- Chapter 59 -

Serpent Hunt

From the window of his warehouse, Ivan Steranko cautiously observed the patrolling Krangdroids on the streets before turning to Anton Zeck, who was seated behind his desk and eating Chinese.

"Have been months since alien invasions," he mused. "There must be way out of city!"

"Why not use one of your fancy tanks to get us out, Big S?" Zeck asked before Steranko tipped him out of his chair and sat down himself.

"How many times I must tells you? Show models only. I give them big discount."

Zeck pulled himself up, groaning. "Man, I'm starvin'. All our food is gone, we're runnin' low on water… I mean, look! We're down to moldy ketchup and dead cockroaches!"

He held up just that before spreading the ketchup on the roach. Before he could eat it, Steranko snatched the roach out of his hand. "Secret headquarters mine. Moldy ketchup cockroaches mine." With that, he ate the roach.

"Oh damn, Steranko, that's cold-blooded!" Zeck whined. "We gotta get outta this city, dawg! Like now!"

Steranko thought it over, before pacing. "Only one man have power to get us out of city. Shredder. But he not like us after we try and steal his helmet."

"No shit," Zeck deadpanned.

"And no other way out, Comrade Zeck. When henchmen try to make out of city, they all gets mutate! Ivan Steranko never turn into freak!"

"And since my invisibility field is jacked up right now, sounds like Shredder's our only shot." Zeck let out a groan, flopping onto a folding chair. "But how are we gonna convince him to help?"

Steranko pulled out a folder, showing him a picture of Karai. "We find his daughter, Karai. She was mutate by same stuff that make Turtle freaks. Become wild snake girl. Shredder has look for her ever since."

"So, we can use her as a bargaining chip with Shredder to get out of the city?" Zeck asked, grinning. "That's brilliant, baby Ivan! Brilliant! But how are we gonna bag this serpent?"

"Simple." Steranko grinned. "We go on snake hunt."

At the safe house, the group was settling in quite nicely, the Turtles having agreed it was too risky to move back to the lair for the time being. Hisako sat on the couch, bouncing Airi on her knee while the others caught up with Sydney and Richard, Leo, Tai, and Casey having gone back to the lair to retrieve some things.

"Man, did I miss you, Airi." Hisako kissed the girl's forehead, getting a giggle from her as Midnight happily napped at their feet.

"Richard and I never lost hope you'd come back," Sydney told the others, rubbing her baby bump.

"Sorry it took so long," Donnie replied. "I'm just glad you and your baby are okay."

At that moment, the secret knock sounded. Erika opened the door to reveal Casey, Leo, and Tai, all three holding boxes from the lair.

"Glad you made it back alright," Erika said in relief as she let them in.

"We got the equipment and chemicals you asked for, Don," Leo said, handing him the box.

"And before you ask, Mikey, yeah, we got it," Tai added, sliding a different box over to him.

Mikey opened the box, and his face lit up to see his TV.

"Booyakasha!" he cheered, lifting it up. "Now we can watch Crognard again!"

"And I just got my new lab set up," Donnie added. "I'm brewing a batch of retro-mutagen I started back at the farmhouse, as well as working on something that'll help us track Karai.

"Shinigami will be happy to hear that," Erika remarked.

"Yes…" Shinigami's voice agreed.

They all turned to see an exhausted Shinigami stagger out. Vee caught her before she could fall. "Easy. You look like you've been through hell."

"She has been," Yukio cut in. "Seiko found her on the streets a month or so ago. Starved, wounded, dehydrated… she was lucky to be alive."

"Shinigami, what do you think you're doing?" Erika demanded, her hands on her hips. "You should be in bed!"

"I saw the emblem," Shinigami explained. "I had to see if they were truly back."

"Yep," Raph said. "We are."

"Oh, before we forget, we grabbed something for you too, Splinter," Casey said.

He handed the rat mutant an old picture. Splinter looked it over, seeing it was the old hanami picture Karai had taken from Kasumi's shrine so long ago.

"Miwa…" he said aloud, smiling sadly.

