Chapter 4.- Operation: TUFF work.

Part 1.- A new criminal.

We're now underground, all the villains defeated by both TUFF and the Cooper Gang are gathered and having some kind of meeting about their recent failures at getting the Cooper Family cane.
- I can't even believe it, we're supposed to be winning! - Dr. Rabies said.
- Cooper is either too smart, or too lucky. - Neyla said.
- Cooper is not smart, he's just a lucky idiot. - The Contessa corrected.
- Added to the fact that also his friends are lucky. - The Chameleon added.
- I'm truly dissapointed about all of you. I was expecting that we had the cane already. - Someone said from the shadows.
- If my memory don't fails me, I'm sure that not even you have defeated Cooper or his stupid gang. - Jack Rabbit replied.
- Yes, but you said that you're better than TUFF and the Cooper Gang. - Said the same hidden person. - I've been giving all of you everything you need, and yet, the New Cooper Gang has won every encounter so far.
- Maybe if you'd helped us out there instead of being stuck here we would have defeated the Cooper Gang! - Rajan said.
- Or maybe is because your incompetence and stupidity keeps all of you away from achieving your goals. - Someone with a markable english accent said.
- Who the hell are you and how did you get in here?! - Madame Catastrophe said while everyone pulled out a blaster and pointed at the intruder.
- Oh, where are my manners. - Said the intruder while he stepped out of the shadows.
The intruder was a raccoon, he looked a lot like Sly, but he had a scar over his right eye, his teeth were somewhat sharp and the irises of his eyes were red, almost like blood. He was wearing a red ripped vest, a black belt with a buckle that resembled the Cooper Family symbol, but it was red instead of blue, black fingerless gloves and he had a dagger in his right hand.
- Let me introduce myself. - The intruder said with a charming but terrifying english accent. - My name is McCullen, Lancelot McCullen. - The raccoon said while bowing.
- What do you want? - Raliegh asked.
- I just passed by and I heard that you mentioned someone called "Cooper", am I wrong?
- Yes, what with that? - Neyla replied.
- Well, I've come to offer you my services.
- To do what? - Asked the hidden person.
- Capture and defeat the Cooper Gang.
- And how are you gonna do such a thing? - Asked Snaptrap.
- Easy, I'm not a common criminal, I'm a highly trained assassin.
- And that means? - Asked everyone but the hidden criminal.
- That means that he can outmatch Sly's abilities with ease. - Said the hidden criminal.
- I can do the same! - Jack and Neyla yelled.
- I highly doubt it, you certainly showed that Cooper can beat you even with his hands tied to his back. - McCullen said with an evil smirk.
- Why you! - Jack growled while he clenched his fists and teeth.
- So now McCullen, what do you want in exchange of getting rid of the Cooper Gang? - Asked the hidden criminal stopping Jack from saying anything else.
- The same thing everyone else here wants, a part of the Cooper Vault.
- What makes you think you can just come in here and ask for such a thing? - Dr Rabies asked.
- Because you're in a predicament, I can easily tell that you want Sly Cooper and his gang out of the game as soon as possible. I can take them out in no time, only if you agree to my price of course.
- I say no. - Raliegh said.
- The same here. - Rajan added.
- My vote goes for no. - Madame Catastrophe said.
- Yes, I mean no. - Snaptrap said.
- I don't care about what you want or not, we all agreed that both TUFF and the Cooper Gang were the only menaces to us and this assassin is maybe exactly the thing we need to destroy Cooper and his new gang. - The hidden criminal said. - I want the Cooper Gang out of the game and Sly six feet under ground.
- Hey Snaptrap, I think this guy is really creepy. - Larry muttered.
- Why you say such a thing? The fact that he's hiring an assassin and hiding in the shadows surrounded by mutant bodyguards doesn't make him creepy, Larry. Now, shut up or I'll throw you into the shark tank! - Snaptrap replied.
The hidden criminal and McCullen shaked hands and smirked evilly.
- So, what is your master plan to catch the Cooper Gang, assassin? - Jack asked sarcastically.
- I'm going to use a bait, something they want, like one of their members and lure them into a trap.
- We already tried that, that didn't work. - Snaptrap said.
- But you don't know how to make a real trap, I'm going to use a bait and they won't even know what will happen until they have no time to avoid it!
