It was time that the RALTIO gang got thier comeuppance. Making our long way to Egypt, we decided that it would be best to take down the leader before we went after Gasilja or Raleigh. We discovered Raltio himself was now in posession of yet another Cooper emblem piece, and we got to find out a little more about him.

A born adventurer, he had read about my own ancestor Slytunkahmen, and developed an obsession. He was always picked on for being the 'little rich boy,' but got his revenge by using his money. Many tutors wondered where thier pupils were, and also mysteriously disappeared when Raltio gained an F in science. As he grew older, and rumor had it that he had been driven mad by the many cursed treasures he had collected in his travels. Eventually he created the RALTIO. Everybody seems to believe that he created the RALTIO so that he could relive some dreams and sell some goods, but Bently keeps mumbling to himself everytime it comes up at the meeting.

He's currently relaxing in Cairo, hoping to use the emblem piece to discover more about my ancestor. Seems to me that this Toucan needs to be taught a lesson about what happens when you mess with a Cooper...

SLY AND THE GANG IN...

SECRET OF THE PYRAMIDS

The restaraunt was incredibly beautiful. Water cascaded from a fountain as the area stretched round it, with the other view being the city itself. The markets were bustling with noise and people, the hot sun beating down, and the hooded arab warriors protecting thier interests. A toucan in an explorers gear was sitting at the back, making stiff movements typical of its kind and sipping a martini. Sir Raltio was looking over his notes, the different Cooper signs and the Cooper emblem itself. Watching the clock, he picked up the paper and began reading. Any minute now and his rendevouz would be here...He watched as all eyes turned to a certain young woman, who smiled sweetly as she walked through the room of rich arab traders. She sat at the table of Raltio, who lowered his paper and sat up. He glanced at his watch and tutted.

"I expected you hours ago. Where have you been?"

Gwen removed her headscarf and sat back. She pushed forward the photos of the entire Cooper gang. "This is who you're looking for. I decided it would be best for my co-partner mz. Fox if she were not to hear that you were our contact. If what you say is true, then I believe that Inspector Fox will be none the wiser that you have our full protection. Now I don't normally endorse this kind of activity, but i'm sure you'll agree that a good few thirty thousand dollars wouldn't go amiss..."

"A corrupt police officer, what?" Queried Raltio, sitting back, "you're my kind of totty!"

Gwen shook her head. "I'm not corrupt. The minute I've done this, you become a criminal like Cooper. Even if you don't escape I will be forced to double cross you, so you better get your facts right." She handed him a small purse. He opened it, pulled out the call card, and slipped it into his pocket. They shook hands.

"I feel that this will be a very benifittable relationship. Y'know, you're not like Neyla. She turned down our proposal years ago. I hear she was ravaged by some powerful mastermind. Still, if you can provide the secrecy, I can provide the money, what? Anyway, you do your bit, and I'l do mine."

Gwen stood and left, with Raltio returning to his newspaper. From under a table two tables away, Murray put his hand to his mouth. If what he had just heard was true, then Sly and the others were in for some big trouble...

Bently and Sly walked through the Bazzar, avoiding anything that was offered to them. Bently had been to Cairo many times, and he knew that it was easy to get in when you knew the right people. Night had fallen, and Bently sat Sly down at the back of the room. No-one even batted an eye lid at his wheelchair. As they ordered drinks, a beautiful singer came on, singing to a slow eastern guitar tune, and the two began to talk.

"So pal, where's the contact?" Sly looked in the direction of Bentlys head movement, and came to rest on the singer. "Her? most turtles have a little black book but you have the whole yellow pages!"

"Very crude Sly, but I have indeed made enough friends in Cairo. Now, she knows several people associated with the RALTIO and all of its secondary members. Most villains go through them for thier funding, including the KLAWW gang and Don Octavio. Now LeFwee also knows a few people in the business, thanks to the amount of calling cards he's stolen, and he will be vital in my plan. First we need to find out exactly who controls what over here. I've no doubt that Raltio is not the only big cheese around here."

