I've always enjoyed finding out new things about New York. We've been here several years now, and every day, we seem to be learning more and more things that we didn't know before.
Such as, for instance, the existance of a group of subterranian humanoid turtles living in the sewers. And people thought we were weird.
I haven't met any of them yet, but it seems I might. There's whisperings... and it seems they may somehow be involved in Alex's kidnapping.
And nobody hurts Alex s'long as I'm here...
-Darkness at Twilight-
--Chapter Two: Half Light--
That was it. That was what Lexington had seen on the rooftop... it was definitely what he had described to the clan.
He wasn't... quite sure what it was. It was a turtle of some kind. What that kind was exactly... well... he wasn't sure. What he did know was that it was heading towards the Eyrie Building on a warpath, and Brooklyn did not care past that. The way it was acting... well, it was most certainly not friendly.
He crouched in the shadows... waiting.
Wait for it.
Just a minute longer.
As soon as the figure was close enough, Brooklyn sprung, eyes aglow and jaws wide in a furious roar.
Within moments, Raphael found himself planted rather firmly to the ground, rocking on his shell with a winged, clawed creature roaring in his face. Now, he knew what his idea of a good time was... and this was not it.
Immediately, he struggled back, growling as he fought to right himself against the creature that had him pinned. He didn't know what it was but it was officially a risk to his wellbeing.
He began assessing his situation. He was on a rooftop, near the Eyrie building, with some red skinned creature that had a mouthful of very sharp fangs and four limbs that ended with ripping claws was poised right over him, growling and snarling and hissing... and trying to bite him.
"Y'know, I d'no what th' hell you are, but I ain't in th' mood t'die t'day!" Balling himself up, Raphael aimed his sai and charged again. "Can't say the same for you!"
"Ah, Miss O'Neil. Thank you for coming. I apologize for the sudden change in location, but as you can see... this situation has turned rather serious."
She couldn't believe it. This really was him... the David Xanatos. The most powerful man in all of New York. He was... he was right there, laying in the hospital bed, sharp eyes fixed on her almost like those of a hawk. Beside him was the form of his wife, who held their trembling daughter in her arms. All three looked as if they had seen better days, but despite everything, Xanatos was remaining very calm. Something had obviously angered him.
April swallowed and fidgetted, finally deciding to lock her hands in front of her with a quiet sigh. "I... ah... I'm sorry, Mr. Xanatos, but... I really don't know how to respond to all of this. But... you... wanted to speak with me about Donatello...?"
"Ah yes, your turtle friend." Xanatos nodded slightly, folding his hands over his stomach. "I'm afraid he is no longer in the Eyrie building. Earlier this week, my security surveillance systems detected an anomaly in flight in the vicinity of the Eyrie building. Naturally, I went to investigate. Thinking the intruder to be a Quarryman, I, of course, intervened. When I discovered what he truly was, I promptly returned him to my home and did what I could to assist him in becoming healthy once again. I intended to have one of my... acquaintances return him to you. However... we ran into some problems."
That phrase made April worry, and she fidgetted again. "Wh--... what do you mean, problems?"
Sighing slightly, Xanatos leaned back, eyes closing briefly. "...my home was attacked, and your friend - as well as my son, Alexander - were taken. Strangely enough... they were taken by ninjas."
That caught April's attention. She stood straight at that, eyes flying wide, as she focused on the dark-haired man. "Wait... ninjas! Were they wearing a mon that was red with a black tri-pronged shield?"
"...that they were, Miss O'Neil." Xanatos steepled his fingers, focusing all of his attention on her. "It would appear that we've found the common point here. We have... much to discuss."
Well. This fight was getting him absolutely nowhere at all. It had been at least fifteen minutes since the strange winged creature had attacked him on the roof, and so far, both Raphael and Brooklyn were at an impass. They stood on a startlingly even playing ground, and at the end of this part of their brawl, neither one was winning or losing.
It was only when Raphael charged forward for a final time that thing sstarted to draw to a close, ending with the swoop between them of a smaller green creature, halting both of the fighters as it landed on a nearby ledge.
"What're you doing, Lex!" Brooklyn demanded, barely sparing the smaller gargoyle a glance. "Get out of the way! I'm gonna find out from this thing where Alex is!"
Raphael growled, crouching. "Alex! Who's Alex! I wanna know who's got my bro!"
"Will both of you be quiet for a second?" Lexington huffed, his tail whipping behind him. "I just talked to Goliath. This fight isn't gonna do any good here. He's on our side! The same people who took Alex... they took his brother too."
Brooklyn huffed and growled, crouching low as he flicked his wings. He was bruised, battered, and kicked around like this, only to discover that this thing was on their side? "How can you be so sure?"
The small gargoyle glanced back and forth between the two, looking wary. "Goliath followed Elisa and the red-haired woman to New York General. Apparently, the lady - April O'Neil, I think her name was - is a friend of this turtle's. Xanatos had contacted her to come pick up her friend, but those ninjas attacked and took him and Alex before she could. We're supposed to meet them back at the Eyrie building."
