Heroes in the Half-Shell

Chapter 2 – The Vigilante

Disclaimer:I do not repeat DO NOT own TMNT and crew in any way cause they belong to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird (Only knows as the Greatest Guys on Earth!). Other characters like a certain OC that happen in these fanfic rightfully belongs to me and only ME!

Announcement from our writer: Hey guys! Well, here is the first chapter like I promise. I got a few followers down which will be mention in a sec. I will still be doing my other stories, I promise. My big one – The Saint's Hope – is going to be done, if I use my time wisely, three years tops. That's all I know. I swear!

From the reviews/PMs that I got, I will answer them:

To Sydney (Guest)

DO CONTINUE THIS PLEASE

I WILL! THANKS!

And thanks for M-Preg Angel and Hellman76 for adding me and the story to their favourites. Love to have fans to come around all the time.

Here comes the second chapter.

(The docks, Manhattan, NY – 7:30am)

The sun has already risen on the clear sky of New York.

Honks and sirens of cars and buses were bustling in the streets of the Big Apple. Many people at this time of the day are up for the daily dose of work, school or play. The tension in the air was clear but not peaceful.

New York has always been in danger. From both within and out of the shadows.

It was one of the rarest times that the city has been at peace. A growing darkness had been overshadowing the edge of the city for many years now and it has always been like that. Nothing or no-one has been able to put a stop to it. A number of places like the streets or underground places are the ideal location where, like roaches, it has been undertaken by a mysterious force that is gripping control of the entire city. If successful, the entire world will be a doorstop away.

And this certain place has got two particular ladies to wake up early and head their way to the docks. Once they heard of a huge activity that has happened down at the harbors, they wasted no time to check it out.

One has a notepad and pen, the other has her video camera. They were both racing after the man that the eldest wants to meet. The youngest was now recording the whole action.

The oldest was wearing her yellow leather jacket with a purple zipped-up hoodie and a grey shirt underneath. She has a pair of dark blue jeans and a pair of high ankle boots. Her hair is a long dark auburn colour with no bangs and her fingernails are painted in green. April O'Neil was at the age of 24 and she a reporter for Channel 6 News for a few years now which explains the lanyard around her neck.

Her youngest companion is at the age of 15 has a dark purple beanie over her shoulder-length brown hair. She is wearing a long green cargo jacket with a black blue top with a white outline picture of a Yin-Yang. She has a pair of blue shorts with black high knee socks. She also has a pair of fingerless sleeve gloves with a skull-shape on it. On her feet is a pair of pink High-Tops and her fingernails are too painted but in bright white. She has been living with the older women for almost two years. She used to live with her father but he was sent for an important trip so he couldn't bring his daughter along. Sally Hope too has the lanyard but she is working on an internship at the news station.

The reason that the girls know each other is that both their dads were college roommates many years ago. They were in the same course as each other and have got opportunities to work in the Big Apple. They were both involved in an immense project that would change the world as they quote. Everything was going great…that until a fire changed its destiny. April's father also paid the ultimate price. Sally was born a few months after the Big Disaster. So, the teen today would have never got a chance to meet her friend's father. And Dr. Hope acted as the father figure to both of the girls. To this day, April still can't over the fact of her father's death. It has not been easy for her at the age of 8.

"Mr. Rivetti!" the reporter herself calls out. She and her friend were trying to get his attention while all he wants to do is get back to work. Something big that has happened and it needs to be taken care of. "Mr. Rivetti. Mr. Rivetti, please."

They have finally caught up with the head Dock Worker who slows down to talk. He knows that they are not going to leave him be. He might as well tell them.

"You two are the most persistent humans I've ever met in my life, I swear," he admits. But he doesn't stop walking which causes April and Sally to walk backward. The reporter gets ready to write down her notes while the teenager has already aim the camera now recording at Mr. Rivetti, in case April forgets to write any important info. "Look, I already told the cops everything, all right?" By the sound of his tone, he really needs to get to work.

"But maybe there's a detail you could've forgotten to share with the police," April fussed. Her pen and paper were ready.

"Sweetheart, you don't forget something like that. Ten guys storm in here – broad daylight – force us to the ground at gunpoint." He then points to one of the cargo not too far from them. "And these are restricted chemicals." As he mentions the last words, Sally whips her camera to the shipment. It was blocked off thanks to the police tape earlier. She brings the camera right back to the interviewee. "Benzyl cyanide and some deaminating agents, too. You don't buy this stuff, even on the black market." In other words, they are very hard to get a hold of them and for obvious reasons, the crew behind the attack, have an interest on obtaining them.

