Chapter Twenty Eight- I Must Go Alone
The boys had a bit of a hard time staying in the shadows for a while until the sun fully set. By the time the moon came out, they reached Shredder's headquarters and hid in the shadows of the building across the street from it.
"Once we get inside, we find cell blocks, bust the girls out, and beat it." Leo instructed. "We don't want to fight anyone unless we absolutely have to. Understand?" His brothers nodded.
"Guys, I've been looking at the footage again," Donnie piped up. "And something doesn't seem right."
"What do you mean?" Raph asked.
"Well, look at the supposed 'cell block' they're in." Donnie showed his brothers the video on his T-phone. "I've never seen them like this. And don't you think it would be a little hard to dent the walls?" The boys looked closer and realized that Miwa was putting dents in the metal walls with ease.
"Even with her strength," Leo nodded in agreement. "I don't think she could dent those walls unless they weren't very thick."
"That's my point." Donnie put his T-phone away. "What if Shredder doesn't have them in a cell block?"
"Well, then where did he get the footage?" Raph questioned.
"I noticed a grate inside the room." Mikey piped up. "Maybe they were in a van. Like the ones the Foot Ninja drive."
"So, do we look in the vans?" Donnie suggested.
"Gotta start someplace." Leo nodded. "Let's go." They leaped from the building's roof and traveled through the shadows to a sort of garage behind the Shredder's headquarters. About five or six black vans were parked there, nearly invisible in the shadows. The turtles softly knocked on each van, calling out in low voices for the girls. Donnie picked the locks on all of them, but no trace of the girls could be found in any of them except one.
"This is Miwa's pocket knife!" Mikey announced, holding up the Swiss Army knife. "They must've been here!"
"Maybe." Donnie inspected the van and then the ground surrounding it. "But there's no drag marks or signs of a struggle."
"So?" Raph shrugged.
"So, what if they're not even here?" Donnie explained in a frustrated tone. "The pocket knife is here, but the girls aren't. And, shall I also point out that the door lock is broken?!"
Mikey, Leo, and Raph exchanged looks. "You think they managed to get out?" Leo asked.
"With Miwa's strength and slight anger issues," Mikey sighed. "I wouldn't doubt it."
"Alright, let's say they did get out." Raph said. "What do we do now?"
"You stay very still to make our jobs easier."
The turtles drew their weapons as the lights flipped on, revealing Dogpound and a large group of Foot Ninja.
"How noble of you." Dogpound laughed. "Swooping in as mighty heroes for your girlfriends."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Donnie and Mikey snapped.
Dogpound laughed. "Sure, keep telling yourselves that. Now, are we going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?"
"Where are the girls, Dogpound?" Leo demanded.
"I don't think you're in any position to be making demands." Dogpound noted, gesturing to the fifty-some ninja that surrounded the Turtles.
"You think we're threatened by these jokers?" Raph scoffed.
"Raph, can it!" Leo snapped.
"If you don't let our friends go, we'll make you." Donnie threatened.
"We'll beat you into next week!" Mikey added, swinging his nunchakus.
Dogpound sneered. "Rest assured, you'll see them soon enough."
The ninjas attacked.
Splinter tried to meditate, but no peace came to mind with his imagination running wild with the idea of what Shredder might do to his daughter and konoichi student. Practicing his ninjutsu and pacing hardly did any good. Leatherhead uneasily curled up and tried to sleep, but his mind did not rest with the thoughts of that girl he knew (Miwa, as he learned her name) swirling in his brain. Haiiro, sensing her master's distress, tried to comfort him to the best of her abilities.
"Master Splinter!"
"Otōsan!"
Splinter almost tripped over his own feet as he sprinted from the dojo. He didn't stop running until he reached the girls as they leaped over the gates into the lair. He darted past Leatherhead and pulled the girls into his arms, sighing in relief.
"Thanks heavens you're both all right." Splinter tried to keep a calm tone to his voice.
"How did he find out so fast?" Miwa whispered.
