Sorry, sorry, sorry i have taken so long to post this! Just.. these last few months have been very crazy. not that that excuses me…

Andromeda; DAMN right it doesn't excuse you! An' what about all those other stories you're writing? and the one you haven't even published yet?

Me:*cringing* I'm Sorry!

Eos: Well, bust a move, girl…

Nerissa: In other words….

Daphne: LET"S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD!

Sybil:Please….

Mars: If you kill me, I will, i swear, destroy your X-men comics.

Me:NOOO! *goes to hide comics*

Leo: The title of the chapter is named after the song by Skillet

Chapter 34

Savior

Mara glared at Bishop as the van was opened and some other agents hauled her and Sybil to their feet. They were in some sort of parking garage… under ground by the feel and smell of it.

But why did it smell so fishy as well?

"What the HELL are you doing with us?" Mara snarled.

Bishop only smiled coldly at her," I do hope you realize, this is nothing personal. I'm just reclaiming my property."

"Oh, the HELL you are, damn it!" Mara snapped," You can't OWN a person!"

"Define "person"," Bishop chuckled," Last time I checked, a turtle is an animal… not a person."

Mara glared at him.

Sybil kept her eyes down as Bishop gave her a look and smiled," I'm sure your rescue team will be here any minute now, thanks to both of your parents AND my informant."

Mara's eyes widened," Your informant? What the hell is THAT supposed to mean?"

Bishop shrugged," Now, I wouldn't be a very good villain if I told you what every single move I made meant, now would I?"

Mara glared at him.

8~8~8~8~

Samson waited in the room, pacing nervously.

His wife, Delilah, sat, her eyes on the floor as they waited.

Finally, Samson decided to call Mara, to see if perhaps Sybil had returned home. He was puzzled when Mara's phone went directly to the message machine.

"She must be extremely angry, if she's turned off her phone." He murmured.

8~8~8~8~

"Knowing Bishop, he has another Lab somewhere." Donatello began tentatively.

Raph interrupted," Been there, done that, what's new?"

Don shot him an irate look before continuing," Sybil said that she smelled the sea, so it's by the coast line."

Leo frowned as he thought about that," Yeah, ok, but which direction do we take?"

Nerissa pointed out," I believe we must split up. There's enough of us where that is possible, Leonardo."

Mars was gazing into space. He was still talking with Sybil through his thoughts, trying to discern where she was.

He finally spoke," They've arrived. And it appears that this lab is also underground… and Sybil also mentioned that the smell of water and the sea is extremely strong."

Michelangelo suddenly bolted upright," JUNKLATIS!"

Everyone jumped slightly.

Leonardo asked," Beg your pardon?"

Donatello's eyes widened and he smacked his forehead with his palm," Of COURSE! Why didn't I think of that?"

"Think of what?" Eos asked, a little impatiently," What's going one?"

Don shook his head and quickly replied," To cut a long story short, Bishop's lab must be underwater!"

Mikey nodded vigorously," You guys remember, doncha? When me an' Donnie kicked the Garbageman's butt for the last time?"

Eos and Daphne exchanged a confused look," Garbageman?"

Donatello quickly raced to his lab," We'll tell you about it later!"

8~8~8~8~

Horatio couldn't believe his luck when he finally heard someone real pick up the phone and answer his call.

"Mr. Samuel Deluge?"

"Who is this?" he heard the other demand and Horatio chuckled slightly as he responded," Someone who's been trying to get a hold of ya for quite some time. We share a common trait in our lives."

"What are you talking about?"

"My name is Horatio Munroe. I have four daughters, whom I adopted about 18 years ago. They are no more human then your youngest daughter, Sybil."

Horatio waited for Samuel's response, hoping to God that the man wouldn't dismiss him as a lunatic, like any sane person would have done at that moment."

8~8~8~8~

"They are no more human then your youngest daughter, Sybil…"

Samuel stood in shock before hoarsely whispering into the phone," How do you know this?"

"I met your daughter. She's a sweet girl. But right now, she's in danger. Terrible danger. Someone has kidnapped her and plans to use her for some horrible purpose."

"How do you know all this? How do I know I can trust you?" Samuel snapped.

"I'd gladly meet with you, but there's no time. A man named bishop is the one who is responsible for your daughter's kidnapping. He's the one, as far as I know, that created your daughter in the first place, a long time ago."

"How do i know this isn't a trick? How do i know you aren't the one who has harmed my girl?"

