Death Comes Softly

Summary: This alternate universe story takes place after Crash Mind Over Mutant and everyone still has their designs from Crash Twin Sanity, except for Nina (since I actually liked her re-design). Anyways, remember when Uka-Uka said to Cortex after the mutant attacked him that Cortex's life was forth withed? Well, this is the story that tells all...

Cortex ran through the lair as fast as his feet could take him. Uka-Uka, the mask of evil, chased after him. Another evil plan had failed by Cortex (and N. Brio)'s hands and this time, Cortex did something that was unlike him. He had a brainwashed mutant attack Uka-Uka so that he could get the mojo from him. The evil scientist knew that he shouldn't have done that but he had very little choice. It had been like this for the past five days. Uka-Uka wanted to kill Cortex but he had been dodging everything that the evil mask had thrown at him.

Uka-Uka demanded, "Get back here, Cortex. Take your punishment now. It won't hurt, much."

Cortex whispered, "I rather be a hammer than a nail... And I've been a nail for the past five days now!"

As Cortex kept running, he took out a small transporter and without Uka-Uka seeing him, he transported himself to the docks. He boarded the boat, seeing Old Phillip.

Old Phillip stammered, "C-Cortex! T-take my boat, do whatever you want to me, just d-don't hurt Crash."

Cortex replied, sadly, "I never wanted to..."

Old Phillip looked at him and saw the genuine sadness in his eyes. The boater had lived around these islands since about six years ago and knew the Twin Sanity incident pretty well. Old Phillip put the boat into drive and headed off. It was going to be a rather interesting day.

-Flashback: 'Crash Bandicoot'-

Cortex was sitting on the tower ledge of his castle, letting the wind slightly go through his non existent hair. It was on nights like this he really missed home of London, England. He missed his older sisters: Jasmine and Nacey. Jasmine was the oldest Cortex sibling, technically. There was a fourth Cortex sibling named Edgar but he died when he was four years old during a fire. Cortex sighed, it had been a long time since he had been home, ever since he granted the Academy of Evil.

"Cortex," a voice asked.

The evil scientist turned and saw Crash standing there. The south Australian Bandicoot had just been created 48 hours ago and already he was very talkative and very open to Cortex.

"Hey Crash," Cortex answered, sounding a bit sad.

"Are you okay," the south Australian Bandicoot questioned, sitting with him.

"Sorta," Cortex replied, truthfully.

"What's the matter," Crash asked.

"Just homesick, thinking of my family back home," Cortex answered.

"Oh," was Crash's only response.

"Yeah, it's been a long time since I've been home," Cortex stated.

"Isn't this your home too," Crash asked.

"I guess so," Cortex answered.

"Then you are home and with family," Crash stated, smiling.

"I am," Cortex responded, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I'm family," Crash replied, still smiling.

-End of Flashback-

On N. Sanity Isle, in the deepest parts of the jungle was N. Gin Rocket's hideout. The rocket scientist heard the door to his house open. Thinking it was Aku-Aku, who had threatened him to leave, he sighed.

N. Gin started to say, "Look, I'm planning to leave first thing in the morning..."

"You wouldn't leave me behind, would you," a familiar voice asked.

N. Gin snapped around and saw his former employer, Cortex, standing there. The evil scientist looked terrible. His hair was really greasy, his goatee looked like it hadn't been trimmed in days, there were bags under eyes, he was under weight, and he was in rags.

The rocket scientist gasped as he ran over to him and blurted out, "Cortex?! Your still alive?!"

"Not for long, Nicholas," Cortex answered, "I'm so sorry my old friend for treating you the way I did..."

After he had said that, the evil scientist collapsed. The rocket scientist caught his friend and dragged him to the bedroom.

Everyone knew Cortex's secret that he was best friends with Crash, it was quite oblivious throughout the years. Cortex was always soft towards Crash, whenever the magical masks weren't around. Aku-Aku and Uka-Uka were the only two that didn't know the secret. Everyone worked hard to keep the secret, mainly because they feared for their lives. Magical masks that lived for more than a thousand years were not to play around with. Though the Twin Sanity incident almost dragged out the secret, Cortex near death experience quickly made it look like the two were indeed foes.

No one knew how much longer they were going to keep the secret. Even the famous Pichu brothers (John and Pete) that were involved during the Crash Twin Sanity incident were sworn to secrecy. Course no one knew if John and Pete would return to the island, though that was looking like more of an impossibility. Things were not looking good for any of the islanders, as they were called. Sometimes it was easier to drive around the tracks together when it came to saving the world or a motorworld than to fight with friends.

Speaking of motorworlds, Von Clutch looked out to his motorworld, thinking of his favorite heroes. It had been a good while since he had seen them and he - like everyone else - was struggling to hide the secret. Pasadena O'Possum, Von Clutch's employee (and it seemed like the only employee) was the same way. She had been here in this motorworld for a long time and she couldn't believe that she had a chance to N. Sanity Isle heroes. She looked at Von Clutch.

She asked in her southern accent, "Do you think that they came out with the secret yet?"

Von Clutch answered, "Doubtful. Otherwise, I think that the magical masks would've been here by now accusing us of treason."

Pasadena stated, "That's true."

He replied, "I'm surprised that they were able to keep this secret for so long. But I fear that it won't be much longer before they find out the whole truth."

AK1028: And that's where we end our first chapter! I think we're moving along swimmingly and this story would make my 119th. Now, you are probably wondering what my 120th story will be. Well, I'm not telling! Not yet! Anyways, please read and review! And always think outside of the box!