Sly Cooper

And

The Shadow Thief

Disclaimer: If I owned Sly Cooper, I'd be making the next game right now.

Chapter Three: Sly's e-mail and the Shadow Organization

Last Time:

Sly watched Merah for a minute, and then he got to his feet, picked up the book, and set it front of her. She gave him a look.

"You can read it," He said. "It's only fair. It sort of belongs to you, too."

"No," Merah said, pushing it away. "No, it doesn't. Its secrets your family passed down. I couldn't possibly--"

"You know, it's really alright if you do," Sly said. Then he whispered in her ear, "Trust me, it'll help with your rail-walk."

Merah bit her lip, and the looked up at him. "It was bad, then?"

"It could use a little work," He confessed. Then he started to laugh when Merah practically dove for the book that she had pushed into the middle of the table. "Alright, then, it's settled."

So, Merah Ringo, who was quickly becoming a new, good friend, sat in a comfortable chair, and read through the thieving secrets of the Cooper Clan…

"Stupid computer…" Sly muttered. He was waiting for his, or rather, Bentley's, old lap-top to boot up. Merah was still reading. Or so Sly thought. He heard the book snap shut, and he turned to see Merah, who was pulling her hair back into a pony-tail, had put it back on its shelf where Sly had got it.

"Thanks for letting me read it," She said.

"No problem," Sly said, grinning at her. He pointed to the small fridge across the room. "By the way, just take anything you need. I'll go buy some stuff later."

"Buy?" Merah asked in mock-amazement. "You won't steal?"

"I don't steal petty things," Sly said. He flashed a charming smile at her again, and said, "Surely, you of all people would know that."

Merah had to laugh at this, and she went over to the fridge to get something to eat. Sly watched her go. For some reason, he felt a little intrigued by her. She also kind of reminded him of Carmelita. She had a shot fuse, an attitude, and drop-dead good-looks. Sly liked women like that. But remember, Merah was almost as beautiful as Miss Fox. Almost.

The computer was fully booted now, and Sly logged into his e-mail account. He deleted all the junk, and was sorry to see there was nothing from… anyone. No Bentley, no Murray, though he wasn't likely to use a computer, no Penelope, though of course she was with Bentley, no Panda King, and not even something from Dimitri. Sly suddenly felt lonely again. But he quickly pushed it aside, and began to type an e-mail out to Bentley.

Hey Wizard,

Long time no see. I've been worrying about you guys!

Listen, I need your help. Again. A ran into a girl named Merah who needs our help to find her brother. Of course, this is also just an excuse to see you guys again; I'm hating the isolation. Get the team together, and come over to the old hideout on the outskirts of Paris. I'm still there. I'll be looking out for the team van.

Thanks, Bentley.

Sly

Sly didn't know Merah had been reading over his shoulder until she spoke. He jumped, and hit the send button at the same time.

"You didn't have to drag a whole search party out to look for him!" She said, sounding a little distressed.

"Well, I know Max is important to you," Sly said. Merah raised a brow at him.

"I don't think it's a good idea that so many people know about me, though. I mean, I practically don't exist. I'm you, remember? Well… the image of you… but you get the point."

"Trust me, you'll thank me," Sly said, smiling. "Besides, I want you to meet them."

She sighed. There was no point complaining about it. Sly sent the e-mail already. So she smiled, and crossed her arms over her chest. "Alright. Okay."

"Nice," Sly said. Then he sauntered his way over to the fridge to get a drink. Merah watched him go, and then she looked at the clock on the wall.

"It's three thirty," She said randomly. Sly nodded.

"Yep," He said. "It is."

He drained his glass, and then sighed. "I'm tired."

"Yeah, me too. I don't think either of us has slept for almost twenty-four hours." Merah said.

Sly beckoned her to follow, and he showed her to another train-car that Merah didn't know was even there. It was the bed-room. Three beds were crammed into it. They were all different sizes. A big one, a medium one, and a small one. Merah looked at around, and had to laugh a bit.

"Well, Sly, it looks like the Three Bears have taken up your sleeping quarters," She said. Sly laughed.

"It looks that way, doesn't it?" He said. "Here… you can take my bed. It's a softer mattress that Murray's, and Bentley's bed is too small for either of us."

"What about you?" Merah asked. She felt bad for taking his bed when there were two others. Well… one other. We'll just forget Bentley's bed.

"I can crash anywhere," Sly said. "I'll just sleep on Murray's. It's no different than sleeping on the floor, anyway. I never got why he liked his mattresses so… stiff."

