Chapter 16

Mikey observed Jax work with his patients. Some were mentally stable, while others were broken and in tears. It was heartbreaking to be there to listen to the torture the other prisoners suffered through, but Mikey did not leave Jax's side. He wasn't an expert, but he tried to offer what little comfort he could to the prisoners seeking their help.

Eventually, the two made a stop in the mines. A prisoner there had attacked one of the soldiers and had been subdued before taken back to his cell.

"Why don't you take a break?" Jax suggested as he turned to Mikey. "I'll be alright on my own for a while. I think I heard one of your brothers is down here. Go say hello." Then Jax disappeared into the cell reserved for the crazed prisoner.

Mikey will admit that he wanted a break from all the doom and gloom. Raph was working down here, right? It would make him feel better to see a familiar face.

He searched for his brother in the vast cave. There were Triceraton soldiers everywhere. The large dinosaur creatures glared at him, but no one bothered Mikey. Mikey was relieved for the vest he was wearing, it gave him a somewhat sense of safety.

He finally found Raphael, but seeing his older brother wasn't as joyous as he had been hoping. Raph looked much worse than he did last night!

The red mask was still in his bandages and struggled to move about. He lifted a big boulder and was trying to put it in the mine cart. He was also thin, very thin. Mikey had not noticed before and it shocked him.

He rushed to his brother's side and helped him put the boulder in the cart. He pretended not to notice Raph's condition.

"Hey, careful, Bro! You could have dropped that."

"Mikey?" Raph questioned as he stared at him. "What are you doing down here?"

"I'm working," he told the older Turtle. "I'm here to help." It was heartbreaking to see his musclebound brother in this condition! He looked so weak and unsure of himself.

"I'm glad you're here, Mikey," Raph smiled. He pulled his little brother close.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" Mikey pulled away a moment later. "Don's okay! I saw him this morning."

"Really?" Raph couldn't believe his ears.

"Yes, really!" Mikey nodded. "He told me to say hi to you for him. Still in a lot of pain, but he's conscious and responsive now."

"That's good," Raph smiled again. "He didn't look so great last night."

They sat down for a few minutes and talked. Mikey wanted to know how Raph got in his current condition, but he also doubted Raph would tell him. The brother in red was never the type to know what he was really thinking or feeling.

"So anyway," Mikey started chatting again. "Once Don feels better, we can all get out of here!"

Raph held a look of sorrow, which Mikey was able to notice before Raph smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, sure."

"Raph? What's wrong? You don't look so sure. I know it looks bad now, but we'll get through this. We've been through worse, right?"

"Mikey...listen. I'm not sure if there is any way we can escape. This prison is armed to the teeth. Even if, by some miracle, there is a way to leave this place behind, I'm not so sure I'll be there with you when the opportunity comes."

Mikey stared at him in shock. "Raph, what are you saying?"

I'm saying that you may have to leave me behind, little bro," Raph told him. "I'll only be slowing you down."

"No!" Mikey shook his head. "We got off this planet together once, we can do it again!"

"Mikey, could you stop being an idiot for once and just listen to me?!" Raph growled. Mikey opened his mouth to object, but no words would come. Raph continued in a much calmer tone.

"If you ever find a way to escape, forget about me. Take the others and go. They'll come after us when they discover we're missing, I know. But at least the three of you will have a better chance of getting off this planet alive. If I came along with you then all I would do is slow you down. I'm not as strong and fit as I was before. My days here are numbered. I'd feel a lot better if the three of you didn't have me with you."

"Do you even hear yourself?!" Mikey yelled. "You're talking like you're going to die or something!"

"I probably will," Raph nodded. "Take a look at me. You can't lie to me and say that I'm going to survive because I don't have a chance now!"

Mikey couldn't deny it, he had noticed Raph's condition, and the older Turtle knew his fate.

"All I'm asking you to do, Mikey, is to let me go. Trust me, I'm done trying to lie to myself anymore."

Raph's confidence was shattered. His hope was gone.

Mikey was speechless.

A Triceraton soldier approached and cracked the whip in their direction. "You, Red, back to work! No one gave you permission to stop!"

Raph stood up and went back to hauling boulders into the mine cart. The Triceraton then turned to Michelangelo.

"And as for you, your master is waiting for you. Move along!"

Mikey gave Raph one last look before turning and leaving. It was hard to believe that Raph's fighting spirit was gone. As he returned to meet Jax, he swore that one day they were all going to escape. And Raph was going to be there with them, no matter what!