"We're gonna find her, Splinter, and help her," Tai assured. "We just need to keep looking."

"The longer she's out there alone, the more she risks losing her humanity," Donnie told them. "And for all we know, Shredder or Krang got her."

"No, they don't." All eyes turned to Kasumi, who looked somewhat ashamed. "A few nights ago, I saw her near Madison Square Garden while I was out foraging. But she wasn't in her right mind, and I already had my hands full with Yoshi." She looked down slightly. "I'm sorry. If there was anything I could've done to help her, I would have."

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Splinter assured her.

"Maybe April and I can help her like we did you, Sensei," Hisako offered.

"It's certainly worth a try," Donnie admitted.

"First we have to find her," Raph said.

"Mom saw her near Madison Square Garden," Kagome pointed out. "I'd say that's a good place to start."

"Then let's head out," Leo declared.

"Agreed," April said with a nod.

"Sorry, April." Leo shook his head. "You and Casey have to stay here. Ninjas only."

"Seriously?" April exclaimed. "You're benching us?"

'I'm taking my crew out to help Leo and the others," Tai pointed out. "We can't leave this place undermanned in case Krang's men find us."

"Fine," Casey conceded. "But don't expect me to sit on the sidelines next time!"

"I've got just the thing to help out," Donnie remarked, going back into his lab and coming out with a pair of swim goggles.

"Okay," Erika remarked. "You made swim goggles?"

"I call 'em Ooze Specs," Donnie corrected. "They can detect traces of mutagen, as well as any mutagenized DNA."

Erika tried the specs on. Through them, the Turtles, Hisako, and Splinter all glowed bright green. She let out a yelp, yanking them off.

"Just… don't look at any mutants when you use them," she warned as she handed them back to Donnie. "You guys were glowing like the freakin' sun."

"Duly noted," Donnie replied.

Meanwhile at Shredder's lair, he glared at Tokka, Rahzar, and Fishface as they knelt before him.

"So, you have once again failed to find Karai," he said, calm but cold.

"Master Shredder, it's harder than you think," Fishface pointed out. "Karai is just too scaly- er, stealthy. And the city is so big."

"We've turned this entire city upside down twelve times!" Tokka added.

"She's as slippery as a serpent!" Rahzar included before backpedaling. "Um, I mean we've looked everywhere, master!"

"Enough!" Shredder shouted. "I will not tolerate excuses! You will find her, or I will turn you all over to Tiger Claw. He is bored of having little sport."

Tiger Claw smirked, cracking his knuckles, and all three gulped.

"Yes, of course, Master!" Tokka said quickly. "We'll have her back in two shakes of a martini!"

"Back in a bit!" Fishface added, all three running off.

Meanwhile, the Hamato septet and Tai's crew had made it to Madison Square Garden.

"Okay, this is the last place Kasumi saw Karai," Leo told them. "Everyone spread out."

They split up to search, Donnie using the Ooze Specs to look around, and Miko sniffing around as well.

"Hey, guys!" Erika called. "I got something!"

They hurried over, seeing she was kneeling behind some rather large scale-like things.

"What do you make of this, Don?" she asked.

Donne scanned them using the Ooze Specs, pursing his lips in thought. "Picking up a hybrid of snake and human DNA... bingo! Karai was here!"

"And shedding, from the looks of it," Vee mused.

Mizuki knelt down, examining the scales. "They look pretty fresh. She's gotta be close."

"This way!" Donnie called, leading them down a nearby alley.

As they went, Hisako stiffened, sensing something. "Uh, guys? I... don't think we're the only ones after Karai tonight."

-X-

On a nearby rooftop, Zeck scanned the streets with his visor, while Steranko picked up a massive hunk of shed skin. "Ooh, this is funky fresh. Snake skin, recently shed. I am better hunter than my brother Boltak!"

"Skin ain't gonna get us outta here," Zeck retorted. "We need the whole snake." He continued scanning the streets, eventually breaking out in a grin. "And there she is!"

Steranko ran over, and they looked to see Karai hiding behind a dumpster in snake form.

"Be leaving this to me," Steranko said, pulling out a sniper rifle. "I make her go sleepy nap time."

