A Brother's Love:
The large jet flew through the sky quietly as if invisible. Inside in the control room a tall, powerful looking man with short, black hair with piercing green eyes starring at a large computer monitor. He typed something on the keyboard and seconds later a radar appeared, it began to beep signalling he'd be at his destination in mere minutes. The door opened behind him, he turned from the screen and smiled at the large, muscular man with brown eyes, a shaved head and many tattoo's covering his body, he got up from his chair and spoke to the other man.
"We're 10 minute's out, is everything ready to go when we land?" He asked as he went to the small bar in the corner of the room and made himself a drink, the other man spoke.
"Yes sir!" The man answered his voice heavy with a British accent. "I just finished the check's myself!"
"Good, good! I've waited long enough to get what I want and no one is going to stop me this time!"
"Sir, how are we going to find the animal? We've never done this without knowing where the damn thing is first!"
"Ah, the sound's of doubt! You know I never do anything without having some kind of plan!" He said as he sat tipping his glass slightly to the other man.
"With all due respect sir, I'm having my doubts about doing…"
"Enough!" He yelled cutting him off angrily. "I will not have my men doubting me damnit! Do you understand?" He yelled putting his drink down.
"Yes sir!"
"Now…to show you I'm not going into this blind, I want you to look at the monitor!" He said as he went to the computer and typed something before the radar was replaced with a picture of two, young men. "What do you see?"
"Umm…a couple of idiot's! Ugly looking bloke's…wait they're a couple of tree hugger's!" The man answered.
"Yes, but these two unsuspecting tree hugger's are going to be how we find my prized catch!"
"What? How are you going to get two tree hugger's to help you catch one of their precious animals?"
"Again with the doubt…I'm going to do it by giving them no choice! By taking the choice away they will have to help me!" He answered smiling evilly.
"Now this is why I like working for you boss! I love how your evil mind works!" The other man said smiling as they both began to laugh.
Meanwhile:
The afternoon sun shone brightly in the sky, he stood under a tree trying to escape the intense heat, as he scanned the vast landscape of the African Savannah with his binoculars. He sighed disappointedly when once again he didn't see what he was looking for. He put his binoculars away in his pack before he ran a hand through his short, blond hair. He then rubbed his hands over his face removing the sweat from his blue eyes. He decided to sit against the tree and enjoy a few minute's of quiet and relax, something he rarely got to do anymore because of his seemingly non-stop work. He had just sat down when his Creature pod began to beep, he took it out and answered.
"Hey bro!" He greeted his best friend and younger brother. "Any luck?"
"Nope! What about you?" His brother asked a look of hope in his brown eyes.
"Nothing!" He answered sighing.
"Alright…I'll come pick you up and we'll head back to base, maybe the team's got something for us?" His brother said running a hand through his short, brown hair. "I'll be there in 15 minute's."
After ending the call, he put his pod in his pack before deciding to check the Savannah once more before his brother arrived.
By the time his brother pulled up he still hadn't found the animal, so they drove back to the Tortuga. After dropping their bag's in their room they headed to the control room where they greeted their friend's and sat both brother's were disappointed.
"I guess you guy's had no luck?" Their friend Aviva spoke.
"Nope! We were hoping you guy's had something for us?" He asked smiling.
"Nope…we did find a pride of lion's, but they weren't the one's we were looking for! Sorry guys!" Their friend Koki answered.
"Alright…why don't we have lunch and then Chris and I will head back out to look?"
"Martin's right, we can't work on an empty stomach!" Their friend Jimmy added. "All this searching has made me hungry!"
"JZ you're always hungry!" Aviva said smiling.
"Not always!" Jimmy said in his own defence.
"He's right!" Chris said smiling as he put his arm on his shoulder. "Sometimes he's sleeping!" He said making them all laugh, except Jimmy.
