As Karai rushed to the building's roof she took in a slow breath of the crisp air. The wind blowing her black hair across her face as it glistened with sweat. She knew this wasn't what her father wanted from her. She knew this is exactly what he would punish her for later. Or, perhaps this new information would save her, she could only hope.
Letting another breath fill her lungs she looked over the edge of the building and waited. She'd follow them until she found it suitable for her to make an appearance. Helping them made her stomach churn and heart race with hate, however she knew that in helping them get away from the deception filling the air with uncertain thickness around them she'd be helping herself, her father and the empire he has built.
They were sworn enemies. Time and time again she has held a katana, sharp and true to that turtle's neck, however this weakness that consumes her body because of him is making her ears ring. Clenching her eyes for a moment, remembering that night on the roof tops years ago. They were just children then, she sighed. His blue bandanna rhythmically floating beside his head, sweat covered olive skin, muscles beautiful formed and tones glistening in the large moon over head.
Snapping her eyes opened she growled to herself. She wouldn't let this distraction interfere again. She wasn't helping them, if the time came for it she would strike him down where he stands. Him and his family, and that sorry excuse for a girlfriend. That girl, she would pay for the lies and trouble she had caused her father. Making Karai go through a false death of her father, using her powers and hiding behind them like a coward. That girl would get Karai's blade first, she would pay for what she has caused her throughout her heart and soul. The blankness that runs through it now, the hurt and angst that is ridden thriving throughout her body making her sick and weak.
Karai hated herself for this self loathing. She swallowed hard shaking her head for a moment as the wind blew gently once more. Opening her eyes towards the beautiful lights of the city she sighed and took it in. She needed to stop the storm within her before she could fight with a level head. The importance is keeping her father and his work, his secret safe. No one would gather his information that they seek, if she had to take down anyone that came her way to keep it safe, so be it.
"So what exactly are we doin'?" Jacqueline asked Lexine as they walked side by side down a long hall in the building they were being kept by Bishop.
"Going to see what information Bishop wants us to acquire."
"Why?"
"Because Jackie, we need to end this."
"Why don't we just end it now?"
"How you gonna do that huh?" Lexine snapped turning towards her sister. "You have your powers? You have anything other than your mouth to get you out of this situation? No! So drop it and shut up." Lexi said turning back down the hall before Jacqueline could reply. She stood for a moment with her mouth agape staring at the back of her sister's blonde head. She snapped a glare down the line of wide eyed expressions behind her in the hall, landing on her oldest sister's. Jade never met it, her head remaining down throughout the commotion, throughout the walking.
"What, the, hell!" Jac said jumping into a run and tugging on Lexine's shoulder to turn to face her.
"You need to stop it!" Lexine said pointing a finger at her sister's angry expression. "You're not helping anyone but yourself in this self-righteous behavior you are giving off! You are being selfish! This is our chance to finally end this and be done! I want to be done! So don't argue with me because you're smart mouthed comments are not going to withstand the already thought out rebuttal I have prepared and have since prepared when you started throwing punches to our own sister! You wanna go up against me when this is done? Fine! But I'm not gonna stand here and fight with you right now! This is going to get done and you're going to help us do it!" Lexine nearly screamed as she turned with a breath and continued down the hall. Jac furrowed her brow slowly and let her head fall for a moment before shaking her head.
"Jesus…" Fiona breathed as she walked along with Michelangelo. Donatello tried to relax his wide eyed expression but couldn't help but feel amazed at the sight of his Lexi standing up for herself.
"Dude…" Mikey said tapping Donnie's arm. "Remind me never to piss off Lex." He whispered as Don smirked a little.
"Duly noted Mikey."
Raphael walked beside Jac as she kept her glare ahead of her on the floor, Leonardo walking along side Lexine in the front as he barely slowed his pace from the fighting behind him. Jade walked with her arms clenched around herself in the back of the group, head down and looking at nothing but the tiled floor.
"This way." A man said leading the group as they all walked into the room. "These are the things you will need to know going into this mission." He said as they all stood in a line in front of a long table. Lexine took the paper from the man as she looked over for a moment as Donnie who came to her side.
