Minyadagniriel
Walk on the Battlefield part 2
Leo dove out of the way as the chopper came crashing to the ground engulfed in fire and smoke. He banged his ankle on a slab of concrete and heard a slight popping noise. "Shit…" he groaned and glanced down at his now sprained foot. It hurt like hell and his skin started to swell around the injury. He dragged himself upright and pushed through the pain, climbing over bodies, weaponry, and debris. The remnants of war were piling high. He could still see Cody battling in the distance. His pupil was fighting savagely, while taking several hits from Bishop in return. Leo called out to him, knowing he would be ignored. The number of soldiers was declining and the pathway clearing, giving Leo a direct route to his student. However, his injury slowed him down. He limped between steps, grabbing hold of anything he could to keep his balance. He was careful to avoid getting in the way of the tank under Dark Don's control.
The fearless leader didn't take his eyes off Cody, not even for a second…
On the other side of the battlefield, Raphael and his two younger brothers were locked in combat with militants. Donatello and Mikey tagged teamed several men, throwing their enemies around and leaving gashes along their limbs with the scalpels. They didn't go as far as killing…part of the code they followed under their master. Raph pounded away at one soldier, initially breaking the man's ribs and eventually knocked him out. The more soldiers attacked, the more vicious Raphael fought.
Mikey was body slammed into the ground by two foes, clearly fatigue was setting in on the youngest terrapin. He lost his weapon in the takedown. The impact of the attack cracked the lower rim of his shell. Don had jumped into his brother's fight and pushed back the soldiers by driving his knife into one and back kicking the other.
"Mikey, you okay?"
"Ow! Dammit!" Mikey shouted and sat up. He rubbed his backside after being thrown so violently, "My bum is taking a beating bro."
Don stayed with his little brother until he could get to his feet; "Just don't ask me to kiss it for you." He punched another soldier across the face that came too close.
Raph fought off his adversary and rushed over to Mikey, "What'd ya break yer ass?"
Still rubbing his behind, Mikey stuck out his tongue at him. "My shell…"
"Get up ya bum, we got more comin' in," Raph said and he prepared to defend himself once again.
This time, the soldiers attacked all at once…there were so many and they overtook Raph. He was forced to the ground, two militants holding his shoulders, one on his torso, and two more holding his legs. Raph struggled and tried forcing them off. Don and Mikey were in no better shape, having been pinned to the ground as well.
An elite soldier with a rifle approached, cocking the weapon, "You turtles have outlived your use…" he said and he pointed his gun at Raph first.
"Fuck you!" Raph screamed and tried to bite at the soldier to his right.
"No! Raph!" Mikey cried out, tears threatened to fall down his cheeks but he held them in, "If you shoot him…"
"You'll what?" the elite taunted, "Don't feel left out freak, you're next." He gripped the trigger.
Mikey gasped…sheer panic revolved around his mind and he looked to Don for direction, but his brother was desperately trying to get himself loose.
Realizing there was no way he was getting out of the situation without help, Raph glared at the elite, showing no fear. He gritted his teeth and waited for the burning sensation of a bullet to pass through him…
The elite grinned, "Now smile…" and he tugged the trigger slightly. Just as he was about to pull it completely, he was savagely thrown to the ground…the weapon still went off, but it didn't hit the target that was intended.
Raph watched as his brother Leo's counterpart took out the elite by picking the guy up by his jacket and then he violently twisted the man's neck, breaking the bones. Dark Leo threw the body aside and attacked the other soldiers piled on Raph. Howling soldiers were thrown in all directions until Raph was free of them and he joined Dark Leo's rampage.
The militants holding Don down let him go to assist their fellow soldiers and they were scrambling to find guns scattered across the ground. Most of them failed miserably and found themselves face down in the earth.
Raph brushed the dust off his body and was preparing to rejoin the ranks with his brothers and the dark turtles, until he heard a familiar voice cry out…
"Mikey!"
