Chapter Three: Onward

"Hello, is this a shaman?"

. . .

"Great! I believe we worked together before. This is- AGH! MURRAY WHAT ARE YOU- THAT'S MINE! WHY DID YOU-"

"HAII MASTER! It's THE MURRAY! Remember me?!"

. . .

"WOW, since when did you learn English?!"

. . .

"Well it sounds fantastic! A weird accent, but still! You still sound the same!"

. . .

"No... The condition didn't go away."

. . .

"I'm fine. After the vault mission, I started racing."

. . .

"Don't worry, I didn't use any that was bad for the environment."

. . .

"Yeah, turns out Sly didn't have amnesia."

. . .

"Oh, so it was you that sent 'Get Well Soon' cards. Sorry, I couldn't make out the hand writing."

. . .

"Well this cool thing happened! Well it wasn't really cool. It turned out Sly's ancestry was being messed with!"

. . .

"Yes it was fun! We went back in time! I dressed up as Madam Geisha!"

. . .

"Yes I looked very beautiful-"

"OH FOR THE LOVE OF- Get to the point! You have time to talk to him later! Hurry up before I take MY binocucom back!"

"Oh yeah. Well we need your help again master. Sly's son was kidnapped by some crazy guy."

. . .

"Yes he has a son."

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"Scott James Cooper."

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"A month old."

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"Past hour or so."

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"Oh it was bad. It started with- . . . -Rendezvous? Is that a French dish? Sorry, it sounds like it. I haven't slept or eaten yet. Wait isn't rendezvous like a meeting place?"

"Jeez. Let me talk to him now."

. . .

"Not at our hideout. We are heading to Britain somewhat soon. I need to call the old gang back before getting some rest. After everyone rests, then we'll head over there."

. . .

"Woods. Can't miss it. More North."

. . .

"We'll meet you there."

. . .

"Thank you, it's great to have you back."

"Ni Hao! Is this-"

. . .

"No it's fine; you don't need to apologize for interrupting."

. . .

"It's Bentley, actually. Not Bernard. Close."

. . .

"Right! I was getting there. Listen, we- OH COME ON, AGAIN?!

"Hey, remember my little visit with my sister around ten months ago?"

. . .

"Every detail? Fantastic. So that means you remember that covenant you made to us?"

. . .

"You endeavor to assist us in any way, for you owe us. Good. Glad I made it clear. Oh, whaddya know, I have something for you to do! How about we meet at the entrance of Britain's northern woods tomorrow as soon as you can? Since you are in China, I suggest you leave now for a head start. Sound like a plan?"

. . .

"Exactly! That's right! You have no choice. Glad that worked out perfectly! We'll meet you there."

. . .

"I'll tell you when you arrive. I believe you went through the same problem. Do this and my further plans, your debt will be paid."

. . .

"Oh how thrilled I am to talk to him. *rolls eyes but jumps* O-Oh! Hello! You weren't in your apartment so I decided to-"

! ! !

"No! Nothing about you! Honestly! Look, when you can tonight, please-"

! ! !

"You don't owe any money. Or at least I don't think you do. Hey can- did I just hear a woman moan?"

! ! !

"So she really liked the popsicle you gave her? I didn't need to know that."

. . .

"I didn't need to know the flavor either..."

! ! !

"Ha-ha, yeahhh... ANYWAYS, we need y-"

! !-

"WOW, INTERESTING. S- Wait, did you say you were on a cruise ship?"

! ! !

"No I don't want to join. Wh-"

! ! !

"No I don't want to hang with 'the ladies.'"

. . .

"Yeah ha-ha, same ol' me. Whereareyou?!"

. . .

*facepalm* "I asked where are you? On the cruise ship, what ocean?"

. . .

"Atlantic Ocean? Great, that's close! Are you moving East or West?"

. . .

"I should've known you didn't know which was which. Just tell the Captain to take you to Britain. We need you to meet us there by the northern woods by afternoon. We have another big heist going on and we may need your help eventually."

! ! !

"No, not after the ladies. Right now. This is import- hello? Hello?!"

I hate this job.

It's getting closer to six in the morning and Sly continues to stand on the patio. Not once did he rest in a bed or even think about moving his eyes from the sky. His son was taken. His son disappeared in that sky. He can't see his son anymore. The clouds swallowed him. Now those clouds have traveled miles. Those stars mean nothing to him. The fresh air means nothing to him. Without his son beside him, his own life is nothing to him. Is this what depression feels like, a numbing sensation of carelessness about everything; everyone around him and everything he used to enjoy doing? Nothing has a point.

Sly can remember wanting to sleep just hours ago. He almost did. Now? What is the point? He hasn't found his child yet. Is his child sleeping? Is he still crying? Is he hungry? This will be a long day today, for if he won't save his son today at Britain he will go insane.

