Chapter Sixteen:

One Battle Ends, Another One Begins



Raphael looked out over the war torn land that was once the great city of New York. He leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes, pushing back the pulsating pain that shot up from his broken arm. The doctor that had examined and set Raph's arm said he was lucky to still have it. Every ligament was torn, every muscle was pulled, and the elbow was almost completely gone. Raph winced again as he felt the metal pins in his elbow move around. But Raph had other things on his mind than his arm. Opening his eyes, he moved from the window and took the seat that sat next to Leslie's bed. He took a deep breath and grabbed her left hand in his free one. His eyes jumped around from the IVs to the monitor that sat next to her bed, the beeping remaining slow, but steady. Raph then rested his eyes on Leslie's face, watching and hoping for any kind of movement, but nothing happened. Raph felt his eyes go heavy, realizing he hadn't slept in the past four days since they had arrived at the hospital. He laid his head down on the bed next to Leslie's leg, and let sleep take over him.



Raph awoke later to Leonardo's voice. Raph didn't know how long he had been out, but as he raised his head, he did see that his hand was still connected to Leslie's.

"Raph, wake up. I need to speak to you." Leo whispered as he tapped his brother's shell. "Come on."

Raph grumbled as he stood up, feeling the stiffness in his legs from sleeping in a weird position. He staggered towards the hallway where Leo waited patiently for him. Raph looked back at Leslie, then shut the door behind him.

"Raph, there's something you have to know," Leo turned his eyes to the floor, trying not to let his brother see the tears that welled up.

"Leo, if it's about Les, I know, and I don't want to hear it." Raph leaned against the white hospital wall, inhaling the smell of disinfectant and death that carried throughout the hallways.

"I'm sorry Raph, but Dr. Tyler said she's not going to make it. You saw how badly she was injured, and how much blood was lost."

"Yeah, well, she's a fighter, you know. She's been holdin on for four days. She ain't gonna give up that easily." Raph turned his head away as Leo looked at him. Raph felt his own tears filling his eyes, but refused to let them fall.

"I know she is." Leo moved closer to Raph, offering his embrace to his brother. Raph kept his head turned and his body stiff, but then suddenly collapsed into Leo's arms. Leo held onto Raph tightly as his brother cried, feeling Raph's body shudder with each breath. They stood in the embrace for a long time before Raph pulled back and wiped angrily at his tears. Leo stood still as Raph pushed open the door, and found that Leslie was awake. Raph looked back at Leo, a little hope in his eyes, and Leo motioned with his hand for Raph to go join her. Raph smiled back, then shut the door behind him.

Raph walked slowly over to the chair he had previously sat in and stared at Leslie.

"Hey," he said quietly.

"Hey," Leslie answered back, her voice seeming to crack. She cleared her throat, but winced from the pain. She watched Raph sit down, then she offered her hand to him, and Raph held it tightly.

"How is the arm?" Leslie asked, catching her breath as she talked.

"Not too bad," Raph moved the sling that covered his cast around. " They had to replace it with a computerized metal one. I'm about this close to being a cyborg."

Leslie laughed slightly. "You're so full of shit." Raph laughed along with her, enjoying the smile that crept on her face.

"I try." He replied. Leslie's laughter then died down as she closed her eyes.

"Raph, I need you to do something for me." She squeezed his hand.

"Sure, anything. What is it?"

Leslie lifted her other hand and pointed a finger towards a pile of clothing that sat in a heap on the floor by the window. Raph stood up and walked over to it.

"In the left chest pocket of my uniform, there is a small stone on a silver chain. Bring it to me please."

Raph bent down and searched the pocket, trying not touch the dried caked on blood that covered the uniform. He found the necklace, staring in wonder at the emerald and ruby stone setting, and carried with care back to Leslie. He placed in her open palm and returned to his seat.

"This necklace, it belonged to my great, great, great grandmother. It was made for her by a human that had fallen in love with her. Knowing that he couldn't be with her for what she was, he created this for her, pouring his heart and soul into it. When he gave it to her, he told her that with it, they would be together forever, and that with this necklace, no harm or pain would come to her." Leslie smiled as she thought of when her own mother told her this story. " She wore this necklace until she died, giving it to her daughter on her death bed. So, that is how is has been passed on. But, I don't have the chance to give it to my own, since I never had one." Leslie's smiled faded as she looked at Raph. " But, I need you to deliver it to my niece. I want her to have it. She has been one of the most important people in my life." Leslie grabbed Raph's hand and placed the necklace inside his palm. She smiled at him, keeping her hand over his. "Please do this for me."

