Here is the next chapter, all nice and quick, as promised. Not much action, but hopefully it will answer some questions. The next chapter will not be up as quick, but I won't keep ya waitin' to long ;)
Thanks to all that read and reviewed, and thanks to Leo112.
If I owned them...I probably couldn't afford the taxes :(
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Chapter 10: Meet Mr. Beckett
The sudden drop in temperature and heavy snow that was steadily falling had left the streets deserted. Most sane people were in their warm homes, hugging their space heaters and wrapped in electric blankets. This made it easier for Don to maneuver the Battle Shell through the empty streets.
"Do you think that he will still be there?" Mikey asked from the back of the Battle Shell. He was trying his best at keeping Leo upright as Donnie rounded the curves at break neck speeds.
"He seemed very territorial, I don't think that he would willing leave that particular alley," Don replied. "It is his home."
"There it is," Raph said, as he pointed to his right.
Don pulled up to the curb.
"Stay here," Don said to Mikey.
"Watch Leo, we will be back in a minute."
Mikey snorted. "Like he's goin' anywhere."
Don and Raph stepped out of the vehicle. Raph instantly regretted not bringing a coat.
"So, what's the plan brainiac?" Raph said through clenched teeth. "This guy is crazy and now he is going to see talkin' turtles...this is not going to go well."
"Well it's all we have right now" Don retorted.
"Hello?" he called out as they walked deeper into the alley.
Raph automatically reached for his sai when he heard a rustling noise in a pile of trash and boxes. The old man scampered out of the large refrigerator box. He eyed his 'visitors' carefully.
"Now what?" Raph whispered.
Don stepped forward. "Um..excuse me," he started.
"It's you," the man interrupted. He lurched forward.
That made Don and Raph flinch.
"You've seen it," the man sneered.
"That's what we needed to talk to you about," Don said. "Do you know what this thing is?"
The man started to pace back and forth, the look on his face was teetering between sane and crazy.
"It can't be stopped! Once it starts, it can't...it will have what it wants," the old man ranted as he paced back and forth waving his arms wildly.
"Just tell us what we are dealin' with...and we'll stop it!" Raph growled, getting impatient.
He stopped pacing. "Wasn't there more of you?" His beady eyes darted back and forth between the brothers.
Don nodded. "One of our brothers is really sick."
"Let me see," the man blurted out.
"No way!" Raph blasted and stepped forward. "Just tell us what you know!" His hands rested on the hilts of his sai.
"Easy, Raph." Don threw up his arm to block Raph from moving closer to the old man.
"Excuse my brother," Don said to the man. "Follow me."
"What are you doing, Donatello?" Raph hissed as they walked back to the Battle Shell.
"Maybe he can help."
"Are you freakin' kidding me, Don? The guy is nuts!" Raph harshly whispered.
"Please, just trust me," Don said.
Don opened the side door to the Battle Shell. "He's in here."
The old man climbed into the vehicle, followed by Don and Raph.
Mikey raised an eye ridge. "Um...hello," he managed to squeak out as he moved protectively in front of Leo.
The old man nodded.
"This is Mikey, I'm Don and that's Raph," Don said pointing to each brother. "And that's Leo."
"My name is Peter...Peter Beckett," the old man said.
Peter scooted closer to Leo, which made Raph visibly uncomfortable.
"He needs sugar," Peter said to Mikey.
"Um... well, he's my brother and I love him and all, but I'm not gonna..."
"Not that kind of sugar you half wit!" Raph growled.
"Candy, soda, juice...anything."
"That makes sense," Don said as he rummaged through the glove box. "We would all feel better if we drank a soda or ate a candy bar after the nightmares."
He pulled out several candy bars from Mikey stash. He handed one to Mikey.
"Get him to eat this."
Don handed a couple of the candy bars to Peter.
"Here ya go." He smiled, trying to make the old man as comfortable as he could.
Peter put one in his pocket and greedily ate the other.
"Now can you tell us what you know?" Don asked.
Peter reached out and snatched Don's hand, he flipped it over and revealed the bright red whelps.
"Every twenty five years it needs to feed," he started, "It then finds a host and a sacrifice."
"You are the host," he said to Don. His eyes narrowed.
"And he is the sacrifice." A bent, arthritis ridden, finger pointed to Leo.
"You got to be kidding me," Raph scoffed.
"No, I'm not," Peter scowled, painful memories flooding back to his mind.
"Ssstop, Mikey!" Leo slurred and he tried to swat the youngest turtle's hand away. Don left the conversation with Peter and went to check on Leo.
Leo's mouth was covered in chocolate and Mikey kept trying to force him to eat more.
"Eat this, bro," Mikey said, shoving more chocolate into his mouth.
"Ok, Mikey, that's enough," Don said. "How are you feeling Leo?"
"B-better," Leo stammered. "What happened?" He rubbed his eyes to try and get them to focus.
Don handed him a napkin to wipe his mouth.
"That demon...it attacked again."
Leo nodded, remembering the events. He stared cautiously at his purple clad brother.
It was Don, he was sure. He didn't carry himself the way he did when he was possessed.
"I'm sorry," Don whispered.
Leo shook his head, relief washed over him. "Are you Ok?"
"I'm fine," Don assured him.
Leo glanced around the Battle Shell, wondering why they were there. His eyes fell on Peter.
"What is going on?" his voice raised, panicked.
"It's OK," Don put his hand on Leo's shoulder. "He's going to help."
Don explained everything up until Leo finally woke up.
"So you are saying this demon is going to possess Don again?" Leo asked, his arms crossed. He refused to let his defense down.
"Once he chooses a host and sacrifice, he will not stop."
Raph rolled his eyes. "Oh come on! This sounds like something out of a cheap, straight to video movie! Next you'll tell us that this will happen when the moon is full!"
"Actually." Peter said. "Tonight, there is a full lunar eclipse. He will drain his sacrifice and it will sustain him another twenty five years."
"Please," Raph snorted. "This is ridiculous! Why should we believe this?"
"Because," Peter growled and he removed his tattered, fingerless gloves.
"This!" He held his hands out and they were red and whelped like Don's.
"Twenty five years ago...I was his host, and-and my sister was the sacrifice."
The old man's eyes glistened with unshed tears. Tears that he spent the last twenty five years drowned in booze and drugs. Anything to forget what that demon did to his sister. How it took her away.
Don stared down at his own hands and back to Leo and the deep red mark across his face.
"The demon drains all emotions until there is nothing left. Nothing but dust."
Everyone was silent, taking the information and trying to process it in their own way.
Leo turned to Don. "Let's go home, we'll figure something out there."
Don nodded and climbed into the driver's seat.
"Please," Leo said to Peter. "Come with us. I have more questions."
Peter agreed. And they headed back to the lair with only over an hour before the eclipse.
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Well there you have it...my crazy, old man has a name. I hope some questions are answered. I'm off to work on the next chapter.