"What is this exactly?" He asked as the man gave a meek smile.
"This is the diversion you all are going to set. Then, our men will go in and take what is needed."
"What is needed?" Leonardo spoke up with a husk to his voice as Jade's eyes darted towards him for a moment.
"We are searching for information about Oroku Saki that is classified. We've tried hacking into his system for the information, however it seems that we always get blocked out. Most of the things we gather are of weapon dealings and things of that nature."
"Why not give that to the government and end it?" Donnie asked in a scoff tone.
"Because, I'm not trying to bring him down for his weapons." Bishop said walking into the room. "I am looking for something a little more suiting for my line of work."
"Wait…" Donnie said furrowing his brow as he started piecing things together. "You're line of work is the Earth Protection Force…"
"Yes Donatello, I am so happy you remember our meeting from last time."
"You nearly made Mikey into turtle soup!" Raphael yelled slamming his fists on the table as Jacqueline looked towards Bishop as a smirked to across his face. He caught her eyes under his dark lens as she swallowed hard and placed her hands around his flexed bicep, soothing it back to his side.
"I remember what happened, and to be in this situation with you gentlemen again is astonishing to me as well, however these girls are the key to discovering what I need to. They are the only ones that can keep that facility under distraction. Jade was the one that kept you in service for me, she needed you." He said looking towards the honey haired girl as she averted her eyes from his.
"We're a team we look out for our own." Leonardo nearly growled as Jade felt her stomach churn.
"Wonderful." Bishop said dryly.
"What I don't understand is, this information you are trying to gather from Saki, what could it be of importance to you?" Donatello asked as Bishop smiled.
"I am sure it won't be that hard to figure out. We will be trailing you as soon as you leave the building. And I assure you, if you try and break away you will be stunned, brought back here and donate your body to our program we have. Understood?" He said running a smoothing hand along his jacket sleeve, his eyes following his hand before they flicked up for a moment catching eyes with Jacqueline.
"We need our powers." Jade's voice was weak and strained as all eyes went to her.
"Of course, in about a minuet or so the effects are going to wear off and you'll be just as strong as you were before. You'll have nearly no problems I'm assuming with the Foot."
"Well since your so gun-ho with us why don't you take care of them yourself?" Lexine said crossing her arms as Jac smirked slightly.
"We are staying behind, and not making ourselves known until the time is right, which is why you eight are the distraction. If we wanted to go in there with my men, I wouldn't need you." Bishop said walking towards the exit.
"Wait…" Jade said furrowing her brow slowly. "You told me we'd be fine, we'd get to go back to our old lives after all of this is done." She met his eyes now as he turned back towards her with a smirk. "You're men aren't going in because you need them, you are using us as bait. What if something happens to us!?" She said raising her voice as she took a step forward.
"Like you just said yourself Jade, when this is all done. If it happens to be that someone gets caught in the cross fire on your end that is your problem." He said turning back to the door. "You have ten hours to complete this mission."
"What happens after ten?" Fiona spoke up as Bishop smiled.
"Believe me my dear, it won't be any concern to you." He said before walking down the hall. Fiona turned to Mikey her brow creased with concern as he sighed pulling her body closer against his.
"What do you think he meant by that?"
"We're going to be his little science project after ten, that's what Fe." Jac said with a growl, kicking a chair out from the table and sitting at it, legs spread and her arm thrown over the back. She lifted a finger trying to contain a flame as nothing happened. She growled punching her fist into the table as her hand only tingled from the sensation.
"Science project?"
"We won't have to worry about that. Ten hours is more than enough time." Leonardo said crossing his arms as Raphael nodded.
"Then after that we're done." He said looking at Jade for a moment then Jacqueline.
"Or so he says." Leonardo said his voice flat as Donnie sighed.
"We'll make it out. We've done it before, and he gave his wor…"
"His word means nothing Donatello! You should know that!" Leonardo snapped as Don hung his head.
"This isn't good guys. We can't be rippin' each other's heads off if we're going into a fight." Mikey said looking at his brothers as Leonardo sighed and nodded his head.