The singer kept going, and Bently acknowledged the waiter as he recieved thier wines. Sly watched as the singer finished, and applauded with everone else. Then, he tipped a coin loud enough to make her look thier way, and she hurried off. Bently gave Sly a smile, and watched as the Vixen herself came to the table. She sat in the middle of the two thieves, and gave the coin back to Sly. She turned to Bently.

"Quite the charmer, your racoon friend. He gives an extremely generous tip. Now, I've managed to get info off of several guards, and I know exactly who owns what. The Raltio owns fifty percent of this area. If you find yourself in a rich looking area, then you're on his turf. The man's obsessed with everything aristocratic. Don't worry about the Krensi gang, as they keep away from Raltio. They own thirty seven percent. You getting all this?"

"Sure, RALTIO fifty percent, and Krensi thirty seven. But is there anybody willing to try and take down the both of them? Who owns the other thirteen percent?"

"It's shared between the T.A and the Scarabs. The Scarabs are pretty viscious, because they think they're not getting enough. If anybody is likely to turn anybody against the RALTIOs, it's them and thier leader, Sobeka."

"Sobeka...Sobek? He was an egyptian god. Now why on earth..."

"Sobek, god of water. He used to make money by offering clean water to the homeless who actually had money, and forced many a rich folk to pay or he would poison thiers. He earned the name and the rest is history."

"I see...can you tell me anything else?"

"Well...all of the gangs are pretty suspicious of each other. But Scarabs got undercover guards all over the place. He thinks he's safer with a couple of moles on the inside. If he got them to actually do something he could easily scare Raltio out of his wits, and he'd lose power completely. That, and it would bring all of the gang leaders into the open. Combine that with the arrival of the police and ...nothing. Sorry guys, but the police are owned by the gangs round here. Now, if we were talking about interpol, or even a national matter..."

Sly leaned forwards. "...and boom. Inastant arrests. Sounds like a plan, but how are we going to find the Slykuntahmen stuff..." He jumped as Murray patted him hard on the shoulder, panting.

"Sly, it's Raltio, I just saw him and officer Gwen. He bribed her to protect him, and then she went and told him who we all were, and how he's like totally untouchable...and stuff."

Bently wailed. "This is terrible! The plans all ruined..."

"Actually, it's made easier." Sly was really on the ball today, throwing the situation around in his head. "Think about it, the other two gangs get arrested, and Raltio flees to the Pyramids. We follow, he leads us straight to the temple and naturally have the Cooper piece with him. We nab him, and it'll be a piece of cake." He leaned back, pleased with his work, while Vixen gave him a wry smile.

"Charm, good looks and a brain...I'm impressed. Does he drive too?" Sly shook his head and pointed to Bently and Murray. She laughed, stood up, and gave a small wave, taking her leave. Bently grabbed his note book, and showed the guys his plan...

