What is up everybody? Did you miss me? I sure as heck missed you guys! I want to ask for your forgiveness because my laptops been in the shop I
haven't been able to come on as often as normal. But now it's back and I'm ready to kick off my return with the latest chapter of S.C.N.R.: #13: The
Murray Returns.
Chapter 13: The Murray Returns
After a good nights rest, the gang awoke early the next morning. The time had come to put an end to Octavio's pollution once and for all. But as Bentley explained
the the mission, Neyla and Sly were barely paying attention. The events of the previous night were still fresh in their minds, and they stared at each other until
Bentley noticed.
"Ahem!" he said catching the attention of both individuals.
"Are you two even listening? If anything goes wrong all our work will be for nothing, and we'll lose our only shot at bringing Murray home." Bentley said.
"Sorry Bentley, please continue." Neyla said. Bentley nodded then finished explaining the mission. Then the trio headed out to their positions. Bentley lead Neyla
through the path that he and Sly used to break into the opera house two days prior. Meanwhile Sly took a position on a rooftop near the stage. Soon everyone was in
position.
"This is it Sly. Octavio is due to arrive for the opera recital in just a few minutes. How does it look out there?" Bentley asked.
"We did a good job taking out the advertising… no one's shown up to listen. No audience means no demolition demonstration." Sly said.
"Good, part of the job is done, but to finish it we need to take out the main tar vacuum. The opera house is likely filled with guards, so you'd better keep your
disguise on until you reach the pump room." Bentley said.
"No problem Signore." Sly said as he switched to his disguise and headed for the opera house door.
"He's on his way. Get ready with the passwords." Bentley said. Neyla nodded.
"Halt! What's Octavios house password?" the guard asked. Then Neyla provided the code.
"Tenor,Soprano,Tenor,Soprano." Sly said. The guard nodded in confirmation.
"Don't be long. The boss's opera recital is about to start." The guard said as he let Sly through.
"So I noticed you and Sly were really distracted earlier Neyla, care to tell me why?" Bentley asked.
"Well Sly invited me to dance last night. We danced and then, the most wonderful thing happened." Neyla said barely containing her blush.
"What did you two do?" Bentley asked. She was about to answer when Sly called in.
"Bentley we have a problem. There's a double button security door guarding the pump room." Sly said. Bentley was stunned when he heard this.
"Hang on! I'll think of something. Just give me time." Bentley said. No sooner had he said that the same door opened to reveal Octavio himself.
"Hold that thought Bentley." Sly said. Then Octavio noticed him.
"You! I don't recognize you… what's the Secret Soprano password?" Octavio asked.
"Octavio's got to be kidding me with this one." Neyla thought as she relayed the code to Sly.
"Tenor,Bass,Tenor,Tenor." Sly said. Octavio nodded.
"OK. Pass word to the rest of the guards that under no circumstances am I to be disturbed during my big comeback recital." Octavio said to Sly.
"Yes, sir. I'm certainly looking forward to the performance. Once I'm done in the pump room, I'll be heading out to the stage. Um if it's not too much trouble could
you help me with this door?" Sly replied.
"But of course, for a fellow music lover it would be a pleasure." Octavio said. Then seconds later the door was open.
"Be quick in there… you won't want to miss out." Octavio told Sly as he entered the pump room.
"Sly! Sly! Over here!" Bentley said calling Sly over to the side door.
"Nice to see you two." Sly said as he opened the door to let them in. Once inside they talked.
"We need to move quickly while the recital is getting underway." Bentley said.
"You ready with the bombs?" Sly asked.
"As I'll ever be. Once all six pipes are destroyed, the main vacuum should begin to lose suction." Bentley said.
"Got it. If any guards hear the explosions, let me and Sly deal with them." Neyla said. Bentley nodded and headed for the first pipe. As he bombed them, guards
started to flock towards them. Like they promised Neyla and Sly fought them off. Before long all six pipes were destroyed and a massive pile of guards lay nearby.
"That was fun." Neyla said as she stretched to relieve tension.
"Nice work partner. Is there still time to catch the recital?" Sly asked as he too stretched.
"We're right on schedule. If my calculations are correct he should be about to perform an aria, originally written as a duet. That's when we strike!" Bentley said as the
trio exited the pump room. once outside of the opera house they spoke briefly.
"You really think he's going to let you onstage with him?" Neyla asked. To her Bentley did not look like the singing type.
"Of course, he's a musician! He'll be "overjoyed" to have a lyrical counterpoint. Just be ready to drop the once I've lured him underneath." Bentley said. Then the trio
headed to their positions. Bentley waited in front of the stage, while Sly and Neyla waited on a nearby roof. Octavio arrived at the stage and the first thing he saw
was Bentley.
"Ah, Mr. Tomato Fertilizer. You got a death wish?" Octavio growled. Bentley just smiled smugly.
"I just couldn't resist showing you up at what you treasure most… Opera singing!" Bentley said. This piqued Octavios interest.
