(WARNING: This fanfic contains some violence/blood/gore, do not read if you are sensitive to that sort of thing. Neo Cortex fans may be offended by some of the content.)

It was far, far in the future. A few centuries had passed and much things had changed on the planet we call our home. Earth. In the few thousand years, the animals had evolved on their own. Most of them were anthros now and the world changed it’s surface. But there was something wrong on this future. Someone who couldn’t actually exist anymore, was still alive. Dr. Neo Cortex. After he was found in his glacier lab, frozen in it by Crunch, from a few Australian scientists and anthros, he saw his beautiful world ruined by the time. But it took not long til he decided to try to take over the world again. And that was the reason, why he build a new space station in this time and tried again, to build up an army. But he failed all the time cos everyone he needed for his plans, doesn’t exist anymore and he was alone and on his own.

But only until one special day:

“What else could I do to take over the world? I’ve tried nearly anything. But all those robots are useless. I need some new minions again. But how could I get some…” the evil genius spoke to himself. But what he doesn’t know was, that his question will be answered soon. “Alert! Unknown object is approaching with high speed to the space station! Alert!” suddenly a computer voice said and seconds later the whole station was shaking from the impact of the unknown spaceship. Neo went down to the floor where the ship hit the station and couldn’t believe what he saw. It was one of his old space ships he used in the past. The computer told him that there was one life form in it but the vital function signals lowered by the second. Neo told two of his robotic assistants to get the live-form out of the ship and into a medical room.

As he opened the door, Neo was surprised and shocked the same time. He saw a burgundy bandicoot anthro, which he evolved in the past. It was the brother of his once created super bandicoot Crunch. Steve. But he was in a very bad condition. The impact in the space ship hurt him badly and it was only a question of time until he dies. Neo looked on him “I have never seen one of my minions in such a bad condition. Too bad he’s not loyal to me. I’m sure I could save his life. But I think I can get him back on my side…” and with those words Neo himself started to take care of the burgundy bandicoot.

Ten hours later, Neo left the room and went back into the control room. “I’ve done what I could. Now let’s see if he’ll wake up.”

After some more time, Steve finally woke up. But he felt heavy and something changed even with his sight. He saw everything in a different way than before and as he got up, his whole body was aching. He looked down on him and got a shock as he realized what happened to him. He was nearly fully covered with metal. But not like he knew it from his metal form. It was actually like Crunch’s right arm. His right and left arm, his legs and his half upper body. He stood there for a few moment until he calmed down a bit, as suddenly Cortex came it “Well I see you’ve already discovered your new self…”

The bandicoot suddenly turned to the little man and grabbed him by his neck. Cortex got really scared and screamed like a little girl “SHUT UP!” Steve shouted and cortex became quiet “What have you done to me you damn bastard?” Cortex plucked up all his courage “Is that the way to say ‘thanks’ that I saved your life?” “You call this ‘saved’? That was only for your own use! I prefer more to be dead, as being one of your minions again!” Steve yelled and then he threw Neo against the wall. He then walked over to him again and reached for him “Stop! I… I can explain!” Cortex cried “Speak! Those words will be your last words anyway!” the mad bandicoot growled. “Ok, Ok. I just wanted you back on my side. Together we could take over this world. Since we both have no one in this time. All we know doesn’t exist anymore. I need someone who helps me and you need something to do, I know that.” Neo’s words made Steve thinking about the situation the first time. He realized, that Neo was right. No one he knows was here and where should he go? Steve let Neo down “…I think you’re right. How can I help you?” Neo had now a devilish grin on his lips and lead Steve out of the room into the control room.

“Look at all those anthros.” Neo said as they entered the room and pointed on the screens. “They’ll be all perfect minions for me, but I can’t catch them nor train them so…” “…so you need me to do that for you?” Steve asked. “Yes. My lab assistants were already down on earth and had success in finding some. They’ll be back in a few minutes.” “I’ll take care of them. If they survive, they’ll make good fighting minions. If not, well then they had just bad luck.” and Steve walked out of the room. Neo had an evil grin over his face “I knew he would join my side again. And since he did the same for me in the past, he’s the perfect one for that job.” he thought and followed Steve to the training room.

