As she waited for slow hospital lift to reach the correct floor, Carmelita peered out the window. While the fire crew was doing the best she could, the huge explosion still towered overs the mountains. Nobody important was killed in the explosion, and the fireworks just exploded instead of going off in fantastic lightshow.

It would have been funnier if they did though.

She destroyed that little thought out of her mind. By this point, the Grey Sickle was going for torture his victims before finishing them off. He would have enjoyed the spectacle if his crew hadn't betrayed him and threw him out of a window. This was a major turn in the case. Not only did the Grey Sickle fail twice to kill his target, but even his own minions got sick of him and had turned state evidence.

Obviously, she should be off to Russia to intercept with Grey Sickle's final target, the elusive and dangerous Clockwerk. But seeing as his last known location was just 'Russia', she had plenty of time to prepare. She might as well have a talk with the conscious Panda King and learn everything she needed to know to tackle Clockwerk. Hopefully, he would provide more information than Muggshot, who just made endless innuendos about her.

"You got a hour." Sternly told the guard. "Your weapon." Carmelita tossed him her shock pistol before opening and closing the door behind her. The room was dark, and the Panda King just laid there in a giant bed; a rag over his eyes.

"Inspector." The Panda King wheezed through his broken ribs. "Is the Grey Sickle caught yet?" The room was basically empty save for the equipment needed to keep the Panda King alive.

"No, but I think you can help me catch him." Carmelita sighed as she pulled up the chair. "He's going for Clockwerk."

"Ah yes." The Panda King coughed. His breathing was very irregular. If she pushed too hard, he would collapse and nothing else would be learned. "Clockwerk. The one who bought us together…the one who wanted the Coopers dead…all save for the child."

"Cooper?" Carmelita repeated. The name sounded familiar. It played a special jingle in her mind. She couldn't catch the tune though.

"Years ago." The Panda King started. "When you were in elementary school. The Fiendish Five were still unknown as a group, yet infamous as individuals. Clockwerk decided it was time to take out a threat. He claimed that the Cooper Clan had been a long time enemy of his, and if he could recall historic events with perfect clarity, it was a threat."

"Wait…" Carmelita held her hand up. "Recall what? Just how old is he?"

"Perfection has no age." The Panda King said. "He kept saying that. It was his motto. He mentioned setting a fire to a forest in Mongolia, a event that lead to the sacking of a treasure hoard belonging to a powerful Khan. The two stories…I once thought they're completely different…but his retelling of the story was perfect."

"He's immortal?" Confusedly asked Carmelita.

"…yes." The Panda King wheezed. "Water." Carmelita quickly grabbed the jug of cool water and poured a glass. "Thank you." The Panda King downed the glass with one swing. "I apologize. I'm still very weak."

"You just escaped being killed by a assassin." Carmelita pointed out. "You suffered several deep lacerations, including one across your neck."

"Yet, I live." He smiled. "I made him aware of what he is. He…took it well."

"You won. His teammates turned sides. He's alone…and die like that unless I catch up to him first before Clockwerk. Now, where's the base?"

"Krack-Karov."

"In Russia?" Carmelita sounded a bit terrified. "The volcano?"

"The same." The Panda King exhaled a couple of times before continuing. "I never been there before, but he did say…that if we needed his help…you know where to find me." He sighed. "I've known that for over two decades. Never once considered it.

"I believe…"

"Believe in what?"

"That if you attempt to go after Cooper, Clockwerk will get you first." The Panda King sounded tired now. "He knows more than anybody else. It's how he managed to stay in business for so long. He prides himself in knowing every secret underneath the sun. If he finds out about the connection between you and the Grey…"

"Stop!" Carmelita stood up. "The only connection we have is that I chase him around the world. I doubt that would make me worthy bait."

"That's not…all…" Panda King started to drift. His eyes were flickering. "…You…and the Grey Sickle…"

"What?" Carmelita went over to his bedside and got close to his face. "What's so damn important about me and…him?!"

The Panda King didn't answer. His eyes were closed, and his breathing regular. He had fallen asleep. Carmelita moved away. She had only spent fifteen minutes with him, and learned very little. And what exactly did she learn? That Clockwerk was immortal, which offered no tactical advantage. And, somehow, that Grey Sickle had some sort of a connection to her that Clockwerk could use.

But what exactly is it?

She exited, and retrieved her weapon without a word to the guard outside. Not much she could really do now but to head to the volcano and try to intercept the final battle. As she exited, she decided to head to the village nearby and get something to eat. She did run into Sly there a hour ago, maybe he was still around.

But, no. Every villager she talked to explained that the other raccoon had left not soon after she went to the hospital. He was a weird one anyway. Always zipping off to somewhere else; he could never sit still in one location. More so than usual.

So many questions raced through her head as she took the helicopter out of the village. The only thing left is go to the volcano and try to actually catch the Grey Sickle and possibly Clockwerk. It was her job to see it through to the bitter end.

And what end it would be, in the raging heart of the volcano. Oh yes…every question on her mind would be answered.