Authors Notes: A...nd we're back jack with Cooper & Sandiego and Happy New Year!. To all those who have been following this story I do apologise for the delayed updates a lot has been going on what with finishing my work placement in mid January and doing other work on the side, and balancing my personal life with work its been pretty tough to update. But I thank you all for your continued patience and a lot of you have been writing in with suggestions, and know I have a plan in later chapters. Now without further delay lets begin as Sly and Crew are about to learn the origins of the Boston Siblings crossing paths with a certain thief in red.
Sly Cooper (c) Sucker Punch Productions
Carmen Sandiego 2019 (c) Netflix.
Sandiego & The Gang in
:The Boston Tea Party Caper:
Zack & Ivy POV
In a darkened workshop a blow touch was ignited and began welding some pieces of metal. The figure wearing a welding mask worked on welding what looked like the underside of a car.
"Everyone has a place where they come from, a place they call home. But for me and my bro it was how we started out that put us on the path we're on now."
The figure then used a tire drill to drill on the lug nuts for the new tires which looked racing grade. She secured them on while another a male figure held the car up with a car jack.
"Yeah sometimes on the road of fate all it takes is one little detour to really shake things up huh sis?"
Soon the two figures began shaking spray paint cans and began spraying paint onto the car in white, moments later they began applying what looked like decals to the car doors namely a circle with a number 1 in the middle.
"Yeah and lets just say our story took us on one hell of a race down our new road of life."
The two figures removed their masks to reveal they're really Zack and Ivy who look over their creation with pride. They give each other a fist bump smiling.
End of POV
San Diego:
The sea stretched out over the calmness of the dusk sky, and the chorus of gulls sounded in the air. On the land in the city of San Diego was a large warehouse building with the logo of Carmen Brand Outerwear in the middle of the were also for sale signs on the front as well. Standing in front was Carmen and Shadowsan with Sly, Murray and Bentley (in their disguises.) Sometime after the Fashionista Caper they went to investigate the warehouse hoping to use it as a headquarters/hideout per Shadowsan's recommendation.
"I like it." Shadowsan said to the group as he looked at the building. "Even if it does need work."
"Work is the blunt way of saying it Shadowsan." Bentley then explained looking on his tablet and the scan he'd made of the building and a few photos. "The whole top floor living area needs to be completely renovated among other things, we also need to see if it will be adequate for our power needs and we need to find the ideal cover for our new hideout as well."
"Yeah but if you look past all the cracks pal, I think this place will make a great hideout, much bigger than the one we have back home." Sly then said with optimism.
"So why does it need a cover?" Murray asked shrugging.
"Simply put Murray, we know VILE has eyes nearly everywhere hence they know we're coming and to have a sign with Carmens name on it would instantly draw attention." Bentley explained. "So we'll need to tear down the sign and put in something else to serve as a cover so they don't get suspicious."
"Agreed, the best way to avoid VILE's eye is to simply blend in plain sight using their own tactics against them." Shadowsan agreed.
However while everyone looked rather optimistic about this idea of a new hideout there was one person who wasn't so keen on the idea. Namely Carmen.
"Well I wouldn't put out the welcome mat just yet boys." Carmen then said to the group. "The idea of even having a headquarters is too "VILE Island" for me."
Sly could see Carmen still wasn't completely on board with the idea, and he couldn't blame her. She had been confined to VILE Island her whole childhood and growing up, she got away to be free from that and see the world. Plus a HQ was a little like VILE which Carmen didn't like and the raccoon thief could see this would take time.
Sly sighed. "Look Carmen I know a base might be a little too much like VILE but it won't be." He said putting his arm around her shoulder. "Its like I said before every gang needs a hideout but the difference between us and VILE is we don't do it like they do. No hidden agendas, no interference and it's not on an island in the middle of nowhere."
Carmen did crack a small laugh at that joke. "Do you always have a way with words?" She asked.
"Eh only on a good day, or so I've been told." Sly smirked Shadowsan simple shook his head at that with a slight grin.
"Hey guys." The group looked and saw Zack and Ivy coming out the front door. "the joint's wicked humongous!" Ivy exclaimed excitedly as she and her brother walked over.
"Gotta be enough room in there for a bowling alley, and a ninja training gym," Zack did a few ninja stances to show his point before looking to Shadowsan. "for our private sessions." He hinted though Shadowsan just shot a glare in annoyance.
"Plus there's plenty of room to set up a garage for the van." Ivy then said. "So Murray no need for such a cramped space."
"Awesome!" Murray shot his hands in the air much to Shadowsan stone cold stare.
Just then Carmens phone rang she answered it to see it was Player. "Hey Red how's San Diego?" He asked.
"I'm feeling a little ganged up on at the moment." Carmen said looking at Zack leaning his shoulder on Shadowsan who glared at him greatly to back off.
"I think he meant our location." Bentley corrected.
Players Room:
"Yeah over there on the sunny west coast of Cali-forn-i-a." Player said typing on his keyboard looking up the gangs current location.
San Diego:
"Oh! And Player can get his own room!" Zack then suggested.
"Um, I have my own room." Player replied.
"Really I thought he lived in the cloud?" Murray asked scratching his head.
"Yeah me too." Ivy agreed.
"No I live in the cloud, the cloud known as ThiefNet, but I'm guessing he hasn't called just to see how our hideout hunt is going." Bentley said. "Am I right my dear Player?"
Players Room:
"Clairvoyant as always Bentley." Player said impressed. "I have been hearing voices again, from the internet." Player explained as he pulled up some data he recently decrypted from the hard drive. Showing an image of a futuristic looking car in white and black. "And this time, they're telling me VILE's all abuzz about some kind of racing prototype." He finished explaining.
"Racing?" Zack asked.
"Racing as in race car?" Murray then asked. "Now your speaking The Murray's language"
San Diego:
"Why would VILE want a race car?" Ivy asked.
"Guess maybe the Countess needed a new slick set of wheels?" Sly guessed jokingly.
"Not likely Sly." Bentley said looking over the data himself from the tablet. "It seems to be a new advanced prototype race car thats entirely electric and streamlined to go at high speeds."
