- Chapter 5 -

Mutation Day Surprises

A few days after Hisako's graduation, Kasumi and Kagome went down to the lair, both carrying a large cake.

"Happy Mutation Day!" Kasumi declared happily, going to the table with the cake.

Hisako clapped happily as the Turtles and Splinter gathered around the table. "Happy Mutation Day, guys."

"We brought your favorite cake," said Kagome.

"Sweet!" Mikey said excitedly.

He reached for the cake, but Splinter slapped his hand aside. "Not until after we eat dinner, Michelangelo."

Kagome smiled. "Don't worry, guys. We got that covered, too."

She reached into a large bag near her side, and pulled out a large stack of pizzas from Antonio's Pizza-Rama. The Turtles and Hisako all gaped at the pizzas, mouths watering in anticipation.

"Kagome," Raph said, "you are awesome."

"I know," Kagome said, smiling. "Now, shall we?"

Everyone dug into the pizzas with gusto. It didn't take long for it to be thoroughly consumed, everyone thoroughly enjoying the meal.

"Man," Donnie let out, swallowing a mouthful of pizza, "Can you believe we're already fifteen?"

"I know, right?" Vee agreed, leaning back and taking a bite from her slice. "It seems like only yesterday we were little kids, playing games and goofing off."

"Yeah..." Leo said, before turning to Splinter. "Sensei... we were all talking, and we were wondering... now that we're older, would it be okay for us to go up to the surface?"

Splinter was surprised to hear that, and thought for a minute in worry. "Well… I don't know..."

"We can't stay cooped up in here forever, Sensei," Vee pointed out.

"Vee's right," Hisako added. "We're gonna see the world one day. And we need to learn what's out there."

Splinter still looked unsure, and Kasumi placed a hand on their shoulder.

"Yoshi, they're right," she said. "It's time."

"Yeah," Kagome agreed. "I can even show them around. That way, they have a guide to keep them safe."

After a minute, Splinter conceded. "Very well. But do not let any humans see you."

"We won't, Sensei," Leo replied.

"Yeah," agreed Mikey. "Kagome, Kasumi, and Hisako are enough."

"What about me, Sensei?" Hisako added.

Vee turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "You do realize your people skills are... nonexistent."

"Right..." Hisako conceded. "Okay, no being seen by humans."

-X-

As they prepared to go, Splinter went on, acting like an overprotective parent.

"Don't take anything from strangers!" he insisted. "Look both ways before crossing the street! And make sure you go before leaving! The restrooms up there are filthy!"

"Hai, Sensei," they said in unison, slowly growing more annoyed with each passing comment.

"And-" Splinter began.

"Okay, okay!" Raph declared impatiently. "Can we go now, please?"

"Yoshi, let them go," Kasumi said. "They'll be fine."

Splinter sighed. "Alright."

The seven cheered and went for the surface. Kasumi placed a hand on Splinter's shoulder comfortingly.

"I know you're worried, but you can't just keep them down here forever," she reminded him. "What kind of life would that be?"

"A lonely one..." Splinter agreed, sighing.

"They'll be fine," Kasumi assured. "Kagome is with them. They'll be in good hands."

Kagome shoved the lid of the manhole off, jumping out into the alley.

"Hello, New York City!" she declared.

One by one, the Hamato siblings followed after her, stretching as they exited the tunnel. Hisako was the last one to get out, looking around with more than a little nervous energy.

"After all these years, I'm finally back up on the surface," she said.

Leo looked over at her, giving her a warm smile as he took her hand. "Hey, you're safe with us. You have nothing to be afraid of."

Hisako took a deep breath, nodding.

"C'mon," Kagome insisted. "Let's go have some fun!"

"Where to first?" Raph asked.

Kagome looked up at a nearby fire escape and smiled. "Last one to the rooftops hatched from a rotten egg!"

"Oh yeah?" Mikey asked. "Well, the first one's gotta eat it!"

Laughter erupted from all of them as they vaulted onto the fire escape, racing for the top. Leo got in first, and Mikey ended up last.

"Dang it..." Mikey cursed.

"Now what's this about eating a rotten egg?" Raph teased.

