Authors Notes: Hi all, we're back with Cooper & Sandiego, and now we move into the season 2 segment of Carmen Sandiego, I know a lot of you have been waiting for this. So I appreciate your patience I've just had a lot going on applying for work and all. Now without further delay lets begin with a little sun, fun and Carnival in Rio!
Sly Cooper (c) Sucker Punch Productions
Carmen Sandiego 2019 (c) Netflix
I don't own any of the characters all rights to their owners THIS IS JUST FOR FUN!
Cooper, Sandiego & the Gang In
:The HOT Rocks of Rio Caper pt 1:
Carmen's POV:
On the outskirts of Paris, the Cooper Team Van sped out of the streets before the French police or ACME could catch up to them. While Zack drove the van in Murray's place Bentley and Ivy were in the back tending to the injured. Ivy wrapped Carmens side with ice packs while Bentley, put bandages on Murray and Sly.
"We'd just gotten out of VILE's trap by the skin of our teeth. Not only did we find out that Sly's old enemy Dr. M was alive and kicking after the Cooper Vault was destroyed, but before Brunt could finish me and Sly we were saved by Shadowsan of all people. This whole time the teacher who cheated me out of a passing grade did that to protect me from what VILE would do when I said no, and I was right the coat was empty."
While Carmen was being bandaged up, she looked on the floor next to her Raccoon partner in crime was his broken cane. She couldn't help but bore a look of sympathy.
"But right now we were focused on our own injuries some still lingering. Sly's cane was broken, the very thing he had left to remind him of his father. No one should lose a sentimental treasure like that, especially one who's been like family to me. Murray's pride isn't the only thing that was bruised that night."
The Team Van drove to the outskirts of Poitier and went to the train yards where they found an old coach that was in good condition Zack parked the van up, hid it and they set up shop.
"With the Police busy tending to Devineaux we decided to lay low for a while until we were recovered. Bentley and Player decided to use the time productively to start decrypting the hard-drive Shadowsan left behind."
While the rest of the crew rested their injuries Bentley was on his computer in the team van with the fresh Hard-drive plugged in, and with his communication link with Player they set to work on decrypting the data together.
"I gotta say seeing Bentley work was mighty impressive, he looked like a hacker possessed. Not surprised given the stories Sly told me. Between him and Player they'd have VILE's plans decrypted in no time."
The following night everyone was asleep on the coach, luckily the seats were long enough to be a bed and the van had some blankets packed in case they needed to camp out. However the only person unable to sleep was Carmen, it wasn't because of the pain in her injuries but it was deep in thought.
"I couldn't sleep that night, I couldn't stop thinking about how Shadowsan was really the one who found me on the side of the road in Argentina. Did he know more about my past? What was he doing in Argentina? I had too many questions to even think about."
Unknown to Carmen, across from her bed Sly had one eye peaked open and he saw his partner in red was having trouble sleeping and he knew why.
A week later:
About a week later the injured wounds were all fully recovered while Murray sparred with Ivy who held up a pair of punching pads blocking his fists. Zack watched with interest as did Sly. Carmen spent her time reading the Theivious Raccoonus, since seeing this book she'd taken a keen interest in the Cooper Clans techniques and some she even practiced with Sly.
"About a week later we were all recovered and just in time." In the Team Van, the thief in red and the raccoon thief looked over Bentley's shoulder as he works as did Player on the other side of the screen. "Bentley and Player had just managed to decrypt some data from the Hard drive, about some kind of exchange going down in Prague. I decided it was time to get back into action, Sly though was concerned and he was sweet to worry but I felt I was ready. It was going to take a lot more than a beating from Brunt to stop me from stopping VILE."
End of POV
The blazing heat of the sun beamed down on a lone road surrounded by crop fields of Argentina. As the heat burned the road, a lone stranger was walking along it. He wore black and grey robes belonging to a ninja warrior along with a straw hat to shield him from the suns rays. Suddenly a cry caused him to stop in his tracks, for it was the cry of a baby.
He lifted his head up to reveal it was a younger looking Shadowsan. He looked to his right where the noise was coming from, and concealed within the grass he found something he didn't expect. It was a tiny baby girl, wrapped in red blankets and had some red curly hair on her head. Next to her was a Russian nesting doll with a burn mark on the side.
The poor thing was crying and it didn't take the ninja long to realised she'd been abandoned. So he took pity as he caressed the little ones cheek as she opened her eyes and looked at the ninja and calmed down. She gave a small smile as a dinging sounded through the air. The little one closed her eyes.
"Carmen…" Called a voice. "Carmen… Carmen."
Present day:
Suddenly Carmens eyes shot wide awake a little startled. She looked and saw she was at a cafe table in the Cheque republic. She looked and saw her partner now concealed in his hologuise.
"Carmen, you okay?" Sly asked. "You kind of zoned out there for a moment?"
Carmen took a moment to look at the large clocktower where the bells were chiming as a skeleton pulled on the chain. Eventually she answered. "Ah yeah sorry Sly I was miles away." Carmen said.
"Yeah you have been since we got here." Sly observed but couldn't help be worried. "You sure your okay?"
Before Carmen could answer however. "Red, Sly are you in position?" Player called in.
"W-what?" Carmen asked.
"We have a VILE operative on the move, are you guys in position?" Player asked again.
Sly then took over. "Yeah Player we're in place Pragues old town square near the clock tower, Bentley you got eyes on our operative?"
"Got him Sly, he should be directly at your three o'clock." Bentley chimed in.
Sly and Carmen looked to their right and saw within the crowd was Le Chevre in what looked like a casual white and black tracksuit. He was looking at his phone.
"Its Le Chevre." Carmen realised. "We're on him." She and Sly left the table and put up their hoods so that the human goat couldn't ID them.
From above flew Red Drone and Bentley's RC chopper while Bentley himself operated from the Team Van which was parked close by. A map showed the two thieves current positions.
"Okay remember the plan your target is the buyer, not Le Chevre." Bentley reminded them.
As Le Cheve made his way casually through the crowd Carmen moved through the pillars of the buildings with stealth, and Sly hopped onto the street lamp in a ninja perch but out of the VILE operatives line of sight.
"He's right and hit him after the hand off, we don't want VILE knowing we're…" Player said.
"Onto them before we find out what they're peddling." Carmen finished that sentence before nearly bumping into some people. Once they pass she continued her shadowing. Sly smirked as he leaped off the lamp post and into the crowds covering Le Chevre from the right.
"Yeah remind us Player who's plan was this again?" Sly smirked.
"Yours and Reds, sorry just checking the boxes." Player shrugged from his room.
"Ahah excellent use of words Player, considering we are in the Cheque republic." Bentley complimented.
"Yeah guys we get it." Carmen smiled as she and Sly continued their covert surveillance. Red Drone and Bentley's RC chopper flew over head surveying the area.
"Ariel reconnaissance on the look out." Player said, Red Drones eye shifted around looking for any potential buyers, as did Bentley's RC chopper. Soon enough they spotted something of interest.
"Hold on we might have something." Bentley said on the coms. Player took a look from Red Drone and saw a large looking gentleman in a gray under coat, white shirt, black pants, a hat and a bow tie.
"Got it potential buyer spotted heading for Goatboy." Player said. "Guys it's the chubby guy in the bow tie northeast side." The footage zoomed in to show a discrete exchange between the gentleman and Le Chevre, it was a small green sack, contents unknown.
"The egg is laid repeat the egg is laid." Bentley called.
"Come again Bentley?" Sly asked on the coms.
"The hand off has gone down Sly do you even listen when I explain the codes?" Bentley criticised.
"Sometimes." Sly smirked as he and Carmen continued walking through the crowd.
"Sly focus." Carmen said.
"Anyway the package is in play." Bentley said to them.
The two thieves watched as Le Chevre walked away from the person he handed the package to. Once out of sight Sly and Carmen took up the hunt, the two made their way through the crowds keeping the buyer in sight. Sly went further ahead when all of a sudden Carmen got caught in the crowds and as a woman walked past she'd lost sight of the buyer. She looked around but couldn't see him.
"Carmen look to your left!" Sly called on the coms and she looked to see Sly standing close to the curb and the buyer had called a taxi driver to stop.
"Okay I'm going in for the pull." Sly said but realised he didn't have his cane with him. "Oh yeah, well I guess we do this the old fashion way."
"No Sly hold back I got this one." Carmen said quietly on the coms.
"You sure?" Sly asked.
