Chapter 14
Chapter 14
4:00 a.m.

Casey awoke to the sounds of shuffling around his cage. The drugs administered in him certainly did the trick. Lark was able to poke, puncture, tap, pull, and rotate his sorry bottom all over for the proper testing. And now, he was just coming to his senses to see a pretty young female standing there with what looked to be a glob of green. Wait, the glob looks awfully familiar.

"He won't bite, will he?" Lark dropped the padlock in her pocket and lifted the cage handle with ease.

"Not unless you want him to." Donatello side-stepped past her to stand in front of the open cage. "Yo, Casey." He sighed and looked down. Damn, I sound like Raph when I speak that way. "Casey. Wake up. We're getting out of here." Donatello went to help him up but discovered his own weight was hard enough to hold for himself. "Ooof...big mistake. I may be strong, but he's built like a ton of bricks."

"Let me help. I put him in, it's only fair I take him out." Don shrugged and stepped away, thinking It's your funeral, lady. Lark approached slowly with arms extended. "Hi, Casey. Remember me?"

A loud growl came from within the cage.

"Yup, he remembers you, all right." Don nodded from behind.

"Come on Casey...I'm here to help-"

A set of claws swiped out and sent her slamming into Donatello's unprepared arms and chest.

"Ooof-!"

"Aaaaa!!" Lark slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor between his shaking legs. "Ouch!"

Donatello looked to her. "Oops. Wasn't ready for that. Whoa...feel faint..." Not too long after, Don slumped down behind her, breathing heavily. Lark looked left to right before turning fully around to see Don on the ground, looking dazed.

"Oh, I'm so, so sorry Don!" Lark crawled over and placed a hand on his chest. It rose and fell violently. "Are you hurt? I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay." He wheezed and waved a hand. "Drop in anytime." He quickly turned and had a small coughing fit. "I'm sure my lungs are in my throat by now."

"He's gone!" Lark looked back to the cage and saw it was empty. "When did he get out?"

"When you opened the cage, I'm assuming-"

"But I opened it for a mere second or two!" She waved her hands frantically. "How could he escape so quickly?!"

Don raised a finger. "I think it was during you falling on your butt and me squeezing my eyes shut from getting the wind knocked out of me. Ow..." Donatello rolled around onto his knees. "Don't worry. He couldn't have gone far. I should let you know now that he's one for disappearing like this." He looked down to see her face was flushed and full of distress. "You okay?"

"I-I think so. I was more worried about...." Lark shook her head. "I'm very sorry about slamming into you. I wasn't prepared for him to do that-"

"Sorry? Hey..." Don raised his hands and tapped one finger at a time. "I've counted on my fingers how many times you've told me that. And believe me, I'm going to need more fingers to keep counting!" Lark smiled and gazed downward. "I don't mean to sound like Leo, but, enough with the apologies already. Here."

"Who's Leo?" Lark looked up to see him now extending his hands to her. "Oh. Thank you." She took them and felt herself being lifted up onto her feet. "I see you still have some strength left to do that."

He grinned wide. "I never have trouble picking up girls." Lark thought she heard a drum roll and cymbals crash. "Let's go find the trouble maker before someone else does."

"Let's? You mean..." Her finger pointed to herself then to him. He smiled and looked away. "I don't understand. After what I've done, you still wish me to accompany you?"

"Yes." He swallowed.

"May I ask...why?"

"Well, in truth of the matter, he could hurt someone or perhaps hurt himself and you have medical background."

"But I've...hurt you as well. Doesn't that leave you feeling the least bit...hesitant toward me?"

"Look, Lark...I know you must think you're already an ememy to me because of the separation of our different worlds. Yeah, it's true, you have hurt me but not to where I'll have to be completely rehabilitated, thank the Lord Almighty." Don clapped his hands together in a quick prayer. Lark chuckled.

"A part of you has wounded my life by chaining me in that cage and drugging me to near death." He paused and sighed. "While the other half is saving it by releasing me and rescuing my friend. I owe that much of gratitude towards you." Lark bowed her head, wondering if she were insulted or complimented. Or both. "Maybe I should just say, a girl like you doesn't belong in a dungeon of a place like this." He took her arm and locked it with his. "If you don't want to see harm come to me or my friend, then help us get out of here. Alive."

Lark tapped his wrist with her free hand.

"I'll do my best."

