Chapter 28

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I felt like we'd gone into some sort of weird loop. Like we'd just come back around to where we'd begun.

Terinans... I knew, Ithiell was wrong. Like Chanaiben males, Terinans had earholes that were too small for the Yeerks to squeeze through.

Which only meant one thing. They had allied themselves with the Yeerks.

Sure, after our last battle, most of the Terinans had signed a peace treaty with the Chanaibens, but there were still some rogue groups out here.

And from what I could see in front of me... it seemed like quite a few of those groups just happened to come to earth, and managed to find the Yeerks.

I half wondered how that conversation went...

(Jade?) I heard Serah ask as my heart thudded in my ears, unable to move for the moment. I still couldn't believe that what I saw in front of me was real...

I heard a soldier scream, and another just got burnt to a crisp, seeing the enemy was taking damage as well, but it didn't look like their numbers were decreasing at all. The soldiers however...

"Pull back! Pull back!" I heard the General scream, the sounds of their guns firing starting to become almost deafening...

"Jade!" I felt a smack to the back of my head, then "Wake up! We need to help them!"

(Oh, oh shit, come on!) I shot forward, feeling Kristiana slide off me as Serah followed, seeing some the Yeerks, and a few Terinans, go flying.

Instantly I was in the middle of them, biting and slashing and ripping them to bits, with Serah not far behind me. I saw her grab a human controllers leg, yanking them off their feet as they tried to shoot at her, and before they had even hit the ground she was on them.

"Get back behind cover! Anything you can find!" Kristiana yelled to the General, half hoping she was doing the same thing.

"But... our wounded!"

(They won't make it if you don't!) I yelled, even as I bit and ripped and slashed.

"Good point!" A new voice, and I spun to see Leo tear apart a Terinan that had aimed his weapon at me, smiling at me a little before flipping away.

(I was wondering when you guys would get here!) I managed to jump over a human controller, and onto Leo's shell, feeling him take my weight with only a difficulty. He put everything he had into catapulting me upwards, and I used my own momentum to land in the middle of the group of Terinans behind him.

Instantly I was into them, finding I had someone helping me.

(Ugly buggers, aren't they?) Tobias said as he kicked one, sending it flying into it's brothers.

(We'll head over and help Rach and Amanda) Marcos voice now, and I heard Mikey make a sound of agreement, realising they had been with us as well.

"Don't do anything stupid" Leo grunted as he twisted his body in ways I didn't realise was even possible, flipping his body almost sideways in the air as he kicked someone in the face.

A gunshot grazed my ear and I yelped, looking over to the soldiers, some who I noticed were now trying to pick their targets more carefully now we were all mixed up in the enemies. Others... well, others seemed to be too frightened to register we were the good guys.

(Easy, there! General!)

"There isn't any end to these things!" He called out over the gunfire and animal roars.

I half looked around as I went for another opponent, realising he was right. From what I could remember from seeing when we'd crashed into these guys, there certainly weren't this many hovering around...

(We gotta find out where they're coming from!) I yelled, moving to rip apart another Terinan, finding there a sai had been thrown right through his head, and before he dropped I saw Raph yank it out. Then he was gone, and I realised we had two more people with us.

(All right, we got em all!) Amanda's voice (But we're going to try and get these soldiers out of here... alot got hurt...)

"Get them out of there, we got this!" Something snapped near me, taking down another Hork-Bajir, and I finally heard the crack of a Bo somewhere nearby.

(On it!) Marco responded (Come on guys!)

"Oh-"

I don't know what it was that made me look over when I did, but I saw Kristiana collapse to her knees, holding her nose with one hand as the other arm caught her before she hit the ground face first.

(Kristiana!) I leaped over, sliding on what I could only guess was the enemies blood as I knocked away a Taxxon that was already coming for her.

"I...I..." I thought I heard her groan, then found Ithiell was there, helping her up and behind a wall where the General and some of his men were, with me following and keeping anyone from attacking them.

"What happened?" General Cardwell asked, even as he went to reload his gun.

"Even we have limits, General" Ithiell told him as he leaned her against a wall, seeing she now looked pale.

