just to let you know meine Freunde

Just to let all my page viewers know that those of you who aren't of the German sort, that my new story Cooper...Ich heisse Mason will have Colt's English translation in parenthesis next to his speech.  I will continue to do this as I work on the story.  I haven't completely refined all of the details, but I'm sure when all of it is said and done, that Colt will be speaking mostly German.  By the way.  Two reminders.  First, Castle Wolfenstein: The New Order is coming out 2014.  And the Sly Cooper movie will be debuting in theaters by 2016.  Danke, meine Freunde.

Cooper...Ich heisse Mason (Some German)

I'm not the sharpest when it comes to Sly Cooper's story, but I think I at least got character attitudes right.

Prologue

            I'm Sly Cooper, but you knew that, right?  So, my reputation has gone beyond borders of  the countries I've been to.  Believe me, I feel like I've been everywhere.  But not long ago, I was invited to have a drink with a gentleman named Colt Mason.  He's told me via letters--As he's claimed that he doesn't want the French Intelligence tracking him-- that he wanted to talk to me about a job he had in mind.  He said the assignment is relatively easy-- For a gentleman of my stature (Well, that's what he told me)-- and the pay was good.  After that I told him that I was the guy for the job.  We met in a pub in downtown Paris, France.  I wasn't sure what he looked like, but he said he'd find me when he got there.  A live concert was playing that evening.  I always enjoyed coming to this pub in particular with Bentley and Murray, the drinks were cheap and the music was good, so we didn't care.  I waited near the door for him, enjoying the music playing from the band across the room.  I turned from the jazz band at the opposite end of the room to face this tall Husky wearing a leather jacket and jeans. 

            "Herr Cooper (Mr. Cooper), I presume?"  He quizzed, speaking with somewhat of a German accent. 

            "Call me Sly, if you want at least."  He chuckled mildly and invited me over to have a drink.  Sitting down almost simultaneously he began to speak, making it rather plain to me. 

            "Now then," he began "On to business.  Was Ich spreche zu du may change dein lieben und deine Freuindelieben (What I say to you may change your life and your friend's lives), Cooper."  I, surprisingly enough, had a pretty good ear for German.  

            "So what job did you have in mind, Herr Mason."

            "It's my turn zu sprucke, heiβe mich Colt (It's my turn to say, call me Colt)."  I nodded to him, the two of us still plainly conversing.  "Jetzt, dein arbeitest ist to go to le police in Paris here.  There, du should find a file mit die name 'Walker'(Now, your job is to go to the police here in Paris.  There you should find a file with the name 'Walker').  Ihre name ist Inspector Johan Walker (His name is Inspector Johan Walker)."  I stared at Colt for a second and asked him again.

            "I'm sorry Colt, but did you say 'Inspector Walker'?  I mean, THE 'Johan Walker'?"  He nodded.  Walker had been the one to have me locked up in a max security prison.  If I remembered that experience,  Colt was actually my cellmate.  He was the one who broke me out of there.  I couldn't tell you how, but he got me out.  All I remember was being flown out of there in a scout helicopter, and waking up feeling like had just gone clubbing across the entire continent of Europe. 

            "I'm nearly past mein prime, Cooper.  Ich bin acht und dreiβig Jahre alt (I am thirty eight years old).  I don't exactly have die tactical advantage that I did in mein zwanziger (Twenties).  Das ist why Ich habe du heir gekommen (That is why I had you come here)."  I was about to reply with a great comeback, but we were interrupted by the bartender clearing his throat rather loudly.

            "Can I get you gentleman anything."  Colt turned to him.

            "Ja bitte mich, zwei bier bitte (Yes pardon me, two beer please)."  He said, the French bartender confused at first, but then put the pieces together and filled up the glasses.  He laid them in front of us.  These were rather tall glasses, but we were both thirsty. 

            "A toast, Cooper."  He announced.  "To fortune."  I smiled playfully and raised my glass with him.

            "Fortune."  I repeated.  We clinked our glasses together and began drinking.  I was more thirsty than Colt was so I continued to drink.  I didn't realize it, but Colt sure did.  Unfortunately, not in time to let me know.  The bartender was paying extra close attention to me as well.  He had an angered look on his face, glaring at me almost.  Still, I continued to drink.  But then I swallowed something along with that delicious beer.  Colt had shook the thought from his head, but not before it entered mine. 

