A/N: awkward chapter but hopefully the build up and climax will happen soon. First some action in Okinawa. Check it out.
Chapter 4
I paid the man at the door for the pizzas and pop, I had ordered. The girls were still hovering around the TV flipping randomly through channels.
"Well I ordered pizza," I said to them placing it down on the little living room table.
"We have not tried pizza," Nina said looking at the boxes as I opened them.
"Oh, I thought maybe you'd like this, my brother's love pizza…." I said to them.
Yuri and Aki smiled and helped themselves to a piece. Mari was a little curious, she's never tried pizza before and Nina seemed hesitant at first but went ahead and tried it anyway.
"Who is this?" Nina asked as she sat back down on the floor, she looked at my picture on the TV table. I had brought a picture back with me of Splinter and the guys, and one of April, Vern and Casey.
"Oh," I said and picked up the pictures.
"This is Splinter, he was originally my father's pet then he became mine… and these," I said pointing to the other picture, "… are our friends, April, Casey and Vern." I said to her again. They all looked over curious.
"Why are you going to Okinawa again?" Mari asked as she examined the pizza.
"Well, I'm actually here on vacation; I thought I'd go see my old dojo where I trained. I trained with the monks in the Shinto temple but, its not there anymore. So I found out it might have moved to Okinawa. I'm going there to meet with some of the monks I trained with, if they're still there. I hope," I said to them.
"And if they're not," Mari asked taking a slice of pizza.
"Well, then I'll help you figure out where you came from…. There's also something else I'm looking for there, so…. Yeah," I said to them again.
"I still don't understand why you'd want to help us, your no different then those humans who banished us, and ran us out of our homes every time we think we are safe, they try to hunt us down…." Mari said her voice agitated.
"I told you already, I'm not like them, I know what you've been through and I don't like seeing people… my own kind hurt you when they don't understand…." I said to her tapping my jacket for my phone. I must've left it in the other room.
"Look, Miss Alex," Mari started to say. Yuri stood up in front of her.
"Don't Mari," she said to her.
"No, she needs to hear what I have to say," Mari challenged her sister.
"Mari, you don't have to trust me, I understand, but I also understand how you're feeling…. Being isolated, locked away from life," I started to say. She pushed around her sister.
"No you have no idea," she said to me and huffed angrily. She shifted to the bedroom. Yuri followed behind her.
"I'm really sorry about Mari's behaviour," Aki said to me.
"It's okay, she reminds me of Raphael he has a temper too, it's alright," I said to Aki. That's when I heard my phone ring.
"Hmm," I said searching for it.
"I think your phone is ringing," Yuri said coming from the bedroom. She had my phone in her hand.
"Thanks," I said taking it from her. I looked at the caller ID.
"Hello?" I said answering it.
"What took you so long?" Raph's voice bellowed on the other end.
"Raphael," I said to him.
"Hey, we need to talk…" He said.
"Oh?" I said.
I shifted to the bedroom; Mari passed me crossing her arms. I closed the door slightly.
"What's wrong?" I said to him.
"Well," he started to say.
"Wait, wait a minute don't tell me your asking girl advice too," I said to him quickly before he could finish.
"No,will yeah shut up for a minute," he said agitated again.
"We have a problem," he started to say. "Sach's posted bail again, and apparently footclan activity has doubled in the city," he added.
"WHAT?" I said rather loudly.
"What do you mean he posted bail, he's serving a life sentence," I said to him. That's when I heard Leo's voice.
"Alex, no, he apparently was given bail and probation period, we don't know why or how. We think someone is working on his behalf…." Leo said.
"Alex," Donnie's voice sounded distraught.
"Don't plan on changing your trip back here because of this news, we can handle things here…" he said quickly before I could even say anything.
"Yeah, Alex… Casey and I think we have a lead, were going to have eye's on him and see what his move is, what he's planning, right now…. We aren't even sure if he's in New York," April's voice replied.
