Hope everyone will forgive the wait, this chapter turned out ridiculously long. (According to Microsoft Word; 25 pages)
Enjoy
!Don't Own TMNT!
Chapter: 6
(9's: POV)
Remarkably, it was Casey who was the first to recover. "Well I'm convinced." He stated to August, who had just then walked out onto the porch. "What else can these nano-bots do?" Casey finished. This seemed to snap me and 2 out of our daze and we looked at each other questionably. 'Nano-bots?'
August just gave the teenager a look before turning to April and Yoshi. "What happened?" He asked. It wasn't really a surprise that nether one of them had the answer.
Scared now, 5 started to back up and we instinctively moved around him. None of us had ever spoken in the human language before. In fact the closest thing we had to that kind of experience, was when the White Coats had tried to force us to talk.
We'd never complied, because we knew from experience that new things just brought more experiments and more pain. Of course, after we'd escaped, we had given it some serious thought. But unfortunately, we didn't know how. On top of that we weren't entirely sure that we could speak.
After a second, Yoshi had once again picked up on our fear and kneeled down to put a reassuring hand on 5 shoulder. "It is alright little one." He assured him. "You are safe. All is well."
August walked up next to April then and tried, once again, to find out what was happening. She seemed to suddenly realize that they were making us uncomfortable. And snapped out of her daze. Before whispering something to her uncle.
"He what?" August asked, obviously ecstatic.
"Try not to act surprised." Yoshi instructed. "This is a new thing for them. And we want to encourage it."
"Of course." August agreed, kneeled down next to us as well. Then he too seemed to notice our worry. "What's got you guys so scared?" He asked, though it was obvious that he already knew. After a second I thought I saw a kind of mischievous glint in his eye. And suddenly acted out in a heavily sarcastic imitation of shock. "Don't tell me you imitated Casey? That would be scary." He declared, getting a rise out of said teen in the process.
We couldn't help but laugh at the ridiculousness of that statement. And after a minute, we rediscovered that our fear had been unfounded and it washed to nonexistence.
5 looked from Yoshi to August and back again for another minute, rubbing his arms in embarrassment. Then said again in an extremely quiet tone. As if his only concern, was that he had said it too loudly before. "Pizza?"
Both men smiled at him and nodded. "Well what are we waiting for?" August asked suddenly, jumping to his feet again. "Let's get this kid some pizza!"
…
(Yoshi:)
April and Casey were now rummaging through every nook and cranny in the kitchen. But wouldn't you know it, there wasn't a single frozen pizza in the joint.
Yoshi sighed as he watched the youngest Turtle peek around the doorway to the kitchen. Trying to see what all the hubbub was about. Yoshi got to his feet and gently picked the child up and put him back on the couch with his brothers.
Who seemed to be even more surprised than the rest of them, about their little brother's new-found talent. Yoshi wondered if they had ever even considered the possibility of speaking. Perhaps they had never tried before, because they simply didn't think they could. Maybe the rest of them would be inspired by their brother and start talking soon as well.
Setting his thoughts aside, Yoshi meandered into the kitchen to break up the next world war.
"Mr. Jones?" He started, getting the two teenagers attention. Just as April was about to deck Casey, for putting ice down her shirt. "Do you have any flour?"
Casey looked totally lost, but said. "I think so. We have all kinds of supplies in the basement."
"Excellent." Yoshi declared, before heading for the indicated room. "Come on then." He added, making sure they were both following him. When they got to the cellar, Casey absent-mindedly reached up to twist a light bulb into a battery that had been mounted to the ceiling. Effectively illuminating the large supply room.
True to Casey's word. Nearly every square inch of the room was stacked to the ceiling with numerous verities of food stuffs, medical supplies and just about anything else one could think of.
Or at least anything that needed to be kept frozen. With specially designed walls and racks, designed to keep in the cold. And ice generators in each corner. The basement had effectively been converted into a giant walk-in cooler.
"Good." Yoshi started, looking around the room in agreement. "April, you locate the flour. Mr. Jones, we're going to need tomato sauce and cheese. I'll see about finding some suitable toppings." He instructed
"Wait." April interrupted, while Casey just shrugged and walked off to locate his given objectives. "We're going to make a pizza?" She asked unbelievingly.
He could certainly understand her doubts. Long had it been since the age of take-out and home-delivery. Pizza places of today were virtually non-existent. Instead your only options were frozen pizzas, that had survived the loss of refrigerators or the home-made variety.
"Yes." Yoshi answered her simply. As he located a mostly frozen roll of pepperoni. She acted like she was going to say something more. But seemed to decide against it and moved off to find the flour.
Casey declared a couple of minutes later that he found the cheese. But tomato sauce still eluded him. While Yoshi gathered pineapple, bacon, anchovies and a few other questionable toppings. Admittedly, it had been a while since he had made a pizza from scratch. And he had no idea what four little Mutant Turtles might want on theirs.
But 'damn it' he didn't care what he had to do to accomplish the task. That kid was going to get his pizza.
Yoshi couldn't help but smile at the memory, of the youngest Turtle's shocked expression. When he had realized what he had just done. Though he had only spoken by accident. The fear he had displayed after words was real. He obviously knew what could have result from it.
For years now, the capability of speech has been seen as a proving power. Those with the gift were considered intelligent. While those that did not. Were seen as vermin.
As in the past, animals were considered a species below. And mutated Animals were no different. In fact some would argue that they had it far worse. Considering that most did not posses the talent or the resolve to speak. But yet preserved the capacity to stand and work. As such, it was perfectly legal to enslave them.
But even under these guidelines, mutated Humans were still targets. Of gangs; who considered their very existence a felony. As most still retained the ability to talk. And for doing so, they were punished within the full extent of that law. Simply for the crime of impersonating Humans.
It was a dark and lonely world. And it was only getting worse.
He had to admit that it probably would have made the Turtles lives far easier; had they remained mute. But he had seen it in their eyes. They wanted the ability to talk. And the gift of their voices was something that should never have been restricted and no one had the right to take away.
Not that they needed it of course. Yoshi had seen the deep connection that the Turtles shared with each other. Even when not actually interacting. They still acted as one.
He had noticed a few time now. That when one was sad, the rest were sad. If one was happy, then his brothers followed suit. In fact, he even had a suspicion that they could feel each other's pain.
Like they were on the same wavelength. Able to think-as-one. To sense each other on a level that even Yoshi could not hope to understand. Complementing each other in so many ways. They thrived as a family. And made up the whole of an undividable team.
To him, it was no surprise that they were far more protective of each other. Than themselves. Or that they fought so hard to remain together.
They were like a house. The oldest its foundation, the rebel its roof, the youngest their heart and the wisest their pillar. If any one were removed, they would crumble. They stood as one. Because without each other, they could not stand at all.
…
(9's POV)
"No! Not jelly beans." April declared suddenly and I looked up from my own circle of dough. To find that 5 was indeed trying to put candy on his pizza. April looked absolutely disgusted at the idea. But 5 couldn't seem to figure out what the problem was.
"Ah, leave him alone, babe." Casey stated, shredding an insane amount of cheese onto his. "It's his pizza. Let the kid do what he wants."
"Don't call me babe." April ordered for the hundredth time. Before looking back at 5, who had completely ignored her and had started putting the jelly beans all over his cheesy wheel of joy. "Oh, whatever." She said before checking on the rest of us.
2 was currently trying to decide if he wanted pepperoni or extra cheese. Seeming unconvinced that both would fit.
August hadn't even gotten the cheese on his. As 8 and Casey kept taking everything within arms reach, in their race to see who could get the most onto their pizza, before the other.
Yoshi had settled for just plain pepperoni and offered to share with the White Coat, who had taken up residence in the corner. Where he had been studying us since being informed that 5 had actually spoken.
"Is something the matter?" Yoshi asked me and I looked up at him. Before looking back down at my own pizza. True, I had only managed to get the cheese on before 8 and Casey had commandeered all other toppings and I was forced to wait for the scraps. But that was okay. I enjoyed watching everyone make theirs.