(Ithiell, we need to find out where those assholes are coming from and cut them off! There are too many for us to pull back safely!)

"You're right about that" I saw him look over the wall, half ducking when a shot rang over his head, then looking out again and up.

"There" He pointed, and I saw something start to separate from the underbelly of the Pool Ship, starting to head towards the ground.

"It looks to be a platform they use to bring cargo and supplies to and from the ship" He said, pointing again and both of us now seeing what looked like another group of Terinans and Yeerks all huddled on the platform.

(So how do we stop it?)

"Donnie and Raph should still have some small explosives. We can't risk trying to pull back with that thing still open. And at this distance, if the Aerionna decides to set off those charges now, we'd all be crushed"

(You gotta try and stall them! I'll take care of that thing!)

"Not without backup! Donnie! Raph! Go!"

I dove around the wall, pumping my legs for all they were worth and managing to avoid a Terinans curved blade, skidding on Taxxon insides before getting some traction back and shooting off again. I half noticed as the boys pulled away from the fight, following me as quickly as they did. I saw the platform had almost hit the ground-

(HHHEEEYYAAAAAH!) I screamed, leaping into the pile of enemies and bringing down as many as I could. Soon the boys were there, and we all started to kick the remaining enemies off the platform, which was now starting to move upwards again.

"Let's break this thing" Raph grunted, cracking his knuckles as we were finally alone on the platform.

(That's the plan... be ready guys, could be more up there)

"That's what these babies are for" Donnie pulled several zappers out, readying them.

We all braced ourselves, seeing a crowd of enemies above us, looking down towards us. I saw a Terinan lick its lips...

(Donnie...) I felt like we were now getting too close to the entrance.

"Not yet"

"Bro!" Raph grunted, getting himself into a fighting stance.

"Hang on!"

My heart was once again pounding in my ears, seeing Dracon beams start to-

"Now!" Donnie finally tossed the zappers up at them, seeing some of them jerk back, hearing others scream in agony as the zappers hit the floor. A few more took their place, but Donnie threw the others, and all you could hear was the enemy being electrocuted.

The platform finally connected to the rest of the ship, coming to a shuddering halt as we looked around to the smoking bodies around us.

"Lookout!" Raph shoved his bodyweight into Donnie, knocking them both to the ground as Dracon beam fire barely missed their heads.

(Guys, are you okay?!) I dove forward, taking down the remaining Hork-Bajir, then running towards the door. I managed to slam my paw into the door panel, seeing it slide shut, and turning back to the two as they were getting back up.

"Yeah, thanks Raph" Donnie muttered, all of us looking around at the bodies on the floor, as well as what looked like crates around us.

"Ah, here we go" Donnie was suddenly at a small console near where the platform was, Raph and I following him.

"I'll-"

"Wait, wait" Raph grabbed his arm, and the two brothers looked at each other "If we break this, how do we get outta here?"

"Use the holes Rtaia made!" Ithiell's voice was heard over the battle as I looked up at the boys.

"If we make it there" Raph grunted, now pacing.

"Don't worry, with the amount of enemies down here... there shouldn't be too many left up there"

(It's a pool ship Ithiell... there could be thousands more enemies)

"There's one not far from us" Donnie now had his little blue screen up "Just a couple of floors up"

"Either way, get your butts in gear and get back out here" Leo yelled, hearing what sounded like him punching someone.

(You heard the man!) Marco now (Get it done and get outta there!)

"On it!" Donnie was back to working on the console, and Raph and I started to move around, more for something to do than anything else.

(Why don't they just smash it! Or better yet... put some small exp-)

"Robert, we need to make sure that thing is sealed up tight. If we break that seal with explosives or anything else, the Yeerks and Terinans will just keep coming"

As he said this, we heard a horrible thump from the door, and then the banging started.

"Here they come... now how do we get outta here" I caught sight of Raph as he and I moved through the sets of crates on opposite sides. He was squeezing his Sais tightly, a grimace on his face and his body tense.

"Done!" Donnie's voice now, and I lost sight of Raph as I moved down another walkway between the crates, looking around-

Flash!

(Oh shit!) I was instantly running back towards Donnie, knowing what I'd seen was heading straight for him.

