Chapter 2.- The New Cooper Gang.

Part 2.- Jack Rabbit vs. Sly Cooper, the rematch.

Sly was angry, Dudley had passed his house by ten miles and they lost a lot of time in return to their destination. Our dear former TUFF agent was trying to apologize, but the master thief wouldn't forgave him.
- I said that I'm sorry! - Dudley said for umpteenth time.
- Why in the world did you pass my house by ten miles?! Murray said that we were right above it! - Sly replied angrily.
- I was distracted!
- You had the GPS!
- It was upside down again!
- Why?!
- I don't know!
- That won't give us back the time we lost in return to my home!
- Will you two cut it off already?! I think that Kitty and I had listened to you complaining and trying to say sorry for far too long! - Carmelita snapped.
- Not until time turns back! - Sly replied.
- Cooper, for crying out loud, Dudley is stupid, he was meant to do such a thing. - Kitty explained.
- I'm still wondering how is it that you haven't broken his neck. - Sly thought aloud.
- Sly Alexander Cooper! - Carmelita scowled.
- Don't use my full name!
- Then don't make me angry!
- And they claim to be husband and wife? - Kitty said under her breath.
- I heard that, Katswell!
Kitty snickered while the gang kept their way to Sly's house.
After another five minutes (plus an hour) later, Sly, Dudley, Kitty and Carmelita got out of the TUFF Mobile and they get inside the Cooper household.
- Wow, your house is actually nice. - Kitty let out.
- I'll take it as a compliment, thanks. - Sly replied.
- Where's the console to unlock the hidden stuff, ringtail? - Carmelita asked.
- It's over there, behind the cabinet. And stop calling me ringtail!
Carmelita chuckled and went to the cabinet, she moved it slightly and there it was, a small console with a numeric pad. She input the code and several pieces of furniture, like the sofa, the coffee table, a small bookshelf, turned and revealed many hidden things like ammo, guns, grenades, binocucoms, bio-foam cans, thieving gear and many more.
- WOW! This stuff is really cool! Are you really going to give us this cool weapons? - Dudley asked in excitement.
- Maybe, when this troubles are over we'll talk about it. - Sly replied of-factly. - Take anything you want.
Dudley took a plasma grenade, which he immediately activated. Sly saw Dudley and he startled, he took the active grenade and threw it through the window. The grenade exploded and everyone glanced through the window to see the destructive power of such a small explosive.
Sly took out a tape recorder, he turned it on and said:
- Note to self, keep the grenades away from the Guru, Dimitri and Dudley. - Sly said. - And we must remember it too.
- Agreed. - Kitty and Carmelita replied.
Kitty went with Carmelita and they talked about all the gadgets, while Dudley just watched Sly while the master thief was taking all his thieving gear (His binocucom, smoke bombs, etc). Then Dudley saw something that caught his attention, a cilindric container that had some sort of silverish substance floating inside it, as if it wasn't affected by gravity. The former agent went to it and took it.
- Hey guys, what's this thing? - Dudley asked with the container in his hands.
Sly and Carmelita startled and tackled Dudley. Then, the raccoon took the container carefully and put it back in its shelf.
- Why did you tackle Dudley? - Kitty asked.
- That thing is antimatter. - Carmelita replied as she and Dudley got up.
- And that thing does? - Kitty asked again.
- It's a great source of clean energy, but it's EXTREMELY unstable. If that thing gets in contact with any kind of matter, even the air, they will annihilate each other in a big explosion that leaves no trace. - Sly answered.
- Wow, I didn't think you'd know about something not related to robbery. - Kitty let out.
- Me either, but I guess that it's right that you can't judge a book by its cover. - Sly replied while he threw Kitty a binocucom.
Kitty caught the device and asked:
- What's with you throwing me this?
- You and the rest of your friends will need them, we use them to comunicate with each other. - Carmelita explained while she took a holster and a pistol.
