A/N: My sincerest apologies for such a long time between updates. As some of you may know, summertime is not a good time for me to write. I try but my time isn't my own right now. Right now I'm in full blown Mommy-mode, so no personal time. Hopefully things will settle back down soon and I can get in some more time. This one doesn't have far to the finish line. Here's to all those who've hung in there with me!

Raph felt the sudden surge of urgency flood over him. "We need to get inside! Now!" He slashed at Famine, slicing into her arm. She gave a cry and Raph tried to rush through the doors.

But Apocalypse stepped through them, blocking his path. "You are too late. She is mine now." He gave a hollow laugh as Raph charged him. The turtle was flung to the side with one powerful swipe of the mutant's hand.

Raphael groaned as he slid across the gravel into a patch of dirt and grass. "No!" He growled, jumping back to his feet. "I won't let you have her!" He charged in again.

Apocalypse prepared to meet him with a stoic expression of a god looking at insect. Neither expected the sudden blast that crashed into the ancient mutant. Raph stopped short, glancing over his shoulder to find Cyclopes, along with the rest of the group engaging their enemies. "Go!" Scott shouted.

"Don! Go with Raph!" Leo called as he ducked Kieros, who swooped down at him.

Cyclopes' attack was enough to distract Apocalypse so Raphael and Donatello could slip past him into the hangar. Don gasped, staring up at the huge apparatus. "Whoa!"

"Aella!" Raph looked franticly around the large room. "Aella! Where is she!"

Plague swooped down through the open ceiling. "You can't have her! She belongs to the master now!"

Don ran forward. "I'll take care of her! You find Aella!" He jumped into the air, dismounting her from the flying horse. He was easily able to keep her at a distance with his bo when she lunged at him.

Raph scanned the room again. A tubular shaped chamber drew his attention and he rushed towards it. Peering through the small observation window, he gasped. "Aella! No!" She didn't respond, her dagger posed over her chest and tears trickling down her cheeks. "Aella stop!"

Inside the chamber, Aella's arms shook as the electricity passed through her body, attempting to change her on a cellular level. It's time! I cannot let him use me!

No! Moie's voice cried inside her head.

One life versus billions? I have no choice!

Open your eyes, sister!

I must do this now!

Open them!

Not certain why, she slowly pried her eyes open. She froze as her gaze met a pair of panicked caramel eyes. The dagger slipped from her fingers to land in the bottom of her prison cell. "Raphael…"

Relief washed over Raph as he saw her eyes grow wide. "I'm gonna get you outta there!" He placed his hand on the glass and hers came up to rest beneath it on the other side. Suddenly, her body jerked and she screamed, though no sound reached him. "No!" He yanked on the handle of the chamber, but it didn't budge. "Damn it! It's locked!" He tried wedging his sai into the crevice of the door, but it wouldn't fit. "Donnie!"

Don swung his staff sweeping the older woman's legs out from under her and sending her crashing hard into the ground, where she didn't move. He raced across the room to a large control panel. A quick examination revealed exactly what Apocalypse was attempting to do to Aella. He needed to act fast, she was nearing the point of no return. Another moment and her DNA would be permanently altered.

He began throwing switches, causing the machine to throw sparks in return. "Raph pry that panel off!" He pointed at a compartment on the side of the chamber. Raph did as he was told, while Don set off a chain reaction in the equipment's power core.

Raph stared into the compartment, hoping he might spot some type of manual release for the chamber door. A moment later, Don was pushing him aside and grasping two of the wires inside. There was a hiss as the door cracked open. The smell of singed hair and Aella's scream followed.

Raphael flung open the door and Aella crumpled forward. He caught her, easing her to the floor. "Aella? Come on, Doll. I got ya. You're safe now."

Her body was still trembling and her breaths came in short gasps. Don frowned. "Her body's had a severe shock."

Raph looked up at him. "Is she gonna be okay?"

Donnie nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, I think-"

He was cut off by something striking him from behind. He fell to the side revealing Plague, who stood behind him with a pipe. Raph gasped. "Donnie!"

"That creature belongs to the master! She is ours!" Plague advanced on him and Raph clutched Aella's half-conscious form against him.

"Don't you dare touch her!" He growled. In his arms, Aella opened her eyes to see the mutant woman getting closer.

The haggard woman smirked. "Then I'll touch you!"

Raph's position made fending off her attack difficult with Aella still cradled in his lap. He decided his best option was avoidance. But as he leapt to his feet she lunged, latching onto his arm. Her touch felt like ice racing through his veins.

"No! Leave him alone!" Without thinking Aella grasped the woman's hand, shoving it away. In that split-second she realized what she'd done as Plague collapsed to the floor. Aella gasped. "Oh, no! What have I done!" She turned to bury her face in Raph's shoulder.

