Cooper's creed 3 The Assassin's vault

by Creativity is king

Clockwerk is finally gone and a year later Sly discovers his inheritance from his Assassin's ancestors is waiting for him to claim it, however he's not the only one looking to get his hands on it, to claim what his Assassin ancestors have left behind he must recruit new members to the Cooper family, join him and the others in this story of trust, family, loyalty and secrets

3. Chapter 3 Rumble down under

(A smokescreen is seen and a great, golden dragon flies out of it, breathing fire before it turns in a barrel roll formation then turns into a man made entirely of gold with one Perfect Sharingan eye, the other a Rinnegan eye and a third eye on his forehead)

Long live the KING

Welcome back everyone and I hope your all having a great day and a happy Labor Day to all the hardworking men and women out there

Today we'll be getting into chapter 3 of "Cooper's creed 3 The Assassin's vault" and get down to recruiting new members of the Cooper gang and our first stop if the Australian outback…better bring your insect repellent and a HELL of a lot of sunscreen

Also if you read all of the previous chapter where it said at the end "sorry about the lemon" I was originally gonna put a lemon between Sly and Neyla at the end of "An opera of fear" but decided to hold off on that for a bit and I didn't notice it until after I posted it, so if you were confused when you read that little nugget, sorry for the confusion

With all that said, LET'S PUT ANOTHER SHRIMP ON THE BARBY

Time to have some fun

Chapter 3 Rumble down under

(1 week later) (Paris hideout)

A week has passed since Murray was brought back to the family and it was a time of great happiness, however it was still a time for celebration, so they spent the whole week catching up and relaxing with their reunited brother, sure they were gonna get back on track soon enough, but as for now, it was early in the morning at the Paris hideout and it was a good morning to sleep in which is what the family was doing after parting till they were as pink as Murray's skin, soon enough Sly came around as he woke up in his and Neyla's shared bed

"OOOOOOH man…what a night" Sly muttered before he felt the familiar feeling of a pair of arms wrapped around his neck and a leg draped on top of his waist

"Well, look who's here" Sly said as Neyla rubbed the sleep out of her eyes

"And where else would I rather be, than in the arms of the man that I love" Neyla asked before she moaned as she held her head

"Drank a little too much" Sly asked

"Your one to talk" Neyla replied, Sly feeling a little bit of a hangover, the gang had a good time at a local bar

"You got me there, love, but waking up to your beautiful face is ALWAYS the best way to start off my day, and" Sly said before he looked under the cover to see Neyla in black panties and a bra

"The gorgeous sight is a VERY nice added bonus" Sly said, Neyla then pounded her fist slightly on Sly's chest as he chuckled

"Last night sure was a lot of fun, it's GREAT to have Murray back" Neyla said

"Yeah, I missed the big guy to…come on, let's see if anyone else is up" Sly said as he hauled himself out of the comfy bed

"Yeah, wouldn't wanna get too comfortable" Neyla said as she did the same, getting up to get dressed

"What's the saying no rest for the wicked" Sly asked

"Especially for the Robin Hood type of thieves" Neyla added, after Sly put on a black pair of sleeping pants and Neyla threw on a loose-fitting shirt and sleep shorts, they walked to the living room of their hideout to find their family was already up, Mario was cooking breakfast while Bentley was at the breakfast bar working on the blueprints for Dr. M's fortress, Murray was snoring on a nearby sofa while Aria was sleeping on the other end of the sofa he was on with T'Challa sleeping on the floor with his head leaning back on a low-seating coffee table meanwhile Jasmine was curled up on a love-seat sofa like the cat she was while Helen was sipping morning coffee on a reclining chair as for Cammy and Zak, they were wide awake, they had been getting into a non-stop Super Smash bro gaming marathon, it first started with those two along with Bentley and Murray but after Bentley got tired of it, Aria jumped in and then after that, Murray was left alone and after a while he finally nodded off, Cammy and Zak however were STILL going

"Morning nephew, Neyla" Mario greeted the lovers

"Morning uncle" Sly said

"Morning Mario, those two still going at it" Neyla asked pointing to Zak and Cammy

"Yep, this must be like the twentieth round they've played" Mario answered

"Try thirty-fifth, sir" Bentley said before sipping morning coffee

"AH, the vigorousness of youth how I miss it" Mario said

"Hey you still got what it takes in you, Mario" Neyla told Mario earning a chuckle from the elderly raccoon

"Ah, my girl, I say you and my nephew enjoy your youth while you have it, coffee" Mario asked Sly and Neyla

"Please and some hangover pills" Neyla answered before Mario set up the couple with coffee and handover pills, suddenly Murray woke up with the heavenly scent of breakfast

"MMMM, something smells GOOD, AAAAH" Murray shouted as he rolled off the sofa landing with a loud thud and woke up Jasmine, Aria and T'Challa

"GAAH, WH-WHO'S THERE" T'Challa asked as he pulled out a Kunai

"Easy T'Challa, false alarm" Sly said as T'Challa relaxed

"UGH, what a NIGHT" T'Challa said

"Morning already" Jasmine asked before she stretched her limbs and yawned

"Afraid so" Helen answered

"Ah, who needs sleep when you got Monster" Zak asked as he pointed to about seven Monster energy drink cans all empty behind him and Cammy on the table

"You know your heart could give out from all those energy drinks" Aria said

"Eh, what's life without some risk here and there, besides I'm on a ROLL here" Zak answered as he continued to play

"What's the score so far" T'Challa asked

"Actually, we're both DEAD even, but not after THIS" Cammy said before she pulled off her final smash with her favorite character, Bayonetta and beat Zak's character, Link

"WH-WHAT THE, NO" Zak shouted as Cammy got up and did a little victory dance

"OH YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, THIS BUNNY RABBIT'S GOT ALL THE RIGHT HOPS" Cammy said in victory

"NO…Link…how could the Hero of Hyrule lose to the Umbra witch" Zak asked

"What's that she's always saying" Neyla asked

"Pretty or not…don't FUCK with a witch" Jasmine answered

"There's your reason Zak" Neyla told Zak

"BREAKFAST IS UP" Mario called before the group came to the breakfast bar to see the spread that Mario had cooked, beacon, cheese grits, eggs, toast

"This looks GOOD, Mario" Aria said

"Of course, we're gonna need our energy for where were going next…wherever that leads us" Mario replied

"UGH, how is your head NOT pounding right now, sir" Murray asked, feeling his hangover

"Hangovers are nothing new to this old, experienced Assassin, Murray" Mario said

"I have to say master, your uncle can knock em BACK" T'Challa told Sly

"Oh I know, one time when I was twenty nine, I tried to drink him under the table…I ended up passed out" Sly said

"Yeah, you were in bed ALL DAY the next day" Neyla said

"I bet it was not pretty" Helen said

"I felt as bad as I looked" Sly answered

"Remind me to NEVER challenge Mario to a drinking contest" Aria said

"Noted" Jasmine said

"So, where are we heading to next" Cammy asked

"Australia" Mario answered

"Australia" T'Challa, Cammy, Aria, Jasmine, Bentley, Zak and Helen asked at once

"Wh-why there" Zak asked

"Because Murray has unfinished business there, right brother" Sly asked Murray

"Yeah" Murray answered

"Care to share with the rest of the class big guy" Jasmine asked

"Well…you see, it's like this" Murray started and explained what he had in mind and from there, he had the families support ALL the way

(Sly's P.O.V)

"At first it seemed JUST like old times, the family was back together and I couldn't be happier, but…little by little, we learned that Murray's heart just wasn't in it, while last night he was…more talkative than usual thanks to the drinking contest me, Neyla, T'Challa and he had with Mario, he told that he didn't feel completely comfortable returning to the family without his Guru's permission to give up on his Dreamtime training, seeing this, we knew we only had one option, go to the Australian outback and meet this man Murray calls master, we were gonna help him out, it's what family does for each other, so we packed up our equipment, whipped up some disguises and headed for the "Land down under" and where one of Mario and dad's favorite movies was filmed "Quigley down under" as we flew to our destination Murray amazed us by telling story after story about his teachers INCREDIBLE abilities, apparently this Guru of his was capable of great, magical feats, he could use the Dreamtime to blend perfectly into his surroundings and even gain mental control over weak minded individuals…if even HALF of these stories were true then this was a person I just HAD to meet for myself…as talented as our family is, if we wanted to get into the Assassin's vault and come out in one piece we needed to grow our ranks in order to better our chances of success and this Guru, this outback mystic or shaman, whatever you wanna call him…sounded TOO GOOD to pass up, however when we arrived at the outback, we were shocked to see miners all OVER the place, drilling into the sacred lands they looked like they had been there for several months if not a year…and to make matters worse…the Guru was nowhere to be found, I could smell trouble in the air, we need to find out what's going on around here"

(End of P.O.V) (Yuendumu, Australia)

After the group set up shop in an abandoned structure on the outskirts of the miners dig site, the family set up their equipment and temporary sleeping arrangements, soon Sly was send out to gather information

"Boss man" Zak said before Sly left

"What is it" Sly asked

"If these guys are ANYTHING like the money-grubby fools I know and loath from New York then you better watch your step out there" Zak said

"He's right, nephew, miners can be VERY protective of their claim" Mario added

"I would expect nothing less" Sly answered before he went out, soon after reaching a vantage point, he contacted Murray

"Okay Murray, any idea where this master of yours is" Sly asked Murray

"My master spends most of his time up there in that cave, overlooking the valley and complimenting the depths of deepness, I REALLY appreciate you breaking the news to him that I wanna break off my training" Murray told Sly

"Hey, your family Murray, we do anything for each other besides, I'm looking forward to meeting this Guru, anyone that you call master has to be one hell of a guy" Sly replied

"OH YEAH, HE'S AWESOME, he'll get inside your head and freak you out six ways from Sunday" Murray replied

"That's some trick, I'll get back to you in a minute" Sly replied before he hung up and using the hooks left behind by the miner's who used them to haul their equipment up, he got to the cave

"Hello…anyone home" Sly called out but no one or nothing was in the cave, he then contacted Murray

"Sorry to say Murray but the cave's empty, got any other ideas where the Guru might be" Sly asked

"Well…his hut is on the highest cliffside but" Murray said

"But, what" Sly asked

"He doesn't REALLY hang out there on…account of the smell" Murray answered

"The smell" Sly asked

"It's a long story, I had to apologize up and down for like a MONTH before he'd speak to me again" Murray explained

"What did you DO" Sly asked

"The unspeakable Sly…the UNSPEAKABLE" Murray answered

"Well, it's worth checking out, I'm heading for the hut" Sly said before he hung up and headed for the hut, continuing to use his acrobatic prowess to scale the walls of the canyon, he then reached the Guru's hut, and it looks like there has been some kind of struggle

"Oh no…this doesn't look good" Sly said before he contacted Murray

"Well" Murray asked

"Sorry Murray, no one's home and it looks like the Guru was fighting something or…someone off…I hate to suggest this buddy but…I'm starting to think the miners might have gotten to him" Sly said

"You might be right, they'd come in and be all angry and yelling and he'd be all peaceful and they'd just get pissed, then he'd try to find a "middle way" and they'd just go CRAZY and SMASH everything up and then haul him off" Murray said

"Where do you think they would have taken him" Sly asked

"THEY GOT HIM…MY MASTERS A GONNER" Murray shouted

"Calm down, Murray, put Bentley on the line" Sly replied, Bentley then patched into the earpiece

"Please tell me you got something, Bentley" Sly said

"It's tough to say but, given the layout of the miner's camp, I'd venture a guess that they would have a makeshift stockade somewhere" Bentley said before Sly looked around with a new modification Aria put on his mask, a zoom function in the lenses

"Hold up, I spy a sealed off area with a high fence, would that do it" Sly asked

"It's possible" Bentley answered

"Looks like there's a way to get up there via the cliff below it, I'm heading there right now" Sly said

"Just watch your tail with that gyrocopter around, I'm sure it's what gave away the Guru's position in the first place" Bentley advised

"Thanks for the tip" Sly replied before he hung up before he used his climbing and acrobatic prowess to scale the cliffside leading up to the makeshift stockade, after getting up there, he came face to face with the Guru himself and he wasn't alone, there was also a female Tasmanian tiger (Wearing the Foresworn gauntlets and boots along with bare torso version of the Fur armor, all pieces from "Elder scrolls 5: Skyrim" she had shoulder-length, blond hair, green emerald eyes and had a body type similar to that of Maki Oze from "Fire force")

"Who are you" The Tasmanian tiger girl asked

"I could ask you the same thing" Sly said as he removed his mask and hood

"Now, what do we have here…you're not with the miners" Guru said in his native language (Thought I would throw in what the Guru would possibly say seeing as how we have NO idea what he's saying in the game)

"Greetings Guru, my name is Sly Cooper, and I am here on behalf of my very good friend, Murray" Sly said

"Murray, he has returned" Guru asked

"He's back here, in Australia" The Tasmanian tiger girl asked

"And who are you" Sly asked

"Name's Shazza" The Tasmanian tiger girl answered

"She is another student of the Dreamtime she came to me almost a month after I sent Murray on his walkabout" Guru explained

"I see, well Murray has come to ask if he can be released form his Dreamtime training" Sly answered

"Is that so" Guru asked

"Yes, I'll just get you both out of here and you can go talk to him yourself" Sly replied as he was about bust Guru and Shazza out

"Not an option Cooper" Shazza said

"Why" Sly asked

"I'm sorry to say, young one but I cannot leave without my walking staff and moonstone" Guru replied

"Not to mention the miners swiped my hunting boomerang, until we have them, we can't do anything to defend ourselves" Shazza explained

"You seriously won't leave without them" Sly asked

"I am afraid so, for without them I cannot use my Dreamtime magics" Guru replied

"What happened to them" Sly asked

"These miners took them from me when they put me and Shazza in this cage then…they started destroying the land I have called home for MANY years" Guru said

"Yeah, it's a real mess here" Sly said

"They're drilling into everything, Ayers rock, King's canyon, Wave rock, no respect for sights the Aboriginal people have deemed sacred for centuries" Shazza added

"But, what about this walking staff and moonstone" Sly asked

"They are the source of my master incredible, mystical abilities" Shazza answered

"It is through them that the Dreamtime spirit allow me to use my magics, but since the land is being DECIMATED, they are displeased…unless the land is purified, and they are appeased even if I were to have my staff and moonstone …I would not be able to call upon their power" Guru explained

"So, the spirits of the Dreamtime need to be appeased in order for you to use your powers…I see, I think I can help you" Sly said

"What, you and Murray, by yourselves" Shazza asked

"I didn't just come here with Murray, I came here with my family" Sly answered

"Can they now and how might you do that" Guru asked

"Me and my family have a…particular talent for taking back things that were wrongfully taken and setting things right and for setting what was wronged to right again" Sly said

"Is that so" Guru asked

"You both have my word we will get you out of here and help you take back your land" Sly told the Guru and Shazza

"Come closer boy, let me have a look at you" Guru said, Sly then approached closer before kneeling to the Guru's level so he could have a closer look at the raccoon, from the way that the Guru looked into Sly's eyes it was like he was looking into the depths of Sly's soul

"I see that you have been put through SO…MUCH pain…loss…and sadness, yet…you strive and fight to carry on…you have a STRONG spirit and a good heart filled with family and love, not just these dark things…never forget that one must have balance between these two, find it…and you will find true peace" Guru told Sly

"Thank you" Sly replied

"So, you think he's okay master" Shazza asked

"I have judged his spiritual center…he is a good soul" Guru answered

"Well…if you really think you can help us" Shazza said

"We can and we will" Sly replied

"This family of yours…I wish to meet them, judge their spiritual centers as I have judged yours" Guru said

"First we need to work on getting you both out of this cage, we'll find a way" Sly replied before he put his mask and hood back on

"One more thing, young one" Guru said

"What is it" Sly asked

"These miner's…they have done something…MOST terrible, not only have they been destroying my home, but they have UNLEASHED a truly EVIL force" Guru said