But then, completely out of nowhere, a yellow furred rabbit wearing a tuxedo broke another window, he knocked out Dudley with a flying kick and suffocated Kitty and Carmelita with two hard kicks to their stomaches. The rabbit then tried to punch Sly in the face, but he dodged and responded with a cane whack to the chin, then Sly punched the intruder square in the face. The rabbit backed away a few paces and finally glanced at Sly's eyes.
- Jack Rabbit, "the greatest agent TUFF has ever seen", I knew that you would be behind this too. - Sly let out with a smirk.
- How could you know, Cooper? - Jack asked.
- Easy, my new friends here told me that you turned into a low-life criminal, and that you tried to drain Katswell's brain. So I came to the conclussion that if I am the only thief that could beat you at your own game, you'd help whoever is behind all this operation to have your revenge against me, Dudley and Katswell. It's such a shame, you're a disgrace to every respectable thief in the universe. - Sly replied nonchalantly.
- You're right, Cooper, I've come for revenge, but also for that. - Jack replied while he pointed the Cooper family cane.
- You want it? - Sly asked while he strapped his cane to his back. - Come and get it if you have the guts!
Jack lunged at Sly again, to try to punch him in the face again but Sly dodged once again and punched Jack on the ribs. Rabbit grunted in pain and he kicked Sly on the stomach. Sly groaned and responded with another blow to the chin, which was responded by a punch in his left cheek. Sly and Jack backed away and they tried a roundhouse kick against each other. Their legs collided and they jumped backwards. They lunged against each other, Jack tried some sort of "Spear", but Sly evaded it with a jump, then he landed hard over Jack's back. Jack spun in the ground causing Sly to fall face-first on the ground. Jack tried to stomp Sly's head, but he rolled away and kicked Jack on his side. Sly and Jack stood up again and began to walk in circles, like two wolves about to kill each other. They were perfectly matched in ability.
- C'mon Rabbit! Is that the best you got? - Sly asked as he wiped a drop of blood coming from his mouth.
- You haven't seen anything yet, Cooper. - Jack said while he prepared one of his aces up his sleeve.
And somehow, Jack threw a fireball at Sly, which left him somewhat confused, but he managed to dodge it just in the nick of time. Sly bared his teeth and glared at Jack, who was smirking.
- You're not the only one that has new toys, Cooper, my new boss has just given me this. - Jack said as he showed Sly some kind of mechanic glove. - This is a fireball launcher, do you like it?
- Nah, I rather to use electricity for my attacks. - Sly replied as a matter-of-factly.
Jack smirked and he threw another fireball at Sly, this time he hit him. Jack seized the opportunity and he punched Sly twice in the chest and once in the face, then he grabbed him from his shirt with a fireball ready to strike the thief right in his face.
- Any last words, Cooper? - Jack asked while he smirked evilly.
- Yes, I'm not dying yet. - Sly said breathlessly while he pressed a button in his right glove.
Sly's glove sparkled with electricity and he smirked before giving Jack a hard blow in his right cheek. Jack backed away again, only this time it was long enough to crash hard against a wall. Sly smirked as Jack reincorporated and glared at him.
- What the hell was that?! - Jack asked angrily.
- As you've already said, I have some new toys, like this baby. - Sly replied while he showed Jack his glove. - It's my first and only design, I called it "Electro-Glove". I thought it could be useful if I had my powers supressed by some device like the one in my chest.
Jack growled, but then he smirked. Sly raised and eyebrow and said:
- Why are you smiling? Shouldn't you be angry or something?
- Of course I'm angry, you're really worthy of your reputation as a thief. - Jack replied of-factly.
- Normally I'd be flattered about someone saying that about me, but since I hate you to no end...
- The feeling is mutual, Cooper. You're nothing but a pest in this world.
- I'm a pest? Since when the people that risks everything for those who they love are pests?
- Since you ruined so many people's hard work.
- Hard work? All the criminals stopped by the Cooper Gang were nothing but idiots trying to get riches and power by hurting innocent people. I've faced a lot of bad men and women in my life, from killers to gangsters, and I must admit that your kind is the worst: The traitorous back-stabbing cowards.