"Jade?" Raph queried from somewhere behind me, but I was diving up and over a crate, stopping for only a split second and seeing my worst nightmare.

(DONNIE! BEHIND YOU!) I yelled, diving back off and pumping my legs for all they were worth.

"Wha-ah!" I heard a hit, then Donnie crying out a little.

I sped into view, seeing Donnie block another blow from the Terinans tail, backing off and away from the console he'd been working at. What he didn't see-

(Oh no you dont!) I dove over, catching the Terinan before it ripped into Donnie's side, instead leaving deep gashes down my flank.

"Jade!"

Raph was suddenly there, his Sai's raised about to-

(Guys, back off! You'll get hurt!)

"But it's just-"

(Argh!) I managed to block another attack that was meant for Raph, feeling the horrible sting as more gashes were left down my side. Blood was starting to seep from the deep wounds, seeing the Terinan get on all fours now, snarling at me as I stood between her and the boys.

"Jade-"

(Stay back! She's dangerous!)

"Wait...she?"

(Yeah... that's a female Terinan)

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As the boys looked for another way out of this room, I managed to keep the female off them, getting more and more deep scratches as I did though. I could feel the poison from those claws start to make its way through my body, fighting to keep upright and braced for another attack. It was impossible to get a good angle to take her down, as each time I tried, she managed to get another hit in on me, and I had to pull back.

"There's an air vent!"

"You really think we're gonna be able to fit in that thing?!"

"Have you got a better idea?!"

"Thats it, I'm coming up! I'll get you out of that room! Jade, you hang on!"

(Ithiell... the poison...)

"Should get out of your system when you shift... just hold on!"

"We gotta work-"

(Raph, I can't risk you letting get close to her! If she gets you... the poison could kill you)

"So why the hell are you letting-"

(Cause I can shift this away... at least I hope... and you cant)

"I don't like that answer" Donnie's response.

(There is nothing else we can do for now! She's too fast!)

"She is correct. In your current states, being... attacked... could very well kill you both in a matter of minutes, possibly an hour, if you are lucky"

"Then how did Jade survive all those years ago?" I could hear the boys doing something behind me, but my eyes were locked on the Terninan female. Although... my sight was slowly starting to blur...

"Dumb luck!" Ithiell's response to Donnie, feeling the world start to spin.

(Thanks...) Was all I could think to say, then (Ithiell, I can't-)

"Okay, but be careful"

I kept my eyes on her, knowing it was dangerous but also knowing if I didn't, she'd probably rip me to shreds.

I tried to focus my mind on another creature, instead finding myself start to become human, half cursing myself in my own mind. Now she was-

To my utter shock, her eyes widened, and she stood up straight, then a slow smile started to grace her lips, sharp teeth glinting in the artificial light.

Now back to myself, I found my head was now clear, and the floor felt solid under my feet.

"What are you smirking at?" I snarled at her, and she tilted her head to the side a little, letting out a strange sound.

"So it is you" Her words shocked me more than her smile.

"Whoa, they can talk?!" Donnie's voice from behind me now, but I didn't dare turn to look at him, knowing she could strike at any moment now, and we were all vulnerable to that poison.

(Yes genius, they can talk. Female Terinans are somehow smarter than the male Terinans, and can learn languages faster) Robert now.

"Comforting"

"So... who am I then?" I asked her, folding my arms across my chest. She did a strange kind of chuckle, then her claw moved down to point to her belly. Right where I-

"You're the little girl who I thought I'd killed"

"Wait, what?" It hit me then, who she was "I thought Ithiell.. I thought he..."

"I thought I did too... stay on your guard Jade, I'm almost there"

She chuckled again "I was almost dead... but... thankfully... your young little friend didn't actually kill me"

Again, I got some twisted sort of deja vu, looking at the Terinan who had almost put me into an early grave all those years ago. If it hadn't been for Ithiell and Rtaia...

"How?" Was all I got out, my mind reliving that terrifying moment when I was younger, being held down by this horrible creature, being poisoned...