            "Can I get another one?"  I said, trying to hide my nervousness.  But suddenly,  I was overcome with a fuzzy, dull feeling in my arm.  It spread to my chest and through my neck.  It reached up to my head, and I instantly felt as if I was hung over.  Time seemed to slow down almost.  I saw Colt talking to me.

            "Cooper,  are you feeling okay?  Cooper?"  The once numb feeling turned to staggering pain.  I clenched my teeth and held my shoulder.  The pain kept spreading to my chest and up my throat, like the numbness that was once there.  "Cooper!"  He yelled.  He glanced back to where the bartender used to be, but soon found that he was gone.  It seemed almost instantaneous.  But I started screaming in pain.  I collapsed on the floor, convulsing and twitching.  Colt knelt down next to me and yelled out 'Call 911! Call 911!'  I wasn't sure but I felt as if I was going into shock, but I was certain I passed out.  I felt Colt's head on my chest.  I heard my heartbeat decline, and I felt his hands press on my heart, trying to keep my blood flowing.  I heard sirens approaching, and soon a familiar voice.  It was Carmelita!  I felt the defibrillators on my chest and the shock going through me.  I awoke, in more pain than before.  I was hyperventilating, trying to catch my breath, but my pain never lessened.  I opened my eyes and saw Colt, Carmelita and a few doctors surrounding me.  I heard Colt's voice first.

            "He's awake!  He's awake!  Cooper look at me!  Was ist dein name, man (What is your name, man)?"  I wearily replied.

            "My... My name is Sly... Sly Cooper."  I heard him enquire further.

            "Gut gut, was ist mine (Good good, what is mine)?"  Once again, I spoke again.

            "Your... Your name is... Colt... Mason."  I heard Carmelita ordering the medics to get me to the hospital.

            "All of you, get him to the hospital, quickly!"  I felt the doctors lift me up and place me on the stretcher.  Next thing I knew,  Colt and Carmelita were sitting next to each other in the ambulance.  Colt conversing very seriously with Carmelita.

            "So inspector, what have you gathered."  I heard her reply.  I thought that I'd die of a heart attack right there when she said it.

            "It was a plot by the French Interpol police department.  Mainly in collaboration between Inspector Walker, Chief Barkley, and..."  She stalled for a moment.

            "Well Inspector?"  Colt quizzed, interested to know.

            "And me...  It was my fault...  I didn't think this would happen to him."  Colt looked utterly shocked at the girl who I loved for the longest time.  Him and I shared the same thought that moment.  Carmelita... How could you?  And that is exactly what he said. 

            "I was foolish!  Blinded by my ambition and pride.  All I wanted was for them to stop thinking I was in love with him.  How could I have been so foolish!"  She yelled in a frustrated tone.  I then heard faint sobbing.  My god, she's really upset about this.  She never wanted to do this to me in the first place.  I knew that we were in the hospital.  The bed had stopped moving, but not the sobbing.  The moon was high above the hospital when I came to.  The room was still fairly lit.  It seems that Bentley and Murray had visited me as well while I was unconscious.  I looked to my right, and I saw the beautiful girl, who last night had tried to kill me, still crying in the chair next to me. 

            "Are you dehydrated at all from your crying?"  I joked, showing that I hadn't lost all of my good spirit.  She looked up, her face soaked with tears. 

            "Cooper...  I thought that you died.  I didn't want this to happen to you."  She stammered.  I'd understand why she felt overwhelmed by this whole thing.  She was forced to betray the one she loved for the sake of her life.  I glanced aside from her for a second and began to speak to her again. 

            "Listen, Carmelita.  Even though you think it's your fault, it's not.  I understand why you were just trying to prove yourself to the other officers.  You've been on my case for years, and this is the closest you've gotten.  But do you feel, at all, relieved that the pressure is off of you now?"   She looked up at me, stunned almost.  She probably never thought that I could be this deep.  "Surprised? I'm just trying to be more understanding.  But the important thing is that you came for me when I needed you most.  You acted out to the French Interpol and made them believe that you didn't love me, but at the same time; proved that you cared about me.  Think about it, I'd probably be six feet under if you hadn't called the ER after I was poisoned."  She studied me for a second, her gaze filled with shock of how understanding I could be.  She then turned her head away from me.

