Chapter Text
Player had been on his computer nonstop the past few weeks. Even after talking to Zack, he still had duties. He’d only get up for those few minutes to use the bathroom, or to sleep for an hour or two, the rest of his time was dedicated to searching for anything on VILE. It was so unnerving. VILE had its quiet spells before, but it never felt like this. It felt like the calm before the storm. That eerie rare moment before a disaster when you stand outside, and everything feels silent. The birds are quiet, and the trees are still. Nothing but yourself awaiting something terrible. He knew he wasn’t alone. He had Zack, Ivy and Shadowsan. But missing Carmen. It was like losing a childhood stuffed animal. The devastation, the loss of comfort. It was all too much at times.
He blankly stared at the information on his screen. Leading to another dead end, Player took a deep breath, in and out. It’s getting harder and harder to search for information. Not because of the lack of data, but the lack of leads. He searched again, somewhere on some illegal sites where VILE would normally advertise any products they have acquired and are looking for the highest bidder. Nothing.
“Last posted: three weeks ago- awarded to the highest bidder, $2.2 million” He already knew that.
He huffed and closed his eyes. Maybe he just lost his touch, just couldn’t find a new lead because he’s bad. As much as he wanted to doubt himself, he knew his skillset. VILE is too dumb most of the time. They might be a super corporation with some of the best minds, but the faculty are they type of people to have “Password1234” as their password.
He felt the sting of defeat, but that also could’ve been the headache. Staring at a computer in the dark for hours every day is not good for your eyes or your health. It doesn’t help that he hasn’t been eating as well as he’d like. He’d eat a few bites with his parents at mealtime, but he’d find himself full very quickly.
His eyes remained closed as his mind wandered. Shadowsan is currently out. Searching physically for any leads on finding Carmen or where VILE is squatting in. At that moment, he was at VILE island. Or at least, what remained of it. What he was doing there, he had no idea. All that was left were some rocks, sand and trees. But who was he to argue with Carmen’s father figure? Even so, Player was hopeful Shadowsan would find something, anything, on VILE island. Everywhere else turned up with nothing.
The thoughts then drifted to Zack and Ivy. They’ve been doing well. Taking better care of themselves, mentally and physically. They’ve been utilizing their home gym to at least keep themselves in shape and from what he’s heard, working out does help the mental health. So ambitious. He was a tad jealous. He wished he could be with them. While he was also doing better than he originally did, it still wasn’t healthy. But his parents would never agree on a trip to San Diego to visit friends he met online. He was a minor after all. If he was there with them, what would he even do? Typical outdoor games don’t pique his interest in the slightest. But physical company was something he was craving all of a sudden. A wave of loneliness washed over him in his empty room. His head stung. Loneliness plus headache, two different kinds of pain at once. It was frustrating. A stupid headache like this from fatigue and staring at screens? Something he was always warned of as a kid has become the norm in his life. The pain, at least the headache was too much to deal with. Deciding to take a pain killer to ease it, he opened his eyes and put both hands on the desk to push himself out and spin his chair so he can exit his desk area.
But as soon as his hands touched the desk, a ping.
It couldn’t be. Could it?
“Upcoming auction…Theme - Austrian Royalty."
He couldn’t believe his eyes. Maybe he had them closed for so long? Or maybe this was a migraine hallucination? He rubbed his eyes and refreshed the page. Still the same message.
There it was. The gleam of sunshine that peaks through the clouds. Hope.
His headache was gone. No better medicine like adrenaline. He felt like he never typed so fast before. Going through firewalls and checking other sources. Was this actually VILE and not an impostor? He can’t just give the others hope. What could’ve lead them to finally surfacing three weeks later, on this day specifically? An Austrian museum in Vienna is featuring crown jewels and some royal artifacts as well. Some of which has not been seen by the public for many years but is being shown now due to some events going on in the city. It hits all the marks. Hiding in plain sight in a busy event, while security is up, they still have weak points. Along with them being greedy, they would definitely want those jewels for themselves. This has got to be them, no way it would be anyone else.
Quickly going into comms. Heart pounding in his chest out of excitement, hope and anxiety. He called Team Red. Those few seconds of it ringing.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
It felt like forever. Shadowsan, answered the call on his phone. Zack and Ivy joining in on the call on a laptop. The two red heads still in their work out attire, looking a bit winded.
