Experiment Bandicoot
Chapter 13:
Villainy
Year 17, Day 145
One year since my Crash left the castle, one year since he throttled my plans for world domination. Out of all the people to rebel me, it had to be him. Why? Why does the twisted fate of irony grasp onto me like an iron latch, never wanting to let me go? He…He was my son. I created him, although he doesn't know that.
I fell hundreds of feet down below, screaming, knowing full well that I would die. Oh, that irony again. I'm starting to HATE that word. As I fell, my castle, my blimp, and Crash got smaller and smaller, then total blackness. I honestly thought I was dead.
I opened my eyes and was filled with even more darkness.
"Am I in Hell?" I asked myself. Am I going to live the rest of my life tortured and burned in a lake of fire? I stood up into a sitting position. The darkness still remained. I searched around myself and remembered I had a pack of matches. I always carry them around incase I didn't have a flashlight handy. You wouldn't believe the amount of blackouts we've been having ever since I created Ripper Roo. I stroke one and saw myself not in hell, but in a cave of some sort. There were ancient writings and I was knee deep in water. Scary times, I would think, but these ancient carvings were familiar to me. Like the ones Papu Papu showed me long ago. Back when I still had a full set of hair and Crash still lived with me, my son. Ancient writings. Crystals…I suddenly remembered crystals. I pinched myself and I figured I was still alive. I'm not so sure how, but now was not the time to think of such matters. I was obsessed at where I was. Getting up, I explored further, going right of where I was (the left held a dead end). As I did, more ancient writings passed before my eyes. I had to keep striking new matches because the tunnel was just so endless. At times like these, I wish I had a camera to take pictures. I followed the tunnel until I came into a rather large, circular room. More ancient writings graced the wall, but I didn't need a match to see it. No, the light came from an object floating in the middle of this room, atop a small platform. A crystal.
Oh, how radiant and beautiful it was. Like the crystal I had before, the one I gave to Crash, this huge one had me drooling. It was nearly a foot and a half long, shining in all its glory. I slowly reached over to touch it. I was wearing gloves, but I felt the cold of the crystal. That didn't matter; I took it and cradled it like an infant. It was beautiful. This crystal was a powerful object, a tool I could use in my schemes of world domination. I held onto it like it was my life supply and was now on top of the platform where the crystal floated. It was then that I notice little yellow fireflies or something similar to that effect flying around me, not to mention a calm, yet surreal sound. I was soon warped away, teleported, you could say.
Next thing I knew I ended up in a Warp Room of some sort, an ancient one, one could say. Now I wondered if I entered heaven. One jump into said portal and I ended up in another part of the island. I went back in and tried another entrance and I ended up in another part, this time with snow. It was amazing! I could see my castle from here, although half of it is missing due to the fire. I can always rebuild. It didn't matter, I was too happy with the crystal in my hands for anything bad to keep me down.
Year 17, Day 333
They were shocked to find out I was alive: N. Gin, Ripper Roo, Papu Papu, and Pinstripe that is. They only manage to move into a hotel in Citadel City after the castle burned before they would move on. It took me many questions to ask the local residences of Citadel City (as well as threatening to kill them if they didn't tell me) before I found out they were in there.
I manage to come in time, my clothes dirty and ripped. I had quite a number of bruises and cuts, but that crystal still stayed around my arm.
"Cortex, you're alive!" Gin cried out.
"But you fell…hundreds of feet, that is!" Papu muttered through a donut filled mouth.
"He ain't the real Cortex, he's an IMPOSTER!" Pinstripe cried, pointing his Tommy gun at me, "AINT YA? Doncha lie to us!" I groaned.
"Pinstripe…SHUT.UP." I spoke in a stern manner.
"Yep, that's definitely Cortex." Gin nodded, "Ripper, get that first aid kit in my bag, we gotta heal Cortex."
One bath and plenty of bandages later, I explained what happen to me.
"I don't know why I didn't die from my fall." I spoke in a rather soft manner, "But it must have been fate. This crystal…this crystal is KEY to my new plans for world domination!"
"What can this one puny crystal do though?" Koala Kong asked, "It's just…puny."
