Chapter 40

"Now then." Shredder took his seat in the long red cushion armchair behind his black desk. He put his hands together and looked at Ron. "Tell me about the situation that made you crawl back for aid from me."

Ron sat in a comfortable black cushion armchair facing the Shredder with a serious look without showing no signs of trickery or deceiving. Knowing that time is of the essence with limitations and not wanting to waste any precious second remaining.

"Well, for starters I just want you to know that Karai is well and quite alright. I want to ease your anxiety before giving you a new one that we are all currently facing," said Ron.

Shredder nodded while leaning back in his chair. "That is good to know. I'm assuming she is somewhere out there preparing for this unavoidable invasion?. Tell me more."

Ron informed the leader of the Foot Clan about the Triceraton soldier that he and others had encountered. Explaining the information that Zog has given them and comparing the danger to the Kraangs, the Triceratons were deadly. Taking everything in on hearing every inch in detail of the given information about the extreme coming of the threat, Shredder seemed concerned about the situation as it was no way around it. Unfortunately, Shredder is not very concerned about the faith of the world being turned into memory by the hands of his somewhat alien allies' ancient enemies. No, he is more concerned about two things.

Two things that Shredder values the most in this world. And he is going to negotiate his payment tonight or nothing.

"And what am I gaining from this?." said Shredder, raising a brow while putting his hands together on his desk and leaning slightly forward.

Ron crossed his arms with a serious look. "Isn't obvious?. Our planet and probably our solar system will continue running. And if we are lucky we might salvage some Triceraton technology at the end."

"Hmmm, sounds interesting if I do say so myself, Ron. However." Shredder leaned back with a blank serious face. "That does fulfill my payment none whatsoever."

Ron managed to keep his cool after hearing this. "Then what type of payment will motivate you to earn your and the other's full entire service, Dad?."

"Simple really, Son. I want two things. Splinter and having you, Karai, and Zoey back into my family." said Shredder.

"You getting Splinter is out of the question. As for having me, Karai, and Zoey back into your so-called family?. Well, that is another thing that Karai is not too warm and fuzzy on that idea. And can not blame her at all." Ron spoke honestly.

"I see." Shredder rubbed his viable scarred chin. "Then that case I'm not aiding."

"So you are going to let our world be destroyed by an alien-made blackhole weapon and let lives be lost just because you can not get your fruitless vendetta?!." said an angry Ron getting up.

"It Is Not A Fruitless Vendetta, Ron!." Shredder slammed his fist on the desk.

As a result, it has made Ron sat right back into his chair with a look of fear on his face. Shredder had become furious at Ron for what was told to him and just want him to teach him such a lesson that he will never forget. However, he calmed down for his own sake and took a moment to breathe his anger out of him. Something that he does not often do under any circumstances. He looked at Ron with sympathy on his face.

"I trusted you, Ron." began Shredder rubbing his desk on the righthand side sideways. "I saw the high extreme and untapped potential in you, Ron. The same way as your grandfather saw in you. I welcomed you into my personal circle. Gave you everything at your exposal. I gave you my daughter. I gave you Karai. My Karai. The only thing that I have close to her own mother. My one and only love. My Tang Shen."

This made Ron feel some type of way after hearing the name of the woman that Shredder and Splinter had loved for years. The same woman that caused their brotherly relationship to go from sweet to hatred bitter. There were times when Ron wished that he have got the chance to meet the wonderful woman that is Karai's blooded mother. Based on both sides of points of view from both Shredder and Splinter, Tang Shen is known to be the most generous, kindest, most thoughtful, most considerate, and most loving Christian woman that ever lived in Tokyo, Japan. Heck, Ron remembered one of them saying that she would donate whatever she had left in her pocket and donate it to the harmless while generously volunteering at one of the shelters in Tokyo.

Let alone Tang Shen was very intelligent in her own right and proved that multiple. To top it all off that is one of the things that are well-known about the deceased woman. Even Karai wished and would do anything to see, hug, bond with, and meet with her mother. Ron took the moment to think things through while Shredder was having a moment to reflect on the memories of his beloved Tang Shen. He does not want Splinter to die under any circumstances or be willing to rejoin the family of the Shredder along with having Karai and Zoey.

Needing to make this negotiation a quick success with literally limited time on everyone's side, Ron must twist Shredder's payment service a bit in order for things to go smoothly.

"Alright how about this." Ron got Shredder's attention and break his daze. "I'll consider letting you have Splinter. Only after this is all over and no interference in the fight between the two of you."

