Forward And Back Again

Night Out

Casey stood on top of a rooftop waiting patiently. He'd been waiting for a while already and so far, Raph was about five minutes late.

"What's been keeping him?" Casey asked himself.

"Hey Casey!"

Casey turned around and saw the Turtle with the red bandana crouched behind him.

"Oh hey Raph!" Casey exclaimed. "About time you showed up!"

"I've been getting held up lately," Raph admitted, not wanting to talk too much about Zixx.

"You know, we were supposed to meet yesterday for our patrol but you had to reschedule for tonight," Casey pointed out. "Something going on?"

Raph grimaced. He certainly did not want to make Torbin Zixx a part of the conversation.

"Yeah," Raphael finally told his friend. "My family's been dealing with a guest… you could say he's an unwanted guest we have to put up with for the time being."

"Did Gen come back?" asked Casey, recalling all the trouble Gennosuke put him through back when Usagi and the rhino visited.

"No," Raph shook his head. "Gen's a freakin' Saint compared to this guy and that's saying something."

Casey looked shocked at the sheer possibility that the Turtles could have an even worse house guest than Gennosuke.

"Anyways, how are you and April doing?" asked Raph, wanting to steer the conversation away from their unwanted futuristic guest.

"Well, things are good between us," Casey admitted.

"And?" Raph pressed.

Raph saw a single sweat drop go down Casey's head. His suspicions of Casey withholding information had been correct.

"Well okay," Casey finally fessed up. "We still love each other but things are different now that we're married. April expects more out of me. And sometimes, she can get on my case more."

"Ha!" Raph smiled. "Called it."

"She's also limiting the amount of time I have vigilante patrol duty," Casey told his buddy. "And she even says I have to be with at least one of you on a patrol night."

"At least she's still letting us spend time together," Raph pointed out. "Besides, things are different when you're married. Not that I would know anything about marriage…"

"So who's this house guest of yours exactly?" Casey asked. "Sounds like you're even more frustrated than I am."

Raph gritted his teeth. "It's someone from the future."

"Oh," Casey realized. "So it was one of the guys you met when you guys went missing for a while but it turned out you took a trip to the future?"

"He ain't exactly one of my favorites from that era either," Raph pointed out.

"Aww, Raph, you're hurting my feelings."

"What?!" Raph looked around.

Both Casey and Raphael noticed a costumed man standing a few feet away from them. It was Torbin Zixx who had followed Raph the whole way.

"Is he the guy?" Casey asked.

"Unfortunately," Raph nodded. "Alright Zixx, start talking. How did you follow me all the way out here?"

"Well, it's simple," Torbin Zixx said. "I followed your trail. I have a tracker I could've used but finding you by the sewer scent you left behind was just as effective."

"Fine," Raph growled, not taking too kindly to Zixx's backhanded remark. "Let me rephrase, Torbin Zixx. Why were you following me?"

"Well, I mean, I have been cooped up in the sewer for a while, which IS an unnatural living condition for a human," Zixx explained. "So I needed some fresh year. Besides, the rest of the Turtles and your master said it was okay."

"They did, did they?" Raph looked down at his shell cell.

Sure enough, there was a message from Leo about allowing Zixx to go out on the condition he stuck with at least one Turtle.

Then it also dawned on Raphael. They wanted Zixx out of the base while Donatello was likely working on something to send Torbin Zixx back to his own time.

"Fine, just this time," Raph mumbled.

"So how did you two get to know each other?" asked Casey.

"Well, Raph and I have had some run-in's with each other before," Torbin Zixx told him. "We've teamed up a few times."

"And Zixx here has backstabbed us just as many times," Raph finished for him.

"You're leaving out the parts where I saved you guys just as many times," Zixx pointed out.

"It was two times," Raph pointed out. "And you still wound up conning us later!"

"So, uh, can we trust this guy?" asked Casey.

"Say Raph, who was it that saved you from Mr. Touch?" Torbin Zixx reminded him.

"Grrr," Raph snarled, not wanting to be reminded of how Zixx intervened in that fight.

"Is he that superpowered gangster who powers up by fist bumping?" asked Casey.

"Okay fine," Raph admitted. "Zixx saved my shell from that guy."

"Oh," Casey scratched his head. "Well, I guess this guy can't be all that bad."

"See?" Zixx pointed out. "You believe in the concept of second chances, don't you, Raph?"

"Sure I do," Raphael crossed his arms. "But it's the concept of third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh chances I struggle with."

"Tell you what," Zixx told them. "Let me prove my good intentions. Were you two planning on some crime fighting tonight?"

"Well, we were planning on hitting a Foot operation tonight," Casey admitted.

"Really Casey?" Raph shook his head. "Did you have to tell him?"

"I promise to be on my best behavior," promised Zixx. "In fact, I can even join you guys and help you put down some baddies."

"So uh, in the future did you and Zixx work together against supervillains?" Casey asked Raph.