Yoshi seemed to understand. But quickly secured me what little remained of the pepperoni, anyway. It was then that he seemed to think of something and I saw him watch me out of the corner of my eye, as I carefully placed the tiny circles of pepperoni on my disk of happiness.
"Do you have names?" He asked suddenly and I looked up at him. It had just as suddenly accrued to me, just how difficult it must be for them to interact with us, when they didn't even know what to call us.
I nodded at him. And I quietly put down what I was doing and rolled up the sleeve of my sweater. Which April had insisted we all wear. To show him my tattoo.
"No. Not your number." Yoshi stated. "Your name?" I pointed at the 9 in the mark, but he continued to not understand. 'That was a first.'
"We never called them anything." My brothers and I all jumped when the White Coat suddenly spoke and we turned to watch him.
"They don't even have names?" Casey asked suddenly, almost like he was disgusted with the very idea.
"No." The White Coat answered simply. Before gathering the notebook he had been writing in and left the room. Leaving the kitchen in an uncomfortable quite, in the wake of his absence.
"Well I can fix that." Casey suddenly declared, looking humorously determined. Before he pointed at 8. "You're Bob. You're Dan. You're Steve. And You're –" He quoted pointing to 2 and 5 next. Then after a second's hesitation, declared. "Einstein." As my name.
"We can't call them that." April proclaimed swatting him upside the head. I was honestly glad she had. For I really did not agree with his choices. And it seemed, nether had my brothers.
…
Over the course of the next hour and half. My brothers and I tried with increasing doubt to get them to understand out names. Though August and surprisingly Casey were actually quickly convinced of the idea of us being called by numbers. However it looked like it was going to take quite a while to convince April and Yoshi.
My arm was starting to go numb from pointing at my number. But thankfully August came to our rescue. "I know it's hard to hear." He started putting a hand on April's shoulder to calm her down. "I've met a lot of Mutants that grew up under – questionable circumstances. Where a number was all they had." He explained. "To us it sounds cruel. But to them, it was the only thing they had chosen themselves."
"But it's a number." April started. "Not a –"
"He's right." Casey interrupted her suddenly. "Working with the residence. I've met a lot of Mutants like that. It's a part of who they are. It's crueler to keep insisting that it isn't a name."
April closed her mouth and didn't say another word in the face of Casey's unusual wisdom. I felt kind of bad. We hadn't meant to upset them. But we couldn't understand what was so bad about this. True our names didn't sound like theirs. But they were ours.
Thankfully all thoughts of names and numbers were quickly forgotten, when Yoshi said that the pizzas were ready. However when he explained that they still needed to cook for 18 minutes. 5 actually started crying.
With a little help from 2, I quickly calmed him down again. However he refused to leave the kitchen until his ring of cheesy, jelly bean ecstasy was in his stomach. Which is how we found ourselves, bored out of our minds. As we watched him suction cup his face to the window of the oven.
The adults soon left the room. Confident that me, 2 and 8 would keep our little brother from opening the stove. It was then that my curiously finally got the better of me and I asked him what it felt like to talk.
However when he said that it had kind of hurt his throat a little. I immediately checked it out, to ensure that he hadn't injured himself. I felt his neck gently, then asked him to open his mouth so I could see inside.
I'd heard April saying, that most kids start talking about age two. Which meant we were a good three years behind schedule. And I had worried that maybe our vocal cards would start to degrade from the extended under-usage.
Of course, I was no doctor. And as far as I could tell, nothing was amiss about 5's throat. I was about to ask him to try speaking again, so I could check for sure. But we were all quickly distracted.
By 8, who had absent-mindedly leaned up against a stool in his boredom. Which resulted in it scooting backwards several feet. And a book falling off the seat, to land on his head.
He, for the lack of a better word, freaked. He briefly danced in place, in a very un-8-like fashion. Pulling the offending spiral notebook from his face. Before throwing it across the room.
After a second of heavy breathing. He seemed to finally realize that what he had just done didn't really warrant any medals in manliness. And rounded on us with a warning glare.
But we were so totally not about to say anything. Nope. Not a word.
Or at least 2 and I weren't. As we quickly looked back at the stove, as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. However 5 had long since been immune to the wrath of 8 and promptly laughed his head off, as he pointed at his older brother in a comical manner.
He easily dodged 8's attempt to feed him his own foot and danced around on the other side of the room. Holding the notepad over his head. As he, rather horribly, portrayed our brother's wig-out.
However before 8 could promptly murder our youngest sibling. Said annoying specimen, looked up at the book he was holding and immediately forgot what he was doing.
Curious, we all walked over to see what had perked his interest so quickly. Power such as that should be held in the utmost respect. And of course used for the benefit of his brothers, who were forced to live with him.
But whatever we'd been expecting, it wasn't this. The notebook was filled with drawings. And not just any drawings. Drawings of us.
Flipping to the front, we found that they went back months. There were pictures of us eating in front of our old shelter. One was of me and 2 deep in thought over a game of chess.
Another showed 5 carefully arranging the action figures, that had been crushed when the shelter collapsed. One more had 8 using his boxing gloves to punch a wall. With a big grin plastered on his face.
As we turned the pages, we saw ourselves rendered in different posses. 2 sitting with his head in hand, obviously bored out of his mind. 8 leaning against a wall, in a huff. 5 sprawled over the couch, his head hanging off the side, as he smiled in his sleep.
I even saw myself, sitting on the floor as I fiddled with one of my projects. Multiple little pieces scattered out before me. Another showed 8 and Casey locked in a staring contest. The one after that was of 2 and Yoshi meditating together. Still another showed us all sleeping in a pile, soaking up the sun, earlier that day.
We looked up when someone suddenly cleared their throat and found April standing in the doorway, smiling at us. She quietly kneeled down to our level and took the notebook from 5's hands. We all immediately resumed an embarrassed stance, as we realized we'd been snooping.
"It's ok." She assured us. "I don't mind if you look." She then flipped through the pages to the last entry, which had not been completed yet. And presented a half drawing of the four of us, Casey and Yoshi sitting at the table making our pizzas less than an hour ago.
"What do you think?" She asked. We all nodded vigorously and she laughed. "Uncle Augie taught me to draw when I was little." She said flipping through the pages, lovingly. "It's kind of my security blanket. Helps me think. Keeps me sane." She explained, flipping the book closed.
"You know." She started again and we all looked at her. "Casey told me he has a closet of toys somewhere around here. Maybe we could convince him to tell us where it is." She had 5 at 'toys.'
…
April had told us to wait in the living room, while she located Casey. But she had failed to take into account that 5's attention span was smaller than a flea's. And his patience was virtually nonexistent.
It had taken him all of 3 seconds to convince us that we should help her look. I was about to say that it would be far easier just to wait for Casey to show us. But apparently there was no fun in that. As he quickly grabbed my hand and yanked me unceremoniously throughout the house.
It wasn't long before he had us searching in the most ridicules of places, for this self-proclaimed; 'Closet of Joy.' Behind a picture on the wall. In the kitchen sink. And under a lamp shade. Were only a few of the areas he considered.
Our quest eventually brought us to the stairs. And I became hesitant to go up, as I knew the White Coat was somewhere within the confines of the upper floors. 2 and 8 agreed. But 5's puppy dog eyes quickly redefined our objectives. And I was once again being pulled along, in my little brother's attempt to remove my arm.
Half way up we arrived on another level. Which immediately captured 5's interest. 2 and 8 started checking the doors on the left side. While 5 and I took the right.
5's pursuit of all-things-fun was temporally put on hold. When we crossed paths with not one, but two master bedrooms; complete with one huge shared bathroom.
However when he discovered that water came from the tap in the tub. All thoughts of toys and games and things, were permanently forgotten.
I tried in vain to keep him from flooding the whole level. But he was having too much fun to listen to me any longer. When he discovered shampoo, I had to keep him from eating it. And the loofah was quickly used to cover every wall, surface and object in the bathroom. With about 3 inches of soap bubbles.