This early-morning romp was becoming tiresome for two day-time working women. April was used to being out all hours from having past adventures with the Turtles. Kate on the other hand was used to it for having a child whom chooses to wake up and cry whenever he demands attention from her or her brother.

"Raph was right there. I recognized his weapon. Not to mention his well-known mug."

"What kind of weapon is it?" Kate pointed down. "Some kind of fork dagger?"

"He calls it...ah, sai. A pair of sais."

"Oh. I've never heard of that before."

"Check that one's status..." April and Kate glanced to a man wondering around in a tight lab coat. If he sneezed, the coat looked like it would rip in two. "It's still breathing? Inject it and see what happens."

"Isn't it obvious that coat was not issued to him?"

"Stifle it, Mike." Raphael slid around a huge machine with Michaelangelo following behind. Splinter was inching closer to the opposite end of the room. "I can see we're going to have fun with taking it off of him, anyway." Raph paused to see two men start to head in their direction. He took out his sai and grinned. "Well, what have we here..." Mike turned to see where Raph was staring.

The two men went to stand at a large, steel table, both dressed in head to toe white garments. White all over with white hats, white gloves, white dress shirts, white pants, white shoes that clomped whenever they walked. Yes, even white surigcal masks that covered their white trash faces, according to our green-faced spectators.

"They're nice n' white and that's all right! Mm, mm!" *snap, snap* Mike grinned.

"One's got a shot in his hand." Raphael observed with a frown.

"Yeah, looks as though like they're going to give whatever's in the cage an injection." Mike blinked and looked to Raph whom nodded.

The men were deeply involved with the procedure. One held the small cage door open while the other extended his arms slowly. With needle in hand, the contents hissed and yelped to him.

"Ow! Damn bitch!"

"Did you get it, Ian?"

"Yeah, I got it, Fred. Close her."

"Did she scratch you?" Fred lowered his eyes toward the cage while closing the door.

"She threw a swipe. Luckily, the coat got the worst of it."

"Harris. Good evening, sir." Fred stood up fully as a tall, demonic-faced man approached them.

"A new one to look over?"

Ian nodded. "Belonged to a neighbor's. The wound looks infected and the owners couldn't figure out what attacked her. They said a dog or some forest animal. By the way she acts, I'd say far worse got a hold of her."

"The werewolf creatures still run loose amongst the other wild beasts. One man was caught, another still roams free, and many more could very well be at large." Harris looked into the cage. Whining noises dreadfully cried to him. "Oh, quit your belly aching! Won't do you no good here!"

"Think she'll live, Ian?" Fred overlooked a clipboard on the table beside the cage.

"As in all her nine lives?"

"Yeah."

"With this bite the size of Texas?"

"Yeah."

"And a possible infectious disease of unknown causes?"

"Yeah!"

"Nope. She may not by the looks of it but testing might prove otherwise."

"Then, don't waste anymore time here!" Harris finally spoke up in his booming 'I'm the boss' tone. "Ian, get me a reading of this blood sample. And Fred, I believe from all her bitching, she's ready. Make sure you record everything that happens. Take the cage and go with Ian to room 4."

The two men nodded and took the cage with them down a long hall way. Raphael started to follow with Mike behind him.

"What do we do, Raph? You heard what that freakazoid said about she being ready. Ready for what?"

"I don't know, Mike. But, I'm about ready to play some dress up. Interested?"

Mike gave a low thumbs up. "Right on!"

"I'll take Ian, the Mr. Know-it-all...you move in for the Havard boy."

"Right- heeey! I wanted to be the Mr. Know-it-all!" Mike whined quietly.

"Look, you can be the damn cleaning lady for all I care! Just do as you're told!"

"Yeah sure. Whatever."

They reached room four where at that point, Ian felt someone tap his right shoulder. Raphael slid to the left side of him as Ian looked over his right side and saw no one. Then, before he could speak, his mouth got punched in with a green fist clenching a sai. Fred freaked when he saw Ian being attacked by a strange-looking creature. Little did he know he too was about to meet another one face-to-face.

"Ian...are you...Yaaah!"

"Surprise, Freddie!" Michaelangelo spoke demonically and threw his body at him, causing him to knock into the side wall. Fred immediately fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. Mike looked around to see the results. Ian was knocked out with Raph standing over him and now Fred was on the ground at Mike's feet, also out cold.

Raph pointed. "You alright, Mike?" The guy never had a chance to put a finger on him. But Raph felt he should ask him anyway.

