Disclaimers

All characters appearing in Gargoyles and Gargoyles: The Goliath Chronicles are copyright Buena Vista Television/The Walt Disney Company. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.

All characters appearing in Teenage Mutant 1987 series copyright by Murakami Wolf Swenson, Inc. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holder.

All original characters, such as Ulysses Quintone/the Grand Censor and Seraphina (pounced Sair-uh-fee-nuh), are the property of Celgress.

Previously on TMNT/Gargoyles

"I know there is more at work here than merely the will of evil"

Bishop Guillermo Maza

TMNT/GARGOYLES He Who Laughs Last

TMNT/Gargoyles Season One Beginnings Episode Three: Thrill of the Hunt

By

Celgress

Republic of Ghana, the city of Accra 1961 mid-day

Outside of a tidy storefront a strange hooded, masked figure suddenly appeared accompanied by a crackling wave of energy & fire. The Masked Figure surveyed his surroundings with glowing yellow eyes. The Masked figure was fully clothed in a brown outfit like that of a medieval monk, except for his face which was fully covered by a featureless white mask, a gray hooded cape, black leather boots, gloves & belt. On the Masked Figure's chest was a large yellow cross which matched his eyes, on the ring finger of his right hand was a golden signet ring which also sported a crucifix. The Masked Figure looked intently at the mannequin which adored the storefront. The mannequin was of a typical smartly dressed young British gentleman of about thirty with short, sandy brown haired man, an aquiline nose, with blue eyes and wearing a dapper dark blue pinstripe suit.

"I must now retire my identity of the Grand Censor it simply will not do in this day and age, ah this however will replace it rather nicely" stated the Masked Figure in a deep, yet monotone voice. A snap of his fingers later the Masked Figure had instantly become a perfect human facsimile of the mannequin. With a sly grin the now human figure entered the store.

A tinkle of the small bell located above the door alerted the Shopkeeper that the Smartly Dressed Man had entered his establishment. The Shopkeeper was an elderly British gentleman of about sixty. The Storekeeper had been one of a number of expats who had decided to stay on, as they called it, once the former colony had been granted full independence from the British Empire back in 1957.

"How may I help you my boy?" The Shopkeeper asked the Smartly Dressed Man, who was currently browsing his wares.

The Smartly Dressed Man stopped his browsing, and looked at the Shopkeeper. "Would you know if the Calhoun Expedition has left the City yet?"

"Yes, Dr. Calhoun and his men left this morning for the Bush. May I ask are you a member of their party Mr?" said the Shopkeeper, looking inquisitively at the Smartly Dressed Man.

The Smartly Dressed Man's eyes quickly scanned the store shelves searching for an appropriate name, at last he located one on the side of a metal box that read in bold, stylized letters 'Quintone's Quinine – Anti-Malarial Agent'. "I am Mr. Quintone, and no I am not a member of Dr. Calhoun's party rather just an engaged individual. Thank you for your time and the information you provided, farewell." The newly named Mr. Quintine turned around on his heels, leaving the store without another word.

"Hey aren't you going to purchase anything?" shouted the Shopkeeper, but Mr. Quintone was already gone. "Strange fellow, though I can't help but feel that I've seen him somewhere before ah well."

Republic of Ghana, somewhere in the rainforest 1961 night

"Filthy beast, it is mine!" yelled Mr. Quintone, as he fist fought a heavyset, male, albino gargoyle.

"The Emerald of the Realms does not belong with a monster like you! You are evil, and unworthy of its' powers!" snarled the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle, locking his talons around Mr. Quintone's fingers. The two now engaged in a test of strengthen, which surprisingly the gargoyle seemed unable to win. He could do no more than stalemate the strange human.

"You are very strong, for a human!" said the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle, his eyes glowed an even bright shade of white that his skin.

"Foolish creature, do you honestly believe an ordinary human being could have slaughtered both your brethren and the Calhoun Expedition with such ease?" laughed Mr. Quinton, gesturing at the multitude of dead albino gargoyles and humans alike that littered the area. Amongst the humans were two automatic assault rifles, their cartridges fully spent. "Alas I grow weary of our exchange, farewell."

