Kara let out a groan as she suddenly came to, darkness greeting her when she opened her eyes. "What the.." Next thing she felt was cold stone as placed her hand on the ground to sit up. "W-where...where am I?" She closed her eyes to try and see what was around her but the minute she closed her eyes she felt throb of pain that caused her to wince and throw her hand over the side of her head. "I guess I better do the second best thing.." Slowly walking to the side, she held her hands out in front of her as she tried to feel for a wall. When her fingers made contact with even more cold stone she smiled to herself and began to follow it.
After awhile, it became clear where she was: in some..room. "Ok, I'm alone in the dark..in an empty room with no recollection of how I got here. Wonder if there are anymore surprises for me." She blinked when she heard the stones separating making an opening. She turned towards it as she tried to adjust to the darkness and was able to make out a silhouette of someone. "Hey, whose there? You better answer me or else!" When nothing was said she closed her eyes again to try and atleast get a picture of what was in front of her but after several seconds pain shot through her head again making her wince in pain. "What the..grrr this is starting to get annoying. Hey! Show yourself or else!"
Several seconds went by and no movement or sound was made. Starting to get annoyed she clenched her fists and opened her mouth to say something til large, glowing red eyes opened shot open and were focused right on her. "I suddenly have a baaad feeling.."
~~Six Hours Earlier~~
"How's it going, Donnie? Any luck?" Raph asked, everyone having gathered in Donnie's lab to see how his progress was.
"I've been able to synthesize the neural toxin from the brainworm based on your blood sample." Donnie explained, holding a petri-dish filled with the toxin in his hand.
"Ooooo, preettty." Mikey went to touch the flask with the possible antidote only to have Master Splinter smack his hand away. "Do you think it'll work on Karai?"
"It's gotta work.." Kara whispered clenching her hand around her crossed arms.
Dragan noticed her tension and placed her hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner.
"We're about to find out." Donnie held the dropper containing some toxin over the flask and squeezed a drop into it as everyone watched and waited for a reaction; the chemicals beginning to bubble. The anticipation was growing til it suddenly changed black and foamed up and overflowed the flask, it spilling freely on the table.
Donnie let out a groan, lowering his head at the failed experiment.
Kara closed her eyes, her arms loosening around her and shoulders sagging in defeat.
Dragan looked to Leo and Master Splinter noticing the sorrow in their eyes and sighed.
"Donnie, you tried your best, bra. Even if it totally sucked."
Dragan narrowed her eyes at Mikey thinking he was going to say something to cheer Donnie up but jumped, startled as Donnie slammed his fist onto the table.
"Gah, it's useless! I'm not even close! I can't do it! This brainworm is impossible!" Donnie threw his hands over his eyes as she dropped down onto his chair. "Sensei, I'm sorry..there's nothing I can do.." He said softly staring up at his father and mentor in regret and sadness.
Kara went over and placed her arm around his shoulders giving him a gentle squeeze.
"I know how hard you have tried, Donatello. Somethings are simply not meant to be." Master Splinter turned and walked away. "Atleast I have four wonderful sons."
After he left everyone went their separate ways, Kara and Dragan following Donnie.
"I know you can get this, Donnie. You just need to take a break." Kara gave him a small smile to try and cheer him up.
"I agree. How aboot we go tae Murikam's an just relax? The answer will come tae ya I just know it." Dragan took the clipboard from his hand noticing he wasn't paying attention and held it behind her before he could react but blinked when Leo came storming behind them.
"Donnie, you know how much this means to Sensei."
"Leo, I'm trying as hard as I can."
"Yeah, he hasn't been getting enough sleep because of it so lay off, Leo." Kara glanced towards him.
"You need to try harder!"
All of them blinked in surprise at what Leo spurted out; Dragan and Kara fully facing him now.
"Try harder? I always have to come up with a solution! Why don't you find the answer since you're leader and all!?"
"Leo, how can you say that? He's been working himself to the bone to find a way to save Karai and you're telling him to "try harder"? What is wrong with you?!" Kara yelled walking up to Leo.
"Guys..calm down.."
"I guess since you're the leader and all why don't you have someone else find the answers, huh? Why not Raph?!" Donnie shouted.
"Oh, I've got the answer! Karai is a lost cause!" Raph joined in.
"Everyone, please.."
"Don't say that dude!" Mikey shoved Raph's shoulder in anger having Raph face him.
