Disclaimer: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles belong to Mirage Studios, Peter A. Laird, and Kevin B. Eastman. I use them without permission, and without monetary profit.
Chapter Thirteen:
Splinter read every page of information that Donatello had smuggled away. He painstakingly went over all of the details, meditated, and then read the pages again. There was indeed a substantial amount of experiments that were performed in the building, some of them thinly veiled, and very suspicious.
Namely the fact that alongside some experiments on human DNA, there were experiments on animal DNA. Nothing to suggest that the DNA was then combined or a mutagen was in the process of being created, but the circumstances were enough to make Splinter very wary.
Indeed, there was something in that building, something huge and possibly illegal. However the question was, was defeating the Foot the main focus of this mission, or finding out what was in the main room of the NAMIR building?
And did it matter which one it was?
Splinter sighed as he unfolded his limbs out of the lotus position and rose with the help of his walking stick. In the living room his sons awaited his orders he felt very much like a washed up general commanding a small, naive, but competent army. He was proud of their skill and abilities, but was it all necessary? He taught the boys ninjitsu out of a need to pass on his knowledge and to keep them safe, out of harm's way. However, since the first day he found them, he hadn't felt like he was effectively keeping them safe.
Every scar, every drop of blood, every tear, he felt responsible for. And he wouldn't always be around to pick them up when they fell. Had he taught them what they needed to know? Or had he only given them enough information so that they found themselves in trouble more than safe. Their large hearts led them to greatly care for mankind, no matter of acceptance or not. They felt their abilities were squandered if not used to protect.
He agreed because it was true, but a part of him wished they weren't so noble and were content with merely protecting themselves. Splinter would endure much for his sons' safety. He didn't know how to let go, so he merely remained silent, watching, seeing if their mettle was stronger than his own. It gave them the mistaken impression that the rat was strong and wise. The words he spoke were those he thought Master Yoshi would speak. He wished they never found out otherwise.
Leo's eyes lit up when he spotted Splinter. The old rat felt a twinge in his heart; warmth spreading, and knew his muzzle was twitching with a smile in return. His Teacher's Pet; his greatest student; his sponge.
Splinter sat down on a beaten recliner that his sons had sat before as if it was a throne, and glanced at each.
Donatello, Michealangelo, Raphael. Alive, eager, young. Splinter wanted to gather them all up and hold onto them. He wished they had never mutated, that he had kept them in that coffee container, safe, warm, protected. Sighing at his weakness, Splinter spoke. He told his students of his plan, his opinions, and his mandate.
They would attack the Foot's new headquarters. But not like the samurai who attacked head on, with what they considered honor. No, they'd attack like true ninja.
------------------------------------------------------
While Splinter meditated Michalengelo took Chassidy to April's apartment. From there, she called Stephanie.
"Chassidy? What the hell happened? Peter announced you weren't working with us anymore and then continued on with the pre-open meeting."
Chassidy's heart clenched in her chest. "Stone's after me. It's not safe to work there anymore. I need a new job, and I need a new place to live. Sleeping on the sofa of my friend's place is wearing out my welcome."
Mikey popped his head into the kitchen where she was huddling in the corner for some privacy. "Not!" he chirped and returned to the living room.
Stephanie didn't hear him. "So what does that mean?"
Chassidy twiddled with the hem of her shirt. "I need a roommate to afford any kind of apartment, and I was curious if you knew anyone."
Stephanie was quiet for a while. Chassidy bit her lip and wrapped the edge of her shirt around her finger until it turned purple and white.
"I know a couple of people, but… they're not your type." Stephanie warned finally.
"I don't care. I don't have a type."
"Yes you do. You're straight."
Chassidy felt her stomach clench as she let herself reveal: "I'm not the most saintly person on the face of the planet. I've done… stuff… most people wouldn't like to admit to. Being gay or straight isn't something I'm going to hold against anyone, let alone someone kind enough to pay half the rent. I don't need a best friend. Just a roommate."
Stephanie sighed. "Fine. Move in with me and my girlfriend. We've got a guest bedroom you could have, and the landlord won't complain too much to alter the contract."
Relief made her boneless and she leaned up against the wall to remain upright. "Thank you. I'll move in after I've got a job lined up."
"Don't thank me yet. You haven't heard the rules yet."
Chassidy shook her head. "I don't care if I was only allowed to live in the closet and had to cook, clean, and play servant."
"Okay, a little overeager. Simmer down."
They continued to talk for a while, mostly about Chassidy's plans and prospects, and how soon she thought she could get a job. Promising to call to update her, Chassidy hung up and puttered around in the kitchen while she processed the whole situation.
Pretty soon she wasn't going to be living in the sewers anymore. Pretty soon she'd be topside and vulnerable with no overgrown ninja turtles to protect her. Part of her didn't want to lose the friendship, but another part was glad. She'd be able to forget they existed and become boring, normal, and safe again. Somehow hanging out with huge mutants who knew martial arts was equally dangerous and safe.
They'd protect her, because they were just that noble, but she'd also be in the thick of things, where all of the action was, and she was more likely to get hurt from her ignorance. It was best that she forgot they didn't exist, no matter how much she liked them.
They took in a complete stranger, made her feel welcome, took care of her, all for no reward. She ate their food, slept in their house and did nothing as a thank you but bring Stone down on their heads. Not that they couldn't masterfully handle Stone. Stone was simple. When he was mad, he fought, and about sixty percent of the time he was mad. He didn't do things with finesse and so for the most part they didn't have to worry about him getting the upper hand. But short of killing him, Stone wasn't going to give in or give up.
