#Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 20

[isakthedragon]

Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 20

Chapter 20- Kung Tsao Rooster

The Set-Up:

Sonic, narrating: “Wait, hang on, who’s left for us to defeat again?”

Sly, narrating: “Unfortunately, it just so happens to be the terrible General Tsao. To put it bluntly, he is very sexist to women, thinking he can force them to marriage and be his *ahem* ‘wife’, which is more like a servant. We fought him when we helped Panda King rescue his daughter from marrying him, and he’s definitely tougher than he looks. He’s strong, brazen, and will do anything he can to get what he wants. He even found our safe house and took Bentley’s computer right out his hands, just in an effort to stop us. Since he has left prison though, I’m guessing he’s looking for someplace to conquer and make his home. And he kicked a puppy supposedly.”

Cream, from afar, but hearable: “NO! Not the puppy!!”

Sonic, narrating: “Don’t worry, Cream, we’re going to teach him a thing or two. He seems to be visiting a part of our world that looks more Chinese than anything and take over there. We are going to stop him before he harrasses anyone else.”

-----

Zone Layout: The first two acts here take place in the daytime, crossing the Great Wall, long and winding dragon statues, and large lines of pagodas, and even going across the river the dragon boats cross on. The last two Acts take place at night, following along the river of Chun-nan’s village, which is being terrorized by General Tsao.

Enemies:

Pig-bots: Robot replicas of General Tsao’s pigs. Similar to Tsao’s original pig guards, they will either try to karate chop you or send a missile shaped like a dragon head at you that needs to be avoided. Carries 22-24 coins and has a 10% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Monk-keys: Robotic copies of Tsao’s monkeys with all the downloadable knowledge of kung-fu. But since these are Tsao’s guards, they still aren’t very smart. Carries/drops 26-28 coins and has a 25% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Tigerots: Eggman’s robotic copies of Tsao’s impressive tiger guards. Be careful around these robots, as not only do their punches hurt, they also carry spears that they can throw and poke you with.  Carries/drops 26-31 coins and has a 50% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Mantis Vampires: For once not robotic duplicates of Tsao’s guards by Eggman but the real deals, Tsao managing to strike a deal with the mad scientist to keep. The Mantis Vampires were servants of General Tsao’s ancestors that, upon their deaths, were reanimated into undeath by the Tsao family’s dark magic, becoming hopping vampires. Fortunately, given the nature of vampires, they cannot appear in the day, but at night… The Mantis Vampires move slow, but they come in large numbers and explode upon death. Ranged attacks recommended. They drop any amount of coins when they explode.

Egg Launcher: These missile happy robots will send their payloads after you relentlessly until they are destroy. They can fire horizontally, vertically, or both. Drops 26 rings when smashed.

Egg Fighter Knight: They’ve come back bigger and tougher, and will fight to the bitter end. Though, since these knights don’t play fair, back attacks are fair game. Drops 28 rings when smashed.

Egg Cannons: They fire cannonballs at you in an effort to trip you up. They’re built strong so a few hits are going to be needed to take these out. Drops 30 rings when smashed.

Dark Master: The wizard force of Dark Gaia that can heal its friends and attack with a ball of energy at you. Drops 32 rings when defeated.

Deep Nightmare/Nightmare: The big grunts of the Dark Gaia force, they use their stretchy arms to attack at different ranges. Drops 34 rings when smashed.

Titans: Equal to being the Dark Gaia commanders, they carry around wooden clubs and swing them, but can also create shockwaves to unbalance enemies. Drops 36 rings when smashed.

Treasures:

From Guards:

Bronze Coin: Worth 125 coins and 63 rings.

Silver Coin: Worth 145 coins and 73 rings.

Gold Coin: Worth 165 coins and 83 rings.

From Pedestals:

Legendary Hot Dog: Found in one of the pagodas in Act 1. Worth 2500 coins and 1250 rings.

Golden Dragon Fangs: Found on one of the islands in Act 2. Worth 2600 coins and 1300 rings.

Ageless Scroll: Found in a temple in Act 3. Worth 2700 coins and 1350 rings.

The coins have a dragon for the design on them.

-----

Dragon Road Zone Act 1: Espio and Sly tackle the first act here, in broad daylight. Hmm… Anyway, the player runs and sneaks across the Great Wall that Sonic used to run on before. This then diverts to large pagodas and dragon statues that span across the water, with plenty of guards keeping watch for the player. The act ends when Sly and Espio have to divert by jumping off a bridge to the water and little islands below.

*At the start.*

Sly: “Huh, this place looks quite similar to our China, but it’s not China…”

Espio: “We call this place Chun-nan. From what I saw in your world, it is safe to say this place is just our world’s version of your China.”

Sly: “Well, that makes things easy. Well… I never thought I’d be thieving in broad daylight.”

Espio: “There’s still plenty of shadows from the cliffs, and I know you can just make yourself a shadow.”

Sly: “Yeah. Well, time to get sightseeing, and thieving.”

*After a lot of running from dash panels and twisty roads.*

Sly clutches his head, which has the ‘Dizzy’ stars floating around: “WHOA!!! God… that was really fast…”

Espio chuckles: “It’s a nice workout for the legs.”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “Sounds like you guys are having fun over there.”

Sly: “Yeah… minus the sore legs and spun head.”

*Near the end of the act, on the bridge.*

Sly: “Hmmm… no enemies.”

Espio: “Is that a bad sign?”

Sly: “Since this is General Tsao we are after? Yeah. This is leading to a trap.”

General Tsao, over a speaker as enemies start appearing from the ends of the bridges: “Stupid Cooper and Gang! You are trespassing on my property! Prepare to die by my forces!”

Espio: “We’re surrounded.”

Sly: “Not quite. Looks like we’re going swimming.”

*The player jumps off and lands on an island below to end the act.*

---

Dragon Road Zone Act 2: Sonic and Dimitri hydroplane and swim across the Dragon Boat river channel in an attempt to find a sneaky way in and get the drop on General Tsao. Thankfully, Sonic can’t drown here and will just end up under the water, where there some rings for lucky lookers, but he’ll have to find a new landmass to hydroplane on again. The act ends when they find the fishing area for Chun-nan.

*At the start.*

Dimitri: “Finally! Some water I can take a dip in. Now so swift and agile like a fish!”

Sonic: “I hope you can keep up with me when I hydroplane across the water.”

Dimitri: “I can keep up. I got speed, bro. I aint no slowpoke.”

*When passing by some Dragon Boats.*

General Tsao, on loudspeakers: “Be on the lookout for the Cooper gang and any friends of theirs. Don’t think of being a hero.”

General Tsao: “In fact, I am offering to spare the life of whoever brings me the head of Cooper, dead!”

General Tsao: “Also, all women in Chun-nan are forced to attend to a wedding ceremony to be entered into marriage to me!! Anyone who disobeys or abets to hiding will be killed instantly!”

---

Dragon Road Zone Act 3: For Bentley and Vector, night has fallen as they trek their way to the main village itself. Unfortunately, General Tsao has brought his hopping, exploding Mantis Vampires to act as an extra guard to any trespassers. And even worse, his dark magic influence seems to have awoken the Gaia forces, and they’re prowling around too, though they seem to just be attacking anything that’s passing by (I mean, how would you like it if someone just brought their dead to your land?). Bentley and Vector will have to keep their wits and strength together to fight their way up the cliffs and into Chun-nan itself. The act ends when they reach a familiar night temple…

*At the start.*

Vector: *Sniffs* “Mmm, fishing village. Delicious. I believe we are at the lowest point in Chun-nan.”

Bentley: “So we’re going to have to follow the cliffs up to the village itself?”

Vector: “Yeah. It’s quite a beautiful night.”

Bentley: “There certainly is a beauty here… but something worries me, and I can’t put a finger on it.”

*When they enter an open space, Mantis Vampires appear first…*

Bentley: “Whoa!?! General Tsao brought his hopping vampire?! This is going to be way harder than we thought!”

*...Soon followed by Dark Gaia forces.*

Vector: “Oh, no! Not the Dark Gaia force too! Those monsters are even harder to kill than Eggman’s robots!”

*Thankfully, they both start fighting each other that culminates in defeated Mantis Vampires, then defeated Dark Gaia minions once the corpses explode.*

Bentley and Vector: “Huh?”

Tails, over the binocucom: “I think I can answer why, but first, is General Tsao’s vampires brought by dark magic?”

Sly, over the binocucom: “Yeah, they’re his past servants weaved with dark magic to be his loyal force.”

Tails, over the binocucom: “Hah, he’s a fool! Both his vampires and the Dark Gaia forces are trying to occupy the same magical space, but since the Dark Gaia were here first, they’re attacking the foreign entities from entering their home! This is the perfect distraction to get by!”

Bentley: “Nice. I see General Tsao didn’t think too far ahead in his plans. He’s brazen, but dumb, and dumb won out here.”

Vector: “Still, we better be careful when a victor emerges. We’ll have to fight what’s left to get by.”

*Once in Chun-nan proper.*

Vector: “We’re in Chun-nan village now. Where is General Tsao?”

Bentley: “I am calculating that he might be in that temple?”

Vector: “The Gaia Temple… yeah, that’s a good stronghold.”

---

Dragon Road Zone Act 4 (BOSS): Rouge, Amy, Blaze, Marine, and Carmelita arrive outside the Gaia Temple, where General Tsao has cockily made his stand…

General Tsao sees the ladies come his way. “What the? Where the hell are Cooper and his gang?”

Carmelita: “They decided to help on the villagers, and they thought it was a good idea to send the girls to fight you.”

General Tsao: “Hah! You girls dare to challenge me? You pathetic women are too wimpy to even be able to damage me! Go back home and call the men over, who are looking just as pathetic for letting the females fight.”

Rouge: “No! You’re going to fight us!”

Amy: “We’re not as weak as you think we are!”

Blaze: “Let’s see you call us weak when we burn you!”

Marine: “Argh, this fool is too crazy. Even ladies make good Cap’ts!”

Carmelita: “Besides, it was Sly’s idea to have you fight us, just to piss you off. And I specifically remember making fried chicken out of you when you ‘married’ me, thanks to Sly.”

General Tsao: “Grr… it still burns... Fair enough. Prepare to die, worthless women!”

Boss: General Tsao

General Tsao is just as dangerous as he was before, what with his kicks and his spike shield, and magical dragon heads, and his undead Mantises trying to pull you into the ground. He’s going to go all out on you, and there’s no bamboo to save your life. But, then again, when you have Rouge’s flight and kicks, Amy’s hammer, Blaze’s flame aura, Marine’s hydrokinesis and Carmelita’s shock pistol, General Tsao may just have met his match… or so you’d think…

*Once ‘defeated’*

Carmelita: “You better give up, Tsao, before we do more than just rustle your feathers.”

General Tsao: “Grr… you ladies are a bit more powerful than I expected… but let’s see how you are…” *He jumps down to the river below, but then comes back up on a Clockwerk bird that looks to be a mix of his dragon from Sly 3 and Clockwerk birds from before.* “... My Dragon Clockwerk!”

*He flies into the air, and just starts attacking the village with fire.*

--

*Meanwhile*

*Sonic and Cream have entered the inner sanctum of the Gaia Temple.*

Cream: “Why have you taken me in here, Sonic?”

Sonic: “So you talk to somebody to provide extra help to our friends outside. Hey, Chip!”

*A small green ball appears from the back wall, then approaches them. In a flash, it turns into a ghostly image of a friend named Chip.*

Chip: “Oh! Hey, Sonic! Long time no see! Well, since you defeated Eggman in that orange bandicoot’s world whose name escapes me at the moment.”

Sonic: “It was Crash, but that’s not important. We need some help to defeat someone outside the Temple.”

Chip: “Ah… that General Tsao that the locals have been mentioning in their prayers recently. But I can’t really do much though… least not directly.”

Sonic: “Well, you control the Phoenix here, right?”

Chip: “Again, indirectly, but yeah. Why?”

Sonic: “Perhaps Cream might be able to control it?”

Cream: “Oh? Me?”

Chip: “Hmmm… I do sense that happy, bubbly, pure of heartness in her. Maybe you’re right, Sonic!”

*Chip calls the Phoenix, which appears in a burst of flames.*

Sonic: “Go ahead, Cream. Say hi to it. I fully believe you’ll be okay.”

Cream: “Okay…”

*Cream walks up to the Phoenix, which takes notice of her by dropping its head down to examine her. After a couple seconds, the Phoenix drops the flames surrounding it, showing it respects Cream, and even drops its head further enough that Cream can pat and scratch its chin. The Phoenix chirps to the affection.*

Chip: “Whoa! How did you know, Sonic?!”

Sonic: “Well, if the Chao like her, it doesn’t seem like much of a stretch any beast would like and be tamed by her.”

Chip: “Ah… hmmm… so that means your going to let Cream take the Phoenix out to eliminate General Tsao?”

Sonic: “If that’s alright, Chip.”

Chip: “Well, it’s indirect help… and she’s definitely going to take good care of it… ah, go ahead, Cream. He’s yours whenever you visit Chun-nan.”

Cream: “Thank you, Mr. Chip!”

Chip: “Heh, don’t mention it. Well, I better get back. Just return him once your done. Back to the ether with Dark Gaia.” *In the same green flash, he returns to a green ball and goes back into the temple wall.*

Sonic: “Okay, Cream, go get General Tsao!”

Cream: “You got it!”

--

*Soon, Cream gets the Phoenix flying after the Dragon Clockwerk as Sonic rejoins the girls.*

Blaze: *Gasp* “The Phoenix… but how? Not many are allowed to see the gods.”

Sonic: “I had an in with Chip. And guess who’s controlling it?”

*The Phoenix flies by and a faint voice of Cream can be heard saying hi to them.*

Amy: “Wait, Cream is controlling that thing? That’s dangerous!”

Sonic: “The Phoenix likes her. Even wanted to be petted by Cream.”

Blaze stammers: “W-what?! L-likes her?! I-i-i…”

Amy: “Well, she is a pretty sweet girl. Guess even gods can tell a good caretaker from the bad and neutral.”

Blaze: “I-i-I suppose…” *In thought: “She’s very lucky.” *

Sonic: “Well, let’s watch the show, heh he.”

Boss: Dragon Clockwerk

With a little help from Chip, Cream’s good hearted nature has awoken both him and the Phoenix that resides here. With his blessing, Cream is allowed to jump on and control the bird as they fly into the sky and take out General Tsao’s Dragon Clockwerk. Since the bird is literally on fire, just contact will damage the Clockwerk already, though it may not be smart to stay too close as it can still use its claws to return damage back. Of course, you could use the Phoenix’s ranged quill missiles to do greater damage, but that can only be used so many times until it needs recharging. The dumb Dragon Clockwerk still spits fireballs, which can be used to both heal and restock the Phoenix’s quills, though the fireballs still have momentum enough to push you back a bit. Just keep on the attack and General Tsao will soon be stopped for good.

*Once defeated, the Dragon Clockwerk crashes and explodes and knocks General Tsao back to the ground, where he is immediately arrested. The Phoenix lands and Cream joins them again.*

Cream: “Yay! The Phoenix and I did it!”

