My heart pounds wildly in my chest as I glance around the inside of the elevator. We've used this elevator many times in the past to reach the Shredder, but we've never used the elevator from the ground level before. Karai found a way to connect the elevator from the Mystics Temple to the main floor, seeing as the Mystics are no longer around, and has given Leo a special key that only we can use on the elevator to allow us to reach the top undisturbed.

This is really weird, I think as I try not to shift too much next to Leo. My gaze shifts over to my oldest brother as he stands there, the picture of absolute calm. Which, from years of living with Leo, I know to be an absolute lie. I know, deep down in that head of his, Leo is running through every possible scenario that we might encounter and coming up with different solutions for each encounter. I bite my lip to hide a wince and force my focus back up to the steadily climbing numbers.

Okay, Mikester, just remain calm. For all we know, Leo and Sensei are right and this isn't a trap and Karai just wants to keep the peace between us. Something those other Foot-fakers were trying to ruin by attacking me and Casey. My hand lands on my plastron as my ribs twinge as if to emphasize my point. I tap my foot to keep from rubbing at my aching ribs. And, even then, for all we know, those guys were just after that monster-creature thing. A frown tugs on my lips. Those ninjas did tell me they weren't interested in me or Casey now that I think about it. Maybe that creature-thing is really dangerous? And that's why Karai is worried? Could that creature be some sort of weapon?

My thoughts are interrupted by a rather harsh pulse in my chest, one hard enough that I nearly gasped out loud. My hand forms a fist and I shoot a panicked glance at Leo. When he doesn't look at me, I turn away. Part of me wants to turn toward Casey but that will just draw attention to myself.

And I can't just help but feel like something is gonna go wrong, I think, worrying my bottom lip. Our luck is never as nice as to let us have a meeting with a former foe and just walk away looking like a pile of daisies. Nope. Shell, we can't even go get pizza without getting jumped by someone! Whether it be the Foot, Purple Dragons, or even Agent Bishop himself, something always happens. I drum my fingers to an imaginary beat as I try not to just grab Leo and start shaking him while spouting every worry that I have running around in my brain. Which I doubt Leo would appreciate, considering that a lot of those worries revolve around that creature and that stupid orb that I can't seem to find any info on! And wouldn't that be a great way of telling Leo and the others what happened last night while getting food?

Because I'm sure an 'Oh, hey guys, yeah, sorry for my mental breakdown but, well, Casey and I totally thought we destroyed the fragile truce that we created with the Foot Clan all because we heard a noise down the alleyway and decided to go investigate it and I somehow absorbed something that this other Foot Clan was after and there was this HUGE creature that threw me and bruised my ribs and shell, but well, sorry I just needed to get it off my chest, thanks for listening to silly ol' Mikey. Carry on.'

I roll my eyes as the elevator starts to slow.

Yes, because THAT would go over very well for everyone. Leo will get pissed, Donnie will demand to run tests, Raphie will smack me and possibly Casey, and April will scold me until we return to the lair where Chichi will scold me and then tack on extra training for me to do in the morning. I shudder. Even at 19, I still fear the wrath of my father when we do something stupid. Okay… When Ido something stupid. And, well, keeping all of this a secret is probably the stupidest thing I've done in a long while, but I promised Casey and I don't go back on my promises.

Even if I almost spilled everything on the ride over, I think sourly as the elevator DINGS and the six of us exit the elevator.

A familiar sense of foreboding washes over me as I glance around the Shredder's old throne room. Not much has changed since the last time we were here to sign the Truce Pact with Karai. There are still Foot Clan banners hanging near large panes of glass that overlook the New York skyline and the water that once housed Fishface now are home to colorful koi fish. It's almost peaceful to watch them swim alongside us as we walk but I just can't help but glance out the windows as we move. It just feels like ANYTHING could be watching us, waiting for us to relax and start talking with Karai before BAM! Something smashes through one of those windows and attacks us! I mean, how many times did we do the exact same thing to the Shredder? You'd think Karai would have ditched the windows by now and, I don't know, maybe put in some reinforced steel there instead?

