- Chapter Four -
- Callisto -

It was several hours before Zixx's ship drew into the sight of Jupiter. The planet dominated the galactic sky with bands of chaotic red and orange. A thin ring system dressed the mighty Jovian planet as several of its moons were also within sight.

The turtles had dispersed themselves to various activities during the ride. Mikey watched a cartoon on his IPod. Donny read a book on his micro-computer. Raph practiced his shadow boxing. Leo spent the trip in meditation.

There was something about this mission. Something not quite wrong, but something different and Leo couldn't quite put his finger on it. It was as if something waited just over the horizon to herald a change, and something told him it wouldn't be a good one. Still, he forced himself to focus. He'd be no good to anyone if he was distracted by phantoms.

He looked up as a groggy sounding Zixx announced they were entering Callisto's orbit. Good, Leo thought, the sooner this was done, the better. He hated this foreboding feeling he had and learned long ago to never ignore it.

Around him, the other turtles were coming out of whatever time consuming task they'd immersed themselves in to pass the time. Podcasts, I-tunes, and snoring, were the distractions de jour. "We're here guys." Leo announced.

The four turtles headed to the cockpit to watch the drop from there. Zixx glanced at them as they came in. "Look here." He said as a map superimposed itself over the forward viewscreen. "The camp is here, at the end of this chasm. We'll have to travel it."

When the map disappeared, the tiny tendrils of smoke on the distant horizon were visible in the thin atmosphere. The trip through the canyon was uneventful and Raph nudged Leo. "Something about this feel wrong to you Leo?" he asked quietly.

Leo only gave him a thin-lipped nod. Mikey was quiet too, something was wrong, definitely off. And when the camp came into sight, they could see why.

The tendrils of smoke that rose into the air weren't those from campfires, or forges…they were from the wrecked and smoldering ruins of crude wooden huts and makeshift shanties. Long scorch marks scored the ground in parallel streaks. There were no bodies, only the destroyed homes and the nearby crashed spaceship.

Silence reigned in the cockpit for several moments as Zixx's ship hovered over the scene of devastation. Raph spoke first, in his most elegant vernacular. "Holy shit!"

Zixx looked around, his hands flashing over his controls. "No signs of life."

"Maybe we should set down." Donatello asked quietly.

"No way." Raph said instantly. "We go down there and we're as good as dead from that crazy virus." He crossed his arms before him. "If whatever wiped out these guys doesn't do the same to us."

Mikey looked around the scene nervously. "Um...shouldn't we get out of here?"

Zixx nodded after a moment, "Yeah…good id—" He was cut off as the ship rocked violently to the side.

All four turtles ended up on the ground in a jumble of limbs and shells. As they worked to disentangle themselves from one another, Zixx began to curse. "We've been hit...something big!"

Donatello jumped into the co-pilots chair again to help. "There's a ship above us." He reported. "Capital class."

Zixx managed to regain attitude control and the ship avoided a deadly encounter with the ground. "Fine!" he said, pulling the ship into an evasive maneuver. "We're out of here."

Energy poured into the sub-light engines and the ship surged forward throwing its occupants backwards through inertia. However, the acceleration was short lived as the ship came to an almost immediate stop that sent the already off-balance passengers crashing forward painfully.

"SHIT!" Zixx cursed again. "We're caught in a tractor beam." The ship began to shudder as the engines fought against the thrall of the beam. Readouts began to red-line on the control panel and alarms began to sound.

Mikey looked around the ship nervously. This couldn't be good. Not for the ship and definitely not for them. But even he realized there was little they could do to avoid this. A movie flashed into his head. "Hey Zixx! Isn't this ship for smuggling? Don't you have smuggling bays here that we can hide in?"

Raph tsked briefly. "Watchin' too many movies again Mikey..." Still, he looked just as worried as the others. They could do little against a ship so large.

"Well," Donatello reasoned, "They don't want us dead, or else we'd already be. They want to capture us..." he glanced over at Zixx with suspicion. "Why?"