"I will." Raph felt his eyes water up again.

"I hope it protects you as you keep it. It didn't do me any good." Leslie tried to laugh, but only coughed.

"Don't talk like that," Raph felt a tear escape down his cheek. He dropped the necklace down into his lap and placed his hand back into hers.

"Raph?"

"Yeah?"

"I know that we haven't known each other that long, but next to my niece, you've been the other important person in my life. Thank you." Then, she closed her eyes and took her last breath. Raph then let his tears fall in rivers, and lowered his head back down onto the bed, still holding onto Leslie's hand.



Across the city, General Zard began to prepare the final assault on the United States. His Madira armies had already pushed back the U. S. armed forces to the breaking point, including the depleted number of troops in the very city where he now stood. Zard gazed down from the middle of Times Square, watching his alien force round up the remaining humans and mutants that were wondering the streets. They gathered them all together in a circle, making them all drop to their knees and place their hands behind their heads. The number was growing to two thousand, but it was still small compare to how many there were when the war started. Zard's long legs carried him gracefully back over to small desk where a P.A. system, complete with a microphone, sat waiting for him. Chuckling to himself, he picked up the microphone and pushed down on the talk button.




The silence echoed loudly in the hospital waiting room. Everyone sat in their own thoughts, not knowing what to say to comfort one another. Leonardo kept his arm around Raphael, who in turn was keeping his eyes glued to the white floor, not wanting to show the tears that ran quietly down his face. Michaelangelo sat next to him, turned sideways in his chair and leaned his head back on Donatello's shoulder. Across from them, Splinter sat in a lotus position on the floor, his head bent forward in mediation; Han behind him, leaning his head back, his eyes closed. General Lee stood against the back wall, rubbing his forehead with his thick fingers. Several members of the MM had joined them, and had taken up the rest of the seats and spaces on the floor. The only sounds that broke the silence was the hum of the pop machine next to them, and the occasional cough from an unknown source. After some time, Raph raised his head, and looked around at the mutants in the room. Everyone looked so tired, so rundown. The war had gone on for too long, and everyone was on the verge on giving up. Raph turned his head to Leo and watched his brother's face. Leo felt Raph's eyes on him, so he turned to face him.

"What is it?"

"I think it's time." Raph replied. " It's time to end this. Look at everyone," Leo followed Raph's finger before returning his eyes to Raph's face. "We need to end this, right now."

Leo nodded, then rose to his feet. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, then began to speak.

"I think I speak for everyone in this room when I say that the Lieutenant will be truly missed, but I don't think she would like too well if she saw all of us down here grieving. She would want us to get out there and finish what was started. As my brother just pointed out to me, this needs to end now. This war has been going on for too long, and we are all just about ready to give up on what little hope we have. But if you are still the force we met when this began, we knew that we can do this. Now, who is with me?"

A sudden cheer went up and rocked the waiting room as the MM troops jumped to their feet. Lee even found a new strength in himself and walked over to Leo, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Son, I knew I had reason to have faith in you." Lee offered his hand and Leo grasped it firmly. " Let's go kick some alien ass, shall we?"

Leo laughed. " Ready when you are, Sir!"Then a salute was passed between them.

Lee called out to the troops and they poured out of the waiting room, leaving the Turtles alone with Splinter and Han. Leo approached Splinter and knelt down to be at eye level.

"Sensi, we're going now."

Splinter opened his eyes slowly, and studied the intensity in Leo's eyes, his mouth turning into a smile. He said nothing, only patted Leo's hand. Leo returned the smile, then walked out of the waiting room, his brothers close behind. Splinter watched them leave, then climbed to his feet.

"Your sons are not the turtles I meet a year ago." Han said.

"No," Splinter agreed. " They have seen much, and I think it has made them more aware of the path of life. They have grown in many different ways." Splinter sighed heavily, then turned to face Han.

"Now, about your daughter, dear friend? Shall we go look for her?"

Han nodded. " Yes, I need to find her. She is out there with someone she should not be with."



"It's too quiet. Something's not right about this."

"Leo, do you always have to say that? It creeps me out!"

"Sorry Mikey, but I really mean it this time."

The Turtles, followed by Lee and the MM troops, walked down the desolate streets of the city, weapons ready for the slightest movement.

"Does it seem strange to anyone else besides me that there is no one out here?" Donatello asked in a slight whisper, a feeling of uneasiness sweeping over him. "Where is everyone?"

"Actually Donnie, I was thinking the exact thing." Leo responded, not taking his eyes off the empty streets ahead of them.

