Chapter Nine: The Pieces Begin To Fall
As the young girl followed April up the stairs, Carrie couldn't help but give the redhead next to her a wide-eyed look of confusion as she watched the older woman dig through her purse for her apartment keys.
"Okay, so, what you're telling me is that my friends are actually your friends, who just happen to be giant talking turtles, and they all vanished around the same time, and now these turtle guys are beginning to forget who they are and are thinking and acting like my friends?"
April looked up from her purse and tilted her head to the side. " Something like that." She inserted the key into the apartment door, turned it, then pushed the door back. "Hey, guys! I'm back! I think I might have found someone who can help-," The girls swung their heads back and forth, but found nothing but an empty living room.
"...us." April dropped her keys back into her purse and shook her head. " I told those guys not to leave! Now I know how Splinter feels when they don't listen to him!"
"Who's Splinter? A giant talking beaver or something?" Carrie laughed at her joke as she placed herself at the dining room table.
"A rat, actually," April smiled and giggled, taking a seat across from Carrie. "And I don't think he's going to be very happy when he finds out his kids flew the coop." She reached back into her purse, and Carrie wrinkled her forehead at the curious looking compact turtle shell April held in her hand. April then flipped the shell open and punched a series of buttons, and the echoing ringing noise made Carrie realized that the strange thing in April's hands was a phone.
Either this turtle thing is actually real, or this lady is off in the head! Carrie thought to herself as she watched April's face twist in frustration as she closed the phone and shoved it back into her purse. She was about to speak when the front door flung open suddenly and all the girls could see was a flash of blonde hair fly into the apartment before the door slammed shut.
"Michelangelo!" April stood up and placed her hands on her hips. " I told you guys not to leave the apartment!" She then noticed how heavy the boy was breathing and the frightened look in his eyes. "Mikey, what is going on?"
"There is...this HUGE rat thing...it grabbed us into an alley, then made us come here!" Michelangelo darted across the carpeting and ducked behind the red arm chair. "Don't open that door! It's gonna get me!"
April rolled her eyes. "Good grief." She walked over to the door and pulled it open, finding Master Splinter standing in the hallway with Leonardo , Donatello and Raphael
"Don't let that thing in here! It's gonna eat us!" Michelangelo covered his eyes and shivered in fear.
"Come here, you moron!" Raphael sauntered across the living room, grabbed Michelangelo's shirt collar and pulled the frightened teen to his feet.
Carrie watched Raphael intently as he chewed out his baby brother, fearful to the fact that the boys acted nor sounded nothing like the teens she had known for so long. A cold chill ran across her, and she couldn't help but hold herself tightly. Her blue eyes then locked on Leonardo as he entered the apartment and walked over to break up his fighting brothers. Carrie bolted out of her seat and jumped right into the unsuspecting boy's arms.
"Jonathan!" Carrie squeezed Leonardo tightly. "I've been so worried about you! It's been so lonely at home without you!"
Leonardo froze, not knowing what to say or do, just held a bewildered and terrified look on his face. Carrie pulled away and looked into his eyes, searching for something that signified to her that he remembered who she was.
"Jon, it's me, Carrie, your little sister. Don't you recognize me?"
Leonardo broke his gaze and looked at his brothers, who in return just shrugged their shoulders. He then looked over at April and slightly narrowed his brow.
"What is she doing here, April? You know you're taking a big risk bringing someone else into this."
"Please don't be upset with me." April moved from the table and joined the crowd in the living room, then she placed a consoling arm around Carrie's shoulders. "There's a reason I brought her here. She knows who you guys really are, and I think she can help us find out who did all of this."
"Who we really are..." Leonardo repeated, his eyes moving to Splinter, who in turn moved over to the table with his head bowed sadly. April felt the instant tension in the air and quickly pushed the five teens together.
"Okay, you guys make yourselves comfortable and I'll make some hot chocolate."
Carrie watched helplessly as April hurried into the kitchen, and it wasn't too long before Carrie felt the exact opposite of what April had implied.
"Uh, so, um..."
Raphael grabbed her tiny shoulders and pushed her down into the armchair. "All right, blondie. Start talkin'."
April set a cup of hot tea in front of Splinter, offering him a smile to comfort his aching heart.
"Thank you, Miss O'Neil."