Looking around at the soapy, half drowned disaster, that had once been a bathroom. I couldn't help feel like Casey was going to kill us. But 5, obviously, had no such concern. As he snuck up behind me, while I was distracted and pushed me into the now overflowing bathtub.
The suddenly addition of two Turtles, caused a wave that flooded the whole room and most of connected bedrooms as well. And, as fate would have it, that was when 2 and 8 decided to meander into the room.
I gave my older brothers a guilty cringe. While 5 just demanded that they join in. In was clear, from the way 2 looked around nervously, that he expected us to be caught any second. However 8 was hardly one for subtlety. As he just dove into the tub, causing an upsurge worthy of surfing. Had he had a board to surf on.
I quickly collected myself from the floor. As the swell had washed me clear out of the tub. And looked around to find 5 and 8 already immersed in; 'the water fight, to end all water fights.'
2 helped me to my feet and we looked at each other. A silent confirmation passing between us. 'We were in so much trouble.'
…
Several minutes later. After 2 and I had tried and failed to dislodge our other brothers from the designated war zone. We decided it was ever Turtle for himself and abandoned them to their fates.
We quickly made our way back to the stairs. But apparently we had used up our good luck for the millennium. As we heard hurriedly footsteps heading for our location. Panicking, we did the only thing we could think of. We ran.
2 grabbed my hand and quickly pulled me to the other set of stairs. Leading into what I assumed was the attic and we crouched down at the top. To watch as Casey flew down the hall, cursing impressively under his breath, with April right on his heals.
My brother and I turned to lean against the railing, as we sighed in relief. Of course, that was when I realized that my brain had been screaming at me for the last minute, that I didn't want to be up here.
I jumped when I opened my eyes and realized the White Coat was sitting in a chair not 4 feet away. We had actually run right by him in our escape of the-wrath-of-Casey-Jones. 2 picked up on my panic immediately and quickly pushed me behind him and started backing us into the corner.
Thankfully it looked like the man was just as surprised as we were. As he continued to sit there for another minute. His arms frozen in the position of writing in a notebook on his lap.
After another three minutes, he finally lowered his pencil and closed the book around it. However he was still watching us. My brother started looking for an escape route. But unfortunately, we would have to go past the White Coat again to get to the stairs.
It seemed that the man had realized this too and my heart sank. However he just slowly stood up and moved to the other side of the room. Giving us plenty of space to reach the stairs.
2 and I looked at each other out of the corner of our eyes, but stayed where we were. 'What was this guy trying to pull?'
I tried to analyze the situation. Trying to see what he had in mind. If there was a trap in place, or if he had just moved, to acquire a better vantage point. But as far as I could see, there was nothing keeping us from leaving the attic.
"It's OK." The White Coat suddenly said and we both recoiled so fiercely, that he too jerked back. But in his sudden movement, he dropped his book. When it hit the ground the pages fluttered and the pencil, along with a little white card flew from its confines, to skid across the floor in opposite directions.
2 immediately pushed me further into the corner, as the card came right up next to us. We both flinched, expecting pain or something else unpleasant in nature. But nothing came.
Out of curiosity I looked down at the card. And noticed that it appeared to be nothing more than an old picture. Its colors were faded in age and its edges were crinkled and worn, from overuse.
Moving to see it better, I was able to make out who was in it. In the center; was a beautiful human women. Laying in what I assumed was a hospital bed. In her arms were two small babies. Twins, from the looks of it and likely just born.
Next to her stood two men. One on both sides of the bed. On her left was a Mutant, who looked like a cross between a Human and a German Shepherd. He had his hand on the woman's shoulder, telling her something with a smile.
The man on her other side was dressed in doctor scrubs. And had his arm warped around her, lovingly kissing her forehead. While also kneeled over slightly so one of the babies could grasp a finger of his other hand.
And they all both smiling. Like it was the happiest day of their lives.
While I studied the picture, my mind linked a few things together and I nudged 2. Directing his attention to the doctor in the photo and then to the White Coat standing across the room from us. They were one-in-the-same.
To say we were a little shocked, was quite the understatement. We had never imagined the White Coats having a family. I guess we had always just assumed that they were spawn from Hell-Seeds or something.
2 kept averting his eyes to look at the picture, then the White Coat and back again. As if he was trying to find something to disprove what he was seeing. Though the picture was quite old and worn. It was obvious that the man in it was just a much younger version of the man in front of us.
The possibly that he had removed the guys face and now wore it as his own, crossed my mind. But that seemed a little outlandish. Even for; 'the dead bug stuck to the shoe of human filth;' that were the White Coats.
"That's right." The man suddenly said and we both jumped. It was then that I realized, for some reason, I was no longer scared. It seemed that my curiosity and surprise had rendered any other emotions null-and-void. And when I looked at 2, it seemed that he was suffering from the same thing.
"That's me." The White Coat continued, nodded at the picture. "That's my wife Lilly – the babies are my son and daughter; Evan and Evaine. They'll be – 5 years old in May." The man admitted sadly. "I haven't seen them since –" He suddenly choked up and couldn't seem to continue for several minutes.
Then he seemed to steel himself and looked back up at us and explained. "It was only a few months after that picture was taken. A Mutant attacked our home. My step-brother –" He nodded once again at the picture and we figured that he meant the other man. The Mutant. "He shot it." The White Coat continued. "Just before – before it tore out his throat." He stated, before taking a deep breath and continued.
"My wife was seriously injured and died in my arms a few hours later. "I didn't realize that my children had been exposed to its blood. After only a few months they started to mutate." He explained. All 2 and I could do was stare at him. "I was a doctor at the time and I did everything I could. But it wasn't enough."
The White Coat took another deep breath before he continued. "Then a man approached me. He offered me equipment, medical drugs, anything I needed – to save them." The man looked away from us then. "But it was a scam. That man. Was Shredder. He took my children and forced me to create weapons for him."
He paused and he buried his face in his hands. "Shredder gave me his word, that if I worked for him, he would not hurt them. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how much that man's word is worth. But it was all I had." He admitted.
2 and I were shocked as the White Coat suddenly start to cry. I looked down at the picture again. It seemed impossible that five people who looked so happy could have experienced so much pain. And I realized, we'd made a mistake.
We had always assumed that the White Coats were our enemy. However that was only because they had been the only ones we had seen. We hadn't realized that someone else could be pulling the strings. Until now.
I thought about my lost brother and though I would never forgive the White Coats for taking him away. I found that I couldn't hate them like I had before. I needed more facts before I could do that with a clear conscious.
Cause if what this White Coat said was true. He was just like us. Willing to do anything to protect the people he loved.
I looked at 2 as he lowered his head to study the photograph as well. Then he looked up into my eyes. And I knew he had come to the same conclusion. We faced the White Coat again, as he sat down on one of the cots and continued to wallow in his misery. Carefully I reached down to pick up the little picture. And after one last look at 2. We walked over to him.
I paused when I reached the man. Who was obviously not aware of our presence. Then I tapped him on the shoulder. He looked up so suddenly that I jumped and back-peddled. 2 was at my side in a heartbeat. Steadying me, so I didn't fall.
Before my mind could demand that I run away. I shoved the little card out to him. He looked at the picture for half a second. Before reaching out to gently take it from my hands.
He stared at the people on the page for almost a whole minute, before he looked back up at us. "Thank you." He said, his voice cracking slightly. He cleared his throat before continuing in a stronger voice. "For what it's worth. I am sorry – for what I did to you." I looked at 2, as he continued to watch the man in front of us. Considering his apology. After a couple of minutes, he nodded. But only once.
Of course I knew that this meant that only he had forgiven him. He had no say over whether the rest of us did or not. And that would continue to remain up to us.
It was then that someone cleared their throat over by the staircase and we all looked up to find Yoshi standing there. With his normal, understanding look.
"I can't leave you alone for a minute." He joked.
…
As it turned out. We were in trouble. What with all the seriousness and learning that one of our enemies might not actually be the Heir of Satan. One tends to forget about other things. Such as, the mini lake that had taken up residence in the second story bathroom.
Casey looked like his head was about to explode. And April and August couldn't stop laughing. But in the end they seemed to come to the agreement that this would be a good learning experience. And set forth to teach us how to clean up our own mess.