"The size doesn't matter, Koala. Even the smallest of these types of crystals carries an endless source of energy. We can use this for the next phase in my plans. But first, we must rebuild my castle, and then can we come about our plans for world domination." Everyone stared at me.
"By the way, where is Brio? I need to have a serious talk with that guy."
"He left." Gin answered.
"What, where did he go?" I asked.
"No clue, we checked the castle and didn't find his body, so he's alive, but where he is, we don't know."
"Hmm…well, if I ever run into him, he'll get his death wish for betraying me!" I growled.
Afterwards, we all slept in that hotel, except me. I was too excited…well, that and I swore I heard a voice in my head. A deep, almost hatred voice. With little sleep in my eyes, I made my way over to where that voice possibly could be. I wore my clothes and slowly made my way out. I wasn't so sure where I was going. My mind felt…blank. It's as if I was in some sort of trance, yet I was aware I was going somewhere. It didn't matter where, but I was going…somewhere. I manage to "snap out" when I saw myself face to face with a giant ancient totem head shaped like a crocodile of some sort. The mouth contained an opening. The voice boomed in my ears. After I cupped them, I slowly went inside where I was in another circular area full of mystical arts, like the one I saw back in that cave. In the center was a floating…well, something. It was covered in red fires and its entire body was covered in darkness (shadows, perhaps). The only thing I could really see was he's eyes, his yellow, glaring pupiless eyes.
"Who…who are you?" I trembled.
"I am the bringer of chaos and malice, the creator of ultimate darkness in this galaxy, I am Uka Uka."
"Uka…Uka?" I gasped, and I thought, what a stupid name.
"Yes, I am the God of Darkness. One who wants nothing but destruction and chaos in this happy crazed world." The gravely voice continued, "And you Cortex, shall help me."
"You know my name!" I gasped, "But of course…you are a God."
"Yes." He nodded.
"But…why do you need me?" I asked, "Why me out of all the other mortals?"
"As of my speaking, my brother Aku Aku, representative of all that is good is speaking with the one who thwarted your plan: Crash Bandicoot." I gasped at the mere mention of that name.
"You get the pattern, eh?"
"Yes, but you are a God, you can create destruction yourself." I mentioned, "Getting help from a mortal like me?"
"I am not a true God. It is a long story, one that shall be explained when time comes, so my powers are limited." Uka Uka spoke, "I cannot even get out of this place with my current powers alone. Aku imprisoned me here many years ago and I'm stuck here watching the world change through my mind. I manage to contact you because Aku has chosen Crash, someone you are close to."
"I…see." I nodded.
"That is why you are alive from that all. I made you survive." Uka Uka answered my question and I was shocked, "I need you to help me cause madness and evil into this galaxy. I cannot escape this place with my current powers, but you can help me take over this galaxy."
"Can I see what you look like?" I asked. Uka Uka did so by hovering closer to me. I was shocked to see myself talking to a floating tiki mask! Although I wondered if this was some disguise or something he is wearing. He said he is not a true God, maybe it's just a false form? Whatever the case was, Uka Uka officially entered into my life. I would trade plans for world domination and he to me; of course, I was gravely scared of him. He was ill tempered and powerful.
Year 17, Day 334
My first plan that involved Crash happened to involve lying and trickery. I know very well on Crash's feelings towards me. He wishes me so much to change back, even if he said he has to get rid of me. I decided to use that to my own scheme. I would make up some cock and bull story of how the planets would align, causing Earth to be destroyed unless he brings me a crystal to power up the machine. I manage to have one already, but it wasn't enough for me to power up my new Cortex Vortex, a device that would enslave every single intelligent mind to obey me. I needed two and because Crash possesses a crystal himself (only a small one, hardly enough to power my machine), I had to make some shit that the Cortex Vortex was to stop the alignment of the planet.
I manage to find him via satellite camera. He was heading for a spot that would teleport him to the ancient warp room. It never worked before only because the ancient warp room has long since been abandoned. I manage to rework it after studying it long enough, so Crash ended up transported inside where I spoke with him via hologram…
"Ahh, Crash, we meet once again. Forgive me for bringing you in this matter, but I'd expect a written invitation would have been turned down."
"….You're alive." I heard him speak. Naturally, he sounded surprised, yet I could see in his face that he seemed happy I was alive.
