A/N: So, seeing as I have all these chapters written and ready to go, I figured why not go ahead and give you another. Oh, and check out the cover art. :( It ain't my best, looked a lot better in my head. But considering it was me that drew it, it's decent...

Kaz crouched at the edge of the building watching the six thugs bust into yet another electronics shop. Two stood guard while the others went inside. This gang was a bit on the predictable side. Kaz had figured these guys were after another load of hardware and he'd been right. The problem was he needed to get one alone, so he could coax some answer out of him. But apparently they traveled in packs of six. Frowning, he considered his options. He could try to wait until he could have an open conversation with one, which didn't seem likely, or he could knock one out cold and have a chat with the other. He opted for the second choice. Taking a deep breath, he moved silently down the fire-escape until he was just over them. In the blink of an eye, he tackled one man, smashing him in the back of the head with the handle of kusarigama and sending him into unconsciousness.

He spun on the second thug, pressing the blade into his neck. "Don't move." Blank eyes stared back at him, sending a chill down Kaz's spine. "Who are you? What are you really up to?"

The man before him remained silent, but there was a voice coming from somewhere. The turtle narrowed his eyes on the eyepiece that was glowing a pale blue. The device looped around the ear, where an earbud fit inside, while the front was shaped like the single lens of a pair of glasses. He strained to hear what was being said. "Number twenty-six, kill it."

Kaz snatched the device out of the man's ear and held it close to his ear. "Who the hell is this!"

A thin male voice answered. "What a mouth on you. But no matter. You've already cost me one of my crew. For that you will be dispatched. Or," the voice paused momentarily, "you seem young and strong you would make a great asset, even if you are green."

Kaz snorted. "I'm no one's asset."

The man he'd taken the device from groaned, his eyes going in and out of focus. He rubbed at them and then stared around him as if disoriented. When his eyes fell on Kaz, he scrambled back clutching at the wall. "Ah! A monster!" He covered his head with both arms, dropping to the ground. "Don't hurt me!"

Kaz frowned at him. Just a moment ago this man had been staring him down without the slightest bit of fear in his eyes, and now he was cowering on the alley floor. The voice on the headset sounded more irritated. "You've cost me another! Squad ten and eleven, capture that interloper!"

The four thugs inside the store returned as another group of six appeared at the end of the alley. Kaz was quickly outnumbered and surrounded. The man on the ground lifted his head, his eyes wide. "What's going on?"

Kaz shot him a quick look. "You don't know?"

The young man rubbed his face. "No, I don't know…anything."

Kaz frowned, as one piece finally slid into place. These people were being controlled somehow. The person on the other end of the headset was controlling regular people. Which meant, he couldn't use his kusarigama. He couldn't injure innocents. He tried to make a move towards the fire-escape but was kicked in the side. He grunted, catching a fist aimed at his head. "I don't want to hurt you." He shoved the person back as another blow came from his other side. He blocked it as well, but was struck from behind.

He stumbled forward with a growl. This was not going well. There were too many of them in the confined space. His best bet was to retreat, but there was a sea of humanity between him and escape. He tried to push his way through, taking several more blows to his body and head. He finally got a hand on the ladder and started to climb quickly. But on the second level he felt a presence behind him. He tried to turn to see his new opponent but was met with a large fist. The world spun for a moment and he felt the thug tackle him. They fell from the fire-escape together. Kaz tried to twist away to land properly, but he ended up taking the majority of the fall on his left shoulder.

He groaned as he pushed himself back to his feet, bearing most of his wait on his right arm. He knew the shoulder would be sore later. But he decided against trying for the roof again. Instead he spotted an opening in the group and made a run for it, crashing through the only thug in his way. He scanned the street beyond as he burst onto it. There was a café about halfway up that still had several patrons sitting on its patio. He slipped on the holo-band and made a dash for it, hoping The Crew would follow at a much slower pace.

When the crew emerged from the alley, they split into two groups marching in different directions. Kaz held his breath as he watched them over the top of the menu he'd snagged. The group moved like zombies as they scanned the area in search of him. He finally let out the breath once they'd passed, apparently assuming he was just another human eating dinner. Kaz sagged in his chair, dragging a hand down his tired face. He grimaced as it was sore from all the blows he'd taken. He decided then and there that ten against one were really bad odds.

He frowned as he saw the truck The Crew had been using pull away. What I'd give for a tracker right about now. Sadly, he had none on him. Mira was their tech person and she always had a handful of nifty gadgets for whatever they might need. And even if he had, had a tracker he'd need his cell to monitor it. The cell he'd left on impulse at the lair, not wanting his genius uncle and cousin to follow him. He groaned dropping his head into a hands. Things were definitely not going as planned tonight.

