During the search for Sly following the battle with Le Paradox, a message shows up on ThiefNet asking for a member of the Cooper Gang, promising highly desired information if they can prove their identity as a member of the Cooper Gang. (rogue-cop-panther)
@rogue-cop-panther
“It could be a trap.” Bentley said sternly, “They’re probably just gonna turn us in or something!” He moved the computer screen away in a huff.
“But what if it’s not!” Murray pleaded, “We could find Sly! Isn’t that worth the risk?” He moved closer to his friend, “Besides, if we tell Carmelita about this, I’m sure she’d be willing to help us!”
Bentley looked at Murray thoughtfully, before giving in. “Fine.” He sighed, “I’ll send them a message. You send Carmelita a message, tell her we might have a lead.”
He clicked on the message, replying back, “What kind of proof do you need?”
Hart wasn’t the type to take advantage of the opening given his nature, but he didn’t take kindly to the threat. He could understand the suspicion, but the threat was honestly uncalled for. He had not presented significant reason for the proclamation of the threat and all it did for him is detract from his trust of them.
Once they managed a few steps away from the passageway, he would press on a stone among the walls of the tunnel, causing the passageway from the cafe to the tunnel to shut. Once it had sealed, the circuit would energize and a series of light would illuminate down the length of the tunnel.
Hart’s eyes would scan along the lights. He wasn’t lost as he traversed the tunnels enough times to recollect that every pair of lights correlated to the house that they were under and he knew the address orientation that the tunnel proceeded through. The tunnel itself branched off at numerous points, most of which were dead ends for delaying intruders that managed to find their way in. Only three had an actual purpose. One led to the accessway that would allow Murray and the van inside, a second that led to the cafe, and the third led to his actual base.
Once he reached the desired point, he would turn right toward the accessway, where a keypad would be illuminated under one of the lights that lingered. Walking over to the keypad, the rogue would enter in the code to unlock the door. From the outside, it was nothing more than a greenhouse, but it was the hidden passage. The doors would separate before folding in toward Hart, Carmelita, and Bentley before becoming almost flush with the rest of the wall. There was enough room in the tunnel to accommodate the van without damaging any of the equipment that protruded from the frame.
Hart would wait for the entire van to make it’s way inside and then give several feet excess before entering a separate code into the keypad sealing the entrance back up. Walking over to Murray on the driver’s side. “Turn right to access the main tunnel then go straight until you see a wall in front of you. Turn left at the wall. You will come to what appears to be a dead end but actually houses a hydraulic lift that will take you to my base. The lift will act on its own when you stop the van to take you to my base’s garage.”
Returning his attention back to Bentley and Carmelita. “I have informed your driver where to go. You can choose to go with him from here or follow me on foot. The path either way is almost entirely the same, the only difference is the path at the wall. The path at the right of the wall will take you to a staircase to my base.”
