5th May 2013/ New York
Karai pov:
3 days, 3 days without rest, sleep and nearly no food or water. But it is not so that I was forced to run over the city for so long. It was myself who pushed me for so long, or to be more accurate it were my thoughts who didn't let me rest.
Every time I slow down his words echo's through my head
?: "...only the truth can set you free"
What does that mean?
What does he know, what I don't?
What does that mean?
What does he know, what I don't?
This things repeat a thousand times over, if I slow down even for a second. Just like now, but I have to rest.
My legs are hurting from the constant running and jumping.
My both shoes have dark red spots from my bleeding feet.
My arms are screaming from the strain I put them through.
My hands are so raw that I can't feel my fingers.
My throat is burning from thirst.
And my stomach is cramping from hunger
But what tortures me the most are the though who don't stop screaming in my head like a hundred banshees. The things I heard and saw nearly 4 days ago...
Flashback: 2nd May 2013/ New York
The newest supply's of our "Ally" comes in today and it is my duty to supervising the trade.
Karai: "How boring"
Supervising a bunch of robots and alien who acts like ones. Is that really the out most father think I can do? Or doesn't he trust the Kraang? I can only hope so, because I don't trust them farther then I can trow... scratch that, farther then I can spit.
What was he even thinking in the beginning? Our best fighters are now Kraang robots who knows nearly all our fighting secrets and the numbers of our human soldiers has gone back. Father must know that the Kraang's are ally's who are waiting to back stab him. He can't possible be so fixed on his revenge against Hamato Yoshi that he doesn't notice that? And sometimes I have even the feeling that he would sacrifice anything for his goal even me. But he wouldn't do that, would he? No, I have no right to doubt him. The only thing I have to give him is my absolute loyalty, like he always hammered into me...
Mickelangelo: "Booooyakashaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
I am no fan of a Deus ex machina but as long it saves me from my boredom and my doubts I even welcomed those four Kappa's (Jap: river goblin).
The fight was fast and intense and I have to say, every time I see these four they are stronger then the last time. The orange Goofball surprise me the most. Four of the foot bots attacked him and he does nothing but to flicker with his nunshaku's like a tornado, the foot bots stand no chance. A few months ago they had problems to beat one with the combined power of all four. And now not even half a dozen bots can beat one of them. Next is the red grumpy, his punches and kicks a the most destructive ones in the group. On the corner of my eyes I can see how he beheaded one foot bot with a kick and impaled two Kraangs with each Sai. His power is really murderous. Then comes the violet geek, his staff is fast and thank to that hidden blade, deathly like a cobra. Whenever he let his staff rotate a foot bot or a Kraang lost a leg, arm or head. But I could see that he was only fighting on the sidelines and whenever he paused, he did throw some device between the goods.
SHIT! This guy fights with more wits than most old war hawks back home.
Karai: "Foot bots! disable the bombs!"
And like some, well robots, they do as I say. That means until...
Leonardo: "Raph!, Miky! Stop them!"
Of course how could I forgot HIM.
Raphael, Michelangelo: "Got it bro!"
And they did it like one being. A team work you see only on people who used to work together 24/7.
I have no other alternative, I have to stop him myself.
I charged at him and those two tried to stop me. The key word is tried.
Michelangelo: "DONNY! look out!"
Too late! Even after he saw me I am already to close to block or doge my sword strike! And that means whatever he does HE WILL LOSE HIS HEAD!
KATIIIING!
Leonardo: "Not so fast, Karai"
Damn it! He is faster than I thought. And with that we fought, hard.
As simple his movements were the first time I meet him, so professional are they now. When he blocks with one sword, he attacks with the other one. The gaps in his guard are nearly not existent and he can fight in any position. A fact I had to learn as he pushed me on the roof of the depot.
Damn it he know how the Nitou Ryu (Jap: two sword style invited by Miyamoto Musashi) works! He holds me on my toes and every little mistake I make he used without mercy and the worst part is that I like every second of it! It's like dancing, I move he follow, he moves I follow. It fells like we could go forever. Well we could have...
