Chapter 3
Crash is surprised and shocked to see Neo and Nina standing at his front door unarmed and asking for help. He scratched his head in confusion and about to ask what is going on when he hears a voice behind him.
"Crash!" he turns to his sister Coco running up to him.
"Who's at the door big brother?" she looks at the visitors and when she saw who it is, the smile wipes off her face entirely, then she looks furious. All Neo could do was give a strained smile while Nina just stands there awkwardly. She doesn't know Coco that well, heck she hasn't seen her before, but she can tell she doesn't like them just from the scowl on her face.
"What do you want Cortex? You better not be thinking of kidnapping my brother again!" shouted Coco as she steps in front of Crash, crossing her arms in a defensive stance.
"I didn't kidnapped Crash; we were working together!" that accusation frustrated Cortex to the point he was rubbing his head.
"But that is not the point, I have a favour to ask you and it is urgent. Please." Cortex said clearly begging for their help. Nina has never seen her Uncle like this, but Coco just scoffed,
"After everything you had done to us! Why the hell should we help you?!" Coco shouted going right at his face, poking at him. "You kidnapped us! Deceived us! Brainwashed us and tried to kill us! Give us one good reason why we should help you?!" Coco shouted at Cortex, both forgotten Nina was there almost in tears until Crash came over to comfort her.
"What is going on here?" a calming deep voice stop the fight as they turn to see Aku aku floating towards them.
"Is everything alright? I hear shouting-"he cuts himself off as he sees Neo and Nina here as well. Neo will not admit this, but he is so elated to see Aku aku here to stop the fight, to see someone reasonable who could listen to him.
"Aku aku! This big-headed egotistical maniac think he can come over to our house and ask for help! Can you believe that?" Aku aku looks over at Neo to see Nina is with him as well with her travel bag. He can tell that something has happened as Neo looks distress, but instead of listening to Coco's reasoning he just smiles at Nina. He remembered working with Nina and he finds her to be quite shy but when she breaks out of her shell, she is quite charming. He floats up to greet her,
"Hello Nina. How are you today?" Nina couldn't believe this is Uka uka's brother. He is the complete opposite and extremely kind, but he is still a magical mask who is powerful and should be respected so she just gives a little curtsy.
"And what brings you here Cortex? Coco said you need help?"
Cortex takes a deep breath before he answers,
"Yes, but can we talk about this in private? Its to do with your brother."
Coco was about to protest when Aku aku silence her with a look.
"Very well. We can discuss this in the kitchen. Do come in." Everyone decides to follow Aku aku into the house where they see where they see Crunch doing exercises in the living area. He looks up to see not only his family but also the Cortexes. He is shocked to see them and curious to know why they are here.
"Cortex we can talk in private in the kitchen" Aku aku says as he floats towards the kitchen. Neo turn towards Nina,
"Alright Nina you stay here with the Bandicoots while I go talk to Aku aku, ok?" he says as he gives her a hug and then follows Aku aku. Nina turns around to see the three bandicoots looking at her. Crash stands there smiling at her with a grin on his face, Coco still looks displease and Crunch is confused about the whole situation.
"Sit down Cortex and tell me, what made you decide to come here and warn me about Uka uka?" Aku aku asks as he starts making tea for him, but all Neo can do is give an exasperated sigh before he starts speaking,
"He has threatened to do something to Nina if I don't think of a successful plan to take over the world." Aku aku doesn't know whether to be shock or not. Yes, Uka uka is evil but would he hurt a child? Neo continues,
"Ever since I worked with you and Crash I just can't think of an evil plan and by the day it keeps getting harder and harder, and now I realise Nina is my top priority and I need to get her away from Uka uka before he does anything."
"And you brought her here?" Aku aku questions,
"As far as he knows, Crash is my arch enemy so he wouldn't think twice of me bringing Nina here. That is the favour I want to ask, for you guys to take care of Nina."
"You want us to take care of Nina? You are not thinking of going back to the labs, are you? If Uka uka has no problem hurting a child such as Nina, then he will have no problems hurting you in every single way. Remember Nadia?" Neo just gives him a dark look for saying that name. Aku aku immediately regrets it.
"Right. Sorry for bringing that up."
"I am very aware of what he did to her and I am not going to let that happen again. Better he does that to me than to Nina. Besides I am not going back. I am going somewhere else, so that if he does come looking for me, he won't get Nina." Aku aku is unsure about this plan and is scared for Neo since he knows how dangerous Uka uka is.
