KIA
Part II
Kia walked into the boardroom where the members were sitting around drinking coffee. Kia's hands were wrapped around her clipboard like a shield. The members of the board looked at her curiously."The rat is dead." She announced clearly and with clinical professionalism. The board looked shocked. Kia guessed they were hoping it would live and that they would benefit from these…higher authorities when they came.
"Cause of death?" One man managed to ask.
"I suspect internal bleeding was the cause." She replied, handing over the clipboard, "Of course the mutation scrambled any instruments that might have saved it. When I begin the autopsy I will find out…"
"That won't be necessary." Another man studied the clipboard and handed it back to her, "The body will be collected tonight."
Kia noted that they didn't mention by whom.
"With all due respect this has been my case study and I want to finish it." She argued politely, "Wouldn't it be better to present immediate findings to these…collectors. Information might be lost before they can begin their own analysis."
The board members glanced at one another then back to Kia.
"Very well."
Kia was relieved but tried not to show it.
"Thank you." She said and turned on her heel. As she left the room she bumped into David.
"Kia, I…why were you talking to the board?"
"Always looking over my shoulder?" Kia blinked, "I was just informing the board that the rat died."
"What?" He exclaimed and then controlled himself, "When?"
"He died half an hour ago."
David's eyes narrowed.
"Of what?"
Kia shrugged.
"Possibly the wounds he had or even from old age. He wasn't a young rat."
"He?"
Kia frowned.
"I'm a vet. I know what a male rat looks like."
"No. You weren't referring to its gender. You were talking as thought it was a person."
Kia felt cornered.
"He…It displayed some qualities akin to human expression like sorrow. It is also very intelligent…or it was." Kia didn't like the way David was staring at her, "I have to go."
David grabbed her arm.
"What have you done?" He demanded, "Kia, talk to me."
Kia looked at him.
"I killed it." She said bluntly, preparing herself for David's outburst. His shoulders sagged and he shook his head, "I ended its misery."
"Are you insane?" David hissed in her face, "Do you know what you've done? What you're doing to me? Kia…the people coming tonight do not accept failure."
Kia sighed.
"How touching that you are concerned for me…and not your reputation." She yanked her arm away, "I will do everything I can to have a full autopsy report ready for these people as well as a detailed account of everything I have learned so far. If that is not enough for these people, then they expect too much." She began walking away, "Goodnight, David."
In the laboratory two interns shifted the limp body of the oversized rat onto the roller bed. Kia packed syringes, bottles and some other equipment into the grey foam casing of her metallic case and clicked down the lid.
"Do you have everything you need?" An intern asked.
"Yes." She picked up her clipboard, "I can take it from here."
With little effort she pushed the bed down the dimly lit corridors, heading towards the morgue. Usually used for an emergency operating room for any victims of factory poisoning or accidents, it would serve as her dissecting facility.
The signs and flickering lights moved past her as she began to go faster and faster.
With effort she slowed down and pushed calmly, gripping the handles on the bed tightly. Up ahead she saw the sign for the morgue. Her heart beating like a thousand drums she approached it, the corridor to the morgue turning off to her left.
Her mind made up, she gave the bed a huge push past the corridor and down to the elevator. Roughly she slammed into it and pressed the down button. It opened up in the car park.
The night was chilly but Kia's skin was warm with adrenalin as she pushed the bed through the deserted car park towards her station wagon.
"I must be insane." She laughed, amazed she was laughing in spite of the situation.
She opened up the back of her wagon and rolled the bed flat into the back. She slammed down the back and found her keys.
Fortunately the darkly tinted windows shielded her from curious eyes as Kia drove down the highway, heading towards a construction site.
The wooden beam splintered as she burst through it and on towards an elevator used for taking large equipment down into the bowels of the building that was going up.
Activating it the elevator dropped down and down, taking her car, her and the rat with it.
As it descended Kia put the break on and clambered into the back of the car. She yanked back the blankets and opened up her case. The syringe entered in the pin pricked arm of the rat and she injected a yellow serum into his body.
Rubbing his arm she prayed it would work quickly.
"Come on." She whispered. Perhaps she was too late. Perhaps he wasn't as immune to drugs as he had shown before.
Suddenly he moaned and his eyes fluttered.
Kia slumped back in relief.
"It worked." She whispered and jolted as they hit the bottom. Kia backed her car out of the elevator onto the sewer level of the building site. Gingerly she drove along until she heard the roar of a sewer waterfall.
Removing the rat she eased his frail body against a wall and proceeded to unload the bed, case and her clipboard before putting a brick on the accelerator and sending her car into the abyss.
There was a shuddering roar as it hit the bottom. Kia had no time to miss her station wagon, her trusty bomb mobile. The roller bed folded up into a wheelchair. Kia put her arms around the rat.
"Easy now." She murmured, "I'm taking you home."
"I cannot walk."
"You won't have to." Kia replied and eased him into the chair. She grabbed the case and clipboard. Gripping the chair tightly she turned it down one of the many sewer tunnels that connected to countless others.
