Authors Notes: Chapter 2 is here folks part two of the opening to this story, and we begin with Carmens side to the art robbery.

Carmen Sandiego (2019) (c) Netflix

Sly Cooper (c) Sucker Punch Productions

Cooper & Sandiego in:

The Thievius Raccoonus Caper Pt2:

Several hours ago:

Paris the city of lights was ever quiet, and in the streets were Inspector Chase Devineaux and his partner Julia Argent were approaching the outskirts of the Louvre museum. They had recently received intel regarding the reappearance of a certain scarlet super thief.

Recently the Interpol officer first encountered Carmen Sandiego in Poitiers, France, but sadly she escaped capture. However she left behind someone on the train her former classmate Gray AKA Crackle from VILE Academy. However before the inspector and his partner could question him, he disappeared without a trace leaving no links to finding the crimson thief. However upon discovering her activity in Paris, seeing her in a photo close to the Louvre Museum so he and Miss Argent headed there. In a cab seeing as how his car was wreaked and out of gas.

"According to headquarters, miss Sandiego was sighted close to the Louvre museum the centre of cultural and historical artefacts in Paris." Julia explained to her partner.

"Miss Argent please stay focused on the task at hand, we have no time to discuss dull facts about…" Before Chase could finish his sentence he caught sight of a shadow jumping across to the museum roof.

"La Femme Rouge!" Devineaux exclaimed as he ran towards the museum entrance. Julia was about to accompany him but he stopped her.

"Remain out here and cover the front!" He said.

"To call for assistance?" Julia asked.

"No! This time the Crimson Shadow will not escape!" Chase headed inside the museum. However on the nearby rooftop said Scarlet Shadow was watching from afar.

"Wow Devineaux is determined I will give him that." Carmen said impressed.

"Much like a certain red super thief I know." Called a voice on her earring communicator.

"Player glad to hear you." Carmen greeted.

"Wouldn't miss it just triangulating your position in Paris and your at the site of the famous Louvre museum." Player was in his room and used his computer skills to lock down the scarlet thief's position.

"Paris, France considered as the most famous city in Europe." Player exchanged facts.

"Thats right Player, and it's also the centre of finance, diplomacy, commerce, fashion, science and the arts" Carmen exchanged her own facts. "with big sights like the Arc de Triomphe, The Eiffel tower, The Opera Garnier, Notre Dame and most famous among them the Louvre museum."

"Wow it wasn't always an art gallery it was originally built as a castle in the late 12th century under Philip II of France, and some remnants of the fortress still remain in the basement to this day." Player explained.

"It was repurposed as an art gallery when Louise XIV settled for the Palace of Versailles as his household which left the Louvre as a place to display many collections." Carmen exchanged her facts. "One among them is the Mona Lisa painted by famous renaissance artist Leonardo DaVinci."

"Wow he really got her smile." Player said as he clicked on a few keys on his computer keyboard and deactivated the security systems.

"And security systems disabled." Player said. "Ready Red?"

"All set." However from her vantage point she could see a shadow on the building so she pulls out her binoculars for a better look.

"But either someones doing some late night Parkour, or I have competition." She saw someone picking the lock on the window.

"Another thief who steals from other thieves?" Player asked in confusion.

The shadow got inside the museum in no time at all. "A skilled one at that, whoever this is has no idea what he's getting into." Carmen said as she made her move to get inside the museum.

Present day:

A white van drove through the city of Paris, driven by the same cleaners from the Louvre museum, these cleaners however worked for VILE. They soon arrived at a warehouse on the far side of the too far away, Carmen had just arrived on the scene with her glider and arrived at a building just on the outskirts.

"Player, the intel was spot on they've taken the artefacts to a secondary location." Carmen called on the com.

"Ground crew is already on route red." Player relayed.

Sometime later a white van appeared on the scene. Out of it came Carmens partners and crew. A brother and sister duo. The brother had light red hair, light blue eyes, freckles across his face, and wore a white and red jersey with a black long sleeve undershirt, dark blue jeans and grey vans sneakers.

