Chapter 46: Fly

Sophia had seen many mutants in her life thanks to the Sect from Moher. None of them compared to the disgusting figure that blocked the Splice Lab's doorway.

Its silhouette resembled a football player that had been hit by a truck. Multiple times. Its thick thighs morphed into bird legs barely accompanied by feathers around its bulbous hips, and it stood off-center—like its larger top-half weighed him down. Wide shoulders were thickened by hairy joints, which connected bear-like paws to his swaying arms. They were reminiscent of the Bear-Hound Trackers, leaving the heroine uneasy.

Still, the mutation's Frankenstein nature paled in comparison to its face. A dark beak protruded from the center, starting at the forehead and flaring downwards until it replaced the nose and mouth. All tan skin around its bubbly seam glistened yet also looked cracked. And when the beak parted, pushing its swollen eyes up even further, it revealed a line of sharp little teeth.

"I can easily say that is the grossest thing I've ever seen," Turtle Titan noted from the side.

"Did it…escape from somewhere?" Sophia whispered.

"Maybe another kennel?" Titan paused as the monster's head bobbed on its toothpick-like neck. "I fought a Bear-Hound earlier, so…"

"Wh—what is it?"

Whatever it was, its hiss-yelp pierced Soph's ears and it charged on all fours into the lab.

"Uh, here, birdy-lizard-bear-thing!" Titan called out. He pushed Marco onto Soph then sprung up to flail his arms. The creature veered his way, but an injured side left the hero less agile than usual.

"Figo!" The heroine tried standing. She failed.

"Bad beast," said Titan across the lab. He swatted the beak that nipped at him arm with his nunchaku then flipped sideways, away from its paws. "You, uh, move Marco, Hoshi! See if he can fly or somethin'! I got this!"

"What about your wound? You can't ignore it forever!"

But he could ignore her, it seems.

'Stupid Figo.' Sophia huffed as the hero clamored for attention, grip tightening on whatever she held.

"T—that's hurts, Sophie."

"Oh!" The blonde glanced down at her hands, only then realizing they squeezed Marco's feathered forearms. Their plush whiteness still shocked her, since he has been hairy and tan for as long as she could recall. "Sorry," she grumbled in her native tongue. "Uh, can you stand?"

The bird-man slumped against the Splice Lab's wall, groaning. He let Sophia rearrange his arms; however, as soon as her fingers brushed the rough texture of his talon-hands, he screeched. Such a foreign protest must've startled them both because no sooner did Sophia fall on her ass did Marco's eyes open wide.

Gone was the olive green Soph had grown accustomed to. Pitch black replaced their rich color, which accentuated their new rounded, larger nature. "M…Marco…"

"Why—why do you look so funny?" Marco asked, feathers fluffed around his titled head. "Why is everything…?"

"I—I'm sorry. I…I couldn't stop them."

Marco glanced down at his white arms and legs. "Shit!"

"I—it's not so bad. I mean—"

"No. Don't blame yourself, Sophie. I—it was only a matter of time."

Huh?" Sophia blinked, brows furrowed by the way the bird-man ran his talon-hands through his wild head feathers. "You aren't freaked?"

"Hell, yeah, I am," Marco continued in Italian. "But I've been messing with Bishop for years. I've prepared myself for what might happen if caught. Although"—his black eyes thinned into an almond shape—"this is a surprise. Wait, how are you?"

"I'm normal. I think."

"You sure? T—they didn't inject you with anything or—"

Sophia pushed away Marco's talon-hands before they ventured far around her exposed body. "I was too dizzy to notice much, honestly. But other than weak, I feel fine."

"You should get checked over."

"Could say the same about you. We'll have to wait until we get out of here, though. Figo's—"

"Of course there's no more Pentobarbital! Stupid Turtle Luck!"

Sophia turned with Marco towards the Splice Lab's entrance. Two figures dashed beyond it, blurs of muted color as the blonde tugged her ex's arm.

"He needs help," she said, willing strength into her bare legs. They wobbled under Marco's weight, but didn't fold like before. "Whatever that thing is, it has a lot of energy. Mikey can't hold out forever."

