[theme music playing]
♪ Where in the world Is Carmen Sandiego? ♪
♪ Sandiego ♪
♪ Where in the world Is Carmen Sandiego? ♪
Credentials, please.
[beeping]
Thank you, General.
[Shadowsan] As you were.
- Player, Red Hat is in Red Square. - [Player] Glad to hear the IDs worked out.
The server vault's on sublevel four.
If our intel is accurate, VILE could already be inside.
[grunts]
Whoo! Easy-peasy.
Neal the Eel to Dr. Bellum. I'm in.
Server 6609 located.
[Dr. Bellum] Well done, Neal. You might make Faculty yet.
Well, I hear there's an opening.
And you know how much I enjoy worming my way into those.
- [beeping] - [Neal] Searching database.
And Bob's your uncle.
[Dr. Bellum] I have seven uncles, none of whom are named Bob.
It's just a turn of phrase, love. Means "I found it."
Then say that. I'm a scientist.
Colorful vernacular only serves to confuse me.
- [beeping] - [Neal] Download complete.
Is that direct enough for you?
Do svidaniya, comrades!
- I will take the Eel. - I'll take the server.
[Carmen] Player, uplink's live.
See if you can retrace Neal's slimy trail.
Ah, Instructor Shadowsan.
When they told me you defected over to the red side,
I didn't realize they meant Russia.
I will take the data.
You will try.
Butterfingers! [laughs]
- [grunts] - Oh, pretty slick.
- But I'm slicker! - [grunts]
- Aah! - Hey, get a grip!
Do you mind if I vent?
[coos]
[Shadowsan growls]
[hammer banging]
It took some serious decrypting, but I pinpointed what VILE was after.
Technical specs for an experimental electromagnetic pulse generator,
codenamed, "Trip Wire."
The Russian government attempted to design the next generation of EMP device,
long-range with ultimate pinpoint accuracy.
Attempted to?
Yep. They couldn't crack it, so Trip Wire was shuttered.
Dr. Saira Bellum thrives on solving the unsolvable.
And if she manages to engineer a working prototype from the stolen plans,
VILE will possess the means of disabling any electrical grid in the world
from anywhere at any time.
As in cause instant blackouts?
Create power outages that would shut down security systems
and allow VILE to steal from the cover of darkness.
Sounds like the ultimate crackle rod.
Any chance the electrician formally known as Crackle is involved?
Crackle has no memory
of ever being associated with the Villains International League of Evil.
My old classmate Gray suffers from amnesia,
which we now know was caused by Dr. Bellum.
Fair enough. So, what's the caper?
What else?
We disable Bellum's prototype before she can use it
and delete the plans so she can't rebuild it.
Judging from the involvement of Neal the Eel,
Dr. Bellum's base of operations for this project
would most certainly be her laboratory in New Zealand.
Yes! Back to Australia!
Throw another shrimp on the barbie, mate!
Dudes, New Zealand is actually a completely different country.
Hold on. It's not the capital of Australia?
- Pfft, news to me. - You sure?
They're both down under.
Technically, I guess.
But, yeah, I'm sure.
[Shadowsan] I must caution you.
The laboratory is Dr. Bellum's highest security facility.
Shadowsan's not kidding.
I just pulled it up on the VILE hard drive.
The place is a fortress.
To even get near Bellum's computer lab,
you'd have to cross a series of four electrical fields
with a fail-safe.
If more than one field is deactivated at any given time,
the entire building goes into lockdown.
But we have our own ninja.
Ninjas can go anywhere they want, right?
Moving unseen among shadow is one thing.
Passing through high-voltage electricity, entirely another.
Bellum's lab does have one vulnerability.
It draws all its power from a nearby electrical substation.
If we get into the substation,
we can manually shut down the fields, grid by grid.
So, my movements would need to be perfectly synchronized, like a dancer.
Or else, crispy fried Carmen.
What's the problem?
Player has wicked awesome gamer reflexes.
We can't risk the server lag
or any voltage spikes that might blow a fuse.
We would need someone on site who really knows their electric.
Crackle was the finest criminal electrician VILE ever had.
Gray's out of the game. We can't pull him back in.
Not even to play for the good guys?
We know he has stage lighting experience.
Whoa, are we breaking into a lab or putting on a show?
If Bellum were to lay eyes on Gray, his safety would be compromised.
Two completely different locations, remember?
Problem solved.
[sighs] All right.
We'd need a cover story. Gray can't know what he's actually doing.