He should know that every reporter would have this information and be done with it but April was staying and wanted more.

"Wait, you said deaminating agents, those are used in genetic research," the young woman explained.

This girl has done her research. She is persisted. Mr. Rivetti has stopped walking, giving the chance for April to flip a paper over and press onwards. "Is there anybody else that's trafficking these sort of chemicals besides you?"

Coming from where April and Sally ran from was their driver. Wearing his sunnies, a black jacket with a light grey top underneath, a pair of blue jeans and big brown boots was April's cameraman and a good friend to the girls - Vern Fenwick. For the past years of knowing the two women, Vern has acted like not just a co-worker by also a good friend to them. For Sally, he was like a cool uncle in his opinion while for April; he is always trying to personally win over his attractive female colleague for himself, even making corny jokes just to get her attention. The teenager of the group can easily see through his anaemic affections for her roommate.

With his sunnies on & his lanyard around his neck and looking at his watch, he was just waiting patiently beside the Channel 6 News van. If he waits any longer, they will be late.

"There's one other high-security facility along this waterfront," Mr. Rivetti answered before looking at their friend from the singular vehicle. "But they don't move nearly as much cargo as we do."

The girls – mostly April – have dragged him to the docks to get a possible report on the notorious gang that have invaded the area and stole the substances. But since this story has not been authorised by their boss, they have to hurry to their actual report.

Vern walks a foot towards the interviewer, the interviewee and the young camerawomen. "O'Neil! Hope! We're live in 30 minutes! Come on!" To prove his point, he taps his finger on his wristwatch, indicating them that they need to speed up.

Annoyed, Sally drops her arm to the side but doesn't drop her camera. "Uhh, now?" She turns to her friend who was frustrated as she was and gives her a shrugs.

But April doesn't want to leave. Not when she was getting a new direction on her story. "Uh…" she looks back Mr. Rivetti who was just about to leave. "No, no, no, I'll be right back. Please don't go anywhere. I'll be right back," the reporter avowed as she and Sally both rushed back to Vern.

As they get closer to him, they can note the annoyance on his face. "Come on, you two are killing me." Vern is the kind of person who hates to joke around when they are on the job.

"And you just really like to cut into our good time, right, Vern?" Sally kindly retorted. The story was getting a bit interested and Vern has cut the session short.

"I'm working," April bleated.

Vern points to the interviewee. "That's a paying job?"

April rolled her eyes. "No…"

"…because we have an actual paying job," the older person of the group added. He opens the driver's door. "Look, you don't think that every crime reporter in this city has been trying to work this Foot Clan story?"

On every news channel, there is a Foot Clan story. It has always been happening for many years now. Every crime reporter as Vern would say, have been trying to find the truth behind the terrorist group. Including April and Sally.

"We know that, but there is a new angle on this, and I am this close to getting it," April breathlessly states as giving the small hand gesture of the exact term. She then points the same hand to her interviewee. " I just need a couple of more…"

…and has left.

April signs in defeat and drops her hand. Great. So much of getting the story of the century.

Recognizing her friend's exasperation, Sally turns her camera off and places a hand the lady's shoulder. "Next time." April turns to her friend. She nods in agreement. Next time.

"Let's just stick to what we're good at," Vern reassures them, but they gloomily (mostly April) walk away to the other side of the van. The man once again cheers them up. "Let's stick to what we're good at. We're good at it."

He always tries to the good side to their job. But April doesn't agree so.

As predicated, they made to the site with 10 minutes to spare. Plus, getting something to eat on the way here didn't waste any time at all unlike the major story that April and Sally are trying uncover.

At the site of today's report was in the heart of the Big Apple as April is interviewing a special person today who is unveiling an exhibition. The site is also barricade by metal fences so that way, nobody would move past in front of April as she does her report or come any closer to any of the gear that are set up or lying around. But they are allowed to watch the scene. Lights and equipment were set up all over the place. April also brought a change of clothes for this particular interview. She is wearing a purple long-sleeve fitness top with a black jacket, leggings and a pair of runners.

