Dream Walker
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
You see things and say why but I dream things that never were and say why not? - George Bernard Shaw.
Chapter Two - Battle
Raphael:
Of course I wanted to go right then and there. I knew it was dangerous, I knew that thing could rip me to shreds but that hardly concerned me at the moment, not the way I was afraid of losing Don. Sure, I wasn't one to talk about any of my feelings, I usually squashed those way down inside me keeping them hidden from all except for anger that is.
I knew it was a trap, probably set up by the Shredder or one of his goons. No wait, hold on, it could only be the work of one person Baxter, only Baxter Stockman could have the genius to create something like that, he was also the only person who possessed the right amount of ego and insanity to think he could create a thing, like on that tape, and believed he could control it.
Yes, it was a trap, we'd have to be blind and stupid not to see that, but as so many other instances in our lives had proven to us, that we really didn't have a choice other then to walk right into it and risk it all for our brother.
I was steamed and anxious to get going in spite of the fact I knew we would have to wait.
I wasn't particularly good at waiting, didn't have much patience and all the thoughts of what the creature could be doing to Don didn't make me feel any better about waiting for the cloak of darkness.
Hopefully any security measures in or out of the warehouse we could handle on our own, usually Don was our specialist that dealt in breaching security systems. But we were not going have his skills going in.
" We are going have to kill that creature" Leo murmured, " we can't afford to let it break free in the city."
" No problem the three of us can take him down Leo" I growled.
Splinter shook his head, as he sat back in his chair " The beast will not be easy to destroy. I sense that it is far stronger then it has all ready shown itself to be." Splinter gave a heavy forlorn sigh before bowing his head, a sombre expression crossed his face " The pitiful thing may need to be killed yes, but it may be easier to do later on."
Leo scowled as he turned to face Splinter " You mean we ought to just grab Don and leave? But if that thing" he paused " were to break free…"
" That thing gives me the creeps" Mike mumbled uneasily, " I don't think I'm ever going enjoy monster movies in the same way." He trembled and tried to smile but it was a weak effort at best.
" It is powerful and dangerous, we know next to nothing about it, therefore going into battle against it is," Splinter stopped, " wrong. It would be better to learn its weaknesses."
I snorted and crossed my arms over my plastron " That thing doesn't look like it has any" I refuted " Hell…"
Splinter's head snapped up and he glared at me through narrowed eyes, his ears folded back though didn't quite lay flat against his head and his tail thumped the floor.
" It just might learn from battle and try gainin' the upper hand," I pointed out quickly in hopes of avoiding another lecture about my language.
" We have to fight it tonight to get Don back but I don't think we stand a chance against it when we are at less then full strength. Maybe we will learn enough to finish it next time we meet" Leo declared, "however if the opportunity arrives we will take it down tonight."
I didn't like the verdict, in fact I didn't like much of any of the unfolding events, but I was going to be ready for tonight's battle no matter what.
…
We knew what we were going into, even if we really had no idea o what we were really up against. I didn't care for that but I was wound up enough by that point, that it didn't really matter much to me. In fact I felt ready to go in and take down the beast single handed and I had to fight to walk near my brothers, instead of charging ahead to get this deal over with.
The ware house was situated off almost by itself behind a large fence that we had to scale, but getting in to the warehouse itself had been almost too easy. Especially when one considered that we knew the beast lay within the building before us.
We entered the warehouse cautiously and a strange smell assaulted my nostrils almost instantly it was the stench of blood, and animal refuse, mixed with an odour that could only of come from the creature itself, we heard a low growl that caused all of us to tense up almost instantly.
The overhead lights suddenly snapped on, temporarily blinding us in the harsh glare, at that very same moment the beast let out a roaring screaming noise that sent my ears ringing.
Our eyes quickly adjusted to see a large cage that took up about half to three quarters of the warehouse, the bars on the cage were thick heavy metal, but I noticed some of the bars had been bent and slightly damaged, as if the beast had tested his strength against them at one point or another.
In the cage was two inhabitants Don chained to the wall, and the creature.
For the moment the beast had my full and undivided attention, how do I even begin to describe something that defied description?