He clutched her against him. His eyes never left the fallen mutant though. There was something strange about her. Then it hit him. "She's breathin'!"

Aella lifted her head to turn and stare in disbelief. Realization hit her as well. She did not feel the other woman's presence inside her. "I…I didn't kill her."

Don sat up, rubbing the back of his head. He groaned as he gave a quick glance around. "You might not have, but if we don't get out of here we're all dead."

Raph swayed as he and Aella got to their feet. Don frowned at him as he too stood. "Raph, what's wrong?"

"Nothin'." Raph half grumbled.

"She made him sick." Aella pointed at Plague's prone form.

Don's frown intensified, making Raphael glare. "I'm fine. Let's get out of here."

Several explosions towards the back to the massive machinery rocked the hangar. "Go on!" Don shouted and paused to scoop the unconscious Plague into his arms. He was careful not to let her skin touch him as he ran after his brother and Aella through the hangar's doors. They'd barely made it twenty yards and the building behind them exploded into a large ball of flame.

The battle that had continued to rage outside stopped and everyone turned to stare at the engulfed hangar. "My transmutation chamber!" Apocalypse roared. He spun spotting Raph and Aella. "You! You will not take my victory from me!" He started towards them, his body beginning to expand.

Wolverine darted in front of them. "Sheesh, ya think you ticked him off enough, kid?"

Raph growled, sweat pouring down his body as it was attacked from the inside. "I told ya to stop callin' me that!"

"Can we argue about this later!" Leo darted in using his swords to divert a laser Apocalypse had fired in their direction. The leader glanced back at his brother, already noting his discomfort. "What happened?"

"I'm fine!" Raph barked. This line of questioning was quickly becoming irritating. So, he was a little sick? So what? That thing was still after Aella and he was not about to let him lay a hand on her again.

Mikey took one look at his brother and knew he'd been touched by Plague. "That creepy old lady made him sick like she did me!" He informed his eldest brother as he jumped at Kieros, nunchakus twirling.

"Your attempts at stopping me are futile. I will simply rebuild. After all what is time to an immortal." Apocalypse took another large step towards the group surrounding Aella. Suddenly a large truck slammed into him, followed by a small plane. The force threw him into the side of the still burning hangar.

"Master!" Both Kieros and Famine cried as both attempted to rush to his aid.

Scott glanced at his spouse. "Good work, Jean."

Leo pointed his katana at the mass of metal. "He's just going to get out of that!"

Mikey came to stand beside him. "Yeah, and then he's going to be even more ticked off."

"I know but it gives us a few minutes. Come on!" Scott turned and began to run back towards the Blackbird.

Although a bit baffled, the others followed, piling into the craft a moment before Apocalypse was able to free himself from the mangled mess of metal. Cyclopes fired the vertical thrusters, launching them into the air. Wolverine snarled. "What are you doin', Cyc? He ain't givin' up on gettin' Aella."

"You're right, Logan. So, we need to figure out a way to get rid of him for good." Cyclopes tilted the jet as they began to take on fire from their pursuer.

Don snapped his fingers. "I've got it! The rocket!" He pulled on his headset and hit a button on his shell-cell. "Hank, there's a satellite on a launch pad near our location. Can you gain control of it?"

"Yes, I understand. But you will need to remove the mooring locks manually." Hank replied over the headset.

Don had moved back to the console near the back, trying to balance as they dodged the blasts. "Consider it done. Prepare it for launch on my signal."

"Okay, so we launch Apocalypse into space. What's to prevent him from coming back?" Jubilee asked.

Don typed furiously on the keyboard. "I'll create a magnetic field inside with the satellite equipment. It should hold him for some time."

"I have rendered operational control of the rocket. What shall be our destination?" Beast asked over the line.

"The sun." Don said flatly.

Mikey blinked. "The sun? Really, bro?"

"Yes, even if the rocket runs out of fuel before reaching its destination, there will be very little, if anything, that Apocalypse can use to return. There is very little inside these types of crafts that can be used as a fuel source. Most satellites now use solar energy once in orbit."

"So, the tin can will be floatin' out there in space forever, even if he don't get fried." Logan folded his arms. "I can live with that."

Mikey frowned, hanging on to the back of Donnie's seat. "That's a good idea, but how are we going to get him to climb inside it?"

Don frowned. He glanced first towards Leo, who gave a small nod, then towards Aella. She gave a small nod of her own. Raph snarled. "No freakin' way! You are not usin' her as bait!"

"It's the only way, Raph." Don knew this was going to be an uphill battle. "Apocalypse will keep coming after her. We have to get rid of him and the only way is to draw him into that ship. Look, I'll be with her. I have to set up the field."

"Over my dead body!" Raph roared, coming half out of his seat.

