Authors Notes: Hi all and happy New Years Eve! Now where in the world was Cooper & Sandiego?! Well as I've explained I've had many obligations and responsibilities on my plate not to mention one family drama after the next. But the Christmas holidays have given me a much needed break to write this chapter so lets rock and roll shall we!
Sly Cooper (c) Sucker Punch Productions
Carmen Sandiego 2019 (Netflix)
Cooper,Sandiego & The Gang In:
:The 14 Carat Gold Rush Caper:
Dr M's POV:
In the dark of the hallways of VILE Academy, a strange sound of sparks and flashing lights were coming from the confines of Dr Bellums lab. Inside we find the mad scientist Dr M working on something.
"Ambition, glory, we all seek that in life. Some recognition for our efforts." Dr M removes his welding mask to look at his creation and he smiles sinisterly as he puts his mask back on and continues his work. "We even meet those we consider our equals, those who see our talents…."
The mad monkey scientist then begins connecting up large power cables to the machine and to the main power grid of VILE Island as what he was building required a tremendous amount of power. He was studying some footage on another screen namely that of a certain team van appearing in India, and took a particular interest in the mechanical attachment on the van.
"…Only to take the glory for himself like the grubby thief that he was!" In studying the footage he tightened some bolts on his machine with a wrench, attached one more panel and then finally his creation was complete as he looked at it with some form of sadistic pride.
The mad scientist then connected his helmet to an interface of some kind linking him to his creation, then with a pull of the lever energy surged into it and a bright light illuminated the mad monkeys face as he smiled sadistically. Suddenly a shadow emerged from the light and this made him laugh like the mad scientist he is.
"Well I now have the chance to prove my worth to those who appreciate my genius! And what I will do next will change the playing field against those who would dare cross me!"
End of POV:
Isle of VILE:
The Faculty was connived listening to a presentation given by Dr M, for now he was making a play for a seat on VILE's faculty and this caper he had engineered would help him achieve that for it was a caper no one in history has ever attempted to do.
"Fort Knox, an impenetrable military fortress which also happens to be the location of the Bullion Depository storing all of Americas gold." Dr M briefed showing his presentation of his scheme to the four heads of the Faculty. "It is considered impenetrable, that no one can ever break in and steal the valuable treasure inside. Well my dear Faculty Members, we are going to prove them wrong!"
"A very impressive slide show Doctor M, and an ambitious plan indeed." Professor Maelstrom mused.
"Breaking into Fort Knox, oh the gold alone would more than fund our crimes for years to come." Cleo admitted.
"Great just one hitch how exactly does this little caper of yours work?" Coach Brunt then said getting to the point.
"If you would allow me to continue Coach Brunt for I was just getting to that." Dr M said. Maelstrom then gestured for him to continue. "Yes Fort Knox could be considered impregnable, but there is a weak spot we can exploit, tomorrow night a gala will take place for the Fort Knox Museums new exhibit of its history during which our operatives will simply transport our target out of the reserve and into our hands."
"How exactly?" Dr Bellum asked.
"Oh it will be when one has the right credentials which I suspect the Cleaners should be acquiring about now." Dr M said.
Fort Knox:
In the locker room two soldiers stripped of their uniforms were knocked out with knock out gas and tossed into a large locker and locked in. The Cleaners were now wearing their uniforms and bore their ID cards. Just then Boris pulled out a small scanning device and placed it on Vlad's ID card replacing the soldiers face with his and like wise the latter did the same to Boris's ID card.
Isle of VILE:
"Hm looks like you've thought of everything doc but what happens when a certain red and ring-tailed varmints show up?!" Coach Brunt asked.
All Dr M could do was chuckled. "Hahaha I'm glad you asked my dear Coach." He then looked to the right. "Tigress."
Tigress then steps into the room and she seemed to be wearing a gauntlet of some kind on her right arm with small pipes plugged into her arm. This instantly caught Dr Bellums attention.
"What is that?" Dr Bellum asked studying the device. "It looks like some kind of genetic manipulator?"
"Very observant Siara." Dr M smirked. "As you can see our dear Tigress is wearing my newest creation, a genetic infuser that infuses her system with animal DNA, namely from her namesake the tiger for speed and strength." He explained. "My dear care to demonstrate." Dr.M then pressed a button and a target in the shape of a cardboard cut out of Carmen Sandiego with a green target on appeared.
Tigress glared at the target and twisted a dial on her gauntlet and it infused the DNA into her system. The VILE operative growled and in a burst of speed leaped up and punched right through the target and tore it to shreds. Another target appeared looking like Sly Cooper but this one was made of metal but with one punch Tigress punched through it and tore it in half.
The Faculty were completely taken aback did they just see their operative punch through solid metal and tear it apart. Tigress looked at her handiwork and she had to admit she liked what she saw.
"Whoa…me like!" She smirked.
"Remarkable!" Dr Bellum said rather excited as she came over and studied the device. "All that power from one device!"
"Yes doctor and this is but the first an army of operatives equipped with these could become a force to be reckoned with." Dr M said with pride.
"Well I must say not the most stylish accessory but it does do the job." Cleo had to admit she was impressed.
"Okay I'll admit that packs a punch, but what I want to know is what you've been doing behind our backs in the docs lab and I know it ain't just that fancy toy." Coach Brunt said rather accusingly.
Dr M just shook his head chuckling. "Well, remember how I told you all that in the world I hail from there were criminals who could match the five, I should now say four of you in many ways, and would be ideal candidates for VILE?"
"Go on." Professor Maelstrom smirked now intrigued as Dr M then moved to his slide show and displayed a particular image of the Cooper Team Van with its portal attachment.
"Well in recent weeks I have discovered just how the rest of Coopers gang had managed to arrive here via the use of a modified time space machine." Dr M explained.
"A machine capable of piercing the barriers of reality itself into dimensions unknown!" Dr Bellum was now more than intrigued at this point.
"Indeed, and I used a similar device to arrive in this world long ago." Dr M explained it didn't really take long for Dr Bellum to figure out what her lab partner had been doing.
"You've been using our resources to construct your own inter dimensional portal device!" She realised which brought a look of surprise on the members of the Faculty.
"Oh I've done more than build one, I've used it." Dr M smirked proudly. "With our dear Black Sheep and Cooper becoming more cunning and efficient, especially with the addition of Shadowsan. I believe the time has come that we let freelancers lead future capers."
"Freelancers?" Cleo said rather indignant. The rest of the Faculty wasn't so sure about what Dr M was proposing.
Just then the doors to the Faculty Lounge burst open revealing a rather tall and muscular looking shadow carrying something enter the room. "Ah that will be one of them now." Dr M smirked.
The stranger stepped forwards, out of the shadows and into the light, much to the surprise of the Faculty and Tigress he was a rather large and muscular looking orange Siberian tiger with black stripes and patches of white fur on his chest and inner arms. His clothing consisted of a gray jumpsuit with yellow stripes, a brown belt, red straps across his chest and on his back he sported a pair of katanas.
"VILE Faculty, allow me to introduce El Jefe, a high ranking mercenary commander. Who has conquered many a small country." Dr M introduced while El Jefe lit a cuban cigar and smoked it in his mouth. "Strategist of the highest order!"
"A mercenary?" Cleo mused while Maelstrom seemed to eye the tiger man with great interest Bellum was fascinated and Coach Brunt did seem skeptical. "And what makes him VILE Operative material?"
To answer the tiger mercenary tossed a sack he was carrying in the air and it landed right in front of Countess Cleo. "Consider that my resume." He said simply.
Curious Cleo took a look inside this sack and she gasped in surprise for she pulled out a golden crown, its look indicated it was from ancient Egypt. "The…the golden crown of Isis!" She beamed.
"Stolen from the museum in Cairo, their security was more pathetic than the great Japanese castles of old." El Jefe said still smoking his cigar.
"I trust you had no trouble in acquiring it?" Dr M asked.
"None at all Doctor." El Jefe smirked.
"Okay I'll admit you can talk a big game stripes." Coach Brunt said still a little skeptical. "But can you walk the walk?"
"Pah! You doubt me! I could conquer an entire country with blind mice armed with plastic spoons if I wanted to!" El Jefe scoffed. "I have conquered many an adversary and ever small country around the globe often for the highest bidder, which is now you." He said.
