A/N – Warning – please grab some carrots to chew on. I do not take any
accountability to nail-biting from anyone reading this next chapter. Oh
and I own nothing here other than Min, Jack, & Akina – and the story line.
Enjoy!
**************************************************************************
Leo didn't seem to be working as fast as I would have liked him to. My arms were still bound. What was taking him so long?
Finally and just barely loud enough for me to hear, Leo explained the delay. "Min, I – ah – can't release you quite yet. Don't ask me why or anything like that right now. You're being watched. They can't see me because I'm concealed within your shadow."
"But how did you get there without being seen?" I asked incredulously.
"I swam in and climbed the post pilings underneath." He answered.
I wanted to look around towards him, but Leo anticipated my action.
"Don't look at me!" he barely breathed out. Yet the force behind his words was intent and stern. "You must act and believe that we have abandoned you. If you want to live through this you have to follow my instructions."
Okay, I could do that. If it meant my reward was freedom! I wanted to ask what Leo's plans were since I was curious with how they would go about it. But if Jack and his troops were observing me closely then my saying anything to Leo would tip them off. I knew I could mumble pretty well but I didn't know how well I could keep my lips from moving.
"I'm going to leave you for now. Just remain calm and try not to struggle. One of us will be back for you." Leo explained. Then, he was gone.
I allowed my head to roll back and then fall forward as if in dejection. I was trying to give the impression that I was losing hope. The fact that I was exhausted aided in my performance. I could also feel my legs tremble from weariness. I estimated that I had been in Jack's custody for well over fourteen hours and I was ready to throw in the towel anyway. Leo coming along when he did couldn't have been timed any better. Of course, my need for a restroom had only become worse because of my long confinement. At the very least I was hoping my rescue would be quick if only so I could take a leak! I was feeling quite uncomfortable.
I closed my eyes just a little, but tried to watch the surrounding area for any sign of my friends. I knew that if I could see them it wouldn't have been a good thing. But I wanted to know for sure that they were on the move; my desperate need to be home and safe was growing stronger by the second. I also wanted to know what it was they were going to do, if only to prepare myself. But I knew that whatever it was they had in the works it would come suddenly and without any warning.
Nearly ten minutes went by since Leo had left. I strained my ears to hear if anything was going on over at the warehouse. But all I could catch was the gentle breeze that floated from off the bay and the lap of water below me. Even the harbor was quiet tonight.
Then, as a rebuttal to the deafening silence, all hell broke lose.
The first thing I saw was several black-clad Foot soldiers running silently along the roofline of the warehouse. Because of the darkness it was hard to tell, but it seemed like they were chasing something or someone.
Suddenly they stopped and I could see all of them wielding swords of some sort. In defense was another individual, but not nearly as lean looking or as tall. That one had nunchuks whirling around wildly but with precision. I knew then it had to be Mikey.
As the swords connected with the wood of Mike's chucks, a dull metallic sound reverberated over the area. The soldiers came at him repeatedly as the volley between good and evil intensified. However Mike took a couple of them out with well aimed whirls of his weapons and then he was down to only three soldiers. I watched in fascination and then wondered where my other friends were.
My curiosity was satisfied almost immediately.
Quickly and violently I saw Raph explode out from the door of the warehouse I had been in earlier. He was up against five soldiers, who were aggressively following him. They were going after him with swords of varying sizes; some were katana swords while others were shorter in length.
Raph jabbed his sais left and right and doing a few of those kicks that I had seen all of them practice down in the lair. He took out one of the Foot easily, but was then was forced back by a volley from the remaining four. I was impressed with his grit and aggressiveness; grateful that Raphael was on my side of this melee.
One soldier managed to swipe his sword out and across in an attempt to decapitate my friend. I cringed in horror at first, but then was immediately amused as Raph's head disappeared into his shell. The weapon missed entirely.
I had forgotten that the turtles were able do that! I actually found myself chuckling a little. Yes, I definitely needed a little bit of levity right about then.
However I heard another commotion just up the way and it brought me back to the seriousness of my plight. I saw Leo with about three other soldiers. He and his katanas were effectively pushing this smaller group back, manipulating them ever closer to the edge of the wharf. I knew then what his plan of attack was. Leo worked furiously, not giving any of his three adversaries a moment's rest. If any of them tried to work around the turtle, that one was quickly 'herded' back into position.
I was enthralled with how effective Leo manipulated his swords. Years ago when Jack and I were still together I had seen a few weapon demonstrations that his dojo would have. I had been impressed then with the skill of those that handled the various implements. However, in just a few moments of watching my friends' work theirs, I realized that demos and life-or- death struggles were worlds apart in expertise.
