The Anti Thieving Duo

"Hello" - (Normal talking)

"What happened?" - (Thoughts)

"What do I do?" - (Flashback)

{"Hey, can you hear me?"} - (Communication)

"\Prepare for departure\" - (Radio and speakers)

Hope that you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 5 - The Opera in the Outback Caper

(In Sydney Australia, a few days later)

"G'day, mate! Crikey! Australia's one big country!" Player said with an Australian accent, as he typed on his computer.

{"That's some accent Player"} Carmen said, with an impressed tone.

{"Yeah, you almost made me think you were born in Aussie"} Naruto added.

Player smiled, as he said "Been practicing. I wanted to brush up on the latest leg of your nonstop tour, guys." He then asked "So, what's playing at the famous Sydney Opera House tonight?"

Carmen and Naruto were stood outside, with their arms looped together as they smiled with raised eyebrows, with Carmen saying "Something V.I.L.E. won't care to see if they decide to show. Carmen" as they looked at the poster in front of them.

{"Whoa. Good sign, or bad omen?"} Player asked them.

They both shrugged their shoulders, as Naruto said "Depends. Don't most operas have tragic endings?"

Player gave a slight laugh, as he replied "Like I ever sat through one." He then typed on his computer, as he added "But check it out. This Carmen's a gypsy, she likes to read, and she hangs out with smugglers."

{"Guess I have a new BFF"} Carmen said, with a smile in her voice. She and Naruto then walked to the opera house, with Carmen laying her head on his shoulder.

When they got in, they went backstage and poked their heads out from the side and listened to the music from 'Carmen' as they watched the performance take place on the stage.

{"So... what's going on with 'Carmen', Carmen? And, is there any 'Naruto' there too?"} Player asked in a joking manner.

"Haha Player" Naruto said dryly, as they both put their respective binoculars to their eyes, and scanned the crowd. As she scanned the crowd, Carmen said "Nothing suspicious so far Player. If a V.I.L.E. operative's here, they have yet to show their face."

As they were looking out at the crowd, someone came up behind them and said "You there!" with both Naruto and Carmen recognizing the voice.

They both turned around with looks of shocked surprise on their faces, before they narrowed their eyes, as they put their binoculars away. "Scratch that," Naruto said.

"What are you doing back here?" Grey asked them, with his arms crossed and a raised eyebrow.

"You first," Carmen said with a frown.

He looked surprised, as he said "What?" before he frowned, and added "I'm working!"

"We know," Naruto said, as he and Carmen rolled their eyes. "And don't you usually say your catchphrase 'Lights out, baby' right about now." They both folded their arms, as Carmen asked "Come on, Gray. What job are you pulling tonight?" as they both glared at him.

"First, it's 'Gray-ham' okay" he said, while pointing at his name tag. He then raised an eyebrow, and his arms with a shrug as he said "And second, since electricians don't seem to intimidate you, I'll be more than happy to have security escort you both out" as he finished with a frown.

"Wait, what?" they both said with raised eyebrows. "You don't expect us to actually believe this innocent act, do you?" Naruto asked, with a light frown.

Gray grabbed their arms with a glare, and dragged them off as he said "No wristbands, no backstage access. I don't make the rules" as they headed for the exit door.

Both Naruto and Carmen looked at him, with perplexed looks as Naruto asked "You... really don't remember us?" as they both raised an eyebrow at him.

Gray stopped walking, and looked at them with a raised eyebrow and narrowed eyes, with a hand on his chin as he said "Fashion statement aside, mates, you'd both be hard to forget" he finished with a smile, before the three of them continued to walk to the exit. He gave them both a side look, and said "If there is a next time, I promise not to make that mistake again" with a small smile, as they both raised their eyebrows.

"Guess you just, uh, remind us of someone that we used to know" Carmen said, with Naruto nodding in agreement, as he added "Yeah, and sorry for being quite harsh on ya."

They soon reached the exit, with Gray opening the door for them and said "I guess that I just have one of those faces, and don't worry about it." He then gestured at the door, as said "Enjoy the show."

They both went through, while Gray let go of the door to close and walked off to do his work. As they heard him walking off, they glanced back before Naruto placed his foot in the way to stop the door from fully closing, and they pushed through the door open to see Gray walking off. They quickly dashed through, before he noticed them and allowed the door to close behind them.

As they both ran, Naruto said "Player, did you…." as they heard the woman on stage singing.

"Yeah, I heard all of it," Player said, with a look of surprise. He then frowned, as he asked "So what's your old classmate's game?"

"I'm not sure he even has one. He had no idea who we were" Carmen said, as the two of them arrived back where they were earlier. Naruto gave a nod of agreement, as he said "What did they do to him?" as they both had looks of worry.

{"Guys, our intel indicates a V.I.L.E. operative's inside the opera house right now. Crackle worked there as an electrician before you knew him at V.I.L.E. Academy. He knows the layout. How can you be sure he isn't playing you?"} Player told them.

They were both looking along the rafters, while holding their binoculars as Carmen said "Besides the look in his eye? We're staring at another V.I.L.E. operative right now" as they put their binoculars to their eyes. "It's Le Chevre, and he's brought some sort of shiny new toy," Naruto said, as they both zoomed in on what Le Chevre was holding.

While everyone was watching those on stage singing, Naruto and Carmen climbed up to the rafters, and used their grappling hooks to hook onto the ceiling as Carmen swung over to Le Chevre and grabbed the device from his hand, before he could use it as he looked down at everyone, and landed on some metal beams at the end of the walkway.

