Chapter 1

For disclaimers and technical stuff please see the Prologue.

And just in case you were wondering, Deamo is pronounced "Day-mo"

Chapter 1

They drove on a dirt road that snaked around the base of a cliff. It was extremely hot. Every tree had been scorched in the blast leaving no hope of relief. Looking behind them, Leo could see the remnants of New York gripping the horizon. From their higher view he could see a huge crater that was nearly as large as the city itself. He leaned forward and tapped Jacobs on the shoulder. "What caused the crater?"

"A type of bomb. More like a laser."

Raph frowned, "Nuclear?"

"No. But just as powerful."

The mouth of a cave came into view around a corner and the jeep pulled inside and parked. They got out and walked deeper into the cave, Jacobs lantern the only source of light. Mike stared intently at the moss that clung to the cave walls. It glowed a soft blue in the darkness. After a good ten minutes a large metal door came into view. A hidden panel opened in the cave wall off to the right. Jacobs placed his hand on the panel and the door clicked softly. Jacobs turned to them, "Welcome to Base Camp."

The first room was half-circle shaped with a security desk off to the left and three doors on the right. One of which was an elevator. They were immediately carted off to the first door on the right where they underwent a very grueling and thorough security evaluation. Everything that could be poked or prodded, within reason, was. The tests became so intense that Leo began to get worried that they weren't being evaluated but studied, just the thought of it made him cringe. But just when he was about to protest the doctor came in and tossed some clothes at them.

"These are standard issue Base uniforms. It was a little difficult finding ones in your size but I think those should work out." He smiled and led them out into the main room. Jacobs was standing there waiting. A man in a white lab coat walked up to them.

"They're clear sir, absolutely no foreign electronics were detected."

Jacobs smiled, "Thank You. Well let's head down to my office and get to the point of all this."

They boarded the elevator and Jacobs hit the button for five. "This base has fourteen levels and this elevator is the only way up or down. Easier for security that way. No one can enter or leave without my clearance and everyone goes through a security check."

Leo frowned, "Problems with security?"

Jacobs looked at him, "We cannot let the Du'har find us."

The doors opened and they walked into a long hallway, at the end of which were large double doors. Armed guards stood on either side of the doors. The office was large with a very large screen placed in the right wall. A mahogany desk was centered near the back wall with two chairs placed in front of it. An overstuffed couch was against the left wall. Leo and Raph sat in the chairs and Mike took the couch. Jacobs sat down and looked at them each in turn.

"All right I will start from the beginning. Please try to keep and open mind." He smiled, "As we speak an alien spaceship is orbiting this planet. It was from that ship that the blasts came this morning. Every major city on the planet was hit. DC, Paris, Tokyo, basically everything has been destroyed. There is one man behind this attack; his name is Lord Deamo. He comes from a planet called Kelzet, located in the Epsilon quadrant of the galaxy. Earth is only one planet in his immense collection of worlds. And his followers on earth have formed the organization known as the Du'har, they are responsible for keeping the planet in Deamo's hands."

Leo sat forward now, "How do you know all this?"

Jacobs sighed, "I am also from Kelzet. Deamo and I once served together in the galactic fleet. However when he passed me in rank he gained the resources he needed to begin his….collection. I have always been very fond of Earth, it being one of my favorite vacation spots. So when I learned that this planet was on his list of worlds to conquer I sought to protect it. Only I had no idea when he would try to take this world and I didn't have enough time to build up the Mal'tuc."

Mike frowned, "But what about the President and the US Military and all that?"

"Unfortunately with the destruction of Washington DC all of your government was destroyed. The Mal'tuc is now the only hope for this planet. Deamo is a very evil man and I will not let him keep this world"

"What I don't get is if you knew about this why didn't you tell the military or anything."

Jacobs looked at Raph, "Because you do not understand the type of power Deamo wields. Even if your government had been alerted, and even if they had joined forces with every other military on the planet, there still would have been no way to stop him. He is too powerful for your planets limited technology. That is why I am here. I can provide your planet with the technology needed to fight him. However it will take time before we are ready."

They sat in silence for a moment, letting everything sink in. Then Jacobs sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. Finally Leo looked up, "So what do we do know."

"Well you are of course welcome here. We can use all the help we can get. This base was unaffected by the blast because of how deeply it is buried. Also very strategic security measures have been taken to keep the Du'har from detecting us." Leo nodded. "I will have quarters prepared for you." He typed something on his computer and then turned back to them. "In the mean time do you have any other questions?"

Mike looked up, "Is this it? I mean is this base all of the Mal'tuc?"

"Oh no. There are 25 Mal'tuc Camps placed throughout the world. Each near a major blast zone. However this camp is by far the largest."

