Sly was the first to return back to the Safe House, Rai entering maybe a few minutes later, though she seemed a little rattled. However, before anyone had time to question her, she practically threw her binocucom onto the table as it slid over to Bentley, who cautiously removed the chip from her device, taking Sly's out as well, so that he could try and piece all the photos together to help formulate some kind of plan. After taking some time to analyze all the photos he had gotten, Bentley began to do some digging, only to find out that Rajan was using his elephant-driven satellite array to track what they were doing, which would pose as a big problem. In order to dissolve this issue of theirs, it was going to be up to Sly to gather up some special spice plants to then place in the elephant's food bag. Once the elephant ate the spices, it would then go into an uncontrollable rampage, therefore, destroying the satellite dish. Now, as for Rai on the other had, it was going to be her job to try and bug Rajan's office, only there was a small catch, one she wasn't particularly going to enjoy at all...

"No." Rai flat out stated. "I'm not doing that."

"But, Rai—"

"I said no, Bentley! Absolutely not!" Rai snapped. "You can't seriously expect me to go into Rajan's office wearing that goddamn outfit again, because it's not going to happen! I'm not putting my neck on the line just for that!"

"Rai, please, I know you don't like it, but we need you to bug Rajan's office because there is a very small window for Sly to do it, but he most likely won't be able to make it in time, so you're the only one we can rely on now. You just have to do this one mission in that outfit, then after this, you'll never have to wear it again, I promise." Bentley tried to reason with her.

Rai growled, her eyes narrowing. "You're swimming in dangerous waters, Bentley, and I don't like it." She hissed. "I refuse to put myself in possible danger just to bug his office! You've clearly fallen off your rocker if you think for a second that I'm just gonna—"

"Oh, so you don't wanna stop the Klaww Gang then, is that it?" A voice cut in, Rai whipping around only to find Sly, his arms crossed over his chest.

Rai's eyes narrowed again. "Oh, don't think you can try and convince me either, Sly, because you've got another thing comin' otherwise."

"My question still stands, Rai." Sly said sternly. "Do you want to stop the Klaww Gang or not?"

"Well, yes, but—"

"Then just do the mission and get it over with." He cut her off, his voice somehow cold this time.

Rai stared at Sly, almost in shock for a moment before clenching her fist. "And after all the shit you've said to me, trying to convince me that you were on my side, and yet here you are, basically telling me I don't have a choice but to interact with the man that scarred me for life, is that it!?"

"Do you have a better plan?" Sly asked.

"If I had the time, then—"

"Well, hate to break it to ya, sweetheart, but time isn't exactly on our side. So, you've two choices here: Either you suck it up, put the outfit on, and go bug Rajan's office, or you jeopardize the whole plan by refusing to cooperate and ruin our chances of getting the Clockwerk Heart. It's your choice."

Rai stared at Sly again, in complete shock and disbelief, basically giving her no means of getting out of this mission. She was silent for a long moment before turning her gaze away as she clenched her fist. "I hope you realize what you're doing here, Sly, because right now, you're barking up the wrong tree..."

"You can get pissed at me later, after this mission is complete." He said, almost in a harsh tone.

Rai growled, however, before she decided to do something she'd regret, the fox merely stomped past Sly. "If he tries anything with me, I hope you realize that you're going to be to blame for it." She hissed while brushing past Sly, only to arbitrarily slam the door to her room shut, causing everyone to flinch.

While Rai was getting ready, however, Bentley sighed, his face in his hand. "You didn't have to be so harsh with her, Sly." Bentley reasoned.

"How else was I going to get her to do the damn job, Bentley?"

"We would've found another way!" Bentley abruptly snapped at Sly. "You, of all people, know what she's had to go through with the Klaww Gang, and even Kisara, so I didn't want to force her if I didn't have to! If something happens to her in that mission, then it'll be on me, Sly! The least you could do is show some darn sensitivity towards her!"

Sly was actually taken aback when Bentley had suddenly snapped at him, but at the same time, he wasn't wrong either. "It won't be on you, Bentley, it'll be on me, because I'm the one making her do this. I'll take responsibility for whatever happens to her, so just...calm down."