As Steve entered the training room, the captured anthros were already there. He counted eight of them. six males and two females. A Tasmanian devil pair, three dingoes, an other burgundy bandicoot and a kangaroo pair. As he came in, all of them were scared of him. Only the male Tasmanian devil and the other bandicoot took a fighting pose and growled at him. “I see only two of you are brave enough to face me.” Steve yelled over to the anthros. He earned just a growl from the two which were ready to fight him. “That sounds great so far.” he added. Neo came just into the show room to watch the scene. “Well my name’s Steve. But for you, I’m your master.” “You’re not gonna tell me anything you bastard!” the Tasmanian devil shouted over to him “Careful! Or you’ll be the first one to be eliminated. And that would be a pity.” “I’m not afraid of you! Come and get me! You’re even smaller than me!” “But don’t cry for your life!” Steve yelled over to him as he slowly walked over to the Tasmanian devil. The Taz attacked with his fists but Steve blocked all of his attacks. Seconds later a painful yell was heard and all the other anthros got even more scared. Even the other burgundy bandicoot had now his ears laid back in fear. “Has anyone a problem too?” Steve said and walked over to the bandicoot. It was a young adult one. As Steve was coming over to him, the bandicoot walked backwards until he reached the wall. Then he went down on the ground and looked at Steve in fear. “There’s no need for that.” Steve told the other bandicoot. He lifted him up and threw him to the others. “Ok. Now we’ll start the part of this, I like the most. The ‘death match’. Only those of you who survive, will be taken by me. There are no rules and those who win, won’t be killed if they’re alive.” with those words Steve left the room and entered the show room.

“I’ve rarely seen such a good show. You forgot nothing you did in the past it seems.” Neo said to him “But the real show will start now.” Steve replied and pointed out in the training room, where the anthros started their fights. Everyone fought on his own. Except for the dingoes. They attacked all together the poor bandicoot. But he could stand against all three of them. And even defeated two of them until two of the guardian robots took them out with electro shocks. now there were only the roo pair and the female Taz left. But they didn’t fought. Neo went mad and told the guardian robots to eliminate them but Steve jumped down into the room and destroyed the robots. “No, Neo. I have other plans with them. Just take care of these two when they get up.” and with those words Steve left the room and took the three left anthros with him.

As the door behind them was shut, Steve gave the left anthros a key “With this one, you’ll be able to get in the escape pods and with those, back to earth. I’ll show you the way…” he said and walked down the hallway. But the other anthros kept just standing there. Steve turned back “I know that you don’t trust me and you really have a reason for that, but when you all want back to earth, then you have to trust me.” “When you really say the truth, then show us the way.” the male roo said and then they followed Steve to the escape pods.

One week passed and Steve was in his room. He was preparing everything for his trip down to earth. He took the last week to train the two new minions he choose and now they wanted to go down to earth to get more anthros for Neo. The other bandicoot, which had the name Crush, remind him pretty much in Crunch. He was the stronger one of the two new comers. The Dingo, named Jason, was a bit quiet and looked serious all the time. They trust him meanwhile and they even became friends all together.

As Steve walked to the hangar, he met Crush on the half way “Boss, I’m ready for the mission.” he said “I told ya already you don’t have to call me ‘boss’ all the time. Just call me Steve.” Steve replied “Ok boss, err… Steve…” and they continued walking to the hangar. As they arrived there, Jason was already waiting for them. He just looked seriously on the two bandicoots and then they went into a ship.

