Hey guys, welcome to my new story. I've had this on my drive for years, having never posted it. It started off as a guilty pleasure but then it snowballed and became a life of it's own. I might suck on updating but I promise I do have the entire out line for the ENTIRE story written down so yeah. Got this thing planned out.
A really big super special thanks to R.J. North who is very much the core inspiration for this in the first place. Her writing is amazing and very much got my own ideas flowing. It was literally her that started this and now, ironically, years later she has become one of my best friends. Weird right? The friendship was random, out of the blue, and spastic just like our current relationship. The OC of this story actually makes an appearance in a story, As Abnormal as Ever, that is currently on her page so you can go check that out! And at her encouragement and outright fangirlism I'm posting the source material. Now maybe you can get some of the not so subtle references in the story ahaha.
I love you, Dorkfish! Happy *looks at calendar*...Idk what? It's not an anniversary but it sure feels like we've known each-other that long.
Anyway! Read and Review! I will respond to any and all reviews I receive in this story! Thanks again!
"Nothing contributes to the entertainment of the reader more, than the change of times and the vicissitudes of fortune." ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero
"A wise man once said, build a better mousetrap and the world will make a path to your door." Dr. Stockman said and I resisted a roll of my eyes. "Well I say let the path making begin! For I Baxter Stockmen, have designed a solution for the cities ever growing rat problem. Ladies and Gentleman I give you the ultimate expression of rodent extermination technology, the Stocktronic Mouser!" He said pulling away a sheet, unveiling his latest invention. I crossed my arms as I leaned lazily against the wall, watching this tool flaunt his creation. Can I go home yet? I watched as my aunt fiddled a bit nervously off camera, picking up a box of rats. I caught her eye and gave her a smile, then making a swishing motion with my hand, telling her to fix her bangs. She smiled brightly and did so just in time. "My assistant, Miss April O'Neil will release several rats into the simulation chamber" the doctor said as April turned to the camera smiling before heading over to the maze like structure I helped her create over the past 2 weeks. "April, proceed my dear." He said and soon my aunt released the little creatures into the maze. I winced a bit, unsure if they should be showing this on T.V. "Now watch the shear genius of my Mouser in work." He said and set the eager robot lose into the maze. I swallowed the bale that filled my throat, hand covering my mouth. That's just nasty. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not entirely against getting rid of some of the rodents in New York, I mean…its New York but this…seemed really inhumane. I turned my head away but it didn't stop the noises from reaching my ears, each and every crunch and squeak of horror. All those rats were finished in mere minutes, poor things. "And the Mousers search and retrieval functions are ingeniously controlled by a remote computer." He said with a smile before he went off to talk to the camera crew more. I slowly turned back towards the maze and headed over to look at my work. April came next to me and patted my shoulder.
"You did a really good job on helping me with the maze, Kerry." April said motioning down to the said maze. "Couldn't have done it without you."
"Oh please you're just saying that so I won't get mad at being here almost everyday after school." I said and knelt down next to the maze, grimacing at the blood that now covered parts of it. April smiled and rolled her eyes a bit.
"Only a little" She said and we set to work on clearing away the maze. Honestly I'm not that mad about being stuck here after school for a couple hours. Most of the time I sit in Aprils little office and draw or do homework, everyone usually leaves me alone. This was the first time she approached me to help her with something, to come up with a maze design for the testing of Stockmen's Mousers. Besides I could drive myself, but New York traffic still scares the heck out of me, it' not the same as traffic down in rural Texas let me tell you.
Soon we finished clearing up everything and the camera crew people left, but not before getting harassed by me about what kind of cameras they prefer to use and why type of lighting that requires. I have a slight...issue of talking to strangers, something that scares April to death and made her buy me not only a can of pepper spray and pocket knife, but sign me up for self-defense. So after the camera crew could finally escape my wrath and we finished cleaning up, we, as in April, the Doctor, and I watched the interview as it came on the news. "Oh this is so great!" April started in an excited tone. "My friends, my family will finally see I really do work with the Dr. Baxter Stockmen." She added dreamily.
"You flatter me Miss O'Neil" Dr. Stockmen said prideful. "I like that." He then turned to look at me. He patted the top of my black haired head like I was some amusing pet. "And thank you for your hard work Miss Kerry. Now you get to tell all your little friends at school about how you got to work with me too." He said like I was a 6 year old. I'm freaking 16, don't patronize me, I know I'm short but not that short! His patronizing was interrupted by some beeping.
"Huh that's strange, I was running a route diagnostic test and half the Mouser prototypes aren't even transmitting." I looked at all the confusing things that flashed on the computer screens.
"Umm, that's bad right?" I asked her softly and she gave a nod.
"Yes it is Kerr', it's like they just vanished" She said and began to type. Baxter became very uneasy.
"I'm sure it's nothing April," He said leaning away from the computers. "I'm sure it's just a computer glitch, I'll have some techs look at it in the morning" He said.
"But what if they've been tampered with?" April said in a worried tone, and then continued in a more determined one. "We should go over all their transmissions backups." She was cut off by a dark hand grasping her shoulder a bit too tightly for my taste.
"That won't be necessary April" He said getting closer to her face, I felt my fists began to clutch. No one messes with my aunt, no one! Lucky for him, or me in the sense that I've only been going to self-defense for 6 weeks now, he backed off. "Now if you excuse me, I'm expecting a call from a very important financial backer." He said leaving through the sliding doors next to the cluster of computers. April began to rub her chin in suspicion. I sighed not liking that look at all.
"Umm Aunt April I don't think-…" I began but she lifted her hand to stop me.
