Author's Note: I am very sorry for the much long wait. There's no excuse I can say that will explain. All I hope is that all those still following the story will still be reading. I thank you all who are still loyal to this story. This isn't my best as it's filler for the next part. The next will continue on. Enjoy.

Chapter 35: More News

The turtles and Splinter all waited outside of Donatello's lab as they waited for the news to be presented to them. All of them anxious and impatient to see if their friend Leatherhead could continue with the work Don had left behind. Not too long ago the three found out that their genius brother's last project had been an internal tracking system for them to use in the case they didn't have their shell cells with them at all. There were some good and bad news for this discovery. The bad news is that Donny didn't finish the project, what remained laid scattered on his work bench, still waiting for him to put it together. The good news is that they have a way of finding their brother.

Finally after nearly two years of fear, worry and stress they have a solid way of getting their brother back. The one and only hope that would prove to guarantee, but that hope only hung from a thread as there is one thing that could make it or break it. And that is assembling the receiver.

After finding out that the tracking system needed to be assembled they immediately called Leatherhead over for him to have a look. The croc wasted no time in getting to the lair after the mention of a way of finding Don came up. Once there they left him alone in the lab, giving him some space and letting him work. They had to wait and see if the croc could continue where their brother left off and hopefully assemble the transceiver.

"I just can't believe it," Leo spoke as he paced outside the door to the lab. The eyes of his two brothers locked onto him as he moved. For minutes they waited for one of them to say the first word to address the situation further, and it looked like Leo was first. "I can't believe the answer has been here, in the lab, all along."

"Yeah, and I'm shocked you knew about it all along," Raph responded as his arms folded. The moment they found out that their older brother knew about the tracker they had to use a lot of restraint to not get up on him about it.

"Hey I forgot about it, and how could I have known that Don injected the tracker into him at first?" Leo spoke, his pacing stopped as he faced his red clad brother. He knew where this was going to but he did have a reason why he didn't bring it up before.

"Hey come don't get into it," Mikey stepped in-between the two, trying to keep the peace before something started from this. They have finally have a moment to be glad and thankful for and the orange clad turtle didn't want it ruined by anything. "Lets just wait and let LH do his work, and hopefully he can give us some good news."

Looking at one another for a few seconds Raph gave a small growl as he turned and walked a few paces. Leo watched as he folded his arms as he let out a sigh, the room being cloaked in silence once more as they waited.

"So guys…once the device is made, what would the plan be?" Mikey asked.

"We go and get Don back," Raph turned around to face his little brother, a determined look upon his face. "We wasted enough time waiting so it's about time we just go and get him."

"You know…I agree," Leo spoke up, which shocked his two brothers into silence as they looked at him, as if he grew another head.

"Whoa, whoa…you actually agree with Raph?" Mikey asked.

"Yeah…I mean we've been in this nightmare for too long, and I say we should get Don back asap," Leo explained. "Well at least depending on where he is, then we would need to plan carefully."

Before Raph could make a response the door to the lab opened and LH's massive frame came out. All eyes were on the croc as none of them said a word so they could hear what their friend had to say. Said reptile could sense this from the way they looked at him, he knew that none of them won't say anything until he spoke.

"My friends, I looked through Donatello's plans, and the parts that he had collected…the plans seemed complicated but I'm glad to inform you that I can assemble it.

"Yes!" Mikey instantly cheered as he fist pumped, massive joy swelled up inside of him as he heard this.

"Really, you can?" Leo's face beamed as he took a step, all hope now renewed.

"Yes…but that's where the bad news comes," Leatherhead's face fell to a frown, which instantly caught the three's attention as their glimmer of hope seemed to start to fade.

A loud, irritated sigh came out of Raph as he looked as if he was about to punch something. "Of course there's always a catch!"

"Well what is it?" Leo asked, heart racing as to wondering what the bad news could be. Could it be huge or something minor?

"Well according to Donatello's plans I have to be really precise and careful when it comes to assembling the transceiver for the tracker that is in him. If everything is not in the right order, or things are set in the right places…then there could be bad complications?"

"Like what?" Mikey asked.

Both of the croc's eyes closed as he took a breath before revealing the rest of the news. This would be the bad part, "If the components aren't set the way Donatello specifically set them…then the tracker that's inside of Donatello could explode when turned on…injuring him almost fatally."

Gasps escaped the three of them as an uncomfortable silence overcame them, the seriousness of their friend's words hitting them like a bus. "But…but how can-" Mikey started to speak but LH continued to walk.

"That is why I need to take my time to construct this."

"How much time?" Raph raised an eye, now he understood what the bad part in all of this is as well.