Steve wanted to check some things and so he flew the spaceship to the X.treme island of the future. Once they landed, they went out and searched in different directions. The island had changed quiet a lot. Neo’s castle wasn’t anymore and the three islands were now one. Steve walked a while over the island until he heard two well known voices “That can’t be. Or maybe…” Those voices he heard were Crunch and the voice of an other adult bandicoot. But Steve identified the voice as the one from his son Chris. Steve hide on a tree and watched down on them. In this moment so much things went through his head and he felt happy, sad, angry and surprised at the same time. Then Steve broke a branch. He thought no one heard it, but that was false “Who’s there?” Crunch yelled “Are you sure you heard something Crunch?” Chris asked his uncle. “Sure. And I think it came from up there.” Crunch replied and pointed on the tree Steve was in. Steve jumped out of it directly in front of the two “Well hiding is impossible in this family…” he said. Crunch and Chris looked only confused on him, until Chris suddenly looked serious “…Dad? Is that really you?” he asked “Yeah… it’s me.” Steve replied and Chris went to his dad and hugged him. Steve just stood there before he realized the situation. After all those endless 8000 years in the black hole, he finally was back. His son, Crunch, Tani and maybe even the others, he’ll see them finally again. Then Steve hugged his son too. Chris started to cry “…I’ve missed you so much dad.” “I’ve missed you too.” Steve replied as they broke up “And you Crunch too. And all the others.” he said as he went over to Crunch, who still just stood there in confusion, and hugged him tightly “I can’t believe that it’s really you little brother…” Crunch replied slowly “Well it is unbelievable, I know, after all I was about 8000 years frozen in time. Actually I’m the bigger brother now, heh. But let’s talk about that later.” “8000 years!? What the…? How it comes that you’re still alive?” Chris asked “Yeah, tell us. I mean, you’ve changed not a bit, except for… you know…” Crunch added. “I don’t know. Seems like the time had no effect on me in the black hole. And yeah… that’s from a little accident I had. As I came out of the black hole, I crashed into a space station and Neo saved me by doing that to me. But don’t think I like it to be like I’m now!” “I bet it’s hard for you.” Chris said “What did you just said!? Neo? Is he here too?” Crunch asked “Yes he is. And I have to say that I joined him again as he saved me. But you have to understand, I thought I was alone in this time. I didn’t expect to meet you here. But don’t worry, I’ll come back now that I know that you all are here.” Steve replied “Well that’ll be better for ya, or else I’ll send you personally to hell!” Crunch growled. “No Crunch! You don’t do anything to him or you’ll get problems with me!” Chris growled to his uncle “Chris, I think I can take care of myself.” Steve cut him off. “Well I better forget what I’ve just heard. Let’s go back to the others. They’ll be pretty much surprised to see you again too.” Crunch told Steve “Sounds good. And on the way, I’ll tell you two, what’s happened the last time to me.” Steve replied and he started to tell Crunch and Chris his story.

Steve has finally told his whole story to Crunch and Chris as they were still walking through the thick forest of X.treme island. Crunch had still a strange feeling about his ‘brother’. But suddenly Crunch stopped and turned around to Steve “Ok. Who are you, and what is cortex up to? I mean, It simply can’t be you. All this nonsense about 8000 years and black holes and even how you look like. You could even be one of Cortex’s robots. I simply can’t believe that you’re my brother. I… I… ahh my head!” that was the last thing Steve heard before Crunch fell knocked out and with a loud noise to the floor. “I think it was a bit much for Crunch.” Chris said “I can understand him. I think I would react exactly like him. But without that knocked out part.” Steve replied “But it is really you dad?” “As I already said, hell yeah it’s me! I even know that you were scared of water until I threw you into the river.” “Ok, I think you can stop at this point dad. There’s no need to get all that stuff back in my mind.” Chris cut his father off. After a while Crunch was still knocked out and Chris still stared on his father, who was sleeping. “I’m so sorry for you dad. You’ve been through so much bad things and now that. I realize now first what actually happened to you. Crunch told me how he lost his right arm and I can imagine what’s happened to you. But I’m so glad that you’re alive…” he thought. “Chris? How long was I asleep?” It cam from Crunch’s direction “About one hour.” Chris replied “Man, I had a weird dream. I dreamed, that Steve was suddenly back. But in a terrible condition. He looked more like a robot that a bandicoot and worked again for Cortex.” “Well Crunch, I think that was no dream.” Chris told him and pointed over to his dad. Crunch stared on him in shock and after one or two minutes he calmed down “Holy Crap! Then it was no dream? It was all real?” “Yup.” “Damn! I don’t even cared about him. Is he really angry?” “No? He isn’t angry. He can fully understand you.” Chris said to his uncle. Crunch then turned back to his brother and saw him getting up “Oh, hey Crunch. Back from your rest?” Steve said “Ha, ha. Really funny. Too bad you didn’t lost your dumb humour.” Crunch growled in reply. “I wish that sometimes too. But instead of that, I lost my right and left arm, my legs and a bit more. Have you finally changed your opinion about me?” Steve asked and walked over to his brother “No. Err I mean, of course, I don’t know…” Crunch replied. Steve took out a gun from his pocket, gave it Crunch and lead Crunch´s paw with the gun to his head “Well if you still think it’s a bad idea and that I’m a bad guy, then pull the trigger and shoot me…”

