Disclaimer: I do not own Sly Cooper or any of its characters, except for my OC; Jack Howlett

A/N: Hello everyone, here is the first half to the Flight of Fancy chapter as promised: where Sly and the team head to Holland to compete in the Aces competition to recruit Penelope to join the team...and have an unexpected reunion with a villain from the past, who also has a history with Jack.

Reviews and comments will be appreciated

Chapter 12: Flight of Fancy, Pt. 1

"No...No, no, no. Stupid! That's not going to work either!" Bentley cried out in irritation as he went over another copy of the Kaine Island security blueprints before angrily crumping it into a ball and tossing it into the trash can right next to his workstation...which was filled with other copies that he crumpled/rolled up and threw away!

It had been three months since the Australian job and Sly and the gang had decided to take some well deserved time off to rest up and relax: with the raccoon and Neyla spending quality time together on small dates either at the park or malls and assisting Murray in helping the Guru in getting accustomed to his new surroundings and being around other people; due to his reclusive life style. However...things had not been going well for Bentley: whom had deeply obsessed with trying to find a way for him and his friends to slip past the highly advanced security defenses that Dr. M had set up to protect the Cooper Vault...but sadly couldn't, as he was unable to find a weakness and painfully discovered that the crazed mandrill had covered all his bases.

"Argh! There has to be a way...There's just got to be a way." The turtle muttered while groaning softly as he rubbed the sides of his head in frustration after he tossed another rolled up copy of the Kaine Island security blueprints and added it the pile of discarded copies that littered the the floor underneath his work station...which was when Neyla had entered his personal workshop.

"Bentley, everything okay?" Neyla softly asked, wondering if her friend and teammate was alright...even though she could clearly see he wasn't: due to the dark circles underneath his eyes and light strands of facial hair slowly growing on the sides of face and around his mouth/chin.

" (sigh) Leave me alone Neyla. Can't you see that I'm working here?" Bentley answered while sighing softly in annoyance, showing that he wasn't in the mood to talk before reaching for another set of blue prints...and stared in genuine surprise, as Neyla swiftly grasped her hand around his wrist.

"Look Bentley, just because you haven't been able to find a way to get us near the Cooper Vault, doesn't mean you have to act like an ass." The tigress countered, stating that just because the turtle hadn't any success in finding a way to sneak past Dr. M's security defenses, he didn't have to be a jerk and take his frustration on her, Sly, Murray and the Guru...which helped relief the large amount of stress that had been hounding him the last couple of weeks after returning home from Yuendumu.

"...Neyla...I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you like that." He stated softly with a guilty expression on his face as he apologized to his friend/teammate for lashing out at her the moment she entered his work shop to simply check up on him.

"It's alright Bentley, I understand. Sly and Murray are worried about you. I am too." Neyla softly replied as she accepted her friend/teammate's apology and stated that she, along with her raccoon lover and hippo friend were merely worried about him; especially since they barely saw him after he had holed himself up in his workshop to find a way past Dr. M's highly advanced and sophisticated security system to guard both the island and Vault.

"Neyla...I'm fine, really. It's just...I-I can't find a weakness to Dr. M's security defenses and whatever I think of...just isn't good enough!" Bentley stated softly as he understood how his friends were deeply worried about him and hesitantly admitted that he couldn't find a single flaw to the insane mad scientist's security measures and how whatever he thought up would backfire.

"But there's something else...isn't there?" The tigress softly asked, as she sensed there was something else that caused her friend's obsession in cracking the mandrill's highly advanced security defenses...and she instinctively knew what it was.

"Neyla...you do know what this vault means to Sly, right?" The turtle answered with a question of his own, asking Neyla if she fully understood what the mysterious treasure vault meant to Sly after he learned of its existence from McSweeney.

"Of course I do. It means that Sly discovers a huge part of his heritage, along with obtaining the biggest payoff in his family history." She answered with a soft nod, stating how her mate and lover would be able to learn about the origins of his family clan that was not written in the Thievius Raccoonus and more importantly; making off with the biggest score that would honor not only honor his parents, but his ancestors as well.

"But I'm pretty sure that he wouldn't want one his childhood best friends to lose his sanity because of an unhealthy obsession." Neyla swiftly added while reminding her friend and tech support of how Sly wouldn't want him to work himself to death and eventually lose his mind, due to his fixation with trying to find a way past Dr. M's security measures.

"But's that's just it Neyla...the success of our plan to breaking into that vault all depends on me and...and I just can't hack it. Ever since Sly, Murray and I were kids...there was never anything I couldn't solve and while we were pulling off heists over the years, there was never anything I couldn't handle: from breaking into the most cutting edge security systems to assisting Sly and Murray out in the field." Bentley stated somberly with a defeated expression on his face while pinching the ridge of his nose softly as he revealed the source of his anguish to his tigress friend/teammate: how he felt that he was letting her, Murray and more importantly, Sly down for not being able to find a way past the island's highly advanced defenses.

"That's why we step away and continue where we left off tomorrow. Come back fresh." The feline replied softly with sympathetic eyes as she placed a comforting hand on the turtle's shoulder while stating on how she and their friends/teammates didn't always expect him to have the answer to a complicated/unsolvable problem right away...which helped soothe the helplessness that was plaguing him.

"...Neyla, you're right. There's...only so much I can do on my own and...I've allowed this obsession to blind me from seeing that." Her friend and teammate stated softly as he instinctively knew that the tigress's words were true and how he'd allow his obsession in trying to crack Dr. M's security defenses to forget the most obvious fact of all time: how no one could always do something on their own.

"...In fact..." He softly added while pulling out another copy of the security blueprints as an idea swiftly crossed his mind.

"Yes?" Neyla asked with a curious look on her face as Bentley laid the current set of schematics out on his work table and drawing a large circle around the island with a red ink marker.

"...I think I finally figured out what I had been missing." The turtle answered truthfully with a soft grin on his face as he revealed to Neyla that he had finally discovered the answer to getting past the island's heavily fortified defenses!

"What do you mean?" The tigress asked as she was deeply intrigued to learn what her friend/tech support meant by 'what he missed'.

