Episode 17: War of the Heart of Darkness – Part 1

The glow of mutagen was starting to irritate Ashina. Darkness had fallen over New York City, but that didn't matter, because whether it was broad daylight, or midnight, Shredder's lab was always dark – save that obnoxious glow. They had moved stealthily through the dungeon that they had rescued Bloodmaw from long ago.

This was the first time in years that Lord Nightshade joined them. It was both exciting and frightening to see him at work. He moved like a breeze, even on the streets outside – practically invisible to the people around them that went about their usual life – unaware of the mutants moving in the back alleys of their city night by night. And this night was likely to prove interesting.

Now all of them stood on the ring that ran around the lab. It looked down on the huge vat of mutagen and the old wooden boxes that contained the canisters of Lord Nightshade's treasure. Gore stood to her left, his war hammer out, his beady eyes staring blankly down at the few figures that scampered throughout the lab. Of all of the Shinotomo Clan, not including Nightshade, Gore scared her the most. He was massive, wordless, and just as stealthy as the others despite his form. And of his life before the Shinotomo Clan, Ashina knew nothing.

On her right was Bloodmaw. Someone she knew much more about. His wild form quivered with the anticipation of battle. His eyes were on Tigerclaw. The two had hated each other as long as they had known each other from Japan. He was twisting his tonfa nervously in his fingers. These waits before the attack were always hard for the hyena.

Towering over the top of all three of them was EmberEye. Her fire colored eyes stared down condescendingly at Shredder, and the fly that was buzzing excitedly to him. She had her weapons out of their holster for the first time in a long time. They were Chinese hook swords which Ashina always fit incredibly well with her form as a hawk. Her wings were folded behind her, making her look much smaller.

Finally, after all the waiting, Lord Nightshade appeared. He didn't say a word, but Ashina assumed that he had completed the task that he had wanted to do. He had explained everything to them. And he had been right about the guards. Shredder had ten to fifteen foot clan members on their way in – but Lord Nightshade had killed all of them – and without drawing his sword. Ashina didn't particularly like seeing blood shed. It made her feel less human, and she had never allowed it from her own weapon. She held her katar close to her – it was really the only friend she had in life. It kept her safe and didn't complain when she did or didn't use it.

Now was a time to use it.

Lord Nightshade carried a long wooden pole in his hand, gloved save for claws that protruded from the end. Ashina wondered what he was behind the mask. Attached to the pole was a long banner with the kanji of the clan stamped on it. 死の友. Ashina looked down at those who would challenge them below. Shredder was still talking to the fly – but the fly wouldn't be a threat at all. Tigerclaw was watching from next to Shredder, along with the zombie dog with long fangs and the Fish with the metal legs. Finally, from across the way and near the mutagen was the huge Rhino and his pig friend. Six of those individuals would be dangerous.

Lord Nightshade turned to them and then nodded. They knew the plan and the formation that he had prepared them to enter in with. Lord Nightshade slowly stepped out from the shadows and looked down at those who were busy working below him. "Well, well." Lord Nightshade began, his voice soft, but cold as winter's chill. The banner was immediately illuminated in mutagen green. As he spoke those two words, Ashina, Gore, EmberEye and Bloodmaw stood and entered the light as well, but stood a step behind their sensei.

Shredder immediately looked up, along with his other companions. Immediately Shredder's eyes widened, but then he laughed. "So, you have followed me from Japan – I knew your lap dogs had, but you as well?"

Lord Nightshade chuckled, but it had no feeling in it, no meaning. "Ohisashiburi desu ne." He said. "You would think that you were preparing for something Shredder. Perhaps something grand – but it seems that you spend all of your time simply collecting new animals. One's that aren't any more competent than the soldiers we dispatched outside it would seem."

"You dare!" Tigerclaw snapped, his eyes were wold, his machete already out and spinning in his hand, along with a gun that he pointed up at him. "You will pay for taking my tail from me, Nightshade!" his teeth were bared.

"Tigerclaw, you will be silent!" Shredder snapped.

Lord Nightshade shrugged his shoulders and Ashina felt a little sick from his total lack of conscience. "Be grateful it was only your tail that I sliced off, cat." Ashina watched as he placed one of his hands on his upper katana. That was a signal he had trained them for. Should he ever do so, it meant that they should prepare for the order to attack. "Although it is incredibly interesting to catch up with you, Saki, I am afraid that I have no interest in it." He raised his hand up into the air. "Shinotomo Clan, ike."

At the command, Ashina leaped from the top along with the others and in a perfect 'V' formation they landed on the rim of the mutagen canister. The second their feet touched the ground, Shredder's long blades shot from his gauntlets and he pointed at the four. "Foot Clan, destroy them!" As planned, Gore immediately leaped behind him, landing so hard that it shook the ground around him and the hammer smashed into the wall right where the Rhino's head had been a few seconds ago.

