Dude! I feel so honored that so many of you read my story! You made my day!! Anway, here's chapter III. In this chapter I'm doing something I might regreat. LOL! Let's say my Japanese SUCKS. I know someone who speaks Japanese is going to laugh their butt off when I...try to. Anyway, just...pretend it's conversational Japanese and not the silly broken words like (English example: She ham eat it good.) shudder LOL! If anything, it will be the unintentionall humor of my story. LOL!
Disclaimer: I don't own the turtles. Because if I did, Don would be the star of TMNT 2007 and not in the background saying, "I'm telling you, sir. It's not that type of a phone line!" LOL!
Chapter III: Incomplete
"Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults." -Socrates
They arrived at the Foot tower later that night. The intention for his earlier incarceration at the fish fridge so far from Foot HQ was a precaution measure. Some measure, Don muttered, if his family believed him dead; where was the danger.
The shackles were instantly locked onto his wrist and ankles. Four guards escorted him from the rooftop to the building. They arrived at the Shredder's throne room with little delay, and Don found himself forced on his knees in an honorable bow to his enemy.
Beside the Shredder stood his adopted daughter, Karai. Eyes meet but no words exchanged. What Leo saw in this woman was beyond Don. She even looked pleased with her father's newest scientist or prisoner- Don wasn't sure witch. Hun was there too. All waiting for him apparently.
"Good to see you well, Donatello." The Shredder, unmasked, sneered. "By the looks on your brothers' faces after the battle, I feared the worst." A dark chuckle before a solemn gesture. "I assure that Dr. Stockman has informed you of your purpose here."
Don didn't trust himself to speak. All the boiling rage was rising, so he simply nodded twice. His pride was already the size of a nail; his ethics even smaller. He still wouldn't let the monsters know they've won.
Nodding at this, he motioned to some elite guards who escorted Don into a small elevator. With them, came Karai who looked hesitant before her order, but obeyed. Like a trained dog, Don mentally noted, some things don't change.
The elevator hummed, and they moved downward. Calming his frayed nervous system, Don used this time to meditate. Concentration was near to impossible. Don had his lifetime of stress already at the age of twenty, but this time…it just felt hopeless. He held to that sliver of hope that at least his family was okay.
The elevator stopped at floor 13. How ironic, Don noted to himself as he was forced to march down a dark corridor. Lining the walls were windowless doors with numbers printed on them. Made of iron, the doors held at least four locks each. Between each door was black white wall, and the ceiling was short.
Don sighed. It was the building's prison cells for disobedient ninjas and those who fought back and got caught. Florescent lights whitewashed everything in a tinge of blue.
Not wanting to seem rude, Don made polite conversation with his captor. "So, Karai? How are things? Still playing fetch with your father, I see."
"I did not want this, Dontello." Karai said defensively.
Don cut in, "Funny that you're always defending yourself when your father's not around, isn't it?"
Karai looked to Don as they walked further down the hall. "You think I'm lying."
"No." Don answered honestly, "I don't think you wanted this. You're scared Karai. You're scared of leaving the Shredder because you feel indebted to what he's done for you. Am I wrong?"
His words hit hard at something in her consciousness. She turned her head forward. "May I ask you a personal question, Donatello?"
"Sure."
"If you were in my position and your father as the Shredder, what would you do?"
Don sighed, "I can't answer that completely honestly because I'm not in your position, nor is my father creating corruption. I will say that there does come a time in our lives that we have to stand for what we believe in; no matter what anyone else says…not even our family."
"Have you ever had to make that choice?"
"I've seen Leo do it He stood between us and you."
Karai signaled for her warriors to stop, and she turned fully to him. "What do you mean by that?"
"Listen, Karai." Don sighed, "Leo sees something in you, something good. He's had to go against his family. Everyone of my other brothers, myself, and even my father have questioned his judgment. Raph even went far as to call him an idiot. But, even his entire family against him, Leo still held his ground. He still kept his belief that you have some good in you."
"Have you changed your mind about me, too? Do you understand?"