- Wow, now I'm beginning to think that the real crazy guy here is him. - Snaptrap said while pointing at McCullen.
- I maybe crazy, but I'm the solution to all of your problems with TUFF and the Cooper Gang, Snaptrap. - McCullen said.
- Now, I think it's time to plan a new plot to get the Cooper family cane. - Said the hidden criminal.
Everyone in the room laughed evilly as they began to think a new plan.

Now we go to the Cooper Gang's hideout, where our friends are currently trying to make a plan to break into TUFF Headquarters and rescue Keswick, well, at least Bentley was doing so because Murray was busy fixing his van; Penelope was working on her new RC Plane; Carmelita, Dudley and Dimitri were playing poker; Herbert and Barton remembered some of their adventures; Jing was speaking with the Guru and Mz. Ruby, and Sly and Kitty were nowhere to be seen.
Finally after hacking through TUFF's security system for nearly half an hour, Bentley could pass the security system.
- Hey guys! I'm done, I've hacked the security system. - Bentley said. - Come here, I got to tell you some things.
- Checkmate! - Dudley yelled while he let everyone see his cards.
- We're playing poker! - Carmelita snapped at the dog.
- Don't look my cards! - Dudley said while he quickly hid his cards.
- Guys! It's important, we're delayed about recruiting our tech specialist. - Bentley said.
- Ok little buddy, just give me a minute. - Murray said from under the van. - I just need to put this hose in its place and...
- NOW I SAID! - Bentley yelled at everyone.
Everyone startled and dropped whatever they had on their hands, then they glared at the genius and went to where he was.
- Hey hold on a sec, where are Sly and Kitty? - Dudley asked.
- I don't know, they were here fourty minutes ago. - Murray asked.
- I can feel that Cooper and that kitten are close, they are outside this room. - Mz. Ruby said.
The Guru said something and everyone glanced at him.
- Are you sure? - Penelope asked.
The Guru nodded and everyone glanced at Bentley.
- I guess we'll have to wait for them. - Barton let out.
- Wait for who? - Sly and Kitty said while they popped out of nowhere.
Everyone, except for Mz. Ruby, startled and gasped, then they glared at the two infiltrators.
- Where the hell have you two been? - Carmelita asked with her hands on her hips.
- We've been training. - Sly replied as a matter of factly.
- Yeah, right, tell us the truth. - Carmelita said.
- It's the truth. Sly's been teaching me some of his family moves because I asked him to do so. - Kitty snapped at the vixen.
- You asked a thief to train you?! - Dudley asked completely shocked.
- Yes, yes she did. - Sly answered. - I also thought it was some kind of joke, but once she offered to help me improve my martial arts skills, I saw that she was being serious, so I took the Thievius Raccoonus and we went to the Hazard Room. - The thief added (Evil says: The "Hazard Room" is ome kind of training room in "Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves", play the game for more info).
- Yep, now, what do you want to tell us, Bentley? - Kitty asked.
The gang took their respective seats around the table, then Bentley fixed his glasses, cleared his throat and said:
- I've hacked through the security at TUFF HQ, and I found where Keswick is. - Bentley told to the Gang.
- What are we waiting for then? - Kitty said while she stood up.
- Hold on, we have to hear to Bentley's plan. - Sly snapped at the former agent.
- Thanks, now, TUFF is a very secured place, not many people can get inside it without being part of TUFF, luckily for us, we've got inside more secure places.
- Really? - Barton asked.
- You can't even imagine the security we've faced in the past. - Murray let out.
- Ok, now let's get down to business. - Bentley said while he began a slideshow. - This rescue is a mission I've denominated as Operation: TUFF work. - The turtle proudly said. - The security in the building is very tight, so we'll have to rely on the old school, here's the plan: First, Dudley, Murray, Carmelita, Barton, Herbert and Mz. Ruby will have to distract as many agents as they can, so Sly and Kitty can sneak inside. Once they're inside, I'll guide them to Keswick's cell, then it's up to Sly to break him out of there. After that, they must get out of there, while I hack the security systems so our friends won't end up like Swiss cheese. Penelope, Jing and the Guru will have to clear out the way to the vehicles in case those black-ops show up.
- Ok, the plan sounds easy, but are you sure we can pull it off? - Jing asked.
