Disclaimer: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles do not belong to me, or anyone I know for that matter. Any characters from the series featured in this story belong to someone else and I'm not even going to try claiming them. Any irregular characters, however, do belong to me and you can bet you woolen underwear that I claim them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donatello could see no alternative, so he followed the stranger, accompanied by his brothers. None of them said anything, but the stranger kept the silence filled with mindless chatter, much akin to Gaton's ramblings. In fact, Donatello thought to himself, the only difference is that Gaton usually babbles pointless facts. This guy just babbles.
"I can sense one of you thinking of Gaton in specific, but I admit I'm at a loss as to identifying you. How do you tell each other apart?"
"Pheromones." Donatello muttered. He could tell that his brothers wanted to know why the stranger wanted him and who Gaton was, but the first thing on their minds was Master Splinter.
"Ah, yes. A primitive tracking device, but usable. One cannot blame you for working with what you have." His tone made the Turtles' blood boil, but they kept their opinions to themselves.
More mindnumbing talk and wandering through the pipes followed. Finally they stopped under a manhole and the man looked up. "Up." he commanded, and when the Turtles didn't comply, he looked pointedly at the hovering Master. Reluctantly, the brothers climbed the ladder and left the sewers.
What if someone's up there? What if we're seen? Donatello nearly panicked when he heard his brothers gasp. He fairly flew out of the manhole and paused to join them in staring openmouthed at the garish landscape.
The city was gone. All that was in front of them was a huge platform and a veritable sea of monsters. They couldn't see the Turtles because they were all focused on something on the platform. Or rather, someone.
"The time has come to reverse the process that the humans have begun. Earth can't take much more of this abuse. When I gave my life away to this side of Darkness, of True Darkness and True Light, I was told that we are the protectors of Earth. Why aren't we protecting it? It's not that we're too sympathetic to get rid of all of the humans. It's not that at all, and I know and you know and that's that. How many of us have to kill humans just to stay alive? Or exist, in special cases." There was a slight ripple of laughter from the crowd, as if the speaker had just mentioned a long-standing joke. He paused for effect and then continued. "What no one wants to say is that they like this kind of life. We've gotten lazy off the humans' handy gadgets and don't want to give up that life for our former glory. Who needs humans anyway? We managed well enough without them before. I look around and all I see is death and destruction and humans. Death, destruction, disease... I can live with those. I was herald for them at one point, as all too many of you remember. But, even I can't sit by and let my own world be over run by humans. I'm a very dispicable person, I lie through my teeth, I betray everyone I know, I've broken all the rules of our kind and managed to evade punishment for it every time. I'm strong in my convictions, though. Humans are a parasite of the Earth. We must act as her cleanser and get rid of them." There was a roar of cheers and the speaker waited for them to stop applauding. "Even though I know all this to be true, I can't think of a way to kill all of the humans. There are too many people who oppose us, too many who would stand for justice and morals and other nonsensical things like that." The voice filled with scorn. "And then there are the ones who just don't want to lose the comforts of their current lives. They will fight this and I will fight them. I don't ask for you to join in. I simply ask for you to stay out of my way. When all is said and done, there will be many bodies scattered across the Earth. Someone will be needed to fill the holes." There was a significant pause and Donatello imagined a faceless speaker looking down on the thousands of creatures before him, clearly implying that this was a takeover campaign and the rewards would be great for those who assisted him.
"Up." The stranger pointed to a set of stairs that led onto the stage.
The Turtles looked at each other and then at Splinter, dangling two feet in the air. Donatello moved first, tightly clutching his staff and in his mind, reviewing all the nasty things he could do to that stranger. They all trudged up the stairs, single file, and lined up behind he speaker. He was so into his speech that he hadn't noticed them approach. He had jet black hair that hung to his shoulders, slight as they were. He stood slightly crouched, as though he was ready to spring into the air at any second.
He looks familiar, Donatello thought. A moment later it struck him.
"Gaton?!"
He whirled around and time froze. Donatello stared into the face of his friend, but Gaton was staring past him.
"You. Why have you brought these creatures here? They are not our kind." Gaton demanded. The Turtles stepped away so that he had a clear view of the stranger.
"Oh you know why, Gaton Tair. You've broken far to many laws as it is. Do you think I would let you harm any more innocents?"
"Hypocrite." Gaton accused, turning his body to face the other man.
"Nonsense. You are a cold blooded killer, a liar and a thief."
"What about you, Demo? You haven't broken any codes?"
They locked eyes and the air between them literally turned blue.
"What's going on Don?" Leo whispered.
Donatello didn't answer because he was too busy thinking about the implications of what the two men had said.
Earlier, Gaton had said that a change was coming to help Earth recover. He had warned them to stay out of the way on this exact night, and the two after. Now he was rallying support for what seemed to be a war effort with the excuse of getting rid of Earth's 'plight'. That didn't add up to Donatello. Why would Gaton make war for the feeble reasons he was giving here? It wasn't his style. Not only that, but Gaton had done nothing to indicate that this violent streak was in him. He had taken the time to cheer Don up, even stopped by to assure him that he was okay. So, Donatello decided with finality, Gaton has at least one hidden agenda here. The stranger, Demo- if Gaton had called him by his real name- seemed to be lying outright. He accused Gaton of lying and being a criminal, implyed that he was on the side of good, yet he had taken Master Splinter hostage.