Two Day's Later:
He sat at the long table, a drink in his hand as he angrily looked at the latest surveillance picture's his men had taken the day before after trailing the tree hugger's. He was growing impatient, since arriving on the Savannah he had been keeping an eye on the brother's waiting for them to lead him to the animal he was after…a rare white lion! He had learned of the lion's existence earlier that month and had also learned the brother's were going to the Savannah to find and study the lion. Being the smart man that he is he decided to use the brother's to find it for him, even if he had to force them to do it! So far though all the worthless tree hugger's had done was wander the Savannah, as if they were on vacation! He wasn't a patient man, and as time went by he was beginning to grow angry! He had sent some of his men out to follow them, led by his head guy Carter, he would give the tree hugger's one last chance to lead them to the lion on their own before he took things into his own hands! He looked at his watch in another hour Carter would be reporting in with their progress report, and he hoped Carter would tell him they failed! If they did, then he'd have a chance to use his secret weapon against the brother's and that alone would be worth the trouble to find his prized lion!
With The Brother's:
He walked along a dirt path into some tall, thick grass he stopped to rest and have a drink to cool down after walking around for a while. After breakfast that morning he and Chris had left to once again search for the white lion. They wanted to study him and observe his life on the Savannah, but so far he had stayed hidden from them. Having been in situations like this many time's before both brother's knew they'd have to think like him and be patient to find him. Even though knowing this Martin still couldn't help, but be impatient! He wanted to find the lion and just watch him as he lived his life, the anticipation was killing him! After his rest he began to walk again staying in the grass, he noticed a large rock formation ahead of him and decided to climb it and get a better view of the Savannah from it. He came closer to the rocks and began to climb when a noise from the grass below him caught his attention. He turned and saw the powerful, white body come out of the grass, he froze both in fear and amazement. The lion either didn't notice him or didn't care Martin was there as he lay down in the shade of the rocks and fell asleep. Martin decided to keep quiet and hide not wanting to take chances with the lion. With his heart racing he crept into the tall grass and sat very still watching the lion sleep. He smiled to himself as he looked at him, he was the largest, most powerful male lion he had ever seen. His coat and mane were completely white, and he reminded Martin of a ghost lion, so he decided to name the lion Ghost! He sat there forever it seemed watching Ghost using his pod to film him when suddenly he woke up and stood tensely starring into the tall grass. Martin tried to see what had made Ghost so tense, but couldn't see anything. Then without a sound, living up to his name Ghost took off into the grass disappearing before Martin could come out of his hiding place. He was upset he had lost Ghost, but knew Chris needed to know about his discovery so he quickly pulled out his pod to him. Before he could call him he heard a noise behind him, thinking it was Ghost he turned smiling, instead it was Chris his smile faded and he spoke disappointed.
"It's only you!" Martin said disappointedly as he put his pod away.
"Gee bro, it's nice to see you too!" Chris said a little hurt by his words.
"Sorry Chris, I thought you were someone else." Martin apologized.
"Who?"
"Ghost!" Martin answered smiling.
"Ghost? Who's Ghost?" Chris asked confused. "Maybe we should get you out of the sun, you might have heat stroke if you're seeing ghosts!" Chris said concerned.
"What?" Martin asked confused starring at his brother.
"You thought I was a ghost! I think you might have fried your brain!"
"Oh…okay I get it now!" Martin said smiling as he realized the misunderstanding.
"I don't mean I thought you were a ghost, I thought you were Ghost!" Martin said.
"Ohh…that clear's everything up!" Chris said smiling too.
"It does?"
"Nope!" Chris answered smiling.
"Well, let me try again! I decided to climb the rocks and see if I could get a better view of the Savannah from up there. I only made it a few steps when I heard a noise behind me, I turned and saw Ghost come out of the grass!" Martin said.
"Okay, so we're back to my original question! Who is Ghost?" Chris asked.
"He's the largest, most powerful male lion I've ever seen!" Martin answered.
"You found him?" Chris asked excitedly. "You found the white lion?"
"Yes Chris! Haven't you been listening?" Martin asked smiling.
"Where is he?" Chris asked looking around.
"Gone!"
"Gone? Gone where?"
