Chapter Text
A young girl is inside a small island; out where the sharp rocks are, rain soaked her large red coat and wind swept through her short hair. Her eyes swelled up with tears as she held the necklace. "He almost killed you there…" Maelstrom walked directly beside her. "I told you you were a wild animal that could never be tamed." . "I won't be tamed…" The black sheep raised her head, looking down at the rains that had landed lightly on her cheek. Maelstrom took a step back when he noticed a shift in Black Sheep's expression.She was no longer the small child who grinned brighter than the sun; instead, he sensed a very different energy. One form of complete rage and hatred: "I'm going to bed now." Blacksheep turned around and walked past her adopted father. "For now, I am Carmen Sandiego…" she said without looking at him.
Time had slipped away since that fateful day, and Carmen found herself amidst the bustling atmosphere of a bidding auction. Although auctions had never piqued her interest, Countess Cleo had tasked her with a mission to acquire a highly sought-after stamp card. As the years passed, Carmen transformed into a captivating femme fatale, her long brown hair elegantly styled into a small bun, and she donned a striking red dress adorned with golden rings. The outfit was designed to accentuate her allure, with just the right amount of cleavage to project an air of innocence that was anything but.
As she sat there, Carmen couldn't help but ponder, “What am I even doing here?” Boredom began to creep in as the auctioneer droned on in a language that felt foreign to her. The words were a blur, lost in the sea of her disinterest. Then, with a sudden burst of excitement, the auctioneer announced, “And now, we present the Rare British Guiana One-Cent Black on Magenta stamp! Bidding starts at 10 million!” The moment the box was opened, Carmen felt a spark of anticipation.
A smile crept across her face as she observed the frenzy that erupted around her. Whispers and murmurs filled the air, and she noticed the women nearby quickly shifting their conversations to other extravagant pieces of jewelry, which, as it turned out, had also mysteriously vanished. The expressions on their faces were priceless, and Carmen couldn't help but smirk at the unfolding drama. The atmosphere thickened with intrigue, and she reveled in the chaos that surrounded her.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I regret to inform you that we must cancel the charity auction for the children," the woman announced with a heavy sigh. The murmurs of disappointment filled the air, and Carmen sensed it was her moment to slip away. In an instant, she vanished into the chaos, leaving behind a crowd in uproar. "Charities are just a front for the wealthy..." she muttered, illuminating the thick fog with her flashlight. "It's just affluent individuals pretending to care about children—" she turned, directing the beam into the mist. As she approached, a figure began to emerge from the shadows. A tall man with a smattering of freckles across his face came into view, his light eyes and slicked-back red hair glinting in the moonlight. He held a large rose in front of her, feigning a sniff before offering it to Carmen.
"Mimebomb..." she recognized him, taking the rose and inhaling its fragrance. Surprisingly, without makeup, Mimebomb wasn't half bad looking. In fact, she thought he was rather charming, regardless of his appearance. "You're a bit late, Mimebomb; someone already made off with the jewelry and the stamp," Carmen remarked with a hint of frustration. Mimebomb tilted his head, encouraging her to examine the rose more closely. As she ran her fingers along the velvety petals, she discovered a small slip of paper hidden within. "No way!" Carmen exclaimed, pulling out a rare stamp valued at ten million dollars. Mimebomb produced a delicate gold necklace, draping it around her neck
. "If you wanted to get involved, you could have just asked," Carmen teased, pointing out the obvious. Mimebomb simply shrugged, taking her hand and guiding her back into the enveloping fog.
***
Back in the Vile headquarters a young woman dressed in all blue opened the doors . She is very petite .Only a mere 5ft2 but stays head strong looking Maelstrom in the eye with absolute calmness. “ And who might you be ? “ Cleo was the first to start speaking. “Call me ..,Jules “ Jules answered. “Like Cleo asked before, who are you ? “ Brunt questioned. “Just call me Jules, you could say that I'm a new recruit for Vile but it seems like you can't even be bothered to read a basic Email “ Jules rolled her eyes . “Now listen here Missy “ Brunt grabbed Jules by her shirt . Before any of the Vile members could even react Jules took Brunt's wrist and threw her to the other side of the room . “The next time you touch me like that again I will kill you “ Jules said coldly then turned around heading out the door . “Next time check your email Nigel Braithwaite has a few words to say to you “ she then closed the door .
“Nigel…Nigel Braithwaite !? “ The faculty looked at each other.
In a swift motion, Maelstrom pressed the button, causing a large computer screen to descend. A Chinese man, resembling Jules but with a deeper skin tone, stood before him. "You're thirty seconds late," he remarked, lighting a Cuban cigar. "Time is money, Gunnar, and you know how much I despise wasting either. If this happens again, I might just have to make you an eunuch, understand?" Nigel's warning hung in the air, heavy with consequence. Maelstrom felt a chill run down his spine as he replied, "I understand, Mr. Roundabout. It won't occur again.”
