I'm so sorry that I didn't get this posted sooner! I've been sick for the past two days so I had to stay home from school, which is pretty much the only place where I have Internet access. I'm really, really sorry!
(grinning) Okay, I know I've already said it, but I'm so happy that I'll say it again. Yahoo! I'm fifteen! Sure, the day has passed, but it's just too cool!
Now, in honor of my surviving fifteen years in this miserable world (that does have its occasional rewards), I've concluded that I will be adding a new character today. But just for this story only. I know some people have their own characters that they put in every one of their stories, but that just kinda ruins the whole point for me. No offense. It just defeats the purpose, if you ask me. But no one is asking so what am I talking about?
So, since I know you're all so excited to meet my new character, I'll get on with it.
Disclaimer: How do ya like that? It was my birthday and I didn't even get part ownership to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Man, those Eastman and Laird guys are stingy with their property!
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The holographic image of Baxter Stockman cowered in fear for a few seconds, then put on the same air of certainty it so commonly wore. He knew he had the right one.
Leo blinked, taken aback by what he'd just heard. His breathing came faster, shock lacing every breath. Had he just heard what he thought he'd heard?
His fingers quivered so hard at his side that he had to loosen his grip on the smooth, metal exterior of the android. Leo's voice barely came out in a whisper, "You-you know why they scream?"
A smile was plastered on the face of Stockman. The doctor's arrogant tone came back into his voice and he raised himself to the turtle's eye-level.
The tables had turned, and Leo wasn't all that comfortable with the side he was on now.
"I knew it was you. Granted, the 'blue-turtle', as they say, could've just been a hallucination, but I knew it would be you." He snorted. "It's just my luck that it would be one of my most hated enemies."
"What are you talking about? You know why they scream? You know them?"
"Of course I know them. They're part of my latest experiment!"
"You're…" he gritted his teeth, "experimenting… on children?"
"Well, it's not exactly what you think-"
Leo's voice rose. "Then why don't you tell me what it is that I'm thinking? You've gotten me so confused that I can barely think straight at all! So while you're telling me what I'm thinking, just go ahead and tell me what I should be thinking!"
"Can't think… how so?"
"I don't have to tell you anything!"
"I don't think you're in the position to negotiate with me, freak." He wore an evil smile, then he leaned closer and whispered, "I can hurt them far worse than you can possibly imagine."
The blue-clad turtle found himself between a rock and a hard place. He closed his eyes, knowing that if he was going to learn anything, he'd have to go along with Stockman, for now. His breathing slowed. When he opened his eyes, they were to the doctor's sinister smile.
Stockman laughed proudly. "Good… very good. Now," he leaned closer, "I believe you were about to tell me about your inability to 'think'? I want you to explain every detail."
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"What the hell are they talkin' about?" Casey asked, watching along with about half of the rescued orphans beside Raph.
Donny handed the little baby he was still holding to one of the older boys. "I can't hear completely from over here. Something about: screams and experiments."
Mikey moved closer. "What's that have to do with all the tea in China?"
"That's what I was wondering."
They watched as, all of a sudden, Stockman said something that stopped Leo in his tracks.
"Whatever it is," Raph said, "it ain't good. Guys, I think we should get Leo outta here. I don't care what he says, he ain't doin' so good."
As if they'd communicated telepathically, they all knew that each one had agreed with Raphael's comment.
Donatello turned to the orphans, many of which were still coughing from the smoke they'd inhaled. "All right, you guys. We're going to need you to run to the police. They're by the front of the building."
A young girl stood on tiptoe. "Are we s'posed to bring 'em back?"
Casey took a golf club out along with his hockey stick. "No, girlie. We can handle 'em ourselves."
One of the little boys, he looked no older than five, pointed to Leo. "But what 'bouts him? My mommy said that you're s'posed to say 'thank you' when you gets helped."
"No worries, little man." Mikey grinned, picking him up to hand him to another orphan. "We'll tell him you said so, 'kay?"
The boy nodded, then Raph stepped in. "Now you guys get outta here now! We have business to do and you might get hurt if ya stick around."
The orphaned children, now homeless as well, took off at the hard tone of his voice, though each one of them wore a smile.
However, one girl left a little more reluctantly. A little more slowly. Her white tee-shirt and sweat pants, although stained with soot, made a drastic comparison to her jet black hair that reached down to her mid-back and covered her face well. But what captured Donny's attention was her bright green eyes.
They held kindness, sincerity. A rare thing to see in this world.
A sudden shout from Michaelangelo jarred Don out of his thoughts. He turned to see a small and thin mechanic device move from Stockman's robotic suit. It had a round tip to it and was aimed for Leo's chest.
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"So, you're basically saying that you're sleeping patterns have been disturbed so violently that you can't concentrate on anything? Very interesting."
Leo nodded, not making eye contact.
"And, as of recently, you've been more prone to lose your temper?"
"I'm not sure, but I think so."
