A/n: Once again I am really, really sorry for the late update. Maybe the next story I'll write it all before I start to post. Like I said, I am really, really sorry. I will try to do better next time!
Disclaimer: I do own four turtles but they are not mutants and I certainty don't own any humans!! …Well, except for that whole human cloning lab that I have… Oops! That was top secret! *Smiles and shrugs her shoulders carelessly* Oh well!
P.S. Thanks bunches to my beta reader, ShadowElfBard. I don't know what I would do without you! I also want to formally apologize… again. You see every time I typed Raph, Shadow would change it to Ralph. It was just a silly little misunderstanding but I want you all to know that the red, hot headed turtle is name Raphael, Raph for short.
*****
8:30 AM
Office off to the side of the room where the turtle's cell is
SL 26
The Center
Blue Cove, Delaware
Raph sat in the chair opposite of the doctor who had led him into the room, with his feet propped up on the desk that separated them. The office was a normal, small office. The only way out was through the lab, so Raph sat back and decided to enjoy the ride. The doctor got out a clipboard as Raph picked up a paperweight and started to toss it in the air.
The doctor pulled out three blocks with pictures on them from underneath his desk and set them side-by-side next to Raph's feet.
"Can you show me the apple? Find me the aaaapple," he said as he moved his hand in the sign language form of the word apple.
Ralph stared at the doctor and looked at the blocks with the airplane, cat, and apple on them alternately. Finally he sighed and picked up the apple with his toes.
"Bite your tongue and say apple," he muttered as he deposited it into the doctor's waiting hand.
"Good turtle!!" the scientist exclaimed.
"Yeah, I'm a good turtle. Joy and happiness," Ralph mocked.
"Count to 100, please."
"One, two, skip a few, ninety- nine, a hundred. Your next question had better not be what two plus two is!" Ralph said, shaking his finger warningly at the man.
The man smiled. "What's one plus one?"
Raph growled. "Two! It's two! Ok? And cat is spelt C-A-T! Now how about we get on to the harder stuff?! I mean, I think I can at least handle algebra or somethin' like that, for goodness sakes!"
Raph sat back in his chair again and immediately cursed himself. He had promised himself that he wouldn't act like a loose cannon… and he had just brought himself one step closer to a place he didn't want to be.
*****
8:30 am
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL 5
Lyle's office
WARNING: FIRST PERSON MISS PARKER
Lyle walked into his office straightening his tie and whistling a merry tune. I didn't miss a beat. I slammed him up against the door as soon as it had closed and held him there, digging my fingernails into his windpipe to help get my message across.
"You know," I whispered in his ear. "Some people never learn. I told you once never to double cross me but you didn't listen. You're back to setting false leads for me on Jarod. To make matters worse, I have been in here for half an hour stewing. Now I am going to ask you once, and if I don't get an answer I like then I am going to rip your innards out and feed them to you. Now, where do you have Jarod and how the hell did you catch him?"
"If you let me go I'll tell you," he gasped.
"I highly doubt that," I said, but let him fall to the ground at my feet.
My eyes sparkled a bit at the fact that Lyle was in a way bowing at my feet. I crouched down to his level, as he was too busy gasping for air to come to mine.
"Now," I said sweetly as I lifted his head with two of my fingertips under his chin. "There is something that you want to tell me?"
"I have a friend in New York that spotted Jarod and Kara. We caught them and brought them back. Simple as that."
"No, not simple as that. If it were as simple as that they both would have gotten away without any problem. What did you do different?"
"We brought tranquilizer guns with us."
"Hmm… You bring tranquilizer guns to catch two escaped pretenders? Interesting. Where do you have them?"
"Same cells they were in last time. Kara's vent has been removed and Jarod is not being taken off his floor for anything that isn't imperative.
I got up from the floor in one smooth motion. I stepped over Lyle's body as he let himself slump back on the floor, still trying to catch his breath. I opened the door, moving Lyle's body away with it in the process, and walked out of his office.