"Kerry please, I'm thinking." She said and I sighed, sitting down in a rolly chair, spinning myself around the almost empty room now. I was about to fall asleep when my chair was suddenly being dragged. I yelped but April shushed me as she pulled me along to go press her ear to Baxter's door. I sighed inaudibly and leaned my head back once more. April has a nag for getting into trouble, like a modern day Lois Lane, you know except for the whole not a reporter thing. ((A/N: Ha! I made a funny)) I listened to the uncomprehend-able muffles for a while before April gasped slightly, a look of fear overcoming her. She grabbed the back of my chair and rushed back down the hall in a panicked manner. Was it too hard for her to ask me to follow her?
"Kerry listen to me, I'm going to need your help ok?" She said kneeling down and taking my shoulders in her hands. I look up confused.
"Umm sure Auntie what's wrong?"
"I need to look into something's, in Baxter's office." She whispered to me softly and I went a bit wide eyed. "Normally I wouldn't want to drag you into this but this is important. When He leaves we're going into his office, I need you to stay by the door and watch for anyone approaching while I get the information." April said and her grip tightened. "Don't fight anyone if they do, just come and get me if you see someone coming." I was quiet for a moment before I nodded, my nerves almost talking me out of it. I had faith in my aunt and if she thought that this was right, and then I'd help her. I owe her a lot after all. She nodded and told me to act as natural as possible. I nodded and started rolling over to my tote bag to get my sketch pad and pencils out. She nodded to me and went back to typing on the cluster computers. It was around an hour later that Baxter finally exited his office, and I had made the outline sketch of my aunt typing.
"Good night April dear, try not to work too late" He said sweetly as he turned to leave. "You know I don't like to pay overtime. Make sure she leaves at a reasonable time hmm Miss Kerry." He said addressing me as he left.
"No promises Doc." I said and he scoffed at my informality. When the elevator doors closed both me and April watched as the little light went down agonizingly slow. Finally April burst up and ran towards his office. I stuffed my things back into my bag and took off after her, my converse tapping against the tile. April was already sliding behind the crescent moon shaped desk before looking up at me.
"Remember Kerr' don't fight anyone." She said then began typing. "Alright Stockmen let's see what plans you have for the Mousers." I closed the automatic door by pushing a button and then leaned on it. I tapped my foot in boredom as the silence pressed down around me. Soon I felt someone opened the door behind me and I fell back. Tiny arms caught me by my armpits and hoisted me back up. "Kerry! You gotta see this!" She hissed in my ear and turned me around. I gaped at the hidden elevator that now sat on the adjacent wall.
"How did you do that?" I asked her, utterly baffled.
"I clicked an icon." She said calmly then began pushing me to the elevator. "Come on; let's see what Dr. Stockmann is up to." Before I could protest she began to push me towards the elevator. She took my hand as she pressed the elevator button to close the door and then selected a floor.
"Auntie…are you sure this is ok?" I murmur softly, feeling very young and small at the moment.
"Yes" April said and gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "It is Kerr'" I nodded, putting my trust in her once more and looked up as the elevator began to move faster moved deeper into apparently underground facility. I grasped the railing, holding on to my aunts hand tightly. Oh gods, I hated elevators before all this and this definitely isn't helping their case. Finally, after what seemed like forever we crashed down on the last floor. I stumbled a bit while April sighed.
"Finally" She said and we exited the elevator once the doors slid open. I gaped as we overlooked the mass manufacturing of Mousers. Long assembly lines that disappeared into nothingness were lined with mouse after mouser, all being assembled piece after piece.
"I don't care how bad the city's rodent problem is, this is serious overkill" April said and I scoffed.
"I said that about one of these little monstrosities. I mean look at them their little T-Rex's!" I said as we walked further down the corridor, April rolling her eyes at me. I went to overlook more of the process while April typed away on the computer.
"Rat problem my a-…" April threw a glance in my direction. "…eye. What are you really up to Stockmen?"
"April, I'm 16, I've heard way worse words and better cover ups." I said looking back out at the process before me. I felt sick to my stomach watching all this. There was in no way, a need for all these mousers! No matter how bad the rat problem is. This is overkill and it's horrible. I gritted my teeth a bit and turned to talk to April when I felt a hand clamp over my mouth a drag me back. I screamed a muffled call as another arm wrapped around my front, pinning my arms to my sides.
"Now, now Miss O'Neil that would be telling." I heard from behind me, recognizing the voice of Baxter Stockman. I struggled a bit harder as April whirled around and began backing up. "It's services to say that my army Mousers will make me a very rich and powerful man.
"But aren't you already a rich and powerful man?" April asked, failing to notice how the glass window was sliding down behind her, and a grabber prepared to snatch her up. I screamed against his hand and tried to bite down on his meaty fingers.
"Ah, Miss O'Neil, So brilliant yet so naive. I will truly miss working with you." He said in a dark tone.
"What? You mean I'm fired." April asked in a worried shocked tone. I wanted to hit her upside the head. NO! He's going to kill us! I thought you were the genius of the family! Stockmen's right about one thing you really are naive. Stockmen took my shoulder roughly and pushed me into April, how wrapped an arm around my shoulders tightly.
