Chapter 8

Action Plan


'I guess this is what it feels like to be kidnapped?' Scott directed the question to his left, where he thought Callie was, but it was hard to tell through the blindfold.

'Somewhat.' Her voice answered from the right and slightly in front of him. So it was April to his left then. Casey's hand on his shoulder was steering him to the right, and Scott allowed himself to be guided in what he could only assume was the correct direction.

'So your friends live in the sewer?' Scott grimaced, trying to ignore the slippery feeling of the ground beneath his feet. He was actively trying not to remind himself he was walking through the infamous New York City sewers.

'It works for them,' April replied with a shrug Scott couldn't see.

'Good for them,' Kenro sniffed, his snout crinkling from the smell. 'I can't say I share their feelings.' He was walking close to Callie, pressed against her leg with her hand on his head for guidance.

'Don't worry it's not that much further,' Callie assured them, leading them around another bend. She came to a stop in front on the main entrance into the turtles' den and waited for it to open. 'Mind your step,' she warned leading them forward once again. Scott could feel the change in the air as he stepped forward cautiously, heeding Callie's warning.

'You can take it off now,' Casey said easily, tapping him on the shoulder before moving away. Reaching back and slipping the blindfold from his head, Scott blinked slowly his eyes adjusting to the light. The first thing he could properly focus on was a pair of brown eyes framed by a red bandana set in a green face glaring at him.

'A turtle?' Scott hadn't been prepared or fairly warned, and he couldn't help a small exclamation of surprise. He quickly fought back his initial shock, sensing that this, like the blindfolds, was a test.

'Three of them,' Kenro added, shaking his head as Callie removed his blinder. It was true, two others stood close by, one sporting a blue bandana and the other orange. All of them were armed.

'We can talk,' the one with the red bandana said pointedly, crossing his arms over his chest. Well-muscled and poised ready to jump him should the need arise, Scott observed. The bandanas and weapons weren't just for show then.

'Sorry,' Scott said with a tone that while carrying the appropriate amount of sincerity also gave no indication of intimidation.

The turtle with an orange bandana laughed, 'Just you wait 'til you meet our father.'

Scott forced a laugh, reminding himself that he had probably seen stranger things than human sized bipedal ninja turtles. He couldn't think of any examples right away, but he wasn't going to dwell on that.

Callie decided to intercede. 'Scott Rendel, Kenro this is Leo, Raph and Mikey,' she said quickly indicating each of the turtles in turn. 'It was their brother, Donatello, who was caught.'

'I see,' Scott said in an even tone.

'Are you sure this is the right guy?' Raph shot at Callie. 'I thought you said he was smart.'

'I am,' Scott assured him. 'It's just I was expecting humans, not turtles.'

'And that's a problem is it?' Raph asked sharply, turning to fix Scott with a temperamental glare. Kenro gave a soft growl of warning, fixing Raph with an even gaze.

'No,' Scott answered steadily to set them both at ease. 'It just changes the plan a little.'

Leo stepped forward and put a firm hand on Raph's arm to silence him, 'What plan?' He asked, his voice carrying the authority Scott had expected it to. Despite Raph's bravado he was clearly not the leader of the little clan.

Scott flashed straight white teeth in a broad grin. 'The plan to save Donatello, of course.'


To his credit, Scott took Master Splinter's appearance in stride and wasted no time getting down to business. Before they'd left he'd talked things over with Kenro, deciding what he was going to tell Callie's friends, as well as what he wasn't. Now that all of them had settled in the lounge room, Scott began.

'I work for an organisation known as The Circle,' Scott said. 'The soldiers who took your brother work for a man we call Mengele. He's a nasty piece of work that we've been working to catch for sometime now.'

'What does he do, exactly?' Mikey interrupted, ignoring Leo's elbow jabbing into his side.

'He's trying to create the ultimate soldier, mostly through genetic experimentation,' Scott answered easily, although he could see the brothers shifted uncomfortably at the mention of genetic experiments. 'I've consulted with the intelligence network and we know where they're keeping your brother, along with most of the orphans. We're planning a raid this Friday,' Scott looked at them all in turn and flashed another grin, 'and you're all welcome to come along.'

Raph got to his feet, followed quickly by Mikey. 'Then what are we waiting for?' Raph asked spinning his sais easily in his hands. He gave Scott a grin of his own, and inwardly Scott winced at the menace behind the smile.

'Not so fast my sons,' Splinter spoke up, fixing the two turtles with a steady gaze until they returned to their seats. Then he switched his gaze to Scott and Kenro, 'There is more that you are not telling us. I will not push you for further details because I know you will not supply them. However I want to know why you are so willing to help us.'

Scott regarded the old rat for a moment, ignoring his initial instinct to lie blatantly. 'We're hoping that if we help you now, then you'll help us in the future.' He answered instead with a simple shrug, omitting the fact that had been the intention before he'd found out about their mutations.

'In what way exactly?' Leo asked, raising an eyebrow ridge. Somehow Scott could see a similarity between the bearing of the oldest turtle and the rat he called his father.

'We need people, I use the phrase loosely, people who can fight, who can sneak, who can keep secrets-'

'You need soldiers,' Splinter interrupted, folding his hands in front of himself.

Scott met his gaze steadily. 'Yes.' He felt the tension in the room rise at this. 'I won't lie to you. We need people to aide our fight. Mengele is evil. We must defeat him and for that we need soldiers. It's that simple.'

'That's lovely,' Raph drawled. 'But when you're done being high and mighty, what's in it for you two?' There was a challenge in his words and Kenro rose to meet it.

'I want my mate and cubs back,' the wolf growled. 'I don't want them to suffer as I did.' He lifted his metal paw in emphasise.

Raph lowered his glare uncomfortably, and Mikey spoke up instead. 'And you?' he asked Scott quietly.

Scott's eyes and grin were dark. 'Revenge.'

The lights in the lair were dim and the atmosphere was heavy after Scott and Kenro had left with April, Casey and Callie. Scott had agreed to let the turtles and Splinter think the matter over for the night and let Scott know their decision the following morning. The turtles and their father remained in the lounge room, cold pizza from the night before serving as their dinner. Mikey, still recovering from his injuries, had dozed off slumped against Raph's shoulder.

'My sons, I do not know where this path is taking us,' Splinter sighed, setting his teacup down and looking to his two oldest sons. 'But if is the only way we can rescue Donatello, then it is the only path we have.' His expression became troubled as he continued, 'I don't want the lives of soldiers for my sons, but I know that even if I asked for you not to do this, you would disobey me. So I can only give you my blessings and my continued guidance.'

Leo and Raph exchanged glances, Raph shifting protectively against Mikey causing him to stir.

'Father, this is the fate we have been dealt,' Leo replied. 'And perhaps it is the higher purpose I have always felt we were born for.' Raph nodded in grim agreement.

'I don't care what we have to do if it means we can get Don back,' Raph added, his eyes serious.

Nodding Splinter regarded his sons with a mixture of pride and concern.

'I want to do this,' Mikey's voice was groggy with sleep, as he sat up. 'But not just for Don. The kids need us too, we can help stop this stuff that happening to them and we should.'

Scott flipped open his paper on Saturday morning.

I'll be there, Kitty.


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