A/n: Sorry it took me so long to update this. It is a complicated story, and I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing before I proceeded. Also, life got in the way.
I've decided to alter the format of this story for the time being. Right now there are two separate events going on, and I think that I will be putting them in separate chapters as I go along as well. It is, of course, the same story, and there will eventually be a connection made.
Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT, but there is some other stuff in here that I –do- own.
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It hurt to stand up. Splinter knew he needed to get up, and he had tried the conventional approach. This did not work. His broken foot could not support weight. He had actually fallen down, landing perilously close to Dave's lap. The burly man had simply rumbled a laugh and grabbed onto Splinter's upper arm, yanking the old rat forcefully to his feet.
"Thank you," Splinter said, making a conscious effort to keep the frustration out of his voice.
"No prob, Ratty," Dave said, earning a mild glare from Splinter.
"I must get help for this injury," Splinter said. He began to survey the immediate area, looking for a potential creature to approach. What he saw was a veritable sea of humanity, crammed like sardines into a metal dome, peppered by black, brown, and red creatures, many donning shiny black armor. This had become a familiar sight in the few short hours Splinter had been in this place. He began to look more closely at the creatures.
The nearest to his position was a particularly tall creature with jet-black fur. It was wearing full battle gear, its metal gleaming with an almost liquid quality. The creature's gear featured a domed helmet and faceplate, which extended halfway down its snout and covered its eyes; shoulder and torso plate armor; leg grips; claw gloves; steel-rimmed boots and a huge meter-long gun hanging from the shoulder. Splinter did not think it would be a good candidate for approach.
He turned his attention toward the wall closest to he and Dave's location. Here there was a small doorway, which looked as though it could only accommodate one of these large creatures at a time. Near this doorway several unarmored creatures were standing. They were of various colors, though Splinter noticed that most of them were red. Despite the lack of armor, they were in uniform, each wearing a pair of gray work-style pants and a button-up shirt. All of the shirts were green, with a collar folded down in a triangle across the front. Splinter noticed, after squinting slightly, that one of the creatures had white trim along the outside of the collar. It was one of the many with red fur, but it was also the one doing most of the talking in the group.
Splinter considered how he was going to get this creature's attention. It seemed to have some kind of rank, so it was the most likely choice for assistance. He turned to Dave.
"Would you be willing to help me navigate over to that creature with the white on its collar? I fear I will fall if I try to hop through all these people."
Dave rolled his eyes, "Sure thing. No need ta be so polite about it. Coulda just said 'hey Dave, help me walk.'"
Splinter smiled slightly, "I prefer politeness. It has served me well over the years."
Dave shrugged and took hold of Splinter's upper arm once again. He began to pick his way through the crowd, showing remarkable care not to step on fingers as he moved. Splinter awkwardly hopped along beside him. The going was slow, but it was made easier because people did not want Splinter to get near them. As they shambled near the edge of the dome, the creatures that were standing there snapped their heads around, their blue eyes narrowing. Dave made a rumbling noise in the back of his throat, but he did not slow his progress toward them. They were about ten meters from the creatures when the one with the white trim took several swift steps forward.
"Grebaark knuuhchfa. Yeungya braaken kraugnth." The words tumbled out of the creatures' mouth like rocks, clattering against each other.
"Wha?" Dave asked, peering at the creature with a look of disgust.
"Grebaark. Ullya kerugna braaku braaken!" The creature's voice rose with each clattering syllable. Splinter put up his hand quickly.
"Please," the old rat said, "We mean no disrespect. My foot is broken and I need assistance." Splinter was certain his words would not be understood, but he made the effort regardless. After he spoke, the creature with the white trim leaned forward slowly, it's large nostrils twitching.
"Harkun." It said and made a forceful gesture with its furry red hand. One of the other uniformed creatures, this one sporting a coat of dull brown fur, spun on its heel and ran through the small door in the dome. Splinter caught a glimpse of a long, sterile-looking hallway as the door swished shut.
"So…are they gonna help you?" Dave asked, looking down at Splinter.
"Quiet," Splinter said in a commanding voice. Dave's eyes grew wide for a moment and his mouth opened as if to protest, but he then shut it, his eyes turning back to the creature with the white trim.
After a few moments the door swished open again, revealing the gray creature. It was carrying a small black cube that fit neatly into its hand.
"Harbrun naaku braaka," The white trimmed creature said. The gray creature stepped forward and the white trimmed creature took the box from its hand. "Hebrak nufghta. Yefthun narga yalohg."
The gray creature stepped back and bowed its head slightly, and the white trimmed creature turned its blue eyes on Splinter. The old rat thought that the creature was going to speak again, but instead it pressed a large finger against the black box. It began to hum, and then it rose a few centimeters into the air. Dave's eyes narrowed and he began to pull back from the strange item. Splinter also felt some trepidation as he watched the box spin faster and faster. Then, with a small pop, it sped away from the white trimmed creature's hand and smacked into Splinter's chest.
The old rat exclaimed as the black box became a black blob, smearing itself into his fur. He and Dave watched in revulsion as it began to move, splitting in two and climbing down each of his arms.
"What is this abomination?" Splinter asked, staring at his arms.
"Grebacha," the white trimmed creature said, it's mouth curling into what looked somewhat like a smirk. The blobs moved down Splinter's arms and stopped at his hands, forming glistening black globules around them. Then, with amazing force, they pulled together, binding Splinter's hands to each other. Splinter tried to struggle free, but the blobs remained in place.
The white trimmed creature turned on its heel and began walking toward the doorway. Splinter felt himself being pulled along by the blobs. He tried to resist, but the force did not relent.
"What the hell?" Dave exclaimed, following after Splinter and the white-trimmed creature, "Where are you going? He needs help!"
The white trimmed creature made a gesture and two of the creatures by the door grabbed Dave by the shoulders and began to drag him back to the masses of humans in the dome.
"No!" Dave exclaimed, "What're you freaks gonna do?"
Splinter turned back as Dave was being dragged in the opposite direction, "Do not fear, my friend. Perhaps they are going to help me."
"Yeah, right!" Dave said angrily as the door swished closed behind Splinter.