"In a manner of speaking yes." He said and reached into his pocket, pushing a button. Soon me and April were ripped apart by two claws, both lifting us up into the air. I called out a few choice words as we were suspended over a row of mousers. I called out painfully as I was dropped on my back, my head cracking against the ground with a sickening sound. April landed on her stomach next to me, lab coat ripped and groaning. She looked up with a gasp as I laid there, still a bit dazed. "I'm sorry ladies, but you've seen too much and I have…trust issues." He said and began typing on the computer after fixing his tie arrogantly. Soon all the Mousers came to life around us. I sat up as quickly as I could without making myself dizzy. April was already up and had shed her coat. We both began backing away from the mini-T-Rex like robots. April began looking around before she found a fire extinguisher. "Stand back I know how to use this!" She called but one still approached as she brandished the nozzle. She gritted her teeth a fired the foam at it, but it kept coming at her. I gritted my teeth as well as I looked around. I gasped another extinguisher and slammed it into one's head, just as April had the same thought. WE began trying to fight off as many as possible before they bit through the canisters, exploding them. Soon a fog from the foam filled the air and grabbed my aunt's hand, pulling her along as I ran up the side of the crevice like assembly line. I looped around a jumped down another path. "You can run Ladies. But you cannot hide from my Mousers." He chuckled at us and April pulled a switched that opened the door leading to the sewers. We both stumbled into the water as we tried to see through the smoke.
"Gross" I hissed under my breath as we stand, taking each other's hand and began to run, my other hand clutching my bag strap. We ran for a while before it opened up into a chamber with many different paths to take. We turned around frantically.
"Which way out?!" April hissed in panic as we searched.
"Doesn't matter right now!" I said pulling her down one. "Just so long as we get away from those things!" I growled. We both began looking around to see if they were following, both failing horrible in looking ahead of us. April screamed as we skidded to a stop just before running into a pair of those things. "Move move move!" I said pushing in the other direction, but we were blocked from the other side to. "Down there!" I said pushing her behind me to run down that corridor. April tripped, falling into the water and I turned to face the robots approaching. I doubted my pepper spray would do anything against these things so I pulled the pocket knife April got for me as we both began backing up against a boarded up path. April began pulling at the planks so we could escape.
"I'm sorry I got you into this Kerry!" April said.
"I-It's ok April." I said my voice quivering.
"Your mom's going to kill me!" She said. "You know if we could live through this"
"Doubt it, she wouldn't even notice!" I said my voice getting a bit higher pitched. April let out a high pitched scream as they launched at us and I stumbled back next to her, my eyes squeezing shut. There was no pain as we were ripped apart; instead there were sounds of crunching metal and battle cries. I peeked my eyes open as see four shadowy figures fighting off the Mousers. I let out a tense breath. The figures made quick work of the robots before putting away their weapons. They began to approach us cautiously.
"Oh thank you, thank you so much!" April said thankfully as I tried to calm my fast beating heart. "You saved our…our…our…Ehhh" April said, trailing off as she fainted at the sight of, get this I'm being totally serious, A giant turtle leaning down and asking us: "How it's going?"
I froze my eyes wide, lips pressed tightly together, and staring at the four giant turtles with masks on their face.
"Hey, so, can I keep her?" The orange masked one asked in a surfer accent. I began making a high pitched noise from the back of my throat. "Whhhhoa is the other one ok?" Another high pitch sound.
"I think she's going into shock." The purple one said in a knowledgeable tone. "Miss, are you ok?" He asked me and received another high pitched sound.
"Umm should she be holding that knife in a state like this?" A third said approaching cautiously, he had a blue mask on and two swords on his back.
"Probably not." Answered the purple one. They all just looked at me causing an even higher pitched noise to escape. "So ummm, who's going to take it from her?" He continued. Finally the red masked and final turtle approached me.
"Oh for Pete's sake!" He said and ripped the knife from my hand, me not moving a muscle to stop him. He closed to knife before putting it into a pocket on my grey cargo capris pants, that were covering in paint stains (which is normal) and sewer water (not so normal). "There." He said and I began to squeak even louder.
"Umm ok Miss. We honestly mean you and your friend no harm." The blue one said approaching a bit cautiously. "But we need to take both you and her to our dad to get you checked out…ok?" I was quiet. "Ok?" He asked again and I squeaked in response. "Is that a yes or a no?" He asked and I simply nodded my head slowly two times. "Um ok…can you walk?" I stood up shakily in response, while he held my elbow for support. That caused me to squeak more.
"Man, she's a riot!" The orange one laughed carrying my aunt in his arms.
"C-C" I tried to say as they began to lead me through the sewer.
"Aw man dudes! The little dudette's trying to say something." He said with a grin and they all turn to me.
"C-c-careful w-w-w-with m-my aunt M-M-Mr. T-t-t-t-t-t-t-tur-tur-turtle" I said trying to get the word turtle through my lips. Man I must have hit my head harder than I thought.
"Oh so this ladies your aunt! Cool!" The orange one cheered. "We've never had an aunt! It is cool? Is she nice or mean?" He asked me and I slowly began to regain my speech.
"S-she's really nice. A-a-and I-I g-guess it's p-pretty cool." I answer, my curiosity about them making me vocal again.
"What's your name miss?" The purple one asked me.
"I-I'm Kerry." I said shyly. "A-Kerry Medina."
"Nice to meet you Miss Medina. My name is Leonardo but you can call me Leo." Introduced the blue one. "These are my brothers, Donatello or as we call him, Don or Donnie." He said motioning to the purple one who gave me a wave. "That's Mikey, or Michelangelo." He said pointing to the one carrying April, and said turtle grinned brightly at me. "Lastly this is my brother Raphael, or Raph as we call him." He said pointing to the red bandanna one that closed my pocket knife. He didn't look in my direction. "We're going to see our father, Master Splinter."
"Y…You all have r-renaissance a-art-artists names." I murmured my hands clutching my bag strap my eyes on the ground.