- If I'm not overestimating your abilities, then we should be ok.
- C'mon guys! We can do it! - Penelope snapped at the gang.
- I'm with you. - Dudley said while he got up.
- Me too. - Sly said while he swirled his cane in his hand.
- The Murray is ready to go! - Murray yelled.
- Alright fellows, let's get going! - Kitty said.
The gang members nodded, they got up and left the room, but Mz. Ruby stood still in her seat, until she sighed and said:
- I hope I'm wrong on what I'm feelin' right now.

(Hours later in TUFF headquarters)

Murray and Kitty landed the gang's vehicles in a nearby alleyway, so they could escape in no time once they finished the mission. The gang was taking their gear and fixing their ear pieces.
- Ok guys, let's get a roll call. - Bentley said while he started hacking.
- We're ready, little buddy. - Murray said while his part of the team got ready.
- In position. - Penelope said.
- I too stand ready. - Jing said.
- Ready for action, pal. - Kitty said.
- I'm breaking in. - Sly said while he was enterin the building through an air vent.
- No! You have to wait. - Bentley snapped. - Murray, Dudley, Carmelita, you must begin now.
- On it, Bentley. - Dudley said while he and the team went inside the building.
Inside the building nobody payed attention to the Cooper Gang, so Murray took a big gustful of air and yelled:
- HEY FELLAS! Who wants to engage in a little sparring with The Murray!
The agents startled and pulled out their blasters to point at the gang. Carmelita, Barton, Dudley, Mz. Ruby and Herbert glared at Murray because of this.
- Great job, big guy! - Carmelita said sarcastically.
Barton and Herbert pulled out blasters, Carmelita took out her reliable shock pistol, Mz. Ruby covered her hands with voodoo energy, and Murray and Dudley engaged the agents in fist fights.
- Phase one is complete, Sly, Kitty, now it's your turn guys. - Bentley said through his ear piece.
- Okay partner, we're on our way. - Kitty replied through her ear piece.
Sly and Kitty went through the air vent that Sly previously found, then they crawled through the ventilation system.
- Bentley, guide us to where Keswick is. - Sly said.
- Crawl a few meters more, then take the turn to your left, after that you must be careful because you have to go down. - The turtle replied while he checked TUFF HQ's blueprints.
Sly and Kitty were breaking inside the TUFF HQ, but something wasn't right, every vent that they passed they saw that all the rooms were empty, the building seemed uninhabited for some time.
- Isn't this supposed to be full of security? - Sly asked Kitty.
- It is, I don't know what's going on here. - Kitty replied.
- Hey Bentley, something's not ok in here... - Sly said through his ear piece.
Static was the only response Sly could get from his ear piece. He turned his back and said:
- Looks like something or someone was waiting for us, the ear pieces don't work anymore.
- Then we must stay sharp, there could be a trap waiting for us. - Kitty replied.
Sly nodded and the two infiltrators kept going through the ventilation system.
Meanwhile outside the building, Bentley was frantic, he had lost all comunication with the rest of the gang.
- Guys! Guys? Do you read me?! Please! Anyone! - The turtle genius said franticly through the ear com.
- HAHAHAHAHA! You and your pathetic team are finished, turtle! - A voice with a frightening english accent said mockingly.
- Who the heck are you?! How did you find this frecuency?! - Bentley asked completely terrified.
The ear com went to static again, Bentley was far beyond sick worried, he was terrified, somebody had somehow hacked his systems and now that person knew about their plan to rescue Keswick. Bentley tipped furiously in his laptop, he was determined to make the ear coms work again and get the team out of TUFF's building at any cost.
Meanwhile, Murray, Carmelita, Dudley and the rest noted that the "agents" were nothing but holograms, and once the holograms dissapeared, they knew something wasn't right.
- What's going on here? - Murray wondered aloud.
- I don't know, isn't TUFF supossed to be full of your agents, Herbert? - Barton asked.
- Yes. - The flea responded.
- Then why nobody is here? - Carmelita asked.
- That would be because of me. - Someone said with a terrifying english voice.
The team turned their backs and found a raccoon that was a lot like Sly.
- Cooper?! What are ya doin' here? Ya're supposed to be with that kitten. - Mz. Ruby said.
- When did you change your clothes, Sly? - Murray asked.
