- Chapter 76 -

Night of Sh'Okanabo

In an old abandoned part of the sewers, Sh'Okanabo oversaw pulsating sacs of purple goo that were stuck to just about every wall. He plucked one from where it hung, holding one over a pigeon's cage.

"Finally…" he mused. "My gene seeds have matured."

He squeezed the sac in his hand, dripping the purple goo over the pigeon. It squawked and writhed, becoming encased in the goo. It hardened into a cocoon, which cracked apart after a few seconds. From it, the pigeon emerged newly transformed. Its feathers had turned purple, it had sprouted horns, its eyes were glowing red, and its beak was sharp, almost like it had fangs.

"Excellent." Sh'Okanabo unlocked the cage and directed the pigeon into the city itself. "Now for a field test."

The infected pigeon came to rest on a hot dog stand in Central Park. Not too far away, the Turtles and Hamato Clan relaxed on a picnic blanket, enjoying the day.

"I love these cloudy days," Vee remarked, leaning on a tree while flipping through an old Edgar Allan Poe collection. "Not too hot, not too cold. It's perfect reading weather."

As she enjoyed her book, the rest of her family got the Clan up to speed on what had happened.

"So, you said Bishop's in a cell at TCRI?" Tai asked.

"Yep." Leo replied.

"Good," said Jade. "That asshole needs to be locked up. Away from decent, normal people."

"Yeah, and get this," Raph began. "We heard from Doc Miller that this other Doctor, Sarah Bennet, ended up taking control of the place. She's making some serious reforms, starting with dumping Bishop's sorry ass."

"Hold up, that guy had a girlfriend?" Makoto said incredulously.

"Not anymore," Kagome replied. "Like Kari, she was sick of how the EPF was running things, on top of being lied to almost constantly. She asked for one phone call to him, reamed him out, and dumped him."

"So she's one of the good guys?" Erika questioned.

"It seems that way," Donnie replied. "We're even opening talks to work alongside the EPF as we do with the NYPD."

Akemi and Airi ran by laughing, drawing the attention of the group. They all watched as Miko chased them, playfully tackling Airi to the ground. As Airi was assaulted with doggy kisses, Akemi picked up a stick.

"See the stick, boy?" she asked.

Miko yipped excitedly, hopping off of Airi and wagging his tail.

"Go get it!" Akemi shouted.

She pretended to throw it, hiding it behind her back as Miko took off. Mikey laughed at the sight.

"For a smart dog, he sure is fooled easily," he remarked.

Akemi turned around just as Miko doubled back and nabbed the stick out of her hand.

"I stand corrected," Mikey amended.

"Hey! That's cheating!" Akemi objected as Miko trotted off, the stick in his mouth.

"Hey Miko, come back!" Airi cried, chasing after him.

"Airi, don't go too far!" Mizuki called out.

"I got her!" Akemi assured, chasing after the both of them.

"Akemi should've known better with that old trick. Miko's smarter than the average dog," Hana chuckled.

"It's cute watching them try though," Tai mused.

"I'm still in awe that Bishop had a girlfriend," Makoto said, returning to the previous topic of discussion. "Why would anyone wanna go out with him?"

"You know what they say, kiddo," Jade replied, shrugging. "There's no accounting for taste."

Akemi and Airi finally caught Miko and brought him back to the others. As she did, Midnight looked up from where she was napping on Hisako's lap. She whined, giving Hisako some big puppy eyes as she did. The young psychic sighed, and carefully unhooked Midnight's leash.

"Hey Airi, wanna play with Midnight too?"

"Okay!" Airi declared happily.

Midnight was jumping around excitedly, barking at the stick while getting on her hind legs. Akemi teased her with the stick before throwing it as hard as she could. Midnight instantly tore after it. Unfortunately, when she did, she ended up plowing right into the picnic basket. Everything ended up sprawling across the blanket, and a thermos full of tea completely spilled over everything.

"Awww, crap!" Mikey cursed. "There goes lunch…"

Akemi covered her mouth as Midnight shook herself clean, then stomped on the remaining sandwich in her attempt to reclaim the stick.

