A/N: OMG WHAT HAVE I DONE... I KILLED SPLINTER! No, I didn't just read and find out... this one is intense tho.
Chapter 10
I was still rather cold; I blew on my hands as I went to my room to change out of my clothes.
I scrimmaged through my drawers until I found a long sleeve sweater and my jeans.
"Hey guys," I mumbled coming out of the door through the elastic in my mouth.
"I'm starving," I mumbled again pulling my hair up.
Raphael and Mikey groaned and shook their heads.
"Yeah, yeah you're always hungry," Raph teased as April pulled out her cell phone to order food.
"Hey Alex," Donnie said coming towards me.
I turned and looked at him as I wrapped my hair.
"What's that on your neck?" he said cautiously examining it with his gear.
"What? What's on my neck," I said almost panicked.
"A… microchip?" Donnie said touching the back of my neck.
"How did that get there?" Vern asked pushing my hair off my neck.
"I don't know, get it off…" I said panicked.
"Hold on, don't move," Donnie said trying to take it off.
"It won't come off," he said as everyone gathered around me.
"What is it Donnie?" Leo said watching him figure out how to take it off.
"I'm not sure, it's a neurotransmitter I think," he said as he adjusted the lenses on his gear.
"It's so advanced I've never seen anything like this before…. Oooh," he said and tapped on his ear piece.
"What are you doing?" I said noticing him dial someone.
"I'm calling Professor Anderson from the lab, he'll know something about this," he said as the phone rang.
"This is the most remarkable piece of technology I've ever seen," Professor Anderson said as he examined the transmitter.
"This has to be Baxter's work…" he said again taking off his glasses.
"How do you suspect that?" Donnie asked looking at the notes.
"This transmitter was stolen from our labs four days ago…" the professor said looking to everyone.
"You mean that white truck that was tipped over belonged to the lab?" Raph said trying to make sense of everything.
"Yes, you see our lab was working on a project… we needed neurotransmitters, and micro transmitters, we were on the verge of creating a brain stimulation treatment for dementia patients and patients with mental disabilities…" he said explaining this to Donnie.
"What's that have to do with Baxter?" Leo asked also trying to make sense of the entire situation.
"You see, three years ago Baxter was in charge of this project at our labs, however he betrayed us and started secretly working for Eric Sachs, anyway…. Anyway, he was let go," the professor explained coming around me.
"So Baxter created this device?" Leo said again.
"Yes, however… the device on Alex's neck has been modified, I believe this device is meant to manipulate the brain stem," he said examining the piece on my neck again.
"You mean Baxter put this device on Alex to …. Manipulate her?" Donnie said leaning in towards the professor.
"After our truck was robbed we had our security team track him, they lost him and another women who was with him somewhere in the city," the professor said again. He ran his hand along my neck trying to figure out how the transmitter was attached.
"So what you're saying… is Baxter must've put this on me, so he can control me? Why would he want to do that… I don't even know him," I said to the professor.
"No you don't, what I'm thinking is this has to be the work of Karai, she must have helped Baxter steal this transmitter so they can control you, but….. it doesn't seem to be working," Donnie said again.
"No its working, its sending impulses to her brain stem and trying to change her brains chemistry, it is working… but it's not doing what it's supposed too, it must be attached to an invisible collar or something because it won't budge," the professor said trying to feel for a collar.
"So if it's working… then," Raph was about to say something else when Splinter figured it out.
"Her will is too strong, her spirit can't be broken, therefore Baxter can't control her," he said rubbing his chin.
"You think that's why…." Leo said to him.
"Yes, maybe Karai hasn't realized that the staff is intertwined with Alex's spirit, in order to control her spirit or break it…." Splinter started to explain.
"You need to break her staff…." Leo realized what he was about to say.
"I fear Baxter isn't done yet, more than likely he'll control her, it's only a matter of time," the professor said taking in a deep breath.
"For right now there isn't anything more I can do for her, that transmitter is attached to something, however…. I have an idea," he said to Donnie.
"Which is?" Donnie said to him as they came towards his desk.
"We need five days, we can create a microchip that can be attached to the transmitter and cut of connection, Baxter won't be able to control her," he said, Nina came closer towards them.
"If this transmitter is being controlled by Baxter, or modified so that it can control Alex, that mean he must have a device, a remote that he's using to make it work," Nina said to them.
"Yes, yes he must…. Find that remote, that device…. If you find it you can shut it off, and whatever its attached too will disappear," the professor said looking to everyone.
"Then we have to find out where Baxter's lab is and find that remote," Leo said to his brothers. They all nodded.
"I will need Donnie's help creating this device," the professor said to everyone.
"I can help," Nina said stepping up to the responsibility.
"Nina… are you sure?" Donnie asked not sure if she knows everything she needs to know yet about working in a lab.
"In Japan, I would sneak into science labs and watch the scientist work…. I've read enough books to know everything I need to know about neurotransmitters and how microchips work," she said to the professor.
"Alright, go for it….." Donnie said to her. She smiled and nodded.
"Give us five days, we'll figure this out," Anderson said to them.
"Mari you go with her, if they need anything contact chief Vincent, she can get us anything they could use for this," Leo said to her. She nodded.