"It's rather simple Neyla: one of the things we're really going to need to get at the Vault is aerial support! Do you remember how I used to provide that with my RC chopper while we were hunting the Klaww Gang?" Bentley answered truthfully as he explained to his feline friend/teammate on how one of the things they'd need to get anywhere near the Cooper Vault was aerial support and asked if she remembered how he used his prized RC chopper to assist them when they had gone after Jean Bison.

"Yeah, of course." Neyla answered while nodding her head, showing that she indeed remembered how her friend and teammate had used his beloved RC drone to assist them, Murray and her raccoon mate/lover in obtaining the 2nd Clockwerk Lung and Stomach and more importantly, made it possible for Sly to escape from the Contessa's 'prison' back in Prague.

"Well in this case, the island's security defenses are too intense...even for someone with my skill set.. So in order for us to get at the Cooper Vault...we're going to need a dedicated RC specialist with skills that are somewhat slightly advanced than my own." The turtle replied as he revealed to the tigress that in order for them and their hippo and raccoon friends/teammates to get past the island's highly advanced security defenses, that they'd need to recruit a dedicated RC specialist with skills that far surpassed his own technical expertise!

"Bentley, that does sound like a good plan...but are you sure there even is someone whose just as good as you?" The feline started off softly as she completely agreed with her friend on how'd they need aerial support to help fend off the guards and sentry guns on the guards towers...but was also curious if there even was an individual whom was better at manning RC drones than Bentley.

"I realize that it is a long shot Neyla. But...I'm pretty confident there is someone whose on the same level as me. All we need to do is find 'em." Bentley stated as he reassured Neyla that they would find a qualified RC specialist whom had the same mechanical/technical capabilities as him while yawning softly.

"Sounds good. Although...I'm pretty sure there's something else you need to do." Neyla stated casually with a soft grin and playful smirk on her face...as she noticed her friend yawn and stretching his arms wide open.

"...Yeah...You're 100% right about that. If you'd please excuse me...I'm going to...take a little nap." The turtle softly stated as he nodded his head and sluggishly rolled himself past his friend/teammate to take a much needed rest from working himself to death to cracking Dr. M's security defenses.

"Alright. Enjoy your nap." The feline replied with the smirk on her face as she closed the door to the garage behind her and entered the main living room, where she saw Sly and Murray playing Pokemon Colosseum on the GameCube and smiled softly in amusement...as her lover was in the lead: as he had four Pokemon remaining whilst the hippo only had three and casually sat down on the couch right beside her raccoon as she waited patiently for her turn.

~Meanwhile at Interpol HQ~

It was a rather quiet and typical day at Interpol headquarters, as all the other detectives were either typing up their arrest reports behind their desks or socializing while drinking coffee in the breakroom. Meanwhile...in a different section of the building, Jack stood perfectly still as he leveled his eye with the iron sight of the shock pistol in his right hand...before he lightly pulled the trigger four times, firing four electric rounds that struck the four red and black painted targets dead center and caused a loud alarm to blare out.

"Damn, excellent shooting Jack. You hit all four targets in five different orders without missing once!" A different Interpol cop, a middle aged American grey fox in his mid 40's stated with his arms cross against his chest and amused smile on his face, as he was mightily impressed with the wolf detective's marksmanship as he pressed the button that caused the targets on the firing lane to fold up.

"Heh, thanks Gus. By the way, how are Susan and the kids?" Howlett stated with a soft grin on his face as he turned to the fox, whom was in fact one of Interpol's best gun range instructors while placing the shock pistol back in the holster on the right side of his belt.

"Susie and the kids are doing great, thanks for asking. Bryan still hasn't decided on which University in the US he wants to apply to get his Majors." Gus answered with a similar smile on his face, as he deeply appreciated Jack asking on how his wife and children were doing and stated on how his oldest son, Bryan hadn't decided on which Ivy League university in America he wanted to study at yet.

"That's great. What's Bryan's current major?" The wolf detective asked as he was glad to hear that Gus's family was doing fine and was curious to hear what was his oldest son's academic major was.

"World History, but he's hoping to get accepted with a basketball scholarship." Gus replied truthfully, stating on how Bryan's favorite subject in school was World History and that he was planning to get drafted onto a basketball team with an athletic scholarship.

"Well, good for him. You know, I used to shoot hoops myself when I was a kid." Jack stated with an amused grin on his face as he revealed to the gun range instructor that he used to be play basketball himself while growing up.

"Oh, really? Were you any good?" The middle aged fox asked as he was genuinely intrigued to hear that Howlett was into basketball, just like his son and was curious if he was ever good at it.

"Yeah, I'm a decent basketball player. Several of the other detectives and I play a quick round in the gymnasium whenever we're not working." He answered while shrugging honestly, stating that he was decent ball player and revealed that he and several of his colleagues played an annual game in the gym whenever they were off duty.

"A 'decent player'? You used to kick mine, Allen's and Garcia's asses all over the court back in the day, Jackie Boy." A different male voice casually countered while chuckling softly, which quickly earned Gus's and more importantly Jack's attention...as the wolf detective's eyes softly widened in surprise and a huge smile instantly grew on his face as they turned to the main entrance/exit to the gun range and spotted a Siberian Husky with amber gold eyes and brown reddish/white fur, wearing a dark blue sleeveless jacket vest over a coal gray flannel shirt, light blue jeans, black leather belt and dark brown hiking shoes with straps smiling brightly as well as he leaned back against the door with his arms crossed against his chest.

"Michael Cormier!" Jack exclaimed in surprise as he immediately recognized the Husky whom had silently entered the gun range without him and Gus knowing and casually walked up towards him with the bright grin still on their faces.

"You son of a bitch! How long has it been?" He swiftly added as they automatically embraced each other in a friendly/brotherly hug after they shook hands in a firm shake.

"Nearly two years since you left Fugitive Recovery, old buddy. I heard about the bust you made in New York six months ago, that was some great work. No wonder the other detectives speak so highly of you." The Siberian Husky, known as Det. Michael Cormier answered casually, stating that it had nearly been two years since he and Howlett saw each other after he had been poached by Chief Barkley to take over Carmelita's job in capturing the Cooper Gang and congratulated his old friend/colleague on apprehending Max Chesterfield.

