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Chapter 9

Raph stalked through the alley after leaving Leo. Mad for having to leave Leo. Finally it occurred to him, he and Rai needed to get to Mikey, Don, and Splinter faster than he was currently going. He picked up his pace into a dead out run and jumped down a man hole. He didn't bother to see if Rai was keeping up. Didn't have to. He could here the faint footsteps. He slid around a corner and kept up his relentless pace. He had to get to the lair in time. There was some business he had to take care of with Keith. If he was even there yet. Part of him wanted him there so he could take his anger out on Keith. The other part didn't. They'd have to move their home. But he knew one thing. That rat wasn't going to get away with this. And he didn't mean Splinter.

Raph ran around the final corner and sped on. Not much farther. He wasn't going to let Leo or the others down. After he got Don, Mike, and Splinter to safety, he would go help Leo. He only hoped his older brother would last until then. Raph grunted. He'd better.

Raph halted to a stop just a few feet from the lair.

The front door was caved in and crushed on the ground.

"No…" Raph whispered. He bolted forward, bursting through the door, coming to a stop just a couple feet inside the lair. "No…"

Rai came up beside him and echoed Raph's words.

The lair was banged up. Like a tornado had gone through it. Everything topsy-turvy. Nothing seemed to be in their right places.

"Don!" Raph called. "Sensei?"

"Mikey?" Rai tried.

Thick silence met them.

Raph growled and stomped through the lair. The lingering silence was mocking him. He didn't get to here in time. Keith had beaten them here and left! He growled again. If he was mad at Keith before, he was furious now.

Rai started walking through the lair, slowly looking at everything.

Raph stopped pacing around the lair, watched him for a few minutes, then finally got fed up and asked the question running through his mind. "What are you looking for?"

"Clues." Rai jumped up to the second level and stopped in front of Leo's open door.

"To what? We already know who did this. Who led the Foot here."

Rai ignored him. "Come up and see this."

Raph let out a frustrated grunt and jumped up to the second level, stopping next to Rai. His breath hitching in surprise. Eyes wide. Anger dissipated.

A small note was taped to the door frame.

Rai took it down and read it aloud. "They are still alive. If you can call it that. Meet me at Central Park. Two hours. Maybe you'll see them again. –Keith 1:42 am."

Raph's anger flared up again. "Oh he is so in for it now!" He turned, jumped down to the main level, and stomped to the door.

Raison quickly followed. "It's 2:07 now. That gives us about an hour and forty-five minutes."

"Oh and we'll be ready alright." Raph glowered, stomping his way into the sewers, a turtle on a mission. "That's just enough to time to get to Leo and then to Central Park. Between the three of us Keith will wish he'd never been born."

Rai quickly caught up and kept pace with Raph. "It might be just the two of us."

Raph glared at Rai. "You counting Leo out? No way is he falling under the Elite's hands!"

Rai shook his head. "I don't mean that. But he might be worn out by the time we get to him. Or at least not have as much energy as we do. So we need to get to him fast so we can rest and figure out the best plan."

Raph only nodded. He took off in a sprint, determined to get to Leo fast. He hated to admit it, but Rai was right. And he knew Leo would say the same thing. They had to help the rest of their family, not get themselves caught.

---

Keith stood just inside one of the Foot warehouses, watching over the ninjas that walked the building. Keeping it under tight security. And with good reason. Michelangelo, Donatello, and Splinter lay in the middle of the warehouse, bound and still unconscious. They were cut and bruised, but bandaged and fine. Just fine. Shredder would be the one to finish the three off. Though not until Raphael and Raison were here. He doubted Leonardo would last long enough to be herded to the warehouse to watch the demise of his family. It would have been so fitting to watch. Keith sighed. Oh well. Things didn't always go the way you wanted them to.

A Foot soldier stood next to him for a moment. Quiet. Most likely unsure if he should speak.

"Did you leave the note at the lair like I asked you?" Keith asked him.

The ninja nodded. "The exact spot."

"Good."

The ninja left to go help the others keep watch.

Keith blew out a breath of air. Having Raphael and Raison not be at the lair had left a kink in his plans, but it would soon be resolved. He would make sure of that. This time the demise of the turtles and their friend would not fail.

Some of the Foot soldiers suddenly stopped in their tracks, then bowed towards the west door.

Keith turned and bowed as well.

Shredder entered and came up next to Keith. "Rise."

Keith straightened. The other ninjas returned to their duty.

The air was thick was silence.

Shredder glared at his three captives. "Only the three of them?"

"Raphael and Raison weren't at the lair at the time. I remember they had gone out, but I had expected them back by the time I got there. And Leonardo? Well I'm sure he's still being kept busy with your Elite guard. If he's still alive."

"There's no if about it," Shredder growled, turning to glare at Keith.

Keith took a small step backwards. He had mistakenly become too rash in his words.

"He will be brought here alive to watch the destruction of his family. And then he too will die."

Keith nodded. "Forgive me," he whispered.

"Do not assume anything." Shredder turned back to look at Don, Mikey, and Splinter. "Do you have a way to get the other two or do I have to put someone else in charge?"

Keith held back his anger. Of course he had a plan. "Yes, it is being put into motion."

"Good. Now go find them."

"Yes master." Keith bowed and left the warehouse, two dozen Foot soldiers in tow.