Why do I get the sickening feeling that this story is about to go in the way of the dinosaurs? Seriously, I'm really trying to keep this good, but Dead of Night was my first; I've come up with so many other great stories since then!

Anyways, I sincerely thank all of the people who've stayed with this story. (whimpers) I'll try not to mess it up!

So let's get started!

Disclaimer: Well, I guess it's a good thing I don't own the TMNT. Look at how long the episodes would be if I were writing the show! Think of the cliffhangers! Ah!

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Through the window, he could see their little bodies squirm. Sometimes, he wondered why he was doing this; why he was inflicting on others the very pain he was striving so hard to avoid.

Then he remembered Stockman. And he just made their lives worse.

Because, while these children's lives were undoubtedly horrible, they were, in the end, still that: children. They hadn't been transformed painfully into what he now was; didn't have to go through several procedures that had left them nearly dead… but with amazing gifts, though they weren't his to use more often than not. These children would never know what he'd been through. Heck, if allowed to wake, they could still talk whenever they wanted.

They weren't like him, a monster; they weren't forced to respond to a new name.

The Slayer. That's who he was now. He was no longer a child, as Stockman told him countless times, but a living weapon, 'the future of the country in the fight against alien species', as Bishop said.

Stockman's voice cut through his thoughts. "Slowly," he said, eyes always on the others; "ease them into it. Don't put them in full force like you do with the other turtle. After all, such a trauma might induce fatality, and we don't want that for our new specimens so early in the project."

Behind the mask that covered his face, the Slayer rolled his eyes. Duh. Who's the one doing this, you or me? You're too much of a coward to give yourself such 'gifts', Stockman. I know what I'm doing.

Since his telepathy was weak, the Slayer knew Stockman couldn't hear him. It was interesting though, he could only maintain a mental link with the children that lay before him, and them alone.

If he could ever reach Stockman, they sure wouldn't be the ones on the other end of the stick of his wrath.

Turning away from the scientist, he looked back at the little children. Until he'd gotten the three new turtles on to the same level as their brother, he couldn't maintain all four of them at once. It was hard enough with three different groups, but at least they were starting out together. It'd be impossible for him to force them into this level while having their brother in the worst one all at the same time.

But Stockman would make time for the first experiment. He was sure of that.

&&&&&

Much to Leonardo's relief, his brothers eventually came out of their own sick adventure, brought upon by a madman and his version of Frankenstein, and back to the real world.

Unfortunately, they were quickly pulled back within a lapse of five minutes or less. This was the sixth time they were forced to endure the nightmare. But, as Leo watched them, he felt his spirits uplifted somewhat to see they were coming out of it once more.

Since they were newer at this, they were back to their normal selves much quicker than Leo was. He remembered when he'd been in the same position, about a month ago.

Then, they had just seemed like regular, but hauntingly realistic and horrific nightmares.

But then, the number of children had started out relatively low, gradually changing each night. With Raph, Don, and Mikey, the number was already set at twenty-two and had yet to change.

There were eight-eight children, but only sixty-six, total, were in anyone's dreams. Leo had a feeling that when it was his turn, he'd get the remaining twenty-two.

Mikey was the first to wake up, as he had been the five times previously, quickly followed by Don and then Raph. The orange-clad turtle was in a corner at the moment. Upon waking, he quickly backed up in to it, looking around, realizing that this was real and not a dream.

Leo nodded to him. "It's okay, Mike. It's okay now." There was no point in smiling. Not even Michaelangelo could smile now and make it appear genuine.

Stockman was taking more and more things away from them by the minute. Leo wanted to kill him now more than ever. He wasn't all that surprised when Raph voiced his sentiments, with a little more enthusiasm.

"Next time I see that asshole," Raph growled, fists clenched; "I'm gonna beat him so bad, all of the body parts Shredder took off of him will be hurtin'!"

Donny, if he shared the same opinions, did not voice them. "Guys, we need to find a way out of here. We've beat Stockman before; there must be some way to get past all of his security features!"

"I looked around a little while you guys were out." Leo said, silently making sure all of his brothers were well. "I didn't see anything."

Scooting in closer to the rest of them, Mikey frowned. "Where's the secret-trap-door-under-the-rug when you need it?"

Had there been a rug in here, Leo would've been tempted to look for one, but Stockman was not one to please with such fine luxuries.

Donny put on a thoughtful look and rapped his knuckles against the floor. The sound that generated was anything but resonant. No space beneath them. It'd been the same situation with all but one of the walls when they'd tested them earlier, and the chances of them breaking through it when it was made of a highly advanced form of metal was pretty low.

Checking on them once more, Leo finally looked away. The first thing he saw upon doing so were the little orange capsules Sil had given to him. Four of them.

He picked them up as he stood. "Guys, I want each of you to have one of these. In case… you know."

