Back to Fan-fic pageI’ve been running for blocks. I’m not exactly sure when, or if, they’ll stop tailing me. All I know for sure is I have to get to safety and I have to do it fast. My arm has been gushing blood since the beginning of the fight. All this running isn’t doing it any good either. What I would give to have my brothers here right now. Atleast then I could stop running and face these guys head on. Even hurt like this I could probably take them on one-to-one. I quickly glance down to the ground behind me and note the blood trail. Then again, perhaps my brothers could serve as a diversion so I could atleast put a bandage on my arm. A really big band-aide, that’s what I need.
I stopped at a wall and turned around to see if I had yet lost my pursuers. The familiar ting of a ninja star striking brick told me I hadn’t. I turned to continue running and slipped in a puddle of water. I finally caught sight of the first of the shadow warriors. I drew out my sai, wondering if there was any way I could make it out of this one. I heard the foot steps of another one behind me, but kept my eyes locked on the first. I stood ready from my crouching position with one knee low to the ground, my good arm poised to strike from beneath, and my wounded arm safely tucked against my chest. I could feel my blood from my gash on my arm staining my plastron.
I carefully watched the first one as ten others filed in around him for flanking. Clearly, he was the leader of this mission.
“Has your bravado ended, turtle? Too bad, I did so want to hear more of you quips before I killed you.”
I remained silent and kept my cool. I continued to stare at him.
“Nothing even now? Not a plea of mercy or even a cry to a god?”
I narrowed my eyes and slightly shifted my weight to my back leg.
“Just kill it, Tai. The longer it lives the more of a threat it becomes.” This comment came from one of the men flanking the leader, Tai. I shifted my focus to the one who had spoken. I decided I could easily prove his statement.
“I’ll do what I want, don’t forget who’s in charge of this mission,” Tai shot back angrily.
“I’m just warning you that these things are dangerous. You’ve never dealt with them before.” The one who had addressed Tai earlier stepped forward as he said this. Not only was I surprised at the boldness this character was showing in defying his leader like this, right in front of the enemy, but I was also shocked he said he had tangled with us before. I thought we left every battle against the Foot with nothing more than stains remaining.
“I’ve seen enough to know we can take our time, besides, it’s hurt,” Tai said to further his defense.
“Merely a ploy. These things feel no pain.” No pain? Well, gee, thanks for telling me. Here I was, worried about my arm “hurting”, for nothing! “They are demons that must be killed quickly, given no chance to assess the situation.” It seems this boy has fought us before, he knows how good we are, even when alone and hurt.
Now is the time for my strike. These two won’t bicker forever and I may have found my escape. I noticed the rest of the ninjas following Tai were distressed about this fighting going on in the ranks. With all of them slightly distracted like this I may have enough time to quickly get away. Even so, I have to move fast and expect everything. If I don’t, I can kiss this life good-bye.
There was a light fixture above me, a wall to my left. The ten ninjas were standing before me with an extra blocking my rear. I think they may have started out with fifteen soldiers. I definitely remember killing three of them. I left those thoughts and looked to my right out of the corners of my eyes. There was a small ledge, a ten storey drop, and thirty feet to the next roof top. I certainly hope I can quickly mutate into some wings.
“If you don’t let me do my job, I’ll be sure to take care of you before returning to base,” Tai threatened the ninja, “I’ve already decided to report you to our superiors.”
“If you would do your job I wouldn’t be in your way,” the warrior retorted. Augh! Their bickering was driving me insane!
Tai pulled a sword out of a scabbard across his back. “Then I’ll kill it.” He was finally addressing me again. “Any last words, turtle?”
“Just one... Bonzai!” I lunged toward the ledge of the roof, making a sweeping motion with my arm as I sprang up. With this sweep I managed to cut a gash across Tai’s chest. Perhaps next time we tangle he will take the heed of his fellow warriors.
