That night as Linka and Gi were sleeping keeping Wheeler company in the med bay, no one ever knew that Wheeler would be going on his most dangerous mission ever. As he was being frozen, Wheeler's spirit started to leave his body and rise up disappearing from out of the med bay and entering a new world completely alien to anyone.
"What happened, where am I?" Wheeler said as he started to open his eyes. "What is this place? How did I get here?"
As Wheeler started to completely regain the use of his eyes and body, he was completely speechless for what he was looking at. What he saw was completely strange even from his point of view. There were a bunch of trees and buildings that somehow reminded him of his hometown of Brooklyn N.Y., there were also people that he had known almost all of his life. As he started to get his bearings, Wheeler looked down and saw that he was wearing his old clothes from when he used to live here, after seeing that he figured that it would be best to head back home and try to contact the other Planeteers.
After walking a few miles from where he awoke, he finally made it back home to his apartment building complex. The building was somehow different than what he had remembered growing up, the walls on the out side had a fresh coat of blue paint, all of the windows and doors were like brand new with golden bolts holding everything up. After a moment of looking around, Wheeler decided to walk inside and visit his parents and hopefully to try and find a clue as to what was happening to him.
As Wheeler reached the third floor of his building, he started to reach inside his pant's pocket and pull out his key for the door. But before he could, the door to his home opened all by itself showing Wheeler his parent's old apartment in cased in a bright white light. Wheeler not knowing why, started to walk inside hoping to get some answers.
Back at the lair, Linka and Gi were still sleeping until the alarm started sounding waking the pair up from their slumber.
"Linka, what is happening?" Gi asked looking worried.
"I don't know Gi." Linka responded before looking at Wheeler's life signs.
"BOSA MOI GI, IT'S WHEELER, HE'S DYING!" Linka started to scream.
After hearing the pain in her friend's voice, Gi went over to the control panel by the door and pushed the red button. "THUNDERCATS, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY DOWN HERE WITH WHEELER. PLEASE HURRY." Gi stated into the intercom.
A few moments later, Bengali and the rest of their friends arrived to see what was happening.
"Linka, Gi , how long has his readings been like this?" Bengali said looking at Wheeler's life readings.
"I don't know." Linka started to respond. "We were just woken up by the alarms and then noticed them."
"What's wrong Bengali?" Lion-O asked.
"Apparently the radiation blast that Nukem hit him with is reacting differently with the capsule's freezing process."
"What does that mean Bengali?" Kwami asked.
"It means that the capsule's freezing temperature's is helping the radiation kill him faster."
"NO! YOU MUST SAVE HIM! I NEED HIM!" Linka started to shout.
"I'm not gonna let him die Linka. I promise." Bengali said as he started to reverse the capsule's process.
"What are you up to Bengali?" Cheetara asked.
"I'm gonna try a different approach to help to save Wheeler's life." He paused a moment and then looked directly at Linka. "Linka, you said that Wheeler loves you very much right?"
"Da, and I love him just as much if not more."
"Then that just might work."
"What will work my friend." Kwami asked.
"Tygra, Panthro I need you to rig two bio beds together and prepare the dream scanner as well as the conscious transfer unit."
"What are you planning Bengali?" Gi asked.
"Linka I am about to ask you to take a very big risk for you and your friend." Bengali then paused a moment before he started to continue. "Are you willing to take the risk?"
"Da, I would do anything for Wheeler."
"Hold up a moment Bengali." Gi started to cut in. "What are you planning to do?"
"I'm going to send in Linka's consciousness into Wheeler's mind via the dream scanner."
"How is this supposed to help save Wheeler?"
"With Linka in there, she can reach him and try to help him keep fighting, also it might help to contact Jaga and Gaia. If Wheeler is in the spirit world then he is fighting a loosing battle."
"How?" Linka asked.
"In the spirit world, anyone who is close to death will experience images and feelings from their own lives compelling them to stay forever. You must reach Wheeler and try to help him fight what he is seeing, once that hurdle is broken, then you should be able to look for Jaga. But we have to hurry, Wheeler's life signs are almost gone."
"I'm ready, send me in to save him." Linka said as she started to lie down on one of the beds while Tygra and Panthro waited to move Wheeler from the capsule to the other bed beside her.
