"YOU NEED TO REST AND RECOVER. It hasn't been long enough." Sensei's deep, calming voice had the opposite effect on Shredder. Although it had been three months, Shredder still wasn't fully recovered from the injuries Shredder sustained during what had been named the Final Battle by citizens of New York and Foot Clan soldiers. Shredder hated the name and the negative connotation it brought. It was not the Final Battle. Shredder battled the overwhelming darkness each day… and it only became darker and darker as the hours stretched on. Training was the only thing that brought Shredder peace. At least for a little while.
"Again," Shredder told Sensei and prepared for another powerful onslaught. Shredder hadn't been strong enough three months ago. Shredder could not face defeat when finally crossing universes as Renet promised.
"No." Surprised, Shredder could only watch as Sensei walked away. The dojo was empty except for the two. After Renet left, Shredder became increasingly agitated. Only the tough training could calm Shredder. Now it was over and Shredder had nothing to do.
Hours passed. Shredder sat in the dojo long after Sensei left. Shredder had showered and changed back into the dark silver armor. The Shredder held the Kuro Kabuto, wondering (not for the first time) if Foot Clan leadership was worth the hardships or the agony.
A soft whirring noise caught Shredder's attention. It was familiar. Bright blue light erupted directly in front of Shredder, steadily growing into a large, flat rectangle of glowing light. Renet tumbled through. She never could figure out how to escape the void without falling on her face.
She was breathing heavily, which was unusual. Shredder immediately went on high alert, knowing that something had gone wrong… they hadn't prepared for something. She wasn't harmed; her dark blue leotard, blue tights, and cape were all in order. She wasn't wounded.
"What happened?"
Renet was laughing hysterically. Tears cascaded down her cheeks. She was curled into a ball. Shredder left the chair and knelt next to Renet, touching her arm. "Renet, what happened?"
"It worked. Oh, it worked." Renet took a few minutes to become fully aware again. "It worked. Shredder is getting the trans-universal device from the Kraang as we speak. You'll be able to move freely from universe to universe. It's all coming together. I can't wait to see him." Now she was crying again. "Oh… I miss him. I want him. I miss him!"
Still, Shredder was also thinking the same thing. For once in three months, Shredder held a small beacon of hope that chased the darkness away, at least for a moment. "The other Shredder… is he…"
"Yes. Just like Oroku Saki. Just like him."
Shredder took pause. Could they do it? Again? "Will it take him long to get the tech?"
"No. He said only a few hours. I'll make the jump again to retrieve the device and bring it back here." To travel with the trans-universal device, two doors had to be open. Each Shredder would open a door using a device.
"So soon…"
"I know! And just wait until you see this New York. It's exactly the same. Xever is a fish! And Bradford is some kind of wolf- skeleton mutation. It's hilarious!"
Shredder couldn't think of anything to say except: "This is going to work."
Renet sobered up and took the Shredder's hands in hers. "It will. I just know it."
"Return to the alternate universe and get the device. It's time."