"Heh, thanks Mike. I heard about that drug trafficking ring you busted in Bangkok five weeks ago. That was some nice work." Jack stated with a soft smile as he thanked Michael for his kind words and complimented his friend on his good work in breaking up a small ring of drug traffickers that had been smuggling shipments of cocaine, ecstasy and marijuana into Thailand.

"Heh, thanks bro. Although, I wish I could say the drug bust could've gone better...since two police officers were killed and another will spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair." The Siberian Husky softly replied as he thanked Howlett on his kind words and was just as pleased on his latest accomplishment...even though he was deeply saddened that the raid hadn't gone as he and the Thai Royal Police Department had planned: as two police officers had been killed during the fire fight against the smugglers and another had been left paraplegic.

"Mike...what are you doing here in Interpol HQ?" Howlett softly asked as he was deeply curious to why his friend and former colleague was even doing in Paris, as the Fugitive Recovery Unit was stationed in London...and would be surprised by the answer.

"Jack...you need to come with me to Chief Barkley's office. It's urgent." Det. Cormier answered plainly with a somber expression on his face as he informed the wolf detective that they were both needed in Barkley's office right away.

After noticing the saddened look on the Huskey's face, along with the tone of his voice...Jack instinctively knew that something was wrong and without further discussion, the two detectives exited the firing range, stepped inside the elevator and rode it straight up from the main lobby/ground floor, which was where the gun range was to the top floor. Once they had reached their designated floor, the two friends had walked up to Chief Barkley's office...and visibly flinched in discomfort, along with the other detectives whom were sitting behind their desks as they heard loud yelling coming from their boss's closed office door.

"Listen here, officer! I don't care how long you've been a C.O. at Desert Spade Penitentiary! I want to speak with the warden, NOW GET HIM ON THE GODDAMN PHONE!" The ill tempered badger shouted at the top of his lungs as he spoke to a prison guard over the phone and demanded to speak to the warden with Jack and Michael trading an equally worried/depressed look on their faces after detecting the great ire in Barkley's voice as he shouted at the C.O. whom made the unwise choice to argue/talk back to him!

"Hello, this is Warden Oliver Kent. To whom am I speaking to?" An elderly male voice, belonging to the prison warden stated professionally over the opposite side of the receiver.

"Hello, Warden Kent? Yes, this is Chief James Barkley of Interpol. I'm calling about a fax regarding the escaped prisoners that broke out of Desert Spade five months ago." Barkley answered in a more calm and relaxed tone as he continued to speak over the phone and explained the reason he had called was regarding a prison break that took place in Nevada several months ago.

"...Yes, Chief Barkley...a, um, a prison break did occur. A riot broke out in General Population during a routine lockdown procedure...and unfortunately seven inmates had managed to escape." Warden Kent replied softly as he explained to the middle aged badger on how the prison break happened: how the inmates in General Population had caused a huge ruckus...which unfortunately escalated into a riot and how seven high profile criminals had escaped during the chaos.

"Well, why the hell wasn't Interpol notified right away?!" He asked with an agitated glare on his face as he demanded to know why he and his office weren't notified about the prison break; as the FRU could've assisted the US Marshals in hunting down and apprehending the escaped convicts!

"Chief, please you have to understand...a great number of my officers were officers were gravely wounded during the riot, including six, whom were killed by the escapees and I had to notify their next of kin on how their husbands died under my watch." The warden stated softly while sighing softly in exhaustion as he weakly explained to the ill-tempered badger on how he had to deal with the aftermath of the riot: tending to the C.O.'s who were seriously injured from fighting the inmates and calling/consoling the family members of the guards whom were killed by the convicts during their escape.

"Warden...I understand better than you realize. But you still should've notified me once the situation had gotten under control." Barkley replied softly, showing that he indeed understood the hardship that the prison warden had to deal with: especially since he had to deal with the same burden whenever one of his detectives was killed in the line of duty while stating that he should've been notified about the escaped convicts once the riot had been contained.

"Chief Barkley...there's something I think you should know..." Warden Kent stated while sighing softly, informing the badger that he had further bad news for him.

"What is it?" He softly asked, wondering what it was the warden needed to tell him...and would stare with his mouth slightly opened as soon as he heard the rather shocking answer.

"The prisoner who led the other six inmates and orchestrated the riot...was Muggshot." The warden answered softly as he revealed to the ill tempered badger that the ring leader of the escaped convicts, who initiated the prison riot was the former enforcer for the infamous Fiendish Five.

"...I see...Thank you for letting me know Warden. Good bye." Barkley replied as he thanked the warden for the crucial information before slowly hanging up the phone and placing it on the receiver on his desk...and sighed deeply as he pinched the ridge of his nose in irritation before glancing up after Jack knocked on his closed office door.

"Come in." He stated softly as he granted Howlett and Cormier permission to enter his office.

"You wanted to see us, Chief?" The wolf detective softly asked as he and Michael stepped inside the badger's office with the Siberian Husky closing the door behind them.

"I did. Jack...I'm afraid that I have rather...terrible news that you and Det. Cormier need to hear." Barkley answered while sighing softly as he informed Jack that he had horrible news to share with him and Michael.

"What is it?" Michael asked softly, even though he and Howlett already knew what it was their boss wanted to speak to them about.

"...(Sigh), Five months ago, a prison break occurred at Desert Spade Penitentiary, Carson City, Nevada. A riot took place during a routine lockdown...and seven high level criminals had escaped during the chaos...and killed six correctional officers during their escape." The badger answered truthfully as he revealed what it was he and the prison warden had spoke about over the phone to the two canine detectives: how seven inmates had broke out of Desert Spade Penitentiary during a prison riot five months ago...and how the escaped convicts were unfortunately currently at large.

"Goddamn it. Well...do we know who the fugitives are? Jack muttered softly after hearing how seven inmates had successfully broke out of Desert Spade, which was a well known level-one maximum security prison meant to incarcerate the most dangerous criminals on Earth and asked his boss if they knew the identity of the escaped convicts.

