| Dedicated to the WTC Tragedy |
| "NOOOOOOOOO!!!" Gaia's scream echoed across Hope Island. The Planeteers instantly raced for the Crystal Chamber. "Gaia?" asked Wheeler. "What's wrong?" asked Gi. The beautiful Spirit of the Earth turned to the Planeteers, her face pale with the horror she had just witnessed and tears streaming down her cheeks. "Whatever this eco-emergency is, it must be a doozy," frowned Wheeler. "What is it, Gaia?" asked Linka. Gaia gestured mutely to the scene on the Planet Vision. The Planeteers found themselves watching a news report. Wheeler recognized the two buildings onscreen. "Hey, that's the World Trade Center." Then a plane zoomed into view. It was headed for the second tower, going too fast to turn away. "That plane!" cried Gi. "It's going to crash!" Which was precisely what it did. Suddenly, a black-and-orange fireball erupted from the second tower! As the Planeteers watched in horror, the second tower collapsed to the ground, totally disintegrated. Nor was it the sole victim of the tragedy, as the shockwave of the eruption leveled the first tower, and damaged the surrounding buildings. Reports of similar events circulated, of the Pentagon's shattering and the plane that fell far from its target, the result of its desperate passengers' noble but doomed attempt to stop a fanatical terrorist. In under 45 minutes, America's, and the Planeteers', worst nightmare had come true, as a symbol of peace and freedom was shattered, claiming with it the lives of thousands. "Nooooo!!" screamed Linka. Wheeler hadn't heard her cry in such horror since the death of her cousin Boris. "There were thousands of people in those buildings!" cried Kwame. "What monster could do such a thing?" "A monster named Osama bin Laden," said Gaia gravely. "A mad, fanatical terrorist who'll stop at nothing to get his way." She showed the Planeteers a picture of the Taliban leader. "Oh, my God!!" Wheeler choked. "My parents! I gotta see if they're okay!" The Planeteers flew the Geo-Cruiser to New York. They surveyed the destruction and mass slaughter that had taken place. "Jesus," Wheeler swore under his breath. "All those people dead...just for being at the proverbial wrong place at the proverbial wrong time." "And for what?" Kwame exclaimed. "Because of a cowardly act of hatred! These people had done bin Laden no harm! They were simply not of his politics or religion! And most Islamics would actually find this monstrous!" "At least there are people down there, helping," said Gi. "Firefighters, paramedics...huh? What are they doing here?" The Planeteers saw what Gi was referring to. The aircraft of various Eco-Villains were there, clearing away the rubble by means of winches and claws. Duke Nukum was melting rubble into slag, rescuing those trapped within. Even Verminous Skumm was there, holding up part of the shattered buildings. Rats fled from the rubble like they woud a sinking ship. "F...follow...the...rrrats!" he commanded, and two people emerged from the hole he'd made. As they fled, Skumm leaped away from the rubble, allowing it to fall. "Everyone except Zarm and Captain Pollution are here, helping out!" said a disbelieving Wheeler. The door of Looten Plunder's helicopter opened. "What are you waiting for?" Plunder demanded. "This is one time we could use Captain Planet!" "Why?" asked Ma-Ti. "Yeah," said Wheeler. "Sorry if I'm being a cynic, but since when do you want our help?" "GODDAMN IT, WHEELER, THIS IS NO TIME TO PISS ABOUT!" screamed Plunder. "WE MAY BE ECO-VILLAINS, BUT GODDAMN IT, WE'RE AMERICANS!" Wheeler had never heard Plunder so angry. The Planeteers pondered this. If a national tragedy like this could bring out the best -- or what passed for it -- in an Eco-Villain, maybe there was hope for mankind. "Let our powers combine," Kwame said finally. "Earth." "Fire." "Wind." "Water." "Heart." The words were not said in their usual dramatic tones, but in solemn and somber voices indicative of this tragedy. Captain Planet formed, but no announcement of powers combining came from his lips. The crystalline blue hero's face set grimly firm as he stared at the carnage. "Laden, you murderer...you'll pay for this." He set to work repairing as much of the damage as he could, silently noting the irony of working with the Eco-Villains. Wheeler's father died, not from being near the site of the crash, but from a heart attack brought on by the shock of the events. Wheeler stayed with his mother until her grieving period ended. The Eco-Villains temporarily took up the Planeteers' role of defending the Earth, and America in particular, from those who would harm it. Whenever Zarm or Captain Pollution reappeared, they were greeted as enemies rather than allies. September 7th, 2002 - A year ago these horrible tragedies happened and shocked billions the world over. Patriotism has sky rocketed in the wake of September 11th,with many people joining the army, navy, reserves, etc. And a year later we find ourselves stronger and more resiliant thatn before. But since then things have calmed down quite a bit, too, flags are disappearing from doorways and windows, if they haven't already. Life is slowly returning back to normal. Sure, it will be several years before the tight security around DC is dropped, for example, at the Capitol Building where you are no longer free to walk around the outside steps as once before, but it eventually will. I just hope that we remember each year what happened that day, that we will remember the victims, the heros, those who gave their lives on the fourth plane to stop the attacks. Anyway, what I'm basically ranting about here is this. God bless America. May we never forget. -Diana |
| By Gammablast |