The Thing
~
"You okay now, Donnie?" Leo asked, walking back towards his brother who was sat leaning against the wall, stopping his head from spinning. The knock he had received from the beast left him with unfocused eyes and a banging headache. Now he was sat trying to get himself straight, at the same time Mikey and Leo were recovering from the sudden attack. Leo had been pacing, all the while talking about what made Donnie suddenly think this monster didn't want them dead and how Donnie knew it was true.
"Sure, Leo." Donnie said, rubbing his temple, then demonstrating that he was by getting back to his feet. "Let's go."
That was all Leo needed to be told and they were off. Mikey took up guard behind them, weapons in hand, just in case. He didn't like these surprises.
They continued in silence for about fifteen minutes. Every five minutes Donnie kept checking the tracking device; face falling each time he looked at it.
The silence and mission was stopped after those fifteen minutes as their leader stopped and they walked into him.
"Ow. Huh? What is it Leo?" Donnie said, hand on his still slightly throbbing head. He looked at his brother, who had his gaze fixed on something on the floor in front of them. They couldn't see his face, but the air about him was a mixture of horror and surprise.
He slowly lifted one arm and pointed one of his three fingers to the ground where his eyes were directed.
Mikey and Donnie followed his gaze and gasped, eyes wide at what they saw.
A mangled, bloodied body of something that would have been called human was lying in their path. Its insides had totally been ripped out and strewn across the tunnel floor. The face - or at least, what they thought was the face - was unrecognizable. But the thing that shocked them the most was that the clothes looked somewhat familiar. When they moved a foot or two closer they could make out blue dungarees. They immediately knew why it was familiar.
"That Human worker . . ." Leo whispered. "I should have stopped him when he ran away from us."
Donnie put his hand on Leo's shoulder and guided him around the mess, Mikey in tow. "There was nothing you could have done, Leo. You might have got it aswell . . ."
They all unscrewed their faces as the passed down the next tunnel, still thinking about the body and other thoughts.
Mikey shuddered as he tried to stop the thoughts from entering his head. Could Raph end up like that? Or was it true what Donnie said about it? Did it want to keep us alive? Or is he wrong? Could Raph already be like that? . . . Are we gunna be like that? He shook himself to rid them thoughts.
"Guys!" Donnie whispered excitedly, stopping suddenly.
Leo stopped walking and turned around. Mikey walked straight into Donnie, who really seemed like he hadn't noticed. Leo moved towards him, a steady 'beep, beep, beep' sounded and they all looked at the tracking device held in Donnie's hands. It was showing Raph's signal again. They all stared at it and smiled triumphantly at each other. Leo spun around, swords out and pointed one directly ahead.
"Onwards!" He ordered. They followed.
//\\
Their room was silent. Raph didn't dare try to move in case Frakly heard the rustle of the sheets beneath him. But he knew he could at least move most of his limbs by now. He just concentrated on strengthening his body mentally.
But his concentration was broke as he stopped and listened. He heard something that wasn't right in this room. A soft - very soft - beeping made it's way to his ears. It was so soft and quiet in fact that he wasn't sure he was hearing anything but his own heartbeat. But he strained his drowsy hearing and listened. No, it wasn't his heartbeat; it was something beeping. It seemed to be coming from him. He had no idea what it was. Maybe it was something Frakly had done to him. He sighed in frustration in his head. Man, did he hate being treated like some pathetic animal.
He snapped out of his thoughts when Frakly snapped out of his. The professor's eyes opened and Raph immediately relaxed, playing the helpless prisoner. The way the professor felt was 'safe'.
Frakly stood up, and Raph could tell something has disturbed him. The human disappeared from Raph's vision and his footsteps could be heard walking into the small room next to this one. The door was shut and Raph was left by himself.
He waited for a few seconds, listening to the sounds of Frakly talking to M'reagro, and an occasional grunt and growl.
Raph knew then was the time to act. He moved his arms, slowly and painfully, bringing them towards him so that he was supporting his front torso on his elbows. Still drugged and stiff, Raph groaned quietly as he caught his breath. The stuff Frakly gave him was strong but he was fighting it. He then used his aching hands to push himself so that he was on his hands and knees again, then with the remaining strength, pushed himself as hard as he could so that he fell silently against the wall, breathing hard, muscles screaming at him in pain.
