*Sly POV*

After our break in Bollywood, we got back to tracking down Rajan. It took some detective work but we managed to uncover his main base of operation; a long-forgotten temple that was now the thriving center of his spice operation.

The jungle leading to where he was, unfortunately, was too thick to drive through, meaning we had to trek there on foot. We ran into a few problems along the way, like giant insects and quicksand, but managed to push on.

At the temple, Rajan was keeping his claws on Clockwerk's Heart. It had a pump so powerful and tireless, the energy produced by it could help increase spice production tenfold, perfect for someone like Rajan.

Hope he's not counting on the heart too much because tonight, it comes home with me and the gang.

Sly and Ben had both gone ahead to take some recon photos. Bentley was helping guide them to the best area to go via the commlink.

"Okay, according to my scanners, you're near the spice-growing facility. Judging from my knowledge of photosynthesis, they should keep all the expensive equipment at the top. That access tube should get you up there undetected."

"Good to know you got our back, Bentley. Guess we just need to worry about our front." Ben said as he and Sly made their way inside and soon saw Rajan overlooking his spice operations. On his staff was one half of Clockwerk's heart while the other half was held above the spice plants, its pump producing energy to irrigate the spice and increase its growth production.

"Hmmm, bring those photos back to the Safehouse. We'll really need to think about this one." Bentley hummed over the comms as Ben and Sly made their way back. When they did, Bentley looked over the photos and came up with his plan of attack.

"The Clockwerk Heart is under some steep security. Heck, Rajan is carrying half of it at all times. To get at the goods, we'll need some more information. Sly will need to take a local Indian Water Bug to Rajan's office so its wing vibrations can be used to hear what he says. Meanwhile, I will lift the spice operation blueprints off the spice lord while he makes his round...Unfortunately, while we're getting intelligence on him, he'll be collecting data on us with an elephant-driven satellite array. This leads me to Ben. You'll need to find some Rage Rosetrum growing in the jungle canopy and feed it to the elephant to destroy the contraption."

"I just hope the elephant will be okay after it's all over. Rage Rosterum is bad news." Ben muttered, not too keen on drugging an innocent animal.

With the plan in motion, Sly, Bentley, and Ben all set out to do their jobs while Murray guarded the Safehouse. Sly found the water bug and brought it to Rajan's office safely, making sure to keep it hydrated and happy with nearby pools of water.

Bentley followed after Rajan as he patrolled the temple, having set up some Indian Watermelons spiked with his sleep dart formula to knock Rajan out when he ate them. As soon as Rajan fell asleep, Bentley leaped into action and swiped the blueprints off his person.

"What?! The blueprints! They have been stolen?!" Rajan gasped in disbelief once he recovered. Bentley chuckled mischievously as he spied on him from his Binocucom. As for Ben, he was leaping across the treetops, swiping Rage Rosterum plants and soon collecting enough to put in the elephant's feed bag.

"Forgive me, my friend..." Ben sighed as the elephant chowed down and flew into a rage, breaking free from the satellite array and destroying it while fleeing into the jungle deep.

Rajan had also noticed the elephant escaping after Bentley had stolen his blueprints. Growling, the Spice Lord knew that he was no longer safe out in the open.

"Vipers in the grass!" He turned to some of his nearby guards. "Protect my temple from any further intrusion! I expect my meals and drinks delivered to me from here on out until those thieves have left my empire!"

As the trio got ready to head back to the Safehouse, Ben's eyes caught sight of a familiar slender purple figure. He silently told Sly and Bentley to go on without him as he went to confront the source, who smiled when she saw him arrive.

"Ah, Phantom Joker, we meet again."

"Ah, Neyla, I hope you weren't too sore about me leaving you behind after the dance back at the palace."

"Oh, not to worry. The flower was lovely and the look on Carmelita's face was more than worth it."

"So, did Rajan call you to back him up? Considering you're technically one of his 'friends'?"

"Actually, I was planning on leading you to the Clockwerk Heart that he's keeping in his spice factory. I know a secret entrance that I'm sure someone like you would LOVE to explore."

"Why not just steal it yourself?"

Neyla chuckled. "You naive little blighter. I'm still working with Interpol here, I can't go in without a warrant."

"Well, I guess it's Follow the Leader, huh?"

"You know it."

Neyla led Ben to the secret entrance. Just as he was about to go inside, she stopped him by wrapping her whip around his waist and spinning him towards her.

"Now, don't go doing anything I would've done. If push comes to shove, I never led you here."

"Duly noted."

Ben headed inside to see Rajan overlooking spice production, holding his staff that carried half of the Clockwerk Heart on it while the other half was above the large vat of spice mix.

"Hmmm..." Ben hummed, rubbing his chin as an idea formulated in his head. "Been a while since I used the Time Slow/Stop Technique...guess it's a good a time as any!"

Ben then began slowing down time around him as he rushed around the entire interior of the temple, swiping the guard's keys so that he could unlock the winch holding up the first half of the Clockwerk heart, which he swiped before it hit the ground. He then ran to Rajan, stole the other half of the heart from his staff, then slapped him twice across the face, and even drew the infamous 'Dickbutt' meme on the seat of his pants with a permanent marker.

"Oh man, this'll piss him off!"

With his goal set, Ben rushed right out of the temple as time returned to normal speed, Rajan slowly realizing what had happened and letting out a furious roar of rage.

"Whoo-hoo-hoo, he's pissed!" Ben chortled, deciding to lay low with the heart in tow while the gang did a few more jobs. Ben watched over Bentley and Murray as they brought a priceless ruby from the temple to some secret buyers, who supplied them with a Cherry Bomb 500 in return for the jewel's delivery.

Ben then heard Rajan over the PA, no doubt finding out that Sly had destroyed his spice production plant.

"What's going on down there? Spice production is falling behind!... Wait! It's completely stopped!"

Ben then tapped two fingers to his comlink. "Hey guys, I got both halves of the Clockwerk Heart from Rajan thanks to a little assistance from Neyla. Considering we've ruined his spice operation, wanna head out of here?"

"No, we need to make sure Rajan will not play any more of a part in Arpeggio's evil scheme than he already has!" Bentley said. "But be sure to bring the Heart to the safehouse for safekeeping."

Ben nodded and returned to the Safehouse, handing Bentley the heart. Sly and Murray had already gone to deal with Rajan. However, before he could move to help his friends, he suddenly felt something constrict around his neck tightly.

"Sorry about this, Ben..."

"N-Neyla?!"

Ben couldn't think of anything else as he lost consciousness. Despite knowing that Neyla was part of the Klaww Gang, she still managed to get the drop on him in the process.

"Clever girl..."

*Bentley POV*

It was all too much to handle all at once. Murray managed to defeat Rajan after Neyla had suddenly double-crossed Sly, causing him to get knocked out by Rajan. As soon as the police came, Neyla revealed she had also captured Ben and even betrayed Carmelita!

As I saw everyone get loaded into the holding van, I realized what I needed to do. Making my way back to the van, I had to follow after them in order to save my friends! I just hope I can figure out how to drive a stick shift...

Next Time: Jailbreak!

Neyla has Ben as her personal prisoner now and reveals her true plans to her sort-of lover. As Bentley rescues Sly and Murray, Ben makes his own daring escape.