Chapter one: Out of the Ashes
It had been nearly a whole year since the - albeit brief - contact with the pink bubble-gum alien known as the Kraang and thankfully, inspite of the threats as he'd departed, there had not been any attempts to re-invade. Donatello had a whole host of new inventions in order to keep an eye out for any portals which may chose to open over the City and all the remaining tech was in police custody. Shredder had also disappeared during that time and though there had not been any confirmation, Leonardo suspected that the two events were connected.
The City had now re-built itself, the New Yorkers had moved on and with a strong new partnership alongside NYPD, Leo felt content. They were finally out of the shadows, sort of, and they belonged somewhere. As trained ninjas the being in the shadows around joe public was imperitive (as he liked to remind the team daily) but the cops knowing they existed was a good thing, for one it allowed the complete abadonnment of any calls to the cops which referred to 'giant turtles'.
Now that they had a real part to play in the whole order of things it made him feel happy. For there was one thing which Leonardo liked above anything else and that was order. Of course the others noticed it and there in followed teasing and wind-ups all with mentions of a 'secret girl' and was she the reason for his upbeat mood - or 'total personality transplant' as Raphael so kindly put it. Splinter was not so childish though he did ask once if there was a specific reason such as a female but before 'the conversation' could begin, Leonardo vehemently shook his head in a clear gesture of no and removed himself before it got far to awkward for both of them. Unlike Michelangelo, who talked about girls on a daily basis, Leonardo exercised far more control on the matter and it barely even entered his head apart from once a year when being part turtle and all male could be a little more challenging.
Exiting his bedroom he immediately heard younger brother Michelangelo whinging from the lounge, he deliberately slowed up on his way to the kitchen in order to listen in.
"I just don't think it's fair that's all.." whined the youngest, arms down at his sides, the bottom lip well and trully hitting the floor. Even at 18, Michelangelo was very good at throwing a tantrum.
"Mikey I'm the scientist, I can help" Donatello was standing across the room and Splinter was in the middle. He was obviously the adjudicator. Poor dad.
"I can help too!"
"How?"
The silence which followed was deafening.
"I dunno.. but I could!"
As he filled a glass with water Leonardo knew exactly what this conversation was about. Donatello was helping the cops out which enabled him to get out of the lair and have regular human company and that included female company. Putting it simply, Michelangelo was jealous. Leonardo smiled at Donatello as he sat himself down.
"Don't think I didn't see that on your face Leo!... you may well all think I'm not good for helping with science things but I could be! I'll show you! I'll show all of you" And with that he stomped off to his room.
"And now we breathe" announced a relived Donatello
"If I was you I would keep your lab locked for at least the next forty eight hours" warned Leonardo, the smile remaining on his lips.
"Always" added Splinter as he turned round to face his eldest "You all have different talents, he just needs to accept that"
"It's the green eyed monster talking. He just hates the fact that I get to go out and work and he doesn't"
"But he does go out. Every night. We all do" reasoned Leonardo. The nightly patrols were kind of their thing. Protect the City, look out for scum bags "It's the thought of what he's missing out on that really gets under that skin of his"
Donatello held up a finger "You got it. He hates the thought of me doing something that he isn't. He's like a needy puppy"
"And like such he needs to learn. Do not pander to him Donatello. Infact, I forbid it!" Splinter gathered up his robes in his large paws "I shall be in my room not to be disturbed except in a real emergency"
Donatello lowered himself down on the sofa opposite Leonardo and it was then that the eldest noticed there was an item in his brother's grasp "Yes Mikey declared it an emergency. So much so that he demanded an emergency meeting"
Leonardo chuckled "No surprise there then" He leaned forward and nodded towards the object which Donatello was shifting about between his hands "That what I think it is?"
"That depends brother. What do you think it is?" He passed it over with one quick toss.
"It looks like part of that device - the alien tech from Kraang - is it the teleport?"
"Bingo!" Donatello collected it back from across the lounge table which divided the two facing sofas they occupied "Well remembered"
"They let you have it?"
"Of course. It doesn't work and they don't have a clue where to start so next to Baxter Stockman I'm the best they've got".
"At least you're here"
Donatello brought the item up closer to his face and examined it intently, turning it over and over "This is a real privilidge. You know how many scientists get to look at alien tech?"'
Leonardo shrugged "Less than a dozen, that's how many" That was a lot more than he'd expected "It was a lucky day for me when Doctor Stockman did a vanishing act"
"Not so lucky for the cops. And before you protest I mean that he needed locking up big time"
"Good job you added that - for a moment I thought you were being nasty"
"No way. You're a valued member of the team" And he meant it. Donatello put in a lot of hours both in his own lab and over at police headquarters. The praise was well deserved.
"Thanks brother" The tallest turtle stood up and grinned "Back to it..oh, and if you see Mikey heading over here, tell him it's out of bounds"
"On it"
There were two things April O'Neil hated more than anything:
1. An arrogant Vern (part time news cameraman, part time 'Hero' of the City)
2. Interviewing a liar
Eric Sacks was just such a person. Businessman and multi-millionaire he'd had been working alongside Shredder for many years and had tried to con the City out of billions of dollars by offering the cure to a chemical attack that he was going to cause.
And he'd killed her father.