KATSHING!
We parted...
Leonardo, Karai: "Hah! Hah! Hah! Hah!..."
The short fight took a bigger tool on us than I thought and it fells great! He is really the first person who don't bore me. He is calm and no hot head like the idiots I used to fight back in Japan. He is a talented fighter without getting arrogant like some of the guys I faced. He even respect me as fighter unlike the chauvinists I meet.
?1: "Woman are no fighter"
?2: "A Woman has to stay home and let the men fight"
?3: "A Woman has to stay in the kitchen"
And so on and on. But I showed them how good a woman fighter can be. And of course they said how shameful it is to lose to a woman for a man. Well, the little fact with "A man" I could change with a kunai (Jap: trowing knife) (Note: She doesn't mean killing, what would have been more merciful)
But he is not such a man. When he is looking at me, he sees only a fighter equally to him. Sometimes in the past I even thought that no human man could go on a even ground with me and how it seems I have been right.
So why? Why I am so angry on him? And as if I am getting an answer I heard in corner of my head.
?: "Because he betrayed you..."
No, I shouldn't be angry because of this. He saw a opportunity to kill my father, his mortal enemy and used it. So why I am so angry at him? It was nothing father wouldn't have done too. Something he thought me my whole life? So why I am angry on him?
?: "Because he is not a man like your father..."
But father is the most honorable man I know. He is always winning his fights and reaches any goal he has set himself. Because he is not scared to use any means necessary to reach his goals.
?: "Always winning is not the same as behaving honorable..."
But he is honorable and used a strategy father would have used.
Honorable? No, he was only playing that part, only to deceive me. What else can you suspect from a man who was trained by him. He is no different than Hamato Yoshi the man who took my mother away from me. He took fathers love away and branded him physically as mentally. And for that we, I want my...I WANT MY...
Karai: "...REVENGE!"
My outburst was something he did not expected. But he regained his composure fast back.
Leonardo: "Revenge?...for what?"
His voice, so cold. As if he would explode when I say something wrong. But that doesn't matter to me now.
Karai: "For what? You are asking?"
He did simply nodded.
Karai: "For that what your sensei took away from me and my father! The love of a mother and a wife! Out of simply jealousy for what father had and he never would have! For the happiness he took away and the burning scars he caused on our flesh and soul! For that I want my revenge!"
Leonardo: "..."
Karai: "And don't dare to tell me that this is no valid reason to take revenge. If this is no reasons, what is it then?!"
And with that I put both of my hands on my tanto (Jap: short sword, favored by Ninjas) until my knuckle turned white and dared to burst.
He simply answered with silence, while his eyes where in the shadows. I could only hear the battle noise down the alley. He remained still what seemed like hours, until...
Leonardo: "...fool..."
One word what made me mad of rage. One word from his lips who did more than any long breathed speech could have.
Karai: "YOU DARE TO CALL ME A FOOL?! I SHOW YOU HOW MUCH OF A FOOL I AM! COME AT ME! AND WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH YOU I KILL YOUR BROTHERS!"
And with that I clenched my tanto so hard that I could fell my blood running it down. I was ready to fight till the end this time, consequences be damn and he was ready too. He took a wide stance like he wanted to dash to me. I was ready to take any attack he would trow at me. His swords were getting higher and higher and I was playing any attack he could perform from his changing stances. He lifted his sword until they were over his head. Until now I had thought about any possible way he could attack me but what he did was something I didn't expect.
Sssssssst...
He did sheathe his swords and looked at me, with eyes full of pity. I froze, how could he do something like that, in the face of a enemy who swore to kill him and his kin? I was so shocked that I didn't realized that he came closer to me, until he put his left hand firmly on my right hand, who was holding the tanto.
He did tugged firmly on my hand. First I thought he wanted to disarm me, but he put my blade on his...own throat?