It was totally silent in the forest. But a few moments later a shot was heard. Chris looked in shock to his uncle, who had just fired the gun. Crunch really had thought about that, what his father has told him before. Then he looked to Steve. He was still standing. Crunch had missed him “I can’t shoot you. I know now that you’re my brother. You might look much different then before, but the Steve I know is still in there.” Crunch said as he gave the gun back to Steve. Chris, sightly relived, ran over to Crunch “How could you even think about that? And even with me around!” “Don’t talk like that with him Chris. I know that it’s really nasty for him. Whatever he did, It would be the best for him, you and the rest of the family. I don’t even know if they’ll accept me without any problems like you two did…” Steve said, as his ears laid back and he started to become a bit sad. “Don’t worry dad. I’m sure they will. You’re still part of our family or not Crunch?” Chris said “Of course you are! So let’s better go now. I bet Tani is already a bit worried about us.” and the three continued on their way to the others.

After some time they reached finally reached the place where once Neo’s castle was. The castle was nearly away. Only a few walls were left. It seemed like Crunch and the others had build them a house from the rest of the castle. “You two should stay outside. I’ll get in and tell the others.” Crunch said as he went in. “Tani! Crystal! Anyone here?” “Dad! You’re back!” Tasha said as she run for him and hugged her dad. “Yeah I am. But where are your mother and the others? I have a big surprise.” “Oh they’re here too.” “Could you bring them all out?” “Of course I can. But what is the surprise?” “Oh It’s 1.90 big, blonde, a bit annoying, related to you…” Crunch told his daughter. Tasha just looked very surprised on him “What? Uncle Steve is here too? I’ll be out in a few seconds!”

Crunch was with Steve and Chris outside as the door opened and Tani, Tasha, Tayna, Tackle and Crystal came out. They all stared on Steve as they noticed him. Everyone was in shock and a few minutes passed. The Bandigers were the first who did anything, as they noticed that it was really Steve. They all went over to their uncle and hugged him “We’ve missed you…” they all said at once. Then Tani and Crystal came over to him too and joined the family re-union. Steve felt incredibly lucky at this moment. He might look a lot different than like they had him in their mind, but it seemed that they don’t care about it. His family accepted him like he was and he was finally together with them again. Steve decided not to go back to Cortex and told Crush and Jason, to tell Cortex that he’ll stay on earth. They agreed and swear they won’t ever tell Cortex what really happened.

Steve had one of the best times in his life in the following week. But he noticed too, that everyone behave a bit strange toward him. He didn’t care about it in the first time. But an other week later, he was just back from a trip around the island, he heard Crunch, Tani and Crystal talking about him “Crunch, are you really sure it’s safe to have him around here?” Crystal asked “Of course! How could you even think it’s not? He’s your brother!” “Crunch, you have to understand me! I’m just worried about us and the future. What’s if he still works for Cortex and just told us that he’s not?” “Maybe Crystal is right Crunch. Do you actually know where he is all the time when he’s away? I don’t want to tell it you, but, I thought about him already some time.” Tani said “See Crunch? I’m not the only one who has a bad feeling about him…” Crystal added “Am I the only one who really trust him? What’s up with you two?” Just in this moment Steve came out of the forest. Of course he heard the conversation the three just had about him. His mood had turned from happy to sad and with his ears down, he walked slowly over to the small group. Tani ,Crystal and Crunch just did like they haven’t said one word. “Actually I’m just here to say that I‘ll go. I know when I’m not welcome, but I’ve never thought to hear something like that from my own family. I’ve heard every word you all just said and so I think it’ll be the best when I leave ya again. I didn’t know that I make so much problems to ya all, so… goodbye.” Steve said and walked back to the forest. “Steve! Wait! We don’t meant it like this!” Crunch shouted after him, but it was too late. Steve was away again. “I hope you two are happy now. He’s gone! And like I know him for ever! I still can’t believe that you really talked like that about him. Isn’t he already through enough things? Now he thinks that his family doesn’t wants him too…” Crunch yelled over to the two girls and walked angry off.