It had to be getting close to dawn before they reached the junction which would take them to the home of the rat. Kia stumbled wearily over her own feet, her adrenalin having worn off hours ago but she picked up her feet and kept going.
"We are close." The rat said and pointed, "The archway."
Kia walked over to it.
"Open sesame?" She looked at the rat who leaned to a panel and pressed the code. The archway shuddered and opened revealing a large cavern area. Kia pushed the wheelchair in and looked around in unchecked amazement.
"Is this…?"
"Home." The rat said and then called out in a shaky voice, "My sons! Leonardo? Donatello?"
"Michelangelo? Raphael?" Kia added, the European names sounding strange on her lips.
Their calls echoed off the walls of the empty cavern. Kia looked at the rat who was sniffing.
"Maybe they are out looking for you."
The rat frowned. Then his sharp eyes spotted something. He lunged off in an energetic burst that defied his weak condition and crawled over to a piece of cloth on the ground. Kia looked over his shoulder. The cloth had been purple at one stage but was stained red.
"No." The rat whispered, sniffing it, "I cannot believe…not my sons."
He slumped on the ground, his grief too great for tears.
Kia stood, unsure what to do.
She had banked on the rat's sons being here, to help her in saving the life of their father. But their disappearance and the damning evidence of the bloody cloth left very little room for hope.
They had come back to a home abandoned.
Gently she looped her arms around the rat and supported him to the couch. She laid him on it, dismayed at the devastation in his eyes as he fingered the cloth.
"Sir…?" She asked softly.
"No father should out live his sons." He said brokenly and turned his back on her to weep into the cushions that still held the scent of his sons.
Kia tucked blankets around him and then slumped on the ground nearby. Exhausted she curled up, her head on her arm, wondering if she had done the right thing all along.
Maybe David was right.
Maybe she had made a huge mistake.
She looked at the watch around her neck.
Day shift would be starting soon. And her presence would be missed if not already.
She was down in a sewer with a dying rat.
Groggily Kia opened her eyes and looked around. It hadn't been some terrible dream. She really was in the sewers and it was cold.
Shivering she got up and leaned over the rat. He was still alive, barely.
Rubbing her arms Kia found the kitchen. Hands shaking she boiled some water and began pouring green liquid into a cup.
"Hey." She shook the rat gently and he turned, "Drink this."
"More medicine?" He asked blandly with a voice that didn't want to live.
"Green tea." She closed his cold claws around the warm cup, "No more trying to keep you where you don't want to be. If you want to die, I can't stop you."
His eyes studied her face, tempered by wisdom.
"Will you join me in one last cup?"
Kia found her own cup and sat down on her knees before him.
"Sure."
He was sleeping again and Kia leant against the couch and sighed.
She knew she should be thinking about what to do next but her mind was too tired. Nothing was making sense.
Perhaps when she'd slept more than an hour at a time she'd be able to work it all out.
Unexpectedly there was a beeping sound and the archway doors began to peel open.
Kia staggered to her feet. Had David found her so quickly? How had he known where to look? Or was it those weird soldiers that had chased the rat into the path of the oncoming truck?
Either way they weren't getting to the rat without a fight.
Kia picked up a piece of piping and brandished it.
"The doors have been opened recently." Came a voice beyond the shadows.
"You'd think they'd got what they came for!" A gruff voice snarled and a third snapped,
"That's it! I've had enough!"
Through the doors came four hulking bodies, the first one brandishing a set of nasty looking blades.
Not sure what she could do Kia ran towards them and swiped the pipe at them.
"Get out!" She yelled. There came the sound of metal against metal and her pipe was halved. Kia was flung aside like a rag doll. She hit the table holding her case and everything in it fell out, smashing all around her.
Anger making her strong Kia lunged out, pushing one aside and skidding in front of the covered body of the rat on the couch.
"Get out of our way!" One with a pronged dagger bellowed.
"If you touch him I will kill you where you stand!" She yelled back in its face. It was a big green face covered with a dark red bandana.
Strangely enough the four creatures stopped.
They seemed to be studying her and Kia only felt more uneasy.
"Who?" Asked one with a purple bandana.
Kia frowned, waiting for a trap.
"My sons."
Kia, trying to keep an eye on these hulking green creatures, looked at the rat. He was half up on one elbow and gazing, not at her, but at these things that had just attacked her.
"Father?"
She turned back and saw the creatures drop their weapons, the blades clattering to the ground along with a long staff and some strange chained chucks.
Abruptly they ran at her, pushing her aside to gather around the rat, not to harm it but to hug it.
"We thought we'd lost you."
"Thank goodness you're alive."
"It's so good to see you."
"The doctor said you were dead."
"I was." The rat touched their faces tenderly, tears wetting the fur below his eyes, "There was no other way to be smuggled out."
"Sons?" Kia murmured, "Father?"
One of the creatures stood up and glared at her.
"Who's this?"
Kia stepped back, fearing retribution.
"She's a friend." The rat said firmly.
Kia felt the glare of the creatures lessen and she shook with relief as they seemed to accept her.
Leonardo closed the door of Splinter's quarters quietly and sighed.
"I can't believe we've been at April's for hours thinking he was dead."
