Chapter 4: Fisk Tower

Red Skull, Doctor Octopus, Shredder, and Doctor Doom were inside the secret Hydra base underneath the Empire State Building. Red Skull held the power cell out to Shredder. "We have retrieved the power cell as requested," said Skull.

"Excellent," said Shredder. "You are proving to be a most valuable ally."

"Only one more task is required of you, Mr. Skull," said Doom. "We would like you to test the power cell's use and capabilities. After all, it is Kraang tech, and therefore cannot be too reliable."

Red Skull nodded. "I'll send it to Advanced Idea Mechanics. MODOK should be able to make good work of it. Hail Hydra!"

Shredder and Doctor Doom walked away. "Where is Eisenhardt?" Shredder asked.

"He is preparing Asteroid M for our arrival," Doom replied. When Shredder looked confused, Doom explained, "It's his orbital space station. It has technology that kept it concealed from standard detection technology, and is positioned in stationary orbit over Earth."

"I see," Shredder said. "That will prove useful in the days to come."

Outside, they found a contingent of Footbots waiting with Dragon Bikes. Hopping on, they sped away toward's Shredder's palace.

Meanwhile, the turtles were in hot pursuit of Karai over the New York City rooftops. They had been following the snake mutant for several blocks when she stopped and looked up at the moon. The turtles took up hiding positions. "Did she see us?" whispered Mikey. "I think she saw us."

"Shhh!" hissed Raph.

Karai looked back briefly. As a snake, her hearing senses were acute, as was her sense of smell. The turtles' scent was all too familiar, and she wasn't sure she wanted to meet them just yet. She took off at full speed down the fire escape and onto the ground. The turtles followed on the rooftops. "Pick up the pace, guys," Leo whispered.

Karai slithered past a pizza parlor and disappeared into an alley. As the turtles dashed after her, Mikey screeched to a halt. "Hey, is that . . . ?" He turned and saw the pizza shop, and started drooling. "Whoa. PIZZA."

Donnie and Raph tackled him as he started heading towards the building. "Mikey, we don't have time for this!" said Raph.

"Pizza!" Mikey struggled to get away from himself. "Must . . . break . . . free! Meat lover's pizza!"

"Keep going, Leo!" said Donnie. "We'll catch up!" As Leo took off after Karai's serpentine form he could hear the ruckus behind him. "Just calm down!"

"But the meat needs love, man!" protested Mikey.

Leo had lost track of Karai. He climbed the nearest building and sat on top of a statue of an eagle's head, scanning the roofs. He wished that he had the same eyesight as the eagle who he was sitting on. Behind him he heard Donnie's voice. "You lost her?"

"No, I . . ."

Raph glared at Mikey. "See what your goofing off cost us?"

Mikey opened his mouth and stuffed a slice of pizza in it. "Totally worth it."

"Wait," said Donnie, "how did you . . . ?"

"Dude, I'm a ninja," Mikey said with his mouth full.

Raph, disgusted with his brother, turned to Leo. "That's it, right? We lost her for good?"

"Only if you didn't come prepared with experimental Bak-5 prism enhanced multi-coated night vision center focus binoculars," said Donnie, raising a pair of high-tech binoculars to his eyes. "Which, you totally didn't. Me, on the other hand . . ." He scanned the rooftops. "Aaaand . . . got her!"

He pointed. The turtles looked to see Karai slithering over the edge of a building. They followed, leaping into an alley. "I don't get it, she should be right around here," said Donnie.

"Oh, man, I can't take the suspense." Mikey ate a second slice of pizza.

"What?!" asked Raph. "Now where did you get that?"

"Like I said," Mikey answered, winking at his brother. "Ninja."

"Hey, guys," said Leo, "check out what's lurking right around the corner."

The turtles turned the corner and saw the Purple Dragons ahead of them. The Purple Dragons were a tough New York street gang, operating mostly out of New York's Chinatown. As the turtles watched, two of the Purple Dragon members, Fong and Sid, climbed out of the window of a department store carrying a TV and some electronics. They were headed for a getaway van, driven by Tsoi when they turned and saw the turtles. "What . . . ?"

Mikey tossed a nunchuck at Fong. It wrapped around his leg. "Sweep the leg!" said Mikey, yanking Fong off his feet. The Purple Dragon landed with a thump at the front door of the van.

The van door opened and out stepped Hun, the new leader of the Purple Dragons. He was a martial arts expert, and the only one who would give any of them trouble; the rest were a piece of cake. "Huh," he said. On the other side of the van, Tsoi stepped out with his sledgehammer at the ready. "Seems you're on the wrong side of town, turtles."

