Disclaimer – I apologize for taking so long. My muses began to get generous with other ideas for stories and, as all writers know, if you don't take advantage of such offerings, someone else gets them!

I promise you that The TMNT's will be making an appearance in this story, but not until the final chapter.

First, however, here's a word from the guy that we all love to hate – and I promise not to make such a cliffhanger as I did with the last chapter. Well, unless you're completely clueless to this particular TMNT AU, that is. LOL

As before, I own only Tang Shen.

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Chapter 4 – Epithet

As he thought back to his visit with her, Saki swallowed deeply; it saddened him to see Shen in such a tortured state. Yet, her rebellion had left him with no other choice.

At first, after returning from her mission, she had dutifully knelt before him, her head bowed, as she confirmed the turtle's whereabouts. When she admitted to challenging one of them and knocking the mutant out, Saki's smile was as wide as his shoulders. Although she had acted without permission from him, her first victory over them dismissed any notion of rebuttal from the ninja lord.

However, as Tang went on to tell how she had tried to battle the other three turtles and how she found herself greatly overmatched, eventually forced to abandon the fight, Saki's smile slowly began to fade. Yet, what further chilled the man's heart to stone - and to the shock and gasps of the Prime Elite in attendance, Tang Shen suddenly renounced her allegiance to the Foot clan. Citing her recalled memories and then her recently procured knowledge of how Saki had obtained her, she rose to a defiant stand in front of him. With her hands clenched in anger, she next declared her disgust over the lies he had forced her to live by. When she finished, a sudden deathly hush fell over the room they were in, the pronouncement stunning all who were present - Saki included.

Nevertheless, fury and rage were hardly the right words to describe the man's mood then. Had the girl succeeded in dispatching these annoying mutants, the ninja master might have forgiven Shen her blatant act of rejection. He would have had to punish her, of course, but with only a simple whipping, followed by a few re-conditioning sessions with the doctor. Still, the fact that Tang had done this act before the entire company of Prime Elite dishonored the ninja lord in the worse possible way.

If Saki had not loved her, he would have slain her right there and then. As it was, staying his hand from smiting her had only compounded the shame Tang brought against him. The moment he had sensed his troops' confusion with his lack of immediate response, Saki knew that he had hesitated too long. Consequently, with the stability of his forces at stake, the ninja master had no other recourse but to implement as heavy a punishment upon her as he would against any of his lower stationed soldiers.

In any event, with the information that Tang shared about the turtles' whereabouts, Saki promptly alerted his field operators to the freaks' hideout, with Tatsu heading out to join them. Later, his second-in-command had reported that they had arrived just shortly before the turtles and the reporter were getting ready to leave. As it had been with Tang, the soldiers failed to dispatch them as well, except this time the fight resulted in a fire that burned down the building, with their prey racing off in an old, beat up van. This second defeat only fueled Saki's anger more, with the need for revenge taking precedence over everything else.

After all, if these freaks could upend his highly trained warriors so easily, Saki knew that the success of his empire was in question. The quicker he dispatched them, the quicker he could return to 'business as usual'.

Nevertheless, as he sat there in his office, slumped in his chair, the question remained in Saki's mind as to where the turtles had disappeared. He'd had their rat, now, for two days. Yet, his field operators had not seen a trace of the mutants. He fully did expect some sort of a search for the rat by them. Had Tang beat the one turtle so badly that now they were all running in fear? The fact that one of his Prime Elite had succeeded in almost dispatching one of them, maybe they wondered if there were more like her. Saki hoped so. It would be a small victory for him if the girl had gravely injured one of them and forced the others to vacate the city to avoid more like confrontations. He just might reinstate her if that did indeed happen.

Just the same, he had to wonder where these creatures would go to where his men could not follow or trace. Where could they hide other than in the sewers? Despite his hopes, Saki was certain they would not go far, not without the rat, and they certainly wouldn't give up so easily…not with the ninjitsu skills that they reportedly had.

