Chapter 4: Enemy of my Enemy

Lynx's POV

I lay on my back in the bunkroom Karai and I shared. We being the only females in the Foot Clan, we split a modest room, a bed and stand each with a bathroom adjoined. I'd been back from patrol for over half an hour, yet Karai was still gone and hadn't called in any sightings of the turtles. Of course, if she was flirting with Leonardo, she wouldn't exactly report it.

I couldn't understand what she found so entertaining. Yes, our lives often got repetitive and dragged out into long days of training or searching, but I loved it. I was grateful for the action, yet Karai always wanted adventure. She was too curious, always wanting to be in on anything.

Suddenly, the door slammed, rattling the door frame.

I sat up, staring at Karai. "Where have you been? You're late."

She ignored me, plopping down on her bed, obviously exasperated. "Dad is so infuriating!"

I blinked, then sighed. Karai often vented with me when she was becoming frustrated. I knew there was no point in trying to get answers until I'd heard her out. "What is it?"

"I told him about the Kraang invasion! Those little pink squid things? They're trying to take control of the planet! Yet he can't look past his vendetta to see that we should be stopping it!"

I had to tread carefully. Karai often became a bit more prone to anger when she was in this mood. "You know how much he places his hatred of the Hamatos above all else. It's been his only focus for so long, I don't think he knows how to look past it, 'Rai."

She protested, "But if the Kraang take over the world, then he'll never get his revenge! Can't he see that?"

I pointed out, "It's hard to see when you're as focused as he is."

Karai groaned. "You talk like my father has no flaws. His stubbornness is one!"

I agreed, "Yes, but I'm just trying to point out he's not easily deterred."

Karai gave me an annoyed look. "Stop putting him on a pedestal and just help me come up with something we can do."

I rolled my eyes, patience wearing thin. "You can go play hero with your new turtle buddies."

Karai's eyes brightened and I sat straighter. "... Karai, I was kidding!"

Karai insisted, "If Father won't help me, then I'll help them! At least until this Kraang invasion crap is done with."

I stood. "No! Karai, we're supposed to be destroying them, yet you keep going to them! In fact, that's why you were late, wasn't it?"

Karai blushed slightly. "You teamed up with the turtles shortly as well, Lynx."

Yes, I'd told her about the "Maze of Doom." It was difficult to hide things from Karai, added to my dislike of lying to my only friend. I objected, "That was just to stay alive. Your reptile friends can worry about the Kraang."

Karai scowled, standing. "Fine, I'll handle this myself, since you're too busy pretending to be like my dad."

She stormed out and I sighed. Sometimes I worried for my friend. She was rash, too oriented by desire.

My loyalties were my first responsibility. If it wasn't against Shredder's orders, I would've gone after her. But I owed everything to the clan. I couldn't throw it away. The turtles and Karai could easily handle this. Or at least, I could tell myself that and hope it was true.

Yet it wasn't fifteen minutes of laying around before I sighed and got up. I couldn't let Karai do this herself. The turtles could still be bitter and turn on her. I had to protect my family.

I strapped the holsters for my shobos back on my legs and my gauntlets holding my throwing needles onto my forearms. I almost walked out, but I paused, going back to my bed. Reaching under, I pulled out something I'd only brought because I kept it near me for safety.

My hand wrapped around hard metal and I pulled it out. A black sheath with a red tassel tied at the mouth, the handle of the tonto it held black with vertical red diamonds.

I usually didn't use my tonto. My attacks usually relied on my knowledge of pressure points and slipping past my enemy's defenses, not fighting them head-on. But this tonto was the mark of my becoming a kunoichi. I always kept it with me when I traveled, though it had been at least a year since I'd used it in combat, though I trained often enough with it to remain competent.

I snatched the strap for my back scabbard, clipping the sheath onto it and slipping the smoothed leather on so my tonto lay across my back. Slipping my half-mask on my face, it wasn't a minute before I was racing across rooftops, attempting to track Karai.

I wish I could say otherwise, but I hadn't inherited enough of my animal side to be able to track anyone at a moment's notice. I could smell things in the immediate area, but I definitely lacked the intense tracking skills of my parents.

So I was running blindly, no clues as the where Karai would've gone to find the reptiles.

Luckily, the giant ship of silver and pink definitely narrowed down my choices.

I arrived just in time to see a pink laser firing at a subway car on wheels below, pounding on the vehicle. Yet this still wasn't as great a sight as Karai on the opposite rooftop. I could see her approaching quickly, somehow having gotten her motorbike onto the rooftops, her tonto drawn.

We met eyes and shared a smile- somehow, I think she'd known I'd come around.

She jumped off her bike at the edge, flying onto the ship. I however, didn't need any help. I jumped off my own rooftop, drawing my tonto and driving it into the ship at the same time as Karai did the same.

