Chapter 7.- The Gang vs the Unnamed Criminal Association.

After a few minutes, the Disbanded Cooper Gang had arrived at Cleo's house, Dimitri knocked on the door and they waited Cleo a few moments.
Cleo was a frilled lizard with purple hair and a red streak, which meant she was angry.
- Dimitri, I know we're friends and all, and that I'd do anything to have my payback with the Contessa, but certainly this surpasses all that. - Cleo said.
- Sorry my frill-necked friend, but there has been some evil dudes that blew up our safehouse, then cracker-box and the turtle dude had an argument, the band disbanded and we had nowhere to go. - Dimitri said.
- Ok, who are they?
- We are the Cooper Gang, at least what is left of it. - Murray said with an unpolite and sad tone.
- Forgive Murray's manners please, it's just that he's been through a lot in the last days. - Jing said. - My name is Jing King, pleased to meet you.
- I'm Penelope, the RC specialist. - Said Penelope.
- I'm Barton Barkley, former Chief of the Interpol Offices in Paris. - Said Barton.
- I'm Herbert Dumbrowski, former Chief of TUFF in the Petropolis Branch. - Hebert said.
- My name's nobody's business, but everyone knows me as Mz Ruby. - Ruby said.
- Who's the small guy? - Cleo asked while she pointed the Guru.
- He's the Guru, he can only speak in an ancient language which only those who have found their spiritual center can understand. - Jing explained.
The Guru said something in said language, which Cleo could understand, but we don't.
- Ok, don't worry little guy, I'm not angry with you, Murray, Jing, Mz Ruby, Penelope, Herbert or Barton. - Cleo said before glaring at Dimitri. - But you do owe me big time for this, Dimitri!
Dimitri held out his hands defensively and flinched. Cleo sighed and let the Gang get inside her house, unaware that their every moves were being watched.
Once they got inside, Cleo sorted the rooms, which meant that Mz Ruby, Penelope and Jing would share the spare room, Herbert and Barton would sleep with Murray on the living room, and Dimitri had to sleep in the kitchen with a sleeping bag.
That night they had a lot of trouble in getting the sleep they needed.

(Twenty-nine years ago)

Connor was being chased by Detective Fox and Agent Katswell, over the rooftops on the buildings in Petropolis.
- Stop there Cooper! - Yelled Alexander.
- Not a chance pal! - Connor replied.
Connor, McSweeny and Dr M had stolen a valuable golden statue, McSweeny and M were waiting for Connor in the getaway van, while Connor was trying to lose the agent and the officer.
But something caught Connor's eye, as well as Ramiro and Alexander's. A white dog with black ears and a black spot over his right eye was fighting with at least ten persons by himself. Though he looked really strong and very capable of dealing with his opponents, Connor, Ramiro and Alexander were men of honor, and seeing someone being outnumbered in a fight was something they didn't like in the slightest.
All three of them stopped dead in their tracks and went to where the dog was.
Then, Ramiro and Alexander noticed that Connor was heading there too.
- What are you doing Cooper? - Asked Ramiro.
- I'm going to help that fella over there. - Connor replied.
Ramiro and Alexander looked at each other puzzled, but they shrug it off and kept running towards the dog.
The dog was throwing punches left and right, even if he was outnumbered, he was capable of dealing with them. Connor had only seen McSweeny fight like that.
- This is what happens when you try to hurt my family! - The white dog said while he punched a thug in the face.
- HEY! - Alexander, Connor and Ramiro shouted.
A few of the thugs that were fighting with the dog turned their faces, and those who did where shocked, blasted and whacked by Ramiro, Alexander and Connor respectively.
The white dog seized the newcomer's distraction and gave the other thugs a hard punch in the face, knocking them out immediately.
Just five minutes later, the dog, Connor, Ramiro and Alexander stood victorious in front of a pile of knocked out thugs. Then Connor, Ramiro and Alexander glanced at the dog, who glanced back at them with a confused look.
- Why did you help me? - The dog asked. - And most importantly, who are you?
- Well, we helped you because you needed it, and I'm Agent Alexander Katswell of the Turbo Undercover Fighting Force. - Alexander replied while putting his blaster on a holster inside his jacket.
- I'm Detective Ramiro Fox from the Federal Agency of Investigation, working for the Interpol. - Said Ramiro while putting his shock pistol away.
- And I'm Connor Cooper, the one and only Master Thief in this planet. - Connor said while putting his cane over his shoulder.
- Aren't you two supposed to capture that Connor guy instead of help him beat up some idiots I could have defeated by myself? - The dog replied.
- And why were you fighting with them anyway? - Connor asked.
- Because they were after my family for some things I did in the past.
- And you are? - Ramiro asked.
- I'm David, David Puppy.
- Well David, you'll have to come with me and tell me the whole story so I can make sure this guys are going to be put behind the bars for a long time. - Alexander said.
- Ok, but shouldn't you two catch the Master Thief?
- They've never even laid a hand on me, this time won't be different so I can stay a bit longer, I don't think McSweeny and M would mind about waiting a bit longer than expected. - Connor said.
- You're really funny Connor, I like your style. - David said while he gave Connor a thumbs-up.
Alexander and Ramiro growled while David and Connor laughed at their expense. But then David grabbed his side and grunted in pain.
Connor, Ramiro and Alexander fell silent, then Ramiro spoke:
- Looks like you'll have to go to the hospital, compadre. - He said with his thick Mexican accent.
- I-I guess you're right there pal. - David said while still clutching his side.

