Strongest United-Part 2
The Shredder eyed his prisoners from Stockman's lab. Each monitor was focused on a different cell and showed the Turtles adjusting to the living spaces they would have for the final days of their existence. Currently Raphael was throwing himself at the walls of the cell screaming incoherently about what he would do once he go out of there, and also what he would do if any harm should come to his brothers.
Donatello on the other hand was studying the walls trying to see if there was a way to get out of it. Seeing nothing the purple-masked turtle sat down by one wall and seemed to be deep in thought. Obviously calculating some way he could escape.
Michelangelo was seated on the floor in the middle of his cell, listening to something. All the while Leonardo was making some laughably passionate speeches to Karai about her true origin.
"We're your family… Listen to me, your true name is Hamato Miwa, your mother was named Hamato Tang Shen and your real father is Hamato Yoshi. The Shredder abducted you when you were just a baby and raised you to believe his twisted sense of reality…"
Shedder smirked at this passionate display, Karai only believed what he wanted her to believe which was the truth as he saw it. Splinter was the true cause of everything. The Hamato Clan killed his family, abducted him, and raised him to believe he was one of them. While Splinter's parents showed love to him and Splinter thought of him as a brother…all of it was a lie. He had heard whispers throughout his life….whispers that he didn't belong, that he wasn't one of them. And then he learned the truth and he despised his adopted family for it. Yes Karai was truly the daughter of Splinter, but Tang Shen was meant to be his …she was always meant to be his. And as much as he would have preferred a son, a daughter would suffice. She would be a weapon for him to torment and kill Splinter once and for all.
"I know why you separated the four of us. As a member of the Foot Clan the Shredder taught you that respect and loyalty is only won through power, fear, and intimidation. And those who depend on others are the weak that deserve to be crushed. But the Shredder is wrong, it's because my brothers and I rely on one another that we are able to face the challenges of this world. That's where our strength is. Shredder has his followers but all of them…even you… are disposable. He doesn't understand love, companionship, or loyalty and never will because he thinks of such concepts as facile, in the end the only thing that matters to him is his anger and ideals and those will lead to his downfall."
The statement made Shredder grit his teeth in anger. How dare that Turtle declare such garbage? Respect and loyalty were earned through power, the more powerful you were the more you could bend and control people to your will. Love and companionship were crutches for the weak, something to cling to because they felt it made them strong. But in reality such attachments only proved to be distractions.
"Stockman, which Turtle does Leonardo have connection to?" Shredder commanded as Karai entered the room with an annoyed expression on her face. Stockman looked at his readings.
"Well Mazzter…." Stockman buzzed. "There is a one way *buzz* audio feed from Donatello'zzz cell to Leonardo'zzz and *buzz* a one way feed from Leonardo'zzz to Michelangelo'zzz."
"I see…" Shredder said as he eyed the monitors. "It's time I paid a visit."
"Allow me to go, father." Karai requested.
"You will entertain the Turtles in time, daughter." Shredder growled. "But I need to do this personally."
Leonardo calmly tried to settle his breathing. He didn't know where they were or what was to happen to him or his brothers. But hopefully if he could get in contact with Splinter... let him know what was going on... There was no way of knowing how long they had been sedated - a day could have passed for all they knew. But without a doubt Splinter was likely worried sick about what had become of his sons. He was just starting to enter a meditative trance when he heard a familiar frightened gasp.
"Donnie?" He asked the room.
"Donatello, is it not?" The booming growl of the Shredder asked almost conversationally. But there was a clear threatening tone in his voice.
~Oh no…~ Was Leo's first thought. ~If the Shredder is picking on Donnie first then things were really, really bad.~
Donatello had examined every inch of the wall and didn't see any panels or anything that could break the magnetic lock on the door. He could hear Raph yelling but that didn't mean he was next door, but the racket gave him a little comfort as he didn't know where Leo and Mikey were, or even what was happening to them. He had tried calling to Raph a couple of times, but got no response. That meant the audio feed into his room was one way. Which made the situation even less comforting as Raph could be in another part of wherever they were. He could be next door, next hall over, next floor. He couldn't tell if his cell had the similar audio connection or who it connected to. He hoped it connected to any cell rooms that Leo or Mikey were in, but it could just as easily connect to an empty cell room.
