"Things seem to be getting back to normal, don't you think?" Casey Jackson placed his hand on top of Kara's head having come visit him now that things have started to cool down after the invasion.
"For the most part. I guess people hae a good wye o' hiding what had happened. Disnae help that no one outside o' New York knows anything aboot it." Dragan crossed her arms sitting down on the other side of Casey
"Yeah, I suppose...does Jessica sill treat you?" Kara glanced up at him curiously, having laying her head on the bed.
"Yes but she doesn't seem herself though. Did something happen?"
"I'd rather not talk about it..anyways, how are you feeling? You're looking a lot better." Kara sat up smiling at him.
"Yeah." Dragan agreed to lighten the mood. "Can't wait tae see ye up an aboot again. Fighting along side ye was pretty cool." A grin crossed her face as she remembered the times the fought side by side. He surprised and impressed her.
"Heh. It's a good thing I have experience then." Casey rubbed the back of his embarrassed. "Still stings every now and then but I'll be out of here in no time and soon we'll both be back to work." Casey reached over for his wallet and pulled out a slip of paper and handed it to her with a grin on his face.
"Already?" She blinked while taking the paper and read it.
"Yup. The guys running down there came by a couple days ago and talked about bringing it back up. Wanted you to be there fighting of course. They said they'd wait til I was fully recovered before they share the details. I figure it's going to take awhile for them to bring all the fighters back as well as make repairs to the place..after..well, you know."
Kara gave the slip back to him with a grin on her face. "Can't wait to start fighting regular people."
Casey put away the paper and smiled at her before lowering his gaze to his wound. "So..about those mutants?"
Kara froze for a moment but knew the cat was out of bag and let out a sigh.
"During those months you were gone Dragan told me some things about them but not a lot of information."
Kara began rubbing her arm nervously and glanced towards his room door. "I'd rather tell you another time. I promise I'll spill the beans just..focus on getting better, ok? I gotta go." She stood to her feet and walked out of his room without looking back.
"Whu, wait a minute, Kara! Uh...See ye later, Casey." Dragan jumped to her feet to follow after her but now without waving bye to Casey who gave a confused wave back. Finally catching up with Kara she grabbed her shoulder to stop her. "What was that aw aboot leaving so suddenly?"
"I..I can't tell him..not yet anyways. I don't want to lose him either." Kara hugged herself not wanting to face Dragan.
Dragan moved to her side, her hand still on her shoulder. "Shh, it'll be ok. We'll get through this. Come on, let's go tae the store. We hae a loooot o' shopping tae dae."
Kara looked at her and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
-Several shopping hours later-
"Are ye sure this is safe?!" Dragan yelled from inside the shopping cart that was tied to the back of Kara's scooter clinging to the groceries.
"Uhh..." Kara looked through her side view mirrors while driving. "To be honest, I've never done this with a passenger before! You should be good though!"
Before Dragan could respond to that both of them heard a cry for help causing Kara to suddenly push on the breaks and stop.
"Did ye hear that?"
"Yeah, but where did it come from?" Kara looked around before closing her eyes to concentrate and when she heard the screams again she was able pinpoint where it came from and drove towards the alley. She stopped the scooter and backed up to see a mutant beating up the purple dragons. "Uh-oh.."
"Wait, look." Dragan climbed out of the cart and watched the scene as the man tells a woman who saw what had happened that the monster saved him. That he was a monster hero.
Dragan and Kara both looked at each other and Kara got off her scooter to get a closer look as more people came by to see what the big deal was.
"Take the groceries home and I'll meet you at the lair. Got it?" Kara said handing Dragan the keys.
Dragan clenched the keys in her hand, giving her a nod, and left.
Kara brought out her phone and dialed Donnie's number not knowing he was watching the news. "Hey, Donnie, I just came across another mutant."
"Yeah, we saw you and the thing on TV. They're calling it Muckman."
"Muckman? That's a lame name..anyways, do you know anything about it?"
"Hmm, well he could be one of Stockman's experimenter gone array. It's hard to tell at this point." Donnie said before putting her on speaker.
"I say we find this guy and assuming we can tell his butt from his face, kick it." Raph said with a grin, punching his hand into his palm.
"Woah woah, calm down there, tiger. I saw him take down the Purple Dragons and save a guy."
"Yeah, maybe he's on our side." Leo added in.
