Experiment Bandicoot
Chapter 7
Interlude II
Year 8, Day 41
I was happy to see Crash still wearing that crystal pendent proudly around his neck. I once overheard him that he'd never let anything happen to it. He stopped getting into fights in school and managed to pull his grades up more. It amazed me how so many kids tried to steal his crystal just to get him angry, but Crash would protect that crystal by cupping it with his hands, never wanting to let go. He loved that crystal and treasured it.
I tried to spend more time with Crash, but every time I eye that crystal, I felt so lost in its glow, like it wanted to tug me back towards it. I wondered if it was a mistake giving the crystal to Crash.
Year 8, Day 111
"We got an invitation to present out experiment to the greatest of scientific minds in America!" Gin cried, carrying an envelope which was one of the mails we got. We were having breakfast during this time. The envelope was a lovely light blue with a red seal on it; A bit bolded "B" with a roaring lion.
"Wait, which one?" I asked, "The Missile Displayer?"
"No."
"The Automatic P-P-P-P-Pancake Maker?" Brio came.
"The Teleportation Device?"
"No."
"The Giant Laser C-C-C-C-C-Cannon?"
"NO!"
"Then what is it?"
"They want to know about the Evolov-O-Ray!" Gin happily announced. Both Brio and I stood stun to our seats, out breakfast hastily turning cold. Our arm in midair carrying a spoonful of cereal just waiting to enter our gaping mouths.
"Ummm…hello, is anyone there?" Gin asked. I immediately grabbed Gin.
"Wait a sec! HOW DO THEY KNOW OF THE EVOLV-O-RAY?" I screamed, knowing full well that I told no one but my cohorts.
"Calm down, I told them when I was on the phone with them a couple of days ago." Gin sighed. I still had Gin in my grasp.
"WHEN WERE YOU ON THE PHONE WITH…WHOEVER?" I screamed, the giant top of my head ready to fly off from hot steam boiling deep inside me.
"Well, I figure the greatest minds of science would want to see the Evolv-O-Ray." Gin muttered. He shrugged in a casual manner as if my anger was nothing short of a joke.
"YOU TOLD THEM OFF OUR MACHINE?" I cried, violently shaking him. My face quickly changed from yellow to red.
"We had to someday and they're interested!" Gin cried, "If things work out, this could mean BIG money for us all and fame!"
"I ALREADY HAVE MONEY AND I DON'T CARE ABOUT FAME!" I screamed.
"For goodness sake, it's just for one day!" Gin shouted, "It's not like I can wipe their minds!"
"Well, I have been working on a m-m-m-m-m-m-mind wipe device…it's not working out well." Brio mumbled into the conversation, "Every test subject I do it on tends to salivate and twitch, so I still have a lot of bugs to work out on."
I groaned in frustration, almost tempted to chucking the milk carton onto Gin's non metal side of his round head.
"It's just for one day, this could be good for us." Gin suggested, "After all, we're scientists. We mess around with the planet's natural way of life." I mumbled something I wasn't too sure what it was, but he made a good point.
"…….Fine!" Gin cheered and danced around like a child during his birthday or Christmas. We were to go in two weeks time.
Year 8, Day 133
We went to America and manage to arrive just yesterday. Currently, I'm suffering from jet lag, but I still need to update this thing. Any who, we were to go this nice mansion where scientists of all genius from all over the world come gather to reveal their latest invention. I admit, I started to lose all doubts over me wanting to show the Evolv-O-Ray when I saw the mansion, the people inside, the gadgets and gizmos they made. It was amazing and I felt truly honored.
Carrying and lugging the Evolv-O-Ray to Nicodemus was not easy for three midget scientists, but we managed in the end. I should have made a crane during this time, but it never entered any of our minds. Crash was to come, too. I had no intention of leaving him alone with a nanny. Unfortunately, Crash started asking questions on what the Evolv-O-Ray was and we had to keep lying to him, saying it was nothing. Crash kept asking and we mainly repeated the same thing. He eventually got over it and went off to play.