"You're a vocalist? Fine. A duet is coming up. We'll sing first then I'll gut you." Octavio said.
"Bring it on Grandpa, I'll sing you under the table!" Bentley said as he rolled his chair up on stage. Then Sly and Neyla used a nearby rope to head to the top of the
stage. Then they took positions on opposite ends of the stage and waited for the show to start. Once it started they began cutting ropes one at a time. The styles of
both singers were different. Octavios was bold while Bentleys was shy, but both managed to stay in tune. Close to the end of the recital Octavio was finally in
position. Sly and Neyla were going to cut the rope together. Soon the signal came.
"LAAAAAA!" Bentley sang to distract Octavio. "Now!" He shouted. Then the line was cut.
"Whuh? Nooooo!" Octavio shouted as he braced himself. But then at the worst possible time a very familiar shock blast destroyed the chandelier.
"Freeze! The lot of you are going to jail!" shouted Inspector Fox as she aimed her weapon at the group. Then one of Octavios goons arrived in a boat.
"This recital… is over." Octavio said as he made a quick exit. Then Inspector Fox opened fire.
"He's still got the demolition switch!" Bentley said. Then he spotted the police boat he and Neyla used and made a break for it.
"Go after them! I'll hold her off!" Sly said. Neyla nodded then got in the boat with Bentley and the pair chased after Octavio. "Hey Inspector!" Sly called waving his
arms. Then Carmelita turned and opened fire on he got her attention Sly led her away from the area, but not before she called for her mercenaries to begin blocking
off the canal where the other chase was going on. This time she had them surrounded.
"Can't you go any faster?!" Bentley shouted to Neyla.
"This is all she can do! Take out Octavios engine and we'll have him!" Neyla shouted in reply.
"I hope you remember how to drive this thing because this canal is filled with cops!" Bentley said. Octavio was just ahead of them and he tried to take them out by
deploying mines from his boat. But they dodged them with ease and before long Octavio engine was smoking.
"No! Nobody outsings Octavio! Not nobody!" Octavio shouted in outrage.
"We almost have him!" Neyla said. Then after a few more well timed machine gun bursts, Octavios engine was destroyed and his boat started to lose control.
"He's out of control! Neyla get ready for a sudden stop!" Bentley said.
"No! More to the left you idiot; We're going to crash!" Octavio shouted in vain as the boat flew out of the water and crashed into the stage. Murray watched this from
a nearby roof, Sly having given Carmelita the slip, met up with Bentley and Neyla.
"It's over Octavio, you're beat. Give us the demolition switch and we'll all try and ditch these cops." Sly said.
"You chasin' me fuh this?! Fine big shot. It took me six months to prepare this thing… but what the hey! I got more where this came from!" Octavio said as he pulled
out the device in question.
"You guys see that boat go out of control and jump and smash into that thing?! Destruction! So cool!" Murray said after being deprived of such things during his
training.
"You think that was "cool" punk?Hehheh." Octavio said as he pushed the button on the switch. Then an explosion was heard and a building was sunk, while Octavio
laughed maniacally. Then he went after Bentley.
"You monster! Stop it! Stop it!" Bentley said. But once Octavio was close enough he kicked the living snot out of the turtle causing him to collapse and fall out of his
wheelchair.
"Murray, we need your help. I've never seen someone move that fast. Octavios old but he's still got it. Let's take him together." Sly said but Murray was hesitant.
"But...But… I vowed to my Guru to renounce all violence… and the water's still black!" Murray said.
"It'll be clear any minute now trust us. Now let's take him!" Neyla said.
"You're right to be scared hippo! Your wheelchair friend shoulda been so smart." Octavio said.
"Murray… help." Bentley said before he lost consciousness. this was all Murray could take. IN a fit of blind rage he tore off his necklace.
"THAT DOES IT! I'll floss my teeth with your spine!" Murray shouted as he jumped from the roof and hit Octavio with a solid punch forcing him back.
"The Murray returns!" Murray shouted. Then the fight was on. However Octavio maintained a solid edge with his speed for a while until Sly and Neyla began operating
nearby tar valves. Murray then lured octavio into the center where a pool of tar erupted to the surface for a brief time slowing the lion down. Once he slowed down
Murray brought the hammer down on him slugging him like no tomorrow. But after a while the supply was dry.
"Murray these pumps are out of tar! We saw some more over by the cop station. Follow us to a fresh supply!" Sly said as he and Neyla made a break for the station.
Soon Murray followed, with the Don in hot pursuit. Then once they reached the station they lured him into the tar pit once again. But the Don didn't look too worried.
"You may have more tar, But I'm a holding back no longer! Listen to the song of your death!" Octavio said.
"The Murray knows no song, but the triumphant horn section of his own triumph!" Murray declared. But this only annoyed Octavio.
"Quit talking stupid kid and die!" he said and true to his word Octavio utilized a unique sonic attack to try and hurt Murray but once the tar was flowing Murray
unleashed a furious barrage of fists upon Octavio. Then once he found an opening he unleashed his full might upon Octavio knocking the old lion on his hindquarters.