This caused Le Chevre to grit his teeth in anger and annoyance, as he said "Ugh! Carmen?" with a deep frown.

Carmen gave him a smile, as she said "Do you mean me, or the opera?" as she put her grappling hook away.

Naruto then swung over, and landed behind Le Chevre as he too gave a smile saying "And don't forget about me, monsieur chèvre" as he crossed his arms.

Le Chevre turned around, and gave him a scowl as he said "I knew that you'd be here too, as where one is, usually the other isn't far behind."

He then ran towards where Carmen was, and hopped over the rails, with Naruto chasing after him.

"What have we here?" Carmen asked, as she looked at the device in her hands.

Le Chevre did parkour moves, to reach the rafters where Carmen was and when he got there, he swung up from underneath her, and kicked her off from behind.

Naruto was quick to jump up to catch her, before she fell to the stage. Unfortunately, she dropped the device onto the rafter that the stage lights were on.

Le Chevre jumped down to the rafter, while Naruto and Carmen got down safely. Le Chevre picked up the device, just as Carmen and Naruto got on the rafter, and put earplugs in his ears with an evil smile, while saying "This will do."

Carmen was quick to grab the device, which caused Le Chevre to look over in surprise, and she turned to head back the way her and Naruto came, before Le Chevre grabbed her coat to stop her.

He then pulled her back and tried to grab the device from her, but she back flipped over him. Naruto then went to punch him, but Le Chevre blocked his attack while trying to knee him in the stomach, but Naruto backflipped away to avoid it. While they were fighting, everyone on stage continued to sing while the audience watched the opera.

Le Chevre then turned to Carmen and dashed at her, as he tried to grab her by leaping at her, but she jumped up to avoid him, as he went sailing to the end of the rafter. He then grabbed the bottom of the rafter to avoid falling, and climbed the bottom like you would on the monkey bars, while Carmen walked back over to Naruto as they both headed back the way they came.

As Naruto and Carmen reached the end of the rafter, Le Chevre swung himself up and kicked Naruto into Carmen, causing them both to go flying back with a yell of pain, and making Carmen let go of the device as she went over the side of the rafter, where she grabbed hold of the metal bar to stop herself from falling.

Naruto got up, and kicked at Le Chevre who blocked with his forearm, before Le Chevre did a spinning kick at Naruto which sent him towards the other end of the rafter, and made him move unsteadily on the edge. He looked over his shoulder, and saw a rope that he could grab and use to swing himself back on the rafter.

He backflipped, and grabbed the rope as he swung back before he swung forward again. While he did that, Le Chevre pointed the device down towards the audience and activated it, which caused waves to be emitted from it, and the lights to fizzle for a few moments while Carmen just hung there as she watched this happen, unknowingly also being affected by the device.

Le Chevre then turned the device off, and gave an evil chuckle before he walked off, as Carmen shook her head with a confused look on her face just as Naruto landed back on the rafter, and the singer on the stage finished her aria to a loud applause from the audience, where she gave them a bow.

Naruto walked over to Carmen, and knelt down as he held his hand out to her and said "You okay babe?"

Carmen gave a small nod, as she grabbed his hand and said "Yeah, I'm good" as she allowed herself to be pulled back up. She then said to herself "What was that all about?" She then touched her earpiece, saying "Player, I have no idea what I just heard, but it had to be a V.I.L.E note" with a frown.

"Good thing I was in record mode. Let's play it back and find out" he said to them while typing on his computer as he listened to the opera music and singing, as Naruto and Carmen got out of the Opera House.

0o0o0o0

(At V.I.L.E Isle)

Le Chevre was on a computer screen, while humming a few notes from the aria, with a smile on his face as he said {"Phase one accomplished, Dr. Bellum. The seed has been planted."}

Bellum had her back to the screen, as she was holding a glass chemical beaker, and swirling it around as she replied "Excellent" with a smile on her face. She then frowned, as she added "But skip the singing. You bleat like a goat." She then raised her eyebrows, and turned to face the screen as she asked "Oh, and did you happen to see my dear boy?"

Le Chevre raised an eyebrow, as he said {"El Topo? He is tunneling, according to plan"} as he shrugged his shoulders.

Bellum walked to the computer with a scowl, as she said "Not your dear boy. Mine." She then gave a smile, as she said "Crackle. Such a fine student. I shall never forget him."

Le Chevre had an evil grin, as he said {"And he shall never remember us"} before giving a laugh.

"I would not make light, Le Chevre," Dr. Bellum said, which caused him to stop laughing, as he gained a look of concern. "Slip up on the job like he did, and I could be draining your brain-pan someday" she threatened him, as she touched the screen where his forehead was, which caused him to go cross eyed.

{"Uh... right"} he said, before clearing his throat. {"And on the topic of former students, both Carmen and Naruto had made guest appearances at the performance of 'Carmen' tonight,"} he added with a raised eyebrow.

This caused Dr. Bellum to have an evil smile, as she said "Then I do hope that one of them was able to hear my remix."

Le Chevre gave a nod, as he said {"Carmen was able to hear it, but not Naruto."}

She gave a shrug, as she returned to what she was doing earlier, saying "No matter, at least one of them heard it."

0o0o0o0

(Back with Naruto and Carmen)

They were both listening to what Player had found from the device Le Chevre had used, with Naruto crouched down next to her.

