Ugh. What hit me?
The space behind my eyes throbs and a groan slips past my lips. Seriously. What happened? My hand cautiously lifts to my forehead as I wrack my memory. The last thing I remember is being in Foot Tower and…
My eyes snap open, my mind barely registering the pain of a blurry light burns my eyes.
Foot Tower! The creature! The U.P. whatever appeared and grabbed me!
Frantically, I try to push myself up, swaying as my head spins and my stomach rolls. Blinking, my vision clears and I nearly fall back down to my knees. I'm in some sort of laboratory, one not nearly as nice as Agent Bishop's but a little more high-tech than Donnie's. I recognize some computer monitors but otherwise, it feels like I'm in a whole other world.
Which, I mean, isn't out of the realm of possibilities, I think, wary amusement dulling my panic slightly. It's not like my brothers and I haven't traveled off-world before. Heck, we've even traveled to the future! For all I know, the Ultimate Protector decided to take me on holiday someplace that it only knows.
"How come I'm the one who got turtlenapped? Isn't that Leo's department?" I whine, rubbing my chest as I focus on my particular section of the lab. A pout forms on my lips as I notice a pale golden shield surrounding me in a space that is wide enough for me to fully stretch out in either direction.
There isn't any artificial light filling the space except for a few small blinking red lights from the monitors around the room. There is a large skylight that is allowing the moonlight to flood the room. My hand presses harder against my chest when my eyes land on a metal table with straps hanging down on either side.
Dear Silver Sentry. Is the U.P gonna DISSECT me?
A sick pit forms in my stomach, squatting down to curl into myself as I try to regulate my breathing. It all makes sense. He needs that tracker back to track down the Ultimate Weapon and he can't do that while it's trapped inside of my chest.
Whimpering, I squeeze my eyes shut. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Another whimper wheezes out of me as I press my palms hard against the side of my head, trying desperately to ground myself.
CREAK.
My breath hitches as my head snaps up and I stare into the dark corner of the lab. Movement shifts within the shadows and I scramble back to my feet as the Ultimate Protector comes into view.
The large lumbering form steps into the moonlight, heading straight for my prison. Shrinking into myself, I back up until my back hits the energy field keeping me trapped. Glowing gold eyes stare down at me, as if spearing directly into my soul. Biting the inside of my cheek, I laugh nervously after a beat of silence.
"Uh… H-H-Hey there, big g-g-guy. How's it goin'?" I stammer, unsure on why the large creature is just staring at me. I warily watch as the U.P. reaches up and a soft beep fills the air. Frowning, I glance up just in time to see the force field shimmer and vanish. My eyes widen. My only source of protection for the U.P. gone before my very eyes.
"H-Hey! Wait!" I shout as he suddenly leans down and a large hand reaches for me. I barely manage to take 3 steps when I am once again in the U.P. grip. Wiggling frantically, I shove at the hand around my waist as I'm pulled from my small prison.
'Calm yourself, little one,' a deep voice, the same deep voice from the tower, says directly into my head. 'You will only hurt yourself further if you continue to struggle.'
As if on cue, both my head and ribs send a swift jolt of pain through my body causing me to gasp and tense before going limp in the U.P.'s hold. He (is it a 'He'? Should I ask? Would that be too weird?) pulls me closer to his chest, as if cradling me. My air catches in my throat as I'm pressed against cool, sleek armor that shifts and slides with each heavy footstep the creature takes.
"Uh…Where-Where are we goin', big guy?" I ask, cursing as my voice trembles. My heart hammers in my chest as I realize in just what direction we are heading.
Toward the examination table.
Flashes of Agent Bishop's face filter through my mind and the faint sound of a buzzing saw fills my ears. I'm vaguely aware that the U.P. never answered my question when I'm suddenly being laid down. The moment my shell hits the cold table I start thrashing.
"NO! NO! Please! Don't do this! Please! I can't—I don't—Please!"
My voice breaks as the U.P. straps me down, easily holding me in place with one hand as he does so. My feet throb from where I kick him, trying my best to launch him away, but the creature is just too big. Too heavy. A sob wracks from me as my vision blurs, the adrenaline easing the throbbing in my ribs as my chest heaves as I gulp for air.
'Be at ease, little one, I do not wish to harm you.' The Ultimate Protector states, rubbing my head with two large fingers causing me to freeze in place, half afraid that he might press down and just crush my skull. 'This is merely a precaution.'
