Max managed to calm everyone down especially April who continued to bomb her with questions. She became so overly concerned wanting to take her to the hospital right then and there. Max refused like she always did calming April and doing her best to reassure her that she was fine which isn't exactly easy when you don't talk.
Eventually April calmed down and the celebration of their victory took place. Everyone took a cup in hand drinking away the pop, Max was also handed one but she didn't drink it. She stared at the dark liquid inside, it was almost as if she could see the events replaying inside. Max didn't understand what exactly was going on with her as of recent she could see odd colored fogs like things people give off. What was wrong with her?
The turtles had explained their amazing adventure to her in full and didn't leave a single detail out. That had made her face go pale she has seen every single thing they had explained. How was that even possible? Something like this has never happened ever! Max became lost to her thoughts not paying much attention to anyone or anything.
Though she wished she had payed more attention because in that moment the turtles stood to gather yelling "to a new team!" With their cup clanking together and her sister joining along. In that moment Max understood that from here on out she would see more of them. They weren't going to leave just like that, this sudden cheers was an unspoken oath to friendship. Something Max had been trying to avoid and now she has to try harder no matter what she was not going to let them in.
No matter what they would stay as nothing but strangers who hold no meaning to her at all. At this point she would ensure they were dead to her before they would even have a chance to be.
Despite her efforts avoiding them at all cost was harder than she thought it to be, they were around like annoying little flies she couldn't get ride of. April thought it best to have them over to help reopen Dad's old antique shop, so now she was forced to see them again.
She agreed to help her sister clean up and move things around but now that her presence was no longer required she had planned to visit Angel. All she had to do was clean up fast enough that she wouldn't be able to say hi. Things however did not seem to go as planned. Max had rushed up the steps to receive more cleaning supplies, even from the first floor Max can hear them entering in through the back door. She rolled her eyes as she grabbed the cleaning supplies and grudgingly walked down the stairs.
Max didn't bother with greetings or even look at them even as she passed them by as they said hello, Max ignored them completely their voices nothing but back around noise. Her black and red sweatshirt made a perfect hiding spot for her face, her hood covering anything she didn't want to see. All she was to do was to get to point A to B current mission give April the cleaning supplies and leave.
As she maneuvered passed green bodies carrying rare delicate antiques, Max's only focus was her sister and just before she could reach her she smacked into what felt like a wall. Max fell back with a sudden thud the cleaning tools scattered all over the ground, her poor behind throbbed at the harsh contact with the ground. "Whoa! Are you alright?!" An unfamiliar voice said as they tried to help Max on her feet.
Max instantly pushed the stranger away getting a good look at what seemed to be an actual human rather than a turtle. Though he did remind her of a huge gorilla. "Casey honestly watch where you're going!" April said with irritation as she helped Max on her feet again. "What! It wasn't my fault! How was I suppose to see her when I'm busy carrying this! Especially how small she is!"
Max narrowed her eyes already deciding how much she didn't like him and adding him to the avoid and ignore list. However he seemed so familiar to her like she had met him before. His name was Casey that much she knew.
"Where have I heard that name before?"
His hair long and a night blue color, his physique tall and just full of muscle, it was really no wonder why he felt like a giant rock when she crashed into him. Max couldn't quite put her finger on it deciding it was of no use to figure out. Max ignored the pending argument between her sister and Casey and simply began picking all the supplies again. "Need some help?" Leonardo offered.
Max simply shrugged him off ignoring him and continued to pick up the mess on the ground. Leonardo didn't understand if it was her way of saying yes or no but he helped anyway. As Max cleaned up the mess the big gorilla caused, it was some thing she decided to call him from now on, her hoody had slipped off revealing her identity.
Casey turned his head April was completely raged at him for accidentally nearly killing her sister or that was what she made it seem like. The girl just fell it wasn't like it could kill the girl she didn't even let out a single ouch. When he turned to face her, her hood no longer hide her appearance she looked so familiar. Casey just knew he met the girl before.
"Isn't she Angel's friend? Wait a minute ya she is! What's her name again?"
Casey recognized the girl she was a close friend of Angel someone who he kept watch over and looked out for. He had seen her a few times when they would play soccer together during soccer practice but as of lately he hadn't seen her at all.