"\Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomerang\" they heard a familiar voice saying.

{"It's Dr. Saira Bellum. Not exactly the voice of an angel"} Carmen said with a frown, as she rolled her eyes with a raised eyebrow. Naruto nodded in agreement, as they were both shown on Player's computer screen.

"Concealed in the sound wave projected from Goat Boy's device. Most likely a subliminal message, designed to make the listener follow its command" Player told them, with his own frown.

{"As in, that's one tune I don't want stuck in my head"} Carmen said, as she slightly raised her eyebrows.

"As in, let's hope it isn't. You were at the opera too" Player said with wide eyes, before giving a frown.

Naruto gave a nod, as he rubbed his chin saying {"Yeah, and you were right in the line of fire of that device too."}

{"Except I wasn't the target. I don't have a boomerang to launch, whatever that means"} Carmen said with raised eyebrows, before looking off to the side with narrowed eyes.

Player leaned back in his chair, and stretched his hands over his head with a smile saying "Thought you'd never ask." He then started typing on his computer, and said "There's only one launchable Boomerang I could find, a rocket, and it happens to be right there in Australia." He pulled up what info he could about the rocket, as well as who owned it, as he said "It's owned by HelioGem, a private company with a 4 billion dollar space flight contract. So I poked around the data in V.I.L.E's hard drive, and guess what. Your former teachers have been trying to get a piece of the space flight business too."

"And all this has what to do with an opera?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow, with Carmen doing the same, before they raised their binoculars to their eyes.

{"My thought exactly, which is why I hacked into the opera house box office and HelioGem's employee database"} he said over their comms. He continued to type, and pulled up the name and picture of someone, saying "And one name in common turned up. Dr. Jeanine Dennam, lead engineer of the Boomerang and avid opera buff. Guess who purchased a ticket for tonight's performance of Carmen'' Player said, as he typed on his computer some more, and pulled up pictures of her at the opera.

"So Bellum's subliminal message was directed at Dr. Dennam" Carmen said in realisation.

"You got it," Player said with a cocked eyebrow. He then cupped his chin with a frown, as he continued "And I imagine whatever tune happened to be playing at that time would trigger her into obeying the command. I just can't figure out what the Villains International League of Evil would have to gain by forcing her to launch her own rocket" he finished with his eyes raised to the ceiling.

"Considering it's V.I.L.E., I say we hightail it to HelioGem ASAP and see if we can't find out," Carmen said, while looking through her binoculars as she moved her head about.

Naruto nodded in agreement, as he too looked through his binoculars while moving his head.

{"Easier said than done, Red. The HelioGem base is pretty deep in harsh outback territory. I'd recommend finding a guide,"} Player said to them, just as Naruto and Carmen spotted Gray leaving the opera house.

"Found one," Naruto said.

{"Wait, Crackle again? You guys are playing with a live wire,"} Player said. He gave a frown, as he added "And don't forget, he once tried to electrocute you both on a train."

They both lowered their binoculars, as Carmen said "On direct orders from V.I.L.E, whom he doesn't seem to know even exists anymore."

Naruto nodded in agreement, as he stood up from where he was crouched down and said "Don't worry Player, we'll be careful."

They both then activated their gliders, and glided down to land behind Gray, who was humming to the opera music.

As soon as they folded their gliders away, Gray stopped his humming and turned around with a raised eyebrow.

He gave both Naruto and Carmen a smile, saying "Hey, I remember you two. Ol' Red and Orange Sneakeroo's" while walking over to them.

They both gave him a smile, as Naruto said "Good memory."

Gray rubbed the back of his neck, while looking off to the side as he said "Not really." This caused them both to raise their eyebrows slightly. "So... looking to get backstage for an autograph?" he asked them with a smile.

They gave him a small one in return, as Carmen said "No. To the outback for some sight-seeing. Thought you could be our guide." Naruto nodded his head in agreement, saying "Yeah, as you're the only one we're familiar with here."

"Thanks mates, but I wish. Something fried the soundboard tonight. I have to pull an early morning shift to troubleshoot" Gray said with a smile as he shrugged his shoulders slightly, before he pulled out a pen and paper from his jacket.

"You mentioned having a bad memory. Why's that?" Naruto asked him curiously, causing Gray to pause, as he was about to write something on the paper.

Gray looked a little concerned, as he said "Well, I... I-I kind of messed up on the job a while back, got a little 'jolt' as we sparkies say. Complete blackout, long hospital stay, blah, blah. Heh. There's more than an entire year of my life I can't remember" as he wrote something down on the piece of paper.

Both Naruto and Carmen looked worried, as they cast their eyes down, with Carmen saying "A whole year?"

"I'd say I'm lucky to have my job back if being an electrician weren't such a dangerous occupation" Gray said with a smile, as he handed them the piece of paper with what he'd written on it.

Naruto and Carmen both grinned, as Carmen said "Oh, I can think of worse ones." Naruto nodded in agreement, as he took the piece of paper saying "Is this the address of an outback guide?"

"A good guide's easy to find online," Gray said, before pointing at the paper in Naruto's hand. "This is the address of my favorite Cafe in Sydney. I'll be there Friday night at 8pm. Will you guys be there? I'd like to get to know you both, and be friends with ya" he asked them.

They looked at each other, before Carmen said "Let's see if we make it back from our tour in one piece." Naruto nodded in agreement, as he said "And if we do, you'll be buying the drinks for us, like a good hospitable host does" as they walked off.

