Dis: I don't own TMNT, though Alice is my character creation, and if you ever want a total image to her, think of Eliza Dushku-I'd like to thank everyone who voted for the Stealthy Stories Awards. Alice managed to weasel her way into 3rd place for best OC!
.
.
.
Michelangelo:
"When was the body found?" he asked, looking down at the small female with pixie-like features. Her short, blonde hair had globs of blood in it and blood stained the rest of her body. Her throat had been sliced open and he brought his own hand up to his neck, suddenly uncomfortable, flashes of the time where Leonardo has sliced his throat open making his scar tingle.
"This morning," said Jax, a sniper that could hit a target from over a mile away, one of his top men on his team aside from Jake. Jax was a feline mutant and resembled a panther but had the eyes and mouth of a human. He had no tail, and Michelangelo never asked if he ever did. "One of ours found her while on a supply run. Nearly scared the girl to death. She came running and found me. No one else knows about this."
"Let's keep it that way. If this was a message to me they surely know I got it," said Michelangelo, looking down at the woman again with a look of pity. "Do you know who she was?"
"No. No I.D. and no chip to indicate she was one of ours. A straggler off the street perhaps?"
"Perhaps," said Michelangelo. "We don't want to spread panic. So this will be between us and Jake. I'll look at surveillance."
"Already done," said Jax, covering up the woman with a thin, already blood-stained sheet before walking to one of the computers in their make-shift morgue. He played the footage and Michelangelo's eyes narrowed as he watched. At time-stamp 21:18 last night something hits the lens and the footage is lost. Michelangelo frowns as Jax opens a pouch at his side and shows him a throwing star. "Found it embedded in the camera."
Michelangelo took the star, a feeling of dread overtaking him as the Foot emblem shimmered in the dimly lit room. Someone was definitely sending him a message. Who was it? What were their ties to the Foot? A ninja hell-bent on revenge? Or someone that wanted to take his place? Whoever it was, he had a feeling that they wouldn't stay hidden for long, and suddenly a new purpose filled his blood. He would find this mystery killer and he would take care of them himself.
"Sir?" asked Jax, making the turtle blink and fall out of thought. "What do you want me to do?"
"Take care of the body," said Michelangelo, pocketing the throwing star. "Cremate it. I'll handle this. Like I said, keep this between us. Whoever found the body, make sure they don't talk."
"Whatever you say, Boss," said Jax.
.
.
.
Alice:
"Change of plans," said Raphael. His communicator had beeped and whatever had been on the message had him frowning instantly. Alice was about to ask him what the matter was but they were suddenly turning away from the Comm room and heading toward the elevator. He was typing away, pausing only to push a button bringing them up to another level Alice had yet to investigate.
"What's going on?" asked Alice, suddenly anxious.
"In lieu of the satellite and the possibility of spies intercepting our transmissions, Don feels it best that a meeting as critical as ours should be made in person. We're on our way to his base."
"Oh." A sense of excitement hit Alice but she stopped. "I need to get my stuff."
"Hurry," said Raphael, stepping off the elevator, looking over his shoulder at her as the doors started to close. "I'll meet you back here."
Alice made quick work of getting ready. Once on her level she had tossed on her Phoenix outfit. Remarkably, after the washing, it looked fine. There was a small tear at the knee, but nothing that stopped her from wearing it. After pulling on the black pants she slid her trusty black and flat boots onto her feet, the tops resting just below her knees. She zipped up the top before adjusting a utility vest that had holders in the back for her katana as well as pockets in the front for random things like smoke bombs and throwing stars. Though those pockets were empty, her lock picking kit was nestled safely inside. She slipped on her finger-less gloves then grabbed the katana, easily securing them onto her back.
