"How are things proceeding?"

"We've identified the subject. We are still gathering intel on her routine."

"Speed up the timeline. Everything has been completed on this end."

Hesitation. "Sir, it's only been days. We haven't had time to discover any real patterns or habits-"

Something crashed to the ground with the sharp sound of glass. "Imbecile. Do I have to do your job for you? As you're keeping watch you will see an opportunity. Doubtlessly sooner than if you waited to complete your observations. Keep an agent with your team at all times."

"...of course. I'll implement the new tactics today."

I'm pretty sure that anyone who has ever been in a group project has absolutely hated it. My only good experiences had been when I was able to be in a group with at least one competent person that I knew. Then we could at least bounce ideas off each other. This, however was a class where I didn't know any of my classmates that well.

The deadline was approaching and although I had done my part of the project, we still had to put everything together. I had finally taken charge after the "leader" had failed to organize any meeting whatsoever. Obviously internet communication wasn't working because no one was talking to each other. I was trying to outline a presentation and the only other contribution was the occasional "sounds good!"I had proposed three different days and times and no one had objected to early tomorrow afternoon. And then I was ambushed right before class today.

"Sooo, I can't make it tomorrow," my classmate Monica said. "And neither can Drew. So we talked to everyone and we're meeting after class today."

It took me a moment to gather my words. "I have plans today. We decided on tomorrow three days ago."

Monica jumped back in before I could continue. "Yeah, but I had work tomorrow. And you have to be there. Aren't you in charge?"

I had fummed through the beginning of class after texting Mikey a hurried apology about pushing the time back even later. I wouldn't need to worry about staying up late since apparently I now had nothing I needed to do tomorrow. I took a few long sips from my water bottle trying to brush off my irritation, especially when I noticed the metal exterior bending under my fingers. I concentrated on my notes instead.

The meetup went no better. But I didn't want to think about the tattered fragments of our farce of a project just now. I focused on my nervous excitement instead. A smile made its way across my face and I felt better.

It was pretty dark outside by this point. I was close to my apartment though, and I was mostly alone as I walked down the street. There were more cars than usual parked around though, I mused. There must be some sort of event going on nearby.

Something caught my eye from the roof top far above. Perhaps because I was now a little more aware of things going on up there instead of being absorbed in my phone and the ground like most of the citizens around here. I could barely make out someone waving wildly at me. The silhouette made it obvious who it was, but even if I hadn't been able to see that I couldn't think of anyone else who might be waving at me from a roof top. I looked around quickly because even if people didn't look to the rooftops they were more than likely to notice a girl waving up at the air, and then I waved back. I was pretty sure my ridiculous grin was back. As happiness filled me I couldn't bring myself to care.

"A superhero," Donnie said skeptically. "With superpowers, and costume, and mask and all that? She's actually this 'Redwing?'"

"Complete with mysterious backstory about her powers, yeah," Mikey added cheerfully. It was obvious that he was a lot more enthusiastic about this than Don.

Donatello had thought (or hoped, perhaps) that Mikey's plans might change once they both were a little more coherent. (Don himself had been working off of three hours of sleep at that point.) If anything Michelangelo threw himself into the plan with even more gusto come morning. Donnie knew his brother, and the hyperactive turtle had reached a point where he could no longer be distracted or convinced to alter his plans.

In all seriousness the bo staff wielder was actually fairly intrigued about this girl who had captured so much of Mikey's interest.

Mikey leaned far over the edge of the building wall, to the point where Don was a little concerned. He was more worried about how exposed they would be, however. "Mikey!" He hissed, yanking his brother back.

Mikey didn't resist, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from the girl walking along the sidewalk. "That's her," he breathed. He surged forward again, although thankfully stayed at least partially in the shadows. So much for subtlety, Don thought wryly as his brother began waving wildly at the girl below.

Don had thought it unlikely that she would even notice them, but sure enough she looked up. Something about this whole situation made Don think that perhaps this would work out. Even from up here he could see that the girl's grin as she waved back was as equally goofy as his brother's.

When Don looked back to the situation he would blame his focus on examining Mikey and Mikayla. Those two, of course, were paying more attention to each other than anything else.

Everything happened incredibly fast. Three men jumped out of the running van that was right next to Mikayla. She had glanced over at the sound of the nearby opening door with mild curiousity which then turned to surprise as the men rushed toward her. The first man injected a syringe into her neck and then grabbed her arm roughly, but then jerked back with a series of curses when she lashed out, his own arm now hanging limply at his side. While she was distracted the next man twisted her arms behind her.

