A/N: So, I'm just going to post this with hopes it'll help keep me focused on finishing this little fic. This and the next chapter have been ready to post for a while. Even the Epilogue's done. The other two chapters are only halfway finished, though. But still. At least chapter 4 should be easy. And 5's at least got a good idea to run with. So, without further ado, here's some more Target!

Herded

Marcio Guerra-Ramota was furious with how the current events were proceeding. This was his one and only chance to get back into Krait's good favor. He was lucky to even get this chance. Krait wasn't a man known for his forgiveness. He wouldn't even be in this mess if it wasn't for that wrench of a woman. No one gets away with betraying him.

His pacing grew more agitated at the thought of that night. He couldn't even look in the mirror anymore without that reminder marring the right side of his face. If he ever saw Melody again, he'll have to return the favor. His rage exploded as he shoved a table on his next pass, sending the items once cluttering its surface smashing down to the ground.

"Taipan! That's enough!" Coatl roared at him. "Don't go thrashing my tech! I warned you once already. Keep this up and I'm reporting you. The big man already has you on a short leash. Don't make me shorten it!"

"Oh really?" Marcio advanced on the resident techie. "You think you can threaten me?" He grabbed Coatl by his shirt and yanked him up a few inches. "I don't think so, Coatl."

"I'm not scared of you!" Coatl nearly squeaked as his fedora slipped off his head. "I've got Krait on speed dial." He tapped his earpiece with a smirk. "Just try it!"

"Oh, you're scared alright, miedica. You've always been the weakest of the group. Without your little toys, you're nothing." Marcio let the young teen fall without warning. "But I'll let Krait's little lap dog play his games another day. I still have some use for you."

"'Course you do." Coatl picked himself up with a cocky air. "Without me, you'd never get back in. You are so in the doghouse right now. I can't believe you lost both amulets to a bunch of mutant losers." He snickered.

"Watch it, chavo. Just focus on your job," Marcio warned, clenching his fists. "How about you tell me why hacking the vehicle wasn't your first idea."

"Hacking cars is so elementary. My skills rate so much more than something a script-kiddie dropout can round up in his sleep." He spun his chair back around to face his computer.

"It shouldn't be too much longer before that bastardo is where he belongs. That idiota is so easy to lure into the open. So many weaknesses to exploit."

Coatl didn't answer immediately as his fingers practically flew over the keys. "Yeah. He's predictable alright. Just like our good friends, the boys in blue," he grumbled. "Those pawns of yours need to dial it back or our cover's gonna be blown wide open."

"What?" Marcio exclaimed in Spanish.

"Local law enforcement is converging on the crash site." Coatl flashed him an eager grin. "I could stall them for you. I love giving those do-gooders a good time."

Marcio cursed in his native tongue. "I knew they were too obvious!"

"You really should stop hiring amateurs. We're supposed to be the elite. They really screw with our image."

He turned away from Coatl and clicked on his earpiece communicator. "Tell me you have the Davis's."

"They ditched the car, boss!" His lead man exclaimed. "We got the place covered so they ain't getting' away, though. We'll get 'em!"

Another Spanish curse left his mouth as he resumed his restless pacing. "Call off the hunt. We can't afford witnesses." His fist clenched. "This should have been an easy capture! Anaconda's gas explosion should have finished them both!"

"You want us ta let 'em get away?"

"No, idiota! Moccassin will stalk the place out for you. He and Anaconda won't get themselves caught by the policia like your sorry excuse for a team." Even as he told off his lead grunt, irritation reigned. The win should have been his. If he was out there, it would have been. He despised getting sidelined, but the loss of his right eye still gave him issues with his aim. If he had access to Krait's nanotech, everything would be different, but the man was stingy with his skills. And there was no way he'd offer to be a guinea pig like Python. That brainless oaf only got worse with every resurrection. No, he'd wait to get Krait's favor. Then he'd get what he wanted.

"I think they're leavin'," Angel's tense voice proceeded her arrival. She closed the door behind her and gave the office a wary look.

"That doesn't mean we're safe," Benjamin grunted, leaning forward in an office chair to glare at the door. "This place is far from secure."

"It'll have to do fer now. At least it gives me time ta patch you guys up a bit. I've learned a bit of first aid. It's not much, but it's better than nuthin'."

"We don't have time for that. They could find us at any time."

"I'm not draggin' your punk-ass around if I don't have to."

Jeffrey shook his head. "You guys are both so serious. We just escaped the bad guys. We should be enjoying this."

"You don't understand these criminals at all. They don't give up." Benji pushed off from the chair, using the desk to keep his balance. "We have to get moving again. Before they realize we're still here." He barely made it around the desk before he faltered. Frey moved to help him, but Angel got there first.

