Dream Walker

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonian.

All men of action are dreamers – James G. Huneker.

Chapter Seven – What makes a hero?

Leonardo:

A ninjas world and life is full of vast contradictions. We are taught to value life, but also that some death is necessary at times, for the greater good. We are taught the value of patience and waiting, to be still as the night and the shadows about us, and yet when there is a need and time to move quickly, acting with such speed as to not give a thought to anything other then the goal we have set in mind.

For now we had to wait, there was no other option but if Raph's suspicions were correct then soon, possibly we might be able to act.

I was anxious to hear what Jennifer had to say, I could sense her discomfort at finding herself in the sewers among what she had thought, were beings she felt couldn't be real. It created a certain amount of confusion. I could also feel the fear that lingered around her, clung to her like a cold damp shawl. It was a fear born of an understanding and acceptance of what Akuma was. Akuma's very nature was to spread fear and darkness.

Jennifer sat back into the armchair burrowing into the back of it, as if hoping by doing so she would vanish; she took a slow sip of her tea.

" We're waiting" Raph informed her shortly.

Raph found patience to be very demanding, he was not patient by nature.

She sighed and shrugged glancing around at us once more, as if to confirm we actually existed. " I …I'm not really sure where to start" she replied hesitantly.

" Start at the most likely place" Splinter advised.

" Right" Jennifer stated, " I guess that means telling you my family for many generations has had the talent for precognition."

" Precog what?" Raph demanded suddenly.

Don shook his head, " Precognition Raph is the knowledge of knowing something before it happens." He explained in a weary fashion.

Raph gave Don a typical sour look " Thank you Mr. Dictionary."

Splinter gave a quick look their way " Please allow Jennifer to continue my sons, this is not easy for her and interruptions will not make the task any better," he reprimanded them gently, he then turned to face Jennifer, " Forgive my sons rudeness, please we would be honoured if you would continue."

" Well a lot of peoples seem to think that such ESP abilities ought to be able to give you the winning lottery numbers, or that you will know everything that is going to happen but it isn't really like that at all." She drummed her fingers on an armrest; " A lot of future dreams come in symbols that leave a great deal open to interpretation. Some things you know right away are real, others they aren't as significant and harder to explain."

" Meaning what?" I inquired probing to understand what she was saying.

" For instance the dreams I had of Akuma, I wanted to believe a monster like that couldn't really exist but I knew it was real. Right from the start I knew, I wasn't so sure about you though, I mean you were all in my dream but…" She gave a nervous little chuckle, " Uh I thought because of all the comics and things that you couldn't possibly be real and my subconscious was using something I related to New York to tell me where Akuma was." She shook her head, " Sometimes the dreams do that. There was once I dreamed of a roller coaster it entered a loop and at the height of the loop, when the car was upside down, the car fell off the track." She paused, " In my dream when the car reached the bottom it righted itself landing on the track but there was skeleton's sitting in the car. I knew then that there would be death. Only problem was in my dream the event happened at Disneyland."

" So what was the problem with that?" Mike asked softly.

" There was a roller coaster where a train fell off the tracks near the top of a loop and people did die, only it was in a place I had never been to in my life. I think my mind replaced the area with one I was more familiar with." Jennifer explained, " Some times the details aren't clear and things are more uncertain, it doesn't mean it won't happen, it just means the images might not be coming through clearly." She chewed at a fingernail then stopped and gave an embarrassed smile.

Don scowled " What about your dreams about Akuma Jennifer?"

" The first night I dreamed about Akuma was over a week ago, and on that night I dreamed I was in the sewers and I heard you turtles coming, Don had been badly hurt and I could hear the sounds of Akuma following you." Jennifer replied her hands shook and she took a deep breath, " The next night I dreamed again only this time I saw Akuma and I screamed. Akuma heard me and came after me allowing you to escape, but that was when it left the mark on my arm."

