65,000,000 Years Ago
Blue fog in water swirled, with a soft hum that could be heard on the static level. From underground tributaties the reservoir was filled and ran through constantly, stealing from above ground rivers. Elemental Lita sped through the water, her long hair jetting out behind her. Water let her pass easily, like a beam of light through darkness. She darted and shot through the water, not bothering to disturb the mist of blue particles hanging suspended in the resovoir.
Tensions were high... above the water that is. Casualties statistics were still coming from the recent battle of Kerda. All of the royal court was bristled and agitated. They were thinking the same as she. That scared her.
Lita had come down only to escape the raging sentiments of her countrymen. She was so looking forward to an end to this war. End of the brutal fighting. But while she so wished for military and political reprieve, she was afraid of it. Knowing what a tumultuous confrontation was needed. How extreme resolve must be.
Up by the surface an intrustion to her substance woke Lita from her thoughts. It was Sir Leonardo's beautiful dark fingers, flitting in the water. She changed course, and swam up to the surface.
He was waiting as she leveled out by the cement platform against the wall. Leonardo sat on his haunches by the edge, his crisp cadet blue uniform wrinkled in the unusual position. He had unsnapped the top few buttons of his tunic, and rolled one of his spiked honor medals between his fingers absently in his wrong hand. He looked up as Lita surfaced and took back his fingers from the wetness, moving his hand to her cheek.
"Lita..." She smiled and hoisted herself up beside him. The water sheened off her and into the resovoir, leaving her neat and dry. She gave her head a shake, her hair flying about in millions of tiny ribbons. Leonardo stood up close to her and took her shoulders, looking down at her her, wishing not to be set off course by watching her primp herself. His dark eyes sparkled with intensity.
"What troubles you?" She stood up on her toes and kissed his chin. He waited for her to stand down and watched her for a few moments. She was a beautiful flower. Sparkling, like a wet lily. His thumb reached up and trailed down her cheek.
"Our final seige shall come at the break of morn. Orders from our king." Her brow furrowed and she looked away. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the water surface rippled with lines of tension. He stroked her hair and drew her close to him. "...Preporatory speechs are made in the hall of our lords. They wish us attend."
"Oh dear..." He rested his face in her hair. She pressed her arms against his chest and he could feel his heart pound against her fingers.
"Lita... let us not join them."
"...Leonardo." He caressed her hair.
"Let us spend the night together." She pulled away from his arms and stepped back, turning her back to him. "Join me in my chambers, Lita."
"Leonardo... we cannot." She looked over her shoulder. "...What would there be to be thought then?"
"Why should they think... why should they wonder." She spun on her heel.
"They already think. They already wonder!" Leonardo straightened his shoulders. He knew this already. But somehow hearing it from her lips hurt. "...see how I would find joy in your arms in the still of the night... how long my body hath yearned for yours, even in this darkest of hour." She wrapped her arms around herself. "But so improper this yearning. So unbecoming; indecent." She turned back again.
"No, not improper. All becoming and decent." He came behind her and held her shoulders. "You have always resisted our temptations. Always heedful and fearful of our conduct. Always fair and virtuous you have maintained yourself. My dearest of hearts... I ask you, slight those whom object to us, can we give our lives for our cause, without the blessed union of our souls?" She leaned her head against his chest. "Lita... I know that love is in my heart."
"Leonardo..."
"...I know it is in yours as well.... Please..." She closed her eyes and rolled her head against his chest.
"...Yes... " She acquiesced at last. He ran his hand through her hair and onto her hip, turning her around to kiss her. She sighed and sunk into him, taking his hand and following him out of the resovoir.
Steel bolted doors opened and they snuck out into the dim lit hall. Far away were the voices of the royal court, their voices impassioned and obnoxiously loud. They hurried in the other direction, stepping lightly down the cement. The corridors were empty this night, and echoed their lonely foot steps.
It seemed as if hours they ran, although only minutes. Breath became shortened and forced to a quiet huff, ears perked. Every turn held fear of being discovered for them. But still their efforts were made in vain. Sir Michelangelo ran into them in the hall, halting both parties. Lita grabbed Leonardo's arm and stood close behind him, as if she was facing some physical harm.
"Leonardo! Here thoust attend." Michelangelo smiled. "You doth accompany me to the hall of lords? Our King and Princes' speak." Leonardo put his arm around Lita and held her closer. Michelangelo's eyes darted between between the two with confusion. He began to slow and raised his eyebrows. "Oh." The tales were true then.
