Cyboria's Return
Well, here's the new story. This marks the second to the "Odds and Ends Files (O.a.E. Files)." As if the title isn't obvious enough. For the warning, Cortex does not appear in this, and this story will be about half as long as Odds and Ends. About six or seven chapters, at most. Anyways, please enjoy the story if you can.
Kate Clark was presently setting on the couch, watching Crunch Bandicoot perform push-ups on the living room floor. She sipped her orange juice pleasantly, and Crunch was reaching nearly two hundred fifty push-ups. "Hey, don't over-exert yourself, big guy. We might need a hand later today."
Crunch continued to exercise, but his head turned to Kate. "Why don't you just make Crash do it?"
"And deal with his complaining? Not very likely," Kate scoffed. Crunch faced the floor once again.
"You know him so well." He ceased his training, and stood up. He gave a hearty sigh, and plopped into the recliner, which was his self-proclaimed "throne." Kate took another drink of her juice, and Crunch cleared his throat. "Alright, I'm curious. What was it like working for Cortex?"
Kate's eyes shot wide, and she choked on her beverage slightly. She coughed, and stared at Crunch as if he'd killed somebody. "Well, you get an A+ for your random statement. And, I tell you, it wasn't any fun. If it weren't for Crash, we both wouldn't be here."
"Really? I know what it was like. I was his little weapon once, too. That little runt brought me out of my rabid state, and well… I ended up living here," Crunch said. "The same story goes with you. Well, almost."
"Yeah, almost." Kate gave a yawn, and she stretched. She placed the drink on the coffee table, and lay down on the couch. "I need a nap."
Within a matter of mere minutes, Kate was snoring softly. "Those two have more in common than they think. They're perfect for each other," Crunch snorted as he grabbed the TV remote.
Crash Bandicoot chose this exact time to come strolling in, whistling a merry tune and possessing a very cheerful gait. Just as he was about to exit out the front door, he stopped abruptly. He turned around and gazed at the sleeping Kate. "Darn."
"What?" Crunch asked before turning on the television. Crash huffed.
"She took the couch."
"Oh, you poor thing. You don't even realize you have a bed, do you?"
"Now where's the fun sleeping in a bed during the day?"
"It's 'fun' to sleep under that tree of yours?"
"Hey, one day I might wake up with a Wumpa fruit sitting on my lap. Then I don't have to make the effort of getting up and shaking one down from the tree for my midday snack."
"You know, you have a very lazy and mordant nature. I have absolutely no idea what Sleeping Beauty here sees in you."
"Have you forgotten my devilishly handsome looks? Honestly, it's like I'm the only one who cares to take notice."
"Absorbed in your arrogance, as usual."
"Well, I'm done here. I have to go and see a certain witchdoctor mask." And without another word, Crash was out the door and gone.
"That idiotic pipsqueak," Crunch grumbled.
Aku-Aku inhaled deeply. He was meditating atop one of the highest mountains of N. Sanity. The floating mask focused intently upon enhancing his inner spirit. The island had recovered much since the very first day of Cortex's wrath. He was ashamed of how he was unable to protect his islands, but was glad that Crash had come along, and saved the islands from further contamination.
"AKU!" a voice called. He gave a patient sigh, and channeled his energy into teleportation. He was now behind his caller, who was none other than Crash himself.
"Yes?" he asked. Crash jumped and whirled around in surprise. He was relieved to see Aku.
"Crikey! Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" the bandicoot asked.
Aku lowered. "My apologies, Crash."
"Eh, it's alright. So, I wanted to talk to you… About Kate."
"What is it?"
"Well, she acts… I don't know how to put it… She doesn't seem satisfied, and has seemed bored lately."
"Crash, you must take into consideration that she was once a human being. Granted, she has been adapting rather well, she may need more than what's provided."
"More than what's provided?"
"Kate may need more affection from you, Crash. She needs interaction."
"What, you mean fulfilling her every whim? That's downright anarchy!"
Aku sighed. "What I mean is that you may have to be a more quixotic figure in her life. Perhaps, if you do, she will focus more on her island life and choose to leave her old life behind. You must remember that she was taken from her home, in which she lived on for most of her life."
