Guilt:

By: Taralynn Wakelin

The sun shone through the canopy of tree's as he looked out across the small lake in the middle of the forest. He used his hand to shield his blue eye's from the glare off the lake as he searched for his best friend and younger brother who had gone into the water. He couldn't see him so he ran a hand through his short, blond hair before he turned to go sit back down. They had come to the forest with their friend's to explore and look for animal's, once they arrived he and his brother like usual left the other's and took off to explore. They had wondered around for awhile before they came upon the lake and decided to see if there were any animal's around or in it, he had let his brother check the water having found some track's he had wanted to follow instead. When the track's led him nowhere he had returned to find his brother still in the water. As he sat down, he thought he heard a noise in the bushes behind him, but when he looked, nothing was there. After the third time he was about to go and search the bushes when suddenly he heard his name being called, he turned to see his brother jogging out of the water to join him.

"I found fish, and a couple of beaver's around the bend in the river! Did your track's turn out to be anything?" His brother asked as he dried his short, brown hair.

"Nah, I got nothing! How big was the beaver dam?" He asked smiling.

"It was small, but they were putting more stick's on it as I was leaving! You want to go see it?" He asked excitement shinning in his brown eyes.

"Of course, I just want to check something out first!" He said as he went over to the bushes and began searching, his brother watched him confused he spoke to him.

"What are you looking for?"

"A noise!" He answered as he continued looking his back to his brother.

"A noise? Wanna be more specific there bro?" He asked laughing.

"It sounded like a low growl, is that more specific for you?" He asked as he turned to face his still laughing brother. Suddenly his brother stopped laughing and starred at him with fear all over his face, he was confused. "What's the matter with you?"

"Uh…we have a problem bro!" His brother answered.

"A problem? What are you talking about?"

"Back away from the bushes slowly, do it now!" He answered.

"What? Why?" He asked turning around, only to come face to face with a large, black bear and her cub. "That's why!" He said as he watched the bear get up on her back paws. He was frozen as he looked up into her angry face, luckily, his brother didn't freeze up, as she swung her paw, his brother grabbed the back of his jacket and pulled him back. Her claw's grazed his arm slicing through the fabric and cutting his arm, it would have been worse if his brother hadn't pulled him away when he did! They took off running in the opposite direction, but could hear her giving chase, they ran for a few minute's until they came to a cliff that rose above another lake. They stopped at the edge of the cliff, and looked behind them to see the bear was closing in and they had no escape. Realizing they had no other escape he turned to his brother smiling, his brother looked at the water below them before looking back at him shaking his head as he spoke.

"Oh no! No way! Are you crazy?" He said shaking his head no. "I'm not doing it!"

"Yeah you are!" He said smiling as the bear came into the clearing and saw them; he grabbed his brother's arm and jumped off the cliff just as the bear charged them angrily.

They hit the water and quickly surfaced, as soon as they did he got a face full of water, his brother angrily did it again as he yelled at him for what he had done.

"You're insane Martin!" He said as he swam to the shore and got out and began walking away; Martin quickly joined him on shore and chased after him confused.

"Chris wait!" Martin called as he caught up to him.

"For the rest of the walk back to the Tortuga don't say another word!" Chris said as he just walked away leaving Martin standing there unsure of what happened to make him upset. He watched Chris walking away, and quickly ran after him and the whole walk back to the Tortuga Martin kept quiet like Chris wanted, he was so confused. As soon as they walked through the ship's door's Martin spoke to him wanting to know his problem.

"Come on Chris, talk to me will you?" Martin asked following him to the control room where the others were. "What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? You! Okay? You're my problem Martin!" Chris yelled upset.

"Me? What did I do?" Martin asked becoming angry.

"What is going on? Martin are you…bleeding?" Aviva asked concerned.

"Bleeding?" Martin spoke as he checked his arm. "I' am! I guess the bear's claws did cut me!" Martin said taking off his jacket.

"Bear? What bear?" Koki asked all three of them confused.

"The mother bear that almost killed us!" Chris answered angrily glaring at Martin.

"Are you two wet? Did you go swimming?" Jimmy asked as Chris began to pace.

"Yep! We went swimming off a cliff!" Chris said still pacing angrily as Aviva checked Martin's arm, trying to clean and wrap it, but Martin kept moving making it hard to do.

"Wait! You two went swimming off a cliff? Was this before or after the bear?" Koki asked Martin answered her smiling only making Chris angrier he was excited about it.

"It was because of the bear!" Martin said.

"Once again my brother messed up almost getting us killed this time!" Chris said.

"What?" Martin said pulling away as Aviva was wrapping his arm causing her to pull the bandage too tight, he pulled away and spoke. "Ow!"

