The front of Cat's Lair was almost in a panic as both the Thunderstrike and the Thundertank were arriving at the same time hoping to help their injured Planeteer friend. Wheeler, who was seriously injured still lays almost lifeless while somehow his is trying his best to fight off whatever Nukem had done to him from the inside. While both of the vehicles were arriving, Cheetara was in the main control room monitoring the situation until the radio receiver started to come alive.
"Lion-O to Cheetara, can you read me?"
"Cheetara here Lion-O what's the status out there?"
"I need you to prep the medical bay right away."
"What happened? Is somebody hurt?"
"Its Wheeler, he's been seriously injured by Nukem's energy blast." He paused a moment then continued." He is trying to fight it off from the inside, but we need to give him medical treatment if he is going to make it."
"Right Lion-O, I'll get the bay prepped right away. Cheetara out."
After that the radio went silent while Cheetara started to get herself off of the chair in front of the main control panel. "I really hope that we can help save Wheeler's life from what ever Nukem had hit him with" She thought while she left the control room and headed down towards the medical bay.
As Cheetara started to get the medical bay ready for use, the other Thundercats as well as the other Planterres were being very careful while moving Wheeler out of the tank and bring him into the lair.
"We need to be very careful with him." Lion-O said as the Thundertank came to a complete stop in front of the lair.
"I know my friend it is just I am more worried about Linka." Kwami started to say as Lion-O opened the back of the tank. "She is taking this much harder than I thought she would."
"We won't let anything happen to him Kwami." Panthro started to say. "Bengali is the best doctor that we have here."
"I know my friends, it is just that Wheeler is the only one who can keep the rest of the team together. He's the one who does what it takes for us all to survive."
"As I said before Kwami, Bengali will do all he can for him." Panthro said as the Thunderstrike landed right beside the Thundertank.
Once the Thunderstrike finished its landing procedures everyone got out of the vehicle to try and help the others in the tank.
"All right everyone lets take it easy." Bengali started to say as the group reached the Thundertank. "Tygra, Panthro get Wheeler out gently."
"Nyet, do not touch him!" Linka almost started to scream while holding on to Wheeler's right hand.
"Linka, we need to get Wheeler inside for medical treatment." Kwami responded.
"Please Linka, let us help him." Bengali stated to Linka.
"Linka my friend what would Wheeler do if the situation was reversed?" Ma-Ti asked.
"Sniff..Sniff.. Wheeler, would accept the help and hope for the best." She responded.
"And what will you do, Linka?" Tygra asked.
"I will do the same." Linka answered as she let go of Wheeler's hand.
"Alright then, Tygra grab an arm and I'll do the same." Panthro said as he grabbed Wheeler's right arm.
"You got it Panthro." Tygra responded as he took Wheeler's left arm.
"Ok, now lift." Panthro said as he and Tygra lifted Wheeler up and braced him between them both.
"Now let's be careful getting him out of the tank." Tygra said as he and Panthro gently got Wheeler out of the tank and on to solid ground.
"We'll take Wheeler to the Medical bay." Bengali started to say. Why don't the rest of you stay here for a while and try to calm down Linka." He finished as Tygra, Panthro and himself started to bring Wheeler into the lair.
As she saw Wheeler being brought into the lair, Linka collapsed down to her knees crying. At that moment everyone else rushed to her side with Gi Kwami and Ma-Ti getting really close to help her.
"Linka, my friend you must have hope." Kwami said.
"They are going to do everything that they can for him." Ma-Ti added.
"You must be brave for Wheeler." Gi also added.
"Nyet." She started to say while still crying." I just can't get those last images out of my head. Wheeler getting hit by that beam trying to protect me, and from what Nukem said about Wheeler's funeral. I just can't stop thinking about it."
"Linka, we all know how Wheeler feels about you, about all of us." Gi started to say. "But you know that Wheeler would do everything in his power to try and save us all even at the cost of his own life."
"I know that Gi, I just don't want to loose him like this. I want to be with him forever." Linka replied.
"Linka, you know that the Thundercat's medicine is very advanced." Ma-Ti started to say. "Remember what they did for me? I'm sure that Wheeler will be fine."
"May we be a part of this conversation?" Pumyra asked as she and the other Thundercats came closer to the group.