It was big bodied, heavy chested well muscled, something like a gorilla, only this beast was taller and strange looking like, maybe it was a gorilla crossed with a bear. Thick black hair covered its body, its arms were long and massive things, it had hands and feet like an apes, including five fingers and toes only each digit was tipped with long lethal looking claws.
Its round head had large bat like ears, a wide cavernous mouth full of sharp lethal teeth. Its eyes were small reddish slits and it had a nose similar to a bear's but it was squashed flatter.
The noises this thing seemed capable of emitting were incredible to hear ranging from low whines, to loud whooping noise, which it was giving now as it bounced in excitement, not to mention the screaming roar it had given when we had entered.
Leo glanced back over his shoulder as if verifying we were still there, before walking towards the prison door. I spotted a long bit of drool dangle out of the creature's mouth.
Mike hesitated slightly beside me, I could tell he was nervous, I mean he wasn't even cracking a joke or doing his usual stunts.
I grinned at him trying to reassure him " it is big and bad Mike, but we are worse. Sides that the bigger they are the harder they fall."
I glanced towards where Don was chained against the wall, at some point in time the creature must have broken one of the chains that bound Don for there was a chain that dangled loose.
From some of the fresh injuries on Don it was a good bet that chain had been used on him to some extent. At the moment though Don was unconscious sitting propped up against the wall.
The creature dropped to all fours and loped faster then we were walking to the cage entrance, it reached out touching the bars of the door but yelped backing up head cocked shaking its hands as if he had been hurt.
Electricity. I thought we had to be very careful once we were inside.
Leo looked over to the far side of the warehouse; I realized he was looking for some office area.
" Baxter, this creature you have created is a menace and a threat. You would do well to dispose of it" Leo called out.
Obviously he felt the way I did, that only Baxter could be insane enough to be behind all of this, and somehow somewhere Baxter was watching this because he wouldn't want to miss the show he had created.
There was no response to Leo's words. Leo nodded as if he had expected that much before reaching over his shoulder and withdrawing his katana, almost simultaneously Mike and I drew our weapons.
My eyes narrowed Lets get it on. Lets get it over with. I urged silently.
Leo used the tip of his katana to press against the bars knowing the metal of the blade would act as a conductor of sort, but there didn't seem to be anything other then the door swinging gently inward. Perhaps Baxter was watching or maybe there was some sort of chip in the beast that when it touched the bars it would get the electric shock, we glanced uncertainly at one another.
The beast bounced and sniffed the air, swinging its long hairy arms as we entered the cell and braced ourselves for battle.
The creature raised his head and gave short sharp barks then charged straight towards us moving incredibly fast on four limbs. Leo met the attack with a slash from his katana hitting an arm, the creature snarled and swiped at Leo so quickly with the other arm, that Leo didn't have a chance.
He was sent flying, hitting the bars of the cage behind us.
" Mike together" I snapped as I jumped forward hoping that he would indeed back me up.
I thrust my sai at a shoulder as I flipped over the creature, but I found out that between the hair and its thick hide, my sais only managed a scratch.
I landed as the beast whirled snarling spittle and drool hanging all over its mouth, as Mike darted in from behind, hitting the creature with his nunchukus. The beast snarled and spun about but Mike moved with it, he was nimble and fast and managed to keep behind the brute. Course years of evading me after teasing me to act did have its purpose not to mention Mike had a smaller build then the rest of us and had always seemed able to move quicker.
I was waiting for a chance to move in where I wouldn't be hit by the swinging arms, knowing I had to strike hard when I did make a move if I was going make it count.
The monster howled startling Don who had jolted awake from the noise. Don glanced our way and in his pain filled mind he must have realized what was going on for I could tell he was trying to escape the remaining shackle but, that one happened to be on his broken arm so the odds of getting it off weren't good.
The beast was spinning around becoming more enraged by the second as Mike kept it circling.
Leo by now had recovered and was heading to assist Mike " Raph get Don." He yelled at me.
" I am not staying out of this fight," I snapped.
Suddenly the beast's head shot around, its eyes narrowed as it raced towards Don.
I moved fast hoping to cut it off fast as it neared me it picked me up like I was nothing more then a toy and tossed me to the ground before running over top of me, its claws leaving scratches on my skin as it departed.