"Stupid dog…" Jade spat, only to yelp in pain as Hisako dug her finger into a pressure point on the side of her jaw.

"Never. Insult. Midnight. Ever, " she hissed, calm but cold.

"Okay, okay!" Jade cried out. "I take it back! I take it back!"

Hisako withdrew her hand with a nod.

"I'm sorry, guys," Airi said sadly. "If Akemi and I hadn't gotten her so worked up…"

"Hey, it's alright," Seiko insisted, glancing around before noticing a hot dog stand. "Why don't we get some hot dogs instead? Then once we eat, you two can clean up the mess."

"Okay, Mom," Akemi agreed, standing up before heading over to the stand with her mother.

-X-

Seiko and Akemi approached the hot dog cart, just as the vendor chased off the pigeon.

"Beat it, you flying pest!" he shouted. "This is a dog joint, not a damn birdcage!"

The pigeon squawked, dripping dark purple goo with every flap of its wings. Unseen by anyone, some of it dripped into the cart itself, landing on the hot dogs.

"Sorry about that, ladies," the vendor greeted. "What can I do for you?"

"One chili dog, please," Akemi replied. "Extra cheese."

The vendor made the hot dog, which Akemi almost immediately devoured on the spot. "Thank you, sir!"

As they walked back, Akemi let out a loud belch, getting a funny taste in her mouth for a second.

"What exactly do they put into those things?" she asked.

"Some things are better left a mystery, sweetie," Seiko replied.

As they sat back down, the others were in the midst of a discussion.

"So it's agreed," said Hana. "Next time we do this, we make sure that the doggy play area is far from the picnic area."

"Hey, learning experience," Mizuki insisted. "Besides, it could have been worse. The dogs could have eaten the entire basket."

"Or Mikey could have," Raph quipped.

"Hey!" Mikey exclaimed as everyone laughed.

Later, at the Hamato apartments, Akemi stumbled out of the room she and Makoto shared, holding her belly as she let out a massive belch.

"Okay…" she muttered. "I think that dog gave me food poisoning."

Makoto placed a hand on her back, trying to steady his sister. "Let's get you to the bathroom."

They made it a few steps before Akemi wavered and collapsed, out cold.

"Akemi?!" Makoto let out in shock, kneeling by her side and trying to rouse her. "Akemi!"

Akemi didn't respond, so Makoto ran out into the halls.

"Someone! Someone, please help!" he screamed. "Akemi's sick!"

Erika came running in record time. "What's wrong?!"

"I- I thought it was food poisoning from a bad hot dog," Makoto explained. "But food poisoning doesn't do this !"

Erika knelt down to Akemi's level, placing a hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, the younger girl raised her head, her eyes flashing red briefly before she got up and took off down the halls to the kitchen.

"What the-?!" Erika exclaimed.

The two followed her to the kitchen, stopping short when they saw her at the refrigerator. The door was wide open as she shoveled everything she could get her hands on into her mouth. She turned in the middle of eating a mass of carrots, shooting them a glare before resuming her eating spree.

"Erika... something's not right," Makoto realized. "We both know Akemi hates vegetables. She only eats them when Mom threatens her with the Hashi."

"Akemi… are you okay?" Erika asked with concern. "You're scaring us."

She walked over to feel Akemi's forehead, and out of the blue, Akemi sent her flying across the room with a mere shove. Erika slammed into the wall, leaving an imprint as Makoto stared in shock at his sister's behavior.

"Akemi, what's wrong with you?!" he yelled. "Snap out of it!"

Akemi showed no reaction, instead turning and heading for the door. Makoto tackled her, pinning the younger girl to the ground.

"What the hell was in that hot dog?!" he shouted as his sister struggled. "Erika, go get help!"

Erika pulled herself up and bolted out of the room.

"Seiko! Yukio!" she screamed. "Something's wrong with Akemi!"

They both came running, allowing Erika to lead them to the kitchen just as Akemi threw Makoto off.

"She's not herself!" Makoto shouted. "It's like she's possessed or something!"

Akemi stood up again and Seiko quickly ran over, jabbing a pressure point in her daughter's neck. Akemi's eyes widened briefly before she dropped to the ground, unconscious.