With the way Raph was yelling he was likely true to form with how he would act in this situation, offering threats of beating the living snot out of their captors if he managed to free himself. Leo was likely worried about where his brothers were and what was happening to them at that moment. And at the same time, he would be keeping himself calm and collected maybe trying to meditate in an effort to reach Splinter. The brother Donnie was worried about currently was Mikey, the smaller turtle had to be frightened not knowing where his brothers were, or what was happening to them. Maybe… there was a way he could reach his brothers…if he had a one way audio feed to Leo or Mikey, then perhaps one of them had a connection to Raph.
Splinter had often sung to them in Japanese whenever they were scared, sick, or distressed. And as they grew they would sing to one another sometimes to help reassure each other. And he even knew what song he could use. Unfortunately before he can so much as hum the first note the door opened and in stormed the Shredder.
Donnie involuntarily let out a frightened gasp. At once he felt a sense of shame, knowing it only gave the Shredder the satisfaction of his fear. The Shredder was more than likely smirking underneath his metallic mask. His eyes regarded the turtle the way he might a bug to be easily crushed were it worth the effort for him to do so. The purple-masked turtle still remembered the way the Shredder had grabbed him by his bandoleer and glared at him. There was a clear look of contempt in the masked man's eyes. It didn't take a genius to understand that nothing good was going to come from Shredder appearing to him now.
"Donatello, is it not?" The Shredder's voice rang through the metallic plate on the scarred man's face. It was not a question so much as a statement that demanded an answer.
"Ye…Yes sir" Donnie answered trying to hide the fear in his voice.
"A child's answer…" Shredder observed. "I should have expected nothing less from the weakest of the Turtles." Reaching behind him the Shredder produced the young turtles bo staff. "That is probably why this pathetic excuse for a weapon chose you. Such weapons are just as weak as the ninja who wields them."
Donnie wanted to object, but what could he honestly say. He had never liked the fact the Bo Staff had chosen him. He had wished for…hoped for a weapon that truly proven to his brothers who he was as a ninja, something like the Kama sickles, or the kyoketsu shoge, the Shen Gao heck he would have accepted the manriki gusari. But none of those weapons wanted him…all of them rejected him
The Shredder regarded the bo staff a moment as though examining it, including the trigger that released the naginata blade. He showed no sign of being impressed.
"A pathetic toy that conceals a woman's blade…" Shredder growled a sigh as though he wasn't expecting anything less. "I would never train anyone if I was certain he would get a weapon like this." Donnie backpedaled as close as he could to the wall as Shredder tossed the staff, the naginata blade embedded itself in the floor.
"Now boy, demonstrate your skill." Shredder commanded. Knowing that he didn't have much choice, Donnie got up and pulled the curved spear blade out of the ground. The Shredder released his gauntlet blades as though doing so was a compliment…but the action was casual. The masked man made a stance but held a look as if the young turtle wasn't worth even this much.
Launching himself at the Shredder, Donnie spun his bo staff, trying to catch older ninja off guard as he struck. Shredder would casually evade each jab, sweep, and strike as though he saw them coming.
"Pathetic…" Shredder yawned as even evading the blows made him feel bored. "You aren't worthy of even calling yourself a Ninja!. You're movements are too cautious…too predictable…" The older man grabbed hold of Donnie's staff in his right hand. "Too weak..."Before Donnie could even react he raised his left and brought the gauntlet blades down slicing through the wooden staff like a hot knife through butter. Donnie hissed in pain and dropped the staff as it was sliced in two. The blades of the Shredder's gauntlet had also sliced into his left arm. Rivulets gushed out of the wound and down his arm; dripping to the floor. The wound wasn't fatal, but it was deep and painful. The purple masked turtle gasped a Shredder grabbed him by the chin and hoisted him into the air.
