RAPHAEL:

For the next couple of days, my brothers and I enjoyed some down time. If you'd like to call being bored out of your skull that anyway. My wounds were beginning the process of healing though and that was good. My electrocuted arm was now useable. When I awoke the third day, or at least what I thought to be the third day of our capture, I rolled off the cot with a sigh and began morning stretches. I could now manage a few push ups and put weight on my arm. A good sign, but leading a bad direction. They would make me fight again when I was ready. After my brief workout I paced behind the bars, waiting for breakfast arrive. I heard no stirring from the neighboring cells so my brothers were still asleep. There was an occasional soft moan. I figured that was Leo. He must be in bad shape and I was worried. Today I would try to convince them to take a look at him. I paced for a time then sat. Moments later, I heard a voice.

"Raphael?"

It was Don. I stood and looked in the direction his voice was coming from, "Yeah?"

"You awake?"

"Yeah."

He was quiet a moment then spoke up again, "Are you going to ask them today?"

I sat again, "I will. The kid should be by any time."

Don replied, "Good. I think he has a fever. I can hear him mumble incoherently at night.."

I sighed, "I know."

"He keeps talking about saving Splinter."

"He's just babbling, Don. I'm sure Splinter's fine...worried as hell though."

Mike's voice suddenly joined, "I don't know, guys. A pretty big fire was spreading through the sewers. What if it got to the lair?"

Don added, "That is possible."

"Splinter's fine and we'll be seeing him soon as we get out of here," I growled, not even willing to entertain the idea of Splinter being in trouble.

No one said anything for awhile, and footsteps soon stirred us from our thoughts. I got as close to my bars as I could and looked out. Sure enough the kid had come. I could hear the scrap of tin as he shoved the aluminum plates below the doors and into my brothers' cages. I waited for his dirty little face to appear in front of my own cage before speaking.

"Hey, how is my brother there in the third cell?"

The boy was shy. He blinked at me a moment then slid my food in and turned to leave.

I piped up again, "Hey! I'm talkin' to you! I can't see him. Is he okay?"

The boy paused and looked to me again. He was thin and frail. A mop of dirty brown hair on his head with matching sad eyes. He finally shook his head.

I softened my tone, "Tell your boss I want to see him. Leo needs care right away. Can you do that?"

The boy nodded then left. I looked down at the sloppy mess they call food in this hell hole. It looked something like runny oatmeal and corn grounded together. As much as I detested it, I picked up the dish and ate then chased it down with warm water. I could hear Don and Mike eating as well.

Mike gave a resounding burp and laughed to himself. I couldn't help but chuckle too.

"You know in other cultures, that's said to be a very high praise of the food," Don added.

Mike didn't miss a beat, "Not our culture though. I'd rather eat Leo's cooking then this slop."

"I'm telling him you said that when he wakes up," I smirked to the wall.

"I think it's a mixture of grains and...milk I guess," Don said, "Like cereal."

I sighed, "What I'd give for a steak right now."

"What I'd give for a smoke!" Mike added.

"That too," I chuckled again.

Don didn't say anything to that, but I could already see his disapproving face. Leo would be lecturing us right now about it. For once I'd rather have the lecture instead of worrying about his condition. We continued to joke around, keeping things light to make this all a little more bearable. When boredom and too much chat got to me though, I settled down on the cot for a nap.

MICHAELANGELO:

It was later that evening when he came for me. I didn't know him, but I'd seen him come for Raphael. He was also the one that hurt Leonardo. I wanted to throw the guy down and beat him to a pulp for doing that to Leo. Hell, for doing this to all of us. I had a feeling he was responsible for whatever happened that day in the sewers. Somehow he set those alarms off and attacked us when we came out to fix it. But I didn't touch him. He had a small remote aimed at my collar. I'd seen it bring Raphael to the ground. I was no different. He shut the electric current down to my cage and opened the bars.

"Step out," he commanded.

Raph's voice suddenly shouted out, "Hey, you get my message? My brother Leo over there needs help."

The man stiffened and looked to the other cage. I wished I could see Raph, but the wall between us prevented it.

He spoke with a collected, but cold tone, "Yes. I will deal with him on my own terms. Your request is denied."

Raph growled, "Look at him! What use is he to you if he's dead!"

