Disclaimer: I do not own these fine new specimens, save for the Original Characters there-involved.

Authors note: Now that I have finally gotten internet access on my personal computer and not that slow, bumbling machine at my workplace, I can finally write and post on my OWN time; which is appx. Six PM whatever time zone Tokyo is in.

And that weird Microsoft computer thing is now a rubix cube. Weird.

The Beginning Chapter Seventeen (ooh, fun!)

Leonardo's POV:

After Mikaela ran off with Mikey in pursuitscaring the daylights out of me, I took the poor tomcat's remains down to the Lair. I had full confidence that Michaelangelo could find and return her to us, and to safety. With these recent scares, I could sense the intense rise in tensions among us all, even Master Splinter.

"Donnie?" I called, but received no response. I suppose he was out junking again, looking for replacements for all the 'toys' that Raphael and Mikey have ravaged. Oi.

"Leo?" Lillian queried, stepping out of Donatello's lab-slash-room with a beaker of orangey fluid. "What's wrong?"

"Lillian..." I paused, unsure of how to explain the situation at hand. "Lillian," I tried again, "We found this in Mika's apartment." I cut off, uncertain. I thrust the wrapped bundle towards her.

"Oh god..." Lillian paled several shades lighter than normal, her downy fur standing in stark contrast to the white of her skin. I t was ethereally captivating, but not so much as Mikaela's devilish bronze skin... (OH DAMN, do NOT go there again.) Mental slap to the forehead aside, Lillian snatched the bundle from me and raced into the lab.

"Oh god no... no no no..." She muttered over and over again as she pulled vial after vial out of the myriad tornado-wreck called Donnie's workbench.

"What are you doing?" I asked, curious as she pulled a well-worn notebook from her satchel.

"I want to be absolutely positive that this is Rookie-" Her voice caught. Apparently Mika wasn't the only one who loved that cat.

(Poor Mika.)

"Dudes?" I heard Mikey's normally cheerful surfer-boy voice cut through the silence with edginess.

"In the Lab, Mikey!" I called, turning slightly to the door. He appeared seconds later looking worse for the wear.

"What happened!" I exclaimed, startled by his disheveled, bruised, and scratched up appearance.

"Mikalea happened." Mikey grimaced, rubbing an obviously aching shoulder. I felt sorry for him. I've seen how April rags and raves on Case, but Mikaela's a bit different.

(Gah! Stop thinking about her!)

"She lit into me once she found out I was following her, and MAN does she hit HARD!" Mikey complained, popping joints and rubbing sore muscle. "She kicked the bejeezus outta me, then begged me to leave her alone."

"Where is she?" I asked, heading out the lab for my railcar- hopefully I wasn't too obvious of my intent.

"Dude, don't even try alone. She's beyond pissed."

(Damn.)

"She's more like PMS, Migraine, Acupuncture, and numb-free surgery all rolled up into one fireball."

I have to admit I eyebugged a bit at that analogy.

I'll go. Ana piped up, exiting Raphael's compartment, semi disheveled. I wasn't about to go there, for fear of freaking out.

Shudder.

"Okay then. Ana and I are going." I closed the conversation.

Did you find out where she went to? Ana asked, miffed. This is the third time she's done this, and I hate to admit it, but she's found a way to block my mental probes when she's in a state. Sorry.

"Not your fault, Ana-banana!" Mikey half-grinned, with a sly wink. "But she didn't escape Mikey the Sam Spade clone... well, in a turtle's body... from finding out her hiding spot!" He gestured grandly, another one of his cheesy impressions falling into place. "This is the location of Mika-babe. What is the Zoo?"

"The ZOO?" I clipped, astounded. Now there's an interesting hiding spot, among nature. Nearly perfect for a quarter-amphibian/reptile to hide.

You know that almost makes sense? Ana snipped, looking very annoyed. I should have thought of that. She loves animals and nature, and despises experiments. laughing, Anastasia went on, You know, if she hadn't had the accident, she probably would have been kicked out from freeing test animals.

(And not have met me...) "Well, let's not waste any more time, eh Anastasia?"