As it was, none of his men who had staked out the mutants' lair had seen any trace of them. It was as if the freakish turtles had vaporized into thin air.

Nevertheless, as his thoughts drifted back to the girl, Saki sighed deeply. "What memories resurfaced?" he wondered petulantly, "What did she remember to cause her to throw her training away like that, to challenge me in front of my men?"

Still, despite his disappointment with her recent act, he recognized that Shen would have made an excellent wife and partner in the clan. More than likely, she would have given to him an heir for his mighty empire. Although years earlier, a child did spring forth from their relationship, a daughter was not what Saki had wanted. Yet, in light of Shen's current misdeed, Saki wondered in that moment if he had made a possible mistake in stealing the infant away so soon.

At the time, it was inconvenient for anyone so young to be part of the clan, the work in and around New York counterproductive to providing a safe environment. Back then, Saki had just begun organizing his business of crime and had not wanted the distraction of a whimpering infant under his feet.

With a sigh, he realized the topic was irrelevant, where he had sold the baby by proxy soon after its birth. Even he was ignorant of the adoptive parents' identity, where he insisted through a third party an undisclosed agent to handle the affair, just so that there wouldn't be any record leading to back to him, or to her. The fact that Saki never desired compensation, where he allowed his proxy to accept all monies paid, kept a paper trail from forming.

Still, he wondered if he had made a mistake. His daughter would now have been old enough for training, and then, in fifteen or twenty years, she would be able to take over the 'family business', thereby allowing him to retire. It was not as if he and Shen couldn't try again to have a child, but there was always the possibility that she – or even he – would be fatally injured in a skirmish. They were a perfect match, in his opinion.

Still, it was a mute point, though, since the child was gone and irretrievable and his beloved now sat beaten and punished in the makeshift holding cell.

Now, as each minute passed, Saki sat there in his chair and wondered what decision his fiancé, Shen, would make. In all honesty and despite his initial plans for it, the man hoped to find the rat dead. He wanted to reconcile with the girl and to get the needed treatment for her wounds. Yet the fact that his betrothed had ended up feeling contrite for her part with the creature's capture and torture, and even said so when she chose to betray the clan, Saki wondered if Tang would end up taking drastic measures.

Just the same, he had given her an hour. There was still some thirty-five minutes yet to go before her time was up, and currently, he had other things to worry about. With Foot soldiers skulking through the city for the troublesome turtles, he had been waiting impatiently for any news of their return. So far, after two days, word of their return had not come back to him. It was as if the turtles had disappeared – and without a trace.

Suddenly, he felt a presence. Saki narrowed his eyes as he focused and then he smiled, "You have news, soldier?" he asked. He never turned around in his chair to see, he just knew the boy was there, and he could tell that it greatly unnerved him. The ninja lord smirked, sensing the surprise and knowing the soldier had tried to be as quiet as could be. Yet, the master better trained than his minion was and had more experience with detecting other ninja. "I asked you a QUESTION!" Saki snapped.

Quickly, the youth – covered from head to toe in the familiar garb of his clan, with his head wrapped in the familiar red bandana of the Dragon clan – rushed in front of his lord and then fell to his knees, his head bowed. "We…ah…I could not find anything, master." The boy cringed and waited. Initially, he thought he had escaped his superior's wrath. However, in the next moment, he learned otherwise.

"WHERE ARE THEY?" Saki growled loudly in frustration, then striking the young man across the head and sending him to the floor. "Get out of my sight!" the master seethed, "I accept no failures."

"Master?" a gravely voice inquired. It was Tatsu. He had just entered Saki's office and was now waiting patiently just inside the room, ready to do his will, whatever it might be. He watched as the other Foot soldier peeled his form off the floor. Then, as the youth kept his head lowered out of respect to Saki, he backed out of the room and, once he was beyond the door's threshold, took off running.

"Those…turtles! Have you heard anything at all?" the armored man demanded hotly, not turning around to face his assistant, "It seems nobody else has!"