"Alright…" Merah said slowly. "Well… thanks. For… everything. I owe you a lot."

"No need," Sly said. Then, putting on a dashing smile, he added, "I always enjoy helping out a beautiful young lady."

Merah laughed, and plopped onto her temporary bed. "Good-night, Cooper."

"Sleep-tight, Ringo," Sly said, and he went to turn off the light so they could sleep.

It felt good to go to sleep. Merah hadn't had a mattress this comfortable in a long time. She fluffed her pillow, and snuggled into it, letting sleep take her…

Merah didn't know how long she had slept for, but she was suddenly woken by a sound coming from the other train-car. Glass has been broken. Then all was silent. She lay stock-still, holding her breath, trying to pick up the slightest sound. Then she heard whispers.

Merah looked over to Sly, who appeared to still be sleeping. She crawled out of bed, and kneeled next to him, and gently shook his shoulder.

"Sly, wake up," She whispered. "I think might be someone--"

He suddenly pressed a finger to her lips, and she saw he wasn't asleep at all. He was doing the same thing she had been doing, listening. Sly slowly moved to sit up, and he held a finger to his own lips, telling her to stay quiet. She nodded, and he took his hand away from her mouth.

Sly stood up, and silently crept to the door to grab his cane, and Merah saw him glance out the window of the door to the other train-car. Then he tossed her own cane to her, and she stood up to follow him.

Sly opened the door really slowly and carefully, so it wouldn't creek and give them away, and then he kneeled and crept to the other door, and opened that one just a crack. He listened carefully to the whispers. There seemed to be at least three people in there.

"He doessssen't keep it very ssssafe, doessss he?" A woman's voice whispered. Sly didn't like the way she spoke. It was all hissy…

"Who cares?" A gruff and slightly louder voice answered. The owner spoke with an accent, similar to the way Muggshot spoke. "Let's jus' grab tha thing, and go."

"It seems almost too easy, though," A quiet and slightly menacing-sounding voice said.

"Just grab it," The gruff voice ordered. "Then we can get outta here."

Sly felt a soft hand on his arm, and he turned to look to see Merah. She was biting her lip in worry, and her eyes were looking at him questioningly, as if asking what they should do. He held up his hand to signal to wait, and he turned back to the door. He wanted to figure out what they were trying to steal.

"Why do we want it, anyway?" The menacing voice asked.

"The Masssster hassss requessssted that we bring it to him," The woman's voice said. "He ssssayssss he wantssss the Cooper Clan desssstroyed. And what better way to do it than to usssse their own movessss. And to know the movessss, we musssst ssssteal the Thieviussss Raccoonussss."

"Over my dead body," Sly said, and he burst into the room, cane ready.

"It's Cooper!" The gruff voice said. Sly couldn't tell who the voices belonged to, because it was still dark.

"Get him!" The woman's voice hissed, and Sly felt something fall in front of him, but he saw nothing. Then a big-ugly lizard's face seemed to materialize out of no where, and he used his long tongue to whack Sly in the face, and knock him out.

"Sly!"

He heard Merah yell his name after he felt his back make contact with the wall. Then he heard fades voices of Merah struggling to get away from someone, and then something heavy falling to the floor, and the hissy lady's voice saying, "Sssshadow, Misssster Bun-Bun, let'ssss leave now."

"N-no…" Sly muttered weakly before he fell unconscious.

"Sly," A familiar voice called distantly. "Sly? Sly, wake up."

Sly put a hand to his forehead, and groaned before he slowly opened his eyes. The blurry image of Penelope slowly came into focus.

"There you are," She said brightly, smiling at him. She put a hand on his head, and then said, "Ooh, you got quite the bump there… but you'll be okay." Then she looked off to the left, and called, "He's awake!"

"Ow," Sly groaned. "Not so loud, Penelope, I have a splitting head – Penelope?"

"The one and only," She said happily and Sly sat up, finding he was on Murray's bed again, and he hugged her.

"You're here!" He said happily. "In… the hideout! Is everyone else here?"

"Sly!" A big, booming voice yelled as if on cue (Sly winced from his headache), and he saw Murray bounding into the room with the Guru perched on his shoulder.

"How's it going, Murray?" Sly asked, but then Murray grabbed Sly in a spine-crushing hug. Sly gasped for air, but managed to choke out, "Still good?"

"Careful, Murray," Penelope fretted, trying to pry Murray's big body away from Sly. "You'll hurt him!"

