Deviation Actions
Literature Text
Part 1: A Past in the Sands
Chapter 14: Of Past and Future
Date: 2996 B.C, September 23, 5:36 PM
Sly was in the closet, his hands shaking, eyes blood shot, unable to move from where he was in the closet. In front of him, laying there as he peeked through the small crack he had in the closet door, he saw his parents. His mother and father lay dead on the floor, their bodies clawed by the tall cyborg who did the deed.
Sly remained their, unable to move out from the small space or back away, too terrified from what he witnessed. He prayed, he hoped, that his parents were just sleeping and that they were only unconscious from what happened. He hoped that they'd get up and his dad, in pain but alive, would help up his mom, and the two would share a brief exchange of pleasure, happy to be alive. Then, they'd call out for Sly and he'd come running out to greet them and the three of them would be happy to be alive and together.
But Sly watched for hours, unable to grasp that they weren't coming back at such a young age. That the pain they endured was impossible to come back from.
They were gone, and he was too young to know it.
Suddenly, Sly could hear cars pulling up outside. He saw lights and the sound of tires coming to a halt on pavement, and he worried that the group had returned. He back away from the closet, his parents still barely visible to him as he backed away so that was all he saw, and he heard footsteps approach the house. Several from what he could hear, and he heard someone open the door.
"Oh God. Oh my god, we're too late." He heard someone say, a lady from what it sounded like. He heard more footsteps, and he heard people come inside. Sly saw people dash by his parents, their bodies lying where he saw them earlier. He then heard another voice, this one male and older, their voice more rough.
"Jeez, they didn't stand a chance." Said the voice, and Sly heard the girl retort back.
"We were supposed to make sure they were safe. That was our job. One job, and we-" She stopped, and Sly heard another car pull up, the sudden silence from the people making Sly scared.
He listened, and the people outside grew quieter, as they moved about again. Sly heard a car door open, and a single pair of footsteps approach. Sly still couldn't see much, and he then heard the female voice speak again.
"Sir, we...we..." Sly heard her stuttering, and she suddenly was quiet, Sly hearing the footsteps come to a stop. Sly listened, and he heard the sound of footsteps moving again, and more people dashed about again in front of him through the crack in the closet.
Suddenly he couldn't see anything, as a person, a large dog of some kind, suddenly stood in front of the closet and was blocking his vision. He could make out his parents on the ground, but the hound was blocking his vision from anything above the hound's waist. Sly backed away a bit more, in hope of not being noticed should the person turn around.
He then heard the dashing around outside stop, before he heard the one pair of footsteps come inside his home. The steps were more distinct than the others, as they sounded much calmer, and seemed to clatter as they walked across his home's wooden floor. Sly recognized the sound, as his father had a pair of shoes he wore that sounded the same, only wearing them when they needed to be formal for special occasions.
Sly then saw through the closet door the figure approach his parents. The person who stood in front of the closet door made it impossible for Sly to see figure's chest or anything above, but Sly saw his legs and shoes. He was wearing a suit from the style of his pants, and his shoes were like the ones his dad wore for formal occasions. Sly then watched him crouch on the ground, one arm set across his knee while the other hung beside him. Sly could then make out his chest but still not his head, but he could see his fur was a deep dark grey from his hands, and that he was very calm in his posture. He wore a suit, black with a dark red vest and tie underneath. The man looked like one of those shady business men Sly's father told stories of, and Sly was scared that one would be here, at his home.
Sly watched the man remain still, crouched down over his parents. Sly could see his hand that hung beside him grow tense, before it curled into a fist. Sly then heard the man speak, his voice sounded furious and sophisticated.
"The group who did this. Do we have a name?" Sly heard him ask, and for awhile their was silence. Then, Sly heard the female voice speak up, her voice no longer stuttering.
"No sir, no we have no intel at this time. But we are hard at work trying to-" she stopped, Sly watching the crouched figure gesture with his arm that rested on his knee to silence her.
He crouched there for several seconds, and Sly saw the tension in his body slowly relax. The figure let out a sigh, and Sly watched him raise his hanging arm up and rested it on his father's forehead. His father didn't move, and Sly heard the mysterious figure speak again, his voice sounding sad and hurt.
"I'm sorry, Connor. I failed you, as a friend and family. Know I won't rest until the person behind this, the man who used you like this to pay for what he's done. You have my word, and this time, I won't go back on it." He then lowered his hand down over Connor, Sly's father's, eyes to close them. As they closed, he then did the same with Sly's mother, closing her eyes too, before he returned to resting his arms on his knees.
For a long while, there was complete silence in the house, and Sly remained in the closet watching the figure as he continued to crouch over his parents. Then, Sly saw him reach over his father's corpse, and grab his cane. The figure carefully lifted it and brought it back to him, before he stood, the Cooper Cane in his hand. For several moments, Sly saw only the bottom of his father's weapon, and he got a feeling the person was examining the hook. Then he lowered it, and he started to turn away from his parents bodies before he stopped, as if he just realized something.
The figure then turned around, and Sly saw him slowly perform a 360 rotation with his body, Sly realizing he was looking around his house. Then, he spoke again, his voice curious.
"Was their anyone else here when you arrived? Anything to show that they weren't here alone?" Sly heard him ask, and Sly heard the male voice from earlier reply.
"Respectfully sir, your arrival was shortly after we arrived, and we haven't had time to explore and investigate the house." Said the male voice, and Sly heard the figure talk again, his voice sounding distinct from the others.
"Was there any evidence of another? A child maybe?" He asked, and Sly let out a a scared gasp, but he was quick to shush himself as the person still in front of the closet didn't notice.
Sly saw the figure tense up, and he turned his legs and shoes pointing to where Sly was, inside the closet. The female voice then chimed in as he stayed their, Sly feeling his eyes pierce through the closet door and on him.
"No sir, not that we were aware. We never saw a child in our monitoring. Connor was-" She suddenly stopped, and Sly watched the figure's free hand give a hand signal. Sly then saw the guard in front of the closet tense up, and he slowly stepped aside. Ahead of him, Sly saw the figure moving, toward the closet.