I sprinted to the edge and jumped before I could give it a second thought. At this point I felt dying from a fall would be more satisfying than being killed by a pathetic excuse for a leader like Tai. Next time we meet I’ll have to tell him exactly what I think of him, perhaps then I can get him in a fair fight, one-to-one. Ha, fair fight, isn’t that the biggest oxymoron when talking about the Foot.
I completely missed the roof of the next building and crashed into the fire escape some three stories down. No matter, getting on the ground gives me more options any way. I can finally get home by ducking into the sewer. Once I enter my home turf, those ninja boys will never be able to catch me. I’ll blend in with the rest of the ruffage and they’ll never notice me.
I scurried down the fire escape and ran for the nearest manhole once I hit ground. I cast a glance upward as I began to enter the abyss and noted only one ninja following me. I wonder what happened to the others? They would never send only one after one of us turtles, unless this happens to be the rebellious one. If it is I hope he catches up, he could be some fun. He sounds like he has some excess energy to work off. Nothing like a good fight to keep your mind off your bleeding arm.
When I reached the sewer tunnel I ducked against a wall and waited for the ninja. My guess was Tai, the pansy, called everyone back and this rebel just couldn’t let me go. Well, atleast I can prove his theory that we turtles are dangerous, especially me.
As I waited I quickly pulled a bandage from my belt and hurriedly wrapped my arm. I couldn’t really do much for it, but atleast this would keep the blood from dripping so much. I clutched my sai with my good hand and peered into the dark until I could vaguely make out a shadowy figure moving about. I stayed silent and motionless as the figure neared. I had the element of surprise on my side, and when in my current physical condition, surprise is good. The ninja continued looking back and forth, searching for me. I was waiting from him to step closer. Suddenly he snapped his head and looked directly at me, right into my eyes.
“Don’t think I don’t know you’re there, turtle. I was merely making sure you would have no exits.” This was definitely the rebel from the Foot. I recognized his voice. “And for the record, turtle, all I want is you and your brothers destroyed.”
“Oh, nothing much then, eh?” I replied sarcastically. I figured I might be able to buy myself time, my brothers should be patrolling the area soon.
“Nothing much. Now it’s time for you to die!” He swung the sword he had clutched in both hands at my head. I quickly ducked away and received only a minor scratch on my shoulder.
“Ha, you’ll have to do better than that, ninja boy!” I rolled away from him and pulled a handful of throwing stars from a pouch on my belt. I chucked them at him and one managed to pierce his arm. Even in the dark light I could see the red liquid flowing from the wound. The sight of blood got to me. It made me hunger for more of this fight. I can take this guy. No problem, after all, I am . . .
“Naugh!” That bastard flipped over me and kicked me. Oh, now he’s gonna pay. . . and I take my payment out in blood!
I shook off the sting in my jaw and flipped my sai around in my hand. Mentally, I swore off my injured arm and pulled out my other sai.
“Hey ninja, the boys want to meet ya!” I took a step back and flung both sais at this loser. Bingo! One of them stabbed him in the shoulder. He bent over in pain, but quickly righted himself to defend from further attack. I watched as he tried to raise his sword and failed. I found it almost humorous.
“Look, pal, you’re badly injured and my arm’s killing me, too. As much as I hate to say it, but let’s call a draw, okay? You’ll get plenty of other chances to kill me, and don’t worry, I’ll put up a better fight then, but for now, we’re even.” I put up the offer of truce only because my arm was still bleeding and all I could think of was a good night’s sleep. Any other day and I would have killed that guy by now without giving it a second thought. Ugh, my arm hurts!
“I’d rather die here than be forced to know I let one of you evil beings escape,” he gasped through clenched teeth.
“Evil beings? Us? You’re the one involved in the criminal clan, buddy!” Boy, did this guy have his wires crossed.
“I’m not the one breaking the law. My sole purpose is to kill you and your brothers, nothing more, turtle.” Even though the two of us seemed to be talking, eh, rather comfortably, he refused to let his guard down, and so, I too remained stationed for attack.