Bentley sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm holding you responsible for whatever happens to Rai on this mission. If I so much as see a scratch on her, you will never hear the end of it from me."

"I got it, Bentley, so just let me handle this..." Sly told him firmly.

Meanwhile, after Rai had closed the door to her room, she stomped over to the bed. She reached into the drawer of the bedside table and took out the outfit, staring at it for a long moment before growling, throwing it on the bed in a fit. Rai then stormed into her bathroom as she slammed her hands on either side of the sink, huffing. She turned the water on and let it fill up before finally gazing up at her reflection, turning the faucet off when the sink was full. For a brief moment, Rai could've sworn she saw image of herself in that outfit as it flashed on the mirror before another of her forcing a kiss onto that tiger so he wouldn't see the wings being taken, her eyes widening. "Ugh!?" Rai gasped, quickly splashing water onto the mirror. When she looked back up into the mirror, all Rai could see was her reflection behind the falling droplets of water as she began to pant softly, gripping onto her chest.

Rajan... He's nothing but a cruel and heartless animal... But now... How in the hell do they expect me to do this of all things? Rai balled her hand into a fist, turning away from her reflection in the mirror. After all he's done to me, and what I forced myself to do just so he wouldn't see Murray taking the wings, how do they expect me to face him again? How do they expect me to get over this unrelenting fear I have of him?

Rai sighed, letting the water drain out of the sink as she went back into her room, until she heard her bedroom door opening, glancing up only to see the raccoon himself, which caused her to glare. "What do you want now, Sly?" She asked in a bitter tone. "To belittle me more? To make matters worse than they already are?"

"Look, I know you're angry, but—"

"—Angry?!" Rai snapped, glaring for a moment before abruptly turning away. "No... It's not just that I'm angry, it's...something else."

"And I know you don't want to do this, hell, I don't want you to either, but you have to. You won't be in there long. All you've gotta do is subdue him for a few minutes so you can plant the bug then get the hell out of there."

"That's a lot easier said than done, Sly..."

"I know but—r"

"Don't try to reason with me... I'm doing the damn mission, so just...go."

Sly sighed heavily. "I know this is hard on you, Rai, but it's like I said, if you wanna stop the Klaww Gang once and for all, then just doing this mission will pose as a big help to the overall plan."

"I know that, but..." The fox swallowed hard. "...how do expect me to face him without all of my doubts and fears getting in the way?"

Sly sighed again. "I know you're still a little shaken up about what happened earlier, and I know how much this hurts you to have to do this, but you're stronger than you give yourself credit for, Rai, you just have to find a way to use that strength." He reassured. "It may be scary, but sometimes we all have to do things we don't want to, and that includes facing our own fears."

"And until you've seen life through my eyes, you don't necessarily have the right to say that to me, Sly." Rai retorted.

"Maybe not, but I do know what it's like to face my fears."

Rai paused for a moment. "...Explain."

"Clockwerk." Sly replied.

She began to try and process what Sly meant by that. "What do you mean?"

"Honestly, I was terrified as hell when I had to face him, the bird who aided in killing my parents, and even the rest of the Fiendish Five, but even so, despite what I was feeling, I still forced myself to face him and put an end to his torment over my family line. I know what it's like to be unsure and afraid, but...we still have to try and make it through all of that, no matter how hard it may seem."

Rai gazed over at Sly for a long moment before sighing softly. "Just know that not I'm doing this because I want to, and all of you guys owe me when this is over with." She said. "Also, if that bastard tries something, I won't hesitate to clip his claws."

"Whatever gets you through the mission." Sly replied.

"Then," Rai sighed again, "let's just get this over with..."

When Rai was finally ready, she exited her room in the ebony dancer's outfit, her black cloth hiding her nose and mouth. "Now that you're changed, you'll need this." Bentley said as he handed Rai a small device. "Once you get to Rajan's office, press the button on top and place it under his desk where he won't be able to find it easily, then get outta there as fast as you can. And Sly, as for the spice plants you're looking for, they're located high up in the canopies of the tree; you're looking for about six to eight of them, but your binocucoms should tell you how many to gather."

