Chapter 9: "Crouching Bandicoot, Hidden Pasts"
Over the seas, Cortex & N. Trap fly together on his hoversled in pursuit of spying on the Bandicoots. Cortex decides to question her about a lot of stuff, such as why is she so mean to just him.
Cortex: "Uhh, so, do you perhaps have some type of background story to you? I mean, if you don't want to share it, I can understand, I mean, you're probably just evil for the heck of it, right?"
N. Trap looks at Cortex with a scowl, but surprisingly she reveals all to him.
N. Trap: "Well, if you must know, it all goes back to my childhood. I, I didn't always use to hate animals; I actually use to be fond of them, evidenced by having many pets around my home in Russia. But unfortunately, my allergies would keep me from enjoying them, so my parents told me that I should not be around any kind of mammal anymore for my own health's sake. Ever since then, I was miserable & had gotten into all kinds of trouble, so they sent me away to place where I would stay out of trouble. I was alone, & I started to tinker with making stuff in my spare time. That was how I started the legacy of making what I know best, traps. From that point on, I decided that what I do for a living now matters much more to me. "
Cortex: "Wow, for a second there, you remind me of my niece! She too use to care for animals, why, she would hug them nonstop! It made me sick, so I decided to give her bionic-hands, so that her love for these pesky rodents would be "crushed" every time! Now she's just like you, of course."
N. Trap: "Yes, she seems like a very loyal niece, those bionic hands are indeed useful for evil deeds. Tell me, what was it like when you first saw her?"
Cortex: "Well, believe it or not, it all goes back to when I was a small little boy who, *sigh* was part of a circus with my family."
N. Trap looks at Cortex, not knowing if she should laugh or not.
N. Trap: "Seriously? You use to be in a circus? Please."
Cortex: "Believe me, I wasn't really into it. Unlike my family, which loved the spotlight and making people laugh, I was interested in reading science books. I was always teased because of it. & you want to know how I got the big "N"?"
N. Trap: "Oh, this should be swell."
Listen closely, Crash fans!
Cortex: "It was originally tattooed onto my head for "nerd" by a particularly group of circus performing bullies. I wanted it all to stop, until one day, a freak accident wiped out my entire family, but my brother, whom survived somehow, gave me Nina one day. I vowed to take care of her after his disappearance. Growing up, the constant torment continued throughout my academic years, unfortunately, until one day, another freak accident occurred, thanks to me & my ex-partner, N. Brio. We worked together on a machine 16 years ago, called the "Evolvo-Ray". It was the one responsible for the animal mutations, but since Brio took all of the credit, we became bitter rivals, but not as bitter as that wretched Crash Bandicoot! Now, I continue to hunt that fool down, but I have yet to properly destroy him."
N. Trap: "UNBELIEVABLE. ALL THOSE YEARS & YOU STILL HAVEN'T KILLED HIM?"
Uka (from lair): "You see?"
Cortex: "I know, he's just unstoppable, I mean, come on, he's the main character of a popular franchise!"
N. Trap: "Niet! There's no such thing as unstoppable, we WILL find his loved ones first, then we'll…"
Cortex: "Already tried stuff like that before."
N. Trap: "Oh, then, we'll create a new secret weapon, one that will hunt him down with…"
Cortex: "Already did that, too."
N. Trap is surprised at the many attempts that Cortex has tried at destroying Crash. This causes an argument between the two as they try to reach their destination.
Cortex: "I know! all we have to do is find a way to get Crash's friends to work for the N. Dustries, yes, I have done something like this before, too, a lot like someone else."
N. Trap: "Someone else like who?"
Cortex: "Errr, I can't remember his name, but he was a giant egg. No, I'm dead serious he really was a giant talking egg who had the power of hypnotism!"
N. Trap: "A giant egg of hypnotism, hmmm... yes, N. Trance! I ran into him once, but he's as you say, a cracked egg now.
Cortex looks at N. Trap puzzled, but he knew what she meant.
Cortex: "You mean, he's…"
N. Trap: "No, you nit-wit! I mean he's retired, I don't know why because he is still in good shape. He had said something about a "protégé" taking his place for now."
Cortex: "& where can we find this protégé?"