Which is how my brothers and I found ourselves mopping up approximately 3 quarters of the current liquid-limit of Lake Michigan. Someone, somewhere was no doubt wondering why there was a whale drinking from their pond. And 5 even swore he saw a fish in the toilet.
All the while, our youngest brother complained that he was abused and neglected. And 8 was huffing about, declaring war with anything that moved. Which, at one point, even included a mop. But finally, after two and a half hours. The job was done.
2 made sure to scold 8 and 5 something fierce, for causing this trouble. But in the end found it to be pointless. As they quickly declared that it was; 'worth it.' 2 did a face-palm and I just laughed. 'At least we 5 got him out of the kitchen.'
When we meandered down the stairs a few hours later, we found April and the White Coat talking absently on the couch. 2 and I had informed our brothers of the man's position, so none of us weren't quite as cautious as we had been before. But we were still understandably wary of him.
"That floor better be spotless." Casey threatened, walking up next to us. 8 immediately got defensive and stood at his full height to stare down his newest rival and punching bag. Of course, at a full 37 inches tall. I don't think it had quite the effect he'd planed.
Thankfully, the 'WWF Smack-Down of the Jones house' was canceled when Yoshi opened the front door and called us out. 2 and I grabbed our cooperative-challenged brother and hulled him across the floor as he continued to stubbornly glare at Casey the whole way.
…
(Yoshi:)
Yoshi watched as the four Turtles gathered on the lawn to watch the sun disappear over the horizon. He had to ensure the smallest one, several time, that there was no need for concern. As it would return the next day. Though he did not seem entirely convinced. But thankfully his attention was soon gathered by the chirping of a cricket. And had recruited his second-oldest brother. The one they called 8. To help him locate the sound.
However the other two didn't follow, in fact they seemed somewhat depressed. It had been Yoshi's suggestion that Perry tell them his story. And even though it had granted the reaction that they had hoped for. And helped the little Turtles understand that they shared a great deal with the man. He still found himself worried that maybe they rushed into this.
The two little Turtles were obviously having a hard time with the idea that Perry was now on their side.
But the Rat Master honestly couldn't blame them. He too, understood what it was like. To suddenly learn that everything you thought you knew about someone, was wrong. To have your entire world literally flipped on its access in a mater of minutes. Though they were at least willing to try to understand. It was still going to take them some time to adjust.
In fact even hours after the incident up stairs. Yoshi had still spotted the leader watching Scott through the window. Like he expected it to suddenly all become a dream and the scientist would attack him, or his brothers at any moment.
Even at such a young age. 2 had already grown up too much and was still trying so hard to lead and care for his brothers. And at the same time, taking more than his share of the responsible for their actions.
It was an admirable quality, one great leaders from history had strived for years to master. And Yoshi was honestly quite proud of him for achieving it. But he had taken it too far.
Now the child expected the day that he'd make a wrong call. Instead of simply preparing for the possibility of one. He could no longer fight against that fear. And Yoshi knew that if something were not done soon, he would be crushed under its weight.
Thankfully his brothers were helping him through it. He had seen 8 getting on his older brother's case for just such an action. Though he was never harsh or cruel. It was obviously just an act. A way to keep his brother sane, be driving him insane. A tactic that worked quite well with the two.
The youngest offered him relief from the chaos. Lightened the load. Reminded him that even the Turtle that carried the world on its shell, had once played as a child.
While at the same time, 9 was always there to take the drama, the listen when needed. Remind his brother that words were just words and everyone made mistakes. Together the three kept him afloat under the weight of his self-appointed burden.
In fact Yoshi could see the makings of not one, but two '2nd in command'. Both 8 and 9 possessed specific views that their leader often turned to when he didn't have all the answers himself.
In fact Yoshi had been watching the four young Mutants very closely over the last few days. Looking for individual traits that might better allow him to explain what they would gain. When he offered them the chance to train, as Ninja.
Though they were currently unfiltered, almost clumsy. With the proper training, he was sure they could become warriors of the highest caliber. And had already found many impressive qualities within each.
The Leader was honorable, purpose driven, determined to protect. The Rebel, strong, defiant, almost insane at times. But passionate and loyal. Qualities Yoshi saw much of in himself.
Even the Youngest. Wild and crazy, yet caring and lovable. Was not unlike a child he had once been. However the third.
He would have been lying, had he not admitted that the idea of teaching the second youngest to fight was almost painful at times. For he would always remember, what he had seen when the child had not been in control.
Under the command of the nano-bots, it was obvious that this Turtle may not be the strongest, the fastest or even the most skilled of his brothers. But when cornered, he was certainly the deadliest.
It was unnerving, to say the least. To think that this child. A pacifist in every since of the word. Had something so dark at his core.
But yet Yoshi knew that there must be something else. Something worse, stored in the deepest recesses of his mind. A strong, yet painful memory. A time in his life when action had failed. And now helped him contain the darker side of his soul.
…
When night had finally fallen. Yoshi gathered the little Turtles around the porch swing and pointed out stars. And telling them the stories of constellations. He smiled as they watched him in pure amazement as he explained that stars were actually more suns.
He had just started on the constellation of Leo the Lion. When August walked out the front door and took in a deep breath of fresh air.
"You know, I remember a time when you couldn't see the stars in the city." August declared suddenly and Yoshi nodded. He too remembered when the lights had still shone so brightly that it blocked out the view above. "Of course, their still not as beautiful as they are out here." August finished.
"No." Yoshi agreed. "I believe it has something to do with the quite of the forest."
August sighed, then gently picked up 9 from the other side of the swing and stole the child's seat.
It was then that the youngest, 5. Spotted a firefly over the lawn and chased it down. The other two were right on his heals and after a, not so graceful, jump from August's lap, 9 joined them.
August was about to go after them, when Yoshi held him back. "They are all right. They have excellent night vision." Yoshi explained, letting August sit down again. "As do I." Yoshi added and August laughed in agreement.
After a minute of watching the children run around trying to catch the clever little bugs. August leaned over his knees, letting his arms hang limp as he lowered his head to talk to the wooden planks of the deck. "Will you watch over April while I'm gone?" He asked.
"You do not have to ask my friend." Yoshi answered immediately and caught his companion's smile out of the corner of his eye.
"I thought not." He responded. "But it doesn't hurt."
"Will you be able to locate your friend alone?" Yoshi asked.
"I wont be alone." August stated sitting back up again, so he could stretch out. "I've made quite a few friends down in the Everglades over the years."
"I would not doubt it." Yoshi declared with a smile.
"Don't worry about me Hamato. You just focus on taking care of these little balls of mischief." August ordered with a laugh, as he shock his head. "I get the feeling their going to be a real handful."
"Yes." Yoshi agreed, admittedly, not really looking forward to that particular part of this experience.
"Are you alright?" August asked suddenly serious. "I know it's been a while. But seeing such young children can eat at those kinds of wounds."
Yoshi realized that he was talking about his loss of Miwa. "It can August." He agreed. "But children also have a way of healing broken hearts and mending wounded souls."
"Can't argue with you there." August stated looking absent-mindedly up to the window of the room where his niece worked. "I probably would have gone crazy had April not been their to pick me up. Her father – my brother – he had been my best friend." He said sadly, trying to hold back his grief. "Sometimes I still can't believe he's gone."
"He is not August." Yoshi declared and his friend looked at him curiously. "Loved ones always remain in your heart. And your older brother is still here. By your side. Protecting you every time you're in danger."
August smiled in remembrance of an inside joke. "No wonder I still wake up at night expecting to be short sheeted." Yoshi couldn't help laughing and soon the forest echoed with the sounds of amusement.
…
About an hour later. A Semi Truck, driven by a man who Yoshi could only describe as; 'Conan the Conqueror.' Pulled into the yard. Casey quickly went out to greet the man who went by Joe. Then started escorting the other Mutants in the barn, into the back of the truck.
"Unidentifiable Food Stuffs?" August read from a large wooden board that had been placed under the back door. And painted to give the illusion that it was only food in the cargo bay.