"Linka, Panthro, Tygra and Bengali are the best in their fields." Pumyra started to say. "Together there is nothing that they can not do to help your friend recover."
"Da, I know that, it is just." Linka started to speak
"Just what my friend?" Ma-Ti started to respond. "Linka, I may not have the use of my ring right now, but I do know that something is really bothering you deep down."
"I just can't explain it Ma-Ti." Linka responded.
"Try my friend." Kwami said.
"I just feel that Wheeler is in there somewhere trying to find a way to contact me or perhaps maybe Gaia back home."
"Lion-O, is that possible?" Pumyra asked.
"I don't really know." Lion-O started to say. "I haven't heard anything from Jaga since I asked him to find this Gaia person a few days ago."
"Maybe Wheeler is trying to tell me something." Linka started to say. "You said that his readings first showed all his muscles were stopped and then active after a few seconds later."
"That is what the medical scanner said." Lion-O responded. "What are you getting at Linka?"
"Maybe Wheeler is trying to help your friend Jaga track down Gaia." Linka said.
"Jaga is in the spirit world." Pumyra stated. "How would Wheeler even get there to help?"
"Your readings from before!" Kwami said with excitement. "If we could slow down Wheeler's heart rate just enough-"
"Then we might be able to keep him alive while his is trying to help Jaga locate Gaia." Pumyra stated.
"That just might work." Lion-O said. "Linka, Gi, Pumyra you all come with me to the medical bay. The rest of you get to the control room and contact Lynx-O and apprise him of the situation."
"You got it Lion-O." The kittens said as both of them as well as Kwami and Ma-Ti entered the lair and headed straight for the control room.
"Can you get up, Linka?"Gi asked.
"Da, I'll be fine." Linka said as she started to get herself back up with Gi's help.
"Lets go and check on Wheeler and see if what we were discussing is correct." Lion-O said as they all entered the lair and headed for the Medical Bay.
As the group entered the medical bay, they all saw Wheeler laying down on a special bio-bed, that relayed all his readings to the main computer on the far left wall. Bengali was also scanning him trying to make sense of those readings. Panthro and Tygra are also making sure that what they were getting from the medical scans was correct and not a computer glitch.
"Tygra, Panthro, are you guys receiving the same readings as I am?" Bengali asked while scanning Wheeler.
"I am Bengali." Tygra responded. "What do you think they mean.?"
"I am a little confused as well." Panthro added.
"Perhaps we might have an answer to that question." Pumyra stated as Linka, Gi, Lion-O and herself entered the room.
"If you have an explanation for what is happening here, then I would love to hear it." Bengali stated as the three Thundercats all looked at the others.
"Linka believes that Wheeler might be trying to contact Jaga to help him find Gaia." Lion-O stated.
"My friends." Gi started to say. "After everything that has happened to us since being here do you think that something like this may be possible?"
"It could be possible." Tygra started to respond. "We don't know anything about your connection to your friend Gaia or your rings for that matter."
"It just might explain what is happening to you friend right now." Bengali stated.
"What is happening to my Yankee?" Linka asked trying not to worry.
"His vital signs are very low but his is still trying to fight whatever is happening to him."
"Can't you try and help him?" Pumyra asked.
"I could, but anything that I could give him to help heal him might do more harm then good."
"I don't understand." Gi started to say. "You helped our friend Ma-Ti when he was in a similar position, so why not help Wheeler the same way."
"Gi, listen." Bengali started to respond. "Your friend's injuries are more severe than Ma-Ti's. Wheeler was hit with a radiation blast, while Ma-Ti was hit with a laser blast. I need to know how exactly to heal Wheeler's radiation damage without causing more harm to him."
"THEN WHAT DO YOU EXPECT US TO DO RIGHT NOW BENGALI?! LEAVE HIM TO DIE?!" Linka said while shouting.
"Calm down Linka, Bengali didn't mean anything by that." Gi stated.
"She right Linka." Bengali started to respond. "I only meant that I can keep him alive but it will be very risky."
"I know Wheeler, and he would do whatever it takes no matter what the risk is." Gi responded.
"That's all I needed to hear." Bengali said as he went back over to Wheeler.
"Tygra, Panthro get the suspension capsule right away." Bengali stated.
"The suspension capsule? Bengali, are you sure?" Tygra asked.
"Yes I'm sure I need that capsule." Bengali retorted.