Chewing on a piece of gum, Vern has the large video camera resting on his shoulder while Sally was standing right behind him with camera with a zoom lens attachment. April has let the teenager to stay and take a few photos for her blog that she has going on before she head for school. She has been doing this for nearly a year. Her blog entitled of all the interesting things that are happening in New York, plus getting a few shots of her hard-working friend.

"In five, four…" Vern then uses his free hand to finishing counting down the remaining numbers. That way, the viewers at home would not hear his voices. Instead, there is upbeat music playing in the background as a selection of people exercising on trampolines.

Despite not getting what she needs today, April decided to put on a smile. Just for her small appearance. She is holding her mic to her mouth. "Hey, guys, this is April O'Neil from Channel 6 News and I am here in beautiful New York City on the first day of spring. And you know what that means. It is time to shed that pesky winter weight. And here with me today is celebrity fitness trainer Harley Pasternak," the reporter introduces herself and her guest, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Hi, Harley." She holds the mic to him.

"Good morning, April," he replies. Interviewing celebrities was part of April's daily life and Sally was lucky enough to be part of it. She can't wait to show her classmates the photos of a superstar that she just met.

The fitness guru pressed on as Vern gets a bit closer. Sally remained where she is standing. "Twenty years I've studied the animal kingdom. There are fat pigs, there are fat cows. There are no fat birds."

He then directs April to one of the free trampolines for her to try the trial. "All right, I want you to visualize a sexy seagull." Vern moves a bit away for them to pass. Now on the mini trampoline, April straps some weights for her ankles, while still holding her mic. "So we're going to squat down and flap your wings. Right over there. Full extension."

April is now jumping up and down, just like how everyone else and how Harley instructed her to do. Vern even flapped his free hand to do so. Sally is taking more photos of the demonstration. Harley now stops the example but everyone else keeps on going as he continues the lecture. "Picture you're leaving the cold north and you're flying. You're migrating."

This went on for another 30 minutes.

Sitting on the edge of the open van was the photographer herself. Looking through the 20 pics that she has taken and figuring out which ones would she show her classmates and put on her blog. Vern was packing up the camera and equipment before heading back to the office.

As for April, she has taken the time to go the lavatories to get changed back into her usual attire. She left her favourite jacket on a camera stand. On camera, she may have put on a friendly face. But off camera, she now has the same look when she couldn't get her story this morning. Sullen.

April has finally returned as she grabs her jacket from the stand. "Four years of journalism school so that I can do that," she complains. All the hard work that she put through to get a fantastic job. But this…this is not what she had in mind. She then puts one arm through the first sleeve of her jacket. "Four years of my life, guys. It's embarrassing."

She wants to do something bigger. Something better, rather than small news pieces that will get her nowhere. How is she going to prove herself to the world? Now, it was Vern's turn to sense the frustration in her tone. It was time for one of his pep talks and maybe something to actually cheer her up. He finishes placing the stand inside the van, takes his sunnies off and clips them onto his lanyard.

"Look, O'Neil, I get it,…" he turns to face her and Sally, but mostly looking at April, "…you want to be a serious journalist. I see you sniffing around the newsroom for the big stories. But it's okay to just give people something a little lighter. A little…little froth."

Sally looks up from her camera and she and April looked at him funny. What is he getting at?

"Froth?" they both spoke. April begins to smile a bit but Sally raises an eyebrow.

Vern lingers on. "You know, how, when you get a coffee, it's just, like, coffee, then they put a little froth on it. It's kind of nice."

"Vern, that's foam," April corrected him. Sally nods in the background.

Vern nodded. "Yes, foam, froth, you get the point. It's just…it's nice, it tastes good, it's candy."

Sally rolls her eyes. Seriously. Just what is he getting at? Is this his way of trying to ask her out? Vern still goes on. "You ever heard the expression, 'Never take candy from a baby?' It's because even babies love candy!" April nods away despite not getting the whole statement. "It's nice. And you're giving people something they like that's good and nice. They look at you and they see, Wow, there's a nice…there's…candy—"

"Vern?"

The adults both turned to the teenager. She has put away her camera in her backpack. "Just to save you the trouble, take a deep breath and spit it out before you kill yourself," Sally advises him.

Annoyed that he was interrupted, Vern opens his mouth but hesitates a little. Finally, he did what he was told and takes a nice breath in and…

"The point is, I think that…you should be rewarded, not punishing yourself. Okay?"