He gets me so irritated sometimes with his shenanigans. I really felt like slamming my heel into his stomach and twisting it around with all my weight until something burst and he bleed to death, but daddy wouldn't like that very much. But I am pretty sure that the janitors would have been all too happy to clean up a mess like that. I know I would be.
*****
10:00 am
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL 26
Kara's room
WARNING: FIRST PERSON DR. BO:
I walked into Kara's room as the door slid open, and she noticeably jumped at the beep of the lock. Instead of greeting me like she normally did with a witty remark or grin, she crouched and flattened herself onto the floor as close as she could get, as if wishing to become one with the concrete. Her red, tear stained face was conspicuous to me. She quickly tried to cover up the frightened look on her face. When she saw it was I at the door and not whom she had expected, she calmed down somewhat and let anger replace her previous anxiety.
I went over and sat on the bed, sensing a talk in the immediate future. Kara came over and sat before me; though not as close as she normally would. She was still scared and edgy.
"What happened?" I asked.
"They used her against me," she mumbled with barely controlled fury. "It wasn't enough to kill her. They had to take pictures and manipulate her in every way imaginable. They just couldn't let her rest in peace."
She let out a scream of rage and punched the floor in front of her with all her might. I heard a crack and knew I would need to take a look at her hand to make sure she did no real damage. She continued to ramble on. I listened in hope that she might reveal what had made her feel so helpless.
*****
FLASH BACK TWO HOURS AGO
SL 26
Sim lab 119
Lyle walked into the sim lab. There were two sweepers there either side of Kara, and Lyle motioned for them to stay where they were.
"Hello Takara," he greeted in a bright cheery voice.
Kara flashed him an imprudent grin. Lyle took a picture out of the file he was holding. He let it fall to the floor right in front of Kara.
"Remember mommy?" he whispered.
Kara gasped audibly and picked up the picture of her mother. It depicted her mother riding a horse bareback. She cradled the picture in her hands for a few moments. Lyle let another picture drop to the floor, but this time Kara recoiled at the sight of it. She tried to scoot back farther against the wall but the sweepers held her still. It showed a picture of her mother barely alive next to what used to be a car. Lyle was propping her up on his leg, smiling.
"You know she didn't die right away when Willie ran her off the road. She got her back broken from the impact hitting the tree, but she was still alive. She managed to pull herself from the car by the time I got to her. We had a nice little talk about you. I told her about the life I would so generously give you. She told me that she thought this would be a good place for you to grow and not be held back by other people."
"Liar!" Kara screamed.
"If you don't believe me then listen to the tape."
Lyle pulled out a recorder and clicked 'Play'.
" 'Maybe that would be a good place for her. I always felt like I was holding her back. Now I know I was.' "
Lyle clicked it off. Now Kara was on her feet the sweepers were hard pressed to hold her back. She had tears streaming down her face.
"No!! Liar!! She wouldn't say that!!" She fell to her knees crying. "She wouldn't say that!"
Lyle threw down yet another picture. This one was one taken from a Centre security camera. It was her mother on an autopsy table.
"Thanks to your mother we've found out a lot about what makes pretenders, pretenders."
This time Kara puked all over the floor right at Lyle's feet. She was seeing pictures of her own mother being opened up and studied like some sort of animal.
"We never buried her. She is still here. Just in case you feel the need to be close to her."
Kara's heart wrenching sobs could be heard through the whole sub level as the sweepers carried her back to her cell.
*****
12:00 pm
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
Turtle's Cell
SL 26
"Leo, it's not going to work! You shouldn't have even brought it up! And this is how they got the idea to put those things in our arms. They did it to control us 'cause YOU gave away the plan!" Raph screamed.
He and Leo had started fighting as soon as they got back from the IQ test ten minutes ago.
"What else am I supposed to do, Raph!? Am I supposed to tell you all about escape plans through telepathy?! Is that it, Raphael? You want us all to become mind readers?"
"Well maybe if you just kept your plans to yourself, Leonardo, until we were alone, we would have a better chance of concealing it!"
"When are ever alone, Raph?!"
"So now you're tryin' to make me look dumb?!"
Raph shoved Leo.
"You said it, not me!"
