I do not own the TMNT.

Okay, I'm trying a couple new things here, let me know if anything comes off too cheesy or cliché.

Chapter Sixteen; The Soldier

When one wore several pounds of chain, metal, Kevlar and who knew what else; a spontaneous back flip is not easy.

Nevertheless, just as gunfire filled the small eatery called Chief N' Beef Nightwatcher was doing just that to avoid getting killed or becoming an easy target. His mind raced, trying to remember what to do in this sort of emergency.

Get to cover. But he was surrounded. Even as he forced himself to keep moving and try to stay alive Raph had a sinking feeling that he wasn't getting out of the building alive. His costume was hit, knocking him to the floor. Another bullet struck his side but he couldn't tell if it had pierced the costume or not. The crack in his visor vanished as the rest of the visor shattered. Raph closed his eyes just before the visor's synthetic glass rained down on his mask and eyes.

Strangely though, while the gunfire continued for several more seconds not a single additional bullet hit Nightwatcher. Finally the gunfire ceased completely.

This can't be what dead feels like. Raph thought. He rolled over slowly and shook his head to get the glass off of his face. When his eyes finally opened the first thing he saw was the man, Kyle, lying on the floor in a slowly growing pool of blood.

A quick glance around revealed the Purple Dragon all lying on the ground; apparently unconscious but groaning or twitching to prove they weren't dead. Hoping he would have time, Raph hurried over to where the man lay.

The man had black hair and light brown skin speckled with crimson. He groaned as Nightwatcher came closer and opened his eyes. They were blurred and couldn't focus, but he clearly recognized the blurred figure in front of him. "Nora, she is okay?"

"Uh…" That was the mother right? She should be, but the last thirty some-odd hours had been pretty unpredictable, "Yeah. She's good."

Kyle nodded. "Bueno." He breathed. For a moment he seemed to be collecting his thoughts before finally trying to focus on Nightwatcher again. "Purple Dragons...weapons for information... work for…" The man squinted in concentration. "Yaqan Salim Rabb."

Before Raph could ask what the man meant this Kyle finally managed to make solid eye contact. "Help…Peter."

There was a moment of sickening silence. Finally Raph managed, "I will."

Kyle didn't respond. It was several seconds before Raphael realized that he had just watched a man die.

Raph tried to think of what to do, the only person he had actually watched die before had been a robot, and he hadn't really died. The best thing he could think of was to close the man's eyes, if for no other reason than to make this dead stranger stop staring at him.

After accomplishing this one task Raph sat back on the heels of his boots. Inside his gloves his fingers twitched as he realized that he was not alone, there was somebody right behind him; standing. In one quick and long practiced motion Raph drew his sais, stood and turned to face the other.

It was a soldier. Outfitted in full battle dress including a helmet with eye shield and a rifle Raph was surprised he couldn't recognize. Due to the bulky uniform the only solid impressions Raph could gather about this individual was that this was an American soldier and probably young. Strangely, the uniform was bereft of identification; no name tape, branch, rank or unit designation anywhere.

Before Raph could decide on a course of action the soldier grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the exit. Normally Raph would have objected, strongly and violently, but the Purple Dragon had begun to stir and the last thing Nightwatcher was willing to do was fight off a legion of gang bangers wielding guns. He was willing to bet that going with one soldier who didn't look any larger than him was smarter than sticking around here.

He was led across the street and into a back alley where a large silvery grey motorcycle stood. Although Raph couldn't recognize the make or model of the bike he couldn't shake the feeling that he'd seen this one before.

The soldier released Nightwatcher's hand and Raph slowed to a stop. Raph wasn't sure whether he was supposed to climb onto the bike with the soldier or if the rescue was officially over.

The soldier climbed up onto the bike and shoved the rifle behind his back, where it hung by a strap so that the barrel pointed upwards. Instead up cranking up the bike with a kick start the soldier lifted a panel and flipped the switch. As the engine rumbled to life the soldier turned to face Raph. "Well? Seat up!" He called. "Those punks are waking up and I bet they called for help."

Nightwatcher nodded and climbed on behind the soldier, still vaguely wondering where he had seen the motorcycle before.

They tore out of the alley just in time to see Dragons come running out of the Chief N' Beef, shouting and firing their guns but missing completely.

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