Chapter 7:
After getting picked up, the team followed the co-ordinates from the box on the jeep to the disabled vehicles; they landed a short distance away unseen. Martin and Emily got off the Tortuga and raced to the clearing; they reached the edge of the grass and saw Stone and Carter only. They watched them and listened to their conversation, learning that Stone had sent the rest of his men to get the jet, while they stayed behind; believing they were in no danger from the Wild Kratts anymore. They waited for their chance, and when Stone and Carter returned to their jeep, they saw their opportunity and took it! Quietly they snuck to the back of the truck and opened it, finding Chris, Lainey, and King. Instantly Martin signalled for them to be quiet, then Martin and Emily rushed to their sibling quickly untying them before hugging them tightly, suddenly a voice spoke from behind them.
"Isn't that precious Carter? A tree hugger family reunion!" Stone said smirking.
"Out, now!" Carter ordered pointing his gun at them.
All four raised their hands as they exited the truck and stood in front of Stone and Carter, Stone leaned against the truck crossing his arms as he spoke.
"Well, well, well! Seems I underestimated you!" Stone said as he smiled. "You have more guts than I thought you did…too bad they won't help you stop me!"
"You're a coward Stone! You hide behind your little lap-dog Carter, not getting your hands dirty!" Martin taunted.
"Save your pathetic threats and taunts Marty, they won't work on me! I win, don't you get it? I have my lion and my jet is on its way here, and all you can do is stand there and watch! Tell me Wild Ratts, how does it feel to fail?" Stone mocked as he stood and walked towards them.
"You tell us!" Chris said as he charged Stone, and Martin charged Carter.
Emily and Lainey stood off to the side, as the brothers fought Stone and Carter. The brothers had caught them off guard, and managed to knock Stone and Carter to the ground. When Carter hit the ground he lost his gun, he tried to get it back, but Emily ran to where it fell and kicked it out of his reach.
"Free King!" Chris yelled, as he punched Stone. "Forget us and free him!" He yelled again, looking at the sisters, Stone used the distraction to punch Chris knocking him back.
Carter punched Martin knocking him off before he lunged at him and began hitting Martin, while Stone attacked Chris. Emily and Lainey wasted no time rushing to the truck, suddenly both were tripped and they fell to the ground on their stomachs. They turned over to see Stone holding both their ankles as he smiled. Both girls looked at each other before back to him smiling, as they kicked him as hard as they could in the face causing him to let go. Before he could recover, Chris grabbed him and continued to beat on him as the sisters got up and raced to the truck. They got in the back, and checked the cage there was a lock on it, realizing they needed keys for it they quickly searched the truck but didn't find them. They got out and raced to the jeeps searching them for the keys, when they still didn't find them they returned to the truck and Emily spoke.
"It's locked! One of them has the keys!" Emily yelled to the brothers.
As the brothers continued the back and forth battle with Stone and Carter, they searched them for the keys; Chris finally found them on Stone and threw them to Emily. She caught them and raced back to unlock King, once free King looked at the sisters for a second; as if thanking them, before he got out of the truck, once on the ground he stood starring at the brothers as he had done to the sisters. Seeing him both brothers smiled at him before they yelled at him to scare him away, he turned and ran off into the tall grass disappearing once more. Furious at seeing his prized lion escape Stone punched Chris knocking him off him before he kicked Chris.
"You think you've won? This is far from over, I don't lose, I never lose!" Stone yelled as he kicked Chris again.
Suddenly the sound of Stone's jet was heard as it arrived, everyone looked up causing Carter to be able to knock Martin off him and get up as a ladder was tossed down. Stone climbed up first, Carter right behind him, once both were aboard Stone tossed the ladder to the ground before he yelled down to them angrily.
"I will be back I promise you that! When I do, I'll be coming for my revenge! I'll see you soon Wild Ratts; I'll see you real soon!" He yelled before he went inside the jet and it took off.
Once gone Emily rushed to Martin, while Lainey rushed to Chris helping the brothers up, before hugging them. As they all hugged, they all were grateful it was over for now, King was safe, and so were they! They began walking back to the Tortuga, the brothers leaning on the sisters for support, it was finally over, they could go home!
Later:
After returning to the Tortuga, they told Aviva, Koki and Jimmy what had happened; how Stone and Carter escaped, and how King was free. When they were done, Emily and Lainey had showers and changed before the brothers did the same. Once the brothers were done changing Aviva and Koki tended to their injuries, while the sisters sat outside. Lainey sat in a tree thinking about Chris, and the fact that the team would be leaving now that King was safe. She hated the thought of having to say goodbye, she really liked Chris, but he was leaving and there was nothing she could do about it. Emily sat on a rock starring out across the Savannah her heart broken like Lainey's knowing Martin was leaving and there was nothing she could do to stop it. She really liked him, and didn't want to say goodbye, but the reality was the brothers had an important job to do and they needed to leave to do it!