"Yeah our dad got them from a book he fished from a storm drain." The pur-… I mean Donatello said to me and I nodded.
"I like them." I said softly. "Is your dad a…turtle too?" They all looked uncomfortable for a moment.
"Not…exactly." Leonardo said.
"A-And b-by that you mean n-not at all." I pointed out shyly. He rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah." He said sheepishly before Donatello twisted a pipe which caused a keypad to pop out. He typed in a musical sounding pass code. "Oh wait guys! We forgot to blindfold her!" He said slapping his forehead.
"Well too late for that!" Raphael scoffed.
"I would say so!" A wizened voice said. I turned and I began my reenactment of a deer in headlights again. The squeaking once more began. "Not only did you disobey my direct orders, you also bring back two humans." The giant rat said. Yeah that's right; their dad is a rat and their turtles. Biology makes no sense! What was their mother a honey badger?! "And why is that one making such an irritating noise?" He asked looking at me, causing my squeaking to increase in pitch and duration. "Miss will you please stop that….miss?" He said trying to get my attention. Leonardo came forward.
"Sorry Sensei, I think this is how she deals with shock." He apologized and I felt a pair of arms toss me over their shoulder.
"Come on squeaky" Raphael said carrying me over his shoulder to a chair. Michelangelo placed my aunt on the couch as Donatello began looking us over, starting with me. All he found was a big lump on the back of my head and got Michelangelo to bring me an ice pack in a towel. April was fine except for passing out of course. My squeaking stopped when the giant rat brought me some tea and told me their story of how the turtles came to be. They had been pet shop turtles that had been bought by a little boy. There had been an accident involving a blind man and a truck after a Good Samaritan pushed the blind man out of the way, pushing the boy with his turtles and causing him to drop them. They drifted into a storm drain where they fell into the sewer. The truck had apparently had some sort of ooze type stuff in a canister fall out and drift behind them. It crashed on top of them, effectively covering the poor things. Master Splinter, who was a regular rat at the time, took pity on them and took them in. As he gathered him he had also gotten some of the ooze on him. Leo came over to show me the broken canister which they retrieved later on as a momento. Master Splinter continued in saying that after he awoke that he and the turtles had grown twice their original size. And that soon they began to develop more and more each day until finally, one day, one of them spoke! Ever since they began to become more human like in their speech and movements. Eventually he began teaching them Ninjutsu in order to protect themselves, though I couldn't understand where Splinter had learned Ninjutsu in the first place. After a while I finally calmed down enough to speak coherently.
"My names Kerry Medina and I've been living with my Aunt April for a little over a month now. I'm originally from Texas where I lived with, well not lived with, but lived in my mom's house. I recently came to New York to go to a special art school." I introduced myself in almost a rehearsed manner, remembering a similar speech I had to due on my first day, in every single class despite it basically being the same people each time. The rat, or Master Splinter as I was informed, nodded.
"It is a rather….unexpected pleasure Miss Medina." Master Splinter said. "And do not misinterpret this as displeasure at you personally, but it is also unfortunate." I almost choked on my tea when he said that. I was about to question when April groaned awake. I set my tea aside and rushed over to her, kneeling by the couch. I stroked her brow gently.
"mmmm, Kerry?" She asked and I smiled gently at her.
"Yeah Auntie it's me." I said keeping my caresses going, knowing she's about to have another shock.
"Aw man Kerr' I just had the weirdest dream! Turtles fight robots! Did I fall asleep watching T.V. again?" she asked exasperated and tried to sit up. "That was the weirdest thing…I've…ever….seen" She squeaked as she saw the turtle brothers standing behind me. Michelangelo winked and clicked his tongue at her. April began to look around when Michelangelo leaned down next to my head to greet April before I could tell him no.
"Hi!" He chirped which caused April to scream, scaring Mikey and making him scream in my ear which made me scream in pain. "Man don't do that I almost jumped outta my shell." I glared at him rubbing my ear.
"And I almost went deaf!" I said rubbing the said body part woefully. April slowly began to hyperventilate. Was that how I was acting? Wow I should apologize later.
" . !" April said clutching to pillow to her chest. She then slammed it over her head. "I'm asleep, I'm asleep, I'm asleep, and I'm asleep…." She repeated.
"This isn't going over to well" Donatello said with a sigh.
"Well we don't have an experience talking to humans!" Michelangelo defended. "It's going to take a little time."
"Yeah because that's the problem." I scoff a little. April kept up her mantra and Mikey yawned.
"Man she's making me sleepy." He complained slightly. Raphael seemed to get irritated at this nonsense and taped April on the shoulder.
"Hey, what do you know about those mouser robot things?" He asked her in a surprisingly calm way. I established that Raphael was a bit of a hot head. April seemed to calm down at the simple question a bit, long enough to come up with a coherent answer.
"We'll, at first I thought they were for cleaning up the cities rat problem. But then I got suspicious when Dr. Stockman said-…oh no." April said cutting herself off as a wave of panic overcame her. "I'm talking to it." She squeaked.
"What?" Leonardo asked growing a bit concerned. My aunts not crazy I promise you…she's just a bit of a spaz at times.
"I'm talking to it, to you! OK April, you're talking to a giant three fingered turtle. The only logical explanation is that you're dreaming!" She said lifting a finger as she came to a (wrong) conclusion. "So everything's okay." She drawled out, a relaxed expression came on her face though it looked a bit…'on the edge' if you know what I mean. "Hello!" She chirped at Leonardo, giving him a wave.
