Chapter 3: Just a matter of persuasion
"Analysis of blood sample complete," MAL announced.
Blight looked at the computer in anticipation. "What have you found?" she wanted to know.
"Blood types are incompatible," the computer told her. "As you know, yours is A-. Hers is O+. Therefore, they are incompatible."
"Does the sample appear normal?" was the doctor's next question.
"There is something strange in the sample," the AI stated. "From what we have seen and heard I can only conclude that the foreign matter belongs to Captain Planet."
"Have you tried extracting the 'foreign matter' from hers?" Blight persisted.
"It doesn't seem to be possible," her sidekick told her. "It's bonded with most of her blood cells. The bonding seems to be so complete that it's impossible to separate them."
There was something else too and MAL was trying to decide whether or not to tell the doctor about it. For the first time he wasn't sure what to do, the computer's loyalty warring with what he could only call conscience. Finally, he decided to keep quiet, telling himself he needed further analysis to confirm it first. The information could always be divulged later.
Unaware of this, Blight was disappointed to hear that the blood was totally useless to her. The scientist wasn't that foolhardy as to try blood that was of a different blood group than her own. But she still had the superhero and there was nothing preventing her from going for the bigger catch.
'Good,' Kim thought. 'But I'm sure she was prepared for that setback.' The brunette glanced at Cap. He would most definitely be her next target. Or the one the villain was really aiming for.
Cap was relieved to hear all that, too. But despite what she had tried to make him believe, he knew Blight and was convinced now that it had been her intention to get her hands on his blood from the get go, not Kim's at all. True, she had done some tests to it but he was sure that he was her ultimate target. Earlier, the villain had let slip that she was after a bigger dose and that she could only get from him.
Well, he wouldn't give himself up voluntarily, that was for sure.
"Looks like she's useless to you, Blight," Cap called. He couldn't help sounding pleased.
The villain looked at him with an unmistakable glint in her eye. "Lucky for her. But I still have you," she said pointing at the superhero.
Kim gave a laugh. "You're not expecting him to just give himself up, are you?"
Blight smirked. She had no such delusions. "No, but maybe with some persuasion, he will." The couple looked at each other. What did that mean?
The scientist pressed a button on the remote she had in her hand. At first nothing seemed to happen but it soon became clear what she had done. The biggest clue was Kim who started gasping for breath. It was obvious the air was being sucked out fast because it was getting harder and harder for her to breathe. Her hand went to her throat and she looked at Cap with clear panic showing in her eyes.
Knowing what he now knew, MAL could've stopped it, used to the venting that would most probably be the result of that. The AI was sure the superhero wouldn't stand for something like this so the computer decided to wait and see what would happen. He reminded himself to do a scan on the woman later.
Cap's grin faded, replaced by shock. 'No, this can't be happening!' He had known the scientist was without morals but hadn't thought she would go this far.
"What's it gonna be, Planet?" Blight asked. She couldn't help feeling a twinge of pity for the woman but chose to ignore it. "You know what you have to do to save her."
Getting over his shock, Cap knew he had to act fast. He had to get her some air because he sure wasn't going to watch his girlfriend suffocate before his eyes, everything else be damned. "Hold on!" he exclaimed and was going to smash the wall separating them.
Blight simply pushed another button on her remote and thick smog started spraying from the sides of his cell. Trying to ignore the smog and stay standing, Cap succeeded in making a spider web-like crack in the wall's surface before he sank to his knees. It was thicker than he had thought. And the smog must have been some form of concentrated stuff the doc had cooked up just for him. Managing to get back on his feet, he could only watch helplessly as Kim tried to get what little oxygen there still was in the room into her lungs.
Kim could feel her heart beat faster as it tried to get what little oxygen there still was into her failing body. It was like it was trying to fight its way out of her chest. Was this it? She had found out she would get to live longer only to die the same day. Her knees buckled and she sank to the floor onto her side. She was fighting to keep her eyes open. As Cap watched, the woman lost the battle. Her lips were already turning blue.
"Stop!" he exclaimed. "Give her some air." Knowing all too well what else lack of oxygen did to the body and what would be coming next, the superhero tried to get the wall to budge but thanks to the smog, he couldn't do much. There was also the fact that if he broke the wall, the smog would reach Kim as well and that he didn't want to happen.
The villain only stood there holding up the remote expectantly. "You didn't say please."
As if he would give her the satisfaction of hearing him beg. But he knew what would work just as well. "Do what you like to me but leave her alone." If that's what it took to save his girlfriend, so be it. Even if that had been what the villain had been after from the first place.
That was just what Blight had been waiting to hear. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it," she commented. The villain was pleased to know she was one step closer to her goal. 'This proves it,' she thought. 'Love is a weakness.' She had never had a very high opinion of it to begin with. The blonde pushed another button on the remote and oxygen was blown back into Kim's cell.
At first there was no reaction and Cap was afraid it was already too late. But then she took a deep breath and slowly opened her eyes. The woman coughed, gulping the air into her oxygen-deprived lungs.