"No!" Mikey exclaimed. "Don't eat me!"

"Luckily for you, I'm full of pizza," Leo quipped.

Amidst the merriment, Leo's gaze drifted down to the street. His eyes widened and he turned to his family. "Look alive guys, we've got company."

The group looked down the street, and saw a red-haired girl around their age walking down the street.

"Wait, I know that girl," Kagome said. "That's April O'Neil. She goes to Roosevelt High with me."

Donnie's jaw dropped the minute she saw her. His eyes widened and he felt his heart palpitating a mile a minute.

"Whoa..." he gasped, sighing with instant affection. "She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen..."

Hearing this, Kagome, Vee, and Hisako all turned to their brother with identical annoyed looks.

"You wanna rethink that statement there, bro?" Vee questioned.

"I was talking about human girls," Donnie defended.

"Oh yeah," Hisako deadpanned. "Just keep digging, Donnie."

Donnie shrugged awkwardly. "You're our sisters. It doesn't count."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Yeah... would you like some salt with your foot?"

Kagome turned to Hisako. "I hold him down, you go for the memory core?"

"Do it."

They both launched at Donnie. Kagome pinned him down, Donnie squirming to get loose as Hisako came for him with a glowing green hand. As they wrestled, Leo looked down at the street to ensure they didn't draw any attention. As soon as he did, a van suddenly pulled up beside April, several identical men in business suits piling out and surrounding her.

"What the shell?" he let out.

Everyone turned to him, seeing Leo going serious. Donnie took the opportunity to break free

"Leo?" he asked. "What is it?"

A scream from April spared Leo the effort of an answer. "Let go of me!"

Everyone rushed to the edge of the roof, looking on in horror.

"She's in trouble!" Mikey exclaimed.

All of them were so focused on April that they didn't notice Hisako going completely still, her breathing coming out in stuttering gasps. Kagome looked up and down the streets, finding nobody else around.

"C'mon!" she insisted. "We gotta help her!"

"Are you crazy?!" Mikey shouted. "Dad will make us into turtle soup if we get caught, and Kasumi will send you straight to the Hashi for a year!"

Kagome looked him right in the eye. "I… don't… CARE!"

She vaulted off of the roof before any of them could stop her.

"Kagome!" Raph screamed. "Damn it!"

The minute she hit the ground, Kagome ran forward, reaching the men just as they shoved a struggling April into their van.

"HEY!" she screamed at the top of her voice. The closest man turned just in time to get a double drop-kick to the face. "Get your hands off my friend!"

The man picked himself up, straightening like an inflatable man from a used car lot. His head turned at an unnatural angle as he aimed a very high tech looking gun right at the young kunoichi.

"Eliminate the interloper," he ordered.

They all surrounded her, Kagome bending into a fighting stance.

"You picked the wrong night to be a hero, kid." a second man remarked.

The Turtles then jumped down, surrounding Kagome and preparing their weapons.

"Wrong," Leo spat. "You picked the wrong night to mess with our sister!"

Mikey glanced around, noticing something. "I think Hisako's still on the roof."

They blinked and looked around. Indeed, Hisako wasn't among them. Up on the roof, she was on her knees, clutching her head as she gasped for air. Around her, small bits of debris were floating around her in a green haze. As they focused on Hisako, one of the men's eyes narrowed as he looked over the Turtles.

"Hold the phone…" he said. "Five turtle mutants... is it possible?"

"Are you kidding?" a second man asked. "That botched mission was fifteen years ago. They drowned with the rat and that human woman."

That caught the Hamato sextet off-guard.

"What…?" Donnie managed.

"No way…" Raph said. "Leo, these guys…"

"They're the men from Dad's story," Leo realized.

"And they appear to be the same age as O'Neil, do they not?" the leader asked. "It's them, all right."

"The General will be pleased to have these creatures in his possession," the second man said.

"Take them all!" a third ordered. "We'll deliver them to the General as an added bonus!"

Up on the roof, those words reached Hisako in the midst of her panic. Immediately, her eyes completely glazed over, turning solid green. She straightened up and jumped right off the roof, landing between her family and the men.

