[snoring]
[Ben Pad beeping]
Hmm.
[chimes]
I can't take it anymore. I've never seen anything like this.
There's nothing happening anywhere.
[snoring]
There's no news to report.
[yawns]
Well, that's the best news of all.
But it's been like this for weeks.
I'm sure things will pick up soon, they always do.
-[beeps] -Oh!
Checkmate? Again. I'll never beat this thing.
Uh, Geronimo, it's a computer. It can't be beat.
I'd rather play against a real person any day.
[phone ringing]
Hello? Yes. Uh-huh. Uh-huh!
Okey-doke. Bye-bye.
Well?
Oh, uh, an invitation to a chess tournament. Nothing important.
Did they say anything else?
Uh, stuff about chess champion Gary Goudov playing a computer on Squeaky Island.
Not important? That's big news. A top chess master versus a machine!
-[beeping] -Hmm. Here we go.
Oh, whoa.
BC-1 is said to be the first computer that can beat a chess master.
A tournament you can't miss!
Oh. I'd love to go, but a big story might happen.
[chuckles] Don't worry, we can handle it.
[groans] Well, I love chess, and Gary Goudov is my favorite player.
I'll go! Here's a list of emergency phone numbers.
The mayor's office, my barber, my dry-cleaner, oh, and my lottery ticket.
You'll need travel arrangements.
Leave that to me. I've got a buddy at Squeaky Island Travel.
[Thea] Hmm.
[phone dialing]
Hello, Squeaky Island Travel? This is Trap.
You know, that guy. Right. Right.
Sorry about that incident. Anyway, I need to book a trip. For two.
They're gonna give me a special deal.
Uh, you have insurance, right?
[door closes]
[inhales deeply]
Ah. Just smell that sea air.
I usually prefer my sea air with less dead... fish.
♪ Who's the mouse who's fun and witty Scoops the news for New Mouse City ♪
♪ Geronimo ♪
♪ He's amazing, he's terrific Watch out world he's cheddarific ♪
♪ He's outta site and in the know ♪
♪ Go! ♪
♪ He's the one we call Geronimo ♪
-[Thea groans] -Huh?
I can't take any more of this. Come on, let's go for a ride.
Already there!
Thea! Hey! Stop! Inspector Smugrat's car outside Pippany's!
The jewelry store?
Let's check it out.
What brings you here today?
Looks like there's been a burglary.
Ah! Oh, you noticed!
A priceless set of diamonds was stolen last night.
Thirty-two diamonds in all.
The burglars entered the front door by breaking the lock.
-Anything else missing? -Two donuts from the break room.
But we don't think that's connected. I've got my best guy working on it.
Right. Any clues, inspec-- Hey!
Sally Rasmaussen, from Pippany's,
the scene of the biggest heist of the millennium!
-Any clues, inspector? -Only one.
This calling card. It's the Gem Gang's signature.
They always leave their card behind. Which strikes me as odd.
These Gem cards are from their unsolved crimes.
They get around a lot.
So, no Geronimo? Pity, he's missing out on a hot scoop.
He can catch up watching The Daily Rat TV Report. [cackles]
[sighs]
[chattering]
[fanfare plays over speakers]
Ladies and gentlemice, welcome to the first chess tournament
pitting mouse against machine!
In this corner, four tons, three ounces,
the database that's in your face, Blue Cheddar One.
And its proud inventor, Professor VonKoff.
[audience cheering]
Boo! Get lost!
He did it.
And in this corner, weighing 160 pounds,
the boss of the chessboard, the king of the game,
the grandmaster himself, Gary Goudov!
-And his rather bulky associate. -Yahoo! You show them, Goudov boy!
You're the best! The best of the best! [laughing]
Trap, please. Sit down.
Gentlemen, choose your weapon.
[snaps]
Mr. Goudov prefers his own personal chess set.
He never plays with any other.
There's a pawn missing.
Goudov will not play until the missing piece is found!
Huh. And I thought you were picky.
I am not picky.
Picky.
-I am not picky! -Picky!
The match is postponed until further notice.
[audience groans]
He's just afraid of losing.
My BC-1 can beat any man, any day.
Even you. Especially you.
In fact, BC-1 has already beaten you without trying.
[laughs] That's how good it is.
I think I'm offended!
Okay, brainiac, you're on!
Ha. No machine can beat me at fancy checkers!
The Gem Gang cut the power to the alarm.
-They knew what they were doing. -Get rid of them.
Oh, Mr. Inspector! Yoo-hoo!
[Sally laughs]
-[Ben grunting] -Hey! What are you doing?
[both yell]
Sally can't get away with this. I'll give her a scoop she won't forget.
Thea, look at this.
It's a chess piece, so what?
-An expensive chess piece. -Think there's a connection?
It's not every day you find one in the street.
-Hold it right there! -Another of Sally's guys?
Quick, let's go.
Simon, bring the car.
[both gasp]
[engine revving]
-Um, Thea, what are you doing? -Something fancy.
Yeah!
Uh-oh.
-Ha! [chuckles] Try that. -Um, Thea? I dropped the pawn.
-He's got it. -Then let's get it back.
[BC-1] Checkmate.
Hmph. Beginner's luck.
-Checkmate. -Huh. No way! I wasn't ready!
[all groaning]
-[man 1] Boring. -[man 2] Boring.
[BC-1] Checkmate.
[grumbles] Can't you say anything else?
[audience muttering]
-You can't win, Trap. -That's what I said.
[laughing]
I'm just getting him warmed up.
[groans]
He's gotta be here somewhere.
Huh?
[BC1] Checkmate!
[sighs]
-It's useless. Give up. -No. No, I see a pattern.