"Stay us not, brother... you shant stay us here." Leonardo straightened his back. Michelangelo cleared his throat, ruffling his goatee.
"Please, your highness." Lita pleaded. Sir Micheal smiled nervously and bowed.
"Mine lips be fixed." He tapped his mouth and stepped aside to let them pass. They hurried on past, and disapeared around the corner. Michelangelo sighed and continued on his way. To give foresaken love one night of freedom, what could be a worthier cause? Maybe saving the universe. That reminds me. Michelangelo turned the corner around heading toward the hall of lords.
Lita stepped back into the dark room as Leonardo closed and locked the door. He turned around to face her, and they both stood in place, as if neither of them knew what to do. Lita looked over her beau, taking in his form again. His tall posture was impecible, with modest curves of muscles in his back. Wide shoulders and tapered waist gave an imposing frame to him. But she knew the kind, even weathered heart he kept inside. Seemingly infinate age, he had a firm exterior to the universe. But still¼ so soft he was.
Lita ran into his arms and kissed him. At the same time her lifted her up, her legs wrapped around his waist. She draped her arms behind his back as he carried her to the bed. He was nice and warm.
Leonardo knelt on the end of the bed and leaned over, setting Lita down softly onto the matress. She released him and laid back, closing her eyes as he kissed her neck, and around her collar bone. His lips pressed against her skin with practiced care, masking what burning passion flamed inside him. She brought her hands to his head and ran her fingers through his hair as his hands undressed her.
Suddenly he sat up, startling her with his abruptness. She watched as he unbuttoned his uniform, taking tedious care not to tear a button. Hundreds of little buttons lined the tunic, hidden behind a panel that had to be pushed out of the way while he worked. A frustrating feat. It made him wish for the tunic shirts in days of his yore, which were easily pulled over ones head. And ironed with much less startch. He might just address that subject at the next meeting of states.
Lita's cool hand on his cheek roused him from his musings. He stopped and looked down at her, her fingers falling down his chin. Again, her serene eyes showed him his focus. The one thing that must be rushed could not, and the one thing that must be shortened in time must be without tempo. He smiled absently and touched her hand on him. An angel. She was his angel. He laid down beside her on his side and they looked at each other, fingers intertwining. Far away the cares of the world bid them no mind, and they were left in their peace. Caressing skin, and warm words were all that existed for them, in their ideal little world they had so longed for.
Leonardo rested his face in Litas' hair, her bare back against his chest, and legs curled over his. His arm draped over her side, his fingers entwining with hers between her hands. Her skin was soft, lightly moist, but soft. He blew warm air into her hair and smiled. The child like wonderment of their night filled him with a sort of... comfort.
Lita turned her head and looked back at him, blinking twinkling sleepy eyes. He pulled his face back to look at her, and kissed her again. She smiled and rested her head back, raising their coupled hands up and looking at them. His dark skin was contrasting with her unusual milky brown. he brought the back of her hand closer and placed it against his cheek.
The loud siren began to sound out in the hall. The signal for attack. It didn't strike them at all. Lita rested her head against Leonardos and watched as he extracted her hand from his and turn it around to face her palm. He brought it against his face and kissed it. She smiled and blinked slowly.
"Love, look unto thine hand, and thou shalt recall mine love for thee, and what family you hath lost, hath been founded in me." He kissed her palm again and drew her into his arms. She kissed him and rolled atop his body, running her fingers through his hair.
The ground rumbled softly, the dozenth aftershock of the loss of universe elements. Space and time were upset, and rocked in protest as they tried to cope. Lita sat straight up, her faced flushed. She felt like she was hyperventalating, and grabbed her throat, as if that would help her breath. The cold winds of the asteroid howled softly in the early morning, stone specks fluttering over the ground as if being swept by many brooms. Hundreds of dust atoms swirled about the air, and swished away with a breeze, like flocks of birds swaying in the air together.
Mike opened his eyes and propped himself up on his elbows to see her on the other side of the circle. "You ok?" He asked quietly. The rest of the troupe was still asleep. Lita's eyes shifted to him while she caught her breath. Her head nodded lightly while her chest heaved. "Bad dream?" He took a moment to absently press the tape of his bandage back down.
