Chapter 32: M.O.U.S.E.R.S.

I listen as my shoes barely make a sound as we race across the rooftops toward the zoo. My brothers keep shooting me glances, half of which is worry over everything I told them, the other half is worry that I might try to sneak off. I still think it would be safer for them, if I were to confront Baxter on my own. My DNA signature is already going to lead the M.O.U.S.E.R.S. right to me, I don't want them to be caught in the crosshairs, but I'd already been told avidly both before and after my story, that going off on my own is not something they want to happen, and that this is something we will face as a family.

Family

My throat tightens up at the word. They're my family and I'm theirs. Hearing this confirmation after my extremely emotional and dramatic reveal was more comforting than I could put into words.

I let out a sigh as I sent a worried glance my brothers' way. There hadn't been much time for discussion. I had hoped to tell them this truth in a more emotionally understanding way, but I needed them to hear it from me, so I felt compelled to tell them now, despite the bad timing. I just hoped that we'd have more time to discuss this later. I knew there's bound to be many emotions from everyone regarding this truth. Like everything, it's something that will take patience and time.

"Has Bebop sent you any more alerts about the situation at the zoo?" I ask Donnie

"He texted a few minutes ago that all was quiet."

I let out a sigh "It could be a false quiet, but more than likely Baxter has placed a guard or two and has moved on, on his search."

"Are you sure you're up for this Bro?" Raph's voice was soft.

I sent him a soft yet nervous smile. I wasn't sure I was ready to face Baxter yet, but I was positive that there was no way I was leaving my baby brothers to face him alone.

"There is an eighty five percent likelihood that we will end up in a physical fight" Donnie sent me a worried glance "if this ends up being the case, stay close to one of us at all times."

Oh I planned to stay close, but not to let them protect me but the other way around.

"I can hold my own" My words rang with determination as I met my brother's gaze. "I'm not helpless Donnie"

"Leo, we just want to keep you safe."

I understood, I just wanted to keep them safe. Every fiber within me was crying out to protect, to guide, to shield.

Jumping down from the fire escape I held up my hand as I sensed something coming.

"Well well well" a lyth but muscular man of clear japanese descent stepped out of the shadows of a small gang following him. I recognized the purple dragon tattoo from my run in with the thugs in Murakami's shop a while back and sure enough in the ranks of these thugs stood Fong. "What do we have here?" the leader smirked. "Turtles? Still without your leader I see, and who's the new guy?"

"That's the one I told you about," Fong spoke up. "They guy who caused some trouble when we were collecting rent from that blind sheff."

Honorless thieves, I thought with a frown. Instinctively my brothers stepped around to shield me.

"Get lost Hun, don't have time to set ya straight tonight" Raph growled.

"Oh really?" Hun smiled. "Well too bad, because we have all the time in the world." With a nod of his head the thugs charged.

Donnie immediately engaged two men, one with a bat and the other with a metal crowbar.

Raph raced over toward Hun and Mikey to my dismay dragged me back behind a car. "Dude, stay here" he held up his hands.

I didn't have a chance to argue as he valutled over the top of the car and into the fray.

I wasn't about to be sidelined, especially not when my brothers could be in trouble.

Seeking out my brothers in the fray, I was relieved to find them all holding their own. Pride swelled through me at each of my brother's skills.

The sound of metal on cement drew my attention as Donnie hit the crowbar from the thugs hands. Rolling out from under the car I made my way toward the free weapon, grabbing it and jumping into the fight.

Fong was just rounding the corner heading toward Donnie when I blocked his path jumping in to meet his crowbar with mine. As far as I could tell my brothers hadn't realized I had joined the fray, but I paid close attention to them as I fought.

"I thought I told you to turn from your current course in life?" I swung the crowbar before ducking a blow and sending a kick to his stomach. An angry thug charged welding a metal bat above his head. I did a backflip kicking the newcomer in the face, sending him down. Landing I swung my feat to unbalance Fong. Grabbing the thug by shirt I threw him into his friend who was just regaining his feet before making my way toward Donnie. I jumped in and took on three more purple dragons before they made their way to Donnie. I turned off my brain and just let my body move.

Attack, react, counter attack; I fell into a rhythm my body knew by heart. I had just swung a thug over my shoulder sidelining the last of the three when my senses went on high alert. Hun, who had been sidelined earlier when Raph's roundhouse kick sent him into a car, was creeping up behind my red masked brother sword in hand. My blood ran cold.

My feet had a mind of its own as I dashed fluently and effortlessly through the fray.

His back turned, Raph didn't see the threet barely a foot away. Hun raised his sword.

"Raphael!"


Full teror coursed through Raph at the worry in his Brother's voice as he called his name.

He turned around as the lethal metal of a sword came barreling down towards him, he closed his eyes bracing for impact but the blow never came. Opening his eyes he saw a crowbar in front of him braced against the sword.

Leo's face was set in determination, his eyes burning with a protective fire.