"Good, I'll take my leave of you, but be careful, whatever Baxter is planning might make her turn against you," he said as Nina and Mari walked him to the door.
"Don't worry, we can handle Alex…" Raph said as they left out the door.
"Auuurggh," I said trying to take off the transmitter.
"Alex stop don't even try you'll rip your fingers," Donnie said noticing my aggravated mood.
"Everyone stays away from me," I said to them as I stood up.
"Seriously kid, cut it out," Raph said coming around me to Donnie's desk.
"If Baxter manages to figure out a way to control me I could be dangerous to all of you," I said to them fiddling with the chip.
"Stop fiddling with it," Donnie said again.
"Alex why don't you come and stay with me," Vern said, I took a step away from him.
"No I think she'll be safer here, we can control her if something happens," Leo said watching me panicked and paranoid over the chip.
"No, just tie me up, or….lock me in my room," I said looking to everyone.
"You're being paranoid," April said watching Donnie figure out some algorithm.
"I'm not being paranoid," I said and went to my room closing the door.
"If we can find out where Baxter's lab is, we can get that device he's using to control her with, if I can get into his computers…. I can probably shut it down," Donnie said searching the city again.
"Girl's lost it," Mikey said noticing me pacing in my room.
"Just leave her be Mikey," Leo said to him watching the computer screens.
"I'VE GOT IT, HAHAHA I DID IT…" Baxter said standing up from his chair. His donut had left such a mess all over his work space the other scientist in the room with him were laughing at his pig like manner.
"What is it Baxter?" Karai said coming around the computers.
"This…." He said holding up a modified controller.
"I haven't tried it yet, only because she needs to be in a calm state and right now her body waves are scattered," he said looking to the screen.
"Baxter, what is this….?" Karai said looking at the device.
"Oh, hehe, see… this has modified the neurotransmitter, not only will it control her it will cause her intense pain, headaches that are unimaginable to a point where she'll break, she won't have any choice but to submit to the device, her body chemistry will change," he said and chuckled.
"Impressive Baxter, when can we use it," Oroku Saki said coming through the room.
"She has to be at her calmest, she can't be paranoid, or thinking to much as she is now, her brain waves are through the roof," Baxter said tapping on the computer screen.
"Then we wait," Karai said.
"Hehehe, oh I can't wait…." Baxter said sarcastically as he returned to his seat.
"Hey Alex food's here," Yuri shouted to me from the table.
"I'm not coming out of my room," I shouted back to her sitting on my bed.
She came to my room and slid opened the door.
"Its Chinese," she said handing me a box and some chopsticks.
I sighed and took it from her.
"I really can't stay here Yuri, what if I snap, just like that…. What if I do something so horrible in the middle of the night," I said to her opening the box.
"You won't, you have a stronger will then that," she said and turned leaving the room.
"I hope so," I said and slid to the floor.
"She's really taking this hard," Vern said looking at my room.
"We can't do anything for her right now, let's just hope Professor Anderson and his team can figure out something," Leo said to him as they watched me through the opened door.
"Maybe she should stay with me, if Baxter is controlling her, I highly doubt he will if he knows she's not with you guys," Vern said again.
"What do you mean? Do you think Baxter will make her attack one of us?" Mikey said mumbling through his food. April looked at him and shook her head.
"Well more then likely, he knows we'd be an advantage, she could easily kill us, or we…. Could kill her," Donnie said from his desk.
"He wants to pin us against eachother," Raph hissed.
"That won't happen, Alex has more control than that, she has the will to fight anything that is thrown at her," Splinter said coming around the table. He opened a box and sat down.
"Splinter's right, she needs to stay here, we can control her if anything happens…" Leo said again.
"Okay, let's hope nothing happens to anyone.. for all our sake," Vern said again as his pager and Aprils went off.
"Great the office," April said picking up her phone.
"We have a scoop, we have to go Vern," April said picking up her keys.
"Later guys keep me updated," Vern said standing up.
"Bye Alex," he shouted over to me. I waved at them through the door.
"This is going to be another long night," Raph said as he picked up his empty box and took it to the garbage.
I lied down along my bed looking to the ceiling, I couldn't stop thinking. I was trying to figure out where I was taken too, how this device was put on me and why it was on me. I sighed and closed my eyes.
"This might be the safest place for her," Leo said as they leaned over a blue print of a house.
"It's not fully completed yet, the exterior still needs finishing," Donnie said as he tapped along the paper.
"Donnie, we found this place abandoned, we bought it and fixed it…. It's a safe place," Leo said to him again.
"The security system isn't fully functional yet," Donnie said again.
"That's not the point; if she's scared to be around us, then maybe she can stay here…." Leo said again.
When they heard my door open they rolled up the paper.
"Guys," I said to them from my door.
"What's up girl?" Mikey said coming towards me, I held up my hands to him.
"What if we cut the device off?" I said to them, not leaving my room.
"Stop being so paranoid and we can't cut it off its attached to something," Donnie said again coming towards me.
"Don't come near me, I could snap," I said to him. He shook his head and came to my door.
"Alex, you need to calm down, stop worrying, Nina and the professor are working on this, so am I… we'll figure this out," Donnie said looking at the device again.
"Fine, whatever," I said and pushed his hand away, I went back into my room and closed the door locking it.
