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Spikes. Knives. Lasers. Bullets. Screams of agony and anger echoed through out the castle walls, lightning struck the tower just before the giant creature swung it's ferocious claws down towards the frightened mad scientist. He tripped over his own feet trying to dodge and felt the talons slice his thigh. He tumbled and slammed against the metal table behind him, struggling to stand to his feet he could feel the blood gushing down his leg. It's sinister smile grew at his suffering in front of it, soon bursts into laughter as he fell over hitting his elbow on the unforgiving cold floor. Cortex bit down hard on his bottom lip to keep himself from crying. His old age finally caught up to him, it was over and he knew it. It loomed over him and he braced for another attack. His ray gun was across the room out of reach. He shut his eyes tight ready to accept his fate all while the questions echoed in his mind: Who will take care of his niece? Who will feed his cat? Why didn't he listen? Why didn't he just stop? Why did this have to end like this? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

"CORTEX!!!"

An all too familiar voice boomed, forcing his eyes wide open with a renewed fear.

Cortex:"Oh my god…" He whispered. The spirit was covered in flames, he glared hatefully towards the beast that returned the look before it ran on all fours towards him, getting ready to strike with its talons. Cortex looked up already knowing exactly what's about to happen. Uka Uka's eyes turned red before a beam shot down the beast until it was nothing but ash and dust on the floor. Cortex let out a sigh of relief before flinching and suddenly remembering his injured leg. He took one look at it before realizing just how gruesome it is.

Uka:"Cortex," He looked up at him."You idiot! I can't believe you used my dark magic for that thing! What were you thinking?! An elephant mixed with an alligator and tiger?! Oh that's brilliant! Just brilliant!-" His voice began to echo and his lab was starting to spin.

Cortex:"I-it wasn't…it wasn't a…"

Uka:"What? What?! Spit it out, you fool!"

Cortex:"K….Komodo dragon…." He fainted. Everything turned dark around him, he spun into darkness with no other sound but the echoes of insults from the angered spirit…Cortex woke up in his bed with hospital equipment around him. He groaned in pain, his whole body was aching. He looked around and saw Nina sitting by his bed staring down at her phone with a bored expression on her face. She looked up at him.

Nina:"About time you woke up." She returned her gaze to her phone as if nothing was different.

Cortex:"W…what…?" He mumbled out his words but he just couldn't get a full sentence out. He was exhausted. Nina rolled her eyes.

Nina:"As usual you were attacked by another one of your experiments, almost died, then got your butt saved by Uka Uka." He blinked before rubbing his eyes trying to fully wake up."And no, I didn't bring you here, that was Uka too." He grumbled something under his breath.

Cortex:"Where is he…?" She looked up at him.

Nina:"On his way, I just let him know you're awake." She put her phone away. His eyes widened, now??? He was coming now--? Uka Uka appeared in the room in front of the bed which startled Cortex quite a bit. He could tell he was more annoyed than pissed at him so that put his mind at ease for a bit.

Uka:"You're finally awake, huh, I thought you'd be dead by now." He grumbled. The mad man scoffed.

Cortex:"Such a warm welcome…." He croaked. He started coughing. His throat was so dry. Nina handed him a waterbottle and he greedily drank it.

Nina:"Soo, about your leg…" Cortex spat out his water in shock before she could finish talking and it ended up all over the spirit's face. Luckily, his anger dried him up.

Cortex:"My leg! Where is it?!" He felt around frantically. Nina couldn't help but laugh.

Nina:"It's still there, dumb-dumb." She lifted the blanket to show him that it was in a full cast. He sighed heavily and allowed his big head to drop back onto the pillow.

Uka:"Yes, you wouldn't believe how hard it was to do that with no hands…" Cortex opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself. He didn't want to know.

Cortex:"How long was I out?" He rubbed the side of his head.

Nina:"Oh, uhh, about a week maybe ten days." His eyes shot open wide. She stiffled a laugh.

Uka:"Yes, just about. That creature did a number on you." His voice lowered."I thought you would've died today." They were a little too quiet for Nina's liking, she stood up and clapped her hands together.

Nina:"Well, now that we know you're not dead yet, I'm gonna go do…something…" She said as she made her way towards the doors to leave.

Uka:"I'll come pick you up next week." He called out. She waved her robotic hand.

