Chapter ten – A Little Advice

His misery was overwhelming. He lay against the far wall of his prison, angry and confused. He snarled low in his throat, letting his head fall to his hands as his rage steadily compiled. His logical mind became weaker, overpowered by his savage animal instincts. The sensation terrified him, as it would any naturally born human being corrupted by periods of prolonged insanity. He didn't know what he was, or why these horrible things were happening to him.

In effort to calm the raging storm, and to stifle his panic, he threw himself against the cage door. He pounded his fists on the metal, roaring in fury. He couldn't remember anything but pain. Did he have a name? Nothing was clear. He attacked the door mercilessly, helplessly, frightened beyond description. Finally, his strength began to ebb. His strikes were weak now, and he sagged to his knees in despair. He was painfully hungry. All instincts begged him to feed. He needed to tear something to shreds. Something alive…

He started pounding the door again. He wanted to shield his mind from these thoughts. He didn't want to be controlled. However, his constant movement could not hold out. He quieted down once again, feeling only darkness. Suddenly, he could hear a faint chuckle behind him.

"You really think all that ruckus is going to make the pain go away? Oh boy kid, are you in for a wake up call."

Brows furrowed in a combination of anger and confusion, he glared at the origination of the voice. A creature, much like him but far larger and wearing a coat of golden fur, sat with his back leaned against the wall of his own cell. They could see each other through a slit between their cages, and even this tiny shaft was fixed with bars.

"You've just been evolved." The voice continued. "Not a pleasant process, I grant you. However, this is what you are now and you're never going back."

He didn't understand at first how he could understand the Voice's words. They seemed alien at first, but as he concentrated, each sentence reached him with perfect clarity. He snarled in continuing anger. The Voice sighed.

"All right lad, your anger is obvious. Now quit growling and say something." The Voice was slightly mocking. "You can speak, can't you?"

Although only rumbling snarls and growls were comfortable in his throat, his defensiveness got the better of him.

"What the hell's it to you?" He hissed gutturally.

"Ah, you can talk, and curse too. You're quite advanced for your first stage. Usually it takes a freshly evolved creature a good week or two before they can get any words out. And many of them just stick to the easy stuff. Grunts and idiotic jargon; that kind of thing. So, do you have a name?"

There was a period of silence. He didn't know what to say. He was certain he didn't.

"Well, of course you've got a name, they give you one so they don't have to call you by a number. That sadistic scientist isn't very creative when it comes to names, unfortunately. I'm called Chaos. Cute, isn't it?"

He remained silent. He tried to remember back to the time he'd first seen that little scientist. He concentrated. Suddenly, he saw a flash of light in his mind's eye and flinched in fear. The vision was so clear and vivid that he omitted the slightest whimper and buried his face in his hands. After another moment of silence he heard another exasperated sigh.

"I know kid, I know. Don't fight it. Let it pass."

Tears flowed from his eyes, but he didn't utter another sound. He kept his arms wrapped tightly about his legs, full of uncertainty and dread. Why was he here?


Crunch's eyes fluttered open, the dream still as real as though it had happened yesterday. He remembered the fellow Anthrian from many of his previous visions. An evolved dingo named Chaos. Although he didn't know much about him, each time he invaded Crunch's memory he'd always been a comforting image. Crunch shook his head, attempting to clear it.

He had fallen asleep not too comfortably on the thick bow of a tree. There were many more accommodating places to sleep, even in the jungle, but Crunch was still anxious that he may have lost control and killed anything that moved. Crunch felt a chill in the air, and as he peeked through the treetops he could see that morning had come at last. Crunch quickly slid from the branch and began the trek to the temple monastery.

There were many ancient ruins scattered about N. Sanity Island, but Crunch had to admit that the stone monastery was the most beautiful. It was very well concealed within the embrace of jungle trees and vegetation, and neatly bordered the ocean without betraying its position to the sea. Crunch had always been fascinated with the old collection of chambers and ancient sparring arenas. Although it was worn away, it was definitely the largest and most conveniently hidden structure on the island. Crunch strode briskly through the ruins, keeping his eye open for the floating witch doctor. Finally, he called out.

"Hey Aku! Are you there?"

There was no immediate answer, so Crunch continued onward. He searched every area he could access, and still found no sign of him.

"Aku!" He yelled louder.

The only response he received was the irritated caws of the birds he disturbed. After that there was only silence. Crunch growled and kicked the dirt with his shoe angrily.

"Sure, he's there for Crash the Incompetent Idiot whenever he beckons, but won't show up to help with my petty problem."

