"Chrissss!"
Koki was wandering around the Tortuga looking for the younger Kratt. She woke up early to run a series of test to make sure the Tortuga was running properly. Now that she was done and everything was in order; she just needed to update Chris so they can go find their friends.
Chris was really worried last night; pacing back and forth, quietly murmuring to himself. Jimmy wasn't much of a help, endlessly listing all the worst case scenarios. Though distressed he was, Chris suggested –to her surprise– that they wait until morning to look for them. He then suggested everyone get some sleep. Of course, though, he didn't take his own advice because this morning when she first woke up he had dark circles under his eyes. He probably stayed up all night waiting for them and Koki's frown deepened. This is really taking a toll on him and she was becoming more and more worried. Even though he insists that he feels better and isn't receiving the symptoms as much, she was still cautious. And she was worried that soon his concussion and all this stress will soon have a great effect on his wellbeing.
Koki walked to the main room, for the third time, slightly startled to see Jimmy up. "Hey Jimmy-Z. Have you seen Chris?" She asked watching him swallowed the bite he just took.
"I dunno… maybe he went outside for some fresh air?" He suggested before taking another bit out of his burrito. Koki nodded in gratitude and spun on her heel to check outside, faintly hearing Jimmy mention something about he might also be in the bathroom. I'll check there after checking outside.
"Chris?" She called but still she still didn't receive an answer. Please don't tell me he's missing too! Last night Jimmy suggested aliens might have been the cause of their friends' disappearances but there weren't such things…right? Koki coughed at the ridiculous thought and turned around to go back in when something caught her eye.
Shielding out the morning sun with her hand, she slightly squinted to see a shape- a vehicle-driving straight toward her. As soon as it came, the small glimmer of hope in her chest died as she realized that the jeep didn't even look like the Createrra. Plus, Martin took the blue bug bike and Aviva drove the hover bike, so the Createrra is still in the garage.
"Jimmy? Chris?" She yelled behind her, not taking her eyes off the vehicle. Okay, calm down Koki…it might be nothing to be concerned about. Besides…you know Karate. And even thought you only took a couple of classes, I'm sure I can take any threat. The jeep was getting closer. But I'm probably getting worked up over nothing. I'm sure I'm not in any danger. The jeep stops right next to her and she could see a black haired young man. See, he looks like a boy…18 at the most. There's nothing to worry abou-GUN!
As soon as he jumped out and Koki spotted the metal strapped to his chest all logic thought flew away from her. Without any sort of a warning, she charged at him and managed to tackle him to the ground. The young man yelped in surprise and Koki grabbed his arm, pulling it behind him, and pressing his face into the ground.
"Who are you? What do you want? Where are my friends?" she yelled pressing him further into the ground.
"Mmf mmmff!" He replied; his answer muffled from his face being in the ground.
"What?" She demanded.
"Koki?"
Without loosening her grip, she turned her head to see Chris cautiously walking toward her confusion and mild alarm etched in his face. Jimmy was hiding directing behind him with his face peeking over his shoulder.
"Chris! Where have you been? I've been looking for you everywhere," she says unable to keep the relief from escaping in her voice.
"I was in the bathroom," he replied slowly still trying to process what was happening in front of him.
"Oh. Well? Don't just stand there, help me! You too, Jimmy."
"Umm…Koki? Why are you sitting on top of that boy that?" Chris asked.
"Y-yeah, why? Jimmy echoed slightly frightened. Koki tightened her grip on her squirmy captive.
"Can you at least help me hold him before he tries to escape?" She said gritting her teeth. The boy managed to lift his head and cried out indignantly, "Why would I try to escape when I'm came to you for h-" Koki cut him off by pressing his head in the ground. "I didn't say you can talk yet."
Chris raised his eyebrow silently commenting to himself how she could be a cop. He cleared his throat before speaking, "Koki I think he needs something. I don't think he's dangerous or anything."
"Oh yeah," she challenged, "Then why would he have a gun strapped to his chest?"
"A gun?" Jimmy exclaimed fearfully.
"Which, by the way, is painfully getting pressed into my chest so please get-"
"Be quiet," Koki said pressing his face into the ground once again.
"How about we bring him inside and ask him a few questions?" Chris suggests ignoring Jimmy's protests.
Koki narrowed her eyes, "What about his gun?"
"We'll hold on to it for now until we can get some answers."