Leo listened to the fight in grave concern…the things the Shredder was saying. It made his heart break…and it made him regret all the times he and Raph had teased Donatello for being a weaker fighter.
"Pathetic…" Shredder yawned as though board with the small battle. "You aren't worthy of even calling yourself a Ninja!"
"That's not true!' Leo yelled wanting to hope his brother could hear him. "Donnie, don't listen to him!"
"You're movements are too cautious…too predictable…too weak!" Shredder said. Donnie let out a hiss of pain and let out another gasp. Leo didn't know what was happening; all he was certain of was that Donnie was being hurt.
"Leave him alone, Shredder." Leo yelled. "I don't care what you do to me…but don't hurt my brothers!"
"Know this…if you were part of the Foot Clan," The Shredder snarled. "You would have been made into an Ashigaru-sha so you could be used as target practice. There is no way a warrior as weak and pathetic as you would even have served any use." There was another gasp and a loud thud before there was the sound of footsteps leaving the room and the cell door slamming shut behind them.
"Are you alright?" Leo asked. "If you can hear me Donnie, please say something…"
Mikey couldn't hear what Leo was hearing, but he could hear Leo calling out.
"That's not true!' Leo yelled. "Donnie, don't listen to him!"
"Leo, dude what's happening with Donnie?" Mikey yelled. "Hey D, if you can hear me I don't know who's with ya or what their saying. But Leo says don't listen…whatever they are saying they are B.S'ing ya."
"Leave him alone, Shredder." Leo continued as if he didn't hear. "I don't care what you do to me…but don't hurt my brothers!"
"Shredder's with Donnie?!" Mikey gasped. There was silence for a time; he didn't hear anything except for Leo inhaling a horrified breath. "Hey' D, say something dude..."
Raph had stopped yelling and pounding at the walls. Currently he prowled around his prison like a caged animal. He didn't like being separated from his brothers and he liked not knowing what was happening to them even less."
"Leo, dude what's happening with Donnie?" He heard Mikey yell.
"Mikey?" He asked glad to hear his youngest brother's voice at the very least. But he grew concerned over whatever could be befalling his immediate younger brother.
"Hey D, if you can hear me I don't know who is with ya or what their saying. But Leo says don't listen…whatever they are saying they are B.S'ing ya." Mikey yelled. Raph didn't say anything. He didn't want say something and miss something important. But somehow Mikey was able to hear Leo and he was able to hear Mikey. And from the sound of things Leo was able to hear or see what is happening to Donnie.
"I swear if any of my brothers are harmed…" Raph growled under his breath until he heard Mikey say something that caused his cold blooded veins to ice over.
"Shredder's with Donnie?!" Raph's eyes were wild with fear, concern, and anger. If the Shredder was in the same room with Donnie...he didn't even want to imagine what has happening.
"Know this…if you were part of the Foot Clan," The Shredder snarled. "You would have been made into an Ashigaru-sha so you could be used as target practice. There is no way a warrior as weak and pathetic as you would even have served any use." With those words Shredder tossed the purple masked turtle aside. Donnie gasped as he was sent flying across the room. His shell hit the wall with a painful jarring thud, causing him to collapse onto the floor in a heap. The Shredder just turned and left closing the door behind him. Donnie groaned as he got up, his eyes going to the broken remains of the bo staff where it lay before they traveled to the wound on his left arm.
The cut into the flesh and muscle was deep - almost to the bone. He could feel his blood pressure dropping with the amount of blood he had lost. He wasn't likely to bleed to death, however the wound was more likely to become infected if not tended to. Getting to his knees Donnie half crawled half dragged himself to the broken weapon. Unraveling the white cloth binding from one of the two pieces he wrapped it around the wound as a makeshift bandage.