His sister had a darker shade of reddish orange hair, with blue eyes and freckles on her face. She was a broad fit person who was shorter than her brother and Carmen. She wore a black t-shirt with blue sleeves, grey pants and red vans sneakers.

"We got here as soon as we could Carm." Zack said with a Boston accent.

"Good timing crew, we have a lot of stolen artefacts to liberate." Carmen said. "Bring out red drone."

With that Ivy brought out a small spherical drone, coloured in red along with a small remote control. She threw the drone into the air and small jets fired and it flew into an open skylight in the warehouse.

Inside it saw a large ongoing operation the VILE agents were unloading the artefacts stolen from the museum. Tigress and Mimebomb were overseeing the operation, completely unaware of the small drone monitoring them.

Via the monitor the crew could see all that was going on. "Whoa thats one heck of a horde?!" Zack said in surprise.

"But I don't get it why unload here?"Ivy wondered. "Why not just smuggle them to the airport and fly them out."

"They must be planning to take them by sea, with a fast enough boat they could take them to international waters and meet a rondevu who would then take it straight to VILE." Carmen said.

"Smart, take them by water as the waterways are quiet enough for a quick moonlight getaway at night." Said a voice and the crew turned round and saw a certain raccoon man sitting on the telephone wire post above them.

He leaped down and the crew got a good look at the raccoon thief.

"AHHH MUTANT RACCOON!" Zack screamed as he hid behind Ivy in fright and she was a little startled by Sly's appearance.

"Relax guys, he's not the type you see in horror movies." Carmen assured but was a little surprised that the raccoon thief was here at all.

"How'd you find us here?" Carmen then asked.

"Well you're not exactly hard to find, a woman in a red coat isn't really hard to spot." Sly then said.

"Okay that aside why would they ship them out on the water? I mean a crate of artefacts would be easy to spot on a boat." Ivy said.

"Not unless they have a way to avoid being seen." Sly wondered. "May I?"

He wanted to look at the Red Drone monitor, Ivy was a little suspicious but decided to hand it to him. Sly took a look and soon realised there was more to this warehouse than meets the eye.

"See that metal door, the only reason that would be in a warehouse.."

Carmen began to see what the Raccoon thief, was talking about. "Is if they had a secret water way to smuggle the stolen artefacts by boat via the connected tunnels leading to the harbour and a boat to take the artefacts back to VILE."

"Wow your quick to catch on." Sly said impressed.

"Then we need to secure those artefacts before they can ship them out." Carmen said. "But those guards could make things difficult."

Sly took a look at the monitor and whilst the sky light is a good entrance point the guards could spot them in an he then had an idea.

"So how about we go through the front door." Sly said much to everyones confusion as Sly explained an idea.

Whilst the VILE operatives unloaded the artefacts and took them down through a metal door. Just as they unloaded the final crate, one operative saw one crate that they missed just next to the van. Tigress looked at the crate and just saw it was like the rest.

"Ugh you missed one, just take it down with the rest." Tigress groaned in annoyance and so the VILE agents carried the crate which was rather heavy down through the metal door.

Soon it looked like they were in a tunnel that was dug with a large driller machine. The agents placed the crate down onto something then left to head back up stairs. With them gone the crates lid opened slightly, after a few seconds it opened fully to reveal Carmen and Sly who were hiding inside it.

"Whoa that actually worked." Carmen said impressed.

"Yep the last thing they suspect." Sly said but then they looked around their surroundings and saw the drilled tunnel which lead straight into Paris's sewer network.

"So thats how they're getting the artefacts out of the city!" Carmen realised. "The waterways in the sewer."

"Okay whoever these guys are they're really weird. I mean who drives a boat underground?" Sly realised. "Just who are we dealing with?"

"People you don't want to get involved with." Carmen said. "So why exactly are you helping me? Just so you can score some artefacts for personal gain?" She then said suspiciously.

"Its part of my job as a master thief, since I only steal from other thieves." Sly explained. "But I gotta say I wasn't expecting this, these guys make the thieves I steal from look like proper gentlemen."

"Well you picked the wrong ones to rob." Carmen explained with a hint of seriousness something that the Raccoon noticed. "But right now we need to get these artefacts out of here before…"They were interrupted, by the buzzing sound of electricity the two turned to see some VILE agents armed with Crackle Rods.

