Well, lets just get this party started!

Disclaimer: Hm…fishes go pook, pook, pook! (All for you Ani!)

Chapter Twelve

"AVTech?"

Centrice couldn't help but repeat the funny sounding word, seemingly tasting it on her tongue as the awkward sounds rolled over her lips. Meanwhile, Don and Raph perked up at the familiar term, as if having heard it before. Well, in reality, they had, a little less than twenty four hours before, actually.

At the recognition, Don couldn't help but add his own two cent.

"Your headquarters, right? You said it stood for…Advanced…Vampiric Technical."

Owen nodded; smiling at Don's obvious enthusiasm as he visibly remembered their previous conversation. Owen also couldn't help but throw a knowledgeable glance to the only other turtle that paid witness to that same conversation.

And in response, Raphael nodded back, his eyes knowledgeable as well.

They remembered, but nevertheless, he would still have to explain it all from the beginning as the rest of them still watched him questionably.

Well, most of them still watched him.

Leonardo, however, instead of watching Owen, watched the newly spoken Donatello, his mind in slight turmoil.

'How did he know that?…'

They must have talked about it earlier, him and Owen. That was the only way Don could have known such details, which in itself, did not sit well with Leonardo. He wasn't used to not knowing all that he could about a subject, but with this new character, Owen, he didn't, which left him…unsettled. It wouldn't have been so bad, since Donny is Owen student, if he was the only on that knew something…

But with one look at Raphael, it seemed as though that hope could be grounded. Raph knew something as well.

They all must have talked before, possibly late last night or something. However, he didn't get to dwell on the thought for long. Owen's deep tenor of a voice soon resonated in the den once more, cutting off his thought process all together.

Besides, he could just ask his brothers later…

Owen continued, oblivious, (well, not really) to the secretly skeptical thoughts of Leo's mind.

"Yes, it is my headquarters, as well as the headquarters of all vampires in this part of New York. However, it is more than that…" He trailed off, looking each turtle (plus girl) in the eye as he explained.

Now, this was the part he really didn't want to tell, and had no more than expertly avoided in his first conversation with the turtles the night before. However, he knew now that it was no use. The beans just had to be spilled…

"It's more than that." He sighed.

'Here goes.'

"AVTech was first made in the turn of the century as a small cooperation, meaning to organize the vampires of these parts and all over the world. But now, it's a world wide corporation, set for the protection of the human race." He watched as their gazes grew thoughtful, and frowned. Their gazes wouldn't be thoughtful for long.

It would get worse.

"Most vampires cooperated with the new companies and as a result, they sprung up faster than ever. They offered protection of values as well as a unifying bond for all vampires with the same beliefs. That being something that most vampires could not resist, most signed up very willingly. However…"

He turned then, looking Donatello right in the eye. If anyone needed to know this, it was him.

"Not all vampires share the same views."

At this Michelangelo blinked, the pieces slowly falling together as he remembered his time up on the roof top with the vampire before him. The vampires' words from below still ran though his mind, completing the picture Owen was now trying to make.

"They drink blood, all of the blood, leaving the person for dead. They don't even care that they are killing off humans. It's nothing to them. Well, it's more of a game than anything else. A sick…twisted…game…" Michelangelo's quite but somber (almost haunted) voice rolled over the ears of all those in the room as he trailed off, also earning him a look from Leonardo. Actually, it earned him a look from everyone, except for Owen, who just nodded in response.

It seemed that his private times with the turtles were paying off. They all learned from him, which had been his intent in the first place. They had to learn, they had to if only to understand what he (and now their brother), truly were. Owen nodded, another smile at his silent accomplishment spreading across his lips.

His only regret was that it had all happened so fast. He had only arrived twenty four hours ago, and already he found himself spilling it all. The turtle's had been too smart, too smart to not know, to not find out/figure out all that they could through his actions and words.

Nevertheless, he continued.

There was no stopping now, even if the time was too short.

This just had to be done.

Meanwhile, Leo couldn't help but feel a bit left out. He seemed to be the only one that was not in the loop when it came to Owen.

Well, him and Centrice.

He caught her gaze then, the look of absolute cluelessness etched all over her features, just as he thought it was etched on his.

At least he wasn't the only one totally clueless.

"Yes, Michelangelo, you are correct in your explanation. They kill unmercifully, or at least they would if it wasn't for AVTech." Owen now felt that he had their all full attention and was driven to continue because of it. "It was AVTech that made it law not to murder or take the life of that of a human."

"But how? Aren't vampires like, immortal? It's not like you can just throw them in jail for life…" Centrice trailed off, the look Owen suddenly threw her making her uneasy. Owen inwardly frowned.

'I was getting to that.'

"Well, yes. It is hard, but we have found…ways…for dealing with the situation." His new statement seemed to perk the interests of at least one turtle. Raph looked up from his perch on the couch. While listening, he had crossed his arm, but now, they uncrossed as he spoke, his voice quite and curious.

"Ways like what?"

Owen turned to the turtle in Red, a genuine smile spreading on his lips despite his disposition.

Raphael. The curious one. The intrigued one. The jealous one…

Although, he would never admit it.

