Chapter 8 - The Best Course of Action
Crunch slammed a giant fist onto a nearby table and growled impatiently. Everyone had been waiting for Crash's return for a good five hours now, and there was still no sign of him.
"I hate it when Crash does this!" Crunch protested.
"Don't worry Crunch," Coco said reassuringly, "I'm sure he's ok."
"DON'T WORRY!" Crunch bellowed, "he leaves us in the middle of the night, not telling us what he's doing and you're telling me not to worry!"
"Coco is right Crunch," Aku Aku spoke up, "we must all have faith in Crash, if I know him well enough, he will return safely."
Crunch groaned, "but you can't be too sure about that!"
At that very moment, the door to the hut swung open, and there, standing on the porch, completely drenched and gulping for air, was Crash.
"CRASH!" Everyone cried out at once.
Coco rushed to her brother, and helped him down onto a seat. As Coco took a closer look at Crash, she saw his body was covered in bruises and cuts.
"Oh my god Crash, what happened to you?"
Crash looked straight at his sister. A heavy silence followed, but finally, Crash spoke.
"Everyone, sit down, and I'll tell you everything."
Crash told Coco, Crunch and Aku Aku everything he saw. The construction of the cannon, the hundreds of robotic creatures doing Cortex's every bidding, and how he was chased by them and forced to dive into the river.
"That is how I managed to get all of these bruises and cuts, because, as you know, I cannot swim," Crash explained, "I'm lucky to be alive!"
"I'm just glad to see you're alright," Crunch replied.
"Well, the next thing we need to do, is find a way of stopping Cortex's plans," Aku Aku exclaimed.
"Whatever we do, we must not involve any more of our animal friends," Crash demanded, "too many lives have been lost already, and I don't think I could bear to see any more to be lost."
"That is fair enough Crash, but if that is the case, then we shall have to do this by ourselves."
"I noticed a large storehouse next to the cannon's construction site. I reckon that is where they're keeping all of the supplies to buold the cannon. If we can destroy that, there will be no way they can finish construction."
Aku Aku pondered this for a while, his mind was working overtime, but in the end, he agreed.
"It looks like that is the only possible solution. We shall destroy the storehouse, and be rid of Cortex's evil schemes once and for all!"
Aku Aku turned to Crunch.
"Crunch, go down into the basement, and gather up all of the TNT crates you can find down there."
Coco gave Aku Aku a shocked look, "We have TNT crates in the basement?"
"Oh yes Coco, I have been storing them for just such an occasion. I have been thinking of every possible solution to stop Cortex, ever since what happened two months ago, and I knew they would come in useful at some point in time."
Crash smiled, "That's just like you Aku, you're always one step ahead."
Aku Aku smiled back, "Now, it is best you get some sleep Crash, because tomorrow, we shall set out for the ruins of Cortex Castle once again."
"You're right Aku," Crash yawned, "I'll see you in the morning."
As Crash made his way to his room, Coco turned to Aku Aku again.
"Are you sure this plan will work?" she questioned.
"It HAS to work Coco," the gentle mask replied, "for if not, it will mean the end of N.Sanity island as we know it!"