"As a matter of fact...we do. Desert Spade was kind enough of fax over the prison records of the escaped convicts. They are right here for you, Det. Cormier and the other detectives I've assigned to this case to look over." Barkley answered truthfully, revealing on how Warden Kent had faxed over the escapees' personal prison and psychiatric files, along with a prison mugshots of the inmates out of professional courtesy, which were placed in seven separate files that were lined up next to each other on his desk.

"Wait Chief...what do you mean by 'other' detectives'?" The wolf detective softly asked, as he was caught completely off guard after hearing his hot-tempered boss saying that he'd be working with other detectives besides Michael!

"This assignment is going to be a joint operation between this office and the Fugitive Recovery Unit, Jack. I already spoke to your old captain, Dean Carmichael and he agreed to loan us five of his unit's best detectives on this case...whom I believe you know rather well." Barkley answered professionally as he explained to Howlett on how their current case would be a joint investigation with the F.R.U. and that he'd be working with five other detectives from his previous unit to hunt down and apprehend the escaped inmates.

"You don't mean...?" Jack softly asked with a wide grin on his face...as he indeed knew whom the badger was referring to while turning the Michael.

"Yep, that's right Jack, our old squad: Allen, Garcia, Thompson, Romero, and Harris." The Siberian Husky answered while nodding softly, confirming that the five detectives that Barkley spoke of were in fact the other members of their old team when they used to work together!

"Oh, yeah? How are Ray and the rest of the old gang doing?" Howlett asked as he was deeply curious to hear how his old friends and brothers in arms had been the past two years.

"Raymond and the others are doing great Jack. They all say 'hi'." Michael answered truthfully as he informed the wolf that their fellow detectives were doing alright and that they had missed him ever since Chief Barkley reassigned him to hunt down and capture the Cooper Gang.

Shortly after hearing that he would be working alongside his old friends/teammates from the F.R.U., Jack had softly picked up the dossiers on Barkley's desk and silently went over the contents of each file, one by one...before his eyes widened in silent shock and his breathing suddenly became rugged as he read the 7th and final folder.

Stefan Richter: Convicted sex offender and child pornography distributor, sentenced to Desert Shade for 40 years

Denis Bakker: Convicted serial arsonist, charged with six counts of murder with malicious intent, sentenced to Desert Shade for life without the possibility of parole

Jesus Salvador: Convicted drug dealer/smuggler, sentenced to Desert Shade for 25 years

Ivan Drozdov: Convicted diamond thief and black arms dealer, charged with three counts of homicide, sentenced to Desert Shale for life without the possibility of parole

Cameron Bennett: Convicted serial rapist, sentenced to Desert Shade for life without the possibility of parole

Angel Santiago: Convicted drug dealer/smuggler, sentenced to Desert Shade for 25 years

Muggshot: Former enforcer for the Fiendish Five, crime boss, bank robber and gun gunner, convicted for multiple homicides, drug and gun trafficking, sentenced to Desert Shade for life without the possibility of parole.

"...Chief..." Jack muttered as he softly glanced up to his commanding officer, whom somberly glanced at his desk whilst Michael silently glanced at the floor after they noticed Howlett's reaction the moment he reached Muggshot's prison file.

"...Where is he?" He softly added with a glare on his face, demanding to know where the American bulldog had ran off to after escaping from Desert Spade.

"According to our contacts, shortly after escaping from Desert Shade, Muggshot had been holed up in Albuquerque before he crossed the border to Mexico, where he caught an international flight to Spain. The latest sighting was in the Netherlands, where he applied for a pilot's license to compete for an annual bi-plane tournament being held in a small village called Kinderdijk in Holland." Barkley answered truthfully as he revealed to the wolf detective that Muggshot had currently been spotted in the Netherlands and how the dimwitted bulldog had signed up to compete for an annual bi-plane competition being held in Holland.

"...(Sigh) Look, Jack... I think it would be better if I sent Michael or Thompson to..." The badger attempted to softly add before Howlett swiftly cut him off.

"No. Muggshot is mine." Jack strongly countered, stating that he would be the one to hunt down and apprehend the American bulldog.

"...Jack..." Barkley stated sharply after detecting the ire in his voice.

"Look Chief...I promise you that I can stay objective on this assignment. I'll bring him in...alive." The wolf detective stated softly as he reassured his boss that he would be able to keep his emotions in check and once he found and arrested Muggshot, that he'd turn him over to the local authorities...alive and breathing.

"...Don't make me regret this." Barkley stated plainly as he asked Jack not to make him regret in sending him to Holland to apprehend Muggshot instead of Michael or another detective from the F.R.U.

"I won't." Howlett replied solemnly, assuring the badger that he wouldn't let him down.

"Okay, since Jack is going after Muggshot...what about me and the others?" Michael stated softly as he asked Barkley on which fugitive he wanted him, Allen, Garcia, Thompson, Romero and Harris to go after.

"Mike, I'm sending you after Drosdov. Since you were part of the task force that took down him in Moscow three years ago...you know him better than anybody else." Barkley answered truthfully, informing Det. Cormier that he would be going after Ivan Drosdov: due to them having a personal history just like Jack and Muggshot.

"With pleasure Chief." The Siberian Husky replied with a soft grin on his face as he accepted the prison files that Howlett handed him and stopped at Drosdov's file, which held a prison mugshot of his target: a Siberian tiger with a goatee underneath his chin and a tattoo of crescent moon on the left side of his face.

"As for the others: I'm sending Allen and Romero after Salvador and Santiago, Thompson after Bakker, Garcia after Bennett and Harris after Richter." The badger swiftly added, stating that he would be sending Detectives Allen and Romero after Salvador and Santiago, Det. Thompson after Denis Bakker, Garcia after Cameron Bennett and Harris after Stefan Richter with Jack and Michael softly nodding in agreement with Barkley's judgement, especially since every member of the F.R.U. had past experience in different divisions in law enforcements: both Allen and Romero used to work in Narcotics, Thompson in Homicide and Garcia and Harris used to work in Sex Crimes.

Shortly after hearing who would be going after which fugitive, Howlett and Cormier gave Barkley a respectful salute, which the badger naturally returned as he wished them the best of luck on their respective assignments before they exited his office.

