Memories:

By: Taralynn Wakelin

The sun shone onto the surface of the small, quiet lake warming it as he looked down on it from his spot on the small cliff above it. He shielded his brown eyes, with one of his hands as he starred at the clear water he smiled to himself. He backed away and running a hand through his short, brown hair he returned to the spot where his best friend, and older brother stood smiling, his brother spoke as he joined him.

"Is it all clear?" His brother asked an excited gleam in his blue eyes.

"All clear!" He answered smiling back.

"Let's do this!" His brother yelled brushing strand's of his short, blond hair out of his eyes. "You ready bro?"

"Oh, yeah!" He answered. "On the count of three, ready?"

"Count it down!"

"One…two…three!" He yelled, as both brother's ran full speed towards the cliff without slowing, then at the last minute they jumped off falling into the water laughing.

They landed with two splashes and second's later they resurfaced smiling, his brother yelled out his happiness as he just laughed. They swam and splashed each other until an hour later they got out and sat on the grass to dry off, after awhile his brother spoke.

"You want to do it again?" His brother asked smiling.

"Race you to the top!" He said getting up and racing for the cliff.

A couple of hour's later they decided to explore some more, so they began walking around just enjoying the quiet. As they walked they'd stop and watch all the animal's that busily went about their day-to-day activities, not really paying attention to the brother's.

The brother's separated, and as he watched some squirrel's running around while his brother was looking behind some bushes in a clearing not far from Chris.

"Chris!" His brother called out from behind the bushes.

"Yeah, Martin?" He answered, not really paying attention to the way he had called his name, until he didn't answer. "Martin?" He called again, still not getting an answer he got up and headed to look for him. "Martin where are you? This isn't funny bro!" Chris called out beginning to get worried; it wasn't like Martin not to answer his calls.

As he neared the bushes he suddenly heard the sound of metal against metal, he got scared as he rushed into a clearing in time to see Martin standing by two, destroyed Zachbot's, Martin looked at him as he caught his breath before he spoke angrily.

"Zachbot's! They came out of nowhere and caught me by surprise, before I could warn you they grabbed me! Where there's Zachbot's there's always…Zach!"

"Are you okay Martin?" Chris asked as he went up to him concerned.

"I'm fine! Come on we need to find Zach and see what he's up to!"

"I'll call the team on the way!" Chris said as they headed in the direction the bot's had come from.

After 20 minute's they came to a clearing hidden behind some bushes and heard Zach yelling at his bot's to hurry up and capture the bear's he needed for his latest invention. They looked through the bushes and saw the bot's forcing two, large, male bear's into a cage, the bear's fought back. Having seen enough the brother's confronted Zach, stopping him from capturing the bear's who quickly escaped while the bot's were distracted. Angrily Zach turned to the brother's they smiled at him, he began to yell at them for once again ruining his plan's, the brother's were enjoying messing with him they just smiled.

"Again? Why do you Wild Ratt's always ruin my plans?"

"Its so much fun, that's why!" Martin said smiling.

"When are you going to stop trying to capture animals? You always fail Zach, why not just give up?" Chris asked unable to stop smiling.

"Let's see how well you two do against my Zachbot's?" Zach laughed as he sent his bot's after them.

"Let's have some fun Chris!" Martin said laughing as the bot's advanced on them.

"Let's do this!" Chris said as they began to fight the bot's, their smile's never leaving their face's, nothing was more fun to the brother's than messing with Zach and his plan's.

Once again like usual, the brother's quickly gained the upper hand, seeing they were winning the battle Zach jumped on one of his bot's and took off into the tree's, Chris saw.

"Martin! Zach!" Chris yelled.

"I see him! Come on let's go after him!" Martin said as they began chasing after him.

They followed him fighting Zachbot's on the way, during the battle both brother's Creature pods were accidentally turned on without them knowing about it. Their pod's recorded the whole battle, as they closed in on Zach the brother's decided to separate and go after him from both sides. They ran off in separate direction's, Zach realized this and tried going right to lose Chris first. Chris chased Zach, and saw a small tree that would be just the right size for Chris to jump off and onto the bot Zach was on. As Chris raced after Zach and climbed the tree he never noticed the Zachbot closing in on him, until he jumped off the tree towards Zach. Once in midair Chris was slammed hard from behind the pain from impact stunned him and he fell quickly to the ground smashing his head off a large rock, he lay beside it unmoving. Zach saw the fall, turned around, and went over to where he still lay; he smiled at his body believing he had killed him he spoke.

"You lose Green Guy! One dead, one to kill!" Zach said as he smiled, suddenly he heard Martin closing in on him from the left, and quickly took off to finally finish him off too.

