The Thing Part 11
~
The lair was dark. Nothing moved and the only sounds were heavy, throaty breathing from M'reagro, as he curled tighter around the couch, and the hum of electricity from the kitchen.
April tossed in bed silently, and Donnie struggled to find a comfortable position, unaware he was even uncomfortable.
Mikey smiled in his sleep, happy to have his family whole again; Splinter sighed happily, his dreams pleasant.
Leo never moved, but the face still frozen in his features was a sure sigh he was glad of a lot of things; and Raph . . . Well, Raph slept on.
But something out of this happy atmosphere didn't seem right, and M'reagro could feel it: He could sense danger.
The heavy breathing stopped so suddenly it sounded as though it had been cut off, and through the darkness of the lair two triangular, glowing eyes opened and narrowed. The creature leaped to his feet, to all fours, and froze, feeling vibrations in the air.
M'reagro slid out of the lair with absolutely no noise, and froze again in the tunnels, deciding which route was best to find the source of the vibrations. He now became the shadows; one big, moving shadow. He moved in and out of the sewer tunnels, making his way to the source of danger. It could mean an injury for him, but when his Master was in danger, and the turtle who he had been instructed to protect, his own didn't exist in his animal mind. But, this beast HAD animal instincts, and his mind only told him what an animal mind of his normality does: Protect, destroy any danger, live. These were the rules he lived by. These were the rules he will stick with. These are the rules he WILL follow.
//\\
The couch springs groaned as Frakly shifted on them. He woke and blinked his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Something had woken him and he didn't know what. The vibes were uncomfortable, and Frakly sat up. Maybe he was just too tired. He looked down, feeling the absence of something. M'reagro wasn't there. Maybe he was hungry, he thought, looking at the trail of parted dust on the floor. He often just leaves at night. He'll come back. Frakly lay back down again, but brought up his watch and squinted at the digits. He almost forgot what time it was. Time for medicine. Frakly got up and moved towards his suitcase. Something stopped him before he could open it. He certainly had bad vibes about something. He straightened back up and sat perfectly still. Something definitely was wrong. He could feel danger.
//\\
The drip of water echoed unusually loud in the tunnels. But that didn't bother M'reagro. It was a cover up for any sound mistakes he made; not that he ever made any. He moved across tunnels, a big, silent, creeping shadow. He was coming up to the source of the problem; it was big, and there were lots of life energy here, he could sense them, smell then, taste them and feel them. The beast became excited. These were a danger to his Master and the one he had been instructed to protect. He would have to kill or injure them to ensure their safety, and when he did, he would do exactly what he did to that turtle. The ones who were fortunate – unfortunate enough – to get killed would soon be devoured by the creature.
M'reagro moved quickly to the next tunnel. There were tons of figures he could smell. All the more. All his animal mind could think of was: Um, a meal for a deal! He would protect Frakly and that turtle in red, and in while doing that, he would HAVE to kill some. It wouldn't be fair if he couldn't. He would soon be satisfied again with the delightful taste of warm, filling energy and flesh.
M'reagro stopped. He crouched low and waited. All he would have to do is wait for his prey to pass, and a leap, a slash from his claws, a bite from his jaws and Honey, diner's ready! He could feel the vibrations from the black-clad figures as they trod as carefully as they could. Careful was careless to M'reagro. They might as well be running, he would hear them both ways; but they don't know that. Let them think they are invisible; let them think they can hide and smoother their footsteps. When he jumps out and naps them, they'll be running so fast they won't hear anything BUT their feet.
M'reagro liked this part. He liked to watch as the black figures walked straight towards their own death. He liked to listen to the sound of his food draw nearer. Free delivery! They were so close now. He could see them, though they couldn't see him. There were lots, just as he had guessed. They might put up a fight, but a challenge was good, it was something he could let his animal energy out on. He was drooling now. His mouth tingled; already it was imaginarily tearing flesh and ripping chunks off.