Zixx threw up his hands in defense. "No. Don't look at ME this time. A lot of people know me, but only a handful know this ship by sight, and trust me, I definitely didn't piss off the owners of a capital warship recently." He glared at Donatello with undisguised annoyance; out of character for the normally laid-back smuggler.

Donny blinked. It was rare to see that level of ire from Zixx. This was serious. The smuggler cared more about his ship then he did his own life and there was a very serious danger of it being lost, destroyed, or even worse for Zixx...impounded. It was a very big deal, Don could tell, and their companion was aggravated in a big way.

Dammit. Leo swore inwardly. This was bad. Whoever was on that ship had complete control of the situation. They would go down fighting though, that much was certain. Still, they hadn't done anything wrong, maybe this was something routine.

Somehow he doubted it.

Zixx shut down the engines; all that power and it was useless against the larger ship. "Well," the smuggler said grimly, as he stood up. "They won't take me without a fight." He checked his weapons briefly and pushed past the turtles into the main cabin.

Mikey blinked and followed. "This is going to end badly, isn't it?" He asked no one in particular.

Vibrations shuddered through the ship, as it passed through the atmospheric shielding of the other ship. A dull thud announced its arrival with the floor. Zixx stood at the main hatch, the four turtles behind him.

Waiting.

After several long moments the hatch opened and several armed guards stood along the lowered ramp. "Come out. In the name of the Alliance starship Argonos, surrender and exit your vessel!"

Zixx blinked in surprise and recognition, and he turned back towards the turtles to see if they shared the same reaction. It was a small relief to see that they did. "Damn..." he whispered. "Alliance soldiers."

Raphael narrowed his eyes. The Argonos was the flagship of the Pan-Galactic Alliance. What in the world would the flagship be doing way out here in Jovian space? But, since they were sorely outnumbered, it would be a difficult, if not impossible, fight. Raph was ready though. Ready and itching.

"The Alliance?" Michelangelo blurted out. "Where is Bishop? He knows us. Talk to Bishop."

The soldiers at the bottom of the ramp squinted upwards in annoyance. "That's President Bishop to you terrapin." There was no way that these ragamuffins knew the President. They hefted their weapons a bit higher and four pairs of turtle hands hovered over theirs.

Minutes passed as the two groups eyeballed one another for dominance. Finally, just as Zixx was about to give it up and just walk down the hatchway, a new voice cut over the murmur. "Lower your weapons."

The soldiers at the ramp immediately complied, although none ceased their glower at the offenders. They stepped back, assumedly to give the unknown speaker some room.

None of the turtles said a word, and Zixx remained quiet as well. He tried to place the voice, familiar as it was, but the answer eluded him.

Michelangelo peered forward; he recognized that voice. He knew, given his history with it, he'd never forget it. No matter what might happen, or how ever many years pass. He moved in front of Zixx, who brought up the rear somewhat less then eager to confirm his beliefs.

What he saw first was nearly two dozen armed soldiers, all of them holding quite ugly looking blaster rifles. Luckily none were currently pointed at him, but that could change in seconds. Mikey glanced towards his brothers, and then towards the central figure, all doubt of identity washed away.

"Bishop."

Bishop chuckled and turned towards Leonardo. "That's correct, although I'd like to know what you are doing out here on Callisto."

Raph crossed his arms. "One could ask you the same thing."

The Alliance president was silent a moment, his mouth hovering over a smirk yet a dangerous glitter still rested in his eyes. He turned towards one of the soldiers, "Captain, take your squadron and return to normal duty."

The captain looked like he wanted to protest, but seemed to think better of such a foolish idea. He nodded silently and then began to march his troops out of the bay. After all, if the President felt it was safe around these criminals then who was he to argue?

As the soldiers ambled away, only a small contingent of personal guard remained with Bishop. "Torbin Zixx. You may wait here with your ship, if you prefer."

