A/N: Thanks for all the quick responses, I'm really glad you're all enjoying it.

Chapter Fourteen

"I think that is her!" Linka exclaimed excitedly as she looked out of the hotel room window, "If so she must be doing very well for herself, she is dressed fashionably."

Wheeler came to join her to see but immediately swore and pulled her away, letting the net curtain fall back into place.

"Jason?"

"We're being watched," he nodded towards a gap between two buildings on the opposite side of the road, not quite big enough to be called an alleyway and probably just leading to a back garden. "I thought I saw one last night, I should have gone to check, he must have followed us back here."

"Who?" she peered closer, trying to see without being seen, "Chort voz mi, he is one of Skumm's henchman!"

Wheeler nodded, "I thought I'd imagined it last night… but look, they can't have anything to do with us. They're probably running that protection number, we'll call the cops before we leave and give them a heads up."

"But they followed us, if they see Susichka…"

"They don't know she's here to see us," He reassured her, "They see Planeteers, they get edgy. Once we leave they'll figure we didn't notice them."

Still sounding worried she said, "I hope you are right Yankee."

A knock sounded at their door and she would have gone to answer it but Wheeler stopped, her, "I'll go, just to be on the safe side."

Linka shrugged, figuring his protectiveness was unnecessary because she was as able to handle herself as he was, but allowing him to look after her anyway.

The pretty young woman on the other side of the door looked surprised and said something he couldn't understand.

"It is ok Yankee, that is Susichka." Linka confirmed and the woman's face lit up.

"Linka?"

Wheeler stepped back and allowed her to enter, not explaining why he checked the corridor when she did, but then she didn't notice because she was too busy hugging her long lost friend.

The two woman seated themselves side by side on the edge of the bed and began to gabble in Russian while Wheeler retired to the chair by the window to keep an eye on their hairy spy.

"It has been so long but I would still have recognised you," Susi was saying, "And he is your boyfriend? He is hot, I am impressed!"

Linka laughed, "You look wonderful, you must be doing very well."

Her friend's expression became somewhat fixed, "You shouldn't judge by appearances Linka, I… it is part of what I have to tell you."

The Planeteer nodded though it was obvious that she was disturbed by what she might be about to learn, "Wheeler does not speak Russian, can you tell us in English?"

The American looked around when he heard his name and their new friend smiled at him and switched to heavily accented English, "I am pleased to meet you Wheeler, please call me Susi… that is what I go by now."

"Good to meet you too, Linka's been telling me all about you." He grinned and she laughed a natural laugh, making herself even prettier.

"I was a different person then, but I am glad you have heard about the good times before…" she shook her head, "Let me tell you, I will answer any questions after but let me say it before I lose my nerve?"

They nodded silently and she began, looking down at her hands. "It started when we were at senior school, I wanted to be popular… it never seemed to bother you but my parents had such high expectations of me… I am afraid I let them down badly." She swallowed, "One of Svetlana's friends invited me to go shopping with her, you were busy that day, and it was before some of the really bad rumours about them started. They were the people to be seen with so I went, and it seemed like fun so when she asked me to meet her again, I did. I did not know that she was stealing things, but then she told me, how easy it was and how she knew where to get money for those things… expensive trinkets."

"I was so stupid Linka, it was daring and fun and then one day someone saw us and she intimidated them and it all sort of went to my head… I joined them." Linka gasped. "I hid it from you of course, somehow I still knew that it was wrong but… I was caught up in it. It started getting out of hand though and I told them I was out, that is why they were giving me a hard time, I am sorry I could not tell you but I had to keep you out of it... they wanted me to recruit you but I would not."

The Wind Planeteer blinked back the moisture from her eyes, "I would have helped you."

"There was nothing you could do! When your Papa was alive maybe… but they were dangerous and you were always so timid." She shook her head. "Anyway we moved here and my heart was breaking but I thought at least I could start over… I was wrong. They were here too."

"Who was?" Wheeler asked, his mind already jumping to conclusions.

"They are a crime syndicate. It was only just beginning in our town and it never really took hold back then but here… they had my name and threatened to tell my parents everything if I did not do as they said." Susi shook her head, "It is not just stealing here, they sell weapons and drugs… and themselves. I was lucky I am a good thief, I was able to stay on the cleaner side of things."

Linka looked disgusted, "Did Svetlana?"

Susi paused, "Sell herself for money? Not directly, I do not think so… she had power, one of the leaders. She still does, although like the people here she answers to someone I have never seen and never want to meet. I am fairly sure that Svetlana used her body to get that power though."

Wheeler snorted, "So am I. Do you know who the big boss is? What do you call him?"