"I'm sure, besides I learned from the best." Carmen said as she made her approach. As the buyer was stepping into the taxi his back pocket with the pouch was exposed, Carmen extended her hand ready to make the pull. When all of a sudden something else got her the crowds was a younger looking Shadowsan who she'd seen in her dreams, but what was he doing here. She was so focused on that she failed to look where she was going.
Sly saw what was going to happen. "Oh no her timing is off!" He realised. "Carmen pull back!" He tried on the coms but she didn't hear him. "CARMEN!" He yelled.
But it was too late as she made the pull she accidentally bumped into the buyer knocking her back onto the floor and the pouch opened scattering what looked like pink diamonds all over the place. Sly quickly ran over and the buyer looked to see what had happened assuming the pouch dropped out of his pocket.
"Oh I am so sorry here let me help you." Carmen said acting out.
"Hey is everything okay here, you alright miss." Sly said acting like he didn't know her as he helped gather up the stones and to the two master thieves they looked like diamonds.
Carmen offered the rock back to its owner who snatched it off her without saying another word. He got into the cab and drove away. "Carmen what happened your timing was off?" Sly asked.
"I know sorry Sly I.. I don't know what happened." Carmen apologised.
"Well I guess it's a bust couldn't even get a good look at those stones." Sly sighed.
However what he didn't know was that Carmen had quite literally an ace up her sleeve. Dropping out of it was one of those rocks that was in the pouch and showed it to Sly.
"You never cease to amaze me you know that." Sly smirked impressed.
"Well always improvise when things go south, isn't that what it said in that book of yours?" Carmen smiled.
Sly was glad she paid attention to the teachings of the Thevious Raccoonus about what to do in the event a pick pocket goes sideways. However he was still a little concerned about Carmen, she'd been off lately ever since they got there.
"So what we get?" Player asked on the coms.
Carmen and Sly took a look at what they'd scored from the buyer. "A rock." Carmen said looking at the purple crystal glistening in the sun. "Though we're lucky we got anything."
"What was that Carmen?" Bentley asked.
"There was a little mishap Bentley. Nothing to worry about." Sly tried to cover for Carmen but she wouldn't have it.
"No thats not it, I got sloppy." Carmen sighed. "I'm off my game."
To say Bentley, Player and the rest of the crew were taken aback was an understatement. How could Carmen a master thief get sloppy at a pick pocket? But they knew the reason why.
"Well you have been a little distracted lately." Player said from his room. "You guys probably jumped back into action a little too soon."
"Yeah I suppose, gah if only I had my cane I could've made the pull from a distance." Sly said a little frustrated. "I guess working without it is taking some getting used to."
Carmen could understand Sly's reasoning but she too was off in her ability as a pick pocket too. "Its only been a week since Shadowsan vanished into the night." Player voiced.
"Taking any hope I had about learning of my past along with him." Carmen said simply as she pocketed the gem. Sly could tell this whole Shadowsan revelation was taking its toll on Carmen, she finally had a link to the past and within the blink of an eye it disappeared. He too was curious as to his current whereabouts, and it seems Sly wasn't the only one.
Isle of V.I.L.E:
Back at VILE Academy, Coach Brunt and Dr.M had finished debriefing the rest of the Faculty on their failed mission. The most concerning issue however was the disappearance of their Stealth 101 teacher Shadowsan. While Gunnar looked out the window Cleo and Bellum listened while Brunt paced the room and Dr.M stood in place.
"Like I told you before." Coach Brunt explained. "When I came to the federallies were closing in there was no sign of him, the ringtail or Black Sheep."
Dr.M however was a little unconvinced about certain aspects of the story. "And you don't know who or what knocked you unconscious?" He asked.
"I told you Doc I don't know whoever it was got me from behind." Brunt explained.
"Yet you felt no blunt impact, could Sly have knocked you out while you were crushing the girls bones?" Dr.M asked.
"Doubt it I beat the Ringtail so much he could barely move, not to mention I snapped that stick of his." Brunt said.
"Ooo quite a crippling blow to his ego, yet why do I find the rest of your story hard to believe?" Dr M questioned skeptically.
"Oh your one to talk Mr got blasted off a building, aren't monkeys supposed to be agile?" Brunt cracked at him since he too failed to get Sly when Carmelita blasted him off the rooftop.
"Oh ha ha says the brute who clearly tripped and fell." Dr M glared as the two growled in a stand off.
"Both of you, enough." Malestrom called not even turning his head.
Cleo was next to speak about the issue. "We know Shadowsan hasn't been detained, no arrests anywhere near Poitier France match his description." She addressed.
"Though if this ACME is for real Cleo, who knows where they would jail their prisoners." Maelstrom noted as he turned to face his fellow Faculty.
"I do concur Gunnar, if they're as good at the veil of secrecy as we are, they could have a prison in the Bemuda Triangle and we wouldn't even find where prisoners are kept." Dr M agreed. "Though, I do find it strange as to why our absent comrade has yet to notify us of his current whereabouts."
"A valid point M." Dr Bellum agreed. "If Shadowsan is keeping to the shadows wouldn't he have phoned home by now?" She asked her fellow faculty members.
Maelstrom then addresses the defense teacher. "And you are certain Coach Brunt that you did not ehh." He asked in a hinting way.
Brunt couldn't believe what she was hearing was he accusing her of doing something to the ninja. "Wait what! No why would you even…"
"There was certainly no love lost between the two of you, there you are reluctant travel partners." Gunnar describes the scenario. "You tell him he's a bore he insults your track suit, a quibble leads to an altercation." Brunt clenched her fist trying not to lose her cool. "Then… you have been known to lose your temper."
"An excellent point indeed Professor." Dr M agreed. "After all our dear Coach can sometimes be her own worst enemy."
Brunt just ignored that comment as she unclenched her fist. "True old stoneface would never be my first choice for a corn hole partner. But he's still family, and you don't betray family!" She said with a glare. Only to receive a scoff from the monkey scientist.
"I'm sorry you got something to say monkey boy?" Brunt asked.
"Oh nothing just the idea of not betraying family." Dr M chuckled. "You know I was once part of one before this, and Sly's glory hogging father betrayed me and treated me second best and for that reason I don't carry the same sentiments."
"Be that as it may Dr M, you certainly did not fare any better in trying to claim your revenge on Sly Cooper." Gunnar said. "You have the conviction and the technology at your disposal, yet a fox woman with an electric weapon bested you as you gloated your pride."
Dr.M kept his cool in this situation and Brunt just smirked seeing it was his turn to get psycho analysed. "True Gunnar but I did say Inspector Fox could be a handful especially when cornered, but while Cooper lives I still left an impact I've made my presence to him known." He said glaring evilly. "But make no mistake I intend to make him suffer slowly and only when he's at his lowest shall I exact my revenge."
Before anymore words could be said the communication line sounded off. Gunnar and Brunt took their seats and Dr M stayed stood up.
"Probably our dear ninja now." Maelstrom guessed. However it wasn't Shadowsan appearing on the screen, but Le Chevre who was calling from a secret location.
"Salutations Faculty and uh Dr M." Le Chevre greeted. "I am on route to shut down the mining operation as planned all the Alexandrite has been extracted and is ready to be shipped."
The Faculty were pleased to receive some good news. "Then Prague came through." Dr Bellum said very pleased.
"It seems we have some buyers for our gem stones." Cleo agreed.
"You see Cleo I told you our investment into that untouched Alexandrite source I uncovered would pay off." Dr. M smirked.
"Indeed." Maelstrom agreed. "This operation will go a long way towards repairing any losses inflicted by Carmen Sandiego, Sly Cooper…..and ACME." the last part he said with a squint.
Elsewhere:
Meanwhile in a French hospital, the beep of the heart monitor machine could be heard. Lying in a hospital bed was Chase Devineaux, who lay in a comatose state. Since his recent encounter with Shadowsan and Coach Brunt, he went through some trauma to his head due to the truth extractor. He was still alive but unconscious.
He soon had a visitor, it was Julia Argent who sat by his bedside. "Agent Devineaux." She said sadly as she sat down. "Its me, Julia…Agent Argent, h how are you feeling today?" She asked but no response.
So she tried something else, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a certain tube of mints. "I brought your favourite mints." She held them in front of his face hoping it would wake him up. To no avail.
Julia began to wonder what else she could do to wake him up. Just then she realised whats the one thing Devinaux would wake up to instantly.
"There they are Le Femme Rouge and Blue Raccoonus!" She exclaimed, surprisingly and disappointingly it didn't wake him was becoming genuinely worried, for her partner, but also for what he had to say when he woke up, regarding recent events.