"Ummm, Hello…April." Leonardo said as if unsure if my aunt was truly 'okay'. "How are you…doing?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"Oh I'm fine!" She said in a crazy way. "Everything's absolutely great! Isn't it Kerry!?" She asked me with a creepy sunshine and rainbows smile. I could only nod slowly, fearing for my aunt's mental well-being. I heard the tap of a cane from behind us and I turned to see Master Splinter. "OH!" My Aunt gasped.
"Well then you're ready to answer some questions." Master Splinter said stopping in front of the couch. April tensed all over.
"You're…you are…"April shuddered and sure enough, her head flopped back against the couch as she once again passed out. I wondered if all this passing out was good for her health or not. Or if it's unhealthy that I haven't passed out.
"Wow Master Sprinter, you sure have a way with the ladies" Donatello said sarcastically while Leonardo held his head in out right annoyance. "Now what do we do?"
"Let's nudge her." Leonardo said helpfully but I shook my head.
"She's a heavy sleeper, won't work." I murmured.
"I can snap her out of it! " Raphael said threateningly.
"Raphael no!" Master Splinter scolded. I looked around for a certain orange masked turtle and saw him heading to a lawn chair with a music player.
"Get me when she wakes up." He said and pressed play, closing his eyes as he listened to the music. The others turned to me.
"Do you know anything of the mousers?" Donatello asked me and I raised an eyebrow.
"I'm a sixteen year old art student…robotics is kind of out of my league thanks." I said. "Aprils the one that works there, I just hang around after school, drawing or helping her out with paperwork."
"Why don't you just head home after school? You could have avoided all this mess." Leonardo said as he helped me back to my seat and got me a fresh cup of tea. I think they were worried I'd go into more shock so they were trying to get something in me, especially now that Leonardo added some sugar to my jasmine tea. I sipped as they looked to me for an answer.
"I don't like driving in New York. I haven't got used to the craziness yet. It's a little different from Texas in most places." I said to them.
"I am sorry Miss Morina." Splinter said. "It must be hard on a young girl being uprooted and moved to somewhere so different."
"It's ok really. I have a blessed life. Besides…I have April." I said smiling. We heard groaning and noticed my Aunt was once again becoming conscious. I got up and went to her, thinking a familiar face would calm her. Soon we got her chilled out and Leonardo brought her a cup of their awesome tea. Seriously this stuff can get addicting! Raphael went and got Mikey back over with us and he was a bit hesitant that April wasn't going to scream at him again.
"So…you ok now?" He asked her slowly as if talking to a crazy person. If this bothered April she didn't show it at all. She turned to him and nodded.
"Yes thanks. I've decided this is a very long dream I keep not waking up from. Or," April began and looked to her cup of tea. "This is the strangest thing to ever happen to me." I sat down next to her and pulled out my sketch pad, knowing she was about to get the life story talk. But it was different from my talk. I simply got an explanation of their existence, not a warning.
"We have never revealed ourselves to the upper world." He turned to his sons. "You have placed us all in great danger."
"But Master Splinter, they were in danger and we helped them." Leonardo said turning to his father in confusion from his spot on the floor next to his Masters chair.
"Yeah, aren't you always teaching us to do the right thing?" Raphael said and Master Splinter turned to him.
"As you grow older you will find that there are many ways to 'do the right thing.'" He said then sighed looking down. "But there is no going back." He looked towards me and my Aunt. "I'm afraid we find ourselves at your mercy." I looked up shocked and so did my Aunt.
"Oh! I would never tell anyone! And I mean who would believe us!" She said motioning to everything around her as if the emphasize the situation. Donatello snickered.
"She has a point." Donatello said with a smirk. Michelangelo smirked too and began flexing in front of me.
"Yeah! We're unbelievable!" He called out with a grin as Raphael walked up to him with a sigh.
"Where's your off switch?" He asked him then looked to me. "What about squeaky over there? Can we trust her?" I scoffed at him, putting my hands on my hips.
"What kind of person do you think I am? Why would I go around telling people a secret that isn't my own to tell? Especially when it's something as important as this." I murmured. Raphael smirked in response.
"She's got guts, spunky too." He grinned. "I like that." I scoffed again and looked away from him.
"But really, we promise." April said cutting in, putting one hand over her heart and one on my shoulder. Master Splinter came over to us and knelt in front of my first. He stared deeply into my green eyes. I was beginning to get nervous until he moved on to April. After another long moment he spoke.
"I believe you both." He said with a nod. Leonardo came next to him and stared at me for a bit, since Master Splinter was still staring at April.
"Is this another lesson master?" He asked turning to him. "How to sense the truth?"
"No, it's called trusting your gut" Master replied with a smirk. I grinned, I liked this guy!
"So wait, if I'm keeping your secret….what exactly is it?" April asked. "Just who are you people, erm Turtles, erm whatever!" She said confusing herself. I sighed slightly as the story from earlier restarted and I focused on my sketch book. I began drawing the first thing that came to mind, fragments of the story. Four baby turtles in a glass jar, the teen saving the old man, the crash, the babies and the ooze flowing into the sewer drain. Master Splinter in rat form finding the four baby turtles, covered in the glowing ooze. It drew him collecting them up with care. Under that I drew them sleeping together in a burrow. Then I drew Master Splinter awaking in shock to find him and the baby turtles grown up. I drew a picture of the four turtles following in a line behind their new father and one of the turtles speaking for the first time. The boys being trained. And then, since I knew nothing that happened in-between then and now, I drew this scene. I drew Sensei sitting on the floor speaking to my aunt while the boys stood around with various expressions. All these were just quick outlines for now as I tried to keep up with the story. Man I was using up a lot of paper, maybe I should make this my Turtle Book. "Turtles Forever!" I heard, jolting me from my daze. I get like that when drawing, tuning everything out around me and focusing on my own little imaginary world. I saw the boys all high fiving enthusiastically. I took a mental picture and reminded myself to draw that too later. Mikey might get a kick out of it so I'd probably give it to him in the end.
