A/N: Thank y'all for being so patient with me. I finally got this chap written. I only gave it a once over, so please forgive any errors. Also, be prepared, it does jump around a bit.
A little while after Sarah had left, Mira had begun to pace. She could sense K-three's unease and Katsu's disquiet. When Sarah arrived with a tray piled with food, she already knew her daughter was troubled. "What is it?"
Mira shook her head, glancing out the window. "Katsu's upset."
Sarah nodded absently. "They've left to find Yoshi."
"I know." She could feel K-three's mind focusing on the task ahead and his slight worry at leaving their son behind. She frowned. "I think I'll go home and check on him."
Sarah frowned as well, feeling her apprehension. Her gaze shifted to Raph as he lifted his head from the bedside. He let out a low mirthless chuckle. "He probably don't like bein' left with Kala and Ona."
Mira shook her head. It felt like more than that. He was anxious and maybe even a bit frightened. "Yeah, maybe. But I think I'll head home all the same. I'll leave you the bike, okay?"
He gave a little nod, but his eyes held concern. "Okay, just be careful. With the Foot clan out there now, it could be very dangerous if you're spotted."
Mira gave a nod of her own and moved towards the door. Sarah caught her arm. Her big brown eyes shifted from Cat to Mira, uncertain of what to do. "Do you want me to go with you?"
Mira gave her mother a reassuring smile and patted her hand. "I'm sure it's nothing like Uncle Raph said. He probably just doesn't like both Kane and I being gone at the same time."
Sarah squeezed her arm. "Call when you get there, okay? And take a cab. It's raining cats and dogs outside."
Mira rolled her eyes slightly at her mother's overprotectiveness, but smiled nonetheless. She leaned down slightly to kiss her cheek and then stepped away to turn on her holo-band. "I'll be fine." She stopped to give Jamie's hand quick squeeze before slipping out into the hall and heading back to the lair.
Sarah felt her heart clench as trepidation pooled in her stomach. Something was wrong or maybe it was just her imagination running wild. Her thoughts were interrupted as Cat stirred in the bed. Both her and Jamie moved towards the bedside as the blonde slowly opened her eyes. She'd only slept an hour or so.
Raph stood on shaky legs to lean over her. She smiled up at him. "Hey, handsome."
He smirked, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Hey, beautiful. How do you feel?"
She licked her lips. "Kind of thirsty and still pretty tired." Her eyes shifted from face-to-face as if searching for someone. Raph felt dread wash over him. He didn't want to upset her but he had an idea of what she was going to ask. "Where's Yoshi?" He frowned squeezing her hand. He wasn't sure how to answer. She frowned as well. "Still missing?" She could see the conflict in her husband's eyes. He wanted to go look for their son, but he also wanted to stay with her. Taking a deep breath, she tightened her grip on his hand. "Go find him."
He shook his head, his mouth hanging open slightly. "But…"
"I'm okay. I'm safe here. Our son needs you." Her eyes shimmered as they began to fill with tears. "Please, Raph."
He gave a shaky nod, brushing away the tears that had escaped her. His voice choked slightly. "Okay… Okay." He kissed her softly and she raised a hand to cup his cheek. "I'll be back soon. I promise." She held his eyes as he slowly pulled away from her. He paused only momentarily at the door to turn on his holo. He would bring Yoshi home, even if it cost him his life.
The sound of footsteps splashing through the water behind them kept Kala moving forward. Her arms and legs ached from toting the small turtle. And her chest burned as she panted. Ona was easily keeping pace with her and she kept glancing back, watching for their pursuers. Kala bit her lip, she knew they were losing ground and fast. The squad a Foot soldiers would be upon them momentarily. She had to make a decision. Stopping at an intersection, she shoved Katsu into Ona's arms. "Go on! Take him to April's!"
Ona's eyes grew wide with fear. "What!"
"Hurry! Run! I will distract them. Protect Katsu."
Ona shook her head vigorously, her arms tightening around Katsu. "I can't just leave you!"
"I'll meet you there. Now go!" She gave Ona a little shove in the opposite direction. The footsteps were nearly upon them now. Her blue eyes pleaded desperately with the younger girl. "Go."
Ona glanced back down the tunnel from where they'd come, then back at Kala. She clenched her jaw and gave one firm nod, before turning and sprinting down the tunnel. She silently swore to come back for her. But right now she needed to get Katsu to safety.
Kala watched Ona disappeared down the tunnel with the whimpering tot clutched tightly in her arms. Drawing from the determination to protect them, she took a deep breath and got ready to run. She only hoped her plan would work. She waited until the first Foot soldier appeared and made sure he saw her, before darting off in the opposite direction from Ona. Just as she'd hoped eight of the twelve soldiers followed her. Only four broke away to go down the other tunnel.
Raphael's motorcycle tore in and out of traffic, the rain stinging his exposed skin. But there was no time for caution, no time for speed limits or traffic lights. All he was focused on at the moment was reaching his destination. His son needed him, his family needed him, and he was going to be there.