Immediately getting to the point, Shadowsan questions with a bit of hope. “Anything?” These few weeks, he’d answer the same way every time. With hope of information on VILE. While many other times Player had to gently say that there was nothing, but today was different.
“VILE just broke their silence. A major heist is going down tomorrow night in Vienna, Austria.” Being able to finally give information, a mission, felt good. It felt better to know that there was a chance at intercepting VILE and possibly getting more information on what happened to Carmen.
“I will make it my business to intervene.” Shadowsan said firmly.
“Our business!” Zack butted in.
“We’re coming too.” Ivy added.
Player smiled at his monitor. Reassuring them that there was no way he was declining their demand to go. “I’ll book your flights.”
In Vienna…
It’s early in the morning in this lovely Austrian city. Jean Paul and Antonio are enjoying some coffee in a café close to the museum. They hadn’t had time off like this before. So they were soaking in the last of their vacation before they had to be ready in a few hours.
Jean Paul took a sip of his coffee, slightly burning his tongue but still appreciating the deep and rich flavors of Austrian Coffee. “Très magnifique! Antonio, try their Coffee!”
A little startled at Jean Paul’s exclamation, he smiled and quietly responded, “I’ll pass today, mi amigo.” Face going back to a somber look.
“What’s wrong?” Jean Paul gave a compassionate look and waited for a response. Not wanting to pressure Antonio into saying anything he didn’t want to.
Staring off into space, as if deep in thought.
Antonio blurts out, “Do you ever think about what we’re doing is wrong?”
Was that a joke he was making, perhaps to cover up what he was really thinking? “My friend, it’s a little late to start thinking about moral dilemmas in stealing. Thievery is what we’re good at, no?”
“I don’t mean that.” Pausing for a moment. “With Carmen. It just, doesn’t seem fair.”
“What do you mean?” He asked.
Antonio looked into Jean Paul’s eyes. “It’s about freedom.”
“Ah, You’re beginning to sound like an American.” Jean Paul jokingly said. Antonio rolling his eyes in retaliation. Smiling anyways. He reached for Jean Paul’s hand and held it.
“All Black Sheep ever wanted was freedom. To explore the world. To do good. Possibly to find love. She found all of that in being Carmen Sandiego.” Gripping his hand tighter. “But they stripped it away. Whatever they did to her, she’s not going to be the same."
Jean Paul still looked deep into Antonio’s eyes that were filled with sadness and heartbreak. What he was saying was slowly clicking. Antonio knowing it still hasn’t clicked. This dense Frenchman was going to be the death of him.
“Carmen may have been a nuisance in VILE’s plans, but she was someone she wanted to be. Someone she loved, with the people she loved. Openly being who she is without fear. They. Took. That. Away.”
That’s when it set in. The science that VILE is using can suppress who you are emotionally. What other things can they do.
Jean Paul gulped. “They wouldn’t do that. Countess Cleo and Doctor Bellum-.”
“They can strip away our memories and we wouldn’t even know our time in VILE. Just Look at Gray!” Antonio raised his voice. Clearly frustrated.
“He got his memories back.” Jean Paul retorted.
“But doesn’t it scare you? I feel as if we’re in too deep now. What they’re asking us to do, it just leaves a bad taste on my mouth.”
He thought about it. He had to agree. This was something he never thought he’d be a part in when he wanted to be a thief.
They sat in silence together. People passing by around them, not knowing anything about the moral dilemma these two guys are in.
“There’s nothing we can do now. We have to stick with the plan, you know that right?” Jean Paul asked.
“I know. But still. My point stands.” Sitting in silence more, the just sat with their thoughts. Until their phones buzzed. Not their VILE phones no. Their burner phones, to keep in touch during different missions on their free time. Tigress, El Topo, Le Chevre all in a group chat, aka Animal Squad.
“Where the hell are we meeting at again?”-Tigress
They looked at each other, both silently deciding they should get up and get to the meet up spot under the museum. While the sun was nice, warm and wonderful, it would have to be short lived. Their talk they had together was depressing, but they had to get into the mindset for a heist. To lie to Carmen and to obey whatever VILE is asking for.
Antonio just couldn’t shake the thought. If he’s feeling this way for Carmen and for themselves, how was Gray taking this?