The lair buzzed with tense energy as the mutant siblings gathered around the planning table. The air was thick with anticipation—tonight, they were going to save Karai.
Leo stood at the center, pointing to a drawn-out map of Shredder's lair. "This is the only way it can work, Raph," he said firmly.
Raph folded his arms, unconvinced. "Yeah, look, I'm on board for the whole 'rescue Karai' thing. But if we're going through the trouble of invading Shredder's lair, we gotta take him down once and for all."
"It's too risky," Leo replied, voice sharp.
Mari leaned back against the wall with her arms crossed, her gaze narrowed. "No offense, but is anyone gonna point out how this whole 'Karai's family now' thing happened overnight? You all trust her way too fast."
Cat, standing beside Mikey, tensed. "She's trying, Mari."
"Trying doesn't erase everything she's done," Mari shot back. "She's dangerous."
"That's not fair," Cat said, her voice tight. "You're just looking for reasons to hate her."
"I'm looking at the facts."
"Guys," Leo snapped. "Enough."
From across the table, Mikey raised a hand. "Also, uh—why am I the bait while Donnie gets to chill in the Shellraiser?"
Donnie, busy scanning blueprints on his tablet, didn't glance up. "Someone's gotta be the getaway driver."
Cat gave a weak laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Leo exhaled sharply. "Look, everyone is important here. We all have a part to play."
Before another argument could spiral, Splinter entered the room, his calm presence cutting through the rising tension. "Disagreement about a mission is never a good way to begin," he said evenly. "Leonardo, may I speak with you?"
Leo nodded, stepping aside with his sensei. He could feel the weight of Mari's words behind him, the pressure of every plan hinging on tonight.
"I know you are anxious to free Karai," Splinter said softly, concern lacing his tone. "But a plan that leads to confrontation with the Shredder is doomed to failure."
Leo's fists clenched. "Even if we have to face Shredder... isn't it worth it to rescue your own daughter?"
Splinter's face darkened, shadowed by pain. "I am not willing to risk your lives... or my daughter's."
Leo hesitated... then bowed his head. "Hai, sensei."
Back at the table, Mikey leaned toward Cat. "Soooo, is that a 'no-go' on Operation: Rescue Karai?"
Cat looked up as Leo returned, his face unreadable.
"No," he said at last. "Splinter's wrong. We can't wait."
Mari narrowed her eyes. "Oh, great. Because that's gone so well every time someone goes rogue."
"Then stay behind if you have a problem," Leo snapped.
"Gladly," Mari muttered, turning away.
Cat looked between them, heart sinking.
The team approached Shredder's lair under cover of darkness, each of them slipping into position.
"Donnie, you monitor from the Shellraiser and give us some cover," Leo instructed, calm and focused. "Mikey, you're the distraction. Cat, you're with me and Raph—we go in through the sewers."
Donnie climbed into the Shellraiser and began working the power grid. A few quick sparks later, the compound's lights blinked out. Meanwhile, Mikey darted through the shadows to set off the diversion. Leo, Raph, and Cat moved through the underground tunnels and into the lower levels of the lair, cutting down Foot bots as they advanced.
They reached the cell at last.
Inside, Karai sat with her back to the bars, still and silent.
"Karai," Leo said, stepping closer. "It's us."
She turned. Her eyes widened. "Leo? Cat?"
Karai's expression shifted, first shocked, then dryly amused. "Took you long enough."
Cat smiled beside him, eyes bright. "We totally wrecked a dozen Foot bots. I think that counts for extra points."
Karai gave her a look—half entertained, half exhausted.
Raph rolled his eyes. "Is this a rescue or a stand-up routine?"
Leo moved to the lock. "Just keep an eye out for Foot and Shredder."
Before leaving, Karai snagged a sword from a broken Foot bot, flipping it in her grip.
"How did you get past Tiger Claw?" she asked.
A growl echoed through the dark.
"They didn't," came the reply.
Tiger Claw stepped forward from the shadows, eyes gleaming.
Raph lunged without hesitation. Leo followed. Tiger Claw blocked and slammed them both aside with ease. Karai somersaulted through the air, blades drawn. Cat slid in, throwing her tessen with all her strength—but Tiger Claw swatted it aside and knocked her back into the wall.
Elsewhere, Mikey faced off against Rahzar and Fishface.
"You're looking good, Rahzar. Lost some weight?"
Rahzar snarled and slashed Mikey's arm. Mikey screamed dramatically but countered with a swift kick that sent Rahzar flying. Wincing in pain, he turned—only to see Fishface charging.
"Let's see how well you fight with one arm," Fishface hissed.
Back in the Shellraiser, Donnie scanned the monitors.
"Donnie," Leo's voice came through, strained, "we could use the cavalry."
"On it," Donnie said. "Hope this dog whistle works on cats."
Tiger Claw stood tall over the team, but the shrill whistle rang out. He roared, clutching his ears.
Raph sprang up and tackled him.
Karai pushed to her feet, breathing hard. "This isn't over, Tiger Claw."
Back with Mikey, the fight reached its climax. Fishface slashed, Mikey fell—but chained the fish mutant's legs to his nunchucks mid-fall. Fishface shrieked as he dangled over a drop, while Mikey blinked in surprise. "Okay... not bad."
Raph, Leo, Karai, and Cat emerged from the sewers, scratched and tired. Mikey joined moments later, holding his arm.
"Mikey!" Cat ran up to him.
"I'm good," Mikey grinned. "It's not my water-balloon-throwing arm. Ow."
Then they froze. Foot soldiers surrounded them.
Tiger Claw approached. "Surrender, reptiles. You're outnumbered."
A high-pitched screech tore through the night again. The Shellraiser barreled through the ranks, Foot flying in every direction.
