Who am I? - CH24
Mr. Smith?
Disclaimer: TMNT isn't mine and this is just a fanfiction writing. No money is being made on this story.
(TMNT CC are AU based on 2003 version and events, the turtles are in their late 20s.)
Warning: It has horror elements.
Rate: T
Drama, family comfort/hurt, and heartache...
Summary: Who is Mr. Smith?
Across the quiet street, the Second Time Around stood looming, pressed against its window door was a close sign with its curtains drawn down.
Only the silhouettes cast by the light within the small antique shop showed any life within.
The two-story building had more than two individuals moving about, however, there was also evidence that at least two others occupied the living space on the second floor.
The bedroom window facing the street didn't have its curtains closed with the window partially open.
Bystanders walking by might not have noticed the faint voices in the apartment, nor the chatter of one of the individuals in the shop, however, the Parabolic Microphone on the other hand was picking up the conversations within, while recording it all.
The two lone men across the street within a van tucked in an alleyway well hidden, spied on the small shop.
The driver, a weasel of a man, the passenger would describe him, was there listening to the shop area, nodding now and then with his oversized earphones and eyes sparkling with excitement.
A promotion was running through that brain dead's head while Casey, the one sitting there annoyed in the passenger's seat, was suppressing his urges to punch his partner whom he was so lucky to be paired with.
He wasn't sure what was worse, being with the arrogant prick that would sell his own mother to climb the ranks of Bishop's horrendous operations or the fact that out of all the ones that work under Bishop he was recruited to be a spy… on Adam…
Not that he didn't mind, though the fear of being called out or noticed by Adam and had any reaction towards him could blow his cover.
It bothered him slightly that he was chosen for this, considering his track record. The one that was making things a little difficult to sneak around Bishop's facility up north where they held Adam. After the day he failed to prevent a drugged-up Raphael from escaping and was unable to successfully upper hand Adam before the turtles were able to reach back to New York, he was kicked down in rank for his failure.
Not that he had any intention of doing what they wanted or they knew of his betrayal, even so, the unlikely hood after a few slaps on the wrists for his slipup he was now placed on this mission?
He thought they would consider him a liability to assign him such a task… or was this a way to trap him, to call him out?
That was a possibility, since the rumours spread that the turtles had outside help, though where that help originated was up to debate. Some speculated it was an individual or group under Bishop's control, using this as a way to gain praise and recognition from another faction. Another theory involved the Foot who could had use the situation as a way to gain an upper hand, standing even with the turtles or other benefactors. All in the end it boiled down to just theories, scandalous ideas and conspiracies; there was no concrete evidence.
Even so, there was the political side of everything that was a bit much even for him to handle, he noticed it unfolded not ending with Bishop or the Foot.
This made him worried about his actions and his approach when it comes to Adam and the others, hell he was a soldier that took orders and at times gave them, he wasn't good at this kind of thing.
It was worse than playing chess with his brother… He normally left that to his Donatello, the brains, who in turn weren't there to save his skin, reminding him how painful it is to be alone.
Sitting back Casey crossed his arms eyes on the building and kept a good one on his partner.
"It's affirmative!" the guy slammed his hand on the wheel.
"So, Project Adam is there then," Casey said sourly, having to refer to Adam as Project that only made his stomach turn.
"Yes, the subject is with," the weasel took his free hand scrambling through a folder that was between their seats pulling out one of the files and smacking it on the wheel setting off the horn. Casey flinched and did not believe how careless the guy was, giving him a sideways look.
"Careful! Are you trying to make them know we are here?" Casey snarled, snatching the file and flipping it open before the guy could protest.
It was a file on Angel with her image and confidential information, he scanned it quickly and then placed it away.
"They didn't even notice," the man huffed, pointing to his microphone, "It didn't even stop them from talking," he continued looking back at the building.
"Sure, it didn't" Casey grunted then a slight grin formed on his lips over how stupid the guy was. Even if he wasn't hearing what the moron was, Casey could tell the building that occupied four individuals was one less.