"Hey I know you! Your Angel's friend! What was your name again?" Casey continued as he snapped his fingers trying to figure out her name, "Uh Maggie? No. Maddy..Naw that's not it. Isn't it typically a boys name?" Casey asked as he looked at Max who gave him an irritated glare.
"She doesn't have a boys name! Her name is Max-Anne we call her Max for short. And besides Max is a unisex name it can be either or." April stated with an clearly irritated tone. "Aaaaaaaah that's right! Max! That's your name! How you doing long time no see! Ha! Your still so small I see!" Max glared daggers down his way completely annoyed with him patting her head like she was a small pup.
"Hey don't worry your only what? Ten...eleven? You still have enough time to grow!" Casey encouraged as he ruffled her hair. Max rolled her eyes as she stomped passed him shoving the supplies to her sister before he could even have a chance to make her drop them again. Max then pointed to the doors, indicating she wanted to leave. Casey looked puzzled confused as to why she hadn't said anything or why she was pointing to the door.
"Uh any idea why she did that?" He whispered to Rapheal who was busy carrying heavy boxes. "Eh Don't worry about her. The kid don't talk so I wouldn't bother." Rapheal responded as he began taking out the delicate antiques placing them in their proper places. "What why?" Casey asked as he helped Raphael. "The kid's been through a lot. Lost her parents and haven't spoken since then." Casey froze almost dropping the rare China plate again, that is until Rapheal caught it before he could break yet another rare antique. He didn't want the wrath of April to be directed at him. "Hey watch what your doing!"
"Sorry Raph it's just... That's sad." It was all he could say, Casey knew a thing or two about losing a parent and he was aware of the pain it brings. The feeling of never being able to see or be with them ever again he knew what it was like.
"Well you did help for most of the morning and afternoon and with the guys here I won't require as much help. But," April continued, "Did you finish your homework?" Max nodded her head yes. "Well I guess it's fine you can go just make sure your home before dark."
Max nodded wasting no time at all to leave the apartment, she swung the door open and rushed out. "Don't forget to look both ways before crossing the street! And stay away from alleys! Be careful!" April cried out as her sister eagerly left the building, hoping Max heard her rather than ignore her. April looked unsure she never liked letting Max travel on her own it frightened her of all the different ways Max could get hurt or worse. Still she was only going to the park with Angel and the park wasn't too far from where they lived so she should be fine. Yet that didn't seem to ease her mind that much. "I just hope she'll be fine..."
"Don't worry, April. I've may have only known Max for a short few weeks but I can tell she can handle on her own just fine. After all she is related to you." Michelangelo reassured. "I suppose. I just hope your right."
Having them over to help out is one thing but having them sleepover her house was another. April being April was worried that the recent robberies near their apartment was something to be very cautious of. Which of course is some thing you should worried about but how come April couldn't have just set up a top notch alarm like any normal person? Max would've more than gladly help set up the best of the best security alarms that would even bring Baxter Stockman to tears! But no of course she just had to call over the turtles and have them sleepover to make absolute sure nobody robbed her store!
Her home was supposed to be her absolute solitude now it's been invaded by green talking turtles who have to stay here for the night. Just great. If that didn't make matters worst Max has been feeling weird since yesterday it was like there was this sudden bad vibe like something bad was going to happen. Not to mention she had this weird dream of a guy who coincidentally robbed a jewelry store in fact it was the same one she passed just a few days ago to the park. What made it even more unsettling was that it had help of some sort of robot by the looks of it it was no mere robot but an advanced nanobot taking form what ever it chooses using whatever it found around it.
After that Max couldn't sleep she was dripping with sweat, unsure of how or why it was even possible to see such a vivid thing like that. She was left confused and uncertain unable to process what she saw. It only became worse when the news came on regarding about a certain jewelry robbery she almost joked on her own cereal. Still Max couldn't believe what she saw it only worsened when she realized that the nanobots resembled much like the technology her father had been working on. Something wasn't right and in her gut she knew it wasn't.
All this lead to where they are now having a sleepover with them in her house. April told them of their reasoning being here telling them of her concerns for the shop. "Don't worry April we got you covered." Rapheal reassured her with his hand on his shoulder.