"Hey, don't think we don't know what you're up to. You knew Don and this guy were cool, so you kidnapped the Master to get us to come here. I bet you were planning on convincing us to help you beat this guy up. It's not gonna work on this turtle, dude." Raphael drew his weapons with a flourish and sank into an attack position. Mike and Leo did as well, but Don saw the other reason for having them all there.
"Gaton. No matter what, you do what you planned, 'k?" He called to his friend. Gaton broke eye contact with Demo.
"Hey Don. Guess you had to come out, huh? Sorry about getting you involved."
"Just don't let Splinter get hurt."
"Not a problem. Hi, Don's family." Gaton smiled, completely ignoring the fact that Demo was rushing to attack him. At the last second, he sidestepped, without even honoring Demo with a look at his tumble. "Since you know, I might as well get it over with now." Gaton looked back to where Demo had been standing and looked surprised that he wasn't there. He spun around, seeking his enemy. "Now, now, Mr. Righteous. It's not nice to sneak up on people."
Demo roared and charged again. Gaton spun neatly out of the way again and slammed his elbow deep into Demo's back at the same time as he brought his knee up into Demo's stomach. He made a sound like a frog being squashed flat as the air was forced out of his lungs with enough force to actually leave a visible dent in his middle. Gaton hopped back twice as Demo stumbled to the side. He pivoted and planted his foot square in Demo's face, a blow that knocked him clear across the substantial length of the platform. From his position a few feet from the Turtles, Gaton waved and yelled to Demo, "Do you know what I do to those who oppose me and aren't worthy?" There was a murmur from the crowd that implied that everyone knew just what happened in that particular scenario.
"And how willing are you to sacrifice the lives of your friends?" Demo slowly stood to full height. He was much taller than Gaton and perhaps much older, though he didn't look old. He was also much more imposing and dangerous looking.
"For this cause, I will sacrifice a planet of sentinent lifeforms whose only true crime is innocence. Don't ask me if I would sacrifice my friends. That's what I'm doing as it is." A strong breeze picked up, but it seemed centered on Gaton. "You think I'm a fool, just because I'm young. Your bad." Gaton swept one arm towards Demo and the man's eyes grew wide for a second before he was surrounded by a tornado of wind. As everyone watched, the wind weathered Demo's skin to nothing and the vortex of air became tinged with pale brown skin and deep red blood. The Turtles stood tranfixed at his awful demise. The wind even eroded Demo's bones to nothing.
Or so it seemed. As soon as they were gone, the wind stopped and a pile of dust settled on the wooden planks.
"M-man, remind me not to tick him off." Raph said.
"I hate to tell you this, but this isn't your mentor." Gaton said. The Turtles looked back to see him bent over Splinter.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's a dummy. It just looks like him."
"So, where is he?"
"Dunno." Gaton said, but it was obvious that he was lieing. For someone who made a reputation for himself by killing, stealing and lieing, he was really bad at the latter. All four of the brothers fixed him with a look that said that nothing but the truth would suit them. "Everyone is somewhere, so no one can be nowhere, but you have to define the term somewhere in order to properly judge distance and location. My definition of place is different from yours since I can exist in the places that you call nowhere. Is this making sense?"
"Is he dead?" Leo asked.
"Not dead in the sense that I am aware of. How do you define --"
"Stop talking funny and just give us a straight answer!" Raph yelled at him.
"You're a demon aren't you." Donatello calmly said. He had finally figured out how Gaton slipped in and out of the Lair so quietly. To a demon, walls were nothing.
"Something like that."
"Traditionally, demons don't give straight answers. Either they don't think in the terms that we do or they're just being malicious."
"It's not like that at all." Gaton protested.
"Isn't it?"
"No. I want to help, really, but I never had to translate my terms of reality into yours. For you, there is life and death. For me there is life, existance, death and nonexistance. I can die and still exist, I can exist and not be alive. I can die if I exist, but it's not called dieing, its call expiring. For my kind of people, there is no such thing as real death in the sense that you have. I haven't spent enough time here to accurately describe where he is or his condition to you."
"Then tell us in your terms and we'll work from there." Leonardo was beginning to look ticked off.
"Or better yet, take us there." Mike added.
"That I cannot do. He is in what is called distortional vortex in a type of... not suspended animation, but... it's like he's living in another person's body while his is being held captive. In that other body, he isn't aware of who he is or what his existance is to the world. It is highly unlikely that he will be able to return though. It's hard enough for me, and I am one of the most powerful Kiachorms in the known realm. A mere mortal would be torn apart by the process of removal. It is better to let him live as he is, than force him into his body and then have to leave him in the vortex. Or you could try to get him out and watch him get sucked into infinity."
"Distortional vortex..."
"Yes. When a star collapses, it sucks in everything around it an-"
"A black hole? Master Splinter's in a black hole?"
"No. Nothing that simple. I was just trying to give you something to compare it to. Imagine a very powerful source of magic that dies. Like a star, it caves in on itself and sucks in everything that gets too close."
"Magic?" Raph repeated.
"Yes."
They all paused to reflect on that.
"Where did all the people go?" Donatello wondered out loud.
"They left to see just how useful they can make themselves to me."
"Oh. What's a k-kia chorm?"
"A Kiachorm is a person like you, a halfling, only we are mixed with races like humans, who have no grasp of magic, and races that are exceptionally gifted. These kinds of pairings are rare, since the offspring usually die after birth. Or they go mad with power. Or they get possessed by a demon who drags them to its realm of existance and tortures them 'til they're near death so they can nurse you back to health and plant their spawn in you and send you back to your realm. Then the newer demon halfing is born into this world and readies it for conquest. That's it basically."