"You really need a doctor," she chided him. "You're not in any shape to go runnin' around."

"We don't have a choice!" He hissed. "They'll find me. They always do."

"You are tryin' my patience, punk," Angel huffed. "You're lucky your sister's dating a friend of mine or I'd let those morons take ya."

Benji huffed. "Could you not mention that? I'd rather forget how stupid my sister's acting right now."

Angel released him with a glare, ignoring how Benji barely remained on his feet with the loss of her support. "I can't believe you! You're so blind with your rules that you can't be happy for her? She's with a great guy. One that'll do anything to keep her safe. No matter what it takes. That should be a good thing."

"Who exactly is this guy you guys are talking about?" Frey asked. "Anyone going to fill me in here?"

"More like put her in even more danger!" He growled, glaring at her. "Hanging around those vigilantes is just going to get her killed."

"You have that little faith in her choices?"

"She's too trusting sometimes."

"Are we talking about that Raph guy?" Frey furrowed his brows, recalling the gruff voice on an interrupted call. "The one Kimi was sighing over at the hospital?"

"You know about Raph?" Angel asked.

"Kinda," he shrugged. "I just talked to him over the phone. Guy sounded tough."

"That's because he's an outlaw like his freakish brothers," Benjamin interjected.

"Don't call them freaks!" Angel roared with her fists clenched. Her gloves emitted a faint mechanical buzz. "You don't know anything about them!"

"Agent Bishop told me-!"

"Bishop's insane!" Her voice grew shrill in her rage. "That madman is tha reason the turtles have to keep hidden! Because people like him only care about cutting them up like some sick science experiment!"

"Turtles?" Frey questioned, only to be ignored by the growing fight.

"You're just as bad as that O'Neil woman!" Benji scoffed. "Agent Bishop protects our world. He upholds the law. He's not a 'madman'."

"Oh, really? What do you think he'll do when he gets his hands on them?" She swiped the air before her in exasperation. "Didja even notice that huge scar marring Raph's plastron? Bishop already tried cutting him up not even six months ago!"

"Plastron?" Again, Frey was confused. Still, he got the impression that 'Raph' was more than just some guy his sister was dating… But he knew he wasn't getting his answers anytime soon. Benjamin's unrelenting stubborn streak was difficult to break through at the best of times. It was only made worse when factoring in his brother's strict moral views. With Angel's passionate rage, it was clear that argument was going to last a while.

He flinched as her fist slammed through the wall with the force of a sledgehammer. Yeah, he wasn't getting involved with that. She was definitely more hot-headed than the typical groupie; a fact that intrigued him. Maybe she wasn't his usual type, but he was determined to change that. Just not right now.

Another sound caught his attention over the oblivious fighters. Curious, he moved towards the sound. The quiet hissing grew louder as he neared the door. Cautiously, he opened the door until he could hear a crackling sound following the hiss. Then he noticed the dancing glow down the hall. 'That's not good…' He quickly closed the door and turned towards his companions.

"We have a problem, guys!" Frey ran over to them, not all that surprised that neither even acknowledged him. Oh, how he hated getting ignored! He bravely got between them and pressed his only good arm against his brother's chest as he half-lifted his bad arm towards Angel. "Okay, listen to me," he insisted. "We have to get out of here! There's a fire in the building heading our way!"

"Anaconda," Benji grumbled. "I'd love to send that psychopath straight to supermax where she belongs."

"The arsonist," Angel scowled. "She deserves worse for burning down April's shop."

The two fighters moved towards the door, Benji moving a lot slower. Not willing to face the danger himself, Frey kept back. He'll let the experts form a plan. Hopefully, it'll be a good one. He didn't like the nerves trying to worm their way into his chest. His agitation came out in a need to pace, but he wouldn't let it warp his easy smile. Benji and his dream girl had the skills to get him out. Of course they did. There was nothing to worry about. They'd keep him safe.

"She's completely blocked off the right end of the hallway. We can go left, but I have a feeling she knows it's our only way," Benjamin muttered, barely loud enough to be heard.

"You think she might be leadin' us?" Angel hissed back.

"It's her M.O. I'm worried about what she's leading us towards. It has to be a trap."

"Doesn't look like we have much of a choice here."

"I know. Exactly why I'm worried." Benji sighed. "We'll have to be ready for anything. She won't be easy to evade. She's an elite."

"We'll get out," Frey said, forcing confidence in his voice. "Between to two of you, they don't stand a chance!"

Angel and Benjamin shared a glance that suspiciously seemed to imply that he was being ridiculous. This was such a crazy idea that Frey decided to disregard it.

"I'll take the lead if Jeffrey would help you," Angel offered.