Vern sneak a look to Sally. The girl gives him the thumbs-up. Much better. He turns back to April and points at her. "And I'm…I'm prepared to reward you. I say that we go to my buddy's old restaurant downtown. It's very vibey…"

"We just ate on the way over here," April pointed out before she walks away. She has her own mode of transportation. Her bike is parked next to the van with her own helmet.

It is true that they got meals on the way but Vern was hoping to be chance to spend more time with April and not just to eat. "No, I know we just I'm not saying for a full meal, we're just gonna eat appeteasers…"

But April has already got her helmet on, all ready to move out. "I got to go finish that interview. I'll see you at the office, Vern." Before she hops onto her bike…

"Oh, and Sal,…" The teenager has already hoped out of the van when she looks at April. "You gotta go to school. You promises your dad, remember?"

Letting out a frustrated groan, Sally's current guardian doesn't have to remind her twice. But it is true. Before her father left for his trip, Sally did promise that she would get her grades up, get a good education and find a steady job.

Rolled her eyes, she gives in. She hates to disappoint her dad and break her promise to him while he is on his trip. "Fine." She hoisted her bag over her shoulder. "See ya, Vern." She holds her fist out for Vern to return a fist bump to her. With that, she walks off, hoping to catch the closest bus that will take her to her school.

"See ya, kiddo." He then turns to April who starts to ride off. "And I will see you at the office!" He gives off a scoffs before putting his sunnies on. Perfect. He tries his chances to close to April and blew him off. Will he ever get his shot?

With today's report done and Sally off to school, April has no reason to stay behind as she rides her only transportation away from the site. Like she said to her roommate and Vern, she is heading back to the docks to finish her report. She continues to ride through the busy streets of Manhattan.

So, this is what her life is going to be? Making puff pieces on a daily life and not getting the big stories that would change everyday lives forever. All she needs is one story – one story – to make it big. At least she is making enough dough to support both herself and Sally.

Although she was thinking of what the real truth is behind the Foot attacks at the docks, she was no longer in the busy streets and has found herself riding alongside the river. She looks quickly to her right to get a good view of the giant green figurine of Liberty herself before looking back on the road.

"I just wanted to follow up, Mr. Rivetti."

It was close to midday when she has called her interviewee from this morning. Before she heads for the docks, she wanted to call ahead to make sure that he was available. And it was a good thing that she has researched his number just in case. But he wasn't too pleased about it. Kneeling down with her back up against the board, April has her headphones on into her phones. Her bike was parked right next to her.

"Are you kidding me? How did you get my number?"

She can tell that he wasn't jubilant as she was Skyping him. But she can't spare any details as she wants only answers to her own report.

"If I could just ask one more question," April implored the head Dock Worker.

Seeing that he just rolled his eyes, Mr. Rivetti was on the brink of hanging up. "Listen, I already told you everything I know about this crime, everything."

April was getting a bit desperate. "Wait, wait, wait…"

The caller signs in defeat. She is not going to let this up. "Okay, you wanna know anything else, you go back down to the docks and you see my guy Stan. He'll tell you anything else you need to know, okay?"

Finally. April was one step closer to getting her story. Hopefully this 'Stan' guy would be a bit more approachable than Mr. Rivetti is.

"And hey, do me a favor. Lose my number, all right?"

And that is the one favor that April did not do before heading out to the docks.

Night-time has already fallen on the Big Apple.

It took most of the afternoon and into the night for the young reporter to finally arrive at the docks. Normally it would take her 30 minutes or less to get there by car. But she has chosen her bike to get to her location. It was only a few hours ago that she has called her friend to order dinner for herself just for tonight as she doesn't know when she is coming home. The forecast has changed from sunny sky to a light drizzle. Parts of the docks are illuminating with lights all over the harbour, only showing a few small spaces with the darkness. Some of the machinery is still operating this time of the night.

Despite getting wet, the young reporter was getting close to her destination. April was riding on the pathway next to an easy street. Things do attend to be quiet at this hour.

Not for long.

Located at a dark part of the docks, away from the public eye and lights, they began to operate in the shadows. A cargo door swings open, exposing the inside by moving beams. The ones who opened the doors were getting drenched but didn't care as they were focused on their mission.

Lights attached to their firearm aims inside, swaying all around, in case there were any observers.

Their goal.

Take what they need, no witnesses.