I didn't sleep at all, I kept shifting and turning in my bed. My mind was running a movie, like images, and voices. That's when I saw it; I remembered exactly where I was and what happened to me.
I woke up in a panic my heart was beating so fast, and my entire body was in a sweat, I could hear Splinter near my door. I'm sure he heard me gasping.
"Splinter, Splinter…" I said opening the door. I came out of my room in a panic.
"Alex what is it my dear," he said. He was sitting on a mat with candles around him.
"I was in a room," I started to say panicked. That's when I heard Donnie and Leo wake up.
"Calm down… calm down," Splinter said touching his hands to mine.
"No, I was… in this underground room, it had white walls….like a lab," I said noticing the guys and Yuri and Aki come around me.
"Alex what is it?" Donnie said coming to me.
"Don, I know where I was," I said touching his hands.
"Where Alex, where?" He said trying to get me to calm down.
"It was a room, large like this…. There was a cell here," I said coming to where Raph's work out station was.
"… computers here, there was a glass window, with animals and scientists here…." I said coming back through the place.
"….. I was in that cell, Baxter and Karai were there," I said to him again as he followed me.
"Alex calm down, where was this place," he said to me again.
"The building, under it…." I said coming to his computer screens. He changed it to where the building had crumbled.
"There, Donnie there… I remember, you and Raph you had me, both of you grabbed me before the building crumbled," I said looking at him, and Raph.
"Alex there was nothing there," Donnie said again.
"There is, a … a hatch or something, I fell in, I slid down and ended up underground," I said again tapping on the screen.
"Here Donnie, here…" I tapped the screen.
"Alex are you sure," Raph said trying to get me to calm down.
"YES I'M SURE, I'm not losing it," I said rubbing my hands through my hair.
"Karai…she put this collar on me, it was brown," I said pacing around. I started mumbling to myself.
"Alex your mumbling again, what is this collar?" Leo said grabbing me by the arms.
"Leo, he put… they put this brown collar on me," I said again touching his arms.
"I…. I was resisting it, it didn't work….. Karai was angry over this, so….. they let me go, I saw the collar fall to the ground Leo…" I said to him panicking.
"Alex, calm down…." He said again.
"I heard Baxter say something about an invisible collar, then…. Then two footclan men took me out of the lab, we… were at an elevator," I said moving out of Leo's grasp back to the computers.
"A long tunnel, we went in to a long tunnel… and an elevator was there, it went up one floor…" I said to Donnie again.
"Alex if there was a tunnel it would have to lead somewhere, do you know where?" Donnie said to me again.
"No… no," I mumbled to myself.
"Alex darling, calm yourself down, take a deep breath," Splinter said touching my hands again trying to gain my attention.
I felt tears form in my eyes; I was so frustrated I didn't know what to do.
"Alex, calm down," Splinter said again touching his hand to my face.
"He said… he needed me for his plan, for something," I said to them.
Yuri and Aki looked worried they stood next to Mikey who had a worried look to his face as well.
"What plan, what did Baxter say to you?" Raph said coming around Splinter.
"Raphael, they have equipment, and guns…. Machinery, he's planning something big… I don't know what, I saw it as I was taken out of the building," I said to him. He put his hand over my head.
"Well we won't let him take you again," he said trying to change my mood.
I pushed his hand away.
"I don't know what plan…. I don't know, okay… I just, can't be here right now, I can't be around any of you…." I said stepping away from them.
"Where will you go girl?" Mikey said coming towards me. I stepped back.
"Alex, we know of a place… its safe," Leo said extending his hand to me.
"No, no I'll just go… I'll go somewhere," I said backing away from them.
"Trust me, it's far away ….." Leo said coming towards me again.
"You guys don't understand, I can't stay here, if Baxter figures out a way to control me I could endanger all of you, Yuri's here…. The baby…. Splinter, all of you," I said to them holding my hands up. I was so upset I hadn't realized I was crying.
"Trust us…. We found this place, and rebuilt it, its safe," Donnie said trying to calm me down.
"Just shut up kid," Raph said grabbing me by the arm. He hugged me.
We drove for what seemed like hours, Donnie was in my car with me and Splinter while everyone took the truck. We followed behind him, leading out of New York to a road I've never been on before. I looked out the window as we pulled in to this large gravel lot.
"What is this place?" I said opening the car door.
"This is what we wanted to show you," Donnie said turning off the car.
"Show me? It's an old abandoned house," I said looking to them as they got out of the truck.
"We found it on a drive out in the country, no one's owned this place for over 50 years, it doesn't belong to anyone, so we asked around about it…" Raph said coming towards us.
"Yeah girl, and we bought it…." Mikey said coming to the door step of the place. I followed behind him and touched the aged wood of the small patio.
"Why?" I asked turning to them.
"You and April do so much for us…. We thought, we'd pay you guys back, we bought this place…. For you guys, you know… to get away from time to time, if you ever needed to go anywhere," Leo said coming up to the patio.
"For…. Us Leo you don't owe us anything…. You know we'd always do anything for you guys. Has April seen it…." I said looking at the rickety windows.