He aimed carefully… and suddenly, Mikey and Erika appeared in his scope, Mikey blowing a raspberry.

"Turtle face?!" Steranko shrieked.

A shuriken hit his sniper rifle at that, and the two whirled to see the rest of the Hamato Clan standing atop a nearby rooftop, all scowling at them.

"Mother Russia!" Steranko cursed.

"Leave. Karai. Alone!" Leo ordered.

"Aw, maaaan!" Zeck whined. "You freaks are back in town!"

"Oh, we're the freaks?" Raph retorted. "Like I said before, pal, 1987 wants its freaky jumpsuit back."

Zeck stammered in anger before glaring at them. "You making fun of my suit?! I will bust you in your damn head!"

"Bring it on, Retro Boy!" Tai taunted.

Zeck then threw an energy mohawk at them, causing them to scatter.

"Damn," Hisako said. "Forgot about that."

"But you have to admit, it does make his hairdo functionable," Mikey remarked.

Zeck glared at Leo. "It's payback time for your little dirty diaper switcharoo, buddy!"

"Wish I could've seen the look on your face," Leo smirked.

Zeck scowled, firing his hip lasers at Leo, who dodged left and right, narrowly avoiding them. Donnie ran at him, swinging his staff, which he dodged rather easily.

"Gotta try harder if you wanna keep up with me!" he quipped.

Steranko threw open a weapons case, revealing a massive, hi-tech looking minigun.

"Let's see how ninja brats handles this!" he shouted, pulling the gun out.

"Gun!" Donnie shouted, everyone dodging and scattering as Steranko fired wildly at them.

As this was going on, Zeck fired off his lasers and danced around, whooping and hollering as he did.

"What's with all the stupid noises?!" Raph demanded.

"He's just trying to confuse us!" Leo replied. "Block it out!"

"Easier said than done, Leo!" Vee retorted.

-X-

On the ground, Mikey and Erika noticed the commotion, and Mikey turned to Erika.

"Erika, stay here with Karai," he told her, getting a nod before he went off.

As he left, Erika and Karai quickly ducked out of the way of an approaching Krangdroid patrol. Once it was gone, Erika slowly approached Karai.

"Karai…" she said quietly Karai hissed at her in warning. Erika recoiled before trying again. "Easy. It's me, Erika. I know we've only really met once, but I'm friends with the Turtles. Your siblings. Your family."

Karai blinked in recognition, hissing as she grunted, Her form somewhat returning to normal. Though she looked like her human self, her skin was white and scaley, her eyes still snake-like, and her mouth bearing two sets of fangs and a forked tongue. Still, it was progress.

"There we go," Erika said with a smile. "We're gonna help you, I promise."

-X-

"Pests!" Steranko boasted as he fired his gun. "You are like fleas on back of powerful Russian bear!"

Mikey jumped up on the roof at that, lashing his kusarigama chain around the gun and holding it in place, allowing Mizuki to fire an arrow into it. It sparked before powering down.

"Hey!" Steranko shouted. "That was expensive ordinance!"

"Bill me!" Mizuki shot back.

"I takes payment out of your hide!" Steranko declared, raising his fists, revealing brass knuckles emblazoned with the hammer and sickle of the Soviet Union.

"All hail Mother Russia," Raph said sarcastically.

Steranko promptly punched him in the face, sending him flying across the roof. He skidded to a stop before sitting up, revealing a sickle-shaped bruise on his forehead.

"Son of a bitch!" he shouted.

Steranko was about to charge again, but Miko jumped on his back, sinking his teeth into the spot between his shoulder blades. Midnight ran in as well as he struggled with the older dog, lunging forward and sinking her own teeth right into the Russian man's groin. Steranko howled in pain, grabbing at the dogs and throwing them off.

Miko slammed into the wall hard, letting out a yelp of pain. Midnight cried out as well, immediately rushing over to Miko's side while whining in concern. Tai heard this, turning to Steranko with murder in his eyes. Mizuki smirked at the sight.

"Shouldn't have done that, Steranko," she jeered. "Now you're in for it!"

