A/N: Greetings from Georgia! I'm here visiting my cousin and having a great time. I've floated the Chatahoochi River and seen some awesome thunderstorms so far. Anyways sorry for the long wait. I had thought that now that it was summer and I was out of school that I'd have more time to write, but that just isn't the case and besides I'm not a hard core writer that the majority of you seem to be so, yeah that's my excuse. But hay, it's here now so enjoy!

IIIIIIIIII

Chapter 9

It took Casey about 45 minutes to return with a suitable truck. Everyone helped in loading the equipment and supplies, ready to roll after ten minutes. Splinter bid his sons and their companions farewell and wished them luck, hoping all would return home safe. After the truck was out of sight of the ware house, Splinter let out a poignant sigh, stepping into the elevator that led back down to the lair and began what was sure to be a long and arduous wait.

The atmosphere in the truck was thick with anxiety and concern. Mikey had informed them of his encounter with Leo on the astral plane. While everyone was ecstatic that Leo was still alive, the risk factor of the mission had gone off the scale with Bishops unexpected involvement. Without trepidation, they all agreed to continue despite this setback. Thankfully their plan needed very little alteration to still be successful.

"Okay guys," Mikey spoke up, hating prolonged silences, "let's go over this one more time." He received no objections. "You will drop me off a block away and then you'll park the truck in the alley across from the Saki building. I go in and find Leo while Raph and Casey will shadow my position from the outside, serving as back up while Donnie and April track my position from the truck and act as emergency back up if we need it. Now when I give the signal,"

"Me 'n Case come crashin' in and bust some heads." Raph cut in, cracking his knuckles threateningly showing everyone just how anxious he was to get this thing done and his brother back home safely.

A ghost of a smile played Mikeys lips, a bit of his old self breaking through.

Raph caught the smile and gave his baby brother a small one of his own.

"I still don' get how yer gonna find Leo by yourself though." Raph commented.

"Yeah," agreed Don "How are you going to pull that off?"

"That's easy bro," Mikey replied as a huge smile spread across his face, "Karai herself is gonna take me to him."

Everyone stared at him dumbfounded with their jaws hanging open, even April who was driving the truck. She had to swerve to avoid hitting a parked car and that jolted the others out of their stupor. They all started talking at once which caused Mikey to burst out laughing at their antics.

"This ain't funny Mikey, this is serious." Raph reprimanded.

"Yeah, how in the hell are ya gonna get Karai to take ya to Leo?" Casey asked.

"That..." Mikey said as he leaned back in his seat, hands behind his head, "…is a surprise."

Raph scoffed at Mikeys refusal to let them in on his plans. He stood up and started to make his way towards his youngest brother to force it out of him but Donnie stopped his hot-headed brother.

"Raph's right, we can't and won't, let you go in there without a plan." Don said.

"Oh but I do have a plan Donnie my boy and it all depends on my superb acting skills." Mikey answered as he playfully buffed his nails on his plastron.

Raph and Donnie looked at each other, then at Mikey and back at each other. Both spoke at the same time, "We're doomed" they said with artificial dread lacing their voices.

The brotherly banter continued, releasing the tension they had all felt building itself up over the past two weeks, until they reach the drop-off point. They now felt that they could get the job done. They were going to save Leo.

IIIIIIIIII

Mikey ran across the rooftops of New York City until he came to a building that sat next to his objective, the Saki building. He stopped and stood there for a moment, one foot resting on the ledge. Mikey just stared out at the city that he and his brothers had put onto themselves to defend. In an instant he recalled all that they have been through in those past few years; The Foot, Shredder, aliens, invasion, mutants, time travel and no matter what they'd been through or the injuries they sustained, Mikey couldn't help but feel it had all been worth it to protect the city that he loved and its people. But this time the price was too high and he wasn't going to pay it.

With a determined sigh he set his bag he had over his shoulder down and opened it. Inside was all that he needed for the mission. The first items he pulled out were his weapon of choice, his nunchaku. He placed them in their customary place between his belt and plastron.

Next he pulled out the tracking device Donnie designed specially for the occasion. It was small, the size of a watch battery. Donnie made it from Utrom technology and was positive that no one would be able to trace it but him. Mikey secured the devise under the lip of his shell where it would be out of sight.

Then he pulled out another small gadget, about the size of a dime. This would serve as a one way communiqué. His brothers would be able to hear him and those speaking around him, but Mikey would not be able to hear them. Needless to say, that made the others nervous and they tried to get Mikey to wear a regular ear piece, but he fervently said no. For one he didn't want his brothers in his head the whole time and two, an ear piece could be easily spotted and identified and would jeopardize the mission. He placed this devise on his right temple, where it would be hidden by his mask.

'Now for the finishing touch' Mikey thought as he reached in and pulled out his last items. In his hand were two pieces of cloth. One red and the other purple, his brothers spare masks. His brothers had definitely been confused when Mikey had asked for their spare masks and when they asked why he needed them he only told them that they'd have to wait and see.