N. Trap: "I know a place."
Cortex: "Oh lawd, does this new trip require longer travelling?"
N. Trap: "Yes it does! Stop being such a baby & just steer this thing in the direction of my choosing!"
Cortex: "OHHHHHHHH!"
Coco: "Watch out, Crash!"
WHOOOOSH!
Komodo Joe, the speed of the brothers, quickly tries to slash Crash with his samurai sword in the Dojo Palace of the Bamboo Forests. Crash desperately tries to dodge the incoming attacks any way he can & block with his own sword. This leaves the surrounding crowd & his friends to bite their nails, or rather claws. Then Komodo Moe, the less intelligent, but mighty strong, charges to him with brutal force & knocks him back.
Komodo Joe: "You can dodge all you want, but that won't sssssssave you from our razzzzzor-sharp edged ssssssswordsssssss!
Komodo Moe: "Hey, brother, ssssslow down! Give me a chanccccccce to kill him!"
Jade: "Oh no, he'sssssss getting creamed, again! Oh no, now my normal voice issssss, too!"
Jade attempts to get into the fight, but once again, Aku intervenes her.
Aku: "There is nothing we can do now, Jade. We must leave this to him, Yaya has trained Crash well. Do not worry; the training will pay off soon enough."
Coco: "I dunno, guys, there's something off about this duel. The Komodo Brothers seem rather powerful & faster than before."
Jade: "Actually, now that you mention it, there's some glowing business going on in those two jerks' eyes. They're purple now."
Aku uses his powers to get a closer look at the Komodo Bros. He sees that there is indeed a magical force within the two. He realizes what is going on.
Aku: "Oh no, it seems that they are using the energy from a Power Crystal to enhance their abilities!"
Jade: "In other words, THEY'RE CHEATING! What do we do?"
Yaya: "If they are powered by the Crystal, then it can't be far away. Jade, see if you can sense where it lies."
Jade: "On it."
Jade tries sniffs out the Crystal to it's secret spot. The Komodo Bros. continue to dominate over Crash with the crystal energy.
Crash: "Arrgh!"
Coco: "Crash! Try & hold off those two, we've got a plan!"
Komodo Joe: "Brother, they may be on to usssssss about the Power Crysssstal!"
Komodo Moe: "Eh, what? I want a powdered croissssssant, yum!"
While K. Joe face-palms himself, Crash's friends manage to find the Crystal & get out of the Palace to decrease their energy. They slowly necome more normal, giving Crash the advantage.
Komodo Joe: "NOOO! Thissssss can't be happening! We musssssst get that Crysssstal back, it'ssss our only sssssource of power."
Komodo Moe: "Joe, please, ya don't have to put so much emphasis on the "ssss" all the time!
Komodo Joe: "It's part of having a tounge like..."
*WHAM!*
Goes the kick of Crash upside K. Joe's head while off focus. then swings his sword, but Crash slides under him & counter-punches him. The two brothers get up & stands together wielding their swords, but Crash actually drops his sword & balls his fists. They charge at him with full speed, but out of nowhere, Coco, Jade, & Yaya all jump in & take them down with their powerful kicks!
Crash: "Whoa!"
Jade: "Wow, great plan, Coco!"
Yaya: "Once again, the power of kung-fu shines through the darkness & into the light!"
Coco: "Yay, we beat the bad guys! K. Joe & K. Moe meet a K. O.!"
Aku: "Great work everyone, we now have 2 out of 6 Crystals, but these N. Dustries are still in effect. If we collect all 6..."
Coco: "They'll power up my machine & then it'll create a force so big, these N. Dustries will be gone for good!"
Jade: " (looks at Crash)Then we'd better get moving!"
Crash gives a confident smile to Jade.
Yaya: "I wish you all the best of luck on your journey, me & the people of this island will do our best to help out in any way."
Everyone does the traditional martial arts bow in honor of the Dojo Palace. Crash on the other hand, his bow makes his nose touch Yaya, at least he did it right.
Aku: "Let us head back to Wumpa Island, we will plan where to go next from there."
Crash, Jade, Coco, & Aku teleport out of the Palace.
(END OF CHAPTER 9, PHEW)