Great, I always wanted to know how it felt to be hit by a freight train. Now I knew!
Mike and Leo were running in fast behind it trying to keep Don from another attack, as I lay still for a moment fighting to get my wind back.
Mike threw a nunchuk in hopes of tripping the thing but the beast whirled around fast baring its teeth. Leo darted in slashing at a leg, then flipping out of the way of another arm strike. Mike however didn't have time to avoid the arm swing and the beast managed to grab hold of Mike.
It chortled and seemed to smile as it drew Mike in close biting him on the shoulder. Mike screamed and wrenched his arm loose from where the beast had it pinned by his side, Mike rapped the creature across the mouth with his chuck causing the animal to drop him.
I stood up feeling scratched and bruised, not to mention aching all over but I was ready to go at the thing again.
Leo had managed to break the chain holding Don by using his katana blade. He was supporting Don and doing his best to get Don out.
The animal focused its gaze on Leo and Don, I knew that it would go for them next but in Don's weakened condition he wouldn't be able to handle the creature's attack.
I removed a sleeping dart from my belt pouch, I knew it would knock an ordinary human out, I hoped it would slow this creature down. I tossed it with perfect aim, but the creature's extra tough hide meant the dart hardly even touched it.
Leo stood his ground gritting his teeth, as he tried to stand in front of Don to protect him. The creature roared, Leo yelled and as the beast closed in, with an arm sweep Leo spun using first the right then the left katana to slash into the beast's hairy arm drawing blood.
The animal growled its hand snapping out enclosing on Leo's wrists, the claws digging into the flesh there with ease.
I tossed a sai hard and it hit the monster on the butt, it hooted as if in shock and it turned around tossing Leo as it did so.
Mike moved to assist Don, he was limping slightly and I realized he must have landed the wrong way when the beast dropped him. Don had gotten to his feet and was staggering and seemed more then slightly disoriented as Mike got hold of him, and spoke calmly to Don.
I glanced at Leo, we had injured the beast but we were all hurt and couldn't continue. I hate retreating from a fight, I had this complex of going down fighting but I knew it wouldn't gain us much if we did that now.
Leo nodded issuing a silent retreat; he wanted us to guard Mike and Don. I was willing to go along with that.
The creature didn't like Don and Mike trying to leave, it was clear the beast was agitated, it tried to ignore Leo and I as it moved to stop Don and Mike. We were not the easiest beings to ignore; besides I hated being ignored.
I got in its face or in front trying to draw it to attack, ready to flip or move out of the way as fast as I could. Or Leo would come in trying to draw it away if he felt the beast was too fixated upon me. It was tag team principle really, just without the tagging. We managed to get out and shut the door of the cage behind us merely by luck alone, the creature hesitated running back and forth as it hissed and growled in the cage unwilling it seemed to go forward and touch the bars.
As we ducked out the door of the warehouse I heard a wailing noise, a deep cry of pent up rage and fury; that I could almost relate to.
I had a sudden sinking feeling one I couldn't really explain, call it instinct a hunch or whatever you will, but I knew then without a doubt that it was coming after us. It wasn't going let us get away that easy.
Jennifer:
That night the dream picked up almost where it left off, as if it had been a movie that had been paused for a short time.
There I was hiding in the sewers, the turtles trying to edge their way to some place safe and that dark shadowy, monster, thing, drawing ever closer to them.
When it came into view of my hiding spot I screamed, I couldn't help it. My startled yell bounced and echoed eerily off the sewer pipes sounding strange against the normal noises of dripping or running water.
Yet the turtles didn't even seem aware of me being there at least they didn't seem to hear my fear induced holler. It was like they couldn't hear or see me. I relaxed a bit then feeling a bit safer. I was merely an observer.
The beast paused head tossed up snuffling as its nose wrinkled up and back, even though the turtles stood just a few mere feet away, it was as if it was no longer interested in them.
The creature made a noise and cocked its head as if listening, turning away from the turtles, that had kept it so preoccupied up to this point. Then it moved towards my hiding spot and I knew it was coming for me.
Somehow it knew I was here.