Crunch was just about to forget the entire thing when a low thrumming sound caused his ears to twitch. His brow darkened, and he cautiously extended his natural senses. He followed the sound into the very heart of the monastery. He found there was nothing there, besides what he expected. He glanced around, still hearing the noise clearly. After further investigation, he could see a rocky path almost completely concealed by vegetation. With no better option, Crunch followed the trail through the thick underbrush. After a steep climb, Crunch found who he was looking for.

The old mask was swaying gently in the breeze, utterly transfixed at something before him. Crunch came closer, and let his gaze fall upon the object of which Aku was so preoccupied. From what Crunch could see, it was a dark crystal. He frowned, watching it vacantly as it gleamed. Aku was muttering something under his breath, and Crunch deducted that the words were of a strange dialect. Crunch, unwilling to interrupt, watched with amazement as the crystal grew brighter. There was an instance where he thought he could hear an array of different voices, all speaking in strange tongues. Suddenly, those musical voices transformed into piercing screams. Crunch leapt back with a snarl on his lips as the crystal flashed brightly before dimming into blackness.

Silence followed the sounds of terror and brilliant flash. Crunch could not move for a moment, but he was broken from his trance when Aku sighed heavily. Crunch finally stepped forward. He wasn't exactly sure what to say, but he spoke first nonetheless.

"What was that?" He asked in a low voice.

Aku looked so very disturbed, and utterly exhausted. "There is an entity trapped between worlds and I…Ah, but it does not matter. What can I do for you, Crunch Bandicoot?"

Aku turned to Crunch and offered a forced smile, concealing all traces of his former worry. Crunch angled his brow slightly, but decided it would be best for him to ask his question and be on his way as quickly as possible. He had no patience for mystical realms and crap like that.

"I have a problem, one I hope you can help me with." Crunch began without hesitation. "We talked about it before. This dreams that I'm having, you say that they're resurfacing memories from when I was injected with that mind-control drug Cortex conjured up. So far, that seems to be the case, but lately these visions have been becoming more vivid and…" Crunch didn't really know how to put it, but he was silent for only a moment. "Somehow I'm beginning to act unconsciously."

"In response to situations you are facing inside your dreams." Aku said softly, considering.

Crunch nodded. "That's right. Something is forcing me to act in ways in which I have no control. I don't know how serious it is, but I don't want it worsening."

"No, that could be disastrous." Aku said in slight distress. "All that I can gather by this is your visions are so convincing that your body is beginning to impede immediate danger. Therefore, you naturally react to that danger without waking. It is a curious condition, to be sure, and has some scientific implications that I cannot place."

"You mean, that serum I was given is still reacting inside me?"

"It's difficult to say for sure. It may be a natural trauma your mind has attempted to forget over the years, and it is only now beginning to recover. However, your species is alien to me. You were not created like Crash, who began his life as a bandicoot, or Coco, who was infected by the contamination. You are something entirely different. Dr. Cortex created your species before evolving you. Therefore there are so many things in your genetic structure that I cannot place."

"Long story short, you can't do anything to help me?" Crunch growled in irritation.

He already knew this story. He knew he was not a real creature. He was the only one of his kind, and it would remain that way unless Cortex shared the secrets of his genetically engineered DNA. Aku looked at him sadly.

"I admit I cannot guarantee any of my methods will help you, but I can offer them to you regardless. I will do all I can to cure you of these visions, Crunch."

Although Crunch doubted very much that Aku had the knowledge to cure him, he was still appreciative that the old mask was trying. The witch doctor had been looking wearier each passing day, which convinced Crunch that he had a lot on his mind. However, Crunch needed help in battling the sickness inside him, and therefore his sympathy was minimal.

Crunch thanked Aku and then left him with his crystal. He walked briskly down the hill until he found himself inside the monastery once again. The silence was haunting at first, but as Crunch continued walking he found it to become tranquilly peaceful. He would have liked to keep away from the house for as long as he could, but he always felt worse when he was on his own. Maybe goofing around with Crash and Coco would clear his head.

He took a quick look of the house, and when he couldn't find either of them he suspected they'd gone to the beach. However, just as he stepped out of the house he could hear a massive crashing that erupted from Coco's lab. A moment later Coco's voice wailed from the workshop.

"Crash! You idiot!"

Crunch sighed and started for the door. As he took a look inside he was unsurprised to see Crash lying in a pile of toppled equipment and Coco standing over him, throwing insults and exclamations at every turn.

"It's astonishing to me that you can cause more and more damage each time you come in here. Every single time you come in here, you break something!"

"You know, if you didn't have all this junk piled around I wouldn't have fallen into it. So that makes it…your fault."