"I'm heading over to your place. Be there soon." She hung up before she could hear what Donnie was saying and picked up her pace but blinked when she smelt a heavy, smelly odor, like a large amount of garbage piled up and sitting for days. "Wait a minute.." Skidding to a halt she began to search for the smell til finally she found Muckman.
Hearing him talking to someone she snuck closer to take a look only to trip over a trashcan lid and fell over with an, "Oomph!"
"Hey!" Muckman yelled, startled.
"Woah! Easy there big fella, didn't mean to scare you. I'm not going to hurt you." She slowly stood to her feet, her arms out to show she meant no harm. "You ok?"
"No! I just wanted to make an honest, normal living til I was changed into a mutant freak!"
Kara could hear sorrow in his voice but before she could say anything a scream interrupted her and a crowd of fans appeared along with Joan Grody and her cameraman. "Oh boy.." She immediately took off to make sure she wasn't seen but hid close by up on the roofs to watch over him, not done speaking with him.
Watching him run she began to feel bad for him and saw he was at a dead end. Spotting a small alley he could fit through she landed on the other side and grabbed his attention. "Psst, Muckman, over here." She waved her arm and began to try and pry the blockade off but blinked in surprise seeing him shrink down into a puddle of garbage and slide through the bottom. She took a few steps back before leading him away.
"They don't care about me! I'm just a joke! A side show they can laugh at!"
Kara turned around to comfort him though not knowing how til she heard a familiar voice.
"Dude, are you talking to your eyeball?!"
"Mikey? Guys? What're you doing her-"
"Turtlemen?!" Muckman yelled.
"Well, technically, we're turtle-teens.." Donnie pointed out but blinked when garbage started levitating around Muckman.
"IT WAS YOU! YOU DID THIS TO ME!" Muckman pushed Kara out of the way as he threw the heaps of garbage at the turtles, missing April. He walked up to the groaning turtles before they could get up. "YOU TURNED ME INTO A FREAK!" He took in a deep breath as a bubble on his shoulder started growing til he puked yellow slime all over them.
That was enough for Kara so she and April stood protectively in front of them.
"Don't hurt them! I'm warning you!" April yelled bringing her weapon out.
"I don't want to hurt you, little girl.." Muckman said beginning to back away.
Kara clenched her fists, ready to attack if necessary but began to lower her arms watching him cower away then retreat not knowing why til she heard clinking heels. "Joan...guys, time to go."
"Get up, they're going to see you!" April whispered loud enough for them to hear.
"I'll see you guys later!" Kara shouted climbing the windows of the building behind them til she reached the fire escape and left back for her home.
Walking in through the front door she was greeted by Dragan right away with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. "Kara..."
"Uh oh...did we miss something at the store?" Kara smiled innocently while shrugging her shoulders.
"Ow! Ow! Owie!" Kara yelled as Dragan dragged her by the ear to the TV where Joan Grody was talking about the turtles. "Oh crap..."
"Ya guys were caught on video?!" Dragan yelled in her ear.
"I wasn't! Why are you yelling at me?!" She flailed her arms trying to get away only to fall when Dragan finally let her go.
"Because the guys aren't here for me tae yell at! What were ye doing that got ya on video, anywyes?"
Kara sat up rubbing her ear and looked up at Dragan. "I managed to talk to Muckman for a minute but now he has a fanbase and they were pretty much chasing him around like a hot, teen celebrity. The guys confronted him and Muckman thinks they mutated him so he started attacking them but the weird thing is..he wasn't hostile to April or me..he retreated just as his fanbase arrived and..well, you know the rest. Think you pulled my ear out of my head.." Kara grumbled.
"So he's a good guy after all, just scared. Poor guy. We should tell the guys an go search for him." Dragan stood and grabbed her sword and shield, strapping it to her back.
Hearing Donnie's ringtone she swiped the menu up to see his message. "Looks like the guys are grounded. Figures."
"Then we find Muckman ourselves an show him that thay're the good guys an didn't dae or mean tae mutate him. Sound like a plan?" Dragan grinned her direction while tieing her hair back.
"Haha, heck yeah! Finally we get to show off our moves!" Kara was instantly back on her feet. "Let's go!" Both Kara and Dragan ran out the door and went straight for the elevator.
