Chapter 12: Toxic Behavior

—

No use in dragging this out. Sly Cooper belongs to Sucker Punch. Now, let's resolve that cliffhanger, shall we? Oh, and though this is technically the Action Phase, there's not much here. Sorry.

I have nothing funny to say here. Stop reading this and start reading the next bit. Go on. Shoo.

Why are you still here?

—

"LIST!"

"Shh. What's up?"

"I cracked the code and got a chill, this party was thrown with intent to kill!"

"Intent to kill… You mean this party's a cover for a murder attempt?"

"This is much bigger than that, so we need to have a little chat…"

"Calm down. You're going to start pseudo-rhyming if you keep this up, and that always just freaks you out more."

"Yes, yes, I know you're right, but the intel gave me quite a fright!"

"Then lay it on me."

"The secret lies within the vents; therein lies a deadly scent. A gaseous toxin through and through, it's sure to kill everyone, including you!"

"Slow down. You're saying the Plague Doctor has… What? A poison gas in the vent system? He wouldn't. It would kill him and all his guards."

"I… You're right. Okay… Oh. I freaked out because I thought you were going to die, but I finally found this bit here." Abby sighed, evidently relieved.

"And you stopped rhyming. Okay, lay it on me; what's the full story?"

"All the undercover cops here? It's all part of the Plague Doctor's plan. He's got a remote on him that will open up a couple of gas tanks linked to the ventilation system, releasing a ridiculously deadly poison gas."

"Still doesn't make sense."

"But it does! The gas was specially synthesized by him, so it wouldn't kill you if you had this weird, complex chemical in your system at the time of exposure. He's fed the deactivation agent to all of his guards and 'legit' guests."

"Okay… That makes more sense."

"The sheer number of them here… he'd cripple Interpol if this plan went off. Normally, what inconveniences the cops is good for us, but this is one step too far… I ran the numbers, and things will be objectively harder for us if he poisons everyone, thanks to the rampant expansion of criminal activity following a drop in Interpol presence."

"And then we have a whole slew of moral reasons to be against this."

"And that. Luckily, there's only so many tanks, and the deactivation agent permanently nullifies the gas… If I synthesize some of it myself and go back into the restricted area, I bet I can take care of it."

"So what are you waiting for?"

"Well… I'd need another distraction. And even with your disguise and her confusion, there's no way you could trick the Inspector into helping you provide one twice. Fortunately, it looks like the plan is to release the gas at the end of the night… Meaning…"

"Let me guess. You want to hold off on getting rid of the ridiculously deadly poison gas so that you can do it during the heist."

"…Yes."

"I can't believe I'm agreeing to this."

"It's the safest way to do it. Again, I ran the numbers. In the absence of an absolute best-case scenario where I somehow go completely unnoticed, going in without a distraction will only result in the death of quite a few people. And if we use the distraction, we run a much higher risk of being caught during the op."

"Alright, fine. I hope you know what you're doing. What's Phase Three for me?"

"For you? Nothing. I'm going to send Rick out one more time, and trigger a minor alert for the Chief of the Guard. Once she's down for the count, Rick will lift the vault codes off of her, and we'll begin the op."

"That's it? That's pretty simple."

"I need a little time to synthesize the deactivation agent anyway, and I don't have any job for you. Sit tight and avoid the Inspector. Pick some pockets if you feel like it; you need the practice without your cane and everyone at that party who isn't a cop or you is a dirtbag."

"Good advice. I'll see what I can do about that."

"Great. I'll prep Rick and send him on his way to his job."

"I really don't need to know the details of the operation itself. Just call me when you need me to provide that distraction for you."

"Fair enough, then."

As she hung up the call, the hacker turned to the muscle. "Now, I know you've got your beliefs about who it's proper to hit. But I need you to punch the chief of the guard until she's unconscious, then take her key code to the vault."

"…Do I have to?"

"Yes. It's the only way we're getting into the vault, given that List will be providing the distraction."

"But… I don't want to hit a girl!"

"Trust me, Rick. This girl deserves so much worse. She's unusually vicious at her job, and her job is to enforce order in an organization willing to cut each other's throats at the drop of a hat."

"Really?"

"And I'm not giving you a choice in the matter."

"Aw."

"It shouldn't be hard. I'll give her a fake security update over her phone, lure her out to your position. Then you knock her out and lift her codes."

"Well… Okay. But I don't want to do this!"

"Trust me, Rick. I'm well aware."