"Woohoo!" The pig with the purple mowhawk sang, "Back up, big bear!" Even though he was huge, Gore moved with incredible precision, slamming and then recovering, dodging by backing himself away from the two as they struck at him from either side. His ability to unbalance his opponent was terrifying.

Tigerclaw immediately went for Bloodmaw who complied, jumping onto the metal ramp and spinning his tonfa excitedly. "Come and get it." he hissed to Tigerclaw who roared and brought his machete down on the metal platform.

EmberEye spread her wings and shot into the air, landing in front of Shredder to cut him off from Lord Nightshade who watched from above, analyzing their moves. "Out of my way, cursed bird!" Shredder yelled, but EmberEye held her ground and threw Shredder backward, slamming him into the ground. Her training with Lord Nightshade was proving effective.

That left the zombie wolf and the fish to Ashina.

"Wolf versus wolf, how fitting." Ashina said, feigning bordem. She loved how it annoyed individuals and always immediately let her know how much control her enemies had on their emotion.

"Did you really just say that kid?" the wolf hissed. "I'm something much greater than a wolf."

"And don't forget about me, dog!" the Fish snapped, flipping out a switchblade and expertly moving it through his fingers.

So, not much control at all. Ashina dodged easily the first attack. The wolf had embedded it's unnaturally huge claws into the rim of the mutagen tank. Ashina jumped over him, kicking his head on her way and landed just in time to block the Fish's metal leg with her katar. She moved into his zone of influence immediately at slammed her head into his. He yelled and backed away from her. This was going to be easier than she thought.

As she twisted out of the way of another attack from the wolf, and heard his angry yell behind her, she could feel Lord Nightshade's eyes on her. He was watching – analyzing her attacks. Failure was not going to be an option for her. She glanced nervously in Bloodmaw's direction. Tigerclaw and him were evenly matched, dealing and dodging blows, but neither getting any headway on drawing blood. Gore on the other hand had already slammed the rhino to the ground with a decisive blow that had knocked the beast out cold. The pig was alluding him with a series of ridiculous moves, but it was clear that he was tiring out, barely able to have a second to throw his own attacks. EmberEye was in a similarly bad situation. Shredder was getting the best of her. Although she dodged with expert skill, she had lost the ability to make any advance. Shredder had taken that away from her.

She blocked another swipe from the wolf and then moved her head back just in time to dodge a snap of his maw. The fish was back in business now. His metal legs swung like a windmill and she was forced to back up. There advances had to stop immediately. Ashina burst forward, tumbling between their two attacks and then she spun and her foot made contact with the Fish's head again. He leaped forward and slammed the palm of her hand into his wrist, forcing his switchblade to tumble from his fingers and down into the darkness below. Hopefully Lord Nightshade was pleased with the disarm.

He watched from above, one arm slung around the banner of the clan, the other on the top of his sword, although using it looked unlikely. Amid the battle, figures dressed in black had slipped in and were beginning to take boxes of mutagen. Don Vizioso's gang had supplied the man power. The battle was just the distraction.

"It's been a long time hasn't it, Yuki Hyou."

Lord Nightshade turned at the voice.

Kitsune stood there, her long black hair trailing behind her along with the colors of vibrant orange and red on her kimono that made her look like she was doused in fire when she moved. "You." Lord Nightshade said, some disbelief in his voice. His voice then immediately captured control again, echoing off his mask. "So, you again surround yourself with the disrespect, treachery, and idiocy of the Foot Clan."

Kitsune chuckled softly, her eyes darkening as she did so and she lifted her long sleeve up to her lips. "Your hatred makes you far more interesting Yuki. It would serve you well to use it more often and not that cold mask you have over your face."

Lord Nightshade let the banner drop and it clattered to the floor next to him. With his thumb, he pushed up the hilt of his katana, the blade slowly slid out, the metal black in color. "Have you come here in an attempt to stop me?" he asked, scoffing.

"There is no point." Kitsune replied. "After all, you are unkillable."

Lord Nightshade glanced over the edge and seeing that the mutagen had been successfully retrieved, he pulled out from the folds of his scarf, a short rod of metal, a large red button on the end. "Then perhaps another time." Lord Nightshade pressed it and immediately a spray of smoke burst from several points that circled the lab, dousing the whole place in gray.

When it at last parted, all of the Shinotomo Clan was gone.

"Tigerclaw, Bradford, and Xever! Hunt them down now!" Shredder snapped.