Coco groaned in frustration, and Crunch couldn't help grinning at Crash's unfazed expression. Suddenly, a tinny voice began chattering loudly.

"Faulty organism detected. Function number eight, remove disturbance."

Two robotic arms shot from the roof and grasped Crash by both his arms. Crash frowned.

"Hey, what the hell is this?"

"Remove disturbance." The voice continued to repeat as he lifted Crash from the pile.

"Now this is silly." Crash muttered.

"Good work Dax." Coco said happily as she rested her hands on her hips. "Nice to see that you're good for something."

Crunch stepped out of the way so that the robot would have plenty of room to toss Crash out the door. The latter tumbled to the ground, and glared at the pair of arms.

"Well, how do you like that?" Crash sat up and dusted his pants while the robot returned into the lab. "I save the world on a weekly basis and this is the thanks I get? One would hope for a little consideration." Crash then glanced up at Crunch and grinned. "And where have you been? You know that the only reason Coco's been on my case so much is because she's got no one to flirt with."

Crunch smiled at the jest, and then laughed as Crash ducked out of the path of a flying wrench. Coco stomped out of the lab angrily.

"You're immaturity is disgusting."

"Hey, why are you mad at me?" Crash asked pleasantly. "It's not my fault your eye candy keeps taking off."

Coco glanced at Crunch and sighed in exasperation. "Please ignore my brother, Crunch. I think he's caught some kind of idiot epidemic making his stupider than usual."

"I kinda figured as much." Crunch grinned.

"We were just about to go for a little hike." Coco informed happily.

Crash laughed. "Actually, you were just about to go for a little hike."

"It's because of you we're going, you twit." Coco snapped. "You're way too lazy."

Crash yawned. "Well, that's a matter of opinion."

Coco growled as Crash lay on his back and closed his eyes. Crunch shook his head with the smallest of smiles. It was very true that Crash was perhaps the most laid back creature on all three islands combined, which made it all the more impressive when he could react so quickly in certain situations. He was definitely the fastest of the three bandicoots, and that ironic knowledge annoyed Coco very much. As Crunch watched Coco made a futile attempt to stir her sleeping brother, he felt a tortuous sensation come over him.

Crunch shrank back from the scene for a moment, trying desperately to sort the unbearable emotions that struck him unmercifully at every angle. The claws in his left hand began to extend in preparation for attack, and his steel arm clenched together as tightly as it was able. Crunch felt a cloud pass over his eyes, and his mind became plagued with evil intentions. He dropped his chin and backed away with a moan. Suddenly, he could sense Coco coming toward him.

"Crunch? What's wrong?"

Crunch opened his eyes, staring at Coco and seeing Crash propped up on his elbows, eyes open and filled with concern. Crunch attempted to clear his head and offered a regretful smile.

"I've…I've just been having a killer headache these past couple days. I'll see you guys later."

Crunch didn't wait for a response from either of them, and took off into the jungle with his heart pounding. Fear escalated through him, and as it did so did his savage instincts. He could not run without his heart rate growing more rapid, which in turn would fuel his desire to kill. He stopped suddenly, feeling his body tremble and shake with each shallow breath. His fear dissolved, giving way to an onslaught of pure rage. He roared and threw his metal arm into a tree.

After a slight cracking, the tree collapsed heavily to the ground. Crunch plunged his claws into the next tree he found, and held himself there tensely until he calmed down. He soon recovered, and then proceeded to rest his back on the tree as he considered all his options.

The most obvious one would be to leave Crash and Coco. The last thing he wanted was to hurt either of them. However, something in the back of his mind convinced him that if he did lose control, he would come after them no matter where he was. He guessed that by leaving the pair, and slowly forgetting about the fondness he had for the two of them, his defense in protecting them against his wild behavior would be impossible. There was another option, but one that Crunch didn't like to consider.

He believed he was physically incapable of destroying himself. He had relied solely on the rule of surviving for so long that he knew killing himself was out of the question, no matter how selfish it was not to do so. Crunch was strong enough to admit that although he was not a villain any longer, nor would he ever be selfless. He was still and would always remain a creature built for destruction.

He heard voices in the jungle. As quickly as he could, Crunch concealed himself. He could hear Crash's voice not far away.

"He's a big boy, Coco. He can take care of himself."

"Did you see that look on his face? Something's really wrong Crash. We have to try and help him."

"He would have asked us if he needed help. Come on, I'm hungry."

"Honestly, Crash."

The voices faded away. Crunch sighed deeply, ashamed that he was causing the people who'd been responsible for saving his life so much grief and confusion. They deserved better. Crunch remained where he was until the shadows lengthened, bringing about the evening.