Damn!
"Mike! Get out of my face!"
"Nah, Nah, Ha Ha!" Mike backed away.
"All right laughing boy, you asked for it!"
Grabbing his shell, I tossed him over the couch (when did Splinter come in?!). Splinter and Leo both ducked as Mike's sorry shell flew over them. Mike sprang up, dusting himself off as he grunted. "Ya just can't joke with some guys."
Mike sat back on the couch to finish watching the movie as Splinter left the room.
"I wonder what's taking Donnie so long?" Leo said with a worried look to his face.
"I don't know. Maybe I should go look for him. After all, Mike here wrecked the movie for me."
"No I didn't, you just can't take a joke," Mike spoke up. "You've already seen it, haven't you?"
"Yeah? So what?" I snapped. "I guess I can look for Donnie. He gripped it was my turn to do the run anyway."
"All right, just hurry up about it," Leo told me.
I took off grabbing my coat, hat and sais. (Just in case Donnie was in trouble.) It was just enough to make me worry a little. I think Mikey said something as I left, but I couldn't make it out. I took
the route Donnie would have taken in hopes I'd meet him as he was returning.
It didn't look like it after I got halfway.
"This is not like Donnie," I whispered as I got to street level. I wasn't more than a few blocks away from the pizza place and I still hadn't seen him. Funny, it was me who ordered the spaghetti for myself. I guess I just got tired of pizza. Can't let Mikey find out or he might call me traitor to all Turtles or something. But hey, April was right, eating pizza everyday does get dull after a while. I can't let her hear me saying that or I'll have to pay twenty bucks on our bet though.
Damn, I didn't notice how cold it was. I should have put on those boots April got me for Christmas. Too late for that I guess. Snow and bare feet don't mix. Hey, what's this? Blood? No, it's sauce. What the?
Just before that pet shop, a couple puppies going through pizza boxes, a bucket from--
Little Caesar's!
Don is in trouble!
"You again!" someone shouted.
Again?
He must have seen Don! Some punk in a nice jacket coming out the pet shop. I didn't like his face. "You mind if you tell me what you're doing here?" I demanded.
"Go to hell!" he shouted as he swung at me.
Not much of a talker, that's fine with me. I easily blocked his punch and gave him a real one to his gut. He doubled over and I grabbed his head and slammed it to the ground. "Be one with concrete," I chuckled.
"Hey Jack, what's going on?" someone called from inside the store.
I should have known this idiot would have friends. Two bruisers came out with the same kind of jacket on. I moved towards the alley, can't let them see a five foot turtle.
Just my luck, they spotted me.
"Hey, you! Stop!" they shouted giving chase.
Right, like I'm going to listen to two morons. I turned around the corner, waiting for them. And right on cue, one of these idiots raced around the corner. I greeted him with a foot-to-the-head trick. He dropped to the ground and his friend got the drop on me. I landed hard on my back, even with a shell it still hurt. The guy must weigh a ton! He got in few rights to my face before I threw him off, ripping part of his jacket.
He crashed into some trash, and their cans. Another one in the same get-up ran into the opening of the alley. I rolled behind a trash bin. I heard the safety switching off.
"Someone's cheating," I whispered.
"Tom, are you all right?" he called out.
Grabbing a trash can lid, I turned and said, "Don't worry about him, be more concerned about yourself." I moved from the bin and threw the lid at the sucker. He didn't even move! The lid hit him right in the face, moron!
The guy I gave the boot to got up and pulled a gun. Man I hate guns!
I moved back to the bin as the jerk opened fire. Wait a minute! I hear another gun firing. Jerks. The cops will be coming over this much gunfire.
No where to run. I've got to get out of here, fire escape: perfect!
I hustled over to the ladder with bullets zipping by. As I jumped up, my shell got nicked (damn!) by one. I hauled up the escape to the roof.
I ran to the next roof-top and headed for its fire escape. I had to lose the gun-happy jerks! No time to be politically correct, I just jumped landing to landing. Too bad I'm making noise.
