Chapter 4
Murray vs. Mr. Marvel
The day went by quickly, and soon it was time for Bentley's usual slide show prep. Blain, Sly, and Murray took a seat on the couch in the room. Bentley set up the projector screen as the projector warmed up. Soon, when everything was set up, Bentley stood to the left of the screen, the projector control in his hand as he said, "All right guys, lets get started."
The projector clicked a few times, sifting though some empty slides before it began to sift through pictures of the surrounding are, Mr. Marvels office, and the library interior. As the slides clicked Bentley said, "All right guys, here is the plan. Now, to get at Carmelita's book of knowledge, we will have to dispense with the mystical barrier Mr. Marvel said is protecting it. This will be are first problem because, thanks to Blain's injuries, he will have to remain here during the operation. So, the only other way to remove the barrier is to defeat Mr. Marvel, and knock him out. Blain believes the spell around the book will dissipate once the mad magician is out cold. This is our first obstacle, getting to Mr. Marvels office."
Bentley flipped the slide a few times, and began to show a wide range of security measures that were in place in the library as he said, "Now, since Blain's little show in the Mexican fast food place, Mr. Marvel has gotten paranoid and installed a massive amount of new security. This system has a weakness though. Do to the fact Mr. Marvel had it installed so quickly, he had to rout it all through the old security computer. That will be my part of the job. With Sly's help, I will make my way to the computer and hack it. The security system is set up that if a certain amount of the security is shut off, it will set of the alarm. So, Sly, Murray, and I will have to work in unison. As I turn of the security systems, Sly and Murray will make their way from their entrance point on the first floor down to the basement."
Bentley clicked the slide once, and brought up an image of Mr. Marvels office. He paused a second, and then cleared his throat as he said, "Now, this is where things will get hairy. At this point, we will blow our cover, on purpose. While Sly remains back in the stairs, Murray will rush into the room and get Mr. Marvel to fight him. It is then Murray's job to distract Mr. Marvel while Sly makes his way to the six security cameras that are in the room. Sly will place a wire splice in each of the closed circuit TV lines, linking them with the safe house. Now, thanks to his mastery of alchemy, Blain can use that connection to help Murray with his fight. During the first part of the fight, Mr. Marvel will use his many magic tricks to try and confuse you, Murray, but the tables will turn once Sly's finished his work on the security cameras. Blain will use the link between the safe house and the cameras to cast a sealing spell. The spell will cancel out all of Mr. Marvel's magic, and make him vulnerable. By the time Murray's brought the curtains down on Mr. Marvels magic act, I'll have made my way through the air vents from the computer room to Mr. Marvels office. After that, it's a few well place bombs and will have Carmelita's book of knowledge safely in our hands."
Fifteen minutes later, Murray pulled the team van into an alley near the library. Bentley finished preparing his crossbow, and sleep darts while Sly opened the van door and checked to see if the coast was clear. Once Sly was sure no one was in the area, he stepped out of the van and moved over to the side of the alley. Bentley jumped out with a duffel bag in his free hand, and then shut the van door. With a roar of the engine, Murray went to hide the van nearby and then get into his position at the museums front door. Sly and Bentley watched the team van roar out into the street, and then disappear behind a corner before Sly turned and began to make his way up a nearby fire escape. Bentley fell in line behind the master their, and the pair made their way to the roof.
When Sly and Bentley reached the top of the roof, Sly moved over to the edge of the building, and looked over the library while Bentley set the duffel bag down, and began to rummage through it. Sly scanned the buildings roof a few more times, and then pulled out his Binocucom as he said, "Blain, what's our status?"
Back at the safe house, Blain had set up a whole new computer system. The previous day, he had Murray go to the dump and find about 5 old TVs or computer monitors. When Murray got back, Blain took the TV's and set them in a mystic symbol he had drawn on the floor. Blain said an incantation, and the TV's disappeared, and there was a wire just running out of the floor, right at the edge of the mystic symbol. Blain hooked the wire to Bentley's computer, and then stepped into the middle of the circle.
In an instant, a large image appeared in front of Blain. It looked like a computer screen, but it hovered in the air, and the only thing there was the actual image. Blain now stood in that circle, a headset with a microphone strapped to his head when Sly called in. Blain held his hand up, and snapped his fingers. From the center screen, several smaller screens began to spread around Blain in a circle. Soon, Blain was completely surrounded with several smaller video screens with the large, central one hidden behind them all. Blain skimmed over the screens. Each one was a feed from the security cameras Bentley was able to hack from the safe house.
