It had been a few days since the interrogation in the office. Bentley and Murray could tell Sly just wasn't himself. He was no longer headstrong or energetic, he just lazed around and stared out the window 24/7. He wasn't going to lessons and would rarely talk. Murray was always trying to talk to him but he just remained quiet. It was depressing for them all, one second the gang were lively and it felt like it was just the beginning then it all went wrong. Bentley remained quiet for a few days not even bothering to respond to Murray half the time. He eventually realised that he was the gangs only chance of survival and took matters into his own hands. 'OPERATION CAPE FEAR' was underway. Bentley waited till his lesson was over, avoiding Murray on the way out, he hid behind a desk for a few short minutes until no one was around then he snuck up to the reception phone. He picked up the phone and shakily dialed in 1-1-7, he waited shaking as the phone rang. Until a young woman answered.
"Paris Police Service, whats the problem?"
Bentley pucked up his courage "erm yes, t-theres not much time, just get to the Happy Camper Orphanage"
She responded "why? whats the situation?"
"Look I dont have much time, its critical you get lucius Fox down here now!" he slammed the phone down before she could respond then quickly headed out the front door and into the bushes in the driveway.
Okay okay he thought to himself all I need to do now is wait until that Fox gets here than it gets serious. He waited a good few minutes keeping his head down, he checked his watch it was 6:55PM, the night sky was emerging, all of a sudden he could hear sirens in the distance, his heart began to race frantically, this was it. He quickly ducked down as he heard a few vehicles driving up the gravel, the sirens were turned off and Lucius Fox stepped out and approched the front entrance past Bentley along with his forces. As the Fox moved in Bentley knew he wouldn't have much time. Quickly peeping through the bushes there were no other policemen in the cars he ran over to the boot of the car Lucius Fox had stepped out of and opened it quickly got in closed the boot quietly and waited for the Police to come back none the wiser. He was pretty impressed with himself, this was it there be little chance of turning back now. How would he get back to the Orphanage safe? what would the police when he confronts them as planned? how much trouble would he get into but no matter what he needed to do this for his friends.
"Well i'm terribly sorry" Ms. Puffin called out from the front door to Lucius.
"It's quite alright ma'am although I recomend keeping an eye on your oprhans" he responded.
Bentley braced himself for the moment of truth had come.
"Hey boss, i'm going home now" one of Lucius's men announced "can I get me jacket out from the boot?"
Bentley began to panic, nearly into hyperventilation.
"Your jackets at the office" Lucius corrected him to Bentley's relief.
"Oh" said the officer getting in the car. The cars engine began to start, phase 2 was complete. The road trip to the station was pretty exhilarating for Bentley, he couldn't believe himself sneaking past Police's noses. "So who do you think rang us up?" one Officer asked his other colleagues.
"Maybe it was our little friend Sly Cooper?" another responded.
They all laughed to themselves.
"I don't think so" Lucius spoke up stopping the men in their tracks "I once knew his father, that isn't something a Cooper would do, their alot smarter." He almost sound impressed "and violent."
The men just remained silent. This suprised Bentley but this wasn't the time for him to ponder.
"Here we are" one of the Cops announced "Spencer Hill, aint no station better"
Lucius laughed to himself and they all got out the car. Bentley waited for a few mintues until he was certian no one was around, he poked his head up around the car boot. No one in sight and the ground floor had their curtians closed. As he opened the car boot the cold draft blew, it was already pitch black. Bentley checked his watch it was 7:26, if he played his cards right and got some help from the public he could find his way back to the Orphanage. He snuck up to the entrance of the Police Station and got up against the wall. He used the mirror he snuck from the Orphanage to see if the receptionist was looking without having to poke his head around the corner. There was a desk but no receptionist. He quickly legged it inside. He could hear some police officers moving down the hall. Thinking fast like Sly he sat down and grabbed a comic book sat on the shelf behind him to act as though he was waiting for someone patiently. They took no notice of him and he prepared for the next move, he needed to act fast incase Lucius showed up, he was the only real problem. He looked down the hallway behind him, at the very far end of the hall he could see a noticable star on the door and the name [Lucius Fox.] in a gold plate on the door. He quickly clambered out of his chair and moved quickly but quietly down the hall, peering into an abondend room, he noticed a small weapon on the desk. It was a crossbow he thought to himself, he would need to interrogate properly with Lucius he picked it up hastily and kept moving down the hall faster than ever then walked straight into his office. There was no one in the front room. It was warm and bright inside the room and quite relaxing.
