Note: Kudos and big thanks to Meian16 for his help in this chapter! As Jun the Tiger is his character!
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Whispers
Meanwhile, Pandora had been unaware of the news that Hugh had brought earlier since she had been in the dojo, still practising with her meteor hammer and rope dart along with her claws.
The dojo seemed to be the place she spent in more than she did anywhere else in Mutopia.
After Sephie had wakened her for breakfast, she had gone in to check on her mother who was still resting after being awoken from her coma, yet she was pleased to hear from James and Dahlia that she would be able to leave the sickbay in a couple of days.
Donatello had been given the all-clear to leave, yet the two medics wanted to go over him with a few checks before they let him leave.
She had also spent time with Raphael at breakfast, and even though they couldn't talk together, she would read his lips as well as try and learn what he was signing to her, and she would talk back.
Yet it still broke her heart that her father was mute, and she never stopped thinking about how she would one day meet Hanako again and make her pay.
As she swung her rope dart around her neck, she threw it off and struck at a wooden post before pulling it back and striking another behind her, the hybrid then caught it with her legs and did a few moves with it on her ankles before throwing it forward, yet as she did, she saw Tania appear and the hybrid almost jumped out of her skin and pulled her weapon back.
"Whoa! Tania!" Pandora cried "What the shell?"
Tania looked rather shocked, but she held up her hands and gave an embarrassed laugh.
"Sorry Pandora." She said, "I shouldn't really have entered until you had stopped for a moment."
"It's alright." Pandora replied, "I'm just glad I didn't hit you." She wrapped Mr Swinger up and looked at the Panda.
"Why you here?" she asked.
It was then Tania remembered.
"I just came to inform you that Hugh's been here."
"He has?" Pandora asked blinking "Why? What for?"
Tania chewed her lip then looked at Pandora.
"Look Pandora, what I'm about to tell you, you mustn't repeat to your mother, at least not now, as she's still recovering."
Pandora cocked an eyebrow as she looked at Tania.
"Why?" she asked.
Tania looked over her shoulder, making sure there was no-one else around then looked at Pandora before telling her all that Hugh had told Tyroth, The Knights, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael.
When she spoke about the hostage crisis at the supermarket in the city, Pandora felt her heartbeat faster.
"Oh Man." She thought "The media picked up on it? That was fast!"
"There are now whispers Diablo has returned." Tania ended.
"What?" Pandora squeaked.
When she first heard the story, she thought that they had suspected something else, but not Diablo.
She remembered the Mutopian Rogue only too well.
Even though it had been years since he betrayed Mutopia and there had been a few run ins with him in-between, there had been the fear that because of him roaming free that he would one day give away Mutopia's location, and she had hoped that that day would never come, so far they had been lucky, but there was the if, and when, that played in everyone's minds.
"So, Diablo may have returned?" the hybrid asked.
Tania nodded.
"That's the fear, but we're not sure, Hugh says he's going to keep his eyes open, and the Knights will observe when they go for patrol."
Pandora frowned as she listened.
"So, they think Diablo has returned, yet it wasn't the raven, it was me! At least they don't suspect me, but if they think Diablo has returned, they will be more vigilant, so I'll need to be more careful."
She looked up at Tania.
"Thanks." She spoke.
"You're welcome, dear." Tania said then looked at her watch.
"Louie will be serving dinner soon."
"Okay, thanks!" Pandora said, "I'll be there in a moment."
After Tania left, Pandora paced the dojo.
"Shell and Seven hells!" she cursed "News has been brought down here because of what I did, but they all think it was Diablo."
She looked at the sharp dart end of her weapon Mr Swinger and glared.
"They thought it was the raven."
"But it was you! And see it as a blessing that they didn't realise it was you!"
Pandora blinked as that thought came into her head.
"That is true, at least I'm not a suspect, but Tyroth's going to be more vigilant."
"Yes, but you're clever, and careful, you can work around him!"
