Gardiner Island, New York
Shelton Research Campus
48 Hours Later
"Zoë, what the hell are you doin?" Raphael snaps at me for what seems like the fiftieth time since we arrived outside the campus perimeter.
I roll my eyes and smile at Donatello who nods at me, "You should be good to go Zoe."
I tuck my earbuds in and strap on my bracelet com, "I'm going out, check in soon." I wink at him and slip out of the van, Raph hot on my tail.
His mouth's flapping and I'm holding up a finger to get him to wait.
"Can you hear me Don?"
"Loud and clear Zoe, you're good to go." I hear Donatello in my earbuds and nod my head.
"Leo?" I check in with our leader who's waiting for us by the fence covered trees five hundred feet away.
"Loud and clear Zoe," He answers me.
Raphael yanks an earbud out of my ear, "You can't be serious! You're going to listen to music while we fight?"
I roll my eyes and yank my earbud back, "I've gotten approval from our Fearless leader, thank you. Tell him Leo."
"She's clear Raph. She's says it keeps her calm and focused. She can hear us we can hear her, she's fine."
"Yeah, Raph, it's like me with water balloons and Don with a science project thingy." Mike chirps over the com, from the safety of the van.
Raphael growls, "What the hell are you listening to and how are you supposed to hear someone come up on you?"
"I don't plan on hearing them love. I will sense them first. And I'm listening to some oldies but goodies…"
Michelangelo is snickering into the com.
"Knock it off Mike, we can hear you." Raph smacks the back of the van and the whole thing rocks.
"Hey!" Donatello protests.
"You guys are making too much noise. Get ready to get to work." Leo reprimands us.
"What is on your playlist?" April asks into the com from inside the van.
I grin, "DMX, Ruff Ryders Anthem, B.I.G. Hypnotize, Lady Gaga Do What U Want, 23 Mike Will Made It, Foster the People Pumped Up Kicks, Lorde Team, Kesha Die Young, LMFAO Party Rock Anthem… sometimes I'll get in the mood for a certain song and just set it to replay. But I like to fight to these. I keep Superhero for training," I glance at Raph, "it pisses off my partner."
He rolls his eyes.
"Zo, is Do What U Want really a good song choice? Since one point of us being here is because you didn't want anyone to do what they wanted with your body?" Mike asks in his innocent voice from inside the van.
Raph growls and punches the van causing the whole thing to shake again. "Get out here before I come in there and kick your ass!"
"Whoa, I'm not coming out if you're gonna-" Mike protested.
"Quit hitting the van Raph, you're messing with my reception and I'm hacking here." Donatello said coolly.
I put my hand on my hip and raised an eyebrow, "You gonna be this intense the whole night?"
He glared at me, "You gonna be this- this-" He clenched his teeth, "Knock it off Zoe and yes. Something is off about you."
I sigh and stick my earbuds back in and hit play. I knock twice on the back of the van and Mike bounds out to stand beside me. We glance at Raph expectantly.
He shakes his head and motions for us to follow him.
"Alright Leo we're on the move. Coming your way," Raph whispers.
Donatello has fitted all of us with trackers and coms. The guys have very discreet trackers and coms fixed just under the ridge of their carapace.
"Karai and I are ready for you here. Are we up Donnie?" Leo calls back.
"We're up, cameras are on a loop, I can see you but they only see the loop feed. April turn that, now we'll have audio too. Thanks. Okay, guys it looks pretty quiet. You have one guard with a dog coming your way. Zoe you ready?"
I look at Raph and he holds out a hand, I step into it and he boosts me up so I can get to the top of a giant oak tree just outside Leo's location. He probably could've just tossed me up here and he kind of did with the airtime I had. I caught the first branch I saw and kipped to the next one above it. Once I was satisfied with my height I edged my way toward the fence line brushing up against the tree. I pull forth my bow and one of the arrows Donnie had fitted with tranquilizer capsules for me. I scan the yard and spy my first targets. Doggie first… sorry lil guy. Breathe. In. Exhale. Release. The dog yelped and looked back at his hind leg before falling over. The guard, a wolf hybrid looking guy looked down at him then stood up and scanned the yard. Second arrow… exhale… release. The hybrid caught the arrow and I released a third into his neck. He hit the ground before his hand could reach up for it.
