A/N: Hi everyone, it has been a while since I last updated. Thank you for continuing to support this fic. Thank you to all those who added this story to their favorites and following lists.
-guest- You're welcome. I try to respond to every review. As far as your question, the answer is that I will not be adding the weasels. In fact, all new mutants have been introduced. I stuck with the reptilian mutants because logically scientists would try to keep their specimens mostly the same, so adding the other mutants was a bit of a stretch for me. I had wanted to add Alopex, but she wouldn't have fit either. But Yes, Lita could use some playmates. In an older plan of this fic, she was going to meet the Daimyo's son since they're about the same age, but I scrapped the plan.
Splinter disliked how familiar he was with this situation. The father's heart ached at the thought. He looked around the breakfast table with his ears pinned back as his nose caught the scent of blood. The table was full of injured turtles. Leonardo's arm was wrapped from shoulder to elbow. There was not a hint of red on the white material. His eldest son was trying to look unphased by the injury. Michelangelo's unseen left ankle was wrapped as well. He braced it on his brother's chair. Said brother gave plenty of space for him. Donatello rubbed his left wrist while wincing. It wasn't bandaged, much to Splinter's chagrin. He gave his son a look to which the turtle ignored by hiding behind his mug. Splinter looked at his last son. Raphael sat looking at his bowl, both wrists wrapped in bandages. The new turtle, Venus de Milo was prodding at her bandaged side, trying not to wince. Raphael elbowed her good side to stop the prodding. The female at least looked sheepish.
Splinter's eyes caught his eldest flinch as he reached for the gallon of milk. The blue-masked turtle grabbed his still healing arm. Splinter's dark eyes focused on the white bandages which remained white thankfully; perhaps their injuries were not as serious as they looked the night before. Small white scaled hands grabbed the milk that was just out of the leaf green turtle's grasp. "I g-got it, Leo," Lita offered.
"You don't have to, Lita. I got it," Leonardo insisted, but the small turtle had already walked to his side with the milk gallon in her hands. Splinter watched silently as his daughter focused on the large container of milk. Pink eyes narrowed as she filled Leonardo's bowl. Without a drop spilled, she looked proud. "Thank you, Lita." The small turtle nodded before moving to Venus de Milo and pouring milk into her bowl as well.
"Ah, I thank you, Lita. Perhaps Raphael needs assistance as well," Venus de Milo said. Her green eyes looked at the red-masked turtle with his empty bowl.
"Just put cereal first. We aren't psychopaths," Michelangelo piped up with a spoonful of cereal in his mouth. Splinter flinched at the lack of manners.
"Apparently we are not civilized as well," Venus de Milo added, "Michelangelo, I have no desire to see your food nor add it to my own portion." She pulled her bowl closer to herself, trying to protect her food from particles.
"If you can teach Mikey table manners, I would be impressed," Donatello said with a grin. The orange-masked turtle stuck out his tongue childishly at his brother. Lita laughed,spilling cereal onto Raphael's lap. Splinter shook his head at their antics. The red-masked turtle grumbled, picking up a piece and flicking it at the small turtle.
"I do enjoy a challenge, Donatello," Venus de Milo replied as she twisted in her seat to lift Raphael's spoon to his beak. This motion stopped the red-masked turtle from flicking more cereal at Lita who giggled while trying to dodge. The milk in her hands was sloshing dangerously.
"I ain't a cripple," Raphael complained, reaching to grab the spoon. His amber eyes squinted in pain as his fingers curled around the spoon. Venus de Milo shrugged, but relinquished the spoon. With Lita finally taking her seat and starting to eat herself, Splinter counted over the table of turtles. His four sons were mostly silent as they shoveled their meal into their mouths. Venus de Milo wrinkled her beak at Michelangelo's messy eating; Donatello leaned away from his younger brother as the loud chewing was likely bothering him. Lita was watching her brothers as she fished for the little pieces of chocolate in her meal. Splinter counted once again; there was a turtle missing.
"My children, where is Jennika?" the rat master asked. Michelangelo perked up first, looking over the table. The youngest son jumped to his feet, wincing when his weight settled on his injured ankle. His bowl shook dangerously before being righted by Venus de Milo.
"I'll look for her, Sensei," he offered quickly. Raphael frowned as if deep in thought. There was a strange tension that floated between the two. Just like when they were younger and tried to hide some sort of secret.
"Don't bother. I'm here," Jennika's blunt voice interrupted as she passed the doorway. She was wearing one of Lita's borrowed hoodies. Splinter believed it was April's, a gift from Casey that wound up in the young turtle's possession.
"Yellow is a bold choice," Venus de Milo commented as the other female turtle entered the room. Jennika kept her hands in the large pocket as she plopped down. "I would say the color does nothing for your complexion."
"I agree. It makes you look sick," Michelangelo added, "Unless you are sick." His blue eyes were looking her over.
"I don't see why my choice of clothing is important enough to talk about," Jennika said, rubbing her eyes tiredly. The shamrock green turtle served herself food.
"Jennika is correct. We must discuss a very important matter." All eyes looked at him expectantly. The father looked at the wide-eyed albino turtle. "Lita, I believe that the plants in the mediation room need water. Could you care for them?" Splinter asked. The small turtle looked a little confused, but didn't argue.
"Yes, Master Splinter," she answered. She picked up her empty bowl and put it into the sink before going out of the room. The older turtles watched her leave silently.
Splinter listened for her retreating steps before continuing. "The events of last night trouble me greatly. If the EPF is hunting down its previous specimens, we are all in grave danger." Venus de Milo looked down at her empty bowl as she scratched her arm. Jennika clicked her spoon against the side of her bowl, her knuckles turning nearly white with her tight grip. Both looked in the far distance.
"I think it would be best if we all stay in the Lair," Leonardo started the discussion. "We are the safest here. With Don's security system, nothing can enter." Donatello smiled at the praise, straightening his posture.
"Why don't we just take the fight ta Bishop? I'm tired of all this runnin','' Raphael grumbled. "If we take him out, we don't gotta worry about him." His spoon tumbled out of his grasp to clatter against the bowl. Venus de Milo gave a sympathetic look and reached for the spoon.
"We have to wait for our injuries to recover first," Donatello pointed out, "It should give us more time for me to narrow down where their new facility would be."
"Shouldn't we call Leatherhead and the others to warn them?" Michelangelo asked. His blue eyes looked frightened. "Mona Lisa was almost caught last time."
"They could stay here for a while. We have more than enough space," Leonardo added, looking at the rat master for agreement.
"Yes, we must reach out to them before they are injured and offer up our home," Splinter answered. "Venus de Milo, would you be amiable to remain here?"
The mint green turtle startled, nearly dropping the spoon she was using. "I do not wish to overstay my welcome."
"Pft. You're one of us, Vee," Michelangelo said with a grin. "If we haven't kicked out Raph, no way we'll get rid of you."
"If any of us are gettin' kicked out it's you, Chucklehead," Raphael retaliated. Splinter cleared his throat before his sons continued their argument. The two grew silent as the table of turtles looked in his direction.
"Donatello, you will contact Leatherhead and invite him and the others to our home. The rest will assist me in preparing a room for our guests." Venus de Milo perked up while Raphael at her side slumped.