Splinter held them both at arm's length and checked them over. "Are you hurt? Did Shredder do anything to you? Anything broken or bleeding?"
"Do I need to crush anyone for you?" Leatherhead growled.
"Daddy, please." Miwa laughed lightly. "We're fine. A little roughed up and totally miffed, but fine. And no, Leatherhead, we don't need you to crush anyone."
"You know this guy?" April whispered.
"I'll explain later." Miwa assured.
April didn't bother arguing. After every weird thing that happened to her these last few months, she had a hard time getting too freaked out over a monstrous crocodile. She turned to Splinter. "How did you know we were kidnapped? We weren't even going to tell you after we escaped the van."
"Shredder sent a message that—" Splinter paused. "Escaped the van?"
"Yeah, the Purple Dragons and Dogpound pounced us." Miwa explained. "I managed to break open the back doors to the van and we jumped out. Then, we swore we wouldn't tell you because I knew you'd freak out."
"You got out of the van?" Splinter clarified.
"Well, Miwa got us out of the van." April confirmed.
"Then where are the boys?" Splinter asked.
"Mikey and the guys?" Miwa cocked her head to one side. "We thought they were here."
"They left some time ago to save you." Leatherhead reported.
Donnie's laptop suddenly started ringing, indicating that someone was messaging them on video chat. The four of them (Leatherhead included) hurried to the computer and April brought up the screen. They simultaneously glared when Dogpound's sneer popped up.
"What do you want?" Miwa demanded.
"I just wanted to give my compliments to Splinter." Dogpound said in a gracious, yet mocking tone. "You've trained your turtles quite well. We actually had a pretty hard time taking them down."
Leatherhead growled, but Miwa put a comforting hand on his clawed one. Splinter turned the laptop towards him. "Where are my sons?"
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Dogpound chuckled evilly. The camera shifted to the wall nearby, where the turtles were chained and gagged. When they saw their master, their eyes widened and they started struggling against their bonds, their voices muffled by the cloth over their mouths.
"If you harm them in any way—!" Splinter shouted.
"Relax, oh great Master Splinter." Dogpound turned the camera back towards him. "We won't hurt them...much."
"If you lay a single claw on them," April threatened. "I'll come over there and turn you into the world's ugliest pillow!"
"Come, come, now." Dogpound waved her off. "Please turn the camera back to Splinter so I may speak with him."
April, Leatherhead, Miwa, and Splinter shared looks before Splinter took the laptop and turned it to him. "What do you want?"
"It's not what I want. It's what Master Shredder wants." Dogpound explained. "You will come and surrender yourself to Shredder. Simple as that. You do that and your turtles will live."
"How do I know I can trust you?" Splinter demanded. "You told this to my sons, even when the girls escaped you."
"It's your choice." Dogpound shrugged. "But you should know that, if you decide to not show up by midnight—"
"Okay, it's just pathetic if you reuse the same plan that you used against the turtles." Miwa huffed.
Dogpound slammed his fist on the table, rattling the camera. "How would you like to watch your precious sons die over and over again?"
Splinter, Miwa, and April fell silent. Leatherhead started snarling a little, his eyes hinting that he would go into "out-of-control-rage" mode any second now. Splinter glared, his fists clenched. But Dogpound continued when he realized he got a reaction out of them.
"At midnight tonight, the turtles will be moved to a private chamber and Shredder will kill them in the most brutal way he can think of. Best of all, it's all going to be recorded so that the moment can be relived over and over and over again. The only thing left of your little ninjas will be four bloody shells." Dogpound smirked. "If you agree to come, there's still a chance to save them."
"Don't do it, Splinter!" Mikey's voice shouted off-screen. "It's a trap! Shredder's gonna—"
Dogpound shut off his camera, cutting Mikey off.
"Michelangelo!" Splinter grabbed the computer desperately, but the screen went dark and they were gone. "Boys!" He stared at the blank screen for a moment before glaring and jumping to his feet, stomping off towards the dojo.