"I'm sorry, Akemi," Seiko said as she gathered her up in her arms.

"Call Yoshi and his children," Yukio ordered. "I fear this is not over."

Sometime later, everyone was down in the lair. Akemi was strapped to a table in Donnie's lab as the others explained to Splinter, Kasumi, and their children what had happened.

"She's been like this since we got back from Central Park," Makoto explained hurriedly. "One minute, she's staggering out of the room, holding her stomach and complaining of food poisoning. The next, she passes out. Then she wakes up and goes crazy!"

"I've never seen anything like this," Donnie admitted. "But one thing's for sure, it's definitely not food poisoning."

He was examining a sample of Akemi's blood on the computer, and the others gathered around. On the screen were images of particles floating amidst the red blood cells and bonding with them.

"Akemi's DNA seems to have developed some kind of photochemical mutagenic properties."

"In English, Einstein!" Raph snapped.

"It eats light," Donnie clarified.

"What…" Hisako asked, a sinking feeling in her gut. "Say that again?"

"Well, that's not quite right," Donnie clarified. "Her cells are reacting to light. Her molecular structure is breaking down... and reconfiguring."

Hisako's eyes widened at that. "Oh shit, get away from her!"

She telekinetically yanked everyone back as Akemi's eyes snapped wide open. She writhed and spasmed before she began vomiting purple goo all over the place.

"What's going on?!" Seiko demanded. "What is happening to my baby?!"

"She's genomorphing," Hisako explained. "Unfortunately, Akemi's become the first victim of Sh'Okanabo."

"She's WHAT?!" Makoto screamed.

Purple tentacles sprouted from Akemi's body, wrapping around her and encasing her in a cocoon.

"Sh'Okanabo's made his first move," Hisako went on. "He poisoned her hot dog with a gene-seed. One that took root, and turned her into that."

She pointed at Akemi, just in time to watch her rip through her cocoon, completely transformed. Her skin was purple, her eyes were red, and her body was covered with sharp spikes. She let out a snarl, showing a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth as she struggled against the restraints. Seiko reached for her, but Hisako grabbed her wrist.

"She won't recognize you," she warned. "She'll just attack, and you'll get infected too."

"Well, we can't just sit here and do nothing!" Makoto drew his jitte . "It's ninja time!"

Everyone, even Akemi, looked at him blankly, and he shrugged. "Oh, come on. If Mikey gets a cheesy battle cry, so do I."

"Makoto, we don't even know where to start," Erika reminded him.

"Bishop!" Tai said suddenly. "He captured Sh'Okanabo in the first place. He's gotta know how we can stop this."

"It's the only lead we've got," Leo admitted.

Akemi began furiously struggling, ripping apart the straps keeping her pinned to the table. Everyone nervously backed up.

"Get back!" Hisako screamed. "All of you, get back!"

Akemi whirled on her, punching her in the face and sending her flying across the lab. Hisako skidded across the floor, rubbing her jaw.

"Yeah…" she wheezed. "This is a safe distance."

"Akemi, stop!" Makoto warned. "I don't wanna hurt you, but I will if I have to!"

"Makoto, don't!" Seiko shouted. "She's your sister!"

Akemi hissed, baring her sharp teeth before she forcefully tossed Makoto aside and ran out of the lab.

"Tell her that!" Makoto snapped.

"We can't let her get into the city!" Hisako shouted.

They hurried into the main room of the lair, watching as Akemi ran on all fours up a nearby wall, trailing purple slime as she went. Jade knelt down, looking over one such puddle.

"What is this shit?" she pondered.

She reached out to touch it, but Hisako quickly grabbed her arm.

"Don't touch it!" she shouted. "That's how Sh'Okanabo spreads his gene seeds. All it takes is one touch."

Jade retracted her hand slowly.

"Hang on," Vee realized with dawning horror. "If Akemi got sick off a hot dog, then... anyone who was at the park could also be infected!"

They all let that info sink in and Seiko's expression steeled.

"All of you, do what you can to contain Akemi," she ordered. "I'm going to go have a chat with Agent Bishop."

They exchanged looks at that.

"Hisako-" Leo began.