"I feel so much better having you guys here." April said smiling softly feeling less anxious about the shop being robbed.
Max blinked feeling an a familiar presence it wasn't bad one but it made a sudden bile build up in her throat. She turned her head to realize Casey apparently was invited too. He was standing on the roof like he was some sort guardian of the night which only caused Max to roll her eyes in annoyance.
Now that her work here is done she did help set up the security alarm with Donnie there was no need to stay here any longer so she gave April a silent good night and rushed up the stairs into her room. Ignoring all the loud good nights that made her want to plug her ears, she didn't even glance at them as she left.
"I don't think she likes us very much." Michelangelo confessed. "Well no kidding. I wouldn't like you very much either if I were her." Rapheal retorted as he closed the window. "Hey!"
"Don't take it personally Mikey she doesn't really like anyone anymore." She stated with a sad sigh escaping her mouth. "Well if it's any consolation Max did look at me once without a scowl while we set up the security." Donatello pointed out with a small smile. "Well I guess that's a start. Well anyway I'm headed to bed. Night."
"Night April." They all said in unison.
Lights bright lights slammed straight to her side pushing the car door as pieces of broken glass sprinkled against her skin. Funny how the painful feeling of broken metal and glass didn't seem to pierce or ripped her skin apart, all she felt was a sharp push. A sudden light that wasn't a trucks came from no where somehow she felt it engulf her completely watching it as it caged her in, protecting her from broken pieces of vehicle from hitting her. That light continued to stuck her whole she watched its color absorb her whole, she desperately reached for her parents trying to same them from the tragedy. It was no use she felt herself disappear into a different time and place.
Max blinked in confusion, she couldn't understand why on earth she was doing in front of the antique store...late at night in her pjs? She just couldn't comprehend how it was possible she didn't even remember ever leaving the house.
"This has to be dream! How else would it explain how I'm here? Just what the heck is going on?...
An erupt noise instantly caught her attention, Max peered closer to the window only to realize two shadowy figures inside lurking in the darkness. The streetlights not helping to light up the place, Max placed a hand on the glass to get a better look only what end happening was Max falling straight through the glass. Like Alice falling through the looking glass Max's body fell onto the hard wooded floors without any sound. Max groaned in pain, completely taken off guard as a pair of shoes were in her line of vision. Max's eyes widened as she looked up revealing the man who she dreamed of earlier was right in front of her. Instantly she she pushed herself up, standing on her feet ready to run out if needed except the criminal only walked through her like she was some sort of ghost.
"What the heck?! How the heck...w-what just happened...how?"
Max instantly went to a state of panic not understanding how the criminal not only was unable to see her but walked through her. Her breathing became quicker terrified and confused not registering any of it. Her eyes snapped up watching as
he scolded the other shadowy figure only then did she realize it wasn't even a person but a robot. "What? Wait a minute that robot that man...they were the same ones from before! That means...oh no!"
The feeling of before was present again it wasn't a bad feeling she knew what it was. In all honestly Max couldn't describe the feeling perhaps intuition was the best way to put it? Still Max recognized the familiar presence and knew exactly who was standing outside, readying himself for the upcoming battle. For once she actually was grateful Casey was actually here. Max didn't want to believe this was all real that she was standing here outside like a ghost and mentally rooting for Casey to kick this guys butt. Max shook her head. "Seriously what the heck is going on here?! It's a dream a dream so I should have control over this dream so why don't I?!"
Max didn't have time to put much thought into it because in that instant she lost all hope in Casey when he was suddenly slammed harshly against a wall by a now giant robot. Casey scared her half to death when his body flung straight threw her letting a shriek escape from her mouth. In that moment everything disappeared and she woke up breathing heavenly, her body soaked with sweat, and her heart beating loudly. The sudden grunts of Casey heard from outside made Max jumped out of her bed and run down the stairs to alert the others. Running at full speed almost made her slip but she regained it quickly when she noticed that the turtles were all awake and on high alert.
