"It can't be!" Raphael protested, "We kicked his creepy ass back to whatever mystical hole he crawled out from. He's long gone."
Quayla peeled up the layers of clothing on her left side, exposing her waist. The ancient markings ingrained there were raised and swollen, as if they were trying to pull away from her skin. She grimaced as she prodded them experimentally with her index finger. Leonardo reached out for her hand to stop her, his face was lined with concern as he bent down and eyed the tattoos.
"When did this start?" He asked quietly.
She let out a frustrated sigh, "Back in the coffee shop, when we got close to those Purple Dragons. I've felt this before Leo, seven years ago, it's a warning-"
"Ha!" Michelangelo let out a laugh but clamped his own hand over his mouth before a glaring Raphael had chance to assist him. He removed it seconds later with a meek grin, "Sorry, but don't you guys get it? Cute's got Tengu 'Spidey-sense'," he wriggled his fingers as he spoke the words.
Donatello flicked the back of the orange masked turtle's head which earned him an approving grin and high three from Raphael. Michelangelo rubbed his head but settled upon silence as the best way forward.
After tugging her sweatshirt back down Quayla continued, "The last time you and the acolytes fought the Tengu Shredder, I felt it. I know I'm not carrying the book anymore but I must still be connected somehow. What I don't understand though is why only the ones here?" She indicated to her middle, "Before my neck, my legs and every part of skin the symbols touched, ached like this and then eventually burned...Oh no," her voice cracked as her eyes locked with Leonardo's. He blinked once then hurriedly pulled out his shell cell and started dialling.
"Master Splinter? Yes Sensei, we're alright but we need to know if Jade is. Yes, I'll wait while you check. Okay, is there any sign of fever? Good. No, but Sensei, Quayla's still has a link to the Tengu Shredder, it's the markings. We think he's back, that's got to be the great evil the Ancient One spoke of," he paused for a long moment awaiting further response, "Alright. Father? If Jade wakes, tell her we love her," the last request caught in his throat. They had overcome incredible odds to survive the demon's last attack and that was only with their amulets, the guidance of the Ninja Tribunal and the keystones. This time was different, the Purple Dragons and less savoury characters of New York City were rallying to the demon's aid instead of his undead disciples. These people could not be allowed to perish.
He snapped the cell shut and faced his family, "She's okay," he breathed. Quayla's hand found his and he gave it a reassuring squeeze, "She's okay," he repeated interlocking their fingers.
"Jade might be but we're not!" Donatello cried and crouched down low with his bo-staff at the ready.
Leonardo whirled around to the entrance of the alley where an indeterminate number of figures now gathered. He swore once under his breath and cursed himself for being so stupid because he had unwittingly added more proof to his theory. Instantly the couple's hands parted and instead locked around their weapons.
"The roof, now!" The blue masked turtle barked as he backed away towards the nearest fire escape.
Wasting no time the group began to quickly ascend to the rooftop, all the while being watched by the possessed hoard who moved in on the enclosed space. Michelangelo pulled the escape's rusty old ladder up just in time as one of the mob reached out to grab at his feet. He visibly shuddered at the sight of the snarling faces clawing at the wall beneath him but recovered enough to look over the railing and quip, "Too slow amigos!"
"For the love of god Mikey will ya hurry up!" Raphael shouted and reached down to pull his brother up to the next balcony. They reached the roof seconds after Leonardo and Quayla, who doubled over as soon as she was safely at the top.
Donatello rushed to aid them but Quayla shook her head, "It'll pass, I'm fine," she insisted with a forced smile. Leonardo frowned at her and opened his mouth to argue but she answered promptly with a defiant glare and straightened her stance, reiterating, "Really, I'm fine."
"So what's the plan Leo?" Raphael asked as he folded his arms, "We can't hide up here all night."
"I know," he replied, "We need to find Karai."
The red masked turtle's eyes widened, "That b*&£h? She ain't gonna help Leo! Shell, she's probably behind this mess."
Leonardo paced a little as he answered, "Exactly, but if she's not involved maybe she still has some of the magic-tech they developed, and I think we're going to need it."
"We need more than that if it is the Tengu Shredder, he's gonna beat the snot out of us!" Michelangelo chimed in with a pleading expression, "Leo, we need the Tribunal."
The eldest remained silent, turned, and leant his hands on the rough tiled edge of the building, the strengthening wind toyed the tails of his mask. Donatello approached and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Mikey's right," he added softly, "We can't fight him alone."
Leonardo turned to him and asked, "So why haven't they already come?" He paused and gazed around, no one answered, Quayla bit her lip, "And where is the demon Shredder?" He continued, "It's different this time, if the Tengu Shredder is really back then he's learned our weaknesses and he's already using them against us. He's forcing the citizens of New York to fight his battles knowing that we can't destroy them. He's taunting us."
"Leo, correct me if I'm wrong here but I'm guessing this is all new to you?" Donatello mused.
The blue masked turtle nodded solemnly, "Nothing like this happened in the other time line and I barely saw the Tribunal, they checked in on Jade once or twice but only to see how her skills were progressing."
Quayla's brow furrowed and she folded her arms over her sides. She swallowed hard as her thoughts led her to ask the question that had plagued her own life, her voice came out in a whisper, "Did she really only fail once?"