"Nice job Zo." Mike chirped.
"Mike if you don't shut up." Raph growled.
"Stop Raph. Leo, are you sure you don't want Raph? He's all fired up." I whispered, maintaining my perch and scanning the yard.
"All of you stop. We need to focus. Don, how's it look?" Leo's voice filled my head.
"Clear to move in. There are three more guards on the perimeter but they haven't seen the down guy yet."
"Zoe, get down here." Raph snapped.
"Calm down Big Guy, I'm scoping the yard. I'll be there in a second."
"Don says it's clear. Get down here."
I descend the tree quickly flipping off the last branch and landing next to Mike who smiles at me and we bump knuckles.
"Knock it off." Raph shoved Mike.
"Sorry." I frowned at Mike and he smiled at me anyway.
We followed Raph silently, the rest of the short distance, to meet up with Leo and Karai.
"Where we at here?" Raph asked Leo, examining the fence.
"Clipped and ready. Don, we're going in. Alright team, follow me." Leo grabbed the top corner where he and Karai had cut the fence and pulled it back for us to step through.
The five of us crept across the yard keeping out of the light of the strobe that circled it. We made it quickly up to the side of the building, moving along the shadows. "Raph and Mike, can you go tie up our uh- sleepers?" Leo motioned to the two of them and they moved quickly to the center of the yard and drug the dog and wolf hybrid over by us. Raph and Mike tied up both the hybrid and the dog at the hands and feet in less than a minute.
Leo motioned for us to follow him.
"Zoe, stop it." Raph hissed at me.
"What now?" I looked at him with wide clueless eyes.
"You're dancing. Leo, this is ridiculous." He shook his head at me and looked to his brother for help.
Mike grinned and gave me a thumbs up. I smiled back at him.
Leo ignored all of us, "Okay, Zoe you ready?"
We followed Leo to my entry point, a basement window right next to a walkout office door. I nod and moved to the front, knelt down and reached out for the glass cutting tool he held out to me. I removed a circle of glass, slipped my hand in and unlocked the window. "Don, are the alarms off on the windows and doors?" I asked as my fingers found the latch.
"You're good to go Zoe."
I looked up at Leo nodded, flipped the lock, lowered the window and slid inside. I landed in a crouch on the floor and scanned my surroundings. It was dark, the only light coming from the hallway.
"Open the door Zoe, Raph's having a fit." Leo's voice filled my head.
It was a small room with only the outside exit door, the room entry door, a desk covered in mountains of papers, and a computer. The only other furniture in the room was a dark bookshelf on the wall by the entry door.
"Zoe, the door," Leo repeated.
I stood up and move quietly to the door, unlocked and opened it. Raph was in before Leo, snatching me up and pinning me against the wall by the desk, "Faster Zoe. Quit messin' around. I'm serious. You're pissing me off."
I looked in his guarded eyes and knew he was worried. Something was eating him, beyond us being in the place that threatened to take me from him. As if that isn't reason enough. I'm not making this process any easier for you, I know. But I'm actually trying to cope... Reluctantly I nod and he sets me down.
"Enough Raph, let's go." Leo crept up to the door. "It's about to get a little hot here guys. Don, you ready?"
"Cutting the hall lights. You guys are heading out into the hall and to your left. At the end of the hall are stairs. Up to the third floor out the door to your right. Her dorm is the fifth down on the left. And, go."
The lights went out in the hall and we followed Leo to the end of it. At the bottom of the stairs, he reached for the knob but it didn't open, "Lock Donnie?"
"Sorry, try it now."
Leo opened the door and pointed to Karai, "You're on lookout here."
She nodded.
He motioned to us and we ascended the three flights in under a minute. "Third floor Don, lights and locks please."
The lights went out in the hall and Leo opened the door. "I'm staying here. I can see you guys from here until you enter her dorm. Raph, Zoe's leading. Exodus knows her. She goes in first."
Raph shook his head, "I don't like it."