"Yes and as for our other problem, our dear El Jefe also has an axe to grind with Sly Cooper." Dr M explained as he activated two more targets shaped a lot like Sly and Carmen. "So should they attempt any interference at all."
The Tiger Mercenary growled in fury seeing Sly's face reminded of his defeat and humiliation at his hands and the interference of his ancestor Rioichi! He drew his katanas and in a flash he sliced through them, however the targets seemed completely untouched much to the surprise of the Faculty and everyone in the room, Dr M however maintained his confident smirk as seconds later the targets fell to pieces completely shredded to pieces.
El Jefe sheathed his katanas, before he finished smoking his cigar. Dr M chuckled in amusement and anticipation. "Hmaha, it's going to be quite a party." He smirked.
The Faculty had to bare impressed smiles of their own, Dr M's plan did seem promising and the idea of this El Jefe did raise interesting possibilities and could finally end their little red problem once and for all.
San Diego: The Hideout:
In the Cooper & Sandiego gangs hideout, was coming together nicely. In the living area, Murray was sawing away and putting together the furniture for the living area while Bentley was working on the electrics for the elevator. Far below Ivy and Zack were stocking up their garage below, as they were soon open for business. I was organising the lifts for the cars and Zack worked on the Team Van which was parked next to was giving the van a much needed wash after the last few capers.
Meanwhile upstairs in what would soon be the gym, Sly was setting up a rope in the room tieing it from the ceiling to the ground to make the rope stiffen like a pole. Carmen and Shadowsan were in the room. The thief in red was in her gym wear which was red leggings, sneakers and a black top. Her hair was tied back in a pony tail and she wore black fingerless gloves.
Sly finished setting up the rope just as everyone else walked in. "Hey Carm garage is all set up downstairs." Ivy greeted.
"And the living area is coming along a treat!" Murray exclaimed.
"Shh." Shadowsan then silenced them, drawing their attention to what was going on now.
"Okay so what's this for?" Carmen asked.
"Glad you asked red, this is a new move I'm gonna teach you." Sly explained. "A more effective way of scaling ropes and pipes without the conventional use of a grapple."
"Okay." Carmen said a little confused. "But I do manage pretty fine with my grapple line."
"Yeah you do, but if there's one thing we learned is that we can't become too reliant on something." Sly explained.
"I do admit Cooper does raise a valid point." Shadowsan spoke up. "While a useful tool a thief cannot become too reliant on one tool they must learn to be adaptable."
"Right so thats why I'm gonna teach you a move taught to me by my ancestor Salim Al-Kupar himself." Sly explained in a teaching manner.
"Salim." Carmen then remembered the name. "He was your Arabian ancestor right? One of the Forty Thieves?" She remembered from studying the Thievious Raccoonus.
"Yeah one of the founders of the Forty Thieves." Sly pointed out.
"Wait as in Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves!" Zack exclaimed in excitement. "They're real!"
"Yes Zack and you'll soon learn many of the stories of your world are real in ours." Bentley explained.
"WICKED AWESOME!" Zack cheered, while Shadowsan just shook his head.
"Anyway this was a move he dubbed the Climbing Cobra." Sly explained to Carmen. "With this move he could climb up ropes a lot faster than any normal thief can."
"Wow don't remember that move being in the Thevious Raccoonus." Carmen realised.
"I have wondered that same thing myself since Japan." Shadowsan agreed stepping forward and looked at Sly almost suspiciously. "Why would your ancestors not log all their moves in this book?"
"Well lets just say my ancestors were a little cautious, especially with Clockwerk always on their tail." Sly explained in a mildly serious tone.
"Clockwerk?" Shadowsan asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, a thief who was jealous of the Cooper Clans thieving skills and so he made it his life mission to wipe out the Cooper Line." Bentley explained with a little tension in his voice given what that frame did to him. "So much so that mad owl replaced his mortal body with soulless machinery making him immortal so he could destroy each and every member of the Cooper Line no matter where in history it took him."
"One of his victims…was my father when I was only a kid, he and his gang the Fiendish Five broke into our house to take the Theivious Raccoonus and he killed my parents in the struggle." Sly explained with a little sorrow as Carmen put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Shadowsan himself couldn't help but feel a little saddened for the Raccoon thief to lose his parents to a mad mans rage and jealousy. In a way he could see he was like Carmen in many ways sure he had the advantage of knowing his parents but both his and Carmens were lost in tragedy, one he had yet to speak of or should even dare to.
"I, am truly sorry." Shadowsan said in remorse. "I see why your ancestors kept their most skilled moves a secret so they wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."
"Yeah at some point my ancestors realised at some point they were being followed so they took their more valuable secrets to their grave." Sly said. "But during a little caper in time, they came to me, and now you." He looked at Carmen with a smile and she smiled back in return.
"Okay so how does this work?" Carmen asked.
"Well maybe first its best to show rather than tell." Sly explained as he stretched himself out and cracked his fingers. The group watched in anticipation for what was with a confident smirk, Sly grabbed the rope and started climbing, then in a flash he left a blur behind as he reached the top in a quick time. The group were completley bewildered and amazed.
"Holy smoke!" Ivy breathed in shock.
"Whoa." Zack gaped.
"Impressive." Shadowsan had to admit as Sly slid down the rope and back to the ground.
"Wow, I'm guessing this helped him reach to high platforms faster than using his cane?" Carmen guessed.
"Yep, now the key is in the movements, he climbed round the rope like a snake coils up a tree." Sly explained, then after a time you pick up speed and zoom your at the top!"
"Okay lets give it a try." Carmen said as Sly pulled out a stopwatch from his pocket. Carmen stepped up to the rope and stretched her arms as she gripped the rope.
"Ready…..GO!" Sly started the clock and Carmen climbed the rope as quickly as she could, and remembered what Sly said climb it like a snake, so in climbing it she coiled round the rope and reached the top.
"How was that?" She asked and Sly stopped the stopwatch. He looked at it but the look on his face said he wasn't satisfied.
"Not bad Carmen but not quite fast enough, Salim could climb the pole within fifth teen seconds, you did it in about 20." Sly explained. Carmen did look a bit disappointed but knew this training wouldn't be easy.
"Come on Red we can get this so let's go again!" Sly encouraged her and Carmen bore a smile of confidence, and so for the rest of the morning the two trained non stop on this secret Cooper technique. So Carmen climbed the rope coiling around it again and again and on each time Carmen did get faster at climbing the rope but not quite fast enough. However The thief in red persisted, and kept coiling round the rope getting faster and faster. By the afternoon Carmen was climbing up the rope in a very fast pace but it wasn't enough to create a blur.
Carmen reached the top then slid down the rope as she approached Sly and Shadowsan. "How'd I do?" She asked.
"Sixteen seconds but not quite fast enough." Sly said.
Carmen grunted in frustration. "Gah! She punched her hand. "The Leaping Dragon was easier to handle than this. It's like I said Sly I'm not a Cooper!"
"Hey take it easy." Sly assured. "Its like I said in Japan, you may not have Cooper blood, but your still trained like one you mastered the Leaping Dragon and you will master this you just gotta let your natural talents and instincts take over."
"Cooper does have a point, you are an accomplished thief. You were the brightest student VILE ever had, and you are also one to follow your instincts this technique will come with practice." Shadowsan said in agreement.
Carmen sighed knowing they were right and at that moment, Bentley's tablet went off snapping everyone to attention. The wheelchairs robot hand extended out the tablet as everyone gathered round. Player then appeared on the screen.
"Hey guys, hate to interrupt but we've got VILE on the move." Player reported.
"What have we got Player?" Carmen asked.
Players room:
"According to some intel I intercepted operatives were dispatched to Kentucky just now, three guesses where they're heading." Player relayed looking at his computer.
It didn't take long for Sly, Carmen, Bentley and Shadowsan to figure out what VILE was targeting. "You don't think they're gonna…" Sly was about to say.
"Break into Fort Knox, the federal gold bullion reserve yeah I'd say so." Carmen finished his sentence.
The Hideout:
"Whoa, but no ones been able to break into that place its a fortress!" Murray exclaimed.
"Nothing is impregnable to VILE." Shadowsan corrected. "But this new scheme has to be the brainchild of someone ambitious likely trying to earn their place on the Faculty."
"And I can pretty much guess who." Sly dreaded always knowing the answer to who was behind this.
