The Enemy

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Three - Only hope

Michaelangelo:

I lapsed back into silence my thoughts focused on my daughter, I was thrilled to know she was alive, to know my firm belief that she hadn't died was actually true, but of course I was hurting inside as well considering the fact that while she was alive she had fallen into a terrible place.

I also hurt with grief for the family members that had died back at home in the infiltration, I knew my brothers had lost so much and I could relate to their pain, especially after all the years of not having Rama in my life. They however knew the truth of the slaughter there was no escaping that.

Though we all hurt, grieved for the lost the fallen we did not show our feelings to the Foot soldiers, Karena and the twins grieved more openly, but that was to be expected, we would not let our enemies know how badly they had hurt us with that blow.

I thought about Rama because at the moment it was better then thinking of all the death, pain and suffering.

I figured somewhere within Rama had to be some memories of us, and the time she had spent living with us. Seven years of her life just couldn't vanish. If we could get her to remember enough about us there was a very remote possibility that she would help us.

I could at the very least hope for that, couldn't I?

I was slightly amused to see that she carried both sais and katanas on her wielding both like a pro. Of course Rama as a child had shown a strong interest in Raph's sais, so strong was her interest in that weapon she would sneak Raph 's weapons right out from his belt and under his beak.

Then when Leo started training her to sword work and she handled a sword for the first time she was filled with a wild excitement.

My mind drifted back to a night when I had been tucking her into her bed when she had been a little over six, as usual we had our evening talk, which I always enjoyed having with her.

She was sitting up in bed the blankets folded around her legs, her pillows supporting her back, her face scrunched up a bit as she asked " Daddy you want me to chuck like you right?"

I smiled at her from where I sat at the foot of her bed " I wouldn't mind if you took up the nunchuku Rama but you get to pick the weapon you like and want to use." I informed her kindly.

" You get mad if I don't chuck?" She asked me then, she was watching me with a keen eye as if trying to read my true feelings about the subject though she didn't have that sort of skill as of yet.

" No Rama love I won't get mad." I promised, " Besides you have to learn how to use the chuks as part of your training. It is not good to become overly familiar with one weapon" I told her " you should learn how to use all weapons and that is how you will be taught."

Rama nodded, " That why you often practice with different weapons right?"

I agreed that it was exactly the point " Rama there is nothing wrong with the sai, it is a good weapon in its own right." I assured her.

" I likes ka-tanas too daddy" she chirped a large smile growing across her face her eyes shining.

I laughed " The katana is a lot of sword for a girl your age."

" Yeah but daddy if I learn on small swords I'll grow into katanas right?"

" Yes Rama" I confirmed reaching out to touch her face.

I sighed a bit wistfully at that memory, it was the first time I had heard of Rama's interest for a weapon other then the sai. Now years later she had both weapons on her. A sign that possibly I was right we could, just maybe reach her.

I had to wonder what had happened to her sense of humour she used to play practical jokes on all of us and her laughter had been infectious at times. She didn't look like she laughed much any more, there was not even a hint of humour or teasing in her voice or eyes. The only teasing she did now was harsh, cruel bitter sarcasm and biting remarks.

Oh she had changed so much, I couldn't deny that, Rama was now like the man she called father.

I hadn't missed the deep scars that ran along her arms and legs when she had stood outside our cell mocking us. When or where had she collected those marks, some of them were quite old.

I knew for a fact she hadn't earned them in battle against us. Most likely Yukio had caused them somehow, which caused me to think why would Rama serve that man when he had hurt her.

Maybe he had ordered some one else to cause them and then saved her earning a young Rama's gratitude.

I scowled maybe Rama truly had forgotten us at least right now, she probably didn't recall much about us but that didn't mean it had to remain that way. She would, she could remember us with a little help. There had to be some thing that I could say or do that might trigger a memory from deep within her.

Once she knew who we were she wouldn't hurt us, how could she when she would then know, that we were her own family?

I was determined to jostle her memory because, if nothing else, I wanted my daughter away from the Foot and far from Yukio. Most of all I wanted her back in my life. I had missed enough years of her in my life as it was. Besides the Foot had warped and twisted her enough.

I looked over to Karena, Aiden and Kaliann as they huddled in their cell. Karena holding her children close to her, trying her best to be brave and not show fear. I wondered if Rama had somehow recalled enough to know them.

Sure the twins had only been two when she disappeared but Karena had always been the closest thing to a mother Rama had ever had. She was also the only human to rate an 'I love you,' from Rama.

Rama had been gone before her other aunts and cousins arrived so she wouldn't have known them, perhaps that was why she had spared their lives, out of a simple memory.

If she could recall things even in a vague disoriented way then she might be able to remember her life with us.

Sure it was a long shot but I knew we might not have a great deal of time left to us. We knew Yukio would want to torture and gloat over us for a while, but after he grew bored of that he'd have us killed. Knowing that it was easy to figure out there wasn't many plans we could come up with that might see us all safely out of Foot central.

To get out alive we needed help if only to get away from the cell and these guards who watched over us ready to shoot if we twitched the wrong way. I'd sooner trust the help Rama might offer us then the help of any other Foot Soldier.

I smiled inwardly, my daughter had truly become a powerful kunoichi, who just might be able to challenge and better Leo in the ninjitsu department but I kept that feeling to my self knowing the rest of my family would not care for the sense of pride I had towards her.

If Splinter had still been alive he would no doubt disown her from the clan for turning against her family no matter what the circumstances had been that had caused the betrayal in the first place.

" I got a plan" Raph suddenly declared intruding on my thoughts. He was on my right side, my left side was closest to the door to our cell, then after Raph was Leo and then Don at the far end of the cell.