Gray gave a nod at that, before he turned around and shouted "Hey, I never got your guys names!"

"I'm Carmen, and he's Naruto," Carmen yelled back.

Gray gave a laugh, as he said "That girl is a cheeky one" with his eyes slightly narrowed in amusement.

As they walked back to their hotel, Player told them what he'd found online.

"The outback: It may sound like someone's backyard, but it's a huge wilderness that covers more than 80% of Australia. That's over half the size of the US or China" Player said.

{"That's tons of room to roam for all the local critters, like dingoes, crocodiles, and even kangaroos"} Carmen said.

"Yo, what's up, joey?" Player said with a grin.

{"And smack in the middle of all that real estate sits Ayers Rock"} Naruto said.

"Whoa! What kind of rock is 2 miles long and over 1,000 feet tall?" Player said in amazement, as he looked up the monolith.

{"One the Aboriginal people who live there, consider it to be sacred"} Carmen said. {"Their name for it is Uluru"} Naruto added.

"Just be careful, guys. Like I said, there's some pretty harsh terrain out there in the outback" Player warned them.

0o0o0o0

(The next day)

Naruto, Carmen, Zack and Ivy were in a jeep with their tour guide, whose name was Miro.

As they were driving along the road, they saw some kangaroos hopping along next to them. "I heard that kangaroos are wicked good boxers. Ever go a few rounds with one, Miro?" Zack asked their tour guide, as he turned to him with a smile.

"I can't say that I have," Miro replied.

"Oh well, how about a crocodile? Ever wrestled one of those before?" Zack asked him eagerly.

"No, sorry" Miro said, as he shook his head.

"Ooh, what about koalas? Are they really as vicious as everyone says they are? Oh, no wait, is that dingoes?" Zack said, with a raised eyebrow, while cupping his chin in thought.

Naruto and Carmen were giving small smiles at all the questions Zack was asking, while Ivy sighed before she gave a frown, as she said "What about that rock, Zack? I'd shove it in your mouth to shut you up, but I don't think it's big enough" while pointing at Ayers Rock, which they were driving towards.

"That's Uluru" Naruto said, as he and Carmen gave a smile.

This caused Miro to look at them in the rearview mirror, as he raised an eyebrow saying "Very good." He then faced the front, and added "The ground it occupies has been home to my people for at least 22,000 years" as they drove alongside it.

"We're on sacred land" Carmen said.

"That's right," Miro said with a nod.

{"Yo, guys"} Player said in Naruto and Carmen's earpieces.

"Excuse us Miro" Naruto said, as they placed a finger to their comms.

"I've got good news for ya" Player said to them, as he typed on the computer a little. "Turns out HelioGem delayed the launch of the Boomerang to do some serious repair work. The rocket's defective. So there's no launch to stop. Boy will V.I.L.E be surprised" he said with a smile, as he leaned back in his chair.

Carmen was looking out the jeep window, before she looked up in realization as she said "No, this is their plan."

Naruto nodded in agreement, as he cupped his chin saying "Yeah, I agree."

{"What?"} Player said in surprise.

Zack and Ivy looked at them both with raised eyebrows, as they didn't understand what they were talking about.

Carmen turned from the window, and faced Miro as she asked "Miro, how far are we from HelioGem?"

He briefly looked back at her, before focusing back on the road as he replied "It's not too far outside the park boundaries."

Naruto and Carmen looked at each other, as Naruto raised an eyebrow and asked "Player, what happens if a defective rocket prematurely launches?"

He gave a shrug, as he said "It depends on the defect. It might not achieve orbit."

Naruto and Carmen both gained looks of worry at the sametime, as Carmen said "Or it could explode before it reaches the atmosphere, raining debris down on sacred Aboriginal land?" Miro looked at them briefly from the corner of his eye with a raised brow, before looking back at the road. "The public outcry would be so great, HelioGem would lose their contract," Naruto added, as Ivy and Zack looked at them with curious raised eyebrows.

{"Paving the way for V.I.L.E. to step in and take it over, since they pulled strings to make it look like HelioGem's incompetence was at fault,"} Player said with shock.

Naruto and Carmen both looked down in sorrow, before looking back up with determined looks on their faces. "We have to prevent the desecration of Uluru" Carmen said with a frown, as Naruto nodded with his own frown while punching his fist into his hand.

Miro looked at them with curiosity, as he said "You aren't tourists, are you?" as they looked at him in slight worry.

Naruto and Carmen gave him sheepish smiles, as Naruto said "We're….rocket scientists" as they both gave him a shrug, with Zack and Ivy giving him slight nods of agreement, along with smiles, while Miro raised an eyebrow at them.

0o0o0o0

(Sometime later, at HelioGem)

The four of them got out of the jeep, while wearing scientist lab coats to help them sneak inside and blend in, with Naruto and Carmen wearing glasses and Carmen had her hair in a high ponytail.

"Divide and conquer, crew. We know the trigger's in the music" Naruto told Zack and Ivy. Carmen nodded in agreement, saying "You two and Naruto need to find Dr. Dennam and make sure she doesn't decide she's in the mood to hear 'Carmen' until the next showing."

Ivy gave a grin, as she nodded and said "We hear you, Carmen." She and Naruto looked at Zack with raised eyebrows, who looked confused. Ivy rolled her eyes at him, and said "Our boss, not the opera" as Zack looked off to the side with a small smile.