Zack then gasped at an idea. "Hey I bet it's also a flying race car!"
"Come on Zack you know fully well that cars don't fly." Bentley said with a raised eyebrow.
"Murray's van flies, like it did back in Riviera." Zack reminded.
"Yes but there's a difference between flying and gliding." Bentley pointed out.
"Try not to get into an argument with him pal, no one ever wins." Sly advised before Zack could say anything else.
"Plus those exist bro, they're called airplanes." Ivy then said.
Zack then reminisced on something. "Ah, remember our racer? She didn't actually fly, but, boy, could she…"
"Vroom and zoom!" Ivy finished.
"BOOYAH!" The two siblings hifived each other then did a hip bump, while Shadowsan watched judgementally.
"I truly cannot fathom was possessed you to staff your crew with these unruly pranksters." He rhetorically asked much to Carmens amused smile.
"Hey I actually resent that remark." Murray said.
"Oh, and look who's suddenly taken an interest." Ivy said sarcastically.
"That is not what I meant." Shadowsan hastily said not wanting to hear this.
"Hold up come to think of it…" Sly then realised. "When we met you said you first met Carmen when you were casing a doughnut shop in Boston right?"
"Yeah." Zack replied.
"I also remember while we were in Monte Carlo you said Monaco was your kinda place?" Sly then asked.
"Guess we can't hide much from you Sly." Ivy said with her own knowing smirk. "Funny enough it was our race car that brought us to Carmen."
"Really how?" Murray asked now fully interested in this story.
"Well Murray let us take you back…" Zack explained.
One Year Ago:
The city of Boston stood proud in the gray light of a summer dawn, as gulls flew in the sky. "Clear across the country on the east coast of the good old U.S. of A." Zack explained as the scene switched to the south of Boston city where car alarms sounded. "Me and Ivy grew up in the south of Boston, or "Southie" as we locals called it."
"Not exactly a hoity-toity part of town, though some kids knew ways to get quick cash whenever they needed it." Ivy explained. A young man ran from a car he'd just busted into as a Police car raced by in pursuit of the young thief.
"I assume by stealing?" Bentley asked.
"Yeah pretty much." Zack then said. "But me and Ivy vowed used our super powers for good."
As the police car zoomed down the street the scene quickly switched to a race car in white with blue, red and black racing stripes with the number 1 in the centre of the door. It appeared to be a modified Porsche with a custom grill.
The car was leading the back round the corner of the track followed by other race cars like Aston Martins and other race cars. However the lead car came in first place across the finishing line. The car stopped in front of a mechanic who was really Ivy but she had slightly longer hair and was in greyish blue racing overalls.
"Behind the wheel and under the hood." Zack explained.
"Wait so you guys were racers! Like me!" Murray exclaimed.
"You betcha big guy." Ivy chuckled. "I was the mechanic and Zack the driver."
The driver came out of the drivers seat, and removed his helmet to reveal it was Zack who was the driver of this race car he wore a greyish blue racing suit with white pants and a red helmet.
"BOOYAH!" Zack cheered.
"Vroom and Zoom!" Ivy cheered high fives her brother and hip bump each other. Ivy then proceeded to open the bonnet to check on the engine.
"Lydia, our racer, was totally custom." Ivy explained.
Ivy checked the wiring leading to the engine to make sure everything was in order and working. "Big sis pretty much built her with her own two hands." Zack then said. Zack sat in the car and revved the engine checking all the connections were in the right place and it purred like a kitten.
"Wow! So thats how you knew your way around an engine! Even my own van!" Murray realised given how intrigued she looked at the van when they first met. "And Lydia what a beautiful name for a ride!"
"See Carmen I'm not the only charmer of the crew." Sly smirked. "Go on."
"Me and my little bro moved up one race at a time, from amateur to semipro, working our way all the way up to the professional league." Ivy explained.
The brother and sister racing team's car had raced down every track that came their way. Each race they won in the top five and even in first place crossing the finishing line earning new standings in different leagues in every win.
Many races later the duo were taking part in another race, but this was the big one. "And that day was upon us, the final race of the prequalifying season." Zack explained.
"All we had to do was place in the top five to make it to the upcoming regional championship, to kick our racing career to the next level." Ivy then said.
"And start collecting that prize money." Zack added.
Zack and Ivy were in their pit area looking over a map of the race course. "Okay, bro, stick close to the apron, it'll give you the fastest line." She explained pointing at said apron on the race track. "Except here on the final hairpin turn. They call it "The Muncher." It has a reputation for chewing up cars and spitting 'em out." She pointed at said hairpin.
"Yeah, yeah. Keep it to the outside perimeter. I got it, sis." Zack assured her.
"Excuse me, are you two lost?" Said a voice from behind them. It was a man with blonde hair going down the left side of his face wearing a black and white race suit. "Just asking, 'cause you're a long way from the amateur track." he laughed. The scene then paused.
"Wow who's that jerk?" Murray asked.
"Jerk isn't good enough for him." Ivy explains. "Meet Zack's nemesis. Trey Sterling."
"Rich kid, daddy's boy, and all-around jerk." Zack said bitterly.
"Wow reminds me of Raleigh, privileged and snobby." Sly joked.
The scene then resumes. "Should be fun watching you race against real cars." Trey said clearly mocking Zack and Ivy's racer. Which did strike a nerve in the brother.
"You dare knock Lydia?" He said angrily.
"Hahaha you gave that shopping cart a name?" Trey chuckled mockingly.
Zack angrily walked towards him as he intended to teach him a lesson, until Ivy put a hand on his shoulder stopping him. "Forget about Trey, you gotta keep your head in the game, bro. You got this." She assured him.
That encouragement seemed to calm Zack down and made him think. "Yeah, I got this." He smiled assuringly.
Soon he was suited up and behind the wheel of Lydia the racers engines were revving and ready to race. The starting lights sounded the bottom two had turned red as all the cars were revving with Zack having first on the the green light sounded and the racers zoomed away on the track tires screeching. Ivy watched from the fence seeing her brother raced by.
"GO ZACK!" Ivy cheered.
So far Zack was holding a good lead, until the race car driven by Trey Sterling was coming up on the outside line and lowered his window.