General Tsao, before losing consciousness: “The mighty Tsao… defeated by a little girl… so much shame…”

Carmelita: “You’re a shame already. She’s just rubbing it in your face.”

-----

The Getaway:

Sonic, narrating: “We returned the Phoenix back to Chip, and sent Tsao back where he belonged when Penelope gave some good news.”

Penelope: “Good news, everyone! I’ve figured out where and who the signal is coming from!”

Bentley: “That’s awesome, Penelope! I knew you could do it. Greatest hacking mind right here.”

Penelope: “Aw, shucks… *Ahem.* Any way, I’ll start with the where. It seems to be coming from; drumroll please…”

*Murray does a drumroll on his belly.*

Penelope: “Space! Heh… specifically, from the exosphere!”

Bentley: “Huh? That should be impossible.”

Sonic: “Not quite. I think I know where he is. But, moving on, what about who?”

Penelope: “Using DNA provided by INTERPOL, along with Science, and a healthy dose of Supernatural, I have determined our dead guy to be… Arpeggio!”

Sly: “But he died and was quickly eaten by Clock-La. I saw that.”

Sonic: “Again, it’s possible, and it means a machine of his is better than ever. We better hurry and find Eggman.”

Next Time: It’s time to deal with the big Eggman himself. Quick, to the new and improved Eggman’s Incredible Interstellar Amusement Park!

[nerdy-bits]

Bounty Board 071: GOTY Talks w/ @Bobbypease

2019 is drawing to a close. Where did this year go!? It just flew by! On this week’s Bounty Board, the crew sits down to discuss the most notable games of the year in preparation for their own Game of the Year Awards. There are a lot of games to talk about, so this episode is a long one!

On this yearly adventure the normal crew is joined by the one, the only, Sawft-Clothez Sommelier: Big Bobby Pease (@Bobbypease). Join them as they get neck deep in debate about the year’s best titles. Bobby nominates Death Stranding for Best Multiplayer, Eric blows a gasket, and the crew continues to marvel Apex Legends’ legendary surprise launch.

NerdyBits Nominees:

GOTY

Control Death Stranding Outer Wilds Jedi: Fallen Order

Best Indie Game

Outer Wilds Katana Zero Untitled Goose Game Creature in the Well River City Girls

Best Ongoing Game

Apex Legends Fortnite: Chapter 2 Destiny 2 Rainbow 6 Siege Warframe FF XIV Sea of Thieves

Best Game Direction

Control Death Stranding Outer Wilds Jedi: Fallen Order

Best Narrative

Control Death Stranding Katana Zero Outer Worlds Jedi: Fallen Order Gris

Best Art Direction

Control Death Stranding Sayonara Wild Hearts Link’s Awakening Gris Katana Zero

Best Score/Music

Cadence of Hyrule Anthem Sayonara Wild Hearts Outer Wilds Borderlands 3

Best Performance

Ashly Burch as Parvati Holcomb (Outer Worlds) Laura Bailey as Kait Diaz (Gears 5) Norman Reedus as Sam Porter Bridges (Death Stranding) Cameron Monaghan as Cal Kestis (Jedi: Fallen Order) Elizabeth Grullon as Second Sister (Jedi: Fallen Order) Matthew Porretta as Casper Darling (Control) Claudia Doumit as Farah (Modern Warfare)

Best Mobile Game

Grindstone What The Golf? Mini Motorways

Best Action Game

Ghost Recon: Breakpoint Devil May Cry 5 Gears of War Division 2 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Apex Legends

Best Action/Adventure Game

Control Sekiro Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Metro Exodus Greedfall

Best RPG

Outer Worlds Disco Elysium Code Vein

Best Strategy Game

Fire Emblem: Three Houses Wargroove Planet Zoo

Best Family Game

Crash Team Racing Luigi’s Mansion 3 Unravel 2 Super Mario Maker 2

Best Sports/Racing

Crash Team Racing What the Golf? MLB The Show 19 F1 2019 Wreckfest Team Sonic Racing FIFA 20

Fighting Game

Mortal Kombat 11 Samurai Showdown Jump Force Super Smash Bros.

Best Multiplayer Game

Call of Duty Apex Legends Death Stranding Borderlands 3

Best Surprise Game

Remnant: From the Ashes Ape Out Outer Wilds Dauntless Darksiders: Genesis Disco Elysium The Surge 2 Apex

You can listen to us below, or on iTunes , Stitcher, Spotify, and Google Play! So whether you have an Apple or Android device, we are available for streaming and download. Give us a rating and a subscribe, we would really appreciate it. You can also catch the episode on YOUTUBE!!!

@LubWub @sketchsawyer @hybridglass @sergeantsodium @Bobbypease

[isakthedragon]

Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 12

Chapter 12 - Singing In Refrain

The Set-Up:

Sonic, narrating: “Thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long for the next villain to rear his ugly head.”

Sly, narrating: “Don Octavio was our next target, and he has me worried about the future of music in Sonic’s world. Last time we saw him, he was willing to sink Venice’s monuments to force people to go back to listening opera again. We were able to defeat him, but now that he is free again, who knows what havoc he wants to wreak here.”

Sonic, narrating: “Octavio has taken over Music Plant Zone and is converting it to his own gigantic opera house. We don’t know what he has planned, but it’s clear if we don’t stop him soon, opera is going to be forced down everyone’s throats!”

-----

Zone Layout:

Octavio has built himself a gigantic opera house, big enough for hundreds of thousands of people to be ‘forced’ into seats. There’s a giant backstage area, for fitting a plethora of backdrops, props and scenes as Octavio wishes. There are also a maze of catwalks above for the ‘staff’ to work the lights and sound system, and also some ‘secret device’ to force the crowd to his will. Outside are some streets that dead end to the finish points of tube systems that suck up people to the area where guards will force them in.

Enemies:

Robot Cats: Robotic rebuilds of Octavio’s cat guards, still in opera attire. They carry around sticks of dynamite and rockets that they can shoot or throw at you, so watch your toes. Carries/drops 14-16 coins and has a 10% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Pidgeot: What could be more annoying than a operatic bipedal pidgeon? One that’s now a robot of course. They got a dance degree with that dangerous spin, and can breathe fire to singe you! As to note, fire will not be effective against these robots at all. Carries/drops 18-20 coins and has a 25% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Cane Corso Robots: Eggman’s robot replicas of the mobster canines. The gun they carry may look vintage, but the lasers it fires will hurt more than you think. Carries/drops 18-23 coins and has a 50% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Opera Pawns: Pawns in full opera attire that attack you with blast rings caused by their singing. Drops 18 rings when smashed.

Starlight Carnival Pawns: Those trumpet playing pawns are back to assault you and your ears. They can attack with blasts from their trumpets, or use them as makeshift spears if you're not careful. Drops 20 rings when smashed.

Muzac Notes: Big, bouncing treble clefs that hop around aimlessly. While not dangerous on its own, except for the touch, hitting them will split them into 2 smaller ½ notes, then 4 ¼ notes, then 8 ⅛ notes until disappearing for good. Drops 22 rings when smashed.

Treasures:

From Guards:

Bronze Music Notes: Worth 85 coins and 43 rings.

Silver Music Notes: Worth 105 coins and 53 rings.

Gold Music Notes: Worth 125 coins and 63 rings.

From Pedestals:

Golden Opera Mask: Found near to the opera house in Act 1. Worth 2100 coins and 1050 rings.

Old Viking Horns: Found hiding among the props in Act 2. Worth 2200 coins and 1100 rings.

The Perfect Microphone: Found among the maze of catwalks in Act 3. Worth 2300 coins and 1150 rings.

The coins have a music note as a design on the face.

-----

Opera Plant Zone Act 1: Sly and Knuckles start in front of the opera house, but the gate, guards, and spotlights prevent entry, so they will have to sneak in around back for an entrance. But, of course, the door is locked, so the player will need to scrounge up some keys for entry. The guards can be found around, just patrolling near the tube ends. There is also a secondary mission of smashing up the 6 people sucking machines so that no one will have to come to Octavio’s opera house.

*At the start.*

Knuckles: “Wow, they sure got a heavy guard presence guarding the front entrance.”

Sly: “No doubt Octavio was expecting us. Heh, just means we got to find our own way in.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “From the security cameras, there seems to be a back entrance, but it’s locked.”

Sly: “Guess that means we need to make a few guard’s pockets lighter.”

Rouge: “GUN also says that there are reports of these ‘suction tubes’ floating into cities, and they look like the ones here. We need to break them so they can’t bring anyone over before it’s too late.”

Knuckles: “Leave the damage dealing to me, heh.”

---

Opera Plant Zone Act 2: Carmelita and Charmy have to sneak around the giant backstage, following and listening to Octavio and taking out his guards if need be. Octavio is as angry as ever about how music has changed, so he’s going to force people to like opera again with something hiding up in the rafters.

*At the start.*

Carmelita: “Alright, we’re in the backstage area, guys. Let’s not talk so as to not arouse suspicion here.”

Bentley: “Understood.”

Charmy: ♪ “Oh? I can hear Octavio around here. Listen!” ♫

Octavio: “Bah! This world is even worse than the last! Even less people like the opera, and there’s even stranger music here! WHAT EVEN IS THIS BLASTED NOISE THEY CALL ‘DUBSTEP?!’ But no matter… soon these uncultured swine will become cultured… by me!!! And if not, I’ll just hypnotise him.”

Carmelita: “Hypnotizing? He didn’t do that before…”

*Later*

Octavio: “Soon, I am going to start sucking people up to be forced into their seats, and then, while I’m singing my opera, my Clockwerk machine will blast its sound down onto the audience and turn their minds to reject all kinds of music save for the opera!! Then they will come to all of my shows, and listen to my music forever! Opera shall thrive!!!”

Charmy: ♪ “That’s terrible.” ♫

Carmelita: “It’s definitely not, and yet another Clockwerk…”

*Later*

Octavio: “I got the bird attached from the ceiling, so it’s going to blast on all of the audience. Let’s see that annoying gang stop me now! How I hate them for arresting me before…”

Carmelita: “I’m going to make sure they put you in jail longer next time then.”

Charmy: ♪ “We better tell the others about the bird.” ♫

---

Opera Plant Zone Act 3: Bentley and Vector head up to the catwalks above and find hanging from the ceiling is Octavio’s Clockwerk bird. It’s primed to blast sound to hypnotise people to only listen to Octavio’s opera and nothing else. Octavio has noticed them however up there and decides to hypnotize them with it and starts to sing some opera. By some luck, the Vocal Clockwerk’s hypnosis beam can be counteracted with more singing, so the player enters an opera battle occurs between Octavio and Bentley & Vector. All their singing leads to the machine overloading and exploding to pieces, ending the act.

*At the start.*

Bentley: “Okay, Vector, we gotta be real quiet and find a way to get the bird down.”

Vector: “Got it.”

*A quiet sneak later to the center of the catwalk.*

Bentley: “Hmmm, that thing’s really bolted to the ceiling. I’m not sure how to get it down…”

Octavio notices them. “Aha!! I hear and see you fools up there thanks to the *Sings* AMAZING ACOUSTICS!!!”

Vector: “Darn. He’s good.”

Octavio: “Now, I shall use the power of opera to hypnotize you to my bidding!!”

*He starts to sing and it brings the Vocal Clockwerk to life and it starts charging.*

Penelope, over the binocucom: “Guys! Sing with him! I am calculated that the addition of you two singing as well will overload Clockwerk’s circuits and blow it up!”

Bentley and Vector: “Got it!”

*One Operatic Song Battle akin to Sly 3s later.*

*The Clockwerk machine overloads and explodes into pieces. The explosion also overloads the lights, leaving the catwalks dark. In the havoc, the player sends Vector and Bentley to hurry backstage again to get out of Octavio’s sight.*

Octavio: “Bah!! Where are you fools? How dare you ruin my plans!”

---

Opera Plant Zone Act 4 (Boss): Murray and Tails head around the curtain to find…

Octavio: “Oho! They sent the hippo and that two tailed fox to beat me?! Forget it! There’s no tar here to let you stop me here! I will succeed, despite your guys’ damages to me!”

Murray: “The Murray shall use his awesomeness to beat you!”

Tails: “And don’t be so sure your scenery is safe.”

Octavio: “Bah! ♪ ATTACK!! ♫ “

BOSS: Octavio

Octavio attacks similar to his original boss fight, with his punches, charging, and sound waves. Unfortunately, there’s no tar to stop him now, but don’t fret, as Octavio can now be messed with in a new way. Tails can use his hacking with the Miles Electric to change the props and scenery to a different set. Then Octavio can be lead under the shadows as they change and make him dizzy so he can’t charge or sing. He can still attack with punches, but there is no worry for being thrown away or hit with music for a small while. And since it also refreshes the props, you can throw them at Octavio to damage him too.

*After his defeat.*

Octavio: “N-no!!! My plan… my dream… all gone… Curse you, Cooper and gang!!!”

-----

The Getaway:

Sonic, narrating: “Another day, another villain defeated. While returning him back, Penelope examined the Clockwerk bird.”

Penelope: “Odd… it’s obviously similar to the last one, but a bit different. And this wreckage has pieces of something in it… like it’s being controlled far away from here, but not conventionally… This needs more examination...”

*The pieces soon melt and dissolve to nothing.*

Penelope: “Darn. A failsafe to prevent us from learning more. Maybe we can learn more from the next one?”

Next Time: We take a detour through the Sol dimension’s sea in Stormy Seas Zone.

[isakthedragon]

Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 10

Chapter 10 - When in Rome...

The Set Up:

Sly, narrating: “The Thievius Raccoonus warned us that another Cooper had been lost, this one being Augustine Cooper. Somehow, he was the inventor of being able to defy gravity, staying in the air for days at a time with no effort. Of course, as a Cooper, he used it to rob people at his leisure, especially the kings and guardsmen. To others, his gift seemed to be a gift of the gods, but actually… well, no one knows, and he was very secretive about it in the book too. In any case, it seems that Eggman has captured Augustus for his own nefarious plots, and it looks like we are going to have to go rescue him.”

*The camera pans among some marble columns, until it stops on a few that get chiseled out to say the title: ‘ When in Rome ’.*

-----

Hub Layout:

Sly and the gang have made their hideout in the smaller homes of the poor side of Rome. In the center of town is the famous Colosseum. Surrounding it are the large palaces, then the marketplaces and the smaller homes. A large mountain stands to the far North, home to ‘Mt Olympus, and to the far South is a deep chasm the locals have referred to as ‘The Underworld’.

Enemies:

Goats: Guards on the lookout for sneaky thieves. If they spot you, expect horns in your backside with a fast charge. Carries/drops 12-14 coins and has 10% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Wolves: Grey wolves on the prowl for thieves. Be wary of provoking them, as they will bite and scratch endlessly and chase after you. Carries/drops 16-18 coins and has 25% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Lions: Big cats with an even bigger bite. They will seriously make an attempt to keep on your tail to maul you, so get them quick. Carries/drops 16-21 coins and has 50% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Rhinobot: Those charging rhinobots have gotten an upgrade in size and speed, making them a bit more dangerous than before. Still, a good whack shall smash them good. Drops 16 rings when smashed.