"Please wake up Agent Devineaux, we need you." Julia said to her unconscious partner. "And we need you to tell us that she didn't do this to you." She said with hope, as she knew in her gut that a certain thief in red couldn't do this without reason.
Meanwhile:
Elsewhere in the hospital, Carmelita had recently been cleared for her electric shock that she delivered to escape Dr M's trap. She was in her normal clothes and since no medical staff were present out of her hologuise. She was currently in a meeting with Chief, or rather her hologram.
"You sure you're clear for service Agent Fox? From what you said that was a nasty shock you inflicted to yourself." Chief asked.
"Not to worry Chief, the sting fades with time, plus I've handled worse than that." Carmelita explained.
"Now onto new business, you said you could identify at least one suspected associate of VILE?" Chief asked getting to the point.
"Yes I can, but it is a rather long story." Carmelita said to her.
"I'm all ears Agent Fox." Chief said to her wanting to know.
Carmelita proceeded to pull a photo out of her jacket, it was of a certain monkey scientist that abducted her. "His name is Dr.M, alias unknown but he's from the same world as me and the Ringtail." Carmelita explained as Chief had Agent Zari take a scan of the photo. "However he was presumed dead in my last encounter with Cooper, which seemed to involve a vault that belonged to his ancestors."
"A vault containing the treasures of a long line of thieves, it seems quite impossible?" Chief asked.
"Believe me Chief, in my past experience I have seen things that defy rational explanation." Carmelita then said. "In the wake of this I did my research and I discovered he was once an accomplice of a Connor Cooper, who I later found to be Sly's father who was murdered at the hands of the Fiendish Five a group of criminals that Interpol had been trying to pin down for years."
Chief listened intently to what she had to say. "I see, so in other words this Dr.M is a ghost story a possible fit. But how can you be sure that he and Cooper aren't in league with each other?"
"Because, Dr. M despises Cooper, apparently because of some falling out between him and his father years ago." Carmelita explained. "Plus, I can't speak for Sandiego but kidnapping people for information isn't the Cooper Gangs MO. During the fight Dr.M practically admitted he was in league with a shadow crime syndicate which fits VILE's profile."
Chief took a while to consider all that was told to her, and while she did see Carmen Sandiego and Sly Cooper in same situations holding two of their people hostage, she wasn't aware of what lead to this happening.
"I must agree with you Agent Fox, your knowledge of Cooper does exceed our own." Chief explained. "However given the matter of Sandiego we can't ignore the possibility of her leading Devineaux out with his key card."
"I agree, however until Devineaux regains consciousness and we get some answers we shouldn't assume the worst, not everything is black and white as it appears to be." Carmelita voiced.
Chief did silently notice how Carmelita was being a little defensive of the Raccoon thief, regardless she dismissed it. "I suppose your right, dismissed."
"Yes Chief." Carmelita said as the hologram disappeared. Now she was alone she began to question Sly's partner in crime, did she have a connection to VILE or was this a coincidence or misunderstanding. She honestly couldn't tell anymore.
Players Room:
Player meanwhile, was doing some research on the rock that Carmen and Sly were able to pick pocket from VILE's buyer. He corresponded with Bentley to help find an answer and soon they found it.
"Its called Alexandrite." Player explained.
"Never heard of it." Sly voiced.
"Yeah, sounds like something you take for foot pain." Carmen agreed.
"Defiantly a gemstone, not well known as Diamonds but way more rare." Player explained.
"Players right, Alexandrite is so rare it's very difficult to come by." Bentley agreed from the team van. "Not many reserves exist and thats if you know where to look. Given its rarity it can fetch millions per carrot."
"Whoa, thats big money." Sly said amazed.
Prague:
Sly and Carmen overlooked the setting sun over Prague on the bridge. "It certainly is. Enough of these gems could provide a major cash infusions to VILE's operations." Carmen realised.
"Okay well if these things are like diamonds theres usually a source of it." Sly realised.
"Clairvoyant, Sly? I'm impressed." Bentley said impressed from the team van. "But yes, according to the hard-drive that Shadowsan left behind, Player and I discovered that our recently resurrected friend Dr.M discovered a large reserve of Alexandrite in a region thats well known for it, and now VILE has a presence there."
"Defiantly sounds like a mining operation." Carmen realised. "Where?"
"It doesn't specify details or exact coordinates, but it's somewhere in the region of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil." Player said to them on the coms.
"Rio! Sun surf and great food cool!" Murray exclaimed on the coms.
As Carmen and Sly walked along the bridge they took in the information. "Rio huh? Cool always wanted to go there." Sly realised.
However Carmen seemed a little less elated by the news, as she knew where Rio was and where it was close to. "South America, huh small world its close to home." She voiced.
Sly was becoming worried about Carmen as he too knew that Argentina was in South America too, the place she wouldn't go to until she knew more of her past.
"You're up for this right Red?" Player asked as Carmen and Sly looked over the sea from the bridge. "We need you and Sly at the top of your game…you know in case.."
"In case what?" Carmen asked thinking Player had something to talk about.
Players Room:
Player stopped typing on his computer for a second. "Well, me and everyone have been talking and…"
"Oh no you've been talking Player I'm staying out of this." Bentley said.
"Ditto for us too!" Murray called on the screen.
"Player let's have it whats up?" Sly then asked.
Player crossed his arms before voicing his suspicion. "Either the hard drive is the best present ever from a supposed former VILE mastermind, or it's loaded with an elaborate trail of breadcrumbs."
Carmen and Sly listened to Player suspicions of the ninja thief, who saved them back in Poitier. "What if Shadowsan's trying to lure you into some sort of trap?"
"Everything he said about my time on VILE island made perfect sense." Carmen said smiling a bit.
Sly wouldn't admit it to Carmen but he was slightly weary of Shadowsan's intentions. "Sure but what about Argentina? The part you were too young to remember?" Player then questioned.
"I have to admit, Player does have a point it seems a little bit of a coincidence that he would happen to find a baby in Argentina." Bentley then voiced as Carmen listened to their points. "Considering we don't know what VILE sent him there for in the first place?"
Players Room:
"Right, he's a thief, for all you know he stole you for a ransom." Player voiced. "You could be the daughter of billionaire diplomats."
Prague:
Carmen found it hard to take all this in, some part of her heart wanted to believe Shadowsan's story. However another part of her was airing on the side of decided to break this up.
"Okay look you all raise good points and we all have reasons to trust and not trust Shadowsan. But at the same time maybe we should consider that maybe he's on the up and up. I could see the look in his eyes when he told us his side of Carmens escape, it was the same look me and the gang saw in the Panda Kings eyes when he told us of his daughter." Sly voiced.
"The one this General Tsao guy kidnapped to be his bride in a forced marriage?" Carmen asked.
"Yeah, I mean despite the fact that he had a hand in killing my Dad, I could see he meant it." Sly explained.
"Okay but this is a completely different situation." Player said.
Carmen then came to a decision. "Well hanging around here in Prague won't change that." She began walking away with Sly behind her. "If its a trap we'll have to take extra care so no-one gets hurt this time."
Despite this Sly wasn't convinced he could tell she was still dwelling on this whole Shadowsan situation. He often thought of trying to have Bentley track him down, however being a ninja Shadowsan could hide anywhere in the world and they'd never pin him down. Something told the raccoon thief they wouldn't see the ninja again unless he wanted them too.
"Carmen hold up." He said grabbing her hand getting her attention. "You sure your up for this? I mean if not I can go instead?" Sly asked.
"By yourself?" Carmen asked. "Sly you don't have your cane and as good as you are. You need someone watching your back. And I'm up for this." She then said with conviction.
"I know but I'm worried about you I know somethings bothering you, but…we're family Carmen and if somethings wrong you can always talk to me." Sly voiced in concern.
Carmen couldn't help but smile at the fact her partner in crime never stopped referring to her as his family. "I know we are, but theres no need to worry we're in this together. I'm actually more worried about you, I mean your cane meant a lot to you and I know you've been off since Brunt broke it."
Sly sighed at referring to that incident. "Yeah I guess, well let's meet Murray at rondevu." He said as he walked away.
When he was a distance away Carmen did sigh at the fact that Sly didn't want to talk about what happened to his fathers cane. She couldn't help but relate, after all after she left behind that set of Russian nesting dolls she thought she'd never see them again, until she liberated the eye of Vishnu in Poitier some weeks before meeting Sly. Those dolls were a reminder of her past life that she never knew. Just as that cane was the last reminder of the father that her partner lost as a child, she wondered what she could do to help. Then she had an idea of how she could help. She called Bentley on the com-line.