Koki simply nodded and stood up, pulling the young man with her, and making sure her grip on him was tight. Chris walked over and pulled the gun over the boy's head and handed it to Jimmy who immediately started to fumble with it.
"That gun is on a safety right?" Chris whispered to the young man and took ahold of his left arm while Koki held the right. Chris was slightly worried about giving the gun to Jimmy. The young man nodded his head, "It's not even loaded." Chris nodded back but inside he was confused as well as Koki who overheard. Why would someone carry an empty gun around?
When they get inside, they sit him on the table in the middle of the room.
"Okay straight to business. What's your name?" Chris asks.
"Who sent you? What are you up too? Why are carrying a gun? Why-"
"Ahem. One question at a time Koki," Chris said in a calm tone. Koki nodded and crossed her arms. Chris turned to the boy and gave him an encouraging nod.
"My name is Tyler."
"What's your business here Tyler?" Koki asked unable to contain herself. She glanced at Chris who seemed slightly exasperated but not mad.
"I'm here because I know where your brother," he looked at Chris and then at Koki, "and your friend is."
"Aha! I knew it," Koki exclaimed and grabbed Tyler by the collar. "What did you do with our friends!? I swear if you hurt them in anyway, by the time I'm through with you-"
"Koki… calm down," Chris soothed placing a hand on her shoulder. Koki sighed and let him go but still glared at him hard.
"I swear your friends are fine," Tyler said throwing his hands up in a show of innocence, "but I came here to get help for them."
"I think you need to do some explaining," Chris stated. Tyler nodded.
"You see… I was just driving around when I came across this camp. It didn't look like anyone was there but there were two people in a cage who said their names were Aviva and Martin. They told me that they were captured and that soon you guys would be too. They told me I had to hurry and warn you so Aviva gave me your coordinates and I came as soon as I could.
"But why was Martin there in the first place?" Chris wondered out loud.
Tyler shrugged, "He didn't tell me."
"What about the gun?" Koki asked still not convinced.
"My father gave it to me but it's not loaded. It's just more for show in case I came across anyone," he hastily explained.
"Does he know where you are?" Jimmy asked and Tyler shook his head. Jimmy looked at Koki. "Looks like you were wrong Koki. You over-reacted kind of like you did when you though Martin was bitten by a Gila monster…" He trailed off nervously at the hard look she was giving him.
"Tyler, you're not lying to us right? We can trust you?" Chris asked.
Koki knew she didn't. Something about him and/or his story seemed fishy. Okay, she admits it…she did over-react. It wasn't exactly kind of her to shove his face into the ground just because he had a gun (even though she could justify it by saying she was defending herself.) But she was positive Tyler wasn't telling them the truth. And she was determined to find him out.
Tyler nodded, "I only-"
Beep. Beep.
Chris watched as Koki skipped to the big screen and opened the notification. He glanced at Tyler to see he was staring at the screen with mild interest so Chris too turned to the screen.
"It's a Wild Kratts kid," she stated as she accepted it.
An African girl appeared on the screen. "Hi guys. My name is Amira. I just wanted to know if you were able to rescue the baby elephant," She asked. Chris glanced at Koki and Jimmy to see they were looked equally as confused.
"What are you talking about Amira? What baby elephant? Koki asked.
Amira titled her head and replied slowly, "The one I saw a bunch of guys with guns had in a cage." Nobody noticed Tyler visibly tensing. "I called a few days ago and told Martin. He told me 'The Wild Kratts were on it so I don't-"
Chris stepped forward," Wait, are you telling me that there were a creature mission and Martin didn't tell us?" His face twisted in disbelief.
"Well…if you didn't know about it then I guess s not. But why-"
Chris's mind was spinning. Why would Martin do that? What possible reason could he have to go by himself? Sure, there have been times when they had to separate or one had to hurry and rush by themselves in a certain situation, but never without letting someone know. They are a team so there isn't a need to go solo. That could prove to be dangerous.
"Hey!"
Amira's exclamation caused Chris to jerk his head up. She eyes were wide and she looked like she looked very confused. Her next words shocked Chris like ice water being dumped on his head.
"He was one of the guys," she said looking straight at Tyler. Chris didn't move, wondering if he heard her correctly.
Koki immediately charged at him while yelling, "I knew it! Wait until I can't my hands on you!" Tyler immediately jumped up and started running.
Ignoring the chase that was issued Chris questioned Amira, "Are you sure he was there?"