"Your going the wrong way!" Trey called which all but confused Zack. "Amateur tracks back there." He then called laughing. This made Zack angry as Trey took the lead.
However he zoomed after him as the pack closed in behind them as the two cars fought for first place. Zooming round the corner Zack pushed harder on the accelerator to gain more speed and soon the two were neck and neck until Trey zoomed forward.
From the monitor in pit lane Ivy could see Zack and Trey fighting for the lead down the straight. However she could see they were approaching a certain part of the track she advised her brother to stay away from.
"Come on Zack, stay away from that hairpin." Ivy hoped he would.
However as they drew closer and closer to said hairpin, Zack tried to make a pass but he couldn't and Trey just smirked under his helmet. Zack just glared there was no way he was about to let his rival one up him, so with a shift in gears he zoomed past Trey on the outside line which caught Trey completely by surprise.
However in the pit lane Ivy looked in horror she saw how he practically just ignored what she said. "No NO NO NO!" She cried.
When Zack approached the hairpin at top speed he swerved and power slide around the hairpin. "WHOOOOHOOO!" He yelled. However his joy was short lived as the car slid onto the banking causing the car to flip onto its roof, as the other cars lead by Trey crossed the line. Lydia came sliding in on its roof stone dead last completely wreaked.
"Zack!" Ivy exclaimed as she ran onto the track and to the wreck of the car. Zack had managed to climb out the broken window and was lying on the ground, his sister kneeled down next to him.
"Booyah." He groaned he was battered but alive much to Ivy's smile of relief that her brother was okay.
"Man now that's a wipeout!" Murray exclaimed. "But what were you thinking even The Murray knows the muncher is not a corner to power slide on!"
"Wait you have it in your world?" Zack asked.
"Yeah raced there when I was in Stock Van class racing tried to powerslide the muncher but I ended up on my roof too, but luckily my baby could take it and I came in first sliding on my roof!" Murray exclaimed.
"Whoa you might just put Clint Boyer to shame on the sliding in department." Zack said.
"Anyway, back to our story." Ivy said getting back on track.
The scene then switches to a small diner on the street corner. "After that wreck Lydia was battered beyond repair and fixing her up so we could get back in the game was gonna cost us some dough.."
"…So we went back to the guy who loaned us money to build our car in the first place…" Sitting at a table was a man cutting a small piece of steak off his plate, he was a large looking tough man with a black beard and hair. On the front of his head he had what looked like a sharks fin on his head.
"Shark Head Eddie." Ivy continued to explain.
"Let me guess he's a loan shark." Bentley asked.
"Bingo Bentley you get to buy us dinner…" Zack answered.
"Yeah Loan Sharks aren't the kind of people I associate with." Sly said uneasy.
"What could have possessed you to seek funding from a loan shark?" Shadowsan asked.
Zack and his sister sat at the same table as Shark Head Eddie which was surrounded by some rather tough looking goons. "Hey we didn't have much of a choice at the time! Any way, being that we were supposed to pay him back once we'd won our first race in the big leagues…" Ivy looked rather worried as her brother explained the whole situation. "…You know with the car we no longer had heh." Zack said.
Eddie wiped his lips with a serviette then pointed to the two siblings explaining his views on their current financial problems. "Eddie suggested another way to get quick cash to pay him back…."
The siblings looked worried by that suggestion, and their fear increased when the loan shark just grabbed some bread sticks and with both hands snapped them in half. Illustrating what would happen to them should they not follow through.
"Strongly suggested." Zack said.
"So what was the quick cash heist?" Murray asked.
Later that night:
The night drew in over Boston City, and on a lone street corner was a small doughnut shop. It was closed and all was quiet. Nearby a red and gray pick up truck pulled up and was parked in an alleyway with Zack and Ivy inside it with masks rolled up on their heads.
"Darrell's doughnut hole." Zack explained.
"The joint was notorious for having the worst doughnuts in Southie." Ivy explained.
"Notorious is right I actually went there once back in our world, and they were gross made me swear off doughnuts for weeks." Murray agreed.
"I keep telling you eat your daily fruit!" Bentley reminded. "So I'm guessing there's more to this doughnut store than met the eye?" He then assumed.
"Yeah Eddie said for a place with zero customers it got a ton of deliveries." Zack explained. "That meant the deliveries were probably money. Stolen by…..The Mob."
Zack and Ivy gulped as they arrived looking at their target. Ivy took a breath before looking determined. "You ready?" She asked her brother.
"I don't know Ivy, racing was supposed to keep us out of crime not drive us into it." Zack said unsure.
"Maybe you should've thought of that before you decided to ignore my advice and CRASHED OUR CAR!" Ivy reminded him harshly.
Zack just slammed his head on the steering wheel he felt bad enough about the crash due to a lapse in judgement and being wounded by his pride. His sister could see he was already beat up enough by that.
"Look bro, it's one job." Ivy assured him. "We pay back Eddie and use the spare cash to fix up Lydia then vroom zoom we're back in the races." She swished her hands around enthusiastically. Sadly this did nothing to raise her brothers spirits at all, but he had to admit she had a point this was the only way.
Ivy put her hand on her brothers shoulder in assurance. "We can't give up on our dream, not when we're this close." She slid her mask over her face and only her eyes were exposed.
"Right." Zack realised as he looked at his own black mask. "And besides we're stealing from the bad guys!"
Ivy sneaked around the front of the store, then reached the door pulling out a nail file from her pocket. She then started using it to pick the lock on the front door. A few seconds of clinging and clanking later the door unlocked and Ivy pushed it open quietly.
She entered the store with her brother behind her, unfortunately it would seem he had his mask on the wrong way round. He couldn't see. "Ivy how do you see out of these?" Zack asked before he crashed into the door frame. "Ow!"
"Eyeholes in the front! Thats how!" Ivy told him pointing to her own mask.
The two siblings soon found themselves in the back kitchen, as soon as, Zack got his mack on the right way round. They switched on their flashlights to look around, they saw the place was empty and just a normal looking kitchen. They started looking around as Zack looked to the left of the store. However Ivy soon discovered something rather out of place. It was a large looking iron door with a handle, some would think it was a freezer for most of the doughnut ingredients, however this door seemed pretty big for such a small kitchen.
