Donnie sat back in the chair, placing his laced fingers behind his head and sighed deeply. He stared intently to his laptop, as it sparked and twisted around information that Donnie collected easily. He needed something to distract himself, something he could do. Master Splinter left the night before to go get the Daimyo after the episode with Raphael. Neither Raph nor Splinter explained to them what happened but instead kept to themselves, Splinter says for Michelangelo and his privacy, and if Raph was whenever he comfortable enough to tell them.
Donnie cracked his neck in frustration. He didn't sleep at all last night. A night of slumber so rudely interrupted by a deranged nightmare he was sure only existed in hell. Michelangelo hung high above the ground from his neck, body painted with crimson and purple blotches. The hanging corpse spoke with a broken voice on how much Donnie failed. How his big brain couldn't solve this problem. The image of Rictor floated momentarily through his mind, then that's when Donnie woke up and knew there was something else going on.
Unlike his brothers, Donnie was prone for getting unwelcoming dreams. All the information he had, the knowledge he has obtained throughout the years was dangerous to him and his family. He has had thoughts and dreams that one day he will just go completely mad with everything he knows and kill everyone he knows and loves to obtain even greater power. Donnie knew this would never happen and knew they were nothing more then images and tormenting thoughts that would never happen. But this very distinct nightmare got Donatello thinking and his fingers thumbing over the keys of his laptop researching, analyzing everything he could get his hands on. He knew something was off when Mikey was first taken but didn't act upon it trusting in the knowledge that Usagi had, but now, he knew something else was in play. He knew he had to find something out now since now there was something to go off on. Donnie knew there was no way Mikey could make a spiritual connection from another dimension it just wasn't possible. There's something else and Donatello was more then persuaded to find out what.
He leaned forward once again and began his research once more, unaware of the silhouette that was coming up behind him.
"Here." Said a stern voice. They placed down a cup of hot coffee in front of Donnie and leaned against the desk that had Don's laptop on. It. Donnie looked up to see Leo's tired eyes looking back at him.
"Geez Leo I think you might need that more then me." He said with a smirk to try and comfort his older brother. Leo gave out a huff and looked towards the wall.
"I just didn't sleep well last night." He said a little groggy. Donnie's smirk quickly dropped and looked at Leo closely. It wasn't like Leo to allow some petty nightmares to disturb him so what ever he dreamt must have truly affected him.
"Nightmare?" Donnie asked. Leo shifted from one foot to the other, dodging his brother's gaze.
"Yea." He said bluntly. Donnie leaned back and looked at Leo, finally catching the elders eyes.
"What was it?" He asked as softly as he could. Leo bit his bottom lip, treading on the fact if he wanted to voice his night terrors or leave them but then thought on how Donnie was in his doctor mode and knew he could avoid it no matter how hard he tried.
He turned his head to the side, resting his elbow on his other arm and placed his chin in his palm, fingers curled tightly under his lip, refusing to meet Don's gaze.
"Mikey was dead. They burnt him alive on a steak and just…threw him in a ditch with a bunch of other bodies. It was just-god Donnie how could I even come up with something like that?" Leo asked, placing his now fisted hand on his forehead and scrunched his eyes in frustration. Donnie gave a sad smile and placed a hand in the crook of Leo's elbow and forced him to pull his hand away from his face. Leo looked at his younger brother for some kind of answer like he always did. When ever something needed to be fixed, whenever they were trapped and needed an answer Donnie always had it and right now, Leo really needed an answer.
"You didn't." Donnie spoke. Leo's eyes narrowed, confused by the response. Donnie looked away and clicked a few more buttons on his laptop and a few more clicks of the mouse before looking back at Leo.
"I have a theory and it might explain a few things. For one thing I am hoping my hypothesis will explain the nightmares. Leo you're not alone I had one too last night and I'm pretty sure Raph did too." The mention of Raphael's name made Leonardo tense greatly, outlining his veins. Donnie bit his lips, regretting for a moment what he just said but knew he had to ask.
"How is he?" Leo didn't even move, simply stared at the ground pondering his thoughts.