Steve had finally reached the place where he first arrived with the spaceship on the island. He thought it would be the best if he goes back to Neo. His family hated him. He actually knew it since the first day he told them that he worked for Cortex. He had always lived his life alone. No one was ever there for him or cared about him. And since he was together with Crunch, he was every time compared with him and always lost against his big brother. But there was still someone left who cares about him and wants only him and no one else. Cortex. Steve then noticed a spaceship approaching to the place he was. It was one of Neo’s. As it landed the ramp opened and Jason came out “We’ve got your signal boss. Personally I’m glad you come back to us.” he said “Yeah, whatever. Just take me outta here and back home.” Steve replied as he entered the ship and it took off.

A few minutes later the spaceship approached to the space station. As Steve left it, he saw Crush in the hangar “Good to see ya back here boss. I knew that you wouldn’t stay on earth for long. You’re family has to be annoying that you’re back…” As Steve heard him talking about his family like that, he went mad. He grabbed Crush by his neck and pushed him against a wall “You’ll never talk again over my family. Are we clear?” Steve growled angry “I…I can’t breathe…” “ARE WE CLEAR?” “Y-yeah. We are…” Crush whistled and Steve threw him to the ground. He went out of the hangar and to his room, where he stayed for the next hours. But only until Neo came suddenly in “Ah, Steve. It’s nice to see you back here. Where have you actually been? But doesn’t matter. You’ve had your reasons I guess. The reason why I’m here is, I’ve build a new machine and I’m sure you want to see it. It’s a new version of the evolvo ray. But It can way more than the old one.” Cortex said “I don’t think I’m in the mood for anything now…” Steve replied “Nonsense. I’m sure when you’ve seen it, you’ll feel a lot better.” Neo told him and walked back to his lab. Steve was a bit curious about what Neo just said and so he decided to take a look on the little scientists newest creation.

Steve just entered the lab as a laser beam hit him. He couldn’t move and was caught in it “NEO!” “Sorry for that, but it’s for your own good.” Neo replied to him. A few seconds later Steve was free from the beam, but was hit in the next moment by a lighting. As he landed on the floor and went up, Neo came to him. “So what was that?” Steve asked “That, was the new evolvo ray. It’s now not only able to evolve things, It’s even able to recover cells now! I’ll explain it on you now. Well, you know what’s happened as you crashed in my station. Your body was so heavily hurt, that I had to save you by covering the hurt and missing parts with metal. Your body wasn’t able to ‘repair’ that damage. But now…” Neo told and started to remove the metal from Steve’s body “You should be the same like before again.” As everything was removed, Steve looked on himself and couldn’t believe what he saw. He looked exactly like before. He could see his blue and green eye in the mirror and his legs and arms were from flesh and blood again. Even the scars over his right eye, the three over the left side of his chest and the three on his left and right arm were back. He felt so much better than before. “I think I have to thank you Neo. You brought the old Steve back.”

One year passed and a lot has changed with Steve. He worked a lot on his skills in this year. He was obsessed with training but still did what cortex told him. His strength could be now compared to Tiny’s. His fighting skills were now as high as Crunch’s and he was still the survivor he was in the past. He recruited a few other anthros to Neo’s army and caught a lot of anthros as workers or for other things Neo wanted to do with them. Everyone of Neo’s minions was scared of him. He turned from the ‘hard guy’ he already was in the past, to a brutal, evil and cold bandicoot. Neo was impressed by him and liked how he changed.