            "S-Shut up, Ringtail."  Her shaky tone of voice when she said this wasn't as angered as it normally was.  She was holding back almost.  As usual, I just took the insults and smiled warmly.  Meanwhile, Colt was out in the hall with one of the doctors. 

            "So, how is he?"  The doctor looked at him rather seriously.

            "Well, we've removed all of the pathogens from his blood, so he'll make a full recovery.  He's talking with that young Interpol Inspector at the moment.  But Mr. Cooper will be back on his feet by next Tuesday."  (It was a Sunday evening, almost Monday morning.)  Mason thanked him and began to walk away, but he remembered something first.

            "Oh yeah, Doctor?"  He turned back to Mason.  "After he fills out the paperwork, revert the insurance information and payments to me, I'll take care of them for him."

            "Awfully decent of you sir."  The Doctor replied happily.

            "Herr Cooper ist ein dear freund auf mein (Mr. Cooper is a dear friend of mine).  It is die least I could do for him."  The doctor smiled and continued down the hallway.  Colt walked down towards my room where Carmelita was wiping away the rest of her tears. 

            "Do you feel better now that you've talked to him?"  She nodded.

            "A little...I didn't realize how compassionate he was." 

            "There's more to him than you think, Inspector."  With that she continued down the hallway toward the elevators.  Colt came into the room and stood in the doorway.

            "Ah, Mason, come on in."  He sat down in the same chair next to my bed.  "Listen, I've instructed the doctor to revert the insurance information to me.  I'll pay for everything."  I smiled thankfully.

            "That's pretty decent of you."  Mason laughed. 

            "Du kennst, das war die same thing that the other doctor hat zu mich gesprucht (You know, that was the same thing that the other doctor said to me)."  I laughed with him.  "Now then, Cooper, I talked to the doctor and he said you should be out by Tuesday."

            "Man, that's the best news I've heard all day."  We laughed again and wished our goodbyes and Colt left.  Seeing nothing else to do, I began to doze off.  I dreamt very pleasant dreams that night.  Carmelita and I, having a romantic, candle-lit dinner.  Kissing each other tenderly.  Retiring to her apartment room, and making some love.  The only difference between this and other encounters, was that there wasn't a shock pistol involved.  On the outside, things weren't so pleasant.  A shadowy figure appeared in the door, holding a syringe.  On a small metal plate, was a tiny vile of trihydrogen-nitride, what most would call liquid Ammonia.  He plunged the syringe in the top of the container and filled it up full with the fluid.  The figure smiled at me and said:

            "Nighty night, Ringtail, you dirty thief."  There was a click of a handgun and Colt, in a commanding voice spoke:

            "Put the syringe down, Walker."  Walker did as he was asked and surrendered the syringe. 

            "I must ask,"  he said to Mason, sounding somewhat irritated, "Why must you defend a thief.  A criminal.  An outcast.  He doesn't care about you.  All he wants is money.  Riches and power.  That's all he wants Mason."  Colt didn't flinch in the slightest.

            "He's a good man, inspector.  And judging about how you were about to end him; he's no coward, like you, either." 

            "But why Mason?  He just wants more of everything.  Why do you have to be so naïve about this?"

            "Because he's my friend.  And don't we all want money and power?  Look at him Walker.  Look at what you've done to him.  Don't you think you've done enough to hurt him?  Carmelita never did agree to this plot of yours.  And if you kill him now.  So help me God, I'll kill you where you stand.  No one, hurts my friends and gets away with it.  You hear me?  No one.  Now get out of here, before you wind up in the stretcher next to his."  Brooke left the hospital with no damage done.  Colt had saved my life for the third time in a row.  What's even better,  is that he never expected anything in return from me.  "Such a pushover, er ist."  Colt left the hospital, satisfied that I was safe.

Footnote: I made up Walker by the way 

            Chapter I- Back on my feet.

            It was a clear and sunny Tuesday afternoon and I was finally let out of the hospital.  Murray and Bentley were there to pick me up. 

            "Hey Sly!  Are you feeling better?"  Bentley asked. 

            "Yeah, I feel like I could take on the whole Interpol myself."  I bragged.  I actually did feel pretty good.  It was the first time in a while that I could say I was truly happy.  But for them it was hard to tell the difference otherwise. 

