Leo sat on the floor of the safe room, his back against the wall with his casted leg out. Beside him sat Xavier, constantly shifting, obviously restless. Leo didn't blame him. After all, the kid's older sister was up above fighting. Leo decided to calm his nerves by talking.
"How long have you been Jarak's apprentice?" he asked.
Xavier cocked his head thoughtfully before answering. "Since I was seven. He said he chose me because of my energy and curiosity; said they were good qualities for surveillance work."
"Remember how I mentioned my brother Donnie this morning, before breakfast?" Leo asked. Xavier nodded.
"In a way, you kinda remind me of him. Well, him and Mikey. Mikey's my youngest brother. He's pretty energetic and a massive handful." He said. Xavier laughed.
"Sounds like my kind of people. What about your other brother?" Xavier asked.
"Raph? He's another handful. Major hot head, loves to fight and doesn't really think about the consequences of his actions. We tend to clash on most things. Although, ever since he met Jezra, he's been a little less of all that. A lot of the time, he acts the same as before, but sometimes he mellows down a little." Leo answered.
"Who's Jezra? his girlfriend?" Xavier asked. Leo laughed.
"Kind of. She's a human we saved a couple of months ago from the Kraang when she was knocked out by a bomb. Raph and her got pretty close. Eventually, we got her back to her three brothers. Not long after, Jezra and her brothers were called out of the state on a case. That was about two months ago and we haven't seen or heard from them since." Leo explained.
"Case? What kind of case?" Xavier asked.
"Jezra and her brothers catch serial killers. It's dangerous work, but as far as we know they're still alive." Leo answered. Xavier nodded.
"Sounds kinda cool." He said. Leo laughed.
"Yeah, maybe." He answered. Just then, the safe room door opened. Shade popped her head in, holding her lantern high as it added its glow to the small collection of lanterns clustered in the center of the room.
"Skirmish is over and it's safe to head back up." She said. The slight tension that had overhung the room disappeared and those in the room began to get up and leave, helping the sick and wounded. Shade waited at the door as they filed past. Leo and Xavier waited for everyone else to leave, remaining against the wall. As the final person left, Shade stepped into the room and walked over to Leo and Xavier, leaving the door open. She slid down next to Leo and brought her knees up.
"So, when you mentioned you were under siege, I take it that also included random attacks on the base itself?" Leo asked. Shade nodded.
"Pretty much. Sorry for forcing you down here." She said. Leo shrugged her apology off. He understood that in his current condition, he would've simply gotten in the way. That didn't really make him feel any less useless. Shade smiled at him as if reading his thoughts.
"You know, if I can teach you to shoot a gun, you just might be able to help. Course, it'd have to be from a distance, but it's not really breaking the agreement Tristen and Lex made. Although, if they don't see it that way, just let them know it was my idea." Shade said. Leo smiled and nodded.
"Alrighty then, I'll see you in the shooting range after lunch. Speaking of which, I think we have about an hour until then. I have some work to get to. Feel free to wander the base." Shade said, rising to her feet and leaving. The two guys watched her go, her lantern flickering on the walls.
Xavier turned to Leo. "Ready to see my work room?"
"Sure thing bud." Leo answered, rising.