By the time the cab pulled up the garage, Mira knew something was horribly wrong. Katsu was terrified. She threw a wad of bills at the driver and sprang out, ignoring his questions about the alarm sounding. The small front door was smashed in and the inside was in shambles. She gasped at the sight of the Foot droids scattered in pieces around the room along with the remains of the security lasers. Her heart raced as she sprinted to the elevator and looked down into its dark depths. Her mouth hung open. How had they managed to get past the blast shield and the laser grid? Leaping down the shaft, she landed atop the now disabled car and climbed out through the hole the Foot had formed.
She stood, unable to move, as she stared about the lair. It was completely wrecked. Walls were destroyed, furniture was burnt and broken, and part of the ceiling had collapsed from some sort of explosion. Little remained of the home she'd spent most of her life in. Panic swept her. Where was Katsu? Where were Kala and Ona?
She struggled to remain calm, clutching her knees as she stretched out her senses. Fear pulsed through her from her son. It made every cell in her body key in on his location. She growled, the panic turning into fury. Her child was in danger! And she was going to rip apart those threatening him!
When the lights went out Yoshi tried to pull away from the rock soldier, but the creature held fast to the chain. His eyes danced around the now dark warehouse. What's going on? As far as he knew there was no one left to rescue him. But to his utter astonishment the familiar sounds of combat reached his ears, as well as the sound of Cole shouting a command into his radio. He gasped as two figures dropped from the rafters above him to land to his right. And to his left, despite the dimness of the room, he could see the shimmer of twin katana swirling through the rows of soldiers. His heart jumped for joy as he recognized the familiar battle cries of his family. They're alive!
But even as the thought went through his mind, he was searching the warehouse for his father. But there was no sign of him. In the distance he could just make out Mikey and Kaz sweeping in through the now gaping front entrance. He felt a mixture of relief and despair. He would be saved, but what of his father and mother. What if Cole really did know where they were? What if he'd already done something terrible?
He tried again to free himself from the stone warrior. "Let go!"
Krang stepped forward, snatching the chain near the turtle's collar. "You're not going anywhere until I've gotten the answers I came for." His rotating saw drew closer and Yoshi raised a foot to kick the squishy pink thing in that grotesque mouth. He used his momentum to push off and gain some distance. As soon as he was free, a blade sliced through Krang's mechanical arm, causing the saw to skitter uselessly across the cement floor. Leo followed through with a kick that sent Krang to the ground. The turtle loomed menacingly over the alien brain, katana leveled right between his eyes. "Call off your army! Now!"
Nearby, K-three stopped in his attack of a rock soldier, stumbling back with a look of pure panic in his eyes. Donnie saw it and knew it well. He dispatched the soldier before him with a jab of his staff to the soldier's eye, it's one vulnerable spot, and moved quickly to K-three's side. "What is it?" He asked, blocking the soldier his son-in-law had just been fighting.
"Mira is freaking out!" The Turtleoid looked around him, his body trembling.
Don knew it wasn't from fear but the desire to protect his mate. The bond was a powerful force all its own. "Go. We can get Yoshi." He shot him a quick look that clearly stated: "Take care of my daughter."
K-three needed no more encouragement. Using a rock soldier as a vault, he leapt up onto a stack of crates and then into the rafters, leaving the way they'd entered. Ignoring the raging storm above his head, he dashed off across the rooves headed for home.
The damp cold bricks scraped against Ona's back as she pressed harder into them. How had she gotten lost? She knew the way to April's. She'd been there dozens of times. And yet somehow in her panicked frenzy, she'd gotten turned around and ended up in this dead end passage. The four dark figures moved towards her and her grip tightened on Katsu. Had she been holding a normal toddler, the child would have been crushed under the pressure. But Katsu merely whimpered, murmuring. "Mommy, mommy. I want mommy."
She felt the dampness of his tears as he rubbed his face against her t-shirt. A fierce protectiveness suddenly grew inside her. She would not let these things hurt him. He was a baby, an innocent. Her eyes narrowed. "Stay back!"
But before she could act, another shadow entered the tunnel. A sound left it unlike anything Ona had ever heard before. It was something between a growl and a roar, full of rage and ferocity. Katsu suddenly went still, his head popping up, nearly knocking her in the jaw. But Ona continued to clutch him, unsure of the newcomer. Until the shadow moved.
The roar seemed to grow louder as pieces of metal were scattered through the tunnel like shrapnel. Faster than Ona could really process the Foot-bots were shredded to nothing and all that remained was the figure still growling and panting in the darkness.
Ona gasped as it turned towards them, her heart racing. But Katsu squirmed. "Mommy!" She fell to her knees when Mira finally stepped close enough to be recognized. The turtle's eyes slowly regained their focus as Katsu cried out for her again. "Mommy!"
And then she was beside them, wrapping both her son and Ona in a tight embrace. Katsu twisted within the hold to snake his arms around his mother's neck. Ona felt the world sway with relief as she returned the hug. "Mira, thank goodness!" She realized absently that the other girl was trembling.
Mira took a deep breath, steadying her erratic heartbeat. Finally, she leaned back to look down at Ona. "What happened?" She glanced around. "Where's Aunt Kala?"