Leonardo: "You have the power to kill me and my brothers right her, right now..."
With these words he looked in my eyes with a intensity, that time seemed to stop. Even if I wanted to cut his throat now, I couldn't.
Leonardo: "...but it will not satisfy your thirst for revenge, nor your pain. Only the truth can set you free"
Truth? What truth? Does he know something, what I don't know?
I looked long in his eyes, searching for sign of lies and maybe a answer. He looked long at me waiting for my judgment and he would accept it no matter what. I looked in his eyes until they widened. His grip around my hand strengthened and he took an step to me, his left hand flung around me and holding me firm. He took an second steep and trowed me down with him on me. First I thought he tricked me, then I thought, with slight hope, he was "going forward". But the truth was..."
WUUUSH!KREEEEEEE!BOOOOOM!
Leonardo was the first who was looking back. But I could not see what he saw, because he was still laying on me. But even if I could see what he was seeing I wouldn't, for that I was too transfixed on a cut on his neck. Not deep enough to kill him, but enough to be looking nasty.
I could feel his warm blood dropping on my face. My tanto still in our hands, only a few millimeters away from his wound. I was nearly in panic.
Did I do that?
Is that really what I wanted?
I did cut him! A few millimeters deeper and it would have been a mortal wound!
Did I really wanted that? I nearly killed my Leo...
Leonardo: "That crazy son of a b%&?§"
That comment stopped my near panic attack. I looked in the direction where he was looking at and saw an heavy foot bot stuck in a wall, who's right hand was transformed into a battleax. I looked more closely and saw what made Leonardo so mad. Stopping marks from where he and I stood, only moments ago, to the far wall where the foot bot was now and I understood. When Leonardo hadn't trow himself on me that piece of junk would have simply cut me in two.
Karai: "What is your malfunction?! You nearly killed me with that attack! I hope you have a good explanation for this or you go straight to the scrapyard!"
His answer was something what got me trowing up sick in a heart beat.
Foot bot: "Carrying out primary directive: Kill the ninja turtles and Hamato Yoshi, any means necessary. Directive confirmed by the Shredder"
I was outraged
Karai: "Any means, means not you can kill the daughter of your leader you pile of junk!"
With that comment the foot bot played a audio recording of my father and what I heard got down my spine like ice.
Shredder: "Attention you tin soldiers! When you see anyone of the ninja turtles or Hamato Yoshi, you have to kill them instantly! Using any means necessary, make any sacrifice you have to complete this directive! Acknowledgment code: Dead before being weak!"
That was downright crazy! Father would really sacrifice even me to get his revenge?
I had no time to recover, because the foot bot free-ed himself and charged once again for Leonardo, who was still laying on me.
WUMM!
He missed us, because Leonardo was still holding me and rolled us out the way. Two steps from the foot bot he did let go of me and I rolled two steps further away until I did stop. Leonardo wasted no time and took immediately a fighting stance with bot sword in hands. As reaction the foot bot transformed his left hand in a battleax too and attacked Leonardo. He attacked and Leonardo blocked, only to...
KATIING!
...get one of his swords broken. But his block was strong enough to stop the attack. When Leonardo was shocked over the fact that one his sword broke so he wasn't showing it, he attacked with his other sword. A slash across the chest of the foot bot, sparks were flying everywhere. Enough to heavy damage the foot bot, but not enough to stop him. The foot bot attacked with his other battleax only to be blocked again, by Leonardo still intact sword. Well intact until...
KATIING!
….now. Once again showed the destruction of one his weapons no effect on his face or body language. He blocked the attack once again barely. But he took the chance and attack the foot bot once again with the blade the foot bot broke first and cut trough the foot bots throat. Hydraulic fluids spraying everywhere. A mortal wound for a human, not for a machine. But fatal enough to slow him down greatly. The foot bot heaved booth battleax's over his head slowly. An attack even a beginner could dodge and so did Leonardo, he simply side stepped.
WUUMM!CRACK!