He tied Raph's blood red mask on his left bicep and Donnie's royal purple on his right. With his preparations complete he spoke aloud with fervor and determination,

"I'm goin' in"

IIIIIIIIII

"Now the fun can begin…"

"Since I already possess samples of your DNA," Bishop said as he wheeled a cart over to sit in Leo's line of vision, "all I need now is to retrieve samples from your muscles, tissues and internal organs." He lifted the cloth that covered the cart to reveal a try full of surgical tools including scalpels and others that Leo didn't know the function for.

Leo remained silent with a stoic expression refusing to show his fear, but his heart thudding against the inside of his chest and his quickened breath gave him away.

Bishop caught Leo's reaction, "Ah yes, you have good reason to be frightened turtle. I am afraid that I cannot administer an anesthetic, for it would influence my results." This was said with mock distress and concern. It was not lost on Leo.

Leo was really getting weary of all of Bishops 'big talk' and just wanted to get it done and over with.

"Just do it already." He sighed, exasperated.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, didn't your father teach you that patience is a virtue?" Bishop replied as he calmly picked up a scalpel and turned it over watching the light glint off the reflective metal.

Leo's eyes narrowed and his fists clenched tight. Bishop really knew how to push his buttons.

When Leonardo didn't react in the way Bishop was hoping, he continued, "Fine then."

Without another word, Bishop brought the scalpel to Leo's left shoulder and made an inch long incision. Blood leaked out from the wound as Bishop looked for a reaction from his 'patient'. Seeing none he proceeded with slight disappointment. He continued to cut a swatch of Leo's skin and placed the sample in container for later study.

Leo didn't watch or even react as Bishop cut into his shoulder. He put all his focus and concentration into a screw he spotted in the ceiling, but it did little to block out the pain he felt. The sharp pain in his shoulder was replaced with a duller, throbbing pain but he felt a new sharp pain in the middle of his chest and knew that Bishop was now taking a sample of his plastron. That pain too changed into that of a throbbing pain once Bishop was through.

Next Bishop picked up what looked to Leo to be an extremely large needle and in a sense it was. The tool had the diameter of a pencil, but was two feet long. Bishop plunged the tool into Leo's abdomen and this time Leo couldn't suppress a scream from the massive amount of pain. Sweat spilled out of his pores even though the air was cool around him.

Leo felt, rather than saw, Bishop slide another instrument into the first one and he cringed as he felt sharp sting coming from inside his body. From what little he knew about his anatomy, it was probably his kidney.

Bishop repeated he same pattern for all of the turtles major organs, save for the heart, including his spleen, gall bladder, pancreas, liver, prostate, and testicles. Next Bishop moved on to harvest samples from the turtles muscles and tissues, including the lungs and stomach.

Bishop didn't bother to bandage the wounds he gave Leo, so his blood was free to spill onto the table and floor.

When Bishop was finally finished, Leo had many holes adorning his body.

As Bishop removed his rubber gloves, Leo spoke through gritted teeth, "Sure you didn't forget anything?" He asked sarcastically.

"Oh, I'm not done quite yet." Bishop replied.

Leo inwardly groaned, 'What else could he want?'

"But," Bishop continued as he released Leo from his restraints, "I do require full access to your carapace."

'Duh' Leo thought to himself, 'Of coarse he wants a sample of my shell.'

Bishop just stood there as if expecting him to just obediently roll onto his stomach and graciously give him his shell.

"Sorry, but you'll have to roll me over yourself." Leo quipped.

An idea struck Bishop. One that would give him great satisfaction while humiliating the turtle at the same time.

He smiled his evil smile, "I'll make a deal with you,"

Leo looked at Bishop with a mixture of confusion and disbelief.

"If you can make it to the door on your own two feet, without faltering, then I will let you go, without resistance from me or Karai's forces."

Leo snorted in disbelief, "Why should I believe you?"

"You don't have to take me up on my offer of course." Bishop said shrugging.

Leo silently debated with himself. Bishop was most likely lying, or he didn't believe that Leo could pull it off and just wanted to watch him fail, which, the more he thought, the more Leo agreed that this was the most likely reason for Bishops offer. Leo didn't want to give him the satisfaction, but being the person he was, he couldn't just give up without trying.

With great effort and much pain, Leo managed to sit up, and moved his legs so they hung over the edge of the table. He was dizzy from all the blood he'd lost, so he took a deep breath before gently sliding off the table. Leo didn't know how, but his legs supported his weight, albeit shakily. He miraculously managed a few steps before his legs gave out, sending him crashing to the floor onto his stomach. His chest heaved from the effort he exerted as he lay on the floor.

Bishop laughed. "You are pathetic."

Leo tired to push himself back up but he didn't have the strength and only managed to push himself up about a foot off the floor before he collapsed once again.

