Chapter 10
April sat on the threshold of the Temple, gauging the time by the sinking sun. Outside, the overly large orb was sinking in the east, casting a deep crimson glow over the top of the jungle, and deepening the shadows among the brush of the canopy. Evening was unrolling across the thick greenery of the valley, and with it, the worry over the prospect of a confrontation at the Palace deepened.
April glanced inside the darkness of the Temple to where a figure sat propped against the wall. About a half hour before, Saki had regained some movement, and had dragged himself over to the wall and hoisted himself against the stone. She supposed he found it a little more dignified than being splayed on his back on the floor. She could see his eyes glinting as he stared at her.
April glanced down to her hand where she held the dart that Ancha had given her. It was supposed to render Saki unable to resist her commands, so she could lead him to the Palace and turn him over to the Queen. But, something about that bothered her. Well, she thought, I can't avoid this forever, and we must leave soon. She stood and walked into the Temple.
As she did, Saki struggled to his feet and leaned against the wall, as if defending himself against her. April sighed, "At ease, soldier. Let's have a think about tonight, ok?"
"What is there to discuss," Saki said angrily, eyeing the dart in her hand. It dawned on April that if she was going to use it, she would have to soon, as he was regaining his strength every second.
She glanced at the dart in her hand and back up to his face. "Look, I took an oath to make sure you get out of the Palace with us tonight. If you swear something similar to me, this," she gestured down at the dart, "may not be necessary."
He narrowed his eyes with suspicion and said nothing.
"Please!" April spat. "If any one at all should be suspicious, it should be me! After all, you're the bad guy! I'm actually considering not drugging you up. To be plain, it doesn't seem right considering how badly these women want you and what they plan to do. It doesn't seem right that shouldn't be able to defend yourself..."
Saki blinked and his face became impassive and calculating. "What do you want to hear from me?"
"OK," April said slowly. "I want you to swear on your honor as a ninja not to harm myself or the Turtles while we are all trying to escape. We need to be all on the same side to get out of here in one piece. Do you swear?"
There was a moment of silence as he considered. April knew that on many levels Saki operated on a utilitarian ethic, and he would be considering all the scenarios and possible consequences of making such an oath. At last, he spoke, "I swear it. I pledge a temporary alliance with you, and those annoying turtles, until we have escaped this world." He paused, looking at her very carefully, and for a moment April sensed something else going on in his gaze. It wasn't a flicker of deception, it was something else...but she couldn't place it. "Will that suffice?" he asked.
"Yes," April said. "Geez, don't make me regret this." She tossed the dart to the ground and there was a moment when she half expected him to lunge at her, but he didn't move at all.
"Well," April said, a bit helplessly. "Can you walk? It's at least a two hour walk to the Palace, and it will be dark soon."
Saki was silent a moment, and then he attempted to step forward and stumbled. April reached out to steady him. She could tell he was completely annoyed by his immobility. "I can almost walk...just a little help at first..."
He was leaning on her, and his face was just inches from hers, and completely unreadable. April couldn't decide if this was a bad thing or a good thing. "Well, let's go." She stooped and picked up the golden arrow, their one feeble weapon, and concealed it in the folds of her tattered gown. She grasped Shredder's arm and helped him into the deepening purple evening.
They started through the brush, and April tried to suppress her sense of growing panic at the situation. Her dearest friends, the turtles, were being held captive by terrible warriors. Their most hated enemy, the Shredder, was currently their only ally, and currently leaning up against her as they walked through a dark and forbidding forest. And, he was rapidly regaining his strength. She began to wonder if she made the right decision.
"You know," Saki said suddenly as they walked. "You did something very clever."
"I don't know about that," April muttered breathily, as she labored to support him.
"If you had tried to drug me again, I would have resisted you and done all I could to destroy the turtles for your treachery," he said, his voice cool. "But, in soliciting an oath, you are assured my cooperation." He paused, and she could feel his eyes on her again. "You do understand that, Miss O'Neil? My honor will not be compromised, and, for this night at least, you have nothing to fear from me."
April said nothing. She wanted to believe him, but could not. Yet, she was surprised at his candidness. Especially because the dart she had so dramatically tossed on the ground was spent, and the real dart Ancha gave her was well-hidden in a pocket, just in case.
*********************************************************
"When do we get our weapons back?" Raphael asked, impatiently pacing around the round, marble chamber. Every few steps he did a leaping side kick in his frustration. "I can't wait to get a hold of my sais."
"Tonight," a female voice said.
The turtles looked up to see the Priestess standing in the doorway, accompanied by Ancha, and a couple of well-armed guards. The Priestess strode into the center of the chamber, standing in the shaft of late evening light slanting through the central sky light. She glowed a strange red from the setting sun, and her face was set with cunning.
"Your friend has accepted our Queen's offer of a trade," the Priestess said slowly. "Ancha found them deep in the forest. The Paelo was apparently not harmed."
"Shredder not harmed!" Leonardo said angrily, taking a couple steps forward. The two guards standing behind the Priestess raised their golden bows and Leo stopped. "I don't think it's your precious "paelo" you have to worry about. How many times do we have to tell you he is a very dangerous man?"
"This was taken into account," the Priestess answered, pursing her lips. "Ancha has given your friend a will-taking dart. The Paelo should be well-drugged." She stopped for a moment, and eyed each of the turtles carefully. "We will be taking you all to the audience chamber shortly. One thing must be clear, my little tawdi. Everything must go according to our agreement. You shall subdue the paelo in front of the court and present him to our Queen. Then, and only then, will you be allowed to leave. If you try anything, anything at all that deviates from our agreement, and we will imprison you all. And then," she said, turning to leave. "you will be at the mercy of our Queen." The Priestess swept from the chamber, followed by the two guards.
Ancha lingered for a moment. "Your friend is very brave. Do not risk her life, or the future of my race, by doing anything foolish."
