Crime. It's something most people take for granted. For others, it's a way of life. It's those kinds of people I can't stand. For low level punks, they're just stealing to get by. They can be dealt with, put away, maybe even set down a better path. But those whose business is made on the suffering and degradation of others, those people make me sick. The cops can't do much, so that means nobody can stop them. That's where I come in.
Who am I? I'm nobody.
…
Down in the lair, the turtles stood in a line in front of Splinter, ready and at attention.
"Shuto!" Splinter declared.
All four turtles struck a fighting stance.
"Backfist strike!"
They all raised their fists instantly.
"Front snap kick!"
Their legs all snapped up in a kick.
"Upper rising block!"
They all raised their arms in a defensive position.
"Double kick counter!"
They all leapt into the air and kicked before landing and kicking again.
"Again!"
They repeated the action beat for beat.
"And, finish!"
They all landed in front of Splinter, bowing in respect before finally collapsing from exhaustion.
"Ok…" Donnie let out. "I can't move."
"Who wants to?" Raph replied.
"Wake me for breakfast," Mikey wheezed.
"Note to self," Leo remarked. "Buy Mikey some new deodorant."
"Your training has concluded for tonight." Splinter told them before heading to his room. "We will resume in the morning."
"Finally, some rest," Raph let out, heading for the TV.
Just as he reached for the remote, Leo snatched it up.
"Alright Don, you and me, Fantasy Fighter 7 showdown!"
"Hey, it's my TV time!" Raph demanded.
"I got here first."
"Alright then, roshambo. Loser gives up the TV."
"You're on!"
They got in front of one another, holding a fist over an outstretched palm.
"Ro. Sham. Bo!" They shouted in unison.
Raph revealed a rock while Leo revealed scissors.
"Ha!" Raph cheered. "I win."
He flipped onto the couch and snatched the remote, turning on the latest episode of Ronin Jones. In the episode, Jones had come to a village seemingly decimated. As he walked, a lone warrior stepped out of the shadows.
"Warrior, what happened here?" Jones asked.
"Achoo..." The warrior snarled. "He sent his vile minion, Mucus the Vast, to destroy our home. My people fled in terror. Now, I am all that's left."
"I am sorry."
"Not as sorry as Mucus will be. I will find him… and he will pay!"
Just then, the cartoon cut out for a news broadcast.
"We interrupt our regularly scheduled program for an important news bulletin."
"Oh, come on!" Raph let out.
"Suddenly feel bad for mocking me when this happened with Space Heroes, huh?" Leo remarked.
"Watch it," Raph told him.
"There was a daring robbery thwarted by an unknown masked vigilante."
"Casey at it again?" Donnie asked.
"Amateur footage captured the fantastic story."
The turtles watched as they saw a man in all black with a cape and red gloves and boots leap onto the hood of a car, punching the windshield. Raph paused the TV, allowing them to get a good look at the new player.
"Nope," Raph replied. "Someone new."
"Someone reckless," Leo noted. "He could have killed someone with that stunt."
"So much for Ronin Jones," Mikey lamented. "We have a vigilante to stop."
"Right," Leo confirmed. "Let's hit the streets."
…
Out on the surface, the four turtles leapt from rooftop to rooftop in search of the vigilante. As they leapt through a construction site, Mikey pulled out a nunchaku that he and Leo rode down an I-beam. They leapt off and onto the adjacent rooftop.
"This is getting monotonous," Raph commented. "We've been at this for hours, and no sign of this guy."
"Maybe he has a criminal quota," Mikey suggested. "Like, no more criminals after 9pm, or something."
The three of them just gave Mikey a blank stare in response. As Donnie rolled his eyes, his phone started ringing.
"Hold that thought," Donnie replied as he answered the phone. "Hello?"
He was only greeted by strange static, causing him to jerk away in pain before hanging up.
"What was that?" Leo asked.
"Not sure," Donnie admitted. "Think someone tried to fax me or something."
Just then, Donnie caught a glimpse of something above them.
"Guys," he let out. "I found him."
The others turned and saw the vigilante standing on a nearby rooftop with his cape blowing in the wind.