"Oh, Crash, you know me better then that. Any who, that's not why I brought you here." I cleared my throat after making that little light comment. I took a brief pause before I continued, "…I need your help." Another pause took place. He was shocked. I bet you all, Crash is thinking if there was a catch to all this.
"E-Excuse me?" He eyed me as though something was on my face.
"Yes, you heard me right. I need your help." I sighed, "Something is causing the planets to align, meaning potential danger to Earth. I'm still researching on it, but I'm 96 precent sure that this planet is in danger of being destroyed. I am in the process of creating a machine that can stop this disaster from happening, but I need you to help me." What a load of cock and bull.
"…What do I do?" Crash asked.
"You have a crystal, a mystical crystal that by now, is bound to you. The crystal and yourself are like one entity. One mind, one being. The crystal can also, however, point out to other magical crystals hidden in the world."
"There's more?"
"Yes, but I only need one." I pointed out, "I already have another, but I need one more to charge up my machine and I know there are plenty of them around these islands alone. Unfortunately, I can't remember where some of them are. Your crystal can help, it can track the others."
""Why can't my crystal help your machine doohickey?" Crash asked.
"It's an awfully small one, Crash. Although that little thing is dangerously powerful, it doesn't have enough "oomph" to power up my machine." Another silence flew. I needed to convince Crash.
"I have seen the errors of my way, Crash…please help me." I spoke with as much sincere and honesty I could muster.
"…Alright, I'll help you." Bingo, I got him; hook, line, and sinker.
"Wonderful! Where you are right now are ancient warp rooms created so you can go to many different spots on these islands in a matter of seconds."
"Warp Rooms?" He repeated.
"Yes, there are said to be warp rooms in every part of this planet, but insanely well hidden." I spoke, "It was of pure luck and coincidence that I actually found this set. Use them to get to other places on the island and find me a crystal. You best me moving, time is of the essence." I connected out and sat on my seat. The window I watched was overlooking the Earth. Yes, my castle rebuilt and a space station I manage to make where I was finalizing my Cortex Vortex.
You would think a plan like this would go perfectly, but something always goes wrong. Namely, the one named Coco Bandicoot and my old friend, N. Brio. Apparently, Coco is Crash's sister. He must have adopted her. Whatever the case was, she somehow manage to sneak into my space station and have been using my holograms to contact with Crash. Smart girl, she was. She never went anywhere without her laptop. I did manage to catch her by the time Crash manage to get me a crystal. She was with Brio who somehow got in, too. By the time I spoke with Crash via hologram, Coco was shouting at the top of her lungs, struggling to deliver the message that he doesn't trust me. I gave him a choice: the crystal or Coco and Brio's death. After I left Crash to make his decision, Coco and Brio was placed in a jail ceil by some of my newer mutated creatures, namely the giant Tiny and the brotherly duo of the Komodo Brothers. There, I questioned them.
"How the HELL did you get into my space station?" I cried.
"Same way you came, we took a space shuttle." Coco spoke in a cocky manner.
"It's true, I checked every area of the space station, and I saw an extra space shuttle." Gin explained, "I assumed they either built one like we did or stole it."
"Hey, excuse me! I'm a genius, too!" Brio cried, "Although my expertise is on c-c-c-c-c-c-chemistry, my vast knowledge and Coco's m-m-m-m-m-mechanical skills manage to put together a small, but effective space shuttle!"
"How the hell did you two meet each other?" I cried.
"Mr. Brio came to me via AIM." Coco spoke, "During that time, I was wondering where my brother was as he was taking too long to get a battery. Then I noticed I got an e-mail, then he told me to come to AIM, then that's where I met Mr. Brio and he told me about how you. Mr. Cortex might be up to something, but wasn't quite sure what, but since I'm his sister, I thought I join and help and…"
"Holy Crap, you talk too much!" I cried, "How old are you!"
"I'm almost 13." She answered.
"Oh, a little preteen, figures." I sighed, "Girls who are preteens and teenagers talk too damn much."
"HEY!" She cried, "I resent that, you vertically challenged sicko!"
"I RESENT THAT!" I cried, "Wait a sec. Brio, how did you know what I was up to?"
