- Chapter 36 -

Target: April O'Neil

Karai sat in Shredder's throne, speaking with her father through a Mouser's holographic projection screen.

"It seems you have been busy in my absence, daughter." Shredder remarked. "And equally unsuccessful."

"I had to do something!" Karai objected. "The Turtles need to be stopped, and our plan needs to be set in motion!"

"Hear me, Karai." Shredder said sternly. "You will have no more dealings with Krang and his ilk until I return."

"What?!" Karai shouted. "Father, I made a mistake, I'll admit to that. But I won't fail again! Just give me one more chance and-"

"This is my command, Karai." Shredder cut her off. "Do not disobey me, or the consequences will be most unfortunate."

Karai stopped at that, then gulped.

"Y-yes, Father." she relented.

"Good." Shredder replied, ending the transmission. Karai snarled and turned away.

"Where are those aliens?!" she demanded.

Some time later, Karai met with several Krangdroids at a remote office building.

"Oroku Karai," one greeted. "I trust you're here for the new Footbot prototype?"

Karai nodded. "Yes. Shredder wants an update on its completion."

A small port opened up in the floor before them. From it rose a robot resembling a metal version of Chris Bradford's human form, complete with red armor and a metallic straw hat. Karai whistled in awe,

"Not bad. How soon until it's online?"

"Not much longer. About one or two hours."

"Good," Karai smirked. "Because I have the perfect target to test it on: April O'Neil."

The Krangdroids were silent, exchanging looks. Karai raised an eyebrow.

"Is there a problem with that?"

"...No," the first Krangdroid replied hesitantly. "None whatsoever."

"Good," Karai nodded. "Now, I'll be back to pick it up in a bit. You don't want to keep the Shredder waiting, now, do you?"

"No, we don't."

After Karai left, the Krangdroid pressed a button on his com. "Sir, we have a problem."

Down in the lair, Donnie was continuing to run tests on mutagen. He picked up a sample of his latest retro-mutagen attempt and dropped it in... which promptly caused the mutagen within to freeze solid.

"Another batch lost…"

Donnie's hands shook in anger before, with a yell, he snatched up the frozen beaker, throwing it against the wall in blind rage.

"All those tests, and NOTHING!" He began pacing, pulsing with frustration. "Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!"

"Tell us how you really feel, D!" Mikey called from the living room.

"Don't start with me, Mikey!" Donnie snapped, storming out of the lab. "I am NOT in the mood!"

He sighed, plopping down on one of the couches and rubbing his temples. The others were seated around, either watching Super Robo Mecha Force Five or, in Raph and Mikey's case, playing a game of Uno.

"C'mon Raph, ya gotta have a red in there somewhere," Mikey insisted.

Raph was drawing several cards before finally drawing a red 7. "Finally!"

He dropped it, and Mikey immediately dropped a Draw Four. "How about blue this time?"

Raph's eye twitched before he just threw the cards down.

"That's it! I've had it!" he ranted. "This game is stupid! I QUIT!"

Mikey just smirked. "Awww, kitty cat go meow?"

Raph flipped the table, scattering the cards.

"Hey!" Leo shouted. "Raph, cool it! It's just a stupid game!"

"Oh, stuff it!" Raph snapped before storming off. Mikey just put the table back up, beginning to clean up the cards.

"Everyone's so tense right now," he mused. "If Donnie's not trashing his lab, Raph's trashing the place in general."

"Hey, at least I have a valid reason," Donnie countered. "I'm at my limit right now trying to work out a retro-mutagen." He sighed, rubbing his forehead. "But you know what they say... if at first you don't succeed, just keep trying until your freaking little mind can't take it anymore."

"Maybe we should all take a break," Hisako suggested. "Woody should have our order ready soon. We can pick it up at Antonio's while we're out."

"Sounds like a good idea," Leo agreed.

"Yeah…" Donnie sighed, "maybe some fresh air is just what I need to clear my head."

"Sweet," Hisako smiled. "And I didn't have to Jedi Mind Trick you this time."

Donnie shrugged. "Mostly because I'd rather not flip out and break any more lab equipment."

At the local hockey rink, April and Kagome were helping Casey with his math. They were actually using hockey to teach him.

"See?" April asked. "Does this make sense?"

"Oh yeah!" Casey declared. "Angling the shot to get it exact… I get it!"

"Perfect!" April smiled before turning to Kagome, seeing her looking to the side, lost in thought. "Kagome?"

"Hey, you good K?" Casey questioned. "You've been staring off into space more than I have."

