Dream Walker
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable and then when we summon the will they soon become inevitable – Christopher Reeve.
Chapter Five - A Sense of Doom
Jennifer:
I had arrived in New York on Thursday evening, and had slept soundly last night with no dreams to disturb my sleep, or at least none that I was aware of. Aunt Crystal still had to go to work today but then we had tonight and the weekend off to enjoy each other's company and city life itself.
Aunt Crystal was bustling about the apartment keeping up constant conversation as she moved from room to room " I stocked up the fridge and the cupboards with all sorts of things, so just find what you like and help yourself Jen."
" Sure" I agreed.
" Planning on doing any thing today?" She asked as she headed into the bathroom to finish with her hair and make up.
" I don't know might go poking in a few different stores maybe stroll in Central Park go to the zoo ride the carousel" I replied casually. I loved spending time in Central Park and I absolutely loved the carousel. There was something magical about any carousel and I always had a favourite horse to ride, usually one of the romance ones. Romance, in this instance of course, meaning the horse or carousel animal on the outside that were usually decked in the most jewels and things like that.
However I was a little unsure about going outside too, because of Akuma. I knew Akuma had to be real I still had the scratch on my arm and for some reason it seemed slow to heal, though it wasn't showing any signs of infection.
" It looks like a gorgeous day, I'll leave you some money in case you decide to picnic in the park" Aunt Crystal suggested, seemingly not noticing my less then enthusiastic response to going out in the first place, " Who knows maybe you will meet a cute guy." She teased then grew serious again " My work number is by the phone along with the spare keys and a map."
" No problem" I grinned as I glanced at the phone on the living room end table, I noticed the usual list of possible shows or things to do Aunt Crystal would write one up before each visit and I would tick off things I was interested in, then Aunt Crystal would pick one or two that she figured we ought to do anyways, and then there was always one odd thing we would do every time.
Sometimes it was going to eat in a real fancy place, other times going to a live show that didn't have rave reviews or a comedy club or something that was just a little different then what we normally did. There were times we enjoyed it, other times we didn't but Aunt Crystal believed that one should try different things and also that one ought to form their own opinions about things they encountered.
" I see the list I'll go over it today" I informed her, realizing as I did so that I had come to New York to enjoy my time with my Aunt and maybe to puzzle out these dreams at the same time. I realized hiding in the apartment all day wasn't fulfilling my vacation plans and I would only be making my visit a rather boring one if all I did was hide inside the whole time.
" Right and while you are at it Jen, pick a restaurant for dinner and after we'll go pick up some DVD's to watch tonight."
" Sound great" I grinned, pushing my negative thoughts and fears away for the time being.
Aunt Crystal hurried out of the washroom she paused and gave me some money before heading towards the front door " Have a good day Jen I've got to run or I'll be late."
I watched her slip out the front door and heard it click softly behind her, as silence settled on the small two bedroom apartment.
Aunt Crystal's place was a mid-scale sort of place, the walls were well insulated and the building itself well maintained, with fairly good security locks on the front door and other points of entry. She worked fairly regular hours and kept her place clean and neat, she had a few decorations but most of the pictures she had were family photos place in strategic spots. Her place was cozy warm and inviting, as she had a corner apartment she happened to have a large balcony just off the living room.
I ducked out the patio doors to go out on the balcony. I leaned against the railing looking down at a city that was only ten floors or so down.
There was the usual morning traffic, people moving around on foot or by bikes as they tried to get to where they were going, the sounds of voices calling, horns honking, and it was still early yet. The city had to fully wake up and start the day. The scent of meals cooking in various places both homes and from the street cafes and restaurants.
Everything looked so normal, and for some reason that disturbed me all the more though I don't know why it should. I shuddered slightly as I turned and headed back into the apartment. I flopped down on the couch and picked up the remote clicking the TV on. The first thing that came up was a picture of a news reporter sitting at a desk. I snorted slightly not interested in the least in watching the news.
However just as I was about to start channel surfing something the reporter said caught my attention.
" The body found in a local warehouse, down by the East River, has now been identified as local scientist and computer programmer Baxter Stockman."
I gulped air and I could hear my heart start to pound " Akuma" I whispered.
The reporter had the same indifferent air just about every reporter took on when listing the days tragedies, but her brow was furrowed with concern as if the story truly did upset her.