And where are Donnie's little T-Bots? Can Sensei see anything? Is he still holding the controller correctly? He didn't forget the buttons, did he? What if SENSEI is in trouble? How will we know? Casey isn't the most subtle of a dude. Shell, we really should have just had April wearing that earpiece, at least she knows how to act.

A warm hand lands on my shoulder and I glance up to find Leo watching me out of the corner of his eye. His lips twitch up into a small smile, the first I've seen since we left the lair and I feel my anxiety slow down. If Leo can smile in a time like this, then I'm sure that we're gonna be just fine. I'm just letting my imagination run wild again.

Deep breaths, Mikey, deep breaths. We can do this and return to the lair all in time for me to have some left-over pizza. Rolling my shoulders back, I attempt to relax as we approach Karai, who is waiting for us on her father's old throne and two Foot soldiers on either side of her.

"Karai," Leo greets as he steps forward and bows in respect. Karai stands at Leo's approach and offers him a bow of her own.

"Leonardo," she says softly. "I am pleased that you and your family could make it. I trust that you had no troubles along the way?"

"Nothin' more than the usual New York traffic," I state, grinning and folding my arms behind my head as Karai glances over at me. Leo offers me an exasperated look but he merely shakes his head and faces Karai.

"As Mikey said, nothing but the usual." Leo frowns and his eyebrow ridges furrow. "Why? Were you expecting us to be followed?"

Karai shakes her head.

"I do not know. We are still unsure what this rogue faction of Foot soldiers are up to. We have mainly been monitoring them and most of them are breaking into antique shops and museums late at night."

My eyes widen and I shoot April a look. The hard-set look on her face is enough to have me relax a little. April has been training under Master Splinter since she lived with us and has kicked ninja butt before, I know she's gonna be fine and will kick anybody's shell if they so much as even TRY to break into this shop.

I wince.

Just as long as they don't burn this one down. Yikes.

Donnie steps forward, his frown mirroring Leo's.

"If they've been breaking into all these locations, why haven't we been hearing about the break-ins on the news?"

Karai crosses her arms and glances out the window.

"That is because they have not actually stolen anything from the places that they entered." She looks back at Leo. "But that does not mean that they have not found something of importance."

My heart drops into my stomach and this time, I do glance at Casey. Only to find him already looking at me, his face looking how I feel. That is... until April glances at us and Casey quickly schools his face and I merely offer her a smile. April narrows her eyes at me before focusing on Karai once more.

Karai snaps her fingers and one of the ninjas appears next to her while the other tugs on a string. A white sheet unfolds behind her throne and suddenly the lights dim and a project that none of us noticed (well except for maybe Leo, he sees everything) comes to life and shines on the sheet.

"We believe that last night was the first night that this faction under Hun's control finally found something that they were after," Karai states as she holds out her hand and the ninja next to her hands her a small remote.

"What did they find?" Leo asks and I nearly shake him. DON'T ASK HER THAT!

Karai frowns at Leo, a troubled expression on her usually stoic face.

"This."

Karai clicks a single button, and an image appears on the sheet. My hand presses against my chest as warmth pulses as I stare wide-eyed at the image.

An ancient drawing of the very creature that attacked me and Casey last night sits there on the screen. There is faint writing around the creature, but it appears to be in kanji and a few other languages but it's too far away from me to actually see.

Donnie takes a step closer to the screen with Leo and Raph right behind him.

"What is that?" Donnie asks softly as Leo glares up at the sheet.

Karai presses another button and this time, a less faded drawing appears without any of the writings.

"From what we have been able to glean from the photos we managed to obtain, this creature is called 'Kyūkyoku no purotekutā'," Karai states, her eyes dark and flashing in the dim light. "Otherwise known as the 'Ultimate Protector' in English. It was created many centuries ago when Japan was full of turmoil. Nobody is absolutely certain who created it but occurring to legend, the Kyūkyoku no purotekutā was created to protect Kyūkyoku no buki or the 'Ultimate Weapon' and it was the result of this 'Ultimate Weapon' that allowed Japan to finally escape its inner turmoil and finally achieve peace and harmony once more."

"Great," Raph grumbles. "More hocus pocus bullshit for us to deal with."

"Raph," Leo growls under his breath before turning to Karai. "And you believe that it's this 'Ultimate Protector' and 'Ultimate Weapon' that the Hun and the others are after?"

