Chapter 1: Dōsatsu (洞察)
Commencing system startup – all systems online
Identification: Unit 017213 – currently Day 10 post-activation and deployment
Designated authority Karai has issued no orders for the current time – default command: assume guard and patrol duties
Within the halls of the church building that would be the main headquarters of the Foot Clan, several robotic Foot soldiers, or Footbots as they are called, are marching quietly. There were a significant number of them, though they all moved together in pairs. Cold, unfeeling, and without question, these mechanical warriors moved efficiently in ways that proved them as the deadly forces the Kraang promised to the Foot Clan that needed them. Silent except for when in battle, no other member of the Foot thought else of them. Among the Footbots patrolling the hallways, Unit 017213 was one of them that did so alongside another unit that completed their pair.
Now resuming battle data process from the previous date -.-.-.- ERROR – Unable to process – Repeating assessment – ERROR – Unable to process -.-.-.- data processing continues to prove difficult
Breaking down data bits:
Designated authority Karai ordered Upgraded Foot soldier unit to deal with April O'Neil. The negative reaction of Karai indicated that the unit had not acted in accordance to the given order. Karai attacked the unit in response to order violation. However, order is unknown – possibility of order violation cannot be confirmed
The Footbot, while remaining silent, could only flash its eyes slowly as it continued to process the data that both coursed and looped through its brain.
Cannot confirm FOOT CLAN engaging combat with units for purposes other than training simulation without probable cause –Behavior of FOOT CLAN is concluded as: irrational – Conducting analysis into FOOT CLAN judgment
Unit 017213 continued to walk beside its partnering unit, gradually taking slower steps as it became more and more preoccupied with its analysis.
Success rate involving the use of robotic Foot units has been consistently low. Number of units that survive destruction or inflict significant damage against the enemy is almost non-existent. Members of the FOOT CLAN have issued different attack orders. Additionally, varying tactical battle strategies have been put in effect – all have proven ineffective or inefficient.
Its steps became slower and slower as the conclusions came one after the other. Eventually, the robot came to immediately stop walking, with its partner moving on as though nothing had occurred. Its eyes flashed.
Query: Is inclusion of robotic units in FOOT CLAN necessary?
In the throne room at the top of the Foot Clan headquarters, Karai rested in a kneeling position. Her eyes shut and breathing steady, she remained as still as a statue. She focused on emptying her thoughts, clearing her mind in such a way she would train herself as a kunoichi. But alas, one thought still lingered in her mind even though she tried to clear away her distractions.
Her mother…oh how she wished she could do something about it and succeed at that. From what her father, the Shredder, told her, her mother was a beautiful and kind woman who always strived to bring happiness to those she loved. This fact made it clear how undeserving of her fate she was.
Karai grit her teeth as she began to think more of it. Hamato Yoshi. The one whom the Shredder said had ended Tang Shen's life. Leonardo had told her that Yoshi was not the one who did the deed. How she refused to believe that. She would know that the turtle would say anything to protect his master, that he would refute Karai's words because if he didn't, she'd be right. Then again, the story behind the conflict would still have been different even if Leo and his brothers never met the Foot. It may have been told as an answer to a curious question. It may have been told inevitably to explain their master's behavior and state of being. Regardless, Karai and Leo both had their stories and neither were willing to change them.
One thing was for certain: the Foot are here now to wipe out Hamato Yoshi and his ninjas, and there can be no compromise, no understanding. Nothing needs to be said of them other than the fact that they needed to be wiped out. Not even with how Leo tried to make his case to Karai, that he would carefully spell out her 'errors' to her. No, nothing Leo said held any meaning. Did he not understand the pain she was going through? Did he think she would understand that he knows his master differently? Shredder tells her the truth, so it should be Leo listening to her, right?
CLANG!
In a flash, Karai dive-rolled out of the path of an oncoming sword which rang as it made contact with the stone floor. After somersaulting into a crouched battle position, she drew out her tanto as she faced her present foe. In front of her was a Foot soldier, one of the robotic ones to be precise, though the actual human soldiers haven't been seen since the creation of their robotic counterparts. Eyes narrowed and focused, Karai kept her gaze on the Footbot before making her move. She sprinted forward and swung her tanto blade. Another clang rang through the air as the blades of both kunoichi and robot connected. Karai swung her leg forward, knocking the Footbot off its feet. She was then greeted by three other Footbots landing behind her from above. Karai quickly jumped to the side to gain a clearer field of view and kept her eyes on the robots that then all turned to face her.