Brooklyn growled at that, finally relaxing somewhat, although he mostly kept his eyes right on the angry turtle. "...all right. But I still don't trust this guy."
"You ain't that much of a trustworthy guy y'self, pal," Raphael growled in return. "How do I know y'little runt of a friend here ain't lyin' through 'is teeth t'get me t'stand down?"
Growling, Brooklyn flared his wings, letting out a hiss. "Hey, back off. No one insults my clan."
Raphael huffed, starting forward. "And I don't let no one boss me around!"
"Raph, hold up." Blinking in surprise, Raphael did stop, turning around to face the blue-clad turtle that had slipped onto the roof, Michelangelo appearing behind him... even to the surprise of the two gargoyles, whose attention was grabbed as well. "April just gave me a call. She's en route with a detective named Elisa Maza back to the Eyrie building... they're telling the truth."
There was no arguing with that logic. The two stories corroborated, and though he didn't like it, he narrowed his eyes and fell in behind his brother, glaring once more at the two gargoyles as Leonardo led the way back towards the castle in the clouds.
Brooklyn grumbled lowly, but said nothing. For what it was worth, Lexington just gave a sigh and shook his head. It was time to go.
It was difficult to return to consciousness this time. That was the first thing Donatello noticed.
He could feel something about his wrists and ankles... metal? Clasps?
His head was pounding, and he could feel a burning ache from cuts and burns inflicted by the Foot Ninjas that had rather unexpectedly attacked the room where he had been entertaining young Alexander Xanatos.
The kid!
Slowly, he willed his eyes to open. Whatever had happened to him could wait... was the child all right?
The blurry face that appeared above him was unfamiliar, as was the voice that spoke. "Ah... it seems our guest has finally awoken, Stockman. You were right... he is quite a fascinating creature."
Donatello blinked a few times as a horrific realization began to dawn on him.
This was a Foot lab. He was clasped to a examination table.
Who, then, was the unfamiliar man there looking at him with that unnerving sneer?
"Have I ever lied to you, Sevarius?" That voice was far more familiar to the young turtle... the mad scientist Baxter Stockman. "I had never gotten a good chance to study the biological structure of one of these creatures before I lost my body... and seeing as how your forte was always genetics, I thought this situation might be right up your alley.
Anton Sevarius smiled back at what was left of his old college comrade... a brain and eye floating in some sort of weird jar. "You thought absolutely correct, my dear friend. That fool Xanatos never offered me this opportunity on a silver platter as you have. I appreciate such a chance, you know... your employer will not be displeased with my work. I will get the genetic samples and see if we can use an engineered mutagen on human subjects." He laughed softly. "That way, there will be no problem if this... sample... dies on the test table... will there?"
Donatello couldn't help but flinch at that prospect, but he hid his fear, glaring at the man above him. "I'd like to see you try it!"
"Oh, please. From what Dr. Stockman has told me, you wouldn't lay a finger on me," the scientist snorted in reply. "Especially... with the life of a child on the line."
Instantly, Donatello's eyes widened. "Alex...! You wouldn't dare!"
Sevarius only grinned. "I would and I shall. If you don't cooperate, young Alexander will meet a most unpleasant fate... and I am certain you wouldn't want that... would you?" When Donatello frowned, looking away, Sevarius knew he had the cooperation he wished for. Grinning wickedly, he began to prepare a syringe. "Don't worry... you won't feel this. Much."
It was an unlikely meeting if anyone ever saw one.
Four humans amidst nine creatures unlike anything most of the world had ever seen. The Gargoyles (without the presence of Broadway and Angela, who were on patrol elsewhere in the city for the week), gathered in their ancestral home, along with their guests, three mutant turtles and their rat sensei.
As the Gargoyles and the Turtles discussed what should be done about the two missing persons, April frowned, hugging her arms tightly. This was a situation they'd dealt with before, but from what she remembered her old employer mentioning, this 'Anton Sevarius' was not a man to be taken lightly... especially when the ball was in his court.
She flinched when someone laid a hand on her shoulder, spinning to face the detective beside her. "Something bothering you?" Elisa questioned. "You look like something's on your mind."
"Just... worried about Don," April admitted lowly. "And that poor little boy. Back when I used to work for Baxter Stockman, he used to mention Anton Sevarius. I guess they'd gone to college together... I remember vaguely that just hearing about some of the things that man did gave me chills." She frowned deeply. "Apparently, he almost got kicked out Harvard for his 'experiments'."
Elisa quirked her brow. "Somehow, that doesn't surprise me."
"Sevarius will do whatever it takes to get what he wants." This comment came from the red-haired woman standing nearby, the tattoo of a fox's face over her right eye. Xanatos' wife... Fox. "I recall working with him before... he's not a pleasant man. I fear for your friend's life." Then, she narrowed her eyes. "And I pity his if he's laid a finger on my baby."