"On another note...ye should seriously consider buying a car. I'm nae riding in a shopping cart forever." Dragan crossed her arms as Kara pushed the button.
"I don't have my license yet. How about a sidecar?" Kara grinned as the image of them riding together with Dragan in a sidecar made her start laughing.
Dragan sighed while placing her hand over her eyes as the elevator doors closed.
Following behind Kara while she was in her blind bandit mode Dragan looked around at the scenery noticing it seemed somewhat darker than New York usually was. "I remember this part o' town.."
"Stay focused, wait." Kara stopped, holding up her hand for Dragan to stop as well, and turned her head to the side and walked over to the edge of the roof. "Down there." She pointed before lowering her blindfold. "It's Beebop and Rocksteady...what do they want with Muckman? Gah, I can't hear what they're saying."
"Allow me. I learned a few ninja tricks while ya guys were gone." Dragan pointed at herself, a grin on her face, and set down her sword and shield before silently making her way down close enough to listen in on their conversation.
"You think turtles are our comrades? Heh-heh-heh. Nyet! We are on your side." Rocksteady explained.
"Yeah, dawg, we hate em more than moldy cheese. Unless that's your thing being a trash dude or whatever, I'm just say'n.."
"Did they..mutate you too?"
Beebop and Rocksteady looked at each other and grinned.
"No doubt."
"It's true."
"Isn't there some kind of cure? Or are we stuck like this forever?" Muckman moved closer to them.
Dragan had enough and she climbed back up to Kara looking ticked off.
"Well, what happened?" Kara asked, helping her over the edge.
"Ooch, The pig an rhino are lieing tae Muckman aboot the guys making him believe that thay're on his side. Those jerks.."
"Looks like they're leaving. Let's follow them."
"Right behind ya." Dragan grabbed her belongings and followed after Kara.
Following the van they found Beebop and Rocksteady stopped at what looks to be an abandoned apartment building and moved to where they were standing, seeing the lights from a high-tech control pad.
"Wonder what they're looking for in there.."
"Busting into Kraang labs? Not very heroic, Mucky."
Kara and Dragan looked over hearing Raph's voice and saw the guys land in front of Muckman and the others.
"Wait, I thought thay were grounded."
"Looks like they snuck out. Guess we'll have to share the fun then." Kara pouted and went to climb down but was stopped by Dragan.
"Wait, something disnae seem right. Let's see why thay're here in the first place."
Kara was against it at first but seeing the look on her face made her stop. "Fine..but they're up to no good that's for sure."
"I'm not some dumb kid who don't know good from bad. I know who turned me into a monster: You!" Muckman's shoulder bubble began to grow again for another puke attack but the guys dodged it in time.
"I knew he was just another puke monster! Get em!" Raph shouted pointing his sai at him.
"You get the chemical. We'll handle them." Beebop said as both he and Rocksteady charged.
Raph and Leo were dealing with Rocksteady while Mikey and Donnie had Beebop.
"What're you doing, Muckdude? You're suppose to be a hero!" Mikey shouted to him.
"No! You made me a monster! Now you're going to see what a monster can do!" Muckman activated his powers sending a strong wind of garbage flying everywhere.
"I don't know what these two morons told you but we did not do this to you!" Leo shouted to Muckman through the wind only to have a diaper fly at his face.
Kara clenched her fists seeing them being taken down one by one and it wasn't til she saw them huddled together in fear that she had enough and dropped down in between them. "That's enough, Muckman! Leave my friends alone!" She shouted angrily at him.
"Kara!" Donnie yelled in surprise Dragan landing beside her with her sword drawn.
"You, what're you doing out here? Friends? You're friends with these mutant weirdos?" Muckman yelled in surprise and anger.
"Yes and they wouldn't hurt an innocent or mutate someone..on purpose. These are the good guys, Muckman! I know you're just scared but I won't let you harm them any longer!"
"Ye hae tae listen tae us! We can help ya, not them!" Dragan joined in, standing straight with her sword lowered to her side.
"Do not listen to those lies! We crush them. You go into lab!" Rocksteady shouted.
"Come on, Mucky, you think it's hard lookin' in a mirror now but what about after you're a criminal?" Muckman's eye popped out and stared right at him, crossing it's little vein arms.
Kara's face twisted in disgust and she leaned over to Dragan. "Are you seeing..what I'm seeing?" She whispered.
