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 Ninja Turtles 1987 series copyright by Murakami Wolf Swenson, Inc. All other TMNT related characters are copyright IDW comics. No infringement of these copyrights is intended, and is not authorized by the copyright holders.

All original characters are the property of Celgress.

TMNT/Gargoyles Season Two Avalon and Beyond Episode Nine: Joy and Despair

By

Celgress

"Is this a curse or a blessing that we give?"

Two Thousand Years (1993) Billy Joel

The Turtles' Secret Lair late April 1995 night

The gargoyle known as Lexington entered yet another set of space time coordinates into Donatello's transdimensional portal. Lexington triple checked the coordinates, making sure they were not ones that had already by ruled out in the past. The technologically inclined Lexington had become rather skilled at operating the complicated device, along with several other equally complex ones, since Donatello and the others had disappeared. Lexington looked over at Usagi Yojimbo the instant the current dimension was displayed on the portal screen. The extra-terrestrial rabbit slowly shook his head, a look of deep disappointment evident on his face. Lexington hated to see the once carefree Usagi Yojimbo so full of despair. It had only been a week since PFN-SOR had murdered Obento, and put Usagi Yojimbo and Datura on trial for the crime. It would likely be a very long time before Usagi Yojimbo recovered from what had happened, if he ever would.

"I'm sorry Usagi" Lexington said, looking at his disheartened friend. "That is the tenth dimension we've tried tonight, maybe we can do a few more after a lunch break, but after that I really should join the others on patrol sorry."

"That is alright Lexington" Usagi Yojimbo sighed. "After so many years stranded on this world I have almost given up hope of ever seeing my home again." Usagi Yojimbo left the lab crestfallen.

"I wish there was something more we could do for him" Datura said, from her position near Lexington.

During the past week the two young web wings had become inseparable. Their friendship had grown up so quickly that after only three days Datura had petitioned Hudson to formerly join the Clan so she could spend more time with Lexington. The elder gargoyle had graciously accepted her petition. Even Splinter had agreed it was best that his 'little sister' spent more time with other gargoyles. However Splinter made it clear they would always be family and if Datura ever needed anything from him or the rest of her 'extended family' just ask. Splinter also told Datura she could visit him, and the others, anytime she wanted.

"I know what you mean" Lexington said, playing with Datura's bowl shaped black colored hairdo in a teasing fashion.

"Hey watch it, you're messing up my hair Lex" Datura said, playfully batting Lexington's hand away.

"Some of us don't have to worry about such things. You should really consider the bald look, it has its' advantages" Lexington joked, wiggling his brow ridges.

"You're too much Lex" Datura said, before bursting out in laughter.

"I try" Lexington said, bursting into laughter himself.

"Lets' go get some pizza before Michelangelo eats it all" Datura said heading towards the doorway, gesturing for Lexington to follow.

In the larger chamber that severed as the Turtles' dining room Raphael and Mona Lisa were already seated. Michelangelo was just serving the pizzas. Splinter and Usagi Yojimbo were conspicuously absent.

"Where are Hamato and Usagi?" Datura asked entering the chamber.

"Master Splinter is helping Usagi work through his issues" Mona Lisa answered. "They should be along, eventually."

"I hate to see the poor little dude hurting" Michelangelo said, serving up the pizzas. "I wish there was something more we could do for our buddy Usagi."

"After what they did, I still think we should have put a beating on the POF-SOR that they'd never forget. Show them we aren't push overs" Raphael said.

Nobody said anything for a long time. Everyone just sat down and ate their food. Finally Lexington broke the silence.

"I know Hudson wouldn't approve, nor would Splinter. After watching poor Usagi struggle every day, if the POF-SOR ever lay a hand on anyone I care about again I'm with you Raphael."

"Please Lexington, I don't want to think about those evil people" Datura said, a shiver crawling up her spine.

"Datura is right dudes and dudettes" Michelangelo said. "They aren't worth our time. They certainly aren't worth running good pizzas over."

Central Park the following morning

The rapidly moving transdimensional portal unceremoniously deposited the voyagers from Dimension X into the tree tops. The five gargoyles instantly turned to stone the moment sunlight touched their skin. The three turtles, one neutrino, and one human didn't fare any better. By the time the portal had closed the group was scattered over a several hundred square foot radius.

"At least nothing worse can happen" said the neutrino Kala, getting up off the grassy area near the pond where she had landed.