- What? - How do we pull that off?
Like you said, Ivy, we put on a show.
[Player] Located way down in the southern hemisphere,
New Zealand is made up of two main islands and about 600 smaller ones.
[Carmen] The country is so remote,
it was actually one of the last land masses on our planet
settled by humans.
[bleats]
[Player] Whoa! And sheep, apparently.
About 30 million sheep live on the islands.
[Carmen] You're not pulling the wool over our eyes.
[bleats]
[Carmen] That amounts to nearly six sheep for every Kiwi.
- [Player] The fruit? - [Carmen] No, the people.
New Zealanders proudly refer to themselves as "Kiwis,"
named after the native flightless bird that's their national symbol.
[Zack] So you're saying New Zealand really isn't in Australia?
[Carmen] That's right, Zack. It's its own country.
Over 1,000 miles southeast of the Australian continent.
- Then why are we flying to Australia? - To wrangle our electrician.
You're late.
Fashionably, I hope.
I'm sorry I stood you up, Gray.
- Um, it's... - Graham. Right.
Look, I was called away on business at the last minute.
What kind of business?
I run an international charity for abandoned children.
In fact, that's the reason I came to see you today.
Oh?
I am sponsoring a big fundraiser in Auckland, New Zealand, this week.
Selections from Swan Lake.
Tchaikovsky.
I've lit a few Russian ballets at the old Sydney Opera House.
Fortunately for me,
our lighting technician dropped out, and I'm hoping you can help.
On one condition.
You have that cuppa with me afterwards.
I'll have the foundation book you a flight.
[Carmen] All right, crew, let's review.
We fly into Auckland, New Zealand's largest city,
which happens to boast its most famous skyline,
thanks to the Sky Tower.
Dr. Bellum's lab is located just outside city limits,
not that Gray will ever know it exists.
He'll be doing his part entirely from the nearby electrical substation,
which we will lead him to believe
is the backstage entrance of the children's theater.
This way, VILE never sees Gray, and Gray never sees VILE,
the reason we opted to have Shadowsan remain at HQ.
[gasps] He's waiting for the cable guy?
[chuckles] No.
Gray only knows Shadowsan from his time at VILE Academy.
Who knows what hidden memories
spotting the face of any VILE instructor could trigger?
And we can't risk awakening any memories or criminal impulses,
especially not while Carmen's fate is in Gray's hands.
[Carmen] Gray will operate a lighting board from his control booth,
shutting down Bellum's surveillance cameras and security systems,
including the notorious electrical fields, one by one and in sequence,
all while under the illusion that he's controlling the stage lighting
of a live theatrical performance of Swan Lake.
[Player] His cue sheets will be timed to a prerecorded ballet,
the one you'll be hearing in your earpiece
as you pirouette your way through Bellum's gauntlets.
[Carmen] As a safety net,
Gray will be in constant communication with the stage manager of the ballet,
an efficient but friendly Kiwi we'll call "Peter."
[in New Zealand accent] Hello, guys. Peter here.
[Carmen] And when the show's over?
[Player] We tell Crackle the crowd's demanding an encore
and have him switch off the grids in reverse order
so our swan can take flight.
Graham, ready to rock?
Anything for the kiddos.
Good. Curtain's at 8:00, and I'm needed in wardrobe.
- [electricity crackling] - [machines whirring]
[Dr. Bellum] Tonight is the night, Neal.
We are nearly ready to beta test.
[knuckles crack]
- [beeps] - Cue music.
[orchestra tuning instruments]
[in New Zealand accent] Okay, Graham, you're on.
[Player] Remember, timing is everything.
[lock clicks]
- [lock clicks] - Player, Red Swan is in.
- En route to secure sublevel. - [elevator dings]
[elevator dings]
[electricity crackling]
Red Swan has arrived at shock corridor.
- Copy that. - [switch clicks]
[in accent] Okay, fade up center stage on "Dance of the Little Swans."
Opera, ballet...
Here's hoping the next gig involves stadium rock.
["Dance of the Little Swans" playing]
[crowd applauding]
[sighs]
A nearly electrifying performance.
[beeps]
[Carmen] And we're live.
[Player] Okay, searching for Project Trip Wire files.
- [computer chirps] - Located.
Scrubbing database.
And goodbye stolen tech.
Off to find Bellum's prototype.
Of all the sheep in New Zealand to wander in,
it had to be a black sheep.