Zixx needed no more invitation then that. He turned and walked back up the ramp. "I'll be here when you want to go guys," He said over his shoulder to the turtles. "But don't think I'll wait too long." He ignored the frowns directed to his back.

The Alliance president hadn't answered the turtles question as he turned and walked towards an unfamiliar being that waited patiently for him near the door. "Yorrazh," Bishop said congenially, "These are friends of mine -" He gestured towards the turtles, and motioned them forward. "– from a long time ago."

Hesitating slightly, Leo walked forward towards Bishop, and watched the large creature carefully. Yorrazh stood at least a foot taller than the humans around it did and its blue, slightly translucent skin seemed to glow in the artificial lights. Bony horns swept out from its forehead back over dark hair held back with a simple clip. Solid glowing blue eyes seemed to pierce each of the turtles, which left each of them with that uncomfortable feeling one gets after being sized up. Thick bipedal legs, like those of a horse ended in thickly padded, clawed paws, and a short sinuous tail ended with bony protrusions.

Leo stopped before the creature that towered over him and bowed slightly.

Yorrazh seemed to recognize this act and it returned Leo's bow, lowering its eyes briefly. "My honor is to meet you." He said, in broken English.

Bishop smiled. "You'll have to forgive him, Leonardo, his speech. He's only learned our language in the past few days."

Donatello was impressed. "In a few days? How-?"

"Let us walk." Bishop cut off any further conversation. "We just were finishing a tour of our ship when your own ship arrived. I'm sorry we had to act as such, but as our presence here is a secret, well, appropriate measures were in order. You see, Yorrazh and his people are refugees from their world, and have come here to find a new home. Unfortunately granting them protection is not a decision I can make on my own, since they also come with an unusual proposal."

"So that was the wreckage of HIS ship down there?" Raphael noted.

The president nodded. "Yes, they crashed here after being attacked quite a while back. To answer your earlier question, the Argonos is here to facilitate an emergency senate meeting about this very issue."

Donatello's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Why is there need for debate, and secrecy? What is the proposal?"

Bishop didn't answer that as they reached a large room. Two of the guards remained outside the doors while the others, Bishop, the turtles, and Yorrazh went in and found seats.

Dominating the expansive room was a thick half-moon table. Arranged around this in a widening semi circle were other tables, at which sat the members of the council. It was reminiscent of the United Nations setup of the 20th century. Around its expansive width were several life-like holographic images of the senate members along with quite a few living senators as well. Bishop motioned for the turtles to sit in the chairs along the walls, with the other spectators and remain quiet.

One of the senators stood up as Yorrazh re-entered the room. "I trust you had a nice ... walk?" There could be no mistaking the vinegar in his voice.

Yorrazh either didn't recognize the inflection in the senator's tone, or ignored it completely. He nodded once towards the man and took his chair near the head of the room beside Bishop. Grumbling, the senator sat back down.

The new alien smiled at the assembly. "I am satisfied and very pleasing to see the level of intelligence possessed to you. Your planet is to be proud of, but please to explain to me this senate and your military...in general terms of course."

Another senator stood, this one less hostile. "We are glad you find our ship and our technology pleasing. Let me attempt to explain the working of our government and how we defend our planet."

A second senator stood up at this. "Is it wise to divulge our military secrets to an alien?"

Several non-human members took offense at that statement and they stood up as well, voices quickly rising in pitch and volume.

Mikey sighed, he'd never bothered with politics, ever. And this was why. Nothing ever went quickly. It was like Leo and Raph but on a larger scale, and louder too. His stomach growled and he put a hand over it to muffle its protests. Soon, stomach, soon.

Raph, too, was annoyed with this turn of events. This was NOT how he wanted to spend his day, sitting here in a chair and listening to a bunch of humans and aliens bickering over another alien. Zixx was going to pay for this, oh yeah, Zixx would pay.

Leonardo was more intrigued about the alien's proposal that then he was about the technicalities of the government. While it was a given that the senators wouldn't give away any true secrets, he was curious to understand why the alien would want to know about them even in generalities. Only conquerors wanted to know military strengths, not refugees.