"Yeah we brought her and Casey here the other day, Vern's seen it as well, we were going to bring you as well, but…. Well, you…" Donnie said trying to figure out how to say kidnapped without making it sound so bad.
I turned and looked at him.
"It's an hour away from the city, its quiet out here and peaceful, no one even knows it exists," Leo said coming up the stairs, he opened the door and went in. I followed him.
That's when I heard the sound of another truck pull in, it was Verns news van, April and Casey were both with them.
"Hey guys," Mikey said cheerfully jumping off the patio.
"Wow, Donnie it looks great," April said noticing the fresh paint on the old aged wood. I came to the door as they came towards the place.
"Have you seen the inside yet?" April said cheerfully.
"No… not yet," I said. She ran up the steps and grabbed me by the hand pulling me in.
"She should stay here… for everyone's safety, in the morning we need to check out this underground lab," Casey said as the guys came towards them.
"Yeah, Donnie thinks he has an exact location of the entrance and how to get in," Raph said looking to me and April as we ran through the place.
"This place is safe right? I mean there aren't any stray animals or anything in these woods is there," Vern said looking at the small picket fence that surrounded the place.
"Vern its safe, the security system works and she'll be safe here," Leo said touching his shoulder.
"GUYS, this place is amazing," I said running out of the house.
"We know, we all pitched in and fixed it," Yuri said as she and Aki came out of the place.
"The rooms are huge, the kitchen is great, and the fireplace is just beautiful," I said leaning over the patio.
"Then you should stay here for a while, until we can track down Baxter and find that device," Leo said turning to me. Splinter came up the patio and sat on the outdoor chair. It looked comfy so I went to sit next to him.
"I thought I'd say here for the night only…" I said to them looking at the scenery.
"No, just for a few days," Leo said again. Mikey ran up the steps and plopped down on the cushioned bench in front of me and Splinter.
"Well I'll get my bag then," I said and stood up I was about to go to my car, when Aki and Yuri beat me too it.
"We got it miss Alex," Aki said grabbing my bag. Yuri had some grocery bags in her arms filled with food for the kitchen.
"Okay then, I guess I'll stay here…." I said and took in a deep breath.
"Talk to her…" Casey said nudging Vern's arm.
"What now…" Vern half whispered to him.
"Now or never," Raph said following the girls in to the house, everyone followed behind him leaving me and Vern near my car.
I opened the door of the back seat and leaned over reaching for my staff.
"So, ummm Alex… thought maybe we could talk," Vern said coming around the car.
"Oh?" I said and bumped my head coming out of the car.
"Ow," I rubbed my head and closed the door.
Vern chuckled.
"What?" I said to him following him around the house to the back yard.
"Well….. don't know how to say this," he took a deep breath and turned to me.
"Don't tell me you're scared of me, think I might snap and end up killing you or everyone around me…." I said agitated.
"No, no …. We'll figure this out, the guys always do," he said waving his hands in the air.
"Then what is it… because right now I feel like all everyone wants to do is get me far away from them, so I don't hurt anyone," I said looking at the kitchen window.
"Alex…." Vern said touching my arms. I looked at him and dropped my staff to the ground.
"What…" I stuttered out.
"Before we meet, I wasn't really a great guy…. Used to date the weirdest girls, no brains all looks, thought I was a cool guy, high paying job…worked with April, thought I had it all, but I didn't…." he said looking at me.
"And you're telling me this why?" I said.
"Then you came along, totally changed me…." He said again. He looked nervous or scared. I smiled and tried not to laugh.
"Splinter already told me what you and the guys spoke about," I chuckled and laughed.
"If you're asking me to marry you then say so," I said and covered my mouth.
"Well, yeah…" he said and reached in to his pocket.
"You do realize, I'm a psychopath, I snap easily, nearly killed Mikey this morning, I talk to myself… who knows what else I'm capable of…. Oh and did I mention I have ninja skills," I said as he opened this box.
"Just shut up already and get on with it," I heard Raph say from the back porch.
They startled me, I turned to see everyone standing at the porch.
"Well…" Vern said.
"Okay… under one condition, we live in my apartment or with them," I whispered to him.
"Deal," he said and leaned in and kissed me.
Everyone cheered and laughed.
"Alright Alex," April and Yuri both said as they laughed and went back in to the house.
"Ha ha, wait… does that mean Alex is moving out," Mikey said turning to the house.
"Way to go girl," Raph said as he turned to the house.
"Vern my man," Casey and Leo both came towards him. I laughed and went back to the house.
"Shut up Mikey," I said to him as he started making kissing faces at me in the kitchen.
"Stop it," I said to him punching him in the arm.
"Hey come on now…" he teased and hugged me.
"You're so weird," I said to him pushing him away.
"Congrates Alex," Donnie said tampering with the security panel by the door.
I came around to him and smiled.
"Thanks Don," I said leaning in to him.
"No matter what happens, we're still family," I said to him touching his shoulder watching him work on the panel.
"Totally," he said and pushed up his glasses.
"So you made this entire system," I said to him as he adjusted some settings.
"Yup, and it's all touch activated as well," he said and chuckled.
"You and your toys," I said to him and tapped him on the arm.
"We should go, Alex the whole place is yours…" Leo said as the guys came through the door.
I came around to Leo .
"Thanks," I said to him. He smiled and patted my head.