"And don't forget my sexy and smart girlfriend," Naruto added with a grin.

Carmen smiled back, as she said "And I'll see to it no one launches the Boomerang until it's ready to soar" while looking at said rocket.

Naruto walked up to her, and gave her a brief kiss on the lips as he said "Be careful babe."

Carmen gave him a nod, as she replied "Yeah, and you too" as she too kissed him briefly on the lips, before they split up to do their respective assignments.

Carmen was heading towards a door, as she said in her commlink "Player, let's steal some launch codes." She was able to get inside, and once she did she looked around.

0o0o0o0

(With the others)

The other three were walking down a hallway, as they passed different rooms while looking through the windows, to see if Dr. Dennam was in them or not.

They were passing through a big room, which had multiple people walking around or working at their stations, when Ivy spotted her. "There she is!" she said, making Zack and Naruto look over at where she pointed. They saw her press a button on her music player, which caused them to gain looks of shock.

"Oh no!" Ivy said in worry, as she and the boys ran over to her, just as they saw her putting her earphones in her ears.

"Dr. Jeanine Dennam, stop!" Ivy yelled, as they climbed the stairs to where she was. This caused her to stop her work, as she turned around and took her earphones out.

"Pardon?" she asked them curiously.

The three of them walked up to her with uneasy smiles, as Ivy pulled a badge from her coat saying "We're... your new interns."

"You are?" she said in surprise, as Zack and Ivy leaned against the table with Zack giving her a two finger salute, while Naruto leaned against the rails.

"So, what are you listening to, Doc?" Ivy asked her, as she picked up the music player.

"Uh, a podcast about exploring Proxima b" Dennam said, as Zack looked interested and put the earphones in his ears.

"Not an opera?" Naruto asked her in slight shock.

Jeanine looked surprised, as she held her hand against her chest and said "Goodness, I find opera far too distracting when I'm working."

Both Naruto and Ivy sighed in relief, with slight smiles on their faces. Zack gave a laugh, as he said "Whoa! This guy says there's a second Earth that might have aliens on it! We have got to visit this planet" which made the other three look at Zack with raised eyebrows.

0o0o0o0

(With Carmen)

Carmen was typing on a computer before her, before she said "And... I'm in" as the screen changed to the rocket's launch procedure, before two others on either side of her lit up.

"Good thing, Red. Because it would take me hours to hack through the HelioGem firewalls from where I sit" Player said with a frown.

In between the two keyboards, a panel opened up to reveal a large red button.

"Whoa, that's a big button," Carmen said in surprised shock.

{"System default. Once you delete the launch codes, it'll retract. Until then, just don't press it, whatever you do"} Player told her. Carmen gave a small smile, before she went back to typing on the keyboards.

0o0o0o0

(Outside the building)

Le Chevre was on a satellite on top of the building, as he looked at the rocket. He then held up his phone, and said into it "Are you ready, Mon Ami?"

There was a hole leading into a tunnel underground, while El Topo had a laptop on the ground and a wire connected to it and going into wires that lead into the building.

El Topo connected the last few wires together, as he said "Hold on to your horns, Mi Amigo, for the show is about to begin." He then went to the laptop, and pressed a button which caused the aria to be played through the speakers.

0o0o0o0

(Back with the others)

Jeanine was explaining to the three of them why she didn't listen to opera at work. "...Then my colleagues found me huddled in the corner of the laboratory, weeping," Dr. Dennam said, before she gave a sigh. "Puccini never fails to reduce me to tears. That was the day I decided the laboratory is no place for opera." The three of them all had looks of boredom on their faces, as they tried not to fall asleep.

Before anything else could happen, they heard opera music coming from the speakers.

"Ah! I love Bizet!" Dr. Dennam said with a small smile, as she pressed her hands together. Her eyes then widened, as her pupils shrank slightly. "Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomerang" she said in a monotone, while robotically walking forward.

"Uh-oh!" the three of them said in worry, as they watched her walking off.

"We can't let her get to mission control" Ivy said to Naruto and Zack, as they ran over to her.

"Launch the Boomerang" Dr. Dennam said in her monotone voice, as she continued her slow walk.

Naruto, Ivy and Zack raced in front of her, as Naruto said "No Boomerangs this way, that's for sure" as he turned her around, so that she faced the way she came from.

Jeanine took two steps forward, before turning around again saying "Launch the Boomerang" as Naruto walked backwards with a look of shock.

Zack pushed a cart in the way, as he said "What do you want to do that for anyway?" as Naruto got out of the way, while Zack and Ivy stood on the other side of it, with their hands on the handle bar.

Dr. Dennam continued walking forward as she said "Launch the Boomerang" while pushing against the cart, causing Zack and Ivy to slide backwards.

"You've got some determination, Doc" Ivy said, as she turned around.

Naruto looked around for something to help slow Jeanine down, or stop her entirely. He then saw something that could help, and gave a smirk. "Ivy!" he yelled out to her, as he pointed at said item.

Ivy looked over at Naruto, and upon seeing what he was pointing at gave a smirk of her own, as she dashed over with Naruto to grab it, leaving Zack to push the cart against Dr. Dennam, as he looked over in curiosity.

"Launch the Boomerang" Dennam said, as she pushed the cart aside while walking. Meanwhile, Naruto and Ivy grabbed a hose pipe off a nearby wall.

