A Brother's Guilt:
By: Taralynn Wakelin
The sun was high in the clear sky; the soft breeze blew across his face as he walked along the path further into the trees. The tree's swayed in the breeze, as the animals that lived there went about their daily activities not caring he was there. As he came to a small lake, he looked across it shielding his brown eyes with one hand against the glare off the water. He decided to sit by the water and take a break, as he did the breeze ruffled his short, brown hair and he smiled to himself. He was grateful for the quiet; he had come to the forest with his friend's so they could relax after being so busy with their non-stop work. Suddenly he heard someone laughing, he'd know that laugh anywhere and turned to his right just in time to see a head with short, blond hair pop up, before it disappeared again behind the bushes. The laughter continued as the head popped up once more before disappearing yet again. Confused he got up and went to see what was going on, as he went behind the bushes he found his best friend, and older brother kneeling beside a small burrow in the ground, he watched him for a few seconds before smiling he spoke.
"What are you doing?"
"Shh…wait for it…now!" His brother said as a small, grey rabbit came out of the burrow before going up to him sniffing him and then it quickly turned and disappeared into the burrow again. "We're playing a game!" His brother laughed looking at him with a huge smile that reached his blue eyes. "We've been doing this for 10 minute's now!"
"Sound's like fun! Have you named him yet?"
"Yeah, his name is Hopster! Hey, you want to…" He was cut off by his Creature pod, he stood and answered it. "Go ahead Aviva!"
"Martin is Chris with you?"
"Yeah, I'm here what's up?" Chris answered standing beside Martin.
"Koki picked up a large jet in the radar, it landed near your location!"
"Okay…so why are you telling us?" Martin asked as the brother's looked at each other confused. "Lot's of people come here!"
"It landed 20 minute's ago, and animals have begun to disappear from that area!"
"Disappear? We haven't seen or heard anything unusual!" Chris said.
"Maybe you should check it out guys? Might be just a glitch, but better to be safe right?" Aviva said.
"Alright, send us the location and we'll check it out and report back if we find anything unusual!" Martin said ending the call; Chris looked at Martin and spoke.
"What do you think? Villain or glitch?" He asked as they put their pack's on, Martin sighed, he looked tired Chris was a little worried as Martin answered him.
"Definitely villain! Man, can't these guy's ever take a vacation?"
Later:
After getting the coordinate's they took off to investigate, it only took them 15 minute's to get to the location. When they arrived, they could hear men yelling and they looked through the bushes to see men moving cage's of animals aboard a large, grey jet. Neither brother recognized the jet and watched as a tall, powerful looking man in a suit came out of the jet. He stood watching a smile on his face, and the brother's knew he was the ringleader. Chris took a picture of him and sent it to the team to see if they could find out anything about him, all they could then was wait. 10 minute's later Aviva called and told them the only info they were able to locate was that he was a very rich man dealing in Real Estate. He was known for his violent side, and his name was Fox Stone, she warned them to be careful, he was a dangerous man, after ending the call Chris spoke.
"Okay…so what's our plan?" Chris asked.
"We do what we do best! We free the animals, and scare off the bad guy!" Martin said smiling. "Sound's like a great plan to me!" Martin said smiling.
"Martin we need more than that! First off, we know nothing about him, or his operation! Secondly you heard Aviva he's dangerous!" Chris said.
"Alright then what do you suggest?" Martin asked.
"We need to learn more about Stone and his operation first! Let's sneak aboard through the vents, and once inside we do a little recon?" Chris said turning his back to Martin.
"Sound's good…only one problem!" Martin said.
"What's that?" Chris asked still not looking at him.
"Them!" Martin said pointing at the four large men who stood in front of Martin, Chris turned and saw them too; Martin smiled at them before he spoke. "You know for big guys, you sure are quiet huh?" Martin said.
"Shut up!" One man said as he punched Martin in the stomach, he doubled over and Chris went to interfere, Martin stopped him.
"It's okay Chris! I'm fine!"
"Yeah Chris, he's fine!" The man mocked as he punched Martin in the face this time knocking him to the ground. "I think Stone will want to meet our visitor's! Grab them and take them to the jet!" The man said as they grabbed the brother's roughly and tied their hands behind their backs. "Move it boy's!" The man ordered shoving Martin.
They were taken to the jet, once onboard they were taken to the control room where their Creature suit's and Creature pod's were taken from them and they were tied to chair's before being left alone, Chris looked around the room before looking at Martin.
"Are you okay bro?" Chris asked worried.
"Well…that could have gone better! I'm fine though Chris really!" Martin answered smiling trying to reassure his brother. "I think we're…" The opening of the door cut Martin off, Stone followed by the four thug's who found them came in, Stone spoke.
"Ah…the world famous Wild Kratt's!" Stone said smiling as he stood in front of them.