- Oh really? Then I'm sure you must know these guys' kind too. - Jack said.
Sly smirked at the poor attempt to catch him of guard, so he simply crouched to avoid a blast from behind, he double-jumped to avoid a punch and crouched backwards (at Matrix's style) to avoid a kick.
- Do you really think that only because I'm facing you I wouldn't notice other three intruders get into my house? - Sly asked sarcastically. - And you're even less respectable than you were when we began our rematch, bringing three of your new "friends" to help you win. Hmph, I've faced some trickster criminals in my life, but you just won the prize to the biggest scum bag I've ever faced.
- And you're still the same ignorant child playing dressed up in his father's legacy. - Said a known female voice.
- So it's not only Jack Rabbit, Dr. Rabies and Madame Catastrophe, but you came too, Contessa. - Sly said with a smirk. - Four versus one, those are some grim odds... for you.
- Seriously Cooper? What makes you think that? - Madame Catastrophe asked.
- Well, the fact that it'll take you more than four opponents like you to take me down.
- What about eleven opponents like us. - Dr. Rabies said as he pointed somewhere behind Sly.
- Whuh? - Sly said as he turned his back.
- Hello Cooper. - Muggshot said with a sadistic smirk.
Muggshot punched Sly and the latter went flying across the room to crash hard against a wall. Sly spat a tooth and some blood, he tried to reincorporate, only to meet another villain's face.
- Long time no see, Cooper. - Neyla said.
- You witch!
Neyla kicked Sly, and she must have had some sort of device in her foot, because with one kick she had sent him flying across the room again. Our dear thief crashed against another wall, while he was killing time for a very unexpected and improvised plan.
Sly reincorporated and he found another villain.
- So you're Sly Cooper huh? - Birdbrain said.
- Who the heck are you? - Sly asked a bit dazed.
Birdbrain shot at Sly with some sort of sonic cannon, and once again he flew across the room to meet another intruder.
- Did you miss me, Cooper? - Said Tsao.
- Hi Tsao... - Sly said breathlessly.
Tsao shot an energy ball against Sly, and he ended up crashing over the coffee table.
The Chameleon, Rajan and Raliegh appeared from the shadows and joined the other villains with wide smirks.
- This is the end for you, Cooper. - Jack Rabbit said as he and his partners surrounded Sly.
Sly chuckled. His plan had worked to perfection.
- Why are you smiling you idiot, this is your end. - The Contessa said.
- Because... you're so stupid... - Sly said while he kept chuckling. - Did... you really... thought that if I... knew about Rabies, Catastrophe and the Contessa... I wouldn't knew about the rest of you?
- What are you talking about? - Raliegh asked.
- It's simple... I just needed to kill time...
- For what? - Neyla asked.
- For the backup to arrive...
- THUNDER FLOP! - Someone roared.
Sly rapidly got up and ran somewhere near the front door, while a pink hippo broke down the second floor and the roof of his house with a powerful belly flop, being followed by the rest of the gang.
The villains covered their eyes as a cloud of smoke rose and when everything had cleared, they saw Murray, Bentley, Herbert, Barton, Penelope, the Guru and Dimitri right in front of them, along with Dudley, Carmelita, Kitty and a surprisingly recovered Sly.
- What?! But you were just about to die! - Jack said completely confused when he saw Sly.
- Well, when you're doing this since a long time ago, you begin to carry some special equipment, like this little beans here. - Sly said with a wide smirk while holding a bag. - These little seeds heal anyone who eats them.
- You Cooper Gang! You've been nothing but pests since... - Raliegh tried to say.
- Yeah, yeah, I know, "we ruined your 'hard work' and your whole lives". - Sly said sarcastically. - I now see why you're all working on the same team, you're all bad losers.
All the villains growled at Sly's commentary, but Neyla chuckled.
- Let's see it from the best side, they saved us the work of finding them, now we can finish them all at once. - Neyla said.
- And we'll get what we came for, the Cooper family cane. - Dr. Rabies said.