As Linka finished resting herself on the bed, Tygra and Panthro were able to move Wheeler's body from inside the capsule and place him on the bed next to her.
"Listen Linka, I won't lie to you, this situation is very grave." Bengali said as he placed the transfer device on top of Linka's head. "If Wheeler dies, then you could die as well."
"I understand the risks and I am willing to go the distance to save him" Linka responded.
"All right then I'll get the other device set up on Wheeler's head and start to get ready." Bengali started to say. "Pumyra, Cheetara, set up an IV drip for both of them and add a radiation neutralizer serum for Wheeler right away."
"Right Bengali." Pumyra said as both she and Cheetara did what they were told.
A few moments later Bengali was ready to proceed with the transfer. "Linka, you must remember that whatever you are looking at that in that world is not real. You have to find Wheeler and break whatever hold the spirit world has on him, it is your only chance for him and you."
"After I find and set Wheeler free, how will we both find Jaga?" Linka asked.
"Once you find Wheeler and free him, concentrate on locating Jaga and you should find him." Lion-O said.
"Linka, are you sure about this my friend." Ma-Ti asked with worry for her and his best friend.
"Da, Ma-Ti. Wheeler would do the same for me."
"Please be careful Linka I don't want to loose anyone." Gi said.
"I'll be careful Gi." Linka replied.
"Come back safely my friend." Kwami stated.
"Are you ready Linka?" Bengali asked.
"Ready, so how do I begin." She said as Pumyra and Cheetara started the IV drips on both of them.
"Just close your eyes and get ready."
After that statement, Linka started to close her eyes hoping that she will reopen them once again with all of her friends around both her and Wheeler.
"I'm coming for you Yankee, don't you dare leave me." Linka said as she finished closing her eyes.
"Alright everyone, here we go." Bengali said as he pushed a button on the transfer unit on top of Linka's head.
As soon as Bengali pushed the button, both devices started to light up as if they were both little disco balls.
"Bengali, will we be able to monitor them from here?" Pumyra stated.
"I'm afraid not, this time its all up to them, we just have to wait and pray." Bengali said.
The trip to the spirit world inside Wheeler's mind was most difficult for Linka, she didn't know what to expect or how to navigate. She only knew one thing, she had to save Wheeler so that they could be together. As she awoke she still found herself still wearing the same Thundercat clothing that she had on before she went to sleep.
"I guess since I am just visiting I am still wearing the same clothes that I had on before I came here. "She started to think.
"This is Wheeler's spirit world?" Linka said while looking around.
"Bosa moi, I didn't think that Wheeler would want to return here." She said while realizing that she was in Brooklyn NY.
"The first thing that I better do is to think like my Yankee. I'm back home in Brooklyn, not sure where everyone else is where do I go first. His parent's home, that must be where he is." Linka finished as she started to walk down towards Wheeler's apartment building complex.
"This can't be Wheeler's home, its all brand new and sparkling." She started to say as she saw the fresh coat of paint and the gold plated hinges on the doors and windows. "I have to find him." She said as she started to head for the front door.
As she reached the door she opened it and walked inside, once inside she looked for Wheeler's apartment number on the mailbox. "Room 356. Don't give up yet Yankee. I'm on my way."
Linka, after getting the info from the mailbox, started to walk up the stairs until she reached the third floor. She then started to follow the numbers down to door number 356, after she got to the door, she started to knock hoping someone would hear her.
A moment later the door to the room opened and inside was a medium sized woman with light brownish hair. The young woman was wearing a yellow t-shirt with a flower pot on the front and wearing purplish jeans as well as yellow colored sneakers. After a moment the women started to speak to Linka.
"Hello miss, may I help you?"
"Please you have to tell me if Wheeler is here it is very important."
"Wheeler is not here at the moment young lady, he is out with his father and his bride to be."
"His bride to be?" Linka said looking confused.
"Yes my dear, my son is going to marry his girlfriend Trish from down the hall." She finished, then started to ask again. "How do you know my son?"
"My name is Linka and I love your son Wheeler, we are going to get married." Linka stated.