"I can't believe we thought Splinter was dead!" Donatello exclaimed then clapped his hand over his mouth as Leonardo signaled for quiet and they moved away from the doors of their master's quarters, "I mean this is Master Splinter we're talking about."
"He's amazing. But not immortal." Raphael argued, "Besides, the doctor's report at that radiology centre was pretty damning."
"She said he was dead." Michelangelo chuckled and looked over at the girl squatting among the shattered contents of her medical case, "She lied. I like her."
Raphael rolled his eyes as Leonardo, the leader of the foursome, stepped forward, feeling it was his duty to say something to the stranger. Anything.
They owed her a debt they could not repay.
When they had tracked the animal van to the radiology centre, hopes were already low for Splinter's safety. He had been seriously injured in the blaze on the docks as the foot soldiers hailed down an inferno around them. Then to have been hit by a car and taken to the radiology centre under critical condition, the turtles had wondered if they were to say an unexpected farewell to their master and father.
They had infiltrated the radiology centre with ease and were going to wreak havoc when the doctor had announced to the board that the rat was dead.
It had been like a physical blow to their moral. Not even Raph could muster enough anger to lash out.
In devastation they had run from the centre to the only place where they knew they would find a friendly face.
And here, where they thought they would never get used to seeing it without him, was Splinter.
Thanks to this young human.
She looked up from picking through the broken remains. She had pale blue eyes set in a heart face. Her soft black hair cut short around her face with a long fringe that tended to hide her eyes. She was dressed in filthy, sewer stained jeans, black shirt and lab coat.
She was shivering.
From fear or the cold he wasn't sure.
Leo felt very guilty.
He hadn't meant to scare her so badly. It had just been a terrible out burst originating from the pain that loss could bring.
He cleared his throat.
"Hope we didn't break anything expensive or important." He said, fully aware that his brothers were listening to every word he said.
"Both." She admitted and tossed a test tube aside, "And neither. Anyway to doesn't matter. He's healing by himself now that he knows his sons are safe and with him."
There was no revulsion or confusion in her eyes as she spoke to him. She had simply accepted what her eyes were telling her. He was a giant bi-ped turtle who spoke like a human.
Perhaps New York was getting weirder.
"We owe you a huge debt."
She bit her lip and shrugged, embarrassed at the urgency in his voice. Leo backed off a bit. He didn't want to frighten her. But he did want to let her know that what she had done could not be measured.
"That's fine." She smiled, her eyes lighting up, "Leonardo."
He jerked in surprise. She knew his name. Slowly she looked at each of them, studying them.
"Michelangelo. Raphael. Donatello."
"Seems you know more about us than we do about you." Don remarked, stepping forward.
"It's the bandanas." Mike untied his and shrugged, "Take em off and we all look the same."
The girl smiled.
"Your…father told me about you." She looked at them almost shyly, "He said that you, Leonardo, would be the one to talk to me first. That Michelangelo would be the first to make a joke. Donatello would want to know exactly how I induced a comatose state on your father and that Raphael would…"
"Be the one to knock your teeth out." Raph chuckled.
"He said you'd be the first to fight for me, not against me."
Raph tilted his head, surprised at her assessment of him. For once a quality trait had not been tagged onto his anger problem.
"So, you know who we are…care to enlighten us?" Don asked.
"Kia. My name is Kia."
"Kia…" Mike grinned, "Kute in action?"
"Oh brother." Raphael moaned, slapping his forehead, "Subtle as a sledge hammer."
Kia giggled and pushed her hair back.
"Well, I'd better go."
Leo stepped forward.
"Wait Kia." He said and she looked at him timidly, "Master Splinter called you friend. That means you are our friend also. You are welcome to stay. You must be exhausted."
Kia wondered if the swaying action she had going on her feet was giving her tiredness away. She hesitated.
"You can have my room." Leo added.
"Don't inconvenience yourself Leo." Don offered, "She can have mine."
"Mines got the game station!" Mike chipped in.
Kia smiled.
"Guys." Raph pointed out, "We do have a spare room."
The other three all dropped their heads and nodded.
"Oh yeah."
"A room…would be wonderful." Kia agreed and was shown the way by an enthusiastic Michelangelo.
"What do you mean, it's gone?"
David cringed, wondering if he had just sealed his fate. He was sitting in his office speaking with his 'higher' authority.
He fiddled with his pen, hoping his voice didn't waver as he responded to the question.
"Both of them are gone. Kia smuggled the rat out. The documentation showed it was dead."
"But?"
He cleared his throat.
"Kia used a cryogenically chill drug pack to send the rat comatose. She also took an inhibitor with her so it's likely the rat recovered. Kia's more resourceful than we thought. She's thinking for herself, improvising upon the skills she has. It's a very good sign…"
"You think that this test run has made up for your incompetence?"
David tugged at the collar on his shirt.
"It would be an excellent way of seeing if Kia will perform."
"And if it doesn't?" The voice took on a dangerous edge, "I will not lose Kia."
"We won't. There's a tracking device on it. If the activation sequence doesn't respond, we can find it." David said, gaining a little lost confidence, "Five days. That's all I need."