- (Sigh) I already said that if you want my cane, you will have to snatch it from my cold dead hand! - Sly yelled as he and the gang got in combat stance.
- That's easy to settle, ringtail. - Jack snarled while smirking.
The villains and the Cooper gang glared at each other, walking in circles. No one dared to make the first move. Or so the villains thought.
Sly feral-pounced against Neyla, he kicked her but the Contessa responded enveloping him with her cobweb. Kitty cut the cobweb but Jack punched her. Carmelita shot at Jack, and Birdbrain shot at Carmelita. Bentley used his wheelchair's robotic arms and grabbed Raliegh to throw him against Birdbrain. The Chameleon enveloped Bentley and he threw him against Sly and Kitty, who were fighting with Neyla and Dr. Rabies respectively. Penelope jumped and punched the Cameleon on the face as hard as she could. Dimitri tried to use his tail to hit Tsao, but the latter shot him another energy ball. Then, the Guru took possesion over Tsao's mind and he shot two energy balls at Rajan. Madame Catastrophe clawed Murray in the chest and then she climbed over him. Barton took Catastrophe and threw her to the ground, but Neyla caught him and she shocked him with her whip.
The Gang and the villains separated and looked into each other's eyes.
- (Gasps) You're all one heck of a fight. - Murray let out.
- But we have to leave. - Sly said with a smirk. - But fear not, we will meet you again, sooner than you think.
Sly cast a glance at his gang, they nodded and everyone threw a smoke bomb.
- Run! Everybody to the TUFF Mobile and the van! - Sly yelled.
The Cooper Gang members ran to the mentioned vehicles while they carried some boxes with their gear, while the villains coughed and tried to clear the area.
- Get that cane! After them! - Jack Rabbit yelled once the smoke had cleared out.
Murray and Kitty got into the driver's seats of both the Van and the TUFF Mobile. Once every member of the Cooper Gang was inside both vehicles, they sped off at max.
Unfortunately, the Gang wasn't the only one to have vehicles. Three black cars chased after them, while some of the villains fired their blasters and guns at the Gang's vehicles.
- We won't hold out for long if they keep shooting at us! - Murray said.
- We must return the fire and now! - Kitty snapped.
- Murray, open the back doors and unlock the turret! I'll shoot, you drive! - Sly ordered.
Murray pressed a button on the wheel and the van's roof opened and revealed a turret. While Sly climbed to the turret, Carmelita and Bentley opened the back doors of the van and started shooting at the three vehicles chasing them.
- We'll need some help! - Dudley yelled.
- Hold on, pal! I got an idea! - Carmelita said while she reloaded her shock pistol.
Carmelita gave her shock pistol to Penelope, who startled when she took the weapon in her hands.
- You know I can't use this, Carmelita! - Penelope snapped.
- Just try it! I just need two minutes. - Carmelita replied while she went to a box.
The vixen opened the box and took out two battle rifles, she switched them to their stunning mode and loaded them. Then, she turned to Murray.
- Murray, I need you to draw us close to the TUFF Mobile! - Carmelita said. - Dimitri, get your lazy butt out of the passenger's seat and do something!
- I'm on it! - Murray said.
- We're all gonna die! It's so un-cool! - Dimitri cried.
Carmelita took Dimitri by his jacket and pulled him out of the passenger's seat, she sat down and opened slightly the door.
- Kitty, get closer to the van! I'm gonna give you some weapons! - Carmelita yelled.
- I hope you know what you're doing, Carm! - Kitty yelled back.
Meanwhile, Sly, Barton, the Chief, Bentley and Penelope were shooting back at the villains, but they needed some serious help if they ever hoped to stop their opponents.
- This is hopeless! - Bentley cried.
- Shut up and keep shooting, Bentley! - Sly ordered.
- You can't escape this time, Cooper! - Jack Rabbit yelled.
- Sorry, pal! I can't hear you, we're already getting away! - Sly shouted with a mocking tone.
Jack snarled and cursed under his breath while Sly snickered.