"Go with her to make sure she doesn't kill him?" Hisako asked, getting a nod. "Got it."

The two women took off.

"Okay, we need to split up," Leo declared. "Donnie, you, Mikey, and Raph track down that infected hot dog cart. The rest of us stay down here, and make sure Akemi doesn't make it topside." He turned to Makoto. "Makoto, if you want to sit this out-"

"No," Makoto said firmly. "She's my little sister, Leo. It's my job to protect her… and now it's my job to stop her."

Donnie, Mikey, and Raph hurried out of the lair as the others went to deal with Akemi. She bounded across the lair and into the kitchen, making a beeline for the refrigerator. She threw open the fridge and began eating the contents, stuffing her face as Makoto slowly approached her.

"Akemi, look at me," he said, getting her attention. "I know you're in there somewhere. It's me, Makoto. Your brother. That freaky alien is messing with you, but you're stronger than him. Fight it!"

Akemi's expression softened briefly before she spewed purple vomit that Makoto narrowly dodged.

"I don't think she's in a listening mood!" Vee exclaimed.

Meanwhile, Donnie, Raph, and Mikey had made it to Central Park, Mikey looking downtrodden.

"Is Akemi gonna be okay?"

"Of course, she will," Donnie insisted. "If anything, it's a good thing it was Akemi. It means we can stop this spread before it gets any worse than it already is."

"Whatever," Raph grumbled. "Let's just find the bad dogs and trash them. One shadowy mutant is enough for me."

They go where the hot dog stand was earlier. The guy had his back to the turtles and just seemed to be standing there.

"Excuse me?" Donnie called out. "Sir? I'm sorry, but we need your-" the man turned around, revealing purple skin and red eyes. "-cart…"

"Holy Chalupa!" Mikey shrieked. "They got him too!"

The man lunged at the three Turtles, snarling like a monster. They stumbled back, running into a woman with her daughter, both explaining the same purple skin and red eyes as the vendor.

"It's a fuckin' epidemic!" Raph shouted.

As if to prove him right, people started to close in on them, all purple-skinned and red-eyed. Suddenly, the infected stopped and knelt, as Sh'Okanabo himself appeared, laughing wickedly.

"Welcome, Turtles," he greeted. "It's good to see you again."

"Sh'Okanabo, I presume?" Donnie asked.

"Yes. We stand on the brink of a new age for this planet. Gaze at your future... for soon, you will all join the ranks of the Kanabo!"

"Not today!" Raph shouted.

He threw his sai at Sh'Okanabo's head, only for the alien to ooze out of the way.

"This is the way of my kind, as it has always been, and always shall be. The Kanabo roam from planet to planet, infecting host bodies with our DNA, and merging with them. Slowly taking them over, until they become Kanabo themselves in a global Day of Awakening. And so the infestation spreads until the planet's resources are sucked dry. My test of viability proves the host bodies of Earth are perfect for consumption. My first attempt was thwarted by the Earth Protection Force... but I am free to try again. And I have you Turtles and your allies to thank for that!"

"Trust me, it wasn't our plan to help you," Raph spat. "If we'd known you were a psychotic genocidal alien, we would have left you to rot!"

"But you did not," Sh'Okanabo retorted. "And to properly reward you for breaking me out... you will become my new generals."

At that moment, the people tackled the Turtles to the ground, oozing purple goo from their mouths onto them. It wasn't long before they succumbed to the infection, being wrapped in cocoons as they underwent their transformation.

"And so it begins," Sh'Okanabo gloated. "First, New York. And then... THE WORLD!"

In his cell in TCRI, Bishop was seated on his bed slab when the transparent door lifted open. He barely had a chance to react before Seiko grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall.

"Sh'Okanabo's infected my little girl! How do we stop it?!" she demanded, shaking him. "You're gonna tell me! Either on your own... or after I split your head open and look for the answers inside your fucking skull!"

"Seiko, stop!" Hisako shouted, running in. "He's not the enemy here!"

Seiko composed herself, letting go of Bishop, who hit the ground with a grunt.

"I'm sorry about your daughter…" he informed her.