"Then it's as we feared Dr M is trying to get on the Faculty." Bentley realised.
"I somehow suspected he would use my recent defection as an opportunity to climb from his current position." Shadowsan realised. "Which I'm guessing he had planned all along."
"Then what's say we go ruin his ascension to the throne." Sly smirked.
"This is not a joking matter Cooper." Shadowsan said taking this seriously. "This is the most ambitious undertaking VILE has taken so every move will have been carefully planned."
"I know Dr M is nothing but an ambitious planner." Sly said. "Player any idea how they're pulling this off?"
"Nothing concrete but the data I decrypted mentions something about an open event going down at the site museum tonight a gala event celebrating Fort Knox's history." Player relayed. "So people will be allowed access with the right passes that is."
"So what they bust in while the party going on?" Ivy wondered.
"Doubt it the main reserve for the gold Bullion inside is a fortress with round the clock patrols, so trying to crack the vault while the parties going on would arouse suspicion." Carmen said. "But they must have an angle."
"Well I heard a rumour back home that there's miles of tunnels under the joint." Murray pointed out.
"It is highly unlikely Dr M will waste his time chasing windmills." Shadowsan immediately shot down.
"And I think I found it." Bentley then spoke up typing on his holo keyboard. "I've just hacked the US government mainframe with elegance of course." He boasted but got back on the subject. "And according to this schedule there's a shipment of Gold going out for depositing to the other banks in the area."
"How much?" Carmen asked.
"Its the equivalent of one hundred million dollars." Bentley voiced.
"Whoa! Talk about huge burger funds." Zack gasped in surprise.
"If VILE acquired that amount it would fund many of their operations for years to come." Shadowsan said.
"So they rob the gold in transit!" Murray gasped.
"Not quite buddy, that would be too simple." Sly said. "Plus that whole convoy would be heavily guarded until they head out."
"But by extension it doesn't mean VILE won't take advantage of that." Carmen realised.
"So what's the caper." Ivy asked.
"Simple we get into Fort Knox and stop VILE's caper before they can get out with the gold in tow." Carmen smiled.
Soon the Cooper and Sandiego Gang was on a red eye jet flying out to Kentucky. Player began to share his facts about the area and its history. "Located in the United States of America, just south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown, Fort Knox is situated in Kentucky it currently houses all of Americas gold reserves." Player shared.
"It was once the home of the US Army Armour Centre and School and was used by both the Army and Marine Corps to train crews of American tanks." Carmen shared her facts too. "It was named in honour of Henry Knox, Chief of Artillery during the American Revolutionary War. On Kentucky itself it was also visited by the first Europeans in the late 17th century via the Ohio River."
"But this high security military base does more than just hold gold its also open to the public providing you have a security pass and it even houses its own museum." Bentley shared. "The General George Patton Museum of Leadership which exhibits the highlighting leadership issues that came around from the attacks of September 11, 2001. Named after General George Patton, a general in the United States Army and commander of Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II."
"Yeah and as for the Gold Depository itself many have tried to break into Fort Knox over the years but none have ever succeeded and to this day Fort Knox remains impenetrable." Sly shared.
The crew soon arrived at the site and donned disguises as tourists. Sly, Murray and Bentley had their hologuises active so they could blend in. They soon arrived at the security gate. The security guards then stepped forwards.
"Passes please." The head officer asked and so the crew each displayed their passes which went through a security scanner. The other officers then searched the crew with metal detectors it did ding on Murray.
"Hey easy bud." Murray lifted his shirt to reveal his belt. "See its just my belt buckle." He smiled so the officer let that pass while a mirror went under Bentley's wheel chair in case anyone smuggled anything in.
"All clear." One officer sounded, and so the security gate opened and let them into the site. The crew walked in and looked at their surroundings.
They took the time to look around and their attention turned to the gold reserve that was there. Sly and Carmens especially for they looked around their surroundings a lot. Silent clicks could be heard from their wrists. Namely because of the micro cameras in their wrists, taking recon photos for Bentley.
"Man I gotta admit back home this kind of heist would go down in history of Cooper Lore!" Sly said to Carmen.
"Maybe but let's focus on making sure the gold stays safe in Fort Knox from VILE." Carmen said knowingly.
"I know I know." Sly chuckled. So they continue to scout the area, the two thieves nodded to each other indicating it was time to put their little distraction into action.
"Okay crew you know the drill." Carmen silently radioed to the others as she handed Sly her lipstick while she headed towards the museum. Sly went into a different direction towards the direction of the Bullion Depository.
A guard was standing watch to the entrance of that area, but then Shadowsan in disguise came over. "Excuse me kind sir." He said pointing to a site map asking for directions, this gave Sly the chance to pickpocket his security pass then climbed the fence with his agility.
He then found a security console and used the pass to gain access to the site. In entering he looked up and saw what he needed a ventilation shaft. Sly slipped out of his sleeve a grapple line as he had to leave his cane behind. He fired it up to the ceiling and latched onto the roof, pulled off the vent cover and entered the vents.
He crawled through the vents as he was heading to a specific place. He soon found another vent cover with light piercing through it. Looking through it he saw the security room below, there was two soldiers on duty watching the security feed. The soldiers were then relieved of duty and they headed out.
The Raccoon thief then pushed on the vent cover, and dropped into the room. He looked around and found what he was looking for, he went to the main security controls and pulled off a panel revealing the wiring inside. Sly then proceeded to pull out the lipstick that Carmen handed him but after twisting the bottom its revealed to be a usb drive.
"Who knew lipstick could be so useful." Sly joked as he connected the drive to one of the main circuits then quickly placed the panel back on.
"Player uplinks live." Sly radioed in.
"Copy that." Player relayed, "You best get moving Sly next shift is coming."
"Ri…" Suddenly Sly saw something in the security cameras that caught his attention he swore he saw what looked like a familiar looking Tiger man in a US Army suit slipping out of the locker rooms. He blinked for a moment and saw it was just a normal soldier.
"Was that…" Sly wondered aloud.
"Sly!" Player called. "You alright?"
"Uh yeah yeah I'm good just thought I…saw something." Sly wondered. "Ah I was just seeing things." He brushed off and he leaped back up to the vents, and put the cover back on like he was never there.
Meanwhile Carmen was at the museum looking at the exhibits seeing any possible targets for VILE. While at the same time taking some recon photos. Everything was set up for tonights gala with food tables being set however she took cover behind one of the old tanks on display. The reason why she was hiding was the presence of certain agents of ACME and a certain foxy inspector among them in her hologuise.
"Agent Zari are you sure the Crime Net intel is accurate?" Carmelita asked the senior agent.
"Crime net is never wrong Agent Fox, intel indicates that Cooper and Sandiego would be here at Fort Knox." Agent Zari reported.
"But I simply cannot comprehend what Carmen Sandiego would want here at Fort Knox, given the sites reputation there is no way to break into the gold depository." Julia noticed.
"That and Sly Cooper maybe a skilled thief but even he's not stupid enough to try and break into a military compound." Carmelita agreed knowing Sly's capabilities.
"Be that as it may Chief says we can't take any chances." Agent Zari reminded them. "I've spoken to the General in charge and ACME will be providing extra security I'll patrol the grounds, Chief got you two passes to the gala tonight so you can watch for any suspicious activity."
The two nodded but failed to notice Carmen taking a snap of them from her hiding place before she disappeared from view.
Later that night:
In their hotel Carmelita and Julia were getting ready for tonights gala. Julia was now dressed in a black slim fitting sleeveless dress with a split in her leg, with a gold bracelets, gold necklace and long diamond earrings. She didn't have her glasses on as she was now placing contact lenses in her eyes. She blinked and she could see more clearly now.
"Carmelita are you ready?" Julia called and at that exact moment, the foxy inspector emerged with a whole new look. She was now wearing a long black dress with a split showing her leg with her hair tied in a bun, a black necklace with a gold badge on it, she wore black high heels.
"Well thats rather, striking." Julia admitted.
"The invite did say black tie event, plus its very functional in case anything happens." Carmelita said.
"Or to attract the attention of a certain gentleman thief." Julia teased which did make Carmelita blush slightly, before she turned on her hologuise bracelet.
"Very funny lets go." Carmelita said before hiding her shock pistol in her purse and the two headed out.