"Or something like that, which we all yell out at once." Mikey said leaning against the couch. Raphael came and sat in-between me and April, one arm behind me on the back of the couch.
"First rule, ignore Mikey, your life will be much easier." He joked then tried to peek at my drawings. I hid them and scowled at him slightly, more playfully then anything. I really don't like many people seeing unfinished work. He grinned and ruffled my dark hair a bit before turning back to the conversation.
"So we have remained in secret. And that is our story." Master Splinter said and I raised a hand.
"Whoa whoa whoa plot hole! How did you know martial arts…no offense intended." I murmured and Master Splinter chuckled at me.
"That is a story for another time."
"Hey guys! Come look at this!" We heard Mikey call out and I put my stuff away into my bag and got up with everybody to look at the wall of TV's. I stood by Leonardo as the news report played.
"And the police are completely baffled at the bank robbery boldly committed today in broad daylight. If you have any information please call the crime stopped hotline." The reporter said over a montage of the damage caused by whoever, or whatever, broke into the bank.
"So, anyone wants to take a wild guess that did this." Mikey scoffed as a picture of familiar tracks came into view.
"He's not exactly being very subtle is he?" I scoffed putting my hands on my hips. April step forward her hand on her hips as well, huh that's where I got it from, glaring at the screen.
"That must be when I heard Stockman talking about!" She said and turned to us. "He has the mousers robbing banks!"
"What do you know about this Stockman guy?" Raphael asked from the coach, never having moved from his spot. April scoffed wrapping an arm around her self.
"He's a genius, but he's also nuts!" She said and I scoffed, about time April! I always hated the guy. "I used to work for him, but when I got suspicious, he turned the mousers on me and Kerry."
"But luckily, we ran into you guys. Thanks again by the way." I said moving to stand by my aunt and facing the guys.
"He destroyed our old lair!" Leonardo said. I remember being told that their old home had been turned to ruins by the mousers. One more reason to hate them, the little monsters.
"Must have been one of his mouser test runs!" April growled softly.
"But that was our home!" Mikey said and I frowned. I keep forgetting about their age, I thought about if we lost our apartment and I didn't like my feelings I got in response. It's hard on younger people to suddenly be uprooted.
"And now he's graduated to banks!" Donatello said. Raphael stood up and began twirling those weird fork things that were attached to his belt. I took a step behind Leonardo, a bit nervous at that.
"Well what are we waiting for?! Let's go shut down mouser central." Raphael said. He made and X with his weapons and grinned. "Permanently." He said dramatically and Mikey laughed.
"I just love those action movie lines. You write that yourself?" He sighed with his arms crossed. Next to him April seemed to be deep in thought.
"It won't be easy." She murmured. "Stocktronics is rigged with the latest up to the minute security tech." She said and I gave a sad nod. I couldn't even sneak into the workroom to grab a soda without being caught. I was allowed soda of course I just had to have an 'escort' whenever walking somewhere. That was stupid so I would always try and go myself.
"Tch! Bring it on! Let me introduce our own secret weapon!" Mikey said approaching Donatello from behind and tossing an arm around the turtles shoulder. "The Techno Turtle himself, Donatelloooo. Take a bow Don." The geeky teen blushed a bit and looked sheepish.
"A-Aw cut it out." He said blushing darkly and mumbling shyly. That's cute. Obviously the battle ready turtle didn't think so.
"Can we go, please?" Raphael growled, literally trembling in anticipation. I shrugged and made a move to go to the door. I felt April grab my shoulders.
"Where do you think you're going?" April asked. I gaped at her, was she seriously not going to let me go?! After all this?!
"To go kick some butt!" I said and made a move to leave again but she pulled me back once more.
"Oh no you're not young lady!" She scolded me and made me sit on the couch. "You're going to sit here with Master Splinter and stay out of trouble."
"But I want to help April!" I complained standing up. I put my hands on my hips with a soft growl. "You can't expect me to just sit here!"
"You can't fight! I have to go because I know all the pass codes to the mousers and the tech. You'll only get hurt Kerry!"
"I'm not a child!"
"Your 16! I'm your guardian and you're staying here, that's final!" April said and marched away leaving me in shock. April never pulled the whole 'I'm an adult and you're a teenager' card on me. Of course we've never really fought before either so she never had a reason to. I felt hurt and utterly useless now. I was going to have to just sit here and let my new friends and my aunt go off into danger without me! I hate this. Each of the boys passed me with sympathetic looks that said they've been there before. Mikey gave me a bear hug I didn't expect, promising me a bunch of 'super-fantastic-awesome adventures' together in the future. I smiled softly and gave the big teddy bear of a turtle a hug back. Donatello patted my back as he passed. Raphael looked just about the most sympathetic with my situation. I guess he's felt the way I do plenty of times. We both have the primal instinct to protect our family and hate it when we can't. He put a hand on my head affectionately before following his brothers and April. Leonardo looked to me, pausing next to my still frame.