"No way, I'm going back to help," I said to them quickly.
"NO, Alex, stay where you are, we'll call you in a few days," Leo said again.
"Look I have something to tell you guys," I started to say trying to figure out a way to tell them about the girls.
"Alex, stay put," Raph said to me. Then the phone clicked.
"RAPH, RAPH," I shouted at him.
"Damn," I said again.
I reached for the bedroom door handle and noticed the girls hovered at the door.
"We need to talk," I said to them.
"I have to tell them about you, they can help, we can protect you…. you also could help us," I said to them as they came in to the bedroom.
"Your brothers, they said Sachs was out of prison?" Nina said looking to her sisters.
"You heard all that?" I asked them.
"Yes we have good hearing," Yuri said her face looked pained.
"They think someone is working with him, posted bail for him, if he's out, he'll resurrect the footclan and even maybe attempt to make more mutants, or bring back the Shredder," I said to them.
"Who's Shredder?" they all said at the same time.
I went on explaining the encounter the guys had with Shredder, Sachs and the footclan, and how they meet April and Casey and also my encounter with Shredder as well.
"So Shredder is behind everything including TGRI," Yuri asked again.
"Yes we believe Shredder is the mind behind everything, he hired Sachs and his scientific team to create the TGRI, and they created two mutants already, Bebop and Rocksteady." I said to them. I could see their expression change to anger.
"We will help you," Mari said, she had clenched her hands in to fists.
"What about Okinawa?" Aki asked shifting next to Nina.
"We'll go to Okinawa, I have too… Sachs and my father both lived there, they trained there as well, maybe we can find something that could help us stop Sachs," I said to them. They all looked to eachother and nodded.
That night the girls slept in the bedroom near me. I slept on the floor giving them the bed. Aki and Nina slept on the floor near me. I couldn't sleep that well, I had nightmares, I kept seeing Sachs and Shredder… them laughing while my bothers where caged in large pods.
I woke up in a sweat and my heart beating fast. I looked around me, the girls hadn't noticed my anxiety, and they were sleeping soundly. Probably never slept like this in their entire lives.
I had to talk to someone; I reached for my phone and dialed Vern. He was always someone I could talk too.
I went to the bathroom and closed the door.
"Come on, come on answer," I said to myself as it rang.
"Vern," I said when he answered.
"Alex… hey girl," he said to me.
"I need to talk to you," I said to him agitated.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
I explained everything to him, I was sure he was in the room with everyone when they called me earlier about Sachs, so I didn't mention that, I told him mostly about the girls and that I wanted his help.
"WHAT… female turtles," he said his voice sounded surprised.
"Yes, like I said they were created by Sachs as well," I said to him.
"FEMALE turtles," he said again.
"Vern pay attention, yes female turtles, they can't fight and well…. They're my friends, they're going to help us," I said to him again.
"Woah Alex you have to tell Splinter and the guys about this," he said rather quickly.
"NO, NO… I can't, not yet; they may think they're a threat, with Sachs out who knows what they're thinking…" I said to him.
"Alex," he was about to say something when I cut him off.
"I need a favour," I told him quickly.
"You want me to what?" he asked.
"I need you to break in to Sachs lab, it's probably quarantine and shut down right now, but I'm sure you can make up a reason for breaking in and take April or Casey with you," I said to him.
"If I'm right he'll have a hidden camera still in the place, it's probably his eyes and ears, it should be hidden in a locked room either under a computer desk or on the webcam. Get it, download what you can and send it to me," I said to him.
"I have to find out what he's doing, the girls here… the female turtles, they'll help me, I know it. They hate Sachs as much as we all do," I said to him.
"Alex," he said agitated.
"You have to tell them." He said again.
"Vern, please…." I said to him.
"Look, I'll make you a deal…. a date, a real date…. For the information," I said to him.
"Your bargaining a date, over information from a man whose probably got eyes everywhere and could be one step ahead of us?" he said rather quickly.
