"Ah, Rai, are you ready to get back out in the field?" Bentley asked when Sly and Rai exited her room.
"Oh, yeah. I just finished getting ready actually. What do you need me to do?" She asked.
"I'm gonna need two things from you, this being the tank keys and manual for, you know, a tank, obviously, and assistance in blowing up the pipes underneath the nearby bridge. Think you can help me out with that?"
Rai gave a nod. "Of course. Just point me in the direction I need to go."
"I've already left you some waypoints in your binocucom, so the choice is yours on which one you want to accomplish first." Bentley explained.
"Oh, okay." Rai replied, though a bit awkwardly. "Um, we can go ahead and do the bridge thing if you want, then I can focus on the tank keys and whatnot later?" She suggested.
"If that's what you wanna do first, then go ahead and make your way over to the bridge and I'll fill you in on the mission when I get there."
"Yeah, sure. See you there." Rai said, turning to leave, only to abruptly pause. "Oh, and one more thing, for you." She turned back, pointing at Sly.
"Me?" Sly asked, seeming confused.
"Yes, you. Come here." Rai motioned.
Sly glanced over toward Bentley, who shrugged, before approaching Rai. He was then surprised when the fox just up and grabbed his shirt collar, yanking him forward as she pecked him on the cheek. "Thanks for earlier. I'll see you soon." And with that, Rai turned and made her leave.
Once Rai had reached the waypoint she needed to find, she could feel her binocucom going off. The fox reached into her pouch and pulled out the device as she held it up over her eyes to find Bentley trying to contact her. "Alright, Rai, so do you see those giant pipes underneath the bridge?"
"They're kinda hard to miss." She replied.
"Well, those pipes are what feed power to the prison security systems. I'll need to cut the connection to free Murray."
"Alright, so what do you me for then?"
"As you know, the bridge is heavily guarded."
"Okay, so you'd like some protection while you place the bombs, right?"
"That's correct." Bentley nodded.
"I'd love to help out, Bentley, but there's nowhere to hide up there on that bridge, so we'd be totally exposed." Rai pointed out.
"That's true. In order to fool the guards, since they're not the sharpest tools in the shed, you'll need to break those statues and take their place."
"Ohhh, I see now. So basically, I pose like a statue, the guards walk on by, and then strike while they're back is turned. Man, you really are a genius." Rai praised.
"That's also correct."
Rai chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Okay, no need to toot your own horn there... I'll see you soon." She said before disconnecting.
After disconnecting with Bentley, it didn't take very long for him to meet up with her as he quickly got to work setting up some bombs on the bottom of the bridge. "Think you can watch my back, Rai?" Bentley asked.
Crash!
"Don't worry, I've got your back. You just set up those bombs, and I'll take out feathers over yonder." Rai replied after smashing one of the statues.
After the pedestal was vacant, Rai climbed up and drew in a deep breath. After glancing over to the statue across from her so she could see what pose she would have to make, the fox quickly freezing in place. She held her breath, not moving a muscle, not even to blink. Rai patiently waited, her eyes just barely able to catch a glimpse of the nearing crow. She waited there, completely motionless as the crow slowly began to approach. Rai stood there for what felt like an eternity, but the moment that guard passed and his back was turned, she exhaled, dropping the facade as she quickly struck the guard. Moment later, the old bird came crashing down to the ground, Rai placing a hand against her hip.
"And just like that, he's down for the count." She smirked.
"Nice work, Rai." Bentley praised as he approached her. "Anyhow, I'm all done down here, so let's move on to the real challenge here and place these bombs on that bridge."
"Lead the way." She gestured as the two head for the top of the bridge.
When both were up top, Bentley turned to the fox. "Alright, Rai, I'm gonna start placing some bombs on the right side of the bridge, but I'll have to keep switching back and forth because of how guarded this bridge is, so just watch me so you know what side to take."
"Got it. While you take the right, I'll cover the left." Rai nodded.
"Then let's get to it, we don't have a lot of time here."
"Right." The fox agreed before the two split up.
Just as she had done before, Rai used her cane to smash through one of the statues, only to quickly take its place. She froze where she stood, holding in her breath until the guard could pass by her. The moment the old crow finally did pass by, however, that was when Rai struck, knocking the bird off the bridge. "Never knew what hit him... Heh!" She smirked.