Not giving the foot bot another chance to attack, Leonardo plunged one of his broken blades frontal in the head of the foot bot, the other blade plunged he from behind in the energy source.
Sparks were flying, hydraulic fluids were spraying. Leonardo did beat an opponent who was stronger and faster, through pure skill.
He pulled his broken blades out the foot bot and looked at them. I could hear him mumbling depressed something.
Leonardo: "Sorry and thank you"
With these words he put the blade back into the sheaths and looked sideways to me.
Leonardo: "We have to finish this conversation another time, see ya!"
Before I could say anything he jumped down the depot.
Leonardo: "DONNY! BLAST THEM!"
Damn it! I forgot the bombs.
Donatello: "Fire in the hole!"
BOOOMM!
The bombs got up with the goods and a few foot bots and Kraang.
Karai: "Shit!"
Father will not be happy about this. But at least was this only one of three shipments and the other two where done at the same time, so the turtles couldn't take out all the goods. At least the plan worked so far but the part with "Taking out the turtles" not so good. Especially the part of the plan I didn't know about aka the foot bot who nearly cut me in two.
I had to explain to father why the plan didn't work completely and I have to ask him why he override the command of the foot bots not to harm any of us commanders.
….and what the hell did Leonardo meant with his comment?
2nd May 2013/ Foot clan HQ/ Somewhere in NY
I, Fishface and Rawsaw where kneeling before my father, the Shredder, in his throne room. Why he needed one do I not understand till today.
As everyone giving their reports was only me with bad news and father...
BAANG!
...was not happy about it.
Shredder: "FOOL! I give you a simple task of supervising a few soldiers transporting our goods and killing four mutated freaks. And you get not even that right!"
Fishface: "The master is right. We shouldn't let a girl make a mans job"
Rawsaw: "A warrior would have ended the job even for the cost of his life. A child can not understand that"
Fools! Those guys believe they could beat them? When the turtles had attacked Fishface convoy then he would ended up as Sushi thanks to the new order. And Rawsaw... well he creeps me out since his second mutation. I remember the day he came back, he told father he feels like a ninja again. Father wanted a demonstration from him and he did. We were going in a Gang hideout somewhere in NY and Rawsaw showed us what he can do. 25 tugs with pistols, knifes, bats and automatics, poor bastard they didn't even stand the ghost of a chance. The whole "Demonstration" lasted for max. 90 seconds. In my short life I did never see so much gore and blood, it was practically everywhere. After Rawsaw finished the last tug he bowed before Father. A beast bathed in blood bowing before a man in a full war armor, that let him look like the devil himself. But what really scared me was father said to the bowing Rawsaw.
Shredder: "Truly you are a ninja once again"
He can't mean that what he was saying? That "Thing" was no ninja, it was only a killing machine waiting for its next prey. A Quiet assassination had noting in common with this blood bath. Since then I started guessing on fathers motivation and his look of being a ninja.
Well even with his new power I don't think he could beat the turtles, especially when the foot bots make no differences between their commander and the enemy's.
And I can't stand guys who talk big but can't make it any better.
Karai: "With due respect father..."
I said calm, but shocking everyone. Because I did never speak against father.
Karai: "...against four "Mutated freaks" we wouldn't need our entire force her. Against four "Mutated freaks" we wouldn't need the combined force of all commanders of the foot clan. Against four "Mutated freaks" we wouldn't need to combine our force with the Kraang"
I could hear father coming closer with every sentence I was speaking. Fishface and Rawsaw were already on their retreat (Wimps). Until he stood exactly before me, but I didn't stop.
Karai: "Against four "Mutated freaks" we wouldn't lose, only against...SHINOBI! (Jap:Means highly trained ninja. Her meaning it more Ninja grand master)"
SSST!
I could feel him draw his sword so fast that I feared he would behead me, but it only rested few inches beneath my head. I could see the shimmer in the corner of my eyes.
