Author's Notes: None! Ha!
Rated 'M' for violence, language, sexual content, and a plethora of offensive material including but not limited to drug use and underage drinking.
Disclaimer: I got 'em! I got 'em! Or was that just a dream…oh crud- I don't own them in this chapter, either.
Equilibrium
-Encounters-
He's coming.
And all who oppose him shall perish in his wake.
He is greater than any council, any enemy. He is greater than any personal honor.
She must serve him. It is a matter of greater honor- to one's master and to one's clan.
Why then, was every fiber of her being screaming at her to commit betrayal. Treachery.
She shuddered at the memory of his voice.
You will have failed me for the last time, Karai…
X
"They're at it again, dude."
Mike plopped unceremoniously next to Raph on the couch. Some sort of wrestling match played on the screen, drowning out the sounds of exertion coming from the dojo. Leonardo had spent most of the day in there, handing off between training and meditation. A female voice carried through the den as she and Donatello made their way from the kitchen. "You make it a habit to meddle in things that don't concern you, then?"
Just another night of domestic bliss.
They had found themselves at a standstill last night; Kai was determined to stay within thirty feet of the Mozeka, and Don had insisted that letting her take it was a bad idea. So they did what any properly raised young men would do: they made up the couch. She seemed a little put off by the fact that they weren't relinquishing the artifact but stayed the night, sleeping late into the afternoon. More pleasantries were made, and it was well into the evening.
"And I suppose you make it a habit to pass judgment on the actions of others."
Mike considered sending a 'ding' Don's way, but the jovial turtle learned early on not to get involved. Without taking his eyes from the TV, Raph asked, "What are they arguing about this time?"
Mike shrugged. "I'm not sure. It kinda makes me appreciate those times that I don't know what he's talking about. I can just assume he's right, you know?"
Raph gave a slight smile. Nearly a day later, and she was still working his brainy brother into a fluster. He mused that some part of Don must enjoy the challenge, to keep engaging her like he did. Not that Raph was complaining- he enjoyed seeing him interact. It seemed that his brother kept to himself too often.
The two entered the room and Don addressed his orange-wearing brother. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but will you tell her about the Battle Nexus?"
Mike bounced up on his knees in excitement. "Well, there we were…faced against opponents from every corner of the multi-verse-"
"Thanks Mike. That'll be all."
Michaelangelo stopped with a look of deflation and stared at Don. "What?"
The staff wielding turtle clarified, "I just wanted to emphasize the fact that we have experienced and observed safe inter-dimensional travel."
The girl shook her head. "You also mentioned some sort of Daimyo with some sort of powers. He's obviously got a handle on the equilibrium and doesn't rely on an outside source. I was referring to your research in creating a hyperbolic inter-dimensional traveler. If you would just listen to my theory on how excessive inter-dimensional travel puts unnatural strain on the multi-verse lending to the collapse of the sub-universe in it's-"
"Do you ever theorize about something positive?"
The brunette blinked and gave it some consideration. "If I fail to foresee something negative, then I can't take precautionary actions to prevent it. If I fail to see something positive, then I just miss it. No harm done."
Donatello replied, "If you can't see the good, then what's the point?"
Kai arched an eyebrow. "Technological suave, inter-dimensional travel, and now psychology. You're a jack of all trades, aren't you?"
He considered commenting on her defensive response, but opted instead to change the subject. Heading toward his room, he called over his shoulder, "If you know so much about this artifact, don't you want to be present while I dismantle it?"
"What!"
She nearly ran to catch up, and the two brothers watched them disappear into the other room.
The wrestling match finally over, Raph surfed for something new to watch. The house arrest was still making him itchy. "That's probably the most excitement we'll see today."
As if on cue, Leonardo came bursting form the dojo, not even sparing his brothers a glace. Mike stood and approached his obviously disturbed brother. "Whoa. What's up bro? We haven't seen much of you all day."
Leo clenched his fist and spoke through gritted teeth. "Karai couldn't just accept an honorable defeat. She's cowering as she puts a mark on my family."