"Cape, mask, dark brooding presence," Mikey listed off. "Guys, I think we've got a full fledged superhero here."
"Yeah, if Batman went off the deep end," Raph remarked. "What's the plan, Leo?"
Before Leo could respond, the vigilante leapt off the roof, much to their shock. He then shot out a grappling hook from his wrist, allowing him to swing across the city.
"We follow him," Leo replied.
The four took off, giving chase to the masked loner. As they pursued, the vigilante's skills were put on full display. How he was able to leap from rooftop to rooftop, perform impressive acrobatics, able to keep up with the flow of traffic on the streets below without much trouble.
"You gotta admit, the guy has talent," Mikey commended.
"Well so do we," Raph insisted.
"What's he after, anyway?" Leo wondered.
Donnie looked down towards the streets to find him, and saw his direction change as a limousine rounded a corner.
"I have a hunch it's connected to that limo."
"So we follow the limo, we find out what this guy's up to," Leo deduced.
Donnie nodded as the four continued their pursuit, never losing sight of their target, or his target.
…
After much traversing, the vigilante landed on a rooftop, seeing the limo come to a stop in front of an Italian restaurant. Unbeknownst to him, the turtles landed on a roof across the street, curious by the limo's choice of destination.
"Hey, this is Don Turtelli's place," Donnie recalled.
"Who'd wanna meet with that nut?" Leo wondered.
To the turtles surprise, a Foot Ninja exited the limo and opened the passenger door, allowing Shredder and his Foot Elite to walk inside.
"Shredder," Leo swore. "It had to be Shredder."
"Nice to see he still buys his suits at the hardware store," Raph remarked.
"What is he even doing here?" Donnie wondered. "Shredder doesn't seem like someone who enjoys italiano."
As Shredder and the Elite entered the restaurant, the vigilante swung over to the roof, moving towards the skylight.
"We need to see what he's seeing," Leo decided.
"I think I have something that might help," Donnie recalled.
…
Inside the restaurant, Don Turtelli was helping himself to a plate of spaghetti as Shredder and the Elite entered.
"Ah, Shredder," Turtelli greeted. "Please, have a seat."
Shredder took a seat across from him as two sets of two Elites stood on either side of him. Turtelli smiled.
"Gotta say, when my boys told me you were back for real, I was a little surprised. That is you right? Not some girl playing dress up?"
"How much convincing would one need?" Shredder threatened, staring him down.
"Ok, ok, you convinced me. All the same, I'm glad you called. After everything that's happened, what with the gang war and that alien invasion, I can imagine you needing help getting back on your feet."
"Me? Needing your help?"
"As it happens, events of world changing proportions like this can be… beneficial to men like us. So here's what I'm gonna do for you. My best offer. I can set you up with some turf down on the south side. Give some good press, let them know the Foot is back, and you share, oh… 60 percent. I guarantee, you won't get a better offer anywhere."
Shredder just chuckled in response, much to Turtelli's confusion.
"What's so funny?"
"Your assumption that I would come grovelling to a common gangster like you. And your ignorance to the fact that the power in this city has once again shifted… to me."
Turtelli was taken aback by this, unsure how to respond.
"What are you trying to say, Shredder?"
"Must I spell it out for you?!"
Suddenly, Turtelli's men drew their guns as the Elite aimed their weapons. Both sides were ready to strike at a moment's notice.
"Hold it!" Turtelli called out. "No fighting in here, I just had this place cleaned. Look Shredder, the Dragons, the mutants, even what little of those alien freaks running around, they all want a piece of the pie. You're gonna have to do a lot of fancy talking if anyone's gonna listen to you."
"Oh, I don't need to," Shredder replied as both sides backed off. "I already control the Purple Dragons through Hun, the mutants are little more than scavengers at this point, and the Kraang now serve me. So here is my offer. Either declare your allegiance to me, or…"
A swift motion from Shredder sliced Turtelli's hat in half, as well as cut down the candles on the table. Turtelli just looked back to Shredder as he retracted his claws.
"... well ok then," Turtelli agreed. "How may I be of service?"
"You're the biggest trader in black market Triceraton goods. I need access to your inventory, for a project I am working on."