"Oh," Murray said, letting him go. "Sorry."

"S'ok," Sly said, cracking his neck. Then the Guru spoke up and said some sort of gibberishto Sly, who could miraculously seem to understand him. "Good to see you, too, Guru."

"Bentley's in with that pretty raccoon girl in the kitchen," Penelope said, and Sly noticed a slight hint of jealousy in her voice. "She insisted on making this… 'potion' thing for you. Who is she anyway?"

"Oh, Merah?" Sly asked.

"So that's her name," Penelope replied in a dark tone, glaring at the door. "I knew a pretty girl like her must've had a pretty name."

"She's okay, though, right?" Sly asked.

"Oh, yeah, she's fine," Penelope answered, annoyed. "Giving orders left and right like we don't know how to do things for ourselves. Sheesh!"

"Move it," Sly heard Merahorder from behind Murray, and he jumped away. She was holding a cup of… something that Sly assumed must've been the potion Penelope had talked about. Then she kneeled next to Sly's bed, and handed him the cup.

"Drink it," She ordered. "It'll help with pain."

"But what is it?" Sly asked nervously. Merah just used her hand to put the cup to Sly's mouth and tip it backwards so he'd drink. He coughed and spluttered, so Merah let him get his breath back.

"That's disgusting!" Sly shouted. "What is it?"

"Again," Merah said simply, and she forced Sly to down it. He didn't, because he started to cough from the horrid taste again. After he shoved the cup back at her, she looked in it, and said, "Good enough."

"I'll ask again," Sly said after he had stopped coughing. "What is it?"

"It's a concoction of natural herbs, lemon, water, and… vinegar." She said. "It's a tradition in my mother's family; she used to make it all the time for Max and I when we were sick, or hurt."

"She could've improved on the flavor," Sly answered. Merah just smile, and got up to turn away.

"You'll thank me," She said and left to go back to the kitchen. Penelope glared after her.

"'You'll thank me'!" Penelope imitated her words, and then scoffed. "What a bi--"

"Sly!" Bentley said, wheeling up to them, cutting Penelope off. "How are you? Are you alright?"

"Yeah," He said. "Just a headache. When did you get here?"

"About an hour after the robbery," Bentley said. "We came inside, and found everything messed up, and Merah just trying to sit up on the floor. We asked her what happened, she told us, and we got you into bed. The guy who hit you must've hit you pretty hard."

"He did," Sly said. Merah came back in then, and he looked at her. "They knocked you out, too?"

"Yeah," She said softly. "Though not as badly. One of the guys just jabbed me in the neck, and that's what made me go. But… they managed to get away with the Thievius Raccoonus. I'm sorry, Sly…"

He sighed, and rubbed his eyes for a minute, then said, "It's okay…"

Merah could tell it really wasn't, so she kneeled next to him again, and put a hand on his arm. "So… I was thinking, since we had to go out and find Max anyway, I could help you find the book."

Sly looked at her sharply. She smiled.

"We'll be even," She continued. "And after all this is over, we can go back to being ourselves. Okay?"

Sly had to chuckle. She definitely didn't give up, this girl. "Okay,"

"Great!" Merah said. She was pumped for this trip.

Bentley immediately went on the computer the after Sly told him that he knew the names of two of his attackers. Shadow and Mister Bun-Bun. Bentley searched them up, and he found that they were only two out of five members of the group called The Shadow Organization. The fifth and final member was a complete and total mystery. The only photos Bentley could scrounge up of him weren't very good quality, and the ones that were good quality, his face was all in shadow. All they could tell was that this guy wore a grey, pin-stripped suit in every photo.

The closest member, Shadow, reminded them very much of their friend Dimitri. Only Shadow was better-looking. Shadow was a gecko that used his ability to blend in as an advantage for stealing. When he was younger, he'd steal pocket-money from kids his age, for they'd be easier to bully if he got caught.

He now ran a business selling copied paintings, such as the Mona Lisa, and many other wondrous works. He was holding the Thievius Raccoonus for 'The Master'; the guy who wore the pin-stripped suit in every photo we found. Bentley found he was like the ring-leader of this little circus. But going against The Master's wishes, Shadow, and the other members of the Shadow Organization were going to pass the book around amongst each other so they could each read it. Well, you all know that Sly wasn't about to let that happen. And new team-member Merah wasn't about to let that happen, either.