"Bentley you there?" She called.
"Yeah whats up Red?" Bentley asked.
"Listen theres something I need you, and Ivy to do for me." Carmen told him.
"Okay..what is it?" Bentley asked curious.
"Its for…well personal matters so don't tell Sly." Carmen said to him.
Bentley wasn't sure what to make of this, however he also wondered what this was about. "I'm all ears."
Meanwhile: The Hospital:
Back at the hospital, Chase suddenly began to twist turn and groan. The heart monitor began to beep like crazy as he was drawing sweat from his head.
"N..no no no no..!" Chase muttered until finally his eyes opened and bolted up. "LE FEMME ROUGE!" He exclaimed.
"Guess again." Said a voice, and the startled agent looked to see Chief's hologram and a male agent standing next to her. "Welcome back Agent Devineaux."
"Huh! Chief!" Chase said but then groaned holding his head. "Ughhh! My head it feels like a pack of wild boars stampeded through it…oooo… shoving their snouts into the folds of my brain searching for truffles." He groaned.
Chief and the agent dismissed that unusual wake up groan, and decided to get straight to the point."You recognised me, thats a good sign. What else do you remember?" She asked.
Chase took a moment to think back to what happened on the night of his abduction. He could remember some bits and pieces. "Hmmm, brushing my teeth, and ….nothing." He said and couldn't remember much else much to Chiefs disappointment. Then suddenly.
"Until…" Chase suddenly had a brief flash to when he was in the basement in Poitier France, and a brief flashback of a certain thief in red entering the room. "She was there!"
"Carmen Sandiego, I saw her too." Chief said to him confirming one suspicion. "I also saw Sly Cooper."
Chase was rather taken aback. "What..I..I don't remember Cooper being there?"
"He wasn't, I saw him with Agent Fox who was also held captive, by an unknown third party." Chief explained.
"Is she okay?" Chase asked.
"She's fine, a little shaken from the electric shock from her weapon trying to free herself, but has made a full recovery." Chief explained. "She's also delivered valuable information from the experience."
Devineaux was rather relieved to hear his other partner was okay. However at that moment he remembered something else. "But…Sandiego…she..she had help, two others." He said.
This got Chiefs full attention, maybe Carmelita wasn't the only one to ID a face belonging to VILE. "Tell me everything." Chief said simply.
Meanwhile:
High in the red morning sky was a jet, and onboard was the Cooper, Sandiego gang was on route to Rio. Carmen sat on the long seat looking out of the window in wonder. Sly couldn't help but eye her in sympathy and how lost she looked. Ivy, Zack, Murray and Bentley sat on the chairs across ready for their next mission.
"WHOHOO!" Ivy cheered. "Palm trees and sandy beaches here we come!"
"Theres more to Rio than beaches Ivy." Player pointed out. "Especially since Carnival is only a few days away."
"Whoa! Spinning rides and funnel cakes! Score!" Zack cheered.
"And chilli dogs thats more like it!" Murray cheered as well.
"Ah no guys not a carnival with rides and snacks. In Rio it's pronounced Carnival." Bentley said sharing his facts. "People travel from all across the globe to see the events and festivities." He shared his facts.
"Thats right Bentley, the city wide festival has its roots in both Portuguese and African traditions." Carmen added. "and features colourful masks and costumes it's the one time of year where pretending to be someone or something else is socially accepted."
"Whoa so its like a halloween party?!" Murray asked.
"Sort of Murray, but hey I hope you guys brought your dancing shoes? Thousands of Samba dancers will be strutting their stuff next to insanely elaborate parade floats." Player shared his facts as Samba dancers danced on the screen.
"Samba dancing nice The Murray knows how to skate and The Murray also rocks it at the Samba! Cha cha cha!" Murray cheered.
"Ohho I'd defiantly pay to see that!" Ivy snickered.
"But if it's a beach you're after Ivy, Rio has one of the worlds most famous." Carmen shared as an image of a beach with palm trees appeared. "Copacabana, sound like enough to make you a Brazil nut."
"Very." Bentley said. "But when your done having fun in the sun, check out Rio's Favelas."
"Ah the Favelas." Sly took over. "Entire village communities built into the very hillsides of Rio. You'd be amazed to know that in 1950 only seven percent of Rio's population live in the Favelas and has grown to nineteen percent over the years. But hey if you want to check out the amazing views theres no better spot than Corcovado mountain under the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer."
"Wait, Sly are you telling me you did research?" Bentley asked in surprise.
"Can't have Carmen be the know it all every time Bentley." Sly smirked.
"Okay who are you and what have you done with Sly?" Murray joked.
"Ha ha Murray." Sly shook his head smirking.
"Anyway since Carnival is all about costumes and mask, Sly, Murray and I should be able to blend right in without arousing stares from the crowds." Bentley explained given a majority of the group were anthro turtle, hippo, and raccoon.
"Okay, just hope you guys brushed up on your Portuguese, it's the primary language spoken in Brazil." Player advised.
Rio:
Soon the team were off the jet and were now exploring the city and some of the festive markets taking place. Good news was no-one looked at Sly and his friends given they thought they were in costumes. Sly was in casual attire of a dark blue shirt with black jeans and Vans sneakers. While Bentley wore a simple red checkered shirt with brown shorts, and his normal cap. Murray had sun glasses with a red and white cap on his head and black shorts.
A stall vendor offered Carmen a lemon as she was looking around. "Noh obrigada." Carmen declined in Portuguese.
"Look out!" Zack called silently as he pulled Ivy and Bentley into one of the archways. "Its Tigress!" He said. However it wasn't really Tigress but just a blonde haired girl in a tiger themed costume. Ivy just swatted her brother across the shoulder.
"Dude! A VILE operative wouldn't wear a costume of herself?!" Ivy reminded him. "Talk about worst disguise ever!"
"I must agree, with Ivy it would be a huge mistake on their part." Bentley motioned.
"Yeah they might as well hold up a sign saying 'I'm with VILE come get me!" Murray acted out.
Carmen shook her head and then got to business. "Got the rock?" She asked.
Bentley presented it from his tech pack on his wheelchair on one of his robot arms. "Right here." Bentley said.
"I'll hold onto it." Ivy volunteered as she took the rock from the robot arm.
"You four take the low ground, and we'll take the high." Carmen said.
"Find out what you can about the rock, but keep an eye open for VILE they could be anywhere, or anyone." Sly then said. "Oh and guys try not to cause a riot."
"Come on Sly you and Carm know us?" Zack asked.
"I know thats why I said it." Sly said simply.
"Oh ha ha very funny." Zack cracked much to his sisters pleasure.
"Theres the Sly we remember." Bentley smiled knowing the old Sly wasn't completely gone.
With that the group went their separate ways, while Zack, Bentley, Ivy and Murray headed off to look for information on the Alexandrite and the mine it came from. While Carmen and Sly headed towards the mountains for a birds eye view to keep a close eye out for VILE.
The Hospital:
In Chase's hospital room, the agent who sat next to him was drawing an ID sketch of his abductors based off Devineaux description. He showed the image to the patient.
"Close…but more weathered. Like the backside of a reptile." Chase said inspecting the picture. The agent worked more on the sketch making addendum to it. Once complete he showed it to Chase, who after taking a good look he knew without a doubt.
"Yes that is him!" Chase exclaimed it was a sketch of the faces of Shadowsan and Coach Brunt. "Those are them." The agent then takes out his communicator pen and activates it, tosses it on the floor so it projects Chief's hologram.
"We have our perps?" Chief asked and the agent showed her the ID sketches.
"I present to you, Carmen Sandiego's and Sly Cooper's partners in crime." Chase said confidently. "Find my pants! I am ready to track them down and make them pay for what they did to me!"
Chase was about to get up, until Chief stopped him. "Hold the pants." She said.
Chase gasped in excitement for thinking he was getting a new attire. "I am finally getting my ACME Suit?!"
However what Chief had to say he would never have guessed. "No, I'm putting you on leave. Effective immediately."
Chase was taken aback, why was he being put on leave despite what he just gave her. "B..but Chief, I just handed you two faces possibly belonging to VILE?"
"You're also a loose cannon Devineaux, a liability." Chief said in a rather strict tone. "ACME needs agents who think with their brains not with their fists!"
"For how long?" Chase asked hesitantly.
"Indefinitely." Chief answered which brought a rather saddened look on Chase's face. "Look, you've been through a lot. Cool your heels back at Interpol and get your strength back." Chief said in a more understanding way.