As the bear headed out to the location Abby had told him to go to, the jackal turned back to the computer, cracking her knuckles. She owned the security mainframe, so it should be simple to trick the Chief of Staff into making a hasty exit…

—

"Dammit, dammit, dammit." the canine grumbled, picking her way through the forest, flashlight in hand and jacket hastily thrown on. It was cold out there, and she'd much rather be inside, but if she was needed out here…

It was a little odd. Normally, her underlings would be doing the searching. Then again, it was an odd night… She supposed the grunts needed to be watching the guests, but still.

A rustling noise alerted her to a presence. Growling, she approached slowly, trying to catch the trespasser unawares.

A ding on her phone caused her to facepalm. "Yeah, sure, why not." she mumbled, before bursting into the clearing where the rustling had come from…

…And coming face-to-face with a bear at least twice her size.

She blinked, then had a second look at the alert on her phone. A grinning face accompanied the new message.

Hi! You're looking at my friend right now! We need the codes to the vault, so I've disabled your phone remotely. Good luck - you'll need it!

Her phone automatically powered off a moment after she finished reading, followed by her looking back up at the grizzly bear.

"…Don't suppose I can talk you into leaving peacefully?"

"Sorry."

"Figured as much."

The instant she finished her sentence, she threw a punch at high speed, catching Rick right in the gut. The huge bear didn't even blink.

"You're fast, but you've got no muscle behind your strikes." he told her, before punching her in return. The breath left her lungs as she sailed across the clearing, striking a tree with a distinct crunching noise, before slumping to the ground.

"Sorry. I don't usually punch girls, but we need those codes." he apologized, before searching her pockets. Coming up with her notebook, he grinned. She was only carrying her phone and notebook - a lucky break for the team, considering that she didn't have her gun on hand.

"Rick! Sorry, but I need you to do something else. It just popped up." Abby's voice rang out, startling the bear.

"Oh, sorry. I've got the codes. What do you need?" he asked, exiting the clearing.

"I've begun brewing the neutralizing agent we need for the heist, but I need another ingredient. There's a rare species of mushroom known to grow in this forest, and I need a few of them to finish up the neutralizer. Would you mind grabbing a few on your way back?"

"Not a problem."

—

Returning with mushrooms and codes in hand, Rick took a seat. Abby grinned as she saw the bear.

"Okay, I'll have the neutralizer done in a moment. In the meantime, I'd like to go over the plan with you and List." she remarked, taking the fungus. It wasn't long before she had the chemical cooking, and turned on the mic she had placed on her makeshift worktable, ready to explain.

"I hear you. What's up?" List asked, having found a quiet spot to listen.

"Just wanted to go over the plan once more."

"I'm listening."

"On my signal, List, you'll approach Inspector Marais and redeem that offer for a dance. Make as much of a spectacle of it as you can; Rick and I need as much cover as we can get."

"Understood. Hopefully, she won't see through my disguise…"

"Hopefully. Meanwhile, Rick and I will reenter the castle through the tunnel we opened up earlier. With the guards distracted, we'll split up. I'll head for a vent access area where they have the gas tanks, and neutralize the toxins. I'll then rendezvous with Rick at the vault, where we will run away with as much of the loot inside as we can carry."

"Sounds reasonable."

"If anything goes horribly wrong, I'll detonate the bomb in the Plague Doctor's lab. The resulting confusion should give us the time we need to make a hasty escape."

"As long as none of us are too close, right?"

"Right. Anyways, once Rick and I are out of there, you'll have to make a hasty exit yourself, List. If you can get to the van before they realize that their stuff is missing, we'll be home free… I've got a contact in London who'll pay big-time for the kind of alchemical treasures the Plague Doctor's been hoarding."

"Sweet. So we make a clean getaway, have a week off in London, then head on out for our next heist."

"That's the plan."

"I like it. Are you ready?"

"I've got the neutralizers done. The plan will officially begin once I give you the signal."

"Sounds good. I'll stay low until then."

As Abby hung up, she grinned. "Let's go to work."

—

Well, that was shorter than the usual Action chapter. I didn't really have anything to blow up, given my plans for the next three chapters… Suppose I could've given a fight scene, but eh. I wasn't feeling it.

Anyways, next chapter might take a little longer. Life, you know? But I'll have it out as soon as I can.

Prepared and pumped up, the Cooper Gang is about to begin their heist. Will all go according to plan? Of course not. But just how will the plan go wrong? That's the bit we all want to know! Find out next time in Chapter 13: A Dance With Death!

KeyFire, typing frantically. I'll see you all next chapter.