" I have many ideas that would make this 'Lair' look much more presentable. Starting with throw pillows and perhaps a newer couch. You have a wonderful open floor plan that you are squandering," Venus de Milo said with a smile. "I simply can not allow all of you to live in such squalor." Jennika rolled her eyes.
"I will keep that in mind, Venus de Milo, but for the moment, we will keep our preparations simple," Splinter said coolly.
"Will we be training today, Master Splinter?" Leonardo asked. His brothers groaned. Splinter kept his amusement to himself. There was a chorus of complaints from the turtles.
Splinter looked over his injured sons. Raphael would be unable to hold his sais while Michelangelo would be unable to stand for long periods of time. " We will forgo training this morning. Meditation training will be this afternoon. Jennika and Venus de Milo, you are welcome to join us."
Lita sighed as she left the kitchen. She didn't want to argue with her father and sensei, but she was tired of being sent away. Tired of not understanding when they spoke in Japanese in hushed tones. Just because she was too small or not part of the family. The albino turtle walked toward the mediation room. She shuffled her feet slowly. The concrete was cold under her toes. With her eyes on the ground, she counted the cracks. The catwalks above her head creaked as if something heavy was walking across them. She froze immediately.
Her heart started racing as she looked up. The metal walkways were empty. She narrowed her eyes to search the paths. There wasn't even a shadow in the bright white lights. Lita sighed and relaxed a little. Of course it was nothing; she was just being a scaredy cat. No wonder the others didn't tell her what was going on. She continued her walk to the mediation room.
A tranquil atmosphere hit her as she entered the room. Besides her own room, this had to be her favorite place in the Lair; the reservoir a close third. The sound of water soothed her nerves. The soft cushions and the smell of the little burning stick made her feel safe. Lita watched the little water feature in the center of the room. Filling up a small watering can with water, the small turtle struggled to keep the heavy can upright. Puffing her cheeks out, she waddled to the first plant. It was a pretty fern, it was taller than her and a bright green like Leo. "Hi, Vernon. You look really happy today. I got some water for you," Lita said as she tipped the watering can. She hummed a little as she watered the plant.
A soft shuffling sound caught her attention. Jerking the watering can upright, Lita stopped her watering. A chill crawled down her spine. It felt like when Mikey would try to sneak up on her. Tightening her hold on the can, Lita turned around.
The room was empty like before. Shadows danced in the room from the candles lighting the chamber. It was really dark now. Really, really dark. She tried to remember what her father said; shadows are a ninja's friend, but they didn't seem friendly now. "Aniki?" she called out voice wobbling, hoping it was Mikey. "Is-is that you? Y-y-you're scaring me." Cold water dripped on her feet as the can shook in her grasp. Pink eyes darted from shadow to shadow, but there was nothing there. She debated whether to call out to the others, but then they would really think she was a baby.
With one more once over, Lita moved onto the next plant; an orchid with white flowers. She petted the petals before touching the dirt. It was still slightly moist. "I don't think you need more water, Irma." She tilted the can just a little to allow a few drops. Another chill shivered down her shell. Eyes were watching her, not her father's nice eyes or her brothers'. They were bad. Lita spun around quickly. The heavy feeling didn't lift. It was even darker now like the labs when the doctors went home. But the cameras were always on. Someone is always watching. Watching and writing in their notepads. Waiting for something interesting; for something to study. Eyes were always watching.
Lita's breaths were harsh and shallow, but it sounded so far away. She had to calm down. The doctors were going to come back. They will take her to testing and poke her with needles and-.
Big, heavy hands landed on her shoulders. A large shadow was in front of her, towering over her. A startled gasp and clicks past her beak. She curled her hands into fists just like Raph said and punched forward. Her knuckles hit something hard and the person didn't flinch. They were supposed to flinch; Raph said a human would flinch. A human was supposed to be soft, not hard like a shell. "Lita?" a voice called out. It was familiar and not bad. It was a good voice. "Lita, it's okay. You're safe. Shh." The hands moved to her shell, rubbing it in soft circles.
The shadow became more focused. Dark eyes were right at her level, hidden behind a blue mask. "Aniki?" she whispered, voice so far away. Was she supposed to call him brother? Don and Mikey called her a sister first. Would Leo get mad? Send her away?
"Yeah, Imouto," Leo responded, his beak turning into a smile. "What's wrong?" he asked as he leaned back onto his heels. He picked up the watering can she must have dropped.
Lita looked away from the taller turtle to the room. It was brighter than before. The shadows were shorter and not scary. Leo followed her gaze and looked around the room. "Th-there was something here. W-w-watching me," she whispered. Dark eyes narrowed as Leo straightened to his full height.
His hurt hand gently nudged her behind his shell. One hand stayed on her arm as he looked over the room. His good arm was above his head as his fingers brushed the hilt of his katana. Lita shrunk back as the older turtle slowly relaxed. He dropped his arm to his side. The eldest turtle turned around to face her once again. "I don't see anything, Lita," Leo said softly. Lita looked down embarrassed. His rough hand patted on her head. "But if you are still worried, we can go with Don and check his security system." He looked at her expectantly waiting for a response. She opened her beak to speak, but any response died in her mouth. Instead she nodded. His large hand reached out to hold her own smaller one. Lita felt so much safer. Leo could beat up anyone that tried to get her.
The two walked past the living room. Beeps and other noises sounded from the television. Above that she could hear Raph punching his bag. He also was strong and the thought was comforting. A cheer from Mikey playing his game reminded her that he also was a tough fighter. Feeling a little more relaxed, Lita stepped into the lab with Leo. Two voices were debating inside.
"Donatello, how are you able to work in these conditions?" Venus's high pitch voice called out. Lita and Leo paused at the door to watch. The mint green turtle was motioning over the cluttered tables as she paced the perimeter. "Your laboratory is an absolute mess." Her green eyes looked over the torn up gadgets.
"Hey, it is organized," Don defended as he straightened some papers. He walked over to her before she touched the glassware on the table. Venus gave him a disbelieving look, pointing to the various half full glasses. "It is an organized chaos." She nodded as she looked over the table. Lita straightened with a start. It was the table with the retromutagen. Leo looked down at her when her hand tightened around his.
"A disorganized workplace leads to accidents and spills," Venus continued. "Like whatever this orange fluid was." She knelt to the ground pointing to it. Hidden within the cracks in the pavement, was orange splotches. Lita recognized it; orange like the retromutagen.
Don's face twisted into a frown. "MIKEY," he yelled. Lita flinched at the anger in his voice. Quick footsteps bounded toward the lab.
"What Donny? I almost beat my high score" Mikey asked as he leaned into the room. His orange mask tail brushed the top of Lita's head.
"I told you not to go into my lab without permission," Don said, voice barely holding anger. Lita looked down at the floor at the purple-masked turtle's angry words.
"But I haven't been in here since last week," Mikey whined as he tried to defend himself. Lita pulled her hand from Leo's.
"Well, someone was and spilled the retromutagen," Don continued with a frown. Lita wrapped her arms around her plastron.
"Well, it wasn't threatened to feed me pellets if I touched that stuff," Mikey said, waving his arms. Don clenched his fists; they shook slightly.