- (Growl) He's not Sly, just look at his eyes and you'll know it. - Carmelita snarled.
- Quite right, Mrs. Cooper, my name is Lancelot McCullen, and I am here to capture you. - The doppelganger said.
- Jack Rabbit and the other villains sent you, didn't they? - Barton asked while he gripped his blaster thighter.
- Not at all, I offered them my help, after all, they could never beat your organizations alone, much less now that you work together.
- And what makes you think you can beat the Murray and his team partners? - Murray asked.
- Hmph, don't make me laugh, meatball, I can take out Sly Cooper in a flash, none of you are match for me.
- That's what ya think, idiot. - Mz. Ruby said.
- Well, why don't you try to find out? - McCullen challenged the gang.
- HI-GEE-GEE! - Dudley yelled while he lunged at McCullen.
McCullen smirked evilly, he made a half turn, then kneed Dudley in the stomach. The other gang members gasped, then they glared at Sly's doppelganger.
- Let's thump this chump! - Murray said while he cracked his knuckles.
The gang lunged at McCullen, completely unaware of the danger that the mischievious raccoon had in his pocket.
McCullen dug in his pocket and pulled out some sort of remote control, he pressed a button and our gang members were caught in some kind of force field, stopping them mid air.
- You should have joined us instead, Ruby, so you would not be in this situation. - McCullen said with a smirk. - Now if you excuse me, I have to go and get the rest of your gang. Don't go anywhere, please... Ha! Like if you had any other choice! - He said while he left our dear friends still frozen mid air.
The gang struggled and tried to break free of the force field, but everything was useless.
- How do we get out of this predicament? - Carmelita asked.
- What? - The others asked in response.
- (Grunt) My stupid calendar suggested me that word! I meant how do we get out of this trouble? - The vixen explained.
- Maybe I can use my magic, but I dunno if it'll work against this force field thing. - Mz. Ruby said.
- Try it, if I'm right, then that McCullen guy is going after Kitty and Sly. - Dudley said.
Mz. Ruby began speaking in a foreign language, while her eyes and hands glowed with a greeninsh energy.
Meanwhile, our dear infiltrators had finally entered the cell block where Keswick was supposed to be, but they found another surprise, the cells were completely empty.
- Well, this is going from bad to worse, nobody is in here! - Kitty snapped.
- I don't get it, why does nobody is inside the building? Why this mission was so easy? Why is Keswick not here? - Sly wondered aloud with a hand in his chin.
- Well, well, well, we finally meet, Sly Cooper and Kitty Katswell. - Some kind of english voice said with an evil tone.
- I don't like the sound of that voice. - Kitty let out.
- Me either. - Sly said.
Sly and Kitty pulled out their weapons and turned to face the intruder, but once they saw him, they froze. The intruder was almost like a twin for Sly.
- Who are you and why are you so much like Sly? - Kitty asked.
- Well, I guess I deserve to be comparated to Cooper since I did not introduce myself from the beginning. - The doppelganger said. - My name is Lancelot McCullen, and I am here to catch you.
- Lemme guess, you were either hired or recruited by whoever wants me and my pals out of the game, and now we'll have a fight in which Kitty and I will win, while you go back to the unnamed criminal association headquarters with your tail between your legs. - Sly said nonchalantly. - Can we just skip the fight so we won't need to hurt you?
- (Unnerving laugh) Oh Mr. Cooper, you are really funny! - McCullen laughed. - You actually think you two can beat me?
- We don't think, we will do it, so please, go away or we'll be forced to hurt you. - Kitty said.
- Ok, if you two think you can beat me, then let's give it a test. - McCullen said while he pulled out his dagger.
Sly and Kitty glared at McCullen, who just smirked at them in a sinister way. Then, McCullen threw a knife at Kitty, Sly saw him and he pushed Kitty out of the way, receiving the blade in his left arm. Kitty's eyes went wide when she heard Sly's cry and she turned just to see him pulling the blade out of his arm.
- (Groan) Why did you do that?! The one you all want dead is me! - Sly yelled at McCullen.
- I thought that you would put yourself between my knife and Miss Katswell, I now see why you earned such a reputation. - McCullen replied of-factly.
- Now you'll know why I earned the reputation of the greatest master thief in the universe! - Sly said while he pulled out a bunch of shuriken from his leg pouch.