"We'll be right back with it Bengali." Panthro said as he and Tygra left the lab to get the capsule.
"Bengali, what are you planning to do?" Linka asked looking worried.
"I'm going to temporarily freeze Wheeler's body in the capsule, there by giving him enough time to find and help Jaga." Bengali responded.
"But what about Wheeler? How are you going to save him?" Gi asked.
"If I'm right, once we start to freeze his body, the radiation that is hurting him will slowly start to dissipate and then we can administer the proper medical treatments to help him."
"If that is so, then why is it so dangerous to freeze him?" Pumyra asked.
"These capsules are designed to work only on Thundercats, I have no idea how they will work on humans." Bengali finished.
"Bengali, ever since we came to this planet we had to depend on each other more than ever. Even after we had meet all of you, we are still a little scared about how we would survive here." Gi started to say. "Now that we have all gotten to know all of the Thundercats, we all realized that you would do everything in your power to try and help us and for that we are always grateful."
"It is our pleasure to help you Gi." Lion-O stated as he put his left hand on her right shoulder.
After that moment had passed, Tygra and Panthro started to return with one of the Thundercats old suspension capsules. The capsule was colored completely in silver with a big glass opening in the front revealing a bed with small controls on both sides. The emblem of the Thundercats was at the top of the capsule. These were the same capsules that brought the Thundercats to Third Earth after Thundera exploded and when Jaga took over control of their ship.
After Panthro and Tygra had enter the room, they both placed the capsule down on the ground next to Wheeler's bed.
"Alright Panthro, open up the capsule." Bengali said
"You got it." Panthro said as he pushed a small button from under the capsule to open the top part.
"Tygra, I need to continue monitoring Wheeler's condition from inside the capsule." Bengali stated to Tygra.
"No problem Bengali, I'll relay the readings back into the computer." Tygra stated as he started to modify the capsule's systems.
"Make sure that the capsule's temperature is low enough to get rid of the radiation sickness but doesn't kill Wheeler in the process."
"Almost done Bengali." Tygra stated while still making some last minute modifications.
"Panthro, please bring Wheeler over here." Bengali asked.
"OK." Panthro responded as he went towards Wheeler.
"I'm gonna help you as well." Linka said as also went over to Wheeler.
"Linka, you don't have to do this you know." Panthro stated.
"Da, yes I do." Linka started to respond. "I want to help my Yankee any way I can."
"Alright then, lets do it." Panthro responded as he and Linka both took Wheeler off the bed and started moving him towards the capsule.
"Tygra, is everything ready to go?" Bengali asked.
"All done Bengali." Tygra responded. "All readings and temperature control is now set up from the main computer."
"Ok guys, please put Wheeler in the capsule." Bengali stated as Tygra left the capsule and went over to the computer controls.
"Now just put him down gently Linka." Panthro stated as he and Linka started to lay Wheeler down in the capsule's bed.
"Panthro, can I have a moment alone with Wheeler before you start the process?" Linka asked.
"Of course." Panthro said as he backed away.
After laying Wheeler down into the capsule's bed, Linka moved her head down until her lips were near his left ear. "Now you listen to me Yankee." She started to say very softly. "I want you to come back to me, so that we can get married right away. I also hope that you can contact Gaia and let her know that we are fine, but that we miss her very much." Linka then started to cry a little. "Please Wheeler, just be safe and hurry back to all of us, we all love you very much."
"Linka , they have to start." Gi said as she came over to her friend.
"Da, I know Gi." Linka responded as she started to get back up.
"We're ready to begin Bengali." Panthro stated while he saw Gi and Linka walk away.
"Alright, Tygra, seal the capsule." Bengali said
"Sealing the capsule, now." Tygra said as he pushed a button on the control panel.
Within moments after Tygra had pushed a button on the panel, the suspension capsule's upper cover started to lower down completely sealing the unit with Wheeler inside.
"All right now for the hard task." Bengali stated.
"Tygra, bring up Wheeler's life readings." Bengali said to Tygra.
"Readings coming up now." Tygra responded as he pushed a button and Wheeler's readings were now on the screen.
"This is bad, if we don't start the freezing process right away, then he won't make it." Tygra stated as he saw Wheeler's life readings being much lower then the last time.
"Panthro, Tygra, activate the capsule's suspension and lower the temperature to 10 degrees." Bengali said.