"Kerry, I know that this isn't what you want but honestly…it is for the best." Leonardo said in a way that made me think he was scared I'd snap at him too. "April's only looking out for you like she's supposed to, it might suck but I think later on you'll see where she's coming from." He said and then looked at me awkwardly and I mirrored the action. Were we supposed to hug or…something? I mean we only met a couple hours ago and here he is giving me profound advice. Sure Mikey gave me a hug but he's…Mikey. We ended up shaking hands, a bit awkwardly at first, and he headed out. I watched them until they were out of sight and then some. I growled softly, tossing my tote bag back on the couch. I'm too mad to finish my drawings right now. I sat on the floor next to the couch and brought my knees to my chest. I clutched them slightly as I felt hot liquid fill my green eyes. Oh gosh not now! I have a really embarrassing habit of crying when I'm really mad or upset. It's so annoying! When I'm mildly mad or simply annoyed I'm fine but when I'm passionate about what I'm arguing for or I'm simply pissed beyond of being simply 'mad' then It's like water works. My voice gets all quivery and thick, you know that annoying 'I'm about to break down a cry my eyes out' voice when I'm not about to 'break down and cry'. I heard the click of a cane and a clawed hand on my head. I looked up at Master Splinter as he watched me with knowing eyes. I felt more embarrassment and wiped furiously at my eyes.
"Come Miss Kerry." He said and began walking to the back of the lair. I stood up, having no clue what else to do, and followed him. We ended up in a dojo of sorts, much like the one my self-defense classes take place in. Master Splinter sat down on a tatami mat I believe they were called. He motioned to one of the four in front of him. I guessed this is where the boys meditate with their master. I learned about Japanese culture, along with many others, thanks to my mom. Japanese culture was always one of my favorite along with Greek, Egyptian, and Norse culture and mythology. April is always impressed with my accumulation of knowledge like that and said I'm just like my mom in that way. Well at least I have some way besides my green eyes to claim me and mom are related.
"You are very much like my second oldest, Raphael in some ways. You are passionate about family, willing to risk everything to protect the ones you love and consider family. But even this honorable trait can lead to ruin. At the same time you are brash and get narrow minded when it comes to this." I looked down a bit ashamed and embarrassed. Scratch that a lot ashamed and embarrassed. "You're an emotion fueled being, and it would cloud your judgment more if not for your…other qualities." I looked up a bit shocked now. Where was he going with all this? And how did he know so much about me in such a short time? "You are much calmer than my son, tamed by your empathetic nature, much like my son Michelangelo. You're open and trusting though on a lesser level than him. He is also artistic like you, creative in many ways. But you are held back from making friends due to your reclusive attitude, a fear acceptance from others as well as your inability to give your trust over completely. You feel as if you are not good enough. This is like Donatello, such a shy and distant boy. You are also like my oldest, Leonardo. You have within you the brilliant and clever mind that sets you apart from others. You see things differently, and it comes as a gift and a burden. You feel like the world is on your shoulders and you alone must bare it. You feel accountable for everyone else's mistakes and failures. But you are also different from my son as well. You know when enough is enough, and when guilt over things uncontrollable is necessary." He got all this from simply speaking with me for a few hours.
"Master Splinter…I mean no disrespect but…where are you going with all this." I asked shyly, lifting my head, which had lowered in shame towards the beginning of the rant.
"You are so much like my sons, and yet you are so different." Master Splinter summed up for me. "But there is one thing above all that all of you have in common." His brown eyes bored into mine deeply, as if seeing straight down into my shaking and trembling soul. "You have a flame, a burning determination and inner strength. You have a warrior's soul and heart." He said and gave me a smile. "Which is why, I am going to train you if you wish me too." Everything froze. He, he was offering to teach me Ninjutsu? A-A way to fight and defend not only me but my family?
"B-But why?" I found myself gasping out. "I'm just a girl, a nobody, someone who just randomly popped up in your life. Why should I be trained by you?"
"My family's life seems to be becoming more dangerous b the second, as well as being intertwined with you and your aunts now." He said with a grave nod. "Danger is surely ahead of you in your future. Simple 'defense' classes are not enough." He looked me in the eye again. "So Miss Kerry, what is your decision? If you say yes I will find ways to convince your Aunt to agree, which I'm sure she'll be more than happy too." I thought about it for a while actually. Was this a good idea? Then I thought of the boys and my aunt out there right now, in danger, without me there. If anything happened to my aunt I don't know what I would do…my decision was made.
"Master Splinter, I wish for you to train me. I give you my all."
It was three hours before the others got back and the time was used mostly for the beginning of my training. I didn't have to necessarily start from scratch due to my classes. I knew most of the stretches he wanted me to practice and the ones I didn't know I was determined to learn. We would focus on stretching, breathing, and medication for my first few lessons. No fighting for me anytime soon I think. But it won't be as long as it normally would thank goodness. It turns out, I like meditating a lot! It's…a different experience than I ever thought possible. I simply existed, and sometimes, it was like existing on an entirely different plane of existence. It's very difficult to explain so I'm not even going to try, but just know, I love it! Master Splinter also wished for my training to not only be taught by him, but his sons too. It was more for their benefit than mine. It might give them some much needed skills that one can only learn from teaching someone else. Also it might help me in the sense of 'mixing it up' once in awhile. I was very amused when Sensei said that relatively modern phrase. About two and half hours of the stretching, meditation, and breathing exercises he called it to an end. He didn't want to overwork me on my first day. We'd have to talk to April about getting a schedule down. I smiled and went back to my one true love, my sketch book. I slowly began putting details on the picture, adding in more details to the picture, shading, and darkening the lines up. I even let Master Splinter take a peek, the very thing Raphael tried earlier. What can I say, the rat wiggled into my heart. I was scared I upset him when he didn't say anything but then he smiled softly. He touched the picture lightly and then patted my head.
"It's very nice Miss Kerry" He said then left me to continue. It was settled I was giving it to him when I was done! Definitely!
