Chapter Three- Relaxing with Friends

Crunch returned to the house, the shadows of the afternoon beginning to lengthen as he marched through the cool jungle. He brushed some vegetation out of his path as he stepped into the clearing that surrounded the quaint, if somewhat ramshackle, hut that Crash had put together. As soon as Crunch moved out of the shade he heard a loud, moaning voice.

"My arms are tired!"

From just beneath the roof Coco was leaning on a rock while clicking the keys on her laptop.

"Keep going till it's done Crash."

Crunch didn't know where Crash was, but his voice was clear enough. Crash moaned again.

"I don't see why I have to do it."

Coco didn't even look up.

"When you fall through the roof and create a big hole, you're the one responsible for fixing it. That's the rule."

"I've never heard of that rule before."

Crunch felt a tiny grin tug at one side of his mouth. Ah, now he understood. As he approached Crash leaned over the side of the roof with a hammer in one hand, wearing a very sour expression.

"It's almost suppertime, I don't have the strength to fix it."

"And what'll happen if it starts to rain in the middle of the night, eh Crash? That hole is over my room."

"Well, if you're bothered by it, you should fix it."

Crunch sighed, and strode over to the house.

"Get down here before you break something Crash. I'll fix it."

Coco glanced toward Crunch. By her expression she hadn't even noticed him approach. However, her brow was furrowed in irritation. Crash offered a pleasant grin from his perch on the roof.

"Hey buddy, good to see yah. See Coco, I said it would be a good idea to have Mr. Muscleman stick around."

"Crash, stop being a jerk." Coco then focused on Crunch, who had already climbed up onto the roof. "You don't have to do that Crunch. Crash is the moron who broke it in the first place."

"Knowing him he'll just make another hole in attempt at fixing the first one. It'd be better for everyone if I just got it done."

"Couldn't agree with you more mate." Crash smiled as he clapped Crunch on the shoulder when he scooted close enough. "Here's the hammer, nails, and my encouragement. Thanks a bunch."

Crash slid down the roof with a fair amount of grace for a supposed klutz and landed softly on his feet.

"Now if you'll both excuse me, I have some more wamba fruit to harvest and this time, I won't try for the ones right over the house."

"Good thought." Crunch muttered as he surveyed the damage.

So Crash pranced away with nothing but food and sleep on his mind while Crunch began work on the large hole in the roof. It wouldn't take long, especially since Crash had already assembled all the replacement shingles. Sometimes he wasn't as useless as he seemed. After about a dozen hammer strokes Crunch noticed Coco's head pop into view. He continued to work, only offering her the slightest glance.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

Coco was looking a little nervous, and it wasn't just today that Crunch noticed this. She'd been looking rather worried for a while now. Silence prevailed for a moment as Coco drummed her fingers on the wood of the lower portion of the roof, and then she sighed deeply.

"Crash and I were thinking that we'd go swimming later today. Wanna come?"

Now Crunch gave her a more concrete glance. "I thought your brother swam like a rock."

Coco smiled awkwardly and scratched her head, one of the habits she appeared to have picked up from Crash.

"Yeah, well, he's still working on that. So, how about it?"

Crunch considered. He wasn't very sociable. He knew this, and it was amplified when he had been forced to endure the company of dozens of different creatures during Oxide's threat. It was almost unbearable. Now, in the company of Crash and Coco, Crunch was beginning to feel less aloof. Although he could think of ten more things he'd rather do then go for a leisurely swim with Coco and her dopey brother, he swallowed his natural aversion. He offered only the smallest of smiles.

"Alright, count me in."

The excited look on Coco's face almost made Crunch regret his choice, but he scolded himself instantly for thinking it. These two, despite how different they were from Crunch's own personality, had still played a major part in breaking Cortex's hold over him. Crunch grimaced. Who was he kidding? Without Crash and Coco's involvement, he would probably still be serving Cortex with blind obedience. The thought of his former station made him shudder. He never wanted to be under the control of anyone again.