Nina:"Thanks, see you then." She closed the door behind her. It felt awkward with them in the room, just silence, every minute of it made the tension in the room grow thicker. Neo raised a brow when he finally looked up and noticed a look on his face.

Cortex:"What?" He asked confused.

Uka:"…I'm getting really tired of this, you know." Cortex let out an annoyed sigh before looking away and crossing his arms."I'm serious! You never listen to me! This is the hundredth time I had to come in and save your life from your own stupidity!" He yelled and Cortex shot a glare at him.

Cortex:"I was fine, I had everything--"

"NO YOU WEREN'T!!" The mask boomed making the room shake. Cortex sat there quietly listening to him breathing heavily."You could've died…!" He croaked. He quickly cleared his throat before continueing."Would it really kill you to just do as I ask?!" Cortex relaxed a little but still kept his guard up."We were suppose to do this thing together, with N. Gin and Tiny! You just couldn't wait for five minutes for us to get there?!" He didn't answer, he just stayed quiet, feeling a little embarrassed. Usually he'd start threatening him by now to get his act together but over the years of working together and after meeting Nina, times have changed. It's the same argument every night, but thanks to Cortex's ego and stubborness, he just didn't want to do as he was told. Was it jealousy? Seeing how everyone else looked up to the spirit rather than their original creator or leader, Neo Cortex, they look up to this wooden floating old mask instead and shower him with praise and respect while everyone looks down at Cortex and makes fun of his head, his hair, his height, his clothes….Cortex rubbed his face, he just wanted to go back to sleep and somewhat hoped he would die by the venom then.

Cortex:"I think I just need a vacation…" He mumbled. Uka Uka stared at him quietly. He refused to look in his eyes."I've been doing this for years now, I think it's only fair." Uka shook his head and sighed. When he glanced at him, he noticed a new expression on his face…an expression that almost concerned him. Was he…giving up?

Uka:"Fine. Do whatever you want. I need time for myself anyways." With that, he disappeared in smoke leaving Cortex all alone. He wasn't sure what to say or what to do now….how was he supposed to go to the bathroom??Months passed, his wounds were just about done healing thanks to Uka's magic and other medicines, he was still limping from the attack. He saw less of Uka Uka after that which made him kind of happy...except for Nina. Which worried him since she started hanging out with him less and less...he's not too worried about it though, she'll come around. But he was getting bored of it just being him, N. Gin and Pinstripe or Tiny all the time...he needed a date!.....Though last time he tried it didn't end too well. That clone of one of the teachers really didn't want to stick around for dinner and she almost took out half of his army before taking off to New York City. He sighed and itched the back of his neck with one of his tools. The lab doors slid open and N. Gin ran in.

Gin:"Master! I have your blue prints!" He slammed them down on the metal table in front of him. He looked them over and his frown only grew. The smile on the metal face vanished when he noticed. Cortex crumpled them each into a paper ball and threw them into the bin angrily.

Cortex:"We've already tried those ideas before, you useless idiot!" He growled."And besides, I'm going on vacation soon." Gin gasped.

Gin:"Vacation?!" He repeated.

Cortex:"Yes, yes, and I'm planning to find myself a worthy partner. A real 10 out of 10 girlfriend." Gin almost smirked at that comment which made Cortex raise a brow when he noticed the corner of his lips twitched a bit.

Gin:"O-oh yes! A girlfriend! Good for you, sir! Are you on any dating sites yet or do you need help with that?"

Cortex:"Oh, uh, w-well, it's--I mean I only just had the idea just now, so,…and well…I am getting old and want to get back into the dating game before it's too late, you know?" Gin nodded in agreement.

Gin:"I could help--"

"Are you's kidding?" Ah, here comes the potoroo now."Just stay single, trust me, it's much bettah that way. Especially if you's havin' a hard time pickin' just one a the babes." He took out a comb and slicked his hair back."But ya gotta be attractive foist, Doc." He snickered. Cortex glared at the potoroo.

Cortex:"I am attractive!" He stomped his foot angrily. The potoroo nodded.

Pisntripe:"Uh-huh, sure…whatevah you say." He shrugged."But you know, I bet that E-Volvo ray thing can, uhh, help ya out a little. Maybe a lil bit of cheating…?" He gave him a sly grin. They looked at him with a confused look.