Chapter 2: Cold Blood

Karai locked swords with Leonardo... or rather, what Leo had become. For some reason he was back to normal, except for beady black eyes that seemed to stare into her soul, and a mouth that resembled a snake's. Then, he spoke.

"You did thissssss," he hissed. "It's all your fault!"

Karai started losing focus. In her mind, she knew he was right. This was all her fault...

Suddenly, when she was off guard, Leo swung, and just as the sword was about to finish her off, she sat up in a cold sweat. Glancing around nervously and panting, she realized it was just a nightmare. Leo had been mutated and attacked her. Just a dream. She ran out and went to Leo's room, only to find it empty.

"I guess that part wasn't a nightmare... But it may as well be," she muttered, hanging her head.

"Miwa, do not blame yourself," she heard from behind her.

"It's hard not to, Father," she replied.

"I told you more than you could handle at once," Splinter started. "We are lucky that all of you were not captured. Donatello has created a retromutagen before, and I believe he can do it again."

"Even if Donnie can make a sample for him, we still have to capture Leo to use it on him. And Leo is probably being held by Shredder now."

Splinter embraced her. "We will figure all of this out. No matter how difficult the obstacle, this family has always overcome it. But for now, you should get some rest. You will not be any help to Leonardo if you are deprived of sleep."

Karai nodded. "Goodnight, Father," she said, then returned to her room.

The next morning, Karai woke up from a much sounder sleep than before. Leaving her room, she headed into Donnie's lab, finding him leaning his face on his hands with bags under his eyes.

"Donnie?" she tapped him on the shoulder, taking him out of a daze.

"Huh?" he jumped a little, then looked around and saw her. "Oh. Hey."

"You were able to make retromutagen before, right?" Karai started.

"Yes. I've been working all night to make a batch for Leo. But while I was working, I realized something that acts like a major road block." The look on Donnie's face made Karai's heart sink.

"What is it?" she asked nervously.

"If we use the retromutagen on Leo, it'll turn him back into a regular turtle, since mutagen originally turned him into the Leo we know. It could take a really long time to develop retromutagen that'll only undo his secondary mutation..." Donnie trailed off.

"We might not have time!" Karai exclaimed. She knew she shouldn't be mad at Donnie; he was doing all he could. Her frustration was simply overwhelming. "Who knows what Shredder is putting him through right now!"

"Calm down, Karai! I'm worried sick, too. But if I rush this, it could hurt Leo a lot more than help him. Besides, you told us that Shredder rarely carries out threats against his own men. While it's not good that he probably has Leo, Leo is definitely useful to him. So, for the time being, he's probably safe," Donnie explained. Karai gradually calmed down and nodded.

"Sorry, Donnie. I just wish this had never happened. Anything I can help with?" she finally said.

"Just leave me to my work. Thanks for the offer," he replied.

"Alright..." Karai walked out of the lab, wondering what exactly was happening with Leo.

Above the surface, in Foot Headquarters, Shredder watched as Leo ripped through countless FootBots with ease inside a testing room, his shell armor blocking attacks and his claws tearing them apart. Finally, there were no FootBots left. Shredder stepped into the room and clapped slowly. Leo turned towards him and hissed.

"I am not your enemy. I will give you a home here if you help me," he attempted to speak to the beast. Surprisingly, Leo listened.

"What isssss it that you want?" he hissed questioningly.

"The rat in the warehouse where I took you back here. Somewhere in your mind, you know where he is. Help me hunt him down, and you can have him for a meal," Shredder offered, extending his right hand to Leo. Leo thought for a moment, then slowly transformed into his turtle self, with eyes closed. When he opened them, they were beady, black eyes, rather than his usual blue ones. He grabbed Shredder's hand and shook it.

He opened his serpentine mouth to speak. "I accept, Master."

Author's note: Yes, I realize this is a short chapter. But sometimes more can be said with less words. :P Also, these aren't so much episodes as chapters. This would be more of a half episode, if that. By the way, even though parts of this chapter are probably going to be boring, it's going to bridge to some real fun later on. Hang on to your hats. It's about to get good.