Odds and Ends
Kate's arms were crossed. The fresh mornings in the Chinese July were rather frigid around the parts they traveled. And her new attire did not help with it at all.
"Kate, if you knew we were coming here, why did you pick a blue tank top and Capri's when I bought you new clothes?" Jack asked when "parking" the mules at a stable in a larger village.
"Because it's summer! I would normally wear this, if not less, every day in Arizona!" she argued.
"I see. Well, adaptation's out this year I suppose." He was busy dusting himself off when Kate leaped over the edge of the hay cart.
"Whatever. So who was this new 'guy' you met a few miles back?"
"I left the hut for a few hours, you know, for a small walk."
"In the pouring rain?"
"Yes, yes I did," he stated as a-matter-of-factly. "As I was saying, I was out, and out of nowhere he attacked me."
"You poor, poor thing," Kate said in a derisive manner. "I was grabbed by a 30 ton robot that could've crushed every bone in my body, but noo. Your story sounds a lot worse than mine."
"Oh, be quiet, you female." Jack stretched his arms into the air, and loosened a knot in his back. "Ah… Wow! That felt remarkably great."
"C'mon, Twinkle Toes. Let's get moving," Kate said.
"Yes, mother," Jack smirked.
Somewhere in the bowels of deep space lay a gigantic space station of unknown possession. If gained a closer proximity, one could hear a constant banter between two males.
"DAMMIT, CORTEX! WHY CAN'T YOU JUST GET THAT SHIT LIKE THIS HAPPENS TO YOU ALL THE TIME! AND NOW YOU'VE BROUGHT ME INTO YOUR RING OF FAILURE!"
"YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HAS FAILED ME! YOU SHOULD FEEL LUCKY THAT I WON'T LOWER YOUR PAY, YOU RAT!"
"You Sonuvah B—"
"SHUT UP YOU TWO IDIOTS!"
The cursing evil bandicoot and mad scientist turned to see a preteen girl holding a look of mad irritation to her face. She had a lowercase "n" on her forehead and her skin was tinted a hideous blue. Her hands were made of a bulky metal, while buckteeth were present. She had her black hair spike up slightly in the back. She wore a school uniform that was navy blue with a red tie.
And right now, she wasn't happy.
"Why are you two arguing when Crash still is out there with that chick? You're getting nowhere."
Nega snarled. "Look, you little brat—"
"Nega, why aren't you doing what you were paid to do? And Uncle, why aren't you giving him the supplies he needs to get the job done?"
Cortex sighed. "Nina, go to your room. You aren't helping."
"For once would you listen to me? You two are arguing so loudly that it's almost driven me insane!"
The two male adults were quiet. Nina sighed.
"This buffoon won't do us much good if he's without a good weapon," she said while gesturing to Nega. He growled in turn. "So why don't we give him a gun, and some other stuff like tranquilizer darts?"
"A gun would be useful, but why tranquilizers?" Nega asked.
"The chick won't exactly let us take her with you."
"Oh."
"So why don't you men stop thinking about your masculine dignity and focus on the problem here?"
Nega furrowed his brow and looked at his employer. "I think your niece is actually more helpful than you think, Cortex."
Cortex sighed. Again, he let his niece do the thinking for him. "Alright, N. Gin! Gather some artillery and tranquilizer serum!"
A sheepish voice was heard far off from the space station. "Yes, Doctor."
"Now if you two morons excuse me, I have to go and get some shut-eye," Nina said, and left the room without a second thought. Nega breathed in deep.
"I could use some of that, too. I really need some rest if you want the job done right."
Cortex was left in the room alone, besides N. Gin starting to come in with a gun and darts and Nega snatching them away from the stout man. The latter was intimidated by the bandicoot and rushed to the doctor. "Would you like anything else?"
"That girl, N. Gin. I want her to me as soon as possible."
Kate was patiently waiting outside the edge of a forest, arms folded and foot tapping. Jack suddenly came out from behind a large bush and gave a shout of joy.
"Woo! I've been holdin' that in for awhile now!" Kate looked at him with a blank face, looked down briefly and spoke casually.
"Jack."
"What?"
"Zip up your pants."
He quickly muttered a profanity and turned around in embarrassment. Kate chuckled, and Jack looked at her with a shamefaced air. "Sorry about that, mate."
"Don't worry. I lost count on how many times I've had to tell my older brother about that."
"Yeah, yeah. Men make mistakes."