Zack soon joined his sister to look at the large door. All of a sudden a flash of red zoomed by a serving window. The breeze suddenly got Zacks attention.
"What was that?" He gasped. Suddenly he dropped his flashlight as standing in the doorway was a certain lady in red.
"And thats how we met Carm." Zack explained.
Present Day: San Diego:
"The end." Zack finished their story then the siblings awaited the audiences reaction.
"Wow..what a story." Murray said amazed while Bentley wasn't sure what to think. Shadowsan on the other hand had no problem voicing his thoughts.
"All that, and now you stop." Shadowsan said with his arms crossed.
"Eh, we were both casing the same joint on the same night." Zack said.
"Heh reminds me of when Carmelita and Neyla happened to be waiting for us in Cairo on the same night when we tried to get the Clockwerk parts." Sly voiced.
"Yeah and the rest as they say, is history." Zack shrugged.
"From one persons perspective I presume." Bentley noted with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah maybe we should hear her story." Sly said looking to Carmen who also gave a knowing smile. "Cause the fact Carmen was there too tells this master thief there was more to the story than a simple doughnut heist."
"Oh ho there was Sly." Carmen then said chuckling. "Things were a lot more complicated the way I remember it."
"No kidding." Player agreed on the phone.
"Care to share milady." Sly asked her.
Flashback: Post VILE island escape:
The scene flashes back to when a younger Carmen or as she was known back then as Black Sheep had escaped VILE island, but not without stealing the Hard drive from them full of data on their capers. Not to mention the book keepers red coat and Theodora which would soon inspire Carmens/Black Sheeps new look.
"It had been a few months since I escaped from V.I.L.E island after stealing the hard drive." Carmen Carmen looked at said hard drive in their hands as she drove the boat as far away from the island as possible. "I did some traveling."
"While I did some decrypting." Player explained. For the hard drive was now in a young Players hands which Carmen had mailed over to wore his white hat. He plugged the hard drive into his computer and started sifting through the data.
"I discovered that V.I.L.E stole a set of printing plates from the US treasury." Player explained as the computer monitor showed an image of said plates and the details of VILE's caper. "They were printing money whenever they wanted to."
"Wait printing money again?!" Sly realised. "Just like in Monte Carlo, am I starting to sense a pattern forming here?"
"Yes Sly but from what I understand the difference between that and the way Dimitri did it would be the fact these plates were made for the genuine article meaning perfect forgeries." Bentley explained. "When the ink ages in a few months no one would be able to distinguish said bills from all the others."
"Thats right Bentley, and if these bills found their way into the main supply it would've played havoc with the monetary system." Player agreed with Bentley's theory. "Plus it gives VILE an instant cash meant they had there own printing press, we just couldn't figure out where they were hiding it."
"So I'm guessing you followed a trail of bread crumbs to a nearby cash house." Bentley guessed.
"Bang on the money Bentley." Carmen said. The computer screen then brought up a spreadsheet of drop offs at cash houses VILE had set up. "We followed the trail to a lead on a VILE front that had been receiving regular cash drops, in the hopes of following the curriers back to their money factory and find the stolen plates."
"Let me guess the doughnut shop was the cash house getting the drops." Sly realised. The doughnut shop was brought up on Players computer monitor showing the location.
"Oh I get it since the shop had a bad rep no one would think twice, using doughnuts as cover those fiends!" Murray realised despite everyones wielded out looks.
"Anyway…" Carmen continued.
Boston City: Doughnut shop:Before break in:
The doughnut stood solitary and quiet. However, on a rooftop overlooking the street a certain lady in red now dressed in her signature coat and hat watched over it, as her hair blew in the wind.
"Months of preparation were about to be put to the test, on my very first caper. As Carmen Sandiego." Carmen explained.
Players Room:
"Locked onto your position a…nd…." Players computer screen displayed Carmens current location marked with her red hat. Then a floor plan of the doughnut shop of all the security cameras which were then deactivated in seconds.
"Security cameras disabled." Player relayed typing on his keyboard. "You ready Red?"
Boston:
"Ready as I'll ever be." Carmen replied, then she noticed something below. "But someones either doing a late night doughnut run… or I have competition." She looked through her binoculars to see Zack and Ivy breaking into the doughnut shop.
"Other thieves who steal from thieves?" Player said surprised. Just as Zack crashed into the door frame as his mask was on the wrong way round.
"Amateurs." Carmen observed through her binoculars. "They have no idea what they're stumbling into." She put her binoculars away and walked along the roof. "Player change of plans."
"Already?" Player questioned. "We're only five minutes into your first job?"
Moments later:
Zack suddenly dropped his flashlight revealing Carmen standing in the door way with the shadow of her hat covering her face. "Who are you what are you doing here?" She demanded.
"Who are you?" Ivy demanded back.
"And what are you doing here?" Zack also asked.
"You need to vacate immediately, its for your own safety." Carmen told them both.
"Wow reminds me of how we first met Red, I do love the air of mystery in the air." Sly commented.
"Shush Sly I don't want to miss this!" Murray urged.
"Please she just wants the doughnut dough all to herself!" Ivy scoffed seeing through a supposed rouse.
"Yeah did Sharkhead Eddie send you too?" Zack demanded.
Before Carmen could answer the sudden sound of a door being unlocked could be hear, and as the lock turned upwards. The lady in red realised she had to act fast she quickly tackled the siblings to the side hiding behind one of the shelving units. The door then opened revealing the shadows of two individuals.
"Is it the mob!" Zack gasped.
"Trust me, worse." Carmen whispered. Worse was right entering the room was the Cleaners who were wheeling in a cart of some then lifted the door handle on the 'fridge' upwards and it slide backwards. Zack and Ivy's eyes went wide discovering that behind it was a large vault door glowing in neon green metal.
Vlad proceeded to the keypad on the vault entering the code 1803. The vault locks retracted and the wheel turned as the door slowly opened. The cart was pushed inside the vault and removing the tarp it was revealed to be a huge stack of money much to Zacks shock.
