Chapter two
The helicopter started to touch down at an air field.
"Hoods on," I said to my three cousins. They did as I told them. I pulled my own hood over my head just as the helicopter landed. We all piled out and I went to the pilot.
"Thank you," I said.
"See you in a few months," he replied. He saluted with two fingers before bringing the helicopter up again. He left. I turned to the four standing before me.
"Let' go." We left the air field and into the edge of the city of New York.
"I'll meet you guys there," Yuki spoke up. I turned around to speak, only to find Yuki had already gone. I released a breath of annoyance, before turning back to the city. It was the complete opposite of what we had grown up in. The buildings were large with a lot of people, traffic and noise. It was almost maddening.
"I suppose we better find the building," I stated, more to myself than anyone else.
"Where do you suppose we start?" Yoshi asked.
"We could start in sections, starting here and scour the city," Jonathan replied. I nodded.
"Okay, let's do that. It's better than nothing," I said. We started to walk when Ollie spoke.
"What's the building called?"
"Aroku mansion," I replied, right away, "Why?" No reply came. I spun on my heels, to see Ollie speaking to a guard at the airfield. The guard was pointing in different directions as he spoke. Ollie bowed to him and raced to join us again.
"What was that about?" I asked.
"I got directions," Ollie replied, "We go up that street-" he pointed, "-When we reach Central park, we take a right at a second hand store, then a left at the ice rink and keep going until we reach Aroku mansion." I smiled.
"Good job," I said, "Let's go." We followed the directions we were given and arrived at Aroku mansion at midday. We stood at its steps, staring at the big red door. Sucking in my breath, I lifted my hand and knocked one, two, three times. We were only waiting for a few seconds before the door opened. A young woman, barely older than I was, stood there. She wore a black one piece suit with the symbol of the foot clan, in red, at her chest.
"I wish to speak with the person that is in charge," I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
"Who are you and why are you here?" the woman asked.
"I am Sage and I come here on orders of Mistress Karai." At the mention of Karai, the woman's face changed and she stepped aside.
"Come in, come in," she said, panicked. We stepped across the doorway and waited. The woman shut the door and gestured for us to follow. She led us to a large open room, where a man in his sixties sat on a chair at the top of some stairs at the far end. A pathway led towards him and on either side of the pathway was two large sections of water. The man's hair was tied up into a ponytail and had greyed with age, except for a few strands of blonde. His eyes were blue. He wore a pair of jeans and a short sleeved shirt while his feet remained bare. He was well muscled, especially at his age. A tattoo of a purple dragon wound around his arm. He looked tired. The woman walked over to him, at a quick pace, and whispered in his ear. He eyes shot to the four of us. He waved the woman away and she stood back. The man leaned forward.
"I am Hun," he said, his voice loud and confident, What is it that Mistress Karai requires from us." I pulled out the scroll and held it out. The woman took it and opened it.
"Karai has ordered that I lead the foot clan until she returns from Japan. We are to protect the city and it's civilians from crime," I replied. Hun glanced at the woman, who nodded.
"Very well," he said, getting out of the chair, "I will step down on Karai's orders. I will inform the foot clan of what is to happen and let you take over." Hun walked away from the chair and past us.
"Wait!" I called out. I faced him. "Would you stay on with the foot clan and inform us of what happened during the time that Mistress Karai was absent?"
"I am but an old man, what use would I be?"
"Hun, you have been leader for a long time and that alone give you more knowledge that will be useful to us in the long run. Also you may help to convince most of the foot clan to not leave."
"Why would they leave?"
"We are not human," I couldn't put it any more bluntly; "We were created by Mistress Karai so that we could protect the world from evil."
"Show me."I raised my hands to my hood and slid it off. Ollie, Jonathan and Yoshi followed my lead. Hun didn't seem surprised.
"It will be easy to keep the foot clan here," was all he said before leaving us in the room.
"That was-" started Jonathan.
"-Easy," finished Yoshi.
"Yeah, well it won't be easy from here on out," I spoke, "You three will have to obey everything I say; no matter what."
"You're the boss," Ollie said, in a voice that hinted sarcasm.
"I know you've been itching to do so, so go explore. Just make sure you're back before night fall." Almost at once, the three ran off. I grinned.
"They're lively," Hun's voice spoke out.
"This is our first time in a large city," I turned to him, "They should have some fun before we get down to business. Speaking of which, has Yuki come yet?"
"Yuki?"
"Mistress Karai's son. He was supposed to meet us here today."
"No, I haven't seen him at all today."
"Give him one more hour and if he hasn't shown by then, send some of the foot clan to look for him." Hun bowed. It felt strange, but who was I to argue with tradition. "Tonight we rest and tomorrow night we go out on patrol. You are welcome to join us if you wish."
"I would like that very much. Would you like to look around the mansion?"
"Yes, would you take care of things while I do?"
"Of course." Another bow. I walked out of the room and further into the mansion. I explored room to room. Most were training rooms or bathrooms. I couldn't help but wonder why so many bathrooms. I opened another door and stopped. In a glass case was a suit made of metal. I walked over to it. A plaque was attached.
Shredder
The most powerful and feared leader of our time
I remembered Karai telling us about him when we were just children. He had raised her. He had always frightened me and now I was looking at his armour. Holes had pierced his armour and I wondered who had defeated him. I stared at the mask. It sent chills up and down my spine. It was like he was still here. I didn't take my eyes off it as I backed out of the room. I closed the door. The sounds of a commotion started up in the large open room above me. I quickly dashed back towards it and burst through the door. A group of the foot clan surrounded a singular man holding a baseball bat in one hand and a hockey stick in the other. He had black hair and blue eyes. He wore a grey singlet and a pair of black trousers. On his feet, a pair of sneakers. He froze when he saw me. I spotted Hun and walked over to him.
"What is going on? Who is this man?" I demanded. Hun bowed.
"Forgive us Mistress. This man is Casey Jones; a sworn enemy of the foot clan. He burst in here looking for a fight," Hun replied.
"That's not-" the man called Casey started. I held up a hand to silence him.
"How long has he been an enemy?"
"Ever since Master Shredder was leader."
"So, you mean to tell me that this man only knows of the foot being led by the old master? Let him go."
"As you wish." Hun made a gesture and the foot clan members vanished into different directions of the mansion. I turned to Casey.
"Forget what you saw. Go home," I said. Casey dropped his weapons and looked into my eyes.
"You're a turtle," he gasped out.
"Very observant," I replied, "Pick up your weapons and leave."
"Your eyes are the same as his." I was interested in what he had said, but I was afraid my cousins would be back at any moment.
"Hun," I said, "Escort him out." Hun stepped forward and picked up Casey's weapons. He grabbed Casey's arm and walked him out. The entire time, Casey wouldn't stop staring at me. The sun was starting to set, casting a red glow in the room. Hun came back.
"He is on his way home as we speak," he informed me.
"Will he keep my secret?" I asked.
"He may tell close friends about you, but no one outside them."
"Where does he live?"