It was freezing in Norway. Our sources had led us right to the next piece of the emblem, which is buried in a sheet of Ice. Murray, wanting to see the sights, took the guru for a walk with him to a local viking tour. Things went well, Until his tour ship got hijacked by a real group of vikings led by a warrior called Gasilja.
Gasilja was once a popular insurance salesman, and went from door to door greeting the locals. In an unfortunate mistake, he somehow got his case stuck on the roof of a guy who obviouly didn't like salesmen, and before he could reach it, it hit the guy straight between the eyes, and he tumbled down the road to the river on the local viking tour boat. Awaking, the bump on his head must have messed him up, because the next thing they knew he had claimed he was a legendary viking warrior. Finding a couple of out of work actors, He set up his own crew to plunder ships.
Hes got murry and the guru locked up tight in his wooden fortrss. Great...I hear the panda kings new fire work showers in flames. It's either that, or we let murray become viking lunch.
SLY AND THE GANG IN:
TERROR, PLOTTING, AND LONGBOATS
Murray tried as hard as he could to struggle free, but to no avail. His hands were held tightly to the trunk thanks to the powerful cord wrapped round his hands. He looked apologeticaly at the Guru, who was held inside a hanging cage. Murray stared sheepishly at the ground and picked up a stone. He began to fiddle with it, and studied it. It was smooth and round, like a shiny emerald. An image came up into his mind of a warm room with a small log fire, and a huge meadow outside. Then memories came hurtling back of clockwerk, and Bently attempting to plant a bomb in his mouth...and suddenly he found himself back where he was, clutching the stone. Openening his fist, he'd seen that he'd broken it. Tossing it aside, he looked up at the guru.
"I'm sorry master, I didn't know we were going to get captured, and that a bunch of pretend vikings would be all 'rarr' and we'd be all 'agggh' and...stuff."
The Guru just smiled. Murray was the true core to the team, no doubt. Guru had noticed Murrays heart the moment he'd taken him on board. All that time ago when Murray had walked the path of the dream time he'd shown great courage against the many challenges. But Guru was wise...he knew that it was best not to ever tell anyone else about this. If word got round...
Suddenly, a huge wodden door swung open, and Gasilja strided in. His eyes were incredibly fierce and piggy, and as he inspected the Guru he stoked his red bushy beard which bristled against his red bushy eyebrows. He finally spoke, and as he did so, his voice was heavy with a strong sweedish accent.
"Oh yes indoo-dy, I think the tides-a changin. I'll send the botha you into work on my sawmill, you-betcha. No...I'll get the HIPPO to work the sawmill, and the little guy can herd the sheep. Oh, yabutsky ka-dooodle." And with that the blue bull gave a monotonous parted laugh that sounded like several drowning donkeys, and left the room. The Guru took another look as Murray sat on his stool and twiddled his thumbs thoughtfully.
Sly took a look round the fortress...absolutely no sign of a door. He pulled out his binnoccucom, and tapped into Bentlys frequency.
"Hey, Bently, there's no way in. I mean it. The place is so simple and tight that you couldn't get a feather through that door...I've tried. Now, normally I'd improvise, but this..."
Bently paused, and Sly kept looking round. It was just impossible. There was absolutely no way into the base. He thought back to days against people like Jean Bison, Mz Ruby and Raleigh...they'd all been like this. Either obsessed with progress or fortresses that required a very large drill to bust into. Bently finally tapped in.
"Well sly, there is one way in but..er...well, I know you don't like water...You're gonna have to go through the watermill at the back. There's a waterfall some place there."
Sly acknolowged this, and headed towards the back. Ooh, Bently was right. The waterfall was like a miniture Niagra Falls. Climbing through, Sly told himself that once this was done, he would perfect his own water crawl technique.
Murray took two seconds to notice Slys approach. Giving a quiet cheer, Sly saw how Murrays eyes were filled with tears. It was pretty suprising, as Murray didn't normally give in so easily. But it was moments like this that made it all worth while. Sly put his finger to his lips, and used his stolen keys to open the two keys. He motioned to the back exit, and Murray ran over, lifting the catch an allowing the guys to escape. Murray ran after, and the sudden rush of energy set him smiling. He suddenly reflected on his previous instances. His first desicion to become 'the Murray' had been after his first ordeal with Sly. It had been great, but he hadn't realised until recently how he had become more nervous, his voice more weedy. Not the same new and improved Murray who had helped Sly and the gang in paris so long ago. As they turned a corner, Murray noticed the wave of guards heading towards them. Finally, he decided that if he was going to be the tough Murray, he'd have to get it right. He made his voice deeper, less gravelly, adopted his posture and yelled,
"BEWARE OF ME EVIL-DOERS, FOR THE MURRAY IS BACK!!" he turned to Sly.
