Hi all!
Finally managed to get another chapter up at long last! We're in a very scary time now due to this nasty Coronavirus outbreak, here in the U.K we're under lockdown and only allowed to leave home to shop for food, for exercise, or to travel to work if we cannot work from home. Being a hospital porter, I'm on the front line in the National Health Service, but I'm doing all I can to stay safe and I hope you're all doing the same too.
Anyway, hope you enjoy this latest chapter, this time focusing on the New Yorkers.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Watching from Afar
Back in New York, Donatello was sitting in his lab watching a live news report as he was tinkering with a toaster that had broken earlier this morning.
Things were quiet in New York, apart from the odd street crime by the Purple Dragons, but there was no activity from the Foot Headquarters.
In the weeks that had gone by, things had been tense, Mona had still been very upset and she always got anxious when she heard news from Chicago.
Tyroth as promised had been keeping them all updated about activities in Chicago and their continuous hunt for Diablo, and he remembered a phone call a few days ago from the Dragon that required the attention of everyone.
Flashback
The turtles and Mona sat in front of the TV watching the many screens as they watched a film together.
Kemeko and Pandora were in their playroom, since this was a film for adults they decided to put on a film for the girls in their playroom and check on them later.
Even though they were worried about what was happening in Chicago, they knew they had to try and carry on as normal despite the worry.
Since her talk with Splinter, Mona had tried to focus on Pandora and Kemeko as well as her role of one of the Ninja Turtles and fighting street crime.
The fighting on the street did help her release tension, but it didn't fully take away the pain and she still felt so guilty and helpless about Mutopia and the fact that it was in danger because of Diablo.
Snuggling against Raphael she tried to focus on the film, and she was soon starting to feel sleepy as it was very comfortable and warm on her mate's chest and feeling his fingers caressing her hair was very soothing.
But then a ring was heard from Leonardo's shell cell which woke her with a start and everyone else jumped out of their skins.
Leonardo who had been dozing off a little himself quickly snatched up the shell cell and put it to his ear.
"Leonardo…" he answered to which he heard Tyroth's voice.
"Big T! You okay?" he asked "Huh? Yeah, we're all here together, the kids are in their playroom though."
Mona sat bolt upright and narrowed her eyes wondering what Tyroth wanted to speak about and the other turtles along with Splinter also sat up.
"Loudspeaker?" Leonardo continued to speak "Sure! Bear with me…" the blue masked turtle then pressed a button on the phone and soon Tyroth's voice was heard.
"Good day friends!" the Dragon's voice was heard.
"Hey Big T!" Michelangelo called from his seat.
"Good day to you too Tyroth." Splinter replied.
"How are you coping?" Tyroth asked.
"We're okay." Leonardo said "Both Raphael and Michelangelo's wounds are healing fine and Master Splinter is out of his wheelchair, though he still can't do much as yet, I've had to step in to help train the others, which will be my role in due course…" he paused at the last bit because it always pained him that one day his sensei and adopted father would no longer be around and he would have to lead his brothers, adopted sister, niece and daughter.
"I understand Leonardo." Tyroth answered, "Anyway, I have an update from Chicago, regarding Diablo and his activities."
Mona went pale.
"What's happened Tyroth?" she asked desperately "What has he done?"
"Calm down babe." Raphael soothed holding his mate's hands "Let Tyroth speak."
Leonarod held the phone up and they listened to Tyroth tell them about how Jake had encountered Diablo by chance and how Diablo had gathered three followers by giving them the well's water he had stolen and what they had told Jake about their plans.
"He's basically become a vigilante?" Michelangelo piped up "Like the Punisher?"
"Be quiet Mikey!" Raphael hissed and Donatello put a finger to his lips.
"He also told Jake he has no intention of betraying Mutopia." Tyroth said.
"Bullshit!" Raphael growled "Hasn't he done that already?"
"Shut up Raph!" Leonardo snapped "Go on T!"
"Diablo told Jake that he has no intention of storming on Mutopia or exposing us, he said all he wants is him and his Disciples to be left alone, basically, if we don't bother him, he won't bother us!"
"But even if he doesn't want to betray us." Donatello said "His activities will draw unwanted attention, the news is still talking about his attacks on the Hate Preacher, his family, the red necks, you name it!"
"I know that Don." Tyroth replied "And believe me, we're doing all we can to make sure Diablo doesn't cause any more damage and we will not rest until we catch him and bring him to justice!"
"You can only do what you can Tyroth." Splinter said softly "And we are grateful."
Mona felt tears come to her eyes to which Raphael hugged her close.
"Just keep the faith in us." Tyroth continued "We will stay safe and Diablo can't hide from us forever…."
"Thanks again Tyroth." Leonardo said "Just make sure you and the rest of Mutopia keep yourselves safe and we'll do the same."
"No problem!" Tyroth replied then hung up.
When Leonardo hung up the shell cell he turned to Mona who was staring at her hands, tears falling from her eyes.
"Mona?" he asked.
Donatello and Michelangelo stood from their seats, as did Splinter and Raphael wrapped an arm around Mona as well as placed his other hand on hers.
"Babe?" he asked softly.
"He said he wouldn't betray them." Mona said softly "My brother said he would not betray Mutopia…I…I don't know what to think or believe?"
"You think we should trust what that Raven says?" Michelangelo asked as he touched his arm which still sat in the sling from where Diablo had shot him.