There was a very thick silence.
"You got raped by a demon? Is that what you're saying?"
"Oh no, I'm a guy. They only like girls. I'm the result of that though. The only one, I might add." He preened.
"Okay." Raph, Leo and Mike looked at one another, more than a little disturbed.
"And you're proud of that?"
"Yeah. Power means I can do stuff. Like set things right again. I don't have to bow like the rest of the Kiachorms do to the higher ups, but I'm not subject to the politics of those same people. I can make a difference this way. That's pretty much all I have. My power and the will to make things better."
Donatello found that he could relate. When you were as different as he and his brothers were, you needed something to throw yourself into wholeheartedly, even when all you had was your strength and your will.
"How can we help?" he asked.
"Don't hate me for what I do. I can't afford to think short term, there's no nice way to do this."
"To do what?"
"Something."
"When?"
"Time is manmade. I am not subject to its limitations."
"What's that suposed to mean?"
"What do you think it means?"
"I wanna know what you meant for it to mean."
"I meant for you to think of that on your own."
"Think of what?"
"What ever I told you."
"What'd you tell me."
"My favorite color."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"What do you think?"
"Not this again."
"Not what again?"
"This."
"This is everything around us, your 'this' hasn't changed and never will."
"What?"
"I wish you paid more attention to what I say."
"Me, too. But seriously, what was my question?"
"You forgot?"
"Yeah."
"Good. That was the point. Be safe." Gaton smiled widely and a strong gust of wind battered the Turtles. When they recovered, Gaton was gone.
"So. Can somebody tell me what just happened?" Raph asked.
"Technically, yes. But they won't." Donatello said vaguely, trying to remember what had set Gaton on the defensive. At least he thought it was the defensive. He might have just been trying to be difficult.
"Uh-huh. Man, what's up with this? How long have you known that wacko?"
"And why didn't you tell us?"
"And what makes you sure he's telling the truth about Master Splinter?"
"Of course he's not. Splinter wouldn't get caught that easily."
The three brothers began argueing over... pretty much nothing. Donatello just stared at the pile of dust on the platform.
"Magic doesn't exist anyway. Everyone knows that."
"Then how do you explain what happened?"
"And everyone knows that that giant turtles don't exist either."
"We aren't really giant turtles. There are fossils proving that at some point in history there were turtles much bigger than we are. And I think some exist today as well. We could ride on them like horses, they're that big."
"You would do that?"
"No! It's just metaphorically speaking."
"Is that the right context for that word?"
"Just shut up, I don't care."
"What is he doing?"
They all looked at Donatello. He was kneeling in the remanants of Demo and letting a fistful of dust pour from one hand to the other and staring wistfully as the fine dust caught in the wind and was scattered.
"Don?"
"I'm okay. We should leave town."
"Why?"
"Trust me." He stood and looked around as if seeing something they didn't. "He's going to reshape the planet. We don't want to be here when he does."
"If you insist."
"Are we gonna rescue the Master?"
"Of course we'll try. All we have is our strength and our will to keep our friends safe, together. That's all we need."
"I wouldn't suggest it, though." The Ninja Turtles jumped, but quickly recovered. They held their weapons a little tighter when they saw who had spoken. "My apologies. I had no intention to startling you." To be honest he looked perfectly normal. His hair was a nondescript brown, as were his eyes and his voice has a soothing quality. There was really no reason for the brothers to feel on edge around him, but they did. "As I ws saying, Gaton has a horrible gift for inspiring people. It comes in handy when you're trying to overthrow neo-gods, but taking what he says literally only causes trouble."
"Who are you?" Raph demanded in a less-than-civil tone.
"I am Gaton's second, Urib Hawthem. I know from personal experience just what happens if you listen to Gaton too hard." He made a face.
"Neo-gods?"
Urib looked confused for a moment. "Ah, I see. You have no idea just what you've been dragged into. Then let us go somewhere less...open and I will explain."
"Fine. But we decide where." Leo said, suspicious of the man. Three strangers in one night... One was obviously deadly, another kidnapped Master Splinter... Leo was begining to feel like a leaf on the brink of a waterfall.
"Of course. I don't know this place well enough to decide."
In silence, the four turtles and Urib trekked across the city. It was as if time didn't exist. No one moved, there was no wind, no sound... Mike made a mental note to ask about the stillness of the city. Donatello was busy soul searching again, Mike noticed. He didn't like the fact that Don knew that wind guy and hadn't told them. It made him wonder what else Don knew.
Donatello was, indeed, soul searching. He had already decided that Urib was trustworthy, and there was something about him that reminded Don of the best parts of all his brothers. Don figured, the fact that everything else had just put him in defensive mode. But the more he thought about it, the more Urib reminded him of Master Splinter. There was an aura around him that boasted confidence and power. He probably didn't mind going wherever the turtles chose because he could easily defeat them all.
That was it, Don decided. So far we haven't run into anyone who couldn't walk right over us. We... it's as if all those years with the Master were nothing. They make us look weak, and none of us like that.
Donatello noticed Raph glaring at Urib and hardly trying to disguise his intense dislike. Don wearily smiled. There would be a conflict, and he doubted he could do anything to stop it. The only question was...
"Will he hold his punches, or kill us just for spite?"
"You say something, Don?" Leo asked.
