Chapter 7
The navy blue jeep pulled up in the side alley at precisely seven minutes past the hour. Creeping through the shaded alleyway it drew to a halt by the small metal fire door that had been used in the early hours that morning. The first to exit the vehicle was a stately six foot and moved with a grace that didn't quite belie his stature. With a single key he opened the door to what the next to exit the vehicle now considered an unfair prison. With low spirits and bowed head the boy crept through the terrifying darkness and entered into the sanctuary the false lights afforded him. The third in the vehicle drove it onwards, taking it around the side of the building and into the underground car park staff could use during office hours.
Clutching his Father's hand the young turtle carried his toys and trinkets up to his room, the tension that racked through him only evaporating when he was surrounded by the things that had become an everyday part of his life. But despite this, the boy did not smile when Frasier made his usual dry remarks, nor did he chuckle when Daphne's ridiculous brother and his preposterous 'mockney' accent stole screen time from the stars of the show. Sighing his fingers tapped repeatedly off the side of the leather sofa he curled himself on.
The sound of the room doors opening caused the boy to raise his head, and he dredged up a small smile for his Father. It wasn't the man's fault that he now hunkered for another day out. But it just felt sucky that he had to wait forever for another chance. Turning his attention back to the television screen he rested his head down on the crook of his arm, his mind idly wondering why he could see the screen upright despite the fact his head was resting on a ninety degree angle. Sensing his child's poor mood Saki did not stay long. Walking over to a child he suspected of sulking he placed the brown cardboard folder down onto the low coffee table.
"Accounts, Son."
(More?) From his place the turtle let out a small sigh, before reaching over and picking up the folder. Hadn't he done this once today? Turning the television down to mute he flicked the folder open, his eyes scanning over the single sheet of paper and its reams of numeric code.
"Dad!"
Leaning against the terracotta coloured walls Saki waited patiently for the inevitable. Tossing the door to his room open, the boy found his father waiting just outside. Clutching the internal security codes in his three fingered hand his face exploded into a second bright smile. "Thank you."
Smiling in response, Saki nodded his head before walking back towards his office, "I shall be staying behind late tonight. Mr Bass and I have some business matters to discuss."
"So no exploring upstairs?"
"Precisely"
x-x-x-x
It had taken some time to come up with a plan that would please all parties, but finally Leo felt ready to take his brothers and make his move. They had observed once again the return of their enemy, his lackey and their brother, and this time had caught the side door they had used, using a small piece of tape to stop it from shutting fully. With rain clouds rolling across the sky, the three brothers crept into the building, their plan simple.
(Find Donatello, free him, and bring him home. Oh! And don't get caught.)
That last bit had been added by Mikey, and though it went without saying, it made him feel important. So Leo had let it stay. Three pairs of eyes looked at each other warily,
"Ready?"
"As we're ever gonna be."
"Okay, then …"
And with that the three of them slipped into the building.
x-x-x-x
The boy wandered around the building one floor at a time, for the most part there were reams upon reams of computers, each one surrounded by falsely constructed, easily moveable beige rent-a-walls. Upon first discovering the computers the boy had considered switching one on and playing with it. Except the keys were too small for his thick, stubby fingers, and other than programs full of spreadsheets, word processor documents and databases there was little to hold his attention. Unless he was a writer, which he most certainly was not. No, computers were not for him, they were too rigid, and frustrating, almost as uninspiring as the accounts his father made him do.
Slipping out of the room he flipped the light switch back up and headed down to the next level. Stepping out of the lift the breath caught in his throat. Venturing forwards he leant against the top of the brass metal pole that ran along the top of the white wall. The bar bent at seventy-five degrees about five metres from the buildings walls at either side. Turning on the lights the area flooded with light, the brass bar capturing it and carrying it down upon a curved path. Shooting out to either side, before zooming down in two crescent arcs towards the open auditorium space. Behind him was the glass lift shaft, with its frosted door covers. And beneath the mezzanine was the largest mahogany desk he had ever spied, upon which was one computer and two telephones, one with a screen and sheaf of paper sticking out the top, the other, despite a thorough examination, turned out to be an ordinary phone.
