Author's Note: I know.. it's been a long while since I updated huh... Well. I guess I can tell you fanfiction readers/authors too if you hadn't seen my DeviantArt journal.
You see, I recently had to deal with something.. very tragic. You know how I was at California to visit my dad? Yeah.. it didn't go as planned. How? Well.. it turns out that he was fighting cancer that had settled in his leg. He grew a tumor that was the size of a tennis ball and he wasn't allowed to walk due to his bone being a lot like a rotten apple. So yeah, he wasn't allowed to leave bed unless he got in his wheelchair.
It took a while but he finally got into chemotherapy. As expected, it weakened his immune system to drastic levels. Simple bacteria that we easily resisted were like a disease to him. So the environment had to be as clean as possible. Weeks turned into months and the tumor had shrunk dramatically. All he needed was surgery and he would've been better, even if he did lose part of his leg. And then it happened.
He got sick at the worst of times. He was dehydrated and was rushed to the hospital to get fluids into him. Instead he had a bacterial infection in his lungs. Combine that with a weak immune system and not much could have been done. I only found out a few days after my father died. I still haven't got over it, but.. I guess you could say that the pain dulled down a lot.
Afterwards, there was some subtle drama between my mother and my dad's girlfriend... Soon my grandfather came to Cali to get my siblings, my mother, and I.. and we left. Now, here I am back in Virginia. I'm getting used to the schedule again and after I catch up to my online school, I'll update as much as I can.
Sorry for the sob story... Well, I guess you can start reading your chapter now.
It had only been about an hour or so since we brought her home. She's been passed out and Mikey's been the one carrying her. I have to admit she looks friendly enough for us, but something tells me that we mutants just tied ourselves into one shell of a ride.
The red-haired woman had been laid down onto the couch and the others and I have been waiting for her to wake up. So far, it's been nothing but silent in the lair. I assume that Splinter is still in his room. "You know, Bella. I don't think you staring at her intently is going to wake her up," Leo said. Oh yeah. I was in a separate chair, staring at the woman. Kinda creepy, now that I think about it. "Well, I can't help it. She's just so pretty." I said. She is pretty, though it could be because I never saw a human this close before. Leo muttered something lowly and I turn to look at him. "Hmm, what was that?" I asked. "Uh, nothing. Nothing at all." He quickly replied. The other turtles looked at him with a frown. I shook it off before looking at the woman. She was waking up.
"Oh man, what a dream. Turtles fighting robots. Did I fall asleep watching TV again?" She asked more to herself than to anyone of us there, "That was the weirdest thing I've ever seen." She gazed right to left looking at each of us. Mikey had a big grin on his face. "Hi," He said a little too enthusiastically. She screamed at him while he screamed back. "Please don't do that. I almost jumped out of my shell." He said. "It has three fingers." She said a little dumbfounded at that before grabbing the pillow and pulling it over her head, repeating "I'm asleep" in a never ending cycle. "This isn't going very well," Don spoke. Mikey replied with, "Hey. Come on, we don't have much practice talking to humans. It's gonna take a little time." 'True... but I think there's someone who has experience with humans.' I sighed and got up, leaving them with her and heading to Splinter's room.
"Come in, my daughter." He said from the inside. I obeyed and went in. "Master Splinter. I hate to interrupt what you're doing, but... the others and I may have gotten ourselves into a little dilemma." He opened an eye, raising an eyebrow at me, "Okay, maybe a big mess, but..." I sighed. The gray rat looked to me. "You'll have to come out to see for yourself, Master." He nodded in understanding and I opened the door, leading him out and to the couch.
"Hello April, how are you doing?" I hear Leo try. April, so that is her name. "Oh, I'm fine. Everything is absolutely great." The human named April said before gasping at the sight of my father and I. "Then perhaps you are ready to answer some questions." Splinter said, walking forward while I was beside him. "Y-you're a... and a..." She passed out again. "You sure have a way with the ladies, Master Splinter," Donatello said while I tried hard not to laugh at that. "Now, what do we do?" Don asked. "Let's nudge her," Leo suggested. "I'll snap her out of it," Raph offered. "Raphael, no." Splinter said urgently. Mikey decided to walk away and take the music player. "Somebody, get me when she wakes up," He said, residing himself to a chair.
I sigh and sat down in another chair. "You know, maybe its best if not all of us were crowding around her." I say, "I mean, she did have a near-death experience when we rescued her and it doesn't help that she was hyperventilating literally right before bonehead over there," I pointed at Mikey, "said anything. Does anyone else get where I'm going?" I look to the three turtles and one rat. "Hmm... Excellent point, Isabella." Splinter said, before looking to the other three expectantly. They nodded in understanding and gave April some space. Time passed by and I suppose I did forget about them while I began humming lowly.
