I didn't keep you waiting long, did I? Better than four months, I hope.

Gotta get this baby finished. I must say, if it weren't for my reviewers, it probably would be stuck at Chapter 10 still. I have 'novels' I've started, only to leave them unfinished, mid-sentence, sometimes.

But don't worry! I'll finish this! I swear!

So enjoy!

Disclaimer: While I'd like to own the TMNT someday, I'm sadly probably and more likely to end up owning the world's greatest ball of lint. Oh joy.

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Staying in his position on the wall, looking at them with concealed eyes, the Slayer still somehow presented a glow of eerie calmness. His head turned to see each one of the turtles.

You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do that…

While they had been trying to do the same thing for a while now, Leo didn't like the tone the Slayer used in 'speaking' this. Very little humor was in it.

Gracefully, the child-like Slayer leaped to the ground, knees not even bending. He turned his head in the direction of the other door. When you opened my door, I was able to connect with the rest of the technology in this hallway… I kept their door open… You'll be able to get to the children…

He turned towards the right, obviously heading out of the hallways. To his prey.

Right now, as small as he was, the Slayer radiated with power, and not just his gifts. Maybe it hadn't been the case before, but Leo was sure that if they were to put him in a schoolyard, free of the metallic pieces clinging to his body, he would immediately be labeled as a bully.

Yet, at the same time, he seemed almost… frail. Without a doubt, the Slayer was short; he was probably only four and a half feet.

Raph took the words out of Leo's mouth. "We can't let ya go."

The Slayer turned around. And why's that…?

Leo finally found his voice. "You're the one who hurt these kids in the first place. If you can't even show mercy for someone so young, who'll stop you from hurting other people? Innocent people?"

That cold, invisible stare penetrated them for several seconds. Once, I was innocent… No one ever showed compassion for me…

Like Leo, but in such a different way, Michelangelo had always been sensitive to the inner workings of people. Leo understood them to predict their next moves; Mikey understood them simply to know how they felt.

So it wasn't so surprising when his little brother spoke then. "You were homeless too, weren't you?"

The child's gaze switched over to Mikey. Yes, since I was two…

For the sake of seriousness, Leo had to force his jaw to stay in place, refusing it the right to drop to the floor.

His brothers seemed to share the same reaction.

Surprised…? The Slayer's 'voice' seemed to be fading out, thought it could still be heard. I should have been able to adapt, but you see, I was so small… I was an easy target…

A sense of hatred was conveyed with those last few words. Donny commanded the boy's attention next. "A target for Stockman?"

Another pause. Yes…

Fading, fading.

Raph turned the conversation back around. "I know that must've been a bad life, kid, but it don't change what ya did."

Mikey moved up, in line with Raph. "Why'd you do that? You knew what life was like for some of them. Why would you hurt them?"

I told you… I will get my revenge by any means I can…

A shiver began to run up Leo's spine.

I wouldn't torture them if it hadn't kept me alive… but deep down, I knew… If I had to suffer, so did they… He looked back at Leo. That's why I partially removed you're need for sleep… How else do you think you've been able to function for so long…?

Leo had to look away for a moment, but quickly turned back. He chose to ignore the comment about himself. "You hurt all those children because it made you feel better. That's why you can't go."

Self-assured laughing went off in his head. From the way things were going, Leo knew his brothers heard the same sound.

It stopped. Are you going to kill me…?

The words were so soft…

Raph took out his sais. "Hell, yeah. If that's the way it's gonna be."

Turning back around to Mikey and Donny, Leo drew his katanas. "You tow get the kids out. Raph and I will fight.

Don seemed to object. "But-"

Before he could finish, Leo cut him off. "Do it!"

Even though he'd headed in their direction, the Slayer didn't seem to dispute this. He also did not appear to be one for patience. Without another telepathically communicated word, he attacked.

&&&&&

Part of him somewhat comprehended why these creatures wouldn't let him leave. But the Slayer still couldn't get his mind around the entire problem.

Sure, he'd hurt these kids, some of them for months. But he wasn't going to anymore. He was going to let these turtles leave, with them in tow! He'd even helped them find the children in the first place. And not only that, he was planning on destroying Stockman, a shared enemy, from what he understood.

All would work out. Or so he'd been telling himself.

But they didn't see it like that. All the Slayer wanted right now was his vengeance, which involved only a few more people than Stockman. After that, he planned on living as peacefully as possible.