"Maybe the Mardria are throwin a party and we didn't get invited." Raph joked, causing several MM troops to chuckle back. Leo just smiled and shook his head. They continued to walk when Raph realized that Mike wasn't with them. He looked back and saw his younger brother standing in front of an alley, just staring straight ahead. Raph pushed his way back through the troops and joined Mike's side.

"What's the matter Mikey? What's going on?"

"I think I found everyone." Mike stated plainly as he pointed his finger down the alley. Raph looked straight ahead, and noticed a very large group that consisted of humans and mutants. All of them were down on the ground, hands raised behind their heads, many of them noticeably in tears. He then noticed the Madria.

"What are they doin?" Raph whispered to Mike, then noticed that Leo, Don and the troops had joined them also. "See? I told you guys! Party of the year, and no invites for us." Raph joked again. Mike snorted in laughter.

"Well, what do you say we crash that party?" Leo asked, getting a loud shout of yes in return. Slowly they moved in closer, but stopped when an ear shattering squeal blasted into the open air, and voice echoed out over the city.

"Oh you poor, miserable creatures of planet Earth. What have you gotten yourselves into? Why does human kind have to be so cruel to those who are different?"

"Who is that?" Mike asked, rubbing at his ear holes to stop the ringing.

"That is General Zard, Leader of the Madria armies." Lee was the only one who responded. "He's a little power hungry son of a bitch."

Mike giggled. " So, I take it you don't like him."

"I meet him on different occasions, none of which I enjoyed. He was always whispering into the King's ear. He was very good at sneaking behind you back to get his way."

"I'll tell you what you have done! You've turned this planet into your own personal Hell, and now, I'm here to reclaim it as our personal playground!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"What a crack head," Raph rolled his eyes.

"Now, you stupid humans must be thinking, why would a peaceful alien race come to this planet, and not stop a war, but instead send their own out and destroy everyone in sight? HAHAHA!! You and your hopes, so full of nothing!! As was our King, so full of hope. So sure that the universe could exist in peace. He was so full of nothing as well! So, I suppose it was in the best interest of our kind that the King was, how do you earthlings say it, put out of his misery! Of course, that was my doing! And you blamed each other! HAHAHAHA!!"

The Turtles looked at each other in confusion.

"Did he just say what I think he just said?" Don's eyes drifted back and forth between his brothers before they landed on Leo. " I don't remember seeing him there that day."

"That's because he used that homeless man as the attacker," Leo crossed his arms in anger, then shook his head. " Jonas was in on it too. This was all planned out to look like an assassination, when it was really a plot to take over our planet." He turned to the MM troops. "Don't you get it? He used that anger and ignorance between humans and mutants against us. He knew that the races would blame the other. He knew this was all going to happen."

A sudden crash from the harbor in the distant made them all spin around, each one fearing the rest of the Madria colony had made it to Earth. Except for Leonardo, who thought back to what Han had told him days before.

"Don't worry everyone. Our relief has finally made it." His brothers stared blankly at him.

"Our 'relief'?" Don repeated.

"What are talkin about?" Raph demanded.

"You'll see," Leo smiled. He turned back to face the Madira. " We've got something to take care of first."

" And now, I must regret, the fun time is over for you earthlings. Those standing before me, well, I might keep a few of you around as slaves, but to the others I must say goodbye.....and good reticence!"

The Madria rose their artillery to the heads of the humans and mutants, and the sobbing increased. Many closed their eyes, others left them open. Up above them, Zard laughed to himself, wringing his grey hands together and grinning like a mad man. But then, his expression changed into anger. He leaned against the glass window that overlooked the area and pounded it fiercely with his fists.

"What- what is going on?!! NOOOO!!!!"

He watched helplessly as the remaining members of the MM charged out of an alley, firing their guns above the heads of the captured, and took out the Madira in one sweep. Zard then noticed a mutant turtle, who was dressed in the MM uniform, but wore a red mask around his eyes. The turtle looked up at Zard, pointed his finger at him, then gave Zard the most wicked smile he had ever seen. Zard began to steam as he pushed away from the window and walked back to the desk. He picked up a small hand held computer and hit a series of buttons. The screen flicker for a moment before another Madria being was shown.

"Yes, General?" Static flashed again.

"Where are my armies?! What is taking so long?" Zard screamed at the screen.

"Sir.....stopped......can't......too many...."

"What?! What is going on?" Zard pounded the computer into his other hand. "What is wrong with your signal?" The sound of gunfire from miles away made Zard turn his head towards the window. From where he stood, he could see the harbor, and the masses of soldiers, human and mutant, pouring out of hundreds of battle ships. Each ship had markings from different parts of the world, as did the uniforms of the soldiers. Zard stared in complete shock, not wanting to believe his eyes.