Aella caught his arm as he swayed on unsteady legs, pulling him back into the seat. Wolverine frowned. "I'll go in with you too."

"No. I'm going to be creating a magnetic field inside there." Don shot him a sharp look. "Those metal claws of yours will trap you in there as well."

"Ain't you guys listenin'! I said no!" Raph snapped again.

"Coordinates are locked in." Beast declared over the com link.

Leo stood, walking into the back of plane. He removed his katana setting them aside, glancing at Don. "Let's go."

Raph shook his head, anger turning to panic. "No!"

Aella touched his cheek, making him look down at her. "I have to do this."

His gaze flicked between the woman beside him and his brother. "Then I'm goin' with ya."

"You can't, Raph. You're sick. You're barely able to stay on your feet. You need to stay here." Leo told him firmly.

He shook his head again. "Then it ain't happenin'!"

"Raphael." Aella smiled warmly at him. "I will be alright."

His voice quivered ever so slightly as he peered into her deep brown eyes. "How can ya know that?"

She leaned forward and kissed him deeply. "Because, I have a reason for living now." Raph stared at her as she pulled away, unable to form words past the painful block in his throat.

"Wolverine and Jean will take care of the moorings. I'll keep Apocalypse busy until you're all in position." Scott brought the Blackbird low, slowing as the bomb bay doors opened once more.

Leo swept Aella into his arms, speaking over the sudden noise. "Mikey, you go with them and watch their backs!"

"Leo!" Raph called over the noise of the engine and rushing air. Leo turned to look at him as Donnie joined him beside the doors. "I'm countin' on you!" Leo gave a small firm nod, before leaping through the open doors. Raph slammed his fist into the bulkhead. "Damn it!" The blow was much weaker than normal due to his body's feverish state, but it left a dent nonetheless.

Leo and Don landed on a platform, roughly halfway up the rocket. The vessel wasn't huge by spaceship standards. But Don hoped it's interior was large enough as he raced up the steps to the door in its side. Leo ushered Aella ahead of him as they followed his brother up. Don frowned as climbed inside. The interior was indeed small. There wouldn't be much room to maneuver if a fight broke out inside. As it was, there was barely room for Don and Aella inside. Leo stood in the doorway, his back to them, watching Apocalypse swoop through the sky after the Blackbird. "You better hurry, Don. I don't think Cyclopes will be able to keep him busy for long."

Donatello was already diving into the wiring of the satellite that sat ready for deployment. Its shaft descended deep into the floor below them and through the ceiling of the small compartment. Aella stood behind him fidgeting. She wasn't used to not doing anything. Finally, she turned to peek over Leo's shoulder watching the small jet take a blast to one of the wings. She put a hand up to cover the small gasp. It was a credit to Scott's piloting skills that the thing didn't nose dive right away, instead it made a rough landing in the field nearby.

"Raph!" Someone called from below. Leo glanced down to see Mikey, Jean and Wolverine. They were already removing the moorings. Mikey took a few steps towards the downed plane but stopped when Apocalypse turned his attention in their direction.

"You think you can escape me!" Rumbled the cyborg.

Leo glanced back over his shoulder to see Aella's worried expression. "I'm sure he's okay." He assured her in his calmest tone, then turned his attention to his brother. "Hurry it up, Donnie!"

"I need more time, Leo! I'm moving as fast as I can!" Don had his head half buried inside the machinery.

"You!"

The bombing voice made Leo spin back around, going into a defensive stance. There floating a few yards away was Apocalypse. He'd spotted Aella over Leo's shoulder. He glared past the turtle. "You are mine!"

"I don't think so, bub!" Wolverine shot off the platform beneath them into the air, his claws aimed at Apocalypse's face. The cyborg twisted, avoiding the blow, and slamming a fist into Wolverine's stomach sending him flying back into the rocket's scaffolding.

"Stay here!" Leo shouted as he bounded out the door.

"Wait!" Aella feared for the turtle's safety. He was weaponless against that creature.

Don caught her arm and pulled her further into the compartment. "He'll be fine. We're ninjas, remember?"

He didn't see the blank expression she gave him as he dove back into the satellite's innards. His explanation didn't mean much to her. She knew they could fight, she'd seen that. But the word ninja wasn't one she was familiar with. Her concept of the world beyond her forest was still very limited. She glanced from the turtle beside her to the door. She couldn't let them sacrifice themselves for her.

As soon as the Blackbird skidded to a stop, Scott had jumped to his feet. "Jubilee, stay with Raphael." He ordered as he rushed out of the fallen plane.

"Wait a minute! Why do I have to babysit!" Jubilee stomped her foot, but paused when she heard the low growl behind her.

She turned to find Raph glaring at her. "I ain't no baby."

She put up her hands with a nervous chuckle. "No, I uh meant… Um, sorry."

