Apprentice

Chapter Two: Fraternizing with the Enemy

By: Demi4yah

Author's Note: Wow! I loved all the feedback I got on this. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys rock! I hope you like this chapter as much as the last one!

One more thing. I was thinking of doing an Interlude of the guys back in the lair. I'm not sure if I should or not. I don't want to interrupt the flow of the story as it's in Mikey's POV. I'd really like some opinions on this.

Disclaimer: I do not by any means own any characters of the TMNT.

I can feel them. They're gently trying to push into my mind and I smile. They're looking for me. They're really looking for me. I never doubt my brothers about how much they love me and each other, but it's nice to know that after all the thing they said that they actually do care.

I'm following Shredhead. He leads me to an alley that's coincidentally close to my home and comes up behind me. I swallow around the lump in my throat and hold back the tears. No need to piss him off further. He places a metal hand on my shoulder and turns me around to push my belongings into my arms.

I hug them to my chest.

"Throw it away." He orders, "You are no longer a part of your clan."

Their presences are probing desperately and it takes all my will power not to let them in. I slowly walk up to the garbage dumpster and glance down at my things.

My nunchucks. Sixteen years with them and now we have to part. So many memories, so many fights, so many battles they've helped me through. I can't stop the tears. Reluctantly, I pick up the pair and gently place them in the trash.

My belt, my elbow pads, my knees pads are next. They're all worn and torn. After sixteen years, what else would you expect? I trash it.

The Shell Cell vibrates dully, almost as if trying to jump back to life. The voices of my brothers are distorted and the static keeps interrupting. I want to press the return call button just to see if they can hear me… just so I can tell them goodbye…just to listen to their voices one last time…but that could mean the end of their lives. I don't want that on my conscious. I don't want nothing bad to happen to them.

In one move I raise it over my head and throw it. The shell cell shatters. The green and orange parts are scattered across the floor. They were probably trying to track me with the small signal it had left.

"The bandana."

I want to tell Shred head to shut up, but I think against it. One, I'm out numbered and Two, I love my brothers too much to have them harmed.

The soft fabric of the orange bandana tickles my hand. I remember Master Splinter telling us the reasons for choosing our colors. Orange meant happiness and joy, everything that I was and that I lived for. I lived to make others smile and laugh. It was my nature, it didn't bother me, it was just…right. I grip the bandana tighter. The memories, my identity, the love, the fights…its all held in this one strip of cloth. I sigh, close my eyes and let the material slip from my hands. I can't watch. It would officially mean my dismemberment from my family, my clan.

"This is just the beginning, Apprentice," Shredder says.

A shiver runs up my spine at the tone in his voice.

His head suddenly jerks to the side as if he sensed something, "Foot ninja disappear. Apprentice, you will follow me."

I want to stay. It's them. I know it is. All I want is a glimpse.

"Apprentice."

There's no joking with his tone. I back away and blend in with the shadows of the night. The glinting of Shredder's armor is the only way I know where he is. As I follow, I glance back over my shoulder. A small smile comes over me.

I see them. The three of them all bent over my scattered belongings. The faint color of their bandana tails is the only way I can tell between them as I come to a stop. They're arguing, I can tell. Raph punches the dumpster, Don is picking up my stuff, but Leo is just standing there. All my impulses tell me to run to them, to tell them what's going, to be safe.

I can't help the words that spill out. "Goodbye…" I whisper.

Leo suddenly turns his head in my direction as if he heard me.

"Aw Shell!" I mutter to myself.

They're not supposed to find me! They can't be near me! I quickly leap over the building and onto the next one before stopping to look around for that bucket head.

That's when I hear them.

"Mikey!"

Damn them!

I jump over to the building on the right after noticing a glint of metal. I can't look back, I don't want to look back. He's watching me for weakness. I can see his red eyes glowing at me as I slip into the darkness.

"Mikey!"

"Foot ninja. Attack!" Shredder commands. He's somewhere beside me, "Make sure we are not followed."

This isn't right. I'm not shouldn't to be doing this. Why me? It's usually Leo who is always in this kind of situation.

"Apprentice."

I ignore him. My eyes are glued to my brothers. I look them over, remember them, memorize them, I don't want to lose them. This will be the last time I'll ever see them again. I want to remember everything about them. Store it away and lock it up so I know why I'm doing this.