"An evil force" Sly asked

"Yeah, something REALLY…REALLY BAD" Shazza said

"The mask of dark earth" Guru answered

"That doesn't sound friendly" Sly said

"You're telling us, mate" Shazza said

"It has been my sworn duty just as it has been the shamans who have come before me to guard the mask and keep others from using its dark and twisted powers…but now it has been accidentally unleashed, I pray that you and your family moves with haste" Guru said

"We'll work on that after we get you both out of there, just hang on" Sly said before he left the two

"Like we can go anywhere else" Shazza asked

"Have trust in those Murray has called family, Shazza, come let us meditate until Sly and his family returns" Guru said

"Yes master" Shazza replied as she and Guru went to meditating and Sly left, after getting back to the safehouse and filling the gang in on what happened, it was pretty late so the group got some sleep after Sly, Mario and T'Challa did some hunting for wild animals to cook and eat and found some fresh drinking water, filled with food and water, the group got some sleep

(The next day)

After waking and getting some breakfast, Bentley showed the slideshow that he made last night before going to bed

(Slideshow)

"The Guru and Shazza both refuses to leave the stockade unless we return the Guru's walking staff and moonstone and Shazza's hunting boomerang, according to Sly without these two items, the two won't be able to defend themselves, upon Sly's suggestion we should purify Ayers rock of the miners who are destroying it, according to Sly only then will the Dreamtime spirits be appeased and the Guru will be free to use his magics, Sly must have really impressed Guru when they meet face to face, he's asked to meet us all, something about judging our "Spiritual centers" so me and Aria have looked around and found a passage through one of the miner's cave entrances which should make getting up to the Guru and Shazza much easier, Jasmine and T'Challa you two are in charge of getting the walking staff, moonstone and boomerang, thanks to me and Aria we've managed to locate them, however that's only the start of our troubles, according to what Guru told Sly the miners have also foolishly unleashed something called the Mask of dark earth, apparently it's been the Guru's sacred duty to guard it as did the predecessors before him and prevent people from using its powers for evil purposes, theses miner's drilling into the sacred sights must have released it and now that it's out BAD things are sure to follow, sounds like a bunch of mumbo jumbo to me but we've come across some unexplainable phenomenon over the years, so I ain't gonna rule it out as a threat to this operation, if that's true then we need to act quickly and get Guru and Shazza out of the stockade and deal with this mask problem"

(End of slideshow)

After the slideshow, T'Challa and Jasmine were about ready to take to the fields

"Jasmine, hold on" Aria spoke up

"What is it" Jasmine asked

"I've got something for you" Aria said as she handed Jasmine a choker with a high-tech device on it

"Um…what is this" She asked

"Sly found this sonic device on Octavio back in Venice, he took it thinking it would be useful and he was right, that device on the choker is a sonic disruptor" Cammy explained

"Me and Cammy did some tinkering with it and upped the power on it" Aria said

"You mean like the Canary cry from DC comics" T'Challa asked, the others looked at him

"Huh" Helen muttered

"I'm…surprised you know what that is" Cammy said, thinking her fellow apprentice was all business

"WHAT, I've read comic books when I was a teenager just like any other" T'Challa said

"Exactly like the Canary cry" Aria said as Jasmine put the choker around her neck

"How's it look" Jasmine asked Aria

"PERFECT" Aria answered

"A weapon that makes a fashion statement, I LIKE it" Jasmine said

"Well, make sure to put it to good use out there" Cammy told Jasmine

"You BET I will" Jasmine replied before she and T'Challa headed out to a location overlooking one of the caves containing one of the Guru's sacred items, Bentley then contacted the two

"Alright you two, after capturing the Guru the miner's confiscated his magical walking staff and moonstone along with Shazza's hunting boomerang" Bentley said

"And without them they can't defend themselves against the miners" Jasmine said

"Correct" Bentley said

"Then we gotta get these items back in their hands" T'Challa said

"And seeing how we're dealing with miners, I bet a bottle of wine they would stash the goods in one of the cave systems around here" Jasmine said

"I'd take that bet they're secured locations with plenty of guys going in and out of them" T'Challa said

"I agree, the most likely candidate is the mine shaft near your locations…it appears to have the highest number of workers coming in and out of the place" Bentley told the two

"Then it's a good enough place to start as ever, let's go" Jasmine told T'Challa

"Right" T'Challa replied before they made their way to the cave entrance and entered

(In cave complex 1)

The cave was dark, and it was deep, but there was enough light for the two to see

"WHEW, cold in here" Jasmine said

"Alright guys, if one of the Guru's magic items is in the cave, they should be at the far end" Bentley called through the earpieces

"Got it Bentley…let's go" T'Challa told Jasmine as they made their way to the back of the cave system, they had to cross some DEEP cave holes as they used some very large mining machines to do so and get past some flashlight guards but nothing T'Challa and Jasmine couldn't handle, eventually they got to the back of the cave where a single safe was located

"You think this is it" Jasmine asked

"We'll know soon, watch my back" T'Challa replied before he got to work cracking the safe, using the lessons Sly has been teaching him on how to crack safe's

"Damn, these caves are RICH with opals" Jasmine said

"I'll say, could you IMAGINE the value of these things on the black market or on the thief net" T'Challa asked

"Don't tell me you wanna join the rich side" Jasmine asked

"There's things better in this life than riches and fame" T'Challa said

"Too loyal to Sly" Jasmine asked

"If it wasn't for him and Neyla, I would still be fighting in those illegal arena's, it's my full intension to pay back my master for giving a chance at something greater than myself" T'Challa answered before he got the safe open

"And hello beautiful" T'Challa said as he took the Moonstone

"WOW, it's beautiful" Jasmine said looking at the beautiful Moonstone

"Yeah, it…feels almost alive in my hand, but I that's for another time, I think it's time to get it back to its rightful owner" T'Challa said before he noticed something

"Wait a minute" T'Challa said as he saw a small device attached to the Moonstone

"What's that" Jasmine asked

"Huh…these miners are smarter than we thought, they boobytrapped the Moonstone, it looks like a light-sensitive detonator" T'Challa said

"Then if we get it out of here and into the sunlight, it should power down, come on" Jasmine said before the two made a run for daylight, guards tried to stop them after the device alerted them that the Moonstone was being stolen, but the two together managed to get to the end of the cave

"You know…I think this place could use a make-over" Jasmine said

"What" T'Challa muttered before Jasmine was about to try out her new Cheetah cry

"OH" T'Challa shouted as he quickly covered his ears before Jasmine used her sonic device in her choker which sounded like a cry of a cheetah (Obviously) it was so powerful that it made the entire internal of the cave complex to fall to pieces, they even exited the cave

(Outside)

"That thing is LOUD" T'Challa said

"Something tells me I'm gonna LIKE using this thing" Jasmine

"Nice job you two, the walking staff and hunting boomerang should be in the other cave complex located below the stockade" Bentley told the two

"We're on the way" Jasmine replied before the two headed to higher ground and eventually got to the second cave complex entrance

(Inside cave complex 2)

It was darker than DARK in the second cave

"And I thought the criminal underworld of India was dark at night, I can't even see my own hand in front of my face" T'Challa said before Jasmine saw light emanating from the Moonstone and took it out of T'Challa's pocket where he had it placed

"Ah, that's better" Jasmine said

"MUCH better" T'Challa added

"Sorry guys I should have told you that these caves don't have any light sources whatsoever" Bentley called through the earpieces

"It's okay Bentley, the Moonstone is giving off enough illumination to let us see" T'Challa said

"Okay, but just be careful the pits in that mine are DEEP" Bentley said

"Bentley even if we fall, we're cats remember" T'Challa asked

"Yeah, we land on our feet" Jasmine added before they continued deeper into the cave and eventually made it to the safe to which T'Challa got to work on the safe, after a few minutes he got it

"Got it" T'Challa said before he took the walking staff, but they didn't see the boomerang

"Um…where's the" T'Challa was about to ask where the boomerang was only for Jasmine to tap his shoulder, making him look at her and she pointed behind the safe on the wall and there was this HUGE boomerang (Like Sango's boomerang from "Inuyasha")

"THAT'S her boomerang" T'Challa asked

"I think so" Jasmine said as she tried to pick it up but she could hardly lift it up so T'Challa had to take it off her hands and sling it over his shoulder

"She HUNTS with this thing" T'Challa asked

"Shazza must be VERY strong, but I wonder what's so special about a couple of pieces of wood" Jasmine said

"Most outback shamans and hunters make their staves and boomerangs from trees they consider strong or sacred, they believe it tie's them to the Dreamtime realm spirits thus granting them wisdom or strength" T'Challa answered before a BUNCH of noise was heard, and it did not sound good

"ANOTHER BOOBYTRAP, over PIECES OF WOOD, THESE GUYS ARE PARANOID" Jasmine said

"And from the sounds of it, they brought reinforcements" T'Challa said before he drew his combat dagger and Jasmine armed herself with her kinetic enhancing gloves, the two of them fought their way through a whole platoon of guards looking to keep what they had took from the Guru but as mean as these miners were, they were no match for T'Challa and Jasmine's skills

(Outside)

After getting out of the cave and getting back to the safehouse, the Guru and Shazza's items were stashed somewhere safe and Murray was sent out to clear a path for the others to get up to the Guru but first he had to go through one of the cave systems that would lead up to his stockade, once in position Mario contacted him

"Alright, Murray I know you're a little nervous to see your old teacher again, but if we're going to help him, we need to be able to get up to him first, until that happens, only a few of us here can reach him" Mario said

"If it wasn't for the Guru, I wouldn't be the Murray you see standing before you today, but" Murray said

"But, what" Mario asked

"I'm just…NOT so sure if he'll be pleased with my progress as a mystic" Mario answered

"Murray, you were a great help to us back in Venice with your Aboriginal ball form, he'll be proud of you" Mario said

"Yeah, maybe but, I lost my temper and got in a fight with Octavio" Murray said

"To help your FAMILY…Murray, one of the bravest things a person can do is stand up for the people that they love, I'm positive that he will be proud of you for sticking up for your family" Mario said

"Thanks Mario…I needed to hear that" Murray said

"Anytime, Murray, anytime, now according to Bentley, the cave system near you should lead you up to where your master is being held" Mario replied

"Alright then, CAVES AHOY" Murray said before he went inside of the cave system

(Inside the cave)

Once inside, Murray had to move forward by destroying some stalagmites either using throwable rocks or guards that he would encounter, eventually he got to a locked, steel door and Mario contacted him

"Murray, according to Bentley, the door ahead of you is sealed TIGHER than a can of beans" Mario said

"Then I'll just BASH IT IN…what's the point of having fists if you can't smack steel doors with em" Murray asked

"I like your enthusiasm as always Murray but that won't cut it this time, it's too thick even for you…to get through you'll need to overload the pressure of the nearby piston" Mario replied

"YOU WANT ME TO PUNCH IT…I COULD DO THAT" Murray asked

"Not punch, BOUNCE on it, use our ball form to push the piston down, once the pressure builds up the door" Mario explained

"PISTON BEWARE…YOUR ABOUT TO BE BOUNCED" Murray said before he got to work and used the Aboriginal ball to push the piston all the way down and the door opened

"YEEEEEES, EAT IT PISTON SUCKER" Murray said before he moved forward, deeper into he cave, he came more guards that he had to fight off and knock out before coming across another locked door, same as last time he had to use his ball form to smash down a piston but this time he had to smash down THREE pistons at the same time, but he got it done

"ALRIGHT…three against one and I STILL took you piston CHUMPS TO SCHOOL" Murray said before he went through the door only to be stopped by the sight of a GIANT kangaroo guard and it was wearing the Mask of dark earth, Mario then contacted Murray

"By the ancestors" Mario muttered at the size of the guard

"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" Murray said

"I assume the mask makes it's wearer much larger and possibly more aggressive as well" Mario said

"How do you figure" Murray asked

"Because when it comes to "cursed" or "dark" artifacts in movies and stories, that's almost ALWAYS the case" Mario answered

"Oh…fair enough, but whatever, I can take em…my righteous quest to see the Guru won't be stopped by some BIG, STUPID FREAK IN A MASK" Murray said

"Even if you won that fight, Murray you would have nowhere to go" Mario said

"How come" Murray asked

"According to some blueprints Bentley and Aria dug up, the door leading out has an electric deadbolt, the whole area runs off the same circuit, even the drills are linked to it" Mario explained

"THEN I'LL THROW THE CLOW INTO THE DRILLS" Murray said

"Hmm…you know that MIGHT break the circuit…just watch yourself Murray, no telling what else that mask is capable of once it's got someone in its clutches" Mario said

"YES SIR" Murray replied before he challenged the giant guard, like they thought, thanks to the mask, the guard was more aggressive and even stronger, but Murray did as he said he would do and broke the three drills spinning around the area eventually defeating the guard, the mask then removed itself from the guard

"OH YEAH, EAT IT SUCKER" Murray shouted

*You INSOLENT CHILD* A deep, dark voice called to Murray in his mind

"AAAH, WHAT THE" Murray stuttered after hearing the voice

"What is it Murray" Mario called from the earpiece

"I…I just heard someone in my head" Murray answered

*You DARE to strike at me* The voice spoke again, Murray put a couple of things together and figured out it was the MASK that was talking to him telepathically

"WHOOOOOA…you can TALK" Murray asked the mask but then the mask released a sort of psionic burst of energy and threw Murray against the wall before the Mask of dark earth just…RAN

"WHOA, that mask can RUN…mine can't do that" Murray said

"Well now I've seen EVERYTHING, press onto the Guru, Murray he's bound to have answers" Mario called through the earpiece as Murray continued to the Guru's stockade

(Outside)

"OPEN UP" Murray shouted before he busted his way through the exit door and knocked one of the pressure devices down making it possibly for the rest of the gang to get to the Guru, Murray then approached his master and his new student Shazza

"AAAAH, so the student has returned" Guru said

"Master, is this Murray" Shazza asked

"Indeed, Murray, allow me to introduce another Dreamtime student, Shazza" Guru introduced Murray to Shazza

"Um…hi" Shazza greeted

"Hey, master I have returned, the black water now runs CLEAR…I'd like to…I'm asking if…AW MAN, I don't know how to say this" Murray said

"No need, I see you wish to be released from your training" Guru said

"Yes, master I want to break off my training to join back up with my family…we were hoping that you'd come along to" Murray replied

"Come along with you and your friends" Guru asked

"You mean leave his sacred home…to do what" Shazza asked

"Um…that's kind of a long story, but you'd LOVE it in the family, WE HAVE ALL KIDNS OF FUN" Murray said

"From your happiness I feel, I believe you but there is much to be done here" Guru said

"Miners, gyrocopters and a Mask of dark earth, yeah…that's a tall order, but we've pulled off some BIG stuff before, we'll help you I PROMISE" Murray said

"We're still in this stockade" Shazza said

"Not for long, THAT I promise" Murray said

"How are a couple of outsiders gonna take on a WHOLE army of miners" Shazza asked

"The Cooper gang have beaten the impossible before, BELIEVE ME" Murray said

"Then Murray…I hereby release you from your Dreamtime training to help your friends…and it makes me happy to see you again, my friend" Guru replied

"Thanks Guru, I'm happy to see you to" Murray replied before he looked at Shazza

"We'll get you out of here to Shazza" Murray said, she nodded before walking away

"Um, master, what's up with her" Murray asked

"She is a young student and is a little prideful in her capabilities, don't judge her too harshly" Guru replied

"Right master" Murray replied before the master and student separated and Murray set out for another job, meeting at the sight of a GIGANTIC TRUCK where Sly meet up with him

"Murray, you know the plan, we need to motor out to Ayers rock and take care of those mining dingo's, your Guru wants it "purified" if you catch my drift" Sly said

"AWESOME, THIS IS THE BIGGEST TRUCK I'VE EVER GOTTEN TO DRIVE…I COULD CRUSH HOUSES WITH THIS BABY" Murray said before both got inside the truck and started her up

"OH YEAH, LISTEN TO THIS BABY ROAR" Murray said

"Let's ride" Sly said before the duo motored out to Ayers rock

(Ayers rock)

Murray and Sly were coming to Ayers rock but they had a HUGE jump in the way

"Hey Murray, remember those Dukes of Hazzard we used to watch, and we said we always wanted to jump something BIG" Sly asked Murray

