A/N: Thank you so much for your kind reviews, everyone! Thankfully, I'm receiving the Alerts again. My beta is on vacation, so I'm sorry if there are any errors and please feel free to point them out to me. Thanks and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything more than a bunch of plots and some DVDs

Leonardo and Raphael sped into the hallway just as firefighters poured into the library behind them. Far ahead, Michelangelo disappeared around a corner, apparently still running on Karai's heels. A couple of Foot ninja darted from one doorway to another as the two turtles ran by, but both clans ignored each other. Fire alarms blared throughout the building and there were many loud shouts coming from behind them as they sped after their youngest brother. The chase led up a staircase which they climbed two at a time. Unfortunately for Raphael, both Michelangelo and Leonardo could run much faster than he could and he found himself falling behind. It was then that he noticed the trail of crimson droplets that followed the eldest turtle.

"Leo, you're bleeding!"

"It's not too bad," Leonardo called back over his shoulder as they rounded yet another corner into a hallway at the top of the stairs. "My plastron warmed back up again."

Far at the end of the hallway, Michelangelo suddenly stopped and darted into a doorway. Moments later, his brothers reached the same doorway only to find that it led directly into a large, plush office—obviously Karai's. Michelangelo stood with his back to the door, his nunchucks out and spinning wildly. Inside were both Karai and Chaplain. Karai was panting heavily but holding her tanto and katana steady in a defensive posture while Chaplain remained behind her holding some sort of gun-like device that Leonardo vaguely remembered seeing somewhere recently.

There was only a moment for the two new arrivals to register all of this before Michelangelo charged towards Karai. He easily blocked her counterattack with the chain of his nunchuku before lashing out again. His strike was also blocked.

Raphael started to move to help him but Leonardo put out his arm to block him. "The first sign of trouble and we're in, but let him do this. Maybe it will help."

Raphael crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes in displeasure, but he nodded tersely in agreement.

Meanwhile, Karai seemed to be tiring. However, Michelangelo still fought as though he felt as fresh as when he had just begun. She kicked out at him but he simply leaned backwards so that the swing missed him entirely. She immediately swung at him with her katana the moment her foot touched the ground. Mikey blocked it. He feigned right before spinning around to the right and slamming the end of one of his weapons into the back of her shoulder. She cried out in pain. A swift kick in the back sent her falling onto her hands and knees.

"Karai!" Chaplain glared angrily at Michelangelo as the youngest turtle growled menacingly at him. "That's it, freak! You're going down!"

The moment he lifted the gun with his finger on the trigger, Leonardo was in front of him and Raphael behind him. The red-clad turtle grabbed the scientist from behind, pinning his arms just as the finger squeezed the trigger. A loud, whining sound reverberated throughout the room.

Michelangelo abruptly stood motionless. The redness in his eyes seemed to dissolve, revealing sky blue and white. Even as Karai struggled to stand upright, he collapsed into a heap.

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?" Raphael screamed, shaking Chaplain back and forth violently.

"I just turned him off!" The scientist cried out as the turtle continued to shake him. Raphael suddenly let go, sending him stumbling forwards.

"That gun was the thing we came here for," Leonardo realized as he gently picked up the youngest's limp form, giving thanks that Michelangelo was still breathing, while cautiously eyeing Karai. Both of her blades were lying on the floor, but that didn't mean that she was unarmed.

He cautiously backed towards where Raphael was standing by the window while Chaplain unsteadily staggered towards his mistress. In a flash, Michelangelo had switched arms and Raphael leaped out of the open window onto the balcony one story below.

"Don't ever touch him again, Karai!"

"There's no need to," she smiled almost mischievously as she leaned back against the wall. "At least, not that I now have you." She jabbed a button with her elbow and a thick sheet of metal slammed over the window behind him.

"What?!" Leonardo spun around at the sound of the slam and then back towards his two enemies while re-drawing his katana.

"Do not worry, Leonardo. You have earned a swift death."

At his mistress's words, Chaplain pulled a laser blaster from behind his back and pointed it directly at the turtle. "I've always wanted to say this, so say hello to my little friend!" He stepped in front of Karai as she rolled her eyes and began to blast the spot Leonardo had been only microseconds before. The blasts went right through the sheet of metal.