They were in the way of that dream.

As much as he didn't want to hurt them, the Slayer couldn't afford to have anyone stand in his way.

&&&&&

Even from what he'd seen so far, Raph continued to be surprised by the agility this kid displayed. None of them, not even Mister Perfect fighting by his side, had shown such dexterity at that age… whatever that age might be.

As the Slayer flipped over their heads, feet landing on the door, slammed shut, that imprisoned the children, Leo tried to cut at him with his katanas.

He grabbed them. Used them to hold his weight as he swung himself, feet first, into Raph.

The quick blow sent Raph to the ground, temporarily knocking the breath out of him. When he got back up, he saw his brother standing above him rigid, looking around in all directions.

"Wha-"

Leo hushed him. When everything was dead silent, he whispered, "He disappeared."

Now Raph understood the need for reticence. All the better to hear the Slayer, if he was still here.

His question was answered when he suddenly appeared in the act of pile-driving Leo, six inches in front of him.

Shell hitting the metal wall with a clang, Leo almost dropped his swords. Before the Slayer could do something else to his brother, Raph tackled him. They hit the floor, as did Raph's sais, fists locked.

Raph was surprised once more, this time, by the child's strength. Thrown into a high school wrestling match, Raph had no doubt that he could win.

But he was still so small. Raph finally managed to hit him the face. The boy's altered body went slack, head turned slightly. A trace of blood was coming out of his mouth, as well as his fists from where he'd gripped Leo's katana.

Suddenly, from behind him, he heard Leo shout out his name. As he was turning back around, a prong of one of his sais, now enveloped in a shade of blue, clipped his left side.

&&&&&

When the battle begun, after typing in Stockman's code, Donny had to drag Mikey into the room housing the children, shutting it behind them.

Letting his brother go, Mikey looked at Don imploringly, eyes seen even in the twilight the room was kept at. "We can't leave Raph and Leo out there to-"

"I know that!" Donny argued.

"Then what're we doing in here?"

Honestly, Donny wasn't sure. He remembered Leo telling him to just do it, and then with the Slayer coming right at them… "I panicked."

Mikey frowned. He looked like he was planning on leaving when his eyes caught something behind the purple-clad turtle.

Turning, Donny found rows of children, lying on tables, still, as kids should never be.

Quietly, the two of them walked over to the nearest one, looking down at a little girl, perhaps eight years old. She was extremely pale, and, when Donny touched her hand, felt like an ice cube. Her clothes were a little damp, skin slightly misted.

Supine, her chest made no movements.

Noticing that she was on a table that looked identical to the one that Stockman had wheeled Leo into their cell on, Donny checked her vitals, which were shown on the other side of the table.

No pulse. But her EEG's were going strong. Unlike Leo's, they differed slightly. Recalling what he knew about these things, Don took this as a normal dream-like state, whereas Leo's had been a state of terror.

Mikey brought him somewhat out of his scientist state. "How do we get them out?"

Don looked at him, before turning back to the girl. "Good question."

He tried to think of how it had worked with their elder brother. After several seconds, it finally occurred to him. Sighing, he cocked his head. "He hasn't released them."

"Who?" Mikey asked.

Turning back around to his brother, Don shook his head. "The Slayer. Remember how Leo comes out of it? It's only when the Slayer's done with him."

His orange-clad brother seemed to understand. "He's still connected to them."

Donny nodded. "Besides that, we'd need him to get them out safely, anyways. You know how cold Leo is when he comes out of it? Think how bad these kids will be off! Some of them have been like this for months."

Mikey nodded. Determination set in his face in a way it'd never had before; his little brother put a hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll just have to get him."

&&&&&

Having raised his head up to look from his current position, Leo was greeted with the sight of Raph's sai with a blue tint to it. He watched in fear as the weapon was raised magically, flying with supernatural speed into his brother's side.

By calling out to him, Leo had probably reduced the damage greatly. The sai had not fully reached its target; instead of hitting Raph straight on, it'd clipped him.

But it was still rather bloody.

Apparently, the Slayer hadn't been hurt so bad after all. While Raph groaned, he sat up. Leo had no doubt that beyond his mask, he'd find a grin.

As Raph had done shortly before, Leo found the strength to tackle the child. As he was doing so, a flame appeared in his hand. The Slayer sent it flying, though Leo dodged it just in time.