The mansion was owned by an old scientist named Dr. Gary Brown who made many wonderful contraptions, but kept most of them mainly a secret, saying the world wasn't ready yet. Whatever the case was, he was part of science for many decades: creating new antidotes, experimenting on animals, even being a major person on the cure for AIDS. He was quite a benevolent being. His years of work earned him respect and of course, money. The mansion was the most beautiful place I have ever seen and that's not counting the garden in the backyard (they have bushes and hedges cut up as different animals) where he has a hedge maze, water fountains, and clean, white sidewalks. It's like I entered the Garden of Eden.
Gin and Brio enjoyed the wine room and the weapon's room. Gin admired the different varieties of guns. I told him earlier if he wanted his face covered so as not to show off his robotic side, but Gin said he had his own presentation on the concept of cyborgs. I shrugged and said, "Fine, whatever. Do what you feel." Naturally, the scientists were interested in Gin's metallic shell.
Crash enjoyed the nursery room they had where other kids (the scientist being their parents) played with him with absolutely no problem. It didn't matter that he was the only anthro there, surrounded completely by humans, they got along fine. It made my heart leap to see Crash play with other kids his age instead of them berating him.
I took the time to explore the mansion. The main hallways were red with gold decorations. Exotic paintings and vases with colorful flowers were in every corner, as were round mirrors with gold surroundings. Each room I entered (that was empty) was each given a theme: one was Egyptian, one was Caribbean, etc. N. Gin and Brio both shared a room in the Greek based room where they each got their own toga. Gin with a toga is dangerously though. Because Dr. Brown knew of my origin, they gave me the oriental room which…well, honestly felt like home. Despite the fact that there was a bed, there were blankets and a sleeping mat incase you wanted to sleep on the floor and for nostalgic sake, I did. Although I did feel a sense of disturbance of my old home, as if my parents were breathing down my neck like ghosts.
Year 8, Day 134
I spent some time with Crash before I went to meet the other scientists. One, however saw me and how I interacted with him.
"What is he?" He asked, "Did you create him? Is he your presentation?"
"No, of course not." I scoffed, "He's my son, an anthro."
"Anthros." The young scientist repeated. He looked about in his early 20's at least (I'm 31 one right now), "What are anthros?" I went off and explained what they are. When I noticed the young scientist was becoming more fascinated, I quickly added, "But anthros are rare creatures. You'd be lucky if you can find any." I felt guilty if scientists from all over started to experiment on them. Anthros, as far as I'm concerned, only lived on the three islands, but I heard there are some on other parts of the world, but hardly seen. Said to be in hiding. Anthros…a dying breed. I wonder if I did right think by creating Crash?
"So, where did you find him?" He asked.
"That's none of your concern, young man." Oh, great, I said "young man". I'm getting old.
"You better not let Dr. Brown see that." The young man spoke, "I heard he doesn't take too fondly to Anthros."
"Why would that be?"
"Something about them being vicious different then humans, saying how inferior they are to us humans." The young man shrugged.
"I doubt it when I show what I have in store." I smiled.
The young scientist just shrugged, eventually leaving to pursue his own interest, so I was once again left with Crash.
"Dad, what was that all about?" He asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked, quite curious to know what is going on inside his head.
"I'm starting to question myself." Crash mumbled.
"Huh?"
"Cortex, come on, we got to get moving." Gin ordered.
"Oh, alright." I sighed, annoyed. I wanted to hear what Crash meant by questioning himself, "Crash, I'll be back in a few hours. Be good till then."
Year 8, Day 135
My presentation wasn't going to be for another few days, so I watched other scientists show off theirs. Some I felt were pretty decent (The Serving Robot, The Portable Juice Dispenser, a pill to cure a cold in just a day, etc) while some were terrible (The Waffle Maker 3000, Electric shoes that make you dance, a pill to make your hair grow fast (when the latter was demonstrated, it grew a little too fast), and the ridiculous (a machine that scoops up your dog's wastes, electric bobble heads). Honestly, most of these inventions didn't so much as revolutionize the planet as it felt like making complete fools of themselves. They call themselves scientists! More like inventors who wants to sell and commercialize their products as fast as they could.