"Holy Guacamole!" He whispered but his sister and Carmen told him silently to shush. The vault was resealed and locked again, as the Cleaners took their leave of the doughnut shop unaware they were being watched.
"Player, drop went down as scheduled." Carmen relayed to her eyes and ears. "Following breadcrumbs." She ran out the other exit leaving Zack and Ivy looking at the concealed vault door.
"You can crack that right sis?" Zack asked his sister, however she wasn't sure, she could crack a high tech lock like that. So she had another idea.
"Uh…uh come on! We're following that lady following the bread crumbs to the dough!" She ran out following Carmens trail with Zack close behind her.
"Follow the breadcrumbs to the dough really?" Bentley questioned the dough humour.
"I though the same but hey it's dough humour." Zack shrugged.
Outside The Cleaners had already left the scene in a white van. Carmen rushed out the door to see she just missed them, quickly running for a red car that was waiting for her. She got in just as Zack and Ivy came out of the store heading towards her. Just then Carmen pulled out a set of car keys.
"For your own safety." She said to them.
Zacks eyes widened as he recognise them and searched his pockets. "My keys!" It seemed Carmen had managed to pick pocket him back in the another word, Carmen started the car and sped away from the scene leaving Zack and Ivy in the dust. However this pair wasn't about to give up that easily.
"I got this." Ivy said to her brother.
Back at their truck Ivy opened up the bottom area of the cars dashboard to get to the wiring. She took her mask off and using a pair of wire cutters cut two different wires. She started rubbing them together as she was trying to hotwire the car. It took several tries but eventually the truck revved into life, and they gave chase to the escaping lady in red and the bread crumbs.
Far ahead the white van carrying the cleaners made a right turn on a street corner with Carmens car close behind but she made sure she didn't get too close to be spotted. Just then she noticed a pair of blaring headlights behind her, and looked in her rear view mirror she could see it was the pair she left back at the store.
"Seriously!" She said irritated. They continued down the street rather fast, but just then they came to an intersection with traffic lights. The van went through and the lights switched to red. Just as Carmen was catching up another car went through on the other road, she gasped and quickly put on the breaks swerving past the oncoming car but she couldn't control the car and went crashing into a dug up section of road.
"Yow! Now thats a crash!" Murray exclaimed.
Luckily Carmen herself was unharmed as she climbed out of the pit. "Ugh, I'm a master thief without a getaway driver."
"Can't help you there Red, I don't even have my learners permit." Player called in. Just then Zack and Ivy pulled up in their truck with Ivy leaning out the window.
"Now we got her." She said, but before any more could be said Carmen jumped into the truck pushing Ivy into the middle.
"Follow that van!" She said to Zack.
"Bossy." Ivy grumbled.
Soon the three took up the chase racing down the streets, in passing the car in front they soon caught up to the van driven by the cleaners. The van soon approached an overpass and drove onto the ramp.
"They're taking ninety three!" Ivy realised.
"There's only one place it goes, the harbour!" Zack soon realised.
Carmen soon thought on this and it didn't take long for her to put the pieces together. "They've been printing money on a boat?" She soon realised. "No wonder we couldn't find the printing press its mobile!"
"Smart making it harder for the cops or you to pin them down." Sly realised.
"And so are we, but I know a short cut." Zack smirked and took a scenic route past exit 93.
The water glistened under the moonlight just as the truck carrying the trio pulling up to the harbour. Carmen stepped out and took cover behind some crates, using her binoculars she could see a cruise ship, and on the deck was Le Chevre and El Topo.
"Player I'm in position, waiting for the Cleaners to arrive to tell me just what I need to know about Boston harbour." She relayed just then Zack appeared in her lenses.
"Listen we can tell you everything about our fair city." Zack offered.
"What do you need to know?" Ivy also asked.
"Uh…" Carmen asked this told them she wanted to know everything so they pulled her down and sat on the ground and explained all.
"In the early days of our countries history, when America was still a group of colonies under British control." Zack shared his facts. "Colonists snuck aboard some British ships and dumped hundreds of boxes of tea into the ocean."
"Wait they just dumped tea into the ocean?" Murray asked. "Why?"
"It was for a reason Murray keep listening." Bentley explained.
"It was their way of protesting the British government, who had been forcing them to pay high taxes on tea." Ivy explained. "They called it The Boston Tea Party."
"Wow thats one heck of a tea party, they had any cake?" Murray asked getting hungry.
"Not that kind of tea party pal." Sly said.
"And it was one of the key incidents that lead up to the American revolutionary war." Zack continued. "But Bostons not only about our history, it has the best ball park in the world! That would be Fenway home of the best baseball team ever! LETS GO RED SOCKS LETS GO!"
"We also have the best clam chowder, not red." Ivy explained.
"If you like fish slop, blech! Give me Boston baked beans or give me death!" Zack explained his facts.
San Diego:Present day:
"Oh right because it's the best baked beans in Bean Town!" Murray realised before Zack grabbed him by his collar.
"Murray! You! .CALL BOSTON. BEAN TOWN!" Zack yelled in anger as if it were an insult which spooked the rest of the crew, minus Shadowsan.
"Yeah don't call Boston Bean Town Zack really hates that, like really really hates that." Ivy whispered to Murray who nodded quickly. "Anyway back to the story.."
A year ago:Players room:
"Well red their facts check out." Player relayed as he looked over the facts from his computer.
Boston Harbour:
"Wow, you two really know a lot about Boston." Carmen smiled.
"Hey so how come you don't know much about it?" Ivy asked.
"Its uh…long story." Carmen simply said. Suddenly they heard the sound of rolling wheels on the harbour. Carmen peaked up and using her binoculars saw that Le Chevre and El Topo were loading another cart of money for the Cleaners to transport.
Just then Ivy popped up and snatched the binoculars from Carmen to see what she was looking at. "Wow!" She saw the money cart. "Whoa thats gotta be more than enough dough to pay off Eddie and fix our car!" Zack popped up next to her to look as well.
"Heck we could buy a whole fleet of cars!" Zack exclaimed excitedly.