"Indeed my lady" King Arthur agreed, getting up from where he had fallen a few feet away.

"I wouldn't say that" declared a deep threatening voice from behind the pair.

Whirling around King Arthur received a vicious left hook to the chin which sent him spinning backwards several feet. Before he could fully recover he was kicked in the stomach so hard, had he not been wearing armor, he would have likely passed out from the impact. Staggering to his feet King Arthur sized up his opponent, a large shark mutant. Unsheathing his sword Arthur with a fierce cry charged Armaggon.

"I've had enough of this foolishness! Your antics make me wish we had enough mutagen for two, you would make a powerful slave, alas we do not" Armaggon said stunning King Arthur with a blast from his forearm mounted laser cannon. "Killer Bee, Scale Tail get the girl!" Armaggon ordered.

The bee and cobra mutants circled Kala. She was able to dodge Killer Bee's dive bomb attack, not once but twice. She feel victim however to Scale Tail's venomous spite. Laying on the ground, withering in pain Kala was easily hoisted up and carried away by Scale Tail. The three mutants, and their query, gathered around Armaggon who used his personal teleporter to beat a hasty retreat, but not before delivering one last brutal kick to the prone King Arthur.

It was sometime before King Arthur recovered from Armaggon's sneak attack. By the time he did Donatello had found him. Elsewhere Leonardo &Venus were undertaking the arduous task of gathering together and protecting the now stone gargoyles.

Once King Arthur informed Donatello of Kala's fate at the hands of the evil mutant attackers, Donatello used his turtlecom. Donatello contacted his brethren in the Lair. Everyone was ecstatic to see Donatello was safe and hear that the others were also accounted for. Naturally they asked where the erstwhile group had been during the past three months. Donatello had silenced the inquires by explaining that Kala the neutrino had been kidnapped by Armaggon's gang. This upset everyone greatly, none more so than Michelangelo who vowed he'd retrieve Kala from the evil clutches of Armaggon no matter what. Donatello requested that the others come to Central Park at once, as his group needed help tending their hibernating allies.

The Secret Base of Armaggon early afternoon

"Good the effects of the venom have finally worn off" Armaggon said looking at Kala who was now securely restrained in a chair. "I was worried your alien physiology might be more susceptible than our own."

"How c-can you be s-so sure I'm not from Earth?" Kala said, with a perfect poker face.

"Because we have met before my dear" Armaggon replied.

"I don't think so. I'd remember seeing something as ugly as you before" Kala said, shaking her head.

"I haven't always looked this way" Armaggon growled. "I was once human. Which is more than I can say for you neutrino!" Armaggon approached Kala, pulling back her bangs he revealed her pointed ears. "See I was once Vernon Fenwick sometime reluctant friend more often bitter rival of April O'Neil, best friend of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Yes I know your kind well native of Dimension X. Manx are you ready for our guest?"

"I am" Manx the cougar, mutant in the red jumpsuit with the black gloves and boots, said entering the room. Trailing Manx was Alopex, the female artic fox mutant dressed in a black jumpsuit, boots and cloak; she was pulling a cart full of laboratory equipment behind her.

"Hmmm, what shall it be?" Armaggon mused, picking up a tray of vials that contained pale yellow liquids. "Ah this looks promising." Armaggon removed the vile that was labeled Phrynosoma platyrhinos (desert horned lizard). Armaggon handed the vial to Manx who loaded it into a gun like device followed by a vial of a mutagen. "Do it!" Armaggon ordered.

Manx hesitated for an instant before mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' at Kala. Manx then injected the cocktail of substances into Kala's exposed shoulder, while Alopex looked away in shame. Ten minutes later Kala's transformation was complete. Where the neutrino girl once sat was a female desert horned lizard mutant with tough, spiky, orange colored skin, a long, powerful tail and a hairless reptilian shaped head with two small horns. Kala's trademark bright green dress had grown tight on her lengthening frame. Her boots and stockings were destroyed by her new spikey skin and increased mass.

"Why are you doing this?" Kala stammered, looking at her transformed body in dismay. Manx, like Alopex, would not make eye contact with the new mutant.

"Because I can" Armaggon said with a low chuckle. "Besides I thought you'd enjoy being a mutant freak like your friends the Turtles."

"I maybe a mutant now, but you're a monster" Kala said defiantly.

"Why is she being so belligerent?" Armaggon asked, turning towards Manx. "Didn't you add the loyalty compound like I instructed?"

