Note: References to my fanfic 'Sharks and Ninjas' and Tyroth Darkstorm's fanfic 'Nemesis' appear in this chapter.

Chapter Ninety-Five

Meetings on Tonight

Meanwhile, Silas and his soldiers had managed to flee the hanger and along with the Foot arrived at another secret location a few miles away.

No sooner did they make sure they were hidden and safe than Arashi turned to Silas furiously.

"So...you failed to gain the spoils!" he growled "You failed to obtain what we planned to take!"

The Venomous Five stood behind Arashi and snarled and hissed at Silas who stood with his men behind him, yet he showed no fear but feared.

"Yes, we did leave empty handed." He said, "But we did not leave without knowledge."

Dr Arden snarled, his scars looking more hideous as he did, yet he stopped and looked at Arashi.

"He has a point, Master." He said, "The footage caught, we can see how these alien robots acquire their vehicle forms."

Arashi glared at Dr Arden, but after hearing what he said and letting it sink in, he agreed.

It was true, despite not acquiring the physical materials from these alien robots, he had seen what they could do, and how they were able to blend in to avoid detection from the humans.

"Tonight, we might now have been able to acquire what we intended to acquire. Silas said "But MECH do not give up easily, we will work hard to get what we want, no matter how many times we try, and think about it Arashi, if you were to kill me, or maim me like your predecessor did, because they failed, what good would it do? Because who would do a better job than those who have the knowledge, experience and brains? Hmm?"

Arashi glowered, yet he understood, as when he was under Shredder's leadership if one failed in their mission or task, they were punished by death or forced to undergo Dr Arden's experiments, but then again if one had perished or was so severely tortured, they couldn't be of use despite the knowledge they had, then it was foolish to do such things to them.

Arashi knew that if he wanted the job done, despite if his scout or ally had failed, he couldn't do damage to them that they couldn't try again another day, he had to let them live until the succeeded to get the answers and results he desired.

"I get your meaning Silas." He said, "And If we are to try again, we must work together, and I will work along with you to achieve what we desire and obtain the information we need..."

Meanwhile, Arcee, Monalisa and Raphael arrived at the Silo and were greeted by their very worried family as well as the Autobots.

"Raph! Mona!" Leonardo jumped down the stairs two at a time to greet his brother and adopted sister.

"Thanks Primus you have returned!" Ratchet cried out.

The rest of the Hamato Clan leaned over the railings to look down and they too saw Arcee ride in with the turtle and lizard on her back.

Since they had left, the Hamato Clan had found it very difficult to relax as they had been constantly worried and Leonardo had almost demanded that they go and help Fowler, yet Optimus had told the blue masked turtle that Fowler could handle the situation and that he would call for back up if it was needed.

It was a relief to see Arcee, Raphael and Monalisa appear yet they didn't see Pandora and that raised their concerns again.

"Where's Pandora?" Bulkhead asked anxiously "Is she alright?"

Arcee skidded to a halt and Raphael and Monalisa jumped off before she transformed back into her bipedal form.

"She's alright Bulk." She said, "Agent Fowler's bringing her since I could only carry two."

"That's reassuring." Ironhide said as he looked to the ceiling then Ratchet looked to his screen.

"They're here!" he said, "Fowler's landing the helicopter on top of the silo now."

Kemeko who had been stressed to no end, crying in Michelangelo's arms and praying for her cousin's safe return looked up and her worried tears soon turned to happy ones seeing that her cousin was safe.

On top of the silo, the pilot had stopped the engines and Fowler got out of the helicopter before walking towards Pandora's side to open the door.

"Hope you enjoyed the ride." The pilot said turning around to look at Pandora.

"I did thanks." Pandora said, "I've never flown in a helicopter before."

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed your first ride in one, I've been flying Agent Fowler's boys for three years now, got my licence when I was eighteen."

"Really?" Pandora asked.

The pilot nodded and held out his hand to Pandora.

"Culpepper." He said.

"Pandora." Pandora said shaking the pilot's hand "Culpepper? That's your name?"

The pilot chuckled.

"Oh no," he said, "It's Eric, we tend to refer to each other's surnames in the Army and Air Force."

"Pleased to meet you, Eric." Pandora said, the same blush coming to her cheeks.

"Likewise." Eric spoke then he saw Fowler walking up to the side of the helicopter, and open the door on Pandora's side.

"Thanks for the ride, Culpepper." Agent Fowler said, "I won't be long."

"Yes sir." Eric said saluting then turned to Pandora "Hope we meet again soon, eh?" he asked.