"I know I know, but….. yes," I said to him.
"Okay deal! I won't tell the guys anything I promise, you have my word…. I'll figure something out and I'll see if Casey will help me," he said.
"Thanks Vern, I'm going to Okinawa tomorrow, I'll do some investigating there," I said to him.
"Be careful," he said to me then hung up.
"Thanks Vern," I said to myself. I took in a deep breath and went back to the bedroom. The girls were still asleep.
I leaned against the bedside table and looked at them. I scrolled through the pictures in my phone and started thinking. I was so scared and worried, I didn't want them hurt, or put themselves in to danger. What if it's a trap or he's planning something or some form of revenge on them? I'd rather be there to help them and help protect them myself then have them do this alone.
I sighed and took in a deep breath.
"Please… don't do anything," I said to myself looking at the group picture we took before I left.
I think I slept, I wasn't sure. I heard Nina talking to me, I woke up and noticed they all had clothes on. Well not really clothes, they mostly had coverings on their bodies, kind of like how the guys had dressed. But it looked like they had scrimmaged around the hotel for old items.
"Where did you guys get the dressings from?" I said slowly and cautiously. I shifted to my feet.
"We didn't steal these, we scrimmaged around before things were dumped, and we found these items." Mari replied.
"We want to help, like your brothers, we hate Sachs for what he's done," Yuri said with a nod.
I lifted an eyebrow to them.
"We have to go to Okinawa, I'm sure the answer is there," I said to them as I scattered around the room collecting my items in to my bag. I checked the minicomputer to insure it was charged and slide it into my jacket pocket.
"You will need to train, learn how to fight… not only to defend yourselves, but to help fight if needed." I said to them.
"Fight, as in martial arts?" Aki asked as she watched me frantically search for my things.
"How can we learn what we need in a few days?" Nina said to me her eyes shifting as I moved, she noticed I was looking for some bottles of water. Her hand extended to me as she handed me some.
"Thanks, and no, not here I have no time to train you myself," I said to them.
"You'll have to come back to America with me, we have a dojo there… I'm sure Splinter will help me train you," I said to them.
"Us, go back with you?" Yuri asked pointing to her sisters.
"Yes, that's the only way," I said to them. I pulled my hair into a bun.
"Let's go, we'll discuss this on the way," I said to them reaching for the hotel key.
"I have to tell them," I said to Yuri as she pulled out of the hotel parking lot.
"They may think we are a threat to you," Yuri said as she pulled in to the busy traffic.
"No, I'll tell Splinter, he knows how to tell the guys, they'll listen to him…. They'll be angry with me but that's fine," I said to her checking the mirrors.
"Why would they be mad?" Aki asked from the back seat.
"Because I didn't tell them myself, and they'll think I've betrayed them, or replaced them…." I said to her. She seemed confused.
"How do you mean?" Nina asked.
"Knowing Raphael, the hot head of the bunch, he'll think I betrayed them he'll probably not speak to me for a while. Then there's Leo, he may think I don't trust them and he may not speak to me for a while either, Donnie may side with Leo, and knowing Mickey, he'd probably feel like I replaced him but then he'd get over it and he'd probably side with me." I said trying to be as discreet as possible.
"You know them well," Yuri said pulling out of traffic on to a long road.
"April will definitely agree with me, she knows she's been there…. She'll definitely try to talk to them, make them see things clearly," I started rambling.
"She's like that, she knows them just as well as I do, she'll do anything for them and to protect them," I said again out loud.
"She seems like you," Aki said to me.
"She deserves more created then I give her for their lives," I said again.
"You seem to understand your friends well, and your brothers." Mari said.
"I do…. I know what they'll think or feel," I said again.
"Do we take a left?" Yuri said looking at an intersection.
"You can't read Japanese?" I said to her pointing to the sign.
"Well…. No," they all said together.
"Yuri, its left… that road leads out of Tokyo, we take it the whole way to Okinawa," I said to her pointing.