(Present time)

Meanwhile in the villain's hideout.
- What could you possibly offer to join us? - Madame Catastrophe asked.
- And more important, why would you betray them? We won't buy this crap until you explain it. - Neyla said.
- First off, I was Sly's girlfriend when we were 16, and that jerk left me after the Fiendish Five affair in Petropolis. Then he only wanted to protect his stupid legacy, what kind of friend does that? - Kitty said to Neyla.
- True, but why would you betray the fat hippo, the little mouse, the dimwitted dog, inspector bossy, the greasy-sweet idiot, and the others? - McCullen asked.
- They chose their path, they wanted to get that double-crossing raccoon, we don't care what happens to them. - Bentley said in a cold-hearted voice.
- Hmm... I can see their hate is pure, but I am still not buying it.
- Look, we can either give the Cooper Gang's weaknesses to you, TUFF or the Interpol. - Kitty said.
- That won't happen, we will trust you... for now. - Said the hidden criminal. - But what is your price?
- Cooper behind the bars, if you kill him, the deal is over. - Kitty said.
- What?! - The other villains said in unison.
- You heard me, I want to see him rot in jail, that is a bigger torture for him, being the first Cooper that was caught, and the last of his lineage. - Kitty explained as a matter of fact.
- That is indeed a good punishment for Cooper. - McCullen said with a wicked smirk. - I never thought that "Ms. I have never done anything wrong in my life" would think that way.
- Everyone can change McCullen, just like when Penelope betrayed me. - Bentley said.
- You can speak about your lifes later, now... how will we find the Cooper Gang? - Asked the hidden criminal.
- Penelope and I created some trackers, they're almost indestructible and their signal can't be blocked by anything. - Bentley said.
- And according to this datapad, Sly is in the Eiffel Tower, and Carmelita and Dudley are going there too. - Kitty said with a pad in her hands.
The villains laughed evilly and got ready to capture the Gang.

(Back at Cleo's house, the next morning)

Murray awoke at the smell of pancakes, scrambled eggs with bacon. He was hungry since last night, but he hadn't said a single word about it.
While Penelope and Cleo cooked the breakfast for the gang, Jing was putting the dishes in the tables. She glanced at the couch and noticed that Murray was awake.
- Oh Murray, you're finally awake. - Jing said happily. - Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes, why don't you go wash your face and hands in the meantime?
Murray smiled a bit at Jing and went to the bathroom. Once inside he sighed heavily and went to the sink to splash some water on his face. After he did so, he grabbed a nearby towel and dried off his face.
The getaway driver got out of the bathroom and made his way back to the dinning room, where the Gang was already sitting and eating breakfast.
Jing saw Murray and stood up to show him to his seat.
- I'm sorry for starting without you, it's just that... - Jing tried to apologize.
- No problem Jing, it's no big deal. - Murray said with a smile that melt Jing's heart.
Murray and Jing took seats next to each other and started eating too.
- So... whatcha gonna do now? - Cleo asked.
- We don't even know where to begin. - Penelope said after gulping a mouthful of pancakes. - We gotta reunite the gang, find Sly and recover his cane.
- First things first, let's find Sly and then we'll go for Dudley and Carmelita. - Murray said.
- How are we gonna find the best master thief in the universe? - Scarlett said.
- I think I got the solution to that. - Penelope answered before she got up and went to the living room

