Chapter Text
As Zach Varmitech's gaze swept over the harsh and unforgiving landscape of the Himalayas, he found himself seriously reconsidering this latest villainous endeavor.
The plan had been simple enough: capture as many male white-bellied musk deer as he could find, then sell them to the an interested party who had contacted him weeks ago. The client had been keen on the deer for their musk, an ingredient so rare and coveted that it could fetch a pretty penny on the black market. It had seemed like a no-brainer to accept the deal.
He was set to make over eighty thousand dollars per deer, if only he could catch them.
Those pesky deer apparently thrived in the highest, most remote peaks of the Himalayas, making their capture a logistical nightmare.
He scoffed as yet another group of Zachbots returned empty-handed to the jet’s entrance, their mechanical arms hanging uselessly at their sides. His sleek, black jet was perched precariously atop a high peak, its glossy exterior gleaming in the harsh sunlight. The inside was cluttered with empty cages meant for the deer.
Nearly a day had passed since he arrived, and yet, he’d only managed to capture three of those pesky creatures—a pitiful haul for all the trouble he’d gone through.
Zach fiddled with the collar of his jacket, trying in vain to ward off the biting cold that seeped into his bones. The altitude wasn’t helping either; the thin, freezing air made his head pound.
He was on the verge of calling the whole thing off. Sure, the extra money was tempting, but there was only so much he was willing to put up with.
Just as he was about to retreat into the warmth of his jet, he heard it—the unmistakable hum of the Tortuga. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and he let out a groan of frustration. Of course, those Wild Ratts had shown up. His eyes threatened to roll to the back of his skull. Of course, they had.
The Tortuga descended from the sky, its shadow stretching across the snow-covered ground as it hovered a few feet above the peak. The annoying voices of the Ratt Brothers, Martin and Chris Kratt, accompanied the aircraft's descent.
"Zach! Stop right there!" Martin’s voice rang out, commanding and sharp, as he landed in the snow.
Both descended from the sky, their silhouettes cutting through the crisp mountain air effortlessly. They wore their falcon creature power suits, the sleek wings extended, feathers glinting in the sunlight.
Martin and Chris touched down on the rugged ground, their landing as smooth as a falcon's swoop, barely disturbing the snow beneath their feet. The wings of their suits folded back seamlessly, and they straightened.
Chris' eyes locked onto Zach with a sharp, unwavering glare. "Keep your hands off the white-bellied musk deer!" he warned.
Zach glanced right back at Chris, his expression defiant, eyes narrowed in challenge. He had expected the Wild Rats to show up—of course they would—but he hadn’t anticipated this level of seriousness in their demeanor. The fierceness in Chris's glare caught him off guard, but Zach brushed it off.
It was whatever, though. Zach dismissed the thought with a flicker of annoyance. He had no time to analyze their behaviors.
Yet, despite himself, Zach's gaze lingered on Chris. The brunet's intense stare was still fixed on him, unyielding. And as Zach took in the stern, almost menacing expression on Chris’s face, he felt an unwelcome blush spread across his cheeks as he realized just how well Chris wore that look of righteous anger.
Ugh, Zach inwardly groaned. He had thought he’d gotten over that silly crush ages ago, back when they were kids. But here it was, rearing its head at the most inconvenient moment.
The brothers, with their eagle creature power suits, rapidly tore though his operation, dismantling his precious bots and liberating the ensnared deer one by one.
Zach watched, seething, as the brothers methodically destroyed several of his precious machines all while spouting about “creatures living free and in the wild.”
The bitter cold, combined with the thin air at this altitude, only worsened Zach’s misery. His head throbbed, his fingers felt numb, and each breath seemed to bring no relief.
With a grimace, he found himself ready to throw in the towel, abandon this ill-fated endeavor, and retreat to the solitude of his mansion. There, he could bury himself in his inventions, order takeout, and be alone.
Alone had seemed to be a recurring theme in his life, he though with a frown. He hadn’t had any real company or lasting friendships since he’d left his parents’ house all those years ago. Running an empire, he had realized, was a lonely job, one that left little room for anything—or anyone—else.
Lost in his thoughts, Zach barely put up a fight as the Wild Kratts successfully thwarted his plans. A sense of defeat settled over him, and with a frustrated sigh, he ordered a retreat.
“Whatever, Wild Ratts! Keep your pesky deer!” he yelled, the words echoing hollowly across the mountainside as he was whisked away from the scene.
As Zach made his escape, the Wild Kratts regrouped, checking on the deer for any injuries or tracking devices. The sun was already sinking behind the peaks, casting long shadows over the snow-covered ground. It was late, and they agreed to camp for the night, planning to continue their exploration of the Himalayan region in the morning.
Chris and Martin were eager to discover more of the area’s unique wildlife, already buzzing with excitement about the possibilities. They even considered dragging Jimmy along, despite his inevitable protests.
Meanwhile, Aviva and Koki focused on repairing the Tortuga, making sure everything was in top shape for the next day’s adventures. None of them could have known what the next day would truly bring.