The rich red carpet extended down the staircase he had padded down seconds earlier to come to a halt at the white marble stone tiles that covered the foyer area. Keeping a firm grip on his harmonica he continued on his detailed exploration of the reception area. His feet moved soundlessly over the sleek, white surface, his reflection giving some tiles a green tinge. Pausing before the large mahogany double doors, he peeked out into the dark entrance hall, the metal shutters that covered the outer doors giving the area a creepy feel. Feeling a shudder go up his spine he turned back around and let out a small "Whoop!"
x-x-x-x
"This the generator Raph?"
Lurking in the basement the biggest turtle poured over a collective schematics manual. Why his brothers decided that just because he spending time as Casey's grease monkey made him a fully qualified techie was beyond him. Frowning he looked at the large skeletal metal structures before letting out a low sigh. "As good a place as any."
x-x-x-x
Just as he had suspected the acoustics in the lobby were phenomenal. Carefully tucking his harmonica away the boy ran back up towards the high wooden desk. … Pat, pat, pat … his feet slapped the stone firmly as he charged onwards. Planting both hands on the raised surface he powered himself up and into a neat sitting position his legs clunking off the wooden support. Letting out a congratury chuckle to himself he unwrapped his beloved instrument and began to tune it up.
x-x-x-x
"Okay … here goes." Using the pliers Leo carefully cut the wires that Raphael assured him would cut the power. Or leave him crispy fried. He wasn't quite sure, which was why Leo had decided to take responsibility for any possible additional accidents. Wincing Leo bit down on his lip, Mikey crossed his fingers for him, whilst Raph went for the far more sensible 'duck and cover approach' …clip…
x-x-x-x
E-flat, e-flat the boy's eyes scanned over the instruction page carefully committing to memory the sequence. Bringing the small metal box to his mouth he pressed his lips around the edge of the instrument, inhaled once … when the lights cut out.
x-x-x-x
"Leo?"
"Yes Mikey?"
"Yo'al'aight?"
"Yes Raph."
"Wow. Go me. "
"Go Raph … go Raph …" Mikey's little, irritating song had been mused during the trip up from the basement. The three brothers moved with the grace and confidence their father had instilled in them from birth, their eyes, and their weapons, ready for anything.
"Go …" Mikey's abrupt halt caused his two brothers to collide in his shadow. Turning back he pointed to the source of his attention, "Talk about a break …"
x-x-x-x
The boy's eyes widened when the room plunged into darkness. Lowering his harmonica he placed it down upon the smooth wooden surface, before his hands slowly located the lip of the desktop. (It's just a power cut, they happen all the time) Inhaling in slow steady breaths he gave it no thought before replying to the quiet hiss,
"Don!"
"Whose there?" knitting his brow together he peered into the darkness. The grip he had on the desk tightening.
"Donny! C'mon, we're over here."
"Whose there?" the turtle's voice rose a few decibels, "Come out into the moon light." Through the slats of the outer door, orange light flooded in. (Moonlight isn't orange…) Sliding down off the desk he edged away from the piece. In the back of his throat bile rose, swallowing it down, his head jerked around rapidly, taking a deep breath he tried to maintain an air of calm.
"Don, we aint got time fer games! C'mon!"
Wrapping his arms around his middle he tried to calm his voice, "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me whose there." In the back of his mind half destroyed memories filtered into his mind, images of shaded figures that crept out of the dark to hurt and maim others. Flexing his fingers he clenched, then unclenched his fists.
"Okay." Shrugging at his brothers Mikey darted through the shadows towards the mis-matched light. Slowing to a walk, he stepped out of the safety the dark afforded him and stood there. "Whatsup Don?" With one arm behind his back, and a definitive slouch, he waved at his older brother, a slightly bemused expression on his face.
The voice sounded eerily child-like. And was the final of three. Three, distinct, determined voices. (Oh God) They had come back for him, just like Father had said. Confirming his worst fears the 'eldest' stepped into the poor light. "Why, why did you cut the power?" he finally managed to whisper to his forgotten brother.