"Fucking Soviet asshole!" Tai shouted. "You're gonna need another diamond eye by the time I'm done with you!"

He charged forward, beating Steranko back with multiple violent strikes. Mikey winced at the sight, feeling sympathetic for the arms dealer.

"Rule number one. Never mess with Miko."

The others looked on in surprise as Hisako slowly turned to Mizuki.

"So…" she let out, "his story about breaking Foot soldiers' teeth over Miko wasn't a bluff, was it?"

"Nope," Mizuki replied, shaking her head.

Midnight nosed Miko, who, after a minute, slowly got to his feet, shaking off and nodding in her direction. The puppy let out a happy yelp, nuzzling the older dog who returned the affection with a soft lick. Meanwhile, Steranko recoiled from a vicious right cross from Tai, scowling.

"Freaks!" he cursed, pulling a flashbang grenade out of his pocket and throwing it.

The grenade exploded, disorienting everyone.

"My eyes!" Mikey shouted, rubbing them. "I'm blind!"

"We can't let them get to Karai!" Leo insisted.

While they were dazed, Steranko snatched up his sniper rifle again and took aim at Karai. Just as he lined up the shot, Hisako, sensing his intentions and location, rammed her shoulder into him. This threw off his aim just as he pulled the trigger, causing the shot to go wide.

"Take that, Soviet Sucker!" she taunted.

The tranquilizer dart embedded itself in the dumpster mere inches from Karai's head. Spooked, she let out a hiss and took off, shifting into snake form as she did.

"Blast it!" Erika shouted, before whistling to get the others' attention. "Leo! Tai! Karai's on the move!"

"Little disoriented here!" Leo called back.

"I got her!" Hisako told him. "I can sense her! Mikey, we need an exit!"

Mikey tossed down a smoke bomb, and the group quickly met back up with Erika and gave chase. Zeck and Steranko scowled to see their foes had escaped.

"We had that snake in the can, man!" Zeck cursed.

"Come," said Steranko. "The game has not ended nyet ."

In another part of the city, Fishface drove his motorcycle through the streets while Rahzar and Tokka took the rooftops. Rahzar sniffed the air, catching a familiar scent.

"No snake…" he muttered, "but I smell a different kind of reptile."

Both he and Tokka chuckled darkly, realizing what that was.

Meanwhile, the Hamato Clan recovered from the flash bomb as they followed Hisako's instructions.

"She's in there," Hisako said, pointing to a warehouse nearby. "But be careful. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like... there's a war going on in her head."

"I was afraid of that," Donnie admitted. "She's becoming more snakelike by the hour."

"We have to help her," Leo insisted. "How's the retro-mutagen?"

Donnie sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "I… still need a few more days."

"Oh, now you tell us," Kagome deadpanned.

"So what then?" Raph questioned. "We take her back to the safehouse for a pizza, and hope she doesn't squeeze us into paste?"

"I can help her stay calm long enough," Hisako offered. "Like I did with the Rat King."

"Sis, Rat King almost choked you to death," Vee reminded.

Hisako gave her a cold look. "Do you want to help her or not?"

"Of course I do!" Vee replied. "But-"

"Then stop arguing and let's get in there," Hisako cut her off.

With that, the group entered the warehouse, everyone spreading out to look for Karai.

"Karai?" Mikey called. "It's us! Your family!"

"We want to help you!" Leo added. "Please come out!"

"Karai, c'mon!" Mizuki included. "We're not gonna hurt you."

As they rounded a corner, they came across multiple Krangdroids, all of them armed and ready to fight.

"Oh, great!" Kagome cursed. "A regular Krangdroid jamboree!"

"Take 'em down before they alert more!" Leo ordered.

Before they had the chance, Karai jumped out from the rafters in snake form and lashed out, savagely ripping them to pieces.

"Or… she could do it," Tai said nervously, before Karai turned to him, hissing.

Hisako slipped into a meditative position, and Karai froze up. She snarled and hissed, shifting back into her part-snake form.

