The next day, Crash awoke inside a cage in Cortex's lab.

"Huh?!" Crash screeched surprised. He was laying back on one of the corners of the cage, he then twisted to the side and put his hands on the bars and looked around. Cortex's lab looked a bit dark and somewhat scary than the last time Crash saw it. Or was it even Cortex's lab? Crash had a fearful look on his face and was thinking could this be the end? Had Cortex really captured him and was about to kill him? Did he have time to get out before the doctor came into his lab?

Crash got up but when he was only about a quarter up he screamed, fell down, and looked at his foot. How could he have forgot that it was twisted badly from last night? Now there was no chance to escape. The marsupial then sighed and laid back on a wall of the cage.

Some minutes had past and Crash heard footsteps coming, he looked over at the entrance and saw Cortex smiling.

"Ah, Crash Bandicoot," He began as he headed over to the cage. "Now that I've captured you I plan to use you to help me conquer this world!"

When the marsupial heard that last sentence he had fear in his eyes and backed away not wanting to be part of it and he couldn't stop trembling ever since his foot got twisted.

The scientist looked at Crash and said "Why do you keep trembling? Are you actually fearing me?" He asked with a smile.

Crash shaked his head and pointed to his foot.

Cortex looked at where he was pointing and observed it. "Ah, now I see. It'll probably fix itself in a month or 2," He said carelessly. "Now, I have important buisness to take care of." Crash saw when he walked out of the room and disappeared. The marsupial sighed, wishing he didn't have to be in here or have gone out to get some fruit when Crunch asked him to. Crash cringed and tried to go to sleep.

Meanwhile, when Cortex went out of the room he wished he didnt act so hard on the bandicoot that maybe he could have been a bit nicer to him.

"Master Cortex!" A crazy voice called out. "Did you torture the bandicoot yet?"

"Not just yet, " Cortex responded. "Apparently Crash has already a broken foot and-"

"Great job doc!" N. Gin interrupted. "You broke his foot already!"

"N. Gin !" Cortex snapped. "Don't interrupt me while I'm speaking!... Alrighty now, Crash already has a broken foot so that's enough torture for him to handle. Plus he's in no condition to walk. Therefore we must take care of him while he recovers."

N. Gin had a confused stare as he looked at his master.

"Dr. Cortex? Are you insisting that we help the bandicoot?... Do you have special feeling for him?" He asked.

Cortex blushed for a second and returned a glare.

"NO!" He shouted. "This is just... part of the plan."

"Ah..." N. Gin gave a thumbs up and smiled. "Nice going master!"

"Yes, yes, now if you excuse me I have some planning to do." Cortex then walked away to his desk and started organizing papers and files. He came across Crash's file from when he took data of him when he mutated the bandicoot to what he is now. He pushed it aside, but a while later he then grabbed it and looked inside.

Date: 8/31/1996

Name: Crash

Species: Eastern Barred Bandicoot

Gender: Male

Purpose: To lead my army of mutants to take over N. Sanity Island.

Abilities: Unkown yet

And that was it. Cortex was planning to take more data on Crash but he escaped after the "Cortex Vortex" failed to brainwash the bandicoot.

Then Cortex had an idea. He jumped off his chair and went to the room where Crash's cage was and where Crash himself was in.
The bandicoot was sleeping peacefully with a little smile on his face.
Cortex carefully opened the cage door and went inside.


To be continued...