Abyss - Chapter 20

Rated: T

Culmination

Chapter Summary: The Turtles attempt to grab the last piece of the Black-Hole Generator but the Triceratons, or Dregg, aren't going to make it easy for them...

For this chapter, there's going to be a lot of spoilers for the second to last episode "The Ever-Burning Fire" while next will cover "Earth's Last Stand". Of course, there's going to be some minor changes in order to fit this story better but it's nothing too major. So, if you haven't seen those episodes, just warning you, spoilers ahead.

Also, be prepared, this is a LONG chapter and while I was tempted to just finish it all this chapter and just post the epilogue next, this chapter just went on far longer than anticipated, so I had to break it up. Sorry, but I promise, next chapter will come much quicker since it's almost done.

In closing, we're FINALLY getting some new TMNT episodes on August 14th so this gave me the final push I needed to finishing this. I'll be posting the ending next weekend, so it's almost over. Hope you enjoy. xoxo

The dawn came too soon and the planet saturated in fire and lava awaited them.

Magdomar: Literally translating to the Planet of Ever-Burning Fire; so said Fugitoid as they approached.

The seven occupants stood around and stared at their final destination; the white interior of the ship was bathed in a rich orange glow; saturation of such color was none each had ever seen before. Magdomar in question appeared as a small sun; none looked at it longer than necessary in fears they could seriously damage their eyes.

April stood near the back of the group; still a bit tired and dealing with a slight pain in her head but compared to yesterday, it was nothing more than a dull ache. She had been adamant to remain quiet thus far; questioning if this was really a good idea, but after everything they'd been through, this may as well have been child's play. Sneaking a glance at Donnie and Fugitoid, the two were in front of the vast computer network and figuring out how to go about retrieving the final piece; which they discovered was in the midst of vast lava pits and geysers of hellishly intense fire.

Not an optimum place to touch down by any means let alone going about to retrieve it.

Leonardo, Mikey, and Casey were all near the glass, staring down to see if they could see anywhere to land if needed but April didn't think landing here would even be in the cards.

It wasn't only dangerous, it was plain suicide.

Raphael was quiet as well. The ease in which they spoke last night may as well have been for naught; he was inverted on himself and seemed to be lost in his own world. There was an aura of tense trepidation surrounding the whole ship, but the red-banded turtle seemed to be harboring most of it.

Unsure of what caused this momentarily flux, April ignored it for now. She had meant what she said last night; none of this mattered. The earth was counting on them, and dammit, they needed to save it.

Raphael took a deep breath; eyes glued to the planet outside and the black inky sky surrounding. There was a shift in whatever happened last night. Yes, he felt better for the time being, but then the dreams came; harboring his deepest fears and regrets and betrayal staining them.

Hatred lining golden eyes and a white flash that almost ended his life had April not intervened.

Raph despised that it happened and more so, how it appeared to be haunting him now even if everyone on the ship was by and on his side. This was a demon he had to face alone for he realized he had yet to forgive himself.

He doubted he ever would.

Pushing those thoughts to his furthest subconscious, he stared out toward the planet; the sight momentarily burning his irises with their intense light and heat. Why did their final destination have to be here? Just once, couldn't they find a planet filled with white beaches and perfect weather?

Hell, a planet filled with endless oceans and sharks would be better than this.

"Raph? You okay?" a voice next to him spoke up and his eyes gravitated toward his baby brother. Whose bright blue eyes were filled with concern that had yet to waver.

"Yeah. I'm good. Just a lil' tired, I guess." Raphael replied, sure to appease his brother's fears with a forced smile and pat to his head.

"You sure?"

Raphael should have known Mikey would easily see through his facade.

"...Yeah." Raphael spoke with a lot more certainty this time, placing a heavy arm over his little brother's shoulders and pulling him closer to himself for an impromptu side-hug of sorts. The youngest was more than eager to return it; seems physical contact would appease him faster than fake smiles anyway.

"Okay." Mikey replied into his brother's shoulder even if uncertainty laced his voice.

Raphael had no choice than to ignore it.

"We have to touch down." the Fugitoid's voice was the most demanding any of them had heard. There was a sadness lacing it they were certain he wasn't capable of.

The group went silent upon the news but it was as they expected. The last piece was way too precarious and held at such an awkward position alongside of a steep cliff that retrieving it with the ship simply wasn't possible. All the occupants were mainly hoping that perhaps Fugitoid would find a way...you know, like he'd always done.

"I've done all the calculations and scenarios and there's no way the gravity beams we have now can bring the Black Hole Generator piece into the ship. It's stuck, basically, and there is no other option than to retrieve it on foot. A duty I must give to all of you."

