The manhole cover scraped noisily across the concrete and a gleaming white pair of eyes surveyed the surroundings from the opening.

"All clear guys," Michelangelo whispered as he emerged into the poorly lit alley.

Raphael grumbled quietly behind him with his arms folded, "Sure, now ya whisper. I think ya woke the whole block up moving that lid."

Donatello climbed out next and pulled out his shell cell from his rucksack to check for news updates, he frowned and pressed his mouth into a hard line. He looked over his shoulder at Leonardo who was reaching down to pull Quayla up through the hole, amused to see that she gently batted his hand away and eased herself out. "It's too quiet," Donatello stated, "We should be able to hear something, the epicentre of a lot of the reports is just a couple of blocks up."

"Hmm, speaking of up," Leonardo gestured to the rooftops then knelt to silently replace the cover. The group sprang into graceful action, each finding their own way onto the roof of the nearest apartment block.

They ran silently across the tops of the buildings, letting the smoke just visible up ahead be their guide. The eerie quiet prevailed along with them as they reached the source of the flames spewing out the billowing clouds of black smog. The storefront on the street opposite exploded, sending glass and debris into the empty road. The ninjas lined up on the edge of the flat roof and gazed down into the street below trying to ascertain if anyone needed help. No lights were on in any of the buildings surrounding them and the street was deserted.

"Maybe the cops dealt with it already?" Michelangelo offered with a shrug but his voice betrayed him with a trace of unease.

Leonardo leant forward with an arm resting on his knee, "They can't be far away. Nobody is around. I think we'll be safe if we hit the street."

"Agreed," Donatello replied placing his cell back into his bag of gadgets and when he caught the eyes of his siblings and sister in law they nodded once.

Quayla pulled the hood of her grey sweatshirt over her head and the pale blue tenugui around her neck over her nose, if they were going into the street she had to be careful. Fighting gangs and ninjas didn't exactly go down well at the school gates, or work, the last thing she needed was to be caught. She ran to the side of the building and flipped neatly over the edge, grabbing hold of the drainpipe to start her descent after the others. The blonde landed squarely next to Raphael who gave her appearance an unimpressed once over.

"Good disguise," he scoffed.

"Said the giant mutant turtle in a mask. We left in a hurry Raph, I didn't dress for stealth," Quayla muttered pulling her hood a little lower then darting over to stand behind Leonardo and Michelangelo as they stole glances around the corner of the alley.

The group edged cautiously around the street and moved seamlessly into the shadows. A few of the street lights were out or flickering, no doubt due to the fires which aided their journey. Michelangelo sidled up to Leonardo as they waited for the bulb above them to blink again so they could move.

"So, uhh, Leo," he started haltingly, "If we find these zombies what do we do?"

His brother fixed him with a look of disbelief, no wonder the youngest was acting strange, he'd been watching those late night horror movies again. He stifled a smile and answered patiently over his shoulder, "Mikey, they aren't 'zombies'. If we come across any of the gang members affected we treat them like we would any other night, put them out of action, okay?"

"Sure thing bro," Michelangelo replied with a forced smile and leapt forward into the darkness with his hands securely on his nunchaku.

Another calm, quiet block was covered and Leonardo was beginning to wonder if he was dreaming the whole thing but then a shriek from a nearby coffee shop brought him back to harsh reality. The door hung open but no lights apart from the glow of a glass fronted refrigerator, were on. He unsheathed a blade and the others followed suit, Raphael and Michelangelo flanked one side of the open door with himself, Donatello and Quayla on the other. Counting to three with his spare hand, Leonardo signalled for Raphael and Michelangelo to go first and he lead Quayla and Donatello in immediately behind them.

Inside a group comprising of three muscular men and a tall, lean woman surrounded a cowering middle-aged male barista, his phone clutched tightly to his ear as he let out another cry of panic. Each of the attackers brandished a weapon, the glint of a chain wrapped around the fist of one man caught in the limited light.

"Little late for coffee, ain't it?" Raphael quipped at the thugs. He spun his sai once in his able hands.

Donatello added, "Yep, trust me; you'll be up all night. Now how about we leave the nice man alone?"

There was no response from the menacing figures and the two turtles exchanged a puzzled glance. The chained fist of the punk haired male raised ready to come crashing down on his intended victim but his wrist snapped into the nearest wall secured by one of Raphael's sai's. The red masked turtle charged at the punk who was tugging to free his trapped limb but as the turtle neared he succeeded and barrelled into Raphael. The turtle's reactions were quick, he grabbed the man by the shoulders and was momentarily taken aback when he caught sight of the dark, bottomless eyes then threw him into the counter, the man slumped to the floor and moaned.

"We have to put ourselves between them!" Leonardo yelled then issued a swift kick to the backbone of the nearest thug, sending the woman reeling with him.

Donatello dealt a cracking blow to the back of the last gang member's knees and he crumpled giving the turtles and Quayla opportunity to reach the terrified store owner. They formed a line in front of him knowing the fight was not over yet.

Quayla pulled back her hood and knelt down to the barista. A dull ache swept through her side as she leant towards him, "We're here to help. We won't let them hurt you."

"Wha-wha-what are they?" He asked, pointing a shaking finger.

Quayla followed his finger and cringed slightly as she watched her family battle another onslaught from the recovered Purple Dragons, she could see for definite that's who they were now from the markings on their clothing and bodies. She ignored the ache increasing in her side and readied her right sword in defence as she answered, "They're heroes."

"No not the guys in the costumes, the others. Their eyes… look at their eyes!" He raised his voice in panic.

