Chapter Ten – History Has to Fulfil Itself
They traversed the portal without incident and landed close to the Planeteers living quarters. The distortion ring was still present but it had paused as if stuck.
Linka was conscious of the pollution the enemy ship would inflict but saw no other solution for the time being. Hopefully it will not be here long enough to cause a real problem.
The Geo-cruiser set down beside them rather than in its usual landing area, so that the other planeteers could help with the prisoners, although they weren't sure what they were going to do with them.
Fortunately Gaia was waiting for them, although she looked a little dubious when she saw her guests. "Well done Planeteers, whatever you did halted the incursion, but we still need to work out how to reverse it." She raised an eyebrow at the younger versions of the wind and fire planeteers, standing at the exit of the polluters craft hand in hand and looking unanimously defiant. "Perhaps someone would like to explain what happened?"
Everyone baring the evil ringleaders (who were tightly bound and gagged,) looked at Linka. The Russian took a deep breath and gave a brief summary of what had happened to them since they first entered the portal.
"… and we thought it was best to at least bring Blight and Plunder back into the present." She finished.
Ma-Ti then added, "I have tried to explain things to Wheeler and Kwame but I am afraid Doctor Blight had a point, they understand but the damage is already done. They seem determined to stay with Plunder."
Gaia nodded and was about to speak when young Linka, who had been trying to get her father to say something, took matters into her own hands and spoke up, "Excuse me, um Ma'am? Wheeler will not cause you any problems, he is going to come and live with us, it is all settled."
Behind her Wheeler stuck his hands in his pockets and mumbled, "I told you, they won't let me."
Linka turned and gave him a look that the Planeteers were very familiar with, before returning her attention to Gaia. "And you could find Kwame another job, couldn't you? It is not that he wants to work for Mr Plunder, you see, but his family needs money, he is just being responsible."
The African youth shifted uncomfortably but didn't argue with her.
Gaia smiled but there was sadness in her eyes, "Come here." She nodded to Kwame, "All of you."
Linka hesitated but when Wheeler took her hand again she moved forward and returned the ethereal woman's smile. There was something comforting about Gaia and it was difficult to do anything but trust her, and even Wheeler didn't flinch as she reached out to touch the sides of their heads in a motherly gesture.
The two children crumpled to the ground, their hands still joined.
Mr Orlov immediately leaped forward to his daughter's side but Gaia spoke swiftly, soothing his fears, even as she did the same for Kwame. "They are only asleep, I would never do anything to harm them, they are my children too and I love them dearly. I owe my existence to them."
The older man looked up, from the forms of the three prone children, his fears calmed but still suspicious. "What are you going to do with us?"
"I am going to send you home." She said with a smile and knelt beside him, "But first I am going to block their memories of the last few weeks and replace them. History has to fulfil itself and for that to happen, they have to be the people they were always meant to be."
Behind her father, the Wind Planeteer was crying but she said nothing.
Moving to each of the future Planeteers in turn, Gaia continued, "I cannot reverse everything, their experiences have changed them to some degree, but it is important that they do not remember the events behind them, at least for now."
"What about me?" Linka's father asked, "Are you going to do the same to me?"
The Spirit of the Earth gave him a long look and then shook her head, "No. I believe I can trust you to act in all our best interests." He nodded silent thanks.
"There, that should do it." Gaia smiled and waved a hand over the sleeping forms. They didn't stir, but the distortion ring began to dissipate, and as it disappeared the items that had gone before, began to return.
"Jason!" Linka threw her arms around her confused teammate as he shimmered into existence.
Not sure whether he was more surprised at the use of his name or her sudden affection, it didn't stop the American from returning her embrace, "What happened? Hey, you're trembling, it's ok. I've got you."
"I thought I had lost you." She said into his shoulder, holding on tightly but beginning to feel like herself for the first time since the adventure began.
Wheeler kissed her hair, "You should know I'm not that easy to get rid of… uh Babe? Those kids, is that… us?" She nodded. "Holding hands?"
"Trust you to notice that." She pulled back to look at him, careful not to make him think she wanted to be released. Her eyes were a little red and still full of moisture and he knew the look of pain in them went beyond her fears for his safety, though somehow the smile she gave him seemed perfectly genuine.