"My Shell."

"Your what?"

Marco paused by the doorway Sophia had approached with great difficulty then glanced around the kennels. "My bio-enhancement suit. The Shell. It—it may've been damaged in the attack, but it could still work."

"Won't a suit, like"—the heroine glossed over Marco's featured features—"hurt?"

"I have no idea how it might respond to"—the bird-man glanced down at his talon feet—"these."

"So I'll wear it. Did you see where they put it?"

"Y—you're too small for my belt, Sophie," Marco answered with a weak laugh. "It'd weigh you down."

"What about that second dresser over there? By the—the—the—?" Sophia couldn't bring herself to finish her question, even if the curled Bear-Hound made no noise. He stayed still, unlike the creature and mutant that dashed across the Kennel Lab.

"Any time, Hoshi!" Turtle Titan cried as he tossed something behind him. It hit the bear-bird monster with a dull 'thump', which riled another hiss-yelp. Its pace quickened. "The exit's right beside you. Pick door number one or two; I don't care!"

"Forget that shit; I'm not leaving you behind, Figo!"

"So you have found another…"

'Eh?' Glancing towards Marco, Sophia strived for uprightness. The male's brow was eased for some reason, and he sighed as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Push him aside, Sophie." The bird-man gestured towards the man lying at their bare feet. "Look in the lowest cabinet beside the door. I think they put my belt there."

Soph did as told. She helped Marco lean against the doorjamb then gladly rolled the dark-haired scientist, satisfied with how hard his head hit the floor when she did do. Kneeling was easy, so she pulled out the cabinet drawer that was recessed into the space between the Splice Lab door and an open archway.

Scrubs? Nope. Boots? Nope. Underwear? Gross!

Growling, the blonde almost slammed the drawer shut. She was distracted partially by Turtle Titan's squeak in the chaos behind her, but a dark flash amidst the white caught her attention.

"Is this it?" she asked, raising a weighty belt with one hand.

"Perfect!" cheered Marco in Italian. "Now—"

Before Marco could finish, Sophia's attention diverted. His voice didn't register when Titan's cape caught on a protruding piece of metal from a damaged kennel. It faded under the monster's screech as it charged towards the hero on powerful bird and bear limbs. Her first instinct was to startle the creature, so she tossed the belt at its head then darted forward on uncooperative legs.

Its beak snapped shut, severing the cape from Figo's cowl. Of course, now she had its attention, and felt too weak to dodge its charge in time. Her arms crossed over her torso—it was the best defense she could muster when the monster rammed her. She landed on her back, breathless as its stub teeth sunk into her shoulder.

"Fuck!" she screamed. It strung so bad, tears threatened her eyes. But she would rather punch the thing's head instead. "Get off!"

"What the lady said!"

Sophia heard Titan's voice before she saw his arm. It sideswiped the monster with a force that both tore the blonde's flesh and sent the abomination whirling over the Bear-Hound's corpse into the kennel wall. Hissing, she glanced upwards, where the mutant stood with an outstretched hand.

His kindness isn't what shocked her. The so-called 'Shell' suit did. It covered Titan's entire firm, save his pale green face, and the shiny, protective plates it consisted of simulated muscles across his large form. Nice, defined muscles. It certainly looked badass—way better than his latex outfit from before.

"What'd I tell you about capes?" Soph questioned, shaking her head.

"All the best wear them," Turtle Titan muttered in return. He pulled her up with no effort then glanced at her bleeding shoulder with pained eyes. "Sorry, Hoshi."

"Forget it. You have the belt now. It should be easier to leave."

"Yeah, so long as Hun doesn't—"

Alert, alert! Alert, alert! All personnel respond to Deck Eight, Main-A immediately. Intruders in the Pods. I repeat: intruders in the Pods.

"Well, he lasted longer than expected," the mutant said. "But it's still alright if—"

Hiss!

Grimacing, Titan glanced over his shoulder at the monster that shook off his earlier attacked. "Oh, come on! What else can—?"

Lockdown to initiate in one hundred twenty seconds.