They drew all the more nearer. He could smell their skin; soft skin just waiting to be torn. He liked to rip the clothes up after, the funny fabric was a mystery to the creature, but it make enjoyable noises when it was pulled apart. They all looked heavily dressed. They all drew nearer. He crouched even lower, preparing to spring. He curled his tail up. It would give him the extra boost. He extended his six-inch claws, good for gripping the moving prey. He kept his eyes half-open, always ready to shut in case of a flailing hand, he didn't need his eyesight to see, he had highly advanced senses. He lowered his head. They were only about eighteen meters away now. Something glinted in one of their hands. M'reagro ignored that. He would probably be chewing it later. They moved as though they had been waiting for something to spring out at them all the time they had been down there. M'reagro ignored that fact as well. He readied himself, they were so close. Twelve meters and closing. He could probably jump that but he wanted to land quickly and tear anything under his claws. Nine meters. He stopped himself from drooling badly. Eight meters. He didn't blink. Seven meters. Just one more. Six meters and he sprang.
//\\
Frakly jumped as the sound of something loud cracked through the sewer tunnels, surprising his unready eardrums. He gasped in shock and ignored what his brain was trying to yell at him. His pet was missing; there was an odd sense of something bad; a loud noise which sounded like –
"Gunshots?" Mikey ran out of Donnie's lab, rubbings his eyes quickly and coming to a stop. He stared at Frakly, who was still trying to ignore his brain message.
"What the heck was that?" Leo rushed out of his room and stared at Mikey and then Frakly.
"M'reagro!" Frakly finally shouted and rushed for the door. Leo rushed after him and grabbed him before the professor could get to it.
"Wait! You hear that?" The tired turtle said, now looking more alert as the Professor stared at him.
Frakly slowed his heavy breathing to listen. He could hear the distance, but distinctive sounds of voices shouting. Men voices.
"It's the foot! They're back!" Mikey shouted. He ran into Donnie and Leo's room, coming back out with Leo's belt and weapons, a tired Donnie following, wondering what the hell was going on. Mikey then ran into Donnie's lab and came back out with his own belt and weapons.
"They've come back and I bet, by the sounds of it, with guns." Leo stared at Frakly in the eye. "If you go out there then they'll just shoot you." He said plainly, but seriously.
Frakly broke the eye connection and stared at the floor. His pet might be dead already. But what if he was just injured. M'reagro was a tough animal to kill. And if he was alive, or well, then he would have sent messages back through his mind.
April came running out of the room in her pajamas. She had worry written over her tired features, but she stared at them all through clear, now wide-awake eyes.
Frakly shook his head and let out a cry of frustration. He turned to go back to the door, but Leo held his arm tighter. Frakly spun and faced him.
"We'll take care of the Foot. We'll hold them off long enough so you can get Splinter and Raph safely to April's. That's the only place they might not know about!" Leo turned to April. "April, that okay?"
"Yes," she said hurriedly. She ran into Splinter's room.
Frakly still hadn't said anything. His eyes were undecided.
Leo tugged slightly on the professor's arm.
"Go with April. We will see if M'reagro is alright and bring him back . . . Please. I need you to protect my brother. He is incapable of protecting himself."
Frakly still said nothing. He looked at the floor, then at Leo's face. The turtle's face showed the same worry he held for his pet. Only Leo was worried about his Master and Raph, who couldn't do anything at all. Frakly understood his pain and worry.
"Okay. I will help your brother." Frakly nodded, and Leo let go of his arm.
"Thank you." Leo turned and signaled to Mikey.
Donnie was putting his gear on, emerging from his room. He stopped and stared at them, who were staring at him.
"What are you doing?" Leo asked, eyeing Donnie's gear.
"I'm coming with you."
"No you can't. You're not fit to be fighting so soon after –"
"Hey, look, you need me." Donny said simply. "I don't know where you got the idea that just you two can handle it, but I'm well enough to help you, so, end of story. While we're here arguing, they're getting all the more closer, so I suggest we get moving."
Leo stared a second longer, nodded once and they all left out the door, towards the now silenced shouts.
Frakly watched them go. He turned around when April came back with Splinter.
"Where are my sons?" The old rat looked at Frakly.
Frakly stared at him. "They're buying us time."