(A few moments later)

- Bentley and I made some trackers, they can't be blocked by anything and are really difficult to destroy because they're made of forcidium. - Penelope explained while she pulled out an holographic tablet.
- Where do you get one of those? - Scarlett asked.
- It's classified, only members of the UNSC have access to Levels 5 to 10 technology. - Murray asked.
- What's the UNSC? - Cleo asked.
- Should we tell them, Penelope? - Murray asked.
- As long as we don't mention anything classified, I think there won't be any problem. - The mouse responded without taking her eyes off of the holo-tablet.
- UNSC means United Nations Space Command, it's an organization which we keep secret from those who doesn't know it. - Murray said. - The UNSC keeps the peace in the Republic.
- Tell them later, I think I found Sly. - Penelope said with a smile.
- C'mon everyone, let's go find him. - Jing said.
- I think the best right now is if only Scarlett, Herbert, Barton, Dimitri and I go for Sly, the rest of you should stay here and wait, if we need any backup we'll call you.
- Murray, there's more I got to tell you. - Penelope said. - It appears that Bentley and Kitty's trackers are still on, and they're moving towards Sly's position, as well as Carmelita and Dudley. There's gonna be action for sure over there, you guys can't handle every villain without us.
- Yeah my main man bro, we're gonna need the help of all our dudes if we wanna get the cracker-box back. - Dimitri let out.
- Ok, but if there's any problem there you, Jing, Cleo and Scarlett will escape without hesitation nor protests. - Murray said.
- Ok mom, just get the van ready to go. - Scarlett said.
Murray sighed and went to get his van ready.

(Later that day)