Sly jumped onto the rooftop and looked into the distance. He breathed in as the view of the Pyramid stood before him, looking increasingly tall as the sun went down. He made sure Harold was still en-route following the first guard, fading into the shadows when the guard looked round. Harold took in the code that was punched in, put his thumb up, and transmitted it to Sly. Sly took it in, and ran down the huge cable attached to one of the vents. He slid through, travelled up a long tube and found himself inside of a lush lobby, with fountains, smooth marble floors and rich arab bosses watching the world around them while sipping martinis. Sly headed round to the buffet room where a huge amount of guests were sitting round a table. Sly took a look at the smartly dressed crocodile who smoked a huge cigar. No doubt Sobeka, as his guards and his pin bore the emblem of a scarab beetle. Next to him was a timid looking polar bear who was constantly mopping his brow. He had several guards cooling him from behind with giant palms, and they bore K symbols on thier robes. They must be the Krensi gang. The T.A gang was easy to spot thanks to thier large T.A badges, but they were led by two twin hedgehogs who scratched thier heads with embarresment. Finally, at the head of the table was Raltio and Reptil, the only member without important business. He was very twitchy, constantly going for his sword every time someone passed him. He now wore a smart suit with an Arab head cover, but a glint of gold from underneath could be seen, and he also had rings on his long fingers. Raltio had just picked up a bread roll while the hubbub was going on and tried to cut it open, when his hand slipped and cut a small part of his wing. Making sure no-one was looking, and still not noticing Sly, he pulled out a heiroglyphic bar with the head of a jackle on top and waved it over the tip of his wing. To Slys amazement the cut glowed very slightly, and disappeared. Raltio slipped it back into his pocket, cut the roll, and sat down. Sly was speechless...how had Raltio gotten his hand on..Sly thought back to what he had read in the thievious racoonus entry on how Slytunkhamen had never really stolen the golden wand of Metoba the second, but he had never seen it for himself. This must be it, thought Sly...another reason to get at Raltio. He took a few photos of the guest, when the entire room hushed themselves. A huge candle lit cake was brought in, and the entire room burst into singing 'happy birthday'. The two hedgehogs were laughing now as the cake neared them, and Sly saw that its inscription read 'Happy Birthday to jake and rodger, young leaders of the T.A.' The hedgehog on the left began to hug his twin, and everyone applauded. Raltio then stood, and Sobeka nugded a few of his guards. Raltio cleared his throat.

"Friends, our order was divided up many years ago between our four families. Now, I know that the T.A gang did not own th largest cut, but they were indeed worthy of what they had done. Our two twins here today are true leaders, and thier youth has hardly ever made any mistakes. So lets give another applause to the Terrence-alfon twins, what?" Everyone applauded, and Raltio laughed. But his face then turned sour, and all of the Raltio gang began to smile. "Jolly good, jolly good. But they have made past mistakes..." He stared at an empty chair next to the twins, and then turned to them, "...and I personally don't think it's too acceptable. Happy Birthday twins, you look calm for two fellows who, oh, I dunno, gave some bloke a wrong job and almost let the authorities onto us all. Young leadership, everybody, isn't what we need. New blood has proved careless. And it is our job to rid ourselves of carelessness. Jhonson did not deserve his death...but you two certainly will!" Just as he spoke those last words, three enoumous mummies wearing striped phaeros headresses lept forwards, and made ring around the T.A gang. They chanted some untold language, and soon the entire gang was gone, except for the twins. They shivered as the tallest Mummy stepped forwards, gave a bellowing cry and grabbed them, disappearing in a puff of green smoke. Raltio folded his wings with a smile as Sobeka walked towards him.

"Raltio, I gotta hand it to you, that was the best birthday trick ever. Thirteen percent is mine now, right?"
"Right. I'll sign the papers here and now. With our luck, the truce will ensure that no more foul-ups will occur. Here and now the gangs are all united until the situation asks for a change.We are undercover...no-one leaves unless they are a guard. Everyone else controls operations from thier bases alone. Soon we shall be back in business forever. This is going to be a right sticky wicket that we will all get through...or risk the loss of our orginization."

Sly looked on as Sobeka shook Raltios wing with one hand, and crossed his fingers with the other.

The police car stopped as Carmelita turned off the engine. She stepped out, headed up the stairs and brought out her keys, fiddling with each one. Gwen followed closely behind her. The Cairo nights were certainly humid, and the two officers headed into the base. Seargent Rasher and Inspector Barkley were going over plans on how to counter the many supposed Gangland problems. Business had been pretty slow as of recently, with hardly any leads on anybody. The police had practically all but left for the night. Carmelita sat back and thought about what Sly must be up to. He may still be a criminal but they were legally still married. She pondered the idea of his arrest. If only he'd give himself up, then she could let him go on a court of law. But she was still upset that his memories were obviously not gone, and that she'd been living a lie. The kind of lie that definitely comes back to haunt you if you're not careful enough about how the other hides it, or how it came about. She watched as Gwen joined the Seargent and Inspector on thier plans, and she wondered if a transfer to F.A.W would be worthwhile. Going over the plans in her head, she thought about how Murray had kept the team on track. Even she knew it was true. Was he the influence? Perhaps not, she thought, as she picked up a magazine and began to read.