"Whoa, wait a sec!" April called as she, Leatherhead and Miwa trailed after Splinter. "What are you doing?"
"I am going after my sons." Splinter replied simply, gathering a handful of shuriken and stuffing them in the pockets stitched inside his sleeves.
"That's exactly what Shredder wants." Miwa protested. Splinter didn't seem to listen as he disappeared into his room and emerged strapping his katana to his belt.
"I must agree with the girls." Leatherhead said as he poked his large head through the doorway.
"Sensei, you can't go by yourself." April insisted.
"Then grab a weapon!" Splinter said hurriedly.
"What?" April blinked in surprise.
"I know what to do," Splinter assured. "And I need your help. Leatherhead, you are coming as well."
"Yes, Master Splinter." Leatherhead nodded, backing away and waiting by the turnstiles.
"What exactly is your plan?" Miwa asked as she grabbed her gauntlets from her bag and stowed away many kunai in her belt.
"I will explain when we get there." Splinter assured, tapping his foot a little impatiently.
"I'm still not too sure about this." April sighed worriedly. She grabbed a bō from the closet and a tantō sword. "Shredder will be expecting us."
"Good." Splinter nodded.
Miwa and April exchanged worried glances as they followed Splinter from the lair. "Do you know what you're getting yourself into?" Miwa asked as she tied her green mask over her eyes.
"Haiiro, stay." Splinter ordered when the kitten tried to follow him. The kitten obeyed, watching as her master left with the girls and mutant crocodile. "I know exactly what I am getting myself into. And I would not ask you all to come if I did not trust that you would escape with your lives."
Nobody spoke for the rest of the trip, but Miwa couldn't help but notice how he said "you" instead of "we".
The Foot Ninja went about their normal routine: patrolling the perimeter, training, standing guard. But each and every one of them felt tense and anxious. They knew Shredder's plan and, in all honesty, they believed him to be crazy. None of them dared to express their doubts, however, in fear of Shredder's punishment.
Two Foot Ninjas patrolled the parking garage, checking out the van Miwa and April were once held captive in.
"Would you look at these dents?" one Foot groaned. "That kid's got some strength."
"She busted down the door." The second Foot noted. "I would think denting the walls would be nothing for her." He suddenly turned, staring behind him and his comrade.
The first Foot followed his friend's gaze. "What is it?"
"I thought I saw something." The second Foot said. "Shredder's talk must be getting to my head."
"Come on." The first Foot jerked his head towards the door to the building. "Shredder will take down Splinter and we just have to take down the turtles and those two girls if they come."
"I'm still not sure about this." The second Foot said uncertainly. When his comrade turned his head, something grabbed the second Foot and pulled him up to the ceiling.
"You worry too much." The first Foot waved it off. "I'm sure that—" When he noticed his friend missing, he jumped and turned all around, searching for his fellow ninja. Suddenly, the second Foot dropped from the ceiling to the floor, groaning in pain before slipping into unconsciousness. The first Foot drew his sword, but a black shape swept at his legs and another black shape hit his head with a staff, knocking him unconscious as well.
Dogpound paced back and forth, growling a little. A few dozen Foot Ninja stood strewn around the room. About eight of them guarded the turtles, still chained to the wall. The air was tense and silent for a long time. Suddenly, the lights switched off, casting everyone in pitch blackness apart from the moonlight streaming through the windows and skylight.
"What's going on?" Dogpound demanded. "What happened to the lights?"
The turtles jumped and winced at the sound of many Foot Ninjas and a certain dog mutant getting their tails handed to them in the dark. They tried to see who or what attacked the Foot and not them, but all they saw were flashes of shadows in the luminescent moonlight. A few roars rang out. Minutes later, the lights flipped back on, and the Foot Ninja and Dogpound lay unconscious on the floor. Splinter, Leatherhead, Miwa, and April stood tall and proud, having just won the scuffle.
"Splinter!" The turtles gasped.