Hitting his enemy, keeping his katanas with him, Leo tired to incapacitate him. He'd forgotten his own experience with the Slayer- how strong this boy was.

Though Leo managed to cut the Slayer's leg, the child took that opportunity to grab Leo by the wrist with reflexes faster than lightning.

He snapped it.

Crying out, but biting his lip to keep the rest of the pained shout in his throat, Leo dropped his other katana. Before it hit the ground, the Slayer had caught it…

And used it to cut Leo just below his plastron.

All I wanted was to get my revenge… The Slayer finally spoke to him. His 'voice' was stronger now. I'd be doing you a favor by getting Stockman out of the way…

Finding himself unable to speak, Leo used his mind, figuring the Slayer would hear. We want to get rid of him, but that's not all you're gonna do. You want more, and you have the means to get it. You don't care who you hurt-

Yes, I do…!

Leo looked up at him. Through his peripheral vision, he could see Raph, one hand clamped over his bleeding wound, trying to make his way over to them. Then why do you hurt people who don't deserve it? You hurt innocent people. By doing that, you're no better than Stockman.

That thought seemed to stop the Slayer in his tracks. I'm nothing like him…! As forcefully as it was conveyed, the Slayer didn't sound so sure. Stockman hurts people who don't deserve it… I-

Do. Leo finished for him.

The child looked away from him.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Leo turned to see Raph, sweat beaded on his forehead. His side wound was bleeding heavily, as was Leo's stomach wound.

Next thing Leo knew, the Slayer had thrust out his hand, placing it on Leo's plastron, though Raph tried to protest. The Slayer ignored him.

The first odd thing he noticed was that he didn't feel a wound on his hand; there should have been a mark from where it had been cut. Dry blood was still there; proving it had once existed.

Then there was the yellow light. It spread through Leo, slightly warm. He felt his wounded wrist snap again, but it hurt for only a few seconds. After that, it felt remarkably better.

Sparing a glance at it, Leo found that it was back in place. He could move it around, just like before, too.

Then, he felt the skin below his plastron tighten. Along with Raph, who'd been looking at his wrist, they turned their gaze to it. The skin seemed to be knitting itself back together.

Like with his wrist, it only hurt for a few moments. Then it was all better.

The yellow light vanished. Letting out a breath, the Slayer placed his hand on Raph's chest. In moments, that same light started up again, spreading through his brother in a way, Leo could no longer feel. He watched in amazement as the skin on his red-clad brother repaired itself.

Small hand falling off Raph's plastron, the yellow light appeared by the wound Leo had given him. Leo suddenly understood how the cut on the Slayer's hand had disappeared.

The Slayer had healed them.

When he was done fixing his own wounds, the Slayer looked up at them. Though they couldn't see his eyes, Leo felt that something had changed in the child's gaze.

He stood up. So did they.

Communicating to them both, the Slayer raised his head a little bit, either out of a sense of pride, or in a need to see the turtles before him. I told you, I'm not like Stockman… I want to prove it to you…

Nodding, no other words were spoken, verbal or mental, as the three of them opened the second door, joining Don and Mikey.

Joining eighty-eight children, waiting to be freed.

&&&&&

Another chapter done! How wonderful! (gives self a pat on the back)

Before you go, I'd like to clear up a misconception anyone might have. While the Slayer does have powers, the guys don't. They have the genomes for it, but not the ability to use them.

Let me explain. Stockman used Bishop's DNA samples when creating his Slayer. He unlocked the power of the human genome within those samples, not the DNA they were taken from.

Now, if he were to do the same thing to the guys, I'm sure they'd have their abilities. But I don't think he's about to do that for an enemy. They can hear the Slayer's thoughts because he can communicate with anyone he shares DNA with.

It's basically like a telephone. You pick up the phone and hear the guy on the other end. Just because you can hear him doesn't mean everyone else in the house does. And you can only make the call yourself if you know their phone number. In telepathic communication, there's no such thing as a telephone book.

Anyways, I have an announcement. (jumps up and down) Dead of Night had won Third Place for Best Action/Adventure in this year's FanFiction Competition! I'm so happy! But, I was so not expecting it! I mean, there were thirteen other nominees!

Shocking, I know!

For further information, just check out my bio. In the mean time, drop in a review, please!