Bently finished setting up the cards and waited for the gang to settle down.

"This is it guys, the fundamental part of my super geius plan. Once we've done this, we need to head out of Cairo. To begin with, I'll have Sly, Shelia and Harold disguise themselves and challenge the Guards of Raltio to some games that they know. There's one guy who alwys wins, and I'm sure that Harolds running, Shelias bombing and Slys pickpocketing is sure to come in handy, and blow the undercover guards cover. Murray will pilot a special train with penelope into the dam. When they get there, I need them to plant LeFwees holding box in the pipes to spook the guards. Finally, I'll set about with Dimitri, Panda King and the Guru to sabotage Kerensis firepower and air cons. If this works out, each gang should blame the other, as the events I've played out are related to the others styles. Raltio will escape, and we can tail him. This is going to be so cool!"

The market place was full of suprise as RALTIO guards began hauling peolpe away. People were forced back inside 'For thier protection' while others were simply given a warning push in the back. Sly, Harold and Shelia were also getting rid of people, albeit in a friendlier yet firm way. Harold eyed the guards around him and raised a hoof as more people cleared. The parrots, dressed in arab gear, were going for thier swords whenever people protested or mounting thier arms. Once the entire square had been emptied, the guards upturned some buckets, stole a couple of wine barrels and began thier own game. The first was a bet to see how many times they could pin horseshoes round a camel post. The men stood in a line waiting for thier turn, but Sly made sure that he was always at the back. This was so whenever they all leaned to see what was happening, Sly would steal thier belongings and replace them with small cards featuring Kerensis handwriting and signiture, forged by Shelia, telling them how naieve they all were. Sly then moved the line along, got to the front and pinned the perfect horseshoe. He smiled at Shelia, who stood next to the camel. Then the man set up a small race track, and got out thier camels. Harold stepped forward to a rather smarmy looking rhino, who was putting what looked very much like roller scates on the camels feet. Harold tapped him on the shoulder and flexed his muscles.

"Now, you look like a guy who knows how to race. But I bet I can outrun both you and your camel in ten seconds flat! " He began to do some streches as the rhino looked him up and down shiftily.

"Sorry, I don't do bum bets. I know I can outrun you on camel-back, so don't try and scare me."

"But look at these leg muscles...I can take it!"

"Fine, I'll do the bet. Just don't try and do anything funny or I'll brain ya!" The Rhino saddled himself up and gave a grunt. Harold made a track sprint pose. The gun went and the rhino zoomed off, with the roller skates propelling the camel forward. But one look beside him showed that Harold not only had the upper hand but had already encircled him twice. As he did so a huge eruption came from the drinks stand, seconds after Shelia had scuttled away. The guards, who had been distracted by the race, had not noticed Shelia creep up to the area where an undercover Scarab was watching and had rigged the stall, where all thier stolen earnings were kept. They turned on the member to see that his badge was now revealed, and they lept upon him. The other three escaped, happy to know that the job was done. Meanwhile the Scarab member was beaten to a pulp, emerging with a bruised and battered appearance. They held him high in the air, and dunked him in a nearby camel troth.

The small cart train pumped along the track as Murray pressed the handle up and down. It stopped and Penelope planted a bomb on the track. The explosions were all set up, and Murray began to pump the other way to the mine. Penelope smiled and closed her stopwatch.

"Brilliant! With the bomb ready we can activate them at the mine to alert the guards. Then not only will the entire track be out, but we'll also have planted LeFwee in the pipes long before they get there. Okay Murray, hand me the detanator and let's get going!" She held out her hand, but he shook his head.

"Sorry Penelope, I guess I lost it. Umm...oh dear." He sat down trying to remember where he'd put it, and a small click was heard. He sat up to see the detanator below him, and the track made a bleeping noise. Penelope and Murray grabbed the pump and began to slowly build up speed along the track. They were soon followed by an explosion, carrying on up the track, and Penelope noticed some figures in the smoke.