"Really, Universe?" Titan stomped his boots. "Really?"

"Michelangelo"—Marco's voice carried over the repeated warning from the PA system—"take Sophia. Head to the Directory Room."

"Which room?" The mutant approached the bird-man, who stood stronger than Sophia felt.

"The Main Directory Room," Marco added, lining himself beside Titan. They formed a barrier between the heroine and the monster; however, she knew better than to complain since an increasing sleepiness weighed on her eyelids. "You must've passed it on the way down. It's slender with several doorways and has a giant three painted at the back."

"You mean the Twinkie room?"

Lockdown in ninety seconds.

Marco sent the mutant an odd look then returned to his position once the creature squawked. "So long as you remember it."

"Been here before, Rizzo?" Titan spun for a tornado kick to the monster's deformed head, which dazed it for Marco's assault.

The bird-man punched its long throat and when it hacked, he stepped backwards so the hero could snap kick it across the lab. "Years ago," he added as the thing crushed a few kennels with its mass. "Before I left the EPF. So, go to the Main Directory. Place both hands against the wall panel between south-west doorways. A keypad will glow."

"Keypad?"

Lockdown in sixty seconds.

"Shit. Listen." Marco placed his talon-hands over Turtle Titan's shoulder plates. "It's Bishop's escape plan, an elevator to the top. Put in the pass code '728567', Savior."

The hero rolled his eyes. "That man's taste."

"Are you listening?"

"You sure the code will work? You did say it's been years."

"It's your best chance. Now, go."

"Marco!" Sophia blinked her heavy eyes, almost falling over when she stepped ahead. "You're coming, right?"

The bird-man pressed his pink lips together—an old habit. Wordless, he pushed Titan towards her until they collided then turned his back.

"Killing this thing could take ages, and you don't have the time," he noted. "Bring a scientist; you'll need their handprint."

"But—"

"Now!" Marco spun, shoving the duo towards the Kennels' entrance with surprising strength. "Come lockdown, you won't be able to enter the Directory Room—hand scan or not!"

Sophia glared at her ex then puffed her chest, meeting his black eyes. So what if he had pissed her off before? It didn't mean she was heartless enough to leave. She sidestepped to join his line-up against the monster and despite how slanted the room looked, she raised her fists.

"Go, Sophie. Please!"

The blonde was head-butted again. She never saw it coming. Then again, she saw very little through her new wave of dizziness. Her back hit something cold and hard, and she landed on the floor with a curdled stomach. Somewhere in the distance, another warning sounded. Or was that Marco and Titan arguing?

Soph blinked, their white and black figures spinning in her vision like a drunken Yin-Yang symbol. She sat up as Turtle Titan stepped back—at least, she thought she did. Her eyes still had a long way to lift when he neared her, and she never got the chance to question the argument's outcome.

Titan picked her up, along with another body already slung over his shoulder. Behind him, she caught Marco's warm smile until a metal door sealed off the lab. Then, all that sounded was an alarm and an animalistic screech.

Michelangelo fought Sophia all the way to The Island's top-most deck. He minded very little at first. Minutes of quarrelling over elevator buttons, though, delayed their escape.

"Stop it, Sophia!" he screamed through the tight space. He ensured the glowing arrow pointed upwards over the door, rather than down.

"He's a stronzo, but we can't leave him!" Sophia countered, reaching for the buttons again.

Mikey pinned her wrists at her slender sides. The task was easy, thanks to Marco's suit. "Even if we went back, we'd be trapped. I—I'm sorry; we can't help him."

"Figo—"

"He cares about you," the mutant interrupted with a pointed stare and tender tone. "A lot. And we agreed on one thing. We want you happy. You won't be if you get stuck here. I know that. So does he."

"I can save myself!" the blonde shot back, trembling. "I'm the hero, I save the day! No one needs to sacrifice for me. M—Marco…"

Slowly, tears leaked out as Sophia's face flushed. She disapproved of them, obviously, except her hands were still at her sides, held there by Michelangelo's firm fingers.