"Right away Bengali." Tygra stated as he pushed a few buttons and the capsule's suspension process started to work.
Within a few moments the inside of the capsule started to change. Wheeler's body color started to change from pink to dark and light blue as all of his body functions were starting to slow down due to the intense cold.
"Panthro, what's Wheeler's radiation count?" Bengali asked.
"His radiation count is 75 percent above tolerance." Panthro responded.
Bengali with that piece of news started to breath a sigh of relief.
"Is he going to be alright Bengali?" Linka asked as she started to walk over to her now frozen friend..
"We froze him just in time Linka." Bengali started to say. "Now all we can do for now is to monitor his readings and hope for the best."
"How long do you think it will take for the radiation sickness to leave him?" Gi asked.
"To be honest, I have no idea." Bengali started to respond. "But like you said, Wheeler is a fighter so I know that he will do everything in his power to come back to the people he loves."
"Da, he will." Linka paused for a moment then continued. "Would it be all right if I stayed with him while he is in this condition?"
"Linka, I think that would be the best medicine for him yet." Bengali said. "If you keep talking to him even though he is frozen, that just might give him the strength to fight off whatever is hurting him and maybe even find Jaga."
"Spasibo Bengali." Linka said.
"Your welcome." Bengali replied. "I'll prep a bed for you so you can keep him company."
"Linka, are you sure you want to do this?" Gi asked.
"Da Gi, I am sure."
"I know better than to start an argument with you when your mind is made up." Gi paused for a moment then continued. "You and Wheeler are more alike then anyone realized."
Linka, after hearing that from Gi, broke into a small smile and giggled a little.
"Linka, I'll stay to if you like?" Gi then continued. "You shouldn't have to do this by yourself, besides I think that Wheeler would kill me if he knew that I left you alone with him."
Again Linka started to giggle. "Thank you Gi, you are the best little sister/ best friend that I have ever had."
"Glad to help Linka, I love Wheeler as well."
"Da, we all do."
Bengali, can you make a bed for me as well?" Gi asked.
"Sure thing Gi." Bengali responded as he started to get up and headed out to pickup some bed sheets for the two female Planeteers.
After a moment, Bengali returned with two sets of bed sheets so that the two female Planeteers can keep a watchful eye on their frozen friend.
"Thundercats, let's leave our friends alone for a while so that they can get some rest." Lion-O stated seeing how tired both Planeteers were.
"Good Idea." Panthro replied.
"Will you two be alright here by yourselves?" Tygra asked as he started to get up.
"We will be just fine." Gi replied.
"Alright then." Bengali said as he was getting ready to leave with the rest of the Thundercats. "If anything happens to Wheeler's life signs, just press this button." Bengali said as he gestured to a small red button on the door panel. "It will let us know right away. Good night you two." Bengali finished as he and the other Thundercats left the medical bay leaving Linka and Gi alone with Wheeler.
"Come on Linka, we should get some rest as well." Gi said while setting up her place to sleep on one of the medical beds.
"Da, you're right Gi." Linka responded as she started to do the same.
"Linka, are you still worried about Wheeler?" Gi said as she started to get under the sheet.
"I am Gi." Linka responded as she started to do the same.
"Wheeler will come back to us, don't you worry about that."
"I know Gi. I also know something else very important."
"REALLY? WHAT'S THAT!" Gi replied trying not to wake everyone up.
"Wheeler and I are going to get married once he completely heals up. I have waited long enough, and I don't want to wait any longer."
"I think that is great Linka. Count on me to be your Maid of Honor."
"I will Gi, in fact I want all of the female Thundercats to be my Maids of Honor."
"I think that they will all be happy with that request." She paused for a moment. "Now I think that we should get some sleep."
"Da, you are right as always Gi." Linka said as she pushed a button near her bed and the lights all went out in the medical bay.
"Good night Linka, and remember to stay positive."
"Da, I will Gi and thank you."
"For what?"
"I don't think that I would be able to continue doing this without your help."
"Linka, I will always be there for you and Wheeler. Now get some rest Linka.
"Da, goodnight Gi." Linka said as she started to close her eyes.
"I don't know if the Thundercats ever believed in God or something but I would like you to look after Wheeler so that he can return to the people who loves him." Gi thought before she started to close her eyes and go to sleep herself.