The last words came out as a growl, surprising the other two turtles in the room. Usually Leo was the calming voice of reason. Come to think of it, he did have some difficulty when they had their shells handed to them by the Shredder some time back. Since then- especially after Ch'rell's banishment to the ice world- Leo had seemed to collect himself and return to the brother they knew. He was still a little harder around the edges, but they had all undergone changes and growth over the year.
Raph considered what he was looking at. This bordered on dark, reckless Leo. A Leo that he thought was long gone.
Guess he was just resting.
Nonetheless, Raph wanted action. If Leonardo had a plan to take the bitch out, he wasn't about to argue. "So what are we going to do about it? When are we leavin'?"
The blue-clad turtle stopped him before he could even get up. "We're not. That's what she wants –for us to show ourselves and get hit from every direction."
Raph wasn't buying it. "You sure as hell look like you're on yer way out."
Leo turned and continued toward the door. "I'm just going to run in the sewers to clear my head. Alone." He paused and gave his brothers what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "You know me. I'm not going to do anything stupid."
With that, he walked out, leaving two confused brothers to look at each other in question.
"Now he's stealing your scenes, Raph."
The sai wielder stared at the lair's entrance and Mike continued, "Well, he's right. We do know him…"
Raphael glanced back at his brother, who had a very mischievous smile on his beak. Raph couldn't help the grin that was forming on his own. "All the more reason to make sure that he doesn't do anything stupid…"
X
It had started out as an exercise run. Honestly.
The pounding of his feet beat rhythmically in time with his heart; his mind was a jumble of thoughts, but they were more bearable when overshadowed by the steady physical exertion.
He only surfaced for air. There was no other reason to be topside, but he really needed the breather. Besides, he was ninja: he could roam the city without being seen. He wasn't looking for trouble.
The fact that he was heading in the general direction of Saki's tower was mere coincidence. Nothing more.
And the opportunity that presented itself with the sighting of a rooftop stakeout…well, that was just too tempting to pass up.
The man in black had been camped out on the roof for three nights now, certain that it would provide fruit. After all, one of his…colleagues had a run in with the target in this area. He died in this area as well, but that wasn't of much concern. The deceased mercenary's partner had apparently booked as soon as their location was discovered, babbling on about green creatures with lightening speed and meticulous aim. Rookie.
He scratched his chin, feeling the scruff of a face unshaved; he had the rough appearance that made ladies wary and clutch their handbags tight. He thought he looked like Hugh Jackman, and the women? They were simply startled by his rugged good looks. The man did another sweep with his binoculars, checked the time, and opened a can of pork and beans.
"Waiting for someone?"
It all happened in a matter of seconds. The mercenary dropped the can and reached for the gun at his side, but Leo had a katana drawn long before revealing his location. In one smooth strike, the gun was destroyed and the man's hand was left bloody and useless. Without pause, the turtle gave a vicious kick, sending his target skidding across the rooftop, a safe distance from the equipment.
Cradling his injured hand, the merc looked up to find the point of a sword pressed firmly to his throat and a very pissed reptile staring down at him coldly. The voice that followed matched the stare. "Thought you'd make a quick buck, hm?"
"Quick my ass."
Leo tilted the sword slightly, falling into thought. "It just might be your ass…"
Leonardo was many things, but he was hardly a murderer. He would not hesitate in striking an opponent down in the heat of battle, when his life or the lives of his family were at stake. There were occasions when self-defense and the defense of others called for lethal force.
This wasn't one of those occasions.
Of course, he wasn't one for letting deeds against his family go unpunished either. Amazing, the effects a simple scare tactic can have on a person.
Leonardo peered over the roof's ledge, taunting his helpless captive. He had secured the man's ankles with some sturdy rope he had found among the equipment; the other end, he had looped around a stable fire escape rail. The merc dangled red-faced ten stories above the ground, otherwise unharmed.
The turtle placed his blade along the rope, ignoring the man's expression of absolute horror.
"Tell me something. How much is your life worth?"
The captive choked on his answer. "N-nothing! I mean, you'd get nothing! My life is-has worth! Don't kill me!"
