Chapter 3 - Responsibility
"Have you got everything Ma-Ti?" Gi asked as she went through the start-up checks for the eco-sub.
The youngest planeteer rolled his eyes, "Yes Gi."
Wheeler grinned at his friends, but wished they'd hurry up. They had been away from their companion's for over a week and he was missing a certain beautiful Russian, more than even he had thought possible.
"Are you going to tell Linka the meaning of the stone you got her?" Gi enquired of the fire planeteer once they were underway.
Wheeler smiled at her, "It's a friendship necklace."
Ma-Ti decided to join in the teasing "I was there when Plaesia explained it, she said that the young men used to retrieve the volcanic stones from the edge of the fissure as pledges of their undying love to the lady they wanted to court."
"But that now, they are given as tokens of friendship." Wheeler finished for him, not really minding their laughter, though he was a little concerned that Linka would, she didn't like being made fun of.
Gi grinned "Bit of a dangerous present just for a friend. Swimming down so near to the heated water of the fissure to grab a shiny black rock, says love to me!"
"Yeah, well do me a favour and don't tell Lin what I did. You might appreciate romantic gestures, but she'd just obsess about me doing something stupid." Wheeler told his friends wryly. "And then we'd end up arguing again."
Ma-Ti looked confused, "Then why bother?"
"I told you, it's a token of friendship in the longstanding customs of Oceanus, she'll accept that." the fire planeteer replied.
Ma-Ti shook his head. "I do not understand you my friend. You go to so much trouble to please her, but in trying to avoid offending her, you end up back where you started! I sometimes wonder why you do not give up on Linka, it is not as if you do not get other offers..."
An empty feeling formed in the pit of Wheeler's stomach. "Is that your professional opinion Ma-Ti?" he asked, his mouth suddenly dry.
It took the younger planeteer a moment to realise what Wheeler was asking, but when he did, he made haste to reassure his fiery friend, "No Wheeler, I have no idea what Linka feels for you, she keeps her feelings private and I would never pry."
Relieved, the American said, "I know that little buddy, I just wanted to know that you'd tell me if she wanted me to leave her alone."
"Linka would tell you if she wanted you to leave her alone." Gi put in. "She doesn't confide in me either, but she's just not the sort of person to leave you hanging if she was sure the answer was no."
Wheeler grinned feeling much better. "Thanks Gi."
Kwame, Linka and Trish were in the kitchen when the others returned. Hearing Gi call out to them, announcing their arrival, Kwame turned to his female companion's and seeing the same uneasy look on both their faces, said "I will go and greet them. Trish if you want to wait in Wheeler's room, I will send him to you?"
The American agreed quickly, and both girls looked grateful, so Kwame headed towards the dock.
"Hey Kwame," Wheeler said, obviously on the lookout, "Where's Linka?"
The African frowned replying, "She is in the kitchen, but you have more important matters to deal with right now."
"Is something wrong?" Wheeler asked with concern, "Is it my Dad?"
"No, no, it is nothing like that," Kwame lightened up a little as he remembered that his team-mate didn't actually know about the baby. "We met Trish, she has some good news for you."
"Oh? What is it?" Wheeler asked a little distracted, wondering why Linka still hadn't come down to meet him.
Kwame shook his head, "I think she should tell you that herself."
"Okay then." He shrugged, beginning to move away, intending to head to the kitchen in search of the beautiful Russian.
"In your cabin." The earth planeteer advised him.
Confused now Wheeler said, "I thought you said she was in the kitchen?"
Kwame looked annoyed as he responded. "Not Linka, Trish."
"Trish is here?" the American said stunned.
Nodding, still annoyed, "Yes, and if you have any real feelings for Linka, you will keep a respectful distance."
"From Trish?" Wheeler asked still confused.
"From Linka." The earth planeteer replied, getting impatient.
The American shook his head, "Kwame, man, you're not makin' any sense. Why would I wanna avoid Linka, and what's Trish doin' here anyway?"
Kwame glared, "You should ask Trish that."
"I'm asking you." Wheeler wasn't smiling anymore, he wanted a straight answer.
"Trish is having your baby." Kwame's voice seemed very loud all of a sudden.
"What!?" The American exclaimed, looking truly shocked.
Kwame looked pleased about his friends reaction. "I am sure you are surprised. It is time to stop acting the clown and take responsibility for your actions Wheeler, and their consequences."
"I'm not irresponsible." Wheeler replied, beginning to get angry.
The earth planeteer relented a little, now that his friend seemed to be taking the situation seriously. "Neither is Trish, sometimes these things happen even when you are being careful, the important thing is to take responsibility for them."
"Really?" It was obviously a rhetorical question, Wheeler's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "I don't need to hear anymore of this lecture, I'm going to find Lin." The American pushed past Kwame when the earth planeteer tried to object, and ignored what he said about talking to Linka, Wheeler really needed to see her.
Entering the kitchen, Wheelers stomach relaxed a little as he found his quarry, "Hey Babe! Look, Kwame just told me about Trish and..."
Linka had been preparing herself for this interview and now turned to him with a broad smile on her face. "I know, isn't it wonderful? And now you will be able to spend all the time you want with Trish, which I know you were finding hard."
Wheeler stood staring at her, this was not what he'd been expecting.
Linka continued as if she'd just realised something, "Oh, Kwame said something about me didn't he? He's convinced that I should be hurt. I've tried to explain that we were only ever playing around and that I've known all along what you are like, though of course I know it's different with Trish."
Wheeler was still silent, his gaze unfathomable. Finally he said, "You're okay with it then?"
The Russian nodded, "Of course, I am happy for you."
"I guess I need to speak to Trish then." Wheeler said quietly.
"Haven't you? Oh Wheeler! Yes of course you should." Linka agreed.
Wheeler turned to leave, hunching his shoulders and sticking his hands in his jacket pockets, like he thought it was going to rain. Then he stopped, pulling a hand free and looked at what he was holding. "I forgot about this." he said turning back and holding his hand out to Linka. "I picked it up for you while we were away."
"It is beautiful," she said admiringly "but I cannot accept it, it would not be appropriate."
"It's just a token of friendship or aren't we friends anymore?" He sounded hurt.
"Of course we are, but I would not want Trish to misunderstand. Perhaps you should give it to her?" the beautiful girl suggested.
"No!" Wheeler replied sharply, "I got it for you, just you." then recovering he added. "I don't give something to one girl, when I got it for another. Look it's not worth anything, " he put it on the table. "throw it away if you don't want it." Then the fire planeteer left the kitchen, without looking back.
Linka walked over to the table and picked up the necklace, then quickly left the room before any more of her friends could join her.
Sitting on the other side of the island, staring out to sea, Linka played with the stone the Yankee had given her. She'd felt numb since Trish told them her news and though she'd wanted to cry, she hadn't seemed able to. Now she couldn't seem to stop, tears rolled down the wind planeteers cheeks unchecked, though she made no sound.
After a while she raised her arm and drew it back as if to hurl the necklace clutched so tightly in her hand, into the sea. The Russian stopped, her arm lowered and wrapped around her legs with the other as she lay her head on her knees and sobbed, the stone still held firmly in her grasp.