"I will stay with Alex," Splinter said coming around the kitchen counter.
"You don't have too Splinter, what if something happens," I told him.
"No, I think I should…. I know you can control anything that happens to you," Splinter said coming to the door.
"Dad are you sure, I mean Alex is right, what if something happens during the night, the place is safe, it can go in to lock down, she won't be able to hurt herself or anyone if she's alone," Donnie said coming around to the truck.
"No, I think it'll be best if I stay," he said again on the porch.
"You sure," Leo asked again.
"Yes, yes. Go on…." He said to all of them waving his hand.
"Don't worry guys, I won't snap…." I said to them watching them all pile in to the truck.
April came out the door and nudged me.
"Bye April," I said and laughed.
"Alex….. girl," Casey said and hugged me.
"Haha, bye Casey," I said as he followed behind April.
"We'll talk later…" April said and waved her phone in the air as she jumped into the news van.
"Bye doll face," Mikey said and waved.
"Once we figure out Baxter's lab, we'll come get you," Donnie said waving at me as he jumped into the truck.
"Be careful," Raph said bumping me on the head.
"Just go," I said to him shaking my head.
"Bye!" Aki and Yuri both said as they closed the back door of the truck.
"Hey, be careful," Vern said and pecked me on the cheek.
"Don't kill Splinter," he said heading for the truck.
"God everyone's so paranoid," I said and chuckled as they all left the lot.
"So I guess it's you and me old man," I said and turned to the house.
"Hahha, who are you calling old man," He chuckled and followed behind me.
"Want some cocoa, I make some amazing cocoa," I said as he closed the door.
"So why did you want to stay with me?" I said to Splinter while hovering in the kitchen.
"I didn't want you alone…." He said watching me make cocoa.
"You do realize if Baxter gets his way and makes this collar work, I could be a threat to you," I said to him.
"I know you would not hurt me, I am not worried Alex…." He said and came around to the living room. He started the fire in the fireplace.
I poured some cocoa into two cups and added marshmallows.
"Here," I said and smiled.
He took the cup from me and fixed up some pillows sitting on them.
I sat on the floor with him in front of the fireplace.
"This place is great, it's really peaceful out here," I said to Splinter listening to the sound of crickets and the fire crackling.
"It is, its very calming…. Beats the city any day," Splinter said and chuckled.
"Splinter," I said to him watching the fire lick the wood.
He turned and looked to me.
"If anything happens, get out of here, leave… contact Donnie and leave," I said to him taking a sip of my cocoa.
"I wouldn't leave Alex," he said and chuckled.
"Did I tell you of the time Mikey rigged the entire place with confetti," Splinter said turning to me.
I looked at him and tried not to laugh.
"The subway station?" I asked.
"No, our old place before the station, he was young maybe 8 or so, we just set up the place…. The boys got their own rooms and own area's for their personal things," he started to say then he chuckled thinking of the moment.
"….. and," I smiled sipping my cocoa.
"Ah, well you see Mikey found a box of confetti in the room he picked for himself…" he said.
"It was probably left there by kids playing in the sewers, he didn't know what confetti was at the time, and they were still learning many things, so he decided to plant a net hanging from the ceiling. Donnie helped him make it, he told him he was setting a trap for intruders, hahahha…. Instead he placed the box in the net and when I came through he cut the rope and the confetti box exploded everywhere," he said and laughed.
"Hehhehahahhaaha, oh my god, that was good," I said and laughed imagining the entire scene.
"Hahahahah, it was the first time ever I sent them to the hachi," he said laughing.
"Seriously, he rigged the place with confetti, hahahahha," I laughed again.
"Confetti covered the entire room, they spent three days cleaning," Splinter said again shaking his head.
"I wish I could've seen it, I think I would've died laughing," I said shaking my head.
"No…. I think you and Mikey would've planted it together," Splinter said nodding.
"Yeah probably," I laughed again.
"Wow, that makes his behavior as a turtle nothing compared to know," I said and shook my head.
"He was the same way as a turtle, well if he was able to talk and probably walk my entire bed room would be a trap," I laughed.
"I used to have to hid everything from him, he would eat everything, my paper, homework…. The whole concept of my turtle ate my homework never worked with my teachers, hahahha," I sighed deeply and laughed.
"One time Donatello built this robotic shell, he said he wanted to wear a suit of armor, a shell that was robotic that would make him fly, and have super powers…." He said nodding.
"Wow, did it work?" I said to him, I wasn't the least bit surprised; the genius could probably get away with making a flying suit.
"No it didn't… I said to him 'Donatello, your battle shell is a marvel of engineering. A true testament to your incredible mechanical skills, and I never want to see it in our home again.' Hahahaha," he said and laughed.
"Hahahha, wow I would've loved to see it," I said and threw a log in to the fire.
Splinter looked at me again and chuckled.
"What?" I said to him.
"You remind me of Raphael, when he was 10…" he said thinking again.
"What did he do?" I said and shook my head.
"It wasn't what he done…. You see, Raphael wasn't always this way, stubborn, hot headed, rude at times…." He said. I was surprised to hear him say this.
"Did you know he had a human girl for a best friend?" he said to me. I almost choked on my cocoa.