He didn't plan to. The fire escape traveled down the length of the building- once the groveling man gathered enough wits, he would be able to swing himself to safety with relative ease. Granted, he had yet to realize this.
A katana at the rope probably wasn't helping the thought process any.
"P-please. Have mercy!"
There was no doubt in Leo's mind how much mercy he would receive if the roles were reversed; but that's where he differed from what seemed to be the majority. Not the color of his skin or the means of his origins…but rather, his honor. Integrity.
The ability to walk away.
Sheathing his weapon, he free-fell to one of the lower fire escape rails, gave the terrified human a final glance, then leapt over the alley to land on the next rooftop. The man might or might not have learned his lesson, but it was a choice that was his own.
"So you can be creative."
At the sound of a familiar voice, Leo looked up and dodged a flash of steel. The move was unnecessary, as the throwing star's aim was wide, hardly coming near the turtle at all.
The sound of rope snapping drew his attention to the building he had just jumped from. The scream lasted only seconds before cutting off with a sickening smack. Neither had to look to know that he was dead.
"Your mercy will be the end of you, Leonardo."
He gritted his teeth and drew his trusted twin katana, letting his voice come out as a growl.
"Karai…"
X
Leo was out there somewhere, and he was likely shell-deep in trouble.
That's why they had followed the sewer tunnels up into a familiar alley. Mike was certain that his blue-clad brother would find himself in the need of back up. Raph, on the other hand, felt as if he was being left out on the fun. Both agreed though: even if Leonardo wasn't looking for trouble, trouble was going to find him. That just seemed to be the way it worked.
And that's apparently how it worked for all of them- this point was punctuated by a throwing knife embedding itself into a trash can two feet from Michaelangelo's abdomen.
"Why is it always me?"
Raphael had already fallen back into the shadows, not wanting to risk a return to the manhole. That is of course, assuming their attacker hadn't watched them emerge in the first place and already had it sighted. "It's always you 'cause you're the only one without enough sense to duck!"
The whistling sound of another projectile moved Mike into gear and he flipped behind a dumpster. Not the most pleasant of spots, but a working shield nonetheless.
The nunchaku-wielding turtle wondered briefly of his brother's location before he heard the familiar New York accent about seven feet away. Then he wished he hadn't.
"Mikey, you godda distract him while I get a bead on his location."
Michaelangelo's voice came out as a whine, "Aww…why do I always have to be the distraction?"
"'Cause that's what you're good at. 'Sides, he knows where you are- you're a sitting turtle."
He hated to admit it –really hated to admit it –but his brother was right. Raphael was the only one who had the freedom to move about undetected, and they needed to use that to their advantage.
"If he kills me, I'm going to haunt you every moment of every day for the rest of your life."
A disembodied snort came from the darkness. "And how will that be any different from the last sixteen years?"
Ignoring the comment, Michaelangelo looked around to find something useful in creating a distraction. Considering the fact that he was behind an industrial-sized dumpster, he didn't even want to know what he could be crouching in. To his right were some discarded newspapers, other unidentifiable paper trash, and a silver-gray garbage can that reminded him of Oscar the Grouch. To his left were some unfortunately used janitorial materials: a plunger, a ratty mop, and a broken broom handle. The dumpster's lid was flipped back and a pool of black sludge was gathered beneath the mammoth container, seeping out toward the disgusted turtle.
Just because he lived in a sewer, he didn't necessarily enjoy wallowing in other people's slime.
When it became apparent that a brilliant idea wasn't going to strike him any time soon, he went with the first half-baked plan that entered his mind.
Moment passed and the alley was quite, safe for a metallic scraping coming from behind the turtle's refuge.
Slowly the silver trashcan came into view as it crept inch by inch from behind the dumpster. Flipped upside down, it scooted hesitantly away from the garbage filled sanctum, as if not to draw attention to itself.
Shink
A throwing knife reached the can with such force that it sliced clean through the metal, hitting the wall on the other side. A grunt was heard, then the dumpster's lid flipped up with great velocity, sending a miniature sea of sludge flying through the air. It splattered throughout the alley, reaching the ledge of the next building and hopefully beyond.