Of course, she knew which was worse, she knew the trauma she'd gone through as a child and how it had darkened her life, but what hammered that final nail home is that this evil man had convinced the court system that he was innocent of any charge laid at his door and that made April's blood boil. Where was the justice system of America? Where was the justice for her father? No-where, that's where and now Sacks stood before her; the same smarmy look on his shiny face, the same smugness emerging like a foul stench off his very being and she had to smile, be professional, keep her cool.
'If he mentions my father...I will not be responsible for my actions'. April had told Vern beforehand.
'Yes you will O'Neil and it will be caught on camera'.
She also hated it when Vern was right. She couldn't lower herself to Sacks' level - he'd get his comeuppance eventually - that she had to believe. Raphael had offered to give him a good going over but she'd to decline. Casey never offered. Being a cop himself kinda put him in an awkward position.
She held the microphone to her lips "So, your reason you are getting involved in this deal is purely to provide finance?" She already knew it wasn't and he had already denied any other reason. Twice.
Sacks straightened his tie and smiled at her "My involvement is purely to provide finance" God did he have to be so infuriating! "All the paperwork provided has confirmed this and everything has been sealed off by the Congress and the Chief" He looked away from her now and over the top of the lecturn out towards the large crowd "Sacks resources are happy to support this exciting new chapter within the future of TCRI, without corruption, without pollution and without the Foot Clan and it's associates. Today marks the beginning of a new era, a new collaboration between the people of this City and the great minds within that building. Our Nation is a mighty one and we shall not fall!"
April had to stop herself from vomiting as Sacks responded to the cheers with waves.
"Mr Sacks...!" She didn't want him to slink off but, flanked by NYPD officers, that's exactly what he did. Vern lowered the camera and looked bemused "How on earth did that just happen?" he spat. Having been shot by Sacks, Vern was also not a fan.
"Don't ask. I think the authorities in this City have lost it" April watched Sacks disappearing into TCRI "Because him and this place = one bad combination"
"TCRI swear all their links with the Foot Clan have been dissolved and, in their defense, they've had a huge staff make over, given a load of money to charity and the Foot Clan, apart from a few crazees, have disappeared"
"The make over is all fake Vern trust me and just because Shredder and Stockman are out of the picture does not mean this building is suddenly full of angels"
"You thinkin' Satan himself is occupying the basement?"
"Satan has just entered the building" quipped April as she followed Vern back through the dispersing crowd to the car.
"You are razor sharp today O'Neil" He opened the back and slid the camera on the seat, making sure to strap it in tightly "Pity Donnie don't have access to this building too. He could do some undercover snooping"
"Not a bad idea"
Vern raised himself to full height "I was joking. It is a very bad idea. Donnie is hardly undercover material"
April considered it for a while. He was right. Again. A seven foot turtle couldn't just sneak in, ninja or otherwise "Okay. But there shouldn't be a reason why someone else couldn't get access though" She locked eyes with him.
"Err no way, I am not pulling the Falcon card again so forget it" He took her microphone and turned away.
"I didn't mean that!" she exclaimed "Look. TCRI are wanting to carry favour. They are carrying out controversial tests in that building believe you me,I do not think that for one second after all that has gone on and with the involvement of Sacks means they are working on drugs trials alone. If we can get inside, score an interview..."
"You're living a dream O'Neil. They will not let you in there" He stabbed a finger at the large tower which stood tall behind her.
"Don't be so sure" April looked up at the building, pursing her lips; a sense of determination building inside her. She'd get her interview.
Eric Sacks was charming. He'd invested the money and he wanted everyone to know about it. It was the media circus out there that made her so glad to be inside, hidden behind a wall of test tubes, beakers and more importantly, alone, embracing the quiet. Human beings had their good points and yes she was one of the same species but she never really understood them or the way they behaved. She understood science - loved it - probably a little too much. Her mother and father would have said she was bordering on obsession but what would they know. Besides they were long since dead so what did it matter.
"Lee...you hiding out back there?"
Her stomach dropped. So much for quiet.
"Depends who's asking" Her colleague and superior Dr. Mike Fallon was an emerging blurry shape behind the wall of beakers. Deep into the second round of testing a certain anti-histamine drug Leeanne was not ready to be interrupted but she tried to smile as he took his place besides her, lab coat floating openly around his large belly.
"It's only ever me" He beamed broadly and gripped his hands together. A small round man with greying hair and a beard he also reminded her of a certain seasonal individual.
"What can I do for you but not at this moment?" She thought she'd set him straight.
"Yes, yes, I know you're busy. We're all busy. And with this new influx of cash we are going to be even busier; lots of new trials, lots of new work. Exciting times"
She agreed but declined to voice it, chosing instead to concentrate on her neat row of test tubes.
"I need you on the team" The words flew out of his mouth at a rate of knots, she opened her mouth to protest but he knew her far too well and got in there first "Before you say no just give it think - it means your own budget and a small payrise by way of thanks too" She tried again but he held up a hand "You'll lead"
"I don't want to lead" That was a definite deal breaker. Working in a team would be bad enough but leading one? No way.
"Okay - okay. No leading but come on Lee. You're one of the best" He did his best puppy dog eyes "At least think about it, please?"
She took a breath and looked back at her tubes "Send me more info and maybe I'll think"
"You need to see it - that will be the only information I can give you... before which you have you have to sign a non-disclosure" The last part he said quickly and in a much quieter tone.
"Why?" It wasn't something she had ever been required to do before.
"It's procedure. It protects the company, it protects you"
All that Leeanne could think about was 'from what'?