"I'm not letting my little brother carry me around," Benjamin objected.

"I told you to call me 'Frey', my Angel," Jeffery insisted.

"Ugh," Angel shook her head. "Look. I'm not luggin' you around anymore. I need my hands free. I'm the only able fighter here. So if you don't wanna get your punkass caught, then you listen ta me. Got it?"

'She just keeps getting sexier,' Jeffery smirked. "Come on, bro! Our Guardian Angel has spoken."

Angel harrumphed with a haughty flick of her purple streaked hair. "Let's just go already. Before I change my mind."

Benjamin tensed as Frey reached for him but didn't resist for once. His gaze was locked on the blocked hallway with familiar rage stiffening his form. It was far from a surprising reaction. Benji always had a short fuse. Usually, it was aimed at him.

It took a little convincing before Benji allowed Frey to direct him. Already, he could feel the heat of the fire on his back. Insane laughter echoed down the hall and the elder brother's form grew rigid once again. Benji's gaze kept darting back towards the approaching flames.

"Hey, do you think you can pick up the pace a bit, bro?" Frey asked. "I really don't wanna get cooked before I get big, yanno."

"Anaconda needs to pay for what she almost did to Kimi," he growled.

"Sounds great and all, but maybe later, okay?" He frowned. "Our sister's safe right now. We're not."

"Yeah. Yeah, of course." He sighed. "We'll make it through this and then she'll pay. No one hurts my siblings and gets away with it."

"Good plan," Frey said, just to keep his brother from pulling away from him. Jeffrey may be fit, but Benji always won a battle of strength. That was just an undeniable fact. One they didn't have time to put to the test.

Angel was waiting for them at the door. "Alright. If there's a trap planned, this would be tha last chance for them to throw it."

"All my gadgets are in the car," Benji grumbled.

"Don't worry. This suit isn't just for show," Angel smirked. "Though I lost some good tech when I had to ditch my helmet, I've still got an edge on you guys. My suit's bulletproof and I can pack a serious punch, among other things." She glanced down at her suit with a frown. "I haven't checked out everything yet, but I'm sure it's all kickass. I'll go scout ahead." She pulled open the door and cautiously stepped out.

Jeffery watched, shifting impatiently. "So? Are we good or not?"

"That's a big maybe," she replied. "We can't stay here at any rate."

Her words couldn't have been more prophetic as the sound of laughter grew behind the guys. "Gotcha, boys." The new woman's voice startled Frey so badly, he lost his grip on his brother. He whirled around and stared at the assassin. The form-fitted fire suit seemed to glisten in the flames around her, the orange tinted goggles over her eyes shimmering in the light. "This is so perfect. I get to take out the rest of the ginger gang. Will you burn just like your sister almost did?"

'So, that's Anaconda, huh?' Frey frowned, noticing his brother's scowl. "Yanno, I'm not so into crazies. They're such a buzzkill."

"I'm glad you have some sense, then," Benjamin commented, his voice tainted with his rage for the woman before them.

"Hey, I gotta have some standards. I'm a popular guy. I've met my fair share of psycho groupies. Not pleasant."

Anaconda raised her flamethrower. "So, who wants to go first? Any takers?"

"What are you guys waiting for?" Angel demanded. "Let's go!"

Frey reacted immediately, his feet quickly backing up towards the door. "Good idea." With a final look at the pyro-assassin, he whirled around and darted outside. Anaconda's laughter followed him out, but that was nothing compared to what happened next. He never heard it coming, so he was confused when Angel's hand shot out in front of his face. His eyes widened at the bullet that bounced harmlessly off her glove. The bullet that was heading right for his head…

"Sniper! Angel yelled out. "Run to the woods!"

"Moccassin," Benji hissed. "We won't make it! Not in broad daylight!"

"We'll make it!" Angel insisted. "We have to. Even if I have ta block every shot! Now go!"

But Jeffrey hesitated. He couldn't believe it. He was almost shot! In the head! He wasn't ready for this. He wasn't a fighter. He was a rock star! Why was this happening?!

"I said, go!" Angel shoved him forward, the force of her hit amplified by her suit so it felt like getting rammed by a semi. And not a moment too soon as a second bullet whistled by him and tore a hole in the door behind him. "I'm not dying for ya, idiot. So get moving before I have ta carry yer sorry ass!"

So he ran. He ran towards those woods, barely registering anything but the bullets still blazing past him. One terrifyingly close shot clipped through his already torn shirt. He was too young to die. He still had so many songs to write and ladies to swoon. This couldn't be the end. He had to live!

A/N: Ah, Taipan. Writing from his perspective was an experience. I hope you enjoyed! Now get to feeding that review box while I work on more ;)