Mr. Quintone's hands blazed with fire the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle roared in pain and pulled his own, now badly burnt, hands back instinctively. Mr. Quintone then savagely punched the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle square in the chest. This blow was so powerful it knocked the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle several hundred feet away. The Heavyset Albino Gargoyle attempted to get up, but couldn't he lay on the ground gasping for breath.

Mr. Quinton grinned walking towards the mouth of a nearby cave. "Now that I'm finished here it is time to collect my prize."

The cave was the home of the Albino Gargoyle Clan Mr. Quintone had just ruthless slaughter to the last member. Inside he found all their possessions including several human books they had found over the years. Picking up one of the obviously well used volumes he read the title aloud.

"Ulysses, hmmmmm, Ulysses, Quintone suppose I could do worse for a modern 20th century name. I'll take it. May it serve me well" he said with a brief smile.

Ulysses Quintone put down the book, continuing his search of the cave. He soon located a large side chamber. This was the rookery of the Albino Gargoyle Clan. It was filled with eggs, perhaps as many as two dozen in all, each carefully placed within a nest of palm leaves and native grasses. On a rock pedestal within the middle of the chamber was the prize he had come for: Emerald of the Realms. It was huge, nearly the size standard football.

Ulysses Quintone quickly stepped over the various eggs in his way and picked up the gem. "Another circle within the great circle is complete." Looking down at the eggs he added. "Sorry little ones, I already have more than enough Gargoyles to deal with in Goliath's Clan. I simply cannot abide anymore of you."

One by one Ulysses Quintone destroyed the gargoyle eggs with a blast of pure energy from one hand and then the other, while juggling the Emerald of the Skies. After his terrible business was finished Ulysses Quintone vanished in a flash of light and flame. Unbeknownst to Ulysses Quintone a single egg had survived his rampage. He had missed it because it was knocked off into a corner early on and had remained overlooked there while he had completed his grisly task.

Outside the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle struggled to stand. The headlights of approaching car on the nearby roadway washed over him, followed by the squeal of brakes. A loud male voice was then heard.

"Oh my God what has happened!?"

A young man and young woman, both appeared to be in their thirties, rushed to the fallen Heavyset Albino Gargoyle's side. Each took one of the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle's arms and tried to lift him off the ground but to no avail. The Heavyset Albino Gargoyle pushed the two away.

"Please" he croaked between gasps for breath, pointing back towards where the cave entrance lay. "The cave, the Emerald, the eggs, please go!"

The human couple did what they were told. About twenty minutes later the couple returned with the single remaining egg. Both were rather disturbed, having passed by the scene of the massacre on the way to and from the cave. They now kneeled near the fallen Heavyset Albino Gargoyle.

"The Emerald" he croaked "the eggs, are there no, more?"

The Man shook his head sadly "The Emerald is gone, there are no other eggs. Whoever did this smashed them all."

"Who could do such a vile thing, killing defenseless creatures like this" said the Woman cradling the sole surviving egg, her voice filled with rage.

"It was a human, a man" groaned the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle, in pain. "Promise, please, promise me."

"Yes" said the Man. "We will do anything we can for you old friend. If it were not for you and your people, we wouldn't be here today. Me and my wife owe your clan a great debt, just ask."

"The egg, watch over it, guide the hatchling please, this I beg you. Otherwise, he, or she, will be all alone in the, world…."

"We will watch over the egg as if it were our own child, old friend" said the Man taking the hand of the Heavyset Albino Gargoyle. The Woman nodded her head in agreement. The Heavyset Albino Gargoyle took a few more deep gasps and then closed his eyes his grip on the Man's hand went slack.

"Goodbye old friend, I promise you no matter what we will always do that which is best for your child. We shall guard him or her with our very lives."

Outside Shanghai China, Mid-October 1994 evening

"Are we there yet?" whined Michelangelo.

"Will you stop asking that!" said Raphael. "I swear you have been asking that every five minutes since we left NYC nearly three weeks ago! We'll get there when we get there, ssssshhh."

