I Don't own TMNT or UY.

Xxxxx

I tightened my grip on the strap of my duffle-bag as I stared up at the swirling portal in front of us. I don't know if it was just my imagination but it looked even wilder and angrier than it had the last time I'd seen it. Then again that probably had something to do with the fact that last time I'd seen it from the control room's window and not from 'ground level' as it were. From down here it became apparent just how large the thing really was.

I blinked, shaking off my astonishment and unslinging my bag from my shoulders, crouching to the floor and zipping it open. The wind was pulling at my bandanna tails and I had to grab hold of them with a hand as I searched for Bishop's device to stop them from whipping me in the corner of my eye. I found the device and pulled it out, lifting it and looking it over quickly, trying to form a very basic idea of what exactly I was holding in my hand.

There wasn't that much to tell. It was just a basic but efficient piece of hardware, designed to be plugged into a larger machine where it would activate itself when I input its security code. I looked at the destroyed control panels around me. Not a single one of them was left in one piece. There was no chance of me being able to use one of them to input the code. I grumbled lightly to myself. It's never easy is it?

Leo came over to me, his eyes staying on the swirling vortex in front of us.

"Everything ok Don?" He raised his voice about the noise.

I pulled a face. "I need to find a way to access this thing's security lock and input Bishop's code." I turned to look at the destroyed main control panel running through the middle of the room. "I'm gonna have to do a salvage and put something together."

"How long will that take?" Leo asked, turning his eyes away from the machine to me.

"I don't really know. It depends on what I have to work with." I replied, getting up and moving towards the wreckage.

"Well whatever you do, do it fast. I'd rather us shut this thing down than try and stop whatever's trying to get through." Leo said, turning to look back to the machine as he followed after me, acting as my cover.

Raph was staring at the machine with a dark, hateful expression, his teeth bared ever so slightly as he gripped the handles of his sai. He was slowly pacing in front of the large oval, ready to face whatever might come rocketing out of it. Usagi was being more restrained, standing a few paces back in a readied stance, a frown on his face as he kept shifting his attention around the room and then back to the portal. He was, for all intents and purposes, keeping watch. What for I wasn't sure but I was glad to see he wasn't getting tunnel vision, so to speak, and only keeping his attention on the portal itself. It'd be laughably easy for some-one to take us by surprise from behind if all we were doing was staring at the vortex. On the other hand though, it was very hard not to stare. The thing dominated the whole scene.

I crouched down among the ruined technology and started sifting through it hurriedly, trying to find anything I could use to create some sort of numerical input device. As I busied myself among the rubble Leo stood himself over me, a sword in each hand as he kept watch. He was guarding me, making sure I could focus on my job without having to worry about anything jumping out the portal and attacking me or of one of the blue blasts of energy striking me while my head was down. I would've been fine on my own, but it was still a comfort to know I didn't need to break my concentration and that if anything threatening should appear, Leo would alert me.

I needed to find something I could fashion into a number pad. I knew I had a scientific calculator in my duffle-bag which I kept in case of emergencies that I could crack open. If I could rewire it to the fail-safe device directly I might be able to input the code that way, otherwise perhaps I could wire the calculator to the gate itself. I was gonna need to get close to it anyway to plug this thing in.

I swallowed as I searched, pulling wires free and picking out fragments of circuitry. I was a little ashamed about it, but I was scared of getting close to that thing. I knew there was no other way to do this, but I still didn't like the idea. I couldn't let myself get paralysed by this though. I was just gonna have to swallow my nervousness and do it. The others were counting on me and I knew I could do this.

After I'd gathered what I could from the scrap-pile I got to my feet and hurried back to my bag, Leo following closely behind, stepping backwards as he followed me to keep his focus on the portal.

"Raph! Watch your head!!" He called.

Raph immediately jumped to the side, not bothering to ask why. He'd barely gotten out of the way before a fierce bolt of energy shot right past where he'd been standing and hit one of the far walls with a loud crack.

I flinched at the noise and faltered slightly, but I snapped myself out of it and continued to my bag, sitting down next to it and digging around inside till I found my calculator. Now that I think about it, I wasn't really sure what kind of an emergency I was expecting to use it for. 'An Emergency like this one?' I suggested to myself as I pulled out my compact screwdriver and started undoing the screws in its back.

There was another loud bang from one of the energy bolts and I looked up quickly, flinching as I tried to see how near it had struck. It had sounded a little too close for comfort.

"I got your back Don! Just keep going!" Leo reassured me when he saw me look up.