I slipped on some ice and fell from the last landing into some trash.
"Damn," I groaned as I crawled out of the heap. In the distance I heard sirens and wondered if they were coming here. But there's always sirens in the city.
I dusted myself off and raced to the grate at the side of the street. Better not to stick around and find out. Pulling the grate up, I slid down into the sewers. I hightailed it around some turns and crossing tunnels. After some time doing the lose-the-sucker routine, I stopped to get my breath.
What's this in my hand?
Oh yeah, the ripped jacket sleeve. Hmmm...G.R.I.
"GRI, as in TGRI. Great."
I need help for sure. I've got to get the others.
DAMN!
My stomach rumbled again. The blood-orange I'd snacked on was gone. I needed real food.
Not that a blood-orange isn't real food. They're delicious. But I had one of those unshakable Turtle cravings for the Delectable Za.
Pepperoni and hot peppers, yum.....
Where the heck is Donatello? Casey and April could be along any time.
He left an hour ago. No Don. No pizza.
So Raph said he'd go find him. That's been over twenty minutes. No Don. No Raph.
Forget the pizza. I should have gone with him. There's been trouble.
My mind made up, I stalked to my room. In a flash I put on my sword harness, and slipped on my mask. From gifts to us from Casey, I tucked a couple shuriken in the belt, for a little extra edge. Something big had to be up or I'd be sitting back with a full belly right now.
As I went to tell Master Splinter I was leaving, I heard Mike playing on Don's computer. "I'm going looking for the mystery pizza!" I called in. Mikey grunted an acknowledgment, but didn't budge.
Guess he's not coming.
I re-settled the shoulder straps as I walked to Splinter's room, muttering to myself, "They spend way too much time in front of that thing! It just sucks them in like mind control!"
Splinter was deep in meditation. Great, do I bug him or just leave?
I opted to leave, this probably wasn't anything anyway. Don probably got sidetracked at that second-hand computer software store.
But it's after nine, it'd be closed....
I paused in the kitchen, to grab something for the road. There was a box of Mike's donuts, too heavy. I rummaged through the cupboard and found a box of Mr. Phipp's Pretzel Chips. This'll do. I can run on these things.
I scarfed them by the handful; downed them with a little water. Nervous energy was building. I had this antsy feeling things just weren't right. It'd been way too long. No Don. No Raph.
Time to go.
I debated on the trench coat. Decided against it. I needed stealth and speed, not disguise.
Leaving the lair, I planned my route from knowledge of Don's habits. If I was lucky I'd run into Don and Raph on their way back, laughing over silly me getting worried and coming after them.
Yeah right. And that's why Raph hasn't come back.
I was a couple of blocks from Little Caesar's when I noticed a change. I froze, a number of voices were talking angrily.
"Damn freak got me with a trash-can lid!"
"Well we got him good. I got him in the back."
"Quit messin' around- we've got to get out of here 'fore the friendly neighborhood cops get here. This is taking way too long. What a disaster. You got everything loaded?"
"One more cage," he said as they trouped into the pet shop. "It's not like we planned on freaks showin' up...."
They were dressed in jackets, and I shivered when I saw a T.G.R.I. logo on one of them. A couple of them had been on the receiving end of someone's wrath--
Raph!
Don!
Now I noticed new details. There was our pizza and spaghetti order, all over the street. From the way the sauce was splattered--
They're responsible! TGRI! That van- they've got my brothers!
But before I could get to the back, they came out of the shop. I dove into a stairwell. One put a cage full of kittens in the back and then two got in the van. The other guys got into a car, and both vehicles started.
Wonderful. This is gonna be fun.
The car pulled out, and was gone. The van shifted into drive, and I made my move. This is not me! This is something Raph or Mike would do!
I ran up behind it, too close to be seen in the rearview mirrors. When it stopped at the traffic light at the corner, I climbed up the back.