[Carmen grunts]
- Aah! - Remember me? Neal.
You were the island mascot.
- And I was class of... Oh! - [grunts]
How did you slip in here anyway?
You part eel?
Player, time for that encore.
[Carmen grunts]
[groans]
[in accent] Okay, Graham, curtain call for "Dance of the Little Swans."
Already?
[Player] I know, right? Crowd's going wild!
[music continues]
[Carmen grunts]
[grunting] Are you mad? You'll fry us both!
[Carmen grunts]
[electricity crackling]
Hold faders now.
[in accent] Graham, lock faders in current position.
Wait, what?
I'd stay put unless you wanna be an electric eel.
Slick.
[static crackling]
Peter, there's something wrong with my feed.
[Player] Technical difficulties, mate.
Please stand by. And don't touch those faders.
- [static crackling] - [crowd applauding]
Wait. Is this a recording?
Why have I been lighting a pre-recorded performance? Peter?
[in accent] Uh, there's a perfectly logical explanation.
Just sit tight, Graham.
Graham?
Neal, we are ready to launch.
Neal?
Oh, where did that sea snake slither off to?
Carmen!
Must be the main stage.
Player, I'm warm. How's the ballet?
Uh, on indefinite intermission. Our lighting tech walked.
What?
[Player] Zack and Ivy are combing the grounds for him.
Find him. I'm too close to turn back now.
Uh... Bob's your uncle?
And who would be my auntie?
Carmen Sandiego.
And she took off that way.
Carmen? Carmen?
Red alert! We have an intruder!
[Gray] Carmen?
[Dr. Bellum] Sandiego!
Uh... [grunts]
- What kind of concert hall is this? - Experimental.
If that's the game she wishes to play, raise the sphere.
[Dr. Bellum] Carmen Sandiego will surrender,
or tonight will come to be known as the night the lights went out in Auckland.
[weapons power up]
Stay down.
[grunts]
[Carmen grunting]
[grunts]
Thought you could give old Neal the slip, eh?
[both grunting]
Little known fact: this eel has quite the grip.
[grunts]
- [electricity zapping] - Aah!
[groaning]
You don't run a children's charity.
I'll explain over that coffee.
Zack, Ivy, bring the car. Graham's ready for pickup.
Uh, Carm, we may have a bigger problem.
[electricity crackling]
[Dr. Bellum over PA] Carmen Sandiego,
surrender, or I will discharge an electromagnetic pulse
from my very own Sky Tower,
one that will disable every shred of technology in Auckland.
Hospitals, emergency services,
air traffic control will all be in disarray.
Only you can avert this disaster by turning yourself in.
Carmen, who is that?
Do you recognize the voice?
Don't think so. But what are we gonna do?
- [Carmen] Afraid of heights? - What? No.
Hang on tight, don't let go.
[Gray screaming] Crikey!
Can you deactivate it?
I... I'm just a lighting tech.
What makes you think I know anything about industrial-grade electric?
It's a hunch. Roll with it.
I don't even know what I'm looking at.
[sighs] It won't blow up in our faces, will it?
Focus and hurry.
I just don't...
Oh, wait, what's this?
That oughta do it.
- [machine powering down] - [alarm blaring]
Do you trust me?
[groans] Hang on tight, don't let go?
[Gray] Crikey!
Very well, then.
Lights out, Auckland.
And Bob's your uncle.
[exhales] This glider isn't designed for two.
We're going down like a kiwi?
- Flightless bird, national symbol of... - Brace yourself.
[both grunting]
[groaning]
Gray?
It's Graham.
So, how did you know how to sabotage that device?
It just felt very familiar.
You ever get déjà vu?
Carmen, I have to know...
are you a spy?
Part of some kind of secret service?
I do provide a service, and it is secret,
so, yeah, something like that.
But we are the good guys?
Absolutely.
Only, you need to forget this ever happened.
Pfft, no one would believe me anyway.
I wired funds to your account for your help.
What? H-How could you possibly get my bank account number?
Crikey!
Carmen, I can't accept this.
You are a cheeky one.
[Player] So, Gray figured out there's more to Carmen than meets the eye.
Wasn't too hard, but I'm convinced he has zero memory of VILE.
And we thankfully managed to pull off our little caper
without VILE ever laying eyes on Gray.
[Zari] This surveillance was obtained less than an hour ago
in Sydney, Australia.
Find out everything you can about Carmen's friend.
He may be of some use to us.
[theme music playing]