"C'mon Raphael layoff Mikey, he is just impatient" said Leonardo.

"Well his 'impatience' is contributing to my annoyance" grumbled Raphael.

The weary group, which consisted of the four Turtles, Splinter & Mona Lisa all clad in hooded robes to preserve the secret of their true appearance, had been traveling for the better part of three weeks now. First they had hitched a ride on a cargo ship bound for Hong Kong. From there they had made their way to Beijing, and finally to their current location fifty miles outside of Shanghai.

"We have arrived" Splinter announced, halting the group in front a large imposing structure "This is the home of my dear friend Shinobi Master Chung I and his daughter Mei Pieh Chi." Splinter knocked with his new walking staff, which had replaced the one destroyed in the battle with Armaggon, several times on the large metal door that loomed up before them. Several moments passed without response.

"Gee maybe they are out for pizza?" offered Michelangelo. This elicited a slap to the back of his head from Raphael.

"Raphael" said Mona Lisa in a scolding tone. "That was uncalled for!"

"You're telling me" said Michelangelo, rubbing his now sore head.

"Silence my children, cease your bickering" demanded Splinter. "Something is very wrong here. Listen do you not hear it?"

The others strained their ears. There it was a low sobbing from within. The more they listened the more distinct it became.

"Yeah, I hear it Master Splinter" said Donatello. "It sounds like someone crying."

"How are we going to get in? These doors are solid iron" wondered Leonardo.

"Allow me" said Splinter, concentrating for a few moments before fracturing the locking mechanism of the doors with a single blow of his hand. "Right this way my children."

"Wow, someday I have to learn that trick" said Leonardo in awe.

"Someday we all have to learn that trick" added Raphael, the others nodding in agreement.

Inside was a large, dimly lit room. In the center of which lay two figures, one was an elderly Chinese man the identity of other which was kneeling besides him was obscured beneath a heavy robe. The man was obviously deceased being covered nearly head to toe in blood. His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. The soft, but insistent, sobbing was coming from hooded figure. The group slowly approached the pair. The head of the hooded figure suddenly snapped up looking towards the group, having apparently just noticed their presence.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" questioned the Hooded Figure in a distinctly feminine voice jumping to her feet.

Splinter motioned for the others to stay back while he approached the Hooded Figure removing his own hood. "I am known as Splinter. These are my children." Splinter continued gesturing for the five to come forward, when they did each removed their hood as they did so Splinter introduced them. "This is Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, Raphael and last but certainly not least Mona Lisa."

"You-you are l-like me,,, but how?" stammered the Hooded Figure, removing her own hooded to reveal a female Mutant Turtle adorned with a light blue facemask. "I am Mei Pieh Chi, daughter of the slain Shinobi Master Chung I" Mei Pieh Chi looked down at the dead man upon the floor.

"Who did this?" asked Splinter coming forward to examine the body of his old friend.

"I do not know. He was like this when I return with his supper several hours ago" sobbed Mei Pieh Chi. "He was apparently murdered by a power assailant in the short time I was absent. An assailant who then stole the Dragon's Mirror, for it is missing as well. How an assailant could have managed such a feat in a short time, is beyond me. It appears nearly impossible."

"Oh Chung I, my dear friend how could this have happened may your soul find peace and rest in the next life" said Splinter solemnly, closing the eyes of the Shinobi Master.

"You called him 'friend' did you know my father?" asked Mei Pieh Chi. "He never spoke of a 'Splinter'?"

"He knew me under my original name, Hamato Yoshi" replied Splinter with a sigh.

"Hamato Yoshi, the Ninja Master" said Mei Pieh Chi, her eyes going wide. "My father spoke of you often. He told me if anything were ever to befall him that I should seek you out at once. He told me you were the closest thing to a natural, or a biological, father that I had. Though Chung I loved me very much he freely admitted once I came of age that my origins were not with him here in China, but with you Hamato Yoshi in a land called 'America'."

"They are my daughter" said Splinter, as he and Mei Pieh Chi embraced each other. "Our family is at last complete."

