A/N: Nope, I have nothing to say this time. Not a single thing. Mum's the word. (Which of course means that something is about to happen.)
Please note: Character thoughts are in italics.
Disclaimer: Maybe in an alternate future I'll own the turtles, but until I can find that timeline, I do not.
Chapter 12-Something's Missing
Raphael's footsteps echoed throughout the lair. The red masked turtle was on his way to the dojo for a little one on one time with his punching bag. The excessive silence was beginning to drive him crazy. Raph never realized how noisy the lair could be when his three brothers were home. While often the quietest turtle, even Leonardo was not always completely silent. The eldest brother could not keep the sounds of his katanas slicing the air, from carrying outside the dojo as he practiced. Thumps, bangs, and occasionally a cry of frustration, or a yelp of glee, would emerge from Donatello's laboratory as he worked on his latest inventions. And Michelangelo, well the youngest brother was typically the loudest out of all of them. The sounds of his video games often fought for dominance over the orange turtle's shouts directed towards the tv screen. Yet today, the lair was quiet. Too quiet. Even Mikey was silent. Raphael stopped in mid stride. Wait a minute? Why is Mikey so quiet?
The red clad turtle slowly circled the lair. His eyes and ears searching for any sign of his missing brother. Where is that knucklehead? Halfway through a second pass of the lair, Raphael stopped. Peeking out from the shadows on the second floor, Raph caught a flash of orange. There he is!
Raphael leapt up the second floor, and approached his unusually quiet brother. Hidden mostly in the shadows was an unusually still Michelangelo. On the floor Klunk was curled up next to Mikey's foot. The orange cat appeared to be fast asleep, suggesting that Mikey had been standing there for some time. And Raph's orange clad brother was doing a pretty good interpretation of a statue.
Mikey had placed himself in front of Donatello's bedroom door. Curious, Raph asked. "Mikey, what are you doing up here? It's almost time for patrol."
Michelangelo didn't turn to look at his older brother. His voice was so soft, Raph almost missed the question. "Do you think he's alright?"
Disliking the doubt Mikey's question implied, Raph gruffly said. "Of course bro."
Raphael had learned from April and Master Splinter, that Mikey had not taken the loss of his brother's well over these past six months. Raph looked closer at Michelangelo, studying his brother. The darker orange in the fabric around his brother's eyes gave away his current state of mind. Mikey might have been thrilled to have his red masked brother home, but he still longed for his missing siblings.
Raph's heart sunk. Oh Mikey.
Leaning closer, Raph placed an arm around Mikey's shoulders. He gave him a squeeze. "I've already told you Mikey, Donnie's a smart turtle. He can take care of himself."
Mikey glanced at his older brother. "How are we going to find him?"
Raphael was at a loss. He didn't really know how they were going to find Donatello. But he wasn't about to admit that to Michelangelo.
"Easy bro, we start looking for him."
The distraught turtle began to tremble underneath Raphael's arm. Turning, Raph pulled his brother into a fierce hug. Mikey was upset about more than just Donatello's absence.
In a shaky voice, Mikey mumbled against his brother's plastron. "I a-ac-accused him. Of doing nothing. Nothing to stop Leo from leaving. A-An-And then I b-bl-blamed him. I b-bl-blamed him for you leaving too." A sob broke free. "I t-to-told h-hi-him it was h-hi-his job to fix it. To fix us. A-An-And n-no-now D-Don-Donnie's g-go-gone. A-And it's all m-my f-fa-fault."
Raphael began to wonder exactly when Michelangelo had picked up Leonardo's guilt tripping habit. One brother with a tendency to blame themselves is more than enough. This needs to stop, and it stops right now.
Raph pulled out of the embrace. He gripped Mikey shoulders hard, shaking him to emphasize his point. "Stop it. Stop it right now. Donnie didn't leave just because of you. If anyone should blame themselves for Donnie leaving, it should be me. I'm the one who called him a traitor." Raph's voice cracked. "I'm the one who disowned him as my brother."
Suddenly the tides turned, and Raph found himself the one held in a fierce embrace. Trying to hold back his own tears, Raph fiercely promised. "We are going to find Donnie. And we are going to apologize profusely, for being a bunch of shell heads. Then the THREE of us, are going to bring our even bigger of a shell head Fearless Leader home."
Mikey looked at Raph, the hope written all over his face. Donatello was still missing and Leonardo was stuck with the Foot Clan. But at least Raphie had returned. And that, was a very good start.
Leonardo listened intently to the report from the Elite Guards standing in front of him. Usually, it was the two elder Elites that reported in to the young master. But tonight, it was Sin'ichi and Shinji, who recapped the events from the Foot's recent patrol. Apparently, the Elites had split into two teams. The elder Elites, Saburo and Shiro, were still on their way back to Foot Headquarters.
Having spent the past ten years with them, Leonardo preferred the reports from the elder Elites. After losing his friend Yuto when he was younger, Leonardo kept to himself during the remainder of his time with the Foot. The two younger Elites were still new to the position of the Elite Guard. Leonardo wasn't as familiar with Shinji and Sin'ichi. The young master was still learning how to read the body language of the two younger Elites.