In just a few moments Leo had two of the three soldiers into the bay and it was only a matter of time before the last one followed suit. He fought hard and desperately, but soon enough, number three found himself taking a dunk as well. The only way out of the water was for all three of them to swim down alongside the wharf until they could find a landing or some sort of ladder. Based on what I could observe from my vantage point, it was going be a nice long swim for them; pretty much keeping them out of the fray.
I knew that Mike was still on the roof and Raph with Leo were working in and around the warehouse on the ground. But, where was Donatello? Was he still considered a liability from his injuries suffered nearly two weeks ago? That had me worried because even with what limitations he might have had, he would still be an asset to the ongoing confrontation.
But then I nearly jumped out of my skin. I heard a familiar voice behind the post I was tied to, "Min, be still – don't move. I need to work at something here."
It was Don!
My heart leapt for joy that he was part of this and more so because he wasn't as involved as the others were. Again, I kept thinking about the wounds he was still healing from.
"What's going on? How come you can't just cut the ropes?" I asked impatient desperation.
"There are – well – some complications with that. Just trust me, okay? Don't move and definitely don't act like I'm here." He said in a warning tone.
"Okay, I know how to act dumb, but can't you tell me?" I asked.
"No, I cannot. When this is over I'll tell you everything. But for now I want you to remain calm." He replied.
Calm? How can I remain calm when my mind was now processing everything that Don just told me? He wanted me to remain calm. Why? What was going on with the post I was tied to? What had Jack and Akina done to it that would make it difficult for either Leo or Don to just free me?
Given my natural tendency to think of the worse that can possibly happen I realized then that there was only one thing that would impede my release. That is if there was something more dangerous than simply being tied up and used as bait. A bomb? Oh, now that was a thought I didn't need to consider.
Sometimes I really needed to curb my imagination.
"A BOMB?" I mumbled weakly with a faint hint of panic in my voice.
"Just keep still, Min. Okay. No more comments. Be quiet." Was all Don said.
Okay, I trusted him, I really did. Honest. But – a bomb?! I was sure that's what it was otherwise he would have assured me differently.
I didn't make it a daily exercise to pray, but right then and there I told God that if he'd help Donnie get me out of this mess I'd make it a morning and evening habit! I meant it, too.
Fortunately there was enough action going on around me that I was momentarily and blessedly distracted.
Mike was now down to two combatants and they were trying to push him back and over the edge of the roof. It would be a drop of about twenty feet if they managed it and I think Mike was aware of that fact. He was trying his best to get around them to reverse the situation, but the Foot soldiers were quite insistent.
I wondered then about that time where Jack and Akina were.
Keeping my lips as still as I could, I asked Donny about this.
He replied irritably but softly, "Min, please just be quiet. I'm thinking and I need to concentrate."
Hookay – there was definitely a bomb. Why else would Don need to think and nearly verbally snap my head off? How hard would it be to cut rope anyway unless the simplicity factor was complicated with something more 'explosive'? Now I was finding it very difficult to watch the other conflicts that were playing out along the wharf.
Suddenly I saw Mike get shoved off the roof and I almost forgot entirely about my situation! I wanted to scream out for his other brothers to assist him. But in that moment I knew that I would have startled Don. Not knowing where he was within the process of freeing me I didn't dare take a chance.
Mike landed gracefully and amazingly well, but I could tell it was still a hard decent for him. He seemed physically all right but there was a subtle limp that he now exhibited. Instinctively he covered it up with some fancy footwork. The last thing he would need would be to have the fight's focus turn onto him alone with whatever limitations he presently had.
With three of them now fighting on the same playing field, more Foot soldiers came barreling out of the warehouse. The three turtles banded together as they fought back the deluge of ninja warriors. I was enraptured as I watched them combine their efforts. They fought as one unit, each member an important part of the whole.
But it was at this point in the fight that the tide began to turn. And it wasn't in our favor, either!
There were about twenty soldiers left that were trying to push the trio back. I realized that the direction my friends were being herded in would put them closer in proximity to where I was tied up. Why?
"Ah, Don – the guys are getting closer to us. I think you'd better..."
"MIN! I know this. Please..." he shot back at me.
Okay, the edge in Don's voice told me he was at a critical point in whatever he was doing.
I started to panic all over again as I watched Leo, Raph, and Mike get maneuvered ever closer to me. I knew that it wasn't just fate or lack of planning that had the Foot soldiers pressing them over to where I was at. My imagination was working overtime at this point. If there was indeed a bomb connected to my post, then it was a good bet what Jack's plan was.
It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a bomb could effectively take care of his and Akina's problem in one well orchestrated move. Get all of the turtles and myself together and as close to the bomb as possible and when it was triggered – boom. No more turtles and certainly no more ex wife!