“Well, how ‘bout we let each other rest and treat out wounds before we try to kill each other again?” I suggested. If he wouldn’t let me sleep I atleast wanted to properly wrap my arm.
“I guess that sounds okay. My shoulder is bleeding rather heavily and I don’t want to lose one of you.”
“I swear on my ninja honor, I will stay and fight you.”
“Then I take that same oath as well.” Finally, the rebel Foot ninja let down his guard and sat down. Slowly I lowered myself to the ground across from him.
I watched carefully as he leaned back against the wall. He brought his hand up to his shoulder and touched the wound, avoiding my sai that was still lodged there. Finally I took my eyes off him and looked to my arm.
After I finished properly wrapping it, and cursing the ninja that had done this to me, I looked up at my ninja and noticed he hadn’t moved at all.
“Hey, you alive over there?” I asked cautiously.
“Yeah,” he coughed, “but I won’t be for long.”
“Why do you say that? Just stop the bleeding.” I said this so incredulously he looked up at me.
“I can’t, you idiot. Your sai is lodged into the bone and I can’t pull it out to treat my wound.” He coughed again, he really was in pain. I almost felt sorry for him.
“Aw man! I can’t believe I’m saying this but... do you want some help?” I couldn’t believe myself! I actually just offered to help heal someone who not only wants to kill me, but who I injured in the first place. I’ve gone nuts!!
“As much as I hate to admit it, I need your help. Come here and help me pull this out.”
I stood up and walked towards him. I considered shoving my sai the rest of the way through. Or picking up my other sai, or his blade, and getting rid of the head of my problems. Instead, I bent down next to him and firmly grasped the sai. I thought once again about finishing him off and finally gave a yank to free my weapon.
Blood began to gush freely from the wound. My sai was fully covered in the hot red liquid. My mind went on autopilot and the next thing I knew I had wrapped his wound and stopped the bleeding as best as I could.
“Thank you,” he coughed softly.
“Yeah, it sorta hurts to say, don’t it?” I asked. I sat back and studied my adversary. From his voice and build I guessed he was around my age. From our previous battle I could tell he was strong, not to mention persistent.
“It is rather hard to thank a being that you will hate from even beyond the grave.” He spoke so seriously, the only emotion he showed was intense anger, focused directly at me. Whatever “wrong” we have done to him, it had scarred him almost beyond sanity.
“Why do you hate us so much? We’ve done nothing to you.” I was trying to size up my opponent, perhaps even learn his weak point.
“You turtles have done enough for me to hate each of you individually. The repercussions of your evil actions will always come back to haunt you.”
“Ha! This coming from a member of the Foot Clan.”
“My intention for joining were not evil. The leaders know this and have accepted it. Besides they approve of my mission.”
“Let me guess, hell bent on destroying us?”
“In simple words, yes.”
“And you call these intentions “not evil”? Sheesh, give me a break buddy! You’re talking about murder here! And murder is evil! So are you.”
“You act as though you’ve never killed! I watched you tonight, I am no more evil than you.”
“But I don’t go out searching for people to kill! Not only that, but I only kill criminals! I’m the good guy for cryin’ out loud!”
“You kill ONLY criminals? How can you be sure?”
“Look, if the guys are stealing stuff, they’re criminals! If I find them and we fight, so be it! If I kill them, I’m sorry! The law comes first!!”
“Above human life? Some hero.”
Now this guy was starting to get to me. I was getting rather aggravated, and he was as cool as anything. I was beginning to question myself and my actions. What if this guy was right? What if I, all of us, my brothers and I, were nothing more than a bigger problem on top of everything else? There’s already enough evil in the world, we don’t need to add to it.
No. No this guy’s messing with my head. He knows what he’s doing. Look at him, playing it cool, relaxing as though nothing’s wrong. He’s toying with my mind, trying to get to me so he can knock me off guard, kill me when I’m distracted... unfocused. No, it won’t work, because I know I make a difference. I know I’m needed. I am not a murderer. I defend the weak and helpless and stand up for justice. I am a true hero. I am a Ninja Turtle. I fight for freedom.