"And…Agent Argent?" Chase asked.
"She will be staying on with ACME partnered with Agent Fox." Chief explained. "Any attempt to contact them could jeopardise their safety so forget you know them. And I was never here."
Her hologram disappeared back into the pen. The agent proceeded to pick up the pen and leave the hospital room. Chase just put his hand on his head with a look of despair, he'd lost his status as an ACME agent. All because of his impatience and arrogance, and now this has made it even worse. He began to wonder if the Fox inspector was right.
Said Fox inspector was standing outside his hospital room, and while she may've been harsh on him she was also a little sad that he'd just been put on indefinite leave. At the same time she hoped this would give him time to reflect on his actions.
Rio:
Meanwhile, Zack, Ivy, Murray and Bentley were trying to find information on the Alexandrite. So they went to a local jewel dealer to hopefully see if he knows anything. The dealer was looking at the rock through his small spy glass.
"Ah yes Alexandrite." The Dealer said. "Word on the street is a brand new supply has recently been..unearthed."
The group looked at each other realising this was what they wanted to know. "Where?" Ivy asked.
"My memory..it's not so good." The dealer said in a hinting way.
"Oh bummer." Zack said not getting the idea. Bentley then pulled Zack aside as Ivy spoke to him.
"Zack I believe he's trying to get a bribe." Bentley said.
"Successful business owner guys I'm sure he'll meet the right girl someday." Zack said still not getting it.
Ivy just swatted him over the head. "Bribe! Not bride! He wants to be paid for information."
"Oh right." Zack said. "But we ain't got that kind of dough?"
"Well then Murray will just intimidate him." Ivy said.
"Wait what?" Murray said surprised.
"Come on Murray, you're the muscle our enforcer you could scare the info out of this guy!" Ivy whispered to him.
"Well yeah but he thinks I'm in a costume I don't think it intimidates him." Murray said.
"Come on what about The Murray I heard from Sly, the guy who went toe to toe with a mob opera singer in Venice or the guy who wrestled a bull in the old west to get his beloved van back?" Ivy questioned.
"Ivy I think what Murray means is he doesn't know we're not in costume, besides we don't want to attract any unnecessary attention." Bentley explained. "So lets play along for now."
"And if that doesn't work then what?" Zack asked.
Bentley paused for a moment before he answered. "Well….Then I'll let Murray go Rocky on his ass!" Zack smirked at that prospect as did Ivy.
While they spoke, the store owner was admiring the rock in his hand. "This specimen is Munto munita." He said.
Zack then came up to him and had a gold rolex on his wrist. He took it off. "Maybe my watch will jog your memory." Zack simply said.
This seemed to work. "No one knows where the new supply has been unearthed, and no one wants to know." The dealer explained. "Some rather sinister types control it."
Ivy and Bentley eyed each other knowing it sounded like they were on the right track. "What type of sinister types?" Ivy asked.
"And what did they look like?" Bentley asked.
The dealer started looking at the rock again. "My memory..it's not so good." He said in a hinting tone.
Zack then weighed in again with another gold Rolex which he 'had on him' "Maybe my other watch, will jog your memory." He handed him the Rolex and the dealer accepted it.
"One of them is french, dresses like a goat." The dealer explained.
The group knew that the dealer was talking about a certain VILE operative. Bentley held up his tablet from his wheel chair robot arm showing a picture of said operative.
"Did he look like this?" Bentley asked.
"Yes he did." The dealer said.
Ivy then stepped up to the cabinet and looked at him with intent. "Where can we find him?" Ivy asked.
The dealer smirked. "My memory, it's not so… HEY!" he noticed Zack was taking one of the gold Rolexes off his display stand, which explained where he got them from.
"My…sisters watch?" Zack smiled innocently.
Ivy sighed as she looked at Bentley who rolled his eyes knowing it was time for their plan B. "Now?" She asked.
"Murray." Bentley said to him and Murray simply grabbed the dealer by the shirt and slammed him to the wall.
"Listen pal you either tell us where to find this sinister french guy or The Murray will floss my teeth WITH YOUR SPINE!" He exclaimed.
The dealer began to sweat in nervousness. "Y..your bluffing!" He exclaimed.
To respond to that Ivy handed Murray a cup and he simply crushed it in his free bare/gloved hand. "The Murray never bluffs!"
"I'd listen to him, my friend here has a bit of a short fuse and can be a bit psychotic. So tell us where and I'll call him off, we'll even let you keep the gem."
The dealer smiled rather nervously showing his golden tooth, knowing she meant it. Plus he'd just lost his pants too.
The Hospital:
Chase Devineaux now stripped of his duties as an ACME agent was being wheeled out of the hospital in a wheel chair by a male nurse. Devineaux was silent and sad with in his hospital room Chief, Carmelita and Julia watched him be discharged. Carmelita still couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"He'll land on his feet." Chief said to them. "Or the hood of his car."
"The hood of his car seems appropriate." Carmelita voiced.
However there was one elephant in the room, that Julia needed to voice out. "My intuition tells me that Carmen Sandiego wasn't responsible for his abduction." She voiced. "There must be some other reason she was present."
Chief took a sigh before speaking again. "Look Agent Argent, you have a brilliant deductive mind one of the finest I've seen." Chief said. "learn to trust it and not your gut. However after what Agent Fox told me of her abduction we can't ignore the coincidence of VILE's potential involvement. But Sandiego and Cooper's presence is still questionable."
"Be that as it may Chief, perhaps we should gather intel before jumping to conclusions based on what we see rather than what we hear." Carmelita voiced. " I trust Agent Argents judgement."
"Indeed Agent Fox, things aren't as black and white as they appear." Chief agreed. Julia smiled warmly to the foxy inspector glad to know she had her back. Carmelita smiled back and nodded.
Just then came a knock on the door, the trio looked and saw the door opened to reveal Agent Zari was holding in her hands a pair of female ACME suits.
"Oh your suits arrived." Chief said as Agent Zari handed the two their suits, and a pair of glasses cases. "And regulation eyewear, Argent your prescription naturally. You're both ACME official now." Chief then eyed the shock pistol in Carmelita's holster. "Agent Fox you will need an ACME issue weapon now."
"Chief with all due respect, the shock pistol stays, its neutralising blast stuns criminals in place." Carmelita said. "Plus the shock blasts now have VILE's name written all over it."
Chief had to admit she could see the advantage of such a weapon, and given what Inspector Fox told her of Cooper it could be of beneficial use. "Very well I respect your decision. Now as your ACME official you will need an experienced agent to assist you, so Agent Zari is assigned to your team."
"Agent Argent, Agent Fox." Agent Zari simply greeted.
"I'm sending you all to Rio De Janeiro, our Crime Net analysts believe both Carmen Sandiego and Sly Cooper are there now." Chief explained. "Find out why, and catch them if you can."
Julia looked with a rather hesitant face, she still believed deep down that Sandiego was innocent, despite Carmelita vouching for her. Carmelita was no better, she felt a little bit of hesitance as well, she knew Sly wouldn't be associated with the likes of this VILE and if he trusted Carmen she couldn't be behind this. They both prayed Sandiego wasn't behind what happened to Chase.
Rio: Corcovado Mountain:
Under the gaze of the giant statue of Christ The Redeemer Carmen and Sly looked out from the staggering views from where they stood. Sly whistled in amazement.
"Whoa! Now thats a heck of a view!" Sly said amazed.
"I know it is." Carmen agreed. The two then pulled out their Binocucoms and started scoping out the area for any trace of VILE.
"So how's the view from up there guys?" Player asked.
"Trippy." Carmen said as they looked over the city through the Binocucom.
"Yeah, yours and Bentley's upgrades to the Binocucoms works great Player." Sly agreed as his Binocucom scanned over the city scape in front of them.
"Thanks, your scanners calibrated to recognise any gem mined from the same source as your sample. Molecular scans, soil traces, you name it." Player listed as Carmens binocular view shifted to the Favela's below, then to the scene of a small family with their child. Carmen couldn't help but smile at this scene. However when she looked she saw in the mothers arms her as a baby. She was shocked she looked through her binocucom again and saw it wasn't her at all just a baby boy.
"I must be seeing things." Carmen shook her head.
"You say something Carmen?" Sly asked.
"Ah no no, all good partner." Carmen said to him as she went back to looking through her Binocucom.
Sly however deep down knew differently, regardless he continued to survey the city from his Binocucom. However just then he could've sworn he saw a familiar looking ninja walking in the street, but when he looked again he wasn't there. Now he was starting to think he was seeing things, he just dismissed it.