"You've heard of us?" Chris asked angrily, yet confused at the same time.
"Of course I have dear boy!"
"Too bad we can't say the same about you!" Martin said smiling smugly, but quickly regretted it when he was punched again in the face by the same thug as the first time.
"Show Mr. Stone respect you little pissant!" The thug yelled angrily.
"Easy Carter, its fine!" Stone said smiling as he stopped him.
"Yeah, Carter, easy! Don't want you to hurt your fist, with my face!" Martin mocked.
"Martin! Shut up!" Chris began seeing Carter getting angrier. "Do you not like your face the way it is bro?" Chris begged him, Stone stopped Carter again before he could hit Martin, Stone waved him back as he looked at Martin and smiling spoke to him.
"Such spirit! I like you Martin, but I'd listen to your brother if I were you!"
"What are you going to do with us anyway?" Chris asked once Martin had finally stopped. "We know nothing about you!"
"You're right! Where are my manners?" Stone said as he sat in a chair. "My name is Fox Stone, and I made my million's in the Real Estate game! My real passion is animal's!"
"Then why capture them?" Martin asked.
"You misunderstand me…I don't love animal's, I love their unique abilities! Each one perfectly designed to do what it need's to do to survive, from the smallest ant, to the largest elephant! So, I've decided to capture the biggest, most powerful animal's to use anyway I see fit! I haven't forgotten the other's, oh no…I have plan's for them too, but for now I'm concentrating on the bigger animal's!"
"We won't let you get away with this Stone!" Chris said angrily.
"My dear boy, how do you purpose to stop me when I have you tied to chairs?" Stone laughed. "I must say though, your little suits are curious things aren't they? You just touch an animal and poof you become that creature…amazing!" Stone said looking at their suits. "I could use these, they might be very helpful!"
"It'll never work! You know nothing about them!" Chris said.
"Perhaps…but no matter really! My way's work well all the same!"
"We'll always be where you are to stop you!" Martin said smiling.
"Such spirit, and yet so stupid, what a waste! I thought you'd be smarter than this…haven't you two figured it out yet?"
"What are you talking about?" Martin demanded.
"I'm going to get rid of you permanently!" Stone said smiling. "For now though, enjoy watching me capture your beloved creatures! Once I'm through with them…it's your turn to suffer!" Stone said as he and his men left them alone.
The brother's knew they had no time to waste, so they began trying to get free from their ropes, but it only made them tighter. Chris stopped struggling realizing it was useless and looked around the room for some other way out, he then noticed the desk was made of glass and got an idea. If one of them could get to the desk, they could use the corner of it like a knife and cut the ropes. He stopped Martin and told him, so they both began to drag themselves to the desk, Martin reached it first. He positioned himself so he could cut his ropes at first nothing happened, but he refused to give up and 10 minute's later the ropes broke. Once his hands were free he quickly grabbed his pocket-knife and cut the rope's that bound his ankle's. Then he raced to Chris and freed him, once both were free they knew the jet was full of Stone's thug's, and they'd never get off the ship alive if spotted. So Martin looked around the room and noticed an air vent in the wall and showed Chris. They rushed to it and quickly undid the cover and crawled into it carefully replacing the cover behind them. They crawled through the vent's as below them Stone's thug's went about their job's oblivious to their presence. Suddenly an alarm was heard; they looked at each other knowing they had been discovered missing. They watched and listened as Carter ran into the room and told the other's about them and Stone's order's to kill them if found. They knew they needed a distraction, so they continued going through the vent until they came to the room the animals were held. They watched as Carter and three other men came into the room and looked around finding no one they left. They waited a few second's to be sure they were gone and then carefully they undid the vent cover before getting out. Once both brother's were out, Chris looked around for the key's to unlock the cage's, he found them and they quickly began unlocking them. When all of the cages were unlocked Martin opened the door enough to look out, the hall was empty. He gave Chris the signal and he opened the cage's releasing the animal's who then ran towards their freedom. They heard the commotion and quickly snuck down the hallway towards the door keeping to the shadows. Once at the door they saw them open as Stone's men ran for their lives followed by the animals. They quickly went out, they thought they were unseen as Stone's men were all over the place now going after the animals. Not wanting to stick around they went to leave their hiding place behind one of the jet's wheel's, when they ran into Carter and four other thug's, Carter smiled at them as he punched Chris in the stomach bringing him to his hand's and knee's. Martin went to go to him, but he was grabbed by two other men, he fought trying to get free while Carter smiled at Martin before he kicked Chris in his side. Martin was furious as he yelled at Carter to leave him alone; Carter only smiled as he continued his assault. He finally stopped when Stone appeared, Martin used this distraction to break free and rush to Chris, he helped him sit up as Stone furiously spoke to them about what they had done.
"You two thought you were smart freeing my animal's huh? Thought it was funny? Well, who's laughing now boys?" Stone yelled as he paced.