            "So Sly, maybe we could all go out to dinner tonight to celebrate your recovery!  It's on me."  Murray said.  I nodded and we drove off to our favorite restaurant.  It's a small diner in Paris called Le Float.  Let me just say for the record they have the best root beer floats in all of Paris. 

            "So Sunday night, Colt talked to me about a new job offer."  Bentley and Murray paid close attention.

            "Well, what is it?"  Murray said, sounding impatient.

            "Relax, big guy I'm getting to it."  I stopped him.  "So you guys know Inspector Johan Walker, right?"  The two nodded.  Everyone on my team has had a previous incursion with him at some point.

            "Well, Colt needed to collect information on him, but he says that he tried hacking from an Interpol server.  But Walker kept his files locked down tight.  That's where we come in.  Bentley, what I need you to do is find out some way that I can get to his computer and access his secure files directly from his computer.  Murray, there's going to be a lot of roadblocks from the police station back to the hideout.  Make sure the tires are retreaded and you might want to tune up the engine a little more.  We're going to do this.  Colt said he'd swing by our place tomorrow to discuss logistics." 

            "What about you Sly?"  Bentley questioned, unsure of my part in this heist.

            "I'm doing what I was born to do.  I'm going to break into the French Interpol and steal the secure files from Walker." 

            "But how are you going to get into the computer?"  I placed a smirk on my face.

            "Here's the thing, Colt's personally assisting us with this mission."  Murray and Bentley looked at each other for a moment.  Bewildered at why a gentleman of his stature and reputation would like to assist us.

            "But Colt's like... like..." Murray had forgotten what previous occupations Colt had had.

            "Military Lieutenant Colonel?"  Bentley said flatly.  Murray pointed at him.

            "Yeah!  That's right Lieutenant colonal."  Murray said.  Bentley, of course was quick to try to correct him.

            "For the last time Murray, it's pronounced colonel."

            "That's what I said, colonal."

            "No, your pronouncing it like it's spelled."

            "Isn't that what you're supposed to do?"

            "No, it's pronounced Colonel."  They continued their back and forth as I kept shaking my head at the two.  After dinner with the guys, we headed back to the safe house.  It was rather late, so we all headed to bed.  I took off my blue sweater and stared through my open window at the vast city of Paris.  But then, I saw a figure leaping around chimneys.  The figure was unmistakable.  It was Carmelita again.  I figured she saw me, since she appeared to be looking in my direction.  My guess was correct as she leapt onto the window balcony on the emergency exit. 

            "You look lovely tonight."  I said sweetly, trying to ease her up.  Unfortunately for me, this wasn't the case.

            "I'm not here for your lines, Ringtail."  I raised an eyebrow as she crept into my room.

            "Might I ask Madame?"  She glanced at the ground and then gave me a grave look.

            "I know what you're planning, Cooper."  I smiled.

            "I'm going to assume Mason told you."  I said, trying my best not to fire up her temper.

            "Who said anything about Mason?"  I tilted my head for a second.

            "Well, I was unconscious and a lot can happen in the time I was out."  She shook her head.

            "It's not that, it's something else that your new friend Mason told me."

            "He gave me a call personally from his hotel room to my office.  He told me about how Walker tried to kill you in your sleep."  A wave of worry crashed over me.  "Listen Cooper, Walker isn't any pushover, despite what Colt said, he is cold and cunning.  If you give him too wide of an opportunity, he will kill you."

            "Do you really think he hates me that much?"  Carmelita nodded.

            "He gripes about you all the time when he's at his desk."  I laughed playfully.

            "I guess you weren't the only one who got a hard time out of me."  Carmelita scowled at me.  It was more than obvious that she didn't appreciate my levity.  She never has in the past anyway. 

            "I'm being serious, Ringtail!"  She yelled, thankfully enough not waking Bentley or Murray.  "If you get caught, he's not even going to flinch.  No hesitation.  He'll whip out his shock pistol and fry your tail off if you're not careful."  I still retained my good-natured smile.

            "Don't forget, I'm always careful, remember?"  She was about to protest, but thankfully enough, the evidence of previous incursions had supported my conclusion. 

            "Just don't get yourself killed, okay?"  But of course, I inquired further.

            "Listen, if he could kill me then I could kiss you tonight."  She looked up at me, feeling somewhat irritated from this comment.