Mike became suddenly uneasy " You distracted Akuma from us, but that only happened a few days ago." He protested as if looking for some other, more comfortable explanation.

" That injury on Jennifer's arm looks only to be about as old as our knowledge of Akuma." Splinter declared, he sat back and closed his eyes, " there is a connection here. One that I may have to reflect on to fully understand."

Jennifer shook her head " I don't know what you think I might be able to do, but all I can do is sometimes see the future and it isn't always precise there are limits to it you know. So I wouldn't expect too much okay?" She begged suddenly.

Splinter leaned forward " Raphael feels that this ability may give you more then, you are aware of."

" No. I don't think so." Jennifer muttered in denial.

" You knew Akuma was in the tunnels before I was aware of it." Raph insisted narrowing his eyes. "I'm ninja trained I should have known."

" I didn't. I couldn't" Jen protested almost sobbing in frustration and anxiety " My dreams are just that, images, visions they are not supposed to affect things around me or…"

Splinter nodded " Might I ask then how, for the first time ever, something from your dreams could affect you?"

Jennifer's head shot up and she gave him a desperate pleading look. Splinter rose from his chair and walked over to where Jen was sitting, one hand reached out to touch her cheek ever so gently, he drew his hand down under her chin and raised her head to meet his gaze. " Relax my child, and have some more tea," he offered, " we would never ask of you something that you could not give." He picked up the teapot and filled her mug, inhaling the fragrant scent as he did so. " Many gifts and abilities lie in the open, easy for anyone to see, but some gifts lie buried and can not be found without some searching. Some of our greatest gifts come from adversity itself."

Jennifer had seemed to relax as Splinter spoke; she took the offered teacup and blew on it before taking a long careful sip.

I smiled realizing, Splinter was using one of his ninja tactics to help her calm down and hopefully be more open to what we required of her.

" I believe Jennifer that your ability to know things in the future might be a key to other great gifts, if you would only be willing to allow it. I also believe that Raphael is correct in saying that you have some power over Akuma, but you may not be aware of that ability as yet, therefore you deny it."

I saw Jen stiffen and shut her eyes as if willing Splinter away, and I knew then she wasn't ready yet to accept what he might have offered, Splinter knew it to for he gave a small shake of his head before turning away.

I knew that we might have to make her come around, it was not something we normally did but there was times when we had no other option, and this situation was shaping up to be one of the latter.

Splinter returned to his chair, " Consider it at least, do not make your decision too quickly Jennifer, for such ideas need time to reflect upon."

Jennifer didn't reply and I heard Raph mutter something under his breath.

Splinter continued to gauge her with his eyes and he nodded as if he all ready accepted her silent choice, though I knew he hadn't accepted it anymore then I had. " Drink the rest of your tea child and then I think it would be wisest for you to return topside." Splinter turned to look directly at Mike and I.

" Whenever you are ready Jennifer, Mike and I will see you back, it is easy to get lost down here." I offered.

Raph grinned " I'll come wit ya too Leo."

I gestured to his leg " You'd do better to stay here Raph" I suggested. I knew better then to make it an order, I knew how far too push Raph. More importantly I also knew when to push Raph.

It would be up to Mike and I to try and persuade Jennifer, if Raph came along he might end up pushing her away, so it was better for him to stay at home, while the two of us handled the situation and guarded each other's backs.

Raph glowered at me but reluctantly gave a small nod of acquiescence.

While Jennifer finished her tea I found some scrap paper and wrote down our phone number " In case you need to reach us while you are here." I told her simply.

She opened the folded paper and smiled as she saw the contents, she carefully refolded it and slipped it into her jean pocket.

We found out where she was staying with her Aunt so we had an idea of where to lead her to.

Before we slipped out into the main sewer system Jen patted the outside of her pocket as if to insure the paper was still there.

I took the lead and I knew Mike would often check the back area to insure nothing was sneaking up on us that way or walk alongside of Jennifer.

