4


"Know thyself? If I knew myself, I'd run away."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe -


Leonardo was already asleep on the couch. Tequila was sitting on his own bed in the lab, his phone in his hand. It was a long time ago when he last time used it. Should he call them? As he fell deeper in his thoughts, his thumb was stroking the black screen.

He had to help the child. At least he had to try it. He unlocked his phone, then he clicked on the little envelope. Or at least, he hoped he clicked on that. He was afraid that he didn't remember well.

Oh damn, he thought suddenly. This phone could be led by voice. Was he getting senile?

He told a name to the phone, and then he dictated the text for the messages.

'Is Stockman still working for you?'

He knew he wouldn't get a reply immediately. It was midnight. But what if he will never get a reply? They wouldn't ignore his SMS, right? He hoped it.

He got this phone from Stockman years ago. He promised that it can't be tracked down. The others believed him, so did he. Fortunately, nobody found him because of the phone. Yet.

He put the device on the table, voice on, and he lay down. He should rest a little too. Perhaps this time he will be lucky enough to dream with pictures...


Beep-beep.

The little beeping sound woke Tequila up. He groaned as he rose to his feet and grabbed his glasses and the phone.

'I'm sorry for the late reply. I didn't think you would write... by the way, yes, he's still working with me. Why? And what about you? Are you okay? We haven't heard from you in a while...'

A 'yes' would have been enough, he thought. He ignored the lots of questions and asked a new one.

'Can he make a portal to other dimensions?'

The answer came fast: 'Perhaps. But why? You don't want to leave us, do you?'

Leave them? Why did they care? Nobody would notice if he disappeared. He remembered when he actually planned to run away. He didn't know where, just so far away from here. But he didn't do that. He hoped that everything would be okay. He hoped that the others would be there for him.

Hope dies last, people say. But what if the hope died? Then, he shouldn't be alive either.

He sighed bitterly. Perhaps he should go with the child.

He slapped himself mentally. Why would you? he asked himself. Do you want to force that kid to take care of you? Of an old, blind stranger? You would be alone there too, you would have to hide there too...

He brought the phone to his mouth.

'A kid got here from another dimension, and he needs help.'

'Come over with the kid, and then we can discuss it, okay?'

He bit his bottom lip. He didn't want to go.

Knock-knock.

The lab door was slid open a little, and Leo peeked in.

"Good morning," he said shyly.

"Good morning," Tequila replied. Hm, he didn't remember when he said it last time. "Do you need something?"

"Um, no, not really. I just checked whether you were awake."

The older man raised one eye-ridge. He was suspicious.

"Now, you're here, finish your plan and tell me the truth."

"Okay," he said quietly and closed the door behind him. He pursed his lips as he took a few steps towards the taller turtle.

"Well?" Tequila urged him.

"My side is bothering me...a little," Leo looked away. He didn't like to admit that he wasn't completely okay.

"Sit on the cot, I will change your bandage."

Leo did as he was told. Tequila unwrapped Leo from the white dressing and gently touched the wound. Leo hissed.

"Fortunately, you didn't tear your stitches," he put the new one on. "Are you sure you don't need any painkiller? You don't sound good."

"I'm fine."

Tequila pressed the wound through the bandage with his finger hard.

"Ow! Why did you do that?" he clapped a hand over the sore area.

"You are reeeeaaallllyyy fine," he narrowed his eyes.

"Of course, it hurts if you make it!" Leo fought back.

We will get some medicine in the evening, Tequila planned. Will he be okay until evening? Should we go sooner?

"What is the time?" he asked.

"Around six o'clock."

"Then, let's eat something and go for some medicine before the Foot's rush hour."

"When is it?"

"From eight to midnight."

"And what about the last eight hours?"

"They loose up a bit. This is when you can get some food. The Shredder doesn't want the rebels to die. He wants them to assimilate into the Foot."

Leo lowered his head and asked nothing else.


The two turtles slalomed from building to building. Though the Foot let the rebels go out to get some food, they didn't hesitate to strike down any of them. And jumping on the rooftops would have been too conspicuous, especially during daylight.

When they get to an alley, Tequila turned to Leo.