He shoved Raph back. Raph charged. The brothers went tumbling to the ground throwing punches at each other. The scientists outside the cage went berserk.
"Should we shock them both?"
"No, let them fight. It is a fight of dominance, I think. If it gets too bad we may have to shock them, but if we do it now they'll only fight again later on."
"Why would it be a fight of dominance? They have lived together in the same environment for a long time, right?"
"If you've noticed, they had deep cuts in their plastrons and carapaces. They must have fought before this."
Inside the cage Mikey and Don were talking quietly as if totally unfazed by the ruckus their other brothers were making.
"I say it lasts ten seconds."
"I say thirty. Remember last time?"
"Do you have your watch on, Donny?"
"No, they took it."
"Oh well, one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand…"
Mikey continued to count the seconds the fight would last. Don, having nothing else to do, started calling out advice to his bros.
"Nice reverse punch, Raph. Sweet dragon kick, Leo. Are you gonna let him beat you, Raph?"
Mikey stopped counting for a moment.
"You know, you aren't making it any better, bro."
Donny shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothing's going to make it better. Might as well enjoy the fight."
Mikey laughed and continued to count. Meanwhile Leo and Raph had changed from kickboxing to wrestling. They were on the ground rolling round and round. Every once in awhile they would make a snide remark to one another, but other than that they were silent. Suddenly Raph jumped off the floor. Leo soon followed suit. They changed their fighting style to street fighting. Raph tried to take Leo's head off with a foolish swing of his right fist. Leo retaliated by ducking and giving Raph a quick upper cut to his exposed face. Raph went down and Leo pursued him. He was about to give Raph a quick rap to the head with his knuckles when Mikey came up behind him and caught his clenched hand in his own.
"Hey! Leo! Dude bro, you don't really wanna do that do ya?"
Don was near Raph in case he decided that the fight wasn't over yet. Leo looked in bewilderment from his hand that Mikey still held to Raph on the floor trying hard to get his jaw working right again.
"Aw man!! Raph!! I'm really sorry, dude! I don't know what came over me!"
Mikey let go of him when he saw the fight was over, and Leo walked over to help Raph up. He took the offered help as he worked his mouth a bit.
"It's okay, Leo. You have a right to be dumb sometimes."
He laughed. " If I remember right, Raph… you were the one who charged me."
"Well you…"
"Guys, guys!" interrupted Donny. "Let's not have a rematch, huh? I think if you have another go at it those dudes out there are gonna go off the deep end."
Surly enough when they all looked through the cage bars, all the scientists were staring at them, slack jawed. A few of them looked woozy and about to drop over. At the sight Raph laughed evilly, grinned, and waved. A few of the scientists waved back, too stunned to do anything else. This only made Raph's grin widen
*****
1:00 pm
Blue Cove, Delaware
Blue Cove Zoo
Reptile Exhibit
"George is a Galapagos Tortoise, otherwise known as geochelone elephantophus abingdoni. There are eleven sub species of the Galapagos tortoise and George is the only one of his sub species left. For some reason he doesn't seem to want to mate with any of the sub species that are closely related to him. George is approximately 50 to 80 years old and can live from 150 to 200 years…"
The voice of the trainer rambled on.
"Look, Miss Parker!! It's a big turtle!" Debbie squealed as she pointed towards an enclosure.
"That's not a turtle, Debbie. It's a tortoise. He is one of the biggest tortoises in the world."
"Wow, really? I bet you could ride on him just like a horse."
"You can. In fact, that's what people did in the olden days. They would ride on them for sport. They would also use their fat for oil. That's why there is only one left."
"Only one? Doesn't he get lonely? What about a wife?"
Miss Parker laughed a bit. "Yes, he probably does get lonely. Do you want to go say hi to him?"
"Can I?"
"Sure… I took the rest of the day off so after this we can go out to dinner together."
"Thanks, Miss Parker."
"Any time, Debbie."
The truth was that when Miss Parker had tried to gain access to Jarod's cell she was completely blown off. No one was allowed down there except for the most experienced sweepers and people cleared by Lyle. She had been so angry that she had taken the rest of the day off. There wasn't much she could do anyway. Jarod was caught and Kyle was dead. Her job was done.