"I'm not sure I want to know." Yoshi decided, unconsciously pulling the smallest Turtle from under the truck, before he got into trouble.
"How far are you going?" August asked Joe, as he opened the passenger door to the cabin.
"You August?" The man asked and August nodded. "Heard about you. Heard you had had a bit of problem with your other transport?"
August scoffed in annoyance. "Having to suddenly abandon an area where one's planned mode of aerial transportation was set to take off in 3 hours. Can do that." He stated sourly.
Joe just laughed. "Well man, any friend of Casey's is a friend of mine." Joe stated nodding at Mr. Jones. "That man there, saved my life. I'll get you to Florida, if I have to carry you on my back." He proclaimed.
August smiled. "Thank you." He said before tossing his bag into the cabin and turned back to Yoshi and the Turtles. He quickly kneeled down to the kids. "Now I want all four of you talking when I get back." He ordered kindly.
The older three looked a little put-off, but the youngest quickly stated. "Pizza!" It was currently the only word he'd spoken so far.
August laugh and patted him on the head. "Besides pizza." He corrected. "I want at least a decent hello." He declared. The little one looked down right confused. Like he couldn't imagine a better greeting then; 'pizza.'
The older man laughed again and stood up to give Yoshi a gentleman's handshake. "Keep an eye on that kid for me." August requested, nodded toward Casey. And Yoshi nodded in return.
April materialized a second later and quickly managed to tell her Uncle to 'be careful' in so many different ways. Yoshi had to wonder if she read a Thesaurus in her moments of down time.
He promised to be back within a month and would call every week to check in on things. Giving April several large hugs, a punch to Casey's shoulder and an embarrassing pat on the head for each of the Turtles. He soon jumped into the 18 wheeler and was off.
…
4 days later
(9's: POV)
As it turned out, the coveted; 'closet of toys.' Was in the barn. 'No wonder we never found it.'
5, 2 and I followed April out to locate it. To which 5 was immediately distracted, by the sheer amount of play objects that existed in the little room.
"You can each chose one." April instructed before looking around the barn at the new selection of Mutants currently taking up residence at the farm. It seemed that Casey's group had a good system. As they managed to free several Mutants a night, before getting them transportation to some other area of the country.
"Hey." April said suddenly. And 2 and I looked at her, awaiting for her question. "Where's your brother?" She asked 2. We could easily sense that 8 was still in the house. So 2 and I pointed toward said structure, to let her know and I went back to investigating a net of building blocks, to see what wonders might resided inside.
I took almost an hour to convince 5 that he couldn't even lift the swing-set he'd located in the corner. Much less fit it into the house. And ended up settling on finger paints instead.
While also managing to procure enough paper to easily paper-mache the house two times over. Both inside and out. I decided on the blocks after all, curious to see what all I could build with the little Lego's and 2 gave the house a wicked grin, before choosing a plastic Light-Saber. Obviously a few years of pay-back were in 8's near future.
April made sure to bring plenty of other drawing and/or painting utensils. Including crayons, colored pencils, markers, you name it. And we headed back for the house.
…
When we walked into the living room, our attention was quickly captured by 8. Who was sitting on the couch with Casey seemingly transfixed by something on TV.
When I looked, I found it to be some kind of; 'kick-boxing match.' Honestly, I couldn't see the attraction myself. But when one of the players was thrown into a table, I could definitely understand why 8 liked it.
Both Casey and 8 started screaming and whopping at this taken action. Which had April running into the house to see what was wrong. When she looked from the two muscle-bound idiots on the couch, to the television. I thought her face might dry up and peel away in her rage.
"CASEY JONES." She bellowed. Said victim of her anger, obviously hadn't expected such a loud, sudden scream. As he jumped so intensely that he fell over the back of the couch.
8 just looked at the spot where his partner in crime had been sitting only moments before. Then behind the couch, before finally up at April, like he had no idea what was going on. And from the way he had been focused on the TV. I don't think he did.
"What is that?" April demanded, pointing at the offending object of her attention. Known simply as; 'the television.'
"What?" Casey asked totally confused, as he peeked over the top of the couch to look at what she was pointing at. "A TV." He declared unhelpfully. However he quickly tried again when she glared at him with such a look, I had honestly expected him to catch fire. "It's Street Fighting." He tried. "A friend of mine found these old boot-leg tapes and –"
"I don't care." April yelled again and he ducked back behind the couch. "Why are you letting him watch this blasphemy?" She asked pointing to 8. Who quickly turned to me and asked, 'What did she call me?'
"Blasphemy." Casey repeated highly insulted. As he jumped to his feet, suddenly courageous again.
"Yes, blasphemy?" April screeched getting up right in his face. "He's 4-years old, Casey. How could you expose him to this kind of violence?" Casey stood there with his eye twitching slightly and opened his mouth to defend himself. When –
"Kill the Ump." 8 suddenly declared toward the TV and everyone turned to stare at him in surprise. But he was so engrossed in his show, that he was no longer aware anyone else was even in the state, let alone the room.
April stood there with her mouth agape for half a minute. Before turning on Casey and demanded. "Where did he learn that?" Casey seemed to think about that for a minute, before directing a guilty cringe in her direction. She was about to tear him a new one, when Yoshi announced his presence.
"Is lunch ready?" He asked causally, as if nothing was amiss. All anyone could do was stare at the suddenly peacefully presence. Then April gasped and fled into the kitchen to rescue the food.
"Good timing." Casey commented him. Before looking back at the TV and painfully lifted the remote to turn it off. 8 looked like he had just been shot and turned to glare at his offender. "Sorry, little man. She's right." Casey admitted sourly.
It looked like my slightly older brother was about to implode. But as usually Yoshi had it covered. As he just casually walked over and picked him up, before carrying him into the kitchen.
…
3 days later
August called a few days later and informed April that he's made to Florida and had his friend's position. He just needed to track him down. Hopefully he'd find him and be on his way back within a week or so. If things looked up.
When April revealed that 8 had started talking. He'd actually asked to talk to him. Of course 8 had no idea how to use the telephone and ended up holding it wrong, while yelling into the receiver at the top of his lungs.
In the end August was still happy to hear from him. Even if he did have temporary hearing loss. And practically demanded that me and 2 better at least be saying hello the next time he called.
…
6 days later
(Yoshi:)
Yoshi watched absent-mindedly as the Turtles played in the pond. Located about half a mile from the farm-house. The water was remarkably warm, considering that the weather was only just crawling into Spring.
April, Casey and even Scott Perry were there as well. It seems that Casey had finally decided to speak to her again. After an incident involving an unfortunate VHS collection. Which April had; (Quote; unquote) 'Used as target practice." The fighting had seemed almost never-ending.
And after being cooped up inside for the last few days, following a cold snap. Lets just say. They weren't likely to have been mistaken for; 'Paradise Farm, birthplace of peace, love and understanding.' A much-needed break from the craziness, had certainly been in-order.
"Hey." April said, suddenly on her feet. As she looked around wildly. "Where's the little one?" She demanded. Yoshi looked to the place where he had last seen him. But the smallest Turtle was nowhere to be seen.
"He's under the water." Scott answered casually, pointing to a dark spot near where the two Turtles, know by their brothers as 2 and 9, were standing.
Yoshi calmed when he realized this as well. But April's stubbornness knew-no-bounds. "How long as he been under?" She accused Casey, who had been given the responsibility to watch him.
"About 5 minutes." Scott answered before he'd thought over his words. Casey immediately jumped to his feet and April was already in the water, racing to save the little Turtle.
"Wait –" Scott stated again, but he wasn't heard. Yoshi stood up slowly to assist if needed. But he hadn't sensed that the child was in any danger. And considering Perry's reaction, he wasn't convinced that he was.
April broke the surface seconds later. The smallest Turtle clutched tightly in her arms. And Casey was quick to her side, trying to help in any way he could.
"April. Casey." Yoshi said loudly, as they began to fuss over the little Mutant. But the authority in his voice, broke through their panic and they both looked up at him. He calmed slightly, before saying in a softer tone. "He is fine." He explained simply, nodding at the little Turtle, who seemed a slightly miffed by the sudden intrusion. But otherwise unharmed.