Toward him.
Sly backed away, his back now bumping into the back of the closet wall. He heard the steps grow closer...
And closer...
And closer...
Suddenly, Sly saw the door open, and he tensed up as he looked up and saw the man's face as he looked at Sly's.
To Sly's shock, he saw another raccoon standing there. His fur was dark grey, like ash, and he had a black mask over his eyes, much darker than Sly's own. His eyes were a mixture of dark red and brown, almost like autumn leaves, and Sly could swear he saw a glimpse of his own father in them. His face was very rough, his fur seemingly cleaned but at the same time showing they had gone through some rough moments. He was wearing the black and red suit Sly saw through the closet crack, and in one hand he was holding his father's cane. Looking at his face, Sly could swear he could see similarities with his father. And then he spoke, his voice surprised, and at the same time relieved.
"So, my brother did have a son." And Sly saw him kneel down, so his face was eye level with Sly's.
"Hello Sly." He said, and he smiled before he spoke again. "My name is James. James Deviant, and I'm your father's brother. Your uncle."
Sly then suddenly woke up, his mind racing from what he just remembered. A memory of that night, the night his parents were killed. And he could remember it all clearly. The time he spent in the closet, waiting for his parents to awaken. The men and women who showed up to his house, desperate to save his parents. The searching they committed to find any evidence of what happened. Even the man who arrived later, the one he has seen shadows of before but now had a clear picture of. And of who he is.
James Deviant, his father's brother. His uncle.
Sly tried to remember anything else after that, but he found that was all he could remember. Sabas said that he would need to remember what happened to face what's coming. But after remembering that tiny segment of his memories, Sly had more questions than answers. Among them, if his memories held the key, then what is it the key too? And yet, only one question stood out above all others.
If Sabas said that his memories were the key to face what's coming, then he wondered what that upcoming thing was. Or, who it was?
As his mind slowly relaxed, he then took in his surroundings. He was laying in a bed, and he saw he was in what he assumed was a palace bedroom. All around him, he could see Egyptian decor all about the room. Statues of their gods, gold and jewelry set upon furniture, even a tub, though it was much smaller than what he was used to in the future. However, he stopped looking around when he saw in front of him, standing on a balcony overlooking the city, stood Carmelita.
Sly never noticed how beautiful she looked in the sunlight. She had her back to him, and she was looking out across the city, her eyes only barely visible to him as her head was turned to the left. She still had her outfit on, though it looked washed and cleaned. She was leaning on the balcony rail, her body for once actually relaxed and at ease, two words he thought he'd never say about her. Her shock pistol hung by her waist, Sly knowing how protective she was of the gun.
When they were together, she told him it was a gift from her dad upon reaching the rank of Inspector. She's never let go of it ever since. Sly never met the man, though he knew Carmelita looked up to him deeply. He worried though what he would think of him, should a day come he decide to ask Carmelita the 'big question'. He got the feeling he was going to shoot him for being a crook if he did. It was a reason they always tried to stay away from that sort of relationship. As much as they enjoyed one another's company, they were opposite one another in what they wanted to do with their lives.
And that hurt Sly, more than he knew Carmelita could understand.
"So I don't got a kiss from miss charming to wake up? Now that's just cruel." Said Sly, Carmelita jumping upon hearing him speak.
She turned around, and Sly was met with angry eyes, the same look she always gave him from his teasing. Sly gave her a grin, and she marched over to where he lay in the bed. She raised her finger at him, and she looked like she was about to shout at him. But to Sly's surprise, she calmed down, and went from fury to happiness upon seeing him awake.
"You're not getting it that easy, Ringtail." She said, Sly happy to see her smile. Sly smiled back, and he looked about the room, noticing no one else was around.
"So, how long was out?" He asked her, Carmelita giving him a look of surprise at the question.
"How long do you think you were out?" She asked him in return, Sly giving her a grin before he replied.
"I dunno, I'd say eight to nine hours? The usual I suppose after a hard day's work." He told her, however she still looked at him with worry. "Why?"
Carmelita hesitated, and she sat down on the bed, careful not to sit on his legs in the process. She then spoke, Sly catching the worry in her voice.
"Sly, it's been nearly two days." She told him, Sly giving her a shocked look in response. However, he then started to laugh, Carmelita surprised by the sudden joy.
"Ha, that's a good one!" He told her, Carmelita irritated by the response.
She then reached down and grabbed his leg, before she exclaimed at him.
"Dangit, Sly this is serious!" She yelled at him, Sly still smiling.
However, as she continued to hang on to his leg and her face never flinched from the seriousness of the situation, Sly's smile slowly died. He then looked at her, and saw she was worried about him. She rarely ever did that, and even rarer showed it.
"You're serious?" Sly asked her, her face calm as he began to grasp the situation. She gave him a nod, and Sly then realized what this meant. Not just to him, but to her, and his friends.
"Sly, we spent three months trying to find you. All of us did." She said, turning away to avoid the tears she didn't want coming. "We didn't know what happened to you. We didn't know if you were hurt, lost, or..." She stopped, not wanting to say what she feared the worst over that time. Sucking in the tears, she turned to face him again.
"When we finally found you again, we had no idea you were, well, here." She said, gesturing around the room they were in. "We were worried about you. We thought that what Sabas did to you. We thought...we thought..."
Sly stopped her, placing his hand on top of hers, as she eased off having grabbed his hand. He looked at her with understanding, and she smiled back at him.
"Hey, I'm alright." He told her, the care for her in the Gang shining through in his voice.
"You guys found me, and you never stopped searching for me. I'm grateful for that. Really, I am."
She smiled, and the two continued to look at one another, their hands slowly wrapping around each other in a romantic embrace. They continued to let time past, and they slowly leaned in toward one another, both happy to have time to themselves once again. Sly felt Carmelita's breath as her mouth came closer to him, and he leaned in to greet it.