One day Steve was in the training room again and waited for new anthros for Neo’s army. As they were lead into room by the guardian robots, Steve was disappointed by them. He told the minions only to get strong anthros with already some fighting experience and only males and single. But it was exactly the opposite. He went madder by the second and as he looked over to those who caught the newcomers, he freaked totally out. Painful screams were heard and as it was over, Steve had killed five other anthros. His muzzle and chest were red of blood as well as his paws. The three minions who caught the anthros were just scared as Steve walked over to them. He grabbed one of them “This will happen to you too when you fail again…” he growled angered and bite the one he just grabbed in his throat and finished his life off. The others just ran away in fear. Steve didn’t knew what has changed with him, but for some reason he enjoyed it to kill all those anthros. He was actually never as cold and heartless as he was now. Not even as he was in the secret base on Tasmania. Cortex’s face suddenly appeared on the big screen behind him “Actually I wanted to see the new minions, but I see they already failed at the first barrier. Anyways, you should come into the control room. I have to show you something…” Neo said. Steve walked out of the room and cleaned himself before he went to Neo. As he entered the control room, he could already see what kind of surprise Neo had this time. “I’m sure you know this island. It’s X.treme island and guess who’s on it…” Neo said “Crunch and family?” Steve replied “Yes. How did you know?” Cortex asked a bit confused “That doesn’t matter. So what plans do you have with them now?” “Well I thought we could need them on our side. They’ll make good minions and they’re experienced too.” “You don’t have to add anything. I’ll take care of them.” Steve told Cortex and went out of the room.

Two hours later he went into the battle room. He jumped in the ring and let the force field power up. Seven anthros were laying on the ground. Those were his family Crunch, Crystal, Tani, Tasha, Tayna, Tackle and Chris. “See who we have here…” Steve started as they finally woke up. “Where are we? And who are you?” Tani asked “Well you’re all in Dr. Cortex’s space station. In the battle room to be exact. And you really disappoint me Tani. No one reminds to me?” Steve replied to her “That can’t be… this voice… is it you Steve?” Crystal asked “YOU!? But why are you with Cortex together again? And why you look normal again?” Crunch added “I came back to Cortex, cos he was the only one who cared ever about me. It was even him who gave me my old body back. But enough of the stories now. You’re here to be recruited as Cortex’s minions.” “Nuts to you! Never I’ll work for Cortex! And the others won’t anyway!” Crunch shouted “I knew that would say that. So I thought we could resolve this In a fight. If I win, you all will work for Neo and if you win Crunch, Then you’re all free.” “Ok then let’s do it!” Crunch growled in reply as he went into his fighting pose. Steve did as well. For a few moments they just stood there staring on each other but then Steve suddenly attacked Crunch and nailed him on the ground. Crunch was surprised how fast and strong his brother was now. He couldn’t even move. “How long I’ve waited for this moment…” Steve said to Crunch as he opened his jaw ready to kill his brother. But suddenly Steve was tackled by Chris and Tackle. He hit the force field and it electrocuted him. Steve laid knocked out on the floor. Chris helped Crunch up “Thanks for getting him off me. He‘s a lot stronger than he used to be and also much more aggressive than he once was. He might look like he does in the past, but he‘s not the same he was.” Crunch said . Chris went over to his father “He’s not dead. Just knocked out.“ Just in this moment Neo himself entered the room “Holy canoly! I hope the nanites in him are still working.” he said. As Crunch saw him, he went mad and was up to ran for him. Tackle, Tasha, Tayna, Tani and Crystal had to hold him back. “Which nanites?” Chris asked “Those which controlled him from my commands of course you dumb bandicoot!” Cortex yelled angry “That was exactly what I wanted to know.” Chris replied “What are you talking about?” Crunch asked as he calmed a bit down. “Well, what if I tell ya that Steve just wasn’t himself? He changed so much cause of thousands of microscopic small robots in his body. They work like the mind control Cortex used on you Crunch. But much more efficiently. They even changed his personality. But now that he’s electrocuted, he should be the one we all knew again.” Chris told him. Then he threw his dad again against the force field. Again it shocked him, but this time it made him wake up. Steve was finally the old one again. But he knew that when he helps Crunch now, his cover would be blown. “Neo, get outta here and turn the force field off. I’ll come in a few seconds. Just let me finish this…” Steve yelled over to the scientist. Neo quickly left the room and soon the force field disappeared too.