"...Jack? Are you really sure you wanna do this?" Michael started off softly as he asked the wolf detective if he was absolutely sure that he wanted to be one to go after Muggshot: due to their past history and how both he and Barkley noticed the heated glare on Howlett's face the second he glanced at Muggshot's prison photo ...which depicted the idiot canine smirking smugly as he flipped off the mugshot photographer with the prison placard in his hands as he had his picture taken.

"Look Mike, I appreciate the concern...I really do, but I've made up my mind. Besides...Muggshot and I, we've got a score to settle." Jack answered softly, showing that he deeply appreciated the Husky's concern for his well being when he headed out to Holland...and stated on how he and the American Bulldog had a some sort 'score' to settle as they walked down the hallway.

'Plus...if I happen to bump into Sly and Neyla in Holland, I can always ask for their help in bringing Muggshot down.' He mentally added as he instinctively knew that he could count on his secret friends/allies in assisting him in apprehending the former enforcer of the Fiendish Five.

~Meanwhile, back at the Cooper Gang safe house~

Once he had explained to Sly and Murray on how they would need to recruit a dedicated RC specialist with skills that surpassed even his to assist them in getting into the Vault, Bentley had spent the past two weeks surfing on Internet chatrooms, searching for any possible candidates that had the technical prowess and high intellect that he was looking for. Luckily for the turtle...he eventually found someone who had the expertise/qualifications that he and his friends/teammates required: a highly gifted gearhead genius out of Holland named Penelope. Although, after Bentley had attempted to persuade Penelope to join the team...she had politely turned his offer down, stating on how she didn't usually freelance and that she only worked for the 'best', which was her boss...the Black Baron: a highly referred dog fighting champion whom also resided in Holland and how he had set up an international competition called 'ACES' to attract worthy opponents.

However...three days later, Penelope had emailed the Cooper Gang a counter offer: if they could defeat the Baron in the tournament...she would reconsider their offer and join the team. Being unable to say 'no' or turn down the challenge, Bentley and Murray went straight to work in putting together a plane whilst Sly and Neyla obtained two legit pilot's licenses so they could register for the ACES competition. Once their team plane was complete and operable, the raccoon and his friends/teammates had caught the first international flight from Paris to Holland, where they checked into the hotel that would be hosting the tournament: the Grand Sky Plaza and were provided a hanger to house their plane.

Once they had entered their hotel room, which would serve as their safe house, Sly and Neyla had changed into their pilot disguises and exited their room onto the 2nd floor balcony that overlooked the main lounge, where they pulled out their Binocucoms and contacted Bentley.

"If we're going to succeed in this year's ACES competition, we'll need to learn who we're flying against." The turtle started off casually as he informed his raccoon and feline friends/teammates that if they wanted to win the ACES tournament, they would need to learn who their assigned opponents in the preliminaries would be.

"What? They keep the flight roster a secret?" Sly asked as he and his tigress were caught completely off guard after hearing that the tournament officials kept the bracket a secret from the contestants!

"Correct. You see...in years past, competitors would go out at night and sabotage each other's planes in preparation for the next day's dogfight." Bentley answered while nodding his head as he revealed to the two lovers on how the contestants from the previous ACES tournaments would sneak into the opposing teams hangars and sabotage their planes...so they would have an unfair advantage during the opening rounds the next day!

"Oh, I see...so now they keep this year's line-up a secret, so no one knows who to screw around with." Neyla softly stated as she and her raccoon immediately understood why the Baron's people kept the tournament bracket a secret: so none of the contestants could win this year's competition by cheating!

"Exactly. Look Sly...you're a good pilot, but we've only got one plane...and you'll be up there against dozens of bogeys." The turtle replied softly as he stated on how Sly was a decent enough pilot...while hesitantly pointing out the rather painful fact that his friend and team leader would be up against a large number of enemy pilots, whom were probably more experienced than him!

"You know, normally I'd make some sarcastic remark about how 'overwhelmed I am about your confidence in me', but those are some grim odds...and well, you know that Neyla and I always up for some sabotage." The raccoon replied jokingly, stating on how he would usually make a wise crack regarding his friend/tech support's 'pep talk'...even though he instinctively agreed with Bentley's assessment on how he wouldn't stand a chance against two teams dogging for him and softly admitted that he and his tigress didn't mind fighting dirty.

"You're bloody right about that, love." Neyla stated as she also agreed with her lover and turtle friend/teammate on how they wouldn't last long in the tournament if they played fair.

"Glad to hear it. Now...the roster is kept secret from the pilots, but not from the event staff." Bentley stated as he informed the two lovers that even though the tournament bracket was kept secret from the contestants...it wasn't from the Baron's guards or employees at the hotel where they were staying!

"We have a mole on the inside?" Sly asked with a perplexed expression on his face as he and Neyla were greatly surprised to hear that they supposed had an 'inside man' working for the Black Baron!

"Well...sort of. Our 'friend', Dimitri has been hired to give color commentary during the dogfights...He'll probably know where the roster is hidden." The turtle answered honestly as he revealed to the raccoon and tigress that their 'old pal', Dimitri had been hired by the Baron to act as a special commentator for the tournament and fairly surmised that he would know where the flight roster was hidden.

"Scout him out somewhere in the hotel lobby, but you guys need to be careful...If either of you start a fight with the other pilots, we'll be kicked out of the competition." Bentley swiftly added as he warned his friends to avoid getting into any physical fights with the other contestants...otherwise they would be automatically disqualified from the tournament!

"Sure, we all play nice until tomorrow...then we blow each other to bits at 300 feet." The raccoon replied sarcastically, stating on how they and the other pilots were forced to be civil towards each other in the hotel until the preliminaries before he and Neyla broke contact with Bentley.

Once they had put their Binocucoms away, Sly and his tigress had walked down the corridor and main staircase to the main lobby, where they silently glanced around the lounge for Dimitri and luckily for the two lovers, it didn't take them long: as they spotted the former Klaww Gang member serving drinks to the other guests at the hotel bar. After they had spotted the iguana, the raccoon and his feline mate/lover had casually walked across the lobby to the back of the bar, where they approached Dimitri, whom acted like he 'didn't' see them and simply smoked his cigarette while wiping down the counter.