Success. I was on the van. This wasn't going to be the most comfortable ride, but I'd been on worse. Course, the snow on the roof was cold....
I tried to pay attention to where we were going, so I'd be able to call the others when I got there. A clock on a bank flashed 10:10.
The van stopped at a gate, 2422 Market Street. I heard the guard clear it, the van entered. Damn, that fence is gonna be an obstacle. I hope Don and Raph can move fast or this may not work!
The van came to a stop by a loading dock. The garage door opened and a large dolly was wheeled out of the yellow light. The two from the van were joined by two more wearing lab coats! But I didn't see any apparent weapons.
When the van doors opened, I heard the sounds of kittens crying. I made no move as they were unloaded. I was waiting for my brothers, to see what their condition was before I would attack.
The mewling kitten cages were stacked on the dolly, one after the other. Ten cages. I gritted my teeth, what are they going to do with these innocent animals?
"Okay. That's it."
What?
The loaded dolly was wheeled away. The garage door closed.
No Don. No Raph.
They don't have my brothers?!
I silently swore. If they didn't have them, they must have escaped!
Well, that's good I guess.
The driver was getting in the van, "Let's stop for some coffee?"
"Sounds good."
The van rocked as they got in, then rumbled to life. I re-shifted my position for travel, wishing I could have done something to free those kittens. I had a delightful vision of opening all their doors and me and this army of fur attacking--but I was the only one who knew where this place was; I needed to call in my brothers.
The van pulled out and five minutes later, stopped at a Dunkin Donuts. I waited until they were in the store, then after a quick check, I slipped off the van.
I spotted a phone across and up the street. The light over it was nearly burned out. It fizzled off and on. Perfect.
Maybe I should have brought my trench coat after all. Oh well, I'll have to do without.
I slipped across the street, and from the cover of a hedge I whipped a rock into it. The shattering was minimal, and I had my darkness. I scurried to it, dropped in a quarter and dialed home.
No answer.
Dammit Mike! Playing stupid games! Where's Splinter?! Why doesn't someone pick up the phone?!
The van was pulling out of the lot, they were turning my way!
I pressed up against the phone pole to hide my shape, but the headlights shone across me. I hoped they weren't paying attention.
Maybe I should have prayed.
The van skidded to a stop, "It's him again!"
Oh yeah, it's a sure thing they met Don and Raph all right.
I dropped the phone and pulled out a shuriken. I sailed it into the door, enjoying his surprised expression as I booked.
I ran a dodging pattern up the strip, and sure enough, a gunshot ripped into the dirt. Guns! God I hate guns!!!
I dove behind a parked car. A bullet destroyed its rear window.
Stupid. Even in this neighborhood, cops in five to ten minutes.
The van was in reverse, tailing me, as the guy hung out the window. I spied a gap: an alley three stores ahead. They must have noticed it too. As I sprinted, the van sped up to get ahead of me, tires squealing as they backed into a parking space. Grabbing another shuriken, I did my best to use whatever cover I could. I was almost there--
A sharp pain stabbed across my right shoulder, a whistling sound past my ear. Biting back a cry I rolled into the alley, sending the shuriken at the van in a wild throw.
Distantly I heard it thunk into glass. But my mind was on fire.
I've been shot! I've never been shot!!
I didn't like the odds of hiding in the garbage in the alley. Too obvious, but I didn't have a choice. I lay in wait, focusing on blocking the pain as Splinter had taught us.
Lights from the apartments above the stores were flicking out as the two carefully entered the alley, covering each other.
Now would be a good time for the police.... But what do I expect from Chief Sterns' men?....
Idiots. Got their backs to light. Works for me...
"Spread out," the one said. Also good for me. Coolness.
As the gun-toter passed my position, I leapt up from my crouched position. A front kick sent his gun flying across the alley. Then I grabbed him by the head as the other came running and slammed his head into the one coming, knocking them silly. Holding my captive by the jacket I slammed him into the wall. "Maybe you oughtta take up masonry!" He dropped with a groan.