"What would we do?" Leo said. "I'm tired of being in this mess, all because of Shredder. I say good riddance."
"I just hope your friend feels the same way," Ancha said quietly, before turning to leave.
"What the hell was that supposed to mean?" Raphael asked. "I mean, I don't even know what April has had to put up with from Shred-head for the past day, but I probably don't want to know. If there's anyone at all who will be glad to get rid of him, it'll be her."
"Ditto, dude," Mike said, practicing a few punches at an invisible warrior woman. "Just think of it. We've been stuck in here forever, but she's been dealing with Shredder! I'm surprised she didn't just kick his ass when she could."
Leonardo was pacing himself, tired of being cooped up. "I'm sure April's been taking care of herself just fine. I just hope Shredder behaves himself tonight. And if he doesn't? We'll just have to teach him some manners."
**************************************************************
April was feeling worse and worse about her decision not to drug Shedder. He had regained his strength fully about an hour before, letting her know by roughly shoving her away from where she had been supporting him. He had stretched, glanced at her grimly, and started off into the brush brusquely. She had spent the last hour trying to keep up.
She stopped for a moment, panting, and listening hard for the sound of him pushing through the brush. With a rising panic, she realized she couldn't hear him anymore. Shit, she thought to herself. Had he slipped away from her? In the darkness, she could see the lights of the White City vaguely through the leaves. They had been growing brighter for the last hour, and as she stood beneath the canopy of dark leaves, she could almost make out the white lance of the main tower rising in the night. They were close...where the hell did he go?
"Saki," she hissed. There was no answer in the darkness, and she had to fight the wave of panic growing in her gut. "Shredder!" she cried out in frustration.
Suddenly, a warm hand went over her mouth and a muscular arm wound about her middle.
"Shhhh." he whispered in her ear. April sighed and started to berate him. "Where did you go...mmmph." He tightened his hand over her mouth and crushed her tightly against him to hold her still. "Quiet!" he whispered.
April started to struggle again but stopped. She heard something. They listened as the sound of footsteps crunched through the leaves just through the brush. "A patrol. Two. Lightly armed." He whispered.
April listened hard, but could only hear random rustlings. She couldn't see a thing. How could he tell that? Silently, he spun her around to face him and backed her against a tree. Keeping his hand over her mouth, trapping her body with the length of his arm, he brought his face close to hers. What the hell was he doing? He brought his free hand up to her neck and lightly brushed the slick skin. April began to struggle...what the heck? Was he trying to feel her up?
The hand on her neck trailed down her shirt, and April's eyes grew wide as the fingers lightly worked their way down her chest, feeling along the skin. Her eyes didn't leave his, which bore down on her with a kind of cool amusement. Suddenly, the hand darted deep into the garment, and extracted the golden arrow. He backed away from her.
April fell against the tree, gasping. "You bastard!" she hissed.
He put his finger up to his lips. "Shhhh." he said, smiled strangely and disappeared into the trees. There was a slight, muffled shriek, two thumping sounds, then silence. April stood, breathing hard, listening. Suddenly, Saki appeared in the brush, carrying a handful of arrows. He strode up to her, and handed one back to her. "Here's yours back."
She grabbed it away from him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" She hissed, slipping the arrow back down her dress.
He was testing a few of the arrows, bending them and checking their strength. Dropping the rest on the ground, he chose two and slipped them into the legs of his pants. "You didn't think I'd go in there unarmed, did you?"
"What happened to those guards?"
"They will not trouble us." She glared at him, and he sighed. "I bound them, ok?"
April stood for a moment, staring at him. Slowly, her hand crept into her garment, and she fingered the dart Ancha had given her, making sure it was still secure. She may need it after all, she thought to herself.
"Come," he reached out and grasped her wrist hard, yanking her forward. "And be quiet."
"What are you doing? The path to the Palace is this way..."
"We are not going to march right into their little party."
"What?" April yanked her hand from his, and stood close to his chest, glaring up into his dark eyes. "We had a deal. We are going to play this straight. We walk in with you as my prisoner, we get the turtles, and we all escape."
"Yes," he said, impatiently, grabbing her arm again and yanking her into step with him. "But we will not walk right into their hands in case they are planning not to be civil. We shall appear in the chamber, yes. But, we shall appear unexpectedly. You do not know much about these sorts of things, Miss O'Neil, or you would have thought of this."
April scowled, but let herself be pulled along. It was clear to her now who was in charge, and she wasn't liking it one bit.
***************************************************************
The turtles were being led into the audience chamber. Long flanks of golden-garbed guards stood at either side of the immense, marble hall. Ancha walked before them, apparently in ceremonial garb. She wore a golden helmet, and a golden-netted shawl over one shoulder, but was well-armed with a long, limber bow.
"She is looking way hot, bro," Mike whispered to Raphael, nodding at Ancha.
"Yeah, I guess," Raph whispered back. "All I'm thinking right now is that we can take out these chicks right now. No weapons needed."
Leo glanced back at Raphael. "Quiet, Raph. We can't risk it. We still don't know where April is..."
"More importantly," Don said, glancing around at the large hall with apprehension. "We still don't know how to get home." He looked at each of the turtles in turn. "Remember, we can't make a move on Shred-head until we've confirmed from April that she's gotten how to get home out of him."
"I'm sure she has," Mike said cheerfully. "Womanly wiles and all that..."
"Oh, shit, Mike," Raph said gagging. "Don't gross me out with a thought like that."
"We still need to make sure," Don said. "Because if she hasn't found out how to get home, then..."
"We improvise," Leo said firmly.
They had reached the huge, golden doors of the audience chamber. Ancha spun and eyed the turtles carefully. "You will show due respect to the Queen."
The doors swung open, and they all marched into a cavernous, white marble chamber filled with a crowd of women wearing shining golden gowns. A red carpet wound down the center of the crowd to a large, crystal throne. A figure, completely obscured by gauze lounged on the throne, flanked by some tall women wearing golden head-dresses, including a woman all the turtles recognized. The Priestess.
