A/N: Wow, what a shocker, huh? Attila wasn't really dead...
Oh, and by the way. I've uploaded a new cover art. Hope you like it. You can't see the whole pic here so you may have to visit my deviant art page to see the full thing. My version of what the Mirror universe turtles look like.
Napoleon lifted his blade, stopping Genghis's charge before it could start. He glared at Napoleon. "What are you-?"
The elder brother stepped around to face him. "He's right, Genghis. Together we are stronger."
Genghis narrowed his eyes. "You speak of treason, brother."
Napoleon met his gaze steadily. "I have already committed treason. We have allowed Father to control us for far too long. It is time to stand together."
Genghis's eyes widened. "What have you done!"
Donnie suddenly fell to his hands and knees with a groan. Napoleon rushed to his side. "Donatello! Are you all right?"
Donnie dumped his helmet to the side, wiping the sweat from his brow. "I don't have much time."
The others stared at them. "What did you call him?" Attila asked.
Napoleon helped Don to his feet. "His name is Donatello. He is not our brother. He is from a parallel dimension. And he must return or he'll die. We need your matter transporter."
Cat gawked. "How do you know we have a matter transporter?"
"There's no time to explain." Napoleon urged. "In order for Rasputin to return Donatello must be returned."
Attila frowned and exchanged a look with Cat. "Fine, follow me."
Genghis caught Napoleon's shoulder as he started to follow him out. "What is this? Another trick?"
He shoved his hand off. "Not now. Look at him. He will die and Ras will never be returned to us."
Genghis growled. "Fine, but you will tell me what is happening here."
"It's just here." Attila and Cat had stopped beside a platform with what looked like two polls sticking out of it. He shook his head a little as Napoleon lowered Don beside it. "We haven't been able to get it working yet."
"It'll have to do, but I'm going to need some tools." Don pulled off the side panel.
Genghis glared at Attila as Cat crossed the room to retrieve a tool box. "You were going to use this to infiltrate the palace?"
Attila nodded and Napoleon put a hand on his shoulder with a small smile. "It was a sound plan, little brother. But it is unnecessary now."
Genghis folded his arms. "And exactly what do you mean by that?"
Napoleon sighed. "By now, Haru has completed his mission." He lifted his eyes to meet his brother's. "The emperor is dead."
Genghis' jaw dropped. "What?"
"I had to wait until the castle was cleared and few remained behind. And what did remain behind were my men. Haru was to dispatch the emperor while there were few to defend him."
Genghis snorted. "And you think he was so easily caught off guard? He knows of your treachery."
Napoleon frowned. "Even if he was not, he can no longer hold his own against an assassin such as Haru. He is dead that is for certain."
Attila's shoulder's sagged. "He's gone."
Napoleon gave him a small sad smile. "Yes, he is gone."
Genghis frowned as he looked away. "We are finally free."
Napoleon took his shoulders. "We can rebuild this world. We can give these people freedom as well."
"I think not, turtle." Captain Futeki stepped through the doorway with his elite squad.
Genghis turned towards him, stepping out in front of the others. "Stand down, Captain. Things have changed."
Futeki raised his rifle. "They have indeed. I no longer take orders from you. The emperor has given me authority to slay any of you at the first sign of disobedience. And I believe siding with enemy qualifies."
"I said stand down, Captain!" Genghis shouted as the laser blasts began hissing through the air. "Get down!" He turned, pulling Napoleon and Attila to the ground with him.
Donnie could feel the strength leave his hands with every movement. The bond faded in and out. It was as if he was sensing his mate's spirit fighting to remain with her. He blinked, struggling to remain conscious. But he couldn't fight it any longer as the vail of darkness pulled at him. He closed his eyes, leaning against the cool metal of the machine beneath him. "I'm sorry, Sarah, Mira…I didn't make it in time…." He knew any moment his body would begin to seize and then death would likely follow.
Suddenly a blue light filled the room as the portal opened above the platform. Napoleon gasped with astonishment. "You did it, Donatello!"
Donnie cracked open his eyes. "No…wasn't….me."
"What is that?" A soldier shouted.
"It must be a weapon. Don't let them near it!" Futeki continued to fire in their direction.
"We must return fire!" Cat ordered, turning over a table and using it as barricade. She picked up Don's abandoned rifle and commenced shooting at the soldiers near the door. Attila grabbed a second and squatted down beside her.
Napoleon moved to follow, but as he moved from beneath Genghis, his brother gave a groan. "Come on, Genghis. We need to cover Donatello so he can reach the portal." He put a hand on his side when he didn't move. "Genghis?" He gasped when his hand came back bloody. "Genghis!"
Don lifted his head slightly. He could feel his mate clearly now. She was close. His eyes locked on the portal no more than ten feet away, yet unreachable. The laser fire around them was so heavy, if he dared to lift his head much further it would likely be blasted off. He turned to look at Napoleon, who was cradling Genghis' head. His eyes were wide with panic.
Donnie glanced between the open portal and the injured turtle. He couldn't reach the portal but he could help Genghis. Without another thought, he crawled to their sides. He examined him quickly. Genghis had a hole in his left side and it was bleeding badly. He met Napoleon's eyes. "He'll die, if he doesn't get medical attention right away." He helped Napoleon pull the injured Genghis closer to the upturned table. He took Napoleon's hand and pressed it over an artery. "Keep pressure here. It'll slow his bleeding."
Attila turned toward them. "What's going on? Genghis?" He shifted to his brother's side and Donnie took his position behind the table.
Genghis opened his eyes to look at his youngest brother. "Attila, forgive me. I never should have sent you into that village. If I had known of the ambush…."