"If you can call yourself that."
"Hey! I am I proud twenty-three year old guy. I have every right to the title of man."
"Whatever you say," Kate smiled. "So how do you plan to get out of this place?"
"What, you mean China? Well, I figured we could maybe take a plane."
"Oh, goodie, another plane ride. Do you promise not to crash this one?"
"Like that was my fault." But now that he thought about it, he was the one who caused the pilot to faint, so air travel might not be the best of choices.
Kate pursed her lips pensively. "What about by boat?"
"Boat?" Jack asked. "Never thought about it."
"You wouldn't," Kate remarked with a smug grin. Jack narrowed his eyes at the young woman and walked past her.
"Chicks."
Kate was sprawled across her bed with the blankest of looks. Jack was presently taking a shower, which he replied would have to take a while. He'd left his leather jacket in the room on Kate's nightstand, but took his helmet with him.
Kate's thoughts were interrupted by the previous contemplation of his helmet. Why was he so secretive about it anyway? What was so important under there that he had to conceal it from her? It was something she'd never understand.
Maybe he was an alien… No, no, it wouldn't make sense if he was. He's too much like a human to be an alien. Perhaps he was so gorgeous that he wouldn't show anyone, but considering his arrogant personality, that wasn't possible.
"What is he hiding?" Kate muttered aloud. Suddenly, a vibration in his leather jacket's pocket was triggered. She reached into the pocket and her hand clasped an object that would throb every few seconds. She lifted it from the pocket and found what seemed to be a walkie-talkie.
Kate, in her curious state, pressed the red button that was labeled "ANSWER."
"Crash! I know how Nega's tracking you down!" a girl's voice spoke. Kate, extremely nervous now, tried to think of a way to reply.
But this was the perfect opportunity to learn a little more about her companion.
She tried her best to impersonate Jack's voice, and spoke while holding the button. "…How?"
"He has a tracking device with your blood sample in it. It can pinpoint your location anywhere on the globe! So that means if you have Kate with you, she could be in danger."
Kate didn't know how to reply. Right now, she was worried over her life. But, she had to keep this going. "So what should he–I do?"
There was a pause on the other end, but the girl continued to speak. "Is there something wrong with your voice? It sounds… Different."
"Nah, I just… have a frog in my throat, is all."
It became quiet again, and the girl spoke with a hint of confusion. "Kate?"
"… Sorry to say so, yes, I'm Kate," the redhead spoke with a bit of regret. The girl she was speaking to began to chuckle.
"You should work on your Australian accent. I'm Coco… And I suppose my brother is busy with something?"
"He's taking a shower. He left his jacket out here with me."
"Wow, I've heard so much about you!"
"He… He talks about me?"
"I'm having difficulty thinking of a time when he didn't mention you to me. He must be a pain though."
"Jack's not that bad… Just really cynical and lazy."
"Tell me about it."
Crash was busy drying the water off of his orange fur, when he heard Kate talking. He furrowed his brow, and put an ear to the bathroom door. Who could that girl be talking to?
"Hey, Coco, what does your brother say about me?"
Holy CRAP! Kate was talking to his little sister! She was probably using that walkie-talkie. Crash, white towel wrapped around his waist, was thinking of bursting out the door and taking the device from her, but he couldn't while in his current attire!
"Really? Hm… That's intriguing," Kate said. Crash could almost see the sneer on her face now. It did not make him comfortable having his sister and this-this chick talking about him! He had to stop the conversing between the two ASAP.
He quickly threw on a pair of new jeans which he'd bought before getting on the boat, and he rapidly got into his white tank top. The sound of Kate's laughter taunted him, and he put on the helmet. Crash sleeked his fur, cracked his knuckles, and went out the door.
He turned to see Kate, who had the expression of satisfaction all over her face. She had wrapped up the conversation between her and Coco, and was ready to shoot mocking comments at her friend.
"So," Kate began. "I hear you've been speaking about a certain red head to your sister."
"She lies. I do not," Jack replied rather seriously.
"Oh? So I take it my feminine attitude doesn't crawl under your skin?" she scoffed.
"I will admit that that's true."
"And you think it's… 'Interesting'?"
Jack was giving a blush of anger underneath the helmet that hid his identity. "… I have to go down to the lobby for a minute."
He quickly left the room, leaving Kate by herself. The latter began to laugh, and when she eventually calmed down, she spoke into the walkie-talkie. "He totally bailed."