"Don, I think Mikey is telling the truth," Leo said, stepping into the lab completely. He held up his hands in a calming manner. Don still looked irritated at the approach of his older brother.
"If I may interrupt?" Venus said as she straightened to her full height. "The previous night was quite a hectic bustle. I doubt Michelangelo would have the time to enter the lab." Mikey smiled at his defender before he opened his blue eyes wide.
"Maybe it was Jennika?" the orange-masked turtle said. His blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. Lita watched as her brothers slowly frowned. The albino tightened her arms. Jenny was right; the others don't like her. They were going to kick her out.
"It-it was m-me," she said. It was so quiet that she thought that they didn't hear her. All eyes looked at her. She looked down at her feet; she didn't want to see their angry faces. "I-I'm sorry. I-I-I just w-w-wanted to talk to T-t-tim. And th-th-then … It was an accident," Her eyes burned as warm wet lines slipped down her face. Don looked at the others as the turtles froze. The mutated man slammed into his glass prison. Leo looked at the mutant, curious. Mikey and Venus gave concerned looks as soft sobs filled the lab.
The purple-masked turtle became sheepish as the others looked at him, "Hey, Lita don't cry please. I was just worried. This stuff is dangerous to us." He walked to her. Lita shrunk, trying to retract into her shell. Things were so much easier when she could. "Did you get any on you?" Don asked softly. The small turtle shook her head quickly. "Then everything is going to be alright." Lita sniffed, nodding her head.
"I don't know about you guys, but I can go for some lunch," Mikey said, breaking the tension.
Venus cleared her throat. "I agree with Michelangelo. Did you need assistance? I am quite skilled at the culinary arts."
"Sure, mi casa is su casa," Mikey said as he pulled the female turtle out of the lab. Mikey patted Lita's head and Venus brushed her shell. Lita didn't feel or hear them; her mind was circling. Would they throw her out? She broke one of the few rules they gave her. A far away voice called her name. She blinked away burning tears and wiped her nose with her cloak.
"Uh, use this instead," Leo's calm voice said, putting a tissue in her hand. Lita kept sniffling as she wiped her nose. "Is that better?" he asked, keeping his voice mellow.
Lita shook her head 'no'. "A-are you g-g-going to send me away?" she stuttered. She twisted the tissue in her hands.
Don flinched back while Leo narrowed his dark eyes. "No, what gave you that idea?" Leo asked, his voice measured. Lita kept her beak shut. She couldn't say Jennika.
"We haven't tossed out Mikey or Raph yet," Don said jokingly. "And you're at least four times cuter than them."
"And a lot more reasonable," Leo added to the joke. Lita nodded slowly, but didn't say another word.
Gathering all seven turtles was a task that Splinter delegated to his eldest son. He padded slowly to the meditation room. A slight twinge of pain shot up his leg with every step. It was disappointing that he had let Karai's strike connect. The rat master vowed to increase his own training when the wound healed. If his children were being hunted, he would make their hunter regret their choices. As he passed the television room, he heard a familiar tune; the opening sequence to one of his favorite soaps.
He gave a barest of glance to the dojo before deciding to investigate; purely to make sure Lita didn't learn to use the DVR. As he entered the room, he saw the mysterious soap watcher. A mint green turtle sat with her ankles neatly crossed. "Venus de Milo, we will be beginning meditation practice soon if you would like to join us," Splinter offered.
His wizened voice startled the bolted upright at attention. "I apologize Master Splinter. I should have seeked your permission first." Her green eyes looked away from him.
Splinter grew concerned at the reaction, but didn't call it to her attention. "I have offered up my home. You are more than welcome to partake in its services."
Venus de Milo relaxed and gave a more confident smile. "I thank you for your hospitality." She bowed awkwardly. Splinter nodded his head.
"Are you familiar with this program?" Splinter asked curiously.
"Yes, it is one of my favorites. When I was with the Savate, I spent a majority of my time in safe houses. It was one of the few programs that I was able to watch consistently," the turtle explained. "Due to last night's encounter, I missed the episode."
"Ah, then I shall not disturb you. Please enjoy your story. I quite enjoyed watching it last night. I also have many other programs on disk if you so desire to watch," Splinter said.
Venus de Milo smiled even more brightly, "I will only do so if you join me."
"Then we have an agreement," Splinter answered. Bouncing footsteps approached. The rat master smiled recognizing them. "Michelangelo?"
"Aww, can't get the jump on you, Master Splinter," his youngest son pouted. The frown was on his face for only a second before his blue eyes geared toward the screen. "You like that junk, Venus?" he asked.
"It is not junk, Michelangelo. As the Globe Spins is a carefully crafted narrative full of lively and three-dimensional characters," Venus de Milo replied. Splinter nodded along with her assessment.
"Riiiight. Master Splinter, everyone is at the mediation room and ready to go," Michelangelo said. With his message delivered, the sea green turtle hurried away. Master Splinter left the room slowly following his excitable son.
The various voices of his sons were heard through the paper doors of the mediation room. From what Splinter could glean, they were discussing the sitting arrangement. A tap from his walking stick caused all to grow silent. With a quiet chuckle, Splinter entered. There was an odd sense of tension in the air. His fur stood on end as he looked over his class. It felt almost as if something was watching them.
His four sons stood from oldest to youngest with Lita at Michelangelo's side. Jennika stood on the other side of Lita. All of them gave a bow and the ninja master bowed back. He made his way around the line of turtles. His shadow twisted oddly in the candlelight. They all turned as Splinter took his position at the center of the room. With achy bones, the ninja master lowered himself to the ground.
The six turtles sat cross legged. The ninja master shut his eyes as he led the group in meditation. The soothing sound of running water lulled the senses. A giggle broke the stillness. Splinter opened one eye. Michelangelo quickly straightened his position while Lita put a hand to her mouth. He perked his ears as the smaller turtle said something back. A bright smile formed on the orange-masked turtle's face. Clearing his throat, the two shut their eyes tightly. Splinter nodded to himself and focused on meditating again. Once again there was a soft giggle and chuckle. The ninja master opened his eyes to see his two youngest children stifling their laughs. Raphael was frowning deeply, looking to be a second from exploding on the two.
Sighing, Splinter interrupted, "Lita, perhaps you should sit between Donatello and Raphael." Still holding back giggles, Lita got to her feet. There was slight shuffling as the four brothers moved to accommodate the smaller turtle. She ignored Donatello's small smile, choosing to focus on Splinter. Said rat master watched as his sons looked at each other over her head. Clearing his throat, Splinter instructed the turtles to continue their meditation.
The world faded behind as he focused inward. His mind stilled as he filled his lungs. He let go of all his troubles. The slight ache of his joints faded. A muffled thud broke through his trance. A reprimand was on Splinter's tongue as he opened his eyes. It died as Donatello cried out," Lita." The albino turtle was flat on her shell, limbs twitching and jerking erratically. Movement broke the previous stillness as the mutants got to their feet.
"What's happening, Don?" Leo asked sharply. The purple masked turtle had already moved to Lita's head.
"Some kind of seizure," Donatello replied, his brown eyes focused on the albino. "There was nothing in her file about this." He moved a cushion under the girl's head as it slammed against the floor.