If my heart could pound any faster it would have leaped right out of my chest.
**************************************************************************
Leo didn't seem to be working as fast as I would have liked him to. My arms were still bound. What was taking him so long?
Finally and just barely loud enough for me to hear, Leo explained the delay. "Min, I – ah – can't release you quite yet. Don't ask me why or anything like that right now. You're being watched. They can't see me because I'm concealed within your shadow."
"But how did you get there without being seen?" I asked incredulously.
"I swam in and climbed the post pilings underneath." He answered.
I wanted to look around towards him, but Leo anticipated my action.
"Don't look at me!" he barely breathed out. Yet the force behind his words was intent and stern. "You must act and believe that we have abandoned you. If you want to live through this you have to follow my instructions."
Okay, I could do that. If it meant my reward was freedom! I wanted to ask what Leo's plans were since I was curious with how they would go about it. But if Jack and his troops were observing me closely then my saying anything to Leo would tip them off. I knew I could mumble pretty well but I didn't know how well I could keep my lips from moving.
"I'm going to leave you for now. Just remain calm and try not to struggle. One of us will be back for you." Leo explained. Then, he was gone.
I allowed my head to roll back and then fall forward as if in dejection. I was trying to give the impression that I was losing hope. The fact that I was exhausted aided in my performance. I could also feel my legs tremble from weariness. I estimated that I had been in Jack's custody for well over fourteen hours and I was ready to throw in the towel anyway. Leo coming along when he did couldn't have been timed any better. Of course, my need for a restroom had only become worse because of my long confinement. At the very least I was hoping my rescue would be quick if only so I could take a leak! I was feeling quite uncomfortable.
I closed my eyes just a little, but tried to watch the surrounding area for any sign of my friends. I knew that if I could see them it wouldn't have been a good thing. But I wanted to know for sure that they were on the move; my desperate need to be home and safe was growing stronger by the second. I also wanted to know what it was they were going to do, if only to prepare myself. But I knew that whatever it was they had in the works it would come suddenly and without any warning.
Nearly ten minutes went by since Leo had left. I strained my ears to hear if anything was going on over at the warehouse. But all I could catch was the gentle breeze that floated from off the bay and the lap of water below me. Even the harbor was quiet tonight.
Then, as a rebuttal to the deafening silence, all hell broke lose.
The first thing I saw was several black-clad Foot soldiers running silently along the roofline of the warehouse. Because of the darkness it was hard to tell, but it seemed like they were chasing something or someone.
Suddenly they stopped and I could see all of them wielding swords of some sort. In defense was another individual, but not nearly as lean looking or as tall. That one had nunchuks whirling around wildly but with precision. I knew then it had to be Mikey.
As the swords connected with the wood of Mike's chucks, a dull metallic sound reverberated over the area. The soldiers came at him repeatedly as the volley between good and evil intensified. However Mike took a couple of them out with well aimed whirls of his weapons and then he was down to only three soldiers. I watched in fascination and then wondered where my other friends were.
My curiosity was satisfied almost immediately.
Quickly and violently I saw Raph explode out from the door of the warehouse I had been in earlier. He was up against five soldiers, who were aggressively following him. They were going after him with swords of varying sizes; some were katana swords while others were shorter in length.
Raph jabbed his sais left and right and doing a few of those kicks that I had seen all of them practice down in the lair. He took out one of the Foot easily, but was then was forced back by a volley from the remaining four. I was impressed with his grit and aggressiveness; grateful that Raphael was on my side of this melee.
One soldier managed to swipe his sword out and across in an attempt to decapitate my friend. I cringed in horror at first, but then was immediately amused as Raph's head disappeared into his shell. The weapon missed entirely.
I had forgotten that the turtles were able do that! I actually found myself chuckling a little. Yes, I definitely needed a little bit of levity right about then.
However I heard another commotion just up the way and it brought me back to the seriousness of my plight. I saw Leo with about three other soldiers. He and his katanas were effectively pushing this smaller group back, manipulating them ever closer to the edge of the wharf. I knew then what his plan of attack was. Leo worked furiously, not giving any of his three adversaries a moment's rest. If any of them tried to work around the turtle, that one was quickly 'herded' back into position.
I was enthralled with how effective Leo manipulated his swords. Years ago when Jack and I were still together I had seen a few weapon demonstrations that his dojo would have. I had been impressed then with the skill of those that handled the various implements. However, in just a few moments of watching my friends' work theirs, I realized that demos and life-or- death struggles were worlds apart in expertise.