"What a girl… a human girl?" I said to him surprised.
"Yes, he would sneak up to the surface every night, I didn't know why he would do this, he hated being in the sewers, he was defiant and disobedient at times, but one night I followed him…" he said swirling his marshmallows.
"He was visiting a girl she was about his age 10 years, she was very young, he would see her on the rooftop of a hospital, and bring her ice cream rocky road, she…. Was his best friend, he saw her on accident he said when an ambulance whizzed by the sewers," Splinter said again. I was shocked and surprised to hear this.
"He had a best friend," I said in almost a monotone voice.
"Yes, but she was very sick with a heart condition, just like you had, when she died it broke his heart, he became distant, more defiant, rude and arrogant, he hated everything and everyone," Splinter said.
"What…." I said in almost a whisper.
"So that's why he's like this," I thought to myself out loud.
"Yes, that is why…. But when he meet you and April he changed, I saw something different in him," he said again.
"This is why he cares for you so much, even though he doesn't show it…. Deep down inside I know he sees you as that little girl he met many years ago, he's extremely protective of you and April," Splinter said again.
"What…" I said again thinking about Raph and this little girl.
"Hahaha, don't you worry yourself over it, he is happier now, I see this in him…. " Splinter said and touched my hand.
I smiled at him and looked around the place trying not to think.
"This place has a lot of bedrooms, little Keno will need a play room," I said looking around the place.
We also had a weapons wall, I didn't notice it until I moved my gaze through the living room. It had only katana's on it and nothing more. I assumed the guys brought them with us for protection.
"You care so much….." Splinter said noticing me admire the room. I looked at him and smiled.
"Sorry, I guess…. It's just the way I am," I said pulling my hair behind my ears.
"I think you have a kind heart, you care for everyone and always think about others before yourself," he said and chuckled.
"I am very proud of you my dear, you have come a long way, and chose the right path in your life," he said looking at the marshmallows in his cup.
"I haven't always done the right thing Splinter," I said to him.
"Yes but you are now, that is most amble," he said.
"Mikey loves marshmallows, to bad… they're all gone now," I said noticing I had three left in my cup.
"Hahhaha, I was thinking that," Splinter said and chuckled.
"Splinter you could sleep in one of the rooms if you like," I said to him stand up, I went to the kitchen to put my cup in the sink.
"I'm fine here my dear, you should get some rest, it is well past midnight," he said as he went to a closet and pulled out blankets.
"Alright, well good night Splinter," I said to him and half bowed. He laughed and returned to the mats setting up the blankets.
I couldn't sleep at night, I kept feeling like something was choking me around the neck. The microchip wasn't helping it kept scratching the back of my neck. I felt as if something was definitely trying to control me. My body was shaking and I felt as if my blood was boiling.
I shifted around and tried to get comfortable.
"Baxter…. Do it now, we don't have any more time to waste, we need her, we have to hit that lab tomorrow, we could use her…" Karai said to Baxter. I could hear her voice in my head, I didn't know why but it was clear as if she was in the room with me.
I sat up and looked around the room, there was no one there, the window was slightly opened letting in a warm breeze, yet no one was there. I looked around the room and saw my staff resting next to the dresser.
"I'm losing it," I said to myself rubbing my head.
"Now Baxter," the voice said again against my head.
"My head," I said to myself as this unbelievable headache surged through my head and my entire body started to shake.
I couldn't breathe I felt like I was having a heart attack, I clasped my hand to my shirt and slid out of bed.
"What is happening to me…." I stuttered out trying to control myself.
I felt like I was losing control of my body. My body wasn't mine anymore, it's like my mind was clouded. I extended my hand to my staff trying to reach for it.
I grabbed my staff and felt this unbelievable surge of energy, the staff was trying to repel me, as if it felt like my body was being taken over.
I couldn't let go of it, I held it with both hands and stood to my feet.
"What…." I said noticing the staff change from brown to black.
I smiled and looked at the door.
"You've done it Baxter, we have complete control of her," Karai's voice echoed in my head. I shook my head trying to get her voice out.
I opened the door and shifted my feet quietly to the living room.
I noticed Splinter wasn't sleeping, he was on the mats meditating, I smirked and came up behind him.
I held up my staff and just as I was about to strike him he held his hand up and grabbed my staff.
"Alex, what are you doing?" he said jumping to his feet. He pushed my staff away from him.
"Hehehe," I laughed and ran at him swinging my staff in to the air.
"ALEX ENOUGH," He shouted at me wrapping his tail around my body. He threw me to the weapons wall.
"Uuuhh, what the hell," I said mumbling. I rolled over to my side and then to my knees.
"This isn't you, what are you doing? Wake up," He said holding his fists up.
I noticed the katanas had fallen off the wall and near me. I looked at it and picked it up.
I pushed my staff to its holster and twirled the katana in my hand. I came around the couch, Splinter countered me and came around to the other katana. He picked it up.
"Don't make me have to do this," he said twirling it in his hand.
"I have never disciplined you, or fought you because I've never needed too… I hold you to the same standards as my sons, now back down," he said.
I ignored him and charged at him jumping over the couch. I swung the katana with one hand and before I could strike him he blocked me with the other katana. Our blades clashed and vibrated.