"Oh, please, C-C-C-C-C-C-Cortex, I'm not dumb!" Brio sighed, "After I got word you were alive, I manage to d-d-d-d-d-d-d-do some s-s-s-s-s-s-s-spy work by sending a device I bought at a local s-s-s-s-s-s-s-spy shop to see what you were p-p-p-p-p-p-planning. Granted, I couldn't hear every thing you s-s-s-s-s-s-said because that device is a piece of c-c-c-c-c-c-crap, but I knew you were up to s-s-s-s-somthing! Further investigation in the space station proved you were up to n-n-n-n-n-no good!"
"Yea, up until then, we just kept reminding Crash to be on his toes." Coco smiled, looking proud of herself.
"Great, you two seem to enjoy telling your entire plan." I sighed, "And here I thought only baddies like me does that…any who, when Crash comes with the crystal, I have to kill you all, especially you Brio, the traitor."
"Hey! We're confident the world will be saved!" Coco cried.
"Cute." Then I walked out and spoke with N. Gin, "Since when did Citadel City have a spy shop?"
Of course the world DID get saved. He manage to kick my ass. I asked him to give me the crystal, but he didn't. He was devastated that I lied to him and with such a rage, he managed to hold me and my minions down and free his allies. We manage to have a final fight in space. In the end, my entire space station was destroyed (I admit, Tiny's idiocy was the main reason why the space station was about to crash land to Earth), crashing to the islands of Australia, landing on the temple where Uka Uka resided. My henchmen and I manage to escape via escape pod (actually, I was taken by Tiny; half conscious after Crash severely attacked me). How the good guys escaped, I'm not so sure, but we lost the crystals. Thankful though that we were alive to live and fight another day though. Messing with Crash's emotions was a dangerous thing, but I hope to somehow use that against him.
Year 17, Day 335
Turns out that Space Station that crash landed on Uka Uka's imprisonment actually freed him! Who'd have thunk that all this time, we could have destroyed the entire place to free him? Perhaps it was because it was TOO simple that we'd never stop to do something of that sort. Clever. Either way, with him free, Crash has more problems to deal with. Uka Uka managed to get someone to help me with the next phase of plans: A Time Traveler named Dr. Nefarious Tropy. Uka Uka managed to bring him to the meeting room in my castle where we were expecting them.
"This is Dr. Nefarious Tropy, he will help us in our next plan." Uka introduced, "The floor is yours, Dr."
"OoH, yOU're A dOCtor, what kINd of DoctOR?" Moe raised his hands, "Do yOU fIx bOO-booS AnD sTUff?"
"BOO-BOOS! HAHAHHEHEHEHEHAHHA!" I swear I made a mistake creating Ripper Roo.
"Sssssssssshut up, brother, let him sssssssssspeak!" Joe growled.
"Like Uka said, I am Dr. Tropy, although my name is none of your concern." He continued, "I manage to make a time machine so you guys can do your time traveling business. Come, I will show you. BUT, you can only bring 5 people. Any more can cause the machine to short circuit."
I decided to bring N. Gin for his technically expertise, Tiny for his strength, Tropy himself for his knowledge in the time machine and time itself, and newcomer Dingodile which I made him a while back. The rest would watch over my castle until I returned. I'll be grateful if anything is left standing when I get back.
We were all teleported by Tropy to the time machine which looked like a modern Warp Room. Once we have landed, we notice we were in the middle of space, but we could breathe.
"There's an invisible barrier, so you won't have to worry about spacesuits." Tropy continued to speak, "Alright, listen well. The machine is pretty limited on where you are to go." Tropy explained the situation as we were face to face with a giant computer screen. He went over and showed us how the buttons worked, "Specific time, place, year, minutes, hours, it's all here. You're only given about 12 locations to choose. Choose wisely."
"I don't see why we're given such limited options." Gin cried out, "Not to mention limited amount of people! As a time traveler, you should be able to go anywhere in time, regardless of how many!"
"Time is a fragile thing, you imbecile." He sighed, "You can alter it in so many ways before screwing it up. One little incident can change the entire future as you know it."
"Are you sure you're on our side?" Gin asked.