"Do you have a plan yet?"

"Well Leo at this point we are not yet in a position to be able to plan, The Mal'tuc has yet to even plant its roots. However a plan will be formulated. Deamo is not a stupid man, and it will take some very clever thinking to be able to defeat him."

Leo sighed and sat back, this day was going down as the worst possible day any living being could ever experience in ten million life times, at least in his opinion. Aliens from another planet, here to take over the world. It sounded like some horrible "B" movie. He glanced back a Jacobs, the light shining off his hair made it look like a flame that had frozen solid, he frowned "Is this really what you look like?"

Jacobs smiled, "No. This disguise is only to put the people of your planet more at ease. Our true form actually very closely resembles a cross between two of your earth creatures, I believe one is called a….Tarantula? And the other a….oh what is it?….A Cobra, yes that's it." Leo grimaced, he would never admit it to anyone but he hated snakes, "And since we're on the subject, this is your true form, correct?"

Leo glanced over at Mike who sat up quickly, it was his turn to tell the story. "Yeah man we're really turtles! Ya' see about 20 years ago….

About a half hour goes by…..

…..and then the world was destroyed this morning."

"Amazing!" Jacobs was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest, eye's wide and mouth agape. "Absolutely amazing, even on my planet such a fantastical story is, unheard of, not even imagined. And you have been living in hiding all this time?" They all nodded, But then Jacobs frowned, "But you said there are five?"

Raph clenched his teeth and glared at the floor. Leo sighed and looked at Jacobs with sadness in his eyes. "There were. Our Master and our brother didn't make it."

Jacobs nodded slightly. There was silence for a few moments, none of the turtles wanted to speak of it and Jacobs didn't know what to say. Obviously words would not bring back their family. Finally he broke the silence. "Well, I'm sure this has been a very trying and stressful day for you all. You deserve a rest, come, your quarters should be prepared."

They all stood and followed Jacobs into the hall, toward the elevator. When they got in Jacobs pressed the button for ten and began to tell them a little more about the camp. "The first floor is entry and security, no one can pass through to a lower floor without a full body scan and strip search. Any trace of foreign electronics and the transmissions are jumbled and you are killed." There was a surprised silence for a moment and Jacobs looked at each of them. "Deamo is ruthless, and because of this we can't afford not to be. The second level is two hundred feet below the first and houses the medical labs and kitchens. Level three is the dining area and conference rooms and levels four and five contain the higher-ranking officer's private offices. Levels six through eight hold the training facilities. Levels nine through twelve are the sleeping quarters. The last two levels are very high security where only a very select few are allowed. It is where the weapons storage and science labs are kept. You must have a special key card and code to enter those levels. The code changes every day. This facility descends 4000 feet into the ground. Your quarters are on level 10." The doors opened with a `ding' and Jacobs walked three doors down, opening the one on the left. All quarters are identical, however I will leave it to your choice, you have rooms four five and six. I will be issuing a memo to all residents about you, so that no one gets to frightened, but I will leave out any greater details. Those can be given at your disclosure."

Leo nodded, "Thank you Jacobs."

"Please rest well my friends, and if you would be so kind as to join me in the conference room on the third floor in the morning?" They all nodded, and Jacobs smiled "Good night then." He went back to the elevator and the turtles turned to each other. Without a word spoken Raph spun and stormed into room six, slamming the door behind him. Leo sighed and slowly turned, entering room five. Mike looked up and down the hall for a few moments before going into room four.

Barley ten minuets later a door opened and the occupant walked to the next door down, knocking softly. Leo opened and smiled, "Come on in Mike, I already made you a spot on the floor."

Again, the door materialized from the wall and the turtle on the floor glared up at the man who sauntered over to him, stopping at his feet. "Well my green friend I think I've given you ample time to think about things. I do trust you have re-thought your decision."

Don just looked at the floor, "Do I have a choice?"

Deamo smirked, "Not really. Mr. Marks please escort Mr. Donatello to his rooms and make sure he is comfortable."

"Yes, My Lord."

Deamo looked back at the turtle, "In the morning we will discuss your role here" He watched as Donatello walked from the room, still amazed at the development of such a creature, and smiled evilly.

The trumpet blared through the speaker system and Leonardo's eye's shot open. He glanced around frantically for a moment before he remembered where he was, then slowly sat up. He swung his legs out of bed and stood up, almost stepping on Mike in the process who just rolled over and buried his head under the pillow, mumbling something about the end of the world and just where the hell they managed to find the stupid trumpet. Leo smiled and finding some towels in a drawer, went to take a shower.

