Chapter 6:
Three Days Later:
The afternoon sun hung high in the clear sky, the heat it caused intense. It was the third day, the day of the deadline! Despite their non-stop search for King, he continued to avoid them; it was as if he was a ghost, leaving no trace anywhere! Each member of the team were exhausted; no one more than Martin and Emily. They refused to stop searching until they had Chris and Lainey back with them. Martin and Emily had been up before the sun rose, and had been all over the Savannah. They had returned to the place they had first seen King, both hoping he'd be there, but like usual he wasn't. Emily checked her watch, time was running out and they still had nothing! They had been sitting, waiting for two hours now; finally Martin stood and kicked a rock into the grass as he spoke angrily.
"How are we supposed to save them, if we can't even find King?" Martin yelled as he paced. "They're depending on us, and we…I failed them!" He continued, Emily just stood watching him, she didn't say anything; truthfully she didn't know what to say to him. "He can't just disappear! Where are you?" He yelled into the grass.
"Uh, Martin?" Emily suddenly said, noticing the grass behind him moving.
"There has to be something we can do!" Martin continued as he paced not hearing her.
"Martin?" She tried again.
"He's not a ghost, there has to be some trace of him somewhere!"
"MARTIN!" Emily yelled seeing the grass continue to move as the animal got closer.
"What?" He asked frustrated as he turned to face her, she just pointed behind him.
Martin turned around just as the animal came into the clearing, it was…King! He was even more incredible up close, Martin moved backwards slowly until he was beside Emily. Neither moved or spoke as they starred into the eyes of King, the animal just stood there starring back, he didn't seem bothered by their presence at all. He then lay down in front of them, Martin and Emily looked at each other in shock.
"What…what do we do now?" Emily whispered.
"We need to get him into the cage on the Createrra." Martin said feeling like crap knowing what he was about to do to this innocent animal.
"Okay, how do we do that?" Emily asked nervously. "Ask him?"
"Not quite, but you're close." Martin answered.
"What?" Emily asked. "Are you insane?" She said as he slowly walked up to King.
"Maybe. Just be ready to run for the Createrra if he decides he's not wanting to help us!"
"Got it!" Emily said nodding.
"Okay, big guy…we don't want to hurt you, we're all friends here!" Martin said smiling as he slowly walked up to King, his hands raised. "We…we need your help! You see, a villain has kidnapped our younger brother and sister. He won't let them go unless we give him what he wants…you! This rips me apart, see my brother and I have spent our lives protecting animals like you from people like him, and knowing I have to do this kills me!" Martin said angrily, as he wiped away a couple of tears, King watched him. "I…I don't know if you can understand me King, but I'm so sorry! I can't let them die!" Martin whispered, King suddenly sat up and Martin was afraid King was either going to attack them, or leave, he wasn't expecting the reaction King gave him. "What the…" Martin trailed off smiling as King head butted him, like a housecat would do to be petted. "Does this mean you understand me?"
"Martin?" Emily asked nervously.
"It's okay, come here!" Martin assured her smiling, holding out his hand to her, she slowly walked up to them before taking Martin's hand. "He won't hurt you Em's, you can pet him!" Martin said smiling, as Emily nervously reached a hand out to King before she petted him.
"This is…amazing!" She whispered smiling.
Their happiness was short lived though, as Martin's Creature pod went off, he took it out of his pocket and answered it.
"Go ahead Aviva." Martin said as he moved away from Emily and King.
"Martin, it's time. Stone just called and want's to know if you found King."
"Did you see Chris and Lainey?" Martin asked tensing.
"We did, they're still okay." Aviva answered.
"Alright, call Stone and tell him we have King, and find out where we're to meet him."
"Martin, are you sure about this?" Aviva asked gently.
"Yes, Aviva!" Martin began frustrated as he rubbed his head. "We've been over this a million times! Did you finish making the thing I asked for?"
"Yeah, I tested it twice. It's all set to go." Aviva answered.
"Great, thanks! Have JZ teleport it to us and wait for my call!"
"You got it MK! Be careful guys!" Aviva said ending the call.
After the call ended Martin returned to Emily and told her about Stone and they got King into the cage with heavy hearts. Suddenly a package appeared on the passengers seat of the Createrra, Emily picked it up and gave it to Martin as they got into the jeep. Martin opened the box and smiling pulled out a small black box, he then gave it to Emily to hold. As he started the Createrra his Creature pod beeped, he read the message from Aviva; it was the co-ordinates to the meeting place. He knew exactly where it was, he began driving hoping their plan didn't fail!
With Chris And Lainey:
Since being taken by Stone, days and nights blended together for Chris and Lainey, they had no idea how long they had been held captive. Most of the time they were left alone, in a small room with no windows beside the control room. Other times they were brought to Stone, and were forced to listen to him gloat about being the first villain to destroy the Wild Kratts! Both Chris and Emily refused to back down from Stone or Carter, and that usually ended with Chris being hit as a reminder of who was in control! During the times they were alone; sometimes they'd sit not speaking thinking of Martin and Emily, as they held each other's hand. Other times they'd talk about their lives, and hopes of stopping Stone and Carter. On the third day Carter came into the room smiling, he leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he spoke.
"Well, today's Judgement day! Today we find out how much your brother and sister really love you!" Carter taunted them laughing.
