A/N: A couple years back I wrote a story called Counterpart. I didn't like how that story was turning out so I took it down and revamped it. This is what was born.

Disclaimer: I own nothing, only the OCs

The ticking of the implosion bomb sounded like an explosion. Time was running out. Shredder had sent Hun and the Foot Elite after Stockman, and Leonardo vaguely noticed Hun pause briefly at the door of the transmat room before disappearing outside. However, he didn't see why Hun paused since Shredder was standing in his line of sight. Leonardo tightened his grip on his swords and glared at his enemy. He felt the presence of his family around him and he knew he wasn't fighting alone. Shredder sprang forward, knocking Leonardo and Splinter out of his way before throwing Raphael to the side. The red masked turtle collided with Donatello and both brothers collapsed to the floor.

Shredder stalked up the steps to the platform, murder and malice blazing in his eyes. Then, the mutant family was on him again. With a battle cry they pushed Shredder back away from Mortu and the Guardians. As his family fought to keep Shredder at bay, Donatello powered up the transmat and sent the remaining Guardians and Utroms home.

"Leeeooo!" Michelangelo's voice rang out.

Leonardo cracked an eye open, annoyed that his mediation had been interrupted. He looked over his shoulder to see Michelangelo appear in the doorway of his room wearing a "Kiss The Cook" apron.

"Yes, Mikey?" Leonardo asked as patiently as he could.

"Supper's ready," Michelangelo said. "You've been meditating all day. Your brain is going to turn to mush."

Leonardo stood up and headed for the door. "Meditation doesn't turn brains to mush, Mikey," he replied as he led his brother down to the kitchen.

Michelangelo followed close behind him. "What were you meditating about, anyway?" he wanted to know.

"Our fight with the Shredder in TCRI," Leonardo answered. "There's something about it that's been bothering me."

The brothers entered the kitchen. Raphael, Donatello and Splinter were already sitting at the table.

"You mean how we almost got imploded?" Michelangelo asked. "And dropped out of the sky on to the Battle Shell?" He gave Donatello a quick glare. "No thanks to Donnie."

Leonardo shook his head. "No, not that. Something Hun did."

"He ran with his tail between his legs," Raphael said. "What more is there?"

Leonardo pulled out his chair and sat down as Michelangelo laid out plates of food on the table in front of his family. "I saw him pause at the door. Why would he do that when there was danger and he had been given a direct order?" he asked.

"Too many questions and not enough answers," Splinter commented. "Such questions are best left for later, when the mind is clear and focused. Right now, we eat and enjoy each other's company. Trials and troubles can wait."

Leonardo inclined his head. "Yes, Master Splinter. Sorry," he apologized.

He looked down at his plate to find it piled high with a hot turkey supper which was smothered in gravy.

"There's lots there. So help yourselves to seconds," Michelangelo said as he sat down next to Leonardo.

Everyone ate in silence with only the clicking of forks and knives on plates to break it. It wasn't everyday that they got to enjoy a turkey supper, and when they did they savoured every mouthful. Raphael took a sip of soda and put a hand over his mouth as he let out a small belch. It was followed by a hiccup from Donatello.

"No one's gonna take your food from ya, Donnie," Raphael commented. "Slow down."

Michelangelo grinned. "I take it as a compliment," he said.

Leonardo stabbed his fork in a bit of cabbage and popped it into his mouth. He looked around at his family and smiled. Nothing could ruin this moment. He pushed the memory of the TCRI fight to the back of his mind and enjoyed the company of his family. Whatever was happening in the world could wait. What kind of trouble could happen in a few short hours?

It had been a simple plan. When he had discovered what Hun did before escaping TCRI, Shredder ordered Stockman to modify the mutagen to his specifications. Of course, no one asked how he knew the mutagen could be modified in the first place. They just chalked it up to their leader knowing the most of the Utrom's technology after years of research and study.

What they weren't expecting was the command to find four normal, everyday turtles. The one most confused by this request was Karai. When the turtles had been brought to the genetics lab, she approached her mentor.

"Master, if I may ask. Why mutate the very species that has been giving you trouble?" Karai asked.

"I know now that if you want to catch a turtle, send a turtle," Shredder answered.

The mutagen had been modified to speed up the growing process to take only a matter of months. However, the learning process was still the same. But even then, the four newly mutated turtles showed signs of intelligence, even at an early age. They weren't as advanced yet as the Shredder's enemies, but they were advanced enough to be trained. Karai was tasked with training them herself. Teaching them everything from the alphabet to the first stages of ninjitsu.

Now all that hard work was finally going to be paid off. Karai just had to make sure that her students were ready. They had one final test to prove themselves before they could be sent out to hunt down the Turtles. So here she knelt in the darkened dojo, listening for the faintest of sounds. Karai strained her ears, holding her breath so she could hear more clearly.

A faint breath; the clinking of metal.

Duck.

Karai dodged the first attack; the weight of a manriki chain sailing over her head. She grabbed the chain and spun to her feet, pulling on the chain as she did so. The owner of the weapon stumbled into view. Wide, green eyes shone through the black eye mask. Before Karai could deliver a damaging blow, the turtle released their grip on the other end of the chain and vanished back into the darkness of the shadows. Karai dropped the chain to the floor and looked around. There was the sound of a string being pulled taut.

The beams, Karai thought. Up above.

They weren't doing a very good job of keeping hidden. Karai felt something slice the air beside her head, which was followed by the sound of an arrow piercing wood. She shook her head in disapproval. Even in the dark, a skilled archer would have hit their mark. Karai was getting disappointed. She had hoped that her students would have been better suited for this test.

Footsteps pounded across the padded floor. Karai sighed. The assailant wasn't even trying to hide. Karai dodged to the side as a katar was swung at her head. She ducked as a second came close to catching her in the neck. Karai looked up and could see a dark shape fast approaching in front of her. She reached up and grabbed the first assailant's wrists and threw the startled turtle over her head. The two bodies collided and fell to the floor. The remaining two appeared to avenge their fallen comrades. Unfortunately, they didn't last long.

Karai walked over to the wall and flipped on the light switch. She looked down at the four groaning turtles. She crossed her arms over her chest. One turtle looked up and glared at her with intense indigo eyes.

"Glare at me all you want, Reva," Karai said. "It does not change anything."

"Would've worked out great if Micaiah hadn't blown our cover," Reva grumbled.

Karai closed her eyes and sighed. It was just her luck that the scouts had brought back four female turtles.

And I thought the male ones were moody, Karai thought.

"Sorry," Micaiah apologized as she got to her feet.

"And why are you always apologizing?" another turtle, Tylar asked impatiently. "It makes you sound weak and pathetic."

"Leave her alone, guys," the fourth, Chris said.

Tylar turned on her sister. "And you. Stop sticking up for her."

Chris walked up to Tylar and looked down at her, her grey-blue eyes blazing. "Just because we're Foot ninjas doesn't mean we have to be heartless. So, why don't you go pull that stick out of your butt before you pick a fight with someone bigger than you."

Karai rubbed her eyes. If only they could fight enemies as well as they fought each other. Karai turned and left the dojo, leaving the sisters to argue among themselves. Ready or not, the sisters would soon be sent out to find the Turtles. Karai just hoped that they wouldn't end up killing each other before they could bring their male counterparts to the Shredder.

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