"Sounds far-fetched," commented Shredder, stopping from rubbing his desk.

"Do you not want to have your vendetta to be interference-free?. No distractions from your group and my group. No foul move. No tricks. No backstabbing. Just you and Splinter. One on One. Winner takes all." said Ron, with the mindset of what is going to come next.

"And what about you and Karai rejoining the family?. My family?. That includes Zoey as well." questioned Shredder, with a look of interest.

"Like I said. The winner takes all. If you can death-beat Splinter then I myself, Karai, and Zoey will both submit and go back to you. With no refusal none whatsoever." admitted Ron.

Shredder raised his brow with a suspicious look. "Are you sure about this?. Are you true to your word and your word alone?."

Ron nodded with zero hesitation. "Yes, I am sure. If you are not feeling comfortable with my words then will shake on it to seal the deal. Sounds fair and reasonable negotiation for you?."

Shredder took what Ron just said to heart. This is exactly the perfect opportunity he dreamed of and hoped to happen. This is the chance for him to redeem himself. A chance to finally be at peace. The peace that he lost that stormy night when accidentally slain Tang Shen. Shredder rose from his seat to go turn around to face an expensive medium-sized painting of Mount Fuji before pulling it down.

Behind the painting is a flat smooth silver keypad safe that is bolted to the great wall where he began pressing the code. Ron watched as he heard the beeped noise from the safe as he continued watching Shredder pull out what was inside the safe. The object that Shredder had taken out was his helmet aka the kuro kabuto and placed it on his head. Then he grabbed the face mask from inside the safe and placed it on his face which connected to the helmet. Shredder turned back to face Ron in his full attire.

"You have got yourself a deal, my boy." Shredder put his hand out. "We are a family once more."

Ron slowly got up to reserve his energy for the coming fight and shake Shredder's hand. "Yeah, if you say so."

"Master Shredder!."

Both Ron and Shredder looked to see Tiger Claw before seeing him pulling out his guns and pointing at Ron.

"I already stumbled upon and prevented your backup from going any further in your and Karai's attempt to overthrow Master Shredder," spoke Tiger Claw, having his fingers on each trigger ready to shoot.

"Stand down Tiger Claw," Shredder ordered. "Ron is not here to do what you think."

"Yeah, I'm not here to play 'Off With The King', you wanna be tony the freaking tiger," said Ron, being a real smart butt.

Tiger Claw growled at Ron's smartmouth comment but remembered that Shredder ordered him to stand down. He put his blasters back into their pouches and crossed his arms. "Why are you here anyway, Black Dragon?."

"But first what do you mean by my backup?." Ron asked keeping his straight face and brow raised.

"Bradford." Tiger Claw called his friend.

Rahzar came on in holding both Zoey and Kendrew in each hand. This made Ron furious about seeing this. Not because of seeing Rahzar holding his sister and Primrose's brother, but furious at Zoey for disobeying him after he told her to stay in the lair with Splinter and Shinigami. Ron became so furious that he temporarily lost his self-aware and allowed the clever dragon self-alter-ego to pull his strings. Without anyone expecting what came next, Ron quickly came up to Rahzar and snatched Zoey out of his left hand, lifted up the poor black girl up, and furiously and aggressively shook her by the left arm. Squeezing roughly and aggressively on Zoey's poor arm.

"You are getting on my final nerves you little pest!. Once this unexpected event is over, I will personally give you a forever reminder to never get in my way or disobey any commands given to you!." yelled Ron.

Zoey is frightened at what is happening to her. She has never seen Ron act or does physical aggression towards her. Of all things, this right here is scaring Zoey to the point that this could give her nightmares for a couple of days.

"Big Brother you are hurting me," Zoey spoke in pain mixed with fear. "Please...stop."

Ron lifted Zoey closer to his face and spoke as if he has venom in his voice. "Someone has to put your pathetic useless and wasteful existence in your place. Unlike your weak ass of a brother!."

With that said, he threw Zoey hard onto the concrete floor, in which Shredder have to come to the poor girl's aid. Leaving both Rahzar and Tiger Claw confused as to what just happened in a short time. Let alone caught wind of the atmosphere of what truly attacked Zoey. Kendrew managed to break free from Rahzar's grip and quickly come over to Zoey's side to check her out. Even he too has never seen Ron like this towards his own sister. Not even his own big sister would ever dream of doing something so belligerent at him, regardless of what he did if the situation is minor or not.

"Have you lost all sense, boy?!." Shredder looked at Ron angularly. "She is only freaking eight years old!."

