Senka Pack
Chapter 1: The Beginning (TMNT Style)
Disclaimer: Don't own or know the TMNT.
It was hard to watch and then to do. Again and again I joined into the fight and, to make it easier on myself, I read the other's mind, earning nothing more than panting. I kept my face expressionless as I looked up at the one observing, the one holding the key to my freedom.
"Well done, Seraphina." His mechanical voice ripped its way through my head but I didn't wince. I had learned not to. "You are getting faster."
"Thanks to the training you are allowing me to do, Master Shredder," I stated simply. I kept the hiss that grew at his name down. "It has helped."
The mechanical suit nodded, though it looked human. I knew the truth and that's what hurt the most. I was bound to my honor, though, to never tell a soul. I, however, added the bit "unless they guess close to it." If they guess, I'm off the hook. I won't tell a soul. It'll all be their doing.
I turned and left, tucking my wings close against my body. Like a shield on my back, my charcoal wings fitted perfectly, blocking me from view except for my feet. I slipped into my room a bit away from the training room, the Shredder's main room was a few floors above my head, and was pleased to see it untouched still.
Settling on my bed, I grabbed the book off of the nightstand and leaned against the wall. My wings fell in place like a blanket over me, a position I've sat in many times over. With little light, I saw the words easily against the white background but I didn't pick up the book to read.
How are you guys holding up?
Better, came the reply.
I clung to the mental voice still as strong as ever. I tried to swallow. I miss you so much, Azrael.
I know. I feel the same pain and yearning in your words, my hummingbird.
And I can feel it which everyone else can sense with the connection.
I smiled at Icarus' remark.
The book, Sera, his sweet twin, Beatrix, remarked. You still need to be putting on a show.
Thank you, Beau.
Sera?
Yes, Avalon?
Do you know how much longer we'll be waiting?
I made a mental emphasis on my hidden sigh. Avalon was such a sweet girl but was a bit impatient. I don't blame her. A few hundred years would do that to anyone. I don't know. What I do know is soon.
How soon?
I don't know, Avi. I just don't know.
Two people who were silent over the mental connection were the two boys my age; Damon and Yama. Both 16, it wasn't uncommon to find them silent but over a mental connection? I brushed through their day's memories and wasn't surprised to see what I saw. The same creators. They were watching for me.
Thank you, Damon, Yama. That's very helpful.
I passed the necessary memories around for everyone to know what I was talking about and I could feel the two boys smiling. One part bat and the other part fish, I was grateful they now got along. I turned a page unconsciously, instantly aware of Yama's tension.
What is it Yama?
Someone's coming this way. Damon, can you go check it out?
On it!
I focused on Damon's mind, passing all that he heard and saw around to the others, hoping they would see or hear something he didn't. I always loved watching in the pack's view of life. Damon's was the most interesting, seeing underwater as clearly as he did with no interference, the sense of freedom that came with not having to worry about air, and the ease that came with swimming.
He knew how to move through the water silently and broke the surface much quieter than the rest of us could. He looked around and I felt Yama stiffen, hearing things the pack couldn't.
Where Yama? Damon asked, sensing the tension as well. No one was free when we were this connected. I was slowly being worn down but years of strengthening my endurance helped. Which direction?
I'm working on it.
Silence hung like a heavy cloth as all we could hear was the water. Yama instantly perked up and Damon turned towards the sound, not needing to ask since he knew the instant Yama did. The entire pack watched as Damon backed into the shadows, not making a sound himself, and waited for the figures to pass him.
My internal reaction loosened the tension instantly. It was the creators, the ones the pack was watching for me. I sighed, turning the page once more before giving up. I eased the connection between my pack and I and scanned around my room in the halls and the two neighboring rooms. No one I had to worry about.
We'll talk tomorrow, Sera, if it's not an issue, Azrael stated.
OK. Stay aware, my pack.
Always, came the uniform reply. Azrael added, Stay safe.
To the best of my ability, I replied, dropping the connection with the rest of the pack. I played the memory of kissing him so vivid, so detailed, the yearning was almost painful. I love you, my eagle.
I love you, my hummingbird.
I dropped the connection, the strain on my brain finally gone. Unlike some of the characters in different books, my abilities came with a price. It was like a sport with a certain muscle you don't usually use. It takes time to get use to using it and then it takes practice and exercise to keep the muscle at its peak. For this, it took energy to cover distance like I was doing with so many minds.