She adjusted her ponytail while walking to the elevator and after sliding her card she was on her way back up to the level she had left Raphael. Pulling bangs out of her eyes she shifted as the doors opened early revealing a woman with amethyst eyes and hair the color of a rainbow that started red at the scalp then went orange, yellow, green, blue, and finally purple at the tips. She wore black pants, not as conforming as Alice's, but baggy cargos with pockets that were probably the haven for ammo or other weapons. Her top was sleeveless and Alice saw a tattoo running around the top of her right arm of symbols she didn't recognize. Upon seeing Alice, the mystery girl lifted a pierced brow before entering the elevator. She glanced at the glowing button indicating the level Alice had selected before looking back at her.
"I take it you're Alice?" asked the mystery girl, eyes glowing slightly as she crossed her arms over her chest.
"How unfair," said Alice calmly, straightening. "I don't know your name."
"I didn't give it." The woman smirked, head tilting to the side. "You're much smaller than I expected. All the rumors I was thinking you were some sort of giant with fire for hair and rocks for fists."
"That comes later," said Alice, hands now going to her hips as the elevator slowed.
"Hm…" The woman's smirk transitioned to a somewhat genuine smile. "Name's Siren. I hear we're going to be traveling together to base three." She turned as the elevator doors opened. "I'm General Raphael's second…" Siren's hand twitched as it settled over her sidearm, but not in a threatening way, more of a force of habit. "I have nothing to worry about, do I?"
"I may occupy his bed," said Alice, getting her point straight right off the bat, and perhaps being a little catty considering the last time she didn't stake her claim loud enough someone stole her lover from her. Though, to be fair, both had thought she'd died. "But the whole order of command thing is your shtick."
Siren laughed, a full-on one that had her purple eyes almost glittering. "I like you. Here's hoping you don't die this time."
"Die before we become best friends?" asked Alice, eyes twinkling. "Perish the thought."
"Let's move!" shouted Raphael from the other side of the room as they stepped off. "Birds are coming in for a pick-up in ten."
Siren nodded, going to what must be her designated locker while Alice sauntered over to Raphael, ignoring the curious stares of others as she stood at his side. He looked to Siren then to her in silent question.
"We're like this now," said Alice, crossing her index and middle fingers.
"Great," said Raphael as Siren took her spot on his other side, adjusting the straps that slung around her shoulder and held her assault rifle. In the time it took her to get ready she'd put her hair up in a ponytail and had slipped on a black jacket that remained unzipped but covered her arms."Just what I need… YOU TWO getting along…"
"Afraid of us conspiring against you already?" asked Siren as the bay doors opened. Immediately Alice was assaulted with the scent of the sea as well as the brisk chill that the winters in New York were known for. She shivered only a little, happy that her suit had some form of thermal material to protect her from the cold. "Trust me when I say I have much better things to do than gossip about you… Like blowing heads off of the dinosaurs that are giving us aliens a bad name."
"You're an alien?" asked Alice, wide eyes taking in Siren.
"Trust me, not all aliens are like the Triceratons," said Siren as the thump of helicopters sounded in the distance. "Some are good and some are worse."
"What should I classify you as?" asked Alice.
"Worse," said Siren as a helicopter hovered above their pick-up point, black climbing ropes falling out of the sides. Siren motioned Alice forward. "After you!"
"No thanks," said Alice, looking up at the sky to the awaiting transport. "I can get up there just fine without a rope."
.
.
.
Siren:
Siren watched as the human launched into the sky, flying up to the awaiting helicopter, and Siren scoffed while taking a firm grip on the rope. Show off. Her eyes met Raphael's, which were gleaming with something akin to humor, and she huffed before ascending the rope. It was hard to be mad at anyone who brought such light back into her General's eyes. The wind was cold, but nothing she wasn't already used to being on this planet for so long, and it took no time for her to enter the warm cabin of the helicopter where Alice already sat buckled in a chair.
