Chapter 4

Things are Set in Motion


Linda lay on her bed, eyes forever staring at the ceiling as they had for months. It was all she could do to find some kind of peace. She was so lost in her thoughts. Why, her mind would say, why did this to happen? Why did it have to be her mother, the most loving and kindest person in the world? All she wanted was to help people. Now Linda wondered, who was going to help her. A sudden knock at the door startled Linda out of her trance. She sat up slowly, wiping at the endless stream of tears that poured from her eyes.

"Linda?" Leonardo's voice echoed from the other side.

Linda jumped up, sniffing away her emotions and ran to the door. She unlocked it and stuck her head out into the hallway.

"Hi." Her voice stammered. Leo smiled at her. "What are you doing here?"

Leo looked down at the ground and wrung his hands together nervously. " I just wanted to see how you were doing. We haven't spoken since the funeral."

Linda eyes became wide with shock. Had it been that long since she had seen him? She felt a sense of shame come over her.

"I haven't really done anything." Linda stepped back, opening the door wider and let Leo into her room. "I'm sorry."

Leo stood on the circular oriental rug in the middle of the room and looked around. Linda's room was certainly not a typical teenage girls' bedroom. Japanese artwork and dragon statues adorned the walls and shelves. The four poster bed, dresser, and desk were red cherry, defiantly antiques, and had the most beautiful carvings. The matching bookcase was full of books, all neatly organized and alphabetize. The white shag carpet was spotless. Everything was so neat, Leo could have sworn he stepped into his own room.

Linda locked the door and sat back down on her bed. Leo pulled the chair away from the desk and sat down across from her. They sat in silence for a long time before Leo finally spoke.

"So, how have you been?"

Linda picked at the hand-woven blanket on her bed. "Okay, I guess."

"You dad said you stay up here all the time. And that you haven't been to school in a couple months." Leo leaned forward, trying to catch Linda's eyes.

Linda shrugged her shoulders. " I can't. I tried. The other kids ask too many questions. Or they just stare and whisper about me." Tears began to well in her eyes again. " They just don't understand, Leonardo. How can I face that?"

Leo scooted the chair closer to the bed. " Make them understand. Talking about it will really help you"

"How do you know?" Linda violently turned to face Leo, anger filled tears running down her cheeks. " You don't know what its like. You never had to go to high school! Kids are VERY cruel! I'm already a freak in their eyes!" She stood up from the bed and walked to the large bay window. Linda slammed down on the bench, grabbed a large, brown stuffed bear and sobbed uncontrollably.

"Nobody will ever understand me," Linda whispered through her tears.

Leo sighed, not knowing if he should stay and go to Linda or get up and leave. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He was never really good at expressing his emotions at times like this. He opened his eyes and rose out of the chair. He began to walk to the door when Linda called out to him.

"Don't go." She managed in between the sobs, her hand reaching out to him. " I'm-I'm sorry. I just can't think straight anymore."

Linda sadness radiated toward Leo. He couldn't leave her like this, not when she needed someone this badly. He walked to the window and grasped her hand. Linda moved the pillows off the bench and Leo sat down. Linda wiped her tears away again, embarrassed by emotional outbreak. She hated to cry, that loss of control; her fear of becoming weak.

Leo's eyes wondered to the window and out onto the city. Spring had come in full bloom all around them. The flower blossoms on the trees blew in the wind, dancing around to a song only they could hear. The movement was so soothing, and it made Leo feel at peace. He turned back to Linda, who was watching him.

He smiled awkwardly. "What?"

Linda shook her head. "It's nothing. I just feel better when you're around."

Leo turned his head to the side. " Wanna get out of here?"

Linda found herself showing a smile, something she thought she would never do again.


"Mikey! What the shell is this?!"

Donatello stood in the doorway of Mike's room and threw a half melted remote control at his brother. He impatiently tapped his foot.

"Dude! It was froze! It's still cold down here." Michelangelo shoved the remote back at Don. "I thought I could just nuke it in the microwave and-"

Don sighed heavily and walked past Mike. " Well next time, nuke your brain in there while you're at it."

Raphael looked up from his video game. " What brain?"

Mike threw Raph a dirty look. " Yeah, and I bet Donny wouldn't be too happy to know that someone used his sai and busted the alarm on the front door."

"WHAT?!" Don spun around.

"Hey!" Raph threw the controller on the ground and stood up. " We both did that and besides, it wouldn't stop beeping!"

"Yeah, Donny." Mike smiled. " You should get that fixed."

Don grabbed his head in his hands. " Why me?" He turned back around and walked away.

"Hey, what are you playing Raph?" Mike plopped down on the floor.

"Your saved game on Final Fantasy. Oh and look, I just killed you." Raph started laughing.

