Chapter ten:
The group arrives at the location and quickly can out to search.
Raph and this Raph go in the same direction but take either side of that direction.
"Hold on." Raph mentions spotting something. He heads over to what he sees as this Raph turns to him. He stops as he finds himself staring at Casey's hockey stick. He slightly turns as this Raph joins him.
This Raph has a concerned look that passes over his face. "Somethings wrong." He mentions and Raph nods in agreement.
"Casey wouldn't leave his hockey stick laying around like this."
"Casey!" This Raph calls then turns and hurries towards Casey's apartment.
Raph has a feeling that it is to check if Casey is home. He picks up the hockey stick before following. He spots out of the corner of his eye Leo turn spotting them dashing away. He arrives into Casey's apartment, the balcony is always unlocked for them, to which the two Raphs look around.
There is no sign that Casey even made it home last night.
The two Raphs share a concerned look at realizing this. They turn as someone comes in finding it to be Leo.
"Is everything okay?" Leo inquires looking a little concerned himself.
"Casey's missing!" This Raph growls more in worry than anger.
Leo blinks clearly concerned about this. "Do you think that the same group that took this worlds Mikey are the ones that did this?" His question gives the two pause as they realize that he might be right.
Whoever just took Casey, more than likely those reported figures they came to investigate, may also be responsible for this worlds Mikey being missing. Their motives are currently unknown, however this is a possibility that they all know that they can't ignore.
"Then we should look further into these mysterious figures." This Leo speaks up as he approaches causing the others to turn to him. He must have followed Leo and overheard everything. "They must have left some kind of clue behind that might point us in their direction." He nods his head for them to follow and they head back out to continue the search.
Making sure to leave Casey's hockey stick in the apartment. For safe keeping.
The group searches even harder than before. Even more determined than before to find something; with the higher possibility of this group having Mikey looming over them.
Leo moves a little away from Raph as he notices something. He slows to a stop looking at the ground to see what he's discovered. He finds it to be a pin with a weird symbol on it. He crouches to try to get a better look as the symbol feels familiar. He narrows his eyes trying to think of where he's seen this symbol before.
The symbol is a yellow honeycomb with detached simple black feathered wings, both outlined in white, put against a grey background.
Leo thinks that if this does belong to the group then the honeycomb is like a hive mind symbol. He freezes as soon as that thought occurs to him.
A hive mind... The hive mind...
Leo feels his heart skip a beat. 'No no no no.' He thinks to himself unable to tear his eyes away from the pin. 'It can't be...' He doesn't continue that thought and blinks before looking at the symbol again. He finds that there is no denying what he is seeing, and he knows exactly what this is now. He jumps when a hand rests on his shoulder. Only to turn and relax at seeing Raph there.
"Is everything alright Leo?" Raph inquires and looks to the pin that Leo found. "What is that?" He crouches beside Leo to get a look for himself. "Did whoever kidnap Casey drop it?"
"Most definitely." Leo lets out a breath then is pulled into an embrace by Raph.
"Talk to me. What's going on? I can tell that somethings wrong." Raph encourages clearly worried about Leo.
Leo lets out a sigh and looks to the pin before beginning his explanation. "I've seen that symbol before. You guys weren't there but I had encountered the group only once before. Never heard from them again after that one encounter. Though this is another world so things could be different. They called themselves The Hive Mind. In our world I encountered them on my way to where I was to train away from home. They had taken over a temple and I was asked by that small town to help chase them out. I helped and during it the leader of the group accidentally fell from a balcony. He had been trying to command his group, getting frustrated that they were losing to me. Killing himself by accident as he hit some hard wooden chairs from his fall. The group took off after that. When I was heading home I stopped by that town and they said the group had disbanded. Their leader was what kept them together it seemed. I never heard about them since then. This was the symbol that they used."
Raph turns back to the pin. "So this Hive Mind probably took this worlds Mikey and Casey." He mentions mostly to himself though Leo nods regardless. He reaches over picking up the fallen pin and looks at it in his hand. "Then we should tell the others." He adds to which Leo once again nods.
The two head to this worlds version of themselves and they tell them about what was found.
Raph even gives this Leo the pin so the two can look at it.
The group stand there quietly for a moment before this Leo speaks up.
"I didn't encounter them like you did. That could explain why they are here in our world."
"Hey guys. I didn't find anything." This worlds April comes over to them then pauses seeing some serious looks on their faces. "What is it? What happened? Did you find something?" She listens quietly as she is filled in on what was discovered. "Oh my. Then what do we do?"
"Well it's clear that we need to find wheee this group has taken up residency." This Leo tells her. "Finding them may be the first step to finding Mikey."
This worlds April nods her head at hearing this.
"They may try to take residency in places including temples and churches. Or any other place that they may be able to chase people away from. They prefer to get down to business than put in the work to make their own building. In our world at least." Leo explains to them as the group listens to what he has to say.
"I think I might know a place where we can start." This April mentions bringing attention back to her. "If they're like how they are in your world that is."
"Lead the way." This Leo nods and so the group follows this worlds April hoping
Meanwhile...