"Yeah, why" Murray asked

"Well, this is as CLOSE as were probably gonna get" Sly answered

"YOU MEAN" Murray asked

"Yeah…GO BO, GO" Sly answered before Murray smiled like a crazed daredevil

"Then HANG ON LUKE" Murray replied before he floored the gas peddle and they made a jump that the General Lee and the Duke's would be proud of

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW" Sly and Murray shouted at the top of their lungs as they flew through the air before they landed on the floor of Ayers rock

"OH, HO, HO, WHOA" Sly said as he regained his composure

"THAT WAS AWESOME" Murray shouted

"OH YEAH" Murray and Sly shouted at once as they high-fived each other, Sly then exited the truck and got on top of it, coming into view of four guards protecting the controls of a massive drill at the center of the grounds, Bentley then contacted Sly

"Alright Bentley, what's the next step" Sly asked Bentley

"I have an idea of how we might drive the miners out of Ayers rock, but in order for it to work, we'll need to force the drill on this rig deeper into the ground" Bentley said

"Alright, Bentley, you have my attention though I think these guards ain't gonna be happy with me getting close to those drill controls" Sly said

"Defeat the guards and then force the drill deeper into the ground, then Murray can begin step two the plan" Bentley answered

"Please, this won't take long" Sly replied before hanging up, Sly then got to work and pulled out his bow before shooting an arrow at the first guard, only the arrow separated into two smaller arrows with a steel cable connecting the two and it wrapped around the base of the drill and trapping the first guard

"GAAH" The first guard shouted

"WHAT THE" The second guard was about to shout before Sly threw a Flechette at him, piercing him through his forehead, killing him, next Sly rushed to the third guard and

"Cock shot" Sly said as he kicked the guard in the nuts, forcing the guard down on his knees

"OOOH, RIGHT IN THE SAND BOX" The guard grunted in pain before Sly used both Hidden blades to pierced both sides the guard's neck, killing him, Sly then threw his Pivot blade at the fourth guard and it hit him in the chest where he heart was, killing him, Sly then moved to him, took out the pivot blade and then used it to slit the throat of the first guard that Sly trapped using his cable arrow, Sly then whipped the blood off his Pivot blade before reattaching it to the bottom of his left gauntlet

"Four seconds, flat" Sly said before he moved to the drill controls and made the drill dig deeper

"Alright Bentley, we're digging" Sly called through the earpiece

"Nice work Sly, the sonic vibrations from the drill should be enough to drive out the giant scorpion's native to this area to the surface, Murray if we can capture enough red, soldier scorpions it'll be JUST the thing to drive the miners OUT of Ayers rock" Bentley explained to Murray

"Sounds like a job for the MURRAY…um, one question through…how am I supposed to catch scorpions with a TRUCK" Murray asked Bentley

"Don't worry Murray, your truck is equipped with a super-charged, e-break, which when pulled when moving will cause a forward flip, if times correctly, you can catch the scorpions we need in the mining nets built into the bed of the truck" Bentley explained

"ALRIGHT, I'M ON THE JOB" Murray said, ready to get started

"Not so fast, Murray, your tires will heat up quickly in this BLAZING HOT sand, they wouldn't last forty SECONDS without cooling them down, you can do that by driving into the water or running over scorpions and REMEMBER, we're only interested in the RED SOLDIER scorpions, the blue worker scorpions won't help us" Bentley explained, soon enough Murray got to work on trapping scorpions using the method that Bentley explained to him, he was driving that monster of a monster truck like he's been driving it all his life, but after he caught the first ten out of the twenty they needed, Bentley's instruments were picking up something

"Murray, hold up a minute, my instruments are showing a drop off in underground movement, Sly you'll have to force the drill to dig deeper if we wanna keep the scorpion's coming" Bentley told Sly

"Sorry pal, these controls are already at max depth level" Sly replied

"There are some more controls at the very top of the drill, climb your way up there and force the drill deeper by overriding the depth control system" Bentley explained

"I'm on it" Sly answered before he got climbing, it was a little tricky to get up there, but he eventually got to the controls and made the drill dig deeper

"It's WORKING" Bentley said, but then

"Wait a minute" Bentley said before the water around the drill was drained into the hole the drill was digging

"OOOH, that's not good" Sly muttered

"VERY not good, Murray the water around the drill has been drained BONE DRY, you're gonna have to rely on squishing scorpions from here on out" Bentley explained to Murray

"Not a problem chum, I TOTALLY got the hang of these truck controls" Murray replied before getting back to work on catching scorpions, like Bentley said he would have to squish scorpions to keep his tires cooled off, but Murray prevailed and caught the twenty Red soldier scorpions that the gang needed

"ALRIGHT MURRAY, that's the last of em" Sly called through the earpiece

"Great job, now back that truck of Red soldier scorpions up to the mine entrance and deliver that NOT so friendly payload" Bentley told Murray as he backed the truck up to the mine entrance before releasing the Red soldier scorpions who broke through the entrance and started tearing up the miners inside but one guard came out

"NOOOOO…giant scorpions, RUN FOR IT MATES…OH SHIT" The guard muttered before he was impaled through the chest by one of the soldier scorpions, Sly then paraglided down from the top of the drill and joined Murray I the truck

"Nice driving big guy" Sly told Murray

"Great teamwork the two of you, Ayers rock is CLEAR of miners, the Guru will be pleased" Bentley said before the two made their way back to the miner's camp

(Back at the miner's camp)

Once Sly and Murray got back to the camp and then back to the safehouse, Bentley and T'Challa was sent out to the Guru and Shazza where they were to return their gear and to free the shaman and she-devil

"Now what do we have here" Shazza asked

"Hail O, Guru of the stone…as we have promised, we have purified Ayers rock" Bentley said

"And we're here to return what was stolen" T'Challa said as he and Bentley handed the old koala his staff and moonstone and Tasmanian tiger her large boomerang

"About time" Shazza said

"Well, pardon our tardiness we were busy saving the sacred sights" T'Challa said

"FUNNY" Shazza muttered

"Shazza" Guru said

"Yes master…thank you" Shazza said

"You're welcome" T'Challa said

"You have my eternal thanks, friends" Guru said

"Think nothing of it…but, um…I'm curious…how do you plan on escaping the stockade" Bentley asked

"Very simple, really…I simply use my magics to change my very being into something else" Guru answered

"GADZOOKS…you can TRANSFORM YOURSELF" Bentley asked

"What you never seen someone shapeshift" Shazza asked

"NO…no, I have not" Bentley answered

"Amazing" T'Challa said

"It is not so difficult after much practice" Guru replied

"Why, once you change shape a guard is sure to come inside and investigate" Bentley said

"Some people are VERY easy to trick, these miners aren't the most…perceptive of individuals" Guru replied with a chuckle

"Most people are just stupid" Shazza added

"Fair enough" T'Challa said with a smirk

"Here, these will allow us to talk to each other once you're both out" Bentley told Guru and Shazza as he handed them earpieces to which they stuck them in their right ears

"Bentley here comes a guard, let's scat" T'Challa said before he and Bentley ran form the guard, once Bentley and T'Challa was gone, the Guru then nodded at Shazza who then hide from sight before the Guru used his magics to transform his physical body into that of a pile of sticks disappearing from sight

"WHAT THE…WHERE'D HE GO" The guard asked before he jumped into the stockade, once inside, Guru then turned back to his normal form before he jumped onto the guards back and using his magics took control of his mind

"RAM HIM INTO THE CELL DOOR…FREEDOM AWAITS" Murray shouted in Guru's earpiece as Guru rammed the guard into the cell door, the two got their freedom back

"AAAH, freedom at last" Shazza said

"AWESOMENESS...lets show these miners whose boss, head for the drills, Bentley's found a weak spot" Murray told the Guru and Shazza before they made their way over to the drills near the local bar, with Shazza fending off the guards they came across using her boomerang as a blunt weapon and her impressive strength and Bentley contacted them

"Both your talents are MOST impressive" Bentley told the two

"You are too kind, friend, I heard Murray say you had wound a weakness in the miner's drills" Guru asked

"I have, indeed, as you can see those drills are TEARING up the landscape, however they are fragile at the base, ram a guard into it and the WHOLE thing will come CRASHING down" Bentley explained

"If it aids the people who freed me, it would be my PLEASURE" Guru replied

"Much appreciated, Guru" Bentley replied before hanging up

"Master, what about me" Shazza asked

"Be patient Shazza, you shall have your time" Guru replied before he found suitable "volunteers" for taking the four drills down of course, he had to be careful not to get spotted, he was powerful in the Dreamtime, but he wasn't a physical fighter himself, even if he DID get spotted Shazza protected her master with her boomerang, eventually the Guru too out all four drills

"That's much better" Shazza said

"MASTER, YOU ARE KING…keep it up, Bentley's got another plan to STICK it to these miner's, head for Wave rock" Murray told Guru through the earpiece, Guru and Shazza then made their way over to Wave rock where Bentley contacted him

"THAT GRINDER IS TEARING UP WAVE ROCK" Bentley said

"THIS IS TERRIBLE" Guru said

"I know it's AWEFUL, however, the linked generator is weak, easily destroyed…provided you can jump a few guards over there and TAKE IT OUT" Bentley said

"It should not be too difficult" Guru replied before he got to work and found more guards to mind control and took out the generator for the grinder after hitting it with three guards, the WHOLE thing was blown to pieces

"MASTER, YOU'VE DONE IT, the miner's machines have been silences…THE DREAMTIME SPIRITS REJOICE" Murray shouted through the earpiece, happy to see that the grinder was no longer a problem anymore, after words, Guru and Shazza were then told by Murray to come to the safehouse

(At the safehouse) (Now we're gonna get some background information on T'Challa, Helen, Cammy and Zak, so pay attention class, you might learn something)

Guru and Shazza arrived at the safehouse where they were greeted by Murray

"Master, welcome" Murray greeted his master

"Murray, you have made me VERY proud" Guru said

"Proud" Murray asked

"Yes, you are my student and the Dreamtime spirit have told me about your little…altercation with an enemy of your family…but while you did fight, I can see it was in defense of your family and for that I am not angry…I am PROUD because you followed your heart and protected your loved one's that is a quality that you should NEVER ignore" Guru told Murray who was on the verge of crying

"THANK YOU, MASTER" Murray replied

"HELLO NURSE" Zak muttered upon seeing Shazza's buffed body

"Damn, LOOK at her, she's even beefier as Neyla is" Jasmine whispered to Aria and Cammy

"Yeah" Aria whispered back

"What kind of workout has SHE been doing all her life" Cammy whispered

"You four got a PROBLEM with me being buff" Shazza asked the four, after hearing them whispered comments

"N-NO" Aria said

"Not at all" Jasmine added

"None with me" Cammy added

"Yeah, we're cool, we're cool buff mama" Zak added

"I'm sure they didn't mean it in an insulting manner" Neyla told Shazza

"Hmm" Shazza muttered, crossing her arms

"Kind of touchy isn't she" Zak asked

"She looks tough as nails though" Cammy said

"I like her already" Helen said

"You would" Zak said before Guru came up to the members of the Cooper gang, first was Mario

"Greetings wise one, I am Mario, Sly's uncle" Mario greeted the Guru who judged his spiritual center

"I can see that you have been through just as much as Sly has been…yet you watch after this family almost like a father and is ready with a word of wisdom for any who listens" Guru said

"I try to keep these youngsters in line" Mario said

"Ah, the young and eager, believing they know everything and yet know nothing" Guru said as he and Mario laughed

"Truer words were never said" Mario replied before Guru approached Neyla

"Hello Guru, I'm Neyla, Sly's lover" Neyla introduced herself as Guru judged her

"AAAAH, so much love I feel from you, my girl…the love from the both of you is so STRONG, I must say I have never before seen anything like it before…so pure, it brings joy to this old man's heart" Guru said

"He's my whole life" Neyla said

"And I would have nothing to live for without her in my life" Sly said as he brought Neyla closer to his side

"Neither would I" Neyla added, Guru smiled

"It is a relief to see something so pure can still be found in a world filled with all manner of wickedness, you both give this old man hope" Guru said before he, then approached T'Challa, Zak, Helen and Cammy

"Wise Guru, we've didn't get a chance to be properly introduced, I am T'Challa and this is Zak, we're Sly's apprentices" T'Challa said with a bow of his head

"What's up" Zak greeted Guru

"And I'm Cammy and this is Helen, we're Neyla's apprentices" Cammy added with a wave of her hand

"Hello" Helen greeted Guru

"Fellow teacher's, I see" Guru said as he looked at Sly and Neyla who nodded with a smile, Guru then judged T'Challa

"My boy…you have such a STRONG sense of loyalty to your master, just as my student is to me…why is that" Guru asked

"Well…before I meet him, I was a fighter, the illegal kind of fighter, I either had to fight or starve where I'm from, if not for Sly's kindness, I would still be where I was, just a guy who only used his fists with no future and I intend on paying back said chance with my loyalty" T'Challa replied, Guru smiled before turning to Zak

"Such a care-free spirit I feel in you, why have you joined with these people" Guru asked Zak

"Um…well, you see…I" Zak stuttered, as if it would pain him to talk, Sly then put his hand on the hedgehog's shoulder

"It's alright, Zak" Sly told him, Zak then took a breath

"My mom, she…wasn't exactly the nicest of people, she…would beat me" Zak said

"Why" Shazza asked

"Because my dad left her for another woman after finding out that she was pregnant with me…she would often leave me with my aunt to raise me but after she died when I was ten, it got worse, my mom's an alcoholic she was…SO angry that the guy she was so in love with just…left her and she…SHE" Zak tried to say

"Punished you in his place" Guru asked, Zak nodded

"So, where is she now" Shazza asked

"Dead" Zak answered, slightly shocking her and Guru, Zak sighed before he explained

"When I was fifteen, she overdosed and…goodnight Irene, I had no one left to take care of me, so for then on, I was a street rat just trying to steal enough money to feed myself, it was okay seeing as how I was free of that BITCH…made a couple of friends on the street, runaways and orphans just like me, then I meet Sly and Neyla…even though I tried to steal from Sly, he wasn't mad, they took me in…eventually I started seeing them as the "mom and dad" that I've been missing" Zak explained

"Hey" Neyla said as she walked up to Zak

"Your okay now, that's behind you" Neyla told Zak as she hugged him, Guru then approached Helen

"I see you are a survivor at heart, young lady, like Shazza" Guru said

"And a proud one" Helen said

"Sounds like someone I can get along with" Shazza said

"Before you ask why I'm here, Guru I wasn't really interested in being part of any group before I meet Sly and Neyla" Helen told Guru

"What changed your mind" Shazza asked

"My father was an old soldier, once a proud server of Mother Russia, he raised me in the harsh wilderness, trained me to be a fierce hunter and deadly shot…but he eventually passed away, leaving me with only piece of advice "Survive no matter what" and I was left on my own…I was fine for a time but then I came across the biggest bear I had EVER seen" Helen said before she lifted up the left side of her shirt to show four, HUGE claw scar marks on her left torso side before she put her shirt back down

"He injured me…I would have perished the following night, night time in Russia is as cold as this place is hot in the daytime, Sly and Neyla found me unconscious and loosing blood, they brought me back to their cabin and nursed me back to health, I had nowhere else to go…they took me in" Helen explained

"So, you feel like you owe them" Shazza asked

"They…didn't leave me, they didn't know me yet, they didn't just walk away like anyone else would, why do something like that for complete strangers, my father never did…so, I sort of…stuck around" Helen said

"You needed a home, Helen" Neyla said

"And we've developed a bit of a reputation for taking in people who don't have anyone else or nowhere to go" Sly added, remembering when the group picked up Jasmine and Aria when they didn't have anywhere else to go

"You wished to know the feeling of comradery, yes" Guru asked, Helen nodded

"I can see that you have indeed been treated VERY well" Guru said before he approached Cammy

"And you, why do you follow your master" Guru asked Cammy, she could tell that he wanted her explanation as to why she was with the Cooper family

"Honestly…before they found me I was set for a future, but" Cammy said before stopping

"But" Guru asked

"It…wasn't me…my father and mother are both highly successful, they own a multi-conglomerate empire" Cammy explained

