Thank you to 'Guest' for your review - so glad you are enjoying it. This chapter is a little shorter and doesn't have much of the turtles in but they will be more prominent in future chapters. I just wanted to set the scene in TCRI - April's gut is spot on.

Chapter three: New Beginnings

It was a sad thing that she lived this close to TCRI because it actually meant she was home in five minutes and when she wasn't at work she got to look at said workplace straight out of her window as it loomed over her building. Her home of eight years was her little sancturary, a space where she felt most safe. Leeanne had never planned on being so close to her place of work but it just sort of happened. She had been working at a smaller lab on the outskirts of the City until she was headhunted. TCRI wanted her so much that they had taken the time to actually turn up to speak with her face to face - it felt like she was in a dream - TCRI was so well known and often lead the way in scientific innovation. In reality, she was so flattered and that would get them everywhere! The suits explained that, after the Stockman incident, they were doing a complete staff overhaul and went on to offer her a job with an immediate start. With the job came a much higher salary so there was really no competition, her former employer just accepted it and now she had been here for the grand total of seven months, two weeks and four days.

The job had come after the apartment. Luckily, she loved both.

Her place was one of a small block of ten, unlike most of the buildings in Manhattan, it wasn't overstated infact it was quite the opposite, the grey cladding on the outside almost allowing it to be hidden amongst the other much larger buildings and then there was TCRI; a multi floor sky scraper that seemed to change colour throughout the day. She could see it from her front window. It would start off a blue green colour then darken to an inky black towards the end of the day and when the sun shone it almost appeared to glow and it towered over her small place.

Leeanne sat on her window seat and looked at it now - it's window framed eyes looked right back - unblinking, unwavering. Her own pale reflection stared back at her too. She looked whiter than usual. That was what she got for being a blonde and always wearing sunblock. Placing a hand on either cheek she leaned a little closer; pale blue eyes looked right back.

'Why don't you do something different - take a risk - what are you so afraid of?'

Taking her hands away from her face, she blew out a breath and grabbed her phone, pressing the speed-dial for work. Mike Fallon would still be there; she doubted that he ever went home and probably had a pop-up bed under his desk.

After the usual greetings she told him her decision.

"Lee that is wonderful news!" Though she didn't have him on speaker his enthusiastic voice was loud enough anyway, she held it away from her ear "You won't regret it I can promise you that, we'll get you started tomorrow morning"

She thanked him and ended the call.

Apparently, it was that simple!

The receiver clicked into place at the other end and Mike Fallon stared at it for a moment in silent reverie: "She's on board"

Eric Sacks was standing on the corner of the office, hiding in the shadows, chosing not to face him, but Fallon knew he was smiling, he could feel it: "As we knew she would. It was too good an offer"

"That's all of them" replied Fallon seriously "I just feel bad that we aren't being honest about the whole thing. Leeanne is a bright girl, she has a bright future, I would hate.."

"She'll be fine. They will all be fine. They just have to obey the rules which are all laid out clearly - what they are responsible for, what we are responsible for.."

"Which seems like nothing"

"They don't know that and you are not going to point that out, right?" Now Sacks was looking at him, his jaw clenched. His eyes as ice cold and menacing as always. Fallon shuddered.

Think of the money, think of the money.. "Of course"

"Good. Get the agreement signed and then we are good to go"

As Sacks walked out of the room Mike Fallon put his head in his hands. This all felt so wrong.

In total there were five of them starting out, Leeanne didn't recognise any of them, not that it meant anything, TCRI was such a large employer that you could never really know everybody and as she always kept herself to herself she was lucky if she knew half a dozen. Dressed in white lab coats they all looked like clones. Science clones. She didn't know why but after signing the non-disclosure Leeanne felt her stomach drop, like she was on a rollercoaster on a downward sweep. Everyone seemed on edge.

"You will all be based down here but each of you will be working in different areas" As Doctor Fallon walked them briskly forward Leeanne found herself staring at each camera as they passed and then watching out for the next one. There were an awful lot of cameras down here "This way" The doors were more than a little large. Fallon used his card and finger print to get inside. Leeanne had never seen that before. Extra security was obviously more a must down here.