Amira nodded vigorously, "I'm sure. He was standing right next to the guy who was barking out orders."
"Okay…thanks for the help," Chris said and hung up. Things were just not adding up…why would Tyler lie? If he wanted to capture them too why didn't he already do so? He did have a gun after all. Wait…the gun!
Chris quickly looked around for it and spotted it by Aviva's inventing station where Jimmy must have sat it down. A quick glance at Tyler told Chris he had started to think the same thing. Chris was closer and reached it first. But he only had a moment of victory before Tyler slammed into him knocking it out of his hand. Chris staggered back, blinking away the dots that distorted his vision. Koki charged at Tyler but he managed to grab her arm and twist her so her back thudded against his chest as he held tightly onto her. Koki felt something hard nudge her in her head and silently gulps at the realization.
"Okay listen up… nobody move and I won't shoot her."
Hearing a thud, Chris looks behind him to see Jimmy passed out cold on the ground. He glanced at Tyler to see his eyes widened a bit but other than that his face remained straight as he gripped tighter to Koki who was struggling against him.
"I thought you said it wasn't loaded?" Chris said and he could've sworn he saw Tyler faltered but it could just be his vision acting up again.
"How do you know I wasn't lying about that either?" Tyler shot back. Chris didn't reply and started walked to Jimmy to make sure he was alright. It didn't seem like anything was wrong with him and Chris prayed his head wasn't injured.
"So now you all are going to listen to me without an interruption and we'll go from there. Got it?" Chris gave the slightest nod.
"Okay, first of all…the girl, Amira, wasn't lying. I am a member of the group who is currently holding your friends captive. We are poachers; killing elephants for their ivory tusks."
Chris knew Tyler was examining his reactions so he kept a straight face and meant his gaze steadily. But inside Chris was getting more and more upset. In return, Chris was equally examining Tyler. Even though Tyler looked like he was meaning serious business there were something off about him. Chris' guess was that he was lying about the gun loaded but if he only wanted them to listen what's the need? Oh yeah, Koki would have him in a headlock by now.
"But I really want to help."
"Yeah, yourself," Koki spat.
Chris wasn't so sure about that. He really didn't know what to think but he was pretty sure Tyler had good motives. At least he hoped he does.
"After Martin got captured, the others left but I stayed keeping guard. And Martin," Tyler shortly laughed, "well… he started a conversing with me…and not just demanding to be let go."
Chris smiled inwardly. Martin –even when held prisoner– can always find a way to strike up a conversation.
"The way he talked to me though was like he was genuinely interested in me. Such interest that I haven't been shown in years. And even though he was a complete stranger to me, he got me to trust him enough to show him my sketchbook; I've only showed my mom what in that. I haven't had a genuine friend in years and believe it or not, but by that one conversation –he was the closest thing I've had to one," he admitted his voice soft.
Chris was taken back, but in a good way. In fact he was slightly in awe. He always knew Martin was easygoing and could make friends easily but this takes it to a whole new level. You can read a lot from a person's eyes and Chris could tell Tyler had suffered much pain. But just that one conversation Martin insinuated affected him deeply. Even if Tyler had been lying before there could be no way he was now.
"And because of him, I had something that was crushed years earlier; hope."
Chris noticed that by now Koki had stopped struggling and was paying close attention to his words. Tyler's hold had loosened and the gun was slightly lowered as if he had forgotten about it.
"Hope that maybe I can get away from all of it," he continues his voice slightly shaking.
"From the…"
Chris's eyes flickered to Jimmy who he didn't even know was awake. He was surprised the pilot had managed to come too without anyone waving pizza above his nose.
"Yes, from the poaching. I never had a choice, I was– am being forced. Do you think I like seeing the animals we kill? I'm just lucky I haven't been told to join in that part, yet. Then your friend came and I could tell they were planning something. And then Martin blurts out Aviva needs to use the bathroom even though I knew it had to be some sort of trick. Not because Aviva had bad acting, even though that could use some work…" He spoke the last part like he was talking to himself.
Chris almost smiled. Aviva never did like being put on the spot like that. I'm sure she wasn't too happy with Martin for doing that.
"But I'm just a very observant person. When all you do all day is sit around to keep on watch, you tend to get bored and you start to notice things. Anyway somehow I knew that was my chance so I took it and volunteer to take her. And then after a…delay, we came up with a plan, sort of. I gave Aviva the key that opens the cage. Now the rest is up to us."