"On no, the jackals have already got here! Murray, you keep pumping for all you're worth, and I'll throw some gas bombs to hide our scent. If I can plug in my rocket, then we can speed along the track and bind LeFwee!."

Murray nodded and kept pumping. Getting out her wrench Penelope got slowly down onto her stomach and pulled out he rocket booster. She held it at the end of the cart and began to screw it down. The closed her eyes as the debris and wind flew past her, but she stayed determined. The gave a few turns and the rocket was in place. Pressing the button made it fizz into life, and the entire cart sped away. She looked back to see an oil spill all the way along the track, and Murray strained back as well.

"Sweet mother of chocolate cows, It's an oil feild! The flames will like get bigger, and the crops will be like all burnt and destroyed, and the guards'll be all angry and they'll smash and..."

"I know, but we need to think about it later. I wish I'd checked that we had the detanator...but the oil was purely unexpected! Bently will be real mad at Scarab now. You know how he hates environmental attacks. We'll have to get LeFwee out before those guards catch our scent again."

Penelope then tried to stop the rocket but found the button jammed. "Damn, we're going to have to jump! I'll attach LeFwee soul into the back. Hopefully if the car will crash into the mine entrance and release the soul. LeFwee will know what to do. Now one...two...JUMP!" They jumped, and quickly hid behind a large rock. The cart hurled towards the mine and crashed through the entrance, deep into the mine. The soul was already free after it had been bumped out of the back thanks to the low ceiling, and the swift jackals made thier entrance. Before them stood a plague of undead miners and pirates, and LeFwee at the head brandishing his sword. They gave a terrible cry and charged, while the jackles yelped and ran into the distance, thier tails between thier legs.

Kerensi sat around a huge ice block, waving his hand in front of his face, and wearing beach shorts. His guards stood around in fur coats muttering about it being seventy degrees outside. In the vents, Bently was opening the flap, and making sure the guru knew what to do.

"Okay pal, I'll grab you and hold you above a guard. Posess him, and make sure that nobody sees what we're doing through a series of distractions. We'll take over from there." Bently listened as the Guru awnsered in his strange dialect, and laughed. "Oh, I agree. It's always fun to make guards suffer embarrassing scenes of payback. Let's go!" Bently dropped Guru, and he lept onto the Guard. Using his new control, he hid under the beetles jacket, and stayed there, controlling thier mind and making sure that they made no movement round the vent area. Bently tapped his com-link and began whispering. "Okay, Gurus in posistion, and I need you to un-block the water fan ,Dimitri."

"Right on, smokinfish heading towards the big spinning thingy." Dimitri put his goggles on and dived beneath the waters surface. He managed to see a few things on his way, such as Reptil getting a grilling from several guards. They kicked him, and waited for Raltio himself to pick him up. Reptil made no noise, but had a sad look in his eyes. Dimitri carried his new rifle and aimed for the underwater airlock. It bubbled and made a rusty creaking while Dimitri punched in a small dtector. He checked for obstacles and made his way through. The next area was filled was a gyrating noise, huge underwater gusts and one enourmous fan right in the center. Dimitri noticed the water switch right at the bottom, and slowly made his way over. Pressing the switch the moss filled room soon emptied its water, the noise dying away. Soon Dimitri was over at the fan, and looked around for the nearest object to jam it with. A curious young guard entered, and Dimitri gave a wicked smile. Seconds later, the deed was done. He activated the com-link and made a bird whistle. Bently tapped in to Panda Kings wavelength and secured the link to his ear.

"Right King, has the power gone out on the old security?"

"Indeed, I shall begin the destruction!"

"good, Guru, I need the bug to be up there posistioned on the power switch so that the guards'll pin it on him. Make your way upstairs after leaving the clue at the vent. Quickly, we havent got much time!"

