Chapter Ten

Hard Light

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Donatello was by Leo's side when Raph launched into his attack, but Don quickly discovered that he would be unable to take part in the battle. Several times he tried to join in the fight, but each time he grabbed somebody he got unceremoniously tossed aside; every hit he landed was like slamming his fist against stone. Once or twice he saw someone coming up behind his brothers or Casey and he yelled out to them, but his voice was as ineffectual as his touch and his warnings went unheard. Before long, Don was left standing on the sidelines, helplessly watching the events that played out before him. But his instincts kicked in when Karai managed to get Raphael in a stranglehold -- unfortunately, his attempt to kick the woman's legs out from underneath her managed to do nothing but hurt Don's own ankle. He stood up and doubled his fists, closing his eyes and letting out a scream of frustration.

When he opened his eyes, Karai was looking at him.

"Can you hear me?" he asked, his hand flying over his mouth.

She didn't answer, but turned away and began speaking with Leonardo. Over the course of the next few minutes he tried to get somebody to notice him. He jumped up and down on his aching ankle, waving his arms and screaming as loud as he could -- feeling every bit an idiot as he did. Not that it mattered if he felt--or looked--like an idiot, he realized, since nobody even glanced towards him.

Karai turned and walked away just as the clouds above them began to part; Don looked up at the blue sky that was peeking through, then over at his brothers. He wanted so much to go home, to be with his family and friends, but what good would it do if they couldn't see or hear him? They would never even know he was there. But Karai… maybe if he followed her he would be able to dig up some answers. He looked at Mike again, who was standing next to him with his eyes on the ground.

"Don't worry, Mikey," he said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'll be home soon."

Don chased after Karai and found her on the other side of the parking lot, still surrounded by her faithful ninjas. She waved her hand and they scattered, running and leaping off into the darkness between nearby buildings. When the crowd had fully dissipated, Karai continued out a gate in the fence and walked up to a limousine, opening the door and turning to stare at the ruins she had just left behind.

Corporate ninjas, Don thought, smirking at the limo. He made his way to the woman and took advantage of the open door, sliding into the car. A few moments later, Karai stepped inside and shut the door behind her.

"To the auxiliary office, Ritsuko," Karai said to her driver, then reached under her seat, pulling out a laptop computer and turning it on as the car began to move. Her eyebrows drew together as she focused on the screen before her. "No, Ritsuko," she spoke up again. "To Bayle street."

"Yes, Ma'am," the driver said, then turned the wheel.

Donatello tried to lean in close enough to see the data Karai was pouring over, but her hair slid in his way as the car made a U-turn. Don reached up and placed a finger on the black strands, trying to guide them out of the way, but he found them to be as immoveable as everything else was at this point. For the next few minutes, Don tried his best to see over Karai's shoulder and past her hair, but every time he managed to catch a glimpse of the screen they would round a corner and his efforts were wasted.

Probably not the best idea I've ever had, he thought, shaking his head and sitting back, wincing when his shell hit the hard seat.

Don's stomach let out another growl and he unzipped his bag and reached inside. Rifling through Mike's snacks, Don brought out a squished kiwifruit and eyed it curiously. It wasn't pretty, but it would do, he figured, and he awkwardly peeled off the fuzzy brown skin and popped the fruit into his mouth, eating it all in one bite.

"Okay for an appetizer, I guess," he said, reaching in the bag again.

Karai lifted her head and looked out her window. "Ritsuko, stop the car."

Don yanked his hand out of his bag as the limousine skidded to a quick halt. Karai shut her laptop computer and slid it into a black case, then opened the door and stepped out onto the street. Don leaped out after her, fearing he would be stuck inside if she shut the door too quickly, but it turned out that he needn't have rushed, since she stood standing by the open door for nearly a minute before slamming it shut.

Karai walked to the driver's window and leaned over. "Go," she said. "I will call you when I am done."

Ritsuko nodded stiffly, then rolled up her window and drove away. Karai watched the car until it rounded a corner, then walked, computer case in-hand, to a nearby hotel. Don scratched his head in confusion, but followed her, thankful that the revolving door she passed through had continued to revolve, allowing him passage into the building. The woman stepped up to the counter and the clerk handed her a key without a word, as if people walking in with swords on their backs was a common occurrence in this part of town.

Donatello followed Karai to a room on the ground floor and she opened the door, stepping in. Don slipped through just before she swung the door shut and latched it, then she unzipped her computer case and set the laptop on an old desk directly opposite the bed. Don rubbed his hands together as she sat down and switched the computer on, anticipating the opportunity to finally see what it was that had Karai so preoccupied in the car. The computer hummed to life and she began to type, and the Turtle leaned in eagerly.