"What do we do, Donny?" Michelangelo asked, his voice rising in panic. Raphael's hands clenched into fists.
Donatello met each of their eyes. "We can't do much. Just make sure that she doesn't hurt herself." His brown eyes grew worried. Raphael pushed another cushion where Lita's right arm was twitching.
"I'm not sitting here and doing nothing. I'm getting the first aid kit," Jennika said, running out of the room.
Donatello raised his head, "That' s not.." He sighed as the female turtle left the room. Splinter knelt beside his afflicted daughter. His purple-masked son was looking over the seizing turtle. His olive green hand was gently brushing her forehead as his brothers created a nest of anything soft in the room. Lita's movements didn't cease. Donatello's brown eyes looked bothered.
"Donatello, I sense that something more is troubling you," Splinter said.
"This doesn't make sense, father. This shouldn't be happening," Donatello answered, "There is no physiological reason why. She doesn't have epilepsy, or any head injuries, no drugs, there's no flashing lights."
Splinter furrowed his brow, "If the problem does not originate from her body, perhaps it is her spirit or mind that is under attack."
"Like that mystic attack?" Michelangelo asked, "It happened when we were meditating last time." He knelt beside the seizing turtle.
"I remember that," Raphael said, "it took everything we had to break out of it." He joined his brother on the floor.
"Lita doesn't have that kind of mental training, Father," Leonardo said, "what can we do?" The family grew quiet.
Donatello perked up a little, "Master Splinter, remember when the Triceratons used their mind probe? I called out to you for help."
Splinter gave a terse smile, "Yes, my son. Perhaps we can do the same. If this is truly an attack, we may be able to ease her mind and spirit." With a look of determination, the turtles moved into a lotus position. Splinter gave his children a once over and shut his eyes.
Jennika didn't look back as she ran out of the meditation room. Her stomach was doing flips as her heart was in her throat. Her meal threatened to make a reappearance. She ran past the living room with sappy music playing. Brief anger flashed through her mind at the thought of Venus obliviously watching soap operas. She entered the lab and closed the door sharply.
The mutated creature gave her a death glare that she ignored. She reached into the pocket of the hoodie she wore. Cool metal chilled her fingertips as she pulled out the amulet. "Kitsune," she called out as loud as she dared.
Shadows moved to her right. Static filled the air as the computer monitors began to flicker. The shadows grew sharper and darker. In the computer monitors' lights, a tall dark figure slinked forward. Jennika backed away quickly, fear chilling her blood. "You call for me?" a female voice asked from the shadow. Pearly white teeth gleamed in the darkness; sharp like knives.
"Yes," Jennika answered as firmly as she could. Any hint of fear would set this monster on her. A woman stepped out of the shadows, garbed in a long draping kimono. A distinct sense of wrongness filled the turtle. There was something about the woman's sharp dark eyes and fang-filled mouth that sent shivers down her spine. The woman kept her hands hidden in her kimono's large sleeves. Long black hair trailed behind the woman, dragging along the floor. Gathering her courage, Jennika looked up at the woman. "What are you doing?" Jennika asked, anger peppering her voice.
Kitsune grinned wider, "What you commanded me to do." Her fangs caught what little light remained. The woman leaned closer to the turtle. Jennika refused to flinch even as Kitsune's dark eyes looked down her nose. "You asked me to destroy the turtles, so that is what I'm doing."
Jennika could feel her anger rising , her blood beginning to boil. "Not Lita. I didn't want you to hurt her," Jennika shot back. Her shamrock green fist clenched tightly and she ground her teeth. "She's just a kid."
Kitsune laughed, a horrid barking sort of laugh. "You should have clarified. From where I stand, the little one is as much a part of this clan as the other masked turtles." The yokai leaned back, but didn't remove her eyes from the turtle.
Jennika looked away first. "Then stop your attack. Please. I rather fail Karai then hurt her more than she has already been hurt."
Kitsune laughed louder, two fox tails swished out from the hem of her kimono. "You amuse me, little one. You believe that you wouldn't harm the child even if you had killed her family." The sharp smile dropped from her face, her eyes gleamed in the failing light. "And furthermore you don't control me."
Jennika held out the amulet. "I have this." It swung on its chain.
Kitsune grinned once again, "Ah, yes. You have my former prison. And how do you propose you use it?" The taller woman stepped closer again."Are you a master of the mystic arts? Knowledgeable in sealings?" Jennika took a step back fearfully. Thrusting the amulet toward the yokai, Jennika flinched. Sharp claw-like nails dug into the turtle's scalp. The shamrock turtle froze. Those dark eyes pinned her like the scientists in the lab. The amulet hung from her limp fingers, swinging harmlessly. Jennika tried to move, but her feet remained glued to the floor. "Now you will listen to what I say next. You will take me to your Mistress."
Struggling to find her voice, Jennika choked out, "Why? Wh-what do you want from her?" Claws tightened on her head, not quite enough to break through the scaly skin. Dark eyes bore into the female turtle before darting over her head. They looked at the lab door. The pinpricks on Jennika's head lifted. Gravity decided to return to the turtle at once. All her weight crashed down. Her knees hit the tile as Kitsune slunk away. Jennika took a deep breath of air as Kitsune lowered herself to sit cross-legged on the floor.
"It seems as though this mutant clan won't let their youngest go without a fight," the Yokai said with a grin. "How delightful. I can destroy them all in one fell swoop."
It had struck her so fast; the sudden dizziness and the shadowing darkness. Lita hadn't noticed that she had her eyes still shut. She tried to listen for the water sounds of the pond, but they weren't there. Other sounds were; familiar, scary sounds. Cries and whimpers like the Labs. Lita shut her eyes tighter, reaching one hand to feel for Don who was sitting next to her.
Cold tile met her hand. Pink eyes opened, startled. It barely made a difference. Her eyes drifted to the single source of light. The white light that the scientist told H12 was the emergency light was on. Getting to her knees, Lita crawled ten steps forward. She reached out to touch chilled glass. She knew this; ten steps this way and ten steps the other.
A faint whimper escaped her beak. The emergency light flickered before shutting off. Curling her knees to her plastron, she shook. She buried her face from view as her eyes began to burn. She couldn't let anyone see. Wet fat tears traveled down her face. "Imouto?" a voice called out.
"M-mikey?" she called back, lifting her head. It was pitch black now so maybe she was just imagining things.
"Yup, that's me. Only the best big bro in the world," Mikey said with a laugh, "Just kiddin' my bros are pretty great too." His voice brought a small smile to her face. She thought he was pretty silly. "Hey, Lita, why don't we play a game?" Mikey continued, unseen in the dark.
"Wh-what game?" Lita asked, getting to her feet.
"Marco Polo," the older mutant replied. "I'm it and I try to find you." She knew that game. All of them played it in the pool. She loved trying to hide from 'Marco', but maybe this time it was okay if Mikey won. She didn't want to be alone. Lita nodded before remembering that it was too dark to see. She answered that she wanted to play.
It took Mikey only two 'Marcos' before Lita threw herself at him. Strong arms wrapped around her in a hug. "I thought you knew how to play the game?" Mikey teased. Lita giggled and the laughter warmed her.
