NOTICE: As I mentioned in the schedule update, I've been on a long hiatus. Anyway, I decided to come back for a while as my art brain has stopped after being worked so hard for so long and my writing brain is refreshed and hasn't been used in awhile. I hope you like the newer chapters and I'm doing my best to change my workflow to be more consistent! Have a great day!


The inventor, technician, and blue adventurer stepped into the Tortuga's head as it took off. Chris slightly lowered his head, his smile disappearing in the blink of an eye. He knew what he had to do...


Unbeknownst to the crew, Chris began packing a few things in his bag during the trip to South America.

He remembered the rhino adventure, and when all of the crew was almost trampled by those rhinos under Zach's mind control. There is no describing the guilt he felt trapped under. He wasn't able to do anything about it. All he could do for the majority of the time was sit in a cold, empty, metal box.

*I'm stronger this time... Right? I mean, I practically destroyed that Zachbot without even meaning to...*

Though his hands were moving various objects to his adventuring pack, his mind was debating whether this was really the right thing to do.

*No, no. This is good. If I'm by myself, the others can't get hurt.*

To calm himself, the younger Kratt gave a long and deep breath. *Keep your head. Control your emotions... Don't be reactive.* A light flashed in the jeep mirror next to Chris, blinding him for a moment. "Mngh!" He grabbed the backpack and scooted away from the approaching footsteps.

"... Chris? I heard you, is everything alright?" Martin had walked down bearing a flashlight, as the light couldn't puncture the shadows the large objects scattered everywhere created. The brother in green held his bag close and remained silently hidden behind the other side of the jeep.

"Hey, it's uh... We were all talking for a while and I was wondering where you were. Please come out..."

Peering in the other mirror that was now next to him, the younger Kratt saw slowly opening slits for pupils. He blinked them to normal. Chris began moving around the room, staying as far as he could from his now searching brother.

"Bro, come on. What's the matter? You're not usually like this..."

"Well, things have changed..." the green-clad adventurer mumbled.

"What?"

Suddenly realizing he spoke, the later brother scurried to a new hiding spot almost as soon as Martin peeked over the collection of boxes he was crouching behind. The older moved his flashlight around the nearby area, flashing it in his brother's eyes by accident.

"Ow!" Chris shouted in pain as he rubbed his eyes.

"Ah! Sorry!" The swimming Kratt apologized as he ran over. Spotting the packed creature bag, he stopped in his tracks. "... You weren't gonna go on an adventure without me, right?" The blue brother asked suspiciously.

"Point that away from me!" Chris yelled angrily, shielding his face from the light. As soon as Martin turned the flashlight off, the former turned, seething. With an observable realization, the green brother tensed and began to shake slightly.

"What's wrong?"

The climbing Kratt didn't respond. After a bit of silence, Martin could see his lips moving in a trembling manner. In a voice slowly becoming hearable, a single sentence was being repeated over and over again.

"Don't be reactive... Don't be reactive... Don't be reactive. Don't be reactive, Chris. Don't be reactive, please. Don't be reactive..."

Frightened for his brother's safety, Martin opened his mouth.

"Don't."

The older Kratt clamped his mouth shut.

"I know you think you're helping. You're not. Please leave me alone right now. I can't be near people like this..."

With a simple "okay" the blue adventurer left the garage in defeat. Chris sighed in relief and nearly crumpled to the ground on top of his bag.

*Being so angry is exhausting... Why am I feeling like this?*


... 30 minutes later ...


With a small sigh, Chris stood up and decided to accept having some personal tests in favor of managing his stronger instincts before leaving. As he looked around the hub, everyone else was there, immediately silencing and giving Chris strange worried glances.

"... What?" The green Kratt gave a small nervous chuckle. "What-what's going on? Is there something on my face or-?" He was interrupted by a strong embrace from his brother. "... Mh..." After hesitating, he gently hugged Martin back.

"You know you can talk to us, right?"

Feigning a smile and forcing back the guilt of lying, he responded, "Yeah, of course."

Martin pulled away.

"Then why were you planning to leave without me?" Chris was taken aback by his sibling's statement. (That is, it was more of a statement than a question.)

"Um..." The climbing sibling swallowed as he wracked his brain for a quick but calm answer, to no avail. He just stood there, giving a blank stare across the room with sweat starting to build on his face.

Aviva placed her hand daintily on Chris's shoulder.

"If you have a plan, discuss it with us first. We're a team."

"Too bad Zach and Donita aren't going for all of us!" The younger Kratt blurted out, slapping a hand over his mouth.

"Is that what this is all about, ya whack-job? Did we just leave the older nut-job to Donita when he was taken? Of course not!"

"But she wasn't planning on taking him, it just happened!"

"Doesn't matter! They've never gotten away with anything before. Why is now any different?"

Calmly, Aviva attempted to diffuse the situation. "Everyone, please stop yelling. It's getting us nowhere."

"Come on, Chris! We can take them again." Jimmy pitched in.

Chris's pupils turned to slits, sharp canines growing as he growled, shoving JZ to the ground without warning. "Just go back to playing videogames! It's all you ever do!" Martin quickly grabbed Chris, pulling him away from the others while Koki helped Jimmy up.

"That was uncalled for, bro!"

With a superhuman energy and strength, the younger sibling grasped his brother's arm and leg, throwing him to the side. Martin landed hard, grunting in pain as he hit the wall.

"Stop! Please!" Aviva ran between the bros as the green's claws came back while he snarled.

The climbing brother grabbed Aviva by the wrists and pinned her against the nearest wall forcefully. Something the fear in her eyes connected with the human side of his brain. Chris pulled back, stepping abnormally while transforming back to a human, and collapsed after grasping his head.

"Chris!" The inventor, as quickly as she was able, checked over the incapacitated brother.