Karai scowls as she clicks on the button again and the drawing of the U.P. vanishes and is replaced by a nighttime photo of the U.P. clashing with the rogue Foot ninjas. Blood drains from my face as I see the timestamp on the photo.

That was taken last night! My stomach squeezes queasily as I frantically scan the photo for any signs of me or Casey being present.

"I do not believe, Leonardo," Karai states, fully turning toward my eldest brother. "I know because my ninjas caught this photo last night as they were tailing the traitors. They have somehow managed to find the 'Ultimate Protector' and have brought it here to New York. But they underestimated the creature's strength and intelligence. It appears that the 'Ultimate Protector' is a sentient being capable of thought and emotion, but with a singular purpose."

"To protect the 'Ultimate Weapon'," Leo states, crossing his arms as he glares up at the photo. "Do you know what they've done with that thing? Or what they're going to do?"

Karai huffs as she passes the remote back to her ninja and the lights come back on. Walking up to her throne, Karai sits down, resting her elbows on her knees and steeples her hands in front of her mouth.

"They are currently trying to recapture that creature as we speak."

I swallow thickly as I shoot Casey another glance as gasps resound around us. Casey meets my gaze with wide eyes, his face pale. That freaky creature thing that tried to get handsy with me is really an ancient war machine?! Then what on earth did I just absorb? Its weapon of mass destruction? Panic swirls in me as I stare down at my chest. Is it going to explode inside of me? Is that why I keep feeling that weird pulsing?

Breathe, just breathe, it's gonna be okay. It's gonna be fine. My brothers and I will figure something out.

"Okay, so we just need to get to that thing first," Leo states as Donnie groans, head buried in his hands.

"Only in New York will you see an ancient creature running around."

Raph pats Donnie on the shoulder, his own shoulders set as he looks up at Karai.

"All 'ight, so Hun's goons lost dat thin', but what I want ta know is how we fight it."

"Raph! Are you nuts?!" I squeak out, hands flying to my head as I stare my brother down. "What part of 'Ultimate Protector' don't you understand? Emphasis on the, oh, I don't know, the 'Ultimate' part?"

Raph glares at me over his shoulder, amber eyes flashing as the lights come back on. I attempt to glare back but my panic and fear are making it a little hard to do anything at the moment.

Karai leans back in her seat, drumming her fingers on the arm of the throne, appearing deep in thought. Leo glances back up at the photo.

"Well, it obviously was hidden away somewhere after it was used last time so if we focus on just returning it to wherever it was hidden there might be a chance that whatever stopped it before is still there."

Good. Good plan, Leo. Leo always has a plan. This situation was probably in one of those imaginary scenarios he was going over in his head as we rode the elevator.

Karai sighs and I nearly wince. Karai sighing this much must mean that she's far more upset about this than she's letting on.

"If only it was that easy, my friend," Karai answers back, rubbing at her temples, and for the first time in a very long while she seems more her age, younger and unsure of anything while also appearing far older than she actually is.

Leo narrows his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

"We have an inside source within the faction," Karai states, meeting Leo's harsh gaze with her own very tired one. "From what he has told us about Hun's quest to locate the 'Ultimate Protector' and the 'Ultimate Weapon', they didn't find it, it found them."

That's always the way, isn't it? That's how all the horror stuff happens in horror movies. The creature finds the people that were looking for it and BAM! They die! I rub my clammy palms on my thighs and shoot a glance out the window as I hear Donnie gasp.

"Wait," my genius brother says. "You're not telling us that the 'Ultimate Protector' was just up and roaming around wherever they went to go find it, are you?"

Karai nods solemnly and both Raph and Casey curse out loud, both ignoring the glares that April and Leo shoot them.

"That is exactly what I am saying, Donatello. High up on Mount Fuji that thing was found, roaming around aimlessly in the snow. The only reason they were able to capture it was because the creature was practically frozen solid from however long it was out there. But even Baxter Stockman wasn't sure how long that creature was out there. From what our intel had to say, all they could tell was that it was there for a very, very long time."

"Which means that for all we know, it could have been awake for centuries or not even dormant all these years," Leo states, a deep scowl on his face as he glares up at the photo when he points at something. "Wait, what does the 'Ultimate Protector' have in its hand? That glowing thing?"