" The New York City police department is checking out any leads into his murder if you have any information please call…"
I had information, but the police would scoff at what I had to say, I mean if I told them a monster had killed him, they would think I was insane or trying to pull some sort of twisted joke. They wouldn't believe not until it was too late, that is if they even believed it then.
I clicked off the TV in a sudden burst of anger and fear.
I had come here because I thought that it was inevitable, now I suddenly felt that I had made the gravest mistake of my life, that I had run into the danger in spite of knowing it for what it was.
Even in this light cheery apartment, though, I knew there was no true escape from Akuma. Akuma was still alive it was waiting in hiding some where while it recovered and when it was ready it would strike again, and continue to do so until it died.
Suddenly staying in seemed the better choice of going out or staying put where I was.
I had to wonder why I had come but I knew that there was something I was meant to do, or had to do, and I had to be in New York to do it. I don't know why I felt that way, I had no vision to verify it. I just knew or felt that it all came down to being in New York. I only hoped that whatever I had to do, I would know it when the time came and that I would be able to do it. I also hoped beyond all else that it wouldn't cost me more then I was willing to give.
I glanced nervously over at the front door and went to pick up the house key. I knew I had to go out now or I might never leave.
Donatello:
I was normally not one to worry about a missed practice here or there, but as I watched my brothers working out in our dojo. I wanted so much to join them, to make the team whole, for I knew that Akuma would not be easy to defeat.
I knew that it would take all of us at our best ready to push further and harder past the edge of our endurance then we had ever pushed before, that Akuma had to be killed by us, or we would have to die destroying it.
Whatever the outcome was I knew in the end that Akuma had to die.
I was still weak and a hindrance in battle, plus with my one arm broken sparring was not exactly recommended as I would only jeopardize the others as well as myself. I knew all of that, but it didn't stop me from wanting to be a part of the work out.
Mike was using the wakizashi or two short swords, he had opted to use the lighter swords until Akuma was dead as his regular nunchuku were useless on the beast.
We had all be trained in the use of various weapons, though we all had our preferences and usually stuck to our favourites, though Splinter the hard task master he could be refused to let us get to use to any one weapon and often demanded we work with another in our sessions in the dojo. Mike could handle the swords quite well, though he was not the swordsman Leo was or would ever be, but he was showing his skill well in the morning session.
Splinter was watching the work out his eyes narrowed head up, his tail slightly slashing from side to side " Faster, harder. Move more fluidly. Make your strikes quicker" he demanded.
Instantly as if they had been holding back all three increased the tempo, as if they had been moving in slow motion before and now had sped up to top speed, the clash of metal striking metal and blurring motion was all most people would be able to detect. I, and Splinter how ever could see much more then a blur of movement and Splinter's scowl said he was not pleased.
Leo as usual was driving himself harder then was his custom, yes he drove us hard and himself harder but I knew he was demanding even more of himself now, he was of course upset that Akuma was free and soon might attack innocent people.
Typically he felt responsible, while at the same time he knew there was little he could do to prevent what had happened. He knew that we had to wait to strike; as it was when we struck next against Akuma I would probably be left out of it, something that irritated me to no end, for I wanted to be there to help my brothers.
" Don't leave yourself open Michelangelo" Splinter ordered." Raphael keep your focus. Leonardo don't strive too hard for the attack."
I sighed a bit and leaned on my newest bo staff that had been converted to hold a jagged spear head on one end, thus making it a far more deadly weapon then my regular bo. I wanted a chance to get Akuma back for what it did to me, all right I was taking it personally, but also I had a better idea of what we were up against.
Especially after being Akuma's target in the dump, for all of its size the beast could move extremely quickly. It was powerful and I knew from the way it had snuck up on me, that it could move very silently when it chose to, I hadn't had much of a warning that night.
One moment I had sensed something and the very next it had struck a powerful blow that had sent me reeling, only after that strike had Akuma started to make any noise.
I had a feeling that Baxter in his last moments had tried to shock Akuma to death through the microchips it hadn't worked. Now Akuma was no longer controlled though it might be weak, still I knew for a fact that an injured animal could be far more dangerous, then one that wasn't sick or ill in any fashion.
If it could learn, as was expected, what had it managed to take from the battle with Baxter?
That humans were weak and easy to kill perhaps, I shuddered at the thought.
Practice broke up and Raph grabbed a long drink from his water bottle.
Leo picked up his own bottle and glanced at Raph " Until we are sure about Akuma it is better if you switch to swords too Raph, they do far more damage then your sais do." While his words sounded like a suggestion, it was Leo's tone and stance that said clearly it was an order.