"Carmeltia dear that you?" Lucius's voices called from the other room. Bentley held up the crossbow ready.
"No daddy i'm in here" another voice called.
"Oh well whos our guest?" he said smiling until he saw Bentley.
"What on earth?" Lucius shockingly remarked. "Shut up" Bentley lashed out in rage "don't even bother calling for help"
Lucius laughed making Bentley feel uneasy "and why would I do that, your like what six years old?"
"It doesn't change a thing Fox" Bentley responded "Whos your little friend in there?"
"That would be my daughter" he replied signalling her to come in. A little girl no older than Bentley stepped in looking at her father scared.
"Daddy whats going in" she said "whos this?"
"This would be a close friend of that Sly Cooper I've been telling you about dear" he replied stepping infront of his daughter to protect her.
"Oh oh" she said excitedly "whats he like" she asked "he sounds dreamy"
"I'm not here for small chat friends" he shouted holding the gun in Carmelitas line of fire.
"Then what are you here for?" Lucius asked now getting defensive for his daughter.
"Your not adopting Sly" Bentley told him "your not taking my friend away from me"
"Ahh your defensive for your friend" Lucius chuckled now understanding "You know something Bentley, I was like you once, I was defensive of my friends to extreme limits, I enjoyed a little danger and didn't care what anyone else thought, if it was for my friends" Bentley began to lower the gun listening "I take it you got here by hiding in my boot?" he continued "I wondered what you were, but didnt have much time to check, I take it you were the one who phoned the station so you could sneak inside the boot while we were inside, well done, ingenious" Bentley was confused and feeling good at the same time. "You know that cross-bow your pointing as my daughter?, it was the very one that killed my wife!"
Bentley dropped the gun in shame and lowered his head.
"I won't adopt Sly, but I wouldn't want to see you children become animals and monsters, Mr Cooper, his father and I were great friends until one day I found out he was a criminal, the very one the city had been looking for for years" Bentley didn't respond he just kept his head lowered "At first I tried to put it out of my mind, but it kept getting at me then one day, he came up to me with a genius from out college, a mandrill or someone -- forget his name but not the point, he wanted me to join his outlaw gang and become an inside man, and I was horrified at the offer and ofcourse refused, in anger 'Conner Cooper' attacked me along with his friends the mandrill and someone else some walrus. I didn't see him until years after when I became the inspector here in Paris, when we got a lead on his hideout he spotted me charge in with my men and we destroyed the place. After the whole situation was dealt with I went home to find my wife dead on the living room floor with that crossbow on the floor and a cooper calling card next to it and I knew it was him, Carmelita witnessed her mother's death, what about you Bentley? what are you becoming?"
Bentley looked up tears in his eyes "I don't want to become a monster" he explained "but I'm not losing my friends."
Lucius kneeled down to Bentley's level "then maybe you can change Sly, maybe you can prevent him from becoming a monster, perhaps you have the power to help your gang of friends"
Bentley looked up "I don't know, I dont know what will happen to us, no one can predict their destiny"
"Well for now you think about whats happening with you and your friends and about what I said it will be critical for your decision in the future, come on now I'll drive you back to the Orphanage myself" Bentley was pushed out of the Orpahange and into the passenger seat in the front of the car. Lucius and Carmelita remained quiet the entire journey, Bentley didn't even look at them until they arrived at the orphanage.
"You think about what I said Bentley" Lucius replied "You never know this might be the last time you see me, ol' Conner Cooper might come back from the dead to finish me off!" he joked driving off.
"Paris Police Service, whats the problem?"
