Time for a bit of action, I think. So let's see how Benson and Skips are planning to rescue Mordecai and Rigby from Gene's clutches. Enjoy!
NOTE: For those who have seen my profile, I've recently started a new fic on the Sly Cooper archive. If you're interested, go check it out and tell me what you think!
Once Benson and Skips returned to the park, Skips sent Benson off to collect the rest of the group.
"Meet me in my house when you find everyone!" he yelled as Benson drove off. Benson waved his hand to signal that he understood.
So for the next few minutes, Skips was busy pacing around his house, trying to formulate a plan to rescue Mordecai and Rigby.
Eventually, Benson returned with the entire staff in the cart with him. Apparently, once Benson told everyone about their predicament, they didn't think twice before agreeing to help.
After Benson pulled the cart over, everyone filed into Skips's house and sat down where they could find space. When the room fell quiet, Skips cleared his throat before standing up and beginning to speak.
"Alright, I'm sure you all know what we're up against. Mordecai and Rigby have been brainwashed by Gene over at East Pines, and we need to figure out how we're going to get those two out of there. I've already thought of an idea, but I want to get some ideas from you guys first. Any takers?"
Thomas raised his hand almost immediately.
"Why don't we try sneaking them out?"
"I wish it would be that easy, but if I know Gene as well as I do, I think he probably would have beefed up his security after what Skips and I did earlier." said Benson.
"Yeah, besides, I doubt Mordecai and Rigby would just up and leave in the states that they're in. I don't think we're going to be able to get them out without trouble." said Skips.
"Well, why don't we just run in and take them by force?" said Muscle Man.
Skips paused for a moment, thinking that idea over.
"I think that'll most likely be a last resort thing, but we'll keep it in mind."
"What about negotiation? I'm sure Gene would be willing to listen to reason, especially after what happened last Christmas." said Pops.
"I suppose we could give that a shot. Let's get some more plans together first before we act on it." said Benson.
"Yeah, you're right. We should get some backup plans together just in case." said Skips.
While everyone else was throwing around ideas, Thomas was thinking to himself, trying to formulate some more plans, when an idea suddenly hit him.
"Hey Fives, is there any chance that you can turn invisible?"
Fives started, not expecting to be addressed, before turning towards Thomas.
"Well yeah, but I haven't really done it in a while."
"Can you try and do it? We could use someone to sneak in and do some reconnaissance. We need to know what we're up against." said Thomas.
"Good idea, Thomas. You think you can do that, Fives?" said Skips.
"Yeah, sure. I should be able to do that."
"Great. That should help us. Any other ideas?" asked Skips.
"What about your idea, Skips? I'm interested to see what you have in mind." said Pops.
"Actually, I was thinking of something pretty similar to your idea, Pops, but a little dirtier."
"Are you talking about blackmail?" asked Muscle Man.
Skips blanched slightly before shaking his head.
"No, not blackmail. I was thinking of threatening Gene with something else. I'm not sure if it will work, but I figure we might as well give it a shot."
Benson looked around the room to see if there was still anyone with ideas. There weren't any, so he stood up and turned towards the group.
"Alright, you guys, if there aren't any more suggestions, I'd like for everyone to get to sleep a little earlier than usual. We're going to need to be prepared if we're going to successfully rescue Mordecai and Rigby from East Pines. I'll be staying here overnight, so if you have any concerns, please feel free to bring them up to me or Skips before tomorrow."
Having been dismissed, the group went their separate ways, except for Thomas, who was busy thinking to himself. Benson also noticed the sad look that the goat had on his face.
"Something wrong, Thomas?"
Thomas looked up at Benson.
"Oh, nothing. I'm just a little worried about Mordecai and Rigby."
"We all are, Thomas. We all are." said Skips.
Tomorrow soon came, and the entire park group was standing near the front gates preparing for the big rescue. Skips spent some of the free time after the meeting putting the plan together, which he relayed to the group after their arrival.
"Alright, you guys. Once we reach East Pines, we're going to need to park somewhat far from the gates so that we aren't seen. Then Fives will go in and take a look around."
Skips turned towards Fives before continuing.
"Fives, there are two things that are really important that you need to do while you're in there. You need to find out where Mordecai and Rigby are, and where Gene is. If you can think of any more important information we could use, please get it."
Fives nodded, understanding.
"Once Fives finishes with his recon, we'll walk in and intentionally trip one of the alarms. Once Gene arrives, we'll try to negotiate with him to see if he'd be willing to let Mordecai and Rigby go. If that doesn't work, then we're probably going to have to fight our way through to get to them. Everyone ready?"