St. Damien's Cathedral early November Sunset

The Gargoyles broke free of their stone shells ready for another night of patrolling the City. It had been more than two weeks since the Clan had last tackled with Pannton the Dark Jester. Ever since things had been rather peaceful for the newest protectors of Manhattan, sure the streets were still riddled with various petty criminals but they represented no real threat to Gargoyles.

Inside the Clan's living area Hudson was soon seated in his lazy boy chair watching the television with Bronx faithfully seated alongside. What he was watching tonight soon caught the interest of the Trio of younger Gargoyles. The Trio soon gathered around the flickering TV screen.

"Hey its' the Pack" said Brooklyn.

"I love this show" added Broadway.

"These guys are awesome, as our new friend Michelangelo would say" said Lexington, his face beaming.

"Eh they art okay, I guess but not when they art on every channel" grumbled Hudson, folding his arms across his broad chest. "I hate these TV 'specials'."

"Aw c'mon Hudson the Pack are great, they fight crime just like us" said Lexington.

"Not just like us" said Elisa, entering the room with Goliath in tow. "The Pack are just TV characters guys. They don't fight real criminals."

"I don't know Elisa, those ninjas they fight look real tough" said Broadway.

"Guys the whole thing is scripted" continued Elisa. "It is part of their show. The fights are staged. Furthermore the show is aimed at children, it isn't even meant to be realistic."

Elisa's last statement elicited groans, mumbles and some vehement arguments from the Trio. Lexington seemed especially insulted by her disparaging of the Pack. Hudson joined in with Elisa contending that the Pack were downright silly at times and that he didn't really care for their antics. The heated debate only ended when Goliath verbally stepped in assigning patrols routes for the night. The Trio took the north side of the City while he and Elisa took south side. As was becoming usual Hudson and Bronx remained behind to guard the Cathedral. Sometime later in the sky over northern Manhattan, the Trio were still talking about the Pack.

"I don't care what Hudson and Elisa say the Pack are still great" snorted Lexington.

"Agreed, Elisa & Hudson are just out touch that is all" said Broadway.

"Exactly, they just don't know what are generation likes" added Brooklyn.

"Wow, where did you guys hear that stuff?" said Lexington.

"On a program for human teenagers, talking about the 'generation gap' replied Brooklyn with a shrug. "Hey guys, the Pack are making a rare public appearance tonight in Madison Square Garden after their TV Special is over. What say we go watch?"

"I don't know" said Broadway, in a worried tone. "Goliath, Elisa and even Hudson won't be pleased if they find out we have been slacking off our patrol duty."

"Who cares" said Lexington loudly, shocking the other two because of the conviction evident in his voice. "They don't understand us, besides I'd like to see the Pack in person. I'm sure it'll only be a few minutes. What harm could come of it?"

"True" said Brooklyn, "Let's do it".

"Okay" said Broadway. "I just hope we aren't making a mistake." The Trio wield around in mid-air now heading towards Madison Square Garden.

Elsewhere Madison Square Garden

"Damn I hate these live public appearances" grumbled the large gray haired and bearded man known as Pack member Wolf. "They are always full of a million screaming kiddies."

"Try not to think about the kids, but rather the juicy soccer moms who bring the brats" laughed the medium built brown haired man.

"That is easy for you to say Jackal. You and Dingo always get all the hot girls. All I get are the really weird and desperate ones like you sister here?" said Wolf pointing towards Jackal's twin sister who was known as Pack member Hyena.

"Thanks for the compliment big, hairy and gruesome" said Hyena, beaming her best smile at Wolf.

"Stop the childish fighting you three" demanded Dingo in his thick Australian accent. He was a dark skinned man, with a moustache and a Mohawk hairdo. "The big boss wants us here for a reason. He wants us to deal with those gargoyle freaks on live TV tomorrow night. You don't want to disappoint him do ya?"

"Of course I don't" said Wolf, an involuntary shudder passing through his body.

Just then a chime sounded from Dingo's belt, he pulled out a purple communicator with a built in mini-video monitor and answered the summons. "Yes Master Krang how may we serve you?"