"A few days…at least," was what leatherhead said. Days before they could have a chance at attempting at getting their brother back. That is something that the three didn't want to hear. But that was the price they have to pay in order to get Donny back.

The three looked at one another and silently converse with one another before Leo nodded and stepped forward. "LH…do it."

Don Nervously slid the paper door open, which lead to the private dojo on the floor. The turtle nerves are all over the place as both eyes scanned the room and found his sensei sitting on the clean, wooden floor. Chances were that he didn't know his student was here since his back is to him, but he didn't want to count that out since Oroku is surprisingly informed about his surroundings and when they changed.

The turtle still felt uneasy about addressing his sensei about the topic he had in mind. Still decked out in his new gear, he still pondered about the new rank he had been given. The kanji symbol that is stitched on the collar of his vest. Could it have been some kind of mistake? If so why would Oroku give him such a vest with the symbol?

This only lead the turtle to the conclusion that it's all true, and that would mean he's a lieutenant in the ranks of the Foot, and this brought out many feelings within the black clad turtle.

"He trust me so much to hold such a rank? Am I that good to have been given such a title? I can't believe that I'm-"

"Good to see that you made it Junko," the voice of his sensei made the turtle jump, which knocked him out of his train of thought. His eyes then focused back on him, watching as the man stood back to his feet and turned to face his pupil, and then a prideful smile graced his face. It must have been because of the new gear that Don had been wearing. "I see you got my gift, and I must say you look like a true ninja in it."

"Th-Thank you sensei," Don adverted his eyes, silently liking the praise he received. This made him feel good since he knows that he's doing something right.

Oroku kept the same smile on his face as he approached his student, hands clasp behind his back. "There's no one better I trust to be a lieutenant than you Junko."

So it wasn't a mistake, this new rank is for real. This was it, now it was time to ask questions since it's brought up, but still he wasn't sure how Oroku will respond to it, but now isn't the time to worry about it anymore. "But…sensei…"

"What is it? Questions I presume?" Oroku asked, knowing that the turtle would be curious at the whole thing.

"Y-Yes…I'm just confused…why…why am I-" He tried to ask, still feeling the nervousness from earlier swelling up. Even though he knew his sensei for a long while he still held such feelings when asking questions about the gifts he received. He figured it would be rude to question why he received them.

"You are unsure as to why you are receiving such gifts I presume?" Oroku asked which his pupil nodded uncomfortably. He only smiled at this, knowing the turtle is nervous about asking this and had to reassure him. "Do not worry Junko, I don't mind that you ask. I would be confused too if I were in your place."

Don then watched as he's motioned to come and sit down with him, which he followed as the feelings were still swelling up with him. Even if he's told that it was ok he still felt timid around him for it. "Ok…but…why the new gear In the first place?" Don asked first as he sat on his knees, just like a student does to their sensei.

"Simple, I've seen how your current gear is starting to wear out, so I thought that maybe some new ones would be appropriate at the moment. As for the vest, well in your line of work it's best that you have protection and as well many more pockets for storage," Oroku explained as he now sat down across from his pupil, knowing that they were going to have a conversation.

"Oh…that's understandable…but…why lieutenant? I don't think I've done enough to have earned such a rank," This was something the turtle felt real strong about, since he really did feel as if he didn't do enough so far. All he had done so far were just a couple of assassinations and some minor things in the labs. None of which could help him in getting a promotion at all...although that's what he things.

"it's like I've said before Junko, out of all the others in here you're the only one that I trust and can count on. No matter what I have asked of you or expected of you there had been nothing that stopped you from meeting all those requirements. You are strong, fearless and is willing to do what is right. I have even trained you personally, something that has never happened to anyone here. There's no one here that I would trust more with such a rank other than you, much more than my other lieutenants," he concluded with a smile on his face, one that told the turtle that his words were true. Even though that wasn't a factor since Don knew that his sensei would never lie to him and would never give him a reason to now.

Don was at a loss for words, the explanation really got the words stuck in his throat. Mainly since there wasn't something in his mind that could come up with a response for this. Still it felt good to get such words and trust for him. He tried to respond but all that came out of him is something of the generic kind. "T-Thank you sensei...I...I am honored for this," he spoke softly with a bow of his head.

"And like I said before you look much better with all that on. And you have to look the part if you are going to assume your new responsibilities."

"N-New responsibilities?" Don questioned, now getting caught off guard big time. "What do you mean?"

"You are a lieutenant now Junko, which means you have more responsibilities to attend to," Oroku explained as he stood up and waved his hand to motion his pupil to do the same.

"Like what?" Don stood up, but still stood a few feet away from the man.

