*At this point in this story, everyone is in their rustland attire*

Coco groaned as she started to wake up. She sat up, looking around. She saw that she was in a bed, in a base. In the room had the bed, a dresser, a TV set, a window with blinds, and a shower. Just then, N. Gin came downstairs. She looked at him, sitting up in bed, and saw that he looked different.

She asked, "N. Gin...? What happened...?"

N. Gin got to her side and answered, "Coco, please. You need to rest." He tried to get her back to bed but she sat up again. He protested, "Coco..."

Coco snapped, "What. Happened."

N. Gin sighed as he opened his blinds. She looked outside and gasped. Everything had become a rustland. There was no vegeation and barely any water. There was several mutants out and about. The minute N. Gin had saw them, he quickly closed the blinds.

"We can't let them see us..." N. Gin informed.

Coco was scared and breathed, "They won...?" N. Gin barely looked at her, as if he was feeling shamed. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. She begged, "N. Gin... please... tell me."

N. Gin was a bit reluctant at first, which left Coco on edge. Finally he managed to say one word: "Master..."

Coco was confused. She knew that N. Gin called Cortex that when he was still alive. N. Gin went over to the TV set and turned it on. She watched as a man appeared on screen.

The man reported, "It has been 12 days since the pulse that changed the world. Reports are coming in from all over the world about how many people have been killed or their lives have changed forever. The world has crumbled and we now tremble under Dr. Neo Cortex's rule..."

Coco sharply hissed, "Turn it off N. Gin." He did what he was told as Coco raved, "That snake!" That's when she realized something. She asked, "Wait... where's my brother?"

N. Gin answered, "He's been leading our fraction of the Resistance. He's out right now, seeing if he can find any others out there."

Coco felt sick to her stomach and thought, 'Why would Cortex do such a thing? Nina was his niece after all...' She got to her feet or at least tried to. N. Gin placed her down on the bed again.

He insisted, "You just got up, you think I'm gonna let you out of this room?"

Coco glared, "Oh please! I can handle myself."

N. Gin glared back, heading out of the room. He closed the door after him. Coco was upset with good reason. She couldn't believe that this was happening. She thought, 'I hope you are proud of yourself after this...'

...

Back with Crash, he had gone out with Dingodile. The two were looking around for anyone. They were severally short on help. They found Polar and N. Gin in decent condition, Pura and Coco in critical condition. Crunch, N. Brio, Nina, Tiny, N. Tropy, and both masks were still missing. Crash had managed to find Dingodile in pieces, though he did the best he could to help. Ever since then, Dingodile had stayed as Crash's bodyguard.

Dingodile spoke up, "Do ya think we'll find anyone today?"

Crash wasn't sure. To be honest, he wasn't sure of anything anymore. He couldn't believe that... Actually, he could believe it. He just wouldn't believe that Cortex would sink so low.

Crash modestly answered, "I don't. I'll be happy if Coco wakes up today, honestly."

Dingodile nodded in agreement as they saw some of the mutants nearby. Crash stopped walking, trying to hide him and Dingodile. The mutants looked around. They had sensed something but didn't know what it was. Crash knew that they could take them. But they were severally out numbered. Just then, they saw someone go by them. Crash was about to warn them about the mutants until he saw this person... no... it was a girl... She had a long pistol in her hand and using her bionic arms to fight.

Dingodile breathed, "No way... that can't be!"

But it was. It was Nina. She smirked and took out more mutants.

"Nina!" Crash cried, upon seeing the bionic goth girl.

Nina turned and saw the two of them. She smiled and teased, "Well, are you two gonna help me or not?"

Crash smiled. Maybe his luck was turning around.

...

He was the only one that thought that though. Meanwhile, in London, a black man waved a hand in front Nacey's face. Her eyes never moved from their original spot. He sighed sadly. He was an average height and build, had short brown hair, brown eyes, wearing a military style uniform and brown military boots. His name was Thomas.

He had found Nacey and the little boy a few days ago. The little boy was completely fine but Nacey was hurt badly. He brought her to the base and she had awoken on day two (of finding her). She had freaked out badly since she couldn't see anything at all.

She demanded, "Why aren't you telling me anything, Thomas?! I mean these are my eyes we are talking about!"

It took a moment for him to finally say something to her though.

He admitted, in a Austrian accent, "I think you already know that you are blind now..."

Nacey paused for a moment, tears rolling down her face. She started to sob hard. Thomas allowed her and he was tempted to comfort her but decided against it. He barely knew her after all. After she had cried herself to sleep, Thomas left her alone to check on the kid. The kid's name was Charles. He was about eight years old, had short red hair, green eyes, wearing a blue short sleeved shirt, black jeans, and black sneakers.

He was rather sad and saw Thomas coming down the hallway.

Charles ran over to him and asked, having a British accent, "Is Ms. White okay?"

He looked at him and asked, "Wait, you mean the famous journalist from the London Tribune?"

Charles nodded. Thomas was a bit surprised but not completely. He had heard that she had been a recluse. He thought, 'Guess that's not true. Especially if she's in the other room, now completely blind because of this...' He looked up at the TV, which was still broadcasting more of Cortex's movements. It was on mute but Thomas saw that he was going to China. He started to think, 'Oddly enough, he's never been to this part of the world. It's almost like he's avoiding it for some reason...'

...

Wishmaker1028: Gee I wonder why! Hope you all enjoyed chapter two. Please read and review! And always think outside of the box!