I pulled out, jabbing repeatedly at the same spot as to make a hole, Karai rapidly slashing on the other side. I struggled for balance as the ship moved upwards and twist as we moved again, the aliens trying to shake us.

I gave up on my onslaught, sheathing my blade as the ship tried to scrape us off on a building, sliding to the same side as Karai growled through grit teeth, "This is- so not- fun."

The ship flipped upside down, but I hooked my fingers into a vent on the top of the ship, my hands clamped onto the metal. I could vaguely make out a vehicle below us, black and turning sharply after us, following the ship.

I yelled, "Karai, your boyfriend's getting to stalker levels!"

She snapped, "He's not my boyfriend!"

A sharp turn and in that split second of distraction, Karai was flying off the ship. I called out her name as Leonardo suddenly met her in midair, catching her easily in the bike with himself.

The ship doubled back, about to attack the two on the ground, but I quickly let myself slip down to the bottom, clinging to the tentacles hanging from the bottom as I drew my tonto once more to shatter what I had to assume was the screen for the scanner. The pink light flickered weakly, the ship immediately halting. The aliens would have trouble with damaged sights- or at least enough for a getaway, I hoped.

I launched myself off the ship one last time, dragging my tonto into a lightpost to slow my descent. I gently touched down, sheathing my weapon and racing off after the stealth bike as the Kraang ship retreated, most likely to repair their ship.

I found the two just around a corner, parked close to a building and just letting the cover down as the ship left. I walked up, giving Karai an annoyed look. "Fifteen minutes. Fifteen freaking minutes, I leave you alone, and you fight an alien ship then make out with your mutant boy toy in an alley?"

Karai quickly got out of the bike, looking away. "Don't act all high and mighty, Lynx. I knew you'd come to help me, so it doesn't really matter how long of a head start I got."

Leo glared at me. "I thought you said you would kill me and my brothers the next time you saw us."

I sighed. "I wish that's why I was here, but I can change my mind if you're determined." I looked at Karai until she returned my gaze. "I came because I knew Karai has a bad tendency to want to play hero around you."

Karai scowled. "Lynx, skip the sarcasm and get to the part where you say something worth hearing."

I rolled my eyes, but obliged. "I shattered the sights on that ship- at least I believe that's what they were- but it probably will be easy to fix. They won't be gone for long."

Leo paused, obviously thinking. "Ugh, I can't believe I'm considering this."

Karai asked, "What?"

"We- We should regroup with my brothers." He glanced at me disdainfully. "Though not all of us need to come."

I quickly shut down that idea. "No. Karai's not going alone with you fools."

Karai growled, "I'm not a kid! I don't need you to babysit me!"

I spoke with a decided and clipped tone. "It's not babysitting, it's looking out for my clanmate. Now I go with, or I waste death adder poison on you to drag you back to the clan myself."

Karai crossed her arms as if angry, but I could tell she understood my reasons. Leo protested, "I never agreed you coming, Lynx!"

I smirked slightly. "And I wasn't asking permission."

I didn't mind too much that I was stuck on top of the stealth bike, but it was alright. It was just the tiniest bit terrifying when we dove into a tunnel that appeared in an alley, but otherwise, it was a good twenty minutes of twists and sharp turns that I swore were on purpose to knock me off. We finally pulled to a stop, I could feel every hair on my body sticking up.

Leo got out as I growled, "I'm going to enjoy killing you one day."

Leo glared at me. "Good luck with that. Try anything, and I'll-"

"You'll what? Not kill me again?" I gave him an annoyed look. "You're not very threatening, reptile."

We were stopped in front of the subway car on wheels from before, Leo leading us inside. He announced, "We're back!"

Raphael exclaimed, "You brought them inside?! Dude! They'll see all our gear!"

I rolled my eyes. "Please, nothing you have stands a chance anyway."

Karai looked around, obviously unimpressed. "Be nice, Lynx. But she's right. If Shredder finds out you have an ice cream lamp, it is over."

I smirked as Leo defended, "Karai and Lynx just risked their lives to save us. They'll earned a little trust, so let's hear them out."

Pathetic. These turtles would still trust me after I'd attempted to kill them? Yet Raph agreed, "Fair enough."

Karai asserted, "You guys need our help. You really think you can shoot down an alien warship with garbage?"

Donnie insisted, "Compressed garbage!"

Mikey added, "And manhole covers!"

I cut in, "And that'll add a few new scratches."

Karai continued, "You need a real weapon."

Raph asked, "Like what?"

Karai hesitated and I knew what she was thinking. I warned, "Karai-"

"What if I got you a shoulder-fired missile launcher?"

