Part 7


        There was an awkward silence, which Ivy broke by asking, "Well,
should we wait until he contacts us or should we go about finding a 
mode of transit to get to his hideout?"

        "Yeah, it major league sucks not having the C-5!"  Zack 
exclaimed.
        
        "Well, I suppose we could go to my home.  I have one here in San
Francisco that houses a variety of vehicles there.  Besides, there are
also some gadgets there that I could equip you with to help-"  Carmen
began.

        "You mean help combat him?"  Ivy asked.

        "Or escape him, yes,"  Carmen replied. 

        "Ok, so how are we going to get to your place?"  Ivy asked.

        "Can't you contact a henchman to give us a lift?"  Hotaru
asked.

        Carmen looked through her pockets for some sort of communication
device, but found none.  "I guess not.  I thought I had my phone with
me, but I guess I left it-"

        "Go fig," Zack interrupted, "Carmen Sandiego forgetting
something."

        "Well, I-"

        "Who cares why you forgot it," Ivy interrupted.  "What else
can we do to get to your house Carmen?"

        "Well Ivy, I'm sure we can simply call a taxi,"  Carmen replied.

        Ivy counted everyone in the room.  "There's six of us," she
replied.  "It'll take more than one cab to transport all of us."

        "So what if it does?"  Carmen replied with a partial shrug.
"I can pay for two," she replied.

        "We have a little phone book in my desk,"  Hotaru replied as
she got up and walked over to her desk.  She opened the top drawer
and pulled out the phone book.  "Ah!  I found the number.  It's
555-6218."  She then walked over to the phone.  It was a pale blue one
with a gray cord.  The push buttons were white with black numbers.  As
she pushed each button, a slight beeping sound was heard.  There was
a short pause after she finished dialing and afterwards, and
then Hotaru requested the two cabs in front of Mary Ward Hall.
There was another pause, and Hotaru then said, "Fifteen minutes?
Sure, that's fine.  Thank you.  Good-bye."  She then hung up the
phone.

        About ten minutes later, Hotaru said, "We'd better go
outside.  The cabs are going to be here any minute."  The five
others filed out of the room and Hotaru followed a moment later as
she locked the door behind her.  Suhara turned towards her and
began, "I wish you didn't-"

        "Uncle,"  Hotaru interrupted, "Marco's expecting all of us."

        "Except me,"  Sara remarked.

        "Lucky you," Zack said.

        "Unfortunately, Hotaru's right. If she doesn't show, who
knows what Marco will do?"  Carmen asked.

        "I suddenly have an odd feeling of deja vu,"  Suhara replied.

        "As do I,"  Carmen said with a sigh.

        "You mean, we're walking into a no-win situation?"  Zack asked
nervously.

        "No!"  Ivy exclaimed, "This time, that psycho is going down!"

        "It's not that easy,"  Carmen replied.

        "Well, we have no choice.  We have to go.  Besides, we have to
get outside.  The cabs are going to be here."  Hotaru replied.

        "Right,"  Zack said with a sigh.

        Hotaru walked towards the door, took the blue marker
from her message board and wrote, 'Keely, be back later.  I'll
explain when I get back.  - Hotaru.' 

        Carmen didn't want to say it out loud, but she thought to
herself, "And I hope you will be back, Hotaru."

        A moment later, the group walked out in silence and then 
stood in front of the dorm waiting for the cabs.  A moment later, 
the 2 pulled up.  Carmen went to the window of the driver and gave 
him directions to her home then walked up to the second cab and 
said, "Just follow the cab in front of you, but if you get separated, 
here's where to go..." and relayed directions to the second driver to 
be on the safe side.  Carmen then rejoined the group and asked, "Well, 
who's going with who?"

        Everyone looked at each other and shrugged slightly.  Then a
thought hit Ivy who then growled and exclaimed, "It doesn't matter, 
we're all going to the same place!"  She then stormed over to the
first cab, opened the back door on the passenger's side and sat down.
Then Zack said, "Yeah, she is right..." and then got into the
middle spot of the front cab.