- Drive faster Murray! Kitty and Bentley are closer than us! - Penelope snapped.
- Get ready to crack some skulls pals! - Murray said while he made a sudden turn.
- Where are those weird rifles? - Barton asked.
- In the boxes dude, try seeking under your seat. - Dimitri said.
- Who took my daggers?! - Scarlett asked.
- Dudley buried them before he and Carmelita left. - Herbert said.
- My spear gun! Where's my spear gun?! - Cleo asked.
- Ouch! I think here it is. - Mz Ruby said while pulling the spear gun from behind her.
- There they are! - Murray said when he saw three black cars.
Murray clenched his teeth and made a sharp turn to try to crash his van against the vehicles, but something caught his eye, better said someones.
- Kitty and Bentley are with the villains! - Murray snapped at the Gang.
- And he said I was crazy when I turned against you guys. - Penelope huffed.
- Penelope, hop on the turret, Barton, you come here and shot through the window. - Murray ordered. - Dimitri, Jing, Scarlett, Herbert, Ruby, you guys are going to attack from the back doors.
The gang did what Murray had ordered withou hesitation and soon they would engage the villains again.
"This is tougher than I had expected." Murray thought.
The villains started shooting at the gang and both groups started a firefight in the middle of a crowd.
- This wasn't part of the plan! - Penelope said in dispair.
- You sound just like Bentley, pal! - Scarlett said while she threw a kunai with an explosive seal.
- Don't compare me to that traitor!
- Shut up and shoot! - Barton snapped.
McCullen, Kitty and Bentley were driving the cars that had Jack Rabbit, Madame Catastrophe, Dr. Rabies, Le Paradox, Raliegh, Muggshot, Rajan, the Contessa, Snaptrap, the Chameleon, Bird Brain and the Caped Cod inside, they glared at Murray and tried to collide with the Cooper Van.
But they didn't know that Murray had an ace up his sleeve.
- Take this you idiots! - Murray said while he activated the front puncher.
McCullen's eyes went wide open and tried to move out of the way, unfortunately he couldn't and the puncher sent him backwards at least a hundred meters.
Bentley and Kitty bared their teeth and pressed a button in the wheel of their respective cars. They roared and their cars shot a missile at the van.
Mz Ruby put a shield around the van and the missiles couldn't even touch it. Murray drifted and crashed against Bentley's car, sending him against a lamp post.
- You will never win, Cooper Gang! - Kitty yelled.
- That's what you think, Unnamed Criminal Association! - Murray said. - Man, we really need a name for them.
- Forget the name and smash them! - Said Herbert.
Murray was going to do so, but a big, green and slimy wrecking ball slammed in the front of the black car, sending all its passengers flying.
The Gang shared confused looks with each other and then they saw that the guilty was none other than Sly Cooper.
- Going anywhere, "pal". - Sly said while glaring at the invalid turtle.
- Pretty brave, aren't you Sly? You only mess with those you know you can beat easily. - Bentley said with derision.
- Then why I decided to take on all of you by myself? - Sly said with a smirk. - I challenge you, just the soul rubber and I.
- You are really brave, Cooper, but to me it is more like "stupidity". - McCullen said while he pulled out his beloved dagger.
- Well, you escaped the last time we fought, in my book that's called "cowardice". - Sly replied. - And Bentley and Kitty, your actions are the only thing I don't forgive, and that's treason.
- Treason is what you did to us. - Kitty replied coldly. - Now you will die.
Kitty showed her claws and growled at Sly. Suddenly, the TUFF Mobile appeared in view, Dudley and Carmelita jumped out of it with their guns and badges in view.
- Hands up! You're under arrest! - Carmelita said.
- By the authority of who, if I may ask? - Jack asked.
- The Turbo Undercover Fighting Force and the Interpol. - Dudley responded.
- You were fired, you have no authority. - Neyla mocked.
- Look at our badges and tell us what they say. - Dudley and Carmelita taunted.
The Gang and the villains took a closer view at their badges, and they had one thing in common, both said "CHIEF".
- No way! - Barton and Herbert said.
- But it's true, we showed proofs of our innocence, and since we were the best that were still active, the International Undercover Fighting Force and the Interpol gave us back our jobs and they promoted us to Chief of our respective branches. - Carmelita said.
- What she said. - Dudley said.
- Now, hands up. - Carmelita said.
- I am truly sorry, but I have to deny your order, Mrs Cooper. - McCullen said with a wicked smirk.
- Me too Carm. - Sly said while he prepared the soul rubber.
Carmelita and Dudley shot at McCullen and Sly, who evaded and counterattacked. Sly whiplashed Dudley and McCullen punched Carmelita, which earned him a wrecking ball slam by Sly. Dudley recovered and tackled Sly to punch him in the face, but Sly pushed him off of him and stood up, only to crouch and evade a kick from McCullen.
