* If you own a shot gun, you may wish to go and lock it up now, before you read this chapter. Go ahead, I'll be waiting for you right here.
Raphael's frustration felt like it was reaching a fever pitch. The humans had left him alone for the last few minutes, but lying here just waiting for something to happen was almost as bad as listening to the two idiots talk over him. He would have preferred listening to them, just to maintain the hope of hearing something that would sound familiar.
He could feel beads of sweat forming, as he waged a constant battle to keep his breathing under control. He was still experiencing stabs of pain, that felt like a knife was literally piercing his skull over and over again. As irritating as the physical pain was, the void of unknowing that consumed his mind was much more disconcerting.
Raphael had grown weary of wrestling already, and wanted to sleep more than anything else. As the minutes passed, it was getting harder and harder to merely keep his eyes open again. He sighed inwardly.
Why am I even fighting this?
Raphael had been lightly dozing for about twenty minutes, when approaching voices roused him. He opened his eyes, just as figures were crossing the threshold of the doorway, and attempted to raise his head again. This time the action made him so dizzy that he couldn't maintain the motion for more than a couple of seconds.
Stolle was tingling with anticipation as he entered the room. It was a bit of a surreal experience to be facing one of them down in the flesh again, after the efforts he'd expended over the last few months. Seeing Raphael brought back powerful imagery, a vision of the day that the turtles had left him along with all the rest of Vale's men to be arrested.
Survival of the fittest indeed, Stolle thought smugly. Out of all those ridiculous men, none of them could have saved themselves. Their priorities are so wrong to begin with. Even the strongest warrior can be overcome, by the most "insignificant" of men using a little brain power. You are proof of that old friend, Stolle finished with intense satisfaction, running a hand over the sinewy muscles in Raphael's left arm.
Dang, I don't like the way this guy looks at me, Raphael thought ruefully. Like he's seen me sometime before...but that means he could know who I am!
Raphael was so lost in the thought, that he didn't even bother flinching away from Stolle's hand.
"It seems calmer now than before." Blackford remarked. "It wasn't too pleased when it came around."
"An animal backed into a corner is rarely an agreeable one." Stolle replied. "Still, it seems you've contained it well. I'd like a better look at him, do you have more light available than this?"
Somehow, I don't think anyone who wakes up strapped to a table is gonna be too agreeable.
He closed his eyes with a wince as a bright light came on, directly overhead of him.
"There now, that's better." Stolle said amiably, bending over to the survey the turtle's forehead. "You've certainly looked better Raphael."
The name didn't strike a chord, but it was a welcome change to constantly being referred to as "It".
When Stolle started to probe more closely, Raphael did try to jerk away from his cold hands this time.
"Perhaps you remember me after all?" Stolle asked with a toothy grin.
No, and I'm not sure that I want to.
The man shifted from his head, slowly inspecting the rest of him. Well, he's sure banged up enough, Stolle thought with light disappointment. Still, he'll do for starters. I'm quite certain I can get what I need out of him, and it won't even necessarily require any real talking. He will prove very useful for discovering their limits.
The man fixed Raphael with a pointed gaze, until the turtle's amber eyes pierced back into his very soul. Stolle remembered how badly that look had frightened him awhile back, but this time was different. This time he held all the cards, and he would be the one setting a trap.
Yes Raphael, and you're going to help me do it.
Raphael's gaze continued to eye the man suspiciously, as he brought a small hand-held scanner over to the table.
"I've had a few months to think Raphael, enough time to form a few theories about you and your brothers." Stolle said stoically.
Brothers?
"I'm pleased that you're here now. It will give me the opportunity to test out a few of them." The man continued.
I think I'll pass.
"No need to be concerned, not yet anyway." Stolle said evenly. "This device is only designed to measure frequency signals, and it will help me to decipher anything you have that might be transmitting some kind of a beacon."
Regardless of the man's words, he still tensed sharply as Stolle began to scan the machine over his left side.
What does he think he's gonna find? This guy is off of his rocker.
The man abandoned the search of his left half after a couple of minutes had passed, and crossed over to the right. He started with the turtle's shoulder, slowly traveling with the scanner down the length of his arm. Something made the man do a double-take, and a smile crept over his features.
"Now you can be concerned." Stolle told him.
I don't even wanna know what that means.
"Williams, come here please. I'll likely need you to hold his arm down for this."
Hold it for what you moron?
When the hulking man came into Raphael's line of vision, it was the first time that he felt like he could have visibly paled. He glanced back at Stolle, jolting slightly when he saw the knife in the man's hand.
Shell, what are you gonna do with that?
