Chapter Text
It was late at night in the French city of Poitiers. Through the empty side streets drove a car carrying two Interpol agents.
“Alright Romelle, break it down for me, one last time.”
“Right away Inspector McClain,” Romelle said as she brought up the relevant data on her tablet.
“Just call me Lance,” Lance replied. “I know you’re still relatively new but if we’re going to be partners we shouldn’t have to deal with such formalities.”
“You just don’t want to say my surname because you’re scared you’ll pronounce it wrong.”
“Could we focus on the case at hand?” Lance asked in mild irritation.
Romelle gave a good-natured eye roll but proceeded to give the intel on one Allura Sandiego.
“In just the last few weeks, this Allura Sandiego has managed to rob millions of euros combined from a Swiss bank, a high-end art gallery in Cairo, and a Shanghai amusement park. All before vanishing without a trace. Headquarters has yet to discern any pattern except that our perpetrator always wears a scarlet coat and fedora and seems to announce her crimes by making random public appearances beforehand.”
“Such as the nearby cafe sighting earlier today,” Lance concluded. “So we must ask ourselves: Who in the world is Allura Sandiego? Why would a thief draw attention to herself by leaving clues and wearing bold colours?”
“And why are we looking into this?” Romelle asked. “We weren’t assigned the Sandiego case and Poitiers doesn’t exactly fall within our jurisdiction.”
Lance scoffed.
“Jurisdiction? We are Interpol! Our duty is to hunt down the criminal element regardless of where they might be!”
Romelle looked at her partner sceptically.
“Why are we really here?”
“A close friend and mentor was concerned that the local authorities weren’t taking this red threat seriously enough so asked me to look into this as a favour. Though I’m not sure what the lady in red would be doing here of all places.”
“Poitiers is rich with medieval history,” Romelle commented. “Perhaps she is targeting a priceless antique or historical artifact from one of its many churches.”
“Could be but we need a more specific target,” Lance replied. “As pleasant as Poitiers is at night we’re not going to find Carmen idly wandering its streets.”
“SHE’S RIGHT THERE!”
The car screeched to a halt, Lance looked back to where Romelle was pointing and indeed saw a lady in a red coat and fedora.
“LA DAMA ROJA!” Lance exclaimed.
The car did a sharp u-turn and raced towards Allura only to see her shoot out a line and be pulled skywards.
Lance brought the car to another screeching halt. He and Romelle got out of the car in time to see Allura climb up the roof and out of sight.
“I’m going after her!” Lance declared. “Stay here and call for back up!”
Romelle watched Lance run off before getting back into the car and radioing for assistance.
Allura Sandiego stood on a rooftop, wind billowing through her coat and long white hair as she stopped to take in the view.
“On top of the world,” She said wistfully. “I can see La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre from here.”
There was a beep from her earing communicators.
“Friendly advice? Save the sight-seeing for after the job.”
“Duly noted Pidge.”
“Red! We’re in the field,” Pidge scolded. “Code names only.”
“Sure thing Player,” Allura said with a smirk. “Lead the way.”
“Your next stop is 50 yards dead ahead.”
Allura raced across the rooftops until she made it to the rooftop of a far fancier looking building.
She approached the skylight and pulled out a device that looked like a lipstick. She plugged the device into the junction box.
“Analyzing frequencies... Decrypting security codes... Alarm system disabled,” Pidge said over the comms. “But... I'm picking up another signal. Could be a trap.”
Allura simply smirked as she pulled out her handheld plasma cutter.
“Let's find out.”
Once she opened the skylight she used her line to lower herself down.
Just as she was an inch away from touching the ground, she heard a beep and saw a bunch of arrows flying towards her. Acting quickly, she grabbed a nearby shield and used it to block the barrage.
“What was that?” Pidge asked.
“The sound of something becoming worth significantly less,” Allura replied.
Lance kicked down the front door of the building he had seen the crimson ghost enter. He raced to the elevator. He pressed the button for it to take him to the top floor.
With a series of loud creaks, groans and clangs, the elevator came to life and sluggishly started to rise, causing Lance to let out a groan of his own.
“Is this elevator part of Poitiers’ rich medieval history too?” He asked in dismay
“Who walls up an atrium?” Allura pondered out loud as she examined the space.
“Anyone who values storage over natural light,” Pidge offered.
“She said a little too knowingly,” Allura said with a smirk.
“Hey,” Pidge said indignantly. “Don’t be disrespecting my inner sanctum.”
Allura rolled her eyes but found what she was looking for. She pulled a leaver disguised as a lighting fixture, causing a wall to slide away and reveal a massive safe.
“You called it, Player.”
Allura pulled out a device from her coat which she then attached to the safe door. She then waited patiently for Pidge to do her thing.
“Safe cracked.” She finally announced.
The safe door swung open, revealing countless treasures, including The Eye of Vishnu, a massive blue gem that was the target for the break in. Though just as Allura was about to enter the safe she let out a gasp when her eyes fell on something on the other side of the room.