"Sometimes, you have no choice, Sophia. You can't always play the hero. So let me do so today."

"But we aren't saving everyone."

"No"—Mikey admitted the bitter truth with a tight chest—"but we're doing our best."

Ding!

The moment the elevator doors slid open, sun rays filled the inside like a blinding searchlight. Michelangelo squinted, yet guided Sophia onto the helicopter pad beyond. Good, Hun's getaway copter was still there, idle.

The downside? He had no idea how to fly it.

"Sup?" he asked the pilot through the open backseat. "Any chance you wanna give us a lift?"

"Who the hell are you?"

"I'm getting asked all kinds of rude questions today."

"Look; Master Hun—gah!"

Suddenly, the pilot fell limp against the cockpit controls. Mike's eyes widened as something tore the gangster out the helicopter and he climbed through the doorway in time for Sophia to slide into the pilot's chair.

"Um, Hoshi?" he asked while settling into the co-pilot seat. "What are you doing?"

"Remember issue number fifty-six?"

The mutant had no doubt Hoshi meant the Madam Vermillion series, in which the heroine escaped a bomb explosion via helicopter. So the way Sophia flicked switches and toggles inside the cockpit like second-nature came as less of a surprise and more of a relief. He nodded as the engine geared up for takeoff then followed her lead when she pushed back her disarrayed hair with a gaudy headset.

"Hope we have enough fuel," she jested over the buzzing noise. "And that I can stay awake."

Well, Mikey hoped it had been a joke; the machine's busy propellers had already lifted it into the air and trailing EPF troops had started using them as target practice.

"Damn, Donny!" Raphael braced himself against the Half Shell's rubbery side, having again been unbalanced by wakes in New York's Lower Bay. "Thought ya said this ride was gunna be easy?"

"I said easier!" Donatello replied. The twin motors' close proximity almost drowned his voice out, but since he manned the rudder that was to be expected. "What's the SONAR say?"

"Still nothin'." With a growl, Raph hit the device set up in the boat's center. "All we're pickin' up are cargo ships! An' a…can this thing detect helicopters?"

"It's a SONAR, Raph!"

"So? The military has them in Jets, right?"

"Yeah, but it's not targeted at—" The genius cut himself off when his older brother hit the SONAR's frame again and the engine devolved into a subtle hum before a weight pushed the hothead's shoulder down. "Move."

"Pushy," Raph grumbled. But he sucked in a breath of salt-filled air and shifted, pointing at a slender neon shape moving fast across the SONAR's black screen. "See?"

"It's flying awfully low."

"An' comin' our way."

"We should be fine. If there's one up-side to the slight shake in my cloaking devices, it's that waves excuse it. But…" Donny narrowed his eyes. "The copter's not flying straight."

"Is it Mike on Hun's ride? Was he caught?"

"They couldn't have been flying this whole time. Fuel consumption—"

Ring, ring!

Raph dug for Donatello's Shell Cell in the duffle bag between them. Before it could start its second round of alerts, he slid it open, noting the ping that alerted Michelangelo's location on the SONAR.

"Ya better be alive, Doofus!" Raph cried into the receiver.

"Or else you'll kill me?" the idiot on the other end countered. He paused for his brother's scowl then chuckled—just for spite's sake, Raph knew it. "I'll tell you the thrilling tale when we get home. Sophia and I are heading there now."

"Since when did ya learn ta fly?"

"I'm not flying. Hoshi is."

The hothead stared at Don, eye ridges furrowed. "Where's Hun?"

"Back on the Island. Is Donny with you? If, uh, he could give us a good place to land, that'd be super awesome. Hopefully soon. Hoshi's a little groggy."

"I can handle it, Figo!" cried a distant voice.

"She keeps shaking her head. So, how about it, Dudes?"

"Got his location," Donny noted. "I can map then text him a route for landing. We'll have to make sure April or Blaine is there to pick them up."

Raph nodded at the Bō master, quite thrilled over the idea of leaving the unsteady Half Shell. "About time we got a break. Let's go home, guys..."

.

A/N: And BREAK! Finally, eh? ;)