Chapter 5 - A friend, or an enemy?
As the wind began to calm outside and beams of sunlight started to force their way between the clouds, Crash's hut stirred to life again. It had now been two days since Crash had made his solitary journey to Cortex Castle, and he had not yet returned. Everyone was beginning to worry, including Crunch, who usually keeps a cool head.
"I don't like this one bit," Crunch muttered whilst pacing the room back and forth, "something must have happened to Crash, I can't just stand around here doing nothing!"
"Crunch, you must not leave this hut, the danger is too great, it could be another trap by Cortex!" Aku Aku warned.
"Please Crunch, I couldn't bare to lose you as well," Coco said, her voice wavering.
Crunch looked almost shocked at their concern for him.
"Don't worry guys, I can look after myself, I will return, with Crash!"
"Crunch, wait...." but Coco's words were cut short by the door slamming in her face. Now all Coco could do is wait, and pray.
Crunch boldy walked along the path, the sunlight now shining in his face. The jungle seemed eerily quiet, there was no sound of birds singing, monkey's howling or bushes rustling. The only sound that could be heard was the sound of Crunch's footsteps. His only concern, however, was saving Crash.
"There's no way that pipsqueak Cortex is gonna capture me, I'll make him pay for whatever he has done to Crash."
The silence was suddenly broken with the sound of heavy thudding coming from just up ahead from where Crunch was standing. Not risking anything, Crunch dove behind the nearest bush, so as not to be seen. As Crunch peered over the leaves, a familiar shape appeared on the horizon, it was Crash, he was safe! With relief filling his body, Crunch emerged from his hiding place to greet his friend. But Crunch noticed something wasn't right, why was Crash walking so clumsily?
"Maybe he's hurt, I'd better go help him," Crunch muttered and made his way towards the shape shifting towards him.
But as Crunch moved closer to what he thought was Crash, he couldn't help but notice that something was seriously wrong with this whole situation, why would Crash take so long to return from Cortex Castle? and why were his footsteps so loud? All those questions became answered as the blinding sun resided behind a cloud. Crunch looked in horror as the robot stopped, mere feet from him.
"What the hell are you?" Crunch demanded.
"QUESTION DOES NOT COMPUTE," the machine replied, "YOU ARE NOT MASTER CORTEX!"
Crunch looked on in disbelief as he began to piece things together, Crash had been missing for two days now and all of a sudden he is looking at this robot which, obviously came from Cortex Castle. Crunch gazed at the face of the monstrosity, and everything became clear to him.
"Oh my god, Crash!" Crunch was rooted to the spot in shock, "Crash, what has that bastard Cortex done to you?"
The robot cocked it's head, "THE NAME CRASH DOES NOT COMPUTE, TARGET NOW RECOGNISED AS CRUNCH BANDICOOT, IT WILL BE DESTROYED!"
The robot suddenly dashed towards Crunch.
"Crash, wait......" but it was too late, in a flash the metal contraption was on top of him, it's hands around his throat.
"No....Crash.....you can't.....do this!" Crunch, with all his strength, lifted his friend into the air and threw him aside, the resulting thud shook the ground. The robot didn't move.
"I'm sorry Crash, I had to do it, I can't let you hurt Coco or Aku Aku, I have to get you out of there!"
Crunch went over to see if he could find a way of getting Crash out of the hideous shell that he was encased in. As Crunch leant over the body, a steel claw sliced at his face.
"AAARGHHH, I CAN'T SEE!" Crunch staggered back, blood was beginning to trickle down his face, his eyes had been gouged, he was now blinded.
"TARGET NOW DEFENCELESS, IT WILL BE DESTROYED!" The robot announced as it stood up with the sound of metal scraping against metal.
It shuffled towards the now helpless Crunch crawling on the floor, trying to escape, and lifted him up off the floor by the neck with one metallic hand. The other hand began pounding into Crunch's chest, not stopping for anything, not relenting, it wasn't going to cease until Crunch was dead. It then hurled Crunch away as though he was a scrap of paper. Crunch knocked his head against a rock, the pain was unbearable, he could barely move. Crunch heard the thuds of the robot coming towards him and, using every last breath he had, tried to speak.
"Please Crash....don't do this......remember who you are."
The robot paid no attention to Crunch's words, it only had one objective, and it had to fulfill it. With one swift movement, a giant foot smashed against Crunch's face again, and again, and again. Crunch lay on the floor, motionless, he was dead. The crackly voice of the robot rang out.
"CRUNCH BANDICOOT NOW DESTROYED, REMAINING TARGETS ARE COCO BANDICOOT AND AKU AKU, PROCEEDING TO THEIR LOCATION!"
With those hideous words echoing across the jungle, the robot slowly ambled forward, leaving the lifeless body of Crunch behind.