Raph gripped the hilt of his sai. He couldn't take being sidelined. "And I ain't stayin' here." He struggled to his feet.

Jubilee's eyes widened. "No! You're sick! You can't go out there! You'll get killed!" She tried with very little success to block the massive turtle as he clambered down the ramp that was only half opened.

"You can stay, if ya want. I'm gonna help get rid of that monster once and for all."

Jubilee glanced between the busted plane and the turtle sluggishly but determinedly crossing the field where a new battle was raging. "Dang it!" She raced after Raphael. "Ooh, you're as hardheaded as Wolverine!"

Mikey twirled his nunchakus keeping the horsemen at bay as best he could by himself, while Jean removed the four mooring clamps. His chucks clunked against the bodies of metal horses and armored riders. He glanced up when Logan crashed into the scaffolding. A moment later, Leo came flying across the space between the rocket and Apocalypse. He gasped, but his attention was quickly diverted back to his own problems and the two horsemen that swooped low on his position. "Yo, Jean! You almost done?"

"I need just another minute!" Jean was removing the last of the moorings using her telekinetic powers.

Above them, Leo gave a cry as Apocalypse thrust him towards the ground. Mikey's eyes widened with fear. His brother was several hundred feet from the ground. "Leo! No!" Jean spun, releasing her hold on the mooring to stop Leo's descent in midair. Mikey gave a cheer and glanced over his shoulder. "Great save girl!"

Leo was more focused on Kieros, who was making a beeline straight for the open compartment door where Aella now stood. "No, Aella! Don't do it!"

But his warning was disregarded as she bounded out, landing a kick to Kieros' jaw. The Horseman of War tumbled from his steed, head over heels through the air to crash into the hard earth near the base of the rocket, where he lay unmoving in the dust. Aella now took control of the mechanical horse. She commanded the beast to swoop down into the mass of metal from the scaffolding and then charged straight back up at Apocalypse.

Raph felt his heart race as he heard an animalistic battle cry leave Aella as she charged out the mangled framework with a pipe held like a spear.

"Die monster!" She aimed the spear-like pipe at one of Apocalypse's eyes. He swung a large hand at horse and rider. The blow caught the horse, but she had leapt from it at the last second. The giant gave a cry of both surprise and pain as the pipe sank into its target. Unable to keep her grip as her enemy swatted and clawed at his face, Aella began to freefall.

Suddenly she was in a pair of strong arms. "I got ya, darlin'." Logan had clawed his way out of the wreckage at last and managed to break her fall. He landed gracefully in the grass, setting her on her feet with a frown. "You okay?" She gave a small nod and he smirked. "Good, 'cause that was pretty reckless."

Mikey and Leo ran up beside them. "Remind me never to make you mad." Mikey stared as Apocalypse yanked the pipe from his eye, causing purplish blood to ooze from it.

Leo scowled. "You were supposed to stay inside to draw him into the compartment."

"It doesn't matter. He's close enough." Scott turned towards Jean. "Is it ready?"

"Yes." She confirmed as Donnie suddenly appeared beside her.

"Everything's set." The turtle reaffirmed.

"Then this is it! Everyone focus your attacks on Apocalypse now!" Scott let loose a blast from his ruby visor. Apocalypse half landed half crashed to the ground. Leo was already moving a pair of mangled metal rods from the scaffolding in each hand. Mikey and Don were mere steps behind him as the three descended on their enemy. Logan and Scott too charged across the space between them to join the fray. Jean turned back to finish her own task of removing the moorings.

Raph scowled as Jubilee now rushed past him to help with the battle. His gaze was fixed on Aella as Famine's horse dove through the air, ramming her and sending her crashing backwards into the base of a mooring clamp. Jean gasped as she rushed over. "Aella, are you alright?" She started to reach for her but withdrew her hand, remembering the woman's mutant power. Aella groaned, forcing herself to her knees as above them Famine cackled still mounted on her flying metal steed. Jean turned to glare at her and use her own powers to throw her enemy through the air.

Famine gave a cry of surprise, just as Apocalypse let out a roar and a blast of blinding white light sent bodies flying in all directions. Aella opened her eyes to find the giant standing over her. She shook her head in disbelief, eyes wide with fear. Everyone near her seemed stunned by the blast. Apocalypse glared down at her, one eye still oozing blood. His hand began to form into a sword. "If you will not serve me, then you will perish."

There was no escaping the blow, nowhere to run. She set her jaw, preparing for death. Suddenly a shape darted in between them. Raph caught the large sword as it descended between his own blades. He growled, eyes sharp and muscles tense. "Stay away from her!"

A/N: I hope the extra long chapter helps with the delay. And I hope you're all still enjoying this one!

Also, I've been considering a beta-reader. I've never had one before, but it might be something that would help me with my lack of time.