We got a message from Dimitri late one Saturday night. Sly had promised a favor to him back in Holland for helping us out with the flight roster. Needless to say, I was not pleased. I didn't think that someone like Sly and his gang racked up favors. Sly tried to tell me that it was a special situation but still…
In any case, without explaining anything, Dimitri had booked us passage to Blood Bath Bay. When I asked about it, Sly explained that is was populated with hermits who still keep up with the ways of their pirate forefathers. At the mention of pirates, I told him that I was out of this one. But, I stuck around to listen to Dimitri's request anyway.
He had told us about his grandfather, who was a well-known deep-sea diver and had made a fortune out of looting undersea wrecks. Unfortunately, a cutthroat by the name of Black Spot Pete, stole his loot as well as his diving gear. Retiring a broken man, he started a family instead. And Dimitri, growing up on his grandfather's stories, dreamed of one day recovering the gear. That was our task. Bentley was also thinking that if we do this, we would get a frog-man out of the deal. Which, I think, would be a great asset to the bigger job ahead.
As soon as we had found a safehouse, Sly had tried to get me to come with him on this mission.
"No thank you," I argued. "You're going to have to do this on your own."
"Come on, Annika," Sly said. "I could really use your help on this one."
I stayed firm. "No."
He shrugged at me. "Alright, suit yourself." He left us at that.
Bentley came to me. "You should really go with him."
"No thank you. I hate pirates. Do you know what pirates do to girls like me and Penelope?" I shivered at the thought. "That and they grant mercy to no one. You guys are walking into a death trap. I want to live a few more years if that's alright with you."
Bentley shook his head at me. "I can't believe you're passing this up."
I shrugged. "I just don't like pirates, okay? I'm content with sitting this one out."
Bentley finally gave up on trying to talk me into it and went to helping Sly. Sly was off to talk to Black Spot Pete. I guess the old coot wasn't working well with him so now Sly had to find a disguise. Not too hard for him.
After talking to Pete again, Sly had dug up some interesting information on the diving gear. Thus, another briefing.
The treasure would be found on Dagger Island, not far from where we currently were located. So, we were going to shanghai a ship to get there. Sly and Murray would go into the harbor and incapacitate any other ships that would follow us while Bentley and Penelope would go and steal the map from Captain Lefwee's keep. It seemed easy enough…
Everyone got to it. Since Bentley would be out in the field, I would be everyone's link to base. As long as I didn't have to deal with these pirates, I was just fine with that.
We had a few hitches in the plan. Penelope managed to get into trouble but luckily enough for her, Bentley was able to lead her back safely. As soon as they got in, Bentley went to checking her eyes. Something about blinding dust?
As for Sly and Murray, there mission was a complete success. As soon as they got back, Sly came to me.
"You missed all the fun, Annika," he teased.
"You go on with your bad self," I huffed. "You guys can finish this without my help. No pirates for this red panda. No way."
"Not even to help me go steal a ship?"
I paused and looked up at him. "No thanks. As tempting as that sounds…"
He shrugged then left me to my sulking. In a few minutes, we were called out and Murray went to rowing us over to the ship. As soon as everyone was below deck, I went over to Murray, Bentley, and Sly.
"What's the plan?" I asked.
"Once we raise the sails and get underway, it won't be long before someone on shore raises and alarm," Bentley said.
"No problem," Murray piped up. "We wasted that harbour patrol. The coast is clear."
"You guys did a great job but they still have cannons mounted up in Skull Keep. I figure it's long odds that they get gun crews into position before we're out of range... But it's worth mentioning."
I groaned. "I wish you had let us know that before now…"
"The let's make full sail for the mouth of the harbour," Sly said. "If you guys are ready, I say we do it now. Every second we dilly-dally just puts us more at risk."
"I second that motion," I told him nervously. "I'd rather get as far away from here as possible."
They all shook their heads at me.
"Of all things Annika… Pirates?" Sly teased me some more. "You singlehandedly took down your Arch-nemesis and you get all crazy about Pirates?"
"Nobody asked you!" I cried all embarrassed. "Just tell me where you need me."
We all got to work and managed to get the ship out of the harbour, in one piece, and to Dagger Island. Sly followed the map to Dimitri's grandfather's treasure and we all went to meet up with him. They pulled up the chest.
"Well Dimitri," Sly told him. "It's your loot, I think you should have the honor."
"I open with joy," Dimitri said in his strange 'hip' language. "You Cooper Gang is a tight groove." He pulled out the gear to show to all of us.
"It's so intricate," Penelope said in awe. "Your grandfather was an artist. I've never seen such fine craftsmanship."
"Yeah… It's all good and great," I mumbled. "Now let's get out of here before…"
Just before I could say that, some pirates came up behind me and Penelope and grabbed us. I knew this would happen…
"Avast Lubbers!" cried Lefwee. "Didn't think you could steal from the smartest man on the seven seas and not taste the repercussions! Har har har! I might have been late for the opening of the chest… but I'm just in time for the stealing of the gold!
"Let Penelope and Annika go," Sly demanded of him. "We can work out a deal."
I wished my hands were free so I could face-palm myself with such ludicrousness. They're Pirates. Obviously none of them understood that.
"Penelope be this lass's name. Purdy as a sonnet and what a rich scent from the wench's hair. And this one, Annika is it?" He paused for a moment to look at me. "So much fight and fire in her eyes, she does."
"Let's thump this chump!" Murray said.