The other had regained his composure. But I nailed him with a sidekick. That was easy. Take their guns away, and they're nothing.
Sirens! Incoming!
I only had seconds. I couldn't see anything out the alley, but I didn't think it would be wise to risk getting seen again. Otherwise I'm gonna make the morning news for sure! Wouldn't it be funny if it was April reporting!
I jumped for the fire escape on the left. I caught it, but my right hand nearly slipped as pain stabbed from my shoulder. In a haze of agony I pulled myself up.
I was barely aware of the two TGRI twits struggling to their feet to make their way up the other escape. Rats! They're getting away!
I made it to the roof. With a mental apology to the owner, I grabbed a t-shirt off a clothesline, and ducked behind a vent. Tilting my head I stared stupidly at the blood trailing down my arm. I felt sort of gray, definitely lightheaded; my stomach locked in knots as I began shivering. I tied the t-shirt as best as I could, using my teeth to finish the knot.
C'mon, it's just a graze. Not that bad. How come nobody ever gets hit in all those movies?!
I've got to find help. Home is too far.
If I could get to another phone, I could call April or Casey. Somebody has to be home.
I watched the flashing blue and red light reflections bounce around. I was thinking of all the wonderful evidence left for the inquisitive: the shot parked car, the van itself, the shuriken stuck in the van, blood, the gun.... My luck they're gonna come search up here. I'd better get out of here.
And leave no tracks!
Five minutes later I found another phone. I stretched the cord to the max as I slipped around the pole to stay out of the light. I tried home first. Got my quarter back. Tried Casey's. What is this? Party night? I'm trying to reach out and touch someone here! His blasted answering machine's on the fritz again!
Wiping damp sweat off my brow, despite the cold, I slammed the quarter in again, and got April's answering machine. I left a hasty but explicit message, hoping it would make some sense. It wasn't like I had any proof of wrongdoing; but if they'd attacked my brothers, shot me, and were connected with TGRI, then it was trouble.
I'm in trouble. I don't feel so good. Rambo cauterizes his own wound, runs through the whole damn movie, I get nicked--and I think I'm going to throw up.
Stop it. Don't think about it.
I leaned my head against the cool metal. Maybe I needed to expand my calling circle. I dug in my belt and came up with my last quarter. Better make it count or I'm going to be sewer surfing for change!
I scanned my two inch card with phone numbers and found Keno's. Worth a try. We hadn't seen him for a while, and he'd been a good kid. But I wasn't sure what he'd think about a late night phone call. Oh well. Here goes....
A sleepy voice answered, "Hello?"
"Keno? That you?"
"Who's this?" the voice slurred.
"It's Leo, I need help."
"Leo?!" The voice got stronger. "What's up? It's like past your bedtime isn't it?"
"This is serious Keno, I need your help. Don and Raph are missing. No one's home, I've been shot and I'm by the Dunkin Donuts on State and Broad."
"Shot? State and Broad? That's a half hour by moped! Where's the others? What's going on?"
"I don't know. But I'm alone and I need help." I was probably a little snappier than I should have been, but the pain was doing things to my patience. It was late, I was confused, and I never even ate dinner. The night sucked.
"All right already! I'll come up with something! Where do I find you?"
I sighed, at last! "There's a little park one block up. I'll be in the shrubbery."
"Okay, I'm on my way."
"Excuse me, I'd like to use the phone."
I turned, stunned. I didn't notice anyone approach!
He towered over me, his smile promising malice. He had a painful-looking red streak across his face, the one I'd overheard enough from to know he'd tangled with Raph and a trash-can lid.
"You!" I said, planning my escape.
"Leo? Leo?!--" Keno's voice was cut off as the stranger ripped the phone from my hands with enough strength to tear it free.
I ducked and ran, but something hit the back of my head.
Here comes the ground!
Ow.
Never a cop around when....
Go hide ye face in the shrubbery of Part One, Chapter One