"No, sir," his servant replied, quickly, "the freaks have not returned," and then waited, his eyes lowered, but his head barely bowed.

Saki turned around in his swivel chair to face his assistant, causing Tatsu to stiffen every so slightly. Still, the formidable man stood his ground, neither cowering nor challenging his leader.

Saki glared at his new second in command for a long, pregnant moment, and then allowed a faint smile to crease one side of his mouth. "Yes," he thought to himself, "Tatsu indeed sees me as his superior, yet he has just enough determination that keeps him from showing weakness." He grumbled silently, "If only my Tang Shen would have given me the same respect, I would not have punished her so severely."

In any event, Saki barked another question to his new head ninja, "Have you seen the boy, the one who told us about where the turtles were staying?"

"No, Master, he has not been back since he told us about where the turtles' new hideout was," Tatsu replied

Shredder drummed his fingers along the armrests of his chair as he considered the man's answer. Then, he said with his voice low and menacing, "Keep an eye out for him. I want to know the minute he returns."

Tatsu bowed low, sustaining his posture as he replied, "The moment he does, Master, you will know!" He then left as quickly as his ninja skills allowed him.

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In the brief moment, just before the knife would have cut into the creature's throat, the rat opened its eyes. Tang Shen caught the gaze almost immediately – and then hesitated.

Seconds earlier, she had been determined to end the animal's suffering and then her own. Now she paused. Facing her victims and watching their fear grow just moments before their death wasn't anything new to Tang. She was used to that. Those assignments were human, intelligent beings, victims who knew that they were going to die.

In contrast, this creature, which looked at her with intelligence clearly defined within his dark liquid orbs, held no fear whatsoever – and he seemed as intelligent as any of her victims did.

Nevertheless, before she could collect her thoughts or resume her actions, the rat spoke to her.

"Although I do not fear my death, child, why is it that you fear yours?"

Stunned to immobility, Tang's grip around the knife wavered for what seemed like an eternity. Then, almost as if it were too much for her to bear, as if his utterances were the proverbial final straw, the effect of the beast's words caused the young woman to drop her weapon.

As the implement clanged noisily and echoed within the vast cavern of the warehouse, she stumbled back away from the brute. Then, in her stunned condition, she hunched over as if ready to collapse. Actually, it was more truth than not, where the shock of the creature's ability to speak wasted away what energy she had left. Just the same, she remained standing, as she stared and gaping at the animal, who now turned his head to look at her straight away. His whiskers twitched a little, his ears swiveling towards her expectantly.

"Wh-what did you just say?" she asked haltingly in surprise.

Sighing deeply as if taxed almost to exhaustion, the rat repeated, "Why…do you…fear your death, child?"

At first, Tang could not reply. Too surprised by the animal's ability to speak, she could only stare at him. Then, as he waited patiently and watched, Tang nearly squeaked as she answered, "I'm – not afraid to die, rat."

"Then, why do you shake so?" came his quick challenge.

Tang looked down at her hands and saw how she now trembled. Yes, she was indeed shaking, but then she had been through a lot already. Nevertheless, she had never reacted so out of control, before. She then looked around to see where the cameras were, hoping that how she was standing, that she was angled away from their intrusive view. Just the same, the fact that the rat had spoken to her melted away any concerns she might have had.

"Why…is it that you have chosen to speak now?" she asked him hesitantly, looking back at him in suspicion.

"I did not have a good reason to," Splinter replied simply, lifting his snout just a little, as if amused with his answer.

Tang laughed a bit, and then asked, "What reason was good enough for you to speak, now, though?"

"Your life," he remarked softly, his whiskers twitching again.

Chuckling derisively, the woman shook her head, "But, I was the one who subdued you, brought you here, and then chained you to this fence. Why would you even care about my life," she spat out, forgetting what compassion she had had earlier for the creature.

"All life is sacred, child, even those who would cause me harm," again, another simple reply from the rat.