In just a few moments Leo had two of the three soldiers into the bay and it was only a matter of time before the last one followed suit. He fought hard and desperately, but soon enough, number three found himself taking a dunk as well. The only way out of the water was for all three of them to swim down alongside the wharf until they could find a landing or some sort of ladder. Based on what I could observe from my vantage point, it was going be a nice long swim for them; pretty much keeping them out of the fray.
I knew that Mike was still on the roof and Raph with Leo were working in and around the warehouse on the ground. But, where was Donatello? Was he still considered a liability from his injuries suffered nearly two weeks ago? That had me worried because even with what limitations he might have had, he would still be an asset to the ongoing confrontation.
But then I nearly jumped out of my skin. I heard a familiar voice behind the post I was tied to, "Min, be still – don't move. I need to work at something here."
It was Don!
My heart leapt for joy that he was part of this and more so because he wasn't as involved as the others were. Again, I kept thinking about the wounds he was still healing from.
"What's going on? How come you can't just cut the ropes?" I asked impatient desperation.
"There are – well – some complications with that. Just trust me, okay? Don't move and definitely don't act like I'm here." He said in a warning tone.
"Okay, I know how to act dumb, but can't you tell me?" I asked.
"No, I cannot. When this is over I'll tell you everything. But for now I want you to remain calm." He replied.
Calm? How can I remain calm when my mind was now processing everything that Don just told me? He wanted me to remain calm. Why? What was going on with the post I was tied to? What had Jack and Akina done to it that would make it difficult for either Leo or Don to just free me?
Given my natural tendency to think of the worse that can possibly happen I realized then that there was only one thing that would impede my release. That is if there was something more dangerous than simply being tied up and used as bait. A bomb? Oh, now that was a thought I didn't need to consider.
Sometimes I really needed to curb my imagination.
"A BOMB?" I mumbled weakly with a faint hint of panic in my voice.
"Just keep still, Min. Okay. No more comments. Be quiet." Was all Don said.
Okay, I trusted him, I really did. Honest. But – a bomb?! I was sure that's what it was otherwise he would have assured me differently.
I didn't make it a daily exercise to pray, but right then and there I told God that if he'd help Donnie get me out of this mess I'd make it a morning and evening habit! I meant it, too.
Fortunately there was enough action going on around me that I was momentarily and blessedly distracted.
Mike was now down to two combatants and they were trying to push him back and over the edge of the roof. It would be a drop of about twenty feet if they managed it and I think Mike was aware of that fact. He was trying his best to get around them to reverse the situation, but the Foot soldiers were quite insistent.
I wondered then about that time where Jack and Akina were.
Keeping my lips as still as I could, I asked Donny about this.
He replied irritably but softly, "Min, please just be quiet. I'm thinking and I need to concentrate."
Hookay – there was definitely a bomb. Why else would Don need to think and nearly verbally snap my head off? How hard would it be to cut rope anyway unless the simplicity factor was complicated with something more 'explosive'? Now I was finding it very difficult to watch the other conflicts that were playing out along the wharf.
Suddenly I saw Mike get shoved off the roof and I almost forgot entirely about my situation! I wanted to scream out for his other brothers to assist him. But in that moment I knew that I would have startled Don. Not knowing where he was within the process of freeing me I didn't dare take a chance.
Mike landed gracefully and amazingly well, but I could tell it was still a hard decent for him. He seemed physically all right but there was a subtle limp that he now exhibited. Instinctively he covered it up with some fancy footwork. The last thing he would need would be to have the fight's focus turn onto him alone with whatever limitations he presently had.
With three of them now fighting on the same playing field, more Foot soldiers came barreling out of the warehouse. The three turtles banded together as they fought back the deluge of ninja warriors. I was enraptured as I watched them combine their efforts. They fought as one unit, each member an important part of the whole.
But it was at this point in the fight that the tide began to turn. And it wasn't in our favor, either!
There were about twenty soldiers left that were trying to push the trio back. I realized that the direction my friends were being herded in would put them closer in proximity to where I was tied up. Why?
"Ah, Don – the guys are getting closer to us. I think you'd better..."
"MIN! I know this. Please..." he shot back at me.
Okay, the edge in Don's voice told me he was at a critical point in whatever he was doing.
I started to panic all over again as I watched Leo, Raph, and Mike get maneuvered ever closer to me. I knew that it wasn't just fate or lack of planning that had the Foot soldiers pressing them over to where I was at. My imagination was working overtime at this point. If there was indeed a bomb connected to my post, then it was a good bet what Jack's plan was.
It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that a bomb could effectively take care of his and Akina's problem in one well orchestrated move. Get all of the turtles and myself together and as close to the bomb as possible and when it was triggered – boom. No more turtles and certainly no more ex wife!
If my heart could pound any faster it would have leaped right out of my chest.