"WHOA, really" Aria asked

"Yep" Cammy muttered

"So, you're like SUPER RICH" Murray asked

"More on the lines of over the top LOADED" Cammy said

"So…why then become Neyla's apprentice" Jasmine asked

"Well, there was a problem…they made their fortune making weapons of war and they wanted me to be the "heiress" to their empire, they told me that then I turned eighteen that I would be "crowned" or something like that, I don't know how but Neyla followed me to my warehouse, a place where I could be myself, I LOVED to tinker and just experiment with tech and...if i wanted to invent something, it would be for a worthy cause, not just for war, she saw me and I guess it remined her of Bentley" Cammy said

"So, we just struck up a conversation and for the next week me and Sly were in Ireland me and Cammy became friends and when she told me her story…I couldn't help but want to get her away from a future she didn't want" Neyla explained

"You wished to be free to choose your OWN path…every living being should have that freedom and if you're choosing to help others like me and Shazza…then you are on the RIGHT path" Guru told Cammy

"Thanks" Cammy replied before Guru turned to Jasmine

"And who might you be" Guru asked

"Jasmine, sir a pleasure to meet you" Jasmine greeted the Guru as he judged her as well

"You are the daughter of a man that Sly…once took the life of, how came you to work with him, my dear" Guru asked

"Rajan was NEVER a father to me, he just left my mother after he found out she was pregnant, she raised a child all on her own, he knew and he did NOTHING to support us he didn't even come to her FUNERAL, but the Cooper gang…THIS feels like family, in fact I kind of see Mario as the father I always wanted" Jasmine said, Mario couldn't help but smile

"So, you have formed a NEW family with these people, this is good, family is MORE than blood ties to another person, family is who you love and cherish, my dear" Guru replied before walking up to Aria

"My name is Aria, sir, it's a real honor to meet a mystic of the Dreamtime" Aria said

"The pleasure is mine, dear…I can see that like Jasmine, you are also related to someone who has done Sly wrong, but…yours still lives…why is this" Guru asked

"Because I asked him not to kill my aunt" Aria answered

"After ALL your aunt did to you" Guru asked

"Cruel she is but…she's still the ONLY relative I have left in the world, Mario told me once that you should always love your family no matter what…you might not like or even HATE what they do, but you should always love the person, besides last time I talked to my aunt she has a job as a real estate agent, she's…slowly warming up to me" Aria explained

"Mario is indeed wise" Guru said

"I try to be, but these here young folks CERTAINLY don't make it easy for me" Mario said, the group shared a good laugh

"Well, what do you think master…will you join us" Murray asked Guru, he thought about it before turning to Sly

"Sly Cooper…I would be HONORED to join your group" Guru said

"WHAT" Shazza asked

"These people have GOOD hearts…Sly if I may ask something of you" Guru asked

"Of course, ask away" Sly replied

"If I am to join, I have a few…conditions" Guru said

"Name them" Sly answered

"Before I join, I wish for your further aid in driving off the miners disgracing my homeland, it would put both my mind and heart at ease to know that my homeland is safe before I leave it" Guru answered

"I believe that can be arranged" Sly answered

"The Mask of dark earth…to make sure that NO ONE will use its evil magic again…we MUST destroy it" Guru answered

"Destroyed…is that even possible master" Shazza asked

"Some of the past shaman before me have tried…but so far none have succeeded, I believe that with the help of our new friends, it MIGHT be possible" Guru explained

"Well…if your sure about this" Shazza said

"My last condition…I would like Shazza to come with us" Guru said

"M-ME" Shazza asked

"HER" Jasmine, Aria, T'Challa, Cammy, Helen, Zak and Bentley asked at once

"M-master, why" Shazza asked

"Yes, Shazza is strong of both mind and body and a most EXCELLENT hunter that and it would gladden my heart to see BOTH of my students together with me…plus I can keep a watchful eye on them both" Guru said with a chuckle

"Well…what can she do" Bentley asked

"I've been hunting in the Australian outback since I was old enough to hold a boomerang, I know how to track with the best of them and I kept master safe from those miners that tried to attack him…I can handle myself in a fight" Shazza said

"She is the daughter of an Aboriginal chieftain and an old friend of mine, there is strength in her, give her a chance" Guru said, vouching for his pupil

"This is your call nephew" Mario told Sly

"Whatever you decide" Neyla added, Sly thought about it for a minute before he answered

"Guru…you got a deal" Sly said as the two shook hands

"Shazza, I want you to stay with them and help them in anyway you can" Guru told Shazza

"What about you, master" Shazza asked

"I feel weary, I must rest back at my hut…do what you can for these people, Shazza" Guru said

"As you wish master, rest well" Shazza said before the Guru returned to his cliff hut, as for the rest of the day, while Bentley planned the team's next step, Sly, Mario, T'Challa, Helen and Shazza went out hunting for food and water, the four saw Shazza's hunting prowess for themselves and even Mario was incredibly impressed at her skills as a huntress especially since they saw her break a HUGE rock in half with a single fling of her boomerang, they thought "Yeah, she'll fit in with the gang nicely" after eating they got a good night's rest

(The next day)

Third day of the Australian came and after breakfast Bentley laid down his plan

(Slideshow)

"Okay, so the Guru has agreed to join our efforts on the Assassin's vault job, on the conditions that we clear out the miners from his homeland and somehow find a way to destroy the Mask of dark earth, it's a tall order but, I'm more than confident that we're up for the challenge, first off, we'll enlist the aid of some local wildlife to thin out the miners ranks, Shazza I want you and Cammy to work alongside Murray for his job which it to feed our foes to a local, giant crocodile, with some luck he'll come to LOVE the taste of miners and start chomping down on them left and right, second, Neyla I want you, Murray, Shazza, Helen and T'Challa will head to a local cave system and using some mining equipment mine for radioactive material deep beneath the dried lake bed, with that substance in hand, I believe I can come up with something that'll take care of our Mask of dark earth problem and finally we'll hit these guys where they live or at least…relax, this one will take EVERY single one of us including Shazza, working together to pull it off, if we can flush them out of this local lemonade bar it'll be a CRIPPLING blow to their moral, they'll be BEGGING to go home, alright, let's get it done people"

(End of slideshow)

After the slideshow, Murray, Cammy and Shazza were sent out first and near the safehouse came the giant crocodile

"That…is a BIG croc" Cammy said

"Biggest croc around here, he's mean to, can't keep himself a mate" Shazza said

"Huh" Cammy replied

"Because he's so aggressive that no female crocodile around here can stand it for long" Shazza explained

"Poor fella" Cammy replied

"Try calling him poor when he tries to bite your head off" Shazza replied, the three were contacted by Bentley

"Alright, you three it's time we subtracted a few miners from this equation" Bentley said

"You know I don't understand that math talk" Murray said

"Um, we need to um "put the smackdown" on these "bad dudes" um…for JUSTICE" Bentley replied

"What" Shazza asked Cammy

"Just go along with it" Cammy answered

"RIGHTEOUS, I'm the man for the job" Murray answered

"Good, the Guru will start luring miners to a position near this giant crocodile, your job Murray is to throw the miners into the mouth of the monstrous reptile" Bentley explained

"Teach him to like eating miners, huh" Murray asked

"That's a SINISTER plan" Shazza said

"You wanna get the miners out of here, don't you" Bentley asked

"Don't get me wrong, I wasn't judging, I was just saying it was sinister…I kind of like it, but while Murray does that, what about me and Cammy" Shazza asked

"You and Cammy will need to protect Murray while he does his thing, likely there will be MANY guards coming Murray's way, so while he feeds them to the crocodile, you two will need to watch his back while he does his thing" Bentley explained

"Will do" Shazza answered

"On it" Cammy said before she activated her Microbot mech suit

"With a little luck, the oversized reptile will be an INVALUABLE asset in our efforts to drive out the miners and if we're REALLY lucky, it might even take care of our Mask of dark earth problem…it's been spotted prowling near the safehouse" Bentley said

"RODGER, IT'S FEEDING TIME" Murray replied, soon enough the Guru came running near Murray's position with miners on his tail

"MURRAY, SHAZZA, HERE THEY COME" Guru shouted

"INCOMING" Murray shouted before he, Cammy and Shazza jumped into action, like Bentley said, Murray had to feed the guards to the giant crocodile and Shazza and Cammy had to protect Murray as he fed the large animal it's meal (Yeah, this mission is…REALLY dark for such a kid friendly series) it gobbled down each miner in a SINGLE gulp, after feeding five kangaroo guards and five dingo guards to the monstrous reptile, Bentley called over the earpieces

"Great job, Murray now fed the crocodile ONE LAST THING…a BIG, TASTY flashlight guard" Bentley told Murray

"GOT IT" Murray replied before he went to pick up a flashlight guard, after getting his hands on the guard, he fed it to the crocodile before the beast burped loudly

"UGH" Cammy muttered

"Gross" Shazza said

"NICE ONE" Murray said

"TAKE COVER YOU GUYS, here comes a guard wearing the Mask of dark earth, let's see if your hard work with this croc pays off" Bentley said over the earpieces before Murray, Cammy and Shazza took cover, the guard wearing the Mask of dark earth approached before the crocodile LEAPT out of the water to eat the flashlight guard, but the mask survived

*Yet again you get in my way* The mask spoke telepathically with Murray, Cammy and Shazza

"Um, WHAT now" Cammy asked

"The…the mask it…TALKS" Shazza said in shock

*Why must you INSIST on getting in my WAY" The mask asked the three

"And I'll KEEP getting in your way, you're messing with the COOPER gang here" Murray told the mask

"Who are you talking to Murray" Bentley asked

"It's the mask, it can TALK" Murray replied

"But it has no mouth" Bentley replied

"NOT with a mouth, with its MIND" Murray replied

"WHAT" Bentley asked before the mask got away

*YOU SHALL PAY FOR THIS* The mask shouted as it "ran"

"TARNATION, THAT MASK KEEPS GETTING AWAY…since when do MASKS get away" Bentley asked

"Did that…REALLY just happen" Shazza asked

"Why are you so shocked, you've seen Guru shapeshift before, right" Murray asked

"I have but…a MASK that can TALK" Shazza asked

"Yeah, that's freaky as HELL" Cammy added

"Maybe but I've seen freaky stuff even BEFORE meeting the Guru" Murray said before Cammy went back to the safehouse while he and Shazza had another job to do, so they met up with Neyla and T'Challa near the cave leading to the oil fields and there they meet up with Helen

"That was some good work with the croc, Murray" Neyla told Murray

"Too bad we didn't get the mask" Murray said

"Patience Murray, we'll get it but for now, we'll need to head out to the oil fields, they should be right through this cave here" T'Challa said

"Well, at least Bentley said that there would be HEAVY machinery and DESTRUCTION going down" Murray said

"I knew that would make you feel better" Neyla said

"Y-E-S, YEAH" Murray shouted

"Is he for real" Shazza asked Helen

"Murray is very…passionate" Helen said

"I can see that" Shazza said

"Bentley said we're going after radioactive oil, right" Helen asked Murray

"I don't know…I can never pay attention during those slideshows…don't tell Bentley or Aria" Murray said, the others chuckled

"Wouldn't dream of it, big guy" T'Challa replied as he patted Murray on the back before the five went to the oil fields

(In the oil fields)

The five came to the oil fields where they came to a LARGE claw machine

"Oh YEAH, so may tools of destruction" Murray said

"Seriously…what a spread" T'Challa said

"What have these miners DONE to this place" Shazza said, before Bentley called via the earpieces

"Okay, you guys, step one is to protect Murray while he gets all six oil wells pumping" Bentley said

"I think we can handle that" Neyla said

"I'm glad you think so…Neyla, T'Challa and Shazza while you three protect Murray from the ground, Cammy given your knowledge of machines I need you to operate the machine near you, the "Super claw ten thousand" you need to cover the others with it, just in case any miners show up" Bentley explained before Cammy took control over the Super claw 10,000

"Just what a girl ALWAYS wants, a giant, metal claw" Neyla said

"You got my back, guys" Murray asked the others

"Always buddy" Neyla answered with a wink

"You can count on us, just work your muscle Hercules" T'Challa replied

"Helen, why don't you take position on top of the Super claw's control box, get a sniper perch" Neyla said, Helen then situated herself on top of the control box with her rifle ready

"Ready, Neyla" Helen said

"Let's just get to clobbering these miners, I want some payback for what they did here" Shazza said, ready to protect Murray

"MINERS ARE ON THE WAY, BE READY" Helen called out

"Get busy Murray, we've got your back" Neyla called before the miners started coming to deal with the intruders, Murray then started pumping for oil, Neyla used the Super claw 10,000 to take out the guards either by dropping TNT barrels on them or tossing them into an electrical fence that surrounded the six oil wells while T'Challa and Shazza covered Murray's back on the ground along with Helen using her world-class sniper skills to take out guards from a distance, it was about seven minutes later before the first three of the six oil wells were spewing oil

"Alright guys, now get to the other side of the oil field and continue there, pick up the others, Neyla and get moving" Bentley said

"On it" Neyla said before she picked up Murray with the claw as Shazza and T'Challa gripped onto the Super claw 10,000 and Helen held on as Neyla moved the machine to the other oil field

"HURRY GUYS BEFORE THE GUARDS CATCH UP TO YOU" Bentley called

"We're going as FAST as this thing can go Bentley, keep your shell on" Neyla called before they made it to the other side of the oil field before Murray, T'Challa and Shazza disembarked the claw

"Get to it Murray" Shazza said

"CHECK OUT THESE GUNS, THIS PUMPING HAS GOT ME PUMPED" Murray said before he got to work and T'Challa, Shazza, Helen and Neyla continued to protect Murray as he got the last three oil wells pumping

"THAT'S IT" Neyla shouted

"Bentley, all six wells are flowing" T'Challa called through the earpiece

"Okay, next step, Neyla, get em to the next oil field" Bentley explained

"Got it, GET ON GUYS" Neyla called as the others mounted up again before Neyla took them to the next oil field and dropped them off

"So, now what, Bentley" Shazza asked through her earpiece

"Alright, listen up Neyla, you need to pick up one of the rocks from the nearby rubble then drop it onto that catapult so Murray can LAUNCH them at the oil wells, they'll create sparks on impact" Bentley explained

"Got it" Neyla said

"T'Challa, Shazza, Helen cover them while they work" Bentley said through the earpieces

"Right" Helen said

"On it big-brain" T'Challa replied before Murray and Cammy worked together to get all six oil wells burning while Helen, T'Challa and Shazza protected them from incoming guards, after getting all six burning, their job was done, and the radioactive material was gushing from the drill

"Now for phase three guys, with the oil wells alight, the pressure differential should draw the deep uranium enriched, glowing oil to the surface" Bentley said

"Uranium, the same stuff they make NUCLEAR BOMBS out of" T'Challa asked

"Yep" Neyla said

"That's BAD right" Shazza asked

"VERY" Helen answered

"Bentley are you SURE this stuff isn't gonna blow us to kingdom come" T'Challa asked

"Positive…BUT" Bentley said

"But, WHAT" Helen asked

"I would advise EXTREME caution to take a small sample of the" Bentley was about to say before

"GUYS, GUYS, LOOK AT ME, I'M GLOWING, WOOO" Murray shouted as the two saw Murray literally playing in the uranium, T'Challa, Helen and Shazza couldn't help but face-palm themselves

"Oh, good GOD" Shazza grunted at Murray's childhood antics

"For the love of Mother Russia" Helen muttered

"That's Murray for ya" Neyla said

"I said he was passionate I didn't say he acted like a professional all the time" T'Challa said

"Um…never mind…just…get the sample and get out of there" Bentley said, after getting the uranium sample, the five left the oil fields

(Outside)

Once the five left, Sly, Jasmine, Bentley, Aria, Zak, Cammy and even Mario already headed out to the lemonade bar where Murray, Neyla, Shazza and T'Challa meet up with them (One of my top 3 favorite missions in "Sly 3")

"Okay everyone…look tough and GET angry, it's time to intimidate the locals" Sly said

"About time we get to some serious action" Shazza said

"I'm with her on this one, time to crack a few skulls" Zak said

"I'm not sure I can DO this…how do you guys get angry" Bentley asked

"I'm with Bentley, I've never been the…PHYSICAL type of person" Aria said

"Find the match deep inside yourself…LIGHT IT…and let the fire BURN UP YOUR GUTS AND BOIL YOUR BLOOD" Murray shouted