With all of them yelling and Donnie's T-Phone suddenly going off; Dragan just about had it. "That iS...ENOUGH!" She screamed at the top of her lungs causing everyone to stop what they were doing and turn to her, Donnie having the T-Phone to his ear April explaining to meet her alone.
"I'll call you back, April.."
"What is the problem here?" Master Splinter walked in staring at everyone.
"Nothing, Sensei, I'm heading out. April needs me." Donnie said walking past him.
"You're needed here now, Donnie. Donnie!" Leo ran after him as Donnie jumped into the shellcycle and drove off without a second look.
"Donnie, wait!" Kara ran to catch up with him but stopped once he was out of sight. She sighed in annoyance and glared over at Leo. "This is all your fault! Why can't you understand he's doing his best?!" Kara yelled, getting into his face.
"Stop it, now!" Dragan shouted, getting in between the both of them. "Kara, go home an wait for me thare. We'll both go find Donnie after I speak wi Leo."
Kara stared at her for a moment before nodding and walking away, grumbling to herself.
"Can you believe she blames me for this?" Leo looked to Dragan but stopped seeing the serious look on her face.
"Yes, I can. Leo, ye know Donnie has been working day an night on the cure for Karai. Why are ye giving him such a hard time?"
"Oh, what, you're siding with Donnie? You're suppose to be on my side!"
"Leo, ya need tae calm down an relax. I know ye want tae hae Karai back for Master Splinter but why can't ye see he's trying his hardest?"
"Because it's not good enough, Dragan!"
"That's not up tae ya though, Leo! Can't ya see how exhausted an stressed out he is? Ye an I both know he's the only one who is able tae do this kind o' work an that's puttin' even more pressure on him!"
Leo's eye suddenly twitched; his temper rising with each passing minute as the only thing he heard was Donnie this or Donnie that even with his own girlfriend. His own jealousy was adding fuel to the fire and he finally snapped. "Shut up, Dragan!" He didn't stop to see her shocked face as he continued, unable to stop his already moving mouth. "Is that all you care about? Is Donnie? What about me, huh?! I have been trying to keep this team together AND comfort Master Splinter and what have you done? Nothing! You always go on about your code and how a knight is suppose to be noble and help people but apparently that was a lie because all you've done is get in the way!"
The sound of a slap echoed in the underground.
Raph and Mikey stared, mouth agape, seeing Dragan with her arm out and bent in front of her and Leo's head turned sideways, a look of shock plastered on it, his left cheek reddening from the impact of her hand.
Leo slowly lifted his head and a soft gasp escaped his lips when he saw tears slide down her cheek, her head lowered so her eyes were hidden by the shadow of her hair. Instantly, he regretted everything he just said, guilt slamming into his stomach and chest like a run away train. "Dragan, I'm-" He began to reach his hand towards her but flinched when her gaze rose to him, eyes glaring fiercely he felt he was drowning in her eyes.
Without so much as a sound she turned and walked away, biting her lip to keep any noise from escaping as she held the hand that had slapped him to her chest and squeezed it, never having thought she would strike someone she cared so deeply for out of hate, her tears streaming faster as she now began to run.
Leo lowered his arm and hung his head in shame before turning around and seeing his brothers staring at him with judgemental eyes, Raph angered by his actions and words, and Mikey pained seeing Dragan crying. This only deepened the guilt he felt and all he could do was look away.
Master Splinter looked down at his oldest son knowing he didn't mean a word of it and let out a soft sigh. "My sons, you cannot drive each other apart. In times likes these unity is important. Do not forget the most basic lesson: An effective team thinks as one."
~~With Kara~~
Kara groaned loudly in annoyance as she fell over onto the couch, her feet up in the air. "She's taking forever! Maybe I should just search on my own..wait..he said April called him...duh!" She picked up her phone and pressed April's contacts to call her, placing the phone to her ear as it began to ring.
"Hey, Kara, what's up?"
"Nothing just seeing if you and Donnie finished with what you needed him for." She leaned back playing with the ends of her hair in a bored manner.
"What do you mean? Donnie isn't with me I just finished my homework so I'm heading over to the Lair. Is something wrong?"
Kara blinked when she suddenly felt she wasn't alone. "Yeah, everything's fine, I guess I heard him wrong. You know how he likes to mumble to himself a lot."
"It's a really weird habit." April agreed jokingly.