She shook her head, "I do not know any names, they are well organised, I have always assumed that it was a team, a syndicate. Why do you think there is a leader?"

"Because I've seen it before, in my home town," he replied with some malice, "and we've just seen someone connected to the same dirty rat."

Susi shrugged, "You might be correct, I do not know."

Linka was still focused on her friend, "You are still working for them, even now?"

The other girl swallowed and stuck out her chin in defiance, "Da. Do not judge me too harshly Linka, I have no choice.

"There is always a choice, your parents…"

"Disowned me." She interrupted but then looked away again, avoiding their eyes. "I got caught. When you joined the Planeteers and wrote to me I was in prison. My father brought me the letter and that is when he told me that they were moving again, he did not say where only that I should not try to contact them. I was only in there for a few months and because of my associations I had a relatively easy time…" she looked pleadingly at Linka, her eyes filling with tears "They are all I have now, they take care of me, what was going to do but go back to them?"

Linka too was crying and she moved to hold her friend, "I am sorry, I have no right to judge you."

"You do." Susi brushed her tears away, "You would never have been so stupid as to get involved with them in the first place."

"Nyet, but I was stupid enough to trust a drug addict and get tricked into getting hooked." She said with a certain amount of self-loathing.

"That wasn't your fault!" Wheeler said quickly.

"Nyet, and this is not Susichka's," she stated firmly.

"I never said it was, I saw what he did to Trish as well, remember?" he replied grimly.

Linka nodded.

"Who? Who do you think is behind this?" Susi looked from one to the other until Wheeler finally bit out a response.

"Verminous Skumm. He's a mutant who gives rats a bad name."

The young woman's eyes opened wide and she didn't look as if she knew whether to believe him or not.

"We cannot leave Susichka here." Linka stated, getting back to the point.

"It is Susi, and da, you can." The Russian shook her head, "I liked Mischa, he was always nice to me… I had to warn you about Svetlana but I am not your problem."

Wheeler looked back out of the window, "You are now. One of Skumm's henchman was watching us, if you're a part of the syndicate he might have recognised you."

She looked scared but still stood her ground, "I will take my chances."

"The Planeteers can help Susi," Linka took her hand, "Please trust us, we can stop what is happening here, and back home if you will help us?"

"There is nothing I can do and if you stop it I will end up on the street!" she protested.

The American again stepped in, "We won't let that happen. Linka's right, you need to come back to Hope Island with us so you'll be safe while we come up with a plan." He grinned, "You can have Linka's room."

Linka rolled her eyes, "She can have your room."

He shrugged, "Same difference. Would Svetlana know how to contact the Boss or Bosses?"

"She might." Susi acknowledged, her resistance failing.

Linka watched out of the hotel window as Wheeler left, hanging back so that their stalker wouldn't see her. "He is following him." She confirmed, "Let us go."

The two girls grabbed the Planeteer's bags and went quickly down the stairs. Linka paid for their room and thanked the receptionist for their stay, noting that she was eyeing Susichka suspiciously, but not bothering to explain her presence there.

They headed for the woods, trying not to move too quickly and draw unwanted attention. It didn't take them long to reach the eco-copter and after storing their luggage, Linka prepped it for the flight.

"Are you sure Wheeler will be ok?" Susi asked reverting to Russian and glancing back the way they'd come.

"Yes." Linka nodded, wishing she felt as confident as she sounded, "He can take care of himself."

The other girl smiled, "He seems nice, I'm glad you found someone like that."

"Me too." Linka looked round at her, "You do not have anyone special in your life?"

Laughing Susi shook her head, "The kinds of guys I associate with aren't the sort you get involved with, not if you're smart."

"You will find someone."

"You always were a romantic, but the most I can hope for is someone to protect me while I do whatever he wants to keep him happy," She shook her head, "I'm not that desperate yet."

Not knowing what to say the Planeteer fell silent leaving it to her friend to restart the conversation, this she did, somewhat hesitantly. "Were you really a drug addict?"

Linka nodded, "Boris got hooked and he slipped some into my food… it was highly addictive and I didn't even realise how far I had sunk until Wheeler pulled me out."

"Your cousin Boris?!" Susi exclaimed in disbelief, and when Linka nodded confirmation, "Little Boris? He's just a boy!"

"He was…" The Wind Planeteer swallowed hard, "He… overdosed. We could not save him."

The reply was so sad that Susi felt tears sting her eyes, surprised that after all she'd seen, such news could still affect her. "Oh… oh Linka I'm so sorry."

Linka gave her a weak smile, "It was not your fault."

Her friend frowned, "Wasn't it? I knew what was going on I…"

Linka placed a hand on her arm to stop her, "Nyet Susi, it happened in America, it might have been Skumm behind both but the two were not connected. You could have done nothing… I was there and I could do nothing."

