Wheeler watches as Linka slides the Heart Ring onto Ma-Ti's hand, his eyes wide and his breath caught in his throat. Panic, unwelcome and intrusive, courses through him and he feels his hands twitch. He doesn't like this, doesn't like Linka being away from him. When she's close, he feels easier. He's driven by an overwhelming need to protect her, to keep her safe from harm, and right now, while she stands next to Ma-Ti, Gi and Blight at her back, he has to push down a physical urge to reach out for her and pull her back.
She's whispering to Ma-Ti in Russian, and that makes Wheeler pause. Did she ever speak to Ma-Ti in Russian, back in the day? Frantically, Wheeler runs through his memories of the past and no, he can't recollect a single time he ever overheard Linka and Ma-Ti conversing in her mother tongue. As a rule, the team always spoke English, the only mutual language between them. So, why now is she talking to him in Russian? Does he understand? Is Ma-Ti even Ma-Ti, after all that's happened?
He doesn't have long to ponder these thoughts, though, because suddenly Linka is turning back, and she... she's smiling, her face utterly content. Calmly, she wraps his arm back around her and he feels something odd wash over him, a mix of hope and a strange, innate knowledge that everything is going to be okay.
Suddenly, he's certain that they're going to get out of this.
'Yankee,' Linka whispers, and her voice is lilting, like a lullaby sung on a soft summer's day. 'It is time for a distraction.'
He moves his head closer to hers, keeping his eyes on Ma-Ti. 'Distraction?'
'Yes,' she whispers back. 'It is time.'
He has no idea what she's talking about, no idea what she's planning. But still, he nods, mesmerised by her soothing tone and that odd feeling of comfort settling over him.
'Sure, babe,' he tells her quietly. 'What do you need?'
'Fire,' she smiles.
'Right,' he nods again.
Because of course. Of course it's fire. Nothing gets people moving quite like an uncontrolled blaze, after all, and so he lifts his ring, his mouth opening into a familiar shape, and -
'No,' Linka's voice is firm, but still soft. 'Not yet.'
'But you wanted a distraction?'
'We are the weapon, not the distraction.'
He doesn't understand. He doesn't understand any of this, but Linka seems so relaxed, so firm in her plans that Wheeler finds himself nodding again.
'Sure thing, babe. And the distraction...?'
Silently, Linka nods to Ma-Ti. Wheeler's eyes snap up to the former Heart Planeteer, who still sits like a doll, unmoving and still-faced, his ring cold against his finger.
Suddenly, the wave of comfort is gone, replaced by doubt and fear.
'Babe... Lin...' Wheeler begins, under his breath. But Linka squeezes his hand, shaking her head at him.
'Trust me, James.'
Blight and Gi are both staring at Ma-Ti, waiting and watching for a reaction. After a few moments, Wheeler feels their patience run thin, and Blight walks up to Ma-Ti, snapping her fingers in his face.
Wheeler feels his fists clench.
'Hello,' Blight yells into Ma-Ti's unresponsive gaze. 'Anybody home?'
Gi steps forward, placing a hand on Ma-Ti's knee. 'Ma-Ti? It's me, Gi. I've brought you home, Ma-Ti. I've brought you home. And if you'll just say 'Heart' now, we can call Captain Planet and he can take us back to Hope Island,' Gi's face falls as Ma-Ti's eyes remain blank. 'Please, Ma-Ti,' she nearly whimpers. 'Please wake up.'
'He's awake,' Blight says viciously, shaking her head at Ma-Ti's limp form. 'He's putting on a little act, is all. Playing dumb.'
'Ma-Ti's not like that,' Gi argues, but Blight shrugs.
'Call Captain Planet,' she tells her. 'Right now, all of you. If he isn't here in three minutes, I'll have the lot of you killed.'
Gi pales. 'But... but...'
Blight rolls her eyes. 'What? The deal was Captain Planet for Ma-Ti. I've held up my end of this deal, baby. Now it's your turn.'