Yes. The pattern is BC-1 is winning.
Let's see him beat this!
[distorted voices]
I don't think that's a good idea.
[beeping and speaking indistinctly]
[crackling and buzzing]
[alarm wailing]
Trap, you destroyed an expensive piece of technology.
Oh, no, it's a blown fuse. I'll have it fixed in a jiff.
Don't. You're going to make it worse.
[clattering and clanking]
I've got it.
[phone ringing]
-Benjamin, are you okay? -Yeah, I'm headed to Squeaky Island.
Squeaky Island? But that's where Geronimo--
[Sally laughs] It's the end of the line, Stilton.
I know you found something. Now, hand it over!
I don't have any--
Looks like you got me. This is our one lead.
Thank you.
[clattering and clanking]
-You said you could handle it. -I am handling it!
It just doesn't wanna be, you know, handled.
Uncle G! Uncle G!
Benjamin? What are you doing here?
[panting]
-A big robbery at Pippany's! -The jewelry store?
Oh, they have nice stuff.
A set of diamonds was stolen. Thea and I found a pawn in the street,
this guy chased us and got the pawn, and I ended up on a boat and came here.
A pawn?
Oh! I knew it! I knew I'd miss out on a big scoop!
[thud nearby]
Someone's coming.
-Good work. Did anyone see you? -Ah, some girl and a kid, but I lost them.
[gasps]
-That's the guy who chased me and Thea. -Goudov's assistant?
[gasps] Someone's coming.
Quick, in here.
I thought I heard voices.
Ah, Mr. Goudov, I see you found your missing pawn.
Yes, my set is once again complete.
-Then we may resume with the match? -Yes, yes.
Attention! The chess match will begin immediately. Please return to your seats.
[chattering]
-Oh, no, we're trapped! -And the computer's broken!
[yells] Now it's brokener.
Let's keep this short. I've got a plane to catch.
Yes, of course.
How's it going?
The motherboard's fried. It can't be fixed.
Is there a fatherboard or brotherboard to use?
Uncle G, there's no such thing.
Yeah, brotherboard. Heh. Nice one.
-I'm just trying to help. -Uh-oh. The match is starting.
What are we gonna do?
I've got it. I'll play!
[sighs] Oh, no.
Why's everyone staring?
The computer makes the first move.
Oh.
[audience gasps]
Sorry! I don't know what happened.
Hey! He just pushed my buttons. I don't know how I feel about that.
You should play, Uncle G.
-Against Goudov? -Sure. You love chess.
You play it on your computer.
Can't do much worse than me. Just watch your buttons.
You tell me the moves, unc. I'll control the arm.
Heh. Sure. Do it the easy way.
Um... Queen's pawn to D four.
[audience] Oh!
[cheering]
Checkmate! My BC-1 has done it!
My concentration was off. This doesn't count.
Besides, it's just a machine.
[sighs]
-Uncle G, you did it! -[chuckles] Yes, I guess I did.
No, coz, you did it! You beat Gary Goudov!
Yes, the super-brain of my BC-1 makes it smarter than any human chess player.
I did it! I did it! I beat Gary Goudov!
Yes!
What were you doing in my computer?
Uh... Playing chess against him.
[audience gasps]
I was beaten by him? Impossible!
You mean, it was not my BC-1 who...?
Sorry.
[sighs]
Hey, it's that kid I was telling you about.
He's the one who took the pawn we found.
We must leave. Go!
Why'd the assistant look for a chess piece in New Mouse City?
And why chase you? How many diamonds were stolen?
Thirty-two.
Thirty-two. Thirty-two!
Aha! That's it!
Benjamin, alert the police! We have to stop Goudov!
We're too late!
Hmm. Perhaps not. Come on!
[Trap] But they're in that plane, not the fire engine!
Oh, I get it.
[chuckles] This is gonna be great!
-What are we doing? -Slowing them down.
Okay. Now!
We did it!
[Geronimo] No, we didn't.
He's getting away.
[helicopter whirring]
[all] Thea!
[siren wailing]
What is the meaning of this? Don't you know who I am?
-I'm Gary Goudov. -Leader of the Gem Gang.
Ah. Impossible. Inspector, arrest this man for interfering with a chess match
and delaying my plane.
I don't know about the chess match, but delaying an aircraft is an offense.
Unless you have a good reason.
I believe you'll find the stolen diamonds with Mr. Goudov. In that case.
-Mind if I have a look? -Certainly. I have nothing to hide.
These are just chess pieces.
With a secret compartment.
Why, I never knew that was there!
You did, you sent your assistant to get a lost pawn.
Thirty-two diamonds stolen, 32 pieces in a chess set.
That's how the Gem Gang's smuggled jewels.
Take him away.
Thanks for helping putting an end to the Gem Gang.
My pleasure.
And I'll overlook the fire-foam incident this time.
[chuckles]
[Geronimo] The chess tournaments were a cover.
Nobody suspected the Gem Gang boss and Gary Goudov were the same.
Now Gary will have plenty of time to brush up on his chess game in prison.
For The Rodent Gazette, I'm Geronimo Stilton.
Uncle G, why not mention you beat Goudov?
Yeah, that makes you the new chess champion.
Well, no need to brag.
[phone rings]
-Hello? -[indistinct shouting over phone]
It's a Professor VonKoff. Something about his computer.
He sounds angry.
-I'm not here. -Uh, neither am I.
[VonKoff shouting indistinctly]
I think they tricked us!
[shrieking]
This is all your fault, Simon!
[Simon] My fault? But I haven't done anything!
[Sally] Exactly, that's why I blame you!
-[Simon] But-- -Now, do something about these fish.
That one's staring at me! Tell him to stop! Tell him to stop!