Chapter 5: Aftermath

The noises coming from downstairs had woken up the Planeteers. When Ma-Ti sat up with a cry the same time as Cap fell to the floor and hearing the superhero's own cry a couple of minutes later, they knew he needed help. The Planeteers got out of bed and almost flew down the stairs to the landing. They caught sight of the men running for the helicopter, one of them carrying a familiar form.

A groan from the base of the stairs and they saw the superhero on the floor and Buddy to one side of him. The first one beside the superhero was Kwame. As he reached for the source of Cap's predicament, he told Wheeler and Ma-Ti to try and stop the men. Both nodded and ran out the door.

Kwame switched off the flashlight and gave it to Gi. She put it on the steps.

Cap visibly relaxed. "Kim?" he asked hoarsely.

"Do not worry, Captain Planet," Kwame said. "Ma-Ti and Wheeler will stop those men." He went to the door and glanced outside. Wheeler and Ma-Ti were coming back toward the cabin; the men had managed to get to the helicopter and it was now flying away.

When the two came back inside Cap had a questioning look on his face. "Sorry, Cap," Wheeler said, kneeling beside him. "They were too far ahead."

"They got away," Ma-Ti added.

"No…" Cap whispered and closed his eyes for a moment. "Have to stop them…" He tried to get up, but failed, falling back to the floor with a groan. "Too much radiation…"

"Just take it easy, Cap. We'll help you back on your feet," Wheeler said.

"Buddy?" the superhero asked then and turned his head to look at the dog. Buddy crawled to him, giving his face a lick and looked at him with those brown eyes of his and whined. Cap smiled a little. "Don't you worry, boy. I'll be OK." He looked back at Wheeler.

The redhead nodded and slung one of the eco-hero's arms around his neck. Kwame did the same with the superhero's other arm. The other three followed the two who carried their weakened friend between them.

It was a good thing it was a sunny day again. Kwame and Wheeler laid Cap down on the grass. It wasn't long before Cap took a breath. A glow surrounded him. The glow was so bright that the Planeteers had to shield their eyes.

When the glow was gone the superhero stood there. "Thanks, Planeteers," Cap said, offering them a short-lived smile. "Sorry this wasn't the best kind of wake-up call."

"Bleak did see something then," Linka stated.

The eco-hero nodded. "I should have known it was too much to hope for that he hadn't," he said somberly.

"So Plunder is behind this?" Ma-Ti asked.

"There's no mistake about it," Cap stated. "The men came in his helicopter. And I couldn't do anything else to stop them except wash three of them out the door before the remaining two took out that flashlight thing they had with them. The radiation seemed to get stronger by the second. Otherwise I probably would've been able to do something more."

"Three out of five is good," Gi said, trying to find something positive in the situation.

Cap frowned, not consoled in the least. "Not good enough." He sat down on the steps leading to the verandah, feeling he had failed Kim.

"You did the best you could," Ma-Ti assured him.

A bark from the door and Buddy descended the steps slowly and sat down beside the eco-hero. Cap gave the dog a scratch. "You're one tough dog. I saw what that creep did." Buddy looked at the superhero and whined. "I know. She will be back soon. I promise."

"It is not like Plunder to kidnap someone," Linka stated. "Maybe someone planned this out for him."

"We'll find out who once we get there," Wheeler said. "But now, how about breakfast?"

Cap would have wanted to leave then and there but understood their need for breakfast. "Fine. But be quick about it. I won't wait for long." An idea of how they might find out who Plunder had teamed up with was already forming in his mind.

The helicopter had reached its destination. The three who had experienced the water ride went to put on some dry clothes as the other two headed for Plunder's office

"Wonder what the boss wants with her," said the one carrying Kim.

"That's none of our business," the other pointed out. "Come on, let's not keep Mr. Plunder waiting."

But the secretary directed the two to Blight's lab. Plunder, Blight and MAL were waiting in the lab and watched as the men came in and deposited the still unconscious Kim in a chair.

"Mission accomplished, Mr. Plunder."

"Thank you. Leave us," Plunder said, waving a hand toward the door. The men saluted and left.

"So this is the woman Planet has his eye on," MAL commented, giving Kim a once-over. "Doesn't look like much."

Blight smirked. "What can you expect from someone like him?" To think even Planthead could fall in love…

"Let's wake her up, shall we?" Plunder held a vial of smelling salts under Kim's nose. She jerked awake and looked around her.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"In my lab," Blight replied.

Kim had expected to be tied up and was surprised when she wasn't. "Not for long!" she exclaimed and dashed for the door.