Crash furrowed his brow thoughtfully. "That must suck big time for her… Well, I'll try to be more… 'Romantic.'" The bandicoot exhaled slowly. "Thanks Aku."
"You are welcome, Crash. If you require any more guidance, I am always here," Aku informed happily. Crash nodded.
"Well, I've got to go. I'll see you later."
And without another word, Crash left the mask alone in the jungle. Aku sighed, and teleported back to his meditation spot, where he resumed to contemplate heavily, and was one with the island once more.
Kate could see it clearly. It was a dark room, barely lit, but just enough to see. She saw two figures standing in the light, leaning over a nude unconscious figure on the table. The yellow-skinned man with a giant "N" on his forehead was carefully making an incision in the body on the table.
"Dr. Cortex," asked the small Cyborg man beside him, "are you sure she will live through this?"
Cortex sighed. "Yes, I am certain that the girl will live for the duration I will be working on her." He was done with his score into her body. Kate shivered. That body was hers. Her very own human body.
She felt like she could've vomited. With Cortex leaning over her naked body, putting cuts into it, and then placing probes within them, it was revolting. If Crash knew this, he would've doubtlessly killed the man. But at the time, he was out cold himself, so he could do nothing.
"Alright, N. Gin. Hand me the chip that I will place into her brain so that she may be under my control," Cortex demanded. The stout little man handed a computer chip to the doctor, and the latter quickly grabbed another scalpel.
Kate could only keep from screaming in horror as he drove the piece into her head. This was all just a dream right? How the hell is a dream this vivid? Why was it giving her a headache? These questions repeated over and over again in her mind. She tried yelling at Cortex to stop, but words failed to escape her mouth.
This was utterly dreadful. It was horrendous, appalling, every word that compares to a living hell. Kate felt tears welling up in her eyes. Was this what happened to her when she woke up with a new body? That miserable doctor will pay…
All of a sudden, she felt a hand grip her shoulder and shake her. The nightmare dissolved away, and her vision was opened to the real world again. She blinked groggily, and stared at the one who was leaning over her.
It was Crash.
Kate sighed in relief and rubbed her eyes. "Crash?" she muttered. As soon as she got a better look at his face, she saw it was ridden with worry.
"You alright?" he asked when sitting partially on the couch. His hand slipped away from her shoulder and into his lap. Kate sat up, and sighed.
"I'm fine… Just a bad dream, is all," she persuaded. Crash looked at her doubtfully, but let it pass.
"Alright. Well, how about we get you to bed?"
Kate was going to point out that it was still daytime, but when her eyes averted to the window, she saw that it night had already fallen. Crash stood up, and offered a hand to Kate. She took it, and he helped her to her feet. "Thanks."
"My pleasure, mate," he smiled, in which Kate returned.
Coco Bandicoot studied the metal body encased in a glass container. It was Kate's previous body, the one she had as she was Cyboria. It was something Coco had been curious about for awhile, but she never decided to run tests on it.
Ever since Kate had become a bandicoot, Coco had kept the metal "suit." She figured that maybe if there was an invasion on the island, Kate could get into the suit and deal just as much damage as Crunch could, if not more. The suit was built to be a weapon, and could prove excellent in defense. But, Coco also considered that Kate might not want to get back into the suit. She was so anxious to get out of it.
It was a clash of thoughts, but they were put to rest as Coco knew that the metal body had yet to be altered so Kate could even wear it as a suit. The bandicoot girl sighed, and put the clipboard she was holding on the table.
She turned to face the suit one last time, but was somewhat startled to see the eyepiece glow faint red. It stayed that way until finally, it died away. Coco could've spent the rest of the night wondering why, after months of zero use, it would suddenly light again. But, she decided to call it a night, and maybe investigate it tomorrow.
She walked out of her lab. Coco started to her own bedroom, when she accidentally ran into Crunch, who was getting out of the bathroom. He growled in irritation. "Sorry, Crunch," Coco quickly apologized, backing away from the brawny bandicoot.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he sighed.
He quickly walked past her and into his room, shutting the door. Coco rolled her eyes, and she headed towards her bedroom once again. But, just as she bypassed Crash's bedroom door, she heard Kate's laughter.
"Why don't you wear these?"
"They've got hearts on 'em! No man wears boxers covered in hearts!" Crash reckoned.