"Get the artefacts to safety!" Carmen instructed and she slid under the first agent and then flung him into the one into the jumped over the agents and emerged upstairs to see Tigress and a number of operatives.

"Looks like a little red robin flew into the fire!" Tigress taunted as she sheathed her claws.

The two stared each other down like two predators ready to strike at their prey. All was silent, then suddenly like a coiled viper they ran at each other, Tigress threw several claw slashes and kicks at the scarlet super thief who dodged her attacks then threw a roundhouse kick at her opponent knocking her back. Only for Tigress to recover and attack.

Back with the artefacts Sly was hot-wiring the boat so he could get the artefacts out of the way. However whilst a good thief he would leave electrical elements to Bentley.

"Oh boy I really wish Bentley was here now." Sly said. Suddenly he heard the noise of crackling electricity and saw a VILE agent heading towards him armed with a crackle rod.

Sly was ready to defend himself with his cane but before the attack came the agent was tackled to the ground. By none other than Zack and Ivy who managed to sneak in via a rear entrance without being seen.

"Whoa great timing you two." Sly said impressed.

"Your welcome raccoon guy." Zack said.

"Okay so any of you know how to hot-wire a boat?" Sly asked.

Ivy just looked with a smug face and moved the raccoon thief over and then with some slicing of the wires and rubbing them together. The engine started.

"Ask and you shall receive." Ivy said smugly.

Suddenly they heard the sound of grunting and growling upstairs. The Boston siblings and the Raccoon thief knew that was the sound of Carmen fighting Tigress.

Ivy reached her phone and called Player. "Player, we got the artefacts now we need a way to jolt."

"Way ahead of you." Player replied and on her phone Ivy saw a map of the Paris sewer network and a highlighted route leading to an exit near the River Seine.

"Take this route and it'll get you out without trouble." Player relayed.

"Then let's go!" Ivy said but saw that the Raccoon thief was making his way back upstairs.

"Where are you going?" Zack called.

"Get those artefacts out of here." Sly said to the siblings. "I'll help the lady in red."

"Wait what?" Ivy asked in surprise. "Why do you want to help her what do you get out of it?"

Sly took a moment to respond but eventually answered. "Call it honour among thieves." He hurried upstairs.

Back upstairs Carmen is flung backwards by a slash from Tigress, who looks down on her with a sinister look with every intention to hurt her old rival. Suddenly they heard the sound of a roaring engine and that told Carmen the raccoon thief had escaped with the artefacts.

"Looks like you missed a boat ride." Carmen smirked.

Tigress growled as she looked at the lady in red. "We may have lost the loot but it looks like I'll settle with your torn coat and hat as a constellation prize."

She was ready to strike when all of a sudden. Leaping in was Sly Cooper who gave a strike with the end of his cane knocking Tigress back. She looked up and growled at the raccoon man.

"Its people like you that give us honourable thieves a bad name." Sly smirked.

"You! What about the artefacts?" Carmen said in surprise.

"Your crews got that taken care of." Sly said which did put a relief on Carmens face.

Tigress just yelled and charged at the Raccoon man who moved out of the way to dodge her attacks then swung his cane at her only for the tiger thief to block his attack and then slashed at his shirt which did tear claw marks into it.

Sly grunted as he felt his chest and Tigress lunged forwards and attacked Sly dodged her attacks, only for her to knock his cane out of his hand and across the ground. Before he could retrieve it Tigress grabbed his tail and swung him into a wall and he quickly ducked to avoid the stripped thief's attack.

Sly had to resort to his fists and threw a few punches only for Tigress to block them and then kicked him into a crate smashing it upon crashing into it. Sly got back up only for Tigress to pin him down with her foot. She smirked at her pinned down prey. However unbeknownst to her someone had picked up the Raccoon thief's hooked cane from the floor.

"How fitting not only do I finally catch a little red pest I also get to skin an annoying rodent too!" Tigress smirked.

"Don't forget handsome." Sly joked.