Meanwhile:
Back in the bases main complex, one of the soldiers patrolled the grounds but was acting rather suspiciously. He looked around to make sure he wasn't being watched before he used his security key to open the security door and a certain VILE operative slipped in.
"You're late." The soldier said.
"Hey you took too long pussy cat." Tigress snarked as the two headed into a concealed room then the soldier deactivated a bracelet on his wrist revealing his true form as El Jefe. The Cleaners soon arrived.
"Don't get snarky with me child remember Dr M put me in charge of this operation." El Jefe reminded her.
"Hey the doc may've put you in charge but that doesn't make you a VILE operative!" Tigress challenged but as a result El Jefe grabbed her wrist and pinned her to the wall. The Cleaners backed up in caution.
"Test my patience further cub! And I will show you what I do to those who question my authority!" The tiger mercenary growled showing his teeth. Tigress had to admit she was a little intimidated by this mercenary.
"Okay okay I get it!" Tigress exclaimed as El Jefe released his grip. He then turned to the Cleaners.
"Is everything in place?" El Jefe asked them.
"Everything has been arranged the rondevu will take place for the cargo." Boris explained.
"Good now make sure we stick to schedule understand I don't want any complications." El Jefe ordered as the Cleaners left the room.
Outside Fort Knox:
Meanwhile just outside the complex the Team van was parked to the side of the road but completely concealed in a bush inside Bentley was briefing everyone on the plan.
"Alright thanks to the recon photos we now have an idea of what we're up against, but now ACME is in the frame which means we're gonna have to be cautious." Bentley briefed showing his holo presentation.
"Indeed the presence of ACME may complicate things." Shadowsan agreed.
"However we may be able to use this to our advantage." Bentley then said.
"How so?" Zack asked.
"Simple the same way we distracted Rajan and Interpol in India. A little plan I call Operation 14 Carrat!" Bentley smirked which brought about knowing smirks on Murray and Sly's faces making Carmen and the rest of the gang wonder what the plan was.
"We divide and conquer, Carmen, Sly you two have tickets to the gala and thanks to the uplink from Player the rest of us should have free access to the base." Bentley explained. "You two will have to keep Carmelita and Julia distracted while Shadowsan, Ivy and Murray head down to the storage area where they're holding the gold. Best guess VILE's already got their plan in motion with the convoy so we need to intercept it."
"So what am I doing in this plan Bentley?" Zack asked.
"Simple your on getaway driving duty." Bentley explained. "If the convoy gets out of the facility we'll intercept it ourselves. Using a similar trick we used to rob Toothpicks train in the wild west!"
"Convoy heist awesome!" Zack said. While Shadowsan simply grumbled.
"Sounds like a plan." Sly smirked.
"Then we better get ready Sly, we have a party to crash." Carmen smiled in agreement.
Bentleys chair robot hand reached in back and pulled out some military uniforms Sly had previously pinched for Murray, Ivy and Shadowsan. "You all had better get ready."
Back in Fort Knox, the gala at the General George Patton Museum was now in full swing, all the guests had been cleared by security while several ACME Agents were patrolling the grounds with other soldiers. Two of the guests to enter the gala were Sly and Carmen. Sly was in his hologuise wearing his purple tuxedo and grey pants with navy blue shoes. Carmen was sporting a red v neck dress with a slight split in the dress black heels and a black necklace. Her hair was tied in a bun. The waiters on duty offered them some wine and so they took it to look sophisticated.
"How's it going Player?" Carmen voiced to Player.
"Shadowsan, Murray and Ivy are heading into place and I've got eyes on you guys, and you might want to check your twelve'oclock." Player relayed and their attention was turned to two certain ACME agents in the room in their dresses.
"Well well if it isn't our two favourite ladies." Sly smirked.
"Focus Cooper!" Shadowsan called in on the coms.
"Oh I am." Sly smirked while Carmen shook her head, just then they saw the two agents going their separate ways, so naturally Sly goes to follow Carmelita who was busy admiring one of the exhibitions of the military vehicles, while enjoying some wine herself.
"Okay ask Carmelita to dance while I talk to Jules." Carmen said to him.
"Unfortunately its not so simple as that." Bentley radioed in. "Carmelita is particularly picky about her dance partners but fortunately she hasn't seen Sly in his hologuise so he'll have to try and get her attention."
"Plus who said I'd be dancing with Carmelita." Sly smirked as he headed over to Julia instead leaving Carmen rather bewildered. Julia was admiring one of the historic tanks in the museum, just then Sly came over. "Why Miss Argent you look lovely this evening."
Julia turned to see the stranger looking at her with a debonair smile. "I'm sorry sir, do I know you?" Julia asked confused.
Sly smirked she didn't recognise him in his hologuise. "I remember our little runway of a time back in Milan." Carmen just shook her head at Sly's flirty remarks but strangely she felt a little uneasy and was she…jealous? But why was she thinking this?
"Milan?" Julia wondered and then looking at his eyes it suddenly dawns on her. "Sly C…" Sly quickly put his fingers on her mouth.
"Yeah best not go broadcasting that to the crowd." Sly smiled as Julia nodded and he removed his fingers.
"So I don't suppose your here to turn yourself in, Carmelita would have a field day." Julia said. "Or are you and I suspect Miss Sandiego here on pleasure?"
"Well let's put it this way Jules its always a pleasure seeing your face." Sly winked. "And with that in mind how about a dance?" He offered his hand to a blushing Julia.
"Oh uh… Enchante." She accepted his hand and the two headed out onto the floor, where they soon got into a small slow dance and the slow dance soon turned into a tango the two moved with such passionate movements. This soon drew the attention of the crowds as they followed each others movements and soon Sly took Julia into a dip and the two soon met each others eyes.
"I don't suppose your using me to get at Carmelita?" Julia guessed.
"Why yes I am do you mind?" Sly admitted with some charm but Julia just smiled understandingly.
"Not at all." Julia smiled but it seemed that this dancing duo certainly was getting more than Carmelita's attention as it was getting Carmens attention as well. The duo danced and dance on until they ended with a dip much to the entertainment with the crowds.
"Thank you Mr Cooper that was delightful I never knew you were a good dancer?" Julia said surprised.
"A gentleman's gotta be skilled in all talents, and you weren't so bad yourself." Sly smiled just then Carmelita came over to the two of them"Besides it does take two to tango."
"That it does." Julia smiled with a small blush, just then Carmelita addressed them.
"I'm sorry Julia mind if I have a dance with your new partner." She asked grabbing Sly's arm.
"Why of course Carmelita I hope you enjoy your time with him as I did." Julia smiled and so the two headed in another direction and they started dancing.
Sly looked at her as they danced and as they went into a simple waltz the disguised Inspector was the first to speak. "Hello Ringtail." She smirked.
Though Sly was surprised he expected nothing less from Carmelita Fox. "How'd you guess?"
"Because I know you so well, plus I know only you'd go so far dancing with someone to get my attention." Carmelita smirked knowingly.
The raccoon thief had to admit he was impressed. "Well aren't you looking pretty sharp."
"Well after years of chasing you I have gotten good at this." Carmelita smiled.
Sly leaned in closer as they danced. "I was talking about your dress." He whispered to which Carmelita chuckled.
"Look who's talking." She smirked flirting. From afar Julia watched them together and was soon joined by a certain someone.
"They move very gracefully." Said a familiar voice.
"Yes they certainly do…Carmen!" She looked and saw the thief in red standing next to was shocked.
"Hi Jules, you look very stunning this evening enjoying the gala?" Carmen smiled. Julia was completely flustered as she tried to compose herself.
"Uh huh y…yes…I…" Julia blushed and stammered then remembered. "Wait why are you here?"
"Oh just here to take in the history here at Fort Knox and to make sure it remains undisturbed." Carmen said to her.
Meanwhile:
On the grounds near the Bullion depository, Shadowsan, Ivy and Murray now in disguise/hologuise. Approached the entrance where there was a guard on duty. "We are here for the shift change." Shadowsan addressed him.
"Security pass please?" The soldier requested and so the soldiers/thieves showed their passes. The soldier then approved their passes and let them pass entering the facility.
"Remind me to compliment Bentley on his counterfeiting capabilities." Shadowsan said.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Bentley radioed in on the coms. "Keep going down this hall until you reach the lift to the main vault."