Leonardo stared at Shinji's red eyes as he spoke. It was as he feared. The Triceriton, Commander Mozar, was on Earth. But the Elites information failed to explain why the Triceriton had arrived.
Despite his rising anxiety, Leonardo struggled to remain calm. He was worried for his brothers. Raphael's hatred for the Triceriton Commander was no secret. And if Commander Mozar felt the same way, well it didn't take a genius to figure out the rest. If the Commander found out that Raphael was on Earth, all of Leo's younger brothers could be in trouble.
Nodding at the end of the report, Leonardo questioned the Elite in Japanese. "Tell me Shinji, did any of the rumors mention why this off worlder came to Earth?"
Shinji shook his head as he lied in Japanese. "No young master."
Leonardo turned to Sin'ichi, repeating the question. His reply was the same.
With nothing else to be gained from their presence, Leonardo said. "Very well, dismissed."
The two Elite's bowed and silently left the room.
Leonardo watched the younger Elites as they left. Something's not right. Leo walked behind the desk and sat down. He pressed his fingers and thumbs together, making a triangle. Leo's sixth sense was going wild. Saburo and Shiro are still not back yet. And then there was that incomplete message from his chess opponent. Leo couldn't figure out what it meant and he had been unable to get in touch with Donatello.
Narrowing his eyes, Leo rose out of his chair. Something about tonight's events is not adding up. I cannot wait for the Commander to make the first move. I need to protect my brothers.
Leonardo grabbed his katanas from a nearby table. Quickly sheathing the blades, he briskly walked out of the room.
The time for waiting was over.
Donatello was once again on his knees before Commander Mozar. The Commander reached back and struck him again. "Where is Raphael?"
The question never changed. And neither did Donatello's answer. Spitting out blood, he groaned. "I. Don't. Know."
The Commander's eyes blazed with fury. The purple clad turtle was stubborn, he had to admit that. But everyone could be broken. Sometimes it was just a matter of finding the right motivation.
Commander Mozar barked out.
"Bring her in."
Donatello's eyes widened as Mira was dragged into the room.
Mozar walked over to the Utrom inside the exosuit. "If you won't tell me where your brother is, I will kill her."
Donatello wanted to scream in frustration. Mira's big mouth had started all of this. And he really didn't know where Raph was.
Donatello growled again. "I. Don't. Know."
The Commander ripped open the shirt. He yanked Mira out of her exosuit. The Utrom began to struggle and cry as the Commander gripped harder.
"I won't ask you again terrapin scum. Tell me where you brother is. Or say good bye to your friend."
Donatello's heart fell to his stomach. He was stuck. He could never give the Commander the answer he wanted. And despite everything she has done, Mira was still Don's friend. For once he didn't know what to do. He had to do something to save her. Maybe he could lie. Send the Commander on a wild hunt looking for Raph. He would be screwed when the Triceriton realized that it was a dead end, but at least it would save Mira right now.
As if she could read his mind, Mira's eyes locked with Donatello's. It was her fault they were in this mess. And she had already lost Donatello to his brothers. She had nothing left to live for. But Donnie, he did. And if he lied to save her now, it would only come back to hurt him later.
Mira couldn't take back the things she had done. The pain she had already caused. But at least she could help buy Don a little more time as he waited to be rescued.
Mira's eyes pleaded with Don's. She knew him well enough to guess what he was thinking. It wasn't worth the risk. Don, don't.
Commander Mozar screamed. "Tell me where Raphael is!"
Donatello shook his head, as he lowered his eyes to the floor. He couldn't save his friend. He had nothing left to say.
The Commander roared in frustration. He slammed the pink Utrom on to the ground. Before anyone could react, he stomped on Mira with his boot. When the Commander pulled his foot back, a pile of pink goo and blood was all that was left of the Utrom psychologist.
Donatello closed his eyes. His emotions were spiraling out of control. Mira was dead. And he was no closer to finding his brothers.
Frustrated with his stubborn prisoner, the Commander walked away. "Return him to his cell. Enough of these games."
Mozar's eyes blazed with fury. "Next time, we use the mind probe."
The soldiers nodded and dragged Donatello out of the room.
Donatello leaned his aching head against the cool wall of his prison cell. The purple clad turtle was delirious with pain. He hurt in places he never even realized could cause him pain. If he had hair, Don was willing to bet even that would be hurting right now.
Donatello's eyes fell upon the empty body in front of him. Mira. Poor Mira. Donnie gave a shudder as he recalled the events of the past few hours. Don closed his eyes. He felt like an empty shell. Mira was gone. The Commander's reputation for his ruthless treatment of prisoners was well deserved. Shaking his head, the injured turtle tried to focus on the object in his hands. After being tossed once again into his cell, Donnie had pried off one of the housing's from Mira's empty exosuit. It felt weird to continue touching the exosuit, now that Mira was gone. But using the suit had originally been her suggestion. The genius turtle had been trying to send a message for the past day or two. But he was in too much pain to tell if it had gotten through or not. Nevertheless, Don kept trying. Sooner or later, the message had to get through to Leonardo. Donnie wasn't sure how much longer he could last while waiting to be rescued.
A/N: Don't worry Donnie, help is on the way? Maybe? Why not leave a review before you go? Virtual Pancakes with real Maple Syrup to those who do!
