Heroes in the Half-Shell
Chapter 3 – Enter the Shredder
Disclaimer:I do not repeat DO NOT own TMNT and crew in any way cause they belong to Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird (Only knows as the Greatest Guys on Earth!). Other characters like a certain OC that happen in these fanfic rightfully belongs to me and only ME!
Announcement from our writer: Hope you guys like the beginning. Because there are plenty more chapters to go! I thank you guys for the positive reviews that I got since I have uploaded the first chapter. That is what is making me still drive to write these fantastic stories! Well, in this chapter, we will get to meet the villain of out adventures. Let's us press on, shall we?
(Updating: Hey! I do hope you guys like the first (reupdated) chapter of this amazing story. I will probably do it to all the chapters from now on. I do remember getting great reviews from you guys in the past. It is indeed what's making me to have the drive to make these fantastic stories. Let's get back on the ball and down with the reviews, shall we?)
From the reviews/PMs that I got, I will answer them:
To Sydeny (Guest)
Ok, awesome as always! Can't wait for more chapters! Fun fact, I picture Ellen page to play Sally
Aww! Thanks, buddy! Hmmm, could be an excellent choice. I might think about who should portray for my character if she does get into the movies.
To horsemens
I LOVE Sal's role in this one! Taylor didn't do JACK in the movie except give us a laugh every now and then ;) can't wait for the next one!
Thanks, girl! I know and she did say a few lines that made us giggle, but other than that, she did pretty much nothing! And I think this chapter would be a good one when we get to see the Big Baddie.
To erica phoenix16
This story is good so far, but I'm wondering how Sally came to live with April instead of her mother? I know Sally's father is dead, but did her mother die in childbirth? Apart from that, I'm looking forward to August! :)
Thanks! I never knew you would be into any movie that has 'who-know-who' in it.
And that…is a very good question. But once the third movie is coming out and we'll find out what it is about, I'll let you know. Because you never know what happens. But if there is no news about it, I could tell you when I have got the time. Don't want to spoil anything. I know! Can't wait!
To katmar1994
I love it already!
AWWW! Thanks, sweetie!
Here comes the third chapter!
(Channel 6 News, Manhattan, NY – 6:57am)
Getting up early was definitely a habit for the two roommates. Even if they hardly got some sleep after last night as one is a reporter and the other is a high schooler.
After witnessing the events that occurred down at the docks in Brooklyn late last night, April O'Neil couldn't get any sleep at all but she did a quick cat nap before she and Sally Hope made their way over to Channel 6 – the TV station where the older woman works full-time and her young roommate has her internship. April cannot wait to tell and show her boss what she has got. This story of the century could blow wide open in a matter of minutes. Before they head up to the main floor, April and Sally had the time to print off a few photos, size them up to A4 and securing them in a paper folder which it is in the hands of the eager journalist herself.
April still had what she wore yesterday but instead has a blue top on without the purple jacket as the weather was warming up. He bag is in one hand while the paper folder with her special report is in the other. Sally has the same thing on yesterday as well but this time, it is a white top with the design of a red dragon and she changed her socks from black to the ones with pink-and-black stripes.
They woke up early, hopped on their bikes, ride all the way to their work, went past through security and made their way to the 19th floor. Once at their stop, their boss was already there with a small section of news reporters including Vern whom was busy on his phone.
Bernadette Thompson was an old, overweight African-American woman who is the CEO of Channel 6 News. She is wearing a large dark grey light jacket with a white loose shirt underneath, a large beaded necklace, a pair of black cotton pants and comfort brown loafers. Her choice of hairstyle is a large black curly afro. She got one hand in her pocket and the other out in the open as she approaches her team before her.
"All right, we need a lead for tonight. Who's got it?" she asked. They have already got the morning and afternoon covered and now, it was their job to show any report that is news worthy for the 6:00 news.
Some people stared to put their hands up. A man with curly orange had his hand first. "Uh, 'major redevelopments proposed for lower Manhattan'."
Not interested, she shakes her finger at him. "No." She turns to another one, a brunette sitting at his desk.