"Wait. All of us?" Donnie asked. "Wouldn't it be more behooving to send a small team on land while the rest reside on board? Ya know, making sure no one from spacecraft can shoot at them?"

"No. You must go together; a small team would be easier taken out than a large one. You all must go; watch each others backs. After all, you all are stronger as one unit." The finality in the android's tone wasn't missed on any of them. There was no argument to be had; there was no other choice.

What also was striking was they all knew that this was no ordinary mission. There was a good chance it could, and would, go badly if there was any sort of slip-up. A legitimate life and death struggle they all had to prepare for.

The group began looking at one another and slowly began nodding in agreement. They could do it.

They had to.

"I am almost right above a gateway point. There is sufficient walkway here, I suggest you all prepare yourselves to exit." Fugitoid informed, carefully steering the ship above where the last piece was located.

"We started this as a team. Let's finish it that way." Leonardo weighed in for the first time this morning and put his hand out.

Whatever trepidation the group had about this plan, they knew Leonardo was right. The rest of the occupants moved, forming a circle and put their respective hands in atop Leonardo's.

"Let's do it. For Earth." Leo stated.

"For Earth!" the rest agreed in unison, breaking up and throwing on their armor before anxiously awaiting Fugitoid's orders.

A distinct tension ran throughout the ship upon waiting for the door to lower. This was it. The last piece that would make or break this 6-month mission. Either they save earth or die doing everything in their power to protect it. There was no middle-ground; no second-guessing; this was their mission and they needed to complete it.

No matter what.

As soon as Fugitoid lowered the door and gave the silent signal, the turtles, Casey, and April were upon Magdomar.

The group had barely touched down and it was already clear that this would be no easy task. The heat alone was almost unbearable even through their protective suits. Yet, their mission kept them distracted enough to ignore it.

Making their way, the group followed Donatello to the location. The genius turtle making quick work of the map and finding the best direction upon the shaky surface.

It was smooth sailing thus far but before they could even finish realizing perhaps that this was doable, someone they thought was disbanded a long time ago made an their un-welcomed appearance.

It was none other than Lord Dregg.

A sense of anger went through the group upon seeing the return of the hideous purple alien. Their defenses were not prepared for the outright attack, flinging his arms around and hitting the turtles this way and that in rapid secession, while not really that painful, it was dangerous considering how close each of them were to lava pits.

It was far too precarious to stay here, so the group begin moving; the disgusting bug chasing them and attacking with everything he had. Using techniques they had yet to see of the bug alien. Shooting bombs and objects at an alarming rate and the turtles couldn't keep up with deflecting them. It was a losing battle and each hit they were taking was knocking them closer and closer to the lava pits below...

It was more than April could take.

Familiar anger burned in her gut; this disgusting creature putting her friend's lives in further risk was not one she was standing for anymore...but unlike before, this time - she could do something about it. Although Fugitoid warned her to be careful, April knew the only way she could master her telekinesis was to use it.

Facing down the bug who gave her a look of confusion and annoyance at her presence, April gave him a feral smile before her fingers pressed to her forehead. A scream echoing from her mouth as she honed the abilities passed down from the Kraang to stop multiple of his bullets in midair.

When the dist cleared, the shock on Dregg's face was totally worth it.

"B-But, how?" he began speaking but it was too late to ask questions for April quickly redirected his projectiles right back at him; knocking the bug straight back into a pit of lava. The group watched him fall and they would have continued to watch that him hit the molten substance but there simply was no time.

Raphael gave her an amazed glance as she continued to look where Dregg fell, "Wow, I need to get some telekinesis." he chuckled and it perhaps was the first genuine smile she'd seen on his face in a long time.

It seemed as if Raph was slowly getting back to his old self, and she couldn't be happier.

The happiness was not to last for the moment the group began moving toward the Black Hole Generator piece, the earth underneath them began to precariously shake.

That was when the earthquake hit.

The group did the only thing they could do - run.

Thick boulders, rocks, and dusty shrapnel began smashing and falling around them and under them, bringing with them thick specks and splatters of searing lava that seared the turtle's exposed reptilian skin but they could do little more than ignore it as they made their way to sturdier ground.

Leo, Donnie and the humans held up the front while Mikey and Raph strayed a bit behind to make sure to keep any of the others from falling too far behind. It appeared to be a near-fatal mistake for when Raph's weight hit a precariously unstable piece of ground, it went tumbling underneath him and there wasn't even time for him to scream as he began falling to a certain death.

"RAPH!" Mikey screamed when the rocky outcropping crumbled from underneath his red-banded brother's feet. Chest tight as he watched Raphael's form disappear from his sight within the span of a fraction of a second.

