Michaelangelo, you bonehead! How could you treat Master Splinter that way? Really, I didn't mean to snap at him like that. I pretty much deserved to get my big green butt royally kicked. I'm beginning to think that Donnie isn't the only one who's lost his mind these days. Speaking of Donnie has it really been that long? I'm starting to get real worried now. I still don't know where he is; in fact, I don't know where ANYBODY is.
Whoa, Mikey, you're batting zero here. You can't find your brothers, you've managed to ruffle Splinter's fur, you're a video game addict, and to top it off I'm really hungry now. I've been playing that ARENA so long that I'd forgotten that I didn't eat.
I have an idea! I'll call up April and see if she wants to come over for pizza. We've still got a box in the fridge. We'll reheat it, put our heads together and see if we can come up with something. Maybe they're all at April's right now! Why didn't I think of that before? I'll just pause this game real quick and give her a call.
Okay, phone's ringing...and ringing...and ringing...ring...c'mon April, where are you? Ring...ring...ring...man, this sucks! It just keeps ringing, and she's not answering! She must not be home right now, and I don't think her answering machine is working. I thought she was gonna have Casey fix that piece of junk. Oh well, so much for brainstorming.
HEY, WAIT A MINUTE! WHAT THE...the game! The scores are going down, all by themselves, and I'm not even playing! But I paused it, I swear I did!
Oh no, Donnie's in trouble, I can feel it! What...Leo too! Leo's hurt, bad! I don't know what the connection is between this game and my brothers, but I've got to get these scores back up, fast!
What?...pulsating light coming from the screen, sort of a strobe light effect. It's never done this before what's going on? The control board, it's not responding to my commands! Donnie, Leo! I have to do something, but what?
Light's still strobing, getting faster. What the heck?! a face on the screen? Who is this? He seems like he's radiating some kind of aura, his outline is kinda blurred, but it's definitely a guy. A
He's looking at me?!!!
"OH? WHAT'S THIS? YOU ARE NOT THE ONE I ENCOUNTERED BEFORE."
What's he mean "before"? Donnie? He's seen Donatello? Who is this guy, and what does he know about Don? This is crazy stuff, man! He's a video game! A video game that seems to be alive and aware, aware of me!
I speak back: "You are?..."
"NOT YOUR CONCERN, BUT YOU DO CONCERN ME. I ENCOUNTERED ONE SUCH AS YOU BEFORE. I ALMOST HAD HIM, BUT REBELS FROM MY REALM GAVE HIM MEANS OF ESCAPE, A SHIELD AGAINST MY MAGIC. NO MATTER. IF I CAN'T CATCH HIM, I WILL HAVE YOU."
The light is really flickering now, and I can feel a pull of some sort. Loose objects of all kinds pencils, papers, gaming dice, a piece of 'za, all being sucked into the screen! I feel like I'm melting, dissolving I'm gettin' outta here! Time to make turtle tracks! NNNYAAAHH!
"NO MATTER. IF I CAN'T BRING YOU HERE, I WILL COME TO YOU..."
"By the Lady," I muttered, still pulling off the remains of the spell, "The Dark Brotherhood could not have made more of a mess if they tried."
"Donatello?" a voice inquired.
I looked up, ready for a fight.
"I am Donato, boy," I said, for that is what he was, a mere slip of a man. He looked as if he could barely wield a dagger, let alone a sword. "Who might you be?"
"Don't you remember? I'm Dan... Danny Pennington."
Then it hit me. Dani was the one who helped betray us so long ago when Jaggar Tharn first made his move.
"Traitor! Spy! You serve the Evil Lord!" I cried.
"Don, I don't get you," he said, trying to calm me down, pretending a friendship that would never exist.
"You are Dani," I stated. "Dani the Betrayer. You captured the mage Splinter for the Evil One."
"Jesus Don! That was three years ago!"
"Be gone, dog," I demanded, hoping my voice showed more strength than I felt. "Or by the Elder Scrolls I will make you pay!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," he begged.
I started to denounce him further when a new voice came from the darkness.
"What's goin' on?"
Danny jumped, then turned slowly, "Uh... Hi Casey."
