Chapter 9:

(3rd:)

Upon exiting the computer room, Leo and Donnie quickly stopped in the tracks when they found the hall full of more than just their brothers and Hun. With the addition of April, Casey, several of his trusted friends, and even Usagi to the fight, the mountain of a man didn't stand a chance.

"Usagi," Leo said with a grin and he walked up to his friend who smiled as he turned to bow to him.

"I'm glad to see you have broken free, my friend," The rabbit declared genuinely.

"Thank you for trying to help me," Leo stated as he remembered a distinct moment during his controlled weeks that the samurai had approached him in an attempt to help. As he had skillfully faked being under the Barron's control after they were recaptured.

"I just wish I could have done more," Usagi proclaimed sadly, but Leo quickly placed a hand on his shoulder to reassure him.

"You have, my friend," The turtle stated truthfully, before looking up as Raph and Mikey walked up.

"He didn't listen to you," Mike announced, causing everyone to turn back to Hun, who had been brought to the floor with pure numbers, "He's not being controlled."

"That's fine," Leo announced before walking up to his friends, "Casey; I need you to get everyone out of the building."

"What?" The man stated in shock, before moving to stand before him, "Not a chance Leo, we do this together."

"I'm not asking," Leo proclaimed seriously.

"But –" April tried then as she walked up as well.

"Please," Raph added suddenly, "This is our fight, but we need ta know yu're safe." This caused the two humans to go quite, as they seemed to realize what he was saying, causing Casey to sigh before looking up at them again.

"Well, shit," He complained, "Yu're not those little turtles anymore, are ya?" He asked with a sad smile.

"No," Mikey answered this time, causing the guy to sigh loudly as he looked back at his men, who had finally managed to knock out Hun and were now moving to get the hulk out of the area.

"Alright," Casey finally conceded as he turned back to them, "But ya guys better come back," He threatened, causing them to smile.

"Not ta worry, Case," Raph responded calmly, before reaching out to give his friend a punch to the shoulder, "We got tough skin."

"Yeah," Mikey put in with a huge grin, "It'll take more than 'Mr. Brought to you be kitchen-aid' to take us down," He added leaving everyone to laugh briefly, before they all moved to say their goodbyes, but as the hugs were being passed around, Leo took a moment to walk back to Usagi.

"Go with them," He asked just as the rabbit made to open his mouth.

"You are sure?" He requested respectfully and the turtle nodded.

"We've come full circle," He announced, "It started with us – it's going to end with us."

…

"Well, that's ominous," Mikey proclaimed sourly as they arrived at a long hallway which featured the pointed form of Shredder's emblem on the large doors at the end.

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure there aren't any traps down there," Raph announced sarcastically, before Leo stepped up to take in the hall then jumped onto the wall so he could then flip and trick his way to the other side without touching the floor.

"Come on," He called back quietly once he had landed, leaving Mikey and Donnie to go next and finally Raph.

"Okay," Leo stated once they were back together again and moved to remove his helmet, they wouldn't need them anymore. "You ready?" He asked, which his brothers answered by pulling out their weapons and mentally preparing themselves for what lay ahead of them.

Leo simply nodded back before pulling one of his swords from their sheath and quietly approach the door to push it open, allowing them to take in the large darkened area on the other side that was Shredder's thrown room.

Walking between the two lines of pillars that lead up to a short staircase and a large chair was a strange experience, but the turtles continued to keep their cool, making sure to check every nock and cranny for a sign of their opponent that they knew had to be in the room somewhere.

However, once they had finally reached the end and still had yet to see anything, they started to grow jumpy.

"Come out, Shredder," Leo called angrily as they moved to make a circle, so no one could sneak up on them.

"Well, if it isn't my little super solders," A voice suddenly spoke up and they quickly turned to find a man in a lab coat had appeared from seemingly nowhere to stand next to the thrown like he owned the place, "My, how we've grown," He proclaimed in a slimy voice which made the turtles tense as they realized they recognized it.

This man had been at the lab, pulling the strings, causing the pain. Jordan had told them that he was the one who had always been in charge, he was the reason they were what they were.

"Stockman?" Leo asked quietly, casing the man to smile.

"It speaks," He congratulated, causing them to grip their weapons tighter.

"Where's Shredder?" Raph quickly countered, moving to the front so he was more threatening.

"Busy dealing with the mess you four have made," The man answered, still smiling like it was his birthday or something, "I really must thank you for that," He added.

"Why?" Leo commanded, leaving the guy to wave his hand around a bit.

"Because," He answered simply before turning to look at them again, "It's given me the chance I needed. I knew you'd be good for something I just never thought it would be for this."

"Alright, enough with the cryptic messages," Raph threatened before charging the goon, "We didn't come here ta fight you," He proclaimed, just before plunging his sai into the form of the man who didn't so much as bat an eyebrow.

"What?" Raph stated in shock before pulling back as the form flickered, revealing it to be a hologram, "Damnit to hell," He swore sourly, "I hate these things," He added, before kicking the little display object on the ground, causing it to bounce across the room before displaying the image of Stockman again.

"Now, now," The man proclaimed simply, "Let's save the violence for Shredder, shall we?"

"What do you want?" Leo demanded, nearly ready to just get his team and leave the room in search of their real target.

"For you to kill him," Stockman suddenly stated, causing them all to go quiet as the man's smile finally dropped into a stern expression, "Take out the son of a bitch and I will reward you – greatly."

"What makes ya think we want anythin' from you?" Raph countered, causing the man to shrug.

"Fine," He answered simply before changing tactics. "There is a secret entrance behind the chair," This quickly caused the turtles to look at the area before turning back to the hologram, "Shredder is on the roof – but he is ready for you."

"Now – which one of you is the smart one?" He demanded, but they didn't answer, causing him to sigh loudly, "The projector," He started again, pointing at the floor, clearly indicating the holographic device, "I made it to incapacitate his armor, use it only when you have a clear shot, 'cause you won't get another chance."

"Why are you helping us?" Donnie asked then.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Stockman countered simply, before emitting another slimy little grin, "Good luck," He announced, before the hologram finally shut off, leaving the turtle's alone in the room once more.

Well, this is it guys, the next chapter will be the last.

X)