"But how did Martin know you were going to volunteer yourself?" Jimmy questioned.
Tyler's eyebrows drew together as he contemplated the question, "He couldn't have because we didn't talk about it. That makes me wonder why he would take such a chance. That was pretty risky."
Chris wasn't so sure about that. Martin wasn't only good at "reading" animals as he liked to say what they're thinking but he also was good at reading people. Chris was sure Martin could see that Tyler wanted someone to talk to but then he also saw how Tyler was hurting and wanted a friend. There was no doubt in Chris's mind that Tyler wasn't telling the truth and if he is…then he needs to give Aviva some acting lessons.
"So you're helping us, and in turn you want us to help you get away," Koki confirmed.
"I'm in."
Chris saw Koki arched an eyebrow at him. Since Tyler had let her go and wasn't pointing the gun at her, Koki walked over to Chris.
"Are you sure we can trust him?" She whispered loudly. Out of the corner of his eye, Chris saw Tyler shrug probably because he had heard her. Chris wasn't sure but he knew they could use some help dealing with the poachers.
"It doesn't matter Koki. We know from Amira that he was the last person to see Martin. Besides I don't think he'll gain anything if he is lying and I doubt he'll make all of that up for nothing. So yeah we can trust him." Chris stated smiling at him. Tyler grinned back.
"If Chris trusts him then so do I," Jimmy voiced.
Chris could see the doubts flowing through her head, stemming from the concern for her friends. He gave her a reassuring smile and a slight nod. After a moment of hesitation, she brightens and smiled back at him.
"I guess I'm in too," she announced.
"Great. Now we need a plan," Tyler said crossing his arms.
Chris nodded, "But first things first." He then turned to Jimmy who was busy rummaging through his fridge. "Hey Jimmy?"
Jimmy inched his head from the back of the fridge, "Yes Chris?"
"Are you alright?" Chris asks walking over to the redhead. Jimmy looked at him, confused.
"From your fall…when you fainted," Chris clarified.
"Oh that. Yeah, I'm cool. I don't even think I hit head that hard. I think my elbows sort of caught my fall…which would explain why they're slightly bruised."
Chris nodded relieved. He'll take bruises before possible concussions.
"Okay Tyler, now we can come up with a plan."
Thirty minutes late, after much debate, they finally came up with a plan that could possibly work. Chris was slightly saddened that he would have to stay in the Tortuga but he agreed it was for the best. Koki had immediately shot down his idea that he could rescue them using creature powers and Chris silently cursed himself for getting the concussion in the first place.
"Okay so, the sooner we do this the better. Once the plan is set in motion everyone must be quick, everything has to run smoothly, just as planned."
Chris noticed Koki glancing at him. He nodded. It was best to stick with the plan to ensure everyone's safety…including his own.
Tyler directed attention to the map again that he had drew of the campsite. He reminded them where everything was located and the best location to proceed from.
Tyler now looked at Chris, "So when is the plan set in motion?
Chris lifted his head from the maps.
"Immediately."
A/N: And that's where I'll end for now. They have a plan and are setting it in motion. So how did I do?
Martin: Horrible, considering the fact I'm still locked up.
Me: Hey! You are lucky you're still alive.
Martin: Considering the fact that you make me be here with you isn't a good alternative.
Me: You are so mean!
Martin: It's actually only to you…everyone else is perfectly sane so I'm nice to them.
Me: Chris!
Chris: *sighs* Let me guess; you and Martin are going at it again?
Me: He started it!
Martin: Oh yeah, blame it on me, why don't you!
Me: I just did!
Martin: Well…I'm never saying the disclaimer for you again! Which, by the way, you haven't been doing. I should sue you now for copyright!
Me: Oh yeah-
Aviva: Jakaynne doesn't own anything except the plot and her OCs.
Martin: Aviva?! Why did you do that? *wails*
Aviva: Because she is very sweet and an awesome writer.
Martin: *covers ears* My ears…can't handle such lies.
Me: Thanks Avi-Wait, didn't you call me a donkey in one of the last chapters?
Aviva: Umm…Adiós! *runs out*
Me: *sighs*
Anyway tell me how I did. Did you like this chapter? Are you getting really impatient? What do you want to see happen/or what do you think will happen?
Thanks for all the awesome reviews that seriously makes my day. ILY all and have a great week.
BTW: Summer's almost here! Who's excited? (I'm really really really excited!)
Toodles! (Lol I love that line xD)