"Leatherhead!" Mikey smiled broadly.
"You shouldn't have come for us." Leo insisted. "You know good and well that this is a trap!"
"Be quiet!" April hissed, looking around. "More ninja could be on their way!" Splinter lifted his katana and sliced through the chains holding his sons to the wall. The four of them dropped to the floor and rubbed their wrists and ankles, hugging their father and April in thanks. Miwa grabbed the Turtles' weapons from a nearby table and tossed them to her brothers.
"Let's just get out of here." Donnie encouraged, stowing away his bō in its sheath on his back.
"No way!" Raph growled, drawing his sais. "I wanna kick Shredder's butt for what he did!"
"The best fights are the ones we avoid." Miwa reminded them. "Now come on!" The eight of them hurried out the door and out to the garage.
"There's a sewer grate nearby." April assured. "Come on."
Mikey paused when he realized Splinter wasn't with them. "Sensei, come on!"
"I must advise that we hurry, my friends." Leatherhead agreed. "We do not wish to be caught."
"You all go on ahead." Splinter ordered. "I will join you soon."
Everyone paused, staring at the humanoid rat. "What are you doing?" Donnie asked.
"Putting an end to this." Splinter said. He stood at the door to the building, staring down the hall in the direction of the throne room. "Shredder needs a clear message and I need to do something to stop him."
"What happened to 'the best fights are the ones we avoid'?" Raph scoffed.
"I am tired of Shredder threatening your lives!" Splinter snapped. "I will not stand for it anymore!"
"Splinter, if you go out there, you will die." Leo said. He moved to be in Splinter's range of vision. "We won't let you go in there alone."
Splinter turned to see the turtles, Miwa, and April gathered around him. He gazed at his children's faces, touched by their loyalty. "All of you need to go. I have to do this alone."
"But..." Miwa swallowed the lump in her throat. "We can't let you die."
Leatherhead stayed in his spot, staring at the ground. He hated to let Splinter go back in there, but he didn't want to interrupt the tender moment about to be shared between the unique family.
Splinter smiled softly and pulled his daughter in a hug. His sons and April followed, each of them reluctant to let go. For only a short moment, they stayed in the group hug. Then, Splinter let go. "I am proud to call you all my children." He looked to the turtles. "You, my sons, have proven yourselves worthy of being called ninja." He turned to April. "You will become a wonderful konoichi one day, and bring much honor to your family." He ruffled Miwa's hair affectionately. "I may have missed much of your life, my little mouse, but you have no idea how happy it made me to know you survived all these years." He stepped back inside the building. "Go. I will see you all at the lair." He looked towards Leatherhead. "Watch over them, please."
"I will protect them with my life, Master." Leatherhead bowed.
Splinter shut the door behind him and finally cut himself off from his children. The click that followed indicated he locked the doors. But for a moment, he remained frozen on the other side of the door, pressing his hand against the cool metal. His heart hurt to think that he was leaving his children forever, but selflessly he hardened his gaze and became one with the shadows as he journeyed through the building.
Leatherhead gently herded the turtles and human girls towards the streets. "Come, my friends. We must get to the safety of the sewers."
Mikey glared in determination. "I'm going after him." He ducked from under Leatherhead's arm and bolted for the front door.
"Mikey—" Raph sighed.
"He's our dad!" Mikey snapped. "I'm not going to let him die!" He ran off without another word.
"Wait up, Mikey!" Miwa called.
"Right behind you!" Leo called, followed closely behind by Donnie, April, and Raph.
"I was waiting for you guys to say that." Raph laughed. "Come on, Leatherhead!"
The mutant crocodile smiled, nodded, and hurried after his friends. "We must hurry, my friends."
Miwa jumped towards the door and kicked it down, slamming the Foot Ninja on the other side into a wall. "Then let's go. We're not leaving our father alone with Shredder."
"Booyakasha!" Mikey cheered.
A/N: (sigh) Classic teenage rebellion. :D Hope you guys all like it! More will come!