Sorry for the long gap between updates, major computer problems resulted in the loss of all of my work, chapters, emails, the lot! I had a new chapter for all of my stories except this one on there too and now I am in the process of trying to retrieve them. Oh well, these things are sent to try us, they say!
Many thanks for the kind reviews, spootycup, Rev, hazlov2004, dp03kf, Lioness-Goddess, Vampy, aliveinthedarkness and In The Clouds. Thanks guys :)
Disclaimer: Still not mine.
Chapter 6
Mabe
The first thing that I noticed as I awoke was that I wasn't meant to see anything in the room, a blindfold covered my eyes. My hands were tied behind me and the chair that I sat upon, my ankles bound to it's legs.
The last thing that I remember was the battle with Adrian and Sam and being set upon by a number of hidden mutants, as I fought to gain some fighting space I remember seeing Adrian taking a bullet for Sam. When he fell, I fell at the same time, from a tranquilliser dart in the side of my neck.
I was pulled from those thoughts by the sound of a door opening and closing to my left, then footsteps that gradually grew closer as the person approached, from the sound of them, the person was possibly female.
As the blindfold lifted off, my suspicions were confirmed and I knew who exactly she was too.
"Mabe"
Mabe strolled over, wiggling her hips. She was a mutated snake, so it was a natural movement for her. Her eyes kept their snake like appearance but her features were more human than most mutants around. She had dark, almost black hair that curled down around and under her chin and she wore blue denim pants and a red vest that fit her figure perfectly. She stopped just in front of me and bowed formally.
"Donatello," she greeted, "I apologise for your current state, we were uncertain at how you would react to our meeting"
"Believe me, it was the right thing to do" I growled. I hate the Scavengers.
"We know how you feel towards us, our past hasn't shown any promising signs has it?" she smiled slightly.
"No, you haven't" I returned.
"We are who we are Donatello" she sighed, "My superiors asked me to speak on their behalf, they feel that a familiar face would make you more comfortable"
I nod once, "I'm tied up, in the hands of the enemy who were responsible for the death of my wife. Who also set a trap by deliberately killing their own to draw our attention? And if I'm not mistaken, that encounter caused a member of our clan to get shot! How much trust is your pretty little face going to imprint on me?" I retort.
"A very good argument Donatello" she replies before straddling me, she reaches around me and I feel her working at untying my hands. The side of her face rested gently against mine as she speaks.
"This is the first step at trust on my part, once free you could easily kill me, if that is what you wish. I know that you hate the Scavengers very much but what I have to tell you goes beyond our factions and their pretty squabbles. I'm not asking you to trust me, at least not right now but I am asking you to listen to what I have to say before you decide" she pulls back slowly and stares at me, with my arms now free I had every opportunity to kill her but then I would have no chance of getting out of here alive. If she did have something important to say that might reveal why there was so much faction activity then I need to know.
"I'm listening"
"Good" she moves, or more appropriately slides down to the floor and begins to untie my ankles, "the Scavengers were not responsible for the attack on Leo"
"Leonardo" I correct her with a glare.
"Alright then. Leonardo" she says softly, her face dulls slightly at the mention of his name, "Is he… okay?"
"Yes"
"Good. That's good" she's beginning to get distracted and I don't have time for that.
"Keep talking"
"We know about your visit with the Phoenix and logically they would lay blame on us for the attack" she's standing now and formally at that. Her mind is back on track and thinking clearly.
"They did" I respond
"We knew they would. We also know that they offered you a peace treaty and that you were willing to consider the offer, what we do not understand is why you would even think of an alliance with them considering that their past with you is more colourful than our own"
"We, as a community, consider any and all genuine alliances, regardless of past misdeeds. You should know that" I return, it was a formal response and one that Mabe is fully aware of.
"Donatello please" she groaned, "We're not trying to interrogate you, we want to help out against the Phoenix that's all"
"Funny. That's exactly what the Phoenix had to say about you. Why is everyone so interested in us all of a sudden?"
"Two words Donatello. Liberty and Island"
Those two words broke the faceless expression I had managed to keep throughout the talk. My jaw dropped. Mabe knew about Liberty Island, which meant that so did the Scavengers provided that she hadn't changed from the lying, deceitful bitch that she was when she graced us with her presence all those years ago. She had access to information that only the highest-ranking members of the community were privy to, but only because she used to be one of them.
"So word has finally drifted out about that then, huh?"
"I'm afraid so. On a good note, it wasn't my doing" she responded huffing a little at the end.
"So this is why I'm here? To confirm information that you already know?" I said frustratingly.
"I know that this could have been discussed by radio communication, but we were able to intercept those made between the Community and the Phoenix. We deemed it unsafe to use that course of action"
"So you set a trap and purposely killed members of your own faction to gain our attention then dart me and bring me back here to talk about Liberty's little secret?"
She bristled, if that were possible for a snake, standing tall she looked down at me, "Do you have any idea how bad I felt for ordering those people to just stand there and take those bullets? I knew that it was the only thing that would draw you out considering Leo's condition at the time!" she was practically screaming by the end.
