A/N: This is only 1/5 of a lengthy, lengthy chapter but I thought I'd have the first part uploaded before resuming my travels again. Truth is, I'm not sure where I'll be next but as always, I'll let my heart be my compass and who knows, someday I'll be sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon churning out new chapters for this story. I don't know how regular my updates will be after this although I do intend to finish what I started. To the ones who are still with me, thank you so much for your continued interest and feedback. I'm also truly honoured to have received such heartfelt messages from readers who were too shy to review publicly. Peace be upon everyone. Have a great, meaningful year ahead.

Chapter 5
The Journey of Possibilities

(Part I of V)

The void—was not a state of nothingness but a spectrum of pulsating light.

Solid walls, while spinning at an alarming rate, turned ethereal, dropping and rising accordingly to the fluidity of Raph's thoughts. The more in tune he was to the electromagnetic waves and frequencies of the Omega State, the greater the force of gravity. Raph felt himself being pulled back in time, his mind travelling faster than his physical body.

Then, without warning, everything stopped. He was thrown backwards through the accelerating shield. His body slid across the railway track and slammed against a concrete wall. Pain surged within him. Still Raph forced himself to sit up and was surprised to see that the Time Machine was back to its rigid, metallic disguise.

It was the first thing he noticed amidst the blurred edges of his vision. Everything else seemed so distant and vague, as if he was lost in a dream. He felt lighter than usual, felt himself drifting away while trying to make sense of where he was: the old train station, stained glass windows, rusty steel tracks, graffiti-tainted walls...

Seek the awareness of a new world. A world we have always been a part of but could not see until we will it so.

He felt like he had been here before.

"Holy Achmed," said a voice from behind him. "It's a miracle you're still alive!"

Raph turned and saw a blurred figure standing just a few feet away. While he couldn't tell who, or what it was, there was no doubt in his mind that the voice belonged to a child.

The only connection you need is love.

But something inexplicable was already happening.

He could see himself—his physical self—injured and leaning against the wall with blood spread across his forehead and streaming down the sides of his face. "This can't be happening," said Raph. He saw his own mouth speaking the words he expressed mentally, "I'm standing right here."

The one with the child-like voice was oblivious to his soul's presence. However, it seemed very concerned by Raph's physical body.

So he tried looking at his spiritual hands and saw nothing. As he walked, no friction existed between him and the ground. While attempting to reach for his body, old memories kept pulling him back, making it difficult to focus on his fight to stay fully conscious.

A ninja seeks balance in everything he does. Enjoin yourself from becoming too preoccupied with isolated objects and actions.

"Come on," said the young voice.

Raph's eyes flew wide open as his soul came in contact with his physical self, jolting him towards a less clouded state of consciousness. He then let out a sharp gasp at the sight of a slug-like creature wrapping its tentacles around him.

"Please try standing up," the creature pleaded. "I can take you to the warehouse where it's safer."

Seek balance, my sons. Seek balance through love.

"Please, Sensei." Raph was shaking, disoriented. "Take us home now."

His concentration technique with the Omega State made him believe he was seven again, thoroughly exhausted after a long night of training. Raph was drifting in and out of the times when he was still that mutant kid who reeked of sewer muck while falling fast asleep on an old mattress shared by three other soap-deprived siblings. Their father was almost never around, except for the nights when he would gather them to tell stories.

"My brothers," said Raph as he was slowly coming to his senses. "I need my brothers."

"You need medical attention. Do you see now how important it is to wear your seatbelt? It's there for a very good reason, you know."

"There was no seatbelt."

"Of course there is," said the creature. It was struggling to support Raph's weight against its small, slimy body. "There's always been a seatbelt. I should know because I built that time machine."

"I said there was nothing. Nothing except the void."

"The void?" The creature swivelled its eyestalks to look at Raph. "Where exactly did you come from?"

"I don't know—" he said, as they moved further away from the Time Machine. "I can't remember."

"That's okay." The creature shrugged and wrapped its tentacles tighter around Raph's waist. It smiled. "You're concussed, it's all."