Chapter 9- Accusing the Victim
Sly woke up with a terrible headache. For a minute he wondered where he was. The room was dark and very, very hot. Sly realized that he had a large blanket over himself so he shook it off immediately.
"Hey, I think he's awake." Sly heard the voice like if it was underwater. There was a vibration, kind of like the room was… moving? He sat up instantly and remembered everything that had happened. Bentley and Penelope looked at him concernedly.
"You okay buddy?" Bentley asked. Sly suddenly realized he was in the Cooper Van. He simply shook his head. Penelope handed him a pill and a glass of water.
"Take this," she said. "It'll help with the headache." Sly nodded his thanks and swallowed the pill.
"I'm sorry buddy!" Murray said from the driver's seat. "I had to make it realistic!" Sly laughed.
"No problem, Murray," he responded. Whoa! That pill worked very quickly. He could already feel the headache dissolving. "So… what's up?"
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The Man got off the helicopter rather shakily. They had tried to give chase to Cooper and his team but they got caught up in a fierce storm. He was now somewhere in Africa. Even now, he could see the storm clouds from far away. Dimitri walked out of the helicopter. He was barking something or other into a large walkie-talkie.
"Sir, they'll be here in about an hour," he reported to The Man. He just nodded. Cooper had gotten away.
"Damn it! We can't let Cooper escape! This capture has a lot of sentimental value to me, understand?" he shouted. Dimitri nodded.
The Man looked away in shame. He had to keep his emotions in check. Eventually Cooper would come to him. Him and his whole little gang. They would come. And he would be ready to receive them.
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"Are you guys ready?" Bentley called down the house.
"Affirmative!" called Penelope.
"Yup!" replied Sly.
"Uh-huh," Murray said from beside Bentley, carrying a small bag. Murray was always the one ready quickest, seeing as he had the least luggage. Penelope brought some crates in with a hand trolley.
"Hey big guy, can you please put these in the van?" she asked.
"Sure thing, Penelope!" Murray replied. He picked up the crates and walked outside to the van. Sly walked in with a red backpack.
"Okay I'm set." Bentley looked at him. He smiled.
"Are you sure you want to walk around with that fancy tux? We wouldn't want you to ruin it, would we?" Bentley gave him a bag. Sly looked at the bag incredulously.
"Is it…?" he began. Bentley only smiled and nodded. Like a child on Christmas, Sly ran into his room. Five minutes later, he walked out.
Blue. That was what struck Bentley first. The blue looked darker, it looked different. But it looked like Sly Cooper, Master Thief!
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There was havoc in the Interpol building. Everyone was running around in a great panic. People barked orders into phones, ran around with papers, typed rapidly, or filed out paperwork.
Barkley walked into Carmelita's office. It was completely dark except for the flicker of the computer screen. She sat there, slumped in her chair.
"Uhhh… Ms. Fox?" he called. She didn't look up. She just stared at the computer screen. "Listen, Carmelita, we need those witness reports… I know this is hard, but we need your help to figure out what the hell happened." She didn't respond. She just stared at the computer screen. Barkley sighed and left.
"You see what I mean?" came a voice behind Carmelita. Bane slid out from the dark corner he had been hiding from Barkley in.
"No, he's probably just asking him… something," she responded desperately. Bane sighed as he walked slowly in front of her.
"When are you going to come to terms with the fact that Cooper is a liar?!" he exclaimed. She looked up at him, her eyes cold.
"Sly is not a liar! Get out of my office right now Calligan!" She got up and ushered him toward the door.
"Not without the video," he responded calmly, striding over to her computer and taking the disc. "I will present this to a judge. I will get experts to prove my point. And I will capture Sly Cooper!" With that, he left the office. Carmelita collapsed into her chair. Oh Sly, please don't let any of this be true! Then, as an afterthought, Because I'll kill you myself if it is.
A/N There, a short little chapter, kind of like an intro. It's like the story's about to start, since Sly just got back with the gang. Next chapter up soon. REVIEW!!