She never intended for this to happen… but it was happening and she just didn't know what to do to stop this nightmare.
It was one report, a news story, her job, that she'd done safely, day after day, for years.
Yet one night's report had led to this: her best friend's blood staining the floor. Combat boots slipped on the slick, squeaking as the bleeding woman staggered back from the blow from the bladed gauntlet as her friend sat, hand over her mouth, horrified.
Together in captivity, defended and defender, April O'Neil and Spike Sanchez, an inseparable duo since grade school.
And now April was beginning to think they would die together tonight.
~Turtle Tracks~
Spike folded her arms in the doorway to their small apartment, feet hip width apart, solid as a rock. "'S a stupid risk."
April sighed, running a hand through her red hair as she collected her wallet, preparing to head off to work. "And I suppose you'd rather let this story slip right through my fingers?" She cocked her head, studying Spike's blunt features. "I've been waiting for a story like this, Spike. For years."
Spike's jaw tightened. "You ain't considerin' your own safety," she said gruffly. "It's askin' for trouble, waitin' to watch a scientific company get robbed. What if they take hostages?" Her steely grey eyes bored into April's.
April's will was just as hard as Spike's. She stared back unflinchingly, standing and brushing off her yellow jumpsuit. "You will be there to protect me. You always are."
~Turtle Tracks~
April winced, unable to tear her eyes away as Spike took a beating, caused by another foolish attempt to protect April; to get her out of the metal, chrome prison they were trapped in.
The Shredder grabbed Spike's shirt collar, hauling her up so she was eye-to-eye with the masked villain. "You have quite the spirit. I can only imagine what animal I will find worthy to mutate you into. See reason. Submit."
"Over my dead body."
Spike fell to the ground as Shredder dropped her, face unreadable behind the metal helmet. Only his eyes were visible, as the cold darkness of them were turned on April. "What say you, Ms. O'Neil? Do you agree with your friend, that death is preferable to service to me?"
April was shaking, unable to uproot herself from her corner. She wanted to rush to Spike's side, to make sure she was alright. She wanted her tongue to stop feeling like lead so she could shout her answer, to stand with her friend and do the right thing, the brave thing.
Spike had always had a bull-headed indifference towards death that some called bravery.
~Turtle Tracks~
April smiled into the camera, looking bright and intelligent. "Ninjas, a thousand year old band of assassins. Is it possible they're here in the city? We're at Technology Central to answer that question, for it may be the next target of these mysterious burglars. I'll report if anything develops. This is April O'Neil, signing off." With a toss of her red hair and a confident smile, April's broadcast ended, and the back alley behind Technology Central was quiet except for the city noise around it, as dark as an alley in the Big Apple could get.
Spike lowered the camera, scoffing. "Ninjas in New York, huh?"
"Well, that's the 'professional's' opinion, not ours." April stretched her arms over her head. "We're here to report, not speculate.
Spike pushed her short, coarse brown hair out of her face. "S' stupid, by the way. Should never have taken this assignment."
"I've covered the past three scientific equipment thefts," April reasoned, putting a hand on her hip. "It makes sense that I cover this one as well!"
"It's different this time. Last time we weren't waitin' for it to happen, where we think it's gonna happen," Spike argued. "What if the thieves take hostages? These guys ain't just common crooks. We could be dealin' with a bigger operation." She gestured at the large, white Channel 6 van.
"Even better," April said cheerfully. "More to cover."
~Turtle Tracks~
April could not serve this evil man, nor could she bring herself to condemn herself to death with her own mouth. She remained silent as Shredder stalked towards her, past where Spike lay on the clean, chrome floor, now spotted with red.
"If you will not serve willingly," Shredder mused out loud. "You would be excellent test subjects for my experiments. Mutation, as you understand, is a new science, with many benefits. Sharp claws, fangs, fur, tusks….whatever you wish."
The horrifying, science-fiction jargon he was spouting was spoken calmly, reasonably. Almost as if it was possible.
Impossible, April thought. He's just insane.
He's insane. And he's going to kill us, whether what he says is possible or not.