Okay, that last chapter was kinda confusing with the POV switches, so that's going to be changed in this chapter. It will be regular POV switching like I've done with the other stories I have. And, as to the only person that seems to be reading this story anymore: Heiduska (and I apologize if I spelled that wrong!) No there will be no character death…you'll see what I'm talking about soon enough.
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Carmelita cringed at the sound of bodies being flung at the door separating them from that huge fight outside. That door looked like it had it; if someone Murray's size was thrown into that door, then they'd be wide open to attack.
And Carmelita HATED being left wide open.
Artemis stood and tried supporting the door with her magic, but that thing was taking a beating. Her blue aura wouldn't hold up much longer at this rate. They continued to hurriedly put things in the back of the team van as Bentley furiously thought of a plan. Truth be told, he knew that there was no chance of escape with both the loot AND everyone in the van; the weight would slow it down tremendously, and if they were lucky, they might be going…at best…10 mph. Not bad…if you're obeying the law…
But if you're trying to outrun a bunch of psychotic thieves that shove computer terminals up horse statue asses, then you might as well be wearing a bull's eye.
Carmelita was about to grab a particularly heavy piece of machinery, when the door gave a loud groan and finally burst open. Artemis was flung back against the wall, given that she was standing right in front of it. She quickly stood in Akito combat form, but Sly shook his head quickly.
"You do your job, let us do ours." He simply said. Artemis reluctantly nodded at her friend and continued to heave the objects in the back of Murray's van.
"We're doing great! Just a few more-!" Carmelita sighed in relief, but that didn't last long, for a particularly huge thug guard towered over her, raising his arms over his head, holding a fregin' sledgehammer. There was a flash of blue and gold and that thug was biting the dust.
"You okay?" Sly asked while crouching down in front of her, his back facing her. She nodded and thanked him while she grabbed the last piece of machinery and began to put it in the van.
"Sly, Murray, Carmelita! We need you three to stay back while we take these to the safehouse! Once the loot is out of the van, we'll come back for you!" Bentley shouted over the roar of battle. The three said people nodded as the others began to drive away. Spinning, Carmelita round house kicked three thugs in one swipe of her leg, sending them sprawling. Murray fearlessly leapt into the air above about five guards.
"THUNDER FLOP!" He roared as his stomach connected with the guards' heads. All five of them dropped unconscious. Sly brought his cane to a defensive position as he chanted inaudibly. The gold part of his cane began to pulse a gold light as he charged the cane into a group of guards, knocking them back a good yard and a half.
"Sly, Murr, Carm, heading to your position. Jump in fast so we can get the HELL OUTTA DODGE!" Bentley cried from the driver's seat. He spun the van around so that the back was facing the fight. Artemis and Nick each opened one of the back doors hastily.
Sly groaned as he shoved one thug off of his cane. He turned in time to see the van come, and he immediately began to cover Murray and Carmelita, even though he knew that it would take them at least five minutes to get to the van considering the amount of backup the first wave of guards called in. He turned to his lifelong hippo friend, knowing he could get the job done.
"Murray! Get you and Carmelita in the van and go, got it? I'll catch up!" He yelled as the rage of the fight rose to new heights. His friend turned to him in absolute shock.
"Wha-? Sly, we can't just lave you behind! You're like, my brother!" Sly countered that one without hesitation.
"You gave me your word, Murray."
"But-!" He was cut off as Sly knocked another thug away from him.
"GO!" He yelled urgently, not in anger, and Murray knew that. His friend reluctantly jumped in. Carmelita stood there, amidst the whole scene of chaos, and just stared at Sly.
"But Sly I can't just go without you! We're all a team! All of us!"
"I'll be fine! Just go with the others!" Sly said as he shoved another guard across from him. Carmelita got in the van even more reluctantly that Murray as it took off towards the safehouse. About two minutes later, worry overtook the entire gang. Artemis opened the link between Sly's and her binocucoms.
"Sly, where are you!"
"Still…fighting…" He sounded exhausted from the fight, and Artemis could sense his strength leaving him.
"I'll have Murray turn the van around and-"
"No."
"WHAT! You need to get out of there before-!"
"You gave me your word."
"But…"
"Your word."
"Does that REALLY MATTER!"
"It was under Thief's Oath. Of course it matters."
"YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE!"
"Maybe…but at least this way…we'll all hold…our honor." There was a static in the line as Sly was cut off…not shut down…CUT OFF.
"Sly? Sly can you hear me? SLY! Sly do you read?" Artemis frantically looked over at Bentley, who was a step ahead of her, on his computer, searching for the GPS tracking chip in Sly's binocucom to activate. All throughout the map, there wasn't even so much as a blip. He gulped nervously.
"That doesn't mean anything. He's still probably in the fight, so he can't respond to the calling. We'll just have to wait." Everyone nodded, but didn't get their hopes up. Murray's fingers twitched nervously on the steering wheel as he waited for the news on his childhood friend. Nick and Bentley refused to look anywhere but the computer screen. Artemis managed to calm Carmelita into a restless sleep after several minutes of tears and silent sobbing. Artemis occasionally threw a glance or two in Nick or Bentley's direction for any signs that they might have found their almost brother, but each glance was met with a disheartening shake of the head. Bentley tried numerous times to send a beacon to Sly.
But the GPS tracking chip in Sly's binocucom never responded.
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I told you serious Sly fans weren't gonna like this chapter. Find out what happens next in chappie 6!