THE FURRY BURDEN
When Uka Uka was freed from his ancient prison, an aftershock roared through the atmosphere, ripping open a portal to another world. The world was that of an odd race of cat people, and one of its citizens, an exiled thief was pushed through it. She fell in a heap on the ground and looked up at the sky, which had begun to pour rain on her. Her ears fell against her head, demonstrating her sorrow. She glared behind her, to see the portal closing again.
"You'll all die," she hissed to her persecutors that were no longer there, "Any one who messes with me has a date with their Maker."
She stood up, dusting herself off. The first thing she needed to do was find shelter. After all, who knew what was lurking about this odd new planet? Secondly, she needed to find a guide, someone to help her back home. She walked into the thick woods.
***
Several months later, Uka Uka and Cortex had been defeated, and peace was over the planet once again. It was a rainy night again, just like it had been exactly one year before. Thunder blasted the sky, and lightening bared its teeth. Crash was lying on the living room floor of the hut, reading a magazine, while Coco sat nearby, snuggled up with Pura and a book of her own. Thunder crashed again, startling Polar, who had been sleeping beside his master.
"One heckuva storm," Crash observed, temporarily looking up from his reading material.
"I wish it'd go away," Coco muttered, not about to admit that she was scared of the storm.
***
Outside, that cat girl was scampering around like a rabbit being chased. She'd never been in this sort of storm before, and was scared out of her mind. Up ahead, however she saw lights. Maybe some hermit had a home out here? If they did, they would probably be like everyone else she had met and would call some sort of zoo, or try to kill her, or turn her out because she scared them so badly.
"Stupid humans," she hissed "Selfish morons, every one of them."
But still, the large wound on her head stung horribly, and she was exhausted and hungry.
"If they kill me," she muttered, "It'll be better than wondering this miserable planet the rest of my days."
At last she made it to the door. She knocked once, and then passed out.
***
Everyone in the room, even Crash, jumped when there was a loud thumping on the door.
"C-crash," Coco stuttered "W-would you get that?"
Rolling his eyes, Crash stood up and went to the door, opening it when he got there. He was puzzled, however, when he didn't see anyone until he looked down. An unmoving form was lying on the door step. Judging by the long, brown hair, he guessed that it was a girl. But what kind of girl? She had a tail... Still curious, Crash decided to pick the girl up. She didn't look that heavy, and besides that she was shorter than him. He reached down and tried to slip his hands under her arms. She was even lighter than he had thought she would be! He stared a moment at the large gash on the side of her head. Without further hesitation, he brought her inside and closed the door.
***
The next morning, the rain had stopped and the forest was drip-drying to the sound of countless birds singing. When the cat-girl began to stir, Crash and Coco were in their respective rooms with their pets. Even Aku Aku was no where around.
"Hello?" she called out, "Is there anyway here?"
Her rescuer, whoever they had been hadn't simply bandaged her and left her alone in the middle of the woods, had they? She started to sit up, but her head spun. If only she were home! Her body would have healed itself by now!
"Stupid earth," she muttered, pulling the blankets up, "I ought to destroy it! But right now, I need more sleep!"
Just as she was about to doze off, her sensitive ears caught the opening of a door. She didn't pretend to be asleep; there was no point in that. If her hosts wanted to harm her, they wouldn't have taken such good care of her. Soon, Coco stepped into her view.
"Good morning!" she greeted cheerfully, having already taken a shower and dressed herself, "Did you sleep well?"
"Uh... sure," the cat-girl replied, surprised by the unhesitant courtesy. Not only the kindness surprised her, but how the blond girl before her looked. She was human, and yet somehow... not. She had ears and an animal-like face, but she wasn't like any other animals she and seen on this planet. "Are you from another planet, too?" the cat-girl asked.
Coco smiled. "No, I was born here on earth! I'm a bandicoot, but I guess you could say that I'm a special kind. What about you? What's your name?"
"I'm Celstice," she replied, not at all shy, "I'm from a planet called Felonia. I was exiled."
Just then, Crash came out of his room. He had put his jeans on, but his hair was a mess, his shoes weren't on, and he was obviously still quite groggy.