" So uh, do your dreams only reveal the bad things that might happen or is some of it good too?" Mike asked curiously.

" There are good things yeah, a lot of the better future visions are ones concerning close family and friends." Jennifer replied, " When I was very little I dreamed my parents bought me a rabbit for a pet, it was all white with pink eyes. Some time later my parents did buy me a white rabbit with pink eyes for a pet."

Mike laughed, " Right knowing your gifts before you get them. That spoils the surprise."

" This spoken by the same turtle who is always using ninja skills to find out what his Christmas gifts are." I cut in.

I heard Jennifer laugh, while Mike gave a snort of disdain.

" What else?" Mike begged eager to know.

" Well not too long ago I dreamed of this small apartment fire, and my brother coming upon it, he placed a call to the fire department but also due to the time of night went to verify everyone was out safe." Jennifer answered, " It happened about a month after he never told anyone really who he was, and just took off once he was sure everyone was okay. He had told one resident his first name and a friend saw it on the news and told the reporters who had done it."

There was pride and a hint of longing in her voice, I knew she was proud of her brother, she wasn't really jealous of him, rather she accepted it as his due.

I smiled " There is a time in everyone's life Jennifer when they must make a critical choice, and what they decide often determines if they look like a hero to the world or not."

I reached into her mind giving her a very subtle mental push, in the hopes I could influence her in the right direction.

I had to be extremely careful when giving her such mental nudges, as with her ability to know the future might also allow her to be aware of what I was doing.

It is said that humans only use about ten percent of their brains, but a trained ninja uses a great deal more then that. Ninja have to be more aware of the shifts of thought and emotion then the average person does, and some of our training could allow us to influence other's thinking.

" Some people are destined for greatness and others are suppose to be common and others stay in the shadows, and everything in between Leonardo" Jennifer declared, " That I have these dreams do not mean I am meant to be great or powerful, or even any one of importance." She increased her stride coming up to me, " Even some of what I know I can't prevent from happening because people don't want to hear the bad stuff. Tell them good things and they might listen, tell them terrible stuff and they might feel you are seeking some sort of attention by telling stories." She sighed and touched my arm, " During the witch hunts and burnings in Salem, all one had to do to be convicted of being a witch was to say it will rain tomorrow, perhaps they had arthritis and the ache of their bones and joints told them, but when it rained as predicted, then it was proof of a witch." Jennifer shrugged, " I know we aren't exactly living in the dark ages anymore but I think some people don't need a reason to be terrified of what they can't explain. People like me are not always considered totally honest or sane."

I detected a hint of bitterness to her voice.

Mike nodded, we knew about persecution, we in many ways lived it, and our whole way of living was in hopes of avoiding such things.

Jennifer sighed, " My dreams aren't always about people I know. Usually I dream about strangers. I don't know them, where they live or even have any way of finding them. So there is no way that I know of telling them what might be, or preventing the events from even happening."

" What about the things you could change or prevent?" I countered, " If you were able to, would you?" I gave her another little nudge.

" You mean if it was possible to prevent it?" She shot back, " You don't get it do you Leo? I don't have the ability to be God just because I see what I do," she snapped at me in irritation " Get out of my mind! I don't need you pushing me into danger!"

I was shocked that she suddenly seemed aware of the fact that I had even been in her mind. I hadn't even noticed that she had detected me, nor had she blocked me out and yet her words couldn't be ignored either.

Perhaps Raph was right to some extent, maybe she couldn't really control Akuma but her talent might give her some other means into stopping the beast once and for all.

Jennifer shook her head " I can't help you. I can only tell you certain things that might happen, things that may or may not work in your favour." She ranted sounding very close to tears, " I'm not a hero okay? I can't fight Akuma. I'm terrified of Akuma because I am almost a hundred percent sure that Akuma will kill me and I can't stop it and neither can you Leo" Jennifer practically spat the words out, she swallowed hard, " I'm not even safe from Akuma in my dreams."

