Okay, I know I took a while putting out a new chapter, but I almost dropped this story thinking it was not very good. Some of you changed my mind. So here's chapter two.
Chapter Two: So We Meet Again
The next morning Rafael awoke unusually early, not that he slept much that night anyway. That pretty little fire starter was still on his mind. He thought about going up top for some breakfast, seeing as Michelangelo was still sleeping. He was the one who did most of their cooking, but Rafael noticed that Donatello was up working in his workshop. That was no surprise. Any free moment he had spent not training he was usually working on something. Rafael stood in the doorway only to see Donatello with his eyes glued to the computer screen.
"Hey, brainiac," he said, stepping inside. "Why ya up so early?"
Donatello looked up from his computer momentarily to see his hot-headed brother standing there. "Good morning to you too, Raf," was all he said.
Rafael walked up behind the chair he was sitting in. "So what's all this?"
"Oh, nothing," Donatello said, letting out a short sigh. "Just seeing if that Jurassic exhibit is still open at the museum." Donello hit a few keys on his computer. "Ahh, yes, today is the last day. We still have time."
"What? To see some old dried out dinosaur bones? Count me out," he said and started to leave the room.
"Oh, come on, Raf," Donatello said. "Get a little culture in your life. It's a very important exhibit. Who knows what we could learn."
"Whatever," Raf said and waved his three-fingered hand in disinterest.
"Hey, it says here that a select group of students from the Xavier Institute will be attending the final viewing."
Rafael stopped cold. He heard that word before. Yes, last night when he drove Linette home. That's the boarding school she attended. Maybe she would be one of the students there today.
"So what time is this show?" Rafael came back and asked his brother.
"I thought you weren't interested," Donatello said teasingly.
"Just wonderin'," he said, not letting Donatello know the true reason for his sudden interest.
"It's at two," Donatello said. He thought for a moment. "We'll need disguises if we're going to get in."
"That's not a problem. A trench coat and hat will work nicely. It's New York City, for cryin' out loud. No one's gotta notice."
"You got me there," Donatello said. "But I'm more interested in this Xavier Institute, must be some exclusive school for genius kids. They don't even have a website."
"That ain't no school for geniuses, Donny," Rafael said.
"How would you know?" Donetello asked, looking up at him from his sitting position.
"'Cause I met one of the kids that goes there," Rafael said.
Donny got up from his computer chair giving his brother an enquiring look. "When was this?"
"Last night," Rafael said. "There I was just ridin' the streets on my bike mindin' my own business when these two punks were hastlin' this girl. So being the gallant guy I am, I stepped in to help her out. She really didn't need any help. That girl can literally turn people into toast. So after we ran off the punks I gave her ride home. She lives at that school."
"So, what are you saying?" Donatello asked.
"That place is a school for mutant kids, that's what?"
"Mutants? Really. That's awesome," Donatello thought. "To think there's other mutant just like us."
"Not really, this girl looks human. If I didn't see her pull that fire gag I never woulda guessed."
"Guessed what?" Donny and Raf looked over to see their younger brother Mikie come sauntering into the room.
"That there's other mutants out there," Donatello said in a dream-like state. "I would love to meet a few. They probably have some fascinating stories." Donny was thinking out loud, not really paying any mind to who was listening. "That clinches it. Now, we have to go to that exhibit."
"Not another bones tour, I hope," Mikie said. "I'd rather go to the skate park."
"Not today," Donatello said. "We're going to the Jurassic exhibit. We have one major outing a month, and it's my turn to pick."
"Fine, but you just wait until it's my turn. Then we'll have some major fun in the sun while riding the biggest waves we can find."
"Mikie's beach dream again," Donatello said shaking his head. "Didn't he learn anything from that Coney Island incident?"
"Did someone say Coney Island?" All three looked around to see Leonardo walk in. "I'm not going through that again." (Author's note: This was another story I wrote. Sorry, not posted.)
"No, Leo, just one of Mikie's fantasies," Raf said.
"I found out about this cool exhibit at the museum," Donny said. "Today is the last day, so we have to go."
"Sounds…educational," Leoardo said, indulging Donatello's excitement. "I'm in."
"Sure, why not," Mikie said. "I'll just sleep standing up."
Raf just groaned while Leo and Donny shook their heads. If it didn't involve surfing, skateboarding, video games or food, Mikie had no interest.
"But first we better get in our practice," Leonardo said.
"Okay, guys, let's get going," Donny said as he turned off the lights in the workshop, and they all filed out.