Mike frowned at his brother and then shoved him, causing Raph to fall over onto his side. He quickly turned towards Mike, his eyes narrowed. He let out a loud growl.

" Oops." Mike stood back up and ran towards the hallway. " AHHHHHHH!!!"

Leo opened the door and allowed Linda in first. She thought Leo was joking when he told her that he and his family lived in the sewers, but now she really knew it was true. She looked around after she had stepped in. The furniture, a couch and two armchairs, were old and mismatched, and the walls were showing their age. Water dripped from the ceiling into a bucket in a far corner; a slight cold breeze past through from one of the many cracks in the floor. Linda was surprised to feel a sudden sense of comfort in the Turtles lair, even though she had never had to experience any place like this. Leo helped her with her coat and then guided her to the living room.

" Have a seat. Do you want anything? Tea perhaps?" Leo asked.

Linda nodded and watched as Leo disappeared into what she assumed to be the kitchen. She looked around more, taking in all of her surroundings. Just then, a scream echoed from another room.

"HHEEELLLPPP!!!"

Linda leaned over towards the hallway and saw Michelangelo running towards her.

"HE'S GONNA GET ME!!"

Leo walked out of the kitchen just in time to see Mike run past and hide behind the couch. The tray he carried shook from the rush of wind.

"Mikey! What is going on?" Leo placed the tray on the coffee table.

"I made Raph mad....." Mike whispered as he peeked around the corner of the couch.

Leo rolled his eyes and sat down. " Mike, you should know better."

"WHERE IS THAT STUPID LITTLE SON OF A -"

"Raphael!" Leo yelled. " There is a lady present!"

Raph walked into the living room to see Linda sitting on their couch.

"Figures." And with that, he walked back down the hallway into his own room and slammed the door. Linda dropped her head down.

" Why doesn't Raphael like me? What have I done to him?"

Leo glared down the hallway. " That's just Raph being Raph. He doesn't like anyone."

He looked over at Linda and smiled. " Don't take it to heart."

Mike popped up and sat down in Splinter's chair. " Yeah, you'll learn to ignore him like we do."

Linda laughed and slowly sipped her tea. She glanced at Mike again, a puzzled look on her face.

" Michelangelo?"

"Yep?"

Linda blushed. " This may sound very stupid, but, why are you naked?"

Leo spit at the tea he was sipping and started laughing. Mike looked down at himself, becoming very confused.

" Naked? I look like this all the time."

"No, last time I saw you, you were in clothing."

Leo slowly began to catch his breath. " When we go topside, we dress in clothes, because of that mutant dress code. But at home," He pointed at Mike. " We look like that."

Linda looked at Mike again. " And you wear colored bandannas too?"

" Yes."

" And carry weapons."

"Yeah."

Linda looked back at Leo. " You dress like ninjas?"

Mike stared at Leo. " You never told her what we do?"

" No. It's not that big of a deal."

Linda became nervous. " What haven't you told me? You're not assassins are you?"

Leo shook his head. " No! Nothing like that. When I told you we studied the martial arts, I didn't mean just for recreation."

"Yeah, we like fight crime and stuff!" Mike joined in. " We like sneak around the city at night and look for trouble makers and then kick the crap out of them!"

Leo raised an eyebrow. Mike giggled and shrugged his shoulders.

" Well, we do."

Linda stared into her tea cup. " Does that mean you fought Saki too?"

Leo nodded. " Yes, several times. And we believe we finally defeated him. We have not heard anything about him or the Foot in a few years."

" But don't forget, Leo!" Mike leaned forward. " They always come back! MWHaHAHAHA!!!"

Linda blinked at Mike. " What?"

" Like in the scary movies! They always come back for more!"

Leo shook his head and sighed. " Geesh, Mike. Anyway, I don't think we will ever hear from the Shredder again, but, how many times have we said that?"




Jonas Riley was never a patient man. He believe things should happen fast and now. He also noticed pacing was quickly becoming his favorite pastime, which is what he now did. It had been four months to the day the first bomb exploded downtown, and there was nothing from the Madira, only the angry outcries from the citizens of New York. It was not all a total loss, he thought to himself. Humans and Mutants were angered, each blaming the other for the horrible chaos. Yes, chaos. It had to be Jonas's favorite word. Wasn't that the name of the mutant who killed his parents? Gore Chaos? Yes, that was years ago, he was nine at the time. That mutant, an ugly dog creature, who ambushed his parents as they walked through Central Park. Who goes for a walk in the Park after midnight anyway, he had heard a policeman say. Yes, Chaos, who jumped out of a tree, stabbed his father, strangled his mother, took the money and ran into the night. Yes, that same mutant named Chaos who, years after, was dead himself, after Jonas caught up to him. That mutant payed dearly for his crimes. Jonas closed his eyes and replayed the torture he put Chaos through. And to think, he had only one person to thank for finding Chaos. The one person who took him in, trained him in the deadly art of the ninja, and then set him free to find Chaos, to get his revenge. What was his name?