Now it was about pride and he wasn't going to let anyone get the better of him. It wasn't about her anymore.
In some ways it made her safer, but in some ways it didn't. She was connected to this whole debacle. She was the one who knew the turtles, and Mikey beat him up. He'd go after her friends because of testosterone, and go after her as revenge. Chassidy sighed. Maybe it was smarter to get out of New York. Maybe run to California, or Ohio, or Alaska.
Mikey came into the kitchen after a while and Chassidy pretended she was debating if she wanted a glass or orange juice or milk.
"Say my name."
"What?" Chassidy blurted, surprised by his words. Talk about random.
"Say my name."
Chassidy grabbed the orange juice and put it on the counter. "Why?"
It took her awhile to find the glasses, but just as she was going to pour the juice into her glass a green three-fingered hand covered the mouth of the glass. She bobbled the container to keep from splashing any on him.
Chassidy set the container down and pointedly ignored the physical knowledge that he was standing at her right. Her body was more than aware of him. His heat was warming that side of her, and her head, against her will, was tilted slightly towards him. If she shifted her weight, she'd be touching him. This close made her aware of the few inches she was taller than him.
"I've never heard you say my name. You haven't said any of our names. You make it a point to look at us when you're talking so we know who you are talking to, but you don't say our names."
Chassidy stood there, trapped. It was true, but it wasn't something she did intentionally. She wasn't comfortable calling them by name. Calling them by their full name seemed personal, and calling them by their nicknames, completely intimate. Like she was a close friend who had known them for years. She was just a stranger. She wasn't going to know them long enough to be able to call them by their names.
"Say it."
Chassidy stepped away from Michaelangelo, out of the small cradle he'd created with his body, and left the kitchen. Or, that was her intent. She got one step before he put a restraining hand on her upper arm. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned her head away from him.
"Why does it matter?"
"I don't know. It just does. A lot."
"Michaelangelo. There, happy?"
"No." The discontent in his voice was proof enough.
"Well, I can't help you there."
"Call me Mikey."
"Mikey. Happy now?
"Look at me." His voice startlingly desperate. Chassidy whipped her head around in concern to look at him, see his face. He looked like he was in pain.
His features smoothed, but his black eyes were glittering with an intense emotion. Demanding something of her. Something she wouldn't even know how to give, though a part of her wanted to give whatever it was just to make the intensity go away, to make it all safe again.
"Mikey. Let go of my arm, you're scaring me."
He let her go quickly. "It sounds weird, my name. Like it's not mine. Like you're talking about someone else."
She stared at him, not sure what kind of response he wanted. He shook his head, slapped his hands against his thighs and grinned lopsidedly at her. "Nevermind. Sorry."
Chassidy nodded and fled.
------------------------------------------------------
Michaelangelo tried hard to understand what all the gobbledy gook on the pages that Donny smuggled from the Foot's new HQ. He really tried. He sat down with a expression of deep concentration, but his brain just didn't want to deal with it. It blanked and he was left staring at the black ink like it was another language.
He nodded with his eye ridges scrunched as his brothers discussed the information on the pages. To feign he knew what was going on he traded the pages in his hands for some more splayed out on their dinner table. He knew, in general what they were about, and he knew how to read, but understanding was something completely different.
"So, what does this all mean?" Mikey asked when the conversation lulled.
Donatello turned an accusatory look on Mikey, knowing the orange masked brother wasn't really paying attention. Then his face turned from irritated to frustrated. "Nothing, technically. But what isn't said is suspicious. For a scientific facility that does nothing but experiment, they did some pretty basic ones and never really got anywhere with their research. They figured out things people already knew, and had all appearances of sitting around on their thumbs."
"So, because they aren't saying 'we created a mutagen' they did it?"
If looks could kill, Mikey'd be dead. Don turned his irate glare from his clueless brother back to the pages on the table. "Don't be ridiculous. What we need to do is get into that main room. That's where everything is, I'm sure of it."
Leo was sifting through several pages, glancing at them again and again as if comparing. Don stiffened, scenting something.
"Did you find something?"
Obligingly Leo places the pages on the table so that Don could read them. He pointed to an address.
"This keeps showing up over and over."
The brothers sifted through the pages and found several other pages with the same address on it.
"A lead?" Raph asked, his voice eager and wicked. He was a footwork kind of guy. Thinking and hypothesizing he left to Don, but the action was what he craved.
Donny nodded. "I think so. I'll look it up on the Internet when we visit April's next time. Right now we're going with Splinter's plan."
Raph rolled his eyes, but let it be.
"Besides." Leo said as he memorized the address. "It's in Canada. What're you going to do? Take a road trip there?"
Raph shrugged. "It could be done. Get me out of the sewers, give me something to do."
Suddenly Leo wasn't playfully condescending anymore, "It'll be dangerous. What if you're spotted? What then? I'm not going to let you put us all in danger because you're bored."
"Get over yourself, Leo. I know how to keep to the shadows, too. It's not like you're the only ninja around here."
Mikey abandoned the table in favor of the couch and Donny quickly tried to scoop the paper back into a pile before the punches flew.
The familiar sound of Splinter's tail hitting the concrete floor of the room stopped them all mid-motion.
"It is time." He announced. The five mutants turned their gaze to the couch where Chassidy had been reading a borrowed book. The girl nodded, and stood.
It was time.