Radical Transformation
Mikey's mouth fell open. His home was on TV! But that wasn't what made his jaw drop; it was the fact that if their home had been discovered, then so would their Master! Or would he?
Leo backed away from the shop window and turned to run, but Donnie grabbed him.
"Leo. Hold on!" Donnie said.
"Donnie! We have to get down there!" Leo cried. "I don't care about the workmen!" He broke from his brother and started to run again. His brother's followed.
"It would have said something if they'd found him, wouldn't it?" Mikey asked, running alongside Donnie.
"I don't think so Mikey," Donnie said. "They would probably take him . . . to . . ." He glanced worriedly at Mikey. "Leo stop!"
They all stopped and stared at Donnie.
"Do you think they'll let us down there anyway?" He asked. "What if they haven't found Splinter? You know he's better than us at detecting humans in our home . . . He would have been long gone . . ."
Prida frowned. She knew they had all forgotten she was there. But this was odd. What the hell were they talking about? Was this Splinter one of the criminals?
"You know he's more capable than we give him credit for," Donnie continued. It was true, and they all knew it. Because of their Master's old age, or maybe just because of Leo's over protective attitude, they all underestimated him.
Leo sighed. For once, he felt lost. They couldn't get down to their home for the first time ever. They couldn't get in contact with their Master, and he them. It was driving Leo crazy. Who knew that being human could be great and frustrating at the same time? But, Leo had to admit, if they were turtles now, they'd be even more stuck with little places to go without being seen.
Prida looked at each of their faces. What was going on here? It made sense that this Splinter might be one of the criminals: He was hiding down in a sewer; and these guys were worried about him being caught by the police. She also got a better judge of Raph's brothers: Mikey seemed to voice out the questions; Donnie thought rather than acted, and Leo seemed to decide mostly what to do. Raph was quiet, listening. She glanced at him questioningly.
In all the confusion of those few minutes, Leo and his brothers had completely forgotten about Prida. Only now as he was worriedly staring around did he notice her again, and his heart just beat ferociously against his human ribcage. How much had she already put together? They had just spilled a lot of details out and she had heard everything.
Mikey and Donnie also noticed, and now all the guys were staring at each other and at Prida, realising they had forgotten her and blurted out things that would only confuse her, and maybe urge her to find out more.
"Okay," Prida said slowly. "Who are you guys? And why was that so important - what was on TV? Are you guys keeping one of those robbers in hiding . . .?"
The guys all looked at each other.
"Listen, I ain't gunna tell no ones . . . But what was said just back there sounded strange." Prida said quietly.
"You have no idea how strange our life really is . . ." Leo said softly, shaking his head.
Prida frowned, and was about to ask what he meant, but someone behind Leo, Donnie and Mikey made her gasp. From a door behind them came Principle Simmons.
"Guys - hide!" She hissed, and they all dashed around the corner and pressed their backs against the wall.
"We can't go out of school?" Mikey asked.
"Not without a pass," Prida said, checking to see where the man had gone. He was heading back to school, and at a glance from her watch, Prida knew they should be in school as lunch was nearly over.
Leo detached himself from the wall and faced his brothers and Prida. He turned to her.
"Listen, please, just forget what we said, it's too complicated, forget it . . ." He turned and strode away, heading for school. He was still going to try and get down to his Master. If the police had found the lair, they would keep it in check, that means Splinter would have been forced to move somewhere else, and Leo worried about him.
Prida looked at the other three. They were watching Leo with slightly sad faces. What was going on with these guys?
()()()()
After school, the guys all drifted along with the stream of kids making their way out and home. Forgetting where they were, the guys bent down next to a manhole and were about to pull the lid off when one of the teachers asked them what the hell they were doing. The guys took a few seconds to realise why the teacher hadn't screamed at them, and a few more to notice what they were doing. They quickly stood up and said that they felt ill, while he told them not to come in tomorrow wearing those ridiculous bandannas. Then they scampered, ran home and didn't stop until they were inside the door.
"Okay . . . need . . . drink . . ." Mikey gasped, and made for the kitchen.
Leo moved into the middle of the room. "Guys, you know we can't just stay here . . . We have to find Splinter, no matter IF the sewers are being patrolled by the cops." Leo crossed his arms. He was their leader, and for that he must make their right decisions for the good of his brothers, his Master and any victims.