"Kim?" he called, ignoring the surrounding smog. "Are you alright?" The superhero hoped the lack of oxygen hadn't done anything irreversible. How long had she been without air to breathe? He wasn't sure. 'Please, let her be OK.'
Kim sat up. Was she actually alive? She had been close to death only once before but this time had been much worse because she had been conscious to begin with. The woman didn't want to experience something like that again. It had been awful not to be able to breathe. Even if it had been for only a moment, it had felt like forever.
It took another call of her name for her to look at him. She smiled a little. "I-I think so. Yes."
Cap's legs gave out from under him again, in part because of the smog and in part because of relief. Thank goodness.
Then the smog registered on Kim and she gasped. Not trusting her legs yet, she went to the glassy partition on her hands and knees. "Is that…?"
Cap nodded, coughing. "Uh huh. Blight didn't take my misbehaving too kindly." He pointed at the crack he had made.
"Your boyfriend was oh-so-worried about you," MAL said in a depreciatory tone. "Guess what he did so you'd get to breathe again?" At the same time he did that scan on the woman, concluding everything was as it should be.
Kim was almost afraid to ask. She knew him to be selfless so it wasn't that hard to figure out. "You didn't…?"
"He did," Blight told her. "The sucker surrendered himself to me to save your miserable life."
Cap shrugged. All that mattered to him now was that his girlfriend was alright. "It was either that or letting you suffocate." He put his hand against the glass, although he would have much rather touched her cheek. "It was a no-brainer."
The brunette placed her hand where his was. She was grateful for him for saving her life. Again. What she didn't like was the fact that he had put himself in danger instead but didn't say it. She knew he knew that. But that was the way he was. Putting himself on the line for others with no regard for his own life. So far he had survived. This time there were no Planeteers, though. At least not yet.
Watching this, Blight's upper lip curled up, disgusted. If she had ever needed someone, it had only been when she had needed that person for her own gain. There was only one "person" the doctor cared about besides herself and that was her computer. He could be counted on never to let her down.
Kim felt she had to do something in return for her boyfriend. "Can't you get rid of that stuff?" she called to Blight, meaning the smog.
"Why should I?" the scientist asked out of simple curiosity. She had no intention of doing anything of the sort, now that she had the superhero cornered.
The brunette looked back at Cap, who shook his head a little, telling her it wouldn't work. But she stubbornly persisted. "You don't want this to be too easy, do you? You already have him. There's no challenge if you just beat him like this." Kim knew she was taking a gamble but she had to do something for him.
Blight wouldn't have wanted to admit it but the other woman right. Grunting, she used the remote again and the smog cleared from inside the superhero's side, if only to shut the little woman up, leaving only small traces of it wafting in the air. She could've let him cook in it a little longer but knowing what awaited him once they arrived at her hideout, was sure it would be enough.
After who knew how long a flight, Blight's ship reached the mainland. Every chance she got, Kim would try and see if there were any distinct landmarks visible. So far there had been nothing of note.
But then she realized the ship was descending. Its destination looked to be a big valley flanked with mountain ranges from both sides, with a mountain marking both its northern and southern boundaries. A very dry-looking valley. It seemed to be well below sea level.
"Welcome to Death Valley," Blight announced.
"Suits her," Kim commented. It was obvious she really didn't like the villain.
Cap had to agree but this changed everything. He had been going to ask Blight to let Kim go once they arrived at the hideout since she had got what she wanted but now he had to rethink that. If the doctor did that, his girlfriend wouldn't last long in this hot and dry place. The eco-hero was quite sure that Blight wouldn't even hear of it, anyway. Or vice versa just because of where they were, that being the worst option. So he chose not to say anything.
The superhero was sure he wouldn't have to give the name of the valley to the Planeteers since the place was quite well-known. But since it was so big, he had to know where they were going to land.
At first it seemed they were headed for a plain cliff face. As the ship got closer, though, double doors could be made out where there earlier had been nothing. Either the doors were made of the same rock as the range or they were just camouflaged with it. It was on the eastern wall of the valley.
Uncharacteristically, the villain let Kim help Cap out of the ship. Not wanting to do the job herself, Blight enlisted the brunette to do the job for her. Thankful for this brief opportunity to spend time with her boyfriend, Kim agreed.
"It was either drag you out myself or let her do it for me," the villain told him when Cap commented on her kindness to let them have at least that moment to be together. "Now move it." Why do it yourself if you had someone to do it for you?
With his arm around her shoulders, she made her way to the entrance. "Easy does it," she said as he seemed to falter. Cap assured her he wasn't as weak as he seemed to be. The act was for Blight's benefit only. At least part of it. Kim looked at the superhero who winked. She didn't know whether to believe him or not.
The ship was left outside and stood out like a sore thumb among the rocky landscape.
"Ma-Ti…"
In the Geo-Cruiser, Ma-Ti started, recognizing the superhero's voice. "I am getting something," the Kayapo told the others. In his mind he saw an image of a long and quite a deep valley. In fact, it seemed to be below sea level.
