Wheeler Steps Up

"Something's wrong!" Wheeler cries out, pointing to the giant machine. "Where is Captain Planet?"

Rrrr! With a loud whine, Greedly's giant machine begins to move again, breaking through trees and tearing at the hillside, as thick black smoke billows into the sky. Gi and Linka turn and look in shock.

"Bozhe moy" Linka cries out. "They are at it again! Something must have happened to Captain Planet."

"Well, what are we standing around here for?" Wheeler asks, grabbing her arm and taking off running for the machine. "We came here to do something, so let's go help!"

The three planeteers take off, running as fast as they can through the forest. It is a confusing maze of trails and dead ends, but they weren't going to give up. Every chance they have, they look to see where Plunder's giant mining machine is, then continue on towards it. Some of the trails are steep, or muddy, but it doesn't slow down the three determined planeteers.

"What do you plan to do when we find him?" Gi asks.

"I don't know. We aren't even sure what happened to him." Wheeler replies, turning onto a narrow, partly overgrown trail. "All I know is we have to do something, and fast!"

On they run until they are almost out of breath. Turning they reach a rock wall.

"We can't quit now!" Wheeler says, jumping up and beginning to climb. "Come on!"

With struggles and some slipping, he manages to get to the top. Quickly he reaches back and pulls his fellow planeteers, first Linka, then Gi up to the top of the rock. They scramble on the rocks and squeeze between them until they spot Greedly and Plunder's mining machine on the move.

"What happened to Captain Planet?" Wheeler says, jumping down. "I don't see him anywhere!"

"That's him!" Linka cries out, spotting someone curled up in the mud, covered with thick goo. "Hurry!"

They rush over to him and look down. Captain Planet is covered in a thick, sticky, black liquid that looks like tar.

"Captain Planet!" Linka cries out.

"It's toxic waste, it is draining my strength." He says with a slow gasp.

Wheeler grabs ahold and tries to pick him up, pulling until his hands slip and he tumbles backwards onto the ground, mud splashing everywhere. The effort partly uncovers the yellow globe on Captain Planet's chest, which begins to glow yellow.

"Look the globe on his chest is glowing!" Wheeler says.

"We need water, quickly!" Linka says.

Gi points her ring. "I got this! Wait, I can't use my power while he's here."

"Then we will improvise!" Linka says, grabbing her hand.

The two girls take off running to find a source of water to clean Captain Planet off with. Rrrr! With the sound of engines revving, the great mining machine begins to move again. Wheeler turns his head to see it coming for him and Captain Planet. Looking around quickly, there is nothing to block with. The girls are still far away with the water.

"I guess this one's up to me!" Wheeler says, throwing Captain Planet's arm over his shoulder and lifting with all his might.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Taking a few steps, Wheeler begins to run as the shadow falls on them. Underfoot, the earth shakes, and he nearly falls as the lumbering machine begins to approach. Suddenly, he turns, running to the side just as the steel foot drops out of nowhere, shaking the Earth and nearly knocking him to the ground. With a gasp and a leap, they just clear it. BOOM! The earth shakes around them. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Wheeler begins to gasp and cough as they disappear into a thick, brown cloud of dust and dirt. On his hands and knees he crawls away, dragging the sticky, waste covered Captain Planet with him. BOOM! The ground shakes, as Greedly's machine slowly turns to follow them.

"I gotta lose Greedly, and fast!" Wheeler yells, running as fast as he can, dragging Captain Planet with him.

Suddenly, he spots some rocks in the distance, and runs for them, making a last minute dive to safety with Captain Planet. Looking up, he can see the outline of Linka and Gi in the distance, running with something in their hands. The lumbering giant of a machine turns and heads off into the forest, breaking trees and crushing plants as it goes.

"So long planet geeks!" Plunder calls out over a loud speaker as the machine disappears into the forest.

Just at that moment, Gi and Linka reappear with the water, tossing it onto Captain Planet. As the toxic waste washes off of him, he begins to move again. In the distance Plunder disappears from sight. Slowly Captain Planet stands, wobbly and weak.

"Planeteers, I am too weak to continue this fight for now." Captain Planet says, in a slow deep breath. "Find Plunder and stop him before he kills this forest and all who call it home. The power, is yours!"

With that, he begins to glow, before turning into streaks of light that return to their rings.

"What now?" Wheeler asks, looking at his ring, as it glows red.

"Well, we must do something. Where are the others?" Gi says, her voice wavering as she speaks. "No one has warned Ma-Ti's village yet. If Greedly beats us to the Kayapo, many, many people will die!"

"Come on, this way!" Wheeler shouts. "There's got to be some way to slow them down. Let's find the others."

With that, they race off into the forest, searching for any sign of Kwame, Ma-Ti, and Jose. Up and down the maze of trails they race, hoping to find a trace of their missing friends.

"Kwame, Ma-Ti, Jose!" Linka yells, as they search in the thick forest cover. "Can you guys hear us? Where are you?"

"This forest is so big! How do we find them?" Gi asks, looking around. "We're not even sure if this is the right way or not. All we know is they were somewhere by this river before we called Captain Planet."

WHOA! Ahh! The sound of a boy calling out causes Wheeler to stop and turn.

"Ma-Ti!" Wheeler cries out. "Hang on little buddy, I'm coming for you!"