At that moment, the beast within temporarily let go of his control of Ron, as Ron closed his eyes and shook his head before opening his eyes back to see Zoey scared, and having no idea what happened.

"Zoey!." Ron kneeled down to his sister before looking at Shredder in anger. "What did you do to my baby sister?!."

This made everyone confused after hearing this except for both Tiger Claw and Rahzar who looked at each other in agreement as to know that their keen scent confirms it. Now it has been officially confirmed that something is pulling Ron's strings just now and then temporarily let him go but just do not know who is doing this.

"Boy what are talking about?." Shredder looked at the black teen. "You did this to her not me."

"What?." Ron raised his brow in confusion. "I would never go aggressively physical with my baby sister. Never."

"But you literally..." Kendrew stopped dead in his sentence once hearing strong gunshots being fired.

Everyone in the room stopped dead for a short second before investigating the commotion. Ron got past Tiger Claw and Bradford and open the door and looked to his right and saw a group of Footbots battling heavily armed Triceratons. Ron quickly jumped his head back in once seeing a blast was about to make contact with his forehead.

"Damn they are here. The Footbots are fighting some of those muscular humanoid triceratopses. We need to get out of this place and get outside and have a full space to kickass." said Ron, pulling his sword out.

Kendrew helped Zoey back to her feet as she pulled her mother's sword out and have a good grip on it.

"There is a secret passage in the walls in hallways that reach the exit to outside," said Shredder, informing the group.

"Meaning we have to fight our way to get there. Much less grab a good handful of Footbots," said Ron, not liking what is currently happening.

"I know." Shredder put on his blade wist

and extended the blades to their full length. "I'll lead the way."

Once that was said, Shredder pulled out instant smoke pellets and then reopen the door before throwing them toward the Triceraton troops. Blinding them before they can even shoot. Given Shredder, Ron, Rahzar, and Tiger Claw the chance to strike to kill with their weapons without having any second thoughts. Zoey and Kendrew were doing the opposite of that. Zoey just strikes to maim and Kendrew just throws his gag tricks to a minimum. Meaning he carries his custom-made double water balloons filled with Mad Dog 357 Plutonium No.9 hot sauce. Primrose's secret stash when she wants to be spontaneous with her wings both bone and boneless when watching her baseball game.

"Man, talk about being an adrenaline junkie," commented Kendrew, throwing another balloon at a Triceraton in the eyes.

"My eyes!." cried the Triceraton, before Zoey ran up to him and knee him in the chin. Causing the alien trooper to hit the ground unconscious.

"Yep, what a rush!." said Zoey, feeling a little bit excited.

"You two stay close to me," ordered Ron, stabbing his sword through a Triceraton's throat and sliding the blade out to the left side, leaving a huge open cut. He looked at the two. "Or else."

Kendrew nodded and made sure he stayed close to Ron. Zoey did the same but kept her little distance from her big brother. Still a little bit stunned by what has happened to her between herself and Ron.

"Xever what is your status?." asked Tiger Claw, talking through his comlink.

"I'm currently getting my hands full at the moment, Tiger Claw. You?." said Fishface.

Tiger Claw hid behind an art sculpture. Shooting a few Triceratons in the process. "Xever we need you and your fair share of Footbots to meet us to the secret exit out of here."

"Easier said than done. I will meet you there," responded Xever.

"Ron up top!." ordered Shredder.

"Right!." said Ron, sprinting forward.

Both Shredder and Ron sprinted toward a group of Triceratons before the two-run on the wall and backflipped into a ball. Thus, roll-switching different sides to mess up the Triceratons aiming and struck the first two down and got each other back, as they both took out the second pair of Triceratons in the opposite direction. Seeing more coming through a portal the two made a wild attempt to close the device while killing Triceratons coming through. Everyone is amazed at how well Ron and Shredder work well together and are outstanding at being on the same page. It is like they know what the other one is thinking in combat.

"Hmph, forgot how well Ron and Master Shredder is when they fight together," commented Rahzar, in slight jealousy.

"You don't say," said Tiger Claw, reloading his guns.

Zoey ducked from being shot at. "That's my big brother."

Shredder and Ron took turns cutting the Triceraton slice by slice. Eventually making the dinosaur alien fell to his knees and choke on its own blood. Ron shakes the blood off his blade and then rubs the remains on the wall. Luckily, Xever and his share of Footbots made it to their current location. Shredder walked to his left and did a pattern of knocks on the wall which triggered the secret light passage tunnel.

"Let's go," said Shredder, running inside the tunnel along with the others close behind.

