Here's another brief Q&A for this chapter.
Awareness Bringer: I agree. Muggshot would know better than to anger the leader of the Fiendish Five.
Guest: Way ahead of you on the latter part.
Guest#2: I can do that if I go through with them finding out who Carmelita is. Also, way ahead of you on the ancestors once I get to Thieves in Time.
Finally Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based retelling. The Sly Cooper series is created, and owned by Sucker Punch, and Sony Entertainment. Please support the official releases.
The van ended up backing up to where it was at the gate, that happens to be designed like a wall of cards, with a gate in the middle. Which was now being scaled by both Sly, and Carmelita, as they got to the top of it to see what is on the other side of the gate.
The Gang was now in the Rocky Mountains that led to Mesa City. Where they ended up noticing something major that was completely off about the city. Being that it was very much empty when it came to civilians. The only people that were there, was the guard dogs, (Some of which, were literal ones on leashes.) that belonged to Muggshot. And nothing else.
It seemed that Muggshot's changes to the city were more major, and excessive than both thieves expected. It was like if they were going on vacation to an Island, only instead of going to a pleasant, beautiful island, they instead ended up near a dreary, murky, garbage filled lake. The difference from their expectations was astonishing. And caught them off guard to where they were stunned at the changes.
They also were feeling a lot of pity for Mesa City too, as well as for the civilians that were driven out of the city. They didn't think that one of the Fiendish Five would outright take over the city, and make himself its Mayor. Something that they felt that a thief like himself, wouldn't do. And that fact, had them feeling determined to beat Muggshot, and liberate the city from his criminal empire in the making.
That is, if it was going to be made, considering how much disrepair that the city was going through at the time. It also seemed that Muggshot is indeed not bright enough to know how to run a city properly, if it was written to him on a manual.
All while Carmelita's hand was no longer in a cast as it was fully healed along the way to Mesa. Which meant that she was able to hold her rifle again, let alone her pistol, with zero problems.
Speaking of Pistol, hers had a scope on it, like with her rifle. Only it was a 2-4x scope for accuracy in short to medium ranges, while her rifle was merely 4-8x for accuracy.
She also had an attachment to it, which was a hook that was added to her pistol as a mod. It was her grappling hook from her great grandpa's blueprints from her book's page, that she was putting to use here. And considering how mountainous the path ahead was, it was a perfect time to use it.
"Hey Sly, Carmelita, I thought you both said that Mesa City would be packed, and busy. But this looks more like a ghost town." Bentley said from their Bino-cu-com.
"Something's not right here. Where is everyone?" Sly asked, as he, and Carmelita was standing on the gate that blocked off the van from Mesa City. Forcing them to exit, and walk their way through the path to the city.
"I don't know, but it's starting to give me the creeps. Why don't we take off?" He said, feeling nervous of the atmosphere.
"And miss all the fun?" Carmelita asked humorously.
"Besides. I want to try out the new move that we got from one of the pages from Raleigh's section of the Thievius Raccoonus." Sly said.
"You mean that 'Ninja Spire Jump' of Rioichi's?" Bentley asked.
"Yes. Do me and Carms, a favor and read out the instructions to her again." Sly said.
"Very well. To land on diminutive spires, leapeth lively with a spin on thin objects, ensuring that the chance of landing will improve, and remain high." Bentley said.
"So simply jump, and spin in midair, to land on thin spires with Ringtail?" She asked, making sure that she's got it down pat.
"That's a rough translation." Bentley said.
Both Sly, and Carmelita decided that they can do that move together, intending on hopping on the thin spires together one by one while remembering how the skill goes from Sly's book page, and from practicing it during their travels to Utah.
"Got it. Sly out." He said, ending the call. Before he, and Carmelita tested out the move together, the latter having been taught before by Sly, when they both agreed that she should also learn some of his Ancestor's moves too. (And vice versa for Sly as well when her book's pages are found. Even though he has no shock pistol, or rifle, of his own, so far. But he'd learn her ancestor's skills too.)
