Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT
A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews: I love you guys! I look forward to the same faces appearing on the review list each time, new ones are just as exciting! I'm glad that I didn't blow you guys away with the last chapter, I was worried that I might be piling on too much at one time. Yay! I didn't blow it!
Reijiro: Ask all the questions you want! I look forward to your reviews in this story because you always sound so excited it makes me excited (which incites me to write, everyone hint hint! everyone!) moonie016: You are excited, think you might want to consider laying off the coffee! (just kidding!) teeheehee Tewi: The plot thickens? (where did that come from?) I like it! Glad to hear that you're loving it so far, I will struggle to live up to that example. Scouts honor. Jessiy Landroz: Sorry! I was hoping not to confuse anyone in that chapter! Just send me any questions that you have and I'll be more than happy to explain to the furthest extent my brain will allow. SilentWater13: So, you layed off the wishes for death in hopes that Raph will be able to fullfill? Hmmm. Soooooo, do you want me to get Raph to fight her? Hahaha! Leo Oneal: I'm glad that some suspense had gotten through. I was worried that the chapter would seem more like a lecture. As for the rest of Raph's family? Admittedly, they don't really have that much of a place in this story, it's mostly Raph but I assure you they will show up again. RAPHAELFAN02: I was so confused last chapter, you weren't there! (sob!) I even waited a bit hoping you would show. Alas...Anyway, glad to hear that you had a lot of your questions answered in the last chapter. Don't worry about babbling, I like that!
Chapter 8
Space Talk with Vivid
Well, er, you're back. Well, at least this way I won't have to cut my story short. (shifts nervously and leans in close) You're not telling anyone else about this, are ya? (you shake your head) Good. Glad you saw reason, 'cause if you did I'd bash your brains out! Well, anyway, back to the story. After all that happened with Vivid, I was kinda on overload. I didn't really know what to think. And powers? That was Mikey's category, not mine! I ain't no superhero or nothing! It was a bit too much for me. Luckily, Vivid had no problem whatsoever about taking charge at that moment, much to my dissappointment...
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Vivid grabbed my arm again, and despite the fact that I'd just drained her energy a bit she tugged at me hard. "Come on, Raphael! We must be leaving, we have stayed here too long as it is!"
I snatched my arm from her grip. "Wait just a second, lady-alien-electra-WHATEVER! I get what you were saying, but there's still way too many holes in your 'explanation'! I want to know them, NOW!"
She closed her eyes for a moment, as though summoning patience from some supreme being. When they opened her eyes blazed at me, but her voice was calm. "Please, Raphael. We must be going. I assure you that I will explain everything on the way, but for now please trust me when I say that we absolutely cannot dally here any longer!"
"Trust you!" I harrumfed and glared at her. After all, (like I just found out) I was more powerful than her, right? She looked at me pleadingly and as I looked back at her I suddenly had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Like someone was watching me...
I turned around and looked at the alley around me. I didn't see anything, but that didn't soften the feeling that I had that someone was there. When I turned back to Vivid I saw that she was looking around as well. I had a bad feeling about this. Maybe she could help me. After all, I didn't have the same feeling of distrust that I had with the other Dame (I refused to call her 'Honor', she is nothing of the sort). Although that's what my gut said, my brain told me that it made no sense to trust her at all. Then again, when have I ever really listened to my brain over my gut?
I gave a sigh. "Where are we going?"
She looked visibly relieved at my decision, like a tremendous weight had been lifted off of her. She smiled. "To my ship. Then, to my planet Elentia."
Shit. This can't be right. I looked at her as she reached out her hand in invitation, trying to be polite and patient even as nervous anxiety ate away at her every other movement. Another planet? Away from my bros? Away from my family? Was everything she said true, or was she just trying to get me in the Dame's clutches again? How did I know who she was working for? God, why the Hell is this happening to me! I've been on too many planets as it was!
I'll say no. And that's final. I mean, I don't really have any other choice. Despite the fact that my bros think that I'm a total loon and had me locked up...
"HEY!"