"You will not touch them!" she shrieked.

A fourth man perked, recognizing her. "Impossible… It's Project Oracle!"

Hisako's head snapped towards the fourth man, her tessen snapping into her hand with a flick of her wrist. With a nearly imperceivable swipe, she completely decapitated the man. However, rather than a spray of blood, there was the spark of electricity and a strange, bluish, oil-like substance.

"Holy shit…" Vee gasped. "Dad and Kasumi were telling the truth. They are robots!"

As she said this, the now headless man continued to fire at the group. They all rushed to dodge the fire, along with the other men who were trying to take them out. One of the men got a lucky shot, grazing Mikey along the arm. The orange turtle cried out and fell, and Hisako turned her gaze towards the offending attacker. She held out her hand and something began to pull free of the man's stomach. His shirt ripped open, and Hisako's siblings gaped in shock as, rather than human organs, what was yanked out of his abdomen was a large brain with a face and tentacles.

"What the flying-?!" Leo managed. "WHAT?!"

The strange creature screamed as it landed in Hisako's hands, green mist pouring into its body as it shrieked. Its eyes rolled back and went limp as Hisako dropped it unceremoniously.

"Who's next?" she hissed.

The remaining men pointed their blasters at Hisako.

"I don't know where you've been or how you've evaded us for this long, Oracle," the leader growled, "but if it's the last thing I do, I'm bringing you and these Turtles back to General Krang!"

Hisako turned to the men. Mist was rolling off of her as wind pushed her family back.

"I will NEVER go back, " she declared. "Not now…" Everything began to shake, street lights curling in on themselves as fire hydrants exploded. "Not EVER!"

She shoved both hands forward in a rage, a telekinetic blast sending the men flying in all directions, carving a trench in the street, and flipping their van on its side. They all ended up embedded into the walls of the surrounding buildings, rubble embedding into them like deadly projectiles. The only part of the street left untouched was where the turtles and Kagome were standing, a perfect circle untouched by debris and damage. Hisako's eyes stopped glowing. She sagged slightly, panting a bit as the adrenaline wore off, and turned back to her family. Mikey approached her carefully.

"Sis…?" he let out.

She looked back at him, blood running down her nose as she collapsed. The orange turtle narrowly managed to catch her in time.

"Okay," Raph began. "Everyone's thinking it, so I'm just gonna say it. What the fuck just happened?!"

Kagome turned to the van, perking. "Oh, my God… April!"

She hurried over, grabbing the back doors and beginning to pry them open. Donnie came over to help her, using his staff as a crowbar. When the doors finally flew open, they found April crumbled on the ground, a large bruise forming on her head as she lay unconscious. Donnie quickly checked her pulse, letting out a sigh of relief

"A bit banged up, but she's alive," he reported.

They noticed something glowing in the back alongside her. Curiosity piqued, Kagome grabbed it, gaping.

"Guys... check it."

She turned, holding up what she had found: a canister of glowing green ooze, identical to the broken one Splinter had kept on the mantle since they were children.

"Is that…" Leo began.

Donnie nodded. "The stuff that made us."
The Turtles stared at the canister in shock, then their eyes drifted down to the alien bodies littering the street.

"Who are these guys?" Vee asked.

"Better question, what?" Raph corrected.

At that moment, they heard distant sirens approaching.

"Shit, it's the fuzz!" Vee yelled. "We gotta go!"

Kagome and Donnie carefully maneuvered April out of the van, Donnie hoisting her up on his back.

"Whoa whoa, D!" Mikey exclaimed. "Are you crazy?!"

"These things wanted her," Donnie pointed out. "The same things that nearly killed us as babies, aren't even remotely human, and are apparently the things that hurt Hisako. I am not leaving her here."

"Don's right," Leo agreed. "We better take her with us."

"Leo-!" Mikey began.

"I'll take the heat!" Leo snapped, his tone booking no argument. "Mikey, we need to get outta here, or within the next five minutes, our faces will be all over the Channel 6 news!"

All of them stiffened at that, then Mikey pulled Hisako onto his back.

"Right, let's move."