The Gang and the other villains began the attack, and all the people around the Eiffel Tower stated running for their lives
Sly was fighting with Dudley, McCullen and Carmelita; Murray engaged Muggshot and Rajan; Penelope and Jing attacked Le Paradox and Bentley; Mz Ruby and Dimitri fought with Neyla and Raliegh; Cleo and Scarlett fought with the Contessa, Snaptrap and Jack Rabbit; Barton and Herbert fought with Madame Catastrophe and Doctor Rabies; and the Guru used his Dreamtime Spirit Magic on the Chameleon to fight with the Caped Cod.
- Face it Cooper! - Said McCullen while he pinned Sly to the ground with his dagger in Sly's neck. - You can not win this time.
- He's going to jail, and so are you, McCullen. - Carmelita said while she shot a shocking round at both raccoons.
Sly made the soul rubber cover him completely, blocking the electricity from Carmelita's shot, which only affected McCullen. The evil doppelganger fell to the ground unconscious, while Sly stood up and pulled himself to the top of a nearby tree.
- Stop this Carmelita! I don't wanna hurt you! - Sly said.
- You already broke my heart! Why'd you care if you break any part of my body! - Carmelita replied.
- Because I love you!
- Tell that to the judge!
Carmelita shot at Sly, who couldn't evade and was shocked.
Sly's body fell to the ground, not without hitting many branches on the way down, and lost consciousness.
Carmelita was going to cuff him, but McCullen had recovered and he grabbed her from behind, putting his dagger in her neck.
- You lose, Chief Fox. - McCullen said.
McCullen pressed some pressure points in Carmelita's back and the vixen fell to the ground motionless.
- You will not interfere anymore. - McCullen said with an evil smirk. - Now to take care of Cooper and Puppy. I will finish what my father started.
- What? - Carmelita said.
Kitty, Dudley and Sly had also heard what McCullen said and looked at him confused.
- Dylan Puppy, Connor Cooper, Ramiro Fox and Alexander Katswell. The Righteous Four.
- How do you know my father's name?! - Kitty, Dudley, Sly and Carmelita asked in unison.
- My father, Le Paradox' father and the Fiendish Five tried to kill them, and they failed.
- Well, you and Le Paradox failed in getting rid of me, and I assure you that even if our children continue this, they will fail too.
McCullen roared and lunged at Sly, kicking him in the face. Then he jumped and punched Dudley in the face. Sly reincorporated and tried to use the soul rubber to whiplash McCullen, but the latter caught the rubber and pulled Sly towards him, where he punched him in the face. Dudley tried to grab his blaster again, but McCullen was faster than him and gave him a sharp kick in the hand, breaking it instantly. Kitty seized the opportunity and attacked Sly mercilessly, who could barely defend himself with the soul rubber.
And the rest of the gang wasn't doing any better.
Rajan and Muggshot had managed to make the hippo trip and now they were kicking him in the abdomen; Scarlett and Cleo were cornered by Jack Rabbit, Snaptrap and the Contessa who were pointing at them with blasters; Bentley had transformed his wheelchair into a giant robot and he had defeated Penelope's Mini-Mantis and Jing King; the Chameleon had freed himself from the Guru's control and he and the Caped Cod had him hanging on his walking stick; Barton and Hebert were defeated by Dr Rabies and Madame Catastrophe; and Mz Ruby and Dimitri were beaten by Raliegh and Neyla.
Meanwhile, Sly was slammed against a tree by McCullen, who had defeated Dudley and Carmelita single-handedly.
- You were saying, Cooper? - McCullen asked with a smirk.
Sly looked at McCullen with hate in his eyes, he stumbled to stand up and got ready to keep fighting.
- Please Cooper, you can't fight anymore. - Kitty said mockingly.
- Maybe, but I won't give up. - Sly replied with a defiant smirk.
Kitty and McCullen were about to lunge at Sly, but a sudden roar made them stop short in their tracks. Murray had broken free from Muggshot and Rajan's grip and he had threw them several feet away from him, then he looked at Sly and said:
- Sly! - Murray yelled. - Take everyone you can and the van! Escape while I distract them!
- No way Murray! - Jing said. - We're not leaving anyone behind! Not anymore!
- No time to argue, just go! - Murray said.
- We'll stay with you Murray! - Herbert and Barton said.
- None of you is getting away! - McCullen said.
McCullen lunged at Sly, but he transformed the rubber into a wrecking ball again, so he slammed it into McCullen's abdomen, sending him to crash against Bentley's robot, which fell to the ground and got broken in various parts.
Kitty lunged at Sly and they started to fight hand-to-hand. Kitty tried to kick SLy on the head, but he blocked her with his arm and threw a punch at her stomach, which was blocked by the former Cooper Gang member.
They interwined their fingers and tried to push each other back.
- You can't beat me, Kitty, and you know it! - Sly said while baring his teeth.