"But in your dreams, you can't see anything? Just hear?"
"Yes." Leo said, gritting his teeth.
"Hmmm… well, in light of this new information, I shall have to take my leave and go."
"Wait a minute, you said-"
"I know what I said, and you will know why they scream." Stockman grinned as he took out a thin type of gun. "Just not today."
Leo heard Mikey shout out to him, then the small, little gun generated a massive blue circle of energy; thin veins of electricity embroidered within it.
The shot struck Leo hard in the chest, sending him back against a concrete wall. He was surprised to see that it didn't hurt as much. In fact, nothing hurt much at all. There was a slight stinging sensation that was passing throughout his body, like it had just suddenly fallen asleep. He couldn't move. His body was numb all over.
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Before Stockman could take off, Raph dug his sais up into his robotic leg, not far from where Leo had stabbed him with his katanas. Casey hit him with his golf club in the stomach area and Donny jumped up, attacking Stockman's arms with his bo staff.
Michaelangelo hit the android's lower legs, trying desperately to get around him and to his older brother, who laid motionless by the wall. The last time, which had also been the first time, that Mikey had thought of Leo dying was when he'd been ambushed by the Foot. He couldn't bare it then, and he wasn't taking it well now.
The orange-clad turtle loved his brothers. He'd looked up to them ever since he could remember. Everything he'd ever learned, that wasn't related to Ninjitsu and basic education, had been from them.
But stupid Stockman wouldn't budge. Mike groaned, as the scientist laughed, "You incompetent, meddlesome reptiles have no chance defeating the Baxter Stockman! I am, as always, one step ahead of you!"
Think, Mikey, think! How the shell was he supposed to get to Leo?
Then, out of nowhere, a white dot ran out and towards Leo's still form.
Maybe he wouldn't have to…
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This was one of the worst situations Leo could recall ever being in out of his entire life. His brothers were fighting Baxter Stockman, who he wouldn't mind killing right now, and he couldn't help them. It really sucked to be paralyzed.
He had gotten some feeling back in his head and neck, not that it felt good. His vision was slightly blurry, and his hearing echoed like a drum. Leo just hoped that the rest of the shot's effects would wear off quickly, if at all.
That was when a small, round face appeared in his vision. It was a girl; she looked so familiar…
Of course! The ninja saw the soot that spotted her face and realized that she was one of the orphans he'd rescued.
The girl's piercing green eyes looked him over carefully. She checked the battle going on, making sure she hadn't been noticed by the robotic man fighting his brothers, then looked back at him.
"Are you okay?" she asked in a low voice, trying not to be heard.
Leo sighed, though it hurt. "I'll be all right. You should be getting out of here, you could get hurt." Talking hurt more.
She put on a frown. "Well you're already hurt, so I'm more concerned about you. Besides, those other turtles and that guy with the golf bag are fighting. You don't seem too worried about them."
"I'm much more concerned than you think. Those 'other turtles' are my brothers. Honestly, I'd be helping them now, but I can't move."
She bit her lip. "At least let me help you, you helped me! And my mom was a doctor. I know a few things."
"No…" he bit his tongue as a sharp pain was sent through his stomach. Leonardo let it pass, then continued, breathing harder. "I'll be fine in a few minutes. But you need to get out of here!"
The girl folded her arms, wearing a cross between a smirk and a frown on her face. It looked quite funny on her; she looked no older than ten. "Well, seeing as you're paralyzed, I don't think you have much of a choice."
She bent down, her dark hair tickling Leo's face. Her hands felt against his neck, moving down to his shoulders, then plastron. "Uh," she looked at him sheepishly, "do you think your anatomy is fairly close to humans?"
Leo couldn't help but smile. "Should be… but you'd have to ask Donny."
There was that smirk/frown again. She looked back to the fight, then continued to examine him. "I promise that I will."
Completing the job at the best of her abilities, she sighed and bit her lip again. "I… think it's only temporary. I sure hope so. You're a nice guy."
An explosion sounded. Leo turned his head, wincing at the pain that shot through it. Stockman was using some sort of missiles now. When he looked back up at the girl, her eyes were wide.
"Do you think you're brothers can stop him?" she questioned, never breaking her gaze from the action before her.
"We've beat him a few times-"
"Good. Now I'm gonna get you out of here."
"You're the one who should be getting out of here!"
"Well I'm gonna help ya, like it or not." She grinned, putting her wrists under his arms. She let out a breath as she realized how heavy he was before pulling him up to her elbows. Leo was just happy that she wasn't carrying someone else. Leo was the lightest out of his brothers. He didn't think she could've lifted Mikey. Potato chips, ice cream, and pizza could do a lot to a turtle.
The orphan had just gotten him to the end of the back part of the wall when one of Stockman's missiles hit their last position. The blast flipped her over Leo's body and she quickly turned her back to it.
When it was clear, she looked back, then grinned at the blue-clad turtle. "Now aren't you glad that I helped you?"
