Ch.6: Reptile Blues
"Whoa!" shouted Donnie, as a claw came just within inches of slicing his head "This guy's fast!"
"Watch yourself Don!" said Leo brandishing his katanas " I'm coming in!"
With that said, Leo sliced outwards with his swords, striking the alligator's scales with all the force he could muster. The giant beast roared with pain as he felt the cuts swing deep into his skin, and quickly lashed out his rage by snapping his hard tail right at Leo's chest.
With a large 'oof' Leonardo was knocked down to the ground, and Donatello charged in in order to keep the gator distracted. Twirling like a maniac with his bo, Don struck multiple hits against the gator's mouth and nose in order to confuse the larger reptile.
One hard whack to the snout and the gator stumbled back in pain, allowing Leo enough time to recover to grab his swords and get back into the fight.
"We're not going to be able to beat him by strength alone" said Leo taking a swings " we need a stragety,"
Knowing plans were supposed to be his strong suit, Donatello quickly put his brain to work, searching for options that could in any way help them get out of this frightening mess. It only took a few seconds to consider before a lightbulb went off in the turtle's mind.
"The security systems of course!" shouted Don "Leo, lead him over to the lair! We'll trip the alarms on the way!"
Nodding that he understood, Leo blew a raspberry at the gator and taunted it to follow them deeper down. The gator took the bait, and with a growl chased them further into the tunnels.
"Alright" said Don, approaching the first system " Sonic Alarms activate!"
With that said an irritating buzzing noise started echoing relentlessly off of the sewer walls, hurting the sensitive ears of anyone within range.
"Ah Donnie!" cried Leo, holding his ears in pain " I don't see how this is helping!"
"Sorry!" shouted Don, and the Sonic Alarms deactivated.
Although the lifespan of the Sonic Alarms were only for a few seconds, determined to chase away anyone who managed to get to close to the lair, the effect they could have was damaging as the sounds were still ringing in Don and Leo's ears when the gator recovered from the sound and started chasing them again.
"Any other plans?" asked Leo desperately. "Cause I just think we made our friend madder,"
"Alarm number two!" shouted Don "Activate!"
That said, guns popped out of some of the stones in the tunnel and aimed themselves towards the three reptiles running down its hall. Calling for Leo to duck, both turtles hit the sludge, as metal lines zoomed over their heads and snared the alligator in devastating tangle of wire. The beast growled and thrashed, fighting to break free, allowing Don and Leo to enjoy a big stretch of relief.
"Well we got him" said Leo "Now what do we do?"
"You shall never take me again!" shouted the alligator, leaving the turtles stunned.
"Did he just talk?" Don wondered in amaze.
The purple-banded genius's thoughts were brought with terror however when the dreadful screeching of fraying, metal threads pounded his ears. Using up all the rage he had gathered, the gator snapped the threads that held him bound and renewed his assault against Leo and Don, his yellow eyes boiling with fury. These turtles were going to die!
Meanwhile, having just returned from their patrol, Raphael and Mikey stepped back into the lair to remove their costumes and get some much needed rest. Mikey stepped into his room to change, while Raphael just shed his armor in the training area. He could always put it away later.
" How was your patrol my son?" asked Master Splinter, walking into the room.
"Fine Master Splinter" said Raphael " though we encountered something strange. You know where Leo and Don are? They should probably hear this too,"
"Your brothers have gone out into the tunnels to improve the defense around our lair" said Master Splinter " I have not seen them for some time. Why don't you go out and find them, it is Michelangelo's turn for chores tonight."
Unfortunately for the orange-masked turtle, he heard his master's last sentence when he finally stepped back out of his room.
"Aw, Master Splinter" Mikey complained " do I have to?"
A stern glare from the rat was all the motivation Mikey, as he immediately rushed off to complete his tasks. Shaking his head in amusement, Raphael stalked back towards the sewer tunnels to look for Leo and Don, the reflections from the patrol still burning in his mind.
"TCRI" thought Raphael " just what were they working on?"
Little did Raph know he would soon find out.
Meanwhile, inside Shredder's headquarters, Shredder's newly obtained mutant slave which was now called Slash, was busy fighting for his life in the Foot's training area, facing several soldiers whose aims were to kill.
Swinging out with katana blades and throwing stars, the Foot Ninjas fought against Slash with all the skills they had gained from training under Shredder and Karai. Slash was no pushover from skill though, as his brute strength seemed masterful enough to handle any challenge.
Ignoring the attacks striking his massive, spiked shell, Slash focused all his efforts to follow the attacks on the front and the sides. Copying the ninja's moves and solidifying them in his mind, Slash struck out hard and fast with precise power, leaving his foes groaning on the ground.
"He learns well" said Karai, watching from a viewing screen with her father by her side " but he's holding back some impressive power,"
"Yes" said Shredder, grabbing a nearby microphone " but that will change. Slash! Show no mercy to your opponents, for no mercy shall be shown on you! Lash out and destroy, especially against your greatest foes."
With that said, the soldiers who hadn't suffered a brutal beating, dragged what others they could out of the room, before a panel slid open revealing steel cutouts of the turtles, painted to look real.
"No mercy" grumbled Slash " to my enemies!"
Unleashing an unholy growl, Slash's eyes narrowed with rage, and the claws on his fingers extended. Furiously, he slashed and at the steel copies, slicing them into bits. Soon nothing but the shattered remains of four false turtle corpses littered the floor, lighting an evil spark within Slash's mind.
"Brilliant," said Shredder, and then got distracted as a Foot soldier approached.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Master Shredder" responded the soldier " a General Traag has come to see you."
"Yes" said Shredder " I've been expecting his company,"
Moving to his room where he could slip into the guise of Oroku Saki, Shredder rid himself of his armor and switched into his business clothes. A few seconds later he arrived at the lobby downstairs, meeting General Traag who remained stoic as he approached.
"Have you've gone over the terms we last discussed Mr. Saki?" asked General Traag.
"I have" said Oroku " and I'm willing to accept. Our companies would do well together with this merge. But what token can I trust that you will hold up your end of the deal?"
General Traag's eyes narrowed, looking over Oroku with scorn. Two hard core souls clashed, seeing which one's spirits would bend. Traag had dealt with powerful wills before, but Saki's will was stronger than any alien life he had ever faced, except for maybe that of Lord Krang.
The Shredder had sought out the resources of TCRI at Stockman's request, curious as to what secrets they were hiding. Wordlessly he stood, as General Traag handed out a small, metal trinket and placed it in his hand.
"Use it in good health," grinned Traag, and then walked away whispering "Partner,"
"Man, where are they?" thought Raphael, as he continued the sewer tunnels, then shouted " Yo Don! Leo! Where are ya?"
There was nothing but silence for a minute, but just Raph was approaching a tunnel near the Southwest, voices echoed off the sewer walls soon followed by a shout.
"You shall never take me again!"
Screams followed soon after that, and Raphael put his feet into overdrive to reach where they came. Leo and don were in trouble, and he had to be there to help out!
"Looks like this is it Leo" said Doantello, breathing heavy, him and his brother both covered with bruises and cuts.
"I guess" said Leo " but who'd thought we'd go out like this?"
When the alligator had snapped the cables keeping him bound to the wall, Leo and Don had instantly went on the counter attack, but were tired from their previous feat and slowed down drastically. Their endurance is what kept them awake, kept their spirits from falling flat. But what would spirit do them now, when they were trapped in the monster's claws, and the mouth was only seconds away from chomping them to bits?