As Neo was away, Steve looked suddenly sad “I knew exactly what I’ve done in the last time. But you have to trust me when I tell ya, that I didn’t want to do all that.” “You’re not responsible for all that happened, dad. It was Neo again. He used you for his plans.” Chris told his dad “I don’t know if it was only Neo…” “It was him, believe me!” “That just shows that I get always in trouble and that I can’t take care of myself. Crunch, could you achieve me one ‘special’ wish?” Steve asked his brother “Shut up! Now you listen to me! I never wanted that you go as you left us last year. I need you! Not only now. All the time. And now come on and let’s take care of Cortex. He deserves a nice end. And when you still want then what you want now, then I’ll do what you want. But now get up and stop being sad. You aren’t responsible for all that’s happened!”

Revenge wasn’t far around the corner for Steve and Crunch. They carried on walking down the hallways, with Steve leading the way. As he knew where the mad scientist was currently waiting…

Both bandicoots entered the room, Cortex was seen there sitting up on his chair, looking out through the large, thick glassed windows into space. He turned to see Steve standing there “Oh Steve! I assume the ‘training’ went well then?” he then quickly noticed Crunch, he smiled “And I guess you also got Crunch to join our side too!” Steve however, didn’t say a thing. Same with Crunch. Both brothers just stood there, with a blank expression. Dr Cortex didn’t understand why they wouldn’t speak in return… that’s until Crunch’s expression changed from calm to vicious, along with Steve’s… Neo simply turned to a shocked expression, and screamed instantly as soon as he saw one of them bare their fangs.

The scream was silenced very quickly, after taking a harsh punch from Crunch… the fear from Cortex was so strong that it made both bandicoots extremely aggressive towards him. Cortex smashed down to the ground, breaking his arm and possibly a few ribs from the impact. He whimpered like a sissy as he lay there, unable to even pull himself up. But before he could even try, Steve had given him a quick and hard kick, and the small human went flying… again, and hit into the metal-plated wall.

The burgundy bandicoots were now snarling and growling at the same time, and both walked over to Neo as he lay there after being kicked. He was in a lot of pain now, and couldn’t even scream. His leg was broken from the impact, so he wasn’t able to run. Not stand… not even move, much. “So, you can finally feel the pain that you put upon others…HUH?” Crunch snarled, “The pain you always thought was funny… but it’s not so funny when it’s put upon you, ISNT IT?” shouted Steve, then he raised one of his clawed paw hands, Cortex saw it then quickly closed his eyes.. Then a split second later, he felt a sharp stinging pain right across his face. He couldn’t even speak… he was just too fearful, and in shock. Blood was dripping down his face from the slash marks. Crunch then moved in closer “You gave me so much pain in the past… though my feelings from that had healed over time, but seeing you do so much evil, yet again… making others suffer and forcing others to do you deeds… has brought back my vicious feelings from the past, towards YOU AGAIN!” he too, slashed Cortex right across the face… giving him a lot more unbearable pain to put up with, with twice as much blood trickling down his face and body.

Crunch and Steve both stood there “It’s such a shame… you had the potential to change, but then you always backfire it like the bloody idiot you are…! How dare you force me to kill innocents, who didn’t deserve death! But don’t worry, you’ll get what you deserve, very soon….” he grasped Neo with one of his clawed hands, making his bleed more… and held him up against the wall. Crunch walked closer, to stand next to his brother. Dr Cortex was in far too much pain to even respond in any way. Actually, to say the truth… he actually just wanted to die. Steve and Crunch looked at one another, then Crunch spoke “Best if we just put him out of his misery now, I think he gets our point…” both of them nodded. Neo noticed both bandicoots opening their jaws ready to strike, he closed his eyes tightly before the first set of jaws struck his chest to his shoulder, and a second after, the next set of jaws grasped him slightly below, right around his ribs. Steve let Cortex go with his hand, and within seconds… the two crunched down and ripped away instantly from another, and blood splattered all over the place. Cortex was obviously dead quite instantly, as he was simply torn into two pieces.

