Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT
Chapter 6
On a Tuesday the memorial for Oroku Karai was given on top of the Saki Corp building.
Many of the cities important people showed up to the funeral, the mayor, of course who had been instrumental in the restoration of New York but completely blind to the goings on behind the scenes; the recovering of alien technology left after the invasion. Others just nameless socialites who feigned regret of the life of the beautiful heiress, but were really there for the chance to mingle.
After the ceremony was over a private meeting was held for the Foot Clan, elites, soldiers and scientists were gathered in the throne room, none of whom personally knew the young warrior but held a respect for her. Hun who had always made his distaste for the clans heir, was quietly and not at all subtly grinning to himself. The only one to be seen truly suffering over the loss of Karai was Doctor Chaplin who was hysterically sobbing into his handkerchief, it was well known by everyone in the foot clan of the young scientists crush on the ninja princess.
Khan came to stand at the podium.
"My friends we honor today the memory of a fallen warrior."
The foot soldiers bowed their heads in respect, kneeling on the floor, the only ones who stood were Hun who tsked in arrogance and Chaplin who just sobbed harder, standing next to his team of associates. None noticed that above them hiding in the scaffolding one lone ninja peered over the side of the beam, listening to the memorial. Leonardo watched as the eulogy was given of his rival/one time friend, a person that after years of second chances, had always made the wrong decision.
"Karai was a devoted ninja and daughter to the Shredder, our lord and master". Khan bowed his head in respect of the title.
"All hail the Shredder." The foot mechanically cheered, blind praise a to creature they couldn't possibly understand.
The blue bandana turtle seethed with anger, at the mention of Chr ll, even though he was on an astroid belt freezing his tentacles off, the memory of the alien psychopath was far to fresh in his mind. Years of agony and torture, his family being hunted down, by the crazed utrom, could never be blocked out not even with meditation. He couldn t understand how anyone could follow such a man or thing, a ninja like Karai especially.
Karai had once told him and his brothers the story of how she had been abandoned by her parents, living on the streets only to be found and adopted by Oroku Saki. Blinded by the love only a child could have for her father, she watched and helped the Shredder commit many of his unspeakable evils; always regretful but never repentant. Finally when they had rid the earth of the Shredder, Karai had gone on the warpath nearly killing his brothers and master splinter, and once that was done going after him. He had defeated the would be Shredder and warned her of the consequences if she ever tried to go near his family again. After the battle of the Ancient Shredder he had hoped they could come to a truce, that was short lived when Karai tried to lead another attack on them just a few days after the defeat of the Tengu.
"Although we will miss her leadership we know that she would want us to continue on in her stead, and await the return of our beloved master. Oroku Karai will never be forgotten."
And with those final words it was over, the speech given, the crowd cleared from the war room, off to complete their chores of the day; as if nothing ever happened.
The only people left in the throne room was Hun, the purple dragon leader and thug; who had always been steadfast and true to the Shredder, and Touga leader of the Elite foot ninja.
"What a precious little farewell party." Hun jeered walking to a small table on the side of the room, a shrine that was left for Karai, pictures and offerings left to honor the young warrior. He bent down and picked up her portrait with his overstuffed sausage hands. "Just think, all this for Master Shredder s little pet." He dropped the picture, as it hit the wood floor shattering, the frame breaking around the damaged glass into three pieces. "Oops." he grinned making his obvious hate for the dead girl known.
"Pretty well done too, considering there was no body recovered, not many people cared that the remains weren't here." Khan commented.
"What remains? She was blown sky high, no one could find anything but her necklace." Hun produced the jade colored pendant lassoed onto a thin string of thread from his pocket.
Khan shook his head, "Nothing could be found at the scene, but she had to be in there her passcode had been the last one used." He looked at the destroyed picture on the floor of the palace. "I'm still baffled how the fire started but the room was locked from the inside, there's no way she could have made it out alive."
Hun sighed in frustration "Who cares if no one could find anything, she's not here and that's good enough for me. We'll continue on with business as always; especially with our new deal cutting the dragons in at 30% of the take." rubbing his hands together in pleasure at the idea of the money and prestige that awaited him.