Tigress just readied her claws but suddenly heard some footsteps approaching from behind her. She turned around and saw Carmen swinging Sly's cane in her hand like a bo-staff. She swatted the tiger thief away, Tigress recovered but before she could recover Carmen grabbed onto a low pipe with the cane hook and swung into the Tiger thief feet first and she crashed straight into a pile of crates. She groaned as he was rendered unconscious by the impact.

She stood over her opponent triumphant. Sly was more than impressed by the Scarlet thief's skills as he got up whilst she admired his cane.

"Hm old school but practical." Carmen said handing back his cane.

"A gentleman need his tool." Sly agreed. "Shall we take our leave dear lady?"

With that the two took their leave of the warehouse before the police could arrive. Tigress meanwhile had regained consciousness and saw the two thieves had disappeared. She growled but then looked on her chest and saw she had a certain calling card left behind. She took it off her and just crushed it in her hand.

Elsewhere at the bridge over the River Seine Zack and Ivy waited at the dock for Carmen just as dawn began to break. They waited and waited until finally the lady in red arrived.

"Carmen!" The two said in surprise and relief.

"Are all the artefacts secured?" She asked.

"All safe and sound." Zack said pointing to the crates on the boat with said artefacts contained within.

"Good lets get these back to the Louvre, then Raccoon man and I need to have a little…" However when she turned she saw that Sly was nowhere to be seen.

"Chat." Carmen said.

"Whoa Raccoon Houdini?!" Ivy said in surprise. Carmen was a little irritated but impressed by this thief's disappearing act, but she still had questions that needed answering, luckily he wouldn't be tough to find.

Isle of V.I.L.E:

Far away on the far side of the world near the Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa lay a solitary island. However it wasn't the deserted type of island. A large advanced looking building with state of the art facilities stood on the island. This was the home base of V.I.L.E Academy a school for thieves run by the Villains International League of Evil.

Deep in the Faculty lounge sat the five main heads of VILE the very teaching faculty of this institution, Coach Brunt, Professor Maelstrom, Countess Cleo, Dr Bellum and were having a video chat with Tigress and Mimebomb explaining their failure to secure artefacts from the Louvre. Lets just say the faculty were more than displeased.

"You lost the artefacts to Carmen Sandiego, and on top of that you were beaten by some clown dressed up as a Raccoon?!" Cleo said in disappointment.

"I know it sounds crazy but this wasn't a costume he was wearing it was real and it sure bled real!" Tigress explained.

"Sounds like y'all took a major knock to the noggin you must've been seeing things." Brunt said,

"Or maybe not." Bellum said as she brought up security footage from the museum and the VILE agents helmets.

The footage showed Sly fighting against the VILE agents and Tigress alongside Carmen Sandiego, the Faculty couldn't believe what they were seeing they could see this Raccoon man was real.

"That is defiantly no costume." Cleo said in shock.

"Indeed and it is no optical illusion." Bellum agreed.

"The timing in his movements and use of his weapon shows training." Shadowsan agreed. "However it is not of our teachings."

"Good cause I sure would've remembered teaching a Raccoon varmint." Brunt said.

"Be that as it may if this Raccoon man fought alongside the red rouge it is clear he could be a problem." Maelstrom squinted his eyes.

"Oh he's more than a problem." The Faculty's attention was drawn to a shadow who entered the room with glaring eyes.

"Faculty only mister." Brunt said.

"Saira since when does your 'lab partner' step out of his sanctum?" Cleo asked as the assistant glared.

"My apologies contessa, but I could not help but overhear the conversation of a Raccoon thief." The shadow said.

"You know of this thing?" Maelstrom asked.

"All too well, his name is Sly Cooper, and he's a master thief, you might say he and I have a history." The shadow said. "At least with his father, but I can assure you my dear faculty he's just as equal a threat to VILE as Carmen Sandiego, and if they are allies it could cause even more trouble than before!"

"Humph his actions tonight were a mere fluke what can this Sly Cooper possibly do against VILE?" Shadowsan questioned.

"The fact remains if tonights loss was any evidence, it is clear Carmen Sandiego may have a new ally." Cleo advised.

"Yes Cleo, but this Cooper fellow has no idea what he is stepping into." Maelstrom said with a sinister look in his eyes.