"Hasn't come out of the room since yesterday. He hasn't said anything to anyone besides his talk with father before he left." Leo sighed bringing his hand to the back of his neck and let it rest there thinking how Raph was acting. He wasn't use to Raphael acting so…calm. He didn't shout, didn't fight when father sent him to the room. His eyes were filled with anger Leo could see but none of it made it past his facial expression. He was angered because neither Raph or Master Splinter tried to explain to them what happened except that they made a spiritual connection. Leo looked out the window that showed the bright sunny day outside, wondering if this was the same scenery Mikey was seeing and deep down he knew, this wasn't the privelage that his brother was granted.
"well he isn't very good with words Leo you know that. He doesn't wanna talk about it, he doesn't wanna talk about it you know how he gets." Donnie tried to reassured.
"Yea he talks with his fist which he hasn't done either. Don I'm worried, he isn't like this you know that as much as I do."
"Well obviously what ever he saw really got to him Leo. I mean, you got riled up from a nightmare. Imagine what Raph is probably going through. The spiritual world you can feel, smell, taste everything as if its reality. I cant think of any other way he would be taking it. I mean you remember how angry Master Splinter was when he left? I have never seen father this upset." Donnie confessed. Leo turned his head to the side and pondered his thoughts. Remembering the anger that flared in his fathers eyes made Leonardo's skin crawl. Never once has he heard his father speak with such hatred and anger it made Leo even more curious on what they saw to set them both on an unchrematistic path.
Donnie sighed as he turned back to his computer and tapped some more keys.
"Well go grab him and ill tell you guys what I came up with." He told Leo, not looking at him. Leo responded with a nod and pushed himself off the table.
He made the long walk down the bare corridor where they were staying. He nodded at the few guards who stood in the hallway before making it to Raph's room. He couldn't help but feel the dread of the room flood his senses. He put his hand on the door and could feel the uneasiness coming from inside and took a deep breath before pushing the door open.
Raphael laid on his bed, with his carapace against the wall. He looked ahead towards the torn up wall ahead of him, playing with the tip of one of his throwing stars before chucking it across the room hitting the wall, mixing in with the collection that was building on the wall. Raph stared at the damage he created, to see that the stars created a larger star. With an intense stare, he realized he created the same image that he saw in his dream. The nightmarish event in his mind had him jolting from slumber and sweating a cold sweat. Three large demotic creatures standing around a small Michelangelo, a small crying Michelangelo. He stood over a star similar that Raph had just created. Mikey called out for him, begging for rescue and Raph couldn't move, he couldn't speak, he just watched and his brother was strangled by the man who invaded his mind once before. The face of the villain who had his brother captive. The large, yellowed fangs hanging from his smirking lips it made Raph's blood boil. More then anything Raph felt a layer of guilt surround his entire being. He was exhausted but knew he couldn't fall back asleep. If he did, he would just see that man, hear Mikey's screams, feel the pain of his heart being tugged, smell the musk and iron mixing together in one, taste the sour taste of death he detested so much. Raph threw his head back, gaining a small noise from his head hitting the wall. He breathed deeply returning to the memory of talking to his father before he left.
Master Splinter assured he will not tell his brothers what he saw if Raph didn't want them too. Raph quickly agreed feeling that was a burden he needed to carry and not his brothers. That was his own choice trying to find Mikey and now he will live with the punishment of those thoughts and images. He knew that beast was not Mikey, just trying to mess with him, break him in some sort of way. But, he couldn't help but go back to the last thing he saw. His brother's eyes were so hollow it made Raph's throat catch his breath. He never, in his lifetime, wants to see his brother like that again.
He didn't flinch when he saw the flood of light consume the room, His golden gaze locked with hazel colored eyes as Leo stood in the doorway looking over his brother. Leo took in some air before he walked over to Raph and sat on the bed next to him.
"How you doing." Leo asked coolly. Raph growled lightly and pulled out another throwing star, throwing it aimlessly at the wall, trying to dismantle the star before Leo looked over.
"M'fine." He mumbled throwing another star.
"Locking yourself in a room isn't exactly the norm for you so obviously you're not fine" Leo said sternly, wincing slightly at the sound of the weapon hitting the wall over and over again.
"If ya know I'm not then ya'da ask?" He replied dryly not making eye contact but continued to cover his tracks.