"Sorry MK, but if you would just stay still I could fix your arm!" She said frustrated.

"Sorry Aviva!" Martin said as she smiled and finished wrapping his arm, thankfully he didn't need any stitches. "What did you mean by I screwed up?"

"Exactly what I saidyou screwed up again!" Chris said going up to him.

"Me? Oh, no little brother? You're forgetting how many time's you've screwed up too!"

"You're forgetting that I'm the one saving your butt every time you mess up! I'm sick of it Martin! You're always getting distracted, which mean's we end up getting into trouble!"

"Oh, I'm sorry Chris! How about I be more boring like you? Would that make you happy?" Martin yelled standing toe to toe with his brother both so angry.

"At least me being boring doesn't get us almost killed! Damnit Martin when are you going to grow up? I'm tired of being the only one who take's this seriously!" Chris yelled, hurt flashed for a second in Martin's eye's Chris was sure he had seen it, but it was quickly replaced by anger. "You need to stop acting like a child!"

"Screw you Chris! I work just as hard you do and you know it damnit! So what if I like to have a little fun while doing it?" Martin yelled.

"I'm done with your so-called fun!" Chris yelled back.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It mean's big brother, that you need to find someone else to almost kill from now on!"

"You're giving up? We're a team Chris!" Martin said upset by his brother's words.

"I'm done! There's no more us Martin don't you get it?" Chris said upset. "You're a screw-up and I'm done risking my life for your mistakes!"

"CHRIS!" Koki yelled angry, seeing the hurt on Martin's face.

"That was uncalled for Chris!" Aviva said just as angry as Koki they all were.

"No, its okay! Now we all know the truth…I'm a complete screw up even my own brother think's so! Let me do you all a huge favour and leave, then the almighty Chris Kratt can go back to doing everything better than me!" Martin said angrily as he left the Tortuga, no one could believe what they just saw and heard happen between the brother's. After Martin left, Chris still angry kicked a small garbage can across the room where it hit the door and bounced off before landing on the floor, finally Aviva spoke to him upset.

"Chris Kratt! I can't believe you said those hurtful things to Martin! He's your brother!"

"He's always messing up!" Chris said trying to defend himself.

"Oh? So, you don't? You've messed up just as much as he has! He's saved your butt many time's too, and you don't hear him complaining about it do you?" Koki said.

"Chris you need to fix this! He's your brother!" Jimmy added.

"Even if I wanted too, he probably hate's me and won't listen to me!"

"Chris, go to him and fix this before its too late and you lose him for good!" Aviva said as they left him alone to think about what they had said, they waited in the hallway for him, each prayed that he would make the right decision and go make thing's right!

Second's later as they watched Chris rush out of the Tortuga not seeing them as he went after his brother, all three of them smiled hoping thing's would be okay soon!

With Martin:

He left the Tortuga, Chris' angry word's playing over and over in his head. His own brother thought he was a screw up, so it must be true! He wandered further into the tree's, not paying attention to where he was going until he found himself in a clearing…only he wasn't alone! Zach was there surrounded by many of his Zachbot's, Martin looked around to find out what he was after, but there were no animal's around them he spoke.

"Zach?" Martin asked shocked to see him.

"Blue Boy?" Zach asked equally surprised.

"What are you doing here?" Martin demanded.

"I'm just out for an afternoon stroll!" Zach said smiling.

"Really? With all these Zachbot's?" Martin asked smiling not believing him.

"Fine! I'll tell you why I'm really here Wild Ratt!" Zach said smugly. "I came here to capture two special creature's to help me with my latest inventions! I need beaver's, and bear's to complete my inventions, and I don't care if you know because this time you can't stop me!" Zach said proudly.

"What make's you so sure?"

"I invented a new type of Zachbot!" Zach said smugly as he smiled.

"They all look like the same breakable bot's to me! Allow me to demonstrate!" Martin said attacking and breaking three of them by sending them into each other he smiled.

The fight was on with Martin like usual quickly gaining the upper hand, Zach seemed like it didn't bother him and that worried Martin. Martin didn't have time to worry about it as more Zachbot's attacked, he had just jumped onto the back of a Zachbot and sent it towards another one and was about to jump onto another. He was in midair, inches from his target when suddenly a Zachbot appeared out of nowhere in front of him, bigger than the other's. He had no time to react and hit the bot before falling to the ground hitting his head hard off a rock as he landed unmoving

With Chris:

He left the Tortuga following his brother's tracks, his own hurtful word's playing in his head making him feel guilty. Martin was his brother, and Chris shouldn't have attacked him for doing what he's always done! Chris was almost to the clearing when he heard a commotion, he heard the sound of metal hitting metal and knew it was Zach! Forgetting the fight, he had with Martin he rushed into the clearing to see Martin jumping off a Zachbot and about to land on another one when the biggest Zachbot he had ever seen appeared out of nowhere right in front of Martin. He watched as Martin crashed into the bot before falling to the ground hitting his head hard off of a rock. Chris screamed Martin's name letting Zach know he was there, Zach watched as Chris began running towards his brother and ordered the Zachbot's to grab Martin and bring him with them. Hearing that Chris tried to get to Martin first, but failed and watched as Zach and his bot's took off back to his ship with his helpless brother. Chris began following them, trying to keep up, but after 10 minute's he lost them and was scared Zach would hurt his already injured brother. Upset Chris decided to call the Tortuga to tell them, praying that they would be able to get a lock on Zach's jet for him so he could go after Martin.

"Chris? What's wrong? Where's Martin?" Aviva asked scared after answering his call.

"Zachhe took Martin!" Chris said upset, but tried to keep himself together to explain.

"What? Zach's here? What happened?" Koki asked scared.

"I went after Martin to apologize, but as I came to a clearing I heard a commotion, so I went to see what was going on. I found Martin fighting Zach and his bot's, he was beating them, he was on the back of a Zachbot and after sending it into two other's he went to jump off it and onto another. He was in midair after jumping when another Zachbot, the biggest I've ever seen appeared out of nowhere right in front of him. He couldn't stop in time and crashed into it…before falling to the ground where he hit his head hard off a rock when he landed!"

"Is…is he okay Chris? Where is he? We'll meet you and…" Chris cut Aviva off.

"He's not with me!"

"What? Where are you? You left him alone and hurt while you chased Zach? Chris that…" He cut Aviva off again.

"I didn't leave him Aviva! Zach took him, I chased after them, but I lost them! I need you to get a lock on his jet so I can go after Martin!" Chris said upset.

"I'm on it Chris!" Koki said as she turned to her computer and tried to find them.

"Did you get anything Koki?" Chris asked as he paced.

"No, Zach must be blocking my signal I can't find him anywhere!"

"Keep trying!" Chris said upset.

"Chris I' am, but I can't get through he's…" Chris cut her off.

"Got my brother! Keep trying I'm going to search more I'll be in contact!" He said as he ended the call and began running in the direction he hoped they went. The image of Martin falling and hitting his head kept replaying in his head as he ran, knowing Martin was hurt was horrible enough, but knowing Zach had kidnapped him while seriously injured was worse! He needed to find them and save his brother, he promised if Zach did anything to Martin he would make him suffer, he'd rip him apart with his bare hands!

With Martin:

After going back to his jet Zach ordered, his bot's to put Martin into a locked room, and tie him up. He then headed to his control room where he sat in his chair in front of his computer and pressed a button to make sure the other Wild Ratt's couldn't get a signal on his jet. After pressing it, he leaned back smiling and pushed another button on his computer and the image of Chris running through the forest appeared making him smile even wider. He watched as Chris tried to find his jet, his bot kept up with Chris unseen as he ran, but never got any closer, Zach zoomed in on Chris' face and spoke smiling.

"Run, run little Wild Ratt! You'll never find your annoying brother as long as I have him! Give up Green Guy, you finally lose!" Zach said to himself smiling as he watched.

He sat back and watched as Chris kept running, but never got any closer to his brother and that made Zach laugh he couldn't believe how easy taking Blue Boy had been and it was even easier to lose Green Guy! His original plan hadn't been to take Martin, but plan's change and now that he had him, he would have to think of a way to get rid of not only him, but Chris as well. He began to pace, as he thought of how he could finally get rid of the brother's for good, but despite his self-proclaimed genius he couldn't come up with anything! He knew he'd have to think of something fast, knowing Martin would be waking soon with a horrible headache and that at least was something he could enjoy watching as Martin suffered.

His head throbbed, the pain making his stomach roll. He took deep breath's trying to calm both his head and stomach, and managed to settle his stomach, but his head still throbbed. He felt something warm running down the side of his head where the pain was the worst and tried to reach up to wipe at it, but began to panic when he realized he couldn't move his arms! He tried his legs with the same result and ignoring the pain in his head he opened his eyes and found himself tied to a chair in the middle of a strange room. He tried to undo the restraint's, but it only made them tighter, he was so confused he had no memory of what happened, or why he was tied to a chair, and suddenly he realized he had no memory of who he was! He tried focusing on remembering anything about himself or what happened, it all seemed like it was right there waiting to be found, but the more he thought about it the further it became! He became frustrated at himself for not being able to remember even the smallest thing like his name! All that thinking was making his head hurt more and soon all he could sense was the intense pain. He closed his eyes and passed out, the last thought that went through his mind was that he was somehow in very real danger!