"Perfect! You?"

"Ditto." Raphael placed the cage on a wood table and looked to Fred and Ian. "We should suit up now. The noise could trigger people to come walking in here at anytime."

"Right. Hey, uh...Fred..." Mike stood over him, sounding like Barney Rubble from The Flintstones. "I uh, need to borrow dis here set of clothes from ya, Fred!" He laughed the Barney Rubble laugh next. Raphael rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Pretty good, huh?"

"Mmm, not bad, Mike. Ever thought about doing voice-over?"

Mike shrugged and said nothing to that. Raph shrugged back and they continued to suit up their new garments. Mike finished tying a knot in the facial mask and lastly applied the thick, white boots that fit him perfectly. He clomped to a mirror and sized himself up.

"Do you know the Muffler Man, the Muffler Man, the Muffler Man..."

"Damn five-fingered humans! Leave the gloves off, Mike. As if we had a choice."

"Gotcha."

Raphael glanced to himself in a reflection from a doubled glass cabinet. "Alright, we look the part, but I don't think our green cheeks and hands will go over too well. Should still keep a low profile from everyone. Let's get going back to-"

A small growl suddenly emerged from the cage. Mike cocked his head to one side and looked down to Raph's waist.

"Was that you or your stomach?"

"Neither. "It was..." His eyes caught a name tag. "Jemina?" Raphael peered through the squared-shaped cage where the whining was heard again. "Oh, yeah. Forgot the whole reason why those guys came in here in the first place."

"Awww, poor thing sounds in pain." Mike bent down to look in the cage. "What do you think is wrong with her?"

"Damned if I know, Mike. I'm not a doctor." Raphael also bent to look in closely.

"Yeah, but you're sure dressed like one."

"Hey, never judge a turtle by his clothing." Raph started to leave but Mike grabbed his arm.

"Wait, we can't just leave her like this. You may not be a doctor, but I know that you're a hero." Mike stood and unhitched the cage.

"Mike, what are you doing?!"

"Getting her out of this entrapment."

"Mike, some traps are meant to keep what's ever in them, away from harming others."

"She won't hurt me...hey, you..." the cat looked up with sickly, glazed eyes and moaned. "Aww, hey, I won't hurt you." The cat didn't know that and swiped to Mike's hand. Mike quickly dodged the swipe and backed away. "Yeeep! Gah!"

"Won't hurt you, eh?" Raphael had his arms crossed with an amused smirk. He then glanced to the large tear in Ian's coat from where he got scratched and showed it to Michaelangelo. "Lookit this. That could have been your hand, Mikey."

"She's just scared, that's all. Aren't you, Jemina?" The cat mowed to him. "Let's try this again, huh?" Michaelangelo placed his hand under her chin to allow her to sniff it. Then, in her cat-like ways, she nudged his fingers with her nose and mouth. Mike rubbed down her neck and suddenly paused, feeling something out of the ordinary. "Uh...Raph, we have a problem...."

"What, is she drooling on you now?"

"Noooo...I wish it was drool." Mike lifted his two fingers up to him. They were stained with blood. "This came from behind her fur. She's sitting in a pool of blood."

"What did you expect would come from a flesh wound? Marinara sauce?"

"It's not coming from the animal bite, Raph. That's been bandaged up."

"Then, what the hell is it from, Doctor Dolittle?"

"Well....I'll just say in a few minutes, we're going to have quite a handful here. Of kittens that is."

Raphael stared as if he got slapped.

"Kittens! Man, that's probably what that wacko meant by she's ready!" Michaelangelo nodded. "Dammit! Great! Juuuuust great! So, now what do we do?!" Mike looked back to the cage and smiled.

"Well, I suggest you get some clean towels and boil some water from the faucet. This should be interesting, huh, Ian? Heh, heh."

"Fuck you, Fred."

This is the most horrid display of animal cruelty I have ever seen. Splinter thought while sniffing the air around him. The chemical odor that filled his nostrils was a terrible but sorrowful smell. It angered him to the brink of attacking anything in sight that had caused this heinous crime to occur. Tearful whines of domestic house cats and dogs were seen in various cage sizes. Smaller animals of the rodent families were, as Splinter assumed, used for experiment testings. They squeaked out cries of pain when he crossed their path as if pleading to their master that they wanted the one thing each speicies was denied. Freedom.