"Will do, Bentley." Sly nodded before approaching Rai, lightly pecking her temple. "Good luck." He said. "And if you're in even the slightest bit of danger, just call and I'll be there in a flash, okay?"

Rai gave a small nod. "I should be fine, but thanks for the offer, now go, I'll take care of this."

Sly nodded. "See ya soon." He then grabbed his cane and dashed out of the hideout.

Once Sly was gone, however, Rai let out a shaky breath, Bentley turning to her. "Are you sure you wanna do this, Rai? I can find another way to bug Rajan's office, it's really not a big deal."

Rai shook her head. "No, I've already said I would this and I'm gonna see it through. I'll just be in and out before things go south." She replied, trying to convince herself of those words. "I'll see you guys soon, okay?"

Bentley nodded. "Alright, well, good luck."

Rai gave a nod in return before she dashed out of the Safe House. Just get in, plant the bug, and get out, that's all you have to do. She silently told herself.

"Hold it right there!" A womanly suddenly voice rang out.

Rai paused for a moment, taking a breath to try and calm herself. Of all the times to show up, you just had to be here now? Ugh...

The fox let out a heavy sigh before turning, only to see the inspector herself, Carmelita fast approaching. "Yes, can I help you?" Rai asked, trying to pitch her voice a bit so she wouldn't be discovered right then and there.

"Have you seen anyone known as the Cooper Gang around here anywhere?" Carmelita asked.

Rai shook her head. "No, can't say that I have. What do they all look like?"

"It's a band of four; a grey raccoon, pink hippo, green turtle with glasses, oh, and a fox with a black and red mask."

Rai shook her head again. "No, sorry."

Carmelita sighed. "Alright, then how about an Indian tiger named Rajan then?"

She shook her head once more. "I was actually on my way to find him, but still no luck..."

"I see... Well, sorry to bother you." Carmelita apologized.

"It's no bother at all, and I hope you find who you're looking for." Rai reassured.

"Yeah... I'll find them eventually and then capture them all..." She said sternly.

"I'm sure you will..." Carmelita then took off. "...In your dreams maybe." Rai muttered under her breath once the orange fox was out of earshot.

Rai then spun on her heel and continued on her way to Rajan's office, making sure to avoid any of the guards as she went so she wouldn't have to get stopped and flirted with. However, after a bit of navigating, Rai had managed to reach what appeared to be some sort of rock door that she almost missed, but cautiously began to approach the door. The door abruptly slid open when she was close enough as Rai entered, but seconds later, she heard a growl, causing her to tense up. "Who's there!?" She flinched slightly before taking a deep breath in an attempt to keep her nerve, heading into the light to reveal herself as Rajan gave a delighted growl this time. "Well, well, I see that you have finally come to find me, Ms. Ruby."

"Guess I just couldn't stay away from you, my lord." Rai replied seductively. "So, what is it my lord would like this time?" She purred, trying not to cringe at her own words.

Rai strut over to the tiger, forcing herself to sit in his lap with her legs on either side of his body so that she was facing him. The tiger let out a pleased growl as he began kissing down to her shoulder and so on, caressing her waist as he did so. Chills ran up Rai's spine, but had to force herself to stay composed. While Rajan was so distracted on her body, however, the fox slowly reached behind and pulled the device Bentley gave to her out from the sash around her waist, keeping it hidden behind her back. She pressed the button Bentley had told her to before carefully sliding it under Rajan's desk in a far corner she knew he wouldn't be able to find it, especially since it was silent and the blinking light was facing upwards to where he wouldn't notice it. When the bug was planted, Rai felt him gently scratch down her waist with his claws, a shiver jolting up her spine. Suddenly though, Rai could feel the tiger kiss lower and lower, so she quickly had to push his chin up, not wanting this to escalade anymore than it had.

"Now, now, you have to earn that, my lord." She purred seductively.

