Black Rose

Ch.26 Menace in the North, Eh?

Things just weren't right up in Canada... Random acts of violence kept popping up and the Northern Lights, well...they just weren't right. One night, they'd be brighter than ever, and the next, gone. Back in Nunavut Bay, Sly and I overheard talk between Jean Bison and his mysterious partner, Arpeggio. Somehow, those two are behind this whole mess... However, tracking down the disturbance wasn't too hard. By following the Northern Lights, we were led to an immense lumber camp. The sheer number of fallen trees advertised Jean Bison's presence and that he was also in the possession of the Clockwerk Talons... The Thievius Foxus has made numerous references to the talons' ability of slicing through steel. A skilled lumberjack like Bison could clear a forest in just a matter of hours with that artifact in his possession. Those talons have got to go, both to finally due away with Clockwerk and to save the environment from his twisted sense of "progress"; the world just doesn't need to make space for another strip mall.

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Sly and Rae exited the small cabin they had decided to make their hideout, pulling out their binocucoms. "Okay, so here's what we know: One, Arpeggio's blimp is on its way to pick up a battery from Jean Bison. And two, the only way we'll get a crack at Arpeggio's Clockwerk Brain is by finding a way to sneak aboard his blimp." Bentley explained.

"Yeah, but first, we'll need to snag the Clockwerk Talons off Jean Bison. Time is short and we've got a lot to accomplish." Sly said.

"True, true... But first thing's first: This lumber camp isn't on any of my maps. I need you two to poke around and take some recon photos; they'll help to get my sensors oriented."

"Sure thing. Recon photos, we've got covered." Rae said.

"In anticipation of the icy climate, I took the liberty of modifying your cane, Sly. Now it can separate into two smaller canes, just like yours, Rae, which will be ideal for climbing up th ice walls around the area."

"Alright, sweet. That'll sure come in handy."

"Well, at least I don't have to leave you behind anymore." The fox noted.

"Try testing them out on that sheet of ice to try and get a feel for them, then head on to scout the area for me. And I made sure to divide things up between the two of you, so no fighting."

"Roger that." They both said in unison before disconnecting.

"First thing's first before we get things underway: Why don't you try climbing up that ice wall?" Rae pointed.

"Well, I'm gonna have to do it eventually so I might as well get it over with." Sly said as the two approached the wall. "Okay, so...how do I use those dual canes? An explanation would've been nice."

"Look, it's simple." Rae said as she took his cane. "See, it's just like mine. There's a little hidden button on the cane. You just flip it open and press it, then..." She watched as the cane began to transform, separating into two smaller ones. "...You've got two canes. Simple, right?"

"Sounds easy enough, but let's see if I can even climb up this thing first before we get ahead of ourselves." The raccoon then rammed a cane in the ice wall, doing the same with the other as he started climbing up, Rae switching her cane into two separate ones as she followed close behind him.