"I thought this was the science convention, not the inventor's idiot convention." I whispered to Brio at one point while a scientist was demonstrating his dancing shoes (he was doing the swim), "How does this define science?"
"Like I know." Brio mumbled.
"I can't believe you dragged us here, Gin." I muttered. He didn't listen…he was asleep.
Year 8, Day 136
After that terrible display of inventions and notable "scientific discoveries", I went over to check up on Crash in the Oriental room. To my surprise, I saw him digging through my suitcase. Papers were flying everywhere!
"Crash!" I screamed. He gasped, turned, then cried a small, "Uh-Oh."
"What are you DOING?" I cried, "My research papers!" I quickly tried to pick them up. Crash eyed me curiously. After I manage to pick up every last one and placed them back in my suitcase, I eyed the child.
"What do you have to SAY for this, young man?" I cried.
"I'm beginning to doubt myself, so I checked your papers and stuff to find out." Crash softly answered, "Maybe something in there could tell me."
"WHAT?" I smacked Crash across the face, "How DARE you go through my research? You have NO RIGHT!"
"DAD!" Crash shouted. I stopped myself from giving Crash another smack. I gasped and notice what I was up to. I was going to smack him again. My hand was already in midair. I smacked my son and I was going to do it again…what is wrong with me? For a brief moment there, I felt a singe of hatred towards him. All because he was curious over something. I eyed Crash and he looked at me with tear stained eyes while his entire body was shaking and his legs bowlegged as if he just wet his pants….he was afraid of me. I never wanted this look on my son to ever come to me, but it did. I scared my son. I became a total stranger to him. I stood there for a moment and looked at my hands, and then I took a big breath and hugged Crash.
"My son…I am SO sorry!" I cried, "I never meant to hurt you! Never! NEVER!" I cried hard. Crash hugged me back, tighter then my own.
"I know, Dad, I know." Crash muttered, "You're my Otousan, you could never hurt me." It amazed me how much he still forgave me, "I just got to thinking after you talked with that other scientist."
"On what?" I asked.
"Well…I don't know my mother, Dad." Crash whispered, "I thought maybe you had a record of my birth. I tried to read what you wrote down, but they had too many difficult words to make out." I sniffed back a tear and smiled. We both sat on the edge of the red blanketed bed. What should I say? Should I tell him the truth? The truth that he was created from the very machine I was to present? Created so that I would have a son and the mere excuse for his existence was not because of experiments (which I had done earlier), but to have fill the gap Akio never did? My mind was confused and without thinking clearly, I had to do the one thing.
"You were adopted." I lied.
"….I…I was?" Crash gasped. I nodded, my head apparently liking the idea of this lie while my heart kept struggling to tell me to stop such a thing.
"Your real parents died in a…a…car crash." I quickly thought up, "And you didn't have any other family member to watch over you, so I adopted you."
Crash sat on the edge of the bed, starring at the floor for a long time, and then he eyed me, smiling and shining his big, green eyes.
"Well, my parents would be happy to know I'm with a great dad." Crash innocently smiled, "I think I get why everyone picks on me in school. They're not adopted!" He giggled and I laughed alongside him.
"Yea…that's why." I forcefully laughed, knowing in my heart, I was guilty for creating the ultimate illusion on my only child.
Year 8, Day 144
Gin gave his before us and he was clearly in the winning lead. Considering cybernetics succeeded for him, think of what he can do for others. With metal, diseases and infection would be the thing of the past, among others. He got quite a number of applauses. Afterwards, it was my turn to present our project.
Lugging that stupid thing was exceptionally hard. Nobody bother to help. Once it was inside the meeting room (which was a round area with a table in the middle), we had to move the table to the side so the machine could be in the middle of the room. It was covered by a giant white cloth, so upon removing it, the scientists were shocked to see this monstrosity: The Evolo-O-Ray.
"With this machine, we can create anthros." I started, "Now Anthros are said to be an urban myth, but you all saw one…my son, Crash." I heard general mumbles.
"There are anthros among us all and they are a dying breed." I continued, "With this machine, I can create new anthros and repopulate them."
