Yes, yet another serial! I'm really excited about where I'm going to go with this one – hope you enjoy this opening chapter. As always, I do not own these characters and I certainly don't profit from writing these stories. And, as always, your reviews are very much appreciated.

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A world of white – fluted pillars of ice, the hiss of snow blown across flat acres of blank drifts. A world leeched of colour.

Linka stood on the deck of the transport ship. The bitter wind blew strands of pale hair across her face, and she drew the hood of her blue coat up even higher. Below her she could see the black, icy waters of the Southern Sea, topped with white curls of foam. One of the crew passed her with a roll of rope, and smiled a greeting.

"Good morning."

"Dobroye utro."

Linka watched the sailor's retreating back, then turned her attention back to the sliver of land they were approaching.

The Planeteers had been living on board the Perseverance since they left the port of Lyttelton, just outside Christchurch, twelve days ago. The weather had prevented any overflights landing on the frozen continent, so this long voyage was necessary.

"Real luxurious, isn't it?" Gi had appeared from below deck. She pulled a hood over her shining black hair and zipped up her red parka. "You wouldn't think we were being shipped here by a millionaire."

"Nyet," Linka laughed, and turned her head. "And isn't he a billionaire?"

"Who's counting?" Gi leaned on the rail beside her friend and shaded her eyes to see the land ahead. "We're almost there! I love you, Linka, but I have to say that after sharing a tiny cabin with you for two weeks …"

"Da. I am sick of you too." Linka giggled.

"You're in a good mood."

"I am excited! And I am enjoying this weather."

"The bitter cold? You're strange."

"Nyet. I am Russian."

"Same thing."

"Now you sound like Wheeler." Linka's cheeks were flushed with colour. "How is he, anyway?"

"Still under the weather. But he's not so sick any more."

"That's a relief."

"Yeah. Long sea voyages obviously don't agree with him." Gi laughed. "Okay – mind if I run over the details with you one more time? Since we're almost there."

"It is a good idea. I would like to review it again too." Linka turned around and leaned her back against the railings, enjoying the sharp slice of the wind along her cheeks.

Gi pulled out her phone and brought up the email. "Okay, here we go. Valentin Chernov, media mogul and multi-billionaire, is establishing an Antarctic research station."

"Da."

"He is going to offer scientists from around the world fully-funded six-month stints during the Antarctic summer to undertake research projects in their chosen fields, on the understanding that any discoveries and published findings will be partly credited to ChernovCo. He has invited us to the grand opening of the station, which will be recorded and later televised."

"It is flattering that he sees our endorsement as such an asset."

"He has also invited us to stay on for a few weeks to observe station life and learn more about the continent."

"I am looking forward to it!" Linka's eyes sparkled. "I have always wanted to study penguins, and one of the team is a doctor of avian biology."

"I know!" Gi grinned back. "And there's a marine biologist, too! This is going to be fantastic. We'll be able to swap biology stories in the evenings."

"Imagine all the reports we'll write up!"

Gi paused. "You know, Linka, it's a little sad that this is our idea of fun."

They exchanged glances, then burst out laughing.

"What's the joke?" Wheeler was walking towards them, ruffling his hair and yawning. He wore a dark-green parka, the hood down. Even in his layers of Antarctic-proof clothing he managed to look both effortlessly cool and somewhat disheveled.

"Wheeler! How are you feeling?"

"Mmm," he mumbled non-committally. His face was pale, and he was a little more subdued than normal. "Looking forward to getting off this tub."

"Not much longer!" Gi smiled. "We're nearly there."

"Uh-huh."

"You don't sound very enthusiastic."

"I can't work up enthusiasm for anything. I'm way too tired. Remind me why I came on this trip?"

"Because you are representing the Planeteers at the historic opening of a major scientific project."

"And remind me why Kwame or Ma-Ti would not have been just as good, if not better?"

"They are attending the fuel summit in Detroit."

"Sure. I see the logic." Wheeler sank down onto a bench. "Discussing fuel in an American city known for its thriving car industry. Kwame is the obvious choice. Everyone knows he's a petrol-head."

"How can you not be excited about this, Yankee?" Linka shaded her eyes from the pale Antarctic sun and gazed at the white beach ahead. "Just imagine it. Weeks to spend time with some of the most accomplished scientists in the world."

Wheeler smiled up at her. "Not really my thing, babe, but I'm glad you're looking forward to it."

"It will be amazing. Biologists, a geologist … and, of course, the field assistants. It is what I have dreamed of." Linka's accent seemed to intensify with excitement.

"Did you know the avian biologist is Chernov's son?" Gi asked.

"Nyet, really?"

"Yes. He is the group leader."

"I wonder what he is like?"

"Probably old and stodgy," said Wheeler carelessly, leaning back.

"He can't be that old. Valentin is only in his fifties …"

"Whatever. Are we nearly there?"

"Must be." Gi looked out to see. "Yes, I can see the smaller boat setting out. It will pick us up from here."

"And then how do we get to Chernov Station?"

"By skidoo, I would imagine. Or Hagglund."

