Chapter 3:
With Martin:
He leaned back in his chair frustrated and sighed rubbing his hands over his face. He looked at his watch and couldn't believe three hours had passed, he had been so distracted by his search he didn't notice the time. He also realized Chris wasn't with him anymore, he then remembered Chris had told him he was going to get some fresh air. That had been at least a couple hours ago, he'd be back by now; maybe he was in their room or helping one of the others with something. Needing a break, he turned off the computer and decided to go see what Chris was up to. He walked out of the control room yawning and ran into Jimmy knocking them both to the ground, Martin apologized as he stood and helped Jimmy up too, not seeing Chris with him Martin spoke.
"JZ have you seen Chris around?"
"He's not with you?" Jimmy asked as they walked to the garage.
"He was, but now he's not!" Martin answered smiling.
"I haven't seen him sorry. Maybe Aviva or Koki have?" Jimmy suggested.
"Maybe Aviva and Koki have what?" Koki asked smiling as they found the girls in the garage working on another one of Aviva's inventions.
"Seen Chris anywhere?" Martin answered smiling.
"He's not with you?" Aviva asked.
"He was, but now he's not!" Jimmy answered smiling.
"We haven't seen him sorry." Koki answered.
"Oh…maybe he's in our room? I'll go look, see you guys later."
"If we see him we'll tell him you're looking for him!" Aviva said.
"Thanks." Martin said as he left.
A half hour later Martin was getting worried, he had searched the entire Tortuga, but there was no sign of Chris anywhere. His suit was still here, so he didn't go exploring Martin decided to try his Creature Pod. He took his out and called Chris; suddenly he heard ringing and followed it until he found Chris' Pod in his backpack. He ended the call and decided to go look for him outside, maybe he just lost track of time. He got into his outdoor gear and headed outside, the snow had begun to fall Martin sighed frustration knowing that any tracks Chris would have left behind would be covered by the new snow. He wandered around calling Chris' name, but got no response he began to get worried as the snow began to fall heavier and there was still no sign of Chris anywhere. He went back inside and began taking his outdoor gear off lost in his thoughts of Chris. He was so lost in his thoughts that he never heard Jimmy calling his name.
"Martin? MARTIN!"
"What is it Jimmy?" Martin asked sighing.
"Umm…it's Chris!" Jimmy answered.
"Chris? Where is he?" Martin asked.
"With Stone!" Jimmy said.
"What? How do…"
"Stone called us!" Jimmy said cutting Martin off. "Actually Carter did telling us, he said Stone's going to call us soon!"
"Show me!" Martin ordered as they headed into the control room.
With Chris:
After arriving back at Stone's jet Chris still tied up was put into a chair in the control room and was left alone. Chris was scared knowing what Stone was capable of, but he refused to let Stone know. He had to find a way to let Martin know where he was, his thoughts were interrupted when Stone came into the room alone smiling at him.
"It's been too long Christopher! How have things been dear boy?" Stone asked standing in front of him. "How silly of me, how can you answer with that tape on your mouth? Let me help!" He said as he ripped the tape off Chris' mouth causing him to cry out in pain.
"You sick, twisted piece…" Chris was cut off by the tape being put back over his mouth; unable to talk he starred angrily at Stone who just stood there smiling at him.
"I think I like you better this way!" Stone said. "I see you haven't changed since the last time we saw each other! You're probably wondering where Carter is huh?" Stone asked as he sat in front of Chris. "I've asked Carter to send your brother a little message letting him know where you are and that I will be contacting him soon to talk!" Stone said smiling as the doors opened behind Chris.
"It's done sir!" Carter said as he joined them.
"Good! Everything is going according to plan! I do hate having one-sided conversations Christopher! So, here's what were going to do…I'm going to remove the tape again, only this time you're going to be a good little Creature Adventurer and play nice! If not I'll have Carter beat some respect into you understand?" Stone asked, Chris looked at both of them with hatred before he nodded. "Good boy!" Stone said smiling as Carter went up to Chris and ripped the tape off he again cried out in pain. "Now that you can talk again let's catch up huh? Tell me Christopher how is your dear brother?"