"Get away from my Brother!" With a furious push of the crowbar against the sword Leo sent Hun a few steps back, before sending a perfect roundhouse kick right into Hun's stomach.

Raph's mouth fell wide as he watched the warrior in his Brother emerge as though never gone. A human now he fought as formidable as he had as a turtle. His form was as flawless as ever as he sent strike after strike, kick after kick at Hun. Reacting effortlessly to Hun's counters and attacks, rolling with the punches and giving as good as he got.

Raph had to shake his head in bewilderment, a smile covering his face.

Leo turned to block a blow as a thug with a longsword crept up behind him, correcting his stance to take three men on at once as he fought Hun and his backup.

Racing forward Raph was stopped short as Fong and two buddies jumped in to block his path. Growling he watched Hun twist Leo's crowbar out of his grasp with his sword, Raph fought to get to his brother as Leo fought now weaponless against the three thugs, still holding his own.

"LEO" Sending a kick into Fong's stomach Raph grabbed the twin Kattans' that he always carried on patrol, even after his brothers' re-appearance he carried them with him. It was in a way, like keeping his leader with him on missions. Now he was glad he carried them as he threw them to his brother.

Jumping in the air to avoid a sword sent his way, Leo reached up and it was as if two gloves found their fit.

Leo grabbed the twin Katanas mid air. His katanas, and jumped back into the fight.

It was like watching an old and oh so familiar dance.

With Hun knocked unconscious, one thug fled the other was also knocked unconscious. Leo then headed over to Donnie and Mikey's aid.

Raph grinned at the shocked expressions on his brothers' faces.

"Thanks" Leo smiled as he made his way over, the fight finally over.

"Anytime Brother" Raph grinned.

"Oh, ah here" Leo held the katana's out, Raph could read the hesitancy on his brother's face. He'd been seeing his brother coming out in Leo in small traits, habits and actions since Leo had come home. But tonight, tonight he'd seen his fearless Leader. The twin katanas were with their rightful owner.

Raph shook his head, "their yours, Fearless"

Leo smiled, his sapphire eyes shining bright.

Raph handed over the strap he carried over his shell and watched with a fond smile as his brother pulled the strap over his shoulder once more, the old weapon holder fit loosely without a shell but that could be adjusted later, Leo slid the Katanas into place.


I let out a sigh of relief as the gate to Rocksteady's enclosure finally came into view.

"Bebop" I raced over to our ally as we jumped down from the wall.

Not long ago my brother marveled at my ability to walk the array of small walls without being seen, today I finally stopped holding back at raced full speed toward the zoo after the fight, my katanas a comforting weight on my back: a piece of me I hadn't even realized had been missing.

"We came as soon as we could" I frowned "we ran into a little trouble"

"Turtle luck running true to form" Raph scowled.

"How is he?" I asked, turning my head to look into the enclosure where Rockstady circled the destroyed robot, pawing at it and huffing angrily.

Bebop shrugged "a little stirred up at the commotion, but otherwise fine"

"Have any more M.O.U.S.E.R.S. showed up?" I asked as I walked around surveying the area and gesturing for my brothers to do the same.

"No, just the one."

Finding no signs to indicate any other activity than the one, we moved on to the task at hand. Scaling the fence we set about re-securing the enclosure while Donnie examined the M.O.U.S.E.R.

After checking the perimeter and Donnie's surveillance system I headed over to observe my genius brother's work.

"Do you think you could track Baxter's location from this Donnie?"

"Possibly, but it would take some time, and I would need my equipment back at the lab."

I nodded, working on formulating a plan. "Since it's only a matter of time before we run into Baxter anyway, it would be a tactical advantage to take the fight to him."

My brothers nodded, their hands automatically going to their weapons at the mention of Baxter's name. I really didn't want a confrontation between them and Baxter but I couldn't see any way around it.

I pinched the bridge of my nose momentarily before letting out a breath.

"Okay" the team gathered around. "We only have a matter of time before we see more of Baxter's goons" I shoot Bebop a sympathetic glance "Baxter has the ability to track the reverse-retromutagen with these M.O.U.S.E.R.S. which led him here. He can track both Rocksteady and I because of what runs through our veins."

I watched as the severity of my words set in for Bebop. "Oh"

"Right now our biggest threat is the remainder of the reverse-retromutagen Baxter has in his possession. If you see a large scary looking gun be wary." I looked around at my brothers. "From my understanding it needs strong electric current to power it, though if we attack his hideout don't doubt he'll have figured out a way to power this toy. Don't let it hit you."

I took another breath. "The goal is getting this gun away from Baxter, if we can get it away in full tact great, maybe Donnie can use it in his research to discover a cure; but if not that's fine, safety is the objective here."

I knew my next words would sting, but if they were going to confront Baxter it needed to be said. "When we do confront Baxter, remember this is not about revenge" I turned my sapphire eyes toward Raph. "The focus is stopping Baxter, not about past wrongs."

I watched the impact of my words as Raph's green eyes widened in hurt, he opened his mouth to respond but before he could Donnie cut him off.