Leonardo looked aghast that she could ask such a thing, he had protected their daughter and the book as if it were his task alone. But the crowded images of Jade growing up gave way to a clear picture of those last few days in the Nexus. During the Battle Nexus championship against a skilled opponent in the closing stages she had failed and blood was drawn. Jade won the battle but lost the war. Leonardo had tended the cut and burned the blood soaked rag before any damage had been done and the flames had proved effective in destroying the glyphs. "Only once and I burnt the cloth," he said gently, "She made one mistake."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to doubt you," Quayla answered slowly, "My point is, how is he back?"
"That is what I intend to find out. We're going to the Foot headquarters, if that doesn't work then we summon the Tribunal," he replied firmly and without waiting for consent or further discussion Leonardo leapt to the next roof leaving his family looking on.
Michelangelo huffed and followed, "This Leo is even bossier than the last one."
"He ain't been replaced shell for brains," Raphael grunted in answer but he too had noted the change in his brother's command.
They made for the oppressive skyscraper still bearing the mark of Oruku Saki's organisation, it stood out in the skyline with the glowing red foot symbol acting as a beacon to the turtles. Karai had poured much of her financial resources into restoring the tower to it's former glory after the last decimating attack upon it and the sight of it up close brought Leonardo to a halt. How long had it been since he last fought here? He shook off the memories of Quayla laid bleeding on the penthouse floor with glyphs scattered around her like spilled ruby ribbons.
He whipped his head around to see the others gathering behind him. "Don, can you patch me in?" He asked.
Donatello baulked, "Not without breaking their encryption codes which could take hours, Karai really amped them up after the last time we did that."
"We go back to the top then," The eldest replied calmly.
"Leo," Raphael growled, "We can't just barge in there again! Karai will have the place locked down tighter than Mikey on the t.v remote," he said throwing an arm in his younger brother's direction.
Leonardo shook his head in a vain attempt to clear his thoughts, it had been years since they made their last assault on the tower, Karai couldn't be expecting them to repeat the manoeuvre. But as he stared up at the fortress he had to admit he had his doubts they could find a way in this time, he could only think of one way in and they were sadly out of other options at this point so he pushed forward. He didn't like the plan, but he was damned if he was going to wait for the tribunal to intervene when they deigned it worthy to do so. He clenched his jaw and wondered how many innocents had died waiting for their intervention.
The anger he felt towards the tribunal had been growing in the years apart from Quayla, he knew they could have changed her fate. They had brought back the other acolytes, yet his wife, his family were left to their grief. He knew the only reason he had been allowed to retrieve her soul the first time after death was for their own end, the second time she crossed over her usefulness had been expended even though the event had tugged at the very edges of time's fabric itself.
His musings pulled him up short as the turtle realised they had reached the rooftop nearest to their intended target. He checked behind him and with relief saw his brothers in tow, Quayla was clearly struggling to keep up the pace and brought up the rear of the group. He wanted to send her home, back to safety but there was no safe way back for them now. Reaching behind, Leonardo grabbed at the grappling hook stowed on his belt and backtracked to Donatello to retrieve some rope. Donatello's eyes didn't meet his as he passed over the thickly woven cord, he carefully wound it through the hook.
He gave the hook three gathering swings before letting it fly, it struck the iron clad balcony running around the top floor and found silent purchase.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
"For the record, I ain't okay with this plan," Raphael hissed under his breath.
Leonardo, crouched low against the roof tiles as they inched toward the skylight, twisted around to glare at his brother further down their procession. He resumed his ascent and flipped the heavy catch that held the glass pane shut, beneath the glass as he peered in the faint glimmer of moving lasers criss-crossing the hatch caught his eye. He pursed his lips, Karai had upped her already tight security, beneath the infrared stood two foot soldiers clutching long naginata, their gleaming tips pointing skywards. He huffed, this was going to be more difficult than even he anticipated.
He dove into his belt and removed a pinch of chalk from the pouch there, usually it helped his grip but today it would confirm his suspicions. He blew the powder gently across the window opening and waited for it to highlight the beams of light so he could look for some sort of gap, he only needed enough to drop a smoke pellet or two, just enough to cause a stir. The opportunity presented itself immediately and he let two of the capsules slip seamlessly between the passing lines.
On contact with the floor both spewed out a torrent of thick, white smoke that enveloped the guards and they instantly raised the alarm, one shouted into what must have been a radio in rapid fire Japanese. Within thirty seconds they were surrounded, some of the foot openly advancing and others Leonardo could tell were shrouded in the darkness awaiting their orders. He nodded to his family and they sheathed their weapons, it was a risk, there were no guarantees the foot were unaffected by the demon's plague.
"We will speak with Karai," Leonardo instructed calmly.
The silence seemed to amplify around them and the voice that echoed from the shadows cut through it like ice.
"You dare issue the orders you impudent reptile!?"
Karai stepped forward shakily, her once fair face was twisted in rage and pain. She struggled to raise her sword in the turtle's direction, "I will have your heads."
A/N: Hey guys *peeks around corner sheepishly* what can I say? Along with the general chaos of life I've had writers block on this one and I'm soooo sorry. I've been writing short pieces and re-writing older stuff to try to help the process along which has finally done the trick, thank goodness. Thank you so much for reading x