'But... Ma-Ti...'
'I'm getting impatient here, Gi. You told me if I brought the kid back for you, you'd be able to give me your precious Captain. Well, I'm waiting. Three minutes,' briefly, Blight glances down at her watch, and next to him, Wheeler sees Linka smile.
That's odd. She should be scared... but she's smiling. Wheeler stares at her, overwhelmed by curiosity.
Blight looks back up. 'Better start trying, eco-brats.'
Gi looks up and around them helplessly.
'We have to try,' she says, her voice small, and Wheeler sees Kwame grimace.
'Please,' Gi begs, and Kwame shakes his head.
'I cannot do this... I cannot take part in this...'
Wheeler feels Linka let loose of his hand, and watches, suddenly anxious again, as she walks over to Kwame. She rests her hand on his shoulder, sighing gently.
'It is up to you, of course. We do this together, or we do not do this at all.'
'I want us to survive this, of course I do,' Kwame says softly, his eyes on Linka. 'But not at the cost of our morality... not at the cost of what is right.'
'Kwame - ' Gi begins, but Linka shakes her head. Her eyes are locked with Kwame's, and underneath his confusion, Wheeler feels that old pull of jealousy.
Kwame and Linka... there's something real and pure there, Wheeler realises. Something that he can never be a part of, something he'll forever be excluded from.
But then, he has something with Linka that's pure and real too, he reminds himself, feeling a tug of jealous pride. Something Kwame will always be excluded from, something that's just for them.
Although that doesn't feel right either, Wheeler suddenly thinks. He's tired of compartmentalising his life. Tired of putting things into boxes and keeping things secret. He thinks of his first relationship with Linka, thinks of all the hidden kisses and secret gifts and stolen nights. He doesn't want that again, he realises. Briefly, he thinks of Trish. Thinks of their short-lived marriage, of his concealed longing for another woman and dreams of another life. Abruptly, Wheeler shudders. He doesn't want that again either.
Wheeler loves Linka. He adores her, in fact. He's always loved her, always adored her. And this time, he wants the whole world to know about it too.
No more hiding, Wheeler decides. No more keeping things to themselves. He wants openness and honesty. Linka and Kwame... that's a friendship Linka needs, Wheeler realises. He wants her to have that. He wants her to have all the things that make her happy. And it isn't that he'll always be excluded, because Kwame and Linka don't work that way. They aren't cruel like Blight, or jealous like Gi, or possessive like Trish. They'd be mortified, if they thought Wheeler felt excluded from their friendship. And he also knows they'd do anything to make him feel like part of their relationship.
Watching Kwame and Linka, Wheeler feels another rush of contentment. He's glad they have each other. He's glad they had each other, all these years. Just as he's glad that he has Linka now, that they have each other, and will have each other, from this point on.
Linka squeezes Kwame's arm, and Wheeler almost feels the drop in the African man's shoulders, feels the pain in the grim resolution on his face.
'Together,' Kwame repeats, and Linka nods.
'Together,' she tells him.
'Together,' Wheeler agrees, and Linka and Kwame look over to him. Kwame looks surprised, but Linka, she looks happy. Happy, and proud.
It doesn't take Kwame long. He extends his fist, his ring pointed towards the sky.
'Earth!' he utters, his ring glowing, and it's like old times, the rush of exhilaration Wheeler suddenly feels. The ground beneath them begins to shake, and Blight is thrown to the ground.
'Wait -!' she begins, but Wheeler refuses to listen to her. Linka pulls on his hand.
'Do not be careful,' she says quickly. 'Set the place ablaze.'
He stares at her for a moment, but she gives him a wide eyed stare he recognises at once.
Trust me.
He extends his own arm. 'Fire!' he shouts, nearly joyfully, the rush of warmth in his hand almost making him laugh. Sparks blaze and a rush of heat goes through the room.
The floor still shakes and now there's fire, embers burning on walls.