"I would strongly advise you not to struggle Raphael, or you will make this much worse for yourself." Stolle warned him, as he brought the blade to bear near his forearm.
Instant sweat broke out again, as Williams firmly held his right arm completely still on the table.
You're not really gonna---
The thought was cut off by his own painful gasp, mostly muffled by the leather muzzle. He clenched his jaw tightly, rolling is neck to the side as the man cut him.
Blackford watched the scene curiously, shaking his head after a moment. This guy is a proper nut case. I almost feel sorry for the thing...but not really.
Stolle took a few minutes to properly probe through the incision he'd made in the turtle's arm, searching with a definite purpose in mind. He ended up needing William's pressure to keep the arm properly braced, smiling slightly at the whimper of pain William's not so gentle hands brought out of Raphael. In a little under ten minutes, he found what he'd been looking for, carefully prying the device out of the turtle's arm entirely.
"Ah. There you are. This helps explain so many things. I suppose Luke has one of these too, doesn't he Raphael?"
Raphael's glare looked like it might burn directly through the wall.
You stupid son of a....wait. What did he just pull out of me?
Stolle was bent over a desk now, magnifier in hand. He studied the device for a few moments, having no real desire to destroy it. This will come in handy later, if I can just get it turned off for right now.
"Williams, get some pressure on that bleeding, won't you?" Stolle requested over his shoulder, without looking up from the task at hand.
Williams twisted the now twice injured limb cruelly, as he wrapped the incision with layers of gauze.
Hulk or not, I am so gonna hurt you, Raphael seethed inwardly.
Stolle had managed to separate the implant into two pieces without doing harm to it, and was satisfied that not only was it no longer transmitting, but that he would also be able to make it work again. He sealed the halves in a plastic bag, and turned back to Raphael's side.
"The government can be so predictable Raphael. The technology may be new, but the methods never change, do they? I'm going to hold onto your tracking device myself for awhile - I don't want our reunion to be broken up prematurely." Stolle told him.
Tracking device? Shell, that doesn't make any sense. But then again, maybe it does. He clearly thinks I'm wrapped up in somethin'.
Stolle glanced at Blackford for the first time in a few minutes. "His condition isn't perfect, but he'll suit my purpose. I have your payment."
Care to share what I'm worth? Raphael thought sarcastically, as the transaction ensued between the two men. Must be how it feels to come from a pet store.
Raphael waited with closed eyes while the two conversed just out of his earshot, trying to ignore the fact that William's heavy breathing was still so close by. An urge to quiet himself had unexpectedly hit him. Under the guise of being limp and worthless, he was trying to figure out how much energy he actually had to deal with, sensing there was some kind of power hidden that he hadn't tapped into yet.
"We're leaving Williams.", he heard Stolle say, but kept his eyes firmly shut. "Can you handle him?"
"Easily." The man shot back, and started to address the restraints holding Raphael down.
Seriously? You're gonna let me go? Not for long I bet.
The turtle held his breath as he heard Stolle's footsteps leaving entirely, and was careful not to stir. He sensed that he was alone with the big one now. As Williams released his arms, Raphael let them flop loosely to the table, as if he had no control over them whatsoever. Inwardly, his mind was still analyzing what he actually might be capable of. As Williams freed one of his legs, Raphael slightly flexed the muscle with some surprise.
Wow, that feels strong. I bet I could give this guy a run for his money if I was firing on all cylinders.
Through nearly closed eyes, he spied Williams by his left leg, unfastening the last of the restraints.
Wait
A split second later, the man's jaw was within easier striking distance. Almost without thinking, Raphael struck out with his leg, landing a forceful blow to the man's face. He was startled himself by the power behind it, but couldn't hesitate for long.
C'mon, move your shell! It's now or never.
He sat up with some serious difficulty, the action causing his head to feel like it might explode entirely. As he swung both legs over the side of the table, the motion made him incredibly dizzy and sick to his stomach at the same time - but he wasn't stopping. He tested lowering them to the floor, as his vision blurred from a particularly vicious stab of pain.
C'mon! You can do it, this is your life here!
He rose to his feet unsteadily, and his legs didn't feel like they would support him for long.
Have to try, he thought stubbornly. One leg at a time - let's go
The dizziness was worse now that he was on his feet, and moving a single step was a battle in itself. In the end, he only made it about three before crashing to the floor, and darkness claimed him again.
Williams stirred with a slight wince, starting severely when he found himself on the floor, and the turtle gone from the table. He swore aloud, but he needn't have worried - the creature was only a couple of feet away. The man shuffled over to him swiftly, ramming a heavy boot into the lifeless creature's side.
"You're gonna pay for that turtle." He muttered darkly.