Team Red looked up at the place that they were supposed to rob for the Sterlings. In awe of how huge it was.
"Sterling definitely wasn't kidding when he said they got big money, I'll give him that." Carmen mused, as the crew walked up to the entrance.
Ivy frowned at her boss. "You think he'll let us in?" She asked, while completely doubting it in her head.
Carmen shook her head. "I doubt it. He doesn't know us, so what would be his reason to-"
She was cut off when the gates suddenly opened. Revealing a man that Carmen had seen somewhere.
The man smiled fondly at Carmen. "Black Sheep. How nice it is to see you after all these years." He said, walking over to the group.
Carmen's eyes widened. "It really is you."
The man smiled. "Yes, it is." He said, holding out his arms. "C'mere, you little troublemaker!"
Carmen rolled her eyes, and chuckled, as she hugged her old practical babysitter.
Zack and Ivy just watched the scene unfold in confusion. While Shadowsan was silent, as always.
"Umm...not to interrupt this..reunion and all, but..who is he, Carm?" Ivy asked, looking at the man who Carmen was hugging.
Carmen quickly pulled away, smiling at the rest of the gang.
"Oh, right, Player didn't tell you guys. This is Martin Mccoy, formerly known as The Engineer." Carmen said, pointing at Martin.
"Martin, this is my lovely crew Zack and Ivy. And you already know Shadowsan." Carmen said, not really having to point out which one was which, since it was obvious.
Martin smiled kindly at them. "Pleased to meet you. I see you've taken a liking to this little rascal over here!" He said, while that last part was just teasing.
"Hey!" Carmen protested, playfully slapping Martin on the shoulder.
Ivy snorted. "Well, you two are close. I'm jealous." She said, rolling her eyes with a huge smile on her face.
Martin chuckled, before straightening his posture. He cleared his throat.
"Anyway, back to business, come on in! I'll have my butler bring us some tea."
He began walking back into his mansion, motioning them to come along. Which they complied.
____________________
"So, let me get this straight. You left VILE, started an auto company, had a son named Rodrick, and was once friends with the Sterlings?" Carmen recapped, after hearing Martin tell his story.
Martin gave her a curt nod. "Yes. Sterling's son and my son were once best friends. They did everything together. They were inseparable." He sighed, putting his cup of tea down onto the table they were all sitting at.
"Until one day, Trey had a fight with him. Rodrick didn't tell me what it was about, but..it was bad enough that Trey had told his father a biased version of what happened. And things..went downhill after that."
Carmen frowned. "What happened?"
"In 2018, after Rodrick and Trey had their fight, Sterling set up a press conference. Telling people that I stole his latest car designs and that I was going to pass them as my own." Martin explained, noting the shocked looks on Team Red's faces (excluding Shadowsan).
"He managed to get a decent amount of people to believe him. And after that, no one wanted to buy my vehicles anymore. And my company started losing money. And..here we are."
Carmen's eyes widened. "He's setting you up again." She whispered, remembering what Sterling had "hired" her to do.
Martin looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Sterling.."hired" me to steal blueprints for a car design that apparently you stole. He's trying to get you to lose even more money than you already are..using me." Carmen said, looking down at her feet.
"That son of a bitch!" Ivy snapped. "I will find him and I will-"
"Sis, calm down! If we kill him, then we aren't any better than him!" Zack said, placing a hand on Ivy's shoulder.
Ivy took a few deep breaths. And once she completely calmed down, she looked at her little brother and smiled in appreciation. "Thanks bro."
Ivy looked back to Carmen. "So..what now, Carm?"
Carmen looked up, determination present in her grey-blue eyes. "We need to make sure Sterling pays the price for doing this to you." She said, looking at Martin.
Martin nodded, smiling at her. "I accept the help."
____________________
"What is it you wanted me to see again?" Carmen asked Martin, as they walked upstairs to..wherever he was taking her.
"I may have a link to your mother. Vera Cruz." Martin said, while they were nearing the place he was taking her to.
Carmen looked at him, flabbergasted. "How do you-"
Martin smiled at her. "Your hacker friend, Player, was it? He introduced himself shortly after our..partnership became official."
Carmen frowned. "It's..unusual for him to keep things under wraps from me."
"I figured. But, anyway, your father and I were friends at the academy. Before he became a part of the Faculty. When he told me he was leaving VILE and secretly living a new life in South America, I was shocked. But..it didn't stop me from helping him out." Martin explained.
"Sometime after he left, we still kept in touch. And then..one day, he told me about an amazing woman he met. While he was still in Argentina." He looked away from Carmen and to the door that was their destination.
___________________
Gunnar Maelstrom smiled manically as he heard Martin and Carmen's conversation.
"Good. Now, it's time to lead her into the trap." He said, as he heard Martin say his last few lines to Carmen before they arrived to where the trap was set up.
_____________________
Martin invisibly gulped when he heard Maelstrom's order through his earpiece. He sighed, knowing this had to be done. For his son's sake. And his too.
"Carmen.."
Carmen, who was looking at some old jewelry Martin kept, looked at him. "Yeah?"
Martin looked back at her. With guilt in his eyes. "I'm sorry.." He said, before holding up a Crackle rod.
Carmen gasped, about to get ready into fighting stance. Before she felt a sharp pain in her back. Then next thing she knew, her world went black. As she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Martin held up a hand to his earpiece. "It's done."
"Excellent work, Engineer. Please stand by for further instruction." Dr. Bellum's voice rang in his ear.
"Will do, Dr. Bellum." Martin said, while picking Carmen up bridle style and carrying her to somewhere her team can't find her.