Mikey glanced back to his waiting brothers. "So we could getcha all the quicker!" Normally his cutesy ways would get a laugh, or at least a smile out of his brother, instead his eyes just seemed to bulge. If there was light, he would have swore he saw him go a lighter shade of puce.
"Oh God …"
x-x-x-x
"Hun!"
"Yes Boss?"
"Get the back up generator online now!"
x-x-x-x
"Dammit!"
In exactly the same manner that the lights had gone crashing down they now came zipping back up again, albeit at a distinctly softer glow. In the dusky light the three brothers could clearly see Donatello's features contort from horror to fear and then to an interesting mix of horrified fear. Taking in laboured breath after laboured breath his chest and shoulders heaved, wide brown eyes making note of the two others that lurked near the service corridor.
They all appeared so distinctly different, the sociopath having broken from the group to linger in the door way. He could identify that one by his mannerisms; the other two were harder to tell apart. Though the fact they both carried offensive weapons did nothing to ease his nightmarish fears.
"Back up generator." the one in the blue mask dead panned to his taller counterpart in red. "Well done Raph, I nearly fried myself for nothing." The marginally shorter turtle punched the largest in his arm. "We can't wait any longer Don. Come on …" walking past the one adorned in red the jarringly calm one approached him. Extending one hand he wriggled his fingers expectantly. "Whatever Shredder's done, it's alright we'll figure something out. It's over now."
(Shredder?) If it wasn't for the sheer terror that ran through his veins at the mere thought of leaving with them he might have showed confusion at the term. (Stall) "Er … my harmonica!" glancing round he pointed to the small metal box. "I … I can't leave without my harmonica."
"But Don yo'do…" Raph shut up at the death glare that Leo sent him.
"Sure, that's fine. Mikey."
(Telephone the police?) How he managed to turn his back on them he would never know. (No, they wouldn't make it in time.) Moving slowly he stared at the tiled floor whilst his mind continued to go through the myriad of options. Reaching up, he numbly picked up his harmonica. It was the flashing of the small LED that caught his attention, eyes narrowed and his tongue peeked out of the corner of his mouth. Sub-consciously he flexed his fingers before making his move.
"Don!" Leo didn't move fast enough to stop his brother from striking the red, flashing panic button.
Turning back round sharply his eyes grew to truly astronomical proportions, the one in blue instinctively drew his two swords, whilst the other pulled out his three pronged knifes.
"What the HELL did yo'do that fer!" the one in red positively screamed at him.
Backing along the workstation Don made his way towards the curving staircase. "I've called on site security … and they're going to be here any minute!" he yelped in response. "So just go away …"
"Oh, we aint goin' anywhere w'out yo'!"
"whilst you still can …"
x-x-x-x
In his office Oroku Saki continued to rapidly change his clothes. The slate grey sweater he had worn to the beach that day was pulled on over the metal breast plate, whilst Hun continued to pull off the arm gauntlets. Doing up his belt Oroku looked to his second in command for a final verdict.
"Yo' look r'spectable Boss."
"Good. Now get the soldiers out there, no masks or visible weapons." Slipping on his first shoe he didn't look at Hun, though he added crisply, "Go and retrieve my Son Mr Bass."
x-x-x-x
The soft …ting… of the elevator brought an end to the game of cat and mouse between Donatello and Raphael. Ever since his challenge the largest of the three had moved with a speed and grace that didn't match his size. Terrified the other turtle had continued to climb up the stairs, his harmonica held tightly in one hand. Now, though, they both paused, relief pouring through Don as Mr Bass and a handful of his men appeared. The men moved quickly, finding and releasing their counterparts from the locker rooms. Filling the staircase Hun stood in exactly the same place as Don had earlier.
Placing his large hands down onto the bar the behemoth leant over the top to smile down on his three uninvited visitors. "What a lovely surprise!" he articulated carefully, "Talk about a blessing in disguise." Turning his attention from the brothers he extended one hand to the lurking Don. "Kid, get up here."
