Chapter 2:
With The Brothers:
After escaping the men, the brothers leaned on each other as they rushed back to the Createrra. Chris needed to stop, so he leaned against a tree, while Martin leaned on another across from him.
"I…I don't see or hear them! Do you think they gave up?" Chris asked, but before Martin could answer, they heard gun shots ring out and a bullet hit the tree above Chris' head the brothers looked at each other.
"That would be a no!" Martin answered.
They ran towards the Createrra keeping low, not knowing where the shots were coming from. They reached the Createrra and got in, still keeping their heads low as Martin started it and they took off back to the Tortuga. Once safely back at the Tortuga they parked and went inside to the control room, Aviva saw them first and spoke rushing to them.
"What happened? Are you two okay?" She asked as the brothers sat.
"You're bleeding!" Jimmy said concerned, as Aviva and Koki looked at them.
"It's nothing serious JZ, we'll be okay!" Martin said wincing when Aviva touched his face.
"What happened?" Koki asked.
"We went to the location, but it was a trap! There were five men, four of them had guns, and their leader was a walking mountain named Carter! He told us their boss Stone wanted us brought to him!" Chris explained.
"What? Why?" Aviva asked.
"He didn't say! We refused and well…let's just say he didn't like our answer!" Martin said as he pointed at his face.
"Okay, brothers you go shower and change. Once you're done Koki and I will fix your wounds, meanwhile Koki can you please look up any info on Stone and Carter?" Aviva asked.
"I'll start right now!" Koki answered as she went to her computer.
An hour later the brothers were showered, changed and their wounds tended to. All five sat around the table going over the little info they had on Stone and Carter, none of it helpful though; it just told them Stone was an uber rich man, known for his brilliant mind and quick, violent temper. Carter is his right hand man for the last 10 years, he was also known for his violent temper.
"Okay, so we have absolutely nothing! This day couldn't get better!" Martin said frustrated as he ran his hands over his face.
"We know Stone wants you two, so that usually means there's an animal involved!"
"When isn't there with these guys Koki?" Chris asked sighing frustrated.
"Okay, so we have a brilliant villain with a violent sidekick wanting to capture an animal!" Martin said holding his ribs as he stood and went to the window looking out it.
"It sounds bad when you say it like that!" Jimmy said.
"There's another way to say it!" Martin said without turning from the window.
"How?" Jimmy asked.
"We're screwed!" Martin answered still not looking at them.
"I like the other way better!" Jimmy said.
"Alright, let's not panic guys we're the Wild Kratts!" Aviva said smiling.
"Aviva's right! We just need to think of a plan." Chris said.
"Okay, here's my plan!" Martin said looking at them. "We find Stone's jet and we attack them, before they attack us!" Martin finished.
"That's crazy! We know nothing about them Martin, we could get hurt!" Chris said.
"Too late for that Chris!" Martin said angrily. "Fine, what's your big plan?"
"We dig deeper until we find out more about them, then we find their ship and do a little recon!" Chris answered.
"You always say that!" Martin said annoyed.
"Yeah, because it's the smart and safe way to do things! Your way always ends with us getting hurt!" Chris said just as annoyed.
"Really? Well, I don't hear you complaining about it when we catch the villains!" Martin said.
"Yeah, I do! You're just too pigheaded to listen!" Chris answered.
"Everything has to be done your way Chris! You never do things my way!" Martin yelled.
"If we did things your way we'd be killed! You're too reckless Martin!" Chris yelled back.
"You think too much!" Martin said. "Sometimes you just need to act first!"
"Alright, time out!" Aviva said. "Chris, you help Koki look for any new info on Stone and Carter. Martin, you and JZ can help me do some work on my latest invention!"
"Fine!" Both brothers said together.
Meanwhile:
After the brothers escaped Carter and the men returned to the jet, once inside Carter headed to the control room to tell Stone what happened, he stopped outside the door and took a deep breath before he went inside.