"My dear, my son doesn't know you, but if he did then I would surly like to get to know you better, but as I said before, he is getting married to Trish. Now if you will excuse me" She started to say as she was about to close the door.
"WAIT PLEASE! I CAN PROVE THAT I KNOW ABOUT YOU AND WHEELER, JUST GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES OF YOUR TIME!" Linka said while shouting.
"My dear, you don't have to shout, you are gonna disturb the other neighbors, but if you think that you know something about me and my son then do please come in." Mrs. Wheeler said as she re-opened the door and Linka entered.
"Please have a seat my dear and I'll get you something to drink." She said as she walked into the kitchen.
Linka, now fully entered into the apartment looked around and was completely blown away by what she was looking at. There was pictures on the wall mantel showing Wheeler with both of his parents looking very happy, one showing him graduating from high school and then collage with both his parents being so proud. She also saw pictures of himself with a blonde haired girl wearing a silk black dress and a beautiful white flower on her left wrist. "That has got to be Trish." She started to think as Mrs. Wheeler walked back into the room holding a tray with a lovely teapot and two glasses.
"Now my dear, can you explain how you know my son and me? She asked while she started to sit down.
"It is pretty hard to explain, but I'll try." Linka responded as she sat down next to the woman. "Do you have a first name Mrs. Wheeler.?"
"You can call me Margret."
"Nice to meet you Margret. Now I'll try to explain everything but you might not believe me."
After that Linka started to explain how she knew Wheeler, how she felt when they first met, about how Wheeler felt when he was a boy and about what happened after their last mission.
"That is quite a story you have there miss." Margret stated. "But I'm afraid that whoever told you all of this is wrong. My husband never hit Wheeler or even had a drink of beer in his life, my husband did return from the Vietnam War but he told me that they decided to resolve it peacefully so no lives were lost. After that both my boys were the very best of friends."
"This must be what Bengali was talking about." Linka started to think. "In this world, Wheeler never got hurt from his father and never got his ring to help save the world. I have to find him and make him remember."
While she was thinking that, the front door opened and both Wheeler and his dad entered the room holding two bags of dress clothes as well as a pretty blonde lady.
"Hey mom, were back." Wheeler stated as they all finished entering the room.
"Honey, its' good to have you home." She said as she got up to give Wheeler a hug.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know that you had company." Wheeler responded.
"Oh son its OK, as a matter of fact this young land says that she knows you." She finished as Linka got up.
"Well hello there, any friend of my mom's is a friend of mine." Wheeler said in his very cheerful mood.
"Son, Trish and I want to show your mother the tux and wedding dress that you and Trish picked out for the wedding. Be back soon." His dad said as he, Trish and his mom went into another room.
"Hello there Wheeler." Linka said.
"Hey that's a really cute accent you have there, you Russian?" Wheeler asked.
"No Soviet." She responded remembering this is how she first responded when she first met him.
"That is really cute, that my mom has a Soviet friend, what's you name?"
"My name is Linka and I am not your mom's friend." Linka started to say. "I'm your bride."
"MY WHAT! YOU'RE MY WHAT!" Wheeler started to scream.
"Honey is everything all right out there" His mom started to ask.
"Everything is fine Margret, just go back to what you were doing." Linka responded
"Look lady, I don't like being made a fool of." Wheeler started to say getting very angry. "I have no idea who you are or for that matter why I would want to marry you if I did, I don't even know you."
"Look wheeler, I know it is a lot to take in but you must listen to me." Linka said with pain in her voice.
"I don't know what kind of scam you are playing at but I think that you should leave here and never bug me or my parents again." Wheeler said as he was starting to walk over to the door.
Just then Linka grabbed him by his arm and pulled him back over to her.
"Look lady I don't know what game you are playing at but I-" Wheeler was saying as he was cut off.
"If this doesn't work then I don't know what else to do, I have to get my Yankee back at any cost." Linka though as she gave Wheeler a very passionate kiss on the lips cutting him off in mid sentence.
Wheeler and Linka stood like that for what almost seemed like an eternity, with both their lips connecting with each other in rightful bliss. Then after a moment more the contact was broken.
"Yankee, are you alright?" Linka said while looking at the confused look Wheeler was having.