            "Dios.  Cooper,  I know you're trying really hard, but just not tonight okay?"  I didn't answer her.  I simply stood gazing into her deep brown eyes.

            "Wow."  I breathed out.  "This light makes your eyes look even more beautiful."  She still tried to back away.

            "Stop it Cooper...  I'm warning you."  Immediately after she finished, while trying not to cut her off, I spoke again.

            "What?  What will you do?  You don't even have your shock pistol to threaten me with.  Which tells me, that you didn't mind being around a thief like me."  She took a step back, but soon realizing that she was standing against my wall.  "Of course, with eyes like those, you don't even need the shock pistol to stop me in my tracks."  Feeling her temper rise, she tried to retaliate.

            "Just stop Cooper.  Stop talking about my eyes and let me go."  The edge to her voice started to creep up.

            "Fine, you have an even more beautiful face anyway."  She grunted.  I knew she wasn't in the mood for my flirts, but I didn't care.  I had my love for her driving me toward her.  My flirts weren't working, so I thought it was time to try a different tactic.  "Listen, if you are this certain that Brooke is going to kill me, then by all means, just plainly warn me.  But if he is as strong as you say, then there is a hundred percent chance that I'll be gone forever.  And think about what we'll lose.  Is it really worth losing me?  The one who loves you and would do anything to be with you?"  It worked!  She seemed to have softened from my other tactic.  I simply closed the gap.  I had kissed her... Finally, and after so long.  I finally got to hold her and show her how much she means to me.  But what was even more astounding was that she was kissing back.  She was enjoying this.  Almost as much as I was.  I cupped my hands on her beautiful face and continued to kiss.  The thought went through my head wondering how many cherry stems she's tied.  She was in fact, a wonderful kisser.  She grabbed my undershirt and pulled us closer together.  This had to be the best day I've ever had.  A dream had come true.  For the first time in my life.  I could hold her,  I could love her, I could kiss her.  We fell back onto my bed, she was still making out with me, and I was doing the same.  After a long, blissful French kiss.  She let go of me.  We gazed into each other's eyes yet again.  She wiped the sweat from her brow as she leaned back up. 

            "So you do care."  She closed her eyes and smiled.  Man, this had to be the first time I've seen her smile at me.

            "You know I do, love."  With that she leapt out the window onto the emergency exit and climbed down the building.  Best of luck, Cooper.  She thought to herself.  I knew she'd be worried about me, but this was for the safety of not only me, but also to Colt, to Bentley and Murray, and especially Carmelita.  The same feeling of worry came back when I thought to myself: I just hope Walker doesn't know about this.

Chapter II-  Man with the Plan

            Mason arrived at the hideout late in the afternoon.  I should say that his espionage services have done him well.  The plan was more well laid out than I could have ever thought.  Overall, Murray is a diversion to the Interpol, Colt's getting him a brand new ride.  Murray has never been happier.  And it's a nice car too, I've never seen him behind the wheel of an Chevy Camaro.  Colt had just taught Bentley a new automotive field.  He calls it "pursuit tech."  I asked him about it, and he said that he used it back in Germany during his street racing days.  I still don't know what exactly they do, but I'm excited to find out.  One thing I had to ask him, however; was why he insisted on not showing any sort of guard placements.  At this point, I'm wondering how much room he has in his sleeves.  Because he had a lot of tricks to pull.  But at that night.  We all piled out of the van and went over the plan once more.  Colt then handed me a handgun.  It wasn't a shock pistol, which confused me.

            "What kind of gun is this?"  I asked him.

            "G18-S.  Ein und zwanzig 9mm rounds.  Fully automatic, sound and flash suppressed.  No one will see or hear you shoot it."  I gazed at the gun, impressed at its variability. 

            "Impressive.  What are you using?"  I asked him.  He appeared to have some rifle.

            "M16A3-S.  Zwanzig 5.56mm rounds.  Also suppressed and fully automatic."  I nodded in approval at his weapon choice.  "Personally, I liked your gun better.  Sometimes, it pays to be the swift and silent type."  I studied my weapon again and smirked at it.  I placed it in the holster that Colt gave me.  For the moment, I kept my cane in hand. 

            "Alright, operation ist ein los (Is a go).  Murray, distract the authorities."  Murray tightened his gloves and hopped in his car.  Colt walked over to talk to him last minute.

