Authors Note: This story has been in the making for over a year, One of the reasons for this is that ive been trying to figure out the dynamics of a 15 ton armored vehicle, and just how big it would have to be. Multiple story lines have gone through my head, But this is the one that was wrote down. I think it is my favorite. I think anyways.
Disclaimer: Tmnt isnt mine, just borrowing
Crusader
Michelangelo stared at the huge amounts of foot ninja pouring into the ruined warehouse and pulled his nun chucks out. Glancing to the side he noticed his three brothers doing the same. Pulling in a deep breath, he realized this was his chance, cowardly though it was. As his brothers rushed forward to attack, he slipped backwards. He was almost to the exit when a ninja stepped in front of him. The ninja attacked instantly, his sword sliding past Mikeys nun chucks to bury itself deep in his arm. Letting out a scream of pain, Mikey attacked with his other arm. Quickly getting past the ninja, he continued on his way out. This time making it.
Once outside he stopped and looked back. Sighing softly, he started back into the building then stopped. His brothers could handle the ninjas without him. If he didn't leave now, he never would. With one last look, he turned his back and left.
Michelangelo sat up quickly, his breathing racing. Just a dream. Again. Sighing he slid off his bed and made his way out of the living area of the warehouse and into the garage part of it. Staring at the huge tan vehicle parked there, he took in its details.
So similar to the Battle Shell and yet so different. The huge vehicle was covered in mud, yet he could still see the plate glass windows , the darker brown compartments that contained the vehicles armaments, the gold logo of New Boundaries on the side. He stared at the logo for a long minute. It represented much of what his life had become. The gold circle surrounded the silhouette of a hillside with a tree on it.
"Another nightmare?"
Mikey whirled to see his navigator, Jasmine Shadowmoon standing in the doorway. The black haired, green eyed woman stared at him with understanding. "More like a memory"
She moved to stand beside him, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We will find them."
"Its been two years."
"You cant give up."
Mikey glared at her, suddenly angry. "We have searched the city, top to bottom, and even under it. New Boundaries has searched it! We cant even find April or Casey! Angel only knows that they stopped coming to see her two years ago. What are we supposed to go on? Jazz, I cant... I don't... " Mikey stopped talking as tears slowly started falling.
Jazz wrapped her arms around the shaking turtle and hugged. "We WILL find them, i know it." She rocked her friend slowly until the crying slowed to hiccups. "New Boundaries has stepped up its search to include other towns, other areas. They've been following anything that could be a lead."
Mikey wiped at his face, and nodded."I know. But sometimes it just gets to be too much. This is all my fault. If i hadn't walked out on them three years ago..."
He stopped talking as Jazz grabbed him once again and shook him. "If you hadn't walked out, we wouldn't have one of the best vehicles in the AVRA." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "If you hadn't of left, i wouldn't be alive."
Mikeys gaze jerked up to meet hers. "I don't regret that part, you know i don't. But i cant help thinking i cant find them now, because i don't deserve to."
"We know they left two days after Splinters death, Maybe they just needed to get away. They will come back."
Mikey nodded, hope reentering his eyes.
"Now what do you say we give this behemoth a bath?" Jazz's eyes gleamed as she picked up the hose and turned the water on.
In the Sewers
Leonardo watched as Donnie pulled on the hidden switch and opened the huge doors leading to the lair. Moving into the lair, he smiled a little as a sense of homecoming filled him.
"I call dibs on the shower!" Raphael made a leap to the second floor and disappeared from view.
"I'm going to make sure April and Casey made it home ok, and run a check on the lair." Donnie moved with grace towards the area off to the right where his computers and equipment still sat.
Suddenly left by himself, Leo moved to the wall of tvs and turned it on. Settling on the couch he leaned back and began watching the news. Nearly half and hour later both of his brothers joined him.
"Leo, the jungle was amazing, but there's no substitute for home." Raph landed hard on the couch beside him, while Donnie sat in a worn out chair nearby..