They all rushed to escape, mere seconds before the cops turned the corner...

Earthquakes were not a common occurrence in New York, but by now, both Splinter and Kasumi knew the ins and outs of such dangerous tremors. Then again, when one had a child who could create such disasters at a whim, one must learn quickly. As such, when the aftershocks of a rather violent earthquake reached the lair, both ninja masters were instantly on edge.

"Hisako... something must have happened…" Splinter was on his feet in an instant. "I knew it was too soon for them to take her to the surface!"

"We couldn't have predicted this, Yoshi," Kasumi insisted. "She'd made such great progress after all these years."

Before they could discuss the matter further, they heard footsteps approaching. Both of them spun around to see their children run into the lair, Donnie carrying an unconscious April and Mikey carrying a borderline catatonic Hisako.

"My children!" Splinter exclaimed.

"Kagome!" Kasumi shouted.

"We're okay, Mom," Kagome promised. "The worst we got is a small burn on Mikey's arm."

That was when Splinter noticed April.

"What is this?" he demanded. "Why have you-?"

"We didn't have a choice, Dad," Donnie said. "There were these... Things."

"Aliens!" Mikey exclaimed. "In robot bodies! Like from your stories!"

Splinter and Kasumi stiffened at that.

"They're still around…" Kasumi gasped.

"They jumped her on the streets, and we got involved," Leo explained. "The police were on their way. We didn't have time to think of anything else."

"But Dad, that's not all," Vee chimed in. "The things that made us… They're the ones who hurt Hisako all those years ago. They knew her project name and-" she shuddered. "And she completely lost it. I've never seen her so... terrifying."

"Then that earthquake was…" Splinter realized.

"Yeah," Raph nodded. "She kinda… broke Harlem."

Hearing this, the two adults shared concerned looks, then nodded.

"Donatello, lay out our guest on the couch," Splinter ordered. "Leonardo, go and prepare some green tea for Hisako."

Leo headed for the kitchen, brewing the tea while Donnie obediently set April down on the couch.. Raph and Kagome got an ice pack and some bandages while Mikey plopped down on the rug, adjusting his grip on Hisako. Vee then approached, holding out the mutagen canister they'd plucked from the van.

"We... also found this," she said. "Whatever these things were doing fifteen years ago… we think it's still ongoing…"

"By the Kami…" Kasumi managed.

"Do you think they used that stuff on Hisako?" Mikey asked. "Is that how she became Project Oracle?"

Hearing that hated name, Hisako snapped. "Don't call me that! Ever!" She shoved Mikey away, screaming loudly. "That is not my name! That is NOT MY NAME!"

Raph glared at Mikey. "Mikey, you dumbass! You know that's what set her off before!"

"I'm sorry!" Mikey cried. "I didn't mean to-"

Hisako sunk to her knees, repeating "that is not my name" over and over, and clutching her arms so tight her nails were almost cutting into her skin.

"All of you, give her some space," Kasumi ordered. The others did so, and Kasumi gently took Hisako's hands. "Hisako, listen to me. Deep breaths. In for five seconds, out for five."

As Hisako began to do just that, Raph found himself flashing back to the condition Hisako was in when she first came to them: an emaciated, suicidal wreck. He began trembling with rage.

"Those..." he spat, "those... ruthless, heartless... BASTARDS!"

"Raphael, enough!" Kasumi said sternly.

Raph turned to Kasumi. "No! Those assholes hurt Hisako, and I'm gonna make 'em pay for it!"

"Raphael!" Splinter interjected. "I know you are angry. Believe me when I say that we all are, but you are upsetting your sister."

Raph looked over to Hisako, who was quivering in Kasumi's arms, Mikey having replaced her blanket. His expression softened, and he calmed himself down.

"Sorry..." he said sheepishly.

Kasumi continued to talk to Hisako, trying to pull her from her spiral. "Hisako, I want you to look around the room and name five things you can see."

Hisako was still hyperventilating slightly, but slowly began to look around the lair. "Um... I see... I see the couch... the TV array... Mikey's skateboard... Raph's magazine... Vee's bookstack."

"Very good," Kasumi encouraged. "Now, four things you can feel."

