Chapter 9: A Monster
Shredder watched on his throne as what was once Donatello fight against the chains around his wrists and the collar on his neck. The turtle roared in aggravation pulling with all his might, causing the collar to cut into his neck. Small rivets of blood welled up and over the shock collar. The chains around his wrists received the same treatment, only they occasionally found themselves attacked by vicious teeth as he tried to escape. A small chuckle escaped his lips at what was once considered the smart one among Yoshi's sons. A little bath in mutagen and he was reduced to a feral beast.
"Master Shredder." Tiger Claw kneeled on the ground, keeping an eye on the turtle sitting in the corner, covered in darkness. "They are approaching."
"Excellent. Wait for my orders," Tiger Claw nodded before rising and disappearing into the shadows. Shredder turned toward the beast, who growled at his presence, showing off his sharp teeth and snapping it shut. He pulled out a remote, hovering a finger over the red button, watching as the beast's eyes widened in fear. "You can be taught. Good. Now, be silent or face the consequences." The turtle growled once more. "Silence." The button was pushed and the creature roared in agony as electricity coursed through its veins. After a few seconds, it stopped, the beast lay panting on the ground, silent. "Good boy. You'll have your fun soon."
The door slammed open as three turtles and a rat jumped through it, weapons ready as they all glared at the Shredder. Splinter stepped forward, his sword ready and pointed at the masked man. "Where is my son?!"
Shredder laughed, not rising to his feet. "Your son. Oh, you'll see him eventually. Don't you want to see a product of his genius?" The three turtles looked confused for a second as Shredder lifted the remote, hitting a smaller blue button, releasing the beast from its chains.
"What are you talking about?" Raph yelled, watching as the Shredder pressed a button. They all waited for the floor to fall from under them or guns to start firing but nothing happened. Leo and Raph exchanged confused looks before growling erupted through the room. Out of the shadows came a giant turtle, snarling as its claws clicked on the floor. "What is that thing?"
"He must have made something using Donnie," Leo concluded, pointing his swords that the monster stalking toward them.
"Good luck with my new pet." The Shredder raised his hand and pushed a button once again. The creature reared up on its back legs, screaming out, before charging the group, red eyes unblinking.
"Move!" Leo ordered, making sure his brothers and father was safely out of the way. As he jumped over the creature, he noticed it had a shell with a large crack in it. "A turtle."
Master Splinter jumped out of the way and quickly moved to attack the creature, blocking its massive claws. Raphael growled out his own cry before jumping on its back, attempting to stab the creature. The giant turtle roared and reared back up, throwing Raph off its back. It quickly turned, slashing its claws toward the fallen turtle. As the claws sailed, Leo jumped in, slashing his katanas across its arm. The monster cried out in pain and backed away slightly.
The only one not attacking was Mikey. His nunchukus hung in his hands as he watched the others fight. Something wasn't right about the turtle. He remembered Donnie mentioning a long time ago that Shredder didn't have the technology or people to create a mutant army, so this giant turtle was impossible.
"Mikey! What are you doing?" Raph cried out as he kicked the monster back, finally noticing his brother wasn't in the fight.
"I…. I think…. We should pull back," Mikey finally found his voice, unable to take his eyes off the monster. The coloring seemed so familiar.
Splinter nodded, "I agree with Michelangelo. We need to fall back." Leo and Raph gave the creature one last hit before retreating. The monster followed, roaring its anger, teeth ready to sink into whatever it could get. Splinter narrowed his eyes before striking out, slicing his blade into the small area of skin between the shell and plastron, an extremely sensitive and painful area on his own sons. A small ping of regret spread through him using that knowledge but he had to keep his sons safe. The monster cried out in agony, screaming its pain for the world to hear.
"Now! Raph!" Leo order as Raphael dropped a ninja smoke bomb, letting them all disappear safely from view, hearing the creature's painful roars as they left.
Shredder watched as they left. He didn't want to go after them just yet. He knew the worse fate would be for Yoshi to find out what he did to his own son. Maybe if he was lucky, Yoshi would end up killing the monster. At this thought, Shredder began to laugh, pressing the button to shock the monster that was once Donatello. The creature cried out again, falling onto the group.
"Put that thing back in its cage." Tiger Claw nodded as he and Rahzar appeared from the shadows, pulling out chains to drag it back to the cage. The giant turtle gave no resistance, just let them drag him across the floor and down into Stockman's lab. They threw him back in the enclosure, shutting the glass door shut.
"You might want to make sure he doesn't die. Master Shredder loved his new pet," Tiger Claw spoke to Stockman. The man nodded as he buzzed down, looking at the giant turtle. The mutant fly waited until he was alone before grabbing a few supplies and entering the enclosure. Donatello did not react negatively toward him so he was the only one who could get close to him.
Stockman looked over the still turtle. His breathing was ragged and the burning red eyes were closed. The area around the collar was blacked from the amount of shocks he had received, his forearms were covered in blood and gashes made by his own teeth, the crack in his shell seemed to have come undone and would need more epoxy, and he had several deep cuts from his fight with his father and brothers.
Stockman laid a hand on Donatello's head, watching as the red eyes slide open, watching him closely. "I'm so sorry, Donatello. I never meant for this to happen."
Flyman gently cleaned the areas where it hurt. The turtle let himself feel a moment of peace at the care. Flyman was always nice and made him feel better, especially after Metalman would visit. Flyman would always talk to him, but he didn't understand the words. He knew they mean something but every time he came close to an answer, it would slip from his mind.
"Now, Donatello." The turtle lifted his head. Flyman was talking to him. Whenever Flyman would say that long word that started with the duh sound, he was talking to him. "No rubbing your shell on the wall and no licking your wounds. Leave the bandages on. Do you understand?" The turtle only blinked. He wasn't sure what Flyman was telling him but maybe it had to do with the white stuff on his arms. The last time it was on, he had taken it off and Flyman got upset. Maybe that was it.
The turtle merely moved his head slightly and nuzzled into Flyman's chest, hopefully the man would know he was thanking him for being nice. Kindness wasn't part of his life here and there was only one other source he knew of.
"I'll check on you later, Donatello." Flyman flew off and shut the invisible wall. He really didn't like the invisible wall. It hurt his nose. The lights in his cage dimmed and the turtle knew it was time to go to his corner. It was the only place he felt somewhat safe and kindness was there.
"Donatello?" The turtle blinked and hurried over to the corner, ignoring how his side really hurt. He cooed in happiness as a snake head emerged from the hole in his cage. The turtle leaned into the touch and licked the hand. Snakelady was always nice and spoke softly and was gentle and she also called him the word that started with duh. He also found he was able to find answers to his mind whenever he was with her.
"How hurt are you, Donnie?" The turtle turned his head and whimpered back at Snakelady. He wasn't sure what she was asking but he wanted her to know he hurt. The pain in his side made breathing hard. "I'm sorry, Donnie. It will be okay. I'm sure Leo and Raph and Mikey and… Father will be coming soon. Just hang in there."
The turtle shook his head before curling up best he could to the hole in the wall, making sure his head lay by her hands. Snakelady always watched out for him and kept him safe. She was his little bit of kindness in a bleak world but as the thought came and went, he knew something was missing and it had to do with that other turtle, the smaller one, the one in a color that…, the one that didn't attack. Maybe other turtle was kindness too.
Author's Note: I've been loving the reviews frm you all. Thanks to Sonic155, Pilyartquitect, .52, and Pip. You guys are awesome!