"Of course. I'll get you in contact with my supplier immediately. Just have one of your guys stop by the docks and ask for Ruffington."
…
Back on the roof, the vigilante scowled at the mention of the name.
"Ruffington," He swore. "I knew it."
He then fired a grappling hook and shot off, unaware of the spy roach listening in on everything. On the other end, the turtles were watching and listening to everything Shredder and Turtelli had said.
"Shredder with Triceraton tech?" Leo realized. "Not good."
"Hey, you guys notice how that guy got all intense about that 'Ruffington' guy?" Raph recalled.
"Guess we found our vigilante's target: this Ruffington guy," Mikey mused.
"And we know where he's going," Donnie added. "The docks. Come on, let's go!"
"Ten bucks says this guy and Ruffington have a history that forced him to become a vigilante," Mikey surmised.
"We'll ask him when we catch him," Raph told him. "Come on."
…
Down at the docks, the vigilante swung over the security fence and onto one of the buildings, knocking out one of the guards. Another guard spotted him as he landed and was just about to shoot him, when suddenly, a shuriken flew out and knocked the gun out of his hands. He turned and saw a green foot kick him in the face, sending him skidding across the roof. The vigilante turned and saw the turtles standing before him.
"What… are you?" He asked.
"Just some green-skinned concerned citizens," Raph remarked. "How about you? What's your story?"
"Me?" the vigilante replied. "I'm nobody."
"Alright then, Nobody, what are you doing here?" Leo questioned.
"That's none of your business."
"Well, when it comes to fighting the scum of the city, we make it our business," Mikey replied. "We're pretty good at that. Fighting bad guys, saving lives. Maybe you've heard of some radical reptiles fighting the forces of evil in the Big Apple?"
"No," Nobody replied plainly. "Sorry."
There was a beat of silence.
"I don't know whether to be happy we've kept our secret this long, or sad that no rumors have gotten out about us," Mikey admitted.
Nobody just peered inside the warehouse as Nakumo entered, walking up to a sharply dressed man in glasses.
"Ruffington, I presume."
"Indeed," the man replied. "As you can see, our warehouse contains the greatest collection of Triceraton weapons and technology in the city. No doubt your 'master' will find it to his liking."
"It will suffice. I want shipments moving out immediately. Especially in regards to computer parts and systems."
"He certainly has a particular interest. Mind if I ask why?"
"Only if you wish to lose your head. Just start packing it up."
"Fine, fine."
Back on the roof, Raph snorted.
"Figures Shredder's little errand boy would be here."
"Shredder?" Nobody repeated. "The man in metal at the restaurant."
"AKA, Oroku Saki," Leo confirmed. "The so-called savior of New York. I'm guessing the guy he's meeting is Ruffington."
"So, you were listening, then?" Nobody remarked.
"Call us curious," Donnie replied. "What we don't understand is why you're out to get him. This is more than just stopping a weapons trade to you, isn't it?"
"Please tell me he's connected to your tragic backstory?" Mikey begged, earning an elbow from Raph.
"You… might say that. Ruffington is a powerful weapons dealer with the US government, with ties to the Black Market. And as tonight revealed, the Turtelli mob. I was a New York City detective working to bring him down, but I could never get any proof. Once he got fed up with my attempts to bring him in, he threw his weight around and got me demoted to the archives."
"Oof, police boonies," Mikey winced.
"Ruffington destroyed my career and ruined my reputation. I promised he'd pay for that."
"Ok, stop there." Leo spoke up. "Cause if this is going where I think it is-"
"Relax, I don't want to kill him. That's not true justice. What I want is for him to pay for his crimes. To have every bribe he's taken, life he's ruined, and deal he's made strung out for the world to see. I want him exposed for the criminal he is as he spends the rest of his life rotting in some lowly cell answering for his many sins."
"I'm starting to like this guy," Raph remarked.
"I know, right?" Mikey replied.
"Plus, any excuse to stick it to the Shredder is good for us," Donnie remarked.
"Agreed," Leo concurred. "You can count us in."