It was quiet until Raph confessed, "I'm starting to like her."

Donnie was obviously still wounded from the insult about his weapons, retorting, "Where are you going to get a shoulder-fired missile launcher?"

I cut in, "She's not! Karai, a truce is different from supplying the enemy!"

Karai glared at me. "We need this, Lynx."

I insisted, "I cannot go against Master like this!"

Karai smirked slightly. "Well, you can't disobey orders, either. And I order you to help me with this."

The turtles stared, obviously stunned at how easily Karai could command me and I wanted so badly simply to kill them. Why did Karai always do this? There was nothing I could even do to stop it now! Karai was on the warpath and wouldn't listen to me! I scowled, crossing my arms. "Fine. But when Master is angry, you can be the one to take credit this time."

Karai nodded, looking at Leo. "Shredder. We'll get the launcher from Shredder."

I listened as they debated this, staying silent. Why was I even letting this happen?! I was under direct orders, yet... I also couldn't simply ignore Karai. No, I had to stay. She was my only friend and I would protect her with my life.

Yet at the notion of Karai stealing from Shredder, I couldn't help myself. "Karai, you can't. Master Shredder would be furious-"

Karai snapped, "Stop glorifying him like he's a god, Lynx. He's still human. I know you're convinced that he's the greatest creature to walk the earth, but for one moment, acknowledge he has faults."

A growl grew deep in my throat and I could feel my heart pound with my anger. Karai had no right to speak like this in front of our enemies! My eye twitched as I reigned in my emotions. "... I'll be waiting outside." And I slipped out of the vehicle, leaning against the wall.

I could still hear them inside, a turtle I assumed was Mikey, "What's her problem?"

Karai answered, "She's just annoyed. She's an assassin- she's not used to spending time near her enemies when she's not killing them."

That was very true. And at this very moment, I was so angry, so frustrated with my position, I was tempted to simply destroy the reptiles immediately and leave, Karai's permission or not.

Yet I had to control myself. Maybe I still had a chance to get out of this without betraying my clan.

Karai soon came out, nodding to me. The two of us slipped out, eyes meeting. I asked, "Well?"

Karai agreed, "I'll get them the launcher. You don't have to involved."

I couldn't help but sigh with relief. "Thank you."

Karai nodded. "Come on, let's get back up to the surface."

I groaned, lamenting, "If your father noticed we were out..."

Karai rolled her eyes. "You know he'd never come in our room."

"But he could've seen us leave."

Karai hesitated, then asserted, "Quickly, then."

Luckily, our being missing wasn't noticed. We slipped in just as a Foot soldier knocked on the door. "Master Shredder summons you."

We stood, letting out a simultaneous sigh. It was obviously going to be a long day.

We moved up to the throne room, Shredder ordering, "Karai, you'll come with me to receive the next shipment of weapons from Ivan Steranko."

Karai frowned. "And Lynx?"

"I want you to patrol the city. There should be little difficulty with Steranko; I wish for you to attempt tracking the turtles to their base."

I felt my throat tighten. I was leaving Karai, knowing full well what was planned? No! I couldn't let my clan be endangered! Yet arguing would only bring me anger. Bowing, I agreed, "Yes, Master."

Yet the moment I left the building, I made for the docks. I knew the turtles would be there, so I wasn't disobeying my orders. Besides, I didn't trust them, and with good reason. They wouldn't keep a deal, if they'd learned anything from their encounter with me.

And half an hour of crouching behind freight cars proved worth it.

Four turtles appeared, discussing how how their electro-grenade would incapacitate my master. I had to move at the right time, or they'd simply use it on my own armor and I'd be powerless to stop them.

As Mikey took the grenade, I lunged forward, knocking it from his hands, the grenade flying out of sight. Kneeling on Mikey's shell, I growled, "This is why you shouldn't trust strangers- but at least you're finally learning that you have to play dirty to win sometimes."

I saw Karai below, anger and betrayal in her eyes, yet I'd have to deal with that later. She was currently aiming a missile launcher our way.

I jumped off, taunting, "But we're better."

The missile hit right as I landed, sending the turtles to lie sprawling next to me. I quickly lunged at Raph with a shobo in hand, aimed for his neck, but he caught my wrist with his sai. I pulled it out before he could do much more, knowing that I needed length. I traded my shobo for the tanto on my back, swiping at Raph as he tried to stand. He barely managed to catch the blade, hand shaking as I put more pressure on.

I pulled out as I heard footsteps from behind, dodging a katana. Nun-chucks whirled past my ear as I heard Donatello exclaim, "The radar! The Kraang ship is nearby!"