Kagome snapped to attention. "Oh, it's nothing. Just thinking."

"Is it Donnie?"

Kagome sighed, nodding. "Is it that obvious?"

April nodded. "Didn't even have to try to read your mind."

"He's been doing double duty lately, trying to crack the retro-mutagen. When it's not literally blowing up in his face, Raph's told me about him flipping out and smashing beakers."

"Yeesh…" Casey winced. "Just how bad are things down in that underground city thing?"

"Very. It wasn't a good day for anyone, Casey." Kagome rubbed her face. "And I know that he's gonna work himself until he collapses, or makes his heart blow up from sheer caffeine intake. I just don't know what to do. He's stubborn as an ox."

Casey's stomach rumbled loudly. "Speaking of ox, I'm so hungry I could eat one."

"Yeah…" Kagome nodded. "I'd say now's a good time to take a dinner break." She stood up. "Antonio's is closest. I'm buying."

"Aw sweet!" Casey cheered.

As they left, they were unaware of Karai watching them from the rooftops, eyes narrowed. She raised a hand to an earpiece.

"They're heading north, to the pizza place. Move."

The Shellraiser pulled up to Antonio's Pizza-Rama, not long before Casey and the girls pulled their bikes to a stop next to it.

"Hey, guys!" Casey greeted as they filed out.

"Casey!" Mikey exclaimed. "What brings ya?"

"Study session munchies."

"We're here to pick up an order," Leo replied. "And get Don out of the lab for a bit."

Kagome sighed. "We're here to pick up an order... and get Don out of the lab for a bit."

"Yyyyep," Raph confirmed.

"This one completely iced over," Vee added.

"Better than the fireworks like that one time," Hisako included.

April went over to an irritated Donnie, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I know it's frustrating, but just take your time and take care of yourself, D," she insisted. "Rome wasn't built in a day, after all."

"Yes, well, Rome was a city state," Donnie replied. "This is a necessary mutagenic cure for innocent people who were only mutated because of us!"

"Hey, calm down," Leo cut in. "Break time, remember?"

"Yeah dude," Mikey agreed. "Get some food in you and rest. Come at it fresh."

"Right…" Donnie let out a breath. "Right."

They made their way inside, where a young blonde man in his early twenties smiled at their entry.

"Hey, if it isn't my favorite freaks!" he greeted.

"Hey, don't call them that!" Casey objected.

"Easy," Raph soothed. "Woody doesn't mean it in a bad way."

"Yeah dude," Woody said. "Let your freak flag fly." He smiled at Mikey in particular.

"Mikester, what's shakin'?"

They hi-fived and fist bumped.

"Oh, you guys know each other?" April asked.

"Since we were around ten," Leo confirmed. "Meet Woody Dirkins. He was the first human aside from Kagome and Kasumi to find out about us."

"It was a stupid kid dare," Kagome added. "Raph dared Mikey to find food in the dumpster and eat it. Woody found him and offered him a pepperoni pizza that a Karen sent back."

Mikey sighed, an expression of bliss on his face. "And that's how we were introduced to the pinnacle of savory goodness that is pizza."

"I'll admit, the first time I tried pizza, and I mean real pizza, not Mikey's abominations, I felt like I was in heaven," Hisako mused.

Casey blinked. "So... you saw a giant kid turtle rooting in the dumpster and offered a pizza instead of running away?"

Woody shrugged. "Eh, my mom didn't raise a bigot. Besides, he was like half my size, and way too cute to be a monster."

April managed a smile. "The world could use more people as open-minded as you, Woody."

"So I've been told," Woody turned to Leo. "You guys are just in time. Your order'll be done in about five minutes."

"Thanks, Woody," Leo nodded. "Any chance we can eat inside?"

"Corner booth with a divider for privacy. The boss splurged considering how much money we make off you guys."

"Sweet," Mikey grinned.

They headed for the corner booth. Just as they pulled the divider aside, something came smashing through the window.

"Look out!" Hisako screamed.

She quickly swiped her arm to the side, knocking all of the glass away from them as something landed hard before them, crouching menacingly. Karai entered after, arms folded and a smug smirk on her face. The Hamato teens all responded with varying levels of irritation more than anything.

"Oh, it's you, Karai," Raph greeted, his tone somewhere between exhausted and bored. "Look, we're about to eat dinner, so how about you go find someone else to annoy for the night, 'kay?"

Karai blinked, genuinely offended.