Shredder: "Karai... are you saying that the foot clan, that I am as it leader being weak? Look at me."
And I did. In spite of him talking absolutly calm, I could see the burning rage in his eyes. In moments like this I have the feeling not facing a human being but a demon. But despite this I had to finish.
Karai: "I am saying...that only an enemy of high rank could face us in such a long time and even beat us sometimes. I am saying that our only weakness was to underestimate them, father..."
With these words I bowed once again. Waiting for whatever may come. So was I surprised to hear...
...ssssss...
...how he sheathed his sword and going back to his throne. After he took place he did say.
Shredder: "As much it pains me to say, but your are right..."
Okay...now I am sure that he killed or did my father say that I am right?
Shredder: "...Any of our strategies had one common fault. We thought we were fighting kids, who were playing ninja and not shinobi's. An error I will not repeat! I have to thank you my daughter"
If that will change something is questionable. But one thing is sure, this war will getting really bloody really soon.
Shredder: "And now, BEGONE!"
When Fishface and Rawsaw where leaving in a fast pace until they realized that I didn't move.
Shredder: "Is there something else, Karai?"
Karai: "A Question, father."
Shredder: "Speak."
I was only looking in the direction of Fishface and Rawsaw and father followed my line of sight and understood what I meant.
Shredder: "Leave us alone!"
Not wanting to test their master's patience, they did leave.
Shredder: "Well my daughter, what is your question?"
I stood up and started.
Karai: "Why did you change the main directive of the foot bots without telling me?"
He seemed to be surprised that I did notice the change of directive.
Shredder: "How did you notice?"
Karai: "One of this running scrapyards tried to cut me in two. My question, please."
He seemed to pondered my response.
Shredder: "I was tired of your failures and tired of waiting for results."
I was shocked. That couldn't be his only reason.
Karai: "Father! Isn't that a little extreme?"
His grab around the armrest tightened.
Shredder: "Commanders who don't show result to their master, lose their value and turning into sacrifice pawns."
Karai: "You would go so far? Even against your own daughter?"
Shredder: "Especially my own daughter."
With this argument ended our little strife. This argument did he used always when he justify his strictness against me. And I hated it when he was saying it. It gave him the aura of a man without mercy and I could not believe that my father was a man who didn't know mercy. Today I am not so sure about this anymore. I have more and more the feeling that there is nothing good in him. And I find myself asking: "What saw mother in him?"
Shit I am starting thinking bullshit again! I need time to cool down.
Karai: "If that is so, than allow me to take a week of, to train."
Playing the good tool who was sharping itself was always a good excuse for me for some due time of. Of course I was training too but most I was simply taking few days of.
Shredder: "A wise decision, my daughter. I need your skills at best for what is coming"
Not wanting to be there any longer I took a few spare clothes and money. I took an random hotel, payed for a week stay and put my backs in the room. But I was not there since day one and that was nearly 3 and a half days ago. Every time I tried to calm down, my head nearly did burst with questions. And so I ended up here...
END FLASHBACK
I am thirsty, hungry, tired and my body hurts like hell but my head didn't cleared one bit. I had to go back to the hotel for a little sleep, something to eat and drink and a long shower. I am smelling like a damn dump truck.
….sss...
I spine-ed around with a kunai in my hand and came face to face with a...
Miaa...
...damn cat.
I face faulted. I was really to long awake. I was starting to hear things. I really needed to sleep before I fall asleep in the middle of a jump between two buildings. I put the kunai back and turned around for the way back to the hotel, but...
?: "Miaa..."
Karai: "SHIT!"
...faced a ninja in a smiling cat mask.
I jumped backward to bring some distance between us but I did forget the wall who was in my way.
Karai: "Ummpf!"
A mistake my opponent did used immediately. He pulled out four kunais for each hand and trowed them at me. I closed my eyes waiting for my end, only that I did felled nothing. I opened my eyes and saw that the ninja was still sitting on the low wall and I was...stuck.
