Part 4
Part 4

Morning arrived faster than expected. Donatello met up with his brothers in the lowest section of the building.

"The cellar. Of all places." Don glanced around as he sat on the wooden steps.

"Hey, you could score some really neat stuff down here!" Michaelangelo's voice echoed from a corner of the room. "Whoa, check it out! A semi-used moped engine motor! Still intact! Wonder what it's doing down here!"

Raphael snatched it and observed it closely. "Being down here ain't gonna do it any good! Should belong IN a moped vehicle." He tossed it back in the corner. "Whatta waste of a good part."

Leonardo stepped over toward Donatello and sat down next to him.

"So, how was the grand tour? Was it everything you ever hoped and dreamed of actually seeing the inside of the police department?"

"I wasn't impressed. It looks like a large prison holding for young vigilantes, there's hardly any electricity to speak of, I watched Emiko getting the beating of a lifetime, there was also-"

Leo put a hand to his shoulder. "Wait, wait. Hold it. Stop. Back up. Rewind. What did you say about Emiko?"

"That she got the beating of a lifetime?"

"That's what I thought you said."

Michaelangelo climbed over junk, never taking his eyes off Don. "They what? They beat her?"

Don nodded. "It's one of the punishments she receives when she does something wrong. It was horrible and humiliating to her."

Raphael came over as well, hands gripping his sais. "What did they do to the little chick?"

Donatello closed his eyes for a moment and sighed. "I'll put it to you this way. Ring side seats. Body hung in the spot light with hands and feet tied. Men dressed like dominatrix with leather whips."

"Sounds like an episode of Real Sex." Raph grinned to Mike whom groaned at him.

Don continued. "What's worse is I got a wonderful view of everything. The least I could do when she returned to her room was place cool cloths on her scars. Her whole body was covered in them."

Michaelangelo whistled and looked away. "And I thought Splinter was strict."

Raph released a sai and clutched the hilt tightly. "I don't care what she did to me. It's what they did to her that makes the difference. I'll heal eventually. Scars last a long time to a child."

"Physical or emotional scars?"

"Both, Mike."

Leo stared off into a corner of the room as if lost in deep thought. His face showed plenty of anger and rage.

"Shouldn't have let her return here. Damn it, I knew something like this would happen!" He stood up and paced the room. Then turned back to Donatello. "Did you see anyone in particular? Is there someone in charge here or is this a come and go free for all?"

"There was one guy present at Emiko's penalty. Someone she called Master Nomed. I think he's the one in charge of this place. This is no police department. Dunno where Emiko got that idea from. It sounds to me like a private clan of kids and adults whom rank higher than the police. That is, they think they rank higher. I assume the police must have felt defeated and relunctantly joined forces since both groups wanted to wipe out the crime that's still in the city. Something out of the ordinary. And Emiko's going to wind up dead if she don't shape up or ship out. These people are dangerous. Not even I feel safe being here."

Leonardo nodded and turned away again. "I don't think Emiko is the only one receiving punishments as so severe. There's other kids that are likely to screw up and pay the price."

"Hey, they're just kids! These people can't expect them to be natural-born professionals." Michaelangelo crossed his arms, also angered.

Raph stepped over. "Yes, they can Mike. It's called discipline. Cruel as it may seem, these people are making these typical everday children as one of them. And if they fuck up, boom! They're going to get more than a slap on the wrist. I don't agree with it but hey, that's the rules. And if you don't play by the rules, well, as what Donny Boy witnessed, I rest my case."

There was a loud banging above them and the sound of hundreds of people talking at once. The Turtles looked up at the ceiling, watching dust drop from the weight. The thump noises was deafening.

Mike cupped his ears. Or just placed his hands over the sides of his face. "Sounds like a herd of buffaloes leading the pack. Jeez, whatta ruckus!"

Raphael also cupped his ears, squinting. "Yeah. Kinda reminds me of you when you'd throw a fit that we ran out of pizza!"

Leonardo stood up and held onto the banister which shook violently in his grasp.

"Think we should go up? Or be buried alive down here?" Don followed and clutched the banister as well.

"What the hell is going on up there? A fire drill?"

Michaelangelo's eyes were glued to the ceiling. "Maybe it's no drill."

Leonardo started to climb. "I'm going to take a look. Steer clear of the door."

Raphael saluted. "Yes, Kemosabe!"