He was now in a sitting position. After around three breathless seconds of catching his breath and letting his strength return, the turtle brought his knees up him so that he could try to loosen the rope around his sore ankles. He tugged for longer than he would have liked at them but they refused to give.
He gave up and sat back, panting. He had no idea when Frakly would join him again but he knew it would be any minute now. All he needed was a few more minutes. He tried biting the ropes but as soon as his tongue touched the rope, he spat it back out noisily in disgust. The rope was covered with some gross tasting substance that no doubt was Frakly's doing.
Raph froze, listening for any sound that told him he was heard. Hearing none he spat out on the floor trying to get rid of the fowl tasting rope. He knew he'd never be able to get these ropes off. He couldn't think what to do. His head was spinning and his whole body was throbbing. He felt like he had a burning high fever.
But one suggestion did get through the pain into his mind. He would try to roll over to the door Frakly went through and when the sucker came out he would hit him, grab the knife the sharp eyed turtle noticed and either threaten to kill Frakly if M'reagro was there, or use it to untie his ropes. Both of these sounded ridiculous but what did he have to lose? He knew he was probably too weak for either of those plans, but he had to try something and they were the only things he could think of.
Taking a breath and gathering his strength, Raph half-crawled, half-rolled towards the door, afraid the short sudden sounds of his shell on the floor would be heard.
He reached the door and leant against the wall, panting so hard he had to take smaller breaths, which made him even more dizzy. He regained his eyesight, which had been replaced by bright lights, and tried to use the wall to support himself on while he slid up it into a stand.
Yes! He made it; though nearly fell twice. Oh man, when I'm better I'm gunna kick this guy's hide to the other side of his mythical world where even his pet monster is afraid to go.
He closed his eyes and tried willing the throbbing in his head to cease. The sounds of talking and growling could still be heard, only louder, from the door. The tone in the human's voice sounded as though the conversation was almost over. Raph braced himself. Here I come, Frakly. Prepare to be surprised . . .
//\\
"Donnie, where are we now?!"
Leo stopped running and turned to his brother with the tracking device.
Mikey stopped beside Leo, panting hard. They had been running flat out for ten minutes. Though it shouldn't effect them like that, the fact that they all had been knocked pretty good back then should be noted.
"We're almost on top of 'im!" Donnie said, gasping, one hand on his hip, the other held out in front of him with the device gripped tightly in it. The beeping had become a lot quicker and louder since they had first noticed any sounds from it at all.
"W-Where to now then?!" Mikey gasped out, looking about the selection of tunnels they had.
Donnie pointed straight ahead. "Keep going this way, in about two minutes we should come to a left and we'll have him!" They took off even before Donnie had finished speaking. He groaned and ran after them; the beeping becoming louder and louder.
//\\
God damn, what is that sound? Raph looked over his shoulder. The beeping was still there and seemed slightly louder than before. But that was probably because he was only half awake then. Now he was near enough able to walk and his hearing had improved.
Frakly had been talking to M'reagro for long enough and the turtle could make out some words but others were still muffled. He knew immediately when Frakly had stopped the conversation because of a loud and warning growl from M'reagro. Raph froze.
"What M'reagro?! You mean they're . . . I thought you . . . No! M'reagro you must stop them . . . . . ... I'll get him out . . . Go! Now!"
The sounds of feet snapped Raph to, and the door swung back right into Raph, who only just managed to block it with his hands. For a second he stood wide-eyed at the door, millimeters from his face. Then he snapped to.
He heard a stunned gasp from in front of the door and he slammed it shut, revealing himself. He was now facing Frakly's back, but the man suddenly spun around and gasped as he saw the turtle up and awake.
Raph didn't give him time to think, he swung his elbow at the man's face, hoping his aim was right.
It was, but unfortunately the human had quick reflexes for a man of his age. He ducked just in time and Raph's fist only grazed hair. The man bounced back up and stood staring at Raph, unsure what to do. He glanced quickly at his medic kit from which he gets all his sedatives.
Raph saw his eyes look at the case, but this time he found the strength to lash out his heel. A hit! Frakly fell back, dazed from the kick to the stomach.
