Ce N'est Que Le Commencement - A Carmen Sandiego Superhero AU

The Precious Cargo Caper

Chapter Warnings: Depictions of firearms, depictions of law enforcement

The Finnish countryside whipped by outside Julia Argent's window. Forests lolled out for endless miles, bordering the highway.

"If they were going to send us to an airport." Her partner, Chase Devineaux, grumbled from the driver's seat. "Could they not have just flown us to the airport?!"

"Would the criminals not have expected us? A BFAA plane showing up may have scared them off."

"We've been driving so long, they've probably already left! With their stolen property!"

"Oh?" She hummed absentmindedly as she opened the mission briefing on her tablet. "Well, says here that the plane isn't supposed to arrive until 3 AM. And, it's only 2 AM. We have time, Devineaux."

"And what if the plane arrives early?!"

"It will not. I assure you. Have you ever been on an airplane, Devineaux? They never arrive early. It's either on time, or five hours late."

"One can never be careful when one is dealing with La Femme Rouge, Ms.Argent."

"I suppose so." She studied the mission briefing, reading it closer, as she had merely skimmed it earlier. "Now, what exactly would Carmen Sandiego want with a supply of Wondrium?"

"Well, what does anyone want with it? To give themselves superpowers, of course. Ms.Argent, have you been living under a rock since the Cataclysm?"

"The Cataclysm was fifty years ago, Mr.Devineux, all the way back in 1982. Neither of us were born yet."

Devineaux muttered something under his breath, but didn't reply to that.

"Well, we already know that Ms.Sandiego is an Amélioré. Why would she need powers, if she already has them? And what other use would a thief have for Wondrium?"

"Who knows the reasons of a thief! We are not psychologists, Ms.Argent. We are agents of the BFAA. Would you mind keeping your rambling to your own mind? I am trying to drive."

"Yes, monsieur."

"Located at the tippy-top of Europe, Finland is one of two Nordic countries, and one of five total countries, in the Fennoscandian Peninsula."

"It's been rated the happiest country in the world, despite freezing temperatures. The country experiences winters that can be as long as five months, and the coldest temperature ever was negative sixty degrees fahrenheit!"

"Even their winters are beautiful, though. The Northern Lights, Midnight Sun, and Polar Night can all be seen from Finland."

"Alongside its beloved landscape, Finland also prides itself on education, which is public, all the way up to university."

"And upon graduating from one of these universities, those with PhDs participate in a special ceremony, in which they receive both a hat, and a sword. And if that's not incentive to learn, i don't know what is."

"So, if this place is so great." Zack's voice cut in. "Then why are we here?"

The chill of the Finnish air bit at Carmen's nose, and she pulled her coat a bit tighter around herself. Despite being the busiest airport in Finland, at night, Helsinki Airport appeared devoid of life. Though, of course, it was likely more active inside the actual building.

She, Zack, and Ivy were perched atop the building's roof, shielded from the whipping winds by an air conditioning unit.

"To intercept a package." The bird on Carmen's shoulder spoke. Or, well, Player spoke through the bird.