"Hi, George. My name's Debbie. If you feel lonely, I can be your friend. I get lonely sometimes, too."
'Oh great', Parker thought, 'now Debbie is spilling her guts to a giant reptile.'
"Come on, Debbie. Let's go see the elephants. We can come back and see George later."
Parker held out her hand, and Debbie jumped from her perch on the fence that separated the tortoise enclosure and the public walkway. They started walking towards the African safari segment of the zoo, when a keeper with a snowy Bengal Tiger on a chain walked by. Debbie's eyes grew huge.
"Look, Miss Parker! It's a huge kitty! He looks like my kitty only much, much bigger!"
The keeper stopped and took his time to let the tiger perform a trick for Debbie. She squealed with delight at seeing such a big 'kitty' dancing on his hind legs. Parker couldn't help but smile. This kid was so happy to see the smallest things. You could probably give her a balloon and she would be forever in your debt.
*****
1:00 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL 26
Kara's cell
After Kara had finished telling her tale she sat in Dr. Bo's arms and cried with bitter sobs. He rocked her back and forth, murmuring soothing words to her. Her tears finally subsided and she sat in his arms gasping for air. He pulled her away gently to look her in the eye.
"When was the last time you ate?"
Kara sniffled a bit and wiped a few stray tears away from her raw, red eyes.
"Um… I had some oatmeal crap yesterday when they brought me back from my physical endurance test."
Bo got up and left the cell. "I will be back in a minute."
He came back carrying a tray consisting of deer meat, string beans, pineapple, and milk. He set it in front of her. She looked at the food for a moment as if in deep thought. Finally she took a deep breath, swallowing back an uneven gasp. She took up the fork and began to eat.
After she had eaten, she remained unresponsive. Any question Dr. Bo would ask, no matter how small or unimportant, was either answered with a slight movement of the head or a few simple words. Bo stopped his questioning for a moment. He studied Kara's straight face, devoid of any emotion. Finally he got up from his perch and walked wordlessly out of her cell. Kara didn't seem to notice. She moved back to her corner, not even bothering to try and trip a guard with her food tray.
Moments later Dr. Bo reappeared at the door. The door didn't beep when he walked in, to Kara's surprise. He had purposely left it unlocked so as not to scare her again.
"Kara? There is someone here that I think will help you."
Kara didn't bother to look up. She only raised her head enough to see the feet of Bo and his friend. The feet of his companion were green! Kara's head shot up to meet with the eyes of Raph. She gave him a painful gaze and dropped her head. Raph rushed over to her as she started to cry again. She clung to him as he rocked her back and forth and ran his few fingers through her hair.
"Shh… it's ok. I'm here. Whatever they did to you, it doesn't matter. They did it to make you act this way. You can't let them win," he soothed.
"I don't wanna talk 'bout it," came Kara's muffled voice.
"Hey, it's fine if you don't wanna talk about it. I can understand that. But I'm gonna stay here until you feel better, ok?"
"Why'd they let you come?"
"I donno… they played ennie meanie minie moe and I was picked."
Kara pulled back from Raph slightly and wiped her eyes once more. She gave a dry chuckle at the thought of the scientists trying to decide on which turtle to let out of their cage.
"So they let you guys stay together?"
"Yeah. Don said it had something to do with mental stability… I donno."
Kara pulled back a bit more and noticed the tattoo now imprinted on Raph's right arm. She ran her fingertips over it lightly with concern on her face.
"Raph… they did this to you?"
"Yeah, and it seems to be our new names now." he chuckled. "Mikey says it makes us sound like secret agents."
"Ha, not far from it, dude."
Ralph caught Kara's chin in his hand and looked her in the eyes.
"You okay, now?"
"No… I don't think I'll ever be okay. I just think I'm all cried out. They killed my mom, Raph. Not only did they kill her, but they used her to see if the parents had anything to do with pretenders being pretenders. They used her and disgraced her body in every way imaginable. I just… I just… uh!!"