"L-Leo…" she let out, looking up at him and holding out a hand. "Help me… pleassssse…"

"It's okay, Karai," Leo assured her. "We're gonna help you. I promise."

"Yeah," Mizuki added. "Just come with us back to the safehouse and-"

"No," Karai cut her off, shaking her head. "Too… dangeroussss…"

"It doesn't matter," Donnie assured her. "We're family."

Before Karai could respond, a familiar voice cut in.

"Told ya I smelled turtles!"

The group stiffened, then looked up to see Tokka, Rahzar, and Fishface in the rafters.

"And look. They found Karai for us," Tokka said with a smirk, the trio jumping down.

"Oh, perfect!" Raph cursed. "The Three Stooges are here!"

Thinking quickly, Erika grabbed Karai by the hand, leading her out the door. Hisako was forced to break her concentration, and Karai began spasming as they went.

"Have a whiff of poison, Turtle scum!" Fishface declared, throwing down a bomb that released poison gas.

The gang quickly retreated to higher ground, and managed to see the Foot trio going out the door after Erika and Karai.

"Shit!" Tai yelled. "Erika can't take all three of them by herself!"

"C'mon!" Leo shouted, breaking a window.

Outside, Erika nervously backed away from Karai as she clutched her head, fighting against the snake part.

"Erika, pleassse…" she managed, "get away from me!"

"No!" Erika insisted. "I won't leave you!"

Karai snarled, then suddenly lunged forward, grabbing Erika by the throat and bodily lifting her off of the ground.

"Leave me!" Karai hissed, tossing Erika across the alley. " GOOOOO! "

Erika rebounded off the wall hard, but kept on her feet.

"Not… gonna… happen…" she managed.

Fishface suddenly jumped in, kicking her aside.

"You heard her! Back off!" he snapped.

Erika quickly pulled herself up, drawing her tonfas.

"You're not taking her back to Shredder!" she shouted. "I won't let you!"

Fishface scoffed.

"Do you seriously think for one microsecond that you can stop me, little girl?" he taunted.

"Bring it!" Erika retorted.

As the two clashed, Tokka and Rahzar came up and grabbed Karai, preparing to make a break for it.

"Thanks for distracting the kid, Xever!" Rahzar boasted. "We'll take the girl to the Master!"

"No!" Erika screamed. "Give her back!"

"Hey, wait a minute!" Fishface cut in, turning to them. "You're not stealing all the glory!"

Taking advantage, Erika beaned him over the head with her tonfa, dropping him.

"Correction: you're not stealing anything," she shouted. "Let her go, now!"

"Sorry, sweetie," Tokka replied. "But Master Shredder has been looking for his daughter for months."

That got a reaction out of Karai. She scowled, whirling on them.

"Not… hissss… DAUGHTER!" she shouted.

She lashed out, sinking her fangs into Tokka's arm before whipping Rahzar with her tail. They both recoiled before she attacked them and laid them out flat. Just as she did so, a laser hit Karai, knocking her flat on her back. Erika gasped as Zeck jumped down from above, smirking.

"No worries," he assured her. "My lasers were set to stun."

Before Erika could do anything, a meaty paw grabbed her by the shoulder and spun her around.

"Sleepy time, little girl!" Steranko declared before punching Erika in the face, knocking her out.

The rest of the group got there just in time to see them slip away.

"Karai, no!" Leo shouted.

"Erika!" Tai cried, running over to his fallen sister and gently shaking her. "Wake up! C'mon!"

Erika slowly stirred, opening her eyes.

"Zeck and Steranko… they tailed us," she said before looking at Leo sadly. "I'm so sorry, Leo. I tried…"

"It's not on you," Leo assured her. "It's on them."

"Well, there's one upside," Donnie remarked, pulling out his T-Phone. "I managed to slap a Turtle Tracer on Steranko during the fight."

"D, you are the turtle," Raph said with a smile.

Donnie shrugged. "I just do what I can."

Meanwhile, Zeck and Steranko reconvened with the unconscious Karai. The former was more than a little worried about sharing a room with the snake-girl, even if she was chained up.