"It's only seven in the morning," Coco teased, "You're up early, Sleeping Beauty."
The orange bandicoot mumbled something incoherent and stepped into the bathroom, slamming the door behind him. Coco giggled and Celstice looked confused.
"Who was that?" she asked Coco, "You husband?"
Coco was laughing hysterically now as she plopped down in a nearby chair.
"No!" she managed to sputter, "That was my big brother! He usually doesn't get up until a few hours later, so I guess he's still pretty sleepy. I wonder why he got up?"
Celstice smiled now, and even laughed a little. Had he been the one to carry her in? And to think that she assumed that the young-looking female bandicoot was married! After a short while, Crash emerged from the bathroom. His hair was actually combed neatly and he looked alert, but he still didn't have his large shoes on.
"Why are you up so early?" Coco asked, stifling a laugh.
"Polar got me up for some reason," he replied, this time so he could be understood. He then walked over to the two girls.
"I'm Crash," he greeted the guest, "Who are you?"
"I'm Celstice. I'm what you would likely call an alien." She was quite for a moment, and then said, "You aren't at all what I was expecting."
"Well excuse me!" Crash scoffed, folding his arms, "I wasn't really 'expecting' to find you on the doorstep last night, either. How are you feeling, anyway?"
Celstice sat up, slowly this time, and said, "I feel kinda OK. Blast! If I was on my home planet, this stupid scrape woulda healed by now!"
"Really?" Crash asked skeptically, "So you really are an alien?"
"You'd better believe it!" she informed him. "About one earth year ago, I was banished here for being a thief. But it was the government's fault! They took my family from me, so as payback, I took food from them. It was only fair! But I got banished, anyway. At least they didn't... Oh no! My sword's gone!"
Celstice hadn't realized it earlier, but the weapon upon which her life had depended for the past year was gone! Crash and Coco were each secretly wondering if she would cry, but she didn't. She just seemed to get mad.
"Did I leave it outside?" she wondered aloud.
"Chill," Crash insisted, "I put it right by the door."
He left to retrieve her weapon, and gave it to her when he got back. She seemed quite pleased to get it.
"I'm afraid to ask," Crash began, "But what happened to your head?"
"I picked a fight with some big, muscle bound freak," she replied, "I don't know what he was, though. The first time I saw you, I thought you were one of his kind. He was an orange, unfriendly dude with really big teeth claws." She giggled. "None too bright, either..."
"Sounds like Tiny," Coco muttered. Crash looked thoughtful.
"If that big dope's around, that must mean Cortex isn't too far off, again..."
"Who?" Celstice was confused.
"Dr. Neo Cortex," Coco informed her, "He's our worst enemy."
"He's the one who made us look like this," Crash snarled, "He's the reason we're... freaks."
"Is he a human?" Celstice seemed to suddenly get aggressive.
Crash nodded quietly.
"I was right!" she declared, "All humans are evil! Every last smelly one of 'em! I should have blown up this planet long ago, even with me on it!"
Crash and Coco just stared at her. This was a conversation they decided didn't need to go any further.
"Are you hungry?" Coco offered, in a desperate attempt to change the subject.
Celstice smiled. "I'm starving!" she practically squealed, "I haven't eaten in long time!"
"Come with me!" Coco insisted, dragging her new friend off to the kitchen.
Ignoring the giggling of the two girls in the kitchen, Crash seated himself of the where Coco had been. He was deep in thought. Tiny the tiger wasn't smart enough to wonder the forest without instruction or guidance from his master and creator. Cortex had to be nearby, if indeed that was Tiny that Celstice had battled and seemingly lost to. Aku Aku appeared out of nowhere in front of the thoughtful boy.
"What troubles you, my child?" he asked, noting Crash's uncommonly serious expression.
"Cortex may be back in town... he just doesn't seem to quit."
"What makes you say that?"
"You know our guest? She said she got her wound from a run-in with someone who matched Tiny's description, and we all know that where that big idiot is, Cortex isn't far off."
"I see," Aku replied, "And where is our young ward now?"
"She and Coco are in the kitchen trying to make breakfast..."
A loud crashing came from the kitchen, as did one startled squeal and an "oops..."
"But it sounds like they're just making a mess," Crash finished.