"Stay back citezen, for 'the murray' shall eat through these guards like sherbet on a large wooden stick." Sly folded his arms and shook his head in awe.
"Woah Murray, you really sound like 'the Murray' Ihad to get used to, but don't blame yourself about Bently again. I know..."
"No Sly," Murray shook his head, "No. I'm not doing this out of guilt, i'm doing this because I want to show that I mean business. I'm a hippo of many faces and i'm not about to let myself lose my pride. Now.." He cleared his throat and readjusted his false heroism. "Stand back, sir." And Murray lept into the fray, with guards flying both left and right.
Gasilja was absolutely livid. In only four hours his entire fortress had collapsed around him. His face twitched as the fortress fell down around his ears. Grabbing a nearby servent he yelled,
"Fetch the boys and tell them that werea gonna find a new base, you-betcha. The Coopers may have won this one, but they still don't have the emblem piece now, you-betcha!"
Bently looked over his cards. Things were really brightning up for the gang, what with Gasiljas main base of operations down. Secretly smirking at the photos of Gasiljas face, he tapped on the projector and began.
"Well, it looks like Gasilja is in possession of the next emblem piece. His new saw mill is only just under way, and I know how hilarious it would be to see the big guys new place crumble. Together, we're going to have to purchase a longboat and all drive it towards the base while sly infiltrates the guards headquarters and takes them all out. One of them is bound to give out some info. We'll need a navigator, and i've already asked someone who should be arriving soon. If we play our cards right, and I always do thanks to a small theory I managed to develop known as the ace of shoes, we should destroy the new mill with ease. Lets do this and take even more photos to incriminate this nutjob and stop him terrorising the locals."
There was a sudden slam as the door slammed shut. The gang looked behind them to see a small figure in a very fashionable fur rimmed coat and hood entered. The figure removed the hood to reveal a winged helmet sitting upon a shy and young looking female penguin. she smiled, headed up to bently and took his hand. Penelope was the only one to see her bat her eyelids, and she turned away in disgust. No doubt this navigator would know bentlys theories too. the penguin smiled again.
"Hi, I'm miss Shelia Hellstrom. I think this is where I was supposed to be."
Bently nodded and led her over to the recon photos. Shiela revealed that she had been part of an expedition to the temples of the Aztecs. She was a freelancer who would gladly offer herself to the gang, in return to journey to the ruins and to help her revcover her group. Bently was a little reluctant, but eventually he agreed. Sly was staring through a large window at Bentlys newly aquired longboat. It was a shame he'd miss out on how the gang would steer it...
Bently stood at the helm and began giving out orders.
"Okay, we're going to have to work this ship just as it used to be worked. Murray, Guru, Penelope and Dimitri will operate the oars..."
Dimitri gave an outrageous cry.
"Wha! ME! STEER! Are you loco? Although I admit my sexy muscles could drive ten of these babies no way, no how am I gonna even lift a finger to DRIVE!"
Bently raised a questioning brow. "Okay, what were you going to do?"
"I want to bang drums to rowing beat, like in big viking movies!"
"That's Panda King. Now get to your stations and lets drive!"
As the boat went on, Dimitri groaned as he readied himself at the oar. Bently made a signal and the King began to beat the drums, and the team pulled the oars. By now Bently could see Dimitri was falling backwards and thus causing the boat to spin round and round. This was also due to the lack of rowers on the opposite side, but Penelope had created a multi limbed machine to sort this. Panda King watched Dimitri pull the oars and groan.
"Okay, I understand now...no more Dimitri telling funky chickens like you that he is living macho french loverboy! Not cool bro!"
Shelia was pretty confused. She looked over the memo Bently had sent...it looked right. They wanted a navigator who was so good they could taste materials and villiages on the wind. And she could. But these guys looked like they were doing more than just sightseeing. She thought back to the first time this had all happened. Bently had met with her and asked if she had really been as good as she said she was. Her love of the sea was something she aquired many years ago, and it was powerful enough for her to continue learning about it. At the current time she had been checking for signs of a nearby sawmill. It had come to mind that the group she was with didn't really seem like explorers, but they certainly weren't mercenaries. Something was going on here, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it...No, she would have to put all of her faith into them. Shelia secretly launched a signal (as she had been directed by Bently) to Sly. It was even more strange that the group didn't even seem to be accomplished rowers...