I sighed bowing my head, hoping that my attempts at nudging her had not ended up chasing her away, not when we might need her help. I debated about what to say.

" Jennifer fear is a natural reaction, it has its uses but it is a negative emotion that if it is allowed to overwhelm us can take all choice from us." I told her, " I know this is true I have felt fear many times. As ninja we are taught to use the first stages of fear to our benefit" I explained, " We use what fear gives us, the increased blood flow, the heightened senses, the adrenaline to our advantage but if we waited we would lose whatever it gave us." I smiled in reflection, " Splinter has taught us many things over the years, most of all how to act when fear creeps in. It is how we all must face life and our problems that determines who we really are. We can make the choice to become better by changing one thing."

Jennifer dropped back to Mike giving me a strange look. Mike arched an eye ridge and rolled his eyes as he nudged Jennifer with an elbow " Pay no attention to Leo he gets like that, kinda pitiful really." He gave a forlorn shake of his head, " Leo's lectures are really meant for the slime down here" he gestured to the pipes around us. " I know where you are coming from Jennifer and you are right, not everyone is a hero and even those who aspire to greatness often end up in the dust." He reassured her as he placed an arm around her shoulders.

Jennifer smiled and gave Mike a grateful look as if she accepted his words. I smiled to myself and decided to let Mike do what he did best. Mike had a way with people and animals both. He was very empathic, with just enough charisma to get people to relax and trust him. People often thought that Raph was the big troublemaker in our family when in reality, no one could match Mike for out and out deviousness. He could get away with things none of us could, he was a born con man and most of that innocent sweetness was quite the put on. Luckily for us he usually used his skills to help us.

" You know who you are and that is a good thing Jen, a lot of people never do learn that. It is important to learn who you are and what your limits happen to be." Mike agreed, " But every once in a while every one gets pushed past their limitations." Mike suddenly laughed as if something had occurred to him " When you think of heroic animals I bet you turtles aren't high up on the list. Instinctively all a turtle wants to do is tuck up in his shell and wait for the bad things outside his door to go away." He gave his head a shake, " Talk about hiding under a rock and while the shell offers some protection it isn't going save you all the time."

Jennifer gave a faint smile of acknowledgement.

" Could you imagine if we did that Jen? Now there is a fine example of someone being pushed beyond their limitations. Personally though I'm glad we were." Mike declared firmly, " Look you want to get a better focus on these dreams and how to control them Splinter can help you. If he does you don't owe us anything. It doesn't have to go any further then that Jen."

I winced inwardly it was better if Jen sought Splinter out on her own.

" Promise Mike?" Jen asked hesitantly.

" I promise ninja honour. Don't be afraid about Akuma because we are trained to handle him. We can stop Akuma" he assured her, " We are going be keeping an eye on you and keeping you as safe as we can" he gave her one of his large charming grins.

Jennifer smiled " Thanks Mike."

" Hey you aren't a hero but we are, so leave it to us. But if you can help us in any way, and are willing to do we'd appreciate it Jen, cause even heroes need a little help now and again."

" I'll think about it Mike" she said.

" That is all we ask. Right Leo?" Mike smirked my way.

" Right Mike" I agreed, " This is it" I stopped at a ladder.

Mike nodded " Let me check it out and that it is safe for you Jen" he winked at her, " If I tuck up in my shell, well, then you know it isn't safe to come out."

" Jennifer I'm sorry if I pushed you too far" I apologized to her.

" It is okay Leo" she replied, " I know why you did it" she looked up at Mike and all of a sudden her eyes took on a vacant look.

" Jennifer, Jen?" I called but she didn't respond " Mike wait" I ordered as I continued to try and get some response out of Jen, her breathing had changed all of a sudden, as if she was in some form of meditation.

Mike glanced down then jumped back to the ground glancing between Jennifer and I a look of uncertainty in his eyes.

