A/N: I'm leaving for vacation tomorrow so I won't be updating for at least a week. But, here's the second chapter to tide you over until then. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: see chapter one

Zai looked at the five soldiers standing before him. Zian and Ausk looked ready and alert as always. The three new recruits looked a bit nervous; but that was to be expected. After all, they were going after one of the most skilled soldiers the Cleansing had ever produced.

"You need to keep your wits about you," Zai told the soldiers. "He will resist, he will try to run, he will try to out-smart you. So, you have to be smarter and faster."

"We won't rest until Orion is caught," Zian promised.

Zai grinned slightly, a dark glint in his eyes. "The fate of Xarus rests in your capable hands," he said. He stepped to the side, revealing a glittering portal. "Now, go. Bring Orion to justice."

The five soldiers bowed and headed through the portal. Zai smiled darkly as the portal closed. Footsteps echoed off the walls as someone approached, but Zai didn't need to turn around to know who was behind him.

"I'm surprised you didn't volunteer to go," he said.

"I'm not a soldier. Plus it would be a conflict of interest."

Zai turned around to find Zaveen standing a few feet away. Her long red hair was pulled back in a high ponytail with her bangs coming down to frame her pale face. She wore a black tank top and red short skirt with a long white coat over it.

"I would just get in their way," Zaveen replied. "Besides, it wouldn't end so well if I went."

"Orion would be more submissive if you were there," Zai told her.

Zaveen looked down at the floor. "I get the feeling he would be more aggressive," she said.

Zai shrugged. "You never know."

Zaveen shook her head. "It's better this way," she said. "We'll see each other again in due time. No need to rush into things."

With that said, Zaveen turned and walked out of the portal room. Zai watched her leave. He knew that Orion and Zaveen still had feelings for each other; and he was prepared to use that to its full extent.

The dojo rang with the singing of blades. Klunk was locked in a dance with an invisible enemy as he ducked and weaved around the room. Training had ended a few hours ago, during which Splinter had given Klunk his own weapon; a set of daggers that were hidden within wrist guards. Klunk had been practicing katas all afternoon to get a good feel for the weapons. He was so absorbed in what he was doing that he didn't hear someone enter the dojo. It was only until the hair on the back of his neck stood on end and his ears twitched from a faint breath that Klunk spun around, dagger fully extended and ready to deal serious damage. There was the sound of clashing steel.

Klunk opened his eyes to see Leonardo standing behind him, sword raised; blocking the fatal strike. Klunk flicked his wrist and the dagger retracted into the wrist guard. Leonardo lowered his sword when the danger was gone.

"I can see why you were the undefeated sparring champion on Xarus," the blue masked turtle said.

Klunk looked away, a haunted look in his eyes. Leonardo tilted his head slightly, trying to see the cat's face.

"Something wrong?" he asked. "You've been silent all day."

"Nothing," Klunk replied softly.

Leonardo looked down at the sword in his hand. "Your eyes tell me differently," he said simply. He glanced back up at Klunk. "What's really going on?"

Klunk turned away from Leonardo and sighed. "Just a nightmare," he mumbled. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing if Mikey wakes up to your cries for help at night," Leonardo said.

Klunk flinched as if he had been struck. Leonardo sheathed the sword and walked up to his feline friend.

"If you don't want to talk to me, that's fine. But I think you should talk to someone."

Klunk's eyes remained fixed on the floor. He wrapped his arms around himself as heat burned behind his eyes. Leonardo turned and started walking towards the door.

"I don't want to betray you," Klunk suddenly spoke, stopping Leonardo in his tracks.

Leonardo frowned and looked back at Klunk. "Betray us?" he echoed in confusion. "How?"

Klunk held up his right arm and opened a small compartment in the wrist guard that Leonardo hadn't seen before. Leonardo walked over to see a small microchip embedded in the leather. He frowned in confusion until he remembered that while escaping Xarus, they had walked in on Klunk tampering with the portal controls.

"Why?" Leonardo asked.

"Wiping the computers wasn't enough," Klunk said. "The portals had always existed, but the council had me upgrade them that should anything happen to the main computer, there would be a back-up chip with the coordinates to the other worlds so they could still continue on with their recruiting missions."

"And that's the back-up chip?" Leonardo guessed. Klunk nodded. "So, why do you say you don't want to betray us?" Leonardo asked.

Klunk swallowed thickly before speaking. "Because I'm not the only one who knows how to fix the computers," he said.

"Who else knows?" Leonardo wanted to know.

Klunk turned around to look at him. "Zian," he replied quietly. "I taught her how to fix the computers should something happen to me. And...there's a flaw."

"A flaw with what?" Leonardo pressed.

Klunk swallowed again. "With the computers. If the computer crashes and is fixed, it will open up a portal to the last coordinates used before the crash," he explained.

Leonardo's eyes widened in horror. "Then, that means..."

"I'm putting you all in danger," Klunk said.

Zian looked around at the sprawling city of stone, steel and glass. So this was New York City. In some ways it reminded Zian of Xarus back before the war. There was movement behind her and Zian turned to see Ausk and the three other soldiers walk up.

"Anything?" she asked.

Ausk shook his head. "This city is too large. Without a tracker we have no way of finding Orion."

Zian turned back to face the city. Her eyes were cold and merciless. "Orion will pay for betraying the council," she vowed. "For betraying us."

"We will be handing our friend to his demise," Ausk pointed out, walking up beside Zian. "Do you know what she will do to him?"

Zian hesitated, but she steeled herself and the murderous look returned to her eyes. "It will be the least he deserves."

"Normally I would agree with you," Ausk said. "But this is Orion we're talking about. Our friend. Are you prepared to turn him over to a murderess?"

Zian looked up at him. "Yes," she answered coolly. "Those who defy the council deserve death. Friend or not." She turned and walked towards the other soldiers. "Keep searching," she commanded. "We will not rest until Orion has been captured."

Ausk sighed and shook his head. He wished he didn't have to do this; but he had his orders. Orion had to be brought to justice for committing treason against the High Council. Ausk looked out over the city, watching as the sun sank beyond the horizon, setting the sky ablaze with crimson and dark orange.

A blood sun, Ausk noted. The promise of a good day? Or the warning of something much more sinister?

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