He grimiest, "I'm a prisoner of your father's. My family…they think I'm dead. I'm possibly never going to see them again. If I disobey any order given, your father…will end their lives along with countless other innocent people. Forgive me for being honest, but I…understand somewhat of your motives. However; I can't accept them. I won't."
Finally they arrived. One guard opened a cell door behind Don, but he didn't turn his glare from Karia. Behind her green eyes, Don saw the conflict that Leo spoke of. She was torn between honor and duty. There were punishments and rewards on each side, but soon she would make that choice she avoided.
Nearly shoved in the dark cell, Don glanced to see Karai shutting the door. Another ironic moment, Don grimly sighed.
There was only one light coming from a dimmed light hanging by it own wiring from the ceiling. The walls were bear with only a stack of straw for furniture.
Scoffing, Don tusked, "The Shredder needs to fire his interior decorator."
Don's hands were still chained together, and the shackles around his ankles only allowed half a step. Completely exhausted, Don slid down to the hay stack. The room smelled from its last occupant with obvious body order problems. It was a degree warmer in the cell than in the fridge back at the piers.
"I hope you're okay." Don silently whispered to the sky.
"He's where?!" April gasped.
"The Shredder's tower." Leo answered again as he pulled out a few building schematics and blueprints.
April blinked, "That's what the vision told you?"
"We heard Stockman telling Don they shouldn't keep the Shredder waiting." He said sitting down at the kitchen table. With the table cleared of half-emptied pizza boxes and cereal bowls, they had enough work space. Sitting in the pile were three Foot alarm systems the brothers managed to collect after knowing Don was alive.
"You've already infiltrated the tower before." April knowingly said, "But…Don did most of the info collecting. We're dealing with more security and a newly improved Shredder."
"We ain't got a choice." Raph said firmly. "Why are we even waiting? We should be at the tower."
"April's right." Leo said looking over the maps, "The tower has been remolded with more security systems and even more Foot ninjas. Now the Karari and the Japan ninjas are inside, it will be twice as hard as before."
Raph growled, "We don't have time for this!"
"Raph, cool it!" Leo warned, "Blowing up won't help him."
"Oh, and wasting time with gathering information that we already know will?"
"We don't know what we're up against!"
"Our brothers in there!"
"I know that!"
"STOP IT!" Mickey yelled back from his location on Don's computer. "None of this is helping; especially you guys fighting!" He turned back to Don's computer; typing quickly. "I just broke through the Shredder's security system mainframe." Raph and Leo exchanged shocked looks with April and themselves. Soon they stood behind Mickey who scanned the Shredder's building plans.
"There." Mickey huffed. "The whole building's security blueprints. Each level is broken down to how many toilets they have."
"Mickey…" Leo gasped, "I'm…speechless. How did you…"
Mickey laughed, "Don's not the only turtle with computer know-how, bro. How else do I get those wicked games without a credit card?" Raph chuckled, and Mickey rolled his eyes. "Okay, so Donnie showed me how to break into the Shredder's mainframe. There, happy?"
"Now I am." Raph glared at the screen. "Where do you think Don'll be?"
"Not sure." Mickey answered, "There's no mention of prison cells or detention centers."
Leo pointed, "How about this." Near the right hand of teh screen was a large, blue botton with the word 'DECODE'
"Decode?" Mickey looked to the button. "Why not? He could have been more descriptive. How about a button that says, 'Press here to kick my butt."
"Just click it, goof."
Mickey clicked on it, and soon the screen's format shifted. April was the first to groan. "It looks like the entire plans are written in Japanese."
"All right!" Raph cheered, making April jump, and Mickey exchanged high-fives with Leo.
"I'm confused. What so great about this?"
"It is Japanese!" Mickey smiled over his shoulder.
Leo smiled, "Hiragana Japanese, to be exact. Splinter taught us to be bilingual with English and Japanese."
"Otouto no shoushuu hiragana toshihisashiku. (It took little brother three years more.)" Raph laughed at this.
