Death's Dominion.
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership to any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians and their rodent Master.
Author's Note: This story is going in R for one reason and one only. A chapter, which includes the dreaded adult situations-and that gets a little weird, but then again so am I. You will understand when you get there but that single chapter is felt through out the rest of the story.
Also this is one of my Terrapin tales. For those not familiar with it a quick explanation is in order,
Terrapin is a world of humanoid turtles. The Ninja boys ended up finding out about it and later moving there where they could live out their lives as normal citizens. They all settled down with wives and soon began having children. For more information read Welcome to Terrapin in the g-pg 13 section of fanfic. Two of the children play an important role in this story. Also note that the mutagen in the children's bloodstream has caused them to age quickly which means although they are only a year old they have aged to about seven years in a short time.
Leon- Leo's and Flo's son can foresee the future. His visions of such are often quite extreme.
And Kayla- Raph's and Joan's daughter. Kayla is what Terrapins call a 'throwback' meaning she is more like Terrapins distant ancestors unable to talk or walk. Thanks to Uncle Don she does have a voice computer and a wheelchair. She was also taught Sign language which Raph adapted to three finger use. He also caught and trained a half deer half horse like creature for Kayla to ride on. Kayla is able to see things that have happened in the past and her visions are often much clearer and easier to direct then Leon's are. Kayla and Leon are close friends. That about covers it. Thanks.
PROLOGUE: DEATH
Joan shook her head as she leaned in the doorway of the living room her gaze directed to her husband. Raph had become withdrawn, quiet too often she had detected a quick dark look coming into his eyes with a vicious suddenness and fading almost as quickly. He was snappish and surly, more so than usual all the signs were there and she knew them well. Raph was starting to feel controlled, demanded and ordered about. The cure she knew was simple and effective he needed to go out for a while on his own.
" Raph?" she called softly as she stepped into the living room.
He grunted but did not turn to look at her, as she slipped her arms around his neck " Why don't you go away for a few days. You haven't been off on your own since before we hid in Ninja Valley during the Minkos and Carjous invasion. You could use a break," she whispered not mentioning that she could use one to. If he didn't leave of his own accord she would either have to kick him out of the house or kill him.
" What about the class I have with Leo?" he grumped shrugging her off.
Oh he was in a great mood tonight!
" Communion starts in a few days you could leave for awhile. There won't be any classes for at least two weeks and I'm sure Leo wouldn't mind handling the class on his own he is fully capable of it you know."
" Yeah right! That will just give Leo a reason to go gripping at me."
" Leo wouldn't do that Domoskan. He'll understand that you need to get away for a bit. Just think about it alright?"
Raph shrugged non-committed and Joan wisely let it drop she knew this was not one of the times to go pushing. With Raph it was wise to know when to push and when to retreat.
A few days later though Raph had his backpack packed and he said his goodbyes to Joan and the kids and headed off into the wilderness of Terrapin.
It took only four days for Raph to start to feel fully relaxed. He enjoyed going off far into the bush pitting himself against the wilds of his adopted home. No noise, no crowds, no timetable to keep but his own and the laws of Survival in full effect when one realized the many dangerous plant and animal life that inhabited Terrapin. It was no wonder most Terrapins opted to stay close to town but that wasn't Raph's way. He would not limit himself. He was alone and preferred it that way.
He did not set a date on his return he never had before and he wasn't about to start he would stay out until he felt the urge the desire to return home.
So he stayed out for a few weeks and he kept bushing further for a while longer until he felt the need to return home and began to realize that he missed his wife and his two children and he reluctantly admitted to himself that he had pushed them away quite a bit and had snapped at Kayla and Jerint for the smallest infraction. He knew then it was time to turn towards home.
Unerringly he chose the shortest route from where he was to town and home and of course as he had been out so far it still took him some time to work his way back but finally after two weeks time he knew that today he would reach home.
The urgency to be back hurried him along. He was aware of his surroundings to a certain extent more to the point of being aware of a possible attack from a large predatory animal but not really watching where he was going.
In his haste he tripped over a tree root, which had worked it's way above ground causing him to stumble and lose his footing tumbling to the ground. He cursed himself and his own stupidity he really ought to have paid closer attention. In Survival school you learned one mistake in the wilds could be harmful and when you factored in his years of Ninja training then he had been twice the fool.
He stood up and noticed that he had disturbed a hive of Teji insects the tiny bugs were crawling all over him and biting. He moved away from the hive smacking at the irritating insects and brushing them off.