***
Tiny was back at Dr. Neo Cortex's layer, being questioned by his creator.
"Are you completely certain that she wasn't a bandicoot?" the enraged scientist inquired.
Tiny nodded. If it was a bandicoot, he would have gotten that feeling... the extreme feeling to kill that he had been created with. The girl he had met hadn't stirred up his killing instincts until she had attacked him.
"Well she wasn't one of my creations!" the doctor declared, "All my creations but those infernal rodents have tracking devices. Besides, judging by your descriptions, she was a common house cat. I've never tampered with the DNA of such a creature, not even in my early years. I must find her creator and stop him before he runs me out. Now let me look at the possibilities... could it have been my former colleague, N. Brio?"
Tiny didn't respond. How in the world would he know? Why in the world would he care?
"Why am I asking you?" Cortex wondered aloud, "Go find N. Gin and tell him to come here!"
Tiny stood up and hurried out the door.
***
Crash was slowly deciding that he didn't like Celstice. She was just plain annoying! Though she spent a good deal of her time with Coco, she managed to find ways to pester him, as well. He had learned almost immediately that she could levitate not only herself but other objects, including him. He'd been sitting innocently putting a model together when he suddenly felt himself being lifted up. Much to his shock and irritation, he had seen Celstice standing nearby giggling, her hands out in front of her. After he had greatly protested, she had set him back down and skipped off whistling, likely to find other mischief. Now Crash had secluded himself to his room, dearly wishing that he had slept later that day. He practically leapt out of his skin when a knock came to his door.
"Who is it?" he called out, trying not to sound angry or unnerved.
"It's me, Celstice!" was the reply. She sounded panicked, but Crash was too busy being angry to notice.
"What do you want?"
"It's not about me! That... that thing that I fought the other day came and took you sister!"
Crash flung his bedroom door open, looking panicked himself.
"What?!"
"I tried to chase him down, but he grabbed me and threw me in this direction!" Celstice was panting the whole she was giving the report, as she was quite warn out.
"What are we waiting for?" Crash demanded, grabbing her by the handing and dashing to the door, "Let's go!"
***
Crash edged his way along the outside of Cortex's fortress, which was currently on the ground. Crash couldn't help but grin a little. He was the one to blame for the fortress not being in the air. Celstice was slinking quietly behind him or, more accurately, floating. Her boots would have made too much noise as she walked, thus she had levitated herself. She had offered to levitate Crash as well, but he had firmly refused her, insisting that bandicoots weren't meant to fly. The two of them came to a door, guarded only by one of Cortex's many robots. Crash smiled again. This would be easy. One silent, simple move and the surveillance bots were out of commission. A loud war-cry sounded through the air, much to Crash's dismay, as Celstice dropped in front of the robot, and immediately slashed through it with her short sword. Crash jogged up to her, looking furious.
"Did I do a good job?" she asked, hopping with excitement.
"No!" he sputtered, "Stop being a goofy show-off! You probably just sounded off every alarm in the place!"
"Well, excuse me!" she hissed, as Crash easily opened the small door.
"That's one small door," she commented.
"It should be," Crash replied, "Have you seen how tall this maniac is? He's about my height. That's kinda puny in comparison to most humans."
They didn't talk again for quite a while, partly because they were both still silently fuming over Celstice's brash actions.
***
When they did speak again, it was because things had taken a turn for the worst. Celstice cried out loudly, causing Crash to whirl around, ready to yell at her for making noise... until he saw why. His alien companion was on the ground on her knees, huffing. Her hands were behind her neck, and pain was expressed on her cat-like face.
"What's wrong?" he asked, quickly approaching her.
"You're so predictable, Crash Bandicoot," a voice sneered, "I knew it would only be a matter of time before you came for your precious little sister. I have to admit, however, that I wasn't expecting you to bring a little girlfriend with you. Have you forgotten your efforts for Tawna so quickly?"
"No," Crash snarled, looking up to see Cortex holding a stun-gun. "I'm surprised that with that bug head of yours you couldn't figure out that this girl isn't my type, let alone my species."
Cortex grinned. He enjoyed nothing more than a good battle of insults.