He turned the water on and made it just slightly to hot, so he could relax a little. As he climbed in the previous nights events came back to him. The evening really had gone reasonably well, all things considered. Mike had cried for the better part of four hours before finally falling asleep, leaving Leo to try and absorb the reality of the situation. And they hadn't heard a word out of Raph all night, which wasn't that strange coming from Raph, but Leo was still worried. He almost wanted Raph to come stumbling into the room in the middle of the night, tears streaming down his face, just so he would know what his brother was feeling. But he resigned himself to accepting that he would probably never find out where Raph was right now, and to just take each day as it comes. Which was easier said than done at 1:30 in the morning when it finally became real. He wasn't in his bed; He wasn't in the lair, would never be again; Donatello was missing, probably dead; And Splinter… He had shut his eyes then, silently allowing the tears to come and had no more thoughts as the darkness overcame him. He just stood there drowning in his thoughts as the water poured over him.

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Meanwhile, Raphael was standing in the middle of the floor staring up at the speaker that had a Sai permanently wedged thru it wondering how he was going to explain this one to Leo. It wasn't his fault they had chosen a freakin' trumpet for a wake up call, 'where'd they get the dumb thing anyway?' shaking his head he stood on the desk and started prying his weapon from the wall.

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Standing under the now frigid water Leo slowly became aware of a pounding sound. Then thru the haze of his thoughts he heard a voice.

"Leo! What're ya doin in there?" Then softer "Wait don't answer that! I might not want to know."

He quickly shut off the water and ran to open the door, "Sorry Mike. I didn't realize how long I was in there."

"I'm goin back to my room to take a shower. The first chance for a real shower that isn't recycled sewer water and I ain't missin' it." Flashing Leo his classic cheesy grin he rushed from the room.

Chuckling he finished drying off and gathered his gear. Walking the few feet to Raph's door he knocked softy and hearing a grunt that vaguely sounded like 'come in' he opened the door. Walking in, his attention was immediately drawn to his left where he saw Raph with his left foot planted firmly on the top of the desk, his right foot planted firmly on the wall and both hands wrapped around the hilt of his Sai, which was imbedded in what looked like the remains of a speaker. Before Leo could say anything, the Sai came free and sent Raph flying off the desk and back onto the bed.

They just looked at each other for a moment before Leo sighed, "I don't want to know."

"Good, cause I wasn't gonna tell ya."

"Are you ready."

Raph rolled off the bed grumbling, "Whatever."

They stopped at Mikey's room and drug him out of the shower before heading to the elevator and level three.

Donatello had very unwillingly fallen asleep, sheer exhaustion being the only thing that made him close his eyes. He couldn't even remember what time he had dropped off. He only knew that right now someone was poking him in the arm. He slowly turned his head to see the man Deamo had called Marks, holding what looked like a cane, jump back from the sleeping turtle in a panic.

Don sighed, "What do you want!?"

Marks looked completely terrified, "I…um… that is… ah" He sat up making Marks slam back against the door spiting out, "Lord Deamo will see you now!"

"Great! The highlight of my morning." He stood and stretched watching Marks out of the corner of his eye. "I won't hurt you, you know." Marks just stared at him wide-eyed and he sighed, "Let's just go." He'd never seen a man open a door so quickly in his life.

They made their way down the hall while workers, he assumed, in black and red jumpsuits stared at him. He had to speed walk to keep up with Marks who was obviously trying to get as far away from him as possible. Which was fine with him, he couldn't care less. 'Man I'm starting to sound like Raph' he thought to himself. 'Raph…I hope they're ok.'

Just then they arrived at a large black door and Marks opened it, allowing Don to pass. The door slammed behind him and he looked around. There was a deep red carpet with a black couch and coffee table in the middle of the room facing the door. Behind that was a gigantic midnight black desk with a high back chair that looked like it was about ten feet tall. But the thing that caught him off guard the most was the huge window on his left side that gave a spectacular view of the Earth from about 20 million miles up. 'Wow'

"Breathtaking, isn't it?"

Don turned to see the chair swivel around, revealing a very smug looking Lord Deamo. "What is going on?"

"Well, as I mentioned to you before, I have been observing you and your world for some time." He paused "I have a hobby. I collect worlds. And yours has been the latest to join my little collection.

Don turned back to the window, "What did you do?"

"Unfortunately the Human race had become so advanced that I couldn't simply go down and take over." He stood and walked slowly over to where Don stood. "They needed to be immobilized, caught unaware. So to accomplish this I merely destroyed all of the major cities on your planet."

Don's eyes grew wide, "The flash I saw…"

"Yes, I beamed you to my ship mere seconds before your New York was leveled."

He couldn't think. The room was spinning. And as he stared down at the Earth only one thought was flitting across the edge of his sub-conscious. 'New York is leveled? Then my family is probably gone… I am alone?"