Disclaimer: The characters of Leatherhead, Renet, and Bishop belong to Mirage comics and not me.

note: There aren't many Leatherhead stories out there so I figgered I'd do one. This also has the character of Renet (the time-traveling chick from the comics), another person who you read little about. Anyway I hope you don't hate. If you do though, that's cool. This is also a Misterfooch pen-name left remainee, it falls fairly well into the continuity I'm attempting to establish.

The Time-Traveling Floosie and the Beast

To many I am known as a monster, a mutated freak of nature. To some I am known as a genius in my own right. And still to those who know me best I am simply known as Leatherhead.

Transformed by a radioactive substance I became more than just a small, thrown away baby alligator. I became a large, thrown away, baby alligator, with enhanced intellect and savage strength. I was found by those who would be my friends, Turtles who had been similarly transformed, but I attacked them at first. Soon though, we became allies, then friends, the family.

But there are times when families must break apart. When that time came, I made one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I chose to part ways with the Turtles and Master Splinter, I had my own path to find.

I didn't need much, food for travel, and a map to travel by. New York was no longer my home, I made my way South, deep South. Eventually finding myself in the secluded swamp lands of Florida. Not ideal, but it did allow me a place to call home, if only for a bit. There I would not be bothered, there I could center myself and decide who I could become. And there, if I lost control, I would cause no harm to anyone around me.

Discovering what appeared to be an old Ranger Station, I set up my home. No lights, no phone, no motor cars, not a single luxury.

For some reason the Gilligan's Island theme seemed appropriate, forgive me my friends.

Time passed on, and I was content, not happy, just content. Though I longed for my friends and family from New York. Perhaps one day we would meet again. Truthfully, Fate is a fickle mistress, she was never certain.

I learned to live from the land, my diet consisting of mostly fish and whatever vegetables I could grow in the land. Though living in seclusion had it's downside as well, my more primal side began to grow. I needed contact with another living being, or I would go completely insane.

Keeping journals of my life I could see how I was regressing, my writing became illegible, by context consisted of smaller words, and the lengths of my passages shortened drastically. I could feel my humanity, if you wish to call it that, slipping. Before too much longer even my journals would no longer be updated.

My only companionship were two frogs that seemed to think that my home was their property. They had tried to take it over, and to that ends I called one Napoleon and the other Genghis. Silly names I know, but they seemed appropriate.

Not even my frog friends could keep me company any longer, I needed intelligent companionship.

Setting out to fish one day I came to a part of the swamp I had yet to explore. There I heard voices, or what seemed to be voices to the best of my recollection. I remained under the water as I approached the voices. They were only children, one a girl no older than six, the other a boy of at least 13. The children appeared to be badly beaten and bruised. The boy carrying the girl on his shoulder as he attempted to run, the girl bleeding profusely from her side.

What were they running from, I must investigate. From behind the children several men, all dressed in black, came running, appearing to chase the children. One of the men raised a handgun in the direction of the boy. That could not be allowed.

Bursting from the water I let out a monstrous roar. My anger filling me, taking control. The men all froze in their tracks, as did the children. One man screamed out in anger, though I could not understand what he said, my savage side completely taking over.

Lashing out I grabbed one of the men, ripping his arms from his body, there was nothing he could do but bleed. Another angled his rifle at me, firing several times, mostly just bruising my hide, barely penetrating my skin. He to met with an untimely demise as I grabbed the rifle from his hands breaking it in two. Two men were left, one wreaked of waste, fear causing his bowels to release, he turned and ran impaling himself on a nearby rock. The last man stood strong though, he seemed to be solid as a rock, not fearing me in the least, and showing no compassion for those who had come with him.

Attempting to grab the man, he leapt out of my way, bringing himself behind me. Ripping around, I came face to face with the man. Once again I lunged for him, once again he dodged the attack. The man then pulled a large, metal claw from his jacket, pulling it onto his left hand. He swung, the metal tore my flesh, I began to bleed. No longer any semblance of humanity remained, I had become the monster, and I fought without pity.

The man jumped again, swinging his claw hard across my face, all sight in my left eye gone. I could feel the blood pouring form it's socket. I cared not, catching his clawed hand in my own I crushed his fingers, all snapping simultaneously, he cringed in pain, but fought on. He was quick and strong, but Leatherhead was quicker and stronger, I slashed out, claws tearing open his stomach, blood poured out.

Looking up at me the man smiled a wicked smile, "Well fought Leatherhead, but this shan't be the last time you meet Bishop."

The man seemed to just disappear. How did he know my name?

Facing the children I saw them huddled together, afraid for their lives. Slowly I began to calm, regaining my composure I approached the children. The girl was crying, but the boy looked at me stone-faced, "I'm not afraid of you."

He was brave, or foolish, but I had completely regained control, I meant them no harm. Reaching out my hand, "Allow me to examine the girl, I believe I can help her."

The boy pulled back, hugging the girl tight, "You...You...You can talk?"

I made no sudden movements as I reached out to the children, the boy could walk but could no longer carry the girl, he was tired. I attempted to lift the girl, as she still cried. The boy first gave resistance until he was convinced I wanted to help. Cradling the girl gently in my arms I lead the two humans to my home.

I treated the girl the best I could, with what few first aid supplies were in the station, she soon fell asleep. I then wrapped my injury to the face, the claw had blinded my left eye, but I would survive.

"What are you? How did you do that to those men?"

"My name is Leatherhead, I am a mutant, it is a long story for another time. And I'm sorry you had to witness that..."

"Call me Des, that's Dee, my sister. Well not really my sister, but we been together for a long time so she's like my sister."

"Well Des, I am sorry you and Dee had to witness that. Forgive me?" I bowed my head low from respect, I'd picked that up from the Turtles.

"Sorry? For what, those men was tryin to kill us, and they ain't gonna stop. More of 'em will come. They ain't gonna give up that easy."

"Why are they after you two?"

"Well, cuz I kinda stole something from them that was pretty important, some kinda scepter I think. But it got busted a while back, they still want it though."

"Can you not just give it back?"

"I can't I promised Renet I'd keep it safe."

It seemed I had gotten caught up in something bigger than I first knew. I asked who Renet was and Des told me she was his big sis, and that she was still help capture by the men that chased he and Dee. I also learned the scepter once held some ancient powers dealing with immortality and time travel, but it no longer worked since it had been shattered.. The men who wanted it had kept Renet alive, believing she could repair the scepter. There was more to the story, but Des didn't know it. He said that if we could save Renet she'd know more.

Dee began to move about on the bed where I had treated her. Sitting up she cringed at the pain in her side. Des rushed to her side and assured her I wasn't a bad guy. Dee eyed me curiously, but then relaxed.

"Hey, Des is the big alligator gonna keep us safe from the bad men?"

Des didn't even get to speak before I jumped in, "I swear it Dee, you and Des will be safe with me for as long as you wish to stay."

Dee smiled, before the pain kicked in again, "What about Renet, are we gonna save her?"

I looked at the girl's eyes and melted like a big ole puppy, "Yes, we'll get Renet out, but first we need to get you better."

Dee nodded as she lay back down.

Des came over to me, "Leatherhead, is she gonna be alright, I mean if I can do anything I will."

"She'll be fine Des, but we will worry more about it tomorrow, get some sleep."

"What if they come back at night?"

"They'll regret it, I promise you that."

Des looked like he believed me, and found his way into a chair I had nearby, and he fell fast asleep. I to made my way to the front door and sat on the ground there falling asleep, if anyone so much as tried to enter my home, they would never survive.

Remember, I am a genious, I am strong, I am fierce, and I am a monster...