It was the best he could do given the circumstances. Crawling back to the wall he listened for his brothers…he couldn't hear Raph which likely meant that he had exhausted himself with beating walls or his audio feed was cut off. And he couldn't tell if anything was going on with the others.
He could feel his shoulders shake; he refused to let the Shredder's words get to him. But he felt more vulnerable without his brothers by his side. Softly he started to sing and prayed they would hear him.
urunda hitomi no oku ni
kawaranu kimi no sugata
doko made sekai wa tsuzuku no
todaeta hibi no kotoba
(In the depths of my teared-up eyes
Is your unchanging figure
"Where will the world continue to?"
Are the words from the days have ceased)
Leo let out a soft sigh as he heard Donnie singing. His brother was trying to reach out to them…uniting their voices in song. He answered by joining his brothers voice hoping Raph or Mikey could hear him at the very least.
kogoeru arashi no yoru mo
mada minu kimi e tsuzuku
oshiete umi wataru kaze
inori wa toki o koeru
(Even on the freezing, stormy nights
I continue going towards the unseen you
Teach me, the ocean-crossing winds,
The prayers that surpass time)
A smile slowly crossed Mikey's face as he heard Leo's voice pick up a chorus of song. Just hearing his eldest brother's voice singing made him feel comforted and he also answered the song.
kasunda chihei no mukou ni
nemureru hoshi no souwa
akenai yoru wa nai yo to
ano hi no tsumi ga warau
(Beyond the hazy horizon
There's an episode of sleeping stars
"There's no unending night,"
The sin from that day laughs)
Raphael listened to Mikey singing, his heart skipping a beat. He was just so glad to hear Mikey, and knew it was likely the others were singing as well. He didn't care if joining in with his brothers made him look sappy, the best way to show the Shredder that they wouldn't be broken so easily was to express it.
furueru kimi o dakiyose
todokanu kokuu o aogu
kikoeru yami terasu kane
kimi e to michi wa tooku
(I embrace the trembling you
And gaze up at the unreachable void
I hear the bell that illuminates the darkness
The road to you is far)
Donnie looked up a smile spread across his face. He could only hear Raph's voice in singing in harmony with his, but he knew in his heart that Mikey and Leo's voices were also joined in song. He could feel their presence with him as he continued to sing.
kogoeru arashi no yoru mo
mada minu kimi e tsuzuku
oshiete umi wataru kaze
inori wa toki o koeru
(Even on the freezing, stormy nights
I continue going towards the unseen you
Teach me, the ocean-crossing winds,
The prayers that surpass time)
Karai watched as their voices harmonized together. Her eyes narrowed in irritation, she didn't expect them to be broken so soon. But the fact that they could happily sing as though they were seated around a campfire enraged her. They should be suffering…they should be worried about one another. Not singing.
~This isn't right.~A voice inside her said as Leo's statement echoed in her head.
"He doesn't understand love, companionship, or loyalty and never will because he thinks of such concepts as facile, in the end the only thing that matters to him is his anger and ideals and those will lead to his downfall."
~But Splinter needs suffer for his crimes!~Karai insisted to herself. ~He took my mother from me…it's only fair his sons are taken from him.~ As the Turtles continued to sing to one another as a means of comfort a tear slid unbidden down her cheek. She hurriedly brushed it away as her father entered the control room and watched the singing turtles with disgust.
"This nonsense is just a false comfort." He growled. "It makes them believe they are strong, but soon their songs won't be enough to save them. Their facile connection to one another makes them weak." Karai smirked and nodded in agreement as she watched the turtles finish their song.
kogoeru arashi no yoru mo
mada minu kimi e tsuzuku
oshiete umi wataru kaze
inori wa toki o koeru
(Even on the freezing, stormy nights
I continue going towards the unseen you
Teach me, the ocean-crossing winds,
The prayers that surpass time)
inori wa toki o koeru
(The prayers that surpass time)
