Look who's back! :)

早かれ遅かれ– Sooner or Later

"The Foot is behind all this?"

April couldn't help the shriek from her lips after Mikey relayed the story to her, Casey and the Mighty Mutanimals. Behind her, she could easily feel the furious auras their friends radiated.

Mikey nodded, biting his lower lip. "We found Don's bo staff and T-phone next to claw marks that I'm a hundred percent certain was Rahzar's."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Casey said, a hockey stick clutched tightly in both hands. "We gotta go rescue them!"

"We can't go running in there without a plan, Casey." April reminded the hot head. "Besides, we've never been to the Foot headquarters before and this is the Shredder we're talking about! If we get too careless, it will be not just our lives on the line!"

"April is right." Dr. Rockwell piped up. "I still remember the internal structure of the Shredder's base from the last time Slash and I were captured, and believe me, that place is heavily guarded. Sneaking in or out will be a challenge for anybody, and to think that it was that madman's intention was for us to actually escape at the time!"

Mikey winced at the memory. Everyone was so relieved to have Slash and Rockwell back that no one bothered to really question how they could have escaped the Foot's supposedly well fortified lair by themselves. He knew that the two mutanimals were strong, but Shredder and even Tiger Claw were in a whole new level compared to them.

"Well, the kid's right." Slash said gruffly, tapping his mace against a free hand. "I ain't sitting around here while we've got a chance to rescue Raphael and the others."

"And we will not." Leatherhead told the agitated tortoise. "But charging headfirst into the Foot's lair is foolhardy. It could be a trap for Michelangelo and Master Splinter, and we don't know what Shredder plans to do with the other turtles."

"Which is why we gotta hurry! Who knows what that heartless bastard's doing to them right now?" Slash snapped to his second-in-command, making both Leatherhead and Mikey flinch.

What indeed? Knowing the Shredder, Mikey wouldn't be surprised if he is torturing Leo, Raph and Donnie by now.

An iron weight dropped at the small turtle's stomach at the thought. Oh my God, my brothers could be hurt real bad right now. Slash is right, what the hell am I doing just standing around twiddling my toes? But April and Dr. Rockwell also have a point! We need a plan or we won't be able to make it past Shredder's front gate!

Mikey would know—the several failed attempts to rescue Karai and steal a brainworm from the Foot's lair made sure that he did.

"Slash, please," Master Splinter said from Mikey's left. "I understand your concern but charging blindly into Foot headquarters will not save anybody."

Slash's lips tugged downward, the increasing agitation growing more obvious in the lines of his body. "Well, if anyone's got a damn good plan, out with it because we're wasting time!"

"Of course somebody's got a plan!" It was then that Mondo chimed in casually. "You got something, right, Mikey?"

The freckled turtle was quickly snapped out of his musings. "H—huh?" Oh my God, why is everyone looking at me?!

"Come on, amigo, you're the one who planned the patrol route earlier! We wouldn't have found out it was the Shredder who got your bros if it weren't for you!" Mondo said with so much confidence that Mikey wished he had a shred of. "If anyone can come up with a plan to save them, it's gonna be you!"

Me?! Mondo, dude, did you just mistake me for Leo? "I—I can't, Mondo, guys. I mean, last time, I just got real lucky that I remembered the routes and mapped them out, it's no big deal."

"But what about your plan with the T-phones?" April said. "I used to think that was Donnie's department but you managed to come up with that on your own!"

"And the way you acted all leader like on us!" Mondo grinned at his stuttering friend. "Totally radical, dude! I don't care what you say, you got what it takes to walk the walk, Mikey, and I'm with you all the way!"

"Our friends are right, Michelangelo." Leatherhead said encouragingly. "You and your brothers know how to handle the Foot more than anyone. And you already have experience breaking into Foot headquarters at least once. I have faith you can do this, my friend." The crocodile's grey eyes flickered to Slash. "We all do." The tortoise glowered back at the crocodile, but when his eyes landed on Mikey, the tension in his frame seemed to have dissipated somewhat.

Holy jaloopa, Mikey really felt like tearing the skin of his head off. Are they out of their minds?! "B—but I'm—"

"Grow an effing backbone, kid!" Slash snapped harshly at Mikey. Splinter made a move to stand beside his youngest as the tortoise raised a fist on Mikey's immediate view. "You're a ninja, for cryin' out loud! And those are your brothers on the line! Don't you want to save them?!"

That made Mikey's form turn rigid with righteous fury. "Of course I do!"

"Then stop making these pathetic excuses and actually do something!" Slash roared at his face, making everyone shout the large tortoise's name in worry and warning.

However, instead of fear or even anger, Mikey felt like he had taken a breath of fresh air after being underwater for a very long time.

"Slash, Dr. Rockwell," Mikey said in the most controlled voice anyone has ever heard from him. "I need you to tell me as much as you can about the lower levels of Shredder's lair."

Raph would never forget how being under the Shredder's mercy was like.

Back when Slash and Rockwell were under the Foot's control, he was captured and brought before the armored villain himself. Besides the ever present rage, there was also fear, as the aura around the man was too heavy that it stifled his breathing.

He never thought he would have to feel that way again, not after he was saved after he was turned into a mindless puppet by their most vicious enemy.