The Favelas:
Thanks to the intel handed to them by the dealer, Ivy, Bentley, Murray and Zack were now in the Favela's as the information lead them there. But so far they had yet to find Le Chèvre, though three members of the group were exhausted from the heat and the exhaustion from climbing up the steep streets and stairways.
"Uhhh this place is wicked huge don't you know, this Favela just keeps going and going." Ivy moans.
However the most exhausted of all was Murray who collapsed to the ground in exhaustion while Bentley rolled up to him. "Hah hah hah How…how far have we climbed?" Murray asked.
"Murray I've explained this to you for years this happens when you skip your afternoon fruit." Bentley explained remembering the last time this happened.
"But what about?…" Murray was about to ask.
"No! A chocolate orange does not count!" Bentley argued back.
"But it tasted like fruit?!" Murray said.
"No buts!" Bentley said.
"Uh guys focus we need to fine Le Chèvre!" Ivy said.
"Ugh how are we gonna find him sis? It's not like he's gonna fall into our laps." Zack groaned.
However their fortunes soon changed. "Give it back!" called a voice, which instantly caught the groups attention. They crept behind a Favela, when they peered round one by one they spotted Le Chèvre, he was dressed in a goat mask with furs on his black costume. However right now he was holding a football he took from some children.
"Its our football!" Said one child. However the goat costumed VILE operative thought differently.
"No since I nearly tripped over your football, it is now my football." He said walking away from them as the two children spat their tongues out at the man who stole their ball.
Murray and Zack were shocked by this development. "Why that low down!" Murray growled.
"Yeah first thats a soccer ball, and second no way I'm gonna stand by and let him steal from a little kid!" Zack seethed.
"Right behind you Zack!" Murray said and they were about to go after Le Chèvre until Ivy and Bentley stopped them.
"Hold on you two!" Bentley urged.
"What buddy we can't let him get away with this!" Murray said.
"While I hate that Le Chèvre would so something this cruel, we can't risk a confrontation here." Bentley said.
"Hes right and Zack they call them footballs here, get over it, and second you'll blow the mission, we'll buy'em a new one later!" Ivy reminded them.
"Okay, Ivy you and your brother follow him we'll head through the back streets and head him off." Bentley said to them.
"You got it Bentley lets go bro!" Ivy said and so she followed Le Chevre's trail while Murray and Bentley zoomed away through the back street.
"VILE operatives don't wear costumes of themselves? Huh sis?" Zack said with a raised eyebrow.
Rio: Corcovado Mountain:
"Ground crew to Red Ringtail." Ivy called on the Binocucoms.
"We hear you ground hog crew." Sly teased.
"Very funny Sly but take this seriously!" Ivy snapped at him.
"Nicely done Ivy." Bentley agreed. "Anyway we spotted Le Chèvre."
"Where?" Carmen asked.
"In the Favela's wearing the lamest disguise ever!" Ivy said.
"He's dressed as a goat." Zack then said. Sly and Carmen shared a knowing not surprised look on their faces.
"Yeah he's practically begging us to crash this party." Murray agreed.
"Well better than a sign." Sly said.
"Keep a safe distance we're on our way." Carmen said as she pulled out a duffle bag and unzipped it to reveal hers and Sly's thief clothes.
Carmen slipped on her gloves, stealth suit, before putting on her red coat. Sly meanwhile tied his mask on his face, slipped on his blue and yellow gloves, his belt clicked together, between his shirt and pants. Finally both thieves slipped on their respective hats. Sly Cooper and Carmen Sandiego were now ready for action.
"Shall we." Sly bowed like a gentleman.
"Hold on." Carmen said. "Theres something missing from this picture." She then reached into her coat looking for something, and then much to Sly's shock, she pulled out a familiar looking cane, fully repaired as its golden hook glistened in the sun.
"M…my cane..h…how did?" Sly stuttered in complete surprise.
"Well a Cooper isn't complete without his signature tool." Carmen gave a warm smile. "Besides, Brunt destroyed the last reminder of your father, and it didn't seem right to me. So I had Bentley and Ivy repair it." She offered it to him.
Sly looked rather touched by what his partner said and so he took his cane back. It felt great to feel the wood his father touched in his hands once again.
"I…I don't know what to say Red." Sly said touched.
Carmen smiled as she placed a warm hand on his shoulder. "Don't say anything, thats what family does. We look out for each other."
Sly gave a warm smile, then without further delay he twirled his cane and sheathed it into his back. "Well. Shall we Cooper?" She curtsied like a lady.
"Ladies first Sandiego." Sly said bowing like a gentleman. Carmen leaped from the statue and pulled the cord activating her glider. Sly soon followed suit and activated his glider and the two glided down towards the city.
Meanwhile:
In the Favela's Ivy followed Le Chèvre, but quickly hid behind a building as the costumed VILE operative looked behind him. Meanwhile, Murray hid in the alley up ahead while Bentley hovered in his wheelchair's hover mode. Zacks hiding spot wasn't so conspicuous, he was behind a fruit stand. Suddenly when he stood up he accidentally knocked over a fruit box. This got Le Cheve's attention as he saw Zack looking at the stand hoping he wouldn't he instantly recognised that face from the Fish auction house.
"You!" He seethed as he threw the ball at Zack but he ducked and it scattered all the fruit boxes all over the place. The red haired Boston sibling popped his head up and saw Le Chèvre escaping swinging round the lamp post, with Ivy and Zack following close behind him.
Le Chèvre was about to escape when suddenly he slammed into something and quickly regained his footing. He looked and saw Murray in a fighting pose. "Going my way goat boy!" Murray cracked his knuckles.
Le Chevre took a running start and leaped over the hippo enforcer and tried to make a run for it. Until suddenly Murray turned around and curled into his aboriginal ball form and flew into the air and slammed into the ground the shock wave sent the VILE operative flying in the air, however he simply performed a flip and landed on a metal roof.
"Thanks for the lift hippo boy!" Le Chèvre smirked. Suddenly a dart nearly hit him but hit the wall. He looked and saw hovering in front of him was Bentley training his tech crossbow on him.
"Gotta ask yourself are you feeling lucky?" Bentley smirked. "Huh do ya goat!"
Le Chevre quickly avoided anymore incoming darts from Bentley's weapon then quickly leaped upwards and kicked one of the darts back which hit one of his hover jets knocking him off balance and sent him crashing to the ground. He would've crashed if Murray didn't run in and grab his chair.
"I got you little buddy!" Murray said as he caught Bentley in his hands. The group looked up to see Le Chèvre escape onto the Favela's rooftops.
High in the air Carmen and Sly glided across the sky side by side when Ivy called in. "Carm, Sly we lost our goat!"
Carmen and Sly look down to the Favela rooftops and see their target running across them. "I see him." Carmen said.
"Wow, Murray was right, he's practically begging us to come stop him." Sly said.
"We'll take it from here guys, but be on your guard, where theres a goat the mole isn't far behind." Carmen said to them and they soared across the sky in pursuit.
Back on the ground, Ivy managed to remove the dart from Bentley's chair left wheel and he was able to role again. So they hurried in pursuit of their target while keeping an eye out for his partner in crime.
"Should be easy enough to see coming." Ivy said as Murray and Bentley went on ahead.
"Yeah he's probably wearing a mole mask." Zack chuckled as they went past an alley, but little did they know that someone was watching from an alleyway he was in a black shirt with brown pants and black boots. He was wearing a bird mask on his face and squinted his eyes seeing the group pass. He gazed up and saw two certain thieves in their gliders flying across. He soon followed the group.
"She's wicked awesome." Zack said. However suddenly the two siblings saw a shadow behind them they turned round and saw a figure standing behind them.
"Uh oh!" Zack gasped.
"Hey Sly's pretty awesome too you know Zack." Murray said unaware, however when they turned round they saw they were gone. "Zack! Ivy!" He called. "Where'd they go?"
The hippo and turtle looked around for any sign of their missing friends, when suddenly. *CRASH* They looked to see a bin had toppled over they hurried over, and caught a glimpse of someone pulling Ivy away.
"Come on!" Bentley exclaimed and the two quickly gave chase to their friends abductor Bentley changed his chair to hover mode to keep up with Murray. They swerved a corner and hurried down the alley, however when they got there their quarry was gone.
"Huh where'd they go?!" Murray asked.
"I don't know they've got to be here somewhere." Bentley said. "I'll call Sly." He was about to call Sly via his binocucom when suddenly Bentley felt a pinch in his neck and he collapsed into unconsciousness. Murray quickly turned and saw what happened.