Leo wiggled his fingers, relieved that he could. Some feeling had returned to his body and he found that if he tried extremely hard, he could move all of his body parts. "Yes, thanks. Now can you please go? You're gonna get hurt if you stick around."
"Please! What could happen?" She moved her black hair out of her face, only to have it yanked and pulled up by a man whose arm was in an awkward direction. He was holding a police gun.
The Purple Dragon who'd led the jewelry heist.
The man grinned. "We have some unfinished business, freak. Not only did you break my favorite gun, you just happened to shatter my favorite arm." He indicated his broken arm, trying to cover the obvious pain he must be in.
Leo's body protested, but complied, as he sat up. "Put her down! She doesn't have anything to do with this."
The thug looked at her, before cocking the stolen gun. "Now she does." His smile was worse than Stockman's.
But the smile quickly turned into a grimace as a small foot was jabbed into his groin. The girl's feet kicked the air, trying to get down from where she hung in the man's grasp. "Let me go, you stupid jerk!"
The thug laughed, directing his voice to Leo. "Now isn't that cute! The little brat actually thinks she has a chance against me!" Then he spoke to the girl. "All right, girlie. I'll let you go." He dropped her to the pavement, laughing again. "Such tiny words from a five-year-old have defeated me!" He laughed some more.
However, the girl stood up with clenched teeth. "I'm twelve, thank you very much!" Seconds later though, her mouth twisted back into that smirk/frown again. "So you want big words, huh? Well how about you get the hell away from us, you impudent, pugnacious asshole."
Leo tried to keep quiet, but he couldn't help snickering under his breath. She was such a bright, but aggressive little thing.
He composed himself. That could very well get her into a world of trouble someday. Like today.
The thug scowled, which only fed her proud smile. "Oh," she quipped, "are those words too big for our pea-brained outlaw here?"
"That's it, you little bitch." The police gun locked on her head.
Next thing the Purple Dragon knew, a sword had sliced through his weapon and to his liver while a sai was plunged into his neck. Then he knew nothing, and his body fell to the ground.
The girl noticed the red-clad turtle before she turned to see Leo barely standing on his own. He gasped; he had literally had to force himself to get into this position and now was starting to regret it, since Raph had been there to help. The action had awakened the rest of the senses in his body, and they weren't all that good now.
In a flash, Don had moved in to support his brother before he fell. Casey stood over the dead Purple Dragon, a mix of disgust and pleasure on his face. He kicked the body, making sure he was dead. "Well, uh, that's what you get for breaking my bat!" The attempt to lighten the mood hadn't worked all that well, but it was something.
Leo watched as five pairs of eyes watched him. "So, did Stockman get away?"
Mikey grinned, though Leo didn't miss the concern that still shone in his younger brother's eyes. "Yeah, that stupid guy still can't die even after he's just a brain in a jar!" he thought over his words. "…in a really big robot."
The girl wrinkled her nose. "A brain? Ewww…"
Don looked at her, partly out of curiosity and partly out of, what Leo assumed, an attempt to make his elder brother feel better. "So, who are you?"
Mikey, slow as usual, answered, "Duh, Donny! She's one of the orphans! Hey, didn't we tell you to go with the others?"
His comment was responded with a slap to the back of the head from Raph. Don glared at Mike. "Mikey, I knew that! But I was trying to be nice! She did help Leo."
Mikey stuck out his tongue. "I knew that, too!"
Casey walked up to the girl, removing his hockey mask. "Weirded out?"
She smiled meekly. "Just a little. It's not every day that I see a group of giant turtles."
The vigilante laughed. "Don't worry, you'll get over it."
She beamed. "Already am. Hello, I'm Silhouette Cole."
Leo watched as Silhouette was introduced one-by-one to his brothers and Casey. After some small conversation, of which he said little in, he backed away slightly. To his relief, he could stand on his own now, moving as freely as he pleased. But he couldn't help feeling like he was being watched.
Leo turned his attention to Raph, whose eyes were piercing through him. He didn't have to ask to know what those eyes were asking. What the hell is wrong with you?
The blue-clad turtle lowered his head. If he knew the answer, he would've said it already.
But Raph's eyes weren't the only things scrutinizing him. He knew something else, or someone else, was out there watching him.
Watching him from the outside but looking deep within. Knowing what he was feeling, but wondering why.
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Yes! Another chapter! Since, I feel really bad about it coming so late, I'm gonna go ahead and get started on Chapter 5 tonight!
So, how was it? What did ya think about Silhouette? I think that's such a pretty name. I know this chapter didn't give away any major hints to the dreams Leo's been having, but Chapter 6 will!
Yes, I already have Chapter 6 planned out! Well, a little anyways. That goes for Chapter 5, too. Oh, I hope you stay tuned for it. I think you guys will really like it!
'Til then, I remain Pi90katana! Well, I never was anybody else… And I'm not planning on being anyone else afterwards…
Please review!