"Well," He thought about the turtle's question. What would be the best way to go about answering it? "We have ways of…containment…that seems to work. The insolent vampires, would by law, serve time for their transgressions against humanity and vampirism alike."

He stopped, sighing. Now, the other hard part. He would have to explain his role in the whole thing, and effectively, make or break his relationship with the turtles, specifically, his student. He turned to Donatello now, seemingly looking the quiet turtle in the eye, not at all surprised to find understanding and curiosity there.

His first friend, this turtle was.

He just hoped what he was about to say next wouldn't steal that friendship away.

Well, here goes.

"You se-"

"How do you guys keep them there…their, like, Vampires for cryps sake! I would think that they wouldn't just sit still and be imprisoned like that!" Centrice's all but annoying voice cut though his speech, causing him to throw yet another glare in her direction. Thankfully, she piped down.

'If she would just shut up and listen, I would get to all of that!'

Now, with the room quiet once again, he took a breath to calm his spastic, bordering on angry, nerves before continuing.

"We have…methods…around that as well, Centrice." He let his hard gaze linger on her for a moment before allowing it to soften and scan the other faces as well. "There are consequences for escapees that are most undesirable."

"Like what?"

Raphael. His inquisitiveness never-ending.

"Well, those that escaped are then considered bounty heads…"

Leo peak up, his interest rising at the new term.

'Bounty? But that means…'

"Vampires have bounty hunters?" Leo blinked, stunned. It almost seemed…barbaric…in nature, one person hunting another just for the reward of money, but it seemed all in good cause, the hunted being a great threat to society.

However, his mind still wasn't made up, but policing was policing, and that was just one of its forms.

Meanwhile, Owen blinked. Leo had sounded almost…surprised.

"Yes, Leonardo. We do have bounty hunters, but not in the same sense as humans..."

This all but piped Doantello's curiosity. Well, it had been peaked the whole time, but now, he actually felt the need to ask a question. An important question.

"Well then, how do your bounty hunters work?"

Owen turned his gaze to Donatello once more, locking eyes with his student. His friend.

He sighed. Here comes the hard part.

"Well, since vampires are mostly immortal, hence, they live for a very long time, it can only be expected that once they learn how to escape from the correctional institutions, they will never forget how; meaning, that if we were to put them back in there, they would only escape again. That is where the bounty hunters come in. Once free, the vampires must be hunted down and…eradicated."

All of them blinked, except for Donny, of who frowned deeply.

"Do you mean the bounty hunters kill them instead of just capturing them?" If Donny's frown could get any deeper, it did, as Owen nodded.

"Yes, they must, for the good of our organization and of humans alike."

Meanwhile, Mike sat in silent contemplation. All of this was sounding strangely familiar…

'Vampire Bounty hunters? Hunters of bounty heads…' Once again his mind couldn't help but go back to the scene in the alleyway. Those two guys talking…

Bounty heads.

And Owen?

"You're a bounty hunter, aren't you?"

Michelangelo's quite but serous voice all but broke the silence as well as Owen's thoughts. He nearly gaped. Out of all of the turtles, he would have thought that it would have been Leonardo to guess what he was, but Mike? He didn't seem as though he was that observant in that sense, but despite his thoughts, Michelangelo put two and two together. And now, because of it, everyone watched him evenly, their apprehensiveness rising according as they waited for an answer.

Sometimes the truth can be your guide to freedom. However, other times, it can just as easily be your downfall.

"Yes. Yes I am. Bu-" He was cut off as the world beneath him disintegrated. In a movement too fast for the others to catch, but not nearly fast enough for Owen to miss, Leo was up and at his throat in microseconds. Owen sighed, allowing himself to get smashed to the wall, Leo's arm pinned against his throat. Absently, he felt his feet leave the ground as he was lifted, his form dangling. His back stung at the impact before melting away into nothing as whatever flesh that was damaged during the attack, healed itself.

Owen blinked.

He could have easily avoided it. Heck, he could kill the turtle with a blink if wanted too, or make him go insane.

But that wouldn't look good on his already poor resume, would it?

So instead, he allowed what was happening to happen, if only to show that he wasn't as violent as once thought. However, it seemed as though his attempts at nonviolence would be proven futile. Leonardo's mind all but screamed that out at him, and as such, hearing the enraged turtle's thoughts could not be avoided.

However, nothing could have prepared Owen for what he heard there in Leo's mind.

'He's here to kill Donny, probably just for money! Well, not if I can help it! No one threatens my brother's life, no one!"

On the outside, Leonardo snarled.

Owen blinked, suddenly realizing why he was so abruptly pinned against the concrete wall by an angry turtle.

'Well, that sure does explain a lot, doesn't it?'

To say that Leo's assumption had been wrong would have been the understatement of the year. He didn't want to hurt Donatello, not at all. But would Leo understand that?

With one more look in Leo's direction, Owen slumped in his arms in near defeat.

All arrows pointed to no.

However, this time it seemed as though he didn't have to come to his own defense. Another voice rung out in the now silent room. A savior of sorts.

"Leo, let him go."

It was Donatello.

-

Lol! Yay, a Cliffy! R and R and keep posted!