Mikey came out of the kitchen with a can of coke. "I agree . . . I don't wanna leave him down there with humans running around."
Donnie looked at them. "You realise that when he sees us, he's not seeing Leo, Don, Mike and Raph . . . he's seeing four human kids . . ."
"I know . . . We'll tell him . . ." Leo nodded. "He's smart Donnie. He'll probably recognise us without the use of eyes . . . but with his mind or something . . . hopefully."
Raph listened silently from the door, his mind on the situation Splinter was in. Their Master, down in the lonely sewers by himself, worrying sick about his sons, with humans wandering around and in fear of being spotted. Raph knew that situation . . . and it wasn't nice. He, like Leo, intended to get their Sensei out of there before anyone sees him. But before Raph could open his mouth and agree, the door behind him was opened and he jumped out the way as it was flung open. He fell into Leo, who caught him.
Casey stood in the doorway with April at his side. April entered, with a worried smile at the guys.
Casey lifted a finger and pointed at them. He looked at April.
"This . . .? This them?" He asked, eyebrows raised.
April nodded. "Yes. Now, sit down Casey, we have an even bigger problem."
Casey stared at the guys, looking at each of their faces, trying to find something that tells the other apart. They looked so gad damn the same to him! If they hadn't had their bandannas on then he wouldn't have know who was who. He slowly seated himself on the sofa, and Mikey sat next to him, looking at April.
"Did you see what was on the news?" April asked them.
"Yeah, and we decided we have to get down there and bring him up here," Leo said.
"You can't," she said, shaking her head. "The police are arresting anyone who shouldn't be down there . . . but I think I might be able to get down . . . say I'm doing a report or something, and I'll find him."
Leo shook his head this time. "No, we're going down there too."
"Whoa, whoa, hold on," Casey held up his hands. "This is about Splinter, right?"
They all stared at him, and he put his hands down.
"Just making sure," he said.
"You might get caught," April said, turning back to Leo.
"Nah, remember, Ape," Mikey chirped up. "We're N-I-N-J-A. Ain't nobody gunna catch us."
April sighed and crossed her arms. If it wasn't one thing it was another. This week was definitely the strangest yet.
()()()()
The torchlight danced over the sewer walls, and Splinter watched it from his hiding place. It seemed very strange indeed to be hiding in your own home. Not one chance had popped up for him to dash out of the hole in the wall and make for the tunnels, away from the danger of being seen. But the police had been doing very well at patrolling the place. And Splinter knew that he couldn't stay here much longer. He was too worried for his sons. He had not heard of them in what seemed like years.
The old rat had been listening to everything that had been said down here. The first shock was when they discovered the dojo area, and all the weapons. The cop who had found them had got on his radio straight away and reported into it that the criminals may be heavily trained in Martial Arts. Then they had dusted the place for fingerprints, and he could do nothing but hide there while they made discoveries that all over the place were just three-fingered handprints, and a few five- fingered ones.
But what made Splinter heart jump was when they investigated further into one of his sons' bedroom, which two shared. One cop had found a sketch under the bunk bed, and called out the name that was signed at the bottom: Michelangelo. They took the name down, and sealed the picture as 'evidence'.
But soon, after many more shouts and findings of his home from the cops; there were only two left in the lair area, and as he heard, two more out in the west area tunnels. His one chance to make a dash was when one of the remaining cops turned to the other and started to talk, his torch held away from Splinter.
The Ninja Master dashed from his place with mouse-like silence, or rat-like silence. But unfortunately, that cop chose that moment to turn around, smiling at the joke his partner had just told him. His smile vanished quicker than a ninja as he saw the shadow dart from it's place only a few meters away from him. He called to his partner and started to chase after the small, strange figure.
"Hey! Hey you! Stop! I said FREEZE!"
Splinter kept his calm, but he could feel his heart beating so fast in his chest it felt as though it could do the running for him. He cursed himself for the bad timing, but he could do nothing now except hope to outsmart this cop with a little ninja skill.
But before he could do anything, five shadowed figures appeared in front of him. One he recognised as April, the other four he couldn't see. But they disappeared to his side, and the next second he heard the cop shout in alarm, then a thud. His partner then broke the silence, but another thud and everything was silent.