The emergency light flickered on dimly. In the faint light, Mikey smiled at her. "Can we g-go home now?" Lita asked.
"You didn't leave, Lita. You're still at the Lair. This is all in your head," the orange-masked turtle said, poking her forehead. Lita shook her head. That wasn't right, everything was the same. The tile floor, the glass walls. The buzzing light, the sounds from the others. Even the smell of the nasty cleaning stuff. The emergency light flickered off again. She clung tighter to the older turtle. He muttered something in Japanese as he drummed his fingers on her shell. "Hey Lita, you can't be scared of this place. Your fear is keeping you here," Mikey said.
"Like Yoda? F-fear leads to the Dark," Lita said. It was really dark right now.
Mikey laughed, "Sure, something like that."
"B-but I'm still scared," Lita muttered.
"Hi, scared. I'm Mikey," the older turtle responded. Lita broke away from the hold to look up at her brother. She giggled at the silly joke. The emergency light flickered on again. The orange-masked turtle was grinning widely. Blue eyes looked at the light with a thoughtful look.
"That was a silly joke," Lita said, wrinkling her nose.
"I got a ton more," Mikey responded, "I had one about the wind but it… blows." Lita laughed again, she tried to cover her beak before someone else heard the sound. More lights flickered on at the sound. Lita stopped, stepping closer to Mikey. The lights only came on when the scientists came in. The lights flickered off once again. "Lita, you got to calm down. You control this whole crazy thing."
Lita frowned in the dark. She couldn't see the orange-mask turtle. "How do I calm down?"
"Well, sometimes when I'm scared, I laugh. Normally it helps me and my bros," Mikey answered. "So what did the pony say to the doctor?" Lita shrugged unseen as the ninja waited. "I'm a little horse." Lita laughed again as the lights grew brighter.
"It worked," Lita said, she grabbed Mikey's hand leading him to the glass paneling ten feet away. The hallway was just on the other side of the glass wall. She pressed her forehead against it. She let go of Mikey's hand. Using one of her scaled hands she pointed to a barely visible keypad. "Can you open it?" Lita asked, looking up at Mikey. The orange-masked turtle looked uncertain. Lita could feel fear starting to curl in her stomach.
"Hey, Hey. Calm down. Just…think it open," Mikey suggested. Lita nodded uncertainly. She focused on the keypad. She tried to imagine it open. She tried to picture the buttons pressing down. Time passed and nothing happened. If only Donny was here; he was smart.
"It's not working," she cried. Footsteps echoed down the hall. Lita stepped back as Mikey stepped forward. The ninja relaxed as a purple masked turtle slid to a stop in front of the glass cell.
"I found you," Don said as he breathed heavily. He leaned on his bō staff. "I should be able to open this quickly." Lita leaned against the glass. The purple-masked turtle popped off of the keypad. He frowned deeply. His brown eyes met Mikey's quickly. Mikey asked his brother something in Japanese. Don responded just as quickly.
Mikey hummed, looking down at Lita. "Ya know, Lita. Whenever things get hard and scary, I know Don can always figure it out," Mikey said. "He's very smart. All he does is twist some wires and open sesame."
Lita thought about what Mikey was saying. She trusted Don too. He was smart and he figured out how to fix the toaster after Leo broke it. She could remember how he pulled out wires and twisted them. He could open this door easily. "Ha, there we go," Don exclaimed, he reached into the keypad and pulled out the wires. He twisted them between his fingers. With a cheerful tune the glass door slid open.
Lita pulled Mikey behind her as she reached out to Don. The pair of turtles stumbled into the hallway. He gave them a smile before looking up and down the hallway. Lita looked at the cell across from hers for anyone; it was empty. All of the glass cages were empty. Red lights started flashing and a loud beeping alarm sounded. It hurt her head, making things look a little swirly.
"What's that?" Mikey asked, looking up at the flashing lights. His hands reached for his nunchucks.
"T-the alarm. It goes off when s-someone escapes," Lita answered. "Th-then the guys with guns come." She scratched at her arm.
Don and Mikey looked at each other. Don lifted up the girl, stopping her scratching. Putting her on his shoulders, Don ran down the hall away from the door. "Do ya know where you are going?" Mikey asked. The glass cells passed quickly as Lita held on tightly.
Don responded in Japanese. Lita tried to see Mikey's reaction, but it was hard when he was just a step behind Don. Lita bounced as Don ran at full clip. Her brother skidded to a stop and turned to Mikey. The orange-masked turtle was three cells back, looking at an empty cell. "We're not moving," Mikey stated. His blue eyes met Don's before flickering to Lita and then back to him.
Don nodded before taking Lita off his shoulders. She was set on the ground gently. The purple masked turtle knelt to be closer to her eye level. "Imouto, you control everything here. You can turn off the alarm," he said looking up at the ceiling. Lita wrinkled her beak. Don was crazy; she didn't control the alarm.
The sound of pressurized air was barely heard over the alarm. Both ninja turtles shuffled to push Lita behind their shells. She leaned to her right to look past Mikey. Four men with big guns ran through the doors. The two brothers spun their weapons as the men knelt.
The guns fired, making a loud sound. Lita flinched at the sound. The lights dimmed overhead as thuds against wooden weapons echoed through the empty halls. Lita crouched to the ground as her breath sped up. She looked at her brothers, waiting to see if they would fall like L12 and not move. The two stood tall in the flickering light. "We are lucky that Lita doesn't understand how guns work," Don said as he charged forward.
Stabbing the point of his bō staff toward one man's stomach, Don stepped forward. The man turned to his side and the wooden weapon passed harmlessly by. Mikey dove forward with nunchucks spinning toward another man's knees. With a hop, the man jumped off the orange-masked turtle's shell. He stumbled forward. Rolling quickly, Mikey was missed by the man's kicks. "Lita, could you tone down the guards?" he complained.
Lita pointed at a guard with quick yelp. Mikey danced away from the butt of a gun. Holding both ends of his nunchucks, he slammed the weapon into the man's neck. He crumpled to the ground. As he hit the ground, his body turned completely pitch black and sunk into the ground like a puddle. "Eww, gross," Mikey complained, jumping away from the puddle. "I almost stepped in him." He cartwheeled as the other man shot in his direction.
"They're not real Mikey," Don reminded his brother as he swung his staff into another soldier's stomach. The human fell and dissolved. The purple-masked turtle pole-vaulted over the second that tried to sneak attack. Spinning in the air, Don landed in a crouch in front of Lita. He spun around to face her. "Handle them, Mikey," he ordered. He focused back on Lita."You need to calm down, Lita. Nothing here is real; not the guards or cells." Lita tilted her head.
Her eyes darted past Don to watch Mikey dance around the soldiers. Don put his hand on her shoulders. "Here, follow my lead," Don said, lowering himself to the ground to sit in lotus position. Lita moved her legs to do the same. Mikey slid in beside the two with a large grin. With a quick look, Don could see two more puddles on the ground. "You need to think about what you were doing before you woke up here," Don started.
Lita nodded, "We were m-meditating like this." She closed her eyes.
"Can you picture the room?" Don asked. Lita shook her head with her eyes closed.