"Tough word's from a guy who doesn't get his own hand's dirty!" Martin yelled angrily.
"Get them up!" Stone ordered, two of his men grabbed Martin and pulled him away from Chris and then two other men grabbed Chris and pulled him to his feet, both brother's tried to fight to get free. Once being held Stone smiling went up to Martin and began hitting him, he couldn't fight back and Chris struggled in vain to get free. Stone stopped and smiling stood in front of Martin his back to Chris as he spoke loud enough for both brother's to hear. "Did I get my hands dirty enough for you?" Then without another word he got closer to Martin and smiling took out a knife and stabbed Martin three time's, Chris couldn't see what happened. He could only see Martin's face as he looked at him, seeing the pain and fear on his face Chris screamed his name, Stone turned around and he saw the knife and panicked fighting harder to get free. "We're done! Let them go!"
"MARTIN!" Chris yelled as the men released them and they got back onto the jet and left, after being released Martin couldn't support his own weight and stumbled, Chris caught him before he fell. "No! No! NO! Martin stay with me!" Chris begged through his tears as he put Martin's arm around his shoulder and helped him to where the Createrra was parked. Once there he laid Martin on the backseat before he got in and raced to the Tortuga begging Martin to hang on his drove. "We're almost there bro, hang on!"
He finally arrived and Aviva saw him pull up and met him outside seeing him she got upset, but before she could say anything he got out and raced to the backdoor and opened it and grabbed Martin who had become quiet the last five minute's of the drive. Aviva helped Chris bring him inside where she again helped him lay Martin down. As they laid him down Chris told them what happened, Koki quickly began helping Aviva check Martin. Chris held Martin's hand refusing to let go, his eye's never left Martin's face until they suddenly stopped working on him, he looked at them and spoke upset.
"What is it? Why did you stop?" Chris asked between his tear's so scared.
"Chris he's lost a lot of blood! He's…" Chris cut Aviva off angrily.
"Don't finish that sentence! Aviva fix him please! Do whatever it take's just save my brother!" Chris begged holding Martin's hand tighter as he looked at him.
"Chris…he's gone!" Koki said gently through her tears, as she touched his arm.
"No! You fix him!" Chris yelled angrily through his tears as he pulled away from her, he refused to believe he was gone. "You're wrong! Just fix him please!"
"We've done all we could Chris!" Aviva said as she cried too.
"You're wrong! He…can't be dead!" Chris said as he laid his head on Martin's chest still holding his hand and cried, Aviva went to him, but he pulled away angrily. "Get out of here! Leave now!" Chris yelled at them angrily as his tear's fell. "GO!" He screamed.
Not knowing what else to do they left the room, the three of them watched as Chris looked at Martin before he sat on the floor and pulled Martin onto his lap and held him as he cried.
One Week Later:
Chris sat in the control room looking out the window as the sun began to rise. He hadn't slept well the night before; truthfully since Martin died a week ago he hadn't slept well! Today he was burying his older brother, Aviva, Koki, and Jimmy had made all the funeral arrangement's for him. He knew they were trying to be strong for him, but he'd hear them crying in their room's at night. He sighed shakily, he had not cried since the night Martin died, and even though he missed him deeply and a piece of him had died the night he did he couldn't cry! He felt completely numb, like he was in a nightmare and if he woke up he'd have Martin back with him, but he couldn't wake and it ripped his heart out! He became like a zombie, going through the motions of living when he was empty on the inside. He found himself unable to think of anything except Martin, he could still see the night he died it replayed in his mind like a horror movie stuck on repeat. He barely ate, or drank, and he hardly spoke to the others lost in his grief. His thoughts were interrupted by the door opening and the other's came in dressed for the funeral. They greeted him with sad smiles and hugs; he hugged them back before Aviva spoke gently.
"You holding up okay?"
"I guess so." Chris answered suddenly feeling very tired.
"I'm going to make coffee, anyone want some?" Jimmy asked.
"No thanks JZ! I'm going to go get ready; I'll see you in a bit." Chris said as he left and went to his room.
Two Hour's Later:
They arrived at the church and once outside Chris froze seeing all the people that had come to say goodbye to Martin. He knew his brother had been loved by those closest to the brother's, but he had no idea the amount of people his brother had truly been loved by until today! He felt Aviva and Koki take his hand's and looked at his three best friend's grateful for their love and support. They went inside and were stopped by many people giving them their condolences. He stood there fooling them all into thinking he was listening by giving the appropriate responses, but truthfully he wasn't listening, he was very uncomfortable and began playing with his tie. As they neared the front of the church Chris saw the many pictures of Martin with and without him and seeing them he froze. Suddenly he felt like he couldn't breathe, everyone sounded like they were under water, he was having a panic attack he needed to get out of there. He turned and began heading for the door, once outside he made it across the street to where the car was parked and behind some bushes he was sick to his stomach. He felt a gentle hand on his back and wiping his mouth he stood up to see Koki, Aviva, and Jimmy standing with him concerned. Koki handed him a cup of water, he thanked her as he took it and leaned against the car before Koki spoke gently to him about what happened.