I nodded hesitantly and turned my focus back on my crude wiring. I had to work fast.

"These strikes are slowing in number but they are growing in their intensity!" I heard Usagi call. "I feel what ever is trying to breach the dimensional wall is not far off now! We must hurry!"

"We're working on it Usagi!" Leo called back to him.

I licked my lips dryly as I tried to speed up but not make any stupid mistakes.

I checked my work, did a very quick double-check, then got up, picking up the fail-safe device and the make-shift numerical pad as I turned to Leo.

"I need to get this thing plugged in." I said to him above the noise.

He gave me a nod, turning. "Go on! I'll cover you!"

I nodded back and turned before running towards the large structure, halting in my tracks whenever a bolt got too close or when one of the destroyed computers sparked or crackled with spilt electricity. There was an instant where I felt Leo's hands grab hold of me and violently shove me to one side as a few moments later, an ear-splitting bang erupted just a foot or so away. I spun around to make sure he was ok before I got to my feet again. I turned back to the portal's triangular support structures around its base. I frowned at it a moment before turning back to Leo.

"I can make it the rest of the way by myself!" I said.

"Are you sure?!" He asked, frowning at me with concern.

I nodded. "I'll be safer the closer I get! Those things don't seem to hit near the gate itself!"

Leo gave me a reluctant look but nodded. "Ok then! But for Heaven's sake be careful Donatello!"

I gave a nod, turning to run towards the portal device. "You know me!"

Perhaps it wasn't smart of me to go the last few steps alone, but as much as I didn't want Leo to be put in danger, I was being honest. The bolts of energy never struck around the machine's base and there was no reason for Leo to watch over me for the small distance.

As I got closer I slowed down, taking my steps carefully as the force of the portal's suction became stronger. It wasn't anything I couldn't handle, but I made sure not to trip over something or lose my balance. That wouldn't end very well, even if I didn't get hurt myself. I could see in my mind's eye the horrible situation of me falling and dropping the two pieces of machinery I was holding, letting them get sucked into oblivion. I tightened my grip on them subconsciously.

I finally reached the large base of the structure and started looking it over quickly. Bishop had said the input was near the back on the left side of this thing. I crouched down, reaching forward and putting my hand against the metal of the machine shakily. It was scaldingly cold. I gave a bad shudder at the sensation but ignored it, running my fingers over the surface as I tried to find the input socket.

There was a sudden, very loud cry. My head snapped up and away from the machine as I felt my heart leap right into my throat. Panic rose in me as I looked back to where my brothers were standing, ready for whatever was going to come through that portal. The sharp, burning bolts of energy were still lashing out angrily. Please don't tell me some-one'd been hit!

To my great relief no-one had been injured by the blasts, however when I saw who had made the noise I felt the blood in my face drain clean away and air rush into my lungs as I took a suffocated breath.

Mikey had just come bursting into the room, taking a few last, stumbling steps before he came to a complete halt, his eyes stretching wide as he was hit by the sight of the machine, the portal and the absolute destruction of the room. It'd been him that'd cried out in fear.

My eyes traced his figure as he stood frozen to the spot. His knees instinctively bent, ready to turn and run. His hands were lifted to around his chest where they were gripping something slung over his shoulders. It took a few moments before my brain got over the shock of seeing him enough to hit me with the horrifying realisation that he was carrying the small rabbit child on his shoulders. I could see the boy's face peering over the top of his head, his ears standing erect as he stared at the terrifying scene in front of them. Neither of them had noticed the rest of us in the room.

Oh no. Why? Why did he have to bring the boy here?! Why?!

Leo was the first to snap out of his shock, running towards the two of them.

"Mikey get down!" He screamed.

Mikey's head tore itself away from the portal, staring at Leo with a panic-stricken expression. However Leo's sharp command made something in his brain click and he threw himself to the side just as another bolt of energy struck out to where he had been standing.

Leo skidded to a halt as the bolt shot out on front of him before he went back into his gallop, running towards where Mikey had thrown himself out of the way.

Mikey was pushing himself off the floor, his eyes turning back to the machine in terror, the little boy on his back had slid off and was scrambling to his feet. I could see his chest heaving in panic even from this distance. He quickly moved back over to Mikey, sticking close to him for protection.

Leo grabbed Mikey by an arm roughly, pulling him to his feet. "Dammit Michelangelo what the hell are you doing here?!"

Mikey blinked and gave his head a half-shake, turning his large eyes to Leo. "I.... I don't know!! We were being chased and I...!! I didn't know where I was going!! I... I didn't..!! I didn't mean to...!! Leo I swear I didn't mean to come...!!"