"They have your oldest girl too. If she's not answering your cell phone, it's because she, too, is being held captive by Bishop. Me and my daughters and their lads are going to do all that they can to rescue your family, sir. But if you'll take an old fisherman's advice, watch out for sharks who are disguised as tuna."

The call was ended and Samuel took in a breath as he thought about all that had been spoken. His wife asked in a low tone," Who was that?"

"A friend."

8~8~8~8~

Sybil clung to Mara as they were taken into a room. She did not dare to make a sound as they wrenched Mara away from her and forced her into a separate cell, but Mara made plenty of noise for the both of them, screaming and hollering as she tried to fight her guards off.

Sybil sank into a corner of her cell, her knees tucked into her chest. Her hands were restrained behind her back, and as she wept silent tears, her thoughts poured into Mars," Mars, I'm so scared! They said they know you're coming, and-"

"Sh, sh, it's ok, Sybil, it will be ok. It makes sense that they would expect us to try to rescue you."

"Mars, Bishop said something about an informant. Who do we know that could betray us?"

Mars' blood ran cold as he heard this. His thoughts quickly shifted as he considered the facts. The only communication that was going on was between Sybil and himself. How was it that Bishop knew they were on to him? Unless…

"Sybil, do you trust me?"

"Yes, I do, Mars."

"Then, you and I must break off our communication for now."

"What?"

"Please, Sybil. I love you, and that's why we need to stop talking. Please, please, my love, trust me."

Sybil felt her tears pouring down her cheeks, but she closed her eyes as she thought back to him," Ok, Mars… I'll trust you. Just hurry… don't leave me here alone.."

Mars felt a twinge of guilt as he mentally pressed a kiss to her cheek and withdrew his contact. To the others, he spoke," Bishop knows we're coming. I don't know how, but he does. I've broken off contact with Sybil because I have a terrible suspicion that Bishop is monitoring our conversation."

"What? How the FLIP is that even possible?" Andromeda blurted angrily.

Mars shook his head," I have no time to explain it now! We must hurry with this rescue!"

8~8~8~8~

Mikey looked at Mars and asked," So… How is she?"

Mars just glared.

Mikey gulped," Right…"

Before a spat could erupt from Daphne, who got red, Leo held up his hand," Enough! let's get ready for the next phase!"

8~8~8~8~

Leatherhead and Calyspo both descended into the murk of the river. Both were uniquely designed for the river, and both carried important equipment. As they swam, following Donatello's directions, they neared a great, dome-like structure under water, Donnie's voice crackled through the communications gear," Alright, time to test out this invisibility armor i made. Go check out the security, guys."

Leatherhead activated a button on his gear and Calyspo did the same. They both became invisible to the eye and nearly undetectable.

Calypso paused as they both saw a submarine come out from underneath the dome, from an opening in the ocean floor itself. Leatherhead dove straight down and she followed him, both careful to avoid the submarine, slipping into the opening before it closed on their tails.

There was a tunnel, and they both swam hard, swiftly covering ground as the tunnel wound upward and forward.

The tunnel suddenly widened into a cavern and they surreptitiously rose to the surface, careful to keep out of sight. Several submarines were docked and Calypso realized that there were only two guards.

Leatherhead saw this as well, and they both submerged again, but not before exchanging a sly grin.

8~8~8~8~

As the two guards stood, both wondering when they would have their next coffee break, one of them heard a splash. They went to check it out, confident that it was nothing more then another rat.

Nearing the water, one noted the ripples in the water, and paused. Those were some big ripples…

"Must have been a big rat…" his companion muttered.

Without warning, the water erupted. And the two guards were dragged into the water, before either one could fire a warning shot...

8~8~8~8~

"The sublevels are under attack!" The security guard nearly choked at the swiftness at the attack. It was incredulous. They couldn't even see what exactly had taken the guards under water.

Bishop smirked," This has got to be the worst-planned rescue they have ever concocted. The others will doubtless come in that direction. Send a welcome party."

8~8~8~8~

Leatherhead and Calypso tied and gagged the guards, before quickly diving back under.

"Are you ready, Calypso?"

"No. Let's do this," she responded with a sly grin.

8~8~8~8~

Sybil?

Sybil, who had cried herself to sleep, woke with a start,"Mars? Is that you?"

Yes, Sybil. What's going on?

"Nothing… I've been left alone for now… Mars, I'm so scared. What hinders you? Have you found the place I'm being kept?"

