Chapter Ten: In Time And Blood
Tweleve and a Half Months Ago In Nevada
"SAgent Rogue, and SAgent N, as you recall, your daughter SAgent 135 was relieved of her duties then dispatched to New York for recuperation." A woman with short black hair nodded in her husband's stead as the raven haired man simply raised a thin brow.
"What of it?" Her blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. The man began to twitch uneasily.
"W-well, y-you see miss, s-s-s-SAgent 135 had encountered an attacking force." The woman watched in slight amusement as the soldier practically wet himself. She let a dangerous smile spread to her lips.
"That so?" she took a burning drink of coffee.
"Um-," The raven haired man shook his head, obviously not finding humor in the e situation at all.
"Out with it soldier!" The man snarled. That did it, the pair watched as the uneasy man fell to his knees in a sniveling wreck, head in hands.
"Oh God, have mercy, please don't kill me, I'm just a messenger." the duo remained silent. "A-135, her condo was in a frenzy, they-they found her blood but couldn't find her body, she-s-she's been pronounced dead. Oh please don't kill me, I don't want to die!" the soldier cried as the two processed the information handed to them. Agent N let out a spurt of laughter while her companion let out a sigh of relief. The soldier looked up at the odd pair, here their daughter was just pronounced dead and the act as if the Super Bowl was won. Well not exactly that enthusiastic but still! He gaped at them, standing to his feet pointing.
"Y-you monsters! How could you laugh she's-"
"Alive." The fair woman snapped and stood irritable. "Do you really think my darling child would die this easily? You and your officers seem to forget who we are, take this up to your superiors, what makes you so sure she really is dead?" She waved the man away as she collapsed back down into the plush patio chairs. The soldier scurried away as the man rubbed the woman's tense shoulders. She let out a weary smile.
"She'll be alright, right?" He nodded.
"Always." he kissed her reassuringly.
"Honey?"
"Yes?"
"Let's go to New York."
"Okay."
Twelve Months Ago In The Lair
"Well? Did you have fun with the murderer?" accused Leo angrily as his brother strolled into the lair. Raph remained silent contemplating how to respond.
"Buzz off Leo, I ain't in the mood." he said with agitation.
"Oh yeah? Why?" Leo replied accusingly. "We're you rejected by that little heartbreaker? You just don't know when to quit huh?" Raph tensed and punched the wall beside Leo's head, causing a mini crater.
"Don't, you don't know what's happenin and don't you think you'd understand. Get yer head outta your ass Leo, not everything has to be about you." he spat. Upon the commotion, Splinter made an appearance, separating his angry sons.
"What is this nonsense?" he bellowed.
"Raph thinks it was okay to go after that monster." pointed Leo.
"She isn't a monster."
"But you saw-"
"Enough you two." scolded their master. "Forget about this ordeal at once and resume with our daily lives, Mrs. Yuki is only a memory now, time to stop living in the past my sons." he held the two, taking their hands and putting them together.
"You are brothers, in the end, you have one another." The two gave in begrudgingly and exchanged apologies, Splinter patting their shells kindly.
"Good, now that that is settled, I must go back to my drama, Angie is having a show off with Delaine for stealing her man. This I cannot miss."
Present Day
"Hey Mikey, hand me a wrench will ya?" Called Donnie. The orange masked turtle gave a whine before throwing a wrench over shurikan style to his brother who caught it effortlessly.
"What cha workin on Don? Huh? Tell me tell me! C'mon, you know you can't hide forever." he grinned cheekily as his older brother face palmed.
"Mikey, would ya can it, Raph just wants me to make his ride faster."
"Whoa, you know one of these days he'll knock his shell loose."
"I think he already did." Raph scowled.
"Shut it you two I can hear ya!" he called as he made his way over. He took a knee, running a green thumb gently over the shinny red paint. He whistled.
"S'a beaut like always Donny. How fast can I hit?"
"220 in 7.5 seconds." Raph clasped his hands together in approval.
"Yeah! Now that's what I'm talkin bout! With this here, shell, I'll never be late again."
"Count on it Raph."
"Mind if I take ere for a spin?" Donny finished sealing the cover.
"Why not? It's 2 in the morning, no ones gonna notice, that is unless you speed up in that given time frame. By the way hot shell, don't do it, the sudden drive will burn out the motor and seals, give it a few days kay Raph?" he nodded, shooing his younger sibling off. Mikey padded up to him as Raph mounted himself on the bike.
"Can I go next?" Raph flicked his head.