            "Jetzt pay attention Murray, this car is a high heat level.  This means that as soon as the police spot this vehicle, they'll be gleich am du (Right on you).  If you need to repair your vehicle or replenish your pursuit tech, just drive through a gas or repair station.  There should be a marker on any of the ones you see.  Drive through it and it will fully repair your vehicle.  Make some noise, Murray."  He patted on the door and in a flash, Murray was gone.  I heard sirens wail all the way down the street.  One police car came flying back in a heap of metal.  I don't think the driver made it though.  So that's what it does.  I thought to myself.

            "Bist du fertig für ein break in, Cooper (Are you ready for a break in, Cooper)?"  I placed a devilish smirk on my face.

            "You know it."  He nodded at me.

            "Well, let's get started."  I looked at my cane and then looked at him.

            "So how exactly are you planning to get to the roof?"  I realized that he had some kind of hooked metal plate on his wrist, the kind that's used on dockyards.  It was attached to a long steel wire.  He waved it in front of my face.

            "Meet the hook blade.  I'll race you to the roof."  He leapt up to the first balcony behind the alley way.  I don't know where he acquired this sort of equipment, but apparently tricks weren't the only thing he had up his sleeves.  I latched my cane to the balcony and used my weight to swing myself up to the balcony above him.  Mason was catching up quick, not only letting the hook blade do the work, but also allowing his free hand to allow extra distance.  I tried to step it up a bit, launching myself up two levels and latching onto a third with the cane.  Mason attempted to retaliate by using the retraction of his hook blade to launch him up another level.  It was going to be close, but I just barely beat him to it. 

            "Okay Bentley, we're on the roof."  Colt checked his magazine and knelt down next to me while I talked to Bentley. 

            "Great job you two.  There should be a narrow ventilation tube.  Go in one at a time.  Try not to make too much noise or the two of you will get spotted."

            "Roger that,"  Mason replied.  "keep us posted, out."  Radio transition broke off.  He pointed over to a broken air vent.  "Gleich über da (Right over there).  That's the vent."  I looked over and saw it.  I'm pretty sure that one at a time, we could crawl through it.  But when we got closer, I wasn't so sure.

            "Tell me Cooper, hast du Half Life gespielt (have you played Half Life)?"  I looked at Mason, who was currently entering the vent.

            "A little, when I was in High-School.  Good times."

            "Richtig, meet Half Life: Source."  He slid down through the vent, which was at the top floor, and logistics showed that Brooke's office was at least three floors down from the roof.  "According to logistics, there should be a men's restroom gleich um die ecke.  We'll sneak in through there." 

            "Right."  We continued through the tight vents.  Colt then took his hand and bashed it open.  "Great we're in, how are the cameras coming Bentley?" 

            "Almost... Got it!  All cameras are down, Sly.  You're clear to proceed." 

            "Great job Bentley."  I congratulated.  We continued down the halls, traveling quickly and quietly.  I was about to call the elevator, but Colt stopped me.

            "Wait, Cooper.  We don't have proper clearance to use the elevators.  We need to take the stairs."  He pointed toward the door with an 'emergency exit' sign.  Thank goodness for French safety policy.  Because of it, the door was unlocked all of the time.  We hurried down the stairs to the third floor from the top.  But we ran into a problem.  A guard was standing in the middle of the hallway.  Hiding around a corner, I peered over and saw him.  I turned to Mason.

            "Now would be a great time for one of your tricks."  He pointed at me.

            "Du bist richtig (You are right)."  he put his hand to his earpiece.  "Ace, do you see Cooper and I?"  From our earpieces came the voice of his sniper, Ace.

            "Yeah, I'm starring right at you."  Colt waved to him and Ace waved back.

            "Do you see the guard over in the middle of the hallway?"  Ace turned his rifle to study the guard. 

            "Yeah...do you want me to put him out?"  Colt nodded and pressed his earpiece again.

            "Roger that, take him down."  I was concerned for a moment, until I realized that the kill was clean.  But I found out that it wasn't a kill at all.  Ace was using tranquilizers. "Viele danke, Ace.  (Many thanks, Ace)"  Colt then picked up the slumbering guard by his shoulders and began carrying him to the Janitorial closet that the guard was standing next to.  "Get the door, Cooper."  I opened the door and Colt placed him in there.