"We're close. I can feel it. Please, Sybil, don't lose courage. And… please don't lose faith in us… in me…"

Sybil felt her tears trail down her cheeks. She kept her mouth shut, so she wouldn't be harmed by the collar around her neck. But in her mind, she was full of doubt. Why was he speaking as though he was shielding her from something? And why did he sound so upset?

"Sybil. I love you. And we are doing all that is in our power to rescue you. Don't worry. All will be well. I swear it."

She took a deep breath before responding," I believe in you."

8~8~8~8~

The hallway was filled with soldiers, who were all rushing downward, to the lower levels, but soon, silence filled the hall.

As the sound of running boots faded into silence, five silent figures slipped into the hallway, slipping through the wall like phantoms.

"Good work, Nerissa," Leo approved quietly as Nerissa shimmered into view, making the group slightly larger now. After locating and confirming the location of the underwater base, team 2 had been dropped off via submarine and Nerissa had used her abilities to phase through walls to phase the whole group into the base.

They all knew what to do. As Andromeda, Raphael and Daphne raced to the lower levels, Andromeda recalled the plan they had made, once the location of the base had been discovered.

8~8~8~8~

"Nerissa, after getting us in, you go and take out the security room. Andromeda, Daphne, Raph and Daphne, go and give LH and Calypso a hand with the diversion. Me, Eos and Mikey will go and get Sybil out of there! Don, you drive the sub. keep it ready for our escape!" Leo had surmised.

"What of me?" Mars growled," I will not sit here idle."

"You'll be in the Sub with Don. I want you to talk to Sybil. Don't tell her our plan, but keep her company, and tell her to hang tight," Leo told Mars.

Mars still disagreed, but he sullenly nodded.

8~8~8~8~

Mara screamed until she was hoarse as she tried to bang her way out of the cell she had been placed in. Her fists were bruised and she was still going," YOU BLOODY IDIOTS, LET ME OUT! NOW! I'M AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND A HUMAN BEING! YOU CAN'T TREAT ME THIS WAY! HEY! HEY! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING?"

No one was. They had all blocked out their ears as the prisoner went on and Mara shouted," YOU ARE ALL A BUNCH OF LOSERS! I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING GETS A BUDGET CUT SO YOU HAVE TO RESORT TO PISTOLS FOR WEAPONS!"

As Mara rampaged on and on, on of the guards whispered," When do we get a break?"

"I don't know, but I hope soon. She's going to drive me crazy… if she hasn't already." He added with a few obscenities.

Suddenly, the shadows attacked. Leo and Mikey both charged at the same time, moving quick as lightning. As the four guards went down, Eos quickly opened both cages. Sybil was curled in the corner, shivering.

Mara came out and almost ran over both Leo and Mike as she hurried and crouched by Sybil," Sybil! it's ok! we're going to be alright… Did they hurt you? those motherf-"

"Excuse me, but i think we should go, ladies." Donatello interrupted hurriedly.

Sybil nodded silently. Donatello hurried over to her and quickly figured out how to take the shock collar off. Sybil breathed in relief when it was off and murmured," Thank you."

At that moment, alarms started ringing and Leo hissed," Oh shell! we'd better get out of here!"

"AGREED!" Eos and Don chorused as Mara ran over to one of the fallen guards, grabbing a gun, she nodded," Let's get the hell out of here."

8~8~8~8~

Andromeda gave a shout as she dove into eight soldiers, knocking them all into the water. Leatherhead and Calypso waited there, where they were masters in the water. All the submarines had been disarmed, so were useless to the soldiers who tried to deploy them.

Raphael, was having fun with the soldiers who left his girlfriend alone and tried to take him on instead… meeting with the same results… pretty much….

SPLOOSH!

Andromeda gave a savage laugh as Raphael kicked one guard into several others, knocking them all into the water.

At this moment, Donatello radioed leathered," We've retrieved Sybil. let's get the shell outta here!"

Leatherhead growled low as he relayed the message to his friends and Andromeda leapt into one of the disarmed subs, which still worked, it just didn't have a weapons system. Raph and Daphne followed, Daphne's eyes still burning red from her use of her powers.

As they dove, getting ready to hightail it out of there, Leatherhead and Calypso hung on to the hull of the Submarine.

8~8~8~8~

Mars suddenly hissed as he felt something go wrong. He couldn't explain it, but he suddenly realized that something… something was terribly wrong.

"No…" he whispered before he stood up, screaming something unintelligible, he suddenly raced at the wall… and promptly went through it.