I winced. He was really going to get it if he didn't stop talking back like that. I knew the man wouldn't tolerate it.

The man simply pressed a button and I could hear Raph suddenly howling. He must have shocked him. With the demonstration, I slinked out of my cell liked he asked. No way I wanted to get electrocuted. The man turned his attention to me like nothing had happened. He clipped a leash onto the collar and lead me out. I snuck a look into Leo's cage as we walked by. He looked bad: sweaty and definitely unconscious. Then I saw Don peering out at me worriedly. He could feel what I could. It was my turn. Whatever they had done to Raph was about to be done to me. Or worse. I was scared. I won't lie. I followed like a dog with it's tail tucked between my legs.

We walked outside and I blinked at sunlight for the first time in what seemed ages. Immediately my mood lifted somewhat. At least something was going on now, and the fresh air was...beyond words. I never knew I could miss the breeze on my skin so much. It was a hot and humid afternoon, so the breeze wasn't much, but I absorbed what I could and continued to follow him. He said nothing all the while until we reached what looked like a shower stall. He motioned me to step in. No argument here! Who am I to turn down a blessed shower? One time our shower broke and it Don a whole week to fix it. I thought I was going to die. This wasn't too different. He tied the leash to the edge and turned the water on. I gave a flinch and a gasp feeling cold water rush at me, but relaxed soon after. It felt like heaven splashing all over me. He handed me a brush.

"Clean up," he said in a commanding tone.

I chuckled, "No arguments here."

I took it and began to scrub everything. I wanted to make this last. The man had stepped away and seemed occupied talking to someone else I didn't recognize. I couldn't help it. With my mood lightened up considerably, I began to sing. Low at first, almost a whisper.

"The warden threw a party in the county jail.
The prison band was there and they began to wail.
The band was jumpin' and the joint began to swing.
You should've heard those knocked out jailbirds sing.
Lets rock, everybody, lets rock!
Everybody in the whole cell block
Was dancin' to the jailhouse rock!"

As I got more into it, I sang louder and louder until I was belting out happily. My own music settled me into a happier place. One of inspiration, hope, and creativity. For a moment I forgot where I was. For a moment. The man suddenly grabbed my shell and yanked me back. I blinked at him and realized he might not have appreciated my talent, or was I just really off tune?

"I'm sorry! I got carried away!" I pleaded. For some reason I felt I had to fall to my knees and beg for mercy. I guess my dignity kept me upright though..or was it his tight hold on my shell? He was staring hard at me. I wanted to shrink away into nothing. His icy blue gaze was so intense.

He finally spoke, "Can you sing other songs?"

I blinked in complete confusion. He liked it? I nodded and looked away slightly to avoid that gaze, "Sure.."

"Hmm," he rocked back a bit on his heels and gave me a new calculated look, "I might have a use for you after all. You're smaller then Raphael."

He lifted my arm and pressed my bicep. I was still stunned to react at being groped, by a guy of all things.

"A coward too," he so kindly added.

I bristled, "Hey, just because I'm not a hot head doesn't mean-"

He put his hand on my beak and pressed his fingers and thumb together to silence me. I blinked.

" A poor fighter to add to my collection."

I perked. If this meant getting out of fighting like Raphael had told us about, I was all for it. I just nodded slightly since I couldn't speak. He finally released my mouth and untied me. He said nothing more, so I kept quiet and followed as we walked again. I looked around curiously at my new environment. There was a carnival or something in the distance. A Ferris wheel stood tall and prominent. That was the first thing I noticed. This must be some huge freak theme park. I had to wonder just how many more mutants were part of his "collection." No doubt it was all for show biz. I could see that now. At first I thought it might have been some underground organization. The facts were starting to come together, and honestly, I think it all scared me more.

We stopped by a bigger cage. Bars were on all sides with a roof. He led me in, unclipped my leash, closed the door, and flipped a switch. The unmistakable sound of electricity thrummed through the bars. I looked around a little. A bed. A bucket. Food pans. And room! Glorious room! I walked around a little. This was more like it! A cage still, yes, but I could watch outside and stay in this lovely air. The man watched me for a moment looking satisfied and left. So if I wasn't going to fight, what was going to happen to me? What was going to happen to all of us?