Tang Shen quieted her sarcasm as she considered the creature's words. She studied him and saw gentleness, even though her memory told her that he was just as capable of inflicting pain – if only to protect himself. She saw wisdom there as well as in his words, so finally, she asked, "Do you…have a name?"

"Yes," he replied, and then waited.

"Well?" she asked, "Are you going to leave me hanging here or are you going to tell me?"

"You did not ask if you wanted to know, but…" Splinter smiled, "I am called Master Splinter by my sons."

"Master?" the girl replied, wide eyed, "your sons? You mean...those turtles are your sons?" Now, she really laughed, "In case you aren't aware of it, they're reptilian, while you are a mammal."

"This is true, but I have to ask you a question before I answer mine," the rat countered.

"And what is that?" she sneered.

"Why is it everyone here calls The Shredder their father, when it's perfectly obvious he is not?"

Tang went silent again as she thought about the rat's words. It only took a moment before she understood, "I see…so, you are as much a father to those turtles as Shredder is to me and the other members of the Foot."

"You are very wise, child, which conflicts with your plan to kill yourself," Splinter remarked.

"It is because of honor, rat. You know nothing of honor if you do not understand why I was going to commit seppuku," she declared indignantly.

"I know much about honor, child, but it is apparent that what honor you were taught, whoever taught you…lied to you," the rat remarked quickly. "Honor will not let you steal, honor will not let you murder, honor will only lead you to righteousness and integrity. Courage is what is lacking in your kind of honor."

Tang's instant anger overshadowed her previous compassion for the rat. In one blindingly swift movement and despite her physical condition, Tang procured the knife from the floor and quickly brought it back up against the mutant's throat once again, stating, "I resent your remark, freak!" she seethed under her breath.

"Do you?" he whispered cautiously, "Or, do you resent the fact that I have just told you what you need to hear, but you refuse to accept it?" He breathed a little easier as the girl slowly moved the knife away from his neck again, her hard expression softening ever so slightly. The rat then went on, "I could not help but overhear what Shredder told you earlier, and what two choices he gave to you. Before that, the guards that brought you here, talked about you while you were lying unconscious upon the floor." Splinter took another labored breath, "Although I chose not to speak then, I did decide to listen." He seemed to smile, and went on to say, "They said you have made a fatal choice about your place in this clan – as it seems to have cost you your position, in fact."

Solemnly, Tang turned away as her shoulders slumped. Her arms hung listlessly to her side, one hand still grasping the wazikashi. "You are right, of course; I have shamed my clan with my betrayal." She turned towards the creature and laughed a little, "I was going to put you out of your misery before my own, just to keep you from further harm." Looking upwards towards the ceiling far above her, the girl chuckled, "And I failed with that, too." Dropping her head and slipping back down onto her haunches, she now sat on the floor cross-legged in front of the rat. "I have been…remembering things," she said simply, "things from my…past…and…" she looked up at the creature, "I can't decide what to do or believe anymore."

"I have ears with nothing better to do than to listen," Splinter encouraged, "you may use them, if you wish. For the moment, I am not going anywhere," he smiled at her.

Tang looked up and had to smile, too, at the irony and small joke the creature just made to her. Yet, as she gazed upon his face, she saw that wisdom and gentleness she had noticed earlier, and it was something that she had desired for what seemed like such a long time. Saki had never been one to show her such an expression. Only one other person had done so, and he was long dead, murdered along with his wife in a trailer fire, when Tang had a different name.

Now, with nothing better to do herself, and knowing that she could not follow through with her initial plans to kill the rat, Tang Shen told him her name and then began the task of telling this creature, this Splinter, what events led up to present state. She told him all that she had experienced over the course of the past two weeks, beginning with the circus, how she encountered one of his sons on top of the reporter's apartment, and then ending with the event that had brought her to her current condition.