"Jotaro-kun?!"

The sharp cry interrupted Mikey's terrified rambling.

The boy ripped his gaze away from the whirling vortex at his name being called, twisting his head around to see who'd spoken.

"Ouji-san?!" He called out, loud and scared.

"Jotaru-kun!!" Usagi bolted across the room, jumped over one of the stricken robotic arms and cleared the rest of the way in less than a heartbeat.

The boy took one look at him before he broke into a sprint, clearing the last few strides in a single instant before he lunged at the samurai, tackling him and knocking him backwards. Usagi in turn threw his arms around the child. He clutched him tightly for a second before he pushed him away, his hands flying up and cupping the boy's face, running them over his cheeks and forehead.

"Daijoubu?! Daijoubu desuka?!" He frantically asked the boy if he was alright.

Jotaro was gripping Usagi's kimono sleeves in his hands as if his life depended on it. He gave a hurried nod, tears running own his face as he gave a sob.

Usagi tugged him closer again, hugging him against his chest in a death grip, not letting go again.

"Yokatta." He choked out in relief.

Jotaro clung to him painfully tight, heaving with sobs as the samurai clutched him close. I could see him rock the boy gently before his own shoulders gave a violent lurch.

Leo was rooted to the spot, his hands still on Mikey's arms as he watched. Mikey kept his eyes on the two of them for a few moments before he made a small noise, pulling his arm out of Leo's hands. Leo let him go but didn't look away from the boy and his father. He swallowed, took a small step forward, then froze again.

Usagi somehow found a way to hug the boy even tighter for a few seconds before he eased his grip, putting his hands to Jotaro's face again, less frantically this time, running a thumb across one of his cheeks gently as he gave a water-logged smile. Jotaro was staring back at him, still crying but not as wildly as before.

"(I thought you were lost to me.)" Usagi said to him shakily.

Jotaro said nothing, unable to choke anything out.

Usagi shook his head, biting his lip as he hugged the boy close again. "(I almost lost you...)"

I saw Jotaro shake his head somewhere among the folds of Usagi's kimono, nestling himself in the silk folds of the garment.

"(I... I'm alright uncle....)" He managed.

Usagi nodded. "(...Thank goodness... ..I.. I was so scared)" He buried his head against the boy. "(...I love you so. Don't... don't ever frighten me again...)"

We stood frozen in place, none of us able to break the sudden spell which had formed as we watched the reunion. Again, it was Leo who snapped out of it first. He swallowed again before he walked forward cautiously, kneeling down and carefully putting a hand on Usagi's shoulder. Usagi raised his head blink at him through his tears.

"Usagi-san... it's dangerous here." Leo said with a soft, caring voice.

Usagi stared at him for a few moments before he nodded, easing his grip on the boy again. Jotaro pulled away only as much as Usagi would let him, still gripping the samurai tightly. Usagi turned to look at him before frowning lightly in what looked like confusion for a moment. He took Jotaro's hands in his, releasing their grip on his kimono and standing the boy in front of him before he opened his blue garment at the chest, taking it off but keeping the juban underneath it on. He pulled Jotaro closer again before placing the thing over his shoulders and dressing him in the silk. Satisfied he got to his feet, taking the boy's hand tightly before turning his gaze to Leo. He gave a shaking nod.

"I will get him to safety." He said with an emotional but determined tone.

Leo nodded, giving him a warm, affectionate smile. "Go on. Get out of here."

"Oh I'm not so sure you wanna do that." A voice interrupted the moment.

Every-one's attention snapped in the direction it had come from, I heard Mikey give a sharp, strangled yelp.

We'd been so distracted by Usagi and Jotaro no-one had seen the blue-suited figure of Tibalt enter the room. He was standing next to my duffle-bag, smiling widely at my brothers and the two rabbits, his hands in his pockets.

"You!" Raph yelled out, taking a few meaningful steps towards him before Leo intercepted him, putting a hand on his plastron to stop him. "What the hell do you want?!"

Usagi grabbed hold of Jotaro's shoulders, tugging him closer protectively as he glared pure hatred at the man. The small boy shrunk against the samurai, his ear flattening against his skull. Mikey took a good few steps backwards away from the man, pulling his nun-chucks free and getting them into a spin. He looked scared to death.

Tibalt turned to Raph, giving him a friendly smile. "I think we got mixed up. I should be asking you what you're doing here."

"Turn around, and walk away Tibalt!" Leo yelled angrily. "There's 4 of us and only one of you!!"