"What's wrong?" His softly voiced concern nearly overset her but she shook her head and took a deep breath, before pulling away and mirroring her younger self by taking his hand.
Guiding him over to Mr Orlov she said, "Jason Wheeler, I want you to meet my Papa, Nicolai Orlov."
The American cast her a sideways glance and then extended his hand to the older man, "It's an honour to meet you Sir."
The Russian gave him a strange smile but shook his hand, "For me as well, I have heard much about you. My daughter thinks very highly of you."
Linka blushed and Wheeler couldn't help but grin at her, "Does she now?"
Gi and Ma-Ti had been making a fuss of Kwame, who was slightly less confused than Wheeler but eager to have events explained to him all the same. Gaia however, had other ideas. "Planeteers. I think explanations can wait a little while longer, may I suggest you call Captain Planet to take our eco-villains in hand?"
The five friends agreed and quickly took a step away from each other, raising their right fists to the sky.
Wheeler cast a look over at Linka's father, "You're gonna like this."
Linka rolled her eyes but she was smiling.
"EARTH!" Kwame began, his beam shooting high into the air.
"FIRE!" Wheeler's shout made Mr Orlov jump, which in turn made Linka giggle but she recovered fast, "WIND!"
"WATER!", "HEART!" the others followed linking all five rings with their beams.
"By your powers combined..." Captain Planet appeared and introduced himself, adding a respectful acknowledgment of Nicolai before turning to the task at hand. "Well, well, well... I know a few law enforcement agencies that are going to be beside themselves to get their hands on you two... much like some of the Planeteers are right now."
Blight and Plunder groaned behind their gags.
Linka's father stared in fascination as the superhero returned the criminals to their craft and proceeded to lift the whole thing, before flying off with it. He said something in Russian, sounding dazed and Linka moved to his side to lay a steadying hand on his arm. "We are very lucky to have our rings and to be able to call Captain Planet, it is a great honour to have been chosen."
The older Russian nodded slowly, "I think I understand... And this Blight and Plunder, he said they are already wanted by the authorities, you do not need me to make a statement?"
"Nyet... Fortunately." Linka agreed, "We would have a very hard time explaining to the police that they committed a crime by use of time travel!"
While they waited for Captain Planet to return their powers, the Planeteers discussed the best way to go about restoring their younger selves to their homes.
Seeing that Wheeler wasn't really joining in the conversation, Mr Orlov spoke quietly to him, and took him aside out of the other's earshot.
Slightly nervous about what he might ask about their present, and his future, Wheeler tried to make a joke, "Are you going to ask me about my intentions towards your daughter?"
"Should I?" was the quick retort.
Wheeler swallowed, "I er…"
The older man laughed but raised an eyebrow, still waiting for an answer.
Squaring his shoulders, Wheeler said, "I'd never hurt her… she means everything to me, but uh…. I'm not sure she wants…" He cleared his throat, "That is… well, the ball is pretty much in her court."
"It seems to be the general opinion around here that you take care of her." It was more a statement than a question but the American answered anyway.
"When she lets me…" he shrugged."Linka's pretty strong."
Her father shook his head, "Not always, she hides her pain well.
Wheeler met his eyes with understanding, "I know, I hate the way she bottles things up. I try to be there for her, even if it's only as someone to yell at."
Nicolai nodded, "Before I met your friends… my little Linka grown into a woman, I would never have believed that she could cope with half of what just happened to all of us. I am very proud of her, and I know that I have you to thank, at least in part." He glanced at the sleeping boy still clasping his daughter's hand like a life line. "Then and now."
Wheeler was quick to disclaim, "You give me way too much credit, Linka's amazing, all on her own… besides you gave her a good start, a good home, you did far more to help her become the person she is than I ever could. I wish I'd been half so lucky."
An expression of guilt took hold of Nicolai's features, which the grown up Jason had no way of understanding just then, but before he could ask they were interrupted.
"What are you two talking about?" Linka had also seen the trouble on the older man's face and therefore hers was full of concern.
Wheeler snagged her around the waist and pulled her against him. "You, what else? Our favourite topic."
Mr Orlov laughed and it dispelled the lingering concern, whatever had been Wheeler's lot didn't seem to have affected him adversely, in fact he appeared to be much lighter hearted than his younger self.