"No, this can't be....."

"You didn't think us earthlings were that stupid, did ya?"

Zard turned to face the turtle he had seen on the ground, was joined by three more that looked like him. It took a second, but Zard then realized these were the enemies that Saki had talked about all those years ago.

" This can't be possible! Jonas was supposed to destroy you!" Zard threw down the computer, smashing it to pieces, then he reached for his own weapon. The Turtles in turn drew their weapons and readied themselves for a fight.



"So, uh, does anyone know how to beat an alien?" Raph turned to his brothers, swinging a sai in his good hand. Leo and Don shrugged their shoulders, Mike just scratched his head.

"Whatever he does, just be ready for it." Was Leo's only answer.

Then Mike got an idea.



Zard was about to pull his trigger when the Turtle in the orange mask suddenly spoke.

"Hey! What's that?!" He pointed to the window.

Zard turned around sharply, lost in confusion, but saw nothing, until he realized he had been knocked to the ground, and his weapon was taken from him.

"This is amazing!" He heard the turtle in the purple mask say as he studied the gun. " I never thought I would ever see one of these up close!"

"Nice work Mikey." Zard then heard the one in the blue speak.

"See? You don't have to be the dumbest species in the universe to fall for that one!"

Zard tries to push his body up with his hands, only to find the turtle in the red had taken a seat on his back.

"So, what will it be: Life in prison, or universal banishment?"

Zard only grumbled in response.




Back across the river, Shredder watched in a mix of horror and anger as millions of soldiers from around the world poured into New York harbor and began capturing the Madria. Many more soldiers boarded helicopters and planes, ready to make the journey across the United States to reclaim the rest of the cites the Madria had taken over. The fury inside Saki made him shake, his fists clenched tightly. The skin on his knuckles began to crack and peel from the pressure. The sudden sound of laughter made him whip around. Linda stood behind him, holding her stomach as she burst into hysterical fits of laughter.

"What are you laughing at, you stupid girl?!" Shredder growled. He moved at lightening speed towards her, stopping to grab her shirt collar.

Linda continued to laugh as she spoke. " You thought you were going to win! You thought you were going to get away with everything! All you know is defeat!"

Shredder's anger was out of control by the time Linda finished her sentence. He sent his hand across her face, and left her in a heap on the ground. Linda's laughter soon faded into sobs from the pain.

"I've grown tired of putting up with your mouth! I'll kill you with my own hands!" Shredder reached down and lifted Linda back into the air. She struggled against his grip as he raised his clawed hand at her.

"SAKI!"

Shredder stopped his hand in mid-air, and turned to the voice that echoed towards him. There, on a nearby hillside, stood two figures, partly shadowed by the setting sun. Shredder recognized Splinter immediately, but had some trouble remembering Han.

"Father!" Linda then shouted out as Shredder absentmindedly dropped her to the ground again. Shredder moved slowly as Han moved closer to him. Han could see Saki was thinking, digging into the depths of his past memories.

"You... I have seen you before..." Shredder began, feeling his brain twist in aggravation.

"It was long ago......"

Han stopped walking and stood only a few feet away from his life long enemy. " Yes, Saki, you know who I am. I was a friend of Hamato Yoshi. In my youth, I was sent into the Foot to act as a spy for the elders of my village."

At hearing Yoshi's name, Saki lifted his red eyes to Han's, feeling the memories rush back to him like a gust of wind. He said nothing, letting the fury raise in him again, and he turned his back to Han.

"Once again, I have served as a spy to defeat you. It is over, Saki. The Madria have been taken, and you have no army left. Give up now!"

Shredder again stopped, staring down at Linda. She moved backwards a little, sliding in the dirt where there was no grass. Shredder narrowed his eyes at her, then, before anyone knew what happened, Shredder drew out his ancient Japanese sword, turned around, and jammed it straight threw Han's mid-section. Han grabbed at the sword's handle, coughing and gagging on blood, then fell to the ground. Linda screamed in terror and scrambled across the ground to her father's side. Linda grabbed her father's head and pulled it into his lap, rubbing back at the few hair that ran across his head.

"Father," She sobbed, the tears dripping down onto Han's face. " Father.."

As she cried, Shredder stood behind them, his laughter ripping through the air like thunder. He looked back over to where Splinter stood, and his laughter died down.

Standing by their master's side, Leonardo, Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Raphael looked down on Shredder, each one in a state of shock, their only response to the horrific crime they had just witnessed.