nodded. "Don't worry, this won't take me very long." She said. "The Contessa may be smart, but when it comes to stuff like this, I've got her beat by a long shot."
Rai smirked. "Show that spider what for then."
"Heh! With pleasure." And with that, Robin got to work.
Silence followed, aside from Robin's rapid typing on the keyboard while Rai's eyes watched the cameras closely, keeping an eye on the position of all the guards, but more importantly, Kisara. She seemed to be heading far away from the office to go do something else, until she abruptly halted. Rai tensed up for a moment, until she watched as Kisara turned around, her heart dropping straight into her stomach.
"Shit!" Rai cursed.
"What's wrong?" Robin asked, her eyes still focused on the computer screen.
"Kisara just turned around and is heading back this way! We don't have much time before she gets back!" Rai began to panic.
"It's alright, because..." Robin smirked, pressing one last key as a signal chimed on the screen. "...I'm already into the mainframe. Now then, all I've gotta do is isolate the network of these trackers, and..." She began to type much faster for a moment. "Got it!" Robin perked up. "The system is down, but we've only got fifteen minutes, so we have to hurry."
Rai nodded, whipping out her lock pick as she hastily fiddled with her tracker. Seconds later though, the fox perked up, smirking. "Alright, looks like I got mine off. Come here and I'll do yours real quick."
Robin nodded, getting up from her chair as she walked over to Rai, who got to work on her tracker. Once the lock clicked, she removed the bracelet from Robin's ankle, handing it to her. "There you go." Rai said, getting to her feet as she stuffed her tracker into her pouch."
"Alright, now let's get going." Robin said. "Like I said, time is limited."
"Hang on." Rai paused.
"Hm? What is it?"
Rai reached into her pouch, only to pull something out as she tossed it over to the blue bird, who swiftly caught the object. "It's a lock pick, you'll need it to get the other trackers off everyone else, and I've got one for Bri and Sakura too. Now let's get going."
Robin nodded, the two quickly exiting the office as Rai handed Brianna a lock pick as well. With the three now equipped, they ran back to the recreational room with all the other inmates. Sakura had already been informed on the plan as well, so while those three were working with the terminal, it was her job to make sure all the other female inmates were gathered up together. After Rai had handed the squirrel a lock pick, they all got to work on removing everyone's trackers, but Robin was keeping a close eye on the time. The four girls were running around like chickens with their heads cut off, trying their best to remove every single tracker, but that wasn't an easy task. At the very least, Rai wasn't alone in this mission, so that much, she was grateful for, but still, they were going to cut it close, very close.
"Rai! You've only got 24 seconds left before the system on those trackers is back online!" Robin called over to her.
"Hang on, I've almost..." Rai fiddled around with her lock pick, twisting it around before jamming it down into the keyhole, when a sudden click was heard, the fox perking up. "Got it!" She grinned, removing the anklet from the last inmate.
Robin let out a sigh of relief. "Just in time, because the system on these things is back online."
"Well, now that these stupid trackers are all off, how's about we all go raise some hell!" Brianna called.
All the other inmates cheered, quickly dashing out of the rec. room to go make some trouble now that they had been freed from their shackles. However, just before Rai could make her leave, she felt her arm being grabbed, glancing back to see Robin had tugged on her wrist, both Sakura and Brianna standing next to the blue bird. "So, I guess this is goodbye, huh?" Robin asked, sounding sentimental.
Rai turned to face the three. "It looks that way, yeah, but I've still got someone else to rescue before I can truly leave this place, but you all go, enjoy your newfound freedom."
"Think we'll ever see you again?" Asked Sakura.
"Maybe one day, but until then, I've still got a job to do." Rai replied.
"Well, we wish ya the best of luck, Foxy. Go give that old bat hell, and say hey to the Cooper Gang for us, yeah?" Said Brianna.
Rai nodded. "'Course, and...thank you, all of you for what you've done for me. I honestly don't think I could've pulled this off all on my own, so thanks."
Robin waved it off. "It was about time we all got outta this joint anyway, so think nothin' of it. You just take care of yourself out there, alright?"
Rai gave another nod. "Yeah, I will, and you do the same too." She said. "Take care, you guys, and I hope to see you again someday." And with that, Rai turned and made her leave, heading back to her cell.
When Rai had gotten back to her cell room, she took the tracker out from her pouch and set it down on the floor, but what was a good thief without leaving them all a message to remember her by? This caused a smirk to form on her lips as the fox reached into her pouch one more time, only to pull out her signature calling card. After whipping out a pen and scribbling something on the back, Rai set the card down right in the middle of the ankle bracelet before dashing out of the cell room, that smirk still playing on her face.
I'll be seeing you, Kiki, you can count on it.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Warning! All female inmates escaping! Warning! All female inmates escaping! Commence immediate lockdown sequence!" A pre-recorded voice sounded on the intercom as the alarms were going off.
Kisara growled, slamming her hand against the nearby wall. "Where the hell is inmate 348 located!?" She barked at one of the guards. "I want eyes on her, now!"
"It says that inmate 348 is located in her cell block." One of the crows replied.
"Get to that cell block immediately! Scarlet Rose does not leave this building under any circumstances!" Kisara shouted as she dashed off, a few of the shadow guards following after her.
You're not getting out of here, Rai, not while I'm still around! Kisara thought determinedly.
However, the moment Kisara had finally reached Rai's cell, her eyes widened when she didn't see anyone inside of the locked cell. Kisara then growled, clutching onto the metal bars with brutal force, until she noticed the tracker that was laid out right in the middle of the floor, along with that rose shaped calling card. Kisara had to squint a bit to see the calling card, but when she did, she whipped around to one of the guards. "One of you, open this cell door, now!" She ordered.
Without a moment of hesitation, one of the crows hastily unlocked the cell door, Kisara shoving it open as she ran into the room. She then crouched down, grabbing the calling card inside of the tracker to see that it was indeed a red rose, which made her glare, until the feline flipped it around to see something was written on the back, which only made her anger bubble up even more than it already had.
'I told you that no cell could hold me. I'll see you real soon, Kiki~
S.R.'
Kisara grit her teeth together, crumpling up the calling card in her grasp as rage now burned in her eyes. "Well played, Rai, well fucking played... But, don't think that this is the end, because sooner or later, I'll still get what I want, and no matter what happens, you won't be standing in my way of achieving my ultimate goal..."