Jurassic Kratts

Epilogue

     As the tourist vehicle made its way across the green meadows, the very same spot where their prehistoric journey first began, the lucky survivors couldn't help but look down towards the shimmering lake and take one last glimpse of the herds of dinosaurs down by the water:
Ginkgo the Brachiosaurus and her kind lounging in the crystal clear depths, singing their ancient songs, and along the banks were dozens of crested Parasaurolophus, hooting and trumpeting among themselves as they came to the water's edge to drink. And from the distance came the thundering roars of Tyrannosaurus Wrecksy surveying her kingdom; the very voice of Isla Nublar bidding them goodbye.
   Even after everything they've gone through the past two days, they couldn't look back without feeling a sense of awe and wonder, especially knowing that it could very well be for the last time.
****Twenty Minutes Later...****
The helicopter roared to life as the chopper waited on the landing cross by the cascading waterfall, until the jeep pulled up next to the aircraft. First to disembark from the vehicle were the Wild Kratts team. A second chopper would come for the others soon afterwards. But before parting ways, the two teams exchanged their farewells.
"Take care, Dr. Malcolm–"said the Kratt in green, shaking the lame mathematician's hand before the latter corrected, saying, "Ian. Just call me Ian." Chris nodded.
"Oh, when you get back to Austin, be sure to tell Kelly we said 'Hi'."added Martin, approaching his brother's side.
"Don't worry, I will."
Meanwhile, the three women also exchanged their goodbyes. "It's only been two days, but I'm really gonna miss you guys."said Ellie.
"Don't worry; we'll keep in touch."replied Aviva with a wink, handing the paleobotanist a written phone number. Ellie smiled before adding, "If you're all ever up in Montana, feel free to call us."
"We will."responded the inventor and technician simultaneously before they all came together for a group hug.
Martin, Chris, Jimmy and Alan watched the whole scene unfold, rolling their eyes in amusement.
"Women."they all muttered in unison, much to their surprise before the guys burst into laughter. The Kratt Brothers then shook hands with the paleontologist after teaching him their secret handshake. "I wasn't kidding when I said it's been a great pleasure getting to know you all."
"Right back at ya, Dr. AG."replied JZ, giving said bone-digger a brofist.
"It's only been forty eight hours, and those four are already like BFF's" whispered Koki, earning chuckles from the inventor and paleobotanist.
Soon the whole team approached Lex and Tim, with Martin and Chris in the lead.
"I do believe these are yours."said the Kratt in green, passing the siblings two sets of documents: Wild Kratts kids Certificates. Martin went on for his brother, "I think I speak for us both, for all of us when I say: Welcome to the Wild Kratts kids!"
"Me? How?"asked an astonished and excited Lex, while Tim beamed a wide grin, arms on his sister's shoulder, giving her a look that said, Congratulations, sis!
"You displayed exceptional skill on the computer,"replied Koki with a wink. "Believe me, I couldn't have done better myself." The twelve-year old blushed at the praise she received from the Tortuga computer whizz. "And that skill will be very important with helping creatures around the world."added Chris.
"Thank you all so much!"said Tim cheerfully. "We won't let you down!" Soon the three doctors also joined in to congratulate the new recruits. Chris distanced himself from the celebrating crowd for a moment and drew a deep breath of the tropical air, taking a brief glance of the island sunset. Presently, he saw Mr. Hammond lingering for a moment on the launch pad, looking back the way they had come as the primal sounds of the dinosaurs' cries echoed across the hills. He could tell that the old man was in devastation, now that his dream was in total ruins. Joined by Martin, the two creature adventurers walked over and placed a hand on each of the man's shoulders in comfort. As Hammond slowly turned his head towards them, Chris spoke, "We know you never intended for any of this to happen, but as creature adventurers, we regret nothing of this weekend."
  "We've had a great privilege these past forty eight hours that other zoologists can only dream of for their entire lives," added Martin earnestly. "And for that you have our thanks." The entrepreneur simply nodded in understanding and gratitude.
"Besides, you don't need to worry about the animals' well-beings. They're where they belong, living free and in the wild."said the Kratt in green, using his signature line.
"That and they're breeding on their own, just so you know.."murmured the older Kratt nonchalantly.
"They're what?!"asked an astonished Hammond, sure he had misheard the last part.
"We'll tell you more about it later."replied the pair in unison. At this point, Aviva shouted over the roar of the helicopter," Guys! Come on over here so we can take some pictures before we go!"
The three men exchanged glances before Martin broke into a sprint, yelling,"Last one's a rotten dinosaur egg!"