"Splinter! Splinter, are you alright?"
He could tell it was April now. She was hugging him, and he was trying to catch his breath. He needed a rest, a sit down, but before he did anything, he turned to the four human figures behind him. He could sense something very familiar from them. As his eyes adjusted to the dark light here, he could tell they were four, young boys, all identical.
The one in a blue top took a step forward, and the others followed. They seemed to be holding their breaths, watching Splinter's face for his reaction. If one at all.
Splinter exhaled. He knew. "My sons . . ." He whispered.
Their held breath disappeared and small smiles appeared on their faces. They walked up to him gingerly.
Mikey held Splinter's hand, showing his Master his. Splinter looked at it, then turned back to his sons. Mikey hugged him, then Leo and Donnie.
"Master, we were so worried for you," Leo said softly, one arm around his Master's shoulder, the other over Donnie's.
"I'm glad you're okay!" Mikey said, and sniffed. "You're okay!"
They broke apart, and Splinter looked at the remaining son who had not rushed forward, but held back, obvious to his posture that his Master seeing him in his present form embarrassed him.
"Raphael . . ." Splinter whispered, his voice sore from nothing to eat and drink in a while.
Raph walked forward, looking at Splinter's feet. "Sorry Master, I-"
Splinter cut him off softly. "Why apologise, my son? I am just glad that all of you are in good health . . . I missed you all . . ." He did not know the reason for his sons to be like they were, but he was thankful that they were before him now, in any form, rather than they not be there at all.
Raph allowed the smallest smile, and hugged his Master gently.
"I missed you," he whispered in the rat's ear.
Splinter smiled.
Okay, gunna end this bit here. Sorry it's shorter than the rest, but at least it's here!! For you, Splinter, I had to end it to get it up quickly, so you could read it! Okay, more to come, thanks for the reviews, and SFAM, heh. (hexAdecimal, you're really going to give me what I want . . . Um . . .¦thinks with evil grin¦ nah, too nasty, lol, just a review to tell me what you think would be great, and I'm thankful!)
Mikey's mouth fell open. His home was on TV! But that wasn't what made his jaw drop; it was the fact that if their home had been discovered, then so would their Master! Or would he?
Leo backed away from the shop window and turned to run, but Donnie grabbed him.
"Leo. Hold on!" Donnie said.
"Donnie! We have to get down there!" Leo cried. "I don't care about the workmen!" He broke from his brother and started to run again. His brother's followed.
"It would have said something if they'd found him, wouldn't it?" Mikey asked, running alongside Donnie.
"I don't think so Mikey," Donnie said. "They would probably take him . . . to . . ." He glanced worriedly at Mikey. "Leo stop!"
They all stopped and stared at Donnie.
"Do you think they'll let us down there anyway?" He asked. "What if they haven't found Splinter? You know he's better than us at detecting humans in our home . . . He would have been long gone . . ."
Prida frowned. She knew they had all forgotten she was there. But this was odd. What the hell were they talking about? Was this Splinter one of the criminals?
"You know he's more capable than we give him credit for," Donnie continued. It was true, and they all knew it. Because of their Master's old age, or maybe just because of Leo's over protective attitude, they all underestimated him.
Leo sighed. For once, he felt lost. They couldn't get down to their home for the first time ever. They couldn't get in contact with their Master, and he them. It was driving Leo crazy. Who knew that being human could be great and frustrating at the same time? But, Leo had to admit, if they were turtles now, they'd be even more stuck with little places to go without being seen.
Prida looked at each of their faces. What was going on here? It made sense that this Splinter might be one of the criminals: He was hiding down in a sewer; and these guys were worried about him being caught by the police. She also got a better judge of Raph's brothers: Mikey seemed to voice out the questions; Donnie thought rather than acted, and Leo seemed to decide mostly what to do. Raph was quiet, listening. She glanced at him questioningly.
In all the confusion of those few minutes, Leo and his brothers had completely forgotten about Prida. Only now as he was worriedly staring around did he notice her again, and his heart just beat ferociously against his human ribcage. How much had she already put together? They had just spilled a lot of details out and she had heard everything.