Michaelangelo lay behind the dumpster with his shell to the ground and his feet in the air, having just kicked the lid with all of his strength. The sludge catapult had worked better than he expected, considering none of it had rained back down on him. He leapt to his feet and jumped over the empty Oscar-can; the good old 'scoot the dummy can with a broken broom handle' trick. Ah, the classics.
He sprinted across the alleyway and flattened himself against the wall of the building the knives had been thrown from. The ninja then flipped up onto a window ledge and continued to the roof. He hadn't heard sounds of a struggle- the distraction might not have bought enough time.
Reaching the rooftop with his chucks out, he realized two things. First of all, the distraction must have been perfect, for there was a well-armed woman lying on the pavement unmoving. There was some slime, but he didn't see blood. Mike guessed that she was just unconscious.
There was movement on the roof, drawing his attention to the red-clad turtle, which in turn brought him to the second conclusion: The catapult worked better than he could have ever hoped.
With sais still drawn, Raph stood glowering at his brother. Or at least, Mike thought he was glowering. It was hard to tell when the other was covered in rotten, half-liquefied refuse.
"I've got a distraction for ya, Mikey…"
X
The mozeka sat on Donatello's workbench, prepared and ready for further scrutinizing. It was untouched, however, as the room's occupants were focused on one another.
Don's voice held an incredulous tone, "You're accusing me of destroying the entire universe!"
Kai shook her head and tried to explain. "No, no. I'm just saying that when excessive inter-dimensional travel occurs, you run the risk of two realities becoming codependent. What effects one reality will in essence, affect the other. Then two realities may become three or five or ten…and what then? They'll be a strain on the equilibrium, throwing that entire sub-universe into chaos. The inter-connected realities may begin to merge, collapsing in itself, and initiate a black hole effect. The entire sub-universal structure would become unstable, but the Universe in its magnitude should be able to withstand the loss of the numerous realities in just that one sub-universe."
Don replied sarcastically, "Oh, so you're not implying that I would lend to the destruction of the Universe, just the countless realities in your so-called sub-universe. That's better."
The brunette heaved a sigh and spoke in a softer tone, "I'm not accusing you of anything. I was just stating an idea."
His voice grew softer as well. Maybe there was hope of getting through to her after all. "It's just that you make your ideas sound like facts rather than theory."
She rubbed the back of her neck, obviously tired of arguing. It was no surprise, considering the amount of it they had been engaging in. "I know, I have a habit of doing that. It's just…when I go into debate mode, I tend to get a little aggressive in my views."
Don offered her a smile and stood from the chair, stretching. "I'm going to get some more coffee. Do you want some?"
"Sure," She returned the smile and diverted her attention back to the artifact, searching for any little clue they could have missed.
As Donatello made his way through the den, he noticed a distinct absence of his brothers. Surely it wasn't late enough for them to have gone to bed already…
"Oh. Evening, Master Splinter."
The aged rat sat at the kitchen table, a steaming cup in his paw. He smiled at his son and watched as he put on a pot of coffee. "Good evening, Donatello. I don't suppose you know any more than I do concerning your brothers' whereabouts?"
The turtle looked up from the coffee maker with a hint of surprise. "You mean they're not in the lair at all? Should I go search for them. Sensei?"
The ninja master's whiskers twitched at the change in atmosphere. Of his sons, Donatello was the slowest to action. He was not calling his son slow, not by any means; his usually quiet student simply preferred to think his way out of a problem. Times like this, however, just demonstrated the fact that Donatello didn't hesitate to act when his family needed him.
Splinter placed a hand on his son's arm reassuringly. "There is no need to do so, my son. They have been gone for no longer than thirty minutes, and one would hope that they know to stay together. Return to miss Kai and focus on the problem at hand."
X
Their blades clashed with a fierceness that matched their eyes. A parry, a thrust; a dodge, a block. It was a captivating dance where a missed step ensured a painful death.