"Siren!" greeted Belinda, one of the best damn pilots Siren has ever met: and one of the very few humans she could actually talk to without being annoyed in ten seconds flat. Belinda was a kind spirit who often fretted when it came to the aspects of war. Often Siren wondered why it was she even became a fighter pilot due to how squeamish she was around blood or how she paled at the thought of taking another life. "I was hoping it would be you coming!"
"Belinda!" Siren settled into her seat, same as Raphael, and soon they heading north. "Where is Cork?"
"Back in my room raising a fuss I am sure," said Belinda. She was from Germany, as one could tell with her accented speech, and had been tossed into the war much the same as everyone else when Shredder came to power. She was a damn good pilot with a weird fascination with something called "Hello Kitty" as you could see due to the decal on her helmet of the cartoon cat. She wasn't very often seen without her Chihuahua Cork. "General Hamato."
"Any sign of trouble?" asked Raphael, settling in a seat next to Alice.
"No," said Belinda. "Though seeing your Alice fly sure gave my copilot a scare."
"Let's not mention that," said a young man with thick glasses and freckles dotting his heavy-set face. He started flicking random switches, but Raphael could see the co-pilot looking in his rearview mirror and studying Alice with more than a little interest.
"Just sit back, relax, we will be there soon," said Belinda.
Siren did just that. She wished she had been able to spend a little more time in her own damn bed than just one night. She wondered often when her clock would run out, because the pessimistic side to her knew she was fighting a losing battle. Slowly her eyes drifted to Alice, who was looking out the window into the blackness. Raphael had his hand over hers on the seat and Siren wanted to know what it was. What was it about this person that restored the faith of so many? Why was it, when she returned, that this sudden new energy came into their spirits?
Siren sat there for a few minutes, thinking it over, when suddenly the helicopter rocked.
"Two bogeys on our six!" shouted Belinda, dipping the helicopter, making the three passengers grip their safety harnesses at the sudden descent. Alarms blared, red lights flashed in the cockpit, and the copilot was flicking switches like a madman while Belinda leveled out the aircraft. "Triceratons!"
"Dammit!" cursed Raphael, immediately unbuckling along with Siren to take their new roles as door gunners. They put on safety harnesses before whipping open the doors. Barely, through the shadows, could they see the cruisers until they opened fire on the helicopter, making it rock more. "Take them down!"
Siren readied the M134 minigun and when Belinda turned she was ready, firing upon the enemy. The standard issue had no effect on the cruisers, but the modified bullets that Donatello came up with had a secondary charge that packed a hell of a punch. Especially on their sensors and if aimed right: their main engines at the weak point on the underbelly of the ship. The helicopter shuddered as they took a hit to their engines, which had the machine smoking. Siren was aware of Belinda calling in a distress, but she wasn't aware of Alice until the woman was jumping out of the cockpit past her. Siren wasn't sure if she was the dumbest or bravest person she'd ever met until she saw flashes of fire in the distance hitting the cruisers.
"General! Alice jumped! Careful where you aim she's in the air!"
.
.
.
Raphael:
No. No, no, no, no, no! What was with this woman and taking unnecessary risks?! It was like she was addicted to the danger! He'd just gotten her back in his life and he wasn't about to sit there idly while she took on two cruisers with nothing but the power of fire in her hands. She didn't know the mechanics of those cruisers. Knew nothing of the weak points or the potential traps they had if you ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Cover fire, now!" he shouted.
"She can't take much more damage," said Belinda, meaning the helicopter.
"Dammit," cursed Raphael, getting on his communicator. "This is General Hamato I need an ETA on backup! There are only two but I'm sure there are more on the way!"
"We're on our way," said the static reply of Emily over the comm.
"We've got smoke in the cockpit and Alice is out there taking on the two cruisers on her own," said Raphael.
"You let her?!" shouted a voice that made Raphael sigh.
"Yes, Michelagelo, I just let her jump out of the helicopter into imminent danger to take on two highly advanced aircrafts on her own!" he said with a sarcastic growl, taking more shots as the cruisers circled past, chasing Alice in the air. He watched, holding his breath as she circled and dove down toward the ground, the cruisers hot on her heels. "Just get here!"
