BATTLE

December 25, 1995

ANNA:

I awoke slowly, confused and cold. A breeze swept past me as the world came into focus. I was in a dark room, strapped to a chair. My hands were clamped to the armrests, as if I were to be electrocuted. I shifted uncomfortably and strained to see in the thick blackness. "Ah, Miss Anna." I jumped, surprised, as the shadows moved. "You're awake."

"What do you want?" I demanded, jerking against the clamps on my arms.

"I can take those off if you would like, but I would advise against any attempt to run."

I looked around the room. Black-clad figures stood at the exits, their arms crossed ceremoneously over their chests. I looked down at myself and realized that I, too, was dressed in black. Though my attire was much more formal than theirs. It was a long, black, sequined dress that fell all the way to the floor. As I became more aware of myself, I realized that my hair had been pulled up as well.

"You undressed me," I accused.

"I did," he admitted with a smirk.

"Without my permission," I snapped, emphasizing my point.

"I could have done much more, Miss Anna," he smiled. "And still can. I'd mind my manners if I were you."

I fell silent, and watched him for a moment. "So you're Shredder," I mumbled. "The one who killed all of those children."

"Yes," he answered.

I remembered Donny's argument as I stared at his dark eyes. "Why not just go yourself?" I demanded.

He studied me carefully, seemingly amused by that. "It would have raised more questions than a terrorist bombing," he explained simply. "And I did not want to risk a confrontation with Hamato Yoshi's damned turtles."

"They'll come for me, you know," I growled. "So you damn well better be ready to fight now!"

He laughed quietly and leaned close to me. "My dear child, I am counting on that."

LEONARDO:

"This place is big," I whispered, braced and ready for an attack from any angle. "We'll have to split up. Anybody finds anything, SOS on your communicator and we'll track you."

They nodded silently and motioned down different hallways. This was not the first time we had been inside the Technodrome, and I knew to expect the unexpected.

I walked through the hallway, and found myself in a large room. I looked around carefully before stepping inside. I did not recognize this room, but it was safe for the moment.

I felt a presence at the same instant that the door shut behind me, and I spun around. A man stood at the door, dressed in a black dogi. He would have appeared to be one of Shredder's foot soldiers, except that his face was uncovered. He was a Japanese, but far too young to be Saki. "Who are you?" I demanded.

"My name is Kentaro," he greeted, bowing politely. From his mannerism, I might have guessed him harmless. But he held a spear beside him, and I knew that he was an enemy.

"Where is the girl he took?" I demanded.

He laughed quietly. "You mean Anna?"

I glared at him. Who else could I mean? "Where?" I growled.

He shrugged. "Perhaps she is dead. I have not seen her recently."

He would be useless to me for information. That meant he only stood in my way. I attacked him calmly, knowing that his insinuation meant nothing. He blocked my downward strike and spun his weapon, attempting to hit me from the side. I backed out of the way and struck toward him. He caught the attack, and with one smooth movement, he swept at my feet.

I stumbled backward, surprised. He'd nearly caught me off guard. He was better trained than most of Shredder's students. I braced again, but he did not attack. He watched me, and smiled. "So you are Leonardo," he grinned. I stared back, tensing slightly. How did he know my name? "Oh, the things I have heard about you."

"What things?" I demanded.

He attacked me again. I spun out of the way, riding his weapon away from mine. He turned it to use the other edge. He was fast. I reached for the other sword strapped to my back, and managed to block the attack with little room to spare. I crossed my swords and locked his weapon between mine.

"You are so like him," he taunted, inches in front of me. "And yet so different."

"In what way?" I growled, pushing him back.

He laughed as he regained his footing. "Do you know why your sensei has shaped you the way he has?"

Warning signals flashed in my mind as he prodded at my weakest point. A few days ago, the question may not have bothered me in the least. But this time, it raised a whole new set of questions that I did not want to face. I lashed out at him, hoping to prevent the continuation of that thought.

He had the advantage, and I knew it. He spun and I blocked what I knew was a distraction, aimed at my neck. Sure enough, he struck at my legs, then at my arm. I jumped back in time to stabilize my balance, but I could avoid the sharp tip of the spear. I felt it scrape my arm, and blood ran.

"You are a replacement, Leonardo," he whispered. "Do you know that?"

I spun and delivered a roundhouse kick in his direction. He blocked my foot with his weapon and I was forced to recoil. "The perfect student," he taunted, sweeping at my other leg. "The perfect son."

I jumped and regained my balance just in time to bring my weapons up defensively and ride his into the air, over my shoulder. I kicked forward, and he jumped back. "You are everything that Saki was to him, and that is all he has ever cared about."

"You speak of things you know nothing about," I replied, anger boiling inside of me.

"Or perhaps it is you who does not know," he suggested with a smile. "How well do you know him? Do you think he would be equally as pleased with you if you did not live up to his expectations? Or is your very worth dependent upon your performance."

I lowered my head, feeling fury course through me. "Go to hell," I snarled.