From his position behind Urib and to his right, Don could see the man's smile. It didn't look as happy as it could have, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They finally stopped at an abandoned warehouse near the edge of town. It was filthy and everything inside was covered with dust, but there were several boxes that served as perfect seats.
"So, explain." Leo demanded, already nearing the edge of his vast store of patience.
"Well, First of all, you have to understand that there are lots of little subdivisions in this universe. It's like a tree. At the trunk you have all sentient lifeforms. Then it splits into people from earth and people from elsewhere. To keep it simple, I'll focus on Earth. On earth, you have humans and Kiachorm. You fall under the human category, by the way. Well, actually, humans have three parts; traditional, mutated and magical. Kiachorm fall into traditional, lower and fused. Traditional Kiachorm are exactly what Gaton said they were, humans of any form but magical mixed with any form of Kiachorm. Lower Kiachorm are just human and an alien with a grasp of magic. Mind you, it's not a very good grasp and they aren't very powerful, but it still counts. Fused Kiachorm are like Gaton. A Kiachorm and creature that exists on a different plane of existance. The idea is that they are more than just Kiachorm, but since they never stay alive long enough to do anything but cause trouble, they're just dumped into the Kiachorm category. Any questions so far?"
"So far? Are you kidding us? That wasn't enough?" Raph exclaimed. It was obvious that he didn't understand a word that Urib had said.
"So what are magical humans? I thought they couldn't do magic."
"They can't. Magicals are humans who have magical residue on them. If I cast a spell on you that would make your head hurt everytime you saw a pizza, for instance," There were gasps of shock from Raph and Mike. "Well, then you'd carry that spell around until I took it off. Even for three years after that, you would be considered a Magical because that's how long it takes for the remanents to dissipate."
"Okay." Leo tapped his foot. "What about these 'creatures from other dimensions? How do they get here?"
"That's too complicated for right now. Just know that off-Earth beings are all magical, the only thing that differs is the type of magic they cast and the power that their average person can cast. Some of them specialize in summoning demons, others are easily possessed by them in the right situation."
"And what does all of this have to do with us?"
"You have befriended the one and only living Fused Kiachorm. That makes you his only weakness."
"Great." Mike muttered, already seeing where the conversation was going.
"That also makes you the ideal leaders of his movement. He plans to cast an enormous spell that will affect the whole planet. He's calling it the Meltdown. In one instant, all materials in the world will revert back to their closest natural counterpart. That means," Urib fixed Raph with a hard look. "Things like skyscrapers, with their steel frames and pexiglass windows, will change into things like iron frames and straight glass."
"And..." Raph said in a bored tone.
"And those buildings are too big to stand with that much weight on them."
The brothers suddenly all became very interested in what Urib had to say.
"Consider all the peopl who wear contacts. When the Meltdown occurs, those little circles of smooth plastic will turn to the next best natural thing."
"What?"
"Glass."
All four of the turtle winced as the implications of that hit them.
"Did you now that all the water you drink and all the food you eat is filled with chemicals and had to be subject to at least twenty different kinds before it even reached the stores? How much clean water is there in the world? Clean enough to drink without chemmically treating it? After Meltdown, those chemicals are gone, the rat-proof containers that hold food are gone, water tanks and purification centers..."
"But... how is anyone supposed to live without all that stuff?"
"Survival of the fittest. Gaton hopes that the spell will also work on the pollutants in the water and air, but if it doesn't..."
"Then we're doomed."
"Wait, we can warn people, get them to save water and food in things that won't revert." Don said, though he wondered how they could get people to believe them.
"It's going to happen as soon as I get back to Gaton's side. In about a dozen miliseconds, the whole world will be rearranged and Gaton will take the survivors and breed magic into them. Then he'll reintroduce technology to them. This isn't about saving humans. It's about getting them off Earth and into space where they'll fend for themselves. Gaton is just a kid. He needs someone his age around to help him out once he starts ruling the survivors. That's why I told him to wait on that rooftop. I saw you, Donatello, in one of my visions. You two are so alike, I knew you'd get along, so I told him to meet me there. After that, Gaton decided to follow-up. Gaton is my little brother. I fear for him. That's why I need you four. You can protect him from the things he won't let himself see, guide him when he doesn't understand, you can help lead him through the darkness that will soon follow. Most important," Urib looked each of them in the eye. "You can be his friends, the only people he can truly trust among humans. It's a lot, I know. But I won't be here for this. It's all he's lived for, really."
"Wh- where will you be?"
"Finding your father, Splinter, is it? I don't expect to return. Don't tell Gaton, though. He'll try to stop me. I can't help but feel that all of this is my fault. I'm sorry."
"But-"
"No, I don't mean to get your hopes up. I have a theory about time travel inside a vortex. It's complex and all about... well, timing." Urib smiled at his pun, but quickly got serious again. "I need you guys to leave town now. Go at least three or four miles out, since we don't know just what kind of damage a million skyscrapers will do when they all collapse simultaniously. Thanks. It means a lot to me to know that Gat's in good hands. It's more than he ever got before I showed up." Urib smiled again, a sad and beautiful smile, before dissapating in the wind.
"We better run, bros. I don't think a millisecond is very long." Raph said.
"Let's get outta here."