It was Donatello shouting at the top of his lungs. Raph pushed past Dark Leo to see why his brother was freaking out and to his horror…it was serious. Donny was pressing his hands down on Mikey's upper plastron; blood seeped out and between his fingers as he tried to keep pressure on the wound. The bullet meant for Raph had struck Mikey.
"Shit, no!" Raph cried. He fell to his knees and to Mikey's side. He placed a hand on Mikey's forehead, tears welling up.
Weakly, the youngest turtle coughed and blinked several times, as if trying to will himself to remain awake. A trickle of blood slid out of the corner of his mouth.
"Donny…can you help him?" Raph asked, worry laced through his voice.
Don couldn't hold back his tears any longer and they fell freely down his cheeks, "It's really bad…the left lung was punctured. I d…don't have any way of treating him."
Mikey looked up at his brothers, "Hey…g…guys…are we home yet?" He coughed again and this time, more blood came up. He struggled to breathe.
"He's already going into shock," Don sniffed.
Raph squeezed his eyes shut, his tears spilled over the lids, "No…no…this can't be happening…THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!" In a severe fit of rage, Raph got to his feet and picked up the nearest handgun off the ground along with a rusty edged metal pole and several rounds of ammunition. He slowly walked towards the militants still fighting in the battlefield.
"Raph!" Don called, but his older brother ignored him. It was pointless…not even Leonardo would be able to stop him now.
Dark Leo knelt down next to Mikey, "He's not gonna make it. You have to leave him…"
"NEVER!" Don shouted in Dark Leo's face, "I WOULD NEVER LEAVE ONE OF MY BROTHERS BEHIND!"
Dark Leo was stunned momentarily, he never expected Don to have an outburst like that since he was the most reasonable out of all the turtles.
"You might not care for your brothers very much…but I do. My brothers are my life!"
Dark Leo sighed, "Then we at least have to move him out of here." Without waiting for Don to respond, he quickly picked up the injured turtle and ran towards the end of the street, out of harm's way. He leaned Mikey up against the wall of a dilapidated building while Don settled down to reapply pressure to the wound, "You stay with him. It's obvious you've already made up your mind."
Don didn't even nod; he was too busy figuring out a way to stop the bleeding so Dark Leo took off back towards the battle.
Raphael had slashed every militant that crossed his path with the rusted bar, intending to do maximum damage to each one. Unafraid of the consequences he would face when he returned home, Raph unleashed a hail of bullets into the crowd, taking down as many enemies as he could. There was no mercy…if they begged for their lives, he denied it, and if they weren't dead with the first shot he left them to suffer. He slammed the bar down onto the skull of another man, shattering his skull until the brain was exposed. Raph's anger was at its worse…
In the center of the grounds, Cody continued slicing away at Bishop, driving his claws into the agent's leg. It caused severe damage and blood gushed over Cody's arm. Bishop kneed Cody in the gut and ripped the sharp talons out of his leg. He struck Cody across the face with the hilt of his sword and laughed maniacally when Cody was thrown to the ground.
"So this is it? This is the best you have to throw at me?" Bishop stated, a large grin spread across his face, "Pathetic…" he uttered as he brought down the tip of his sword and ran it through Cody's right forearm, clean through the leather of his armguards.
Cody screamed in pain and instinctively pulled back his arm until the sword slid out. He tore off the set of claws and pulled back his sleeve to quickly survey the damage. It was a deep gash and he had trouble moving his fingers. Cody cradled his arm and backed away, trying to strategically plan his next move.
Bishop picked up the set of talons and threw it aside, "Don't glare at me boy. You've clearly bit off more than you can chew." He stepped forward, "It would have been so much easier if you had joined the ranks of my army. You would have been a great asset."
"Never…" Cody replied angrily.
"Your intellect and finances…Cody Jones…you had so many opportunities..."
Cody groaned and continued backing away.
Bishop extended his hand, "I'm giving you one more chance…yes…I am that generous to extend the invitation to join my army."
"No…you made it clear you wanted me dead and my wife to be used as a vessel for your experiments when you invaded my penthouse!"
