Chapter Three: Separation Anxiety

Wheeler had barely slept or eaten in days. He had not seen Linka since the Geo Cruiser was intercepted by the Air Force, and that had been over a week ago. He had been taken to a military hospital for treatment after the crash and was assured by a Colonel Luce that Linka was safe and would be released as soon as her condition stabilized. However that was six days ago and still no sign of Linka.

Wheeler and the other Planeteers were staying a rundown motel in the desert several miles from the base while they waited for Linka's release. Wheeler spent most of his time pacing the small, uncomfortable room and looking anxiously at the phone, waiting for any news.

"Wheeler, you need to relax. Have something to eat," Gi said with concern.

"Yes, you are looking pale," Kwame added.

Wheeler stared at them both blankly for a moment. He was so sleep deprived that it was taking longer than usual to process things. Finally he responded, "I don't think I can relax until I know Linka is safe." He at least stopped pacing and took a seat on the edge of one of the beds. He could hear the coils in the obviously aged mattress creaking as he sat down.

The others wished that they had some comforting words for Wheeler, but they were all just as worried. They had all had rather strange experiences after the crash. All of the Planeteers had been taken to a military hospital for treatment, even though none of them were really injured except for Linka. They had been kept in separate rooms and not allowed to communicate with each other. They had each been interrogated by Colonel Derrick Luce, who assured them that they were on the same side. However none of them were quite sure they trusted him.

Wheeler, being so close to Linka, was dealing with it worse than anyone else. He stayed awake worrying about her, and when he could no longer will his eyes to stay open, he dreamed strange and terrifying dreams of what could be happening to her. He would wake up covered in sweat, and not just because the air conditioning in the crummy hotel was barely functional.

Wheeler felt especially bad considering the last time they had seen each other, he and Linka had been arguing. It was not unusual for them to clash, but sometimes they managed to really get into a fiery argument. Typically the source of their disagreements was Wheeler's emotional impulsiveness versus Linka's analytical deliberation. This time had been no exception. Wheeler had wanted to go after Nukem, guns blazing, as soon as he heard about the radioactive villain's scheme. Of course, Linka wanted to think things over, to come up with a plan of attack before they went after Nukem. Wheeler's opinion had won out in the end. However now that he saw where it had gotten them he seriously regretted not listening to Linka. He needed to apologize to her, but in order for that to happen he needed to see her again…

When the phone rang Wheeler was so excited he almost fell off of the corner of the bed where he had been perched. He reached for the phone quickly before anyone else had a chance to grab it. "Linka?" he asked anxiously before whoever was it was that called even had a chance to speak.

There was a moment of silence on the other end. "This is Colonel Luce. I'm calling with an update about Linka."

Wheeler looked disappointed for a moment, before his expression changed to anger. The others watched him curiously. "Where is she?" Wheeler demanded. "What have you done with her?"

"She is here at the base. She has recovered from her injuries and will be leaving within the hour." Before Wheeler had a chance to respond the Colonel hung up the phone.

"What a jerk!" Wheeler exclaimed.

"Was that Colonel Luce? What did he say?" Gi asked anxiously.

"He said that she is being released within the hour." Wheeler said. He sounded relieved, but there was still a hint of anxiety in his voice.

"Well that's great," Ma-ti said, always the reassuring one. He started to say something else when he was interrupted by a scream for help coming from outside of their motel room.

"What was that?" Gi asked, jumping up from the chair where she had been sitting and running for the door.

Kwame made it to the door first and flung it open. "Are you okay?" he yelled, running toward a ragged, dusty Jeep that held three very distressed looking teenagers. There were two boys and a girl. The girl, who seemed to be the oldest of the three, was driving. One of the boys was in the back seat, obviously having respiratory difficulty. He also had what appeared to be chemical burns on his arms and face.

"What happened?" Gi asked with concern.

The three teens looked like they did not want to answer. They glanced at each other nervously, uncertain of what to say. "I'm gonna go get the first aid kit from the Geo Cruiser," Gi said finally, running off quickly.