The ninja didn't trowed the kunais at me, he trowed them at my clothes. Impressive if you think about how tight my ninja gear is. As I observed the ninja I noticed that it wasn't a ninja, it was a kunoishi (Jap: female ninja) with a very athletic figure. In on word: a body woman would kill for and man go gaga over. But for it had an another meaning: I was facing a professional.
Karai: "What now you cat bitch? What do you want?"
I was surprised at what I became back
?: "LANGUAGE, young lady! You should look out for what you are saying to you mother."
Karai: "Eeeeeeeeehhh?!"
First I was thinking she was mocking me and as she was taking to her mouth. I thought she was stifling a laughter. But she put her other hand behind...her head?
Krrr...
She was undoing her mask! What was this woman thinking? First does she attack me and now she is showing me her face? Is she high or what?
Whatever I was thinking, my entire world came to a crashing halt when I recognized her face. A face I did only know from a few photos father gave me, photos I stared at until I did know every pixel. A face I saw so many times in my dreams, the face of my mother.
Tang Shen: "Got a cat your tongue?"
She was smiling at me and freed me of the kunais. A smile I fantasized so many times only brighter. She took my hands in hers, looking at them. Then she looked in my face while petting my hair.
Tang Shen: "You should really look better out for you, my child"
Whatever was holding me back, broke down. I jumped in her arms, crying hard. She simply put her arms around me, holding me and stroking my back. I cried long, crying whatever water and repressed emotion was in me out. Until I did fall asleep.
5th may, 2013/ New York/ Karais hotel room
Tang Shen pov:
I don't know what happened to her, to make her so restless. But at least it put me in the situation to meet her alone. My first plan was to break in the foot clan HQ, not my favorite one. So it was pure luck that I found her two days ago on one of my training routines over the roofs of the city. But what surprised me the was the fact that she wasn't stopping. The whole two days without a pause and I had my good parts of problems following her. And every time she did stop something was tormenting her and then she started to run again. I followed her until she paused for a longer time and I used the chance to face her. But first I had to nail her where she was standing, of course only to immobile her. When I showed her who I was, to say that she was shocked would be an understatement. But after I spook a few words with her she collapsed in my arms crying. I let cry until it turned into sobbing and then into snoring.
Its not funny carrying a 16 years old girl 5 blocks, at least I found her hotel key in one of her pockets. Its 10 blocks to my hideout from where I found her. So the 5 blocks with her on my back where much easier.
I am currently cocking something for her and me, we haven't eaten a decent meal in a while. And as if I spoke the catchword. I could hear her shifting in the bed.
Tang Shen: "Honey are you awake?"
And she sat up and looked at me with an asking mien.
Tang Shen: "Before you ask. Yes, I am really here and no imagination and before you ask something else, let us eat. I hope you are hungry."
Wush! Clacker!
Karai: "Humpf!"
The way she was inhaling the food, I take that as a yes. And of course I eat some too. And so we eat in silence until...
Karai: "Mother?"
Tang Shen: "What is it, honey?"
Karai: "Where were you all this time?"
Straight to the point. She has much from her Father, despite "Him" rising her.
Tang Shen: "Good question. I don't really know myself."
Karai: "...?"
Tang Shen: "Everything I remember is this one night 16 years ago and then I wake up in a hotel room here in NY with nothing but a few clothes, some money, a letter and some files on my family and enemy's."
She ate some bits more and was thinking about what I did say.
Karai: "I don't know how or why but I am happy that you are here now with me."
She smiled at me and I was happy to hear that, because I feared that she would hate me for the time I was gone.
Karai: "You have to come with me to father! He will be happy to see you again and..."
Tang Shen: "THIS MAN! Is not your father, nor my husband, lover or family...not anymore..."
Shocked at what I am was saying she could only ask.
Karai: "What do you mean Mother?"
Tang Shen: "Well, tell me everything he told you and I will tell you the truth, the entire truth."
And she told me all she knew-ed and I told her everything...
End chapter 1