Disclaimer: Sly Cooper and the Cooper gang are property of Sucker Punch and I am just using them to entertain the masses with a good story. I only own the characters that I have personally created and the other elements of the story I have created my self.

Chapter 7

Old, but not so Good Times

The Panda King made his way to the track dorms. Along the way he looked around and saw that a few shops were selling some generic brand fireworks, and he scoffed at the fireworks poor quality. His mind did not hesitate much on the thought of his trade, for he was soon at the track. The security guards asked what he wanted and he replied, "I wish to speak with a Mister Muggshot. I am an old friend of his."

The security guard looked Panda King over a bit and said, "Very well. I will give him a call. What is your name?"

"I am the Panda King."

The security guard nodded his head and went over to the security phone. He dialed a number and waited for a few seconds. He talked into it for a bit, and then returned to where Panda King was waiting. He motioned toward the racer dorms and said, "You're clear. Muggshot will meet you outside the racer dorms. Please make it quick. The racer curfew is in an hour."

The Panda King looked down toward the security guard and said, "Why is there a curfew. I do believe that all your racers are sensible adults."

The guard shrugged and said, "It is to prevent teams from sabotaging each others vehicles."

The Panda King nodded his head and began to walk toward the racer dorms. As he got closer he saw the front door to the dorms open and Muggshot walk out. Panda king was amazed in how little Muggshot had changed. If anything, he had become even more muscular, if that was even possible. He walked up to Muggshot and said, "Muggshot, old friend. It has been far too long."

Muggshot turned and said, "I didn't want to believe it, but looky here. The great Panda King, I thought you would still be in jail. You never were the one to think up escape plans."

The Panda King nodded and said, "Yes, if I remember correctly it was Clockwerk who made all the plans."

"Yep, Clockwerk was a genius. I sure do miss him. We used to pull of some of the biggest jobs, and he didn't care how we did it. People grew to fear the name Fiendish Five."

The Panda King said, "Yes, it was good times. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end."

Muggshot shook his head and said, "Who would have thunk the Fiendish Five, the definition of big time crime, would be taken down by one skinny raccoon and his pitiful excuse for a gang."

Panda King faked a frown as he said, "It is a mystery, but how have you been old friend. I heard you almost won the Aces competition."

Muggshot growled as he said, "I could have beaten the Black Baron to, but Cooper showed up again and ruined everything, him and that witch of a cop."

The Panda King nodded and he and Muggshot talked about the old days for a while. They had just finished having a laugh at the expense of Mrs. Ruby when Muggshot said, "Hey, I have something that can top that. Remember the night when the five of use went and got Sly's father."

The Panda King fell silent as he said, "I remember that night. It was pitch black out when we all met outside the quite house of Clockwerk's hated enemy. I never truly understood why Clockwerk insisted we attack the elder cooper, but I do now."

Muggshot looked over to Panda King and said, "Really, you found out why that old owl made use beat the stuffing out of that scrawny raccoon."

The Panda King nodded and said, "I found out from a very reliable source that Clockwerk had been bested by one of the first Coopers in the long family line. He then began to envy the Cooper families thieving skills, believing all their success came from the book we took from the house."

Muggshot spoke up and said, "You mean that Theivius Racamagucos thing."

"Yes, the Theivius Raccoonus. That was also why Clockwerk replaced his flesh and bone with the heartless machine that we knew him for."

Muggshot gruffed and said, "So, let me get this straight. We went and attacked that old raccoon, and then his son came and trashed us because Clockwerk and had a thing against them. I wish we known that earlier. I might not have shown up that night if I had know all that was so he could destroy some old guy's reputation. Oh well, it was fun. That guy was fighting like nothing we did hurt him, but that just made the fight all the better. It also made the moment when he finally feel all the sweeter."

The Panda King restrained himself from attacking Muggshot. He had to admit it, ever since he joined up with Sly he had regretted what he had done that night so long ago. He quickly regained his composure though and said, "So Muggshot, I hear you are one of the favorites to win the race this year."

Muggshot smiled as he said, "Yep, I have the sweetest ride that you've ever seen. She is a real beauty."

Panda King nodded and said, "So, do you have a shotgun for the race. I do believe the race rules require you to have two people in the vehicle."

Muggshot nodded his head and said, "Yep, I have one of my thugs riding with me, but it sounds like you might be interested in the position."

The Panda King nodded and said, "It would be a great honor to work with you again Muggshot."

"Then consider yourself hired. I'll have the track staff get a room ready in the racer dorms for you."

Panda King nodded his head and turned to leaver as he said, "I will see you tomorrow then." Panda King walked away as Muggshot reentered the racer dorms. As the Panda King rounded the corner he made sure that no one was around before he reared back and punched the side of the building. As he pulled his fist down he thought, "I regret my actions that night, and all he can do is comment on how fun it was breaking that poor man's spirit. You may have been my friend back then Muggshot, but I have changed with time while you remain thoroughly rooted in your old ways. I shall endeavor to show you the error of your ways, be it by example or by force."

