"-and then I claimed my prize! The crowd was going nuts and I humbly accepted their worshipping, for I, Michelangelo, had become The Battle Nexus Champion!" Mikey jumped up, taking on his hero-pose. His audience, which now consisted of Johnny, Michael and Juliet, were stunned into silence. Mikey gave them an expecting look and Johnny was quick to start clapping enthusiastically, quickly followed by Michael.

"That was amazing, Michelangelo!" Johnny cheered. "I can't believe you've participated in an intergalactic tournament!"

"Yeah, I went up against some pretty tough guys and they even raised a statue of me," Mikey boosted, thrilled that someone was listening for once.

"Really?" Johnny watched Michelangelo as if he was his new hero. His other audience was less thrilled.

"How do we even know you're telling the truth?" Michael asked skeptically. "I fought in the alien invasion a year ago. They didn't seem friendly."

"Yeah, the Triceratons aren't to be messed with. But they're not all bad. Traximus is cool, he's an ally of ours. And Zog. He was great, he saved us."

"You have a lot of alien friends?"

"Not that many," Mikey frowned. "And we don't get to see them that often."

It had been a while since he'd seen Usagi and Gen. He knew Leo missed Usagi a lot, having finally found someone that he understood and could relate to. He'd found it funny how they both gave each other swords as a Christmas present. How boring could you get? He snorted. Dorks.

"I better go see if Spencer need any help," Johnny sighed regrettably. "But thanks for the tour, Mikey, it was amazing."

"You're welcome, dude!"

"I should also go," Michael said. "We've fooled around long enough. Perhaps it is finally time for some action."

Mikey felt a bit disappointed that they all were leaving. He already knew that he wasn't needed until Leo called him and that was after Donnie had done whatever Donnie does. He considered how he was supposed to entertain himself until then when he saw Juliet was staying. She had been very quiet, not commenting at all, only observing. Now that he thought about it, she hadn't said a word since he meet her.

She looked pretty cute, though. She was wearing an army uniform, her black hair perfectly secured in a tight bun. She looked very disciplined and strict, something that Mikey weren't very good around. But he was already bored and he hadn't been alone for more than a few seconds.

"Not going with them?" he asked, causing her eyes to snap to him, having been lost in thought. He briefly wondered what she thought about when her eyes where empty like that.

"No."

"So. What's your story?" he asked curiously.

"None of your business," she hissed, folding her arms and refusing to acknowledge him. Mikey watched her for a few seconds. Then he smiled happily.

"Not what you expected, huh?"

"Talking mutant turtles roaming New York turns out to be friendly and talkative creatures with a sense of humor? No I wasn't expecting that," she agreed quietly, stiffening slightly at the casual demeanor.

"You forgot brilliantly, handsome heroes. We are," he assured her, smiling flirtatiously at her. Juliet leaned back a bit but smiled politely.

"That has yet to be seen," she concluded. Mikey feared for a moment she had nothing more to say and was about to open his mouth to try a different tactic in spurring on conversation, when Juliet suddenly offered something herself. "I am surprised you decided to work with us. Spencer had us going in circles for a while. Waiting for some heroes," she sent him an amused glare, "that might never show themselves."

"We came," Mikey smiled, serious for once. "You'll see. When we're needed, we always come."

"Yeah?" her attitude suddenly took a drastic change. "Well, I've heard that before. And why would you even care?"

"We live here. We want to help. Besides, we know a thing or two about old can opener and his little toes."

"You could hide," she suggested, trying to understand why they would risk exposure. "The sewers are many and I doubt they could find you. We couldn't."

"If this is show and tell, why don't you share a bit first?" Mikey suggested sensing there was more to this girl than meets the eye. "I'm a good listener," he playfully added, sending her a thousand watt smile.

Juliet pushed a stray group of hair behind her ear and looked down. A moment after she glanced up and her resolve had hardened.

"Let's just say that I don't trust you not to leave when things get to warm for comfort. If we are to survive, then we need to think before we trust complete strangers." Her back straightened with her last words and Mikey's smile turned down a few degrees.

"Been burned before, huh?" he said quietly. "I'm not good with betrayal either. I'd rather die than be betrayed."