"No problem." April took a seat next to the old rat and patted his hand. " We'll find the guys. Don't worry."
Splinter sighed heavily, glancing back at the boys. "We must, for I fear if we do not find them soon, and the memories of those four come back, my sons will be lost forever."
"Okay, uh, so," Carrie's eyes darted around the boys who stood in front of her. "Where do you want me to start?"
"The beginning would probably be a good place," Raphael grumbled sarcastically, but calmed down after Leonardo grabbed his shoulder.
"Wherever you feel comfortable," Leonardo pushed Raphael to the floor and waited for Donatello and Michelangelo to sit before he, too, sat down.
"Okay," Carrie then giggled nervously. "Uh, this is really weird telling you guys about yourselves."
"If it makes you feel any better, just pretend we're someone else, since that's basically what's going on." Donatello said with a reassuring smile, and Carrie took a deep breath, then spoke.
"Well, you guys have been best friends since, like, grade school. We all live in the same neighborhood, except Alex. He lives a few blocks away."
"Which is me, right?" Michelangelo shoved his finger to his chest. "I kinda figured that out since I've been called that twice now."
"Yes." Carrie pulled her legs up into the chair and readjusted herself. "Anyway, the four of you are inseparable. You guys go everywhere together, do everything together. You're basically attached at the hip. You're favorite spot to hang out is the Red Line Drive-In, which is that Fifties era diner downtown."
"See!" Donatello gave Michelangelo a small nudge in the side. "Yeah, me and Mikey were discussing that while we were in there today."
"Well, what about our families?" Leonardo asked as he leaned closer to Carrie, his chin resting on his knuckles.
Carrie made an uneasy face, and hesitated before talking again. "That might be something you don't want to know, let alone remember."
"Why? How bad could it be?" Raphael propped his elbow on the chair cushion next to Carrie's folded legs.
"Well, for one thing, your mother is a heroine addict." Carrie then pointed her finger and went down the line. "James' parents died in a car accident, Alex's mother is an overbearing stage mom who uses her son for her own personal glory, and our parents-," Carrie stopped, hating the scared look that shone in Leonardo's eyes. " Our father is an abusive alcoholic, and our mother..."
"What?" Leonardo had leaned over so far, he placed his palms on the carpet to keep himself from falling on his face.
"She's in the hospital right now, in a coma, and suffering from severe injuries that were inflected by our dad."
Leonardo let out the breath he was holding and jumped to his feet, not wanting to let his brothers or Carrie see the tears that had crept up. He placed his aching forehead into his right hand and closed his eyes, leaving his ears open to the conversation behind him.
"When was the last time you saw any of them?" Donatello asked, knowing Leonardo wasn't in the mood for a Q&A session any more.
"I don't know," Carrie shrugged. " Like, three months ago. I remember that morning because Jon was saying something about Mr. Hamilton taking you guys away for a few weeks for some school science project."
Donatello couldn't help but laugh at Carrie's remark. "Some 'science project', I like that one!" He then silenced himself. " Wait, did you say Mr. Hamilton, as in Dr. Richard Hamilton?"
"Yeah, he's our high school science teacher. I didn't know that was his first name, I don't have his class until next year, but I do know that he watches over you four like you were his own kids!"
"Ya think it's the same guy that worked with Stockman?" Raphael asked, scooting closer to the chair.
"I'm pretty sure. That's too much of a coincidence if it's not!" Donatello began to ask another question, then raised an eyebrow as Raphael laid his head on Carrie's lap, and she began to play with his long hair. Michelangelo had also noticed and giggled loudly from behind his hands.
"You guys got something going on?"He waved his finger between the two. Carrie looked at Leonardo, then lowered her voice to a whisper.
"Me and Damon had been dating, but my brother doesn't know. He's been trying to keep us apart."
"Why?" Raphael asked, closing his eyes and enjoying the soft petting.
"Well, even though you guys are good friends, Jon has this big brother protection thing going on, and since Damon is a big time trouble maker, Jon thinks you're not good enough for me."
"Geesh, I think your brother needs ta chill out and let things go." Raphael laughed.
"Oh, do I... Damon?"
Raphael's eyes flew open, and the four of them looked up at Leonardo, his brow and his fists clenched so tightly together that it seemed as if he was going to physical exploded.