"Max? What are you-" Max didn't allow Leo to finish his sentence when she suddenly swung the door open and sprinted down the steps. Before Leo could stop her she was long gone he mentally cursed himself for not being quicker, everyone in that moment jumped out the window. Max's mouth flew open her dream was real everything she saw was real, nothing was what it seemed to be. Nothing made sense and frankly it made her want to scream. So many questions were rushing in her head. "What the heck is wrong with me?"
Max stood there in front of the man and robot, her hands digging into her hair in frustration and confusion not even realizing the danger she was putting herself in. "Max get back!" The warning itself went unheard and it wasn't until she felt a hand gripping her arm, pulling her back did she snap out of it. "What the heck are you thinking, kid?!" Max blinked looking dazed as she looked at Raph the one who saved her from being splattered against a wall. His anger subsided when he took notice of how pale her face was she was even slightly trembling looking like a deer caught in headlights.
"Look I don't know what's wrong with you but whatever it is up you gotta snap out of it an head back into the house! Got it?" Rapheal instructed her as he slightly pushed her towards the open door. Her mind was just not having it even as she slowly headed towards the door she still couldn't bring herself to go in. She could hear them talking but it was only bits and pieces something about them being Martians? It was like all their voices where being muddled together like they were talking all at once.
Even as the ground shook from battle she still didn't move there something something that was holding her back. A sudden memory began taking place she wasn't outside about to walk in the door anymore. There wasn't a battle taking place around her,she wasn't even near the apartment anymore. She was...in the laboratory?
"Max you know what this is don't you?" Her father's soft and gentle voice had asked with his hand containing a tiny little object in his hand.
"It's nano bot!" Max examined completely awed with how that one little nano became many forming a weird object with the pieces of scrap her father had found.
"That's right and someday Max this little thing here is going to help millions and expand our technological resources." He explained. "But it's fine now isn't it?"
"Im afraid not its mind set is that of a child's there still so much improvements to make . And its too unstable to be left with just anybody." Her father continued, "But I'll figure it out if not then maybe you will." He said as he ruffled his daughter's hair. " Daddy stop it!"
Max blinked as April kept shaking her like a ragged doll , she come into her full senses. "Max are you okay?" She cupped both her cheeks as she twisted her head from left to right, checking for any signs of injuries. Max shook her off pushing past her and made a full sprint to her room. There was one thing that could help solve maybe not her sudden weird abilities but the giant nano robot terrorizing the city. For so long she hadn't once look through her father studies she couldn't bare with it too many memories were in every invention and research he did.
But at this moment she needed to push past it. She swung her closet door open and reached for the huge box on top where everything was stored away. She moved things around looking through countless blueprints and notes scattered all over her room searching and searching for what needs to be found.
Max breath hitched in her throat, her eyes slightly watered eyes as she found her father's research notes concerning the nano technology he had worked nearly his entire life for. Her hands trembled as she held the book on her lap, flipping through the pages, her heart tugged the memories flooding back to her. Instantly she slammed the book close she couldn't contain the rush of emotions flowing through her the wound on her heart was now fresh and open once again as though it never closed. Max closed her eyes forcing herself to shove those feelings back in, right now wasn't the time to be emotional.
Max breathed in a deep sigh, slowly opening the book as she did, flipping the pages to find the needed notes that could help solve everything. It didn't take long for Max to find what she needed after all she was there when her father wrote it. Before the memories of that day could even reach the surface, Max forced herself to read through the notes. Walking down the stairs slowly as she did, stopping only when her feet found no more steps to go off of.
Her presence went unseen no one took notice of the small girl with a book it her face it wasn't until Max moved into April's line of vision did everyone notice her. "Max are you okay?" April was tending to Casey's wounds but she was ready to tend Max's considering she literally jumped into the middle of the battle. April's eyes wondered to the book instantly she knew just who it belonged to. "Max why do you have-" Max didn't let April finish she walked over to Donatello tapping his shoulder interrupting their group conversation.
"What are you?" Max simply shoved the book into his chest without even letting him finish. All questions would be answered with a help with the book. She stepped a few steps away as though the book in his hands was a deadly disease. He looked puzzled he was going to ask her just what she gave him when she pointed to the book again. She left it open so he looked and the image of the same nano bot in the microscope was there. "How?..what? Max where did you find this?" Donatello flipped through a few more pages there were countless notes and findings and such that helped them a great deal to beat this thing.