Roman Pawns: Toga!!! It’s Egg Pawns in togas and head wreaths, of course. Don’t let their simpleness fool you, as they can fire lightning bolts from their hands. Drops 18 rings when smashed.

Helmeted Egg Hammers: Egg Hammers that have gotten into the time travel spirit wearing Roman helmets and gladiator armor (on top of their regular armor, for some reason. :P ). They attack the same as regular Egg Hammers, but they have even more armor to make destroying them tougher (Defense over attack, you know?) Drops 20 rings when smashed.

Egg-Cerberus: Eggman’s gigantic loyal guard ‘dog’ has come back, but has now gained 2 more heads to fit the Roman theme. It still has the same weakness of being controllable to careen into walls and other things.

Treasures:

From Guards:

Small Necklace: Worth 75 coins and 38 rings.

Medium Necklace: Worth 95 coins and 48 coins

Large Necklace: Worth 115 coins and 58 coins

From Pedestals:

Golden Head Wreath: Near to the front gates to Mt. Olympus. No booby traps. Worth 1500 coins and 750 rings.

Hercules’ Shield: Near to the gate of the Colosseum. It’s extremely heavy, so a strong character has to take it back. Worth 1750 coins and 875 rings.

Hermes’ Sandals: Tucked away around the palaces. No booby trap. Worth 2250 coins and 1125 rings.

Lightning in a Bottle: Near to the canyon going down below. Damage sensor trap and will zap you dead if broken. Worth 2750 coins and 1325 rings.

The coins have a lightning bolt design on them.

Secret Clockwerk Sighting: A marble statue stands in one of the plaza’s that looks just like him. But is he underneath that marble coating? Hmm...

-----Jobs-----

Roman Recon

Recon Rome

Sly: “Well, this doesn’t look good. Rome’s empty, and this is supposed to be a bustling city.”

Blaze: “I’d guess that Eggman’s helper here scared them all away. But it sure is odd when there is no damage anywhere at all.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Just be careful in case they should rear their ugly head around here.”

Sly, sarcastically: “Don’t we always?”

Bentley, over the binocucom, smugly: “Unless the ‘head’ is Carmelita, then you go basically blind.” *An audible high five is heard.*

Sly: “Ouch, Bentley. But at least that head is very pretty.”

Carmelita, over the binocucom: “Sweet save, Ringtail.”

*The player heads of to take recon photos of the Colosseum, the group of palaces, Mt Olympus and the Underworld.*

*Upon taking a picture of the Colosseum.*

Sly: “Odd, these gates seemed to have been blocked before everyone ran off, considering the feet prints.”

Blaze: “Does it look a little off in general too?”

Sly: “Hmm, yeah. Bigger and more recently built, which is impossible. Hmmm…”

*Upon taking a picture of the palaces.*

Blaze: “Sure are a lot of Eggman’s mechs walking around here to be doing nothing in particular.”

Sly: “Do you think they are looking for something?”

Blaze: “That, or just waiting in general.”

*Upon taking a picture of Mt. Olympus.*

Blaze: “Such very odd gates, tempered with very high heat that I’ve ever seen.”

Sly: “So we won’t be able to get in this way.”

Blaze: “No, at least, not forcibly. We need to find a way in somehow…”

*Upon taking a picture of ‘the Underworld’.*

Sly: “Wow. That’s a deep chasm if I’ve ever seen one. And dark too.”

Blaze: “I could light the way, but we have a problem.”

Sly: “What, getting down there? There are some stairs there.”

Blaze: “Someone has made a magical barrier or something to stop us. We can’t get in without finding an object to pass through.”

Sly: “We better keep an eye out then.”

*Once done.*

Sly: “Hmmm, good intelligence, but not a lot to go on.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Can you guys return to the safehouse? Silver says he’s got an idea where Augustus is.”

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Palacian Bash

Listen in to the guard’s conversations.

Find Augustus.

Sly: “So where do you think is Augustus, Silver?”

Silver: “I have to admit it’s not a certainty, but I think I may have a location. Ever since we got here, I’ve felt a strange psychic power at work, and after some divination, I believe he is hiding in the palaces to the East.”

Sly: “That does sound like how Augustus’ powers work, so it may be him. And we just came from there; there are many pawns and guards patrolling there. Let’s go.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Hang on, Sly. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go. His psychokinesis intrigue me… and I have a feeling I may be able to get us more information on what’s happening around here.”

Sly: “Fair enough then.”

*Sly returns back inside the safehouse, and Bentley comes out.*

*The player heads on over to the palaces, and in the first one, find a Wolf guard and Lion guard chatting to each other next to a well.*

Silver: “They appear to be talking, but how do we hear them?”

Bentley: “Leave that to me and my grapple camera. It can listen to them and play it for us here.”

*One short grapple cam moving later.*

Wolf Guard: *Some stomach growling can be heard.* “Grrr… I’m annoyed the boss scared away everyone. Now with no one trespassing, there’s no food to eat!”

Lion Guard: *His stomach growls as well.* “I know, but what can we do when our boss is 20 feet tall!”

Wolf Guard: “Might as well loot the food stocks again…”

*They both walk away.*

Silver: “20 feet tall? That’s a giant! And we don’t know any giants.”

Bentley: “Hmmm… we better listen in to more guards then.”

*The player moves on, entering a second palace and finding a goat tinkering with a Rhinobot like a mechanic. They grapple cam over, and listen in to the guard.*

Goat: “Bah, good-for-nothing Saturn making us have to work on these stupid contraptions. If Saturn weren’t so big, I’d give him a piece of my mind.”

Bentley: “So the big guy is named Saturn, like the King of the Titans in Roman myths.”

Silver: “Then he’s clearly not from our world. It makes no sense.”

Bentley: “Yeah. Well, that’s the way it is. Little bits of information for the whole picture.”

*The player goes to the third temple, and for once, find a Roman Pawn talking to an Helmeted Egg Hammer. They must come in from behind them because the robots can detect the camera from the front.*

Roman Pawn: “NO SIGN OF AUGUSTUS COOPER FOR OUR BOSS FROM THE CITY.”

Helmeted Egg Hammer: “WELL, WE WERE ORDERED TO KEEP LOOKING FOR HIM AND CAN’T RETURN ‘TIL THEN.”

Roman Pawn: “HOPEFULLY WE FIND HIM SOON. I NEED AN OIL CHANGE.”

Silver: “Huh, I never thought Eggman programmed his badniks to speak, unless whoever’s here tinkered with that.”

Bentley: “I think the more important thing is that Saturn has not found Augustus yet, which means we got a good shot finding him. Is he close?”

Silver: “Yes, very close.. Just a few rooms away.”

*A bit further on, the duo end up finding a room with a vault door at the end. Clearing the guards away with darts, bombs and psychokinesis…*

Silver: “He’s here… but where? I think he’s hiding visually from us with his psychokinesis.”

Bentley: “It’s not like a Cooper wants to be found. But I think I got an idea how to lure him out. Let’s open the vault. I’ll tell you what numbers to turn it to.”

Silver: “Okay.”

*In a bit less annoying safe-cracking game, Bentley listens for the numbers and the player has Silver twist the knob with psychokinesis to the correct numbers. The vault opens and shows the gold and jewels inside. And as expected, Augustus appears from his hiding spot.*

Augustus, rather unemotionally: “It took a few days of waiting, but it’s finally paid off with all that treasure. Now to get rid of the witnesses.” *He attempts to psycho-kinetically kick out Silver and Bentley, but is unusually stopped. With a bit more emotion in his voice:* “Huh? Why can’t I grab you guys?”

Silver shows he’s using his psychokinesis too. “Not when I can do the same. Now, please stop, cause we’re actually looking for you.”

Augustus: “Looking for me? Daresay you be friend or foe?” *He tries to raise his power…*

Silver matches it however. “Friend, obviously. Please, just stop and listen.”

Augustus, with a bit more emotion: “I was listening, you know. You mentioned Coopers. You sensed me! How can I trust you?!”

Silver: “Well, like I said, I use psychokinesis too, and I was able to sense yours here.”

Bentley: “And, it may be a bit hard to believe, but we are from the future and are friends to your future numerous-greats grandson.”

Augustus: “The future? Well, it’s not the weirdest thing I can believe, but I do.” *He lets his psychokinesis go, and so does Silver.*

Bentley: “Come on and follow us back. We can explain more in safety.”

JOB COMPLETE

----

Augustus: “My, what a group of quirky characters, I dare say.”

Sly: “Quirky, but we get our jobs done well.”

Augustus: “I can believe so, if your friends are anything to go by.”

Sly: “So, what’s been happening?”

Augustus: “Sorry, future son, but I’ve been too focused on that vault to notice what’s been happening outside. All I did notice was the people changing to those weird, noisy things a few days ago, but that’s it. You understand, right?”

Sly: “Yeah, a big job can really mess up any other plans.”

Bentley: “Never fear, Silver and I have learned a bit of what’s been going on here. It seems that one literal giant, a Mr. Saturn, is controlling these robots and guards to do his bidding. They’re still looking for Augustus, so that should buy us some time.”

Dimitri: “Pardon my history, but wasn’t Mr. Saturn in Roman myths many feets tall?! Why haven’t we seen him?!

Bentley: “I can only speculate that he probably is spending time in Mt. Olympus, waiting for news from the badniks. I think it may be best to go out now and get things done to attract him out, and find a way to open the gates to Mt. Olympus.”

Blaze: “I think Sly and I should go back out there and find a way down that chasm. Whatever’s down there must be important, and might just attract Saturn out of his hiding spot.”

Sly: “Yeah, and we can handle whatever’s down there.”

Silver: “And Augustus and I have talked, and we might try to divinate the gate. Maybe we can find a way to open it.”

Augustus: “This adventure of yours intrigues me, and I want in.”

Bentley: “Wow, didn’t even need to ask.”

Sly, smugly: “We know our place by now.”

Bentley: “Well, let’s get to it then.”

-----

Going Down…

Find a way into the ‘Underworld’

Destroy the Energy Power plant.

(Blaze and Sly return to near the gate and a Lion guard walks through to Rome.)

Sly: “Huh?”

Blaze: “What is it? See something?”

Sly: “Yeah. I saw a small glimmer in his pocket that wasn’t money. I think it might be our way down there.”

Blaze: “Go get him then.”

*The player has Sly sneak after him and pickpocket the Lion of his item, a green orb.*

Blaze: “An orb?”

Sly: “Yeah.” *They walk up to the barrier and it drops for them.*

Blaze: “Such an odd little key, though there are orbs in our world that do similar things.”

Sly: “Hmm. Well, we better hurry up before anyone gets wise of who we are.”

*The player travels down the long stairs and to the bottom of the canyon. The place is bathed in an eerie green, but Sly notices something more in the dark as Blaze alights herself.*

Sly: “I smell, and see, smoke clouds.”

Blaze: *Cough* “So that’s what I was smelling above.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “I knew I was sensing abnormal energy readings! It must be a crude energy production facility!”

Blaze: “The smell reminds me of Eggman’s smog, but it’s tinted green. But he’s had a dramatic flair for theme, so it’s probably to scare people away.”

Sly: “Whatever this is, we better shut it down.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “I suggest just destroying everything. Subtlety will just take too long.”

Sly: “Way ahead of you.”

*The player goes and destroys all the machines by either hitting them, or using Blaze’s flame aura to ignite the clouds to explode machines. Once done...*

Sly: “And there it goes, back to dust and broken pieces.”

Blaze smiles wide. “Heh he, that was fun!”

Sly: “Let’s hurry back before someone notices.”

JOB COMPLETE

----

Home of the Gods

Find a way to open up the gates to Mt. Olympus.

(Silver and Augustus stand in front of the gates to Mt. Olympus, and attempt to use their psychokinesis to ‘divine’ the gate open, but their efforts fail.)

Silver: “I don’t think this is working, Augustus. Something is preventing these gates from being opened.”

Augustus: “Indeed, this is a waste of energy.”

*They both stop.*

Silver: “I think it the source of it is inside. But how do we get in?”

Augustus: “We float, of course. We make our own paths, as psychokinetic users.”

*The player has them just float themselves over the gate to the inside. As they float to the objective...*

Silver: “Where did your powers come from, Augustus? Were you born with it?”

Augustus, sounding a bit defensive: “Well, yeah, of course, I mean, where else would you get it? Like from the gods or something? Heh…”

Silver, getting a bit saddened when he starts to trail off: “I was just asking. I was born with it, but of course, we need to be taught to use it correctly, lest we… well…”

Augustus: “... Screw up royally?”

Silver: “... Yeah.”

Augustus: “Looks like we both know that… and maybe I need a little more training…”

Silver: “I’ll help you with that when we get a chance.”

Augustus: “Thank you. Now, ahem, let’s go find the gate opener.”

SIlver: “Right!”

*The player heads through Mt Olympus’ huge temple halls, either being sneaky or fighting off guards and badniks while making their way to the back of the building. Out in the backyard are rows of electric generators, connected to the fence and keeping the gates shut.*

Silver: “Aha! Some generators that produce electricity to hold the gate closed!”

Augustus: “Electricity?”

Silver: “It’s what people use in the future to power things.”

Augustus: “A future thing, I see. Okay.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Well, you don’t need to understand it when I’m going just simply ask you to destroy this electric farm. It’s only really helping the enemy, and it doesn’t belong here.”

Silver: “You got it, Bentley!”

*The player has Silver and Augustus destroy the generators with badniks, guards, and anything else they can grab with their psychokinesis.*

Silver: “Okay, Bentley! We’re done!”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Excellent. That ought to make it easy for us to get in later.”

Silver: “Sure, we’re on our way back- Agh! Wait! Who are you?! AH!!! S-SATURN!!!”

*Screams of Silver and Augustus can be heard, which slowly fade away to nothing.*

Bentley: “Silver? … Augustus? … Oh crap.”

JOB COMPLETE(?...)

-----

Studying Saturn

Follow and listen in on Saturn.

Bentley sighs: “I screwed up. It seems I let Silver and Augustus be captured by Saturn by the sound of it…”

Sly: “No one could have predicted that Saturn was just waiting for them in Mt. Olympus. It wasn’t your fault.”

Bentley, very saddened: “I should have. It’s my job to predict the risk of everything, and I didn’t even think that.”

Tails: “You can’t predict everything the enemy is going to do. Even we get surprised by Eggman and his tricks sometimes.”

Bentley, a little surprised: “Really? You guys don’t really see Eggman as much of a threat.”

Sonic: “Oh, we do. We just snark and make fun of him to not give him the satisfaction of stroking his ego, which is massive as it is already, heh.”

Bentley, getting a bit more back into it: “Maybe… you’re right guys.”

Saturn’s massively booming voice blasts across the city. “To the mighty annoying thieves who are hiding in the city: I have your friends and demand that the rest of you turn yourselves in to me. Reveal yourselves soon, or else your two friends will have a very unpleasant time…”

Bentley covers his ears: “Ugh, the taunting. Quite the salt in the wounds. But… I mustn’t let this get me down. Knuckles, shall you accompany me on listening to Saturn unknowingly?”

Knuckles: “I’d be honored too. And don’t worry, I’ll keep you out of trouble.”

