"What?" the other four said in unison
"You never told us that you had a sister" Kwame continued
"I never told you guys because it's kind of a sore subject... when my parents got divorced, mom got custody of her" Wheeler sighed "Her name is Emily"
"Why does she look so frightened?" Ma-Ti asked
"'Cause she's blind" Wheeler replied
"Bozhe moy" Linka muttered
"And if you don't take your seats she'll be more than that" Blight said
"Wheeler!" Emily cried out having heard her brother's voice among the strangers around her.
"Calm down, Emmy, I'm here" Wheeler said
Linka was shocked at the way Wheeler reacted to his sister's fear, she knew him to be wild and crazy, normally acting without thinking, but this was one think he didn't give into impulses about he was different, Emily made him different.
Each planeteer took a seat, their hands where suddenly strapped to the arm rests leaving them no choice but to watch as Dr. Blight and Sludge gave their speech, meanwhile Andrea was trying to keep Emily calm, Emily knew Andrea and trusted her, but she really wanted her brother.
The planeteers saw Blight go into the cage and grab Emily. Wheeler looked to Kwame; they had sat there and done nothing as long as they were willing. Blight and Sludge turned their backs and the planeteers took advantage of that moment
"Let our powers combine" Kwame whispered "EARTH"
"FIRE"
"WIND"
"WATER"
"HEART"
"By your powers combine, I am Captain Planet"
"Go Planet"
"I knew we should have taken those rings!" Sludge muttered angrily
Captain Planet looked at the girl Blight held
"Come any closer Planet and this girl dies" Blight said
"Chyort voz mi" Linka muttered in fury struggling harder against her own bonds, she wasn't related to Emily but she felt a strong urge to protect the blind girl.
Emily cried out in fear and Wheeler tried to fight his bonds just as fiercely as Linka was with little success.
Captain Planet, meanwhile, was going through his options and selected his best, he turned to water and managed to squeeze between Blight and Emily forcing Blight to let go of the blind preteen.
Emily was frozen she had no idea where to go or what to do. She could hear the footsteps of someone running, she could only assume it was Blight and her associate. Then she felt gloved hands on her arms and tensed in fear again.
"Emmy calm down, it's okay, he's my friend" Wheeler called to her
Emily calmed down at Wheeler referring to this stranger as his friend. She turned to the stranger
"Who are you?"
"I'm Captain Planet" he replied softly, he could tell she could not see and thus the fearful reaction his touch got initially.
Andrea freed Wheeler and the other planeteers and Wheeler ran to his sister
"Emmy"
"Wheeler" she turned to the sound of her brother's voice
Captain Planet stepped back to allow the siblings to reunite. Emily hugged Wheeler tightly and he returned the embrace
"Wheeler, I was so scared." Emily cried tears falling from her eyes.
"I know you were, and I'm sorry you had to go through that" Wheeler whispered to his sister as Captain Planet went to round up Dr. Blight and Sly Sludge he was absolutely livid that they would use a blind child to manipulate the planeteers to their will.
Soon the police arrived and arrested the two eco-villains and they were taken to lock up.
"Well it looks like my job is done here"
"Cap, wait"
"What is it Wheeler"
Then Emily came forward
"I wanted to thank you for saving me" Emily said
"It's no problem, Emily, really" he replied landing on the ground again to talk with the planeteers and the new arrival
Cap was surprised when Emily walked over to stand in front of him... he could tell by the way she seemed to stare through him that she didn't actually see him at all.
"I cannot even see light if you were wondering... but I have learned to follow the direction of a voice" She reached out and placed her hand just below the globe on the center of his chest and then embraced him in a gesture that surprised even Captain Planet himself. "Thank you"
"You're welcome, Emily" he returned the hug for just a brief moment before she pulled away and took a few steps back.
"Remember, the power is yours!" Captain Planet returned to the Earth and Wheeler went to Emily
"Wheeler, do you have to leave again?" Emily asked
"I'm sorry sis, but I've got a job to do, but hey, I'll spend some time with you before I leave, okay?"
"Okay... who are they?" she asked referring to the other four planeteers.
"They are my friends"
The four remaining planeteers introduced themselves.
"Everyone is welcome to come to the restaurant with me and get something to eat" Andrea said
"Emily, would you like to join us?" Ma-Ti asked
"Yes, I would" Emily replied holding her brother's arm. She felt someone take a hold of her other hand... the hand was similar in size to her own and she wondered who this was
"You're Ma-Ti, right?" she asked
"Yes, how did you know?"
"I can tell approximately where everyone is standing by listening... Kwame is to my brother's left Linka is kind of in front of me... maybe a bit to my left... Gi is to her left and since Andrea is between Linka and Gi. I was able to figure out that you were to my right meaning you were the one that touched me"
The four planeteers that didn't know Emily were shocked
"You guys haven't been around many blind people have you?" she asked
"No, not really" Linka said
They left and went to the restaurant where they were greeted by Andrea's brother, William who told them where they could sit
"When did Emily join you guys?"
"It's a long story, oppa" Andrea replied
They all took seats at the large booth and Wheeler pulled Kwame and Ma-Ti aside
"Guys, I was wonderin if... maybe we could bring Emily to spend some time on Hope Island" Wheeler said "She'd love it, she'd get to walk on the beach hear the ocean and the dolphins... things she's never done before, and most of all it'd give us more time together... I see her maybe once in a year... that's if I'm lucky."
"We would have to check with Gaia, but I see no reason we could not bring Emily along for a visit... most of us get to see our family members on a regular basis, you do not have that luxury with her." Kwame said
"I will use my ring to contact Gaia and get her opinion, but I think she will agree with Kwame" Ma-Ti smiled
"Thanks guys, I owe you big time"
"You do not owe us a thing, friends do not keep score that way" Kwame corrected
Ma-Ti walked out of the restaurant and to a hidden spot.
"HEART!"
Suddenly Gaia appeared in front of Ma-Ti
"You want to know about whether or not Wheeler's sister is welcome on Hope Island... the answer is yes. Bring her, she went through a lot of trauma today, she deserves to get a day with her brother."
"Thank you, Gaia" a voice said
To Be Continued...