My lungs stutter as I gulp a wheezing breath.
"P-Precaution? For what, dude?!" I ask, voice high and panicked. "What are you going to do with me? If this is about that glowy orb-thing than I'm sorry! I had no idea that it was this all-important tracker-thing! Seriously! I'm super sorry about that but isn't there another way to get it out of me than to cut me open?" I roughly tug on my restraints, but they hardly budge. My eyes burn as my vision starts to swim and blur. I flinch when a large hand cups the side of my face and turns my head until I'm looking the U.P. in the eyes.
'Little one, calm yourself, I am not going to cut you open.'
I blink and snap my mouth shut as the creature cuts me off. Uh, isn't that what usually happens when someone straps me or one of my brothers to these scary metal tables? To cut us open? I bite my lip as I glance up at the U.P. and I swear that I see amusement dancing in his eyes. But, well, without eyebrows or a mouth, it's really difficult to actually know what this large, armored guy is thinking.
"Oooo-kay," I mutter, hands twitching at my sides. "You're not gonna cut me open. But what about your tracker-thing? Karai said that it helps you locate the, uh, Kyūkyoku no buki?" I think I pronounced that right? "How can you do that if your orb is inside of me?"
A deep chuckle enters my mind and the U.P. pulls his hand from my face before moving around me to strap my legs down.
'I was the one who created that orb in the first place,' he calmly explains as I watch with wide eyes as he adjusts the strap around my ankles so they aren't too tight but will hold firm in case I start thrashing again. 'If I really needed another tracker, or a torakkā, then I would create another. However,' the U.P. glances back at me and I swear he's smiling in his own way. 'I no longer have a need for my torakkā.'
My mouth falls open.
He no longer has a need for his tracker? Why on earth wouldn't he need his tracker? My eyes widen as a lightbulb goes off in my mind and I wiggle until I gain the U.P.'s attention. My heart hammers under my plastron.
"Did…Did you locate the Kyūkyoku no buki?"
Slowly, the U.P. nods, golden eyes flashing and watching me closely. I close my eyes as my chest heaves.
Oh no. Oh no. What if those rogue Foot soldiers find out about it? Have they already found out? Is that why they were chasing him down? I need to let Leo and the others know! My eyes snap open at the thought of my brothers, a spike of fear and anxiousness slamming into my gut.
My brothers! Oh, sweet Silver Sentry! They're gonna be pissed that I got turtlenapped! I groan and stare up at the ceiling just as the creature leans closer, a question clear in his golden eyes.
"My brothers are gonna be so angry," I groan out, only mildly concerned by the way the U.P. is crowding over me. "Nothing bad was supposed to happen while we were talking with Karai, but, well, as you can see, that didn't really happen, dude."
The U.P. nods just barely and I nearly squeak when his large hand lands on top of my plastron. He doesn't push down, just merely resting it there but it's enough to cause my mind to blank in panic. Wouldn't that impress my brothers? That all it takes is a large, ancient, armored creature thing to finally silence my mind and my babbling.
"Uh, d-d-dude? You, uh, you said that you found Kyūkyoku no buki." I wet my lips as the U.P.'s fingers twitch on me. "So, uh, why aren't you out there locating them? Wait! Did those rogue Foot guys get to them before you? Are they bringing them to Hun right now?" If so, why on earth is this guy fussing over me for?!
Maybe I can convince him that me and my family just want to hel—'
You really are quite the unique soul, little one,' the U.P. muses, dragging me out of my thoughts. I offer him a shaky version of my 'Mikey-Smile'.
"Well, Raphie does like to call me 'odd', so I guess that's not all that far off of being 'unique'."
The U.P. shakes his head, moving his hand until only one finger is pressing directly above my thundering heart.
'Fear not, little one, those foolish mortals are nowhere near the Kyūkyoku no buki and nor will they ever as long as I can move.' I shudder as the U.P. growls before continuing. 'Because the Kyūkyoku no buki is right here.'
If I had eyebrows, they would be so high up my forehead one would think they were part of my nonexistent hair. My eyes flicker around the moonlit room. The Ultimate Weapon is here? It's supposed to be a person with a kind soul, right? Maybe they're in another room? I pause as I try to squint into the darkness. IS there another room? Where is this lab located anyways?