"I want to here it from you Raph." He asked a little more sternly. Raph hummed slightly, acknowledging his older brothers words but ignored it. Leo growled as he grabbed Raph's hand before he could throw the next star and made Raph look at him.
"Raph answer me." His leadership coming to play. His eyes flicked from Leo to the wall to see the star was disguised in the mess of other stars and internally thanked god before looking back at Leo and his anger was beginning to flare.
"Get your fuck'n hands off of me." Raph warned before jerking his hand away. Leo sighed in irritation and stood up, allowing his brother to swing his legs over to he was sitting up on the bed.
"Are you dreading over what you saw yesterday? When you were trying to contact Mikey?" Leo asked.
"That aint none of your damn business Leo now back off." Raph stood up getting in the eldest face but Leo was unfazed by Raph's motives. He was too use to Raphael's anger and knew how to approach it. But there was something different about how Raph was reacting. He wasn't fully there it seemed like, like his mind had wondered off and was getting lost in the vast if eternity. He narrowed his eyes to look at his angry brother more closely. His could see in his golden orbs not anger, but fear, despair, guilt. Leo straightened up slightly.
"It is my business if it harming you or anyone else." He spoke quietly but still with dominance.
"I'm standing here aint I?" Raph spat as he shoved his shoulder into Leo before trying to pass him. Leo looked back at him.
"That doesn't mean you're alright Raph." Raphael stopped in the doorway and listened to his brother lecture. He either had to listen to him now, or he'll follow him down the hallway and continue to lecture whether he likes it or not.
Leo took a breath and understood he had Raph's attention for a short amount of time before he will loose him again in his self loathing.
"I wont force you to tell me what you saw Raph. I can't. Only you, and Master Splinter have experienced what this guy can do and just understand my position as leader. Mikey's my brother too. I'm worried about him as well. Shell Raph I even had a nightmare about him last night and I can barely handle that." Raph tensed when he said that. Leonardo had a nightmare? One that really got under his skin? He didn't realize it but he clenched his hands into fist and shut his eyes, trying to clear his thoughts.
"Raph all I'm trying to say is were family and were in this together. Don't shut us out." Leo tried to reason with the best of his ability. Trying to talk to the red-banded turtle was sometimes trying to talk to a rock, almost downright impossible. Leo watched Raph switch his weight from foot to foot. He turned his head slightly to the side to talk to Leo.
"You had a nightmare?" He asked softly. Leo nodded.
"Yes, I assume you did too?" He asked quietly. The pause in the room was almost suffocating for the turtle. The anticipation that maybe Raph will open up and allow Leo to take some weight off his shoulder. Leo could only hope his brother realized all he wants to do is help.
Raph and sighed quietly, as much as he wanted to yell, as much as he wanted to fight Leo and make him understand he couldn't do that, he couldn't muster the strength to do so. It felt as though someone had stolen his strength away within the past few days. He was fighting his own personal battle and he just wished Leo would just keep out of it. He looked at his brother with soft eyes.
"Just fuck off Leo…Just fuck off..." he grunted before walking out of the room. Leo hung his head and sighed. He could feel the bonds of their family quickly untying themselves and it was breaking Leo's heart to see this happening to their fragile bond.
Leo followed his brother out the room and quickly caught up to the groggy turtle. Leo could see in his walking that Raph was tired. He ran up and grabs his stiff arm and stopped him, looking for a punch Leo waited, but when nothing came but a stern look, he knew more then ever Raph was holding something back.
"Don found something and wants to show us. Are you up for it?" Leo asked searching his brother's eyes. He could see the coldness, the hardness seeping back in his blazing eyes.
"If it has something to do with saving Mikey, then damn right I'm up for it." He growled before shaking off Leo's hand and walking a little more stable to where Donnie was seated; face still glued to the screen. Raph walked up beside him, leaning against the wooden table and looked at the screen.
"So what do ya got brainiac?" He asked gaining a slight jump from the purple clad turtle.
"Geez Raph gave me a heart attack..." He mumbled, holding his chest before taking a breath.
"Geez Donnie you usually hear me comm'n from a mile away." Raph quirked his head, studying his brother very much shocked he didn't see him sooner. Donnie rubbed his eyes with his thumb and index finger, getting rid of the last bit of sleepiness from the undesirable night.
