- Chapter 72 -

Not Finished Yet

The day after her "escape" from the EPF, Hisako told the Turtles and the clan what Bishop told her about his backstory. The story put a lot of things into perspective about their least favorite government agent.

"So that's why he's so gung-ho about aliens," Leo remarked.

"Still doesn't excuse his actions, Leo," Donnie told him. "He who fights monsters should beware, lest he becomes a monster himself."

"Exactly," Hisako said, hugging her legs. "However, he did do his job. And unfortunately, we fucked up big time when we did our jailbreak."

"What do you mean?" Tai asked. "He was detaining innocent aliens against their will."

Erika got it first.

"Some of those aliens really were bad... weren't they?" she asked nervously.

"Unfortunately," Hisako replied, shivering. "One was Sh'Okanabo."

"Show-ka-who?" Mikey questioned, mangling the word.

"Sh'Okanabo. Dread Lord of the Darkness. He's a force even Krang and Ch'rell feared, and rightfully so."

"And we let him out of his cage, without even bothering to figure out what he was in for or who exactly he was," Jade realized before facepalming. "We're dumb."

"He's a shapeshifter," Hisako explained. "As Bishop put it, he put on a friendly face to trick us into letting him out. And unfortunately, he's not the only one."

"There's more?" Raph asked.

"A living computer virus named Viral. "We freed her too. And she's teamed up…" she sighed before going on, "with Krang."

Horrified looks were exchanged among the group, but Hisako wasn't finished dropping bombshells yet.

"One of Bishop's squads chased Viral into Krang's hiding place." She swallowed hard. "Krang... he killed them."

"How?!" Hana demanded. "Leatherhead smashed up his robot body! He's just a helpless blob now!"

"Apparently, there was enough leftover tech for him to rebuild his suit," Hisako explained.

"Damn it…" Kagome ran a hand through her hair. "Mom and Splinter were right. Even without his army and resources, he's still a threat."

"How dangerous is Viral?" Vee questioned.

"From what Bishop told me, she nearly caused the Y2K bug when she landed," Hisako answered.

"Donnie, is that bad?" Mikey asked.

"The Y2K bug is a class of computer bugs related to the year 2000," Donnie explained. "Problems were anticipated, and arose, because many programs represented four-digit years with only the final two digits — making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900."

He got a bunch of blank looks.

"People thought computers all over the world would go haywire at midnight on January 1, 2000," Donnie clarified. "Mass hysteria, possible malfunctioning nukes... the end of the world. It's why so many people thought the world would end in 1999."

Now he got a few nods and "ohs" of understanding.

"And Viral would have caused exactly that if Bishop and his men hadn't captured her," Hisako said.

"Jesus…" Makoto muttered.

"FUCK!" Jade shouted, causing everyone to jump as she slammed her fists on the table. "Fuck…"

She stood up, pacing as she clenched her fists. "This is just perfect! We saved Manhattan from one alien menace... and put two more back on the streets!"

"We screwed up," Leo realized. "We seriously screwed up…"

"No, screwing up would be an improvement," Hisako corrected. "There is not a word to describe how badly we fucked up."

"Look, we made a mistake," Tai cut in, "but we can fix this."

"But where do we even start?" Vee asked. "If this Sh'Okanabo is a shapeshifter, finding him will be damn near impossible."

"Exactly," said Hisako. "He could be anywhere in New York. Or anybody."

"He could even be one of us!" Mikey gasped, getting blank stares from the others.

"Mikey, he's not," Hisako told him. "I promise."

"Mikey…" Jade deadpanned, "were your parents related? Like before they were married?"

"I'm pretty sure whoever was in charge of our eggs dropped his before we hatched," Leo told her.

"Hey!" Mikey objected. "If that happened, I'd just be a splat of yolk or something!"

"He's got us there," Erika admitted.

"Hey, we can discuss Mikey's idiocy later," Raph cut in sharply. "If we can't find Sh'Okanabo, we can sure as shit find Krang and his new girlfriend."

"Raph's right," said Leo. "There's no telling how much damage he could cause with a living computer virus on his side. And I'll be damned if I let that slimeball claw his way back to the top of the food chain."

"Aw yeah!" Mikey announced. "Krang hunt is a go!"

In the old, abandoned lab of Mirage Industries, Krang and Viral approached the computer.

"I ruled this city," Krang muttered to himself. "I would have spread my influence to every corner of this planet... but a group of miserable mutant turtles thwarted my plans, and took everything from me."