“What is it, Red?” Pidge asked.
“I'm staring at something I thought I'd never, ever set eyes on again.”
“It better be more valuable than a sparkly blue gemstone the size of my head.”
“Define ‘valuable’,” Allura replied. “They say beauty's in the eye of the beholder.”
“Are you gonna tell me what it is, Red, or…”
There was a loud banging on a nearby door.
“Interpol! Open this door!”
“That’s your cue to leave,” Pidge declared. “Bag the gem and get out of there.”
Lance had given up on the elevator after one floor and ran up the stairs the rest of the way.
After demanding the door be opened second time, he proceeded to kick it open. Once inside he saw Allura closing a bag around something.
“Stop! Thief!”
Lance raced forward to grab her. She kicked over a stool, tripping him up and throwing him off balance. She then took the opportunity off his shoulders, causing the inspector to fall to the ground.
“On whose authority?” Allura asked mockingly.
Lance picked himself up and reached for his badge.
“On the authority of, uh…” Lance stopped when he realised his badge was gone. He looked back to see Allura holding it.
“Lance McClain, Interpol.” She said, inspecting the ID before throwing it back to Lance. “It’s so nice to meet you but I really must be going.”
Before Lance could grab her she shot out her line and pulled herself back out the skylight. Not willing to give up, Lance raced to a nearby window and swung it open.
“I order you to stop!”
To Lance’s absolute surprise. Allura stopped and waited patiently for him to climb out the window and shimmy across the ledge.
“You didn't say for how long.”
She started to run off again.
“NO ONE LIKES A SMART ALEC THEIF!” Lance shouted as he gave chase.
Allura raced across the rooftops with grace and well-practised ease. Lance wasn’t quite as sure-footed but he still making a valiant effort to catch up with the red-clad thief.
It came to a head when Allura stopped at the edge of one of the buildings. Thinking he caught her, Lance started to close in.
“Au revoir,” she said with a small wave before grabbing hold of her hat and jumping off.
Lance could only look on in shock and awe as Allura opened her glider and flew off.
Said awe was cut short when the roof tile under Lance’s foot gave way.
Romelle was busy bringing the officers that had been called in up to speed.
“And where is your partner now?” One of the officer’s asked.
Romelle’s answer was interrupted by a loud crash and the sound of a car alarm going off. She turned to see that Lance had fallen off the roof onto the hood and windshield of their car.
Lance let out a pained groan as he picked himself up.
“Lance?” Romelle said in dismay. “Did you just…?”
“Never mind that!” Lance interjected. “Where in the world is Allura Sandiego!”
A short flight and quick outfit change later Allura boarded the train set to take her to Paris. Pidge had sorted out her ticket during the flight over.
“First class,” Allura commented as she entered the cabin. “Very nice.”
“My treat Red,” Pidge said over the comms. “You’ve earned it.”
“Let me know when we have an update on the second part of tonight’s mission.”
“Will do.”
Allura heard the door to her cabin open again. She spun round to see a familiar figure holding a rod that crackled with electricity.
“Hello Princess.”
Before Allura could react a series of mild shocks washed over her, causing her to drop the bag.
“Seriously Keith? Static cling?”
“Side effect of the directional E.M.P. field,” Keith replied.
Meaning that while the rod was still on, none of Allura’s tools would work.
“The crackle rod isn’t usually your style,” Allura commented as she took a seat.
“Considering all those fancy toys you started carrying, it was either this or stabbing you on sight.”
“I appreciate you showing restraint.”
“And I appreciate you sitting there quietly while the train takes us to Paris,” Kieth said as he sat down across from Allura
“What’s in Paris?” Allura asked.
“You know exactly what’s waiting for you Paris.”
Allura did know. The cleaners would undoubtedly be there ready with a chopper to take her back to V.I.L.E. Island.
“I am never going back to V.I.L.E.” Allura said defiantly.
“Then you shouldn’t have started robbing from them when you left the island,” Keith said bluntly. “Or at least not made yourself so easy to find.”
“You mean the bait you left?” Allura asked. “I knew it was bait and I found the tracker on it. I was simply hoping it was you that would find me.”
Keith rolled his eyes.
“Typical Princess, always with something to prove.”
“Stop using my old V.I.L.E. codename, I go by Allura now,” Allura replied. “And if memory serves me right, you had just as much to prove back at the academy.”
“Maybe, but I never turned traitor,” Keith said darkly.
“That’s fair I guess,” Allura conceded. “I suppose you want an explanation.”
“Save your explanations for the faculty,” Keith replied. “I’m just here to do a job.”
“Aren’t you the least bit curious about why I’m doing all this?”
“Not really.”
“It’s going to be a boring train ride with us just staring at each other. A story could help to pass the time.”
“Or I could just use the stun setting on this thing and enjoy the train ride in peace.” Keith then noticed the face Allura was making. “Are you seriously pouting at me right now?”
“Is it working?”
Keith let out an irritated grunt but ultimately relented.
“You have until the train reaches Paris, make it count.”