At the Xavier institute later that morning…
It was well after breakfast and morning classes were about to start, except for a select group of students hand-picked by Doctor McCoy. They were all going on the field trip to the Natural History Museum in the city. They weren't picked because they were exceptional students, but students who were in danger of failing his class. He had his clipboard ready and about to make a roll call.
"Okay, first on my list, Kitty Pride, he called out.
"Right here," she said and excitedly raised her hand.
"Even Daniels," he called out the second name.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm here, teach," he said, not very excited about the trip. He had his skateboard in hand.
"Oh, Mister Daniels," Doctor McCoy said. "There will be no need for the skateboard."
"Awe, man," he said, as he stomped up the stairs to put his skateboard away.
"Tabitha Smith," Doctor McCoy called out.
She raised her hand giving a bored disgusted look. "God, Kit, this day is going to be sooo boring," she whispered to Kitty who was standing next to her.
"Hey, at least it gets us out of class," Kitty said. She was good at always seeing the bright side of things. It only made Tabitha want to gag.
"Kurt Wagner," Doctor McCoy called out again.
"Right here," Kurt said, raising his hand and tail in the air. He was in his natural blue form.
"Make sure your halowatch is on before we leave," Doctor McCoy said. "I want a nice smooth trip with no incidences." Doctor McCoy was wearing one today as well. He usually didn't disguise himself, even in public, but today he felt it was necessary. "Rogue," he called out, going back to his list.
"Right here," she said, raising her hand slightly while leaning against the doorframe.
"And finally, Linette Baker," Doctor McCoy said. There was no answer. "Linette?" He called again.
There was a stomping coming from the stairs. "Right here, Doctor man," Linette said bounding down the stairs. Evan was halfway down when Linette passed him almost knocking him down the rest of the way.
"Hey, Linette, watch it," Evan shouted, from a few steps down where she had made him stumble.
"Sorry, Ev," Linette said as he reached the bottom. "Need some help?"
"No thanks," he said, refusing her help.
Linette actually felt bad about it, but Evan was still mad at her from the last time she pummeled him. They were at the skate park and she came bounding towards him not paying attention and crashed into him nearly breaking his arm. He decided then and there that Linette was much too dangerous a girl to hang around.
"Alright, people, let's head out," Doctor McCoy said.
The kids filed out the front door to the awaiting van. Professor Xavier was sitting in his wheelchair by the van watching the kids pile in. "Now, I want everyone on their best behavior." There were several groans and sures, with a few incoherent words in between. "Doctor McCoy, I'll leave you to it."
"Thank you, Professor," Doctor McCoy said as he turned on his holowatch. His blue fur and claws instantly disappeared and he looked to be any normal-looking human. Kitty took the position of Shotgun and cranked up the radio as Doctor McCoy started the van.
Cheers, groans and all incoherent chatter could be heard from the van as it sped away. Professor Xavier watched as the van road through the gate. Logan walked up and stopped as his reached the professor's wheelchair.
"Well, I guess their off," Logan said, taking the cigar out of his mouth. "I just hope these kids keep a low profile."
"Would you feel better if you had gone along with them?" Professor Xavier looked up and asked him.
"Maybe," Logan said. "Then again, an afternoon with those kids… Well, all I can say is better Hank than me."
Professor smiled letting out a small chuckle. "Just the exuberance of youth."
"Yeah, whatever," Logan said and walked back into the mansion.
Back in the Sewers…
"Just how far is this place again?" Mikie asked, more to Donny than anyone else.
"You should know," Donny said. "It's not like we haven't been there before."
"But that was months ago, and besides I wasn't really paying attention."
"When do you ever," Rafael said, giving Mikie a nudge.
"Hey, I pay attention," Mikie said trying to defend himself. "When it's important."
"Yeah, only when it involves food or video games," Raf said, punching him in the arm.
"Hey, that hurts," Mikie yelled.
"Don't be such a wimp," Rafael said.
"Would you two knock it off and be quiet," Leo said scoldingly. He looked over to Donatello. "Are we almost there?"
"Yeah," Donny said. "Should the next sewer grate up ahead."
"Ya know," Mickie said. "We could have just taken the Battle Shell."
"Yeah, right, Mickie," Rafael said, putting him in a playful headlock. "That's inconspicuous."
Donny stopped at the next sewer grate and looked up. "Well, guys, here's our stop."
Donny climbed the latter, followed by Leo, Raf and finally Mickie. They weren't used to be out during the daytime, but this was something that was important to Donny. Besides, they were pretty much covered from head to toe in their disguises. The human clothes they now wore were from a box of old clothes Angel had given them along with some human looking masks. ( Author's note: Okay, that was taken from the 80s cartoon, but still based in the second series.)
