Hey guys! This chapter is a bit longer than the others, and pretty packed. Hope you can read it all right ;)
As always, thank you for the lovely comments!
Lisa
xx
"It's going to be a long, long time before I have another birthday as good as that one," Kitty said, squeezing her son a little tighter.
"Ma, I can't breathe," he complained.
He'd flown his mother back to New York early that morning. She was going to spend a few days with relatives and friends before heading back to Seattle – but Wheeler had to get back to Hope Island. Work was waiting for him.
"I don't know how you do it," Kitty sighed. "I'm exhausted."
"Guess I'm used to it," Wheeler said, grinning at her lazily. "Though, the others are used to me falling asleep at inappropriate moments. During meetings and briefings – that sort of thing."
Kitty rolled her eyes and hugged him again. "I thought Gi was joking when she told me all that."
"I knew it was a bad idea to introduce you," Wheeler muttered.
"Behave yourself, okay?" she asked.
"I do, Ma."
"And be careful."
"I am, I promise."
"Look after Linka."
"I will." He kissed her cheek. "And you take care of yourself as well, okay?"
She smiled at him and nodded. "Stay in touch."
"Yeah." He squeezed her hand and she waved to him, the cab pulling away from him.
He smiled and waved back until she disappeared from sight. He clambered back into the geo-cruiser.
"Well," he sighed, steering around to head back to Hope Island, "holiday is well and truly over now."
X*X
He was right about having to get back to work – he'd only just landed the geo-cruiser back on Hope Island before he heard Gaia calling the Planeteers to the Crystal Chamber.
"How was the flight?" Linka asked quietly, meeting him in the doorway.
"Fine," he smiled, kissing her cheek. He squeezed her hand gently, and grinned when she felt him twist his wedding ring around his finger.
"What's the problem, Gaia?" Ma-Ti asked, wandering in with a yawn. He, Kwame and Gi had stayed up even later than Wheeler and Linka – running up and down the beach, laughing and talking about their friends and the marriage they had finally been able to witness.
"Something terrible, Ma-Ti," Gaia said heavily. She motioned the Planeteers to gather around the Planet Vision.
"So far, I don't think his plan has started," she said carefully. "But my instinct leads me to believe that Looten Plunder has been researching the industry of human trading."
"Human trading?" Gi asked in horror. "Slavery? Or – or, oh my God. Worse." She shuddered as she recalled some of the destinies she had read about, awaiting those caught up in human trading.
"Yes, Gi," Gaia answered gently. "He's got several contacts already listed across Eastern Europe."
Linka's stomach clenched. "But that is disgusting," she moaned. "Nobody will let him get away with such appalling crimes..."
"Human trading is, regrettably, alive and well, even in developed countries," Gaia said sympathetically. "Plunder is tentatively exploring his options now – and with his money and his unfortunate talents in seeking out corruption and contacts, it won't take him long before he's well and truly at work."
Wheeler staggered suddenly, his face pale, and he locked his eyes onto Linka. "Delivery," he said softly, his voice almost failing him completely. "Sludge and Skumm were going to hand you over to Plunder..."
She felt the blood drain from her own face.
Kwame clenched his fists furiously. "Well that is as close as Plunder will get," he said angrily. "We will stop him before anyone gets hurt."
"We'll stop him all right," Wheeler growled. "Let's go, Planeteers."
X*X
"I don't see why I shouldn't try and make a profit from the others, after I've given the little Russian away," Plunder drawled, gazing out the window at the muddy fields flashing by.
Bleak negotiated another turn a little carelessly, the tyres skidding on the icy road. "You mean you want the Water Planeteer as well?" he asked distractedly.
"All of them," Plunder declared. "Men will sell as well, you know, Bleak. I can just imagine the desperate, lonely old biddies lining up now for the stupid American Planeteer."
Bleak chuckled. "I'm sure he'd love that."
"Well, after his little girlfriend goes missing, there won't be much point to the Planeteers," Plunder said, sounding pleased with himself. "May as well take advantage of the new industry we've found ourselves in, Bleak. I've already made several contacts here."
"Can't say it looks like the sort of place swimming with human traders," Bleak admitted, the glittering city on the horizon in front of him.
"Perfect, isn't it?" Plunder asked. "As soon as we get Welling off my back, we can get right down to the profit-making part of things. And that's the part I love best."
Bleak grunted. That was the part he liked best, too.
"First things first, though," Plunder said. "We need to find them. Are you sure they're here somewhere?"
"They heard you were here, and they came to find you," Bleak answered. "They're around somewhere, Mr. Plunder."
"Well let's try and spot blondie first," Plunder muttered. "Robert Welling is constantly on the phone to me. His nerves are shot already. It's pathetic."