Nigel hung up leaving the TV slowly lifted upwards .
***
The following day, a striking blonde named Tigress and an eccentric man named Neal were gearing up for a mission together. "Word on the street is that a new member of the Vile crew, Jules, will be joining us," Tigress remarked. "I’ve never heard of her," Neal replied with a casual shrug. "She’s a Chinese immigrant from Beijing, but that’s about all I know," Tigress added. "Oh, I’ve been to Beijing before," Neal grinned, "which just means I have a fresh target to annoy." At that moment, Neal turned, concealing a water balloon behind his back. The door swung open, revealing Jules, clad in a form-fitting blue uniform with a cheerful yellow flower adorning her hair.
"And these are your new teammates," Jean announced. Neal froze for a moment, the vibrant colors of the flower momentarily blinding him. His heart raced as he took in the sight of the stunning woman from a distance. Without a second thought, he pushed Jean aside and extended his hand to Jules. "Hi, I’m Neal the Eel!" he exclaimed, only to be interrupted by a sharp pain as Jean kicked him. This sparked a lighthearted water balloon skirmish, prompting Jules to roll her eyes in amusement.
Chapter Text
The trivial skirmish dragged on far longer than Jules had anticipated. "Are they really just exchanging slaps?" Tigress exclaimed, her confusion evident. As Jules observed the scene, she reflected, "Before I joined Vile, I conducted thorough research on some of its members." Her mind raced as she assessed each participant. "Jean Paul, known as Le Chèvre, is Afro-French and a master of acrobatics, but his climbing skills far surpass his fighting abilities. Tigress, whose real name is Sheena, possesses razor-sharp claws, yet my knives are even deadlier. And then there's this mutated individual, Neal the Eel. His background is the most elusive to uncover, aside from the fact that he hails from New Zealand and suffers from a peculiar illness. He once undertook missions in Beijing to study endangered eels, picking up Mandarin along the way. He also claims to be half Chinese but is tight-lipped about the details." Jules couldn't help but notice how effortlessly Neal evaded Jean Paul's attacks, as if they were mere child's play.
"Stop dodging and face me!" Jean gasped, clearly running out of steam. "It's obvious my uncle has set me up with novices to gauge my strength," Jules thought, her fists clenched in frustration. "These sheep need a dragon to lead them.
"Did my victory catch your attention, Jules?" Neal inched closer, his cheeks flushed with excitement. "I've witnessed chow chows deliver more thrilling performances," Jules shot back, her tone playful yet sharp. Neal took a step back, his gaze drawn to Jules' striking attire. She donned a blue Beijing-style qipao adorned with a golden dragon, a stunning piece that accentuated her figure and revealed a glimpse of small knives tucked against her thigh. "You might want to conceal your armaments a bit more effectively," Neal teased, a grin spreading across his face. "Oh, really?" Jules arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms defiantly. "Indeed, those tiny knives on your thighs are obviously plastic. I assume you intend to use them as a diversion while your true weapon is..." Neal dramatically produced a long, golden hairpin shaped like a flower
. The sudden motion caused Jules' hair to cascade down to her neck, framing her face. "This is Ji, right? And it's laced with poison to incapacitate anyone who interferes with our mission, am I correct?" Neal inquired, his tone a mix of admiration and curiosity. "Well, someone has been paying attention in basic stealth 101," Jules admitted, a hint of respect in her voice.
"The plan is very simple, just stealing some items from a pawn shop, “ the text read .
"Are you serious right now?" Jules clenched her jaw, "Sure, it’s pretty standard, but a job is still a job," Neal replied with a casual shrug. "True, a job is a job, but I’d rather not feel so... belittled," she chuckled. "Come on, you two..." "Are we heading to a pawnshop?" Tigress inquired. "No, I have no interest in those pathetic places. I’d rather take something of real worth," Jules said, tapping her blue nails against the window. "Maybe something valuable from England, where I can pay a visit to my uncle..." "We’re supposed to stick to the mission! During Vile, we’re meant to let all the family go—" Jean attempted to interject, but was swiftly cut off by the sharp hairpin that nearly grazed his eye. "That was your first and final warning. I can’t promise your safety if that happens again..." Jules tucked her pin back into her hair. "I’m completely smitten with her," Neal thought, hearts practically bursting from his head. "She’s definitely a femme fatale..." Jean took a step back.
Before long, they found themselves seated in a Vile-themed private jet, en route to London, as the cleaners had been easily persuaded. "Would you care for some peanuts, my dear?" Neal offered her a pack. "I don’t touch airplane food unless it’s first class," Jules replied dismissively. "Oh..." Neal retracted the offer. "I’d like some peanuts!" Tigress extended her hand. "Sorry, did you say something?" The Eel was already halfway through a bag of mixed trail nuts. "Never mind..." Tigress sighed. "Everything is going more smoothly than I anticipated," Jules mused to herself. "One day, I’ll rise to the top, and those who once looked down on me will pay dearly for it..." "On second thought, Neal, I’ll take a bag of trail mix," Jules decided, changing her mind. "Okie Dokie!" Neal tossed her a pack.