Someone cleared their throat and he looked up at a waiter. "Can I get you something, sir?"

Kaz gave the man a wistful smile. "Nope, I was just keeping the seat warm." He stood and hopped over the rail that separated the patio from the sidewalk. Rubbing at his shoulder, he began to walk back to his temporary home. Behind him, sirens wailed in the distance as the police came to survey the scene left by The Crew.

The turtle continued to mull over the information that he'd learned. So, there was this guy controlling people with the headsets, but to what ends. Surely it wasn't just because he couldn't find the right DVD player. He sighed, from what he'd seen they were snatching mainly computer equipment and some other items as well. What was this creep up to?

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he bumped into a man coming out of a pizza parlor. "Uh, sorry." He mumbled barely looking up.

The man nodded, then frowned his brows bunching together. "Hey, aren't you one of the Hamato kids?"

Kaz froze and turned to look at the man directly. He knew him. The guy was a regular at the garage. There was no doubt he'd recognize Kaz's human holo image. "Uh, yeah. Tim, right?"

The old vet nodded. "What are you doing in this neighborhood?"

Kaz's stomach growled loudly as he noticed the piping hot pizza in the man's hands. "I left."

Tim's brows bunched again. "Left? Why?"

"We had a fight." Kaz waved a hand dismissively. "It's no big deal."

Tim followed his gaze to the pizza. "You're out here by yourself?" Kaz nodded. "Say, you wouldn't want this left over pizza would you? I couldn't finish it. And I can't take it home. Maryann has been on me about my cholesterol lately."

Kaz's gaze shifted from the box to the man and back again. "Are you sure? I don't want to…"

Tim waved his own hand in the air. "Absolutely not. Besides it's kind of hard to carry pizza on a bike." He passed Kaz the box and the turtle licked his lips in anticipation of the warm pizza. Tim's hand landed on the top of the box, drawing the youth's attention back to him. "But do me a favor, call home. I'm sure your folks are worried about you."

Kaz frowned. "I will eventually, but not yet."

Tim nodded. "I understand. You got to stand on your own two feet first. I've been there kid. That's how I ended up in Nam. Just be careful, okay?"

Kaz nodded. "Okay and thanks." He watched as Tim mounted his bike and pulled away. When he was gone, Kaz opened the box expecting to find two or three slices left. His eyes widened at the sight of the intact extra-large pepperoni pizza. He smiled, humans never ceased to amaze him. They could be generous and passionate, and other times cold and callus. He was glad that Tim had chosen generosity tonight and he planned to thank him in the future.

Sarah looked over her shoulder at Kala as a voice buzzed through her headset. "I think we might have something."

Kala peeled her eyes away from the dark street to look at her. "What is it?"

"A robbery at an electronics store on Fortieth and Eastman. Sounds like it was our gang."

Cat turned the van in that direction. "If it is, then Kaz might be nearby still."

Sarah hit a button on the computer console. "Guys, head for Fortieth and Eastman. It could be The Crew." Several voices replied affirmative over the line.

Kala's heart raced as they sped along the streets. She strained her eyes into every dark alley along the way hoping to spot some sign of her son. Cat pulled the van over at the end of the block. There was still police activity and they didn't want to get too close.

"What do you see guys?" Sarah asked into her mike.

Raph's voice came through. "When I say these guys clean up. I really mean they clean up. That alley is as empty as Mikey's head."

Cat and Kala exchanged a look, both shaking their heads. Some things never changed. Sarah rolled her eyes. "Donnie?"

"We can't get in close, but from what I can see it looks like they used some type of electronic lock pick to open the back door. This store's got a security panel. Model MR130."

Sarah's hands moved across the keys with nearly the same speed as Donnie's. She frowned as she pulled up the image and specs. "It would have had to been a good one. This puppy's only been on the market three months."

Kala was staring through the windows at the rooftops. "What about Kaz?"

Sarah exchanged a worried look with Cat in the rearview mirror, before repeating the question into her headset. "Any sign of Kaz?"

There was a long pause, but finally Mikey answered. His voice low and full of apprehension. "No."

Sarah watched Kala drop her face into her hands and a silent sob rip through her. She frowned. "Mikey, you might want to ride home with us."

His voice was heavy in her ear. "I'm already on my way down."

Kaz found the three teens in one of the rooms on the first floor. They'd scavenged a pot and were burning papers and chunks of wood and other debris in it. They looked up as he came in. "Hey, I brought dinner."

The three set of eyes glowed. "Awesome!"