Just as she reached it, Bleak stepped inside. "You're not goin' anywhere, girlie," he said and grabbed Kim's arms.

"Let go of me, you oaf!" she screamed, struggling despite knowing from experience how strong tha man's grip was. Bleak just grinned and planted her back in the chair. Kim eyed her captors. "What do you want from me? Am I a prisoner?"

"Certainly not," Plunder said. "I prefer the term guest."

"I won't be your 'guest' for long," Kim retorted. "Captain Planet will come for me soon enough." She hoped the superhero had had some help with the radiation problem and really was on his way by now.

MAL laughed. "That's what we're counting on. It shouldn't take lover boy long to barge in here."

Were they using her as bait to get their hands on the superhero? If that was the case, Kim hoped he'd be prepared for that.

"I still think she should be tied up," Blight said to Plunder, eyeing Kim. "There's lots of sensitive stuff here and she might break something." Sure enough, different kinds of lab equipment was strewn all over the room.

"She's a guest, remember?" Plunder said. "But still… MAL, lock the door."

"I am not taking orders from you, pony-tail," the computer said.

"MAL," Blight said. "Just do it."

"Whatever you say, sweetums." There was a click as the door was locked. Bleak placed himself in front of it just in case.

Kim thought it weird for a computer to use such an affectionate term. "Mind if I stretch my legs?" she asked. In truth, she didn't need the exercise, she just wanted to look around the place.

"Just stay put," Blight snapped. "Keep an eye on her, MAL. I still have work to do before Blue Boy gets here."

All of a sudden, Kim heard a familiar voice. In her head. "Kim? You OK, love?"

"Blue?" she blurted out.

Blight turned to regard her, thinking the question was for her. "You dense? Blue as in blue skin. He's not exactly human if you haven't noticed."

"Don't you think I don't know that?" Kim shot back, the doctor inadvertently having hit a nerve.

"What do you see in him, anyway?" Blight asked then. "He's so goody-goody it makes me sick. Not to mention he keeps meddling in my business."

"That's something I'm sure you wouldn't even begin to understand," Kim said. "And what you call meddling he calls his job."

With a growl Blight stalked away to the next room to do whatever she had been doing before they had received word that Kim had been brought in.

Kim heard a chuckle in her head. "I'll take that as a yes. And in case you didn't already figure it out, it's your Blue calling, alright."

Kim couldn't help smiling a little. "How…?" she asked in a whisper.

"Hush," he interrupted. "I'll explain later. No talking. Use your thoughts."

Kim took a deep breath. This was new so she didn't know if she could pull it off. 'Are you OK?'

"Never better," Cap assured her. "Now, where are you?"

She decided to keep it simple. 'A lab.'

There was brief pause. "That gives me a clue on who Plunder's teamed up with. Is there a computer too by any chance? Green face on a screen."

'Yes.' Kim was sure she didn't need to elaborate on the weird seeming relationship between the woman and the computer.

"Alright. Don't worry, love." This was accompanied by a reassuring feeling. It did make her feel a bit more at ease. "We're on our way."

'Careful. Could be a trap.' The superhero probably knew that already but she wanted to warn him, nonetheless.

"Had a feeling it would be," Cap said. "Careful is my middle name, did you know that?"

Kim hoped so. 'Sure it is.'

A chuckle again. "Just take it easy now. We'll be there soon." After that, silence.

Kim glanced at the door behind which Blight had gone to. Faint sounds could be heard from the room but she couldn't make out what they were exactly.

In the Geo-Cruiser, Cap opened his eyes and took his hands away from his temples. He had decided to ride in the plane for a change, both to conserve his strength and contact Kim telepathically. The superhero hadn't been sure this would work but it had.

"Were you able to reach her?" Wheeler wanted to know. "Saw you frown a couple of times."

Cap nodded. "Yeah, I was. Got the info we wanted. Guess who Plunder's got with him. Blight."

"Blight, huh?" Gi said thoughtfully. "So that's how she got out of jail so fast."

Cap tapped his fingers on the armrests. He wasn't used to travelling in the Geo-Cruiser. There had been that one time he had had to fly the ship out of necessity. Plus he was anxious to get to Kim. There was no telling what Blight had in store for her. "Thanks for the lift but I think I'll go back to flying my way." With that he dematerialized from the seat and appeared outside the Geo-Cruiser.

"I have never seen him this impatient before," Kwame said, shaking his head.

"He just wants to get Kim out of Blight's hands as soon as possible," Ma-Ti said. The Kayapo hoped the superhero's impatience wouldn't backfire on him.