"Well, what about these?"
"Give me those!"
"Aw, c'mon, 'Mr. Foxy,' lighten up a bit!"
"What are you doing in my underwear drawer anyway?"
"I wanted to check out your tighty whiteys! They're adorable!"
"Kate! They're not adorable!"
"Says you! I bet you don't even wear half of these!" There was a pause, and Kate giggled. "Ha! 'Diamondback?' That's cute!"
"Curse you, female! Get out of my room!"
"Aw, you know you want me to stay…"
"Eh…"
"You're so cute when you're blushing."
"Must you be in here? When I said 'get you to bed,' I meant your bed."
"But your underwear said, 'Hey! Look at me! I'm lovable!'"
"By far, you're one of the weirdest women I've met! I'd say you're even odder than Pasadena!"
"…Pasadena?"
Coco groaned and zoned out the rest of their useless lovey-dovey banter, and walked into her bedroom. By now, she could hear the two arguing, and she chuckled. Those two were like an old married couple when it came to disagreements, or something Crash shouldn't have said.
Coco crawled under her covers, and heaved a contented sigh.
"Oh, and I suppose she's your girlfriend too?"
"Kate! I never even liked her! She was obsessed with me!"
"Oh, right."
Coco yawned. After the two were bickering for awhile, she drifted off into sleep.
And all too soon, her alarm was buzzing away like mad, and she quickly slapped the snooze button. The light of day was shining down on her without rest, and she stretched. Her room was lit with the sun's rays. She got out of bed, and looked into her mirror.
Boy, her hair was in need of brushing. But, she would worry over that after breakfast, so she inhaled, and pushed open her door. She walked through the hallway, and just as she reached her brother's door, she caught a glimpse of the crack. Inside was Crash and Kate, sleeping soundly on his bed. His arms were wrapped around Kate, as one of her arms fell down the side of the bed. Yep, apparently Crash apologized.
Coco snickered slightly, and continued to the living room, where she found Crunch watching some sort of exercise program. Coco stopped, and watched in perplexity. "What are you doing?"
"I'm training, thank you," was his curt reply. Coco sighed crossly, and walked into the kitchen. She grabbed a bowl from the cabinet, and a box of cereal. She placed them all on the table, and got the milk out of the refrigerator. She quickly made herself a bowl of cereal, and put away all the items, and grabbed a spoon. Just as she began to eat, Crunch had finished training.
"Well, time to make my own breakfast."
Coco cast her eyes to him, already in the kitchen and hovering over the blender. "Let me guess… Your daily morning meal?"
Crunch cracked two eggs and put them into the blender. "I happen to be very fond of my protein shakes."
"They're disgusting."
Crunch poured other ingredients in, blended it, and sighed. "I know. But, these muscles need their morning medicine, so… Down the hatch…" He gulped down the "morning medicine" and shivered. "That's nauseating, let me tell you."
"No worries. I believe you," Coco stated upon finishing her own breakfast.
Crash moaned. Oh, how he did not want to get up this day. But, his stomach would protest later, and he had to get up eventually. He moved a bit in his bed, and he rubbed his eyes. "Can somebody please turn off the damn sun," he groaned. Kate obviously woke up before him, for she was not in the bed any more. Crash sat up with a grunt. He got a look at his clock. "Dear Lord, it's only ten! I don't wake up until noon!"
"Well, if you would have, you would've missed out on breakfast," Kate smiled as she appeared at his doorway. "I made my famous eggs."
"Girl, you better not be lying. I take your eggs very seriously."
"They're in the kitchen, if you want some."
Crash quickly got out of his bed, and headed toward the doorway. But, Kate stopped him. "What?" he asked.
"I'm pretty sure you don't want to go out there while in your undies."
Crash looked down, and sure enough, that was all that clothed him. He chuckled and gave Kate a nervous grin. "Heh, excuse me."
Well, I bring sad news. My left thumb has a third-degree burn on it (I'm a horrible cook.). It really sucks, but at least it wasn't my right, because if it was, I wouldn't be able to write or draw. Now, why am I telling you of my problems? Well, that has yet to come into my mind. Possibly because there may be a few more typos than usual.
Alright, I hope you like this. If not, oh well. Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated.