Forward And Back Again
Rogue In The Sanctuary
"It would be best for all of you to cooperate," Boss Zukko told everyone. "Or else none of you will leave here alive."
Bishop stood by Leonardo and Raphael, seemingly complying for now.
Suddenly, Boss Zukko got a call on his communicator.
"Don't make a move," he warned all of them. "I need to take this."
Boss Zukko walked out and opened up his communicator.
"Hey Zukko!"
Grimacing, Boss Zukko saw Torbin Zixx in the hologram. He was in bed covered up in sheets with multiple human and alien girls in his bed hugging him and feeding him snacks and wine.
The sight was enough to make the Triceraton scowl in disgust.
"You know, I did a little bit of thinking," Zixx told him.
"And?" Boss Zukko looked at the Emperor in disgust.
"Well, I still want you to bring the Turtles, Splinter, and the blonde girl to me," Emperor Zixx informed him. "But with regards to John Bishop, it's probably for the best that you… take care of him permanently. You see, Bishop can live the most humble life possible but as long as he's alive, he represents a figure the people can latch on to and threaten everything I've built."
"Very well then," Boss Zukko nodded, seemingly compliantly.
"Zixx, enough work!" one of the girls kissed Torbin Zixx on the cheek. "Come play with us again!"
"Alright, gotta run!" Torbin Zixx smiled. "And there you have it. Your new orders."
"Your word is law," Boss Zukko acknowledged.
Torbin Zixx cut the connection as Boss Zukko turned around and walked back to the mansion with an angry scowl on his face.
"Useless worm!" Boss Zukko said in a darker tone that he hadn't yet shown to Zixx. "I was already planning on eliminating Bishop before you wasted my time with your inane instructions!"
oooo
"Emperor Zixx has sent out Boss Zukko to do stuff like this before," Bishop whispered to Leonardo.
"What usually happens next?" Leo whispered back.
"Let's just say I keep up with what the Triceraton enforcer has done through my own sources," Bishop told him quietly. "In every case, Zukko never keeps his word in showing mercy and always leaves behind a trail of smoldering bodies."
"So what do we do?" asked Leo.
"You and your brothers know what to do in a case like this," Bishop smiled. "Just wait on my mark."
Immediately, Leo nodded, understanding what Bishop meant. All of the kids were huddled between the four Turtles and one of the soldiers held the tentacle alien child.
Before long, Boss Zukko walked back in with an angry expression on his face like he'd just been interrupted from something he really wanted to do.
"Now that I'm back," Zukko informed them. "All of you will hand over your weapons to my platoon and—"
The only response that occurred was Bishop moving as fast as lightning and kicking the one human soldier who held the tentacle alien child in his arm, knocking the man out. Quickly, Bishop grabbed the child.
The Turtles, Splinter, and Renet saw their cue.
At once, all of them got up, fighting back and disarming the soldiers next to them.
"What?!" Zukko cried angrily.
Donatello quickly flipped his bo staff, knocking out the soldiers behind the group and clearing a path for them.
Leo then slashed through the laser rifles of two Triceraton soldiers and knocked them out with a spin kick. He then got in front of the group, swinging his swords around, deflecting the laser bolts from Zukko's forces who opened fire on them.
"You're going to pay for this with your life, Bishop!" Zukko swore. "Not that I was going to show you mercy even before your little performance."
"Come with me," Alkaid told the Turtles and Renet. "There is a teleporter in the basement. Hurry."
"You accompany Bishop's wife and the kids," Leo told the others. "Raph and I will remain up here to take care of Zukko's forces with Bishop."
"Good luck my sons," Splinter told them.
"Come along," Alkaid beckoned them as the group followed her.
Leo took out his sword and swung it around skillfully, blocking more laser bolts blasted in his direction. Raph leaped over Leo, taking out the attacking soldiers with multiple punches and kicks.
"Meddling reptiles," Boss Zukko aimed his laser rifle at Raph.
Bishop leaped into the air, grabbed a chandelier, and used its momentum to swing himself forward, kicking Zukko in the chest and knocking him into a cabinet.
"Funny talk coming from someone whose appearance could be considered reptilian himself," Bishop told him, taking out two electrified nightsticks.
"Looks can be deceiving Bishop," Zukko got up, dusting himself off. "Sometimes you really have to scratch beneath the surface to find out who someone really is!"
Zukko roared and charged at Bishop. The enhanced human dodged a punch by Zukko as Leo and Raph continued fighting Zukko's men. Bishop returned fire by striking Zukko across the face with a blow from the electric nightstick.
Zukko's head snapped back but quickly regained his composure and backhanded Bishop through a wall.
"Ugh," Bishop looked up, realizing Zukko was more than he seemed.
Zukko attacked again but Bishop was back on his feet. Bishop dodged a punch and grabbed Zukko's arm, twisting it behind his back skillfully. He then used Zukko's momentum to slam the Triceraton through a TV. After that, he slammed Zukko's head through a wall and used his momentum once again to toss him into a table, smashing it to bits.
As Bishop got in close, Zukko suddenly sprung back to life and knocked the enhanced human off his feet. Zukko got up and slammed both fists down at Bishop who dodged it. Bishop attacked again but Zukko simply slammed his foot into Bishop's chest, sending him flying across the room with a kick until he fell into a sofa, knocking it over.
"I've waited a long moment for this," Zukko told him.
The Triceraton grabbed a sword mounted on the wall and walked towards Bishop menacingly.
"For what exactly?" demanded Bishop who got up.
"You and I have a score to settle," the Triceraton cyborg replied.
"That's funny," Bishop said in a serious tone. "I remember all of the people I've wronged over the years. Some of their names escape me… but none of their faces ever do. I remember the face of every last person whose life I've ruined. But you? I don't recall ever doing anything to you at all."
"I hold you AND those accursed Turtles accountable for preventing me from fulfilling my destiny!"
Zukko swung his sword at Bishop who parried with his metal sticks. The two went at it, striking at each other with multiple swings before crossing weapons in a stalemate.
"You're really going to have to be more specific!" Bishop growled.
"I explain myself to no one!" Zukko cried as his voice seemed to get deeper and deeper. "Not to you and not to some drunken Emperor who would have no clothes if not for me!"
Bishop realized trying to physically outmatch Zukko was pointless and broke free of the crossing of weapons. He leaped up and kicked Zukko across the face.
Zukko returned with a swing that nearly took Bishop's head off. Bishop combined both electrical sticks together into a metal staff. He parried away another one of Zukko's swings and came in with multiple blows, striking Zukko across the face, arms, and stomach with several debilitating hits that would've downed any ordinary man and most aliens.
"Is that really the best you can do?" Zukko smiled as his eyes glowed red.
Zukko sent Bishop flying across the room with a powerful punch.
"Agh!" Bishop cried as his body flew into a cupboard, shattering it.
Zukko ran towards him as Bishop leaped back to his feet. The Triceraton swung his blade at Bishop who dodged it multiple times. However, just as Bishop raised his staff to parry, Zukko shattered his weapon instantly on contact, cutting right through the staff with his sword.
Realizing his weapon was lost, Bishop dropped one part of the staff but threw the other right at Zukko's face. Zukko grunted as part of the broken staff hit his face. Quickly, Bishop kicked Zukko in the throat and made him stumble back. After that, Bishop kneed the back end of the sword in Zukko's hand, knocking it into the air as Bishop leaped up and grabbed it skillfully.
Bishop swung the sword down at Zukko but to his surprise, Zukko caught the sword with one hand.
"Not good enough," Zukko growled.
With that, Zukko broke the sword with his hand, showing a strength that surprised Bishop. The next thing that happened was Zukko punching Bishop through a wall into another room, this one a work office of Bishop's.
"Time to die!" Zukko roared.
Bishop dodged a few hits but he realized the disadvantage he was at. He and Zukko were approximately at a similar level of skill… but the Triceraton cyborg was physically much stronger and more durable. And at some point, something would have to give.
A crippling blow hit Bishop in the stomach finally, making him cough up blood. Another blow staggered him back. Bishop grabbed onto his desk for support and as Zukko came onto him, grabbed a vase and smashed it across the Triceraton's face.
Zukko smiled and grabbed Bishop, slamming him through the wall into another room, this time a more secure room with multiple self-defense weapons. It was the place Bishop occasionally trained young aliens and humans alike in martial arts.
Bishop was thrown back as his body skidded across the floor. It was fortuitous that Zukko brought him to this room because there was something here he could use.
Before he could get to his hidden weapon, Bishop looked up at Zukko, pressing down on the visor mounted across his eyes, scanning Zukko. However, there was something odd about the Triceraton cyborg.
"That's strange," Bishop frowned. "There are two separate heat signatures coming from Boss Zukko's body."
Zukko came in, slashing at Bishop with his sword and destroying an entire section of the wall as Bishop rolled aside to avoid it. Quickly, Bishop pressed down on a button on the wall, unveiling a rocket launcher that only he had the pass-code for.
Bishop grabbed the rocket launcher and opened fire. A rocket erupted from the weapon and struck Zukko dead on, blasting him back into the office room in a huge explosion.
Bishop wasn't sure if that was able to keep Zukko down but what he did know was that he bought himself some additional time to catch up with the others.
He went back to the main entrance where Leonardo and Raphael had defeated all of Zukko's men.
"You okay?" asked Leo.
"I am now," Bishop straightened his visor. "Let's go."
oooo
As the rest of the group got close to the basement cellar, Splinter turned around first after sensing something.
"Halt!"
A few of Zukko's soldiers had managed to slip past Bishop, Leonardo, and Raphael. Now they had their guns pointed on the children.
Quickly, Donatello got in front of the group, spinning his bo staff and deflecting their laser fire.
Mikey and Splinter jumped into action next, leaping over Donatello and quickly dispatching the remaining men in several rapid blows.
"That takes care of these creeps," Mikey smiled.
"Thank you," Alkaid said to Donatello. "Your quick thinking saved us."
"We've been through several sieges in our life," Donatello told her. "After a while, we learned to fight our way through them."
"Just out of curiosity, was my husband ever one of those who laid siege to you when he used to be a different man?" asked Alkaid. "He's mentioned some history with you."
"Uh… let's just say what's past is past," Donatello rubbed his head sheepishly, deciding not to bring up the time Bishop went after them and Splinter with his Slayer clone that eventually became some sort of Rat King.
Alkaid turned around and punched in several codes in the basement door, opening it up just as Bishop, Leo, and Raph got down there to rejoin the group.
"Thank goodness you're alive," she hugged Bishop.
"With any luck we'll all get out of this," Bishop told her. "Let's hope the Transmat is still operational."
Alkaid entered the room and quickly activated the Transmat inside of the room. It was a similar Transmat that the Turtles had once seen. The alien woman from Slandon ushered the children around her as she got to work on it.
After everyone was in the room, Bishop pressed down on a control, locking up the room with a reinforced steel door.
"Over the years, we've worked on a Transmat that would transport all of us to my wife's home planet Slandon," Bishop explained to the Turtles, Splinter, and Renet. "Because of my checkered history, I assumed, rightly in this case, that at any given moment, my home would be under siege and that my wife and I would need to bring the orphans to her home planet under Queen Jhanna for sanctuary."
"We knew Jhanna once," Donatello remembered.
"Think she'll still remember us?" asked Michelangelo.
"Who could forget your cantaloupe head?" Raph grinned at Mikey.
"That's rich coming from a guy who has the exact same head structure as me," Mikey pointed out, rubbing it in his brother's face.
At that point, Raph only grumbled. He realized that he had walked right into that one.
"Unfortunately, the Transmat can only teleport a few numbers at a time," Bishop looked at his machine. "The kids will have to go first followed by the rest of us."
"Will you be okay?" one of the children walked up to Bishop.
Bishop gave him a reassuring smile.
"I'll do everything I can to protect you," he told them. "And if for some reason I can't, Queen Jhanna and the Turtles will be there for you."