She expected it to be a joke, but when the turtle's smile had completely disappeared, she had to understand.

"You'd rather die than be betrayed?" she questioned.

Mikey nodded solemly. "It's a nightmare of mine. I get nightmares sometimes," he smiled at her sadly, reminding her of a small child, pretending to be brave. "My dad once told me that I probably felt like that because death has no deceit, ya know? You get what you're promised. But betrayal is more of a willful slaughter of hope. And my brothers and me.. hope is all we got."

"That's awful," Juliet gasped, only hesitating slightly before laying a hand on top of his. "You've been betrayed?"

"So have you," Treating the question as a statement. "But enough of this sad stuff!" He suddenly lightened up. "You can trust us!" he happily assured her. "And we're gonna kick New-new-cheese head's butt together!"

Juliet smiled gently and nodded.

"I'd like that," she said. "So tell me more about this Ultimate Ninja you mentioned?"

Mikey positively beamed.

This was odd. Even for him and he'd seen his share of odd things, being this close to retirement. Standing behind the glass at the police station, watching this abnormally was one thing. But conversing with it? Becoming friends with it? Trusting it? No. That was too much to ask. He now wondered why on earth he'd insisted on being on this so called team of mixed species.

Who was he kidding? He knew. This was talking to aliens. Associating with other species, potentially saving the world. So hell yeah, he wanted to go down in the history books. But what use was he? An old man like him had nothing to offer. But fifty years on the Force and nothing particular to show for it, of course he was going to jump on board.

Who didn't want to be remembered? Who didn't want to be appreciated?

He had no family, no personal friends. He was just old.

Cooper pushed back his chair when he heard Spencer call them in for a meeting. He'd sat down while waiting because his old knee was giving out. Walking the short distance to the table that had been set up with exactly thirteen chairs. One had been removed discreetly when Andrew Gray, for some discreet reason, had chosen not to participate.

Being a fan of the old favorites, he noticed with a smile that the table was round, deeming them all equals. Obviously that was Spencer's doing, who diplomatically had placed himself in the seat next to a turtle creature. How ironic that there were thirteen seats of the round table, with an empty, now gone, chair for the "traitor", similar to that of the betrayal of Judas. Would that mean that the seat would be filled at the beginning of their quest, as it happened with the quest for the Holy Grail, where Percival filled the seat? Maybe their team was not yet complete. He smiled coyly for himself, enjoying that observation and chose the seat closest to him.

To his right sat James, a techy and on his left sat Robert, the now only tactical adviser. James was seated next to Mira, who was sitting next to the purple-banded turtle. He wasn't good with names. Next to the purple one, was the scary, red one. Then came the blue one, who was sitting next to Spencer. He looked fine, despite being seated between to turtles, having the orange one next to him and Juliet, the youngest squad-leader, next to the turtle. Michael, Timothy and Johnny filled out the last three seats and he pretended he didn't see the childish, not so discreet, discussion between Juliet and Johnny about who should get to sit next to the turtle.

Kids.

When they all had settled, Spencer cleared his throat to get their attention.

"I'm sure we're all very curious. We're feeling left out," he looked at the turtles as if berating them for that offense, "Let's share information. You tell us everything you know and we'll do the same."

The turtles shared a look as if debating how much to tell. Cooper decided that they'd come to the conclusion to lay everything on the table, just from those single looks. Obviously, they knew each other well. It was the blue one who spoke up.

"We could only confirm what we already know. Mostly, we learned of their recruiting methods-"

"Yes!" Johnny tore up from his chair, pumping a fist. "That's how we'll do it! I'll pose as a new recruit, infiltrate their base," he lowered his voice dramatically, "and destroy them from the inside!"

The blue turtle was already shaking his head.

"That's not going to work. There are several tests every recruit has to go through and barely twenty percent make it."

"I'm healthy as an ox! I can do it easily," Johnny insisted. The blue turtle held up a, oh hell, three fingered hand to silence him.

"You'd have to go under a strong form of hypnosis, making it almost impossible to hide ill intentions, even for a well-trained mind."