"Jikei! (Big brother!)" Mickey whined, and Leo smacked Raph's head. Mickey smiled, "otsukaresama! (Thank you!)"
"Doo itashimashite. (No problem)." Leo shrugged.
"Wait! I didn't know you guys spoke Japanese." Case came from behind April.
Leo nodded, "We're only suppose to speak English in front of you guys. It's considered rude to speak a language your friends won't understand when they're present."
"Raph's namari dewa urusai. (Raph's accent is annoying.)" Mickey laughed earning a slap from his jikei.
Leo growled, "English, Mickey. Anyway" He turned to April, "this is easily stuff. It's actually telling us more here than in English."
"Obviously, its to lead the police astray if they ever get this far." Raph said.
Mickey gasped, "There! Keimusho reberu juusan! Prison level 13!"
"Seems to be the only prison in the whole building. That has to be it!" Raph grinned. "Good job, Mickey!"
Leo nodded, "Okay, but how do we reach him. I just want to get Don and get out. No need to start a war."
"I was about to suggest the same." Splinter clicked his walking stick three times. All three brothers stood, walked over, and bowed before their master. "You three must retrieve your brother without being seen."
"Yes, sensei." In unison, they spoke.
After being kicked two dozen times, Don was finally tossed to the stone wall. Hun was having such a lovely time beating the shell out of Don, he forgot about the low ceiling. Managing to bang his head, Hun took out the frustration on the poor turtle.
Bones in his wrist were now broken, and Don choaked back a hiss of pain when he tried to stand. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth, and his vision was tilting and fizzy. Oh no, Don mentally noted offhandedly, minor concussion.
"What's wrong, freak?" Hun's tiny mouth, in his tiny head asked. "I'm going to unload two years of revenge on your ass!"
Hun sauntered into the cell and kicked Don like a green rag to the other wall. His shell hit hard and absorbed most of the force of the impact. Stone cracked where concrete hit carapace, and a few flakes and dust rained around Don's broken body.
Don now had a shattered arm, and was use to be minor, was now a major concussion.
"Can't fight back. Can't fight back. Can't even defend myself! If I even give Hun a paper cut, I'll loose everything!"
Towering over him, Hun leered as Donnie lied in his dark shadow. Rising his fist, Hun laughed devilishly.
"Hun! Stop!" Doctor Stockman ordered from the cell's entrance. Hun backed up, and Don never thought he'd live the day when he wanted to thank Doctor Baxter Stockman. "We wouldn't want you to break our slave on the first day on the job. Donatello, it's time for work. Follow me."
Standing, Don limped after the robotic doctor. He cringed each time, and held his broken arm next to his body. The chains bumping against his broken wrist was hell. He almost blacked out completely half a dozen times before arriving at the elevator.
Stockman waited patiently for his new ward but didn't laugh. When the doors were closed behind Don, Stockman said, "Makes you want to punch him back doesn't it? And you're anger only grows when you know you're defenseless."
"Yeah." Don hissed. "How do you know?"
Stockman laughed dryly, "How do you think I've come into this…existence? I'll take you to the infirmary before we begin. I'll even loan you my wheelchair…"
"That's…not necessary." Don growled. "I'm fine."
Stockman blinked, "Take my advice, Donnie. Take all the handouts you can in this place. It may save your life or buy some more time."
"I said I'm fine, Doctor." Don snarled, "And, don't call me Donnie. You haven't earned that right."
"Suit yourself." Stockman deadpanned. The doors opened and Don was escorted slowly to the sterile infirmary. Motioning to the examining table, Stockman watched Don sitting obediently.
"Now, it's my turn." Stockman laughed devilishly.
Don demanded, "What do you mean?"
"My boy. My boy." The robotic-human doctor chuckled, "The Shredder put you under my servitude. I was going to do this after you helped me with the alien technology, but first I have been fascinated with your mutated DNA. Don't worry, I'll fix you concussion and broken bones, but for my service you have to give something to me."