"I didn't sleep too well last night. Had a nightmare." He looked up at Raph, waiting for a reaction, one that would tell him if Raphael was experiencing the same thing he and Leo were. He watched as his muscles tensed and looked back at the screen.
"I'm assuming you had a nightmare, about Mikey?" Donnie was pushing, pushing far enough he could see through Raph like a window. Leo was quick with words but Donnie could read through basically anything and anyone.
"That aint any of your business Donnie now ya mind showing me what ya found?" He asked, irritation highlighting his speech. It felt like déjà vu with what he went through with Leo. It was none of their business and he was gonna keep it that way. He listened when he heard Leo come up on the other side of Donnie, taking the same stance as Raph but refusing to make eye contact which Raph was perfectly okay with.
"Well Raph I hate to burst your bubble but it's gonna be my business here in a few minutes." Donnie made a few more clicks on his computer till a photo came up on the screen. A young man, a lizard being with a trench coat over his scaly body and a smirk that was too common for the turtles.
"You guys recognize this guy?" Donnie looked at his brothers, seeing the searing anger flare greatly between hazel and golden eyes. "I tried finding anything I could on a 'Rictor' but he wasn't in any reports or files. He wasn't even registered correctly in the nexus. I have spent hours in the ancient scroll looking for a Rictor but there isn't anything on him." He explained.
"Then whose Mr. Happy here?" Leo asked, leaning closer to get a better look and new that this was the face he kept seeing. He flicked his eyes up to Raph to see he pressed his lips into a thin line, unmoving but kept staring at the photo. Leo knew Raph saw this man passing the spiritual boundaries and at this moment, Leo could only imagine that Raph only saw was red.
"This guy is named Mongolious Van Rector. He is a Psychiatrist in the District 9 of Planet Vontron. Dimensions away from the Nexus." Donnie looked up at Leo, making sure he was keeping up. He didn't even wanna try and look at Raph, knowing it would be the same look he has been getting for the past few minutes.
"Why did he show up and not Rictor?" Leo asked.
"Because this guy is Rictor. He registered under a different name and must have somehow gotten rid of the file." Donnie explained, bringing up photo's of the Nexus he battle in.
"Why would he change his name?" Leo asked.
"I asked the same question and did some digging. This guy is incredibly smart, and strong. Unfortunately, he got caught up in some illegal experimentation on his home planet. He wanted to test the mind to its fullest extend. How it effects our daily use, how it changes when we sleep, when we eat, when wake up, when we-"
"When we fight." Raph growled. Looking at his brother. Donnie felt the air get caught in his throat before he nodded at his older brother and turned back to the screen of his computer and did some more typing.
"Yes, he is very fascinated by the way people fight because he uses the way a person fights and learns from it, uses it against them until he is known as the greatest fighter using more then just strength. But because of his curiousity, he was banished from his home planet and was treated like a fugitive of the law so I assume that's why he changed his name." Donnie changed the photo with Rictor standing with the rest of the participants in the Nexus.
"So, he tried using other people's moves against the Nexus and lost? Doesn't explain why he's so nuts about it." Leo retorted.
"Actually I looked in on that one too. Rictor didn't loose one could say, he was disqualified after the third round." Leo shot his brother a confused stare.
"But Usagi said-"
"A story that he heard. Rictor was around a lot longer then Usagi's time. It's obvious he won't know all the details. This is coming from the prisoner's book. He tried to poison his opponents and make then incapable of fighting. When he was caught he was disqualified and sent to death. That's when these guys came into play." Donnie changed the screen to show the three guardians standing around the large star. Raph's eyes went wide in the recognition of the star and the large creatures.
"Who the hell are these guys?" Raph growled.
"Do you recognize this Raph?" Donnie questioned. Raph turned his head and faced his intelligent brother.
"Who, the fuck are they Donnie?" Raph's voice was darkening with every word it made a shiver go down Donnie's spine. He has seen Raph angry, scary at most but this, this was something different and he knew the anger his brother was giving off wasn't towards him but it was still suffocating him and enveloping him in the a rage filled atmosphere.
"Raph, back off." Leo warned. Gold eyes met with his older brother and he bored his eyes Leo could feel him looking into his soul, but he wouldn't let Raph win his battle.