I attacked one last time, diverting his attention with an elequent move by one hand, raising the other to its target. He didn't have time to realize his mistake. He dropped to the floor, his weapon clattering against the tile loudly. I stood still, breathing hard. It was more out of anger than exhaustion. I had barely broken a sweat. He did not move as blood pooled around him, and I paused for a moment, out of respect. I did not know his story, or for what reason he had chosen to follow my enemy. But there was always a chance that he thought he was doing what was right. It was for that reason that I always hesitated to kill, though most times it was much easier to do so than to render an opponent unconscious. After all, we were ninjas. And as such, we were trained to kill... and to respect death with deep reverence.

"He's right, you know."

I spun, weapons crossed in front of me. The dark figure in the doorway stood ready, a set of nunchakus in his hands. My hand slipped to my waist and I pressed the tiny button on my communicator, never taking my eyes off the enemy. I braced for battle, and glared at him. "About what?"

He smiled. "About you. About your purpose, as far as Hamato Yoshi is concerned."

"What the hell do you know about Hamato Yoshi?" I challenged. "All you ever saw was his leadership position. The position you wanted."

Shredder laughed. "Is that what he tells you?" he chuckled. "You are sorely mistaken, Leonardo."

Behind him, two of his students walked into the room. Between them, Anna struggled. I forced myself to ignore her. "In what way?" I growled. I was stalling for time, well aware that my brothers would be here shortly.

"I was his son, freak," Shredder smirked.

"Bull shit."

He laughed. "Not biologically, of course. But he raised me. Did he never tell you that?"

"Leo! Help me!"

Too many thoughts hit me all at once. I was glad he was a good distance away. I never would've been able to defend myself if he'd been any closer to me. I could barely collect my thoughts fast enough as it stood. I blocked his side strike and spun away, trying to gain some room to move. He lashed out again and I blocked him, then watched as he took a step back and stood ready. I could feel the familiar presence of my brothers behind me, and I knew that was the only reason why he had stopped.

"Go ahead, can-head," Michaelangelo growled, stepping up beside me. "You're gonna take on all four of us?"

"Yes," Shredder glared back. "I am more than enough," he growled.

I stared at him for a moment. "Why?" I demanded. "Why set this up like this? Why do you want to fight with us so bad? You know you're no match for all four of us."

"Who the hell cares why, Leo," Raph snarled, his eyes fixed on his enemy. "Let's just kick his ass."

"No," I protested. I had to know the reason. I knew there was a reason.

"Anna's more important," Don mumbled. He turned to Shredder. "You wanna fight us? Let her go."

"Ah yes," Shredder sighed. "She is more important, isn't she?" He walked behind her and the foot soldiers stepped back as he ran his claws over her shoulder. "Hamato Yoshi's daughter."

"How do you know that?" I demanded.

"That must make her... your sister?" Shredder taunted. He laughed, his eyes fixed on me. "Are we trying for incest as well as beastiality?"

I clenched my teeth in anger. "Fuck you," Raphael growled, though the insult was directed at me.

Shredder watched me. "Take her," he ordered his students. "Kill her."

"No!" she cried, struggling.

I flinched. Shredder smiled at us. "You stay," he ordered, pointing at me with his sword. "The rest of you can leave."

"Like hell," Raphael growled.

"Did you come here for Anna or did you come here for me?" Shredder demanded. His eyes were still trained on me, although it seemed like he was speaking to Raphael. "There are more than three hundred foot soldiers in this complex. More than fifty of them are right outside this room; far too many for only one of you to handle and more than enough to kill your girlfriend." I felt my chest heave as I breathed hard, anger clouding my eyes. "An acid test, freak. Let us see if you are more interested saving her life or guaranteeing your own."

I knew now why he was watching me. He was making it my choice. Fifty foot soldiers. The three of them could handle that. The real question was if I could handle Oroku Saki on my own. "Leave," I whispered to Raphael. "Get Anna out of here."

ANNA:

Raphael ran at us and I turned away, shielding myself instinctively. I hadn't had a chance to look up again when I felt him grab my arm and jerk me back. I gasped, nearly falling on my face as he pulled me behind him roughly. Mike and Don formed a half-circle around me and I stood still. Oh, god. Were they going to fight all of these men? Where was Leo?

They stood, unmoving, as the ninjas seemed to form ranks. A handful of them were already on the floor, from the initial attack. But then the Turtles had backed off. Perhaps they were as intimidated by the crowd as I was. "There's too many of them, Raph," Donatello whispered. His words were barely audible even to me. I knew the men did not hear him.

"We have no choice," Mike answered. "We don't know any other way out."

"And Shredder knows it," Raphael growled. "He'll have every fucking exit guarded just as heavily."

"You really think we can take them all?" Mike whispered.

"Try and surround them," Raph whispered. "Go up the sides. Anna, stay by me." I swallowed hard. "Go!"

The confusion was immense. I didn't know where we were going. Through human flesh and sparking wires, he cut his way through the crowd. I shielded my face instinctively, and tried to stay near to him. It seemed the largest room I had ever been through.

The fighting slowed, and we all met up again, closer to the exit. "Get her out," Raph ordered. "I'll take care of these guys."