Paris: The following morning:

Sitting at a table at Cafe De Flore was Sly Copper wearing his blue trench coat and black sunglasses disguise. He was taking a drink of his coffee as he watched the people and cars fly by. However, this coffee breakfast he was having represented the last of his money, given last nights job he had to leave the artefacts behind for the lady in red and her companions.

Sly was lost in thought realising he nearly got wasted last night by these mysterious thieves in armour and tiger suits.

"Mind if I join you?" Said a voice, and Sly looked up and saw it was a certain thief he crossed paths with last night. However she was in more causal attire a red hoodie over a black sleeveless v necked shirt, blue jeans red vans sneakers and a necklace with a gold triangle. Her hair was tied in a bun.

"Well well, the lady in red we meet again, I must admit I didn't recognise you without the coat and hat." Sly smirked impressively.

"For a master raccoon thief you weren't that hard to spot, the blue trench coat doesn't do much to hide the tail." Carmen greeted as she sat across from the disguised Sly.

"Hm noted." Sly said. "By the way I never got your name?"

"I'd rather not say, besides I don't know much about you." Carmen said.

"Well thats why you came to find me isn't it?" Sly said with a raised eyebrow. "In fact I was kinda counting on it, after last night I've got more than a few questions like who were those guys from last night? And how are you mixed up with them?"

"You want the whole story?" Carmen asked simply.

"I've got time to listen." Sly said and though Carmen was untrusting of this raccoon man she wasn't sure she could share her story, not without learning something.

"You tell your story I'll tell mine, fair?" Carmen proposed.

"Sounds good to me." Sly shrugged as it was time he got his story out into the open. "Well where do I begin?"

"I guess my story started with a book." Sly began which had gotten Carmen all but confused.

"A book?" She asked.

"Yeah, as you've already guessed, I'm a thief but I'm not the only one." Sly explained. "See believe it or not I'm descended by a long line of master thieves, and the one golden rule of a master thief is…"

"You only steal from other thieves." Carmen guessed with a raised eyebrow.

"Yep." Sly acknowledged. "Anyway my family the Cooper Clan are master thieves who specialise in stealing from thieves, because theres no honour, no challenge and no fun stealing from regular people." Sly continued. "They documented all their traits and secrets into a book named the Thievious Raccoonus handed down from generation to generation of Coopers."

"Sounds like quite the family." Carmen said rather impressed. "But stealing for honour even if you take great historical items?"

"Well I wouldn't say historical see one of my ancestors Slytenkaman used his skills to steal from greedy Pharaohs." Sly explained. "But thats besides the point, when I was a boy my dad would tell me of all his exploits and those of my ancestors…" However Sly found what he had to say next rather difficult but none the less continued.

"..but on the night I was supposed to inherit the book, something happened. A group of criminals known as the Fiendish Five attacked our home." Sly explained. "My dad fought back against them before he hid me in the closet, but… they killed him and my mother."

Carmen was more than taken aback by this revelation, how he had seen his parents cut down right in front of him when he was a mere eight year old child. She started to sympathise a little.

"They then took the Thievious Raccoonus and tore out pages taking them for themselves and scattered to the winds." Sly continued feeling a little saddened remembering that very night.

"I.. I'm sorry, I can't imagine it was easy." Carmen said in sympathy.

"Yeah and I wound up in an orphanage." Sly continued. "But it wasn't all bad, it was there I met my soon to be life long fiends, Bentley and Murray we grew up together and bonded over stealing cookies from our matron and we've been friends and partners in crime ever since."

"Stealing cookies, not exactly a hard thing to do, but I guess thieves have to start somewhere." Carmen said a little impressed.

"Yeah but after a few years we became the Cooper Gang, Bentley was the brains, Murray the brawn and me the thief" Sly explained. "In a way we became more of a family than a gang, and boy we've been on a lot of crazy capers."

Sly then told the tale of his many capers, and how he crossed paths with a certain Interpol agent named Carmelita Fox. Carmen could tell this raccoon thief had a thing for this police women based on the way he described her. Sly explained how he and his gang tracked down each member of the Fiendish Five, Raleigh, Muggshot, Mz Ruby, The Panda King and finally Clockwerk.