With only one guard down, Rai knew she didn't have time to float as she quickly got back into position to await the next guard. She continued this pattern – pose like a statue, wait for the guard to pass, then knock strike. It was very repetitive, but it made the job a lot easier. However, before Rai could pose like a statue again, she saw Bentley waddling over to her side, indicating it was time for a switch. Knowing this, Rai dashed to the other end of the bridge, smashing one of the statues before standing in place. It was then though that Rai tensed up when she saw about three of those wolves heading onto the bridge. The fox frowned, but remained still and waited. After the third wolf had passed, Rai quietly unfroze and stepped down as she crept up to the first wolf. While unsuspecting, Rai quickly wrapped her cane around the wolf's neck and held his muzzle shut as she was basically trying to suffocate him. After a few moments of struggling, the wolf finally went limp, Rai tossing the unconscious body over before repeating the process with the second wolf. With two down, Rai just whacked the third over the head before throwing him over, letting out a low sigh.
"Bentley wasn't kidding when he said this bridge was heavily guarded... Looks like I'll have my work cut out for me now." She uttered before getting back into position.
This process continued, with Rai posing as a statue, taking out the guards, and switching sides every so often. For a while, it almost felt like an endless cycle, but Rai was willing to put up with the charade if it meant that this could help to free Murray, so she endured. She continued to play her part, acting as a statue and taking out the guards. It was a tedious process, yes, but after being trapped in the Contessa's prison for nearly a week, she was ready to get back in action. Rai wanted to cut loose and crack some skulls, and even though it was a mission, she was finally able to vent some of that pent up frustration the had been boiling up for so long. After taking out another guard, Rai was just about ready to get back into position, until she saw Bentley coming to approach her.
"Rai, the last charge is set! Let's get outta here!" Bentley called as he was running towards her.
Rai nodded. "No need to tell me twice, let's scram!" She agreed as the two bolted off the bridge.
Boom! Crash! Bang!
Once those charges went off, everything was set ablaze, all of the pipes attached to the bridge bursting in violent explosions just as Rai and Bentley were escaping. "That takes care of the prison security system!" Bentley smirked.
After they were off the bridge, Rai paused, turning to face the remnants of what was left as she panted softly. Just hang on, Murray... We're one step closer to rescuing you, so hang on just a little bit longer...
"Alright, Rai, I'll leave the final task up to you. Think you can handle it?" Bentley asked.
Rai nodded. "Yeah, I won't be too long. See you guys back at the hideout." She waved before taking off in the opposite direction.
And as for you, Kisara, when I finally get my hands on you, you'll wish you had never crossed me...
"Alright, Rai, so in order to free Murray, I'll need you to steal two tank control keys and the tank patrol schedule off of the Contessa." Bentley explained.
Rai sighed. "Wonderful... I get to be near one of the few people who I want to cut like a fish. Fantastic..."
"This won't be so easy to accomplish either. The Contessa is no fool, and since your escape, she never goes anywhere without bodyguards. You'll have to take then put one by one in order to get close to her."
"Great..." Rai sighed again. "Well, I'll get on it then. See you guys soon." And with that, Rai disconnected.
Getting close to the Contessa isn't going to be an easy task, that much I know, especially with those damn guards tailing right behind her... I'll have to get crafty for this one. Rai noted before she leapt off her perch, heading to follow after the Contessa.
As Rai was nearing the first guard, she glanced over, only to see a nearby barrel off to the side. She smirked a bit before smashing through the barrel. With that, the crow perked up, Rai quickly dashing off as the crow followed the sound. Once he was away from the others, Rai immediately dropped down and struck the guard right on the head, causing him to hit the ground moments later. With one crow down, Rai went on to finish the second. Luckily, the Contessa hasn't gotten very far, so, using the same tactic, Rai created some noise to draw the second crow away, only to strike when the moment was open to her. Now with both crows out of the way, Rai quietly crept over toward the spider. She kept her breath silent and her footsteps quiet as she inched her way closer and closer to the warden. Then, Rai slowly reached out and snatched the first key off the Contessa.
"Hm?" The spider perked up.
Rai's eyes narrowed, hastily slipping away just before she was to be spotted.
"Ugh...! Wh...where are my guards?!" The Contessa gasped before shooting up a web to escape.
Once the Contessa was gone, Rai frowned, scoffing a bit. "Tch... Damn insect... Runs off when she gets a little freaked out. The coward..." The fox glared. "Run from me all you like, Contessa, but you can't hide. Soon enough, you'll get what's coming to you..."
When Rai managed to track down the Contessa again, her eyes narrowed when she saw that she was accompanied by three guards this time. Slightly annoyed, Rai let out a sharp breath in irritation before following after the spider. However, rather than trying to use noise to lure the guards away this time, Rai wanted to take a different approach as she switched her cane into a katana, a dark glint in her eyes.
"I know who I'm supposed to be, but if I can't kill her, then I'll just settle for venting my frustrations on everything else that gets in my way, by taking out your pesky little shadow guards, Contessa." Rai uttered before leaping down to the ground.