The professor strode past April, who was busy packing things, and into Raph's room. The turtle was sleeping peacefully, unaware of what his brothers were going to face. Frakly, being taller than the turtles themselves, and strong enough to carry heavy things, managed to slide one arm under the turtle's carapace, and the other under the knee bend, and lifted him off the bed. The professor took Raph out into the main area and laid him down on the couch while he helped April.
April rushed around here and there. After she was sure she had packed what she needed, she slung it all over her back, in the backpacks, and grabbed Frakly's suitcase. She set the suitcase down near the ladder leading up and grabbed a coat and hat. She passed them to Splinter, who was reluctant to leave his sons, but was persuaded. April watched as Splinter climbed the ladder, then she looked back at Frakly, who was just picking up Raph. It looked a heavy job, but Frakly managed. April took one last look at the place, and then helped Frakly.
//\\
"You okay, Donnie?" Leo called back as they ran through the sewers.
"Yeah . . . Sure . . ." Donnie was not in fact well at all. He felt as though he wanted to collapse right there and then. His wounds on his arm and leg were throbbing with pain, and he now had a headache. He was also very tired.
Mikey was quiet. He hadn't said anything since he had heard that shot. He hoped there weren't TOO many Ninja dudes to fight.
They rounded a corner and heard voices. Leo half-turned and nodded to his brothers and they all leaped round the corner, battle cries sounded, and pounced on the first line of Foot members.
It was lucky that they were all just suddenly shocked for a moment as they stood there staring at the turtles, as Leo could get a clear, well, almost clear look at the size of this group. It wasn't good. He couldn't count, but he guessed about eighty.
Mikey quickly damned himself for hoping, a minute ago, that there weren't too many Foot. Of course, when you pray, the opposite mostly happens. Mikey whacked himself mentally and charged.
As soon as he saw his brother act, Leo immediately sprung into action and so did the rest of the Foot. It was like a pause button had been pressed, followed by the play button. Leo wished it were the stop button.
He met his first victim a second later. One idiot attempted to take Leo's head off with a swing from his own pain of Katana. Leo blocked it easily and kicked the guy so hard he landed on some of his fellow members and hit his head on the hard floor with a loud thud. Then Leo was swarmed.
Mikey whirled his weapons, keeping the twenty or so Ninjas at a distance. They looked for an opening in his twirls, but before they could spot one, half of them were down within seconds. The other half glanced at the first lot on the floor, and then charged at Mikey. The turtle in orange knocked two out with his Nunchaku, and one out with a well-aimed kick to an area of great pain. A punch to his stomach made him bend over, and a punch to his shoulder caused him to straighten up and head butt the guy responsible for it. The Foot member groaned and stumbled back into two others. Mikey saw no more as other Ninjas blocked his view. Mikey dispatched three with a roll, kick and punch, and spin, kick move. More moved in.
Donnie was doing pretty well for someone who was in a lot of pain. He had knocked twenty out already and had only taken a few hits. They had been pathetic though. One on his shell and two on his chest, which were as weak as baby punches. Donnie actually felt like dishing out some insults, but his mouth wasn't cooperating. He spun his Bo Staff in a perfectly controlled circle, catching two chins and the back of one head. He held his Bo ready to block an on coming attack, but immediately realized the old trick and ducked just as another Bo Staff was brought down where his head would have been. Donnie knocked both idiots out, while at the same time kicking out behind him. Idiots don't bother keeping quiet when sneaking up.
There were tons of bodies on the floor in just fifteen minutes, and the turtles were still keeping their strong. Donnie was rather proud for holding up this long, and could see Mikey and Leo glancing in his direction to see if he needed help. Donnie smirked to himself.
Although there was now practically a new carpet laid down in the sewer tunnel, made up of unconscious and dead bodies – the dead ones seemed to have been there before they had arrived – but there were still a lot more moving, and it seemed impossible to take them all out. All three turtles noticed that before they arrived, there were a few ripped up bodies, obviously caused by M'reagro, who was nowhere to be found. There was a lot of blood on the floor in a big puddle, that no human could have lost and not be flat. Leo only guess the beast had managed to crawl away.