            "Why did you do that?"  I quizzed.  Colt looked at me rather seriously.

            "Hiding the body, making it look like no one was here."  I smirked.  It wasn't efficient, but it was practical in the least.  We rounded the corner to the offices on the other side of the building and there was another guard.  Colt called his sniper again.  "Ace, we have another guard."

            "Got it, I'm targeting."  The shot was fired, but it bounced off of the guard's boot.  "Damn it!"  Ace cursed.  The guard began running down the hallway.  I took my cane and smacked the guard in the face.  He lay rolling on the floor before Colt smacked him again in the head with the back of his gun to knock him out.  "Nice teamwork.  He's going to be feeling that tomorrow."  Colt laughed.  He sighed and motioned for me to come forward.  The door the guard was standing in front of was also ID locked.  Thankfully enough, Colt pulled one from the guards we took out.  After unlocking the door, we glanced around the offices of the Police department.  We looked around for a while until finding a cubicle with the name 'J. Walker'.  Colt fired up the computer and plugged a flash drive in.

            "You in Bentley?"  Colt asked. 

            "Alright, I'm in.  Downloading all records."  Colt then called to me.

            "Cooper, look through his desks and see if you can find anything."  I pulled open his bottom file cabinet, and already, I was starting to find things.  He had all of the newspapers regarding all of my heists and even a newspaper titled Famed I.E.S. agent listed MIA.  Followed by, Famed I.E.S. agent listed MIA lives!  But the last one almost tore me apart.  Cooper parents killed by bandits in Paris,  child lives after massacre.  Shocked by this report, I read it further.  "'Judging by the reaction of local residents, this house was robbed in the light of day.  Only one object appears to be missing.  It seems they stole only a book.  Really, nothing truly important it seems, I do however, feel terrible for their young boy.'  Said by an intrepid I.E.S. investigator.  The child who survived is to be placed in a foster home."  I finished reading the article and I sunk down onto the ground.  Colt looked back at me after collecting the flash drive. 

            "What's wrong, Cooper?"  I handed him the paper.  His eyes grew wide with shock. 

            "Mein Gott.  (My God)"  He breathed out.  "This bastard new... I knew..."  I looked up at him.  "I remember now."

            "Remember what?"  Colt shook his head,  as if he was trying to shake the thought away.

            "Nothing, I'll tell you later."  Bentley's frantic yelling came on our earpieces.

            "Slyyy!  You're taking too long!" I got up, still holding the papers, which I stuffed into my pocket.

            "Keep your shell on, Bentley."  Colt snickered. 

            "Really?  More turtle jokes?"  I smirked smugly at Colt, who was still snickering. 

            "Whatever, we can take the elevator now that we have their ID cards.  Let's get going."  We ran down the halls rather hurriedly to the elevator.  After calling it, we swiped the ID card and went up the hallway.  Someone must have noticed, because the elevator stopped just before the roof.  It seemed as if the entire French police force was waiting for us up there.  Colt and I let bullets fly out of the elevator. A combination of both shock rounds and bullets soared through the elevator. 

            "It's the SWAT team!"  I yelled to Colt before unloading another twenty rounds.  Colt took cover and pressed on his earpiece.

            "Ace!  Top floor, we have heavy units keeping us from the roof.  I'll knock them out with flash bang."  He then pulled out a thin cylinder with several holes in it and a pin on the top. 

            "What is that?"  I yelled to him.

            "A flash bang grenade!  Close your eyes!"  Colt lobbed the flash bang into the hallway.  I heard a pop and the officers were all stumbling around.  But before I could reengage, Colt held me back.

            "Wait..."  All of the sudden, a helicopter began to shoot out all of the windows on the side of the building.  Many of the other officers were wounded, some even killed.  There was a lot of blood.  I wasn't used to this kind of combat, though I've seen some disturbing things in the past.  Colt and I peered out the elevator to see two gentlemen in a scout helicopter raising their fists in the air.  Colt pressed his earpiece.

            "Danke für die assist Henrich.  Und du Erik."  They waved and Erik then came on the earpiece.

