Finally! The next chapter is finished. I hope that it is ok. Just remember, Starcher isn't playing with a full deck...

I don't own them! (blah)

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Chapter 6: Unavailable

Leonardo's body ached and his mind was spinning. Worry for his brother was overwhelming after the unprovoked attacks against him.

The door slid open and he heard the tap of shoes against the concrete. One person entered.

Not Saki.

The person seemed to be pacing.

Tap, tap, tap.

Scrape.

Even though the cloth over Leo's head was breathable material, he couldn't seem to pull in a full breath. Panic welled up inside him, like a snake coiling in the pit of his stomach.

Tap, tap, tap.

Scrape.

He wanted to be strong. Needed to be strong. But he couldn't stop himself from trembling...

Tap, tap, tap.

Scrape.

Couldn't stop his chest from heaving as his breaths came out in painful gasps.

Tap, tap, tap.

The steps stopped in front of him.

He nervously licked his lips.

Salt and Copper.

One of the soldiers ripped the hood off of his head. He drew in a deep breath, his eyes focused on who was standing in front of him.

A flash of confusion and panic crossed his face.

Starcher clucked his tongue. "You seemed surprised to see me. It makes me wonder what your brothers have been telling you."

Leo straightened his posture. He pushed back the panic. This maniac had his brother.

"Where is my brother?" He managed to keep the quiver out of is voice.

"Where is my brother? Where is my brother?" Starcher mocked. His laugh echoed in the room.

"Honestly, you would think that you would be worried about yourself."

He crouched down in front of Leo. He took a cloth from his pocket and wiped some of the blood from Leo's lip. "If I were you...I would be worried about myself."

Leo pulled away from him. "You are not me!"

Starcher's lips curled up and he removed his glasses. Leo drew in a sharp breath at what the dark shades kept hidden. He had scars that snaked around his eyes. Deep scars. One eye stared at Leo.

Unfocused. Clouded.

Blind.

The other eye was robotic. Silver, with a red center that whirled as it adjusted.

"Shocking, isn't it?" Starcher's voice was low and hoarse.

"I was blind for over a month."

He was so close, Leo could hear his breath whistle through his nose. He could smell the liquor and cigarettes.

"Blind." He bitterly spat out the word.

Leo swallowed hard, his throat dry as sand.

Starcher stood back up and replaced his glasses. "The master saw fit to replace one of my eyes." He cleared his throat with a short, barking cough.

"For that, I am grateful."

Starcher pulled the small, silver flask from his pocket. He took a quick drink and put it back.

"You didn't answer my question." Leo growled. "Where. Is. My. Brother?"

Starcher snorted. "He is alive. For now."

"Let him go."

Starcher shook his head. "That, I can't do. Do you know what he did to me? Hmm? All those months ago?"

Leo narrowed his eyes. "He and my brothers rescued me. They let me know that my brother didn't betray me."

"They didn't tell you the whole truth."

"I don't care about your whole truth! Let my brother go!"

Starcher grabbed him by his neck and jerked him to his feet. The soldiers held him in place as Starcher squeezed his throat. Leo tried to kick the Professor away, but his legs were numb from kneeling for hours.

"The whole truth is, he destroyed my life's work! Destroyed it! I was punished! Almost killed!" He squeezed harder. "He is mine, and his death will not be quick!"

He let Leo go and the soldiers let him drop back to his knees. Leo pulled in a painful breath.

"Master Saki will determine your fate."

"My brothers," Leo gasped.

"Yes, your two remaining brothers. Do you think that they are planning a rescue? I hope so."

Leo shook his head. "They will not walk into an obvious trap."

"I think that they would." Starcher laughed.

"They...they don't know where we are."

"Let's fix that, shall we." Starcher pulled Leo's shell cell from his pocket.

Leo's face paled and his eyes widened.

"The soldiers found this with your gear, but Donatello didn't have one." He turned the device in his hand. "This is an amazing little gadget."

He flipped the phone open and scanned the keys. "Hmm...who to call..."

"No!" Leo gasped.

"Keep him quiet." Starcher told the soldiers. One ninja unsheathed his sword and held the blade to Leo's neck.

"I think I'll call... Raphael." Starcher pressed the red button.

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April and Casey got to the lair as fast as they could. When they got there, Raph and Mikey were in Don's lab activating the tracking devices in the shell cells.

"Did you get their locations?" April asked.

"Don's is the only one showing up," Raph answered. He pointed to the screen. "The signal is coming from the junkyard."

"He won't answer his cell?" April took the seat in front of the computer.

"No, it goes straight to voice-mail."

"And Leo's?"

"No answer, and I can't get his tracker to work," Raph growled.

"Maybe we should get down to the junkyard," Casey suggested. "They may need help."

April was about to reply when Leo's signal started to flash on the screen.

"Guys, Leo's tracker has been activated." April pointed to the screen. "He is halfway across town."

They all jumped when Raph's cell started to ring. He grabbed it from his belt and looked at the screen.

"It's Leo."

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"I'll put this on speaker." Starcher said as he held the phone out.

It rang several times before the other end clicked.

"Leonardo!" The gruff sound of Raphael's voice broke the silence of the room.

"Where are you? Don won't answer his phone! You were suppose to be home hours ago...Splinter is about to have a coronary!"

"Leo?" Panic was thick in his voice.

"He sounds upset," Starcher whispered.

"Leonardo! Answer me."

"I'm sorry. Leonardo is unavailable right now," Starcher said into the phone.

"Who is this?"

"Please leave your message after the scream." Starcher pulled out a tazer and jammed it into Leonardo's shoulder.

Leo couldn't hold back the scream that ripped through his throat before he lost consciousness.

Starcher snapped the phone shut, cutting off Raphael's desperate screams for his brother.

"Now they know where you are."