Linka's next. 'Wind!' she cries, giving life to Wheeler's embers, and he feels excitement as they spark into life, flames dancing around them.
'Fucking wait!' Blight wails, scrambling to her feet, but Gi steps forward, like an actor automatically following their cue.
'Water!' she cries, and her ring glows blue. From beneath the rumbling floor water begins to rush, pipes bursting and causing explosions under their feet. Gi laughs, and it's the purest sound Wheeler has heard from her yet, almost like the Gi of old, and he wonders what's gotten into them, why they're acting so carefree, so like teenagers again.
He doesn't hear Ma-Ti utter 'Heart' though. Doesn't see his old friend raise his arm to sky. He must though, because colours and light suddenly dance around the room, and a warm gust of wind rushes around them.
And then.
And then he's there.
For the first time in over ten years.
Captain Planet.
Blight is still on the floor when Cap looms over her.
'Gi!' she shrieks, though Gi stands still, mesmerised by the sight before her.
'Gi, baby, get me the serum!' Blight shouts, but still, Gi doesn't move.
Wheeler watches as Captain Planet seems to come to, suddenly moving into action. He lifts Blight easily, and there's a gun - Blight's gun - and it's on the floor. Acting before he even thinks, Wheeler kicks it away, into the brightly burning flames nearby.
Because the room is on fire, the floor is a mess, while sparks dance around them, the smell of burning electrics in the air.
'Gi!' Blight is screaming now, but Cap has his arms locked around her, and her men, her soldiers, they've gone, running away from both the fire and the spectre of Captain Planet, and she's alone, and Cap has her, and now Wheeler can get Linka and go and -
But Linka's on the floor, one arm wrapped around her stomach, her eyes open.
With a jolt of panic, Wheeler drops to her knees.
'Get her out of here!' a voice cries, and Wheeler sees Kwame nearby, fighting back flames. 'Gi!' he shouts, 'I need your help!'
But Gi seems dazed, almost lost. 'No,' she's saying, over and over, shaking her head. 'No... not like this. It's not meant to be like this.'
Wheeler looks back to Linka.
'Come on, babe,' he says. 'Time to go.'
'Fire is the weapon,' Linka says again. 'I am the distraction.'
What? Wheeler thinks. What the fuck is she talking about? And then he remembers. Ma-Ti. Shit.
Frantically, Wheeler looks up, to where Ma-Ti still sits on the bed, unmoving. His ring is glowing, but his face is blank.
Except for his eyes.
His eyes, unaccountably, are locked on Linka's, and Linka's are locked on his.
'Babe, get up,' Wheeler says, pulling on her arm. 'We have to go. I gotta get you out, before this place burns to the ground.'
'Blight,' she mutters, and Wheeler looks behind him.
'Cap's got her. He's lockin' her up somewhere. Come on, I gotta get you outta here, babe, I gotta get us out - '
'Are you looking forward to it?' Linka asks, her voice odd, and Wheeler stares at her.
'What?'
The flames are getting hotter, and he sees Kwame bundling Gi - even while she shrieks and cries in his arms - from the room, throwing a blanket over her shell shocked form.
'Are you looking forward to it?' Linka asks him again. 'To Colorado?'
Wheeler thinks, for a moment, that his heart must have stopped. Because his stomach drops and he can't speak, and he's all of a sudden cold even though the room is burning hot, and -
'She's looking forward to it,' Linka says, glancing at Ma-Ti. 'I'm so happy you found your way back to her again. You belong together. I always knew it. When the two of you are by each other's side... you can feel the love, feel the happiness. Even when you were arguing at your worst, it was like seeing a thundercloud conceal a bright blue sky. The thunder was loud, but the rainbow afterwards...'
Wheeler glances from Ma-Ti and back to Linka, again and again. He can't speak, his heart is too full, too heavy, and Linka is looking at him with round, warm eyes.
'It's okay to let me go, you know. You don't have to carry me around with you anymore. You never did.'
'Babe,' Wheeler says, his voice hoarse.