…
Down in the warehouse, men were moving back and forth, loading crates with Triceraton tech and moving the crates out of the warehouse. As some of the other men stood guard, Nobody swooped down and knocked one out, carrying him out of the way before he was discovered. As he laid him aside, the turtles dropped down to join him and even opened up a few crates.
"Looks like a lot of Triceraton equipment and tech," Donnie observed. "Surprisingly light on weapons."
"That's good, right?" Mikey asked. "Fewer alien guns on the streets?"
"Maybe," Leo replied. "But the idea of Shredder having alien tech of any kind is enough to make me worried."
"Well I can say this," Raph spoke, opening one crate. "He ain't short on weapons."
The others came over and saw the massive cannon in the crate, Nobody even picking it up.
"If these things get on the streets, it'll make the recent gang war look like a water balloon fight."
"How do you even fire one of those things?" Raph asked.
"I think it's this button here," Mikey guessed, pointing to a button on the side.
This caused him to accidentally press the button and activate the cannon, firing a green beam at a nearby wall and disintegrating it. Mikey turned pale green, shrinking his head into his shell.
"Sorry..."
"Nice one, shell for brains," Raph remarked, smacking him upside the head.
As the wall melted away, it revealed Nakumo and Ruffington in an office, turning towards the turtles and Nobody in surprise.
"The turtles!" Nakumo shouted.
"That damn vigilante..." Ruffington cursed.
"Ruffington," Nobody snarled.
"Raph," Mikey snarled, earning another smack from the red turtle. "What? Everyone else was doing it."
"Get them!" Nakumo ordered.
The guards all immediately opened fire on the heroes, prompting them to scatter and hide behind some boxes.
"Of all the interloping…" Ruffington cursed.
"You get used to it," Nakumo replied, drawing his swords and leaping down into the fight.
As he did so, Ruffington pulled out a phone and dialed a certain number.
"I need assistance here. Prime Fishery warehouse. Get here, now!"
Nakumo raced across the floor and around the constant gunfire before leaping over a box and coming into contact with Leo.
"Nakumo," Leo greeted. "What's Shredder after with all this tech?"
"Why ask questions you won't be around to hear the answers to?"
Nakumo swung his blades at Leo, prompting him to roll out of the way and draw his own. He swung his swords against Nakumo's', leading them to clash. The other turtles and Nobody however, were having a bit more trouble being pinned down by constant gunfire.
"We gotta do something about these bozos!" Raph insisted.
"Way ahead of you," Nobody replied, turning towards the guards and firing the cannon once again.
It hit the wall behind them, causing it, as well as some of the support beams, to disintegrate. The ceiling began collapsing around everyone inside the building, prompting them to escape. This included Ruffington, as he made his way outside.
"Ruffington!" Nobody called out, much to his dismay.
"Prepare my helicopter," he ordered one of the goons before taking off.
Once the shooting had ended, the three turtles climbed out and began to fight as Nobody discarded the cannon and pursued Ruffington. Donnie used his staff to swat a guards gun out of his hand before bashing him across the face, knocking him out. Mikey just leapt out and kicked one guard into another, knocking them both out. A third guard tried shooting him from behind, but Raph quickly threw his sai at him, allowing the blunt end to hit him in the head and knock him out. The sai then spun in the air before returning to Raph's hand.
"Thanks," Mikey told him.
"Come on," Raph replied. "Let's help Leo take that loser down."
Back with Leo, he and Nakumo continued swinging their swords at each other, neither seeming to gain ground on the other. As the two locked blades, Nakumo managed to pull one of his back and was about to swing it at Leo's head. Before he could, Mikey's kusarigama chair wrapped around the blade, pulling it out of his hand. Leo took this chance to shove Nakumo back and gain some ground. Nakumo tried swinging his sword at him again, but Raph quickly intercepted him and blocked the blow with his sai. Before he could react, Don jabbed him in the chest and knocked him back.
"It's over Nakumo," Leo declared. "Tell us why Shredder wants all this tech!"
Nakumo looked up and smirked, much to the turtles' confusion.
"No. No I don't believe I will."
Confused, the turtles turned around and were greeted by a large muscular man in a purple coat and pants as well as a shorter, skinnier man in a white suit and hat, with his hair in a ponytail and carrying a cane.