One of the operative steps in front. Her black hair is tied up in a high ponytail with the back part of her hair dyed red. Her short bangs had the same red under the layers with a section of hair on each side of her face that reaches down to her chin. Her piercing eyes have a darker shade of black eyeshadow. Concealing her body is a long-sleeve black top with a number of belts strapped on tight with a special gun rack on her right. Wrapped around her neck is a chunky dirty mixture of brown-grey cotton scarf. She has a pair of black jeans with her tanto resting in its gauntlet that is strapped around her right leg. The different smaller scarf with the same pattern is wrapped around her waist. She is also wearing a pair of black boots that she can kick anyone ass with it. She has black painted fingernails which complete the whole set of her entire attire.

Lieutenant Karai was in charge of this mission.

She eyes the label on the containers inside the chosen cargo. She looks to her soldiers. "Good." She leaves the load before a number of her men pilled in to retrieve the items.

"It's clear. Let's open it up."

Nitro Ethane for molecular biology. That is what they are retrieving. But for what? Well, it is part of the organic compound; a member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. But for what purpose?

The soldiers have all concealed themselves. Just like their leader, they are wearing a long-sleeve black top with a number of belts strapped on tight; a mixed brown-grey scarf around their necks except for their waist is a utility belt with a gun rack, black pants and a pair of black army boots. Wrapped around their hands are dirty white sports taps. Their faces are pretty much hidden by a black ski mask and over the cotton mask is a kind-of kabuki-style masks that conceal one's identity. So, no-one knows who is really under the façade. They also have black make-up around their eyes just in case. Their signature weapons are the military guns that are top of the range. They look more like something out of Call of Duty or any Tom Clancy's games.

The large metal cans of the confined chemicals are wrapped into a pack of four in plastic casings. They are big but somewhat unstable enough for each soldier to carry carefully from the cargo to the back of the three black armour cars. Their headlights were radiating as well, giving a better light source for the operation without giving them away. Only a few remained on armed, in case of any intruders.

Orders were sounded in the air by a number of soldiers. "Container's good. Move on the next one."

"Move it out! Get those to the trucks now!"

More canisters were uploading into the trucks and not a single sound that would alert the authorises. Only those close by…

Riding alongside the gated fence, April was getting closer to the docks. She hopes to find this guy named 'Stan' that would help her in her own report to make it to the big time.

CLANG!

The young reporter whips her head to right when the sound was made but faces the front again. Followed by same sound again, she turns her head once. She continues to look to her right through the fence.

"Move out, next point! Go, go, go."

The voice was faint. April hits the breaks on her bike, coming to a complete stop. As close as she is to the wired fence, she grabs hold of it and leans up against it. She doesn't get off her bike. She has already pulled out her phone. It was a habit of her since she is a dependable news reporter.

Right now, she is in the deepest part of the dock where it is pitch-black. All except for a few lights activate. And it doesn't appear to be after night workers.

Trouble.

And when there is trouble, it could only mean one thing.

The Foot Clan.

Just the break that she was looking for. More yelling was made as April looks down at her cell phone.

Her first thought was to call Sally and tell her to get her butt down to the docks with a camera. But she can't at the moment. The adult knows that she would interrupt her homework session. So, she decided to go for the second option.

Quickly going through her speed dial, she hits the 002. April places the phone as the line rings.

"Channel 6."

"Chris," she softly replies. "Chris, it's April. I'm down at the docks."

Chris, who was on two phones at the time, was occupied with the rush hour at the busy news station.

"We're in the middle of the evening brief, O'Neil. Whatever you got can wait for tomorrow."

"No, no, I need a camera cr—"

But Chris has already slammed the phone down, ending the call.

A dialling tone was made when the call got disconnected. Frustrated, April removes the phone from her ear. Great. So much for getting help. This news can't wait until tomorrow. It is happening right now.

She would have called Sally, but she would be mad that she didn't call the enthusiastic teen first. Better not to mention this to her when she brings it up. April puts her phone away in the pocket of her jacket.

She cannot miss this chance. If she does, who knows when something like this will come around. But in order to do that, she needs to get closer. Hopping onto her bike, April continues to ride around the area. Thunder was now sounded in the distance and the rain continues to pour down.

The lightning may be loud but the voices were even louder as she gets closer.

"2-3-2, clear!"

April hits the brakes again and stops up next to the fence. This time, she gets off her bike and drops it to the ground. The wired fence was covered up by black tarp, unable for April to see through the material. Lucky for her, she goes to an opening where two tarps meet, creating a small gap for the young women to let her entire head to look through.