"Of course she can't, our eyes were closed," Mikey said. Lita could hear Don scoff and she giggled at her brothers. "Remember the sound of water?" Mikey asked, interrupting Don.
Keeping her eyes closed, Lita nodded. She could almost hear the bubbling sound over the alarm that was still buzzing. It was calming and distracting. The alarm was completely unheard now. She could feel warm air that was out of place in the normally cool lab. It was like the meditation room. Master Splinter said the room was warmer to soothe the cold-blooded mutants. Lita thought it just made her sleepy. "I think it's working," Mikey said.
"You're doing great. We are almost out," Don encouraged. Lita nearly opened her eyes to see for herself.
"A little too close," a woman's voice said as sharp claws grabbed the young girl's arm. Opening her eyes in shock, Lita was lifted into the air. Her feet swung in the air. The albino turtle looked over her shoulder and shell. For a second she saw an unfamiliar woman's face; her features were sharp and scarey. But that face was gone before she blinked. Instead a man with a large nose and dark hair was there. Doctor Nance, Lita recognized. She kicked faster, struggling to free herself. Sharp pin pricks dotted her arm for her effort.
"Let her go," Mikey and Don said with their weapons drawn. Sharp fingers dug themselves deeper in her arm. The two looked at each other before splitting. Mikey circled right and Don flanked left. Lita's captor stepped backwards to keep an eye on both.
She wished Raph was here; he could punch the doctor in the nose again. The thought brought a smile to her beak. Loud metal screeching broke the standstill. Lita looked away from her brothers to the door at the end of the hall. Sparks were forming at the metal door. Movement at the corner of her eyes drew her attention away from the door.
Mikey was the one who struck first. His nunchucks were aimed at the human scientist's arm. The human pulled the albino turtle higher. It hurt her shoulder like the man was trying to rip out her arm. The nunchucks nearly hit her feet. Lita squeaked in panic as Don's staff went too close to her arm as the human swung her toward the purple-masked turtle. The man chuckled at the conflicted emotion on the two turtle's faces.
A growl was the only warning the human got before a blur of red and green crashed into him. Lita was airborne for a second before a strong pair of arms caught her. Panicking, she struggled as the arms tighten around her. "Nice catch, Leo," Mikey praised. Lita looked up at the blue-masked turtle.
"Thanks." Leo lowered the small turtle to the floor. "Master Splinter should be here soon. Stay back while we take care of this." Lita nodded before she walked far away. Leo unsheathed his swords and crossed them in front of him. Using one of his swords, he motioned to Don to continue his flank.
The purple and orange-masked turtles circled. The scientist's brown eyes focused on Lita. She flinched backwards before a pair of warm hands steadied her. "Do not trouble yourself with the illusions, my daughter," Splinter's calm voice said. Gently he turned her to face him. A soft smile formed on his muzzle. "Let us get out of this dreadful place. I will guide you."
Leo blocked the man's charge with an outstretched katana. The human nearly snarled at being stopped from following after the small girl. The leader gave his brothers the barest hint of a nod. He narrowed his dark eyes at the human when he dodged unnaturally quickly from Don and Mikey's pincer attack. He had jumped high in the air. It was faster than even Agent Bishop who wasn't quite human himself.
The youngest brothers feinted at the last second. Their weapons barely missed each other. The human's feet crashed hard on their shells as he launched himself over Leo. The blue-masked turtle spun quickly as the man landed behind him. The human was clearly focused on Lita who was meditating with Splinter.
Raph growled as he grappled the man, tossing him to the floor. Tumbling, the human scientist stopped and shook his head. Not a hair was out of place. "What's up with this guy? He was so easy to knock out last time," Raph complained, breathing heavily.
Don got to his feet, face thoughtful. "Lita is unwittingly controlling this situation. In her mind, Dr. Nance is a very strong person," he explained. "This is how Lita sees this place." Don blocked the scientist's approach with his staff. His nails carved tiny grooves into the wood.
Mikey struck the human's elbows with his nunchucks, allowing Don to disengage. "Maybe, but she also thinks we're the best so shouldn't we be beating him?" the youngest asked. The human grabbed the nunchucks in one hand before kicking Mikey in the plastron. The orange-masked turtle tumbled away.
A sharp grin formed on the man's face. His canines were a little too sharp. With quick little side-steps, he danced away from Raph's frenzied punches. Don tried tripping him with his bō staff. It passed harmless by as the human kept his athletic dodging.
Leo hummed to himself. He was sensing something odd about their opponent. Daring to look away for a second, he looked back at his father. The floor around the pair matched the cushioned floor of the meditation room. If he listened he could hear the bubbling pond. Their exercise was working, but the leader couldn't figure out why they remained trapped in this illusion.
A footstep warned him of the scientist's approach. With steel singing, Leo sliced through the man's white lab coat. The human stumbled back a step, looking down at the unstained coat. "Release us now," Leo ordered, holding his swords aggressively. "I don't know who you are but we don't have a fight with you."
The human straightened his posture. With a laugh, the figure in front of them wavered like a mirage. "You may not have a quarrel with me, but my liberator does. I am merely following her orders."
"Whose orders? Karai?" Raph asked with a growl. A simple hum was the answer. The wavering image settled. In place of a man in a lab coat, a woman with long black hair and kimono stood. Two fox tails swished the hem of her kimono.
"A Kitsune," Mikey squealed, scrambling away from the woman. Her dark eyes drifted over the four brothers; they gleamed darkly. With a hiss, she launched herself at the orange-masked turtle. Her finger poked Mikey in the forehead. The turtle lost his balance and fell back. His shell never touched the ground. Instead he disappeared completely, blinking away in an instant.
"Mikey," Raph called out. "Whatcha do to him?" The kitsune frowned slightly, her smooth brow furrow slightly.
"I sent him away. You four are troublesome together," she responded. Her eyes widened as Raphael started to punch her. His emerald green fist met her jaw with a loud crack. She stumbled, holding her mouth. Don struck at her ankles, sending her completely to the floor. Leo brought down his blades toward her fallen form. The blades clacked against the ground as she rolled away.
The yokai's tails struck Don and Raph in the plastron, sending them back. She turned to face Leo. Her movement was a blur as she charged him. He swung his right sword at her side, it sliced through her kimono. Her face barely flinched at the bite of steel. Her clawed hand grasped his face as he blinked. The sharp pin pricks disappeared instantly. Opening his eyes, Leo was no longer in the laboratory. He recognized the large glowing tube in front of him. The white floor and the railing that was right behind him. It was Shredder's ship;just before they overheated the core. If he looked down to his right, he would see Raphael sprawled on the floor. Mikey would be to his left, both legs twisted. Don would be standing with his arm hanging loosely. He could smell burnt fur.
The leader calmed his breathing and shut his eyes. He knew that this was an illusion. The trappings of his own mind. This was the past and he did all he could do. Leo lowered himself to the floor, crossing his legs. He focused not on his current circumstances, but on his home.
His family were all in the Lair. He ignored the beeping of technology and the buzzing of the reactor. He could still hear the bubbling water at the edge of his hearing. He could feel the warmth of the meditation room and smell the incense burning, not fur. Slowly he opened his eyes.