"You have three." There was a pause, "And you'd better not fail me."
Splinter opened his eyes to see Kia kneeling beside him. She was busy writing notes on her clipboard and didn't see him studying her.
"Tending your patient?"
"Oh." She jumped and looked at him, "It's a good medical plan." She reached out and took his pulse, counting it against the watch around her neck, "You look much better."
"I feel it."
"Would you like some tea?"
"Please."
While Kia made some green tea Splinter found his robes and slipped one on. Though Donatello had gotten the heating working again Splinter felt secure in his robes. Less like an animal.
Taking up his walking cane he hobbled out to the couch.
"Hey." Kia hurried over, "Don't attempt too much too quickly." She supposed his weight so that he could sit on his knees, "I'm here to help you."
"You have already done more than could be expected." He replied, taking his cup of tea, "You have sacrificed much."
"Not really." Kia tried to shrug off the observation. She didn't want to think about what a mess she'd left for herself above the sewers. It would be difficult to untangle when she returned.
"Your relationship with your family…with David."
"David was the only family I have…had." She smiled weakly, "I don't remember a lot about my childhood. Lots of foster homes and families that didn't want me."
"Is that all you remember?"
Kia frowned and thought back. She was surprised that she had never done so before. Memories that she thought should be there, of growing up, of school and friends simply weren't there.
"I…" She felt suddenly confronted by the emptiness of her existence. So much was missing.
Splinter studied her.
"Your past eludes you like a shadow." He saw her anxiety and broke through her confused world, "And now you are here."
Kia rubbed her eyes.
"Here." She agreed, forgetting the fear of facing a life of no memories.
Splinter reached out and touched her hand.
"If you would like, you may be part of our family."
Kia was unexpectedly touched. She could do nothing but stare down at the rat's hand resting gently over hers.
She tried to swallow the lump in her throat and looked up.
"Thank you."
Splinter nodded and sipped his tea.
"Although you might have told me your sons are teenage mutant…"
"Ninja?"
"Ninja turtles." Kia shook her head, "I just assumed they would be like you."
"Family is not bound by blood alone."
"No. I can see that."
"I hope my sons have been behaving themselves."
Kia shifted on her knees.
"Gentlemen." She smiled, "Gentle turtles."
Splinter nodded and then his ear twitched.
"We are not alone." He chuckled and Kia followed a side glance up to the second level of the lair.
Raphael walked out of his room yawning, his bandana half on. He stretched, cracked his neck and saw his brother lying on the balcony, staring down into the middle of the lair. He tiptoed up to him and peered over his shoulder.
"Leonardo." He whispered in mocking chastisement, "I would not have picked you for eavesdropping."
Leo glanced at him and rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't eavesdropping." He replied, "I was watching."
"And listening." Raphael lay down as well and they both stared from their balcony seats at Kia and Master Splinter sharing a cup of green tea, "Why? Don't trust her?"
"She helped Splinter escape from the radiology centre and then through the sewer to us." Leo said, "Then she was prepared to fight us to save him."
"Okay…so you trust her." Raphael nudged him, "Then what are you doing?"
"Watching."
Raphael frowned at his brother and then looked down at Kia. She was smiling. She was really pretty.
Revelation dawned on him but before he could use this to irritate Leo they were rudely interrupted.
"What's up guys?"
"Sshh." Raph and Leo grabbed Michelangelo and pulled him down.
"Woa." Mike hit the deck and looked down, "Scoping out the new chick?"
"Why would you think that?" Leo demanded.
"You guys are scoping out the new chick." Mike chuckled, "She's pretty."
Leo grimaced, hating his brother's ability to speak his mind. Kia was pretty. Not only that. She served. It was evident in the way that she found Splinter another blanket, poured him tea and watched over him. She was…
"Good peep show?"
Donatello was quick to join their ranks.
"Can you hear anything they're saying?"
"We might if certain turtles shut up." Raph remarked and Don rolled his eyes.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the nest this morning."
"Oooh. Very observant wise guy."
"Oh do us a favour and go back to bed Raph."
"Hey guys. How does BBQ chicken pizza sound for breakfast?"
Leo sighed and then tensed. Master Splinter was looking their way. And so was Kia.
With a yelp he rolled away from the edge of the ledge at the same time as his brothers.
They lay in silence, hoping they hadn't been seen but knowing full well that they had been.
They heard Splinter chuckle.
"Good morning my sons."
As guilty as the man on the grassy knoll all four stood up and waved sheepishly.
"Morning." Donatello managed to call.
"Anyone for BBQ pizza for breakfast?"
"Mike, give it a rest!"
Splinter resigned his weary self to the couch under orders from Kia. He didn't fight the order. He had been closer to death than ever in the past. Recovery would be a slow process. So for the time being he would rest and watch.
He watched his sons, noting the changes in their behavior. They had all tasted the bitter twinge of death of a loved one. Despite the fact that he was alive, it had not wiped away the blow of reality, that one day he would leave them forever.
Raphael was more distant, struggling over his turbulent emotions.
Donatello was a little less technical and a little more pensive.
Michelangelo's jokes were thick and fast, the best way to cover his emotions.