"That is the main reason we contacted you, outside of the worry that Hun might try and destroy our truce," Karai states, standing once more. "That orb is what-"

Karai is cut off by alarms blaring around us and the lights going out with only red emergency lights flickering on. My mouth dries as she turns toward her two ninjas.

"Nani ga okotte iru no ka shirabe ni iku!" Karai barks and the two Foot soldiers vanish into a cloud of smoke. Karai growls as she pulls out her katana. "I apologize, I was hoping that we could have this meeting in secret, but it appears that it cannot be. I do not know how they found out about this meeting, but we must be on our guard. Some of my strongest ninjas followed Hun and those other traitors."

Reaching for my nunchucks, I turn to face my brothers as they also draw their weapons. Chewing on my bottom lip, my eyes sweep the open room. My chest is warm and pulsing, and deep in my gut, I know that it isn't Hun, Fishface, Rahzar, or even Tigerclaw who we should be worried about.

"Hey, Karai?" I call out as I twirl my nunchucks. "What were you gonna say to Leo before the alarms decided to sing us the song of their people?"

Karai grunts as she starts down the steps from her throne, eyes flickering around as she moves.

"What Leonardo saw in that creature's hand is its tracker orb. It shows the 'Ultimate Protector' the purest soul on this planet and leads it to them."

I think I'm going to be sick.

Casey makes a choked noise and I'm fighting to not start hyperventilating.

A TRACKER?! I absorbed a TRACKER?! Cold dread washes over me. And I went to lair! I went to April's! Oh no. Oh no. Oh no.

"But why does it only lead it to the purest soul?" Donnie asks as he slowly spins in a circle, bo staff at the read while checking every window and exit.

Karai stops walking next to Leo, her eyebrows furrowed over dark brown eyes.

"Occurring to the legend, only the purest of souls could become the 'Ultimate Weapon' because only they will have the purest of intentions for everyone. A gentle spirit that just wants to protect everyone, but a gentle spirit is more finely tuned to the world around them, both physical and spiritual. Most of the time, the gentle spirit needs a little shove to gain access to their spiritual side and the 'Ultimate Protector' can help them release it once they are found."

Raph twirls his sais, growling as the alarms continue to blare.

"Yeah? And how is dat spiritual stuff supposed ta be da 'Ultimate Weapon'?"

Karai places a hand on Leo's shoulder and nods toward the elevator. The two of them start making their way over to it. I swallow thickly as I watch them go.

"Because the gentle spirit has so much spiritual energy inside of them that it is said that if released, they hold enough power to even bring back the dead," Karai states, her eyes trained on the elevator. Did they hear something that we didn't?

"And that's why they want the 'Ultimate Protector', isn't it?" Donnie suddenly asks. "Hun and the others want to find the 'Ultimate Weapon'."

"And they want to use it to bring someone back from the dead," April says, jumping in with a gasp.

Raph growls low and deep. Shell, my brother can be scary when he wants to be.

"And I can bet dat dere's only one person dose goons would go through all dese trouble ta bring back."

"The Shredder," Leo growls as he and Karai flank either side of the elevator, holding a silent conversation.

Okay, okay, it's going to be okay, Mikey. Your bros are here. April and Casey are here. Shell, even Karai and the Foot are here. We're gonna be okay. Master Splinter is watching from the T-Bots and listening through Casey. Speaking of Casey…. Glancing over at the blackette, I can see him with a finger to his ear, mouth flying fast and speaking as quietly as he can. My hands flex on the wood of my nunchucks. Casey glances over at me and his blue eyes shining with panic.

He had the same thoughts that I did, I think as I merely shrug his way. Casey mouths something at me. Confused, I shake my head showing that I don't understand. Casey groans, hands flying to his hair as he tries not to smack himself with his baseball bats. After a second, Casey waves me over, frustration written all over his face. April is staring between the two of us, eyebrows furrowed in confusion and suspicion. My heart hits my feet when she suddenly grabs Casey's arm, turning him to face her.

"Okay! Spit it out, Casey Jones!" April snaps, jabbing a finger at his chest. "What are you and Mikey not telling us? What are you trying to tell him?"