Casey? His name seemed familiar. He must be Dani's superior, or perhaps a direct spy fro the Evil One. I took a few steps back. I was in no shape to take on two foes. A rogue may not be much trouble, but this Casey was surely a well trained warrior.
"Hey, Don," he nodded at me.
I grew cold. He knew me, perhaps he was the one who had fought me here. His death mask gleamed dimly at me in the light of the night. I had to take him out, get away fast.
I pulled my bo staff, telling myself, I can do it. I have the strength. For the Light.
"You don't look so good," Casey said, looking at me. "Hey, is that my spaghetti you're wearing?"
I stepped forward, I could not stop. My staff nails Casey, right in the stomach. He was not ready for it. He gasped, doubled over. I swung up, hitting him square in the chin as he came down.
He fell back, groaning. I leapt over him, away from any attack Dani might make. I heard barking and glanced back to see the four puppies running over the one called Casey to follow me.
I ran, breathing hard. My side hurt, and my head swam a little. Many blocks and several turns later, I slowed down to catch my breath and my bearing. Gasping, I petted the puppies as we all looked around at our new surroundings.
What had Casey said? Something about wearing his Spaghetti? I knew, for sure, now, that he was the one who had cast the spell to bring me here. A Spellsword, no doubt. One of great power to weld a spell called Spaghetti. I had never heard of that one before. Something new he must have created.
I wondered what hideousness his death mask covered. Something that had pushed him over the edge to sell his abilities to the Evil Lord. Perhaps if I had paid more attention to what this Casey and Dani had talked about in the alley, I would have a better idea. As it was, I hadn't, so I would just have to kill them both. No way to bring them back to the Light of our Lady.
I rose, stretched. Whoever he was, the one called Casey would not be following me for a while. Until we met again, I would have to find a place to eat and sleep. The High Lord of Grayire would have to wait for the Holy Symbol. I had no time for hunting for lost artifacts. This battle had suddenly become personal.
I walked down the street, turning the next corner and walking deeper into the city.
I stopped to question several people about my location, or where I might find a find a tavern on my own, brushing past the few people that were on the streets.
I began to carry the smallest puppy, as it seemed to lag behind. I would not leave any of my newest friends. They seemed to be the only ones I had.
The streets seemed endless. I journeyed on, looking for a tavern on my own, brushing past the few people that were on the streets.
Tired, hungry, and sore, I finally tarried in a dark alley lit with a fire in a barrel. The three puppies at my feet lay down, resting their heads on their front paws. I continued to hold the one and scratched his head while I thought.
My Lady Ria Silmane had told me the Evil Lord, Jaggar Tharn, should not even be concerned with me, yet. I had only one piece of the eight I needed that would unite and become the Staff of Chaos. Without it, I could never rescue the true Emperor from the dimension Jaggar Tharn had imprisoned him in. I would then expose him, ripping away the illusion spell he had cast on himself and remove him from the throne.
So, why had this Casey cast a spell of Spaghetti on me and brought me here? Why had he and this Dani sought me out and tried to talk to me instead of killing me while I was still disoriented? Nothing was making sense.
One of the puppies at my feet began to growl, then all three were barking. I spun, ready for a fight, when all I saw was a heavily robed man, shivering in the cold.
"Spare a place at the fire for a fellow bum?"
I hushed the puppies, who continued a watch on my new companion. I put the puppy I was holding down, and leaned against the wall. He might not look like much, but he could be in disguise.
I watched as he warmed his fingers over the fire. He seemed innocent enough.
"I'm Fourth Street Bruce," he said, offering a bottle of dark liquid.
I declined the drink, "Donato, of the Black Marsh."
He took a drink from the bottle and nodded. Introductions out the way, I decided to see how much I could learn from Bruce of Fourth Street.
"Is there a good place to get some food and shelter?"
He nodded, not looking up. "Men's Club, three blocks up and over. You can stay one night for free, then they ask you to do some odd jobs around the place to help fray the cost. Not a bad place."
Men's Club. I wondered where the women went.
He looked at me, across the fire. "You okay? You look a little... green."