"I, I don't know what is happening here." Wheeler started to say. "You say you know me and yet we have never met. You then kissed me and somehow it started to feel right, I don't know what is happening to me so please make it stop."
"Wheeler I can't make it stop, only you can." Linka started to explain. " You must remember, you have to remember."
"REMEMBER WHAT! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER! I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR!" Wheeler screamed as he started to cry and fall to his knees.
"Wheeler, I'm so sorry that I had to put you through all of this but I need you to remember everything." She started to say as she bent down besides her friend." You have to remember." Linka said as she grabbed Wheeler's right hand. "Wheeler we are Planeteers destined to save the earth from pollution and destruction, we are also engaged to be married. Wheeler please I can't loose you." Linka said.
"I don't know what is happening to me or why I should feel this way, but somewhere deep inside of me I believe you."
"You do?" Linka said with joy.
"I still don't understand what is going on around here and why I can't remember you."
"I'll try and explain it Yankee, just tell me what is the last thing that you do remember."
"I… I woke up in the center of town and walked down to my parents home, I went into my parents apartment, there was a bright flash of light and then nothing."
"That must have been when it happened."
"When what happened?"
"When you became trapped in this illusion from this world."
"What illusion?"
"Don't worry Yankee, I'll help you break free from this place." Linka said with determination in her voice.
"I'm afraid you won't my dear"
After hearing that sentence, both Linka and Wheeler looked up to find that Wheeler's parents and Trish were standing over them with disgust in their faces.
"You won't ruin our son's very special day."
"I'm sorry but yes I will. He is to marry me not you Trish."
"That's were you are wrong my dear." Trish stated as she grabbed Linka by the neck.
"Don't you hurt her Trish."Wheeler said as he started to get back up.
"Wheeler, this slut doesn't belong here in our lives, she has to go." Trish said while moving Linka to an opened window.
"If only my ring would work in this place. Wait a minute, it just might work if I start to concentrate." Linka started to think as a mysterious object appeared on her right index finger.
"What is that supposed to do?" Trish said while still moving Linka towards the window.
"Let me show you." Linka paused a moment while she raised her ring to Trish's face.
"WIND!"
After that command a blast of wind came blowing out of her ring forcing Trish to release her hold.
"That won't save you my friend." Mr.s Wheeler said as she and her husband were moving towards Linka.
"Mom, Dad, Trish." Wheeler paused a moment then continued. "LEAVE HER ALONE!" Wheeler yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Yankee, quickly think of you power ring of fire and hurry." Linka stated.
"My ring of fire?" Wheeler said still confused.
"Hurry Wheeler you must hurry."
Wheeler then started to think of a ring with a fire emblem in the center until the same ring that he was thinking of appeared on his index finger.
"Linka, what is this?" Wheeler said
"Just point it at them and say fire."
"Mom, Dad, Trish last warning, stay away from her or I'll." He said while raising his ring at his parents and Trish.
"You'll do what son you can't hurt us, we love you." His father started to say.
"Guys I'm sorry about this but you leave me no choice." Wheeler said as he took inn a deep breath for a moment and then let it out.
"FIRE!"
With that command a beam of red energy came shooting out of his ring hitting his parents and Trish burning them alive.
"Wheeler, Yankee." Linka said as she started to run over to him. "Are you alright Wheeler, do you remember anything?"
Wheeler just stood there for a moment processing what has just happened, then all of a sudden all of the memories that he had forgotten had started to return. After he had finished remembering everything, Wheeler grabbed Linka, putting his arms around her back and gave her a passionate kiss.
"Thanks for helping me remember everything Babe. I love you."
"Da Yankee, it is good to have you back, but we can't stay here for much longer we have to go and find Jaga to help contact Gaia."
"Babe with you here and by my side, there is nothing that we can not do." Wheeler said as the illusion of his home town started to disappear right in front of both Wheeler and Linka, leaving a baron wasteland with floating human spirits hovering around.
In the distance both Planeteers can see a human cat person fighting a strange creature for survival.
"We'd better go and see if we can help him out babe."
"Wheeler, I'll go where ever you want to go just please promise to never leave me alone again."
"Babe I promise, now come on, lets see what we can do."
"Da, let us go." Linka said as she and Wheeler both started running towards the duo in epic combat.