That catches everyone else's attention and I shrink when both Raph and Donnie look my way. Raph narrows his eyes at me, his amber eyes vanishing into white slits, and he points a finger at me.

"All right, Mike, spit it out. What ain't ya and Casey not tellin' us, huh? Do da two of ya know sometin' about dat creature?"

My eyes widen and I shoot Casey a panicked look. Casey sighs and he runs a hand through his hair.

"Mike, we better just tell 'em. Dere just gonna be madder da longer we wait."

"Tell us WHAT, Michelangelo?!" Leo snaps, stepping away from his spot near the elevator, anger radiating from my big brother. My heart pounds wildly as I glance around the room.

"I didn't mean to!" I gush out, my heart clenching in panic. "I didn't know what it was!"

"Mikey, what did you do?" Donnie asks, his voice high with panic.

Casey groans, stepping forward to pull the attention onto himself.

"No, Mikey, it wasn't yer fault, it was mine." Casey glances between my brothers and April. "We heard a noise down an alleyway near Osaki's and I wanted ta check it out. Mikey was da one who said not to. No, Mikey," Casey says, holding a hand up when I try cutting him off. "Ya just wanted ta go grab da pizzas and head home. But I didn't listen, so if anyone is takin' da blame, it's me, kiddo."

"I don't care who's ta blame! Da two of ya better get talkin' before I shove meh foot up BOTH yer asses!" Raph roars, glaring between me and Casey, shoulders tense as his fingers flex on his sais.

I knew we shouldn't have hidden this! Why did we think this was a good idea? I press one hand against my forehead and the other to my plastron as I drag in deep breathes rapidly, trying to calm my racing heart as my ribs and back remind me of their presence and the abuse they suffered last night with each inhale and exhale. We should have just dealt with it when we got-

"Mikey," Donnie calls out softly, his hands outstretched, reaching out for me when I look over at him. "Mikey, calm down, bro, it's okay. Just tell us what happened last night."

My vision blurs as my soft-spoken brother speaks, his love and concern only making my guilt about this entire situation worse. I gulp another breath of air, this one following a sudden burst of heavy pulsing warmth in my chest, and I press my trembling hand harder against my plastron. Concern flickers across Donnie's face as he continues toward me, his pace slow and steady.

"Mikey, listen to me," Donnie says quietly. "You need to slow your breathing down. You're just gonna cause yourself to hyperventilate which will cause you to pass out. So, breathe in. Hold. Then breathe out. Breathe in. Ho-"

However, halfway to me, Donnie pauses mid-step and he squints at something over my head, confusion replacing his concern. My shoulders hunch up toward my ears when Donnie's eyes widen almost comically, panic filling his chocolate brown eyes.

"MIKEY! MOVE!" Donnie cries out, hand outstretched.

I barely have a chance to react to Donnie's warning when the glass of the window behind me shatters and rains down on me and I cover my head. A loud roar pierces the air and a heavy THUD echoes around the room. My arms tremble as I lower them back down to my sides and I freeze.

The creature, the Ultimate Protector, is crouched on all fours, its armor shining in the flashing red lights. I hold my breath as the U.P. leans back on its haunches its large arms raising, ready to swipe. I swallow a whimper as I stare at its back, the U.P. not moving another inch from its spot in the center of the room, breathing heavily as it moves its head from left and right slowly.

Surveying the spacing, I realize with a shiver.

"Dat thing's huge!" Raph shouts as he quickly pulls Donnie away from its massive arms as U.P. starts to stand.

The U.P., ignoring Raph's outburst, lifts its head and the sound of sniffing fills the air. A deep, guttural growl emits from the hulking form.

My body trembles when the creature slowly turns around, golden eyes locking on me. Its eyes narrow before emitting another low growl and I can't stop the gasp that escapes me when the area that the orb was absorbed into pulses rapidly and becomes almost unbearably warm. My eyes widen in surprise when the very area that is pulsing starts to glow, and I faintly hear the soft calling of 'Mi-KEY' once more.

"What the shell?" I hear Donnie shout and I shoot him a panicked look. Both Raph and Donnie are staring at me in horror and confusion as the glowing starts to pulse in time with my rapid heartbeat.