All while Carmelita, also used her pistol to zap the first Guard dog, whom was armed with a 2x4 club that he could smash onto their heads. A lousy weapon to use, in their opinion.
Then they continued over a bunch of rocks that blocked their path, where they met a literal guard dog. Who was basically tied to a post by his leash, while chewing on a bone. Until he tried to dash to them, intending to bite them, only for the leash to keep him in place. Much to their confusion. Nevertheless, they were able to take him down to get onto the shed, then over the stream to another section of the path, with Carmelita putting her grapple attachment to use.
Where they fought against another leashed guard dog, and a 2x4 wielding guard that busted through the fence, intending to surprise them both before attacking them.
Which, he was able to do the former, but they kept on their toes to prevent the latter, as they jumped backwards before he could hit them, before Sly knocked him out with his cane when he tried to get to Carmelita.
Now, after some kisses from Carmelita for the save, both thieves got onto the platform held up by the crane, when they saw something that was pretty new. Causing them to call for Bentley on their Bino-cu-coms.
"What is with those flashing yellow floor lights?" Sly asked. Referring to the lines of floor lights on the floor of a makeshift bridge that was made out of a train car.
"Why they're the latest in high tech security. Electronic floor sensors. They're in a way, like pressure sensors. If you step on them, the alarm goes off, and you're both goners if you touch them while they're orange." Bentley explained.
"Wow. Nice touch." Carmelita said, feeling that high security museums could use such a tech when it came to guarding their rare jewels, among other displayed artifacts. (Not that they could do any good if Sly is involved, knowing his skill.)
"They're safe to walk on if they flash. But it also means that they're about to switch to a different sector. So be sure that you're off of it when they do." He spoke.
Sly, and Carmelita made sure to listen before they ended up continuing onwards to the makeshift bridge as they avoided the floor lights, by jumping to the unilluminated floor when they try to switch. Which wasn't hard, since the flashing was a giveaway to the switching. And like Bentley said, they were harmless during the flashing.
So, they jumped on the flashing floor to avoid the illuminated side, before making it to the siren to break it, and disable the alarm.
Remember when Carmelita felt that Museums could use this type of security? She was starting to change her mind at that point. At least if the thieves know how they work.
But that wasn't important as they were past the train car, only to see another type of guard. Who was a fat dog with a ball and chain that he was using as a flail. Albeit without any spikes on it. But still, the size of that weapon could break their bones into pieces if it hits. So, they were making sure to keep their distance from the weapon until he swings.
Which would leave him open, and vulnerable to attack as Sly, and Carmelita took advantage, and clobbered him before he could swing it around again. Now they jumped up the stairs of rocks, before Carmelita used her grappling hook to get to the leaning rock platform that they would walk on to get to the next section of the path they needed to take.
On the rock, was a thin dog, that had a deck of cards. Which, once he noticed them, he ended up throwing them like Shuriken at the thieves, trying to slice them in half. But both of them were able to jump right over the cards. Before Carmelita shot him with her shock pistol, before they both continued onwards.
Where they fought against more of the leashed dogs, but at this point, they easily dispatched them when one of them got shocked by her shock pistol while Sly had the other whacked with his cane when the guard was already at the end of his leash, only barely missing Sly by inches due to him being at a safe enough distance to remain untouched, while he had free reign to attack back at the same distance.
Which Carmelita saw, and felt that the guards were lousy if that happened. At least these kinds of guards were.
After they were dealt with, they avoided the crushers that tried to flatten them both when they passed under them. Then they continued onwards, facing more 2x4 wielding guards.
Before they could continue onwards, both of them noticed that there was a rusty safe that was on a tall rock spire, that was off in the small distance from the path that they were on. Which they both noticed that they could use go to climbing up onto to the spire.
Sly decided to go onto the spire in the distance via that cord, with Carmelita close behind him with her grappling gun until they were on the spire to see the safe up close.
Where Sly noticed that the safe was rusty, and had some cracks on it, yet it looked strong enough to secure something inside it, possibly another page. But then Sly noticed that the door looked like it was barely holding on to the hinges that was keeping it closed. It even looked like he could knock the door loose from the hinges if he hit it with his cane in the right place.