And Leonardo was edgy. He avoided Kia without being rude yet when Splinter saw him in unguarded moments, he would stare at her.
They worked hard at cleaning the lair up, dust and debris having fallen in their absence. Kia pitched in with the rest of them. She wasn't intimidated by their form. There was no fear in her eyes. And to his sons, she was one of them.
Splinter, who was a guarded and private rat, felt the urge to protect this young woman.
If not from the outside world or even from her own elusive past, then from his four sons who seemed to be going out of their way to show off to her.
It was especially noticeable in training. Michelangelo spun his nun chucks fancily. Donatello pole-vaulted longer and further while Raphael liked aiming at small objects and hitting them with his sai. Leonardo had the opposite effect, becoming clumsy and self-conscious.
The result?
Little training. Much showing off.
If Splinter could, he would have knocked them all on their shells for a lesson in modesty.
"Well…We're not normally this bad." Donatello excused their antics.
Kia grinned as she drew on her clipboard. She was sketching each of them in turn.
"Yeah. Normally we're worse." Mike making the best of a bad situation.
"Wanna go?" Raph offered.
"Oh no." Kia laughed, "I've never picked up a weapon in my life…well with the exception of that pipe I tried to whack you with. I'm not a fighter."
"She's an artist." Mike jumped up by her shoulder and looked down, "Look at me!" His nun chucks were flying around his head in a battle pose. Around the sketch were different poses for the weapons, hand grips and expressions, "Awesome."
"Have you done one for everyone?" Don asked.
Shyly Kia flipped the clipboard around and showed them. Each turtle viewed their self portrait with pride.
"You got my angry face down good." Raph chuckled.
"Is there any other?" Mike shot and ducked a flying kick.
Splinter hobbled over and glanced at the drawings. Even he had featured on a page. But it was not his portrait he was interested in. With careful eyes he studied Leo's sketch.
In a flying kick pose he looked intimidating but Kia had also captured the brooding, melancholy side that had become so obvious as she watched them train.
"Perhaps you should be an artist." Splinter suggested as he limped away.
"These wouldn't sell for a nickel." Kia smiled and jumped up to help him to the couch, "Don't grumble. I have to change those bandages anyway."
"You used the last ones up already." Don noted. Kia sighed.
"True."
"Perhaps if we take Kia topside, just to go to a pharmacy?" Raph suggested and held up his hands at Splinter's glare, "We won't go above ground. Just Kia."
"Very well."
"Alright. Let's roll!" Mike yelled and back flipped to the archway, "Coming Don? Leo?"
"Count me in!" Don jumped up.
Leo shook his head.
"Nah. Gonna read a book."
"Fine. Read a book!" Mike shot and bolted after his disappearing brothers and Kia, "Woa, wait up!"
Splinter glanced at Leonardo who was frowning.
"What book is that my son?" He asked.
"How to kill a mocking Mike." He replied.
"Sit." Splinter commanded and Leo sat down beside him, "I want to tell you a story about a young woman who risked all that she had just to return a father to his sons."
"Sounds familiar." Leo murmured.
"He who risks much, gains much." Splinter explained, "Even though much may be lost."
"Then who is ever certain?" Leonardo wondered, "How can you make sure it's certain?"
"That is the element of risk."
"Then how do you decide?"
Splinter smiled.
"Is the end worth the risk?"
Leonardo sighed and rubbed his shoulder.
"I think I need to think."
"Yes." Splinter tilted his head and watched his son walk towards his room, "However, some things are not decided from the head, but from the heart."
Leonardo slumped against the wall by his bed. He picked up a book and opened it to read about Japanese history. But his mind drifted after the first sentence and he caught himself thinking of how pretty Kia looked. April had given her some clothes to replace the sewer stained ones she'd arrived in. Loose jeans, cotton shirt over a singlet. Simple yet effective. She was calm in the eyes and her black hair framed her face softly. It appealed to him.
And it wasn't even all about her physical appearance, although he liked picturing her face.
But her gentleness mingled with strength was captivating. She watched over Master Splinter, caring for him with little regard for herself. She served with all that she had without making an issue of it.
Leo sighed and tugged at his bandana.
If only he didn't feel like a fish out of water around her. In light of his brother's cockiness and chatter, he was silent and brooding. He was probably about as interesting as a toadstool. Mike at least made her laugh. Donatello could relate to her technically. Raphael, well, maybe she was good for him, to calm him down.
What did he have to offer?
His sword? She hated fighting. She didn't want to learn how to fight and expressed concern when they were practicing because of the dangerous blows they would deal each other.
His training was his life.
How could she relate to that?
When Leonardo emerged from his room hours later he was surprised at how quiet the lair was. Michelangelo's television station was turned off and Donatello wasn't tinkering. Raphael would have been arguing with one of the two but Leo couldn't hear that either. They should have been back ages ago.
There was a soft chatter of voices and he followed the sound to the couch setting where Kia and Splinter were sitting.
He paused in the shadows, watching silently.
"I don't know where I learnt how to draw." Kia shook her head, "Why do you keep asking me questions about my past?"
