Hehe...heh...didn't know it'd been so long 'XD sorry guys...but it's here now :) turns out i have done some pretty good writing at 4am...so hope you enjoy it! You guys are totally amazing with the reviews 8) awwwww-

disclaimer: may not own Wild Kratts...But I AM Vice Overlord of the archive! WAHAHAHAHA! XD(heh, no. :P not even)


*Chris's POV

I could only watch as Zach worked at the monitors. My mouth had been rebound with the unpleasantly tight handkerchief, courtesy of my double. I silently sat and glared at the back of his head.

I slumped slightly in the chair, feeling weak like I'd just swam 10 miles for my life. My hands were bound behind me on the back of the chair and my feet tied so they didn't touch the floor. The ropes were uncomfortable as it was, but the hard, odd chair made it difficult not to squirm.

From my spot bound and sitting on the wooden chair, I leaned and shifted a bit to see around Zach. I was trying to see the screens' feed from the security cameras that Zach was studying.

When I finally spotted my brother walking up the staircase again on screen 9, I couldn't help but feel relieved. I had had no doubt my brother had made it. Of course we would end up alright. This was Martin I was talk- err, thinking about.

It was simply the dread of not knowing and the 'what if?' thoughts that filled my head with the worst. The bad sort of what ifs that should never be brought up.

But then I realized- Zach had seen Martin too.

The other smirked, once again looking minacious. I frowned. 'Now what?' I thought, 'Make the stairs fall out from under him?'

"Ah, Martin. There you are." the evil doer said quietly, talking to the screen, "Perfect. And you're going right where I want you."

The inventor walked off, fake Chris in his wake without a word to me. I glared after them, before turning to face the screen again. I wondered what they were going to do now that my brother had come to save-...oh no.

XXX

*Martin's POV

Aside from the stairs seeming to take even longer than before while jogging up, according to my watch, I had a shorter trip. I passed the first door and found several others higher up. Why Zach insisted on a huge building, I had no clue.

"We're close by whenever you need us, Martin" came Aviva's voice from my creature pod. We were talking quietly while I kept moving.

"Right. Stay on standby. We might need a fast get away if Zach tries to pull something."

"Well, we tried to help you out for now. We secretly hacked Zach's video recordings so that what he sees on the screen is just a replay from earlier surveillance, courtesy of Koki"

"Making me invisible to him? That's great, Aviva! Thanks Koki!" Martin said appreciatively. There might actually be a chance he'd get out of there with Chris unsuspected. He only hoped Chris was still okay.

But I don't know how long that'll work for" she continued slowly. "He won't be fooled that long, but we bought you time and possibly a cover. Just hurry and...be careful this time, okay?"

I nodded, and then we disconnected.

I decided to try one of the doors. they all looked the same, so picking one at random, I ended up at another floor's steel door. It occurred to me that eventually I'd have to go back down the steps, but I pushed that thought aside and opened the heavy door.

Right now I needed to find Chris. That was priority.

(Still Martin)

I knew I had to make my footsteps quiet, but I also need to find my brother quickly before-

"No! Zach, don't! You can't do this!"

That was Chris. He was around here somewhere!

"Who's stopping me? It certainly isn't you!" Zach laughed.

They were both nearby.

I hurried into the room where I'd heard the yelling from. It was a huge room that took up almost the whole level of this floor. There was a huge glass window that provided the only light for the empty room. Speaking of empty, I hadn't seen or heard anything. I really thought I had heard Zach and my brother!

I walked further in, though I stayed alone the walls for paranoid reasons. Was this some sort of trap? I was starting to have bad feelings...for obvious reasons.

I facepalmed myself for being careless. This was Zach's domain! He was probably watching me right now, waiting for me to make just the right wrong move. I stood for a moment, surveying my surroundings. I couldn't see anything apparent, but now I was feeling skeptical. Had it been a good idea to do this alone?

The fact that it was too quiet raised the suspicion. There was one door on the opposite side of the room from where I entered, diagonal from me. I eyed it warily. I knew I'd heard my brother though, so I took a risk.

"Chris!" I called out, cupping my hands to boost. "Chris! Bro!"

It dawned on me that maybe yelling wasn't exactly the best way to get Chris's attention, but it was too late for second thoughts. Everyone and everything (in the Zachbot's case) knew I was here now.

"Martin!" someone yelled from behind. I turned around, knowing the voice.

Chris was standing on the other side of the room.

"Bro! oh, Martin, you came for me" Chris exclaimed, running up to me.

"Chris what's wrong? What were you yelling about?"

He looked relieved to see me, but there was something in his eyes telling me otherwise.

"It doesn't matter. We have to get out of here! Right now"

I checked Chris over for any visible damage, but he looked completely fine. I went to put my hand on Chris's shoulder and was going to ask him something, but he dodged me.

I gave him a confused look, which Chris either didn't notice or didn't acknowledge. He kept glancing back to the other side of the room. Other than a door, I could not see anything, but Chris seemed bothered by it.

Suddenly, Chris grabbed my right arm harshly and yanked me forward, starting towards the door.

"Chris! Ow, that hurts. Let go of-"

"C'mon. We have to leave." he cut me off without a falter.