"Do you have any prove that this machine works?" An old scientist with brown hair and green eyes spoke. He had on rather large glasses with black rims.
"Well, we created Crash with it." Gin popped up.
"Gin!" I cried.
"Hey, you told me Crash wasn't made by that contraption." The familiar young scientist I met a couple of days spoke. I sighed and told him that because I didn't want anyone to experiment on him.
"Why?" They asked.
"Because we're experimenting on him!" Brio came to, "But C-C-C-C-C-Crash is living proof. We have photos and researches!" And we proceeded to show them off. I honestly didn't wanted them to know Crash was the result of our machine. I wanted to keep Crash faraway from the truth as possible. I wanted Crash to live a normal life…
After the scientists observed all our research and photos, we continued.
"The subject acts and speaks like a normal anthro who have been known to act just like a regular human being." Gin stated, "Although being an animal, his sense of smell and hearing is far greater then us humans possess." The scientists muttered some more. Then Dr. Brown spoke.
"The question I have is…is it necessary to bring back the Anthros?" He asked, "Considering how little their role played in our lives."
"Well, all living things help the planet and each other in more ways then we'd think." I stated, "Animals gives us food and clothes when we hunt them down. They in return keep nature growing when we humans pollute and destroy it. Like a cycle."
"Yes, yes, I am aware." Dr. Brown gently smiled, "But the anthros are just like us humans. Researches have shown they live in cities and build their own homes like us humans. They wear clothes made by animals just like us and they've been known to pollute and destroy this planet just like us."
"Wow, how do you know all these?" Brio gasped.
"I once spent a decade researching Anthros. Found a few in Europe." Dr. Brown smiled, the scientists quite shocked at this turn of events, "They are not Urban myths, but if you choose to not believe in me, I don't care. The point is, they are like us humans in so many way…we humans have already corrupted this planet enough, I don't see the point of bringing anthros in as well."
"Surely you don't mean that!" I cried, "They are still living beings of this planet! They belong here as much as the next guy!"
"When a creature dies, it dies." Dr. Brown said, "Nothing more can be done."
"We're scientists!" Gin cried, "We can do DNA test and such to clone them and such!"
"I've wanted to believe in DNA testings, but after so many failed attempts and years of maturity and growth, I've accepted that when it comes to life, the things are what they are." Dr. Brown smiled gently, "I believe in machines or tools or antidotes to help the current population, not play God."
The three of us stood dumbfounded. Oh, great…it seemed Dr. Brown wasn't all that cracked up to be. In my head, I wondered if what that young scientist said to me on Brown hating anthros were true? Did he merely make up crappy excuses so as not to show off his hatred for these creatures?
"I'm sorry, but you're creating a machine on a species that I consider ridiculous." Dr. Brown spoke, "The anthros are mutants who have mixed humans with animals DNA millions of years ago. They are vile creatures and do not belong in this world."
Bingo. Answer solved.
I stood stun. I could not believe he said that. He practically insulted my son along with the other anthros.
"Are you saying…our inventions are ridiculous?" I cried. Dr. Brown nodded, "…MY GOSH! YOU PERFER ROBOTIC DANCING SHOES OVER THIS?"
"Hey! I spend 15 years making these shoes!" cried the man who invented it.
"That will be enough. You can take your ridiculous invention away." Dr. Brown gestured us to move in calm, but conquering voice. I was naturally stunned.
Year 8, Day 145
We left home today, none of us speaking a word. I was deeply upset. Because of his narrow minded hatred for the anthros, he embarrassed us in public, thinking we were an embarrassment to science everywhere. Crash was curious about me being upset, but I refuse to say a word to him.
When we got home, we place the Evolv-O-Ray back where it belonged in the lab room. I spent there sulking afterwards. As of this writing, I have to say one thing: I was embarrassed by one of the most brilliant minds of this planet. The machine I spent my heart and soul on, insulted by those…those…bastards! Those know-it-alls! I felt insulted and offended. As of this writing, I think I lost common sense, but I swear…those guys will get what's coming to them, mark my words…
To Be Continued…
