Chapter Ten – Breaking Out
Coco tapped into the mainframe, and took a deep breath as her finger hovered over the activation. She didn't know if Crash was alright, if Brio was successful or even if Cortex was aware of her presence in his technological network. By deactivating his systems, she could be putting more at risk then she knew. Yet at this point, all she had to go on was Brio breaking though Cortex's defense. She couldn't focus on anything else now. She held her breath, and deactivated Cortex's systems.
--
Maybe worse then the blinding light that caused a massive recoil in Crash's brain, was the ear-piercing wails that followed. Crash felt completely drained, and fell to his knees and slammed his hands over his ears.
"Damn loud noises and bright lights. Damn it all!"
Crash was not in a good mood, and when he was finally brave enough to open his eyes his mood did not improve. The guns had been neutralized, thankfully, and were lying in smoking heaps on the ground. The energizing magenta light was gone, but Crash could feel it recharging inside him. Something had happened to the lights, and now Crash was immersed in the dim blood-red glow of emergency back up electricity. Crash moaned. The heavy metal door was still shut tight, and he was trapped in a chamber with flashing red lights and the sirens were still blaring. Crash felt like doing nothing else but curling into a ball. Yet he decided he wasn't ready to let Cortex win, especially after such a supernaturally awesome spectacle. Crash slowly tried to get to his feet, but felt an immediate head rush and stumbled back onto his face. He was so damn TIRED! He couldn't summon the strength to move, let alone stand up and go for a jaunt. Crash growled as he attempted to pull himself across the floor, hoping no one was watching his pathetic attempt. Soon, he hadn't even the energy to do that, and he rested his forehead on the steel.
This really stinks.
Crash was not really ready to give it another try, not until he rested a bit anyway. Yet he told himself firmly that he was not going down easily, no matter how much of a pain in the ass surviving was. He'd do it, just to stick it to that damn Cortex. Crash subconsciously heard a crash of metal through the numbing blare of the sirens, and he half-heartedly lifted his head to see what was going on. The metal door was beginning to cave in from the middle, as though something very strong was forcing them open. It was opening faster by the second, and Crash had started to get quite excited. Yet when he saw the massive figure framed in the doorway, his hope crashed and burned.
"Oh no, not you again."
Tiny Tiger leapt into the chamber, and Crash's eyes watered as he forced himself to his feet. His muscles were screaming, but Crash still raised his useless fists before him.
"Okay buddy, give me your best shot."
Tiny cocked his head with a remarkably innocent expression. He stepped forward. Crash leaned back.
"Alright, you asked for it."
Crash threw his fist forward with an absurdly ridiculous lack of strength, and felt his knuckles crack as they collided with Tiny's chest of pure muscle. Crash bit his lip.
"Ouch." His voice was pitiful.
Tiny raised his hands.
"Tiny not here to eat you tiny orange man. Tiny here to save you."
Crash furrowed his brow, and offered a very weak smile.
"You're joking."
"Tiny save you now."
Without further explanation, Tiny lifted Crash with embarrassing ease and threw him over his shoulder. Crash found that he was still flabbergasted as he bounced along against Tiny's arm. He had his mouth half ajar as if to say something that could capture the moment, but surprisingly, nothing came to him. So Crash decided that he might as well enjoy the ride, and let the burly tiger take him wherever it was they were going.
--
Brio twiddled his thumbs nervously as he paced back and forth across the deck. He had positioned his ship just under the space station as he waited for the defense grid to be deactivated, and as soon as it had, he had attached his ship. It was curious that none of Cortex's scanners picked up the external movement, but Brio just suspected that the doctor was too involved in other matters to take any notice. That was lucky for Brio, and made his breach relatively easy. Brio had been hesitant to send Tiny after Crash, but frankly, he was the only minion Brio had left. Despite Tiny's raging temper, he was relatively easy going, and Brio was confident Tiny would forget all about his recent skirmish with Crash Bandicoot. Or at least, he hoped so. Brio continued to wander the bridge, feeling his nervousness tug at him. Yet soon enough he could hear a thumping sound, and he rushed toward where the ship connected to the station. Tiny dropped from the hole, landing with a grace contrary to his massive bulk. Slung over his shoulder as limp as a rag doll, Crash Bandicoot offered a tight grin.
"Hey doc, long time no see."
Brio stood there in silence for a moment before Tiny demanded his attention.
"You see. Tiny save orange rodent, as Doctor say."
Crash tilted his head. "I'm a marsupial…actually." Then the bandicoot turned his attention back to Brio. "So I suppose you're going to tell me what you're doing here. I seriously doubt you'd go out of your way to rescue me just to surrender to your good nature."
"Y-y-yes Crash, you are c-c-correct. I need the c-c-crystals to destroy Cortex's space station once and f-f-for all."
Crash nodded. "Hmm. Alright then, that sounds like as good an idea as any. Hey!" Crash gave a loud whistle, and directed his next statement to Tiny. "Mind putting me down big fella?"
Tiny complied, and soon Crash was lying flat on his face. Without bothering to lift his head, Crash offered a weak thumbs-up.
"Thanks mate."
Brio had been wondering why Crash became so tired, yet he was able to derive the reason on his own. Crash was pitted against Cortex, and the crystals inside him probably figured it was an ideal time to take revenge on their attempted captor. So if Crash was caught in the crossfire of the crystal's power, of course he would feel drained afterward. It stood to reason. Finally Crash rolled over and propped his head under folded arms.
"Okay pal. Are you ready?"
Brio nodded vigorously. "Tiny, ready the m-m-machine if you please."
Tiny looked quite delighted to be of use. "Tiny start up laser Doctor." And then he was off.
Crash had managed to get to his knees, and by the strained look in his eyes, it was difficult to do so. He took a deep breath, and he slanted his eyes as though attempting to concentrate. An instant later, the markings visible on his arms started to glow, and then seemed to detach themselves from Crash's skin. The delicate markings twirled father up Crash's arms and coiled around his body in misty encryptions. Crash had his lip in his teeth, and continued to focus. Soon enough, two crystals began to emerge on the ground before him, and one more followed. Crash had his eyes closed now, but forced the last gem to materialize with sheer determination. Brio gaped at the extraordinary procedure, and felt his eyes widen as magenta energy swirled around to create the final crystal. It was colossal, and as soon as the three slave crystals and one master hovered before him, Crash smiled faintly.
"All…yours…doc."
The crystals gently lowered to the ground, just as Crash's eyes closed and he collapsed to his side, unconscious.