With that the Panda King began making his way back to the Sky Serpent where Bentley, Eclipse, and Penelope were just finishing the modifications they need to get the engine ready for the big race.

Sly and Carmelita had just finished making the reservations at the Hotel and were heading out. Sly lead Carmelita to a fire escape and they were soon running across the roof tops. They were almost to track when Carmelita said, "So, how are we going to be able to find Murray?"

Sly shrugged and said, "Well, if Bentley's guesses are right, Murray is either in his room or in his team's garage working on the van."

Carmelita nodded and said, "So, do you want to split up so we can find him faster."

Sly nodded and said, "Okay, I'll head to the dorm. Just in case we catch Murray with his pants down. You can check the garage."

Carmelita nodded her head and jumped down from the roof top and began heading toward the garage. She snuck by the inattentive guards and once she was out of their ear shot she said, "Hmm. I wondered how Sly did all his thieving without getting caught. Almost all of these guards are being completely inattentive. I could probably fire of my shock pistol and they just think it was an electrical problem with the track's lights or something." Carmelita then continued making her way toward the line of garages. She scanned the signs above the garages as she ran past. Finally she gave up and grabbed the small radio she had in her pocket and said, "Hey Bentley."

Back at the Sky Serpent Eclipse and Penelope continued to make the final adjustments to the engine while Bentley picked up the radio and said, "Go ahead Carmelita."

"What garage is Murray's team supposed to be in? There are at least 200 garages here, and I don't have the time or patience to check them all."

Bentley wheeled himself over to the nearby computer and quickly hacked into the tracks garage assignment lists. A few minutes later he radioed Carmelita back and said, "Okay, according to the garage assignments Murray's team should be in garage 117."

Carmelita nodded her head and said, "Thanks Bentley," as she began to run in the direction of the correct garage. She had been standing by garage number 14 when she called Bentley, so it took her a good fifteen minutes to get all the way down to number 117. When she got down there she could see that lights were on inside the garage. She put her ear up against the door and she could hear someone working on a vehicle. She was happy to find the staff door was open, and she quickly slipped in before who ever it was noticed the door had opened. She quickly ducked behind a tool box and peaked over to see the old Cooper gang get away van up on a hydraulic lift with a large purple hippo working under it, namely Murray.

After making sure no one else was in the garage Carmelita slowly got out of her hiding place and walked over to where Murray was working. Murray was so caught up in what he was doing he didn't even notice Carmelita standing beside him until she yelled, "Freeze, your under arrest."

To say the least, Murray was scared to death. He leapt at the sound of Carmelita's voice and knocked his head on the engine block. His old habits quickly kicked in and he began to run for the door, but Carmelita cut him off and said, "Sorry big guy, didn't mean to give you such a scare."

Murray looked confused as he said, "Inspector Fox aren't you here to arrest me. I mean it would make sense."

Carmelita shook her head as she said, "Nope, I am actually here because of Sly."

Murray's eyes lit up as he said, "Sly, you mean he's back. Yeah, alright Sly. I was beginning to lose hope I would ever see him again."

Carmelita nodded her head and said, "Yep, Sly is here, and he is my fiancé."

Murray's mind took a moment to register what Carmelita just said, but when it finally hit him it hit him like a ton of bricks. He was about to laugh at Carmelita's joke until she held up her left hand and showed Murray the ring. To say the least Murray was both shocked and happy. Shocked that Carmelita and Sly were going to be married, and then happy because that meant Bentley owed him fifty bucks. He and Bentley had made a beat a while ago that if Sly ever got the nerve to ask Carmelita to marry him what she would say. Murray thought she would say yes, but Bentley was convinced she would never agree to it.

Carmelita was about to leave Murray, who had become lost in his day dream of actually winning a bet against Bentley, which was a first for the big guy, when he noticed she was about to leave and asked, "So, how is Sly?"

Carmelita turned and said, "Well, he is acting like his old self, but he doesn't remember anything about your guy's life at the orphanage. All he can remember is his life with his father, but we are sure that we can get all his memories back."

Murray just smiled as he said, "That great. So, is that the only reason you came here tonight Inspector Fox."

Carmelita shook her head and said, "I am also here because Sly is wondering if you will rejoin the gang."

Murray's happy face quickly disappeared as he said, "Sorry Carmelita, but I have a contract with my sponsors. The only way I could cancel the contract is giving them this outrageously large sum of money, or winning this race."

Carmelita nodded her head and said, "Well, we will just have to make sure you win the race then. I'll talk to you later Murray."

Murray nodded his head and went back to work as Carmelita slipped out the door and began to make her way to her to the Sky Serpent to see what the gang's next move would be.