He clenched the fist of his suit as he went on.

"My men, my entire power base... was warped back to Dimension X, while I was left stranded here. Skulking around in the shadows, hiding from these pathetic Earthlings!" He calmed himself before turning to Viral. "I may be down, but I am not out. My men are stuck in Dimension X... and we are going to rectify that, posthaste."

"What do you suggest, General?" Viral questioned.

"We need a way of contacting Ch'rell," Krang explained. "If he can get a lock on our position, he can pull us back to Dimension X. There, we will have everything we need to destroy this world."

Viral looked over the computer, already getting an idea. "Allow me."

She surged into the computer itself, which slowly but surely powered on.

"Strange…" she informed Krang. "I'm getting some sort of interference. It's making it difficult to connect to your cohort."

"Certain environmental effects can interfere with my communications," Krang mused. "They must have landed on a planet with high gravity."

"No. The signal is in Dimension X, and the gravity is far too strong to be a planet. It almost feels like-"

Static filled the screen as a tentative connection was made. Though the image was fuzzy, a familiar red Utrom was visible.

"Who dares access this channel?!" Ch'rell demanded.

"Ch'rell, you fool." Krang snapped. "It's me."

"General Krang?! You live?!"

"If you can call what I've been reduced to 'living'. What is the status of our forces? Why has there not been a rescue attempt?"

"We've been trying out best, General." Ch'rell sighed. "When the Technodrome was transmatted back here... we ended up in a black hole."

"I thought as much," Viral mused.

"Who is that?" Ch'rell questioned. "Someone is listening in?"

"Enough," Krang cut in. "Viral is an ally."

Ch'rell nodded in acceptance before continuing. "We've done everything in our power to return, General. The pull of gravity is too strong, and it is interfering with the portal. It's sporadic at best, and I fear that we cannot leave it open for too long."

"Damn those Turtles," Krang cursed, scowling.

"What you need is a way to boost the signal," Viral suggested. "It'll take some time, but we might be able to rig something on our end."

"In the meantime, continue to try to free yourselves from the Black Hole," Krang ordered. "I will not allow this setback to ruin centuries of careful planning. One way or another, this planet will be mind."

" As you- " The rest of Ch'rell's reply was cut off as the video was reduced to static.

"Signal lost, General," Viral reported, pulling herself out of the terminal.

"No matter," Krang replied. "Our message got through."

He turned, rubbing his metal hands in anticipation.

"I will have my vengeance. Soon, the Turtles and their allies will be wiped out, and millions will weep as I take my rightful place as the ruler of this world."

Meanwhile, the Hamato septet waited patiently on the NYPD rooftop. Their patience was soon rewarded when Kara arrived.

"Do you come here often?" she deadpanned.

"Only when duty calls," Kagome replied.

"Have you received any homicide reports?" Leo asked. "Government officials turning up dead?"

"Probably in a very brutal and sadistic way," Hisako added.

"Actually, yes," Kara replied. "Six people in business suits were found dead in an alley a few blocks from Mirage Industries. The bodies were battered beyond recognition, and covered with burn marks." She looked queasy for a few seconds. "The forensics crew almost puked at the sight."

"Yep…" Hisako confirmed, looking a little green around the gills herself. "That's him, alright."

"Of course he'd go to Mirage Industries," Raph muttered.

Kara got it at that. "Oh no. You don't mean-"

"Sadly, we do," Donnie told her. "Krang is back. And he's teamed up with an alien named Viral."

Kara sighed, rubbing her eyes.

"Of course," she muttered. "People like that monster are just too stupid to quit."

"Well this time, we're not just gonna let him go," Leo assured her.

"We were stupid," Hisako added. "We thought without his forces and technology, he wouldn't be a threat to anyone anymore."

"But, he's not an idiot," Kagome included. "He's lived for thousands of years. He knows how to survive, and how to come back."

"You stopped him before," Kara reminded them. " Not once, but twice. If anyone can put him down for good, it's you."

"Thanks, Kara," Leo said gratefully, before turning to the others. "C'mon, let's get to Mirage Industries."

"Krang ain't walking away this time," Raph vowed. "Not in one piece."

"No argument here," Vee agreed.

They jumped off the roof, disappearing.

They met back up with Tai's gang outside Mirage Industries.

"Can't say I'm surprised he came back here," Jade mused.

"He's on his home turf," Hisako pointed out.

"Think E.T. is phoning home?" Mikey questioned.

"Impossible," said Donnie. "The city cut power to all of Krang's installations."