*The player leads the turtle and echidna sneakily as close as they can to Saturn, and send the Grapple Cam as close as possible to it.*

Saturn: “Heh, who am I kidding? This is Sly, Bentley, Murray, and the gang. Of course they aren’t going to show their faces. Let’s see… I’m supposed to destroy more stuff in this big mech suit to get them out of hiding, I guess..” *He moves elsewhere in the level.*

Bentley: “It’s a mech suit? I guess that does make sense with the energy plant we found in the ‘Underworld’.”

Knuckles: “I wonder if Eggman designed it, since he’s made mechs like that before.”

Bentley: “Let’s continue listening.”

*The player moves on to Saturn’s new location.*

Saturn: “I’m surprised Bentley sent Augustus and Silver straight into my hands. He really didn’t know I was there? Anyhow, they may have gotten the gate to Mt. Olympus open, but Bentley doesn’t know that, I think. Aw, well. I hope I didn’t leave him crying like last time. SInce I had to work with Eggman, I hope he will be pleased that I got their data or whatever.” *He moves on.*

Knuckles: “Well, it’s not Eggman in there, that’s for certain.”

*Bentley oddly stays quiet, just pointing for them to move on.*

*At the next location.*

Saturn: “Ugh, I see why Sonic and his critter friends don’t necessarily like Eggman. You have to do things as he says, or expect to die! If it weren’t for that robot army of his, I’d give him a piece of my rodent mind. I’m pretty smart too, you know! I’ve built RC cars, and even that time machine with him! … At least he let me build this mech suit. Heh he, Bentley is going to be jealous of this.”

Knuckles: “Uh… whoever’s in there seems to know you.”

Bentley, with worry in his voice: “I think I know…” *Does a breathing in and out to relax and his voice goes back.* “But I need to make sure… We got some work to do, Knuckles.”

JOB COMPLETE(?...)

-----

Saturn Loses His Cool

Force Saturn to go and recharge at Mt Olympus.

Break out Silver and Augustus.

Knuckles: “And what sort of work is that?”

Bentley: “Well, we got rid of Saturn’s power supply, so whoever is in there is having to rely on backup power right now. We have to drain Saturn of whatever power he has left so that whoever is inside will be forced to get out. We’ll know who is reigning here then.”

Knuckles: “I see. And how do we do that?”

Bentley: “We force the mech to run around to do meaningless things, make it overheat.”

Knuckles: “Aha. I can do that.”

Bentley: “Then let’s go.”

*The player, while still keeping out of sight of Saturn, must go around the city and cause noisy distractions (like knocking over pillar dominoes) to lure Saturn to move around, raising its heat level. Once it fully raises, Saturn complains about the heat.*

Saturn: “Ah! Heat levels are too high! I gotta get out of here! But not in town, gotta hurry to Mt. Olympus, or he’ll see me!”

*Saturn runs off and the player follows him back to Mt Olympus. Just out of sight, the player sends the Grapple Cam from behind cover to show who comes out…*

*A light purple dutch mouse in a tracksuit suddenly pops out of the chest of the machine.*

???: “Ah! Whew! Finally out of that mech! Any longer and I would have suffer hyperthermia. *Sigh* I better get to work on fixing the problem…”

Bentley: “P-p-p-Penelope… How could you work for Eggman? He’s not going to help you…”

Knuckles: “She might have been tricked by Eggman. I should know, he’s tricked me before.”

Bentley: “He has? Hmmm…” *With determination in his voice.* “Come on, Knuckles, we’re getting Silver and Augustus out.”

Knuckles: “Okay, but where-”

Bentley: “Just follow me, I think I know.”

*The player heads into the huge temple area, and find the psychics surrounded by badniks and guards in a cage.*

Knuckles: “Woah, there they are. How are we going to get them out?”

Bentley: “As much as I dislike confrontation, we got to fight them.”

*The player fights the badniks and guards, and free Silver and Augustus from their prison.*

Augustus: “I’m free! Phew.”

Silver: “Thanks, Knuckles and Bentley!”

Bentley: “Let’s get back to the safehouse. An operation cannot wait any longer.”

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Sly: “Are you alright, Bentley? You seem… worried.”

Bentley: “Yeah, I’m worried. I’ve seen Penelope. She’s our villain here.”

Sly: “Oh… can you go on? I know you left on a better note back then, but I’m worried about you.”

Bentley: “It’s fine. I… I need to go out there, and talk to her.”

Murray: “How are you going to do that when there’s a three-headed dog on the loose in town?”

Sonic: “Huh? Does it look like a mechanical dog?”

Murray: “Yeah, looks like it’s sniffing around for us.”

Sonic: “Ah, I see she has called the Egg-Cerberus. I can handle that mutt. And I guess you want to come with, Bentley”

Bentley: “If it won’t be too much trouble, yeah.”

Sonic: “It won’t be.”

-----

Operation: Turtle and Mouse

Defeat the Egg-Cerberus

Defeat Penelope

Sonic: “Alright, time to go after the Egg-Cerberus.”

Bentley: “We’re going to lure it to the Colosseum and fight it in there.”

*The player uses Bentley’s grapple cam to lure the Egg-Cerberus into the large Colosseum, and then head inside to defeat the Egg Cerberus. Bentley can stun it with bombs, but like with the old one, Sonic must grind onto its middle head and force it to ram into a wall or pillar to severely damage it. The dog should soon go down.*

Sonic: “Hah! It’s still a lousy robot mutt.”

Bentley: “No time to celebrate yet… she’s coming.”

*Soon, Penelope in her Saturn suit breaks the entryway to reveal herself.*

Penelope: “Aw! How come you guys had to destroy the Egg-Cerberus? I was starting to love the robot dog.”

Sonic: “Sorry, but if it’s Eggman property, I gotta smash it. I don’t trust anything he makes.”

Penelope: “Fair enough. And I see that Bentley is here too.”

Bentley: “Penelope… how could you work for such an evil man?”

Penelope: “I unfortunately had to, Bentley. He offered a deal… and it was really hard to refuse…”

Sonic: “What, did he point a gun to your head?”

Penelope: “Yeah, his whole badnik army’s worth. And his deal was quite hard to say ‘no’ to as well.”

Bentley: “What was so worth throwing away any last bit of your decency from what Le Paradox left you?!”

Penelope: “I told you already, Le Paradox showed me I could do greater things than just working for a ragtag gang of thieves and an officer who are just busting the villain of the day. And now, Eggman gave me a similar chance. Look, I even got free reign to make this mech suit. How is that not worth it? I get to not waste my talents on the small things.”

Bentley: “...Was it like this ever since I met you?”

Penelope: “Yes, Bentley. I did love you in the beginning, but I thought we were going to go off and do great things together, and not just sit around waiting for the next big job Sly had in mind. I just… don’t want my talent squandered…”

Bentley: “... If that’s what you felt… then why didn’t you tell me?”

Penelope: “Because you seemed like you were too far in with Sly, like he clouded your judgement. It always seems to be for the good of the Cooper clan.”

Bentley: “Well, he is my best friend for many years now, and I am their brains, so I do have to work for Cooper… but if you really wanted to expand and do more, you could have just asked. I mean, that’s why we made the time machine, so we could do a project together.”

Penelope: “... It wasn’t really made just for Sly interests in case he returned?”

Bentley: “I mean, yeah. I asked you what you wanted to build, and you asked for a time machine. We made it together. We could have went on dates with it on any time, if we had the right object.”

Penelope, saddened: “... … I’ve been a fool. Unfortunately, I have an obligation to Eggman now to defeat you…”

Sonic: “Don’t, Penelope. He says he wants to advance you further, but he doesn’t care about anyone but himself. He will toss away anyone he works with once he gets what he wants from them.”

Penelope: “He will?”

*As if on cue, Eggman appears in the mech cockpit to stop the interaction.*

Eggman: “What the heck are you doing, Penelope? Why haven’t you killed the blasted hedgehog and the Cooper Gang yet?”

Penelope: “I-I-I don’t know! I can’t get myself to want to defeat them… I don’t... want to hurt him…”

Eggman: “Then allow me to do that myself! You thought you had free reign of your mech, but in the end, it’s all MINE!!!”

*Eggman takes control of the mech from wherever he is and forces the mech to do a kick at Bentley.*

Bentley freezes up. “Ah!!!”

Sonic: “No!” *He jumps and pushes Bentley out of the way, but gets kicked himself into the Colosseum wall. He collapses, unconscious, but not dead.*

Bentley and Penelope: “No!!!”

Eggman: “Grrr… no matter, I’ll get back to him. I have a problem with you, Bentley, and I’m going to kill you personally!”

Penelope: “Hey, what’s going on?!”

*The mech suit closes up on her, and he tries to attack again, but this time, Silver and Augustus appear on the Colosseum roof and grab Bentley and float him to their level.*

Silver: “Trying something evil, Eggman? It isn’t going to work here!”

Augustus: “I can’t believe that this metal man is alive, but I shall defeat you all the same.”

Bentley: “We gotta save Penelope from that mech!”

Silver: “Already planned on it. Let’s go.”

*The Saturn mech mostly attacks with either its laser eyes across the roof, or pinpoint shooting, punching and throwing its hands down to smash you, or missiles in an attempt to scare you. To be able to defeat the Saturn mech, Silver/Augustus should throw either a missile or any flying piece of debris Eggman shoots up, and toss it back at the mech. Other than just hurting it, it will also stun the mech for a time and make it fall forward to the roof. In that time, Bentley can go over and bomb the power core of the mech. The mech will jump back up again after a bit and repeat the process over. As a note, the arms can be destroyed while it is leaned over to lessen the number of attacks the mech does. Just keep up the bombing on it, and it will soon fall down.*

Silver: “Yes! We did it!”

*The mech starts a self destruct sequence of 60 seconds, but also opens up its head section where Penelope is, collapsed from the shock.*

Bentley: “Penelope!”

*While Silver and Augustus psychically lift Sonic up, Bentley jumps down and rolls and grabs Penelope and puts her on his lap. Silver notices, and then grabs them both too. They all escape off the roof, just as the mech explodes into pieces.*

JOB COMPLETE

-----

The Getaway:

Penelope opens her eyes to see the Cooper and Sonic gang. “Huh? You guys saved me?”

Silver: “Well, Bentley was the one who went to the mech and grabbed you before it exploded.”

Penelope: “Really? After all I’ve done to you, Bentley?”

Bentley: “Y-yeah. I-I just had to. I… um…”

Penelope: “Same here… I don’t know anymore either.”

Sly: “Um, Sonic? Tails says your friends have sent us something.”

Shadow, on Tails’ Miles Electric: “I can’t believe I have to ask this, but we need your help right now. Some strange villains have come through a portal and started taking over our world. GUN and the rest of us are trying our best to take them, but they’re using some powerful robots that look to have been made by Eggman. These are what they look like.” *He shows pictures of the villains who look quite familiar...* “Hurry, we don’t know how long we can last.” *The transmission ends.*

Carmelita: “What the heck? They said they were reformed! I knew they were lying and just waiting to be free of prison totally!”

Murray: “All the past villains we put away are running around in your world, Sonic!”

Sonic: “Not if I get a say with them!”

Sly: “We’ll help you, Sonic. We’ve dealt with them before… and I’m thinking this is not just a point of conquest.”

Bentley: “I smell revenge. Why else are they all there?”

Sly: “Exactly. We have to deal with them.”

Penelope: “Was I just… a distraction for him? Hmph, I’m not going to play that game. I’m helping too!”

Sly, narration: “It looks like our adventures through time are over, and a new adventure to begin in a different world altogether. How did the villains we put away escape, and could we do it again? In any case, we better deal with them before they mess up all time in a new world.”

Next Time: We return to Sonic’s world to deal with an ‘artsy’ bear.. in Prehistropolis City Zone.

[isakthedragon]

Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 3

Chapter 3- The Case of Thieves and ‘Killers’

Intro Cutscene:

Sly: “Another look into the Thievius Raccoonus led us to visit England during the Victorian Era. Our family had an ancestor during that time, Thaddeus WInslow Cooper III, that was known as one of the richest families at the time. Besides being known as a wondrous mechanic, building one of the earliest flying machines, he was also a well-known detective from Scotland Yard as well.  There was something very worrisome about it though; not only is that information missing, but it seems he was arrested for committing attempted murder he was investigating! Looks like we’ll have to put on our thinking caps and grab the magnifying glasses to solve what has happened to my ancestor.”

Sly Cooper and the Gang in…

*An old timey book opens up to an empty page and a raccoon hand comes in with a red-inked quill and writes: ‘ The Case Of Thieves and ‘Killers’ ’. The ink slides down off the letters a bit, looking like blood.*

-----

Hub Layout:

The gang has their hideout just outside of London to the West in an abandoned farm (so they can hide the van since they don’t exist yet) during the winter, so not many people are outside as well, along with a covering of snow everywhere. The police department, and the jail as well, are in the center of the city, just West of the River Thames. Nearby is Big Ben, chiming on the hours. Since this is the 1800s, the city is much smaller, and is more filled with houses. The map ends on the River Thames though, so you can’t go any farther. The north side of London is the home of a huge manor and in the air is one of Eggman’s airships floating about, creating all the badniks.

Enemies

Crows: Black crows that flutter about the roofs in search of thieves, or anyone breaking the law for that matter. They will caw for other guards if provoked. Carries/drops 5-7 coins to pickpocket has 10% chance of treasure.

‘Werewolves’: Wolves that walk around, patrolling the streets with their heightened sense of smell for blood (Wolves in Sly’s world are anthropomorphic already, but they are ‘werewolves’ for being more fluffy and having longer claws, seemingly being transformed by the London moon.) They will counterattack with their claws with a nasty claw swipe that is almost unavoidable. Carries/drops 7-9 coins to pickpocket has 25% chance of treasure.

Horses: Brown-colored stallions that search the streets with their flashlights for anyone where they aren’t. Attacking these guys will make them retaliate with a hoof kick, but it does take them a bit to charge up. Despite what you’d think, it’s best to stay real close in front of their face if there is no alert about as they can’t see in front of their own head for a few feet. Carries/drops 7-12 coins to pickpocket has 50% chance of treasure.

Bobbie Pawns: Egg Pawns acting as the actual police force of London, but will club at anyone with their oversized clubs and will whistle for other enemies if left alone. Don’t attack their head as their have a spike on their cap that is NOT for show and WILL hurt. Drops 6 rings when smashed.

Egg Fighter Knights: Also wearing a police uniform, these guys opt for a sword and shield instead (But forgot their spike caps). Either hit them from the top or from the back to destroy them. Drops 8 rings when smashed.

Egg Gunners: Eggman’s blatant disregard for time has had him send his futuristic (And humanoid looking) badniks to fight Sonic and co. They can float in the air and fire at you with their vulcan cannons. Sonic and the others can handle them, but the Sly characters may need to get creative to smash these things. Drops 10 rings when smashed.

Nebula: Helicopter like badniks that drop spike balls on you if you pass underneath them. Better destroy them before that happens. Drops 4 rings.

Balkiry: Fast bird baniks that jet towards you. Better smash them when you see them. Drops 5 rings.

Turtloid: A small turtle badnik that controls a bigger turtle badnik that fires small missiles at you. Destroy the smaller one to make the bigger one useless. Drops 6 rings.