"I... I can't... remembah...anymore." She scratched her head. She could feel the memories drifting away as she reached for them. "Hmm."
"Hmn. Early alzheimers." He nodded to himself, hunking back down under the blanket, the conversation concluded. Lita let out a small puff of breath and closed her eyes. She felt so cold now. And empty. Maddie wasn't here to talk with her either. Maddie... Lita shimmied from underneath the blanket and left camp. She had this strange urge just to get away for awhile.
Up on one of the stone scaffolds flanking the steps to a building Lita laid on her back, her head resting over the end. It was another twenty minutes or so till the rest began to wake up. Although, when your sitting all alone and your bored it seems like longer. She itched at her bandages sometimes. God, they were irritating.
Up over the rise they camped before was seen the tiers of the matrix fortress. Only a few hundred yards away it stood. Leonardo had seen it, and choosed to camp for the night before striking on, resting through the night. Today they would introduce themselves to their enemies, and begin the final fight.
Mike again was the second up, this time after Erika. The night before he had quietly insisted to sleep beside her. As if he could somehow protect her while he slept. Erika slide out from under the blanket she shared with Mike and began rifling through the bag. Mike got up after her and joined her, taking the metal pan, and can of chili out for breakfast.
They had changed policy from having diner to breakfast, so they weren't wasting 'prime energy' during the night. Raph and Leo were the next to crawl from their sleeping bags, taking Don with them for some morning katas while Mike and Erika worked on breakfast. It was almost like a camping trip. Lita smiled to herself, remembering when they all went to the beach. That was one of the many happy memories she had with everyone together. One of the last.
Mike made Erika stay at camp while he fetched his brothers, so she would be close to the 'safe zone'. Lita frowned. In retrospect he should have sent Erika instead, as opposed to leaving her without escort for so long. Nothing happened, and the turtles returned relatively soon. Leonardo had seen the folley as well and they four double timed it till they were in plain view of camp.
Mike served up the chili onto the paper plates he had wiped clean and handed them out with a slice of bread.
They were running out of food fast. Leonardo made everyone tear the bread sideways and put half back. Raphael snatched a fork out of the bag and went off to sulk by himself. Last night he had to torch Norikos corpse. No one followed him.
Lita furrowed her brow as Leonardo began the walk to the scaffold, carrying a plate of the brown smush. She frowned and crossed her arms, looking back up into dark space. She felt like being alone now. But he didn't seem to care.
"*Ahem*" She opened her eyes and looked straight, right at his stomach. As she rolled her eyes up she saw how stiffly and formally he stood. But when she met his eyes she saw his dubious look, as if he was saying 'why the hell are you lying like that?' But he never said anything. "Here." He held the plate out for her.
"I'm not hungry." She closed her eyes again, not taking it from him.
"You have to eat."
"Give it to Mike, he needs it more than me." She rolled up onto the stone before he could respond.
"Your new found self-lessness is refreshing." He crossed his arms, still holding the plate in one hand. This might take awhile. "But you've still got to eat this."
"I'm not hungry. Do you really think you can win against me." She smirked and sat down on her haunches near the edge of the scaffold.
"Do you really think that I won't force feed?" She frowned and he handed her the plate. "And stay close to camp."
"I will." She mumbled as he walked off.
Leonardo sighed to himself and looked back again to make sure she hadn't put the food away. But his eye must've decieved him. In Lita's place was a long haired beauty in a mist, kneeling on the scaffolding, fiddling with bandages around her stomach. She looked up at him, and he almost toppled backwards. Those eyes, they were Litas. He knew they were... but it couldn't be. Lita was an obnoxious slob-.
But the next second it was again Lita. She gave him a look then turned back to breakfast, smoothing her shirt down. Leonardo gave his head a shake and returned to camp. A life less ordinary. He dropped down onto his sleeping bag and laid back down.
Fragments of chalk,
Stained rubies.
The turtles stood at the crest of a tall hill, looking down the valley below. Tiny torch lights served as a trepid dawn, flickering with queer life on stagnant grounds. The remaining six of the travelers looked down upon in awe. Michelangelo grabbed both his stomach and his mouth simoultaneously and ran off where no one could see him to throw up, his stomach contracting violently. Raphael was the only one that watched him run off, then turned back to the view.
