A Twinsane Wedding
Chapter 10 Mission Impossible: Truth Be Told Part 2
Nina and Dr. Jacobson sat there looking stunned for a good amount of time, they wouldn't blink, or even talk (it was like they were hypnotised.) Cortex only assumed they were taking in what he had said; of course it never dawned on him that they would be this speechless. The two glanced at each other then back to the scientist maybe once or twice, but that was it. "Guys? You ok?" Cortex sat up, and waved his hands in front of their faces. He got no response, both were like statues. "Say something. Anything." He then got an idea; raising his hand, Cortex snapped a finger, breaking his neice and the therapist out of their little trance-like state.
"What? What happened?" Nina asked, suddenly looking around. Turning her head, she refocused her attention on Cortex. "Are you part hypnotist now?"
Breathing in a sigh of relief, her uncle spoke, "Oh good, you two were starting to scare me. And no I'm not a hypnotist Nina. I said that I didn't think Crash was as bad as I used to think."
Leaning forward in his chair, the therapist gave a smile of satisfaction, "So, my words got to you. I'm doing my job then. Sorry for the lack of response there Cortex, we were just in shock, cause you seem to have a had a change in heart for Crash. Is that correct?" Cortex didn't verbally say it, but he replied with a yes by shaking his head. Jacobson was glad Cortex had taken his words into consideration. "When did this start? Yesterday?"
'Why, does he have to be right?' He thought, looking to his neice who gave a hopeful smile back. The man twiddled his fingers and kept on talking, "Yes, I beleive it did start yesterday. Also the previous night, it gave me quite a scare, I woke up frightened by a horrible nightmare. Which was partly about him." Cortex felt chills run through him, the image of Crash's limp and lifeless body still burned fresh into his mind.
That immediate respone caught the therapists attention in a snap. "Really? Care to give me the details? What caused you to have an almost sleepless night?"
"Tell him, Uncle Neo, I'm sure you'll feel better once you get it out of your system." Nina persuaded. She wasn't trying to rush him, the girl was trying to persuade him, knowing it would be a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.
Cortex knew she was right and as much as he didn't want to go into detail, he had to, "You're right, thank you Nina. About my nightmare doctor; I found myself back on Twinsanity Island, the dark, evil tenth dimensional counterpart of N Sanity Island. It was where my pet parrots, who turned into the Evil Twins that I told you about in our first session, were sent. I accidently sent them there when I was only eight years old, a test run with one of my first inventions went horribly wrong and I had no way of finding them. I had longed to see them again, but it wasn't the way I had imagined. I was captured by their soilders and dragged to Victor and Moritz so they could finish me off."
"Yikes, so they were holding a grudge against you for quite some time?"
"Yes, they were. And thanks to their hatred for what I caused them to be, I was almost eaten alive by Evil Crash, the tenth dimensional opposite counterpart of the real Crash. The twins felt no remorse, and even though it was all a dream I still said I was sorry. But they didn't accept it."
"Did your childhood pets want to do away with you?
"They did indeed. My past came back to haunt me, but Crash actually saved me." The more Cortex thought about what the therapist, angel and devil had said, the more the scientist realized that Crash wasn't so bad after all. "And here's the worst part of the dream: the twins idea of revenge on me for ruining their lives was having Evil Crash kill his good counterpart instead of me. And he did just that. Normally I should've been happy that Crash was out of my life, but I wasn't doctor! To tell you the solid truth, I was...heartbroken!" Cortex felt that last word burn his tounge like an acidic Wumpa Fruit, but his concerned neice was right, he did feel a lot better. On the inside though, he was trying to fight back the tears that he felt welling up.
Eric's eyes widened in shock, his mouth falling open in surprise. After their first session, that was the last remark that he'd ever expected to hear.
After jotting that down on paper in a flash and taking a minute to let that sink in, the therapist started to understand what Cortex was going through. "You have had a change in heart about him. I'm glad to help." He was impressed that he was doing his job, of course, there was a theory running around in his head. One that he would get to soon enough...