"*ahem.* Leonardo, perhaps it's best to make April some tea." Splinter said. Leonardo nodded and left to the kitchen. I was in my thoughts while this transpired. My gaze landed on April, thinking. 'Does she...? She wouldn't have freaked out if she knew about me.' I thought maybe someone close to Stockman would know the answers to my questions, but with the way the Mousers attacked her, I can only guess that Stockman doesn't trust her. "Isabella, if I may." Splinter said, motioning to the chair. "Oh, sorry." I got off and sat next to the chair. "Thank you," He bowed his head and took a seat.
I must've dozed off because the next thing I know, I wake up and see her finally awake and drinking some tea. "So, you okay now?" Mikey came over and asked her. "Yes, thanks. I've decided that this is a very long dream that I keep not waking up from or it's the weirdest thing that ever happened to me." She replied. I nodded, "Well fair enough." 'Even though, we're not really a figment of your imagination.' "Young woman, we have something most important to discuss," Splinter stated. "What?" April asked. "We have never revealed ourselves to the upper world. You have placed us all in great danger." He explained. "But Master Splinter, she was in trouble and we helped her," Leo said and his brother joined in. "Yeah, aren't you always teaching us to try to do the right thing?" Raph asked.
"As you grow older, you will learn there are many ways to do the right thing," He spoke. My eyes widened. 'Was he just suggesting that... that we...?' I shook this thought away, not wanting to think it. I hear him sigh. "But there is no going back. I'm afraid we find ourselves at your mercy." Splinter lowered his head in April's direction. "Oh, I would never tell anybody. I mean, who would believe me?" She replied ever so quickly. "She's got a point," Donnie commented. "Yeah, we're unbelievable," Mikey commented while posing dramatically. Raph glared at his younger brother, "Geez, where's your off switch?"
"Seriously, I promise." She said so sincerely. Splinter got up and went to her, looking into her eyes and saying, "I believe you." Leo joined next to him, "Is this another lesson, Master Splinter? How to sense the truth?" 'Geez, he seems so eager to have so many lessons.' "No," Splinter began, "This is called trusting your gut." I giggled at that a little. "So, if I'm keeping your secret, what exactly is it? Who are you, people- er, turtles, er whatever?"
"I have memories," Splinter began, "Memories of what I used to be what you might call normal. I remember, a day that started like any other, but ended changing the course of many lives. I witnessed an accident. A young boy carried a glass jar with four pet infant turtles. An old blind man was crossing the street when he was almost run down by a large truck. As the truck swerved, a metal canister bounced out of the back. It smashed open, releasing a glowing ooze, which covered their bodies. I took pity, gathering them up in a coffee can. I took them to my borrow. The next morning, I awoke to find the four had doubled in size. The ooze had affected their growth. It changed me also, making me larger and more intelligent. They followed me everywhere, except above ground. I knew the people of the surface would not understand. We are so different. I was amazed by their dexterity, but even so, I was not prepared for what happened one day. They actually spoke my name. Soon they all were speaking." He paused for a moment, smiling at the memories, before continuing, "Intelligence followed soon after. Realizing that the world above is sometimes a dangerous place, I began teaching them ninjutsu, the secret arts of stealth and power, and all that I knew of this world. From a battered book on Renaissance art that I fished out of the storm drain, I chose names for each of them." He looked to my brothers, "Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and last but not the very least," His gaze landed on me, "Isabella. Together, they are..."
"Turtles forever," They yelled together with their hands joined. I only facepalmed at them, 'Yep, my brothers are idiots.' "Or something like that when we all yell at once," Mikey said. "First rule: Ignore Mikey. Your life will be much easier," Raph grinned. "So we have remained in secret and that is our story," Splinter finishes, standing up with his walking stick. "But, how did you know martial arts and what about Isabella?" She looks between my rat father and I. "That is a story for another time and as for Isabella, we are unsure of what her story is," He bowed his head. "Yeah, even I don't know." I added before hearing Mikey turn on the news, "Hey guys look at this."
The news explains about a robbery and it got to a picture of a very, very familiar footprint. "So, anybody wanna take a wild guess what did this?" Mikey sarcastically asked. April got up and looked at the screen before saying, "This must be what I heard Dr. Stockman talking about. He's got the Mousers robbing banks." Raph sat up. "What do you know about this Stockman guy?" He asked. "He's a genius," She began, "He's also nuts. I used to work for him, but when I got suspicious, he turned the Mousers on me. Luckily, I ran into you guys."