"It seems I did forget," he mocked, "Your species is hard to come by, as you are one of only three. You're an outcast."
Crash stood again, a look of pure rage coming over his normally carefree countenance. He was preparing to attack. Cortex had learned early on to read the bandicoot based on his expression and body posture, and so could tell that his "creation" was a lit fuse.
"I wouldn't attack, if I were you," Cortex warned, pointing over the bandicoot's shoulder. Crash whirled around to see Tiny, Dignodile, and even the Komodo brothers standing there, ready to attack him.
Crash's mind raced for ideas, but he couldn't find any. He hung his head, and noticed that Celstice had completely collapsed.
"What did you hit her with?" he demanded.
"A stun-gun," Cortex replied, "I don't want her dead. I need her to tell me who created her and how she got here. I'll wait until I want to disassemble to her to put her out."
Crash glared at him. "You're a madman."
"I'll put her back together again," he insisted, pointing his stun-gun at Crash. "Say goodnight, bandicoot."
***
When Crash finally came to, his head was spinning, much like Celstice's had been the morning before. He sat up slowly and looked around the room, to see Celstice sitting in the opposite corner, a defeated and rejected look on her face.
"What's eating you?" Crash joked, "Never been captured before?"
She glared up at him. "Only once," she murmured, "and it resulted in my being thrown into this miserable planet."
Most people wouldn't have heard what she said, but Crash's sensitive ears caught it. She was surprisingly sulky when she wasn't victorious.
"The boat hasn't sunk yet," Crash informed her, "I'm pretty sure we can get out of this."
"They took my sword," she grumbled, "And my choker and my gloves... even my earring!"
"You think it's all over because you lost a few possessions?" he asked skeptically.
"Those are the only things I have left of my home world, and my family! That big-headed little jerk is gonna pay..."
"I hear ya," Crash sighed, leaning against the wall. He still didn't think that standing was a good idea just yet. "I just need time to think..."
He closed his eyes, appearing to be asleep. After a while, he opened them again, and looked at Celstice.
"Perhaps you levitation powers can help," he suggested. She looked up at him, a light coming to her face. Her hope seemed renewed. She smiled.
"Yes! They can! My stuff is sitting right over there!"
She pointed a finer outside the cell door to the far end of the room. Raising and moving her hands, she summoned her possessions over to the cage, and dropped them in front of the door. She reached her hand out, and picked each object up, intending to return each object to its proper place when they both heard footsteps. Seeing the guards coming to the cell and knowing that it was her they wanted, she tossed Crash her sword, and then took something out of her prized long hair, also tossing it to Crash. The bandicoot quickly stashed the sword under the bed, and stuffed the smaller object into his pocket, looking up in time to see Celstice struggling in the arms of the robotic guards as she was dragged away to her doom. When the guards were gone, Crash took the object out of his pocket. It was lock-pick. He grinned. A thief's best friend! Of course! Now he knew there was a way out! But why hadn't she used the lock-pick earlier?
***
The surface of the table was biting cold, even through the fabric of her clothing.
"The first thing I'll do when I get outta here," Celstice thought, "Is find a way home and make the idiots who sent me to this miserable planet pay!"
At least her bangs were in her eyes. That made the lights less blinding. Celstice started shaking all over with raw terror. She couldn't help it! She's never been in a situation like this before in her life! Scientist... she had decided that they were evil, too. She'd never been tortured before either, but she was certain that it was coming.
"The 'doctor' should be here shortly," a voice mocked. It was some odd-looking short man who looked like he had a rocket stuck in his head.
"Come on, Crash! Hurry!"
***
Crash smiled confidently as his spin attack sent a single root into an entire barricade, though he winced at the minor explosion. His plan was stealth, not at all like Celstice's approach the evening before. But as worried as the bandicoot was about the alien, he needed to find his younger sister. She's been here longer than either of them, after all. He stopped and hid behind some barrels when he heard someone coming his way. He decided to listen in on their conversation.
"So, why are we getting that bandicoot outta his cell?" Tiny asked.
"Don't be stupid," Dingodile replied sharply, "We're bringing him upstairs where his sister is tied up. You know, in the lab? That way they both watch us interrogate and disassemble their little kitty friend. Gonna be one heck of a time, mate!"