"Apprentice!"

I can hear the angry growling from Raph as he fights his way through the swarm. Leo is shell to shell with Donnie, each of them taking down as many foot as they can. They're becoming to much for them to handle.

Suddenly, I feel a pressure around my throat as I'm lifted off the ground. My air supply is cut off and I struggle to be let go. Shredder slams me against the wall by my neck, his grip tightening while I squirm and gag. I wrap my hands around the arm that's pinning me, but he doesn't loosen his hold.

"I am NOT to be ignored!" he shouts, pressing me harder against the wall, "You will obey me reptile and I want no hesitance when I do! I am your master now and you will obey me. Do I make myself clear?"

Mental Note: Never piss of Shred head. He will do physical harm. More so than Raph does.

I nod as much as I could.

He releases me and I drop to the ground. I'm on all fours as I breath in a chalk full of air into my lungs. The only sound I hear is the pounding ringing in my ears. I shake my head softly and slowly climb to my feet.

"Come Apprentice," he commands in an edgy voice.

I turn around to follow, but I can't help throwing a glance over my shoulder. Leo, Raph and Don. My brothers, my family, my clan. They are no longer those things to me. I swallow down the cry trying to burst through my throat and hold back the tears that threaten to fall before I turn and leap onto the next building.

This is the start of a tragic beginning. I can feel it.

The only thing I can think about is my brothers. I just can't shake them off my mind. If they find out what I did, will they hate me more than they already do? They would never know that I'm doing this because I'm trying to protect them.

I land easily on the next building and start up to run again only to stumble back. Oh yeah, we're already… here. I never really paid much attention to foot headquarters before, but this place is huge! They've got a floor for everything imaginable. I'm pretty sure I saw a big screen tv back on the twenty something floor.

"You are pathetic," Shredder tells me. Huh, well, he seems calm. Too bad I can't say the same for me, "You waste your potential with your foolishness and daydreams. You have yet to realize how much power you hold."

"There's a reason I'm not leader." I answer back, "So, if you want that, you might wanna go back and get the right turtle."

Shredder narrows his eyes, "You underestimate yourself far to much, reptile." He says, "I will help you see just what you hold inside."

Okay. Creeeeeeeepy.

Now I don't know if he's just being nice because I clearly see that as a trap. Shredder, nice? Ha! The day bucket breath turns nice is the day Raph officially declares that he needs anger management.

We stop before an elevator. "Take him away."

Hands start to grab at me, but I fling them off. One or two fall to the ground. "I can walk on my own." I'm surprised at the gruffness of my voice.

Shredhead only nods.

For a fraction of a second I want to run at him. Our gaze meet and it's almost like he knows what I'm thinking. I glare at him before he turns and walks I'm lead into the elevator and watch anxiously as the doors close. The two foot ninja who play my escort are talking so fast in Japanese that I can only catch small snippets of their conversation.

It goes something like 'oh la la de de da de la la somethin' somethin' here and that kame.' So, it doesn't take a genius to figure out they're talking about me 'the kame' or in English term 'turtle.' I applaud them though. At least they didn't call us frogs when we first met like those purple dragons did. The goons.

The elevator finally opens on the ninth floor. I follow along, but keep my stare on the floor. The foot ninja we pass on the way are burning a hole through my shell. They talk in low voices like high school kids when a new piece of information is revealed. No doubt they heard about me joining their clan.

This is against my will, mind you.

Now, I like being center of attention at home, but here it's annoying. I feel like I'm in some sort of circus. Haven't they ever heard of a camera? I don't notice, but my fist is balling up. Just like Raph when he gets mad. I don't really get angry, but when I do Donnie says it's a duck and cover thing with me.

"What?" I snap loudly. I couldn't take it anymore. They all return to their duties.

Ha! I got the power.

Calmness comes over me after the small outburst. Is this what Raph feels like all the time? I think I understand why he gets so angry all the time. Afterwards, you feel much better.

I turn back around and follow the foot ninja that brought me here. We enter another door, going down two flight of stairs. This place gives me the shivers. It's like the lair of the Batman, but not as cool or hi-tech.

"Dude, where are-" I'm suddenly shoved and swallowed in darkness. Metal doors close behind me with a resounding click of the lock.