"Dimitri, funny seeing you here...Neyla and I never pegged you as a flyboy." Sly stated jokingly as he casually greeted the iguana while stating that he and Neyla were genuinely surprised to see him in Holland and unaware that he was a fan of dogfights.

"Like a dance floor with many lights, I have many profiles, dig? Don't even try to understand the silky enigma of Dimitri." Dimitri replied as he casually stated that he was a man of many hobbies while crossing his arms as he turned to face the the raccoon and tigress...whom he wasn't exactly happy to see.

"Bentley seems to think that you know where the Baron and his men keep the ACES flight roster hidden...is that true?" Neyla replied, stating on how Bentley believed that he knew the location of the ACES tournament bracket and asked if it were true or not.

"And why should I talk to a no good-back stabbing traitor or your two-bit, rooty-poot, cracker-box boyfriend, Kitty Cat Neyla? Question mark in bold: why?" The iguana angrily countered while demanding to know why he should help the feline and her raccoon mate/lover a 2nd time, even though they kept their word and made it possible for him to escape police custody back in Venice!

"Because Neyla and I know you're going to tell us, otherwise you wouldn't have bothered to show up for this gig. So spill it." Sly answered casually while pointing out to Dimitri that he would eventually give him and his lover the flight roster, as he had no loyalty to the Baron, even though he gave him a job as a commentator for the competition.

"...I know, but to talk is like sitting on electric chair! The Baron has eyes, eyes and ears, ears and fists! Dimitri will be discovered and the jig is pinched!" The cowardly iguana cried out in exasperation as he revealed on how the Baron had people stationed in the hotel and that he was as good as a dead once his temporary boss found out that he betrayed him!

"Oh, come now Dimitri... a man like you deal with a 'bully' like this Black Baron. You've got the absolute best fashion sense of anyone that Sly and I know." Neyla countered casually as she stated on how the cowardly iguana could use his fashion 'expertise' to escape from any dangerous situation with her mate/lover nodding in agreement.

"Le Fashion - style? You...You're right! If I can out dress him, I can certainly outsmart him! All is told through clothes. OK...I'll talk of flight line-up if you two agree to owe Dimitri a favor, which I'll collect in a few months of time." Dimitri softly asked as he slowly realized that the tigress was right on how he could use his fashion sense to avoid facing the Baron's wrath and agreed to give her and Sly the location of the roster...if they, Bentley and Murray agreed to do something for him in return.

"...A favor?" Sly softly asked as he and his feline lover were genuinely stunned that Dimitri expected them to owe him a favor in exchange for the bracket!

"This is no small time favor, like 'will you water my fish or feed my plant?' No way bro, this old-school mafia, blood-pact favor. Like movies, big time!" He answered casually while explaining in his bizarre way that he required the Cooper Gang's help for a special job instead of some stupid and trivial favor.

"Okay Dimitri, you hook us up with the flight roster and we'll owe you one." The raccoon answered casually, informing the iguana that they had a deal with Neyla nodding her head in agreement as well.

"Done! The bargain, she is struck! To find flight roster, look behind one of the tacky paintings in Black Baron's air hangar. Its hidden in secret safe." Dimitri exclaimed, as he was overjoyed that Sly and Neyla agreed to his terms and revealed on how the tournament bracket was hidden in a painting safe in the Black Baron's personal hangar!

"Art decryption lock, huh? I happen to know two people for the job." Sly stated casually with his trademark grin while glancing to his tigress lover, whom mirrored the smirk after learning the location of the flight roster and what type of safe the Baron had stored it in.

"Huh! Stand cool...here comes the Big Cheese!" Dimitri softly gasped in surprise as he advised the two lovers to remain casual as they, along with the other contestants glanced to the opposite side of the room and stared in silence as they spotted their mysterious host, the Black Baron himself entering the lobby after walking up the staircase and clearing his throat as he prepared to make an important speech.

"I bid you all a most flamboyant welcome, my esteemed guests and comrades of the skies. Welcome, welcome to another year of the ACES competition! We've got teams here from across the globe: Canada, Belgium, Ecuador, Iceland, Korea and many, many more! Not the least of which is last year's deadly runner-up: Team Muggshot!" The Baron stated professionally as he welcomed the current contestants to this years competition and began to go over the various countries/nations that the competing teams represented, along with revealing the name of the team that came in 2nd place at the previous tournament...which deeply stunned/shocked Sly and Neyla as soon as the words left his mouth.

'Team...Muggshot?' Sly mentally asked after hearing the name of the runner up from the previous ACES tournament before he and his tigress glanced up and stared in silent shock...as they spotted none other than Muggshot, now wearing a pilot uniform standing on the balcony on the right side of the lobby/lounge.

"This time we're gonna drill you jokers fulla holes!" The American bulldog and former enforcer of the Fiendish Five yelled out with a glare on his face, claiming that he and his team would tear the other contestants apart when they were in the sky!

Luckily for the raccoon and tigress...they were out of Muggshot's line of view, so the dimwitted the bulldog hadn't seen them. However...as soon as they spotted him, Sly had silently curled the fingers of his right hand into a tight fist and clenched his teeth as he glared angrily after seeing the muscle bound bulldog's face whilst Neyla silently looked at her lover with a sympathetic expression on her face as she gently placed her hand over his balled up hand, which instinctively earned his attention.

"Sly...please don't." The feline whispered softly as she begged her mate/lover not to do anything incredibly rash as she took his balled up hand in her own and interlaced their fingers together, which helped the raccoon keep his anger under control.

"Thanks Neyla." Sly whispered back with a gentle smile on his face, which the tigress softly mirrored before they turned their attention back to the Baron.

"Now...we all know that in years past, some teams have engaged in a little...good natured late night hi-jinx." The Black Baron continued while bringing up the past history of 'pranks' that the opposing teams had pulled on each other during the previous ACES competitions, which earned a collective laughter from the entire dining area.