As the battle began, Leo looked at his brothers. "Guys, hate to say it, but I think tonight's officially a bust."

Raph blocked a strike from Tsoi and upended the man, sending him flying into Sid. "Took you long enough to figure this out!"

"So let's make like Master Splinter's favorite soup," said Mikey. Each produced a homemade smoke bomb and threw it on the ground. "Egg drop!" said Mikey. A large cloud of purple smoke covered the turtles. When it cleared, they were gone.

The turtles stood on a nearby rooftop. "So that was a complete waste of time," said Raph.

"Totally." Mikey dropped a third slice of pizza into his mouth. "Complete waste."

"Are you kidding me?" asked Raph. "Where do you keep getting these pizza slices?!"

"Ninnnnnnja," Mikey answered.

"Um, guys?" It was Donnie.

Karai stood on the edge of the roof, looking at them. As they watched, she transformed into her half-human, half-snake form. She looked normal, but with snake eyes, a snake tongue, and her skin was pale and scaly. "Help me . . ." she whispered.

Raph reached for his sais but Leo stopped him. "No sudden moves," he said. Then he ran to Karai's side. "Are you okay?"

"Y-yes," Karai hissed. "I just escaped . . . from Shredder. They took me . . . they wanted to change me . . . for something."

"Do you know what that something was?" asked Leo.

In response, Karai said, "They said something about . . . space . . ." She turned and stared off into the distance at the Fisk Building, a large skyscraper home to Fisk Corporations. Donnie held up his fancy binoculars, and saw several of the Foot Clan's dragon bikes pull up into the parking lot.

"The Foot Clan!" he said.

"We need to check them out," said Leo. "Though what did you mean by space . . ." He turned. Karai was gone. " . . . Karai?"

Wilson Fisk, A.K.A. Kingpin, was one of the most powerful criminal leaders on the East Coast. He had married a beautiful woman named Vanessa, who soon proved to be the love of his life. Though eventually she became sickened by his criminal life and demanded that he give it up or she would desert him. Unwilling to lose Vanessa, Kingpin agreed to her terms, and the two retired to Japan. Vanessa even persuaded him to turn over his files on the activities of other leaders of organized crime to legal authorities. As the head of the criminal organization the Foot Clan, Shredder saw a need to prevent this. He kidnapped Vanessa, later killing her because Kingpin had won his respect, and he saw her as the only obstacle preventing Kingpin from returning to crime.

The enraged Kingpin not only resumed leadership of his former organization, but he also turned over his files on other criminal leaders to the law, now with the motive of ridding himself of any rivals. The ploy worked: as a result of the evidence in the files, many criminal leaders were convicted. In the ensuing power vacuum the Kingpin rebuilt his coalition, stronger than before. Today he controlled the great majority of East Coast gangs dealing in conventional crimes. The Kingpin's organization was now stronger than any single crime family in the New York area.

After the murder of his spouse, Shredder had come to Kingpin in the wake of his grief, proposing an alliance between Fisk Corporations and the Foot Clan. Fisk agreed, and it was Shredder who had incited him to turn over all of his files, thinking likewise that they would prosper when there were fewer opponents in their way.

Now the Shredder sat in Kingpin's office on the top floor, flanked by Tigerclaw and Rahzar. Two Footbots stood behind him, with two more out in the hallway guarding the door (much to the annoyance of his secretary, the Kingpin thought). Kingpin sat at his desk in front of them. He was wearing a white suit and purple tie with a diamond stickpin, and held a cane with a diamond figurehead in his hand.

"It is good to see you again, Fisk," said Shredder.

"The same to you, dear Saki," Kingpin replied. "My associates tell me the Foot Clan is now officially a criminal threat to the citizens of New York. What happened? Japan wasn't exciting enough?"

"Hardly," said Shredder. "And the Foot Clan are no criminals. We are-and always will be-ninja."

"Yes, yes, so you say," Kingpin said. "But it seems to me as though the Foot Clan is leaning more towards the ranks of 'criminal syndicate' rather than 'ninja clan.'"

As Shredder and Kingpin talked, the turtles reached the foot of Fisk Tower. Leo looked up at the tall concrete and steel structure looming in front of them. High up, they spotted a balcony.

"How much you wanna bet that's where 'Big Boy Pants' is hiding?" asked Raph.