I really hope this isn't Bishop's old lab, I think warily. But, then again, I think his was underneath the river…
A gasp erupts from me when a warmth throbs in my chest and I swiftly glance down. I blanch when I notice a rich golden color emitting from both the U.P. and my chest. The warmth throbs again and I pant as a weight presses and moves around inside of me.
"W-W-What-?"'Shh, my little Kyūkyoku no buki,'the U.P. murmurs into my mind. 'This will only take a moment.'Panic flares in my mind as I wiggle against my restraints.
"'Kyūkyoku no buki'?! What?! No way, dude! I think you're mistaken I'm not—Please! Just let me go! What are you doing?!" My voice raises an octave with each word that spews from my mouth. The U.P. keeps his gaze on the glowing light emitting from his finger and my chest. Warmth spreads from my chest down to my limbs.
'I am releasing your power, little one. It will be uncomfortable, especially considering just how much power I feel radiating from within you, but it needs to be done to bring you to your full potential.' The U.P. closes his eyes briefly and I cry out as the warmth throbs not only in my chest but in my arms, legs, and abdomen. Gasping, I whimper and groan as I try to wiggle away.
Potential? Power? What is he talking about?
"I-I don't understand," I ground out, air hitching in my throat as another throb wrecks through my body. The light emitting from my chest intensifies and my vision blurs from something other than unshed tears.'
Fear not, my little Kyūkyoku no buki, all will become clear,' the U.P. says, his voice the only thing I can concentrate on as I shudder and writhe in discomfort. 'All of this will be over soon. For I have been wandering this plane for a very long time, searching for you after my last Kyūkyoku no buki was taken from me. I will not allow it to happen again. This time Master will not keep you from me, for I shall protect you from all.'
I try to process everything that the U.P. is telling me, but the throbbing has moved from uncomfortable to downright painful. It's taking all of my concentration to not start screaming outright as the inside of my body feels as though I'm burning from the inside out. Harsh gasps fill the air and I slam my head from side to side.
At least… I know… why he… strapped me… down now, I think, just barely able to form a thought through my pain, slamming my head against the table, hoping to regain some sense, maybe focus on a different type of pain. No surprise that it doesn't work.
"H-Hurts," I pant out, groaning and biting my lip as my body spasms. A whine slips past my lips when the U.P. strokes my head with his free hand. '
Almost there, little one, almost there. You have far more power than I originally thought.' The U.P. starts to hum, a soft, haunting melody, a tune that sounds oddly like one that Master Splinter used to sing to us when we were nothing more than little turtle-tots.
I groan and shake my head violently. I don't care if I have enough power to light up all of New York City. I just want this to stop! Even when Kluh used me as a punching bag it didn't hurt this much.
Leo! Raph! Donnie! Help! Please!
The Ultimate Protector continues to hum as blood starts to rush in my ears and I squeeze my eyes shut as the light radiating from my body is beyond blinding. Something inside my chest seems to SNAP and I can no longer contain my screams as my body tries to arch off the table. I'm vaguely aware of something crashing, the noise dull due to my screams and my pounding heartbeat in my ears.
Finally, my body sags against the table, my chest stuttering with each breath and I just barely realize that I'm sobbing. My chest burns and my limbs are filled with lead. Warm liquid rolls down my face, I'm not sure if it's blood or tears. It could be either at this point with how hard I was trying to bash my head in.
ROOOOOAR!
A shiver and moan slip from me and I try to lift my head. I know that roar. That's the U.P.'s roar. But why is he roaring?
"B-Big g-g-guy?" I whisper, my voice hoarse and loud inside my head. My eyebrow ridges furrow as a familiar ting and shing push their way past my rushing blood.
A yelp rips from me before morphing into a groan when the table I'm on is roughly shoved away. Whether it's because something hit me or because the U.P. shoved me, I will never know. Maybe if I was Leo or Donnie, but they just have unique perspective skills. Another groan leaves my lips when my table suddenly stops and I'm spun around. A shadow leans over me and I flinch as a hand rests on my cheek. My lips purse when I realize five fingers are touching me and a soft voice is speaking but I can't understand what's being said. Blinking rapidly and forcing more tears down my cheeks, I squint up and sag when I realize it's a blurry outline of orange hair and a yellow and black jumpsuit.
"April?" I murmur as she finally comes into focus.
Tear-filled green eyes stare back as April smiles wetly at me.