And then, the pair heard footsteps approach, and the door to the room opened, the pair quickly backing off as Bentley and Murray came in.
"Hey Carmelita, do you-" said Bentley, who then saw Sly wide awake and Carmelita spring from his bed, the pair attempting to hide the blushes from their faces.
"Sly! You're awake!" Shouted Murray, who immediately rushed to Sly's side.
Sly, happy to see his friend, greeted him with a high five, but Murray bent down and hugged him on the bed, Sly surprised by the act. He hugged back, and Murray relented just as Bentley came over, him smiling upon realizing Sly and Carmelita were in the middle of a moment.
"Hey guys, good to see you!" Sly said, the trio happy to be together again now that things at last had calmed down.
Carmelita, feeling a bit like she was intruding, then waved Sly goodbye before she left the room, trying to hide the blush on her face as she did so. Murray watched her go, before he then returned his attention to Sly, who only shrugged his shoulders, acting like he didn't know what happened. Bentley, on the other hand, smiled knowing fully well why she wanted to go.
"So, what's going on?" Asked Sly, trying to change the subject.
"Well, since we kicked Sabas out of the city, things have slowly gone back to normal around here." Said Murray, earning a sigh of relief from Sly.
"Well that's a relief." Replied Sly, before he remembered something Sabas told him about his ancestor when he arrived here. "Wait, so is Slytunkhamen still-"
"Relax, he's not wanted anymore." Said Bentley, who put Sly at ease as he relaxed again into his bed. "Apparently sacrificing your well being to get the pharaoh, Vimenhotep, and your family out of Cairo helped show your not as bad as people thought. Oh, and saving the city from an all powerful sorcerer and his army helps too."
Sly laughed at Bentley's explanation, Murray and Bentley smiling along with him. As the joy of the three calmed down, Sly then moved on to other topics.
"So, what's it like, the city being 'normal'." He asked, Murray ecstatic as he answered.
"Well, with us being heroes, we get treated like royalty!" He said, Sly smiling hearing him talk about it. "We get some really comfortable beds, our own servants, and all the food we can eat!"
"And we get a chance to wash up too." Said Bentley, who gave a stretch in his chair."Being out in the desert got some sand in some rather uncomfortable places."
"But the food!" Replied Murray, Sly chuckling at his friend's love of the stuff.
"Yes, the food's good too." Said Bentley, earning an approving nod from Murray.
"Well awesome!" Said Sly, thrilled to get in on the perks his friends spoke of. "I can't wait to get in on it when I'm out of here."
The gang all laughed, happy to be reunited again. However, the happiness quickly vanished when Sly's asked something he didn't get a chance to ask Carmelita.
"So, how did you guys find me?" Asked Sly, his friends suddenly going from thrilled to dead quiet.
The reaction creeping Sly out. Murray looked to Bentley, who gave him a look to not say a word. Sly, noticing the look, gave Bentley a worried look.
"Hey, Carmelita said you guys searched three months to find me." Sly said, not understanding how they even found him in the first place. "Come on, what did you do? You can tell me."
Again, his friends were unsure of how to explain to their friend that they couldn't find him. Sly, now growing worried himself, then asked hesitantly.
"You guys did find me. Right?" He asked, his friends silent response now giving him a chill in his spine.
"Sly, we don't know how to say this." Said Bentley, Murray turning to look away, unable to admit it himself. "Those three months we were looking, we didn't have any idea. We didn't know where you were, even when you were." Sly looked at his small friend with confusion, unable to understand what that entails.
"So, if you didn't find me, or know how to find me, then who did?" Sly asked, Bentley's look of uncertainty scaring Sly.
Bentley was about to reply, but the Gang heard someone clearing their throat at the door. Turning to look, the Gang were met with Vimenhotep, who had Izazel by his side and two of his beetle bodyguards behind him. The Gang were caught wondering how the four got in without a sound when Vimenhotep suddenly spoke.
"While this is amusing to watch and hear, it's time you and I had that chat Cooper." Said the older raccoon, Sly's friends glancing at him with worry.
Vimenhotep, anxious to get underway, responded to the young cooper's friends worries.
"What we have to talk about is strictly between us, and I assure you, it will in now way be of harm or interest to you. Now," he then raised his left hand and gestured toward his guards, and the beetles stepped forward, each of their four arms gripping a weapon on their backs, "allow my men to escort you out safely, and without conflict please."
Sly's friends looked to him, their eyes full of worry for their friend, who continued to lay in the bed. Sly smiled, before he reassured them.
"It's okay guys, I'll be alright." He said, the worry from his friend's faces only lessening. "Really, I'll be okay."
Bentley and Murray turned to look at Vimenhotep, who remained where he stood, a smile across his face. Izazel stood next to him, her arm's crossed and looking amused by the whole thing. The two guards took another step forward, and Murray and Bentley returned to Sly. They nodded, and they passed the guards and Vimenhotep, leaving the bedroom. The two beetle bodyguards followed, and Sly watched them follow them out. Izazel then went over to the door, and she closed it before locking it too, because apparently that was needed for the talk Sly was going to have with the mysterious brother. Sly then reached down and pulled back the sheets that were over his legs, revealing his lower body as the older raccoon then started to speak.
"My brother told you of how our dispute first began I assume." He asked, Sly giving him a nod before he continued. "My brother, what did he tell you exactly?"
Sly then swung his legs over the side of the bed, as he stretched before returning his attention to Vimenhotep and answering his question.
"Well, for starters he told us how you were the one to become the next great thief, not him." Sly said, Vimenhotep giving a nod to confirm the statement. "Then told us how you then betrayed your own family, ran off and became successful and powerful, tried to stab him in the back, and how you want to conquer Egypt for yourself." Sly then watched Vimenhotep's reaction, who remained consistently calm as he went on.
"So, overall, your a huge jerk to your brother and your family, a bad guy who's only out for himself, and not to mention having gotten to know you, kind of hard to be fun around." He finished, Izazel giving a chuckle at the last part.