Bishop laughed, "Yes…but whether or not you wish to join me, I still am going to use your brilliant inventions for my benefit."
"That's not possible, I destroyed everything in O'neil tech to ensure you can't!"
"Ah…but you failed to destroy every piece of equipment you own."
Cody's brow furrowed, "What do you mean?"
Bishop signaled to the helicopter overhead and the giant blackbird descended to the ground. "You see Cody, when I attacked you in the penthouse, you were sending a message to your friends in the past through a device…a time window to be precise."
"…" Cody was lost for words. Bishop saw the portal and that he sent Starlee into the past.
The helicopter landed on the ground and the doors slid open, revealing the machine Cody worked so hard to build several years ago.
"No…"
"Oh yes dear boy. I managed to rescue this gem of an invention before you managed to blow it up." Bishop took another step towards Cody, "This machine will prove very useful in my takeover of the planet."
Cody growled and leapt towards Bishop, using his good arm to slash away at his foe once again, "I will destroy you for even considering to use my inventions to annihilate mankind!" He swung his claws at Bishop's face, missing. With his current injury, he was a bit slower, but not any less determined to remove this madman from the face of the Earth. He dodged a return strike and tried sweeping Bishop's feet out from underneath.
"You're getting slow boy!" Bishop said as he jumped over the offending leg and swung his sword at Cody's head. He missed, but sent his foot slamming into Cody's stomach immediately after, pushing the rebel leader into the ground. Bishop stomped down onto Cody's stomach and pointed his sword at the Red Hawk, "How does it feel to know that your army is falling rebel leader…to know that I will destroy every last offender and send your friends into oblivion?" He raised his sword up in the air…
Just a short distance away, Leonardo pummeled through two more soldiers and returned his attention towards Cody once again. He saw that Bishop had his student lying on his back, foot pressing down into him and a sword raised high. Leo ignored his limp and dashed towards his student, "Cody!" he shouted. At full speed, Leo was gaining ground and he was so close…
Bishop drove the sword downwards…and pierced through Cody's chest. The Red Hawk released a blood gurgling cry and he fell silent…
Leo leapt into the air towards Bishop; intending to knock him away from Cody. Bishop pulled free his sword and dodged the attack. He climbed into the helicopter. Leo ignored Bishop momentarily and he rushed to Cody's side, sliding his arm underneath his pupil's shoulders and lifting him. He shook Cody lightly, but received no response. "Cody…" he said softly. There was still no response and Leo pushed two fingers to Cody's neck, nothing…
"CODY!" In a panic, Leo lay his little brother down again and attempted to start CPR.
"Don't bother Leonardo, I've pierced Cody's heart…I made sure of that. He's dead," Bishop said cruelly.
Leo looked up from his dead student's body, tears pouring down his face, yet he felt enough anger to charge Bishop and tear him limb from limb.
"You will be joining your friend eventually Leonardo, in the meantime, I cannot have you or your brothers getting in the way." Bishop then turned his attention to the time window and tampered with a panel on its side. The window flickered and flashed, revealing its spiral of color to the turtle, "Enjoy your time while it lasts…" The window shone brightly and then a light emerged and surrounded Leo and Cody…then they disappeared…
Bishop then directed the chopper towards the battles and found Raphael fighting a few yards away from Donatello and Mikey, "You turtles have interfered too much!" he shouted.
Raphael glanced up at the chopper and gritted his teeth, "I'm gonna kill ya for this shitty war you got brewin'!"
"Temper, temper…I've already taken care of your older brother," Bishop said.
Raph's eyes grew wide, "What did ya do to Leo?"
"This," Bishop started and he made another command on the window's control board. The light reappeared and it engulfed Raph, causing him to also vanish. Don panicked and did what he could to shield Mikey from Bishop but the madman had already commanded the window to surround the remaining two turtles and they too were gone.
"The battle is over…for now. Pilot, get us out of here, send elites to retrieve any women test subjects and leave the remaining soldiers. An entire army of mutants is waiting for me in Europe. It's time to put our plan into action. The helicopter door the closed and it took off towards the south.