"My sensors indicate the three youngest Gargoyles will soon be arriving to watch your live performance" said the pulsating, pink visage of Krang. "I knew they would prove unable to resist the subliminal messages I encoded into your most recent broadcasts."

"Would you like us to capture them following the performance?" asked Dingo.

"Of course not, my plan is still that the four of you beat the Gargoyles tomorrow night on national television. Think of the ratings, the profits and the prestige you will receive by defeating the latest menace to the City. Your show will be revitalized and your careers will shoot straight into the Stratosphere! Tonight your task is to win their trust, so that the younger Gargoyles will lure the rest of their so called Clan into our trap. Do you understand?"

"Yes Master Krang" replied Dingo almost without thinking.

"Excellent" said Krang, rubbing his tentacles together with glee. "Do not disappointment me, Krang out."

"You heard the man, er em you heard him" said Dingo turning to the others. "We have our marching orders."

"This should be fun" said Wolf, cracking his knuckles with a grin.

"Should it ever" said the twin Pack members Jackal & Hyena in near perfect unison.

Later that night after the Pack had finished their personal appearance. This included a staged fight with a group of 'ninjas', who were actually poorly, trained stuntmen. Followed by an interview with the media and a lengthy autograph session, the Trio of young Gargoyles approached their heroes who acted shocked at first but soon warmed up to their strange new fans. After Brooklyn & Broadway had gotten their autographs, free of charge as Dingo added, Lexington had remained behind for several minutes. When Lexington rejoined the others he informed them of the Pack's desire to meet the rest of the Clan at an address they had given him tomorrow night at 10:30 pm sharp. The others were unsure of what to say about this. Brooklyn in particularly was aghast when Lexington informed him that he had already accepted the invitation upon the entire Clan's behalf. Broadway rightly told Lexington that Goliath, Elisa & Hudson would flip out when they learned what he had done. Lexington swore the other two gargoyles to secrecy, saying he would broach the subject with the adults tomorrow night.

Abandoned warehouse dusk the following day

"Everything is ready Master Krang" spoke Dingo into his communicator. "Would you prefer we capture these Gargoyles or destroy them outright instead?"

"I'd prefer them alive with minimum damage for experimentation purposes, if possible. However if they should resist too greatly destroy them all with as much force as you see fit" gurgled Krang.

"If the rest of 'em are as trusting as that green one this should be like taking candy from a baby" laughed Wolf.

"The 'green one', as far as we can tell, is the youngest, smallest and likely most inexperienced in dealing with non-gragoyles of the so called Clan. You would be well advised to not underestimate the rest of their abilities based upon his actions" warned Krang, pointing a tentacle at Wolf for added emphasis.

"Yes Master Krang" said Wolf, somewhat dejectedly.

"Are the recording devices positioned and ready for use?" asked Krang.

"Yes Master Krang" replied Dingo. "Everything is setup and ready. All you have to do is switch over from internal to external broadcast on your end when you are ready."

"Excellent, Krang out."

"Pompous little twerp" mumbled Wolf under his breath.

"You best not like him hear you say that" laughed Jackal, Hyena soon joining in. Wolf gritted his teeth but said no more.

St. Damien's Cathedral evening

"The three of you allowed them to see you, why!?" asked a flabbergasted Goliath, taken aback by the revelation he had just heard from the Trio of younger Gargoyles.

"Because we cannot hide from the world forever, and you let Elisa see you first back when she was human" offered Lexington.

"That was different" roared Goliath. "I was saving her life! I had little choice but to reveal my presence, or she would have died!" Nearby Elisa flinched at the traumatic memories the statement invoked.

"Besides the Pack are good people" said Lexington.

"You don't know that, not with any certainty" said Elisa.

"They were kind to us, gave us their autographs free of charge and everything" countered Broadway.

"I do not care" fired back Goliath. "Elisa is right, they are actors on a Television show. They are no different than the actors who use to put on stage plays for the Prince in our own time. They are playing roles characters, we have no way of knowing their true intentions."