Sly looked to her with an amused smile, but Vimenhotep followed with a irritated stare, and she returned to being calm and quiet. Sly returned his attention to Vimenhotep, and he watched the older raccoon let out a sad sigh. He then spoke, his voice no longer serious, but actually filled with...guilt?
"You are right." He said, and he then made his way to the balcony in Sly's room. His shoulders relaxed, and for once Sly saw he brother at ease before he then spoke, his voice sad.
"I have done things to people, people I care about, and it haunts me." He said, Sly getting out of the bed as he spoke. "I do care for my brother, my family, despite what I have done to them. But they are so short-sighted, so caught up in their own worlds that they don't see the bigger picture."
Sly gave a stretch, and he then replied to Vimenhotep.
"Well if that picture is taking over Egypt, then no wonder they don't follow your bigger picture." Sly told him, the brother only shaking his head in disappointment.
Vimenhotep then lay his hands on the balcony rail, his eyes looking out over the city.
"When I was younger," he started, Sly getting out of the bed and reaching for his clothes as he continued, "I always believed that we were not alone in the world. I would research the possibility of there being other clans, other families who we can partner with."
Sly then remembered the image Vimenhotep made in the sands. It was the one where he was watching his brother as he went through several scrolls and books. Sly then understood what it actually meant, and he listened as Vimenhotep went on.
"What I found was both intriguing," he said, before he hesitated, "and at the same time, terrible. I learned that despite all our records, that is the few we have of our family history, there was little to none information on other families, other clans. I began to wonder, to contemplate, on whether we were the only family with a particular skill set. The more I thought about it, the more I began to suspect there was something else at work."
Sly then jumped in to ask, as he knew their are other families in the present, or, his time as it were. He did this while he put on his pants, which thankfully were nice and clean from the past few days.
"Well, there is the Le Paradox Clan, if that means anything." He said, Vimenhotep then laughing at the name before he replied.
"You misunderstand. The Le Paradox clan are ripoffs. They only try to aspire to what we are, that being master thieves of great skill." He said glancing back at Sly, before he looked back out over the city. "No, I meant I was looking for other families, other clans of skill sets. Great skill sets, with the ability to change the very balance of the world. Skill sets outside of our family's own. And as I poured over those notes day after day, week after week, I realized our family had no interest in that sort of thing. And I, couldn't stand the idea of how blind we were."
Sly listened as he proceeded to put on his shirt, and he then questioned him, this time on why he then left the way he did, beating his and Slytunkhamen's father and never returning.
"That doesn't give you an excuse for you beating up your own dad and abandoning your family." Sly responded, Vimenhotep turning to look at him, a look of interest on his face to hear Sly talk. "Slytunkhamen told us of how you pummeled your father using the canes, or swords, whatever they are. The same ones Slytunkhamen uses now, to beat him. Then how you left them, Slytunkhamen watching you leave while your own parents lay devastated and heart broken from your actions!"
Vimenhotep took in what he said, and he sighed, before he reached up and began stroking a gold medallion around his neck, Sly unable to see what it was before he turned, his side to Sly as he then spoke, his voice grim.
"For their sake, I had to cut all ties to them." He said, still rubbing the gold medallion around his neck while Sly listened. " I had to know, had to know if we were the only ones, the only real clan of great skill. So I hurt them, my own family, to insure I could never be welcomed back or be heard of again."
He stopped rubbing the gold medallion, and Sly saw it had an image of a silver Cooper Cane embedded in its center.
"I needed them to forget me, to not care about me anymore, so that I can find what I needed to know without them being harmed." He said,. his voice grim and loss as he spoke the words.
Sly, making sure his pants and shirt were situated, then proceeded to strap on his shoes. He then asked him what he knew they were getting toward in their conversation.
"And did you find what you wanted?" Sly asked, Sly noticing the creepy silence that set in the room. Neither he, Izazel, or Vimenhotep spoke for several seconds. Then, Vimenhotep spoke, and Sly noticed even he seemed cautious about answering him.
"I did, and it is why I needed to know if they still exist in the future." He then turned to look at Sly, Sly seeing the gold medallion more clearly as he spoke with worry. "It is why I needed to speak to you privately. Sabas had given me reason to believe, reason that families and clans from now, in my time, have survived into your time. So, it begs my question, do you know of anyone who may fit that concept?"
Sly thought about it for awhile as he finished securing his shoes, and there were a few people he could think maybe fitting that idea. Le Paradox was one he knew fit that profile, but he really had no idea of who else could fit that description. Clockwerk was someone he knew still existed in his time, and he guess Vimenhotep knew of him as well. Wait, how did Vimenhotep know about Clockwerk to begin with?
"Le Paradox, he's the only one I can really think of who fits that description. But there is Clockwerk, and you knew him apparently when I was talking to Sabas and you cut in."
Sly then thought about something else from that moment too. "Which means you would have had to have sneaked in past Sabas' magic to get in the throne room." He said, and then Sly noticed something else to when Sabas was speaking, particularly in that strange language."And speaking of Sabas, what were you two talking about in that language of his?"
Sly watched Vimenhotep, who was silent as he pondered what to say. Sly didn't know it, but Sabas was telling Vimenhotep of some insight into the future, particularly of what it entails for Vimenhotep's future.
"To answer you on how I got in, I have my ways." Sly rolled his eyes, having expected him to say something like that. "And regarding Clockwerk and what Sabas told me, it is...troubling."
Sly was taken aback, not expecting the brother to reply in a confused response.
"Troubling? That must be new to you." Sly said, Vimenhotep glaring back before he returned to a calm state again.
"Not in the way your thinking." Replied Vimenhotep, who glanced toward Izazel, Sly following the two's brief look of uncertainty before Vimenhotep spoke again. "Clockwerk I have known about for some time, but it is not him that I am concerned with. It is those he works with."
Sly was about to laugh, thinking he was joking, but upon seeing how serious he was about this, Sly withheld the giggle.
"Clockwerk? Hate to break it to you, but he's not one to share or for that matter collaborate with people unless it suit his needs." Said Sly, Vimenhotep tilting his head, unsure of what he was saying.