"Hey there, Mikey, you're gonna be just fine. So, just hang on, okay?"
Nodding numbly, I allow my head to fall back as April starts working on the straps holding me down and the cotton falls from my ears and the ringing of a fight echoes around the once quiet lab. Frowning, I follow the sounds, only to swallow thickly as a lump forms in my throat. Leo, Raph, Donnie, and Casey are all taking on the U.P., and, boy, even in my pained haze, I can see, and practically FEEL, the anger radiating from my brothers. My stomach squeezes queasily and I turn back to April just as she frees both my legs.
"A-April? Are…Are my brothers angry at me?"
April moves up to free my right wrist, her eyes flickering from her task up to my face. She must have seen something on my face because she stops instantly and caresses my cheek.
"Not at you, Mike, but I'm not gonna lie. There's gonna be quite the lecture waiting for you when we get you home. From ALL of us," April adds, her voice hard as she swiftly resumes her task of freeing me. "Because, seriously, Michelangelo, what were the two of you THINKING? Keeping that thing's PRESENCE a secret? Keeping your INJURIES a secret? Honestly." April shakes her head and guilt gnaws at my gut as she unties the last restraint and catches me as I slide forward. I bite my lip as I feel her tremble and I know it's not because I'm too heavy for her to hold up.
"April," I start softly, gazing up at her. "I'm really sorry."April's harsh gaze melts away and she holds me closer as she scans the room.
"Oh, Mike, you're already forgiven," April says, her voice low as she starts us toward the shadows in the room, her arms holding me tighter against her side. "We're just so worried about you. And hearing you…"
My head swims as I lift my gaze back to April as she trails off, but her lips are in a thin line as we slip into the darkest shadow we can find. '
NOOO! You shall not take my Kyūkyoku no buki from me!'
I flinch as the U.P. roars again, his anguished voice filling my mind. April winces next to me, but I can't tell if it's just from the ear-piercing roar or if she also can hear the U.P. inside her head. The two of us freeze when the U.P. spins toward us, golden eyes tinged red as he stares directly at us.
"April, I think he can see us," I whisper, voice high as April digs her fingers into my arm, plastering me to her side.
"He's not goin' to take you from me, Mike," April says, practically growling. "You're my little brother, too."
I blink at her, surprise and the good kind of warmth blooming inside of me.
THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
My head snaps back toward the U.P. and April yanks me to the side just as a large fist slams into the space right where April once stood. The two of us stagger and nearly topple over as April drags me along. The enraged roar of my second oldest brother catches the U.P.'s attention for a split second.
"Stay away from meh brotha!" Raph snarls as he slams into the U.P., sais digging into the exposed areas in his armor.
My breath hitches as the U.P. suddenly starts swinging wildly and manages to knock Raph loose, sending him halfway across the room. The U.P. turns toward my hot-headed brother and grabs one of the monitors from the wall. He chucks the 89'' screen across the room like it weighs nothing.
"RAPHIE!" I shout as he only just gets to his knees, groaning and rubbing his head.
Amber eyes shoot in my direction at my warning cry before widening as he finally notices the flying piece of electronics. A blue and green blur slams into Raph just as the screen nearly flattens him and I nearly sag against April when I see Leo crouching over his immediate younger brother, a snarl on his lips.
"April, you and Donnie get Mikey out of here. Raph, Casey, and I will distract this akuma."
I shiver.
When Leo starts pulling out the name-calling then you know that he's pissed off. The U.P. roars again, chucking another monitor toward both Leo and Raph, then one over to Casey and Donnie. Casey dives out of the way as Donnie flips over the electronics before landing then flipping neatly in front of April and I. Pure white eyes land on me as my super tall genius of a brother reaches out and just SCOOPS me off my feet. A squeak slips from me as I flail and cling to my immediate older brother as my head spins.
"Warn a turtle next time, dude," I groan out. "Can't just go sweeping dudes off their feet without consent, bro."
"Well, maybe if said turtle would stop finding trouble, I wouldn't find the need to sweep him off his feet," Donnie states dryly, his arms tightening around me as he sprints for the door. I curl into his plastron as the U.P. roars again. A jumble of multiple different languages filters through my mind as more crashes echo around us. Donnie doesn't slow down, ducking and weaving to the best of his ability with April right on his heels. I vaguely hear her speaking, but from the tone of her voice, I don't think she's talking to us.