"We should make a move, Project Adam is in the store with the woman, the other two are up a level, before they could even react, we can have the -"
"The orders are to observe and report if Project Adam is indeed back in New York under the Turtle's protection, nothing more," Casey warned.
"Oh come on, Smith," the man hissed grumbling under his teeth, "It's an opportunity, the boss would award us-"
"Orders are orders soldier, "Casey sat up correcting his posture and showing how much taller he was than the weasel. "By no means do we disobey orders."
"The subject is right-"
"We do not engage!" he warned.
"Listen Smith, you might think you're some high and mighty top dog, but around the watering pool, everyone knows you're nothing but hot air, a failure. Why do you think you're here doing a shit mission like this?" the guy growled smacking Casey on the chest, "For your a loser, that couldn't even keep secure a weak subject like Adam who then escaped and you," he poked a finger at Casey, "got his ass handed by a drug up frog-"
"Turtle" Casey corrected him, "A mutant turtle that can kick your ass to next Tuesday if he fucken thought you were worth the blood on his hands and trust me Iwai, you're not. Not even the damn flies would want to shit their fluggy children no your damn corpse."
"I say we-" Iwai was halfway out of the van, then suddenly shuddered when metal made that song, the one of it sliding out of a sheath and then cold steel was pressed firmly against the man's throat.
"That would be the other reason why we do not engage," Casey said coolly, looking towards the building not phased by the ninja master.
"Shit…" Iwai shuttered, looking at Casey for help.
"One wrong move and this blade will sever your artery and you will bleed out," Master Splinter warned.
Casey sighed with mouth twitching; he could see how this made Iwai panic more. Letting the weasel squirm for one more moment Casey decided to come to his aid, but of course not bothering to move from his seat that finally got a nice comfy imprint of his ass, he couldn't lose that after it took him hours to have it crafted with perfection.
"That will be unnecessary, Master Splinter. We are only here to survey not engage," Casey started with a solid voice, void of emotions that wanted to spill out. He was able to handle seeing the turtle brothers, seeing Adam but to hear his voice was haunting.
"You come here to spy on my family?"
"Yes, to report whether or not Adam is here and is under your family's care, that is the orders, no others were given."
The rat studied him and the man he still had under his blade, "And if you finish those orders?"
"Nothing so far sir," Casey answered then added to ease the master's mind, "We both know that it is not simple for us to come to New York and retrieve the Project, due to political reasons as you are aware. Being your clan on one side, the Foot on the other and including other powers at be with a foothold with the in and goings and what is allowed and not without starting a war, we are only observing."
"What the hell Smith," Iwai spat, just recalling the blade that inch closer.
"Iwai I am not giving out classified information to the Master here," Casey pointed out, "Only what is already established. Bishop still upholds his side of his family's bargain and I wish to clarify that it is under no threat." The rat easing up removed his blade making a stand towards the wall yet still had the blade ready if needed. Iwai about to get back into the van Casey stopped him.
"You will stand there soldier until this conversation is over," Casey sternly ordered, seeing Iwai eye's narrowing at him in disbelief that Casey was using him as some bargaining chip.
The reality was, Casey was preventing any stupid stunt made by Iwai, knowing the dead head would go for his gun once in, only stirring the pot more.
They wouldn't be in this position if the weasel didn't just confirm the info they were ordered to retrieve and leave, instead of wanting to find a way to make him look better.
"Is that so, didn't I overhear how you were going to kidnap Adam?" Master Splinter asked as Iwai started to sweat bullets, dawning on the horror of that the Master overheard their conversation.
"My apologies sir," Casey said formerly, "My associate isn't the brightest tool in the shed and was stupid enough to think treason. Our organization doesn't abide by such behaviour and I will report it once we return to base. That's if you permit our leave, sir."
The rat studied the situation, while it took everything in Casey not to dare to make eye contact with him, fearing the master would see how much this was hurting him, how much guilt weighed on his shoulders.