"Hush, my children..." the words were spoken no more than a whisper. Each sound, each breath he made, Splinter would take a glance to make sure no one heard him. Shadows proved to be the guardians of his solid form. For the so-called scientists walked by without the faintest notion he was right there, watching their every move in turn.

Splinter ducked into a room with three small steps heading downward. Although the place was cleaned up from any previous events, the memories were flooding back to him. Detonation, the sound of rifles going off. Splinter carefully knelt down on his knees and brushed a flat hand to the floor.

"No...it...can't possibly be..."

"Splinter?" Splinter turned his head around to see April and Kate in the doorway. "We saw you come in here and wondered if everything was all right."

"April, my dear. Nothing is all right here as far as I am concerned. By pinpointing our directions from the woods, I have made an alarming discovery."

"What is it, Splinter?"

"Do you recall the one summer...that terrorist invaded the area?" April nodded, then frowned. "This was the spot where it happened. Where that man gave up his life."

"Oh..." April rested on the balls of her feet. "Was that when..." Splinter nodded as if reading her thoughts. "Oh, my..."

"What? What happened April?" Kate asked with concerned.

"It's a long story, Kate. Splinter, did you and the guys see anything while down there?"

"I have seen two of the men that worked for him. They have escaped police custody and are here now with this new operation."

"There are many desolate areas out here, Splinter." April gestured around herself. "How can you be sure this is the exact spot where that terrorist died?"

"I do not wish to alarm you but, since we arrived, I have felt his presence lingering very strongly."

The light overhead silently dimmed on the three. April and Kate both looked up, clutching each others arms. Splinter looked up last, blinking rapidly when the light returned to it's brightest setting.

"Tell me this place has an electrical problem." Kate whispered.

"We should go find the others, Splinter." April stood up, taking Kate with her. Splinter rose next with walking stick in hand. "I've been on one too many ghost hunts and I'm not about to start a new one now."

Something white breezed by the door, making Kate shriek and point. April covered her mouth and rushed to a large storage cabinet to hide against it. Splinter looked left to right, then sniffed the air.

"Did you see it?" Kate's voice trembled.

"I...I saw something go by." April admited.

The white thing returned and entered the room, making both girls shriek.

"Hey, there you are-"

"Heeeyah!" Splinter reacted by attacking the figure. In turn, the figure dodged and raised both hands. Both, green hands. "Raphael?!"

"Hey, yeah, it's me! Is that any way to treat family around here?!"

Splinter went to speak but Kate was already running over with open arms.

"Raph!" She clutched his shoulders and April crossed her arms.

"Couldn't you give a warning? First you spook me outside and now poor Kate almost had a heart-attack!"

"Wha? I wuz just looking for you guys! I didn't mean to spook anyone!"

"The white outfit scared me, Raph!" Kate laughed and hid her face in his chest. "Thank goodness you're not a ghost!"

"Heh?" Raphael leaned his body to look passed her, giving Splinter a raised eyebrow and curled lip expression.

Splinter bowed. "Raphael. Forgive my actions. I did not recognize you in your new attire."

"It's cool, sensei, but I really don't have time to chat. We've got an emergency down in room four."

"Room four?" Kate asked.

"You mean, these rooms are numbered?" April looked dumbfounded.

"Yeah, whatever, big deal. Look, Mike's up to his elbows in blood so we have to act fast before someone knows he's in there!"

"Mike?" April cupped her mouth.

"Blood?!" While Kate grabbed her arm in shock.

"Damn, you girls are sharp!" Raph joked.

"Show us the way, Raphael!" Splinter moved forward, taking Raph's arm with him out the door. "Come on, April, Kate! Let us hurry!"

April and Kate followed out last into the open hall where they were suddenly stopped abruptly.

"Stop!" A scientist in similar white attire blocked the path. He looked to Raph's name tag with eyes lowered. "Ian...is that you?"

"Yo." Raphael looked down and away. He carefully glanced up to search for a name tag on the guy. "S'up, Steve?"

"Not in the mood for chit chat. What the hell are you doing with that thing?"

"Um...what thing?"

"That...that hairy creature!"

"Nothing of importance..."

"What is it? A new pet of yours?"

"Um, an escaped animal." Splinter's ears perked. "I'm returning it to it's cage."

"It doesn't seem very forceful." Steve sized Splinter up. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he was following you willingly with no restraints."