Feeling the tension beginning to build between the two eldest he cleared his throat and continued his explanation.
"These creatures are known as the guardians." Donnie looked between his two brothers to make sure they were paying attention before he continued.
"They were created by witch craft; only reason for existence was to cause mayhem wherever they went. Somehow Rictor got a hold of their master and killed him and took control over them. That's when he killed everyone who competed in the nexus that year." Donnie showed them the report on how the fighter and even the audience were all brutally murdered. Leo scrunched his snout in the photos of the bloodied bodies and the walls of the arena were painted red.
"Then Rictor disappeared. The last report ever made about him was when that one fighter came back after he was 'sent as a message" Donnie quoted the last part.
"Don? You don't think he was sent out?" Leo question.
"I think that guy escaped. I wanna know how so bad but I honestly think he found a way out and left." Donnie said, pulling out some files with more scientific notions filling the screen.
"Don how is that possible if there in an entirely different dimension as us?" Leo stood up straight, starting to think that Don was coming up with wild stories at this point.
"Way ahead of you Leo. I don't think they're in a different dimension. I think that was just to cover up where they really are." Donnie narrowed his eyes at his brother, couldn't help but see the change in his facial expression.
"H-how is that possible, Don you said that they could with the use of magic." Leo raised his arm, pointing outside as if someone was there. Don shifted in his chair.
"That's what I thought at first. I shouldn't believe everything that Usagi said there were just too many flaws in the equation. After researching on who this guy is, he isn't a man of magic but a man of science. I did the math. A dimension within a dimension? That's just silly now that I think of it. There is no possible way the density of a dimension could be in another. You're talking about galaxies and planets and other species all put into a smaller area that would just make it so this world would collapse on itself. It just isn't possible."
Don watch as his two brothers were processing the information. Raphael pushed off the table and stood, crossing his arms and tapping the back of his heel on the floor.
"But I didn't look more into it till yesterday." He perked up seeing his brothers eyes were glued to him. He looked at Raph.
"When you and Master Splinter made the spiritual connection that's when I knew it was all a lie. There is no possible way that you guys could have done that if he was in a different dimension." Donnie watch Raph as he bit his bottom lip and shook his head up and down, processing everything he is saying. He interlaced his fingers and placed them behind his head and started to pace.
"How would that have changed anything Donnie?" Leo felt his own anger beginning to build because this entire time he was lied to and he was able to do something more once Donnie was finished explaining.
"Think of it this way, "Donnie turned to Leo. "When we were in the dimension with the Tricaritons, Master Splinter couldn't reach us. Even with Mikey and his strong spiritual connection he couldn't. Now think of now, how strong we felt it, as if he was in the same room as us. I think wherever they are, they're here in the Nexus." Donnie finished as saw that Raph had stopped pacing and his face was enraged.
"So your telling me that Mikey's been here the entire Fuck'n time but you decided to keep that little bit of information to ya'self till now!" Raph threw his hand in the air, eyes narrowed; burning with so much passion but Donnie wasn't going to let that get to him. He already felt guilt for not speaking up sooner and he wasn't going to let Raph bring him down farther.
"I didn't put it all together till now Raph. You need to calm down." Donnie tried to reason.
"Don't you dare tell me to calm down, my brother is in trouble and you want me to sit here pick'n fuck'n daisies with ya!" Raph growled.
"He's my brother too Raph you seem to forget that! You don't think I'm worried about him too? What's happening to him?" Donnie felt the foreign feeling of anger rising greatly. This wasn't something that he usually dealt with but he was far more then fed up with Raphael's attitude at the moment.
"Well heres the difference Donnie I know what's happening to him." Raph pointed at himself harshly looking down at his brother.
"Oh do you now? Why don't you share that little piece of information with me since you are so determined to pick my brain for everything I know? Why don't we switch roles for a little while?" Donnie snipped back. Don wasn't the type to have a sarcastic remark but he isn't taking Raph's shit right now and he was ready to show it.
Raph growled, staring into the brown eyes that stayed completely calm. Suddenly, Leo came between the deathly glares, making sure a fight wouldn't break loose at any moment.
