Heya readers! Last place we left off, Hugh had arrived to speak about the thugs that had been killed topside and Tyroth had decided to talk to Splinter about the Foot being in Chicago.
Just how will the talk go? Well read below to find out.
P.S. Credit to Tyroth Darkstorm for his input for this chapter!
Chapter Fifty-One
The Beans Are Spilt
After Tyroth left the canteen, he went to find Master Splinter, and it wasn't long before he found the old rat sitting on a bench near the canal staring dreamily at the water.
Tyroth sighed as he looked at the Hamato Clan's sensei and wondered how to approach him.
All the years he had known the sensei of the ninja turtles and Monalisa, he knew him to be a calm and understanding creature, he rarely ever got angry, or shouted unless in battle, and he along with his sons, adopted daughter and granddaughters were only just about getting themselves together after that horrific battle at the Foot Headquarters.
He wasn't sure how Splinter was going to take the news about the Foot being in Chicago, but he hoped that the old rat would listen before jumping to conclusions and if for any reason the rest of the Hamato Clan found out, he could be there for them and be the strong pillar to hold them together.
Taking a breath and gathering his courage, Tyroth walked over to Splinter.
As the dragon approached him, the old rat turned around and he almost jumped.
"Ah Tyroth." Splinter said, "I could hear you approaching."
Tyroth gave a bitter chuckle.
"There's no hiding from you is there?" he asked and swallowed hard "Listen, I'm sorry to do this to you, but can we talk, in private?"
"Of course we may." Splinter replied and stood up "Where did you wish to speak."
Tyroth looked around, he knew the canteen wasn't a good idea, nor the rec-room or even here in the open village, and he knew the dojo would be occupied by the Knights before too long.
Tyroth licked his lips then he decided the temple of the well, but he would make sure Splinter was safe when they were there given the magical water.
"Follow me to the temple." He said nodding his head towards the direction of the Well and Splinter agreed curious to what the Dragon wanted to speak about.
The Dragon and rat walked towards the temple and down the tunnel until they got to the quiet and tranquil temple of the well where many mutations took place, Tyroth could remember almost all of them, including his and Sephie's and a pang hit his stomach as he thought of Diablo's mutation, but he pushed those thoughts aside as he tried to focus on what was important.
Tyroth sat down and crossed his legs and Splinter sat opposite him.
Splinter looked at the Dragon's face and he sniffed the air, he could see something was troubling him, he always knew when there was a problem even if many tried to hide their distress, he was so good at detecting such feelings.
Tyroth could tell Splinter could sense something, so he decided to just come out with it.
"Master Splinter." He said bowing to the old rat "You and your family have been through so much recently, some more than others, and even now, your sons and daughter, and granddaughters are suffering heavily, Donatello and Monalisa were in comas after being injured by two of the V5, Raphael is mute, Kemeko…." He paused "I can't imagine the horror she went through, yet I saw her nightmares when Leonardo and I tried to help her."
He saw Splinter sigh sadly.
"When we rescued you from the Foot Headquarters, we believed that you would be safe away from those monsters here in Chicago, in all the years that have past, they have never known of our presence here, let alone where Mutopia is."
Splinter started to frown as well as look slightly scared.
"What is it you're saying Tyroth?" he asked concerned "Is Mutopia in danger?"
"No!" Tyroth said quickly "Not at all!" he mentally kicked himself "Come on you idiot!" he thought to himself "Just get it out!"
The Dragon took a deep breath.
"A few nights ago, Jun the Tiger went topside to an abandoned school where an underground fight was taking place." He then went on to explain what he saw and how he noticed a Yakuza Boss there accompanied by a Japanese woman and several ninjas all baring the Foot Symbol.
"The Knights then went to the school to observe what was going on." He explained "We have reason to believe that Hanako is in Chicago making a deal with the Yakuza Boss, Boss Kodama and the 95th Street Gang!"
Splinter stared at Tyroth and blinked unsure of what to say.
"The Foot are in Chicago?" he asked with a slight gasp "How… How is it possible?"
As he heard Hanako's name he instantly had a flashback of her shooting Michelangelo, injuring Pandora and stabbing Raphael through the throat, disabling him to the point that he was unable to speak yet hadn't taken his life.
"Again, we're not sure Master Splinter." Tyroth said "We've been observing and right now we're about to go on another mission to see what they're planning to do, and Loki's been able to build some gadgets to help us, since I couldn't ask Donatello."
Splinter frowned but he nodded and listened.
