Note: Tyroth Darkstorm's fanfic 'A Sister's Plight' is referenced in this chapter.
Chapter Sixty-One
Familiar Faces
Up in Chicago, the sun was going down and the city was lighting up ready for the night.
Almost directly above where the sanctuary of Mutopia lay hidden deep underground, the parents of Tyroth the Dragon, and Amber the Marine Iguana as well as the grandparents of the Geckolings lived since they had been rescued from being prisoners of the Foot years ago.
Richard and Erica Ottosen had left their apartment and had been doing some shopping.
Richard carried a couple of grocery bags whilst Erica held a handbag on her shoulder as well as a couple of bags herself.
"Better get a move on Eri." Richard said as he looked around "It's gonna be dark soon."
"Indeed." Erica agreed "And our children will be doing their patrol soon, as they always do."
Richard sighed as he walked.
"Are you alright dear?" Erica asked.
"Just thinking about our son's dear friends." Richard said, "All they went through those weeks back."
Erica swallowed hard.
"Oh my gosh yes." she said remembering all too well what had happened.
Flashback
Three weeks earlier.
Richard and Erica arrived in Mutopia along with Hugh, accompanied by Cam and Barry, all three were carrying flowers and cards.
A few days after the Hamato Clan had been brought to Mutopia after the battle at the Foot Headquarters, Tyroth had informed his parents about what had happened, and they along with Hugh instantly went down into the Sanctuary to find out what had happened.
Once they arrived, they were greeted by the sadness and quietness of the lively underground village, and it scared them slightly.
As they entered, they were greeted by Tyroth and Old George.
"Mum, Dad! Hugh!" Tyroth cried "Thanks for coming."
"We came as soon as we could son." Richard said, "What's happened?"
Tyroth sighed.
"Follow me." He instructed.
Old George nodded and gestured them to follow, and they walked through the sanctuary until they got to the medical wing and all three humans were led to where Donatello, Monalisa, Raphael and Kemeko were resting after being treated.
James and Dahlia were looking over Donatello, Raphael and Monalisa in their induced comas, all three were covered with wires and respiratory equipment and both the wolf and Chimpanzee were checking their progress via stethoscopes and on the machines, they were hooked up to, as well as checking in on Kemeko who was unconscious after her operation to remove the tanto in her stomach and Leonardo was sitting by her bedside stroking her hair and fore head as well as kissing her every few seconds.
Erica gasped in sadness.
"Oh my gosh!" she cried "Are they going to be alright?"
Tyroth nodded as he patted Erica's shoulder.
"They will be, but it was a close call."
George nodded in agreement.
"They are so strong; it is a miracle they got through this, given how strong the venom is of Komodo and Black Mamba, and where Raphael was stabbed in the throat."
Richard sighed.
"I wish them a quick recovery." He murmured.
"Me too." Erica said, "I'm so sorry this happened."
Both parents looked at Leonardo as he sat by Kemeko and prayed for her to pull through and they only knew how he felt.
Hugh sighed as he watched and looked to Tyroth.
"Will it be safe to give our gifts when ready?" he asked.
Tyroth nodded.
"When James and Dahlia give the word, you may." He informed to which Hugh nodded and looked back with Richard and Erica.
End Flashback
"I can't tell you how worried I was for Mona, Donatello, Raphael and Kemeko." Erica said with a sad voice.
"But by some miracle they pulled through." Richard said, "Someone was looking over them that day."
"Just like someone was looking over our son, then fate brought us together again." Erica mused "Can't believe how lucky we are."
Richard nodded.
"Though I feel terrible for Raphael, unable to speak."
Erica agreed.
"But if I know Devina, she'll have him speaking again soon, even if it does take time."
"Hopefully sooner rather than later." Richard replied, "I can't imagine how Monalisa and Pandora feel."
Erica nodded and was about to say something when she froze, and she looked worried.
Richard also stopped and looked at his wife.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Did you hear that?" Erica asked.
"Hear what?"
"I thought I heard a hiss of some sort!"
"It's just the wind."
"No, no, it's not the wind, it's something sinister, I can't ignore it, Richard."
Richard looked around and frowned.
He never doubted his wife's instincts, after what they had been through in the past, he was ready to believe anything.
"Let's cross the road." He said, "Our home's not far from here."
Erica agreed and they headed towards the road, yet as they did, they saw someone walking towards them from the other side.
They tried to sidestep, yet as they did, the individual kept blocking their path.
Richard took his wife's hand and tried to get around the figure again, but they kept stepping in front of them.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, "What's your problem?"
Erica was about to join in when she gasped as she saw something shiny in the figure's hand! A knife!
"Richard!" she cried, and her husband also looked, and he pushed Erica behind him to protect her.
"Get away from us!" Richard ordered as he dropped the bags and held up his fists, but the figure held up the blade.
"Get back in the alley! Now!" he growled.
Richard bared his teeth and turned to Erica.
"Run Eri! Run!" he said.
"No! I won't leave you!" Erica said as she turned around only to cry out as she saw five other figures walk up behind them all brandishing weapons that consisted of a baseball bat, machete, and a bowie knife.
Yet two held weapons Erica spotted as being out of the ordinary, and she recognised what they were, and her blood ran cold.
"No…" she breathed.