"C'mon, man!" Zeck insisted, flinching every time she hissed or moved. "Let's dial up Shredder and get the hell outta dodge!"

Steranko quickly dialed Shredder.

"Comrade Shredder," he began, propping his feet on his desk and leaning back in his chair confidently, "we hear you looking for missing snake girl, da? We find her, and have her. You get us out of city, she returned to you unharmed. We have deal?"

Sometime later, the group all convened at the docks, keeping an eye out for anything.

"You sure they're down there, Donnie?" Leo asked.

Donnie nodded. "Yeah. The tracker on Steranko's still working. They're definitely here."

On cue, Shredder appeared, approaching Zeck. "So, the thief who stole from me desires to make a deal. Where is Karai?"

Zeck gestured to a building, where Steranko came out with Karai.

"Here is deal," Steranko told Shredder. "You get us out of New York, we give you girl."

Before Shredder could answer, Leo made himself known as the others came to back him up. "How about a new deal? You give us Karai, and all of you get to walk away from here alive."

"You again?!" Zeck shouted.

"Kill them!" Shredder shouted.

With that, a massive three-way fight broke out. Leo and Tai immediately made a beeline for Shredder.

"Shiden Matsuda's boy, I see," Shredder mused, looking Tai over. "You have your father's looks."

"Yeah," Tai scowled. "He's kind, loving, supportive. Everything you're not!"

He charged at Shredder, but he blocked the attack with his claws before kicking Tai back. Leo lunged forward and tried to stab him, but Shredder dodged it before elbowing him in the face.

"Dad told me all about you, Shredder," Tai went on, glaring at him. "How you betrayed our clan and tried to murder your own brother, out of sick, petty jealousy!"

"You know nothing about me or my struggles, boy!" Shredder snapped.

"Yeah, yeah," Tai retorted. "You're all pissy and angry because the girl you loved chose Master Splinter over you. Well, boo-fuckity-hoo! GROW UP!"

The others all gaped at Tai for his audacity, but Shredder's shock turned to rage as he charged forward, backhanding Tai across the face and knocking him sprawling.

"Watch your tongue, boy," Shredder warned. "Before I rip it from your insolent mouth!"

Tai just chuckled, looking him in the eyes. "It's amazing. The great Oroku Saki, the dreaded Shredder... is nothing but a bratty little kid in a grown man's body throwing a temper tantrum. It'd be funny if it wasn't so pathetic... but what the hell? I'll laugh anyway."

He proceeded to do just that, letting out a loud belly laugh before Shredder snapped and jumped on him in a berserker rage, beating him senseless.

"TAI!" Mizuki screamed in horror.

Shredder lifted the bruised and bloodied Tai over his head and threw him into a shipping container. Through it all, Tai kept smirking despite the pain.

"What's the matter?" he asked. "Poor man-baby can't take criticism?"

"You will learn respect for your better, brat!" Shredder snarled.

"I'm giving you all the respect you deserve, Shredhead," Tai said before spitting at his feet, some spittle landing right on Shredder's boot. " None. "

Shredder looked at his saliva-stained foot, then turned to glare at Tai, popping out his blades.

"Enjoy your laugh, boy," he said, calm but furious at the same time. "For it will be your last."

"I'll see you in Hell," Tai retorted.

Shredder moved in for the killing blow, but was suddenly blocked by something. Everyone looked to see a woman in a white hood blocking Shredder with a naginata.

"You will not take any more lives this night!" she shouted before forcing him back.

At that moment, a Chinese man with a cut right ear ran in as well, drawing a sword stick as he glared at Shredder.

"Chung Li," Shredder growled. "We meet again."

"It's been a long time, Saki," Li replied.

"Uh, who the heck are these guys?" Mikey questioned, confused.

"And I'm sure you haven't forgotten me," the woman said, dropping her hood and mask. "The sister of the woman you murdered!"

"Amaya," Shredder realized, before sighing. "Please, you must understand. Everything I've done is to avenge your sister. To destroy the one responsible for her death."

"Don't even say it, Saki!" Amaya snapped, pointing a condemning finger at Shredder. "Yoshi didn't kill Shen! YOU DID! "

She dashed forward, swinging her naginata at Shredder, who blocked and shoved her back.