Raph grabbed the remote and switched the channel. Leo made a swipe for the remote and said. "Hey i was watching that!"
"Guys look." Donnies voice cut through their rough housing and drew their attention to the Tv. On the screen a tan vehicle rotated slowly
"It looks a little like the Battle Shell."
"But how could that be? You checked on it, didn't you, Don?"
Donnie nodded. "The Battle Shell is still in the room over there with the Tunneler and Sewer Slider. And all my systems show that the lair hasn't been disturbed while we were gone."
Leo leaned forward and studied the vehicle. "Is it possible that someone got a hold of your designs?"
"The Battle Shell wasn't my design, It was Mikeys. Remember? He drew it out and bugged me until i built it. I've added stuff to it of course, but the basic design was Mikeys."
Raph scowled. Talk about his younger brother bothered him. "So how do you explain that then?" He thrust a finger towards the tv screen which had changed to show a view of the vehicle racing across a large flat area.
"I suppose it could be just that the vehicle was built on the same base armored truck as the Battle Shell." Don scrutinized the vehicle which was now slamming hard against another slightly smaller armored vehicle. "What is this show anyways?"
Leo started to say he didn't know, but just then the announcer came on and he listened instead.
"Armored Vehicle Racing at its most extreme can be a dangerous sport. Today however, This is supposed to be a race across a desert track. A simple run to prove which of our racers has what it takes to make it to the final race of the season. The AVRA Racing Final is a long 3 day race, It traverses all types of terrain. From snow and frozen rivers to muddy river beds and deserts."
The announcer paused as one of the vehicles on the screen suddenly launched a salvo of missiles at the Battle Shell lookalike. The big vehicle swerved and swayed as the missiles barely missed and slammed into the road ahead of them.
"And as you can see, the terrain is only one of the dangers. With Armored vehicles loaded with defensive and offensive weaponry it is bound to be interesting. With the end of the Racing Final, a two week window will open. During that time period, any and all Armored Vehicles expecting to run in the new season must be entered. Once the window is closed, there will be no more entries accepted."
Donnie leaned forward taking in the details of the vehicles and already his mind was racing with new upgrades to make to the Battle Shell. "This is awesome, check out the weaponry on that car there." He pointed at the screen, where a small silver car was pushing its way between two larger SUV's. As they watched, several small lasers unfolded from the roof of the vehicle. A moment later thin bolts of red sliced out, aimed at the wheel of a large gold truck. The trucks wheel shredded and the vehicle swerved off the road and rolled to a stop.
"The Silver Lark has just removed the Gold Grail from the race. This small car started the season out as a rookie that everyone was certain would be too small. But boy has she proven them wrong."
The three brothers watched the rest of the race, growing more and more engrossed in the race as it continued. All three cheered as the Crusader slid sideways across the finish line.
At the end, another announcer came on. "What you have just watched was the preliminary race for the finals. The top five racers of this race went on to compete against racers from other countries. As the racing world knows, The Crusader won its 2nd AVRA Final. That's all for today, thank you for watching this re-showing of the prelims. One final note, the registration for the next season will end in two days. So if you intend to have a vehicle in the AVRA this season, you'd better start entering.
Donnie and Raph both looked at Leo, grinning. Leo stood up and backed away, his hands raised in front of him. "No Way, Absolutely not! Its too dangerous."
"Aw come on Leo, It'll be fun."
"I can fix us racing suits and upgrade the Battle Shell." Dons eyes had that look in them that said his mind was already racing with ideas.
"What if we are discovered?" Leo could feel himself about to give in. Shell, if he admitted it to himself, It did look like fun.
:"I can make the suits so that we wont be recognized."
"Ill think it over." Leo made his way towards the door, wanting to get out of the lair.
"Better think fast Leo, Registration ends tomorrow night." Raphs narrowed eyes followed their leader as he left. "He wont let us, you know"
"You don't know that."
"Would splinter have let us?
"No"
Raph let out a growl and headed towards his room, tossing over his shoulder "There's your answer."