"He destroyed our old lair," Leo spoke. "Must have been one of his Mouser test runs." She had her hands on her hips. I huffed at that. "But that was our home," Mikey sadly said. "Now he's graduated to banks," Don added. "Then what are we waiting for?" Raph asked, with a grin on his face, spinning his sais in his hands. "I say we shut down Mouser Central permanently." He finished, having his sais cross together. Mikey chuckled, "I just love those action movie lines. You write those yourself?" I roll my eyes at the bonehead before looking back to April. "It won't be easy," April began. 'Oh, you think.' I thought sarcastically. "Stocktronics is rigged with the latest up-to-the-minute security tech." Mikey came up with Donnie at his side, scoffing a little, "Bring it on. Allow me to introduce you to our very own secret weapon. The Techno-Turtle himself: Donatello. Take a bow, Don." Donatello grinned in embarrassment, "Aw, cut it out."
"Can. We. Go. Please?" Raph sounded like a little kid who was little too happy. That was actually kinda cute coming from the hothead. "We may as well go, my burazazu (brothers). If he went from home wrecking to bank robbing, and with his intelligence, then who knows how much farther he'll go with those robots," I said. My turtle brothers looked to me before we looked to our rat father. He didn't speak a word, but he gave a slight nod of approval. With our weapons ready and April leading the way, we left our home and traveled through the tunnels.
Everything was silent at first before we heard a small beeping noise. "Shh..." Don shushed everyone right before April opened the alarm up and Don took out a wire. "Alarms in the sewers? Is this guy paranoid or what?" Mikey asked. "Will you shut it?" Raph grumbled to him. "I'm just saying." Mikey shrugged innocently. "Could April and I have some quiet? This is delicate work." Don tried to ask politely while gently pulling out the cord. "Ooh, April and I. This is delicate work. Give me a break." Mikey crossed his arms. It took some time but they finally disarmed it and we were finally allowed to pass.
I am not going to tell you how we went from the sewers to the ventilation system. The details aren't really needed especially since we are already at our destination. Two guards passed by and after they left. The vent door had opened. "Is this the place?" Raph asked April. She answered with, "There's a computer terminal in that lab. Get me in and I can create blank spots in the security system to get you through to Dr. Stockman's main lab." Raph smirked, "Don't look now. We already got a blank spot right here." He pointed back at Mikey who shot back with a "Hey." I chuckled at that. Right before an argument could happen, Raph jumped out of the vent and helped April get out. He set her down and began to pick the lock with his sai, sticking his tongue out in concentration before finally opening the door. The others and I followed him into the room while April ran to the control panel and typed. "Okay, I'm in," She began and turned to us, "I'm blanking the cameras along that corridor at ten-second intervals, so you've got to keep moving."
"We'll be right back," Leo said and we immediately left the room, rushing throughout the hallways at a fast pace. It didn't take us very long to find and get into the main lab. It was silent. Way too silent for the main laboratory. "This is too quiet," Leo commented. "Uh, guys, my turtle senses are tingling." Man Mikey reads way too many comics. Just then the doors closed behind us and the lights turned on.
"Intruders? Here to steal my secrets?" Baxter yelled from above, "You'll leave here with nothing. Not even your lives. What on earth are you? I suppose I'll have to dissect you to find out." Machines moved and aimed at us, firing out a laser. We dodged before it could hit any of us. Mikey ended up break dancing to dodge the lasers that shot at him. Raph just ran through, almost getting hit, but Leo reflected the laser beam in time for it to shoot back at itself. Don had the bright idea to swing himself up onto one of the guns and shoot down the other ones. We cheered him on before rushing to the area Stockman was in.
Of course, there was a blaster right next to his balcony and he was firing it at us. We ducked for cover and Raphael went ahead of us, pinning himself to the wall. "Mikey, slingshot." He ordered. Mikey grinned and ran up to him. Raph put his hands together and just as Mikey jumped onto him he threw his arms up, making Mikey fly high in the air and landing on the window of Stockman's balcony. The others followed after him and I climbed up as fast as I could to them. I heard a sound of glass being crashed and just as I got up to them, I saw that it was the window that broke. Mikey is still as destructive as ever.
"Your reign of terror is over, Stockman." Leo threatened, pointing his katana at him. I crossed my arms at him. "You've been practicing that?" Mikey inquired, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You like it?" The eldest brother asked.