"Gotya Bentley." Ivy radioed and the crew started making their way through the complex. While Player used the uplink to keep an eye on them and the surrounding area.
In his room said hacker was monitoring the security vids, however as all seemed quiet at first when he looked at the main vault the monitors started going out one by one.
"Bentley the security cameras in the vault are going out is it the same on your end?" Player called Bentley.
Team Van:
Bentley was looking at the security vids from the van, he saw the same thing as Player the monitors were going out. "Hmm this can mean only one thing." He then accessed his own tech tablet and he began typing on it. He knew this was time to bring a small trick into play.
The Vault:
Meanwhile in the main vault the gold bullion was being loaded onto flatbeds to then be moved into the loading bay where a large convoy of trucks was waiting but it was being loaded by the undercover Cleaners under the supervision of El Jefe and Tigress. Just then the tiger mercenary received a communication from Dr M and the Faculty.
"El Jefe, Tigress status report?" Dr M asked.
"All is going to schedule Dr M soon the gold will be loaded and will rondevu with the pick up as planned." El Jefe reported.
"Excellent and have we had any little red issues yet?" Dr.M asked but neither of them noticed the V symbol on the communication device briefly changed to a certain turtle avatar and then glitched back again.
Team Van:
On the other end, Bentley and Zack was listening in on the communication. "No, so far there is no sign of interference from Cooper or Sandiego." Bentley's eyes widened as he recognised that voice all too well.
"See that it stays that way, that gold is our best bet at making up our losses in Rio my dear mercenary." Professor Maelstrom reminded him.
"Indeed too much rides on this! You know what I mean." Dr M reminded him in a knowing tone.
"Rest assured Faculty I will ensure success for this mission." El Jefe replied and the transmission was terminated.
"Whoa so you tapped their coms talk about sneaky Bentley!" Zack said impressed however he noticed how shocked the turtle hacker was. "Uh…Bentley?" He waved his hand and clicked his fingers trying to snap him out of it.
"It can't be…t…thats impossible." Bentley stuttered.
"Uh Bentley." Zack asked.
"Player, call Carmen and Sly we may have an unexpected guest!" Bentley contacted Player.
"On it, Shadowsan and the others should be at the lift now." Player replied.
Fort Knox:
Shadowsan pressed the button on the lift opening it and the three entered it just as Bentley called in. "Guys listen up you best prepare, you might have some company when you get down there!"
"We understand Bentley." Shadowsan said as he pulled out his sword just as the door closed, and they pressed a button marked gold level.
The Museum:
Back in the museum, the gala still played uninterrupted but Carmen and Sly kept a sharp eye open for any unusual activity. Sly however couldn't help but enjoy his dance with Carmelita as for him it was like the old days for the two of them. Carmen could see Sly was enjoying himself even more so for Carmelita.
"So lets see there's the gold bullion reserve or the museum itself stealing historic weapons." Julia listed to Carmen. "Or maybe something else entirely."
"Hmm I think your getting the hang of this Jules." Carmen said. "Lets just say we're making sure that Fort Knox remains impenetrable. I'm guessing thats why your here right?"
"Yes, but lets just say ACME doesn't quite know what to think of you or Mr Cooper these days Miss Sandiego." Julia explained.
"Please just Carmen, and what exactly does ACME think of us?" She then asked with general interest.
"Well either your involved with VILE or that you know something about them, and especially after what happened in Poitier and running around with a potential VILE suspect."
Carmen could see she was referring to Shadowsan not to mention everything else thats been happening of late. "Its a little complicated right now."
Unbeknownst to them Carmelita and Sly were having a similar conversation. "Whats so complicated about it, if you know something about that you should tell me."
Sly found it pretty hard to find the right words. "Okay look he may've been a part of VILE but he's on our side its kinda hard to explain."
"It always is with you." Carmelita gave an unsurprising chuckle but still felt a bit hurt he was still keeping secrets from her.
"ACME are finding it very difficult to trust you and Sly." Jules told Carmen.
"Well lets just say it's hard to know who to trust." Carmen explained. "Besides I just prefer to do things outside the law less people get hurt that way, but trust me Jules we are on the same side. A long time ago I learned that knowledge is the real treasure and it deserves to be shared with the world, but doing what I do against VILE could put others in danger."
"And sometimes you see ACME can at times get in the way." Julia realised what she was saying a little hurt. Just then she felt a hand on her shoulder and saw Carmen looking at her with an assuring smile.
"Oh not all of ACME." She smiled which surprisingly put a blush on Julia's face but she didn't know why.
"Carmelita." Sly said cupping her chin. "Look I'm still the same old Sly no matter where I end up, even if it is on different sides of the law."
"Like always." She said with a saddened expression looking down a little until Sly cupped her cheek with his own soft loving expression and in that moment the world went black around them and their true forms could be seen. All was silent as they looked into each others eyes and their lips were drawing ever closer, and closer but then.
"SLY! CARMEN!" Called a voice on Sly and Carmens coms snapping them back to reality and it was Player. It seemed that Cooper and Carmelita's moment was interrupted again by work.
"Excuse me." Carmen said to Julia as she quickly went somewhere private. "What is it Player?"
"VILE's already in the gold storage area they're loading up the gold now!" Player called in.
"They must've dealt with the personnel on that detail, they're moving the plan up to now!" Carmen realised. "Okay we're gonna need a quick exit!"
"Your wish is my command dear lady." Bentley called in. Carmen came out of her hiding place and gave a subtle nod to Sly, this told him they had to go now. Carmelita could see the look on his face.
"Sly?" She asked him and he looked with remorse and regret.
"I…I'm sorry." The moment Sly said that the whole room went black the power had been cut and all the guests bustled in a panic. The personnel on duty were trying to keep everyone calm.
"Everyone please remain calm the back up generator should be kicking in now." Someone called then the red lights went on and to Carmelita's surprise Sly was gone, and Julia was equally surprised as Carmen was gone too.
"What..wh..where?!" Carmelita looked around and suddenly she felt something in her hair she pulled it out and it was a red rose with a certain calling card attached to it. She had hurt tears in her eyes as she called out.
"COOPER!" She exclaimed. Julia pulled out her ACME communication pen.
"Agent Zari, Carmen Sandiego and Sly Cooper are on the premises!" Julia said.
Sly and Carmen were escaping round back, the Raccoon thief deactivated his hologuise with some remorse on his face. "You know sometimes I hate this part of the job."
"I'm sorry Sly but we can't let VILE escape." Carmen said to him understanding so the two went to the back of the storage area and found their gear waiting for them.
Back in the storage area:
The convoy of four trucks was all loaded and ready to go with operatives of VILE at the wheel of each truck. "Okay lets move out!" El Jefe ordered suddenly a large banging sound was heard at the main door then *BAM!* The door was blasted off its hinges and stepping out of the smoke was Murray, and Shadowsan at the ready for anything.
"Knock knock!" Murray said cracking his knuckles as Ivy appeared behind them. El Jefe growled at seeing one of the Cooper Gang members but it wasn't the one he was hoping for.
"Take care of them I will see to the trucks!" El Jefe said to Tigress as he headed to the convoy.
"I'll take the trucks!" Shadowsan said as he zoomed forwards drawing his sword and quickly jumps over Tigress with his agility. Leaving Murray to confront Tigress while Ivy headed after the other trucks.
"Now don't think the Murray is gonna go easy on ya stripes!" Murray said ready for a fight.
"Who says I wont go easy on you!" Tigress smirked as she activated her gauntlet and it surged into life. Murray charged forward fist fist and much to his shock, Tigress had caught his fist as it hit her hand with a large shockwave. Murray looked in disbelief while Tigress smirked and then with one punch sent Murray flying into the wall with a loud bang. Ivy looked back completely stunned as was Player and Bentley who had been watching on the security cameras the whole time.
Luckily Murray wasn't hurt just shaken as he got back up. "Whoa…I didn't see that coming!"
"HA, Lets just say Dr M gave me an upgrade one I was hoping to use on Carmen but you'll do for now!" Tigress snarled. She charged at Murray who quickly performed his aboriginal ball form and bounced out of the way, he then threw a fist at Tigress who ducked out of the way leaped over the giant hippo and landed a kick in his back thanks to her enhanced strength. Murray wasn't one to go down that easily as he charged and threw his fist at Tigress which did knock her back. The two charged again and clashed with each other.