Which, out of curiosity, he did with Carmelita's help, as she too whacked the door with their canes together, until the hinges broke, and for the door to fall off of the safe after a minute of whacking with precision.
Once the door was off, they peered inside of it, showing that there was a page inside it, which Sly realized, was another page from the thievius Raccoonus.
"Outstanding! I didn't think we'd get another page for your book." Carmelita said in delight. "What is in it though?"
Sly was smiling as he read through the page. "It's Rob McCooper's Hat Mine Technique." Sly said, feeling he's going to enjoy, and find some use out of that ability. "I can basically turn my hat into an explosive, that can be remote triggered by me."
"Indeed Sly. Just simply toss your cap onto the floor, then tap your cane's foot on the ground to detonate it." Bentley said on their Bino-cu-com. "Just be sure to back away to a safe distance first. Or both of you could get caught in the explosion."
Both thieves ensured that won't happen as they got back to the path and continued onwards after taking down a pair of 2x4 wielding guards.
Then they had to get past the next set of crushers on another bridge, that tried to flatten them too. But their timing skills were still strong as they kept on running when they knew the crusher was rising upwards. Now they were past them, regardless of some close calls of the crushers missing them by inches.
Now they were on the other end, where they had to clobber another wrecking ball wielding dog guard before he could hit them with it. Before entering another leaning bridge made out of a train car. But not before looking past a wall, and noticing some wrecked buildings that obviously has seen better days. Being in disrepair, and looking like they'd end up collapsing sometime next year. Not only that, but there was some graffiti that was also seen by them, obviously from the gang of Muggshot's that ran Mesa.
Such a sight, had reminded them that they were saving Mesa too, once they take down Muggshot. As they were now entering the train car.
Where they were avoiding the lasers that was also in the car. Which they believed, Muggshot was using from Raleigh's security. Whether Raleigh gave him the lasers, or he took them from him without permission, neither thief knew. Or even cared. They just avoided the lasers on their way through the train car.
Then they went through another tunnel section that could've been made from a large plane. And it too was leaning left and right. How it was able to be held up, and how it can hold them both up without collapsing into the water, neither thief knew.
But they just didn't question it, as they continued to traverse the hall, avoiding the floor sensors so that the alarm won't be raised. Before they came to a hallway that was basically without a floor since it was made out of another metal cave with sections of it missing. Especially the floor, which meant that there was deep water under the floorless tunnel. Which blocked both thieves off.
Or it could've, if there wasn't some hooks for Sly, and Carmelita to grab onto with their canes. So they were able to use them, before getting onto the raft. Where Carmelita decided to go onto the train car's roof with the grappling hook mod, grappling onto the roof with Sly holding onto her until they got to the roof. Since it'd save them the trouble with the security within the train car.
Now they were climbing up it to the end of it where they were now jumping off it to get to the end of the gap, which seems to also mark the end of the path to Mesa city, as it was covered by another card throwing guard. Who also tried to hurt them with the sharp cards that he threw out. Or he could've, if Carmelita didn't shoot him with her shock pistol first, before they saw that they were at the end of the path to the city. Not only that, but there was a treasure key there too, which was near the locked door.
Much to Sly's delight, since that means there was more keys to unlock his way to Muggshot with. Especially since they would use it to unlock the path to Mesa City, which meant that they're able to enter it to save it from Muggshot.
So Sly proceeded to break the pedestal that held the key, before using it to unlock the pipe tunnel that led to Mesa city, which was big enough to fit them inside as they were now jogging through the tunnel to Mesa.
It was minutes of them jogging through the tunnel, until they dropped down to a lower level in the pipe. Which ended up leading to the outside. Where they ended up going out of it to see that they were now close to Mesa's entrance.
Which was there, where they saw the sorry state that the city was in from the outside, since the buildings were not so well kept in shape, and looked more run down. Not only that, but there was also some casino-esque decorations put in, like neon lights on one building, that had dice added onto it, along with green neon letters on the roof of the same building, that spelled out Muggshot's name on it, along with a giant fire hydrant that also held up the letters, and also had green neon lights on it.