Raphael glared at Michelangelo, as did the others but they understood his point and Raphael looked at his left hand which was still bandaged and still felt sore from the bullet that tore through it.
"He's my brother…" Mona whispered "I always trusted what he said to me, when we were human together….most of the time, he confided in me, and he always kept his word…would he do it now?"
'After all he did?" Raphael asked.
"I want to believe him." Mona said softly "I want to believe his word, what he told Jake."
"He said he won't betray Mutopia." Leonardo said "But even if he wanted to, he couldn't face against Tyroth, he's more powerful than all of Mutopia put together."
"True that." Said Michelangelo "No-one could face against Big T and leave unscathed or alive for that matter."
"Even though Diablo has his own supply of the magical water, and he gets his own army, more than what he already has, we all know he couldn't take all of Mutopia and Tyroth, he'd be a fool to do so." Donatello theorised "To try and take Tyroth down would be suicide."
"So when he said he wouldn't betray Mutopia." Michelangelo said "Does he mean it really? Or does he know if he wants to, he wouldn't stand a chance?"
"I have no idea Michelangelo." Splinter said "But one would be a fool to go up against Tyroth, and Mutopia."
He looked against at Mona who just sighed sadly.
End Flashback
Thinking back to that conversation, Donatello along with Mona had been relieved that Diablo said he had no intention of betraying the Mutopians or the New Yorkers, they still feared his activities would attract unwanted attention and make the humans aware of the existence of mutants.
As Donatello screwed the last part of the toaster together, he looked up at the TV and saw another news report coming up.
"Good evening! I'm Holly Matthews, A serious accident occurred in Chicago three nights ago involving a lorry and a white Fiesta car, eyewitnesses saw what appeared to be a lorry lose control and it swerved causing it to collide with a car which flipped over and exploded, killing a young woman within…"
Donatello almost dropped the toaster as he listened.
"The woman has been identified as Annie Rice, a Diner waitress and mum of one, she had finished her shift at a Chicago Diner and was on her way home when her car collided with the lorry, the lorry driver survived with injuries and reports feeling very shaken about the incident, we now go live to Sally Baxter who is on scene at the hospital, over to you Sally!"
The scene then switched to a woman standing in front of a hospital.
"Thank you, Holly, Yes, I'm standing outside the Chicago City Hospital where the lorry driver is being treated for his injuries, when questioned by the police about what happened, he claimed he was merely minding his own business and making his way back to a depot in Chicago when something fell on top of his bonnet and made him loose control, he doesn't remember exactly what fell on the bonnet but it looked like someone dressed in black, almost like someone who had jumped from the apartments above."
Donatello swallowed hard as he listened, only yesterday Leonardo had gotten a call from Tyroth saying that an accident had occurred in Chicago involving a lorry and a white car and that there was one dead, one injured and one missing….
Flashback
Donatello walked into the kitchen feeling thirsty, looking around the lair, he could see Michelangelo was playing with Pandora and Kemeko, he had Kemeko on his shoulders and Pandora was running next to him.
Raphael and Mona were watching a film together and Master Splinter was more than likely in his quarters resting.
Entering the kitchen, the purple masked turtle soon saw Leonardo with his back to the entrance and talking into his shell-cell.
"Oh my God? Really? You sure?"
Donatello narrowed his eyes as he listened, and he stepped quietly into the kitchen hoping to listen in more.
"You say the Doberman took a child from the burning car? Damn, and you believe Diablo will raise the child to be like him? Shit! I don't know what to think! Anyway, keep us updated okay? Okay, stay safe alright? Sure! Okay, bye!"
"Leo?"
Leonardo turned to face Donatello almost dropping his shell-cell as he did so.
"Donny?" Leonardo asked surprised "How long have you been there?"
"Long enough, What's going on?" Donatello asked, "Who were you talking to?"
"Tyroth." Leonardo said with a sigh "Diablo struck again, and this time, his Doberman follower took a girl from a crashed car!"
"He what?!" Donatello practically shrieked then looked behind him making sure no-one heard him and he walked further into the kitchen so he could talk to his older brother.
Leonardo then explained to Donatello what Tyroth had told him.
"Oh my Gosh! The poor woman…and her daughter, in the hands of Diablo? More than likely he's mutated her too!"
"Just like the Mutopians did to Sonia." Leonardo said "But at least they cared for her and have risen her well, Diablo though…he's taken her in, what if he turns her into being like him? Attacking people and making people scared, and she's only a child?"
"I dread to think…" Donatello breathed softly.
Leonardo swallowed hard.
"Listen Don." He said "We best not tell Mona about this, she's only just calmed down after Tyroth told us that Diablo says he wont betray Mutopia further."
"Sounds like a plan Leo." Donatello said "But she will find out eventually."
Leonardo nodded.
"And if she does, we just need to be there for her," he said.
End Flashback
Donatello turned down the volume of the TV and sighed, he knew Mona would see the report and put two and two together that it was another of Diablo's doing.
Placing the toaster carefully back on the table, Donatello decided to stay quiet, like he promised Leonardo and if Mona was to find out, he would be there to help support and look after her, yet he felt a sad feeling in his stomach as he thought more about the activities Diablo was doing and if he was actively looking for more people to turn into mutants with the magical water and follow his lead.
It was a worrying time for all of them.
So Donatello has seen the news about the car crash Diablo caused as well as remembered the previous updates from Tyroth.
Hoping to get some more writing in if the block doesn't get me, or the stress of the Coronavirus.
Again stay safe people and I'll see you again soon!