Sly opened the hatch to the cooridoor. This way he could bypass the main room and reach the area he was uncertain of. His goal was pretty clear though, defeat all of the guards inhabiting the building and then wait for the gang to do the rest. Opening the furthest door, he gasped-not only was there an enourmous gauntlet encircling a group of guards engrossed in arm wrestling with a few shark guards standing watch, but there was also a huge cascde of water coming in from all four corners of the room. He gulped.
"Oh boy. I Really need to discover a water walk move."
Carmelita drove down a long stretch of woodland and mountains with her new partner, constable Gwen at her side. The last exploit against the embassy had proved successful, and she began to think of how Sly must have been linked. She muttered to herself.
"Damn you Sly...why do we have to do this the hard way!" She had become pretty tired of Sly running again, AND he was a criminal again. After the investigation in petersburg, she had found the body of Bastof, realising waht must have happened thanks to the clockwerk eye in his skull. Carmelita knew that even though Sly was her husband, she would have to make a difficult desiscion, and Gwen had helped her make it over coffee that morning. As they looked over some magazines, Gwen had made some high pitched and careless remarks.
"Did you know coopers still about? Cooper, hahahaha 'snort' (One of Gwens annoying traits was her annoying laugh.) If I had my way, Cooper would be easy to put behind bars."
Carmelita gave Gwen a passing glance and, in a very as-a-matter-of-fact way said,
"Don't you find it interesting though how Cooper only steals from criminals? He has made sure that..."
"Are you kidding?" Gwen shook her head in girlish bewilderment.
"Coooper is a criminal. And not just a criminal. If we let even one escape from the law, imagine what several would do! Criminals murdered my brother...I don't want someone who could do that running around! It doesn't matter how big or small, they do it because they're finding it fun. Cooper probably did this just to rile the police force up. His historys too long to leave that out."
Carmelita had only just sighed. Because she knew she was right, and nothing could change that.
Crawling round five different water tubes had left slys fur soaked. He began to wring himself out, before remembering exactly why he didn't do that any more. Ooh, the heist in Nepal where he was supposed to arrive disguised as an aristocrat but due to an accident at the beach had come as a poodle. Eurgh, water. He focused his attentions onto the guards. And he lunged. A few moments later and fists were flying everywhere. Sly was absolutely going to win. Abso...
"Hault, you barbarious barbarions! Please don't forget that the brawl does not begin unless you wish to, say TAKE IT UP WITH ME AS I ENGULF A FLY AND POUND YOU INTO THE TERRA FIRMA!"
Sly gasped...He'd heard that voice...where? He hadn't time now, the intercom had gone off meaning the the person on the other end would most likely be making his way down. Sly rotated, dodged and finally slashed while spinning to take out the last few guards. As he did so the door clicked into life, but Sly was already halfway out of the now open hatch at the back, carefully locking it behind him. The metallic door slid open, and the figure walked through. Looking all round, he hopped over to the middle of the floor. "Where are the guards? WHERE? Oh, Gasilja is certain to take it up with me i'm sure...But what anomaly of the new era could possibly have...oh?" The figure picked up a small torn piece of cloth, and studied it. He snarled, and pounded the ground with his fist.
"COOPER!"
The gang began to row further and further back, pulling at the ropes of the boat attatched to the mills support. Murray was having a whale of a time.
"Ha, just like back in Holland. CLASSIC!" Muuray tried to smile at Bently, but when he turned round he saw that he was leaning over side.
"Please...ew...keep...rowing...BUUUUURP!"
Just as they pulled back, Dimitri suddenly gave a girlish cry. The entire crew turned to him, and he coughed manly and pointed upwards. They turned to see Gasilja enter the balcony the moment the wooden stand broke between the ramp. With a creaking groan the entire building fellinto the icy water. Gasilja, a little more than startled, was clinging on for dear life. He managed to get one hand free, and instantly noticed the flag of the ship.
"AHHH! COOPER GANG! Oh, now it's personal, you-betcha! Soon I shall have my revenge... and my new sawmill has just completed, blooperers! Oh yeah, you-betcha, Im going to-a have the last laugh. You're a dirty pack of thieves!"
Shelia gave a squeak and put her hand to her mouth. Her mind began working, until it all came together...
"Thieves?"
Bently and Sly stood together looking at the shivering Shelia wrapped in a towel at the back of the safehouse. Sly patted Bentlys shoulder.
"She'll get over it eventually. Everybody else did."