Don nearly crashed as he witnessed Mars swim at an unbelievable speed, and disappear from sight.

8~8~8~8~

Nerissa quickly began making her way to the checkpoint.

As she ran, invisible to the eye, she came skidding to a halt. Bishop was standing there, with three others, guns pointed right at her. She slowly began to back up… that's when one of them shot her in the foot.

She screamed as she fell, clutching her foot, she became visible.

Bishop smirked," Now… did you really think I was that stupid?"

"How… how did-"

"We located you via infra-red vision. We picked up on your heat signature. the others are also about to be rounded up."

Nerissa began shaking her head," No… oh hell no!"

"I'm afraid your whining will not change anything."

8~8~8~8~

Mara gave a short bark as a net suddenly fell from the ceiling, entangling them all, as soldiers suddenly surrounded them from all sides. Eos, tripped up, tried to raise herself upward, but froze as she heard the cock of the guns, old fears assailing her from her past. Mikey gave a short whine of fear as he felt the barrel of a gun press down into his neck.

Leo grunted as Bishop commanded them to drop their weapons. He was absolutely horrified to see Nerissa standing beside a soldier, unchained, but unable to do anything. they were all being used against each other. If Nerissa moved, then the others would be shot. if the others moved, then Nerissa would be shot. And Bishop absolutely loved it.

As he smirked," You all do realize this was nothing more then a trap."

"What the shell are you talking about?" Leo snapped.

"I never needed ANY of you. After i found Project Inferno, I had everything i needed. But the real problem was how to get him to come quietly."

"You… you USED us.. to get to him?" Sybil gasped in horror.

Bishop chuckled," You were always meant to betray him, Sybil. Your ability to communicate with him telepathically was built into the both of you. After he escaped, i engineered you, gave you the ability to telepathically reach out to him, and then waited.. but yu escaped also. After a while, it seemed pointless to try to track him down… until your album became a hit. The resemblance of the cover art was too much to dismiss."

Sybil trembled with rage as she snarled," You son of a -"

"BITCH." Mara finished for her sister.

Sybil hissed as Bishop replied," Take them away. The other will not be far behind them."

As the mutant were taken down the hall, Nerissa felt tears slip down her face. She had never felt more helpless, as Leo and Mikey were bound and forced down the hall.

Leo and Mikey both suddenly turned and attacked their captors.

Sybil screamed, and several men's hands flew from the triggers of their guns to their ears.

Nerissa grabbed Eos and Mara and barked," Eos, take us up! Hurry!"

Eos complied, and they shot into the air, disappearing from sight.

Sybil took another breath as she released another high-pitched screech.

Mikey's eyes watered with tears as he forced himself to keep fighting, deprived of the use of his arms. Leo groaned with pain.

And as Sybils paused for another breath, they all heard a roar.

Mars crashed through the wall, and went into a feral rage as he saw the soldiers raise their guns. Sybil jumped back, as did Leo and Raph as Mars, completely healed of his injury, dove into the brawl. Leo gulped as Mars was shot several times, and the bullet merely bounced off of him.

a pair of keys suddenly flew into the air and Sybli caught them, looking at Leo and Mikey, she quickly tried to see if the keys would release them. They did.

Leo and Mikey cautiously joined the fight, careful to stay out of Mars' way. for some reason, several men suddenly began to clutch at their chests, falling down, they gasped for breath.

Mars' grey eyes were tinted dark azure as he fought. As more and more soldiers filled the hall, Leo yelled," Mars, we have to get out of here! It's YOU Bishop wants!"

"I know." Mars replied thickly, turning, he swept Sybil off her feet and yelled at Leo and Mikey to hang onto him. As they grabbed onto his arms, Mars rose into the air and suddenly, they were soaring, phasing through level after level of the base. The cold water greeted them as they finally rose out of the building. Mars saw Don's sub, waiting for them and quickly phased into it. Sybil cough up water and gasped as she clutched her chest.

Mikey was about to say something when Mars told them sternly," Get to safety. there's one more thing i need to do."

"Mars, you idiot, DON'T BE A HERO!" Andromeda screamed as he suddenly dropped below the floor.

Donatello looked at leo, who nodded," We have to get out of here."

Nerissa hissed," We can't just leave him!"

Leo responded sternly," This is Mars' fight now. Let him do what he has to."

Sybil shivered," I… How can i just leave him?"

Leo looked at her," You haven't. You're with him. In his heart, you're with him."

The next chapter will be up soon, just give me a few days... *types furiously*