"Shit, man," Raphael said.
Leo shuddered as he remember his previous unpleasant encounter with the Queen. "Stay alert, guys. This could get ugly."
They walked through the crowd of women who gazed at them with curiosity, and maybe even a little hunger, and approached the Queen, stopping about thirty feet away.
Ancha and her troupe knelt low to the ground. She glanced back at the turtles, who stood agog at the regal surroundings. "Kneel!" she hissed.
The turtles glanced at each other wearily, and knelt.
A voice like silk tumbled down from the throne, weaving its way through the air, almost coming from all places at once. "So...these are tawdi who have borne our Paelo to us through the forest from lands beyond the black mountains. We await only your friend, who will present the Paelo to us, as it is written in our ancient texts. Do you agree to subdue him for our glory?"
Leo looked up at the blank face of gauze, not liking the fear it elicited. "Yes, O Queen."
"So, it seems we must simply wait. I do hope, for your sakes, your friend does not dawdle." The voice wound around the room and the timbre finally evaporated, leaving an uneasy silence.
******************************************************
April and Shredder were watching this scene from a crevice at the side of the hall. They were wedged tightly into the small space, almost chest to chest. "I don't like this," Saki hissed, taking in the scene carefully, his mind working.
April glared up at him. She didn't like anything about this. Shredder had proven himself more in charge of the situation then she would have liked. In the last twenty minutes they had stealthily snuck into the Palace, Saki taking out guards silently as it was needed. She had watched him take out four standing in an antechamber of the audience room with such ease, that she began to fear he would be impossible to control should he try to break his oath. He was like a well-tuned machine, silent, powerful and deadly. For a moment, her hand wandered inside her dress to where Ancha's dart lay concealed. She could do it now, drug him and...
But, as she gazed up at the thick muscles of his neck and smooth face, she couldn't help but notice the real worry in his eyes. After all, he was literally walking into the lion's den here. These women wanted to capture him and suck the life out of him, kill him. Her hand wandered away from the dart, but she was torn.
His eyes suddenly snapped to hers, and she was struck by their intensity. "This is it," he whispered. "I only ask that you act honorably."
April opened her mouth in amazement. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to say?" she whispered. "You're the bad guy!"
"Miss O'Neil," he whispered softly, and he lifted his hand lightly and touched her cheek. "That is all a matter of relativity. Bad, good, evil, pure...all of these things are a matter of perspective."
"Well, from where I'm standing," she whispered. "You're still the bad guy."
He surprised her by smiling lightly. Then, to April's shock, he leaned close and brushed her lips softly with his. April felt warmth flood her abdomen, felt the nerves of her skin respond to his touch against their will. He pulled back and gazed at her ambiguously.
"What..." she sputtered. "What do you think..."
"That was nothing," he whispered, coolly. "I sense this odd state of affairs is about to change, and I thought I might, er, take advantage of them one last time. I am, after all, the bad guy."
April blinked, a million different emotions wrestling for control. She looked past the intensity of his gaze, through the slight view afforded by the crevice to where the turtles knelt before the Queen. She organized her thoughts quickly and fought back the confused emotions wailing in her head. The turtles were all that mattered. She would do what she had to to save them. That was all.
She reached into her garment and withdrew the golden arrow and placed it firmly against the artery pulsing in his neck. His eyes fluttered with its touch, and he put his hand over hers. "Careful..."
"Let's go," she said firmly. "Look drugged. Do you think you can manage that?" With that, she shoved him out of the crevice and into the massiveness of the hall.
***********************************************************
There were gasps from the crowd of women, who parted to let her through the masses. The turtles rose quickly and took in the bizarre spectacle of April leading a drugged-up Shredder by the arm with an arrow to his neck. They looked like they'd been through hell. April's hair was all tangled, her gown soiled and torn. Saki, without his armor or helmet, still looked intimidating, but his gi was torn and slightly bloodied. He had a gash on his neck and bicep. He stumbled a little, and was glaring savagely around him. "Way to go, April," Mike said gleefully.
They came before the turtles, while Ancha's troupe backed away, then spun and faced the Queen. The Queen gasped, taking in Oroku Saki for the first time. "My Gods, he is so beautiful." Shredder glared up at her with vehemence. The Queen cackled at his look. "And so willful!"
"I have brought your Paelo. Now, give my friends their weapons back." April ordered.
"Of course, little female. Your friends will need them to subdue the Paelo and bring him before us." The Queen's voice said mockingly.
Two guards came forward bearing the turtle's weapons, and went behind April and Saki. Both of their eyes followed the pair of sais in one of the guard's hands. She could hear gasps of pleasure from the turtles as they took back their weapons, and there were whooshing sounds as they tried them out. "Bodacious!" Mike said, whirling his chucks. "That never felt so good."
"Now what?" whispered Don, as he twirled his bo.
Leo edged up to April and whispered in her ear. "April, did he tell you how to get home?"
April glanced over her shoulder, "Yes, but..."
"Good," Leo said simply, and then surprised April by grabbing her shoulder and yanking her away from Saki hard. He turned and nodded at Don who came forward quickly.
"What the..." she whispered.
"It's ok, you're safe now." Leo said, steering her away from Saki.
It all happened so fast, April and Shredder hardly had time to react. Sensing something was happening, but still doing an admirable job at looking drugged, Saki began to turn, but was met with a hard blow to the head from Don's bo.
April gasped as he fell hard to the floor with a grunt. Everything was silent for a moment as he lay limply on the ground, a trickle of blood winding from his mouth onto the floor.
"Saki!" April gasped, and found herself trying to get to him.
Leo held her back. "April, what are doing?" He pulled her back to face him and was shocked to see tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, Leo," she said miserably. "You don't understand...I made an oath that we'd get him out...you can't do this...this isn't like you..."
