Winds Of Change
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Twenty Nine - Secret Wind
Ramiela sighed a little as she looked at the expectant face of her Master, "Sometimes ninja hide best in the open, keeping things hidden might only blow up in our face later on. People might wonder why we bothered to hide certain things if we meant no harm. It will be bad enough coming forward and telling people we are ninja, but Yukio could probably get the information together to use that on us at any given time." She pointed out, "We can state that we felt that by saying we were trained in Ninjitsu, might cause many people to panic."
Raph snorted, "You really think it won't cause a panic now Ramiela? What with a good percentage of people out there against us and tryin' to stop us from even becoming citizens?" He sighed and wiped his face with one hand. "I dreamed for years of havin a normal life but the amount of trouble we are runnin inta right now makes me wondah if maybe we might just be better off slippin into the night and fading away. Finding some quiet spot, and puttin down roots."
"The very least we should do is consult with Steven, before we reveal the true training we have, see what he thinks. He is our lawyer for a reason, he might be able to shed some light on things," Don suggested. "Everyone knows Martial Arts is built on speed, efficiency and discipline it is a proven fact that some of the top martial artist of our time could throw a punch or kick at an enemy faster than film could capture it, it is why many martial artist who star in movies are asked to slow their moves down. As for Ramiela's appearance by you it could be put down to any number of things, that would sound perfectly logical."
"What have we to hide though, and why should we hide?" Rama protested. " People who are going use the ninja thing against us will do it no matter what, no matter how we try to protect our selves they will dredge up the thing about ninja being hired assassins and...then claim we are no better than any terrorist who might desire to attack our home." She huffed in exasperation letting out a large breath of air through her teeth, "they will watch us, and sooner or later see that we can teleport and, they'll wonder how we intend to use such powers, and the very fact we hid it from the public could make us suspect as well as public enemy number one," She declared emphatically, "some people could believe we could teleport right into the Pentagon or some such thing, maybe even pop into the oval office and assassinate the President."
Mike nodded slightly, "If we come forward and reveal this first, before someone else does, it would make things look better and if it is done in the right way with a certain charm..." Mike flashed a grin and, waggled his eye ridges, then chuckled. "Come on Leo we can tell them we are capable of it, maybe allow some doctors to run test on it and show that even though we are capable of teleporting it isn't like their isn't some sort of limits to it." He pointed out.
Raph's eyes narrowed, "Count me out I refuse to be a guinea pig for science," he growled darkly, "That is why we are trying for citizenship to avoid that kind of crap. Want to know my two cents Leo?"
"If he doesn't will it stop you from giving it?" Mike asked hopefully.
Raph shot him a sour look, that bordered on the 'keep it up and you are sure to get it later!' "When we want your comments we'll contact the peanut gallery Mike," he growled a little. "It might be wise to try and keep the bit about us teleporting quiet. Nothin' good can come of us revealin' that trick to the world and worse comes to worse if we end up in some zoo, or lab we have that skill to fall back on and get us out of trouble." Raph pointed out, "As Don says bein' fast when you are into the martial arts is no crime and Rama's sudden appearance could easily be explained away by any number of things."
Leonardo listened keeping his silence, his face was, as ever, stoically calm hard to determine just what, if anything, he was thinking. If anything he seemed to be sitting there drinking the comments and opinions of the family in. Absorbing it in the same way a sponge soaked up water.
Don sighed, "Yukio knows we are ninja, he knows only a trained ninja would be able to thwart his moves. But if we reveal our ability to teleport it could be revealing too much to our enemy and leaving ourselves open to him."
Ramiela shook her head, "You think Yukio isn't aware we can do it? How many battles have we fought where we have used the portals to escape the Foot, how many times have a few Foot followed after us -probably hoping they'd end up right in our lair. No, he has to know, it would make sense that he knows. Yukio didn't get to where he is by being a foolish or lacking observational skills." She countered, "He might not know how we use it or do it, he might not be aware of how to turn it to his own advantage. " She paused, "At least not until now."
Mike nodded, "Rama makes a valid point, Yukio has probably been aware of what we can do for a long time now. He hasn't been able to use it to stop us or to benefit himself but he is aware that we escape large battles and if he listens to any survivors who straggle in saying they were near the warehouses by the river and then mysteriously ended up in Central Park, well Yukio gotta know something is up. Hallucenigenetic drugs might account for some of that, but there is no way it can explain everything."
Don gave a smile, "Point taken. But I would still rather not reveal too much of this skill to the media or the public world until Yukio has been cared for."
Leonardo sat up straighter, "I think our best bet is to contact Steven and see what he might say. But I want to beat Yukio to the punch and reveal to the world that we are ninja, that the ninja's path while might not have been the best that it was known different clans were used for different skills or techniques and that the ninja of today is not what he was years ago." He spoke softly casually, but there was a hint of authority to his tone as if to say, he made his decision on this matter. "I want the ninja as Assassin bit downplayed, for that Mike we'll need your help. Don, I want you, Jen and Jessie doing whatever it takes to get the information we need on Yukio to turn over to the police."
Don nodded, he cracked his knuckles in anticipation and there was an eager light that came up in his eyes. He knew Leo was challenging him but it was a challenge he was quite willing to meet and deal with. "Give me a lever big enough and I'll move the world Leo," he quipped.
Leo smiled a little in return, "I don't want the world to move I just want one might person to be brought lower than we are now." He remarked grimly.
"Raphael, you've always been good at finding out important things on the street, why don't you and Aiden see what you can learn that way, I'm sure Aiden would like to assist you."
Aiden beamed, "Aw, yeah!"
"Ramiela, Kali I want you two doing some research see how many ninja schools and things you can find through the internet and things like that, we might need that sort of information to refute some of the claims that ninja are dangerous."