A whimper left her lips as her arms were forced into the painful position. Still, she struggled despite the obvious pain. Her struggles were to no avail. In fact they started slowing and she fell limply against her attacker. The three men quickly and efficiently loaded her into the van and it took off with a echoing squeal emitting from its wheels.

Michelangelo was off after the van before the two turtles even had time to exchange words. Don was right behind Mikey, but even as they ran and leap across buldings at top speed they were barely keeping up with the vehicle. It was a stroke of luck when the van slowed down as it entered a more populated area, smoothly merging into the steady stream of traffic and now strictly following the posted speed limit. Probably the most sensible course of action when you had a kidnapped girl in your vehicle.

It was easier to keep up now, Don was able to calculate their course instead devoting his full attention to keeping up with both the fleeing vehicle and his brother. There was something that told him that Mikey wouldn't be waiting for him to catch up if he let his brother get too far out of sight.

The van slowed as it reached its apparent destination. A business oriented sector, and an area where there was almost more construction going on than there was completed buildings. A heavily enforced door opened just long enough for the van to be swallowed into the depths of the building and then clank shut with an eerie air of finality.

The entrances seemed the most secure, Donatello noticed. The upper floors would be easier to access, although who knew what level they would need to get to. Collective Advances Technology was emblazoned across the front of the structure, completed with logo and everything. It wasn't identical, but the logo held a distinct resemblance to another foreboding symbol Don realized uneasily. The Foot. There was no way that this was mere coincidence.

The way Mikey's shoulders tensed made it likely that the orange masked turtle had also noticed the symbol. Still, he continued moving forward.

"Mikey, we need a plan!" Mikey didn't turn back until Don grabbed his arm, and when he did his expression was more intense than Don had ever seen. Mikey always has a charismatic presence and an almost tangible kind of energy surrounding him, but now that energy was sharper. More focused. More Dangerous. Mikey's eye were hard and he stood stiffly straight with his hands tightened into fists.

"We don't know what's in there," Don persisted, hoping logic and reason would be enough. "At the very least we should grab Raph and Leo."

Several long seconds passed before Mikey reluctantly nodded. He stepped back from the edge, although he never tore his eyes away from the building in front of him.

The metal of the handcuffs bit into my wrists as my hands dangled limply. The chain was strung through the grab handle on the roof of the car I was in and it was all I could do to lace my fingertips around the handle to relieve the pressure on my wrists. I felt like I was extremely tired, almost like I could fall asleep at any moment.

My neck still stung. Even though I was barely coherant -an effect of whatever I had been stabbed in the throat with,I assumed- I was only feeling slightly worried. As I tried my best to think of a way out of this situation I kept feeling little tendrils of fear shoot through me, but they were slowed and dulled by the fog invading my head.

The complete silence in the vehicle unnerved me. I tried to breathe quietly as each breath shuddered through my chest. When I had tried to scream a gloved had tightened around my face, grip painfully tight. I thrashed as best as I could, struggling to breathe when my mouth and nose were almost completely covered. I was light headed and panting by the time I was released. The adrenaline only energized me for a moment. The driver hadn't spared me a single glance. One man was looking back at me periodically though. The one with the broken arm also kept glancing at me and giving me dirty looks. He was careful to only do it when the others weren't looking and I hoped I wouldn't be left alone with him.

I tried to think about how I felt when I had flung the man off of me. Of how I had felt when I destroyed the apartment window. Why couldn't I channel that power now? I concentrated, reaching deep inside me, doing my best to call up the tingling I had noticed whenever I inadvertently used my powers. I pulled on the handle my handcuffs were attached to.

Nothing happened. My fingers slipped off the handle. I didn't have the will to reach out for it again. My eyes drifted closed.

And now we start to move forward. XD

Thank you to all of my lovely reviewers. I always adore hearing from you.

Sorry this chapter is a little late... and a little shorter than I wanted. XP I meant to polish it up more and add to it, but unfortunately it didn't end up happening. Please forgive any mistakes (and please let me know), I ended up changing things around a couple of times. I'll have to see when I can get the next chapter out. I have a lot going on at my work right now, and in addition to the workload, everyone is stressed out and short with each other which is really not a fun environment to be in. I've been so stressed out myself I haven't been writing much lately. Hoping to change that on my next few days off, but we'll see.

Regardless, thank you for reading!