"An oath?" Leo whispered fiercely. "What are you talking about? Look, I know you've had a rough time...but, he must have tricked you...we're going to give him to them and get out of here...good riddance"
"No..." April said, angrily trying to twist away from him. "We can't leave him. They'll kill him..." Leo held her fast and was amazed to see the misery on her face. It was like he didn't know her.
The Queen sighed. "If you are done with your little drama. I understand, little female, it is hard to let go of something so beautiful, but he is ours now. I would like you tawdi to present the Paelo to the Priestess. And please, try not to hurt him any more." The Priestess and some of her cohorts stepped forward as Don and Mike stepped up to the fallen Shredder, one on either side. April watched frantically. "Don, Mike don't do this."
Hearing April's words, Don and Mike glanced at each other confusedly, but continued to pick up Shredder, grasping each of his arms and dragging him off the floor.
Suddenly, with a cry of rage, Shredder straightened and did a lightning spin kick, knocking Don and Mike away savagely. He reached into his garment, extracted the two golden arrows, spun them expertly and gazed around at the shocked crowd. "Now, who would like to dance?"
There were screams of terror as the crowd backed away from Saki. The Queen stood in fury. "He is not drugged! It is blasphemy not to drug a Paelo! You have tried to deceive us! The deal is off, you will all be my prisoners! Guards!"
The crowd backed away as a regiment of guards encircled the turtles, April, and Shredder.
"April," Leo said, falling into fighting stance and raising his katanas. "Why didn't you drug him?"
"Yeah, Chicka?" Mike said, whirling his nun-chucks. "I get it, you just wanted to make things more interesting."
"What the hell," Raph said, placing his sais in defensive posture. "I like things interesting. And, I wasn't about to leave this place without taking on these chicks."
"Attack!" cried Ancha, and a hail of arrows flew upon them. But this time the turtles were ready, and easily batted each of them away. April was relieved to see Saki do the same, twirling with the arrows in each hand.
"Come on, you can do better than that!" Raph said.
"Potion arrows! Now!" Ancha cried, stringing her own bow, and glaring at April for her betrayal.
The needle-like arrows flew through the air, and being smaller, they were more difficult to defend, but the result was the same, and after the barrage each little needle clattered to the ground.
"We're still waiting for something better," Don said, twirling one of the little darts in his hand.
"Attack!" cried Ancha, drawing a long sword. All the warriors did the same, and in a moment, a melee ensued, all of the turtles and Shredder engaged, with April standing in the middle. The warrior's skills were good, but no match for ninja. In just a few minutes, the tide of battle had turned, and the turtles, Shredder and April were making their way for the exit as they fought.
"Hey, this is cake," Mike said, batting away two warrior with one twirl of his chucks. "Why didn't we do this before?"
"Do not worry about the tawdi!" shrieked the Queen, walking down the steps. "Do not let the Paelo escape!!"
The warriors redoubled their attack on Saki, who was fighting fiercely, taking on two, three, five at once. He spun and kicked two, snatching their swords, and spun to face three more, which he met with double blows, forcing them back. He was holding his own, but the sheer numbers against him stifled his advance. April realized they were separating him from them.
The lightening of aggression against the turtles allowed them to get all the way to the door. "Come on, April!" Raph cried, dragging her by the arm.
"No kidding, chicka," Mike said, pulling the massive doors open. "Let's blow this Popsicle stand."
April was struggling with Raphael, watching as Shredder began to succumb to the ten warriors attacking him at once. "We can't leave him," she cried. "Don't you realize I made an oath? You can easily get him out of here..."
"It's not worth it," Don said, slipping through the door after Leo. "Let's go!"
April turned to see Shredder push back two women with one swing of the sword, but not turn quick enough to stop a sword swinging at him. He cried out as it hit his arm, digging in deeply with a splash of blood. The warriors who had been hanging back now saw their chance and darted in, dealing blow after blow and forcing him to the floor. A final blow to the back of the head sent him skidding to April and Raph's feet in a daze.
"Come on," Raph said, kicking Shredder away. He began to drag her through the door, but they snapped shut suddenly. "Shit!"
Outside the door, Leo, Mike and Don were banging on the massive wall now between them and their friends. "Shit!" Leo said. "What happened?"
"They're on hydraulics," Don said, panting. "Someone closed them. We can't get them open." They spun to see a legion of guards, all bearing golden bows and looking royally pissed off running down the corridor. "Shit! We've got to go! We can regroup....come back."
"NO!" cried Leo, kicking the doors. "I won't leave April and Raph!"
"Shit," cried Mike, spinning to face the on-coming warriors, and not liking the odds.
Don grasped Leo's arm, and pulled his brother eye to eye. "Raph will take care of her, there's nothing we can do. Too many of them....we can't win today...come on..."
Don saw reason work its way into Leo's enraged eyes. "You're right. Dammit! Ok, let's go," he said firmly, and the three brothers escaped down a side corridor.
Inside the audience chamber, Raph was desperately fending off blows from an overwhelming force of warriors. April watched helplessly as he was knocked out by the blunt edge of a sword. Then, a strange pain arched through her body, and she fell to the ground hard. Gasping, she looked down at her leg. A lithe, long arrow pierced her thigh, just where it met her torso. She cried out as she saw that it went all the way through. In a daze, she looked up to see Ancha lowering her bow, glaring down savagely at her. "You should not have betrayed us. Or your friends." she hissed.
April's vision was going cloudy, and her head lolled to the side. Dimly, through a haze of pain, she could make out Saki's bloody face just inches from her, where he laid on the floor. His eyes were open, gazing blankly at her, but as she watched, they fluttered and closed. April closed her eyes, succumbing to the shock flowing over her. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm so sorry..."
To Be Continued.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Author's Note: Thanks for hanging in there so long. Whew! That was a difficult chapter to write, but I hope it came out ok. I love reading reviews, so please tell me what you think. I hope the next chapter won't take as long, but as you see, things have just gotten very complicated...