Right on, Leo-baby.

Mikey simply laughed.


Later, after a long chat on Ana's cellphone with Lillian...

I'm happy to say that, to everyone's relief, the blood tests that Lillian had done on Mikaela's cat did not match with blood samples taken from the animal on her rug.

However, we were much more relieved when we were able to locate the owner in the Zoo's massive compound.

Mikaela! Anastasia cried up towards a massive tree inside the 'Alligator Island Zone'. Who makes up these names?

Mika, it wasn't Rookie!

A shadow leapt down from the branches, green eyes blazing in the pale moonlight.

"So where's Rookie?" Mikaela snarled, advancing towards our small party in a menacingly stealthy manner.

We're not sure, Mika. Ana thought-spoke gently, placing a delicate hand on her shoulder. Lillian and Donnie are at a loss, but we know that the cat in your apartment wasn't poor Rookie.

"I still want to know where Rookie is!" She shouted, tears springing to her eyes. Instead of comforting, Ana froze.

Leonardo, do you feel that?

"Yeah, but what is it?" I asked, licking my lips. I didn't like this feeling- Someone, or worse, something was out there.

FWSHHH!>

A smoke bomb landed in the midst of our trio.

"The Foot!" I cried, drawing my swords, their hissing giving me the calm focus and knowledge that they wouldn't fail me.

Ana's POV:

The smoke was clearing, but neither me or Mika were able to close our lungs up before the fumes reached them, inducing our current state of racking coughs.

Through my coughing fit, I could see multiple shadows moving through the choking mist around us.

SNICK>

I heard the cable snap out before I could register that I was caught in its steely grip! I glowered, my eyes clouding over with pale reddish sheen.

FLEX

I felt the wellspring of power flow through me, guiding its strength towards the filaments of cable wound around me, pushing, pushing, pushing! –against the snarls, testing for a weak spot.

Quick as a flash I perceived Mikaela rushing to me, intending to use her awesome strength to rip the cables apart. I didn't doubt her ability, not at her level of rage. I know it sounds corny, but once upon a time her nickname was 'She-Hulk'

FLEX!

No way.

(There's no way!)

MIKAELA! I screamed, horrifed as the cables tightened harder, as if they could sense my thoughts!

It was getting darker.

I was asphyxiating at the mercy of a cable.

(How… embarrass…ing…)

Mika…

Mikaela's POV:

I was in a blind rage.

I hadn't been this volcanic since the bastards that tried to kill little Sue had the gall to show up at her house.

I wasGLAD.

As far as I could tell, Leo was holding his own with some Foot-jackasses who crashed my Macy's day parade by leaving a dead cat in my GOD DAMN ROOM!

I smashed my fist into one nameless black mask, whirling into another with the blade of my hand. I heard bones snap and exulted. You bastards! I guess they decided I was serious after that, cuz one of the uglies produced a bo staff, swinging away like I was some sort of tree. Well, a tree would've been safer cause this guy was LAME!

SMACK!>

Down with the bozo! Next please!

Aw, shit, he cut me! Okay, same as before- with a kick kick here, and a smack smack there, here a kick there a kick, everywhere a kick kick! Down those Foot boys go!

"Leo!"

"What?" My blue masked hero (Aw jeeze Mika, you sap...) yelled back, busy with another black masked weirdo.

"Where's Ana!" I looked around in the midst of bowling down Foot ninjas like snowcones. If that makes sense.

Mika…

"ANA!" I shrieked, turning to the beacon of her voice. "SHIT!" I saw she'd been (figuratively) turned into Medusa, or worse as she'd been all coiled over like a python's lunch! I raced over towards her, when I blinding flash of light lit up the zoo like high noon!

"You have to be kidding me."

HISSSSROOOOAAARRR!>

A Dragon.

A freaking DRAGON in the middle of the goddamned zoo.

(Sorry kids, I think this guy ain't gonna be held in by cages!)

"SHIIIT!" I yelped, dodging a lethal blast of flames, as a gigantic reptile, with massive leathery wings launched itself into the fray. And by god, was it ugly.