"Oh no you don't!"shouted Chris, quickly catching up to his brother.
"Slow down, gentlemen!"panted Hammond, trying his hardest to catch up. " I'm not as young as I used to be."  The old man hobbled back to the landing pad to find everyone waiting for him expectantly, the two victorious Kratts in the lead.
   Several mishaps and snapshots later, it was time to go.
After the Wild Kratts team were all strapped in, the pilots made sure to take turns lifting the aircraft off the landing pad, before making their way through the lush rainforest and green ravines. In almost no time at all, they were gliding over the island shores towards the open ocean, flying east of the setting sun.
  From his place by the window, Chris silently looked around at his team, his family, glad they were all safe and sound. Martin sat across from him, Koki and Jimmy by his side, while Aviva sat beside the Kratt in green, her head resting on his shoulder.
Noticing something from the corner of his eye, Chris turned his attention out the window. Gliding over the surface of the water was a small flock of–
"Brown pelicans!"exclaimed Martin, feasting his eyes on the flying seabirds.
  Alan was right, thought Chris, recalling the paleontologist's lectures of how birds descended from dinosaurs and the hoatzins back in the Amazon, whose chicks were living proof of their dinosaurian ancestry. We'll definitely never look at birds the same way again.
**** Two Hours Later...****
   During the entire flight back to Costa Rica, the team engaged in animated discussion, recalling each of their individual adventures, both good and bad, of thrilling discoveries and close calls, of unforgettable encounters of fearsome and amazing animals time had left behind.
  The moment the helicopter landed, the Wild Kratts team disembarked from the aircraft making their way back to the Tortuga HQ, the remainder of their day already planned out.
"I can't wait to get back to the Tortuga, so I can order a deep dish pizza, or maybe play a few rounds of Guitar Hero III, or maybe," here the pilot stifled a yawn. "Maybe I'll just take a nap."
"Sleep does sound nice."added Koki in agreement.
"And I'll need to treat both of your injuries."said Aviva, addressing Chris and Martin, grabbing both Kratt Brothers by the hands; neither one of them had made it off the island unscathed. Martin was still beaten and bruised from the battle with the raptor pack, and there was no telling about the number of fractured bones from the T.rex attack. But it was Chris' wounds that gave her reason to worry. Not only was the Kratt in green covered in bruises and scrapes from head to toe, but he also sustained a deep gash on his torso where Stapler's toe claw almost put an end to him.
"This is starting to become a habit I don't like."scolded the inventor, jabbing Chris' chest with her finger, giving her boyfriend a mock glare.
"Sorry, Aviva."replied Chris sheepishly, clutching his wounded side. "I'll try not to let it happen again," he then added while gazing at her lovingly, "though it's definitely worth keeping you safe. C'mere."
To Aviva's surprise, she felt herself being pulled by Chris' strong arm around her waist before her eyes widened as his lips came crashing against her own. But she wasn't about to complain; the inventor didn't take long to return the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck while the Kratt in green's own arms constricted at her waist.
"Thank you."whispered Chris after they parted, lost in each other's gaze, hazel brown eyes meeting stormy gray. "You know, you're kind of cute when you're mad."
The inventor blushed in response.
By their side, Martin was about to chime in one of his wisecracks when he noticed Koki and Jimmy came rushing back towards them, yelling and gesturing frantically. The Kratt in blue looked in the direction the two had come, then wished he hadn't.
"Uhh.. Guys? I hate to be the one to break up this lovey dovey moment, but look!"'
  The couple then looked to where the older Kratt was pointing, where an unpleasant sight greeted their eyes. Surrounding their green terrapin stronghold was an army of a dozen or more blackish gray robotic machines, each armed with pincers and drills attempting to penetrate the ship's outer defense. Zachbots. And where the buckets of bolts were, Zach Varmitech was never far away. The evil inventor was on a hovering platform nearby, barking orders to his mechanical henchmen, unaware of the Wild Kratts team's arrival.
The two creature adventurers shared knowing glances.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"asked Martin, holding a massive, serrated tooth.
Chris could barely contain the ever growing smirk on his face as he replied,"Oh, I'm totally thinking what you're thinking, bro." In his hand was a long, curved talon.
"Zach is so gonna flip this time."murmured Jimmy Z to Koki and Aviva, who chuckled in response, knowing full well what would happen next.
Touching the activation buttons on their Creature Power Suits, the  two creature adventurers charged into the fray, briefly enveloped in a blinding flash.

"Activate Dino Power!"
  
The End