"We should have told you about the picture's CK, we're sorry!"
"Don't be! You didn't know I'd react this way…I didn't even know!"
"Its time to start…are you ready?" Jimmy asked gently.
"I'll never be ready to say goodbye to my brother…but I'm as ready as I'll ever be I guess!" Chris answered as they went back to the church.
The funeral was beautiful, Chris barely heard a word his eye's never left Martin's casket, everyone cried, everyone but him! Even though Martin was his brother, and Chris was devastated over losing him, he just couldn't cry. After the service at the church Chris continued his emotionless state at the gravesite service. At the reception in the churches meeting room Chris kept to himself, watching the people mourn for his brother. He wandered around a cup of coffee growing cold in his hands as he looked at pictures of Martin. As he looked at a picture of Martin and himself, he realized that was the last picture they had taken together before he died; it was taken the day they landed in the forest, the day before he was killed. He closed his eye's and was transported back to that day, he could see and hear everything again as if it were happening right then. He could see Martin's face as Stone stabbed him, he could still see Martin as he fell into his arm's struggling to live. His thoughts were interrupted by Aviva's concerned voice.
"Are you okay Chris?" She asked gently as he looked at her.
"I…I need to leave! I'm sorry; I can't be here right now!"
"Okay, we'll come with…" Chris cut her off gently.
"No, stay! I'll just take a cab back; I just need to be alone for awhile okay?"
"Are you sure CK?"
"Yeah, I'll see you back at the Tortuga!" Chris said hugging her before he left.
That Night:
After returning to the ship, Chris changed and then sat outside; the forest was quiet almost as if the animals were grieving too. An hour later unable to sit outside anymore he went back inside and just wandered from room to room feeling lost. His mind raced with memories of Martin, but soon his thought's were of only Stone. The more he thought of Stone, the angrier he got, until all he saw was Stone's face! So, he went to his room and took out his laptop and began searching for anything he could find on him. He was still obsessing over Stone when the other's returned, and later that night as everyone slept he continued his search. He was exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally, but he wouldn't give up on finding Stone. He looked at the clock it was 2am, he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his hands over his face, when a voice beside him spoke scaring him.
"Why aren't you in bed?" The voice said scaring him causing him to fall backwards in his chair, landing on his back he moved his hand's and looked at the person. "I give the landing a…nine out of 10! You get a point taken off for not being so graceful." The person said laughing as they held out there hand. "Here, let me help you up!"
"This isn't happening!" Chris said getting up quickly putting as much space as he could between them. "You aren't really here!" Chris said shaking his head.
"Is that anyway to greet your brother?" Martin said hurt.
"Martin's dead! Which mean's you're not my brother!" Chris said upset as he began to pace. "You aren't here!"
"I maybe dead, but I'm still your brother!" Martin said.
"I know…this is a dream! I fell asleep at my computer, and all I have to do is wake up!" Chris said as he continued pacing. "That's it! I just need to wake up!"
"So wake up then!" Martin said smiling smugly, as he crossed his arms.
"Okay…if I'm not sleeping, then you are just a trick my tired mind is playing on me! So, all I have to do is go to sleep!" Chris said refusing to believe he was there.
"Really Chris? You're going to go with that?" Martin asked.
"Yep! You aren't real, and when I wake up you'll be gone!"
"You really believe that?"
"It's better than believing that I'm talking to my brother's ghost!" Chris said as he continued pacing, Martin spoke concerned about him.
"Chris please just listen to me? I'm here because I can't watch you slip further into your obsession with Stone!" Martin said gently.
"I'm not obsessed!" Chris said angrily as he pointed at Martin as he continued pacing.
"Really? You haven't left your computer since you got back! Its not healthy bro, you need to stop!"
"I won't stop until he pay's for taking you from me!" Chris said upset.
"It's not going to end well! Getting revenge won't bring me back!"
"It'll help! You're dead because of him Martin don't you get it? He took you from me and he's going to pay for that!" Chris said angrily as he finally stopped pacing and looked at him. "I'm not going to let him get away with this!"
"Chris this isn't like you! Where did the Chris I know go?"
"He died when you did! Wow…would you listen to me? I must have lost my mind…I'm arguing with my brother's ghost! This mind freak is over, I'm going to bed and when I wake up you'll be gone and I'll have my sanity back! Goodnight Martin, have a nice afterlife!" Chris said as he got into his bed and rolled over to face the wall his back to Martin, unable to get through to him Martin shook his head and sadly just left.
TBC…