It was unsettling that this Master though wasn't his own, resemble his in many ways possible. Like salt in a wound, it burned and made him want to say sorry for being a fool in the past and abandoning him… his father.
"Will you assure me Bishop will not take action on my family or Adam?"
"I can't make such promises sir," Casey admitted, "I have no means due to my rank, however, I can tell you as I stated prior due to political reasons, Bishop has no arrangements to extract the subject at the current moment."
"I see, "Master Splinter sighed, sheathing his blade, "Then I will allow you to leave with your lives, but pass the message to your leader, Bishop. I have put aside and ignored the events between him and my sons with Adam and will take no action towards how he hunted them down. This day forward and back in our city, I will not be so lenient or forgiving. If he and his organization dare to take action against my family including Adam, war will happen one way or another. Assure him that."
"Of course, sir, I will send him the message and please take my apology for this intrusion and my partner's dishonourable behaviour," Casey replied, gesturing Iwai to get into the vehicle. The man responding rushed in leaning forward to grab his gun as Casey could only roll his eyes.
Iwai turned around quickly, fully cocked only to blink seeing the Master gone out of sight. "Get in the van Rambo," Casey snarled, "Do you think you have any chance against a master ninja? Especially one that already caught you with your pants down?"
"Smith you idiot we had-"
"In your dreams and besides, were you even listening bonehead? What do you think Bishop would do to you if you killed or even injured the turtle's master? He would have your head. How stupid can you be?" Casey asked grabbing the gun that still had its safety on of all things, not bothering to point that stupidity out and took it apart for two reasons. To see the idiot gawk at him over how efficient he was at taking it apart in a matter of seconds, all the training did pay off for that little trick, and the second reason was that he knew Splinter was still monitoring them within the shadows.
It was another move to keep their heads and assure the master they were not a threat. Besides he knew this encounter would be relayed back to Leonardo later and it would be discovered he was involved, the stranger that has been helping them. What good would it be if it looks like he wasn't on their side to a point?
"What the fuck Smith!" Iwai growled, going to take a swing at Casey that was caught before he could even make contact with its target.
"What we are ordered to do. You think it's all just black and white you idiot. What part of politics don't you understand? This city has rules and the ones that make the rules are not the police or damn government. It is the ones with the power, by money or otherwise, the ones that lie in the shadows. If we do anything that is not in the interest of Bishop being that we are under his command could jeopardize any relationships and projects between such powers. We are just damn pawns in the grand scheme of things and do you have any idea what happens to disobedient pawns Iwai?" Casey growled, taking the fist and thrusting it back into the man's chest, pinning him between him and the door. "Pawns can be replaced, disposed of, be lucky you have your damn pay and life! And if you want to keep it yours, keep your fucken mouth shut! I will let Bishop know of the warning from Master Splinter and that will be it. I will not bring up what you were about to do, as long as you agree never to try something so stupid again or I'll put a fucken bullet in your head myself, you got that soldier!
Letting go, feeling his blood boil not just for how he felt about Iwai but his own anger of his past, seeing Master Splinter it was consuming him. Breathing heavily, Casey didn't dare look at the man ordering him to drive. He could feel Iwai's fear, he was afraid of him and he didn't give a shit.
The only thing he cared about was that Iwai got his message, even if he himself thought it was bull shit, but he had to play the good little soldier, if he wanted to keep up his appearance.
He didn't care about the political side in this world, he would tell the Foot to go fuck themselves, cave in any skull of the Purple Dragon that dared to harm any innocent person, and take down anyone that work for Bishop. How much he wanted to take that blade from Master Splinter and go up to the that bastard Bishop and cut his head off for harming Raphael... and April!
The room was dimmed and two men armed, stood on either side of Bishop who in turn was sitting at a desk, hands folded before him. Even in a poorly lit room, the man wore his shades. Casey sometimes wondered how he could see a thing.