In describing the robotic owl, Carmen was completely captivated how this thief had been alive for centuries with hate for the Cooper Clan and how that hate kept him alive and replacing his mortal form with machine parts. She was relieved to know Sly and his gang had defeated him and reclaimed the pages of the Thievious Raccoonus, which she could tell had sentimental value to him.

Two years later Sly explained how the parts of Clockwerk had been recovered, and so the Copper Gang went around the world and back trying to retrieve them and destroy them. He explained how the Klaww gang Dimitri, Rajan, Jean Bison and Arpeggio were using the parts for their own ends. However Arpeggio wanted to use them to gain immortality and a means of improving his rather weak body, only to be betrayed by Neyla a partner to Carmelita who then betrayed her, Sly and Arpeggio just to get the Clockwerk frame for herself.

Carmen had to admit, she never thought a cop would be so corrupt but then again she once didn't think her classmates could steal but then take a persons life in the process. She was taken aback to hear that Bentley was hurt in the final battle losing the use of his legs. Upon being arrested Sly explained he gave himself up in exchange for his gangs freedom, and Carmen had to admire how he took his friends feelings and condition into account. Sly then went onto how he escaped from Carmelita and later met up with the crew only for Murray to leave having blaming himself for what happened to Bentley.

Carmen could understand that kind of guilt his friend could feel. Later events lead to Sly meeting an old friend of his fathers who told him of the Cooper vault the treasure horde of his ancestors. Only to find that someone named Dr. M had taken residence and tried to crack the vault. This lead to another adventure not only getting Murray back in the game but recruiting help with the Cooper vault.

Carmen was surprised how he recruited old enemies like Dimitri and the Panda King given their past histories. However Sly explained that though hesitant he was willing to give them a chance and they stepped up to his expectations especially with the addition of Murrays Guru from his dreamtime training and Penelope who then became Bentleys girlfriend.

Sly explained how during the vault job he found out that Dr. M was an old friend of his father who thought that Sly's father thought of him as a sidekick than an equal. He taunted Sly into thinking that would happen to him and Bentley but the two proved him wrong. That was something Carmen had to surprised her the most was Sly realising he cared for Carmelita and faked having amnesia just so he could be with her. So he was considered retired.

However Sly explained his retirement didn't last long as the itch to steal came back and in that moment Bentley discovered that pages from the Thievious Racoonus were vanishing. This lead to a time travel escapade through the Cooper past to save his ancestors. To then discover that a thief named Le Paradox, was doing this just to get revenge for his father. Given that his family were also thieves and how his father was going to steal something and frame Sly's dad for the crime, but his dad got there first and without training Le Paradox ended up getting training and vowed revenge and got his chance when Penelope gave him the plans for a time machine. Carmen couldn't believe it how Bentleys girlfriend betrayed him just so she could get him to see things from her perspective. That just screamed VILE all over in her the aftermath of the fight Sly explained thats what landed him in Paris, well this version of Paris anyway. He then awaited Carmens response.

"Wow thats quite a tale." Carmen said amazed. "But I guess it all adds up, it's crazy the thought of parallel worlds but after seeing you it makes sense."

"Yeah hard to wrap your head around." Sly agreed. "But yeah thats my story. So what about you, how did you end up being a thief?"

Carmen knew it was her turn to tell her story. She took a breath and began.

"I don't really remember much about my past, but from what I've been told I was found as a baby orphaned by the side of the road just outside Buenos Aires Argentina." She began. "My only belongings were a set of Russian Nesting Dolls."

"The only link to your past." Sly realised. "I kinda understand that." Sly pulled out his cane. "See this cane I use, it belonged to my father and in a way it's all I have left of him."

Carmen could see that can had sentimental value to the ring-tailed thief, but none the less continued her story. "I was brought to a tropical island paradise which coincidentally was the home of a school for thieves."

"Whoa a school for thieves, so you were raised there." Sly said. "Sounds like my kind of vacation spot."

"Trust me when you hear the whole story you may have a different thought about it." Carmen said with some contempt which Sly seemed to notice as she continued her story.