"Mike's got a point. We should just do this and get it over with. Clear headed, and be prepared for anything to happen. We know the playing field and we also know that it's a tricky, unleveled one. We need to be cautious going in and coming out. Once we're done with the Shredder, Karai, possible Hun we come back here and see what happens. Worse comes to worse he lied and it wouldn't be a very big surprise if he does. We fight and try our best to keep each other safe. That's all we can do. This was bound to happen soon or later. At least we have a game plan, and some knowledge of what's waiting for us on the other side going in. Just, be safe and cautious. Careful of your surroundings and…"
"Yeah, yeah Fearless we get it! Same old shit you tell us every time we go into a fight. We're good. Just sit and stop thinkin' for a minuet. Jesus…" Raph said shaking his head and taking a seat next to Jacqueline. Leo sighed letting his shoulders fall from their tensed posture and took the seat on the other side of Jacqueline.
Jade kept her hands around her body, eyes burning from tears she would not let fall. She kept a straight glare ahead of her, listening to everything going on and absorbing nothing. She felt betrayed, by herself. No one else could have warned her about this but herself. Her stomach was flip flopping over and over again, and she swallowed down saliva working it's way, coating her mouth before bile rose up. She clenched her eyes shut for a moment putting her head back on the cool plaster, turning her face away from everyone as her warm cheek rested against it. She sighed for a moment trying to clear her mind, relax gather herself. She was a mess, and before going into the battle of her life, to get her life back. She didn't want it to be this way. She couldn't have it end badly, not for her family. She didn't care about herself, she just needed them to get out alive.
She took another breath before turning her face back upright. Eyes red and glossed over as they met emerald wide eyes. She smirked for a moment as Fiona returned it, letting her body sink against her older sisters. Jade took in a breath of her baby sister's hair, running her finger tips along it.
"We're gonna be ok." Fiona said softly as Jade nodded. "You believe me right?" She asked as Jade smirked pulling her sister away from her to look into those eyes once more.
"Always."
"Good."
The group was escorted outside the building as once again black fabric consumed their faces. Being shoved out of a car they all stood and waited. Slowly their hands were released and the fabric pulled away as Leonardo looked around the docks. He turned to see his brother's and Jade next to him. She met his eyes for a moment before almost cowering away from him and moving out of the line the eight formed quickly. He furrowed his brow watching her reaction as she looked out towards the ocean.
Jacqueline smirked feeling her arm burn with fire as she opened her palm with a large explosion of flame coming out of her limb and towards the water. Raphael took a step back as she started laughing, tossing her other arm out as another large flame shot out.
"Let's do this." She smirked walking towards the streets as Raphael followed.
"We'll be on the roof tops." Leonardo said walking over to Jade as she kept her arms around herself, as the breeze from the ocean blew over her body. It was a hot summer night, but the harsh feelings rolling over everyone in the group rushed back to her body at once as her head was filled with arguing, ideas rolling through everyone's heads, contradicting thoughts on whether this was a good idea. She clenched her eyes shut for a moment trying to ignore the loud voices of her sisters and turtles in her head.
Leo looked at her and noticed her mind still wasn't as focused, she was struggling and he reached out towards her as she opened her eyes slowly looking into his. He noticed the small tear rolling down her cheek as she took a step back from his hand.
"Jade are you…"
"Roof tops, we'll keep to the street. If we need you, I know you'll jump in." She said turning away from him as he sighed nodding his head.
"We will." He said softly as he turned towards his brothers. Donatello walked over to him placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"She ok?"
"No. But, she will be when the time comes." Leo sighed as he ran and jumped up to a fire escape, pulling his weight up to the platform. Don followed, next by Mikey and then Raph.
Leonardo jumped along the roof tops followed by his brothers as he slid to a stop. Furrowing his brow slowly and placing a hand at the hilt of his katana his brothers formed a line behind them, hands up at ready for their weapons.
"Karai." Leo growled as she stood still, her hair the only thing moving with the wind.