From far above the embossed effect of petrified skeltal bones on the ground seemed like an illusion. Very far the special effect seemed to run, it was impossible for so many people to be laid out atop one another spanning such an area as their eyes would imply. But after careful scrutiny, it appeared to be true. Hundreds of thousands of bodies strewn over streets, spilling up into colleseums and buildings. An orgy of stone skeletons and steel weapons, left for centuries untouched. A curious and horrific thing.
Michelangelo hobbled back to the group, holding his stomach with a pale expression on his face. "What is this...place?" He asked.
"...The battle of Kerda." A lone voice responded. Lita walked out onto a roof slate that jutted out from the slope of the hill, kneeling down by the edge. "The battle of last devotion."
"Battle of Kerda..." Donatello echoed, trying to recall some part of his past long forgotten.
"This was the last fight before we were called for. Both sides were slaughtered pretty bad." She flicked a rock off the edge down the hill. "Afterwards there was no one left to clean up the battlefield."
"That's disgusting." Mike screwed his face up, his imagination running wild.
"No more than your wars." Lita stood up. Mike nodded in some sort of submission and stood beside Donatello.
"We'll have to find away to reach the fortress." Leonardo surveyed the mass of bones and weapons as Lita joined him.
"We can't step on the bones. It would be a great dishonor." Leonardo looked down at her. "If we go by rooftop it might take a little longer. But's it's the only way."
"Let's make a route while we still have a birds eye view." Lita rummaged through the bag over her shoulder and handed him a pair of kiddie binoculars.
"It's so scary." Erika whispered to Mike while Leonardo mapped out their route. Mike looked up at the fortress she was so entranced by. The black spires nearly blended into the sky, with only iridescent purple lights glowing from window ports to distinguish it from the endless span of space. The foreboding entrance of petrified bones seemed to warn them of impeding danger. Erika shuttered and hung onto Mikes arm.
"Yeah. Spookular." He muttered. Something about the way Erika clutched his arm scared him too. This whole trip had been scaring the shit out of him.
"...Mikey," She said so only he could hear.
"Yuh?" He said a little louder. Secretly hoping it would deter her from saying something that would freak with him.
"When I was trapped in the astral plane... I said that I would ...would give up Jimmy to save the universe." Mike waited for her to say something else, but she didn't sound like she was. He guessed he had missed something.
"Um... yeah?" She looked up at him with eyes that made him feel her pain, and wished he had given her a hug instead of thinking about adjusting his bandage.
"Well look what we're doing. We're giving up the powers of the universe to save him... isn't that what we're not supposed to do?" Mike furrowed his brow in thought. It sounded right.
"Well... it's splinter too ya know." Was all he could really think of. It wasn't just her brother they were fighting for. His dad was involved too. But that didn't sound like it should even be part of the conversation. He bit the side of his lip. "I dunno." Erika looked down, and loosened her clutch on his arm. The conversation was over, but somehow he didn't feel like letting the thought go. Like maybe he wouldn't remember to think about it later, and he knew he should. But the time to reflect was finished when Leonardo announced a route was decided. Mike pushed the thought from his mind and lead Erika to join the others at the swell of the hill.
"We'll start down over there, and make our way over." He announced. "We move in silence... and together." He looked sideways at Raphael, who had been trailing behind for the majority of the trip. Raph gave him a look then turned away. Leonardo sighed to himself, hoping his brother would heed his words. "Everyone ready?" General mumblings of assent replied. That would have to be enough. They had left Splinter and Jimmy in the care of their enemies too long already. "Alright, let's roll."
"Erika, no magic till we get inside." Lita added.
"Right." Leonardo lead the charge off the slant roof, and made a leap onto the next effortlessly. He stopped and waited for the others to join him, making sure they all followed safely. Raph and Lita were right behind him, then Don. Mike waited behind while Erika built up some sort of momentum, swinging her arms back and forth, bending her knees in time. She finally jumped and nearly fell short of the next roof if Donatello hadn't caught her and hoisted her back up. Mike leapt over after her once she and Don moved out of the way. Leonardo furrowed his brow in concern, this looked like it might continue the whole way there.
It slowed them down considerably, adding nearly another twenty minutes onto their travels. Mike waited behind Erika at all times to see that she made it safely across, and took a bit of time himself jumping with the lesion on his chest plate. It was unusual, usually Mike would be the one to go skate boarding with a broken leg. And Lita would take any chance to slack off. But everything these weeks was screwy.