"Well, isn't this a nice surprise, Mr. Touch?" the skinnier man remarked with a smirk.
"Indeed, Mr. Go," the larger man answered. "The turtles we've heard so much about."
"Let's see if they are worth the rumors about them."
With that, the two fist bumped, sending a surge of energy through each other.
"Well…" Mikey let out. "This is a new wrinkle."
The one dubbed Mr. Touch then punched one of the nearby crates, sending it hurtling towards them and causing the turtles to duck out of the way. As Mikey picked himself up, Mr. Go sprinted up and smacked him across the face with his cane several times. He then kicked Mikey in the chest, sending him flying back. Raph tried leaping at him, but only ended up getting caught by Mr. Touch and thrown against a wall. Leo tried running at Mr. Go, but he quickly sped around him and struck him on the head from behind. He then quickly spun around and jabbed Donnie in the chest, causing him to hunch over as Mr. Touch brought the cane down on his head.
…
Outside the warehouse, Ruffington was making his way to the helicopter as Nobody came charging out.
"Ruffington! You won't get away that easily you worm!"
Ruffington just climbed into the copter and began taking off. He then turned the copter towards Nobody and opened fire with the copters missiles. Nobody leapt out of the way as the missiles hit, shooting a grapple at a nearby crane to help him gain some altitude. Once he got high enough, he swung towards the copter and grabbed hold of one of the landing struts.
…
Back with the turtles, they were getting their shells handed to them by Mr. Touch and Mr. Go, getting thrown out of the warehouse and smashing into some crates. As the turtles picked themselves up, the two villains fist bumped once more, Donnie noting the energy going through them.
"Touch… and go…. I get it! Every time they touch, they recharge their powers."
"So we just gotta play keep away with them until their tanks are empty," Mikey deduced.
"Then let's keep these two separated," Leo declared. "I'll take Touch, you take Go. Donnie and Raph, find Nakumo and destroy what's left of the tech."
"You don't even have to ask," Raph remarked.
Donnie and Raph went off as Leo and Mikey faced down Touch and Go.
"Dividing your ranks?" Mr. Go remarked. "Not the smartest thing you could do."
"Shows how much you know, 'Mr. Go'," Mikey quipped. "Then again, I guess when you share a brain cell with your oversized friend, stupidity just comes with the territory."
Enraged the two charged at the turtles, Leo leaping over Mr. Touch and kicking him in the back. Mikey ran towards Mr. Go, ducking under his cane before swinging his nunchaku at him.
…
Meanwhile, Donnie and Raph ran back into the warehouse, seeing Nakumo attempting to load up as much tech as he could into a truck.
"Leaving so soon?" Raph remarked as he and Donnie drew their weapons. "And without even saying goodbye."
"Goodbye," Nakumo replied, throwing several throwing stars at them.
The two ninjas easily block the stars as Nakumo leapt towards them with a sword drawn. Donnie quickly blocked the sword with his staff , twisting it and snapping out his naginata blade. He clashed blades with Nakumo until Raph ran up and kicked him in the chest. Nakumo went skidding back as the two turtles ran up to him, prompting him to move fast as the turtles swung their weapons. He easily dodges and blocks their weapons, pushing the offensive.
"Think you got this guy, Don?" Raph asked. "I've got an idea."
"Go for it," Donnie told him. "I've got this guy."
Raph nodded as he took off, leaving Donnie and Nakumo alone to duke it out.
"I thought you and your brothers were less cowardly then that," Nakumo remarked.
"It's called dividing and conquering, you simpleton."
Nakumo raised an eyebrow before turning and seeing Raph holding a Triceraton blaster.
"Hope you kept the receipt!" Raph jeered before opening fire on the truck.
The second the shot made contact with the truck, it exploded, destroying every piece of Triceraton tech inside. Nakumo went wide-eyed at the carnage, providing Donnie with an opportunity to disarm him, knocking him to the ground.
"You lose, Nakumo."
"Savor your victory turtles. For soon, you will have none left."
Nakumo then pulled out a smoke bomb and threw it in Donnie's face, giving him cover for his escape. Donnie just coughed repeatedly as the smoke cleared and Raph ran up to him.