Bishop squatted down beside Leo and whispered softly in his ear, "You will never leave this room alive."

He then called in two Foot soldiers and directed them to haul Leo back to the table. They laid him face down on the table replacing the restraints at his wrists and ankles. Leo's eyes were closed from exhaustion but they snapped open when he heard the unmistakable sound of a saw being powered up. Unfortunately, Leo opened his eyes only to see Bishop holding the saw. He knew what that was for and turned his head away as Bishop brought the saw to his shell.

By the time Bishop was done, there was blood spatter everywhere because, contrary to popular belief, turtle shells do bleed when injured, and they also contain nerve endings so the procedure was very painful for Leo.

Bishop set his sizable chunk of carapace (a wedge of 3 inches long and 2 inches wide) aside and set the saw down.

Leo was relieved that it was all over. He was spent and he just wanted it all to be over, so Leo was horrified to hear another, softer but unfamiliar, tool being powered up. Even though he was terrified of what he would find, Leo looked back towards Bishop. In his hands Leo saw a drill. A drill one would find at a construction site or in a tool box.

"This I will be using to collect my final sample." Bishop said as if he were reading Leo's mind. "I will be drilling a hole in the middle of your shell down to your spine where I will collect some of your spinal fluid. Of course," Here Bishop paused and looked Leo directly in the eyes, "there is always the risk of paralysis with this procedure. But you won't be needing the ability to walk any more anyways."

Leo was taken aback of course, but he couldn't muster up any strength to care or even give an intelligent response, so he just remained silent.

Without further ado, Bishop proceeded to drill into Leos' shell.

Leo let out an agonizing scream. After all that he has suffered, this was by far the worst. The pain was so blinding, that coupled with his exhaustion and extensive blood loss, Leo lost the fight with consciousness. His eyes started to close. As he slipped into oblivion, he had a sinking feeling that he would not be waking up again.

IIIIIIIIII

Michelangelo walked in through the front door, forgoing with the stealth a ninja usually employs. He needed a more…direct approach. Upon his entry, Mikey was met with Foot soldiers. Not too many for him to handle by himself, so he decided that kicking their butts would get him noticed, and kick their butts he did.

He didn't even have time to put away his weapons before he was surrounded by the Foot Elite with their weapons pointing at him, mere inches from his skin.

Not far behind, Mikey was further surrendered by fifty more Foot Ninja. Even if he wanted to, Mikey would not be able to fight his way out alone and make it out alive. Good thing he didn't want to.

"To what do I owe the honor of your company?"

Mikey looked up to the second level balcony to find Karai standing there with even more Foot soldiers around her. Her features held no emotion; no anger at his infiltration, nor any surprise at his sudden appearance.

"You know exactly why I'm here Karai." He shouted up to her.

"Yes, Leonardo, but where are the others? Surely even you are smart enough not to attempt a rescue without your brothers-"

Karai didn't finish her sentence before Mikey angrily cut her off, "My brothers are dead Karai; you killed them."

Karai scowled down at her foe, "What trickery are you trying to pull turtle? Are you serving as a decoy while your brothers locate Leonardo?"

"I wish, but no, they're dead and it's all because you couldn't face the fact that your father was evil and that Leo did the world a favor when he killed him." Mikey shouted angrily and stepped forward as if getting ready to attack Karai, but he was stopped when an Elitist's weapon threatened to punch a hole through his plastron.

"You lie. I left the three of you on the roof top unharmed when Leonardo surrendered to me."

"Unharmed," Mikey feigned disbelief, "you call having your flunkies beating Raph to within an inch of his lie unharmed? He bled out from internal injuries."

"Surely Donatello," She attempted to acknowledge, but was once again cut off by the irate turtle.

"Yeah, Donnie probably could have saved Raph if you hadn't given him too much of that stuff you used to knock us all out. He never even woke up." Mikey continued to glare up at Karai as she seemed to be deciding if what he said was true.

'If she doesn't buy this, I'm turtle soup'

"I am sorry Michelangelo. It was not my intention to cause Donatello or Raphael any harm. My revenge was meant only for Leonardo."

Mikey mentally sweat dropped, 'Whew'

"Yeah, well your good intentions aside, I want to see my last remaining brother. If he's still alive that is. If he isn't, I request that you give me his remains. I want my brothers to be buried together." 'Hope I'm not too late'

"Leonardo still lives" Karai reluctantly replied.

"I want to see him" Mikey insisted.

Karai contemplated the request. If what he said was true, then it was reasonable. She knew this turtle to play the fool and clown around at nearly all their meetings and did not believe him capable of committing a façade of this magnitude and he was wearing the bands of his brothers, a sign of remembrance and an honoring of the dead.

"Hand over your weapons, and…you must swear on your honor that you will leave without a fight when I command." She stated her stipulations with a slight reluctance.

"Agreed" Mikey replied.

A/N: Ain't I just a stinker? Please review!