"That's all I am to you?" she demanded, sounding emotionally wounded. "Annoying? I'm the second-in-command of the Foot Clan, the daughter of the Shredder, and you just find me annoying?"

"Did I stutter?"

"What do you want, Karai?" Leo asked.

"I'm here for O'Neil. Me and my little friend."

They looked up at the figure next to her.

"You mean Chrome Dome here?" Mikey asked.

Karai looked over at him and Vee facepalmed.

"Really, Mikey? Now?"

"What? He's made of Chrome, and he has a-"

"WE GET IT!" everyone shouted.

Leo pinched between his eyebrows. "Look, you're not getting April, and all we want is to enjoy some pizza. So can you please just go away?"

"Why are you even targeting me?" April questioned. "You had the perfect chance to take me to Shredder and Krang with that phony sleepover, but let me go. What changed?"

"Look, the only reason I let you go was to make up for that whole Harmony thing, got it?" Karai shot back. "Now we're even, and that means I'm not holding back this time."

"Whatever beef you have is with us, not her." Leo cut in.

"No, I don't think so. Your rat master and his billionaire girlfriend took away someone I cared about sixteen years ago. So I'm returning the favor." Karai turned to April. "Sorry, nothing personal. You should've chosen your friends more carefully."

"At least I have friends," April retorted.

Everyone drew their weapons, getting between April and Chrome Dome.

"You guys handle the robot," Leo said. "Karai's mine."

As they clashed with Chrome Dome, Leo crossed blades with Karai.

"You knew this was coming, Leo!" Karai shouted as they clashed repeatedly.

"Listen to me! Dad and Kasumi didn't kill Tang Shen!" Leo pulled his head into his shell to avoid a slash. "Shredder was trying to kill Dad! Shen took the hit for him!"

"You liar!" Karai screamed. "I know Hamato Yoshi slew my mother in a fit of jealous rage, and Kasumi Lee helped to cover his tracks! That's why the Hamato Clan turned on my father! He was never anything more than a scapegoat for the clan, and the one time he had something good in his life, Yoshi took it!"

She began to force Leo back. "Face the facts, Leo! Your dad isn't the noble warrior you think he is! He's been playing you for a sap!"

"Stop it…" Leo hissed through clenched teeth.

"He's nothing but a selfish, malicious, dishonorable, mangy-!"

At Karai's slurry of insults, Leo exploded. "SHUT UP!"

Karai recoiled slightly, but nonetheless sneered. "Rat."

Leo lost his temper at that, kicking Karai in the chest and sending her flying into the wall. A dead silence followed on both sides, everyone shocked at an outburst they expected more from Raph than Leo.

"Listen and listen good," Leo said, his voice deadly calm. "Every thing, every word, every thought that you know... is wrong. Shredder is the one who killed your mother! He kidnapped and brainwashed you as a baby after that! Everything he accuses Master Splinter of being, what you accuse him of being, applies to Shredder himself, Karai!"

"Stop lying to me!" Karai shrieked.

Leo scoffed. "Believe what you want to. But if you open your eyes, and let go of the hate...you will see the truth."

Now it was Karai's turn to blow up.

"There's only one truth I wanna know right now!" She pointed to April. "She's the center of an alien conspiracy, protected by mutants and trained by a great ninja master! What makes April so goddamn special?!"

After processing what she said, Leo snickered before cracking up.

"What's so funny?!"

"Oh nothing," Leo replied. "I'm just now realizing what this is all about. Why you targeted April specifically. I thought maybe you were doing this for Krang, but that's just an excuse. In truth... you're jealous."

Karai scowled at that as Leo went on. "Big bad Karai is jealous because April's getting all the attention! Let me guess, Shredder never hugged you as a kid? You're a soldier first and a daughter second?"

Karai was sputtering, trying to find a retort. "How dare you-?!"

"It's obvious! My siblings and I… We use terms like Dad and Mom. With you, everything is so formal and stiff! And you're always alone!" Leo shook his head. "April hit the nail on the head earlier. You say she made a poor choice in friends, but you... do you even know what a friend is?"

"Hold your tongue before you lose it!" Karai's face was bright red, and she almost looked like she was on the verge of bitter tears.

"Oh please. It's written all over your face, Karai. April has the life you could only dream of. A loving dad and big sister, friends who adore her and care for her instead of servants and goons who do whatever she says because they have to. And she has the same powers as Hisako. And you just can't stand that…" Leo leaned in, his gaze cold and merciless, "can you?"