When the smoke finally cleared and the sounds of war had fallen silent, Dark Leo gathered the remaining mutants and aliens. His three brothers had survived the hours long battle and they searched and dug through debris looking for leader and any survivors scattered among the wreckage. Dark Leo stumbled across a half dead militant who was slashed open down his torso and seemed to be laughing at the remaining rebels. Dark Leo grabbed the soldier by the shirt and yanked him up so they were face to face.
"Where is the Red Hawk?" the blue terrapin commanded.
The soldier sputtered and coughed up a lot of blood, but still laughed as he said, "Dead…I saw him go down myself. Bishop finished him! You're without a leader!"
Dark Leo growled and dropped the militant. He then drove his foot into the soldier's neck, breaking the bones and he turned towards the army, "If what this scum said is true, then our leader is gone and the chain of command falls to me. If you're willing to continue fighting against Bishop's army, stay. If not…then go." He didn't say anything more and waited for any mutants or aliens to disembark from the group. The group was cut down to a third of what it used to be…still, none left. "Very well," Dark Leo stated, "Continue looking for survivors and all will regroup on the outskirts of the compound. We'll need to find new residence."
The evening grew near and only a handful of survivors were found amongst the rubble along with seven women hidden among the ruins of the city, including Eridian, Odessa, Christine, and Gaetana…
Present day New York, one hundred years in the past…
Splinter had spent the day with Starlee and her four and a half month old infant. The two were enjoying a round of chess. She had never played the game before and Splinter was kind enough to teach her. Of course with her intellect and strategic mind, she was able to win every game soon after learning. Little Ava was rolling around on the floor, getting in as much tummy time as she could. She grasped onto her 'Papa Splinter's' tail several times and put it in her mouth.
"Now, now little one," Splinter said as the infant once again nibbled on it. He calmly removed his tail from her lips and he picked her up, sitting her in his lap.
Starlee chuckled and she made another move on the board, "Check."
Splinter scratched his chin and moved his king forward a square, but Starlee caught him in a trap and called his 'checkmate'.
"You have become a chess master Miss Starlee. Not even my sons have ever beaten me." The elderly rat lifted Ava and handed her over to Starlee, "It is time for this old rat to meditate. Please join me when you place Ava down for a nap. I shall be in the dojo waiting."
Starlee nodded and she carried Ava to the lab where the pack and play was set up. The little infant yawned and rubbed her eyes with tiny fists. She placed her daughter into the foldable crib and let the infant drift off to sleep. Starlee quickly changed into something a little looser and breathable for her session with master Splinter. Since she began staying with him, he was kind enough to teach her some martial arts. Her natural flexibility was an advantage for her and she proved to be very good with joint locks.
She was about to leave the lab when she heard static from the other end of the lab. Upon further investigation, Starlee saw a bright flash and then the exuberant color of the time window opening. In a panic, Starlee rushed back to the pack and play and shielded her daughter from the display. Then there was a crashing sound and a loud thump as if a body landed on the ground. She turned around…
"Leo?" she called out to the turtle that now lay on the lab floor. She rushed to the lab door and shouted for Splinter. The old rat was in the lab within seconds and was overjoyed to see his eldest son.
"Leonardo!"
"Master…Starlee…we didn't…" Leo said, stumbling through his words. His slammed his fist down on the floor in frustration, "Bishop! Damn you!"
"What is the matter my son? Was your mission not successful?" Splinter asked, concerned. He knelt down next to his son and glimpsed at the wounds covering his body, "You are injured and we must treat your injuries."
"Starlee…" Leo said softly.
"Yes?" she replied.
"It's Cody…he's…" Leo stammered.
Right as he was about to reveal Cody's fate, another form appeared at the base of the time window. This one was not moving and drenched in blood. Starlee gasped at the sight of the mangled corpse but a sudden feeling of dread filled her as she approached it.
"No, wait Starlee! Don't!" Leo cried, but he was too late.