Pandora nodded.

"Sure, I hope." She said as she walked with Fowler to the lift to get into the silo smiling at the pilot again before she turned away, her cheeks still pink.

"Culpepper's nice, isn't he?" Fowler asked looking at Pandora "Did he look after you when I was trying to investigate where MECH and those Ninja enemies of yours went?"

"He did yes." Pandora replied.

"He's a good kid." Fowler said, "I'm friends with his old man who's also a pilot, yet he flies a jet."

"Runs in the family?" Pandora asked, "Just like how my family and I have trained as ninjas and I've followed their example."

"Indeed." Fowler said with a smile "You know kid, you're pretty tough for one so young, after what you've been through with MECH and the Foot and with that Spider Bot thrown in, you're showing how strong you are."

Pandora chuckled.

"I'll admit sir." She said, "I was shitting my pants at the most part, but I'm no stranger when it comes to proper danger, yet I will admit Airachnid's a foe like no other I've experienced."

As she said that, the hybrid thought back to when she had fought Vulstrun those years back as well as protected Kemeko when they had infiltrated the Foot Headquarters to rescue the Hamato Clan, and how scary those times were, especially when she had been confronted by the powerful evil version of her Uncle Tyroth, yet she wasn't sure which was worse, Airachnid or Vulstrun as both were sadistic and evil and were ready to inflict the worst of pain on their victim.

Before long they arrived in the main silo, and no sooner did they appear through the lift doors, than Kemeko jumped up from the sofa and ran into her cousin's arms.

Pandora was slightly shocked, but she opened her arms to Kemeko and held her close.

"Oh Pandora!" Kemeko wept "Thank goodness! I thought you were lost to us! I love you so much cousin!"

Pandora held Kemeko close.

"Oh hey Kem." She soothed "It's alright, I'm okay."

"I'm sorry I couldn't help!" Kemeko sobbed "I didn't know they were in the desert as well!"

"You had no way of knowing Lotus." Donatello said walking over with the others and joining in with hugging Pandora.

Michelangelo was especially happy as he hugged his niece and kissed her.

"What happened out there?" he asked.

"I believe we all should hear what happened from the time Pandora was captured to when she and Fowler returned along with Arcee, Raphael and Monalisa." He turned to look at Raphael and Monalisa who had climbed the steps to the platform.

"The feeling is mutual Master Splinter." Optimus agreed "Lets us all sit and listen to Raphael, Monalisa, Pandora and Arcee's account of events."

"I'll get us some energon." Ironhide offered.

"And I will make some tea." Splinter volunteered.

After a few minutes, Raphael, Monalisa and Pandora were on the sofa sipping some tea as they told everyone what had happened when they arrived at where MECH and the Foot were hiding along with Airachnid.

Hearing that the evil Spider Bot had allied with MECH and the Foot horrified the Autobots and the Hamato Clan.

"I'm not surprised that evil femme formed an alliance, or at least a temporary one." Ironhide growled.

"She wanted me." Arcee said "And she used Pandora to get to me and Raphael and Monalisa."

"And she used my helicopter to scan and transform!" Agent Fowler chimed in "That's the second time I've been caught by a con and my flying vehicles have been scanned!"

"She's got a vehicle mode now?" Ratchet asked fearfully, "That is not good!"

"It is worrying, and given how merciless she is as a Decepticon, we must be extra vigilant."

"Oh, I will be!" Arcee said "No fear of that! Like before, I will be waiting for her!"

"As long as you don't go out and try looking for her on your own." Optimus reminded her in a serious voice.

Arcee looked up at the Prime and vented.

"I won't." she said.

"What's got me worried the most is that the Foot have joined MECH." Leonardo piped up and he looked at Raphael and Monalisa.

"Do you guys have any idea how they found each other?" he asked.

"Sadly, no Leo." Raphael said, "We weren't able to find out how, all we know is that they've formed an alliance, and they tried to take Arcee apart whilst Airachnid sent us on a goose chase to find Pandora before midnight."

"And I'm glad you were able to get to her in time!" Bulkhead said "Man, I can't tell you how worried we've all been."

Bumblebee bleeped in agreement.

"We were lucky." Monalisa said "But I knew all along that Airachnid wasn't going to keep to her word, I've seen with all our enemies, it's all about sport, it's more fun in their eyes to make us work for what we want, then not deliver."

"That is true sis." Donatello said, "But regardless, you all got out in one piece!"