"That's a…unique way of putting it, Murray" Cammy said

"Um, yeah, I practically do the same thing" Sly said

"Maybe we should just stick them with one of Sly's rage darts" Jasmine said

"If that makes em fighter's then I'm all for it" Shazza said

"I would go for it IF people who Sly uses them on don't DIE after the effects wear off" Bentley said

"Oh…then, just ignore what I just said" Shazza said

"Aria…normally I wouldn't bring her up but…your related to the Contessa who is a fierce opponent…you have her blood, dig deep into yourself" Mario told Aria

"How do you even know I'm a fighter" Aria asked

"Anyone can be a fighter…they just need a reason to fight" Mario said, Aria then nodded as she put on a serious face after taking a breath

"OKAY" Aria said

"Speaking of fighting, sir, with all due respect are you SURE you can still…pull it off" T'Challa asked Mario, Mario then pulled out Kukri blade

"WHOA" Shazza said at the sudden appearance of the Kukri blade

"I maybe a little long in the tooth, but I can still WHOOP the ass of these uneducated rock-heads" Mario said, some of the others laughed or chuckled

"I like that" Shazza said, Helen nodded in agreement

"Well damn" T'Challa added

"Word" Zak added

"I'm convinced" Cammy added

"Look our goal is to drive away these miners and we'll do WHATEVER it takes" Sly said before they went in

(In the lemonade bar)

As Sly, Neyla, Murray, Bentley, Jasmine, Aria, Mario, T'Challa, Helen, Zak, Cammy and Shazza entered the lemonade bar, a fireplace was going, a large ham was being cooked and rotated on a spit, the room was dominated by a small army of dingoes all while merry music was playing on a nearby radio, Sly then threw a Flechette at the radio and the music, the whole room fell silent

"HEY, WHAT THE HELL" A Dingo yelled, Sly then took off his mask and hood

"LISTEN UP SHIT STAINS…TIME TO CLEAR OUT, from now on this bar is Cooper gang TURF" Sly said, then three dingoes walked up to the Cooper gang

"OH, HO, HO, tough talk WAGGA, but you ain't getting NO respect with us" The dingo said before he spotted Mario's knife

"Besides, this place ain't for OLD men" The dingo said before he took out his knife and throw it at a local bullseye that the dingo's practice on and it almost dead center, the other guards chuckled, Mario then stepped out

"Your young…stupid…uneducated" Mario said before he caught a whiff of the miner's smell

"WHEW…you smell like you haven't BATHED in a month and your skills are" Mario was about to say before he threw his knife at the bullseye and hit a PERFECT bullseye, dead on, the guards stared with mouths slightly open

"LACKING…to say the least" Mario said as the guards own knife fell to the floor

"Like I said, this here is Cooper gang turf now, so you boys got two choices either clear out here now or we're gonna throw you ALL…an ice-cold can of WHOOP ASS" Sly said

"And I'LL be the one doing the SERVING" Murray added popping his knuckles

"And like I SAID BEFORE…NO…RESPECT, we here are known around these parts for our drinking skills and THIS just happens to BE a lemonade BAR" The dingo said

"Sly, I'm not so sure this is a good idea" Bentley muttered

"If a lemonade drinking contest is what you had in mind, then me and my boys will take on the BEST lemonade drinkers that YOU GOT" Sly said before he saw the other two dingo's getting a little TOO close with Neyla, Jasmine, Cammy, Helen and Shazza

"Hey, pretty, pretties" One of the dingoes said

"Yeah, come a little closer" The other said as he tried to touch Neyla, but she slapped it away

"BACK OFF, I'm spoken for" Neyla said with a threatening voice as Jasmine growled

"Sorry guys, I prefer guys who AREN'T dumb as mud" Cammy said

"Touch me…and I will BREAK you" Helen said (Little node to the Rocky antagonist Ivan Drago there)

"You even so much as THINK about touching me and you'll lose more than a hand" Shazza said, Sly, T'Challa, Zak, Murray and T'Challa then stepped in front of the girls

"If I were you I would back up" Zak said

"They're with US" T'Challa said

"OOOH, FEISTY ladies, I LIKE IT" One of the dingo's said

"Tell you what raccoon, we'll take your challenge…but with a little…side wager, you win we'll clear out of here…but if WE WIN" The dingo said as the other dingo's started licking their chops eyeing the girls, it had been a long time since they had gotten their hands on or even SEEN a couple of ladies

"The girls belong to US and we ain't talking about that UGLY, spider lady" The dingo said

"UGLY" Aria growled

"NOBODY insults my people while they stand in front of me" Sly said

"I just DID, these girls need REAL men to wrap they're arms around" The dingo said

"And they would be WHERE exactly…I don't SEE anyone like that around here" Jasmine said

"Yeah, they sure ain't you punks" Shazza added

"Not even men is what I call them" Helen added, making the guards growl a little

"So, what's it gonna be, raccoon we…got ourselves a DEAL" The dingo asked, Sly was in full on protective mode and he was about to say something when

"You're on" Neyla said

"WHAT" Shazza asked as Sly looked at Neyla, the looks on her face told Sly that she had the utmost confidence in him, Sly then turned to the dingo

"FINE" Sly said

"Fair DEAL…I hope they're as JUICY as they look" The dingo said

"OH, the THINGS I'm gonna do to you once I GET you on the floor, cheetah" One of the dingo's said to Jasmine

"Fuck them, I'm gonna see if rabbits really DO reproduce as fast as they say they do" Another dingo said

"I am surprised that you can even pronounce reproduce, tiny brain" Helen said

"Yeah, I wouldn't hold that FOUL breath if I were you" Jasmine said

"Are you CRAZY, what if they lose" Shazza whispered to Neyla

"When it comes to odds this big…NEVER bet against my handsome raccoon" Neyla whispered back

"You BETTER be right, because if I'm forced to sleep with even ONE of THOSE idiots, you and me are gonna have WORDS" Shazza muttered back

"Relax girl, trust us" Neyla whispered back

"Let's just get this over with" T'Challa said before Sly, Murray, T'Challa and Bentley were sat down at a lemonade table with four dingo's on opposite sides of them

"READY…STEADY…GO" Jasmine called before the drinking contest was on, first up was Sly who downed his glass in less than 30 seconds, next was Murray, he finished his in 20 seconds, T'Challa was next and he got his done in 29 seconds as for Bentley he struggled a bit, but he swallowed hard and bucked down eventually getting it done and they won, Bentley then let out a loud burp

"WE WIN" Bentley said with a groggily voice

"YEAH" T'Challa said

"OWNED BITCHES, OOOOOOWNED" Zak shouted

"Nicely done" Mario added

"NO WAY" One of the dingo's shouted

"OOOOH, SO sorry, but…only my raccoon can handle THIS much sexiness" Neyla told the dingo as she stood behind Sly and wrapped her arms around his neck

"Looks like you boys will have to go without girls for a lot longer than you thought" Helen told the miners

"I'll be damned, Neyla was right" Shazza said

"Sly's a good person to have in your corner" Jasmine told Shazza

"Hmm…maybe" Shazza muttered

"You know the deal…GET lost" Sly told the dingo's

"Yeah, and don't let the door hit you on the way out" Murray said

"WHY…THAT'S CHEATING" The dingo said

"Cheated, we WON fair and square" Jasmine said

"Why the turtle SPILLED more than he drank…around here there's only ONE thing we do with cheaters, TURN ON THE FENCE BRUCE…it's time we gave these cheaters a GAAH" The Dingo shouted before T'Challa quickly whipped out his sword and straight up DECAPITATED the guard, killing him instantly in less than time it took to blink an eye, then Sly thrusted his left, Hidden blade through the neck of the dingo who called Aria ugly

"WHOA" Some of the dingo's said in shock at the sudden movement of the student and master

"I told you…NOBODY…insults my crew…in FRONT of me" Sly said before he pulled his Hidden blade back, the dingo's stared at the Cooper gang

"Are we gonna stand around all day…or are we gonna fight" Mario asked

"Yeah, let's KICK SOME ASS" Zak said

(Motley Crue-Kickstart my heart plays, skip to 37 seconds in the song)

"WHY YOU, KICK THEIR ASSES" Another dingo shouted before a LARGE bar brawl broke out, fists, feet, weapons and shots started flying ALL OVER the place, Bentley used these extendable arms from the center of his chair's wheels to attack the dingo's, he even threw in some sleeping darts and explosions he had on hand

"This is TENSE, SLY YOU OKAY" Bentley called out as Sly as the raccoon impaled one of the dingo's feet with his Pivot blade making him yell in pain before Sly uppercut punched the guard in the face, knocking him out

"Right as rain" Sly answered before he threw three Flechette's hitting one guard in the heart, one in the throat and the third in the forehead before he drew his bow and fired a choke arrow and fired at four guards which exploded and stunned the four guards before, Sly then equipped his brass knuckles before running towards the guards and tossed two Flechette's at the guards on the left and right side of the first guard, killing them before he uppercutted the guard in front of him with his right fist before hitting the guard behind him with a right cross with his left hand before more guards came, he then drew his Rapier before a guard tried a wild haymaker only for Sly to duck and spin to the left, he used his left leg to sweet the guard on his back before he stabbed the guard through the chest with his Rapier held in a reverse grip, another then came at him, Sly quickly drew his dagger out of the Rapier's handle as the guard tried using his whip on Sly but he swiped his left arm to the left pushing the guards attacking arm out of the way before he quickly swiped his left arm back right and slit the guards neck with his dagger, the next guard came at him but Sly spun to his left again with the dagger held upside down and his Rapier held right side up again as he impaled both bladed weapons in the guards back before he let him drop to the ground

"They just keep COMING" Sly said as he threw down a smoke bomb to get away from the five guards charging at him

"Huh…where'd he GO" One of the guards asked as Sly vanished from sight only for T'Challa came out of the smoke and used his martial arts to take down the guards with his Katana he sliced through all five of them in mere seconds before the five guards fell apart…literally

"They keep getting up, we keep KNOCKING em down" T'Challa said before he felt something whizz past him, it was Shazza's large boomerang, and it knocked out ten guards at once as the weapon turned in mid-air in an arcing pattern before returning to Shazza who was behind T'Challa

"You missed a couple" Shazza said before she backhanded a guard SO hard that his teeth were knocked out and fell on the floor

"Don't get cocky" T'Challa said before he fired Senbon's at two guards behind her, taking them out with a couple of shots to their throats, another guard came at Shazza

"BITCH" The guard growled before Shazza swung her boomerang under his legs to make him fall on his belly before she wound up and

"FOUR" Shazza shouted before she used her boomerang like a golf club and hit the guard in the head, knocking out cold

"There's more to come" T'Challa said before Shazza ran past him and tackled a guard to the ground and punched him with first her left then her right fist before she finished with a third his with his hands put together before a guard tried to whip her but she caught it and pulled the guard towards her before she landed a HARD uppercut to his jaw sending him flying into the spinning drills where he got grounded up like fresh meat

"THAT…was for my master" Shazza said

"COME GET SOME" Zak shouted as he was failing his Nun-chuck's all OVER the place whacking guard after guard who tried to get their hands on him, using Capoeira movements

"YOU WANT SOME OF THIS BOYS, COME AND GET IT" Zak shouted before a big flashlight guard came charging in

"Uh-oh" Zak muttered before he ran to the bar with the flashlight guard on his tail, he then jumped up on the bar

"COME HERE YOU LITTLE SHIT" The flashlight guard shouted before he dove to try and catch the hedgehog only for Zak to do a BIG backflip

"I'M FLIPPING OUT" Zak shouted before he landed on the flashlight guards back before taking off his brown neck scarf and covering the guards eyes

"YE-HAW, RIDE EM COWBOY" Zak yelled as the flashlight guard thrashed, trying to get Zak off his back

"GET THIS LITTLE SHIT-STAIN OFF ME" The flashlight guard shouted as he kept on thrashing and accidentally knocking out many guards who tried to get Zak off his back

"GITTY UP BOY" Zak shouted as he whacked the flashlight guards butt with one of his chucks before the flashlight guard charged forward

"WAIT, WATCH OUT, STOP" The guards that the flashlight guard plowed through before Zak backflipped off the guard and he ran SQUARE into a wall, breaking his neck and killing the guy

"WHEW, BABY WHAT A RIDE" Zak said before he came face to face with six guards looking to gang up on him

"Um…help" Zak said

"Your gonna need it kid" One of the guards said before a bang was heard and suddenly all six guards fell down, it was Helen who shot ALL of them with ONE bullet, hitting all of them with a PERFECT headshot each with her Desert eagle

"Have I told you how glad I am to have you on this here team" Zak asked Helen before she reached to a guard behind her by impaling him through the bottom of his head with her combat dagger

"You could stand to mention it more" Helen said

"HOW YA HOLDING UP CAMMY" Zak called out as Cammy was fending off several guards at once thanks to her Microbat suits many hands and battle gauntlets she also manifested elbow rockets for increased punching power and even spikes protruding from each knuckle only adding extra layers of damage to the punches she was landing on the guards where it REALLY hurt in the face and the balls, she even used a new feature in her Microbot mech which enables her to hover a few feet off the ground in order to "skate" on the ground, moving at great speeds

"Are you kidding, THIS…is AWESOME" Cammy replied before a few guards managed to jump on top of her mech

"WE GOT HER" One of the dingo's shouted

"GET HER OUT OF THAT DUMBASS SUIT, I WANNA SEE WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE UNDER IT" Another dingo said

"DUMBASS" Cammy said before her WHOLE mech radiated immense amounts of electricity

"GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA-GA" The dingo's who were on top of Cammy shouted as they were electrocuted forcing them off before Cammy grabbed the guard who called her suit dumb-ass

"Listen here, if you wanna talk dumbass, take a look in the MIRROR, do you have ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO MAKE THIS SUIT" Cammy asked

"Um…no" The guard who insulted her suit said in a high-pitched voice before Cammy reeled one of her suits fists back to hit him

"MERCY" The guard shouted before Cammy uppercut the guard SO HARD that he literally was knocked out of his boots and even his shorts, even going through the ceiling of the bar leaving a hole

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" The guard shouted as he flew through the air, flying several feet before he fell into the water

"OUCH" The guard shouted upon impact, meanwhile back in the bar all the guards and the Cooper gang saw what Cammy did and were…honestly, a little terrified as well as amazed

"WHOA" T'Challa muttered

"Damn girl" Jasmine said

"Yeah, WICKED uppercut, Cammy" Zak said before the fight continued on

"Indeed, VERY impressive" Helen added before a guard managed to get his arms around Helen

"YOUR MINE NOW BITCH" The guard said before Helen stomped on his foot, making him let go before she elbowed him in the crotch staggering him even more before performing a hip toss, throwing him on the ground she then cartwheeled over the guard

"You aren't man enough to handle me" Helen said before she shot the guard in the head point blank with her Desert eagle, killing him before more guards charged at her, seven of them, she quickly did a tactical reload which took no more than 1 second before she took aim with her Desert eagle and hit all seven of the charging guards one after the other with perfect headshots, not missing a single hit and showing off some SERIOUS John Wicke marksmanship

"MURRAY, HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP" Helen called to Murray as he was knocking out and tossing around guards left and right with mighty swings of his fists, Murray then picked up a guard before performing and wrestler slam, slamming the guard on a table, breaking the thing in half

"FEELING STRONG" Murray said before he knocked out a guard and then lifted him over his head

"BEHOLD" Murray shouted before he tossed the guard into three guards that became a dogpile

"MY POWERS OF DESTRUCTION, CANNONBALL" Murray shouted before he Thunder flopped on the four guards

"NOOOOOOOOOO" The three guards shouted before Murray flopped on them and knocked out the three under his weight, two more guards tried to charge him at once, but Murray grabbed them by their midsections and lifted both guards off the ground

"Here…have a SEAT FELLA'S" Murray shouted before he slammed both guards down on stools at the bar, a third guard then tried rushing him, but Murray grabbed him and lifted him above his head