Leonardo landed gracefully on Karai's desk. Glancing down quickly as his foot accidently brushed against a series of buttons. He grinned and pressed two of them. The room's lights went out and the sheet of metal over the window scraped slowly back up, revealing the brilliant light of the moon. For good measure, Leonardo threw down a smoke pellet before dashing back towards the window.

Even as he coughed, Chaplain pointed his gun at the turtle and fired twice. The first shot went wildly over the turtle's head. The second was countered by Leonardo's katana. The bolt bounced off of the shiny metal and straight back to the shooter's shoulder. Screaming in pain, Chaplain reeled backwards into Karai as Leonardo made his escape out of the window, joining his brethren below.

"You okay?"

Leonardo could easily make out the worry on Raphael's face. "I'm fine," he assured him. "How's Mikey?"

"His breathin's steady but I dunno else-wise."

The eldest turtle gently stroked the youngest's head. "I really hope that device actually worked."

"Me too, bro."

As if on command, they started to run towards the edge of the building. Luckily, it had been designed so that Foot ninja could get on and off easily by the roof, making it simple for the two turtles escape.

You idiot! You almost had her and you went and collapsed! The voice sounded much weaker than before, as though it was struggling just to scold.

"I don't think I really wanted to kill her."

I'll tell you what you are and aren't supposed to think! Get your act together!

Michelangelo could feel himself being set gently down on a hard surface. Somewhere in the background, he was sure that he could hear Donatello's voice mixing with Raphael's and Leonardo's, but the words were muffled; it was as though he was listening underwater. Strong arms picked him up again.

They're taking you away! Get up now!

"No." Michelangelo was surprised at how powerful he felt for saying that. "I'm safe here. Shell, I can't even move. Why on earth would I leave? Anyway, I'm pretty sure that my bros wouldn't let me go back."

You could get around them, the voice suggested, its tone becoming sultry and seductive. You always have been able to.

He was set down again and there was the sensation of acceleration accompanied by vibrations coming up from the floor below his shell.

"But I don't want to. I just want to be me again."

You are you. You're more powerful than ever before! Couldn't you feel the strength coursing through your body? Think of how useful that could be. All you have to do is to continue to embrace me.

"I don't want you in my head anymore."

Sorry, I'm not going anywhere. I've told you. I'm a part of you. You can't just get rid of me anymore than you can get rid of one of your arms.

"There's always amputation," Michelangelo laughed grimly to himself.

The voice was silent for a moment before switching to another tactic. You've always wanted your brothers to treat you like an equal and I can give you the abilities you need for that!

Arms again picked him up. He was getting tired of this and his head was hurting. He just wanted to lie still, even if it was for just a moment.

"I. Don't. Want. You. Is it really that difficult for you to understand?"

With me around, they won't keep treating you like a little kid. You can be whatever you want to be!

"I want to be a kid! That's who I am because I like it that way!"

Once again, he was set down, though this time on what felt like some sort of table. There were indistinguishable mutterings all around him.

You always have wanted to be as strong as Raph and as good as Leo. The voice was starting to sound desperate. I can give you both strength and skill. And you can still do whatever you want.

There was a sharp prick on his arm.

"Shut up and shut up NOW!" Michelangelo felt like he was yelling inside of his head. Redness suddenly clouded everything.

I will NOT! The voice sounded like an annoyed five-year old. I have every right to be here!

"Get out of my head! I don't want your hate! I don't want your anger! I don't like all the things you made me do! Get OUT!" A flash of dazzling white shot through the crimson, causing his body to shake. From outside, a voice started to yell and something was fitted over his mouth and nose followed by a funny smell.

You can never truly get rid of me, the voice warned. I will always be a part of you. Deep inside, you know. You've known me all along.

"You may be a part of me, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to you!"

But—

"No buts! Just get out! Not one more word from you!"

You can't! I'm a part of you!

A feeling of another presence, a comforting presence, began to press back on the last bits of redness.

NOOOOOOO!

"Yes." Michelangelo could feel himself start to grin. "You're going now. Goodbye."

The voice let out a growl. Then, until we meet again… It faded out and a sense of peace filled Michelangelo's mind for the first time in months. He could feel the funny smell pulling at the last scraps of consciousness that he was clinging to. Everything faded to black.

The evil voice thingy is telling you to review! Do not resist it! :D Flames will be used for hotdogs!