Once inside, everything looked very similar, just on a larger scale. A much larger scale - with a lot more people. Used to working alone she figured this could be the reason for her churning stomach.

"There will be things you will see which may shock and surprise you - if you have any concerns or questions please speak to your team leader or contact me directly - all details are on the system"

At some point Leeanne had stopped walking - her feet were stuck to the floor and she couldn't move another step. Fallon's voice faded out of range and all she could see were the tanks to the right of her and what was floating in each one. She didn't know how long she stood still for but it was long enough to know that these beings were not human.

"They're all aliens" Mike Fallon was suddenly standing beside her and the rest of the group had gone "Now you can see why you have to sign the agreement. If this was to get out we would have a mad panic on our hands, you know what humans are like"

Leeanne wondered why he said 'humans' and not 'people'. She turned her head to look at him "How is this even real?"

"The line between reality and what you perceive it to be are definitely going to be tested over the next few days, but don't worry it is all perfectly safe, and you don't have to be concerned about them - it's what's within them that I want you to look at"

It really shouldn't have shocked her that much. After all, most New Yorkers had heard of the attempted invasion several months back; of course there had been the usual rumor mill but there was just too much evidence to expect that all of the rumors were simply 'fake news'.

Fallon explained that each specimen had a unique genetic make-up and each of them contained unique fluid which housed various properties.

"And I want you to find out what exactly it is - put a name to it - break it down for us"

She looked at him blankly and said nothing. Bodily fluids were not really her area of expertise and where do you even begin with something that isn't of this world?

"Lee I know this is a bit of a shock but I have every faith that you can meet this challenge and rise above it - and of course give us some fantastic results!"

Had he forgotten about her failure to provide anything significant yesterday?

"Right. The first sample is all ready for you in the refrigeration unit. I'll, err, leave you to it"

And with that he was gone.

"Sorry April, the only replies I've had have declined outright to have any interaction with the press" Donatello was in his lab whilst April was at work. She immediately felt disappointed - this was the big one which she had already sold to the head of the Network and to say they were keen was an understatement.

"I did take the straight route too" admitted April "And they blew me off that way as well!"

"I guess they're not up for talking"

Because they have too much to hide that's why. "Thanks for trying anyway" The emotion in her voice was obvious - she felt let down.

"No worries"

Laying her smart phone on her desk she slammed a hand down afterwards - displays of anger weren't typically her thing but this whole Sacks/TCRI thing had her blood boiling. She knew he was up to something, it was just a matter of what.

Her phone rang and crept it's way across the table. She smiled when she saw who it was on the other end: "Mikey?"

"What's up Angel Cakes!" His enthusiasm was infectious.

"You know I'm working right?"

"Of course I do! I just wanted to make sure you were coming by later? I have a surprise for you!" She was glad he sounded more like his old self, though she had no idea what he was planning.

"A surprise? Sounds ominous"

Mikey didn't know what that meant but he hoped that he sounded like a man of mystery "Don't be late sweet cheeks and if you want to leave Jones at home then that's fine with me"

"He's on shift anyhow so it'll just be me"

Michelangelo did a little fist pump and a dance in his seat: "See you later then beautiful"

"Let me guess? April?" Donatello smiled to himself as he walked past his little brother.

"Yep. And she's coming to see me later" He folded his arms across his chest and put his feet up on his beanbag.

"And everyone else" added Donatello.

"Perhaps - but when she sees what I've made she'll be...well" Michelangelo had to stop himself from blurting out his little secret. He couldn't risk Donnie knowing and trying to lay claim to it. It was his invention and it would give April access to TCRI just like she wanted. Boy was she gonna be happy with him! First he had to go to his room and get it all ready. With a smile plastered on his face he abandonned the lounge and disappeared.

"He looks happier" noted Leonardo as he stood alongside Donatello in the kitchen area of the lair

"Mmmm" began Donatello as he mulled over Michelangelo's words "And that's what I'm worried about"