"I'm not on anyone's side." He slowly and calmly replied.
"What?" Was what we all said.
"I do what I do. My life is my own. Time is delicate."
"As time passes, many different things will come to you and those close to you. The time when the Gods return will be at hand and when it does, a difference will be made. I have seen it…I could stop it, stop this tragedy from ever happening. As we gained something, we lose something. I could stop it…but it is not right to trifle so much on the power of time."
"What the 'ell are you talking about; ya sound like some retarded prophecy, mate!" Dingodile spoke, hissing.
"The reason I'm letting you mess with time is because everything is connected."
We didn't understand what he meant, but we didn't care. 12 was a good enough number, but we have to choose wisely. In the end, we manage to choose these:
1.) The Dinosaur Era (Try to build a civilization before the age of humans)
2.) Roman times
3.) Ancient China
4.) Ancient Egypt
5.) Persia
6.) The late 1700's, a time where Pirates were often common
7.) The 1950's (I've always liked that decade)
8.) The 1930's
9.) The Ice Age
10.) The Medieval Times
11.) The Future (just incase)
12.) The Lost City of Atlantis
With the times set, we manage to go to each one in chronological order. We must've been cocky to think Crash would never foil our plans here, but we forgot he had a mask God, too. And as always, Crash and Coco was teleported to the Time Twister where they foiled every plan in every time period we went into. Curses! Dingodile, Tiny, and N. Gin are useless gnats! By the time we reached the future, Tropy was the only one left that didn't fight Crash, so I sent him to do just that. I saw the entire battle and needless to say, I was gravely pissed that Tropy left Crash to live. Tropy is an immortal being and although he is not a God, he has powers beyond anything I've ever seen, and yet he didn't kill Crash! When he came back to me, I asked him why he didn't kill him.
"If I killed him, the future will not go the way it was meant to. Destiny will not be fulfilled. Everything is connected, everything is a balance."
I was naturally confused by what he said. Was he just messing with my head or revealing something that could happen in the later future? I didn't care during that point in time; I just wanted to rule the galaxy. Of course, Crash and Coco foiled my plans again and the Time Twister ended up being destroyed. How infuriating! If only Tropy had killed Crash, then things would have been different, so back in Castle Cortex, I cried on that he should have been dead in his hands.
"If I did, the connection would be broken." Tropy repeated.
"I don't CARE for that ridiculous dogma!" I cried, "He should have been DEAD!"
"It wouldn't matter, you wouldn't have wanted him to die." Tropy spoke. I was pissed.
"What do you mean by THAT?" I'll gladly kill him!"
"Prove it. Go back in time when he is still a harmless child and kill him." Tropy suggested. Of course! Why didn't I think of it, go back in time to when he was still HARMLESS!
"If you can kill Crash, then I'll be surprised." Tropy had his back turned to me. I nodded and he sent me back when Crash was only 5 and I still had hair. I decided to kill him while he was sleeping, that way, my past self won't see myself. I entered the little bandicoot's room and not to my surprise was Crash himself, at the age of five, hugging his stuffed animal, and sleeping soundly. I took out my laser gun and aimed towards Crash's head. Slowly I waited and waited, but my finger refused to press the trigger. What the hell was wrong with me? Why couldn't I shoot him? Why couldn't I end his life so my plans for world domination would become complete? WHY? WHY? My arm was shaking as I held that gun, but I couldn't bare myself to shoot him! There he was, sleeping like a little angel. I lowered my gun down and wiped the sweats from my face. Down on my knees, I groaned a little before noticing that Crash was starting to cough. I heard my past self speak, so I hid. I saw my past self tending to Crash and cradling him.
"Do you have a cold, Hiroki?" My past self asked. "Hiroki"…that name…I had forgotten it. After my past self left with Past Crash to get some medicine, I was visited again by Tropy.
"Couldn't do it, could you?" Tropy grinned.
"Why couldn't I?" I muttered, "Why couldn't I kill him?"
"You'll know why." Tropy smiled slightly and sent me back to the current present, "After all, we can't all have another incident like Akio…"
He left me, but it wouldn't be the last time I would see him. Just who's side is he on!