Coco began to laugh too, and she spoke. "My brother can't handle embarrassment."
"I know! Haha!"
Jack went to the bow of the cruise ship they were sailing on, the S.S. Jonesburg. He walked with a casual gait, and he eventually came to the nose of the ship. He leaned on the railing that bordered it and heaved a sigh.
The air felt nice against his bare arms. He'd forgotten to grab his leather jacket, once again, but it was dark tonight, so it didn't really matter. He thought of how nice it would be to take off the helmet to feel the breeze, so taking the risk; he looked around, saw no one, and took off it off.
The wind immediately blew through his lengthening deep red hair. Crash couldn't stop the smile that crept upon his lips. It felt so good.
He just folded his arms and used them as support as he leaned on the railing. But his irritable contemplations once again filled his head.
"'Interesting,' she says. Yeah, more like a total pain the rump." But, as he spoke those words, another thought ran through his mind.
But, you have to admit that you do find it rather fetching.
"I do not!" he argued aloud without realizing it.
Think about it, Crash. This girl could change your life forever. What are you going to do when you have to let her go?
"I'll just… uh…"
At loss of words? Notice that she's been causing that with you, the king of chatterboxes, more often than usual? Crash, you're falling for her.
"No, I'm not, you little cretin!"
Have you forgotten that you're arguing with yourself?
"Grgh! I just can win here, can I?"
"Not against me, you can't."
Crash whirred around to meet the all too familiar face of Nega. The crimson furred bandicoot was snarling with malice, and was staring daggers at his counterpart with golden eyes full of hatred. Crash wasn't expecting the sudden entrance of Nega again, and was immediately on alert.
"What the–How'd you get here so fast?"
"I have my ways, squirt. Now, where's the girl?"
"That's none of your business. If only you'd quit playing paparazzi, my life would be easier."
Nega growled and got in Crash's face, and the latter was forced to lean backwards over the rail. He caught a glimpse of the dark water below, and it struck him with the fear of falling in. He was incapable of swimming unfortunately.
"Paparazzi, eh? Might as well take a few photos, but that would be a waste of time. I need that girl."
Crash grinned. "You'll have to go through me first."
Nega bared his sharp canines in turn. "My pleasure, mate." He suddenly whipped a gun out of his brown leather trench coat, and pressed it to his enemy's chest.
Crash's smug smile vanished, promptly replaced with a more fretful expression. Nega grinned with a look of satisfactory. "Goodbye, pretty boy."
Crash's eyes shut tight, and prepared for his demise. Nega was finger pulled on the trigger, but was interrupted as a glass object flew in his back, shattering on contact.
"Ow! Damn! Who threw that– "
He was cut off by Crash, who used every once of his strength to heave the evil bandicoot over the railing of the bow. Crash listened for a moment, and heard the distinct splash. But before he could look at his savior, his quickly put on the helmet he'd been holding.
He turned to the entrance of the bow, and saw a rather horror-stricken Kate Clark, holding another glass vase in case it was needed.
"So I take it that's your previous aggressor you told me about before?" Kate asked him, taking a shaky breath.
Thank God she didn't see me. "Yeah, yeah, that was him. He's a total ass."
"I'd say."
"YOU LITTLE SHIT! YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" Nega's voice roared from the ocean. Unlike Crash, he was able to swim somewhat.
"Ignore him. He tends to curse like a sailor," Jack assured Kate.
"Oh, yeah, you should probably know how he's following us around. Somehow, they got your blood or whatever, and they pinpoint you anywhere on the globe."
"Great. I'm a new point on the GPS system," he groaned derisively.
"So, when I spoke with your little sister, she referred to you as Crash every now and then," Kate stated.
"Uh, that's just a nickname. I'm destructive."
"I see…" Kate said. "Well, I'm done here. I'm going to the cabin now. I'm tired."
"Me too, Shorty." They walked off the bow and into the ship. As they walked down the heavily decorated hallways, Jack put his arm around Kate's shoulders. "Thanks, Kate. If it weren't for you, I'd more than likely be dead."
"You're welcome. There's no telling when I have the chance to be the hero, so there you have it."
"Oh, Kate," he smiled when putting her into a playful headlock. She chuckled, and soon gave him an elbow in the ribs.
"Oh, Jack."
A/N: What are the odds that the ends will come together in time? Likely? You will just have to keep reading. :3