"No, I'm not sure!"
"Not sure hmm? Think about it! Now the thought that Diablo might have returned, he's going to be more worried about finding the Raven than worrying about you!"
"What? You think that?"
"I know that! He's been fretting about the Raven's antics revealing his home, as well as yours back home!"
Pandora chewed her lip then she started to walk out of the Dojo towards the showers, she soon made it and found her belongings on a bench where she left them.
She then started the water and began to wash off the sweat, the thoughts still swirling in her head, just like the water that swirled around her as she washed herself down.
She was worried that her actions had made everyone think Diablo was back in Chicago, and she knew the Raven wasn't back, but the other half of her still wanted to go back into the city to fight crime after the good service she had done, saving those innocent lives.
After a few minutes, Pandora got out of the shower and went over to the steamed mirror, wiping it away she looked at her reflection.
She stared at herself, her scaley features, her dripping hair, and her focused eyes.
"I only went out for some fresh air, I only intended to do it once, but I ended up stopping a hostage situation!"
"And you should be proud of that! Think about it! If you hadn't gone out that night? What would have happened? Maybe that bastard would have killed the clerk and that girl and her unborn baby!"
Pandora was silent as that thought ran through her mind.
"The Knights weren't there! And if you hadn't gone out that night, if Hugh had alerted them, it would have been too late!"
Pandora leaned on the sink as she thought about it.
That was true, it was by sure luck she had been there and stopped the whole situation, and she had done a service and saved lives, something she had failed to do for her family in the Foot Headquarters.
She looked up at her reflection again and narrowed her eyes.
"Who's to say you cannot do it again and be there at the right time? You could do everyone a service?"
"But what if it goes wrong?"
"What could go wrong? You're a ninja! You know how to keep to the shadows! In fact, you're more than just a ninja! You're a hunter! An Apex predator! You prowl through the shadows and stalk your prey! And in all the times you have been out in the field to find the ones you hunt, you have been successful!"
Pandora blinked again and looked in the mirror seeing the shadows on her face and hair, and she reached up to touch the mirror.
"A Hunter? Predator?"
"A true Huntress always catches her prey!"
Pandora touched the mirror and looked down at the sink then she started to shiver as she had been standing naked before the sink and reality set in.
She turned away from the mirror and picked up her towel to dry herself before pulling on a dressing gown.
Sitting on the bench the hybrid hugged herself and thought more about the voices in her head.
"Hunt! Stalk! Stop the evil up top that the Dragon cannot!"
Pandora squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head.
"No, I seriously need to think!"
She stood up taking her belongings with her and ran back to her room to get dressed and ready for supper.
A few hours earlier, in the Medical Bay, Donatello sat on the edge of his bed whilst James and Dahlia looked him over.
Since his awakening, the Purple masked turtle had been feeling low, even though he was glad to be awake and alive after suffering the effects of Komodo Dragon's venom, he still couldn't help but feel he had let his family down.
James's listened through his stethoscope to Donatello's heart whilst Dahlia checked his blood pressure.
"All's normal doctor!" Dahlia reported.
James nodded then took off his stethoscope.
"Same here Dahlia." He spoke.
Dahlia then looked at Donatello's scars, she could see where Komodo Dragon had left deep grooves from his claws in the turtle's skin and shell.
"You're a lucky man, turtle Donnie." She said, "You'll be carrying a few scars, but at least you can say you survived."
Donatello sighed.
"I suppose." He said as he stood up, his legs slightly wobbly.
"You're very fortunate my son." James said, "You had a very lucky escape!"
Donatello nodded then looked over at Monalisa who was sleeping.
"I just wish I had been able to help." He said, "Yet I failed!"
"You didn't fail anyone!" James said seriously "Don't think on it one second!"
Donatello walked over to Monalisa, and the Chimpanzee and Wolf saw him kiss Monalisa's forehead and nuzzle her.