"We did," Raph replied. "But Zixx usually had ulterior motives and left us hanging one way or another."

"Well look at it this way," Zixx pointed out. "I'm stuck in the past, have no way of getting home without help, and need the assistance of you and your brothers to have any remote chance of returning to my own era. During a time like this, I honestly can't afford to backstab you with my fate riding on your generosity."

Casey and Raph looked at each other. Casey shrugged, having no experience whatsoever with Zixx. Raph had to carefully ponder the intergalactic mercenary's words for a few seconds before coming to a conclusion. Logically, everything the mercenary said made sense.

"Alright, you make a good point," Raph finally had to concede.

"So are we in this together?" asked Zixx.

"Fine," Raph told him. "But we do this my way, understood?"

"You're the boss," Torbin Zixx agreed.

"Alright here's the plan," Raph told them. "We're gonna hit up a Foot operation. Lately that organization hasn't been doing too well and under the leadership of Khan, they've been struggling."

"Yeah, Khan just really hasn't been able to fill in the Shredder's boots," Casey noted.

"He's not half as smart as Hun," Raphael added. "And that's saying something."

"So this guy isn't remotely on Sh'Okanabo's level, huh?" asked Torbin Zixx.

"Not even," Raph shook his head. "Alright, let's go. And Zixx, remember to follow my lead."

"You're the boss," Zixx nodded agreeably.

oooo

Before long, Raphael, Casey, and Torbin Zixx had arrived at the new Foot Clan lair. It was a somewhat dilapidated factory, showing just how low the Foot had fallen.

"Someone must've fallen on hard times," Zixx commented.

"I hear them coming," Raph told his two companions. "Let's hide behind those crates."

The three of them hid behind several crates as the doors to the lair opened up and the Foot soldiers poured in.

"The Foot hasn't been the same ever since the wedding and the Utrom Shredder coming back and losing a lot of his men when he mutated them and tried to erase the multiverse," Raph whispered, explaining the situation to Zixx.

Master Khan came in last as the Foot Ninja formed a long line for him.

"Status report," Khan told one of his ninja.

"Things aren't well," the ninja replied. "The gangs who once paid tribute to the Shredder and were once assimilated into the Foot have declared their independence."

"This is not good at all," Khan's eyes narrowed.

"Additionally, the Purple Dragons are no longer responding to our messages," the ninja bowed. "Without the Shredder around, we are not able to maintain control like we once were."

"I'm glad you realize the reason for why we've lost respect in the underworld," Khan nodded. "Tell me, do you believe with the Shredder still around to instill fear and respect, the Foot Clan would once again reassert the rightful hierarchy?"

"In my honest opinion, sir, yes," the ninja answered.

"That is good," Khan beckoned for two other ninja to bring over a large casket. "Because today, the Shredder will return to us!"

"What the heck?" Casey whispered to Raph behind the crates. "Didn't the Shredder finally get destroyed?"

"He was supposed to have been," Raph's eyes narrowed. "Anyways, let's see what Khan really means."

In front of the remnant Foot Clan, Khan opened up the lid on the casket. Inside was not a body like people had expected but a new set of armor resembling the Shredder, except with a gold and red coloring. Khan first took out a Shredder gauntlet with the villain's trademark claws and put it on his right hand.

"Today is the day I become the new Shredder," Khan declared as the ninjas looked at each other uncertainly. "I will assume his mantle and reclaim what once belonged to his empire!"

"Oh for crying out loud," Raph groaned. "Alright, you know what? I've heard enough. Let's just take care of this bozo."

"Foot Ninja!" Khan declared. "By all rights invested in me as the master of this clan, I declare myself to be the newly reborn leader of the Foot! I declare myself to be the Sh—"

A ninja star flew through the air and landed near his feet, causing Khan to take a step back.

"What?!" Khan growled angrily.

Behind the gathering of ninjas were Raphael, Casey Jones, and a new interloper dressed up in futuristic gear.

"How dare you interfere in a sacred ceremony like this?!" Khan demanded.

"Trust me, Khan," Raph told him. "I've fought the Shredder. I knew what Shredder was capable of. And you, bozo, are no Shredder. So put down that gauntlet and go play with something more age appropriate, like that electric scooter they have down on aisle eight for tots."

"Yeah Khan," Casey pointed out. "Being Shredder's a demanding job. What makes you think you're up for it?"

"Enough!" Khan growled. "Foot Ninja! Kill these interlopers!"

The Foot did as they were told and took out their swords, attacking Raphael, Casey, and Torbin Zixx.

Casey was the first to block an attack and knocked away the first soldier coming towards him. Raphael avoided a sword swing, taking out one ninja with a punch while blocking another sword swing with his sai and returning fire, kicking that ninja to the ground.

Soon, Zixx found himself surrounded. All the ninjas surrounding him raised their weapons.