The rest of the group turned to the sight and a shudder of panic quickly overtook the group as Raphael fell.

April's heart stopped cold in her chest. Not again...

The shock of what they all seen took precious moments away from attempting to help. It faded quickly but the ground kept collapsing and there was nothing they could do to stop it and no one wanted to tempt fate and fall helplessly after him.

Reluctantly, they strayed back and stared at where he'd fallen, all in complete shock and disbelief of what was happening.

It was as if time stopped.

The first thing Raphael experienced was complete weightlessness as the dirt crumbled from underneath him. Heart palpitating wildly; the sensation reminding him of the first time he was in space; not having any hold to gravity or a sense of control. For some reason, the heat around him intensified and in one moment of realization, he knew he was going to die.

As easy as it would be for the lava to swallow him up and whatever remaining weight lay on his chest would be lifted; but it dawned on him just how stupid it all was.

He was a fighter; a survivor; he always had been and always would be.

The argument with Mona Lisa wouldn't matter a month or day from now; because either he'd be dead or back on Earth, where his dad resided and everything made sense.

It was him that was allowing her to have such a hold on him. April was right; it wasn't his fault. It was just circumstances and speculations he had no control over. What Mona Lisa did was just that; her doing and damn, it didn't matter. He had his three brothers that still miraculously loved him, a best bud and a girl who was still willing to be his friend even when he damn near ripped her heart out. Not to mention a father waiting back for him on earth that he wanted to see again more than anything...

He had everything he needed; and damn, did he want to live.

With that thought, he flung out his Kusari Gama and the weapon made contact with the dried lava cliff; firmly anchoring into the black rock. He caught himself; slamming into the rocky outcropping with a pained grunt, just feet above the boiling lava. The heat becoming unbearable and adrenaline running through his system, he suddenly heard his brother, Leo's voice through the sound of his own pulse hammering in his ears.

"RAPH! ARE YOU OKAY!? PLEASE! ANSWER ME!" the frantic nature of his older brother's voice was not one he ever would associate with Leo. It only sanctified his belief that yeah, it all would be okay.

"I'M ALRIGHT!" Raphael shouted up and there was a viable tension that was lifted from the group even if Raph couldn't see the relief that filled their faces.

"Do you need help?" Donnie asked.

"No, I'm good. I'm coming up!" he responded and all went quiet on their end.

Raphael began moving, carefully scaling the mountain with his laser sais; growing closer to the surface when a small alcove in the mountain holding an egg caught his field of vision. Curiosity won over any panic he may have felt; anchoring his feet into a solid ledge, he lightly poked the egg and wondered exactly how it came to be down here. He hadn't so much as glimpsed any life forms that weren't their hellbent enemies trying to destroy them. Another sudden earthquake brought him out of his curious reverie into panic when the egg began rolling toward the lava.

Instinctively, he grabbed it. Yet as soon as his fingers made contact with the shell, it began to crack; within seconds, the newborn alien emerged. With burgundy bumpy skin and dark brown shell adorned with numerous black spikes, a baby turtle greeted him. It's big purple eyes gazing curiously into his own and damn, his heart melted. The little guy with the wagging tail reminding him so much of Spike that it physically hurt...but in a good way.

The baby turtle looked up at him and lightly chortled as he placed the small creature back upon the ledge it fell from.

"Hey, be careful there, little guy." Raphael chuckled bopping it lightly on it's shell, "So, um, where's your momma?" he asked as if the turtle could answer.

Unsurprisingly, the baby didn't respond, moving instead precariously toward the ledge and the lava pit and looked full and ready to anticipate jumping in.

Raphael's chest clenched as he reached and caught the young turtle before he could.

"Um, maybe it's best you stick with Uncle Raph for now..." he spoke, pulling the small turtle between his neck and carapace before completing the climb to the top.

The relieved faces that greeting him were short lived upon seeing his new finding.

"What is that?" Donnie asked.

"It's a baby turtle. I just found him all alone down there." Raph explained.

"Raph, we can't keep him." Leo sighed, the stress of almost losing his brother again dissipating with the fact Raph was now holding a pet.

"But, aww! Why not? He's so cute! Almost as cute as me!" Mikey said, trying in vain to take him from Raphael's hands but said turtle just bopped him on the head and held the little guy to his chest.

"Stop it, Mikey, I found him first!" Raphael admonished his little brother, the sense of protectiveness a bit shocking to him considering he'd just found him a few minutes ago...but he didn't care. This little guy needed him; he was sure of it. "He's not going to bother anybody, and besides I haven't seen anyone around. He's all alone..." Raph continued, looking back down at the small turtle, he placed his finger near the baby's mouth where the baby surprisingly bit down - hard.