"We don't have time to discuss it again. Go." Leo pointed to me and before Raph could argue I was making my way down the hall, Mike right behind me.
I could hear Raph growl and catch up quickly.
"Door lock Donnie?"
"You're good to go Zoe."
I looked back at Raph and Mike and they nod. I reach out for the silver knob and turned it, pushing it open and slipping inside.
There were eight bunks in the room, four on each side. Exodus should be in the last bunk on the bottom, left hand side, near the window. Only this room was very dark, no light shone through the window. And as I listened I realized from the lack of breath sounds that there were no bodies in the bunks, but there was a fair blonde haired girl cowering the corner of the room.
"Exodus?"
"Zzzzzoe?" She answered me, peeking out from behind the protection of her own arms.
"Where are the other hybrids?"
"Uh- you shouldn't have come here." She pulled her arm back up over her face.
"Shhh, come on, I'm getting you out of here." I took a step towards her and felt something hit me in the neck. Everything grew dark and the floor seemed to fly up to my face.
Raphael
"What the hell, this is taking too long." I fidget and resist the urge to throw open the door, beat down everyone in there, snatch up Zoe and the girl and get the hell out of here.
I've got a bad feeling about this and there's something going on with Zoe. I don't know what it is, but she's seems oblivious to it and that pisses me off. This connection thing has got me tuned into her like she's a part of my body. I'm surprised I can't feel her breathe she's so close to me now.
"It's been too long Leo." I wrap my hand around the doorknob, "How's it look in there Donatello?"
"I'm with you Raph. I saw Zoe go in and stand in the center of the room. I'm concerned because it looks like that's what she's still doing. She's not moving. Leo-"
"Move in guys, we're on Raph. I'm coming up right behind you. Karai how's it look down there?"
"I'm coming to you Leo. I've got a bad feeling about this."
"I'm going in." I fling open the door and storm in ready to pummel whatever's in my way, only there's not a damn thing anywhere. Except for a girl cowering in the corner of the room.
"Mike-" I motion him to the girl, while I look around. There's no sign of Zoe anywhere and what's worse, I can't feel her. Shit.
Mike crosses the room and kneels down before the girl. "Hey, I won't hurt you. Zoe sent us, are you okay?"
"Fffffine. They tttttoook her. You should go, get out wwwwhile you can." She stammered.
"Are you Exodus?" Mike asked, reaching out a hand to her.
"Yyyyeah," She looked up at him her blue eyes shining.
"I'm Mike, come on. Let's get you out of here." He helped her off the floor and she looked around.
I all but knock the girl over, jabbing my finger in her chest. "Where's Zoë?"
"Darius took her." The girl whispered, sliding her hand down her back.
"You don't need a knife. You need to help me find Zoe." I shake my head and point to her arm.
"There's a passage here. Darius can get to any of our rooms through passages. He won't kill her. He needs her." Exodus walks over to her bed and pushes it toward the bed to the left of it, revealing a stairwell beneath it. "There's handles on the bottom of my bed so he can just move it, it's on wheels, see?"
"Are you kidding me? I don't care. Where's Zoe?" I step towards the dark descending stairwell as Leo rushes into the room.
"Mike get Karai and Exodus out of here, we'll meet up with you when we have Zoe. We'll stay on radio with Don's surveillance. If we need back up, you two come back. Leave the girls in the van."
Karai stands in the doorway, "Why, because we're girls?"
Exodus looks at Karai, "Exactly. Girls, human girls, are perfect test subjects here. Get out while you can."
"I'm not afraid to die," Karai hissed, "and I'm not leaving Zoe behind."
"They won't kill you, but you'll wish you were dead." Exodus tucked a blond lock behind her ear and looked at Mike curiously.
"Enough. Karai, you and Mike get Exodus out. Confirm when you've made it to the van. Move. The longer we take, the farther away from us Zoe gets. MOVE!" Leo pointed to the three and they disappeared back into the hall.
"Raph, let's go."
Zoe's earbuds, shuffle, com bracelet and twin tessen are on the floor by the stairwell. As I pick up her weapons I'm hit with a familiar image of her, one from our past...
"RAPH!"