"After talking with that man at the circus, I decided to use my training and I break into my master's office. Tatsu was working with recruits while my master was out of the warehouse. I knew they would both be gone for a while, especially where my master was not wearing his uniform. He will sometimes dress as any American would and walk the streets. He likes to stroll through Central Park; I think he misses Japan." Tang shared, going on to say, "Anyway, it took a while, but I found a CD in his private collection that piqued my interest. He had labeled it simply as 'Tang'. I knew then, that it was about me." The girl sighed as she recollected the events as they happened, "After slipping it into the computer, what I discovered on it almost made me sick. He had kept every snippet of news about my parents' horrible death, about how their daughter, me, was presumed dead in the fire. I found that he had even kept a log of my training, adding thoughts and suggestions to enhance my natural and ninjitsu-trained abilities. Nevertheless, with finding out about my parents, my true heritage, I knew I could not continue living the lie he had made for me. Yet, I also knew that I did not know how to stop it. It wasn't until later, when I was sent to investigate a rumor of where your sons were staying."

Splinter nodded in interest as Tang continued, "A young boy had evidently seen one of them at this reporter's apartment and shared that information with my master. I was sent to investigate."

Tang hesitated and looked at the rat. His interest in what she had to say was keenly obvious, yet she seriously wondered how he would react to the next part of her story. Nevertheless, even if he had wanted to, she knew he would not be able to smite her, so, Tang continued, "When I arrived at the apartment I saw one of them on the rooftop. He seemed rather upset with the way he was going through some simple katas. I guess one couldn't blame him, where he was probably concerned for your well being."

She bowed her head respectfully, "I'm so sorry for what I did to you – and to what I did to him."

Splinter lowered his muzzle and looked intently at the young woman, holding his tongue in anticipation of what she would say next.

Then, she looked back up at the rat, with her eyes tearing, "Anyway, I went inside the building and climbed the stairs to gain access to the roof and once I was there, I engaged in battle with your son. He wore a red bandanna and he fought very well with his pair of sais, but his temper undermined his training."

She noticed a wry smile and nod from the rat, as if concurring with her, "After teasing him and taunting him to see where his weaknesses were, I made my move. After several precise strikes, I quickly rendered him unconscious. That was when I noticed a skylight nearby." She saw a brief look of concern come to Splinter's eyes, but she did not slow her telling, "When I investigated and saw that the other three were directly below me in the upper apartment, I managed to pull your son to it and pushed him over. He crashed through, of course, and then landed unexpectedly in what I assumed to be the living room, right at the feet of your other sons." She sighed deeply, then, and continued, "I waited, to see what they would do and was pleased to find that the reporter was there as well. She had been quite a nuisance to my master."

Splinter sighed deeply, his whiskers twitching while his ears swiveled back. Tang could not discern his mood, but it wouldn't have been too surprising her if he were indeed angry with her right then. In either event, Tang swallowed, and then said, "However, when they looked up at me, I jumped down into the room and prepared myself for battle. As I did, I quickly noticed the various pictures of people that this April Oneal had scattered throughout the area. They reminded me of my own lost family." Tang raised her head a little, as if regaining a little courage, "In any event, the one turtle in orange challenged me, and then immediately, the others did likewise, each brandishing their weapon. I still had both of my katana but after a very brief skirmish, I lost one and then realized that even though I out maneuvered their brother on the roof, collectively his three brothers were too much for me to combat alone. I was only supposed to reconnoiter the area, anyway, and bring back information that would validate the rumor. I went against orders even to engage them. I had acted rashly, believing myself capable of defeating them, but I realized almost too late that it was a foolish decision. Consequently, after the one in blue managed to rip off half my hood and mask, revealing my red hair, I soon found myself running away."

Tang sighed deeply, "Along the way and as I thought about my lost family, it was then that I realized that my heart had changed. Still, my training demanded that I return to the warehouse, to our headquarters. However, if I had known to what extent my master would have punished me…" She looked up, now, sincere regret and maybe even a bit of fear in her eyes.

Splinter had listened intently to Shen's story, nodding now and then throughout her telling, and expressing words of compassion to her when needed. As she finally finished, they both became silent, contemplating the quiet that now surrounded them. In the background, they could sense someone coming.