" Yes Master," Ramiela nodded. She beamed why reveal to the world what you were unless you could also prove that you were no threat to the world at the same time. "But what will you be doing Master?" She wondered.
"I'm going return to the scene of the crime tonight. I have a feeling others might be there trying to remove anything that might not have disappeared in the blast, they will know where to look. I want to see who I catch there." Leo replied.
Mike cocked his head, "Well I'll probably go with you Leo you have others busy with other tasks that tie them up and it might not be too safe you going there alone." He drawled softly. "And, Leo one more thing don't bother telling me that I can't because I'm not going listen you don't know what will be waiting or how many and it never hurts to have back up."
"Mom would feel safer with it dad," Kali piped up quickly, "and you always tell us to travel in groups as much as possible recently."
Leo sighed, "You can come Mike, but you be quiet and you follow orders."
Raph guffawed at that and shook his head, "That'll be the day!" he quipped.
XXX
Leo and Mike had positioned themselves on a nearby roof top over looking the debris of the bombed building. As was to be expected there was a few night watchmen and police cruisers showing up to insure no one entered the building or was messing around near there, in spite of the warning tape and other cautionary signs being clearly displayed there was often some fools who felt they were immortal and could break the rules.
From where the two turtles stood guard they could see anyone who might try and gain entrance through a different approach then from off the streets. There was a little wind and the turtles did their best to remain watchful where the wind was not likely to catch and play with the tail ends of their bandannas. Mike shivered slightly, then sighed ever so softly.
"You really expect someone to show up tonight Leo?" he finally ventured.
Leo turned shooting a venomous glare at his brother, "You, can go home." he replied his voice almost timed with the next burst of wind as if wanting the elements to help hide his lapse.
Mike shook his head, it was getting late and he was getting a little cold from sitting and waiting...not to mention he was bored- oh he wasn't bored in the fashion of his youth where he would cut up and joke- but he was bored enough that he longed to be at home perhaps watching a good movie with a large bowl of popcorn, or snuggled up to Cathy in bed talking or any number of more enjoyable endeveaours then sitting on top of a building waiting to freeze one's shell off.
Leo seeing that Mike had lapsed back into silence, nodded his head in simple acknowledgement of his brother's decision. He turned back toward the building and spotted a furtive movement, a flicker of something moving from shadow to shadow barely touching the bit of light between spots. Leo smiled sure of himself, "Let's go Mike."
Mike grinned at least they were going move now. Moving meant warming up and perhaps not being so cold so he easily followed his brother's lead down to the streets below.
The two ninja turtles carefully entered the building. Even though they wanted to learn what they could they did not run head long into things, their alerted senses and all their training focused instead to bring them important information, the slightest noise, smell or change of patterns in the shadows could be a thing to pay attention too. They moved as one, one of them scouting ahead for a bit, while the other watched the back of their partner.
In this fashion they covered a lot of ground but were less likely to be snuck up on and attacked.
'This could very well be a trap Leo.' Mike cautioned his brother.
'It could be,' Leo admitted, in the same mental fashion, 'but I doubt it. I don't think they want too many Foot around here, just a couple to insure that nothing can be traced back. It is what we need.' Leo knew they were nearing the place where the blast had occurred, and he saw a shift of movement, something low down- crouching perhaps had moved.
Leo lunged for the spot, ready to act, and it was just as well he was, for a short sword swung to his left. Leo leapt back and pulled one of his own katana, moving it to block the strike of the sword, the metal rang softly as it connected blade to blade.
The black clad Foot warrior smirked behind his mask knowing who the turtle was, and feeling confident enough in his own skills to at least be able to psyche the blue masked turtle out. He tried a few quick tricky maneuvers, doing his best to disarm the turtle or sneak past defenses. Leonardo met each strike by adjusting his own moves to suit, disengaging the swords for a mere portion of a second before diving back in, jumping or using some other movement to retreat. Advancing quickly and pressing the matter on his own part.
While they had only been in combat for only about a minute or so time wise, the turtle leader had all ready come to understand that the Foot soldier he was up against was a skilled fighter, who knew the sort of tricks one did not learn until lessons in kenpo became more advanced. It was probably why the Foot soldier felt so sure of himself.
Michaelangelo, watched the battle and smiled softly to himself realizing that for him the fun, was just about to begin. Quickly he stamped down on those emotions knowing that he could not in any way let it be known that he was even here. He pulled a chuck from his belt and using all of the training and skills he'd learned over the years he moved himself into position while the two fought with their swords.
Mike could hide his presence well, but not quite good enough. Leo was quite aware of his brother's movements but he pressed his advantage and brought a quick onslaught of hurried sword strikes against the Foot soldier, forcing his opponent to back up and focus all attention on the sword wielding turtle who was pressing for the upper hand.
The Foot Soldier didn't know what was coming, he could not afford to be distracted by things around him, to do so might mean losing or being injured by the blue masked reptile. In a moment something hit him hard upside the head and then he felt a harder blow, the black clad warrior staggered momentarily and then fell to the ground.
"Good work Mike, go get Raph tell him we have someone we need interrogated. I'll bring him to the spot." Leo remarked cryptically all ready tying up the Foot Soldier.
"Sure can do Leo." Mike agreed with a grin. He turned to go and pause, "You think Raph can get him to spill something interesting, he's good fighter. I doubt he will be willing to talk much." He was very much aware that a soldier who seemed as skilled as this, soldier had shown for the most part , was not going be one to spill the beans and reveal information easily.
Leo smiled, "That is why I want Raph. Raph can get just about anyone to see things his way Mike." Leo replied as if that was simply logical.
Mike chuckled a little, "Poor guy, I almost pity him. Waking up from a killer headache to meet his worst nightmare."
TBC