Attila frowned. "There's no need for that now. I will call my healer. He will care for you, brother."
Genghis shook his head slightly. "No, I have to tell you." He coughed, a little trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth. "I did it for you – for all of you. Father told me if I did not follow his orders, he would kill you all." He coughed again. "I'm sorry I didn't have the same faith in us as you did."
Donnie felt his heart ache at the scene. Would he have been able to do what Raph's counterpart had done? Would he have been able to give up who he was to protect his brothers? Would he have donned the title the Hand of Death to save them? He was suddenly glad he would never have to make such a terrible choice.
"The healer won't be able to reach us, as long as we are pinned down." Cat pointed out.
Donnie flexed his hands. Not all of his strength had returned yet. So, a hand to hand confrontation was out of the question. He took the laser rifle from Cat. She frowned as he popped open a panel and flipped a few switches. It immediately began to hum. He met her eyes. "Throw it."
She nodded in understanding. She stood quickly, tossing it near the doorway. They all covered their heads as the room was rocked by an explosion. She grinned as the smoke cleared. "Overload. I'll have to remember that one when I'm fighting the emperor's army."
Donnie shook his head. "Hopefully you won't have to do…" He gasped as he saw the portal flicker over her shoulder.
On the other side of the portal, everyone dove for cover as mere moments after opening the doorway laser fire came through it. Mikey grabbed Kala and pulled her to the ground, shielding her and Kaz from the ricocheting blasts. Raph grabbed Mira, pulling her and Cat down behind the cot.
Leo gasped, pushing Amaya to the floor and covering her head. "But Sarah-!" She protested.
He shook his head. He wasn't about to move. The laser blast coming through the portal was too heavy. He glanced at the open portal. "Come on, Donnie."
"He's probably pinned down on the other side somewhere." Raph pointed out from the far side of the cot.
"Then we need to get him out of there." Mikey tucked the whimpering Kaz a little further beneath him.
Leo ducked as a laser blast just missed his head. "I'm up for suggestions."
Rasputin had taken shelter behind the end of the portal's control console. He frowned. What was taking his counterpart so long? He glanced at Sarah and was relieved to see her color returning. If the doorway stayed open long enough she could recover. But then what? If his counterpart was killed on the other side, there would be no saving either of them.
Suddenly the control panel behind him sparked as a laser hit it. The portal flickered. No! Not after everything we've done! He glanced at Sarah again and made a swift decision. He dashed across the room and scooped her into his arms.
"Hey! What are you doing!" Leo shouted, coming to his knees. They all gasped as Rasputin disappeared through the doorway just as it flickered and went out. The control panel threw sparks for a split-second before it exploded. They all ducked their heads as metal shrapnel shot across the room.
Raph struggled to keep Mira in his arms as the debris settled. "Mommy!" Cat began to weep beside them.
Leo was on his feet beside the portal's large screen. He grabbed the edges. "No! This can't be happening!" Amaya sat back on her knees and dropped her face into her hands, her own tears escaping her.
Raph stood and moved to his brother's side, Mira still struggling in his arms. He looked at the closed portal screen and the destroyed control panel. "We have to do somethin', Leo!"
Leo gripped the sides of the portal tightly. "What do you suggest we do, Raph! I don't know how to fix this damn thing! Do you!"
"We can't give up." Mikey stood, running a hand over Kaz's head and checking him for injuries. "They're together. That means they're alive."
Leo frowned, looking at the blank screen. "Yeah, but for how long? There was obviously some kind of battle going on."
Mikey looked up at his brothers. "Long enough for us to put it back together. It doesn't matter how long it takes us, because they can make it now."
Mira had stopped fighting, instead she now turned in Raph's arms and buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing. Raph sighed, cradling her head with one hand. Of course they could try to rebuild, but it might take a very long time without some version of Donnie here to make the thing work.
Leo finally turned away from the screen to stare at the young turtle weeping in Raph's arms. He squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. He reached out to stroke a hand down the back of the girl's head and shell. "We will rebuild. We will get them back." Mira turned her head to look at him and Leo projected as much confidence as he could muster in her direction.
Cat stood up. "Yes, we will."
Kala balled her fist. "Definitely."
Amaya wiped away her tears and stood beside the cot. Her stormy blue-gray eyes held conviction. "We will, indeed."
Mira leaned back to look at Raph. He gave a slow nod. After a long moment the youngster returned the nod, her brown eyes flaring with determination. "I'll get the broom."
Rasputin stepped through the portal just as it closed behind him. He coughed as his nose was assaulted with the smell of smoke. The place he'd stepped into was deathly silent, the laser fire subsided.
He glanced about the room, his gaze falling on the rebel commander, his brothers and his counterpart. He paused, his mouth hanging open. "Attila? Brother, is that really you?"
Attila nodded. "Yes. It has been a long time, Ras." He smiled, making Rasputin smile in return. He pointed at Sarah. "What's with the girl?"
Rasputin looked down at Sarah, savoring the warmth of her body against his. He lowered his head to take in her scent. Donnie frowned from his position on his knees beside the overturned table. He wasn't so sure he liked the familiarity his counterpart was using with his obviously unconscious mate. He saw the flicker of hesitation in his counterpart's eyes and opened his mouth to protest.
But Napoleon had seen it as well. "She belongs to him, Rasputin." He got to his feet. "Give her to him."
A/N: Sorry for the short chapter but I thought it was the best breaking point. I've been debating what to cal Raph and Cat's baby. How about some suggestions?
Attila – Mikey; Rasputin – Donnie; Genghis – Raph; Napoleon - Leo