"Wait, what are we going to do once we get them? I don't think any of us really knows how to bring someone back from a brainwashing." said Thomas.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Right now, we should be focusing on getting Mordecai and Rigby out of East Pines." said Benson.
Nobody else had any questions, so everyone piled into the two carts before driving off towards East Pines.
Once the group reached East Pines, they immediately went past the front gate before finally parking themselves about twenty feet down along the brick wall that lined the park. Skips lifted one of his hands up and formed a fist with it, signaling for everyone to wait. A few seconds later, Skips raised his pointer finger and pointed it forward, and Fives immediately turned invisible before floating over the wall and into the park.
No one spoke as they waited for Fives to finish with his job, everyone was anxiously waiting for their time to go in and perform the rest of the plan.
A half an hour later, Fives returned and made himself visible again. Skips raised an eyebrow, silently signaling for Fives to tell what he found out.
"Mordecai and Rigby are on the far side of the park raking leaves, and Gene was just walking down from the guard tower when I came up. He's also beefed up his security like Benson said, so we're definitely not going to be sneaking in there."
"At least it won't take too long for us to talk to Gene." said Benson.
"Come on, you guys. Let's head in." said Skips.
Everyone got out of their carts and made their way to the front gate, lining up next to it. Skips made another signal with his hand, telling everyone to stay close which they did, before they finally crossed the gateway into East Pines.
As the group made their way through the park, Benson and Skips were sweeping through the area, looking for any tripwires or other forms of security. Despite the increased security, there still was a bit of a lack of alarms so far. Eventually, though, they did manage to find a trip wire and Benson and Skips looked at each other.
"Ready, Skips?" asked Benson.
Skips nodded and looked back at the rest of the group. He didn't need to ask the question to them, though, as they all nodded. Benson looked back at the wire and walked up next to it, intending to trip it. Benson counted down in his head before kicking his foot out and breaking the wire. Immediately the alarm went off, blaring loudly.
The group waited anxiously for the guards to arrive. And sure enough, they eventually did arrive, once again pointing their guns at the group. Conspicuously absent, however, were Mordecai and Rigby. Benson hid his surprise at not seeing them in the group as Gene came in to the circle as he usually does.
"So, I guess beating up half my guards wasn't enough, huh? You want to take out the rest of them so I have no staff. Isn't that right?"
"We don't want to do anything rash, Gene. All we want is Mordecai and Rigby back." said Benson.
"I've already told you that that isn't going to happen." said Gene.
"Please, we'll give you anything." said Thomas, speaking up from the back of the group.
"Anything?"
"Yeah, anything you want." said Benson.
"Well…I'm really enjoying keeping those two away from you guys, so it's going to cost you. How about your park? Then we'll have ourselves a deal."
Skips didn't have to think twice before refusing.
"No dice, Gene. Try again."
"I'm afraid that's the only offer I have that's worth Mordecai and Rigby's freedom. Unless you can think of something worth that much, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"We're not leaving without them." said Thomas, determined.
"So be it." said Gene.
The vending machine gave them a look over for a few seconds, before turning to the ring of guards around them all.
"Get rid of them."
As Gene walked off, the circle of guards began to collapse as they began making their way to the center of the area, intending to forcibly remove the gang from the premises.
Meanwhile, the group pressed closer to each other, as they watched the guards getting closer.
"What do we do?" asked Pops, who was a nervous wreck.
"We're going to have to fight our way through to Mordecai and Rigby. On my signal, we'll split up and make our way to the back of the park. Hopefully, those two are still in the same place." said Skips.
None of the group was entirely comfortable with the plan, but they nodded and got themselves ready to go as they waited for Skips's signal.
The guards almost reached the center, when Skips finally gave the signal, and with a battle cry, the group rushed off, barreling through the line of guards and splitting up as they reached the line of trees that circled the clearing.
And that's the end of this chapter! Next time will finally be the big battle I think you've all been waiting for. Will the guys be able to rescue Mordecai and Rigby? And what will they do if they do manage to rescue them? Those are some things that you guys are obviously going to have to wait till next time to find out.
Oh, and by the way, we're surprisingly coming up near the end of the story. I believe there should be about three or four chapters left (I haven't actually completely planned the rest of the story yet, but I believe it should be about that). I have to admit, it feels kind of good being almost finished with my first multi-chapter fic. I know it's pretty short, but it's still really nice.
Anyway, I'll see you guys next time. Bye!
RK