Leonardo had become even more skilled than their last encounter. Or perhaps, he was simply fueled by something raw- the fury in his eyes did not go unnoticed by the other ninja.
"I am sorry it has to be this way, Leonardo."
The turtle ducked a blow, side-sweeping one of Karai's legs out from under her. She fell back out of reach and drew up a defensive stance.
"I'm tired of your apologies, Karai. You haven't the personal honor to guide your own actions, so you just apologize for them."
She raised her katana in preparation for a strike. "Do not speak to me of honor! It is to my master that I owe my life and my service. I am bound to serve him."
She carried out a downward strike, which Leo easily dodged.
"The Shredder's gone, Karai. Yet you still live out his vendetta, hiring mercenaries of all things!"
He performed a roundhouse kick, which she blocked with her forearm.
"You should have known that the Shredder would not stay gone for long. I did not put a price on your head until I received news of his return."
Leo was unprepared for the side kick that landed on his chest, knocking the air from his lungs. He planted his feet firmly and grabbed her ankle, using the upper momentum to toss her to the side.
This Shredder thing was getting old. They had battled underground monsters, genetic experiments, mad scientists, space aliens, inter-dimensional power-seekers…yet this one villain kept getting recycled. Surely the universe would have something more original to throw at them by now.
Karai took up a defensive stance, giving her opponent the benefit of the next move. When he took up the defensive as well, she ventured an explanation.
"The Shredder is a powerful force. Powerful enough to have gained allies during his crusades in space. He has been retrieved, and is currently on a path set for Earth…and he expects you dead upon arrival. If you are not, then that fate will be my own."
Some of the fire disappeared from Leo's eyes; nonetheless, his stance never faltered. "So these attacks, are they fueled by your honor or your fear?"
Something flickered behind her eyes, something that he couldn't quite place. Unsure of what to expect, he drew one sword up in front of him as a sort of shield. Her response surprised him more than any attack could have.
"He taught me everything I know. I could not hope to overpower him." Her voice was soft, almost lost as if an endless war had been raging inside of her. In that moment, she looked so very exhausted.
The blue-clad turtle dropped the sword to his side and let his expression soften. He was still prepared for an attack, but if she wanted to go into confessional mode, he wanted to appear capable but not threatening.
"You're right Karai. You wouldn't stand a chance alone. That's what allies are for."
The woman considered the ninja before her. Was he really that trusting, or would he extend to her the same backstabbing that she had shown him? And his family: they would never approve. They could be powerful together, but…
"Are you offering an alliance, Leonardo?"
He considered his words; it certainly sounded like an offer. However, this wasn't a decision to be made lightly and without the voice of his family. No, it wasn't an offer. Not yet.
"Should I, Karai? As I recall, you once offered us a truce. Then the next time we met, your katana was at my throat. I should not be surprised if this were a deceitful trick in order to save your own life from the very master you serve"
Steel met leather as Karai sheathed her weapon. She refused to meet Leo's eyes as she spoke in a subdued but by no means fragile voice. "I was there, Leonardo. When they named his crimes…destruction and tyranny over so many worlds. There is honor to killing, but not in indiscriminate slaughter."
She finally met his gaze; while it lacked the anger and conviction it once held, she still had a confident strength. Even in this time of being lost, she had a take it or leave it attitude.
She continued, "You have no reason to trust me, other than my word. The word of a ninja who no longer serves a master. Or, I will simply do what is required for my survival."
Leonardo sheathed his own katanas, but continued to emanate authority and control. His posture suggested that –though willing to listen –he wouldn't hesitate in drawing his weapons again.
"Let's talk."
Her lips curved into a smile that could only be described as bittersweet.
"Yes, Leonardo. We shall talk."
X
"What the shell was that?"
Michaelangelo and Raphael stood on the rooftop staring out toward the eastern docks. Just a moment before, they had caught sight of what appeared to be a shooting star; only instead of streaking across the sky, it seemed to plummet downward. The trail of light was cut off by the buildings' silhouettes, but unless their eyes were playing tricks on them, something had just landed either in or by the river.