"Ask Carter, he's the one who got beat up by Martin!" Chris answered smirking at Carter.
"You little punk!" Carter yelled at Chris who looked at him still smirking. "I'll beat the…"
"ENOUGH!" Stone yelled angrily cutting Carter off. "I feel like I'm a babysitter! Carter go make sure everything's ready for my call!"
"Yes sir Mr. Stone!" Carter said starring angrily at Chris.
"Bye Carter!" Chris mocked, causing Carter to bump into his chair purposely as he passed.
"Really Christopher is it necessary to push him like that? Haven't you learned that bad things happen when Carter gets angry?"
"I do it because it's fun!" Chris answered smiling.
"Do you want to know what I find fun?" Stone asked smiling.
"Coming up with stupid ideas to try and rule the world with animals, only to fail every time because of the Wild Kratts?" Chris answered.
"Close!" Stone said smiling as he stood. "I like to exterminate Wild Ratts!"
"Give up now Stone, and save yourself the embarrassment when we once again stop your pathetic little plan!"
"Everything's ready sir!" Carter said as he came back into the room.
"Excellent! Bring our guest of honour with us, it's time we say hello to big brother!"
With Martin:
He stood starring out the window at the falling snow, his hands clenched into fists at his side as he replayed the message he had watched from Carter over and over in his head. Stone had Chris and memories of what Stone had done to him ran through his head as he thought of what he could be doing to his brother. He was fully aware Aviva, Koki and Jimmy were watching him silently, but he really didn't care! Time seemed to drag as he waited for Stone to call, he needed to see Chris he needed to be reassured he was still alive! He knew Stone was purposely keeping him waiting knowing it would make Martin more anxious. It was all just a game to Stone, each of them a pawn controlled by him! Martin was pulled from his thoughts when the call came in, Koki answered it as Martin stood facing the screen anger all over his face, he only hoped the anger hid his fear.
"Martin my dear boy! You're looking well…better than the last time I saw you!" Stone greeted him smiling.
"Stone you worthless piece of crap! Where's my brother?"
"Martin, I'm hurt! Is that anyway to greet an old friend?"
"Where. Is. My. Brother?" Martin said through clenched teeth, drawing out each word.
"Ah yes, I do believe we have something that belongs to you! Carter please bring our guest over!" Stone said smiling.
"Chris!" Martin said relieved he was still alive.
"Martin!" Chris answered.
"Oh, I do love happy reunions! Don't you Carter?" Stone asked.
"Let my brother go Stone!" Martin demanded.
"Martin you know that's not how it works dear boy! I have something you want, and in return you have to get me what I want!" Stone said smiling.
"What?" Martin asked he knew Stone would want something first.
"The one animal I can't seem to find…a lynx!" Stone answered.
"That's becoming routine for you isn't it Stone? You never can find what you need without our help!" Martin taunted.
"Strong words! You forget I have wittle brother with me, and I'm not against hurting him to get what I want Martin!" Stone said. "What's your answer?"
"My answer? Is no!" Martin replied.
"I knew you were going to say that! Carter give Martin a little incentive to reconsider please!"
"With pleasure sir!" Carter said smiling as he punched Chris in the face twice, before punching him in the stomach.
"STOP!" Martin begged unable to watch his brother being hurt.
"That's enough Carter, I believe you've made your point!" Stone said.
"Do you give your word Chris will be released to me alive?"
"Is that a yes?" Stone asked.
"Your word! Do I have it?" Martin demanded.
"You do! Chris will be released to you once I have my lynx!"
"Alive?"
"Alive! Now do we have a deal?"
"Yes!" Martin agreed avoiding looking at Chris, he felt guilty for agreeing.