But now, here he was again, helplessly bound alongside his brothers who are no doubt experiencing what Raph already had to in the past. This alone made this whole thing ten times worse, far from anything he had ever experienced.

Raph could only glower as Shredder walked up to them, blank eyes boring into each of the brothers momentarily before speaking. "I see you have awakened. I was growing tired of having to wait."

"Never took you for the patient type." Leo answered coolly, amazing Raph at how their oldest could still remain so calm at a time like this.

The Shredder scoffed. "Talk back all you want while you can, turtles, for soon you will not even be able to breathe unless I tell you to. And I will relish every moment of it."

The older ninja's words rang an alarm at the back of Raph's head for some reason, but he schooled his features to a firm glare. "You talk too much! You think some fancy threats will be enough to scare us?"

Shredder's gaze pinned the second brother's green eyes intently. "Ah Raphael, ferociously brave, yet burning with a fire not even you yourself can tame. If only you and your brothers were in more capable hands, your talents would not have gone to waste."

"We're already in the best hands in the world, Shredder." Donnie snapped. "Master Splinter is ten times the man you can ever hope to be!"

Not even a second later, Shredder was at Donnie's face, arm blade embedded merely inches away from the purple masked turtle's temple.

Leo and Raph jerked from their bonds. "DONNIE!"

"Such devotion to that worthless rat." Shredder hissed, locking eyes with the trembling turtle before lifting the blade of his gauntlet off the table and running the blades against the metal surface near Donnie's head. "I would suggest you learn to hold your tongue when it comes to that pathetic excuse of a ninja before I rip it myself."

"Leave him alone, coward!" Leo shouted furiously. "He's only telling the truth! It's your problem you're not a man enough to accept it!"

The armored ninja grunted before retracting his arm and focusing his glare back to Leo. "You turtles don't understand what it means to be a true ninja. Splinter has filled your mind with such useless drivel that dulls you from reaching your true potential.

"Compassion. Kindness. Virtue." Shredder spat each word like it was mud on his tongue. "A true ninja lives only for the honor of its clan and for its mission. Before a ninja is a person, he is a weapon fit to remain with the clan only if it remains as strong as it is useful. The weak shall be discarded, for there is no room for them on the road to becoming a great ninja."

"A ninja is just a weapon? Was that all Karai was to you too?" Leo's challenge worked, as the Shredder visibly balked. "You told us before that you cared about her. Was that only to the point that she could be useful to your stupid clan?"

This time, Shredder did not hold back: a gloved fist collided with Leo's jaw hard enough to draw blood and snapping it to the side.

Ignoring the other two turtles' alarmed cries, the armored ninja raised his bladed arm. "I need you and your pathetic brothers alive, Leonardo, but I have no qualms teaching you a lesson in pain."

Leo's steady blue eyes narrowed daringly. "Do your worst."

And, behind his mask, Shredder sneered. "Of that, pathetic turtle, you can count on."

But before the raised blade could meet its target, the door to the room burst open and a voice called out. "Master Shredder!"

Said man's arm remained raised but turned sharply at the ninja who entered the room. "What is it, Tiger Claw?"

The tiger mutant ninja was on one knee beside the door with his head bowed. "We have intruders, as you have expected, my master. But rest assured we are taking care of them. I have already sent the Foot bots, Bradford and Xever."

Shredder considered his lieutenant's words before backing away from Leo. "Who dares?"

"Mere ingrates. I believe they call themselves the Mighty Mutanimals." Raph let out a choked noise at Tiger Claw's response.

The Mutanimals? The three brothers traded looks of shock. What the hell are they doing here and how did they know that the Shredder had them?!

"Are they now?" The Shredder let out a hum. "And is he not among them?"

He? Donnie blinked. Who is Shredder talking about? Apparently, Tiger Claw knew because he shook his head. "There is no sign of him, master. The crocodile and Slash were last seen in the entrance hallway, and the pigeon mutant and the monkey attempted to enter from the roof but were spotted by Steranko and Zeck."

The turtles expected the Shredder to become enraged at the rescue attempt, but to their growing dread, the older man actually looked pleased, almost like he was grinning underneath his mask.

"Oh, he is here, I am sure of it, what with the three of them right where I want them." Shredder said. "Have those taking care of the upper levels handle the intruders. For now, bring Stockman to me. Tell him that it is time to proceed as planned."

Tiger Claw twitched but was only a second late from obeying. "As you wish, master Shredder."

"Plan?" Leo kept his eyes on Tiger Claw's retreating form before turning to the armored ninja before him. "What plan?"

"I am honestly quite surprised that this happened so soon. I was expecting to wait a few more days." Shredder responded. "Commendable that he even tried to divert my attention to your allies—perhaps he is not one to be underestimated. No matter. This will serve to make this game much more interesting."

Raph frowned in confusion. "Who the shell are you talking about?"

There was a brief quiet before the kabuto wearing ninja's answer knocked the very air out of his lungs.

"Patience, turtles. Your youngest will come to us soon enough."

Oook, so it's been a while!

I've been swamped by work and my lessons that I haven't had the time to browse my favorite sites at my leisure, let alone upload new chapters. I promise to do my best but I feel that I won't be able to update as regularly as I would like.

Thanks again for all the support: the reviews/faves/follow! Hope this chapter is to your liking and see you all in the next one! :)