N Gin and N Tropy gasped, while at the same time recoiling back in surprise and disbeleif. Their eyes not beleiving for second at what they had discovered. "You guys have to see this." The cyborg called over.
"No, no, I think that this is even more shocking and disturbing than whatever it is that you've found. So you come over here." Tropy ordered. Both scientists looked tword Uka Uka and Brio. It was quite clear that they wanted those two to sort out their conflict for them.
The chemist and witch doctor decided to go over to N Gin first, while N Tropy's mouth fell open in disbelief. He was shocked that they went to the lunatic scientist first. Shaking it off, Tropy decided he should join them, he was second in command after all. "Alright you win, what did you find?"
N Gin got up from the chair and gestured his hands tword the computer screen. "A file labled Top Secret Playlist, but it's not what you would think. It's actually a complication of songs my master." He answered, followed by one of his insane chuckles. "Let's see here, there's...hold on." Pausing for a second, he counted them all up. "Twenty one to be exact." As he clicked the download button, (to start transferring them onto the flashdrive for the team to listen to later) the group, peaked with curiosity, gazed upon some of the titles of the songs and quite a few of them took the scientists by surprise; Hold Me Now, How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?, My Heart Will Go On, Vision Of Love, I Will Always Love You...
"What is this?" Uka Uka wondered. He never knew what Cortex had on his computer...until now. "Man, we should snoop through his stuff more often." The more the evil mask knew, the better for him and everyone else on the team.
"Seems like a playlist of ballad love songs to me." N Brio observed. He could only figure that his old friend from the Academy of Evil had been trying to get a girlfriend ever since they got kicked out due to an explosion in science class. Brio's first attempt with potions went horribly wrong, literally destroying the whole lab, along with his and Cortex's first (prototype) Evolvo Ray.
"Maybe he's still working on trying to get a girlfriend?" N Gin guessed.
Tropy rolled his eyes and scoffed at that theory, "Yeah right, in his wildest dreams could he ever get one. But I think it may not be about a girl at all." The master of time replied. He hoped that they would be curious enough to know what he had unveiled underneath the tarp and cubby on the wall. "Now would you all come over here. I think you guys will want to see this."
"Alright, what did you..." Uka Uka trailed off and didn't finish that thought as him and the rest of the team approached what looked like a shrine. A large photo that was about ten times the original size of the first picture of Crash he had was nailed onto the wall above his bed. The dark palm tree wood of the Wumpa trees that made up the enclosed cubby hole, perfectly encased the image like a huge picture frame. Little Wumpa Fruit colored candles surrounded the whole outer edge of the wooden shelf. The aroma of their pleasant scent soon hit their noses. "Candles hun?"
"Looks like it." N Tropy took a whiff of one of them. "Hm, lavender scented. These are relaxation candles." He observed.
Uka Uka could only assume that was all because of him. "I think know why." That peaked everyone's curiosity. "When Cortex stood up to me, he said that I might've been the reason he kept failing. He said that I stress him out to the point where he can't even hear himself think."
"It's true, you do do that." N Gin said, causing the mask to growl at him. "Sorry." Turning away from him, he slowly walked backward back over to the computer. Pulling out the flashdrive, N Gin closed the file before rejoining everyone.
Alongside the flaming pieces of melting, dripping wax, there lied other objects; Wumpa Fruits, a pro and con list, multiple photos of Crash, (all taken from a distance over the last couple of years) even a tiny glass canister housing a glowing pink liquid. There was a piece of tape wrapped around it that read "Pure Love".
Lifting up the glass container, Tropy asked, "Isn't this what Cortex has in his ray gun?" He shook it around a bit and the contents inside wiggled like jelly.
"Yes it is, it's the Love Setting, but in it's purest form. Plasma. Wait a minute, I thought he only had one photo of Crash?" N Brio picked up several pictures and flipped through them; one was of him with his toothy grin, another was taken at breakfast; the bandicoot had a pancake right on his head with syurp running down his face licking it up, a third one was of him toying with his yo-yo, and the image that followed that one showed Crash all tangled up in the string.