"Seriously, who are these guys?" Mikey asked.

"There's a saying I like," Donnie piped up. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth."

"Donnie's right," said Leo. "Let's grab Karai and book it!"

"C'mon, let's go!" Kagome shouted as she and Mizuki helped Tai up.

"No!" Shredder shouted. "Give me my daughter!"

"She's not your daughter!" Leo retorted.

"I raised her! Cared for her!" Shredder snapped back. "She is MINE!"

"No. She's. NOT!" Amaya snapped, kicking him back as the Turtles made their getaway. "Seiko told me everything! You kidnapped Miwa! Brainwashed her! Turned her into a monster!"

"And you're going to pay for it!" Li added. "Mark my words!"

Shredder scoffed. "Li... if you were powerless against me sixteen years ago, what do you really expect to do now?" He summoned his blades. "Now I will finish what I began with your ear!"

"It does not matter what you do," Li retorted. "You have lost. They escaped."

That stopped Shredder in his tracks. "What?!"

"Yep," Amaya smirked. "We came here to buy time, and I'd say they got it."

With that, she let out a whistle, and a fast-moving blur darted in. It snatched up both Amaya and Li before vanishing from sight. Shredder blinked, looking around and seeing the empty yard before whirling on the defeated Zeck and Steranko.

"Someone must suffer for this!" he declared before turning to his men. "Take them to Stockman's laboratory!"

At the safehouse, Leo quickly did the secret knock before throwing the door open and running in, carrying a barely coherent Karai.

"We've got a live one!" he shouted, getting everyone's attention. "We need an empty room now!"

Seiko quickly hurried to a back room and threw it open, Leo following.

"Donnie said the retro-mutagen will take a few days," he explained. "Until then, Karai's... she's dangerous."

"I'll do what I can for her," Hisako assured, getting a look from Raph. "I'll sit outside. I promise."

Leo entered the room and set Karai down. The girl had just enough lucidity to look up and see him go.

"Karai…" he said, turning his head slightly, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Karai assured. "For the bessst…"

Leo closed the door, reluctantly locking it, and Hisako assumed a meditative position near the door. Midnight took up sentinel in her lap, settling in for a long meditation.

"We'll save her," she promised. "Have faith."

Back at the Foot HQ, Zeck and Steranko were led into Stockman's laboratory.

"It was bad enough she was reduced to her mutant state," Shredder ranted. "Now, she is in the hands of those... freaks!"

"Then why take it out on us?" Zeck asked nervously.

Shredder glared at him. "You stole my sacred helmet, hunted my daughter. Your fates are sealed!"

Zeck gulped, shaking his head vigorously.

"No!" he pleaded. "I don't wanna be a mutant. I'm too handsome! The ladies love me!"

Shredder grabbed him by the throat, lifting him up.

"For stealing the Kuro Kabuto, you go first," he growled before tossing Zeck into the mutagen vat.

Zeck screamed in pain from inside the vat before being dumped out, now a mutant warthog. He pulled himself up, looking his new body over, and groaned in horror as the mutagen vat filled back up.

"Aw no, look at me!" he shouted. "I'm a damn warthog!"

Steranko turned to Shredder, a pleading look on his face.

"Shredder, how long have known each other?" he asked. "It is ten years! Let us become reasonable! I am more useful to you as normal guy, not mutant!"

"As I said, 'old friend'," said Shredder with contempt, "your fate is sealed."

With that, he kicked Steranko into the mutagen. Steranko thrashed about in pain before being dumped out himself, now a mutant rhinoceros.

"Oh, don't feel so well," he let out before looking himself over. "Oh, nyet. Look at me!"

"He's turned us into freaks!" Zeck shouted.

The two new mutants bellowed their rage, confusion, and pain at their transformations into the sky.

Author's Note:

Yeah, I'm taking a different route from what the 2012 show did. There's enough angst in this story as it is. Sorry.

And now, enter Bebop and Rocksteady! Woot!

Please R&R. Until next time!