Chapter 5: Family

Sly entered the lab through a second story window. He looked down to see an unbelievable sight. The book was secured inside a large machine that was unlike anything he had ever seen before. It looked like an old fashion printing press from the industrial revolution that had two spires pointing out from its sides. The book was suspended in the center area that looked like it should have contained the press. An erry purple light flowed from the book and flowed upwards towards the spires. Getting the book from the book from that strange purple energy was not going to be easy. He thought.

Genbu stood at a nearby control console. His attention was completely focused on the displays before him so he didn't notice Sly's approach. If he could take out Genbu while he wasn't paying much attention he could get the book and get out of there quickly. This was first and foremost on his mind was getting Ayase to a hospital. She really didn't look good.

Sly snuck behind Genbu while Genbu flipped a large switch. The machine roared to life. It seemed like the machine drew the life force out of the book, through it's pipes then finally to the top of the spires. The energy spilled onto the floor before taking shape. The energy took the shape of his father. It couldn't be! Father . . . he thought. He remembered what Ayase tried to tell him before. No, its just what's left over. Despite this knowledge his heart ached badly. The image reminded him of how much he missed his father.

The image stared directly at him in the way his dad used to look when he was to something. Genbu greeted him, "Welcome to life once again my creation! I have great plans for you!" He then gestured towards Sly who was hiding behind a pillar, "I want to start by getting rid of Sly Cooper!"

The image raised his crook then charged Sly. Genbu quickly got out of the way as their crooks connected. Sly struggled to break free of his father's grip when saw the look on his father's face. This time pride and love were written on his face. He got as close as he could to Sly then whispered, "When I break contact dive for cover." A sad smile appeared on his face, "Take care my son." He released him then threw his crook at the machine. Meanwhile, Sly dove for a nearby pillar as the explosion consumed the machine. Despite the fact that the man before him was just an image of his father it felt like losing his father for a second time. There was so much to ask, so much to tell him, but he knew that he would never get the chance again.

Genbu screamed, "No!" He fell to his knees, "Years of work all ruined . . . DAMM YOU COOPER!"

Sly had managed to make it out to where the ruins of the machine now stood. Despite the terrible explosion the book was almost untouched. There was only a hint of fire amongst its pages. He picked up the book, "I'll take that off your hands."

Genbu rose to his feet with fists clenched. He roared, "Cooper!" He pulled out a pair of nunchucks before rushing him.

Genbu summoned five doublegangers by chanting silently. They attacked Sly all at once. Since, Sly could not keep up with them all he was thrown on his ass.

Genbu laughed, "Die Cooper!"

Sly stood and thought, I can't take them all out but if there was way to find the real one, I could . . . Genbu launched an second attack. Sly managed to dodge right just before they could pummel him again. Sly thought, Lets see, all the other doublegangers that I've seen so far have had that ghostly aura about them. So maybe if I find the one that lacks that aura I will be able to find him. He stared into the crowd of Genbus. Eventually he found the one that lacked that aura. He thought, Got him! Sly hit the real Genbu which made all of the fakes all disappear.

Genbu stumbled backwards and roared, "Cooper!" He began to glow as the earth itself began to crack and split open. From the gap in the earth a giant tortoise with a snake's head rose from the earth.

Sly stepped back. He had never seen anything like it. The tortoise shot a black beam of energy from its mouth. He barely managed to get out of the way before it hit. The creature left a trench several inches deep where Sly had been standing.

Genbu laughed, "Afraid? You should be . . . This is the mighty god of the earth Genbu! One of the four ancient gods who once ruled the earth long ago. That was before the people turned their backs on their gods and pushed them into nothingness. Fortunately, I was able to resurrect his power inside the ancient relics. So now prepare to face the mighty wrath of the God of the North, Genbu!" He roared as the head rose once again to prepare to strike again.

Artifacts! That's it! It is just an image like the others. If I can strike it's source it will disappear! Sly thought. Sly dodged Genbu's attacks as he ran towards him and this tortoise. He climbed up the side of its legs. However before Sly could hit the tortoise it turned its head and shot him at point blank range.

Sly expected to be obliterated by that blast but it never hit him. To his horror Ayu's Doubleganger appeared and had taken the hit for him.

Inside the Cooper Van, Ayase Terada laid in the back motionless. Bentley had thrown a blanket over her and had made a pillow from another blanket stashed inside the van. Bentley's computer was monitoring her vitals and so far she was stable but very weak.

The wait was killing them. Twenty minutes had passed since Murray had returned to the van carrying Ayase's limp body. All Bentley could do was to make her comfortable and wait until Sly returned. The sad fact was that even if she took a nose dive there was nothing he could do about it. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew next to nothing about medicine. They dealt with the wait in different ways: Murray fidgeted in the front seat while Bentley made up useless escape plans.

Suddenly, Ayase's body began to twitch and jerk around. The computer blared alarm bells; she was having multiple seizures and she was bleeding internally. All Bentley could do was make sure she didn't hit anything as the seizures raged on.

The Doubleganger smiled at as she took his book. She flung it open and touched the page. Ayase and the Doubleganger prayed together as one. Please, hear our call! Connect to our soul and know our feelings. The Doubleganger's hand sunk inside the book. With our life's blood we summon you to place and time. Help us! Help us, save the one we love!

The ink began to glow bright blue. Sly's ancestors began to appear as the blue light swept up her arm and throughout her body. His family's doublegangers charged Genbu and the tortoise. Genbu created more versions of himself in a vain attempt to stop them. She told Sly, "Hurry! Attack while is distracted!"

Sly didn't hesitate any further. He struck Genbu over eight times until all the doublegangers he had created vanished. As soon as he landed he noticed that Ayu's doublegangers was gone, leaving only the book behind. When Sly picked it up he noticed that it was open to his father's page. He thought, Dad, Ayu thank you.