"That is where you are wrong." Said Vimenhotep, who then turned and looked out over the city briefly, before turning back around and looked to Sly. "In my time alone, I learned of a group, small but dangerous, that works alongside Clockwerk. I do not know their name, but I believe they are behind his ability to reach our family and others anywhere."
Sly gave him a surprised look, his face in disbelief of the idea.
"I am worried that this same group, whoever they may be, has lived though my time and into yours. And it is in that worry that I seek to learn the truth from you." He stopped, noticing Sly's look of confusion on his face. "You seem confused by this?"
"It's just, that sounds a little hard to believe, considering Clockwerk is pretty selfish and he has been around a long time. He could have gotten all the aid he wanted on his own." Said Sly, Vimenhotep giving him a questionable look.
"Why'll I do know the fiend to be capable on his own, he is far more clever and resourceful than you credit him." Vimenhotep said, before he brought up a point. "He has lived a long time, perhaps longer than anyone alive. Why'll I do not question that he is very capable on his own, I worry that he has others helping him."
"But why would anyone want to help someone like him? The guy's ego and need to be the best make him hard to really get along well with." Sly questioned, Vimenhotep responding to his inquiry.
"Unless they have something to gain from Clockwerk, and Clockwerk in turn from them." Said Vimenhotep, Sly not following. "You forget Clockwerk is immortal, and in my time and many to come, centuries ahead of others in technology and brain. Which stands to reason that whoever works with him, is equally clever and resourceful."
Sly then was beginning to understand Vimenhotep's reasoning for leaving his family, and why he needed to know about the future.
"Your worried that if Clockwerk is working with someone else, then they can be just as dangerous as he is." Sly said, Vimenhotep giving him a nod to confirm the grim statement.
"Exactly, and it's a reason why I have set about gathering allies to face them, whoever they are. Clockwerk is dangerous, deadly even, on his own. But if he has allies..." He said, Sly now fully realizing how bad this was.
"Dang." He simply said, knowing that even though he killed Clockwerk himself, the idea that their are others like him, it gave him a chill.
"Which brings me back to my point." Said Vimenhotep, as he approached Sly, who had finally got fully dressed and stood ready as he approached him.
The brother stopped in front of him, and meter away, and Sly realized he was indeed the taller of the two. He spoke, his voice no longer relaxed, but very serious.
"Do you know of anyone that has worked with him privately?" He asked, Sly giving him a blank stare as he had no clue about that.
The Fiendish Five were the only people he knew, but they knew little to nothing about Clockwerk when Sly interrogated them. The Klaw Gang seemed to know a bit more regarding his technology, but again, few really seemed to know about the immortal bird.
"I...don't know." He simply said, and he watched Vimenhotep focus on him. Sly knew he was judging if he was right or not, and he was relieved to see he believed him from the sigh that he made.
"Then, it is as I feared." He said, before he returned his gaze to Sly, Sly seeing the concerned look in his eyes. "Then does the work I am doing now may still exist in the future?"
Sly again had no idea on that, especially considering he had no idea Slytunkhamen had a brother to begin with.
"Well, this whole thing has been a massive surprise, from you, these allies of Clockwerk, even Sabas claiming to be working with another group." He said, trying to lighten the grim mood they were in. It did little to ease the tension, and he was met with an impatient look from Vimenhotep. "But, I have honestly no idea on that."
Vimenhotep gave him another focused stare, and he then sighed before he turned around and went back to the balcony. He lay his hands down on the rails in disappointment, shoulder-length apart, and he spoke with sadness.
"Then, perhaps my legacy isn't lasting into the present." He said, reaching up with one hand to stroke the gold medallion around his neck again, the one with the Cooper Cane on it.
Sly heard the brother speak sadly, and he thought about how that must feel, knowing your descendants don't last long into the future. He then thought back to that memory he had, the one where he was at home in the closet and met his father's supposed brother. He thought, wondered even, if there was a chance however small, that that person may be Vimenhotep's descendant. But if he was, then that would mean what Vimenhotep believes, what he has told Sly, must still exist in the future.
And that worried Sly.
"Hey, there are a lot of people in the world." Sly said in comfort, as he approached Vimenhotep as he remained on the balcony.
He leaned on the rail next to him, looking at his eyes as they continued to look out across the city.
"Chances are, someone carries your blood in the future. And hey, I may not know them personally, but perhaps they are still putting up the fight your doing here." He said to comfort the older raccoon, not wanting to share the possibility that perhaps he does know someone from his bloodline.
Vimenhotep continued to look out over the city, rubbing the medallion around his neck still. Then, he stopped, and he took his hand off the medallion before laying it down on the rail. He turned to Sly, and he saw the older raccoon smile, not out of some wicked idea, but out of joy at the thought his legacy could endure into the future.
But unbeknownst to Sly, Vimenhotep already knew it would from their mutual friend...
"You bring up a good point, young Cooper." He said, before he continued. "Sly, you may be from the future, and even though you may know little of me or those I face, I do believe that you have helped me be more at ease then I have been in months. I thank you."
Sly smiled and nodded, and he then pointed to the medallion around Vimenhotep's neck, curious as to why he kept rubbing it.
"So, what's with the medallion around your neck? It has a Cooper Cane on it, at least it looks like one anyway." Sly asked, Vimenhotep continue to smile before he spoke, holding the gold piece out so Sly could see it easier.
"It's the only thing I hang onto that is still of value to me from my family." Vimenhotep said, Sly watching as Vimenhotep turned it over, allowing him to see the whole thing. "It was a gift from my father, the day he first taught me the skills of a Cooper. I hold it above all others valuable to me, because it reminds me of better days."
Sly nodded, knowing he had the same thing as he looked back to where his Cooper Cane lay by his bedside. His situation wasn't so different to Vimenhotep's, as he too hung onto something from better days. He then looked out over the city, and saw how gorgeous it was in the sun and under proper order.