"I got something. 'NYPD task force taking credit for small decline in Foot-related crime.'," a reporter named McNaughton suggested.
As a busy news editor of the biggest TV station in the country, this peaks Thompson's interests. So did everyone, nodding their heads in agreement. "I like that," she settled before turning to everyone. "Let's run with that."
"Yes, ma'am."
The one who suggested the first piece holds his hands up and signs in defeated. Any story that has the Foot Clan in it tops all other stories in the room. Now that they have their own piece for tonight, she can move on to the next agenda on her To-Do list. But not before April and Sally have both arrived into the scene.
"7:00 AM broadcast, we have three minutes to air" was spoken through the loudspeaker as Thompson sees the reporter herself along with the intern. This hasn't been the first time that the two girls have come up here unannounced as she is a lifestyle reporter, not a serious journalist and the teenager is an unpaid intern. She stops walking when the two girls halt in front of her.
"Oh, O'Neil, Hope. I'll talk to you two in minute," Thompson said. She was going to have a word with the 24-year-old and the 15-year-old about their interferences when she has the time. But with the report in her hands, April cannot wait for her boss. She's hopes that her story would get her attention. Vern looks to his left to see the reporter and the teenager with their boss.
April stops her again as she begins to speak. "We know that we're actually overstepping our boundaries by being here, but we think that you're gonna want to hear what I have to say." She then procced to join the other reporters and so did Sally.
"Hey, you guys have got to hear what April has to say," the teenager speaks to the group and stands by her friend's left side before facing Thompson.
The editor decided to put a hold on her duties for a minute and hears what the young reporter has to say now that she has all of their attention, including Vern who puts his phone away.
"Um, I witnessed an attempted Foot Clan robbery at the docks in Brooklyn last night," April addresses to her fellow workers. Just as they predicated, everyone was now all ears and captivated to know more. But some are doubtful as they have heard other rumours to it.
"Hold on, the scanner said that gunshots were heard, but there were no reports of any Foot Clan activity," McNaughton stated the obvious facts. It is true that April was the only one and she saw the whole story but they are relying on the police scanners instead of being at the incident in person. Isn't that what great reporter do? Be there on the scene?
"That's because whatever they were attempting to do was stopped," she pointed out.
McNaughton would like to know one thing about her reason to be at the location. "What were you doing in Brooklyn anyway? Was there a trampoline convention?" he mocked her. He was obviously talking about the news report that she did yesterday morning which it is not news worthy in her or anyone's cases.
A few only chuckles at the comment, backing the male reporter himself. Vern gives a mocking smile before Sally steps in. "She was in Brooklyn because she was reporting, not sitting behind her desk, McNaughton," she sneered, defending her friend in the process and fixing up her glasses.
Doesn't have the time for the childishness behaviour in her workplace, Thompson decided to be the grown-up and butts in. "Okay, kids!" Taking a few steps forward, she gives an 'I'm-watching-you' look to McNaughton before turning her attention on the girls. "Who stopped it?"
Sally turns to the reporter. "April?"
With all eyes and ears on the reporter herself, it only took April a second to begin her story. Hopefully what she has to say would be enough for her colleagues to believe her. "Well,…there was this…guy. I didn't see him clearly, but he was swinging these giant shipping containers and knocking these guys into the…Into the river."
As she was talking, McNaughton was rolling his eyes but by the time she gets to the "shipping containers" part, he looks around him and gives off a sardonic scoff. A guy…was swinging large shipping containers? This was very hard to believe.
Even Thompson was having a hard time to believe that one human would have the power to lift and move huge objects like the cargo containers. Sally has heard the story before and it sounds like something from a comic book but anything can happen. She was probably the only one in the room who doesn't think twice about her roommate's story.
As for Vern,…he was just chewing on some gum. Despite making eye-contact with her, he doesn't know if whether he should believe his co-worker's report or not as she continues presses on. "There is a Vigilante that is fighting back against the Foot Clan. There's a huge story here!"
A huge story or a huge farce?
"O'Neil…" everyone, including the peeved April, looks to McNaughton once more, "…I think you found Superman. That's cool," he mocked her once more.