Bleak had to bite his tongue. Robert Welling held a disturbing amount of power of Plunder at that moment, and Bleak didn't like it. He only liked blackmail when he was the one in control.
X*X
"Are you awake, svetlyachok?"
"If you're asking me that just to call me names, then no," Wheeler mumbled into the dark.
She smiled and pressed a kiss against his bare shoulder. "I am not calling you nasty names," she promised.
"No?"
"No. Firefly."
"Oh." He smiled and rolled over onto his side, facing her. Her face was shadowy in the moonlight, which spilled in through the window of yet another hotel room. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I am not sure," she admitted. "I am just having trouble getting to sleep."
"Our sleeping habits over the past week could be to blame," he suggested, but his eyes closed again and he nestled into his pillow. "Don't worry about Plunder, babe. We'll stop him."
She nodded and burrowed into him, tucking her head under his chin and folding her arms against his chest. He hugged her and sighed, falling into a peaceful slumber quickly.
It was a long time before Linka was able to fall asleep.
X*X
"So where do we start?" Ma-Ti asked anxiously. "We really have no idea where Plunder is."
"And I would like to find him before other people start to disappear," Kwame added.
"Gaia said Plunder is making contacts here," Linka said, typing rapidly into her laptop. "There are a few people here he may have established contact with. Perhaps we should track them down?"
Wheeler's stomach lurched. "This sounds dangerous," he said nervously. "Especially if Sludge and Skumm were right about Plunder hunting Linka down. Maybe – maybe this isn't one for us, you guys. Maybe we should just alert the other authorities."
"We have no proof," Gi said sympathetically. "We know he's up to no good. But it's going to take a while for everyone else to catch up – and it'll be too late, then."
Wheeler nodded in resignation.
"Most of these places are home addresses," Linka said, printing the document she'd been looking at. "There are two business addresses though – including a factory that is no longer in use."
"A huge building like that would be a great place to hide anyone snatched off the street," Wheeler muttered. "We should check it out."
X*X
The factory was no longer in use – but it was surrounded by others that were. The air was filled with muffled booming and hissing, engines and machines making it difficult to speak at a comfortable volume.
"If people were crying for help in there, no one would hear them," Wheeler said, his mouth close to Linka's ear.
She nodded. "How do we get in?"
He looked around. There were no windows low enough to crawl through – in fact, they hadn't even found a door. He looked up – a fire escape led to upper levels – though it appeared to be clogged with various crates and boxes, the outside balconies used as cluttered storage areas.
"Maybe up there," he said, pointing.
She nodded. "We should find the others."
"They're way around the other side," Wheeler said. "Let's you and me get inside first."
"They are just around here," Linka said, motioning to the alley between factories. "I will wave them over. Get the ladder down."
Wheeler jumped and dangled from the lower rung of the metal ladder, attempting to drag it down with his weight. "Don't go too far!" he called after Linka.
She smiled back at him and disappeared around the corner.
Wheeler tugged furiously at the ladder, but it refused to budge. "Damn it!" he cried, dropping to the ground again. He paced back and forth beneath it, until he figured he'd have more luck if he and Linka could hang from it and drag it down. He went in search of her, hurrying to the nearby network of alleys.
There was nothing to alert him to the danger above. He was hit hard, and suddenly, by a heavy crate that knocked him forward and pinned him to the ground. His breath was knocked out of him with a grunt, his hand trapped.
He groaned and blinked, the world swimming in front of his eyes for a moment before he forced himself to focus again. Glancing up, he saw Bleak grinning down at him.
"Shit," Wheeler muttered. He began wriggling desperately, his body crushed and protesting against the full weight of the crate leaning on his shoulder and his back. His right arm was bent beneath him, and as a result, so was his Planeteer ring.
"Linka!" He kicked and twisted. The crate shifted slightly, giving him hope. He heaved again, trying to roll it off. "Linka!"
She didn't appear.
Does Plunder have her? I'll kill him.
He glanced up again. Bleak had gone but Wheeler assumed he wasn't far away. He put his hand to his mouth and tugged his wedding ring off with his teeth, flicking it to the end of the alley. He half-hoped she would hear the metallic sing of it against the stone and come to investigate – but really, the urge to leave some sort of clue behind had gripped him hard.
"Linka!" he shouted.
"Don't worry," Bleak said, his boots appearing in front of Wheeler's face. "We'll find 'er for you."
Wheeler glared up at him. "Your feet stink," he said.
"Like barbeque?" Bleak asked, glaring down at him. "You should see what they look like, after our last little meeting."
Wheeler grinned up at him. "Probably an improvement. Gonna let me up or what?"
Bleak chuckled and shook his head. "You need to learn to respect your betters."