Carmen just took back her binoculars. "Your turning to crime to fix a car?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Not just any car, Lydia!" Zack explained.
"Our racer so we can get back into the regional championships!" Ivy then explained.
"So you took a loan from a loan shark?" Carmen questioned. "Couldn't you get a loan from a family member?"
Zack and Ivy looked at each other. "Hey could you loan me some… Ah never mind." They both said together.
"We're all the family we got." Ivy explained to the lady in red who looked at her with understanding in her eyes.
"Understood." Carmen said as she looked to see the van drive away and the two agents board the ship.
"Time to follow that van!" Zack decided, however Carmen had other ideas seeing some rope on a crate nearby.
Moments later Zack and Ivy were tied up to a short pole on the harbour. The two siblings were not happy. "Its for your own safety." Carmen explained.
"Aw come on we could help you know and split the dough!" Zack insisted.
"Not my style, besides I work alone." Carmen said as she left the two and ran towards the boat as they struggled to break free from their bonds.
"Come on bro, we can't let her take our cut of the dough!" Ivy urged to her brother. "Ready?" The two stood up simeltanoisly which pulled their bindings over the pole they were tied too, and Zack moved back over the pole ready to kick off it.
"One…two…hah!" Ivy bounced up with Zack pushing off the pole and they landed on the ground with Ivy on the bottom.
"Ah man this looked way easier on the Emperors New Groove." Zack groaned.
"Not now bro, come on." Ivy said as the two stood up and started bouncing towards the boat.
Meanwhile Carmen snuck along the dock until she reached the gangway to the ship. She climbed the gangway and over the side of the ship landing on the deck. She moved quickly to avoid being seen and began searching for the printing press and the stolen plates that were being used.
Down below on the dock the Boston siblings soon arrived on the dock the two hopped along together as they were bound back to back. Soon they passed a porthole window on the ship. Ivy poked into it as she noticed something. Zack pushed her back to see what she was looking at. It was El Topo who seemed to be talking to Coach Brunt on the screen.
"VILE needs another presence in the good old U.S of A." Coach Brunt explained. "So you fellas keep printing that funny money so we can buy up some prime Bean Town real estate."
The moment the woman on the screen said those words Ivy looked gravely worried. "Oh no!" She looked to her brother who was ready to explode.
"Never…" He started.
"No Zack!" Ivy pleaded.
"Ever! Call Boston!" Zack got angrier.
"No no no no no!" Ivy pleaded.
"BEAN TOOOOWN!" HE yelled through the window but Ivy pulled him away just as the mole agent looked to the source of the noise.
Suddenly the two siblings lost their balance and fell onto the dock with a thud. "Oh boy." Ivy said as the two squirmed and struggled to try and break free.
However it was too late for a certain VILE agent appeared in front of them as they looked up in fright. "Ola." He smirked.
Meanwhile back on board the ship the door in the lower decks opened to reveal Carmen had located the printing press for the fake money. All was quiet so Carmen slowly and quietly entered the room, and found the printing plates on the desk across from her.
"Jackpot." She smirked as she picked them up, but just as she did.
"Stop right there!" She looked and saw Le Chevre standing in the doorway, however she proceeded to put the plates in a black sack and tied it up.
"Le Chevre, been a while." She said to him, it was then Le Chevre recognised the voice and face of this lady in red.
"Black Sheep?" He gasped in shock. "Is that you?"
"I go by Carmen Sandiego now." Carmen said to him.
Le Chevres expression then turned one of partial compassion. "Black Sheep, for your own safety put down the plates and leave now. And I'll pretend I never saw you." His expression grew slightly serious.
Carmen however didn't change her stand on this. "I told you Black Sheeps gone, the names Carmen and I can't do that."
"Seriously if you do not put those down I will need to…" Before Le Chevre could finish.
"Always protect the face!" Carmen swung the bag with the plates towards him.
He screamed as he braced himself for the impact, however strangely it never came. He saw she wasn't there and realised she must have slipped past him.
"Hah I can't believe he fell for that, the oldest trick in the book." Sly chuckled. Carmen ran out from the printing press room.
Meanwhile on the deck El Topo was pulling Zack and Ivy along the deck after catching them trespassing."So there we were on a nighttime lobster run, when we got tripped up in this stupid rope." Zack tried to come up with an excuse as his sister played along.
"Yeah total freak accident right!" Ivy said nearly panicking as El Topo kept pulling them along with every intention of tossing them overboard. Suddenly Carmen arrived and saw the two had somehow gotten caught.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Carmen said annoyed then El Topo recognised her as well.
"Black Sheep?" He said in surprise. "But I thought you did not graduate."
"She didn't." called a voice from behind and Le Chèvre looked to see his partner had caught more stowaways. "Ah friends of yours?" He smirked before looking to his partners. "Good work tying them up."
"I didn't they arrived this way." El Topo explained.
"The plates, or mono mi El Topo throws your friends overboard." Le Chevre threatened. Carmen glared his way then the goat operative shifted his eyes to his partner in a hinting way. Who responded by grabbing the bound Boston Siblings and holding them close to the edge of the ship with them screaming and crying out for help.
"Thats a cheap shot! Even for those two." Sly said.
"Talk about playing dirty!" Murray agreed.
"Yeah it weren't half a scary moment let me tell ya!" Zack agreed.
The two siblings struggled and Carmen could see her old classmates threat was serious. "WAIT!" She cried. "Take em." She dropped the sack carrying the plates to the ground then kicked them over to Le Chevre.
El Topo dropped his captives as Le Chevre kicked the sack into his hands. "Throw her over board!" He told his partner pointing to Carmen.
"I am sorry Black Sheep." El Topo said sadly as he approached ready to restrain and throw her over board. Carmen wasn't one to go down easy so she took a fighting stance ready to act.
Fortunately help wasn't far away, somehow Zack and Ivy managed to free their legs from the rope and yelled running towards El Topo with the intent of tackling him to the ground.
The agent dodged out of the way and that gave Carmen the chance she needed as she performed a roundhouse kick which knocked him off the side of the ship and into the cold sea below. Carmen took a life ring and tossed it overboard knowing he couldn't swim, as an act of compassion.