I frowned to myself. Four? I was here too you know. I suddenly realised Leo was trying to keep Tibalt's attentions away from me so he couldn't stop me from shutting the machine down. I swore, suddenly aware of how transfixed I was with Jotaro and Usagi and how I'd completely forgotten about what I was suppose to be doing. I quickly turned back to the machine, putting my hand to it again to continue my search for the input socket.

"I may be out-numbered, but I clearly have the upper-hand here." I heard him say. "After all... You've got a child with you."

"You touch 'im and I'm gonna rip your lungs out through your navel!!" Raph yelled, taking another step forward.

Tibalt turned and focused his full attention on Raph. "You must be Raphael. Mr. Bishop has told me about you." His smile perked slightly. "The temperamental, violent one."

Raph's eyes flashed but Leo quickly interrupted. "I'm warning you Tibalt!! One wrong move and it'll be the last you make!!"

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Mikey back up a little further, his nun-chucks still spinning as he stared at the man in terror. A little behind Leo I saw Usagi put a hand to Jotaro's shoulder, carefully manoeuvring him to stand behind the samurai as he pulled his katana from its sheath menacingly. There was murder in his eyes.

There was no way to leave without having to get past the man. Trying to escape and get Jotaro out of the room would, without a doubt, end in disaster.

There was another bright flash and a hard crack from one of the energy bolts as it hit a far wall.

Tibalt's smile darkened slightly as he turned back to Leo. "You seem so sure of that. Are you always so certain of yourself?"

Leo gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "Believe you me, one twitch out of place and I'll cut you down myself!!"

Tibalt looked Leo up and down critically, as if sizing him up. "Strange, you don't strike me as the kind of person who would 'cut some-one down' as you put it. You seem too level-headed for that kind of violence." His eyes narrowed as he showed his teeth, grinning. "Then again, I suppose you don't always have a choice but to kill considering your... appearance."

"Don't listen to him guys!!" Mikey suddenly cried out in a shrill, panicked voice. "He's trying ta psyche you out!! Don't listen to him!!"

Tibalt's eyes snapped from Leo to Mikey in one instant, his face brightening into a warmer, friendlier expression. "Oh! Hello again! Michelangelo isn't it? Forgive me, last time we didn't have a proper introduction, but Mr. Bishop has been kind enough to fill me in on you." His smile twisted into a leer. "How have you been?"

Mikey stammered and took a few steps back, raising his nun-chucks slightly.

Tibalt gave a light laugh at this. "You seem a little jumpy, although I'm not entirely sure why. If I remember right the last time we met you were the one doing the most damage." He took a small step forward towards him. "To be honest I'm still a little confused as to why you stopped hitting me when you did."

"You keep away from him!!" Raph screamed, pushing Leo off of him roughly but not breaking his glare from Tibalt.

Tibalt ignored him, still sneering at Mikey as he took another step closer. "It doesn't really make any logical sense to me, why you stopped. There was nothing holding you back... and I could see you wanted to kill me." His face darkened but his smile stayed. "Aren't animals suppose to act on that instinct?"

"Don't you DARE!!" Raph exploded, launching himself forward, his sai at the ready.

"Raph no!" Leo yelled but it was too late.

Raph shot forward with one of his weapons with a furious cry. Tibalt didn't budge, which made it very confusing when Raph missed his mark and had to spin around to face him again. My eyes fluttered and I shook my head, trying to make sense of what Id just seen. It had been as if reality flickered in front of my eyes for a moment. Raph gave an enraged scream and slashed at him again. Again there was the disorientating sensation and Raph missed, only this time Tibalt shot out a hand, slamming it down between Raph's shoulder and neck on the sensitive Trapezius muscle. Raph buckled and fell to one knee. Tibalt shot forward with a hand, aiming for his neck.

"No!" Leo leapt forward, his swords flashing as he intercepted the oncoming danger.

I thought for sure Leo was going to slice the man's hand off but somehow Tibalt twisted in place and Leo found himself slicing at nothing. Tibalt shot out a leg, catching Leo around his ankles and knocking him off balance. Leo had put himself in just the right position to be pushed ontop of Raph. He flipped himself off of our brother and threw forward a sword just as Tibalt brought a leg around to deliver a hard kick to his face. Tibalt had to adjust his kick, missing Leo and turning his back on the two of them. Raph shot up again and flung one of his sai. Again there was the strange jitter of imagery and it missed, hitting the far wall before dropping from sight among the electronic shrapnel.