There were almost a dozen men or robots or whatever-the-hell-they-were still standing. Mike and Don exchanged glances, then spun. Michaelangelo grabbed my arm and dragged me behind him. I could barely keep up as we ran through the hallways.

"Do you know where you're going?" I cried.

He didn't answer.

Another row of foot soldiers met us at the door. My heart jumped into my throat again as Donatello sprang forward. Mikey glanced over his shoulder, probably to make sure we weren't being followed, then attacked alongside his brother. I couldn't tell what was happening, really. It was all too fast for my eyes to follow. But I did see that we were winning. In less than a minute, we were running again.

SHREDDER:

"What is it, Leonardo, that you want most of all?" I questioned.

"So you actually know my name," he growled back, ignoring the question.

I smiled. "I know more about you than you would think. More, perhaps, than you know about yourself."

He didn't flinch. "Why are we talking?" he demanded.

"Do you know how many loyal students Hamato Yoshi has remaining in the foot clan?" he asked. "Can you guess?" He didn't answer. I lowered my weapon and circled him at a distance. "None," I whispered in answer. "Do you know why?"

"You killed them all?" he replied sarcastically.

I ignored him. "Sheep without a shepherd are lost," I reminded him. "When he fled, when he abandoned them..."

"You betrayed him," he growled. "Don't even try to play this game."

"Are you sure?"

He attacked without warning and our weapons remained locked as we stared each other down. "I am not interested in having this conversation with you, Saki," he growled.

I pushed him back, uncomfortable with him being so close. He stood ready, braced defensively. "Are we going to fight?" he whispered. "Or are you going to let me go?"

I studied him for a moment. "I don't want to have to kill you," I informed him. "It would be a shame to see such talent go to waste."

"Don't back down on my account, Shredder," he answered.

I glared at him. "I want more from you than your blood."

"You'll never get anything from me."

"I can give you the world."

"And I can give you a concussion."

"I'm only asking you to think about it."

"And I'm telling you no."

I sighed. "I don't want to fight you," I informed. "I only want to open your eyes."

"Why did you kill all those people?" Leonardo demanded. "Trying to find Anna. And then you expect me to believe you're just going to let her go?"

"She knows nothing."

"Of what?" he snapped. "You didn't even check to see if they knew anything. You just killed them all."

I smiled. "Why, do you think?"

"You tell me."

"No. If you can not discover it for yourself, you need not know."

He glared at me. "It's all a game to you, isn't it?" he whispered.

I smiled. "Life itself is little more than a game." He didn't move. "Oh, come on now, freak," I grinned. "There will be other times. Just think it over."

"No."

He attacked forcefully and I barely managed to avoid his downward cut. I stepped back and braced, gripping the handles of the nunchaku. I attacked his wrists, but he avoided the blows easily. His weapons crossed defensively as he sprang forward, and separated as he spun and kicked. I jumped back to avoid the attack and swung at him again. He had not fully regained his balance and the attempt to block the nunchaku was a feeble one. His grip was too loose around the handle of the katana and it slipped from his hand. He watched it fall and clatter across the tile floor, then snapped his head up, staring at me intently.

His eyes showed no fear, even though he had been disarmed and his weapon now rested nearer to me than to him. He stood ready, braced for hand to hand combat and caring nothing for the disadvantage he was at. I met his gaze with equal intensity. "I do not wish to kill you," I reminded him. "Leave now."

"Why?" he demanded, distrustful.

I glared at him. "Even as your sensei's best student, you are no match for me. You are not the one I want."

ANNA:

We were underground. I saw this as we left the "building" and I found myself enclosed in a huge cavern. Mike dragged me to the far wall, yanking me back to my feet every time that I tripped, and through a small entrance. Then we stopped. I doubled over and leaned against the wall, trying to catch my breath. We were in the sewers. At least, I thought we were.

"What do we do now?" I gasped.

"We wait," Don answered. "We're not leaving until Raph and Leo come out of there."

I was relieved by that answer, and frightened at the same time. Part of me wanted to run as far and as fast as I could from this place. I slid to the ground and rested my forehead on my knees, trembling. "Are you know?" Michaelangelo questioned, the concern evident in his voice.

I nodded, still breathing heavily. "I think so."

I had a terrible stitch in my side, but other than that, I was unharmed. "There's Raph," Donny mumbled, pointing.

I looked up and saw Raphael run out of the complex. Mike brushed my hair back and I glanced at him. "You sure you're alright?"

I stopped breathing for long enough to swallow and nodded again. "He just... talked to me. He didn't hurt me or anything."

"What'd he say?"

I shook my head. I didn't want to talk right now, and I wasn't sure I could find the breath. It didn't seem to me that he'd said anything of importance, anyway. We waited in silence until out of nowhere, Mike sprang to his feet and bolted. I looked up, startled, and saw him run to Leonardo, and his other brothers. "God, what happened!"

Leo pushed them all away forcefully. "Nothing," he said coldly. "Let's get the hell out of here."

His brothers all recoiled at his tone. I shrank back as he walked up to me and stared for a moment, burning hurt and anger in his eyes, then continued on without a word.