You know those cool looking dragons you see carved, or drawn from medieval times? Yeah, this guy... no GIRL! definetly was NOT one of those. Not by a long shot. A blunt snout with upcurled lips showed rows of ragged, snaggly, razor sharp teeth, and a trio of slitted nostrils above that, and dead white eyes, with no visible pupils set under a bony protruding browridge line with spiky horns. Flapping spiked ears increased their tempo as the creature grew more agitated. It lashed its massive head around, spewing forth another deadly plasmatic fireball, crisping several Foot soldiers to way past well-done. I noticed a sinewy neck attached to a set of massive and seemingly improportioned sloped shoulders, leading to gigantic wings, small hindquarters, and a long, whippy tail evilly barbed with long, freaky looking spikes.

(Eyeeeewww... )

HISSSSSROOOOAAAARRRR!> It bellowed again, issuing it's challenge at the puny creatures scrambling about to avoid looking like overcooked Popeye's chicken.

"LEO! Where are you?" I shrilled, suddenly afraid he'd been hurt, or worse… (no I won't think of that!)

"Mika!" I heard him yell somewhere off to my left, through a wall of flames and what appeared to be some remains. I shuddered. Death was never pretty. I leaped, pulling an Arnold Schwarzanegger classic through-the-flames-I-go! maneuver- with Anastasia temporarily, but not totally, forgotten.

"CRAP!" I shouted, annoyed at a miniature enemy, "THERE'S MORE OF THESE THINGS!" A mini dragon-thing snarled and puffed a miserably small ball of flame at me. I raised and eyebrow, then vaulted over it as well, leaving it to slash and burn at trapped Foot goons.

I felt more than saw Leonardo hidden under a pile of brush, yet something compelled me to look upwards.

Through a roiling wall of burning brush, lights, fire and the steadily growing sirens, I saw something that stuck me cold.

There was no mistaking the figure slung over the shoulder of the other creature.

"ANA!" I howled, before Leonardo dashed up behind me, pinning my arms in a hold.

The pink haired creature, no, woman gazing hard back at us quirked her lips into a smile. My eyes widened more, both through rage and recognition.

SHE LOOKED LIKE ME!

I felt Leonardo stiffen in shock, then the flames flashed higher. When the wind blew them to the side, i gasped.

They were gone.

"AAAAAANNNNAAAAAA!"

HIISSSSSRROOOOAAAARRRR!>

The malevolant beast behind us raged, destroying more of the zoo, and then raising its head, cocked it to the left, before taking to the skies- the rest of it's obvious brood trailing behind.

"Leo…." I was trembling uncontrollably. I couldn't help it. Two of my closest companions- gone. In less than twenty-four hours.

He held me as the tears began to fall, the two of us emblazoned in a ring of fire.

"Mika..." He murmured, turning my face towards his. I gazed at him mournfully, face streaked with grime, soot, and tears.

"We have to go before the authorities arrive." I tensed up in his arms, easing up a little as he soothingly rubbed my back. I was still angry at having my cry-session disturbed, though. He leaned closer.

"We'll get her back." He whispered. "I promise."

I nodded shakily, and he led me to the wall.

Adrenaline pumping, we disappeared into the night.

"What happened?"

"My god, Mika, are you okay?"

"Leo, what did you do!"

"Shut up Raph!"

"No, you- jerkoff!"

"Both of you shut up! Mikaela, are you okay?"

"Move over, give her room to breathe!"

"Do you want something to eat?"

"Where's Ana, Mikaela?"

I screamed.

Balling my fists, I turned to the nearest stationary object and buried my arm up to the elbow in it.

"Damn, she broke the stereo…"

"THEY TOOK HER!" I raged, pacing a wide circle of the lair's living area.

"Who took who?"

"Ana! The Foot!" I sobbed, collapsing onto the couch. Someone covered me in a blanket and held an orange in front of me. I shook my head. I was too upset to eat.

"Calm yourself child," Master Splinter's gentle voice wafted across the room. I sniffed, wiping away my shame. "Tell me what happened."