We both whipped around at the sound of the voice. At the end of the alleyway we saw about five people dressed in regular business and street clothes. At first I felt my familiar rush of panic at being discovered by other people. Then I stopped for a second.There was something distinctly funny about their eyes...something not human. That's when I saw it. They had no pupils. Only colored iris'es. Just like Vivid's. Shit. Just what I need. More dames.
They all began sprinting down the alley to us, deadly intent sketched in their eyes. As they ran they all began to change. Feminine figures and long, multi-colored hair began to appear. In their hands they held a weapon. Some type of gun. Shit, shit, and more shit!
Vivid whirled around to face me once more, her eyes wide and frightened. "PLEASE! They have no way of tracking where we teleport!"
No! Say no! She's lying! No! No! Never do it! Don't trust her! I whipped around and looked into her eyes. "Alright!" I yelled out and grabbed her hand.
Never was able to listen to my mind too well. (growl)
I felt that familiar feeling of pulling away. The other dames were still running at us, but it seemed like it was in slow motion. They brought their weapons up and fired, but the blasts went right through us as we dissappeared into the night.
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I woke up slowly, with my vision hazed. I got up groggily and nearly fell on my ass again. Vivid was in a chair in front of me, working on something. Finally I was able to gain my feet successfully without making a complete fool of myself.
As I approached her, I saw that she was in what could only be a pilot's seat with a copilot's next to it. I plopped down into it, nearly falling off the other side in the process. Man, why do I feel so...drunk? hehehe Good thing my family don't know about that. Especially Master Splinter. But hey, sometimes Casey can be cool.
Now. Back to the stuff happening now.
What I saw in front of me was something I always secretely enjoyed seeing. Space.
A vast black blanket sprinkled with thousands upon thousands of stars with that white stuff that makes up the milky way. No clue what the hell it is but it sure does make for a purty picture. And with all that colored stuff, and those little balls of things (are those meteors, planets or nearby stars? No clue)
Vividwas distracted with the controls, not looking at me. I took the silence to my advantage to piece together all my insides in their rightful places. Anyone who has had a hangover knows exactly what I'm talking about.
I looked at Vivid. Something about her struck an odd chord with me. I wasn't sure what it was. She sure was being quiet though. Then without turning her head her mouth smiled and she said "How are you?"
I rubbed my head grouchily. "Why do you always wake up before me, and not feeling like you have a hangover?"
She looked at me curiously. "Hang-over?"
"AH! Never mind. Just answer the question."
"I've been doing this longer than you have, Raphael."
"How come I've never realized that I've had this 'power' before?'
She looked thoughtful on that one. "Perhaps you have showed it, but just not realized it at the time. Back on Earth, when you drained my energy" her lips quirked in a smile at that "you seemed extremely...upset. Think back. Have there ever been any other times when you were just as emotional, and found strength you didn't know you had? Maybe bursts of energy, or uncanny luck?"
I had to think on that one. And what I came up with surprised me. "Well, uh, yeah. My brother Mikey calls me 'our secret weapon'. It's kinda cool."
She nodded. "You probably couldn't realize exactly what you had until you came into contact with the same thing, that's why you were able to do that in the alley. Power attracts power, therefore it can help bring it out. I may not have as much as you do, but I still have it, enough to give it that little push that it needs. You probably won't realize you're full potential until you come into contact with someone of equal power. And since males are more powerful than females you won't ever do so unless" she looked at me sideways "You have a baby boy."
For a second there, with all the talk of power and being in outer space and stuff I had forgotten about that. That I had been raped and impregnated (never thought I'd say that in the same sentence). I growled in frustration and glared at her. I didn't really want to be reminded.
"Well you still haven't told me what the hell you're doing here, or what's the deal with the other Dame. In fact, you left way too many holes in your story for my liking, lady!"
She gave an exasperating sigh and looked at me sideways annoyingly-to both of us. I growled in frustration. "Ok, Ok. Vivid. Fine!."
"Fair enough. I am part of what you might call, a rebellion. The blue bloods rule every inch of the universe, each quadrant under the control of a family, with one in the top seat. Some rule fairly, some don't. The fact of the matter is, the rest of us don't have a choice in the matter. Whether we live in prosperity or are practically slaves is just how things are for us, we must put up with it simply because of our social standing. I understand that blue bloods are the best candidates, for they have enough power to manipulate their quadrant, something we don't have yet something that truly comes in handy. But the leader of the family is decided in a fight, meaning that the one who rules is the best fighter, not the best leader. In fact, there are very few quadrants who are happy at all. All the leaders simply hunger for power and don't care about the elentials who serve under them."