Ninjas surrounded the table as if expecting Don to fight back. Don looked at them angrily. They wanted an animal? They'll get their animal. Growling deeply in this throat, Don bore his teeth like a caged lion. The ninjas actually backed up with hesitant expressions to each other. Stockman only laughed.
"Now there's no reason to be rude, Donatello." Stockman's metal hand punched Don across the jaw. It was strong enough to have Don crumpling on the white sheet. There would be swelling and bruising there.
"Let's just comply with orders, shall we? That way, we all win. I get my DNA sample, and your pathetic brothers live for another day."
With an exposed shoulder, Don was soon stabbed with a needle by one of the ninja nurses. Don grunted as the syringe vacuumed a good portion of blood. The needle was removed just as harshly, and left open to the elements.
"Got enough, Doctor?" Don raged as he tired to lift his head to glare at the metal-human.
Stockman took the sample from the ninja, smiled, and nodded. "More than enough, thank you. Now for that arm of yours."
"Tomorrow!"
Leo sighed. What did he expect from his lest temperate brother?
"Yes, Raph. Tomorrow." Leo repeated as the two stood in the dojo. Both sets of weapons were unsheathed, but this was a harmless spar. Leo wasn't sure what he was thinking by telling Raph they weren't leaving until tomorrow night while Raph had dangerous sias in his hands.
"May I ask why?" Raph growled as he attacked with a flying kick.
Leo dogged it by ducking, "Because…ugh!" Leo swept under, catching Raph's unarmed leg with his arm. Soon Raph was vaulting through the air, giving Leo time to talk. "There's less ninjas at the tower after dark."
Raph was charging again, sias drawn. "What does that" he began slicing near his brother's face while blocked the blows with his swords "have to do…ah…with anything!"
"Master Splinter ordered us not be…hahi…seen." Leo said, turning his defense to offence, but Raph meet him hit by hit. Metal against metal clanked and echoed through the dojo. "Get Donnie…ahhhh…and get out!"
Taking up another tactic, Leo pushed Raph back and jumped himself a few feet backwards. Walking in a circle, facing each other, the two took a momentary break.
"Now that we know where he is; you want to take your time?!" Raph snarled. "What happened to that nut case who wanted to face forty ninjas by him self?"
"That was different." Leo panted, "We were in danger!"
Raph snapped back, "Oh, and what is Donnie in right now? Having tea with Hun?"
"We won't be much help to him if we run into a fight we can't beat!"
"What, can you tell the future now, Leo? Waiting will make little difference now!"
"Why must you always be so impulsive?!"
"They have my brother! I say that's enough reason to blow up the whole damn place!"
"I want to rescue Don just as much as you do Raph, but…"
"Then start acting like IT!"
The sparring match turned from harmless to two brothers releasing frustration and fear on each other. Attacks were more aggressive, and blows held more power behind them.
"Raphael! Leonardo! Stop this immediately!" Splinter's voice cried over the loud clank of metal. This did little, so Mickey, standing behind his master, cursed under his breath, and jumped dangerously between them.
Catching one sia and one katana in his numb chucks, Mickey stopped the fight just in time. The free sia and katana were raised to smite down who dared come between them. Seeing that it was their own brother, both elder brothers stopped.
Glaring at both, Mickey lowered his weapons; freeing his brothers. Silence stretched on for minutes as someone waited for a reaction.
"How will it look to your brother" Splinter walked up to his three sons "seeing his older brothers fighting one another instead of working together in his time of need? Now is when we must come together; not fight one another. If you do not stop this senseless fighting, I and Michelangelo will infiltrate their stronghold with you. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, master." Leo and Raph answered in dejected tones.
Splinter's eyes squinted. "Good. That is enough practice for tonight. We'll need our rest for tomorrow." Turning, the old ninja master walked back to his room. Once the door was slid closed behind him, Mickey huffed after tossing his chucks toward a random wall.
"Night, guys." Mickey said without his natural light-hearted smile. "Get some rest. Obviously, you need it."
"Mickey…I'm…" Leo called gently.
