lizzybudd: Poor Paige indeed. She's got a lot in front of her now, to say the least. I like how you liked the broken promises theme since I really tried to hammer that home. Paige needs someone and Karai (you are correct!) just happened upon her. Her hatred for promises will continue throughout the story, for sure. Thanks a bunch!

BlueBoltKatana: I will never forget my other fanfictions, don't you worry! I've actually had this idea in my head for a good while now but I didn't want to post it because I feared I'd let "Flash" slide by the wayside. I will do my best to stay on top of both stories at the same time, you have my word. Also, thank you!

Guest: I'm sorry you feel that way. :( Brainwashing is definitely over now so we can kick back and enjoy the story properly, at least I hope you do. Thanks for your review.

prangersturtles: Thank you! That's so kind!

AlessandraDC: I really wanted readers to know Paige as quickly as possible: where she is, where she came from. Her future is rather hazy but at least there will be trouble. ;)

Author's Note: Paige is no longer human...

Chapter 2: The Elite Five

Oroku Karai smiles to herself as she views her five new pets. All are perfect specimens and she has never been prouder of her selections. Many of the selected humans took weeks, some even months, to track down and break but, oh, the rewards she is reaping. Her patience has won out at last.

Even her own father expressed his opinion - "Well done, Daughter" - in a voice that betrayed no emotion but the words were sincere enough. He stands beside her now, taking in the newest additions to their Foot Clan.

"They are impressive," he murmurs.

"Yes," she replies.

"And their minds?"

"Operational and loyal." She says it with not even an iota of doubt.

"Magnificent." Saki's eyes rove over the five mutants in front of him in their respective glass enclosures, just as Karai's do.

The male Lion, the male White Tiger, the male Jaguar, the female Lynx and the female Snow Leopard. All beautiful. All controlled. All hers.

Her own personal guard. Her Elite Five.

-:-:-:-

She sits on her haunches, her paws gathered neatly before her, on the dais beside her mistress. Her gray-green gaze is icy and her expression gives nothing away but polite interest as she watches the combat session. It's White Tiger versus Jaguar at the moment and she can see that the smaller, spotted cat is having a rough go: none of his hits have landed and he's bleeding from claws marks above his left eye and she's sure his left shoulder is bleeding beneath his black uniform. White Tiger glances at Mistress, she nods, and the massive animal bares his teeth in a roar that shakes the walls. He kicks out with both hind feet, striking Jaguar squarely in the chest. Jaguar crashes to the floor but makes no noise of pain – it is not permitted. White Tiger turns to the dais and bows.

"Well done," Mistress praises, her head arched and her jade eyes lofty. "Snow Leopard?"

While Jaguar picks himself up and retreats off the mat, Snow Leopard rises to her hind feet yet stays crouched so that her hands brush the floor because they are not allowed to stand erect except in combat.

As she steps forward, Mistress brushes her spine and she arches automatically against the hand, enjoying the touch. "Don't disappoint me," she says.

Snow Leopard meets that powerful, green stare and nods. After all, has she ever disappointed her?

She strides forward, tightening the obi around her waist to keep her kosode secure, and White Tiger steps back, giving her space as she steps onto the mat. They turn, synchronized and silent, and bow to Mistress who lifts her hand to signal the match. They bow to each other and Snow Leopard sidesteps when White Tiger charges. After training together for as long as she can remember, she knows all his tricks, strengths and weakness, just as he knows all of hers. He knows she waits, and he knows that she knows he likes to end the session as quickly as possible.

It is too bad that he is not more patient, she thinks as she skips back and out of reach of White Tiger's claws. She allows herself a tiny smirk when he misses again and he snarls wordlessly at her.

"Quit baiting him, Snow Leopard. This is training, not playtime."

Snow Leopard obediently inclines her head in her mistress's direction and then lunges forward. Springing off the balls of her feet and using her tail for extra momentum, she catches those tender, black-striped, white ears in her claws and lands on his back. Her weight drives him into the ground but he's already moving. He twists but she follows, compensating his strength with her agility. Her fangs tear into his flesh only a fraction, just enough to draw blood but not enough to do serious damage. They grapple on the floor in a mash of white and black, and silver, gold and black, tails lashing and teeth flashing mere millimeters from each other's face.

At last, she's on top of him and one hakama-covered knee is pressed into his throat, the claws of her right hand directly over his closed eyes. He uses his tail to tap the floor, conceding victory.

"Excellent!" Mistress smiles as she stands, and Snow Leopard gets to her feet, crouching to half her height. Mistress draws near and cards her fingers through the thick fur around her neck. "Most excellent," she simpers.

Snow Leopard can't help but respond to the praise with a low purr, nuzzling the hand. Behind her, she smells White Tiger's disappointment; he rarely gets petted.