I looked at her. "So basically, it's a dictatorship."
"Exactly. My group hopes to make the choosing of leaders an electoral process."
"This is just fine and dandy, but what's this got to do with me?"
"The rest of the blue blood family still carry some weight. Them, along with all the non-blue bloods agree that no one should rightfully possess the power to rule the entire universe. Plus it scares the Hell out of us to even imagine someone like Honor with that sort of power to rule. So they convinced the leaders to help pass a law. After all, "she smiled to herself "The best fighters aren't always the best thinkers. So they were basically tricked into it. But that won't necessarily stop them. After all, the Binding ceremony is above all laws, both political and natural. If someone Binds with you, then everyone will have no choice but to follow."
The blood drained from my face. There was an entire universe of hot-blooded dames out there looking for my seed? Normally that would kinda turn me on, but in this case it left me kinda queasy. "So basically there's no hope for me, right?"
Vivid gave me an odd look. "What do you mean?"
"That other Dame already got me."
"You mean Honor?"
I glared at her and growled "I refuse to call her that."
"Why?"
"She doesn't live up to what her name says."
She sighed, ignoring that. "No, of course there's hope Raphael. There's always hope."
"But I thought you said..."
"She impregnated you. She didn't perform any Binding cermeony on you. For that she must have your participation."
I snorted. "Fat chance of getting that! I don't care what the hell she does, I'm not marrying the b!t#h!"
She smiled. "Precisely. Normally it isn't a problem, we just control the males with our minds and force them to participate. But you are different. We cannot control you."
"Then why the Hell am I carrying her parasite?"
"She's getting the proccess started. She's hoping that she can findsome way to force you to do her bidding before the child is borne. You must be Binded before the birth for it to be complete. Otherwise she won't get the ability to absorb the babe's power until after birth, and then she loses a lot of potency.
"In the meantime, she has to keep her knowledge of you a secret, because there are many who believe that no one should weild that power and try to stop her or to get you themselves."
"Like you?"
She became silent for a moment at that. She looked at me, but I just stared right back with all the intensity that I could muster. Finally she took a breath and bit her lip. "Yes." I began to growl.
"Alright, well who were those dames in the alley?"
"They work for Honor. They were gaurding you. Preventing anyone else from either stealing you or killing you."
"HEY! Wait, hold the phone. What do you mean, killing? And stealing? What the Hell!"
"You know how not everyone wants someone to have that sort of power, right?" I nodded. "Well, despite our laws, some are willing to end your life in order to prevent that from happening. The same goes for stealing,; it goes against the laws. Technically, you've already been 'claimed' because of your impregnation. In order for someone to 'steal you' they'd have to end the life of the fetus, since it isn't theirs even if it is a male brought to term they can do nothing with it. Once the fetus is terminated then unless you are Binded with someone, you are essentially 'free.' It is against the laws to kill the fetus because it is illegal to end a fetus's life. Our society believes that life is life, whether it is in the womb or not. They would be risking a lot, commiting such a greivous offense, but of course given the possible rewards it outweighs the consequences."
I turned away from her, growling under my breath, suddenly sorely wishing for the punching bag hanging in the dojo. I sure could use it right now. Instead I just punched into my fist, letting the smach of flesh calm me down a little bit.
Vivid turned from the screen to look at me with her eerie blue eyes. Her practically flourescent red hair gleamed painfully in the light. Yet it was still beautiful. "It's all right, Raphael. I will not let them kill you."
I gave her a look. What the Hell was she talking about? "Look, Vivid. I don't care about people trying to kill me or 'steal' me or anything. Well, yes, I care, but not as much as you might think."
She looked surprised. "But..."