"I'll see you at the lair." Kara hung up the phone as she stood to her feet, her back turned to the balcony. She took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes; giving her foot a gently tap on the ground. "I know your there you might as well come out...Tigerclaw."
A low growl was heard across the room before a roar erupted and Tigerclaw charged for Kara, she turning around to face him, hands clenched into fists.
~~With Dragan~~
Finally making her way home she stood at the door wiping her eyes to rid the evidence of tears not wanting to worry Kara or make her even more angry at Leo. Once she felt she was normal she went to place her hand on the knob when a sudden eerie feeling came over her; feeling as though she was walking into a trap. "Kara's inside though..." She took a deep breath as she grabbed the knob and turned it, walking inside. It was dark, of course, but she felt that she wasn't alone. "Kara?" She was able to make out a figure sitting down on the couch and she walked over to it. "Kara, what are ye doing in the da-"
"Lower your voice, cub." Tigerclaw said in a calm down as he glanced down at a sleeping Kara in his lap, his paw gently brushing over her hair. Seeing Dragan reach for her weapon out of the corner of his eye he gave her a smirk. "Make one move and I can't guarantee how deep my claws will go inside her head." His claws extended out as he traced him over the skin of Kara's face making Dragan freeze before lowering her hand to her side.
"What do ye want, Tigerclaw.."
"You and your friends are invited to play a game with Karai." He simply said.
"An what if we refuse?" She narrowed her eyes at him wanting to tackle him away from Kara but knew he was skilled enough to hurt Kara before she even took a step.
"You should of taken my offer." Tigerclaw ignored her question as he glanced behind her and gave a nod.
Suddenly Dragan felt a damp cloth being pressed over her nose and mouth; beginning to feel lightheaded, the last thing she heard was, "What makes you think you have a choice?", before falling into darkness.
~~With Kara~~
"Well...that explains that I suppose but..how did he know where I lived?"
"Greetings turtles and friends. It's time for us to play a game." Karai's voice spoke over the intercom. "Each of you has been placed inside a room with a unique trap."
"I'm guessing mine is looking right at me.." Kara muttered as she moved around to try and find where the guys were but began to notice the glowing eyes were watching her every move, following her like a predator, as if they were both in a lit room. "I guess this thing has night vision.."
"Oh, we all had input. Isn't that right, Xever?"
"I helped design yours personally, Raphael. Everyone loves baked turtle."
She could hear Karai and Xever speaking to Raph but wasn't able to hear him herself. While Raph had her distracted she began to think of a way out. Finding no solution other than forward she turned to face whatever was in her way. "Only one way out I suppose." She clenched her fists to her sides and ran towards it but before she could reach it red lights started flashing in the room and she skid to a halt, her eyes widened at the figure before her staring her down. She immediately jumped back to create some distance between them staring in disbelief and shock at the red eyes.
"Impatient as ever, Kara. Since you're ready to start the fun I suppose I can start with you first. Yours is pretty straight forward: A battle to the death! Heh judging by the expression on your face I can you understand who your opponent will be but don't worry though this isn't the real thing." A smirk crept on Karai's face as the room lit up for her to see the person Kara wished she'd never have to face again: The Fighter. "Thanks to the pleasant Baxter Stockman we were able to make a footbot designed especially for you. There is a catch though, this will not be a simple fight, with each passing hour his speed and strength increase. Have fun." She cooed with a giggle.
Kara's heart began to race as she stared into the robotic face of The Fighter. She didn't know which would be worse: fighting the real one or this one. Her heart skipped a beat when it gave her that sickening grin she loathed and charged for her. "Grr..I will defeat you again!" She yelled bracing for their fight.
~~With Dragan~~
Having heard everyone's trap room she figured she was last. She took a deep breath and waited to see what fate had in store for her.
"And lastly, The Knight Dragan. You know, I have to say, your trap was a bit tricky to come up with but who can resist the classic squished to death?"
"...Ya serious? That is the most old fashioned trap in the book! It's so old an ancient!"
"Hmm, then I guess it will suit you just fine. Knights are old and ancient after all and you're the last of their kind well, not after today." Karai pressed a button activating her trap as she ceiling began to rumble then slowly lowered itself.
"...Ye tak that back now KARAI!" Dragan yelled glaring darkly into the camera.