"They'll come for us, you don't know them!" Lainey said angrily.
"Aw, that's cute cupcake!" Carter teased. "Sticking up for them!"
"Don't call me cupcake!" Lainey yelled.
"What do you want Carter? Don't you have children to scare?" Chris asked.
"Stone sent me to bring you to the control room. It's almost time to check in with your mates about the overgrown kitty!" Carter answered smiling.
A few minutes later they sat alone in the control room, Carter went to get Stone. As they waited they looked at each other, trying to stay strong wanting to believe in Martin and Emily, but both knew there could be a possibility they didn't find King. Chris took Lainey's hand just as Stone and Carter returned. They watched as without saying a word Stone stood in front of the large screen, as Carter called the Tortuga. After demanding to know where his lion was, Aviva told him Martin and Emily were still searching and they hadn't checked in yet. Stone told her to get in contact with them and call him back when she found anything out. Once the call ended Stone sat in front of his hostages and sipped the drink Carter brought him before he spoke.
"For your worthless sakes, they better not fail me! I don't care for failure, and it won't be tolerated!" Stone warned them.
"They won't fail!" Chris responded starring at Stone angrily.
"You know Christopher; I think you and your little girlfriend are actually afraid that big brother and sister will fail! That's why you two keep telling me they won't; you're trying to convince yourselves as much as you are me!" Stone said smiling, Carter laughed.
"We keep telling you they won't because it's true!" Chris answered.
"Mr. Stone, it's the tree huggers calling back." Carter said smiling.
"Answer it!" Stone said as he turned to the screen.
After being told by Aviva they had the lion, Stone gave them the co-ordinates to the meeting place and ended the call. Once done he turned back to Chris and Lainey smiling, and spoke.
"Big brother and sister to the rescue!" Stone said.
"We never doubted them!" Chris said smiling, Lainey agreed.
"Carter, grab some men and get our guests loaded into the truck, we have a meeting to attend!" Stone said finishing his drink.
"Yes sir, Mr. Stone!" Carter said smiling.
Later:
Martin paced in front of the Createrra, while Emily stood by King, the black box in her pocket. She looked at her watch, they had been waiting for over an hour now, where were they? Suddenly King stood tensely, and starred straight ahead, seeing him Emily turned and saw two jeeps and a cargo truck heading their way. Martin turned and saw them too; Emily went to him and handed him the box seconds before they pulled up.
"Martin, Emily it's so nice to see again. Ah, you have my lion; good work you two he's a magnificent specimen!" Stone said as got out of the second jeep with Carter and joined them at the Createrra.
"Where are Chris and Lainey?" Martin demanded. "We kept our side of the deal, now you keep yours!" Martin said as he held onto the box hidden in his pocket.
"Ah, yes. The deal…they're here alive in the back of the truck." Stone said smiling, his back to Martin as he and Carter looked at King.
Using the distraction Martin got closer to the Stone's jeep and bent down pretending to tie his shoes and took the box out of his pocket and quietly put it on the jeep, Carter spoke.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing mate?" Carter demanded causing everyone to turn and look at Martin.
"Tying my boot!" Martin answered as he stood.
"Well, it was nice doing business with you! Carter, get my prize loaded!" Stone ordered as Martin stood beside Emily.
"What about Chris and Lainey?" Emily demanded.
"What about them?" Stone asked smiling.
"You gave your word Stone!" Martin yelled angrily.
"I did, didn't I Carter?" Stone asked.
"You did give your word sir!" Carter answered smiling.
"You see, that's the thing about villains; the devious, little things, they lie! Since I'm a villain, that means I lied too!" Stone said laughing.
"What?" Martin and Emily yelled together.
"Thanks for the help though, he is truly magnificent!" Stone said.
"You lying, piece of…"
"Not another word, or movement tree hugger, or I'll shoot you and your little girlfriend got it pretty boy?" Carter warned cutting Martin off, as he pulled out a gun. "Alright, boys you heard the boss! Get the kitty loaded, and make it quick!"
"Well, this has been fun! We'll have to do this again soon! Goodbye for now Wild Ratts!" Stone said as he got into the jeep, while his men loaded the lion into the cargo truck.
"See you around tree huggers!" Carter said once the lion was loaded. "Oh, and good luck trying to follow us without these!" Carter announced as he walked to the jeep, he held up his hand showing them he had the keys to the Createrra.
Martin and Emily could only watch helplessly as Stone got away with not only Chris and Lainey, but now King as well! Once Stone's vehicles were out of sight Martin kicked the Createrra's tire angrily as he took out his Creature pod and called the Tortuga.
"Go ahead MK!" Aviva said.
"Kill the engines, now!" Martin said as he paced.
"Koki, now!" Aviva said. "Alright Martin, the box has shut down all the vehicles and won't allow any of the engines to restart!" Aviva announced a few seconds later.
"Change of plans, Carter took the keys to the Createrra! Pick us up and drop us near their location!" Martin explained.
"You got it MK; we'll be there in less than a minute!" Aviva answered.
"Martin?" Emily asked scared.
"We're getting them back, all of them!" Martin said still pacing.
"And Stone?" Emily asked.
"He's a dead man!" Martin answered angrily, as he turned to look at her.
TBC…