"The schools name was VILE Academy, which I thought at first stood for Valuable Imports, Lavish Exports and it wasn't your typical boarding school." Carmen explained. "I was homeschooled by revolving nannies learning how to read and write, and learning about the countries they were from, their languages and their cultures."

"Okay, but with a name like VILE I can defiantly smell a rat." Sly said given his own experience.

"Yeah but I didn't know at the time." Carmen explained.

"Until I came into the picture." Called a voice on her phone and Carmen revealed on her phone screen a young boy with dark hair and tanned skin with a grey hoodie.

"This is Player." Carmen introduced."You might say he's my secret weapon."

"Whoa you weren't kidding he really does look like a Raccoon." Player said in surprise looking at Sly.

"Funny kid, anyway you were saying." Sly then asked Carmen.

Carmen then continued her story, of how she was given the codename Black Sheep, and was allowed to hang on the campus with the other students and even played a few water balloon pranks on the book keeper who only comes every December. Sly had to admire that. It was then she took a phone from a ship captain who was about to punish her if not for Coach Brunt's intervention who she saw as Mama Bear. Later she met Player on a phone call and after calling an audience with VILE's Faculty and wanting a place in the academy she got in much to the hesitance of Shadowsan head of Stealth 101.

Sly could tell that Carmen didn't like this guy and soon found out why. She explained how she met her classmates Crackle, Le Cheve, El Torbo, Tigress and Mimebomb. Sly could instantly guess two of the operatives he met last night. They attended classes about stealth through Origami which was for pickpocketing which Sly found interesting. Self defence where the golden rule was always protect the face taught by Coach Brunt, followed by Upper Class where they learned about attention to detail from Countess Cleo. Then there was Support Equipment taught by Dr Bellum who Sly thought of as this worlds version of Dr M. Then there was tricks of the trade taught by Professor Maelstrom techniques like the bait and switch and infiltration which Sly recognised from his own training in the Theivious Raccoonus.

In the final exams Carmen explained how she aced the other classes, but in Shadowsan's exam where she had to pick pocket a dollar bill. She failed as she couldn't find the bill. Sly was confused being an experience pick pocket he found this couldn't be possible unless the coat was empty, Carmen thought the same thing so when she failed her course she confronted Shadowsan accusing him of cheating which he denied. So she decided to tag along uninvited to Crackles first caper. Sly thought this would be the exact thing he would do in her place.

However upon arriving in Casablanca, Morocco it was an archeological dig site to steal the eye of Vishnu, Crackle was about to shock an innocent man with a crackle rod set at a dangerous level. It was then she realised that stealing does hurt people especially if it hurts lives and how stealing would deny people the chance to learn of the history behind the valuable item that history is the greatest treasure.

Sly had to admit, he never really considered the historical significance of the things he's stolen in the past, and how stealing them would rob people of a connection to the past. But up until now he's stolen things significant to his families past and how their history was Sly's legacy. However he never once took a persons life while on the job as the thieves he fought either ended up behind bars or meeting their own demise.

Later after finding out the true name of VILE was Villains International League of Evil, Carmen decided to escape. So after retrieving her phone and contacting Player she was able to slip out with a hard drive containing data from VILE in tow. She barely escaped from Shadowsan disguising herself as Miss Booker (the book keeper) in her red hat and coat which later gave her a new name.

Carmen then explained Months later she and Player on their first caper together in Boston, they crossed paths with Zack and Ivy who were casing the same doughnut shop. This was actually a VILE front and after securing some stolen printing plates they became her partners in had to admit he couldn't help but see that he and the lady in red had much in common. They were both orphans and chose a life of thievery for different reasons be it honour or bringing down a crime empire.

"Wow thats quite a story, so those guys from last night were from this VILE?" Sly confirmed.

"Yep, and I steal back what they've stolen and return them to their rightful place." Carmen explained. "Much like last night."

"So thats what you did with the artefacts." Sly said. "Wow sounds like a regular Robin Hood, but I'm glad you found out their true stripes before it was too late."

"Yeah and since then we've been foiling their many plots." Player explained.

"I guess we do have some things in common, we were both orphans and we follow the life of master thieves." Sly said.