From what she learned from her interview, she learns that chemicals used for genetic research were brought and stored in these parts of the docks. Guess the Foot have come back for more. But why do they need it for? So many theories were building up inside April's mind. Maybe once she gets a bit closer, she will know.

From her gap, she gets a better view of the cargo bay. Maybe not better but closer. From her view, she sees a few of them, walking around in front of a pair of headlights.

"That one's loaded."

"Get it out of my way."

"Copy that."

How many of them are there? How many trucks were there? What are they collecting? Why are they collecting them?

She needs to know. The whole city needs to know.

Rather than call for more help, she will get the proof herself. It's a good thing that she pulled out her phone when she got off her bike. She lifted her cell phone sideways and holds it against the fence so the camera would see what she sees through the gap.

She turns the camera on. Beeping was made and the words 'LOW LIGHT" was flashing on the screen. Not to mention the view was a bit darker.

April lets out an exasperated sign. "Damn it." She needs to get closer. It may be a risky move but what choice does she have? She needs this story and this story could actually open doors for her.

Shoving her phone back into her pocket, April looks up. She may be wearing the kind of boots that are not suitable for something like this but the fence was not that too tall to climb over. Grabbing hold of the wired barrier, she starts to ascent.

The soldiers were still at it. They have already filled up one truck and have now started to fill up the second. By their calculations, it would only take 1 enormous cargo to fill up three large trucks.

A couple of soldiers are inside the cargo, passing the containers one-by-one to their team member. Keeping up this rate, they would be finished in no-time. They can actually make the deadline, just like all of the operations that they pulled off in the past.

"Unit two, area three, move!"

Unbeknownst to them, there was someone already here. And it was not the snooping reporter herself.

CLANK!

That sudden noise caught one Foot soldier's attention and lets out a gasp. He, along with a few more, was on guard. Only he was close enough to hear the sound and he was all alone. Securing his weapon in his hold, the soldier aims upwards. The scene was getting intense by the minute. His heart was racing and his short breathing was increasing. But he shouldn't be worried. He was trained in the Foot. He was trained for mission like this.

The source must have come up there. With his gun and the light, he scans the area. But…he sees nothing. The cargos were stacked on top of each other, it was complete darkness. He can't see anything.

And that is what the intruder wants.

At the split second, something drops down from above, grabs the lone soldier and slams him into the side of a near-by cargo. He was now out cold.

Not too far, two more soldiers both heard the commotion but one-by-one, were pulled back. They too were now knocked-out.

Close the main group, one of the soldiers spotted a figure that was hopping…on top of the shipping containers.

"I've got movement!" he alerted everyone. This caused the chosen operatives for the operation to arm themselves. Karai, whom was supervising, places her grip on her handgun. Her hair was drenched but she was in high alert. Everyone is.

The shadow foe drops down. She sees him. He was now right behind one of the large container.

"Keep your eyes over here!"

The Foot soldiers lifted their guns up and all approached the cargo.

"Weapons free!"

Ready to pounce on the intruder, their fingers were on the trigger. As they get closer to the target, the cargo itself was now scaping across the concrete ground.

Wait a minute. A large, 4.0 tonne, metal shipping container is moving on its own? Was it from this…strange figure? Is he moving it…on his…own?

"Hold position!"

The army was now on high alert. They kept their focus on the moving object whilst looking for their mysterious adversary.

After climbing over the fence, April was comforted that no-one has spotted her just yet. They were too busy dealing with whatever just came to crash their party. She takes her helmet off and drops it to the ground. She will come back for it. The young woman was looking behind her and back to the front just in case if anyone was near-by. The loud noises of moving objects and weapons clashing were getting closer with every step that she makes.

A grunting noise was before the giant shipping container was then lifted off the ground and goes flying a few minutes across! The force itself sends a number of Foot soldiers flying off their feet and a few landed into the river. One of them ducked for cover while some went over the trucks.

Whoever this guy, he appears to be stronger than he looks. This guy has the strength of Superman himself!

Normally they can handle any cops in New York, but this guy…was not anything that they have seen before. And it was starting to be too much for them.

As the leader for the operation, Karai was in charge of making the shots. "Retreat! Retreat!"

Everyone in black didn't question their lieutenant. They did what she commanded. Every soldier, including the ones who have just woken up, all escaped into the black vehicles.

