*Sly POV*
With the gang all back together thanks to Bentley, it was time for a little payback. After The Contessa had given us the slip back at her prison, she was now hiding out in her castle estate. It's a well-fortified gothic nightmare that would make any thief run away in fear. Terrible or not, that's where we're headed.
To sweeten the deal, The Contessa, who until recently was a secret member of the Klaww Gang, was also in possession of Clockwerk's Eyes. The Thievius Raccoonus described his eyes as hypnotic and able to stop even the strongest-willed targets in their tracks. And in The Contessa's hands, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what she plans on using them for.
After The Contessa's true allegiances were revealed to Interpol, they sent out Neyla and an army of armed mercenaries to invade her estate and take her down. The Contessa has her own forces fighting back, meaning we're about to head into a full-scale war.
Of course, considering Ben's connections with Neyla, I think we might be able to work things to our advantage here. And we better act fast before things go from bad...to worse.
As Sly went to take some recon photos of the surrounding area as well as The Contessa's Reeducation Tower to seek out what she was doing with the Clockwerk Eyes, Ben headed over to Neyla's HQ, an old bank house, and knocked on the front door. Sure enough, the tigress answered.
"Well, well, well, come crawling back to me, eh?"
Ben rolled his eyes. "Sorry, gorgeous, but I wanted to return these to you."
Ben then tossed Neyla her panties that he had swiped from her, causing her to narrow her emerald orbs at him in annoyance before chuckling.
"I thought I felt a breeze. You really are as skilled with your hands in more ways than I thought."
"Would you believe me if I said that was my first time?" Ben asked as Neyla huffed.
"What do you want? I don't suppose you're willing to give all the Clockwerk Parts that you and your little gang have, hmm?"
"Unfortunately, no. However, I do believe we can form a temporary truce of sorts?" Ben suggested as Neyla looked suspicious. "Listen, we hate The Contessa and you hate her just as much as we do. What say we work a little trade?"
"What are you suggesting?"
"Simple, you purchase a little more mercenary firepower to cause more grief for that witch, and me and my pals will help you arrest her when she's backed into the corner."
Neyla put a finger to her chin, contemplating the deal before smirking. "Alright then. We have a deal. I still have enough money to spare for a little extra hands on deck action."
As Ben was about to leave, his mission complete, Neyla suddenly wrapped her whip around his waist and spun him towards her, grabbing him by the shoulders as she gazed into his eyes hungrily.
"Still...I hope you pay me back with something a little more...PERSONAL."
Ben felt a pleasurable shiver run up his spine as he headed back to the Safehouse, where Sly had finished taking his recon photos and Bentley was setting up the plan of attack.
"Don't worry guys, I managed to convince Neyla to purchase some more firepower to cause more problems for The Contessa. What else is up?" Ben asked.
"Well, Murray will need to kidnap The Contessa's general, I want to ask him a few questions. And both Sly and I will be working on setting up a 'Bad Mojo Bomb' in order to destroy The Contessa's Hypno Box, it's the only way we'll be able to get at the Clockwerk Eyes!" Bentley explained.
"That and she's got Carmelita hooked up to be brainwashed. So, you know this is definitely personal for me." Sly said as Ben nodded.
"Well, you guys get going. I'll hold down the fort from here until we got a mission I can sink my teeth into."
"The Murray shall do so with muscle and grace!" Murray said, flexing his biceps as he, Sly, and Bentley went out to do their missions. With the Safehouse to himself, Ben decided to go onto ThiefNet and look around for anything worthwhile, eventually finding a pair of Paragliders for both him and Sly at the price of $2500. Considering all the money the gang had collected, paying for the Paragliders was as easy as pie.
As soon as Ben placed the order, he heard an airplane flying overhead before a crashing sound was heard. Opening the door to the Safehouse, he saw a large metal package. Pulling it inside, he opened it up and found it to be two Paragliders, one was blue with the Cooper Clan insignia and another was orange with a green monkey head on it.
