Chapter 6
Another Mutant?
As Raylene promised a couple of hours later found them on the bumpy road back into New York City. She took a slightly different approach this time in case the area was being watched. They drove over a hill and the city came into view and she heard a slight gasp beside her.
"Its beautiful isn't it?"
"Yeah" Leo answered still in awe of the city's shining beauty below.
After that there was silence until Raylene came upon the edge of the outskirts.
"We'll have to underground from now on," she said bringing the truck to a stop.
He was already fully aware why they had to underground from here so he didn't need to ask and have the possibility of attention being drawn to them in this dark and unusually quiet district. He heard a discreet screeching noise and turned suddenly. He saw Raylene crouched down next to a large hole in the road and a sewer top lying on the ground near her. The smile on her face suddenly seemed to freeze and look of concentration passed over her features. She gestured with hand for him to hurry up, which he did.
"You go first" she said.
He climbed down quickly sensing her unease and slight nervousness. The sewers familiar smell filled his senses as well as the biting cold of the approaching winter, but his thoughts never strayed from the women atop of the ladder sliding the lid back into place the climbing down the ladder.
"Where being followed" she announced then took off speedily down the tunnel.
He followed right behind her looking around and straining his hearing for the slightest sound, then sure enough a moment later the scraping came signalling the sewer lids removal was heard.
Raylene sped up and he stayed always by her side. They were moving fast and he was unsure of where he was going, he'd never been this far in the sewers and all he knew was there were obviously a ways off the sewer den. They were silent always and grateful for the darkness the sewers provided, the footfalls that had accompanied the scraping of the sewer lid had died away, but Raylene and Leo still preferred to exercise caution until they reached the den.
Neither spoke for a few minutes and gradually the sewer tunnels began to look vaguely familiar but even now it would be another ten minutes journey at least until they reached the den. He carried on walking constantly looking over his shoulder looking for any sign of their pursuers. He felt a small warm hand on his upper arm pull him to a stop. Looking round he saw Raylene's hand and her stood beside him, she offered no reason why they had stopped just dropped her hand and started to retrieve an object from the small, black bag over her shoulder The moment her delicate fingers had touched his arm Leo'd felt a strange tingling, he felt warm and happy despite their current situation and was thankful for the darkness of the sewers when she withdrew her hand otherwise she would have seen the momentary look of disappointment cross his features, yet he noticed she too seemed also a little reluctant to withdraw her hand. Strange, girls usually their own age screamed and ran yet she was still here helping him and had willing touched him. His attention was then drawn to the device in her hands, he couldn't see it clearly but it looked a bit like an extra large mobile pone, it had a little keypad, but a much larger screen which was lit up but only dimly.
"What is that?" he asked.
"Something that will allow me to track body heat in these tunnels in a 3 mile radius" Raylene answered just as two red stilettos appeared on screen.
"This is us," she explained.
The device in her hands whirred noisily once for a second and gradually the red forms representing them grew smaller, yet no others joined them. Raylene sighed heavily obviously relieved.
"Good, we can relax a little now, it seems the others have given up or just can't keep up with us" she with a small smile while tucking the device back into the bag.
"We should be at the lair in about ten minutes" she said and started walking again.
"Wait" said Leo making her stop mid step and look behind at him.
"How do you know where the lair is?" he asked a little suspiciously.
She seemed a little hesitant to answer and kept glancing back at him. Eventually she seemed to reach a decision after a moment of silence obviously contemplating what to tell him.
"I am also a student of your Sensei Splinter" she answered at length.
Leo didn't reply just remained fixed to the spot staring at her. Whatever answer he'd been expecting it certainly wasn't that yet somehow he could tell she wasn't lying, but then why would the Sensei he loved and trusted not tell him and his brothers and further why take on a human student when he'd shielded them from that for so long it would risk the exposure of them all. He opened his mouth to speak when Raylene held up her hand.
"Now is not the time Leo. Your questions will be answered in time, but first let us reach the safety of the lair" said Raylene.
He nodded his head in understanding then set off walking by her side, they walked in silence to the lair and as they approached the entrance Raylene once again checked to make sure they weren't being followed, which they weren't.
"You better go in first," said Raylene stopping at the door.
"Okay" he said walking past her and into the lair.
He walked straight into living area where Mike lay sprawled on the coach flicking through the channels.
"LEO!" he shouted jumping up from the coach.
"Hey Mikey" he replied standing aside to let Raylene in.
"She's hot" Mike announced without hesitation making Raylene blush.
"Hey, Leo" said Donatello walking into the room.
"You must be Raylene" he said looking directly at her.
"Master Splinter has told you of me then" she smiled knowing her decision to tell Leo earlier was correct.
"But, how does he…" Leo started to ask when a thick Brooklyn accent cut in.
"Yo, Leo bring'in home the girls" said Raph from across the room where he was lent against the wall twirling his sai.
"Drop it Raph" said Leo diverting his attention from Raph to Raylene who looked less than impressed by that comment.
Raph walked across the room past Leo to stand before Raylene, "I'm Raphael, you must be the girl Sensei talked about"
He looked about to say more but the sliding of a door and tapping of a cane cut him off.