Casey and April both looked at him like he had grown a second head. The attention obviously made the child a little uncomfortable and April put him down again. Where he quickly regained his happy-go-lucky attitude and continued playing with his brothers.
April and Casey however, were rooted to the spot. As they watched them play in the water. Yoshi finally got their attention again and convinced them to return to land. Where he quietly handed each of them a towel.
"They're Turtles." Scott explained when he deemed it safe enough to speak. "A normal turtle can stay under water for up to 2 hours or longer. They can likely double that." He explained, nodding toward the Mutant Turtles.
"In fact. Some turtles can even take up dissolved oxygen in the water and breathe similar to a fish." Scott explained. "Of course – they – aren't really old enough – to do that – yet." He said cautiously, when the two teens turned to look at him, like he was a rare species of fungus.
"That would have been nice to know earlier." Casey declared sourly, as he started to ring out his shirt.
…
A few hours later, the one known as 9 suddenly emerged from below the surface, after staying down for well over ten minutes and quickly got his brothers' attention. Before pointing at something below the water. When he explained something to them, they all became exited.
"What did you find?" April asked, wondering if she should be concerned.
The one known as 8 looked up and stated clearly. "Turtle."
"No kidding." Casey laughed. It had become easier to understand them, with two of the Turtles now speaking. But sometimes they had to wonder if they were translating correctly. It wouldn't be the first time, they had called something a turtle, that clearly wasn't.
But this time it seemed Casey would have to swallow his joke. As the oldest, known simply as 2, emerged from the water with none other than; 'a turtle' in his hands.
"Well what do you know." April said walking to the shore to meet them and leaned down to inspect the animal. It looked rather young and seemed a little annoyed at having been disturbed. "It's a Red-Eared Slider." She said before adding. "I think."
Of course the kids didn't seem to care what kind it was. Instead they were just ecstatic of their discovery.
April smiled, as she pet the turtle's shell. "Would you like to keep him." All four of them looked up at her suddenly confused. "Here." She said holding out her hands for the animal. "We can take him home. I'm sure Casey has a fish tank somewhere in that junk pile, he calls a house."
"Hey." Casey argued dejectedly. But didn't get the chance to say anything more. As 2 suddenly pulled the turtle protectively to his plastron and they all started backing up.
"Hey, what's wrong." April asked, trying to figure out what had brought this on.
"No. You can't." The youngest demanded suddenly. He looked like he was about to cry. "You can't take him. He likes it here, it's his home. What about his family?"
April sat up straighter as this sank in. "Oh, no. I didn't mean –" She tried, looking to Yoshi for advice.
He walked up to the shore and kneeled down to look at the children. They all seemed extremely upset about the possibility of separating this animal from any others of its kind in the pond. "It is alright little ones." He reassured them. "She didn't mean any harm. If you would rather he stayed here. That's fine."
The little Turtles seemed to consider this, before the one known as 8 asked. "No tank? No cage?"
"No." Yoshi assured them and they all deflated in relief.
"Hang on." Casey said suddenly sitting up straighter. "How did they know it had a family?" Yoshi and April considered this. Before looking back at the children. Who were all clicking away in that language of theirs. To which Yoshi could have sworn he saw the turtle in their hands react to it.
"5." He asked getting the child's attention. "Can you – talk to that turtle?" He asked.
The Mutant looked a little lost, but answered. "Yeah." As if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"Whoa. Hold the phone." Casey stated walking up to them as well. "You mean you can actually understand that turtle and he understands you?"
"Yeah." 5 said again slowly, obviously very confused.
"You –" Casey started then everyone looked at Scott, who was still sitting in his lawn chair, watching the scene with a high level of amazement.
"Is that normal?" April asked.
"No." He answered simply.
"You – can't?" 5 asked them.
"No." Yoshi responded after a minute.
"Oh." The little Mutant stated, before returning to his brothers. His attention on the subject; lost.
They all just watched him in shock. Before Yoshi started laughing to himself. They looked at him, expecting an explanation. But all he said was. "You learn something new everyday."
…
2 days later
(Yoshi:)
Yoshi flipped through the book in his lap not really reading anything. As he absent-mindedly watched the four Turtles, drawing in their separate notepads. He had to admit, he liked the idea of them having some kind of creative outlet. They needed something to help relieve the tension and give their grief a voice.
The Youngest, the one his brothers called 5, was currently enthralled in a multi-colored masterpiece, with no foreseeable objective. Other then to make a mess. While also making quite the nuisance of himself. By stealing his brothers' utensils and claiming innocence when they hunted them down.
He'd had to break up a fight between the two oldest, 2 and 8, a dozen time already. As Casey was currently out, checking in with a Unit and wasn't there to keep the little hot-head entertained.
So it seemed the muscle-bound Turtle had decided to make up for lost time, by completely terrorizing his older brother. Who was not taking it very well. Even the little peace-keeper, known as 9, couldn't keep his brothers from duking it out every five seconds. Yoshi had finally been forced to move them to separate sides of the room. Before someone got hurt.
He looked up from his thoughts when he heard something drop. Realizing that he had zoned out. And turned to find the Turtle called 9 setting a dictionary at his feet. Before going to right the pile of books he had knocked over when he pulled it from the bottom of the stack.
After he was finished, he gave Yoshi a sheepish smile, as if to say he was sorry. Yoshi smiled back and nodded, letting him know it wasn't a big deal. The little one then picked up the heavy tome and half dragged, half scooted it over to his work area.
Yoshi couldn't see what he was up to. But he knew the child had a curtain love for books and wouldn't harm the dictionary in any way. He sighed as he looked back down at the book in his lap and closed it again, without even reading the title.
Placing it on the pile, he checked on the other Turtles to make sure they were okay. The youngest was thankfully kept internally busy with the different forms of art. Currently he had colored paints of every shade and substance all over the place. Luckily April had foreseen this and had covered the room with newspaper.
8 looked kind of bored and had long since stopped drawing. Now just lounged in the sunlight from the window. Yoshi had the feeling that they would have to think of another outlet for this ones creativity. Drawing didn't seem to be his thing.
Even the one called 2 wasn't all that interested anymore. He seemed to just be doing it, because he had nothing better to do. Yoshi had been meditating with him daily so he had something to fall back on. But the child picked up things so quickly it was hard to keep his mind on something for very long.
Thankfully the one called 9 had managed to keep himself entertained so far. But Yoshi feared the day when he ran out of books to read. God forbid they return to the 'taking things apart' stage. He wasn't sure if the microwave would ever be the same.
Strangely, even though he hadn't shown a lot interest it. It was 9 who was by far the best drawer. According to April, he had made a perfect circle, by hand, on his first attempt. Yoshi had remembered reading somewhere that it was an early Renaissance Artist that had used just such a technique to prove his craftsmanship.
Unfortunately he couldn't remember the man's name. Then he thought of something and looked to his slowly dwindling stack of books and started taking them off one at a time, until 'History of Renaissance Art,' finally presented itself.
He picked it up the tomb and flipped to the index. Quickly finding The Perfect Circle, he turned back until locating the correct page. Giotto di Bondone – (1266/7 – January 8, 1337.)
Yoshi thought on the name for a minute, before looking up at the Turtle with the dictionary. "Giotto?" He pronounced poorly. The child didn't even so much as finch. Yoshi made a face, before turning back to the book. "Perhaps not." He told himself aloud. And was about to flip the book closed again, when another name caught his interest.
Descending in alphabetical order and only covering some of the basics. 'Leonardo da Vinci,' was next on the list. He shrugged, before looking back at the Turtle. "Leonardo?" He asked.
This time the Turtle looked at him. But it was not in an understanding way. More like he was just reacting to the sound of Yoshi's voice. The child waited another second, before determining that Yoshi wasn't talking to him and turned back to his own book.