"Neat. I'll take the one with the monkey."
Soon, Murray came back with Contessa's General and Bentley returned with the Bad Mojo Bomb. With what they had collected, Bentley extorted the security codes out of the General by tickle torture while Ben helped prime the Bad Mojo Bomb. With everything set up, the next phase of the plan was set.
"Okay, here's what we gotta do next; Sly and Ben will steal a prototype voice modulator so we can fool Neyla's troops while Murray hotwires one of The Contessa's tanks in order to draw out the fire of Neyla's forces. As for me, I'll go into the crypt to power up the old computer terminal in The Contessa's Reeducation Tower in order to save Carmelita. Also, thanks to Ben planning ahead, both he and Sly have Paragliders, which will be important to the heist."
"Alright...Cooper Gang, let's ROLL OUT!" Ben said, doing his best Optimus Prime impression as everyone split off.
"Oaff!" Murray grunted as he squeezed into one of The Contessa's tanks after hijacking it. "The seats' gotta go back farther than this!"
After getting the hang of the tank, Murray began going to town, causing problems for Neyla's forces, drawing their fire in order to keep them busy as Ben waited for Sly to arrive at the sewer entrance. Soon, his blood brother arrived with the keys to the sewers as well as a wiretap and voice modulator he snatched beforehand.
"I hope it wasn't too hard for you, pal."
"Nope. It was easy as taking candy from a baby."
The two snuck inside and slid across the wires before getting across a moat of sorts, dodging large octopus tentacles in the process.
"Since when did The Contessa have a pet Kraken?!" Ben exclaimed in disbelief as he and Sly made their way to the area where Neyla's satellite cable was located, finding it was already excavated.
"Looks like we got here just in time. How should we proceed, Bentley?" Sly asked through his comms.
"Splice in the wiretap then attach the voice modulator. I'll broadcast from the Safehouse to make sure it works...This is going to be so cool!"
"Mind if I have a spin when I get the chance, Bents?" Ben asked as Bentley chuckled, already guessing what his friend had in mind.
"Sure thing, Benjamino!"
After Bentley got the hang of the voice modulator wired into the communications, Ben and Sly returned to the Safehouse as Bentley went to complete his mission. Ben smirked as he tapped into the modulator and began talking, his voice being projected as Neyla's own.
"Attention, boys! This is Neyla talking! I just want you all to know that you're doing an awesome job! And I also have an announcement to make; Ben Shigura is quite literally the most handsome devil I've ever had the privilege of meeting! I constantly dream of having his strong arms wrapped around me as we-"
Neyla's face was a dark shade of purple-red as she listened in to someone using her voice on the communications with her forces to say all sorts of inappropriate things she'd want Ben to do to her.
"Why the bloody hell do we even need jelly sandwiches for THAT?!"
Sly and Murray were laughing their butts off but Ben was actually seriously into it, going into deeper detail of just how much Neyla 'wanted' him to do to her. Bentley soon got back from his job, having also listened in on what Ben was saying, and couldn't help but burst into laughter as well.
"Aww man, she is SO gonna kick your butt!" Bentley said between his chortles as Ben chuckled.
"Worth it!"
With everything in place to wage war on The Contessa, Bentley set up the plan in motion.
-Operation: High Road-
"It's time to wage war on the castle and in the confusion pull off a heist I've named Operation: High Road. First, Murray will take down the spotlights on the main gate with the codes provided by General Clawfoot. Then, with the help of the voice modulator, I'll order Neyla's forces to attack. Sly and Ben will then paraglide the three of us over to The Contessa's getaway blimp and we'll use it to get inside her re-education tower. The assault on the castle will undoubtedly draw the Shadow Guards off their post and if we free Inspector Fox she's sure to clear out the Contessa. With the Mind Shuffler exposed, I'll plant the Bad Mojo Bomb and PRESTO! The Clockwerk Eyes will be ours!"
"I'm loving this plan, Bentley! Let's fuck that bitches shit up!" Ben cheered as Sly, Bentley, and Murray blanched at him.