Shadow owned a huge manor-house on the other side of Paris. So, after packing lots of provisions, and supplies, they all hopped into the team van. Merah was still excited about going on such an adventure with so many great people. That is, until she realized she was stuck in the back of the van with huffy, stuffy, jealous Penelope and un-talkative Bentley. They were both giving her suspicious looks, and Merah's mood quickly took a nose-dive from great to sour. Sly noticed Merah didn't seem to be too happy, but then again, it did seem kind of weird that Merah was wearing the exact same outfit as him. He'd tell the guys everything later.

They stopped to get some gas for at least the fifth time, and Merah got out of the van to stretch her legs. She paced back and forth next to the van, thinking. Was this really a good idea that she had joined the Cooper Gang? Especially when everyone, especially Penelope, looking at her like she was some kind of… she couldn't think of a word to describe what they must've thought of her, but she knew they didn't like her. She continued to pace until She walked right into Sly.

"Oh!" Merah said in surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you,"

"Are you alright?" Sly asked, sounding a little concerned. "You don't seem like you're enjoying the trip much."

"No, I am," Merah said, smiling, but Sly raised a brow. She sighed. "Okay, not as much as I thought I would. It just seems like… I'm out of place."

"Is Penelope giving you a hard time?" Sly asked. Merah chuckled a bit.

"If you count the dangerous glares as giving me a hard time, then yeah, I'm… afraid she is."

"She'll lighten up," Sly said, patting Merah on the shoulder. "Penelope's been the only girl on the team for a while, so to suddenly have another girl on the team – especially one as beautiful as you are," Sly threw that in with a wink, making Merah give him a small smile. "I guess she feels kind of like she needs to protect her… position, I guess."

Merah let out a deep exhale, and then said, "Okay… sorry for being such a spoiled brat."

"You weren't," Sly said seriously. "You have a right to feel that way."

"C'mon, Sly, she's all filled up!" Murray called.

"Right-o, Murray, just a sec," Sly called back, then he turned back to Merah. "I'll talk to them for you."

"Thanks," Merah said, and she gave Sly a friendly punch in the arm before going to the back of the van so she could climb in again. Sly was shot-gun, so he got into the front with Murray. Then they were off again.

"Okay," Bentley said. They were now near Shadow's manor, and had decided the van would be the temporary safe-house. They didn't expect this to take too long. Penelope didn't get strong readings of security. "Sly and Merah are going to take recon. Try and get pictures of any security you can find, and photos of the Shadow Organization members. As far as I know, The Master is supposed to be coming by here soon."

"Sure thing, Bentley," Sly said. Then Bentley looked at Merah.

"I've taken the liberty of making a Binoc-u-com for you," He said, handing a black, binocular-shaped device to her. She took it, and looked at it curiously. "It can take photographs, it has an excellent zoom, and it's also a two-way radio."

"It's also one snazzy and helpful piece of equipment," Sly added with a grin.

"Sweet," Merah said, giving Bentley a smile. "Thanks, Bentley."

"Come on, let's go," Sly said to Merah, and they said good-bye to the others, and headed off together.

"Okay," Sly said. "I'll take this way, and you take that way. You're smaller than me, so you'll be able to crawl through the vents to take photos. I'll try and find where the Thievius Raccoonus is, and see how much security Shadow has it locked down with and you just take pictures of the others Organization members? Aright?"

"Sounds like a plan," Merah said with a smile. "See you back at the van."

After she had crawled her way through the vents and found her way to a balcony that over-looked the 'lobby', if you will, Merah kept to the shadows, and held up her Binoc-u-com. She took a photo of Shadow himself, and then she took a picture of the lady he was talking to; she was a snake. A cobra, to be exact. She wore elaborate, African clothing, with a golden, intricately-designed head-dress, like a sort of crown. Her eyes were yellow with slits for pupils, and her scales were a brownish-golden color which faded out to black at her tail. Merah thought she looked kind of… scary.

Next, she took a picture of a handsome, regal-looking fox. Merah could tell he was rich, for he wore grand, gold-trimmed clothing. He leaned against his cane with his top-hat in his other hand. He was cut in a V shape, and he stood with his chest puffed out, as if he was overly-sure of himself. And he was talking with a rabbit. But… he was the most muscular rabbit Merah had ever seen. His muscles were huge! He had a gruff, mean look about him, and he looked like he could beat anyone who came up to him.