"Betters?" Wheeler scoffed and tried to heave the crate off again. "Get real, Bleak."
"Trouble, Bleak?" Plunder asked.
"Was wondering where you were, baldy," Wheeler snapped. "Want to let me up?"
"I didn't hear a please," Plunder said icily, delicately touching his thinning pony tail. "Get him up, Bleak, and make sure he's restrained." He stepped on Wheeler's free hand and pinned it to the stone under his shoes.
Wheeler winced, but was helpless to stop him. Bleak shoved a rag into the Planeteer's mouth, taping it in place before he heaved the crate off.
Wheeler was strong, but Bleak's muscles were like iron – impossible to fight. He was hauled up and pressed against the wall, his ring pulled from his finger. Plunder dropped it into his pocket.
"Put him in the car," Plunder ordered. "And find his little girlfriend. She's the one we want, and the sooner this is over with, the better."
Bleak eased off on Wheeler as soon as his wrists were bound, and the Fire Planeteer kicked Plunder furiously.
Plunder lashed out immediately with his cane, connecting with Wheeler's knee. He screamed into the gag, stars exploding in front of his eyes. His leg collapsed beneath him and he fell heavily to the ground.
He's shattered my kneecap, he's shattered my kneecap...
He was barely aware of being thrown into the back of Plunder's car. After a few minutes the pain subsided, and he moved his knee gingerly. Not broken, after all – but he wasn't going to be running any marathons on it.
He blinked and shifted his cheek against the backseat. Tiger skin seat coverings. He wrinkled his nose and struggled to sit up, fumbling with the door handle. Locked.
Fucking hell, can't I get a break today? Please?
He dropped his head against the window miserably.
Stay hidden, Linka. Wherever you are, stay hidden.
X*X
It was simply luck that had prevented Linka from hearing Wheeler's cries. Good or bad, she'd never be sure. The factory nearby was loud – machinery hissing and squealing and hiding any other sound she might have otherwise been able to hear.
Unable to spot the other Planeteers from the eastern side, she gave up and hurried back to where she had left Wheeler – only to spot Bleak hunting around in the various alleyways. She ducked behind a dumpster, watching him nervously.
"Bleak!"
She shrank back even further as Plunder appeared at the end of the alleyway.
"Have you found her?"
"Not yet, Mr. Plunder."
"We're running out of time. If you can't find her in the next five minutes, forget it. She'll come to us, eventually, looking for her smartass boyfriend."
She bit her lip anxiously. They had Wheeler. She crouched down behind the dumpster and held her hand to her head.
Ma-Ti, hurry! We are in trouble.
Bleak stalked closer, muttering to himself. Plunder had obviously put him in a bad mood. He kicked a tin can away and ran his eyes up and down the alley.
Ma-Ti, hurry! Plunder and Bleak are here. They have Wheeler and Bleak is about to find me...
Bleak, however, gave up. He spat bitterly on the ground and spun on his heel, stalking back towards Plunder, who had moved out of sight.
Linka crept forward. She was unwilling to do anything without the others present, the information Gaia had bestowed upon them echoing through her mind:
My instinct leads me to believe that Looten Plunder has been researching the industry of human trading.
And Wheeler's face, horrified, as he had remembered Sludge and Skumm planning to hand Linka over to Plunder.
She shuddered and ran quietly after Bleak, hesitating at the end of the alley. Something glinted in the weak sunlight and she reached for it with a feeling of sick fear in her stomach.
Wheeler's wedding ring.
The squealing of tyres snapped her back into focus, and she sprinted to her feet, not caring about her own safety anymore.
Ma-Ti! Help, help! He has Wheeler and he is taking him away!
She reached the end of the alley and thrust her fist out in front, choking the command before she could even spot Plunder's car. But it was too late. The whirlwind she sent spinning down the road chased nothing but dust – Plunder's car had gone.
X*X
Wheeler watched the world flash by the tinted windows of Plunder's car.
Plunder was running his fingers over the ivory cap of his cane, a smirk on his face as he watched the Planeteer.
"We couldn't find that pretty little blonde that follows you around," he said after a while.
Wheeler wished he could make a cutting remark. He settled for an icy glare instead.
Plunder chuckled and shook his head. "Never mind," he sighed. "I'm sure she'll show up soon – trying to track you down. I'm sure you know there are men out there prepared to pay a lot of money for a Russian bride – whether she's willing to be his or not. And there are a few women out there willing to pay the same price for an American husband." He smiled at Wheeler, showing a gold-capped tooth in the side of his mouth. "I'll settle a score when I pass her over, and I'll make a profit with you."
Try it, you creep.