Rajan smirked. "My, you certainly are a difficult one, aren't you?"

Rai let out a chuckle. "Well, I never said I was an easy target, now did I?"

"Perhaps, however..." Rajan paused, Rai raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, what is it, my lord?"

"I could not, for the life of me, figure out as to why you appeared so familiar to me, and I believe now I know..."

Rai visibly tensed up. "What ever are you talking about, my lord? I've told you before, I am a dancer, and there are others just like me." She reasoned, trying to stray him.

"Yes, indeed you did say something along those lines, but there is only one girl I know of with a body like this, and eyes as green as yours are, which can only mean..."

Rai's eyes widened as that sinister smirk appeared on Rajan's face, the realization hitting her like a truck. No! He's figured me out!? She panicked. I have to get outta here!

In a panic, Rai began to hastily remove herself from Rajan's lap, but wasn't quick enough, because the moment she tried to run, Rajan extended his claws, only to slash at the fox. She gasped, falling backwards onto the floor as she was just barely far enough for Rajan's hand to miss her face, but she didn't get away unscathed either. Even though Rai's face remained unharmed, Rajan's claws managed to slash at both her left arm and the cloth that was around her face, ripping it to ribbons. When Rai hit the floor with her backside, she grunted, quickly gripping onto the new scratch marks marring her left arm that slowly began to bleed. However, Rai didn't have time to moan about her injury, because moments later, she heard a very pissed off growl. She gasped again, quickly directing her attention over to Rajan as he was getting up from his chair, his eyes red with rage.

"So, my assumption was correct... You are the famous Scarlet Rose herself, the very same one with the beautiful body and gorgeous eyes of green." Rajan growled. "Well, I will say that you are most certainly a very convincing actress, but I am not so easily fooled, you know."

"H...how did you...know?" Rai asked, clearly shook with fear.

"How? Well, my dear, one very crucial detail gave you away..." Rajan smirked, Rai tensing up. "Those lovely eyes of yours."

Rai gasped. My...eyes...? They...they were what gave me away?

The fox swallowed hard. "H-how long...have you known?"

Rajan chuckled. "I realized my mistake the moment my beloved wings were stolen from me."

Rai just gripped onto her arm tighter, shrinking a bit in fear.

"I was also very curious as to why a mere dancer would be so bold as to try and force a kiss upon me just as I wished to marvel my wings, and then it all began to make perfect sense. So then, I can only assume that you are working with the Cooper Gang, though your reasons as to why are still unclear to me."

Rai narrowed her eyes. "I've got my own motives for doing so, of which are of no concern to you, Rajan." She replied, sounding bold.

Rajan merely chuckled. "Is that so? Well then, perhaps I should just end you now and put an end to you so-called motives, since it seems that blasted cat doesn't know how to finish one simple job on her own."

Rai's eyes suddenly widened, hastily stumbling onto her feet. "S-stay away from me, Rajan..." She warned, her voice trembling slightly.

The tiger began to laugh, sounding amused. "Oh? And what exactly can you possibly do to stop me with no weapons on hand? Plus, it seems your arm is quite injured, so removing you from the picture will be rather simple for me."

Rai glared. "I don't need a weapon to take you down, or to escape, I just need to keep you occupied."

Rajan gave a hardy laugh. "And how exactly do you plan to do that, Scarlet Rose? I am most interested in knowing your answer."

The fox was silent for a moment, taking a step back. "I-it doesn't matter. I've finished what I've come here to do, and now I've overstayed my welcome, so I have to be on my way, because I have people awaiting my return."

Rajan smirked, holding his hand up as he began to bare his claws. "Oh, I don't believe that you will be leaving this room, or at least, not alive that is."

Rai tensed up, taking another step back as her knees began to shake violently. "J-just stay away from me..." She warned again, but with her trembling voice, there was just nothing to back up her meek threat.

The tiger chuckled. "Perhaps it's time I finally clipped this rose once and for all. Prepare to meet your end, Scarlet Rose!"

"Aahh!" Rai exclaimed, stumbling backwards as she hit the floor again.