Kerensi could instantly feel the sudden warmth returning. He looked up wide eyed, and began making gestures and warbling noises as he tried desperately to keep cool. The guards noticed the problem, and headed up, just as King had finished deactivating the equipment and setting a few well timed bombs. The entire roof was soon destroyed, save for the door leading from the roof to the inside of the building and the patch near the generator. It was a comical sight as Kerensi opened the door along with several guards only to realise there was no floor below them. Seconds later and the were helping each other up. Kerensi looked bewildered until his eyes came to rest on the beetle hunched over the genrator controls. The Beetle loked behind him, and gulped.

"Right!" Roared Sobeka, his gun draped across his back. He ushered his guards together and headed out into the square with them."It's time to get out and frisk the RALTIO and Kerensi gangs! That's the last time I send my boys out into a RALTIO set-up! And Kerensi deserves the frisking anyway! And...hey?" He stopped as he saw the other two gangs had had the same idea. Both were in the square, gangs together and guards readied. Raltio and Kerensi approached the Mob-boss. Kerensi cowered as Sobeka bit his cigar and pressed his full height agressively against the tall Raltio. "You arn't seriously going to try and oust me out are you?" He leered as Raltio gave a nod and cocked his head to one side.

"And Kerensi...but it seems that we would be wiping each other out. And if my instant thoughts of us being in open square arn't enough, then I'd say we'd been had."

Kerensi put his hand forward. "B-b-b-but we do control the police round here...we should be fine, right?"

"Right," sneered Raltio,"and no gang war can be interrupted here..."

"Not so fast!" They turned to see several Interpol officers, led by Gwen and Carmelita, both with guns outstretched. Raltio rushed forward to Gwen before she could stop him.

"Gwen? But...full protection?" Sobeka was now furious.

"so, you had inside protection all along!"

Gwen was now shaking. Sly and the gang were watching the whole precedings from a rooftop, and Bently was wringing his hands. He knew that if Ralito blabbed, Gwen may just do something deperate to save her job.

"Gwen, don't you remember? You gave me protection after I gave you the money..."

"Shut up..." Gwen said softly, not moving, gun pointed at Raltios head.

"Gwen, I know you had some problems over with Interpol...well, you do have a record that I had to burn, not to mention the treasure you made me haul. And then you go and help lock up my gang! I only foun d out yesterday, and I think an explanation..." But Gwen had pulled the trigger. Raltio lay supposedly dead at her feet. The squad team had heard enough, and instantly cuffed Gwen and the troops. Sobeka was still shaking after being sat next to Gwen in the squad car. Bently was now panicking.

"NO! If Raltios dead, then the plans failed! We've lost the last piece! We've..." Suddenly, a figure appeared and approached the solitary body. It was Reptil, with a small staff, the very wand of

metoba that Raltio had used earlier. Within a few seconds, Raltio was on his feet, the wand having revived his crumpled body. He clicked his neck and gave a menacing grin, hopping onto a camel with Repti and heading off towards the pyramids. Sly threw a homing tracker Bently had made just earlier that day, and theywatched as from the far distance below it magnetised onto the camels fur. Bently took Sly to one side and gave him a pat on the back. "Well, I did tell you that this was almost it. The penultimate peril Sly, the penultimate one. But if we're gonna win...we're going to need those relics he's using to keep himself alive!"

It was after the gang had arrived at the desert camp, that Sly had gone over the plan. He checked the room to see that everybody was fast asleep, and tiptoed to the main room where he had assembeled Harold, Shelia, Bently and Penelope. He sat down with his hot chocolate and put his feet up.

"Well, guys, our resident geniuses have done it. Those booby traps'll be easy to look over, but I'm still not sure about that we'll make it without facing those mummy goons of Raltios, so I suggest going in tonight." Everyone nodded thier heads.

"I think," explained Penelope,"That it would make sense to do this in tag teams...me and Shelia, Harold and Sly, and Bently over the com-link and computor. This way we can apply our appropriate skills to the appropriate trap." Sly sipped his drink and sighed. The way things were going, they may have the emblem piece by the morning. He wandered wether or not Raltio would be finished once the piece was retrieved, but previous experience had proved that this was never normally the case.