"Alright that's enough. Fighting isn't going to get us anywhere now back off." He looked at both his brothers, seeing the emotions flooding their faces, the tension still hanging heavily in the air it was like breathing out of a straw. Donnie turned back to the computer and changed the screen to another file while Raph looked away, hands still clenched into fists. Leo sighed quickly before turning back to Donnie.
"If it's not another Dimension then why did that guy say it was when he came out?" Leo asked as level as he could. He was angry that this slight information wasn't shared sooner but he couldn't think of that. They are getting closer to finding Mikey and he wasn't going to screw it up now.
"He's a psychiatrist Leo. He could make a person believe hey were a flying horse if he really wanted to. He put what ever information he wanted in that guys mind and let him live a lie." Donnie looked at him, seeing the worry. If this man was driven to suicide because of Rictor, what could he be doing to Mikey? Leo leaned against the table once more, folding his arms.
"So what can we do?" He asked. Donnie stared at the screen for a while, looking for the best solution to give to his leader.
"The guardians have to have some wall around the area, that's why it's been hard for them to find them. But I think they have a magnetic field around that wall, cloaking their location. So my theory is, we break down that magnetic field, we can set up breaking down the wall." Donnie said with the weakest smile he had ever given. Raph perked up at that part.
"So we can get Mikey ourselves?" Raph asked. Donnie didn't make eye contact with his older brother but stared straight.
"No. We will still need the Daimyo to break down the wall the guardians have up. No amount of technology can bring down a wall made from pure sorcery. Their power is defiantly great and my theory is that they are affecting our dreams, some how getting into our heads. I don't know all the details right now but I'll be going off of that for right now. The guardians, Rictor, their playing us. I wouldn't be surprised if were all part of some sick experiment that Rictor put together so we have to be careful." He said. Leo looked at Donnie then at Raph, whose features were calmed down and was waiting for instruction. Donnie looked over at Raphael and signaled him to come over to the table which he obediently followed.
"What do you want us to do?" Leo asked. Donnie dug out a bag from under the table and brought it up, reveling it had four black metal pegs. He went back to his computer and brought up a map of the Nexus.
"Now I did the math and they would need a large enough place to hid this arena of his." He looked between his brothers. "They need a big enough place to be able to harbor criminals, fighters, doctors, cooks, all of it. Like a jail in a way is the best way to explain it. Now, if you look at the map there are only two places with enough room for something like that. You have the Nexus arena where we are." Donnie pointed at the small map drawing of the arena. "Then you have the mountain west from here. I've checked and no one lives in the vicinity of the mountain." He pointed at the mountain, keeping his finger on the screen. Raph leaned closer.
"So, there in a mountain?" He asked.
"There is no mountain." Donnie closed his eyes, placing his hand in his lap.
"Okay Don that cant work. A mountain doesn't form over night." Leo rebutted. Donnie looked at him.
"There was a Mountain but I think they tore it down. Sorcery can do that, its simple child's play for a sorcerer. They took it down, and replaced it with a hologram. It's the only answer I can come up with. And if I'm wrong then no harm is done." He pulled the bag up and handed both his brothers two pegs.
"Go to the base of the mountain; place the pegs on each side of the mountain. When I give the command get out of the way as quick as possible. I'm gonna send off a countering electric current that should knock down any hologram and magnetic field that's there." Donnie explained.
"And if it doesn't?" Raph questioned. Donnie but his lip.
"Then we wait for father." Without another word, the two eldest took the shell cells and out the door they went, going straight for the mountain. Leo had a struggle trying to keep up with Raph. Leo was still frustrated that Raph wasn't speaking about what he saw but he could tell from his determination, it was enough to send him on a frenzy in rescuing his brother which for Leo, he was willing to handle.
A/N: 5,500 words! Gosh that's a lot. BUT I'M OKAY WITH THAT! I know the chapter didn't have too much action in it but I just wanted this chapter to show you guys, this story isn't what it seems. Now I don't want to say everything I've said was a lie but uhhh most of it was. Hahahaha no im just kidding but I have added a lot of twist in this story and I promise you, you will not be expecting what is yet to come! (Well maybe)
I also used this chapter to show you guys the extent of the guy's frustration and I felt like I needed to give Donnie a bigger part. I neglected little Donnie-boy I feel bad. But please review and let me know what you guys think please! I love you all and ill see you next time!