Crash Bandicoot: The Beginning

*Chapter 14: Rescue and Escape*

The lab assistants took Coco down to the lab where Cortex has a Vortex ready for her. Coco struggles to escape from the creepy scientists, but their grips are tight, and her arms could have bruises.

"Let me go you freaks!" Coco yelled. They strap her in the chair, locking her wrists down. Cortex came over to her with a smirk.

"Good evening, Coco. You nervous?"

"Let me go, Cortex! I know Crash is still coming for me!" Coco said. Cortex chuckled at her.

"If he is close, he should've been here by now. I guess my minions took care of him." Cortex said, walking over to the computer. "You know, Coco, when he escaped two nights ago, I started to think that he's a mistake. His brain is immune to evil after all. But we all make mistakes." Coco didn't say anything to him. Cortex turned to her before he could activate the machine. "Oh, don't be down now, my dear. Things will get better when you change." He said. Coco glared at him.

"I don't want to take over the world with you or anyone." She said in a low.

"Too bad! The world will be mine! Now, on to the task..." Cortex typed on the keyboards to get the Vortex all warmed up. "Say your final prayers, Coco."

Crash and Aku Aku ran down the hallways to find a lab. Crash avoids the lab assistants who try to stop him. Aku Aku started to hear voices behind him. There is Dingodile and Rilla Roo chasing him and Crash. Aku Aku warned the bandicoot that they are being chased by two mutants. But Crash was blocked by more scientists. Dingodile and Rilla Roo stopped and block their side as they watch Crash look at them and the scientists in panic. Dingodile chuckled.

"Gotcha, mate. No way to escape now." He said. They are all closing in on Crash who whimpered a little. Then Aku Aku glows gold and place himself on Crash's face. The gold light blinds the lab assistants, Dingodile and Rilla Roo. As the light dies, the chanting and drums are heard. Rilla Roo opens one eye to see Crash's appearance. Tattoos on him, and Aku Aku on his face.
Aku Crash spin attacks Dingodile first, then at the scientists to knock them down. Rilla Roo watched in awe, but he gasped when Aku Crash slowly walks up to him. But Rilla Roo screeched before running away, not wanting his butt to be kicked like everyone else. Aku Crash ran over the unconscious scientists, a hybrid mutant, to rush down the hallway.

Cortex pulled the lever, and the Vortex started to activate. Coco is being lifted in a chair. She looks up to see the inside of the machine, the light is bright, but she can see bolts. She remembered when she saw Crash being tortured inside and it hurts him. Coco struggled a bit. Cortex watches the bandicoot with an evil smirk, but it disappeared when he hears chanting and drums. He stops the chair from going in the machine and shuts it down and listen for the strange music. Coco started to hear it too.
Suddenly, the door bursts open and Aku Crash came in. Cortex screamed and hid behind the table.

"Take whatever you want and go!" He shrieked. Aku Crash spin attacks the computers and uses the rainbow beam to destroy the Vortex and the Evolve-O Ray. Cortex watched in horror. "No, no!" He yelled. Aku Crash got Coco from the chair, carrying her in his arms. Coco looked at the mask in awe.

"Wha-? Who are you?!" She asked. Aku Crash places her on her feet and the mask floats away from the bandicoot's face. The tattoos on him are gone. Coco gasped. "Crash?"

"Ta-da!" Crash grinned at her, opening his arms. Coco giggled and gave her brother a hug.

"Oh, I thought I'd never see you again, big brother. I knew you would come for me." She said. Aku Aku smiled at the touching sight. Cortex watched in shock, but he made an angry look in his dark eyes.

"Crash Bandicoot. You have returned." He spoke. Crash came in front of Coco to protect her, glaring at the evil doctor. Aku Aku floats above the bandicoots. Cortex looks up at the mask. "So, you've been helping my bandicoot the whole time. I wonder how he awakens you from your deep slumber." He said.

"That doesn't matter. Now that Crash's sister is safe, your machines are destroyed, it's all over for you." Aku Aku said. Cortex reached for his laser gun and aims it at the mask.

"Not quite!" He yelled. He started to shoot the mask with laser beams, but Aku Aku avoids them. The lasers hit the pipes that are filled with gas. The flames appeared on the walls. Cortex blinked a few times. "Uh...oops." He muttered. Coco turned to the window to see a blimp coming around.

"Crash, there's a blimp outside! Let's go!" She said pointing at the blimp. Before the bandicoots could get to the broken window, the flames blocked them.

"Children, this way! Hurry!" Aku Aku called, hovering by the exit to get to the upper level of the castle. Crash dragged Coco out of the lab. Cortex coughed through the smoke, gripping his laser gun and see that the bandicoots escaped. He growled.

"They ruin everything! But they won't get away with it!"

Aku Aku took Crash and Coco to the balcony to see the top of the blimp. He told Crash to carry Coco in his arms so he could jump on the blimp. Crash obliged. Coco wrapped her arms around Crash's neck, shutting her eyes. Crash stood on the edge of the balcony, getting ready to jump. Aku Aku told him to jump now. Crash jumped, Aku Aku flying beside him and Coco. And Crash's feet lands on the roof of the blimp.

"Did we make it?" Coco asked, not opening her eyes.

"Yes, child. Let's get inside the blimp." Aku Aku said. Coco was placed on the roof. Crash opened the door of the roof and jump down with Coco and Aku Aku following him. The lab assistant turned around to see the bandicoots and a mask. Before he could panic, Crash spin attack him to knock him out. Coco ran over to the controls of the blimp and see the monitor.

"Seems like we're in a clear." Coco said. She turned to face Aku Aku. "Sorry, I didn't catch your name. I'm Coco."

"I know who you are, my child. I am the Great Aku Aku, a witch doctor of the islands. Crash Bandicoot here awakens me from one of the temples." Aku Aku replied. Crash nodded at Coco. The female bandicoot smiled.

"Well, a friend of Crash is a friend of mine. Thanks for being with Crash along the way. And thanks for the rescue." She said. Aku Aku bowed his body at her. Crash turned to the window to see the castle in flames. The place is gone. But his grin disappeared when a figure on a red hover board breaking out the window.

"Uh-oh..." Crash muttered. Aku Aku and Coco looked out the window see Dr. Cortex flying towards the blimp on his hover board. He looks very angry.

"Oh no, he's coming!" Coco said. "I'm gonna try to get us away from his island territory!" She rushed over to the controls to move the blimp. She tried to get the thing go fast, but it's not fast enough to avoid the evil scientist. Cortex uses his laser gun to zap the windows to break. Only the cracks are shown. He will break them soon. Crash growled and climbed on the ladder to get back on the roof of the blimp. Aku Aku looked up in shock.

"Crash, what're you doing?"

"Crash, no!" Coco cried out. But Crash closed the door and face his creator with determination. Cortex halts in front of his enemy.

"Darn you, Crash Bandicoot!" He yelled. "You ruined everything! You destroyed my machines, you beat up my minions, and now my castle will be in ruins because of you! Now, I will make you rue the day you were created!" Crash snarled at him. He cracked his knuckles and got his muscles ready for the fight. Time to end this once and for all.