"Away shell for brains, no ones touchin my baby cept for me." Mikey sulked, as the engine roared to life, muttering a see ya, Raph took off into the NYC night. About a few miles down the road, he began to think. It's been exactly a year since those two just disappeared. It was odd, since then, there was not as much crime and seldom any activity from the Foot or even The Purple Dragons. It was bizarre, almost as if, they went up and disappeared too. He took a breath.
'What did they mean by monsters?' he pondered. He pushed onward, going faster. 'Yuki, now she's a strange one.' he chuckled to himself, he barely knew her and yet, he knew her well, it was strange? He shook his head and grumbled before turning onto a lone road.
"All this thinkins gonna give me grey hairs, oh wait, thats wrong, I don't have any hair..."
In An Apartment Not To Far Away
"Hey Ace, did you know you're dead?"Jests a fair haired boy. The teen looked up with mocking expression and took in her companion's appearance as she always did. He wore an aged band tee, black, distressed, slim fit jeans, and a red flannel. Along with his tousled hair, a few black and red bobby pins, pinning back a bit of his fringe. He kneeled beside her as she threw her covers off.
"Where we going?" He pulled off his flannel and draped it over her white, spring dress, she pulled it on.
"Out." he replied. She scoffed.
"I can see that."
"Is Ace tired?"
"Nah, I'm good."
"Kay, get a gun, there's more freaks." he licked his lips sadistically while Yuki merely groaned.
"It's like a factory line, what're they planing." he pulled out a folio from a nearby drawer and threw it over. She caught it effortlessly and began leafing through the many documents. Her eyes widened.
"When did you-?" he let out a halfhearted chuckle, patting her diligently on the head at her discovery.
"Depends, before or after I died." he emphasized the last word as she frowned at him with an insidious look. He waved his right hand and shot his nose up arrogantly. "Fine fine, I know, no games. Well dear Ace, before I was branded for treason, SHO had me preform a little assignment."
"Mimicry?" he nodded.
"Of course, they flew me out to an abandoned WWII bunker where I was to examine the findings."
"SHO had you go because?"
"Humans don't exactly fare well in radioactive environments."
"Right." she mumbled.
"In most cases, there's just a bunch of documents to be collected but this, this was different." his tone leaked with amusement? She shook it off, after all, it was just Kashira.
"So what is it?" his smile widened considerably.
"Freaks." a jolt shot through her. "It gets better, after I ate a few, I've come to a conclusion that the rumors of the missing regiment were true."
"What are their objectives?" he closed in on her, their faces inches apart as a crazed but knowing looked played in his blood eyes.
"To engulf this world in war." she stamppered back as images of burning buildings, bombs, maimed bodies, and freaks running a spree flew over her vision. A blood bath. It was as if, looking through the depths of Hell itself.
"They can't, there's too many inno-" he took her quivering form in his firm hands and placed a minding kiss on her forehead, rubbing her back soothingly.
"You still can't seem to comprehend that not every human is good my love." she shivered as her body broke in a cold sweat. This was her weakness, her ever growing love for everyone around her no matter good or bad, and her unwillingness to accept the pains of reality. She believed that everyone was good in their own way, despite the bullets and bloodshed. He closed his eyes as he held her tighter, cursing himself for letting her go through the unwanted bullet ridden battlefield and cursing himself also for not being able to protect her from it. She cried silently as hysteria overtook her and he cooed words of comfort in her ear. There was only so much he could hide, no matter how strong she put herself up to be, whenever it came to catastrophic events, she lost her calm demeanor and her sanity shattered. He knew what was going through her mind, the only memory that plagued her, her real taste on insanity, a real taste of reality. He lifted her quivering form gently, and took to the ground mattress, he leaned against the wall for support as he craddled her, rocking her to and fro until her sobs subsided into a barely audible whimper.
"Now now," he chuckled lightly. "My shoulder's are all wet." she sniffed.
"Sorry. I just-" he placed a finger to her lips.
"No, don't be, now come on Wonder Girl, it's time to get going." she nodded, pulling herself away from the other. He frowned slightly at the loss of contact, but none less joined her.
"What are they called?"
"Hm?" he looked down lazily.
"What do the lost regiment call themselves?"
"Exactly that."
Meanwhile With Raph
He hummed a silent tune, as his ears met with the growling of the motorbike. He slowed as the infamous battle shell pulled up to his side. The window downed to reveal a frantic Donnie in the driver's seat.
"Raph we've got trouble!" he called as his brother replied with a curt nod as the battle shell drove ahead. Raph trailed behind as they continued a good mile or so, stopping somewhere along the country side. The brothers got out and readied their positions and waited in eerie silence which was soon interrupted by a shriek followed by a snarl.