"I really wish I wasn't.." Dragan whispered back.
"Atleast I'll be human; people won't call me a freak!"
"So what if they do? As long as you're doing the right thing." Leo said as they all stood to their feet smiling at Muckman and making his eye get all teary.
"Watching you get all sappy is making me want to spew toxic puke." Beebop interrupted their moment and brought out a small ball before throwing it at them.
Expecting the worse, Kara pushed Dragan. "Scatter!" She yelled as she jumped out of the way, Dragan leaping the opposite way of Kara as a large explosion erupted around them.
Kara slowly stood to her feet, the ringing sound echoing in her ears causing her to stumble around in confusion. Covering her ears in pain she kept her eyes closed as she tried to adjust herself. She snapped her head hearing the sound of Muckman screaming and stumbled to his aid til she was able to focus again.
Not being directly hit by the explosion, Dragan was able to come to her senses as well and followed beside Kara seeing Rocksteady take the chemical Muckman had in his hand.
"Oh no ye daen't!" Dragan shouted, jumping over Muckman and throwing her shield down over him before slicing both traps off in one sweep while Kara used all the strength she had to tackle Rocksteady, focusing on his middle half, causing him to fall over.
He raised his arms to make sure he didn't drop any of the chemical and stood to his feet just as the guys joined in fighting Beebop and Rocksteady.
Dragan grabbed her shield and bent down beside Mikey and Donnie.
"Oh no. Are you ok? How many fingers am I holding up?" Donnie asked holding his hand out only having three fingers.
"Nine."
All three looked at each other and sorta smiled before Mikey got close. "It's all good, Mucky, just chill here for a sec. We got these guys."
"No trouble at all." Dragan grinned down at him with a wink.
"No! This ones on me." Muckman sat up while Leo, Raph, and Kara slid to his side glaring at Beebop and Rocksteady who were retreating with the chemical still in hand.
"I have an idea." Donnie smirked looking up at Muckman.
"I have a baad feeling..." Kara muttered.
While Leo threw his ninja stars are Beebop everyone lifted Muckman off the ground as he readied his toxic puke.
"I was right.." Kara sighed only to shudder as she felt her hands sink into the muck before they all charged close to BB and RS.
"Slime em!" Leo shouted as Muckman released his puke onto them, covering them completely from head to toe.
"Awww, weak son! Wiggity Wiggity Wiggty Wiggty wack!" Beebop shouted while shaking off the puke from his face.
"Nyet! The chemical!" Rocksteady shouted as some of the puke got inside and started glowing til it exploded in a cloud of smoke popped out and the vial cracked.
Everyone got into a fighting stance ready to take them out.
"You got keys for van, ya? It's time we put the pedal to the metal!" Rocksteady shouted while tossing the useless vial away, both he and Beebop fleeing the scene.
"What're we waiting for? Let's finish them off!" Muckman shouted, taking a step forward.
"That problems done with, pal. You really wanna finish this? You know what to do." Joe pooped out, looking at him.
"Uh..look uh..turtlemen..I know you were only trying to uh.."
"It's cool, Muckman." Mikey smiled, holding his hand up.
"Stuff happens. It's all good." Raph shrugged it off.
"Hehe, yeah, we've been accused of waaay worse things." Donnie went to explain but was stopped by Leo.
"Like being child eating mutant monsters?!"
Dragan and Kara looked where Leo was staring at to see Joan Grody looking around searching for Muckman most likely.
"Joan.." Kara squinted her eyes but blinked when the guys hid behind Muckman. "That won't help.."
"Scatter, fellas, I'll handle this." Muckman told them.
Kara looked at him, placing her hand on his arm. "Thank you, friend." She gave his arm a pat before following the guys up and Dragan up to the roof.
"See you guys later. I need to take a shower big time." Kara wiped the slime from her hands on her pants and waved bye with Dragan following right behind her.
"Wonder how different the city will be now wi a mutant hero like Muckman." Dragan thought out loud as they made their way home.
"Hopefully it'll be for the better. Still..I wonder what they wanted those chemicals."
"The answer will come tae us eventually. I'm sure Donnie knows though."
"Yeah, I'll ask him later but for now: Shower."
"An food."
Dragan and Kara smiled at each other, laughing, as they ran through the rooftops of the city to their home.