"Did I mention the part about Jon having a bad temper?" Carrie asked sheepishly as she braced herself
"Uh, oh." Michelangelo managed to mutter before finding himself face down in the carpet as Leonardo lunged at Raphael, grabbing the surprised teen by his neck and applying pressure to his wind pipe.
"How dare you lie to me like that, right to my face! I told you to stay away from my sister!" He then pulled Raphael up closer and growled deep in his throat. "Do I have to beat it into your head for you to understand!"
"Leo.." Raphael clawed at the furious teen's squeezing grip. "Leo...stop..."
"No!" Carrie sprung out of the chair and pushed on her brother's chest. "Stop it, Jon! Let him go!"
Raphael had finally pulled the hands off of his neck and held then inches from his face, the angry teen above him still pushing down with everything ounce of stamina he had. "Somebody better get this guy offa me before I really hurt him!"
Relief came when April and Splinter each grabbed the boy's arms and pulled him back, allowing Raphael to move away and calm his own temper down. Splinter took the still-fuming teen into the kitchen and stared deep into the boy's eyes.
"Leonardo, I know you can hear me. You must came back through. You must hold on to what little thoughts you have left."
The teen then dropped to his knees as he screamed out. "No! Get it out of my head!" Carrie rushed to her brother's side and wrapped her arms around him.
"It's okay, Jon. We're going to help you! You have to let this other guy come back through! Please!"
Then in a brief moment, Carrie found a connection in her brother's eyes, and she couldn't stop the tears from falling. They sat there on the kitchen floor for another minute before Leonardo found his voice and allowed Carrie to help him to his feet.
"What...what happened?" Leonardo stared fearfully at the terrified faces of his family, and knew right away something bad had just occurred, and he was the one who had caused it.
"I can't handle this anymore. I can't...I can't take it."
"Calm down, Leo," April took hold of his shoulder and squeezed. "It's okay."
"No, no it's not okay!" Leonardo pushed himself free of Carrie and April and moved toward the door. "I'm tired of the dreams, the voices, the constant and agonizing pain in my head! This isn't how it was meant to be, and I'm tired of not being who I was meant to be!" His hand seized the bronzed door knob and he jerked the door open as he turned to face his brothers. " I want answers, and I'm still going to find them, whether or not you guys think it's bad idea."
Raphael moved away from the window and joined Leonardo at the door, placing a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "We all want answers, Leo. I'm with ya, even if I do think this whole plan of yours is whacked."
Leonardo mirrored Raphael's smile, then let it grow as Donatello and Michelangelo joined them.
"Please take care, my sons." Splinter bowed his head and watched as the four disappeared into the darkness of the stairwell.
Karai sat cross-legged at the edge of the small fish pond outside of the three story Japanese styled mansion that was the home of her master. Her fingers flickered across the water, startling the multi-colored Koi and causing them to scatter around the pond. She glanced up the many Foot ninjas who were making their nightly rounds inside the tall gates of the mansion property, taking note of how many there were and timing their perimeter walks carefully. Not one mistake could be made tonight, for her life was on the line, and Karai knew her master would make her suffer dearly for her treachery.
A small splashing noise brought Karai's line of sight back to the pond, just as another small rock flew over the tall fence and landed a little closer to her, sprinkling her finger tips with water. She slowly stood, making sure the sentries weren't watching, then launched herself up the fence, digging her bare feet into the brick for support.
"Ah, you have come." Karai's face showed no emotion as she looked down at the four darkly dressed teens under her. "Quickly, to the front gate. I have a Foot uniform for each of you."
"What!" Raphael whispered loudly. "There ain't no way I'm dressed up like one of them!"
"You will need to disguise yourself as one of them in order to infiltrate my Master's house." Karai narrowed her green eyes, echoing the look Raphael was giving her. "If you do not choose to, then I wish you good luck in finding what you seek."
"No! Karai, wait!" Leonardo held up his hand, stopping Karai from disappearing back down the fence. "We'll do whatever you ask."
Karai pushed back the smile on her face, brought on by the desperation in Leonardo's eyes. "Very well." She pushed herself down to the ground and moved quickly across the brick patio to the large gate, glancing around once more before opening the tall wooden doors. Leonardo entered first, holding his index finger to his lips as Raphael and Michelangelo slipped in behind him. Donatello took a giant leap inside, his left foot catching the edge of the brick wall, and he fell to the concrete with a loud thud.