"Language, Benjamin!"
"I'm not apologizing!"
Murray made his way over to the searchlight control panel and typed in the codes provided by General Clawfoot.
"I hope that General guy told the truth or this is gonna get ugly."
Luckily, the searchlights went off as Murray pumped his fist in victory. With the lights off, he went off to find some extra firepower to help with the heist while Bentley talked into the comms using the voice modulator.
"Attention blood-thirsty mercenary forces: the castle defenses are down! Seize this opportunity for aggressive military action by pressing an attack on the castle. Charge! For Victory, for Glory! And for the sake of my one true love; Ben Shigura!"
Ben gave Bentley a look. "Really?"
The turtle gave his human friend a trollish look. "I was only speaking the truth, my friend."
"Now that you're done being a warmonger feel like paragliding over to that blimp?" Sly suggested as Bentley gulped.
"Just make sure to grab the rope hanging off that thing...I don't wanna drown."
"You're a TURTLE, Bentley. Can't turtles swim?" Ben pointed out as Bentley rolled his eyes behind his glasses and clung to Sly's back as he and Ben jumped off the edge of the roof they were on and paraglided over to The Contessa's getaway blimp. A few of The Contessa's guards got out to try and stop them but Sly and Ben knocked them overboard before hijacking the blimp.
"Alright, let's head for the Re-Education Tower!" Bentley said as he controlled the blimp to fly over to the balcony of the tower in question before docking it as he, Sly, and Ben headed inside. They found The Contessa being given the news of Neyla's assault by her Shadow Guards.
"What?! The mercenaries have breached the castle defenses?! All of you go, defend this tower to the last man!"
The Shadow Guards saluted before heading off while The Contessa returned to her control terminal for her Hypno Box.
"Don't worry my dear, I still have time to finish with your 'readjustment'."
Carmelita, who was strapped to a gurney, struggled against her restraints. "Let me out of here and I'll readjust your face!"
"Alright, Bentley, wanna see if we can tag-team this old terminal?" Ben asked as Bentley nodded, the two getting to work while also channeling the hacking prowess of Bruce O'Coop to bypass the defenses before finally freeing Carmelita from her prison.
Freed from her trap, Carmelita sprung to her feet before quickly retrieving her Shock Pistol, The Contessa barely even noticing that her prisoner was now free.
"Ah-ha! I've isolated the brain pattern... you and I are about to become the best of friends."
Carmelita smirked and aimed her gun. "Okay, 'new best friend'. Hands up, and I mean all of 'em!"
The Contessa gasped when she turned around and made her escape, Carmelita chasing after her. Sly, Bentley, and Ben headed inside the room, pushing down the gate.
"That Carmelita, always trying to resolve her problems with a shock pistol."
Ben chuckled at Sly's comment. "She's totally got you pegged, bro."
"She is rather truculent. Stand clear, you guys, this might have a larger blast than anticipated." Bentley warned, placing the Bad Mojo Bomb onto the Mind Shuffler and detonating it, knocking the Clockwerk Eyes free, both Ben and Sly swiping one of the eyes each.
"You okay, Bents?!" Ben asked as Bentley coughed, waving the smoke away.
"This is no place for an asthmatic..."
Just as the trio was about to make their escape, Ben suddenly felt a whip around his arm and pull, causing him to let go of the Clockwerk Eyeball he retrieved and into Neyla's awaiting hand.
"Well, well, well, I figured I'd pay you back for that little embarrassing tirade you told my men. Think this'll make a good payment."
"Neyla?!" Sly exclaimed as the tigress smirked before blowing Ben a kiss.
"And by the way...I'm not AGAINST any of those naughty suggestions you were spewing."
With that said, Neyla made her escape, Ben bolting after her. Sly and Bentley quickly took the one Clockwerk Eyeball they had with them and headed back to the blimp, despite Bentley's concerns about this not being part of the plan.