Bentley's unparalleled hacking ability had brought almost all the security cameras under his control. The only ones that escaped his hacking were the ones in Mr. Marvel's office and a few cameras that were in the vault. Otherwise, everything they could see, Blain could now see around him. Blain looked to his left, and scanned the images of the library's exterior before he pulled the headset's microphone closer to his mouth and said, "The exterior is clear Sly, you may proceed."
Sly nodded his head, and slipped his binocucom back into its holder as Bentley walked up beside Sly. In his crossbow, he had a grappling hook attached to a long rope. Bentley glanced at Sly, and Sly smiled as he said, "Mind giving us a way onto the library roof Bentley."
Bentley nodded his head, and aimed his crossbow as he said, "One entry way, coming up." Bentley pulled the trigger on his crossbow, and the grappling hook flew through the air, and latched itself on the top of the library's central dome. Bentley tied down the other end of the rope, and made sure it was secure before he leapt onto Sly's back. Sly made sure Bentley had a grip before he jumped, span around, and landed on the rope. Even with Bentley's added weight, Sly performed his families Rail Walk with expert's grace and they soon reached the top of the library's dome.
Sly let Bentley down, and quickly moved over to the hatch on the dome. Sly gently opened the hatch, and then looked around the library's interior. When he saw the few guards walking around inside disappear into the rows of bookshelves, he motioned toward Bentley. Bentley his a button on his crossbow, and the rope unlatched form the other building, Bentley pulled the grappling hook over to the hatch, and secured it before he began to lower the rope down into the library. Bentley cut the rope so it was just the right length, and then rolled the rest of it up and swung it over his chest.
Sly was the first down into the library, and Bentley soon followed. Bentley had to take a lot of time on the rope, and when he reached the bottom he needed Sly's help to reach the ledge of the 2nd floor interior balcony. When Bentley was finally standing on level ground, he began to follow Sly through the rows of shelves and books as they made their way to the central computer room. Several times, Sly and Bentley had to dodge patches of sweeping floor lasers, but they made it across the 2nd floor without setting of any of the alarms.
After a few minutes, Sly and Bentley reached the door to the central computer room. Bentley quickly went to work at picking the lock on the door, while Sly kept watch. Bentley inserted the many tiny tools into the key hole, and tried to release the lock. Bentley almost had the door open when Sly heard a shout to their left. A white rabbit security guard had seen them, and had gone running off. Before Bentley could say a word, Sly went after the guard.
Sly ran to catch up with the rabbit. Sly knew he was heading for the stairs that lead down to the first floor. He also knew that most of the security guards were down on the first floor. He had to beat the rabbit to the stairs before he could get down their, and alert the entire place to their presence. Sly caught up with the rabbit just as he set his hand on the door that led to the stairs. Before the rabbit knew it, Sly uppercut the rabbit with his cane, and then hooked his cane on the rabbits belts as he slammed him down onto the floor.
The rabbit laid on the floor, out cold. Sly picked the security guard up by his shoulders and slid him over to a closet. He gently put the rabbit in the closet, and then shut the door. Sly glanced around the room, and saw an old chair sitting beside one of the shelves. Sly grabbed the chair, and shoved it up against the doorknob. When Sly was sure the rabbit couldn't get out he pulled out his binocucom, and pressed the radio button as he said, "Hey Bentley, how's it coming with that door?"
Back at the computer room door, Bentley smiled as the lock finally clicked open, and then he took out his own binocucom as he said, "Just got it open Sly. You can go and meet up with Murray. I'll get started hacking the security system." With that Bentley slipped through the door. He looped up at the massive computer standing in front of him. He smiled, cracking his fingers as he said, "All right my pretty let's make this quick and painless."
Down at the library's front door, Sly had just twisted the dead bolt and unlocked the door. Murray moved in through the door, and smiled as he said, "Good job Sly, the Murray approves."
Sly smiled and nodded his head before he pulled out his binocucom and asked, "All right Bentley how's the computer coming?"
The radio was silent for a few minutes, and then Bentley's voice came over the binocucom as he said, "It isn't coming."
Sly cocked an eyebrow as he asked, "What's the matter Bentley, you losing your touch."
"NO! This computer is just acting very strange. It's not responding to anything I do. It's like it knows I'm the one typing on the keyboard, not Mr. Marvel."
Sly scratched his head, and then flipped a switch on his binocucom before he said, "Blain, can you hear me?"
Back at the safe house, Blain was looking at several different security camera images suspended in front of him by his spell. He heard Sly's voice, and pulled headset's microphone close to his mouth as he said, "What is it Sly?"
"Bentley's having some trouble with the central security computer. You said your specialty is alchemy, right?"
Blain nodded his head as he said, "Yeah, I am an expert in combining magic and technology. Oh, I see. You're wondering if the security computer has some mystical components."