Quietly, Rai crept up to the first guard, and once she was close enough, she quickly grabbed into the crow's beak before thrusting her sword through its backs. The old crow let out a stifled grunt before the fox yanked her sword back out, releasing the bird as he fell to the ground lifeless. After swiping her sword to the side, flinging off some of the blood, Rai moved on to the next two guards, doing to same thing to then as she had done to the first. With all three guards out of the picture, Rai pulled out a black cloth from her pouch as she wiped away all the blood before switching her blade back into a cane. It was then that Rai finally crept up to the Contessa and snagged her second tank key before quickly ducking out if sight.
"Huh...?" The Contessa glanced back when she felt something from behind her, only for her eyes to widen a bit when she saw her guards were nowhere to be seen. "They're gone again?!" She gasped, quickly shooting out a web to escape yet again.
Once the Contessa was gone, Rai scoffed once more, her eyes narrowing. "Running away again, I see? Why bother getting more guards? They'll just face the same fate as those other three I disposed of..." She said in a bitter tone.
Zzz! Zzz! Zzz!
"Huh?" Rai perked up when she suddenly felt buzzing going from her pouch.
That's odd... My binocucom isn't going off, so what could be...?
Rai reached into her pouch and began to dig around, until he finally felt where the vibration was coming from. However, upon pulling out whatever was vibrating, Rai's eyes widened. What?! This is...this the phone Kisara gave to me! But...why is she trying to contact me now? Do I answer? Do I let it keep going? What should I do? Rai stared at the buzzing device in her palm for a long moment before clutching it in her grasp, gritting her teeth.
Hesitantly, Rai heel the device up to her ear, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Hello...?"
"Well, well, I'm pleasantly surprised that you even picked up. I figured you'd just let it ring." The voice on the other end chirped.
Rai swallowed hard again. "What do you want, Kisara?"
"Your location."
"Why? So you can try to lock me up again? I don't think so."
Kisara chuckled. "Oh, Rai, honey... If only you knew..."
"Knew what!?" Rai snapped.
"That the phone I gave you is tracking your location as we speak." The feline mused.
"Urgh!?" Rai gasped, only to abruptly turn and launch the phone off into a completely different direction, panting heavily. "I...I have to get outta here before she finds me!" She gasped, quickly turning to make a run for it.
Kisara, however, frowned as she ended the call. "Run all you like, Rai, but it won't save you, because you can't hide from me forever. Soon enough, I'll find you." She smirked.
Meanwhile, Rai ran, trying to get as far away from that damned device as she could. However, in doing so, the fox suddenly gasped when she saw the Wicked Witch herself accompanied by more of her guards. She quickly scurried to hide away behind a nearby building, pressing her back against the wall as she gripped onto her chest, panting heavily. Rai could feel her heart up in her throat as it thundered against her ribcage, her body shaking violently.
Damn it...! Why now of all times do I have to suddenly get cold feet? I can't afford to be afraid, not when I still have a job to do. Rai closed her eyes, slowly taking a deep breath before letting it out, though her breath was shaky as she did so.
"Come on, Rai, just calm down... Kisara is just trying to get in your head... Don't let her get to you..." She told herself. "Just...get that tank schedule and get back to the hideout before you're spotted."
After taking a few more deep breaths to calm herself down, Rai quickly switched her cane back into a katana as she quietly approached one of the guards. Just as she had done before, Rai grabbed the beak of the crow before ramming her blade in through the back. And once she pulled it back out, she swiped it to the side to going off some of the blood. She repeated this process for the remaining two guards, leaving the Contessa exposed once again. However, just before Rai could sneak up on the spider, figure had abruptly dropped down in front of her. Rai's eyes widened, quickly pressing her back against a nearby wall.
"Ah, Kisara, so nice to see you." The Contessa greeted.
"Good evening, Contessa. I trust that you're doing well?" Kisara smirked.
"Yes, I am just out for my evening patrol of my prison, that is all." The spider replied. "And you? What mischief are you up to this time?"
Kisara chuckled softly. "I was just trying to locate the Scarlet Rose, that's all, but unfortunately, she parted from the device I had given to her before I could finish tracking her location, so I decided to go and try to scout her out myself."
"As you will then. I trust you will find her soon."
"Oh, don t worry, Contessa. Rai can run, but she can't hide from me forever, I can assure you of that." Kisara smirked before disappearing out of sight.
Once the irritating feline was finally gone, Rai quickly and quietly creeping up behind the oblivious spider. The moment R ai was finally close enough, she snatched up the tank schedule before slipping out of sight just as the Contessa noticed a presence behind her. "What!? Where are those lazy guards!? They're all fired!" The Contessa hissed before disappearing from view.
Once she was gone though, Rai let out a shaky breath, placing a hand against her chest. That was way too close for comfort... Kisara just loves to keep me on edge, and I hate that... I just hope that when we next meet, it'll be for the last time...