"Look." I interrupted, struggling to cool myself. It looked like she was my only ally, I don't want to blow up on her. Especially if anger spurs my yet uncontrolled powers. "I don't care about people trying to kill me or nothin. It's not because I don't think that it's bad. It's 'cause people have been tryin' to kill or capture me and my bros ever since I can remember. I guess you could say that I'm used to it. What's getting me tied in a knot is how you keep referring males as friggin property! Things! You have a slavery system, an' I tell you right now that I don't agree wit' it!"
Once again a surprised look crossed her face, then her pale ivory skin reddened in a blush as she looked away. "I'm sorry for your discomfert Raphael." She said softly. "I don't mean to. In fact, my whole family could be considered 'rebellious,' meaning we are as fair to males as possible. I don't personally believe in the way things are. It's just that is how things are. I can't help but pick some of it up. Sort of like how you can't help but have a New York accent. I don't mean to and I apologize for it."
I looked at her and sighed. Man she looked pitiful. Not pitiful in a bad way...wonder if that's the right word. Maybe a better word would be depressed or sad. I suddenly felt guilty for making her feel that way. Which is stupid. Despite my gut telling me to trust her, for all I know she works for The Dame. My curiosity was still spiked, though. "How do you know so much about us? I mean me, my bros, New York, everything."
The question seemed to relax her a bit and I relaxed with her. What's wrong with me? "We have extensive files. Not only to we observe and take information when we visit planets but when we, ah," She blushed deeply "'acquire' males from other planets we naturally get a very good amount of data from them, being native borne they know much more than an observer ever could. We don't know as much about other planets, Earth is, uh, a favorite. It is because the humans are so close in physical appearance to us that they are, good picks?" She blushed again, was probably not wanting to offend me or something, but now I could see how it was hard to find other words for her descriptions. So I said nothing about it.
"What about us? I'm a mutant turtle..."
"Well, we are able to scan energy. We picked up your reading."
"If you've been, uh, farming off of Earth for so long, why didn't you find me sooner?"
"Well, two reasons. One, no one ever thought you'd be underground. It was only when you were on the streets that we were able to pick you up. Secondly, you have to be at a certain point in your physical maturity in order for anyone to start anything. And you've reached it."
"Now answer me this: Where the hell is this thing in me and how do I kill it?"
She looked away. "I can't tell you that, Raphael."
I swear a vein in my head blew. Clenching my jaw I grabbed the back of her chair and whirled it around so she was facing me. Planting both fists into the cushion on either side of her head I leaned in. Inches from her face I snarled "Why the Hell not!"
She didn't back down. Her blue eyes blazed as she leaned a little closer and she snapped back. "Because you'll kill it!"
I rolled my eyes. "Well, DUH!"
"I can't let you do that!"
"Why the Hell not! It's my fu#king body!" My look turned dangerous and she must have recognized that, for suddenly her voice turned a bit more silky, like she was trying to calm me down or something. (of course it didn't work, no dame can calm me down! hahaha!)
"Because." She whispered out. I looked at her, feeling myself calm down. She gazed back at me fervently, struggling to get her point across. "It isn't the babe's fault. It didn't make Honor treat you that way, it didn't make you go through this, the only sin that it committed was coming to life; coming into creation." Her eyes searched mine for a moment and a thought suddenly blazed in the back of them. "What if some human wanted to kill you because you're not like them? You're a mutant! But you can't help it, can you? I mean, it's not like you chose to become a mutant. Same thing. This babe did not intend to cause you so much suffering. Whatever Honor did to you, whatever my race is doing to you and all the other males, the babies are innocent of it all. As I said, their only sin it committed is coming into creation."
Well, I kinda backed down a bit. I mean, I never really thought of it that way before, and now that I thought about it, it was true. But oh man, this sure raised a whole lot more issues for me!
"Well, what the Hell do I do with it once it's born? Where the Hell is the thing going to come out!"
"Well, assuming that this whole ordeal is over with I suppose we can decide then. As for where it is...I'll have to look into your, ah, physical attributes a bit closer to figure out the most likely trajectory. We can do that once we get on Elentia."
"So you're telling me that you have no clue where the hell the thing will come out! Then how the hell do you know where it is!"
"It is always in the same area, but depending on the species some 'exit routes' are better suited than others. With humans, sometimes the hormones created with the fetus create a sort of 'man-gina' of sorts. Others, depending on the size either come out the mouth or even the bellybutton."