The three women regarded each other for a long moment before April spoke up, making a sweeping motion with her arm. "I don't get it, though! This is way too coordinated... I've seen stuff like this before! Our friends could be walking straight into a trap!"
Frowning, Elisa shook her head. "I agree with you more than you know, but Goliath has always been... how can I put this... very stubborn."
"And the same stubborn streak runs in David," Fox added.
"From what I've seen of your friend Leonardo, he has the same intensity when it comes to his family," the detective continued as she nodded to Fox's comment. "In short, we have quite a situation on our hands..."
The conversation would have continued further, but they were interrupted as Xanatos, Goliath, and Leonardo walked over to join them. Xanatos had his arms folded, a determined expression set on the sharp features of his face. Fox frowned, lifting one hand to rest on his arm. "...David...?"
The man did not move, nor did his expression change. He only said one thing. "We have a plan."
The whole world was getting sort of hazy.
Whatever had been in that syringe, it misted his view of reality, but it did not reduce how much pain he felt. It just made it so he couldn't move.
This Sevarius... he wasn't doing anything serious at first. Injections of random fluids, most likely in order to perform full scans of his internal structure. Poking and prodding... he could feel the sting of the needles, but could do nothing to prevent it.
He wanted to wince when the mad doctor took a small piece from his shoulder with a heated scalpel. He wanted to scream, thrash, do something. The pain was intense, but still, he could not move.
"I must say, you're one of the best patients I've ever had," Sevarius mocked, a cruel grin twisting his features. "Not a sound out of you. Even most adults would be screaming in agony by now."
Donatello's eyes followed his every move. The mad doctor was right about that... he wanted to scream as loud as he could. More syringes cut into his skin, most likely to test how easily he could be cut. He felt something scrape roughly across his plastron, creating a harsh buzz that made him wish desperately he could move away.
He closed his eyes tightly.
If what happened to him protected an innocent life, then he didn't really care what happened.
He just hoped his brothers stayed away, and that in the end, Alexander found his way safely home.
That had been one of the closest calls yet. And those fool scientists didn't yet suspect a thing.
On a rooftop across the city, young Alexander sat rather confused, staring at Castle Wyvern in the distance, with the rather cross figure of the Puck standing beside him. "Well, young Alexander, your grandmother would have given me quite a once-over if I had let that continue," the white-haired trickster hufffed. "I really must be more careful who I set your play dates with."
The boy frowned. "...But what about Donatello?"
"Alexander... you know by the law of the Fairy King, I am not permitted to interfere unless it directly involves you. And during this time of the year, your magic is even more unstable than ever... mine as well. There is nothing we can do but watch as the events unfold... and intervene only when the time is right."
Well, mission successful. So far. Leonardo, Raphael, and Michelangelo had already set ahead to infiltrating the place where sources indicated both Donatello and young Alexander were being held. This was it. They would get in, get their friends, and get out.
Not that Brooklyn was caring for all the waiting.
"I don't like this." The smaller of the pair on a mid-level high-rise near the strange tower was most vehement on this point. "Goliath told us..."
"What Goliath told us isn't going to get us in there. You wanna save Alex... right, Lex?"
The smaller gargoyle frowned, shifting on his perch to scowl at his friend. "That's a really stupid question, Brooklyn. Of course I wanna save Alex."
Brooklyn smirked slightly, hopping up to a perch next to Lexington. "Well, in order to do that, we need to get in there the quickest way we can." Slowly, he let his eyes trail over the exterior of the building. "The place is like one of those old Japanese fortresses we saw in those books... just made of metal. There has to be an opening somewhere, right?"
To this, Lexington finally let his mind wander, also looking over towards the building as the tip of his tail twitched back and forth. "...Well, usually. Most buildings have a weak spot that can be exploited, but..." He frowned. "The only one I can see is over there... the exhaust port on the west wall." Lifting one clawed hand, he pointed in the direction he had indicated. "But... it might be a trap."
"Doubtful." Brooklyn spread his wings, crouching as he prepared to leap from where he was perched. "You comin', Lex?"
He didn't even wait for Lexington's response. As if fully expecting the smaller gargoyle to follow, he dove from his perch, letting his wings catch an updraft as he glided towards the spot his intelligent friend had pointed out.
"Brooklyn, come back!" Lexington shifted uneasily, then leapt as well, easing into a glide a little quicker. "Be careful! It might be a trap!"
Whatever the case, Brooklyn did not seem to hear him. He ducked to one side, straightening out his glide before approaching the exhaust port at a somewhat slower rate.
Inside the building, a buzzer sounded on an automated computer system.
Movement was detected outside Exhaust Vent B.
As Brooklyn landed on the wall, digging his claws behind the grating to jerk it free and toss it aside, the automated defense system within began to warm up.
Before he even had time to move, a beam shot out from the exhaust vent, catching him offguard and slamming him harshly into the building across the way. Once the system was convinced the threat was no longer present, the beam shut down and the unconscious gargoyle was released, beginning a freefall to the street below.
--To Be Continued--