Chapter 2:
With Stone:
Carter and his thugs arrived back at their jet 20 minutes after their run-in with the brothers. Carter parked the truck and got out, he gave the men orders to unload the cages before he went to find Stone and tell him about his little reunion.
"Well? How did it go?" Stone asked as Carter came into the control room.
"They showed…finally! You know boss I forgot how much I enjoy beating on them…actually I only got my hands on that loudmouthed pest Martin!"
"No worries Carter, you'll get the chance to punish both soon enough!"
"I can't wait!" Carter said as he rubbed his jaw again.
"Just a little longer and you can I promise! Did you get me my animals?" Stone asked making himself another drink.
"Yes sir! Three wolverines like you wanted!" Carter answered.
"Excellent! Once I have all my specimens we'll exterminate those Wild Ratt vermin once and for all!" Stone said smiling.
"I'll go see how our guests are doing, I'll be back soon!" Carter said smiling as he left.
Once alone Stone looked out the window and smiled as he took a drink from his cup. The snow was falling heavily now as he began to think of his victory over those insects, and how he'd show the world he really was a genius! He failed the first time he had had a run-in with the brothers, but he had spent time studying them and learned from his past! This time there wouldn't be any mistakes, he knew how the brothers were all their moves, which meant they couldn't trick him! This time the mighty Wild Kratts would be destroyed!
With The Brothers:
The brothers arrived back at the Tortuga and went inside and headed to the control room, seeing Martin the others became concerned he sat in his chair wincing at the slight pain from the movement Chris watched him before he stood beside him saying nothing.
"What happened?" Aviva asked.
"We ran into someone!" Martin answered as Aviva began to fix him up using the first aid kit Koki brought her. "Actually…I ran into their fists again and again!"
"What? Who?" Koki asked confused.
"Carter!" Chris answered angrily clenching his fists.
"What?" Aviva asked shocked accidentally hurting Martin.
"Ow!" Martin said moving away from her.
"Sorry MK!" Aviva apologized turning her attention back to fixing his wounds.
"Where there's Carter…there's Stone!" Jimmy said nervously.
"So it's Stone taking the animals, but why?" Koki asked.
"Why else? For some stupid, pathetic plan to use animals to take over the world!" Martin said as he stood. "And we're going to stop him!"
"MK what about last time? You almost…"
"I don't need a history lesson Aviva! I was there, I know I almost died! That doesn't change the fact that Stone needs to be stopped!" Martin said angrily cutting her off before he walked out.
"Chris I didn't…"
"It's okay Aviva!" Chris said gently cutting her off again. "Seeing Carter again has really thrown Martin! I'll go talk to him, can you see if you can get a lock on Stone's jet?"
"Thanks CK! I'll start right now!" Aviva said smiling sadly.
After Martin walked out he went to their room and lay on his bed his arms under his head as he starred at the ceiling. He felt like an ass for getting angry with Aviva, but knowing Stone was back messed him up. He had almost died because of Stone, and that wasn't something you forgot! No matter how hard he tried it never went away, it was always there in the back of his mind constantly reminding him that it could happen again and this time he might not be so lucky! He tried to push the thoughts away, not wanting to be reminded anymore, but he lost the battle and he closed his eyes as a flashback began. He squeezed his eyes shut trying to force the memories away, but he couldn't. His thoughts were thankfully interrupted by someone sitting on his bed ending the flashback before it could start, the person sighed before they spoke gently to him.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine Chris!" Martin answered sighing as he opened his eyes and sat up.
"Liar!" Chris said starring at him as he crossed his arms.
"What are we in the second grade now?" Martin asked smiling as he stood.
"Martin you're my brother, I know you and you're not okay!" Chris said.
"Chris drop it!" Martin said turning his back to him.
"No! Look, Stone almost killed you Martin he injected you with snake venom, using you to blackmail me into capturing Ghost! He's crazy and dangerous Martin!" Chris said.
"Thanks for reminding me Chris! I hate to ruin your little pep talk, but I already knew all of that! I can never forget! Martin said angrily, keeping his back to him.
"Martin what I'm trying to say is maybe going after Stone isn't something we should do!" Chris said quietly.
"What? So, because he tried to kill me he just gets away with hurting animals?" Martin asked upset as he turned to look at Chris.
"No, that's not what I'm saying! What I mean is instead of going after Stone we just go after the animals he's captured instead!"
"Unbelievable!" Martin said shaking his head as he looked away from his brother.
"What?"
"I never thought I'd see the day when Chris Kratt ran away from a fight!" Martin said sadly as he walked out.
Days Later:
The snow that had been falling all morning finally stopped by late afternoon. Stone sat his computer trying and failing to find the last animal he needed to complete his collection. He had already captured polar bears and wolverines, but he was having no luck finding a lynx! Memories of the white lion flashed in his head, he grew angry at the thought of failing again! He was a scientist…an evil genius; he should have no trouble finding a stupid animal! He wasn't sure what made him angrier; the fact that he was failing again, or that once again the Wild Ratts would win! He got up and began to pace anger flowing through him; he knocked things off his desk in rage just as Carter walked in.
"Sir we…"
"If the next words out of your mouth are that you failed to bring me my damn lynx, I'm going to smash your teeth down your throat!" Stone yelled cutting Carter off as he stopped pacing and starred at him angrily daring him to tell him that.