Quickly, knowing that his time was short, Splinter spoke, "I do not know what will become of me, Shen, but you must preserve your life. I have a very strong sense that you will play an important roll in my clan's future. I do not know what exactly it will be, but I want you to know that I forgive you…for all that you have done to me and for what you have done to my son, Raphael."

The girl looked up at him, tears brimming at her eyes, as he went on to say, "You retelling the event did anger me for a brief moment, but I know that Raphael is alive." He smiled as the girl looked at him in question, "Yes, he has a name, as do his brothers, but he is alive and…" he glanced around carefully, turning back to the girl as he whispered softly, "they will soon be back in the city. I anticipate a rescue, and if it is possible, you may come with us." He saw an ever-so-subtle blushing of the girl's cheeks, assessing her physical condition, and so he said, "Your nakedness will not bother them, child. I will tell them that Shredder had abused you. They will give you covering as soon as they are able to and more than likely before you leave this warehouse." He sighed, however, "But, if we are separated, you must promise me that you will do everything what you can to stay alive."

"Why would my life be of any importance to you, Splinter?" the girl asked as she moaned, "Even though I was kidnapped at a young age, I have dishonored not only the Foot clan, but I have also brought you and your family much harm, as well." Her voice hitched a little as she said, "I deserve death. In fact, your sons may do the honor of killing me, if they reach us in time." She looked up, with tears now streaming down her face as the weight of her deeds and the overwhelming stress of her situation became too much to bear.

"My sons will not kill you, Tang Shen, and I will not let them," Splinter explained sternly, "Just be assured that I know you are worthy of life." He again repeated himself, "I forgive you, child."

At the time that she had told him her name, Splinter had thought it odd that she would bear the same one as his late master's wife. It was obvious to him that the girl was not of Asian ancestry, considering how the Shredder had acquired her. Yet changing her name to one that was Japanese in origin wasn't too surprising. Still, it did cause him to wonder a great deal about it.

In response to his absolution of her crimes, Tang was about to stand, to bow to the creature in appreciation for his compassion. It was then when she heard movement from behind her. Turning around, she noticed a couple of her compatriots walking into the area, their stride purposeful and determined. She realized, then, that her hour was up. The fact that she and the rat still among the living told them she had made her choice.

Tang Shen instinctively stood up and backed away from them as they unlocked the cage. They then stepped through the opening, without hesitation, walked over to her, each roughly taking one of her arms in hand. Quickly and as they had been trained to do, they forced her to her knees, stating, "Tang Shen, you have an appointment with the Doctor, it seems!" they sneered, and then jerked her back up onto her feet, dragging the girl out of the enclosure and soon out of sight.

Splinter watched mutely, his whiskers twitching as he did, with his mind reaching out to the girl who had just left him. As her guards whisked her into the deepest part of the warehouse, Splinter mentally probed her consciousness, silently encouraging her. As he did this, he finally told Tang Shen that one day she would bring forth a child that would offer hope to his family. It was what his mediation dream had told him earlier, while she had laid unconscious on the floor. In that dream, he saw someone like her, but not like her. At the time, it had been very confusing to him, but now he was certain of one fact; and that was that Tang Shen needed to live.

Then, he sensed her reply and it surprised him. She was correcting him with how he had been addressing her as Tang Shen, the name she had given to him when she first shared her story.

"Tang Shen is not my real name, Splinter, it is not the name my true parents gave to me." The girl smiled in her mind as she told him, "It is…Cassandra Edwards,"

After a while, however, and quite rudely, their mental connection broke. Now, as Splinter tried to reestablish his link with her, Cassandra, the girl once known as Tang Shen and former betrothed of Oruku Saki, screamed out with a new kind of agonizing horror.

Meanwhile, in an office far from the sounds of her cries for mercy, The Shredder went about deleting a CD of all references to the one named Tang Shen.

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