"Did we… take care of all of Zixx's forces?" asked Leonardo who was bothered by Bishop's cautiousness even now when everyone was seemingly safe and almost to the point of escaping during this eerie calm.
"After facing off against Boss Zukko, I'm not so sure," Bishop said as his wife started the machine up and placed the first set of orphans on the machine. "There was something strange about him this time. He's out for blood, mine as well as yours."
"Why would he hold a grudge against you?" asked Raph. "Makes sense for Zukko not to like us since we crossed paths with him but what did you ever do to him?"
"That's what makes no sense," Bishop replied back. "Out of all the people I've wronged over the decades, I can't recall a single instance of doing anything to that particular Triceraton."
Donatello looked at Bishop and realized he looked a little battered, even with his above-human physical stats.
"Now that I think of it, I don't recall Boss Zukko ever being this tough," admitted Donatello.
"There's something else you should know," Bishop told them. "I scanned Boss Zukko with my visor and he had the strangest energy signature. In fact, he had two—"
A sudden blow against the metal door alerted everyone.
"He's here," Bishop straightened his suit, preparing for a fight.
Finally, Alkaid transported away the first batch of children through the Transmat. After that, a huge dent was made in one of the steel doors.
"Alright guys, you ready?" Leo took out his sword.
Finally, two giant Triceraton fists broke through the opening as Boss Zukko tore his way into the room and ripped the metal door off its hinges.
As he stood before them all, they noticed Boss Zukko's body had suffered some damage from the rocket Bishop had shot at him. A few wires even hung from his damaged cybernetic parts. But otherwise, he was still functional and able to move.
"So this is what fate has gathered before me," Zukko grinned. "All of my enemies in one setting to pick off at my vengeful leisure."
"I don't know what you've done to yourself, Zukko," Leo told him. "But none of us here will go down without a fight!"
"Stop," Bishop told them. "We need to buy as much time as possible for Alkaid to bring all of the children to our sanctuary. I'll buy us the time. And if I fall, you defend my wife and the children."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Leo.
"I am," Bishop told him. "If the rest of you make it, all of you Turtles have the best chance of making sure Torbin Zixx goes down."
Reluctantly, the Turtles sheathed their weapons and stepped back to join Alkaid who was still transporting the children, one group at a time.
"I'm going to enjoy tearing you limb from limb," Zukko told him.
"You're welcome to try," Bishop told him.
Zukko charged at Bishop and punched at him. Bishop step-sided the blow and grabbed Zukko by the arm, twisting his arm and slamming him into a wall.
Again and again, Bishop slammed Zukko's face against the wall but the Triceraton finally powered out of the hold and hit Bishop in the face with a blow that shattered his visor.
"Agh!" Bishop shouted, falling down.
Zukko slammed his fist down at Bishop who flipped out of the way. Bishop dodged another punch by Zukko but was not able to avoid an incoming sidekick from the Triceraton that broke his ribs and sent him flying back.
Bishop was able to get up again but Zukko was on him like a large, predatory animal. Again and again Zukko pummeled Bishop until the man was turned into a bloody mess.
"I was once unable to return to whence I came because of you," Zukko continued the beating, taking savage pleasure in what he was doing. "And now, I repay you in full!"
With one final blow, Zukko sent Bishop flying against a nearby wall where Bishop's body slid down. Multiple electrical cords had come loose as a result of damage to the wall. As Bishop coughed up blood, he realized that physically he'd been defeated. As good as he'd gotten over the many centuries, he was now going up against someone who was even stronger and possibly equally skilled.
"John!" Alkaid cried out as Bishop also saw the Turtles about to make a move on Boss Zukko.
Turning towards them all, Bishop shook his head, indicating to them non-verbally not to interfere. The rest of them looked like he was crazy but complied with his order, despite the anger they felt swelling up at seeing what Boss Zukko had done to him.
As Zukko finally stopped and stood before him, Bishop noticed some of the damage to Zukko's own body. A few damagedparts of his cybernetic body had been exposed, with some wiring hanging out.
