Crash Bandicoot: The Beginning

*Chapter 9: Do I Miss You?*

Crash and Aku Aku are in the middle of the jungle and found a spot to camp out. Aku Aku told the bandicoot that the place should be good to rest and tells him to gather some wood for the fire. Crash gathered the leaves to make himself a bed and gather the wood for the campfire. Aku Aku uses his magic mojo to have fire appear. Crash sat down on the rock, holding his hands out towards the fire to feel the warmth. Crash looks up at the sky to see stars appearing in a purple sky. He frowned a bit. Aku Aku noticed his expression.

"Are you alright, Crash? Are you hungry again?" He asked. Crash shook his head at him. "Oh. You're thinking about your sister, aren't you? I'm sure she is fine. We will get her out of that castle tomorrow. After that is done, you two will live happily on Wumpa Island." Crash half smiled at the mask. Aku Aku is a very good friend to him so far. He never leaves his side and helps him out on the first island. Crash let out a yawn and scratched his left ear. "You need some rest. I will watch over you and hear for anything." Aku Aku told the sleepy bandicoot. Crash rests his back on the soft leaves, looking up at the night sky again. He places his hands over his stomach and closes his eyes. Aku Aku watches the young bandicoot sleep in silent.

Brio was working on his potions in his lab, muttering and stuttering to himself. He hears the door open. He turned around to see Coco standing there in silence. She looks calm and concerned. Brio blinked a few times at her.

"Coco? Wh-what are you doing here?" He asked. "You shouldn't be here. Dr. Cortex will be a-a-angry if he finds out that you are not in your room." Coco closes the door behind her and walked up to the nervous man.

"I have questions, Brio. It's about Cortex." She said. "You seem to know him a lot more than anybody else." She sat on the chair. "Why is Cortex like this? Why does he mutate animals to be his army and want to take over the world?" Brio sat across from her and cleared his throat.

"Neo Cortex was...picked on by everybody since he was a child. I was there with him at the Evil Academy. Everyone, including the teachers, ridiculed him when he announces that he will be an evil scientist one day and turn animals into his mutant army. The children, the teachers laughed at him." Brio said. "One time Cortex was in his dorm and uses the machine, his very first Evolvo-Ray, on his parrots. After he experimented it, his birds are gone. Disappeared."

"What do you think happened to them?" Coco asked. Brio shook his head.

"No one knows. When Cortex told me about it, he doesn't seem...emotional about it, but curious." He said. "After we graduated the academy, we left our home to move out here in one of the islands and build a castle and a lab. But we are not the only ones."

"There's a girl?" Coco asked. "I mean, I saw a picture of her down at the hall and...I thought she was with you guys then." Brio stood up and walked over to the window to look up at the night sky. "Who is she?" Coco asked.

"Her name...was Natalie Cortex." Brio said.

"'Was'?" Coco wondered. "What happened to her? And I never imagine that Cortex was married."

"She...was gone." Brio replied. "We believe that she's been out in one of the islands somewhere to study the animals. We tried looking for her, but...there is no sign of her anywhere. It's been years since we last saw her, and...she is presumed dead. Dr. Cortex was depression by the loss of his wife, but it didn't slow him down. He continues with his legacy. He will do it to prove those who make fun of him, and to his deceased wife." Coco looks at the scientist in silent. She doesn't know what to say or think. She couldn't help but to feel sorry for Cortex. He's been through a lot. And Brio was his only friend to support him through and through.

"I'm sorry, Brio. I bet Natalie was a nice woman." Coco said. "Was she?" Brio turned back to her.

"Very." He said. Coco came to him.