"Don't know. What do ya say we check it out?"
They moved closer to the edge of the building, deciding on the best route. Mike made the gesture of fanning himself before commenting, "Sure thing, Raph. So long as you keep your distance 'cause man, you really stin-Gah!"
The turtle didn't have time to duck as a glob of sludge was send sailing his way. It splattered over Michaelangelo's beak, and he tried desperately to wipe it off.
"That's sick Raph…I had my mouth open and everything!"
The turtle in red laughed as he leapt to the next building, on his way to the docks. Still grumbling under his breath, Mike followed his would-be comedian brother. They were going to find an abandoned hose before perusing anything else.
Fifteen minutes and a short water hose fight had passed by the time they reached their destination. By the look of it, they weren't the only ones attracted by the light show. Three foot ninja had roped in an object and were in the process of dragging it out of the river; there were four other masked assassins standing guard nearby. Seven, not taking into account any foot that may have been lurking in the shadows. Still, not bad odds when pitted against two highly trained adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Not bad odds for the two, that is.
Raphael sent a hand signal his brother's way, who nodded in return. The two crept through the shadows to surround the four guards and soon learned that there were no other ninjas waiting to ambush them in the darkness. The four were taken out easily enough, and without causing a sound. The other three were so focused on the task at hand, they didn't even notice the fall of their comrades.
"Whatcha got there, boys?"
The black-clad ninjas whirled around to face the speaker: Raph smirked at them, twirling his sais casually. While he did so, a two-toed foot connected with a clan member from another direction. As Mike knocked the one down, Raph set to work on the other two; shoving the handle of his sai into the gut of one, sending him stumbling into the other. He then executed a roundhouse kick, knocking them both down and out.
The red-masked turtle looked over at his brother, who was inspecting the beached object. "Is it just me, or are these guys falling behind in their training?"
"Nah. They just can't compare, Raph. No amount of training can help being a foot loser."
Michaelangelo was poking and prodding at the pod-like object. It was slightly smaller than a compact car, and much less accessible. He was about to comment on the lack of a door handle when a mechanical whoosh of air made him jump back. With weapons drawn, they could only stare in shock as a door rose and a small figure emerged.
Walking on all eight tentacles.
X
The artifact was beginning to look like a color-me teddy bear. After noticing a certain pattern within the grooves of the statuette, they confiscated a washable marker from Michaelangelo's room and began highlighting the lines. Orange ink roamed across the surface of the glittering she-jaguar, guided by Kai's steady hand. The young woman's focus was for her work and her work alone, allowing Donatello to consider the female with closer scrutinization.
Chestnut hair fell in straight locks to the middle of her back and he recalled her reaching a height of about two inches above himself. Her frame was small enough, however, to have been overshadowed by their presence when they were playing the intimidation card the day before. Her facial features were strong and gentle at the same time- not sharp enough to be Native American, but still possessing the same steady calm. She looked as if she could be a 'Running Deer' or 'Singing River Valley.'
Or perhaps more appropriately, 'Head-butting Ram.'
He chuckled to himself, earning a quizzical look from the hardheaded young woman.
"What's so funny?"
He stifled his mirth and chose instead to simply tell her the truth, "I was just wondering about your heritage."
She arched an eyebrow, unsure of the humor in such a topic. Nevertheless, she indulged him, "Different things, really. A lot of Cherokee, some Italian, and a good bit of Mayan. Apparently my paternal grandmother's side of the family lived in Brazil, but were from Belize originally."
He nodded, having been partly right after all. He stroked his chin thoughtfully and ventured, "I suppose that attributes to your affinity for their artifacts. But there is something I've been wanting to know…how did you find our lair?"
She placed the marker on the table and gave an uncertain look before asking, "Do you believe in ESP?"
Now this one he had to consider. Professor Honeycut had developed and constructed a working device that increased extra sensory abilities such as telekinesis. The Utroms were an advanced race that had the ability to achieve shared consciousness and whose council members obviously communicated telepathically. His own Master Splinter encouraged –no, required –they learn meditation to achieve higher awareness. How often did their sensei have a vision that eventually came to pass? That's how they suspected that the Shredder was up to something particularly evil that night they destroyed his starship.