Mikey and Donnie also noticed, and now all the guys were staring at each other and at Prida, realising they had forgotten her and blurted out things that would only confuse her, and maybe urge her to find out more.
"Okay," Prida said slowly. "Who are you guys? And why was that so important - what was on TV? Are you guys keeping one of those robbers in hiding . . .?"
The guys all looked at each other.
"Listen, I ain't gunna tell no ones . . . But what was said just back there sounded strange." Prida said quietly.
"You have no idea how strange our life really is . . ." Leo said softly, shaking his head.
Prida frowned, and was about to ask what he meant, but someone behind Leo, Donnie and Mikey made her gasp. From a door behind them came Principle Simmons.
"Guys - hide!" She hissed, and they all dashed around the corner and pressed their backs against the wall.
"We can't go out of school?" Mikey asked.
"Not without a pass," Prida said, checking to see where the man had gone. He was heading back to school, and at a glance from her watch, Prida knew they should be in school as lunch was nearly over.
Leo detached himself from the wall and faced his brothers and Prida. He turned to her.
"Listen, please, just forget what we said, it's too complicated, forget it . . ." He turned and strode away, heading for school. He was still going to try and get down to his Master. If the police had found the lair, they would keep it in check, that means Splinter would have been forced to move somewhere else, and Leo worried about him.
Prida looked at the other three. They were watching Leo with slightly sad faces. What was going on with these guys?
()()()()
After school, the guys all drifted along with the stream of kids making their way out and home. Forgetting where they were, the guys bent down next to a manhole and were about to pull the lid off when one of the teachers asked them what the hell they were doing. The guys took a few seconds to realise why the teacher hadn't screamed at them, and a few more to notice what they were doing. They quickly stood up and said that they felt ill, while he told them not to come in tomorrow wearing those ridiculous bandannas. Then they scampered, ran home and didn't stop until they were inside the door.
"Okay . . . need . . . drink . . ." Mikey gasped, and made for the kitchen.
Leo moved into the middle of the room. "Guys, you know we can't just stay here . . . We have to find Splinter, no matter IF the sewers are being patrolled by the cops." Leo crossed his arms. He was their leader, and for that he must make their right decisions for the good of his brothers, his Master and any victims.
Mikey came out of the kitchen with a can of coke. "I agree . . . I don't wanna leave him down there with humans running around."
Donnie looked at them. "You realise that when he sees us, he's not seeing Leo, Don, Mike and Raph . . . he's seeing four human kids . . ."
"I know . . . We'll tell him . . ." Leo nodded. "He's smart Donnie. He'll probably recognise us without the use of eyes . . . but with his mind or something . . . hopefully."
Raph listened silently from the door, his mind on the situation Splinter was in. Their Master, down in the lonely sewers by himself, worrying sick about his sons, with humans wandering around and in fear of being spotted. Raph knew that situation . . . and it wasn't nice. He, like Leo, intended to get their Sensei out of there before anyone sees him. But before Raph could open his mouth and agree, the door behind him was opened and he jumped out the way as it was flung open. He fell into Leo, who caught him.
Casey stood in the doorway with April at his side. April entered, with a worried smile at the guys.
Casey lifted a finger and pointed at them. He looked at April.
"This . . .? This them?" He asked, eyebrows raised.
April nodded. "Yes. Now, sit down Casey, we have an even bigger problem."
Casey stared at the guys, looking at each of their faces, trying to find something that tells the other apart. They looked so gad damn the same to him! If they hadn't had their bandannas on then he wouldn't have know who was who. He slowly seated himself on the sofa, and Mikey sat next to him, looking at April.
"Did you see what was on the news?" April asked them.
"Yeah, and we decided we have to get down there and bring him up here," Leo said.
"You can't," she said, shaking her head. "The police are arresting anyone who shouldn't be down there . . . but I think I might be able to get down . . . say I'm doing a report or something, and I'll find him."
Leo shook his head this time. "No, we're going down there too."
"Whoa, whoa, hold on," Casey held up his hands. "This is about Splinter, right?"
They all stared at him, and he put his hands down.
"Just making sure," he said.
"You might get caught," April said, turning back to Leo.
"Nah, remember, Ape," Mikey chirped up. "We're N-I-N-J-A. Ain't nobody gunna catch us."