Treasures:

From Guards:

Bronze Quill: Worth 40 coins and 20 rings.

Silver Quill: Worth 60 coins and 30 rings.

Gold Quill: Worth 80 coins and 40 rings.

From Pedestals:

Pearl Necklace: No bobby trap. Worth 400 coins and 200 rings. Found around Annis Fox's home. 

Gold Crown: Bomb booby trap, with 2:00 timer. Worth 450 coins and 225 rings. Found near the courthouse.

Silver Clock Hands: Bomb bobby trap, with 1:00 timer. Worth 500 coins and 250 rings. Found on Big Ben’s roof.

Golden Magnifying Glass: Fall Damage Sensor booby trap. Worth 600 coins and 300 rings. Found near Thaddeus’s home

The coins here have an old Victorian England Coat of Arms on them.

Secret Sighting of Clockwerk: Acting as a gargoyle statue in a park. Maybe he’s a Weeping Angel? :P

-----Jobs-----

Another London ‘Murder’ Mystery

Find a disguise for Sly

Go talk to Thaddeus

Steal the case info

Head off to the manor and take recon.

Sly: “It feels weird that I am going to a police station voluntary again.”

Carmelita, through the radio: “Giving you bad memories? Preferably in shocks!” *She chuckles.*

Sly: “Huh, so that’s why my tail has a tingling sensation near you.” *He chuckles back.*

Bentley: “GUYS! PAY ATTENTION!!”

Sly: “Buzzkill.”

Carmelita: “Indeed.”

Bentley: “We don’t got time! We need to hurry in and find Thaddeus! His trial is tomorrow, and we need to figure out to save him before then, but first we need to talk to him!”

Sly: “Alright, Bentley, don’t get your shell cracked. We’ll talk to him, although I wonder if they might arrest me for looking like him…”

Espio: “Don’t worry, I’ll distract them, but perhaps you might need a disguise…”

Bentley: “I would guess the evidence locker for clothes might have something you can use. Now come on!”

*Sly and Espio head into the Police Station. The player has them sneak around, avoiding and distracting police officers with various things to get their attention as they make their way to the evidence locker where they store clothes. There are waypoints in the room for things to collect.*

Sly: “Alright.” *He puts them on.* “Heh, should fool them enough. Now to find Thaddeus.”

*The player continues sneaking on, making their way to Thaddeus’ cell. Once there…*

Thaddeus was sitting, looking away from the bars. “Huh? Who goes there? Another annoying bobby making fun of a ‘lost’ detective?”

Sly: “Quite the opposite really. I want to help restore your reputation.”

It peaked Thaddeus’s interest, with his ears twitching and tilting his head a bit. “Oh, really? And who might you be?”

Sly: “Well, it’s a long story, but I am an ancestor of yours. My name is Sly Cooper.”

Thaddeus turns and walks up to the bars to look at Sly. “Hmmm… it appears you are a Cooper alright. But what are you doing here?”

Sly: “Well, it seems obvious you aren’t meant to be in prison. I know you are a great detective, but someone has altered history to put you in here.

Thaddeus: “Is that so? How? And why? You didn’t have something to do with this, did you?”

Sly: No! ...Well, I hope. Anyway, I’m afraid I can’t explain right now. Can’t risk overstaying my welcome here. But what can you tell about what’s going on. How’d you get arrested?

Thaddeus: “Ah, it is the most infuriating thing! I was framed for attempting to murder Lady Fox, a fox of extraordinary wealth.”

Sly: “WHAT?!”

Thaddeus: “Yes! Even though I’ve never been nor had any reason to ever visit her place, the law found my items in her living room where she laid comatose, and her own valuables were missing! Being from a family of master thieves, I was of course accused of the crime despite none of those valuables being in my possession.”

Sly: Blamed for a thieving you didn’t even commit. Unbelievable…

Thaddeus: Oh, I shudder to think of how tarnished my legacy has become with this unfortunate event...

Sly: Hey, don’t worry! Me and my gang are going to do everything we can to clear your name! I’m not going to let one of my favorite ancestors go down like this!

Thaddeus: A thousand thank yous, my dear descendant. I bet if you want to know anymore of the case, they probably have the information handy, since my trial, which is gonna be more of a death sentence than anything, is soon.”

Sly: “We’ll figure out some way-”

Espio interjects quickly. “Someone’s coming! And we can’t hide you!”

Sly: “Don’t worry, I got this.”

Police Officer: “Hey?! Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Sly (In his favorite accent, Italian :P ): “Oh? A-me? I’m-a the defense lawyer sent to defend Thaddeus. It’s-a my first case.”

Police Officer: “Hah! I see they found a sucker to defend Thaddeus! No one wants to touch that! Good luck, buddy, his case is a lock! Better be prepared to lose!” *The thought was apparently funny enough that the officer leaves.*

Espio: “That was close.”

Sly: “Guess I’m gonna defend you then, Thaddeus.”

Thaddeus: “Knowing you’re doing it, I feel relieved. I wish you luck.”

Sly: “Thanks.”

*The player now makes their way back out, taking the case info someone left out along the way.*

*Outside…*

Bentley: “So you had to tangle yourself with the case huh?”

Sly: “Well, someone has to defend Thaddeus! Besides, it might help with whatever plan we come up with later.”

Bentley: “True. Well, I guess you should make your way to the manor then. See what the crime scene suggests.”

*The player heads off to the manor and in disguise, enters it. They make their way to the master bedroom, where the crime occurred.*

Sly: “Hmmm… quite a mess in here…”

*The player takes recon photos of the broken window, hole in the wall, the neat bed, and the trail of loot leading out of the open empty safe.*

Bentley, on the broken window. “It seems to be where the criminal entered, considering the glass on the inside floor.”

Bentley, on the hole in the wall. “That shape seems quite odd. Maybe we need to ask Sonic and his friends on that.”

Bentley, on the neat bed. “Hmmm, for the mess in the room, the bed looks oddly neat. This Ms. Fox must have been put to sleep before she could even react.”

Bentley, on the trail of loot. “Whoever did this seems to have dropped a money trail, literally. I think we should check where it goes.”

Sly: “That seems to be everything interesting we can find here.”

Bentley: “Alright, come back to the hideout so we can read the case info and we’ll go on from there.”

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Bentley: “Alright. Here seems to be their case for the prosecution: Yesterday morning, nearby neighbors awoke to the sound of glass breaking from the manor. Worried for Ms. Fox, they immediately went to get the police. They came quick and found her comatose on the bed and her safe open and completely empty of money and valuables. Finding what was a calling card for Thaddeus, they immediately arrested him and took his cane along with them. Oddly, the cane is missing from the evidence log, so it can be assumed it was lost on the way to the station. They threw him in jail, and now it’s just waiting for the case to finish to kill him.”

Vector: “Seems like they have a really good case against him, especially with the calling card.”

Charmy: ♪ “Heh, maybe we should take it back so they have no case!” ♫

Bentley: “That’s what we were thinking. We need to steal it so they will have a harder time prosecuting him. And it might also free Thaddeus for the time being.”

Charmy: ♪ “Sweet! So who gets to go?” ♫

Bentley: “We’re gonna have Espio and Carmelita go in to find the evidence. It’s too dangerous for anyone else.”

Charmy: ♪ “AW! I wanted a mission!” ♫

Bentley: “Don’t worry, you got a mission with Vector. You guys will follow the money trail to see where it ends.”

Charmy: ♪ “YAY!” ♫

Vector: “We won’t let you down!”

-----

Follow the Green

Follow the trail of money to its end

Vector: “Alright, we’re under the broken window that the trail of cash leads to, but it seems the snow is covering more it.”

Bentley: “Darn, I see the snowfall has been heavy recently. How are we going to find it?”

Charmy: ♪ “OH! Oh! Vector can find it! He can find the trail, no problem!” ♫

Bentley: “Really? How?”

Vector: “Heh, well, I have somewhat of a sense of money. I can smell it from a distance.”

Bentley: “Great! Go on, then! Follow the trail!”

Vector: “Got it.”

*The player has to hold down a certain button to make Vector sniff the ground, which makes green clouds float above the ground, showing the money trail. The player has Vector and Charmy follow it among the streets, alleys, and roofs throughout town, until they reach Big Ben.*

Charmy notices them stop. “What is it?”

Vector: “For some reason, the trail stops here in front of Big Ben. It might continue, but we can’t get up there.”

Bentley: “It’s alright, guys. Come back to the safehouse. We’ll find a way up there.”

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Freeing the Innocent

Enter the evidence locker and steal back the evidence leading to Thaddeus

Save Carmelita from the police officers.

Carmelita, wearing a period accurate police uniform stolen earlier by Sly. “I wonder if they will believe me in this get-up.”

Espio: “Well, I just need you to convince them long enough so I can get through the evidence locker for Thaddeus’ stuff.”

Carmelita: “Hmmm, if they are like present day evidence holding rooms, it should be alphabetized. So look under ‘C’ .”

Espio: “Got it.”

*The player enters and takes control of Espio as Carmelita grabs the attention of the police around. The player makes their way to the evidence locker and enters it.*

Espio: “Oh my!”

Bentley: “What is it?”

Espio: “For being the 1800s, the place sure has modern-day lasers.”

Bentley: “Hmmm… I wonder if Eggman has messed around in here?”

Espio: “Well, it’s not going to stop me. I got this.”

*The player makes their way through the evidence locker, avoiding the lasers and other modern-day traps to reach Thaddeus’ evidence, which Espio grabs.*

Espio: “Alright. Time to get out of here.”

Bentley: “You better hurry. Carmelita seems to be having trouble keeping up out there. She sounds mad.”

Espio: “Got it.”

*The player now has to make their way out, noticing Carmelita is overwhelmed. The player has Espio make some noises and distractions to help Carmelita escape. Once it works, they leave to finish the mission.*

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Bentley: “Alright. I got good news and bad news.”

Sly: “I’m guessing the good news is Thaddeus is now free from jail?”

Bentley: “Yes.”

Sonic: “That seemed too easy.”

Bentley: “Well, that’s the bad news.”

Thaddeus: “Apparently, someone claims they saw me putting Ms. Fox to sleep and stealing her money, and they are testifying in court tomorrow. I’m free to move around the city, but I can’t leave.”

Charmy: ♪ “Darn! All that for nothing!” ♫

Thaddeus: “Well, I’m here now, and I want to help you find the real criminal!”

Sly: “So what are our plans on doing that?”

Bentley: “Well, Silver and I will be entering Big Ben to continue on the trail of the money. I have a feeling it will lead us to who did all this. Also during this time, Murray and Vector will check on Ms. Fox.”

Vector: “I think what has made her comatose is an Egg Flapper badnik. The hole in the wall matches up to one.”

Bentley: “Besides, she could be useful in solving the case. Finally, Thaddeus, Sly, and Sonic are going to take Thaddeus’ plane into the air. I think that airship is producing all the badniks down here and it might make our plan harder if we don’t take it down.”

Sonic: “Sweet! Some air time!”

Sly: “Huh, flying with my ancestor. Never thought I’d see the day.”

-----

Going Cuckoo

Make your way through Big Ben

Steal the cane back from Bark the Polar Bear

Tails: “I can see you guys are at Big Ben. Now how to help you guys get up on the roofs.”

Bentley: “Hmmm… nothing seems obvious…”

Silver: “Can I try something?”

*The player has Silver telekinetically grab Bentley…*

Bentley: “WHOA!”

*... And place him on the roof nearby before telekinetically floating Silver there too.*

Tails: “Well, that worked.”

Bentley: “I flew! But please warn me next time you do that!”

Silver: “Heh, sorry, and alright.”

*The player makes their way across the roofs of Big Ben tower, following the money trail as it takes them into the belfry's. It’s a bit of a dangerous trek, avoiding various swinging parts and for some reason, lasers again and being spun around on gears and destroying junk and walls with Bentley’s bombs. The money trail ends at an ajar door that they enter. Inside they find the vault contents and something more…*

Silver: “Look! The money!”

Bentley: “Shhh… that’s not all.”

*We pan to see Bark the Polar Bear sitting in a lounge chair, talking to Eggman.*

Bark: “Well, it’s a bit unconventional, but I’m going to be testifying to get Thaddeus executed.”

Eggman: “I can only guess that pesky hedgehog is the reason why you have to.”

Bark: “Sorry.”

Eggman:”It’s fine. I’m used to failure. Just make sure your case is solid!”

Bark: “It is, I promise! It can’t be disproven otherwise!”

Eggman: “You better hope so!”

Bark: “Well, if it’s any consolation, I have the info for Thaddeus’ cane and moves and stuff.”

Eggman: “Good. Send it over.”

Silver: “I think I can grab the cane, but we need to distract Bark first.”

Bentley: “I think if I hit the various bells and stuff above him, it should annoy him enough! I’ll use my darts to work them.”

*The player has Bentley shoot darts at various gears and bells, making them work to make a big cacophony that makes Bark cover his ears.*

Bark: “AH!!! The noise! So deafening!”

*The player has Silver take the distraction and telekinetically get the cane over to Silver.*

SIlver grabs them once they are close. “YES! I got them!”

Bentley: “Let’s get out of here before he notices.”

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Grey’s Robo-Anatomy

Defeat the enemies in the hospital

Save Carmelita’s ancestor from the Egg Flapper

Vector: “Alright, Tails. We have made it to the hospital… although it looks quiet.”

Murray: “Too quiet. The hospital looks dark.”

Tails: “That doesn’t sound good. You guys better check it out and find out what’s happening.”

*They enter and find the place swarming with badniks and guards chasing the hospital staff.*

Tails: “Oh my! They seems to be attacking the staff and patients! You guys better stop them before anyone gets hurt!”

*The player goes on a protection mission, finding hospital staff and protecting them from the badniks and guards.*

*Once everyone is saved:*

Vector “Alrighty, we saved everyone.”

Murray: “But still no sign of Ms Fox.”

Tails: “Hmmm… I’m seeing a strange mechanical reading from one of the rooms that’s covering up someone’s signature. I’ll put a waypoint. See what’s in there.”

*The player goes to find the waypoint and enters the room to find…*

Murray: “ *GASP* Sly’s not going to believe this, but it appears Ms. Fox is actually Carmelita’s ancestor!”

Vector points out the badnik next to her. “Looks like she’s being held asleep by that Egg Flapper!”

*The robot wises up and flies out of the room.*

Vector: “After that badnik!”

*The player know has to chase after the Egg Flapper, throwing things at it to make it crash onto the ground so it can be attacked. Once destroyed, the player returns to Ms. Fox’s room to find her slowly awaking.*

Ms. Fox: “Oooh… what happened… feels like I’m drunk…”

Vector: “Hello, Ms. Fox. You were in a comatose state, but we found a way to wake you again.”

Annis Fox: “Mmm… please, call me Annis. And thanks. But why was I in one, and why am I in a hospital.”

Murray: “We can explain, but it might be safer to do it someplace else.”

Vector: “Is that alright, Ms?”

Annis: “Mmm, anything better than this hospital seems good at the moment.”

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Robots in the Sky with Coopers

Survive the flying badniks

Take down the airship

Thaddeus: “Ah, home sweet home. I was worried I wouldn’t make it back.”

Sonic: “Why have you taken us here again?”