"Like when Team Canada stole Ecuador's parachutes!" A male pilot, a greyhound shouted out while reminding the other contestants about how the Canadians stole Team Ecuador's parachutes, which prevented them from bailing out once their planes were shot down!

"Or when Team Iceland sawed the landing gear off Korea's planes!" A different male pilot, a brown bear swiftly added while bringing up the time when Team Iceland had sabotaged the landing gear to the Korean team's planes, which made it difficult for them to land which increased the laughter!

"Or when Portugal put rat poison Team Muggshot's coffee machine!" Another male pilot, a rhino automatically added whilst bringing up the time when Team Portugal had tried to beat Muggshot and his team by slipping rat poison into their coffee...much to Sly's and Neyla's great surprise!

"Yes, yes, that was all very funny...but no more! You know the rules, no one, absolutely NO ONE is to leave the hotel after sunset! If my guards catch any of you outside...you will be beaten to within an inch of your lives. No exceptions! This WILL BE a fair competition!" The Baron stated sarcastically, claiming that even he found the 'pranks' from the previous tournaments hilarious...before shouting out loud that he would not tolerate any form of poor sportsmanship during this year's competition and warned the pilots that if they even thought about going for a 'midnight stroll'...that his guards would give teach them a 'lesson' that they'd never forget!

"Same as last year and the year before! I've even got the scars to prove it!" A different male pilot, a Caribou shouted out jokingly, which earned another roar of laughter from the other pilots.

"I bid you all an exuberant and exaggerated farewell, pilots. Tonight...sleep like geese and tomorrow, soar like eagles!" The Baron calmly stated as he respectively wished the current contestants a well night's rest before walking down the stairs and exiting the hotel.

"Bentley, did you get all that?" Sly softly asked while speaking into the team ear radio as all the other pilots had gone back to relaxing and having a good time in the lounge as soon as the Baron left.

"Indeed, I did Sly. The good news is that they don't lock the front door since this is a hotel, not a jail. But you and Neyla heard the Baron: once outside...you guys will need to be careful, especially since its not only the guards we'll have to deal with." The turtle replied, confirming that he had heard everything the Black Baron said over the radio while advising his friends and teammates to stay on guard the moment the stepped outside the hotel.

"What do you mean?" Neyla softly asked, as she and her lover were equally curious by what their friend/tech support meant by that it wasn't only the Baron's guards they'd have to deal with...and would be slightly taken back by the answer.

"...There's...a massive and highly aggressive wolf that resides in the woods right next to the Baron's castle." Bentley answered truthfully as he hesitantly revealed to the raccoon and tigress that a very large and territorial wolf lived in the forest that was right outside the small town!

"Don't worry Bent, Neyla and I will be careful." Sly stated casually as he assured his turtle friend that he and his feline mate/lover would be careful as they made their way to the Baron's castle and were glad that he had remembered to check if there were any dangerous predators roaming around, due to their past history in Canada.

After they had broke contact with Bentley, the two lovers had casually strolled past the dining area and down the staircase to the main lobby, where they swiftly discarded their pilot disguises and exited the hotel. Once outside, the raccoon and tigress had sprinted across the bridge and past the town square towards the woods, where they climbed up the dirt path leading up to the Baron's castle while skillfully avoiding the patrolling Rabbit and Pig guards and the search lights beaming down from the security blimps sailing across the cloudy/raining sky before reaching the top of the hill.

"So this is the Baron's castle." Sly stated while whistling softly as he and his feline stared in deep awe after seeing the Black Baron's castle with their own two eyes.

"Damn it. The drawbridge is up and I don't have my rock climbing pick." Neyla muttered softly in annoyance after seeing that the drawbridge was drawn up and how she had left her rock climbing gear back in their hotel room/safe house: which made it impossible for her to climb up to the castle alongside her raccoon.

"Don't sweat about it, babe. You wait here and I'll try to find something to help you get to the roof." The raccoon stated as he comforted his tigress and stated that he would find a way to help her get onto the roof of the castle.

"Alright, but Sly...please be careful." She stated softly while asking her mate/lover to be careful as he made his way up to the castle roof.

"Always baby." He softly replied with his casual smirk, which the feline instinctively mirrored as they locked lips in a sweet and tender kiss.

Shortly after they pulled away, Sly had sprinted along the right side of the castle where he jumped and latched his cane onto a hook dangling over the moat and after swinging himself back and forth two times, he had latched his cane onto a pipe that was directly underneath an arched walkway...and overheard the Black Baron talking to himself about how lazy and unreliable his guards were as he exited his hangar and walked down the runway. Once the Baron had entered the castle, the raccoon had continued with his climb until he finally made it to the top of the castle.

"Sly! Are you up there?" Neyla shouted as she called out to her lover as quietly as she could so the Baron and his men wouldn't hear her.

"Nope, sorry. Just us Black Baron goons up here." Sly answered jokingly as he stood close to the ledge of the roof and playfully referred to himself as one of the Baron's hired 'help'...which earned an amused smirk from his feline lover.

"Very funny, Sly. Do you see a switch or a lever for the drawbridge up there?" The tigress replied whilst shaking her head in amusement at her lover's sense of humor and asked if he saw anything on the roof that could lower the drawbridge...and would be greatly taken back by a truly shocking answer.

"Sorry babe, but...there isn't anything up here to lower the bridge." The raccoon answered truthfully as he sadly revealed to his mate/lover that there wasn't a switch or lever to open the drawbridge!

"But...if there isn't a bloody switch, then how do I get up there?" Neyla asked with a deeply surprised look on her face after hearing that unexpected revelation!

"Hold on...I've got an idea." Sly answered as he immediately solved the answer to their minor setback as he jumped up to the closest tower and with a charged up swing from his cane, knocked a catapult right into the air and smiled brightly as it landed right behind his tigress.

"Hmm, medieval...but effective. Thanks Ringtail." The feline stated casually as she thanked her raccoon for providing her and the rest of their team a means of reaching the castle's roof.

"Anytime, my beautiful tigress. You want any help in looking for the ACES line-up?" The raccoon casually replied while asking his tigress if she would like his help in searching for the tournament bracket.

