Chapter seven:

"Careful." Donnie mutters softly to himself as he carefully removes the bandages off of Casey. He lowers his hands away after the last of the bandages fall away. He had let it heal for a month so now it's time to see how it is. He watches as only Casey's non-injured eye opens.

Casey's injured eye is forever stuck closed. He has a scar that goes above and below his eye area, if it could open, then two smaller ones on either side that are still long enough to be noticeable. "How bad is it?" He asks and Donnie lets out a small sigh.

"Well. If you think scars are good looking then you look like a badass." Donnie mentions using Casey's phone camera as a way to let the other look at himself.

Casey turns his head and the phone this way and that to look over his eye.

"The bad news is that you'll likely be blind in that eye forever. You might never be able to open it again."

Casey really takes in his looks before he even gives a response. "It's fine." His words make Donnie calm a little. "I can live with that." He puts away his phone. His eye looking to the turtle. "Like you said. I look badass now." This time his words get a slight chuckle from the turtle.

"Casey?" Mikey pokes his head into where Donnie and Casey went for privacy. He comes closer taking in Casey's new appearance.

"What do you think?" Casey smirks and slightly tilts his head as if trying to show off. His action causes Donnie to lightly shake his head in amusement.

"You look cool!" Mikey gasps with his eyes shinning a little. "I think that when we get Raph back he's going to love the new look!"

Donnie slightly glances away as Mikey and Casey go on to each other. He worries that what if Casey's scars make Raph feel guilty for what he had done to his friend.

With Casey's scars it'll be harder to hide from the two what they did while under Shredders control.

Donnie pushes that thought away for now. He knows that he'll have to let himself worry about that later. He needs to focus on trying to get his brothers back first... If they even can...

...

Mikey and Donnie are sneaking through the city with some supplies. They pause hearing a cry. They watch helplessly as a mind controlled Raph leaps onto a man with a savage like roar. They turn and leave before they'll have to watch the man be killed. They really hope that Leo and Raph won't have any memories of any of this when they get them back. They head into the sewers where they go to the start of the hidden city.

It is some houses built for people to live in right now. It is working on expanding as they work on getting enough for the rebellion.

The three months that have passed have allowed the three to get plenty of other people for the rebellion.

Casey is currently taking the lead on construction of a place for the sick and injured.

Donnie and Mikey put away the supplies then head to the current training area, they both want to check on how a few training there are doing. They want this over as fast as they can so they have been showing those in the rebellion ninjitsu in order to fight.

One of them seems especially promising in learning to fight rather quickly. He has a hair style like Casey with much shorter sides. His dark brown eyes are narrowed in focus at a makeshift dummy. He swings a kick then ducks as if to do a dodge. He has been picking up the fighting skills pretty quickly. He seems to learn almost as fast as Leo did. He turns as Mikey comes a little closer.

"You're doing great Emerson." Mikey mentions with a smile. "How about learning something new?" He gets a nod from the other and offers one of his nunchucks just for some practice.

Donnie turns away as Mikey works on teaching Emerson a bit. He looks around and does notice Casey scratch his head as if struggling a little. He heads over to which the other turns to him. "Want some help?"

"I'd like that." Casey shows Donnie the issue they've run into which is that it's a wiring issue. "We set it up just as you instructed from other buildings. However only about half of this one gets powered. And our electricians are a little lost since they're not used to working on this type of wiring system. They're used to regular houses but since we're in the sewers it is a different style."

Donnie takes a closer look calculating the amount of voltage they'd need. He also calculates how much the wires in place can produce. "Hm. Well from what I can see these wires can't produce enough voltage. We'd have to set different wires for this one. If we use more of the same wires we're more likely to lose all the power rather than get enough."

"Guess that's a surface trip." Casey sighs softly at this.

"Is there a way you could come with us?" One of the electricians look to Donnie as the turtle turns to him. "That way we could get the exact wires we need and the amount we'd need."

Donnie is a little hesitant honestly. "It'll be very dangerous." He warns and the electrician nods.

"We understand. We're willing to take that risk. We need to get this up and running so when we truly start fighting back we can heal."

Donnie does see his point. "Alright. I'll go get my human disguise. Hopefully it'll be enough." He glances to Casey as he steps closer.

"You take your time. I'll look over your ideas for the plan of attack you set up last night." Casey offers to Donnie since the two have been working hard on it together. He surprised Donnie by actually turning out to be a competent partner in this; Once Casey really puts his mind to it.

"Okay. That sounds good." Donnie agrees turning away from Casey to look to the electrician. "Grab one person who has decent fighting skills just in case. The smaller the group right now the better. I'll get myself ready and meet you guys at the entrance." He heads off after getting a nod from the man. He really hopes that this outing doesn't end up going badly. He takes a breath telling himself to put trust in everyone.

They've been doing great with the Footclan seeming to have no idea of a rebellion forming. So they got this one task handled.

Donnie shakes off his worries with those thoughts and gets dressed in a black pullover hoodie, black sweats, and black boots. He even leaves his Bo staff behind for this time. He knows that would be a dead giveaway. He pulls the hood over his head before heading to meet the electrician. He spots someone who he can agree has been doing great in fighting training. "Okay." He speaks with the two looking at him. "Well keep a low profile. Try to stay away from trouble."

With a shared nod of understanding the group heads off on their quest.

Donnie really hopes that they don't get spotted by Raph or Leo. He decides, as they get to a sewer ladder, that if they do run into either of them he will hold them off while the two humans escape... Hopefully... He tries to not think about it since they'll try to avoid such trouble. He climbs the ladder joining the two on the surface as the electrician puts the manhole cover back into place. He sticks close to the other two with his head down. He lets them guide him on either side, he can see them from the edges of his vision, in the direction that they need to go.