Everyone gives a chuckle. Sally, giving a smirk, steps a bit forward so she can get a good view of the contemptuous reporter. "Hey, McNaughton?"
He looks at the teenager. "What?"
Sally sneers at him. "Shut up."
McNaughton was taken aback by the teen's sharp tongue and decided to, as she puts it, shut up.
April turns back to her boss, full of confident. "The Vigilante is real. I saw him."
Maybe…maybe O'Neil does have something. Until now, there was nothing that could stop the notorious criminals. But she needs more than just words to her employee's story. She walks a bit closer to her. "O'Neil, I'm gonna assume that you would not come up here and tell us this fantastic story without some tangible proof."
The teenager nods and points to the folder. "She does have proof," Sally said before looking at April. "Show her."
April was already on it. She opens her binder up and grips her fingers on a piece of chosen document. "I took this photo…of one of the shipping containers," she explains. She finally pulls out the photo that she needs, looks at it for one sec before showing it to Thompson. "I actually think that it may be his calling card."
The CEO takes the photo out of April's hand to examine it. To the young reporter, it was proper evidence that the so-called Vigilante in her story is real and poses a bright hope to the people of New York.
But to Thompson, she simply scoffs at this. This is it? Just a photo of a desolate art? She amusing shakes her head and looks to her young reporter.
"This is nothing, O'Neil," she said. "What is-This is nothing!" Thompson was not buying all this. It has to be some kind of joke, right? Thompson does not like jokes and even if she does, she doesn't have time for it.
Couldn't bear to watch any more of the scene unfolding, Vern breaks his eyes on the girl and takes a sip on his coffee mug. Oh boy. She is making a fool of herself this time. If she was trying to get her big story, he would not imagine this way. By making up something on the spot. Still listening into the story, he scratches his eyebrow.
"That's exactly the point. Somebody stopped a Foot robbery and left no evidence. There is…nothing." Only the symbol. And April was willing to put her job on the line to prove that is not a false piece of evidence.
After hearing what O'Neil has to say, Thompson suddenly gives a lightly gasp. So, this is a joke! "Oh, I get it. You want me to put…nothing…on the nightly nights," the boss quipped on this scam.
"What?" the teenage gaped.
Offended that her boss thinks this is a joke, April shakes her head. "Of course not…"
But Thompson hands her back the picture as she doesn't want to hear another word from April. Thanks to her, she has wasted a few precious minutes of her morning – and her schedule. "You know, I'm gonna pretend we never had this conversation. I'm erasing it from my mind." She turns to the rest of the small group. "And the rest of us, we're gonna go back to work. Let's hit it!"
Giving one more disappointing look at the women before her, she finally walks away from her employees and resume her daily routine. Everyone else has already spilt up for the day, only leaving the two girls, dejectedly, staying in one spot.
The young adolescent looks at her friend and places her hand on the tired reporter's shoulder. "I know you weren't lying. I believe ya. You saw everything." She can't believe that their boss did not believe what April has to say about what she saw last night.
April disappointedly nods. "I know."
With the morning wasted, Sally has one question to ask. "So,…what now?"
Maybe they need more proof on the Vigilante? Maybe with Sally's help this time, April could really have another shot of proving her story was not fabricated. But…she was the only one who saw the mysterious figure in the shadows. The same figure that took down only a small group of the Foot with ease.
Even so, they have really blew it this time. Mostly April.
There is gotta be someone else, other than them, to believe them. But who?
The morning news went on as progress with no new addition. The two news reporters, Gary Huntley and Alice Wong, are both at the desk to bring the 7:00 show.
"Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Channel 6 Morning News. New development in that ongoing sanitation strike to tell you about. But first, after reviewing the city's soaring crime rates with the police commissioner, Councilman Dan Gregor took to the steps of City Hall,…"
They draw their attention over to another screen in the recording studio. It shows a much older man with white hair and a few wrinkles – presuming to be the councilman – with a younger man just standing right behind him. The screen then switches to a few photos and videos of rare sightings of the one group that the city has feared the most.