The two's moment were interrupted when they heard shouting at the door, and Sly and Vimenhotep looked toward it, and saw Izazel about to open the door. When she opened it, the three were met with a pair of familiar eyes, eyes that bear close resemblance to Vimenhotep's.
"I know my brother is in there! There would not be any reason for you two giant-" Slytunkhamen stopped, noticing the door had opened, and Izazel, Sly, and Vimenhotep were looking at him with surprised looks.
Slytunkhamen saw that Sly appeared to be okay, and he was about to enter, his foot stepping into the room, when the guards raised their weapons and blocked the doorway halfway.
"Enough!" Said Vimenhotep, who stepped away from the rail and turned to look at his brother and bodyguards in the doorway.
"السماح له بالدخول. كان لديه إذن مني." He said, and the guards sheathed their weapons as Slytunkhamen shoved past them and came barging in, Izazel closing the door behind him as he entered. Vimenhotep then turned to Sly, and he gave him a look of dead seriousness"Remember, what I have told you is strictly between us. Are we clear?"
Sly, surprised by the brother's sudden change from relaxed to serious, took his finger and crossed his heart in promise. Vimenhotep, seeming to approve, then turned his attention to his brother, who had walked right up to him and was fueled with rage.
"I don't know what you talked to him about, but if it does anything to the family, more importantly, interferes with the timeline, then I will not rest until I personally end you, brother." Slytunkhamen threatened Vimenhotep, his finger aimed at his older brothers face in fury. Sly, a little scared by the situation and how wrong Slytunkhamen has his brother, tried to speak by was cutoff by Vimenhotep.
"What we discussed it strictly between us and is of no threat to you or the family, brother. That was the deal, and I have honored it." Said Vimenhotep, Slytunkhamen still looking at him in a rage.
Slytunkhamen then turned to look at Sly, who was quietly trying to be unnoticed in their argument.
"Is this true?" He asked Sly, Sly glancing at Vimenhotep, who gave him a look to say yes.
"He's not lying Slytunkhamen, he's actually telling the truth." Sly said, his ancestor turning back to his brother, seemingly a bit calmer than before.
"Well, he better be." Slytunkhamen said, before he calmed down, and spoke to the pair in the calmest tone he could while still in a fury at his brother's secrecy. "We are preparing a celebration for our victory over Sabas' throughout the city. Now that you are awake Sly, we can finally get the full preparations going."
He was going to turn, but he then looked at his brother, and gave him a glare. Vimenhotep, knowing that his younger brother didn't like him behind him, then stepped past Slytunkhamen and headed for the door. Sly was about to follow, but he was stopped by Slytunkhamen who put his hands on his chest forcefully.
"I don't know what he told you," Slytunkhamen whispered, Sly listening close as he continued, "but know that my brother always has something planned. Whatever you talked about, know it works into that plan, and be prepared for if he uses you to get it."
Sly kept quiet, as he still couldn't say how Slytunkhamen has his brother wrong, knowing that Vimenhotep's treatment of him is for his own safety.
Man, they are a complicated pair.
"Trust me, your brother is not as bad as you think he is." Sly whispered back, Slytunkhamen's hand going stiff from hearing Sly saying that.
He then let down his arm, and Sly walked past him toward where his cane lay beside the bed. Grabbing it, he turned and saw Vimenhotep waiting at the door, Izazel by his side, and he gestured for the pair to follow him.
"Come then. Let us show you Sly how we celebrate in Egypt." He said halfheartedly, and he walked out of the room, Izazel and the guards right behind him.
Sly was heading for the door too, but he stopped and turned to see Slytunkhamen was still standing where he stopped him. He seemed shaken up by what Sly said, and Sly felt he should ask.
"Hey, don't you ever wonder why your brother left?" Sly asked, Slytunkhamen still staying unmoved. He slowly turned, and Sly saw his face lit with grief.
"I do." He said, and Sly saw the sadness in him as he spoke. "But some answers, are better left buried and forgotten."
He then head toward the door, marching past Sly. Sly wanted to say something, anything, to cheer him up. But he was reminded by Vimenhotep's words from earlier.
And he followed him out, not saying a word.
The celebration proved to be a great hit for everyone. Much of the city had celebrated with parades in the street and parties around every corner. The palace become a grand place of partying and eating, with both nobleman and citizen being allowed inside. There were many games and contests held both inside and outside the palace, with the Cooper Gang and the ancestors proving to be the best of the lot usually.
Sly and Carmelita had become the center of the stage when the time came for dancing and swaying to the music. Many in the crowd adored their movements as they did the tango and many other dances from their future timeline.
When the pharaoh had held a food eating contest, thousands of citizens had lined up to try and beat Murray in it. While many proved good, none had won at first, as Murray's stomach proved to be the greatest in the city.
Bentley had been challenged numerous times by many of the noblemen and physicians in games of chess and logic. He had crushed them with his knowledge from the future, combined with the fact he did play the games in his spare time.
Vimenhotep and Slytunkhamen were the two biggest sights in the combat based games. The pairs usage of agility and supernatural made them a spectacle to see to the people. Although, only the Gang knew that they had been going at this duel for a very, very long time. The two had squared off in the finals and had become one of the greatest shows of the night, bouncing off several of the statues and performing grand flips they had both learned growing up.
As the day became night, the Cooper Gang and Slytunkhamen were surprised when they saw Vimenhotep escort a woman and child over to them in the evening. The surprise quickly became shock, when the child being escorted exclaimed daddy and rushed over to Slytunkhamen, who picked him up and held him close. The Gang turned to look at Vimenhotep, who only nodded before he turned away and left them with Slytunkhamen's wife and son, Slytunkhamen II. The group believed he had saved Slytunkhamen's family when Sabas took over to be some sort of leverage toward Slytunkhamen. They never fully got an explanation, but Sly was the only one who knew why he really did it to begin with.