"I'm an Angorian, from the Black Marsh, so my skin is naturally a different shade than yours. But no, I am not okay. I was ripped from my home and tossed in an alley. I know not where I am, or how I got here. I was attacked, and am sore and hungry."
"Well," he said, "I know how you feel. I was somebody, once. Had a nice home, two kids, a wife, a dog. Then came the divorce, the alimony, the bills, and here I am. Been here for a couple years now. I figure if the wife can't find me, then those backstabbers in the court house can't make me pay."
What foul city had I fallen into? A city so corrupt with spells of Divorce and Alimony that an honest man could lose everything was not fair. And how could they allow Assassins to work in the government, let alone a court house?
I nodded, "The evil has reached far."
"Naw," he half laughed, "It started here, in New York."
New York. What had happened to Old York? Had Jaggar Tharn moved in to this city and set his own people in power? Renamed it to suit his need? That would explain much as to why I had been brought here.
"I am on a quest to stop the Evil Lord and his minions," I confided in him.
He let out a low whistle, "That's a big quest you've taken on for yourself."
I sighed, thinking how little he actually knew.
He walked me to the Men's Club. A church sat next door to the place, and I decided it could not be all bad if a church could still exist in this foul city.
A young man at the door demanded I leave the puppies outside. A health risk, or some other reason. I refused, stating the puppies were too young and would freeze outside. I think I was actually afraid they would be gone come morning and I would never see them again. Alone. They were all I had and I would not give them up.
Finally, Bruce and I were allowed in with the puppies when a priest told the man at the door to allow us in. I received two bowls from the priest, with a wink, and Bruce and I found a table away from the others.
I placed one bowl on the floor for the puppies and made sure all four had a good angle to eat before I turned to my own. The soup was warm, but rather bland. I was not one to complain for the free food and drink.
I looked around the bright room and noticed several men bending over a strange box. On the box were people, talking and doing things. Magic. Magic I knew. It was called Television.
"Should there not be sound from the Television?" I asked Bruce.
He glanced over his shoulder and said, "Nah, it was donated to the church. Repair people could not fix it so the owners just dumped it here. We can at least watch the news and the games."
I rose and wandered over to the unit. I glanced at it, then walked to the back. I easily slipped the back cover off and took a look.
Resistors, capacitors, zener diodes. All of them, old friends to me. I shifted and stuck my head further in the back. My fingers tweaked a few wires.
"Hey, where's the blue?"
"You idiot, now we got a horrid picture!"
"Patience," I answered my critics. I smiled and shook my head. Only a low level mage could have missed the problem.
Sound blared out from the front and I heard applause as I put the back in place.
I walked around and looked, a perfect picture with sound. I silently nodded at their appreciative remarks and went back to my soup.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" Bruce asked.
I shrugged, "Here and there. Mostly I learned by myself."
He nodded and our talk drifted to other topics.
I soon found myself yawning. Gathering the puppies, balancing all four in my arms, I went down the hall to where a room had been prepared for me.
I no sooner lay upon the bed than I fell asleep.
I was dreaming again. I cold hear Ria Silmane calling me. No, wait, is that Jaggar Tharn? How dare he invade my dreams on the bridge that Ria created.
"Splinter?... Splinter?"
Not Tharn. Another. Splinter? Was he calling out to the mage that claimed the same name?
"What of Splinter?" I asked, slowly.
"Who? Don? Don! You're alive!"
"Ye es," I answered carefully. Was this friend or foe?
"Where are you?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, some city called New York."
He was silent for a few seconds, then he answered, "Don, this is not funny. I need help. I'm a prisoner."
"By the Lady? Where are you? Has Jaggar Tharn captured you?"
"Jagga what? What are you talking about?"
It was my turn to hesitate. Who was this who asked of me help but knew not of Jaggar Tharn. "Who are you?"
"It's me Leo. Remember, your brother?"
That was it. "I have no brother. You speak to me in friendship and claim a brotherhood that does not exist. You seek to trick me, to tell you the location of the Crystal of Chaos."
"Quit playing around! I need help!"