April sat on the threshold of the Temple, gauging the time by the sinking sun. Outside, the overly large orb was sinking in the east, casting a deep crimson glow over the top of the jungle, and deepening the shadows among the brush of the canopy. Evening was unrolling across the thick greenery of the valley, and with it, the worry over the prospect of a confrontation at the Palace deepened.
April glanced inside the darkness of the Temple to where a figure sat propped against the wall. About a half hour before, Saki had regained some movement, and had dragged himself over to the wall and hoisted himself against the stone. She supposed he found it a little more dignified than being splayed on his back on the floor. She could see his eyes glinting as he stared at her.
April glanced down to her hand where she held the dart that Ancha had given her. It was supposed to render Saki unable to resist her commands, so she could lead him to the Palace and turn him over to the Queen. But, something about that bothered her. Well, she thought, I can't avoid this forever, and we must leave soon. She stood and walked into the Temple.
As she did, Saki struggled to his feet and leaned against the wall, as if defending himself against her. April sighed, "At ease, soldier. Let's have a think about tonight, ok?"
"What is there to discuss," Saki said angrily, eyeing the dart in her hand. It dawned on April that if she was going to use it, she would have to soon, as he was regaining his strength every second.
She glanced at the dart in her hand and back up to his face. "Look, I took an oath to make sure you get out of the Palace with us tonight. If you swear something similar to me, this," she gestured down at the dart, "may not be necessary."
He narrowed his eyes with suspicion and said nothing.
"Please!" April spat. "If any one at all should be suspicious, it should be me! After all, you're the bad guy! I'm actually considering not drugging you up. To be plain, it doesn't seem right considering how badly these women want you and what they plan to do. It doesn't seem right that shouldn't be able to defend yourself..."
Saki blinked and his face became impassive and calculating. "What do you want to hear from me?"
"OK," April said slowly. "I want you to swear on your honor as a ninja not to harm myself or the Turtles while we are all trying to escape. We need to be all on the same side to get out of here in one piece. Do you swear?"
There was a moment of silence as he considered. April knew that on many levels Saki operated on a utilitarian ethic, and he would be considering all the scenarios and possible consequences of making such an oath. At last, he spoke, "I swear it. I pledge a temporary alliance with you, and those annoying turtles, until we have escaped this world." He paused, looking at her very carefully, and for a moment April sensed something else going on in his gaze. It wasn't a flicker of deception, it was something else...but she couldn't place it. "Will that suffice?" he asked.
"Yes," April said. "Geez, don't make me regret this." She tossed the dart to the ground and there was a moment when she half expected him to lunge at her, but he didn't move at all.
"Well," April said, a bit helplessly. "Can you walk? It's at least a two hour walk to the Palace, and it will be dark soon."
Saki was silent a moment, and then he attempted to step forward and stumbled. April reached out to steady him. She could tell he was completely annoyed by his immobility. "I can almost walk...just a little help at first..."
He was leaning on her, and his face was just inches from hers, and completely unreadable. April couldn't decide if this was a bad thing or a good thing. "Well, let's go." She stooped and picked up the golden arrow, their one feeble weapon, and concealed it in the folds of her tattered gown. She grasped Shredder's arm and helped him into the deepening purple evening.
They started through the brush, and April tried to suppress her sense of growing panic at the situation. Her dearest friends, the turtles, were being held captive by terrible warriors. Their most hated enemy, the Shredder, was currently their only ally, and currently leaning up against her as they walked through a dark and forbidding forest. And, he was rapidly regaining his strength. She began to wonder if she made the right decision.
"You know," Saki said suddenly as they walked. "You did something very clever."
"I don't know about that," April muttered breathily, as she labored to support him.
"If you had tried to drug me again, I would have resisted you and done all I could to destroy the turtles for your treachery," he said, his voice cool. "But, in soliciting an oath, you are assured my cooperation." He paused, and she could feel his eyes on her again. "You do understand that, Miss O'Neil? My honor will not be compromised, and, for this night at least, you have nothing to fear from me."
April said nothing. She wanted to believe him, but could not. Yet, she was surprised at his candidness. Especially because the dart she had so dramatically tossed on the ground was spent, and the real dart Ancha gave her was well-hidden in a pocket, just in case.
*********************************************************
"When do we get our weapons back?" Raphael asked, impatiently pacing around the round, marble chamber. Every few steps he did a leaping side kick in his frustration. "I can't wait to get a hold of my sais."
"Tonight," a female voice said.
The turtles looked up to see the Priestess standing in the doorway, accompanied by Ancha, and a couple of well-armed guards. The Priestess strode into the center of the chamber, standing in the shaft of late evening light slanting through the central sky light. She glowed a strange red from the setting sun, and her face was set with cunning.
"Your friend has accepted our Queen's offer of a trade," the Priestess said slowly. "Ancha found them deep in the forest. The Paelo was apparently not harmed."
"Shredder not harmed!" Leonardo said angrily, taking a couple steps forward. The two guards standing behind the Priestess raised their golden bows and Leo stopped. "I don't think it's your precious "paelo" you have to worry about. How many times do we have to tell you he is a very dangerous man?"
"This was taken into account," the Priestess answered, pursing her lips. "Ancha has given your friend a will-taking dart. The Paelo should be well-drugged." She stopped for a moment, and eyed each of the turtles carefully. "We will be taking you all to the audience chamber shortly. One thing must be clear, my little tawdi. Everything must go according to our agreement. You shall subdue the paelo in front of the court and present him to our Queen. Then, and only then, will you be allowed to leave. If you try anything, anything at all that deviates from our agreement, and we will imprison you all. And then," she said, turning to leave. "you will be at the mercy of our Queen." The Priestess swept from the chamber, followed by the two guards.
Ancha lingered for a moment. "Your friend is very brave. Do not risk her life, or the future of my race, by doing anything foolish."
"What would we do?" Leo said. "I'm tired of being in this mess, all because of Shredder. I say good riddance."