Raph suddenly felt dizzy. He began to sway. No! I won't collapse! Man, I need to get outta here before I do!
His dizziness was a bad thing. Before he knew it, the professor was back on his feet and had planted his foot directly in Raph's stomach. Raph gasped in pain and, unable to regain balance, stumbled back and fell onto his shell. Now that was bad as he was momentarily stunned and hadn't the strength to roll off his shell. Though just because of that didn't mean he wouldn't try.
He gave a cry of pain and rolled himself onto his stomach, just as Frakly came down at him with a full syringe where his shoulder would have been. Raph pushed himself back onto his elbows, ready to fling himself up.
But Frakly, with amazing speed, had pinned him down now, his whole body was putting pressure on Raph's shell, who was barely able to lift his own body weight, never mind a full grown human man as well. He was trapped.
//\\
"Leo, look out!" Donnie cried as they rounded the left corner Donnie had said would be there, and come beak to snout with the creature.
It opened its mouth wide, only inches from Leo's face, and uttered a breathed hiss from deep in its throat.
Leo stumbled back quickly, and ducked just in time as it flew from around the corner over Leo, knocking Donnie aside as it landed feet from Mikey, who was in the shadows. It completely ignored Mikey and turned back for Leo.
"It's trying to stop us from going in!" Donnie shouted, who had just ducked and rolled away from the charging creature.
Leo came back up, swords in hand, eyes on the monster. "You go-" He started but had to stop as the creature jumped at him and caught him with its tail in his face. The turtle in blue fell back against the wall, dropping one Katana.
"Leo!" Mikey cried, stepping from the shadows. The creature growled and turned to look at Mikey, as if he had just appeared from thin air - again.
Leo took its surprise to his advantage. He struck out at it with his Katana, causing it to roar in agony and turn back to Leo, who dived around it, grabbing his fallen sword.
The beast lumbered around to face him; in such a small tunnel it nearly got stuck.
Leo slashed at it again and it hissed and whimpered at the same time.
Donnie came at it, spinning his staff expertly. He jabbed it with all his strength on the head and it roared again.
Mikey came at it from the other side at the same time, Nunchucks in hand. A few good pounds from them and the beast was raving mad and in pain. Blood spattered onto the floor from the wounds on its side.
As a team, Leo, Donnie and Mikey all came at the beast, leaped into the air and dealt it three good kicks at once that knocked it into the wall where it lay momentarily stunned. They stared for a second before realizing why the creature was so determined to keep them away.
"In here!" Donnie moved off to where the creature had come, they had come to a dead end, or so it looked. The shadows hid the door which ordinary people would not have been able to spot.
Leo kicked the door down and they barged in.
//\\
"Agh!" Raph gritted his teeth as the needle was rammed into his shoulder.
The professor was now sat on his shell. Raph's hands were underneath him, but he was in such an awkward position he couldn't move them.
"I hate to do this!" Frakly shouted at him as he pushed down the plunger quicker than he should. But he had only injected half of it when the door was kicked in.
Looking over the pile of broken glass, wood and allsorts, Frakly could make out three figures. Definitely not M'reagro.
They stood and stared at him for a few seconds, then the one in blue stepped forwards. Frakly got up, realizing they couldn't see Raph; the needle was still wedged in the turtle's shoulder.
Leo, Mikey and Donnie were surprised to see a human down here. It all hit them at once that the monster had to be taking orders from something with a conscience. It made sense.
"You!" Leo pointed a Katana threateningly at Frakly. "Where's our brother?!" Mikey and Donnie slapped their weapons threateningly too.
Frakly did not answer straight away. He stared at Leo before saying, "Your brother is -"
But he didn't get chance to say the rest. He was pulled down by something unseen behind the piles of broken bricks and trash.
Leo, Donnie and Mikey tense for any more surprises. Their jaws dropped in happiness and relief as the human was replaced by none other than Raph. He stared at them, surprise clearly shown on his tired face.
"Raph!" Leo, Donnie and Mikey chorused, still frozen in surprise.
"Guys . . . Wha' took ya so long?!" Raph slurred, bonded hands thrown up.