Bentley pucked up his courage "erm yes, t-theres not much time, just get to the Happy Camper Orphanage"
She responded "why? whats the situation?"
"Look I dont have much time, its critical you get lucius Fox down here now!" he slammed the phone down before she could respond then quickly headed out the front door and into the bushes in the driveway.
Okay okay he thought to himself all I need to do now is wait until that Fox gets here than it gets serious. He waited a good few minutes keeping his head down, he checked his watch it was 6:55PM, the night sky was emerging, all of a sudden he could hear sirens in the distance, his heart began to race frantically, this was it. He quickly ducked down as he heard a few vehicles driving up the gravel, the sirens were turned off and Lucius Fox stepped out and approched the front entrance past Bentley along with his forces. As the Fox moved in Bentley knew he wouldn't have much time. Quickly peeping through the bushes there were no other policemen in the cars he ran over to the boot of the car Lucius Fox had stepped out of and opened it quickly got in closed the boot quietly and waited for the Police to come back none the wiser. He was pretty impressed with himself, this was it there be little chance of turning back now. How would he get back to the Orphanage safe? what would the police when he confronts them as planned? how much trouble would he get into but no matter what he needed to do this for his friends.
"Well i'm terribly sorry" Ms. Puffin called out from the front door to Lucius.
"It's quite alright ma'am although I recomend keeping an eye on your oprhans" he responded.
Bentley braced himself for the moment of truth had come.
"Hey boss, i'm going home now" one of Lucius's men announced "can I get me jacket out from the boot?"
Bentley began to panic, nearly into hyperventilation.
"Your jackets at the office" Lucius corrected him to Bentley's relief.
"Oh" said the officer getting in the car. The cars engine began to start, phase 2 was complete. The road trip to the station was pretty exhilarating for Bentley, he couldn't believe himself sneaking past Police's noses. "So who do you think rang us up?" one Officer asked his other colleagues.
"Maybe it was our little friend Sly Cooper?" another responded.
They all laughed to themselves.
"I don't think so" Lucius spoke up stopping the men in their tracks "I once knew his father, that isn't something a Cooper would do, their alot smarter." He almost sound impressed "and violent."
The men just remained silent. This suprised Bentley but this wasn't the time for him to ponder.
"Here we are" one of the Cops announced "Spencer Hill, aint no station better"
Lucius laughed to himself and they all got out the car. Bentley waited for a few mintues until he was certian no one was around, he poked his head up around the car boot. No one in sight and the ground floor had their curtians closed. As he opened the car boot the cold draft blew, it was already pitch black. Bentley checked his watch it was 7:26, if he played his cards right and got some help from the public he could find his way back to the Orphanage. He snuck up to the entrance of the Police Station and got up against the wall. He used the mirror he snuck from the Orphanage to see if the receptionist was looking without having to poke his head around the corner. There was a desk but no receptionist. He quickly legged it inside. He could hear some police officers moving down the hall. Thinking fast like Sly he sat down and grabbed a comic book sat on the shelf behind him to act as though he was waiting for someone patiently. They took no notice of him and he prepared for the next move, he needed to act fast incase Lucius showed up, he was the only real problem. He looked down the hallway behind him, at the very far end of the hall he could see a noticable star on the door and the name [Lucius Fox.] in a gold plate on the door. He quickly clambered out of his chair and moved quickly but quietly down the hall, peering into an abondend room, he noticed a small weapon on the desk. It was a crossbow he thought to himself, he would need to interrogate properly with Lucius he picked it up hastily and kept moving down the hall faster than ever then walked straight into his office. There was no one in the front room. It was warm and bright inside the room and quite relaxing.
"Carmeltia dear that you?" Lucius's voices called from the other room. Bentley held up the crossbow ready.
"No daddy i'm in here" another voice called.
"Oh well whos our guest?" he said smiling until he saw Bentley.
"What on earth?" Lucius shockingly remarked. "Shut up" Bentley lashed out in rage "don't even bother calling for help"
Lucius laughed making Bentley feel uneasy "and why would I do that, your like what six years old?"