This worlds Casey groans as he begins to awaken. He blinks his eyes open finding himself laying on cold hard ground. He sits up to look around... Only to lower his head into his hands with a groan at the headache. He lets the pain subside a little before shifting to look around, a little more slowly this time, to figure out where he is. He finds that this place looks like some cement basement with a cage around him. He notices that they seem to have somehow managed to drill the cages into the ground: which means unless he can unlock the door he's not going anywhere fast.
"You're awake." A sigh of relief makes this Casey spin around to look behind himself in surprise.
"Mikey!" This Casey rushes to the bars and grips the bars as he groans at his headache.
"The headache will go away in a few hours at least." This worlds Mikey assures him as if understanding his pain.
"We've been so worried about you." This Casey explains trying to not move much to not make his head hurt more. "We've been going out and searching all over for you." He sees a worry flash through this Mikey's eyes.
"The others weren't with you when you got taken were they? They're not here right?" This Mikey glances around though doesn't see anyone else.
"No. I was alone when they grabbed me." This Casey assures him to which this Mikey sighs in relief. "What is this place? What have they been doing to you? You're not hurt are you?"
"Are you?" This Mikey asks not actually answering the questions yet.
This Casey makes a 'no' sound. His head hurts too much to even think about shaking his head. "Not that I know of at least. Are you?"
"A little." This Mikey admits with a slight sigh. "They have been trying to keep me in one piece. Saying I'm too important to damage too badly." This Mikey explains which only makes this Casey's curiosity really flare up.
"Do you know what they plan on doing with you?" This Casey questions to this Mikey hoping that it's not something horrible.
"Only generally. They've been attempting to make me think that I want to help them grow a powerful army. They've tried a lot of brainwashing tactics on me. I've been doing my best to not let their attempts get to me. Maybe they're getting frustrated with me so they snatched you to try again." This Mikey explains. "How they want me to help them grow an army I have no clue. But that's what they keep trying to brainwash into my head."
"Damn. Well good on you for staying so strong. I knew you guys were awesome, but damn you've taking it to the next level resisting their tactics for as long as you have." This Casey mentions giving this Mikey a smile. "And don't you worry about me. I'm not as weak to brainwashing tactics as they may hope that I am." He smiles through the bars at this Mikey who smiles back from within his own cage. "As awesome as you are, at least we have each other here now. I can support you in resisting their tactics. Help ensure that we stay strong until the others find us."
To hearing that this Mikey nods his head in agreement. "I may have been doing pretty well at resisting them. But honestly? I'm really glad I'm not alone here anymore." He doesn't elaborate though this Casey doesn't need him to. He was worried he might end up falling for one of their tactics. He doesn't need it to be said out loud for this Casey to know.
Even so the two can't help hoping that they will be rescued soon.
A door opens getting their attention and a cloaked figure, the same one that attacked this Casey before, moves over to them. He is hiding his face but he speaks to them. "It is time." He informs the two who mentally prepare themselves, as much as they can, for what they expect to come. He pulls out a device that is mostly a rod. He clicks it after pointing it at this Casey.
"Casey look out!" This Mikey calls only for it to be too late.
The device snags a glowing rope around this Casey's neck. It is tight enough that it's not going anywhere while teetering on the verge of chocking this Casey.
"Step out of line and there won't be mercy." The man warns to this Casey before momentarily letting it choke the other as a warning. He opens the door yanking this Casey who is forced to follow. He presses a second button as this Casey is about to kick the rod out of his hand.
This Casey gasps as he is given a small warning shock. He notices that the button could have been pushed harder. He was lucky that time though the man might not be so merciful next time.
The man turns back to this Mikey who is watching from his cage. "Someone will come for you." He tells the other before forcefully dragging this Casey away.
This Casey is brought to a room where he is tossed to the ground, released from that device, and he hits the ground hard. He sits up as the door is locked. "What do you want with me?!" He demands narrowing his eyes at the mysterious cloaked figure. "You want me to grow your army or whatever? Well guess what I'm not interested."
"Not quite." The cloaked figure informs this Casey who blinks in surprise. "Our leader has changed plans. Thus someone else is needed. What we need from you is to be bait."
"Bait?" This Casey raises an eyebrow.
"Yes. You're going to draw out another turtle. You hang out with them. It is clear that you know them. We need a second one for the new plan. Human DNA probably won't mix with the turtle DNA to make a good army."
"Wait." This Casey catches on to what the figure is saying. "You want a second turtle in order to create baby turtles to raise to make an army?!"
"You're smarter than I thought." The cloaked figure chuckles. "The boss already had the scientists looking into it as a back up plan. In case the turtle we have wouldn't be willing to train the children we are working on getting. Even if the children have to grow in tubes they'll be superior to humans. The boss said that another trainer will be found for them. Though you don't need to know anymore. We have to get you ready to lure out another turtle."
"I'm not doing this." This Casey growls at the cloaked figure who laughs as if that is hilarious.
"Who said that I was asking?" The cloaked figure points out to this Casey who is grabbed from behind.
This Casey is restrained with his arms at his side. He still tries to struggle and hopes that he'll be able to warn the others before they get caught. He doesn't want them to have to deal with this insane group's plan!