"Ah, there you are Carter! How are our guests?" Stone asked as he made himself a drink, he looked at Carter. "I see they put up a struggle!" He said pointing at Carter's face.
"They did sir, but nothing I couldn't handle!" Carter answered.
"So, where are they? I'd like to talk with them!"
"About that…there's been a tiny glitch in the plans sir!"
"Glitch? You didn't kill either of them did you?" Stone asked angrily.
"No, they're both very much, annoyingly alive!"
"Good, you had me worried Carter!" Stone said having some of his drink. "So, what's the problem then?"
"They aren't…here."
"Well where are they then?"
"They…escaped!" Carter answered.
"They what?" Stone yelled throwing his glass at Carter, he moved and it hit the wall breaking. "You told me you had both brothers!"
"I did! After I beat the crap out of them, I told the others to tie them up and get them loaded while I called you! I stepped away for only a minute, and they escaped!"
"You idiot!" Stone yelled as he grabbed Carter by the shirt and held him against the wall, their faces inches apart. "I warned you not to underestimate them! You failed me Carter and I despise incompetence! Now they know I'm after them, and they'll be on guard you incompetent buffoon! I should throw you to the animals for your stupidity!" Stone threatened.
"We can still capture the tree huggers!" Carter said trying to calm Stone down.
"Is that right?" Stone asked letting Carter go. "Tell me Carter, how will we do that?"
"I…I don't know yet sir! Maybe we could set another trap, or…"
"Enough! No more of your useless chatter, it's giving me a migraine!" Stone said cutting Carter off. "Get me another drink, while I think of a way to salvage this mess!"
"Yes sir." Carter said quietly.
"I think I already figured it out! Search for the tree hugger's ship on the radar!" Stone ordered as Carter gave him his drink.
Carter nodded and went to the computer, he typed something into it and minutes later he found the ship. Once he had the co-ordinates he told Stone, Carter sat across from him, Stone smiled as he had some of his drink before he spoke.
"Now that we have the co-ordinates we can go ahead with the next phase of my plan! Gather some men together and meet me outside in the jeeps, we're going to make an unexpected house call!"
Later:
Awhile later things inside the Tortuga were tense, the brothers still angry at each other and refused to speak to each other. Chris and Koki had found more info on Stone and Carter and were going through it, while Martin and Jimmy helped Aviva work on her invention. Suddenly the Tortuga's doors burst open and six men all armed with guns burst into the control room surrounding them. All five Wild Kratts quickly gathered together, no one knowing what was going on until Carter came into the room. Both brothers tensed seeing him, he smiled at them before he spoke.
"If it isn't my favourite little tree huggers!" Carter greeted them.
"If it isn't the talking gorilla!" Martin said smiling.
"Think you two are smart huh?" Carter asked.
"Well, we proved we're smarter than you and your pals!" Chris answered smiling.
"You are not however, smarter than me!" An unknown male voice spoke from behind Carter, he moved and another man joined them. "Ah, the famous Wild Kratts! You've met my associate Carter!"
"Unfortunately we had the displeasure of meeting the man-ape!" Martin said.
"Yes, Carter can be quite the brute when he wants to! That's one of the things I like about him!"
"Who are you?" Aviva demanded.
"My dear, my name is Thomas Stone, and I' am here because I require the assistance of the great Wild Kratts!"
"Assistance? With what?" Martin asked.
"You see, lately I have become rather…what's the word I'm looking for? Obsessed with the beautiful, powerful jaguar, not just any regular jaguar though! I'm interested only in a black jaguar!" Stone answered.
"What does that have to do with us?" Chris asked confused.
"Everything! You see gentlemen, I maybe a genius, but I lack the skills necessary to find my jaguar! That's where you two come in!" Stone explained.
"You want us to capture one for you?" Martin asked.
"You do catch on quick don't you?" Stone answered smiling.