The grief and frustration in her voice was so plain that her old friend leant over to hug her, "You were just lucky to get out yourself."

Nodding, Linka allowed her comfort for a moment and then pulled away, "Please do not mention it in front of Wheeler, he hates that he could not fix everything."

Susi nodded, "So… how is Mischa? And your Grandmother?"

"They will be fine when we get rid of Svetlana!" Linka said harshly and then shook her head and smiled, telling her friend more about her family in an affectionate way that made her smile too.

A few minutes later they were chuckling over old reminiscences when they were startled by the American's arrival, He considered giving them a lecture about being vigilant but Linka looked so relieved to see him he let it slide, he'd already shaken his tail anyway. "Ready to go ladies?"

They nodded and were soon airborne, and at Wheeler's request, Susichka regaled him with stories of Linka as a child much to his girlfriend's embarrassment.

They were still laughing when they set down on Hope Island, though by then Linka had retaliated with a few stories of her own. She was grateful to Wheeler for putting her friend at ease and even more grateful that their banter was not creeping into flirting… not that she didn't trust him to be faithful, in fact she did, but it would have made her uncomfortable anyway.

"Are you sure your friends are not going to mind having me here?" The Russian asked suddenly, hesitating about stepping out of the craft.

"Of course not," Linka assured her, "You are going to help us stop a Polluter, they will welcome you."

Wheeler winked at his girlfriend, "Yeah and Gaia is used to us bringing home strays."

The Russian Planeteer rolled her eyes and led the way to the Crystal Chamber where Gaia had already gathered the others.

"Welcome to Hope Island Susichka." The Spirit of the Earth was fortunately in her corporeal state. "I understand the three of you have a lot to tell us?"

Linka nodded, taking the lead without hesitation as she explained what they'd found out, and finally finishing with, "We need to contact the police of both towns without the syndicate knowing about it."

Kwame interrupted thoughtfully, "Or perhaps we need to speak to your brother's fiancée first?"

"Do not call her that!" Linka told him, a little unnecessarily and found herself being pulled against Wheeler's side, the arm about her waist offering comfort even as he told her, "That's what she is Babe, for now at least."

"I know, I am sorry." She leant against him and missed the impressed glances her friends exchanged, but Susi didn't and she understood them to mean that her friend was normally just as stubborn as she had always been about some things.

Wheeler continued, addressing Kwame, "To be honest, I don't think talking to Svetlana is going to get us anywhere. Despite her 'give me a second chance act' she's already made it clear we're not on the same side."

Susi nodded, "Wheeler is correct, you will have to force her to talk."

"That is not the way we do things." Kwame told her, a note of censure in his voice.

"It is the only way she understands." The Russian girl shrugged, "It is your call though. Can I ask a question?" they nodded so she continued, "What are you planning on doing with me when this is all over?"

Gaia stepped in then, "I understand your trepidation Susi, I do not know what we can do for you at the moment but I promise you we will not abandon you. You are welcome here."

Susi thanked her shyly, still looking ill at ease.

Gi came to the rescue, "How about we get you settled in and then we can discuss our plan of action over lunch?"

"She's going to sleep in my room." Wheeler announced, and then laughed at the shocked expressions of his friends, "Geez guys, I'm gonna be in Linka's room ok?"

Linka chuckled, "You had better go and clean up your cabin then Yankee. Susi, you might want to wait on the beach, it will take him a while." She wriggled in his arms as he exacted vengeance but escaped to add, "I will sort out a few clothes for Susi to wear, we did not have time to collect any of her things."

"I will too then," Gi offered.

"You are very kind." The Russian girl blushed, unused to being treated that way without knowing there was an ulterior motive. They wanted her help of course, but they didn't have to be that nice to get it.

Linka returned to her boyfriend's arms to say in a low voice, "If you want to collect what you need from your room I will find a space for it in mine… you can just leave everything on the bed."

He grinned, "Meaning you'd rather put it away for me so I don't mess up your system?"

She blushed, "It is just that I…"

"I'm teasing," He gave her a squeeze, "And pushing my luck, I know this sleeping arrangement isn't permanent, yet. Consider it a dry run."

Linka's blush deepened but she nodded in acceptance, "We will both have a lot to adjust to I think."

"We'll make it work." He told her and again she agreed.

Kwame was watching them with some amusement but finally broke in, "When you two are finished, perhaps we should take Susi on a tour?"

The couple laughed and moved apart, although Wheeler kept his arm around her for a moment, "You guys go ahead, I'm going to make a start on moving." He kissed Linka's head and departed before they found anything else for him to do.

To be continued…