Somewhere, he hears Kwame shouting for him. Shouting for Linka.
'You should take her and go now,' Linka says. 'The fire is getting hot.'
'Yeah, but I'm gonna come back for you,' Wheeler swallows. 'Little buddy.'
'No,' Linka says. 'No.'
Wheeler feels tears prick at his eyes and he lets out a sob. 'I can't let you do this again,' he says, and he feels Linka lay a hand on his shoulder.
'There was never any 'let' about it. It was my choice. It was always my choice, not yours. Now take her. Take her and go.'
Wheeler shakes his head. 'No, look, little buddy, I can't do that - '
But it's like a haze passing through the room, and suddenly Linka stumbles in his arms.
'Yankee,' she croaks, and Wheeler feels resolution pass through him.
Linka. Colorado.
'Come on, babe,' he says, and in one movement he gathers her up in his arms.
He looks over his shoulder once more before he leaves the room.
The smoke is thick, the fire burning strong, but even through the haze, Wheeler swears he sees the unmoving Ma-Ti smile.
And then he goes to the door, and bundles Linka away.
They let the facility burn.
Blight is tied up on the ground, an exhausted Kwame next to her, shrieking through the bindings around her mouth. Gi, likewise, is tied up. The knots around her wrists and legs are less elegant, tied hastily by Kwame rather than Cap, but she's still at least, and not fighting them. 'All for nothing,' she says, when Wheeler's eyes pass over him. 'Everything I did was for nothing.'
Wheeler's lying on the ground, looking at a North Korean midday sky, happy to take a minute to rest rather than immediately try to figure out where the hell they go from here. Linka's by his side, sitting up, looking completely at ease while tinkering with Blight's watch, which she holds in her hands.
'Internet watch,' she'd told him, when she'd taken it from Blight's arm. 'She's using a remote signal.'
'But MAL,' Wheeler had spluttered.
Linka had shrugged. 'Anyone from the outside would have thought this only another remote North Korean military facility. There was no mainframe for MAL to destroy other than the one on Blight's arm,' a wave of compassion seemed to wash over Linka's face. 'She was keeping MAL close to her heart, in a way,' she said. She nudged him slightly. 'Like our bracelets, remember?'
'Yeah,' Wheeler exhaled, pulling her closer. He took a deep breath. 'We gonna talk about what happened back there?'
Linka looked blank. 'What do you mean?'
'You and Ma-Ti... you kinda switched bodies for a moment there, babe.'
Linka looked at him in surprise. 'No,' she said, shaking her head. 'No, I was not in Ma-Ti's body.'
'He was definitely in yours,' Wheeler replied.
'I fainted, I think,' Linka said. She looked dreamy. 'I was with Gaia. We walked along a beach, maybe Hope Island, though I did not recognise it. Our babies were between us, holding our hands.'
'Our babies?' Wheeler asked, feeling a thrum of pleasure. 'You met them? You and Gaia?'
'Yes,' Linka nodded, smiling at him. 'I had a little boy by the hand. Gaia held the other.'
'This is fucked up, you know,' Wheeler replied. 'I was talkin' to Ma-Ti in your body, while you were off walkin' in your head with Gaia.'
'Yes,' Linka agreed, going back to the watch. 'Yes.'
Suddenly she stopped, looking down at him. 'I spoke with Ma-Ti, you know. Just before I put his ring on him.'
At that, Wheeler sat up. 'You did?'
'Yes,' Linka smiled. 'He showed me the future, our future. Or maybe it was just the dream we both wanted. He told me to tell you.'
'Tell me what?' Wheeler asked, through a dry mouth.
Linka sighed. 'To enjoy Colorado.'
Wheeler nodded, and Linka leaned up to kiss him on the mouth.
Now, Linka still tinkers with the watch, swearing under her breath every so often.
'What are you doin'?' Wheeler asks, and Linka scowls.
'Trying to send a message that MAL will understand.'
'MAL?'