"Maybe someone should go call an ambulance," Ma-ti suggested as Gi left to get the first aid supplies.

"No! Don't do that!" The girl exclaimed.

Kwame and Ma-ti seemed confused at the refusal for help. Wheeler, however, did not seem fazed. "You guys been up to something you shouldn't be doing?" he asked knowingly.

The girl's blue eyes grew wide. She stared at Wheeler in shock. She was about to speak when her companion in the back seat moaned loudly. He mumbled something unintelligible.

"Look, if you guys want our help you're gonna have to tell us what's up," Wheeler said firmly.

"Just promise us you're not gonna call the cops or nothing," the boy in the front seat said nervously. He looked to be about fifteen with pale blue eyes and hair that been dyed jet black.

"We just want to help you,'' Kwame said reassuringly.

The boy and girl in the front glanced at each other before the girl spoke. "We were just checking out that old factory in the desert. You know, that one that's been abandoned forever." She was speaking quickly, nervously. "I mean, I know you're not supposed to go in there. It's been condemned, and there are all those signs from the army telling people to stay out…"

"Is that why you did not want to tell us? You thought you would get in trouble for trespassing?" Wheeler asked.

"Trespassing on military property is a big deal," the girl said. "Plus, there is some bad stuff down there. I don't want to get quarantined or something. My parents would kill me."

"What kind of bad stuff?" Gi asked. She had made it back with the first aid supplies and a portable oxygen tank. She had an oxygen mask on the boy in the back seat and he was already breathing easier. Gi was starting to treat the burns now.

"I don't know. That place was some sort of secret military research lab back in the sixties. It could be anything," the girl said. She seemed to be more relaxed now, and more willing to talk.

"What were you doing there?" Wheeler asked.

"Just trying to have a little excitement. Life around here gets pretty boring." The girl smiled flirtatiously, flipping her long blonde hair over her shoulders.

Wheeler had to grin a little. Even though he was totally into Linka this girl was cute and spunky and obviously trying to get his attention. Probably if he didn't already have someone like Linka in his life this was the sort of girl he would go after.

"Oh, geez," the boy in the front said. "Do you really have to flirt with every guy you meet?"

"Little brother?" Wheeler asked.

"How'd you guess?" the girl replied sarcastically. She and Wheeler both laughed. "My name's Courtney. This is my little brother Kyle. That guy in the back is our friend Eric."

"I'm Wheeler. This is Kwame, Ma-ti, and Gi," Wheeler said motioning to each of the others as he mentioned their names.

"What are you guys, some kinda foreign exchange students?" Kyle asked sarcastically, brushing back his black bangs which were sticking to his sweaty forehead.

"We're the Planeteers," Kwame explained.

"Oh, I've heard of you guys!" Courtney exclaimed. "I've seen you on TV! You're those guys that go around fighting pollution."

"Well they need to go fight some pollution at the old Plunder Industries plant. That place is a death trap!" Kyle said bitterly.

"Wait, what did you say?" Wheeler asked. The Planeteers all looked at each other knowingly.

"I said you need to check out the old Plunder Industries plant. That's where we just were," Kyle explained, sounding somewhat annoyed for having to repeat himself.

"I think we do need to check it out," Wheeler said. "Kwame, you and Ma-ti should head out there and check it out. Gi and I will stay here with Eric."

"You mean you don't want to come with us, Wheeler?" Courtney said, sounding disappointed. She pouted a little, hoping that she could sway his opinion.

"I need to stay here. I'm waiting for someone," Wheeler answered, casting a worried glance toward the one road that led from the motel out into the desert. He hoped that Linka returned soon. There was definitely something weird going on and he needed to know that she was safe.


A/N: I stole… er… borrowed the name "Plunder Industries" from a factory Plunder owned in the episode "Wheeler's Ark"

Thanks again everyone for the encouraging reviews, I really appreciate it! :)