Heya friends!
Hope you had a good Halloween last week! I have to say I felt a little flat when it was all over, but thats okay because we got Christmas to look forward to now!
Already started Christmas Shopping!
Last Chapter, Diablo had encountered a reluctant follower of the Straight Truth's Church, in this chapter, we're about to see how Mona's getting on after fleeing New York to go to Chicago to join the Knights and her brother in finding Diablo.
Note: My previous fanfic,'A Dangerous Captive' is referenced in this chapter.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Welcome Back Old Friend
Meanwhile, Mona had arrived at Chicago and had parked the Shell-Cycle in the hanger where the Ninjet was kept before making her way into the tunnel to get to Mutopia below the city.
She been driving for hours, only stopping when she needed to refuel the Shell-Cycle or have a break so she could have some food or a brief rest.
She had managed to find some gas stations where she could pay at the pump and keep her helmet on so no-one would suspect her.
She wondered what her family's reaction was when they realised that she had gone. It didn't take a genius though, she knew they would be worried, and if not a little furious despite the note she left for them.
She felt guilty, but she didn't want to drag them into her problems, but she felt so useless at home, letting the Mutopians try and find her brother and her doing nothing.
Mona felt a pang in her stomach as she walked through the tunnel, normally seeing the city then walking underground to where the sanctuary lay hidden brought her joy, always excited to see her dear friends and extended family, but this time, she felt worried and fearful.
Taking a deep breath, Mona kept on walking.
She had a small bag on her shoulder which she kept her essentials, she hadn't taken anything that wasn't useful, only a couple of changes of clothes, toiletries, and her weapons.
Mona checked her shell-cell deciding to let her family know she was safe in Chicago, she soon saw the screen was filled with messages and missed calls from her family, including some from Sephie and she realised the turtles must have let her and Tyroth know in advance.
Mona sighed and texted Raphael's number saying she was safe in Mutopia and again that she was sorry, then kept on walking towards the entrance.
Meanwhile in his room near the main entrance, Hacker the Spider was busy typing away at the different keyboards with his many arms as well as looked at the computer and TV screens with his many eyes.
He took a sip of an energy drink from a can on the side and shivered as he felt the caffeine go through him.
Since Diablo's betrayal, the Spider had spent many sleepless nights working hard to make sure the cameras were working, that the securities were up to date and that the passwords were changed weekly and that everyone had a copy of said password.
In fact, he often gave those who went topside, like Cam, Barry, Rattletrap and the Knights different passwords for an extra precaution as well as put together measures such as retina scanning and fingerprint identification.
He had barely left his quarters and before long Tyroth, concerned for his well-being offered to have another tech savvy Mutopian to take over for him so he could get some sleep.
Hacker had taken up the offer, but he still liked to oversee the security of the sanctuary, he took his job with pride, and he was ready to do anything to make sure that his home was to remain safe.
Just then the perimeter sensor went off and the Spider almost jumped out of his skin.
He quickly turned his attention to one of the screens where a camera picked up who was at the entrance.
He soon saw a figure he had seen before, the camera showed Monalisa, there was no mistaking the mess of wavy dark hair, and her tail which stuck out slightly under the long black coat she wore.
Despite the spider knowing who it was, he still wanted to make sure that whoever was at the door was who they said they were and not a spy or one of Diablo's Disciples.
He picked up his cell phone and called Tyroth.
As soon as he heard the Dragon's voice, he explained the situation.
"Boss." He said, "She's here, its Monalisa."
"She's here?" Tyroth's voice was heard on the other end "Right, I'll go and meet her."
"Roger that!" Hacker said and hung up before looking back at the screen.
At the entrance, Mona stood before the doors, she knew as soon as she approached the sensor would have picked her up, and she saw the cameras around the place was well as the new locks and security systems on the doors.
"It's like a fortress now." She thought.
The doors then bleeped, and Mona stepped back, and she soon saw Tyroth, Sephie and Jake on the other side.
"Mona!" Sephie cried.
"Hello Sephie." Mona replied.
"Sis! You drove all this way alone!?" Jake cried as he stepped forward towards Mona and they shared an embrace.
"The turtles called ahead when they realised what you were doing!" Tyroth said "So it was no surprise when you got here."
"I guessed the turtles would have told you." Mona said, "I left them a note explaining my reasons, I have spent days, weeks worrying about what you've been doing to keep Mutopia safe from Diablo's recklessness, and without me to help, I just couldn't sit still anymore."
Sephie sighed.
She only knew too well, remembering years ago, when Tyroth was captured by the Foot, and she refused to just let him be at their mercy.
"Let's get inside!" Tyroth said hurriedly looking up the dark tunnel, "Come on Mona, we'll allocate you a room and we'll go to the mess hall, you must be hungry and tired."
Mona nodded in agreement and followed her brother and friends inside the sanctuary.
After an hour had passed, with Mona being allocated a room, then given a chance to freshen up, she, Sephie, Tyroth and Jake sat in the mess hall with some coffee and sandwiches, explaining everything that had transpired to Mona.