"…reaffirming the city's commitment to fight against the rising crime organization calling themselves – the Foot Clan. He did so on the heels of a renewed contract with Eric Sacks and Sacks Industries."
The kind benefactor himself, with his combed grey-brownish hair slicked back and spotting a nice grey suit, was standing right beside the councilman as he begins to address to the public about their issue at hand.
"Using the Sacks research and securities technology, this city greatly improves its chance of bringing the Foot Clan to justice!"
As his speech comes to an end with a promising note, everyone at the live recording applauds at this; including Sacks himself. As a man of his word, he would do anything to protect the city that he dearly loves. Now that the city can finally rest easy that they have a hero in their time.
Whenever there is hopeful saviour within the streets in the Big Apple,…
(Unknown place, unknown – 12:00pm)
…there is also a malevolent menace lying, waiting in the dark shadows.
Kneeling on the Tatami mats, he is in the iniquity room as the aroma of the incense from its pan floats in the air. A number of antique katanas are resting up on the wall stand and are placed all around the room. Dressed down in black silk, the threat himself has his head been bowed to the ground. Flexing his hands and fingers, he lifted himself up to see one of his men present. The Foot Clan solider approaches him.
The room's only light source were the shallow lamps hanging from the ceiling. Sweat beads were dripping down on his bald but scarred head and both his wrists and body are all bind up together in a durable rope. He is ready.
His lieutenant was also presents but she remains on the other side and was at a further distance than one of her lackeys. There was a very good reason why.
Which is why the lone, chosen solider, shaking in his bones, approaches and halts in front of the man before. It was time.
"Hajime!" the man spoke.
Despite sweating in his mask, the petrified solider took the first turn. Leaping into a horse-stanch, he swings a left hook to the side. But the tied-up adversary leans back for the strike to miss its target. The fighter goes in for a right hook, but as it comes around, the restricted opponent heads-butt the side of his face onto the fist; earning a nasty crunch. The combatant quickly retracts his hand and grabs hold of it. He can feel it already bruising and a few of his knuckles split.
He goes for a punch with his left hand. The warrior himself was too quick to lift his chin and uses it to lock the wrist within his grasp. With one swift movement, he locks his chin and digs it to the side; cracking the soldier's wrist into almost two pieces. With two of his weapons damaged, the man would have to rely on his feet to deal the rest of the match. Releasing the solider from his grip, the man spins on his knees until he is leaning on his left side and delivers a painful side-kick into the soldier's guts. Taking in the pain, the soldier inclines his stomach inwards. He would assure that his master was finished.
But he was not done yet.
Lifting himself up, the bald head man swings his right foot around and earns a bone-crushing whack into the metal face-plate. After the final blow was made; the solider goes down for the count. The young scared women darts her eyes on to the man who drops dead. He was still breathing, but he will be feeling the pain when he comes to.
With the skills and strength that this mysterious menace brings proves to be a nuisance to those who would stand against him. Karai's eyes were locked onto the fight the whole time. She too feels trembled by his skills, even when she is not up against him, she can still feel it.
With no more of his men to battle against, the training session was over. Without any difficulty, the rope bounded him snaps off him. The once resilient piece of materials falls off the winning fighter as he stands up.
Right now, he was not pleased with the news that his lieutenant has brought before him.
Just before the session, she has given him the update on last night's raid at the docks. It was supposed to be a smooth break-in with no interferences. And even if there were, they should have no trouble handling it at all cost. Until…
He now draws his attention over to Karai – his adopted daughter.
"(Your men are weak.)," he addresses to her.
Her eyes are still focus on the damage; lying quietly but breathing on the ground. It was revealed to see that the last soldier was not the only one. A few more of his men were all unconscious on the ground. They all took turns fighting against their master. And he proved to be too skilful against them.
"(It's no surprise your missions fail.)."
He now moves towards her. Was she next? Was she going to be part of his…sparring match? She hopes not.