" Jen snap out of it!"

" Splinter!" she yelled out in fear, her body trembled and she blinked her eyes rapidly as if waking up from a dream.

I felt a sudden desire to panic start to show itself in the depth of my own being, as I took Jennifer's arms in my hands " Jennifer what happened?" I demanded to know.

She swallowed a few times catching her breath " There were two visions, images. The first one is going happen very soon Leo, I know that I just am not sure how soon. I saw Akuma smashing into the lair."

" What about Splinter?" Mike asked suddenly.

" That was the second one only I don't know when it will happen. Sometime further on I think. It felt like a dream in a dream, perhaps during meditation I don't know, but Akuma gets a hold of Splinter." Jennifer explained her eyes were round with fright and I could hear the tinge of fear in her voice as she related what she had seen. " I heard the Master scream in great pain and there was blood, so much blood. He must be seriously injured or even killed in that attack. I'm just not sure." She whimpered.

I was suddenly afraid to be away from the lair, I wanted to get back there fast, I wanted needed to be there when Akuma came.

" Leo?" Mike asked simply looking at me.

" Jennifer how soon does the first thing happen, do you know?" I asked hoping I could get a time frame to work with.

Jennifer looked at me " I uh…judging from the clarity of it, anytime from now to the next two days."

" When you get topside return to your Aunt's place and stay there." I ordered.

" Okay." She agreed meekly.

Mike scrambled up the ladder and lifted the manhole cover allowing Jennifer to climb up to street level; he quickly dropped the lid into place.

" Leo I hate to say it but this whole thing scares me, I like to believe that she is very good at shovelling manure, if you get my meaning, but I believe she is telling the truth." He confessed uneasily, " Lets get home Leo." He insisted.

" As fast as we can Mike for I know she is sincere as well." I stated feeling the knot of fear tighten in the pit of my gut as I spoke. I had the uneasy feeling that no matter how fast we went we would still be too late.

TBC

Kellie Fay: By having the turtles as actual real beings as well as the characters we know and love, I had to have some differences because so often the real thing never measures up to expectations. A gratitude for your insight.

Goddess of Twlight: I wasn't sure if this story would work at first I really had my doubts. So I am both pleased and surprised at it doing so well. I could picture Mike doing that to his bandanna for me, it felt right so I'm glad someone else agreed. I was wrong about the kusari gama in nine of E&L's comic it was actually a manriki gusari he was using and wanting his chucks. A gratitude for your insight.

Pacphys: Raph and all the turtles are well versed in intimidation tactics but Raph prefers to intimidate far more often then his brothers might do so. Either way I don't think I would want to be on Raph's bad side, and it seems an easy place to get to with how sensitive the feisty ninja can be. A gratitude for your insight.

Lunar Ninja: What were you expecting from the oh so rude and obnoxious one? Invitation to tea perhaps? Personally I could see you swinging but not connecting with Raph, unless he happened to be asleep at the time, then he would proceed to give you a flying lesson through the wall. A gratitude for your insight. Rama: pssst Iwansi it works in all kinds of drinks. I happen to know that for a fact. He he!

Reinbeauchaser: Trying to make the turtles original but familiar at the same time is not an easy trick and hopefully I can continue to maintain it throughout. As I told you in a separate e-mail the beast spawned from thought has been done and I am trying to avoid a repeat. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: Forget all you know or think you know about the turtles. Some of it maybe true and some not. Recall that this story has Jen being a fan of the comic, movie cartoon turtles but she has now learned they actually exist in reality. In E & L's comics all the boys had red masks, only the original cartoon gave different masks to the turtles probably to make it easier to tell them apart. As for the kusari gama it is a different ninja weapon I believe it is a chain with a lead weight attached to a sickle, so the ninja can use the sickle to cut and the chain to entangle. In issue 9 of E &L's comic Mike is using a manriki gusari a chain with a lead weight on each end. A gratitude for your insight.