"I told the Knights not to speak a word to the rest of the Hamato Clan, and I'm glad Leonardo and Kemeko aren't here, especially young Kemeko, if she knew, it would break her, and she's supposed to be healing in Japan."
Splinter agreed as he leaned on his cane.
"My poor granddaughter." He lamented "It was a day that we all knew had to come, but it didn't turn out the way we hoped, we can only hope that her journey to the Ancient One's home and to the resting place of her parents will bring her peace as well as closure."
Tyroth nodded.
"I'm sorry to tell you this Master." He said hanging his head "I didn't want to cause any stress, not when you're all recovering…"
He paused as he felt Splinter's paw on his arm, and he looked up.
"Tyroth." He said in a serious voice "I understand why you didn't want to talk to us about the Foot being in Chicago."
Tyroth blinked, he could see how calm and composed Splinter was, yet he wasn't sure if the rat was being genuine or not, given the shocking news, but he trusted the rat was being understanding.
"I can respect why you didn't speak of this to me, nor to my sons, or my daughter, it is true, we have been through a lot, but we have taken time to recover, some more than others, and you were wise to turn to young Loki since Donatello has taught him well at engineering and making gadgets."
Tyroth gave a small smile.
"He has, and I'm proud of my little Trickster, well, not so little really, being fourteen, he's done so much, and much better than Rattletrap ever could, in fact he fixed the Ninjet before he came to rescue you."
"He did, did he?" Splinter asked raising an eyebrow.
Tyroth smiled and chuckled.
"He's so clever." He said, "And I hope with what he has provided the Knights with his gadgets, we can find out more information from what's going on without having to get too close and put ourselves at risk."
"I do hope it works out Tyroth." Splinter said, "And I hope they can find out the answers you seek, and for your peace of mind, you have my full support, and I will not tell my sons nor Monalisa, and not Pandora what we have spoken about."
"Thank you, Master Splinter." Tyroth said smiling with relief at Splinter "And I am truly sorry to tell you this, but I felt you would understand better than if I were to tell the others."
"I do my son." Splinter said, "As much as it had shocked me, I must be civil about this and be prepared for what may come, and I do know that my sons and daughter will need to be informed of this eventually as it is our enemy in your home city."
"And I intend to tell them." Tyroth promised "Once we have a clear idea what's happening, which I hope we will find out sooner rather than later."
Whilst Splinter and Tyroth were talking, Sephie after she had escorted Hugh back to the entrance of Mutopia, had instructed the Knights to meet in the Dojo to discuss their latest move after they had learnt how to use the gadgets that Loki had put together.
When she walked past Loki's workshop, she saw her son walking out of it and towards Sonia's playroom.
"Hi mum!" Loki said looking up "The Knights are heading to the Dojo now to wait for you and dad."
"That's great kid!" Sephie said and wrapped an arm around Loki.
"You make me and your father so proud with how far you've come with learning your craft!" she said, "Donatello has taught you well!"
Loki grinned.
"I do love learning new skills mum!" he said "Not just what Uncle Don has taught me! But Leona too, as she's taught me everything she knows, and I hope to learn more with metal work! Like blacksmithing when I'm a little older!"
"You'll get there Trickster!" Sephie said with a smile and booping him on the snout.
"By the way," she asked, "How is Pandora with you, your sister and Sonia?"
Loki bit his lip.
"So, so." He said "Freya was worried about her earlier and took her to James thinking she might be running a fever, but the doc said she was fine."
"Okay." Sephie said worried then looked towards where Pandora's room was.
"I'm not sure where she is now mum." Loki confessed "As I've been in here for the past hour."
Sephie nodded.
"Okay, well, keep an eye on her alright?" she said, "She's still not opening up about the trauma she went through at the Foot Headquarters, and I can tell she's missing Kemeko greatly."
"We miss her too." Loki said, "It feels so strange without her here with us."
"I know, and it's the same not having Leonardo here either, but they'll be back again soon, Kemeko is in desperate need of healing, all of the Hamato Clan do, and we just need to be there to support them."
Loki agreed.
"Freya, Sonia and I keep telling Pandora that, but she's still shutting us out, and doesn't seem to want to join in with us."
"Give her time Trickster." Sephie advised "She will come round, I hope so, for her sake."
Loki nodded and after hugging his mum, he went to Sonia's playroom, Sephie watched him go then walked towards the Dojo to find the Chicago Knights.
So Tyroth and Splinter have spoken, and the Rat despite his shock has taken it in his stride and has given Tyroth his full support.
Yet where will things go from here? Well keep checking back to find out!