Finally, let's check on Raphael, shall we? Happy reading!
Chapter 5
Raphael wanted nothing more than to get out of these mines, but he forced himself to calm down and wait for an opportunity. It was cold this morning, but the Turtle soon found himself sweating. The crate he had been forced to move along with the other prisoners was heavy. 15 minutes ago they were called out of their cells and had only managed to move the crate a few feet. There were several other prisoners working as hard as he was in trying to move the crate. It was all they could do, but the Triceratons were angry with the slow pace.
"Put your backs into it!" a Triceraton ordered, swatting at them with his whip. He smirked as he watched the prisoners practically breaking their backs to move the crate. He knew they were working past their limit, but to him it was still fun to see them suffer.
A worker that was pushing the crate collapsed to the floor in exhaustion, unable to push anymore. The Triceraton frowned and cracked his whip inches away from the creature's arm.
"Get up! I do not give you permission to stop!"
Raphael felt his temper raising again. These Triceratons had some nerve to push around a weak worker like this!
"Hey! Leave him alone!" he yelled abandoning the crate and running over to defend the helpless worker. The crate workers stopped to catch their breath, unable to move the crate any further now that two of their fellow workers have left.
"I said knock it off!" Raph yelled again as he stood in between the weak worker and the Triceraton. "He can't go on! Cut him some slack!"
"Fool!" the Triceraton growled as he grabbed the Turtle by the throat. He lifted the hot head up. "I will teach you a lesson!"
"Maybe things will be a little easier on everyone if you behemoths got off your butts and helped us out!" Raph spat, unintimidated by the Triceraton's threat.
The Triceraton dropped the Turtle and kicked him in the gut. He then pressed a button on the black device and Raph felt the familiar surge of pain.
"Or how about I remind you who's in charge down here!" the Triceraton chuckled.
"Wait!" came a voice. The Triceraton turned to see Prog's hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps I should have a talk with our friend here?"
The Triceraton saluted and ordered the other crate workers to resume the labor.
Prog helped the Turtle stand. "Sometimes my men forget their manners. Perhaps we can discuss things in my tent and compromise?"
Raphael followed Prog to the Commander's tent with a scowl. He doubted this Triceraton was going to have anything to offer. The only thing Raph wanted was to get out of here with his brothers and leave this awful planet.
"You're welcome to make yourself comfortable," Prog said, offering the Turtle a chair. Raph frowned and crossed his arms.
"No, thanks. I'd rather stand."
"Very well." Prog took a seat at his own desk and sipped at his cup. "Now then. About earlier."
"Yeah, what was the deal?! That Triceraton could have killed that creature! If he wanted progress he should have had someone help us!"
"Oh, I agree," Prog said, raising his hands in a 'clam down' gesture. "It was a bit...extreme. But you know, you don't have to work down here in these mines."
"I don't?" Raph asked with a raised eyebrow. Prog shook his head.
"Of course not! I can tell you're strong, loyal, and have ambition. Someone like you doesn't deserve to be down here. Your skills should be respected, not abused."
"What's your point?"
Prog pushed a paper and pen across the desk in the Turtle's direction. "I can offer you your freedom."
Raph hesitated, but he picked up the paper and looked it over. "Serve in the Triceraton army?"
"Yes. As an officer, you would have full rights as a citizen here. I could also arrange for you to be in charge of your own team."
"What's the catch here, Prog?" Raph charged him. "You want me to be your little puppet soldier for what? What could you possibly gain from this?"
"Raphael...," Prog sighed and shook his head hopelessly. "I'm asking you because you're the one who takes action. You don't wait around for something to happen, you look for opportunity. Imagine it! A free citizen, no one fears you wherever you go, you could have a life here. Everything you've ever wanted or dreamed of can happen!"
Raph frowned. This sounded more like a bribe. "And what about my brothers? What happens to them?"
"I would have to pull a few strings, of course, but I can convince the other commanders holding them to release them as well. You can all become free citizens."
"And where are my brothers?"
"You like to know all the details before agreeing to something. I like that," Prog noted with a smile. He stood up from his chair and pointed to a map of the prison. Raphael stood by the map beside Prog as the commander pointed to various parts of the prison.
"I heard your brother Donatello was taken to the weapons containment. There the prisoners make products like bombs and other weapons for our war against the Federation. Leonardo is in isolation under the command of Erkon. I heard he's trying to convince your oldest brother to join us Triceratons as well."
"And what about Mikey?" Raph frowned.
"I'm afraid I don't know what happened to Michelangelo," Prog told him. Raph glared and grabbed the Commander's collar, forcing him into the wall.
"Liar! Tell me what you did to Mikey!"
"I swear I don't know!" Prog insisted. "When you four were scanned yesterday, Erkon noticed your little brother had been labeled as disposable. It means only one thing; that he was killed."
"No...," Raph's hands shook as he gripped the Triceraton tightly. "Not Mikey..."
The Turtle soon let go of the commander and slumped to his knees in despair. Prog readjusted his collar and stood up. He put a hand on the Turtle's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry. I understand learning this must be hard to accept. But there is still a way to save yourself and your two older brothers."
"How...?"
Prog showed him the document again.
"It starts with signing this document," he whispered. Raph accepted the offered transcript and picked up the pen. Prog smirked as he watched Raph lean over the paper to sign it. But the Turtle hesitated.
"So let me get this straight one more time. If I sign this document, I can save myself and my brothers from this place? We can serve in the Triceraton army and live as free citizens?"
"Yes. Just..sign...it!" Prog said through girded teeth. Raph frowned. Prog suddenly seemed pretty desperate for Raph's signature.
"As long as I roll over and do what you Triceratons say, right?"
"JUST SIGN IT!" Prog demanded, slamming his fist on the table.
"Yeah?" Raph challenged. "And why is it so important to you that I do? Unless of course you don't have any intentions of setting me and my bros go. You just want me to be your puppet in your army!"
He tore up the document and turned to leave the tent.
"Thanks, but I'm not interested. I may be a hot head, but I an't stupid either!"
"If that's your answer, then so be it!" Prog growled. He pressed the button on the black device, paralyzing the Turtle. "You disappointed me, Raphael. I was hoping you'd be easy to influence."
He called for his subordinates and they took the Turtle away. "Make sure he suffers!"
Thanks again for reading so far, guy! I'm working really hard to make this story as enjoyable as possible.