Hello lovelies! I just want to say thank you so much for continuing to read my story, even if I hadn't written in awhile. Basically it's a combination of writer's block and adulthood which is neverending XD I hope all of you are well and enjoy this chapter. 3
Chapter 16
Present Day
"Then I came here to stitch you up and here we are." Tawna gets out a cloth and dab it into the mixture. Nina is happy to know Dingo and Pinstripe are here as they always make her laugh.
"Alright Nina, just turn around and I'll apply it onto your wound." Nina slowly turns around, making it less painful as possible and avoiding breaking any stitches. She can see a white mixture with little green leafs mixed in, braising herself for any pain. As Tawna slowly puts the mixture onto her wound and feel Nina clenching from the stinging sensation but then relaxed when she can feel it soothing her pain.
"So, you're Dr Cortex's niece?"
Nina doesn't trust herself to speak and just nods her head.
"Don't worry you can talk to me. Crash, Coco, Aku aku and I go way back. Even Dingo and Pinstripe. All thanks to your Uncle…..I suppose." she muttered the last part under her breath but Nina still heard her. She knows her Uncle had done terrible things but it's still hurts to hear it.
"I'm sorry." Nina said, hiding her face away from Tawna. She can see that Nina heard what she said and is affected by it and for her benefit to get off topic.
"Right Nina, I can imagine you're hungry, so we can go outside and see everyone but first we need to test your walking." she reaches out her hands for Nina to grab hold to. As Nina gently takes hold of her hands, Tawna guides them to her shoulders and put her hands on Nina's waist for support.
"Ok, so try to stand slowly in your own time." Nina tries to get her grip without hurting her with her bionic hands, and slowly tries to get up on her feet, but for some reason, they feel numb, she can't feels them. Tawna can see her legs are shaking, with her knees buckling being in weird angles when Nina suddenly collapsed onto Tawna. She didn't realise it was so much work out it caused her to breath heavily. Tawna calms her down by rubbing her back.
"It's ok, you just need time to heal. Luckily, I have a wheelchair for you so you can see everyone." She brought out the wheelchair and help Nina crawl onto it.
Coco can feel the heat at the back of her neck as she stares at the medical hut, waiting for Nina or Tawna to come out. She can hear Dingodile and Crunch on how to cook a giant boar, the tribesmen being amazed by Pinstripe's Tommy gun and Crash decides to have a nap on the grass, Coco can't help but be inanely jealous of Crash for falling asleep so easily.
"Seems like we got more allies to help us." she turns to see Aku Aku smiling down at her but she can see in his eyes that he's worried about her. She also want to speak against what Aku Aku said but decides against it.
"Are you alright? You do look a little pale, and your leg is twitching.
"I'm fine." Coco starts to get annoyed by Aku Aku and chose to just stare at the medical hut, hoping he would go away.
"You know, Nina is going to be ok, if that's what you're worried about." Coco scrunches her face,
"I'm not!" she snaps as she sees Nina coming out in a wheelchair with Tawna pushing her. Coco abruptly stands up despite her pounding headache from lack of sleep. She walks past Aku Aku hoping Nina or Tawna hadn't noticed her.
"Hey." she stopped and turns to see Crunch with two plates of meat.
"Would you take the food to N. Gin? And here's a plate for yourself. Make sure you'll eat it." Crunch says with affirmation as she takes the plates without question.
"Het." Crunch's voice stops her again, making her aggravated and sigh in annoyance.
"I know you're going through a lot with, whatever's happening to you and it's clearly affecting you but that's no excuse for snapping at anyone who's trying to help. We're all trying our best, especially Nina who has been remaining positive despite what she's going through." as he said that, Coco can still see Nina in her wheelchair chatting happily with everyone around her, accepting food from Dingodile with smiles. She caught eyes with Coco and Crunch and cheerfully waves at them. Crunch waves back while Coco can't help but feel a bit bad of how she has been treating her lately and wants to repay her, especially after she saved her life, but for now she need to get away to think.
"I'll apologise to her later and I'll take the food to N. Gin." She said as she walks off.
"And get some sleep! You look like death!" Crunch shouted as he goes to see Nina himself.
Coco carefully walks along the path, balancing the plates of food as she slowly walks down the path, trying to avoid branches getting into the food. The heat is getting to her as she's starting to feel a little light headed when she finally sees the MechaBandicoot. It's still in tact but it's covered by falling leaves. She hears noises coming from inside where she sees the top of the missile in view through the window. Coco can instantly tell that's N. Gin and walks towards him. With her foot, she kicks the Mecha to get his attention. N. Gin jumps up with a squeak to see Coco holding plates of food. He hadn't realised how hungry he is until he saw the food and open the door for her to let her in. Coco reaches one of them to N. Gin who gradually takes it, smelling the delicious, smoky aroma while Coco climbs in with hers.
"Mmmmmm…. I didn't realise how hungry I am. It smells delicious!" Coco isn't paying attention to what he's saying as she got distracted by the blood stain left behind on the back seat. The memory of Nina saving her is still vivid in her mind that makes her scared to see her again, but at the same time wants to say sorry to her for everything. But first she needs food and sleep. She sees N. Gin eating on the driving seat and decides to join him. She sees space on the driver's seat and sit with him and start eating. She doesn't care who she sits with, she just want to sit with someone. N. Gin can't help but notice something odd about her.
"Are you ok? You look like you haven't had any sleep."
"I haven't." Coco said straight out, continuing to eat in silence. N. Gin doesn't like it and breaks the silence again.
"How come?" Coco just looks at him, unsure what to tell him.
"Is it Nadia?" Coco just nods, still unsure if she should tell him.
"You know, me and Nadia were like this," he crosses his fingers "when we were kids. As a matter of fact, Me, Dr Cortex and Nadia were a trio all through out school, so if you or Nadia have any problems you can always talk to me." Coco just stares at her food, deep in thought.
"Do you know Neo and Nadia are Nina's parents?" she turns to him to his face looking shocked, even goes so far to say horrified.
"You do. Why is it a secret?" N. Gin mouth went dry from anxiousness. He doesn't know how to get out of this situation. He's about to answer when he sees something out the window, floating around.
"What's that" N. Gin points at it causing Coco to turn around. A floating metal eyeball staring at them, then zooms towards the village. Coco and N. Gin goes out and immediately follow it. The eyeball stops at the entrance of the village and looks around to see Nina talking happily with everyone in her wheelchair.
"Target found."
In the cave, Dr. N Tropyevilly chuckle as he sees Nina's smiling face on his monitor. He turns to Neo,
"It seems the Bandicoots took your dear daughter to this dangerous adventure of theirs. To save your life I presume?" He scoffs, "God knows why. All Neo does is give N. Tropy the deadliest glare he could give but he looks pitiful than threatening. He's thinner, paler and his eyes are sunken from lack of sleep.
"If you got a spycam all this time, wh did you send Tiny away?" N. Tropy gives him a crooked smile,
"Well I didn't want you to have company, especially when your daughter and the retched Bandicoots is going to be here very soon." Neo is pissed, pulling the chains towards Tropy but buckles underneath, feeling dizzy. Tropy ignores him to go grab the tuning fork and walk towards the big purple crystal that holds Nadia captive and with no hesitation, penetrates his fork into the crystal, shooting a powerful purple beam of light shooting upwards. Neo has no idea what's happening and is terrified what Tropy's planning.
Tropy stares at it with a menacing smile, admiring it's beauty.
"I'll make sure of it."