"HA!" Mikey was so happy. Four again! Though his happy smile vanished instantly as Frakly suddenly appeared, holding a syringe in Raph's neck. Raph's face was suddenly masked in pain.
"Stop!" Frakly said, and then watched as they restrained themselves. He waited another second until they realized that Frakly had the upper hand here. He continued:
"Just listen . . . I'm here helping your brother. He is completely safe as long as I have him." He eyed them. "If you take him back . . . then he will die." He let his word repeat themselves through the turtle's heads. "Your brother was never meant to fall this weak . . . But if you don't let me treat him, he will die." He paused again. "M'rea - that creature was keeping you away so that you wouldn't take him back, okay? Listen, if you would, I could explain it all to you. Just don't harm my creature. He was acting on my orders."
Leo narrowed his eye in distrust. "Your orders were to suck the life outta our brother?"
Frakly spoke calmly. "No." He changed his gaze from each other them. "It was nothing like that -"
He was cut off by an almighty roar from behind the trio. They all spun around, weapons held out.
As they did, and as Frakly's attention was on the door behind them; Raph spun from Frakly's grasp. As he did so, Frakly's thumb slipped and pressure was pushed onto the plunger of the needle; the rest of the dark liquid disappeared in the turtle's neck.
Their actions caused the trio to spin back around, when they did do, M'reagro leaped out of the doorway behind them, knocking down all three turtles as it joined it's master, who was being punch by Raph's roped wrists.
The creature knocked Raph down and he flew into the wall, where he grunted and fell to the floor. M'reagro howled and coiled around Frakly, protectively.
Raph managed to get up but the beast grabbed Raph in it's two front clawed hands in a tight grip, almost human like.
Frakly held a hand up in a 'Stop' signal to the turtles, who had jumped to their feet and were just about to aid their trapped brother.
"Wait!" Frakly commanded, catching his breath, face stinging from the punch. "Just, settle down and I can tell you - explain to you – what this is all about, okay? . . . I do not want to harm your brother so please just be sensible and - just sit down."
They stared at him, uncertain for a few minutes, flexing their muscles and twirling their weapons.
"We'll stand." Leo grumbled in a tone that said they weren't going to do anything else.
Frakly stared and then nodded. "Okay. Okay." He turned to M'reagro and looked at Raph, who was beginning to suffer the sedation. His brothers noticed this.
"What have you done to him?" Leo demanded, gritting his teeth aggressively. He watched Raph, who was quickly becoming too drowsy to stand, and fell completely limp in M'reagro's hands, which were pinning his arms to his sides. Raph was trying to keep his head up, but it drooped and his chin hit his chest. Strong, comforting waves of sleepiness overcame him, but he fought for consciousness. Somehow he managed it, though without realizing it, the effort was making him groan weakly. His brothers watched him in concerned alarm.
"He's quiet fine." Frakly said in a calming voice, hands up again. "He's just under the influence of a heavy sedative, that's all. Please, do not fear for your brother." Frakly managed to explain it all to them while they remained silent. At least they listened to him, as the Professor feared they wouldn't. Though, when he had finished, they all remained silent, until their leader spoke out.
"Why couldn't you tell us before, like you're doing now?" Leo asked, frowning, still slightly tensed just in case Mr. M'reagro here decided to do anything funny. The beast gave him a lazy eye look as he spoke.
Frakly sighed. "I was afraid you wouldn't listen. M'reagro can tell me sometimes who is . . . well, he can sense moods and feelings, as well as thoughts; he tells me who is likely to listen, and who isn't. He told me you were determined and strong, not the kind a strange human in the sewers would just walk up to and talk with, and I feared for both your brother and M'reagro. Of course I knew you would attack him, you didn't know what he was; but now you know he was only acting on my orders."
"Well, like, now we know, can't he stay with us in the meanwhile? Why not just give us the medicine and we'll give it to him?" Mikey spoke out.
"Because, I need to know how much he is getting, when to get it, which one to give him . . . There is not just one; and there are combinations." Frakly said, stroking M'reagro's head. He sighed. "The liquid you found in your bother's wounds, from M'reagro's claws is very, very strong stuff. It cannot be cleared from his system without the proper medication, and it takes ages . . . I was very surprised that Raphael survived after falling that weak . . . This stuff is venom," he started to explain. "And not only can he inject it through his fangs, but through his claws . . . He has many more surprises, but none that you need to know of now."