"Ha! That is pretty funny." N Gin said, trying to muffle a laugh. It didn't work though.
Two more Cortex had snapped during the night with a night vision lens, were of the bandicoot fast asleep with a puddle of drool next to him on the pillow, and another one from a different night showed him laying halfway on/ halfway off the mattress snoring away. Crash could more than likely, sleep through just about anything.
"Oh my god, he's a stalker!" Replied everyone in unison. The team knew he was hiding something, but they never imagined it would be this shocking. Setting the pictures and objects down, they decided to take some time to process their findings.
"Wow, I thought he said he hated Crash, I mean he did lable him as a failed creation." Brio remembered. "And plus, he ignored my warnings about waiting to put him in the vortex a decade ago." He slowly picked up the multitude of items and carefully analyzed them. One by one, Brio turned them over and over in his hands.
N Tropy and Uka Uka put their heads together and thought long and hard about this situation. "A compilation of love songs, a shrine, Wumpa Fruit, which is the main diet of that orange marsupial." The time master observed analyzing one set of objects.
Uka Uka looked over at the other one, "Photos of his nemesis, the pure form of the Love Setting of his ray gun in a vile, scented wax candles with a relaxing aroma, and his strange behavior."
N Gin tried to follow along with his fellow scientists, but his brain couldn't process all of it at once. His eyes darted back and forth between the two, before he went completely cross-eyed. Finally the cyborg asked; "um can you guys explain this, I can't follow?"
Tropy hung his head and shook it, while at the same time Brio placed a hand on N Gins shoulder and gave a smile, "Your brains been working ever so slow since the missle accident, but allow me to explain. I believe I know exactly what's going on. I had a theory earlier after seeing Dr. Cortex with the one photo of Crash, but I felt like I needed more proof before I voiced my theory, and after seeing this shrine, I've concluded that it was right on point."
"Well, what is it?! Whaddya got?!" The group flocked around the chemist, practically squishing him in the process. All except Uka Uka who floated up above. Everyone was tensed up, waiting to hear the reveal that they couldn't contain themselves.
Backing up slightly to avoid getting crushed, their fellow scientist spoke, "I think know why he said he didn't have a plan to beat Crash..." Brio trailed off, leaving them in suspense for a few moments. They leaned in close to him. "It's think it's because...he's in love with him."
Everyone froze after hearing that, their eyes and mouths, unmoving. It was like time had stopped as jaws dropped to the floor. All of them staggered backward, letting Brio catch his breath. The news was so shocking, that N Gin and N Tropy stumbled backward and flopped onto Cortex's bed. They gazed up at the ceiling for a few brief moments looking a bit dazed. It was made clear by their reactions that N Brio wasn't phased by this, as he stood there with his head held high. He had known ever since Cortex had revealed that picture that something was up.
Uka Uka shook himself around, his voodoo bones clacking together. "I'm sorry, I thought you just said that Cortex was in love with that brainless bandicoot?"
"That's exactly what I just said. The proof is in the pudding right here; the Love Setting, the photos, all the songs on his computer, the whole 'shrine' thing. The 8 x10 glossy photo he's always got with him. Connect the dots you guys." Brio urged as the cyborg and time master picked themselves up after another minute of lying down.
"You can't be serious, can you?" The evil mask asked. Brio said nothing to let them think about it for another breif moment. "Oh, you are serious, ok. I can't beleive Cortex! He lied about the one photo of Crash! He's not carrying it around to fill himself with hate because he doesn't hate him! Instead he's head over heels for his worst enemy!"
"The photos, the shrine...he is so dead when he gets back here!" Tropy screamed, tightening his grip on his tuning fork.
"You're right!" Uka Uka exclaimed. "He's got some explaining to do!" Him and the rest of the team were just completely stunned by their discovery, but Brio shook it off and raised his hands.
"Woah, woah, ok. I know we're all in shock about this, but if we just start accusing Cortex and forcing him to tell us the truth, it's more than likely he won't tell us anything." Brio replied, knowing that they needed to think of a plan. He knew his old friend and colleague from years ago very well. "We have to be smart about how we approach this. We need a plan."
