Raphael dived around another corner, desperately scrambling to keep his footing on the slick sewer floors, darts shattering on the bricks where he had been. He couldn't afford to fall. Donatello weighed heavy in his arms, filling his heart with terror at the thought of losing him again.
One month, thirty one days of panic, Bishop had kept Donnie captive, doing God only knows what to the gentle soul of their brother. When they'd found him, strapped down, wires connected to a metal device implanted IN his shell, logic had fled. They'd abandoned all strategy, smashed, grabbed and legged it out of the base. Oddly, despite the stealth helo, despite seeking refuge in the rat's maze of New York tunnels they knew so well, they hadn't been able to shake Bishop's goons.
Darts pinged off Raphael's shell, urging him even faster, though he didn't have much left in him. This chase had been going on far too long, and they didn't dare lead the hounds back to their den. Splinter was clearly getting desperate, leading them down deeper, less familiar tunnels. Raph nearly bowled over his father when Splinter abruptly stopped. Dead end.
They'd literally reached the end of the trail. The way back was blocked by soldiers taking up position at the last junction they'd past. Leonardo and Michelangelo mounted a valiant defence in front of their family, smacking darts out of the air, throwing some of them back when they had the chance.
"Hold your fire!"
Dread rushed through Raphael as Bishop's voice rang out in the dank tunnel. Like the Devil himself, the dark man flowed out of the shadows, a general triumphant in a sure victory. Generally devoid of emotion, Bishop looked as close to gleeful as Raphael had ever seen him. Panting, trying to regain his strength, Raph unconsciously pulled Donnatello closer. You can't have him again, you monster.
The source of their agony paused, just behind the forward line of his men. "Surrender turtles. There's no way out, and even if you did manage a miraculous escape, so long as that implant is in Donnatello's spine, there's nowhere on this Earth you can hide from me."
A feeble shove against Raphael's plastron drew his gaze down. Donnatello's naked eyes were pleading. No. No way Donnie. It's all or none. Raphael turned to the one that had always meant safety before, but there was no comfort in Splinter's face. His jaw was clenched, teeth bared in a snarl of defiance, the defiance of one that knew he was beaten. Raphael's heart stuttered in his chest, he desperately turned to his brothers. Michelangelo was close to tears having come to the same conclusion as Donnatello and Splinter, but Leo's quick mind was running.
Donnie might be the smartest of all the turtles, but it was easily forgotten that Leonardo wasn't that far behind his little brother. Now with Donnie at his wit's end from days of torture and suffering, Leo's simple genius shone. "Sensei! Nexus portal! NOW!" Splinter snapped to attention, grabbed a handful of muck, and started finger painting symbols on the tunnel wall. Leo and Mikey's defences were challenged as the soldiers began firing again. Bishop couldn't know what they were doing, but he could tell his quarry was making an attempt to escape. As the low chanting began behind him, Raphael gathered up Donnatello's fragile form more securely, preparation for a hasty exit. As the portal wooshed to life, the Hamato clan leapt as one, vanishing from the world.
Bishop sprang forward, determined not to lose his prizes now. The strange glowing water fell from the wall, sliding down to mix with the sewer water all around. As his men exchanged confused expressions behind him, Bishop slowly took off his glasses and walked up to the wall, running his hand over the plain, dirty bricks. His hand clenched of its own accord, shattering plastic. Ignoring the lacerations, Bishop whirled and stalked back to the surface, leaving disappointment and blood as his wake.