Soon Leo could see that they weren't going to win this battle by a long shot. His only hope now was to lead them away from the lair and make a run for it in a fake direction. Then they would meet up and go to April's. Leo tried to make this clear what he wanted to do, by staring at his brothers in a way that told them he had a plan, a desperate plan. Leo started to move back into the next tunnel, drawing them out, and leading them around. Mikey and Donnie soon followed him. Mikey had taken some pretty bad hits, so Leo moved further to the front and had himself take most of the fire.
His plan was beginning to work. They were leading them slowly away from the direction of the lair. They only hoped April, Splinter and Frakly got out safely with Raph.
Unfortunately Donnie's injuries became too painful and got in the way of his fighting. He was receiving punches and kicks without seeing them, just like before. And just like before, Donnie was slowly making his way down to the floor. His brothers were too busy to come to his rescue, and Donnie did his best. Soon he was pushed back and he hit the floor hard. Almost straight away a hail of beatings met him and he couldn't get up. Instead, in a last attempt, he rolled out from underneath them all, came up quicker than he thought he could, and brought his Bo across them all; one by one. They all fell to the floor, surprised. Donnie sighed tiredly and whiled round, bringing his Bo up in time to catch another. He was starting to get back at them, but his energy was fading noticeably, the pain was becoming unbearable. The Foot seemed to realize this and take advantage. More than the usual amount to a turtle came and attacked, and Donnie found himself on the floor again, this time unable to roll or get up He was so beaten up he could hardly lift his head. He watched as one man raised his Katana, all the others seemed to take half a step back to watch, and Donnie gasped as he saw the blade swing down.
//\\
April, Splinter and Frakly were panting by the time they reached April's apartment floor. It had taken a while for them to get Raph up the ladder, and then they realized that they had no disguise for Raph, and would just have to be extra careful no one saw them. Frakly found that the more he climbed, the heavier Raph seemed to get. He was glad when they reached her door.
April quickly got out her keys and unlocked the door. A few people had been staring at Frakly and Raph on the street from late-night shop windows when they ran from the alleyway; luckily it was late and dark so they didn't see anything much. Now she unlocked the door, turned on the lights and let Splinter in first, then Frakly, then herself. She quickly shut and locked the door.
April sighed and slumped against the door. She was tired. It was the middle of the night, if not later, and she was worried sick about the guys. She watched Frakly walked over to the couch and gently lay Raph down. Then the professor sat down near the turtle's feet and caught his breath. Splinter politely took off his coat and hung it up, then walked stiffly over to his son and kneeled down beside him, placing a hand on Raph's head.
April took her own coat off and quickly made them all cups of tea. While she was doing that, Frakly was giving Raph his medicine, which he had forgotten to give earlier.
"Thank you, Miss O'Neil," Frakly said as he took the cup from April.
"Oh, please, call me April."
Frakly nodded and drank his tea, thirstily.
April handed one to Splinter. "You may go and lay down, Splinter. Get some rest. Raph will be fine here."
Splinter accepted the tea and smiled warmly, though April could see the worry in his eyes.
"Thank you, my child. I think I will do that." He got up and left the room, disappearing into the guest room.
April and Frakly were left in silence to think about what could happen now, and what had happened. Frakly still couldn't believe his pet was gone. He wasn't certain, but the possibility that he was, was still upsetting.
April couldn't stop thinking of Leo, Donnie and Mikey. She admitted she was worried slightly more about Donnie. He had been injured pretty badly before and was not in the best of health to be fighting again. She hoped they were all right. What if they weren't? The Foot had used some kind of gun on M'reagro; what if they used it on the three guys? She couldn't stop thinking about what the worst could be. She had to think positive. Leo, Donnie and Mikey were capable to look after themselves. They're smart. Good fighters – excellent fighters. It was just that the atmosphere back in the sewers had been so tense and tight.
April sighed and sat down next to Raph's head. She was so exhausted she had to sleep. She looked over at Frakly to find that he was already drifting to sleep, preferring the comfort lack of worry. April laid her head on the couch seat, next to Raph's. She could only just hear him breathing. Poor guy. I guess in sleep you don't have to worry about any of life's problems. You can dream all you want. Wonder what Raph's dreaming of all this time . . .