"Forget it Stone! We rescue animals, not capture them!" Chris answered.
"That's precious how you think you have a choice!" Stone said laughing. "Grab the girls, and the red head!" Stone ordered, as his men grabbed Aviva, Koki and Jimmy.
"Leave them out of this Stone!" Martin yelled angrily.
"You, dear Martin are in no position to make demands!" Stone said smiling as he walked up to Jimmy. "If you won't help me…perhaps I'll take your three friends here and use them as bait for my own hunt?"
"Do you swear they'll be released, unharmed, alive if we agree to help you?" Chris asked.
"I do." Stone answered.
"Fine! We'll help you!" Martin agreed.
"Very wise decision brothers Kratt! Get our guests tied up, then release their little friends!"
"Yes sir, Mr. Stone!" Carter said smiling as he took some rope from one of the other men and tied both brothers up before signalling the men to release the others. "All set sir!"
"Well, dear crew it's time we took our leave!" Stone said smiling as Carter took the brothers out. "Thank you for your co-operation!"
Stone and the rest of his men followed Carter and the brothers outside, the team rushed outside after them. The brothers were put into the back of a jeep, and the team were forced to watch helplessly, unable to do anything. Carter opened the passenger's side door for Stone on the jeep that held the brothers. As Stone got into the jeep, Carter starred at the team an evil smirk on his face.
With The Brothers:
After being taken to Stone's jet the brothers were taken to a room and tied to a chair, neither brother spoke both still angry at the other. Of course, both Stone and Carter noticed the tension, and dirty looks the brothers gave each other. Smiling Stone sat in front of them, Carter as usual by his side, after watching the brothers in silence for a few minutes Stone smiling looked at Carter before back to the brothers as he spoke.
"Having problems with each other gentlemen?"
"What goes on between my brother and I is our business Stone!" Martin answered angrily. "We aren't here to talk about us anyway, we're here because you kidnapped…I mean you need our assistance!"
"Oh Martin, don't sound so bitter, where's that annoying, sickening, never give up Wild Kratt attitude?" Stone asked.
"What do you need us for exactly?" Chris demanded.
"You're going to find a black jaguar for me! As I've already explained, I lack the required skills to do this on my own, so since you're the best at what you do you're going to find it for me!" Stone answered.
"What makes you so sure we're going to help you? We've dedicated our lives to helping save animals from people like you!" Chris said.
"You'll do it to keep each other safe! You see Christopher, you two may save animals from people like me, but when it comes down to preservation…to both of you nothing comes before family!"
"We escaped once, we'll do it again!" Martin said smiling smugly.
"Yes, you did manage to escape…but that was not from me! Carter, lacked good judgement when he left you alone with my idiot men, but I on the other hand, do not underestimate either of you and I won't make the same mistake!" Stone answered.
"You don't scare us Stone! You'll make a mistake, they always do, you'll let your guard down and when you do, that's when the Wild Kratts will take you down! We will stop you Stone, I promise!" Martin said angrily.
"I quiver with fear Martin!" Stone mocked. "Carter, I think our guests need a little reminder of who's in charge!"
"I agree Mr. Stone!" Carter said smiling as he flexed his hands.
"Would you be so kind as to do it for me please?" Stone asked standing. "Rest well Kratt brothers, we leave at dawn to begin our search!" He said as he patted Carter's shoulder smiling before he left.
"Well boys, looks like it's just you and me again mates!" Carter said smiling.
"You going to be a man and untie us first?" Chris asked.
"Now you insult my intelligence Kratt! How stupid do you think I' am?" Carter asked.
"Very! Actually, you're a special kind of stupid! But that has nothing to do with what Chris asked you!" Martin answered, both brothers smiled.
"Still got jokes huh mate? Let's see how funny it is when I punch your pretty, white teeth down your throat?" Carter asked before he punched Martin in the stomach, driving the air out of him.
TBC…