" Fine" Raph agreed, " But I'm keeping my sais Leo they are easier to throw then a sword is." Raph declared.
Maybe because of their age old rivalry, the one where Raph forever tried to prove that he could be just as good as Leo if he really wanted to, made Raphael pick out a pair of katana for himself.
I smiled secretively, I had a feeling nothing would really end their competition, their very nature seemed to desire the competitive nature and the sense of out doing one another. I knew they both participated and fed off that, in their own ways. This had been going on for too many years for it to change now.
" That beast sure did a number on Baxter, looked like it beat the fellow on his machinery" Raph swung the katana with ease, " Couldn't have happened to a nicer fellow either." He gloated.
Splinter raised one hand, wrinkling his snout in distaste " Spare the details Raphael, for I sense the animal is not gone yet. Only waiting for its chance to recover from it's injuries so it may strike again." Splinter's glare and hard tone said clearly that we should all be taking this seriously.
A reminder that I really didn't need.
" Then what are we waiting here for?" Raph demanded, " Lets hunt it down now and be done with it."
" No Raph we can't" Leo gave an exasperated sigh, " Much as I'd like to I doubt that we would be able to find it for one thing." Leo glanced at me.
I looked away avoiding his gaze, I knew he meant well, but I also knew my injuries were holding us all up.
" Where could it hide Leo?" Mike wondered flopping down cross legged on the mats, " I mean it isn't very small."
" There are plenty of places it can be hiding Mike, abandoned buildings, the sewers, the dump, down in the warehouse district or even in Central Park." Leo replied, " Then if we find it, what then Mike?" Leo shook his head, " We still won't be ready for it. We underestimated Akuma once, we can't do it again." Leo's face tightened his eyes narrowed to mere slits behind his mask, " When we go after it we are going to be ready."
Mike groaned as he flopped backward onto the mat, he knew that meant extra practice sessions.
Raph stood straighter, he crossed his arms over his plastron a look of sheer defiance crossing his face " Which means more waiting and more doing nothing…" he accused.
Splinter smiled " Doing something, does not always mean being active or fighting my son. Sometimes it is better to stand your ground and let the battle come to you."
Raph rolled his eyes muttering something under his breath, before he turned and left the dojo. Moments later we all heard the slamming of the front door that heralded Raphael leaving the lair.
Splinter shook his head and sighed, " So impulsive."
Leo looked as if he was ready to say something in return but he bit his words back maintaining his silence, something I knew wasn't easy for him.
" A lot of the information in Baxter's computer may be destroyed but I might be able to retrieve something of use," I offered, " I admit it won't be easy considering Baxter's genius with electronics and the way things had been left."
Mike paled slightly at my words, we had all seen death many times but none quite like that and Mike with his sympathetic empathic nature really didn't care to think about the gruesome find.
I wondered though how much Akuma had destroyed in Baxter's office due to being in an angry rage and how much it had destroyed out of sheer calculation alone.
I didn't know, none of us really knew then, how cunning Akuma could be in battle for all its animal instincts.
TBC
Lunar Ninja: The gash yes, Jen still has it. As for having that pleasure of all those dragons, no I don't have that but I do have my hands full with Rama demanding/threatening me on a constant basis about having a boyfriend she can keep. A pack of blood thirsty toshe who want to go out and kill something just for the fun of it and a myriad other characters that cause me some sort of headache or grief. A gratitude for your insight.
Pacphys: I am honoured that you have put this story into your C2 file but in so doing you may have challenged me, for I didn't know if I would be putting this story up to M later on or not depending on how graphic or bad things got later, now I am going have to see if I can keep it T. Ooooh, I do so love a challenge. Yes, Jen did know about the turtles from the first chapter so it had to be explained somehow. Raph well he is carrying swords now.
A gratitude for your insight.
Chibi Rose Angel: Well I had one character death with Baxter and I didn't hear anyone crying tears for him. So who knows where the story will go from here I just follow on the trail behind the muses. A gratitude for your insight.
Reinbeauchaser: One must remember everything TMNT started as a black and white comic, as they sometimes say truth really is stranger then fiction. Mike wields swords yes but nothing was said about them being katanas. I am seriously considering angst/horror for this story. At the moment angst/general does work but the beast does add a touch of horror and may continue to do so. A gratitude for your insight.