As the Zoë puzzle pieces click in place, my heart clenches into a knot so painful I can barely breathe. I finally know what it is that's off about Zoe. I can't believe I didn't figure it out sooner. She's glowing, beautiful as ever, only there's a sparkle in her eyes, she's fit, lean muscle and yet there's a distinct raise over her abdomen… Our worst fears are coming true.
"RAPH!"
I look at my brother.
"Zoe's pregnant Leo."
Michelangelo
I'm worried about Zoe, don't get me wrong. I want my sister back. But her friend is HHHHHOOOOTTTT! I'm pumped that I get to get her out of this place. I take her hand and keep her close.
Karai is quick and we're down the stairs, then the hall and out the backdoor. We're almost across the yard and to our exit when Don's voice fills my head.
"You've got incoming Mike, on your left… and your right… shit their everywhere. Hang on I'm coming to you little brother."
I look around me. Karai unsheathes her katana and adopts a fighting stance, her back to mine. Exodus is trembling and I don't know if she's going to be any help.
"Hey, you throw knives right?" I ask her gently as I pull my chucks.
"Yyyyeah, but I don't fight unless the occasion calls for it."
"Trust me, it calls for it. Help a guy out okay?" I smile at her and her eyes light up. She nods at me and as fifty some-odd hybrids ascend on us, knives are flying and I'm wondering where she was keeping'em.
"YEAH!" I laugh and set to work.
Zoe
I open my eyes and squint against the harsh light beaming above me. "What the hell?" I try to move and realize I'm strapped down to a table and there's something cold lathered over my abdomen. The room comes into focus and I see Stockman performing an ultrasound while laughing hysterically.
"Welcome home Zoe. I must admit I am surprised that you came back to us on your own."
"Fuck you Stockman." I spit at him.
"Now, now Zoe. Have you forgotten your manners?" Darius leans over me and I feel the blood drain from my face.
"What's wrong Zoe? You had to know I've been waiting for you. Or did you forget your sister is psychic?" His crystal blue eyes glistened with joy. His thin lips spread into a disgusting smile showing his teeth. He points a finger at me, hovering it over my eye and moving it down the length of my body. "I'm very VERY disappointed in you Zoe."
I swallow, and bite my lip to keep it from trembling. I did forget. What was I thinking? She was still dead somewhere in my mind, I guess.
"You didn't come alone… and you're not pure. In fact you're carrying a passenger."
My heart is racing. I can barely hear his voice over the sound of blood roaring in my ears. What is he talking about? His hovering finger jabs me in my abdomen. Oh, no. No. NO. I try to lift my head but it too is strapped down. I try to move my hands, my ankles, everything is strapped down.
"Nnnoo." I stammer. My own voice sounds foreign to me. What did I do? How did I not know this?
"Oh, yes. Very much yes, in fact. The question is… what have you attached yourself to? You reek of a male," He sniffs my neck and jabs his fingers over Raphael's bite mark, "and he's branded you." He smacks me across my face and I blink back the tears that rush to my eyes. "Human's don't do this Zoe. This bite is too big for that. This thing," He jabs my abdomen again and I feel a tear slide down my cheek. No. Please no. "Is even less human than you are." He looks over at Stockman, "Well is it worth keeping or should we terminate it?"
No. God. No. What did I do? Raphael please. I close my eyes and try to focus. Raphael, please find me. Please. Hurry. I'm scared. Please.
"Oh it's worth letting her give birth to it. If not only to study it."
RAPHAEL PLEASE!
"Are you bonded to this thing Zoe?" Darius smacks me again and I feel his ring slice open my cheek.
I try not to make a sound.
"Can he feel your pain?" Darius hisses, unbuckling the strap over my head.
I glare at him, "You don't want anything to do with what's coming for you and should I get off this table before he gets here, I will end you." I slip my fingers inside the edges of my long sleeve shirt and inch out one of the daggers I have strapped to my wrists.
Darius runs a hand through his black hair, "You know Zoe, I think you mean that. But see, you don't have it in you." He unbuckles my chest strap.
"Why don't you let me off this table like the dumb fuck you are and let's find out what I'm capable of?"
