Innocence
Disclaimer: I don't own this show and I'm not making any money from these stories, they're just for fun. I also want to say that this is not a crossover, and any resemblance to any other series is purely co-incidental and a result of my reading too much sci-fi and fantasy… you do not want to see the inside of my head.
Summary: The polluters have found a new dumping ground and Wheeler and Linka have some things they need to talk about.
Chapter 1 - The Emergency
Linka was watching a film when Wheeler and Gi joined her in the common room. "Wotcha watching Babe?" the American asked as he plopped down on the sofa beside his lovely team mate.
"I do not know what it is called, this boy has started running with a gang but his brother is trying to help him." Linka explained.
If she'd been looking at Wheeler at that moment, she'd have seen a momentary look of horror as he recognized the film. He gently wrested the remote from her grasp and flicked the channels saying, "I've seen that Lin, you wont like it." Then as he found another film, "Now this one is much better, Sylvester Stallone, Sandra Bullock, brilliant film."
"But Linka was watching the other one." Gi protested indignantly.
Wheeler glared, his voice firm and even slightly hostile. "She wont like it Gi."
"But you think I will like this one Yankee? It looks very violent…" the wind planeteer said trying to keep the peace by recapturing his attention."
Grinning down at her, Wheeler said, "It's hilarious Babe, and it's kinda romantic, you'll love it."
"Okay, well then if we are going to watch your film instead, you can go and make drinks for us." She told him, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"'Kay." He replied smiling at her and placing a kiss in her hair as he stood up and headed to the kitchen.
After the fire planeteer was out of earshot Gi said teasingly, "Why don't you just tell him you love him?"
Alarmed Linka asked, "Why would you say that? I did not say anything to suggest…"
The Asian planeteer laughed, "And I suppose that if Kwame had come in and turned over you would have just said okay? Come on Linka you'd never let anyone else tell you what to do like that."
The Russian blushed and shook her head, "That is true Gi but… you are missing something." She looked down. "He only does that when they involve drug addiction… I… he is just trying to protect me."
Gi looked a little guilty, "Does watching things like that upset you? I hadn't realised."
"Sometimes, but… I am not that fragile, I think it actually bothers him more. It is not pleasant to see someone you care for go through that and not be able to take their pain away." She smiled, "I guess I am trying to protect him too, he hides his pain behind a lot of smart-alec remarks but he cares a great deal you know."
"Like I said, why don't you just tell him you love him?" Gi grinned.
The beautiful Russian smiled but shook her head, "He would be the same with any of you Gi, there is nothing he wouldn't do for one of his friends, it does not mean…" hearing their fiery companion return, she pleaded in a whisper. "Do not say anything."
"Here you go," Wheeler said as he re-entered the room the next moment, and handed the girls their drinks. Then he sat down beside Linka again and put one arm up over the back of the sofa behind her.
Linka pretended not to notice but smiled into her drink. Later, when the wind planeteer leant forward to put her empty cup on the table, his arm slipped down around her and by the end of the film, she was leaning back against him with her head resting on his shoulder.
For Linka's sake, Gi had also pretended to not notice anything and when the film finished she left to start dinner, chuckling to herself at the picture portrayed by her friends.
"You were right Yankee, it was a good film." The Russian smiled up at her companion.
Wheeler tucked his other arm around her and pulled her closer, "I'm right about other things too you know."
His eyes held a warmth that made Linka forget to object, "Oh? Like what?" She asked softly and he lowered his mouth towards hers.
Just before their lips met, Gaia's voice was heard echoing around the island, "Planeteers to the Crystal Chamber."
Wheeler groaned and leant his forehead against Linka's. "Give me break, at this time of night?!" he complained.
Rolling her eyes and disentangling herself, the Russian scolded, "This is not a nine to five job Yankee." Then she smiled and held out a hand, "Come on."
The Wind Planeteer didn't release her friends hand until they reached the Crystal Chamber, though it was still too soon for Wheeler.
"Planeteers." the Spirit of the Earth greeted them. "Not content with trying to destroy our own world, Blight, Greedly and Sludge have found a new world to pollute."
Gaia waved her hand and the planet vision came alive. It showed Sly Sludge organising a line of men carrying large sacks and containers into a shimmering light and disappearing.
"What is happening to them Gaia?" Ma-Ti's young voice asked with concern.
Before Gaia could answer however, Wheeler said, "Isn't it obvious little buddy? Dr Blight opened a trans-dimensional portal to another universe where they're dumping our trash."
The other planeteers stared at their American companion in silence, even Gaia was lost for words.
"What?" Wheeler asked with a grin, "You guys don't watch enough sci-fi!"
Linka chuckled, "You are full of surprises Yankee."
"And he's right." Gaia continued. "I don't know what is on the other side of the portal but you must stop them, I dread to think of the damage they are doing."
"Don't worry Gaia we'll stop them." Gi declared.
Linka nodded "Da, and we will clean up the mess they have made too."
The boys agreed and they headed quickly to the geocruiser.
It didn't take them long to get to the portal. Most of the polluters henchmen had disappeared through the aperture with their bosses, but there were still a couple of guards.
"They've seen us." Ma-Ti announced, looking out of the window.
Thinking quickly, Linka raised her ring, "Wind." And lifted the two men off their feet in a small tornado, before they could escape through the portal to warn their masters.
Gi landed the geocruiser and the fire and earth planeteers jumped out to secure the two captives.
"We'd better put them somewhere out of sight in case someone comes back before we do." Wheeler suggested. Nodding in agreement, the others helped him carry the two men into the bushes.
The shimmering light was transparent, showing a distorted view of the rocks behind it. It was only big enough for two people to pass through at a time and there was no way of telling what was on the other side. Linka moved to inspect the mechanical device that was generating it while the others checked the nearby tents for other inhabitants.
"Find anything Beautiful?" Wheeler asked, coming up close behind his friend.
Linka tried to ignore his proximity as she continued her investigation, "It is fascinating, this machine appears to detect other universes overlaying our own and it sort of… creates a doorway between them." She shook her head "Doctor Blight is very intelligent, it is a shame she lends her mind to such terrible schemes."
Joining them, Kwame declared, "Wheeler and I will go first." relying on their strength to handle any problems. "Stand back from the portal, if it's safe to come through one of us will come back in a minute, if we don't you know we're in trouble."
The fire planeteer nodded and then grinned as Linka told them both to be careful. "Don't worry Babe, I'll be back for you." He winked, causing her to roll her eyes but she blushed too. Then he and Kwame stepped through the shimmering light and vanished…
