Chapter 21

The debris that cluttered the mines was still in process. Erkon, no longer a commander and reduced to living as a captain, was assisting Prog and his men with the cleanup.

Most of the prisoners were missing since the attack and Prog wasn't having much luck in finding everyone who was missing.

"What I don't understand is why the Rebellion was able to get past the prison's defenses undetected," Prog growled with a clinched fist. Erkon frowned.

"It shouldn't be a surprise, really. Any activist group desperate enough to attack a governmental stronghold would find a way to execute such means successfully. Plus the Rebellion does have a few former officers, including Treximus."

"Lady Nhura told me she was going to have some of her own personal soldiers look into this attack," Prog told him. "But I'll rest easier once that group is destroyed."

"What about the Turtle? Have you found him, or at least his body?" Erkon asked. Prog shook his head.

"No, he's still missing along with all the others who have disappeared."

Erkon glanced over at Leonardo who was quiet, but on alert. He was ready to draw his swords whenever ready.

"Would it be alright if I let my slave search with you? He's become a reliable soldier and he may have better luck finding the red one."

"Very well, Captain." Prog nodded, granting permission.

Captain. The word itself was humiliating to Erkon. No longer did he have the privileges as a commander since Nhura demoted him. Now he was reduced to cleaning up all the dirty work and forced to comply with the orders of his once fellow commanders.

He approached Leonardo, but the look on his face was of anger and frustraition.

"Look alive. We're going to look for any survivors who may still be alive. Frankly, I think we're worth more than this."

Leo said nothing about his position, but he nodded.

"I'll search every corner, Sir. If there are still prisoners alive down here, I'll find them."

"Move out, then."

Leo didn't waste anymore time once he was given the command. He searched through the debris like a bloodhound, his eyes sharp and focused on his surroundings. He soon came across an overturned mine cart and something caught his eye. He was curious as to what it was and moved in closer for inspection. There was something red on the ground. A piece of cloth maybe?

He picked up the object and noticed the soft material had been torn. It had to be part of some type of clothing. Leo examined the material closely. Something about it was familiar, although he didn't understand why.

He hesitated, but brought the cloth to his face to smell. A fuzzy image triggered in his brain. The scent on the material was still detectable and a face of another Turtle like him appeared in his minds eye. He had a funny feeling he had seen that Turtle before.

"R..Raphael?" he questioned. Was that someone's name?

"Find something, Leonardo?" Erkon appeared and noticed Leo kneeling down beside the mine cart. Leo didn't respond and continued to stare at the torn bandanna. Erkon quickly took it from Leo before the Turtle could stop him.

"Excellent! At least we know someone was here."

"Uh...yeah. Sir, do I know someone who wears a red?"

"Never mind about that. Keep looking, there might still be more clues around here!" Erkon dismissed the idea. Leo went back to searching, but the image of the other Turtle lingered.

Jax and Mikey finished their work early for the day and Jax noticed Mikey was tired. He gave him some water, much to the Orange's relief.

"Since we finished work so early, Mikey, I have a surprise for you."

"Really?" Mikey smiled, "What is it?"

"Follow me, I'll show you when we get there."

Mikey pouted a bit. If there was anything he hated most, it was having to wait on something. Jax noticed Mikey's disappointed look.

"It'll be worth the wait, I promise," Jax assured him. "You're going to love it!"

They left the prison and Mikey noticed they were going into town. He had never seen a Triceraton marketplace before and this only made him more curios as to where Jax was taking him. They soon came to a building by the local grocery store and went inside.

A Triceraton at the front desk looked up at them.

"May I help you?" he asked Jax in the foreign tongue. Mikey glanced around while Jax talked with the receptionist. There were pictures covering the walls and each one displayed a planet or galaxy. Mikey soon caught on to what was going on.

"This is a planetarium, isn't it?" he thought as he rolled his eyes. This was the surprise? How boring! Don would be interested in this, but not Mikey.

"Okay, the room is ready," Jax interrupted Mikey's thoughts. "Follow me, it's this way." He lead Mikey down the hall and past a set of doors. On the other side was a control panel and another door.

"Why did you take me to come look at the universe?" Mikey asked. Jax smiled.

"Because I think you deserve a little taste of home."

This only made Mikey confused more. Jax was tapping at the control panel, pressing various buttons.

"Adjust the temperature here...a little more light there..." Jax mumbled. Mikey hoped Jax knew what he was doing because all the words on the control panel looked like gibberish.

"Alright, a few more minutes and the room will be ready," Jax said. The a small corner of the wall opened up and Jax took out an atmospheric converter similar to the one Mikey was wearing.

"What's that for?"

"Myself, so I can work while you relax. Funny thing about these atmosphere converters is that it almost instantly adjusts to whomever is wearing it. It picks up on what environment the creature usually lives in, that's why you were able to breathe well almost instantly when they brought you here nearly two weeks ago."

It was an interesting fact to know, but it still didn't answer his question as to what they were doing at a science museum.