        Carmen walked over to the front cab and sat down next to
the detectives.  "I should go here, after all, the second cab will
just be following us and we should make sure-"

        "Mmm hmm," Ivy interrupted.  "You don't have to explain
everything."

        Zack then looked at Carmen as if to say, "I have no idea 
what's up with her."

        Carmen shook her head softly and watched as Suhara, Hotaru
and Sara got in the cab behind them.  When all of them did, the doors
of that cab closed and she commanded, "Driver, we're ready to 
leave now."

        A few minutes later, the six arrived at Carmen's house and
entered the front hallway.

        "My whole house could fit in this room!"  Zack commented in
amazement.

        Carmen smiled slightly at Zack's comment.  Suddenly she heard
voices from up the stairs that were in front of her.  She heard a
woman yell, "Get out you clumsy fools before you break something
else!" and then two male voices replying something, but it was
muffled by the distance.

        Carmen sighed and said, "I better go see what's going on."
She walked up the stairs and walked into the doorway of the room she
heard the noises coming from.  Before her was her maid, Amber
Hastings and her henchmen, Moe Skeeter and Lars Vegas.  Moe and
Lars had their backs to Carmen, while Amber was looking downward
pointing to shards of what appeared to once be a vase on the floor.

        "That wasn't my fault!"  Moe cried out.  "It was his!"
he exclaimed pointing to Lars.

        "My fault?"  Lars answered, "You're the one who pushed-"

        "Boys,"  Carmen interrupted.

        Moe and Lars turned around while Amber lifted her head.  All
three then saw that Carmen had entered the room.

        "Carmen!"  the henchmen cried out as Amber cried, 
"Ms. Sandiego!"

        "Now, what happened here?"  Carmen asked.

        "They broke your vase,"  Amber replied meekly.

        "But I didn't-"  Moe and Lars began.

        "Enough!"  Carmen cried out.  "I don't care who broke
it; it's broken, fine,"  she added quickly.  She then shook
her head and asked, "Moe, Lars, may I ask why you're here?"

        "We thought something happened to you Carmen!"  Moe
cried out.

        "And why did you believe that?"  Carmen asked.

        "Well,"  Lars began, "Nobody's heard from you in days.
We thought the worst!"

        "Yeah,"  Moe added, "I mean also Sara mysteriously disappeared
too!  We were wonderin' if it was open season on VILE or
somethin'!"

        "And your other henchmen have been checking your other
hideouts looking for you.  We were told to check out here,"  Lars
finished.

        "Told to check out here?"  Carmen asked puzzled, "Told
by whom?"

        "Well, not exactly TOLD,"  Lars clarified, "See, the
remaining henchmen got together to talk over what to do and
we all voted to go check your hideouts and stuff and then radio
if we've found you."

        Carmen nodded in understanding.  "Well, I can see
why there may be cause for concern.  But I'm fine,"  Carmen
replied.

        "Well, what should we tell the others?  I mean-"  Lars
began.

        "Tell them I have important matters to deal with,"
Carmen replied shortly.

        "But Carmen, are you in any danger?"  Moe asked.

        "I'm aware of the chances I'm taking,"  Carmen replied.

        "Uh, boss, can we help you out?"  Lars asked.

        "I'm sorry boys, but this is something I can't
do with any other help.  Tell the others I'll be back
soon and will tell them everything then,"  Carmen commanded.

        "Ok boss, will do,"  Moe replied,  "We'll be...uh,
well...heading out I guess,"  he added with uncertainty
as he began to walk towards the door behind Carmen.

        "Wait! You had better go out the back way,"  Carmen
suggested quickly.

        "Um, ok...,"  Lars replied puzzled.  He jogged
up to Moe and grabbed him by the collar.  "C'mon Moe,
let's get out of here then."

        "Hey!  Let go!"  Moe whined.

        Lars let go of Moe's collar and the two henchmen
walked together out the door located to the rear of the room.

        Carmen sighed and Amber asked her, "May I ask what's
going on?"

        Carmen was about to speak when she suddenly had a thought
that she felt she should act on.  She walked over to the rear door, 
opened it quickly and saw Moe and Lars hit the floor.  "I thought 
you two were leaving,"  Carmen replied with a smirk.