- The past is the past, Sly, now I can beat you! - Kitty replied.
Sly smirked and lifted Kitty, to then throw her to the ground hard. Kitty grunted as she fell on the ground while Sly made his way to his wife, having to whiplash Le Paradox, Jack Rabbit and Raliegh with the soul rubber.
He finally got to her and threw her over his shoulder, luckily for him she was still motionless but her mouth could still move.
- Put me down this instant, ringtail! - Carmelita demanded.
- Sorry dear, I won't unless you wanna die. - Sly replied.
Unfortunately, fate was still against our dear raccoon.
The whiplashed villains had recovered and they were chasing Sly, pointing and shooting blasters at him.
He thought he was going to make it, but he didn't.
The villains that chased him had blasted him and Sly fell to the ground, as well as his wife.
Sly tried to reach his wife, but someone stomped on his head and knocked him unconscious. The attacker was no other than Kitty Katswell.
- That'll do the trick. - Kitty said with an evil smirk.
It was now official, the Cooper Gang was defeated, each and every member was totally knocked out. McCullen, Bentley, Kitty and the other villains gathered around Sly and looked at him with sadistic smirks.
- Should we finish his suffering? - Le Paradox said.
- We made a deal with Ms Katswell here, Cooper will live the rest of his life in prison. - McCullen said, making the others groan in desparation. - Do not worry, the boss told me to bring as many members as we can back to the hideout, we will interrogate them and obtain some data he wants.
The villains spread again, this time to catch the main members in the gang. Barton, Herbert, Murray, Scarlett, Dimitri, the Guru, Dudley and Carmelita were tied up and were put in the trunks of the three black cars, the Cooper Van and the TUFF Mobile, the two last vehicles were stolen since Sly was going to be incarcerated and Dudley was tied up in the trunk of the TUFF Mobile.
The villains scattered again, this time to catch the main members in the gang. Barton, Herbert, Murray, Scarlett, Dimitri, the Guru, Dudley and Carmelita were tied up and put in the trunks of the three black cars, the Cooper Van and the TUFF Mobile, the two last vehicles were stolen since Sly was going to be incarcerated and Dudley was tied up in the trunk of the TUFF Mobile.
Kitty and Bentley threw a last glance at Sly's unconscious body while McCullen was ranting because the soul rubber had mysteriously vanished when he had gone to reclaim it, their eyes were cold and hard, then they ignited the TUFF Mobile and the Cooper Van respectively to drive away before the police arived at the scene to incarcerate Sly, Jing and Cleo.
A few seconds after the Unnamed Criminal Association left, Jing regained consciousness, she shaked her head a bit and got up, the first thing she saw was a totalled place, but what hurt her the most was that she couldn't find Carmelita, Dudley, Barton, Dimitri, Scarlett, the Guru, Herbert nor Murray. She fell to her knees and started to cry. Then the young panda heard a bunch of sirens and she knew that she, Cleo and Sly had to get away from there or they would be going to jail for sure. She didn't even know how, but she had managed to put Sly and Cleo over her shoulders, she didn't know she was that strong, but she had no time to ponder on that, she had to escape with her remaining teammates.
The police arrived at the crime scene, but found nobody, Jing had already gotten away.
Hours passed and it was now nighttime around nine o'clock, but Jing had finally arrived at the Cooper Gang's temporary hideout, Cleo's house. She opened the door with Cleo's keys and put her friends on the couches to let them regain consciousness. She tried to sit down to rest too, but her tiredness betrayed her and she fainted.

(The next morning)

Sly was slowly regaining his consciousness, he couldn't remember much of what had happened to him and his gang, but he knew it was far away from being just a bad thing. He tried to get up but his body ached horribly. He just rolled over his back and stared at the ceiling as the memories of the prior day were flooding his mind.
He remembered the fight with Dudley, Kitty, Carmelita and McCullen, he remembered the beating he received and he remembered the worst thing that had passed, most of his friends were now held captive by the Unnamed Criminal Association.
Then his mind connected a few loose ends and realized that he didn't have to be under a roof, unless he was in jail. The raccoon ignored all his wounds and stood up, he glanced his surroundings and found that he was at a small but comfortable house.
Then he glanced at the ground and saw Jing lying face down, he ran to her and fortunately found her alive, she was just sleeping.
Sly sighed in relief and carried her to the couch in which he had awaken. Then he saw a female frilled lizard in the other couch, she was sleeping too.
- Well, at least they'll be ok. - Sly said to himself while he pulled out his cellphone. - Time to make some calls and get more help.