Don sat back and rubbed a sudden ache between his eyes. Japanese, he thought. Why's she have to be working in Japanese? I knew I should have paid more attention to Master Splinter's language lessons. Now, if it was in code I'd be able to… He stood up straight and chuckled to himself. It is a code, he thought, leaning back over the computer and examining the screen. Every language is a code, and any code can be broken. Alright, Don… time to start cracking this one.

He tried to focus his eyes on the foreign words flying across the screen, but before long everything he saw looked like a jumble of laced lines and twirls. He was sure he could figure it out, but first he would have to actually be able to see it, and it was going by much too fast for that.

"Slow down!" Don yelled despite himself.

Karai looked up from the computer and Donny jumped back, making his way from the woman as she pulled herself out of her chair. She turned towards the Turtle, her eyes staring where he stood, but her gaze going right through him.

"Donatello, I presume."

Don backed up another step. "You can hear me?"

Her eyes darted around the room for a moment, then she closed them and a distant look crossed her face.

"Can you hear me, Karai?" Don asked again.

"I wasn't certain you were still with me," she said. "But I had my suspicions."

Don smiled slightly. It was nice to know that someone--anyone--was aware of his presence. "And that's why you came here instead of going to your office?" he asked.

"I could not have risked leading you into a restricted area," she told him, opening her eyes.

He swallowed hard. "So, then... I'm not actually dead… right?"

"No."

"Well, that's good," he let out a relieved sigh. "For a while there…"

"Not yet."

"Oh," Donatello cleared his throat. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to tell me what's going on, would you?"

Karai crossed her arms. "It is... complicated. I will give you what aid I can, but I would first request that you bring your brothers here. I will explain when you return."

"Wait," Don held a hand up, even though he was certain she couldn't see it. "You do realize that sounds like a trap, right? What if all you want is for me to get them here so you can..."

"I give you my word of honor, Donatello," Karai broke through. "You came here seeking answers; I am offering you those answers. You may accept my aid, or you may decline it -- but my honor will remain intact in having offered it."

He lowered his hand and nodded. "But how am I supposed to get them?" he asked. "They can't even see me."

Karai turned and walked to the desk, flipping on the reading light that sat beside her computer. She picked up the lamp and aimed it in Don's direction and he flinched in the brightness, looking away. On the edge of his vision he saw movement -- a shadow against the wall. He turned, watching as the shadow did the same. He waved his arm, and the shadow waved. He jumped; the shadow jumped.

"Hard light betrays you," Karai said, returning the lamp to the desk. "Light that casts the sharpest shadows will reveal your presence."

Don shook his head. "I guess I have to take your word for it. But still, that doesn't mean I'll be able to get the guys' attention."

"Perhaps you could try speaking to them," Karai said, sounding exasperated. She turned and walked to the door, unlatching it and stepping into the hallway.

Don hesitated for a moment before following her. "I did try. They didn't hear me," he said as they walked down the passage.

"I am quite certain they are able to hear you. They are simply distracted at this time."

Donatello looked at the clerk's confused face as they crossed the lobby. "Yeah, by their heartbeats, their breathing…" he let out a little chuckle.

"By your passing," she walked out the revolving door and gave it a shove, allowing Don a chance to go through as well. "There are few things as pervasive as grief."

They rounded a corner into an alley and the woman stepped to a manhole. Don couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy when she took hold of the cover and lifted it to the side.

He sat on the edge of the hole and looked up at her. "Wish me luck."

"Find your way home and return here quickly," she said. "I will be waiting, but not for long."

Don jumped down into the darkness and winced when he landed, biting down as pain made its way through his injured ankle. He looked up as the lid was slid back into place and the light from the world above was extinguished.

"Great, so how I'm supposed to get them here?" Don asked himself. He opened his bag and took out the bottle of soda, taking a drink before capping it and throwing it back into the bag. He absentmindedly kicked at an old, crushed can, but the can didn't move and he fell to his hands and knees, sending the contents of his still-unzipped bag tumbling out onto the ground.

"Just what I needed," he started to gather up the scattered food and instruments, gladly leaving a large amount of crushed chips on the sewer floor. He paused as he picked up his ShellCell and turned it over in his hand before trying to dial out again. He sighed when nothing happened and threw it into his bag, then picked up his binoculars. "Wait a minute... why do these work, but not my phone?"

A thought crossed his mind and he tried to snap his fingers, but the potato chip grease kept them from making any noise. "My phone is on constantly, so it might have gotten fried... but maybe the other things…" Donatello quickly gathered the other items off the ground, leaving one particular instrument for last. After the food and gadgets were all stored, Don reached over and picked up the last one, flipping it on and grinning when it began to beep. He allowed himself a chuckle. "Perfect."

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