Meanwhile both brothers were just as sad about having to say goodbye. They had grown to care deeply for the sisters, and wished they didn't have to leave, but they had a job to do. They sat in the control room trying to put off saying goodbye as long as they could, when suddenly they both got an idea! They looked at each other smiling, and without saying a word they both knew what the other was thinking. They went outside looking for the sisters, not seeing them they separated and went to search for them. Martin found Emily at the watering hole he had brought her to days earlier, he sat beside her. She just starred at the Savannah, knowing what he came to tell her, she promised herself she'd be strong and support him no matter how her heart broke.
"Emily, can we talk?" Martin asked as he took her hand.
"You have to go, don't you?" She whispered still starring at the Savannah, he nodded.
"Emily, there's something I need to tell you, but I'm not really good with this kind of thing…but it's important." Martin said running a hand through his hair nervously.
"Are you okay Martin?" Emily asked looking at him concerned.
"Emily, over these past few days we've become close, and I really like you!"
"I really like you too MK!" She said smiling squeezing his hand.
"You don't get it Em's! I really like you, not just as a friend though!" Martin said smiling shyly at her.
"You…you do?" She asked happily.
"Yeah, and now that our job here is done we have to move on." Martin said.
"So, I guess this is goodbye?" Emily said fighting her tears.
"Well, I guess we could say goodbye, but that would be kind of weird though!" He answered.
"Weird?" Emily asked confused as she looked at him.
"Well yeah, we're going to see each other all the time! We'll be doing missions together, eating together, and…"
"Wait! What are you talking about?" Emily asked cutting Martin off.
"Isn't it obvious?" Martin asked smiling, as Emily shook her head no. "You're coming with us; you and Lainey!" Martin answered. "That is if you want…"
"We want too!" Emily said cutting him off again, as she hugged Martin knocking them off the rock, she landed on him both smiled before she kissed him.
"Come on let's go tell the others." Martin said smiling as they got up and hand in hand they went back to the Tortuga.
Meanwhile Chris looked around for Lainey, but couldn't find her anywhere. He was confused until he remembered she liked climbing trees, so he walked around until he spotted her sitting in the tree they had been in together days earlier. He smiled as he climbed up and sat beside her taking her hand, she smiled as she spoke.
"Hey CK." Lainey greeted him, trying to hide her sadness.
"Hey Lane's, I've been looking all over for you." Chris said.
"You found me." Lainey said quietly knowing she needed to stay strong, even though her heart was breaking.
"Lainey, there's something I need to tell you."
"Are you okay Chris?" She asked concerned as she squeezed his hand.
"Lainey, over the past few days we've grown so close, and I…I really like you! Not just as a friend though!" Chris said nervously as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"You do?" Lainey asked shocked, Chris nodded. "I…I feel the same about you too Chris!" She was so happy, until she remembered the brothers were leaving.
"Lainey, are you okay?" Chris asked noticing the change in her.
"I'm just sad because you're leaving." Lainey answered fighting her tears, she had promised herself she'd support him no matter how her heart broke.
"Yeah, we are…but we'll come back eventually to the Savannah, we usually do!" Chris said smiling. "There are other awesome places around the world we'll visit that you'll like as much as the Savannah!"
"Yeah, maybe…wait! What?" Lainey asked confused as she looked at him.
"Did I forget that part?" Chris asked smiling, as Lainey nodded. "Well, you and Emily are coming with us, if you…" Chris was cut off by Lainey kissing him. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Lainey answered both smiling.
"Come on, let's go tell everyone!" Chris said as they climbed down and hand in hand they went into the Tortuga.
After telling everyone the good news, Jimmy suggested they have a party to celebrate. Everyone agreed, Martin turned on the music and they all began to dance and joke around. After an hour Chris needed a break so he sat down and watched the others as they had fun dancing. He smiled as he watched them, he was so happy to have Martin, Aviva, Koki, Jimmy and now Emily and Lainey in his life. He was so excited to see what the future had in store for the seven of them. Despite all their happiness though, a dark shadow still hung over them by the names of Stone and Carter! He thought of Stone's promise of revenge and he couldn't help, but be angry and a little afraid knowing what they were capable of! How were the seven of them supposed to be truly happy, when there were psycho villains after them? The only way to be completely free was to stop Stone and Carter once and for all, and he vowed he would, no matter what he had to do! His thoughts were interrupted by his loved ones, when he heard them laughing, he looked at them and saw Martin and Jimmy doing a dance-off, he smiled. Yeah, they had Stone and Carter to worry about, but they were a problem for another day! Right now, he'd enjoy being with his family, cause in the end family was what's important, and together there was nothing that could stop them!
THE END!