I stood swiftly and reached out, grabbing her arms. She didn't plan this around us. She planned this around Leo, she knew what he would do.
"You had this planned from the start! You knew that Leo would be drawn out by that commotion! YOU set us up just to tell me that Liberty has been discovered? What the hell are you up to Mabe?" I shouted back.
"I wanted to help! We want to help, we, as in, the Scavengers!" her face softened and her eyes began to water, "You know what would happen if anyone was to get their hands on it Don. It would be over. No more New York. And God knows what else would get wiped out, I don't want that to happen Don. I don't want to die because of some stupid little uneducated mutant who never saw the world devoured the last time"
I stared at her as she rambled on, she was right. We had spent two weeks trying to move and hide that damned thing on Liberty Island. It wasn't easy and at the time there was only the four of us to do it. Now the threat was rearing it's ugly little head again.
"What are the scavengers offering Mabe?" I mumbled. Not completely willing to commit myself to anything but needing to know all of the details so that I could tell my brothers everything that I know.
"Technology. As much as you need to get to it before anyone else does"
"Why? Why help with this?"
"They want it. Or more appropriately, they want it in pieces. They're willing to share whatever technology that you have on the island in return for helping you get to that thing first and making sure that no one can use it"
"Understandable. But what makes you think that we would need your help?"
"Don, you and I both know that the Community's defences are close to failing, you need supplies and the Scavengers can help you with that"
I think for a moment, she knows that I alone would not make any agreements here and now, not without my brothers. But she is desperate and there is still the possibility that this snake was lying. Whatever the truth, we could only decide back at the community.
"You know that I have to go back and talk with my brothers about this Mabe"
"Yes, and my superiors are willing to let you go freely. But they do ask that you allow me to accompany you. They feel that my past connections with you would make me the ideal emissary for the Scavengers"
I laugh slightly at her seriousness and the stupidity of her statement. There is no way that she would get a warm greeting from anyone at the Community, least of all Raph. And Leo would be thrown slightly off guard by her presence, coupled with the fact that he was recently injured and most likely blaming himself for my disappearance.
"Don't expect any warm greetings on arrival Mabe, you know how well your last visit went" I chuckle slightly, "Hell, I'd be surprised if you make it past Carla at the door, you know how she thinks about you"
Mabe sighs and slowly tips her head, "I didn't intend to do the damage that I did Don, I truly am sorry"
"Save the apologies for Leo" I respond, "And it's Donatello to you Mabe"
The journey home was uneventful, obviously our trip had remained secret, which meant that the closer we moved to the Community the more dangerous our journey would become. If they had known that I was coming home then security would have been sufficiently lowered. Luckily though, I designed these systems and know where each device was hidden along the way.
Unfortunately I forgot about the camera located at the top right of the tunnel wall at the corner. Silly really, that was personally installed by me about three months ago. It was a good job that Mabe had moved into the correct position to enable the camera to get a full view of her and of course me, trailing behind her.
Now I know that Raph will be there to greet us when we arrive.
As the guard let me enter with Mabe close behind I was rushed by a green body, I knew straight away that it was Mike. I returned his affectionate gesture by embracing him, holding him a little tighter than I really needed to but still not enough to do him any damage.
"Damn Donny, you had us worried there for a while bro'" he said still latched onto me.
"Missed you too Mike," I returned, "So you see me coming then?"
"I liked the little wave, it seeped sarcasm, almost something Raph would do" he chuckled and pulled away. We stared at each other for sometime before Raph interrupted. He grabbed my arm and pulled me to one side. His eyes never leaving Mabe.
"What the hell is she doing here?"
I smile at him, "Nice to be back, thanks Raph"
His gaze moves back to me and yet another embrace, not the last either by my reckoning.
"You know that Leo's gonna be pissed when he sees her, probably right after he's finished crushing you with a hug" he says quietly.
"I know, but I wouldn't have been able to leave if I didn't leave with her" I answer weakly, knowing full well what his answer would be.
"Then why not just dump her ass, lose her out there somewhere then get back here?" he pushed. He was doing his job and I couldn't fault him for that. The security of this complex depended on him asking too many questions.
"Because the Scavengers have made her their ambassador, she's here until we make our decision"
"What decision?"
I didn't have time to respond when the room fell silent, Raph and I followed Mike's stare as his head moved back and forward between Mabe and Leo.
Leo didn't look for long before moving swiftly to me, grabbing my face in his hands in a style of an older sibling and checking my features. A moment later and I was being hugged again. The thing is, I'm not complaining about it. They missed me and I missed them, if it was only for a short while. These were of course, dangerous times and anyone left outside the sanctity of any faction rarely survived the night.
We certainly haven't been safely tucked away in bed every night, sometimes we didn't come home straight away and would usually end up returning the next morning. The reaction? Still the same.
As Leo and I spoke, Raph had moved towards Mabe and now he and Mike began to talk quietly to her.
"What is she doing here Don?" Leo asked.
"Leo she's here to wait for our answer"
"To what question?"
"Liberty's been discovered, someone knows about the missile"