April sighed and crossed her arms. If it wasn't one thing it was another. This week was definitely the strangest yet.
()()()()
The torchlight danced over the sewer walls, and Splinter watched it from his hiding place. It seemed very strange indeed to be hiding in your own home. Not one chance had popped up for him to dash out of the hole in the wall and make for the tunnels, away from the danger of being seen. But the police had been doing very well at patrolling the place. And Splinter knew that he couldn't stay here much longer. He was too worried for his sons. He had not heard of them in what seemed like years.
The old rat had been listening to everything that had been said down here. The first shock was when they discovered the dojo area, and all the weapons. The cop who had found them had got on his radio straight away and reported into it that the criminals may be heavily trained in Martial Arts. Then they had dusted the place for fingerprints, and he could do nothing but hide there while they made discoveries that all over the place were just three-fingered handprints, and a few five- fingered ones.
But what made Splinter heart jump was when they investigated further into one of his sons' bedroom, which two shared. One cop had found a sketch under the bunk bed, and called out the name that was signed at the bottom: Michelangelo. They took the name down, and sealed the picture as 'evidence'.
But soon, after many more shouts and findings of his home from the cops; there were only two left in the lair area, and as he heard, two more out in the west area tunnels. His one chance to make a dash was when one of the remaining cops turned to the other and started to talk, his torch held away from Splinter.
The Ninja Master dashed from his place with mouse-like silence, or rat-like silence. But unfortunately, that cop chose that moment to turn around, smiling at the joke his partner had just told him. His smile vanished quicker than a ninja as he saw the shadow dart from it's place only a few meters away from him. He called to his partner and started to chase after the small, strange figure.
"Hey! Hey you! Stop! I said FREEZE!"
Splinter kept his calm, but he could feel his heart beating so fast in his chest it felt as though it could do the running for him. He cursed himself for the bad timing, but he could do nothing now except hope to outsmart this cop with a little ninja skill.
But before he could do anything, five shadowed figures appeared in front of him. One he recognised as April, the other four he couldn't see. But they disappeared to his side, and the next second he heard the cop shout in alarm, then a thud. His partner then broke the silence, but another thud and everything was silent.
"Splinter! Splinter, are you alright?"
He could tell it was April now. She was hugging him, and he was trying to catch his breath. He needed a rest, a sit down, but before he did anything, he turned to the four human figures behind him. He could sense something very familiar from them. As his eyes adjusted to the dark light here, he could tell they were four, young boys, all identical.
The one in a blue top took a step forward, and the others followed. They seemed to be holding their breaths, watching Splinter's face for his reaction. If one at all.
Splinter exhaled. He knew. "My sons . . ." He whispered.
Their held breath disappeared and small smiles appeared on their faces. They walked up to him gingerly.
Mikey held Splinter's hand, showing his Master his. Splinter looked at it, then turned back to his sons. Mikey hugged him, then Leo and Donnie.
"Master, we were so worried for you," Leo said softly, one arm around his Master's shoulder, the other over Donnie's.
"I'm glad you're okay!" Mikey said, and sniffed. "You're okay!"
They broke apart, and Splinter looked at the remaining son who had not rushed forward, but held back, obvious to his posture that his Master seeing him in his present form embarrassed him.
"Raphael . . ." Splinter whispered, his voice sore from nothing to eat and drink in a while.
Raph walked forward, looking at Splinter's feet. "Sorry Master, I-"
Splinter cut him off softly. "Why apologise, my son? I am just glad that all of you are in good health . . . I missed you all . . ." He did not know the reason for his sons to be like they were, but he was thankful that they were before him now, in any form, rather than they not be there at all.
Raph allowed the smallest smile, and hugged his Master gently.
"I missed you," he whispered in the rat's ear.
Splinter smiled.
Okay, gunna end this bit here. Sorry it's shorter than the rest, but at least it's here!! For you, Splinter, I had to end it to get it up quickly, so you could read it! Okay, more to come, thanks for the reviews, and SFAM, heh. (hexAdecimal, you're really going to give me what I want . . . Um . . .¦thinks with evil grin¦ nah, too nasty, lol, just a review to tell me what you think would be great, and I'm thankful!)