"YE-OWUCH!" Raphael shrilled, pulling his throbbing finger away but he couldn't help but smile at the little guy's spunk. "Heh. I know. I'll call you...Chompy Picasso."

"Raphael, don't name him. You'll get attached! Besides, we can't keep him. If you haven't noticed, we're on a mission." Leo tried to be logical, but it appeared to be going over his brother's head.

Any further thoughts were broken up when Fugitoid messaged Donatello's system.

"What is the hold-up? We're still needing the last piece, people!" the robot's garbled voice commanded over the intercom leaving little to no time for further discussion on the matter.

"Alright, fine. But once we find that thing's mother, you've giving him back." Leo commanded sternly. "We clear on that?"

"Yeah, I know, I know..." Raph grumbled as he adjusted the small creature in his arms.

April watched the exchange in silence; just happy to see Raphael alive and not to mention genuinely happy for the first time in days...it was a welcome change even if it was temporary.

All too soon, they were moving. Before they got too far, there was another earthquake and the group ran as fast as they could as a creature emerged from a lava pit below. From their vantage spot behind a large rock, the team watched in horror and shock as a gargantuan, Godzilla-sized turtle that seemed to be made from fire and the very planet it lived on, emerged from the lava and let out a bellow that had them physically wincing.

"W-What is that thing!?" Donatello muttered under his breath; terrified the creature would hear them from their hiding spot.

"I believe that is Tokka; the guardian of this planet." Fugitoid weighed in from the communicator, which was muffled by Donnie's hand. "I was wondering where it was hiding..."

"Aw, shell..." Leo mumbled in horror at the size of the now rampaging turtle. The giant ambling around the surface of the planet as if searching for something.

As soon as Tokka pushed aside a nearby boulder, the group's eyes landed upon what they were looking for. The last piece of the Black Hole Generator that was embedded deep into the side of a steep hill overlooking more lava.

"Guys, look!" Leo whispered frantically, pointing to the object.

In their distraction, Raphael had eased up a bit on the small turtle, who immediately began moving for the gargantuan behemoth. Sensing the movement, Raphael grabbed the little guy for him only to let out a loud screech and immediately, the creature turned.

"RAPH!" Leo berated; fearing their concealed location was found out.

It seemed to be all for naught though, for the second the turtles were about to high-tail it to a safer location, the Triceratons arrived.

The beings shooting at the giant Tokka, giving them optimum time to move.

"Come on, we need to get that piece!" Leo demanded to the group. "Raph, leave that thing here!" he finished, Mikey and Donatello struggling to keep up with the blue-banded brother.

Raph's eyes were on the newborn turtle knowing he couldn't take him but the second his eyes met April, he knew what to do.

"You'll be okay with April, little buddy." he spoke, delicately handing her the small turtle much to April's shock.

April met Raphael's eyes for only a fraction of a second, but it was profound and powerful. The trust in his eyes was one she swore she'd never see again. Swallowing down any doubt, she allowed Raphael to place the rambunctious newborn into her awaiting arms.

Raphael nodded without a reply then he was gone.

April was forced to look after him, the little newborn wiggling precariously but her hands remained firm. "Please...be careful." she whispered, subconsciously cradling the baby turtle closer to her chest as she spoke; well aware he was too far away to even hear her.

"Split up!? Are you NUTS!? That's how all those people die in horror movies!" Mikey flailed at his brother Leo and his latest plan.

"We need to get the last piece, Mikey. We have no choice!" The leader admonished. "The Triceratons are right on our tail and the only option is splitting up. Me and Raph will go for the piece while you and Donnie play mediators and try to keep them distracted."

"But I'm always the distraction!" Mikey moaned.

"Cause you're good at it, Mike. Now, come on, let's get this over with." Raph weighed in with a deep sigh; waiting for Leonardo to start moving before he followed.

Donatello and Michelangelo turned around to see the craziness of the Triceratons versus Tokka taking place and they knew instantly they had their work cut out for them.

"It's actually kinda cute." Casey stated, reaching over to touch the baby turtle's head only to almost get bitten on his finger.

"Oh, God, Casey, I don't think this was such a good idea..."

"Calm down, Red. It's gonna be fine. Just be glad we're not the ones up there gonna get our asses fried by that monster." Casey chuckled, peering around the rock just in time to hear the great monster bellow as she knocked down another Triceraton ship with a whip of her furious tail. "Besides, this is the most effective way to get rid of Triceratons..."