Lastly, there was the guy whose face they couldn't see. The Master, he was called. And even now, Merah couldn't see his face, for it was hidden in shadow. But she could tell it was him, because we wore that same, grey, pin-stripped suit. She snapped a picture of him, and then took to snapping pictures of stuff around the lobby, like alarms, and security cameras. And then she traveled back through the vents so she could head back to the van.

Once outside, she ran into Sly, who was looked excited. He told her he found the book, and there was barely any security guarding it at all. He just had to figure out a way to get to the balcony where it was being kept. He radioed Bentley, and told him, and the turtle was so happy, he practically ordered Sly to go and get it.

"I don't need telling twice, Bentley," Sly said, and he beckoned Merah to follow.

"The vents run all the way around the house," Merah whispered. "I can go through them, bash up the security, and grab the book. It'll take me five minutes."

"I'll come with you in case anyone accidentally stumbles across you," Sly said. "I'll have to squeeze through the vents, though."

They made their way through the vents with Sly following Merah, and she quickly found the way to the Thievius Raccoonus. Sly was glad. He was getting a little claustrophobic in the small vents.

"Alrighty," Merah said. "You keep watch."

She quickly and with great maneuverability, smashed all the security cameras, disconnected the alarms, and dodged the lazars that protected the Thievius Raccoonus. She then used a hair-pin from her belt to pick the pad-lock on the Plexiglas case where the book was kept, and opened it. She was just about to grab the book when she was suddenly thrown at Sly's feet. She sat up, and saw Shadow materializing from where he was hidden, and he leaped off the case at Merah with a snarl.

"I got him!" Sly shouted, and he went into a battle with Shadow as Merah went for the book again. But this time that snake lady came into the action, and grabbed the book before Merah could get it.

"Ssssorry," She said with a hissing chuckle, and he quickly slithered away. Merah went after her, but she used her tail to shove Merah back. She had lost her. So she went to help Sly.

He had knocked out Shadow, and now Bentley was on the radio, yelling at them to get out of there because Carmelita was coming.

"Why does she show up everywhere?" Merah asked in alarm. Sly grinned.

"I'll come in a bit, Bentley. I'm sending Merah back to you. I'm going to have a little tango with the Inspector before I join you guys, okay?" Sly said. Merah looked at him disbelievingly.

"Are you nuts?" She asked.

"Go back to the van," Sly said, giving her a gentle push towards the vents. "I'll meet you there."

She watched as he dashed off down the hall, and then Merah glared at his retreating back, and crossed her arms.

"Typical man," She muttered. "Typical Cooper."

Merah was back in the van now, which was parked on the street, looking out for Sly to come. Murray was anxiously drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, and Penelope and Bentley were ready to slam the back doors closed as soon as Sly jumped in. Merah saw him coming around a corner, and she signaled Murray to get ready to drive away as soon as he heard the doors close.

Sly landed on the floor of the van, all smiles, and Bentley and Penelope slammed the doors shut as Murray put the van in gear, and sped off. Sly sat up, and gave a small cheer.

"She's so easy to get worked up," Sly said. Merah glared at him.

"Are you crazy?" She snapped. "You could have been arrested!"

"Yeah, but I wasn't," Sly said with a smile.

"But what if you had been?" Merah answered, her voice still angry. Sly just looked at her.

"What's the matter with you?" He asked.

"I think I should be directing that question towards you, Sly, because I happen to be very sane. You on the other hand, should be a little bit worried, because jumping out in front of a cop like that is… is… ridiculous!"

"Don't worry about it, Merah," Murray said. "Sly goes off to see Carmelita all the time."

"Murray, this isn't helping," Sly said. "But thanks, pal."

"I honestly can't believe you," Merah said suddenly, and she got up and hopped into the front seat as shot-gun. Sly just sighed.

"Told you she was a bi--" Penelope started in a whisper so only he could hear, but Sly cut her off.

"Penelope, just… don't." He said. "Leave her alone."

Merah didn't know why she was suddenly so angry at Sly for going out and taunting Carmelita. She wasn't jealous, or anything. She didn't even have any feelings for Sly. But with all the compliments he gave, telling her she was beautiful, and talented, and then for him to go off and see Carmelita, she felt a little… betrayed. Not to mention the fact she was angry for losing the book. Her mood stayed that way until they reached their new destination:

Cairo, Egypt, where they would try to steal the Thievius Raccoonus from Nyoka.

A/N: Well, well, well. Merah doesn't seem to happy, does she?

Next chapter will feature more Murray and the van. Hope you liked this one! R & R!