There was a loud bang as a bolt of energy hit my duffle-bag which had lain out in the open. There was a blinding flash and a burst of light before I saw my poor bag lying with it's belly ripped open, its contents spilled. The sharp noise came as a shock to the system and I tore my eyes from the battle, forcing myself to focus on finding the wall-socket and only the wall-socket. Nothing else was important right now. I had to keep my attention on what I needed to do. This thing needed to be shut down now.

I ran my hands frantically over the metal, inching my way nearer to the back of the machine as I searched, digging my fingers into every ridge and indentation I found, trying to determine if it would accept the device I held in my hands. I could hear yells and sharp, surprised cries as my brothers continued to hold Tibalt's attention.

My fingers suddenly slipped inside a small groove and I could feel thin, metallic teeth, ready to accept the electronic cartridge in my hands. I leaned forward, inserting it into the socket careful not to force and break it. It slipped in very neatly and I heard it slot itself into place. I picked up the modified calculator quickly, wires running from its open back into the now hidden piece of hardware.

"Don watch out!!"

My eyes flew up just in time to see a large slab of machinery fly towards me. I leapt out of the way just in time as it smashed itself against the far off wall. If I hadn't moved it would've taken me with it.

I spun my head around, back to the fight.

Tibalt was facing me, his stance indicating to me that, in some physically defying way, he had thrown the piece of wreckage at me. He still had his eyes on me, they were piercing and full of venom. He looked, for the first time, truly enraged. He straightened, moving to charge at me but before he could take his first step Leo tackled him, grabbing him around his middle and slamming him against the ground, quickly getting him into a submission hold.

I scrambled forward again, rushing to pick up the dropped calculator which, due to it being wired to the machine, had thankfully not been sucked into the vortex.

A sharp, pain-filled cry from Leo stopped me in my tracks as I turned to see Tibalt, somehow having gotten to his feet, recover from having given a hard blow. Leo stumbled to the ground, dropping one of his katana. I saw Usagi tense up where he remained standing, his hackles raised and his teeth bared. He was gripping his katana so tightly it was shaking. I could see the small boy taking shelter behind him, clinging tightly to the samurai's juban. Usagi was helpless to do anything without endangering Jotaro.

Raph shot forward again, his remaining sai ready to strike. Tibalt twisting himself around to face him, barely able to dodge the stab. However, with his focus on Raph, he failed to see Mikey suddenly lunge at him from behind, delivering a resounding crack to the man's head with his nun-chucks before slamming his foot against the back of his knees. Tibalt Gave a loud, furious cry of pain as he dropped forward. The second he was on the ground Raph was on him, grabbing his arm and twisting it back so that the man couldn't move without breaking his own arm. Mikey shot forward as well, getting the man's legs in a hold so he couldn't kick at Raph.

I turned my attention forward again, running the small distance before diving forward for the calculator. I was in mid air when I felt something strike me around my middle, hard. Even with my protective plastron and carapace the blow forced the air out of my lungs, winding me. I slammed to the ground and rolled over, choking as I tried to get breath back into me. However, whatever had struck me hadn't finished and I felt something thick and wet to the touch twist itself around me, pinning my arms to my sides and rendering me helpless. I struggled wildly, trying to break the hold, but whatever had grabbed me had me completely enwrapped.

I desperately tried to free myself, turning to see what on earth was holding me.

I was trapped by what looked like a thick, slime covered red snake, twisting around me tightly as it hoisted me off the ground. The red piece of flesh had shot out from the centre of the room. I traced the long winding coil from where it had me pinned, across the large expanse of the room to where I could see it sprouting from the blue-suited figure, Mike and Raph both lying in a stupor a few paces away from him. Mikey was curled double, his arms wrapped around his middle painfully as Raph pushed himself to his elbows. Leo had gotten to his feet again and was staring at the man in petrified horror. Usagi looked dumb-struck, staring unblinkingly as Jotaro tensed up, taking in a deep breath.

The red, nightmarish tentacle had sprung from the man's side where only moments ago I had seen a perfectly normal, human arm. I saw his smile widen darkly as he sneered at me, tightening the coils around me painfully.

I'd seen this thing before, what felt like a long time ago, in a dark chamber under an old mansion.

"No way!!" Leo cried out.

Xxxxx

MAJOR props to Turtlefreak who SOMEHOW unknowingly predicted this all the way back in Chapter 7 XD. I still don't know how you were able to figure it out!

From what I can tell, Japanese children do the same thing Afrikaans (My native language) Children do, in that adult men are all referred to as 'uncle' if the child and man are close. I could be wrong though.