"Move, move, move!"

"Get out of here!"

The tires screeched the surface as all three cars zoomed out of the park. They only managed to escape with a few canisters, leaving a great deal behind in the cargo. All thanks to the little ambush.

April was the only human remained on the scene. She peers over the corner of the shipping container with her back up against. The reporter also ducked for cover as each of the cars comes zooming past her but it didn't bother to stop or notice her. They were too busy fleeing.

Just what happened? Why were they running around? Who were they fighting against that made them retreat?

The trucks have all left the docks. With the Foot gone, it would now be safe for April to come out. But what if…whoever or whatever that scared them away is still out there? April would have to take that risk. It comes with her current job. But the young news reporter didn't get any photo evidences of any of the criminals' activity.

Panting very hard, April hears an unusual sound. Her eyes then darts over to the moved shipping container…and to a moving figure.

Form her visual, what appears to be a large bulky man who has swinged up from a large lamp, smashing the light out and lands on the roof. He stands up straight, twirling what appears to be a small weapon in one hand and another in the other.

And he appears to be looking at April.

Who…is…THAT?

April was officially stunned. Was this the guy – that one guy – who single handling defeated the Foot? All…by…himself?

April came here to find something about the Foot, but now,…she has come for something …bigger.

This…this could be it! Her big story! She has actually proof of what could be the biggest buzz of all time!

But she needs proof in order to do that. Digging her hand into her pocket, April pulls out her phone. She takes her eyes off the mysterious hero for one second as she quickly turns the phone camera on. With her camera ready, she was ready to get actual proof. The excited reporter lifts and aims her phone at the hero from the shadows – the city's shiny hope of defeating the terrorist themselves…

From where he was standing, there was…nothing but a busted dock lamp. That was the only shot that April took.

He's…gone?

How did he move so quickly? Just like what happened earlier, he was gone without a trace. Hopefully, he would have left something. She looks down at her phone before looking up.

With the coast is clear, April cautiously removes herself from her hiding spot and walks into the open. She examines the recently scene of the crime. Doors from the single shipping container remains open, tire tracks were marked on the concrete ground and…a spray-can still pouring substances.

The Foot doesn't carry spray-cans around. Does it…belong to…him?

April continues to look around, trying to find more evidence. But…there was nothing. No traces of clothing or any weapons or anything! There was nothing that is worth showing to anyone.

Well,…maybe this black marking…

Eyeing that peculiar design, April quickly rushes over to the tagged shipping. Looking behind her if anyone was still around, April comes only a foot away from it.

It appears the symbol looks…Japanese oriental with some parts in red. It was not blood.

And…it looks like it has been recently painted. Did he dothis? Was it his calling card or something? When did he have time to do this? He must've been pretty fast.

The panting reporter holds the phone up in front, taking a few shots with the flash on. Taking a few more pictures, April quickly looks up to where she spotted the shadowy character. Maybe he is still around? Or maybe he has already left?

Well, April can actually know one thing. New York City has a Vigilante. And he is hiding in the shadows.

After capturing enough photos, April decide to head for home. The paint from the symbols begins to melt away from the wet weather.

I have got to tell Sal about this!

(April and Sally's apartment, Manhattan, NY – 9:47pm)

After a gruelling hour of finishing the last of her homework, Sally was free to kick back and relax. Right now, she was working on her blog. She managed to pick the best photos from April's report today on the fitness session with Harley Pasternak. She did earlier show them to her classmates. Some were pretty impressed and a bit jealous that she got to meet a celebrity.

Sally doesn't really have much close friends in high school. She likes to be a loner at times but she wouldn't mind the company of her roommate. She too also has a friend from her old neighbourhood who she hasn't seen in person for nearly two years now since she has moved into O'Neil's. She was just catching up with him on Facebook.

No longer wearing her casual clothes, she was decked down into her lounging gear with a grey oversized jumper that reveals her right shoulder, black bike shorts and a pair of pink slipper boots. Her short brown hair was long enough for her tied it up into small pigtails.

The tapping of her keyboard on her laptop was now mixed with the sound of rattling keys were made outside of her door, and they were now jiggling into the keyhole.

Speaking of whom…

Frantically, April swings the front door open and heads to the one place that her teenage roommate would be. She couldn't hide what she has seen tonight. She was about to lose it.

"Sall. Sal!"