Chapter Text
In another corner, it was evident that Carmen cherished the memories of the previous night. She clutched the exquisite golden necklace, a treasure valued in the hundreds of thousands. “That fool…” she muttered, gripping the necklace tightly. Even as one of the elite spy agents, the Mime always seemed to be a step ahead, effortlessly finding ways to rattle her at the most opportune moments. All without saying a single word. Carmen felt warmth every time she thought about the clown and she didn't understand why .
She shut her eyes for a fleeting moment, allowing herself to unwind just a bit. Memories flooded back of Beau seizing her arm, guiding her into the misty realm, only to be intercepted by none other than Chase, the most infuriating cop she had ever encountered. Without warning the hold tip of a pistol pressed the temple of her skull . Despite this she wasn't afraid in the slightest.
“What do you want ? “ Carmen recalled speaking. “I'm here to kill you Carmen Sandiego “Chase stared at her. “Oh really you're here to kill me ? and why is that ? “ Carmen asked . “We both know you are VILE’S worst criminal in history “ Chase was about to pull the trigger. Beau leaned in toward her, his eyes glinting with mischief as he subtly signaled his intention to employ a clever tactic to send Chase packing. Carmen nodded giving him permission to do what he wants
Beau presented a stunning rose to Chase forcefully pressing it against his nose giving Carmen enough time to dodge . Suddenly, a soft pink mist burst forth, enveloping him and making him cough and choke. “MY EYES “ he dried out . Beau yanked Carmen out of the mist and instead watched Chase struggling from afar . “ Chase went from screaming to laughing within a few seconds as blood started to pour out of his eyes , nose and mouth . “HE HE HE HAHAHA gak ! “ Chase wiggled around stretching his arms out in an unusual twist. “He he…he..he…ack ..” He struggled to get up a deranged smile now fixture on his face. He pulled out his gun, shaking it frantically at Beau .
Despite this Beau was strangely calm even going as far as to press his head against the gun . Carmen yanked Beau away as they both dished the bullets flying at them . They both then ran off into the fog . “Mimebomb, don't you think you went a little bit too far ? “ she questioned. Beau simply shook his head scribbling down in his notebook .
“He deserves it ? He has been on our asses for months and the moment he tried to kill you…I couldn't help myself..” Beau dodged another bullet . Carmen hugged Beau then used her grambling hook to lift them up to hire grounds . It was quite foggy and hard to see ..but they knew how to blend in . The entire thing is mere child's play to Carmen and Mimebomb. They weren't just agents but former child soldier's who simply do what they do best.
Spread as much chaos as possible…
The sounds of clanking went dim as gunshots rose up followed by empty shells casings that hit the ground .
“Where are you..where are you ..where are you ..” Chase shook his hands .
“I could run away but where would the fun in that be …” Carmen stated , “SHOW YOURSELF COWARD..” Chase started shooting some more until all he heard was an empty chamber.
*click click click click*
“Shit ..”
Chase hurled the gun away, his voice erupting in a torrent of French curses. Seizing the moment, Carmen darted past him, sending the Frenchman spiraling into a fit of rage. “You bitch!” he shouted, sprinting after her until she vanished once more into the thick fog. He jumped up, tackling his partner Arnaud , “Ouch..,” the man screamed in pain “what was that !? “. “I was trying to kill Carmen Sandiego, “ Chase shouted. The fog cleared up again revealing Beau and Carmen together.
They wore twisted, sadistic grins, and then it hit Arnaud like a freight train: “Oh shit , it’s them!” He started firing his gun, but his aim was a complete disaster, even worse than Chase’s. The couple sprang up in perfect unison, weapons drawn. Before long, the fog enveloped them again, drowning out the men’s screams of pain.
Chase and Arnaud found themselves bound, their bodies a mess of cuts and bruises. “Unbelievable… I’m not even French, yet I’m embarrassed by how you two are making a mockery of France!” Carmen’s voice dripped with venom. “You will die for your sins…but first i want answers ” her small knife grazed the throat of Arnaud leaving a small stream of blood. .
Beau watched her his bucked tooth smile grinning ear to ear until he sensed something..off .
He suddenly produced an unfamiliar chemical and swiftly sprayed a blue fragrance into Carmen's face, rendering her unconscious before she had a chance to fight back. Beau then carried her out of sight leaving the police men confused.
Ever since yesterday Mimebomb has been keeping close tabs on Carmen. “I don't understand what the hell is wrong with Mimebomb…” Carmen pulled out the blue bottle that he gave to her after she woke up “but I'm sure he is going to eventually tell me ..”.