~~
A/N. Yeah, a dumb place to leave you at, but I need help with the plot. I know what I want in the big picture, but everywhere else I'm lacking. I also need to know who the most popular characters are so I can make some more enemies. (If you don't get it, then just understand that I like death and carnage.) Thanks reviewers, and esp. Ziptango. I finally got that link to work and I think I'm ready to introduce more victi- er, characters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Donatello could see no alternative, so he followed the stranger, accompanied by his brothers. None of them said anything, but the stranger kept the silence filled with mindless chatter, much akin to Gaton's ramblings. In fact, Donatello thought to himself, the only difference is that Gaton usually babbles pointless facts. This guy just babbles.
"I can sense one of you thinking of Gaton in specific, but I admit I'm at a loss as to identifying you. How do you tell each other apart?"
"Pheromones." Donatello muttered. He could tell that his brothers wanted to know why the stranger wanted him and who Gaton was, but the first thing on their minds was Master Splinter.
"Ah, yes. A primitive tracking device, but usable. One cannot blame you for working with what you have." His tone made the Turtles' blood boil, but they kept their opinions to themselves.
More mindnumbing talk and wandering through the pipes followed. Finally they stopped under a manhole and the man looked up. "Up." he commanded, and when the Turtles didn't comply, he looked pointedly at the hovering Master. Reluctantly, the brothers climbed the ladder and left the sewers.
What if someone's up there? What if we're seen? Donatello nearly panicked when he heard his brothers gasp. He fairly flew out of the manhole and paused to join them in staring openmouthed at the garish landscape.
The city was gone. All that was in front of them was a huge platform and a veritable sea of monsters. They couldn't see the Turtles because they were all focused on something on the platform. Or rather, someone.
"The time has come to reverse the process that the humans have begun. Earth can't take much more of this abuse. When I gave my life away to this side of Darkness, of True Darkness and True Light, I was told that we are the protectors of Earth. Why aren't we protecting it? It's not that we're too sympathetic to get rid of all of the humans. It's not that at all, and I know and you know and that's that. How many of us have to kill humans just to stay alive? Or exist, in special cases." There was a slight ripple of laughter from the crowd, as if the speaker had just mentioned a long-standing joke. He paused for effect and then continued. "What no one wants to say is that they like this kind of life. We've gotten lazy off the humans' handy gadgets and don't want to give up that life for our former glory. Who needs humans anyway? We managed well enough without them before. I look around and all I see is death and destruction and humans. Death, destruction, disease... I can live with those. I was herald for them at one point, as all too many of you remember. But, even I can't sit by and let my own world be over run by humans. I'm a very dispicable person, I lie through my teeth, I betray everyone I know, I've broken all the rules of our kind and managed to evade punishment for it every time. I'm strong in my convictions, though. Humans are a parasite of the Earth. We must act as her cleanser and get rid of them." There was a roar of cheers and the speaker waited for them to stop applauding. "Even though I know all this to be true, I can't think of a way to kill all of the humans. There are too many people who oppose us, too many who would stand for justice and morals and other nonsensical things like that." The voice filled with scorn. "And then there are the ones who just don't want to lose the comforts of their current lives. They will fight this and I will fight them. I don't ask for you to join in. I simply ask for you to stay out of my way. When all is said and done, there will be many bodies scattered across the Earth. Someone will be needed to fill the holes." There was a significant pause and Donatello imagined a faceless speaker looking down on the thousands of creatures before him, clearly implying that this was a takeover campaign and the rewards would be great for those who assisted him.
"Up." The stranger pointed to a set of stairs that led onto the stage.
The Turtles looked at each other and then at Splinter, dangling two feet in the air. Donatello moved first, tightly clutching his staff and in his mind, reviewing all the nasty things he could do to that stranger. They all trudged up the stairs, single file, and lined up behind he speaker. He was so into his speech that he hadn't noticed them approach. He had jet black hair that hung to his shoulders, slight as they were. He stood slightly crouched, as though he was ready to spring into the air at any second.
He looks familiar, Donatello thought. A moment later it struck him.
"Gaton?!"
He whirled around and time froze. Donatello stared into the face of his friend, but Gaton was staring past him.
"You. Why have you brought these creatures here? They are not our kind." Gaton demanded. The Turtles stepped away so that he had a clear view of the stranger.
"Oh you know why, Gaton Tair. You've broken far to many laws as it is. Do you think I would let you harm any more innocents?"
"Hypocrite." Gaton accused, turning his body to face the other man.
"Nonsense. You are a cold blooded killer, a liar and a thief."
"What about you, Demo? You haven't broken any codes?"
They locked eyes and the air between them literally turned blue.
"What's going on Don?" Leo whispered.
Donatello didn't answer because he was too busy thinking about the implications of what the two men had said.
Earlier, Gaton had said that a change was coming to help Earth recover. He had warned them to stay out of the way on this exact night, and the two after. Now he was rallying support for what seemed to be a war effort with the excuse of getting rid of Earth's 'plight'. That didn't add up to Donatello. Why would Gaton make war for the feeble reasons he was giving here? It wasn't his style. Not only that, but Gaton had done nothing to indicate that this violent streak was in him. He had taken the time to cheer Don up, even stopped by to assure him that he was okay. So, Donatello decided with finality, Gaton has at least one hidden agenda here. The stranger, Demo- if Gaton had called him by his real name- seemed to be lying outright. He accused Gaton of lying and being a criminal, implyed that he was on the side of good, yet he had taken Master Splinter hostage.
"Hey, don't think we don't know what you're up to. You knew Don and this guy were cool, so you kidnapped the Master to get us to come here. I bet you were planning on convincing us to help you beat this guy up. It's not gonna work on this turtle, dude." Raphael drew his weapons with a flourish and sank into an attack position. Mike and Leo did as well, but Don saw the other reason for having them all there.