Suddenly, there was an explosion beneath them, the shockwave making them waiver in the air. Belinda was saying a few choice words but managed to steady them. Raphael leaned out the door, eyes scanning the area frantically just as Emily and Michelangelo pulled alongside them with two other fighters.
"ALICE!" he shouted.
"Both bogeys are off radar," said Belinda.
"She got them," said Siren, completely in awe. "How the hell did she manage that?"
.
.
.
Alice:
Luck. It had been pure fucking luck. She'd meant to be a diversion so that they could get away but she should have known Raphael would want to stick around to cover her. She was new to flying, but previous to her journey here she'd been practicing nightly. Aerial flips and spins saved her tonight, the laser weapons of the Triceraton enemy barely missing her arms and torso. When the familiar hum of the katana at her back started she'd gotten an idea. She had twisted so that the cruisers zoomed past her and while they corrected themselves she had made her move. Taking out the katana she had landed on one of the cruisers the pilot roaring at her as she did so. And boy was he ugly. The barriers had been weakened by Raphael and Siren's attacks and so it gave her an open window of opportunity. She'd brought up the katana and thrust downward, penetrating the ship and hitting the engine. She'd been tossed from the ship when it started spiraling out of control, it smacking right into the one that had been coming at her from the other side. The explosion thrust her downward and she barely managed to balance out before hitting a tree. She wasn't aware of her communicator beeping until making her way back to the helicopter.
"I'm fine," she shouted into the communicator, Raphael having been the one to call. "I'm on my way to you."
"Do you know how stupid that was?" he growled.
"It worked, didn't it?" she asked, finally floating into the cockpit. Raphael was by her in an instant, taking her by the shoulders and looking her over. "I'm fine."
"How did you do it?" he asked. "Their barriers…"
"Are worthless against my elemental prowess," said Alice with a smirk. "I'm thinking that your attack on their ships weakened the barriers enough to where I could land on it without injury. I sliced through with my katana and hit something critical because it spiraled and hit the other one."
"You are one lucky human," said Siren, buckling herself back into the passenger seat. "I vote always having you around with the good luck you seem to harbor."
"One of these days luck might not be enough," said Raphael softly, tiling her chin up so to look her directly in the eyes. "Don't be so eager to throw yourself into danger."
"What's the fun in that?" she asked with a smirk, not deterred when seeing the frustration in his eyes. She put her hand into his and the smirk turned into a smile. "I'm okay. Let's just get to Donatello's before more of them show up, hm?"
"Yeah." He tapped his earpiece. "Everyone is accounted for. Let's move."
.
.
.
Leonardo:
He knew Michelangelo had gotten his message. The girl was gone-but so was Michelangelo. Did he not feel threatened by him? He should! He shouldn't feel comfortable leaving his base for so long. How humiliated Leonardo felt, when his mistress pointed him in a direction he had looked time and time again. To think that the base was so well hidden below ground made him want to blow the whole thing up. Hence, why he was carefully lining explosives here and there. There and here. If Michelangelo didn't want to face him then he'd smoke him out like the rat that he was. It wasn't easy, the security was good, but not good enough. His people were an embarrassment to the Hamato name. Raphael? Donatello? He knew they'd be more of a challenge-Michelangelo had always been the weaker one, hence why he was taking him out first. Easy. He was going to make this easy. Slowly, one by one, he was going to take them out. Now, some distance away, he pulled out a device. Slowly, he trailed his thumb over it.
'What are you doing? Stop! Stop!' shouted a voice in his head.
"No," he said out loud. "I'll never stop…"
He pressed the button. The skies of New York blazed orange and the ground shook. Smoke perfumed the air as the base that'd housed Michelangelo and all his people was destroyed.
"One down… Two to go."
.
.
.
TBC…