"It doesn't change a thing Fox" Bentley responded "Whos your little friend in there?"
"That would be my daughter" he replied signalling her to come in. A little girl no older than Bentley stepped in looking at her father scared.
"Daddy whats going in" she said "whos this?"
"This would be a close friend of that Sly Cooper I've been telling you about dear" he replied stepping infront of his daughter to protect her.
"Oh oh" she said excitedly "whats he like" she asked "he sounds dreamy"
"I'm not here for small chat friends" he shouted holding the gun in Carmelitas line of fire.
"Then what are you here for?" Lucius asked now getting defensive for his daughter.
"Your not adopting Sly" Bentley told him "your not taking my friend away from me"
"Ahh your defensive for your friend" Lucius chuckled now understanding "You know something Bentley, I was like you once, I was defensive of my friends to extreme limits, I enjoyed a little danger and didn't care what anyone else thought, if it was for my friends" Bentley began to lower the gun listening "I take it you got here by hiding in my boot?" he continued "I wondered what you were, but didnt have much time to check, I take it you were the one who phoned the station so you could sneak inside the boot while we were inside, well done, ingenious" Bentley was confused and feeling good at the same time. "You know that cross-bow your pointing as my daughter?, it was the very one that killed my wife!"
Bentley dropped the gun in shame and lowered his head.
"I won't adopt Sly, but I wouldn't want to see you children become animals and monsters, Mr Cooper, his father and I were great friends until one day I found out he was a criminal, the very one the city had been looking for for years" Bentley didn't respond he just kept his head lowered "At first I tried to put it out of my mind, but it kept getting at me then one day, he came up to me with a genius from out college, a mandrill or someone -- forget his name but not the point, he wanted me to join his outlaw gang and become an inside man, and I was horrified at the offer and ofcourse refused, in anger 'Conner Cooper' attacked me along with his friends the mandrill and someone else some walrus. I didn't see him until years after when I became the inspector here in Paris, when we got a lead on his hideout he spotted me charge in with my men and we destroyed the place. After the whole situation was dealt with I went home to find my wife dead on the living room floor with that crossbow on the floor and a cooper calling card next to it and I knew it was him, Carmelita witnessed her mother's death, what about you Bentley? what are you becoming?"
Bentley looked up tears in his eyes "I don't want to become a monster" he explained "but I'm not losing my friends."
Lucius kneeled down to Bentley's level "then maybe you can change Sly, maybe you can prevent him from becoming a monster, perhaps you have the power to help your gang of friends"
Bentley looked up "I don't know, I dont know what will happen to us, no one can predict their destiny"
"Well for now you think about whats happening with you and your friends and about what I said it will be critical for your decision in the future, come on now I'll drive you back to the Orphanage myself" Bentley was pushed out of the Orpahange and into the passenger seat in the front of the car. Lucius and Carmelita remained quiet the entire journey, Bentley didn't even look at them until they arrived at the orphanage.
"You think about what I said Bentley" Lucius replied "You never know this might be the last time you see me, ol' Conner Cooper might come back from the dead to finish me off!" he joked driving off.
Bentley snuck past the staff and orphans in the lobby and shot up the stairs, he walked into his room to notice Sly and Murray waiting for him.
"Where have you been Bentley?" Sly asked. It been a while since he last spoke.
"Its going to be Ok Sly" Bentley explained the entire story but left out the parts on Sly's father.
"Thanks Bentley, really that means alot" Sly praised him "You know if you hadn't done anything, I would of sorted them out me self, hehe"
Bentley laughed with him slightly fearful of his tone. "Anyway we getting to bed chaps" Murray asked "I'm shattered"
They all got into their beds, Bentley couldn't help but think about what Lucius said, would Sly take after his father? would he become steadily agressive? Bentley thought to himself, with that problem of adopting Sly out the way now theres another one, I need to help change Sly throughout the next few days, he fell to sleep lost in his thoughts.
From my point of view that was a bit of an anti-climax, but the next chapter does have potential )
Oh by the way I named the Operation 'Cape Fear' since its a reference towards the classic film.
Please review.