"Fate" She smiled again "Now I get to finish what I started"

Before I could react, she was coming at me. Instinctively I jumped back, managing to backflip and finding myself hitting something solid and familiar, seeing her almost fly towards-

"No!" Her claws hit Donnie's Bo, and he smacked her in the face, knocking her down as my back was pressed against his chest.

She hit the floor, but in seconds she was up again, coming towards us. I managed to get away from Donnie, throwing fist forward and hitting her full force in the face, watching as she tumbled back again. We watched as she hit a large crate, seeming to have a harder time getting up.

"So... you've learned some new tricks" She stood up slowly, turning to me with a fire in her eyes.

"Yeah, the fighting back thing has really been great for my survival" I shook my hand a little, feeling it start to ache.

"I'll still kill you. It's not just a coincidence we're both here... on this ship... now"

I heard Raph make a huff somewhere behind me, but my eyes were fixated on her. Seemed like all our worst enemies just happened to be coming at us... and now, here was mine. She'd come so close to killing me, and now, she was here.

Maybe it was fate... it was all designed this way...

Either way, I wasn't going to loose this fight. We were so close to finishing this war... I wasn't going to go down now.

"Donnie, Bo!" I yelled as she finally made a move towards me, finding it coming down above me and grabbing it, snapping it forward towards her as she reached me, sending her flying backwards again, into the same crate as before.

I held it front of me, focusing on a shift as she moved to get up again, shaking her head a little, her eyes now glaring at me as she did.

"Jade?" I knew the boys were confused, but I couldn't respond to them now. I had to keep myself focused on my next move.

"So... what do you think of this shift?" I asked in the more gutteral tone, seeing her eyes widen a little as I completed my shift.

"You... that will not work on me!" She snapped, heading for me again, but I ducked out of the way, slamming the Bo onto her back, hearing something crack in what hoped was her back as she hit the floor again.

"Donnie!" I threw the Bo back up in the air, half seeing him awkwardly catch it again as I jumped on her, digging my now Terinan claws deep in her back and hearing her screech.

"See how you like it, hey? Cause I'm sure it will work" I dug deeper, feeling her try to get me off her, and I half tumbled to the side, letting go of her and scrambling to my feet. She seemed to be having trouble getting up herself, seeing blood start to seep from the wounds I'd made.

"You can't poison me! It doesn't work that way!"

"Who said I'm trying to poison you?" I asked sweetly.

"You just dug my claws into my back, you idiot!"

"Oh no, you've got it aaaalll wrong" I chuckled a little "I did this so no matter what happens, you can't poison me"

"Clever" Raph muttered, and I heard Donnie make a small humph sound as it finally clicked in the Terinan's mind.

"Well... you might be immune, but your friends aren't!" She suddenly darted sideways, towards the boys who were both instantly on guard, me going after her.

"Raph, ZAP!" I yelled, finally grabbing her and knocking her down before she could get to them. She fought to get off me again, but I noticed Raph had understood what I said, jumping off her and onto one of the crates, seeing the small metal thing fly past me. I turned just as she went to get up-

Her screams pierced my alien ears as the zapper hit her right in the face, paralyzing her and making her whole body convulse.

Then, it stopped, and her body collapsed to the ground, burnt to a crisp. I took that chance to look over at the other crate the boys had landed on, seeing them both nod at me.

She was dead. And I wasn't just imagining it...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!

A horrible explosion just outside the door caught all our attention, screams and cries and something else now past that door.

We all waited, stock still, until the door finally slid open and in stepped none other than Ithiell, looking up at the three of us. There was heavy smoke billowing behind him... and what looked like parts of bodies.

"Well, come on! We don't have all day... and Jade, shift back, that's just creepy"

The next few minutes just seemed to flash by in a blur. We ran, we escaped, then after the enemies on the ground were down, we managed to get ourselves and the remaining soldiers out of harms way.

Something strange happened inside me, as I watched the explosion light up the night sky, hearing cheers from all around me.

A hope bubbled up inside me, one I hadn't felt in what seemed like forever. Just seeing... and knowing... that all of us working together, well... it was finally turning the tide.

We... humans, Chanaibens... even turtles and strange other creatures from out of space...

We were all... finally... winning this war.

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Constructive criticism appreciated!