"I just hope your friend feels the same way," Ancha said quietly, before turning to leave.
"What the hell was that supposed to mean?" Raphael asked. "I mean, I don't even know what April has had to put up with from Shred-head for the past day, but I probably don't want to know. If there's anyone at all who will be glad to get rid of him, it'll be her."
"Ditto, dude," Mike said, practicing a few punches at an invisible warrior woman. "Just think of it. We've been stuck in here forever, but she's been dealing with Shredder! I'm surprised she didn't just kick his ass when she could."
Leonardo was pacing himself, tired of being cooped up. "I'm sure April's been taking care of herself just fine. I just hope Shredder behaves himself tonight. And if he doesn't? We'll just have to teach him some manners."
**************************************************************
April was feeling worse and worse about her decision not to drug Shedder. He had regained his strength fully about an hour before, letting her know by roughly shoving her away from where she had been supporting him. He had stretched, glanced at her grimly, and started off into the brush brusquely. She had spent the last hour trying to keep up.
She stopped for a moment, panting, and listening hard for the sound of him pushing through the brush. With a rising panic, she realized she couldn't hear him anymore. Shit, she thought to herself. Had he slipped away from her? In the darkness, she could see the lights of the White City vaguely through the leaves. They had been growing brighter for the last hour, and as she stood beneath the canopy of dark leaves, she could almost make out the white lance of the main tower rising in the night. They were close...where the hell did he go?
"Saki," she hissed. There was no answer in the darkness, and she had to fight the wave of panic growing in her gut. "Shredder!" she cried out in frustration.
Suddenly, a warm hand went over her mouth and a muscular arm wound about her middle.
"Shhhh." he whispered in her ear. April sighed and started to berate him. "Where did you go...mmmph." He tightened his hand over her mouth and crushed her tightly against him to hold her still. "Quiet!" he whispered.
April started to struggle again but stopped. She heard something. They listened as the sound of footsteps crunched through the leaves just through the brush. "A patrol. Two. Lightly armed." He whispered.
April listened hard, but could only hear random rustlings. She couldn't see a thing. How could he tell that? Silently, he spun her around to face him and backed her against a tree. Keeping his hand over her mouth, trapping her body with the length of his arm, he brought his face close to hers. What the hell was he doing? He brought his free hand up to her neck and lightly brushed the slick skin. April began to struggle...what the heck? Was he trying to feel her up?
The hand on her neck trailed down her shirt, and April's eyes grew wide as the fingers lightly worked their way down her chest, feeling along the skin. Her eyes didn't leave his, which bore down on her with a kind of cool amusement. Suddenly, the hand darted deep into the garment, and extracted the golden arrow. He backed away from her.
April fell against the tree, gasping. "You bastard!" she hissed.
He put his finger up to his lips. "Shhhh." he said, smiled strangely and disappeared into the trees. There was a slight, muffled shriek, two thumping sounds, then silence. April stood, breathing hard, listening. Suddenly, Saki appeared in the brush, carrying a handful of arrows. He strode up to her, and handed one back to her. "Here's yours back."
She grabbed it away from him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" She hissed, slipping the arrow back down her dress.
He was testing a few of the arrows, bending them and checking their strength. Dropping the rest on the ground, he chose two and slipped them into the legs of his pants. "You didn't think I'd go in there unarmed, did you?"
"What happened to those guards?"
"They will not trouble us." She glared at him, and he sighed. "I bound them, ok?"
April stood for a moment, staring at him. Slowly, her hand crept into her garment, and she fingered the dart Ancha had given her, making sure it was still secure. She may need it after all, she thought to herself.
"Come," he reached out and grasped her wrist hard, yanking her forward. "And be quiet."
"What are you doing? The path to the Palace is this way..."
"We are not going to march right into their little party."
"What?" April yanked her hand from his, and stood close to his chest, glaring up into his dark eyes. "We had a deal. We are going to play this straight. We walk in with you as my prisoner, we get the turtles, and we all escape."
"Yes," he said, impatiently, grabbing her arm again and yanking her into step with him. "But we will not walk right into their hands in case they are planning not to be civil. We shall appear in the chamber, yes. But, we shall appear unexpectedly. You do not know much about these sorts of things, Miss O'Neil, or you would have thought of this."
April scowled, but let herself be pulled along. It was clear to her now who was in charge, and she wasn't liking it one bit.
***************************************************************
The turtles were being led into the audience chamber. Long flanks of golden-garbed guards stood at either side of the immense, marble hall. Ancha walked before them, apparently in ceremonial garb. She wore a golden helmet, and a golden-netted shawl over one shoulder, but was well-armed with a long, limber bow.
"She is looking way hot, bro," Mike whispered to Raphael, nodding at Ancha.
"Yeah, I guess," Raph whispered back. "All I'm thinking right now is that we can take out these chicks right now. No weapons needed."
Leo glanced back at Raphael. "Quiet, Raph. We can't risk it. We still don't know where April is..."
"More importantly," Don said, glancing around at the large hall with apprehension. "We still don't know how to get home." He looked at each of the turtles in turn. "Remember, we can't make a move on Shred-head until we've confirmed from April that she's gotten how to get home out of him."
"I'm sure she has," Mike said cheerfully. "Womanly wiles and all that..."
"Oh, shit, Mike," Raph said gagging. "Don't gross me out with a thought like that."
"We still need to make sure," Don said. "Because if she hasn't found out how to get home, then..."
"We improvise," Leo said firmly.
They had reached the huge, golden doors of the audience chamber. Ancha spun and eyed the turtles carefully. "You will show due respect to the Queen."
The doors swung open, and they all marched into a cavernous, white marble chamber filled with a crowd of women wearing shining golden gowns. A red carpet wound down the center of the crowd to a large, crystal throne. A figure, completely obscured by gauze lounged on the throne, flanked by some tall women wearing golden head-dresses, including a woman all the turtles recognized. The Priestess.
