High Councilman Zai looked down at the four kneeling soldiers in front of him as Michelangelo gave an account of what happened during their latest fight. He listened intently, secretly relishing in the information that more rebels had been disposed of. Zai knew he was looking at the greatest fighting team ever to be assembled. Michelangelo had grown into a great leader and warrior, and it showed. His teammates respected and looked up to him for guidance and wisdom. Though he was still young, Michelangelo was wise beyond his years. Of course, he had to be in order to survive the trials set before him by the council.
Zai nodded as Michelangelo finished recounting the mission. "Excellent work. All of you. We had high hopes for you four and you have not disappointed us."
"Thank you, High Councilman," Michelangelo said, speaking for his team.
"You have earned your rest. You are dismissed," Zai said.
The four friends bowed and got to their feet, heading for the door. The large room echoed as the heavy wooden door slammed shut behind the comrades.
"You didn't tell them?" a councilwoman asked.
Zai turned to face the other four members of the council. "Why spoil their good day?" he replied with another question.
"They are one of few remaining teams," a councilman said.
"We must replenish our dwindling supply of fighters before the rebels gain too much ground," another spoke up.
Zai raised his hands. "Brothers, relax. We have plenty of time. Thanks to Michelangelo and his team the rebels will think twice before advancing." He lowered his hands and became thoughtful. "However, you do raise a valid point. We must recruit more soldiers; show the rebels that we have the superior fighting force and that they have no chance of winning this war."
"So, what do you propose we do?" the third councilman asked.
Zai turned to look over his shoulder at the door. "Let the children rest. Soon we will send them on a recruitment mission."
"Ah yeah!" Orion whooped as the team walked out of the Council Tower and towards the bunker. "A couple days off is just what the doctor ordered."
"Just because we were praised for our efforts and dismissed with the High Councilman's good graces does not mean we have an extended period of rest," Zian said, her voice sharp.
Orion's ears flattened against his head. "Girl, you seriously need to relax," he grumbled.
"No, Zian's right," Michelangelo said. "We have to be prepared to be called upon at a moment's notice, even if we did just get back from a mission."
Orion shook his head and put his hands over his ears. "Dudes, way to kill the good vibe."
Ausk laughed. "Don't worry, little one. I'm sure the High Councilman will grant us at least one day of rest and relaxation."
Orion glared up at the man mountain. "I told you never to call me 'little one'," he scolded.
"It's fitting," Zian commented. "You are the smallest of the four of us."
"By an inch," Orion pointed out, stressing the word "inch".
Michelangelo patted the cat's shoulder. "Look on the bright side. At least people have stopped calling you 'kitten'."
Orion hissed low in his throat as his ears flattened against his head again. "I told you never to bring that up," he snarled, pointing a clawed finger at his friend.
Zian smirked. "Kitten?" she echoed. "Even more fitting."
Orion's golden eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. However, his anger was short lived and he shrieked in surprise when Ausk scooped him up and began rubbing behind his ears.
"Stop it!" Orion yelled, trying to break free of the man's grasp. "Let me go!"
"Not until you calm down," Ausk said.
Orion shook his head as he tried to dislodge the massive hand on his head. However, he was quickly losing the fight and he succumbed to the warm pleasure that was washing over his head as Ausk continued to rub behind his ears.
"Curse you," Orion grumbled as he allowed his body to go limp under Ausk's arm.
Ausk set Orion back on his feet and patted the top of his head. Orion looked up to see Michelangelo and Zian grinning at him.
"Shut up," the cat grumbled as he turned and stalked back to the bunker.
Michelangelo looked up at Ausk. "Thanks, Ausk," he said.
Ausk smiled. "Works every time," the man chuckled.
Michelangelo followed Orion to the bunker with Zian and Ausk close behind him. When they reached the bunker, the friends split up in two different directions; Michelangelo, Ausk and Orion heading towards the men's dorms while Zian headed towards the women's. Orion headed straight for his bed and fell down on to the stiff mattress, the springs in the bed squeaking under his weight.
"I'm beat," Orion moaned tiredly. "Wake me up two days from now."
Michelangelo sat down on his bed next to Orion's and started to untie his boots. "Hopefully we'll be able to catch more than just a couple hours sleep this time," he said as he pulled off the boots and socks.
Michelangelo wiggled his toes and sighed in relief. It felt good to have his feet free of the footwear. Michelangelo swung his legs on to the bed and stretched out, wincing as he heard some bones crack.
"You should get that checked out," Orion mumbled with his face half buried in his pillow after hearing the crack.
"It's nothing," Michelangelo replied.
"Say that when your shell falls off," Orion dared him.
Ausk walked over to them and placed a hand on Orion's back and Michelangelo's chest. "Hush, children. Sleep. Tomorrow is a new day. Let the calming waves of sleep take you far away from this chaos and bring you to your own peaceful world," he said in a low, soothing voice.
Within seconds, soft snores filled the dorm. Ausk smiled as he lifted his hand from Orion's back. His eyes drifted to Michelangelo's face. He saw concern and worry etched into his friend's features.
"Reclaim your dreams from the darkness that plagues you, my friend," Ausk spoke gently to the troubled turtle. "They are nothing more than projections of your imagination."
Michelangelo opened his eyes and looked up at Ausk. "Then my imagination is pretty screwed up," he whispered so that he wouldn't wake Orion.
Ausk reached up and placed his hand over Michelangelo's eyes. "Figments," he said in a hushed voice. "They cannot hurt you."
"No," Michelangelo agreed sleepily. "But something much worse can."
"Not tonight," Ausk told him. "Not under the watchful eye of the council. You are safe here, Michelangelo."
Something wet slid across Ausk's palm and he realized that Michelangelo was crying.
"Dear, child. What is it?" Ausk asked as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Why me?" Michelangelo sobbed. "Why was I the only one that got out?"
"Ah," Ausk said in understanding. "Thinking of your family again?"
Michelangelo reached up and removed his friend's hand from his eyes, looking up into the dark orbs of the older man's eyes. "Am I doing the right thing?" he asked. "Taking another person's life isn't going to bring my brothers back."
"No," Ausk agreed. "But you are bringing the ones who took your brother's lives to justice."
"But is it justice?" Michelangelo questioned. "Shouldn't they stand trial for their crimes?"
"These are questions best left for a clear and focused mind," Ausk said. "A mind clouded by fatigue and exhaustion is unreliable and chaotic. Sleep. Regain your energy, and in the morning we will discuss things further."
Michelangelo nodded and turned away as Ausk stood up and walked over to the other side of the room where his bed was located. Ausk turned to see Michelangelo curl into a ball and sighed. Every night was the same, especially nights after a mission. Michelangelo did his best to hide his pain and sadness from the others, but Ausk knew differently. Michelangelo had a different reason to fight in the council's army.
Before he was drafted, rebels had attacked Michelangelo's home, setting it ablaze and leaving everyone inside for dead. Despite his best efforts, Michelangelo couldn't save the lives of his parents and three brothers. Zai had found the teen huddled against a tree near the burned out husk of his home. The High Councilman had taken Michelangelo in and gave him a reason to keep going. Fight to bring the ones who took his family away from him to justice. Eventually he would find the ones who burned down his home.
"Sleep well, my friend," Ausk whispered. "May the guardians of sleep fill your mind with peace and happiness."