"Hey who are you?!" Murray yelled but before he could act the bird masked individual struck him in the neck knocking him out.
Meanwhile:
As the masked Le Chèvre sprinted across the rooftops of the Favela's he suddenly caught sight of the shadow from the two master thieves gliders. He turned and looked.
"Carmen!, Cooper! Impossible!" He cried as he tried to out run his pursuers. "How did you know I was here!?"
"Next time try disguising yourself as a giraffe." Carmen called to him.
"This is a costume not a disguise!" Le Chèvre exclaimed.
"Its the same thing from where I'm standing pal!" Sly called.
Him and Carmen landed on the roof and followed their quarry. Leaping from the rooftop Sly drew his cane and they leaped down from the rooftop. Le Chèvre leaped onto the grated roof below with Carmen and Sly close behind him. They ran down the street and ran through several Favelas in their path.
"Oh excuse me, pardon me excuse us!" Sly called as they passed through the living rooms and houses. A woman suddenly screamed as they went through a woman's house who was in a bath towel. "Oh sorry madam!" Sly said.
"Sorry madamoiselle." Le Chevre apologised.
The chase lead them out into another street, and Le Chèvre swerved into an open door through a small families house. The father was rather surprised as was his wife and young daughter. Le Chèvre leaped through the window and Sly followed. Carmen however looked back at the family and she saw the young brown haired girl as herself as a child playing with the nesting dolls. Carmen froze in awe by this but then.
"CARMEN COME ON!" Called Sly's voice which snapped Carmen out of it and she saw the girl wasn't her.
"Oh sorry." She said as she leaped through the window and saw Sly standing outside one of the corner houses. She ran to join him.
"Where's Le Chèvre?" Carmen asked.
"In here." He said. They stood against the wall and Sly readied his cane, Carmen nodded and Sly nodded in response.
The lady in red slowly opened the door then thrusted it open as they ran into the room and to the door leading to the balcony. However when they got there, there was no sign of the goat VILE operative what so ever. They looked to the right and left but there was nothing.
"Great we lost him!" Sly exclaimed in frustration.
"GAAHHHH!" Carmen yelled in frustration as she went back into the house.
"Red, Sly you guys alright?" Player called on the coms.
"We're okay Player we….just hit a little setback." Sly replied.
"No we didn't hit a set back and I'm not okay!" Carmen yelled to the both of them and sat down on the chair in the room to voice her frustration.
"Guys whats going on?" Player asked with concern.
"Whats going on is I fumbled all over again I had Le Chèvre in reach and I choked!" Carmen explained.
"Choked?" Player asked.
Sly decided it was time for an intervention. "Okay Carmen, enough bottling this up. What is going on? You haven't been okay since that night?" He said kneeling down to her.
Carmen sighed before she looked at Sly. "My heads not in the game Sly, when I'm not seeing imaginary Shadowsan's I'm seeing families with me in them everywhere I look!"
Sly just sighed as he placed his hand on Carmens. "Look I get it, your frustrated. I know since you were brought to VILE island you've wanted to know about your past and who you were before any of this." Sly said to her looking her dead in the eyes. "I know Shadowsan disappearing with those answers is taking its toll on you I would feel that way too. But your not alone in this Carmen, me Zack, Ivy, Player Murray and Bentley we're all here for you. Once we're done here I promise we'll track Shadowsan down and get those answers, we can't change the past but we can live for today and change the present."
Carmen was speechless by what her raccoon partner in crime had to say. So was Player he'd been listening in on the conversation the whole time. Carmen then out of nowhere enveloped Sly in a hug, the raccoon thief was rather taken aback by this, but smiled as he returned the hug.
"Com licença" Said a voice causing them to break from their hug and saw it was the father from the Favela they were in earlier. "Are you and your friend alright?" He then asked.
"Yes thank you I'm just..having a bad day" Carmen said sadly.
"Yeah I guess we both are." Sly agreed.
Just then the rest of his family appeared behind the father. "Maybe we can help? We're just about to eat why don't you both come join us?" He offered.
Sly smiled at that. "You know thats not a bad idea, right?" Sly then looked to Carmen who smiled and nodded in agreement.
Elsewhere:
On one of the rooftops of the Favela's the bird masked figure looked over an open watertower. Inside it tied up was Zack, Ivy, Murray and Bentley who were yelling through their gags as the individual shut the top of the tower.
Meanwhile:
Carmen and Sly sat down in the family's Favela, and were enjoying a home cooked meal of Feijoada. With one bite Carmen took in the natural dish's flavour and Sly had to admit he enjoyed it himself.
"Mmm…the Feijoada, is delicious." Carmen complimented.
"Yeah, this is the best meal I've ever tasted." Sly agreed.
"Brazils national dish, my grandmothers recipe." The mother said as she was plating up the meals.
"Well your grandmother is quite the culinary chef." Sly complimented the mother smiled at that compliment.
Suddenly a football went flying across the room just as the father caught it. The mother simply chuckled as the father looked to the party responsible.
"Isabel no football in the house." He lightly scolded his daughter who had Carmen's hat on.
"Aww, can I go throw water balloons at the Samba dancers?!" Isabel then asked.
The fathers look spoke otherwise though as he handed the ball back to his daughter. "No it is rude." He said as she went off to play.
"She's spunky." Carmen smiled admiring the little girls personality.
"Ai she's a terror." The father said going to sit down.
"Well most kids are, I know I was a bit of a terror when I was her age." Sly smiled.
"By the way I must commend you on your Carnival costume, it's so realistic." The mother said.
"Yeah, thats what I was going for." Sly said going along with it.
As the mother took out some rolls from the fridge and handed the plate to her husband. She then looked at Carmen holding her hands. "Speaking of terror, are you certain you two do not wish for us to call the Policia?" She asked.
"We're fine he didn't steal anything, at least not from us." Carmen explained.
"That is a relief to hear." Said the father as his daughter sat on the couch taking a roll from the plate and eating it. "Our community may not be wealthy but it is safe we all look out for each other and find ways to improve our quality of life." The father explained as his wife sat down.
"Wow so your community is like one big family." Sly said impressed. He had to admit he had such admiration though this village community wasn't rich they still live their lives and stick together through thick and thin. He wished there was someway they could help out people like this family.
"In a way I suppose we are." The father said.
"So why were you chasing him?" The mother asked.
"Long story." Carmen said not wanting to go into details. "But your sure you've never seen him before?"
"Or any other strange characters who don't look like they belong?" Sly also asked.
"We are certain." The mother confirmed. "He maybe a tenant of the corner house much like his friends."
Carmen and Sly had that same look of realisation hit them in the face as they looked at each other. "The one I thought we lost him in?"
"They are new to our streets, a group of friends we think." The father then explained.
"One of them wasn't dressed like a tiger were they?" Sly then asked taking a guess at who this group of friends were.
"Oh we wouldn't know, they keep to themselves and we never hear a peep." The mother explained.
This told the two master thieves what they needed to know, it was possible they missed something after chasing Le Chèvre. Carmen went up to Isabel who still wore her hat.
"Its a good look for you, but I need to borrow that back." Carmen said as she took her hat back.
"He..hey." Isabel said as Sly ruffled her hair with a smile.
"Have to admit it really suited you kido." Sly smiled.
"Thank you for your hospitality, it was just what I needed." Carmen said smiling.
"Yes thank you, it's really helped us a lot." Sly agreed as the two prepared to leave.
"But we have Bolo de Rolo's for desert." The mother offered to the leaving strangers.
Carmen and Sly took one last look at the family. "We need to catch up with a group of friends." Carmen smiled as they left and Sly tipped his hat in goodbye and the thief in red shut the door behind them.
The two walked down the street and spoke. "Player my little time out did me some good, and Sly you were right I can't change the past but I can affect the present. By helping people like this family."
Players room:
Player smiled at hearing that statement. "Now that sounds more like the Red I know."
Rio:The Favelas:
"You got that right, and you know if the Alexandrite is really valuable think of how the funds from it could help the people in this community." Sly agreed, and Carmen couldn't help but smile with a raised eyebrow which made Sly confused.
"What?" Sly asked.
"You're beginning to sound like me." Carmen smiled.
Sly had to admit she was right, normally he wouldn't consider things like more time he spent with Carmen the more he began to see a new perspective to his career as a thief, he did help people from time to time after stopping thieves like the Fiendish Five and The Klaww Gang. However he never once thought to help small communities like here in Rio. Could it be possible that all the time he spent in this world he was beginning to see a new lease on being a master thief, he wondered what Carmelita would he smiled at that remark.