"Shit, man," Raphael said.
Leo shuddered as he remember his previous unpleasant encounter with the Queen. "Stay alert, guys. This could get ugly."
They walked through the crowd of women who gazed at them with curiosity, and maybe even a little hunger, and approached the Queen, stopping about thirty feet away.
Ancha and her troupe knelt low to the ground. She glanced back at the turtles, who stood agog at the regal surroundings. "Kneel!" she hissed.
The turtles glanced at each other wearily, and knelt.
A voice like silk tumbled down from the throne, weaving its way through the air, almost coming from all places at once. "So...these are tawdi who have borne our Paelo to us through the forest from lands beyond the black mountains. We await only your friend, who will present the Paelo to us, as it is written in our ancient texts. Do you agree to subdue him for our glory?"
Leo looked up at the blank face of gauze, not liking the fear it elicited. "Yes, O Queen."
"So, it seems we must simply wait. I do hope, for your sakes, your friend does not dawdle." The voice wound around the room and the timbre finally evaporated, leaving an uneasy silence.
******************************************************
April and Shredder were watching this scene from a crevice at the side of the hall. They were wedged tightly into the small space, almost chest to chest. "I don't like this," Saki hissed, taking in the scene carefully, his mind working.
April glared up at him. She didn't like anything about this. Shredder had proven himself more in charge of the situation then she would have liked. In the last twenty minutes they had stealthily snuck into the Palace, Saki taking out guards silently as it was needed. She had watched him take out four standing in an antechamber of the audience room with such ease, that she began to fear he would be impossible to control should he try to break his oath. He was like a well-tuned machine, silent, powerful and deadly. For a moment, her hand wandered inside her dress to where Ancha's dart lay concealed. She could do it now, drug him and...
But, as she gazed up at the thick muscles of his neck and smooth face, she couldn't help but notice the real worry in his eyes. After all, he was literally walking into the lion's den here. These women wanted to capture him and suck the life out of him, kill him. Her hand wandered away from the dart, but she was torn.
His eyes suddenly snapped to hers, and she was struck by their intensity. "This is it," he whispered. "I only ask that you act honorably."
April opened her mouth in amazement. "Isn't that what I'm supposed to say?" she whispered. "You're the bad guy!"
"Miss O'Neil," he whispered softly, and he lifted his hand lightly and touched her cheek. "That is all a matter of relativity. Bad, good, evil, pure...all of these things are a matter of perspective."
"Well, from where I'm standing," she whispered. "You're still the bad guy."
He surprised her by smiling lightly. Then, to April's shock, he leaned close and brushed her lips softly with his. April felt warmth flood her abdomen, felt the nerves of her skin respond to his touch against their will. He pulled back and gazed at her ambiguously.
"What..." she sputtered. "What do you think..."
"That was nothing," he whispered, coolly. "I sense this odd state of affairs is about to change, and I thought I might, er, take advantage of them one last time. I am, after all, the bad guy."
April blinked, a million different emotions wrestling for control. She looked past the intensity of his gaze, through the slight view afforded by the crevice to where the turtles knelt before the Queen. She organized her thoughts quickly and fought back the confused emotions wailing in her head. The turtles were all that mattered. She would do what she had to to save them. That was all.
She reached into her garment and withdrew the golden arrow and placed it firmly against the artery pulsing in his neck. His eyes fluttered with its touch, and he put his hand over hers. "Careful..."
"Let's go," she said firmly. "Look drugged. Do you think you can manage that?" With that, she shoved him out of the crevice and into the massiveness of the hall.
***********************************************************
There were gasps from the crowd of women, who parted to let her through the masses. The turtles rose quickly and took in the bizarre spectacle of April leading a drugged-up Shredder by the arm with an arrow to his neck. They looked like they'd been through hell. April's hair was all tangled, her gown soiled and torn. Saki, without his armor or helmet, still looked intimidating, but his gi was torn and slightly bloodied. He had a gash on his neck and bicep. He stumbled a little, and was glaring savagely around him. "Way to go, April," Mike said gleefully.
They came before the turtles, while Ancha's troupe backed away, then spun and faced the Queen. The Queen gasped, taking in Oroku Saki for the first time. "My Gods, he is so beautiful." Shredder glared up at her with vehemence. The Queen cackled at his look. "And so willful!"
"I have brought your Paelo. Now, give my friends their weapons back." April ordered.
"Of course, little female. Your friends will need them to subdue the Paelo and bring him before us." The Queen's voice said mockingly.
Two guards came forward bearing the turtle's weapons, and went behind April and Saki. Both of their eyes followed the pair of sais in one of the guard's hands. She could hear gasps of pleasure from the turtles as they took back their weapons, and there were whooshing sounds as they tried them out. "Bodacious!" Mike said, whirling his chucks. "That never felt so good."
"Now what?" whispered Don, as he twirled his bo.
Leo edged up to April and whispered in her ear. "April, did he tell you how to get home?"
April glanced over her shoulder, "Yes, but..."
"Good," Leo said simply, and then surprised April by grabbing her shoulder and yanking her away from Saki hard. He turned and nodded at Don who came forward quickly.
"What the..." she whispered.
"It's ok, you're safe now." Leo said, steering her away from Saki.
It all happened so fast, April and Shredder hardly had time to react. Sensing something was happening, but still doing an admirable job at looking drugged, Saki began to turn, but was met with a hard blow to the head from Don's bo.
April gasped as he fell hard to the floor with a grunt. Everything was silent for a moment as he lay limply on the ground, a trickle of blood winding from his mouth onto the floor.
"Saki!" April gasped, and found herself trying to get to him.
Leo held her back. "April, what are doing?" He pulled her back to face him and was shocked to see tears welling up in her eyes.
"Oh, Leo," she said miserably. "You don't understand...I made an oath that we'd get him out...you can't do this...this isn't like you..."
