Ch. 3: Casey's Origin Story
The turtles took their hurt friend back to the lair with them. Master Splinter is giving Casey tea to help with his stomach. They already explained to him what happened.
"This tea should help," Splinter says.
"Thank you, Master Splinter," Casey thanks him as he sips.
"Casey, pardon me for asking, but how do you two know Xever?" Leo asks.
"And what did your little sis mean by "you're just as responsible as him?" Mikey asks.
Casey sighs, "Well Angel means that we're both responsible for what happened to my mom. Two years ago, my parents owned this small restaurant in Brooklyn. It had been in my family for years, and my dad aims to keep it that way. I recently purchased a cool pet that no one else has. Scales and I became close. Then, my parents found out about him, and Dad flushed Scales down the toilet. I was so mad at them, that I didn't talk to them for weeks. Then, one day, Angel and I saw Xever come in. He said that his "group" are setting up shop in New York, and he wishes to offer us "protection" in exchange for an impossible fee. Dad refused his offer harshly and threaten to sick the cops on him if he should ever come back. Before he left, Xever got a good look at Angel and me and started to look unsure about something. The next night, I was gonna go for a walk to fume about what Dad did about Scales when I saw a shadow. I went over to check and saw a blue duffle bag, but I didn't care about. I was still not talking to my dad and figured it was no big deal. I kept on walking until…the fire happened. The Firemen came just as I rushed back. My dad made it out okay, as well as Angel, but my mom wasn't so lucky. The debris from the fire fell on her. She died before the firemen can get to her. We all took her death hard, but Angel took it the hardest because she and Mom were close. Something in her just snapped after that. Angel begin picking fights with gangsters and winning. She was determined to have enough strength to find and kill Xever to make him pay. She's been hunting him down ever since."
"Casey, we're so sorry," Donnie says softly.
"We know that Xever was bloodthirsty before, but to kill for extortion money…" Mikey said.
As the turtles give their condolences to Casey, Master Splinter is especially sad for because he knows what it's like lose someone you love because of someone else's evil nature.
Moments later, Casey is on the couch looking at a family photo of him, his sister, his dad, and his mom when Master Splinter approaches him.
"Casey, I am very sorry about what happened to your mother," he says.
"You shouldn't, Splinter," Casey says as he sobs, "It's my fault she died in that fire. If I had just put my anger toward my dad aside, I would have told him about the bag sooner, and we all would have gotten out of that fire, including my mom."
"Casey, that fire was not your fault at all. I know what it feels like to someone you love and wish you could have done something to change that. I'm sure the turtles already told you about how I lost my wife and Miwa, but this is what you didn't know. Before the incident, Shredder begin to berate me in front of Tang Shen. I got so angry, I punched him in the face and ended our friendship. I always feel that I should have done more to save our friendship and prevent that tragedy brought upon my family. Maybe you couldn't save your mother then, but you can save your sister now."
"But she doesn't want me to interfere."
"No, but she needs you to prevent her from going down the same dark path that claimed my friend a long time ago."
"You're right. Even if she puts an end to Xever, it won't matter if the police arrest her."
"Or if the Purple Dragons and Shredder see it as a great dishonor and go after her."
"Thanks, Splinter."