That did it. Karai began breathing heavily, tears beginning to stream down her cheeks before she screamed in pure fury and charged Leo, ready to run him through. Leo parried the attack with ease, then chopped at the back of her neck. She stiffened before dropping, Leo catching her and leaning her against the wall.

"One day, maybe you'll see the truth."

He took her tanto, just as he heard April scream. He spun around to see Chrome Dome had fought through the others and had April by the neck. It seemed poised to crush her, before stiffening, its eyes turning the familiar purple of a Krangdroid.

"Excellent," Krang's voice came through Chrome Dome. "The priority override works."

Leo perked. "That voice…"

"Krang…" Hisako scowled.

"I couldn't let such a prime opportunity to reclaim such a valuable asset," Krang remarked. "And I certainly couldn't let that brat take her out. Thanks to you and your little escapades at Mirage Industries, April O'Neil is more useful to me alive."

"I'm not going to help you!" April shouted, trying her best to free herself from the robot's clutches.

Krang scoffed. "You were custom-designed from before your very birth for my plans, April. You will help me, whether you like it or not."

"Let her go!" All eyes turned to Donnie, his serious eyes on. "Listen, you. I'm in a very bad mood right now. So either put April down NOW, or I'm going to tear into your rust bucket here so fast you won't even be able to finish your next sentence!"

Krang scoffed. "I'd like to see you-"

Indeed, before he could finish that sentence, Donnie's naginata blade was speared right through Chrome Dome's midsection.

"I warned you…" he hissed.

"Yikes…" Mikey let out. "Donnie finally snapped."

As if to prove him right, Donnie yanked the naginata out, slashing and stabbing at Chrome Dome in a frenzy, letting out weeks of anger and frustration at his failures to make a retro-mutagen. By the time it was done, the bot was a sparking, shredded mess, Donnie breathing heavily before placing a hand over his face, eyes closed as he calmed himself.

"...I feel better." he said at last.

April slid out of the grip of the now severed hand. When it hit the ground, it shattered.

"That was…" April blinked. "Wow."

Donnie sighed. "You were right, guys. I did need a break. I... I didn't even know I could get that angry."

"I don't think any of us did," Raph mused.

Hisako just remained silent as she stared down at the remnants of Chrome Dome. "So... is that it?"

At that very moment, the bot's eyes lit up, the severed parts beginning to twitch and seemingly pull themselves together.

"A self-repair circuit…" Donnie sighed. "Of course."

"Right." Hisako held up a hand, mist rolling off of her. "Bang."

The head exploded, the parts going limp. Woody slowly peeked up from behind the counter, the group surveying the carnage.

"Oooh…" Kagome winced. "Woody, tell Antonio I'll pay for the damages here."

"In the meantime, can you make those pizzas to go?" Leo asked.

"Way ahead of ya…" Woody handed them two boxes before gesturing to Karai. "And her?"

Raph scoffed. "What about her?"

"Just leave her," Leo replied. "She's done."

They took the pizza boxes and headed out.

-X-

Some time later, Karai came to, groaning and rubbing the back of her neck. She looked up to see Woody in the midst of sweeping up the Chrome Dome bits.

"What... what just…" she stammered.

"Oh, hey there," Woody greeted. "Sorry, but everyone left. Oh, and my boss says you're banned from this store for property damage."

"They beat the robot?"

"Not before that Krang guy took control and tried to take April. Something about needing her for his plans."

Karai gaped before scowling in rage.

"That conniving, backstabbing…" After a minute, she just sighed, her anger spent.

"So…" Woody began, "is this the part where you kill me or something?"

"No…" Karai shook her head, standing up. "I have no quarrel with you. I'll... show myself out."

She walked out, stopping only briefly. As Leo's words echoed in her mind, she cringed, shedding a single tear before heading back to Foot HQ.

Author's Note:

Here we are. A new chapter that wasn't in the original version of the fic. Woody Dirkins is from the IDW comics, just FYI.

And yeah, I know that was a bit OOC of Leo, but Karai pissed him off insulting Splinter like that; he's in no mood to be nice. As for Karai's crying at the end, and the reaction to Leo's summation, it's one thing to keep in mind; Karai may stoop to some heinous lengths in the future, but through it all, we can't ever forget this is a misguided child who's been lied to and manipulated by the man she considers a father her whole life.

Voice cast for this chapter:

* Woody - Jason Marsden (Max Goof since A Goofy Movie, Richie from Static Shock, Danger Duck in Loonatics Unleashed, Kovu in The Lion King II, Chester McBadBat from The Fairly OddParents, Haku in Spirited Away)

Please R&R. Until next time!