" What is your plan Raph?" Leo asked arching his eye ridge. He was at the moment open to suggestions, and trying to keep things low to not alert the guards.

" We get the fuck out of here and I kick that damn bitch's ass out of her shell" Raph snapped loudly.

The guards chuckled as if they found that statement funny.

" Yeah I'll help" Aiden cheered getting out of his mom's embrace and walking over to where he could see us better.

" The day I need help from a kid like you…" Raph muttered darkly.

" Good plan Raph but I think it is lacking a bit in the detail department" Leo replied casually.

" Aw Leo you let yourself get bogged down in details let's just go for it." Raph insisted keeping his tone light.

" NO!" Leo refused flatly as he looked up and across the way to Karena and the twins.

The banter had been enough to try and lighten the desperation we all felt but at the same time, hopefully, cover a bit of mental communication between one another.

Leo would of course, decline any plan that might end up endangering his wife and children.

I bowed my head and listened to Raph complain and rant on about any number of things, blaming Leo for not acting, and not wanting to sit in a cell and rot. Mostly he was spoiling for a fight.

Raph didn't like being bested in battle and to be thrashed by a female, kunoichi or otherwise still rubbed him the wrong way.

I sent my only plan to Leo through silent means while Raph continued his fit ' If we can get Rama to help us.' I suggested.

' No Mike. She helped destroy our clan we can't trust her.' He looked my way and I could feel that his eyes and mental tone were firmly telling me to drop it.

' Leo she might…' I protested.

' Forget it Mike!' the tone left no room for dispute 'we gave her the basics, the foundation of her training. The Foot gave her everything else.' His tone became sympathetic and full of regret ' I'm sorry Mike but it is too late to consider it. It has just been too long for her.'

Kaliann raised her head a puzzled expression on her face, " Rama?" She said softly " Isn't that the name of our cousin who disappeared?" she asked hesitantly. " That mean turtle lady isn't really your daughter Uncle Mike, she can't be she is nothing like you." Kaliann insisted then another thought must have occurred to her " Is she going kill us like she did to…" She sniffed and started to cry her small frame shaking.

Karena pulled Kali closer hugging her tighter " Rama was your cousin once long ago Kali but trust me that turtle isn't Rama, it couldn't be you see, because Rama would never hurt any of us." She soothed seeking to comfort Kali.

Her words stung at me though for it meant that I was truly alone. I was the only one to believe in Rama.

In all the years she had been lost to me I refused to give up hope. I was sure I would see her again. Now that I found her I didn't want to turn my back on her and deny her existence.

Besides we didn't have many options open to us and I had to keep faith in Rama because I felt in my heart that she truly was our only hope. We would survive only if she chose to help us.

Kirra:

I woke from a fitful nights sleep feeling anything but well rested.

After everything that I had managed to accomplish last evening I ought to be feeling some pride, or more confident and sure of myself. After all I had done what was suppose to be impossible, I had captured the four ninja turtles and brought them to captivity a feat few others in the Foot clan could claim.

When we finally killed them, and that day would come, the Foot would flourish with no one to stand in our way of achieving all we desired. The American Foot Clan would become a force to reckon with.

On that day father would make me his second in command, something he had promised me, often telling me that by then I would have proven my true worth and no one could oppose my place.

So everything was going according to plan, all was as it should be.

So why did I feel so empty? As if I had lost everything of importance instead of being so much closer to all I desired and wanted?

I heard Michaelangelo's words ringing in my mind ' Rama why are you doing this don't you know who we are?'

I knew who they were, just thinking about them caused an intense hatred to well up from inside of me, they were my enemies. I had been trained to hate them and destroy them. Yet his question seemed to beg for a different answer, as if I was something to them, or should be.

They weren't a part of my life. I owned nothing to them!

They had not found me in the lab where I was being tortured and hurt on a daily basis, almost killed in the lab. No it had been father who found me, saved me then took me for training in Japan.

Michaelangelo was only trying to deceive me. He wanted me to think, or believe that I had known them so I would feel some pity for their fate. After all I was like them, I suppose it was only natural for my enemy to play upon such things, using it to their advantage.

I realized then that father was right these turtles were truly evil and deceitful beings and they had a great deal of nerve to try such a ninja mind trick with me.

What they didn't know was I hated deceivers and liars. I don't know why I did, I only knew that intense anger came to me whenever I found anyone who lied to me. It was an anger I could control and was aware of but I could never stop it from warning me of those who sought to deceive me.

Michaelangelo's trick was not going work. In fact I felt my ire at him rising for trying to dupe me. I clenched my hands into tight fists at my side, my eyes narrowing to slits, oh I would relish the chance to teach him a lesson.

No body messed with me and got away with it, for I had learned to be as hard and cruel as my father was.

Perhaps when they were dead and could throw out no more lies, I would then feel the accomplishment that I now lacked.

I vowed to lose no more sleep over my enemies and to pay no further attention to Michaelangelo and his deceptive words.

TBC

Lioness- Goddess: Well I am very glad to hear you are enjoying both the Rama stories I am re-writing there are quite a few other Rama stories. I plan on re-writing at least three more of them. A Bond of friendship, Therefore I am, and the sequel to The Enemy ' A Sense of Family.' Yeah you can look ahead if you want for now until I remove the sequel for the re-write. There are many others that I am just leaving as is. A Gratitude for your insight.

Reinbeauchaser: I'm impressed you are doing well. Next chapter I'll warn you now torture scenes, actually I think next two chapters involve torture scenes. So cringe, look away, skim through those bits what ever it takes. Rama/Kirra's confusion isn't going get much better, main reason for the re-write is to delve into her confusion a bit more. Yes the others do all recognize her as ' Rama" but they have accepted what Mike can't seem to find in his heart to do so. A gratitude for your insight.