He soon found Martin standing in a tree, this one was bigger than the one his brother had been in, Martin didn't see him yet too busy fighting two Zachbot's. Using this distraction, he waited until the bot's had lured him out further onto the branch, once he was in position Zach bumped the branch. Martin unprepared for the impact couldn't keep his balance and fell from the tree hitting three other branches on his way down. The last branch he had smashed his head off before landing on the ground unmoving just like his brother had. Zach watched him fall smiling, he couldn't believe how easy it was to get rid of them, both brother's had made it easier by climbing into trees. He looked down at Martin's lifeless body and congratulated himself on doing what no one else could before.

"I Zach Varmitech, have done what no one has been able too…I exterminated both those pathetic Wild Ratt's! With both of them now dead, I'm free to do whatever I choose! Zachbot's, back to the ship we're going home!" Zach said smiling as they took off leaving the brother's where they fell.

Meanwhile:

An hour later a young, married couple were walking through the woods, on their way to the small lake that was there. They were going there to have a picnic and spend the day relaxing, as they rounded a corner the wife spotted something laying on the ground. She told her husband who brushed her off telling her it was probably just an animal, and they continued walking until as they got closer she spotted a hand and quickly told him.

"Thomas, that's not an animal! Look, there's a hand! It's a person we have to see they need help!" She said concerned.

"You're right Kari!" Thomas said as they rushed over to him, Thomas knelt by him and checked for a pulse. "Kari, call 911! He's alive, but hurt! I'll try and stop the bleeding from his head!" He said as he took out the picnic blanket and put pressure on his head, while Kari made the call, he looked at Chris closely. "What is that thing?" Thomas wondered looking at his Creature suit confused.

Further in the forest a young family of three were hiking through the wood's, the husband and wife pointed out all the animals to their young, five year old daughter as they walked. They came to a clearing and seeing the large tree in the middle of it the little girl asked her parent's if she could climb it, they told her no it was too high. She then asked if she could go play under it and they agreed so together they began walking towards it. As they neared the tree the little girl let go of her dad's hand and ran towards it, but stopped when she spotted Martin lying unmoving and quickly told her parent's.

"Mommy, daddy there's a man lying on the ground!"

"Maybe he's having a rest sweetie?" Her mom suggested smiling.

"No mommy, I think he fell his arm look's funny!" She answered.

"Amanda honey, you stay right here with mommy okay? I'll go see if he's alright!"

"Be careful Billy please!"

"I will Sarah!" He said as he walked over to where Martin lay so still, he knelt and checked for a pulse, he found one, but looking at him he knew he was seriously hurt. "Sarah, call 911! He's alive, but hurt!" He said as he took off his jacket and tried to stop the bleeding coming from his head, as Sarah called Amanda joined her father and spoke.

"Daddy? What's he wearing? It's funny looking!" She asked pointing to Martin's Creature suit.

Later:

A couple hour's later both brother's were resting comfortably in their hospital room's at different hospitals. At the scene both brother's had been taken out of their Creature suit's by the EMT's, so they could be stabilized before transfer to the hospital. Concerned both families had followed their ambulance's and waited for any news on them. Their doctor's talked to them and told them their injuries; both brother's had many cuts and bruise's all over their bodies, only their head injury though needed stitches. Both brothers had broken ribs, Chris had broken two, Martin had broken three. Chris also had a sprained right ankle, and Martin had a broken left arm, luckily none of their injuries were serious or life threatening. The families were relieved, their doctor's told them they were resting now and for them to go home they could visit them the next day. The next morning both brother's woke very sore, and very confused about where they were, their doctor's were told about them being awake. They checked them over, but during their exam's both doctor's noticed something wasn't right with both the brother's. The brother's acted weird, and when questioned about what happened neither brother could remember. Concerned the doctor's asked them a series of question's ranging from the year, to their name and age among others, and again neither could remember anything and their doctor's discovered they had amnesia.

With The Team:

It had been too long! One or both brother's should of checked in by now, the sun was setting and there was no sign of either of them, she began to pace again as Jimmy watched just as concerned about the brother's. Just then the door's to the control room opened and Aviva turned upset ready to yell at the brother's for making her worry, but hug them knowing they both were okay, she turned to the door and began yelling.

"Martin and Chris Kratt do you two have any…" She stopped when she saw it was only Koki. "Oh, I'm sorry Koki! I thought you were the brother's."

"Still no sign of them?" Koki asked.

"Nope! Where could they be?" Jimmy asked worried.

"This is the bro's we're talking about guys! I'm sure they're fine, and just decided to camp in the forest for the night guy's?" Koki suggested.

"Maybe you're right! Come on let's have some dinner huh?" Aviva said.

That night despite their effort's to reassure themselves the brother's were okay, none of them could sleep. By the time the sun rose the next morning Koki was already at her computer trying to locate them with their Creature pod's again. As Aviva paced, and Jimmy sat nervously Koki finally managed to get a signal, a faint one, but a signal nonetheless, she quickly stood up and told them about her discovery.