Without even thinking, Rai hastily reached behind herself as she yanked out a small container from under her top. She didn't have time to get the details right, so in her haste, Rai just ripped the cap off before spraying the contents of the container out towards Rajan, which consisted off a fine light blue powder just before she was pinned to the floor. Rai let out a frightened gasp as Rajan towered over her, growling menacingly. He then lifted his hand, his claws out and ready to strike as Rai just slammed her eyes shut, awaiting her end. However, she suddenly gasped when weight had abruptly fallen on top of her chest. Rai's eyes shot open, quickly propping herself up on her elbow, and laid out right on top of her chest was Rajan, clearly unconscious. Rai hastily began to push his body off of her as she frantically scooted away. When her back touched a nearby wall, Rai just sat there, panting heavily as Rajan's unconscious body was haphazardly laid out on the floor. Rai was shook with fear though, right down to her very core, her body trembling violently. In that moment, Rai just lost all control of herself as tears began to stream down her face, outright weeping just because of how truly terrified she was. She just sat there, tears soaking into her fur as she sobbed violently while gripping onto her bleeding arm, completely shook with fear. Rai was almost killed in the same fashion as her father was, and by the same tiger who had also taken advantage of her, so yeah, she was downright terrified to her very core, and who wouldn't be? Rai was so overwhelmed by the fear she just experienced that she couldn't hold it back anymore, and finally let it all go, bawling her eyes out for what felt like an eternity. However, after sobbing for maybe fifteen or twenty-so minutes, Rai finally sniffled. She slowly lifted her head, Rajan still out cold as she let out a shaky breath, followed by a small hiccup. Rai removed her hand from around her arm, only to sloppily wipe away the tears in her fur, sniffling again. After drawing in a shaky breath, causing it to hitch a couple of times, Rai stumbled onto her feet, wobbling a bit. She then reached down and untied the lace sash from around her waist, only to use it to wrap around the wounds on her arm. After pulling the sash taut around her arm using her teeth, Rai grimaced for a moment before coughing a bit. She sniffled again before sending one last glance to Rajan's unconscious body as she finally exited from his office, trudging back to the hideout. Rai sluggishly made her way through the jungle, trying to head back to the Safe House, when off in the distance, she suddenly heard the sound of the elephant losing control as she watched it destroy the satellite before running off on a rampage. Sly was obviously finishing his job, nearly brushing it off as Rai continued on her way. She glanced up to see the raccoon before sighing softly, turning in a different direction to try and avoid him. However, that didn't really seem to work, because Sly managed to catch a glimpse of Rai as he was heading back to the Safe House, coming to an abrupt halt. He could see in the distance that Rai was gripping onto her arm, but she also seemed...different somehow. With this in mind, Sly hasitly turned and made his way over or the fox.

"Hey, Rai!" Sly called.

She flinched, but stopped anyway, slowly glancing over to see Sly fast approaching. I don't want him to see me, not like this, but...

When Sly had made it over to Rai, his eyes widened now that he had a closer look at her. Rai's clothes were a little tattered, her hair was a mess, and she was gripping onto her arm, though it was covered by her sash. "Oh my God, Rai, what happened in there!?" He exclaimed in a panic.

Rai sniffled. "H-he knew..." She replied, her voice trembling.

"What? What do you mean he knew?"

"H-he knew it was me..." She said, Sly's eyes widening again. "H-he said that m-my eyes...gave it away, so he...attacked me."

"Just what the hell happened in there, Rai?"

She drew in a breath, which caused it to hitch again. "R-Rajan lunged at me... I managed to use my knockout powder by just throwing all of it on him, but..." Rai tensed up, gripping onto her arm tighter. "...I actually thought he was gonna k-kill me, but...that's when he passed out."

Sly stared at Rai for a moment before exhaling through his nose, knowing that she had been through a lot. "Come on, let's just get you back to the Safe House, alright?" He said, gently beginning to lead the fox toward the hideout.

Rai gave a shaky nod. "Th-thank you..."

Sly nodded. "Of course, always..."