Starlee let out a high pitched scream and threw herself on her motionless husband, crying into his bloody clothes. She held tightly onto the body.
"What happened my son?" Splinter asked urgently and gripped Leo by the shoulders.
"Bishop. He killed Cody…I saw him do this master. I couldn't stop him in time! Starlee…I'm so sorry!" Leo shut his eyes tightly and tried his hardest to forget about the pain in his body and focus everything on Starlee's feelings. "Forgive me…"
Splinter bowed his head in sorrow, sharing Starlee's devastation. It was as if he'd lost one of his own…still he had to help Leonardo and helped lift his son to his feet.
As the two mutants filed their way to a cot, the time window reopened once again, catching Leo's attention. Three figures came into view and piled out of the portal.
Splinter left Leo seated on a cot and rushed over to his three other sons. Don and Raph were quick to get to their feet.
"What the fuck happened?" Raph demanded, "Did that bastard send us back?"
"Forget about how we got here Raph! We have to help Mikey!" Don shouted, "Give me a hand!"
Raph assisted Don in picking up their little brother and bringing him over to a metal lab table. His wound was still bleeding heavily and Don worked quickly to clean it so he could inspect it properly.
The group made such a great deal of noise that they woke up Ava and she began screaming out of frustration for being denied her nap.
Splinter hounded Raphael for answers and Leo stumbled over to the table to bombard Don, "What happened?"
Don ignored his brother's plight and continued working.
"…Mikey was shot…" Raph said and he tried his hardest not to break down in front of his father. He then saw Starlee lying over a body, crying hysterically, "…" He had no words to describe what he saw and he flew to Starlee's side, grabbing the sobbing girl and letting her scream into his chest. He couldn't believe his 'little brother' was dead…and he'd said all those hurtful things about him in the future. The guilt was too much and Raph fell apart in sadness. He swore to himself that Bishop would pay dearly.
Leo tried to help Don, but Splinter kept shooing him away, "Please Leonardo, remain calm for your brother's sake."
Once Donny had the unconscious Mikey wiped down, he surveyed the damage, using every gadget he had to look into the tiny bullet hole and see if any other organs were damaged.
Mikey started wheezing and straining to take a breath, causing the others to panic.
"My son…" Splinter said and he touched Mikey's forearm. He didn't want to give up hope, but something was telling him that his youngest wouldn't make it.
Donatello finally backed away after ten minutes and he sighed, "The damage is too severe. I can't help him…I'm no surgeon…I lack the tools and the knowledge for something this big."
Leonardo needed to be strong for his family where he knew his father could not. He stood at Donny's side in despair believing for a moment that there was nothing else they could do…until he had one last idea. "We'll take him to the surface."
"What?" Donny questioned, "Are you crazy?"
"We have no other choice Don! Its either Mikey dies or we bring him to a human hospital! They should be able to help," Leo said sternly.
"Yeah, once they find they have a mutant in their midst, they'll take him away and send him off to the current Bishop!" Raph cut in.
"We don't have much time left," Donny said, "If we're going to do this, we have to go now!"
"If Michelangelo has a chance, then we must reveal ourselves to the humans. Go with swiftness my sons. I will remain behind with Leonardo and Starlee and also care for Cody's body."
"I'm going with them sensei," Leo stated.
"You are injured," Splinter replied.
"I don't care. I'm not leaving Mikey for a second."
Splinter sighed, "Go with care." The old rat then assisted Starlee away from Raph and took her out of the lab to rest elsewhere while the turtles quickly prepared for the journey topside.
New York Presbyterian Hospital…two o'clock in the afternoon…
Two humans, a nurse and a doctor were standing out back, close to the parking garage. Both were chitchatting about their busy schedules and the upcoming winter shifts. It was mid September and the shifts would become longer since the holidays were beginning soon. They were just finishing up with their lunch breaks…and had no idea that they were being watched.
"I have a new week on, week off schedule and this year I actually have Christmas off," the blond nurse said happily.