"I found them! The signal isn't strong, but I still found them! Come on let's go check on them!" Koki said as they quickly left, hoping they both were okay.

After arriving in the area the signals were coming from they got out of the Createrra, looked around, and saw no sign of either brother anywhere. They began walking around both Aviva and Koki keeping track of the brother's signals, they all called out to them. They got no response, so they continued walking around following the signal, the signal grew stronger as they neared where Chris fell, all three were worried Koki spoke upset.

"I don't understand? The signal say's Chris should be right here!"

"I'm going to keep following Martin's signal, maybe Chris dropped his pod and is with Martin?" Aviva said as she walked further into the tree's hoping she was right.

"Jimmy do you see anything?" Koki asked her back to him. "Jimmy?" She asked again turning around when he didn't answer. "JZ are you okay?" She asked worried seeing him kneeling by a rock, she quickly joined him and froze he looked at her as he spoke.

"Its Chris' Creature suit and Creature pod!"

"Guy's! I found…" Koki cut her off scared.

"Martin's Creature suit and Creature pod?" She asked as she looked at her.

"How…how did you know?" Aviva asked really scared now.

"We found Chris' too!" Jimmy answered.

"They wouldn't just leave them out here!" Aviva said upset. "That's not all I found though…I found blood! Martin's hurt!"

"There's blood here too! Both brother's are hurt…what happened out here?" Koki asked.

"Let's get their Creature pod's back to the Tortuga, maybe they can tell us what's going on?" Aviva said as they raced back to the Tortuga.

Once at the ship Aviva got to work trying to access the video's on their pods. Finally a half hour later she managed to get both videos. On a split screen they watched as the brother's fought Zachbot's, before giving chase after Zach and then they separated. They watched as Chris tried to get to Zach, but ended up unmoving on the ground and Zach smiling as he spoke of him being dead before leaving. Then they saw Martin unaware of what happened to Chris still chasing Zach, only to be knocked out of a tree to the ground unmoving. Zach was proud of getting rid of the brother's, he then just left them, Aviva turned the videos off none of them spoke, until it finally hit them they were gone!

"Martin, and Chris are…gone!" Aviva said as she ran out of the room crying.

"Zach killed them! They're really gone!" Jimmy said softly as he just walked out upset.

Despite Koki's sadness, she knew the world needed to know two of its heroes were gone, she wouldn't say who killed them, but she needed to do this. So, through her tear's and grief she sent the message to the world that the Kratt brother's were gone before she lay her head on her keyboard and cried.

Two Day's Later:

After discovering the brother's had amnesia their doctor's talked to the families that found them, after explaining the situation, both families asked what would happen to them when released. Their doctor's couldn't give them any answer's, they had none, so the families after visiting with the brother's went home and talked. All of them were concerned about them, and after a long talk they decided the brother's would stay with them until their memory returned. The day of their release they went to the hospital and spoke with their doctor's getting everything sorted out before they took them home.

With Chris:

As he waited for his nurse to bring him his release paper's he sat on his bed deep in thought trying to make himself remember something, anything, but all he got was a headache. From the moment he woke in his hospital room he had tried to remember who he was, or anything about his life, but couldn't! His doctor told him he had amnesia from hitting his head on a rock, and to not rush it or push himself to remember it would happen on its own. That was easy for him to say, he wasn't the one unable to remember even his own name! At least he had visitors, a kind, young couple who had found him in the forest and got him help. They had visited him everyday while he was in the hospital, he really liked them and felt comfortable with both of them, and they both felt the exact same way about him. He was scared that he was being released, where would he go? He had no memory, no money, no ID…he didn't exist! He felt his tear's building, when a knock came to his door, he got himself together before calling out to his visitor.

"Come in!" He called as he turned to face the door.

"Hey you!" Kari said smiling as she came in. "So, we hear you're getting out of here today! That's great!" She said so happy for him.

"Oh, yeah…great!" Chris said quietly.

"What's wrong?" She asked sitting beside him.

"I'm just scared! I…I don't know who I' am, or where I'm even going to go!"

"All set?" Thomas asked coming into the room with a wheelchair.

"For what?" Chris asked confused.

"Well…you're coming home with us!" Kari said taking his hand.

"I' am? You don't even know me! I couldn't, I'm sorry!" Chris said touched.

"You know Kari he's right!" Thomas said smiling.

"He is?" Kari asked confused.

"Yeah, we don't even know his name! So technically we don't know him!"

"That's right! So…what's your name?" Kari asked smiling.

"What? I told you I can't remember it!" Chris said confused.

"We know…why not pick one? After all we need to call you something?"

"Pick one? Kari I…I don't know?" Chris said unsure.

"Why not? Just until you get your memory back!" Thomas said smiling as he patted Chris on his shoulder. "It'll be fine!"