Now there was only Le Chevre to deal with as he held the black sack with the printing plates. Carmen approached the operative who using his agility leaped up to the top deck of the ship cabin then leaped to the upper deck until he reached to the top.
"Catch me if you can." Le Chevre smirked as he ran away. Carmen had to find a way up there. So she went to untie the Boston Siblings.
"Whew thanks for uniting us." Ivy thanked in relief as Zack felt his wrists.
"Eh I need the rope." Carmen said bluntly which made the siblings look at each other with raised eyebrows. Soon Carmen found an anchor without a chain and tied the rope to looked to the two siblings. "A little help here muscles?"
Zack looked with a blank stare thinking she was talking about him. Until Ivy stepped forward. "Sure thing." She said.
Ivy took the anchor now turned grappling hook and with one toss threw it up as high as she could and it latched onto the very top deck of the boat cabin. Ivy tugged the rope to make sure it was tight.
"Milady." Ivy handed the rope to Carmen all lady like.
"Wow Ivy didn't know you were that strong?" Sly said impressed. "Or had my charm?" He said slyly.
"Hey I'm more than just a pretty face ringtail." Ivy smirked.
Carmen started scaling the boat cabin levels, and as she climbed Ivy took note of something. "Something that retracts would be more practical." She said. "Maybe attached to the wrist for easy access." She imitated a gun being loaded.
Carmen looked back down upon hearing that suggestion and smiled. "Ah so thats where the inspiration for Carmens grappling hook came from." Bentley realised. "Very ingenious Ivy."
"Shes smarter than she looks pal, how do you think she upgraded my cane as a grappling hook." Sly agreed.
"See you and Player aren't the only geniuses around here." Ivy smirked.
"Oh Ivy. Chic-chuck, that'a way." Zack gestured to the large crates of money stacks covered with tarp on the deck. They decided to use this as an opportunity.
"Okay just one more." Ivy grabbed another stack of money and it seemed the siblings had stuffed their shirts with all the money they could carry. Enough to clear their debt.
"Sis, we don't want to let bad guys buy up prime Boston real estate do we?" Zack realised in thought, just then the wind picked up and some of the money blew from their shirts and landed into the water. Then the siblings smirked mischievously among themselves as a brilliant plan had been born.
Far below El Topo was using the life ring to swim back to the boat doing a breast stroke. Suddenly he saw some of the printed money floating down onto the water, then more and more fell.
"Huh? What?" He wondered then all of a sudden he looked up to see Zack and Ivy tossing the crate of money over the side emptying its contents right onto his head.
The two siblings continued by tossing another crate of money overboard. "Its like our very own Boston tea party!" He smiled looking at his sister as they went to get another crate.
"Way to stick it to VILE guys!" Murray cheered.
"I bet that ticked someone off." Sly said impressed. High on the upper decks Le Chevre ran to the railing of the ship and to his horror saw the siblings dumping the money overboard.
"No no no no!" He saw in horror. He was so shocked he didn't even notice Carmen approaching from below. He jumped off the deck hoping to stop them only for the lady in red to leap into the air and kick him down to the sofa on the living area on the ship. Carmen touched down on the ground and ran to her opponent.
Le Chevre kicked the table in front of him only for Carmen to leap over it. The VILE operative jumped up from his seat and just as Carmen approached he leaped up jumped on top of her hat knocking her down onto the couch. However the lady in red wasn't done yet, she picked up a cushion and slid it across the slippery deck. It got caught under Le Chevre's foot causing him to slip and hit the Carmen running to him he slid to the right narrowly avoiding her grabbing the plates attached to his belt.
She tried a direct grab but he caught her wrist she tried again with her free hand but he grabbed that as well. The two were tangled in each other trying to get the plates. Eventually Carmen broke free and the VILE agent backed up but that gave Carmen the opening she needed as she kicked her foot in the air hitting the bag causing it to fly in the air.
Carmen threw several punches and kicks towards Le Chevre who all but blocked or dodged them. Suddenly they saw the bag with the plates falling out of the sky. The two kicked each other back and fell on their backs as the bag hit the ground with a got up and stared each other down in what was now a stand off. They took up running starts and dashed for the bag, Carmen swiftly grabbed it and then tossed it right into Le Chevre's head which stunned him, so much he couldn't block the kick from Carmen that tossed the goat operative overboard and into the ocean.
Le Chevre resurfaced next to his partner only for a life ring to land over his head compliments of his picked up the sack with the plates as to the victor go the spoils.
Later she met up with Zack and Ivy as they walked up to the truck. "So what you gonna do with those plates?" Ivy asked.
"Easy return them to the treasury where they belong." Carmen explained.
To say the siblings were shocked was an understatement. "Wait wait so your really gonna return the printing plates?"
"Despite appearances I don't commit crimes." Carmen explained to the two of them. "I'm out to take down a certain criminal organisation."
"Uh don't we have something called the police for that?" Ivy questioned.
"The police have no idea they exist, but I do." Carmen said, then noticing the loot the two siblings were carrying in their shirts. "Its technically stolen, get caught spending it and the police could put you away for a long time." She said as the siblings looked at each other realising she was right. "Its…"
"For our own safety." Ivy said a little dismayed.
"Yeah yeah." Zack agreed equally dismayed as the two went to the edge of the dock and emptied their shirts of the money which sank to the bottom of the bay.
Just then Player called in. "Red I just decrypted another set of data, and its juicy." He relayed.
"Heres hoping my second caper goes more smoothly." Carmen smiled as she was taking her leave. Zack saw she was leaving and it made him wonder about his and Ivy's current issue.
"Once Eddie finds out we didn't cook up the doughnut dough, he's gonna break more than breadsticks." He said to rather worried, namely about which limb was gonna be broken by Eddies goons.
Ivy knew he was right. "We gotta lay low. Maybe even get out of Boston." She said with a heavy heart then the two had an idea.
"Player book me a red eye." Carmen relayed to Player and just as she was about to leave.
"Hey." Ivy called getting her attention while twiddling her fingers. "We get that you like to work alone but well we were wondering. Got any room for us on your next job?"
"We got a shark chasing our tail." Zack also said.