"What is it?" Linka asked.
"Looks like a valley," the South American said. It did look familiar but he couldn't place it, quite sure they had talked about it at some point.
"Eastern side. Blight's ship marks the spot," Cap's voice told him and he shared this with the others.
They accessed the geographical data on the Geo-Cruiser and narrowed the search down to valleys on the western side of the mainland.
When an image of Death Valley came up, the Heart Planeteer perked up. "That is it!"
Wheeler straightened in his seat. "Where to?" Once he heard they would be headed for Death Valley in California, the redhead whistled. "Trust her to pick such a place for a hideout."
Once inside the hideout, which turned out to be a cave, to which they had had to walk through a fairly short passageway, Blight directed Kim to take the superhero to a small room in the back and restrain him from his wrists to the ceiling. The room was bare except for the shackles. The brunette didn't want to know what the walls hid behind them.
"Nice, I get a private room," Cap commented as they entered the cell, looking around. "Doesn't look very cozy, though."
"Oh, shut up," Kim muttered under her breath. She really wasn't in the mood for his jokes right now.
"Make yourself at home, Planet," Blight told him. "This may be the last place you'll ever see."
As the shackles were put around his wrists, Cap looked at the brunette and saw the telltale biting of the lip. The superhero could sense the jumble of emotions that were raging inside her despite the fact that she was acting brave. He could understand that since she hadn't been in situations like this that often. On top of everything he could sense guilt for something. Did she blame herself for what had happened? It was true the woman had distracted him, trying to make him tell her where they were going but since the attack had been so sudden, Cap was sure they would have ended up caught nonetheless. Now just wasn't the time to talk about it, telepathically or otherwise.
"No matter what happens, I want you to be strong for me, OK?" he said in a low voice. Not that she wasn't strong already. She just didn't realize how strong she was sometimes.
Kim managed to smile a little. "I will." She put her hand on his cheek. "You stay strong, too. Whatever she'll try, stay strong for me."
The eco-hero smiled, doing the same now that he still could. "Trust me," he said with a wink. "She won't get a drop. You know I have my ways to prevent that."
The brunette knew the superhero could change the density of his skin at will. Either his whole body or just parts of it, making it as soft as human skin or as hard as diamond or something in between. She did have faith in her boyfriend. It was Blight she did not. There was no telling what the villain would do to get what she wanted.
"See that she doesn't," Kim told him.
"The Planeteers will find us," Cap assured her. He was positive about that. "Now that they know where to look for, they'll be here soon."
"Aren't you done yet?" Blight asked impatiently from the door.
Kim glanced at her, testing the restraints. Testing if she could loosen them somehow but found that she couldn't once they were closed. "Almost." The woman looked back at Cap. 'They better hurry, then,' she thought at him. 'Because I want out of here. Before she makes me her personal slave.'
Compared to the first time she had tried this her thoughts came more clearly to him now. The woman didn't have to keep it as simple anymore as she had had to do back then, for one. Plenty of practice had done its job.
"Over my dead body," Cap said and immediately regretted saying it because of the look on Kim's face.
After Kim had been taken to a cell of her own, Blight returned to Cap's cell. "You do know I'm not going to make this easy for you, don't you?" the superhero said.
She grinned. "I welcome the challenge." Pushing a button on her remote, the restraints pulled the superhero's arms above his head. But he could still stand.
He would give her just that, not about to give an inch if he could help it. "But here's a fact I'm sure you don't welcome: you'll have to kill me to get what you want." The eco-hero hoped the Planeteers would get there before that happened, though. He had been close to being worm food many times before but thanks to the five that hadn't happened yet. "But," he added. "Once I'm dead my blood won't be of any use to you anymore."
Blight wasn't sure if he was bluffing or not. "Once I get what I want from you, Planet," she told him. "I don't care what happens to you." And if he was still alive when she got a hold of his blood, she would finish him off herself. Weakened, the superhero wouldn't stand a chance against her.
"Bring it," Cap told her.
Blight was about to close the door but then she thought of something. "There is an option, of course," she said, coming to him.
"What might that be?" He was sure any option she would give him sounded good only to her.
"Let me have a dose of your blood willingly," the doctor purred, running her hand over his chest. Needless to say Cap didn't like it but he couldn't do anything about it, either. "A bigger dose than you gave her, of course and with your blood in me, together we could be a force to be reckoned with. We could even overthrow Gaia." Even if she hated him and everything he stood for, she wanted to give him a choice.
Overthrow Gaia… As if he wanted to do that. And like the superhero had told her once before, all he wanted to do was protect the Earth, not destroy it. "I think you already know what my answer's gonna be," Cap stated.
"Whatever," Blight commented. She went to the door. "Have fun." The door closed with a clang.
Almost immediately after that smog started pouring in. Cap had actually expected it to be something worse. He tested the strength of the chain that was attached to his shackles now that he still had some strength left. It didn't give at all. All he could do now was wait for the Planeteers to arrive.
A/N: Just what is it that MAL has found? Will the Planeteers be there in time?