The three walk for a small bit before slowing to a stop.

Donnie peeks up at what has gotten their attention.

A Footclan patrol is up ahead but haven't noticed them.

Donnie slightly glances around spotting a pipe they can climb. "This way." He leads them quickly up the pole and onto the roof.

The three watch as the Footclan soldiers walk past oblivious. They pull away from the edge of the rooftop.

Donnie looks to the two with him. "How comfortable are you two with hopping from rooftop to rooftop?" He inquires seeing the electrician look unsure though the other man looks more confident.

"I e been wanting to do that!" The other man confirms with a smile.

Donnie places an assuring hand on the electricians shoulder. "I can carry you across." He offers getting a small nod. He lets the man get onto his back then takes the first leap to the next rooftop.

The electrician holds onto him a bit tighter before relaxing when they land.

Donnie turns to watch if the other man can do it. He'll rush in if it seems like something might go wrong.

The man backs up to the other side of the roof. He then charges jumping over managing to land on the other side. "Yeah!" His eyes wide as if having gotten a shot of adrenaline. "I knew I could do it! Chase strikes again!"

Donnie slightly shakes his head in slight humour at the others attitude. He even finds it ridiculous when the other refers to himself in the third person. His amusement is short lived as the electronic jam on his back groans. He glances to him as the man lays his face into the turtles clothes. He can still hear the grumble that comes out from the man.

"Can we just get this part over with?"

"Don't worry." Donnie heads for the next rooftop. "We're almost there. It's just a little further."

They continue across a few more rooftops, when they land upon the one of the shop they need.

Donnie lets the electrician get off of his back and gives him a moment to calm himself down.

They are about to head to a spot so they can jump down to get to the front. They turn as they hear a commotion in the alley beside the shop. They go to the edge of the roof looking over the side.

Below is two people as well as Raph and Leo who haven't changed at all; still under Shredders control as Shredder is definitely making them do all of his killing for him.

Leo is on one person pinning him down, with his hands on the man's wrists and his legs keeping the man's legs down, with the man on his stomach.

Raph leaps at another who seems to have thought maybe he could intimidate Raph away. He slams his hands into the man's shoulders as he shoves the other to the ground. His mouth opens with a snarl.

The other two with Donnie hurry away from the edge to get to the side that is needed.

Donnie hangs back a few moments to watch.

Shredder must be testing a new way to kill as Raph sinks his teeth into the person's throat.

The person screams, quickly quieted by one of Raph's hands slamming into his face, and squirm with blood coming out even as the man tries to struggle; though Donnie looks away before he can tell if it works.

Donnie moves away from the edge looking down as he takes a moment to take it all in. He feels a bit upset that this is how things are. He closes his eyes, forcing back any tears that come. He will help his brothers. He will! He opens his eyes feeling his resolve harden and he hurries towards the patiently waiting for him. He lets the other two be the more leaders in the purchase after he shows them what one they need.

They hurry back this time deciding to jump into the sewers early.

Raph and Leo could still be somewhere nearby. They might find them and that will not be good.

Once they get back Donnie helps to install the new wire.

Any electricians living with them watch and Donnie ensures to tell them helpful tips about it.

Once done the power to the new medical house is turned on. It turns completely on with no problem.

"Nicely done Donnie. As always." Casey mentions which gets a slight chuckle from the turtle. "Say. Donnie." He gets a blink of curiosity from said turtle. "I know we all have a lot on our plates already. But would it be alright if you took over the work on the construction? I thought it'd be fine since you taught us a lot about what you know. However it seems that there is still the need for a real expert on this."

"I don't mind." Donnie agrees. He hasn't really gotten to do anything in the spot meant for his lab. He mostly lets any scientists in their current group work there. He's been so busy with other things so helping to build places for everyone to stay, as well as anything else they may need, will be a nice time to spend for the turtle.

Casey grins at hearing this. "Great! Then I dub you the head of construction." His words get a slight chuckle from Donnie who thinks he's just being silly at this point.

...

It's been a whole year since Shredder took over.

The city is a darker place now with the streets being less safe.

Even the citizens that remain unaware of the rebellion have started to go two ways. Half into just depressed acceptance, and the other half into more criminal ways ready to do whatever they have to in order to survive. The city is so bad that no one travels alone anymore, especially women and anyone under eighteen as they have been heavily targeted.

Casey looks around as he walks hating what has become of the city. He shakes himself telling himself that he'll fix this. He won't let the city fall just because of what Shredder has done. He wonders if he may need to become the new leader of the city until they find someone better. He hopes not. He struggles enough, even with some dreams of Splinter teaching him tips and tricks, to be the leader of the rebellion. He doesn't want the weight of the whole city on his shoulders. He wonders if this is how Leo felt when he was leader of the turtles. He looks down feeling sorry for the blue turtle. He wouldn't wish this heavy burden onto anyone. He'll probably just try to help find someone more worthy of such a position after this is over. He shakes himself off and continues on his way trying to not stand out while staying alert. He may seem crazy to be walking alone, however he has the skills to take care of himself if needed... Except for if he has to go against Leo or Raph. He shudders at the thought knowing he'd be a dead man in seconds. He tries to not think at all as he goes to get some of the last supplies they should need.

They're so close to being ready to attack. They just need maybe a few more days, maybe a little longer if something happens before then.

Casey tells himself that it'll all be over. His eyes glance upwards to the sky that hasn't changed since Shredder changed it; at night it only gets a darker shade then the day it goes back to how it was. He wonders if the sky will return to normal after they defeat the Shredder.

One can only hope so.