"Donnie what is it?" Leo curiosity asked as he looked over his shoulder just what he was amazed at. "All these notes...this is incredible! Who ever designed this was brilliant! I mean sure there are somethings that obviously need improving but it's just incredible!"
Max could've sworn she could see stars in his white sockets as he continued to rave on about how incredible her father's work was. Her heart tugged again she knew exactly just how incredible he was, how amazing he was.
"Okay Don we get it it's amazing how is that gonna help us?" Rapheal asked as he pointed to the book. "Everything about it is written right here! Locating the nanobots and stopping it will be easy!" Don continued as he looked at Max asking, "Max where did you get this?" Max's lips pressed into a thin line her expression remained completely void of any emotion. She didn't respond either nor did she need to April took care so that.
"It was our father's." April softly stated. Her eyes trained to the back of her sister's head her heart aching as she recalled the countless times she would see that notebook being written by her father. Remembering the times she would spent with him, remembering when little two year old Max would follow behind their father as he paced back and forth with a break through running through his mind. How happy he was that he would hug the both of them with a wide smile.
"He created this? That's amazing!" Donatello praised. "Yes he was a brilliant man." April sadly smile. "Which makes it an even more priority to stop this man. Something created to help others shouldn't be used to steal!" Leonardo proclaimed as though he was some sort valiant hero. Well he sounded like that to Max. "Don't worry we'll stop this guy! Now that we have our secret weapon!" Michelangelo's statement didn't affect Max at all.
She simply rolled her eyes and began making her way back to her room. They didn't need her they had her father's research notes so her presence wasn't required anymore. Once this ends so will her dreams, she wasn't going to bother telling anyone about it anyway. There was no point. Donatello continued skimming through the notes according to his research notes the nano bots didn't do well with extreme heat. They would easily burned and that was that no more nanobots.
"Of course even I could figure that one out! It's so simple!" Donatello exclaimed. "What is it Don?" Leo asked puzzled. "Well according to the notes, the nanobots aren't sustainable to heat. As much as it pains me to destroy such amazing tech this is the way to get em." Donatello continued to explained as he skimmed for any more information they would need, "Even seems locating them should be easy it seems the nanobots give off a unique power signature. The tracker on the battle shell should be able to locate it no problem!"
"Then what are we waiting for? An invitation? Let's go!" Rapheal smirked obviously ready for to take the bot down. Everyone agreed heading towards the exit where their battle shell laid ahead. Casey even attempted to follow along but with how his "condition" was, April protested against it not allowing him to go. Max rolled her eyes again she was aware of his antics knowing full well he wasn't as hurt as he claimed. Even as April left the room, Rapheal knew that he was milking it. Max let out an irritated sigh and was just about to head the stairs to her room when Donatello called her.
"Oh Max here! Thanks! That really came in handy! Your father really was genius it's no wonder you and April are the same." Donatello said as he handed her the book back. Only Max didn't take it she stared at it for a few moments before shoving it back to him. Donatello grew puzzled as she shoved the research notebook back towards him, furiously nodding her head no before running up the stairs. "But Max I d-" Dontello sighed there wasn't any point with how fast Max was running there was no doubt she was in her room.
He didn't understand why she handed it back to him maybe it was an unspoken trust between them? He really didn't know. He hadn't been really paying attention to her he was far more engrossed into the notes to even considered just how Max was feeling. He knew getting to Max wouldn't be easy for someone so young she had her walls so highly built it was going to be hard getting through. He would find a way to get close to Max she needed know that she wasn't alone anymore that she was also part of the team. Besides having a another lab partner wouldn't be so bad.
As much as he wanted to find ways to get close to her he first needed to beat those nanobots and keep the technology that April's and Max's father work so hard to built from being from the wrong hands.
*Authors Note okay so my goal for this story is to at least update every once a week or every two weeks! I know I know I missed the deadline but I promise I'll make it up in some way! Maybe an extra chapter? Who knows! The ending didn't exactly turn out the way I wanted it too so I might change it or add something to it but don't worry I'll notify if I do or not but keep on the look out! Anyway I hoped you enjoyed it!