As the night progressed and the crowd started to die down, the pharaoh had gathered as many people as he could in the grand hall. It was the biggest room in the whole city, almost half as big as the mine entrance, though for more nicer. The ceiling stretched upward, with not even the Gang stacked on top one another being able to reach its top., The room itself was decorated in all kinds of jewels and furniture, truly showing that this was indeed a place of nobility. As the crowd had poured into the room, dozens had looked at the ceiling, adorned with brilliant chandeliers. The walls were covered in dozens of Egyptian art and hieroglyphics, with torches hanging from the statues that separated the dozens of pictures. In the center of the room burned a great fire, where dozens of citizens had crowed around the blaze to stay warm and talk to one another.
Sly, the Gang, and the ancestors were gathered at the pharaoh's throne, which stood up on a stage capable of seeing the whole room. They were the guests of honor, and rightfully so as they sat next to the pharaoh, a hawk as seen on the hieroglyphics who was adorned with several jewels and gold clothing. Suddenly, the pharaoh rose from the throne and raised his hands to the crowd, the crowd going silent as their king prepared to speak.
"Today, is a great day." He started, the crowd and the Group remaining perfectly quiet as the king spoke. "For today, we celebrate a return to our way of life. A return, to a time where we are at peace once again."
He then gestured back toward Vimenhotep and Slytunkhamen, who sat side by side each other. Out of respect to the king or so they can keep an eye on one another, the Gang didn't know.
"Behind me, sits two of our city's great leaders and my consultants." He said, Vimenhotep and Slytunkhamen standing so the crowd can see them. Many had moved closer to where the group sat by the pharaoh, and they had looked up in awe. "Vimenhotep, first son of Siris Cooper, and his brother Slytunkhamen, second born to Siris Cooper. These two had together repelled back the forces of our enemy, ensuring that our heroes, the men and woman who dealt with the jackal, could enter the palace and stop him. And with them united once again, we can once again continue an age of prosperity for ourselves!"
The crowd shouted in cheers, and the Gang looked over to see Vimenhotep and Slytunkhamen smiling in amusement. However, the Gang saw the two were still not completely relaxed by one another, and they should have expected that, even now. The pharaoh then raised his hand again, and the crowd died down immediately.
"But, they are not alone in their success." The pharaoh then gestured to his left, toward Sly and his friends. "Besides me stands the true heroes, heroes brought from our future. The same future these villains came from, and who they have defeated. My fellow Egyptians, people of Cairo, please show your respects to the Coop-"
Then, it happened again.
In an instant, all light in the room was sucked out, the crowd was in shock as they were met with other darkness. Sly and the gang suddenly got up from their seats looking about ready, knowing something was going to happen.
Suddenly, in the center of the room, ahead of where the Gang, the pharaoh, and the brothers stood on the pedestal, a bright flash of light appeared. A portal had opened, and the crowd backed away as The Rogue stepped out, his armored clothing and dark fabric terrifying the crowd.
The assassin looked about slowly with care, and with an aura of dread. Suddenly he turned his head toward the pedestal, where Sly, the Gang, and the brothers stood waiting for him, their bodies tense and prepared to fight.
"I bring a message from my employer." He said in his disguised voice, The Rogue slowly approaching the pedestal they all stood on.
The crowd dispersed around him, and he then came to a halt between them and the portal he came from, meeting exactly at halfway.
He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, circular device. He then placed it on the ground in front of them and took a step back. They gang were about to grab their weapons, when suddenly a bright light shot out from the circular device, revealed to be a hologram.
Everyone watched the light, the hologram, as they saw a tall anthropomorphic owl-like figure floating there. He was young, seemingly in his early 30's, and he was dressed in a casual business suit. He was dressed semi-formal from head to toe, although he really had no toes. No, his feet were in fact talons, as were his hands, and from behind him, great wings sprouted from his back. The guy didn't look happy and he looked down and saw Sly, the Gang, and the brothers there. He smiled, before he spoke, his voice in awe and sarcastic wonder.
"Well well well, never did I ever think I'd actually meet you personally!" He said, Sly and the Gang giving him a glare, Vimenhotep and Slytunkhamen doing the same. "Oh, don't look so angry. After all, you're all still alive aren't you?"
Sly was the first to speak, and the tall owl paid very close attention to him as he did.
"Who are you?" Asked Sly, the owl laughing before he responded.
"Oh, let me guess, this is the part I tell you my name, who I work for, what's their grand plan, yada yada yada..." He replied, smiling as he did so. "Well, so sorry, but you're not getting that. At least not from me that is."
The Group continued to stand their ground, staring him down, even though he loomed over them through the projection.
"Wow, you seem to be a serious bunch. I was told you all were rather comedic, as it were." He said, the Group still remaining unmoved. "Well, you're going to make this no fun at all."
"Make what fun?" Demanded Carmelita, who got a smile from the owl before he spoke.
"Why, my grand threat of course! You know, the part in the story were I, the supposed villain, threaten you all with death should you continue to interfere with my plan." He said, his sarcasm making them all on edge. "Oh come on, you had to have expected this."
He then waved his hands in a expressive manner, showing off how obvious his statement to be was.
"Sabas was a powerful person, sent back in time to secure a very, very important material." The owl said, looking among the Group as he said so. "Of which he did. And now, with him gone, I, the big bad," he said the words while making motion with his fingers for sarcasm,"come out and threaten you all with death. Is none of this seeming familiar to you all?"
"Wait, Sabas is dead?" Asked Sly, the owl looking at him with a disappointment.
"Really, you didn't expect that? You did see him get stabbed. In the back. With a sword." He said, Sly looking at him with anger at how he taunted him. "Oh yes, that brings me into why I decided to make this great appearance."
He then looked back at The Rogue, and he pulled out the khopesh blade, the same one Sly saw Vimenhotep throw at Sabas, from behind his back. Suddenly, The Rogue threw the blade, and everyone saw it was aimed right at Vimenhotep!
Slytunkhamen pushed his brother out of the way, and the pair ducked as the sword went right over them, embedding itself in Vimenhotep's chair. As the brothers got up, the owl continued.