"Has anyone asked you about your past before?"
Kia frowned.
"Not that I remember." She shrugged, "Surely there should be many more memories than the ones I have…but I don't remember them. Maybe that's a good thing."
"To know one's past is to know one's future."
"Perhaps my future will be my past." Kia argued, "After all, if I can't remember much then what I have experienced over the last five days with you and your sons is now my past. What better way to start?"
Splinter raised his eyebrows and without breaking gaze with Kia said,
"Leonardo."
Leo grimaced and walked out into the light.
"Hi." He said self-consciously.
"You didn't go with the others?" Kia asked.
"Where'd they go?" He didn't look at her. He looked at Splinter.
"To work off restless energy in the sewer pipes." Splinter replied, "I thought it best not to disturb your…reading."
Leonardo sighed as Splinter stood up.
"I am going to rest."
Leo tensed, painfully aware that he would now be alone with Kia. Splinter looked at him and then hobbled off to his room. As the green doors clicked behind him Leo cleared his throat and looked at Kia. She brushed her hair back.
"Think he's alright?" She asked.
"He's pretty tough." Leo said quickly, "Besides, you patched him up pretty good. Er…double use of the word pretty…pretty pedantic…"
Kia giggled and stood up.
"I think you've got a pretty good grasp of the English language." She said.
Leo smiled.
"Do you…wanna go for a walk? I know the sewer isn't the nicest place to go walking and you're probably tired after a visit topside so it's totally fine if you don't…"
"Leo." Kia stopped him, "I'd love to go for a walk."
Leonardo wasn't sure if he was relieved or more tense than before.
"Good. I mean great…I mean…oh shell." He gestured to the door, "After you…"
"I don't know where I'm going."
"Oh yeah. Sorry."
As the two left the lair Splinter watched from his room.
Once the door was closed securely behind them he wandered out to the couch and turned on the television. Putting his feet up he chuckled.
The sewer water wasn't the most romantic river to walk by and there were pleasanter backdrops that the moldy walls of the New York underground but Kia didn't seem to mind.
She chatted easily to Leo and the turtle found himself relaxing.
They talked about many things that didn't matter and many things Leo was sure he wouldn't remember but it was just nice to talk. Especially to someone who didn't know about everything he had done in his life like his brothers.
Kia kicked a tin can and watched it skitter across the pavement and then splash into the water.
"Do you always carry your swords?" She asked.
"Always." Leo nodded, "Not that I notice that they are there. It's like they're part of me I know them so well."
Kia frowned.
"It must be difficult never to relax fully." She remarked.
"I come pretty close." Leo replied, "Especially down here in the sewers. No one comes down here. Well…almost no one."
Kia smiled, taking the hint.
"There's an unfinished t-junction ahead." Leonardo pointed, "We'll have to cross here." With ease he jumped over the sewer flow onto the other side.
Kia put her hands on her hips.
"Oh yes?"
"Jump. I'll catch you."
"I wouldn't get half way." She shook her head and wandered down a bit further where there was an archway alcove that spanned across the sewer flow. In the alcove were little handles for someone to monkey swing across.
Kia grabbed the first one and made her way over. But the ones near the end were rotten and one broke off.
Leo reached out and grabbed her, pulling her back away from the filthy water.
Suddenly he was aware of how close she was to him. And how close he was to her. Shyly he looked down and saw she was looking up. With a sheepish grin he set her down and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Sorry."
"You caught me." Kia blurted and they stared at each other.
"Um…what was that hard necklace thing?"
"Just my watch." Kia pulled it out of her top, looped it over her head, opened it and held it out to Leonardo, "It goes everywhere with me."
"Nice." Leo said and clipped it closed.
Then he nearly dropped it.
The closed catches made up a very well known symbol to him. Three flame like prongs set in gold. There was no doubt about it.
It was the Shredder's symbol.
Leo looked up at Kia.
"No." He whispered, "Not you."
"Leo?" She asked, "What's wrong?"
Leonardo felt his breath tighten as his hand clutched the medallion. All he could see was a burning warehouse, Splinter being covered in burning beams and the foot raining down chaos on their heads.
"You…you're part of the foot."
"I'm sorry?"
"What was the price?" Leo demanded, "Gain Splinter's trust. Get him to tell you where our lair was and lead them here?" He knew he was getting angry. He couldn't help it. He thought they could trust her. Splinter thought they could trust her.
Kia shook her head.
"Leo. I have no idea what you're talking about."
"This is a tracking device!"
"It's a watch."
Leo flung it into the air and drew out his sword. With one swift motion he sliced the cover clean off.
"No!" Kia cried and then looked down at the exposed insides of the watch. A small red light was flashing in among the clock works. She stared at it, "I didn't know that was there. Leo I swear!"
Leonardo sheathed his sword and kicked the tracker into the water. The strong sewer current dragged it along bottom and well away from their lair.
"We have to get back."
"Leo. Who are these foot? Who are you afraid of?" Kia begged.
Leo turned two blazing eyes upon her.
"They're the ones who nearly killed Splinter. Who have nearly killed us numerous times. They are out to destroy all those who stand against them. And using that tracker, they may have just found us."