"The animal is domestic."

"Oh? I've never seen anything like it before."

"Uh, uh...it's a mutated dog! Part dog, part mutant." Splinter blinked to Raph, wanting to say something, but remained quiet.

"I see." Steve walked around Splinter. "Mutant dog. You didn't tell it to follow you, I take it."

"Affirmative." Raph rolled his eyes. "He...uh...smells the treats in my pockets! Can't resist my Pupperoni snacks, no sir!" Splinter now looked appalled to him.

"And what about these women?"

"They're humans, Steve."

"I can see that you idiot! I meant where did they come from?!"

"Hey, you're a scientist. You should know where they came from."

"Don't be a smartass! You know the rules of letting strange people in here. You are lying to me about this freak and Harris will not tolerate liars! I can have your badge in two seconds!"

Freak? Man, that's going too far! "And I can have your ass kiss asphalt in one second."

"I beg your par-"

Raphael threw a right hook at the scientist, sending him falling backwards down to the ground. On his ass.

"That's for calling him 'freak' you schmuck! And this one's for Harris-" Splinter went to stop him but Raph broke free and kicked him hard in the stomach area.

Steve coughed up blood and doubled over in pain.

"I'm...calling security..." He tried to get up, but Raph's foot rested on top of him.

"Fuck security, pal!" Raphael gave one last kick before running off. The others, slightly disgusted, followed behind him until they were long out of site. "Wooo! Nailed that sucker! I'm damn good!"

"Raphael..."

Raph looked at Splinter. He could see painful lines of his brow hanging down to him. Kate and April backed away, looking in various parts of the room.

"What now, sensei? Are you going to tell me I screwed up by taking him down? You know damn well he was wrong to call you a freak like he did."

"The word offends me deeply, Raphael, as does to you and your brothers when branded that name. But, I was more hurt when you called me a 'mutated dog' to that scientist. I expect an apology."

Raph groaned and rolled his eyes. "Damn, sensei. It was a cover-up. Don't take it so personal."

"No, Raph, you're the capital of everything that is taken personal." April spoke matter-of-fact. Kate was shocked she could get away with a line like that and looked wide-eyed to her as if to say, 'Are you nuts?'

Splinter continued. "We had no cover-up, Raphael. You could have told him what I truly was and not make up some dispicable lie to get yourself out of trouble."

"It worked, didn't it?"

"Yes, after you assulted him."

"Can we drop this, already?" Raph looked to Kate for help, knowing April was not too pleased with him either.

Kate walked over and whispered in his ear, "Just say you're sorry so we can go."

"What?! Not you, too!" Kate backed away to April, now feeling she said something wrong or out of turn.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, April." She lied, then saw Splinter staring at her. "Um, nothing important, that is. We should hurry to Mike."

"Yes, let's go!" Raphael marched off. Splinter was back at his side followed by the girls in the rear.

"All I want to do is get out of here and not have anymore problems." Kate said to April.

"I don't know what you told Raph but you must be careful what you say around him. He's very unpredictable, Kate. And is always mad at the world, it seems."

"Master, stop staring at me that way. We got passed that guy and you're still pissed at me!"

"I am not pleased with the way you handled it."

"So, what do you want?"

"An apology."

"Oh, God! Here we go again! You sound just like Leo begging for one from Casey!"

"Because you were wrong. Casey was wrong! And if it is too much to ask for a simple, 'I am sorry,' then, we have nothing more to discuss."

Raphael said nothing for a good length of time. He watched the numbers decreasing as they were reaching their destination. The sounds of cries was getting louder, making the four move faster. Upon entering, each paused in the doorway, staring at the sight. Michaelangelo sat on the ground next to a cat on a stained towel. The sleeves and front of his coat were tinged with red.

"Raph! Sensei! Thank goodness you're here!"

Two gasps were heard followed by Raph and Splinter rushing to his side.

"Oh, Mike, what's wrong with him?" April ran over next with Kate behind her.

"Well, April..." Mike stood up and grinned to her. "In about 5 minutes, he will have a litter of kittens!"

April looked to Mike, wide-eyed. "Oh...my...is there anything we can do?"

Raph glanced up to them. "Yeah, if you ladies don't mind the blood shed, you can do plenty."

Kate bent down beside Raph, nudging his shoulder.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"I wish I had a cigarette."

April rolled her eyes as Raphael nudged her back.

"You and me both, babe."

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