"You beat Sh'Okanabo before," Seiko said, keeping her voice level. "How do we stop him, and cure the gene-seed infection?"

"He's already begun the infection?" Bishop sighed. "Then it may already be too late."

"No!" Seiko screamed, tears in her eyes. "I refuse to believe that! Akemi's infected! There has to be a way!"

"My men and I stopped him before he had the chance to manifest his gene seeds," Bishop informed them. "We knew from intelligence reports that once the infection began, there was no stopping it. No race has ever survived."

He sighed. "There's nothing we can do to stop Sh'Okanabo now. We're all doomed…"

"Well, how'd you catch him?" Hisako demanded. "If we can capture Sh'Okanabo, we can grill him for a cure!"

"His ship had just crashed. When he oozed out in his fluid form, we captured him in a Plexiglas capsule."

"So you got lucky," Hisako deduced.

"Extremely so," Bishop added, sighing. "I'm sorry. But Sh'Okanabo is at full strength, and his gene seeds have already taken root. There's no stopping the Kanabo infection once it begins."

Seiko had tears in her eyes, her teeth clenched in sorrow and rage. She slumped against the wall as she began crying.

"Akemi…" she let out between sobs. "I'm sorry... your mother couldn't save you…"

Hisako took her hand, pulling her out of Bishop's cell.

"We can't lose hope," she insisted. "There has to be a way. There's always a way."

"Talk to S- Agent Bennett," Bishop offered, stopping himself from using her first name. "She may be of more help than me."

Seiko wiped her eyes, nodding. The cell door then slid closed behind them as they took their leave.

Back at the lair, Akemi had consumed everything in the fridge. Done with her binge, she suddenly picked up the entire fridge itself.

"Son of a bitch!" Tai cried. "MOVE!"

They dove out of the way as she tossed the fridge at them.

"Um, this just hit me," Kagome said nervously. "Now that she's out of food… what's she gonna eat next?"

Akemi hissed as she approached. When she was close enough, Jade instinctively punched her in the face. Akemi didn't even flinch or budge from the hit, but Jade reeled back in pain, clutching her hand. She looked to see that her glove was torn open and her knuckles were bleeding.

"Like punching a brick wall!" she exclaimed.

Akemi slammed her palm into Jade's chest, sending her across the lair and into the couch, which tipped over backward on impact. Jade pulled herself up, dazed.

"Anyone get the license plate on that Mack truck?" she asked, holding her head as stars danced across her vision.

"Jade!" Hana screamed, running over to her.

As Akemi loomed on them, Makoto bear-hugged her from behind, stopping her.

"Akemi!" he shouted. "STOP!"

She struggled against her brother, before breaking her grip and throwing him off. Before Makoto could get back to his feet, Akemi grabbed him, sinking her teeth deep into his left forearm.

"OWWWW!" Makoto screamed, reeling back and looking at his arm.

He gasped, seeing purple slime oozing from the wound in addition to blood.

"Oh, my God…" he let out. "Guys, I'm infected! Get away from me! Get-"

His arm spasmed, and his eyes turned red as he growled. At the same time, more growls sounded, and they turned to see the newly turned Raph, Donnie, and Mikey enter.

"Shit, they got Donnie and the others too!" Tai shouted. "Leo, I think it's time for a tactical retreat!"

"Agreed," said Leo. "RUN!"

They took off out of the lair, making it topside only to find themselves surrounded by numerous Kanabo.

"Fuck!" Jade shouted.

"This is the end, you guys!" Mizuki exclaimed. "I... I can't believe it's gonna end this way!"

"I'm sorry, guys," Leo remarked, resigned. "We tried…"

The Kanabo all swarmed them en masse…

Meanwhile, Hisako and Seiko had made it to TCRI. Seiko pounded on the door.

"I want to talk to Agent Bennett!" she shouted. "Open this damn door NOW!"

The door slid open, revealing multiple agents aiming guns at them.

"Easy!" Hisako said hurriedly, lifting her hands in the air. "We need your help! It's Sh'Okanabo!"

"My daughter was infected by that bastard!" Seiko yelled. "And I am not leaving until I have some answers!"

"Sh'Okanabo?" one agent asked, lowering his gun. "Inside, quickly."