"Um, that's yours, by the way." He said, the brothers turning their attention to him, Vimenhotep reaching back and yanking his sword out of the chair as they did so.
"What do you want?" Demanded Bentley, the owl holding up his hand, wagging his finger at him.
"Ah ah ah, I'm not telling," he mocked, "and, I really have no reason too. Just know this little visit was a warning."
He then held his finger to his chin, before he continued in his sarcastic attitude.
"Well, more of a declaration." He said before he went on. "If you continue to interfere as you did with Sabas, I will take action against you, as will the people I work alongside with."
"The people who you work with, who are they?" Asked Sly, the owl rolling his eyes at the raccoon.
"Good god are you all really this daft?" He responded, earning growls from the Group. "This was only a visit, nothing more nothing less. Oh," he stopped, and checked his wrist, where a watch lay on it," and I have stayed too long it appears. So...tata."
Suddenly, the hologram cutout, and the projector exploded in flash of light.
Everyone in the room, Sly and the Gang included, were blinded by the bright light.
When their eyes readjusted, they saw that The Rogue was gone, as was the hologram and the portal he came from. The lights suddenly came on, and the crowd were in a panic. The pharaoh then stepped out and began to address the crowd, while Sly and the Gang left the pedestal as did Vimenhotep and Slytunkhamen, meeting down on the side.
"I guess this is one way of saying you've overstayed you're welcome here." Said Vimenhotep, who joked as the gang realized they had to return to the present.
"I hate to say it, but my brother is right." Said Slytunkhamen, who earned a nod from Vimenhotep. "You need to get back to your time. Now."
The Gang nodded in agreement, but they quickly addressed the elephant in the room.
"But what about your people?" Asked Bentley, who saw that the crowd was still worried out of their mind. "After what they saw here, they'll never feel truly safe here."
"We can handle them." Responded Vimenhotep, who his brother turned and nodded in agreement. "These are our people. You've done your part with Sabas. We'll hold our own, but you need to get back to the present to stop these people once and for all."
The Gang looked about one another, and they all knew he was right.
"Slytunkhamen, Vimenhotep, it's been an honor to meet you both." Said Sly, the Gang sharing his statement.
"And you too, Sly." Said Slytunkhamen, Vimenhotep only nodding, sharing his same feeling. "Hurry to the present. Stop these people."
"You can count on me, Slytunkhamen." Said Sly to his ancestor, who held out his hand. Slytunkhamen took it, and they both nodded in farewell.
Slytunkhamen then let go, and raced back up the podium, just as the Gang turned and ran for the exit. As Sly followed last he then heard Vimenhotep speak from behind him.
"Remember what we talked about Cooper." He said, Sly stopping to listen. "My enemies could still very well be in your time."
"I know." Sly said, before he followed his Gang back to the car, dodging and sliding pass citizens and nobles as they went.
The gang raced back to the minivan, the upgrades Bentley put on it still being fully operational and usable to get back to the present. They all hopped in, Murray behind the wheel, Bentley in the passenger seat, and Sly and Carmelita in the back. Bentley then folded out a computer in the passenger seat, and the Gang watched him type in the numbers to the present, and in a flash and bright sound, they were going forward in time!
In moments they had arrived back home. The Cooper Vault, Kaine Island, exactly where they left earlier. They all get out of the van, that queasy feeling with them as they did so. Sly, now having seen what Bentley had been up to turned to asked his small friend.
"Wow Bentley, you've been bus-" Sly was suddenly interrupted when they all heard the sound of a loud alarm going off in the lab. "What's happening?"
Bentley, looking frantic, quickly wheeled himself over to one of his computers, the gang following him as he did so. They all watched him rapidly typing the numbers and letters, and saw his face looking very, very worried.
"Bentley, what's wrong? What's going on?" Asked Carmelita, who saw her green friend actually sweating with worry.
"The alarm!" He said, his voice sounding frantic, and scared. "I set up that alarm in case something happened while we were gone. It's always supposed to go off in certain situations, and I would get a warning if something was happening while I was gone."
"Well, what kind of situations?" Asked Murray, who shared his friend's concern of what was going on.
"If someone opened the vault without us being here." Bentley started, still typing furiously on the keyboard as he spoke. "If treasure was somehow missing or portions gone. If someone stole the-" he stopped, and everyone saw on the screen why he was so concerned.
They saw security camera feed on the Thievius Raccoonus, safe behind security measures consisting of lasers, glass, and even electrical barriers.
The problem was, there was no Theivius Raccoonus.
Bentley suddenly bolted in his chair, the Gang quickly following him as he raced to where the book was supposed to be. They soon arrived, and Bentley typed in a command code into the computer overseeing it, the defenses shutting down as he did so. However, the door still hadn't opened, and they saw a small glass tray and needle extended from the computer, and Bentley quickly shouted at Sly.
"Sly, quickly! I designed this lock to only be opened by those that actually have the Cooper blood in them! Prick your finger on the needle!" Wasting no time, Sly pricked his finger on the needle and the blood went down the middle, like a syringe. The door then suddenly opened, and they rushed toward the stand the book would have been propped on, and there, sitting where the book would have been, sat a letter.
Bentley didn't dare touch it, too shocked he had been duped. Sly then stepped forward and took it, and saw it had, in bold letters, To the Cooper Gang on it. Sly opened it, and he pulled out the letter, the Gang gathering around him as he read it aloud.
"To The Cooper Gang;" he started, the gang all looking at the letter's writing as he read out-loud.
"If you are reading this, then you have seen that I have taken something from you. Do not fret, I do not intend to misuse it, nor do I want to even get rid of it. However, as I am sure that you may hold hesitation and even refusal to meet with me out of a fair deal, I have done this to insure that you will. Sly, as I assume you'll be the one to read this as your friends would be too starstruck to attempt, know that I am very much looking forward to seeing you. It has been a long, long time.
- Your friend, D.D."
Sly finished, turning toward his friends, who had looks of shock, and at the same time, confusion.
"So, anyone know who D.D is?"