"I don't take orders from someone like you, Dragan. Goodluck guys..and good riddance." Karai turned off the mic leaving them all to face their traps.
~~With Kara~~
A grunt of pain escaped her lips as she was punched across the face. She stood her ground though her legs were beginning to get weak from fighting for nearly two hours and Karai wasn't kidding when she said the speed and strength would increase, she was beginning to take more hits than receive them but she didn't let that stop her. Pressing her back to the wall she waited for the thing in front of her to attack, even the way he fought had been inputted into the robot as it went right for her face. Just before it could strike she bent down, dodging its attack and slammed her fist into his side, hissing in pain when she felt her knuckles beginning to scrape from the contact with the metal but refused to give up.
As time passed she feared she wasn't going to be saved any time soon and had to think of a way out though she wasn't given much time to think for the bots attacks were becoming quicker. She let out a startled yell and quickly dodged when she noticed that around the room he left small crater sized holes in the wall from his attacks. Suddenly, a thought came to her and she rolled to the other side of the room and took a deep breath while closing her eyes.
"Calm your mind.." She moved into her fighting stance and waited as he came charging at her. At the last second she dodged his attack, his fist punching through the wall but his fist became stuck. He went to free his hand but she acted first, punching his shoulder with enough force to dislocate it's arm then slammed her foot into both of his knees causing it to fall forward but not before she grabbed it's head and rammed it with all her strength into the wall til it began to malfunction and eventually, die.
She slumped to her knees in exhaustion but looked up when the door opened for her. With a sigh she stood to her feet and clumsily walked out of the room but blinked when she heard grunting in the room beside her and immediately opened the door to see a moving wall going down and a struggling Dragan trying to push it away from her as she was being pressed into the ground. "Dragan! I'm coming!" She bent down to her knees and crawled close enough to grab Dragan and began dragging her out of the room as the ceiling was close to squishing them both but luckily, they both made it at the last minute.
Both of them laid on the ground, exhausted to the core. "I think..I had...enough fun...for awhile..ugggh." Kara groaned.
"Ye an me both." Dragan agreed under her breath.
Both of them let out a sigh beginning to relax til the shout of, "No!" filled their ears, shooting up from the ground.
"That sounded like Master Splinter!"
"Let's go!" Both of them ran from where the voice came from and stopped at the end of the tunnel looking down at the main drain to see the guys, Master Splinter, and April standing on top of some sort of machine.
"Guys! Up here!" Kara yelled while waving her arm to get their attention.
Back at the lair Donnie and April were tending to Kara's injuries.
Dragan stayed outside the lair, sitting on the steps waiting for Kara to come out so they could go home but refused to step inside the lair not wanting to see or speak to Leo, still upset over what he said, and no one could blame her.
"Dragan.." Leo's voice came from behind her and she tensed up, lowering her head. "I'm...I'm so sorry about what I said. I didn't mean any of it. I was...I just let Karai get the better of me...again. It's just..it felt nice to have the family feel..complete." Leo took slow steps towards her and sat down beside her, giving her some space. "You are an amazing fighter. You're strong, brilliant, honorable, and losing you because I let my anger take over me...it would shatter me. I don't deserve someone like you.."
Dragan glanced towards him and was surprised to see his eyes were glossing over with tears. "Leo..." She reached over and gently wiped away a tear before it could fall and moved closer to him.
He looked up in time to see her leaning close before he closed his eyes as their lips met in an affectionate kiss. When they departed she leaned her head against his shoulder, Leo wrapping his arms around her.
"What ye said...it broke ma heart..but I know that those weren't your words but words clouded by hate an stress but ye hae tae understand..ye are nae the only one fighting. We aw are an we're doing it together so..let us fight wi ya." She placed her hand over his and gave it a squeeze.
"I know..and I'm sorry. I won't let this take control over me anymore. I promise." He smiled down at her giving her hair a gentle stroke.
"HE SAID WHAT?!" Both of them heard from inside the lair. In a matter of seconds Kara slid outside behind them covered with bandaids and patches, glaring darkly down at Leo. "What..did you say...to Dragan?"
The color left Leo's skin as his life began to flash in his eyes.
"Uh..I think ye had better run.."
Leo let out a horrified yell as Kara chased him down to give him a beating while Dragan ran behind her to try and tell her they made up.
You all know the routine! Rate/Comment because ALL feedback is appreciated! See you when I see you :D (Beat that, Mariah! xD)