After a minute of pondering, the time master spoke, "You're the chemist and the mixologist of the bunch, so how about prepare us a little truth serum? Hm?" Tropy persuaded.
Brio thought that over in his head, he liked the sound of that idea. "Oh, good idea. I was thinking lie detector, but this'll work much better."
"Yeah, truth serum. If you know anything about that kind of mixture that is?"
N Brio scowled at him, his hands balling into fists. How dare N Tropy have doubts about him. That insult was enough to make him drink a vile of one of his mutating potions. But he resisted the urge to do so. Instead he pointed tword the celing and said, "Of course I do, and I'll prove it to you; I'll head down to the lab right now and whip up a batch! Cortex didn't start calling me his right hand man for nothing!" Brio then stomped angrily out of the room, throwing his hands in the air and grumbling to himself as he went.
"Touchy. Alright, let's get out of here before Cortex gets back." Uka Uka advised. "And N Gin, go clean up that mess you made downstairs earlier." He ordered. N Gin gave a quick salute and sprinted off to find the dustpan and broom.
N Tropy placed the tarp back over the cubby hole after snatching up the pro and con list. 'I hope this serum of his works.' He thought as him and the witch doctor made their way out the door, collecting the one spybot along the way.
Cortex breathed in a sigh of relief, happy to have taken his neices advice. "I do feel better, thanks a lot Eric." He smiled as he started to sit up. "And you too Nina, maybe I'll actually get a peaceful slumber tonight."
"Hold it Cortex, we're not done yet. Just a couple more questions I want to ask you."
He lied back down, "Alright...shoot." Another lump formed in his throat. What on Earth would he ask?
Dr. Jacobson got up out of his chair and strolled over to the bookshelf. Cortex cocked his head around, (practically staining his neck in the process) to see what the native was looking for. He saw Eric pull from the shelf, the same book he noticed when him and Crash first stepped inside his office; "Is It Hate, Love, or Something Much Deeper?" By Dr. Eric Jacobson. The scientist whipped back around in a flash, hands gripping at his chest where his heart supposedly was. Nina noticed her uncles action, but didn't say anything.
"Um, Nina you wouldn't mind waiting out in the hall would you?"
The goth girl nodded and hugged him, Nina wasn't one to judge her uncle. "Alright, I'll be waiting right outside, just holler if you need anything from me." Giving him a pat on the shoulder, she stepped out of the office.
Now it was just the therapist and the scientist. One on one.
Jacobson came back and plopped down in his chair, the hardcover book clutched in his hands. "I saw you eyeing this when you first arrived here with Crash. Don't think I didn't notice it and your reaction Cortex, I have eyes and ears all over this office."
"Um...what was m-my reaction t-to seeing that book?" Cortex wondered, his voice suddenly going high-pitched.
"You took one look at the title, turned away and shuddered, almost as if you realized something. You said you hated Crash right?"
"Of course I do." Cortex said folding his arms over his chest in defiance. His eyes however looking elsewhere, trying not to be a hundred percent focused and giving his attention to the therapist.
"Cause if you say you hate him and you want him out of your life, then why did you say you were heartbroken after your nightmare when you saw him get killed right before your eyes?" Eric then noticed Cortex's eyes focusing his diplomas and not on him. The therapist snapped a finger. "Cortex."
The scientist jumped out of his skin and rolled off the sofa. Landing hard on the wooden floor, he winced in pain, this was worse than his spear injury. "Who? What? What happened?" Right after he said that, he realized that he had said the same thing that Nina had said moments ago. His eyes looked up to meet Dr. Jacobsons who was clearly in shock by his actions. "Oh hi." That was the best Cortex could muster. He couldn't even be bothered to haul himself to his feet.
Clasping his hands together, Eric revealed his little theory he had. "I beleive that it may not be hate you feel for Crash." There was a long scilence that followed that sentence.