Cracking his neck to his right to erase the previous discomfort from his fight, he comes to a halt in front of her. Karai looms her eyes off her men and looks into his. She sees his entire face still concealed in the darkness. She could only make out his cold, piercing eyes with the faint glow. Her master was most concern but mostly, very disturbed that on why their mission have been intervene. They have dealt with many forces before like the police and wannabees punks. But after what has happened last night, it was very hard for him to believe. She better have a very good reason.
"We couldn't have anticipated the Vigilante showing up the docks,…Master Shredder," she reports her answer to her sensei.
The Shredder.
The notorious villain himself that has seeps into the underworld of the city is standing before one of his trusted associate and was feared by all.
Peering down on his top soldier, he was not very satisfied with this. He has taught his men – taught her – better than that. As his adopted daughter and best fighter of all, she was in charge of the operation. They should have been prepared for anything that comes barging in their path. But because of the interferences, they only manage to retrieved a few canisters. Shredder was not satisfied with only a few containers in his disposal.
"(You have been trained for such contingencies.)," he snarls at her. Not very satisfied at all.
But Karai does have a cause of all this. On why their mission was slightly unsuccessful.
Looking down to her feet, she tries to find the right words to speak. She looks back up to him. "But we've never seen an enemy like this," she quietly responded. She can still picture the incident in her head over and over again. Her words spoke the truth. She has never seen anything like this in her life. "Their size. Their strength. They're not human."
And so is the Shredder. Well, he is human but there is no man can evenly match his expertise. It was no wonder that he can easily take down his men without any assistances at all.
He shakes his head. "I don't believe in fairy tales." But then, he darts his eyes to one side and to another. He has dealt with this kind of fantasy before as his clan has done in the past. From his very first ancestors. "It's what society wants to reduce the Foot Clan to – a myth. But the Foot Clan…will rise again."
From whom he was named after – Oroku Saki – the first Shredder – was known to be the feared in all the lands of Ancient Japan just more than 1000 years ago. With the help of his army – the Foot Clan – he was nearly at victory within his iron grip. But he was then defeated at the hands of rebels and their allies before he could even seize full control of Japan and made him the supreme ruler.
After the Great War has ended, they were now history for many eons…until their return to reclaim its glorious power that they so rightfully desired. It was now history repeating itself. These Vigilantes are just like the rebels. Unlike before, they need to be…eliminated.
A plan strikes inside his corrupted mind. Shredder leans forward. "Capture the Vigilantes however you can," he orders his lieutenant her next assignment. "Use innocent people as bait. No one will stop us in our quest to reclaim…victory. We will own this city."
That was the promise that he made to his people and to his clan. The promise that was passed down from one generation to the next. Karai gives him a slight nod. She has a chance to redeem herself. This time, she will not fail him.
Guess with no-one else believing April's story and introducing the Shredder into the mix, it will be a matter of time before the real heroes show up. Check out in the next chapter of:
Heroes in the Half-Shell: Eric Sacks
Author's Notes: Hey guys. Another chapter redone and updated, as promise! This only took me a few hours as it is a short chapter too. So will the next one…I hope.
Anyway, I do hope everyone is doing ok. I did mention in my last chapter that I would love to write a series of episodes that takes placed between the first and the second movie. Once I have finished working on this one, I will get started on that. Some of it will have adventures from the past shows, comics, the video game based on the 2014 movie, some good/bad guys, new mutants – more or less. And if you guys have any ideas, feel free to some a PM or comment/review. Love to hear it!
I do hope the writer's block will not stop me now that I am back! I should have done this last year when we were on lockdowns. I would got a lot done and dusted. But nnnnoooooo! I almost abandoned it!
I now wonder: What did you guys did during 2020/2021? Beside all the bad things that have been happening to the world and to us? Do you watch the shows/movies you catch up on, any books you've read or activities that you create/did? Anyone had a baby? My brother sure did!
Guess that is it for me. Don't forget to add/follow me or the story to your favourites, as well as to review or PM me if you like to comment or ask me anything. Don't forget, the story is too on Wattpad (look up for JOP-TheDL2912. Same story title!)
Better be going. You guys take care of yourselves, alright?
Until we meet again,
The DragonLord2912/JOP_TheDL2912