Not allowing his mind to wander he stood there before his so-called boss, arms held behind his back. He was there to report, even so, it did bother him that Iwai was there standing to the side with a twisted grin. The weasel was up to no good he noted yet didn't let on of his concern, besides the weasel was an idiot and Casey didn't get this far just to have this guy outsmart him.
"I heard you were discovered by no other than Splinter," Bishop started coldly.
"Yes sir!" Casey responded not explaining until he was ordered to.
"Wasn't your orders Mr. Smith to report if Project Adam was indeed in New York?"
"Yes sir."
" here has brought me up to speed with your mission and I'm disappointed in how you engaged with the enemy, sharing classified information…"
"I did not sir," Casey answered, not swaying from his stance nor showing emotions on the accusation that he could only imagine that the weasel spewed to save his hide and make him look good.
"You did not what? Engage with the enemy? Or gave out classified information?"
"I did engage with the enemy when Master Splinter foresaw your operations, sir. However, I did not give him any classified information."
"Like hell you did," Iwai spat, getting a sharp look from Bishop shutting up right away.
"So, it's your word against his, soldier?" Bishop asked, leaning forward and studying him.
Casey should have known this would come down to this, he was too involved to be found out now or lose any legibility to dive deeper down this rabbit hole. He had to find out about the others and Iwai was about to destroy all he did to get to this point.
Yet he wasn't a fool, he never was.
Casey wasn't at the same level of intelligence as his brother, even so, he knew how to play chess. The one thing he learned at an early age was how to predict others' moves and make sure he had a clear path to victory or at least kept a trump card until he could get back onto his feet.
"Yes, it is sir," Casey agreed then eased his stance, "May I have permission sir to prove my innocence?"
"Very well," Bishop leaned back intrigued. Iwai snickered thinking he won, being he was the one that went first and it was one man's word against the other and Iwai made sure there was nothing Casey could say to counter his accusations.
"Then sir, I ask you to listen to this," Casey started seeing Iwai raise an eyebrow. Iwai already erased all conversation from the microphone after the confirmation that Adam was in the building, there was nothing that Casey could have to prove anything.
Casey knowing he had the weasel by the tail even if he didn't, removed a tape recorder from his left pocket and pressed play. It started off with the conversation of Iwai confirming that the target was in the Second Time Around and it didn't stop there. As the recording continued Iwai's face turned white and he tried multiple times to dismiss the tape saying it must have been doctored, yet Bishop silenced him allowing him to play to the very end.
"I see," Bishop leaned back calmly, looking at his hands. A silence rose and sweat beaded down Iwai's brow as he knew he was screwed. Taking a moment before making any decision Bishop waved to one of the men that stood beside him, "Please escort Mr. Iwai to sector D he will be posted there and under lockdown until further notice."
"Yes sir!" the man obeyed, moving towards Iwai who gulped speechless to protest or say a thing being led out.
"Mr. Iwai will stay in confinement for a week at least before re-evaluating what new position he will undertake. I do not tolerate insubordination or the petty squabbling for a raise," Bishop said in a calm, yet aggravated tone.
"Now," he started with a softer tone, if one could call it, it was still cold and rigid, "Mr. Smith with your past failings, though I had much high hopes for you considering your background in the military," he got up moving away from his desk as Casey kept looking forward, he had to keep the stance. He, as Bishop stated, had a background in the military which was correct but not from this man's universe, however, Casey was able to doctor it to look real and fooled his way this far.
Bishop reached the other side of the room studying a painting he had hanging there and didn't turn towards Casey, continuing his train of thought, "I'm conflicted on your current position and rank. Your performance now faced with betrayal was well played by recording the conversation that could have cost not only your career but livelihood, makes me wonder how you failed in the first place."
"May I speak sir?" Casey asked, seeing Bishop nod in the corner of his eye. He had to distinguish any doubt of his loyalty quickly. "I was a fool sir. I will not deny that I treated the one called Raphael as a mere mindless animal, not fully grasping the true threat the turtle possessed. Even searching for them I have once again mistaken them for lonely animals trying to escape their prey. I should have portrayed them as equals to humans, treating them like any other enemy and that was my downfall."