"All this talk about lunch is making me hungry," Zack said, as he watched Dr. Dennam walk past him.

"Focus, Zack!" Ivy said in an annoyed tone, as Naruto tossed one end of the pipe at him.

"Launch the Boomerang" Jeanine said, as Ivy threw some of the pipe over the scientist's head, before she quickly walked around Dennam with the rest of the pipe to tie her up.

The three of them high fived each other, thinking that would be enough to stop Dr. Dennam. They were wrong however, as Jeanine said "Launch the Boomerang" while hopping forward, causing them to look at her in shock.

Zack and Ivy grabbed her before she went any further, and picked her up before walking back the way they came.

"The lab is totally no place for opera," Zack said to Ivy and Naruto.

Naruto nodded in agreement, while Ivy gave her brother a slight smile. Ivy then saw a room off to the side, and gave a smirk.

Seeing where Ivy was looking, Naruto gave her a nod and ran over to open the door, while Zack and Ivy carried Dennam over, and placed her inside it, before closing the door.

"Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomerang" Dr. Dennam's voice could be faintly heard from the room.

The three of them then fist bumped, and broke away with Zack laughing as he said "We did Carmen wicked proud! Our boss, not the opera" with Ivy crossing her arms with a smile on her face.

"And let's not forget my girlfriend," Naruto added with his hand up.

"That too," Zack said with a nod.

0o0o0o0

(With Carmen)

Carmen was typing away on the computers, before she paused as Player said {"One more sequence should do it."}

0o0o0o0

(With El Topo)

El Topo gave a smirk, as he pressed a button on the laptop, which was still playing the music.

0o0o0o0

(Back with Carmen)

Carmen was smiling as she was about to continue typing away, when the opera music came through the speakers in the room.

This caused her to look up in shock, before she went in the same trance that Dr. Dennam was in.

"Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomerang" she said in the same monotone voice as Jeanine.

Player was leaning forward with a raised eyebrow as he listened to Carmen, before he sat up in realisation saying "The subliminal message!" He then shouted "Red, snap out of it!"

"Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomerang" Carmen continued to say, before she looked at the red button and pressed it.

This caused every screen in the room to light up, including the giant screen at the front of the room. "Launch the Boomerang," Carmen said, as though commanding the computer what to do.

"\Launch sequence activated. Liftoff in T-minus 3 minutes\" a man's voice could be heard from the computer.

"Launch the Boomerang" Carmen said, like she was in agreement.

Outside, sirens were going off, along with smoke leaving the rocket's thrusters as it shook, with its preparation for lift off, with Miro looking up from his phone at the rocket in shock.

0o0o0o0

(With the others)

Zack and Ivy were still on either side of the door for the room that Dennam was in, while Naruto was leaning against a table, as they heard the noise of the rocket.

"Whoa! Sweet subwoofer" Zack said.

Before anything else could be said, Naruto felt his watch vibrating on his wrist, so he pulled up his sleeve and pressed a button on his watch, which caused a hologram of Player to appear as he asked "Player, what's going on?"

{"Guys, Carmen activated the rocket. It launches in less than 3 minutes,"} Player said.

This caused the three of them to gain looks of shock, as Naruto and Ivy both said "What?"

"Carm went to the dark side!?" Zack said with a look of worry.

Naruto shook his head, saying "Nope, there's no way she'd go evil now."

Player was frantically typing on his computer, saying "Naruto's right. She's hypnotized, and she'll stay that way as long as that music's playing." After typing for a few more seconds, he then said {"I've pinpointed the audio source. It's coming from a utility tunnel under the facility. You need to shut it down so Carmen can snap to her senses. We need her to disable the rocket"} causing a map to appear on the hologram, showing where the signal was coming from.

"Me and Ivy can handle that last part," Naruto said, as he headed for the door. "Go axe a DJ, Bro" Ivy said to Zack with a thumbs up, as she followed after him. Zack gave a nod, as he briefly followed them out the room before finding some stairs that led down until he was in the tunnel, while Naruto and Ivy headed outside for the rocket.

0o0o0o0

(With Naruto and Ivy)

Naruto and Ivy were running across the tramac towards the rocket, while Naruto had set his watch to speaker so that they could both hear what Player told them.

{"Okay, guys, you'll need to get to the control panel and remove the launch drive"} Player said, as they reached the rocket and stood at the base of the tower next to it.

They both looked shocked, as the door needed a hand scan to open it. Ivy then asked "What control panel?"

Player said {"It's on the rocket's payload. Top of the tower"} as a hologram popped up on the watch of where it was.

They both looked up in absolute shocked surprise, with Ivy saying "Ooh, that's really up there."

Naruto shook off his shock, as he placed a hand on her shoulder in comfort and said "C'mon, we can do this."

Ivy gave him a grateful smile, as she nodded her head in agreement, before they began climbing up a ladder on the outside of the tower.

With Le Chevre, he was looking at the rocket as he said "90 seconds to launch." He then frowned as he spotted something, before using his binoculars to see Naruto and Ivy climbing to the top.

He then lowered his binoculars with a glare, and said "You cannot out-climb a goat!" before sliding down the wire he was on, and jumped down to the ground as he ran for the rockets tower.

0o0o0o0

(In the utility tunnel)

Zack was still running in the tunnels, until he came across El Topo who was still crouching before the laptop, who looked up at him with a raised eyebrow when he heard him appear.