"I saw this one…ON WRESTLING, YAAAAAAAAAAH" Murray shouted before he performed a Samoan drop before getting back to his feet

"OOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAH" Murray shouted like Samoan Joe before he spotted five guards coming at him in a formation that resembled bowling pines

"Oh YEAH" Murray said before he used his Aboriginal ball form to curl into a ball and charged forward at them, RAMMING into all five guards and he could almost swear…he heard the sound of bowling ball colliding with bowling pines

"How's THAT strike you fella's out, THIS IS AWESOME, THE COOPER GANG FIGHTING TOGETHER, HOW YA DOING NEYLA" Murray shouted before he uppercut a guard so hard that his jaw was dislocated and he was sent straight up into th ceiling where he was left hanging, meanwhile Neyla was using her whip to grapple and toss around guards who tried to get their hands on her and used her training in the martial arts from Sly to deal with the guards at close range, a guard came at her only for her to duck his attack, spin to the left and raise her right leg up before she kicked the guard in the back of the head so HARD that his head collided with a table and split it in half

"Please, this is a cake-walk" Neyla answered

"COME HERE SWEETIE" One of the guards said as he tried to grab Neyla

"Oh YEAH" Neyla muttered as he tried to grab her only for Neyla to perform a Sambo like grappling move as she glided and swung around the guard while holding onto the guards body before she ended up putting him in a headlock between her legs, she then threw a couple of throwing needles at two more guards, hitting them in the throats and then putting enough pressure on the guard she had in her leg-lock to knock him out before she flipped back to her feet

"WHOA, where did you learn that" Sly asked Neyla as he held a guard in a headlock in his left arm crook

"From Mario, he said your mom favorited the Sambo martial art style…what too much" Neyla asked before she cracked her whip at a guard's face, hitting him in the eyes

"GAAAAH, YOU BITCH" The guard shouted before Sly threw two Flechette's at the guard which pierced him in the eyes, he then backed up into the fireplace where he burnt to which he shouted in yelled in pain

"NO ONE…calls my tigress that and that Sambo move, that wasn't too much…I think mom would approve" Sly said before he punched the face of the guard he was holding in his left arm and let him fall to the ground before the two went back to fighting the guard's

"JASMINE, HOW YOU DOING" Neyla asked as Jasmine was using her boots to shoot out fires with each kick and her kinetic boosting gloves to take out the guards and using her natural acrobatic prowess she was doing extremely well

"Despite the SMELL of these guys burning my nose" Jasmine said before she blocked an attack from one of the guards before, she let lose her Cheetah cry and sent him and four more guards that were closing in flying out of the entrance to the bar

"I'm ENJOYING MYSELF" Jasmine said before she performed a spinning, jumping motion only for the tips of her boots extended out an inch-long, steel blade tip to which she slit the throats of two guard's as she was doing her side, jumping, spinning motion

"Whoa…when did you add that to your boots" Neyla asked Jasmine as she whacked a charging guard away with a spinning, roundhouse

"What's a girl without her accessories" She asked before

"DUCK, JAZ, COMIN IN HOT" Zak shouted as blitzed in on his rocket-powered skateboard which he then collides the underside of the board to the FACE sending him flying back

"What would you be without someone watching your tail" Zak asked

"Thanks…as for the blade, I asked Bentley for it, you like Neyla" Jasmine added

"LOVE it" Neyla answered before a guard came out from behind the bar looking to attack her but then Shazza grabbed the kangaroo guards tail and WHIPPED him back so hard he went CRASHING into a wall snapping the neck on impact

"Speaking of watching your tail, you need to watch yours Neyla" Shazza said

"Thanks for that" Neyla told Shazza before Shazza whipped out her boomerang at a guard behind her and whacked him in the head so hard than he did a backflip

"My pleasure" Shazza replied

"MARIO, ARIA, HOW YOU TWO DOING" Neyla called as Mario was standing back-to-back with Aria as they stood their grounds together with each other, Mario's experience WELL outweighed his age and he easily dispatched the guards with his Kuri blade and Aria used her webbing to trap guards making it easier for Mario to get at them, she even took a couple of swings

"I haven't had so much FUN sense the Venice Carnival of nineteen-thirty nephew" Mario replied before Aria pulled a guard towards her and punched him in the face

"Well now, I thought you said you weren't a fighter" Mario told Aria as he pulled out a pistol and killed two guards at once, seeing as how one was behind the other, Mario only needed one bullet

"Well…I might not be much of a fighter, but I get MORE than a little testy when people call me ugly" Aria said, Mario laughed, meanwhile Zak fell backwards behind the bar as a dingo guard looked over to see where he went only for Zak to pop up and wrap one of his Nun-chucks around the guard's neck

"HA, HA, THE MISSING LINK, HA, HE-HE-HE" Zak laughed as he pulled the guard behind the bar with him before two kangaroo guards ran over to try and help the guard Zak pulled behind the bar but

"YOU WANNA A PICK, I'LL GIVE YOU A PICKLE" Zak shouted as he started pounding on the guard he pull in as he was laughing like he was having the time of his life, he then popped his head up only for Zak to pull on his own quill back down behind the bar

"OH I SEE YOU WANT MORE" Zak shouted, pretending that it was the guard he was pounding on who pulled him back behind the bar for more, after knocking the guy out, Zak jumped over the bar and sat on it

"WHEW, dude was a gluten for punishment" Zak said before Murray stood behind the two kangaroo guards and forced their heads to collide with each other so hard they were knocked out, soon enough all the guards were knocked out, killed or they ran off not wanting to get their ass's kicked

(Music stops)

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES…THE COOPER GANG RULES THE ROOST, WE'RE THE KING'S AND QUEEN'S OF THE HILL, THE TOTALLY MAXED OUT, HEAVY-WEIGHT CHAMPIONS" Murray shouted

"H TO THE E TO THE DOUBLE L, YEAH" Zak said as he and Murray high-fived

"Well…that was fun" Cammy said

"A good workout" T'Challa said, dusting his left shoulder

"You consider THAT a workout" Shazza asked as she rolled her neck, popping it a few times

"To me, it is" T'Challa answered

"Ha, not even ONE of them was a worthy opponent for us, oh well, victory can be so boring sometimes" Helen said

"That'll teach those punks how to respect a lady" Jasmine added

"Or at least respect one with an OBVIOUS lover" Neyla said as she and Sly shared a quick kiss

"Still, THAT was intense" Bentley said

"Yeah" Aria added

"Oh, come on you two, you BOTH DID GREAT" Jasmine said

"Yeah, you both held your own against these punks, I'd like to see any other big-brained nerds out there try to do it better" T'Challa added

"NERDS" Cammy, Aria and Bentley asked at once, feeling a LITTLE insulted

"I'm sure he meant that in the nicest way possible, right Challa" Zak asked

"I meant that as a compliment" T'Challa said

"See guys, just try a little confidence" Murray added

"Well, those guys won't be coming back HERE" Sly was about to say before something BIG came into the bar, it was a dingo guard wearing the Mask of dark earth

"Anytime…soon…oh SHIT" Sly muttered

"WHOA, and I thought muscle-heads in New York were big" Zak said

"Oh GREAT…THAT thing again" Cammy said

"Uh-oh" Aria said

"NOT AGAIN" Murray said

"Looks like they saved their biggest one for last" Neyla said

"And he's wearing the Mask of dark earth" Shazza added

"HE MUST BE SO JACKED UP" Murray added as the possessed guard howled loudly, so loud that the group covered their ears at how loud it was

"Looks like you have your challenge now Helen" T'Challa said

"Well…I DO enjoy one" Helen said

"By the ancestors, Guru wasn't kidding when he said this thing is dangerous" Mario said

"Um, a plan would be NICE right about now, Bentley" Jasmine said

"Any suggestions ANYONE" Cammy asked

"I suggest we work together to take this guy down, that mask has a POWERFUL force in it" Bentley advised

"Agreed" Mario said before the possessed guard destroyed the electric fence then jumped to the bar which he then destroyed half of it just by howling

"TCH…showoff" Shazza muttered

"He can't fight us all at once, spread out and strike when the times right, he might be tough but he's eventually gotta go down" Sly told his team

"Dinza Druda MAZADAX, GRAAAAAAAAAAAAH" The guard spoke in an ancient language

"Murray, Shazza, what did he say" Jasmine asked the two

"I don't know" Shazza said

"Sorry, I don't speak evil" Murray added

"Get in position guys…I'll take point" Sly said before the gang separated as the guard focused on Sly, he bent down to stare at Sly STRAIGHT in the face before he roared in Sly's face so loud that his hood fell off and his hair whipped violently but Sly stood his ground and showed no fear

"WHEW…big bad wolf with MAJOR bad breath, well…you'll have to do BETTER if you wanna scare me" Sly said before as a dragged out game of "Cat and mouse" started, he wildly and savagely chased after the raccoon to which he effortlessly dodged his wild and predictable attacks as Sly led the guard by the nose and straight into the traps set up by his family, the guard may have been bigger, stronger and more aggressive but it did NOTHING to improve his intelligence, Sly lead the guard over one of Bentley's bombs which stunned him enabling Sly to move in with his brass knuckles hitting the guard hard a couple of times before he regained his senses, next was over to Murray who threw a barrel at the guard dazing him again so Sly could pummel the dingo again, next he lead the dingo over to Jasmine and T'Challa, the cheetah first used her Cheetah cry directly in his face sending him skidding back and stunning him before T'Challa moved with incredible grace and speed, slashing at the large, possessed guard causing deep lacerations, next Sly led the guard to Mario who stunned him with a smoke bomb to the face before Jasmine went in for an uppercut with her Kinetic boosting gauntlet to REALLY stun him before Shazza moved in and pummeled the guard with a quick combo with her boomerang before Zak and Cammy unleashed a barrage of blows from both his Nun-chucks and her Microbot mech's battle gauntlets before Sly led the guard over to Aria who trapped him in her webbings before Sly and T'Challa double-teamed the guard with a barrage of slashes ending in a double uppercut to the chin only for Sly to move in and performed a high-reaching, spinning roundhouse kick to the dingo's face staggering him back, after luring the guard over to Bentley and Murray a couple of times, Sly and Neyla moved in for the final blow, first Neyla wrapped her whip around the dingo's neck and shocked him which brought him to his knees before Sly moved in and took out his bow before firing multiple arrows pinning the dingo to the ground with arrows through his thighs and hands before he withdrew his bow then used both Hidden blades to puncture multiple places on the dingo's torso and stomach then his throat and finally both in his head through his EYES and then viciously ripped his blades out of the dingo, killing the possessed dingo, his body then went limp before the Mask of dark earth pulled itself off the body

*I have warned you NOT to get in my way* The mask told the group telepathically

"Um, did you guys hear that" Jasmine asked

"Yeah, I think we all did" Neyla answered

*Why do you consist of preventing me from flourishing* The mask asked

"The mask it…TALKS" Bentley asked

"THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL YA'LL" Murray shouted in frustration, FINALLY someone believed him when he said that the Mask of dark earth could talk

"Does stuff like this happen in the outback often" Jasmine asked Shazza

"When it comes to my master…yes" Shazza answered

"Okay, just checking" Jasmine said

"What do you want" Mario asked the mask

*What all life wants, to feed to exist, to thrive…but YOU all keep preventing me from feeding* The mask replied

"You mean on the fear and anger of the guys you attach yourself to, the Guru told us about you" Sly said

*This is your LAST warning, leave me to my feeding and DON'T get in my way AGAIN* The mask said with a forceful voice

"Or what" T'Challa asked

*Or you will meet your ancestors in the void…and I will send you there as painfully as possible* The mask replied before it made a run for it

"You know what uncle" Sly asked

"What's that nephew" Mario asked

"Now I know how you feel when you say you've seen EVERYTHING" Sly said

"I wouldn't have believed it…if I didn't see it for myself" Aria added

"Yeah, a mask that can RUN without LEGS…that's NUTS" Cammy said

"Even more nutty, it can talk without a mouth…WITHOUT A FREAKING MOUTH…HOW THE HELL" Zak asked

"THAT'S where you're drawing the line, not the fact that it can possess people and make them into a giant with some serious anger issues" Helen asked, Zak shrugged his shoulders

"You said you ran into some strange things in your adventures master…but THIS" T'Challa told Sly

"What did it mean by feeding and flourishing" Aria asked

"Maybe it grows more powerful the more it feeds on people it attaches itself to" Shazza suggested

"Be that as it may be, we may have cleared out this bar guys, but that mask is SURE to keep making trouble for us" Bentley said

"Which leaves with only one option, right Bentley" Neyla asked

"You got that right, Neyla…we need to destroy it" Bentley said

"Is such a thing even possible" Jasmine asked

"I asked master the same question and he said because of the powers it grants, no one with a desire for power would possibly even CONSIDER destroying it…but, who knows…it MIGHT be possible" Shazza explained before Sly walked up to the half-destroyed bar

"What are you doing, master" T'Challa asked as Sly got some mugs and filled them up with lemonade

"As long as we're here…and there's a big piece of ham cooking on the fireplace, might as well not waste it, besides it was Aria's first fight and she survived…I say we celebrate just a bit" Sly said, his team looked among themselves as Sly handed out lemonade mugs

"Well, while we're on a time schedule…I suppose a small break wouldn't muck up any plans" Bentley said

"Besides" Murray said before he sniffed the air

"AAAAAAAAAAAAH, that ham smells GREAT" Murray said

"Yeah, I'm hungry" Cammy said

"Kicking someone's ass always gives me an appetite" Zak added

"Well…I suppose it wouldn't hurt" Helen said

"I could go for some of that ham" Aria said

"I'm for it" T'Challa added

"Nephew, you had me at ham" Mario said with a chuckle

"Hmm, now that I think about it, I'm hungry as well" Shazza added

"Sounds GOOD to me" Neyla said as the team brought up some chairs that weren't smashed in the brawl before chowing down on some ham and drank lemonade in celebration of Aria's first real fight

"Hey…I know what it's like" Murray told Aria

"Know what" Aria asked

"Being called names, like fat or jumbo, don't let em rattle you at least you got an education, those miners probably can't count higher than their fingers and toes" Murray said, Aria giggled a little

"Thanks Murray, you're a real friend" Aria replied

"Anytime sister" Murray replied

"So, THIS is what it's like being in your gang, Cooper" Shazza asked

"Other's call it a gang, but we're a family first, your handy to have around, Shazza, the Guru chose well" Sly said

"Yeah, muscle mama, you kick some SERIOUS ass" Zak told Shazza

"DON'T call me that" Shazza said

"Heh, sorry" Zak said

"Though, I doubted you guys at first…that doubt is gone now, I can see you guys are more than capable of handling yourselves" Shazza said

"It sounds like you're saying that your gonna like being apart of the gang" Cammy said

"Yeah…it kind of does" Shazza replied before Sly raised his class

"To Aria's first fight…and the to the Cooper family" Sly said, proposing a toast

"CHEERS" Bentley, Murray, Mario, Neyla, Jasmine, Cammy, Helen, Zak and T'Challa all said at once

"Cheers" Shazza muttered as they drank, after the little "celebration" they headed back to the safehouse to get a GOOD night's sleep before the final assault against the miners but as Shazza slept she thought that maybe these guys aren't that bad after all

(The next night)

Throughout the next day Bentley pulled all the information that the team gathered and after he put all of it together, he came up with a plan b the time night came around

(Slideshow)

"You all can feel it in the air, the miners are about ready to pack it in, in fact they would probably be LONG gone if it wasn't for the corrupting influence of the Mask of dark earth, I've said this before and I will say the obvious again…we need to DESTROY it, so…it's time for "Operation: Moon crash" first up is the Guru who will "persuade" the local guards to help him take out the gyrocopter as it refuels, while it's around the miners can monitor the area from the air which we can't have during the heist, once it's gone we'll have clear skies for phase two of this plan, now this next part is a little tricky, according to aboriginal legends, the Mask of dark earth is the SWORN enemy of the Moon spirit so, naturally given Murray's…moon-shape, we'll coat him in the glowing oil that Neyla and her team collected from the oil fields and have him pose as the Moon spirit, to which we will then dangle him from the big crane while Murray is in position the rest of us will be ready on standby just in case things go wrong, once it spots it's ancient foe, the Mask of dark earth is SURE to come running, that's when we STRIKE, Murray THUNDER FLOP of the crane and OBLITERATE THAT MASK, with the mask gone and the miners driven from his homeland, the Guru will be free to join up with us and join our mission to get into the Assassin's vault"