Year 17, Day 337
My next major plan for world dominations involved on my secret project I spent about a year making. He was to be equal to Crash in everyway, if not better. The project then was just called "Experiment Crunch". Crunch being a near similar name to Crash. N. Gin later suggested I change it to Clash as it's more similar, but at that point, I didn't care. He was difficult to make. Unlike the other mutated animals I have created, this creature was made entirely from scratch. No normal, average animal placed under the Evolv-O-Ray. Everything was from the beginning. It created far more difficulty and only N. Gin had any help on creating this, but even with him, I kept it a secret on what this creature was.
By the time we had another meeting (with Uka Uka dangerously pissed at us for failing to take over the world); I brought up "Experiment Crunch" which was near finished. He would match Crash in speed, strength, intelligence, and all that jazz. Uka Uka decided to up the ante by introducing the elements to make him an even more powerful power house. The conversation we had on that was quite an uplifting one:
"Yes, Experiment Crunch will match Crash in everyway! I programmed him so." I started, "I'm just about done. I just need to add in the proper elements before I'm complete."
"Elements…elements…OF COURSE! THE ELEMENTALS!" Uka's booming voice filled the lab room.
"The what?" My comrades and I grew confused.
"Long ago, my brother Aku Aku and I created the four Gods of the elements to shape the galaxy into what it is now. I created the elements of Fire and Earth while Aku created Wind and Water." Uka started, "Things didn't go well and they ended up defining both me and Aku and creating their own destruction. Pissed that they refuse to obey me (I didn't care they caused destruction, unlike Aku who did), we trapped them to the far corners of this galaxy."
"So, you're planning to use them to help Crunch who'll help us take over the world?" I asked. Uka nodded.
"They may not obey me and treat me like the Unholy God I am, but the least I could is try and strike a deal with them."
And he did and the four elements were in our team. Honestly, we thought we'd win this time. After all, four God masks (also stripped off their true powers from Uka and Aku themselves), created enough havoc to insanely end mankind alone. We only spared their lives if they pledge their alliances with us. Even with Crash on our tail, Crunch was more then a match for him. We already took over four continents: Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia. It did feel quite unusual that I was sitting on the throne of the Japanese empire. I vowed never to return to Japan, but taking over it felt refreshing. Up until this point, my evil plans have never been shown to the outside public, but now that everyone knew who I was, I wondered if my parents and my sister would, too?
Everything felt so grand. This time I used Crash's emotions against him when I created Crunch. I treated him like he was my son and made him every bit of an equal to Crash. The goal was simple: Make Crash Bandicoot jealous. Get him so angry and green eyed (And I don't mean that literally, thank you very much) with envy that he'll lose proper concentration. It worked much more beautifully then I had expected.
"So, what do you want me to do with him?" Crunch asked me when he told me he had defeated Crash. He talked to me via hologram. I manage to see Crash's limp body, bleeding and bruised, like a rag doll that's been tossed and turned around by a killer whale.
"Bring him to my palace." That palace being the Emperor of Japan's palace, that is. The base of my operation for the time being when we took over nearly half the world. Crunch was a bit shocked that I wanted him alive and in truth, I was, too, no matter how much Tropy said I would never kill him. Crash rested in a nice bed in the palace, bandaged up and everything, and when he would wake up, I'd have a talk with him…
"So…you've beaten me." Crash started, "What do you want to talk about?"
"The fact that you're still alive shows I've been very…well, tolerable of you."
"Hmph." I heard Tropy say. He usually pops in and out of random, so while one minute he's here and the next he's gone, we've gotten to the point where we're used to his random occurrence.
"Oh, hush up, Tropy!" I turned my attention back to Crash, "Well, Crash, first off, before I begin, Welcome to Japan. Our nationality."
"Oh, good, I'll be sure to pick up some pocky on my way out." Crash sighed.
"I spared your life you ungrateful teenager so as to give you yet another chance to join my side and do some serious damage!" I cried, "I already have a castle, I was thinking of giving you this entire palace and the country of Japan for your next birthday."
"No thanks. I don't like or accept any of your offers." Crash spoke with such courage, he even had a grin on his face, despite how raggedy he was.
"I HATE it when teenagers rebel!" I cried, "I should ground you till the end of time!"