"So that's it. The old guards out and a new generation steps in!" was all the old timer said before passing out. Then Sly went up to him and swiped the demolition
switch.
"That's right! Stepping in! Big time!" Murray said triumphantly.
"Time to go Murray, we got the demolition switch. Let's go get Bentley and run for it… cops are closing in." Sly said then the trio left Octavio and went to go retrieve
Bentley.
"Oh… What happened?" Bentley asked as he regained consciousness.
"Octavios down for the count, nobody messes with my pal, and gets away with it." Murray said.
"Come on let's get Bentley back to the hideout. I need to make sure there is no permanent damage." Neyla said. They nodded, helped the turtle into his wheelchair
and headed for the hideout. The next day, the gang read the paper and saw that Octavio wasn't as fortunate as they were. The front page showed a picture of
Inspector Fox using a beaten and bruised Octavio for a makeshift bench while she sipped her coffee. On a side article it said that Octavio was given thirty years
behind bars for what he did, but had found a career as a singer in prison.
"Serves that punk right!" Murray said as he read it over Slys shoulder. He was so distracted he didn't notice Neyla appear behind him with a wooden box tucked under
her arm.
"Um… hi Murray." Neyla said. Murray turned to face the tigress.
"Morning Neyla!" Murray boomed. Then he saw the box. "What's in the box?" he asked.
"I believe you'll be needing these back." Neyla said as she handed the box to Murray. He took it and opened it to see his gear inside.
"You guys held on to my stuff?" Murray asked.
"It's yours if you're ready to come back into the gang." Bentley said. The hippo responded by heading to the restroom.
"If anyone needs me I'll be heading to my room to book our flight home." Bentley said as he left the to do the task leaving Sly and Neyla alone.
"Hey Sly about last night… did you mean it?" Neyla asked a slight blush forming on her face. Sly was thinking on this for a few moments. At first he thought his heart
was set on Carmelita. But after spending the last three months with Neyla his feelings changed.
"Of course I meant it Neyla. Why do you ask?" Sly replied. Then Neyla smiled.
"I just needed to make sure it wasn't the romance of Venice talking." Neyla said. Then Sly dug his hand into his side pack and retrieved a small box.
"What's that Sly?" Neyla asked.
"I talked with Bentley last night and after everything you've done during your stay here with us and during the operation, we agreed that you earned this." Sly said
handing the box to Neyla. She opened it and to her surprise in it was a patch in the shape of the blue and white Cooper Gang logo. "Welcome to the gang Neyla." Sly
said. Neylas smile widened and tears of joy began to form as she attached the adhesive patch on to the left side of her vest.
"Thank you Sly. I'm honored. I could just kiss you right now." Neyla said.
"What's stopping you?" Sly said. Neyla blushed and prepared to do just that when Bentley came into the room.
"Consider our flight booked." he said. Then Neyla and Sly quickly distanced themselves from each other. "I see Sly gave you the patch. From here on out you have
my trust." Bentley said. Then Neyla jumped and hugged the turtle.
"I won't let you down!" Neyla said.
"I hope not." Bentley said. Then they heard a set of thudding footsteps. They turned and saw there in his signature gloves, mask and scarf stood Murray.
"Guys, "The Murray" is coming home." Murray said.
"That's great Murray, Welcome back. Also say hello to our gangs newest member." Sly said referring to Neyla.
"Welcome aboard Neyla!" Murray said as he embraced her in a bone crushing hug.
"Thank you… Murray… Can't… Breathe!" Neyla squeaked as her usual lilac colored fur started to turn a dark blue.
"Whoops sorry about that." Murray said as he released the suffocating tigress.
"It's alright. Though I hope we can put whatever happened between me and your gang behind us." Neyla said. Murray nodded then later that evening after donning
on their disguises the gang headed for home.
Meanwhile back at Dr, Ms fortress a certain murderous tigress had just arrived. Dr. M was there to greet her.
"Welcome home Neyla. Did you have a successful hunt?" Dr. M asked as she exited the craft.
"I would've if Coopers newest lackey hadn't shown up to stop me!" the tigress said in frustration. However this revelation took Dr. M off guard.
"Cooper? What was he doing in… did you say new lackey? Last I heard his gang was only three members." Dr. M said.
"Well then he must've expanded recently because Carmelita herself confirmed that the person was one of Coopers friends." The tigress said.
"Intriguing. Well for now I believe you earned yourself a rest." Dr.M said. The tigress nodded then headed to her room. "So Cooper has a new ally eh? This just got
interesting." Dr. M said to himself before returning to his lab.
And that's all she wrote for this chapter! Now as you all may have noticed I have been referring to Neylas clone as "The Tigress" for the most part.
Well it's only temporary until I figure out what else to call her. Also I've been considering changing the title to better suit the story. If any of you
guys have any ideas for either of those things feel free to PM me or leave it in your review. Before we head to Australia I'm going to do a chapter
built around the "Good bye My Sweet" easter egg. Till then see you guys next time!