"Carm?" The raccoon croaks through the phone.

"What is it Sly?" Just by listening to her voice Sly can tell she hasn't slept either.

"Have you gathered your group of mercenaries?"

"Yes, we are on our way to our Headquarters in Venice… after these morons finish their breakfast."

"Good. The gang and I are going to Britain to investigate Vex's lair. We're hoping to find some clues on the whereabouts of him or his workers."

"You really think Vex would leave anything helpful?" Carmelita was clearly annoyed. "If anything, he would leave welcoming traps. No doubt he expects you to go there."

There was a long silence. A cold ambiance of solemnity from the phone sews the fox's lips together. Hearing Sly's unstable voice made her heart quiver. "I will do anything, whatever it takes, to get closer to my son. I don't care what happens to me but I won't stop until I get Scott back and safe in my arms. Nothing will stop me."

Again another pause followed by an exhausted sigh. "Fine. Just be careful. I don't want to lose another…"

The last sentence was discreet; a chilled whisper in an echoing room. Before Sly could say his last words the call disconnected. Yes, saving his child and keeping him protected is his first plan, but the second plan is to stay alive himself. He is indeed a father to the next generation of successful thieves. Besides, he can't save his son if he isn't alive to do so. Sly won't let anything happen to himself, for he knows how it feels to be fatherless. "I won't let anything happen to me… My purpose of living is to not only save Scott, but to be there for him as he grows."

Isabella joins Sly seconds later, yawning with her arms outstretched above her light head. Her brother leaves the patio to see her messy brown hair poof out and ragged fur sketched on her skin. "Morning…"

"I already woke Bentley and Aaron up. I just got done putting our belongings we packed in the van." Sly says, nodding his head to the van behind on his right.

"Already?!"

"We need to get to Britain. So to save time, yes. You get ready and I will try to pry the hippo away from his bed." When the gang wakes up that morning, they can feel a negative aura around him.

Within the next ten minutes the entire gang was able to fully wake up, freshen up and start their day new. Seriousness molds their faces, though they know this day will be exhausting. Just the trip to Britain alone is enough to bore anyone's spirits. Today might possibly be the day Sly gets his son back. Today might not. Sly hopes with all might that he gets at least a clue from this place. If Britain held Vex's former lair and conferences with delinquents, he's expecting no less than some evidence on what his plans are. All this hoping is the only sanity Sly has left.

After Bentley transports the filled Cooper van, he turns to face the gang and Aaron. "Alright! All set. Now, we shall prepare for goodness knows what. The other gang members are on their way, so we need to get going to join them at the same time. But first, Sly, what is Carmelita doing about this?"

"Yeah!" Isabella jumps. "I haven't heard of her for a while now. Or at least it seems like it."

Sly keeps his same expressionless and hard face. "She's heading to Italy's headquarters. I just got off the phone with her moments ago. Rachel is coming with her. Both of them are trying to figure things out. Not only that, but she's meeting with more of her close and successful mercenaries. She might find out some information while we are on our way to Britain."

By hearing Sly say all of this, he really wonders what the raccoon is feeling. "Yes... Good... I'm sure she will. Well, you three go on ahead. I just have to check a few things before I leave with you." Sly was the first to leave, tailed by his sister and Murray cracks his knuckles before stepping out. Once Aaron treads behind, Bentley gets a rush of relief.

Right next to the main table, the turtle pulls out a letter from his shell. The font on the letter states a name on the front side. He never let go of that letter held against his heart. Conflict in his throat, chest and head pressured his eyes to want to react. But he needed to stay strong, for his family comes first. The Cooper family always came first. Sly had his hopes, but Bentley had his too.

Bentley's shaking hands thrust away from his chest and drops the letter on the table. Even though he let go of the letter, he believes he will never let go of his deepest wish.

His lips tweak to a smirk; a mischievous smirk before gusting his way to the van. No one else knows his thoughts but himself. However, only one thought beats all others in this situation.

They were on their way to Great Britain, for the third time this past year, and they will not stop at nothing from saving Scott Cooper. Let the action commence!

*Oh does it feel great to post again! Finally! I'm back mi gente! Soooo, what could Bentley be hiding? What does that letter say? Interesting... Well, I hope ya'll survived constant suicidal review and did good on your testing. More luck for future finals too! My summer will be busy... Not only will I be working my butt off on these fanfics for you guys but I'll be moving to a new place, a new school, finish volunteering hours, getting my permit, starting work, and learning French (I already know English and Spanish, my life goal is to be multilingual :D). Super busy. So I seriously thank those who stayed with me for almost two years on these three books and reviewing/following/favoriting me and my chapters. I love all of you! I shall serve you next chapter SOON. HOPEFULLY. You deserve it!*

*By the way, it was fun making the conversations in the beginning! I hope you liked this chapter!*