This chapter is significantly longer than expected, so I hope it satisfies everyone who's been hoping for a longer chapter.
"Time to go." Tobias said, waking Katie up from her slight nap. She'd fallen asleep about an hour ago and he'd allowed her the rest. Now, she stood and stretched out before following him down to the alley below.
"No sign of Andrei or Alyona?" Katie whispered. Tobias shook his head, his face blank.
"We will just have to improvise." He replied as he broke in through the service entrance by picking the lock and disarming the alarm.
"You make it sound so easy. Wish it was." She muttered. Tobias nodded in agreement as they snuck out into the lobby. Keeping to the shadows, they watched the security room, preparing to go in and take out the cameras and guards. Katie pulled her bandanna up into position and Tobias followed her example by raising his hood. They continued towards the security room, keeping to the cameras' blind spots.
Darting quietly into the room, they knocked out the stationed guards and tied them up in the corner. There was no point in killing them and Tobias was glad for that. Honestly, he was tired of killing. It felt like he'd done more of that in the past few months than he had in his entire six year career. Katie scanned through the feeds, looking for more guards.
"Three more, all spread out. Doesn't look like any are headed our way, but one of 'em's in the World War I exhibit. Any ideas?" She asked, turning to him. Tobias thought for a second.
"Find me their radios. Then make sure there is no sign of us on the tapes and set them on a loop." He directed. Katie nodded and did as told, tossing him a radio before turning to the computers. Tobias stepped out into the lobby, going back to the deep shadows before pressing the talk button on the radio. He waited a few seconds before bringing it to his face and muttering at it in Russian. He didn't say anything meaningful, just whatever came to mind. The words didn't matter, just the tone and the fact that the guards wouldn't understand. Katie popped her head out after a few minutes to let him know the guards were headed their way. He nodded and tossed the radio inside as Katie joined him. After a few more minutes, the three guards entered the lobby at a jog and barged into the security room. Tobias and Katie entered quickly behind and knocked them out, tying them up with their fellows.
"Let's go." Katie said, leading the way to the World War I exhibit and the sword. When they finally reached it, they simply stood staring at it, neither willing to move forward with the job. Tobias felt a sinking feeling in his gut as he realized that Alyona and Andrei had failed to find his brothers and no one was coming. He sighed inwardly as he accepted the fact and hurried to come up with a new plan.
"Alright, let's see if there is a way to get it without breaking the glass." He said, stepping forward to examine it. Katie followed his example, confident that at least one of them had a plan. Finding a key hole, Tobias brought out his lock picks. As he carefully worked on the lock, his mind raced to find a way out with the sword. Hearing the lock give with a small click, he withdrew and carefully raised the glass, setting it gently on the floor. He reverently touched the blade, moving his fingers along its length before sliding them slowly under and lifting it from the cushion it rested on.
"Mech Mertvykh." He whispered, barely believing it was back in the hands of a Cult member. And suddenly, he knew exactly what to do with the sword, whether or not his companions came with his brothers.
"I know that face. What's goin' on in that mercenary brain of yours?" Katie asked, her voice reflecting the excitement Tobias felt. He quickly and carefully wrapped up the sword to protect it before slinging it over his back. As he raised his head to answer her question, he froze, hands going to his ulaks without a second thought. Katie followed his example, whirling around with her crossbow up, a bolt already on the slide. Nine figures stepped towards them, outnumbering the two thieves easily. As they continued towards them, Tobias was able to make them out and he relaxed, his spirits lifting. Andrei broke away from the group, consisting of Tobias's brothers, Alyona and four people he didn't recognize, and went straight for Tobias. The brothers hugged, relief evident from both as Andrei buried his head in Tobias's shoulder and the mutant muttered affectionately to him. They separated as the others came up and Alyona kissed him on the cheek.
"Looks like you started without us." She said.
"We didn't have much of a choice." Katie said.
"That is fine. Do you have a plan?" Alyona asked, turning to her partner.
"We need to get the sword to the docks. From there, we can send it back to the Cult with a message for my father. After all, that is where it belongs." Tobias explained.
"Good, but what about Shredder? He's bound to find out and I still have to go back and work for him." Katie said.
"We make it look as if you fought your way out." Tobias said simply.
"Okay, gotta be a little more specific than that, Tobs." Katie said. He smiled and gently pushed her away from the sword's empty case. He brought out his ulak and slashed at it, as if he had targeted someone and they had moved. Catching on, Katie brought up her crossbow and fired at a case. The bolt crashed through the glass, shattering it.
"What the hell are you guys doing?" Raph asked. Tobias walked up to him, ulak still in hand.
"We are creating a believable cover story for Katie to keep her and her family safe. Now, you can either stand there complaining or you can help." He replied, his voice low. Raph glared at him, but after a few minutes he relaxed and brought out his sais.
"What can I do?" He asked.
"Make it look like there has been a fight. A big one." Tobias directed. Raph nodded and did just that, the others following his example. When they finished, the room was a complete mess. Shattered glass covered the floor, weapon marks were clearly visible on almost every surface and one or two bolts were buried in the walls. Katie had a cut from Tobias's ulak on her right shoulder and a few nasty bruises. He'd been reluctant to do her harm, but she'd convinced him that it was necessary.
"It needs to look like I managed to just get away, which means I need some marks to show." She'd said.
Now, with everything in place, Katie hugged the three mercenaries and said her goodbyes.
"You know how to contact us if you need anything." Tobias told her.
"Let's hope I don't have to Tobs." She replied as she hugged him, planting a kiss on his cheek. Then, with a mock salute and a typically rebellious smirk, Katie raced out of the museum.
"Alright, let's get going." Tobias said, taking charge. He turned to go, but was halted by Raph.
"We need to talk." He said.
"Yes, we do, but we have more important things to deal with right now." Tobias replied. Without waiting for an answer, he left through one of the high placed windows and headed towards the docks. The others followed silently. At the docks, Tobias showed the tattoo at the base of his neck to the Cult messenger and gave him the sword with a note for his father. With that task done, the turtles and their friends led the mercenaries into the sewers and to their lair. On the way, introductions were made and Raph explained the truth they'd just been told a few hours prior. They all agreed to hold their questions until after they reached the lair and Tobias told his story.
They entered via the turnstiles and Splinter was waiting for them in the TV area. The group stopped a few feet from him and he stepped up out of the lower area. They stood there in silence as Splinter looked over Tobias, taking him in. Finally, the turtle stepped forward and gave him the Cult salute, keeping his head bowed for a few seconds longer out of respect.
"It is an honor to see you again, Sensei." He said, raising his head.
"It is a blessing to see you again as well, Masolino." Splinter replied.
Tobias cringed slightly. "Actually, my name is Tobias. I mean no offense, but I'll have to stick to it."
"It seems we have a lot to catch up on then, Tobias."
"Yes, it would seem so. I must warn you though; it will be a long story."
Splinter smiled warmly as he led them all into the dojo. "That is fine by me, my son."