"I'm sorry sir! We…"
"You're sorry? You're sorry!" Stone yelled cutting him off again as he lunged at Carter grabbing him by the shirt. "You're going to be sorry when I feed you to my damn polar bears!"
"Mr. Stone we didn't find a lynx, but we did get a lock on the tree hugger's location!"
"Really?" Stone said smiling as he let Carter go. "I just got a brilliant idea!"
"I think I know where this is going!" Carter said smiling too.
"It's time for a little reunion don't you agree Carter?" Stone said sitting. "Go visit them and the first Wild Ratt you see bring him to me!"
"Yes sir! I'll leave now!" Carter said quickly as he left.
Once alone Stone smiled to himself, he knew from past experience with the brothers that despite their love and dedication to saving animals when confronted with a threat to their brother they'd sacrifice whatever it took to keep them alive! He also knew that they always had some kind of backup plan, but this time he'd ensure that they failed he'd be ready for anything!
With The Brothers:
Days past and Martin continued his search for Stone despite Chris and the team not helping. Martin couldn't believe that of all people Chris would just give up and let innocent animals be hurt! Being Creature Adventurer's they both had faced death many times, but they never gave up! Martin sat at Koki's computer trying to find any sign of Stone's jet for the seventh day straight, but so far he had been having no luck! Chris came into the room Martin knew he was there, but ignored him as he continued his search.
"Any luck?" Chris asked.
"Not that it matters to you, but no!" Martin answered without looking at him.
"Martin you're still not…"
"Still angry you chickened out? Still trying to stop Stone by myself?" Martin asked cutting Chris off. "Then yeah, I' am!"
"Alright this has gone on long enough!" Chris said. "We need to talk!"
"I think you've said enough already when you…"
"It's my turn to talk!" Chris said cutting Martin off this time, Martin shocked by his brothers anger turned to look at him. "Martin I never gave up…I'm just scared of losing you alright? Yeah, we've been in dangerous situations before, but I almost lost you this time! It scared the crap out of me, and seeing Carter brought back all those feelings! You're right though, I can't be afraid all my life I vowed to protect animals and I'm not doing my job!" Chris said sadly. "I'm sorry Martin!"
"So…does this mean you're going to help me?" Martin asked.
"It means…I'm going to help you!" Chris said smiling.
"Yes!" Martin said smiling as he got up and hugged his little brother. "Let's do this! Stone doesn't stand a chance with the Kratt brothers back together!"
"Uh…Martin, we never broke the team up!" Chris said smiling.
"Why do you have to ruin my moment? Can't you be so annoyingly technical later Chris?" Martin asked returning the smile.
"Let's do this!" Chris answered as they began to search again.
Later:
A couple hours later the brothers still had no idea where Stone was and no more attempts had been made to steal more animals. Something didn't seem right; Stone was out there somewhere it wasn't like there were many places to hide in the Arctic! Martin sighed in frustration, Chris decided to get some fresh air maybe the cold would clear his head and give him an energy kick. He told Martin where he was going and put on his outdoor gear. He went out into the biting cold it took a few seconds to adjust to the freezing temperature, but soon it didn't bother him. He took a deep breath closing his eyes, he loved being in nature no matter the weather; both brothers did, nothing made them happier than being one with nature. Chris walked around lost in his thoughts; he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings and wandered away from the Tortuga. Suddenly he heard a noise behind him, thinking it was Martin he spoke.
"Any luck?" Chris asked his back still to him. "Martin?" Chris asked confused when he didn't answer, he turned around. "Martin?"
"Hello mate!"
"Carter!" Chris said shocked to see him.
"Where's big brother? He afraid of a little cold?" Carter teased.
"What do you want?" Chris demanded.
"I'm just out for an afternoon walk, no harm in that is there mate?" Carter said.
"Really? Now why don't I believe you? Oh, that's right, because you're a lying piece of crap! Who works for an insane criminal!"
"Ooh that hurt right here!" Carter said pointing at his heart.
"So, are you going to tell me or…"
"Or what you little punk?" Carter said cutting Chris off as he smirked. "You going to sick your big, bad brother after me?" Carter taunted.
"No, I can handle myself you overgrown ape!" Chris answered.
"You know, it's kind of lonely out here! I think we should have some mates join us don't you?" Carter said smiling as five, huge, armed men joined them. "That's better!"
"I should have expected this!" Chris said.
"Then you should be expecting this too!" Carter said smiling as he punched Chris, when he recovered Chris went to attack, but was stopped. "Ooh feisty! Mr. Stone wants to talk to you and whatever Mr. Stone wants, he gets! Tie him up and put him in the truck, and hurry up its bloody cold out here!" Carter ordered as he pulled his hat down further onto his head. "I hate the cold!"
"You'll never get away with this Carter! My brother will find me!"
"I'm sorry Chrissy, what was that?" Carter asked smiling as he walked up to a now tied up Chris. "My hearing's getting bad!"
"I said…" Chris began, but was cut off when Carter put tape over his mouth so he couldn't speak Chris was furious as he starred at Carter.
"You were saying?" Carter asked as Chris tried to tell him off. "What's that? Sorry Chrissy, I can't understand you with that tape over your mouth mate! Get him loaded the boss can't wait to see him again!" Carter said smiling as they put Chris into the back of the truck roughly, before they got into the truck as well and drove away.
TBC…