"Gaton. No matter what, you do what you planned, 'k?" He called to his friend. Gaton broke eye contact with Demo.
"Hey Don. Guess you had to come out, huh? Sorry about getting you involved."
"Just don't let Splinter get hurt."
"Not a problem. Hi, Don's family." Gaton smiled, completely ignoring the fact that Demo was rushing to attack him. At the last second, he sidestepped, without even honoring Demo with a look at his tumble. "Since you know, I might as well get it over with now." Gaton looked back to where Demo had been standing and looked surprised that he wasn't there. He spun around, seeking his enemy. "Now, now, Mr. Righteous. It's not nice to sneak up on people."
Demo roared and charged again. Gaton spun neatly out of the way again and slammed his elbow deep into Demo's back at the same time as he brought his knee up into Demo's stomach. He made a sound like a frog being squashed flat as the air was forced out of his lungs with enough force to actually leave a visible dent in his middle. Gaton hopped back twice as Demo stumbled to the side. He pivoted and planted his foot square in Demo's face, a blow that knocked him clear across the substantial length of the platform. From his position a few feet from the Turtles, Gaton waved and yelled to Demo, "Do you know what I do to those who oppose me and aren't worthy?" There was a murmur from the crowd that implied that everyone knew just what happened in that particular scenario.
"And how willing are you to sacrifice the lives of your friends?" Demo slowly stood to full height. He was much taller than Gaton and perhaps much older, though he didn't look old. He was also much more imposing and dangerous looking.
"For this cause, I will sacrifice a planet of sentinent lifeforms whose only true crime is innocence. Don't ask me if I would sacrifice my friends. That's what I'm doing as it is." A strong breeze picked up, but it seemed centered on Gaton. "You think I'm a fool, just because I'm young. Your bad." Gaton swept one arm towards Demo and the man's eyes grew wide for a second before he was surrounded by a tornado of wind. As everyone watched, the wind weathered Demo's skin to nothing and the vortex of air became tinged with pale brown skin and deep red blood. The Turtles stood tranfixed at his awful demise. The wind even eroded Demo's bones to nothing.
Or so it seemed. As soon as they were gone, the wind stopped and a pile of dust settled on the wooden planks.
"M-man, remind me not to tick him off." Raph said.
"I hate to tell you this, but this isn't your mentor." Gaton said. The Turtles looked back to see him bent over Splinter.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, it's a dummy. It just looks like him."
"So, where is he?"
"Dunno." Gaton said, but it was obvious that he was lieing. For someone who made a reputation for himself by killing, stealing and lieing, he was really bad at the latter. All four of the brothers fixed him with a look that said that nothing but the truth would suit them. "Everyone is somewhere, so no one can be nowhere, but you have to define the term somewhere in order to properly judge distance and location. My definition of place is different from yours since I can exist in the places that you call nowhere. Is this making sense?"
"Is he dead?" Leo asked.
"Not dead in the sense that I am aware of. How do you define --"
"Stop talking funny and just give us a straight answer!" Raph yelled at him.
"You're a demon aren't you." Donatello calmly said. He had finally figured out how Gaton slipped in and out of the Lair so quietly. To a demon, walls were nothing.
"Something like that."
"Traditionally, demons don't give straight answers. Either they don't think in the terms that we do or they're just being malicious."
"It's not like that at all." Gaton protested.
"Isn't it?"
"No. I want to help, really, but I never had to translate my terms of reality into yours. For you, there is life and death. For me there is life, existance, death and nonexistance. I can die and still exist, I can exist and not be alive. I can die if I exist, but it's not called dieing, its call expiring. For my kind of people, there is no such thing as real death in the sense that you have. I haven't spent enough time here to accurately describe where he is or his condition to you."
"Then tell us in your terms and we'll work from there." Leonardo was beginning to look ticked off.
"Or better yet, take us there." Mike added.
"That I cannot do. He is in what is called distortional vortex in a type of... not suspended animation, but... it's like he's living in another person's body while his is being held captive. In that other body, he isn't aware of who he is or what his existance is to the world. It is highly unlikely that he will be able to return though. It's hard enough for me, and I am one of the most powerful Kiachorms in the known realm. A mere mortal would be torn apart by the process of removal. It is better to let him live as he is, than force him into his body and then have to leave him in the vortex. Or you could try to get him out and watch him get sucked into infinity."
"Distortional vortex..."
"Yes. When a star collapses, it sucks in everything around it an-"
"A black hole? Master Splinter's in a black hole?"
"No. Nothing that simple. I was just trying to give you something to compare it to. Imagine a very powerful source of magic that dies. Like a star, it caves in on itself and sucks in everything that gets too close."
"Magic?" Raph repeated.
"Yes."
They all paused to reflect on that.
"Where did all the people go?" Donatello wondered out loud.
"They left to see just how useful they can make themselves to me."
"Oh. What's a k-kia chorm?"
"A Kiachorm is a person like you, a halfling, only we are mixed with races like humans, who have no grasp of magic, and races that are exceptionally gifted. These kinds of pairings are rare, since the offspring usually die after birth. Or they go mad with power. Or they get possessed by a demon who drags them to its realm of existance and tortures them 'til they're near death so they can nurse you back to health and plant their spawn in you and send you back to your realm. Then the newer demon halfing is born into this world and readies it for conquest. That's it basically."