Thaddeus: “I’m your way of getting into the sky!” *The doors to the shed open, revealing a plane belonging to Thaddeus.*

Sly: “Wow! I saw it in the Cooper Vault, but seeing it here makes it look that much more awesome!”

Thaddeus: “It should work, but this will be my first time flying it, so I’d like apologize if things go south.”

Sonic: “Heh, it wouldn’t be my first crash landing.”

Sly: “Mine neither.”

Thaddeus: “Good. Your friend Bentley seemed adamant on taking out those robots flying up there. I guess you guys can balance on the wings to attack them. I’ll do my best to keep steady.”

*The trio get on the plane and Thaddeus takes off. The camera goes to 2D as a level like Sky Chase Zone starts.*

*The player is zoomed on forward, attacking badniks as they pass by. Sly is useful for close combat while Sonic can hit the more distant (floaty) badniks more safely.*

*Once that is all done, the airship closes in on them and cannon shells whiz by.*

Sly: “WHOA! What was that?”

Sonic: “Cannon shells. Eggman always outfits his airships with cannons. We better get off and destroy that airship as we are still close.”

Thaddeus: “I’ll distract them, but please hurry and destroy them first! I can’t save you guys otherwise!”

*Sly and Sonic jump off. The player now has them destroy the cannons on top of the ship then go into the interior and destroy the computers and other guidance systems to force the airship to crash. The player must then get out and get onto Thaddeus’ plane.*

*Getting on will let a cutscene play of the airship crashing into the River Thames.*

Sonic: “You keep building them and we keep knocking them down, Eggman!”

Sly: “Guess I can check that off on things our gang has destroyed. Let’s go return to Bentley with the news.”

JOB COMPLETE

-----

Bentley: “Alright, Thaddeus’ trial is today and we need to get him found innocent. I got… no plan.” *He sounded sad.*

Sly: “Well, I am acting as Thaddeus’ defense attorney. (In his Italian accent.) “I shall-a find-a my client not-a guilty!”

Bentley can be heard slapping his face. “We’re doomed.”

Sly: “The only thing I need to do is just convince the judge Thaddeus didn’t do it by countering Bark’s testimony. Is there evidence I can use?”

Charmy: ♪ “Well, we do have the money trail leading out of the manor and to Bark and the valuables!” ♫

Sly: “That’s a good start, but I worry they might think I planted it then.”

Vector: “Well then, how about Ms. Fox’s testimony.”

Sly: “Sure, that would- wait, what?!” *He notices Annis.* “Carmelita?!”

Annis: “No, I’m Annis. I was told already and she knows about me being her ancestor around this time.”

Sly: “I… I see.”

Carmelita: “Don’t get any ideas, Cooper!”

Sly: “I’m not! I’m still surprised to see an ancestor of yours.”

Bentley: “I’ve made some calculations. Using her will most certainly free Thaddeus and implicate Bark! But we have to make sure she can survive a trip to the courthouse.”

Carmelita: “Blaze and I will do it. We’ll get her there safe. Just don’t mess it up Sly.”

Sly: “Heh, knowing I’m at the end of that barrel will keep me from messing up.”

-----

Operation Turnabout

Get Sly and Thaddeus to the courtroom

Protect Annis Fox

Stall the Courtroom

Defeat Bark

*The player controls Sly and Thaddeus, helping them make their way to the courthouse. But thanks to a heavy guard presence along the ground since the airship crashed, the duo have to stay among the rooftops to avoid being shot at.*

Sly: “We need to make it to the courthouse in one piece.”

Thaddeus: “Being eviscerated is for court.”

*Once they get there, the camera returns to the safehouse, everyone leaving ahead save for Carmelita, Annis, and Blaze*

Bentley: “We’ll scout ahead to make a path, but you guys will have to deal with any stragglers.”

Carmelita: “I’ll make sure they don’t lay a hand on my ancestor at all.”

Blaze: “I’ll make sure of that.”

*The player now has to escort Annis to the courtroom, taking down any guards and badniks along the way. Annis is not much of a fighter, but can dodge somewhat. Just make sure to not let any enemy get close to her and you’ll be fine. Once at the courthouse, they immediately enter...*

*The Judge snaps his gavel to quiet the gallery.*

Judge (He’s an owl): “Order, people! The attempted murder trial of Ms. Annis Fox is to begin now. Is the defense ready?”

Sly: “As-a ready as we can-a be, ‘Udgy!”

Judge: “And the prosecution, Mr ‘Wolf?”

Prosecutor Edge-Were-Wolf: “Despite some setbacks, yes.”

Judge: “Setbacks?”

Prosecution: “Someone… stole some evidence…”

Judge: “But that means there’s no case from what I read.”

Sly: “Then-a my client should-a go free!”

Prosecution: “HOLD IT! We may not have evidence, but we have the next best thing! Testimony from someone who witnessed the crime and certainly put Thaddeus as the killer!”

*The gallery murmurs.*

Judge: “Then bring him out! We got executions and cases to get to!”

Prosecution: “The prosecution calls Bark the Polar Bear to the stand.”

Sly whispers to Thaddeus: “Alright, you ready?”

Thaddeus: “I am used to this, but are you?”

Sly: “Yeah, if it means I save you.”

--

*Bark takes the stand*

Judge: “Please state your name and occupation for the court. Not that it matters.”

Bark (Having a British accent): “My name’s Bark and I’m Annis’ butler. I know what I saw when I walked in! Thaddeus was there!”

-WItness Testimony-

Bark: “I had finished my work for the day and left, but I forgot something and went back in. There, I saw Annis’ bedroom in ruin and Lady Fox on the bed motionless. And I saw Thaddeus, that very raccoon, pilfering her most treasured items with an evil grin!”

--

Judge: “Well, that seems to wrap this case up quite nicely! Be the quickest conviction ever! I find Thaddeus-”

Sly interrupted: “OB-JECTION, ‘Udgy, but did-a you forget I’m here to counter?!”

Judge: “Why should you?! Seems pretty open and shut, honestly.”

Sly: “I can find some-a holes, trust-a me.”

Judge: “Fine, but don’t waste our time.”

-Counter Argument (The player decides if Sly presses, objects, moves on, or moves back a statement with dialogue trees from Sly 3. Wrong objections empty the penalty bar, doing it twice gets a guilty verdict and must start over from the beginning.)-

Bark: “I had finished my work for the day and left, but I forgot something and went back in.”

Sly- Do I press him for more info, object to the statement with evidence, or move on to a new statement?

-*If Press is chosen: (CORRECT OPTION)*

Sly: “HOLD IT! What is it you forgot-a to do that required returning back to the manor bedroom?”

Prosecutor: “OBJECTION! Does it really matter?”

Sly: “I-a think so! It might be-a important!”

Judge: “I’ll allow it. Witness?”

Bark laughs nervously: “I… uh… forgot to lock the safe.”

Prosecutor: “WHAT?! You didn’t tell me that?!”

Bark: “It didn’t seem relevant… you’d have to be a part of her staff to even know if the safe was locked.”

Sly: “See! I-a told you it was important!”

Prosecutor: “Ob… Objection! As he said, it’s not relevant totally”

Sly: “Is it? The crime occurred-a when the safe was-a unlocked! Smells of an inside job if you ask-a me!””

Judge: “I have to side with the Defense. Witness, amend your testimony.”

Bark: “I had stupidly forgotten to lock the safe.”

Sly: “Do I press him for more info, object to the statement with evidence, move on, or go back a statement?

*If Sly presses*

Sly: “Hold it! Why did you forget to lock the safe?”

Bark: “I was… busy… Annis had pushed me around a lot that day. It slipped my mind.”

Prosecutor: “I don’t see a problem here, honestly.”

Sly: *Is there?*

YES (Incorrect)-

Sly: “I… I think?”

Judge: “Allow me to decide: No!”

Sly: “D’oh!”

NO (Correct)-

Sly: *Mmm, he is right… if I was busy, I could forget something important.* “Fine, move on.”

Bark: “There, I saw Annis’ bedroom in ruin and Lady Fox on the bed motionless”

*If pressed*

Sly: “Hold it! How did you know the bedroom was in ruin?!”

Bark: “Well, the safe was ajar and the bed was a mess, like with a struggle!”

Prosecutor: “Is there a point?”

YES (Correct)

Sly: “Yes! I took a photo of the scene and found the bed to be neat and tidy, as though she never got out of bed in the first place!” *Shows a period accurate picture of the bedroom for the court.*

Bark: “Oh… darn...”

Prosecution: “Damn it…”

Judge: “The witness will refrain from lying on the stand.”

Bark: “Sorry… I just forgot…”

NO (Incorrect, but just does nothing, as it requires a revisit)

Sly: “No… not that I can see…”

Judge: “Please continue.”

Bark: “And I saw Thaddeus, that very raccoon, pilfering her most treasured items with an evil grin!””

*If pressed.*

Sly: “Hold it! How do you know it was Thaddeus?”

Bark: “It was him for sure! I saw his cane!”

*The prosecutor slaps his face.* “Damn it!”

Judge: “HUH?! Why the outburst, Prosecution?”

The prosecution seethes. “That… was the missing evidence.”

Sly: “Perhaps we can-a help?”

Prosecutor and Judge: “What?!”

Sly: “We found the cane.” *He shows it to the court.*

Judge accepts it as evidence. “Where was it?”

Sly: “Well, it might-a not help the prosecution. But we found it in Bark’s possession. He-a dropped it.”

Bark starts to look worried.

Sly: “And while we are-a on the subject, I think the police should-a visit Big Ben! We did some detective work and found a money trail leading for Annis’ home to his secret hideout in Big Ben. And we found the lost valuables!”

Bark now looks angry.

The judge is surprised. “You found the money and valuables?!”

Sly: “Yeah, and Bark’s testimony seems to neglect the hole in the manor wall and the glass on the inside of the window on top of the hole!”

Judge: “How about you tell us your theory, Defense.”

Sly: “I-a think Bark doesn’t work-a for Annis, and was actually planning on-a robbing her! He-a knocked her out beforehand with one of-a those weird things flying around outside, creating the hole and making her comatose!”

Judge: “So weird things outside belong to him?”

Sly: “Yes! Then he crashed in-a through the window and then robbed her of-a her stuff, leaving a trail to-a his place! Thaddeus is wrongly implicated here!”

The prosecutor smiles: “And can you prove this?”

*A voice can be heard in Sly’s ear at this time.*

Bentley: “Sly! We’re here! We can hear you! Finish it off!”

Sly: “Yes!”

The prosecutor loses his smile fast. “Wait, what?”

Sly: “Why-a don’t you ask Annis Fox yourself?!”

Judge: “But she’s comatose!”

Sly: “We-a found a way to revive her! Just ask her! I call Annis Fox to the stand!”

*The court doors open and Annis walks in.*

The prosecutor: “A-a-a-a ANNIS FOX?!”

Bark: “Damn it…”

Annis: “I heard the defense, and he is right! I believe I saw a bear outside a few times beforehand, and Bark looks just like him! I feel confident that he robbed me!”

The prosecution is speechless.

Judge: “I guess that wraps this up nicely. I find Thaddeus -”

Bark: “NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!”

-*If Object is chosen at a wrong time.*

Sly: “I-a Ob-ject!”

Prosecutor: “On what grounds? Even a fool could tell nothing is wrong there!”

Judge: “Sorry, but I’m with the prosecution. Penalty for the defence”

Sly: “D’oh!”

-*If penalty bar is empty*

Judge: “I’m sorry, but I must stop the defense from making a fool of himself. I find Thaddeus: G U I L T Y.”

Sly: “Sorry Thaddeus…”

--

*In a fit of anger from losing, Bark pulls out a button switch*

Sly: “What’s that?”

Bark: “I WILL NOT LOSE TO YOU FOOLS!!! DIE!!!!”

*He presses the button, and sounds can be heard outside…*

Sly: “Everyone! Get out now!”

*One of the crashed airship’s last cannons, still operational apparently, aims itself at the courthouse and fires a powerful shot. Everyone scrambles to get out of the courtroom before the shot collides. Once the shot hits, the roof collapses and the debris wreck the courtroom with only Carmelita and Knuckles remaining inside, the rest of the team unable to get back in due to the debris blocking them.*

Knuckles: “Ugh… Oh thank the heavens, we’re alive.”

Carmelita: “Urk, yeah… Unfortunately, we’re alone with him now.”

Bark: “Dammit! How did that not kill anyone?! No matter! I’ll take you both down and then kill that brood like I was supposed to!”

Carmelita: “HA! Good luck with that! I’ll have you know I’m Interpol’s top detective and I’ve taken down criminals far stronger than you! And if you think I’ll let you kill my ancestor this easily, you’re very mistaken!”

Knuckles: “Yeah! And my strength easily outmatches yours! You have no chance, Polar Bear!”

Bark: “We’ll see about that, you echidna lastling!”

*Carmelita fires an electric blast from her Shock Pistol at Bark. Right when the shot was about to hit Bark, it disappears and the polar bear is not affected*

Carmelita: “What the-?!”

Bark: “Hehehe, my boss prepared for your arrival and gave me a device to activate an Electric Shield! It protects me from electricity and gives me a shocking punch!”

*Carmelita growls and jumps at Bark, intending to deliver a powerful kick to his head, but he catches her foot and tosses her into one of the rubble*

*And so the boss fight against Bark begins. Thanks to his Electric Shield, Bark is completely invulnerable to Carmelita’s shots. Thankfully the Electric Shield will disappear should Bark suffer a powerful enough hit but he is tough as bricks, so only Knuckles can do anything about this. The first part of the fight has Knuckles and Bark duking it out like boxers. In other words, this part of the fight plays like a simplified fighting game; the controls have you punch, block, dodge, and move, with the objective being to deplete the Electric Shield’s “HP” to zero. Once it’s gone, you can switch to Carmelita and start unloading her Shock Pistol at Bark and whittle away at his health. Once his health goes down 25%, Bark will bring up another Electric Shield and the process begins again. While fighting against Knuckles, he’ll start off with just punching, then jabbing quickly (75%), throwing uppercuts (50%), and finally fake-outs (25%). And while fighting against Carmelita, he hide more often and throw stuff at you the more health he loses.

*Once Bark is defeated*

Bark: “I may have lost… but Eggman is still winning…”

-----

Outro Cutscene:

Sly: “After knocking out Bark, the court deemed Thaddeus as not guilty for the crime and arrested that polar bear on the spot. For both the crime and destroying the courthouse, Bark was to be sentenced to death! But we couldn’t let that happen, both to keep the timestream stable and because we can’t allow anyone from Sonic’s universe to die in our world, so we managed to convince the law to let us apprehend Bark and then toss him back into Sonic’s world. After having to solve that whole mystery, we all decided to stick around with Thaddeus for a bit and get some downtime. With the way Eggman and his goons operated so far, we need all the energy we can get. Besides, with time travel, it’s never too late to do anything.

Sly: “Heh, Thaddius sure is spending quite a bit of time with Annis, talking about cases and the like. Guess he must of convinced the Fox family to go into law enforcement.”

Next Time: Sly and Sonic batten down the hatches in the 17th Century Caribbean.