"I don't know! He was sleeping, then suddenly he woke up and was tense as he starred at the grass before he just took off and I lost him!"
"Great…that's just awesome! I never got a chance to see him!" Chris said disappointed.
"Well…I do have the next best thing!" Martin said smiling as he took his pod back out.
"You caught him on your pod?" Chris asked smiling.
"Yep! He's…" A noise behind them cut Martin off, they both turned hoping it was Ghost, but were disappointed when they saw nothing. "Must have been a bird!"
"Yeah, or the wind?" Chris said as Martin nodded, both suddenly felt very uneasy standing there something was very wrong!
"Let's go back to the Tortuga and…" Martin trailed off seeing movement in the grass behind Chris, noticing his face Chris turned to look.
"There's something in the grass!" Chris whispered pointing.
"I see it bro…there's more over there!" Martin whispered pointing beside them. "We're surrounded by whatever they are!"
"Maybe that's why Ghost left? He must have known they were there!" Chris said.
"Yeah, and judging by how he reacted whatever they are…they aren't friendly!" Martin said nervously as more movement caught his eye. "Come on we need to get out of here!"
They turned to leave when suddenly they were surrounded by five, large men, the biggest man smiled as he walked towards them once he was standing in front of them he spoke.
"Hello ladies!" The man greeted them smirking, his voice thick with a British accent, the brother's looked at each other quickly before back at him as Martin spoke.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Martin demanded.
"Us? We're just some friendly, harmless tourist's out for a walk!"
"Those gun's are just pretty jewellery then?" Martin asked angrily.
"Yeah, and so are these!" The man said holding up two pair's of handcuffs. "I think they're just your size too!"
"What do you want?" Chris demanded angrily standing closer to Martin.
"Well, pretty boy what I want is to beat your tree hugging asses until I turn you into compost, but you see I can't…yet! We have our order's to bring you both in alive!"
"Order's? You don't look like a guy who follow's orders!" Martin said smirking.
"I don't…unless they come from my boss!"
"Who's your boss?" Chris asked.
"Once these pretty bracelets are on, you two can meet him!"
"You think we're just going to go with you?" Martin asked starring at him.
"No…I'm hoping you'll put up a fight, so I'll have an excuse to do this!" The man said smiling evilly as he punched Martin in the face causing him to stumble and almost fall.
"MARTIN!" Chris yelled rushing to his brother. "You're bleeding!" Chris said noticing Martin's split lip, Martin touched his lip as he spoke.
"I'm fine Chris really, it's nothing!" Martin said his word's directed to Chris, but his eye's were locked with the piece of crap who had hit him, the man just smiled.
"Aw, I'm sorry! Did I hurt your big brother?" The man mocked looking at Chris.
"You're a piece…" Chris was cut off as the man grabbed his shirt and pulled Chris roughly to him, Martin angrily rushed to them and spoke.
"Leave him alone you bald freak!" Martin yelled pulling Chris away as he pushed the man back, the man stood toe to toe with Martin smiling as he spoke.
"You got it princess!" The man said before he punched Martin again knocking him to the ground, before he kicked him Chris went to help. "Not so fast cupcake!" The man said to Chris stopping him from helping by quickly pulling out his gun and pointed it at Martin he spoke. "I won't put a bullet in his pretty head, if you put these on!" He said holding up the handcuffs, Chris looked at Martin who met his eyes the man smiled.
"Fine! Just don't hurt him please!" Chris agreed.
"Cuff them and get them into the jeep, the boss is expecting us!" The man ordered.
Later:
After they were cuffed they were put into the back of one of their jeeps and driven in silence to a large, grey jet. Once they arrived they were roughly taken out of the jeep and taken inside to the control room where they were tied to chairs. After being tied up they were left alone, they knew they had to get out of there or they were as good as dead! They had no idea who had them or why, but judging by their welcome committee they knew that it wouldn't end well! Before they could say or do anything the door's opened behind them and the thug returned and he had company with him looking at him they knew he was in charge. The thug stood behind them as the older man went and smiling stood before them he looked at them as if looking at garbage and spoke.