Wheeler leaned his head against the window again. Though he wouldn't give Plunder the satisfaction of visible panic, he was deeply shaken. Wheeler was no idiot – he knew white slavery was alive and well in various places around the world. Having Plunder dabbling in such a trade did nothing to reassure him. Hearing that Linka had been set up as a specific target made his blood boil.
If it saves her from going through this ordeal, I don't care what he does to me.
X*X
"I was around the side," Linka sobbed, pointing.
Kwame squeezed her shoulder gently. "I am sure he is not far away," he said. "We will find him."
"We should not have split up," she moaned. "It was so stupid. We knew it was dangerous..."
"It is not your fault, Linka," Kwame comforted, putting his arm around her. He looked up as Gi and Ma-Ti returned, each of them shrugging and looking worried.
"Anything?" Linka croaked, looking hopefully at Ma-Ti.
"No," he said, chewing his lip. "I know he is being taken somewhere – but Plunder is close by, and I cannot see through him."
"Let's go back to the hotel," Gi suggested. "Maybe Ma-Ti will have more luck tracking Wheeler down once Plunder has stopped."
"Nyet," Linka begged. "Please, Ma-Ti, do not lose contact with him. Plunder knows we cannot see through pollution, and if you try to check in later you may not be able to see anything."
"I will keep trying, Linka," Ma-Ti promised, squeezing her hand. "But Gi is right – we should go back to the hotel. I swear I will keep tracking Wheeler."
Gi wrapped a comforting arm around Linka. "He'll be okay," she promised. "Wheeler can look after himself, and he's going to get in touch with Ma-Ti as soon as he can. Right?"
Linka nodded, but tears spilled onto her cheeks. "They were looking for me and they have taken him instead," she moaned.
Kwame embraced her from the other side. "We will find him," he said gently. "But it is not safe to be around here. They may come back, and we need to be prepared."
She nodded again and let the others lead her away, back to the hotel.
X*X
Wheeler had closed his eyes in concentration.
Come on Ma-Ti, you can find me without my ring when we're home. You can hear me now, right? Please hear me.
Plunder nudged his shoulder with the ivory end of his cane. "Stop that," he snapped.
Wheeler raised his eyebrows innocently.
"Don't give me that look," Plunder said. "You're trying to talk to your little friend." He tapped on the window separating them from the front seat, and it slid down.
"Mr. Plunder?" Bleak grinned at Wheeler in the rear-vision mirror, and Wheeler narrowed his eyes.
"Pass that scarf over. The Planeteer is trying to give out directions."
Wheeler worked his jaw beneath the tape. The gag tasted slightly oily, and he craved water. He tried to shove Plunder away, but the scarf covered his eyes tightly, and he had no choice but to accept it.
Okay, Ma-Ti, I can't tell you much else, except that we're still travelling south-west. I'm blindfolded. I'll let you know when we stop. I sure hope you can hear me.
Miles away, sitting on the end of his hotel bed, Ma-Ti rubbed his temples.
I knew we should have practiced away from Hope Island, he thought fretfully. This is much harder than it is at home. And Plunder being so close is not helping things...
Vague images of fields and icy roads flashed before him. Tiger skins. Now and then he felt a more tangible link to Wheeler – a word spoken aloud in his mind – but the connection never lasted long. Plunder was like a thick black cloud settling over the sun – he forced everything into shadow and blocked Ma-Ti from getting a clear idea of what Wheeler was going through.
South-west... Linka...
The word Linka hit him loudly each time, Wheeler's love and connection to her forcing the message through with a loud clarity.
He glanced up to Linka now. She was standing by the window, running her hands through her hair and toying with Wheeler's wedding ring, raising it to her lips now and then. He could hear her perfectly well, his ring not needed at all.
Please be safe, Yankee.
Ma-Ti shifted his gaze to Kwame, who was watching Linka worriedly. He felt Ma-Ti watching him, and raised his eyebrows.
Anything?
Not much. They are travelling south-west. It is difficult to see.
Is he hurt?
I cannot tell. He is conscious, but beyond that I do not know. He rested his head in his hands again, trying to keep at least one thread of the connection alive.
"Bozhe moy," Linka exclaimed suddenly, pacing in front of the window. "We are sitting here doing nothing!"
"We have no choice but to wait, Linka," Kwame said patiently. "Ma-Ti is trying to track Wheeler, and until we have some idea of where Plunder is hidden, we cannot make a move. I am sure we will find him soon – word is out there. Plunder has made contacts, remember? We just need to keep our eyes and ears to the ground. A clue will show up."
Linka's eyes widened suddenly, and she spun around to Ma-Ti with a choke. "Ma-Ti," she whispered. "The woman with the dark hair. We have to beat the woman with the dark hair or I will never see Wheeler again!"
X*X