Kratt Undercover

Chapter One

"Chris! Come here! I got you something!" Lacey yelled, entering the main lobby of the Tortuga.

The lobby was weirdly empty. Normally it would be filled with Aviva, Koki, and Jimmy doing some sort of work and loads of commotion and chatter. But there was no sound anywhere, only the chirping of the birds outside.

She set down the grocery bag and took out the big, chocolate cupcake she had bought for Chris. Today was his birthday, after all. July nineteenth.

"Chris! Get in here!" she called again, walking over to the fridge and picking up a plate that sat on the top in a basket.

When he still didn't come, she sighed and walked into the hallway.

"Chris! C'mon! I don't have all day!"

When that didn't work, she walked up to his bedroom door and knocked.

"Chris, either wake up or stop being lazy. I really need to show you something. And while you're at it, would you mind telling me where everyone is?"

Again, that didn't work. She sighed again and opened the door this time. And to her horror, no one was there.

She sucked in a breath and pressed down her worries. She quickly checked everyone's room and when she found them all empty, she made her way back into the lobby, trying to take deep breaths.

She sat on the electronic table and pulled out her Creaturepod. After calling and failing to connect to everyone, she laid down and stared up at the skylight.

"Where are you guys?" she whispered.

And before she could process what was looming over her, she felt a bag roughly slip over her face.

She tried and failed to fight her way out, but before she was knocked unconscious with a bat, she heard an all-too-familiar laugh. And as she slipped into a deep sleep, that shrill laugh filled her thoughts and entered into her nightmares.

~~~

When Lacey woke up, she rolled off a metal bed and groaned. She rubbed her head and sat up, taking in her surroundings. She wasn't in the Tortuga anymore. She was now in, what looked to be, a jail cell, but a very dirtier version. And right outside the metal bars was a sidewalk, no sunlight, and a large creek that was filled with dirty water, rushing down to who knows where. So, she must've been in a city's underground sewer system. Typical. Villains these days are so uncreative.

She got up and walked to the rods. She grabbed them and shouted as loud as she could, "Hello? Martin? Chris?"

And almost immediately, a Zachbot came flying around the corner. He stopped in front of the cell and held out a piece of paper. Lacey side-eyed it for a second before quickly grabbing it.

So you finally woke up. Well, I've successfully kidnapped you and the rest of the crew. And I'm sorry, not sorry. But all I ask is you comply. You'll stay down here and not complain while Donita and I go around and create fashion and inventions with all the animals you said we couldn't tamper with. So while we have fun, all of you will rot down here. And if you have any questions, please ask my Zachbots. Oh, and I'll feed you twice a day. Just a small loaf of bread and a cup of water. Again, if you have a problem with anything, just ask my Zachbots. See you never! -Zach

Lacey sighed and folded the paper, stuffing it in her pants pocket. She started pacing around her cell and the Zachbot disappeared around the corner again. It quickly came back with a metal tray that had a small loaf of almost stale bread and a cup of water, most likely lukewarm. He slid it in the food slot at the bottom of the cell before disappearing again.