"Ah, the famous Wild Kratts! Welcome to my home away from home gentlemen!"
"You know who we are?" Chris asked confused.
"Of course, dear boy! Doesn't everyone?" The man asked smiling.
"Who are you? Why are we here?" Martin demanded angrily.
"Where are my manners? I'm sorry, my name is Thomas Stone and like you boy's I'm a scientist! You're here because I'm in need of your co-operation to acquire something of great importance to me!" Stone said smiling.
"You're a scientist?" Chris asked.
"You sound shocked?" Stone questioned.
"Of course we are! Scientist's don't usually have hired thug's kidnap people and threaten them into helping!" Martin answered.
"I'm not your average scientist my boy! You see I was once a highly respected, and well-known scientist, but my genius wasn't accepted by everyone! In fact I lost everything because other's found my experiments and method's unconventional…I was destroyed by tree hugger's like you two! I lost everything; my respect, my power, my fame, of course I continued my work, in secret of course! Earlier this month I came across some very interesting information about a rather unusual animal…a rare white lion! So, I came here to capture the beast to use it for my own plans!" Stone said as he sat.
"You're a monster! You got what you deserved!" Martin said angrily, but quickly regretted when his thug hit Martin again in the face, he went to do it again, but was stopped by Stone.
"Carter that's enough!"
"Why are we here? What do you want from us?" Chris asked angrily as he tried to get free to help Martin, Stone smiled as answered.
"Even though I'm a genius, I can't seem to find the beast! That's why you two are here!"
"You're as crazy as you are ugly, if you think we're going to help you with anything! We have never even seen the lion, so how can we catch it?" Martin said.
"Now, now young Martin haven't you learned it's not nice to lie?" Stone said as he stood and Carter tossed him Martin's Creature pod. "By the look's on your face's you know what I saw on this little toy of your's!"
"You have a video of the lion so what! He's not there anymore, your thug's scared him off so the video is useless!" Martin said smiling.
"Quite true young Martin, but lion's as you both are well aware are territorial beasts and never stray far from their home! So, using this little video we now have a complete map of his territory, of course the other info I had on him filled in some blank's, but this completed the puzzle!" Stone said sitting again.
"Why do you need us then? If you know his territory go after him yourself, you don't need us!" Chris demanded angrily.
"Now you insult me with your dumb routine! We all know that just because I have that information doesn't mean I can find the animal!" Stone answered.
"We aren't helping you capture the lion!" Martin stated starring into Stone's eyes.
"I knew you wouldn't agree without some…incentive!" Stone said smiling as he stood, Martin and Chris looked at each other nervously before back at Stone. "Carter if you would be so kind and bring me my little, black case please?"
"Yes sir Mr. Stone!" Carter said smiling as he went to a cupboard and carefully took out a small, black case the size of toaster and brought it to the table where Stone now stood smiling. "Here you are sir!"
"Thank you Carter! Now in this case is something I'm very proud of, it's my own variation on one of Mother Nature's gift's to your precious animals!" Stone said as he opened the case smiling. "I've worked very hard on this and I must say it's some of my best work and I'm quite proud of it!"
"What…what is it?" Chris asked nervously.
"This tiny vial contains my guarantee you boy's will get me my lion!" Stone said smiling as he filled a syringe with the yellowish liquid. "Now who should I give this too?" Stone said smiling as he looked at them, neither brother looked away from his gaze.
"You're a psycho Stone!" Martin yelled.
"You're insane!" Chris added.
"You know Carter I think there's too much fight in both of them still!"
"I can take care of that for you Mr. Stone!" Carter said smiling as Stone sat in his chair, Carter began to punch them going back and forth between the brother's. Stone watched the brother's closely, both fought in vain to help and protect the other, but as he watched he realized that Chris seemed to be the easiest to break, he spoke up suddenly.
"Carter no more!" Stone said as he stood. "Hold him still, this will only hurt…a lot!" He said smiling looking at Chris, as he injected the liquid into…Martin!
TBC…