He was greeted with the familiar sight of the Lair. He looked over his family. Mikey's blue eyes looked at him blinking. He rubbed his sea-green head. "You got out," Leo commented.
"Yeah, she thought showing me Bishop would make me freak. Ha, the movie I watched last night was scarier," Mikey responded. "Should we have stayed?" The youngest brother motioned to the others. Don and Raph's faces were both pinched in thought.
"We will give them two more minutes," Leo answered. The two sat quietly watching Lita twitch slightly. It was nowhere near the full body seizing, but her eyes were still closed. They looked at each other nervously.
A sharp intake of breath drew their attention back to the small turtle. Pink eyes blinked tearfully. "Lita," both older turtles called out in relief. They reached out to help her to sit up.
A throat clearing brought their movements to a stop. The three turtles looked at Splinter who got to his feet slowly. "Let us wait for Donatello's instructions." The ninja master padded slowly to his remaining sons. With a gentle hand on each, he called out to them by name.
The two responded instantly, taking a deep breath in and opening their eyes. Don went straight to work. "How are you feeling, Lita?"
The small turtle whimpered, "I h-hurt." Her face pinched in pain. Leo felt sympathy for her; she wasn't one to complain.
"Yeah, that don't help. What hurts?" Raph asked, crossing his arms. His tone was harsh, but Leo could see his concern. His fingers drummed his arms, waiting for something to do.
"My h-head. Ev-everything," Lita said. She tried to lift her hand, but let it fall limply back into the cushioned nest. Her pink eyes slowly closed. Mikey shook her awake. She groaned in pain. Raph hit Mikey's shell with a frown. Mikey narrowed his blue eyes.
"Yeah, seizures would do that," Don said sympathetically. He ran his finger over her skull gently. Leo studied his younger brother's face, looking for any reaction; the purple-masked turtle looked unfazed with his examination. Don looked away from his patient to the youngest brother. "Mikey, could you get some water for her? I am going to take her to the infirmary to check her over."
"On it," he said with a quick salute. The orange-masked turtle was quick to jump to his feet and left the room.
"While you care for Lita, the rest of us will search the Lair," Splinter said, looking at Raph and Leo. "We were attacked in our own home. Our mystic attacker is still here. I sense the same power used to attack us nearby." The family got to their feet in unison. Don helped Lita stand up right. She leaned heavily on him as he led her out of the room.
Leo and Raph followed right behind Don. The leader was ready to strike anything that went after his family. Splinter's walking stick tapped steadily behind them, each tap punctuated with the thud of the rat's tail. If Leo didn't handle this threat, his father would do so without prejudice. Don turned away from the group to go into the infirmary. Splinter urged his remaining sons to turn toward Don's lab.
Seven minutes. That was how long the seizure lasted. Seven. Minutes. Don frowned deeply. Looking down at the shuffling turtle, he felt sick to his stomach. Her weight was heavy against his side as if he was the only thing keeping her up. After five minutes, the proper procedure would be to call the hospital. To run CAT scans and MRIs. All things out of his reach. He should have been more prepared. A soft squeak broke that train of thought. The weight at his side disappeared. Lita tripped over her own feet, her knees buckled under her weight. Don caught her before she hit the ground. "C-can you carry me?" she asked, pitifully. "My legs hurt."
Don didn't doubt that. The amount of seizing those muscle groups did would exhaust anyone. He would pick her up in a heartbeat, but he couldn't risk her falling asleep. "Not right now. You have to keep moving," he answered, helping her to stand upright again. She sighed deeply, but nodded. "Just a little further." With a nod, Don pulled her along gently.
As they entered the infirmary, the girl slipped to the floor with a solid thud. Don decided it was close enough. He lifted her by her armpits and set her on the cot they had set up in the room. She leaned forward as much as she could with her plastron.
With quick efficiency, Don looked over her shell and limbs. She let him pick up each appendage without resistance. There was slight bruising from her thrashing, but nothing looked too serious. Between that and the small knot on her head, the brothers did an adequate job preventing too many injuries. It was a relief, but was the least of Don's worries. He was far more concerned about her cognitive functions. All he could do was run some tests. "Lita," he said, shaking the drowsy turtle softly. "What's today?"
"F-friday," Lita answered. "April is getting us p-pizza tomorrow." Don nodded, he would have preferred the actual date, but the girl's memory seemed to be intact. The stuttering seemed normal at least for her.
He held up a hand, "how many fingers am I holding up?" Drooping eyes opened a slit wider.
"Three," she answered, dropping her head.
"Do you think you can read something for me?" Don asked. The girl wrinkled her nose in distaste.
"I-I'm not g-good at reading," she answered. "C-can I sl-sleep instead. I can d-do that."
Don laughed, "This is important to me. I have to make sure your brain didn't get hurt."
"Th-then I can sleep?" Lita asked. Don nodded as he handed her the book he kept around the infirmary for his patients. Her pink eyes narrowed at the words. As she slowly sounded out each word, Don let his thoughts wander. They were attacked by a Kitsune; a yokai. He frowned, the amulet was locked up in his lab. Master Splinter said he could hardly sense any mystic energy from the artifact when the box was shut. The soft voice had stopped as Lita's white scaled head dipped down. He shook her awake. Pink eyes glared as harsh as they could.
"Lita, did you open the box in my lab and touch the necklace in there?" Don asked.
"No. Mikey said that monsters live in it," Lita muttered, laying down on the cot. Don hummed as he thought. He knew that Lita wouldn't touch the artifact and neither would his brothers. Her pink eyes closed slowly.
"I need you to tell me the truth, Lita," Don said, "Who was in the lab last night?" Sleepily, she shook her head with her eyes closed. She pushed his hands away clumsily. Don huffed at the stubborn answer. "Was it Jennika?" he asked, shaking the small turtle. She shut her eyes tighter. Two sets of running footsteps were approaching, drawing Don's attention away.
"I got the water, Don," Mikey's voice called out as he skidded to a stop at the door. Water sloshed over the edges of the glass in his hand. Right behind him was Venus. Her green eyes looked past the brothers to Lita curled on her side.
"What happened?" Venus asked, her normally shrill voice lower and cold. Mikey was helping the albino turtle sit up. The girl grumbled at the rude awakening. Slowly the orange-masked turtle tipped the glass as she sipped the water.
"We were mystically attacked by a Yokai called Kitsune," Don answered. "Lita will be fine with some rest and water." He looked back to his younger brother as he let the albino turtle lay back down. She turned her shell to the older turtles.
Venus nodded, but her fists were clenched tightly. "Are you intending to return the favor?"
"Master Splinter and our bros are looking for her. I wouldn't want to be Kitsune when Dad finds her," Mikey said with a grin. Don matched the same grin; their father didn't take kindly to those who harmed his children.
Jennika breathed easier as Kitsune reached a meditative state. The turtle knelt shaking for a moment, just watching the woman's serene face. Jennika snarled as she pushed herself to her wobbly legs. Staggering to the metal box, she gathered the amulet's chain into her palm. With quick decisiveness, the turtle slammed the relic into the box.
She wiped her hands on the borrowed hoodie she wore. The feeling of disgust didn't lift. A thud reminded her that she was still in the laboratory. If the others found her in the room, she didn't want to think about it. Another thud drew her attention to the mutated human. "What do you want?" she asked testily. She sighed to herself; she was talking to a blob.