"And that is the most important thing." Splinter agreed "Yet we must be extra vigilant if the Foot have another ally, and what that means to us, the Mutopians and the world."

"We should get in touch with Tyroth as soon as possible." Leonardo agreed "Looks like another conference is on the cards."

"I'll send Tyroth a message now Leo." Donatello said taking out his shell-cell.

"And if MECH and the Foot are in alliance, what does that mean when it comes to...?" Kemeko asked and Leonardo looked at his adopted daughter.

"It's not safe for you or Pandora to be alone in the desert nor anywhere." He spoke.

"What?" Pandora and Kemeko asked together.

"You mean we're not allowed outside the silo?" Pandora demanded in a shrill voice "That's not fair!"

"Pandora!" Monalisa said placing a hand on her daughter's arm.

"No." Leonardo said quickly "I didn't mean we're going to keep you two girls in the silo, what I was going to say was that you are to stay together and with your guardians, and not leave each other's sights."

"Sounds like a fair agreement Leo." Raphael said, "Although if I had my way, I'd rather keep you in the silo." He said looking at his daughter whose eyes widened, and she was about to argue but Raphael kept speaking.

"But I know it wouldn't be fair." He said, "And after all we've been through with the Foot, the Purple Dragons and other enemies we've faced, we cannot stay hidden away and not face them again."

Monalisa agreed as did the other turtles and Splinter.

"That is very wise." Optimus said then looked at Bulkhead and Bumblebee who looked a little worried and sheepish, but they nodded knowing what Optimus was to ask of them.

"Don't worry Boss." Bulkhead assured "We will make sure the girls are well looked after; we'll keep an optic on them both!"

Bumblebee agreed and pointed at his optics as he bleeped.

"That's right Bee." Bulkhead said with a nod, "Two optics!"

"We're holding you both to it!" Ironhide quipped pointing a digit at them to which the wrecker and scout stood to attention and nodded.

Optimus then placed a servo on Ironhide's shoulder.

"I trust them completely Ironhide," he said, "Like I trust all of you to look after our Earthling friends."

The Autobot's looked pleased as they heard Prime's words.

"You have." Raphael spoke up "We managed to stop Airachnid and get Pandora back with Arcee's help."

"And Fowler's too." Kemeko reminded them to which the human liaison officer nodded and saluted.

"Leo." Donatello cut in "Tyroth's got back to me, he's asking when we should meet again?"

Leonardo frowned as he thought for a moment then looked at Agent Fowler.

"Any time Leonardo." He said with a salute, "I'll make sure I'm there."

Leonardo nodded.

"Thanks William." He said then turned to Donatello "Have Tyroth, the Knights, James and Dahlia come to the Silo at thirteen hundred hours day after tomorrow." He said to which Donatello nodded and typed back on his Shell-Cell.

Leonardo then looked at Raphael, Monalisa and Pandora who looked rather exhausted.

"And I suggest." He said, "That we all get some rest after such a trying night, some more than others."

"That would be wise Leonardo." Splinter said with a proud smile as he saw his eldest son start to act like the Leader and sensei he was to become.

Raphael and Monalisa didn't argue, they were tired and felt they needed to rest after all they went through.

Pandora too felt exhausted, yet seeing Kemeko look so upset as well as guilty she hadn't been there to protect her, she felt she needed to be with her to comfort her cousin.

"Come on Kemeko." Pandora smiled holding out her hands to her cousin, "If you want to, I'll stay with you tonight and we can spend some time together before we go to sleep?"

Kemeko chewed her lip, and she nodded before reaching over and hugging her cousin.

"I love you Pandora." She whispered.

"I love you too." Pandora said soothingly "Please, don't feel guilty to what happened, you had no idea."

"Pandora is right young Kemeko." Optimus said softly "You had no idea what was to happen, do not blame yourself."

Leonardo looked at Optimus with a smile before going over to his daughter and stroking her hair.

"Come on, we best get some rest now, and prepare to meet with the Mutopians the day after tomorrow."

"And I'll be there too." Fowler said, "Scouts honour!"

"Wise choice Leonardo." Splinter said and the rest of the Hamato Clan agreed before standing up and making their way to the residential bunks.

Pandora wrapped her arm around Kemeko as they waked together.

"Don't blame yourself okay Kem?" she said, "You weren't to know, and if anything were to happen, we'll be in it together, okay?"

Kemeko nodded.

"Together no matter what..." she said.

And so ends the Crisscross episode, hope you enjoyed it,

Stay tuned for how I work on the next episode and I hope you like how I play it out!