"Dude!" Mikey said. "In case you forgot, I'm the guy who dishes out the cool monikers! We can't all be Dr. Name-ensteins, bro!"

"Hey! Shh! Quiet!" hissed Leo. "We're ninja, but we can still be caught."

Each one of them drew a custom-built grappling gun from his belt and aimed it upwards. The line flew up the building for about four stories and latched into the side of the building. They then climbed up, took out the hook, and did it again.

Soon they reached the balcony. They climbed stealthily over the side. The balcony had a variety of flowering plants and shrubs, which helped conceal them. A good thing, too, because the room was open-aired. Inside they could see that Kingpin's office was incredibly large. The room had mahogany wood paneling for its walls, floor and ceiling. Three glass chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The walls were covered with various painting, mostly of Kingpin's face, and a fancy rug was on the floor. On one side of the room was a roaring fireplace; on the other was a wooden desk. In the back of the room, Kingpin, Shredder, and several Footbots, along with Tigerclaw and Rahzar, sat in a small area cut off from the rest of the room by thick glass walls.

"I know you didn't come here just to catch up, old friend," said Kingpin. "You are here on business."

Shredder snapped his fingers, and immediately Tigerclaw and Rahzar left the room, stepping into an elevator. By this Donnie was able to conclude that the elevator was the only way in or out of the room. But it wasn't unlike these criminal syndicate types to have a secret trapdoor installed as a getaway. He'd better keep a sharp eye out.

"Fisk, I have recently come in contact with several supernaturals. We have formed an alliance and plan to take over the city in a mere few weeks. I have come to ask that you supply our army with sufficient weaponry that would help us to achieve our feat."

Kingpin got up, turning to look at the massive fish tank that covered the wall behind him. "What makes you think I would have access to such weaponry?" he asked.

"Do not toy with me, old friend," said Shredder. "You and I both know that you control a massive criminal network, and are head over the East Coast black market. You are the prime choice for someone to supply us with what we need. Still, I see that you are unconvinced. Which is why I brought along one of my associates."

The elevator pinged, and in walked a man wearing an armored suit partly concealed by a hooded green cloak. He bowed slightly. "Victor von Doom, destroyer of worlds, at your service."

"Your associate says you possess great power," said Kingpin, "but I see none of that here. Only a man cowering behind a mask."

Doom raised his hands, and green sparks appeared from his fingertips. Several bolts of green lightning flew from them, completely vaporizing a painting hanging on the wall. Kingpin surveyed the wreckage. "Not bad," he said at last. "Not bad."

"If you wish to see more, I would be happy to provide you with a magic show," said Doom. "Although this kind of magic is not suitable for such conditions. Things tend to quickly become vaporized."

"No, no, you've convinced me," said Kingpin. He pushed a button underneath his desk. Almost immediately two of Kingpin's henchmen came out from a side door-the secret trapdoor, Donnie presumed. Between them they carried a rather large and dangerous looking gun.

"This is the Destroyer Gun," said Kingpin. "It is a prototype weapon from S.H.I.E.L.D. that they were kind enough to supply us with. It has been tested multiple times, and proves to be a dangerous weapon, blasting solar beams that can cut through almost anything. They have already been mass-produced, and we hope to soon introduce them to the black market."

"Excellent," said Shredder, running his fingers over the high-tech weapon. "You shall be rewarded when the Masters of Evil come to power."

Suddenly a voice behind them said, "Drop the weapon, Shredder!" The villains turned to see all four ninja turtles on the balcony of Kingpin's office. Leo had drawn both katanas, and pointed one at Shredder.

"Seriously, Leo?" said Raph, then tried to mimic his brother's voice. "'Drop the weapon, Shredder.' You think he's going to actually do what you tell-"

Raph didn't get to finish his sentence. Shredder had leaped towards them. His foot connected with Raph's face.

Raph fell to the ground as the battle began. Kingpin locked the door behind him and settled down at his desk to watch. He absolutely detested fighting, especially when it interrupted a business deal. He preferred not to get his hands dirty; there were plenty of low-grade goons willing to do his work for him.

The turtles took down all four Footbots quite easily. Now Rahzar exited the elevator, snarling. Mikey leaped towards him, nunchuks swinging. "Eat nunchuk, dog face!" he shouted.

He flung a nunchuk towards the mutant, who caught it in his hand. "Don't mind if I do," he growled.

The orange turtle gulped. "Uh-oh."