"No! He'll hurt them!" Bentley cried. "This guy's a killer!"
"Away with ye!" Lefwee ordered. "Back to your ship. This gold is mine now or their deaths are yours… take your choice."
"Guys, we don't have any options here," Sly said. "Everyone back to the ship."
"Wait! You guys can't just leave us here!" Penelope cried.
"Do what he says, Penelope," Bentley told her. "Stay alive. I promise we'll save you and Annika."
"Oh please, don't worry about me," I said sarcastically. "You guys didn't listen to me in the first place like you should have…"
"Annika, you're not going to have a heart attack on us, are you?" Sly teased grimly.
"Hardly," I snorted. "You're not getting rid of me that easily." I saw the worried look on his face and I softened. "We'll be alright. Go do what you have to do. I have faith in you."
"Away with ye already!" Lefwee demanded. "Now!"
The guys left us with the blood-thirsty pirates and were pushed and dragged to Lefwee's ship. He took us back to Blood Bath Bay for a little bit then we sailed out again for a short time. Penelope and I were given dresses to wear and we were promptly thrown back into the brig so we wouldn't get out. What a drag…
"If only I had my tools…" she said as she examined the lock. "It would be easy to get out of here."
"We'd only be walking into more danger. There are way too many pirates up there for you and me to take on."
"Still…" She kept fiddling with the lock.
I watched as she worked the lock without her tools then sighed in frustration.
"There's something I want to ask you Penelope."
"Okay. Shoot."
"Why in the world would you like a guy like Sly?"
She stopped with the lock and looked to me. "Actually, I'm kind of turning my attention to someone else…"
"Really?" Thank goodness…
She nodded and went back to lock-picking. "Yeah. I think Bentley is more my speed."
"You know what? I completely agree with you. Bentley is definitely better for you."
She stopped again. "Oh I get it. You're in love with Sly, aren't you?"
I flushed madly and turned away. "It's not like that… Not really… I don't have a chance with him anyway. He likes Carmelita. Carmelita of all people! I love the woman to death but still…"
Penelope came and sat down next to me. "I'm sure he likes you too, Annika. I see how he looks at you from time to time. Especially when they had to leave us. He was genuinely worried about you."
I smiled at her. "Thanks Penelope. You know, Bentley has liked you for awhile. I'm glad you're finally seeing him that way."
"Me too," she blushed prettily.
Just then, some of the pirates and Lefwee came down to the brig.
"Row the Panda to Skull Keep," he ordered. "She and Cooper will meet a very explosive end together."
They yanked me away from Penelope and tied me up so they could easily transport me to land. The pirates carried me up to the Keep and gagged me. They also placed a bomb that they dressed up to look like Penelope on the other side of me. I had to warn Sly before we blew to smithereens.
Not long after, Sly came rushing in. He came to me first and took the gag out.
"Annika, I'm so glad you're-"
"What are you doing?" I cried. "It's a trap! Get out!"
He looked behind him the Penelope shaped bomb.
"Oh that Lefwee…" He quickly grabbed me from around my waist and pulled out his parachute. "Hold on tight."
The blast from the bomb sent us into the air. I held onto him for dear life as we sailed through the air to the ship. He sent us crashing into Lefwee as the pirate threw us overboard and into the water. I came up just fine then had to dive underneath for Sly.
"Are you alright?" I asked him.
He managed a nod. "Yeah. Just glad you could save me from a watery grave."
The giant squid, Crusher, who was befriended by the Guru, put us back on deck after Lefwee and Penelope's duel so we could help Bentley back into his chair.
It was finally over. Lefwee was beaten and out-smarted by our own genius, Bentley. Not only did he save Penelope but he had also gained a girlfriend in the process. Which, in all honesty, I was so glad for out of selfish reasons.
Dimitri "informed" us later that he would be our frog-man for the Cooper vault job. Not that anyone asked him to join but, still, he would be an asset to the team.
As I was talking to Sly later, we had noticed that the sisters hadn't come to join us in our shenanigans. Which was quite strange…
"I'm worried…" I said quietly. "Carmelita and Kaylita are usually here…"
"I'm sure they're fine," he assured me. "It was for the best, I think. I would hate to see either of them get kidnapped by pirates and dressed in… Flattering dresses."
I saw his devilish grin and realized that my dress had slipped a little and showed a little more cleavage than I wanted. I flushed a deep red.
"What the hell? How dare you!" I cried as I quickly tried to cover myself.
He laughed heartily then smiled at me.
"Annika… I just wanted to tell you again how happy I am that you came," he said. "Despite your fear of pirates, you've been a great help."
I saw the somber look on his face. "Are you scared?"
He shook his head. "Worried and anxious, but not scared. If anything I feel worse about pulling everyone into this. It will be a dangerous job. We don't know what could happen."
I felt for him. I wish there was something I could say or do to make it all right for him. I simply put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a smile.
"I believe in you Sly. I know you can do this. You're the last in the Cooper line. And most likely the best one yet. There's no way we'll fail." I cleared my throat and pulled away from him. "In the meantime though, I need to get out of this dress and back into my regular outfit. This thing is so cumbersome."
Sly chuckled. "Thanks Annika."
I waved it off and went below decks to change. My heart raced. This job was hard enough with me caring about Sly as much as I did. And his constant teasing…
If anything I was scared for him, for all of us. We had no idea what M was capable of. But, I would do anything in my power to keep Sly safe. Even if it killed me.