Leo stormed off leaving Kia standing in the sewer tunnel.
"David gave me that medallion." She whispered and began to sprint after Leonardo. After a few steps she stopped. Nearby was a manhole ladder. It led to the topside world. Where David and these foot soldiers were waiting to claim their prize.
Well she wouldn't give it to them. Wadding through the sewer water Kia gripped the ladder and began climbing.
Splinter sighed and relaxed on the couch, switching off his favourite program.
As though they knew exactly when to interrupt his solitude, his sons returned. They skidded in on their bikes, boards and blades, flying over jumps and grinding on poles.
"We're back!" Mike called unnecessarily, "Oh Master Splinter?"
"Oh there you are." Donatello found him, "Where's Leo?"
"Still brooding in his room no doubt." Raph muttered, folding up his blades.
"He went for a walk." Splinter said simply.
"Walking?" Mike shivered as though it was unheard of, "What about Kia? Where's my favourite human?"
"She has also gone for a walk." Splinter sat up and poured himself some tea.
Mike looked at Don.
"Man. Everyone's got this walking thing happening."
Raph had picked up on the more subtle message.
"You mean Leo's gone walking with Kia."
Splinter sipped his tea.
"Oh man!" Mike yelped, "Why didn't I think of that?"
"That's because you don't think." Don laughed and cuffed him over the head, "Nice one Leo."
"If he's got enough sense to actually make conversation." Raph chuckled, "He goes mute around her."
"That is not altogether a bad thing." Splinter remarked, "Then we would have some peace around here."
The archway doors ripped opened and Leonardo came running in.
"Right on cue." Mike clicked his three fingers.
"Nice walk?" Don grinned.
Leo flicked them a cold glance.
"We have a problem." He explained, "Kia's been wearing a watch with a tracking device in it."
"What?" Raph exploded.
"It gets worse." Leo looked at his Master, "It was in the shape of the Shredder's symbol."
Splinter's eyes narrowed while Donatello muttered,
"Oh shell."
Mike scratched his head.
"Does this mean she's a good guy or a bad guy?"
"I don't know." Leo turned around to look behind him and jerked, "Where is she? She was right behind me!"
"Maybe you lost her." Mike suggested.
"Or maybe she's done a runner." Raph growled, "She's gone topside."
"We don't know anything for sure." Donatello stopped them, "Only save that the lair is safe from being discovered."
"How Donny?"
"I set up a dampening field around the lair to stop any unauthorized signals getting in or out." He looked at Mike, "That's why you haven't been able to pick up that mud wrestling channel on twenty three."
"I did wonder." Mike mused.
"So the only time the tracking device has been in use was when Kia left the lair." Raph surmised, "Would she know her way back?"
"We walked all over." Leo shrugged, "I'm not sure."
"There is only one thing to do." Splinter stood up and gripped his walking stick, "Bring her back."
"What about the lair?" Raph called, grabbing his sai's.
"Security is pretty good." Don ran to the door following his brothers, "Master Splinter, lock down tight and don't let anyone in!"
"My sons." They paused in the door way, "Be safe."
They nodded and sprinted away.
Kia pushed up the manhole cover with difficulty. It was quite heavy.
Looking around, feeling like a fugitive, she clambered out and onto the street still wet after a later afternoon shower. Now the moon was out, glistening off the pavement, creating shadows everywhere.
Kia rubbed her arms, cold with nerves and not the weather. Timidly she looked around, heading towards the side of the road.
There was a rustle behind her and she spun around, backing up slowly, her heart beating so fast it hurt. A cat leapt out of some boxes, hissed at her and scurried away.
Kia closed her eyes and sighed.
Then ran straight into a hooded man with glowing eyes.
She yelped, a hand clasping over her mouth instantly as she was dragged into the side alley. It was filled with one truck, lots of rubbish and many hooded men staring at her.
Kia was pushed into the middle of them. Shaking she looked around.
"What do you want?" She demanded, her voice trembling.
One of the men stepped forward.
"Hello Kia."
"David?" She gasped and he pulled his mask off, "You're part of this?"
"Yes." He said simply, "A big part, if all goes to plan."
"But you're my brother!"
"Kia. I am not your brother." He said coldly, "And you are nobody's sister. But you are going to help me."
Kia glared at him.
"Well you can forget it. I'm not telling you where the rat or his sons are. I won't give you them."
"Kia, Kia. " David shook his head, "What makes you think I was after them?" He reached out and cupped her face, "I was after you."
"Me?" She exclaimed, "Why me?"
"You really have no idea do you?" David chuckled, "You've provoked high interest from my employer. He's going to be very pleased to meet you."
"She's not going anywhere."
The foot soldiers leapt into position, surrounding the four green turtles brandishing their weapons in the alleyway. David smiled.
"And not only have you returned to us Kia. But you've brought an extra bonus as well."
Kia's eyes widened.
"No. I would never…I didn't mean…" She looked at Leonardo whose face was grim, "Leo, I wouldn't betray you."
David shrugged.
"Too late." He grabbed her shoulder and pushed her aside, "Kill them!"