"You're being brought into a trap." She said evenly as Leo looked around him quickly before back at her. "Bishop is working for my Father, and for himself. Your Frank Smith was the one that released those girls' information to him. Why we were able to find you at Mr. Jones' house. My father has plans to kill you on sight, which I am guessing is the distraction." She said arching her brow as Leo shook his head.
"Why are you telling us this? Why not let us go in and get ourselves killed?"
"I could have. I am dishonoring myself and my father by doing this. But, I could not just let this be. Not this way. You die, it should be with your honor still intact." She said in an intense glare as Leo looked at her carefully.
"You're helping us?"
"I'm helping myself by not being dishonorable. It is disgusting what those men are doing. I could easily just kill you now and be done with it, if you wish?" She said placing her hand to the hilt of her katana at her back as Leo crossed his arms.
"I'll trust you Karai, if you promise me this one thing?"
"I promise you nothing Leonardo." She said before disappearing into the roof tops. Leo sighed letting his head fall as he quickly remembered the girls still walking into the trap.
"The girls!" He said jumping the ledge, down to an alleyway. Mikey quick on his trail as they saw them still walking along the street. They both sighed for a moment as Donnie and Raph caught up.
Jade furrowed her brow turning around and seeing the alleyway that the turtles were emerging from. She caught eyes with Leonardo as he nodded his head for her to come to him. Hesitating for a moment, she turned and grabbed Fiona's shirt by her shoulder and pulled her in the direction of the alleyway. Fiona followed as she shrugged to Lexine and Jacqueline who watched their older sister in question.
"It's a trap." Leo whispered as Jade and the others walked to him.
"What, what's a trap?" Lexine asked.
"This whole thing. Bishop is working for Shredder and himself. He sent us in for the Shredder to kill us. Frank gave away our location, which is how they found us." Jade followed along with what he was saying until Frank's name was thrown into the mix. She snapped her head up to look at him as she shook her head.
"No, no…Who told you this?" She asked crossing her arms.
"Karai had just met…"
"Karai? You believe Karai said something about Frank?" Jade asked her voice thick with disgusted as Leo narrowed his eyes.
"You believe Bishop!"
"Karai tired to kill me!"
"Bishop tried to kill my family! And is doing it once more! You want to walk into a trap? She's helping us!"
"Bullshit." Jade said in a scoff as Leonardo growled as she walked away from him. He grabbed her by the shoulder, placing both of his large hands on them as he turned her towards him.
"Who else would have known our location? Why else would Bishop be keeping Splinter? He plans on everything in advance. He is doing this to toy with us! I am not going to let you walk into this knowing this is a trap!"
"Knowing from whom? Karai?!" Jade snapped as he shook his head.
"I have my reasons to trust her."
"What? Your code of ninja honor?"
"Yes! She lacked it once and made up for it, why would this time be any different?!"
"Fine you wanna believe your Japanese Princess? Be my guest!"
"Believe me girl once this is over and done with I will not hesitate to cut your tongue from your mouth." Karai's husk voice said from the darkness of the alleyway. Leonardo furrowed his brow letting Jade go as she narrowed her eyes. "You want to die, kill your family? Than walk away from me now, they are waiting." She said as Jade sighed.
"What do you want?"
"You will help me keep my father's information concealed."
"How do you want us to do that?" Lexine spoke up as Karai smirked for a moment.
"What do you mean the girls are in trouble?" Gregory said with a furrowed brow at his father who hurried through their house. Joshua sat watching from the couch as his father moved back and forth in front of them.
"I did something, something horrible that I shouldn't have and now I have to make it right. I can't just let them walk into this! It's not right." Frank rambled to himself as he filled a case with weapons that his techs had been working on.
"Walk into what? What happened?" Greg asked crossing his arms.
"Gregory would be so disgusted with me right now." He sighed closing the case with a click and letting his head fall for a moment. Greg walked over to him placing a strong hand on his father's shoulder.
"Dad…What happened?" He asked as Frank turned looking at his son's bright blue eyes and over meeting the amber colored eyes of his youngest.
"We're going into the city."