[isakthedragon]

Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 18

Chapter 18 - The Dark Widow

The Set-Up:

Sonic, narrating: “I have to admit, I never thought we’d visit this castle again…”

Sly, narrating: “The Contessa… the most two-faced lady you’d ever see. She used to work for INTERPOL, running a prison to hold the criminals she captured. Too bad though that she had a secret ulterior motive. She used hypnotising spice and devices, and even the old Clockwerk Eyes to force criminals to give up all their riches to her, and leave them to brain rot in their cells afterward. Murray, Carmelita, and I almost ended up next on that list, but thankfully Bentley saved us. At least we were able to expose her to INTERPOL, so she can’t work for them anymore, but now she works for a new employer.”

Sonic, narrating: “It’s just a guess, but I’m betting she’s trying to figure out a way to mass hypnotize everyone in our world to bow down to her and Eggman. This is way worse than what Octavio was planning. We have to stop her before she can create mindless zombies of everyone.”

-----

Zone Layout: The Contessa has made her home in the haunted Cryptic Castle. Many perils are along the way, from the large pumpkin graveyard surrounding the castle, the long and winding castle walls, and the changing and moving halls and rooms of the castle itself. The Contessa is in the inner sanctum, up to something big with her Clockwerk bird. Perhaps it’s a weapon of mass hypnotization?

Enemies:

Bat-bot: Annoying robot versions of the original bats Contessa controlled. They can screech to call guards, and use their razor sharp wings to damage you. Carries 20-22 coins and has a 10% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Robot Wolf: Robot copies of the Contessa’s werewolves. They have a stone colored paint job to look even more like statues to hide as. As to attack, they have dual maces to thwack at their foes. They can also send out robot spiders to mostly slow you down with numbers. Carries/drops 24-26 coins and has a 25% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Volt-ture: Eggman’s robotic copies of the Contessa’s vultures. They have shoulder mounted crossbows to attack from far away, and can also lunge with their beaks up close if need be. Carries/drops 24-29 coins and has a 50% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Batbrain: Robot bats that hang to the ceiling, then flutter around when you get close to hit you before returning. Drops 24 rings when smashed.

Vampire Pawn: They look like normal Batbrains until you get close, which they then become Egg Pawns with black capes and fangs. They will attempt to bite at you and drain your rings away. Drops 26 rings when smashed.

Egg Magicians / Egg Bishops: Otherwise adopting a more Halloween appearance, they act as what you’d expect from these dangerous magicians. Drops 28 rings when smashed.

Treasures:

From Guards:

Bronze Cross: Worth 115 coins and 58 rings.

Silver Cross: Worth 135 coins and 68 rings.

Gold Cross: Worth 155 coins and 78 rings.

From Pedestals:

Jeweled Pumpkin: In a pumpkin patch in Act 1. Worth 2400 coins and 1200 rings.

Mysterious Ruby Crown: Found in one of the turrets on the wall in Act 2. Worth 2500 coins and 1250 rings.

Magical Whip: Found in one of the many rooms of Act 3. Worth 2600 coins and 1300 rings.

The coins have a spider design on them.

-----

Cryptic Castle Zone Act 1: Panda King and Tails head off into the spooky graveyards of ghosts and pumpkins and crypts. Unfortunately, the castle can’t be entered proper due to cursed pumpkins and crypts keeping a barrier around the castle, so the player will have to blast all of them to pieces to drop the barrier. Then it’s just some jumping to the castle walls tops.

*At the start*

Tails: “Oooo… it’s even scarier than Shadow described it to be. I don’t know if I can do this.”

Sly, over the binocucom: “It’s okay, Tails. We’re right behind you guys, okay?”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “I know you can do it, buddy! In fact, these ghosts should fear you!”

Tails: “You think so?”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “Yeah!”

Panda King: “And I’m here too to keep you safe.”

*Talking about the barrier*

Tails: “If I had to guess, that’s a magical barrier like the Grizz’s.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “It’s similar. Seems like the Contessa has linked some crypts and pumpkins to act as generators for the barrier.”

Panda King: “Ah. So I must use my fireworks to blast them away.”

Sly, over the binocucom: “Yeah. Though, once you get inside, I think you should find a different way into the castle.”

Tails: “Like the walls?”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “They appear to lead inside too, so that seems to be a good idea.”

---

Cryptic Castle Zone Act 2: Carmelita and Vector brave crossing around the castle walls, fighting off badniks and guards that come charging their way. The Contessa mocks the gang, telling them to turn back before she decides to kill them.

*At the start.*

Carmelita: “Geez… I don’t usually get scared much, but something about your guys castle here gives me the creeps.”

Vector: “It’s honestly the same for all our *ahem* ‘haunted’ areas. Doesn’t help that Eggman usually makes it a lot worse than it should.”

Carmelita: “Let’s be quick then, for once.”

*From some loudspeakers*

Contessa: “I know you are coming for me, Cooper gang, and I am certainly ready for you. Perhaps you should turn back while you still have the chance.”

Contessa: “I see you don’t heed my warning… I’m going to turn up the guard presence from here on. Turn back, don’t be fools.”

Contessa: “Fine. Come my way then. But know this: I will show no mercy when you come to me. I will hypnotize you and mind-wipe you totally.”

---

Cryptic Castle Zone Act 3: Sly and Knuckles head into the mansion itself, finding a maze of rooms and halls that keep changing on them (Like Mystic Mansion.). They dodge lasers and attack even more badniks and guards that animate together as they continue on to the Contessa’s inner sanctum, unfortunately losing radio contact with Bentley and the others.

*At the start, the doors slam shut behind them.*

Sly: “Uh-oh.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “What was that?”

Knuckles: “Uh… the doors shut behind us. I think we’re stuck in here…”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Hang on, we’ll get you out!”

Sly: “Leave it… I think we’re going to have to deal with the Contessa on our own.”

Carmelita, over the binocucom: “Okay, but if you get into trouble, ringtail, we’re coming for you!”

Sly: “Heh, good to know the cavalry's coming to get us if we screw up. But, alas, we should be okay.”

*Somewhere around a ⅓ of the way through the level.*

Bentley, over the binocucom, which is oddly suffering from static interference: “Just checking up on you guys. You guys still okay?”

Sly: “Yeah, though you guys are starting to break up on us.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Odd. This has never happened before. Just be careful, guys.”

*Later, around ⅔ of the way through.*

Bentley, over the binocucom, with even more static interference covering almost every word: “Are you guys still alright? Your positions haven’t changed.”

Sly: “Bentley, it’s hard to hear you. We’re still alive and moving.”

*Bentley says something, but it has too much static and cuts out totally.*

Sly: “Well, this isn’t good.”

Knuckles: “We’re alone, huh?”

Sly: “Seems to be.”

Knuckles: “I think we got this though. Let’s move on.”

Sly: “Yeah. But what’s causing the interference…”

---

Cryptic Castle Zone Act 4 (BOSS): Alone, Sly and Knuckles enter the Contessa’s inner sanctum of a crypt and find that she is working with a big Clockwerk with glowing eyes.

*The duo enter a dimly lit crypt area.*

Sly: “Well… you’re guys’ crypts are officially more creepy than ours.”

???: “And I find it perfect. Certainly more imposing than my Praguian home.”

*The crypt gets lit up and the Contessa appears.*

Sly: “Contessa.”

Contessa: “Well, isn’t this perfect? Two loyal subject to test my finished hypnosis device. That raccoon who put me away, and what looks to be a dumb echidna.”

Knuckles: “Hey! I’m not dumb!”

Contessa: “Sure you aren’t, but you’re not my target… yet. No… I’m going to deal with Sly first. You threw me in prison and ruined my life. So, I’m going to make sure I ruin yours.”

Sly: “You didn’t scare me before. What makes you think you can scare me now?”

*Unknowingly, Contessa flashes her eyes to hypnotize Sly. It’s not enough to completely change him, but that doesn’t look to be her plan…*

Contessa: “Well, what if I say I brought Clockwerk back? How about that, huh?”

Sly’s expression changes to fear: “C-clockwerk?”

Contessa: “Yeah… we found a way to reanimate him… and I got him right above you.”

*The Hypnosis Clockwerk is sent down from the high ceiling above. It’s eyes are glowing, suggesting it’s working.”

Sly: “H-he’s alive… but how?”

Contessa: “Don’t underestimate Doctor Eggman. He did bring him back, and he’s real mad at you.”

Sly, fearful: “I…”

Contessa laughs: “Run around like an idiot, prey! I shall tangle you in my webs!”

Knuckles, who was able to hide in the moment, thinking: “Damn… he’s been messed with… She seems to be getting her power from the Clockwerk… I better smash it before he’s killed.”

Boss: The Contessa

Sly is unfortunately too scared to attack so all he can do is dodge the hypnosis beams from the Contessa’s and the Hypnosis Clockwerk eyes. So, that means Knuckles has to climb and destroy the Clockwerk himself. Once it falls and gets destroyed, Sly is able to get back his senses and attack Contessa with Knuckles. But remember, she is a dangerous foe, being quite agile, and able to attack with claws or with spiders that can attack or explode.

*Once the player has Knuckles break the last support, the Hypnosis Clockwerk falls onto the Contessa and breaks to pieces. Sly’s mind is able to then break free from the hypnosis.*

Sly: “Ah! … Thanks, Knuckles. Ugh… what happened?”

Knuckles: “You were hypnotized by Contessa and the Clockwerk to think he was the real one.”

Sly: “I… see… ugh, my head hurts…”

Bentley, over the binocucom, with no static now: “Sly! Knuckles! You guys there?!”

Contessa interrupts by breaking out of the mess. “No! You stupid echidna! You ruined it all! I’m going to eat both of you!”

*Once defeated.*

Contessa: “No!!! I almost had you two! I almost defeated the Cooper gang!”

Sly: “Not while I got plenty of friends to help out. Okay, Bentley, we’re okay.”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Oh, thank goodness. We were so worried.”

-----

The Getaway:

Sly: “I don’t get it… was shy lying, you think?”

Penelope: “Perhaps yes and no… I’m getting real close now. I can tell you something, it’s not Clockwerk that’s leaving… but it might be another body… someone else who’s dead.”

Bentley: “That’s a few people… who knows who it could be?”

Penelope: “I will… if I can figure this out…”

Next Time: Be careful of mysterious people you bother, or you might get cursed… It’s another revisited zone… the Frog Forest and Lost Jungle in Haunted Jungle Zone.

[isakthedragon]

Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 16

Chapter 16 - Quick Draw

The Set-Up:

Sonic, narrating: “With relaxation and smiles on our faces, we were ready to get back into action of dealing with Sly’s next big villain.”

Sly, narrating: “And by next big villain, I mean, big arms. Our next villain was the notoriously stubborn-like-the-dog-he-is Muggshot. Laughed at as a child, Muggshot decided that to get even means to work out, which for some reason, meant to work out your arms to the size of tree trunks. Does get the job done I guess when you can punch someone out in one shot. Anyway, he’s been our most visited villain, since we first stopped him from building his gambling city, Mesa City, and also stopped him from ruining our dogfight in Holland, where we met Penelope.”

Penelope, from afar: “Oh, boy, mentioned in the opening briefing. Sweet.”

Sonic, narrating: “It seems wanting to run a gambling establishment isn’t out of Muggshot’s blood yet, as he has made a new one in the desert with our other casinos. We better hurry and stop him before he can start taking people’s money away. We’re going to show Muggshot why you don’t skip leg day.”

-----

Zone Layout: As said before, Muggshot has built himself a huge casino to tower the other casinos on the strip it is on. It has many floors of casino related games, from blackjack and roulette to slots and other machines and games. Of course, being Sonic’s world, there are literal bingo tables within floors too to add on to the fun. You could definitely earn a ton of rings here.

Enemies:

Jailbird Dogbots: Robot copies of Muggshot’s jailbird guards. They are still quite simple, wielding ball and chains and swinging them around to try and hit you. Carries 18-20 coins and has a 10% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Inkspot Cardshots: Robot rebuilds of Muggshot’s dalmatian guards. They are quite the master of cards, tossing them out like ninja stars in many patterns to trip you up. Carries/drops 22-24 coins and has a 25% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Vinney the Pinscherbots: Eggman’s robotic recreations of Muggshot’s Doberman Pinscher guards. They still wield their dangerous machine guns in an attempt to shoot down thieves. Carries/drops 22-27 coins and has a 50% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Cowboy Pawns: Egg Pawns ready to ‘git a long, lil doggy’. They carry lassos in attempts to catch you and fling you onto them or into spikes for damage. Just try to keep on the move and you’ll be fine. Drops 22 rings when smashed.

Slots: A badnik that disguises itself as a slot machine with other, real slot machines. Hitting them will make them spin their reels, where it can either land on rings or Eggmans. Any non-3 match will just make the machine explode for damage, so stay away. A 3-match of rings will drop 100 rings instantly, and make the machine disappear with no explosion. A 3-match of Eggmans however will cause the machine to grow arms and legs to chase you and spit spike balls. Defeating it like this (Just give it another thwack) will drop just 24 rings when it’s smashed.

Legs: In a sort of ironic twist to Muggshot, these bulldog badniks have legs comparable to Muggshot’s arms that are obviously meant to be used for kicking, specifically across a large space. At least their tops are weak though, if you can hit them there. Drops 26 rings when smashed.

Treasures:

From Guards:

Bronze Bone: Worth 105 coins and 53 rings.

Silver Bone: Worth 125 coins and 63 rings.

Gold Bone: Worth 145 coins and 73 rings.

From Pedestals:

Golden Fire Hydrant: Found replacing an regular fire hydrant in Act 1. Worth 2300 coins and 1150 rings.

Muggshot’s First Bone: Found in a room in his Penthouse in Act 2.  Worth 2400 coins and 1200 rings.

A Dead Man’s Hand: Found on one of the large tables in Act 3. Worth 2500 coins and 1250 rings.

The coins have a bone design on them.

-----

Boneyard Casino Zone Act 1: Sly and Silver find that, once more, the entrance is guarded with gun turrets and invincible/impossible to defeat badniks and guards, so the player will have to find their own way in. Rather than find keys, the player should just find a way to climb up the buildings around them to reach the roof of Muggshot’s casino. Sly’s tricks and Silver psychokinesis to move things should make short work of that to the end of the Act on Muggshot’s roof.

*At the start.*

Sly, flatly: “What a surprise, the entrance is guarded.”

Silver: “I know… we find a different route in, right.”

Sly: “Yep. Got an idea how?”

Silver: “Hmmm… up the buildings to the roof?” *The camera pans up during this.*

Sly: “Ding! We have a winner. There’s so many poles and spires, it’s practically a thief’s paradise.”

---

Boneyard Casino Zone Act 2: Carmelita and Knuckles sneak their way across the roof of Muggshot’s casino and into his penthouse suite. While sneaking around, they end up listening to the big dog himself talking about how he’s trying to go legit with this casino, though he’s still planning on robbing people blind. He importantly notes that he has gained a boost in defense from a Clockwerk that he has hiding around in his casino, laughing that nobody can beat him now.

*At the start.*

Knuckles: “Well, wasn’t that a nice climb to the roof? Wow, we sure are high up. Look at all the neon.”

Carmelita: “No time to sightsee, we have a job to do.”