"No. I will not listen to your lies. The powers of darkness will not find me so easily manipulated. Be gone from my dreams."
I could hear him calling out to me, as I moved away from him. Dani, Casey and now this one called Leo. A sorcerer, no doubt. He had to be a sorcerer to invade my dreams.
Morning would find me searching for my purpose in this foul city. Until then, I snuggled closer to the puppy under my arm and fell deeper into sleep.
I sat back against the wall letting my outrage slip away. And I had done such a good job of feigning unconsciousness.... I should have stayed that way.
That was brilliant. Give it away why didn't I? Now they know I'm not alone. Real good. What the heck is wrong with me tonight?
I'd blown our cover. After hitting the newspapers at that blasted night club, we'd eventually been dismissed as an act to draw business. Basically, we'd been forgotten. Until tonight.
No one really understood the threat had been real. Or else, they didn't want to admit it. Other than the destroyed dock, there'd been no solid evidence left behind. Neither Foot clan members nor Tatsu had been taken in by the police. Worst of all, there'd nothing about finding Shredder's corpse. And that should have been impossible to miss. Reports from the nightclubbers were jumbled and contradictory. I guess alcohol, loud music, and a light show could do that.
And since then the Foot had kept so low a profile, like us, it seemed they were gone. But someone had cleaned up that mess. It was too efficient to be anything but the Foot. With Shredder dead I wondered if Tatsu had taken over.
But I had more important things to worry about than the status of the Foot. The glowing clock on the wall read 12:03. It's been over an hour since I called Keno!
I spent the next few minutes studying the surroundings as my eyes grew accustomed to the half light. I was in a converted warehouse. From the garage doors at the far end, I guessed I was back to where I'd been earlier. The place was set up as a scientific laboratory. Absorbing every detail, I aligned it with what I remembered seeing when the main lights had been on: cages, tables, chairs, computers, instruments, lights, vents, possible security camera locations.... And the kittens, a sadly mixed up bunch for the most part. Some I could hear spinning in crazy circles, some chewing the bars, some hacking and some mewing hopelessly.... Test subjects.
And now so am I.
Don't think about it. You have to get out of here. The longer you wait, the less chance you'll make it.
But they said they left Don in the alley.... He can't be dead.... That jerk ran him over?
I shivered in horror, remembering the spaghetti and pizza scattered across the street. What if some of that sauce wasn't sauce, but
NO!
I forced myself to uncurl from my hunched over, knotted up position. After a few deep breaths, I focused inward, then tried to reach Splinter. It was something we hadn't done since Splinter had been captured by the Shredder. I don't know why we hadn't tried it again; maybe the emotions of that night had been too strong, maybe what we had done had scared us deep down. That if the bonds between us were that strong
I felt something....
Donnie?!
Donato?! What is this
Madness! He doesn't know me! The Wrongness!
I snapped out of it, bolting upright in my shock.
What the hell was that?!!!!
But that was Donatello. I knew it. "Left in the alley," they said. I snorted. Don had probably faked it, then snuck home and was now playing that damned Arena.
Had to be it.
I decided to give up on the mind games and work on escaping. Dog pen.... Fools. They didn't know what they were messing with here. Mutagen from TGRI had made me what I was, and now they had given me something else without careful study! Had Professor Perry once worked with them? Is that why TGRI had gotten messed up? These idiots had even injected themselves, knowing that some of their concoctions weren't working. And they called themselves doctors! Worse, all the animals that had suffered! And people had been going crazy or dying too! Whoever their investors were, I wondered if they had any idea how incompetent these ruthless twits were.
Twits that had no idea what I was. And who also had no idea of the full range of my talents. Now that I was completely adjusted to the dark, and had allowed enough time for them to clear out, I was ready to run for the border. And it wouldn't hurt if there were a few tacos waiting there....
"A chain is only as strong..." I muttered, and after the fourth kick, the increasingly warped door snapped off. The padlock was the only thing that kept it hanging to the pen. They had used a good lock brand. Even if the door was modern art now.
HA! I did it. Now for some fun. Cage by cage, I went down the line, freeing the kittens. If I could have, I would've taken them all with me. But there were just too many.
