Sly's POV

We were about to put our plan into action, we would need the Guru out if we were to purify the land and get rid of the miners, so we needed to get back his staff and stone.

"After capturing the Guru, the dingoes confiscated his magic walking staff and moon stone. Without these objects the Guru is powerless." Bentley said.

"Given that we're dealing with miners, I'd bet they stashed the goods in one of the caves around here. It's a secure location with plenty of guys on duty to provide protection." I suggested.

"I agree this mine shaft is our most likely candidate… it appears to have the highest number of workers coming in and out." Bentley replied.

"Good place to start. I'm on it."

Getting past the guards was a bit more difficult with less easy access escape routes, and oi had to keep my eyes out for any unexpected drops. Plus with those bombs being dropped all the time getting caught wasn't on my to do list. Plus there was always some form of guard close to the mine shaft. So I knew I hit the right one.

Thanks to Bentley's optimizer goggles navigating in the dark would be a breeze.

Wow, mines were a lot more complex than what I first thought lots of machines around and sharp drills, but from what I saw they didn't seem to be serving any purpose other than to keep people out the way.

Getting to the cave was easy but now I had to crack the safe, precision is key.

Unfortunately cracking the safe wasn't the problem, turns out these psycho miners are smarter than we thought and the stone set off a light sensitive detonator, if I get out quick it should hopefully power down.

It worked I got out the cave and the stone was fine, now all we needed was that staff.

"The walking staff must be in the other mine shaft, it's located near the Guru's cell." Bentley directed.

I still had yet to work out what Muggshot was doing here though, he wasn't building a casino, not that it would make much business out here, but he also didn't seem to have much interaction with the miners either.

I assume he's their boss, but his style of leadership has sure changed. Maybe he's keeping his head down till the right moment.

Getting to the other safe in the mine went incredibly smooth and there wasn't a single guard on the way there, of course after I got the staff they all rose from the woodwork and were blocking my path.

I knew I couldn't just run past them like last time and so an all-out war between raccoon and dingoes ensued over the tracks.

Time was running out and I needed to get out if this mine, and with all this dust I was easy blind sighted and kicked or whipped into a wall.

I made it out; although I'm surprised how paranoid these guys are I mean the stone I get but a stick?!

It makes me think Muggshot is definitely up to something and he knows everything that goes on around here, including whatever that mask is.

Murray's POV

Oh Yeah it was time for The Murray to get back in the field.

Although I was more excited to see my Guru. That is if it's all good news.

"I know you're a little nervous to see your teacher again, but he's requested that you and I pay him a visit individually." Bentley explained.

"If it wasn't for the Guru I wouldn't be The Murray you see before you today. I'm just not too sure he'll be pleased with my progress as a mystic." I replied.

I didn't want to disappoint my master the point of my training was to become a great mystic, I'm worried that if I tell him I want to return to my friends he will think that I haven't been training well.

"What are you talking about? You used the aboriginal ball form to great back in Venice. He'll be proud of you." Bentley praised.

I needed that pep talk from Bentley, he was right I did good, but now it was time to return to my old life just with a new attitude.

I sneaked up through the mine, after knocking out guards and bringing down stalagmites I approached a thick steel door and Bentley said I couldn't just punch it.

"Use your Aboriginal ball form to bring down the piston once that is completed the door should open."

"Piston beware your about to be bounced!" I cried and used my ball form to attack the piston.

Just a shame I couldn't punch it.

But luckily there were more guards and stalagmites to punch and throw through the door that is until I met another locked door and this time I needed to hit three pistons at once.

"Three against one and I still took you piston chumps to school!"

The door opened and inside was a huge guard wearing a mask, in the middle of the circling drills, not my first choice to stand.

"Whoa! Look at the size of that guy! He must be jacked up by that Mask of Dark Earth the Guru was warning us about!"

"Curious, it seems to make the wearer much larger…probably more aggressive too. But unfortunately everything here runs on a circuit it's a dead end from here, the door is hooked to the circuit even the drills." Bentley replied.

"My righteous quest to see the Guru won't be stopped by some big stupid freak in a mask. What if I knock him into the drills?"

"That might work, try it." Bentley said.

Finally some real action!

Approaching him this guy was huge at least twice my size, but no one is too great a challenge for The Murray, lifting him with ease and a few upper cut punches I beat him, and the mask of Dark Earth came off but flew away!

But right now I had to speak to the Guru.

Bursting through the door I knocked whatever was against it off the small cliff and went to greet the Guru.

"I have returned my Master. The Black water now runs clear! I'd like to…I'm asking…aw, man!" I couldn't say it in a way I wanted to.

But the Guru seemed to know.

"Yeah! I want to join back up with my friends… and, uh, we're hoping you'd come along too?" I said.

The Guru needed a bit of convincing.

"You'd love it in the gang; we have all kinds of fun." I persuaded.

He still seemed concerned.

"Miners, gyrocopters, and the Mask of Dark Earth, yeah that's a lot to deal with. But we'll help you I promise."

The Guru was more pleased with my answer and understood my position.

"Thanks Guru… I'm happy to see you too." I made my way back to the hideout.

Lola's POV

We needed to help Carl so he could help us, he needed his tools, but they were in Muggshots building, he snuck in once to see what he was up to and nearly caught, luckily his tools were hid and didn't cause too much suspicion in a mining site, but it was too risky for him to retrieve them.

Apparently Muggshot suddenly stopped visiting the site and stayed inside his building more and more, no one knows what he's up to except the selected miners he calls into his office.

Our first job was to earn the trust of the miners, if they saw us as allies they would surely let a few things slip about Muggshot's plans and maybe reveal a time for us to steal back his tools.

We had already set up our base upstairs of the shack, and some of the miners knew we were up there, but since we kept the music playing and did our 'job' they didn't seem to mind.

During Carl's lunch break I headed downstairs, I received some glares from the miners and it was rather quiet upon my entrance, but I ignored them and sat with Carl. We couldn't talk while it was so quiet and I got a drink from the bar.

Conversation started up again but it was still a muttering among the room. I was about to inform Carl of our plan when a miner approached me.

I didn't like these guys they were crazy and those that weren't crazy were stupid, exactly the type of people you want in charge of dangerous equipment.

He glared and sneered as he towered over me and got in my face, man do they ever brush their teeth.

"So what are you doing here? I don't see you in the mines, I'm sure the boss would love to hear about this." He said.

He must be one of the selected miners that are in close communication with Muggshot, either that or he's a snitch.

"Oh well I'm just here as a stop off before I move on, I just had to give Carl here some messages from home, surely you must know what it's like to be so far away from any loved ones." I smiled kindly.

I prayed it would work, fortunately he backed down slightly.

"Just how long are you expecting to be here exactly?"

"Not long, I just have to wait for some resources to be dropped off and I'll be on my way, afraid I can't exactly determine when but I'll be out of your hair soon enough."

"Just make sure you are." He walked out.

Although his confrontation made some of the other miners approach me but their conversation was friendlier, however I'm pretty sure they just used me as an outlet as I had to sit and look interested in all their stories of home.

So far so good, I just hope I don't bump into Muggshot or any of the miners reveal my whereabouts.

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