Crunch stood there, still clutching onto the ’half body’ of the madman, which was his head, half his chest and one of his arms. He released the carcass from his jaws, and it slumped to the ground with a splatter. He had a large amount of blood all over his mouth and chest, he then looked over at Steve, who was holding the other half… and was covered in the same amount of blood also. He was grasping onto the body, with the other arm still joined to the rest of the body, with lots of blood still oozing out of it. He also dropped his half of the carcass.

“Tastes like crap… doesn’t it?” he said, then he started to spit out the blood he got in his mouth, Crunch was already doing the same before he even spoke “Ugh, you got that right… too bad, I was kinda hungry” Crunch said, as he carried on spitting out the blood. Steve smirked slightly “Heh well, we’ll have a proper feed when we go home… I’m glad this is all over though…” “Yeah same, I wish I did it years ago… but it just wasn’t that easy. Would have been nice to stop him earlier before destroying even more lives…” Crunch said, as he sighed and looked down with his ears flopping down slightly, “It’s ok, he’s gone now… but I still feel guilty for actually trusting him in the first place, I really thought he had changed… after saving my life, and then fixing my body. But he only did it for his own cause…” “It’s ok Steve, well… lets get out of this dump! We have to get the rest of our family, then go back down to earth… to home”.

Steve and Crunch were on their way back to the others. They didn’t spoke a word. They just smiled both as they looked on each other. As they were back, the kids were the first who said something “How come that you’ve got blood on ya dad?” Tayna asked “Did ya just catch something…?” Tackle added “…I can’t really say that it was a natural prey. Just an evil little man you’ve probably heard of before… and no, I didn’t eat…it. I don’t eat junk food.” Crunch replied. Tani just started to smirk and the bandigers looked a bit confused on their dad. “Oh Crunch, you could go a bit more in detail thought. What he means is, that we pretty much won’t need to worry about the mad scientist messing with our lives again… it’s finally over…” Steve told everyone. “Wow, he’s finally dead… that’s a relief… I thought he’d never die…too bad I wasn‘t with you.” Chris said and went over to his dad. “Chris’s right. It’s really a relief. I’m surprised that he even survived that long.” Crystal said. “Congratulations on finally defeating Cortex thought, Crunch and Steve… seriously, he deserves it after all those lives were ruined by him. But you have to hand it to him for even surviving this long… it almost seemed like he would never die!” “It’s a shame thought, he really had the chance to change… well, he brought it on himself.” Steve said. “Yeah, and he had even more than one chance. Anyway, who wants to go back home?” Crunch asked “I bet everyone. Follow me.” Steve said and lead them to the escape pods.

Everyone was in an escape pod now which was flying back to earth. “10...9...8...” “Why are ya counting down uncle Steve?” Tasha asked “Oh you’ll see soon. I’ve just prepared a little firework before we left.” Steve replied and as everyone looked out the window, they could see the space station blowing up. A few minutes later the escape pod landed in the ocean a few hundred meters away from the seashore of X.treme island. The hatch opened and all went out “It’s so good to be finally back on earth… and back home.” Steve said as he and the rest of his family were swimming back to the beach “I know what you mean. It’s nice to have you finally back here too.” Crunch said as they reached land. “Crunch? Steve? Wouldn’t you two come back with us?” Tani asked “Nah, not yet. You see how Steve and me look like, and someone has to get the dinner thought. You should go back home with the others, we’ll come in about an hour.” “Ok Crunch. I’ll wait for ya.” Tani said and walked off with the others. The following hour was a lot of fun for Crunch and Steve, like they hadn’t it for years. After they swam a bit in the sea, they went in the forest to ‘catch’ the dinner. With three big wild boars the brothers walked back home.

After a great dinner Crunch, Tani and Steve went down to the beach again. Chris and Crystal stayed at home with the bandigers. “I’m so glad that we’re all together again now. It’s good to have my brother back.” “I’m happy that you’re back too, Steve. Everyone else is anyway. Even Chris. And you don’t want to know how often the bandigers asked for ya.” “Aww, was it really that bad without me? And I thought no one of you would miss me… But don’t worry, I won’t ever leave you all now. You have my word.” Steve said as they we’re laying on the sand and staring into the clear nightly sky.