I swung it around over my head and attacked him again. He blocked me.
I grabbed my staff from the holster and swung it at Splinter hitting him in the side.
He jumped back grabbing his side.
"BACK DOWN," he hissed at me again. I ran at him and swung my staff as a diversion he blocked it then I swung the katana cutting him in the shoulder.
"AAAH," He said and jumped away from me. He slid to the door and hit the security system activating it.
"Get back here, I wasn't done yet," I said and tossed the katana to the ground.
"Alex enough," he said again as I charged at him.
"Guys, something's wrong, the security system at the house has been activated," Donnie said hearing an alarm go off throughout his work space.
"Maybe its Alex," Leo said as they ran around the place gathering their things.
"Maybe its Splinter," Mikey said grabbing his nunchucks from the weapons wall.
"Yuri you and the girls stay here, no need for all of us to go," Leo said pushing his katanas into their sheaths.
"Be careful," she said as they ran to the garage.
Clash, clash, clank!
My staff struck his katana with every blow.
"BACK DOWN," I shouted at him as I twirled my staff.
"ALEX, THIS IS ENOUGH…." He hissed at me then swung me to the couch knocking me and the couch over.
"Uuuuh," I said and rolled on to my back.
I couldn't move, for that moment I felt like I had completely lost all inhibition, I wasn't sure why I was fighting Splinter but something kept me going, kept telling me to get up.
I rolled over and shifted to my knees.
"STAY DOWN," Splinter said and stuck me down with his tail again.
"Uhh, aaggh," I hissed angrily trying to get up again.
"Baxter that rat… he's stopping her, he's making her return to her normal, DO SOMETHING!" I heard Karai's voice in my head again.
"Hah ahhaha, he won't break her that easily," Baxter's voice echoed again.
"NO, NO… GET OUT OF MY HEAD," I said and held my hands to my head.
"Alex, fight it… don't let them control you," Splinter said noticing my tension. He realized I was being controlled; he was trying to stop me. I looked at him and cringed.
"AAAH," I shouted as I felt electric impulses surge through my body again.
I jumped up to my feet shaking and grabbed my staff.
"DON'T LET THEM WIN," he said holding up the katana in one hand.
"I'm sorry," I said to him and ran at him swinging my staff to the air. But before I could strike him, he hit me in the stomach with the hilt of the katana knocking me to the ground.
That's when I heard a truck roar and pull in to the gravel lot.
I cocked my head to the window.
"DAD YOU GUYS OKAY," I heard Leo's voice echo from outside.
'DON'T COME IN HERE, STAY BACK," Splinter said swinging his tail to the door before it opened and slammed it shut.
I jumped back to my feet and picked up the other katana on the floor.
"He he, I'm going to have fun with this," I said swinging it with my hand.
"ALEX BACK DOWN, THIS IS ENOUGH," Splinter said again. He came at me so fast I could barely even see his attack he hit me with his fist in the stomach knocking me to the ground, then struck me with the back of the katana knocking me out again.
"DAD WHAT HAPPENED," was the last I heard after I blanked out.
"Oh my god, she did this?" Donnie's said as they came through the door to their father's side. He dropped the katana and fell to the floor.
"That was not Alex, someone was controlling her," he said as Donnie wrapped his shoulder.
"She completely destroyed the place," Raph said leaning near Splinter.
"No one touches her, do not come near her, whoever is controlling her might still have control over her," Splinter said shifting to his feet.
"Are you okay?" Mikey said concerned.
"Yes, yes I'm fine," he said again.
"What do we do with her?" Raph asked coming towards me.
"I SAID STAND BACK," Splinter shouted at him.
But before Raphael could do anything I swung my staff at him striking him on the arm, he lifted his hand to me and blocked me.
"BACK DOWN," he said to me taking my staff from me forcefully and tossing it aside.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, tie her up… that's the safest right now," Leo said as he came towards me as well.
I sat up and hissed at them as Raph grabbed me by the arm.
"Let go, let go of me," I said to him fighting his grasp.
"Hey, untie me…" I shouted at them from the kitchen.
"Not until your back to normal," Leo said tightening the rope around me.
"Guys, her staff is black," Donnie said noticing my staff had changed colour.
"Her spirit has been broken and taken over, she's turned dark," Splinter said again shifting to some mats on the floor.
"Man girl, why did you do this?" Mikey said sighing deeply he came around to the couch and helped Raph pick it up.
"Donnie, don't touch her staff it will repel you," Splinter said to him. Donnie held his hands up and backed away from it.
"Come on untie me," I hissed at them trying to move my arms.
"Don't try anything stupid," Raph said as he pulled up a chair in front of me and opened the first aid kit.
"Don't touch me," I said to him moving my face from him.
"You have a cut on your forehead, you're lucky Splinter didn't kill you," he said trying to clean the wound.
"Hahaha, I should've killed him," I taunted and smirked.
"Shut it," he said and tried to clean my wound again.
"Fine, I won't help you," he said and shut the kit.
"I don't need your help," I hissed at him trying to escape from the ropes.
"That microchip, Baxter must have found a way to control it," Donnie said coming around the couch towards me. I chuckled at Donnie.
"Nerd boy, back off," I said to him as he tried to examine the chip again.