Crash snarled, but was at the same time glad. The careless mutants had told him exactly what he needed to know on accident.
***
Celstice blinked in surprise when she saw Crash's face suddenly appear on one of the screens over her head. He held a finger to his mouth, signaling to her to keep quiet, grinning all the while. Celstice wasn't certain, but she thought she see Coco in the background somewhere, leaning over her laptop. Then, she actually heard him speaking.
"You're lying down, so you might as well relax before this party starts," he advised, "We've got a little present for the good ole doc..."
Celstice tried to not grin. Perhaps she should have had more faith in her new friend. She turned her head to see Cortex entering the room, a smug look on his face.
"Very nice to meet you," he mocked, "Now to find out who your creator is."
"Hey Cortex!" a voice called from the hallway. They both looked to see Coco in the hall, holding her laptop and a small object. Cortex stared. It was the key to his hoverboard! "You'd better come get it, or it's toast!" she mocked.
"You'd better put that down, young lady!" he commanded, charging towards the door. While Cortex was gone, Crash dropped down from the rafters, landing a little too noisily beside Celstice.
Cortex turned back around when he heard Crash landing, despite the fact that he was quite close to the door.
"A little scheme of yours?" he guessed, "Well it won't work!"
"Won't it?" Crash asked, producing a miniscule explosive.
When Cortex saw the tiny bomb, he dashed out the door, slamming it behind him, just as Crash threw it. Once it landed, the bandicoot threw himself on the floor, covering the back of his head and neck with his hands. A small explosion sounded, sending bits of equipment flying, but the door it had been thrown at remained. Good. Crash stood up and helped Celstice out of her bonds without bothering to dust himself off.
"Go out the door, meet up with my sister, and get outta here!" he commanded. Surprisingly, she didn't argue, but obeyed him right away. She was still too shaken and scared to fuss with him.
Crash smiled as he watched her go. Good! She was actually listening to him! Now he had to find a way out. That wouldn't be too hard. It was from this room he had escaped what seemed like ages ago, but he still remembered quite well how to get out, even if it meant jumping out the window again.
"After him!" a familiar voice called behind him. Crash rolled his eyes and started running. "Here we go again," he thought.
He ran for a while, but saw that the window he had broken through the first time he'd escaped had been replaced, and he had no intention of breaking the glass with his own body again. He knelt down, tossed another grenade, and ducked just before the small explosion. A sudden pain flared over his left shoulder. Reaching behind him, his right hand came into contact with something small, thin, and sharp. Glass from the window! Bracing himself, Crash prepared to pull it out. With a quick yank, the glass was out. He cringed and grunted with the pain, but stood quickly when he heard Tiny's thundering footsteps behind him. Crash finally reached the window, turned around, and jumped out backwards, throwing his last grenade into the window as he did so. He didn't notice the explosion, however, as he was too busy biting back the pain and wondering what it would be like when he hit... He flinched as various pieces of debris hit him. He relaxed his muscles after that, preparing either for the ocean's icy water or the pain of impacting with solid ground. Neither came. Crash opened his eyes in shock when he realized that he was no longer falling but...floating? Then, somehow, it felt like he was moving upwards; and indeed he was, as he saw the window he had just jumped out of going by. When he saw Celstice and Coco peering over the edge of the building's roof, he realized what was happening. Celstice was using her powers to lift him up. Finally, he was up on the roof, panting heavily. The two girls stepped back to give him some air, but it was Coco who spoke up.
"Can we go home, now?" she asked.
"That sounds pretty good to me," Celstice admitted.
Before Crash's tired mind could register what was happening, he was floating again, this time in the general direction of home. The pain in his shoulder was subsiding, and he was sure he'd be fine. A little sore, perhaps, but fine.
***
Cortex stood looking out of the shattered window where Crash had managed to escape.
"You say he was wounded when he jumped out?" the scientist skeptically asked of Tiny. The large animal nodded.
"I saw red stuff running down his shoulder," the tiger insisted.
Cortex grinned wickedly. In a wounded state, the bandicoot wouldn't have survived a fall into the freezing, rough water. His enemy was finally dead!
END
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