Skimming a large room or building was almost effortless now but to connect, say, all the Foot together, would have easily killed me if I tried hard enough. And to the extent of allowing everyone to see everything in every single person's mind. My body would have quit on me if I had allowed for that to happen. Thankfully, I'm careful about my ability, learning with my pack on what's safe and what isn't. Skimming and even exposing doesn't alert the inspected that I'm there. Communicating does. That's why the Shredder doesn't know about my ability, or any of the Foot in the building at any time, or the creators my pack was keeping a watchful eye on for me.
I just hope that with these conversations every night after training will help me with the endurance I'll need to do what I have to do to get out of the Shredder's chokehold he has me in at the moment. I rolled onto my stomach, book back on the night stand and wings folded close to my body. I began skimming the two rooms and the hallway, occupying my mind with this effortless task.
The nervous ninja in the room I was currently facing kept glancing at the clock, worried of being late to practice. After fifteen minutes of that, I pushed myself back into the sitting position I had been in, book in hand. I made sure the book was the right way before the door opened with no warning. I looked up, closing the book instantly and tossing it onto my night stand. I leaped to my feet and bowed, wings tight against my body.
He didn't say anything, just gestured out the door. I hurried out, waiting for him. He closed my door and lead me down the hall, destination no surprise. As we entered the elevator, I held back the urge to run as I stood beside him, the doors closing.
"You know you're mission, I presume?" he asked, not looking at me.
"Find the Turtles?" I asked, already knowing that it was true.
He nodded and the door opened again. We were standing before the doors to the helicopter landing and he led the way out. I stretched my wings out, grateful to be out of the elevator. He stood aside and looked at the city waking before us.
"Find the Turtles. I want to be able to end their lives."
I nodded and jumped, wings taking in the gust of air and carrying me upwards. The wind was nice as well as the morning but the storm rolling in was close. It was going to be difficult flying with a metal collar on with electricity in the air. I made a wide circle around the tower before flying away from it, widening the circle. It took me thirty seconds to notice the green body on the rooftops and black following it like flees after a dog.
"We didn't know if it would be OK to interfere," Azrael said, and I smiled, my gaze instantly on him. "We waited for you."
"Az."
"The others are down at the hideout, waiting."
"You know I can't with…the collar still on…"
I dived, glade the collar didn't register altitude. I slowed and pulled out of the dive, Azrael still up where I left him. He knew better than to follow in the direction I had gone. I was now running parallel with the green body and he almost stopped running.
Don't stop! Keep running. I need your help.
"What th–"
Shut up and continue to run. I can talk with my mind and mind read at the same time. I'm Seraphina, the winged girl running with you.
How do I know I can trust you? he asked, his voice so strange in my head.
Just listen. You don't have to. The Foot are working on surrounding you and I'm working on making it seem as if I'm chasing. None think it's strange that I'm on foot. I need you to take this collar off.
Why?
Because the Shredder controls me through it.
He's dead.
The Foot do. Please?
He glanced back and saw the symbol on the front. How do I get it off?
There's a hinge in the back that is the only part your katana will be able to slice without killing me in the process or alerting the Shre-the Foot. Please. I have a pack, a family, that's missing me desperately.
How am I going to be able to get the hinge while making it look like it's not planned?
You catch on quick. Fight, I presume.
He eyed me.
Just be wary of my wings.
Do you have any weapons?
Just a dagger.
K.
He turned, sliding on the wet cement. It had started pouring while I had talked with him and now my wings were soaked. There was no way of getting out of here fast. I unsheathed my dagger, sliding too, a few strands of brown hair whipping around out of my ponytail and sticking to my cheek. The Foot surrounded us but stayed the distance. They knew I was Shredder's favorite and got special orders. I nodded ever so slightly and he attacked.
Avoiding his moves was easy. I knew precisely where the katana was going to land and how the battle looked. It took three minutes to get the correct movement and we both were actually cut up. For the theatrics, at least. One spin, a perfectly positioned katana, and my collar fell off.
Kick me!
He planted a well trained kick in my gut as I face him and I fell to the ground, rolling three times.
Run!
And with that, he turned and ran, the Foot chasing after him. Three stayed and helped me up.
"Are you alright?" the male on my left asked.