Kaz sat down between Jack and Ona, flipping open the box. The boy's eyes bulged. "You scored a whole pizza!"

Sam reached for a slice, licking his lips. His own eyes grew wide when he touched it. "It's still warm!" He raised a brow. "Did you pinch it?"

Kaz frowned. "No, a friend of mine gave it to me."

Sam frowned as well. "Too bad. I was gonna ask how, so I could get some next time."

Kaz chuckled as he picked up a slice. "No such luck, man." Ona hesitated in taking a slice, her dark eyes watching him. He slid the box closer to her. "Help yourself."

She took a slice, the edge of her lips curling. Jack smirked. "I think she likes you."

"Yeah?" Kaz lifted a brow. "How can you tell?"

"She hasn't taken off yet." Sam mumbled around his second slice. "Girl can run fast when she wants."

Kaz frowned, his eyes flicking to the cute female beside him with her pink highlights and wondered how she'd gotten herself in such a predicament. Surely she had family somewhere that was worried about her, just like he did. He turned his attention back to Jack. "So, how'd you meet? You guys been together long?"

Jack shrugged. "Me and Sam have known each other a while, but we just met Ona a few months ago. We'd been trying to make some braed near the park, but were having a pretty bad time of it."

"Cheap tourist." Sam grumbled.

"Anyway, we decided to try a different part of the city. We happened to pick the same street Ona was working. We still didn't make much, but she was racking it up. The woman can't resist that round face and those big innocent eyes she gives them." He chewed on a pizza crust. "At the end of the day she went in a burger joint, came out and crossed the street with a sack. Baffled the hell out of us. But then she took out two burgers and gave them to us. That was best burger I've ever eaten." He flashed a smile at Ona, who smiled back. "Since then we've been working as a team. She works one side of the street while we scare the tourist off the other. They can't help but pass her and nine times out of ten she'll get something from them, even if it's just a quarter."

"Cheap tourist." Sam grumbled again.

"So, how do you know her name's Ona, if she's never spoken to you?" Kaz picked up a piece of wood dropping it into the small fire.

"We don't, nobody knows her real name. I used to be an army brat. We were stationed in Hawaii for a while. She looks just like the natives there. Ona means sweetness in Hawaiian. And since she was super sweet to us, I figured it was the best name for her." Jack reached across and tried to pinch her cheek. She swatted his hand away with a glare.

Kaz chuckled. "Seems to fit her." She rolled her eyes at him, which only made him laugh more. They talked for a while longer and at some point he leaned on his left arm and regretted it as it sent pain rolling up his shoulder. He groaned, rubbing it. It might take days for it to feel better. Ona pointed at it. He waved a hand. "It's okay, I just banged it earlier. There's no permanent damage, it's just sore."

She motioned with her hands as if giving a massage. He shook his head. "No, that's okay." She frowned, looking down into the fire. Something caught his eye in the dim light. A thin red scar ran across the side of her neck. "Hey, what's this?" He brushed her hair away, trying not make contact with her skin.

She didn't lift her eyes, but Sam frowned on her other side. "Things can get pretty rough out here, especially for girls."

Kaz frowned. "Did someone attack you?" For some reason the idea of someone harming her made his blood boil. She didn't respond, her head dropping another notch. He looked at Jack for an answer.

Again the teen shrugged. "We don't know. She already had it when we met."

Kaz released her hair letting it fall back over her shoulder, his eyes catching the holo-band. The warning lights were flashing meaning the battery would be gone soon. He stood and dusted himself off. "I'm going to get some sleep. See you tomorrow." He paused as he reached the door. "Oh, and if you leave, just remember to prop the door open on the roof."

"Sure thing, man." Sam replied, flopping backwards on the dirty floor.

Ona gave Kaz a questioning look as he left. Street kids tended to hang together for protection. It probably seemed a little odd to her that he went off on his own to sleep. As he made his way back to the fourth floor, he turned off the holo-band. He pulled out his duffle from its hiding place and found the charger. This building had no electricity so he'd have to find another place to plug it up. He climbed back to the roof and leapt to the adjacent building that did have electricity. Finding a plug on the outside of a roof access door, he plugged it up.

He scanned the roof to make sure there hadn't been any recent activity here. There was a layer of dirt on it that didn't appear to be bothered in a long time. Nodding to himself, he left it there covering it with a few rocks. Once he was certain it was well hidden, he hopped back over to the building he now shared and made his way to the room he'd slept in the night before. For a long time, he laid awake trying to come up with another lead for his problem with The Crew.

A/N: I hope you guys are liking this one. Let me know, k?