The older man sighed. He had tried hundreds of names so far, but that was the closest thing to a reaction he'd gotten. He was about to turn the page when he felt a hand on his arm. And looked down to find the oldest Turtle peeking over his side to look at the page. Yoshi sat statue still and silently encouraged the child, when he started to move his mouth. As if trying to sound out a word.
"Leo-nar-o?" He asked, but when it didn't seem to sound right, he looked up at Yoshi questionably.
Yoshi pointed to the name and followed the letters. Helping him sound it out. "Leonardo." He repeated.
"Leonar-do." The Turtle said then looked up happily. Ecstatic that he had accomplished it. "Leonardo." He said again, this time much more fluent.
"Very good." Yoshi commented and the child smiled. His first time speaking and he had said a name. Curious, Yoshi asked him. "Do you like that name?"
The Turtle almost nodded, then seemed to catch himself before saying. "Yes."
Yoshi smiled again, before asking. "Would you like it to be your name?" He hoped the child understood the question. It seemed that he did, for he looked back down at the book and then back up at Yoshi.
"Yes." He said again.
"Very well." Yoshi agreed. "Leonardo." He added and the Turtle just about started jumping up and down in his joy. Of course by this time the others had come over to see what all the hubbub was about. And Leonardo quickly informed his brothers of his new name.
Yoshi smiled at the sight, before he was interrupted. "I want a name too." The youngest whined. As he put his hands on the top of the book and looked at the page upside down.
"Yes." Yoshi agreed. "You will all have a name." He gently lifting the Turtle into his lap, so he could turn the page in the book. It didn't take long before the other two were crowded around, waiting anxiously to see what titles the book would provide them with.
It didn't surprise him that the very next one, the youngest chose as his own. 'Michelangelo.' Yoshi couldn't tell if he had been impatient or had actually liked the name. But it seemed to fit him.
Particularly after his second oldest brother had nick-named him 'Mikey.' To which Mikey had to immediately come up with a nick-name for his only other currently identified brother. Quickly dubbing him, 'Leo.'
Leo immediately liked it, as it was also the name of a Lion. Yoshi wondered briefly if that had been what had attracted him to the name Leonardo in the first place. Not that the kid had any idea what a lion was. For all he knew he had just named himself after a sun. Yoshi flipped through the pages, carefully reading each name out-loud so the other two could hear what they sounded like. It didn't surprise him in the least, when the little hot-head quickly grew impatient as well. And chose a name not 3 pages after Michelangelo's. 'Raphael.'
He claimed to his older brother, that it sounded tougher then his. To which Yoshi couldn't help but laugh. And soon the only one left was his original target.
This Turtle, like everything else he did, was putting a lot of thought into choosing a name. To which Yoshi was only too happy to oblige him. However after a while, his brothers grew a little bored. So they promised to return when he chose and went back to whatever they were doing before.
But when Yoshi had reached the end of the book. He worried that the child wouldn't find a name that suited him. However the Turtle seemed determined and quickly flipped the book back to the front page and started over from A.
Thankfully it wasn't too much longer before the child showed interest in a page, other than just learning a little about Renaissance Art. Unfortunately though, unlike his brother, this little Turtle wasn't encouraged to speak his name of choice.
Yoshi had hoped that he would have started talking, so he wouldn't remain the only one that wasn't. But it seemed that he wasn't yet ready to take that step.
"Is that the one?" Yoshi asked when the Turtle had been on the same page for almost five minutes. The child looked up at him from his lap, then looked back at the page. Yoshi wondered if he wanted to hear it again, so he repeated the name as best he could.
"Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi." Yoshi was almost certain that he wasn't pronouncing it right. Maybe that was why the Turtle looked so confused. But then the child seemed to discover something else on the page and pointed to it.
Yoshi looked over his head and had to move his hand a little so he could read the print. "Donatello?" Yoshi asked, apparently it was what the sculptor had gone by. It seemed that even in 1466 they understood the value of nick-names.
The Turtle quickly became exited and pointed to himself. Yoshi laughed and agreed. "Very well. Donatello it is."
"Don!"Michelangelo suddenly proclaimed. And Yoshi looked over to see that the other three had returned to their brother's side, just as they promised. However Mikey didn't seem happy with his brother's new nick-name and tried another. "Donnie." He said and smiled before repeating it a few more times.
Donatello nodded his approval, then said something in their clicking language and all eyes turned to Raphael. Yoshi immediately saw the dilemma. He was the only one without a nick-name.
The other three brothers quickly took a thinking stance as they contemplated him. Before Mikey once again declared the chosen title. "Raph." Raphael roiled his eyes. But grinned a little in acceptance of the name.
Yoshi smiled as he watched them talk to each other in their old language again. Glad to see that they continued to speak like this. He didn't want Donatello to feel like an outsider, among his own brothers.
It was then that Leonardo split from the group and walked up to him. He seemed to have a question on his mind, but needed a little reassurance to voice it. "Yes Leonardo?" Yoshi asked.
Leo rocked on his feet for a second before asking. "Do you get a new name too?" Yoshi was shocked by this question. He had never considered it before. And it was true that none of the Turtles had ever spoken his name in the past.
He was about to answer the child. When something accrued to him. Shredder had not known who he was and if he was going to be able to keep these children safe. It would be best that his identity was rewritten.
"Perhaps I should." Yoshi admitted, then looked up to find all four of the Turtles crowded around him. Waiting to hear his new name. He sighed as he realized that he did not actually have one. Then got an idea. "What would you call me?" He asked them.
They seemed a little taken aback by that. "We can give you a name?" Michelangelo asked innocently.
"Of course." Yoshi admitted simply. "What would be easiest for you to call me?" He asked them all at large. There was only a second's hesitation before they all started talking about something.
If Yoshi was interpreting them correctly. He'd say that they had all thought of the same thing. But they didn't seem to know the name for it. "It is alright." He assured them. "Take your time. We're in no rush."
After a few minutes. They were all crowded around Donatello's dictionary. As he tried to locate the word they were all thinking of.
…
3 days later
(Donnie's: POV) ^.^
This was starting to get a little old. I'd been paging through this dictionary for days now and still hadn't come up with the word we wanted for Yoshi's new name. We all knew what it was, it was something that had stuck with us for a while now. Something we would always think about when we saw Yoshi.
But damn it all. If I ended up reading this whole stinking book and still didn't find the word I was looking for. I was going to be ticked.
I looked up and watched as Yoshi preformed some slow-motion fighting moves with Leo and Raph. Having explained that by practicing at a slow pace, it would enable them to execute the techniques at super fast speeds, when needed.
I could tell that 8 – Raph's patience wasn't going to hold out much longer. As he never did taken slow-and-easy; gracefully. Plus he had finally passed April's health check on his wrists and was just dying to hit something.
Fortunately Yoshi was well aware of his irritated state. "Raphael. Why don't you take a break." He suggested without opening his eyes or stopping his movements.
"K." Raph proclaimed with a groan, before coming over to see how my search was coming. When he realized that I was on the R's he had to once again ask me if his name was in the book.
And I had to once again explain that a dictionary was for words, not names. Just them Mikey came pounding up the stairs and flew over to my other side, quickly asking if I had found it yet.
However when I answered no, he grabbed my arm and tugged me to my feet so suddenly that I dropped the dictionary, unfortunately for me, right on my foot. I cried out in pain and Mikey was quickly scolded by Yoshi to be careful.
For once in his life, Mikey actually listened and promptly apologized. Before pulling on my arm again. Dragging me toward the stairs.
I heard Yoshi sigh dejectedly and give Leo and Raph leave to follow us and we were all soon down stairs in the living room. Following Mikey as he rushed to April, who was sitting on the couch with the White Coat. Who we had learned went by the name Scott Perry.
"Oh Mikey, be careful!" April stated, when I'd nearly tripped in the brother's newest attempt to dislocate my shoulder. 5 – Mikey, apologized again, before inviting himself into her lap. And opening the large book she had in her lap at the time. I quickly made my way onto the couch and looked over curiously.
A Thesaurus. 'That could be useful.'
"Ok, from what I hear, you need a word." She explained poking at Mikey, before continuing. "Maybe it would help if we started with others like it." She said.