"Well, maybe you're right, when we left here yesterday and I told you this already, I almost got speared, jumped into Crash's arms and told him to get out of here. But here's the other thing; on the boat ride back to my lab, I was this close to blasting him and disintegrating him right out of my life, but for some reason, my conscience told me the opposite. It told me not to do it, and also that I sought comfort from my worst enemy whenever were together, and I get myself into trouble. And they're right, without Crash I think I'd be lost...and probably dead. Cortex couldn't believe what he was saying. "Ah, what is happening to me?! I want him gone, but at the same time I don't. I'm still confused, and when I said I didn't have a plan to beat Crash, my minions thought I was coming down with something. They thought I was sick."
The therapist watched Cortex, carefully observing his behavior analyzing his motions while he explained; fingers were twiddling, eyes darting rapidly from left to right looking tword nothing in patricular, sweat starting to form on his forehead. Soon, Eric presented his theory, he set his clipboard down and spoke, "I know exactly what's going on Cortex."
"Really? Well you are the therapist. Whatddya got?" The scientist would be amazed at him if he got this right the first time.
"Well truth be told, you're right about being sick Cortex, problem is this is a different kind of sick than what you think it is. I beleive that..." As Dr. Jacobson paused for a great effect, he could only imagine Cortex's reaction.
"That...what doctor, what is it?" The suspense was mentally killing Cortex.
"Well they say that sometimes the person you hate the most is often the one you love the most. Now judging from what you just told me about you and Crash: mainly your nightmare, and what I've observed throughout this session today, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but I beleive that you may be lovesick over him." The therapist revealed.
'Lovesick' The first part of that word struck the scientist right in the heart, a blush coating his face. Cortex's eyes widened as he felt the sharp pain in his chest. Why did Eric mention that word?
"Listen to your heart, you know you want to." The angel spoke in his ear. The devil on the other hand made the gagging gesture, but remained silent.
Picking himself up off the floor and settling back onto the sofa, Cortex looked him right in the eyes. Taking a minute to collect his thoughts, he then came clean. "No Dr. Jacobson...as much as I hate to admit this, you're not wrong in your theory. You're...dare I say it..." The scientist hesitated for a brief moment. "You're right."
A/N
*runs into the room, panting* Hey-O! Back again, with another chapter! Fingers crossed there isn't a third part to this chapter. ;)
Thanks for leaving the readers in suspense for like 3 months with a cliffhanger. Where on Earth have you been?
Sorry, for both dragging this chapter on, and a 3 month hatuis. I'm taking my time with this story currently and *shrugs* Eh, Cortex this ain't the first cliffhanger you've seen in this story.
Right...You did hit a milestone in this chapter didn't you?
Yeah! Woo! A two part chapter done! And a confession from Cortex done! Victory! Don't worry, you'll be seeing Coco and the bandicoots come the next chapter. As for this one, this one in particular took some time to do. Prepping for Comic Con again this year, work, and life in general put this part of the story on hold for a bit. XD Plus I've been cranking out these chapters like mad, so it was nice to have a break.
Ah, I can understand that completly.
Right. Thank you.
Anon: Pretty soon Cortex will admit to Crash how he really feels about him. And I'm loving the grand prix Beenox and Activision are geniuses for thinking up that. I know right?! Meeting Cortex's voice actor in real life, now I know how crazed fangirls feel. :P
FlauraRara: Cortex is finally starting to realize it. *holds up a sign that reads "Awkward"* I'm sorry, I decided to go with a whole shrine alongside of the playlist, I've seen a few cartoons that have them. Sorry, I couldn't help it! XD I'm so glad you liked the refrences. Truth be told, Mind Over Mutant was my first Crash game on console. And my first cosplay of Dr. Cortex was from the titans games. The playlist, I haven't listened to it all the way through, but I can't get Hold Me Now by the Thompson Twins out of my head now. Darn you YouTube! XD I can't wait to start group therapy! :D
Do I dare ask what's next with me and the team?
Truth serum and probably something else. See you all in the next chapter.
Until next time...
R&R and keep smiling! Hopefully the next update won't take so long. XD
Ahhhh!
Oh stop it.