The two then entered the corner house that they thought they lost Le Chèvre in, given what they learned maybe they missed something. The two looked around the room for any clues. However so far all they found was an ordinary living room. Just then out of the corner of Sly's eyes he noticed something.
"Hold up." He kneeled down and took a look at the floor near the chair and as Carmen came over she saw he was looking at grove marks in the floor. "This looks like it's been moved, loads of times." Sly guessed given the marks in the floor.
Carmen could see where her partner was going with this, it was then she noticed one of the floor boards wasn't the same as the others. She soon had a thought.
"Sly stand back." Carmen suggested and Sly stood up and away from the chair. Carmen then planted her foot on the floor board which suddenly clicked, and the chair moved forward to reveal what looked like a metal door in the floor. The two looked at each other realising what it could be.
Sly moved to open the floor door and it revealed a ladder going down into what looked like an underground tunnel. "How much you willing to bet this leads to a mining operation?" Sly said with a knowing look before he called Bentley via his Binocucom.
"Bentley we may've found the mine meet us at the Favela corner house." However all the raccoon thief got was static no response what so ever. "Bentley? Bentley? Murray, Zack, Ivy?" Sly tried but got no response at all.
"Okay thats weird, I can't get in touch with the others." Sly said to Carmen.
"Player we've lost contact with the others can you try reach them?" Carmen asked.
"Sure Red but what about you guys?" Player asked.
Carmen then proceeded to take off her hat and coat then place it into a nearby trashcan in the room. "We're heading underground, don't be surprised if you lose us."
"Well down the rabbit hole we go." Sly said as the two then proceeded to enter the hole.
Players Room:
Player was tracking them from his room."Shouldn't you wait for…" Suddenly he lost both Carmen and Sly's signals as their symbols disappeared. "Back up?"
Rio:Underground:
Sly climbed down the ladder and entered what looked like a cave tunnel, which was lit by lamps in the ceiling and Carmen was close behind him. The raccoon thief readied his cane and took point as the two proceeded down the tunnel, at a cautious pace. Just then they heard something.
"Can we wrap things up!" They heard a voice further down the tunnel, so they crept along and soon found the end of the tunnel which revealed a rather large mining operation with machines extracting what was left of the Alexandrite in the mountain. VILE agents were on guard while Tigress and the costumed Le Chèvre were talking. "Carmen Sandiego and Sly Cooper are onto us."
"Disguised yourself as a goat what do you expect?" Tigress pointed out given his disguise.
"It is a costume! Not a disguise!" Gah!" Le Chèvre huffed as he tossed his mask away.
Tigress just rolled her eyes at that, she then caught sight of some Alexandrite in the rocks coming out of the extractor. "Ooo, come to Tigress." She picked up the rock and put on her goggles to take a closer look. "High grade, who needs fun in the sun. It shines plenty bright down here." She smirked.
All who were present were unaware that the two super thieves were watching them from the mine tunnel. "Whoa, quite the mining operation they have here." Sly said impressed.
Carmen took note of all the agents and operatives in the room. "The cat and the goat." Carmen noted.
However there was one person that was unaccounted for as she and Sly noticed. "So the question is, where's the third stooge Mr Mole?" Sly wondered.
"Well if those two are here the Mole can't be too far…" Before Carmen could finish that sentence.
"Who likes delicious bolingnos!" Called a voice Carmen and Sly turned to see said Mole behind them with bags of food in his hands. "I brought some for…" Just then El Topo saw the two super thieves in the mine entranceway. He dropped the bags and approached them with deadly intent. Sly readied his cane standing in front of Carmen.
"Everyone." El Topo said as Carmen and Sly backed out of the mine entrance. "Look what I dug up, a ringtail and a red heron!"
Le Chevre turned and saw what his partner was talking about he glared. "What did I tell you?!"
Tigress turned round and saw Carmen and Sly in the mine she growled and took off her glasses and growled. "Get them!" She exclaimed.
Carmen and Sly stood back to back ready for a fight. Carmen threw a kick at El Topo but he caught her foot in his hand and pushed her onto her back. She looked up and saw Tigress leap in and tried to slash her claws at her, Sly quickly blocks the strike with his cane and pushes her away as Carmen got up on her feet.
The raccoon thief twirled his cane as Tigress tried slashing at him only for the raccoon to block her claws with his cane. Sly then performed a leg swipe tripping her up while Carmen dodged an attack from a VILE agent and tossed him into another.
Another VILE agent gave chase after Carmen, while Sly quickly blocked a crackle rod strike from another VILE agent with his cane then ducked under him and tripped him up on his cane. Just then he noticed a small switch on his cane and wondered what it could be. Just then El Topo rammed him to the ground, Sly quickly recovered and decided to press the switch then miraculously his cane split into two separate canes.
"Whoa!" He said in surprise El Topo lunged at Sly only for him to flip over him and with his cane grabbed his suit belt and tossed him into an incoming VILE agent. "Bentley, Ivy you beautiful geniuses!"
Carmen leaped over the convex belt from the extractor and jumped up to the top of the machine before the VILE agent could grab her. As she got to the top Le Chèvre climbed up to the machine to stop her from escaping.
Sly looked to see that Carmen was in trouble as Le Chèvre tried to grab her but she kicks him away only for him to back flip up and kick her in the back sending her to the floor of the machine. Before Le Chèvre could grab her though.
"Carmen think fast!" Sly tossed his other cane to Carmen who grabbed it in her hand and she used it to trip up Le Chèvre and then climb onto the upper conveyer belt. However Le Chèvre wasn't finished yet he leaped onto the machine above then climbed up the rocks near the conveyer belt and swung round and kicked Carmen off the machine. Sly continued to swat away the Agents with his cane when he saw Carmen.
"Carmen!" Sly called but before he could hurry to help her. *ZAP!* An agent struck Sly in the back with a crackle rod knocking him to the ground, and the agents restrained him.
"Sly!" Carmen cried she tried to help him but El Topo grabbed her from behind and restrained her by the arms. Sly was restrained and brought him before the operatives.
"Good catch mon ami." Le Chèvre smirked holding the two canes as Tigress approached.
"Look who decided to drop in." Tigress said smugly.
"We don't plan on staying for long." Carmen said. "Hate to come all the way to Rio and miss Carnival."
"Yeah not to mention catch some rays." Sly smirked and chuckled. "Heh and looking at you Tigress you look like you could use some sun, might help with that pale complexion of yours."
"Ooo good one." Carmen smirked.
"Thanks." Sly smirked back.
"Hm thats a good point." El Topo said.
"Quiet!" Tigress snarled at the Mole operative before turning back to their captives. "You know it's sweet you actually think your getting out of this one. How fedorable." She smirked.
El Topo and Le Chevre, tie up Sly and Carmen by their hands and legs restraining them. The two tried to get loose to no avail. "You guys do know that back home I have a history of escaping in a tight spot." Sly smirked.
"Oh don't worry, Dr. M told us of your miraculous escape attempts." Tigress smirked holding his cane which was placed back together. "But sadly your fancy stick isn't gonna help you this time."
"You do know it's not the cane that makes his escapes right?" Carmen said with a raised eyebrow.
"Well I will inform the Faculty we have finally captured Carmen Sandiego, and the infamous Sly Cooper." Le Cheve said.
"That will not be necessary." Called a voice from the tunnels. Everyone turned to see a man wearing a bird mask emerging from the tunnels. "We are already aware." He removed his mask and it was revealed to be none other than. Shadowsan.
"And we thank you." He said in a rather serious tone.
Carmen and Sly looked with wide eyes and shrunk pupils, the one who saved them in Paris was now here. But the question is, was he here to help them or was he here to bring them to VILE Island?
To Be continued
Authors notes: Oh boy looks like Sly and Carmen are in deep this time, but is Shadowsan here to help them or drag them back to VILE island? The answers to this come in part two. And yes Sly has his cane back and now the bond of family is beginning to build between him and Carmen. However looks like Devinaux's ACME days are over (for now) I'll admit in the canon series I was a little gutted he got booted out of ACME. He may've been annoying but still he brought some comedy to all of this especially the two cars he's waterlogged that was my favourite gag. But now Carmelita and Julia are now ACME official and the foxy inspector tries to make Chief see that theres more to this than meets the eye.
Now lets hope come part two Cooper and Sandiego can get out of this tight squeeze, and who knows what they might gain from this. So until the next update which will be soon.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS COOPER AND SANDIEGO?!