"My-... My nails..." she slowly removed her nails from her arm. "My hoodie... couch... sweat."

"Three things you can hear."

"Um..." Hisako looked around. "Leaky pipe. Donnie pacing around the room." Donnie stopped his pacing. "The pinball machine."

Her answers were getting clearer, which was making Kasumi smile. "You're doing great. Now two things you can smell."

"Mildew and incense."

"Now one thing you can taste."

Hisako smacked her lips. "Pizza."

Hisako was doing much better now, and seemed to have finally calmed down. As that was going on, the rest of the teens began to discuss among themselves

"One thing bothers me," Leo said. "Why were they after... uh, what was her name again?"

"Her name's April," Kagome replied. "She's my classmate. She's watched some of my dance routines (1) in the past. And she's the younger sister of Robyn O'Neil, the Channel 6 reporter."

"Whoa..." Mikey said in awe. "Her sister's famous."

April let out a soft moan, beginning to stir.

"Shit, she's waking up!" Raph called out.

Kasumi gently handed Hisako over to Splinter. "We'll handle this. Stay back for now."

"Thankfully, this should go better than last time," Kagome said, recalling Hisako's first night at the lair.

All mutants in the room disappeared as April sat up. She groaned, then saw the Lees.

"Kagome?" she said aloud. "Mrs. Lee?"

"Hello, sweetheart," Kasumi said, smiling. "How do you feel?"

"You were in a car accident," Kagome explained. "You've got a nasty bump."

"Car accident?" April asked, then her eyes widened as she recalled what happened. "Those freaky men! They jumped me, and stuffed me in their van!"

She looked at Kagome is surprise and confusion.

"Kagome... was it you who saved me?" she asked.

"Yes..." Kagome nodded. "But I had some help."

April tilted her head quizzically. "Help?"

Kagome sighed. "April... promise me you won't freak out."

"Freak out?" April asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why would I freak out?"

"Just... promise me, okay?" Kagome asked.

April decided to go with it. "Uh... okay. I promise."

On cue, the Turtles slowly emerged from the shadows. April gasped in shock and horror, and drew in a breath to scream before Kagome darted over and clapped a hand over her mouth.

"Wait, don't scream! It's okay!" she said quickly. "They're my friends. The homeschooled kids I told you about. They helped me save you, and they won't hurt you. I promise."

"We promise we're friendly," Leo said, holding up his hands.

April looked between all of them, noticing they didn't look particularly hostile or dangerous, and slowly calmed down.

"I'm gonna let you go now, okay?" Kagome said.

April nodded, and Kagome let go of her mouth.

"Who... what are you guys?" April asked.

"Well, we're ninjas," Leo said.

"Mutants," Raph added.

"Technically, we're turtles," Vee included.

"And teenagers," Mikey concluded.

April raised an eyebrow. "Ninja... Mutant... Turtle... Teenagers?"

"Well, when you put it like that, it sounds ridiculous," Donnie quipped.

"We prefer 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'," Mikey said. "It just rolls off the tongue better."

April slumped back in the chair. "Wow..."

"It's okay, April," Kagome assured. "They're my friends. The seven of us grew up together."

"Seven?" April counted the Turtles, then Kagome. "But there's only six of you."

At that moment, Splinter emerged from the shadows, Hisako still in his arms.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss O'Neil," he said.

April looked at him, a blank expression on her face; after seeing giant turtles, she doubted much else could surprise her.

"Aaand... a giant rat." she said.

"That's Master Splinter," Kagome said. "He and my Mom are childhood friends. He's been like a father to me, and he's their actual father."

"Well..." April said, "I suppose there are weirder families out there."

"Weirder than us?" Raph asked. "I'd have to see it to believe it."

"How..." April began, "what... I don't..."

"It's a long story." Splinter said simply.

April began to waver in her seat, and Hisako realized what was about to happen. "She's gonna faint again."

"Damn it..." Kagome grabbed April's shoulders. "April, stay with me! You shouldn't fall asleep with a head injury like that. You might be concussed!"

Unfortunately, April still fainted.

"We forced too much on her," Hisako said.