"My sons, please do not crowd our guest"
Raph, Donnie and Mikey instantly backed off a bit giving Raylene some space but Leo remained by her side.
"Come here my child" said Splinter and Raylene instantly complied.
She walked up to him then bowed.
"You have done well, Raylene"
Raylene remained silent until Splinter spoke again.
"You still practice the art of ninja?"
"Of course, Sensei" she replied.
"We have much to discuss my child" Splinter said bowing his head and walking over to an old chair.
Raylene heard movement behind her and knew that the four turtle were now also seated and turned to look at their expectant faces.
"First of all how much do they know?" Raylene asked pointedly at Splinter.
"Nothing" he replied solemnly
"NOTHING!" Raylene asked incrediculously. .
Splinter nodded his head as Raylene continued to look on in shock while the four turtles looked at each other obviously feeling they'd missed something.
"Not even about me?" Raylene asked.
"Only how you became to be my student, nothing more," replied Splinter.
"Oh, man," said Raylene exasperantly and rubbing her temples.
" What about you?" asked Raphael.
"It's best I start from the beginning," said Raylene sitting down in a single armchair next to Leo.
"Firstly, you are far from the only mutants in the world," said Raylene.
A silence filled the room and all four turtles looked at her with similar expressions of shock on their faces. Slowly they turned from Raylene to Splinter their faces all asking the same question that Leonardo voiced, "Is that true?"
"Yes, my sons" he answered.
Raylene realising she needed to tell them more and divert their attention elsewhere rather than allow them to contemplate that just now spoke up, "They are based in nearly every major city around the world and after many years organisations have been formed"
"How many are there?" Asked Donatello
"Millions" answered Raylene.
."Why do we need to know this?" asked Leonardo.
"Because, these organisations have gotten together and after a lot of careful planning are willing to let humanity know of our existence" said Raylene.
"But they'll kill and experiment on us, won't they?" asked Donatello.
"No one said it was going to be easy, this will take time and as far as killing and experiments go, its very unlikely because the organisation locations are unknown and very well protected" answered Raylene.
"Where do you fit into all of this?" asked Donatello.
A silence once again filled the room and Raylene's eyes even though hidden behind the shades had diverted to the floor then to Splinter. He sat calmly in his chair waiting patiently for the answer he already knew.
"I…am one of the mutants" announced Raylene
"Cool!" said Mikey.
"You don't look like a mutant," said Raph.
"It's hidden in the disguise," said Raylene removing her hat, trench coat and shades.
Her eyes had remained closed but with the removal of the coat and hat had revealed a long thin black tail wrapped around her waist and upper right leg, which was now unfurling itself to swing freely while atop her head two cat like ears had slowly raised up then lastly came the eyes, once open showed were bright orange with flecks of blue.
"Awesome" said Mike.
That one comment was enough to make Raylene fidget uncomfortablely, she was not used to having to openly show what she was. Other mutants had usually guessed or not cared just accepting that she was one of them. The turtles however had had to be shown, they'd never seen another mutant before except for the ones created by the Sheddar, but the majority of mutants were not like that and were far more intelligent.
"Thank you, Raylene" said Splinter directing the attention away from her.
"My sons, I suggest you now meditate on this news and tomorrow Raylene will unveil the other reason for her presence with us"
"Yes Sensei" came the instant reply.
"Goodnight, my sons" with that Splinter rose from his chair and slowly made his way to his cart. A moment later the door slid shut leaving Raylene alone with the four turtles.
"You can have my room, tonight," said Leo trying to break the silence that had swept over them once Splinter had departed.
"That is unnecessary, I'll take the couch," replied Raylene.
"We can't let a lady sleep on the couch," piped Mikey.
"I'll be fine" Raylene tried to reassure.
"Well, if you're sure" they asked.
"I am" said Raylene smiling at them.
"One question though" said Donnie immediately gaining Raylene's attention.
"You don't look how I imagined a cat mutant would"
"Oh, I'm only half mutant" she announced.
"Half, I didn't think that would be possible"
"Well, I'm the living proof," said Raylene.
Mike opened his mouth probably to ask a question when Raylene gave a small yawn.
"Sorry about that" she said.
"You've had a long day, we should leave you to get some sleep" said Leo.
"See ya in the morn'in" said Mike and with that disappeared into his room.
"Night, Raylene" said Donatello following suit.
"Night" Raph tossed over his shoulder before his cart door shut.
With his three brothers gone it left Raylene and Leo alone once more.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I just wanted to show you all together" said Raylene.
"Don't worry, it was your choice" replied Leo.
"Well, night Leo" said Raylene before curling up on the couch.
"Don't you need a blanket or something".
"Hmm...I'll be fine" Raylene mumbled.
A soft purr filled the air and Raylene slowly slipped from consciousness although she could have swore before she did she felt a three fingered hand run through her hair and Leo's voice whisper softly, "Goodnight, Raylene".
TBC…
So ya like or no. Plz read review I gotta know what your think'in.
In case ya all were wonder'in when Raylene and Leo first met she was dressed like this including shades so Leo never noticed she was different.
Hope ya enjoyed it.