Kara went to slam her fist into the floor again but Raph caught it and held her hand lightly.
"You don't wanna do that. It hurts more after the adrenaline dissipates. The same thing that is keeping you from being property of The Centre, Kara, is the same thing that has kept your mother from feeling any pain or injustice. That body they experimented on is just a carcass, an empty carcass not housing any life. Your mom has gone to a better place Kara. Her spirit is the only thing that can be shamed or disgraced. Her body can't feel that. I'm not saying that what they did was right, but I am saying that wherever your mother is right now, she doesn't feel any of that dishonor. One day we can pay them back for all they have done to you, Kara, but we can't do that if you don't have your heart in the right place. You can't be blinded by anger. You can't let it cloud your judgment. I promise one day fate will give them what they deserve. I promise."
He hugged Kara again to emphasize his point. She hugged him back for a few moments.
"Thanks, Raph… I needed that."
"Ha ha, well you're not the only one. I just got over a big fight with Leo."
"How big?"
"Huge! Mikey said it lasted a full minute before we finally came to our senses."
"I'm not even gonna ask how it started."
"Good, 'cause I don't rightly know."
Bo decided to take this time to butt in. "Are you starting to feel back to your old self, Kara?"
"If I say no then could Raph stay?"
"I'm afraid not. Dr. Chutuck is going to have a cow if he finds out that I made a bargain with Dr. Kozwell to borrow him for a bit."
Raph got up and ruffled Kara's hair. He walked towards the door and Dr. Bo put his hand on his shoulder.
"Ok dude, I like ya an all but if ya put your hands on me your gonna get it. Got it?"
Bo gave a deep bass chuckle. "Whatever you say."
"It better be what ever I say, 'cause otherwise I'll ninja kick ya in the face!"
Kara laughed at the two while their bickering faded away down the hall. She got up to go sit on her bed when something caught her eye. In the middle of the floor was her empty food tray. She stood for a moment, staring at it. Finally she gave a wicked grin and picked it up as she moved towards the tray flap.
*****
2:00 pm
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL 22
Jarod's Cell B
WARNING FIRST PERSON JAROD:
I sat in my cell pondering over today's events. Had I done the right thing? The outcomes of my decisions were bleak either way. Cold blooded murders of innocent people if I refuse to work, or the indirect murder of millions of people if I cooperate. Lyle has presented me with an ultimatum and he knows it. He's just waiting for me to come out swinging, but I'm not sure if I can.
I don't think it's ever been so hard for me to think up an escape plan. Before it was only me and all I had to do was bide my time until I could break and run. Now even if they took me outside and set me on the road and told me to run free I'm not sure if I could. If I escaped then Lyle would tighten security around Kara's cell. He thinks that she is the most important to me. The truth is that she is the most vulnerable. She doesn't have the skills that my other friends posses. My new friends tend to make their decisions carefully. On the other hand, Kara usually relies and acts on her instincts. I know it is going to get her in trouble before the day comes that we leave here.
I am well past the stage or shedding tears for the lady that died for my sake and the children that now have to grow up without a mother. Lyle is just waiting for me to have a mental break down. If I did have one he could practically get me to do anything he wanted. No, I need to stay strong, not just for myself but also for everyone else.
Maybe if I pick up my singing again Lyle won't notice how much these recent events are troubling me.
"This is the jingle for goldfish
Yes, baked but not fried
Goldfish the little snack that smiles back until you bite their heads off
Did you know there made with real cheese?
Even though the look like fishies.
The snack that smiles back, goldfish
Now don't adjust your TV
New gold fish come in colors
They're still baked with real cheddar
And they've never looked much better
Of course their baked and not fried
You haven't lived till you've tried
The snack that smiles back, Goldfish"
I had better think up an escape plan soon. I'm running of commercial songs to sing. I could always whistle the Starburst song, but if I did that they'd probably gag me before long. Oh well, there's not much else to do. I might as well try and go for the Most Annoying Person Of-The-Year award while I'm stuck here.
"Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall,
Ninety-nine bottle of beer,
Take one down,
Pass it around,
Ninety eight bottles of beer on the wall…"