(End of slideshow)

After the slideshow, the team was sent out

"Synu, tell the Guru that we're ready" Sly told Synu before he sent his eagle friend to the Guru's hut who was meditating, Synu then landed on top of the Guru's walking staff and screeched

"Ah, I see I have a visitor" Guru said before Synu "spoke" to the Guru

"My friends are ready for me" Guru asked, Synu "replied"

"Then fly, my friend, I am not far behind" Guru replied as he stroked Synu's head before the eagle flew off, Guru then took out the earpiece that Bentley gave him from his small side pouch and placed it in his right ear, Bentley then called

"Guru, can you hear me" Bentley asked

"Of course, Bentley" Guru called back

"Good, good, now I know you've yet to FORMERLY join the team, but we need your help to destroy the Mask of dark earth" Bentley said

"How might I be of assistance" Guru asked

"Your objective is to take out the gyrocopter while it's refueling" Bentley answered

"I say it was high time that problem was taken care of, wouldn't you agree" Guru asked

"Glad to head that you're up to it, however there is one slight problem" Bentley said

"And what would that be" Guru asked

"The gyrocopter has a sensor that can detect your Moonstone, I suspect that's how they found and trapped you earlier, get too close and it'll detect you and take off out of reach, for this job you'll need to run the guards that you can "persuade" to help you at the gyrocopter and then JUMP off early before it senses you…ram a few guards into it and its SURE to fall apart" Bentley explained

"I understand Bentley" Guru replied before he got to work, he found a couple of guards who he managed to "persuade" to help him and like Bentley said, he had to carefully aim the guards he took possession of at the gyrocopter and then jump off before their sensors could detect his Moonstone, after ramming three guards into the thing, it blew to PIECES

"Bentley, it is done" Guru called through the earpiece

"GREAT JOB Guru, Murray's already in position, I'll give him the green light for step two" Bentley replied, meanwhile Murray was dangling from the big crane dressed to look like the "Moon spirit"

"BEHOLD…the Moon spirit RISES, WOOOOO-WOOOOO" Murray tried his best to sound like a spirit

"Alright, everybody be ON guard, the mask is sure to take the bait" Bentley called into the earpieces, meanwhile Helen and Shazza thought it would be best to make a sniper's perch on the cliff at the Guru's cave

"Are you sure this plan of Bentley's is going to work" Shazza asked Helen

"If there's one thing that the stories Sly and Neyla have told over the last eight months…is that Bentley's plans are solid, trust us" Helen said

"Yeah, Shazza, put a little trust in us" Cammy said over the earpiece as she, T'Challa and Zak kept a lookout from the top of the big truck, they kept an eye out for trouble and I wasn't long before trouble was SPOTTED it in the form of Nick and Carmelita

"Um, are those two friends of yours" Shazza asked Helen as she looked

"Oh NO, NOT NOW" Helen said

"I take that as a no" Shazza asked

"Right" Helen answered before she contacted Bentley

"Bentley, we've have situation here, Nick and Carmelita are here" Helen said

"OH, WHY NOW" Bentley asked

"What should we do" Cammy asked through the earpiece

"Yeah, what's the call big brain" Zak asked through the earpiece

"We can't stop the operation now we'll just have to give them a wide birth" Bentley replied

"Copy" Helen replied

"What about the rest of us" Jasmine asked through the earpiece

"The rest of you keep an eye out for the mask…it's CLOSE…I can FEEL IT" Bentley said and like he felt, it was not long before a guard wearing the mask came close to the Guru

"MURRAY" Guru called

"BENTLEY, IT'S HERE" Shazza shouted before Bentley then swung the crane around

"HERE I COME MASTER" Murray shouted, meanwhile Carmelita and Nick saw what was happening

"What on EARTH" Nick muttered as Murray Thunder flopped on the guard, taking him out but not the mask

*CURSE YOU FOOLS* The mask's voice was heard in the minds of those who were around them

"WHOA, did you hear that" Carmelita asked Nick

"I sure did" Nick answered

"Did you get it, is the mask gone, can ANYONE see it" Bentley asked through the earpieces

"Can't tell from here, I'm moving in" Sly said before he moved in, meanwhile the mask found a potential new host and moved in

"What the OOOF" Nick shouted as the mask bulldozed its way past him and headed for Carmelita

"THE HELL" Carmelita shouted as the mask looked to possess her

*YOUR MINE* The mask of dark earth shouted

"WATCH OUT" Sly shouted as he jumped in-between the two before he was sent flying back as his assassin mask was knocked off

"COOPER" Carmelita shouted as she and Nick got back to their feet, soon Neyla came around

"LOVE ARE YOU OKAY" Neyla asked as she and the two cops slowly approached the raccoon, he slowly got to his feet but was twitchy

"Sly" Nick said

"Cooper…are you alright" Carmelita asked, a little worried about the raccoon, sure she wanted to see him behind bard but not hurt

"Sly, say something" Nick said as Neyla slowly approached her lover

"Love" Neyla muttered

"N-N-NEYLA" Sly muttered before he turned and the three saw a horrible sight

"RUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN" Sly shouted in a demonic voice as he was WEARING the Mask of dark earth as his eyes glowed a blood red color

"Oh NO" Helen muttered

"What is it, what's happening" Shazza asked

"This CAN'T be happening" Cammy said through the earpiece

"SERIOUSLY NOT GOOD" Zak said through the earpiece

"WHAT'S HAPPENING TALK TO ME" Shazza said

"It's Sly…the mask has him" Helen answered

"Oh NO" Shazza muttered

"WHAT THE HELL" Carmelita shouted as the three backed up

"What in the name of all that's holy IS THAT" Nick asked

"Long story short, that's an ancient, bad spirit mask that takes possession of anyone who wears it and turns them evil" Neyla said

"Oh man, Sly…are you in there" Nick asked but Sly didn't answer, he just stared at Carmelita, as the two looked into each other's eyes, Carmelita saw eyes that had the purest…most intense, hatful eyes she had EVER seen in her life

"Cooper d-don't worry we'll get you some help" Carmelita said

*She lies, she only wants to tear your family APART* The mask's voice was heard in the minds of Neyla and the two cops, it was swaying Sly

"OH, you'll "help" me, that's RICH, like you EVEN CARE, all you've ever tried to DO is lock me and my FAMILY UP, YOU BITCH" Dark Sly said as he started growing in physical size

"OH, that's NOT good" Nick said as the three continued to back up from the growing Sly

"Even after ALL we've done for you, SAVE you from Clockwerk, SAVE you from the Contessa's brainwashing, HELPED TO PROVED YOUR INNOCENCE, EVEN SAVED YOU FROM THE BLUE VIPERS IN VENICE, you STILL WANT TO TEAR MY FAMILY APART" Sly growled as he continued to grow

"Cooper, you need to calm down" Carmelita said

"Calm down, CALM DOWN, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO, JUST BECAUSE YOUR A COP DOESN'T MEAN SHIT TO ME…you know what…I should do something that I should have done the FIRST TIME I MEET YOU" Dark sly said

"Love NO" Neyla said

"Sly, calm down we're trying to" Nick tried to say

"MAYBE I SHOULD JUST FUCKING BURRY YOU RIGHT HERE AND NOW CARMELITA" Dark Sly shouted as he grew to thirty feet tall before he tried to crush Carmelita with his left fist, but she mega jumped out of the way as Neyla and Nick rolled to the side

"SLY STOP, THIS ISN'T YOU" Carmelita shouted as she ran from Sly who easily kept pace with her, the boost to his physical prowess and larger size thanks to the mask and his natural speed and agility was a terrifying combination

"HOW WOULD YOU KNOW YOU DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ME ALL YOU KNOW IS WHAT YOU WANNA BELIEVE, THAT I'M A NO-GOOD, ROTTEN, UNTRUSTWORTHY BASTARD WITH NO QUALITY FOR GOOD IN HIM" Dark Sly shouted

"I know that you would NEVER hurt the innocent or good people, it's that THING ON YOU" Carmelita replied before she continued dodging Sly's attacks

"YOU ONLY THINK OF ME AS A THIEF AND A KILLER, NOTHING MORE, YOU ONLY SEE ME AS SOMEONE WHO DESERVES TO BE PUT AWAY, LOCKED AWAY UNTIL THIS WORLD ENDS, NEVER ASKING YOURSELF WHY I DO WHAT I DO, ADMIT IT" Sly shouted as he whacked her into a wall with a backhand, cracking it a bit

*HMMMM, YEEEEEES, such STRENGTH in this vessel* The mask's voice was heard in Carmelita's mind

"UGH" Carmelita grunted as she recovered from the vicious blow as Sly walked up to her, looking down on her

*KILL HER, with her gone you and your family will be FREE FROM HER FOREVER, as long as she lives your family will NEVER be safe* The mask told Sly

"WELL…if you see nothing in me but a KILLER, THEN I'M GONNA LIVE UP TO IT AND START WITH YOU" Dark Sly shouted as he continued to try and crush Carmelita

"SLY STOP" Nick shouted as he ran to try and stop the possessed racoon

*BE GONE* The mask of dark earth shouted as Dark Sly backhanded Nick away but T'Challa and Cammy caught him

"STAY OUT OF THIS NICK OR I'LL CRUSH YOU LIKE I'M GONNA CRUSH CARMELITA" Dark Sly shouted as he was about to crush Carmelita only for something to hit him in the face forcing him to drop Carmelita

"GAAH" Dark Sly grunted as he saw that it was Shazza and her boomerang and with her was Helen and Zak

"BOSS MAN, COME ON SNAP OUT OF IT" Zak shouted

"It's the mask Sly, don't let it control you" Shazza said before Dark Sly jumped over to the two to try and crush them

"INCOMING" Zak shouted as he and Shazza moved out of the way in time

"MASTER PLEASE, LISTEN TO US" T'Challa called out

"You don't understand how LONG this BITCH has been trying to tear this family apart, THE ONLY FAMILY THAT I HAVE LEFT IN THIS WORLD, SHE WANTS TO TEAR APART" Dark Sly shouted

"Man, lady, boss has it out for you" Zak told Carmelita

"NOT helping" Carmelita said

"STAND ASIDE ZAK, THAT'S AN ORDER" Dark Sly told Zak

"Sorry boss man, but you ain't in your right mind right now" Zak said

"Bentley, what do we DO" Cammy asked through the earpiece

"Slow him down, keep him from hurting Carmelita" Bentley answered as T'Challa and Cammy went to help Shazza and Zak who was avoiding Dark Sly's attacks, Carmelita also jumped into to try and subdue the possessed raccoon

"Sorry to have to do this master" T'Challa said

"SLY…NO" Neyla muttered in sadness seeing her lover like this, Bentley then approached the two

"OH, SWEET MOTHER OF SHIT, THIS IS BEYOND BAD" Bentley said, this was bad because when Bentley lets a little word like THAT slip then you KNOW this is a bad situation, Neyla then grabbed Bentley by his collar

"BENTLEY YOU DAMN WELL BETTER BE ABLE TO FIX THIS AND GET MY LOVE BACK TO NORMAL" Neyla growled at Bentley with blood in her eyes

"And DO it before he KILLS MY GIRLFRIEND" Nick added, at that sentence, the two could SWEAR they heard the sound of a needle scratching on a record disk

"GIRLFRIEND, WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN" Neyla and Bentley asked at once

"Don't matter now, what's the plan for getting that-that-that…THING OFF SLY" Nick asked, Bentley quickly thought of something

"Okay, OKAY, I think I got something, Helen, listen up" Bentley called through the earpiece

"You have idea" Helen asked

"Slightly, switch to tranquilizer darts, let's you and me try putting a few of our sleep dart into him and try and sedate him, then we can try and take the Mask of dark earth off him" Bentley answered

"Rodger" Helen replied as she switched her bullets to tranquilizer darts

"You think that'll work" Nick asked

"We've GOTTA try something" Bentley replied before he and Helen used their marksmanship skills to try and sedate Dark Sly as their possessed friend tried to get to Carmelita but thanks to T'Challa, Cammy, Zak, Neyla, Jasmine and Shazza they didn't make it easy for the large raccoon to get too close for a killing strike, after both pumped five darts into him, he seemed to slow down

"Finally, the darts are starting to kick in" Bentley said…BUT

"Or NOT" Nick said

"Is it me or is he getting…BIGGER" Cammy asked

"No, he's DEFINITELY getting bigger" Zak answered

"Um, Bentley it doesn't look like it's WORKING" Neyla said

"What's going ON TURTLE" Carmelita asked after catching up with her partner and boyfriend

"The chemicals in our darts must somehow be interacting with the mask…to MAKE HIM EVEN BIGGER" Bentley said as the rest of the gang came running

"RUN FOR IT" Jasmine shouted

"No kidding Bentley, he's getting…GIGANTIC" Nick said

"WHAT DO WE DO" Murray asked

"Everyone, head for the big truck, we've gotta get some distance between him and us" Mario said

"That's a good idea, he may shrink back down with time" Bentley said

"Bentley…if you don't find a way to get my LOVER BACK TO NORMAL, I'M GONNA HAVE TURTLE SOUP TONIGHT" Neyla told Bentley

"MOVE, HE'S GETTING CLOSER" Carmelita shouted before the gang, Carmelita and Nick made a run for the big truck and took off for Ayer's rock, but before leaving the miner's camp, Sly now standing at fifty feet tall picked up a rig full of dynamite before chasing after the gang

"COME BACK HERE CARMELITA…WERE NOT DONE YET" Dark Sly shouted as he gave chase

"We MUST remove the mask as soon as possible" Guru said

"That's obvious Guru" Helen said replied

"Yeah, what do you thin we've been TRYING to do" Zak asked

"No, you don't understand, the longer the Mask of dark earth remains in possession of an individual the more difficult it will be to sever said bond" Guru said

"What are you SAYING" Mario asked

"If it is NOT removed soon…the nephew that you know, and the man Neyla loves…will be lost to the mask's darkness and become it's host…FOREVER" Guru answered

"GOD, NO" Neyla muttered in horror at the thought of losing the love of her life forever to this dark spirit mask, Shazza and Cammy then put a hand on each of Neyla's shoulders

"We'll get it off him…somehow" Shazza told her

"We promise" Cammy added

"Indeed, we will" Helen added

"Mario, we'll help you get your nephew back" Nick said

"Yeah, even a criminal doesn't deserve THAT kind of fate" Carmelita added

*RUN GURU, YOU AND YOUR PATHETIC FRIENDS RUN, it only makes the hunt MORE satisfying* The mask was heard in the groups head, Mario and Neyla hoped and PRAYED that they could help Sly

(Ayer's rock)

"WHAT'S THE MATTER CARM, I THOUGHT YOU WERE TOUGH WELL COME AND FACE ME INSTEAD OF RUNNING LIKE THE SCARED, LITTLE BITCH THAT YOU ALWAYS WERE" Sly shouted as he chased the big truck

"Man, boss man is PISSED" Zak said

"You can say that again, what's gotten into him" Nick asked

"I've never seen him so spiteful before" Carmelita said

"It is not him, it is the mask is bringing the darkest parts of Sly to the surface to feed on them and grow stronger" Guru said

"THIS IS BAD, looks like he picked up a rig full of dynamite" Bentley said

"DO SOEMTHING BENTLEY" Mario shouted

"I'll reroute power to the Super claw ten thousand, Neyla, use it to keep any dynamite barrels off our truck, in fact, THROW em at Sly it might slow him down" Bentley said

"I don't hurt him" Neyla said

"Neyla, Sly isn't HIMSELF right now" Helen told Neyla

"She's right, we gotta KNOCK some sense back in him…believe me I don't want to hurt him either but this HAS to be done or else we're gonna DIE" Carmelita told her, Neyla hated the idea of hurting the man she loves but…she knew Carm was right