They ushered her into Bishop's former office, now occupied by Sarah, who jumped up in surprise.

"The Hamato Clan?" she asked. "Here?"

"Just us," Hisako replied. "We need your help."

"Sh'Okanabo's made his move," Seiko added. "He contaminated a hot dog cart at Central Park with his gene seeds. My daughter is one of the infected. God knows who else has been."

"My God…" Sarah let out. "It's begun."

"Bishop said there's no way to stop the Kanabo infection once it starts," Seiko went on. "He sent us here to talk to you."

Sarah's gaze hardened at the mention of Bishop, but she remained professional.

"Dr. Miller's research focused on studying the aliens he brought in, including Sh'Okanabo. He wanted her to find out what weaknesses he had, should he ever escape."

"Please tell me she found something," Seiko pleaded.

"I did," Kari replied, rolling into the room. "He's vulnerable to exposure to a specific light-to-radiation ratio. Such as that found in ultraviolet light."

Hisako got it first. "The sun… He can't stand the sun!"

"It may be our only chance at weakening him," Kari explained.

"And the infected?" Seiko questioned.

Now Kari looked concerned. "I… I don't know what effect the sun will have on them. It could cure them, or…"

She looked away, and they got her meaning. Seiko sank to her knees in despair.

"No…" she whispered.

"Seiko…" Hisako put her hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, but Akemi wouldn't want to live as a monster. You know that."

"I know…" Seiko admitted. "But she's my little girl. I-I can't do it."

"Then I will," Hisako promised. "No mother should be forced to kill their own child."

"We have several UV weapons, including solar grenades and light guns," Sarah explained. "Harmless to humans, but devastating to the Kanabo."

"Then we better-" Seiko began before she was cut off by violent banging on the door.

Proximity alarms started going crazy as an Agent ran into the office.

"Agent Bennett!" He cried out. "The Kanabo are at our door!"

Sh'Okanabo's voice then echoed through the agency, as if coming from every dark shadow inside.

"Come out, EPF!" he called out. "I've waited far too long for my vengeance against you!"

"Damn it!" Sarah cursed before turning to Hisako and Seiko. "Get to the armory! My men and I will hold them back!"

"But-!" Hisako tried to argue.

"GO!" Sarah shouted.

Seiko grabbed her arm and they took off. As they reached the main part of the facility, they were able to watch as the doors were knocked off their hinges. From the now open doorway, the Kanabo all poured in, led by the entire Hamato Family, now mutated. The rest of the clan was behind them, not a single member was left besides the two of them.

"No!" Hisako cried out. "He got everyone!"

"Don't stop, Hisako!" Seiko insisted.

She pulled her farther down the hall. The Turtles hissed at their escape, leaving the clan and the rest of the Kanabo to deal with the EPF. They chased after the pair on all fours, even crawling along the walls to try and catch them. They had nearly closed in on the pair as they reached the armory, Seiko struggling to get the door open.

Just as she got it open, Leo sprang towards her. Thinking fast, Hisako put herself between Leo and Seiko. This caused the blue-banded turtle to bite her in the shoulder. She shrieked, throwing him off as goo oozed from her wound. Seiko looked back in time to notice this, her eyes going wide.

"Not you too!" she cried out.

"Hurry, Seiko!" Hisako cried out, trying to fight against the infection. "I can't-!"

She then began vomiting the purple goop, the stuff congealing into her own cocoon. Seiko turned away at that, dashing into the armory and slamming it shut. She searched for the UV weapon as the Kanabo Turtles started banging on the door. She finally managed to find a light gun just as Hisako, newly transformed, bashed down the door with a howl.

"God forgive me, Hisako…" Seiko let out.

With that, she aimed the gun at Hisako and pulled the trigger. Hisako was bathed in a beam of concentrated UV light and screamed, falling to her hands and knees as her flesh began to smoke. After a minute or two, she vomited up purple sludge, and her mutation reverted, her skin returning to normal and the spikes and claws shrinking into her body. Hisako looked over her hands, seeing she was back to herself again.

"It worked…" she let out, breaking into a smile. "Seiko, it worked!"