…ting…
From behind the three row deep line of Foot Oroku Saki emerged. Dressed once again in the simple grey sweater and blue cords from earlier in the day he moved regally to stand at Hun's side. Behind his jaded brown eyes a spark burned, the smile that played upon his lips turning into a triumphant smirk as Don joined him at the top of the stairs. Sliding one arm around the boy's shell he observed the looks of horror and disgust that crossed his enemy's faces.
"Go upstairs, my Son." He instructed softly, "I'll deal with our guests."
"Father!" Don cried nestling his head against Saki's chest, "Please, let security throw them out." He continued pulling at the back of his father's trousers in a vain attempt to get his father's attention.
"I have a feeling that everything will be fine." His eyes never left the three turtles, his voice somehow managing to strike a balance between the warmth needed to calm his terrified son, and the menace necessary to hold back Don's brothers "Now, when have I ever lied to you?"
Giving Don a final reassuring smile, he ushered him into Hun's care and the heights of his tower like fortress. From within the sanctuary of the elevator the boy watched his father walk the length of the mezzanine with his usual measured step. Observed him respond to his desperate, muted pleas to stay away from them with a mouthed 'Everything is fine', and then, in slow motion, the man turned his back on him to offer a sickeningly sweet smile to his guests. "Well …" wrapping one hand firmly around the banister of the staircase, he took the time to make his position perfectly clear. Power. He had it, and he lorded it over the remaining brothers with practiced ease. "Where ever should I begin?"
"The beginning."
"Hm, what a novel idea. Well, I have decided to acquire an heir. Someone to continue the family traditions when I am gone."
Having been the first to speak Leonardo continued to watch the man coldly. Resheathing his swords he idly considered how much damage they could do to the man before the Foot got in the way. It didn't take him more than a few seconds to discount the theory.
"Cute. Now why don' yo'give us what we came fer."
"Raph," Leo interjected firmly, his wary eyes breaking from Shredder for the barest moment to ensure his brother understood him. "Let me handle this."
Saki's head bowed, "A wise decision."
It was with much disgust that he met the human's eyes stare for stare. "Really? It's not like you to hold back when the odds are in your favour."
"Perhaps I am tired of fighting?" though delivered straight Saki could not keep up the pretence, and the light that lit his eyes resonated in the soft chuckle that tainted his next words. "Perhaps it is time we called a truce." Though there was no tear in his eye, he wiped his scarred cheek with the tip of his left thumb. Leaving the relative sanctuary of the staircase he approached Leonardo, basking in the tiny amount of fear that crept through his façade. "There is a saying, 'if you cannot beat them, join them.' Since I am aware you would never willingly join me I thought it necessary to gain leverage."
Raphael expected Saki to step aside. To perhaps counter his opportunist attack with a wave of soldiers. Give him a chance to release some of the frustration that was burning up inside him. Instead the human stopped in his mocking speech to retrieve the sai. Bending down he even went so far as to lower his eyes to study the weapon that had seconds earlier struck his concealed breastplate above his heart. Picking it up he held it in the palm of his hand, weighing it up slowly. Bringing his eyes up he let out a low sigh. "Actions like this will not be tolerated."
Shredder's overly gentle approach sent shivers up the spine of the turtles. Slipping his weapons away Mikey decided to close the gap between his brothers and himself. He didn't like the way that Don acted around Shred-head but maybe there was something that he knew that they simply didn't. Coming up to Leo's left flank he made up the final point of the loose triangle the brothers made. Glancing across at Raph he tried to silently placate him. To his brother's credit, he didn't hurl his other sai at the man's bowed head; instead he grasped it so tightly that his knuckles continued to whiten.
"I have decided it is time that we joined forces."
Though Raphael snorted with derision at the sheer gall of his nemesis, Leo indicated he continue with a small gesture of his hand. "And if we decline?" For the most part he had descended into a stoic silence, any emotion he had previously displayed vanishing behind a determined, calculating armour.