"With Viral, it's possible," Hisako said.

"If she almost caused Y2K, then repowering Krang's outposts should be easy for her," Erika deduced.

"Shit…" Tai cursed. "We can't let him get back in contact with Ch'rell or the Technodrome. If he does, we're finished!"

Raph twirled his sai in his hands. "Then why don't we crash the call?"

They kicked the door in, and the entire clan spread out. Suddenly, a nearby screen lit up, revealing Viral's face.

"Ah, the Turtles," she greeted. "I suppose I should thank you for freeing me from Agent Bishop."

"Viral, I take it?" Donnie asked.

"You can keep your thanks," Leo spat. "Breaking you out was a mistake. One we're here to fix."

"Aw, what changed?" Viral mocked. "You seemed so eager to help me before."

"When we found out from Bishop that you're a psychotic virus who caused Y2K," Hisako said bluntly.

"What can I say?" Viral shrugged. "Earth's technology is so primitive. It just couldn't handle me hacking into the net."

"Donnie, how can we stop her?" Leo questioned.

"You can't!" Viral declared. "I'm in Mirage Industries' system! Every piece of technology in this building is under my control... and on behalf of my savior, General Krang, I will use it to destroy you!"

"Overdramatic much?" Mikey quipped.

"No," Viral replied. "But this is!"

Hatches in the ceiling opened up, revealing numerous laser cannons aimed directly at the clan.

"Ohhh… crap," Makoto let out.

The lasers began firing, causing the group to scatter.

"We need to get her out of the system somehow!" Erika shouted as she dodged. "Donnie, you're the tech guy! What do we do?!"

"I don't know!" Donnie snapped. "This is a sentient virus! I am way out of my league here!"

"Precisely!" Viral gloated. "You may be intelligent by Earth standards, but in my galaxy, you'd barely pass the entrance examinations to kindergarten!"

"Oooh, burn," Mikey said.

"NOT HELPING!" Donnie shouted.

"Don, she's a virus, right?" Leo demanded. "Couldn't we get rid of her with some anti-virus software?"

"Or a big EMP?" Kagome suggested.

"In theory, yes," Donnie admitted.

"I think there's one in the weapons vault!" Hisako added.

"I'm on it!" Raph shouted, making a break for it.

"Nothing will make a difference!" Viral declared. "All of you will die here!"

"We'll see about that!" Mikey retorted.

"Viral, we overthrew Krang," Tai added. "We've faced down underground monsters. We've survived showdowns with the Shredder. Compared to them, you might as well be a fly."

"Heh." Viral scoffed. "Tell me, boy. Can a fly do this?!"

At that moment, every method of escape closed up, and every weapon fired.

"Good going, Tai." Erika said sarcastically. "Now you made her mad!"

Tai winced. "Me and my big mouth."

-X-

As this went on, Raph hurried down multiple doors, searching for what he was looking for.

"C'mon, c'mon…" he muttered. "Where's the damn vault?!"

Eventually, he came across a door with a picture of an Utrom, wielding what looks like an axe.

"I bet this is it," Raph said aloud before noticing a keypad near the door. "Well... I guess it's time to break out my skeleton key."

He drew his sai and began stabbing the keypad again and again. It began sparking before the door slid open, and Raph hurried inside, seeing various weapons, toys, and gizmos. Eventually, he saw a large gun with a large satellite dish coming out of the barrel.

"I have no frickin' clue what this EMP thing would look like…" Raph muttered before taking the gun, "but I'll take what I can get."

-X-

Back in the lobby, everyone was trying hard to keep themselves from being blasted. Mizuki managed to get a few arrows off, taking out a few guns. Unfortunately, Viral shot most of her shots in mid-flight.

"Come now, girl." Viral admonished. "This installation commands the most advanced technology in the galaxy, and you come brandishing sharp sticks?"

"They're more effective than you think!" Mizuki retorted.

She pulled out a metallic one, the arrowhead consisting of what looked like a small cattle prod, and fired it at a nearby computer screen. While it only shorted out that one screen, Viral still let out a pained scream.

"Yes!" Donnie cheered. "I knew the electroshock arrow would come in handy!"

"Sadly, I only have so many," Mizuki said. "And definitely not enough to deal with her."

As this was going on, Makoto jumped one laser shot, before seeing one aiming for Erika. On instinct, he charged forward.

"LOOK OUT!" he shouted, pushing Erika out of the way just as the gun fired, taking a laser blast to the right shoulder.