        "Um yeah, we are, bye!"  Lars exclaimed as he ran
down the hallway with Moe shortly behind him.  

        Carmen watched the two run off and out of her distance.
She then closed the rear door and walked back to Amber. 

        "Amber, you know how I was up late and was troubled?"
Carmen asked.

        "Yes ma'am.  You must be still bothered by this event?"

        "Yes Amber, I am.  You see, there is an enemy from
my past who is after me named Marco Kane."

        "Oh dear ma'am!  And not too long ago you had to
deal with Maelstrom!"

        "And at the rate my enemies are coming out of the
woodwork, so to speak, I wouldn't be surprised if Reginald V. Enge
decided to come after me as well,"  Carmen said a bit shaken up.

        "Your detective past sure is causing troubles right
now."

        "To put it lightly, yes.  At least after this ordeal,
I only have one more enemy to worry about."

        "You seem to be very unsure of yourself,"  Amber commented.

        "I am Amber.  Marco is quite a scary person to deal with.
He has no remorse for any acts of cruelty he commits.  In fact,
harming or killing someone gives him a sick sort of pleasure.
He seems to know exactly where to hurt you the most and will
run you down mentally and physically before you face him."

        "So when you're ready to finally do so, he will
clearly have the upper hand?"

        "Clearly,"  Carmen replied, a bit nervously.  "And
there is no way to avoid this whole situation either."

        "I do wish there was something I could do for you,
ma'am,"  Amber said, a bit in sorrow.

        "Thank you for your concern,"  Carmen replied with a
faint smile.  "I suppose I had better go.  The others are waiting 
for me."

        "The others?"

        "Yes, sadly Marco has dragged Suhara, Zack, Ivy and Hotaru
into all of this."

        "You're working with the detectives again?"

        "I am, and so far this is going a lot better than I
thought it could."

        "And who is Hotaru?"

        "Suhara's niece.  She...well, it's a rather painful
story why she is involved.  I'd rather not talk about it right
now."

        "That is all right, ma'am."

        "Thank you, Amber.  Now, I had better go,"  Carmen 
replied as she walked towards the front door.  

        "Good luck,"  Amber added as Carmen began to walk out the
front door.

        Carmen turned towards her and nodded in gratitude, then
she walked through the doorway and closed the door behind her.

        From the top of the stairs, she could see her companions
were still waiting for her and were now chatting amongst themselves.
Carmen cleared her throat and commanded, "Everyone, could I
please have you attention?"

        The murmuring from the others halted and they turned their
attention towards Carmen.  She began to speak as she descended
down the stairs saying, "I need all of you to follow me.  We can
discuss the details of what we have to do next in the basement."

        "Well, seeing Marco doesn't want me, I'll just be leaving,"
Sara said as she began to walk towards the front door.

        "No Sara!"  Carmen called out as she stepped onto the
hallway floor.

        Sara turned around to hear what her boss had to say,
though her expression showed she was not happy about having
to stay.

        Carmen continued, "Although you may not be coming, I'll
need you to help make sure all the devices are very operational."

        Sara's expression spoke for itself, and Carmen read it
correctly as, "But I don't want to!"

        "Sara...,"  Carmen began with a glaring expression.

        Sara's expression changed into a rather defeated one.  "Oh,
all riight, I'll help."

        "That's better,"  Carmen replied with grin.

        A few minutes later, Carmen lead all her guests into the
basement.  Before them was a table where many items were available
to choose from.

        Zack looked over the choices and thought out loud, "Dude,
these are awesome!"

        Carmen smiled and replied, "Why thank you Zack.  Now, let
me think...which would be a perfect choice for you?"

        "I really don't know,"  Zack replied with a shrug.

        "Well,"  Carmen began thoughtfully, "You should have
something to help combat your weakness."

        "Which is?"  Zack asked with a scowl.

        "You should know little bro',"  Ivy with an snarl.  "You
keep falling down!"

        "Oh thanks,"  Zack replied as he folded his arms.  He
then added, "What's up with you anyway Ivy?  You've had an attitude 
ever since Marco instructed us to prepare for the final showdown!"