Tears trickled down her tan cheeks. "They…they broke in. We ran, but we had to split up. Most of them followed her, I think. She….she told me to take Katsu to April's."
Mira frowned. "She led them away?" Ona nodded and Mira hugged them to her again. The plan was sound enough. Their enemies didn't know about April and even if they did, they wouldn't know where to find her. She'd moved several times in past few years. Mira released Ona to pull Katsu securely into her arms. She kissed his head and stroking his shell and arms to soothe him, much as her mother used to do her. Taking a deep breath, she stood, pulling Ona to her feet as well. "Come on."
Ona blinked at her. "But what about…?"
"I'll come back to find her. But we need to get you and Katsu somewhere safe first." Mira started down the tunnel, finding the closest manhole to climb up. She poked her head out just enough to see if the alley beyond was occupied. She waited several long moments and when nothing moved, she pulled herself and Katsu out. Ona slid the cover noisily back in place and turned to watch Mira snag a large towel off a clothes line. She wrapped it snuggly around the small turtle and then turned on her holo. It was safer to walk on the street, among the humans. They could blend and go unnoticed by their enemies. Ona hung close to Mira as they traversed the three blocks to April's apartment building.
April sat up in bed at the sound of the heavy knocking on her door. Frowning, she pulled on her robe. More heavy knocking had her shuffling for the door. "I'm coming! I'm coming!" Didn't they understand she was an old woman now? She didn't have the speed of her youth. After a peek through the eyehole, she hurriedly unlocked the door and threw it open, her eyes as big as saucers. "Mira! Ona!" Her gaze locked on the bundle in Mira's arms. "Hurry up, inside." She glanced up and down the hall to be sure no one saw them, before shutting and locking the door. She turned to find Mira unwrapping Katsu and turning off her holo. "What's happening?" She knew that Mira would never have risked bringing Katsu topside without a very good reason.
"The Foot attacked the lair." Mira looked away. "It's destroyed."
April sank into the nearest chair, she rubbed at her wrinkled face and eyes. She was getting too old for this. She could feel her blood pressure rising. She finally lifted her head to meet Mira's gaze. "Where is everyone else?"
"It's been a crazy twenty-four hours." Mira quickly explained what had happened with Yoshi and Cat.
April stared at her slack jawed. "Why didn't anyone call me?" She was both hurt and shocked by the exclusion.
Mira shook her head. "It wasn't intentional. You know we would have normally called, but everything has been happening so fast. And it's still not over." She stood, heading for the door. "I have to go find Aunt Kala. If the Foot get to her first…"
"No! Mommy stay!" Katsu ran after her, clinging to her leg.
Mira took a deep breath. She'd known it was going to be hard leaving him behind after what had just happened, but she didn't realize that it would feel like ripping out her own heart. She knelt and pulled him tightly against her. "I won't be long. I'm going to get Aunt Kala and come right back, I promise. You'll be safe here. I need you to be brave for me. Can you do that?"
He sniffled and finally leaned back. He gave a shaky nod and she kissed his head. "That's my big boy. I love you." She quickly stood and left before her own tears could escape her.
Yoshi stared at the back of his Uncle Leo, where he was poised over the squishy thing, blade millimeters from the creature's eyes. "I said call them off!" Leo growled. The katana moved with lightning speed, slicing the pink flesh. Krang gave a squeal of pain as blood trickled from the wound. The Dimension X overlord was surprised at the coldness in this older version of his old enemy. "I will kill you." Leonardo assured him. After what this insane creature had done to them over the years, he deserved death.
Krang squirmed. "Tragg, call off your men!"
The rock soldier that had led Yoshi around like a dog on a leash, gaped at his lord. "But my lord, we-"
"Do it!" Krang snapped as Leo's katana pressed against the tender pink flesh again.
Tragg jumped to his feet. "Stone brigade, pull back! Enter the portal!"
As the stone creatures did as they were commanded, Shinta slipped up to Yoshi. "Are you alright, Yoshi?"
The older cousin sat up, grasping Shinta's shoulder with his bound hands. "Shinta! You're alive! You're okay!"
Shinta gave him a crooked smile. "It's good to see you too, bro." He pulled his hands from his shoulder. "Now, let's get these off." He made quick work of the cuffs and metal collar. He frowned a little at the rings of dried blood around each manacle. He started to reach for the wounds, but Yoshi suddenly stood.
He followed his cousin's gaze to the slender form that was edging away from the dwindling group of rock soldiers. In one swift move, Yoshi had grabbed the chain that had held him captive for nearly an entire day and tackled Cole to the floor. The scuffled only momentarily, exchanging blows. But the lanky Neutrino was no match for the enraged turtle. Yoshi easily had the upper hand despite the fact that he'd been deprived of sleep, food and water for nearly a day. All he could see at the moment was a red fury. He wrapped the chain around the young man's neck and began to strangle him with it.
Cole writhed beneath him, clawing at the chain. "Mercy…"
Yoshi's normally bright green eyes were dark. He leaned close, snarling in his ear. "I'll show you the same mercy, you showed my father."
A/N: Phew, a lot going on here. This one was a beast to write and we're not even close to done yet.