Raph looked at the little objects before looking at Leo. "No way. We're nowhere near as bad off as you are when this happens."

"That could all change, Raph. Stockman doesn't play the rules. And I only need one for now."

All he received from his brother in red was a fixed and intense glare. Leo had no idea what Donny and Mike were thinking about this; if he wanted to win this silent argument with Raph, he couldn't break eye contact.

Finally, his brother shook his head. "All right." He said unhappily as he took one. "But if you have to use yours, it's goin' right back to ya."

Leo put on a small grin of victory before turning towards his remaining two brothers. Though they didn't express it in words, the looks on their faces seemed to share Raph's disposition. But, reluctantly, they each took a capsule.

Several minutes passed in complete silence; each turtle holding on to the gumball-like things in their hands.

Mikey was the one to speak first. "Shouldn't Stockman have done something by now? Why hasn't he started it up again?"

Screams. Louder; much louder.

Leo clutched the capsule in his hand. "Because it's my turn." He whispered.

&&&&&

With a smile, Stockman turned away from the window and to his Slayer. "Very good. Things are finally starting to go as planned."

He looked at the twenty-two children that had been of no use in this new strategy for now. That would change very soon.

"All right, Slayer. I think we have a turtle who's been very patient, don't you? It's time for Leonardo to experience the hell you've made, but with a new special feature. I think he'll enjoy it. And if he doesn't, we'll just remind him there's no refunds."

Grin growing broader, he turned back to the window. "Now let's not keep him waiting. Do it."

&&&&&

From the moment Leo had made him take one of the capsules, Raph had been watching him. Now, he'd never really been superstitious, but he was sure that this gesture would jinx his elder brother; putting him back into nightmarish hell that was more threatening in his case then theirs.

And when he saw Leo's face change, when he heard them utter those words, he knew he'd been right.

In the few seconds he had before it completely took hold of his brother, Raph leapt up and reached for him, catching him by the left wrist before he fell.

At his side, leaning Leo up against the wall, Raph could feel the blue-banded turtle's skin starting to cool.

Biting his lip, Raph turned his head back a little, noticing that Mike and Don were only inches behind him.

Mikey's eyes widened. "It's not gonna happen again, is it?"

No one needed to be reminded of what.

Feeling Leo's pulse, obviously reassured that it had yet to drop dangerously low, Don shrugged. "I'm not sure. From the way Stockman was talking, I'd think he wouldn't want that to happen."

Raph attempted to let go of his brother. "Well, I-" He stopped and turned back to him. "What the…?"

Now worried even more, Mikey inched closer to the turtle in red. "What? What's wrong?"

"I- I'm not sure." Raph said as he tried once more to separate himself from Leo. No luck. "I can't move my hand. It's like I'm stuck to him."

As he finished that sentence, Leo started to fade in and out of view, here, then somewhere else. Yet Raph remained attached to him.

"Whoa." He heard Mike say from behind him.

Turning back to them, he saw both of his younger brothers giving him astounded stares.

Raph didn't like the feeling he was getting. "What?"

Don was the first to answer him. Coming closer, he looked from him to Leo, studying them like he did with many of the things in his lab. Only now, he showed a lot more care and concern than he did with any gadget he ever made. "Raph… you're fading out with him. Look, as Leo starts to disappear, so do you."

But before he could do just that, Leo pitched forward.

Luckily for Raph, he was able to catch himself with his remaining hand before collision with the floor. Leo, however, fell flat on his stomach, face turned to one side, showing no indication that he had felt that impact.

"Oh, shell." That was Donny again.

Looking up at his purple-clad brother first, Raph followed his gaze to the force field, which was less than three feet away to his right.

Leo's hand had gone right through it.

Gaze shifting back to Donny, Raph waited to say what he knew was coming.

And sure enough, he did. "For now, I think he's fine. It's like with the floor back at April's house; Leo can faze through things when he's like this."

His brother studied the force field for a moment, making Raph wonder if there were different types of them. He was sure there were, but he couldn't tell them apart.

Obviously Don could. "But if we don't get his hand out of there before he wakes up, that force field will slice it clean off."

One had to admit, that was not a good thing; especially for someone whose weapon of choice was the twin katanas.

But as Raph watched Leo and recalled all that had happened in the last minute or so, a plan started to form in his head; one that his 'fearless leader' would even agree to, if he knew what cards had just been dealt to the situation.

If he could be moved, Leo was their ticket out of here.

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All right! That was two pages longer than last chapter! I am quite pleased with myself.

Sorry I didn't put much in about what everyone else saw. I was planning to, but decided against it. You'll hear more about it though, in future chapters.

Let's see how far away we are from the ending… well, I guarantee there'll be at least another five chapters, but no more than seven. I'm still not quite sure.

Don't leave! I'm begging you! Oh, and don't forget to review, please!