Disclaimer:  I do not own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; they are the property of Mirage Studios, Inc.  I am only borrowing them for the entertainment of those reading this.  Please don't sue me, I assure you—I have no money.  The other characters are mine, please don't borrow without permission. 

Chapter 5: Decisions, Decisions

Iris:

I couldn't believe what Athena was telling me.

"You're absolutely sure about this?"

"Yes."

"You've discussed it with Rhea, then?"

"Yes, I just spoke with her earlier and she agreed."

"Oh, so you made this decision before the fight."

"Absolutely.  I wouldn't decide something this important just based on their beating each other up."

"Well, I can't say it's what I would do, but I completely agree that something had to be done.  It's obvious that this wasn't working for them."

"Exactly."

I couldn't believe her resolve.  It was so unlike her.

"So, you've told them to pack?"

"Yeah, Michaelangelo and Donatello are supposed to be upstairs taking care of that right now, and Raphael and Leonardo will be doing the same as soon as they're patched up."

"How bad was the damage?"

"They bloodied each other up pretty well, but nothing serious I don't think.  Panaceia will let me know if there is."

"I just can't really imagine…"

"What?"

"Well, what if two of us fought like that?"

"I don't want to imagine that.  There'd be nothing left but pieces if we turned on each other."

I nodded in agreement.  It made me sad how they didn't appreciate each other.  I wondered if they ever did, really.

"So…do you even know where you're sending them yet?"

"Pretty much; Rhea said everything would be all set up for tomorrow morning."

"You're using the mobile station, then?"

"Four of them."

"You're really serious, you're going to split them up?"

"Yep, for as long as it takes."

"You realize that could be a long time."

"Yep."

"You're either really brilliant, or totally evil, you know that?"

"Mmm-hmm."

"Do they know you're splitting them up?"

"Not yet."

"Are you planning on telling them before they get where they're going?"

"No."

"You're leaning towards really evil right now."

"I know."

"You're still angry at them."

"Bullshit, actually, but it doesn't really make a difference.  Part of the gamble on this working or not depends on them not being able to see or communicate with each other."

"You've got some major balls, Athena.  I just hope this doesn't backfire on you."

"Well I guess that makes two of us."

"Psyche will be upset that we're losing our guests."

"Well, they can't see each other, but we can visit them whenever."

"Great, I can just predict who's never going to be around when we need her."

"Yeah, I guess you can pretty much count her out of things for a while.  She's grown rather attached to them."

"Not if I have anything to say about it, of course.  Anyway, so where are you sending them?"

"Well, let's see…Michaelangelo will be in Australia…someplace cut off from civilization; I don't know just where yet.  Leonardo's going to a small village in Mexico, Raphael's going to the least populated spot that I can find in Japan, and Donatello's going to be set up in South Africa—somewhere rural."

"So contact of any kind will be minimal anyway, unless it's with us?"

"Exactly."

"And I'm sure you have your reasons for that too."

"Of course."

"Well, I guess you've got it all figured out then."

"The planes are leaving at 7."

"Aren't you going to miss them?"

"Honestly?  I'm so completely pissed at them and I can still tell you that I'm going to miss them so much that it already hurts…