        "I have not!"  Ivy exclaimed, but then she cooled down
and began to think about it.  She soon realized that she had
been snapping at everyone.  She took a deep breath and calmed
herself down.  "I guess I'm just really tense, little bro'.  And
because I have been so, I've been snapping at everyone."

        Zack smiled slightly.  "Well, it's understandable."

        Ivy nodded.  "But I should apologize to everyone.
So...I'm sorry guys."

        At once, everyone replied things such as, "I understand,"
and "It's okay, Ivy."

        Afterwards, Zack picked up a silver cuff that had a small
grappling hook attached to it and studied it carefully.  He then 
rolled up his jacket and shirt and slipped the cuff on.  He noticed
a small red button just below his thumb and decided to press it.
When he did so, the hook shot up to the ceiling, attached itself
there and then began to pull him upwards.

        Zack was pulled up to a point inches below the ceiling.
After he reached it, he looked down at everyone below and
grinned.  "Hey cool!"  he exclaimed pleased.  The moment of
excitement wore off a moment later and he began to look around
confused.  Sheepishly, he asked, "Uh, how do I get down?"

        Everyone chuckled and poor Zack found his cheeks turning
red.

        "You sure got yourself stuck there Zackary!"  Sara exclaimed
laughing hysterically.

        "I'm sorry Zack, I should have told you that, but you were
up in the air so fast,"  Carmen replied calming herself from her
chuckling.  

        "We didn't mean to laugh,"  Ivy said, composing herself.  "It
was just the way you said it."

        "Yeah ok, apology accepted,"  Zack replied.  "But now, how do I
get down?" he asked again.

        "Press the green button to the left of the red one you
pressed earlier,"  Carmen replied.

        Zack glanced at the cuff and said out loud, "Duh, why
didn't I see that?"  He then pressed the button and slowly came
down to the ground.  When he did so, the hook retracted back into
the cuff and Zack covered it with his shirt and jacket sleeves.

        Suddenly  Zack and Ivy's communicators went off.

        "Oh no,"  Ivy said slowly.  She then took a deep breath and
said, "Go ahead."

        A screen appeared before them and on it was a teary-eyed
Chief.

        "Chief?" asked Carmen, the detectives and Suhara at once.

        "Hi everyone,"  the Chief said sadly with a sniffle.

        "What's going on?  What's Marco done to you?"  Ivy asked.

        "Are you all right?"  Suhara asked.

        "No, not really.  Marco's done plenty to me,"  the Chief
replied.  "He had fun toying around with files making me do
all sorts of crazy stuff.  And I don't mean the silly joke
stuff I do in front of the detectives.  I'm ok for the
moment, but you guys gotta help me!"

        "What's Marco been doing?"  Ivy asked.

        "Oh, well Marco himself didn't do anything, he was just
ordering some guy to do everything to me.  The guy was trying to
hack his way into to some very classified stuff.  So far, he
hasn't gotten far, but if he does, I shudder to think what
Marco will do.  I think he did get his hands on some files
listing our personnel though,"  the Chief replied.

        "Oh man!  This is majorly bad news!"  Zack exclaimed.  "Ok
now we're ok, but if this guy keeps at it, he could access the
C-5, or the Chronoskimmer!"

        "A frightening thought," Hotaru replied.

        "To say the least,"  Zack said.

        "Chief, how were you able to contact us?  I thought
Marco took you off-line,"  Carmen asked.

        "Well, he did for a little while, but now I'm back
on...at least for now,"  the Chief nervously replied.

        "Does Marco know you're doing this?"  Ivy asked.

        The Chief nodded slowly.  He then floated a short distance to
the left and everyone in the room could now see Marco sitting at
his desk.

        "Hello everyone, did you have fun chatting with your little
friend?"  Marco asked.

        "Of course we liked to hear from the Chief, Marco,"  Zack
replied, with a note of dread in his voice.

        "Oh that's nice,"  Marco replied with a smile.  "Well,
I guess it's time for the Chief to say good-bye for now."

        The Chief began to shake uncontrollably and his eyes were
wide with fear.

        "What are you talking about?!"  the Chief cried out.

        "Tisk, tisk Chief, you decided this,"  Marco replied with 
a smirk.