"Love…forgive me for this" Neyla muttered as she mounted up with the Super claw 10,000 and she kept the dynamite barrels off the big truck, while Nick and Carmelita tried to help her with their shock pistols, although the truck got hit with more than a handful of explosions, after pummeling Dark Sly with enough explosives and shock blasts, it looked like that did the trick…BUT

*NO, I will NOT go back into imprisonment, NEVER* The mask shouted before the whole situation got even WORSE

"NARRAAAAAAAAAAAAGH" Dark Sly shouted as he grew even LARGER, now standing at ONE HUNDRED FEET TALL, the gang then stopped the truck before getting out

*YES…YEEEEEEES, I grow STRONGER AND STRONGER, YOUR FINISHED GURU, THIS WORLD IS MINE* The mask of dark earth said

"You have GOTTA BE KIDDING ME" Zak shouted

"OH, COME ON" Cammy said in frustration

"And when we thought things COULDN'T get any worse" Mario said

"NOTHING'S WORKING" Shazza said

"DAMN look at the SIZE OF HIM" T'Challa said

"HE'S TOO HUGE, we can't outrun him in the truck" Murray said

"And we are running out of time by the second" Guru added

"Bentley, we NEED a new strategy and QUICK" Mario told the turtle

"It's obvious that force isn't working, we need to try something else" Helen added

"I agree but WHAT, I AM OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS HERE" Bentley asked

"I THOUGH YOU WERE THE ONE THAT HAS ALL THE PLANS" Carmelita told Bentley

"Easy, Carm, look we gotta stop running and deal with the REAL problem, which means PRYING off that mask and maybe we can get Sly back" Nick said

"Yes…YES, now there's an idea, T'Challa, Neyla it'll take some SERIOUS climbing from the both of you but if you two can get to the clamps on each side of the mask holding it in place, Sly might swat either of you away" Bentley said

"And knock the clamp off" Neyla said

"RIGHT" Bentley said

"But how are you they gonna get up there" Jasmine asked

"Climb up his bootlaces" Shazza said

"And anything else we can get our hands on we can do that" T'Challa said

"Precisely" Bentley said

"Sounds more like a CRAZY idea" Murray said

"Murray, we're pressed for time here, we gotta get that thing off Sly BEFORE it's too late" Aria said

"If you got any better ideas big guy, LET'S HEAR EM" Nick said

"Yeah but, we need a GIANT…FIGHTING robot" Murray said

"Really" Shazza asked

"YOU GOT A BETTER ONE" Murray snapped back

"Easy you two, sorry Murray, but we gotta go with the bootlace plan, COME ON NEYLA" T'Challa said before he and Neyla made a sprint for Carmelita while the gang stood back, until more trouble came around

"NICK LOOK" Carmelita called out

"Our troops" Nick said

"Not GOOD, T'CHALLA, NEYLA WATCH OUR TAILS, CARMELITA'S TROOPS ARE ON ROUTE AND THEY DON'T LOOK FRIENDLY" Bentley called through the earpieces

"Thanks for the heads up" Neyla replied

"Mario, be STRONG and have faith, if there is anyone that can help your nephew, it's those two" Guru told Mario

"I pray your right" Mario muttered

"PLEASE, LET IT NOT BE TOOK LATE" Neyla muttered and prayed, T'Challa and Neyla had to dodge the incoming fire from Carmelita's troopers as they ran towards the colossal raccoon, the mercenaries even tried attacking Sly which made him thrash around and try to swat the flying monkey's away, once Neyla and T'Challa were close enough, the pair climbed up his bootlaces then his pants

"Hang on master, we're COMING" T'Challa told himself as he and Neyla continued to climb, they climbed the torso of his suit and even climbed up the strains of his hair which were long and thick enough for them to be used as makeshift ropes, soon enough Neyla and T'Challa were in position

"Let's hope this WORKS" T'Challa said

"JUMP" Neyla shouted before she and T'Challa leapt and hung off the clamps on either side of the mask

*GET OFF ME* The mask shouted in their heads as Sly then swatted both Neyla and T'Challa away, unintentionally breaking both the clamps, Neyla then used her whip to wrap around Sly's left wrist and swung and grabbed onto T'Challa's hand before they both descended to the ground safely

"YES" Neyla shouted as the Mask of dark earth fell off Sly's face, he roared as he shrank back to his regular size and fell on his belly

"NICK NOW'S YOUR CHANCE, DESTROY THE MASK" Bentley told Nick

"ATTENTION TROOPERS THIS IS COMMANDER WILDS, TARGET THAT MASK AND BLOW IT TO HELL" Carmelita ordered her men through the walkie talkies who all targeted the mask and started shooting at it

*No…NO…NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO* The group heard the Mask of dark earth screaming in their heads before it was blown apart, taking its attackers with it, the Cooper gang then ran over to Sly

"SLY, SLY" Mario shouted as he and Neyla helped the raccoon to his feet, and he started coming around

"Master, ANSWER US" T'Challa said

"YOU OKAY BUDDY" Murray asked

"PLEASE tell us you're okay" Bentley added

"Come on boss man, WAKE UP" Zak muttered

"Love, PLEASE TELL ME YOUR OKAY" Neyla said as Sly then grunted as he shook his head

"UUUUUGH" Sly muttered

"Sly" Neyla muttered, Sly then eyed his loved one's

"Oh MAN…I feel like I just got out of a bad dream…what happened" Sly asked

"Trust us…it WASN'T a dream" Jasmine said

"More of a nightmare" Cammy added

"In short my love, we WON" Neyla said before she kissed Sly, thanking God that he was safe

"Where's the mask" Sly asked

"Gone, BLOWN to hell, THANK THE ANCESTORS YOUR OKAY" Mario said as he hugged his nephew

"It is relief that you are okay" Helen told Sly

"Thanks, but…I'm gonna need therapy after what that THING put me through" Sly said

"I believe you there, master" T'Challa said

"So…what did it feel like" Shazza asked

"NOT…PLEASANT…AT ALL, it's kind of like when someone takes the wheel away from you but it's in your own body…GAAAAH, I never wanna go through something like THAT again" Sly said

"Enough said" Shazza said

"Master, if you EVER scare me like that again, I'm gonna kick your ass myself" T'Challa said

"And you better believe I'm gonna help him with that to, boss man or not" Zak added before Sly pulled his apprentices into a hug

"I'll hold you to that, boys" Sly replied, the team were happy to have their leader back but then they heard a familiar click

"Your under-arrest Cooper" Carmelita said as she held up her shock pistol to Sly

"WHAT" Shazza asked

"Oh, you gotta be KIDDING" Jasmine said

"REALLY" Neyla asked

"You can't be serious, after the SHIT we went through, lady" Zak asked

"Carmelita, we've had a rough night can't we just" Sly was about to say before Carmelita shot at his foot mere inches in front of him

"No, I guess we can't" Sly said, he could tell she was DEAD serious

"Several counts of resisting arrest, larceny on an international level, breaking and entering and murder across several countries…am I MISSING anything" Carmelita asked

"She is stubborn one, no" Helen asked Neyla

"You can say that again" Neyla replied

"Now, now inspector…if you'll just put that pistol of yours down, I'm sure we can explain" Mario said, trying to talk his way out of trouble

"Oh, they'll be PLENTY of time to talk IN JAIL, me and Nick came ALL this way to this desert and we're not leaving empty-handed" Carmelita said

"Carm, I know we're doing our job but, Sly LITTERALLY took YOUR place in being possessed by a…what was it called" Nick asked the Cooper gang

"Mask of dark earth" Shazza answered

"RIGHT…THAT, he took that FOR you, doesn't that count for anything" Nick asked, Carmelita paused to think about it

"What you said about me while you had that thing on you, Sly…you REALLY think that about me" Carmelita asked, remembering the things he said to her while under the Mask of dark earth's influence, though that doesn't mean he remembered what he said

"Well…I'll admit you're THICK-HEADED, refusing to believe that I'm a good person despite what I do, you only see and believe what you WANNA see and believe, never ONCE asking yourself who's the bigger criminal, me or the people who me and the gang go after, men and women who PREY ON THE INNOCENTS YOU WORK SO DAMN HARD TO TRY AND PROTECT" Sly asked

"YOU CAN'T TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS" Carmelita replied

"SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA GO OUTSIDE THE LAW TO PROTECT IT AND THE INNOCENT'S WHO SUFFER BECAUSE OF AN IMPERFECT SYSTEM, YOUR JUST TO BLACK AND WHITE TO SEE THE TRUTH" Sly shouted as Carmelita pointed her pistol at him

"LOOK…I admit what you did for me Cooper was selfless despite our history…however, I can't just look past that after all the laws you've broke, so just come along quietly and you have my word I'll go easy on you all" Carmelita said

"At least can we get a THANK you from getting crushed by Giganto Sly" Cammy asked, Carmelita paused

"Thanks" Carmelita said

"You're welcome" Cammy said

"Doesn't really feel like she means it" Zak said

"I do mean it…just don't make this any harder than it has to be Cooper" Carmelita told Sly

"Um, excuse me, Carmelita, was it" Guru spoke up

"Who are you" Carmelita asked

"I am the Guru, master of the Aboriginal Dreamtime and these "criminals" you call them have saved my homeland and it doesn't seem right to punish someone for saving my homeland" Guru said

"Huh" Carmelita muttered, pointing her pistol at Guru

"Whoa, whoa…the Guru isn't armed Carm" Neyla said

"You would shoot an unarmed man for voicing his opinions" T'Challa asked

"Yeah, not cool" Zak added

"Very" Helen added, Carmelita thought for a minute before she trained her pistol back on Sly

"Care to explain" Nick asked Guru

"The Mask of dark earth was unleashed because of the miners who kidnapped me and my apprentice, held us against our wills and have been DESECRATING our homeland and the sacred Aboriginal sights" Guru explained

"Yeah, they were tearing into everything looking for opals" Murray added

"Ayers canyon, King's canyon, Wave rock, they were digging into EVERYTHING" Cammy said

"If they kept going the sacred sites would have been damaged beyond repair" Shazza added

"If it wasn't for Sly and his friends this land would have been destroyed and me and Shazza would have certainly been either still imprisoned or dead" Guru said

"Yeah, who knows WHAT that mask would have made Sly done if it wasn't pried off and destroyed" Jasmine added as Guru was silently working something with his Moonstone

"I tell you what, it would have been like one of those movies where Godzilla shows up to wreck the city only it would have gone from city to city" Murray said

"Listen, I don't want any trouble, Guru, but despite what good they've done that doesn't…excuse them for…the crimes of…they're…wh-what's going…on" Carmelita said as she started feeling tired, Guru on the other hand had been silently chanting with his Moonstone, Carmelita was about to fall before Nick caught her

"Hey, Carm, wh-what's…happening to…oh, bugger" Nick muttered before he to fell asleep

"Hmm, that was much easier than I thought I would be" Guru said as the group who looked at Guru

"Nice one master" Shazza said

"How" T'Challa, Aria, Helen, Zak, Jasmine and Cammy asked at the same time

"Has Murray not already told you of what I am capable of" Guru asked with a chuckle

"No, I've told them…but I think they just didn't believe me until they saw for themselves" Murray said

"Are they okay" Aria asked

"Do not worry, they will be fine, they are only resting" Guru said

"So…what do we do now" Jasmine asked as the team looked among each other

"Well…I suppose we can't just leave them here" Sly said

"Yeah, it would be kind of harsh" Murray said

"Then what's the call, master" T'Challa asked

"We make camp and watch out for them over the night…right" Neyla asked Sly

"Of course, love it's what a couple of gentlemen would do" Sly replied

"Well…alright but the MINUTE they start to come around, we're OUT of here" Bentley said

"Agreed" Sly said

"You know…I kind of feel sorry for the mask" Aria said

"Sorry for a physical embodiment of evil" Shazza asked

"Um, why" T'Challa asked

"Well, I kind of have the sense it wanted to be free, but it was denied that" Aria said

"Exactly how LONG has the mask been locked up" Cammy asked Guru

"My master once told me over six thousand years" Guru answered

"Yeah, I would e more than a little pissed off about being locked up for THAT long" Cammy said

"Aria, it is not bad of you to feel sad for something, child but while we all deserve freedom, some individuals are just too dangerous to be given it" Guru told Aria

"He's right, Aria, even I have felt sympathy for foes that I have ended the lives of in the past, to be completely unfeeling towards someone you ended the life of or in this case…the mask is to be inhuman" Mario told Aria

"It means you have sympathy and a good heart, Aria, nothing to be ashamed of" Sly added

"Thanks" Aria replied, meanwhile while the gang got to work on a campfire and campsite to rest

(On top of Ayers rock)

Once again the apprentice was once again observing them from a distance

"Hmm, it seems to me this Bentley is the one doing the majority of the thinking…not getting too much appreciation" The apprentice said

"Agreed" The master's voice spoke, the apprentice was watching the scene unfold through the special lenses on his apprentices mask

"That thing, the mask…it would have made Sly its permanent puppet, wouldn't it" The apprentice asked

"According to the legends about it, yes, I would have" The master answered

"Ha, they should have left him to his fate, at least then he would be out of the way of my prize" The apprentice said

"But if they let that happen then YOU wouldn't get the chance to prove that your more worthy of what he has" The master said as the apprentices' masks visor zoomed in to look at Neyla who was seating with Sly's head in her lap as she gently stroked his hair, the fists of the apprentice then tightened

"It'll feel MUCH more satisfying for him to watch as you take everything he has and that will hurt him more than ANY weapon…TRUST me" The master said

"Shall I continue to follow them" The apprentice asked

"Do so…and I have something else for you to do" The master said

"Name it master, if it gets my blade closer to Sly's throat, I'm ALL for it" The apprentice answered

"Determined and eager, that's what I'm so proud of my boy, BELIEVE me, you will get your chance" The master said

(Sly's P.O.V)

"WHAT A NIGHT this has been…I'm GLAD we got rid of that Mask of dark earth, because I can tell ya RIGHT NOW, I don't EVER wanna go through something like THAT again and even after taking that bullet for Carmelita she STILL tried to arrest us, at least she can say thank you for saving me from being a puppet or even so much as let us have an hour head start or something…anyway, Nick and Carmelita laid there on the desert floor, helpless, so Neyla decided that we keep a watch over them throughout the night and they weren't the only one's needing a rest, thanks to Jasmine's alchemy and healing and some tender love and care from Neyla, I was back to feeling like my old self, besides playing babysitter to our resident cops, it wasn't all bad, Carmelita's police camera proved to be a REAL source of entertainment as we all took turns posing, like Carmelita said, she didn't want either her nor Nick to go home without a couple of worthwhile souvenirs…morning broke and we all got a clear view of the landscape…it was SO…BEAUTIFUL completely empty of the miners who had been digging and drilling into the sacred land that the Guru calls home, the moment was broken as Carmelita and Nick began to stir and we prepared for anther quick exit, we managed to get away, as the Guru promised he joined our team as chief mystic, besides we've seen his skills and capabilities, healing, incapacitation, transformation, mind control, what team WOULDN'T benefit from someone like that and Shazza, we've seen her skills in combat and we agreed that she would be an incredible asset to us, so we got two recruits for the price of one"

(End of P.O.V)

That my friends will do it for this chapter, I hope you all like it, I certainly had some fun making the fight scenes and the final cut, but I wanted to do them with my own little flair as well, I think they all turned out pretty good, don't ya think so?

Also I wanted to do a little something with the Mask of dark earth, while I like the concept that Sucker punch was going for when making this villain, they didn't do it justice in my opinion, you know, not being able to speak, no way to know its true motivations other than to just…be there…taking up space…so I figured I would give it a little bit of personality and a goal…it wanted to be free, not to mention they didn't really explain WHY the mask possessed others other than to cause trouble, so I made it so that whenever it possessed someone it fed off their anger and energy to become more powerful, the more powerful it grew the less likely that Guru was gonna be able to put it back in its cage, get it, I hope you liked the little tweaks to the story that I made

Next time, the gang takes a day or two to recover from what happened, allowing Sly to rest but you can't help but think of what is the purpose behind this apprentice spying on the gang, what does he want and why does he have it out for Sly…can YOU figure it out before I spoil it in later chapters?

As always guys, it's been a pleasure this is Creativity is king here saying

NINJA VANISH TIME!

(Smokescreen exit)