While Sly mocked of Jack, Carmelita was trying to give Dudley one of the battle rifles she had took of the box.
- Get me closer Murray! - Carmelita said.
- Just a bit closer Kitty! - Dudley said.
Both drivers got their vehicles closer and Dudley finally took the battle rifle.
- Try not to switch it from stun to kill! - Carmelita said as she closed the door of the van.
- Got it! - Dudley replied while he and Carmelita began shooting.
Meanwhile at the villains' vehicles. Dr. Rabies, Neyla and Birdbrain were driving while the rest blasted and fired at the Cooper Gang.
- They must not get away! Not until we get the cane! - Madame Catastrophe said.
- They will not get away, not if I can help it! - Jack said while he pulled out a bazooka.
Sly saw that and he shouted:
- Bentley, we need the Hell Rider Cannon!
- What's a Hell Rider Cannon? - Dudley, Herbert, Kitty and Barton asked.
- Possibly the most powerful weapon of the universe. - Bentley replied while he pulled out a bluish cube.
Our dear turtle pulled out a massive cannon from the comparatively diminute cube.
- C'mon, you foolish rabbit, try to hit us with your best shot. - Bentley muttered while he put the cannon over his shoulder and the scope in front of his glasses.
Jack shot the bazooka, and Bentley shot his Hell Rider cannon. Both shots collided mid-air and they sent a shock wave that stunned both the Gang and the villains.
Murray looked back at his comrades, he was the only one in both teams who wasn't affected by the shock wave. He frowned and said through his ear piece:
- Kitty, I think it's time to kick it up a notch.
Kitty shaked her head and nodded at Murray, then the cat and the hippo pressed a button on their wheel and the Gang's vehicles switched to their flying mode.
The villains watched as the van and the TUFF Mobile went flying. They growled and stopped their vehicles.
- This is just the beginning, Cooper! Don't think this is over yet! - Jack shouted at the grinning raccoon.
Meanwhile, Sly and the others could finally take a break. They had won their first official encounter against the unnamed criminal association. Now they could think of a way to free Keswick from the TUFF HQ. Everyone let out a loud sigh and sat down to relax a bit.
- Well, that went just as I planned it. - Sly let out.
- I can't believe that you can endure so much damage without passing out. - Kitty said.
- He has a lot of experience in getting pounded mercilessly without dying, don't worry about him. - Carmelita said nonchalantly.
- So, can we go for Keswick now? I think that we have enough gear and people to do it. - Herbert said.
- We still have to recruit one last member. - Penelope said.
- Actually, I was thinking that we will need other two specialists. - Bentley said.
- Which kind of specialists, Bentley? - Murray asked.
- A technology specialist and a magic specialist.
- So, who are your candidates this time, Bentley? - Sly asked.
- If I remember well, they said that Keswick is their genius, so he'll be perfect for the job. On the other hand, you will not like my candidate.
- Who is your candidate? - Kitty asked.
- (Sigh) The old member of the Fiendish Five... Mz. Ruby.
Sly was completely shocked when he heard the name.
- Mz. Ruby?! She was one of the five persons that killed Sly's parents! - Carmelita snapped at Bentley.
- I know, but maybe we can convince her like we did with the Panda King. - Bentley replied nervously.
- So you're planning on hiring a murderer for our team?! - Kitty yelled.
- I... I think I agree with Bentley... - Sly let out. - Think of it this way, the villains we're going to face will be a lot more than us, the more help we can get, the better.
- But what if she doesn't want to help us? What if she's already been recruited by the unnamed villain association? - Dudley asked.
- I don't think they did so, my paranormal scanners detect exactly the same reading than when we went to Tahiti for the first time. - Bentley responded while he checked his scanners.
- So, are you really sure that you want to go and try to convince Mz. Ruby too? - Carmelita asked to her husband.
- 100% sure. - Sly replied hesitantly.
No one was sure if Sly was telling the truth or if he was lying about trusting an old enemy, but they shrugged it off and set a course to China, to recruit the last member of the Old Cooper Gang, the Panda King.