With Chris:

After trying and failing to track Zach, he had no choice, but to go back to the Tortuga and hopefully they had discovered where Zach's jet was hidden. He arrived at the Tortuga and headed inside to the control room where he found the other's busy trying to find anything that would lead them to Martin. He joined Koki at her computer and watched as she searched every frequency in the forest for the one that belonged to Zach's jet. She hadn't moved from her computer since he had first called in and he touched her shoulder gently.

"Any luck?" He asked gently.

"No, I'm sorry Chris! Its like they're invisible or something, I've searched the forest for even the slightest signal for three hour's!" Koki answered frustrated.

"Keep looking we'll find them, I know it!"

"Chris, do you have the transmitter from the Zachbot I asked you to grab on your way back here?" Aviva asked.

"Yeah, its right here! What's it for anyway?" Chris asked taking it out of his pocket and gave it to her, she smiled as she took it and turned back to her workbench as she spoke.

"It's a small chance, but using this I maybe able to find a way to find Zach's jet!"

"Really? How?" Chris asked hopefully.

"Well…if I can tap into the frequency he used to program the bot I maybe able to trace it back to the jet through my computer!" Aviva answered, not wanting to give Chris false hope she reminded him of how small a chance it was. "I might not be able to even get a reading from this considering how destroyed it is, and even if I do chance's are that Zach has already changed the frequencies and all I'll get is dead air!"

"I know Aviva, but he's got my brother! I need to find him and bring him home, please just try that's all I'm asking?" Chris asked looking at her with tear's in his eyes at the thought of losing his brother. "I can't lose him Aviva!"

"You won't Chris! We'll find him, I promise! I've got work to do if I'm going to try and get anything out of this!" Aviva said smiling sadly at him as she squeezed his hand before turning back to her work. "Hand me my screwdriver please CK?"

"You got it Aviva!" Chris said smiling as he handed her the tool.

"Okay, now to open it up and see what make's this thing work!" Aviva said as she began to work on figuring out how to track Zach through it.

With Martin:

He had no idea how long he had been out, at least this time his headache was beginning to fade. He opened his eyes again and slowly looked around him, he was still tied to the chair and he was so confused why. Suddenly the door opened and in came three, strange looking robot's, he was shocked and scared all at the same time having never seen them before or so he could remember. Then one of them left and minute's later he heard a male voice he didn't recognize speak ordering the bot's to untie him and bring him to the unknown male. Once in the other room he looked around and saw a tall, lanky man with pale skin and jet-black standing by a large computer, the man smiled at him and spoke.

"How's the head Blue Boy?"

"Sore, but my headache is almost gone!" Martin answered believing he truly was concerned. "Thank you for asking sir."

"Sir? What kind of game are you playing Wild Ratt?" The man sneered.

"Game? I…I don't know what you mean? You asked me a question and I answered, I'm sorry if I said something to offend you?"

"Something's wrong here…tell me what your name is?"

"I…I can't remember! Do you know who I' am and what happened to my head?"

"Is this some kind of trick? I believe you have amnesia and I tell my bot's to release you and you attack me and escape!"

"Attack you? Escape? What is going on? Who are you?"

"Alright, let's see how you pass a little test shall we!" He said turning to his computer as he typed something he ordered his bot's to tie him to another chair in front of the computer. Once he was securely tied, the man put a weird helmet on his head before turning back to his computer and spoke. "That little helmet will measure your brainwaves, they will signal to me when you recognize anything you see on the screen. Even if you try and fake it, my machine will be able to pick up even the slightest hint of recognition, if you're lying you will pay!" The man said sitting in a chair in front of the computer and pushed a button which brought up the first picture, it was an elephant and the machine registered he knew what the animal was, then he showed him a picture of the Tortuga. "Let's see how you do with this one?"

"I've never seen that thing in my life!" Martin answered, and the machine showed no recognition. "What is that? Some kind of ship?"

"Hmm…interesting! Let's try another picture shall we?" He said as he showed him a picture of Aviva, Koki, and Jimmy and still there was no recognition this was too good to be true, he needed to be positive. "Here's the last one!" He said showing him a picture of Chris, and waited for him to recognize his own brother, but none came he smiled.

"Well, well, well! Seems you were telling the truth after all!"

"Does that mean you'll untie me and tell me what's going on?"

"Of course! I needed to be sure you were okay, so I could tell you the truth!"

"The truth?" Martin asked as a bot untied him. "What are you talking about?"

"Your name is Martin…Martin Varmitech!"

"Who…who are you? Where am I?" Martin asked.

"I' am Zach Varmitech…your brother and you Martin are home!"