Snapping back, Mickey turned around. "Leo" he sighed "I know you guys both want Don home as much as I do. It's just…" There was a pained look in his eyes, and he turned way. "Never mind. Let's just get our brother."
Mickey returned to his less-than-clean room, and boneless on his bed. Breathing in, Mickey stared at the ceiling remembering what Donnie told them after they returned from their separate journeys when the Daimyo and Draco attacked with both the War Staff and Time Scepter.
"A race! An actually galactic, motorcycle race!" Mickey gasped in the wonder of it all.
Raph stretched, "Yep. Won to! It was a charity race, but it was rigged by this nut job. Lucky for me I was racing with a real champ, Godman Falcon. The dude had one sweet ride."
"How about you, Donnie?" Mickey asked, "You hadn't even mentioned where you went. I'm dying to know! Leo fighting with a giant snake and ninjas! Raph on his galactic motorcycle race! And I was fighting with real superheroes from another dimension!"
"I…" Don bit his lip. Then he stood, stretched, and yawned, "Don't you think that's enough story telling for one day. I'm beat."
"Come one, Don." Raph encouraged, "You can't leave us hanging like this. When we turned from our separate trips, you hugged us like no other. Then you rambled on about Mickey having both hands."
Don shrugged, "What can I say? After we split up, I was worried. Seeing you guys was a real moral buster shot, end of story."
"Come on, Don." Leo prompted, and the purple clad turtle turned to Leo was a pained expression.
Sighing, Don sat down. Already there were tears in his eyes. Surrounded by his brothers did not make it easier. Thankfully the spontaneous flashbacks had ended, but he was still waking up in the night in cold sweet. Nightmare after nightmare.
"All right." Don clutched his hands, but refused to look at anyone.
"Don." Leo concerning called, placing a hand on Don's shoulder.
Don bit his lip before blubbering. "I was transported to the future, okay? New York City, 30 years from now. The Splinter had taken over the whole world; reducing the populous to servants in labor camps. April was commander of a small resistance with Angel." Don took a deep breath, "Mickey…fond me after I was attacked by some Karia Legions. He thought I abandoned you guys for 30 years."
"Me?" Mickey sounded shocked, "I would never…"
Leo hushed his little brother. Obviously this was hard for Donnie. "The Shredder ruled like a dictator. Then…Mickey took me to Central Park, or what was left of it. Near a oak tree…was Splinter's grave. He died saving you guys, or that's what Mickey told me. Then he said we weren't a team anymore; that Raph and Leo got into a big fight. Afterwards, he took me to April's base camp where I learned that Casey passed away in a fight against the Shredder."
"I asked Mickey to get Raph and Leo for one more fight against the Shedder. We attacked his own base with all we had." Don chuckled, "Even Hun and Stockman helped. But they were soon killed." Don heaved preparing himself psychologically. "First was…" Don had to stop as he reached for Mickey's hand. He had to tell himself it wasn't true. Mickey was here; alive, and so where Raph and Leo. They weren't dead. They weren't dead.
"I had to watch you die." Don reached for Raph's hand. Oddly, he didn't cry as badly as previously feared.
"Donnie." Raph sighed, as he could only imagine how…devastating that would be.
Don shock his head, "It's fine. We won." Don swallowed and smiled. "The Shredder was destroyed. We finally did it, and I'm happy to say that future is not written in stone."
What if it is, Mickey, in the present time, wondered sadly. What if Don really left, Leo and Raph had the ultimate break up, Splinter died. What if all these horrible nightmares became their reality. Mickey could only breath knowing that if he personally saw those images; his father's grave, his brothers being murdered, he surely would crack under it all.
"We won't let that future happen." Mickey vowed. "We'll get you back, Donnie. Then we'll be a team again. We can't do it without that level head of yours."
I cried when I wrote this. Okay, so I'm the most emotional of my famly. Sorry about my sucky Japanise. LOL! Anway, thank you so much for reading! Comments, reviews, even a small 'hi' is welcomed!! Feed the hungry writer!! (BTW: That flashback happened after "The Real World" Part II and is about "Same as it Never Was")
-Weezellee