From experience, Donatello stood behind the idea of extra sensory perception; as a turtle of science, he was still allowed to be skeptical. You'll never see him on the phone, seeking advice from Miss Cleo.
"I believe in ESP…are you saying that you had a vision of our lair?"
She eyed him doubtfully. Usually the 'brainier' individuals tended to be the most avid nonbelievers. She tried to keep her explanation short and sweet. "This isn't the first active artifact I've come across. Most of the time, it starts as a vision –what or where it is, what it does –then I can kind of feel it. Like when a family member is nearby, you can sometimes sense them. I followed that feeling and came to a brick wall in the sewers. So I found a way around it. It's not always Mayan, either. Hell, it's not even always from the Americas. But they all have a similar feel to them. It's the strangest thing, but so far these…eccentricities have yet to steer me wrong."
Don noticed that she avoided looking at him while talking. Judging by her previous doubt, she probably didn't expect him to believe any of it. If only she knew half the things that he had come across in his young life…
Trying to make light of it, he commented, "If anything, it seems to steer you into trouble."
She laughed and leaned back in the chair. "You're telling me. Some weird shit happens…and you wondered why I smoke pot."
He gathered up the mozeka and marker, picking up where she left off. He had actually forgotten that she tried to pass him a joint the first night they met.
"Yes, I do. You're young, bright, and you've got potential. You don't need to be doing drugs."
She rolled her eyes and heaved a dramatic sigh. "That thing you're holding in your hands? It's giving off a…mental buzzing sensation. The neighbor's television: a higher pitched buzz. Before the phone rings: a slightly different 'white noise' within the static. Call it ESP or insanity; I don't really care anymore. I'm ready to accept either one. Smoking helps me cope. It chills me out and helps me ignore all these things around me."
The turtle shook his head, sensing yet another impending argument. "There are healthier ways to deal with it than pushing it away. Forgetting that it even exists is not going to help in the long run. Have you tried meditation? Clearing your mind?"
She was surprised that the guy was offering suggestions rather than scoffing at her. She took a deep breath and replied, "Yes, but only when I'm seeking a vision. Otherwise, I just fall asleep every time."
He gave it some thought. This was more Leo's department, as Don really wasn't very big on meditation. He didn't see the point of clearing his mind when there were so many thoughts that he wanted to put to use. Nonetheless, he offered a suggestion. "Maybe if you learned a new technique, then. Master Splinter is the one who taught us, and he has accurate visions himself. I'm sure he wouldn't mind offering some suggestions."
She smiled at him. He was, after all, only trying to help. At the same time, perhaps, she could help him: loosen up, that is.
"Do you at least drink?"
His hand made its way carefully around the side of the artifact. The tracing had started at the top, and he had nearly reached the bottom without discovering much else. He didn't look up, but just shook his head.
"No? Not even a beer? I'm beginning to lose faith in you."
He gave a chuckle as the marker reached the front of the statuette. She leaned her head back and said with her eyes closed, "I could use some Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum right now, what with the anxiety of you triggering that damn thing."
He had decided the night before to not take her doubt as an insult –she was simply worried. Truth be told, he was getting a bit skeptical himself when they had still yet to uncover anything. Instead, he joked, "I'll tell you what. If this thing activates, I'll have that drink with you."
She raised an eyebrow –something she seemed to do often. "If the mozeka activates, not even the good Captain could fix the damage."
The velvet tip reached the bottom of the bust and he dropped the marker in exasperation. "Not that we really thou-"
The turtle froze mid-word and stared captivated as the designs began to move like cogs inside of a clock. The animation caused the gems to catch the light and sparkle with a brightness more pronounced than before. In fact, the light almost seemed to come from within…
Colored light –amber, sapphire, and emerald –began to radiate, overlapping one another to form a multicolored aura surrounding the artifact.
They barely had time to register, when the aura shot outward in every direction.