Rahzar threw Mikey off the balcony. "Actually, I'll take that to go!" He laughed evilly as the turtle flew screaming off the edge. Mikey's nunchuks saved him; he flung them around a hanging plant and managed to swing around and kick Rahzar deeper into the office, saving himself and fighting back at the same time.

Rahzar hit the floor hard. Raph flung several ninja stars at one of the chandeliers, sending the thing crashing down on top of Rahzar in an explosion of glass.

Tigerclaw appeared then, firing away with his twin energy blasters. Red lasers and freeze rays flew everywhere as the turtles dove for cover. Leo charged, deflecting Tigerclaw's laser bolts with his katanas. When he was close enough to swing, Tigerclaw activated his jetpack and flew up, hovering near the ceiling.

Donnie, meanwhile, was having a tough time battling Doctor Doom. All attacks he had made on the armored suit with his bo staff had had no effect. "No way," Donnie gasped. "It's structurally impenetrable!"

Doom dealt with the pesky mutant by zapping him with several volts of electricity. "That's because it's made of a high-strength titanium alloy!" he said. Donnie collapsed, his body quivering from the massive shock that had just been dealt him.

Mikey came to the rescue, or at least tried to. Several nunchuk swings simply bounced off the armored suit. "Dudes, I can't break it!" Mikey said. "What's happening?"

By now Donnie had recovered. As Doom tried to zap Mikey, Donnie moved in with a sweeping blow that knocked the armored sorcerer off his feet. The man stood up, and balls of energy glowed over his hands. "Enough games!" he said angrily.

Raph turned towards Kingpin's office. "Come on out of there!" he shouted. He punched and kicked the thick glass of the crime boss's office, breaking it in seconds. Kingpin stood up and walked out to face them.

Because of Kingpin's large size, Mikey burst out laughing. "Ha ha! Dude, that guy is the fattest man in the history of fatness!"

"Oh, this isn't fat, my good fellow," Kingpin said, smiling. "It's all muscle. Here, I'll show you!" He punched Mikey square in the chest, sending the turtle flying across the room.

As Kingpin battled two of the turtles, Leo was busy fighting Tigerclaw and Shredder. The Foot Clan leader engaged him in hand-to-hand combat. The blue turtle swung his swords, but Shredder blocked the blow and kneed him in the stomach. Leo bent over and fell onto his back. Now Tigerclaw drew his sword to finish him off.

But Leo rolled over as the blade came down, drawing his other katana at the same time. The two mutants crossed blades, moving back and forth on the floor of the room. Donnie, though, was not doing so well. He had concluded the best strategy was to run, and now dashed back and forth across the room, trying to avoid concussive blasts that Doctor Doom was firing at him.

Meanwhile, Raph and Mikey were busy fighting Kingpin. The big man had a few tricks up his sleeve, and aimed his cane at them. Bullets flew out of the tip. Before anyone was hurt, Raph threw one of his sais, knocking the cane out of Kingpin's hand and pinning it to the wall.

With Kingpin defenseless, the two turtles moved in. Raph charged from the front, but Kingpin gave him a backhanded slap, sending him spinning. Mikey jumped him from behind, grabbing onto his back. Kingpin jumped backward into the wall, crushing Mikey like a sandwich.

At the same time, Tigerclaw pushed Leo away. He quickly drew his ice blaster and froze the turtle's feet, preventing him from going anywhere. Donnie came out of nowhere, and pole-vaulted over Tigerclaw. Doom had aimed for Donnie, but due to the turtle's acrobatics the blast missed and hit Tigerclaw instead. The big cat landed on his seat in the fireplace. He jumped up, yowling, and ran from the room.

Using the distraction, Leo leaped for Doom and tackled him on the floor. But Doctor Doom wasn't out just yet. His suit generated a massive shock that nearly overloaded Leo's brain. The turtle slumped over as Doom pushed him off.

Leo quickly realized they had no chance of winning, and ran to the balcony of Kingpin's office. Kingpin pushed a secret button, signaling a dozen henchmen to appear from the large elevator. Simultaneously Doom generated a large force-field encompassing him, Shredder and Kingpin.

"You turtles are fools," said Shredder from inside the glowing green dome. "Soon all that you know will be at an end."

Raph, Donnie and Mikey joined Leo at the edge of the balcony. "Another time, Shredder," said Leo.

All four of the turtles sheathed their weapons and jumped backwards out the window. After a few seconds Shredder went to the window and looked out. Several stories below, the turtles were clinging to the side of the building with climbing claws, leather bands with long spikes, on their hands.

"I'm looking forward to it," Shredder said.