"Like I told you unc,,, master Armaggon your loyalty compound interferes with the normal genetic combination processes of the mutagen" Manx explained. "Your near lack of said compound when you altered myself and Alopex is why we are so much more intelligent that Killer Bee & Scale Tail. You can either have smart, dynamic mutants or slow, subservient mutants. The choice is yours, my master."

"You will make no further decisions of this magnitude without first consulting me, understand!?" Armaggon growled at Manx.

"Yes master, I understand" Manx said, giving Armaggon a quick salute.

Armaggon stomped out of the room muttering something nasty under his breath. The moment Armaggon turned his back Kala noticed the sneer that formed on Manx's face. Briefly she met Manx's gaze, the other mutant's expression instantly changing to one of sadness before again avoiding her gaze.

"Please help me" Kala whined at the other two mutants. "Please let me go. I know the two of you aren't like him. You are different than Armaggon, you are better than him."

"Girl you don't know us at all" Alopex said, for the first time looking directly at Kala. "What makes you think we might help you?"

"Because I could see it in your faces" Kala explained. "Your reaction when Armaggon forced you to help him change me, you hated it. Before you turned away your expressions looked so sad, so full of remorse. I don't blame either of you for what happened. I have friends who will still accept me even as I am now, please let me find them. Don't condemn me to a life of servitude and abuse at the hands of that monster I beg you." By now Kala was crying.

Alopex walked up to the chair. Without a word she released the restraints holding Kala. "What are you doing?" Manx demanded with alarm.

"The right thing" Alopex said. "It feels damn good."

"When Armaggon learns of this he'll be furious" Manx warned.

"So what, the big goon is always 'furious'." Alopex countered, turning her attention towards Kala. "Get out of her now girl!" Kala wasted little time in scurry away down the hall, and in short order out of the building altogether.

The 23rd Precinct late afternoon

Upon escaping from Armaggon's clutches the transformed Kala had no idea what to do next. She knew she must find the Turtles. However she didn't know exactly how. The only option she could think of was to find the Turtles' friends at the Channel Six Building, being unaware of the destruction of structure and selling of the brand to TCRI Corp. When Kala reached the crater where the Channel Six Building once stood she feel into a terrible funk, having no idea what to try next. She was about to give up when she was caught by two uniformed police officers. Deciding it was best if she didn't resist them. She gave herself up without a fight. Roughly forty minutes later Kala found herself in the 23rd Precinct, sitting at a desk across from a Detective Matthew Bluestone. After some quick introductions Kala explained her predicament.

"I hope the officers who brought you in did not harm you Kala?" Matt Bluestone asked, offering Kala a drink of water which she gladly accepted. "Anti-nonhuman feelings have been running rather high in the City since last autumn."

"They didn't hurt me. They were polite enough. I don't understand one thing Detective Bluestone" Kala said, between gulps.

"Which is?" Matt Bluestone asked.

"Why I am I being arrested? When I'm the victim here" Kala asked. "I didn't ask to be mutated by those criminal mutants."

"I know I am sincerely sorry for how you are being treated Kala" Matt Bluestone said, his shoulders slumping. "A new protocol was enacted by the state legislature in January that states all nonhumans are to be apprehended upon sight and detained for in-depth questioning by any law enforcement officers who come into contact with them. I don't like it all more than you do."

A uniformed officer then entered the office holding a sheet of paper. "Detective Bluestone we just received this order sir concerning our mutant prisoner."

"Well don't keep me in suspense. What does it say?" Matt Bluestone demanded.

"By order of the governor the mutant known as 'Kala' is to be remanded into the custody of Dr. Anton Sevarius of TCRI Corp for genetic analysis and reconditioning. Dr. Sevarius, accompanied by a TCRI special security detail, will arrive at 5:00 pm today. Please make sure the mutant is ready for transfer by then" the Uniformed Officer read.

"Thank you officer, I'll take it from here" Matt Bluestone said, ignoring the squeak from Kala upon hearing the contents of the order. The uniformed Officer left without another word.

"Do you know your way around the sewers?" Matt Bluestone asked Kala.

The sewers sometime later

Michelangelo was frantic. The others could never remember seeing him so worked up. The usually laid back party dude had been on edge ever since he'd learned about Kala's fate. While Venus, Mona Lisa & Mondo Gecko had remained with King Arthur in Central Park to protect the sleeping gargoyles the four turtle brothers had scoured the City in an exhaustive search for the missing neutrino. Now the Fab Four were on their way across town, hoping they'd have better luck finding Armaggon's hideout on the West Side than then did on the South Side near the docks.