"Now I end this," Boss Zukko took out a hidden sword from his gear and raised it.
Without hesitation, Bishop grabbed a damaged electrical cord from the wall and shoved it right into the damaged part of Zukko's robotic leg where several loose wiring hung out, sending a huge electrical surge into the Triceraton cyborg.
"Aaaaaahhhhh!" Zukko screamed in agony.
Finally, the Triceraton fell to both knees first. Then he fell face-first to the floor.
At that moment, Alkaid and Leo ran over to help Bishop up.
"Was that seriously necessary?" asked Alkaid.
"If I didn't make it, then all of you would need to be in prime condition to escape and strike back at the Zixx Regime," Bishop told them with a weak smile.
After helping Bishop to the Transmat, Bishop noted with satisfaction that all of the children had been transported to Planet Slandon. Bishop counted the numbers of everyone who was in the room and realized only seven people would be able to make on the next Transmat leap to Slandon. He glanced at the entire group consisting of his wife, the Turtles, Splinter, and Renet.
"The rest of you, get on the Transmat," Bishop ordered. "I'll follow up shortly."
"In your bad condition?" Alkaid demanded.
"Please Alkaid, just trust me," Bishop looked at her pleadingly. "Also, I have to stay behind and make sure they don't follow us or trace us."
Finally, Alkaid relented and went on the Transmat as the Turtles, Splinter, and Renet followed her. When everyone was gathered there, Bishop limped over to the controls and activated the machine as the Turtles saw themselves being enveloped by a bright teleportation light.
"When we get there, Queen Jhanna will help you," Bishop told them.
As the lights around them got brighter, the Turtles saw something else.
"Bishop!" Raph cried.
It was too late. From behind, Zukko impaled Bishop through the back with his sword.
"Aaaaahhh!" Bishop screamed in agony as his heart was pierced.
"No, John!" Alkaid cried.
All the Turtles took out their weapons but it was too late. The Transmat hummed to live and teleported them far away before they could retaliate.
"That was for denying me my revenge," Zukko hurled Bishop's now-lifeless body to the ground with a swing of his arm.
As Bishop's body stopped moving, Zukko looked down at the controls.
"Now, to find your coordinates," Zukko put down his sword to concentrate on his mission.
However, it was at that moment, Zukko saw the bomb planted right to the side of the controls. And it was counting down to just a few seconds before detonation.
"DAMN YOU BISHOP!" Zukko screamed, realizing that even in death, Bishop was able to thwart his plans and ruin everything.
Finally, the count reached its final number as the bomb went off, consuming Boss Zukko, Bishop's body, the whole basement, and soon, the entire mansion.
oooo
Near the rubble, Governor General Darius Dun surveyed the area while his soldiers examined the area, looking for clues and/or possible survivors.
"Let's do a thorough job, men!" Dun ordered. "Emperor Zixx wants those Turtles and if we don't produce results, he could have our heads!"
Suddenly, Darius Dun noticed the floor moving underneath him in the part of the rubble he was standing near.
"What the?!"
Dun moved aside as a blackened Triceraton hand punched through the rubble. Soon, a charred but still very alive Boss Zukko stepped out like he'd just crawled out of the bowels of hell.
"B-Boss Zukko?!" Darius Dun looked stunned. "You survived this?!"
"Of course, worm!" Zukko growled at him. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I… nevermind," Dun took a step back. "It's good to have you back with us. What happened here?"
"Bishop is dead," Zukko told him. "But the Turtles, their rat master, and the timestress still elude me."
"I see," Dun straightened his suit. "Well, at least one of the Emperor's orders was fulfilled."
"I will go tell him personally," Zukko told Dun. "You and the rest of your men search this rubble and find what you can."
"Of course," Dun conceded. "We will report back our findings once we're done."
"See that you do," Zukko told him as a black futuristic helicopter belonging to the regime flew overhead.
The black helicopter dropped down a rope ladder. Zukko took hold of the rope ladder with one hand as it brought him up into the cockpit before flying off into the moonlit sky.
To be continued.