Moving his way to the throne, Khan glowered "That deal only stands as long as you back me up at keeping control of the Foot."
Smirking triumphantly Hun waved the man off "Don't worry I've got plenty of pull, lot's of favors to call in." He cracked his knuckles with glee visualizing himself cracking skulls instead.
Looking worriedly out the window of the highrise, Khan stared at the fleeing sun. "It won't be long before the Japan foot realize I double crossed them in the takeover."
Looking back at Hun, he showed the dark circles under his eyes." Tatsu will be coming to try and usurp my throne, it's been known he's been after the mantle of Shredder for years."
Disgust showing on his face, Hun despised having to reassure the gutless wimp. "I ve been preparing for that, I sent a letter to some friends on the Japan side to try and assassinate Tatsu when he least expects it."
Khan looked unsure for a moment and then nodded heading out the door, trying to escape the huge burden that had been placed on his shoulders.
Checking to make sure he was indeed alone, Hun bowed before his master s rebuilt statue, "Master I would never truly allow such an insignificant worm to rule your empire but I must keep up the charade. To buy me time to rally my dragons and foot forces against Tatsu and Khan."
Keeping his eyes on the floor, Hun glared down at his hands. "Neither of them are fit to rule while you are away, they will use the Foot to benefit themselves not you."
"I hated Karai but even she is better than them, she at least knew the importance of keeping this city dominated by the foot." His fist slammed to the floor in anger at having to admit that.
Then smiling to himself he muttered. "But she got it in the end, and I got a say I never have felt so happy than when I found this stupid necklace in the wreckage of that lab."
Looking up to the Shredders stony face he said, "I promise my master, I will make sure your empire stays intact while you are away."
Casting one more glance backwards at his only master, he turned swiftly on his heel stepping on the destroyed picture of Karai on his way out the door. "Good bye Karai, Sweet Dreams." Tossing the necklace over his shoulder it bounced once, twice then landed in front of the shattered picture frame.
Waiting a few moments to make sure the coast is clear, Leo jumped from his perch on the ceiling and landed right next to where the picture had fallen. Gently he reached down and picked up the torn and tattern image of the heiress. The cover may have been damaged but the beauty in the painting was ethreal wearing a snow white kimono her hair tied intricatly atop her head, beads and flowers cascaded down her face. Her sharp features a glow, her clear skin creamy, eyes apple green hard, showed the years of discipline as a trained kuniochi. In her hands she held a fan and posed gracefully on her neck the same neclace that Hun had carelessly thrown down at the piece of jewlery at his feet he stooped again and cupped it in his palm turning it over in his three fingered hand.
He turned his attention back to Karai s portrait. Karai. He sighed regretfully.
Just then he heared the sound of foot steps, coming back to the throne room, gripping the picture and necklace he hid behind the statue of his once feared enemy. Walking by a foot soldier peered curiously into the room then continued on his way. Not wanting to keep pressing his luck the Terrapin quickly made his way out of the den of evil.
Back at the lair Donnie and April were running test on the samples, the turtle had recovered at the scene. I don t get it Donnie these samples seem so normal compared to the crazy science-fiction stuff we ve seen. Why would the Foot be messing around with something that seems so harmless? April the red haired beauty asked her fellow scientist. Her years of hard work in the medical field of study had left her, with lots of knowledge of the goings on of human anatomy and so on. Working for Dr. Stockmen had been been a flight of fancy to try and get a jump start on her scientific career, who would have known he would have turned out to a thieving would be murderer. But thanks to the help of the guys, she had been saved and putting her knowledge to good use helping Donnie with his latest medical mystery.
I don t know April the specimen is composed of 90% human DNA and 10% I can't identify the origin of. I ran it through the computer but the sample is so diluted I can only make out the human DNA not the other percentage." Donnie stared at his findings the cogs trying to turn in his head, unable to wrap his mind around the quagmire.
April smiled at her intelligent terrapin friend, "Don't worry Donnie you'll figure it out eventually you're the smartest person I know."
The purple turtle turned red at the compliment, and then cringed when a "Cowabunga." followed by an angry "Mikey!" ruined the moment.