Ivy looks around trying to find some way to help Murray. She then noticed an oil drum nearby and she had an idea.
The trucks were getting ready to leave but just as El Jefe was about to board one of the trucks when suddenly he was kicked away compliments of Shadowsan. The mercenary however performed a flip and landed on his feet in an agile way. He glared down the ninja.
"Ah so you are the infamous Shadowsan, the Faculty and Dr M were very informative about you said you would be a challenge." El Jefe smirked.
"You heard correctly, mercenary!" Shadowsan said. "Judging by your skill and how you carry yourself."
"Hm very observant." The mercenary drew his katanas but you'll find I'm more of a challenge than most!" He charged forwards with his katanas and Shadowsan maintained his position the mercenary drew closer and closer. Just when he was close enough Shadowsan made a swift slash move with his sword and when El Jefe landed. Suddenly his bracelet was sliced in half deactivating his hologuise revealing his true self.
Shadowsan was surprised, but suspected something was off. "It would seem like myself you hide your true self."
Murray struggled to hold Tigress back, and when he looked at the mercenary he was completely taken aback. "El Jefe!" Suddenly Tigress punched him back with all her now enhanced strength.
Mercenary and Ninja charged and clashed their blades against each other slashing and clanging. Both were equally matched. Suddenly the tiger mercenaries blades ignited with electricity and slashed towards Shadowsan who skilfully avoided it with a flip and landed on a metal barrel on one foot. El Jefe then changes the blades to fire and unleashed a fire ball towards the ninja and in slow-motion Shadowsan bent over backwards dodging the blast before he leaped up and clashed his sword against his but El Jefe grabbed the ninja by the arm and sent him crashing into a wall.
"Shadowsan!" Ivy exclaimed and El Jefe readied his swords as he walked towards his prey. Ivy saw the Oil drum and quickly grabbed it.
The Mercenary looks with a sadistic smirk as he readied his blades for the final blow. *BAM* Suddenly the metal barrel slammed into his back and rolled away, he looked to see Ivy standing there while Murray blocked a strong punch from Tigress he looked and saw El Jefe had every intent on hurting his friend, but Ivy gave him a quick glance telling him to be ready.
"Foolish cub! You just made a huge mistake!" El Jefe readied his blades as Ivy stayed in place with her fists up. As he got closer, and closer he was ready to lunge until finally.
Just as Tigress was about to land another punch on Murray. *BAM!* Carmen in her thieves attire swooped in and kicked Tigress to the side then Sly jumps over her, leaps in the air swings his cane and tail swatting El Jefe across the face.
Moving quickly, Murray grabbed Tigress's leg and swung her across the room and sent her crashing into El Jefe's chest sending them both crashing to the ground.
Hearing a groan from nearby the two see Shadowsan is getting up from the floor. Ivy quickly helps him up. "Ughhh…Thank you." Shadowsan thanked Ivy. Suddenly their attention turned to the trucks which started to pull away from the loading area with El Jefe and Tigress clinging on.
"So long Cooper!" El Jefe saluted with a smirk, Sly was taken by surprise just what was that mercenary he fought in Feudal Japan doing here in this world.
"El Jefe!" Sly breathed in shock.
"Friend of yours?" Carmen asked him with haste.
"Hardly! He's a mercenary who worked for Le Paradox!" Sly explained as there wasn't time for a complete story.
"Heads up guys pick up is incoming!" Player called and just on time the Team Van blasted into the loading bay and the side door opened revealing Zack at the drivers seat.
"Lets hit it!" Carmen exclaimed as everyone hurried into the van. Just as Carmelita, Agent Zari and Julia with some military officers burst into the loading bay just as the Team Van zoomed away from the scene.
"Call security no-one can leave this site!" Agent Zari exclaimed to the general.
"You heard her indicate lockdown NOW!" The General yelled to a soldier who pressed an alert button sounding an alarm throughout the complex. Carmelita quickly pulled out a key fob and pressed the button and zooming in was one of ACME's Aston Martins.
"I'm going after them!" Carmelita exclaimed deactivating her hologuise and getting in the car and zooming away in hot pursuit.
"Just hope she's a better driver than Devineaux was." Zari wondered.
"You may be surprised." Julia said.
Alarms were sounding off all over the site as the transport convoy was heading towards the gates. The guards on the gates saw the convoy heading their way and having been warned they acted fast.
"Close the barrier!" The guard alerted and in seconds the barrier was closing.
El Jefe saw it from the lead truck on the convoy, but nothing was stopping them now. "Ram the gate!" He yelled and so the truck charged at full speed but all the soldiers were ready with their weapons. The trucks refused to stop and they opened fire but this wasn't stopping them at all and then *CRASH!* The trucks crashed through the blockade completely destroying the barrier giving free passage to the other trucks in the convoy.
The Cooper Team Van was close behind as it jumped over what remained of the barrier. However little did everyone know the scene was being watched by a small drone with a green glow.
Isle of VILE:
In his lab at the academy Dr M saw the events unfold, while had every confidence in El Jefe's abilities he also had to be prepared for any contingency. So he switched the screen to contact the Cleaners.
"Scrub the site, leave no trace of VILE's existence code zero alpha." He instructed.
"Understood." Vlad replied cutting the transmission.
Kentucky:
The convoy was now a good distance from Fort Knox onto a main highway that was previously cleared for the convoy the following morning. The Cooper Team Van was close behind the rear of the convoy.
"Okay so what's the plan?" Ivy asked.
"Simple we unload the trucks of the stolen gold, but we need to cover our bases." Bentley explained. "So Sly you take the roof of the trucks, Carmen you take the inside of each truck and you can open the side door so we can take back the stolen gold along the way."
"The moment El Jefe knows what's going on he's gonna try and stop us." Ivy realised. "Not to mention Tigress's sudden juice upgrade."
"We'll have to chance it, anything we should know about this guy?" Carmen asked Sly.
"Long story short he's a skilled mercenary and he's especially dangerous at close range." Sly explained. "He grabs you your as good as dead."
"He's correct, I will try and help where I can." Shadowsan added.
"Now remember guys we're a team, we need to work together to pull this off if we're going to take back the gold and stop El Jefe!" Bentley pointed out. "Now lets do this!"
The van drove right up to the rear of the truck in front. The side door opened and Sly got out first, and fired his grappling cane which latched onto the roof of the truck, in retracting the cable he landed on the roof. Carmen came out next, and climbed onto the front of the van.
"Zack keep her steady!" Ivy told her brother.
"Gotya!" Zack called and drove as steady as he could. Timing it carefully Carmen leaped from the vans bonnet and grabbed onto the doors of the truck. She then quickly used her lock picks to pick the lock on the doors seconds later they clicked open and she gained access to the truck trailer.
"Okay Zack get alongside the truck, Murray, Shadowsan, Ivy you'll have to get ready to grab the loot as I work the grabs." Bentley relayed.
"You got it little guy!" Ivy agreed.
Up top Sly hurried along the roof of the transport while inside Carmen found the first lot of gold. "Sly I've found the gold, and I can see the side doors on a computerised lock."
She quickly leaped up to the computer lock, and plugged her spare lipstick usb into the lock. "Player your up!"
Players Room:
"On it red!" Player began typing on his computer and hacked the lock, seconds later the screen turned from red, to green. "And open sesame!"
Convoy:
The lock turned green and unlocked. "Sly the locks deactivated." She called on the coms.
"On it!" Sly called from the roof as he pulled out his cane and smashed the outer bolt keeping the lock in place. He then pulled the side door back.
Bentley saw the door was open. "Step on it Zack!" he called.
"You got it!" Zack put his foot down and the van zoomed forwards and it was soon right alongside the truck. Then, the whole left side of the van opened upwards and Bentley swung out on a grabbing harness.
"Keep it steady!" Bentley called as he targeted the gold flatbed. He fired the grabbling line and grabbed the flatbed and pulled it from the truck and it dangled between the two vehicles.
"Got it! One down three to go!" Bentley cheered as it retracted and the gang grabbed the loot. Sly quickly ran along the roof and jumped to the next truck. Carmen quickly climbed up the side rod of the truck to the roof and she jumped across. Then they repeated the same process on the second truck, hacking and breaking the lock while Zack drove alongside keeping to the same pace as the truck, as Bentley swings out on his grapple harness and fires a line to grab the other gold flatbed and it was a direct hit.