The clank of metal doors has me hiding my face in Donnie's shoulder and my heart pounds in my chest as the U.P.'s roars grow fainter but so does the battle cries of my family.
"Donnie," I whimper and dig my fingers into his shoulders. "Donnie, they can't fight him. The U.P. is just too strong."
"'U.P.'?"
I nod and Donnie huffs out a chuckle, warm air hitting the top of my head.
"Cute. But they're not gonna fight it, Mikey, they're just gonna distract it for the next few minutes before bailing. They can leap back through the skylight we crashed through. But, well, I don't want to risk trying to take you that way."
Biting my lip, I nod, shivering as we burst from the building and out into the crisp New York air. I frown as I smell the saltiness of the harbor, tilting my head to see the docks just off to our right as we head for the Battle Shell. April jumps into the driver's seat after the two load me into the backend and Donnie starts to scan me for injuries.
"How bad are your ribs right now?"
I shoot my brother a surprised look. How in the good name of Silver Sentry does he know about my ribs? Donnie rolls his eyes, his chestnut eyes finally appearing from behind his angry white eyes.
"I'm not gonna ask again, Michelangelo. How are your ribs and does anything else hurt?"Pressing a hand to my plastron, I wince at the tenderness that settles deep in my chest.
"Uh," I start, licking my lips. "Um, I think they're okay? I can't…" I pause, breathing harshly through my nose as a harsh twinge shoots through my body.
"You can't WHAT, Mikey," Donnie demands, expert eyes scanning me as hands cup my cheeks.
"You gotta speak to me, Mike. I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong."
Vision blurring, I drag in a breath as the feeling of safety and love rolls over me, only something that my brothers can provide for me. Swallowing thickly, I lean into my brother's touch.
"I don't know," I mutter, embarrassed at how needy I feel right now. I just want to go home and curl up on the couch with my bros.
"Everything aches and if I move wrong my entire body wigs out, dude. Whatever that big guy did to me, it didn't feel very good."
Donnie shifts closer, forcing me to tilt my head up so we can meet eye-to-eye. His lips are pursed and there's a fire blazing in his usually calm and docile eyes.
"What did that thing DO to you, little brother?"
Opening my mouth, the words die in my throat when the backend of the Battle Shell slams open and our missing three members scramble into the vehicle.
"Punch it, April," Leo orders as Casey and Raph scramble for their usual seats as Leo locks the door.
Tires squeal just as Leo crouches down next to Donnie, an arm flying around our purple-clad brother to steady him as April yanks the wheel hard to the right. A roar fills the air as we speed away. Lifting my eyes, I meet my eldest brother's chocolate brown gaze as he stares down at me, a mess of emotions flickering around in those orbs.
"L-L-Leo?" I whisper out as his hand flies out to stabilize himself as April takes another harsh turn. After a second, he lowers his hand till it rests on my head.
"You're okay, baby brother, we've got you."
I relax as he rubs my head, slumping against the vehicle wall, all my exhaustion hitting me at once.
"Leo, I'm really sorry," I mumble. Donnie and Leo scoot closer as April takes another harsh turn. I hiss as we hit a pothole and Donnie presses a hand to my collarbone as if to keep me in place. Leo lowers his hand to my cheek and I open my eyes to stare at him. When did I close them?
"I know, Otōto. Casey explained everything to us," Leo whispers, stroking my cheek with his thumb. "We'll discuss it later. Let's just get you home and safe. Sounds good?"
Nodding, I soak in the safe presence of two of my brothers, half wishing for Raph to be over here too, but I can hear him barking out streets for April to take and I don't want to be selfish. I'll get my fair share of Raphie attention once we are all down in the lair where I'll be grounded for probably the rest of my life. Donnie kisses my temple as he secures himself close to my side.
"Just go to sleep, Otōto," Leo murmurs as my head drops to my chest. "We'll wake you when we're home."
"Promise?"
Donnie nuzzles me with his snout.
"We promise, little brother."
Lips twitching into a smile, I allow my body to fully relax and close my eyes and a comforting darkness washes over me just as a voice whispers:
"We've got you, Otōto. We've got you."
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Hello everyone! Sorry for the wait! Don't have too much to say besides thank you all who have been leaving me comments! I deeply appreciate it!
P.S. I just updated it this chapter, catching a few errors after I published it.
Hope you all enjoyed!