"Or perhaps, you could explain what your thinking of." We all looked at each other, when Yoshi suggested that last part, as he descended the stairs and claimed a seat. Admittedly we'd never thought of that.
Mikey seemed to have an idea and got down off the couch, where he started to push Raph into the middle of the living room. And maneuvered him into a stance. Or trying to anyway. As Raph was far from corporative.
After several failed attempts to get him to play puppets, Leo took his place. Mikey quickly set him up in an intimidated stance and turned to Yoshi pointing at his oldest brother and declared. "Shredder."
Every one winced at that, even Mikey. Apparently he hadn't meant for it to sound so finale. However Yoshi quickly came to his rescue.
"He will be Shredder?" He asked, kneeling down next to them and pointed at Leo, as though they were just rehearsing a play.
"Yeah." Mikey answered. Overjoyed that he'd understood. Then he pointed to himself and then at Yoshi.
"You are me?" Yoshi asked and Mikey nodded. He then turned to our oldest brother and acted it out in a show of slow motion novelties, worthy of its own dramatic theme song. As he swung to hit Leo in the face, but missed as he dodged out-of-the-way.
Mikey then made a big motion of something exploding around his arm. Then looked back at Yoshi. Who opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again in thought.
"I think I understand." He finally responded.
"Well I'm glad you do." April declared, obviously very confused.
"I believe they are thinking of my fight with Shredder." Yoshi started. "There was a moment when I had missed and hit a boarded window." He explained. Looking around at us and we all started to get exited, realizing that he'd gotten it. "The force of my attack shattered the board." Yoshi finished confidently.
"I remember that." April stated, then looked around at us. "I can't believe I never thought of that. When I first saw you do it, I was convinced you were Super Man." She admitted.
"I can certainly see how something such as that would inspire a name." Scott stated. "But the question is. Which one?" He finished.
"Indeed." Yoshi agreed. "There are many number of words that could be used to explain that." My brothers and I deflated as we realized that we were back at square-one.
"Hey, don't give up hope. We'll find it." April demanded opening the thesaurus again and started flipping through the pages. "Give me some words." She ordered, jabbing Perry in the ribs.
"Um." He stated rubbing his side. "Wood, board, punch." He offered.
April quickly found a word and started listing off others. "Board, plank, slat, panel, floorboard, timber." Finishing, she flipped to the back of the book and quickly located another. "Wood, timber, lumber, firewood, forest." She looked up and we all shook our heads.
"Fair enough." She said before flipping to another page. "Punch, blow, hit, thump, clout, knock, cuff, beat, strike, pummel." She stopped when we kept shaking our heads.
"Break." Yoshi suggested, stroking his long beard in thought. And April quickly located said word.
"Break, smash, fracture, rupture, shatter, split, crack, sever, breach, fissure." She stated. My brothers and I looked at each other, but quickly shook our heads again. "Was there one that sounded like it?" She asked.
"Shatter." My brothers all said at once.
"Ok," She declared and turned a few more pages. It took her a minute to find the word but then started listing off the others under it. "Smash, break, destroy, blow apart, smash to smithereens, splinter, explode, ruin. –"
"Splinter." I suddenly yelled and everyone jumped, even me. Then I held my throat and whispered "Ow." 'That does hurt.'
"Donnie." Mikey suddenly declared and bulldozed me into the carpet as he hugged me. I laughed as our other two bothers quickly piled on top as well, congratulating me on my first word.
After a few minutes of whopping and crowing. April spoke up over the noise. "I take it that's a yes for Splinter?" She asked.
"Splinter." We all answered her. Of course I made sure to say it quieter this time, so I didn't hurt my throat.
"Yep, that's a yes." April stated, before looking at the Yoshi. "Well – Master Splinter?" She asked. "That has a nice ring to it." She admitted.
"It does." Yoshi agreed, stroking his beard and looked at us, as we waited for his answer. True he had given us permission to give him a name. But it would still remain up to him whether he took it or not. But after a minute he smiled and nodded in agreement. "Splinter it is then."
…
8 days later
(Splinter:)^-^
Splinter's sensitive ears picked up the sounds of April and the Turtles downstairs. As they tried to located some different methods of entertainment for the ones that were bored with drawing.
He looked up when someone ascended the stairs and Scott Perry soon appeared at the top. He looked over and spotted Splinter in a meditative stance and apologized. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you." He said and offered. "I'll come back later."
Scott was about to descend the stairs again, when Splinter called him back. "It is alright Mr. Perry. It is nothing that cannot wait." He said, motioned for the scientist to join him on his mat.
Perry hesitated for a second, before walking back into the room and sat down in front of him. He shifted nervously and Splinter realized that he needed a little incentive to speak.
"What brings you here my friend?" He asked and Scott looked up.
He tried to start several times, before finally willing himself to talk. "I – need to tell you something." He said simply. Then added. "There's something you should know – about the Turtles."
"Go on." Splinter instructed so the man wouldn't pause again.
"You see." Scott started, but reconsidered and tried a different approach. "The Shredder. He had us create them to be Super Solders. Weapons." He explained.
"You have said this before Mr. Perry." Splinter stated truthfully.
"Yes. But you see." He stated again. "They weren't just going to be weapons for him to use for whatever he may choose. They were created for a purpose. To destroy – you." He finally said, refusing to look Splinter in the eye.
But Splinter only sighed and said. "I know, Mr. Perry." The man looked up in slight alarm. "The Shredder has been hunting me for years now. I know of his intentions better than anyone. I knew from the moment I first saw his Ninja attacking them. That they had something to do with me."
Splinter took a breath before continuing. "The Shredder's obsessions are few. But the ones he has, have consumed his mind and soul. He lives only to see me die and everything he does is only to further that goal."
Scott sighed as he considered that. "If you don't mind me asking." He said watching Splinter closely to see if it was alright that he continue. "What exactly did you do to him?"
Splinter smiled sadly and took another deep breath. "He believes that I took a loved one from him. Tang Shen. My wife." He explained and Scott sat up straighter.
"Your wife?" He asked, obviously confused.
"Yes." Splinter answered simply. "Oroku Saki loved her as well. But when she refused to return his affection. He stuck her down."
"Oh God." Scott prayed, looking away. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea." He apologized, swallowing roughly before he continued. "But – that still doesn't explain why he wants you dead."
"The night he destroyed my life. Took Tang Shen and –" Splinter couldn't bring himself to mention Miwa. But Scott nodded that he understood. "A fire broke out and consumed my home. In the chaos I believe that Shredder's mind was broken. He already thought so fiercely that she should love him,that he had come to believe that she actually did. And when she died. He blamed me for killing her."
Scott absorbed this for a second, obviously confused. Before Splinter continued. "He is sick Mr. Perry. But it can not be seen on his body. Only in his actions."
"He's insane?" Scott asked simply and Splinter nodded.
"Admittedly, a part of me hopes that my old friend still lives in him somewhere." Splinter stated. "But the longer our battle continues, the less I believe he can be saved."
Scott looked over at the window, as he contemplated what he had just been told. Then he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Before turning back to the Ninja Master. "If that's true. It will only make this harder to hear."
Splinter sat up a little straighter and willed himself he listen to what the scientist had to say. "Tell me, my friend." He asked.
Perry took another breath then he recited. "The Retalion." Scott started. "The Super Drug given to the Turtles." He started and Splinter nodded in understanding. "How it brings out such strength and power in people. Is by merging the muscle memories stored in DNA with the DNA of a host." He explained. "It's kind of like instant-learning. Things that would take us years to master, they can do in a matter of seconds. Because it's literally in their DNA."
Splinter nodded. He had seen just such an event when fighting Leonardo. "However." Scott continued. "A suitable subject is needed, who possesses the – abilities that we want the host to exhibit." Splinter absorbed this before the scientist went on.
"The subject DNA that Shredder gave us to use –" Scott continued, before pausing momentarily. "Was yours." Splinter looked up in shock when the pieces connected. "In a way. That makes them – your sons."
Well that was ridiculously. Hope it was worth the wait.
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