"Come to daddy." Bentley smirked as they pulled the loot across into the van.
Up front on the lead truck, Tigress looked at the rear view mirror and scowled as she saw two certain thieves looting the train of the stolen gold. "Hey we got a couple of hitchhikers!" She called to El Jefe, and he sees said thieves robbing the convoy and he growled in fury.
"Deal with Sandiego, Cooper is mine!" El Jefe said as he crawled out of the truck compartment and Tigress did the same while the driver stayed on course.
In the third truck Bentleys grappling harness had latched onto another of the stolen gold flatbeds and pulled it out and across to the van just as the sun was coming up.
"Okay guys only one more to go." Bentley called from the van. So Carmen joined Sly on the top of the truck as they leaped over to the final truck. Before they could get to work two certain Tiger operatives greeted them with their respective weapons ready.
"Sly Cooper, it's been a long time!" El Jefe snarled at the raccoon thief, he then noticed his partner in crime. "And this must be the infamous Carmen Sandiego, I must admit not as impressive as I thought."
"Your supposed to be in jail El Jefe after your insurrection in Feudal Japan failed!" Sly Cooper exclaimed.
"Well we have your old friend Dr M to thank for my being here, and it gives us an opportunity." The mercenary growled.
"To what?" Sly asked.
"To settle the score!" El Jefe smirked as he drew his katanas and blasted Sly away with an energy bolt, and jumped after him.
"Sly!" Carmen exclaimed she was about to go help him but she was instantly pulled by her arm and tossed to the roof of the trucks trailer by Tigress, who activated her gauntlet.
"I'd be more concerned about your own wellbeing if I were you." Tigress smirked as she leaped into the air and slashed at Carmen who rolled out of the way and Tigress's clawed gloves slashed right through the metal much to Carmens surprise.
"Whoa!" She breathed, Tigress lunged at her and Carmen quickly ducked out of the way and performed a round house kick but Tigress grabbed her leg in a tight grip and slams her into the ground and tosses her across the roof.
On the rear truck Sly ducked and dodged all of El Jefe's attacks he slammed his sword into the roof sending out and electric wave which Cooper quickly performed a ninja jump to avoid his attacks. He swung his cane and swatted El Jefe across the face which only made him angry.
Carmen dodged another attack from Tigress but her claws managed to catch her wrist. She looked at it, and while she was scratched her retractable grapple line was damaged.
"Stings doesn't it Carmen." Tigress smirked. "I'll give this to the doc he's just given me a great way to slice and dice you!" She lunged at Carmen and she ducked out of the way and performed a ninja style jump and kicked Tigress in the back only for the VILE operative to swoop round and leap like her namesake and kick her off the side.
Carmen quickly latched onto the trailers side pole, Tigress smirked as she slashed at the lock and made the door slide open and suddenly the pole was pulled from the door tearing away the metal side with it leaving a tall pole hanging by a thread.
"Carm!" Zack cried from the team van as it tried to catch up with them. The team looked and saw that Sly was fighting El Jefe and narrowly dodged another strike from his swords.
"We gotta do something!" Zack called.
"We cannot reach them, we should use this as a chance to seize the last of the gold!" Shadowsan called.
"But we can't leave Carm and Sly!" Ivy questioned.
"We aren't leaving them!" Bentley called. "While I don't like it Shadowsan has a point with El Jefe and Tigress distracted we can snatch the loot, we're in no capacity to help them in our current situation. Besides I have a feeling they will get help." Bentley smiled knowingly but this caused an air of confusion among some of the gang.
Without another word Zack blasted the van forwards and they were soon alongside the truck and Bentley's grappling harness swung out of the van. He targeted the gold while Tigress was distracted taunting Carmen.
"Oh hi Carmen how's it hanging!" Tigress taunted as she slashed at the pole with her enhanced strength and claws. The pole was beginning to slip from its mountings. Carmen held on for dear life. Sly who blocked a blade strike from El Jefe saw Carmen was in danger and quickly kicked the tiger mercenary away and he hurried to the edge of the truck behind hers.
"Carmen! Hang on I'm gonna shoot you a line!" Sly readied his cane to fire a line suddenly though El Jefe grabbed Sly from behind causing him to drop his cane. The cane dropped from the truck but Carmen was quick to grab it in her hand. Tigress slashed at the pole hinges again and it was nearly ready to give way. She wondered what to do, she could climb the pole but there wasn't enough time before it gave way. There was only one way to get up there fast, the Climbing Cobra but she still wasn't sure she could pull it off.
However she remembered Sly's words. "you just gotta let your natural talents and instincts take over." She opened her eyes and had a new found confidence, so she grabbed the pole and began coiling around it like a snake and suddenly she got faster and faster climbing it leaving a blur behind her. Tigress looked down but suddenly Carmen leaped up in the air from the pole in a Batman styled way, pulled Sly's cane from her back and swatted Tigress across the face sending her flying off the trailer and crashing into a tree.
Carmen landed on the trailer with the cane in hand, in a dramatic style fashion. That was all the time Bentley needed to line up the grapple cannon and fired a line grappling onto the last of the gold on the flatbeds and pulled it over to the van.
Sly dodged another strike from El Jefe but left him open to a solid punch in his gut sending him hurling across the roof of the trailer and was hanging off the edge grasping it with all his might. El Jefe stood over him with a sadistic smirk as he smoked his cigar.
"Dr M wants you alive, he has a funny idea about revenge but for the humiliation you and Rioichi did to me, this is my revenge!" The tiger mercenary smirked as he he kicked Sly's left hand off the edge nearly sending him flying if he didn't maintain his grip, however El Jefe placed his foot on Sly's other hand ready to crush his fingers.
However before he could deliver the blow a certain thief in red leaped from behind him and grabbed him by his head and kicked him away from Sly before she drew his cane. El Jefe glared the thief in red down and could only chuckle in amusement.
"Hah impressive not many could outwit me, but you must either be brave or foolish." El Jefe smirked. "You think having that cane makes you a Cooper?!"
"Nope." Carmen said twirling it. "It means I'm trained like one!" She charged forwards as El Jefe slashed at her with his katana blades, but Carmen leaped to the left and performed a rail slide along the edge of the truck trailer. Ducking under another of her opponents slashes she performs a ninja spire jump onto the other side of the trailer.
Sly manages to grab onto the trailer roof, and starts to pull himself up unaware a certain Aston Martin was coming alongside the trailer. Carmelita saw El Jefe fighting Carmen while Sly worked to try and get back up onto the roof.
El Jefe slashed electricity at Carmen who narrowly dodged the slash but suddenly she was met by El Jefe's free hand which grabbed her coat tail pulled her in and landed a punch in her gut causing her to groan in pain.
"Carmen!" Sly exclaimed. El Jefe pulled a knife from his belt sadistically glaring at his prey the thief in red.
"VILE wants your head on a silver platter, they never said anything about a body!" He was ready to slit her throat when suddenly he was hit by a blast of electricity shocking him immensely.
Sly looked and saw it was from Carmelita who fired it from her car. El Jefe was tingling with electricity so much he dropped Carmen who quickly performed a roundhouse kick and sent him crashing to the ground but a brief bolt of electricity shocked the truck knocking out the driver. Suddenly the truck was weaving out of control.
"Sly! Carmen you've gotta get out of there now! The trucks gonna crash!" Bentley yelled on the coms.
"Enjoy your crash and burn!" El Jefe exclaimed as he suddenly fired up a jet pack on his back, grabbed Tigress in his arms and blasted off into the sky. Carmen extended her hand to Sly and he accepted it pulling him back up, the two then jumped clear from the trucks trailer and rolled into the ground just as the truck swerved to the right, tipped and crashed down on the road. Zack quickly swerved the van to avoid the crash.
A distance away in the forest near the road El Jefe and Tigress saw the rest of their convoy that had stopped and was cleared out. Their mission it seems was a failure. Just then a helicopter from VILE with the cleaners aboard descended and the two headed towards it.
Near the convoy wreak on the highway Carmen and Sly were sprawled on the ground, they groaned as they regained consciousness from the jump. "You okay?" Carmen asked.
"Yeah…" He breathed. "At least I can tick jumping off a speeding truck off my bucket list." Sly then smiled towards Carmen. "By the way, nice climbing partner."
