Crash Bandicoot: The Beginning

*Chapter 4: Into the Vortex!*

It's the next evening, Cortex is fixing his invention, the Vortex. He has plans for it tonight. He knows who will be inside this machine. He chose Crash Bandicoot. Because of what happened the night before, Cortex must put Crash under his control.

"But Dr. Cortex! The Vortex is not ready! We don't know what it could do!" Brio exclaimed nervously.

"The bandicoot will be the general!" Cortex said. "Now, wake up that bandicoot and bring him here!" The minions left the lab to get Crash out of his room. "Crash's abilities are perfect, and he is strong enough to be the leader of my creations. He will be the evilest bandicoot that the world will ever see!" Cortex said. Grunting is heard. The minions are struggling to hold the male bandicoot. Crash tries to get out of their grasps, but they kept holding on his arms. Cortex walked up to Crash with a gentle smile. "Now, now. No need to fight, Crash. We are just going to run a little...'checkup'." He said. The minions placed Crash on the chair to strap him. Cortex went over to the lever where Brio is standing.

"Are you sure about this?" Brio asked nervously. "The Vortex isn't-"

"It's ready! I've run some tests! It will make Crash more intelligent!" Cortex says. He pulled the lever. Crash is lifted up to the machine. He continues to struggle, trying to break out the straps. As he reached inside the machine, he feels bolts hitting his entire body. He let out a scream of agony. His heart stopped pounding as bolts run through his body.
Cortex and Brio watched and listened as the machine experiments on the poor bandicoot. But they heard a voice behind them. Brio turned to see Coco with a shocked expression.

"What're you doing to him?" She asked.

"Coco, what're you doing here?" Brio asked. "Go back to your room, now!" But Coco didn't listen. She rushed over to the controls, wanting to shut down the Vortex, but Cortex grabbed her arm and yank her away from the controls.

"This is for Crash's own good, Coco!" He said.

"You're hurting him!" Coco yelled, hearing her brother's cries in the machine. He sounds like he is in terrible pain. "Get him out of that thing!" The lights started to flicker, and everyone stopped what they are doing. Crash's screams stopped. He was now lowered down. He is out cold. Brio held Coco back while Cortex rushed over to Crash, placing his hand over the chest, feeling a faint heartbeat. Crash's fingers twitch a little.

"Crash? Crash, can you hear me?" Cortex asked, snapping his fingers. Crash groaned a bit. His eyes are still closed.

"D-did it work?" Brio asked. Before Cortex could say something, he hears sounds coming from his computer. A warning light flashed red. Bold red letters flashed on the screen.

"Error?" Cortex wondered. "But how could that-"

"Cortex, watch out!" Brio screamed. Cortex turned to see Crash was freed from the straps, running after him. Cortex screamed and moved out of the way. Crash turned to him with a look in his eyes. He looks angry.

"Crash, easy now." Cortex says, holding his hands out, defending himself. "Easy..."

"Dr. Cortex, the machine rejected Crash." Brio said, looking up the computer results. "It seems that his brain is immune."

"Immune?" Cortex asked in shock. "But how is that possible?!" Crash rushed over to Coco to get her from the grasp of Brio who backed away nervously. "After him!" Cortex said, pointing at Crash. The minions started to come towards the bandicoots. Crash snarled at them.

"Crash, run!" Coco said, running towards the exit, but blocked by Pinstripe who grabbed her by the ponytail, making her cry out. Crash tried to go after her, but the minions blocked his way. Cortex got his laser gun out, pointing at Crash.

"Come quietly, bandicoot." He demanded. "No one will get hurt." But Crash didn't listen. He ran away from the doctor and the minion scientists. Coco watched her brother running around the lab to get away. But there is no escape. Crash ran towards the window. He shuts his eyes and crash towards the window. He looked down to see the ocean below.

"Uh-oh." Crash spoke before he fell. Glass falls down with him. Cortex went over to the window to look down to see a splash below. But it's too dark to see Crash in the water. Cortex slammed his fist on the wall by the broken window.

"Curses! He got away! Such an idiot to do a stunt like that!" He growled.

"What do we do now, doctor?" Brio asked. "Without Crash, no one will have a leader of your army." Cortex then formed an evil smile. He turned to Coco who was held by Pinstripe.

"No. But we do have a female bandicoot here." He said, coming over to Coco who glared at him. "Since Crash is immune to mind control, maybe Coco could be the general."

"No way!" Coco said. "I won't be anybody's evil leader! I will get out of here and find my brother myself!" Cortex chuckled at her.

"I'm afraid that is quite impossible, my dear." He told her, placing his fingers under her chin to look at her green eyes. "You won't be going anywhere."

"But, Dr. Cortex, the Vortex needs to recharge after it rejected Crash. It needs time." Brio said. Cortex sighed a bit. He looked at Coco again.

"Enjoy your last two days of being an innocent little girl. Soon, you will be the general. Crash is now gone." Cortex said. "If you try to escape, my minions and creations will always find you." Coco hears Pinstripe chuckling behind her. He took her back to the room and lock her up while Cortex went over to the broken window. "Run while you can, Crash Bandicoot. If you come back for your dear sister, you won't see her the same way again. But one day, you will be mine."

Coco was thrown to her room, and Pinstripe closes the door and locked her in. Coco got up from the floor. She started to pace around the room. She is hoping that Crash will be okay out there. Since he is very close to her, he will come for her. But Coco wants to get out of this place herself for her brother's safety. She went over to the window.

"You better be alive, Crash." She said to herself. "If you are, I will get out of here and join you out there. We have to be away from Cortex."