Training simulation in effect. Analyzing simulated foe – ID: Karai – stealth attacks are ineffective, more efficient to engage via basic battle charge
Two of the Footbots drew out their katanas while the other two took a stance. Only a few seconds had passed since both robot and human had a standoff. One Footbot then leapt forward to attack Karai. Karai slid down onto the floor and launched herself forward. She kept her gaze on the one robot that flew over her, and in that split second, pushed herself up with her arms and back-flipped, landing a kick on the robot's front. The robot tumbled forward before landing on its back.
Two more Footbots swung their blades at Karai, only for her to quickly jump away. As both ends of the robots' weapons clashed with each other on the floor, Karai dashed to the side for another strike. The two Footbots swung with their weapons again, but Karai immediately jumped up into the air and landed on their backs, bouncing off them. She landed with a roll on the floor, and stood back up again, signaling the robots to make their move.
Simulated foe – ID: Karai – has displayed skills that surpass units' normal battle programming. Switching to secondary battle functions
The Footbots, now detecting the improvement in Karai's fighting, unfolded their second pair of arms that revealed deadlier weapons. That was a secret every Footbot held within, kept hidden until the moment they faced their deadliest opponents yet. Those second arms carried a different set of weapons, ranging from sawblades to drills and even different bladed weapons unique to the ninja warrior. In any case, the revealing of these secret weapons increased the challenge for Karai.
Analyzing current battle data acquired from – Karai: Tends to evade strikes and use evasive maneuvers to enable counter-strikes. Aims for directions that leave vital areas vulnerable
The training went on, with the Footbots striking with all four arms that had weapons and Karai deflecting them with her own. For a while it remained a stalemate even with both sides rapidly evading one another. But of course, Karai decided it was time to change up the formula. With a flick of her hand, she slid out a bunch of shuriken. She thrust her hand forward, releasing the metal stars and sending them flying into the view of the robots. The four Footbots, upon seeing the shuriken, raised up their limbs in a flash to block them, which gave Karai the window she needed to land a combo of punches and kicks to knock them all down.
Looking satisfied, Karai turned away only for the Footbots to get back on their feet. She turned back around to see that their eyes were flashing, back for more. Bracing herself, Karai took out another bunch of shuriken. Keeping the blades out of sight, she slowly stepped forward and waited for the Footbots to do the same. The Footbots once again charged at her and Karai threw out her shuriken.
However, instead of blocking the strikes as they did before, half the group jumped while the other half ducked. Karai turned her eyes to the two that jumped and immediately shot out a pair of kunai. The two struck by the flying knives immediately fell from the air and landed on their backs with a thud. The remaining two split up and flanked Karai from both sides. Karai turned to one Footbot and jumped at it before drawing her tanto. When her tanto and that Footbot's sword clanged together, Karai whipped her leg at the robot's torso, kicking it to the floor. She then switched over to the remaining Footbot and once more, swung her blade. But instead of the blade connecting with a sword or even a limb, the last Footbot grabbed her wrist, the one holding the blade, and held her tight before going on to deliver several punches to her side. Karai felt the hitting knock her breath out of her lungs, but before the Footbot could finish her off with a kick, she swung upward and launched herself forward feet first. She did so with such force that the Footbot was yanked along with her and crashed to the floor on its front. The fight ended with Karai now standing with one foot on its back and holding its arm backwards, keeping a tight grip.
"Be unpredictable," Karai remarked to herself with a smirk, "still a shame even though you're built to win." She let out a sigh of relaxation. "Training is over. Return to your posts," she commanded loudly to her robots while releasing the last one's arm. She proceeded to walk back towards the stairs that led to the throne that stood at the top of the stone platform. The moon shone fully from behind as it always had.
Training simulation ended. Now resuming sentry duty
Unit 017213 got back off the stone floor without delay, sheathing its sword and retracting its secondary limbs in the process. For the moment, it thought of nothing as it went through the door and back into the dark halls. Although this time, 017213 did not find a partner. Right now, the Footbots were not required to patrol in pairs at this moment. However, even while perpetually scanning the environment for intruders, there still remained an idle mode on other functions. 017213 wasted no time making use of that mode.
Analyzing behavior of – Karai: Adapts fighting styles so that there is no predictable or consistent pattern, noting that this tactic holds similarity to that of terrapin hostiles…/…other responses displayed by Karai are normal for FOOT CLAN standards, exhibiting rational signs, though last utterance – "still a shame even though you're built to win" – carries possible implications. Karai succeeded at gaining combat advantage while units have failed, still does not explain behavior from the previous night…
017213's archive opened up briefly to scroll back to its most recent data generation before the training session.
Query: Is inclusion of robotic units in FOOT CLAN necessary? – saving query for later date – does not possess vocal and other communicative functions necessary to relay this information
017213 did not lose pace this time though, but continued in its programmed duty as commanded by its master. Even with the larger generation of data than normal, there was still without a doubt the unit remained designed as a fighter for the Foot clan. At least, that's what it's supposed to be…