Part One

Chapter Three

Hi I am going to do something unconventional and unprofessional in this chapter. I'm going to switch natives. From third person to first person, and this shift will happen within the chapter. I just wanted you to know that I am aware of what I am doing. And yes I am doing it on purpose. And no I am not crazy, I hope. ;) No I just liked the switch here. It's the first time I will acknowledge the identity of the main character, and the switch just came natural. I went to fix the mistake, but the first person narrative just seemed to add an extra layer to the story that it was missing. So I apologize if the shift is confusing. Please comment if you want me to switch it back. But to be warned the chapters from here out will probably be in first person.

"Again" Manny barked the ravager standing in the middle of the training floor his arms crossed as he waited for his pupil to run through the obstacle course again. The young terrapin let out a breath preparing his aching body for another go. He had spent the day training non-stop. Though this 'training' was nothing like the safe, controlled and structured training Sensei had held in the dojo. That training he had loved and looked forward to, staying after practice to improve on his kata's and balance running through the steps over an over until perfect. He had practiced but not to gain his father's praise like his younger brothers accused, though he felt humble and joyous when he did accomplish such a feat. No he practiced to better himself. To be the best that he could be. So that he could protect his brothers. Protect his brothers from all the dangers their father always told them were out there, above ground. Though he truly never understood, until he was taken. Never truly understood his father's fear, his father's protection of them. Not until all he knew was taken from him. When he no longer had the safe haven of the sewers around him, when he had nothing but his own skill and instincts to survive on did he appreciate and understand his training. Sure the ravagers didn't really want to harm him, but they didn't coddle him either. Fury would shush him when he would find him on nights when it all became too much for him. And the leader of the ravager faction would hold him and sing to him, treating him like the frightened child he is. But during the daylight he would train him as hard as the others, constantly pushing his boundaries. He would show him the engines, teach him basic upkeep. Whenever preparing a mission, captain Fury would go over strategy with him. He would explain sacrifice and leadership. Talking to him about burdens he hoped he'd never have to bear. From the day he took the turtle under his wing, and decided he was more than just a prisoner taken from the sewers during confusion, havoc and escape; Fury had treated him like part of the ravagers, part of the family. But first he had told him to forget earth, to forget New York and his family there. He took his blue cloth that had been his mask and identity and told him he had to earn his name back. Which he had. From the point of his abduction he had been treated with disdain and mistrust. He had been little more than a joke to those on board. But when they had crash landed on Zanous 3, and surrounded by wolves, the young ninja didn't think he acted. He grabbed a piece of wood and used the fire from the burning ship to ward of the wolves standing protectively over his friend whose leg was trapped under part of the wreckage. When the others arrived the next morning the found stakes set up around part of the wreckage. Wolf tracks around the circle of lit fire, but not invading. To their continued surprise they found me lying protectively over Fury sword in hand as I waited for help. I was accepted that day. I could have ran, I could have ran for help, ran from them, ran to the people of the planet and beg for them to help me get home. But I didn't I stayed to protect another. And from that day forward I was considered a Ravager. I was known and treated as one of their own. I was given a place to sleep and my own pair of small swords. I was no longer called pest or turtle. They called me by name: Leo. With this new fair treatment I was shown my tasks aboard the ship, many of which were the chores no one else wanted. But I was also trained by everyone else a board the ship. Though this as well was unregular to me. They threw knives at me telling me not to flinch, snuck up on me, chained me up. But as the year went on my reflexes became so honed not only did I not flinch at the knives whirling at me, I could catch them mid air and hurl them back in defence. No one could ever sneak up on me. I also became such an escape artist that, trying to lock me up became more of a game, a challenge I could solve. And whenever there was an improvement in our security system I was the one to test it. It was this in mind that I once again prepared for the obstacle course ahead of me. Everyone else abroad had passed it at one point or another and now, it was my turn. Though Fury had the main control over my training, he had enlisted everyone to take part in their new member's training. At first I had resisted, but after saving Fury's life on Zanos 3 my protests grew weaker and weaker. I raced through the obstacle course dogging flying objects, moving past the swinging gauntlets with skill and agility. When I reached the end i was breathing hard, my breath coming in gasps as I stared up triumphantly. Manny smiled as he leaned down to pat my back. "Good job".

I beamed at the complement, before standing to wipe the sweat from my face with my forearm as I made my way out of the training circle to complete my chores. I needed to act normal. No one suspected I would bolt, they had all assumed I had accepted this as my life now. But I hadn't. It was an act I put put to gain their trust. Yes, I technically was a 'ravager' and the trust I had earned was true. But despite the loyalty, camaraderie and friendship I for some reason felt for them, this was not and could never be my home. My home, my true home was with my family with my brothers. My place was with them, protecting and caring for them; not here. The benefit of being at Fury's right side, was that he was often privy, sometimes accidentally, to valuable information. For example that Rocky was leading a heist tomorrow, evidently a museum picked a valuable weapon thinking it was an artifact. Everyone on board knew about the heist, and I'd been mapping the stars and knew they were back in the Milky Way. But it had been through overhearing Rocky's conversation with the captain that I had learned that the plan included using the sewers as an element of surprise. A tactic they had used before when they had accidentally stumbled upon me in the sewers, it felt like a lifetime ago now. That one faithful accidental meeting had changed my life. Now with their trust and upon gaining this information I could use this and their tactic to return home. All I had to do was sneak into one of the supply bags and stowaway on the heist. Once in the sewers i could easily slip away. Finding my way home would probably be slightly tricky, but altogether possible. With this plan in mind, I set about my chores. Fighting back my excitement as I mentally prepared for tonight.