Dungeon. Cage. Prison. Whatever you wanna call it, I'm in it and there is no way out.

Not knowing what to do, I grip the bars of the cage and shake them in rage. He can hear me and he can see me, I know he can. The cameras on each of the four corners of walls aren't there just for decoration.

This sucks! I scream mentally before banging my head purposefully on the bars of the cage.

I don't know how long it's been. Days, weeks, months…years? Okay, I doubt that that much time has gone by, but I can only wonder. Wasn't I supposed to be an apprentice – an accomplice? Did I bring shame to so many people that this is what's been handed to me? I can't help, but think this is all my fault.

I accept my fate.

Nothing ever changes except the procedures. Everyday I'm taken to the laboratories under Stockman's care and when I wake up I'm back in this cell. I never know what happens between that time, but every time, I have a new metal attachment fused with my skin. Or at least I think it's fused. I've try taking it off, but it's useless. The only place untouched is my plastron which I will probably get done today.

I have no idea what this is all about or how long this will keep up, but I can bet that this part of bucket head's plans.

My stomach is growling. It does that a lot now and I ignore it. My tolerance for starvations is a lot higher now. All I can do is sigh and lean against the wall, watching the metal bars for the next ninja to slip his hand between the cage and set down my weekly meal. Today is supposed to be that day. I eat it in small rations.

I couldn't tell you how sane I am. There are days when I can't even remember where I am and other times I don't think I have control over my limbs. I think it has something to do with whatever they're doing with me in the labs.

My family are the ones who are keeping me stable. I feel them all the time. They try to break through the mental barriers I've put up. I never let them through; I can't put them at risk.

The sound of rusted creaking sound of the door opening makes me look up. Oroku Saki is standing over me with a satisfying smirk. It's almost like the one Raph gives me after he disarms me in a spar.

"Excellent." He says. "The project is coming along nicely."

I narrow my eyes dangerously. My hands are balled into tight fists and my body takes a new stance, but he takes no precaution to defend himself if I was to attack, "You lied to me. There was nothing in the deal about this."

He laughs. One that makes me regret asking that question. "I do believe you have it all wrong, Michelangelo," And here I was afraid that he forgot my name. I hope he doesn't expect me to give him bonus points for that, "You agreed to be my apprentice if I let your pathetic excuse of a family live. There were no conditions or special arrangements. When you relented to me, you threw your own free will out the window," a dark look covers his expression, "I own you now, Michelangelo."

"You don't own me," I say, standing up against the weight of the attachments, "I still have free will, I do what I want."

"Did you forget about this already?" He asks pleasantly. In his hand he holds the detonation device that could explode my brothers into smithereens.

I deflate immediately. "You can't hold that against me forever."

"Dare to test me?" as soon as the words leave him, he presses and holds down on the button.

Nothing happens.

"You tricked-" before I can get out what I want to say, screaming erupts through the hallow cell we are in.

I flatten my palms against the side of my head to block out the painful cries. For a moment, I wonder if it's coming from inside the building, but suddenly hear the distinguished sound of Raphael's screams, Donnie's shouts and Leo's groans blast through.

My eyes snap open in horror. I look up to see Oroku Saki crouching down to meet me at eye level. In that time, I never realized I had dropped to my knees or that tears were already coming down my face.

"I do not bluff." He tells me softly. "If I were to release this button you're clan will be dead."

I shake my head wildly, choking with my sobs as I try to block out everything. Oroku Saki is suddenly gone, but he's still there I can sense him still crouched in front of me.

His voice rings through my mind, "The choice is yours. Either you let them live and join me or you let them die and you walk free. You have five seconds until I make the decision for you and trust me – you will not like it."

They're still yelling, they're still screaming. All I can hear is the agony in their voices.

"Five…"

Mental images suddenly flood through the moment I release my barriers. Pain. That's all I feel through them.

"Four…"

I scream too. They're pain is my pain. I know it's not as intense, but if this what a small portion of their pain feels like then I can't even imagine what they're going through.

"Three…"

I love you, bros. I'm doing this for you. Believe in me, don't give up on me.

"Two…"

Goodbye.