"My pets," says Mistress, beckoning with her other hand.

Out of the shadows surrounding the dojo come Jaguar, Lion and Lynx. Lynx is the only other female and the two females are close; they share a discreet smile. Lion is pack leader and Snow Leopard admires his confidence as much as she admires the muscles in his arms and back when he does not wear his kosode (which he is right now).

"My pets," Mistress says again, dropping her hand from Snow Leopard's neck. "I have a treat for you. Tonight, we are going out."

"Out, Mistress?" Lion asks, his quiet voice a rumble of distant thunder. "Outside the Tower?"

"Yes, my precious ones. Father has a task for us and we would do well to accomplish it."

All five heads nod. Father of Mistress is a hard but fair man – Snow Leopard has seen him cull followers who failed him. Failure is not tolerated. Not by him and not by Mistress.

"We leave shortly after dusk so make sure you are rested for tonight. We may be out for several hours. Understood?"

"Yes, Mistress," all five say.

"Very good. Lion, Snow Leopard, walk with me. I have details to share with you."

Mistress turns and Snow Leopard allows Lion to move first so he can take up position on Mistress's right. She stays on Mistress's left. She wonders what is so important that it could not be divulged to the others. Perhaps it is another task?

Her intuition is spot on because Mistress says, "You two are my most trusted and so I must ask you to help me with something."

"We are yours to command, Mistress," she pledges.

That earns her a smile and a quick brush over her ears with a hand. "I know. There is a possibility that our task tonight might be…interrupted. There are four formidable ninja who continuously waylay my father's plans."

Lion snorts. "What are four to a whole clan?" It is because he is leader that he is allowed to ask questions. Snow Leopard is not leader so she remains quiet. She also does not react, and watches her mistress's face.

Jade eyes harden. "Those four have almost brought about the destruction of the entire Foot Clan more than a dozen times since we met them. You should not underestimate your enemy, Lion."

Lion immediately sobers. "Forgive me, Mistress. I meant no disrespect."

"I'm sure," she replied curtly. "Few in number though they are, they are skilled in the art of ninjutsu but there is one place in which they are vulnerable…" She trails off meaningfully and Snow Leopard tilts her head to one side. "They are brothers."

Snow Leopard blinks.

"Brothers in…blood?" Lion asks, his amber eyes round. The concept of family is strange to them, as none of the Five are related and even Mistress and Father of Mistress do not share blood.

"Yes, and therein lies their weakness. Their leader, especially, takes his brothers' safety very seriously. Harm one of them and you will cripple the entire unit."

While Lion smiles and nods, Snow Leopard frowns and she pinches a whisker between her thumb and forefinger. "And risk their wrath, Mistress," she points out. "Bonds such as brotherhood should not be taken lightly. We might cripple them or we might ensure our demise. You say they have almost destroyed our clan before. You say we should not underestimate them. This, I think, is underestimating them."

Cold, hard eyes land on her and she crouches lower to the ground, flattening her ears in respect. Behind her, Lion pulls his lips back over his massive teeth.

"You doubt me, Snow Leopard?" Mistress hisses.

"Never, Mistress. I am only concerned in the success of the task Father of Mistress has set for you. He does not tolerate failure."

Something flashes through those green irises because Mistress nods and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You are correct, Snow Leopard, and I appreciate your concern. That is why you are Lion's second. You have the patience and the mind to look at all angles before acting." She crosses her arms over her chest and leans her weight back on her right foot, thinking. Lion and Snow Leopard wait patiently.

"Here then," she says at last. "White Tiger, Jaguar and Lynx will assist me with the task. Your task will be to keep an eye out for these ninja. Lure them out and to you if you can, then…strike."

Snow Leopard inclines her head, her tongue burning to ask a question.

Thank goodness for Lion: "How will we know when we've found them?"

"Trust me, Lion, you will know; for they are like you in that they are not human. They are turtles."

Snow Leopard and her leader share a look. Ninja turtles? How…cute. She reveals her teeth in a predator's smile and Lion matches it: the hunt is on.

-:-

Translations:

Obi - sash

Kosode - short-sleeved shirt, usually worn beneath a haori, with traditional hakama pants

Hakama - wide pants. While hakama for men can be worn for formal or informal occasions, women do not tend to wear them outside of formal functions and traditional sports, preferring the kimono.

For the sake of simplicity and my own sanity, all of the Elite Five wear a uniform consisting of a black kosode, black hakama, a black obi and, on certain occasions, a black haori (long-sleeved, open jacket). While I do not profess to be any kind of expert on Japanese dress, I understand that parts of (if not the whole of) the outfit were used by both ninja and samurai (though samurai was more heavily mentioned and ninja sometimes not at all).

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