"Looks like it," Kagome replied. "So... what now?"

"We let her rest, bandage up her head, and wait for her to come around," Donnie said simply.

-X-

Some time later, April woke back up, her head wrapped in gauze. She looked around, still seeing Splinter and the Turtles.

"So..." she said simply, "I wasn't dreaming or seeing things."

"Afraid not," said Leo.

"Well, I got time to kill," April said, sitting up. "What's your story?"

"A tale best told over a cup of tea," Splinter replied, handing her a cup he had brewed.

April sipped the cup as he began the tale.

"It all began fifteen years ago," he said. "Kasumi and I had moved here from Japan, and had been here for a year."

"You both moved here?" April asked. "Are you two... well..."

"No," Kasumi said, realizing what she was implying. "Yoshi and I are just close friends."

April raised an eyebrow. "Yoshi?"

"My true name is Hamato Yoshi," Splinter replied. "I go by Splinter nowadays; I feel Hamato Yoshi's life ended when I transformed."

"So you were human," April remarked, turning to the Turtles. "Does that mean you guys were-"

"Pure turtles," Vee said.

"Seeking companionship, I went to the pet store and bought five baby turtles," Splinter continued.

"That was us!" Mikey interrupted.

"Quiet!" Everyone else snapped.

Mikey obediently shut his mouth as Splinter continued.

"On my way back, I bumped into a suspicious looking man, and followed him into an alleyway. There he met with a similar man, who was dealing with a strange glowing ooze. They were alerted to my presence when I stepped on a passing rat's tail, and in the ensuing fight, the turtles and myself were doused with the substance."

"My siblings and I were transformed into human-turtle hybrids," Donnie said. "And our dad became a rat-man."

"Yoshi came to me afterwards, and I helped him settle down in this place," Kasumi added. "For fifteen years, I've helped him raise the Turtles down here. My money and resources made this place what it is now."

Hearing all that, all April could say was an awestruck "Whoa."

"Yep," Kagome said. "It's pretty crazy, I know."

"April, if you're feeling up to it, we'll take you home now," Leo said.

April smiled. "Thanks. My dad's probably worried sick about me."

Mikey looked at Leo. "Shouldn't we blindfold her first?"

"Hey, I won't tell anyone about this place," April said. "Who'd believe me, anyway?"

"She has a point," Donnie conceded.

Leo nodded. "Alright. But tell anyone about us, and we'll know. And we will find you."

April just blinked at that, and Hisako and Vee both face-palmed.

"She's not gonna tell, Leo," Vee let out in an exasperated tone. "C'mon, man."

"What?" Leo asked. "Can't I be dramatic?"

"There's being dramatic, then there's just being stupid," Hisako retorted.

Leo sighed. "Alright, fine. Let's just go."

"I live above the 2nd Time Around shop on 11th and Bleecker," April said.

"Then let's get going," said Raph.

They walked April to the 2nd Time Around shop, an old antique store.

"Thanks for saving me, by the way," April said.

"Don't sweat it," Raph replied. "We've got history with those guys."

"History?" April asked. "You mean... they're those men from Splinter's story?"

"Yyyyep," Raph said.

"We won't let them hurt you," Hisako said, rubbing her arms nervously. "They won't hurt anyone like that, ever again."

"Again?" April said.

She noticed Hisako's nervousness, realized what she was implying, and wisely decided not to push it. They approached the building and Hisako squinted in confusion.

"April..." she said. "There's nobody home."

April looked at her. "What? How can you tell?"

"I can tell these things," Hisako said simply. "And I don't hear anyone. This shop is empty."

April felt her blood run cold at that. "Something's wrong..."

They dashed up the steps to April's apartment, and gasped to see the door ajar. They ran in, and the place was in shambles.

"No..." April gasped. "Dad?!"

The group searched all over the apartment, but there was no sign of April's father anywhere...

Author's Note:

(1): Kagome is captain of a dance team, according to her creator's pics and info. The Roose Divas.

You'll recall Robyn O'Neil from the Mirage comics and 2003 show. This version of her takes over April's reporter role from the 1987 show and the movies.

Please R&R. Until next time!