"Whilst helping a few people as well." Carmen agreed.

Sly then had an idea, he hoped the lady in red would agree. "Hey listen uh, I know we only just met and well I was wondering on your next job, I don't suppose you'e got room for me?"

Carmen was rather intrigued by that question. "Meaning?"

"Well, I'm pretty much stranded here until my crew can find me, I guess I have nothing now and last night I thought I could do this solo but." Sly continued. "I miss being in a crew."

Carmen continued to listen. "You want to help bring down VILE? Despite what I've just told you?"

"It is a small world for thieves like us, and when you cross paths with me I'm not that easy to shake." Sly explained. "Plus against two master thieves these guys wouldn't stand a chance."

"You'd be making yourself a target for them." Carmen insisted.

"I think I did that the moment I helped you take back those artefacts from that crazy cat lady." Sly reminded."Plus I could help you, I mean you're a skilled thief no question. But if you let me stick around, I could teach you somethings that VILE hasn't taught you."

"He has a point Red, I mean he doesn't have anywhere to go" Player agreed. "Plus he is as skilled as you, so maybe having two master thieves would even the odds."

Carmen took a moment to think about, the raccoon thief's offer. It was true he was a skilled thief, as she was but could she risk making him a target too. On the other hand if he could teach her new skills, it could even the odds against VILE and she saw he had nothing now he was stranded here, and could build a new life for himself here.

"Well…" She began. "I do like your resume."

Sly perked up as it seemed he was on board. "But." she then said sternly. "My crew, my rules and no stealing for personal gain."

"Sounds good to me." Sly agreed then offered a hand shake.

"So let's try this again, names Sly Cooper." He introduced. "Friends call me Sly." Carmen smiled then accepted the handshake.

"You can call me Carmen." She introduced. "Carmen Sandiego."

Sly smiled back knowing they were on friendly terms. However something soon caught both their attention. They broke the handshake and sat casually.

"You do see them?" She asked.

"From the moment you sat down." Sly answered with a knowing smirk.

Carmen then pulled out a Euro from her hoodie and placed it on the table. "Coffees on me."

From a distance was Inspector Chase Devineaux and Julia Argent. The inspector had a clear view, and could see the scarlet super thief and the raccoon super thief at a cafe in poor disguises.

"There they are!" Chase exclaimed as he ran over to the cafe where they were.

The two thieves got up from their table and faced the two approaching Interpol officers. They smiled and then as a van passed by the two disappeared without a trace. Devineaux arrived on the scene only to see the two thieves were gone. Just as Julia arrived he growled.

"GRR NO NO NO!" He exclaimed and saw on the table a certain calling card which Julia picked up.

"It would seem they were here but have vanished without a trace." Julia pointed out.

"GRR, WHERE IN THE WORLD IS COOPER AND SANDIEGO!" Chase exclaimed.

Elsewhere:

On the River Seine rode a red and white boat, on board were Zack, Ivy, Carmen and Sly. Zack drove the boat whilst Sly, Carmen and Ivy sat in back.

"Well looks like our crew has a new recruit." Ivy said greeting the Raccoon thief.

"You know something Sandiego, I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful partnership." Sly said to the thief in red.

"I do see good things in our future, Cooper." Carmen agreed.

(Carmen Sandiego theme song starts playing)

The boat raced down the river setting course for the airport, ready for their next new caper this time with two master thieves in tow.

"So this is my life now, a new crew and a new caper. But it seems no matter what parallel universe I end up in somethings never change. Something tells me mine and Sandiego's adventure is just beginning."

Authors Notes: Looks like Sly is now officially part of team Carmen, and I know what you're all thinking don't worry the Cooper gang will appear later down the line. I decided to have the two thieves explain their origin stories to each other because they genuinely have a lot in common, they were both orphans, raised in the ways of thieves but steal for different reasons, however they do share a sense of family, thats what makes this a good crossover. Some of the scenes were inspired by the Uncharted series which I follow.

Now onto the next chapter and for Sly's first caper with Carmen in sunny Ecuador, lets hope he's packed his swimming trunks as there will be no time for fun in the sun, things are about to get fishy.