"Have you not heard the alert, mate?" Zack said to him, in his best Australian accent.

"What alert?" El Topo asked with a raised eyebrow.

Zack cocked an eyebrow, as he said "The dingo alert. The doggies are going wild out there" as both his eyebrows were raised, as he raised an arm. This caused El Topo to look concerned. "It's... It's the high notes. They, uh... it gets them all crazed and bloodthirsty!" Zack said, as he clenched his fingers like claws.

El Topo stood up, as he raised his eyes to look up as he asked "Do they come below ground?" before looking at Zack in worry.

Zack had his hands on his lab coat as he gave a slight laugh, before frowning as he said "I'm a rocket scientist, not a zookeeper." He then darted his eyes from side to side, as he said "Oh, uh, but they're out there, and they mangled some French dude!"

"Le Chevre!" El Topo exclaimed in concern, before he frowned as he dove through the hole he'd made earlier, as he headed back to the surface.

Zack ran over, and looked through the hole as he heard El Topo digging to the surface. He then turned to the laptop, and cords plugged into the laptop which caused the music to stop playing.

He then gave a sigh, as he said "Nails on a chalkboard."

0o0o0o0

(With Carmen)

Carmen was still standing in the control room, saying "Launch the Boomerang. Launch the Boomera-" before she interrupted herself, as she snapped out of it, and took in the current situation.

"What!?" she exclaimed in shock, as she looked up at the big screen, and saw that there was one minute and forty seven seconds left and counting, before the rocket was launched. She bit her bottom lip in worry, as she said "What have I done?"

0o0o0o0

(With Naruto and Ivy)

Naruto and Ivy were still climbing the ladder to the top of the rocket, as Ivy was saying "Oh boy. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy."

They both soon reached the top of the tower, and had to hold on to the rails when it shook, as the rocket was getting close to launching. They both looked at the rocket in worry, as they ran towards it while smoke was coming out of the vents at the bottom.

"Come on, I'll boost you up" Naruto said to Ivy, as he placed his hands together to allow Ivy to put her foot on them.

Ivy gave him a grateful nod, as she put one of her feet on his hands and allowed herself to be pushed up to the control panel, so she could grab the launch drive. Naruto then carefully placed Ivy's feet on his shoulders so she was better balanced, and grabbed her legs so she didn't fall.

Ivy then grabbed a handle next to where the panel was, and pried the door open with a flathead screwdriver. When it was opened, both Naruto and Ivy saw there was only a minute and sixteen seconds left.

With a grin on her face Ivy reached for the panel, but before she could grab it Le Chevre grabbed Naruto and tossed him away from the rocket, before he grabbed onto Ivy's ankle and tried to pull her away from the rocket.

Ivy turned around and tried to reach for the panel, seeing that there was now one minute and six seconds left.

Naruto got up from where he was thrown, and rushed over to help Ivy, just as Le Chevre pulled her to one side, and threw her off the platform.

"Ivy!" Naruto yelled, with his hand stretched out.

Luckily before Ivy fell too far, she grabbed onto Le Chevre's arm causing him to say "What!?" in shocked surprise, before he grabbed onto the rails to stop himself from going over. "Let go!" he shouted at Ivy with a glare.

The timer said there was now fifty nine seconds until lift off.

Ivy glared back at him, as she replied "Not on ya life pal" before she climbs over him to get back up onto the platform. She stepped on Le Chevre's face, saying "Get out of my way!" before jumping off.

"My face!" Le Chevre complained, as Naruto was quick to give Ivy a hug, seeing that she was alright, before they both looked at Le Chevre and glared at him, while he glared back.

Ivy looked at the timer, seeing they only had forty eight seconds left before the rocket launched.

Naruto and Ivy ran towards Le Chevre, while he too ran to them. Ivy slid underneath his outstretched arms as he tried to grab her, while Naruto somersaulted over him and kicked him in the back, sending him stumbling forward, before he righted himself and turned around as he dashed at Naruto.

Le Chevre then threw a punch at Naruto, who blocked it and threw a kick back at him, but Le Chevre dodged it and tried to elbow him, but Naruto ducked under it, and punched him in the stomach, sending him back a few feet. Naruto then activated his grappling gun to try and tie up Le Chevre, but he jumped up and kicked it out of his hands and when he landed he then tripped Naruto up, before he ran for Ivy. Naruto was quick to jump up, and ran after him.

Le Chevre grabbed Ivy by putting his arm underneath hers, which briefly took her by surprise before she fought against him as she tried to continue walking forward. Naruto then appeared, and put Le Chevre in a chokehold as he tried to knock him out to release Ivy.

As they struggled, they didn't notice they were close to the rail until it was too late as they fell over, as they gave yells of surprise.

Naruto let go of Le Chevre, and was quick enough to grab onto the side of the rocket before falling too far. "Whew, that was close one" he said with a sigh.

Ivy was also quick enough to grab onto the rocket before she and Le Chevre fell too far down. "Oh boy" she said in worry, with her eyes wide.

The three of them soon heard a car's horn honking, as El Topo shouted "Le Chevre, it is safe to come down. The dingoes have all gone."

Le Chevre looked down with a side-long look, as he yelled back "What are you talking about?" He then looked at Naruto and Ivy with an evil smirk, and said "Enjoy the flight."

"What?" Ivy exclaimed in shocked surprise, as Le Chevre used Ivy as a way to swing himself onto the walkway that was underneath them, and once he was on it he ran for the ladder. He quickly climbed down it, and headed for the jeep where El Topo was waiting.