"Wait here."

"Why? I wanna go," Leo whined.

"Do you see that building in front of us?" Tequila felt Leo nodding against his arm. "I will be there. But just for a minute, so you don't have to worry."

"But why can't I go too?"

"Just wait here," Tequila ordered, then he ran to the building. It was light brown and looked like a big warehouse. Was the medicine inside there? But if he went to get the medicine, why didn't he let Leo come with him?

Leo didn't like this. He was alone, weaponless, injured in a strange world. He hoped Tequila wouldn't be away so long.

He was so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't hear that somebody jumped down from the rooftop and was approaching him from behind.

"What the hell?" came a familiar voice.

Leo turned around and saw a tall, middle-aged woman in black clothes and armor. Her black hair reached her shoulders, and her amber eyes were scanning Leo.

"You? No, it can't be... you can't be him," she muttered.

"Karai?" Leo asked surprisedly.

"Yes. But who are you?" she stepped closer and put a hand on her tanto. He's too young to be him, she thought. But he looks exactly like him. Does he have a child? But how? Did he clone himself with Stockman? Did the others clone themselves too? Or did he find a female mutant? Another turtle?

"That's... that's none of your business," Leo stuttered. This Karai isn't my Karai, she serves the Shredder, she's his daughter, he thought.

"So you have chosen the hard way," her gaze hardened and unsheathed her sword. She lunged at him. Leo just barely could avoid the sharp weapon. Oh, how he missed his swords right now! He had no chance against her! Karai attacked him again and again, and Leo jumped away every time. But it was just the beginning, Karai was only playing with him. She didn't want to hurt him if it wasn't necessary. He was just a child, a weaponless, already injured child. But if he won't speak, then she won't have another choice but attack him in a real way.

"Tell me who you are, and I will spare your life."

"I won't tell you anything. Leave me, Karai. I'm not alone," Leo tried to sound confident and dangerous, but he was afraid that Tequila wouldn't be back in time.

"You are not alone?" she asked with a smirk. "Then, where is your savior?"

"He'll be here soon..." Leo said uncertainly. "But you shouldn't attack me! I'm weaponless and injured! Where's your honor?"

"Did your father teach you about honor?" Karai asked, thinking of another turtle.

"Yes, he did. But as I see, your father didn't!"

Karai narrowed her eyes in anger, and Leo gulped nervously. Oops...

Karai swung her tanto towards the turtle's face so fast that Leo couldn't react in time. He closed his eyes quickly and felt as the sword cut him between his left eye and ear-split. His mask fell down to his shoulder, then slid down on his plastron to the ground. Karai was ready to strike again, but as she drew her weapon down, another sword blocked hers.

"Leave him alone!" Tequila spat furiously.

"We were just familiarising with each other," she smirked. "But what about you? Did you get a son or what?"

"What if I did?" he growled as he pushed Karai back.

"By who?"

"That's none of your business."

"You couldn't even deny it," she said, then bent down and grabbed Leo's mask. "Sayonara," and with that, he jumped onto the fire-escape and disappeared.

"Let's go," Tequila gripped Leo's arm.

"But my..."

"Your what?"

"Um, never mind. Did you get the medicine?" Leo changed the topic. He didn't want Tequila to try and replace the mask for him. He had enough problems.

"Not yet."

"Then, what were you doing there?" Leo asked wonderingly.

"I met someone, but it's not important right now. Let's go for medicine."

The older turtle pulled the younger one after him. Leo couldn't help but wonder who he met with.


"Master," Karai bowed in front of his master and father in the throne room. "I met Leonardo."

"Did you finish him?" Shredder asked, sitting on his throne.

"No, but I learned an interesting thing about him. He has a son," he lifted the blue mask in his hand.

The Shredder snapped his gaze to his daughter. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, he admitted it to me."

"What if he lied?"

"I do not think so. He looked exactly like him when he was younger. And the way he was acting... everything matched."

"How is this possible?"

"I do not know yet, but I will."

"Excellent. Next time, capture the boy. He can be useful to us."

"I understand, Father."


.- I don't own the characters from the cartoon -.

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