"You okay, D?"
"Just annoyed he got away. Still, we halted the Foot's progress."
"Hope the others are doin alright."
…
Meanwhile, Nobody managed to pull himself up into the helicopter, making a beeline for the drivers seat and pulling Ruffington out of it.
"This ends tonight, Ruffington!"
"Who on earth are you?"
"Thanks to the powerful forces you've chosen to ally yourself with, I'm Nobody."
"Then you won't be missed."
Ruffington then charged at Nobody, tackling him into the back of the driver's seat as the helicopter flew out of control.
…
Back on the ground, Leo and Mikey continued fighting Touch and Go, doing everything in their power to keep the two apart. As predicted, their powers began to wane the more the fight dragged on.
"They're starting to weaken," Leo noted. "Whatever we do, we need to keep them from recharging."
"I've got an idea!" Mikey declared. "Shell to shell, quick!"
Leo obliged as the two got behind each other, facing down their respective opponents.
"You know guys, your commitment to teamwork has really inspired us," Mikey shared. "In fact, we've been thinking of trying a little teamwork action of our own. Ready Leo?"
"Ready. Shuto! Backfist strike!"
The two struck out, knocking Touch and Go back.
"Front snap kick!"
They quickly kicked as the two tried to approach.
"Upper rising block!"
They quickly brought their arms up to block the two's attacks.
"Double kick counter!"
The two turtles quickly moved out from under their opponents and kicked them in the back.
"Again!"
With one final kick to each of them, they fell into the water defeated.
"And finish," Mikey concluded as they looked over their handywork. "Well done, Mr. Leonardo."
"Same to you, Mr. Michelangelo."
…
Back with Nobody, he and Ruffington continued going at it. While Ruffington did his best to put up a fight, Nobody was clearly more well trained and was able to lay him out no problem. Once Ruffington was down, Nobody grabbed him and bailed from the copter as it came crashing down. The copter crashed into the dock in a fiery blaze, with Nobody and Ruffington splashing down into the water as the turtles reconvened.
"Think he made it out ok?" Mikey asked.
About that time, Nobody's grapnel shot out of the water, wrapping around one of the cranes hanging above the loading dock. The turtles stepped back as Nobody came zipping out of the water, dropping onto the deck in front of them with Ruffington under his arm. He dropped Ruffington onto the ground, handcuffing him to a nearby pipe.
"That should hold him until the police arrive," Nobody declared. "He won't be able to buy his way out of this one."
"Nice work," Leo commended. "Guess this means you're done."
"Hardly," Nobody replied, starting to walk off. "If this night taught me anything, it's that Ruffington's just a puppet. It's really Don Turtelli I need to bring down."
"We'd be more than happy to help if you need us."
"Thank you. Thanks to you, I know I can win this fight. For the first time in a long time, I feel like… somebody."
With that, Nobody shot out a grapnel and zipped off into the night.
"So. cool." Mikey let out.
"Come on," Leo spoke. "Let's go home."
…
Later, Nakumo arrived at Shredder's new headquarters, kneeling before him in disgrace.
"Master, I am sorry to report that the shipment has been destroyed."
"The turtles?" Shredder surmised.
"Yes."
Shredder just clenched his fist in response.
"I continue to grow impatient with their interference. I want them dealt with before they have the chance to ruin my plans. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Master."
Shredder just walks off, leaving Nakumo to his failure.
…
As the turtles finally returned to the lair, they were all yawning and stretching their limbs.
"Man, what a night," Leo commented.
"Tell me about it," Donnie concurred.
"I don't know about you dudes," Mikey spoke up. "But I'm gonna sleep like a rock."
"That goes double for me," Raph agreed.
Just as they began heading for their rooms, Splinter emerged from his, well rested and alert. Upon seeing his sons, he smiled happily.
"Ah, my sons, you are up. Now that you have all rested, perhaps we can resume our workout from last night."
"Last night?!" they all let out in shock.
"You mean it's… morning?" Mikey realized.
"Positions!" Splinter ordered.
The turtles instantly dropped to the ground, defeated and exhausted.