"BACK OFF,"I said again shifting my body away from him.
"Donnie leave her, do not come near her," Splinter said again.
He groaned and backed away from me.
"What do we do with her now," Leo said as they started to organize the mess I made.
"Leave her tied up, she will return to normal, they can't contain her spirit for long duration's of time, I got through to her for a few moments while she attacked me," Splinter said again watching me struggling in the ropes.
"So we can talk her down," Mikey said in almost an excited tone.
"No, she will need to do it herself," Splinter said again.
"As long as we contain her if she escapes and attacks us, she will crack and break from their control," Splinter said.
"Seriously, untie me… or else I'll…" I started to say.
"Or else you'll what? Kill all of us," Raph cut me off. I struggled with the rope trying to escape again.
"Hahaha, you only wish," I said to him that's when I realized I had a ninja star in the pouch of my belt. I leaned back in the seat.
"You're really pissing me off kid," Raph said crossing his arms.
"Raphael do not taunt her anymore, step outside," Splinter ordered him.
Raphael shook his head and groaned opening the door.
But before he could leave I cut my ropes and threw the star at him striking the door.
"WOAH," Mikey said startled.
"Oh really," Raph said slamming the door shut.
"Hahaha, come at me turtles, you won't win," I said and slid along the floor reaching for my staff.
"Great," Leo said pulling out his katana's.
"No one hurt her," he said to his brothers.
I swung my staff over my head and whistled at Donnie.
"Hey nerd boy, that bo of yours what….. it's like a poor man's version of a weapon," I taunted him.
"Oh man," he said and grabbed his bo.
"I don't want to hurt you Alex," Donnie said to me as I came around the couch towards him.
"Then put down your weapon like a good boy and let me take it off your hands," I said and swung my staff at him, attacking him, he held up his bo blocking me.
"I've had enough of this," Raph said, he twirled his sai's and came around me and Donnie.
"WAIT YOUR TURN MUSCLE BOY," I shouted at Raph swinging my staff at him. He held up his sai and blocked me.
"RAPH DON'T FIGHT HER," Leo hissed at his brother.
"I'm going to teach her a lesson she won't forget," Raph said throwing one of his sais at me, I blocked it with my staff he then grabbed me from behind.
"IDIOT, SERIOUSLY, DON'T…." Leo hissed at his brother. I swung my staff hitting Raph in the side. He flinched.
"LET GO," I shouted at him again trying to pry his arms from around me.
I hit him again striking him on the side again he flinched and his grasp released me.
I ran at Mikey.
"Hehe, Mikey," I said coming at him.
"No, I won't fight you Alex," He said tossing his nunchucks to the ground. I jumped at him pinning him to the ground with my staff against his neck.
"MIKEY," Leo and Donnie both said. But before they could come at me, Splinter swung me around and knocked me to the wall.
"UuUhhhh, Aaah," I said and rolled over. I had hit my head against something and could barely stand. I felt like the voices in my head disappearing, as I blanked out.
"DO NOT TOUCH HER AGAIN," Splinter shouted at everyone holding his hands up to them.
"Mikey you okay?" Donnie asked helping him up.
"Yeah totally," he said rubbing his head.
"She's out cold," Leo said noticing me not moving.
"Great," Raph said picking up his sai.
"Uhhh," I groaned and opened my eyes.
"What happened?" I muttered to myself touching my head. I felt a white Band-Aid over my forehead.
"You've been asleep for two hours," Raph's voice said.
I looked at him.
"What?" I said and sat up in the bed.
"You don't remember… you attacked Splinter, then came at us," he said from the chair blocking the door.
"What…. I did what?" I said in shock.
"Is he okay?" I threw the blanket off of me but realized I couldn't move. They had tied my wrist to the bed so I wouldn't escape.
I sighed deeply and shifted back to the bed.
"I'm sorry," I said taking in a deep breath.
He came towards me and touched my forehead again.
"You're bleeding again," He said taking off the Band-Aid.
"Don't, I don't deserve to be treated, I tried to kill Splinter and all of you," I said turning away from him.
"Stop it," he said and turned my face to him. I looked to the floor as he changed the white band-aid.
"It wasn't me Raphael; I would never do this…. I could hear voices in my head, I would never…." I stuttered out at him.
"I know you wouldn't," he said trying to comfort me.
"You… had a best friend when you were a kid… huh," I said to him in almost a monotone voice.
"Splinter told you," he said searching through the first aid kit for some cream.
"I'm sorry what happened to her," I said again looking at the window.
He didn't say anything and touched my forehead again.
"I…. consider you my best friend…" I said to him. I kind of hoped he wouldn't hear me, after all I tried to kill his father.
"You're not alone anymore," I said to him again.
"You talk to much," he said closing the first aid kit. He then cut the rope off the bed post.
I rubbed my wrist as I pulled the rope off.
"We made lunch," he said. I stood up and looked at the door.
"They won't hurt you, just don't try anything stupid," he said to me opening the door.
"If you hate me, I understand….I did almost kill your father," I said to him.
He rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"Your still talking, do you want to starve?" he said holding his hand out to me.
"I'm not hungry," I said quietly.
"Just shut it Alex okay, we won't let them do this again," he said and grabbed me hugging me.