"An oath?" Leo whispered fiercely. "What are you talking about? Look, I know you've had a rough time...but, he must have tricked you...we're going to give him to them and get out of here...good riddance"
"No..." April said, angrily trying to twist away from him. "We can't leave him. They'll kill him..." Leo held her fast and was amazed to see the misery on her face. It was like he didn't know her.
The Queen sighed. "If you are done with your little drama. I understand, little female, it is hard to let go of something so beautiful, but he is ours now. I would like you tawdi to present the Paelo to the Priestess. And please, try not to hurt him any more." The Priestess and some of her cohorts stepped forward as Don and Mike stepped up to the fallen Shredder, one on either side. April watched frantically. "Don, Mike don't do this."
Hearing April's words, Don and Mike glanced at each other confusedly, but continued to pick up Shredder, grasping each of his arms and dragging him off the floor.
Suddenly, with a cry of rage, Shredder straightened and did a lightning spin kick, knocking Don and Mike away savagely. He reached into his garment, extracted the two golden arrows, spun them expertly and gazed around at the shocked crowd. "Now, who would like to dance?"
There were screams of terror as the crowd backed away from Saki. The Queen stood in fury. "He is not drugged! It is blasphemy not to drug a Paelo! You have tried to deceive us! The deal is off, you will all be my prisoners! Guards!"
The crowd backed away as a regiment of guards encircled the turtles, April, and Shredder.
"April," Leo said, falling into fighting stance and raising his katanas. "Why didn't you drug him?"
"Yeah, Chicka?" Mike said, whirling his nun-chucks. "I get it, you just wanted to make things more interesting."
"What the hell," Raph said, placing his sais in defensive posture. "I like things interesting. And, I wasn't about to leave this place without taking on these chicks."
"Attack!" cried Ancha, and a hail of arrows flew upon them. But this time the turtles were ready, and easily batted each of them away. April was relieved to see Saki do the same, twirling with the arrows in each hand.
"Come on, you can do better than that!" Raph said.
"Potion arrows! Now!" Ancha cried, stringing her own bow, and glaring at April for her betrayal.
The needle-like arrows flew through the air, and being smaller, they were more difficult to defend, but the result was the same, and after the barrage each little needle clattered to the ground.
"We're still waiting for something better," Don said, twirling one of the little darts in his hand.
"Attack!" cried Ancha, drawing a long sword. All the warriors did the same, and in a moment, a melee ensued, all of the turtles and Shredder engaged, with April standing in the middle. The warrior's skills were good, but no match for ninja. In just a few minutes, the tide of battle had turned, and the turtles, Shredder and April were making their way for the exit as they fought.
"Hey, this is cake," Mike said, batting away two warrior with one twirl of his chucks. "Why didn't we do this before?"
"Do not worry about the tawdi!" shrieked the Queen, walking down the steps. "Do not let the Paelo escape!!"
The warriors redoubled their attack on Saki, who was fighting fiercely, taking on two, three, five at once. He spun and kicked two, snatching their swords, and spun to face three more, which he met with double blows, forcing them back. He was holding his own, but the sheer numbers against him stifled his advance. April realized they were separating him from them.
The lightening of aggression against the turtles allowed them to get all the way to the door. "Come on, April!" Raph cried, dragging her by the arm.
"No kidding, chicka," Mike said, pulling the massive doors open. "Let's blow this Popsicle stand."
April was struggling with Raphael, watching as Shredder began to succumb to the ten warriors attacking him at once. "We can't leave him," she cried. "Don't you realize I made an oath? You can easily get him out of here..."
"It's not worth it," Don said, slipping through the door after Leo. "Let's go!"
April turned to see Shredder push back two women with one swing of the sword, but not turn quick enough to stop a sword swinging at him. He cried out as it hit his arm, digging in deeply with a splash of blood. The warriors who had been hanging back now saw their chance and darted in, dealing blow after blow and forcing him to the floor. A final blow to the back of the head sent him skidding to April and Raph's feet in a daze.
"Come on," Raph said, kicking Shredder away. He began to drag her through the door, but they snapped shut suddenly. "Shit!"
Outside the door, Leo, Mike and Don were banging on the massive wall now between them and their friends. "Shit!" Leo said. "What happened?"
"They're on hydraulics," Don said, panting. "Someone closed them. We can't get them open." They spun to see a legion of guards, all bearing golden bows and looking royally pissed off running down the corridor. "Shit! We've got to go! We can regroup....come back."
"NO!" cried Leo, kicking the doors. "I won't leave April and Raph!"
"Shit," cried Mike, spinning to face the on-coming warriors, and not liking the odds.
Don grasped Leo's arm, and pulled his brother eye to eye. "Raph will take care of her, there's nothing we can do. Too many of them....we can't win today...come on..."
Don saw reason work its way into Leo's enraged eyes. "You're right. Dammit! Ok, let's go," he said firmly, and the three brothers escaped down a side corridor.
Inside the audience chamber, Raph was desperately fending off blows from an overwhelming force of warriors. April watched helplessly as he was knocked out by the blunt edge of a sword. Then, a strange pain arched through her body, and she fell to the ground hard. Gasping, she looked down at her leg. A lithe, long arrow pierced her thigh, just where it met her torso. She cried out as she saw that it went all the way through. In a daze, she looked up to see Ancha lowering her bow, glaring down savagely at her. "You should not have betrayed us. Or your friends." she hissed.
April's vision was going cloudy, and her head lolled to the side. Dimly, through a haze of pain, she could make out Saki's bloody face just inches from her, where he laid on the floor. His eyes were open, gazing blankly at her, but as she watched, they fluttered and closed. April closed her eyes, succumbing to the shock flowing over her. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I'm so sorry..."
To Be Continued.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Author's Note: Thanks for hanging in there so long. Whew! That was a difficult chapter to write, but I hope it came out ok. I love reading reviews, so please tell me what you think. I hope the next chapter won't take as long, but as you see, things have just gotten very complicated...