" Jonas?"

No, that's my name. He was Japanese. His name was Sa-

"Sir?"

Jonas's eyes flew open. " What the hell do you want, Frank? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Jonas turned his attention back the map that was spread in front of him.

" Sir, there is someone here to see you." Frank placed his hands behind his back.

" Yeah, well, you can tell the dip-shit that I'm busy," Jonas placed a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

" Oh, now, Mr. Riley. Is that anyway to talk to a guest?" A soft, haunting voice called out from the darkness.

Jonas' jaw dropped, sending his cigarette into his lap. He jumped from the fire and patted his jeans fiercely. When he looked back up, his "visitor" had come out of the shadows.

"General Zard."

The alien stood at seven feet, very thin and very frail. His body was a soft power blue, his large black eyes seemed emotionless. His four finger hand wrapped around a silver walking stick, which he used to pull himself forward, for his legs were very weak. His long green gown dragged on the concrete floor as he moved forward.

"Now, Mr. Riley, that I have your attention, there is a certain matter I would like to discuss with you."

Jonas gulped. Patience, he suddenly thought, is a great virtue.



" ....And that is how we became the mutants were are today."

Linda sat in wonder at the story she had just been told. It was hard to imagine. The swerving truck, a glass bowl crashing into the sewer drain, the radioactive chemical that followed. And that Splinter was once a normal rat, who found the Turtles, and who grew just as they had, and who had even taught then the art of ninja. It like something out of a science fiction novel.

"God, " Raph moaned. He had finally decided to join everyone in the living room. " I get so sick of hearing that same thing over and over again."

Leo sighed. " It's part of who we are, Raph. What do you suggest we do next time? Turn on the movie of the week?"

Raph got up from the couch and stretched. " No. The answer is simple."

"And that is what?"

" Don't invite people down here." He walked back down the hallway and once again slammed his bedroom door.

Suddenly a low groan echoed through the living room. Linda jumped at the noise and looked around.

"What was that?" Linda whispered to Leo.

Don and Mike started to laugh. Leo shook his head.

" That was Mike's stomach." Leo rose from the couch. " I"m hungry myself. How about you?"

Linda thought for a moment. She hadn't had an appetite in awhile but she found that she was quite hungry herself. " Yes, I suppose."

"All right! Chow time!" Mike jumped up from the armchair and raced for the kitchen. Don ran up behind Leo and pulled on Leo's bandanna.

" Last one to the kitchen has dish duty for the next month."

" Hey wait! I do dishes every night!"

Linda slowly rose to her feet, watching the Turtles disappear from sight. She smiled to herself. The Turtles were so great. It was like having a whole new family to be with. Her heart felt so full, almost as if the hole that was there suddenly vanished. Filled with warmth and love she thought she would never feel again. Linda still wasn't sure about Raphael. He was so angry, for reasons she couldn't comprehend. She hoped they would become closer, as she had with the others. She was a trustworthy person. Raphael would see it soon.

" Hey Linda!" Mike peeked out from the doorframe of the kitchen. " Is there anything you would like in particular?"

" Anything is fine." Linda walked towards him. " As long as its not pizza."

"WHAT?!" the Turtles all exclaimed.

Linda laughed and shook her head. Family never sounded so good.


The Madira mother ship hovered just above the Earth's atmosphere, far from its base station on the moon. The aliens hadn't been to Earth in awhile. Most of the major decision making on the Madira part was made by satellite reception to the White House. But, this was something more serious. This matter needed to address in person. The general wished to go himself, for this was no matter for the King to worry over. The King was old, at least three hundred, and too tired to make the trip. Even if the King went, he would have no idea what was going on. The general wanted to keep it that way.

"Deck. This is General Zard."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm ready to return."

" Okay, sir. Preparing transport."

A few seconds later, General Zard walked down the hallway to the meeting room on the ship. Opening the door, he found the Rulers sitting around the large, silver table. He took his seat at the head of the table.

" Gentlemen," Zard leaned back in his chair. " I have discussed our plans with the human, and I am happy to report, he is willing."

Quiet clapping all around. Zard held up his hand.

" Though it was not easy to persuade him, seeing how he was plotting against us. But, we came to an understanding of sorts."

" And what of the Shredder?" One of the Rulers spoke out. " What of him?"

Zard laughed softly. " Saki is in good hands, old friend. We have him in a revival chamber. He will be able to join in our little game soon enough."