Chapter 14

It was early the next morning as Jax prepared himself to go get licenses for Michelangelo. He had not yet received a phone call regarding Donatello's condition, but he doubted there was any change to the Turtle's condition.

He looked over the list of licenses at the courthouse and frowned.

"Hmm, they've increase the license price for prison health assistants, I see. But it has been a few years since I had the need to buy one," he thought to himself.

"Well, funny seeing you here, Jax."

The young Triceraton turned around and saw Erkon walk up beside him.

"What are you doing here?" Jax questioned. Erkon was waving around a license with a smirk.

"What other reason could there be? I hold in my hand the right of ownership of Leonardo."

"Oh, of course," Jax nodded. "I suppose he does belong to you now since you brainwashed him into following you."

"And you're not here to do the same for the orange one?" Erkon charged him. "You know what the law is regarding the ownership for prisoners, Jax."

"Yeah, I do. 'Any prisoner given to a soldier, medical professional, or citizen must have an official license after the third day of being under that person's supervision'," Jax quoted. Erkon nodded.

"Not the exact words, but close enough."

"Well, unlike you, Erkon. I didn't brainwash my Turtle to trust me. He accepted to be my assistant of his own free will."

"Maybe," Erkon nodded. "But have you told him about your first assistant? He probably would have changed his mind if he knew about that."

Jax hung his head, "Of course I haven't told him yet. Besides, he doesn't need to know. He's doing this because he wants to help his brothers."

"Yeah, what's left of his brothers anyway."

Jax frowned. "Oh yeah? And what makes you so sure you know their fate?"

"The purple one is dying, the red one is nothing but a coward now, and Leonardo is my personal soldier. Not really a lot to help them with."

Erkon stuffed the license in his pocket and turned to leave. He stopped as if forgetting something. "Oh, and if his brother in purple were ever to recover, I have a few buyers in mind to contact."

"Who gave you the authority to find another owner for him?" Jax asked, confused. "I thought Commander Jeck was going to find another owner for him? At least I assumed he was since he was the one who last had authority over Donatello."

Erkon nodded, "That's true. He was. But he decided to hand that right over to me. His main concern is the bombs, not prisoners."

Jax scoffed. He thought Jeck was lazy before when the commander had declared Donatello's condition was someone else's concern, but not willing to put in the effort to find a new owner for a prisoner was pitiful.

"Why would he accept Donatello to work for him if he is willing to toss the Turtle away so easily?"

Erkon shrugged, "Jeck only agreed to keep him under his supervision because he heard the Turtle was intelligent. Now that he doesn't have that Turtle's brains under his command, he figures what is the point in keeping him around."

Jax felt bad for Donatello and he really hoped that if Don ever had a new owner, they would be good to the Earthling. But finding someone who treated their prisoners fairly was very hard to find.

"I must go," Erkon interrupted Jax's thoughts. "I have a soldier to train."

Jax bought the two licenses for Michelangelo before returning home.

Upon returning home, Jax showed Mikey the license tags. The tags resembled the dog tags soldiers received in the army back on Earth. He held a gold tag up "This one I will be keeping. It is proof that I own you now. And this one," he held up a silver tag. "This one is proof that you are my assistant. You may keep this one. Don't lose it."

Mikey accepted the silver tag on the chain. Jax handed him a vest that prisoner health assistants wore. 'Assistant Counselor in Training' was written on the back. Or at least, that's what Jax told him since the words were inscribed with the Triceratonese language.

Mikey put on the vest and the license tag. If he was going to spend the rest of his life here on the Triceraton's planet, he was glad that it was for a good cause. He wouldn't admit it, but he was glad Jax was here with him and treated him with kindness.

"What's wrong?" Jax asked as he noticed Mikey's silence.

"I just really hope that this new life of mine will be as fulfilling as you say it will be," Mikey answered. Jax nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It will be. And you'll see you brothers again eventually. Maybe not all at once, but you will have a better chance in seeing them one by one from time to time."

He began tying Mikey with the rope when Karaentin came down the cellar stairs. She was holding a phone-like device.

"Jax, the phone is for you. They said their name was Doctor Cerval."

Jax accepted the phone-like device with thanks and took a minute to speak with the doctor. Mikey waited in silence, his heart racing.

"Yes, of course. Thank you for getting in touch." Jax hung up the phone device and turned to Karentin and Mikey.

"Well, I guess this means I can add one more patient to my list."

"You mean...?" Mikey couldn't finish his sentence. Jax nodded with a smile.

"Your brother is going to be okay. He's doing well with the pain medication and Doctor Cerval said he is responsive now. No signs of a coma."

Mikey was at a lost for words. Karentin smiled as she sensed the relief the Turtle must be feeling. She then place a hand over her stomach and met eyes with Jax, but Jax didn't give notice.

"Why don't we go see him before we see my other patents?" Jax suggested. Mikey nodded eagerly. He couldn't wait to see his brother.

"Jax," Karentin said as she grabbed her husband's hand before they left the cellar.

"Yes?" Jax asked, tuning to her. Karentin hesitated, but she shook her head.

"Never mind. Just be careful and have a good day."

"I will," Jax said before giving her a kiss. Mikey giggled and turned away with a blush. The relationship between these two Triceratons reminded him of his friends Casey and April.

Jax and Mikey made their way to the prison hospital soon after.

"Hey, Jax?"

"What is it?" Jax asked him.

"You...you can call me Mikey now," the young Turtle told him. Jax smiled, knowing that Mikey was starting to grow more comfortable around him if he was allowing the Triceraton to call him by his nickname.

"As you wish, Mikey."