"Nice going, Donnie!" Michelangelo reached down and pulled his brother to his feet.
"Well, maybe they didn't hear anything," Donatello shrugged, brushing the grass off of his sleeve, but his theory was proven wrong when the Foot sentries began to shout in Japanese.
"Quickly! This way!" Karai charged for the front doors to the house, the boys right on her heels, and did not pause for a moment as she shoved open the towering red oak doors. The boys filed in behind her, and Karai pushed the door back without making a sound. She then moved to a large potted fern and pulled out the promised Foot uniforms. The teens pulled the uniforms over their dark clothing, and once they were done, Karai waved them on as they descended the staircase into the basement of the house. After running down a long hallway, and having to stop and pull Donatello back up a few more times, Karai placed them all in front of a fake wooden paneling. She pushed the large Foot symbol that hung on the wall and the paneling lifted up, vanishing into the ceiling above.
"Since it is very late, there should not be anyone here to trouble us." Karai walked them through the heavy metal doors and into the vast underground Foot Tech lab.
"I thought that evil never slept," Raphael said, glad that Karai couldn't see his wicked smile under the black mask.
"Dr. Stockman is the only one who stays in the lab." Karai continued, ignoring Raphael's remark. "In his present condition, he has no need for sleep."
Donatello nodded as he looked around the spacious lab, his fading memory flashing bits and pieces of his last personal encounter with the evil scientist. "I still can't believe what Shredder did to Stockman. Nobody deserves a life like that."
"Is that sympathy I hear?" A voice rang out, the source concealed in the dimmed lighting. Karai stopped the four boys and they watched as the infamous Dr. Baxter Stockman floated out of the shadows and placed his glass cylinder 'body' in front of the visibly startled group of teens.
"I don't usually get much of that around here these days."
"Geesh, Donnie, I just thought you were exaggerating when you said he was brain in a jar!" Michelangelo gulped loudly, hiding behind Raphael as he stared at the remnants that floated in the container.
"Ah, Karai." Stockman's hologram head faked a welcoming smile. "Showing some new recruits around? Doesn't the Shredder have enough of these pathetic excuses for ninjas?"
Karai gave Stockman no response and instead turned to Leonardo. "I have done my part. I will wait while you conduct your business. But you must be quick about it."
Leonardo bowed in recognition, then faced Stockman as he pulled the black face mask off. His brothers followed suit, and Stockman couldn't help but raise a computerized eyebrow.
"The recruits are getting younger these days. Isn't it past your bed time, little man?"
"Enough with the jokes, Stockman," Leonardo threw the face mask down and moved closer to the water incased brain. "Now, I know we've been bitter enemies for a long time, and the four of us would never seek your assistance under normal circumstances," Leonardo looked down at his gloved hand and flexed his five fingers. "But we are willing to push all of that aside. We need yourhelp."
"What!" Stockman's voice rose an octave. "You dare to come down into my lab and ask for my help? And, why, exactly, should I help a group of young teenage punks? I don't even know who you are!"
Donatello stepped forward, taking a place beside his brother. " But you do remember a certain fellow scientist by the name of Richard Hamilton, right?"
Stockman leaned back, his eyes wide in shock, but promptly brushed the look of surprise off his face. "Even If I did, what business is it of yours?"
"This isn't going to be easy, Leo."
Leonardo sighed as he noticed the worried look on Donatello's face. "I know Donnie, but we can't give up, no matter what."
"Wait a minute!" Stockman interrupted Leonardo and leaned his holographic face closer to the black haired teen. "Your names, those voices..."
Leonardo held his ground as the surprised expression returned on Dr. Stockman's face, but it was suddenly taken over by an evil laughter that rang throughout the Foot Tech lab. He gave his brothers an uneasy glance as stepped back away from the sickening giggling.
"He did it!" Stockman shouted through his laughter. " That no good, virtuous ex-partner of mine! I can't believe he finally did it!"
Okay, so I didn't give too much away! Where's the fun in that? I like to keep people guessing! Once again, thanks for all of the great reviews! I appreciate it! Stay tuned for the dramatic conclusion, plus a twisted alternate ending! Happy reading!