Without waiting, Wheeler dashes into the bushes, pushing his way through towards the water. Moments later, Gi and Linka turn and run after him. Reaching the river, he spots a boy struggling in the rapids and dives in without thinking. Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! Wheeler tries to clear his throat as he surfaces, and begins to swim towards the struggling boy. The swift current pushes them apart, bouncing Wheeler off of a rock. With a gasp, he dives in and swims for Ma-Ti once more. At the last moment, he grabs his friend and pulls him against his chest. Together they kick, and fight, as the current gets stronger.

"Bozhe moy! They will not make it!" Linka yells, running for the river bank. "The current is too strong!"

"My turn!" Gi says, leaping onto a rock and pointing her ring at them. "Water!"

Her ring glows and a wave rises up from the river propelling the two soaked planeteers onto a nearby river bank. Cough! Cough! Cough! Cough! Ma-Ti and Wheeler lie in a big puddle coughing and trying to shake the water from their eyes. Linka and Gi race to their sides.

"Are you guys okay?" Gi asks, putting an arm around them, as they continue to cough.

"I guess that wasn't my best idea." Wheeler says, coughing once more.

"That was very brave, Wheeler." Linka says, rubbing his back. "You saved Ma-Ti."

"You didn't think I was going to lose my little buddy, did you? Come on, Ma-Ti, you look better already." Wheeler jokes, patting him lightly on the back.

Slowly the young boy opens his arms. Inside are six tiny, featherless chicks, all soaking wet. One stretches its neck and opens its beak. Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Comes the soft cry of the tiny chicks. Wheeler kneels beside him and smiles.

"So this is what you went back for!" Wheeler asks, with a look of amazement.

"Yes Wheeler, I could not leave the babies to die. Now I have to take them somewhere warm." Ma-Ti says. "They will need to be fed soon."

"How cute! The birds always come for me when I play my keyboard." Linka says wishfully. "I never get to see them this young before!"

"Don't you mean got, Babe?" Wheeler asks with a chuckle, as he pokes at her with his elbow.

"Picky Yankee!" Linka jokes, playfully rubbing some mud on his nose. "Da, let's take them back with us. We still need to get to the village before Plunder and Greedly get there."

"Do you mean, my village?" Ma-Ti asks in horror.

"Yes Ma-Ti, and that's why we need to stop them!" Gi says, motioning to them. "This is one home Plunder won't plunder on my watch! Come on!"

"You go! I will find Jose, and bring him back." Linka says. "Do not argue, we do not have time. Go!"

Everyone leaps to their feet and begins to run down the trail, splashing through the puddles with each step. Linka breaks away and heads for the river again to find Jose. As they race through the forest, the sound of Plunder's machine fills the air, reminding them they are not safe by a longshot. Turning down one path, they race towards a small hill. Coming over it, they spot a small pool of water with shiny silver beads near the bottom. Gi gasps.

"What is that?" Wheeler asks, leaning forward and reaching for the water.

"It's mercury, and it is very poisonous. Even a little bit will make you very sick!" Gi says, pulling him away. "Don't touch it, or it can get into your skin. That's more than enough to make you have to go to a hospital."

Quickly, they all run on, following Ma-Ti to the village. Rounding the corner, they see two young girls dipping a bucket on the river.

"Stop!" Kwame yells, running over and waving his arms. "You cannot drink from there!"

Startled by the yelling, the girls drop the bucket and run off. Quickly elders gather around the planeteers. Moments later, the old Shaman comes from his hut.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asks. "Guests do not frighten our children."

"I am sorry to be so abrupt, Shaman." Kwame replies, bowing his head. "Your children were in danger."

"Danger?"

Gi steps up. "Come I need to show you something, please."

Ma-Ti and the Shaman follow Gi to the water. Taking a stick, she points to a glob of silver on the bottom.

"This is the stuff that was on the capibara we saw." Ma-Ti says. "But the capibara was not well."

"That's right, Ma-Ti! This is a poison, it made the capibara sick. Plunder and Greedly are dumping this into the water. Until we stop them, the sickness will only spread." Gi answers. "Shaman, I am sorry if we were rude to you and your people, but we needed to get you away from this as soon as possible, or many people will become very sick and die."

The old man puts an arm around Ma-Ti. "This is good to know."

"One more thing. Plunder is coming back with his big machine. They think there is gold in the ground." Gi says, patting the Earth with her hand. "Your people are in great danger if you stay here."

"Gold?" Asks the Shaman.

Wheeler takes out a small, shiny nugget. "Gold! This stuff. Plunder will tear up your village to find this rock unless we figure out how to stop him."

Ma-Ti raises his hand to his head. "Heart!"

His ring begins to glow, with a soft pulsing light.

"Linka has found Jose deep in the forest. I see a shadow of something I do not recognize." Ma-Ti says softly. "There is great danger, but also an important secret. I cannot put anyone in danger. I will go alone and find them!"

The young boy turns and walks off into the fading light.

"Ma-Ti, wait!" The Shaman calls, stopping him in his tracks.

"Yes grandfather!" He says softly.

"This is not the time to go on your own. You are brave, but you must also be wise." The elderly man says. "Ma-Ti follow your heart, but do not let it rule your head. What is the danger you sense?"

As the light grows dim around them, the youngest of the planeteers stands alone, looking at the world he and his grandfather called home. Beneath his feet, strange tremors pulse through the forest floor. His face began to twist. Whoosh! The sound of birds fluttering in the air, causes him to look up for a moment. Now he walks over to a small pool of water, and looks in. Instead of being still, ripples pulse through its surface.

"An Earthquake is coming!" Ma-Ti cries out, with a look of alarm on his face.