Leo ignored that remark and went up the stairs. On the other side, the halls were empty once again. The door creaked opened and Leonardo looked out to the left. Empty. Then looked to the right. Same thing. Feeling safe, he stepped out into the intersection and started to walk forward. A young girl swung around the corner at an unbelievable speed and fell into him. A straggler. Her and Leonardo yelped at the impact and the two went flying into the far wall at the end of the hallway. Leo banged his head and slid down to the floor; the girl toppled over his stomach. She shook her head and immediately crawled off him and stepped away.

"I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Here let me help-" She turned to face him and gasped.

Leonardo started to rise. "I'm fine. Oof! All of a sudden I feel like that Tex Avery wolf trying to cross a seemingly empty street. Only to get smacked by a Mac truck!" His smile faded as he looked at her.

She looked about 17, long, light brown hair pulled back in a pony tail, hazel eyes and a tiny pointed nose which wrinkled upward at him. She wore an clingy black outfit as if she were on her way to do a massive workout. She stared at him harder and crossed her arms.

"You're not from around here, are you?"

Leo sighed, placing a hand behind the top ridge of his shell. "No, I'm not."

"Are you even human?"

He hated hearing that question. "Ah, same answer."

The girl nodded slowly. "I see. Well, since I had the wonderful pleasure of smashing into you back there, the least I can give you is in introduction." She outstretched her hand. "Jennifer Morrison."

He looked down to her opened hand and reached out to shake it firmly.

"Leonardo."

She glanced down, amazed by how it looked and felt.

"Interesting." She stared at his hand.

"Excuse me?"

She released it and stared up at him. "Your name. It's interesting. Very Renaissance."

"And Jennifer is-"

"Very boring."

"No. I wasn't going to say that."

"Oh." She stared at him for a moment, still a bit put off by his looks. "Well, Leo. I'd love to chat but I'm late so if you'll excuse me, I must go."

Jenny stepped passed him and ran off at the same pace of when she collided with him minutes ago. He watched her leave and heaved a big sigh. Being seen was not one of his intentions. Jenny looked skyward as she headed down a long, dark corridor. Her thoughts ached inside. Who the hell was that? Could he be the answer to our prayers? The one we've been asking for? Perhaps he can bring an end to this horrid place and we can for once be freed.

Jenny stepped into a darkened room and waited patiently. Before long, an arm grabbed her body and pulled her closer. She closed her eyes and allowed the attacker to do his job. Why is he so forceful? I can take this willingly! God, please help me! Her mouth was forced open as a vial of red liquid was emptied out. He squeezed her nostrils shut so she would swallow it down. Jenny gasped and fell to her knees as the drug took effect. Relax. It will pass. It always does. She looked up to the man who injected her. Her eyes glowed a crimson red as the liquid flowed slowly down her throat. She growled like an animal as she watched the man. He grinned like the devil himself as he patted her head.

"Right on time. Get to work."

Leo paced around in the cellar, occasionally rubbing his sore head from when he banged it against the wall. How could he have feelings for this girl if he hardly knew her? She damn near killed him for one thing. Donatello frowned at his behavior and started to pace with him.

"Pondering deep thoughts?"

"Yes." Leonardo answered to the floor. "I'm wondering what goes on around here. What's the dark secrets of this place. That girl is hiding something. And I tend to find out what that is."

On command, Jenny began a feverish and unnatural workout to satisfy the beast that laid within her present soul. She ran onto a blue mat and began to do backward flips, cartwheels and heavy outward kicks as if fighting off invisible enemies. She grabbed the mat at her feet and spun up and off her feet in a fast head stand and then ran again to do some frontward flips followed by more kicks.

Leo placed a hand under his chin. He wondered why in a place like this, someone has to run like mad through the hallways. According to Emiko, the penalities are not pleasurable.

"Maybe she was just late for class." Michaelangelo mimicked Leo with a hand to the chin.

"Or late for a hot date!" Raphael added with a grin.

Mike's eyes lowered. "Nah! Not in the morning!"

"What. You never heard of the morning after? There's always seconds in the morning."

Mike groaned. "You would think of that. I'd still go with being late for class. That would be the most logical answer. Right, Leo?"

"Perhaps." Leonardo agreed without listening to the suggestions. "Late... for something."

