a/n: This story is part of a 30 Kisses challenge. This chapter contains kiss #02 'news/letter.'

Chapter 1: You Can't Fight The Universe

There was no moon to light the sky when the clock struck midnight Hope Island time. The sky was clear. There was no wind rustling the trees. There was nothing but an ominous quiet. Most of the Planteers, who had recently returned from a week-long mission in Europe, were comatose in their beds.

Linka, however, was wide awake. She had tried for an hour or so to fall asleep, but something weighing on her mind prevented her from doing so. Unable to put her finger on anything else, she concluded that the restlessness was due to her internal clock being messed up.

Linka decided to pass the time by sitting in the communal kitchen and reading some of the Planeteer's fan mail which had piled up from their week-long absence. For environmentalists, they received a considerable amount of paper mail every day. She was careful to sort through the letters first as many of the letters were personal.

As she fussed with the letters, she noticed that there were many of the personal-nature for Wheeler. She could only imagine who they were from as they were decorated with gaudy stickers and wreaked of cheap teen perfumes--fan-girls. The thought sickened her. Why is Yankee so popular all of the sudden? she groaned.

Presently, Linka came across a small crushed envelope that must have been dropped in a puddle since most of the print was smeared and illegible. She could only make out the words "ATTENTION" and "OPEN IMMEDIATELY."

A telegram? Why would someone send the planeteers a telegram? She fully admitted that the five of them were somewhat hard to get ahold of, but never had anyone been so desperate to contact them that they sent a telegram. Usually Gaia's constant vigil over the earth prevented the need for anyone to use such methods.

It had to be important personal news from home. Linka was horrified and instantly worried about her aging grandmother back in Russia. The thoughts clouded her judgment for a moment. Not even considering that the telegram may not be for her, she tore open the envelope and read the contents.

"Bozhe-moy!" she let the rest of the letters fall to the floor and bolted out of the room. Out into the dark night she ran without a care that she was racing over rough terrain in her bare feet. The telegram's contents were of the direst importance and could not wait another minute.

Linka suddenly halted and found herself hesitating as she approached the door to Wheeler's room in the boys' hut. Her stomach tied up in a knot. She wasn't ready to bear bad news, but she forced herself to knock firmly.

The knock was answered by muffled grunts integrated with the muted sounds of someone staggering to the door in the darkness. A few minutes later, a disheveled Wheeler clad in a t-shirt and boxers opened the door. He looked semi-irritated, but his scowl quickly changed to a smile when he saw who was waiting for him on the other side of the door.

"Babe!?" he said combing down his hair with his fingers.

Linka took a deep breath, "I am sorry to bother you."

"Think nothing of it, Babe! I'm always happy to see such a pretty face."

Linka found herself giggling. She knew his words were sincere. But now was not the time. She cleared her throat.

"So...uh...Eco-emergency?" Wheeler kept one hand behind his back with his fingers crossed. Please say 'nyet' he secretly pleaded.

"Nyet," she could feel her voice choking up, "I need to speak with you about a very urgent matter. Something that cannot wait until morning."

Halle-freakin-lujah! It was almost too good to be true, "Am I dreaming?"

"If only you were," Linka gripped the crumpled letter in her hand, "Wheeler--"

Wheeler quickly stopped her mouth with his finger, "Shhh...not yet." He pulled Linka inside the hut and bolted the door shut.

Linka was shocked at Wheeler's reaction. "What are you trying to do, Yankee?"

He continued to pull the curtains over the windows, "Just making sure we aren't interrupted."

"I think I have handed you the wrong idea..."

Wheeler gave Linka a half-smirk, "You mean given me the wrong idea. And no, I know I'm not that lucky tonight, but even so, it seems that whenever you have something important to tell me, something or someone conveniently barges in and we never talk about it again. Well, I'm going to prove myself a man and fight the universe. Tonight, not even a bomb going off in the Crystal Chamber will stop us from saying what we need to say," he tossed a pile of clothes into a corner that concealed the lone chair in the room, "make yourself at home."

Linka could feel a large lump in her throat as they sat down together. His words were so noble. They were bleeding a hole in her heart. If only she were selfish enough to forget about what she had to tell him! But, no. Now she was the monster ruining her own happiness. And here he was, believing that she was about to...

Linka could stand it no longer. It was just too cruel to lead him on, "Wheeler, your father has died!" she yelled.

Wheeler's thoughts came to a screeching holt, "What?"

Linka bit her lower lip. She knew these were not the words Wheeler was expecting to hear, "Your father has died."

Wheeler paused for a minute and swallowed hard, "When?"

"Three days ago, while we were in Europe."

Wheeler stood up and looked away, "How did you find this out?"

Linka didn't know where to start, "Your mother sent a telegram. It was mixed in with the mail from this week. Forgive me, I should not have..." her voice trailed off. She no longer had any reason to explain herself.

Linka waited for Wheeler to react.

"Linka?"

"Da?" She braced herself for anything.

Linka looked into Wheeler's eyes. All the sudden he looked so lost. Like a little child who couldn't find his way home.

He didn't say anymore, but Linka knew what he needed. She walked over to her dear friend and held him tight. He buried his face into her chest. As his silent sobs echoed within her, she gently kissed his forehead. I guess you can't fight the universe after all. she thought.

To be continued...