"You just don't trust our judgement is all because we are not full adults yet" shot back Lexington. "If it were Hudson or Elisa who made contact with the Pack we wouldn't be having this discussion right now. Well I don't care what you say. I will not break my word, I'll meet with them tonight even if I have to do it alone."

"Lexington lad what has gotten into ye?" asked a startled Hudson. "This is nay way to talk with yer elders and Clan Leader."

"I don't care I'm going" said Lexington leaving the living area.

"Fine" rumbled Goliath, "If you must go I will accompany you. There is no need to place the entire Clan in jeopardy until will learn the true intentions of this Pack. If they are indeed honorable the others can come later."

"Alright" said Lexington. "That sounds fair, lets' go." Goliath exited the living area, following Lexington off into the night, the others telling both gargoyles to be careful and wishing them a safe return.

About ten minutes later Hudson and Bronx had settled into their familiar places in front of the TV. Broadway and Brooklyn were enjoying a snack at a nearby table, welcoming a rare night off. Only Elisa seemed agitated. Her wings caped the female gargoyle paced back and forth across the room. Every so often she'd threw a glance at the door.

"I should have insisted" Elisa said to herself. "I shouldn't have let them go alone. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Aye las Goliath is a big boy he can handle himself. I'm sure they will be fine" said Hudson from his recliner.

"I sure hope you are right Hudson" said Elisa, glancing once more at the open door.

Just then a loud advertisement blared across the TV. It said be sure to tune in at 10:30 pm when the world famous super heroes known as the Pack would confront the evil Gargoyle Clan. It further advised that this was a real confrontation and that no one under the age of 13, unless accompanied by an adult, should watch as the confrontation could become violent. The Gargoyles gave a collective gasp.

"We are out of her!" roared Elisa, her eyes momentarily glowed a deep crimson. "Broadway, Brooklyn you are with me. Thank goodness I remember the address Lexington mentioned, come we don't have much time. I just hope we can get there before something terrible happens." The three gargoyles quickly took off into the night.

Abandoned warehouse 10:30 pm

"Hello?" said Lexington, he and Goliath had just entered the warehouse moments ago via a broken skylight. "Is anyone here? We came just like I promised we would."

The entire structure was dark and silent. There didn't seem to be anyone around. Suddenly a series of flood lights illuminated the entire structure temporarily blinding the two gargoyles.

"You said you'd bring all of your Clan" boomed the voice of Dingo over some type of PA system. "There were more of you here last night. Where are the others?"

"Don't worry they'll be coming along, soon" said Lexington, no longer blinking his eyesight now restored.

"I guess we'll just have to make do with the two of you, for the time being roll 'em" said Wolf, he and the other Pack members advanced towards the two gargoyles each held at least one weapon. The weapons ranged from swords, to clubs to maces.

"Tonight we the Pack eliminate the latest threat to public safety the so called Gargoyle Clan" announced the voice of Jackal. "Smile for the cameras monsters"

"Why are you doing this? We have done nothing to you?" demanded an angry Goliath, his eyes glowed white.

"You destroyed Fortress-1 and attacked innocent partygoers in Central Park!" said Hyena, taking a swing at Lexington with her mace which the younger gargoyle dodged. "You, and your kind, need to be stopped!"

"We didn't do those things!" yelled Lexington, his own eyes now glowed white.

"Of course you didn't" laughed Dingo. "You were framed, like all the other evildoers we've put away over the years." Dingo stabbed his spear forward, followed by a swing and hit on Goliath by the club in Dingo's other hand. The mighty Goliath could dodge one blow, but not two near simultaneous ones from different directions. Goliath stumbled back before falling victim to a vicious blow from Wolf's cricket bat shaped weapon which left him stunned on the floor.

"Goliath, no!" screamed Lexington, his eyes glowed whiter than ever. He then jumped into the air diving into one light stand and then another. Lexington was rewarded for his efforts by triggering a domino effect that knocked down and knocked out every light in the place. Two of the light stands fell into Hyena and Wolf knocking them off their feet. Soon the Pack found themselves in total darkness and total chaos.