Sly used his right arm and threw the shinobi blades at McCullen, he startled and tried to avoid as many as he could, but at least five shuriken embedded in his chest, his right arm and his left leg. McCullen grunted, making Sly smirk a bit, but when both faced each other, McCullen was smiling in an evil way.
- Why are you smiling? Are you a masochist or something? - Sly asked.
- No, it is just that I was expecting you would be my greatest challenge ever, and you just exceeded my expectations, Mr. Cooper. - McCullen responded.
- Kitty, get out of here, I'll deal with McCullen alone. - Sly said seriously.
- No way, Sly, I'll help you. - Kitty said while she unsheatted her claws.
- I wasn't asking you to leave, it was an order, Kitty.
- Please, Mr. Cooper, you already know what I am, a master thief alone will not be able to defeat me. - McCullen said while he pulled out the last of Sly's shuriken from his arm.
- I'm a bit different, I had a bit more training a few years ago, I think I can dispatch an assassin like you.
- I do not think so.
McCullen lunged at Sly, he speared him with his body and crashed Sly against the wall. Kitty tried to get into the fight, but Sly took her and pushed her back, their glares meet and McCullen almost cuts Sly's cheek. Our dear thief kneed McCullen and punched him in the gut, then McCullen put his hands in the floor and grabbed Sly by his neck with his legs, he threw him against a wall and slammed his head hard. Then McCullen took Sly's almost unconscious body and threw him at Kitty's feet. Kitty gasped in horror at and fell to her knees, trying to make Sly react somehow.
- Now you see, Mr. Cooper? There is no way you can beat me! - McCullen said mockingly.
- I... I'm not going to... give up... yet! - Sly said while he stumbled to stand up.
- You can't fight anymore, Sly, you try to escape while I distract him. - Kitty said worriedly.
- No... if you didn't listen to me when I told you the same thing, I won't do it either.
- I hope you two are done talking, because I am getting really impatient. - McCullen said while he toyed with his dagger.
Kitty and Sly got in battle stance, Sly had a bit of a problem because of his wounds, McCullen smirked and lunged at the wounded Sly, only to be kneed hard in the stomach by Kitty. Sly took this chance and elbowed hard on McCullen's back. McCullen grunted, but he managed to put his hands in the ground again and he kicked Sly and Kitty, he spun and stood up, only to be kicked in the back by Kitty. McCullen turned and slapped Kitty hard, Sly enraged and he lunged at the assassin, not caring the least about his injured arm. McCullen smirked and sweep-kicked Sly, making him fall over his injured arm, the thief cried as pain coursed throughout his entire body, but he stood up again, he pulled out a kunai and threw it at McCullen. McCullen received the kunai in his right forearm, but he pulled it out and threw it at Kitty. Kitty evaded the blade, but it scrapped her cheek. She glared at McCullen and tried to slash him with her claws, but the assassin evaded again and kneed Kitty in the stomach. Then he put his arm around Kitty's neck and began to choke her. Sly saw the assassin, he reincorporated and hit him in the head with his cane. McCullen let go of Kitty's neck and the latter gasped heavily for air, while the two raccoons engaged each other again. McCullen took Sly by the shoulders and threw him against Kitty.
McCullen smirked micheviously at the two battered infiltrators, who were barely conscious. He pulled out his beloved dagger and got ready to finish with Sly and Kitty's suffering. He raised his hand, ready to strike, but just when his blade was about to skim Sly's fur, another smaller dagger collided with McCullen's, which flew across the cell room. The evil raccoon growled and turned to face the new intruder.
- Hey there, fella! - Said the intruder.
- Who the hell are you and how dare you to stop me?! - McCullen snarled.
The intruder stepped out of the shadows and McCullen saw taht she was a tigress, her fur was white and had black stripes.
- My name's Scarlett, and I don't like what you were going to do to those two.
- It is none of your business what I am doing here!
- Of course it is, especially if that raccoon is Sly Cooper.
Meanwhile, Kitty and Sly regained their consciousness, then they glanced at the tigress who had just saved them.
- Do you know her, Sly? - Kitty asked.
- No, but certainly I thank God and the Force for sending her here.
Scarlett and McCullen were now face to face, they were growling at each other, and then a yell interrumpts them both.
