A Hero's Blood

Chapter 2

Cortex wanted to freak out as much as Coco was but something was holding him back. Was it guilt? It had to be, the evil scientist reasoned. Cortex felt guilty for his best friend's death. He felt like he was the one that killed Crash and not Nina.

Coco hissed, seeing that Aku-Aku was completely quiet, "You're a murderer, Nina Cortex!"

Nina started to respond, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but..."

"Plasma will always hurt you!" An angry voice finished and at the same time a green plasma blast hit Nina.

The blast hit Nina in her left arm, throwing her off Arachina. Nina gripped her arm and Aku-Aku snapped out of his trance. Coco was a bit surprised that someone took a shot at Nina but she was even more surprised at who took the shot. Standing there before Nina and next to Coco was Dr. Neo Periwinkle Cortex with his plasma blaster in hand and his eyes solely focused on Nina.

"Uncle?" Nina asked, in disbelief.

Cortex pointed out, his tears evident, "You weren't supposed to kill Crash! Just defeat him!"

"I'm not soft like you and I never will be." Nina hissed.

Cortex asked, still tearing, "What about John and Pete? What if they return and discover that you killed Crash?"

"I would say bring them on." Nina answered, her cold heart showing. Cortex couldn't believe his ears. Was this really happening right now? Apparently it was, since Nina made a fist. She coldly added, "And then I'll give them the same reward of Crash...and of you." Nina yelled at Arachina, "Attack!"

The spider mutant obeyed and shot its webs towards Cortex. Before Cortex could react, a light shield protected him from the webbing. Cortex opened his eyes and saw that Aku-Aku was floating there.

"Free Coco and stop the Doominator." Aku-Aku ordered.

Cortex nodded and used his plasma blaster to free Coco from her bindings.

"Thanks..." Coco muttered, still in shock about her brother – and about Cortex.

Cortex replied, "You're welcome but we need to shut down the Doominator. Can you do it?"

"Not without my transpurlator..." Coco responded, shaking her head.

"Darn it." Cortex whispered.

Just then, Coco saw that Aku-Aku's shield was getting weaker.

Cortex told her, "I'll help Aku-Aku. You just try to get this thing to stop."

Coco nodded in agreement and ran over to the control panel. Cortex went over to the good mask and took more shots at Nina, hoping to buy Coco some time to destroy the Doominator. Nina and Arachina kept avoiding the attacks from Cortex, though, as seeing as the spider mutant was rather fast. Coco, meanwhile, saw a big red button labeled 'SELF DESTRUCT BUTTON'.

"Talk about planning." Coco quipped as she pushed it.

Alarms and bells started to go off as the Doominator started to shake. Cortex was thrown a bit but Aku-Aku stopped him from going far.

"This ain't over!" Nina threatend as she and Arachina escaped from the danger.

"We better get out of here as well." Aku-Aku stated as Nina fled.

"I hear that." Coco stated.

That's when she and Cortex fled the Doominator with Aku-Aku guiding them. Suddenly, parts of the robot started to fall down their heads. Cortex knew that he had to do something, even if it meant...

"Do you trust me?" Cortex asked Aku-Aku and Coco.

"I guess so." Coco answered, a bit skeptical. Cortex held out his hand as it started to glow a white color. Coco was perplexed by this. What surprised her more was that the parts falling down all around them slowed down. Coco and Aku-Aku's eyes went wide when they saw this. Coco asked, "You know magic?"

Cortex answered, truthfully, "I was born with it, as we all were... Let's move."

Coco and Aku-Aku obeyed and they continued with their escape. As they reached the exit just as the Doominator exploded, blacking out the three of them.

...

"Neo?" A familiar voice asked, sounding like N. Gin.

Cortex groaned, starting to wake. Standing over him was N. Gin, looking absolutely worried.

"Nicholas...?" Cortex asked, still groggy. N. Gin nodded as Cortex stated, "I had the worst nightmare. Nina killed Crash, not caring about what happened with the Evil Twins or with John and Pete a year ago." N. Gin hesitated to reply and Cortex perked up at this real quick. Cortex stated, "Nicholas, please tell me that it was a dream."

N. Gin sadly responded, "It wasn't... Crash is dead and Nina didn't care anything about what happened a year ago or us."

"What do you mean?" Cortex asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nina fired me and Tiny after she found out that we were more loyal to you." N. Gin explained.

"Whoa, I never thought she would do that..." Cortex breathed.

N. Gin nodded and added, "And a few people are working with her, including some students from the academy. We're needed on the bandicoots' side since Crash is now dead."

Hearing those words, Cortex just lost it. His mutant best friend was dead...and he felt like it was his fault. N. Gin felt bad and stayed there to comfort his best friend. Cortex cried and N. Gin felt beyond bad. The two of them were really close - almost like brother's. Cortex thought, 'I know John and Pete are going to hate this news. As soon as I can, I have to tell them.'

...

A few days later, the new residents of N. Sanity Isle joined Coco, Crunch, and Aku-Aku for a memorial in Crash's honor. There were many tears – most of them coming from Coco and Cortex. Cortex felt guilty and Coco felt bad about losing her brother. N. Gin held Coco close, something that the genius bandicoot didn't mind. Cortex dried his eyes as he turned to N. Gin, who was still holding Coco.

Cortex asked, "N. Gin, can you help me get a wire to John and Pete in Chicago?"

N. Gin just nodded as he helped Coco back into the house.

...

Wishmaker1028: Hope that you guys enjoyed this second chapter! Things are getting good, that's for sure. What will happen next? Stay tuned to find out! Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!