His nails were digging hard into my forearm and though they weren't sharp, his grip was really was tight. I took a sharp breath in through my clenched teeth.

I snatched my arm away, rubbing it tenderly. "Chris! Why did you do that?"

I turned away from him partially, to tend it, though I didn't have a first aid kit with me. It looked like he'd left a bruise on my arm and it was painful to touch. On top, yanking my arm back had scratched it in four straight lines, but not quite deep enough to make it bleed.

I looked at Chris wanting an explanation, but his back was to me. He wasn't moving at all as if he were frozen on the spot. Concerned, I stepped up to him, this time not making physical contact, but standing in his way.

"Chris" I said, looking him in the eye to get his attention.

"I'm. Fine." he insisted in a monotone that wasn't exactly very convincing. He wouldn't even look at me!

But something was wrong. As I looked at him a bit longer, I started to notice that. His eyes...they almost seemed glazed over. That worried me immensely and I stared at him. His posture...the way he looked at me...something was way off.

What had Zach done to my brother?

Suddenly I heard a loud thump. Then another. What was that?

Then an even louder sound of something hitting the floor. Hard. it sounded painful. Chris made a sudden move towards the door I saw, but he stopped himself, glaring at it. What was behind that door that made him uneasy?

I made a move to go see what it was, but I was still cautious. I didn't bother to ask Chris. When he noticed me heading for it, he made another move to grab me. I was somehow expecting it, and I dodged his hand. However what I didn't expect was him to outright tackle me from behind.

I was really surprised and by instinct I immediately started struggling. I was thankful that moment that he wasn't the older brother, I physically being able to over power him, but four years wasn't such a difference after reaching our body's limits. And Chris was somehow overpowering me. He didn't even seem to be trying that hard.

With a rush of adrenaline, I had a moment of strength that overpowered his, and I kicked him off. Not wanting to take an chances, I immediately jumped and pinned him, panting from the effort it took. "Chris, what is wrong with you?!"

He didn't answer. He just gave me this...cold stare. If I knew nothing else about what was happening, I knew this- that was not my brother. Or at least not him in control of himself, no matter what Zach did.

He could've even brainwashed him...anything!

THUMP!

The heavy knock came again. From behind the door. That was it. What was behind that door that Chris didn't want me to see?

I waited only a second. The with a jump start, I bolted to the metal door. Knowing I only had a second, I opened the door...but something stopped it. Something behind the door kept me from opening it, but with a glance behind me at my approaching brother, it only took me half a half-second to slip in and slam it closed. The sound of Chris colliding with the door made me wince.

Ouch.

I quickly locked the door, deciding not to face my brother for the moment. Then I froze, considering the noises that had previously come from inside this room. Just what or who had I locked myself in with?

"Uuuuhhhhhhnnnnn..."

The sound wasn't sudden, but it scared me. It was a low groan. With my back on the door and my eyes wide, I slow turned my gaze downward...and nearly had a freak attack from my shock. Okay, no, I'm exaggerating, but this was very unexpected.

"CHRIS!?" I yelled louder than I would've liked. I saw him wince this time and I immediately quieted. I dropped to my knees, intent on untying him, but I stopped myself. Remembering my previous experience, I instead moved to get the cloth from his mouth before I did anything else. "Chris?" I asked low and unsurely.

Chris turned to look at me. "Martin...ow." he hissed.

I gave him a look, but shook my head. He'd been trying to get my attention and I'd probably accidentally given him a concussion with the door. I frowned and gave him an apologetic look.

"Oh, sorry about that. I didn't mean to swing it open. I had no idea you were in here right behind the door."

Chris put his head back town so that he was looking up at the ceiling. He seemed to sigh. "Martin...arms...ow."

"Arms?"

I was confused...until I realized his arms were bound behind the back of the chair. His own weight was putting a ton of circulation-stopping pressure on his arms and wrist which had to be painful. I immediately scrambled to my feet and sat the chair upright, relieving his arms which had marks from the chair.

"Thanks" he said quietly, flexing his fingers, to get the feeling back into the probably.

"Martin, Zach's-"

"I know, I know. I, uh...met the other you, already."

We both heard loud banging at the door and Chris jumped.

It was the other Chris. The one in the chair seemed more like my brother than the other, and that was enough reason for me. I quickly started to untie the knots. The banging was getting louder, and angrier with each hit.

Bang!

'Shoot...'

BANG!

'Chris, just know you were the best brother I ever could've had...'

The door was starting to show dents from impact and that only made me go faster. This guy was crazy! I knew I was dead at that moment, but I didn't stop as I moved on to Chris ankles which he was able to help with.

If I didn't at least get Chris out, then we would both be dead.

FOOM!

The door broke clean off the hinges and was slammed flat on the floor in front of us with one booted foot. The copy was practically shaking from the effort...or maybe sheer rage?

His glare was fixed and locked on me. I practically felt my eyes contract in fear. Chris was clutching the seat of his chair and I'm pretty sure neither of us were breathing. The double seemed to sensed this, and stood up straight. His deep scowl slowly changed into a harsh smirk that said everything on my mind.

Yup. We're goners


REVIEW, guys! XD or else I won't update! WAHAHAHAHAHAHA...yeah, okay go ahead. :]