Makoto let out a pained yelp and reeled back, clutching his shoulder.

"Makoto!" Erika screamed, hurrying over to him.

"Why would you do that, boy?" Viral questioned, before shrugging. "Hmm... I'll never understand the ways of you humans."

"Yeah…" Makoto retorted in a strained voice. "And that's why you'll never beat us."

"That…" Raph added as he entered, brandishing the satellite dish gun he found in the vault, "And this little gadget I found right here."

He pointed it at Viral, who blanched in fear.

"No!" the virus screamed. "What are you doing?!"

Raph pulled the trigger and a massive electrical surge fired outward. The clan was unharmed, but every gadget in the room sparked and shut down.

"Okay, good," Raph remarked, lowering the gun. "That was the EMP."

"Raph, you are the turtle," Donnie complimented.

Viral slowly materialized, sparking and flickering like an old VHS tape.

"It matters not…" she managed. "We've already contacted General Krang's forces."

"WHAT?!" everyone shouted in shock.

"Enjoy your victory… while you can," Viral boasted. "For soon… you will know true fear."

The screen flickered off.

"Damn it, we're too late!" Makoto cursed before wincing at his burned shoulder.

"Easy there," Erika said. "I've got you."

"Hisako, where's Krang?" Leo demanded.

"Gone," Hisako replied. "Viral was a distraction while he escaped."

"Blast it!" Leo swore.

"Wait, things don't add up," Donnie realized. "If they contacted the Technodrome, it should've arrived by now. There's gotta be something interfering with it."

"Dimension X isn't without its danger," Hisako remarked. "Something's gotta be interfering with their return." She thought for a moment. "Now that I think about it, some of the Krangdroids did mention once that certain factors, like high gravity, can interfere with their instruments."

"Like that black hole we saw when we went there?" Mikey asked, getting a nod.

"Donnie," Leo began, "is it possible the Technodrome got trapped in the black hole?"

"I did set the Technodrome's destination for a random part of Dimension X," Donnie admitted. "Yeah, it's possible."

"Well, we're in luck," Hana realized. "I'm not big on science stuff, but I do know that not even light can escape a black hole's gravity."

"Maybe so," said Vee. "But that doesn't mean Krang's not gonna try."

"We thought him beat once and look where it got us," Hisako added.

"Besides, our luck rarely pans out," Raph added.

At the Hamato Clan apartments, Akemi helped Erika tend to Makoto's injured shoulder as the others updated Splinter, Kasumi, and the rest on the current situation.

"Krang's got a living computer virus on his side, and there's an evil alien shapeshifter loose in New York," Mizuki listed off, before looking down. "And it's all our fault."

"You were right, Mom," Kagome admitted. "It was foolish to think Krang was down for good."

"It's not your fault." Akemi piped up as she smeared ointment on a wincing Makoto's wound. "Bishop was a jerk. How could you have known those two aliens were actually dangerous?"

"You did what you thought was right." Splinter told them. "You made mistakes, yes, but you've owned up to them, and are working towards correcting them."

"Right…" Makoto allowed. "Right. Besides, quite a few of those aliens were innocent."

"And Bishop deserved the beatdown Hisako gave him," Jade added. "Even if it didn't stick for some reason."

"I think that's due to the aliens that abducted him tampering with his DNA," Hisako said. "He described himself as immortal. Maybe he can't die or something."

"If it bleeds, we can kill it," Tai insisted. "We just gotta work out how."

"Taiichi, Bishop is not an 'it'," Kasumi admonished.

Tai shrugged. "He's just as bad as Shredder, and I barely consider that freakazoid human either."

"I agree that Bishop's a sack of shit," Hisako said. "But he's not our problem right now."

"Yeah, you're right," Tai admitted. "Viral and Krang slipped away, and this Sh'Okanabo is still at large."

"They're our main focus right now," Leo declared. "We find them and stop them before they become a major threat."

"Agreed," Erika said. "There's just one more thing to do."

Everyone turned to her, curious. Their question was answered when Erika gave Makoto a peck on the cheek, smiling.

"That's for saving me at Mirage Industries," she told him.

Makoto's blush practically lit up the room, and everyone let out a chuckle.

Author's Note:

So, in the original version of this fic, there was a chapter where Hisako and Bishop were captured by Ch'rell and tortured, and had to work together to escape. We decided it was unnecessary, so any comments relating to that plot thread have been removed. As for what comes next, you'll just have to wait and see,

Please R&R. Until next time!