And there was also a giant balloon of Muggshot himself, that was also floating on one of the buildings to its left. Likely to show who is the boss of the city, and the gang that runs it.
As if either thief would forget who runs the joint at the moment. But that was going to change as both thieves got their Bino-cu-coms out.
"This Muggshot certainly isn't shy. So, we know he's here somewhere, but where could he be? Mesa City is a big place." Bentley said.
"Given that he's a bulldog, I assume that he would choose to live in that giant fire hydrant up there." Sly said, looking at the hydrant with his Bino-cu-com.
"And I'm willing to bet, that the giant fire hydrant is a penthouse room. That's gotta be where he is." Carmelita said.
"That's some sound logic, guys." Bentley said, before having them look at the entrance to the building, which was blocked by a barricade of wooden pallets, and 2x4's. "Now you both just need a way to break into the building's base."
Sly then noticed that there was a roofless car that was held up by a single jack that was able to hold up the back of it up, while it had a pair of locks on it. All while he also noticed that the back wheel of the car was still spinning around in reverse, causing the car to wobble. Like the car was still in reverse, and kept on by mistake.
Sly had an idea, as he had Carmelita looking at the car too. Which had her echoing the smile of delight that Sly had on his face.
"Ah don't worry buddy, I'm sure I'll think of something." Sly said, ending the call.
Now he, and Carmelita was now on their way to the building, as Sly made sure to sneakily knock out the guard before getting to the other end of the walk bridge, when the intercom's squeak sounded. "YO! Yo, yo! It's da boss! Ya know, I'm the foist to admit, that maybe driving everybody outta town, while necessary to set up shop, might've taken a hit outta da business." Muggshot's voice said on the intercom.
"I'll say. At least he admits that he screwed up." Carmelita said to Sly, who agreed with her on that.
"So, I hope that any of you mugs may be obliging ta any visitors that are coming here to lose their money in my casinos." Muggshot said.
"That's… gonna be a challenge." Sly said.
"I agree Sly, who would want to revisit this dump?" Carmelita said, feeling that the atmosphere of Mesa, would be unpleasant for anybody's eyes to look at. The armed dog guards in trench coats didn't help matters in that case either. So, both thieves doubted that the customer base for Mesa's casinos would be big enough to satisfy Muggshot. That is, while he's still in charge.
"However, I got a reliable tip, that a cop, as well as some pairs of thieves, could be snoopin around this operation. So, from now on, greet any visitors you see, with a hail of lead! Capiche?!" Muggshot's voice said.
That demand seemed like bad news for not only the thieves, but also any citizen that comes to Mesa. And that brought some dread to both thieves, as they were hoping that the citizens of Mesa wouldn't be determined to come back, otherwise, they'd be turned to Swiss cheese.
And both thieves were determined to prevent that from happening, as they hoped to defeat Muggshot, and free Mesa City from him, before he starts to shoot up anyone that goes to Mesa City, whether they are cops, or not.
Muggshot's days as mayor of Mesa City, was numbered. He just didn't know it yet, as the thieves were now making their move.
And done.
Sorry that this chapter is pretty short. I just felt that this would be too good a segue way to their adventures in Mesa. Muggshot's control over Mesa is coming to an end soon.
Also, for the hat mine page that Sly grabbed, I know I said that I would have the pages be put together in the boss's safe, and that I'd remove the clue bottles from this fic. (Even though I didn't add them in for this page, I just made the safe rusty enough to knock the door off.) And I still intend to do that, so this is the final page from a safe that Sly, and Carmelita, is going to grab, while the rest of the pages are going to be gathered from the boss after his defeat. I just thought that the Hat mine skill was going to be pretty fun to add into this fic, even though in the game, it was pretty lackluster.
Finally, one more thing.
I hope that you enjoyed the chapter,
please give constructive criticism,
do not forget to read and review,
and once again, I do not own Sly Cooper, it is created, and owned by Sucker Punch, and Sony Entertainment. Please support the official releases.
Theodore The Poet signing off.