"I'll come back and visit you soon sis!" he said, "I'm so sorry I couldn't be there when you needed me…." He kissed Monalisa's forehead again then stood up.
"Donatello?" James asked in concern "Are you alright?"
Donatello sighed.
"I will be." He said, "Thank you, both of you, for everything."
"You're welcome my son." James said, "Just come back and see us if you feel anything out of the ordinary, alright?"
"I will," Donatello promised "And thank you." He gave a weak smile at James and Dahlia before leaving the Medical Bay.
As the turtle left the bay, someone else entered and Dahlia saw it was her lover, Jun the Tiger.
She smiled upon seeing him, and she also saw he was dressed in black cargo pants, a matching hoodie with red details on it as well as a red and black cowl which made her suspicious.
"Jun?" Dahlia asked in surprise.
"Hey babe." Jun smiled.
Dahlia studied his appearance.
"You're going topside?" she asked, and James looked up from checking on the sleeping Monalisa and also saw Jun.
"Yeah!" Jun replied "I got word of a tournament happening tonight! Was gonna go check it out!"
"Another Underground tournament?" Dahlia asked and James's eyes widened.
"Say what Boy?!" he squawked.
"It sounds like it ought to be a good one." Jun informed "And besides, it'll give me a chance to go up and get some fresh air, you know?"
"I guess yeah." Dahlia sighed.
She knew about her lover's frequent visits to Chicago when it came to underground fights, and as much as she supported him when he took part, she always worried about him, especially when it came to his appearance.
"What do you know about this fight?" she asked.
"Apparently, it's a pretty big deal amongst the locals. Heard a few of the best in Chicago's underground fight scene should be there." Jun reported.
"What's at Stake up there?" Dahlia asked, and James frowned and folded his arms as he listened.
"A cash prize, pretty sizable one. But more so than that, bragging rights." Jun said.
"You're serious?" Dahlia gasped
"And how much are we talking?!" James asked.
"Don't know the exact amount." Jun shrugged "But there's an entrance fee for all the competitors and the total for it is what the winner gets. And the entry fee I think was somewhere around fifty to a hundred dollars."
"I see." Dahlia mused then looked up at Jun before walking over and embracing him.
"Please be careful up there!" she pleaded.
Jun cupped her cheeks and gave her a warm smile.
"I will, I promise love." He said fervently.
'You better be careful son!" James said with a frown "You know the rules!"
Jun nodded understanding, yet he felt annoyed with how he had to remain secretive about what he was, but he knew why and respected that.
"And just in case." The Chimpanzee said handing him a small vial of the Well's water.
"Thanks doc!" Jun smirked "Always looking out for me!"
"I'm serious boy!" James said, "That water will save your life!"
"I get it!" Jun replied if not with a little annoyance to which Dahlia nodded at James and lead Jun away into the next room.
"Whatever you decide to do up there, just be careful!" Dahlia reminded her boyfriend "Tyroth is already worried Diablo might have returned."
"I know." Jun said.
"I know, you know, but whilst you're up there, keep your eyes peeled, and inform us if you see or hear anything suspicious."
Jun cupped Dahlia's cheeks and leaned his forehead against hers.
"I'll do my best love." He said, "I promise!"
He then kissed Dahlia's lips passionately and she kissed him back with the same passion before sliding her lips away and stroking her lover's hair and he in turn did the same.
"Miss you already babe." He said as he nuzzled her and let go.
"Miss you too." Dahlia whispered, "Stay safe."
"I will, I promise!" Jun replied fervently before covering his face with his cowl then leaving the medical bay, Dahlia watching him and crossing her fingers at her side hoping he would return safe.
So Pandora now knows of what happened topside, and her thoughts are still conflicted.
Meanwhile, Donatello has been given the all clear to leave the medical bay, and Jun has informed Dahlia he is going topside to an Underground fight in the city!
What will happen from here? Well tune in to find out!