"Are you sure you don't want me to drive?" I said to her a she signalled and shifted.
"No, no… I want too," she said again.
I held my phone in my hands debating whether or not I should call home and talk to Splinter.
"What's wrong?" Yuri asked looking to me.
"I'm contemplating," I said to her.
"You are right, you must tell them," she said to me again.
"To tell you the truth, I'm scared too," I said to her again.
Yuri looked to me.
"Alright," I said and dialed home again.
It rang quite a few times.
"Hello?" Splinters voice answered. I took in a deep breath.
"Splinter," I said to him.
"My girl, hello…." He said. He sounded concerned.
"I need to talk to you," I said to him quickly.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes, see thing is….." I started to say. I then went on explaining everything.
"Alex, are you in danger?" He asked concerned.
"No, no Splinter, they're not a threat, they can't even defend themselves… they fear humans and feared me when I first saw them," I said to him.
"I see," he said. He sounded a bit concerned and curious.
"I didn't know how to tell the guys," I said to him.
"Are you…. mad at me?" I asked him.
"No Alex, absolutely not…. I'm proud of you for wanting to help them," he said again.
"I don't want the guys to think I betrayed them, or replaced them….." I said my voice was upset.
"Alex, darling…. They'll understand, they may be upset, but they'll have to realize you did this to help them…" he said to me trying to reassure me.
"Alex, we all love you and care for you…. I know how much you care for the boys, how much you are always worrying about them, they may become unhappy with your decision, but I will always be on your side," he said to me again.
"Splinter, I don't want them to hate me," I said trying not to sound upset.
"You leave them to me, I will talk to them once they are home," he said assertive.
"Thank you!" I said in return.
"Bring them with you, they will learn to live a normal life," he said.
"You're okay with that?" I said to him again.
"Yes, I am…." He said. That's when I heard talking around him.
"They are home, I will discuss this with them, don't be upset and stay safe," he said to me again.
"Thanks dad…." I said to him. I've never called him that since I've known him. Even April has called him that once or twice, but he's never heard it from me.
"Hm," he said I couldn't tell if he was happy or not.
"You have never called me that," he said.
"Oh… well," I said again rather nervously.
"I like it…. Coming from you," he said with a chuckle.
"Bye my dear," he said and hung up.
I sighed and took in a deep breath.
"Well?" Yuri asked as she diverted her eyes to the road again.
"He'll talk to them, I'm sure….they'll be okay," I said to her.
"We don't want to cause a problem with your family," Aki said to me.
"No, there won't be a problem, I hope…." I said to her looking through the mirror at her.
The rest of the trip we drove in silence. Okinawa was two hours away, it was a smaller portion of Japan an island, but they had built a bridge connecting it to the rest of Japan making easy travel for people.
"Before we get to Okinawa, I think I should drive," I said to her.
"Oh?" she asked curious.
"I know Okinawa real well; I think I remember where my old home is. Just encase, you never know what is there… so, I think it might be safer for me to drive," I told her we pulled into an old gas station for a break.
"People," Mari said pulling her jacket hood over her face.
"Cover yourselves," I said to them as I exited the car.
I came around the car and opened the gas tank.
I could see the gas station attended looking out the windows curiously at the truck. I tried to hover near the driver's side blocking his view.
"Stay here," I half whispered to them through the open driver's window.
"I'll pay and we'll leave, do not leave the truck," I said to them.
Yuri and the girls nodded to me, she passed me my bag through the opened window. I wasn't sure if I could one hundred percent trust them fully yet. I looked to them as I half turned towards the station.
I kept my eyes diverted towards the truck, I thought for sure they'd leave, or go their own way…. But they didn't. I still kept myself cautious, they were mutants, and I didn't know them that well, I wasn't sure if half of what they tell me is truth or not, but either way, I still wanted to help them. Gain their trust in me.
I paid quickly and ran back to the truck.