The turtles acted quick, taking advantage of the distraction, they disappeared into the shadows of the sewers and I knew if they hadn't heard my first yell, then they would not hear a call for help.
Instead the beast closed in on the pipe I was hiding in, I knew I didn't have time to escape, if I moved it would attack, if I didn't move I might still be a goner but I felt that I was unable to move.
I huddled down into the sewer pipe, trying to keep to the shadows, and stay quiet not even wanting to make a sound hoping that my racing heart and rapid breaths wouldn't give me away. I was terrified beyond words and movement.
The thing raged at the opening to the pipe, it reached an arm in raking the side of the sewer pipe causing a sound like chalk screeching on a chalk board. One claw dug into my left arm raking a deep gouge into my flesh.
I felt the pain and I must have whimpered involuntarily in spite of my wish to stay silent, no matter what, either that or the smell of blood alerted the beast that there was someone here. I wasn't sure.
I did know it began to rant even harder and seemed more determined to haul me out of there. It wanted me.
I woke then screaming in the darkness of my room, somehow I knew the creature wanted me dead, just as he wanted the turtles dead, but for different beast just wanted to kill the turtles, as if it was merely an instinctive reaction a normal predator prey relationship, but with me, the beast actually felt I was a threat to it.
It had sensed me, knew that I was there in hiding, even though the turtles seemed blissfully unaware of me, which meant this beast was a threat on more then one level. It had a higher instinctive sense or something to know what it did. Only thing was I had no idea why it felt I was a threat to it. I had no knowledge of how to stop or destroy this creature; such a feat seemed well beyond my abilities.
However that wasn't going stop it. Even I was aware that the creature wasn't going to rest as long as it felt I was a threat and a danger to it, it would try to kill me or destroy me.
I moved my arm and felt a sudden sharp stabbing pain and I tried to see what had caused it, there was a large tear in my pajama sleeve and a deep gash in my left arm that was bleeding badly I went to the washroom to clean and bandage my arm as best I could before returning to my bedroom and changing my pajama top. I sat down on my bed pulling my legs up to my chest wrapping my arms around them and began to cry, I never felt so scared and alone in all my life as I felt right then.
I had ESP, yes but not even in the clairvoyant dreams had there ever been a time when I had been injured in any way and bore that mark from the dream state to the waking world.
If the beast could do this to me, then perhaps it was also possible for it to kill me while I slept. I stayed awake the rest of the night feeling that in my dreams I was vulnerable to something I couldn't stop or hurt in any way.
It was a very cold bitter bit of knowledge to cling to in the silence of my room.
TBC
Blue Raven: I will try to update quickly but with so much else on the go I really can't promise much. Once a week if you are lucky. A gratitude for your insight.
Pacphys: The monster isn't suppose to sound like a long lost friend, so I am so glad I got the creepy right. Have you ever read something wicked this way comes? A story in the R section of turtles? The monster in it could very well be a relative to the beast in my story, only mine is far more physical then that one. A gratitude for your insight.
Lunar Ninja: I love your words Son of a motherless goat, really. LOL just loved it! Though I don't know if those words refer to the creature or the voice on the tape. A gratitude for your insight.
Mikaela's Spade: I plan on bringing Jen more into the story as we go along, she is not merely going view in her dreams. As to what her ESP will allow or not I haven't fully decided as of yet, I have a few ideas but that is all. Just keep reading hopefully it will be revealed in time. A gratitude for your insight.
Pretender Fanatic: No her mom wasn't using telepathy, maybe it just sounded that way. Jen's mom was calling her from another room while Jen was snug in her bed. I just figured the Eh tu brute worked quite well there and seemed a perfectly appropriate remark from Don. A gratitude for your insight.
Reinbeauchaser: Yes this dips into what comes before Jen's dream, or at least explain how the boy's became injured in her dream as Jen having ESP could have dreamed it before it happened anyways. Here is more hope you like. A gratitude for your insight.
ChibiRoseAngel: I just started and have no idea when or where it will be finished but I will continue to work on it until it is done. My muses love to have a break and lead me astray now and again or often in cases like this decide I need to add just another story into the mix. A gratitude for your insight.