A New Plot Unfolds:
Prequel to "Revenge"
Part 1: Evil SurvivesDr. Neo Cortex sailed through the air, still completely shocked as to what had happened. One moment he had been darting around on his maneuverable hovercraft, taking his time disposing of the wretched creature that had somehow managed to sneak aboard his dirigible, and the next, Crash Bandicoot, his failed creation, had defeated him. Subconsciously Cortex heard a bang, and registered that that explosion was his hovercraft. Now he was plummeting down at a quickening rate to the surface of the island. It now occurred to him that he would have to think up something urgently or else he would not survive the fall. He quickly felt for his concealed weapon, and as the wind rushed past him he fumbled with the dial, adjusting the frequency. He concluded that by altering the chemistry of his nucleic powered weapon he could slow gravity's pull, and land without completely destroying himself.
He aimed the gun toward the ground when the modifications were complete, and clasped down on the trigger. A yellow beam of light blasted from the nozzle, and with conceited expectancy, Cortex grinned as he began to slow down. He was still approaching the surface quite quickly, nevertheless, he would live. He collided with the foamy jungle floor and bounced once, before laying flat on his back. He glared upward. The blimp that held his greatest invention, the Cortex Vortex, was floating away. There was no way a simple minded marsupial could figure out how to pilot such a complex machine. Then again, Cortex considered, the bandicoot had beaten him. As Cortex wallowed in the depths of dejection, he could hear a small cracking noise that echoed through the open area. He glanced around in confusion, and by the time he realized what the sound entailed it was too late. The ground caved in, dropping trees, stones and large chunks of land downward into darkness. Cortex yelped as he was pulled into the hole, tumbling with the dirt and weeds.
He hit a hard surface, and didn't move while he assessed the damage. He could taste blood in his mouth, but that was the least of his concern. He straightened, and discovered that apart from a few bumps and bruises, he was fine. He exhaled in relief, but the breath was caught in his throat as he found himself completely enshrouded in darkness. Feeling through the pockets of his lab coat, Cortex was thankful to find a match. He ignited it, and his jaw dropped at the sight before him. Embraced within a vice of mineral rock, a magnificent shining crystal sent shimmers of light dancing in every direction. It was a power crystal, one of the few power sources Cortex had considered but hadn't the means to mine. There were a handful of such powerful crystals scattered across the earth, and the only way to find them all was by locating them with a master crystal. The jewel that lay like a gift before Cortex, was that master. The fire had burned down, and began to singe Cortex's fingers. The latter didn't even notice, and the sound of his wickedly triumphant laugh echoed through the cave.