The foot raced into battle.
And the turtles were waiting.
Donatello whipped out his bo-staff, caught two foot off guards, knocking the third for six before catching a blow to the chest and falling back.
Michelangelo wound his nun-chucks around the foot's weapons, ripping them from their hands and flinging them aside. He then proceeded to clip the soldiers across the head, stunning each one where he stood.
Raphael punched, wrestled and rolled, yanking out a sai and flinging it at a soldier coming up behind Leo. He then body slammed the on coming traffic and then got stacked on.
Leonardo sliced and diced, forcing the foot back but also getting away from the safety of his team working brothers. With a lunge he caught one soldier off guard and tossed him aside.
A foot soldier landed a flying kick to his shell and he hit the pavement, knocking the wind out of him. Leo swiveled, grabbed the foot's leg and flung him into a pile of boxes. From his shell up position Leo could see the rooftops filling with numerous ninjas.
They weren't going to get out of this one.
Kia watched from near the van where she'd been pushed. David stood in front of her, gazing calmly at the scene before him.
The turtles were good but they were heavily outnumbered. And the foot were already calling in for reinforcements.
She was going to get them killed.
Suddenly she dove to one side and grabbed a broken, fallen blade. Holding it to her neck she yelled,
"Stop!"
No one heard her at first, her voice barely carrying through the battle fray. She yelled again this time getting David's attention.
His eyes widened and he stepped towards her.
Kia raised the blade and he stopped moving.
"Enough!" He roared and the foot simply dropped their weapons and jumped back.
"Who called time out!" Raph roared and got up from the ground. They were all staring at Kia whose hands were shaking, holding a blade dangerously close to her throat.
David swallowed.
"Kia." He reached out.
"Don't!" She yelled, "Don't or I swear I will kill myself."
David paused.
"What do you want?" He demanded.
"Let the turtles go." She explained, "Let them go and I will go with you freely."
Mike glanced at Donatello.
"Not quite the offer made by a traitor." He whispered, "Ow!" Raph had just clipped him over the shell.
David was staring at Kia.
"Four lives for one. Not what I would call a fair bargain."
Kia shrugged.
"Alright." She lifted the blade.
"Don't!" David yelled, betraying her importance, "Alright. The turtles may go. You will come with us."
"I have your word on that?" Kia demanded.
David clicked his fingers and the foot disappeared, melting into the shadows and vanishing from the rooftops. A few remained and they clambered into the van.
Looking around Kia glanced at the turtles. They were looking at her in confusion, Leonardo most of all.
"Kia…" He said, stepping forward.
She shook her head and he stopped.
"We're not leaving you."
"I think you are." She said, cursing the tremor in her voice, "Please." She looked at David, "Get in the van. I'm coming."
David got in the back and closed one of the doors. The other still open he waited for Kia to back towards the van. She did so slowly, watching the turtles.
"No." Leonardo went to leapt toward her. Raph grabbed his arm, "Kia."
"I'm so sorry Leo." She whispered.
David's arm snaked around her waist and she was dragged into the van. The door slammed behind them and the van exploded into gear, grinding out of the alleyway just missing the boxes of rubbish.
Leo ripped his arm free of Raphael and ran after the van.
"Kia!" He roared.
Suddenly a police car siren wailed and the car flew past them. Leo pulled back into the alley and stood still in the shadows. He hung his head as the police car disappeared down the street, no doubt chasing some second rate crook with no idea of the real battle they were all facing.
Leo held his head in his hands, trying not to lose control of his emotions in front of his brothers. They were standing nearby, not sure how to help him. He wasn't sure that they could.
"Leo." Donatello moved towards him, "We'll find her."
"We won't stop looking until we find her." Raph added.
"And when we do…" Mike left off the end to allow Leo's mind to fill in the blank.
"We're gonna make them pay."
Kia was shoved along a wide corridor with large glass windows on either side giving her a glimpse of the amazing technology in process behind them. Soldiers, like the ones who had brought her here wore white lab coats and were busily working on different instruments or studying through microscope.
As she passed with her multiple foot soldier entourage the technicians behind the windows all looked up and stared at her.
All the way down the long corridor, she could feel their stares.
Kia's skin felt cold and she could barely breathe.
With no other way to go she followed David, forcing one foot in front of the next.
At the end of the corridor was a large five sided room with a strange pointy roof. Pale green light filtered through the panels above them, sending an eerie glow onto the two occupants.
Kia hesitated as she saw the first man. He looked like a human tank, built with arms and legs that could crush her with one blow.
Yet he looked at her with respect and awe. And this she found more frightening than if he had glared.
The second man, standing in the shadows, watched her with burning red eyes.
"Master." David greeted and knelt down.
"You have brought me my prize?" The man asked, his voice like a serpent, deadly and accurate. And though he spoke to David, his eyes were on her.
"Kia is yours."
Kia couldn't swallow the lump in her throat and as the man reached out for her she wanted to scream but no sound came out. She was powerless.
The hand, instead of grabbing her roughly, touched her face almost tenderly.
"Kia." He said, stepping into the light, a man of metal blades and ancient power, "My own Kia."