Knuckles: “Listen for Muggshot, right?”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “He honestly sounds like a knucklehead like you, heh he.”

Knuckles: “Yeah… HEY!!”

*Sonic chuckles.*

*While sneaking around, through Muggshot’s open windows.*

Muggshot: “Heh he… Eggman, youse were right! With no Sly messing with my works, I’ve built myself a new and better casino! It almost makes me want to go legit… if it weren’t so much more lucrative to just shake everyone dry. And it looks like this world is perfect for that. I don’t get this ‘ring’ currency though…”

*Later, now inside his penthouse behind some ajar office doors.*

Muggshot: “Heh he, even if those fools come my way, they’ll have a tough time defeating me… if they even can! I gots me a Clockwerk bird that makes me invincible with a shell shield! They’ve got no chance, not even that fox!”

Carmelita: “This sounds like a problem…”

Knuckles: “Hmmm… I don’t think we can physically attack him… looks like we’ll have to find the bird.”

Penelope, over the binocucom: “No sign of it yet. Muggshot got smart and hid it with other background noise from other machines. I think it’s going to be faster to find it yourselves.”

Carmelita: “Got it.”

---

Boneyard Casino Zone Act 3: Murray and Blaze take the elevator one floor down to find a large expanse of floors of various huge card and roulette tables, slot machine areas, bingo tables, and others (Think BINGO Highway, Casino Park/Street/Night, etc.) that they’ll have to just roll their way down like they would do best. Of course, since this a casino, you’ll need to make 10000 rings to be able to finish the Act, as it opens the bottom elevator (Otherwise you’ll be sent up via pinball plunger to the top again with all the rings reset.)

*At the start.*

Murray: “Wow! Muggshot sure went big here! It’s huge!”

Blaze: “I swear casinos in our world are just giant…”

Bentley, over the binocucom: “Okay you two, focus. You need to find the Clockwerk bird before Muggshot knows we are here. There’s no time to enjoy the stuff.”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “I don’t know… they might have to. I have a feeling they’re stuck on those floors unless they gather some rings. Is there a big board suggesting a ring amount?”

Murray: “Yeah, big and small ones showing a target of 10000 rings.”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “Yeah, they can’t leave until they score 10000 rings. They’re getting smarter at least, but not by much. You’ll have to collect that amount to escape.”

Blaze: “Okay. Well, we better get started on collecting those rings.”

---

Boneyard Casino Zone Act 4 (BOSS): Vector and Panda King arrive on the ground floor’s grandiose entrance hall to find an extremely angry bulldog…

Vector: “Geez, it sure is dark in here.”

Panda King: “Shhh… I don’t think Muggshot knows we are in here. We have to stay-”

*The lights turn on, showing Muggshot on the base of the Clockwerk statue.*

Panda King: “-On…”

Muggshot: “Aha! I got youse Cooper!-” *He notices who he captured.* “-Wait… Panda King? What are you doing here.”

Panda King: “Uhh…”

Vector: “You two know each other?”

Panda King: “Yes… as members of the now disbanded Fiendish Five…”

Muggshot: “What are youse doing here? Last I heard, youse were in the Chinese mountains meditating.”

Panda King: “I was… but not anymore.”

Muggshot: “I can clearly sees that.” *Muggshot finally gets the picture.* “Wait… You’re working for Cooper, ain't you?! No wonder we couldn’t finds you!”

Panda King: “I have found enlightenment with Cooper and his friends. Hatred leads nowhere but resentment that shall haunt and take over your life. And they did also save my daughter, so I do owe them some gratitude.”

Muggshot: “You’ve gone soft, Panda King. The Cooper gang are enemies to us.”

Panda King: “Only if you had crossed with them before. Which we did, so many years ago. What did you expect? Now that I’ve made peace with them, I also see they are quite an interesting bunch. They too have honor they want to protect.”

Muggshot: “I expected better of you, Panda King. I thought you’d be the unbreakable one. Looks like I’ll have to fight my coworker then.”

BOSS: Muggshot

Muggshot is unfortunately using his Defense Clockwerk to create a barrier strong enough that any damage done to him is negligible to his health. Which means that destroying a Clockwerk is in order. In probably as an act of boasting, the Clockwerk is a giant gold statue in the middle of the room, which Muggshot walks around shooting from. Of course, the player should use Panda King’s rockets and Vector’s enemy spitting to slowly damage the Clockwerk until it develops enough cracks and shatters on Muggshot, and also shattering his barrier. Then the player can just wail on Muggshot with fireworks until he is defeated.

*Once the Clockwerk bird has sustained enough damage, it cracks to its limits and shatters.*

Muggshot: “No!!! My beautiful bird! It really brought the room together. Grr… youse are gonna pay for that!”

*Once defeated.*

Muggshot: “No! 3 defeats to the Cooper gang! I’m an embarrassment!”

Panda King: “Perhaps you need to do some self-reflecting of your own… perhaps in prison?”

-----

(Yet again, not enough idea for a cutscene to finish.)

Next Time: Not everyone from Canada is a nice guy, or bison, you know. Better pack winter clothes for Winter Woods Zone.

[isakthedragon]

Super Sonic Thieves Chapter 14

Chapter 14 - Rumble in the Jungle

The Set-Up:

Sly, narrating: “The next villain to make his appearance was a more recent one, El Jefe.” *Mutters under breath* “Who's still a ‘big baby’ if you ask me.”

*Sonic chuckles*

Sly, narrating: “Of course though, he is a dangerous threat. He’s a dangerous mercenary, and taking over this place would be just another conquest in his long list of conquers if we don’t stop him. We did nab him before back in Feudal Japan, but I have to admit he was a bit tough, what with his katana’s and quite mighty attitude.”

Sonic, narrating: “It seems Eggman has paid El Jefe to take over this jungle for the Eggman Empire, by any means necessary. Which, knowing Eggman, means burning the whole place to the ground. We better stop him before that can happen.”

-----

Zone Layout: Large ponds extend across the ground below, with multitudes of trees growing high up into the air. Pagodas and small Japanese and Chinese temples are built onto the water, connecting one area of dry ground to another. Vines also hang down, providing swings and ropes across. Higher up are wood and natural walkways, with some more small, open homes. This would be where the people lived, but they appear to have be scared away. Higher still is the canopy, with bouncy leaves and mushrooms providing airlift into the clouds. Annoyingly, a humongous statue of El Jefe looms some distance away, probably as a scare tactic, though the statue looks a little off with a bird on his shoulder…

Enemies:

Macaque Robots: Robot recreations of the original guards for El Jefe. They now carry more high tech bazookas that can blast even wider. Carries 16-18 coins and has a 10% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Robot Cranes: Robot copies of the original Japanese cranes. They carry their high tech bows to shoot you, but can also spin to push you away or throw shurikens as a surprise. Carries/drops 20-22 coins and has a 25% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Robot Boars: Eggman’s robot remakes of El Jefe’s samurai boars. At close range, they can headbutt with their horns, and from afar, with their crossbows. Carries/drops 20-25 coins and has a 50% chance of treasure to pickpocket.

Samurai Pawns: They’ve come from Aquarium Park to slice you in half once more. Drops 20 rings when smashed.

Dragonfly: Those spiky dragonflies are back, but now with 10 segments and they can also fly horizontally too to spike you that way. Drops 22 rings when smashed.

Cluckoid: Annoying chicken weathervanes that will try to blow you back with their power over the wind. Drops 24 rings when smashed.

Treasures:

From Guards:

Ruby Gem: Worth 95 coins and 48 rings.

Sapphire Gem: Worth 115 coins and 58 rings.

Emerald Gem: Worth 135 coins and 68 rings.

From Pedestals:

Buster Sword: Found in one of the pagodas on a pedestal. Worth 2200 coins and 1100 rings.

‘Holy’ Spell Book: Found in one of the homes on a bookshelf. Worth 2300 coins and 1150 rings.

A Special Lotus Flower: Found on one of the bouncy tree branches. Worth 2400 coins and 1200 rings.

The coins have a tiger eye design on them.

-----

Bamboo Blitz Zone Act 1: Sly and Charmy traverse the ponds and pagodas, using vines and flowers Charmy can sting to make platforms and get across. This is one of the only places where Charmy will not be able to drown, as he just flies over the water to reach those pretty flowers asking for a sting. There are few pagodas that have statues in them that need to be pushed to proper places, bringing up walkways to get around further. The act ends at a staircase leading up into the trees.

*At the start.*

Sly: “Hm, quite a quaint little jungle, looks a bit Japanese in nature. Rioichi would like this place.”

Charmy: ♪ “I know! The jungles are always so beautiful! So many flowers!” ♫

Sly notices the El Jefe statue. “Bleh, El Jefe sure has no decorative sense. That statue is garish to the rest of the landscape.”

Charmy: ♪ “And a bit scary too, though I don’t know why.” ♫

*At one of the large water gaps*

Sly: “Hmmm, these vines look climbable, and swingable. Ought to make it easy to get across.”

Charmy: ♪ “Hey, flowers! I can sting them and make them grow to platforms!” ♫

*At one of the statue-filled pagodas.*

Charmy: ♪ “Aw! A dead end! We can’t get across the pond here.” ♫

Sly: “Hmmm, I know your guys’ history is different, but these statues look out of place. Maybe we should return them to their original spots?”

*Once done, a bridge comes up out of the water.*

Sly: “Aha, there we go.”

Charmy: ♪ “Nice! Now we can move on! We better remember this if we find more pagodas like this.” ♫

---

Bamboo Blitz Zone Act 2: Carmelita and Silver sneak their way across the wooden walkways, using the natural covers of branches, wood piles, and the homes themselves to keep out of El Jefe’s sight, as he goes on, bragging about his accomplishments. The important thing is that he brags about his statue that looms and scared everyone away, thanks to a Clockwerk bird he has perched on it. The act ends at another staircase, leading up to the canopy as El Jefe jumps away.

Carmelita: “Hmmm… I smell cuban cigars… El Jefe must be nearby.”

*Silver senses him and notices they are exposed, so he bends a tree branch to cover them both.*

*El Jefe jumps in from somewhere below*

El Jefe: “Hah ha, the locals here were much too easy to scare! But no matter, makes conquest of this area all that much more easier. Who knew ‘hoo-mans’ are so scared of vicious predators like me!”

*He starts walking off and Silver lets go of the branch.*

Silver: “That was close.”

Carmelita: “We better be careful then.”

*Later.*

El Jefe: “I’m gonna turn this place into my own image, with statues and other monuments of me all over, so people can live in fear of the one who conquered them! This will be my prowl, and no Coopers are here to stop me!”

Carmelita: “How about a fox and a hedgehog then? I got your legacy right here, in handcuffs.”

*Later.*

El Jefe: “Hmmm… I’m wondering if it was a good idea to perch my Fear Clockwerk on my giant statue. It did help me scare everyone, and does add an imposing fear to it, but I notice it’s a bit rickety… Eh, if anyone wanted to knock it down, they’d have to survive the windy and bouncy canopy.”

Silver: “Rickety statue, eh?”

*El Jefe stands in place here, preventing any further movement, so the player has Silver grab a rock and slingshot it to the huge statue. It vibrates, shaking the Fear Clockwerk a bit, but it stays on. El Jefe notices the shaking and fears it.*

El Jefe: “Ah! No! My statue!” *He jumps down to the ground and disappears to the statue.*

Silver: “He sure does love that thing, doesn’t he?”

Carmelita: “Well, he does have an ego the size of his statue, so…”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “Just like Eggman, heh he. Maybe we better be ‘good’ people and ‘admire’ his statue up close?”

Sly, over the binocucom: “Heh, and I know the perfect guy for that.”

---

Bamboo Blitz Zone Act 3: Murray and Amy make their way onto the canopy of the trees, where they find many bouncy mushrooms, trees and leaves (Think Mushroom Hill Zone among others). The player can use Amy’s Hammer, or Murray’s Aboriginal Ball Move to pinpoint bounce their way across the canopy. Their goal is the head of El Jefe’s statue, which will fire lasers from its eyes that you need to dodge. Of course, Murray is gonna *Ahem* SMASH that statue’s head to pieces. The heavy impact throws the Fear Clockwerk off balance enough to just fall down and smash as well once hitting the ground.

*At the start*

Amy: “Okay, Sonic, we’re at the highest point.”

Sonic, over the binocucom: “Good, now all you guys have to do is reach the statue head, and smash it up.”

Murray: “Alright! Smashing time!” *He jumps onto the nearby branch and bounces a bit.* “Whoa! Bouncy.”

Amy: “Hey, this could make our journey over there easy! We just got to hop our way over to the statue.”

Murray: “Sweet! And I got just the Ball Form to do it!”

*After a whole ton of bouncing later, they find themselves close to the head of the statue on a wooden platform ring.*

Murray: “We’re real close now, time to smash it up!”

Amy: “Wait, Murray, don’t!”

Murray has already jumped into the ring: “Why?”

*The eyes of El Jefe’s statue start charging, then fire lasers across the spot Murray was bouncing at, which Murray narrowly misses.*

Murray: “Whoa! What was that?!”

Amy: “Just like on anything belonging to Eggman, they always fire lasers from their eyes! Move, Murray! Destroy it before it destroys you!”

*Some jumping and dodging later, the player has Murray perform an epic belly flop on the statue.*

Murray: “Time to… SMASH!!!”

*He smashes down on the head of the statue, which reverberates with such force that the head shatters to pieces.*

Murray: “Yes!”

*Down below, the statue is violently shaking, and the Fear Clockwerk is shaken off its perch, and falls to the ground and smashes to pieces.*

---

Bamboo Blitz Zone Act 4 (Boss): Panda King and Blaze head to the foot of the El Jefe statue to find the real tiger himself, angry…

El Jefe: *Growls like a tiger* “How… dare you fools smash up my lovely statue?!! I’m going to make you guys pay back with your life!!!”

*He attempts to use his huge fire wave in anger to burn them, but the wave passes by Blaze and Panda King without a singe.*

El Jefe: “Huh?”

Panda King: “Flames can be fickle, and will avoid someone who is a master of it.”

Blaze: “Especially if they are a pyromancer as well!” *She shows her flame aura.*

El Jefe: *Growls again* “Heh, no matter… cause I’ll just zap at you with the power of electricity instead!!!”

Boss: El Jefe

Thankfully to these two having extensive knowledge of fire, one being a literal pyromancer, El Jefe’s fire attacks will pass right by without hurting you. Still, that means you have to watch out for his electric mines and katana swings. He still will try to use a fireball to stop you, but you can hit him back with Blaze’s fireballs or Panda King’s fireworks to stop him so you can get close to attack. Watch out though, as he still will attempt to swing his katanas normally to hurt you. He will also try to run off to a new spot to fight like a coward with long range fireballs, but it shouldn’t be that much harder.

*Once defeated*

El Jefe: “Aaaggghhh!!! Beaten again by little rodents who should be in fear of leaders like me!”

Blaze: “Hah! Please, you’re a joke. Eggman is more of a threat than you.”

-----

(No outro cutscene. It felt too short otherwise.)

Next Time: Coming up next in our Tiger documentary, one that is the master of the spice trade. Welcome to… Rajan Majal Zone.