Bently gave Sly a tired look. All this work and Sly didn't seem to be at all bothered. Bently remembered dr Ms words...'why is it called the cooper gang?' But it was Murrays that ran clearer...'If you were there and sly was out here, he'd be happy following his friends dream...' It may not have been as dramatic, but in Bentlys mind it had been the most poiniagnt. He checked his watch and turned to Sly, but Sly was ready to speak...
"Look, Bently, Gasiljas got himself some help. I heard over the intercom at the guards stronghold. Listen, If we could find out who it is, I'm sure it would help greatly. He kinda sounded familliar."
"Sure Sly. Listen, I'm about to give a recon overview. Lets get this out of the way, and then we'll talk.."
Bently set up the stand, and made sure everyone was paying attention.
"Okay, everyone, just afew more things to do before my big operation bull fight. Murray, I need you and the guru to open the Icecream bar out of town. Gasilja loves it for some reason, and if you could infiltrate his final stronghold by simply knocking on the door, we'll have the guru hi-jack a guard. Sly, I need you to sign up and actually face Gasilja in the drama circle...no, really. He's a born actor over here. As you two quote, he's sure to show off to the spectators. The Guru will jump onto Gasilja, drive him into the drawbridge. The police are already coming to the area for a fundraiser, and if they just happen to see Gasilja in the open than it's sure to be all good. And Sly, I take it Carmelita might help you like back in New York...She'll be bound to help you now, right?"
Shelia was distraught. Being a good samaritan without a bad word against her, It was a change to find out she'd been working with a bunch of thieves. But she was not as pessimistic or biased as other-she knew that they must be doing this for a reason. Her own family had to steal to pay for Gasiljas antics in the past, leading to a run of luck, a knock on the door and the death of a sibling. And yet she still hadn't escaped the small area of Norway. Seven years had been harsh on her, supressing her personality and leading her to become a very qiuet child. But business must come before awnsers with these thieves. Maybe it would be best if... she began to dial the police number...
"Miss Hellstorm?" She turned to see bently, who was smiling.
"Put down the phone and maybe I can give you some awnsers. And believe me, it's a long story..."
Gaslija was strutting around, searching frantically through the many shelves, cupboards and wells, and thinking about how hard it was to find a cooper emblem piece when you need to. He finally picked up the small jagged piece from under a log, and cried in triumph. He grabbed his communicator and tapped a number in furiously.
"Hello? This is Gasilja asking for...yes, that's him. He's not there? Get him! I need him to translate the message on the back of the piece, you-betcha. Soon, the powers of the thieves shall be mine. All MINE, YOU-BETCHA!"
There was a sudden knock at the door. Gasilja looked through a periscope to the outside, to see a bunch of guards yelling the password. Those fools! Gasilja though to himself, as he clambered up the stairs on his huge chunky hooves.
Murray rubbed the back of his head as the guru was busy setting up Ice creams. The area was silent, and only afew ravens in the sky caught Murrays attention. He hated the idea of walking right up to the door of a huge sweedish viking. He fiddled with his thumbs for the twentieth time.
"Master, I don't know about you, but I feel kinda silly in this outfit, I mean...It doesn't even fit."
The Guru made an incomprehensible sentence. Murray nodded.
"I suppose so master, but you gotta admit..." And so saying, Murray lept into the front of the cleverly disguised van, he drove the two towards the enourmous lumber mill, with van playing the tune "pop goes the weasal" all the way.
Murray quickly got out and knocked onto the huge wooden door. and a small flap was opened on the other side. A small apir of piggy eyes peered out expectantly, and narrowed as they came to rest at the pink hippo.
"Greetings fellow norweigian, we're Happy fun ice-cream and co., here to serve ice-cream st your big show today..."
The eyes shut, and so did the flap, and with a creak the door burst open to reveal a very small creature standing on several phone books. In an instant the guru had lept upon him, but the size of the guard made it look more like a piggyback ride. Needless to say, smashing into the phonebook and lodging it into the drawbridge mechanism. Murray picked up the guard, put him inside the ice-cream freezer, and the two gang members headed off into the mill. As they hurried through the mill, Murray realised that there hadn't been any signs advertising Gasiljas show tournemant...rounding a corner, he gasped as he noticed the mass amount of guards inside the theatre setting up a giant cage. Murray held out a hand to stop the scampering Guru, who upon seeing the mass realised what was going on. Murray pulled up his gloves.
"Master, go find Bently. Slys most likely already improvised, and I'll take care of these guys. See you at the bridge, peace and harmony need to go out the window. It's best you don't see this. I'm gonna have some fun."