"Well, I'd hate to see anything happen to my son. But he is so curious about the outside world and I am just a business man. An accident at the beach, a … stray bullet in the park, there is only so much I can do to protect him." At this point Leonardo looked away, a classic sign of a challenger bending to his superior. He was, on some level, sub-consciously admitting defeat.
"If yo'think we're gonna roll over an'play dead yo' …"
"Shut up Raph!" the eldest brother hissed.
"Donny aint stupid Leo. Sooner or later he'll figure a way out."
"Except it isn't Don anymore is it?" Two narrowed eyes had risen once again to meet Saki's endless pools. The human smiled at this revelation, he knew there had been a reason why he had approached this one first.
"Oh I'm sure on some level he still recognises you. But I'm his father, and you're the enemy. If you think it is an act, or merely a matter of time before the worm turns Raphael then you are sadly mistaken. The boy is mine."
"And if you're going to kill him we have no need to continue this conversation."
"No, but his continued well being lies in your hands. Interfere in my affairs, or those of my 'sister' companies and I have a distinct feeling that something truly horrible will befall the child. Assist me, look the other way, I'm not particularly adverse as to which you choose and the boy will continue as he believes he always has. A life of luxury, limited freedoms, treats. It is not such a bad life, and it is the only one he knows. Currently you're living breathing nightmares, in time you'll be Freudian messages until one day you'll be nothing more than figments of an over active imagination."
"If yo'really think Don's buying what yo'selling yo'got less sense than Mikey."
"Except he has already forgotten you, and everything you ever stood for. Give it time and it will be as if you never existed." Having laid down his terms Saki walked away from the small troupe, pausing at the foot of the stairs he turned back to add, "An heir, one less turtle, both prospects please me." Smirking with glee he began to climb the steps, "You have until tomorrow night to mull over the options. Return this time tomorrow and we shall have contracts prepared. Failure to show shall be taken as a refusal, and the status quo shall be." Tossing Raphael's sai back down onto the reception floor he continued "minus one brother, of course."
With a growl Raphael charged at the man's turned back, Leonardo grabbing a hold of his nearest arm whilst Mikey leapt into his brother's path. "Chill!" he whimpered, finally breaking his silence. Placing both of his hands on his brother's shoulders he pushed backwards, causing the largest of the four to halt half a metre from where he had started his charge. Breaking free from the two of them with an angry shrug Raph glared up at Saki, his face twisting with the rage that burnt inside him. "Beta sleep wit' one eye op'n …" he murmured softly, "Cos I'm gonna fuck yo'up s'bad yo'mommas gon - …"
"He trusts me Raphael. I could give him poison tonight with his dinner and he would accept it, because I am his father, and he is my Son. Now, I bid you goodnight, and if you feel cheated out of an opportunity to test your skills I have no qualms with you picking fights with my enemies." Walking to the lift doors he called for the elevator, "Good night" he called, entering the sanctuary of the cabin, leaving turtles and Foot in his wake.
A.N - Ahhh ... the joys of only living five minutes from the beach. Can you tell it is one of my favourite places ? BTW sorry for the delayed update, I have an exam on June 9 th! AGGGGGGGGHH!
Rene - Woot! likes you again, I'm so glad! And thanks for the tip, will definitely utilise it for later chapters.
pacphys - Puts her hand up! I've just done it with Mikey as the oldest! Points to chapter five ...
Mickis - Truth be told I'M not sure anymore ... at this moment in time I have two endings for this story ... and they couldn't be more different if I tried.
Lioness Goddess - Okay, Donnie has been kidnapped by Saki. Saki has altered his memories so that he has forgotten his family, and believes Shredder to be his father. Consequentially he loves him. Don doesn't remember any thing of his previous life, bar a few floating memories.And now ... he has met his brothers for the 'first time'. Didn't really go to plan now, did it?
kikyophoenix19 - You said it. I love the Luthors, and I love writing for Saki. I don't think I can say that too many times!
Thanks to LN, Ramica, shannon, In-The-Clouds and Sassy for R&R-ing. I hope y'all like where its going ...