"You are so lucky Terry," the older brunette doctor replied, "I'm going to be on-call this season. My kids will be a little bummed but I'm thinking about bringing them to the holiday party this year to make up for it."
"Maybe I'll bring my son," Terry said, "Anyways, I'm going to head back in, I have to make my rounds in the children's ward. I'll see you after work Diane."
"See you later," Diane replied and the two women separated, heading back to their respective medical centers.
Neither of the women got very far…once they were distanced away from each other far enough, a set of arms wrapped around each of them. Both screamed briefly until a hand reached up and covered their mouths. Then they were both lifted and carried away. Terry struggled against her attacker but they were much stronger than she was and they continued carrying her like a rag doll. Eventually they were brought to a large vehicle parked on the lowest level of the garage, hidden from view of most other cars. Diane gasped, was this really happening? She was being abducted!
Both women remained in the custody of their kidnappers as a third figure appeared from inside the vehicle and he began removing all the heavy layers of clothing he had on. Terry started to cry, she feared that this may happen to her one day…
The last piece of clothing fell away from the figure and both women gasped at what they saw…a large bipedal turtle. They both wanted to cry out for help but withheld the notion when the turtle started to speak.
"We're sorry for the frightening introduction, but my brothers and I are in a serious situation. My name is Leonardo and please believe me when I say that we will not hurt you in any way, shape, or form. We just want to ask you for your help."
Terry and Diane were stunned, but they kept quiet as the turtle began explaining. The hands that covered their mouths fell away as he continued. Diane sensed that 'Leonardo, as he called himself, truthfully meant them no harm. Terry was still very skeptical, but she listened anyways, fearful the turtles may try to 'eat' them if she didn't.
"So that's the story, will you help us?" Leo asked.
Diane spoke up first; "You won't try anything with us?"
"Nothing," Leo said, "We just want help."
"Okay, we'll take a look at your brother and see what we can do for him. Now will these two let us go?"
Leo nodded and signaled for Don and Raph to release the caregivers. Terry looked like she wanted to run but Diane kept her calm while Leo opened the back door of the battle shell and he assisted the girls inside to where Mikey lay.
Diane was the first to reach him and she immediately checked his vitals and inspected the wound, "It's pretty deep, a punctured lung…the only way to save him at this point is surgery and I've never worked on a creature like you."
Don pulled himself back into the truck, "I have a little experience with our anatomy. I can tell you that we're built in a similar fashion to humans…"
"That may be so, but I have no experience with reptiles or how to perform surgery on a shell."
"Please try…" Leo begged and he began dressing himself again.
The doctor hesitated for a moment and agreed to treat poor Mikey, "We need to get him inside quickly and quietly. I don't want to alarm the staff or the other patients."
"Leave that to us," Raph said.
Sneaking Mike into the hospital was no easy feat but the turtles managed to get him in through the access doors in the basement and they snuck him upstairs. There was a wing being remodeled and there weren't any staff or patients using it for the time being.
"We'll have this part of the hospital to ourselves for several weeks if we need it," Diane said. She was growing mildly interested in these turtles and to be the first human to ever operate on a mutant…it would be a medical breakthrough.
Terry assisted the turtles with getting Mikey on a gurney and she disappeared briefly to get supplies.
Within the hour Mikey was hooked up to a heart rate monitor and was given fluids intravenously along with some morphine.
Diane had Don help her wheel Mikey into the X ray tech room and get him situated on the table for imaging. Terry performed the actual procedure and she presented Diane with the images back in the vacant room.
"There it is. I can see the bullet lodged in the upper lobe of his left lung. I think the best option is to perform a thoracotomy."
"What is a thora…whatever?" Raph asked, slightly suspicious of the doctor's recommendations.
"It's a surgical cut that a surgeon makes to open the chest wall. For your brother, I'll have to go in from the side where the shell tissue is the softest. Terry, I'll need you to assist me during the surgery. I could also use your help," Diane referred to Don.
"I'll do what I can," Don said.
"Let's get him into surgery."
To be continued…