Bishop had sped to Washington Square Park, directed by Ethan. As they moved, the night appeared, veiling the sky in darkness. Ethan felt jittery. Life couldn't suck much more than this. He thought to himself. The last words of Master Hamato hung in his mind ominously. He had told him that they needed to find the turtles and stop the Black Hole Generator. Ethan assumed that the order was at least slightly important. Yet, here they were, moments away from watching the hole world get sucked into that machine and still, the turtles and Master Splinter were nowhere to be found.

Bishop landed the ship in one of the empty side streets.

They waited at the ramp and Ethan looked at Jess and Kaela. They looked freaked out of their minds. It was not very encouraging. The ramp opened up and they took the lead this time, Bishop following close behind them. Ethan remembered in their dream that Bishop had been taken down by a Triceraton. They would have to make sure that didn't happen this time.

They stopped at Washington square arch and peeked out from behind, just like they had countless times. Three pyramid shaped ships appeared in the air, holding the weapon in their strings. Slowly the three ships, humming as they slowed, deposited their cargo over the fountain in the middle of the park, and there it sat, just like it had every time they dreamed of it.

Then came the pillars of amber light and emerging from them came the first wave of Triceratons. They immediately busied themselves with the Black Hole Generator. Their screens burst into life in mid air and they began to type away. The second wave were the ones that were holding the guns the size of toasters. Bishop spoke softly, "Those Triceratons are scientists. Their job is to program the Black Hole Generator."

Ethan figured as much. The three made their way around with Bishop to the park bench as the Triceratons approached the archway on their patrol. Nervously Ethan turned to them from the shadow of the bench that they had become rather familiar with. Everything was happening the same – only this time, the turtles weren't showing up.

They were alone in this fight.

"O-okay guys." Ethan stuttered and cursed himself for showing so quickly that he was terrified. "It's up to us."

Jess and Kaela nodded, setting their faces like stone with determination. That gave him a little strength. Bishop's stern face always looked like that, so he focused on his specifically. "Kaela and I will go from the front. Jess and Bishop, if you can take them from behind while they are distracted, that would be . . . er . . . good. I think."

The Triceraton working at the front of the Black Hole Generator yelled out, "For the Triceraton Empire!" A wave of amber light blasted from the weapon and the city lights flickered out into total darkness.

Ethan turned to the others, this was their cue.

"Should we like, clasp hands or something before I go?" Kaela asked.

"Mm. Let's not make this dramatic." Ethan replied.

Jess nodded, "Yes, please. I don't want my last moment on Earth to be that."

"Perhaps we should move." Bishop said.

"Okay yeah."

Ethan nodded to Kaela and the two made their way back around the bushes to the white arch. Jess and Bishop vanished into the night. The Triceratons had their backs turned and so, they didn't wait another moment. Going full stealth, they slipped into the park and Ethan slowly moved himself into hitting range of the nearest Triceraton.

Unfortunately it seemed to have heard his feet and he turned. "Earth creatures! Attack!" he shouted and he pointed his massive gun directly in Ethan's face. Yelping and jumping out of the way, the ground exploded where he had been standing, throwing rocky debris in every direction. Kaela's ribbon dart slammed the gun out of the way for a second shot and the other Triceratons turned on them. Ethan suddenly realized that they were very much outnumbered.

As five of the huge monolith like monsters made their way towards them, guns pointed, Jess and Bishop jumped from the bushes. Jess jumped forward and slammed her kama's as hard as she could into one of the scientist Triceratons who yelled in agony and turned, fury in his eyes. He brought his fist down to pound Jess to the ground, but Bishop jumped in the way and blocked it with his metal arm. With a heave he threw the huge arm out of the way and kicked his polished shoes into his face.

The Triceraton hit the ground, unconscious.

Ethan and Jess backed away until they were all the way into the arch again, dodging every blast that was fired at them barely. "This is crappy!" Kaela said. "I can't even get in there to attack!"

Bishop was making his way around the Black Hole Generator. "Take out their weapons." He shouted. Ethan recognized that from his dream. He and Kaela jumped forward, mocking Michelangelo and Leonardo, their shurikans spinning through the air and slashing into the guns which exploded in a poof of black smoke and burning fire. The acrid smell filled the air.

One however, turned on Bishop.

A few short blasts later and Ethan's worst vision came true. Bishop's robot body crumpled to the ground.

"Bishop! No!" Kaela cried.

Ethan stood paralyzed, as did Jess and Kaela. But the Triceratons were moving again. He already remembered what was going to happen next – and again – this time, no reinforcements arrived. No turtles, no Mutanimals. They were horrifyingly out numbered.

"More are about to beam down!" Ethan warned, remembering the words of the Monkey that Kaela had described as Rockwell. Immediately as he said it, a beam of amber light appeared and standing before them was the massive Triceraton from their dream and from the screen.

With mangled maw, metal feet, and a blind eye, Captain Mozar appeared.