A tidal wave of emotion washed over me, then I spilled everything. Rookie's disappearance, my disappearance, then Ana's forced disappearance. I told them everything, except for my own selfish desires. Those were better left unsaid.

I felt someone sit next to me on the couch, and wrap their arms around me in a long hug. I opened my screwed shut eyes.

I blinked. Leonardo had his arms around me. All of a sudden I couldn't decide if I was devastated or elated. I decided to test the waters and leaned my head on his shoulder. Then the tears came again. Here I was being selfish while Ana, my best friend, was out there somewhere!

My story been said, Leonardo- ever the leader- spoke up.

"I think we have a bigger enemy at hand." That caught their attention from gawking at me.

"What is it, my son?" Master Splinter asked, a steely glint entering his eye.

"Well, now we know that whoever they are have access to chemicals any normal criminal wouldn't have a chance at, and that they are using animals to experiment on." His voice took a grave edge. "Like Mikaela said, we ran into a dragon and it's kids, but one thing she didn't mention was that we got a glimpse of one of the new enemy."

"Well, what'd he look like?" Raph snapped, the anxiety overlaying any ill-attitude in his tone, "Dammit Leo, you saw him! Tell us!"

The dam broke and the attention was again focused on me.

"She looked like… ME!" I cried.

Third Person View... some time later...

"Cloning maybe?" Donnie ventured, unsure of himself.

"Not likely." Lillian countered, sipping at her coffee. Another thing those two annoyingly had in common. Coffee addicts. "I cannot think that they would have been able to obtain the sufficient DNA chains, or proper technology to obtain such a developed likeness.

"Well, not exact likeness." Leonardo threw his two cents in, after a bite of coffee-cake Mike made. "She had some disturbing similarities, but there were also some major differences. The girl had the same basic figure (here Michaelangelo snickers) Shut up Mikey and the facial features were akin, but the hair and the skin and the eyes were different, and she was much more muscular than Mika. Not freakishly muscular, but definetly more built than Mika"

Raph snorted. "Sounds like you got a pretty good view, Leo."

"I was only being observant, Raph." Leonardo growled in response.

"A little too observant!" Mikey chimed, and Donnie play-smacked him upside the head. "What?"

"I still think that if it was the Foot, they're not working alone this time. Someone else has their hand in this." Lillian stood with her steaming cup. "Don, I'm going to check out the references of some of the major scientific research institutes around the area." With that, the mouse-girl left the room, with a long glance over her shoulder. Donnie glanced at his brothers, wiggled his brows and followed.

Mike's jaw dropped.

"Dude…. That was so not Donnie."

"Aaah," Raph snorted, slamming his hands on the table. "I'm gonna go take care of some punks… need to work off some energy."

"Good idea bro. I'm gonna hit the hay tho." Mikey yawned incredibly. "Snooze it up a bit."

Leonardo looked at his sensei as the others left the room.

"Sensei… I'm going to go check on Mika." He tongue tripped as he rose.

"And I shall meditate on this matter, my son. Ensure she is well cared for, as she has lost much today."

"Hai sensei." Leonardo bowed and exited.

The last one in the candlelit kitchen, a cup of tea before him, lowered his head- the flame flickering in his eyes.

"I fear there is more at stake this time, my sons…" He whispered, then snuffed the candle into a wisp of smoke.

A/N: Drama drama drama! ENOUGH DRAMA! Hopefully I can throw some more romance and action in there next time, but as for tonight my brain is pooped. Hope you enjoyed!

Thank you all for the encouraging reviews, no matter how kooky my stories get!

Reinbeauchaser: Yeah, it got a bit confusing in 'A Chat' but it's still amusing. I like making people think!

Ramica: Yeah, I didn't like using Rookie, but I did need something unexpected. Makes stories more fun!

Pacphys: Glad you liked the chat! I may make a story-like sequel/another chapter.

Much love and luck to all! If I didn't mention you specifically, It's not cause I don't appreciate you, I just have a goldfish attention span.

The Spade