        "You lied to me!  You said I'd get to stay on-line, just
unable to run anything!"  the Chief cried out.

        "You misunderstood what I said,"  Marco replied almost
nonchalantly, "But no matter,"  he added quickly as he took a
remote out his cloak.

        "What...what is that?"  the Chief questioned in fear.

        Shouts for Marco to stop came from everyone at Carmen's hideout.

        "Please!"  the Chief cried out in vain. 

        Marco didn't answer him.  He simply pressed a gray button
at the bottom of the remote.

        "Helllllp!  Why did-  aaaaaaaaah!"  the Chief cried out as
he began to fade into static.  

        The shouting at Carmen's hideout became even louder with
vain pleas for Marco to stop.  

        But, a moment later, the static faded and there was nothing
visibly left of the Chief.

        After a moment of everyone at the hideout looking at the
scream with disbelieving looks, Zack broke the silence shouting out,
"How dare you!"

        "Marco, you, you, you-"  Ivy began, but not finding words,
let out a high pitched growl.

        Suhara patted Ivy on the back slightly to try to calm her
down and shook his head in disapproval of Marco's actions.

        "Marco, do you realize what you've done?"  Carmen angrily
questioned him.

        "Oh, you mean deleting the Chief?  Tisk, tisk Carmen- I
didn't think you would mind.  After all, he's just the leader of
the organization that is trying to put you behind bars.  I thought
I did you a favor.  Why are you so upset?"  Marco asked with
devilish curiosity.

        "Damn it Marco!  He was more than just that!  He was like
my fath-"  Carmen began, abruptly stopping herself.

        "Father?  FATHER?"  Marco asked in delight.  "I thought
deleting the Chief would upset Zack and Ivy a lot but I got you
to break down too?  Oh this is better than I expected!"

        "You're messed up,"  Hotaru muttered.

        "And enjoying every minute of being so,"  Marco replied
with gleaming eyes.

        "Nothing phases you, does it?"  Hotaru asked.

        "Not much,"  Marco replied.  "My dear Hotaru, may I
ask you something?"

        "What?"  Hotaru growled in reply.

        "Does it phase you to work side by side with the
woman who is responsible for the death of your parents?"

        Hotaru said nothing.  She simply glared at him.

        "And you detectives- aren't you working with the
thief you always are pursuing around the globe?  Isn't
that crazy?"

        "Whatever it takes to bring you to justice!"  Ivy
blurted out.

        "Oh Ivy....Ivy, Ivy, Ivy....see, that still doesn't
make sense to me!"

        "Well...it may not!  But it's uh, well-"  Zack began.

        "Oh save it!"  Marco exclaimed, causing Zack to jump
back.  He then continued asking, "Suhara, why are you here?
Isn't Carmen the person who betrayed you?"

        Suhara looked at Carmen and then at Marco.  He began,
"She may have wrong me in the past, but you can't always
dwell there. You-"

        Marco cut him off exclaiming, "Shut up!  Geez, next
you'll give me some philosophical mumbo-jumbo.  No thank you.
Let's move right along, shall we?  Ah yes, I guess that
would leave you my dear Carmen.  You know my dear,
it always surprises me just how complex of a being you
actually are."

        "What do you mean?"  Carmen asked.
        
        "Oh, I don't know, maybe it's the fact that you
were a promising detective who gave up her life of
chasing crooks to become one.  And you're not just any
thief, oh no!  You're a thief with a heart!  Oh yes, you're
'Little Miss I-can-steal-priceless-objects-but-nobody-can-
get-hurt-cuz-I'd-surely-be-so-upset-I'd-cry-and-cry-and-cry!'
What's up with that?  You became a thief!  For crying out
loud, why don't you just break a few more laws and kill those
who pursue you.  You'd have a much better chance of getting
away with the stuff!"  Marco exclaimed.

        "An item can always be replaced while a life
cannot,"  Carmen replied in a sort of matter of fact tone.

        "Oh spare me the 'afterschool special' logic!"  Marco
cried out.  "Geez, it is a good thing I cut some of you off
before you went all sappy-like,"  Marco replied and then growled
afterwards.  