From when Diablo had attacked other citizens he deemed sinners, the mutations of the missing people, when he almost killed Hugh and caused the car accident that resulted in Regan being mutated, the attacks on the men who murdered Asiyah, and all else that followed.
Mona sat and listened with a bowed head, she stared at her mug of coffee and her eyes stung.
"I can't believe it." She said quietly "He's really gone and done; he's building an army with the water he stole."
"These Disciples as they call themselves, it was shocking, they follow him willingly." Sephie said "And I'll never get over the fact he mutated a child and made her just as ruthless as him!"
Tyroth rubbed his throat remembering where Regan had bitten him.
"No matter what we do." Tyroth said "Diablo uses tricks to get away, he's always one step ahead!"
Jake nodded.
"I tried again to reason with him when I tried to find Sophie, who now calls herself Chastity the Dove, but he refused." He explained.
Mona shook her head.
"He's really far gone." She sighed "All these weeks…."
"And now we believe he's going to attack again." Sephie said then pushed the flyer Hugh had given Tyroth towards her and Mona read it.
"Oh God…" she thought "The Church are having a big meeting, even though they're fully aware someone's attacked their leader and they could be next? They're basically offering themselves to Diablo!"
"I know right?" Jake said, "These guys are insane!"
"But there is hope!" Tyroth said "If Diablo is going to attack the church, it might give us the chance to snare him!"
Mona was silent for a moment as she looked at the flyer, then at Tyroth, Sephie and Jake, then at the flyer again, then back up at the trio.
"Snare him?" she asked, "Like how?"
"We don't know exactly." Tyroth said "But we have until this Sunday to think about it!"
"We only have 3 days!" Sephie said.
"I think I might know a way!" Jake said and everyone turned to him.
"It's risky, and I don't want to do it, but it might be the way to catch Diablo in the act should he attack the church."
"What's your plan?" Sephie asked.
Jake took a sip of his coffee.
"What if I go the meeting and pretend to be one of the members?" he swallowed hard "And trust me when I say, I feel sick to the stomach to even go in there, but sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures."
The three mutants stared at Jake.
"Once I'm inside, I'll make sure I'm seated somewhere at the back and keep you informed of anything suspicious, and if Diablo was to appear, I can signal you and Hugh via by phone!"
Mona was silent again.
"You are willing to go into that disgusting church meeting and hear such vile stuff just to see if Diablo will attack?" she asked.
"I know it's horrible sis!" Jake said "And I don't want to do it, but I'm human, and I blend in with those people! If the Knights try, as stealthy as they are, it'll be hard for them to hide around the area, and Diablo will smell a rat if he senses you're nearby!"
"That's true hun!" Sephie said as she realised "Like Jack, the Doberman, he might smell us out!"
"Oh man yeah!" Tyroth said also seeing Jake's point of view "He's right."
"Carry on Jake!" Sephie encouraged.
"If I put on a good disguise, and mask my scent with an aftershave, to put the Doberman off, I'll go to the meeting, Should Diablo and his Disciples attack the church, I can alert you and Hugh!" Jake said.
"You sure you can do this Jake?" Mona asked in a worried voice "I'm worried for you, what if something goes wrong?"
"I'll be alright sis." Jake promised "I got my gun if the shit hits the fan, and I can defend myself, like you I am just as determined to stop Diablo! I'm a Chicago Knight and I will do my duty to protect my home!"
Mona's eyes widened.
"You're a Knight!?" she asked.
"He was adamant Mona." Tyroth said, "He had your current mindset, he wants to help us, and he doesn't want to just sit here and let us do all the work! And to his credit, he had been working hard, and has been able to take down the other Knights in training, not relying on his gun all the time."
"He has the package." Sephie said with a small smile "He's got potential, he's our Human Chicago Knight!"
Jake felt a swell of pride within him as he heard Sephie's words.
"I was aggressive in my request." He said in a guilty tone as he looked at Tyroth "But I wanted to help so badly."
"And we are glad to have you help us!" Tyroth nodded at Jake "Now anyway, I'm all for supporting Jake's idea, and I trust him to know what he's doing."
"Me too!" said Sephie.
Jake looked at Mona.
The Lizard Lady looked worried, but she wanted to trust her brother, and if he knew what he was going to do, she had to let him.
"Okay Jake!" she said squeezing his hand "Just please! Promise me we'll be careful! You're going into dangerous ground, not just because of Diablo but after all we've been told about this church, if they were to find out you're not one of them…"
"They wouldn't dare!" Jake said "If they even try to do anything, I'll be ready for them, but just trust me to do this, if it's to stop Diablo, I'm going to do anything!"
"Right." Said Tyroth "Lets rely this to the other Knights and Gramps, then we'll go on from there!"
So Mona's aware of whats really been going on, and that her second younger brother is a Chicago Knight! He's now offered to go to the meeting! I have to say, he's a brave soul! I'm not sure I could sit in a room full of bigots and homophobic bullies!
Tune in for more coming soon!