Coco returned to her work while Crunch returned to his. It took him less than an hour to replace the shingles, and after he was finished he remained on the roof for a while, gazing out into the jungle. Focused on the distance he could just barely see the erratic shapes of fluttering birds.

An instant later a searing hot pain shot through his head, and he recoiled as though he'd been punched square in the jaw. He grunted in anguish as both hands snapped to his head and applied pressure. All he could see was blood and destruction, and something inside him yearned for it. He felt himself snarl, thirsting for blood.

"Crunch? Are you alright up there?"

Crunch blinked, and in a moment the jungle had returned to normal. He was still sitting in the same spot. He shook his head violently and roughly swiped his arm over his forehead, brushing away the perspiration that matted his fur. He took a collective breath and cleared his throat before answering.

"…uh…yeah. This robotic arm's just flaring up a little."

There was a moment of silence before Coco replied. "Okay. Need anything?"

"N…no." Crunch took another breath to steady himself.

Something was happening to him, but he had no idea what. It was some kind of backfiring control mechanism that continued to screw up his mind. He exhaled a shuddering breath and then slid off the roof. He started walking at a brisk pace.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Crunch didn't even turn to give Coco the right to a reasonable answer.

"I'll have to take a rain check on that outing Coco. I forgot I've got something to do."

Coco made a reply, but Crunch didn't hear it. He was already at the edge of the jungle and moving fast. He didn't have a clue where he was going, but he needed to walk. He needed to do anything that would calm him down enough that he could consider what was going on.

Tawna passed a brush through her hair, smoothing out the rough tangles that had formed during the night. When she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she sighed. Even after all these years she was still having trouble staying up all night. It was at least noon now, so Pinstripe was still asleep. Normally Tawna would be sleeping now too, but she had an urge to take a walk outside. She'd explored the outside world before, but lately she was too tired to muster up the strength to get out. However, she was feeling particularly empty, and she was convinced that a little fresh air would help lift her melancholy mood.

She grunted at the ridiculousness of her own thoughts. Melancholy? Miserable was a word more closely connected with the truth. She hated her life, but she hadn't the courage to escape it. She hated Pinstripe more than anything in the world, and yet a strange connection kept her anchored to his side. He treated her horribly, but she wouldn't stand up for herself. Every time she thought about the past three years of her life she felt sick.

Unwilling to consider it anymore until she was out of the nightclub, Tawna stepped into her closet and shrugged out of her housecoat. She slipped her pink silk nightdress over her head and tossed it onto a chair. Quickly she fingered through all her clothing, and wasn't surprised to find most of the outfits were unsuitable to wear out of the bedroom. Finally she decided on a white string top and a light flowery skirt. She stepped into the skirt and fastened it about her hips. She had the shirt in her hands when she felt an arm encircle her waist. She felt an immediate chill, but she didn't recoil. Pinstripe rested his chin on her shoulder and buried his face into her hair.

"And where are you off too at such an early hour?" Pinstripe asked as he stroked her shoulder.

Tawna stepped away from his embrace. "I'm going for a walk."

Pinstripe, obviously not in the mood to be rejected, grasped her by the wrist and pulled her back to him, causing her to drop her shirt. Now she was facing him. He was blinking heavily as though he was trying to stay awake, and his black hair was tousled in unruly strands about his face. For being such a cad he sure was handsome. Pinstripe grinned.

"Why not come back to bed? If you're lonely I can accommodate you."

Tawna exhaled sharply.

"I don't feel like it. I wanted to get outside for some fresh air."

Pinstripe leaned forward, pressing her closer to him, and then kissed her neck. Tawna tolerated it. Finally, Pinstripe pulled away and pivoted.

"Just be sure you get back before we open tonight."

"Of course." Tawna's voice was thick with sarcasm, but Pinstripe didn't choose to address it.