        "You seem to be saying a lot more than you usually
do.  It's usually a couple of words and then some threat and
then-"  Hotaru began.

        "I just had to get all that off my mind and point out
how crazy you all are,"  Marco replied with a growl.  "Oh
yes, usually then I direct you to the next part of my game.
Well, that I'm going to do.  I got tired of waiting for you
to make arrangements to show up where I directed you, so I
have a good thought as to how I can get you here even
faster."

        "Oh great,"  Zack replied with a gulp.

        Marco ignored him and continued, "I was going to allow
you to get into vehicle and drive her when suddenly one of
my scientific buddies here brought to my attention that
he figured out how to activate that little thing called...oh
what is it?  Oh that's right, the C-5 corridor."

        "WHAT?!"  Ivy exclaimed.

        "Yup, you heard me Ivy,"  Marco replied deviously.
"And you know what?  I feel like trying it out.  Say Sara,
aren't you glad now you gave your notes to Mr. Xavier?"

        Sara's face went pale as everyone glared at her.
"I didn't have a choice!  That Xavier guy wanted my
notes and if I didn't...well, I would have been killed!"

        "And that would have been a shame, wouldn't it
have?"  Marco asked sarcastically.

        "That Xavier guy, your 'scientific buddy'
as you dubbed him wouldn't have cracked the codes
without me,"  Sara muttered.

        "What was that Sara?!"  Marco exclaimed.

        "Uh, nothing,"  Sara meekly replied.

        "That's better,"  Marco said.  "Moving right
along...ah yes let's get this game going- right now!"

        He then pressed a green button on his remote and the
entrance to the corridor opened up.

        "You expect us to jump right in?"  Ivy retorted.

        "Hey, I don't want any further problems!"  Zack
blurted out.  

        "What's that supposed to mean?"  Ivy asked him.

        "Well, as much as none of us here are looking
forward to this final showdown, I'd rather not see what
Marco has in mind if we don't cooperate right now,"  Zack
replied.

        "Aren't you a smartie?"  Marco asked sarcastically
with an odd smirk on his face.

        After Marco finished speaking, Zack closed his eyes and 
jumped into the corridor entrance.

        "Zack!"  Ivy cried out.  She leaped in after him.

        "Two down, three to go,"  Marco stated non-chalantly.

        Carmen sighed and stepped forward.  "I'll go next,"
she said as she leaped into the entrance way.

        Suhara took Hotaru by the hand.  She looked at him
as they walked towards the corridor entrance.  "I'll be fine
uncle, don't worry about me," she then said.  She glanced at
Suhara one last time and saw a very saddened, yet concerned look
on his face.  She then sighed, bowing her head.   A feeling of
doubt came upon her, but she knew she must act now.  Hotaru
then leapt inside the corridor entrance, carrying Suhara 
with her.  

        Hotaru and Suhara joined the others in a grand
hallway that had doors behind them and a door to the left and
right of them.  

        "The doors behind us looks like the way we'd come
in if we used the front door,"  Hotaru commented.

        Ivy tried to open them, tugging on the golden handles.
The doors refused to open.  She tried kicking them and was about
to charge at them when Carmen cried out, "Ivy!  You might as
well stop.  Those doors are probably bolted!"

        "Yeah Ive,"  Zack said sadly, "I doubt Marco would
make it that easy to walk out."

        "You're right,"  Ivy replied as she walked back towards
them.  "So what do we do now?"

        "Well, we have two choices,"  Hotaru stated.  "Actually
three."

        "Three?"  Zack asked.

        "Yeah,"  Hotaru replied.  "Go left, go right or split up."

        "So what should we do?"  Ivy asked.

        "Split up, I suppose,"  Zack replied,  "It would
cover both options."

        "I doubt either is going to be good,"  Hotaru said.

        "I hate to admit it, but you're probably right about
that,"  Ivy remarked.  She then walked towards the left door
and opened it slowly. She jumped back, expecting something to
pop out her.  When nothing did, she stepped over the threshold
and looked down the dim hallway before her.  She then paused
and asked, "So, who's coming with me?"
        

                To be continued...