Michelangelo overheard the comment and found he was staring straight into a pair of the black pupils in question as he grappled with a muscle-bound, vest clad Dragon. His own eyes bulged in fear, "Don't let them eat my brain Raphie!" He said turning his face away and holding the man at arm's length with a shriek.

Raphael groaned and threw his opponent into Michelangelo's. They smashed into a table, sending chairs clattering everywhere. The two Dragons lay still in awkward positions and were most assuredly out of action.

Leonardo and Donatello dispatched of their adversaries in a similar manner and the quartet set to tying up the unconscious gang members with rope borrowed from the genius turtle's supplies while Raphael kept watch on the door.

"See Mikey, there's nothing to worry about," Leonardo said pulling the final knot tight around the punk's wrists.

"Heh," Raphael chuckled and ducked his head back inside, "Nope, cuz he doesn't have a brain."

"Hey!" Michelangelo protested, crossing his arms indignantly.

"That's not very nice Raph," Donatello chastised, lifting the lid of the female dragon and inspecting the encompassing pupil underneath with a penlight, he let the eye slide closed again, "Mikey's brain just wouldn't be very nutritious," he added with a wry grin.

"Dude, you are totally not helping!" The youngest said with his arms flung open, encouraging laughter from all of the brothers.

Quayla helped the store owner to his feet, he lent on her heavily as his legs shook underneath him. "Little help guys?" She asked with a grunt.

Leonardo and Raphael each grabbed an arm of the traumatised man. He gave each of them a grateful but wary smile.

"So what happened if you don't mind me asking?" Leonardo said quietly.

The man lifted his hand with his phone still clutched tightly in it showing his knuckles were white with the strain. "My wife," he started, "I was calling my wife, and I wanted to tell her I would be home as soon as I could and that we need get to out of the city. I saw those 'things' walking past so I hid behind the counter and told my wife I loved her. I didn't think they saw me but they must have, next thing I knew the door came crashing in and they dragged me out." He shuddered when his tale was concluded.

Leonardo frowned, "Do you have CCTV?"

"This is New York isn't it?" the man nodded to let them know he was able to stand unaided, "One camera inside, but you can see the street through the window."

"Mind if we take a look?"

The man shook his head and proceeded to lead them behind the counter to a small TV displaying a black and white image of the shop.

Donatello followed and said to his brother looking puzzled, "What are you thinking Leo?"

The eldest's expression darkened, "I don't think these attacks are random. I think there's a pattern."

They turned their attention to the monitor as the man replayed the evening's events and sure enough, the gang had almost walked past the coffee shop but at the last minute the group came to a grinding halt and stood stock still for a moment. They then turned simultaneously and set about ripping the door loose.

"Would it be alright if we have the recording?" Donatello asked politely.

The man ejected the disc from the drive underneath and offered it took him immediately, "It's the least I can do, that and coffee on the house when you come in. Oh, but I guess I won't recognise you without the costumes, well, you'll have to let me know who you are somehow, your secret is safe with me."

Donatello raised a brow at Leonardo, who gave the man a reserved smile and replied, "Thank you, that's very kind of you," he quickly changed the subject, "You should call the police and then get to safety, they aren't alone," he said, gesturing to the bodies passed out on the floor.

"I'll do that right away," he said reaching for the phone on the wall. He turned to his rescuers who had now regrouped at the door to assess the situation outside, "Thank you," he added sincerely as the phone engaged, "Police? Yes, please I've had some trouble..."

Leonardo edged out of the door and beckoned the others. Together they slipped away back into the shadows and reconvened in the next alley.

"So what was you looking at on the TV?" Raphael asked his frame was still bristling with energy from the fight.

Resting his shell on the wall and crossing his arms Leonardo frowned, his theory had sounded plausible in his head but now he was about to say it out aloud, frankly it sounded a little far-fetched. He sucked in a breath before he spoke, "Earlier when I helped that boy he'd been on the phone talking to his girlfriend then the Purple Dragons attacked him. Now the guy at the coffee shop..." He trailed off, rubbing his head awkwardly while glancing in Quayla's direction. She seemed to be distracted by the clouds gathering in the night sky, he continued, "I think they're targeting people showing any kind of affection."

The theory was met with a stunned silence. Michelangelo's mouth eventually closed and then re-opened to let out a forced chuckle, "Leo, bro-,"

The leader held up a hand to silence him, "I know Mikey, I know how it sounds but think about it."

"He's right," Donatello chimed in, "I saw the footage. When the guy made the call to his wife it was like a homing beacon to them. Perhaps they're sensing some sort of pheromone release?"

"Or they're just consumed with hate and out to end humanity," Quayla added bitterly. Her eyes shone fiercely in the gloom.

Leonardo's head snapped up as he registered what his wife was saying. He watched her clutching her left side tightly as if it were her anchor to existence. He let out a slow agonising breath in a vain attempt to calm his racing thoughts. "You think its back, don't you?" He asked through gritted teeth.

She nodded miserably and sank to her haunches, running a hand through her hair, "It's too soon, we aren't ready," she murmured.

Raphael looked from his crestfallen brother to his despairing sister in law with growing frustration, "What?!" He exclaimed, unable to contain the outburst.

"The demon Shredder, the tengu," Leonardo growled, "He's returned."

A/N: Ooh sorry, I do love those 'dum, dum, duuum' moments! Ha. No seriously, I do. ;D

Thank you for reading and reviews make my day, good or bad it's nice to know people's thoughts.