There was a very thick silence.
"You got raped by a demon? Is that what you're saying?"
"Oh no, I'm a guy. They only like girls. I'm the result of that though. The only one, I might add." He preened.
"Okay." Raph, Leo and Mike looked at one another, more than a little disturbed.
"And you're proud of that?"
"Yeah. Power means I can do stuff. Like set things right again. I don't have to bow like the rest of the Kiachorms do to the higher ups, but I'm not subject to the politics of those same people. I can make a difference this way. That's pretty much all I have. My power and the will to make things better."
Donatello found that he could relate. When you were as different as he and his brothers were, you needed something to throw yourself into wholeheartedly, even when all you had was your strength and your will.
"How can we help?" he asked.
"Don't hate me for what I do. I can't afford to think short term, there's no nice way to do this."
"To do what?"
"Something."
"When?"
"Time is manmade. I am not subject to its limitations."
"What's that suposed to mean?"
"What do you think it means?"
"I wanna know what you meant for it to mean."
"I meant for you to think of that on your own."
"Think of what?"
"What ever I told you."
"What'd you tell me."
"My favorite color."
"What's that got to do with anything?"
"What do you think?"
"Not this again."
"Not what again?"
"This."
"This is everything around us, your 'this' hasn't changed and never will."
"What?"
"I wish you paid more attention to what I say."
"Me, too. But seriously, what was my question?"
"You forgot?"
"Yeah."
"Good. That was the point. Be safe." Gaton smiled widely and a strong gust of wind battered the Turtles. When they recovered, Gaton was gone.
"So. Can somebody tell me what just happened?" Raph asked.
"Technically, yes. But they won't." Donatello said vaguely, trying to remember what had set Gaton on the defensive. At least he thought it was the defensive. He might have just been trying to be difficult.
"Uh-huh. Man, what's up with this? How long have you known that wacko?"
"And why didn't you tell us?"
"And what makes you sure he's telling the truth about Master Splinter?"
"Of course he's not. Splinter wouldn't get caught that easily."
The three brothers began argueing over... pretty much nothing. Donatello just stared at the pile of dust on the platform.
"Magic doesn't exist anyway. Everyone knows that."
"Then how do you explain what happened?"
"And everyone knows that that giant turtles don't exist either."
"We aren't really giant turtles. There are fossils proving that at some point in history there were turtles much bigger than we are. And I think some exist today as well. We could ride on them like horses, they're that big."
"You would do that?"
"No! It's just metaphorically speaking."
"Is that the right context for that word?"
"Just shut up, I don't care."
"What is he doing?"
They all looked at Donatello. He was kneeling in the remanants of Demo and letting a fistful of dust pour from one hand to the other and staring wistfully as the fine dust caught in the wind and was scattered.
"Don?"
"I'm okay. We should leave town."
"Why?"
"Trust me." He stood and looked around as if seeing something they didn't. "He's going to reshape the planet. We don't want to be here when he does."
"If you insist."
"Are we gonna rescue the Master?"
"Of course we'll try. All we have is our strength and our will to keep our friends safe, together. That's all we need."
"I wouldn't suggest it, though." The Ninja Turtles jumped, but quickly recovered. They held their weapons a little tighter when they saw who had spoken. "My apologies. I had no intention to startling you." To be honest he looked perfectly normal. His hair was a nondescript brown, as were his eyes and his voice has a soothing quality. There was really no reason for the brothers to feel on edge around him, but they did. "As I ws saying, Gaton has a horrible gift for inspiring people. It comes in handy when you're trying to overthrow neo-gods, but taking what he says literally only causes trouble."
"Who are you?" Raph demanded in a less-than-civil tone.
"I am Gaton's second, Urib Hawthem. I know from personal experience just what happens if you listen to Gaton too hard." He made a face.
"Neo-gods?"
Urib looked confused for a moment. "Ah, I see. You have no idea just what you've been dragged into. Then let us go somewhere less...open and I will explain."
"Fine. But we decide where." Leo said, suspicious of the man. Three strangers in one night... One was obviously deadly, another kidnapped Master Splinter... Leo was begining to feel like a leaf on the brink of a waterfall.
"Of course. I don't know this place well enough to decide."
In silence, the four turtles and Urib trekked across the city. It was as if time didn't exist. No one moved, there was no wind, no sound... Mike made a mental note to ask about the stillness of the city. Donatello was busy soul searching again, Mike noticed. He didn't like the fact that Don knew that wind guy and hadn't told them. It made him wonder what else Don knew.
Donatello was, indeed, soul searching. He had already decided that Urib was trustworthy, and there was something about him that reminded Don of the best parts of all his brothers. Don figured, the fact that everything else had just put him in defensive mode. But the more he thought about it, the more Urib reminded him of Master Splinter. There was an aura around him that boasted confidence and power. He probably didn't mind going wherever the turtles chose because he could easily defeat them all.
That was it, Don decided. So far we haven't run into anyone who couldn't walk right over us. We... it's as if all those years with the Master were nothing. They make us look weak, and none of us like that.
Donatello noticed Raph glaring at Urib and hardly trying to disguise his intense dislike. Don wearily smiled. There would be a conflict, and he doubted he could do anything to stop it. The only question was...
"Will he hold his punches, or kill us just for spite?"
"You say something, Don?" Leo asked.
From his position behind Urib and to his right, Don could see the man's smile. It didn't look as happy as it could have, though.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They finally stopped at an abandoned warehouse near the edge of town. It was filthy and everything inside was covered with dust, but there were several boxes that served as perfect seats.