Teji insects were aggressive little ant like bugs and they would bite any thing that they felt was threatening them or their hive. One bite could cause swelling and itching lots of bites ten to fifty or more could cause fevers and chills as well as the swelling and itching and much more then that could cause a full grown Terrapin to die if they did not receive the antidote in time.
He considered quickly and decided by the time he gathered what he needed to make the antidote that he could be recovering in his sister in laws lab settled for him what he was going to do.
He headed quickly towards the medical building stopping only long enough to wash off the rest of the irritating bugs in a lake.
By the time he had reached Laura's lab a matter of ten minutes time he was already feeling nauseous and his body had broken out in a cold sweat. He staggered more than walked into Laura's office. Laura jumped to her feet in an instant.
" What happened Raph?"
" Teji insects stumbled into their hive by accident." Raph admitted through gritted teeth.
Laura guided him
into the examination room " Just lay down and I'll get the antidote."
Raph gratefully obeyed quite willing to get off of his feet. Laura returned a
syringe in one hand and a cup of medicine in the other.
" Drink this up Raph. Does Joan know?"
Raph made a face after downing the medicine " No I was just on my way home when it happened."
" Just rest then and give the medicine a chance to work. I'll get a hold of her for you." Laura promised as Raph laid back to rest.
Joan arrived shortly after " How is he doing Laura?"
" He doesn't seem to be responding to the medication Joan and it ought to be starting to take some effect it might take a little longer with him or it could be something else. I'm searching to see if there is any alternative medicine to try."
Joan took a deep steadying breath " If he isn't responding what are his chances Laura?" She asked uneasily not really sure that she wanted to know the answer to that one but wanting to know at the same time.
Laura bit her lip as she looked at her sister, " Not very good I'm afraid. If I don't find out what is causing this or find something else to help him…" Laura didn't finish the sentence she couldn't bring herself to do it.
Joan winced in acknowledgment of what Laura had left unsaid then she turned and with calm resolve walked back into the exam room. She went over to where Raph laid on the bed his eyes glassy and his breath coming in gasps. She took one of his hands in hers and felt how cold and clammy his skin felt under hers.
" Raph. Domoskan?"
" Jo…Joanie?"
" It's me Raph. I'm here?"
" Some things wrong." He moaned softly.
" No Raph the bites have just affected you a little more than they would a Terrapin that is all. You'll be fine. Use your ninja training to hold off and slow down the poison" she whispered.
" No not it. Not able…Joan I'm sorry about before" Raph's breathing was becoming more labored and his eyes unfocused drifting.
" It is all right I know you needed to get away."
" Kiss me and get out of here."
" I'm not leaving you like this Domoskan."
" Liralen, just go okay? Come back later when I'm better. GO!" he ordered as sharply as he could manage.
Joan reluctantly agreed in hopes of quieting him more than anything. She bent and kissed him softly on his lips " Take care Domoskan keep fighting it."
" Later Liralen."
Joan left the room and stopped to glance at Laura. " Go on home Sis I'll contact you and let you know if there is any change."
Joan nodded numbly she knew that she would only be in the way there and Laura needed to concentrate on Raph at the moment so it was far better to leave her to her work.
Laura decided to run some quick test in hopes that they might pinpoint where the problem lay as long as Raph was fighting then she would have to do the same.
Raph himself felt like something was tearing him apart from the inside, he was getting weaker and could feel it and he could also sense something else drawing closer to him reaching out to draw him in. He needed all his attention focused towards what he felt drawing closer but no matter what he had tried he had not been able to elude or escape it if anything it was closer to him than before. Finally even in his weakened state he realized that it had him surrounded that he could not escape it any longer and before he could fight it off it enveloped him.
Laura was checking the results of the test when the alarm sounded; she leaped up and raced into the exam room. Going to Raph she injected a heart stimulant drug into him. She had prepared it earlier just in case, and was glad that she had. Then she tried to resuscitate him.
No luck with any of that either Raph just wasn't responding to anything today.
" DAMN IT! Raph don't you do this to us. Don't you do this to Joan Come on fight it!" she yelled at him as she tried once more and received nothing.
Laura sighed wearily knowing in her soul the battle was over. She sank to the floor shaking and sobbing. Raph, poor Raph. Poor Joan. She didn't want to face the fact that it was over just like that. At times like this she HATED her job.
Terrapins fully believed that a Doctor would do more for a family member to keep them alive. A doctor would do the absolute best for someone that they CARED for over someone they hardly knew. There was no connection to a stranger but at times like this losing someone that you loved after fighting to keep them alive and knowing you would have to inform others that you loved about it was the hardest thing for her to do. How did one stay detached from proceedings to follow procedure when all she wanted to do was grieve?
