49This one is short. I worked through my problems and through the night and morning, and I'm going to post both chapters and be done with it. Sorry- I was going to try to take my time, but I got working and couldn't stop. TMNT are owned by Mirage, the greatest company in the world and I wish I could work for them.
"Dude, what's with all that bowing and agreeing with Sensei?" Mikey asks as they hit topside. "Is it an act, or are you turning 'Leonardo' on us?"
"Knock it off, Mikey," Raph growls, not wanting to admit that the vision he's experienced has spooked him more than he's let on.
Raph: For the next two hours we are across the roof tops, having fun in the name of training. We even drop in on a few old friends and have a nice time.
"Cool! Purple Dragons!" Mikey crows, as they look down into an alley where some gang members are about to attack some careless soul that has made a wrong turn.
They land, weapons ready, right between the frightened victim and the Dragons.
"Hey, guys! How you been?" Raph chuckles grimly.
"We sure have missed seeing you around," Don smiles, taking out the nearest one who has pulled a gun. "Bo staff one, gun zero!"
Raph: Yeah, it was a pretty fight! They scattered as soon as they were able, leaving the wounded behind. The victim scattered as well, but it's not like we expected any gratitude.
"You're welcome!" Mikey calls after the running victim.
Don: And we almost get a chance to mix it up with the Foot, but they're under strict orders to leave us alone.
"Is this our lucky night or what?" Raph gloats, as they see a small group of Foot Ninja preparing to enter a rooftop door.
Without a warning, they are among the Foot like a cat among the birdies- and like the birdies, the Foot scatter!
"Darn that Karai! Why did she have to promise Leo that truce?" Raph grumbles to Don as their hoped for fight vanishes quickly into the night.
Raph: But despite the fun we're having, I can't forget that vision.
They reach the top of an old water tower, and take five.
"Dude, you seem off," Mikey observes. "Somthing bugging you?"
"Besides you?" Raph tries to joke, but he is still bothered. Don and Mikey exchange looks. Don looks at Raph again.
"Raph, what was the vision Master Splinter mentioned?" Don asks, as they sit in the moonlight.
Raph is hesitant, then decides to tell them.
"But it can't be! He's finished! He's gone!" Mikey reminds him. "We all saw it! We were there! There's no way he can come back!"
"You don't have to tell me that," Raph says, still disturbed. "But that's what I saw- that's who I saw- standing over Sensei and Leo."
Mikey shivers.
"Do you think maybe the Foot are going to start something again?" Mike wonders. "Maybe they found a way to get him off that asteroid! Maybe Chaplin built them another rocket, and they-"
"That's impossible, Mikey," Don assured him. "There's no way Karai would be able to pull that one off again. And how would she find him?"
"Maybe they've cloned him!" Mikey continues, sure of his theory. "I mean, they've done some weird stuff! It could happen! Remember those three clones we fought? Maybe they finally got it right!"
"Master Splinter doesn't think it's a literal vision," Raph tries to explain. "He thinks it's a type of warning- that a danger comparable to our old enemy is on the horizon. He doesn't think it's Shredder- or his clone."
"Bishop?" Don asks. But Raph shakes his head.
"Why would I see a vision of Shredder if it's Bishop?" he replies. "I wondered that myself, but it doesn't make sense. Naw, this has to be something tied to Shredder- somehow."
Mikey is nervously looking around, as if he's being watched.
"Maybe we shouldn't be out here, guys. Maybe we should be back at the Lair- you know, just in case," and despite Mikey's skills, they can hear a note of fear in his voice.
"Calm down, Mikey," Raph says in a surprisingly soothing tone. "Calm down, it'll be okay."
"Still, I'm thinking Mikey's right," Don says slowly. "And coming on top of that alarm that keeps being tampered with-suddenly I feel the need to be back home."
"Me, too! It's freaking me out- it's like that crystal dream I had," Mike says, shivering.
Raph considers.
"Well, then it's unanimous," he agrees, and they make their way back to the Lair.
Which is empty.
Mike: We knew before we entered that something wasn't right.
The first impulse is to shout- but Raph quiets Mikey, and motions them to spread out, silently, in the dark. After a few minutes they determine the first floor is empty. They meet up.
"Well?" Don says.
"It could be something simple, like they've gone out for pizza or something," Raph whispers, for once not charging in and causing trouble.
"Or, someone could have snatched them- except there's no sign of a struggle. Or-this could be another Master Splinter trick."
"Process of elimination," Don says. "Pizza is out- not with Leo unable to get out of bed and no one to watch him."
"Lack of a struggle doesn't mean anything," Mikey adds. "It is possible they could have been overpowered quickly. Assuming, of course, they could actually gain access."
"It'd be like Sensei to try this as a test- but let's keep an open mind," Raph concludes. "Don, see if you can pick up anyone's shell cell signal, just in case April is carrying hers- if it's a Splinter trick, he'll have left his in his room."
Don picks up two signals in Leo's room and one in the garage.
"But that could mean anything," he needlessly points out. "After all, I keep a spare up in the garage. And Leo's is in his room probably."
"Then let's go up as if this is the real deal, but be ready in case it really is," Raph says, and that makes sense to the other two.
They take three different ways to the second floor, carefully scoping out their own rooms and the bathroom as they go. They meet up at Leo's door.
It's open and they can see the lights are out. They hear music- Leo's player is on- and they see a vague outline in his bed- but nothing else.
Raph motions to Mikey to enter low- Mike is the best at sneaking around in the dark, and they are not ashamed to admit it.
"Why are you sneaking around in here, Mikey?" Leo asks sleepily.
They enter, turning on the lights.
"Where is everyone?" Raph asks. Leo looks around.
"No idea- I've been asleep."
"Great. You didn't hear anything strange?"
"You mean stranger than Casey and April talking all lovey-dovey and smooching?"
"Eww- seriously, why would they leave you here alone?" And Raph tells him briefly what's going on.
Leo listens carefully, and thinks about the implications.
"Want some advice?"
"Yes."
"Check the garage. If Sensei is testing you, that would be the next place he'd expect you to look. If the Battle Shell is gone, then perhaps they meant it when they said they were going out for ice cream." And he closes his eyes.
"I don't believe they'd leave you alone, though," Raph says seriously. "Not the way they've been fussing around you."
He opens his eyes again. Now he looks worried- but then he painfully shakes his head- finally admitting that he can't be of help.
"I don't know. I didn't hear anything. That last fall really knocked a chunk out of my will to get out of bed."
Raph puts a sympathetic hand on his brother.
"Mikey, stay with Leo," Raph says, and he and Don leave the room.
"Thanks, what did I do to you?" Leo sleepily calls after Raph.
"Hey!"
But Leo has gone back to sleep.