They all arrived at the gates of the fortress together none the less, climbing down to the ground level from a roof top. Leonardo drew his swords as soon as he reached the floor, and was surprised to find Lita beside him, scanning the gates for entrance. He checked to see if his brothers and Erika had arrived as well, then turned back to the gates. Hovering his hands over the thick cast iron bars he walked along the length. Inside the fortress the heavy wood doors which would have been pressed up against the bars were left open, opening into the unfurnished ground floor. Unfurnished, and unoccupied. Leonardo gave inconspicuous hand signals to his brothers and they quickly took their positions. Mike and Erika kept their position while Raph and Don snuck across to the other side of the gates.
"Leo," Lita whispered. "Look at this." He looked over he shoulder at the open lock she held in her hand. "An open invitation?" She slid the curved bar from it's catches and nearly fell over with the sheer weight of it. "Gah!" Leonardo examined the gates for a moment before pushing one open. It only budged forward a few inches at his push, but went to proove that there were no booby traps set for them there. So far. He heaved the gate with all his might, propelling it only 8 or so feet open till it squealed to a halt. Taking the lock from Lita he gave it a hurl inside. The thick square foot of metal clattered inside, coming to a rest on the dimly lit floor. No traps were activated then either, but he still decided to go ninja style.
Raph, Don, Mike, and Erika joined them at the gates after the signal, following Leonardo and Lita's charge inside. Flickering light cast by torches made it hard to stay hidden, it seemed they weren't meant to stay out of sight once they arrived. None the less, no one was around to greet them.
The square structure of the fort was built up on it's corners with the tall spires, steel pikes garnished the ridges pointing upwards, with casted arrow heads soldered upon them. Below the top of the fotress was a walkway that ran the inner perimeter of the walls, leading to hundreds of rooms against the sides. Other than this walkway there was no ceiling in the fort. The huge double football field sized space was opened up to the sky, making the air cold, and giving an atmosphere of uncorrupted utility.
The torches that had been set out for them came in from each of the four corners in rows, and formed paths ways to the center of each wall. In the center of the floor was a stone gilded pedestal, which seemed so out of place in its perfunctionary quarters.
Leonardo signaled for the marching order and started forward, taking careful measurments of each angle that changed. There was no telling what was waiting for them just another step forward. They had all deciphered the sorcerors trickery skills after the deal in the astral plane. Springing a dishonorable ambush sounded expectable. He decided for precautions sake to tell the others to walk in his footsteps, so any traps he missed, they would miss them as well. In turning around he nearly knocked into Lita and had to grab her elbow so she wouldn't topple backwards onto the floor. Once she was upright again her cheeks colored and she flashed him a sheepish smile. He mouthed 'ok?' and she nodded. Looking over her shoulder to his brothers he signed what he was thinking and they agreed. He pointed to Litas feet, then his, seeing if she understood. She furrowed her brow as he repeated the motion, then nodded.
Around the pedestal they gathered, Raphaels head jerking around in search of the enemy. Leonardo nudged the paper with the tip of his sword, his muscles taught with anticipation.
"If they haven't attacked by now, I don't think they're gunna. Not their way." Lita was the first one to speak and received a look from Leonardo. She shrugged it off and picked up the paper.
"No!" Mike half whispered half shouted, following Leonardos discretion. Lita gave the paper a snap to open it and held it out with both hands.
Donatello looked over her shoulder and read the characters. Lita looked back at him and handed it to him.
"What does it say?" Leonardo asked.
"I don't know. This is no language I've read before." He turned the paper around and looked it over again. Leonardo reach over Lita and took the paper from him.
"Of course not." He scanned it. "Why would they write in an Earth language."
"Maybe so we could read it." Michelangelo suggested to Donatello and Erika. Leonardo gave them a look and handed the note back to Lita.
"Can you make anything of it."
"Hmmm..." She held it with both hands, running her thumbs over the symbols. "It's like..."
"Gibberish?" Mike filled in to break his own tension.
"A test... kinda." She closed her eyes and folded the paper back in half. "They've moved themselves to see if we can pursue. If we can use the universe's powers to follow them."
"Splinter and Jimmy?" Donatello prompted.
"They took them along. They're waiting for us as we speak." She opened her eyes and ran her finger along the edge of the paper.
"Where." Leonardo asked. She looked up at him and handed him the paper.
"Selphi."