Before I get started, I would just like to say, thanks to Shadowflame for the help. I couldn't have gotten past the writer's block without you. YOU ROCK!
M sat astride his motorcycle in a back alleyway with the engine off. Tonight, he was hoping, would be his last official mission. If everything worked out according to plan, he would finally be free.
"You ready to go kid?" Jake's voice broke the silence. M had become nervous with anticipation, thinking about what he was going to do. He jumped a bit, startle by his friends voice. "Kid?" Jade asked again when he didn't get an answer.
"Sorry Jake," M replied. "Guess I zoned out for a minute." M breathed in deep, try to wake himself up. He sat up straight and consciously became more aware of his surroundings. He scanned the alleyway and kept a watch on the entrance to make sure no one discovered him. Both he and his motorcycle were clad in black, blending in with the darkness.
"You okay kid? You're awful quiet." Jakes concerned voice came over the earpiece in M's helmet.
"I'm fine Jake. Just a little nervous is all." Specially considering what I'm about to do.
M fiddled with his gloves and adjusted his helmet.
"Simple snatch and grab kid. Just like back in Brazil." Jake tried to reassure him.
Yeah simple. Except this time I'm trying to escape. I'll be lucky if I don't kill myself.
"Jacob!" a third voice interrupted the conversation. "You are the mutant's handler! NOT his wet-nurse! If you are going to coddle this creature you will both be terminated. Is that clear!" Overseer didn't use a separate channel to speak with Jake this time. He wanted to be sure that M heard as well.
Several blocks away, four shadows sat atop the roof of a building.
"Are you sure this is the Place Leo?" Casey asked while leaning on his hockey stick.
"Positive Casey," Leo turned toward his human friend. "We're right where Jake said to be. Raphael is supposed to go out on a mission tonight. Jake said he would meet us up here when it was over." Leo looked around nervously. "That doesn't mean I like being up here in the open though," he added.
"You wanna' move to the corner of the building over there?" Casey asked, pointing to a more secluded spot on the rooftop.
"Definitely" Leonardo replied. "Donnie, Mike," He called out to his two brothers. "Let's back it up a bit. I don't like the two of you being so visible."
"But Leo," Donatello protested. "I'm not going to get a very strong signal from way over there." Donatello actually began to pout, sticking out his lower lip and using a puppy dog look.
Leonardo covered his eyes with his hands and gave out an exasperated groan. "You've been taking lessons from Mikey, haven't you."
"Yep!" Michelangelo cheerfully confirmed. "He's my best student."
Leonardo rolled his eyes skyward and paused for a moment. "Donatello, whatever toy it is that you've got, just move toward the shadows so you're out of view, okay?"
Grudgingly, Donatello picked up his small bit of equipment and began to walk over toward the south end of the building. "It's a scanner Leo," he said flatly, while trying to pick up a signal.
"What, like a police scanner?" Casey asked.
Donatello nodded yes and continued speaking. "I'm sure that Raphael and Jake are using a secure channel but I've modified this so hopefully I should be able to pick up their transmissions."
"Cool! Now we can hear what a real secret agent talks like." Michelangelo grinned wide and leaned over Donatello shoulder, watching intently.
"Probably no different than how he talked back at the lair," Leonardo gave Michelangelo a pat on the back. "But let's see what they've got to say anyway."
Donatello began adjusting the frequencies on the scanner, searching for his brother's or Jake's voices.
"Skzzzz…….Jacob!...skzz…..mutants handler!"
"That's it!"
"Mikey! Shhh!"
"NOT his wet-nurse! If you are going to coddle the creature, you will both be terminated! Is that clear!"
Leonardo felt his skin crawl. The hair on the back of Casey's neck stood up. Donatello hands began to fidget with the tails of his bandanna and Michelangelo became unusually silent.
"Crystal sir."
"Mutant, you will return to the station as soon as you are through with this mission. I do not want Jacob or Caitlin wasting time having to hunt you down again."
"Sorry sir. It won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't"
There were a few minutes of silence and the turtles and Casey began to relax for a moment.
"Who is that guy?" Casey asked.
"Raphael's boss, I'm assuming," Leonardo answered.
"Sshh!" Donatello interrupted. "They've started again."
"Alright kid. I can see your target just inside the building. White male, approx. 6 foot, bald, black suit and black attaché' case. Three body guards, all over 6 foot, all white. They look like they might be packing. Be careful."
"I'm on it"
They heard the engine of Raphael's bike start up and the tires squeal as he came out of the alleyway.
"I see 'em Jake!" A few more seconds of silence.
"Got it Jake! They never saw me comin'" Raphael's laughter could be heard over the radio.
"They tailing you?"
"Yeah, two cars. I'll be past you in ten seconds and then I'll shake 'em."
"Jacob," a familiar voice stated flatly.
"yes sir?"
"After the pass off, make sure he loses those who are chasing him, then return immediately."
"Yes sir."
"Right behind ya' Jake! Catch!"
"Aw man!" Michelangelo whined. "I wish this thing had pictures so I could see what was happening."
Raphael zipped in and out of traffic lanes, toying with the men following him. He would give them a chance to catch up and then put on more speed to go just out of their reach. "Yeah! Come and get it boys! Catch me if you can!"
Aggravated, the men pursuing him began shouting out the window at him. Russian could be heard coming from the car. "Get your gun! Shoot him! Shoot him!"