Carmen thought for a moment and while she would've like to still go solo, she did see they had talent. "You did say you could use a getaway driver." Player chimed in. Which all but helped in her decision making.
"And they don't mind stealing from bad guys." Carmen wondered. "But you understand you'd be painting targets on your backs, these people don't joke around."
"We're from Southie we can handle a little danger." Ivy said.
"Yeah ain't nothing this brother and sister can't handle." Zack agreed.
With that Carmen smiled and then said. "Well then about this retracting wrist thing you mentioned?" This made the siblings beam knowing they were in on this. As Ivy winked to her brother doing her imitation of a gun being loaded with her arm.
Isle of VILE:
Back at the academy Le Chevre and El Topo had just reported to the five Faculty members about their recent failure and Coach Brunt seemed the most angered of all. Given they've also learned about a certain lost sheep of theirs foiling their operation.
"I don't care if she's calling herself Josie Sanhosay or Monica Senamonica!" Brunt exclaimed as she slammed the table with both her fists. "I will crush her for betraying family!"
"Calm yourself Coach Brunt." Said a figure emerging from the shadows and it was Dr M. "Do not concern yourself about your little lost Black Sheep, as far as I can tell she presents no clear threat to VILE." Though in truth his thoughts did make him think that their former student did remind him in someways of a certain ringtail thief from his own world.
"I agree with Dr M's assessment, her actions tonight were a fluke." Shadowsan scoffed in agreement. "How much damage can one girl possibly inflict against VILE." however in truth he couldn't help but hide a smirk on his face.
San Diego: present day:
"At the time we had no sense of the scope of your interference." Shadowsan smiled. "And now we do."
"Catastrophic!" Zack cheered.
"Whoo go boss its your birthday its your birthday oh yeah!" Ivy cheered dancing and the two siblings hip bumped. While Carmen, Sly, Bentley and Murray looked with raised eyebrows and smiles.
"You know its funny." Sly then said with a knowing smile. "The very first caper you pull was also the night you met your soon to be partners in crime."
"Yeah and a year later a raccoon master thief from another world falls from the sky, and help us in ways we never would've thought." Carmen agreed. "Funny how things work out sometimes."
"Yeah and now VILE know we're double catastrophic since we came into the picture!" Murray said raising his hands in the air. "And you know its kinda like how me, Sly and Bentley first met in the orphanage and pulled our first heist stealing those cookies from our matron."
"If your referring to the ones you ate after we stole them then yeah." Sly agreed.
"Well at least on our actual first caper as the Cooper Gang we didn't let ourselves get caught by Inspector Fox." Bentley reminded him.
"Hey if I recall Bentley that was all part of the plan so we could pull the heist. I'll admit seeing the look on her face was worth it though." Sly smirked.
"And thus began your complicated relationship, I'm amazed how you have a weird way of attracting women Sly." Carmen said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah well thats why you love me isn't it." Sly smirked back which resulted in Carmen shaking her head. "Besides it takes one to know one."
"Meaning?" Carmen wondered.
"Oh nothing." Sly dismissed though she did wonder what her partner meant by that remark. Shadowsan though not saying anything did see how the two were similar to each other and wondered if it was fate that brought the two gangs together.
"Perhaps, though maybe it was fate that brought you to Carmen. In a way both of you are reflections of the other, and see potential where others do not, even in amateurs." Shadowsan admitted.
"Aw he admits he loves us!" Murray gushed.
"Though I do question why Zack and Ivy haven't yet returned to pursuing their racing dreams?" Shadowsan then asked with curiosity.
"We're along for this ride now." Zack answered.
"We'll get around to fixing up Lydia and paying back Eddie." Ivy added.
"Someday…" They both then said, as Carmen rolled her eyes.
"Hey gang." Player then chimed in on Carmens phone. Which she answered.
Players room:
"I dug up more intel on that car." Player said typing on his computer.
"Learn anything new?" Sly asked.
"A lot actually, turns out it's the worlds fastest and VILE's plotting to steal it at a racing event." Player answered.
"Racing event where?!" Murray asked excitedly.
"In Dubai." Player answered the happy hippo.
San Diego:
"Sun, beaches, palm trees and a racing heist huh." Sly noted.
"Now this sounds like the Murrays kinda heist!" Murray said flexing his muscles.
"Then I guess we'll have to steal it first." Carmen agreed smiling.
"Chartering you a flying car to the middle east right now." Player replied.
"And I'll charter up the ID's needed to keep VILE off our tail so we can arrive in Dubai without drawing attention." Bentley agreed as he set to work on his tablet.
"Steal a race car!" Ivy beamed as she and her brother locked hands in an armwrestling way. "We're back in our element!"
"Then let's zoom over and wreck VILE's chances of making the checkered flag!" Murray chimed in as they raced to the team van.
"Vroom and Zoom!" Zack exclaimed. "Hey Murray can I drive?"
"Be my guest my man be my guest!" Murray said getting into the passenger seat while Ivy entered the side door to the back, followed by Bentley. Zack turned the keys and revved the vans engine.
"I guess hideout hunting will have to wait." Sly shrugged as he, Carmen and Shadowsan climbed into the Van.
"Yeah but you know a HQ would be wasted on movers and shakers like us." Carmen said looking back at the building as she climbed into the van and slid the side door shut.
The van then zoomed away into the sunset as they drove straight to the airport. Next stop Dubai.
Ivy's POV:
"Yeah we all came from different beginnings but in a way I guess thats what makes us the people we are. But if you think that was the end of our road trip with this crew, well think again. Its just beginning."
Authors Notes: A...nd scene! Now the Cooper Gang and Shadowsan know how Carmen, Ivy and Zack first met and now speeding off to what will be a new caper. Now I'm sure many of you will have noticed the references to the Sly Cooper Comics namely from Sly and the Gangs first caper where they met Carmelita and other hints besides that. Lets just say its hints on whats to come in later chapters. Now onto Dubai for what will be a Fast and Furious Caper but I douby Sly and Carmen have heard the last of the whole seeking a headquarters/hideout from Shadowsan.
Until next time WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE COOPER AND SANDIEGO!