Said blob narrowed his brown eyes at her. If she was so bold, she would have thought that the former human was trying to communicate. The floating eyes drifted to the side to look at the meditating Yokai. They returned to their original position before drifting again. Jennika looked over her shell at Kitsune. The Yokai was there right now, attacking the turtles. It was what she wanted, wasn't it? Jennika wanted to make Mistress Karai happy. So what if the Hamato Clan weren't the monsters the Foot made them out to be? That Leonardo wasn't a dishonorable ninja and was instead a thoughtful leader who looked after his brothers. That Raphael wasn't a blood-thristy brute, just a little rough around the edges. That Donatello wasn't aloof and calculating and Michelangelo wasn't one to laugh in the face of violence. Jennika shook those thoughts away.
Mistress Karai was right; those turtles were crafty and would make her drop her guard. Jennika looked at the pleased look on Kitsune's face. There was no honor in this method of attack. No honor in attacking a child. With a new resolve, Jennika charged at the Yokai. Her shamrock green fist slammed into the woman's skull. The force stung a little. Kitsune's head snapped back.
Her dark sharp eyes opened. "You insolent fool." As quick as a striking snake, the woman sprang to her feet. Jennika backpedaled as quickly as she could. The turtle dove to the side, sliding under a lab table as Kitsune landed from her pounce. The Yokai's twin fox tails swished along the ground. Jennika pulled her legs close to her plastron.
The woman sighed loudly, "I will not harm you." Jennika rolled her eyes at the obvious lie. The woman paced around the table. "It would be very difficult to meet your mistress if you were incapacitated." The hem of the kimono passed close to Jennika's feet. The turtle knew that the Yokai mentioned meeting Karai. A pit formed in the turtle's stomach. What did the Yokai want with Karai? It couldn't be anything good. Jennika had to get rid of Kitsune.
The turtle took steadying breaths. Moving her feet under her, Jennika readied herself to attack. She didn't have a lot of space under the lab table. Her knees were pressed to her plastron as she watched the pacing Yokai. If she could tackle the woman's knees, she could pin her. Taking a deep breath, Jennika launched herself at Kitsune's legs. The turtle's shoulder hit the woman's knees, sending her to the ground. Jennika rolled on her shell to get back on her feet.
Kitsune sprung to her feet as well. Jennika lifted her fists. She swung her right then her left. The woman slunk between the blows as easily as a drifting feather. Jennika snarled as she tried to kick the woman's side. Sharp claws caught Jennika's shamrock green leg. The turtle gasped as her leg was twisted. The floor met her face quickly. Her teeth rattled as her jaw met tile. Jennika groaned as a heavy weight pinned her plastron to the floor. The turtle squirmed, kicking out her legs hoping to make some sort of contact.
Kitsune laughed at the turtle's struggle. The laughter was overshadowed by the scraping of metal as the lab door opened. Standing in the doorway was Raphael, Leonardo and Master Splinter. "I found the intruder," Jennika called out to them.
"Get off of 'er," a gruff voice snarled. Raphael charged the Yokai. Sharp claws gorged furrows into Jennika's shell as she was lifted off the ground effortlessly. The red-masked turtle spun on his heel as Jennika was shoved forward. She stumbled a step before regaining her footing.
Leonardo gave her a passing glance as he ran by, a single katana in his uninjured hand. The blue-masked turtle dropped to his knees, sliding by the woman. Silver steel brushed by colorful fabric as Kitsune slid to her right.
The Yokai grunted as a wooden walking stick met her stomach. Master Splinter lept back as quickly as he appeared. Raphael stepped forward next with a high kick. His emerald green foot landed square in her chest. Kitsune hissed as she tumbled to the ground.
Leonardo pounced on the woman, his katana pointing toward her throat. The woman rolled out of the way. As she bounced to her feet, Kitsune grabbed her shoulder. Red blood pooled under her pale fingers. Jennika wasn't about to let the others have all the fun. She clenched her hands into fists.
Kitsune's dark eyes darted from one mutant to the other. Raphael jumped in first. He had a fist raised, heading straight for the woman's head. With a graceful spin, she moved out of the way and straight into Leonardo. With a slash, another line of red bloomed on her kimono. The Yokai staggered right to Splinter whose whip-like tail slapped against her legs.
Jennika kicked the woman's knees to bring her down to the ground. The Yokai looked up at the four mutants that surrounded her now. A steel katana slid in front of her throat, not close enough to slice the sensitive skin. Leonardo stood behind the woman; his coal black eyes were cold. "Who sent ya?" Raphael asked.
Jennika shifted her weight uncomfortably. Kitsune looked directly at her. "I suspect you already know the answer," Kitsune answered smugly.
"Karai," Leonardo breathed, his eyes narrowing. The blade in his hand pressed a little closer to the woman's throat. A bead of red bubbled on the pale skin. Kitsune laughed at the answer.
"I say we give 'er back to little Miss Shredder," Raphael said, "Maybe just a head shorter." His amber eyes almost glowed in anticipation. Jennika felt a chill at the ruthlessness.
"My sons, let us not strike in anger," Master Splinter said "We must know her true master." His whiskers twitched as he pinned his ears back. His paws were wrapped tightly around his walking stick. Leonardo lowered his blade just slightly.
"But she has attacked us in our own home and a child at that," Leonardo refuted. His eyes were dangerous behind his blue mask.
"It matters not what you do to me. When he is freed, my true master will strike you all down. He will bring about a new world," Kitsune bragged. Her tails swished dangerously. Jennika looked at the brothers. As quick as a striking snake, one tail flicked Leonardo's bandaged arm. The leaf green turtle flinched as the second tail struck Raphael's wrist.
Jennika took a step back as the woman tackled her. Red hot pain trailed up her unprotected side from thigh to ribs. The turtle's shell hit the tile, sending shockwaves up her spine to her head. Gasps were louder in her ears than the scrambling of the turtles and Yokai. Footsteps ran out of the lab.
Jennika laid on the floor gasping. They left her to bleed out. They chose to chase after an enemy than help an ally. Somehow that hurt more. Warm hands pressed into her side, trying to stop the bleeding. With blurry vision, Jennika turned her head to the side. The rat master knelt beside her. His paws pressed firmly into the deep scratches in her side. "Aren't you going to get her?" Jennika asked.
Splinter removed his robe and used it to stuff the wound. "Revenge would be pointless if we lost one of our own," he responded evenly. Jennika shut her beak at the response. As she was about to argue that his sons didn't feel the same, she heard running steps.
"I got Donny, Master Splinter," Raphael's voice said, huffing as if he had ran the entire way. Jennika twisted her head to see the two turtles.
"She's going to need a blood transfusion," Donatello noted. "She's a universal receiver according to her files." Jennika tried not to squirm at the thought of the turtle reading all those scientist's notes.
"I'll grab Mikey and Leo," Raphael said, "I'm sure they'll be willing ta help." Jennika could feel her vision swimming and swirling. She was being lifted off the ground carefully. A part of her wanted to fight the manhandling. The other felt almost safe. Almost like she was actually one of them. But she was Foot and it was a manner of time till they found out.