Trouble at Cortex Castle

Chapter 4

The minions sat beneath the branches of an old tree, playing cards and generally trying to entertain themselves. They were so absorbed in their game that they barely noticed a tall woman with dark brown hair glide toward them in snakeskin boots.

"Excuse me."

Pinstripe frowned at the cards laid out before him. "Hmmm...."

"EXCUSE ME!"

The minions jumped, scattering cards and inadvertently showing Pinstripe their hands.

"Hey lady, we're in the middle of a game here!"

The woman rolled her eyes and dug deep into the pocket of her leopard skin jumpsuit. At the sight of this, the minions backed away, having realised that every single piece of clothing she wore was the result of some poor animal that had been slaughtered.

"Ah yes, here we are. This is the bill." She held the paper between thumb and forefinger while staring coldly at the minions.

"The bill for what?" Koala Kong asked, utterly mystified.

"Your hybrid friend over there-" the woman, who was the manager in charge of Starlight Hotel, waved her hand vaguely at Dingodile before continuing, "has just set someone's car on fire. Obviously, this guest will require some form of compensation over the loss of his vehicle."

There was a moment's silence.

"That's impossible! I was here the whole time, sheila!" cried Dingodile.

"He's innocent!" yelled Komodo Moe.

"Listen lady, he ain't done nothing wrong!" Pinstripe waved his tommy gun threateningly, while Tiny roared.

"Give it to the ssscientists." Komodo Joe advised, picking up his cards.

"I most certainly will." The manager sniffed and turned sharply on her heels before making her way back to the hotel.

"You know, I get the feeling she doesn't like us much." Koala Kong said thoughtfully.

---

The cloning machine rumbled and nearly bounced off the wall. Smoke issued from underneath the door and there was banging and shouting from within its inner depths. The scientists eyed the contraption apprehensively and simultaneously took a large step backwards.

"So," Cortex began nervously, "who wants to open the door?"

No one volunteered. Neo Cortex remembered that, technically, it was him who started the problem and so he endeavoured to solve it. Suddenly, the idea of becoming subservient to that infernal bandicoot seemed a lot more appealing then opening the door of the machine.

He hesitated, and at that moment the door buckled like a paper cup in the path of a rhino. It slammed onto the floor with a sickening THUD and grey smoke billowed out, choking the scientists.

Hundreds and hundreds of clones darted out. Dingodiles, Pinstripes, Koala Kongs, Tinys and Komodo Brothers came out in a never-ending stream. The scientists did not stop them. The attempt would have been as futile as a feather against an armoured tank.

"Where are they going to?" N. Tropy asked.

"From the direction they're running in, I would say the dining room." N. Gin replied, leaning out of the doorway.

The scientists felt like they'd been there for hours when the stream died down to a trickle and finally just one Dingodile leapt out of the window.