"Attention, all bombers: focus your attack on The Contessa's blimp!" Neyla shouted into her comms as Ben chased after her. The human thief's eyes widened in shock as he quickly contacted Sly and Bentley.
"Heads up, gang! You're about to come under heavy fire! Man the blimps' defense turrets and stay sharp!"
"Got it!" Bentley said on the other end as Ben continued keeping a close tail on Neyla, only to suddenly find her trapped in webbing.
"Well, well, well, it seems the fly got caught in the spider's trap."
Neyla grunted as she struggled against the webbing. Ben swiping the Clockwerk Eyeball from her hand before twirling out a serrated hunting knife from his coat pocket.
"Honestly, you say all that embarrassing stuff that you'd want to do to me in my voice but then you cut me free? You're a real playing card, love."
Ben chuckled as he caressed Neyla's cheek. "We may not be on the same side...but I do know for a fact I could never leave a beautiful lady hanging."
"You know? It's funny..." Neyla began. "I thought I could manipulate you just like the rest of your little gang...but you've just gone and swept me off my feet, haven't you?"
"I have that way with people. Sly himself told me so."
Before Ben could finish cutting Neyla free, webbing wrapped around his waist and pulled him up as he landed on his back with a grunt, quickly cutting the webs off with his knife before getting up to see The Contessa towering over him.
"Such a shame I could not get my claws on you, dear boy. Neyla was very convincing when she told me she wanted you to herself, saying that she could force all your secrets out of you."
"Oh, she forced SOMETHING out alright..." Ben chuckled as The Contessa scoffed.
"Ugh, this is why I cannot understand humans. The beastkins, I can probe into, but humans are truly an anomaly of their own."
"Well, you're about to learn a few things about me, gorgeous...like how I don't like seeing my friends being used as guinea pigs for your mind pedophilia!"
The Contessa scowled and lunged forward, swiping her claws at Ben but he slowed down the flow of time and dodged to the side, causing her to fall off the side of the building but Ben caught her by two of her legs, holding her above the tall height.
"You know, I COULD drop you. You wouldn't be able to spin a web fast enough to save yourself. You'd go squish like a regular spider under a person's boot."
"Y-You wouldn't dare..." The Contessa gasped out as Ben smirked, slightly loosening his grip to get his point across.
"Would I? Wanna take that gamble, dear?"
The Contessa struggled but then Ben let go, causing her to scream as she plummeted to the ground, only for him to fire his grappling hook and catch her just in time, her face mere inches from hitting the ground. He then pulled her up and threw her hard onto the roof, making sure she was knocked out.
"I'm not like you and I'm not like Clockwerk either. Just know while you're rotting in prison that your life was in someone else's hands."
Neyla jumped onto the roof and saw The Contessa unconscious and Ben had already escaped in the nick of time. The tigress huffed as she put her foot on The Contessa's back to keep her pinned down.
"Well, at least I got you out of the way, you bloody witch."
*Ben POV*
I regrouped with the rest of the gang and managed to escape just as Interpol showed up to arrest The Contessa. Of course, Neyla kept our role in taking her down anonymous and was credited for bringing the 'Traitor of Interpol' to justice, being promoted to Captain in the process.
Carmelita ended up joining us since, due to Neyla screwing her over, was still at odds with Interpol. Sly was certainly happy about the fact he got to rescue his 'favorite policewoman'.
We got out of Prague as fast as possible after we parted ways with Carmelita. The business with the Klaww Gang was spiraling out of control and our gang was at the center of this conflict. However, my primary thoughts were on Neyla, I don't know what compelled her to think joining up with Clockwerk when his body was restored was a good idea but she was in way over her head.
We needed to find all of Clockwerk's parts and destroy them so that he would never burden the Cooper Family ever again...or corrupt anybody else with his influence.
Huzzah! An actual long chapter! I hope you all are happy!
Next Time: He Who Tames the Iron Horse!
The gang makes their way to Canada in order to take on Jean Bison, the main head of the Klaww Gang's spice shipping.