'Yes. He should deal with Blight's mess here, and with Blight herself. He will want to know what has happened here today.'
'Even I'm still not sure what happened here today, babe.'
Linka sighs, shrugging her shoulders. 'Nor am I. But I will tell MAL all the same.'
They sit in silence for a few minutes more, and Wheeler looks over to where Kwame and Gi sit. Gi is still tied up, but is now crying in Kwame's arms. When Wheeler and Kwame's eyes meet, Kwame gives him a smile.
'Here,' a voice intones, and Wheeler looks up into the face of Cap, who holds a hand out to Linka.
'Hey Cap,' Wheeler exhales, and Captain Planet grins at him.
'Hey yourself.'
'What's that?' Wheeler asks, nodding to Captain Planet's hand, and Cap opens his palm.
It's Ma-Ti's Heart Ring. Wheeler feels himself grow pale.
'I went back for him,' Cap explains gently. 'Into the flames. But this was all that was left.'
Soundlessly, Wheeler nods, swallowing back a lump in his throat.
Wheeler watches as Cap drops the ring into Linka's hand. 'This is yours now, for a time.'
Linka nods, staring at the ring.
'Why?' Wheeler asks. 'Why are you givin' it to her?'
'Not her,' Cap corrects him. 'To the both of you.'
Wheeler stares at him.
'I used the heart ring, James,' Linka explains. 'It was not Ma-Ti back there. It was me.'
'But you... you're wind, babe. You can't use heart - '
'No,' Linka says. 'No, I cannot. But one of our babies could.'
Wheeler stares at her. 'What?' he croaks.
'Haya will be the new Earth Planeteer, and one of our babies has been chosen as the new Heart Planeteer. Gaia... she chose him herself. It is her way of giving a little of Ma-Ti back to us.'
Suddenly, Wheeler feels overwhelmed, and he has to close his eyes.
'I gotta go recharge,' Cap says. He glances over to Kwame and Gi. 'Look out for them, okay?'
Wheeler nods. Of course they'll look out for them. They're still a team, in many ways.
'See you two around, hey?'
But Wheeler opens his eyes. 'No,' he says. 'No, you won't. But take care of our kid for us when you see him, right?'
Cap nods. 'Yes, of course. The power is yours.'
'For a time,' Linka agrees. 'Only for a time.'
Cap nods, a smile on his face. And with that, he disappears, their rings glowing one final time. With a sigh, Linka tucks both rings into her pockets, going back to the watch.
Wheeler looks around. Gi is still crying on Kwame's shoulder, while Kwame looks tired, almost gaunt.
'I want to go home,' he says, 'I need my family.'
Wheeler nods. 'Yeah,' he agrees, resting a hand on Linka's leg. 'Yeah, me too.'
They're sleeping on Blight's plane, a makeshift camp space away from the facility while it burns.
'What happens now?' Wheeler asks quietly.
Kwame shrugs. 'Either the North Koreans pick us up, or MAL does.'
Wheeler grimaces. 'Neither option seems very appealin', to be honest.'
'MAL will get here,' Linka replies confidently, holding up Blight's watch. 'I have sent a message he will understand.'
Wheeler feels pride run through him. She's resourceful, his girl.
'What did you say?'
'I accessed google on a South Korean network and typed 'MAL BLIGHT BRUSILOV TYOMKIN' into the search bar along with our coordinates.'
Wheeler frowns. 'He's expected to find us just from one google search?'
'He is in the internet, James. My guess is he will have an alert set up for certain search terms. Hopefully, I will have covered them all.'
Linka is warm against him, incredibly sleepy, and Wheeler nestles into her. 'God I love you,' he whispers, and Linka mumbles something incoherent in reply.
'Where we gonna go next, babe?' Wheeler asks gently. 'What are we gonna do?'
She turns toward him, sleepy and soft, looping an arm around his neck.
'You already know, Yankee. Now let me sleep.'
He grins.
Because he does already know the answer. He's always known the answer, where he and Linka are concerned.
Colorado.