"Bentley never has trouble hacking computers unless it has something he doesn't know about."
"Understood, I'll give Bentley some help. You two sit tight." Blain reached up the earphone of the headset, and flipped a switch. He also lifted up his free hand and swung it in a wide, horizontal arch. The images in front of him were pushed to the side with a mass of others. Blain then looked around the ring of security camera images, and found a feed from a web camera that was attached to the central security computer. Blain brought the image feed right in front of him as he said, "Bentley, can you hear me?"
Blain saw Bentley nod his head over the web cam's video feed, and then reach down to his binocucom. He pulled a wireless headset of the binocucom, and secured on his head before he said, "What is it Blain?"
"Sly told me you are having some trouble hacking that computer. What exactly is it doing?"
Bentley groaned, continuing to type furiously on the computer as he said, "It's not responding to any of my commands. I can't even get it to enter the hacking program I installed onto their security network."
Blain scratched his head, and then snapped his fingers as he said, "Try entering "MysticFireWall.exe."
Bentley quickly typed in the command, and smiled as he said, "Ahhh… That's why it isn't responding to my commands like it should. This is a firewall program that also doubles as a code scrambler. All I have to do is disable this, and I will have complete control in a few minutes."
Back at the library's front door, Murray and Sly were getting anxious. The security guards would be making their rounds by the door soon, and Sly and Murray were just standing in the open. Sly was beginning to debate trying to get through the security system without Bentley's help when the first security sector shut off. Sly smiled, and motioned to Murray as they moved through the rows of books and shelves that separated them from the stairs down to Mr. Marvel's office.
Murray and Sly moved along as Bentley turned off different sectors of the security system. Each time Sly and Murray passed to a new sector Bentley would bring the previous back online to prevent anyone becoming suspicion. Blain kept in constant contact with Bentley. He would watch Sly and Murray's progress, and communicate it to Bentley so he knew when to shut down a security sector and then bring it back up. It was a long process, but eventually Sly and Murray moved through the last security sector and down the stairs that lead to Mr. Marvel's office.
Murray and Sly reached the bottom of the stairs, and Sly chanced a quick look into the room. Mr. Marvel wasn't in the room, but the door to the vault behind his desk was open. Sly began to wonder where Mr. Marvel was until he saw him step out of the vault and into the office. Sly looked back at Murray, and nodded his head. Murray just smiled as he cracked his knuckles. Murray then ran through the door into Mr. Marvel's office. Mr. Marvel looked over at Murray, and then smiled as he said, "Well, I don't know how you got down here, but I think its time you left."
Murray shook his head, and punched his free and a few times threateningly as he said, "It's time someone canceled your magic show Mr. Marvel. Prepare to feel the wrath of the Murray."
Mr. Marvel eyes widened in surprised, and then his fur began to stand on end. Anger began flush into his eyes as a deep growl escaped his throat. Finally, the white tiger was able to ask, "Did you say The Murray?"
Murray nodded his head, and Mr. Marvel smiled evilly as he said, "Who could have guessed I would run into you, the person who beat my brother and ruined his spice operation. I am sure you would remember a tiger named Rajan."
Murray looked surprised as he said, "Your Rajan's brother?"
"Yes. We were born to a poor family, but we both dreamed of riches. He tried to find his in black market spices while I took up work as a magician. He may have been more successful at the start, but once I joined up with Mz. Ruby the money began to pour into my bank account as it had been with his. Then, you and your friends went and ruined his spice operation. Now, my brother is content to own a chain of carpet stores while I remain here, a person of both economic and mystic power."
Murray just smiled as he said, "Well, if your Rajan's brother you know how this going to end. How about you give me that book you got from Mz. Ruby, and save yourself some pain."
Mr. Marvel shook his head as he said, "You might have beat my brother, but you won't find me as easy to defeat. Now, you came down here to stop my magic show robberies. Fine, I think its time for a magic show throw down."
Murray roared, and charged at Mr. Marvel. Mr. Marvel just smiled as he pulled a deck of cards out of his pocket. Just as Murray was about to punch him in the face, Mr. Marvel threw the cards into Murray's face. The cards suddenly gained a mind of their own, and formed together into a pair of fists. Murray blocked the card fists, and smashed them apart before he turned to see Mr. Marvel had disappeared. Murray then heard something behind him, and he turned to see Mr. Marvel was standing behind him, his top hat in his hand.