"One -"

"NO!" I break through from my brief meditation and clamp my hand over Saki's to keep him from letting go of the detonator. "Please, no," I whisper hoarsely, "I'll do whatever you wish, whatever you command, whatever you want. Please…"

Satisfied, Saki gets up and he does something with device before stashing away in his robes. I immediately feel a flow of relief and I smile lightly. They're okay.

"Wipe that smile off your face and follow me." He demands, "The rest of your procedure will be done in my office."

I don't hesitate for fear he might do what he did again. My pace falls in place beside him as we quickly sweep down the hall. The bright lights were harsh, but in a matter of seconds my eyes adjusted from months in that dungeon hell hole. I found it kind of weird until I notice part of my mechanical appendage blinking.

As Donnie would say, this does not look.

"What exactly are these things on my-"

"You have no permission to speak." He snaps, "All will be explained in due time."

Heavy doors open when we stop at our destination and then close behind us when we enter. His office is just as boring as Leo's room. There's nothing, but black and red all up and down the place.

"Kneel." He says. I comply, dropping to my knees as he comes to stand before me. He grins evilly, "All this time my target has been Leonardo to become my accomplice. But, you were always hiding in the shadows. You used your foolish attempts at jokes to cover up the power you have yet to discover."

"Power?" I ask in disbelief. "What power?"

"Your weight and size have a deep advantage in combat." He starts to explain, "You have agility, quick steady movements and astounding acrobatic skills, but you lack discipline and practice, which seems to be overlooked by your so called rat."

"Master Splinter." I correct instantly.

He ignores me. "You have potential to be greatness, Michelangelo. If you retrained such focus and determination, you would have that one advantage over your brother." He says, circling me like a vulture. "All you need is training, which I will do personally."

"But, I don't want any of that. I just wanna be me."

"But, you are not." Saki says, "You told them yourself that they do not take you seriously, that they take you for granted, that they never listen to what you have to say. I am giving you of that, Michelangelo just to be who you really want to be – yourself."

I'm left speechless. I can't find anything to retort to that. He must've heard the argument between me and my brothers. He knows what I want and he can give me what I want.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask.

"You are a valuable asset." He tells me, "With training in every aspect you can imagine, you will be my ultimate vision of one whom will take over my company and walk in my footsteps."

I swallow. "But-"

"You have no choice in the matter." He says. "Whatever it is that I want, you will do."

"What's with this stuff?" I motion to the metal armor fused with my skin.

"Precautions." Is all he says.

"But-" I stop in the middle of my question when he hands me a new set of nunchucks. "Whoa…"

My hand touches the cool grey steel of the new weaponry. The black and red cloth wound around it has grip enforcers so it won't fly out of my hand during a fight. In contrast to my new ones these seem highly developed and made just for me.

"I had my assistants in the lab design you an upgraded weapon of your nunchucku." He reveals, gesturing to the possessions that are now in my hands, "They will last through a battle, no wear and tear, and it will do more damage than wood will."

The word thank you comes to mind, but this is getting a little too weird.

"You've had doubts about yourself in the past. You've made mistakes, but that is now all behind you, isn't it?"

I nod slowly, "Yes."

"You belong to me now, don't you?"

"I-I-" I stutter. There's no way I can bring myself to answer.

"You don't want what I did to your brothers before happen again, do you?"

"No!" I reply loudly.

Saki smirks, "Then, I repeat, do you belong to me?"

"I do…"

"Will you obey my every command?"

"I will."

"Will you fight at my side?"

"I will."

"And will you accept take the symbol of the foot clan upon your sleeve?"

"I…" my voice trails off when Saki sticks a pin on the crisscrossing straps across my plastron. His face is expectant, waiting for my answer. "Yes."

"Excellent." He stands back and pulls something from behind his back, stringing it in front of me to take it, "This is your identity now. You are Michelangelo, no more."

I stare at the black mask. It's exactly like the orange one I've worn for so long. My throat suddenly constricts and my eyes start to get misty. A part of me refuses to accept it, but I have no other choice.

Slowly, I reach out and take it from him. I stare at the cloth before blinking and quickly tying it around my eyes.

"Follow me." He instructs, "Your training will start now."

Eh... I tried to work on my Shredder/Oroku Saki, but I'm not so good writing his character. I hope I did okay with his character.

On to the next! That's Demi4yah!