Taking a break from her writing, Sally closes her laptop down and puts on the coffee table in front of her. "Hey, I just finished my homework and I got some pizza for you if you're hung—"

But April doesn't have time to eat. She quickly drops her bag on the floor and her helmet on the small comfy chair before turning her attention on her friend. She will probably hate her but be interested on what she has to say.

"You have no idea what I just went through. I am freaking out," she rapidly stated. Her clothes were a bit wet and her hair was some-what matted. The teenager has not halted her work and gives her roommate the full attention. April was absolutely freaking out as she is prepared to give her the news. "I saw a Foot Clan attack."

Just as she predicted, Sally was mad.

"WHAT?" The teenager shots straight up. She can't believe that April went ahead with the Foot Clan story behind her back. She though they were supposed to be a team. The enraged teen points her finger at her guardian. "I understand you went to the docks but you witness a Foot Clan attack and you didn't bother to bring me? I always bring my video camera with me at all times!"

Technically, April had no idea that the Foot was going to show up. "I know, I know. And I'm sorry! But…you had homework to do and school which you did promise your dad about it!"

The teen calms down. She did have a good point. But with those important issues out of the way, Sally was now intrigued. "Ok, ok, ok. So, what happened?"

"I was riding my bike by the docks. It was night, it's dark already and there are Foot Clan soldiers everywhere." Sally was nodded along with April's events as she pressed on. "Then out of nowhere, there was this guy fighting back against them. And he…He left behind this symbol. And I know that I've seen it before. I can't remember where. But there is someone…fighting back against the Foot Clan. There is a Vigilante in this city. And no one knows, but I do." April's smile grows a bit more all thanks to this excitement that happened tonight. Still captivated, the teenager was hanging onto every word that she is saying. Mostly about this guy who is indeed fighting against the toughest criminal organisation. Anybody would be nuts to go up against them. "I know. And now I have my story. There is no more froth and foam for me."

As April has come to the conclusion, she relaxed her shoulders and was taking a nice few short breath. The young reporter was glad to get it out of her system. If it was anyone, they would not believe any part of her news. They would think it might part of a prank or something. But Sally…she was not some people. Judging her friend by the way her posture is and how fast she was talking, she knows that April would not make up something like that. She did see witness something huge.

At first she was slightly angry at April for not bringing her along to any Foot -related activity. But she would have loved to see the action. If she didn't have any missed math questions that she had to finish off from today's class. But there was something Sally wants to know.

"So, quick question: Does this froth and foam have any proof of it?" she wonders.

That is when April's brain clicked and digs her hand into her pocket. She nodded so fast. "Y-yeah! I did get a few photos of the symbol." She throws her phone to her friend.

Sally catches the phone and presses the button. She looks to the screen, pleased that April has got some actual proof even without her friend's help…but her smile drops.

And so does April's. "What is it?" There was definitely something wrong. Did she lose the pictures? She couldn't have lost them. She took a couple before she left the docks in the rain. But did the water from the rain went into it, short-circuit the phone and lost it? Maybe her thumb was over the lens again?

The stunned teenager looks up back to April, and then to the camera again, and finally, back to April. She then opened her mouth…

"What's your password again?"

Or April didn't bother to give her the password or open the phone for her.

"Oh, sorry!" The older women goes over to her friend to get the phone out of her grip, types the password in and shows her photo. Seeing the marked symbol, Sally believes her friend one bit. April can say for thing that is true.

This could be the biggest story of the century!

And thus the story continues. April saw the mysterious Vigilante who single-handle took down the Foot and left without a trace. What will happen next? Find out more later in:

Heroes in the Half-Shell: Enter the Shredder

Author's Notes: Hey guys! Talk about a long chapter! But I think there will be a lot more that that later one. The next few will be shorter than this one or something.

Sorry it took me this lone to get the next chapter up and running but I did had a pickle trying to explain what happens with my character in it. I did say that I would take Taylor out and put Sally in. And she will have a big role in it.

I might be able to upload these chapters weekly if I use my time right and wisely. I just hope this chapter was ok if you guys like it.

I did get a chance to see Ice Age: Collision Course. My god, it so good and funny and I'm glad that Crash and Eddie got more lines than they did in the previous Ice Age movie and Buck did returned.

So, don't forget to add or follow me or the story to your favourites. Don't forget to review or PM me if you like to comment or ask me anything. Take care you guys for the rest of the week.

Until we meet again,

The DragonLord2912