"Why don't we discuss this back at the lair? The sooner I get to my lab the sooner I can start working on finding Baxter's location."

I shook my head. "You guys go, I can't lead Baxter to the lair."

"Leo!" Raph exploded. "For the last time, we are not leaving you out here with that wackjob on the loose and after you!"

"I'll be fine Raph" I growled. "I'll be hard to track if I keep moving. When Donnie's hacked into the M.O.U.S.E.R. and has Baxter's location call me and we'll work up a plan to break in and destroy the main operator for the M.O.U.S.E.R.S. and take his mutagen gun, but for now.."

"NO!" Mikey interrupted racing forward to encompass me in a hug. "You're not leaving, I won't let you."

"I agree" Donnie frowned, crossing his arms.

"Guys it would just be for a little while, till Donnie hacks into the M.O.U.S.E.R. I just can't lead Baxter to the lair!"

"No!" Mikey squeezed me tighter. "Bros stick together, so I'm not letting you go."

"Mikey.." I let out a sigh, before I could continue a loud offensive mechanical squeal cuts through the night. Dred crawled up my spine at the high pitched noise, understanding the meaning of the offending sound.

"M.O.U.S.E.R.S." No sooner was the warning out of my mouth as a swarm of the mechanical two legged trackers raced toward me over the wall and fence. I swung Mikey to shield him from the charging swarm as I unsheathed one sword to halt a few of the first M.O.U.S.E.R.S.

My brothers raced around to protect me, they tried to shield me from the onslaught of this mechanical army that seemed to keep growing by the minute.

My katanas sang as I fought off each attack. I thought I had ninja reflexes before, but with the return of my swords it felt as though these skills had been sharpened, the feel of the familiar steel in my hands, these deeply ingrained reflexes and moves seemed to be pulled even closer to the surface.

"They just keep coming!" Mikey yelled as he fought off half a dozen M.O.U.S.E.R.S. Turning I saw even more M.O.U.S.E.R.S. climbing over the brick wall of the zoo. Behind me I heard Rocksteady pawing the ground and charging any intruders that entered his enclosure.

Looking around and taking in the situation, I came to a conclusion. We couldn't stay here, we would only be endangering the animals plus we barely had room to fight effectively.

I jumped onto the nearby wall leading the swarm of M.O.U.S.E.R.S. after me. It didn't take long to race out of the zoo and back to the rooftops.

Looking behind me I saw the M.O.U.S.E.R.S. hot on my heels. Well at least I led them away from my brothers.

"Booyakasha" Mikey yelled before swinging in to kick a few M.O.U.S.E.R.S. off the roof.

Right behind him Donnie vaulted over to take on a few of the machines alongside Raph who was fighting with mad adamin. "Don't you dare run off like that again!" he pointed his sia me. "Unless you ask us to follow. I hate retreats, but I hate it more when you're using yourself as bait to lead the fight away from us."

I let a smile stretch over my face as I jumped into the fight beside my brothers.

They just seemed to keep coming. No matter if we stood to fight or ran across the rooftops, they seemed to have endless numbers.

"Running out of roof Leo" Mikey called, I let out a sigh. I knew that we were running out of options and I feared that we couldn't keep this up much longer.

Spotting the water tower I changed directions. "I have an idea"

We were breathing heavily by the time we reached the water tower, barely ahead of our pursuers. Not wasting any time I raced forward hitting the weak spots of the water tower's foundation. After the tower was just a few blows from overtipping I turned my attention to the next part of the plan. Slicing through a M.O.U.S.E.R. I turned to Donnie. "Can you make this short circuit, maybe make it cause as much trouble as I do with the toaster?"

Donnie smirked, catching onto my plan. Guarding him as he worked I motioned for my other two brothers to move toward the other side of the roof. Getting a thumbs up from Donnie I raced forward unbalancing the tower before running to push my brothers away from the oncoming water.

The tower overturned drenching the rooftop, as the water reached the M.O.U.S.E.R. Donnie tinkered on, it short circuited causing an electronic shock to pass through all the M.O.U.S.E.R.S. touching the water.

I let out a relieved sigh from where me and my three brothers stood, safely on the raised edge as the M.O.U.S.E.R.S. stopped moving.

Leading my brothers to the next roof I let out a breath of relief.

Though I may have breathed too soon as a sudden weight thrown into my side sent me tumbling to the ground. The mechanical screech cut through the night air as a second new wave of M.O.U.S.E.R.S. raced over the edge of the building and bombarded us.

Several M.O.U.S.E.R.S. climbed on top of me, keeping me pinned to the ground obscuring my vision of my brothers as they fought to get to me, screaming my name in full panic.

I felt my weapons ripped from my grasp and heard the heart clenching clank as metal hit the ground. I felt a pinch in my arm as the world started to fade to black. My vision began to swarm around me, as I felt a weight start to carry me away.

As though from a long distance away I thought I could hear someone call my name.


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