Carmen smiled back in pride. "Yeah coil like a snake and bite like one too."
"Sly, Carmen are you guys alright?!" Player called in.
"Yeah we're okay Player, did the others secure the gold?" She then asked.
"All present and correct, meet us at the rondevu." Bentley then called in.
Before they could answer that, they heard the sound of crackling electricity, except when they turned and looked it wasn't El Jefe. It was Carmelita training her shock pistol on the two thieves.
"Uh hey Carmelita you look stunning this evening." Sly flirted.
"Can it Cooper!" Carmelita exclaimed. "Your both under arrest!"
"Look, I know what this looks like!" Carmen stood up slowly with her hands up. "Yes we were robbing the convoy but only to keep VILE from taking the gold themselves." She explained.
Carmelita didn't look very convinced at that despite seeing a certain mercenary fighting them on the roof of the truck. "Why, you could've taken the gold yourselves."
"Doing that would rob the reputation of a historical fortress, and dishonour everything it still stands for to this day." Carmen said to her.
"She's right besides I think Fort Knox deserves to keep its rep knowing this happened could ruin it." Sly backed her up.
The foxy agent could see their point, and she did remember Sly's words from San Fransisco, "Lets just say I'm trying something new…" "I'm still the same old Sly no matter where I end up, even if it is on different sides of the law."
This did raise questions in Carmelita's mind about Sly, and Carmens motives. She thought she knew Sly but since running with Sandiego and her crew, she saw a new side of him but was still questioning Carmens involvement in VILE but knew from Julias words she returned the items from pretty questionable people which in the Foxy inspectors perspective were criminals. Before she could contemplate more.
"Fox report!" Agent Zari called in and she pulled out her communication pen to answer the call. "Fox come in have you apprehended Cooper and Sandiego?!" She looked to the two thieves and could see the honesty in their eyes, would she take them in?
"No, they must've slipped away again." Carmelita replied back and she put the pen away but when she turned to talk to them they were already gone. "Ah…old habits die hard."
She then headed back to her car only to find that Sly and Carmen had left a present behind. All of the stolen gold, safe and recovered. She bore an impressed smile on her face as she gazed upon a certain calling card that had been left behind. It was then she began to wonder maybe this Carmen Sandiego wasn't so bad after all, and maybe there was more to her than first meets the eye.
Slys POV:
"After Carmen, the gang and I met up and got away, the rest of Carmelita'd buddies from ACME had arrived and began picking up the gold we left for them…"
Carmelita was soon joined by Agents Zari and Julia with other ACME agents and military officers seeing the foxy inspector with the recovered gold. However the VILE agents were long gone.
"As for VILE well it looks like they made a clean get away, but not before they scrubbed the site before they left. Though there were concerns about how the public would react to Fort Knox nearly successfully broken into Shadowsan was confident that the military had a way of keeping things quiet so alls well that ends well…"
Fort Knox was on lock down but the officers the Cleaners had previously knocked out had recovered as military officers had found them in their pants claiming they'd been drugged. Any other presence of VILE had been eliminated from the site completely.
The scene then shifts to the team Van zooming away from Kentucky to grab the next plane but inside concerned faces among, Sly, Bentley, Carmen, Murray, Shadowsan and Ivy had been raised on tonights encounter.
"Unfortunately we now had bigger concerns, about how El Jefe, the mercenary we stopped in feudal Japan during our time caper showed up here in a parallel earth? This told us one thing Dr M had been busy and had started gathering new recruits for VILE from our universe…"
Silhouettes of some of Sly's past enemies appeared behind him and Carmen as they thought on these concerning events. "One thing was for sure, from now on things were gonna get tough!"
End of POV
Isle of VILE:
In the silence of the Faculty Lounge, the four heads of VILE were in a debate regarding recent events. Namely on this recent caper. "Shame Dr M's caper didn't work out still thats what you get being too ambitious." Coach Brunt said somewhat pleased about it.
"Maybe Coach Brunt, but despite its failure this caper did bore some unexpected fruit." Dr Bellum voiced. "The use of the enhancement device did indeed improve Tigress's execution in battle." She said referring to the footage of the fight between Carmen and Tigress that was being played. "Plus we would've faired a whole lot worse if Dr M hadn't left the Cleaners positioned at Fort Knox to erase all trace of VILEs existence so no operatives could be captured."
"Or worse if any intel had been confiscated by ACME." Countess Cleo agreed.
"Indeed we do owe it to Dr M's strategic foresight in this matter." Professor Maelstrom agreed. "In addition, he did open our eyes to a possible new edge against Carmen Sandiego and Sly the criminals from the universe M hails from are just as cunning as El Jefe then we may've found a potential source of new recruits, and maybe more besides." Maelstrom smirked sinisterly. "And for that reason alone he has my vote."
"Hm true the doc kept us in the dark about that gauntlet and this portal thingamajig, but I gotta admit he did make good on his word about it giving us the edge and Tiger boy delivered, I do kinda like his style." Coach Brunt admitted.
Countess Cleo was the last to give a verdict on this matter. "I was a little skeptical about using, Freelancers in our operations but El Jefes strategic mind did get us inside Fort Knox without raising suspicion. Still he really should quit those cuban cigars of his they stink up the room!" She whined but went back to the matter at hand. "But as long as, Dr M can keep his flees to himself I have not argument."
"Then shall we put it to a vote." Professor Maelstrom suggested.
Outside the doors to the Faculty Lounge, Dr M waited he was furious that Cooper had just cost him his spot on the Faculty and he vowed vengeance on him just as he did his father. Just as Dr M was contemplating what he'd do the door opened as The Cleaners addressed him.
"They will see you now." Boris addressed.
Dr M, then entered the Faculty lounge as he addressed the Faculty. "My esteemed VILE Faculty my deepest apologies for this grievous failure in Kentucky."
"It all worked out Dr M, and you have indeed come closer to robbing the most impregnable fortress ever built than anyone else has." Maelstrom said to him. "It has shown us how effective your enhancements have proven and the recent events have shown this Cooper fellow has trained our former Black Sheep in ways we haven't conceived of so perhaps its time we evolved as well."
Dr M admittedly was getting a little anxious about where Professor Maelstrom was going with this. Said professor gave a knowing smirk. "In fact we've decided that our open position should be filled….." he said.
"By you."
That statement put a very pleased and sinister smirk on the monkey scientists face, despite his failure to rob Fort Knox it would seem his investment in the portal and his enhancement gauntlet had paid off. He had finally ascended. "Well…I…I really don't know what to say Gunnar, except I would be honoured to take my place among the illustrious VILE Faculty." Dr M said rather humbly.
"Its an honour well earned Dr M." Dr Bellum congratulated.
"Yes and perhaps your right, the use of freelancers from your world could very well tip the scales in VILE's favour." Countess Cleo agreed.
"I'm glad you agree my fair Countess." Dr M smiled. "In fact." He snapped his fingers and then the doors behind him opened, and inside came a series of silhouetted characters in different shapes and sizes. "I've already taken the liberty of putting together a recruitment drive. They didn't take much convincing just the simple promise of two things."
Coach Brunt and the rest of the Faculty smirked in anticipation to seeing these criminals from Coopers world. "Which is?" Coach Brunt smirked.
"Freedom…..and revenge!" Dr M smirked sinisterly as thunder and lightning flashed in the night sky. It would seem the balance of power had finally shifted, in VILE's favour.
Authors Notes: A...nd scene! Fort Knox is saved and so is the gold, thanks to the Cooper and Sandiego Gang and whats even better Carmens learned a new move! The Climbing Cobra. But now things are becoming intense, Dr M has built a portal device to open a portal to his dimension to start bringing in madmen and criminals from his and Sly's world, and now hes made an enhancer device for the VILE Operatives! With Worse to come despite his failure to acquire the gold he's earned his place among VILE's Faculty.
Now it was always my plan from the start to have Dr M join VILE's Faculty after Shadowsans defetion, because honestly I felt Roundabouts rein as the fifth member was a little short lived due to uh later events in later seasons. But don't worry Roundabout still has a part to play in this story. For now it looks like things are going to get tough if VILE are recruiting criminals from Sly's world with the simple promise of revenge against him and his gang. Buckle up folks this is gonna be a bumpy ride!
Until next time WHERE IN THE WORLD IS COOPER AND SANDIEGO?! and Happy New Year!