"I didn't…This didn't…" I stammer, unsure what to say to possibly salvage the situation and not make my brothers even angrier with me.

"Mikey absorbed dat tracka thing inta his chest!" Casey finally cries out, panic and horror lacing each word. "But at da time we didn't know it was a tracka."

"WHAT?!" multiple voices cry out, a mixture of pure and unadulterated horror and fury behind each voice.

What I wouldn't give for the floor to just open up and swallow me whole, I think as I shoot Mr. Statue-War-Machine a frightened look. The U.P. hasn't moved since the whole chest-glowing-and-pulsing thing, but that doesn't leave me with too much comfort since it hasn't blinked or even looked away from me. It's almost as if it's waiting for something.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I tentatively smile at the much larger creature.

"Uh, h-h-hey, buddy, long time no s-s-see. I see that you sh-shook those other Foot-guys off." I laugh nervously when the U.P. tilts its head and I get the vague impression that it's sizing me up right now.

Almost, as if on cue, more windows around us shatter and the rogue Foot soldiers leap into the throne room and I nearly start crying. See!? See?! This is why I was feeling anxious in the elevator! We never get to attend a meeting and have it go smoothly, it just never happens! No matter how much planning Leo does, or how much we stealth, nothing EVER goes according to plan and it sucks!

"Great, just great," I hear Raph grumble as he and Donnie stand back-to-back. "More ugly goods ta join da party."

And it's all my fault! This stupid tracker-thing led tall dark and creepy straight to us which led those rogue ninjas to us! My vision swims once more, hot tears threatening to spill down my cheeks as I fight to reign in my emotions. Twirling my left nunchuck and keeping my right hand pressed over my plastron in a weak attempt to cover the glowing light, I glance from left to right as more ninjas appear. Luckily, even in the red light, I can see that these ninjas aren't wearing the black garb of the Foot Clan but a deep maroon color with a mixture of an upside-down Foot symbol with a dragon wrapped around it.

"Everyone, stay alert!" Leo shouts as he rotates each katana in his hands. "It's the creature they want."

"No," Karai says, shaking her head and she looks over in my direction, a deep sadness in her gaze. "It is not the Kyūkyoku no purotekutā that they are after."

However, before anyone can move, the Ultimate Protector roars, swinging its long, large limbs out around it, smacking a few unfortunate maroon ninjas in its wake and nearly taking Raph, Donnie, Casey, and April out. My heart leaps into my throat when it suddenly charges me and my mind blanks as I meet its golden gaze.

'Do not fear, little one, I am here to protect you.'

A gasp falls from my lips as a deep, raspy voice speaks directly into my head. I stagger backward a step just as I hear Leo call out:

"MIKEY! MOVE OUT OF THE WAY!"

My head snaps in my eldest brother's direction, Leo already sprinting in my direction when a large hand scoops me up. A startled cry erupts from me and I'm being pressed to the U.P.'s chest.

"I d-d-don't think this is the g-g-greatest times for cuddling, my d-d-dude!" I squeak out, pushing against the solid, marble chest plate. I wince as my hands slide against the grainy texture and for a second, a little bit of the marble flacks off. I blink when a small bit of green stares back at me.

What on earth?

'Sleep, little one,' the voice suddenly says, and I look up at the U.P. as bright, glowing gold eyes stare back. 'I shall protect you. No one shall take you away again.'

Alarm bells ring in the back of my mind as my vision grows hazy and my head feels like a billion little Raph's are laying on it. Weakly, I struggle in the massive hold, my limbs not cooperating with me one bit. I vaguely hear my brothers' crying out for me and something that sounds like metal on metal barely registers to my ears.

'Sleep now, little one. Do not fight it.'

But…

'Shh, sleep.'

Unable to fight it any longer, my head lolls to the side and my eyes slide shut. The last thing I see are two golden eyes watching me before darkness swallows me.

0o.o0

0o.o0

0o.o0

Sorry for the wait, everyone! I just had a hard time getting my thoughts down on paper for this chapter, so I'm sorry if it's a little longwinded or all over the place. I tried my best to keep it as coherent as possible.

And thank you to everyone who's commented! I deeply appreciate it!