"No surprise, as I kinda knew he'd do that" Naruto said with a deadpan.

"You can't leave us here! We're not space cadets!" Ivy yelled after him, as there were now sixteen seconds left on the clock.

"C'mon, we need to get back up there," Naruto yelled at her. He then groaned, and said "Pity that I lost my grappling gun, or that I don't have a spare with me."

Ivy nodded in agreement, as they both tried to climb up the rocket but slipped as they nearly fell, with ten seconds now left. Ivy was slipping as she tried to hold on tight, before she started to fall.

"IVY!" Naruto yelled, upon seeing her fall as he reached for her, but she was out of reach. He then saw a grappling hook come up, and attached onto the top railing.

"I've got you," Carmen said, with no glasses, while her hair was down and her white coat was open, as she and Ivy flew up to the top of the rocket.

Carmen flipped underneath the top platform, and dropped Ivy onto it who landed with an 'oomph' while Carmen landed on the rocket, and slid down to where the control panel was. She quickly grabbed it, and pulled it out, stopping the launch, as the engine stopped with only two seconds left, and Miro breathed a sigh of relief from the jeep.

El Topo and Le Chevre looked up with unhappy looks on their faces, as Le Chevre sat down where they briefly looked at each other, before El Topo drove them away.

Carmen grabbed Ivy's hand, and pulled her up saying "Good work, Ivy" as they looked at the time left on the rocket.

"Number two, huh? I think I just did that in my pants" Ivy said with a look of relief.

"Hey Carmen," Naruto yelled from where he was hanging from the rocket.

The girls looked down at where Naruto was still hanging on the rocket. "Yes babe?" Carmen said back.

"Ivy's fine, save me" he yelled up at her.

Carmen gave him a nod, as she picked up his grappling gun and attached the hook end to the rails, before she swung down to him and grabbed his hand before swinging them both back up to the platform.

"Whew, I'm never doing that ever again" Naruto said with a sign of relief.

The girls chuckled at this, before Carmen said "C'mon. Let's get Zack, and leave this place."

The other two nodded in agreement, as they headed for the ladder and climbed down. They soon got to the lab, and after explaining things to Dr. Dennam, she was most thankful to them. The four of them soon got back in the jeep with Miro, before heading back to Sydney.

0o0o0o0

(A few hours later, outside a cafe at nighttime)

Gray was sitting at a table outside a cafe, while Naruto and Carmen were approaching it from the other side of the road, while in their red and orange hoodies, with the hoods up and hands in their pockets.

{"Remember, guys. Crackle once tried to-"} Player was saying to them, before he was interrupted.

"Turn out our lights with a sizzle stick, we know," Naruto said with a roll of his eyes. "But... before he was Crackle, he was Gray. And Gray was like a big brother to us" he added. Carmen nodded in agreement, as she said with a frown "We thought we'd lost him for good, but this could be... I don't know... some sort of do-over? A second chance?" Both her and Naruto stood before a zebra crossing, and looked across the street at where Gray was sitting at a table, with unsure looks on their faces.

{"Okay, let's say that I buy that Gray, Crackle, Graham, whoever really is a happy electrician with a bright future now"} Player said, as Gray checked the time on his watch. "We know that Dr. Bellum's into mind-control experiments. What if she played him some opera music too? What if V.I.L.E. is waiting to see you with him so they can flip a switch? (while snapping his fingers) Bam. Instead of launching a rocket, Crackle's crunching a Carmen, with a side of Naruto" Player added, causing Naruto and Carmen to look over at Gray with worried looks.

They then looked at each other, as Naruto said "You have a point, Player." Gray looked at his watch again, before looking up at where Carmen and Naruto were standing on the other side of the road. He stood up with a smile, just as Carmen and Naruto looked at him and gave small smiles of their own at him. A bus soon passed in front of them, and when it did Naruto and Carmen were both gone. This caused Gray to raise an eyebrow in surprise, as he looked around for them.

Naruto and Carmen walked down the pathway, with their hands in their hoodies pockets. "We can't let V.I.L.E. see him with us. But not for our safety. For his" Carmen said, as Naruto nodded in agreement.

{"What? Why?"} Player asked in curiosity.

"For whatever strange reason, Gray has a fresh start now. And having Carmen Sandiego and Naruto Uzumaki back in his life would only complicate that" Naruto said, as he and Carmen headed off down the sidewalk.

0o0o0o0

(At VILE Academy, Professor Maelstrom's classroom)

Professor Maelstrom was sitting in his chair, with his fingertips pressed together and one leg over the other. "My star student. Thank you for coming. I was wondering if you would be up for a certain task. Bring me the hats of Carmen Sandiego and Naruto Uzumaki" he said to a figure before him.

The student before him gave a smirk, as she turned an origami sheep into an origami throwing star, before throwing it at a skeleton and sliced its skull clean off.

Gunnar looked at what the student did, before facing her again as he said "I will take that as a 'yes' then."

"So long as I get to 'play' with Naruto first, before you do whatever you have planned for him" she told him, before she turned around and left the classroom.

0o0o0o0

Hope that everyone enjoyed the chapter, and that you're doing what you can to avoid getting this COVID by following the rules. Let's hope that now the vaccines are all done, we can rest a bit easier.

I have also posted a few story ideas on my home page, and if any of you want to use them please let me know.