Adult themes in this chapter. Rated for the death of a minor, amongst others.

Impenetrable

Chapter Two

December 24th

They were home for just two hours. Two hours. Barely enough time to unpack and grab a quick shower before they were assembled in the Crystal Chamber again. They were all exhausted. Gaia had been deeply apologetic, but her concern was hard to ignore.

Landslides in China. Probably a direct result of an illegal mining operation going on in the Southern Provinces. Greedly's name was on the paperwork and unsurprisingly he'd fled, leaving hundreds dead and even more missing.

Linka had held her head high as she returned to the Geo-Cruiser, always focused on the greater good. She dropped wearily into the co-pilot's seat as Wheeler took over the controls, allowing Kwame to sleep. The American's grumbling was hard to ignore however, even as they powered up and ascended.

"Stupid Greedly. It's fuckin' Christmas Eve…"

She'd bitten back verbally; her temper was already frayed enough as it was. A scathing remark, one of her trademark insults designed to flatten his ego and boost her own. Her intelligence was a double edged sword and her comment alluding to his selfish nature had it's desired impact.

They bickered on and off for the first quarter of the flight, until Kwame launched himself out of his seat and told them to knock it off; his hands gripping the headrests of their chairs and turning his knuckles white.

Linka bit her lip, knowing she'd taken things too far. As Kwame returned to his seat she risked a glance towards the pilot, noting his flushed cheeks, set jaw and hunched shoulders. Wheeler's eyes never left the expanse of ocean in front of them and she knew he was avoiding her.

The Russian ran her fingers through her damp hair and crossed her legs, tucking her feet underneath her.

If she were being honest with herself, Linka would have admitted that she understood Wheeler's sentiments. This was her third Christmas away from her family in a row and she had been bitterly disappointed to have been returned to the skies.

Her grandmother was experiencing chronic blood pressure issues. Linka had recently come to the realisation that baba may not have many Christmas dinner's left. She had made plans to return home tomorrow, much to her family's delight.

Another broken promise.

Linka sighed. She flipped open her phone and scrolled through the contacts until she found her brother's name. She closed her eyes, steeling herself against the thought that she was letting her family down. Not meeting their expectations.

She dialled the number.

Overwhelmed.

So much carnage. The Planeteers didn't know where to start. Kwame, Ma-Ti and Gi had stepped right into rescue mode, since their powers were better suited to finding and retrieving survivors.

Fire and wind were a little redundant in the current situation, so Linka and Wheeler worked with the recovery teams.

She toiled for hours in the freezing conditions, digging and sifting through mud, icy slush and debris. The icy wind whipped around her face painfully, numbing her skin. Black body bags littered the area, lined up in neat rows and in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The trucks were arriving now, having had a path cleared in order to access the site. Men in military uniforms had alighted and quickly mobilised into action. The black bags were soon being swung into the semi-trailers and it grieved Linka to witness the almost callous way in which the bodies were being handled.

The Russian stood for a moment, her hands on her hips as she watched a familiar figure trudge down the hill towards her. Linka tilted her head, gnawing on her lip as Wheeler approached. He carried a small object in his arms, dwarfed within the adult-sized body bag it was contained within. Her breath caught and a lump rose in her throat, as it often did in these situations.

Focus. No weakness.

He passed Linka and laid the bag down gently with the others, allowing the bag's tiny owner a dignified treatment in death rather than the violent end he or she would have endured in life.

Wheeler turned and made his way wearily back up the hill, his shoulders hunched. As he passed Linka he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She swayed slightly, her mouth working to provide him with a kind word. A positive affirmation. Something.

But her words died in the wind as she watched his figure disappear over the ridge. A tremor passed through her and she gripped her arms, attempting to stave off the cold.

She was stoic as she continued in her efforts, accepting hot cups of tea from the surviving villagers who were so grateful for their presence. She sifted through dirt and construction materials, finding photographs, passports, children's toys and other paraphernalia that may never be reunited with their owners.

The realisation distressed Linka as her thoughts turned towards her own family once again. Being bitter about missing Christmas seemed like a distant memory now.

A shout issued to her right and she quickly jogged towards the request for help. Her fingertips were near-frozen within her gloves but she dug with all her might. A pale hand appeared after several minutes, almost graceful in it's final pose.

Linka sat back on her heels and allowed a nearby military team take over. She clutched her frozen fingers within her lap as the team extracted a young woman. The girl looked no older than Linka, perhaps a high school student or a local farm employee. Linka watched on as another black bag was produced, knowing that this young girl with a life and a family and a face would be effectively stripped of her identity; courtesy of the plastic sack she had just been zipped into.

The Planeteer soldiered on regardless, even as daylight faded and the shadows of night were cast over the scene. She had no concept of time but knew it was late evening.

The Russian eventually felt gentle hands slip under her armpits and she gave a small huff of surprise as she was lifted to her feet. The same hands gripped her shoulders and turned her around. She was greeted by a familiar wind-burnt face clad in a beanie, swathed in a heavy-duty rain jacket. Mud was caked over his clothing and smudges of dirt covered his nose and chin.

"Time to go babe," Wheeler yelled, leaning in towards her and struggling to be heard over the dull roar of helicopters arriving. "We've done all we can."

"My fingers are frozen," she whispered, so softly that she wasn't even sure he heard her. He frowned, looking down and moving his fingers towards her gloves. He gently eased them off, noting the bluish hue discolouring her fingertips.

"Shit," he muttered, grabbing her wrists and easing her hands under his layers of clothing to rest against the warm skin of his ribs. He lowered his elbows, effectively pinning her limbs in place while he rubbed her upper arms in an attempt to keep her warm.

She stood stiffly against him, her forehead resting against his chest as the victims faces continued flashing through her mind.

Linka wiggled her fingers, skimming her thumbs briefly along his bare skin. She was gaining the sensation back now but made no effort to move away.

Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Ma-Ti approaching. He raised his hand and whipped his finger around, indicating that they were preparing to leave.

She shuddered, unsure now whether it was from the cold, from the job or from her close proximity to the Yankee.

"You okay?" he asked, his breath warm against her ear.

Nyet.

But Linka nodded, an automatic response. She retrieved her hands from under his shirt and gave him a small smile as she turned away. With business-like efficiency she grabbed her backpack and threw it over her shoulder.

Head high. Be professional. Represent to the best of your ability. Do not show weakness.

She walked away quickly, leaving Wheeler trailing along behind her, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets

They reached the Geo-Cruiser, looking as utterly exhausted as the remainder of the group already waiting inside. Linka sunk into the back seat, raising her eyebrows at Gi who was covered head to toe in mud.

"Fell over," the Water Planeteer muttered by way of explanation; stripping down to her singlet and thermal leggings as Ma-Ti powered up the engine.

Linka gave her an apologetic smile and slumped further into her seat, too tired to worry about her posture now. But the faces, the smell of death and the shiny texture of the body bags remained, flashing through her mind at an ever-increasing pace. She closed her eyes and swallowed, remaining stoic in the face of such destruction.

She had been given an extraordinary power and it was her duty to see it through. She would rise above it. She can rise above it.

Because she is independent.

Strong.

Impervious to negativity.

She is impenetrable… but the veneer was fading and the cracks were starting to show.