Wheeler raised an eyebrow. "English?"

"A skidoo is a snowmobile. Hagglunds are tractor-y things with caterpillar wheel treads."

"Right." Wheeler brightened slightly. "Snowmobiles. Fun."

"I don't think they're going to let you joyride, Wheeler."

"Yeah – we'll see."

"We should get our bags together." Linka was watching the smaller boat approach.

"Okay." Wheeler heaved himself to his feet. "Great. Another boat."

XXXXXXX

The young American stared at the deck below his feet, trying not to focus on his stomach. He didn't find this blank, white world as stimulating as Linka evidently did. He could hear her now, talking excitedly to Gi and the driver. Her voice was audible even over the roar of the engine, the splash and slap of water against the sides and the never-ending hiss of the wind.

A particularly violent swell made Wheeler groan.

"Are you okay, Yankee?" Linka broke off to look at him, her green eyes concerned.

"Uh-huh." He closed his eyes. "Can't you calm this water down a little, Gi?"

"We're almost there, Wheeler." Gi patted his arm.

"Your friend not much of a sailor?" he heard the driver say in a thick New Zealand accent. He raised his head.

"There is a reason man evolved legs, you know," he said weakly.

The driver, who was stocky and dark, grinned. "Nah, mate. I reckon I've still got gills somewhere."

Wheeler smiled. This guy wasn't too bad. He held out his hand.

"Wheeler."

"Ryan McCarthy. You American?"

"Yeah."

"We've got another American on the base – Ted Robbins. Geologist. From Boston."

"Yeah? I'm a New Yorker. Well, Brooklyn."

"Interesting name you've got."

"Yeah, well, it's my last name. But I don't answer to anything else."

"I'll remember that." Ryan turned his attention back to steering. There was the glint of a gold earring from inside his hood.

"And where are you from, Ryan?" Linka asked politely.

"New Zealand. South Island. There's a few of us down here." He was silent for a minute, watching the approaching shore. "So you're the Planeteers?"

"Yes." Gi smiled.

"An American, a Russian, and … what are you? Japanese?"

Gi nodded.

"I am impressed that you know my accent," said Linka.

"Oh, you get to know the Russian accent with Chernov around."

"Of course. Valentin."

"Nah, mate. Dmitri." There was a strange note in Ryan's voice when he mentioned this name. Disapproval? Wheeler wasn't sure.

"What's he like?" he asked.

"Dmitri? He's an all right bloke." Ryan busied himself with the navigation. "Right, we're coming up to shore. Get ready to step out."

XXXXXXX

Wheeler's head was spinning when they finally left the craft. He could see the red skidoos parked in the snow, and the two new people who straddled them, but it was all through a haze of exhaustion. He helped pull the smaller boat onto a trailer, then walked back to where the girls were standing.

"Wheeler, this is Ted Robbins," Linka introduced him.

"Hi." Wheeler shook hands with the man. He was tall, with grey, close-cropped hair, although he looked to be only in his forties.

Ted smiled, revealing a flash of white teeth. "You from New York?"

"How do you get that from one word?"

"I can just tell. Nice to have another Yankee around." He indicated the snowmobile behind him. "You're riding with me. Linka, you can climb on behind Ryan, and Gi, I'll leave you with Tibor."

Tibor was a big, bearded Yugoslavian with a booming voice. Gi looked tiny beside him.

"You all hanging on tight? Right – let's get to Chernov Station. Dmitri is waiting."

Dmitri. Again, Wheeler heard something strange in the way that name was said, and felt a brief stab of foreboding. Before he could think any further about it, however, the snowmobiles started up, and the white landscape began to speed past.

XXXXXXX

It was a strange feeling. Because the endless snow was so blank and featureless, it felt almost as if they weren't moving at all.

"How far away is it?" Wheeler shouted to Ted.

"About an hour," Ted shouted back.

"Yeah, and that's assuming we don't freeze to death or fall down a crevasse," Wheeler muttered under his breath.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Wheeler glanced ahead. He could see Linka's blue coat on the back of Ryan's skidoo, her arms wrapped tightly around the New Zealander's waist. He felt an unreasonable stab of jealousy. Even wrapped up in a hundred layers she looked hot enough to melt the ice. It was so unfair.

He had high hopes of this trip. After all, Gi was the only other Planeteer here. Surely he and Linka would get some time alone? It was why he had agreed to come along, despite his hatred of cold – although he would never admit this to the others. Way too embarrassing. He felt the familiar warmth spread through him as he imagined spending an evening with her. That is, an evening when he wasn't being violently ill with seasickness.

"You know much about Antarctica?" he heard Ted shout back to him.

"No." Wheeler flushed a little, although Ted couldn't see his face.

"Well, even if you did, it wouldn't mean anything. It's like a different planet, man." Ted chuckled. "Nothing can prepare you for this."

"Comforting thought."

Wheeler knew Ted was smiling, even though he couldn't see it. Bring it on, Antarctica, he thought to himself. I can take you. But his inner voice was nowhere near as confident as it sounded.