The story happened in the beginning of the 2nd game and could have changed a lot of things for our hero…
While looking for another battery for Coco,
Crash is abducted by a bright light and finds himself in an old Warp Room hidden in Cortex's castle, where his Arch-enemy….
Cortex- Well, well, well. If it isn't Crash Bandicoot. Welcome. I apologize for the crude means used to bring you here, but I'd rather expect a written invitation would have been turned down. I need your help. Surrounding you are a series of five doors. Through each door lies a well-hidden crystal. The crystals look like this. Bring me the crystals, Crash. That is all I will say for now. We will speak again…
After Crash brings 1 crystal…
Cortex- Well done, Crash! I knew I could rely on you. Now listen carefully. These holograms are hard to maintain. During the course of my intellectual pursuits, I have stumbled across a force that threatens to destroy the world. Crystals are the only means of containing it. The fate of the world is at stake. It is imperative therefore that you bring them to me!...
Suddenly, an attractive anthropomorphic bat shows up…
Rouge- well…actually, Cortex isn't going to use the crystals to contain the planet's energy…
Cortex-WHAAAT?
Rouge- he's going to harness the force and use it to power the Super Cortex Vortex he has built on his space station. One blast and the ray will cover the entire world, turning everyone into Cortex's mindless slaves…
Cortex- Who's the rat ?
N. Gin, Get rid of her!
N. Gin- with the greatest pleasure!
N. Gin unters the warp room with his mech to kill the bat,
Crash instinctively saves the bat…and wrecks N gin's bot….
But…who'll collect the crystals for cortex now ?
"Greetings creatures of this planet ! I come to compete! ...So, you pesky little earth slugs like to race, eh? hehehehehe... Well, I, Nitros Oxide, am the fastest racer in the galaxy! I travel as stars, looking for creatures to test my mettle. It's a little game I call Survival of the Fastest. Here's the way we play: I challenge your fastest driver to a race for the planet. If you win, I leave your miserable little rock alone. But if I win, I turn the entire globe into a concrete parking lot, and make you all my slaves! hahahahahaha! Get ready to race for the fate of your planet!"
Later, in Cortex's Lab…
Oxide-earthling, let me get that straight…if I collect your…erm…crystals…you'll help me to "win" every race on your planet ?
Cortex-too rightous…
Oxide-DEAL!