"The shell is that?" Raph gasped eyes wide. Infront of the brothers was a woman being held by the jugular by the teeth of a Footsman? They drew out their weapons as the Foot Ninja fed on the bloody carcass or the now dead woman. They sprung forward, managing to take out the beast In a few minuets. They caught their breath.
"It's like something from The Walking Dead!" exclaimed Mikey.
"Whatever it is, we've got company." said Leo warningly. From the shadows, a crowd more of the so called zombie emerged, with a lone dressed in white man at its head. He smirked slyly, pushing the bridge of his bottle glasses further, behind him, his long blonde hair held by a white string swayed elegantly. He stood, tall and lanky with an average build. He held up a white gloved hand to halt his so called 'undead' army. He smiled over to the turtles, a strange glint gleaming in his forrest green eyes.
"Good evening," he said in a light British accent. Leo was the first to respond.
"Good evening." he scoffed. The man inched forward, his white suave shoes clicking against the stony ground.
"It's a nice night for a hunt, but, let's not be rude, my name is Valentine, Valentine C. Willows, and you are-?" he inquired with so called grace.
"Leo, but that's not the point, why did your man," he pointed over to the knocked out body to his left. "Kill this woman?"
"Eat." he corrected kindly. Leo lifted an imaginary brow in confusion, as Valentine laughed lightly.
"Allow me to explain my dear man, he fed on her as anyone would do, for an energy source, now before you begin to flap your green gums, listen to this theory, they are freaks, made using-"
"N Blood." Raph pipped as they turned to look at him startled.
"Well that's precisely correct young turtle." praised Valentine lightly.
"Raph how do you-" inquired Leo. Raph opened his mouth to speak, only to be stopped by the sudden cackle of laughter from . The turtle's eyes narrowed at him, as he raised his white hand.
"Well now there's no need for explanations, you turtles will do just fine a meal for my men, after all, my orders are to kill every living being that comes in contact with my party." He turned to the men behind him. "Well boys, how'd you like a taste of turtle stew?" the all shouted a hurrah and awaited Valentine's command. The turtles backed away uneasily as the ninjas tore off their masks and let their fanged mouths open freely. It was like, quote Mikey, a scene from the walking dead.
"Go get em' then." he dropped his hand as ghoulish ninjas sprang forward. Mikey let out a shrill scream as the other three readied for their own charge. The air tensed until a single gunshot rang out, followed by a dozen more, sending the ghouls down for the count. In the gist of scene, sprang a silver haired man in an aged band teen. He grinned wickedly as he grabbed the nearest ninja's neck and bit into it unmercifully. The ninja let out a garbled scream until a crack resounded. The teen held the corpse by the neck for a good minuet until spitting the dead body to the side of the road. Blood trickled down his pale chin as he licked his lips in delight. The other ninjas watched horrified that one of their companions were taken down as such, the shots ceased, leaving a painful silence between the parties, that is until the sound of Valentine's clapping resounded. Raph let out a breath.
'Kashira?' he thought. Valentine approached the teen in a humble manner, then took to a respectful bow. Kashira smirked in faint amusement at the other's actions.
"Praise the day, I never thought I'd have the honor of meeting you E-784." he lifted a fine silver brow in curiosity.
"Oh?Am I special to you?"
"Quite, you are a legend alive. The infamous Exion, who bares his fangs in sadistic glory, no mercy to even the youngest of children, a true monster, the real demon of the night. Tis an honor to bask in your glory."
"That so?" he flashed a grin, showing dozens of bloodied daggers. The blonde man nodded.
"Quite, I hope you enjoyed my men, only the finest for you." Kashira turned his head for a spit.
"Disguating." he spat venomously. "Worse than hooker blood, what're these men made of? Maggots?" Valentine looked quite taken back, as he jumped back to his feet with an offended expression.
"Well if you're so disgusted sir, then how would you like to try my blood? You know, no one has been able to surpass you, well until now that is. I've read up on you Exion, your strengths, weaknesses, I know everything. Let this be the day you fall, here's your final dance demon king." He pulled a silver revolver and aimed it at his head. "Shall we?" he grinned wolfishly. The demon king let out a jackal of a smile while pulling out a black long slide pistol. They stood for what seemed like eternity, that is until the sound of creaking branches could be heard, followed by the tell tale snap. A raven haired girl fell as Valentine caught the girl and whirled her round his lanky body and whipped her towards Kashira. Yuki's blue eyes widened as the turtles gapped at the familiar female. She looked to the mutant group and gave a curt wave followed by a nervous smile.
