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

The Year of the Fox Caper

Chapter Warnings: Mentions of alcohol and blood

"A week." Chase Devineaux began. Chief stared at him with no amusement in her holographically-projected eyes. "A week, I've been stuck here. Dans cet endroit d'enfer!"

"Calm down, Agent Devineaux." She shook her head. "Someone will hear."

"Whatever." Devineaux sat back down on his hospital bed. It had been his home for far longer than he wished it had been. His eyes burned from the blank, white walls of his hospital room. One of these days, he was just going to punch a doctor and run. "Yesterday, I was given the all clear."

"They told you that your arm was healed. That dosen't mean an all clear."

"It should mean that I can leave this place!"

"If you would just listen to me, Devineaux. There is a reason that I called you."

"Of course, Chief." He shook his head, seemingly returning at last to his senses. Or, at least, he had remembered that Chief was his boss, and not his friend. He stood back up.

"I have read your medical reports. Your arm has healed, and your other injuries should not hinder you. You are cleared to return to the field."

Chase's eyes widened, but he attempted to keep his excitement to a professional level, lest Chief revoke her decision.

"Finally." He nodded. "When can I leave this place?"

"A driver will pick you up in two hours. Your flight leaves in four. I hope you are up to sitting still for some time longer, as your flight is to Australia."

"Australia?" Zack spoke with a questioning tone.

"Or, as its sometimes called, the land down under. Australia is the oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent. Despite this, over twenty-five million people live there." Player explained.

"And they say, uh, shrimp on da barbie!" Zack joked.

"That's British people, dipshit." Ivy elbowed him. "So what's our mission?"

"Well..." Player began, before shaking his head. "Though a large amount of Australia's current population is of European descent, a significant portion of their population is made up of Indigenous Australian people, or, as they are more commonly referred to, Aboriginals. Aboriginal peoples have a very deep tradition with art, and nowadays, Aboriginal artists have begun using traditional techniques in their art. This type of art has become incredibly popular in Australia, in recent years."

Zack and Ivy looked half-way asleep.

"And VILE is trying to steal a very famous Aboriginal painting."

That caught their attention.

"An Aboriginal artist's association is hosting a charity auction. And VILE has plans to steal the auctioned paintings."

Ivy and Zack sat up on the couch they were slumped on.

"Got it." Ivy nodded.

"When do we leave?" Zack asked.

"Um..." Player averted his eyes. "You aren't."

"What do you mean?"

"I wanted to let you two know but... I have it taken care of. A building fell on you two."

"That was a week ago. We're fine."

"It's taken care of."

"Yeah, by Carmen."