He looked over towards Bishop, who seemed to be sharing his thoughts about the unwise behavior of the council and the suspicious behavior of Yorrazh. His eyes, mostly covered by his ever-present shades, constantly flicked between the current speaker, and the blue-skinned alien. Just another item in the stack of events that pricked at Leo's ever growing sense of unease.

Donatello was thrilled. Long had he wanted to sit in on a session of the Senate. Watching them on the telecaster wasn't quite the same as being in the same room with them, smelling the rising alien pheromones, and seeing the reactions of those around the cameras. It wasn't so much Donatello liked politics; it was more that the workings of the inner political machine fascinated him.

Donatello's thoughts were interrupted as a familiar cyborg sat down behind the group. "Well well well, if it isn't my favorite mutant freaks from the distant past."

Four pairs of heads swiveled to towards the all-too-familiar voice.

"Baxter Stockman." Raph said and then skipped any small talk. "Tell us what's going on here!"

Stockman chuckled. "Nearly a century and you turtles haven't changed." His voice was patronizing, same as usual. "I will indulge your ignorance." He pointed towards Yorrazh. "They call themselves Jyukai, and he and several dozen others are the last remnants of their planet which was is being consumed by their sun going into its red giant stage. Apparently several other ships of Jyukai escaped their world as well. At some point in their journey, their ship, damaged in the exodus crashed on Callisto. This was several years ago."

Donatello blinked. "Several years?" It didn't add up, why then was the council only now taking action?

"Ah, silly terrapins, so much you don't know." Despite the fact that Baxter was speaking in that tone one normally reserved for explanations to toddlers, the turtles were intrigued by the story rounding out from the scientist. "Callisto has long been used as the 'secret' meeting place for council assemblies. The location is neutral and off the beaten path, so to speak. Bishop, along with MY genius, has cultivated quite a complex web of urban legends surrounding this quaint little Jovian moon. None of the stories bore truth, but all of it enough to ward away any casual visitors."

"So, if the Jyukai were here for years, what caused all that damage down there?" Leo asked. "And why do they only now ask for asylum."

Stockman laughed at that, a short harsh laugh loud enough to send several glares his direction. "Asylum? Is that what you think they want? Oh no, my terrapin friend. They want far more than that." His cyborg body leaned back in the plush upholstery easily and he continued. "They were unaware of Earth until a few months ago, when a group of colonists on their way to Titan crashed on Callisto instead. Apparently the Jyukai took them in and helped them survive. Unfortunately, for the colonists, the Jyukai brought with them a strange virus that afflicted their digestive systems before it killed them."

Mikey felt smart. "And one of those colonists must have known Zixx and got him to bring the medicine!"

Stockman paused momentarily, "I see that there IS a pea brain beneath that bald head. It was simple coincidence that the Argonos was here at the same time."

Leo tensed; beside him Raph was shaking slightly in response to Stockman's thoughtless insults. A ninja turtle could only take so much and Leonardo feared Raph was quickly reaching that limit. "So," He said, trying to disarm the conversation a bit, "If they didn't want asylum, what DO they want?"

Stockman hissed at him slightly, causing a similar response in Leo that Raph was undergoing. "Silence reptile. They are about to speak of that now."

A non-human senator was standing up, "...is your reason for coming before us then?"

Yorrazh smiled, "Simple human." He purred. "Your society is simplistic, wanting. Your people are blind and frantic. Your government is teetering between corrupt and ineffectual, while spouting unnecessary rhetoric and untruths. Your medicine is rudimentary; technology and defenses basic, and your people are violent and close-minded. Yet your society has merit. It has the idealism of a sheltered society, and potential for expansion...given the right leadership."

The words were delivered with elegance and poise, the way one would read off a list of facts rather than opinions. However, as more and more words flowed out, the temperature and the atmosphere in the expansive chambers went from luke-warm, to boiling hot in the span of seconds.