'Oh great, I'm flying.' she thought right before her forehead slammed into Kashira's, earning an unsightly facial expression from the girl. He caught her by the waist, his ever so famous smirk growing as he pulled her down and kissed her forehead. He rubbed it affectionately before throwing her over to Raph. Valentine fired a few rounds, missing as Kashira fired a few of his own, missing as well. Raph caught her, but stumbled a few steps doing so, quickly, he placed the shaken girl to the ground as she fumed angrily.
'Never again.' she cursed incoherently.
Raph let out an apology as she dismissed it kindly.
"Been awhile huh?" he nodded, and stepped forward to give her a hug, followed by Mikey and Donny, she awed at the affection before pulling the boys closer. Leo looked over at the group and Yuki gave him a soft smile; raising her arm for Leo. He gave in and hugged the small girl too. Kashira looked at the sight in amusement, that is until a bullet slammed into the side of his face. He fell back, that jackal grin never faltering. Yuki's faced snapped up as she abruptly let go of the turtles and ran over to her fallen companion.
"Kashira!" She gasped. The turtles in return look at the body in shock. Valentine let out a maniacal laugh.
"That's it? That's all the king can do? Pathetic." he spat. "Simply-" a dark laugh resounded as Kashira's body stood defiantly, a gaping hole in the side of his face.
"So what? You hardly even scathed me. Little boy, don't make me laugh." dark shadows leaked from his wound as his face grotesquely patched itself back to it's original state. The turtles watched in awe as Yuki let out a sigh of relief, clutching her heart gently.
"Wha-What the shell is up with this dude?" Mikey screamed.
"Completely bizarre..." voiced Donny, before Leo could speak, Raph waved a hand.
"Tell ya later, but for now, worry bout them freaks." He pointed to the remaining army. Kashira loosened his neck, without turning to Yuki, her threw her a magazine. She caught it with a pale hand and slipped it into the red flannel's breast pocket.
"Shoot em'." he sang as he inched closer to his awaiting opponent. She nodded tersely before turning to Raph and took his hand, he flushed lightly as she stared at him with determined eyes.
"Stab in the heart or head, like a vampire."
"But your not vampires." he protested. She winked at him.
"No, but we're not undefeatable." she looked up to Leo with a serious expression which he returned full force. "They're not human at least not anymore, so don't hold back. I'll explain later, but for now, if you can, help me." he nodded as the other brothers sprang up, weapons in hand. Yuki let out a confident nod, before pulling out a black dessert eagle. She loaded it and equipped the barrel with a silencer. In a few seconds, seven freaks fell, each with a bullet between the eyes. Leo looked at her in amazement as more fell with a silent whizzing, without a moments waste, he joined her, slicing off the Footsmen's heads and cutting through their chests. Yuki let a smile sprawl across her pink lips as adrenaline coursed through her. She felt, triggerhappy. Meanwhile, Valentine fired a series of shots through Kashira as he withstood the barrage. Firing a few more rounds, Valentine managed to knock him to the ground in a bloody, disfigured pulp. He smiled victoriously until the white haired teen began to once again regenerate much to his horror.
"Is that all you got?" he snarled. "I was actually looking forward to this, guess I got my hopes up for nothing." Valentine slumped to his knees.
"It can't be, I destroyed you, you, you were nothing but a bloody pulp, you, it shouldn't be." he began to go hysterical as Kashira's eyes began to gleam.
"Are you scared now? Just like a sniveling cockroach, you're not even fit to devour." His hair began to glow as blood poured from every socket that existed on his head, there was a shroud, a black miasma engulfing Valentine and the demon king, until Mr. Williow's vision, was embraced in black. He shivered involuntarily but then gasped in horror as his right arm was torn off. He screamed violently, clutching the stump where the appendage once resided. His panicked green eyes looked up to meet piercing red ones.
"Wh-what are you?" he shook. "Y-you're not a Non Human! What the hell are you?" his ears were met with a dark roar.
"And you?" his clawed hand found Valentine's neck and gripped it harshly. "Squeal for me you inconceivable pig." Valentie squealed indeed as Kashira's canines tore into his pale neck. The black miss began to fade, revealing a grotesque sight. The fighting group looked up at the limp bloody, body of Valentine hanging from the jaws of a red eyed beast. He spat the body from him and wiped his red lips in satisfaction.
"Not bad," he said smoothly. "But still disgusting, true pig's blood." Yuki rolled her eyes, before pulling out a talkie from the folds of the flannel.
"John," she paged. "Clean up crew on Route 689, coordinates 37.89 West, 40.76 North."
"Roger that." replied a voice. With a click the line went dead. Leo, Mikey, and Don looked to Raph and Yuki for an explanation. She waved them off as Kashira patted her lightly on the head.
"In time."
Chapter Ten: In Time And Blood