"Don't worry handsome, I can take it from here. You should get back to the hideout, I'll meet you there shortly." Neyla replied with a soft smile as she appreciated her lover's offer and stated that she would join him at the hotel with the flight roster.

"Alright. I'll see you back at the safe house, beautiful." Sly stated casually while blowing his tigress lover a kiss for good luck, which she happily returned before he jumped, deployed his paraglider and sailed over the forest back to the town square, where he landed safely and sprinted across the bridge back to the hotel without being spotted by the Baron's security blimps or idiot guards.

Shortly after she witnessed her raccoon mate/lover sail through the air back to the safe house, Neyla had climbed onto the catapult, which automatically flung her high into the air and landed safely on the roof of the Baron's castle where she immediately entered the Baron's hangar: which was protected by a security laser field that covered the entire floor and search lights. But luckily for the tigress, she was able to get past the floor lasers with extreme ease by climbing/jumping over the three bi-planes that belonged to the Baron and his team and avoided the search lights by timing her movement perfectly. As she made her way around the hangar, Neyla had thoroughly scanned the three separate paintings for the combination to the safe that held the flight roster...and couldn't help but growl softly, as one of the paintings was of the one places that caused a lot of emotional pain to her, Sly, Bentley and Murray: Rajan's spice temple in the Indian jungle.

After she had spotted the combination, the tigress flipped the painting over to reveal the safe and inputted the numbers: 2-2-3. However...as soon as she opened the vault door, Neyla had sighed softly in dissappointment...as the 1st safe turned out to be vacant. But fortunately for the feline, after she had jumped over to the opposite side of the hangar and found the combination in the 2nd painting, which was also of the Indian jungle, she punched in the numbers: 5-1-0 and smiled brightly...as the 2nd safe contained the the ACES flight roster, which she swiftly grabbed and placed in the right pocket of her cargo shorts. Once she had obtained the roster, Neyla immediately exited the hangar and sprinted across the runway until she reached the ledge of the castle, where she jumped and automatically deployed her paraglider, sailing over the forest back to the hotel, where she used a large wheel of Swiss cheese to reach the balcony to the hideout and greeted by her raccoon mate/lover and teammates as soon as she stepped inside.

"Oh Neyla, welcome back. Did you get it?" Bentley stated softly as he greeted the feline and asked if she had any trouble in finding the ACES tournament bracket.

"It wasn't easy, especially since the Baron's hangar was heavily defended...but I was able to find the flight roster. I've got it right here." Neyla answered honestly as she softly admitted that searching the Black Baron's hangar was a bit more complicated than she anticipated, due to the security system the Baron installed to protect his own and team's planes before reaching into her right shorts pocket, pulling out the ACES flight line-up and handing to Bentley, whom gladly accepted the roster.

"Nice job, my beautiful tigress." Sly stated casually as he congratulated his feline mate/lover and planted a loving kiss on her cheek on a job well.

"Heh, it was a walk in the park handsome." The tigress stated with an equally soft and loving smile on her face whilst wrapping an arm around his waist.

"...Bentley, we've got a problem..." The raccoon started off before his turtle friend and tech support softly cut him off.

"...Sly, Murray and I know. We heard everything the Baron said over the radio. We know Muggshot's here." Bentley stated softly with a sympathetic look on his face as he informed his team leader, friend and brother that he and Murray already knew what it was he wanted to tell them: how Muggshot was a contestant in the ACES competition!

"We're so sorry Sly." Murray added softly with equally sympathetic look on his face...especially since he and the turtle were equally surprised that the former muscle for the Fiendish Five was in Kinderdijk whilst listening to the Baron's opening speech.

"But what is he even doing here in Holland? The last I heard, he was locked up in prison." Sly softly asked, demanding to know how it was even possible for the American bulldog, whom assisted Clockwerk in slaughtering his parents to be in Holland...and he would soon deeply shocked by the answer.

"'Was', being the operative word. Jack sent me an email before we left for Holland this afternoon, explaining how Muggshot, along with six other highly dangerous international criminals had broke out of a maximum security prison in Carson City five months ago...and are currently at large." Bentley answered softly as he revealed to his friends and teammates how their secret friend and ally inside Interpol had sent them an email before they left for Kinderdijk: how Muggshot and six other high level international criminals had escaped from prison five months ago with Sly, Neyla and Murray staring with their mouths slightly opened in shock as they listened to that truly shocking/unexpected revelation.

"...Six others?" Neyla whispered after hearing that six other high level criminals had escaped from prison besides Muggshot!

"Unfortunately, yes. But I do have some good news, though: Jack mentioned in the email that Barkley had sent him to apprehend Muggshot...and that he landed in Holland several days before us. He's staying at the Park Plaza Hotel in Utrecht." The turtle replied softly before informing his friends how Interpol had assigned the wolf detective to capture Muggshot and that Jack was already in Kinderdijk as well...much to their great relief.

"Oh, thank you Jack." Neyla whispered softly as she secretly grateful that Barkley had sent Howlett to apprehend the escaped American bulldog instead of a different Interpol detective, along with her raccoon lover and hippo friend.

Shortly after Murray and Bentley had congratulated the two lovers on a terrific job in the hotel lounge, the four friends decided to call it a day, as they were still slightly jetlagged from the five hour flight from Paris to Holland before walking into the separate bedrooms on their hotel room: with Murray sharing his room with the Guru, Bentley having his own room and Sly and Neyla sharing their own room and slowly drifting off to sleep.

A/N: There it is everyone, the 12th chapter to the Cooper Vault Job as promised. I would like to deeply apologize to my fellow Fanfic authors and loyal viewers for the insanely long wait. I know that I promised to have the 12th chapter posted last year, but I was so busy preparing and looking forward to spending quality time with my folks during the holidays, along with hectic shifts at work that I just wasn't able to concentrate and work on it.

Also, I had to really think outside the box so the first half to the Flight of Fancy wouldn't be too similar to my good friend Wolvehulk's and Sephiroth 200's, Neyla's Redemption. Plus, this chapter is over 10,000 words long: which makes the longest chapter I've ever done. I should have the 13th chapter posted sometime next month. Until next time, take care. Bye.