"Then go ahead! I'll never accept you the way you are!" He cried, "Whatever we've been through, it's all just memories! I want you to change and I dream everyday that you will! I still have some lingering hopes you will, but that doesn't mean I won't stop you from your heinous ways! It's wrong! It's terrible! You won't change, no matter how much I believe it! You won't change…as long as I live, you won't!"
"I guess we have no choice but to kill him." N. Gin pointed out.
"…I…suppose so." I sighed, then I took out my laser gun, "But it will be I who will kill him." I reluctantly walked over to the now tear induced Crash, wishing he would join my side. I stopped near him, pointed the gun towards him. I slowly eyed Tropy who gave me a look of disbelief, like I wouldn't shoot him like last time. Again, my hand shook violently; again the sweats fell down my face.
"…Dad…" I don't know if it was a voice in my head or if Crash himself said it, but I heard that word. It wasn't clear, it was more of a whisper, but I heard it.
Of course by that time, Coco and all the other goodie goods came to rescue Crash and rescue they did. Eventually they did stomp out my plans for world domination, particularly with Crash (being the clever boy that he is) who used my plans against Crunch. He made Crunch jealous and as a result, that lead to a chain reaction that caused the four masks to be imprisoned once again, our plans to be thwarted and us going back to Castle Cortex to hide from the people (we made the Most Wanted List), Crunch joining their side, and Crash slipping from my grasp once more. How exhausting.
Year 17, Day 350
No new plans at the moment. I'm in the process of resting and thinking of other matters. Uka Uka has been gone for a while. He said he had business to attend to, so it's a bit quieter without the yelling and screaming…well, from him anyways. Ripper Roo is enough to literally raise the roof of this castle.
Year 18, Day 2
Tropy's meaning of connection and destiny never left my head. I looked at the calendar and I suddenly remembered that that day was Crash's birthday. 18...the boy is emerging into a man. I stare at the stars every so often from the balcony located in my room. They're so innocent, yet get close to one and you could easily die from one. It's pretty ironic that out of all the days, it was this day that I entered Crash's room. Ever since he left, his room was left untouched. I locked the door and kept the only key that led to his room. No one was allowed in; every window in the house was sealed with the curtain closed. Nothing was touched. If I saw a trace of something even remotely poked at, they would face my wrath. My henchmen were unfortunately curious, but at the same time, respectful of my decisions.
I entered and sat on the edge of Crash's bed. There, I took the stuffed doll he always had, that elfin creature with blonde hair and blue eyes. The one he named "Jack" without the "C". He'd never go anywhere without it. I sighed and thought.
What did he mean?
"As time passes, many different things will come to you and those close to you. The time when the Gods return will be at hand and when it does, a difference will be made. I have seen it…I could stop it, stop this tragedy from ever happening. As we gained something, we lose something. I could stop it…but it is not right to trifle so much on the power of time."
"Everything is connected, everything is a balance."
I'm really starting to hate that man. Not on our side? Not on Crash's side? He is a time traveler, which all the more had me thinking he was already two steps ahead of us. Perhaps he knows a lot more then we're intended to. I'm still trying to wonder if theTime Twister he made and our entire traveling through time is all connected as he said. Damn it all to hell, this is confusing.
To be Continued…
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Author's Notes: AHHHHHHHHHH! This story killed me! Both chapter 12 and 13 because it's the same, but told through the eyes of Crash (Ch. 12) and Cortex (Ch. 13).From this point on, the story will get more complicated and possibly confusing. Some will be answered; some won't until my third fanfic on my Blue Curtain Trilogy. All in all, I had to make up a lot of story for Crash 2, Crash 3, and Crash: WOC, mainly because they don't have a huge story to begin with. Not to mention this fic is suppose to mainly focus heavily on Crash and Cortex, so henceforth, it did. This part mainly explains Cortex's side of the story and answers some question the good side never did as Crash probably wasn't there to tell.
I didn't bother putting in any racing games or party games as they are simply not exactly part of the main storyline. I didn't bother with Twinsanity either. The next chapters will eventually lead to the end of this story with an all new, original story like the first few chapters had before. Best to wait and see what I have planned.
Changes:
-Changed some of the baddies speech to better fit their personality