"Good." Seiko tossed her a light gun, while she grabbed a few solar grenades.

Hisako cocked her gun, grinning widely. "Time to shed some light on the situation."

The Kanabo Turtles charged in at that moment, and Seiko and Hisako turned, blasting all five with their light guns. All of them shrieked in pain before vomiting goo and reverting to their normal selves. Hisako and Seiko hurried into the main room, seeing a crowd of Kanabo, Sh'Okanabo in the lead. Hisako grabbed a solar grenade off of Seiko's belt, yanking the pin out with her teeth and throwing it into the crowd. It exploded, bathing numerous Kanabo in solar energy and reverting them to normal.

"What?!" Sh'Okanabo screamed. "Impossible!"

"Time you saw the light, freak!" Hisako shouted, blasting him repeatedly.

Screaming in pain, Sh'Okanabo melted into a puddle, which the EPF agents scooped up into a solid glass box. They sealed it tight as they dealt with the last of the Kanabo. Akemi was the last to be cured, grabbing a light gun and blasting the pigeon that started the whole mess.

"That's for messing with my food, you stupid bird!" she yelled.

Seiko ran over, pulling her into a hug. Akemi collapsed into her mom's grip, relieved sobs echoing across the building.

"Akemi… my sweet, sweet Akemi…"

"All this over some tainted hot dogs…" Donnie muttered, glaring at the box containing Sh'Okanabo. "That thing is not to be messed with."

"Take him to the lowest level, and leave him in that box," Sarah ordered. "Sh'Okanabo will never see the light of day again."

The agents dragged him off to do so.

"Thank you for your help," Seiko said. "My family is safe."

"Everyone is safe," Hisako corrected.

"Looks like you are one of the good guys, Dr. Bennett," Tai admitted.

"I try," Sarah replied.

As they turned to go, Kari held up a hand.

"Wait," she said, looking shy. "I... I have a request if it's not too much to ask."

"What is it?" Leo asked.

Much later, Bishop paced in his cell, anxious for news about the outbreak. When he heard footsteps approaching, he turned and gasped to see Sarah standing there, holding the handles of Kari's wheelchair.

"Sarah…" he let out.

"John…" Sarah said civilly. "Kari's research turned up fruit. The Kanabo are vulnerable to sunlight."

"Then it's over?" Bishop asked. "He's defeated?"

Sarah nodded. "Sh'Okanabo's in a sealed container, in the maximum security levels. He's never getting out."

Bishop placed a hand on the transparent barrier, sighing in utter relief.

"Thank God…" he let out before taking a deep breath. "I suppose informing me of your success was not the only reason for this unexpected visit."

"No," Sarah replied. "I wanted to make sure that they were treating you right."

Bishop looked confused at that.

"Don't get the wrong idea, John. What you did was deplorable, and inexcusable." She sighed. "But I just can't bring myself to hate you."

"Neither can I…" Kari said softly. "You're a liar and a snake… but you're also the closest thing I have to a father. No matter how much I want to… I just can't hate you."

"I wouldn't blame either of you if you did," Bishop admitted, stepping away from the barrier, hands at his sides. "I'm a monster, plain and simple. But you two… you've always cared about those around you, human or not. I knew I could trust you with the EPF."

"Thank you…" Sarah replied, before sighing. "Goodbye, John."

With that, she turned and walked out of the cell block, pushing Kari along with her. Bishop watched them go, then turned away sadly.

"Goodbye…" he let out.

Back at the Hamato Clan apartments, Seiko sat next to a sleeping Akemi in her bed, gently stroking her daughter's hair. Having nearly lost her that day, the older woman was more than a little uncomfortable leaving Akemi by herself for the night. Akemi rolled over, looking sleepily up at her.

"Mom?" she asked. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's fine, sweetheart." Seiko assured her, kissing her daughter on the forehead as she curled up and went back to sleep. The woman smoothed her hair back, resuming her gentle affection. "I love you, Akemi. And I promise... I'll never let anything happen to you again."

Author's Note:

There we go. I kept Sh'Okanabo alive because I might have some more ideas for him down the line. You never know, right?

Please R&R. Until next time!