"Yeah dude," the orange one added, "You'd cluck like a chicken while sprouting every secret you have! When they're done with you they'll know what you did last summer!" he dramatically declared.

Johnny paled significantly and sat back down. "Then what?"

"As we've agreed before," the blue turtle continued, "if we take down one or two of his bases, we'll be nothing more than a small bother. The Foot is nothing if not resourceful."

"Yes, I see. It's a cutting off the head kinda thing," Spencer nodded eagerly. "But who is the head of the Foot?"

"Oroku Saki needed a public face to manage that kind of money," the purple turtle interfered. "It's likely we´re looking for someone similar. Someone with a whole lot of power and influence."

Cooper shook himself out of the trance he accidently had fallen into. Watching a walking, talking turtle form words was fascinating and hypnotic in its own way. The old man had to admit that though years of experience could be beneficial, it could also be a hindrance when faced with something that should be impossible. His brain was telling him that the world didn't work this way and therefore it pretty much shut down when faced with something so surreal as a talking turtle.

He supposed that was why he was surrounded by kids. He had never felt older in his life. And the youngest of everyone was, of course, the teenage turtles that they placed their faith in. Dear Lord.

Leo didn't like being exposed like this. He wasn't comfortable. And he had the ability to become comfortable almost anywhere. On a stiff floor mat. On top of ruins. In the middle of brotherly chaos. But in a room with policemen? He shifted again, trying to reach a higher awareness. He'd been teased endlessly by his brothers about meditation most of his free non-training time away, but he certainly found it useful now. He could sit in the corner, quietly and unnoticeable, yet sense ill intentions a mile away.

Breathe.

He'd seen Mikey interact with these people and he couldn't help but feel sorry for his little brother. Mikey was a typical youngest and craving attention had been a part of him for as long as Leo could remember. He only wished Mikey could hide away that craving. He didn't need these strangers to think they needed anything. But his brothers weren't making it easy.

Mikey had been following around that Juliet girl with a determined look Leo knew a little too well. There was no doubt that the youngest turtle had promised himself something about that girl, probably to save her or perhaps something as simple at making her smile. That would be very Mikey, Leo thought, losing his concentration and cracking a small smile. But in doing that, he also showed a weakness. Mikey needed friends, wanted them desperately. He was too quick to trust and too quick to forgive.

Focus.

Don hadn't been any better. Oh, he'd shown everyone that he could do it by himself. That he had the technology and the brains to handle this new situation they had gotten themselves into. In that aspect, they didn't need anyone. But he hadn't missed the glint in Don's eye when talking to the other two techies. He hadn't missed the need Don had for a challenge, or rather for someone to challenge him and try to prove him wrong.

Shell, he suspected Don would be thrilled if anyone could do that.

It must also be a relief not having to dumb himself down. April could follow him through a lot, but even she had her limit. Mikey craved attention. Don craved to be free to discuss and be challenged mentally. To find someone who could also connect the dots and see the world turn as he did.

Empty.

At least Raph was his old grumpy self. He hadn't shown any weakness, except perhaps to boredom. As it was, he'd been standing against that same wall, arms crossed, occasionally changing which leg he stood on. He seemed to be simply watching, having long ago used his almighty glare to scare away anyone wanting to engage him in friendly talk. Since he'd helped Don set up shop, he hadn't moved.

His eyes were constantly flickering though.

Don.

Mikey.

Don.

Mikey.

He was definitely on watch. And there it was, wasn't it? His weakness, exposed for all to see. Raph's weakness was his brothers, particularly the younger ones. If anything were to happen to them, he'd be completely destroyed. Leo knew this, because he felt the same. And it wasn't that Raph wasn't watching him too. But they'd long ago learned that the best way to keep the youngest safe was to work together. Raph's gaze flickered to him.

Yeah, I´m watching too, Leo barely nodded in his brother's direction. Raph made a barely soundless ground and continued his endless guarding.

Was Leo emitting any weakness? He certainly didn't hope so.

No, Leo really didn't like being exposed like this. And his meditation had completely failed.

"Guys," Don's voice cut across the room. "I got him."

A/N: Okay guys, lay it on me. How am I doing? Are they staying in character? Is there anything I can improve on? Please let me know what you think!