- HI-GEE-GEE! - A white dog yelled while he kicked McCullen in the face.
Everyone, except for the newcomer, was glad to see Dudley, who was rapidly followed by Murray, Barton, Herbert, Mz. Ruby and Carmelita.
- Heads up, sucker! - Murray shouted before punching McCullen in the chin.
McCullen went flying and crashed against a wall. He shaked his head and blinked a few times to clear his sight. Unfortunately, the first thing he saw was a glowing ball and a big pistol, both aimed at him.
- Say cheese, assassin! - Carmelita and Mz. Ruby yelled.
The villanous raccoon was sent flying again, and this time he fell at Sly and Kitty's feet.
- Very close, McCullen, you were this close to kill us, and you failed. - Sly mocked.
- You look very brave with your little friends, but without them you would be dead by now! - McCullen said before smirking. - But not everything is lost, none of you, that tigress included, will survive my final trick!
No one understood what McCullen meant, which just smirked wider and reincorporated, grabeed his dear dagger and then he climbed inside an air vent.
- Goodbye, Cooper Gang! - McCullen said while he pulled out some kind of detonator.
The gang's eyes went wide open when they realized what the assassin had meant, he was going to blow TUFF's headquarters.
Meanwhile outside the building, our dear turtle has finally hacked through McCullen's dead-end, but he found out the last part in the criminal's plan.
- IT'S A TRAP! EVERYONE, GET OUT OF THE BUILDING NOW! - Bentley yelled.
The gang members inside the building startled when they heard Bentley's sudden cry of dispair, after they shook their heads, they glanced at McCullen, who was smirking.
- Five minutes, escape if you can, I do not want that our little match to end like that, Mr Cooper! - McCullen said while he dissapeared inside the air vent.
- You heard the raccoon of evil omen, let's get out of here! - Sly snapped at his gang. - Are you coming with us? - Sly asked to Scarlett.
- Yes. - Scarlett replied.
- Enough talk, let's go! - Carmelita said while pushing everyone out of the room.
Outside the building, Bentley, Penelope, the Guru and Jing were in front of the building, just praying for their friends to get out alive.
- Please, get out of there now! - Penelope whispered.
The Guru spoke, some concern could be heard in his tone, but he was a lot calmer than anyone else.
- I hope you're right, Guru. - Jing, Bentley and Penelope said.
And back inside the building, everyone was running by the staircase as fast as they could.
- How much time left do we have?! - Asked Mz Ruby.
- Like three minutes. - Carmelita answered while she checked her watch.
- Can't Mz Ruby teleport us with her magic?! - Herbert asked.
- No! I ran outta mah voodoo energy when I got us outta the force field. - Mz Ruby explained.
- Oh good grief! What are we gonna do! - Dimitri let out.
Everyone startled when they heard Dimitri's sudden cry, because he wasn't supposed to be with them.
- Why the heck are you here?! - Everyone asks the lizard.
- Nobody's gonna take me away from the action!
The rest just facepalmed themselves and kept running.
After another minute, they finally could se the exit, but Kitty remembered something really important, they were going to need TUFF's information about their criminals, if they ever wanted to win and clean their names. The former agent went directly to the main computer, while the others watched her.
- What do you think you're doing, Kitty?! - Carmelita asked without stopping.
- We need the information about our criminals and our gadgets! We won't be able to get it if the building explodes! - Kitty replied.
- Oh, by the Force! - Sly complained. - You guys get outta here, me and Kitty will catch up with you! - The thief added while he went back with Kitty.
- Sly, no! - Carmelita yelled.
- We'll go with you, Sly! C'mon Carm! - Dudley said while motioning Carmelita to follow him.
- Guys, no! - Murray yelled.
Dimitri, Mz. Ruby, Herbert, Murray, Scarlett and Barton finally came out of TUFF Headquarters, panting heavily and a bit bruised, but alive. Bentley, the Guru, Jing and Penelope smiled in relief, but then their faces went back to be showing worry.
- Where are Sly, Kitty, Dudley and Carmelita?! - Bentley asked.
- They're still inside, they said that we needed the information if we wanted to beat the criminals. - Scarlett said.
- Who are you? - Penelope asked.
Then, the TUFF building explodes, while the Gang watches in horror as Sly, Kitty and their partners were still inside.