Harold passed through the darts with ease. So far the temple traps were easy to dodge with his speed and Slys stealth. They could even see small things that proved the criminals had been round earlier, such as a ripped hankerchief lined with the letter R. Sly suddenly had the most extraordinary feeing that he was being watched. Shelia and Penelope followed closely, walking through and deactivating each trap so that getting out would be easy. They too had noticed a strange feeling in the air, and were terrified when Harold let out a yell. A huge pair of red eyes gleamed at him, revealing themselves to be one of Raltios mummies. Harold and Sly stood back to back as more appeared, and they readied themselves for attack. Harold ran forward and knocked out a couple of mummies, while Sly slashed away with his cane. His heart raced as the spooky paralatic feeling creeped in slightly, but before he could give in to it, Penelope and Shelia had deactivated the contraption creating them...a hologram. Harold scratched his head.

"Hang about, if those were holograms, why did they feel so real?"

"Hard light," explained Shelia. " It allows them to become solid. That Raltios a con-man, I wouldn't be suprised if there weren't a few other things he was lying about."

"Quite right my dear."

They turned to see that they had reached the end, and standing before them was a small temple room where the various gods would have once been worshipped. Around the area was several piles of gold and artifacts. And in the center was Raltio and Reptil. A huge barrier of magic appeared around the gang, and Raltio held a goblet while pacing. He then turned his head and gave a short sniff. "Raltio is no name. My name is Barnabus. Raltio stands for Rome, australia, latvia, Tunisia, Iceland and Orleans. Each discloses a location where I have a special hideout. And each hideout contains what you see here, and more," He snapped his feathers and held up a huge sceptre,"You see, while my tricks are merely illusions, I would desire not magical staffs, but permanent immortaltiy. I must collect every magical item that can do this. Because only one being has ever had this ability...CLOCKWERK!" Sly gave a gasp and attempted to break out. Raltio sensed this and moved closer. "No, my friend, I do not wish to return your friend. I have no pure hatred for anybody, therefore I cannot. But I do want immortality. I created the gang because each member has an item that could bring me this..the cooper emblem piece! With it, I shall have unlimited acess to the recessess of the future,without ever feeling pain, or hardship. Richer and richer for the rest of my days, what?" He gave a high pitched annoying laugh.

"Why? Why would you possibly want to live forever?" asked Shelia.

"Simple, young one...to see how I can reach the past by being part of the future!" These words made Shelia give up and turn to Sly.

"Sorry," She murmured,"It was worth a try. I thought he might have been distracted enough for you to come up with something by now."

Sly noticed that Reptil was sitting in the background. He had just opened a small hatch in a statue and removed a book. He suddenly began reading from the book, and a small rift appeared. Barnabus turned and was shocked to see the rift growing. Reptil quickly stood behind him and gave a push. Barnabus tried to hold on to a nearby statue, but slipped and flew back. Within seconds, the portal had gone. Reptil smiled, and held up the wand. He opened the cage by simply clicking his fingers, and a surge of power seemed to enter him. He scratched his chin and nodded.

"Hate, eh? Hm." And with that, he disappeared. Sly stared in disbelief, and the others grabbed the piece in the corner...

We'd gotten the piece, but with an odd end. Raltio was destined to float in limbo, forever cursing himself. We knew Reptil was a villain, but we didn't know to what extent. And we still don't know who's side he's on...

With the penultimate emblem piece, everyone was feeling pretty relaxed. I was on edge, worrying worrying as to wether I should be concerened for the good guys...or the bad guys. Of course, we did get to have some great times at the pyramids of Egypt, but all I could think of was how desperate someone would have to be to want nothing but eternal life, without ever ageing or feeling pain. And the more I thought of it...the more I thought of Clockwerk. We'd delt with that in Russia, and I was still one of the only ones to know of Bastofs demise. My worry was that both Raltio and Bastof had immortality...neither had hatred. Who could possibly have posessed that much hatred...