Gasilja was laughing as he escaped on his long boat, his crew pulling as hard as they could on the oars. He had finally done it-He'd stolen the cooper emblem piece AND he'd kept his base in one piece. He shook his fist at the base.
"HA! Gasilja has trapped the cooper gang, you-betcha! Soon, there will be no-one to even dare question the thieving authority of Gasilja!" His laugh bellowed like thunder as he held up the piece. There was a cough from one of the oarsman, and Gasilja yelped in terror as the entire crew flung off thier disguises to reveal the entire Cooper gang. Gasilja was lost for words, and he simply stood there pointing a finger. Shelia Hellstorm was behind him, sword at his throat.
"The games up Gasilja. How a guy like you could possibly get away with that fake Cooper emblem piece, well, I don't really know."
Gasilja had a look of confusion on his face. What did the racoon mean by that? He watched in speechless awe as Sly pulled out another cooper piece. Confused, he squeezed his piece, only for it to crumble in his hands. His eyes widened and he suddenly jumped out of the boat. Bently gave a smile, and watched as Gasilja was suddenly caught by Dimitri from below. Sly nodded to Bently and jumped after them, swimming to the shore. As he neared the two and the shore, he could make out the indistinct figure of Carmelita awaiting the criminal. He came asore and mopped his brow.
"Ah, Crmelita, I was hoping we'd get to talk y'know after...woah!" He found himself leaping out of the way of the shock bullet as it whizzed towards him.
"What was that all about!"
Carmelita gave an angry snarl.
"You're a criminal now-this is my job. As of now you are not my husband until you turn yourself in. And don't say it sounds ridiculous, because it doesnt...not when you have actually committed a crime. I found Bastofs body when I went to check the palace, and I don't care how much you hte clockwerk. It's not right to kill. That, and I made a little desiscion."
Sly was petrified to the spot. How could he tell Carmelita what had happened if she was already against him? He knew she wouldn't listen to reason. He jumped back into the water and made a dash for the boat, pulling Dimitri with him. Dimitri squeaked and let go of Gasilja, and watched helplessly as he swam through the freezing water. Sly heave the both of them onto the deck and grabbed an oar.
"Everyone, we have to get out of here before the cops catch us!"
"But Sly! This goes against the plan..."
"Forget the plan! We have the peice, lets just get the hell out of here!" Bently shrugged, and the boat sailed into the distance. Shelia glanced back at the shore, and actually had a little flutter in her heart. She would finally be leaving the sordid little town to actually have some adventure. It would be nice to just go somewhere, and live out the dreams she had always thought about. And for once it might be nice to live outside of the law. She coughed loudly so that everyone was watching her, and pressed a small button. Behind them was a huge explosion, and they turned to see Gasiljas final mill burn to the ground. She smiled sweetly.
"Y'know, if i'm gonna be a thief, I might as well offer the other qualities I have..."
Gaslija clambered to the shore, his fur wet and cold. He gasped as a piece of his beloved theatre mill fleww past his face. He fell to his knees, and gave a great cry.
"Oh Loki, please help me and all of midgard. Show them how I have been wronged, and bring me revenge against the cooper clan!"
Suddenly, a huge submarine arrived, and Gasilja jumped in. He climbed down the hatch, and looked to see his rescuer.
"I assume you realise who's done this to my mill, ya?"
The figure turned to him.
"Yes, Cooper. I found out when I checked on the guards a while back. Not to worry, we have met before and, well...I have a score to settle with that impudent rodent." The figure finally revealed its face. A small, squat frog, who sported a snazzy new metallic hat. He growled at Gasilja, who actually shrunk back, sulking.
"Yes, soon it will not just be Gasilja who makes his mark on the face of evil, BUT RALEIGH WILL ALSO HAVE HIS SAY! BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
We'd done it, albeit a little accidental. I watched as Carmelita shook he fist over on the shoreline. I just had to believe it, my own wife hunting me like a common...well, you get the picture. Things were back to normal...and I actually believed we could cope with it. We had before. I had some time to myself to think it over, and didn't speak to the crew until later.
The shock news from Bently was the reappearance of Raliegh, my old enemy. He must have been working with Gasilja long after he discovered that he was in possession of an area containing a piece of the emblem. What a high class thief would want it for is a mystery though.
Shelia was really getting along well with Panda King, and held the admiration of the mills destruction all to herself. It was nice to see another new face on the team who wasn't a former enemy. Pretty soon, I knew we'd have to pull off the favour. Shelia even treated us to a nice visit of a viking play. Although I left halfway through, it was a great oppurtunity to bring Penelope closer to bently. I mean, who else could understand a viking opera? Things were looking just like the old days...