After 3000 years, I have arisen from my slumber! Memes aside though, I have returned from my year of burn out fueled hiatus. But now, I'm well and truly ready to finish this off, hopefully by the end of the year. But enough talk! Let's get into it, as we enter the entry chapter into Holland!

Chapter 30: Preparations

Powpowpowpow!

That was the sound the machine gun cannons on the Cooper I bi-plane as Sly practiced getting a handle on it's controls. True to his word, after his last conversation with Penelope, Bentley and Murray both got to work assembling a pair of Biplanes for him and Neyla. It was a new experience for their resident genius, but with Murrays muscle, and Otto Von Coopers plane designs, he got them done in record time.

While he did that, Sly and Neyla both worked on getting their pilots license the easy way. It wasn't easy, but they were able to track down two finalist pilots, and swipe their pilot's licenses. That was the easy part at least. Now out here, in the French countryside, he was learning to fly, on Ottos notes, and his lover's flight experience.

"You hanging in there Poodle?~" came Neylas voice over his ear piece as she piloted the Cooper II. There was still quite a bit of bad in her memory, but having it, certainly had it's perks. Especially since it gave her access to the flight experience she acquired while learning under Arpeggio. Over her earpiece she heard Sly give a light chuckle.

"That's not even funny Neyla, and yes I'm managing." Sly said in response to her teasing, as he managed his controls as he watched Neyla perform a loop de loop in her lilac painted plane. To think, just months ago he was the one training her, now it was the other way around. "Though I should warn you, I'm an incredibly fast study. Before long, I'll be flying circles around you!" He said earning a chuckle from her as both their earpieces crackled and Bentley's voice came over it.

"If you both are done flirting, I'd like to know how the planes are holding up?" He asked rather dryly, interrupting their conversation. With a soft chuckle, Neyla responded to them.

"They're running like a dream Bentley. You and Murray did a great job~" Neyla said as she fired off a couple rounds from her plane into the sky. Over the earpiece Sly, gave off a light chuckle.

"I'm with her there Bentley, Otto would've been impressed~" Sly added as he followed Neylas example as they prepared their descent. Back at the hideout, Bentley was on his computer, getting ready to make contact with Penelope once more to make the final arrangements.

"Alright then, Murray and the Guru are waiting with the plane carrier, I'll go ahead and call Penelope to give her our answer." He said as he cracked his knuckles, and got ready to send the request. They had cut it fairly close to the ACES registration deadline, with a mere four days to spare. Taking a breath, he sent the chat request, and not even a minute in, the chat window opened up.

New session, with Air_Heart_Babe has begun

Air_Heart_Babe: Hey Bentley! Holy cow, I was scared something happened to ya!

Spex_Guy: Haha, nope! Just been working hard to getting our planes ready

Air_Heart_Babe: Planes?! Does this mean what I think it means?

Spex_Guy: We have accepted your challenge, and we'll be on our way with two Bi-Planes of our own

Air_Heart_Babe: That's great to hear! I look forward to seeing you guys in action

Spex_Guy: Indeed! Oof! Before I forget, do you have a pic?

There was a brief pause before she typed her response.

Air_Heart_Babe: Uploading now!

In a few seconds, Bentley would find himself with his jaw dropped once Penelope's profile picture was uploaded. He saw a picture of a mouse, in one very seductive looking red dress. Specifically, as soon as she saw her, he was reduced to a drooling idiot. He could see where her head was simply taped on the body, he had done the same using a muscled body, but if even HALF of that was truly her, well, it was safe to say the brainiac was experiencing his very first crush.

Air_Heart_Babe: Well Bentley, I got to get back to work. I'll see you guys soon, right?

The ping of her message shook him from his daze, as he typed his response.

Spex_Guy: of course! Take care Penelope, I'll look forward to meeting you face to face after the competition.

Air_Heart_Babe: Same here! Take care, and good luck!

Session Ended

With that taken care of, he regained his composure, and headed for the living room, thankful everyone was out of the house. Lord knew they would've teased him to no end about his reaction.

Meanwhile, in Holland, a series of ships containing the finalists teams of the Aces competition, would dock and let their passengers out. Pilots and mechanics could be seen retrieving and unloading their planes into the mainland, all while on one ship in particular, a certain pair of Interpol Agents were arriving off a barge.

"You have to admit, Carmelita, Kinderjiik is quite lovely this time of year~" Sebastian said as he shielded the Inspector from the rain with his umbrella, while Carmelita, was appreciative of the gesture, she was still incredibly irritated over being assigned here.

"Beautiful or not, this is time we could be spending trying to catch Sl-" catching herself, she cleared her throat, and corrected herself. "...Cooper and Neyla." She said earning a chuckle from the British Lynx. "What's so funny?" She inquired as they proceeded into the town.

"See, this is why I brought you hear, to refresh yourself." He said with a soft smile. "But I can imagine a devout worker like yourself, isn't too comfortable without some sort of busy work, so…" he said producing an envelope and handing it to Inspector Fox.

"What's this?" She asked as she accepted and opened the envelope.

"While you've been researching, I've been casting my own nets. I think I found something rather promising here." He said as Carmelita, read the envelope's contents. Within it, was a picture of last years ACES winners circle, as well as a copy of the current years Staff line up.

Examining the image closer, Carmelita would go wide eyed as she saw who the runner up was. A very familiar mustached Bull Dog, with enormous arms, his trademark machine guns on his back. "I believe you two have met?" He asked as Carmelita nodded.

"Former Enforcer of the Fiendish Five, Muggshot… he escaped prison a year after the group was dissolved." She spoke as they kept walking.

"According to my sources, he's spent a lot of time running the European dog fighting circuit." He spoke as Carmelita looked to him. "He's in the competition again this year, but if we find anything to hook him, we'll be first on scene for the arrest." Thus got Carmelita to smile a bit, as she looked at the staff list, taking note of one name in particular: Commentator, Dimitri Lousteau.

"Well I'll be damned… not nearly as high profile as Muggshot, but still~" it was at this point, that shed close the file and looked to him. "...You must have pulled a lot of strings to find these two…" She spoke as Sebastian chuckled.

"I figured the potential would be a good distraction for your ailing heart." He spoke, stunning the fox. "You may have everyone else fooled, but I know heartbreak when I see it Carmelita. Perhaps over that roguish Raccoon and his little Tigress friend?" He asked as the Inspector was about to rebuke him, when he raised his hand to stop her.

"I have no intention of spilling your little secret. I only ask, that, if you'll allow, you'll let me lend my ear to hear your tale." He spoke as Carmelita, was at a loss for this. Most would've jumped at the chance of disgracing the great Inspector Fox using that information, but yet… he merely used it as a chance to be a friend to her.

With a soft nod, Carmelita looked away, a subtle blush on her Features. "...Thank you, Agent Har-... Sebastian, I'll… definitely consider it." She spoke, the Lynx nodding to her.

"That's all I can ask for. Now, let's get inside and dry off hmm?" He asked as the pair finally left the bustling docks. Unbeknownst to either of them though, arriving off a cargo ship, would be a heavily cloaked figure. Spying Carmelita, Chrona, would grin from under her hood. Her second chance, would soon come.

And thus concludes my first chapter of 2020. As promised, I'm going to be doing a lot of work for this story over the year. Specifically for Holland, and later on, China, I have a LOT of neat stuff planned! Till then, take care you guys!