He had grabbed my arm and pulled me to my feet. The other two were there to catch me.
"Yes. Let's hurry."
The three nodded and we hurried after the turtle, a smile playing behind my lips. The collar was forgotten on the rooftop and the Shredder had no idea where I was going now. Distance wasn't a hard thing to cover, it was just tiring. I touched the Shredder's mind and wasn't surprised that he was just being alerted that my movement had stopped. I actually smiled as the three ninja and I jumped over and alley way as he tried to shock me. One of the morons working for him told him there were no biological readings from the blasted thing which got him mad.
We gained on the others and found all of them on the ground or getting up, hurting. We helped those still down.
"Where did he go?" I asked one that I helped up.
"That way," he pointed and I nodded, making sure the others were OK before shaking my wings off and leaping into the air.
It's more work to fly with wet wings but durable. I was going to pay for it later but I didn't care. A cold was nothing compared to what I knew was going to happen. I found Hun and a group of ninja standing before the turtle and I landed roughly behind them. Two in the rear greeted me with a glance and I stood behind them. I nearly hissed as I took notice of the Shredder's Elite Guard on the other rooftop behind the turtle.
He had no chance and I almost called out to tell him to stop as he leaped at them. They disappeared and reappeared before the group. We all turned and I compulsively swallowed. I could hear the confusion, feel the fear the turtle was experiencing but the worse was the denial at seeing the Shredder, to whom we were bowing before. The Elite disappeared again as we straightened as a whole, and they surrounded the poor creature, scared and uneasy.
How I wanted to help him, how I wanted to just fly up there and take him away, but I knew better. I waited, waited for the right time. And sure enough, the time came. He was thrown through a window and I could hear the commotion though the thoughts in the room. I cringed at the worry and pain and watched as ninja after ninja invaded the place.
It was easy to avoid the Shredder. I went with the ninja and entered the apartment, but, unlike them, I stuck to the shadows. Well, more the ceiling. I stayed out of their way and was grateful when the rat took the last of them out. I followed him down the stairs slowly, keeping hidden. It was easy. All I had to do was wrap my wings around my body and I was literally invisible for anyone looking for me or not really paying attention.
I watched from the sidelines in the doorway as the Turtles fought. I looked around, thinking quickly and smiled. I slipped around to the now shattered window and slipped out. Taking off in the rain was hard and I was panting by the time I was settled on the roof of the building behind the shop. I waited, staying hidden, and watched as ninja after ninja left the premises. When the smoke started billowing up out of the windows, I leaped to my feet. I instantly linked up with the Turtles and their friends. I sighed, glad they were OK and trying to figuring out how to get out.
I smelt the gas, felt the heat, knew what each was thinking. I knelt, flipping through the female's memory. Finding one possibly helpful, I replayed it for her and I was glad she got it. I stretched my wings and waited.
It took them a while but they were out in time. I flew –well, fell– to where they stood and all looked at me. The red clad turtle and the rat stood guard before the others and I collapsed to my knees, bowing before them.
"Please, I'm not here to harm you," I said, keeping my voice low and even. "I wish to help you. Leonardo has helped me get away from the Foot and I am in his dept. Please. You must let me help."
The rat relaxed but the red clad turtle was wary. The purple clad turtle was the one to speak, though. "I saw you in there, up on the ceiling. You didn't fight and you flew out the window. Why?"
"The Shredder had a hold on me before. A collar that gave my position and several other things he wished to know. Thankfully, it didn't include altitude which allowed me to get free of it." I had a dome shape border a few blocks in diameter, searching for any minds to enter. I connected with the familiar ones just entering. Not yet. "When I got the collar off, thanks to Leonardo, I stayed away from the Shredder to stay free. He has no way of tracking me now."
How much longer, my hummingbird?
Just follow.
"Master Splinter?" It was the orange clad turtle speaking up. "I trust her."
I relaxed, seeing the results of my plea. The rat sighed and nodded. "As long as the Foot does not follow, you are welcomed to come. Raphael, I want you to keep an eye on her."
I sat back on my heels, looking at everyone. There were only two humans and both were eyeing me with suspicion and curiosity. The orange clad turtle was the only one perfectly comfortable with me being there. "So, where to now?"
"My grandma's farm house hasn't been used for years," the male said. "We could go there."
"OK," the red clad turtle said. "Let's go."