The two other figures were holding short katana swords and tanto.
"Richard!" she gasped, and her husband turned and saw the five other individuals behind them.
"Oh God no!" he cried.
The figure holding the katana swords cocked their head on one side and analysed them for a moment, then they lifted one of their weapons and pointed it at them.
"Get in the alleyway! Now!" they snarled "And be quick about it!"
Richard and Erica had no choice but to obey and they were pushed into the alleyway.
"Please don't do this!" Erica begged "Look, if you want money, you can take it!"
"You heard her!" Richard joined in "Take anything you want! We won't go to the cops!"
"Shut up!" the first figure said, "Just do as we say and don't do anything stupid!"
Meanwhile, not far away, running on the rooftops, leaping from building to building, Pandora was in her Tribal disguise hoping to find some of the thugs like the ones she had tracked down before and make them tell her where Hanako was.
Yet as she ran, her conscience was poking at her.
The night before she had heard her parents, Uncle Michelangelo, Tyroth and Aunt Sephie talking, her mind had been full of finding Hanako, and she had been trying to push those thoughts aside so she could show she was alright in front of Sonia and the Geckolings.
Flashback
Loki led Pandora to the playroom where Sonia and Freya were sitting in front of the TV in one area ready to play a game.
"Ah there you both are!" Freya cheered "We've been waiting!"
"Sorry." Loki said, "I just wanted to see where Pandora was."
He looked at the hybrid and gently pulled her over "So what we gonna play?" he asked.
Pandora cocked her head.
"What you got?" she asked.
"A selection!" Sonia answered "Well Freya and I were thinking we could go a round on Mario Party? Me and her against you and Loki?"
"Sounds great!" Loki cheered then looked at Pandora "You up for that Pandora?" he asked.
"I'm game!" Pandora replied, "So to speak" she walked over and picked up a remote "I just wish Kemeko was with us."
As she said that, the other kids looked saddened and nodded.
"Likewise." Sonia said "But, this trip will help her, help her heal and find peace and she will return to us the same happy girl and our cousin."
"For sure!" Freya agreed.
Pandora said nothing but she nodded.
"I miss her so much!" she said as she felt a couple of tears sting her eyes "She's not just my cousin, but my honoured sister."
Loki patted Pandora's back in comfort.
"She'll be back soon!" he said confidently "She'll find peace and she'll return the same girl and the cousin she was before!"
Pandora forced a smile and patted Loki's shoulder in gratitude then turned to the screen, yet her mind was still filled with what she had heard with the conversation between her family and Tyroth and Sephie.
"When the sun sets." She thought "I'll go and hunt…and I won't stop till I find Hanako...even if it kills me."
She looked sideways to her cousins and in her heart, she wished she could tell them what she was planning and if by some chance they would offer to help her, but she didn't want to take that risk, just in case they tried to stop her.
"Damn to hell!" she thought "I wish I could tell you, but I can't…what if you try to stop me? Or go to Uncle T or my family?"
She shook her head and looked back to the video game trying to push her thoughts aside until later.
End Flashback
Pandora sighed and shook her head and continued to run.
"I'm so sorry guys," she thought "But this is something I must do! I wish I could ask you to help, but what if you stop me? I can't risk it!"
As she ran, her ninja ears picked up the sounds of screams of distress and fear as well as protest and she slowed down to find out where the noise was coming from.
"Someone's in trouble." She thought as she narrowed her eyes and clawed her hands.
"Well, whoever is causing it, they better start praying…" she gritted her teeth and using her ninja ears she ran towards the sound until she came to an avenue where it was poorly lit, and she could see a black limousine.
Pandora looked over from the building she was on and knelt to observe.
She could hear the same cried and protests form earlier, and she soon saw several figures in black as well as street wear bundling a couple of struggling individuals into the Limousine.
The Hybrid's eyes widened as she watched.
"A kidnapping!" she cried "No! I got to stop them!"
She glared and started to run across the rooftops as she saw the limousine drive off.
"I won't lose sight of those fuckers!" she thought to herself "Whatever they plan to do! I'll stop them!"
Inside the limousine, Pandora was unaware who the hostages were, and they in turn had no idea Pandora was following them.
Richard and Erica held in each other in fear as they sat in the limo with their kidnappers on either side of them and saw a middle-aged Japanese man sitting there at the back smoking a cigarette.
"Good evening." He smirked as he blew out smoke.
"Who are you?" Richard demanded as he held his wife close, he analysed the man, yet he had no idea who he was, but seeing the man's features being Asian, he wondered if he was associated with the Foot.
"What do you want?"
The man smirked.
"How rude of me." He said, "I am Boss Kodama."
"Kodama?" Erica asked in a trembling voice.
"Indeed yes." Boss Kodama said then looked to the figure in black next to him who whispered in his ear.
"I see, right," he looked back at Erica and Richard.
"After what I've been told, you are a couple of important connections to my enemies as well as those of an associate of mine and we intend to ask you questions!"
Richard and Erica's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Don't worry!" Boss Kodama smirked "If you play nicely, we won't hurt you…much!" he chuckled.
Oh No! Richard and Erica, Tyroth and Amber's parents have been targeted!
Yet Pandora is nearby and has seen their abduction! How will things go from here?
Stay tuned to find out!