            "Good to see you guys again, we'll meet you on the roof."  With that, we rounded the corner to the stairs and took the last few steps to the roof.  We swung open the door as Erik's chopper began to hover over the roof.  Henry was ushering for us to get to the chopper.  Colt grabbed Henry's hand as he pulled him back up.  He was about to help me up when I felt a stinging pain in my side.  As I collapsed on the ground, I turned around and saw Walker standing there with a .44 magnum.  Two SWAT operatives stood slightly behind him.  They opened fire on the chopper trying to bring us down.  Henry took the machine gun and held them back. 

            "Sly!"  Colt yelled my name as he reached for my hand.  He pulled me into the chopper as we flew off.  Erik looked back and saw that I was bleeding out from the bullet wound. 

            "How is he?"  Erik quizzed.  Apparently, it never occurred to him that I had just been shot. 

            "He's hurt, badly.  He's going into shock and he's bleeding out."  I grunted hard.  This hurt far worse than any shock pistol could.  I felt dizziness fall over me.  Colt straightened me out, trying to keep me awake.  He pulled my shirt off and inspected the wound. 

            "It's a heavy caliber handgun.  It went pretty deep.  I'm going to have to dig it out.  This is going to hurt."  The pain from the digging was excruciating.  "You should just be thankful it didn't hit your shoulder blade, it could have shattered the bone."  Colt yanked on the bullet again, trying to dig it from my back.  I yelled in pain.  Man, it was agonizing.  But he finally got it out of me.  He poured some hydrogen peroxide on it to keep infection out of it, and then thoroughly bandaged it.  "Are you going to be okay, Cooper?"  I nodded as Colt put some morphine in me, but I knew that I had to stay awake.  Think of Carmelita, think of Carmelita.  I kept repeating to myself.  I couldn't die now.  I've just begun to hit it off with her.  And for the record, she was right about Walker.  I just focused on the passing buildings, making sure I kept my breath.  My side still hurt, but not as much since it was bandaged and drugged.  I then heard Murray's voice on the chopper's radio. 

            "Hey guys!  I'm out of pursuit tech and there's still like a million cops on me!"  Erik nodded to Henry, who was sitting in the co-pilot seat.  He then climbed out of the cockpit and mounted the machine gun.

            "We see you Murray, we're coming to help."  Erik called.  We flew faster, and saw Murray being tailed by at least twelve city enforcer vehicles. 

            "Colt, get on the other .50."  Erik said.  Colt then took hold of the machine gun and began shooting down the police cruisers.  There were more holes in those cruisers than I could find in Swiss cheese.  "Alright Murray, you should be clear.  Police radio is issuing an alert that officers are not to engage.  Henry, Mason, nice shooting."  The three of them celebrated their victory as Erik began flying away from Paris.  I asked him where we were going.

            "The French Interpol are most likely to track you back to your house, this is why we're going to my beach house estate in Calais.  Don't worry, Murray, Ace, and Bentley are already on their way.  Grab some shuteye, Cooper.  You need to rest now."  I closed my eyes and dozed off.  Meanwhile, Bentley and Ace are having a nice conversation on their way to Calais.  But at a tollbooth out of Paris.  One officer in particular stopped them,  and of course, it was Carmelita.  She opened the back of the van to see Ace pointing his Desert Eagle at her.

            "Dios!  Relax, I'm not here to arrest you, Mason sent me."  Ace looked at Bentley. 

            "Well, she said she knows Colt."  Before Bentley could inquire further, Ace called out to her.

            "Sure, climb on in."  They passed the checkpoint and continued on their way to Calais.  Ace pulled off his mask to reveal that he was a tiger, rather muscular and packed with armor.  He studied Carmelita for a second. 

            "So, how did you know Colt previously?"  She starred at him for a moment.

            "He told me to come here because he knows..."  Bentley finished her sentence.

            "Because Mason knows you care about Sly."  The inspector glared at Bentley for a moment. 

            "I tried to warn Cooper not to do this mission.  It was too dangerous, even for him."  Her face darkened.  "But I was more worried that Inspector Walker would kill him."  Ace looked at Bentley, both of their faces full of concern.  Murray was enjoying his ride to Calais.  He was tailing the Cooper gang van, trying to manage his speed so he wouldn't get spotted.  It had been about an hour and a half, but Erik, Mason, Henry, and I made it to Calais first.  Erik took me to Colt's downstairs safe house, where I was treated for the bullet wound.  I don't remember much.  I remember having flashbacks of the time my parents were murdered.  It almost makes me wish that I didn't find that newspaper.