"You will now command various Foot ninjas who will listen to your every word. Also add in that you will be a team leader and will be an important part on missions. Which reminds me of something...you will have a big mission coming up soon, one that will be your first one as a lieutenant."

The genius turtle is taken back at this proclamation, and wasn't sure if he heard it right. Right off the bat, from being promoted, he's now being told he has a mission where he would lead. Isn't this too early for him to be given such a task? He never had a chance to lead anyone at all and had some nervousness starting to fill him as his mind raced as to wondering what this task could be.

"Wait…sensei isn't it too soon for me to be doing this? I-I mean I-" he had been cut off as the man before him moved closer and placed both hands on his shoulders, giving him a confident smile.

"Junko I believe in you, and I know that no matter what you will be up to the task and preform wonderfully. You've proven yourself ready for anything that comes your way and you will do it again," he ended, patting his shoulders and waited for his pupil to respond to this.

Said turtle wasn't sure how to respond, especially after his sensei express all his confidence in him. He truly believed in him and his skills to the point of already sending him out to lead. There was no way he could protest any further nor express his fears of this. He didn't want to disappoint him, so he knew he had to do it.

Adverting his eyes he nodded, "O-Ok…I can try…"

"And you will succeed," Oroku smiled, accepting the response that had been said. Now it is time to move on to the next part. "This task will be so big that it'll require your technical expertise. So tell me, do you have any equipment that can help you out on this?"

Feeling the hands leave his shoulders Don then rubbed his chin with his hand, trying to think. He didn't really develop that much, but the reliability of such objects only depended on the task at hand. "Well…maybe, but what is the mission?"

"That will be explained soon, I just want to know if you will be prepared for this."

"Well," he now looked at the ceiling, now remembering something he had been working on and should be completed soon. "I have been working on the modifications to the stealth devices…ones that'll prove most beneficial."

"Really?" both of Oroku's eyes rose in surprised. Now curiosity has him, if the stealth units could be modified more, then this could prove more beneficial to his tech soldiers. "I wish to see your work later on."

"Yes, I will," Don nodded, mentally smiling at the prospect of someone willingly wanting to see his inventions. No one had ever expressed interest on the things he worked on unless it had been something that made explosions. So it made him feel better that someone wanted to see one of the leseer things that weren't used for destruction.

"But before I tell you the aspects of the mission, there's one last thing that must be addressed," Oroku then turned and walked away a few steps after saying that. The same smile on his face as he turned to face his student once more.

Now this confused Don some as he's curious as to what else had to be done. But before he could speak the door to the connecting dojo opened and various Foot ninjas came in. A few of them the turtle had seen in the dojo training every so often. Some he is seeing for the first time as they all continued to file in. But for some reason they all lined up on the sides of the room.

No one said a word until everyone is in the room, all of which were staring at the two. There had to be at least twenty of them at least or maybe more. The black clad turtle turned in a complete circle as he looked at every single one of them, almost waiting to see if one of them were supposed to do something.

"Men, you all have been gathered here to bear witness a new addition into the fold!" Oroku spoke, arms spread out as he addressed all those present. "Junko here has proven himself reliable and most of all trustworthy when it counted. He has never shown any sign of betrayal, and even helped out with our equipment by making them better. He is a great ninja, and even better comrade. This is why I bestow the rank of lieutenant upon Junko!"

The other ninjas in the room all shouted positively, some even smiling. It is obvious that they seemed to have accepted the turtle's promotion. Either that or they do a good job at masking their responses. Either way the feeling of pride that swelled up in Don nearly overwhelmed him. It is almost like a feeling of graduating from school, or something of the like. Many others standing around and feeling happy for him for his accomplishments. It is a feeling that he isn't really used to and to his surprise he's loving it.

"Rejoice Junko, you have earned everything you have worked for, and now share in the celebrations!" Oroku clapped his hands as the others all came in, giving him many pats and cheers for this. Not in his wildest dreams would Don have every thought something like this would happen. It almost made him feel normal, and his work is finally being recognized.

Shredder stood back with a smile as he watched all his ninja, Junko included, celebrate. This is a special day for all as the turtle has attained a level he never thought he would be able to get to. This was definitely not what he had originally planned when he kidnapped the turtle, but he could say that it turned out better than he anticipated.

With the new rank Oroku knew that the turtle was ready for something huge, it would be something that would ensure his control over a good part of the city. It'll push out all the local mafia members out and having them either retreating back or dead. Yes, in the next few days there will be mass casualties and none of them would be implicated at all. And with Junko's help it'll all be done flawlessly.

A/N: I hope you like. Once again I am sorry for the long wait I kept you all in. I can't make promises but I'll do what I can not to take months before the next chapter will be up. I'm sorry and I hope you all can keep following. Till next time.