They made sure that none of the Triceratons were following them as it took five minutes to reach the other end of the exit wall and made their way outside.

"Alright, so we are officially in the survivor series. And I am not talking about WWE Survivor Series." Ron told everyone while having a good grip on his sword. "What?."

Ron hears his T-phone going off as he pulled the device out of his pocket and answered the call after seeing who it was. "Yeah, Kit Kat?."

"Ron those prehistoric alien assholes took one of my brothers," said Karai, spitting out some chunk of Triceraton flesh from her teeth.

"Man, alien dinosaur meat does not taste like chicken or pork. Oh, I'm going to have stomach sickness after this." Primrose spoke in the background while trying not to barf while sitting on top of piles of dead Triceratons.

Ron got worried. "Which one?."

"Michelangelo," answered Karai, spitting out Triceraton blood and tasting her breath. "Yuck, I need some serious toothpaste and mouthwash. My mouth tastes like I ate straight-up bird sh..."

"Karai where are Leo, Donnie, and Raphael?." Ron asked while pacing back and forth to keep himself calm.

"They went after Mickey along with Zog," Zack informed in the background.

"I'm going in after them." Ron made up his mind. "Zack go ask and use April's T-phone and follow the GPS coordinates to my location. We're taking one of their ships."

Zack was not too sure about going along with it. It was not that he refuses to help his new friends. It is just that after what Karai has informed him about the dragon that lives and toying with Ron is quite horrifying, to say the least. Let alone have a chilly feeling that he or anyone else is no match for what is living inside of Ron. It just motivates him to look out for his very first friend.

"Alright, I come with. I'm on the way," said Zack.

"Good." Ron nodded. "Karai, I managed to successfully negotiate with Shredder. He agrees."

Karai had that look of knowing something that must have got him to agree. "What is in it for him?."

Ron took a quick glance at Shredder who looked right back at him. Wanting and daring him to go and tell Karai. "It is kinda complicated. I will have to tell you when I see you."

"Fine. And another thing..." Karai was stopped when April pushed her away from being shot and got her phone crushed in the process.

"Karai?. Hello?. Baby?. Kit kat?." Ron started to get worried. "Something must have happened."

"You go and get Splinter's sons. Will go find and help Karai," said Shredder, having Zoey close to him.

Ron looked at Shredder for a brief moment. "I really do not have the time to abject to that option. Make sure she or Kendrew does not get hurt by any means."

Ron put his sword back in and ran up onto the brick wall before backflipping over to reach the rooftop. Scouting to find a ship big enough for two people to ride in. Leaving both Zoey and Kendrew with Shredder and his men. While things are heating up on the surface, back at the lair feeling like a dummy irresponsible babysitter, Shinigami was being chewed out by Karai's real biological father. Splinter paced back and forth with a frown on his face after hearing everything that the girl teen just said to him.

Splinter stopped pacing. "You been seating here watching Friday, eating encouraged high blood pressure food, and letting those little eight-year-olds escape here?. While there is an invasion going on much less the Triceratons are planning to destroy the earth with a blackhole weapon."

"Yes, I know." Shinigami had her head bowed in shame. "Karai, Ron, and Rose are going to kick me all the way to mount Fuji for this."

Splinter started sniffing the air and frowned. "Is that marijuana I'm smelling in my house?!."

"It's my special blend. Weed mixed with dust and crushed vitamins," explained Shinigami, looking up at Splinter with the look of 'I truly F this one up' facial expression.

"Do not get smart with me." Splinter went to collect some things before returning to the girl. "Well, it looks like you and I are going out there and getting those two back here. That is if Zoey and Kendrew did not get themselves into the deep situation."

Shinigami put her witch hat on her head. "Do you really have to come with?. I mean I am temporarily responsible for those sneaky little birdies."

Splinter stroked his beard with an eyebrow. "Indeed that is true. This is why your responsibility got us into this very predicament. Yes or No?."

Shinigami sighed in defeat. "Yes. Why are you giving me the guilt trip here?."

"Simple." Splinter walked with her to the exit of the lair. "I'm teaching you to own your own mistakes and improve on them. Now let us go and save the survival of our existence."

"Aye aye, Captain Master Splinter," Shinigami spoke with sarcasm before being purposely tipped by his tail.

"Watch your step and ease it with your smart-mouth sarcasm when talking to me," commented Splinter, smirking behind her.

"I'm going to pound Zoey and Kendrew to next year for this." Shinigami dusted herself off and pick up speed with Splinter. "That is if there is a next year after tonight."