"What are you?" Dr. Stockman asked in a sense of fear. Just then the elevator door opened up, revealing April O'Neil herself. "There with me." "April? You're alive," He tried to state, but it sounded a lot more like a question. "And kicking." She added with a glare while he backed up to his control panel, "I've got enough evidence to put you away for years, Doctor Stockman." He suddenly pressed a button, making an alarm go off. Raph grabbed him and pinned him to the wall. "That's enough," Raphael huffed.
"Hah! Too late. I've recalled the Mouser hoard from their latest mission. They'll be here any second. They'll tear you to pieces." Baxter was even crazier than I thought. "April," Leo and I said at once. "I'll have to shut the whole system down." The red-haired woman spoke and Don immediately went next to her, "I'll help."
"You're doomed. Listen," He said. I could only hear the sound of those robots marching in. Raph had let go of the scientist at some point and went to look down. There they were. Multiple Mousers were at the bottom of the ladder, hissing up at us. "April now's the time," Leo said as the Mousers began climbing up to us. "The system isn't responding," April spoke urgently. Even Don couldn't get the systems going. "You should never have matched wits with me," Stockman grinned from the elevator. "He's getting away," Mikey stated the obvious and began running to the elevator. "Let 'im go," Raph said. I was honestly surprised by that, "We've got bigger problems." Okay, maybe not. The Mousers kept marching, screeching at us. I backed up with my brothers and we ended up being close to April, who's still at the control panel with Don.
"At least, we'll go out fighting," Again with Typical Raph. "Actually, I don't want to go out at all," Mikey replied. "Yeah, there's so many things I haven't done, so many sights to see and Mikey wasn't even on my list," I added with a grin. "Hey!" Mikey pouted. I tried hard to keep my laughter in. "It's not working!" April said. "Keep trying," Don shot at her. "This is it. It's been fun guys." Man Raph making himself sound a little dramatic. "Even me, Raph?" Mikey had a little hope in his voice.
"Even you, Mikey. Especially you," Raph smiled back. I looked over my shoulder, seeing the two type as fast as they ever did in their lives. It wasn't until April typed a code in that the Mousers had immediately stopped. Their yellow light blinked while they all stood in place. Leo poked at one with his katana to see it only stay in its spot. 'Did he seriously expect it to bite the blade or something?' I thought while they cheered. Something tells me that this is too early for a victory. "Good job, April. I've never seen anything like that." Don complimented. "Hah, losers!" Mikey mocked the robot and grabbed a Mouser. "Uh, guys?" April began, "Guys! I wasn't able to shut them down." She urgently said. I looked to Mikey and saw that the once yellow eye blinked red. "They look pretty shut down to me." He said, knocking on its head.
"The only way I could stop them was to initiate an overload sequence." Just then, smoke came pouring out of their jaws while they beeped loudly in alarm. Mikey tossed his Mouser down. "In other words, let's get out of here!" He ran and jumped down from the balcony. Leo followed after him and Raph jumped after him. I went after the hothead and Don jumped down with April in his arms. We all ran as far as we could before making the mistake of turning around after the beeps stopped suddenly. *BOOM!* went the balcony and fire spread around Doctor Stockman's lab.
I turned tail and ran as far and as fast as I could. The others followed after me. Surprisingly, the journey back home was short. We settled down and we decided to listen to the news with our sensei. It explained how the building was destroyed and how Stockman disappeared. "What will you do now, Ms. O'Neil? You are most definitely out of the job." Splinter asked the woman standing next to him. "I'm not exactly sure," April spoke in uncertainty. "We'll help you get you back on your feet." Donnie offered. "You guys, you've all been, well, great and by guys, I guess I mean four big green talking turtles, a big leopard gecko, and a giant talking rat." April smiled.
"Here's to the new team," Leo announced and they placed their cups together in a cheer. I smile at them before feeling a sense of dread crawl up my spine. I still haven't got the information. "April, I hate to ruin the mood, but do you know anything about Stockman's past," I hesitated for a moment before continuing, "projects?" My turtle brothers looked to me. I could feel the hate radiating off of them. No, they didn't hate me; they couldn't, but they hate the idea that I could've been part of a science project. "Mmm... No. The guy was so uptight. He never really said anything about older projects. Why?" April inquired.
Splinter shook his head at me. I gave a fake smile, "No reason," I lied, "No reason at all." I still couldn't help but think about it.
Author's Note: I don't really have much to say, except... I hope you enjoyed the chapter and if you did, please tell me in the reviews. If there's anyway I can improve, please tell me in my PM box.
Anyways, I'll see you next time. Bye.