"Is he telling you how I am a neat-freak and bossy all of the time?" Linka unconsciously leant into her friend's embrace, still feeling the effects of their separation. "Do not believe him."
Her father smiled and shook his head, "I am sure that is not true."
"Oh no, it is true, but we love her anyway." Wheeler assured him, laughing when Linka poked him in the side and squirming to catch her hands to him, trapping them between them, he held her close in a tighter clasp for a moment so that he could kiss her forehead before letting her break free.
Blushing furiously and giving her friend a warning glare, "You see what I have to put up with?"
"Yes, I see very well." Nicolai smiled knowingly, which just made her blush even more.
Their rings flashed on their hands, and a faint, "The power is yours!" sounded on the breeze.
"That was quick." Wheeler commented in surprise. "I hope Cap destroyed that time ship!"
The others agreed.
"We should get going." Gi said apologetically, as she came over to join the small group. "If you don't mind helping us return Kwame first, Mr Orlov, I think Ma-Ti and I can manage…" adding to Linka and Wheeler, "Gaia doesn't want you to have more interactions with your younger selves than necessary."
The Asian's explanation sounded hollow and Linka looked up at her father as she suddenly realised that her time with him was over. It was also her last chance to say anything about his fate.
As if sensing something, Mr Orlov replied to Gi rather than give in to the expression on his daughter's face. "Of course, I am happy to help you," then turning to Wheeler, "You need to take your Linka home for a visit so that we can get to know each other properly in this time."
Wheeler nodded, needing a moment to find his voice, "I'll do that Sir."
By then Linka was crying, and when her father turned to her she embraced him quickly but briefly. "I am being stupid, forgive me."
He nodded and kissed her forehead, as Wheeler had, before stepping away to lift the small, sleeping Linka into his arms.
"Thank you." Gaia said to him
A thought occurred to him and he asked, "What do I tell the police, and the school? Linka was missing for some time and it was common knowledge."
Gaia looked to the older version, who was once more nestled at her Yankee's side as he tried to comfort her, "Linka?"
She shook her head and made an effort to dry her tears and steady her voice. "I do not know, I do not remember being taken."
"Where do you think you were? You were not at home." The Spirit persisted.
Linka started to shake her head again but then her eyes widened, "There was a time when I went to stay at Uncle Dimitri's house, before he left for America… I was hiding but I do not remember why. Boris would bring food and books and games up to the attic and play with me. He took care of me until Papa worked out what was happening and found me…"
Her father looked dubious, "Boris is little more than a child."
"I know it sounds wrong but it is a memory I have always had, it has not changed," She looked at Gaia, "Has it?"
"It is the memory you have always had, nothing has changed, but at the same time, it never happened." Gaia told her with a hint of smugness.
Wheeler frowned, "So we were always abducted by Blunder?"
She nodded, "And it helped to shape the people you became, how did you once put it? 'It turned my life around, finding people who believed I was worth something.'"
The American's jaw dropped as the realisation hit him, "Wait a minute, that was… people who live in the trees in the park Gaia, really?"
"You believed it." She replied sardonically.
"Well yeah, what choice did I have? I remembered it but, sheesh!" He rolled his eyes.
Tucked comfortably under his arm, Linka giggled.
"What about you Kwame?" Wheeler asked his African friend.
Kwame shrugged, "I remember an American businessman hiring some of us for a construction detail, it lasted a few weeks and I was home again. I made some good friends there and improved my use of English, but did not keep in touch with them."
"Well I don't remember any of it," Gi said laughing, "And I know I was there for the big show down because I saw me… I guess I blocked it out all on my own. I'll have to ask my parents about it!"
They laughed and began loading the other two slumbering children into the 'cruiser.
"Just leave me on our fire escape." Wheeler suggested, "You don't want a run in with my Dad, and I slept out there often enough that it won't seem odd."
Again Mr Orlov had that strange look of guilt cross his features but nothing was said until they were about to close the hatch. He raised his voice then and called out, "Take care of each other!"
Linka nodded unable to speak but Wheeler called back even as he pulled her close, "Always."
And then they were lifting off again, heading for the vortex that Gaia had kept open, while Wheeler, Kwame and Linka were left on the beach to watch their departure.
Kwame, with rare tact, chose to follow Gaia back to the crystal chamber and leave the other two alone.
To be Continued…