"Shoot me huh? Can't hit what you can't see!" Raphael teased again.
"I don't like where this is going," Leonardo thought out loud.
"Kid quit playing and get out of there!"
KRACK! POW! The sounds resounded of the building walls and echoed over the radio. Ka-POW! Another gunshot. This one was accompanied by a stomach churning phrase.
"I'm hit! I'm hit!"
"Where!"
"In the arm!" There was another pause. "Traffic's clearing. I'm gonna speed up and lose 'em!"
Be careful kid! I'm locked on your signal. I'll be right there!"
"I'm good Jake. I'm almost out of their range."
"I'm at Hudson and James, one block away from you"
"Hey!" Donatello blurted out loud. "That's right below us!" He grabbed the scanner and ran to the edge of the building to see what was going on. Forgetting what was said about being in the open, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Casey all rant to the edge after Donatello.
"There he goes!" Casey yelled, pointing at a large red pick up as it flew down the street.
"I'm closing in kid."
Crashes and scraping metal could be heard as the four figures on the rooftop watched the red truck slam on e car out of the way and head for the second.
"I got the last one Jake!" Shots were heard. All that anyone could assume, as they watched the motorcycle weave about and the second car crash, was that Raphael had shot at the remaining vehicle and didn't miss.
Raphael's heart was pounding hard and fast. Everything was working out the way he and Jake had planned. Everything except being shot in the arm. He tried to slow his breathing and began speaking to Jake again. Here's hoping Overseer is still listening, he thought. "I'm clear Jake. I'm headed ba…….. AAUUGGHH!"
Everyone strained to watch as they heard their brother's scream. What they saw in the distance had them more frightened than they had ever been before. It seemed to happen in slow motion. First they saw Raphael's bike wobble a bit, then he laid it down. The watched helplessly as the saw their brother and his bike sliding right towards a fuel truck that was just pulling out from a side street. They braced themselves for a moment, anticipating the worst. Their eyes were glued to the scene as the sound of scraping metal, broken glass, and a final crash resounded in their ears.
Jake's voice exploded back over the radio, "Kid! Talk to me! You Okay!"
Everyone held their breath, hoping and praying for a miracle.
"Unnhhhh……….Jake?"
"Hang on Kid! I'll be right there!"
"Jake!" Raphael's voice began to sound panicked. "Jake hurry! My foot's stuck and the tank on the bike's leaking! It's gonna …………"
BOOM!
There was static on the scanner and then another explosion. This was much larger as the tanker exploded from the heat of the bike's fire.
BA-WHOOM! The light from the explosion illuminated the rooftop, revealing the turtles and Casey.
"Jake," a female voice came over the airwaves. "I'm not getting signal Jake. What's going on!"
"His bike……he crashed under a fuel truck. It exploded…..he…..he didn't make it." The last statement was barely audible.
"Jacob," the usually harsh voice had softened just a bit. "There's nothing more that can be done. Return to base."
There were no more transmissions out of the little radio. Donnatello and Michelangelo stared at the flames as they danced high in the air. Leonardo glared at the small piece of electrical equipment, as if it were to blame for the accident. With a growl, he threw it to the wall and watched it shatter. Then he collapsed to his knees.
"Leo," Casey spoke softly. "Leo." He placed a comforting hand on his friends shoulder and knelt down beside him. Not knowing what to say, Casey pulled Leonardo over to him and placed his arm around him and let the usually stoic leader cry. Michelangelo and Donatello crowded around their brother as they all held each other.
How are we going to tell Splinter? Leonardo thought to himself. This will kill him. Things remained silent for several minutes as everyone cried.
(A.N.: I could be really cruel and stop the chapter here, but I won't. Keep reading.)
Raphael struggled up the ladder and emerged on the rooftop. He grunted as he pulled his back pack off his injured shoulder. He stood dumbfounded at the sight of his three brothers and their human friend huddled close to each other. "Is this like, group therapy or somthin'?" he asked.
Michelangelo slowly turned at the question, not sure he had heard it. What he saw stunned him. There stood Raphael, holding his left arm. But there he was, right in front of him, still wearing that silly grin he had as a kid.
"Guys?" Michelangelo began slapping his hand at whoever was behind him. "Guys!" he began slapping harder. "Look!"
Leonardo, Donatello, and Casey all stared in disbelief.
"Raph!" Leonardo slowly walked over. "But…..but.. We saw the explosion. We heard you…..we heard you die."
"You saw all that? You heard everything?" Raphael cocked his head toward the flames and fire trucks in the distance.
"Yeah," Leonardo nodded with everyone now standing behind him. "How?"
"Oh real easy. We planned it."
"You what!" Casey blurted out.
Donatello began looking at Raphael's injured arm. "Ow," he flinched.
"Sorry," Donatello replied and removed his bandanna to apply pressure to his brothers wound.
"Yeah. We paid a guy to pull out at the right time. I pretend to crash my bike. Well," he reconsidered his words. "I purposely crashed my bike, tossed my tracking chip and a small explosive at the bike. Give a final death scream and Whammo! Overseer thinks I'm toast, never to return."
"So you faked your own death?" Michelangelo asked.
"Yep," Raphael grinned.
"What do you do for an encore?"
"Right now kid, all I want to do, is go home."
Okay, so this isn't the end. There's one more chapter to go and then an epilogue. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. As always, Read and Review please.