Turning to his less intelligent but well meaning brothers, Donatello complained. "Hey guys do you mind were trying to work here."
Jumping over to the other side of the lair Michelangelo, on his skateboard was trying to dodge an angry Raphael, but what else is new?
"Mikey I told you that slice of pizza was mine." Raphael growled as he chased his brother around the lair.
"You snooze you lose Raph." the Orange turtle grinned as he shredded the railing of the stairs leading into the opening of the lair.
"MIKEY!" The red turtle raged as he repeatedly swung at his brother.
Walking down the stairs leading into the lair Leo collided with his brothers, Leo into Raph, Raph into Mikey, leaving Mikey on the bottom of a turtle dogpile.
Recovering from the fall the three brothers slowly untangled themselves, Raph finding time to quickly bonk Mikey on the head for his pizza thievery; then turned to his newly arrived brother.
"And just where have you been oh fearless leader." Crossing his arms he stared down his slightly younger brother, just because he was a bit hot headed at times he was forced to hand over the title of leader to his brother.
Leo shook his head to dislodge the dizziness from his head "No where Raph just doing some early patrolling." Moving past his brother he found himself stopped by a firm tug on his arm.
"You know I can't help remembering that Karai's funeral was tonight, you didn't stop by real quick to check if she was really dead did you?" Raph s eyes were hard and accusing as he glared at Leonardo.
Yanking his arm out of the other turtles grip, Leo swirved back around to face his brother, "So What if I did, I was just making sure our family is safe, and to get a little idea of what really happened."
So what really happened Leo? Donnie asked as he exited his lab April in tow. Leo looked to the two scientist, I don t know there just as confused about it as we are.
Maybe it really was just an accident. Said Mikey now resting nice and comfortably on the couch laying flat on his shell.
Maybe the princess of the Foot finally got what she deserved. Raph exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air. I don t know why were still even talking about this.
Annoyed Leo turned back to his brother, we are talking about it Raph because it just doesn t make since, how could Karai die in an explosion that normal, she s a ninja, she s survived worse than that.
"Who the shell cares it s better for us now that she's gone, no more crazy girl Shredder trying to kill us, no more nutty acorns falling off the crazy tree, she's gone dead." Raph yelled.
"Raphael that's enough," Master Splinter hobbled close to the small crowd, bringing order to the group. "Karai may have been an enemy but we should still show respect for the dead."
The Red turtle huffed in frustration and turned on his heel, making a beeline toward his room. Splinter turned toward Leonardo, "Well my son what did you find out."
Giving his family the full scoop, they sat around the kitchen Leo, Splinter, April and Donnie at the table and Mickey sitting on the countertop. "Wow I had no idea that Hun disliked Karai so much." April shrugged her shoulders hands resting on the red mug in her hand. Leo nodded, "Yeah it was really sad I can't believe she didn't have a single friend there." "I can." Michelangelo chimed in, "She was always really scary, so serious and like, My name is Oroku Karai you killed my father prepare to die." Repeating, jokingly his favorite movie line from the Princess Bride, courtesy of Mandy Patinkin. Shaking his head at his youngest s nonsense Master Splinter turned to Leo, "My son did you get any closure from going to her memorial?"
Leonardo looked away for a moment then back to his family "I don t know I just never thought that it would end like this. I guess I always kind of held out hope that I could change her mind."
Rising to his feet the old rat came to his grieving sons side, "Life works in mysterious ways my son, but I'm sure no matter where she is Oroku Karais soul is at peace."
Leonardo could feel the photo and necklace burning a hole in his pocket, After thanking his master he bid goodnight to the group and turned in for bed. He wasn't really hiding the fact that he had taken them but he knew that he would be ribbed and teased non stop if he revealed he had them. Getting ready for bed he bid good night to his picture of Master Yoshi and the Ancient One, pausing he took out the picture of Karai and placed it right next to the other photos. Looking at her photo side by side with theirs he felt as if it were kind of poetic, Karai had always longed for honor, he could tell, and know she sat next to two of the most honorable men he knew. Smiling to himself he placed her necklace next to her picture and dreamed of Karai finally finding honor in death.