Senators, both human and non-human leapt to their collective feet, words of protest, words of denial, and words of condemnation spewing forth from lips in volumes that rose quickly. In seconds the room was a din of shouts and righteous indignation. But Yorrazh calmly sat down with a look on his face one usually wears when they are proven right.

It was impossible for the Jyukai to understand how this council got anything done, with the nature of humans interfering with every action. Beside him, Bishop shouted for order and as the room slowly returned to a more manageable level of grumbling and whispered snarls, Yorrazh stood again along with the senator that has chastised his earlier walk. "Yes, Senator Benally?"

The Senator, a slightly overweight human huffed, his face was red. "Yorrazh, do you mean to tell us that YOU can provide this vaunted leadership you claim to say we lack?" The distain in his voice was clear, mirrored in the faces of the majority of the assembly.

To everyone's surprise, Yorrazh shook his head. "No. I cannot lead your people. I do not possess the skills."

"Then...then why did you make such a claim?" Benally asked.

"The bulk of our forces await my report. Among them, our leaders can decide on who shall govern this world."

A second senator stood up. "I happen to think our world is governed just fine as it is."

"So you should," Yorrazh agreed, "As you are part of that governing force, it would be distasteful to condemn yourself."

A third senator stood up, this one a woman. "You said 'bulk of our forces'. Did you mean...an invasion force?"

Yorrazh was quick to shake his head. "No, we will not invade, not in the sense that you use the term. Over a period we have discovered that to lead a society using non-violent means is much more effective than conquering with sword and stick. We can show you that what we offer is a life of peace for your children's grandchildren. In a world free from poverty, violence, and the threat of invasion, all technology we have is yours. Our medical procedures, we shall share. Our lives...yours." Yorrazh spread his hands out wide to the assemblage. "This is no trivial thing we offer, our lives to you. We will protect your world."

Benally sneered. Yorrazh's impassioned speech fell upon deaf ears. "Oh? Would you protect our world the same way you protected your own? Why are you wandering the stars homeless, looking for worlds to conquer?"

For the first time, a hint of steel penetrated Yorrazh's words as he turned his head to respond to the pudgy human, It was subtly obvious the human had inadvertently struck a nerve. "Our star is going nova. As advanced as my people are, we lack the technology to stop a star from reaching the end of its natural lifespan."

The senator didn't miss the slight edge however. "Your superior technology didn't stop you from crashing on the moon below us. It didn't help you find a planet to rule. Hell, it didn't even keep those colonists alive that you tried to save. Why on EARTH do you think you can do better than we can? We're united under a very capable President, one that we VOTED into office. I think I speak for us all when I say you can take your 'superior technology', your lies, and your offer, and go to hell!"

There were several shouts of agreement in the assemblage, but surprisingly there were a few voices raised in protest. Yorrazh's words had at least piqued the interest of enough to warrant a more thorough investigation to his claims and perhaps a more in-depth lesson on how human society worked.

Bishop had no other choice. "We must put this to vote."

He was of mixed opinion as well. On one hand, if the alien could deliver what he claimed, then perhaps Earth would be better off under a different sort of rule. It certainly didn't seem as if the aliens were tyrants, after all, if they were, would they have wasted time trying to talk and cajole their way into the Earth government. Then again, it might be as Yorrazh had claimed, it was easier to conquer a society by words and gentle deeds, than it were by force.

It certainly couldn't hurt to try the easy way first, get a feel for their enemies, list their strengths and weaknesses. It was what Bishop would do. It's what he DID a century in the past when the Earth was first invaded. Conquerors come in many disguises; some came with weapons, others came with hidden lies.

"The issue before the council is whether or not to sanction an investigation into the claims of the representative from Juukai in order to substantiate his motion to absolve the current legislative configuration in lieu of a new one. Do I have a second on that?"

A wiry alien in the back made the motion and Bishop continued. "Aright, we will now vote. All those—"

The room suddenly exploded.