"We're back from kicking butt and taking names!" I heard a surfer accented voice say from the door. I put my pad down and stood up quickly. I whirled around and sure enough, in came a very victorious looking group. I felt tears enter my eyes. "Aunt April!" I called out. Yeah I cry when I'm super happy to! Sue me! I flew across the room, bursting past the turtles to launch into the waiting arms of my aunt. April hugged me close, rocking back on her feet a bit from the force of my hug.
"Whoa! Wait, are these happy tears or 'I'm mad and been crying this entire time' tears?" I heard her ask and I chuckled.
"What do you think!?" I scoffed and she laughed a bit, hugging me a bit closer. "I was worried."
"I know you were, I'm sorry for making you stay behind but-…"
"I know, it was for the best and my safety." I said and threw Leonardo a glance, he turned beet red in the cheeks and looked pleased with himself. Heard a huff behind me and turned to see Mikey looking hurt.
"No hugs for your favorite nunchu-…" Mikey said but was interrupted as I gave him a hug around his neck. He grinned and swung me around. "Radical!" He said and spun me around in the hug. I laughed as he released me, walking around dizzily until Raphael steadied me with a laugh.
"Careful Mike! She's going to toss cookies if you do that again." I chuckle and leapt up to give him a hug too, which he didn't return until he got over his confusion. I then hugged Donatello who stuttered and blushed a bit. I moved to hug Leonardo, who was holding out a hand awkwardly as I turned to him. I smirked slightly and I saw him crack a smile before opening his arms and I hugged him too. We were all grinning when we heard Master approach from behind.
"Master!" The boys yelled and all hugged their father. They all began to talk animatedly about what happened.
"Alright my sons, all right. One at a time, we all have had an animated evening let's all sit down and I'll prepare some tea and something to eat."
"I'll do it Master Splinter" I said at the same time Leonardo said, "I'll do it father." We looked to each other sheepishly.
"All right both of you." Master Splinter chuckled. Leonardo touched my back and began leading me to the kitchen, behind us I heard Raphael call out to us.
"Kerry! Make sure he doesn't do the cooking please!" He called and his brothers all burst out laughing at Leonardo's expense. I looked to the blue masked turtle.
"Can't cook?" I asked him. He looked sheepish.
"Not even toast." He coughed slightly and I laughed, patting him on the back.
"It's ok Leonardo." I said and he looked to me. "I got your back." He grinned at me and nodded.
Soon after Leonardo made the tea, I made some snack food platters for the hungry teenage boys, and the story had been told we were sitting around waiting for the news to come on. Master Splinter told the others about his decision to train me and to let the boys take a crack at being 'senpai', or a type of 'higher ranked students'.
"You serious?" Leonardo asked, his eyes wide behind his mask.
"I'm a Senpai?! Mikey asked with a grin. "Finally!"
"Are you sure?" Donatello asked me.
"This is going to rock!" Raph laughed.
They boys were enthusiastic at the prospect and openly welcomed me to the team. Leonardo seemed excited at teaching a pupil. Raphael just wanted to show off his fighting skills to a 'novice'. Michelangelo was excited about having a 'girl team member.' And of course Donatello was just welcoming, saying he was also excited to teach me what he knew. April on the other hand…
"What?!" She said standing up looking at Master Splinter. "What are you thinking? She's a 16 year old girl. Why would she need to learn martial arts?"
"The same reason you wanted her to learn self-defense." Master Splinter said and April got quiet, she turned to me and we had a stare off. Finally I came out victorious as she sighed and turned to Master splinter.
"Fine, you have my consent, but if her grades began dropping or anything she's done." I sprung up to hug her around the neck.
"Thank you thank you thank you!" I squeal and Raphael laughed.
"Squeak's back!" He chuckled and I tossed a pillow at him, which of course he dodged.
"Relax April, We'll help her on her school stuff too if it becomes a problem." Donatello said shooting a grin to me. Sweet! I get a genius tutor! I'm so acing physics now!
"OK ok, besides that means I get free baby sitters." April said and I gaped at her. The boys laughed as she was less successful at dodging a flying pillow to the face. Everyone calmed down and it was settled that I'd come by everyday after school. Donatello or one of the boys would pick me up in the sewer slider from an abandoned alley way manhole near my school. After one of the boys would also take me home. I felt like an ambassador to another country with all this 'handing off' and body-guarding. Was I that pathetic?We all looked up as a newscast of today's escapades came on.
"And the police are completely perplexed about the sudden destruction of the Stocktronics Building and the disappearance of Dr. Baxter Stockman."
Splinter turned to my aunt with a worried gaze. "What will you do now, Miss O'Neil? You are most certainly out of a job." He said and I frowned.
"I'm not exactly sure." She murmured softly and Donatello grinned at her.
"We'll help you get back on your feet!" He said helpfully as Raphael pulled me to my feet from my spot on the floor.
"You guys! You've all been…great! And by guys I mean four big green talking turtles and a giant talking rat." She said putting a hand on Splinters shoulder. Leonardo smiled brightly at us all before holding out his cup.
"Here's to the new team!" He cheered and we all put our glasses together, April and I's on top of theirs. We lifted them with a cheer.
And that's how I met the turtles, the guys who would become my best friend and worst enemies at the same time. Laughter, yelling, and crying both happy and sad were in store for me. At first I thought I was an outsider in their world of almost science fiction. But that didn't turn out to be the case at all. The strings of fate had long ago bound us together, before any of us were even born.
My name is Kerry Medina, and this is my story. This is my life. And whether it be for better or worse, the storm is coming.