Tawna bent over and picked up her shirt. Once she was ready she picked out the heels she predicted would be the best for walking. She strode back into the bedroom, and wasn't surprised to see Pinstripe collapsed on the bed snoring loudly. Tawna shook her head. How had he even managed to get up was beyond her. Then again, Pinstripe was pretty used to hangovers. Tawna left the room at an anxious trot, hoping she didn't run into anybody before she could reach the door.

"There she is."

Tawna stopped in her tracks and groaned. She slowly turned around and felt anger shoot through her veins. Veronica Potoroo was hardly wearing a thing. Her silvery gray fur that coated her body was combed to perfection, and her stark white hair fell into flawlessly straight strands to her mid back. She strode toward Tawna with an irritating smile on her face.

"Where are you going Tawna? Find a new line of work?"

Tawna wasn't in the mood for this. "I'm going out for a while, leave me alone."

Veronica laughed mockingly.

"I hope you don't come back. I could use the extra cash."

Tawna stiffened slightly but she continued to walk until she reached the door. Veronica came to the nightclub shortly after it had opened. Like many of the women who applied there, they were just in for a good time. Most of them loved their jobs, and embraced all it had to offer. Which included regular make-out intervals with her boyfriend. Pinstripe believed it to be rude not to personally "welcome" each of his employees to the club, though Tawna perceived he didn't take as much care into making his male employees feel at home. Veronica had been one of the many instantly drawn to Pinstripe's natural charisma and charming personality. She was desperate to take Tawna's place at Pinstripe's side, but so far no luck. Pinstripe, despite his flings with every girl in the club, still had his favorite, and that favorite was Tawna. Tawna didn't feel appreciative for the affection, not anymore. She would have been happy if Pinstripe grew bored with her and took another of his dancers into his bed. Except Tawna knew that if that happened, she'd be passed around among Pinstripe's underlings. She wouldn't be able to take that.

Tawna marched through the door and flinched as the bright sun embraced her. She continued to walk as her eyes adjusted to the light. It had been awhile since she'd been in the sun. Usually she would awaken at sundown, and then as the sun would begin to rise she'd get in her sleep. As she wandered through the street, she noticed with surprise that the city construction had come a long way since she'd last seen it. It was not a large city, but she believed it had potential to spread over the entire island in the future. Cortex made it simpler to construct a fully functioning modern environment by some of the installments he left behind. The underground sewer system was a plus, and so were all the plans he abandoned. These plans were the groundwork of this new conurbation.

However, Tawna felt herself hating it. She knew who managed the city's advancement, since most of them spent their nights at Pinstripe's nightclub. Although the prospect of a city for Anthrians was a nice thought in theory, Tawna knew that it would be a crime infested hole, and one she didn't want to live in.

She stepped over the scummy pavement, glancing at the deactivated neon signs that brightened the night when all were out and about. All the city consisted of at this point was a seedy district, and it seemed that was all these criminals needed. She strode past each club, grateful that she was the only person in the entire street. In the daylight, not much happened.

Tawna reached the spot she enjoyed visiting most. It was a veranda overlooking the ocean, as well as offering a beautiful view of the other two islands. She leaned on the rail and gazed out into the distance. Pinstripe told her N. Tensity Island was the largest of the three, but Cortex Island was not much smaller. Tawna felt it difficult to call N. Sanity Island small, since it would probably take a few days to encircle its perimeter. As she made out the pleasant natural wonder of N. Sanity Island, she felt herself sigh. What she wouldn't give to go back. But she couldn't consider it. She just couldn't face Crash Bandicoot again, not after what she did. Tawna's shoulders slumped, and her gaze flecked downward. Suddenly, her ears perked forward. Below her, a rusty speedboat swayed gently in the lapping water.

Tawna took a look behind her. There was no one around. Tawna climbed up to the next bar of the rail, leaning forward slightly. Maybe she could take it and escape to the next island. She could leave this place behind and live free and happy. She saw Crash's adorable face again in her mind's eye. She stepped back to the pavement. Without another look at the sea or the beautiful island amid it, Tawna turned on her heel and strode back into the direction of Pinstripe's nightclub.