"Are you thinking of going to see her?" Aku aku asks. Neo just suddenly went quiet which is enough of an answer for the mask.
"Alright. We will take care of Nina and I will protect her to the best of my ability." Neo gives him an appreciative smile.
"Thank you. This means a lot. Let me just say goodbye to Nina before I leave." He turns to leave the kitchen.
"Neo!" Aku aku called out making Neo turn to face him.
"Does he know Nina is actually your daughter?" Neo just look at Aku aku straight at the eyes and shook his head before walking out.
As he got through the door, he sees Crash entertaining Nina by juggling wumpa fruit and failing miserably by having the fruit dropping on his head causing Nina to laugh. Coco just keep to herself with her laptop and Crunch gone back to his exercises. All of them stop what they were doing when they noticed Neo and Aku aku in the room.
"Children, it has been decided that Nina is going to stay with us under my protection. We fear that Uka uka might be looking for her and we need to keep her safe as best we can." Crash is happy with the news as he gives her a one-armed hug and Crunch seems to be happy with it, but Coco isn't.
"We have to take care of a Cortex?! Have you forgotten what he has done to us, and now we have to take care of….HER!?" She shouted, pointing her finger at Nina who is obviously hurt by her words, making Neo extremely angry.
"I am aware what Cortex has done but it is not her fault she is a Cortex. She is a child who is in danger by my very powerful brother, and I will do whatever it takes to protect any innocent person against Uka uka, even if she is related to an evil scientist. Is that clear?" Aku aku said calmly but firmly to Coco as she just sighs in defeat.
"Fine." She turns towards Nina "But that doesn't mean I have to like you, ok?" Nina just goes quiet and nods her head.
"Good." She said before going back to her laptop.
"Well, I best get going." Neo said to Aku aku. Nina heard this, she immediately runs towards him, giving him a big hug.
"Are you going to come back?" she said with tears in her eyes.
"Of course, and then when I come back, we can go to an amusement park together. I heard one just recently been opened called Von Clutch's Motorworld. How about that?" this puts a smile on Nina's face as she lets go of him. Then he sees Crash putting his hand on Nina's shoulder to show he is there for her while giving Neo a thumbs up. He gives Crash a grateful smile as he goes out of the house to leave, Nina runs through the door after him to watch walk into the jungle and disappears.
"Come on Nina. Let us show you to your room." Aku aku said, guiding Nina back into the house.
"WHERE IS HE!?" Uka uka shouted at all the mutants who are backed up at the wall, shivering in fear.
"IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A WEEK AND THERE IS STILL NO PLAN! I DEMAND TO KNOW WHERE HE IS NOW!"
Tiny started to break down crying,
"MASTER IS GONE!" Dingodile just shoved him and whispered,
"Mate, we promised not to say anything."
"BUT TINY IS SCARED OF SCARY MASK!" Tiny suddenly be pulled towards Uka uka with extreme force, right up to his face.
"Tell me where he is?" he whispered in a threatening tone. "NOW!"
"MASTER JUST SAID HE HAS GONE TO SEE AN OLD FRIEND WITH NINA, BUT DON'T KNOW WHERE! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!" Tiny just starts crying trying to get out of Uka uka's force.
"Oh, he did, did he? And took Nina with him?" he growled as he drops Tiny to the ground.
"If I may Uka uka, I will be more than happy to find that little Simpsons character and his vampire brat." He turns to see Dr N Tropy, standing tall while puffing his chest out with pride.
"With time travel, I will be able to go back in time to see where Cortex and Nina went and then I can bring them to you so you can give them the punishment they deserve. If I can watch." He said with an evil smirk on his face. Uka uka lets out a dark chuckle.
"Very well. Get to work then and once you capture them. Bring them to me, they will regret ever disobeying me. I will make sure of it." He said the last part in a sinister tone, not realising that N. Gin was watching and listening to them from the doorway.
Whew! This was a long chapter! I am glad you guys are still enjoying the story :D just to let everyone know I won't be able to update this in a while as I will be away for a few days but thank you for the positive reviews! It means a lot! Also shout out to one reviewer who reminded me that Koala Kong is Russian in case I add him into it. If there is one thing I can't do is write accents but I they are recognizable in this chapter.
Anyway guys,
Keep Reading! :D