"Are things really what they seem?" asked Zixx.

The ninjas swung at him, slicing neatly through a hologram. Immediately, the ninjas' eyes widened in shock.

"Gotcha!" Zixx appeared from the shadows and threw a flash grenade.

Immediately, all the ninjas were blinded. Zixx came in with multiple blows that took out the disoriented Foot soldiers.

As Casey and Zixx continued taking down the Foot, Raph stood face to face with Master Khan.

"You have ruined my ascension ceremony!" Khan growled. "I'll make you pay with your life, Turtle scum!"

"You might've had our number in the first few fights," Raph admitted. "But now? Forget about it."

"Raaahhh!" Khan screamed, launching himself at Raph with his huge staff.

Raph blocked the first few strikes of the staff and leaped over Khan. Khan swung around and kicked at Raph who checked the kick with his knee to block it. He returned fire and struck Khan in the jaw with the blunt end of his sai, sending the ninja master stumbling back.

Khan regained his bearings and charged again, this time thrusting his staff at Raphael's sternum. Raph step-sided the thrust and grabbed the pole. He kicked Khan in the stomach, forcing him to let go of the staff. As Khan stumbled back, Raph threw away the long range weapon. However, Khan was still far from being disarmed.

The Foot master slashed at Raph with the new Shredder gauntlet he had on his right arm, forcing the Turtle to dodge the first swing. Khan took advantage of his initial advantage and followed up with a sidekick to the stomach that knocked Raph on his shell.

"Ugh," Raph groaned, lying down.

"Die!" Khan screamed, leaping down at Raph trying to skewer Raphael right through the neck.

Raphael raised his sai's in time to block the would-be lethal blow.

"Newsflash Khan," Raph told him. "Putting on spiky armor doesn't make you any kind of Shredder."

With that, Raphael moved his neck in time and redirected the blow with his sai's, allowing Khan's strike to come down. The claws on the gauntlet penetrated the stone floor, piercing solid ground instead of flesh.

"No!" Khan yelled.

Raphael kicked Khan off of him, even as the gauntlet stayed stuck on the floor.

"My turn," Raph got up.

Khan charged again punching and kicking at Raph in a flurry. Raph carefully blocked the blows before seeing an opening. The Foot master attempted a spinning wheel kick that Raph dodged. As Khan swung around to face Raph again, the Ninja Turtle delivered a mighty uppercut that knocked Khan unconscious to the floor.

"Don't get up from that," Raph told him, standing over the Foot leader.

A few feet away, Casey knocked out the remaining Foot soldier with a baseball bat swing.

"Whew, that was a good workout," Casey declared. "Best news? No black eye for April to get on my case over!"

Torbin Zixx stood there admiring his own handiwork as well. Raph surveyed the scene and decided that Zixx had acted satisfactorily according to his standards.

"Alright Zixx," Raph told him. "You listened to instructions and did well. This time…"

"Uh, I think Raph meant to thank you," Casey pointed out.

oooo

After radioing the cops to clean up what was left of the Foot, Raph, Casey, and Torbin Zixx were standing on top of a rooftop opposite the factory they had just raided.

"Alright, everyone ready to head back?" asked Raph.

"I gotta head back home now," Casey told him, looking at his watch. "April's gonna be expecting me."

"Alright Casey, see you later bro," Raph told him.

The two fist-bumped as Casey put his hockey mask back on and leaped off the building to head home.

"Alright Zixx, you ready?" asked Raphael.

Zixx didn't immediately answer. He was looking across at a neighborhood with a starstruck gaze.

"You okay?" Raphael inquired.

"Yeah, uh, say," Zixx told Raph. "Is it okay if we make a quick side stop?"

Raphael wondered just what Zixx was thinking. If it was a trick, he had to take some precautions; otherwise Zixx would just set up some kind of trap.

"Fine," Raph told him. "But you lead the way."

Zixx nodded in agreement as the two leaped from building to building until they finally reached the New York neighborhood.

"So what're you looking for again?" Raphael asked.

"It's not a what," Zixx told him. "It's a who. I never thought I'd get the chance to see this in-person but I'm actually here for a moment like this."

"Wait, you know someone from this era?" Raph looked surprised.

"Didn't get to know him personally," Zixx replied somberly. "But I know of him through my personal history."

"Wait, do you mean what I think you do?" Raph was taken aback.

Torbin Zixx's focus was on one white two story home with blue paint. Soon, a car pulled up on the driveway. From the car emerged a blonde haired man in a business suit and a suitcase. He also wore a cocky smile on his face from a day of applying his dishonest trade.

"Who is this guy?" Raph continued observing curiously.

"I never thought I'd get to see him in person," Zixx admitted. "Talk about having a brush with history."

"You know this dude?" asked Raph.

"Know him?" Zixx smiled. "I wouldn't be alive if it weren't for him. Raphael, this man is my great grandfather."

To be continued.