I hear a shrill female laugh and my sister's face appears over me now. "You are disgusting Zoe. What have you done?"
I search her face and she may as well have been a stranger. She's lost to me, I'll never get her back.
"Fuck off Zaire." I spit at her.
She backhands me across my other cheek and I feel Darius unbuckle my feet. You really are an arrogant son-of-a-bitch.
"ZOE!" I hear Raphael scream as he storms the room.
So much for ninja stealth.
My heart is racing as I finish cutting through the binding on my wrist and with one free hand and two free legs I pop up on the table and slice through the my last wrist binding before landing a kick straight to the back of my sisters head.
Now free to move I run to the end of the table and flip off of it. As I land in a fighting stance I face Darius, Stockman and Zaire.
Leo appears behind Stockman. Darius has zoned in on Raphael who is destroying everything in his path on his way to him.
Darius whistles as if he's impressed. "Zoe, your mate is an amazing specimen, that baby is worth keeping for sure." He unsheathes his katana and moves to attack Raphael. "Too bad Daddy won't be sticking around though."
"We'll see about that." Raph snarls as the two lock in combat.
Stockman takes one look at Leo and runs. Leo doesn't pursue him, I feel his eyes on me, "Zoe?"
I don't look away from Zaire. I'm about to be faced with killing you again Sister, aren't I? A great weight encompasses my body.
"Help Raphael, Leo. And make sure that fucker is dead."
"But, you're-"
"I've got this Leo. Kill him."
Zaire grinned at me, advancing in eerie, jerky movements. Ignore that. It's just a distraction. My eyes fix on hers as she unsheathes her katana and lunges at me.
She'll kill me.
I dodge her attack and scan the room for a weapon. I see my bow and arrows on the floor by the door Raph and Leo came in. Too far. Where are my tessen? Shit, she's coming at me again. I flip out of the way and spy a table of surgical tools. If I can distract her and disarm her, maybe get her weapon…I can't hesitate, she won't.
I grab a handful of scalpels and throw them at various areas of her body. She catches the first one in her free hand and glares at me. "You're stupid Zoe."
I have to protect my baby.
"Is that the best you can come up with Zaire?" I launch three more scalpels, one at her head, it slides by grazing her ear, another at her leg and it lands in her thigh, and the last one I throw directly at her katana holding hand. The various areas of pain stinging through her distracts her enough that she releases the weapon. There's my window. I move with cheetah speed straight into her, kicking the weapon further away and executing a pressure point kill.
"I'm sorry I couldn't save you Sister."
Zaire's face twists in shock and confusion, her eyes dart wildly before her pupils shrink and she falls over.
I realize now that Leo has been watching over me throughout my entire ordeal with Zaïre.
"I told you to help Raph."
Leo gave me a sad smile, "Does it look like he needs help?"
I can hear bodies slamming behind me. I turn to see Raph is pummeling Darius, Darius is pummeling Raph, Raph disarms Darius with his sai, Raph is stabbing Darius with his sai, Darius is trying to strike Raph across his shell without a weapon. Raph lifts Darius over his head and snaps his spine across his knee then flings him into the brick wall to his right. I think he was dead before the spine snapping. It seemed to be fury aftershocks or good measure, either way he was dead.
I look at Leo, "No, but did it look like I did?"
"No, but you should know, if you hadn't I would've. She was dead either way Zoë." He put a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
Donatello, Michelangelo and a small army of hybrids suddenly flood through the door filling the room.
I looked at them and stepped back into a fighting stance while trying to figure out why they seemed to be entering together and not being chased…
"It's alright. It's okay, Zoe, it's okay. At ease Killer." Mike waved at me and I reluctantly dropped my stance.
"What's going on Mike?"
"Donnie broke their collars and I just talked to them. When they realized I was trying to free Exodus and that the collars didn't work anymore they wanted to help." Mike grinned.
"Zoe, are you okay?" Raph kicked Darius' body and made his way to me.
I nodded slowly and felt the tears slip down my cheeks, "I'm sorry. I didn't know."
He pulled me into a hug, 'Let's go home Z."