Laura finally shakily got herself under control and started to think of standard procedure. She glanced up at Raph in hopes he would sit up and talk to her admit to her he was only teasing her.
He lay there still unmoving and she felt hot tears burn her eyes as she turned away again. Think Laura! She chastised herself.
Contact Master Sharonita. Sharonita would arrange the funeral, and the closing of the Fighting Art School for a time and she would also inform thee other Masters of Terrapin.
Then she would be expected to notify the family.
Neither of them would be an easy or welcoming task. Joan, poor Joan. Gods Raph and her have only been married a short time a little over a year now. And now Kayla and Jerint will be growing up with out their father around.
Master Taria the Grand Master of Survival School probably would not be amused that she had lost her best student to Teji insects.
Laura woodenly contacted Master Sharonita and informed her Master of the situation and then she pulled out the turtle comm. Don had given her years ago.
" Don?"
" Laura is that you? What is wrong?" Don wondered aloud caring and concern in his tone.
" I need to see you. All of you here at my lab as soon as you can all get here Don. Don't ask me why now I promise I'll tell you when you get here. Just get Leo, Mike And Splinter."
" Sure but Splinter and Leo are at the school…"
" Not for long they won't be just trust me and do this for me Don." Laura's voice just about broke.
" We'll be there shortly Laura and don't worry what ever it is we can help you Laura." Don promised quickly he had never heard his wife sound so upset as she did now and he could not understand why but he would do as she had asked him and hoped that what ever had upset her so could easily be set to right.
He set about getting his family together and went over to Laura's lab and when he saw Laura in the office her distraught look was enough to more than worry him. He went over and wrapped his arms around her pulling her close to him offering his comfort, his strength and his love in the simple gesture.
" What has been going on Laura? What is the problem?"
" It is about Raph. He was on his way home, when numerous Teji insects bit him. He should have responded to the medicine I gave him but he didn't.
I think it might be because you boys are so different from Terrapins the mutagen in your blood must have made the antidote ineffective. I tried to find out what was going on there just wasn't enough time…" Laura spoke slowly choosing her words with caution trying to break it to them as gently as she could.
Splinter hung his head a pained look coming to his eyes. Mike looked confused.
" Oh I get it your joking right Laura? Never thought you had it in you girl. I mean come on here Raph wasn't brought down by Shredder or any of his goons so there is no way that a bunch of stupid insects could do it."
" I'm not joking Mike though I wish to hell I was" Laura snapped tears starting to fall again " Mike Raph is dead."
Leo winced as he sank down into a chair looking as if he had just been struck. Mike shook his head refusing to accept Laura's words.
" RAPH IS NOT DEAD!" he yelled at her.
Don clung tighter to Laura his whole body trembling as Mike stormed past them and into the exam room a moment later his anguished wail reached the others and Mike reappeared pushing by the others who were too stunned by the news to stop him and though Splinter did call after him to wait Mike paid no heed to his Master's words.
" Raph is…gone?" Leo gulped and looked slightly puzzled as if he found such a fact hard to register.
" I'm sorry Leo. I tried everything I knew. Master Sharonita is looking after the details and I still have to tell Joan and the children. I can give them medicine to help them but I won't be able to ease their pain and Joan might need some one to stay with her for a few days."
" I will go and help Joan as long as she needs" Splinter offered morosely.
Laura nodded her thanks to the old rat before burying her face in Don's neck trying to give and accept what comfort she could.
Kayla answered the door * Aunt Laura, Grandpa what are you doing here?*
" Is your mom here Kayla?"
*Yeah she is in the living room with Jer. Is this about Dad?*
Laura only nodded.
Kayla felt a nervous feeling as she wheeled her chair behind her Aunt and Master Splinter. She didn't like this not one bit.
Joan looked up as Laura entered " Laura what…oh no Laura not Domoskan" Joan gasped trembling slightly.
" Joan oh sis, I'm so sorry. I tried but Raph is…"
Joan shook her head backing away from Laura as if wanting to deny reject what she knew Laura was going to say.
Splinter went and took Joan into his arms holding her as Laura spoke the dreaded words.
" He is dead Joan. I'm truly sorry."
Joan turned and started to cry. Kayla turned and looked at her brother. Jerint was just watching his mom crying on Splinter's shoulder.
Kayla shook her head Her father dead! There had to be some mistake. No one was more alive than her own father. How could he die? It just didn't make any sense. Yes her mom had told them he had been sick from bites but… she didn't understand.
TBC
