Crash Bandicoot: The Beginning

*Chapter 12: Toxic Waste*

After travelling across the ocean, Crash and Aku Aku made it to the shore of the third island. The tribesman wished them luck and left the shore with a boat. Crash made a determined look in his eyes as he looked up at the view of the castle where his sister is held. Aku Aku shuts his eyes for a moment and opened them again to make a look.

"I sense great presence on this island." He spoke. Crash just ran ahead to get in the jungle to get inside the castle. Aku Aku quickly followed him, warning him about the dangers. Crash halted as he sees a building. A sign beside the doors is read "Cortex Power". Crash started to sniff the air, and made a disgust look on his face. "Yes, Crash. Something is not quite right. The waste that Cortex is giving out could kill nature. We must go inside and shut it down and find the mad man." Aku Aku said. Crash walked up to the doors and opened it. The smell of the toxic is stronger, and Crash couldn't stand it. He covered his nose as he walked over the trail where the green goo is boiling below him. Crash looked up to see a door that is leading to the hallway. Whoever's in charge of this building, Crash and Aku Aku will stop him.
As the bandicoot opened the door, he sees a hallway, but the walls have pipes that leak out the green toxic waste. But ahead of the bandicoot is a door that could be leading to the office.

"Crash, hide!" Aku Aku instructed, pushing Crash to hide behind the wall. Crash listened to the sounds and voices in the hallway. He peeked to see Brio, Dingodile, and Pinstripe talking.

"Why can't I be in charge of this dump? I could toast the bandicoot with this thing of mine." Dingodile said, gesturing his flamethrower. "Rilla Roo and the Komodo Brothers are looking for Ripper Roo, Tiny, and Koala Kong out there after the bandicoot beats the living-"

"I got this one, pal." Pinstripe said. "Crash can't get past the sly, yet a dashing potoroo." Crash rolled his eyes, slightly making a disgust sound. "Look, I'm doing this job to make the doc happy. If that female bandicoot can't be general like that rat, then I will be general."

"Oh sure. Pinstripe our general." Dingodile said, rolling his eyes. "Well, since you got this place under control, I'll be in the castle with this doctor here. Don't get beat up by a bandicoot, mate."

"Y-yes." Brio said. "Just keep an eye on things while you are done here. Dr. Cortex has been angry all day. And remember about Coco, she will be in the Vortex tonight." He and a hybrid walk down the hall, unaware about Crash and Aku Aku's hiding behind the wall. The door closes and locks up the place. Crash sighed a bit and turn back to the door where Pinstripe is going in and he shuts the door. He's in the office.

"Crash, is your sister's name Coco?" Aku Aku asked, turning around. But he gasped when Crash is gone from the spot. The bandicoot rushed down the hallway. "Crash, wait!" Aku Aku called, following the bandicoot who just barges in the office. Pinstripe was sitting behind the desk with his feet on the desk.

"Well. Didn't expect to see you so soon, Crash." He said, smirking. "But don't fret about being early. Time's here good too." He got his tommy gun ready, and Crash gulped a bit. He forgot that Pinstripe has a gun with him at all times. Now Crash is in trouble.

Coco is picking her lock with a hairclip. She knew that Dr. Cortex and Brio are too busy to get the Vortex ready for her in a few hours. A click from the lock is heard, and Coco opened the door. She quietly ran down the hallway. But the alarms went off throughout the castle. Coco started to panic. She went in one of the rooms and hid behind the bookshelf as she sees the scientists rush down the hallway to where Coco was supposed to go. After a minute, the alarms stopped. What had happened? Did everybody know Coco has escaped from her room? The bandicoot walked over to the door, but she quickly hid behind the door when Brio walked down the hall.

"Whew. That was a close one. My potions could've burned the place down." Brio said. Coco let out a sigh. She left the room and ran down the hallway.

"I'm coming to get you, big brother." She said to herself. But suddenly, she felt a zap on her back, making her cry out in agony and fall down to the red rug. Coco twitched a little, before she could get up, she felt a foot on her back, pinning her down. She turned her head and see Cortex smirking down at her with his red laser gun that stuns her.

"Going somewhere?" He asked. Coco glared at him. "You can't miss your appointment with the Vortex, Coco. It's almost ready for you."

"I won't be a general, Cortex." Coco said.

"I need a bandicoot who has to be general, Coco. You're the only bandicoot I have right now who could be one. I shall reign triumphant! I will show the world the new leader!" Cortex said. Coco only stared at him in silent. Cortex got her up and took her by the arm to drag her back to the room of hers. "You won't get away, Coco. Soon you will be a different bandicoot."

Crash and Aku Aku are hiding behind the downed chair while Pinstripe wildly shot around the room with a tommy gun, laughing maniacally. Crash covered his head and ears to avoid the gunshots and the sounds of it.

"Come out and play, Crash! And let me see your tiki friend you brought!" Pinstripe yelled. Crash gritted his teeth in annoyance and anger. He had to think of something to stop this guy. "You're missing all the fun!" Pinstripe laughed, moving back and forth in the office shooting around the office. Crash can't get out there to attack the potoroo who is firing. Then, the tommy gun got jammed, Pinstripe was shaking it with a snarl. "Oh come on!"

"Crash, now!" Aku Aku said. The bandicoot made a spin attack at the potoroo.

"Gah!" Pinstripe was pushed back against the wall, knocking down the portrait. He fixed his tommy gun and aim it at Crash who ran back to the downed chair to take cover once more. "I ain't playing games, bandicoot! I'll make sure you are dead to the dirt!" He said. Crash made a look. Aku Aku flew out from behind the chair and began to spin around Pinstripe to distract him. "Ugh! Hey!" Pinstripe yelled, trying to hit the mask with his gun.

"Get him!" Aku Aku demanded. Crash smirked and made a spin attack at the enemy. Pinstripe's tommy gun hits the window, causing it to break. Then Crash kicks Pinstripe's back to knock him down to the floor.

"Ooof!" The potoroo grunted. He felt Crash standing on his back, smirking down at him while Aku Aku float in front of the face of Pinstripe. "You've taught him well. I'll give ya that, mask man."

"Don't try to change our minds to let you go without giving us answers, you filthy creature." Aku Aku said with a stern look. "Now, tell us how to get inside the castle." Pinstripe laughed at him. Crash growled at him and began to stomp on his back with his feet, making Pinstripe cry out in agony. "Talk, or things will be very difficult for you." Aku Aku warned him.

"You...you go across the bridge pass the point. And you will see the entrance of the castle, but the area is crawling with Cortex's assistants." Pinstripe told the mask and Crash. "You have to be very clever to sneak in."

"We will get in to stop this madness." Aku Aku said. Crash gibbered at Pinstripe. "And about Coco. Is she alive? Crash wants to know."

"She's going to be inside the Vortex soon, Crash. She's going to be our new general instead of you." Pinstripe said, smirking up at Crash who sneered at him.

"Then the Vortex must be destroyed." Aku Aku said. Crash nodded at him. He got off of the potoroo who sighed. Crash and Aku Aku left the office to leave the plant to get to the castle before it's too late. Little did they know, Pinstripe contacted Brio and Dingodile about Crash coming to the castle.