The doors in front of them opened and Mikey was shocked at what he saw before him. The room had been transformed into an oxygen-based environment filled with trees and a sun shinning down upon them from overhead. In the center of the room was a pond with water flowing down the side of a cliff.

"Do you like it?" Jax asked, turning to Mikey. "I tried to replicate the natural environment of earth as close as possible."

"How?" Mikey asked, still in shock and wonder.

"The control panel by the door. This building was created for the purpose giving alien slaves a place to relax and remember their homes. They have just about every planet and environment known to us. It is public, but you have to reserve a certain day or time since it is also expensive."

"I...I don't know what to say."

"We have a full hour in here. You should enjoy it," Jax smiled.

Mikey felt as if he might cry as he approached the pond. "Is this real freshwater?"

"You tell me," Jax chuckled as he sat down on the ground. "We try to replicate the environments of any planet as close as possible."

Mikey cupped his hands and took a drink of water. His turtle instincts could not resist anymore and he jumped in. Oh, did it feel great!

Jax watched Mikey enjoy his swim for a moment before turning his attention back to his work. He began looking over his notes, for he still had much to do.

Mikey felt like new, how much he missed enjoying a bath or swim! He almost believed he truly was back on earth. He turned onto his shell and allowed himself to flow with the current. He noticed Jax was still working and frowned. He swam up to the edge.

"Hey, what are you doing? I thought you said we were going to relax?"

"You go ahead and enjoy yourself, Mikey, "Jax told him with a smile. "You deserve this. This environment is toxic for me."

Mikey shrugged. "Okay, your lost." Then he went back to enjoying the water.

Jax looked back on his notes and was relieved to know that most his his patients had been doing well, especially Mikey. His cell phone rang and he answered. It was a doctor and he had some sad news for Jax.

Jax felt as if the air had been knocked out of him. "A..Are you sure? Yes...Yes. Of course, I'll be there as soon as possible."

He felt as if a heavy weight had struck him. He hated to interrupt Mikey's serene moment, but this was important.

"Mikey, I'm sorry, but we have to go!" he called to him. Mikey was disappointed.

"Already? But we just got here!"

"Come on, this is a bit of an emergency."

Mikey reluctantly got out of the water and Jax wrapped the rope securely around the Turtle's chest. Mikey noticed Jax was upset, but doing his best to hide it.

They left the building and Jax took Mikey home. Jax took off the rope and went to the storage closet. He searched through the supplies until he found a small bottle of what he needed.

"Listen, Mikey. I'm going to be gone for a while. You don't have to wait for me to come back tonight. I'll let Karentin know, too."

"Where are you going?" Mikey asked him.

"That's not your concern," Jax frowned, suddenly becoming defensive. "You stay here and don't get into any trouble."

Mikey was a little surprised by Jax's sudden change of attitude. He nodded in silence. Jax then left the basement and told Karetin goodbye before making his way back to the prison.

Jax rushed into the hospital area and looked for the doctor who had called him.

"How is he?" he asked, trying not to lose his composure. The doctor pointed Jax to the correct room.

"He's been waiting for you, you know. But there's nothing else I can do."

"I...I understand," Jax nodded. He went to the room and opened the door quietly. He went to the bedside of a weak alien. The alien sensed someone beside him and opened his eyes. A small smile appeared on his face.

"Jax..."

"Hello, my friend," Jax fought the tears. "How are you?"

"Tired...," the creature replied weakly. Jax nodded.

"I know. The doctor told me. I do have something that might help...you..you won't be in pain."

"Keep it, Jax...I know what awaits me now...no drug can cure it."

"It's not that kind of medicine," Jax shook his head. "This...this one will help you relax as you...as you.."

The creature noticed Jax was tarting to cry and frowned.

"Don't do that, Jax. I'm not afraid. I know...there is nothing more...that can be done...for me. It's better this way."

"You...you held on for so long...I really thought that you," Jax couldn't finish and could not hide his tears anymore. "I don't want to do this." he gripped the alien's hand tightly. "If only there was another way."

"Jax...stop it...You did everything you could. But most of all...you were a friend to me...my only one."

Jax nodded. He tried to prevent himself from sobbing, but it was impossible.

"Jax," the alien started raising his voice. "I...I think this is it!"

Jax ignored his feelings and prepared the serum. He stuck a needle into the bottle before injecting its content into the creature's arm.

"It's okay, my friend," he shushed the creature. "The dose will help with the pain. Just relax now. It will soon pass."

"Th..thank you, Jax," the creature began to cry, but he wore a smile. "Thank you for everything!"

Jax felt the tears return as he held the creature's had and watched as he slowly close his eyes to sleep for the last time. He watched him for a while until he knew the creature had taken his last breath. It was then that Jax allowed himself to cry. This was the worst part of his job. It's what he hated the most...saying goodbye to suffering prisoners.

Flashbacks began to appear in his mind. The memories he once had with his other assistant still haunted him daily. It was too painful to forget, too painful to let go. He blamed himself.

"It's all my fault! I'm so useless! No matter how hard I try, it's never enough!" he sobbed.