"Not funny, Casey..." April muttered, peering that way for only a second when the small creature n her hands screeched again. "Shh, shh, shh!"

"Keep that thing quiet, April! It's gonna hear us!"

"Oh, yeah, Casey! Just let me give him a bottle real quick!" she moaned, bouncing the baby a bit to try and calm him, but the little guy was persistent; screeching and trying adamantly to get away and toward the sound of the behemoth Tokka...who's roar was getting...closer?

The two teens behind the rock froze for a second before suddenly, the rock was gone. They turned slowly in shock when greeted with the face of Tokka.

"Dammit..." Casey muttered.

April was frozen, staring at this massive creature; the visceral heat leaking of its body was excruciating. She was certain this was it; this was the end...when the small creature in her hands began wiggling and chirping happily.

"Wait...that's your momma." April sighed in relief when the behemoth made no move to eat them or roast them; just waiting patiently as the newborn turtle struggled to get free. "Hehe... N-No charge for babysitting, okay?"

Upon placing the baby turtle upon Tokka's snout, the creature was gone and April fell back a bit into Casey's arms; nearly knocking the lanky teenager over.

"Well, we're not dead." Casey muttered.

"Yeah...I noticed..." April sighed in unbelievable relief...

The Triceratons continued attacking Tokka; giving the turtles just enough time to dislocate the last fragment of the Black Hole Generator from the side of the mountain. The Triceratons not realizing it until it was almost too late. Flinging the last piece, it was heading straight for the lava pit and the turtles were horrified; this couldn't happen but as soon as the thought crossed their minds; Fugitoid was there. Using his gravity pulsators, the piece was in his grasp and as soon as it was beginning to be pulled in, Dregg nabbed it instead.

Tokka screamed, rampaging after the bug, who shot at her and Raphael watched in horror as a familiar screech rang out; little Chompy Picasso went flying off his mother's back and toward a lava pit nearby. Not wasting a second, Raphael used his anchor, jumping after the small turtle and catching him just in time. Near an alcove, he set the small creature down.

Raphael's chest ached as the small turtle tried to climb atop him.

"You need to stay here with your momma, okay?" he said, the newborn turtle gazing up at him.

"Raphael, we need to go!" Leo screamed at him from the edge of the cliff.

"I'm coming!" he replied before his attention turned back to little Chompy. "Bye, little guy. Stay safe, okay?" Raph chuckled, bopping the small creature on it's nose before being pulled up by Leo. Just in time to see Dregg heading for the Triceraton's ship; Fugitoid listening in to their conversation and realizing they were indeed making a deal.

"Oh no..." Fugitoid muttered over Donatello's intercom. "You guys need to come back now!" the robot screamed frantically, barely leaving the turtles and two humans barely any time to blink before the group was pulled back onto the ship.

"Wait! What's going on!? What are they doing!?" Donatello screeched as he ran over to the console by Fugitoid.

All he seen was the Triceratons and Dregg quickly vacating the planet. The Fugitoid turning on their engines and going after them; the thing they didn't expect was Tokka to follow.

"She can fly!?" Mikey exclaimed, pointing toward the back of the ship where the group all turned in shock to see the gargantuan turtle flying toward them at an incredible speed.

"Oh, dear, she's going to run straight into us!" Fugitoid spoke all too late for the giant turtle knocked their ship to the side like swatting away an annoying fly.

The group were thrown across the ship as it tumbled but remained intact. The Fugitoid watching in shock as the giant turtle headed toward the Triceraton's main ship. Inwardly rooting for the huge creature just trying to protect its planet, any glee at seeing it faded instantly when the Triceratons shot a missile... Not at Tokka, but...

"Oh no..." Fugitoid muttered; the most defeated voice that had ever stained the robot's normally chipper voice.

"What's wrong?" Donatello asked.

"They just launched a missile... B-but it's not at the planet its...the dying star..." Fugitoid spoke in absolute horror as he watched it all take place.

"Wait, they can't do that, they'll blow up everything..." Donnie spoke, the frantic tone lacing each syllable.

"It's too late...They already have..." Fugitoid spoke just seconds before the missile made contact.

The light that filtered into the ship was unlike anything the group had ever witnessed. A white light that etched itself into their very subconscious. It started with a light cracking noise like the start of a break on glass before it shattered. All the group were aware of was Fugitoid's frantic ramblings as he knocked the ship into high-drive. The scream of Tokka a momentous roar that pulled at each of their guts at how horribly raw and painful it was to hear.

"NO!" Raphael screamed; knowing little Chompy was on that planet...and he left him there...

A sudden thrust of the engine and all went white...