"I see," Bishop hummed to himself, becoming silent once more before carrying on, "Now you have learned from that mistake?"
"Yes sir!"
"It sounds so in your conversation with the rat," he gestured, "I don't need the turtles right now calling war until it is the right time."
Turning around, Bishop faced Casey and then ordered, "Face me, soldier!"
"Yes sir!" Casey turned to him formally like a good little puppet. How much he loathed this man and how he had to act like this toward something he didn't respect one bit.
"Mr. Smith you will clean out your locker," Bishop started making Casey feel a pain in the chest as if he was shot. He did all he could to not to be discovered or lose his position in that base. Currently, he found little information on Adam let alone his brothers, how was he to continue his investigation if he lost his foothold there?
Grinning as if the man was amused by his shocked pale expression, he mused, "I see you can't always pull that poker face."
Confused, Casey dared to look at Bishop in the eyes, breaking his stance. He swore if he could see beyond the shades those devilish eyes were smiling at him. No explanation after only the silence Casey knew he couldn't just stand there and do nothing.
"Sir, may I ask why I am being dismissed?" Casey asked, almost choking the words, was he going to be fired or relocated?
"You're not ," Bishop waved to the other man that was still in the room, "Help relocate to the Eve Complex."
"Eve Complex?" Casey said out loud without thinking, never hearing about such a place, was it in the same facility as they were? Then the other question came to mind, why was it called Eve? Did it have anything in relationship to Adam?
"You heard correct Mr. Smith, The Eve Complex is a high-profile project with a selective few knowing of its whereabouts and classified work. Being that you have worked with the Adam Project, the past months that is currently delayed for reasons you already know of, I need your expertise to foresee the Eve's project through. I need a soldier that is cunning as you, that follows orders to run my project."
"Run?" Casey was shocked not saying his question out loud this time yet Bishop could read his mind as he answered him.
"Yes Mr. Smith, I'm putting you in charge of the Eve Project, do you decline this opportunity?" Bishop questioned taking a seat.
"No sir!" Casey answered quickly and fixed his posture standing formal once again. Questions swirled in his head over this Eve project but he figured being the one running it, if that was even a good thing or not, he would find out soon enough what it was, this might help his standstill in his investigation.
Besides deep down he felt it had some connection to Adam, maybe it was due to the ironic names, but there was another reason. So far in that facility, he found no evidence of his other brothers. All info about Adam wasn't easy to access either, he was at a dead-end, just as much the project was at a halt with Adam in the turtle's capable hands.
Maybe this was the lead he needed, besides if he declined, he knew he wouldn't leave that office alive and he couldn't give up now not after all this shit he had to go through. He was going to find out what happened to them, he had to for them, even if the rabbit hold devours him whole.
Donnie and Leo arrived back at the lair after hours of leaving to go do the scans, Leo slinked away to the dojo where sounds of one brother giving his all to an unfortunate victim, the punching bag. Donnie on the other hand, not wanting to join them, deep in thought over what he had discovered moved towards his lab. Once in he let out a sigh and sluggishly worked his way from his doorway to his desk.
When he reached it, he slumped in his chair and then flipped his monitor on.
DD83 - "Did he go along with it?'
Duz_machines_84 - 'Yes'
DD83 - "And?'
Duz_machines_84 - 'As you expected, by the brain scans, someone or thing is contacting him. How or who is still undetermined...'
DD83 - "I see, then keep monitoring him, remember you can't trust him or the others.'
Duz_machines_84 - 'The tea?'
DD83 - 'Replace it before someone else drinks it and suspicion rises. He will start getting better thinking your treatments are working; he will be none the wiser.'
Duz_machines_84 - 'LH?'
DD83 - 'Don't worry, he is in good hands. Very good hands.'
TBC
