Just realised the site ate some words from the doc... don't know where they went. I've edited it now. Nothing major, but it should read properly now!

Really, really sorry it's taken so long to update this story! I hit a glitch with a plot point and it took me a bit longer to work through it than expected. I didn't want to just write a crappy chapter for the sake of a faster update, so hopefully you won't be too upset with me!

I decided to split this chapter too, so expect the next one up fairly soon (a day or two). The final section of the story is pretty much written, it'll just depend on whether I decide to keep that as a stand alone chapter or keep it with the next... Basically what I'm pathetically attempting to say is expect at least one more chapter, two at the most!

Thanks to all of those that have been reading and reviewing! A special thanks goes out to Beck and Louise for constantly reviewing all my stories :D Also to readerjunkie and Fostersb for their vigilant reviews :) Thanks to Plunderer for being awesome and helping me with the specifics and for the quick history lesson! Nod to OzQueene for her input in my sticky plot point.

Right, some swearing ahead- I think...actually now I'm not so sure! Wow, record if there's not...be prepared just incase... um again, not intentionally meaning to insult Russia or the US, it just works kinda nicely for the story line...:) I'll shut up now and let you read ;)


The three Planeteers crept silently towards the large building before them, having negotiated their way through the three rings of electric fences surrounding the facility.

Closer inspection revealed that at least one section of fence was no longer electrified and the remaining fences were quickly rendered inactive thanks to Wheeler's ring.

"Lucky for us these russkies aren't so great at spring cleaning," Wheeler had whispered, earning him a dirty look from Linka.

The gloom permeating from the forest, along with the overgrown vegetation had worked to conceal the tense trio, who were now huddled in the shadows behind a dense band of bushes.

Several guards were visible ahead; silent sentinels keeping close watch around the perimeter of the storage house.

"No sign of the Duke yet," Kwame quietly observes.

"What are we going to do when he does arrive?" Linka enquires, glancing up at the African crouched beside her.

"Toast marshmallows?" Wheeler quips. Kwame and Linka both roll their eyes.

"Bozhe moi, Wheeler, can you not be serious for two seconds?"

He opens his mouth to respond, but promptly closes it with a warning look from Kwame.

"Hopefully Ma-Ti will be awake when Nukem appears, and we can call Captain Planet. I do not like our chances of stopping him ourselves without being caught by the guards. I have a feeling they will not be so reasonable, even if we are only trying to stop a nuclear terrorist," Kwame answers, with a frown.

"I'm gonna go 'round the other side to get a better view of anything coming up from the other direction," Wheeler says in a low voice as he studies the guards. Kwame nods in agreement.

"Be careful," whispers Linka, as the American moves to sneak away.

"Careful, it almost sounds as if you care," he murmurs, looking down at the blonde with a smirk.

"I simply mean do not do anything stupid, Yankee!" she hisses at his retreating back.


The Earth and Wind Planeteers silently continue to watch the guard's movement and for any new sign of the radioactive eco-villain's arrival.

Linka grimaces as she begins to feel an ache in her back, vainly wishing she could stretch her stiff and cramped legs. She vaguely wonders where Wheeler has concealed himself, unable to spot him from her vantage point.

Kwame interrupts her thoughts, "I wonder how Gi and Ma-Ti are doing."

Linka nods, before replying, "I hope Ma-Ti wakes up in time for us to call Captain Planet... It is strange; I have never seen him react so badly from the radiation. I am sure we have been surrounded by higher levels before... I hope he is ok." A small frown creases her forehead in both worry and thought as she continues to survey the scene before her.

Kwame looks down at the woman beside him, wrestling with the decision of whether to reveal the underlying reason behind Ma-Ti's current state or not.

As if feeling his eyes on her, Linka looks up at him, shifting her gaze from his furrowed brow to his dark eyes.

"What is it, Kwame?"

She watches him silently, worry beginning to twist in her stomach as his expression betrays an inner conflict.

The African sighs quietly as he reaches a decision, concluding it best to be honest with his team mate.

Shifting to face her, he makes an effort to explain as delicately as possible, "It is not just the radiation that is affecting Ma-Ti. He can feel all of the anger and hurt too."

Linka looks from Kwame to the direction of the guards, puzzlement falling over her features.

The young man patiently watches the blonde, and as she turns her gaze back to him he gently rests a hand on her shoulder, his face sad and sympathetic. Kwame notices the moment of comprehension as her eyes flicker to his hand.

Linka, eyes wide and darting, forgets her surroundings for a moment, her voice incredulous and piercing in the gloomy quiet, "Us?"

Kwame visibly flinches at the sound and hastily presses a finger to his mouth. Linka bites her lower lip, throwing him an apologetic look.

The low murmur of voices drifts towards them and the two Planeteers look at each other anxiously. Linka lifts her ring hand slightly, questioningly, and Kwame replies with a small shake of his head.

They hold their breath as the voices move closer and the Russian squeezes her eyes shut.

A loud whistle cuts through the air.

Linka's eyes fly open. The duo stares at each other, wide-eyed as they recognise the voice calling out, unmistakable against the din.


Wheeler peered around the edge of the large storage cylinder he was hiding behind, his attention drawn by a distant cry.

Watching the commotion, he notices several guards moving towards the strip of vegetation hiding Linka and Kwame. He wonders briefly at the lack of earth shattering or turbulent activity, as the guards edge closer to the duo's hiding place, before realising that the two Planeteers can't use their rings without giving their position away. And she tells me to be careful. He rolls his eyes at the thought.

The American glances down at his own ring before looking towards the building looming ahead and the cylinders surrounding him, and quickly makes his decision. He raises his fingers to his mouth and whistles loudly, drawing the guards' attention.

The guards look up at the noise in alarm. Wheeler notices two men hesitate and look back towards the bushes. With a small growl he steps out from his hiding place.

Without thinking the fiery-tempered man yells, "Hey Russkie! I got a joke for ya; tell me if you've heard this one before: How many Russians does it take to screw up a country?" He flashes a wide grin at the uniformed men, who are now heading towards him and away from Kwame and Linka.

Wheeler's grin quickly fades as he realises the uniformed men are rapidly moving away from Linka and Kwame and towards him.

"I guess they've heard that one already..." he mutters to himself.


A/N - That's all the word nourishment you need for tonight! End on a nice juicy dangler! (anyone a Mighty Boosh fan?) Is it a good time to remind you that I don't hate Russia? It's just a necessary plot device!

Don't forget to review! And keep your eyes peeled for the next chapter to be updated soon! have you ever thought about how gross having your eyes peeled is...kinda sick really...