The tie that held her ponytail fell out through a flip and the man risked his life to retrieve it. She snarled as he got near her and then snapped at him to get away. She spun around in a howling fit; her hair wrapped in massive heaps of brown tangles. She truly looked like a wild woman.

Leonardo crossed his arms and finally rested against the wall with one foot bracing himself. The pacing made him dizzy.

"So, tell me Leo. Did you get love struck?"

Leo looked up to see Raph staring into his face with eager eyes. He wanted women just as bad as he did but chose to hide it more.

"Go away, Raph. She's not interested in me. I'm sure there are other human boys here that she'd be far more interested in than a mutant turtle."

Closing her eyes, she slumped down on the mat and laid in a little heap, breathing heavily. The man clapped his hands in utter pride as he slowly approached her. Her eyes returned to their natural hazel color but looked dazed and confused. She stared up at the man with the face of a lost puppy.

"Good. Good, work Jennifer. I see you are ready for the streets. An extra dosage should keep you going much longer. This of course was a small dose. I will sumon your 'friends' who will join you on your mission. You may go now. I'm through with you."

"Yes, master." She panted softly and stood up to exit through another door.

The Turtles finally decided to leave the cellar and cautiously wander around the deserted halls in hopes of finding anything. Footsteps were heard coming up the way and they quickly ducked through another passage into complete darkness. It was a group of young soldiers wearing silver garments and carrying lasers at their sides. They walked in a formal stance toward the end of the hall near the bottom of the staircase and out the exit. Their faces were hidden with dark helmets. The Turtles stepped out and watched them leave.

"More troublemakers to pick up I assume?" Raphael asked to no one in partiuclar.

Michaelangelo groaned. "To think this is the answer to picking up criminals, I'd also leave town!"

Footsteps were heard again. Solo footsteps. Followed by someone humming. The Turtles ducked back into the darkness, knowing the drill of avoiding people. It was Jenny, walking a bit tipsy and looking drained of all her color. Raph nudged Leo.

"Is that her? The Jennifer chick?"

"Yes." Leonardo hissed quietly. "But something's not right. Look at her face. The way she's walking."

"Told you, Mike. It was a hot date!" Raph whispered to him. Mike rolled his eyes as Leo waved a hand back to the group.

"Stay here, I'm going to check on her."

Leo stepped out of the shadows and came up behind her. She hummed to herself as she carelessly walked down the halls. He tapped her shoulder and she spun around, giving him a hard look. Then smiled widely.

"Oh, you again! Leo, Leonardo. Leon, whatever it was. Maybe all three! Ha, ha. Where'd you run off to? I missed you so!" Jenny slumped forward and Leonardo quickly caught her.

"Whoa! Careful. Are you alright? You don't look so good."

Jenny stared into his face and clutched his arms for support. "I....feel....fine." Her breath was a horrid smell; something he couldn't detect but nauseated him. He looked into her eyes; her pupils were large and glassy-looking. Disgusted, he turned away from her and saw his brothers emerging from their hiding place.

"Is she alright?" Mike asked in a high-pitched tone.

Jenny looked at the three standing there and almost laughed. "Well, ain't it a surprise! Hi, there! You've got friends, Leo. And boy, they're just as green as you are. Tell me. Are you aliens?"

"Does that answer your question, Mike?" Leonardo glanced over at them. Then turned to Jenny. "Look, um, maybe you should get some rest. We'll talk later when you're feeling better."

"K." Jenny pulled away from him and waved to them all. She turned and continued to walk in her crazy pattern. Leonardo placed his hands on his hips and watched her. He shrugged to his brothers.

"Well, that was an enlightening experience." He looked again to see her slump to the ground. "Jenny!" He ran toward her and tried to lift her body which felt incredibly light but was dead weight.

"No, don't." She whispered. "I'll be alright. It'll pass. It always does. It'll pass..." Her head dropped in the crook of his arm as he held her on the floor. He looked up to see his brothers watching overhead. They looked as worried as he was.

"Guys. Something is going on around here. And whatever it is, I'm going to find out."

Raph nodded. "Ditto. This is unusual behavior. Even for a girl."

Mike stared down at the girl's limp body in Leo's arms. "What are you going to do with her? We can't just leave her here."

Donatello looked up as if a bright light turned on. "I have an idea. In case you were interested to know that."

His brothers looked to him as he explained his brilliant and quite simple plan of where to put her. Without realizing it, Jenny was in good hands. For now.

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