I came to the last cage, a kitten chewing furiously on a length of blue cloth it was wound up in.
My mask.
They gave it my mask to play with!
Jerks.
I pulled the fiend out, disentangling and gently setting it on the floor. "Go on little one," I said, giving it an encouraging push. Then I studied my sodden, hole filled mess with a sad sigh.
At least it could serve one more purpose.
I wrapped the bandanna around my hand as I walked to the glass fronted cabinet loaded with numerous vials of drugs. I punched through it, wincing as a shard tore at my wrist, red soaking the blue. Letting my mask fall, I grabbed some of the various numbered serums. Time was limited. If there were cameras, I couldn't spot them....
I realized I was leaving a dripping trail of blood, and from such a little slice! Glass cuts. Nasty things. I rummaged around and found more of the "good doctor's" supplies and bound it up with some gauze. The guys are gonna give me hell over this, I thought as I got back to my evidence gathering.
I found a bag of needles. I hate needles. Not as much as I hate guns, but I didn't like looking at them. At least I was out of it while that so called doctor patched me up. I avoided thinking about the other equipment I was running across. Sometimes imagination is not a good thing....
I dumped the needles on the table and put the vials in the bag. A notebook stuffed with charts, data and a couple of disks seemed like a good thing to take along too. Knowing I didn't have any more time to search or make a bigger mess here, I turned and almost stepped on a kitten throwing up at my feet.
Mixed patches of fur, like a rabbit furred coat; the same one that had destroyed my mask. It wobbled as it looked up at me, and purred.
Without thinking, I reached down, snatched the fuzzball up, and ran for the door. I stood before it, wondering what level of security I had to face. On my van roof ride, I had noticed only a couple of security guards. Nothing fancy. Nothing to draw attention that this was anything other than a warehouse. It shouldn't be too difficult....
But I wished my brothers were beside me
Ah! My katanas!
Where's my stuff?! I'm totally naked!
Wait! There's an office. I'll bet they're in there....
I hurried to the door. It wouldn't do to leave my swords behind!
But it wasn't going to be that easy. RATS! Of course the door's locked. But that can't stop me! I'll just
CLICK, CLICK, CLICK
The other door! Someone from outside! Dive!
SNICK
RREOW!
Oops! I dropped my kitten! Sorry microdude!
The lights came on, and kittens scampered for cover. Cautious footsteps came ever closer to my hiding place behind the table. Damn. Like there was any chance the guy wasn't gonna notice things weren't right.
"What the ?!"
Now we dance.
As I leapt up, the security guard's face froze in shock. He's so young! Not what I'd expected having seen the TGRI guys. He instinctively blocked my kick, but a mob of clawed fur jumped on his pants legs. Using the unexpected distraction, I tried to be gentle. The guy was just trying to earn money, he wasn't one of the serum enhanced thugs. "Sorry," I apologized as I eased him to the floor.
With no more time to risk on finding my gear, I ran for the door. As if I was some giant cat toy, the kittens surged after me. When I paused, the mass of roiling fur poured out before me.
I exited with much more care, but the coast was clear. I smiled as I realized my vision had come true. I had led an army of kittens to attack! "I'll be back to stop this later! And get you all out of here!" I promised before I ran into the night.
Climbing the fence proved to be challenging; I had to drop my kitten in the bag and clench it in my teeth while it squirmed all the way over. Chain link. I'd already had enough of chain link for one night. And as for the barbed wire at the top, I silently ranted about that for the next few minutes after my leg snagged on it.
At last I hit the ground. I bolted for the nearest sewer hole, needing only a brief pause as I deposited the kitten and bag on the street to get the manhole cover off. Then the kitten and me were down and moving away. I made a lot of direction changes, but heard no sound of pursuit. At last I paused for a break.
I did it! I escaped! And I had evidence. Sensei will be proud.
The only thing was, I had to pry the evidence's claws out of my fingers. The poor thing seemed quite shaken up over the excitement. Understandable. Now that the adrenalin was fading, I wasn't feeling too steady either. Nerves, I convinced myself.