Four on one wasn't usually too difficult, but these reptiles were admittedly more skilled than our Foot soldiers that I trained against. I slashed out to meet katanas while attempting to sidestep a swipe from a bo staff, pulling away from Leo to sweep his legs from under him and dodge Raphael's sais. Yet a sudden smoke bomb overtook my sight.

I heard footsteps rapidly moving and I raced after them, following the sounds. Knowing Karai or Shredder would follow, I left them an easy trail to see or hear: I dragged my tonto across the sides of the cars to the side, causing a loud screeching that cut my ears, but it would be worth it if we achieved our goal.

Racing through the maze of storage containers, luck finally ran out out for my prey. A dead end, two rows high over us.

I raised my tonto, ordering, "Surrender!"

I heard heavy metal clanking behind me, tolling my master's arrival. "Well done, Lynx." I couldn't help but flood with pride. I hadn't failed my master! We would finally achieve our goal! "Now, reptiles, tell me where your master is and you will live long enough to see him perish!"

Yet my attention was pulled away as the Kraang ship from before appeared, hovering over us, priming its weapon.

Leo exclaimed, "That thing again?! Great timing."

Shredder growled in Japanese as the ship fired its laser at the turtles, Master diving into a crate to avoid being struck, myself backtracking a few feet before the laser quit.

Leo quickly locked Shredder in his crate and I slashed at him with my tonto, but he deflected it away. "We don't have time for this, Lynx!"

I growled, "Stop talking to me like we're friends- we're not!" I swept his legs, holding my tonto to his neck. "Now you're going to tell me exactly how to reach your base."

Leo smirked. "Don't you remember from your first visit?"

My tonto drew a drop of blood and he paled. "You forget, I'm not going to play with you like Karai. I'd destroy you without losing a second of sleep."

I barely managed to duck a bo staff as the remaining three turtles ganged up on me. I had to abandon my threat over Leo, blocking attacks with my tonto, slicing Donnie's bo staff in half and knocking away one of Raph's sais before Leo slipped away, calling, "Come on!"

I couldn't resist, pursuing him with the others about to follow when the sound of tearing metal came from behind. My master would have no problems dealing with the others.

As soon as we exited the crates, Karai was on the other side, Leo trapped between us.

Karai accused, "I thought you were better than this! I thought you were my friend! How could you betray me? You're just as short-sighted and obsessed as Shredder!"

I insisted, "This was always supposed to happen, Karai! Your father wouldn't believe that you'd trusted this reptile, Karai! Master always taught us that you don't trust your enemy!"

Leo's eyes bugged. "Father? Shredder's your father?"

I prepared to pounce as the Kraang ship came for another shot, its laser going right between Leo and Karai, toward me as it turned.

We all leapt out of the way as Leo pleaded, "We've got to stop that thing!"

Karai raised her tanto. "Our deal's off! You want a feud? You've got one!"

We both struck at the same time, Leo struggling to use one katana on each of us to block the attacks, arms shaking under the pressure. From there, it was a blur of jumping, slashing, and dodging. Leo managed to mark me once, tearing a small hole in my gauntlet, but I left at least three marks in his shell.

But it was when Karai and I together knocked his blades away, leaving him completely open. Yet before we could finish him, the Kraang ship came for another run. Karai dodged behind the crates as I jumped up on top, using Leo as a jump board.

Yet once I looked down, the turtle was already running toward the warehouse. Karai ran toward him and I followed, the two of us quickly joining him on the rooftop. Just in time to see... Leo had found the missile launcher.

Karai attacked from behind as he shot, hitting the Kraang ship. I jumped over the two, Leo turning to face Karai as I landed, attacking him. He'd recovered one of his katanas, dodging our blades as the Kraang ship fell next to us. I wouldn't have cared- except I saw it moving right for Master.

As the ship hit him and knocked him into the water, I cried, "Master!"

Karai followed my gaze as I dropped down, about to follow me as I yelled, "Stay! I have Shredder!"

Karai continued to attack Leo, trusting me as I dove into the water after my master.

My armor wasn't as heavy as his, but enough to make it easier diving after him. The water didn't become too deep right away as we were near the shore, only fifteen feet down when I reached the bottom. Shredder's armor gleaming, I carefully grabbed his arm, starting to kick upward. He was still conscious, simply weighed down by his armor, both our efforts enough to push us upward.

Slowly moving upward, I was at the end of my breath near the top as we burst into open air, gasping for breath. I guided Shredder to the ladder, my master coughing up water as he climbed. I swiftly followed, trying to quiet my breathing so not to appear weak.

Karai raced over, leaning over her father. "Are you alright?"

He nodded. "Fine. You both did well today. Karai..." He lifted a pink mass. "I have something for you. You always wanted a pet."

The Kraang squealed as I glared off toward the city.

I wouldn't be bested again. The reptiles would fall, and I would destroy my master's enemy.