In the murky confusion that followed Goliath was able to rally. Within a matter of minutes the two gargoyles used their advantage of night vision to pick off the frightened Pack members one by one. The entire battle was over in a matter of minutes. The Goliath and Lexington left the Pack tied up with wires from their own equipment. Elisa, Broadway and Brooklyn were shocked to find Goliath and Lexington on the roof when they arrived, apparently without any major injuries. After a bit of explaining by both sides the five gargoyles took off into the night returning home.

As the Sun slowly rose over NYC, Lexington was feeling rather blue. Goliath approached the young gargoyle. "I'm sorry Goliath, I guess you were right. We, I, never should have trusted them."

"While I may have been right about the Pack, I was wrong about us living in isolation. You were right when you said we cannot hide from the World that we must live it in" said Goliath, putting a hand on Lexington's shoulder. "Just because the Pack proved evil, doesn't mean that we should stop trying to make friends and allies in the brave new World." Lexington smiled up at Goliath the two then turned to stone for the day.

TCRI Building morning

"In what most are calling a publicity stunt gone wrong the stars of the popular TCRI Media show the Pack were found tied up and badly beaten in an abandoned warehouse downtown after their latest TV special failed to air last night, due to and we quote 'unforeseen technical difficulties' Representatives of TCRI Corp were unable for further comment" stated the morning news anchor on one of the many monitors in Krang's laboratory.

"Blast those incompetent morons to Dimensional Limbo!" said Krang. "Still it this experiment wasn't a total lose. It would seem that only the adolescent gargoyles had fallen victim to the subliminal messages of my brainwave manipulator. This may be of use later on. In the meantime these miserable creatures must still be neutralized. Plans A and B have failed, looks like it is time we implemented Plan C. Our Steel Clan robots need a leader, and once Shredder is released we will create the perfect one" Krang rubbed his tentacles together, a wicked gleam in his alien eyes.

Cleveland Ohio two nights later

A frail, elderly woman laid in her hospital bed a worried look on her face. In her hands she held a newspaper. The woman was sick, dying in fact. She awaited her nightly visitor this evening with especially great expectation. She was soon rewarded by her hospital window opening and a young, white skinned, beaked, female gargoyle, with shoulder length blonde hair and light gray wings entered the room.

"I'm sorry it took me so long mother, but I had to make sure no one saw me as you instructed. How are you feeling tonight" asked the White Gargoyle.

"I'm feeling no better child. The time is coming my sweet Seraphina (pounced Sair-uh-fee-nuh) when I will no longer be with you" answered the Elderly Woman.

"Hush mother do not say such things" said Seraphina, talking the Elderly Woman's hand.

"I and your father did the best we could for you. You were, and always will be, our little angle from the time we found your egg when we were missionaries in Ghana back in 1961. It breaks my heart how this world treats those who are different, who are not human, like you."

"I know mother, I know" said Seraphina sadly.

"By our reckoning you are now about sixteen in human years, you seem to age only half as a human would. I only regret that neither of us will have lived long enough to see you reach adulthood. Before I pass over to join your father, I need to make sure you have the kind of life you deserve" picking up the paper the Elderly Woman showed it to Seraphina. "In New York there are gargoyles like you. Go there once I am gone and seek them out. If they are anything like your own dear departed family, your Clan you will be safe there with them. Promise me you will do this?" finished the Elderly Woman grasping Seraphina's arm as tightly as she could manage.

"I promise you mother. If anything happens to you, I will seek out these other gargoyles in New York City" Seraphina swore, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Good, now go child I need my rest return here later this night"

"But I just got here" Seraphina protest.

"Please go, I truly need my rest. I will see you soon"

Later than night Seraphina returned only to find the hospital bed empty. Listening to the staff talking who were cleaning up the room. She learned the unthinkable had happened. That her dear mother had died earlier that evening. Throwing herself into the night with a terrible shriek that froze the blood of those who heard it. The young female gargoyle sped through the sky towards New York, and an uncertain future.

The End