F#k. Those are three possibilities that definetely didn't cross my mind. Belly button? Holy crap. The thought of 'gagging' it out didn't much appeal either. Shit. Why does this crap always happen to me? Ruthlessly (and I think for the third time in a row) I shoved that particular subject in the dark recesses of my mind. It, uh, kinda disturbed me thinking about that kind of stuff. On to other questions.
"Wait a second, lets assume what you assume that everything is done with. What is there to prevent others from trying the same damn thing that The Dame is trying?"
She opened her mouth to say something then stopped herself as she thought about it. Oh shit. I realized from her expression that she hadn't thought that far either. She looked at me but I waved her away. "Never mind, I guess we can decide later." Procrastination. Nothing wrong with that. After all, procrastination on stuff I didn't really wan to deal with was practically half my life.
Vivid turned the chair back around, now that it was free from my grasp to push a few buttons and turn a few knobs and whatever the Hell she needed to do to fly this thing. Kinda reminded me of Donny. Don... Man never thought I'd say this but I miss my bros. And Sensei. Even though they think I'm a total whack-bag. But I left them so that they would be safer. I gues that you could say that I was sorta protecting them. I suppose that they would be safer on Earth, that way they can't be 'farmed' to be mates. hehehe. I can just imagine Leo with a swollen belly...
Satisfying herself that it was on the right trajectory, she turned to me again.
Man, why did her eyes have to look so damn...emotional! Cripes! It sure wasn't making my life any easier. I mean it sure would be easier to resist, the uh...hmmm. I choked a bit and turned away, trying to occupy myself with some doo-hickey that I didn't know anything about. I felt her friggin smile behind me. Hell, I'm going to die tonight! I mean, what the Hell was she smiling about!
"So, uh, where are we staying once we get to this planet of yours?"
"With my sisters."
I turned around to look at her. "You have sisters?"
She cocked her head. "Yes. Is that unusual?"
I cleared my throat noisely. "Uh, no."
"I'm the youngest. Our mother lives with us as well."
"What about Fathers?"
Her eyebrows scrunched together. "What?"
"You know, the guy? The dude? The one who actually gave birth to you?"
She blushed again. (Such rosy cheeks!) "Oh, I'm sorry Raphael. Yes, I do. His name is Amuke. He lives with us as well."
"Do fathers have any role in the houshold at all other than, uh, 'child bearing?'"
She looked surprised. "Of course! They are the ones to look after the childred while the females are at work."
"Where do you work?"
With your planet, I suppose that the best term would be a veterinary technician."
"A technician?"
Her smile was warm. "For more reasons than one. Since I am part of the rebellion, I work underground sometimes. If I had a, uh, high job then it would be harder to hide my more scrupulous activities."
I gave her a blank look. What the hell did she say? Scalper-lust? Scamper &&!
Apparently I was a comedian because she started to laugh. "Why the hell are you laughing?"
Shaking her head, still chuckling, she said "nothing."
I wasn't at all convinced. I was sure that she was hiding something behind that deceptively innocent smile. But I didn't have time to voice it.
Interupting my thoughts she said "Here it is."
I looked out the window to see a beautiful sphere of a planet, so criss-crossed with land mass and ocean and whatever the Hell else was down there that it looked like one of Mikey's marbles. Annoying little fu#kers. Always slipped on them.
In the background I heard Vivid's voice, which I was getting very used to by now, say "Raphael, welcome to Elentia."
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A/N: Once again, me and my optimistic self am worried that you'll hate this chapter due to lack of action. Then again that's what I said about the last chapter. (Grips hair and screams 'what the Hell's wrong with me!') I hope that I answered the rest of your questions. If there are any that I haven't adressed please let me know and I'll try to cover them in future chapters. It helps, lets me know whether or not I'm missing anything. I have this bad thing where I can't quite see your 'outside looking in' position. (yeah, I'm braindead like that) So every little bit helps.
So, that's chapter 8. Any questions? Comments? Concerns? Hell raisers? Please! Feel free to voice any and all just by using that little button on the lower left hand corner in order to post your reviews. I look forward to your words. Toodles!