I tried to get oriented and set off for home, thinking it was too bad our pizza had to end up scattered all over the street.
I knew I should have been traveling through the sewers, but I couldn't handle the navigational difficulties they presented. Or the obstacles. The streets were easier, faster.
Hot daggers pierced my stomach, I grabbed a sign post for balance, doubled over as I rode out the waves of pain. I couldn't deny it any longer: I was sick. The mound of fur shifted in my cradling hand, giving a plaintive mew as it re settled.
My eyes wandered upward, and the street name jarred me.
Ninth Street.
"Eleventh and Bleecker?"....sniff...."Nope. This is only Ninth Street. Get it?..."
I've been going way out of my way!
I groaned, pulling the blanket I'd found further over my head as the chills returned full bore. The muscles in my legs locked up, making walking painful.
I'm never gonna make it home.
I wondered if anyone was home I could call. Help is just a phone call away, right?
Yeah right. How? We can't make collect calls to the lair, and I had no money. I couldn't figure out how I could get any easily. Steal? Hold someone up for a quarter? My face alone should scare 'em. Not that they'd notice I was sick or anything. I'm already green.... Heck, I prob'ly look like a drunk derelict right now.
I giggled despite my condition: a joke of Raph's, Master of Disguise. Splinter would be proud. A perfect blend job for late night streets. I was only wearing a blanket and a couple bandages. Instead of a booze bottle I had a sick kitten and unknown serums. Instead of being drunk I had a raging fever. Maybe not so good, I don't think I could handle a ten year old with a squirt gun right now.
Keno's probably wondering where I went. Between Don and me missing, the others are probably all out looking for us anyway. Assuming Raph even made it back. I'll bet it's complete chaos. And Don. I do hope that was Don dreaming....
But there were two numbers I could try a collect call to: April and Casey.
I stopped at the next phone booth and wasted a couple minutes of an operator's time. I didn't seem to be having much luck with phones. With a sigh I moved on. What a horrible night.
A cab came flying around the corner and I tripped over a curb trying to get out its way. My knees scraped the concrete, and the kitten yowled a protest. The vials clinked, but thankfully nothing broke.
Gah! That hurts without kneepads! Stupid drivers!
I soothed the kitten hanging on my chest, thankfully my plastron had saved me from getting painfully clawed in the process. It purred softly at the attention, kneading its paws into my fingers.
I really ought to give you a name --
Another wave of hot pain roared over me, left me with barely any strength.
I'm never gonna make it home.
Quit it. I have to make it.
I managed to start walking again, feeling way too warm. Get home. Find help.
"Oh! So that's the plan, from our great leader..."
"So I screwed up Raph. Where were you and Don?"
I stopped.
No one was around.
Great. Now I'm talking to myself. And I'm not paying attention. That's how I got captured tonight. How I got in this mess.
I'm having a reaction to whatever it is they gave me. Oh do I need help. I'm not gonna make
Am I nuts?!
What am I doing here?!
A sign: Condemned. A burned out building. A memory of a fire, no, a campfire in the summer... an image burning brighter than fire...
"...the true power of the ninja comes not from the body, but the mind...."
I had to try again. To call Splinter. He always knows what to do. "We carry Mutual of Splinter...." Obviously I couldn't trust my feet to find their way home the easy way. At the least I needed to rest a little while. I was tired and sluggish now, and that scared me. I was still in danger up here.
Slipping in through an opening, I wandered through the ruin to find a sheltered spot. My feet disturbed the remains of our past, but I didn't let myself get sidetracked. I stayed focused on finding a dry spot.
Along one side of the basement I found it. Gratefully I let my back slip down the wall. My foot disturbed a tarnished, warped metal disk. Mike's cymbal.
I smiled as I set down the kitten and bag. Putting them from my thoughts I concentrated on seeking
No! Another attack seized me. I huddled over on my side as I shook, the kitten meowing pitifully as it rubbed against my legs.
"Splinter, help me...." I cried, trying to catch my breath. "Splinter hear me! Help me!"
A dark void was dragging me down.
Help....me.......Splint *
Go hide ye face inthe shrubbery of Part One, Chapter Four