"Wonderful! Now if you remember I only gave Christopher three days to find the white lion, so it's only fair I give you three days as well!"
"Three days? That's impossible Stone I…"
"You'll do it or your baby brother pays for your failure!" Stone said cutting Martin off.
"Fine! How will I contact you?" Martin asked.
"You won't! In exactly three days, I will contact you here to find out if you succeeded! The countdown begins Martin good luck, your brothers life depends on it!" Stone said laughing as he ended the call.
"Martin?" Aviva said gently.
"Don't!" Martin answered his back to them.
"What?" She asked.
"Don't say it!" He answered.
"Martin you can't be serious about this?" Koki asked.
"I' am!" Martin answered as he faced them. "Don't look at me like that! Do you think I like this anymore than the three of you?" Martin said defending himself.
"Don't do it Martin please!" Aviva said.
"What choice do I have? I won't let Chris die, he made the same sacrifice for me! I swore to protect animals from people like Stone, but not at the expense of my brother's life!" Martin said.
"Martin let's try…"
"Koki stop! I've made up my mind and I won't let Chris die! Don't you get it? He's my brother and nothing comes before him, I have no choice but to give Stone what he wants…even though it sickens me and rips my heart out! I'm not asking you to accept it or agree with it, but I hope you'll understand at least!" Martin said sadly cutting Koki off as he walked away.
Later That Night:
Martin stayed in his room avoiding the others, unable to be around them feeling like a traitor. Now he knew the guilt and hurt Chris had felt when faced with the same choice the last time they faced Stone. He had been hiding for a few hours now and knew the others would be asleep, so unable to sleep he got up and went to the control room. He turned on the lights and sat at Koki's computer, he was going to do research on lynx's to get a general idea of what he was going after. A half hour later he sat at the computer with it still off unable to bring himself to turn it on. He sat starring at the blank monitor lost in his thoughts when he heard a noise behind him, he turned to find Aviva standing there.
"I thought everyone was sleeping?" Martin asked.
"They are." Aviva answered.
"Why aren't you?"
"Same reason you're not Martin!"
"You feel like a traitor too?" Martin asked sighing sadly.
"What are you doing? Can I help?" She asked gently joining him at the computer.
"I was doing research on lynx's." Martin answered.
"The computer isn't even on."
"I know!"
"MK, I know how you feel; Chris went through exactly what you are! You're right it's not an easy choice and its one Stone should never have forced you to make!"
"But?" Martin asked waiting for the lecture.
"But…you made the right choice!"
"Thanks Aviva!" Martin said smiling sadly. "I just wish I knew what to do!"
"You will you guys always do because you're a Wild Kratt!" Aviva encouraged.
"I wish I had as much faith in me as you do!" Martin confessed.
"You know I never thought I'd say this in a million years, but I'd rather be fighting Zach and his Zachbots right now than Stone!" Aviva said.
"Me…wait! What did you say?" Martin said looking at her.
"I said I'd rather be fighting Zach and his Zachbots than…"
"That's it! Aviva you're a genius!" Martin said excited cutting her off, he hugged her as he laughed.
"What did I say?" Aviva asked confused as she smiled.
"The answer to our problem is Zachbots!" Martin answered.
"It…it is? We're going to use Zachbots?" Aviva asked more confused.
"Not Zachbots, but we are using robots!" Martin answered still smiling.
"We are?" Aviva asked still confused.
"Yes, we are! Can you build a lifelike, fully operational lynx robot?"
"Of course, but I…ohhhhh!" Aviva said trailing off as she clued in.
"It has to look, feel, and act like a real lynx!"
"No problem! I'll need help though!" Aviva said smiling.
"I'm all yours!" Martin agreed. "How long will it take you to make it?"
"Two days, if we start right now!"
"I'm not tired anyway!" Martin said smiling. "Where do we begin?"
TBC…
