*Chapter 1: Mutation*

On the island of the evil Dr. Neo Cortex, there are captured Australian animals in cages. They are scared and confused. There are two kangaroos, a dingo, a crocodile, a Tasmanian tiger, a potoroo, a gorilla, a koala, two komodo dragons, and two bandicoots. Coming down the room is Dr. Nitrus Brio and the minion scientists with glasses and very expressionless.

"Bring them all to the lab. Dr. Cortex is ready for them to be mutated." Brio ordered. The minions grabbed the cages to bring the animals out the door to get to the lab where the doctor is waiting. Whimpering is heard from the bandicoots.
Cortex is looking out the night sky, his hands behind his back. It's a full moon tonight. He can hear dingos howling from one of the islands from here. He then hears a door open and animal noises. He turned around to see the animals he captured in their cages.

"Which ones do you want to mutate first, Neo?" Brio asked by coming up to them.

"Something that could take the pain." Cortex replied. He went over to the Tasmanian tiger who growled at him, backing away from the doctor who smirked. "Hmm. This one looks a bit promising. This is the most rarest Australian animal I've found. A Tasmanian tiger. Now this is the last of its species." The creature roared at him, making Cortex jump back in surprise, but he chuckled. "Brio, minions, bring him to the table! I will prepare the Evolvo-Ray!"
It's hard to bring the tiger to the table and strap it down. It roars at the minions, struggling to get out of the straps. Everyone got out of the way when Cortex starts up the machine. He pulls the lever. The ray shoots the Tasmanian tiger who roared in agony. The light is too bright to see what was happening. But the roars is heard through the lab and the whole castle of Cortex. The creature began to change. It started to grow big muscles, and its body grew large. And the roar changed. The tiger is fully mutated. He broke out of the straps.

"Tiny break things!" It spoke in a deep growling voice. It's a male voice. Cortex and the others looked in awe. The tiger, Tiny, stood up and looked around the lab with a growl. "Where is this place? This place no familiar!" He said. Cortex cautiously walked up to the tiger, holding his laser gun.

"Greetings, big fellow. I am Dr. Neo Cortex. You are in my island. This room here is my lab. And...you are my creation." He said. Tiny stares at him, narrowing his eyes at him like he wanted to attack. Brio looks nervous. Cortex continued to speak to Tiny. "You say your name is Tiny, correct? Did you come up with that name?"

"Tiny named himself!" The tiger said. "But Tiny don't remember anything about past. But Tiny wants to crush things!" He slammed the nearby table with potions. Brio let out a cry. That is his work. Cortex let out a laughter.

"Excellent! Tiny is perfect for brawling!" He said. "My Evolvo-Ray worked! I'm a genius!"

"My...potions..." Brio whimpered.

"Minions! Bring out the dingo and the crocodile! I have something in mind!" Cortex ordered, returning to the machine. "Brio, we are making a world even better!"

"Y-yes, Cortex." Brio said, cleaning up his work while the minions are getting the dingo and the crocodile out of their cages. The rest of the animals are very scared after Tiny's mutation. They are going to be next.

After a long night of mutating the creatures, Cortex looks at his creations with pride. There is Dingodile, Pinstripe the Potoroo, Ripper Roo, Rilla Roo, Komodo Joe and Moe, Koala Kong. Tiny joined the party to have an arm wrestling match with Kong. They all have some clothing in need since they are fully mutated. Only one creature who is off. Ripper Roo who is laughing his head off. The minions put him in a straightjacket and put him to his cell and Cortex will try to put him to therapy. The blue kangaroo goes insane whenever he hears bombs go off.

"He needs work. But, the rest of the creations will do for now." Cortex said with a sigh. "It's been a long night. Must put everyone to their cells. Some seem unstable."

"But Dr. Cortex!" Brio said, stopping him. "You have two creatures left! There are two bandicoots!" Cortex turned to the little cage and see two little eastern barred bandicoots in their cage, shaking in fear. "Are you going to mutate them as well?" Brio asked.

"In time, my old friend." Cortex said. "But for now, I need to study the others. The bandicoots will wait. Just feed them or something." He walked away from the cage, leaving Brio behind. Brio looks back at the bandicoots.

"Wonder what you two would look like when you mutate?" He wondered. The male bandicoot went up to him, sniffing the air. Then went back to the little bandicoot who is a female. Brio doesn't know for sure if they are siblings or a couple. He won't find out until Cortex mutates them.

Once the mutant creatures are in their cells, Cortex was the only one up. He is tinkering with the Evolvo-Ray, and kept hearing sounds from the bandicoots. He knew they are frightened and they refuse to eat the food that Brio gave them. But they do accept the water. Cortex went over to the cage and saw that the male bandicoot is the only one awake. The female is fast asleep. The bandicoot snarled at Cortex.

"You seem aggressive, little fella." Cortex told the male bandicoot. Then, this gave him the idea. "Wait. You could be perfect to be the commander of the army I've created so far! A bandicoot commander!" He chuckled and opened the cage. The male bandicoot winced as Cortex grabbed him, causing the female bandicoot to wake up in alarm. Cortex closes the cage and place the little bandicoot on the table and strap him down. "This will hurt a little, my new friend." Cortex said, coming over to the Evolvo-Ray. He pulled the lever and the ray activates. The beam shoots the bandicoot who lets out a cry of agony. Cortex couldn't see the change because of the light. The bandicoot starts to grow, and its color is turning orange, and it has brown hair on top of the head. The cries of agony had changed and it's a little high pitched. The evolution is complete. Cortex rushed over to the bandicoot and see that he is not moving.

"Bandicoot! Can you hear me?" Cortex asked, snapping his fingers. He rolled the bandicoot onto his back to feel the pulse and listen for the heartbeat. But, he heard a groan. He looked up to see the bandicoot started to open his eyes. They are emerald green. "Can you speak?" Cortex asked. But the bandicoot is too dizzy and weak to move a muscle or try to talk. He groaned again and rests his head on the table. "He is out cold. Best to study him in the morning. I will deal with the female bandicoot later." Cortex said. The orange bandicoot doesn't seem to be a threatening type like the others, but he will be the commander of his new friends. A killing machine.