They all raised their eye ridges slightly. No one spoke, until Leo stood up, slowly and non-threateningly as not to alarm M'reagro.
"Well we came here for our brother, we're not leaving, so I think the best option is that you come back with us. That way we have our brother, and you can keep treating him." He said, in his tone that said they definitely weren't leaving without Raph.
"Geeze . . . he's giving . . . out - orders . . . again." A weak voice called out. They all looked at Raph.
"Yo, dude! You're awake!" Mikey said. They still hadn't dared to go over to him, so Mikey just leaned forwards. Mikey had never met a Human like him; usually they're selfish and only concerned about their own well being, except April and Casey of course.
"I been . . . awake the whole . . . time, dunce." Raph insulted. He tried to sit up, but a large clawed hand pushed him back down. He winced. "Hey, Frakly. You . . . can tell Godzilla . . . that I'm not . . . going anywheres."
"S' ok, M'reagro." Frakly nodded to his pet. M'reagro took his hand away, growling softly.
A sudden sound made them all turn around to the door. Voices had suddenly started to echo off the damp walls, and they belonged to-
"Men!" Leo said anxiously. He, Donnie and Mikey spun around, but M'reagro growled and slid past them. "No! Frakly bring him back!"
Frakly stood up quickly. "M'reagro!" He shouted, and then hissed in an odd, inhuman way.
"Aaaaghh! What the hell is that thing?!" The voices cried out as they obviously caught sight of the massive beast. But as Frakly uttered his strange hiss, the monster growled and turned back around. Running feet could be heard, getting fainter. Leo ran out into the tunnel. When he came back he shook his head.
"They're gone. M'reagro scared them off." He said, standing in-between Mikey and Donnie. They watched as M'reagro went back to his Master's side. Though he only stayed there for a few seconds before leaping in front of Raph, who was using the wall for support, and was making his way to his brothers. The beast put itself between Raph and the space before his brothers.
"Whoa . . . easy there, erm, tiger . . ." Raph took his hands from the wall and held them up in front of him.
"M'reagro does not like you moving." Frakly stated.
"Listen," Leo said stepping forward, causing M'reagro's glowing eyes to leave Raph and pin them on Leo, without actually moving. "I have a sinking feeling those men will be back with many more. They were obviously looking for that . . . other worker, who was down here," Leo glanced at the monster, then back at Frakly. "So listen. We can hide you and your, um, pet if you will continue to help our brother in our home. We do not want to leave Raph again."
Leo watched Frakly think. He knew this man would not refuse, if he did Leo really didn't want to end up fighting Frakly. Though, a few seconds later, he found himself discussing it with the human, who did agree after some really good reasons were pointed out. After a few minutes, it was decided..
"I guess we should say thanks, professor." Donnie said, leaning on his Bo staff. Frakly smiled, relieved everything didn't end up a disaster.
Mikey, who was still a little a little annoyed at the idea of keeping them away from Raph, said, "so, like, now can we, you know, see to our brother?" Mikey did not seem like the Mikey they knew, but he looked at them, realizing his tone and grinned apologetically.
Frakly smiled and moved M'reagro beside him. The creature growled slightly as Leo moved forward to his brother in red who was back on the floor, sat against the wall.
"Hey bro." Leo grinned and started to untie Raph's bounds around his ankles. They were very tight so Leo used the sharp blade from one of his katana.
"'Bout time. My wrists and ankles are killing me . . ." Raph head bowed, then saw his Sais in Leo's belt. "Hey, you could never really keep your hands off my weapons could you?" Raph grinned as Leo looked at him, frowning, then grinned as well; now starting on Raph's wrists. He helped his brother stand up and then took the Sais out of his belt.
"We found them in the last room you were in." Leo held them out to Raph, who looked at his brother before taking them.
"It's a Kodak moment," Donnie sighed. Mikey grinned behind him and Leo and Raph turned to look at him. Raph slipped his Sais back into his belt.
"I say we hit it. I've had enough of being everywhere but home." Raph said, making his way towards the door. Frakly followed Leo and the other two out, M'reagro brought up the rear.