"So, explain." Leo demanded, already nearing the edge of his vast store of patience.
"Well, First of all, you have to understand that there are lots of little subdivisions in this universe. It's like a tree. At the trunk you have all sentient lifeforms. Then it splits into people from earth and people from elsewhere. To keep it simple, I'll focus on Earth. On earth, you have humans and Kiachorm. You fall under the human category, by the way. Well, actually, humans have three parts; traditional, mutated and magical. Kiachorm fall into traditional, lower and fused. Traditional Kiachorm are exactly what Gaton said they were, humans of any form but magical mixed with any form of Kiachorm. Lower Kiachorm are just human and an alien with a grasp of magic. Mind you, it's not a very good grasp and they aren't very powerful, but it still counts. Fused Kiachorm are like Gaton. A Kiachorm and creature that exists on a different plane of existance. The idea is that they are more than just Kiachorm, but since they never stay alive long enough to do anything but cause trouble, they're just dumped into the Kiachorm category. Any questions so far?"
"So far? Are you kidding us? That wasn't enough?" Raph exclaimed. It was obvious that he didn't understand a word that Urib had said.
"So what are magical humans? I thought they couldn't do magic."
"They can't. Magicals are humans who have magical residue on them. If I cast a spell on you that would make your head hurt everytime you saw a pizza, for instance," There were gasps of shock from Raph and Mike. "Well, then you'd carry that spell around until I took it off. Even for three years after that, you would be considered a Magical because that's how long it takes for the remanents to dissipate."
"Okay." Leo tapped his foot. "What about these 'creatures from other dimensions? How do they get here?"
"That's too complicated for right now. Just know that off-Earth beings are all magical, the only thing that differs is the type of magic they cast and the power that their average person can cast. Some of them specialize in summoning demons, others are easily possessed by them in the right situation."
"And what does all of this have to do with us?"
"You have befriended the one and only living Fused Kiachorm. That makes you his only weakness."
"Great." Mike muttered, already seeing where the conversation was going.
"That also makes you the ideal leaders of his movement. He plans to cast an enormous spell that will affect the whole planet. He's calling it the Meltdown. In one instant, all materials in the world will revert back to their closest natural counterpart. That means," Urib fixed Raph with a hard look. "Things like skyscrapers, with their steel frames and pexiglass windows, will change into things like iron frames and straight glass."
"And..." Raph said in a bored tone.
"And those buildings are too big to stand with that much weight on them."
The brothers suddenly all became very interested in what Urib had to say.
"Consider all the peopl who wear contacts. When the Meltdown occurs, those little circles of smooth plastic will turn to the next best natural thing."
"What?"
"Glass."
All four of the turtle winced as the implications of that hit them.
"Did you now that all the water you drink and all the food you eat is filled with chemicals and had to be subject to at least twenty different kinds before it even reached the stores? How much clean water is there in the world? Clean enough to drink without chemmically treating it? After Meltdown, those chemicals are gone, the rat-proof containers that hold food are gone, water tanks and purification centers..."
"But... how is anyone supposed to live without all that stuff?"
"Survival of the fittest. Gaton hopes that the spell will also work on the pollutants in the water and air, but if it doesn't..."
"Then we're doomed."
"Wait, we can warn people, get them to save water and food in things that won't revert." Don said, though he wondered how they could get people to believe them.
"It's going to happen as soon as I get back to Gaton's side. In about a dozen miliseconds, the whole world will be rearranged and Gaton will take the survivors and breed magic into them. Then he'll reintroduce technology to them. This isn't about saving humans. It's about getting them off Earth and into space where they'll fend for themselves. Gaton is just a kid. He needs someone his age around to help him out once he starts ruling the survivors. That's why I told him to wait on that rooftop. I saw you, Donatello, in one of my visions. You two are so alike, I knew you'd get along, so I told him to meet me there. After that, Gaton decided to follow-up. Gaton is my little brother. I fear for him. That's why I need you four. You can protect him from the things he won't let himself see, guide him when he doesn't understand, you can help lead him through the darkness that will soon follow. Most important," Urib looked each of them in the eye. "You can be his friends, the only people he can truly trust among humans. It's a lot, I know. But I won't be here for this. It's all he's lived for, really."
"Wh- where will you be?"
"Finding your father, Splinter, is it? I don't expect to return. Don't tell Gaton, though. He'll try to stop me. I can't help but feel that all of this is my fault. I'm sorry."
"But-"
"No, I don't mean to get your hopes up. I have a theory about time travel inside a vortex. It's complex and all about... well, timing." Urib smiled at his pun, but quickly got serious again. "I need you guys to leave town now. Go at least three or four miles out, since we don't know just what kind of damage a million skyscrapers will do when they all collapse simultaniously. Thanks. It means a lot to me to know that Gat's in good hands. It's more than he ever got before I showed up." Urib smiled again, a sad and beautiful smile, before dissapating in the wind.
"We better run, bros. I don't think a millisecond is very long." Raph said.
"Let's get outta here."
~~
A/N. Yeah, a dumb place to leave you at, but I need help with the plot. I know what I want in the big picture, but everywhere else I'm lacking. I also need to know who the most popular characters are so I can make some more enemies. (If you don't get it, then just understand that I like death and carnage.) Thanks reviewers, and esp. Ziptango. I finally got that link to work and I think I'm ready to introduce more victi- er, characters.