Mr. Marvel reached down into the hat, his arm disappearing up to his shoulder before he pulled out a sword. Mr. Marvel then put his hat back on his head, and charged at Murray with the sword. While Murray dodged Mr. Marvel's sword swings, Sly was silently making his way around the room to each of the six security cameras. At each one, he gently unplugged its cable wire, and hooked a wireless video feed in its place. Back at the safe house, Blain watched as the six static covered screens came up, each one looking at Mr. Marvel's office at a different angle.
Sly had half of the security cameras hooked to the safe house when Murray was able to knock the sword out of Mr. Marvel's hand. Mr. Marvel held his wrist, and then looked up at Murray with a glare. He then reached up and took his top hat off again. This time however, Mr. Marvel pointed the hats opening at Murray. Suddenly, a long chain of different colored handkerchiefs sprung out of the hat, and began to fly at Murray. The chain of handkerchiefs began to tie Murray up. Murray strained against the tightly wound fabric, and with a final grunt of strength broke free of the thin fabric. The handkerchiefs fell to the floor, and then turned into a large number of doves. The doves suddenly took off, and blocked Murray's view.
While Murray couldn't see, Mr. Marvel charged forward and punched Murray in the face. Murray fell back a few feet, and brushed a small trickle of blood from his mouth before he charged at Mr. Marvel, his hand balled into a huge fist. Mr. Marvel dodged a few punches, but Murray land one great punch right in Mr. Marvels gut. Mr. Marvel backed away form Murray, holding his gut as he tried gasped a few times. Murray tried to attack Mr. Marvel while he was distracted, but Mr. Marvel threw his hand forward and Murray went flying back.
Murray hit a large round board that seemed to have appeared out of no where, and then was shackled to it. The board then began to spin, and Mr. Marvel smiled as he took his top hat off, and pulled several long daggers out of it. Right then, Sly finished with the last security camera. Back at the safe house, Blain saw the last camera come on line. With a quick motion he began to make a series of strange shapes with his hands. In between him and the video feeds, a very complicated circular design began to draw itself in the air. Blain began to mumble his incantation, and watched as the circle drew itself in the air. When the circle was complete, Blain closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were glowing white. Blain waited only a second before he forced his hands forward, his palms extended and forced the symbol into the six video feeds.
In Mr. Marvel's office, the white bangle tiger magician was just rearing back to throw the first dagger at Murray when he sensed a surge of magical energy. The six security cameras began to glow, and then project a complicated circular symbol onto the office floor. The circle contained Mr. Marvel and Murray. Mr. Marvel looked at the symbol with wonder, and then his eyes narrowed when he looked to his hand and saw his dagger disappearing. On the opposite side of the circle, Murray was freed from the spinning dart board. He landed on the ground with a thump, and then stood up as he kept his eyes locked on Mr. Marvel.
Mr. Marvel began to look around, and then took of his top hat. He tried to reach into the hat, and pull something out. Unfortunately, all Mr. Marvel did was put his hand through the top of his top hat. Murray smiled, and moved closer to Mr. Marvel as he said, "Its time for you to feel the pain of justice, courtesy of the Murray." Ten minutes later, Mr. Marvel was lying on the floor. He was out like a light, and sporting several bumps and a black eye. Bentley caught up with Sly and Murray, and used his bombs to blow the vault door open. Once the smoke had cleared, Murray lifted the bent vault door out of the way and Sly moved into the vault.
After collecting a few highly valuable treasures to sell on Thief Net, Sly gently picked up Carmelita's book of knowledge. It was a deep red book, slightly tattered on the edges. On its cover, in golden lettering, two words were spelled out. Sly read the words, and then his eyes bulged as he read them over a few times. The golden letters spell out the words, "Justice Vixenice". Out of curiosity, Sly propped the large book in his arms, and began to flip through the pages. To his amazement, it was written much like the Thievius Raccoonus. The only difference was it seemed Carmelita either learned every one of her techniques on her own, or from her father.
Sly was becoming lost in the book when he heard Bentley call from the outside of the vault, "Sly, are you coming or what. I just called the police so they can nab Mr. Marvel and his goons, but it will do us no good to be here when they arrive."
Sly nodded his head, and tucked Carmelita's book of knowledge, the Justice Vixenice, under his arm and jogged out of the vault. The trio of thieves began to run through the library, disregarding any of the alarm systems, dodging only those that could hurt. They burst out of the library, and ran over to where the team van was hidden. Murray and Sly jumped in front, and Murray started the engine while Bentley got in the back. When Murray heard the back door shut, he popped can into gear, and it shot out of the alley and down the street toward the safe house.
When they arrived, Blain already had everything packed up. It took them all thirty minutes to get all their personal stuff into the van. Blain was the last in, getting in back with Bentley before the van roared off into the Paris city streets, heading for Cooper Gang headquarters in the old theater.