"The four of use mounting a search and rescue operation it is just like old times" Raphael said his voice gitty.

"Yeah it is nice, don't get me wrong having so much help these days is great still nothing beats a classic Green Machine operation" Donatello agreed.

"The four of use tramping around the sewers, and the streets above, on the lookout certainly does bring back a lot of memories" Leonardo said. "What do you think Mikey?"

"I think you three should shut up" Michelangelo snapped at his bewildered brothers, after a brief silence. "We should concentrate on finding Kala not on jibber jabbering dudes."

"Jeez Mikey we were just trying to lighten the mood" Raphael said.

"Would you want anyone lightening the mood if Mona Lisa was taken? How about you Leonardo? Would you want the mood lightened if Venus was missing?" Michelangelo said shooting his brothers an annoyed look.

"I suppose not" Leonardo said in a soft voice.

"Don't worry I'm sure we'll find her" Donatello said encouragingly.

"Don don't make promise you can't keep man" Michelangelo said, stocking up the tunnel.

Rounding a corner near the 23rd Precinct Michelangelo came face to face with the mutated Kala. In fact they literally bumped right into each other. Both mutants found themselves flat on their respective asses. Getting back to her feet first Kala was just about to run for her life when she saw who exactly she'd bumped into.

"Michelangelo thank Zarg!" Kala cried, jumping into Michelangelo's arms the moment he regained his footing.

"Wow a cut lizard babe" Michelangelo said, staggering back slightly under his loving burden. "You wouldn't happen to have seen a groovy little chick around her with red hair named Kala would you? She's kind of my girlfriend so don't tell her I said you are cute."

"Michelangelo its' me, I'm Kala" Kala said, getting out of Michelangelo's arms. "Hey wait just a minute buster you shouldn't be telling other girls they are 'cute'."

Michelangelo laughed. "I got you good. I knew it was you all along dudette."

"But how could you?" Kala asked.

"Your voice, your eyes they didn't change" Michelangelo said, "most of all because no girl other has ever liked me before, now lets' go home."

"Oh Michelangelo" Kala swooned.

Half an hour later the four turtles and Kala reached the Turtles' Lair. By now Michelangelo was once again carrying Kala. Upon entering the Lair Michelangelo looked at Splinter with a big grin on his face, as Kala licked his cheek with her now long tongue.

"Look what I found in the sewers Master. Can I keep her?"

The Secret Base of Armaggon that evening

Armaggon rained down blows upon Manx who coward before the enraged cyborg shark mutant. Manx held his hands up in a vain attempt to protect his head. Manx had never been beaten so severely in his entire life. Manx honestly thought his former uncle would kill him before the beating ended.

"You had one job, one simple, stinky job and you couldn't even do that right! All you had to do was make sure our new recruit didn't escape!" Armaggon raged. "I swear Manx if I didn't still require your scientific expertise so badly, I'd kill you right here right now as punishment for your failure!"

"Leave him alone!" Alopex snarled, bravely getting in Armaggon's face. "It wasn't our fault she escaped if you had accounted for her growing a tail during the transformation, which you should have, than this wouldn't have happened!"

"What are you saying?" Armaggon said, his eyes narrowing.

"If anyone should be punished around here, it is you!" Alopex brazenly declared.

Her allegation of wrong doing against Armaggon was reward by a forceful backhand blow that knocked her clear across the room. Before she could recover Armaggon was upon her raining down blow after blow after blow. Armaggon didn't cease his assaults until he had beaten the two other mutants into unconsciousness. It would be two weeks before either Alopex or Manx fully recovered.

Armaggon, still in a foul mood, settled down in front of the main computer terminal of the laboratory. At least the day wasn't a total loss. He did have the alien armor the neutrino had been wearing when she was captured. That was better than nothing. The blinking incoming message light soon caught his interest. Opening the message Armaggon saw it was from Ulysses Quintone. The message was brief comprised only of a few lines in Latin, with an accompanying English translation. It took Armaggon a few minutes to realize exactly what the former head of the TCRI Legal Department had sent him. It was a spell! More importantly it was a spell that, if the English translation was accurate, could give him the world he longed for. With a toothy grin spreading across his repulsive countenance Armaggon studied the spell in minute detail.

To Be Continued