As they approached the museum Donny noticed that they only received a few stares, but no one was screaming bloody murder so he guessed they were safe.
"Hey, this place isn't as bad as I remember," Mickie said. "They must have given it a fresh paint job."
"Mickie, just shut up and try to blend," Donny said quietly in his ear, but not so quietly that his two other brothers couldn't hear.
"Blend? Yeah, right," Rafael said under his breath. Only Leo heard him. He would have loved to give him a scolding, but one, they were in public in broad daylight, and two Leo had to admit that he agreed with him.
When they entered the building they were greeted by the host at the door who gave them each a pamphlet mapping out all the major attractions and events that were coming up.
The boys trailed down the halls in the direction of the Jurassic Exhibit. They were about to enter when one of the museum employees approached them. "Sorry, but this exhibit is by invitation only."
"Oh, we have tickets," Donny said and reached into his pockets and pulled out four invitation slips.
"Okay, go on in," the young man said undoing the rope to let them walk through.
"Isn't this exciting, guys?" Donny asked. He was like a kid in a candy store. Mikie just rolled his eyes as he followed close behind his brothers.
"What I wanna know is where you got the tickets," Raf asked.
"April," he said. "I asked her if she could get them for us, and she was more than happy to. Besides she's friends with one of the curators for the museum. If fact, he's one of the scientists who is responsible for this exhibit."
"Yeah, Fascinatin'," Raf said looking around. He was in no way interested in the exhibit. He was more interested in a strange group of teenagers on the far side of them. There was a small skinny girl with brown hair in a ponytail. She was all smiles standing next to a girl with short blonde hair. He noticed the sparkly glitter on the girl's clothes. He groaned at the gaudy way some humans dressed. He also noticed a girl with brown and white hair. She was leaning on the wall drinking a soda. She didn't look one bit happy to be there. There were several teenage boys, but he paid them no mind.
Suddenly he saw her, the girl with bleach blonde hair with the black streaks. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her violet eyes sparkling. She was handing out sodas and snacks to the other teenagers. He decided to take a chance and sneak away from his brothers. She was standing on the far side near the girl with the white and brown hair. No one noticed him as he sneaked up behind her.
"So we meet again," he whispered in her ear.
She jumped but thankfully she didn't scream. She looked back to see a stranger in a trench coat. He was wearing some kind of mask on his face. "Do I know you?" she whispered, trying not to draw attention to herself.
"Last night, two filthy street punks, and one gallant guy in green," he said sarcastically.
She laughed silently. "Raf, is that you?" She was giggling quietly.
"Who else?" he asked grabbing her hand. "My little fire starter miss me?" He was flirting with her which only made her laugh harder.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked. "If someone sees you…"
"Hey, I came with my brothers. They're over there. I heard some kids from your school was coming here, so I thought I take a chance."
"Excuse me," the guide called out. "No talking, please."
"Sorry," Linette said. She was nervous as Rafael was so close to her. "Look. You should go before you get caught."
"Not gotta happen," he said, flirting with her again.
She looked over to see Lance and Todd, two members of the Brotherhood. Damn, she said under her breath. "Hey, Raf, you better get out of here. See those two guys over there." She slowly pointed to Lance and Todd. "They're major bad news. If they start something…"
"Then I'll finish it," Raf said, moving slightly away from her.
"Raf, no," she whispered.
It was too late. Rafael had sneaked over to where Lance and Todd, better known as Avalanche and Toad, stood. "Hey, guys," Raf said. "The lady over there says you're trouble."
"The lady is right," Lance said. "If you know what's god for you, you'll back off."
Rafael just grinned beneath his mask, reaching for his concealed sai. Todd eyed the weapon and looked a little stunned at first, but before anyone knew what was happening, a gust of wind passed by. One of the bones from the exhibit was moved which made the entire skeleton come crashing down.
"Awe, shit," Linette shouted. "Damn you, Quicksilver."
Everyone in the vicinity was going crazy, running and screaming. Toad jumped up on the ceiling as Avalanche caused a rumble. Raf looked over at the trashed exhibit and realized that this wasn't going to be a boring outing after all.
"Hey, guys," Raf called to his brothers.
"What's going on here?" Leo asked as reached Raf. Mikie and Donny weren't far behind.
"Looks like a mutant free for all?" Rafael said as he took his battle stance.
Okay, okay, I'm a stinker ending it here. But hey, the next chapter is coming soon and there's a brawl at the museum. Can the X-Men stop the Brotherhood from stealing a priceless gem hidden inside one of the dinosaur bones? They might with the help of four mutant turtles. Plus, some new original characters show up in the next chapter, but are they good guys or bad guys?