"I can't, I'm sorry!" Chris said looking away.

"Okay…then I'll pick one for you?" Kari said smiling as she stood before him. "Hmm, you look like a…Billy? No…how about Sam? Or what about…Robert?" Kari said starring at him. "Yeah, I like Robert! What about you guy's?"

"Robert…I like it! What about you?" Thomas said smiling as he asked Chris.

"I…I guess its okay!" Chris answered smiling.

"Good! Now that that's settled, let's get you out of here huh?" Thomas said.

"Thank you both!" Chris said smiling grateful for their support, Kari hugged him before Thomas helped Chris into the wheelchair while Kari grabbed Chris' crutches and they left the hospital.

With Martin:

Today he was being released, he stood looking out the window he was scared. He had no name, no ID, no money, no memory, and nowhere to go! Since waking in the hospital he had spent every minute he had alone trying to bring his memory back, nothing worked. His doctor had told him he had amnesia, and told him not to rush it or push himself, his memory would return he just needed to be patient. That was easy for him to say, he wasn't a stranger in his own body! At least he had had company while he was in the hospital, the kind family who had found him after his fall and gotten him help. He liked them all very much, and they had grown close to him as well, the young daughter Amanda had become very attached to Martin, he was like an Uncle to her. She called him Uncle and no one corrected her, she knew he wasn't really family, so he became her adopted Uncle. He looked forward to their visit's, when they visited he didn't have to think about his amnesia, he could enjoy being with his friend's. His thoughts were interrupted by his door opening, he turned to see Amanda come in smiling, she ran to him and careful of his injuries hugged him. A few second's later Sarah, and Billy came in with a wheelchair, after greeting them Amanda spoke about him getting out, she smiled.

"You can go home now Uncle! Mommy and daddy say you're still hurt, but are okay to go home!" She said as she held his hand.

"That's great!" He said trying to be happy for her.

"Why are you sad Uncle?"

"I'm sad because I…I don't know where my home is!" Martin answered.

"Oh, you still have am…amn…what's it called again daddy?"

"Amnesia honey! Uncle can't remember anything right now because he hit his head remember?" Billy said smiling sadly at Martin, he smiled back.

"I remember! Can I tell Uncle his surprise now?"

"Surprise? What surprise?" Martin asked smiling.

"Go ahead honey!" Sarah said smiling too.

"Mommy and daddy said you're coming to live at our house!"

"Your…your house?" Martin said shocked looking at Billy and Sarah who smiled.

"Yep! You're staying with us until you get your memory back!" Billy said.

"That's very kind of you, but I can't I'm sorry!" Martin said as he sat on his bed.

"Why not? Don't you like us Uncle?" Amanda asked upset.

"I like you all very much, its just I'm a stranger! I couldn't let you do that!"

"Well, we can fix that easily enough! All you need is a name!" Billy said.

"I can't remember my name!" Martin said sadly.

"Well, until you do, why not just pick one?" Sarah suggested.

"I don't know!" Martin said unsure.

"Can I pick Uncle?" Amanda asked smiling.

"Okay, then you pick one for me!" Martin said smiling.

"What about…Tom? Or Bobby…or Ben? I like Ben!" Amanda said smiling.

"Well? What do you think?" Billy asked as Martin thought about it.

"I like it! Just call me Ben!" Martin said smiling. "Thank you guys!"

"Great! Ben it is! Come on let's get you home!" Billy said as Martin got into the wheelchair and they left the hospital.

Two Week's Later:

As Martin and Chris settled into their new lives, the world who knew the Kratt brother's mourned for them with Aviva, Koki, and Jimmy. They stayed in the forest in the Tortuga only leaving to get supplies. By staying in the forest surrounded by nature and the animal's the brother's had loved enough to die protecting they felt close to them. They tried to move on, but none of them could they had lost their brother's and didn't know how to let them go! They tried to continue doing the thing's they loved to do, but nothing seemed to matter anymore. One day two week's later Aviva was reading more condolence's from people who had loved the brother's and suddenly she realized if they didn't snap out of their depression they'd never be able to move on with their lives.

"Koki, Jimmy I think its time to talk!" She said closing her laptop.

"About what?" Jimmy asked.

"About letting the brother's go?" She answered gently.

"You're right! Its time we honour them instead of mourn them!" Koki added.

"How do we do that?" Jimmy asked.

"First of all we need to stop acting like we have been! Its going to be hard, but we owe it to them to try!" Aviva said smiling sadly.

"We lost our brother's, but they'll live on through us! Moving on doesn't mean we have to forget them!" Koki said gently.

"I know! Let's get our favourite picture of them and tell our favourite memory of them tonight under the star's in a sort of mock funeral?" Jimmy suggested smiling sadly.

"JZ that's a great idea! Come on let's go get ready!" Aviva said smiling.

TBC…