“No, not above human life, but when those criminals abuse life, they have become less than human and have given themselves to whatever hands find them. I try my best to merely capture them, but sometimes death can’t be stopped.”
“Then so it is when I meet each of you.”
“But you come to the fight with the intent to kill, not capture.”
“I see we have made it to the beginning again.”
“Look, buddy, all I know is I don’t go looking for fights, they seem to always come to me. It’s not my fault criminals don’t just give up when they get caught. They bring the fight upon themselves.”
“And that makes it right for you to kill them?”
“I never said it was right, but sometimes it’s just unavoidable. We can’t just let the crooks go, we have to fight to apprehend them. If they get killed... sheesh!”
“You talk as though death distribute by you happens on accident, but death from the villains is always intentional.”
“In a way...”
“So if a criminal kills his own daughter, mistaking her for his enemy, it was intentional?”
Boy, I really wish Don or Leo were here. They’d wrap rings around this guy on all this ethics talk. Atleast they’d know what to say. Hell, they’d probably even enjoy it!
I sighed. “Yes, it was intentional, but it wasn’t meant for the girl.... It would be an accident.”
“Point given. Then to reiterate, when you kill it is an accident. So, does that make him, killing on accident, good as well?”
“You said the guy was a criminal! What do you think?! Just because a person is doing evil things, it doesn’t mean the person is innately evil!” It was the first real outburst that had been made. This guy was driving me mad, making me question everything.
“Thank you for stating my point,” he said, “I’m not evil, I’m just going to kill you.”
“But you’re out for my death! You’re trying to kill me! That’s evil!!” I had finally had it with this guy.
“So killing is evil?”
“If you’re planning on it. Murder. Yeah.”
“So you mean when you’re in a fight and you say to yourself you’re going to kill this guy, this criminal, let’s say, you have become a murderer, true?”
“No, you’re talking about in a fight. Within the confines of a fight it becomes a case of self defense!”
“And what if you’re the one who starts the fight?”
I looked at him for a moment and suddenly felt sick to my stomach. If this guy was right, we turtles aren’t as heroic as we’d like to think. If I’m right... hell, I don’t even know what I might be right about. All I know is this guy’s bothering me more than my arm is.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to kill me?” I finally decided I just wanted to get this fight over with and be done with it all.
“Of course I still want to kill you, turtle, how could I have forgotten?” he asked very maliciously, like he was up to something, “But what of our conversation? Does the truth of your evilness really hurt that much?”
“I’m not evil.”
“But you do evil things, correct? Killing? Murder? You are after all an assassin.”
“I’m not an assassin.”
“But you are a ninja, turtle. Live with your evil. Accept it. If you don’t, you deny your heritage.”
“I am not evil, neither are my brothers. We fight for truth and honor and justice and freedom.”
“Then free the evil of your soul!”
“Some things are better off locked up.”
“Then I see you’re admitting the world is not as black and white as you’d like to think. For you have done evil things, and I know about them.”
I waited for him to continue.
“For you see, you killed my sister. A sweet little girl... and you killed her!”
“I can assure you if one of us turtles killed her, it was not done in vain. We do not kill the innocent.”
“No, you murder the innocent!!”
“If they get caught in the crossfire, there’s nothing we can do.”
“Nothing you can do? You can DIE!!”
“No! YOU can die!!” Before I was quite sure of what I was doing I had picked up my sai and thrust it through his chest. He slowly lifted his head and looked up at me towering over him.
“See... evil... death...” Then his eyes closed tiredly and his body slumped down into its everlasting sleep.
I stared down at the body for a minute, watching the blood pool on the sewer floor, wondering about everything that had gone on. Specifically wondering about what had made me snap at the end. Maybe I am evil. Maybe, for the second if took me to kill him, I was evil. Maybe a part of me doesn’t want to know. As to whether I am evil or not, I don’t know. But I do know one thing... killing him sure as hell felt good.