User:Cardsknower/The Predator Awakes

The Predator Awakes is the third episode in Sly 2: Band of Thieves and the main antagonist is, once again, Rajan.

Overview
After the events of the previous episode, Rajan was forced to flee his palace and hide deep in the jungle. He transformed a long forgotten temple into the center of his spice operation. He is using the restless Clockwerk Heart to increase spice production.

First Lead-up
Bentley states that the Clockwerk Heart is under steep security and Rajan is carrying half of the heart at all times. To get at the goods, Bentley will need to gather some more information. First, Sly will plant a bug in Rajan's office while Bentley lifts the spice operation blueprints off of Rajan while the latter makes his rounds. Unfortunately, while the Cooper gang is collecting information from Rajan, Rajan will be collecting information on the Cooper gang with an elephant driven satellite array. That array has to be taken out or Rajan will be able to intercept all of the Cooper gang's communications.

Second Lead-up
Bentley reveals some bad news: Rajan has gone into hiding somewhere in the temple. The destruction of his satellite array and Bentley's invasion of his personal space to get the blueprints had most likely spooked him. To get Rajan's portion of the Clockwerk heart, the gang will need to drive him out into the open. Given Rajan's spice addled temper, Bentley recommends making him angry.

First, the gang will destroy the center of Rajan's operations: the spice grinder. Next, the gang will demolish the dam above the temple in an attempt to flood Rajan out. If this doesn't work, Bentley has made arrangements to exchange one of the temple's facade rubies for some high explosives, which, if necessary, the gang can use to flood the whole temple grotto. If Bentley's psychological profile of Rajan is accurate, Rajan should pick up the other half of the Clockwerk heart before making his escape, effectively bringing it to the gang.

Third Lead-up
Since partial flooding didn't work, Bentley states it's time to go the distance. Blowing up the elephant statue’s mouth should turn the grotto into a swimming pool. Bentley states he will cover Murray with the chopper’s gun turret while he pries the mouth open. Once that’s done, Sly will need to walk the Cherry Bomb 500 into the throat, then get to high ground as fast as he can. Rajan is sure to show up and be extra angry. The last thing to do is jump Rajan and snatch his half of the Clockwerk heart, so the gang can leave the temple.

Level Ending
Although statistically improbable, Bentley had to face the facts that Neyla had betrayed the Cooper Gang, Sly and Murray had been captured, and that he was alone. Despite being intellectually inferior, Sly and Murray were a rich source of friendship for Bentley. The long walk out of the jungle gave Bentley time to reflect and with each passing step, his sense of isolation grew. He had to find his way out of the jungle and back to the van all by himself.

To Bentley's shock, the absence of his friends had an emotional effect on him. Bentley knew this was the true test of friendship. Upon reaching the van, Bentley's resolve was hardened. He must save his friends, Sly and Murray, but first he had to learn how to drive the stick-shift in the van before he could save them. After a moment's struggle with how to drive the stick-shift, Bentley gets the hang of it and drives the van out of the jungle.