"Better count again!" Donnie shouted.
"Sweet timing, D!" Mikey yelled.
As everyone scrambled inside, Karai lingered. Her eyes found Shredder, watching her from high above.
Cat tugged at her arm. "Come on!"
Karai turned away from her father and ran into the Shellraiser.
Inside, alarms screamed. Lasers hit the vehicle—purple and red blasts from Tiger Claw and Fishface.
"Okay, who forgot to load the manhole covers?" Raph growled.
Mikey pointed straight at Donnie.
"Really?" Donnie deadpanned.
Raph glared. "You had one job."
As the vehicle shook, Karai glared at the ammo system. "That's all you've got? Trash balls?!"
Donnie smirked. "This baby's still got a few tricks left."
He activated the smoke screen. Fog filled the air, blinding the villains. As they coughed and struggled, Donnie launched another function—pizza grease sprayed from the Shellraiser, coating the road.
Foot soldiers and motorcycles skidded out, crashing spectacularly. Tiger Claw, however, wasn't so easily stopped. With a growl, he launched into the air using his jetpack, cutting through the smoke like a bullet.
Inside the Shellraiser, the team exhaled, thinking they were in the clear.
"Not a bad bit of rescuing, huh?" Leo said, catching his breath.
Karai let out a soft chuckle, and Cat beamed, clearly proud of herself. She leaned forward from her seat, eyes shining. "We actually did it."
Karai glanced back at her with something close to amusement—but before she could speak, something outside caught her eye.
A flash of movement.
Then—Tiger Claw descended from above like a hawk, sword drawn.
In an instant, he snatched Karai from the open hatch.
"Karai!" Leo shouted, lurching toward her.
Cat screamed, lunging to grab her wrist, but her fingers slipped through air. Raph dove too—just barely missing her.
"I have you now," Tiger Claw growled.
Karai twisted, slicing at him mid-air, but he was too strong. With a grunt, he hurled her down toward the concrete.
"NO!" Cat cried, reaching helplessly from the window.
But just before impact, a roof beam jutted out from a passing building. Tiger Claw slammed into it with a surprised snarl, spinning off course. Karai hit the ground hard—but alive.
Inside the Shellraiser, Mikey threw his fists in the air. "Eat that, kitty cat! Whoo-hoo!"
Donnie pulled the vehicle to a sharp halt. He and Mikey jumped out, rushing to Karai. Cat wasn't far behind.
They gathered around her as she groaned, blinking in disorientation. Her breathing was shallow, her face twisted in pain. Donnie and Mikey each grabbed an arm, hauling her up and back toward the Shellraiser. Cat hovered close, heart pounding.
Karai didn't say a word. Not yet.
Back inside, she slumped against the wall. Donnie handed her water. Mikey fell beside her, panting.
Cat dropped into a seat across from her, not saying anything—but her eyes never left Karai.
After a long moment, Karai finally looked up. Her sarcasm was gone. Her usual smirk had faded.
She looked at them—at Leo, Donnie, Mikey... and especially at Cat—with something raw behind her eyes.
"Guys..."
Leo stepped closer, waiting.
"I know," he said softly. "You're not good at saying thank you."
Karai's lips twitched. Slowly, a real smile spread across her face—genuine, unguarded.
Cat gave a breathless little laugh of relief, eyes shimmering.
Back at the lair, the tension had finally started to ease. Mikey sat down with a loud grunt as Raph carefully bandaged his arm. Donnie stood nearby, sipping from a juice carton, quietly watching.
Leo stepped forward, his voice hopeful. "I hope this means you'll stay. After all, you are family."
Karai looked around at the lair—at the old brick walls, the scattered cushions, the odd sense of comfort in the chaos. She gave a small shrug. "With Shredder after me, what choice do I have?" Her gaze softened just slightly. "It's actually... not bad."
Cat, sitting on the floor a few feet away, perked up hopefully. "It grows on you," she offered with a nervous little smile. "The sewer smell fades after a while... kind of."
Karai gave a short, surprised laugh. Not mocking—just amused.
Mikey lit up. "See? That's the spirit! This calls for a family hug. Bring it in!" He reached out with his good arm, then winced. "Ow!"
At that moment, the door slid open.
Splinter stepped inside with quiet authority, Mari right behind him. She paused in the entryway, arms crossed and brows furrowed, instantly clocking Karai.
Splinter's eyes swept over the scene—his sons tired, bruised, but alive. Then they landed on Michelangelo.
"Michelangelo, what happened?"
Mikey gave a crooked grin. "It's just a scratch, Sensei. You should see the other guy."
Splinter's expression shifted into a scowl as he turned to Cat, Leo and Donnie. "What have you kids done? I thought I told you—" He stopped, his breath catching.
His eyes locked on Karai.
Cat stood slowly, unsure, glancing between them. Mari's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze unreadable as she watched Karai step forward.
Karai swallowed. Her voice, always cool and collected, trembled.
"Father."
That one word broke the silence.
Splinter crossed the room in seconds, pulling her into a hug that was decades overdue. And for the first time, Karai didn't fight it—she returned the embrace fully, burying her face into his robes.
Leo watched with a soft, proud expression. Donnie looked away, giving them space. Raph exhaled quietly. Mikey wiped at his eyes.
Cat stood frozen, chest tight. Her eyes shimmered. Mari stayed near the wall, arms still crossed.
Leo turned to Splinter, his voice low but proud. "You see, Sensei? I told you my plan would work."
Karai pulled back just enough to meet her father's gaze.
Splinter gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps," he said, "some things are worth the risk."
Mari didn't say anything. Not yet. Her expression was unreadable.
Cat slowly looked back at her sister, the tiniest flicker of guilt passing between them—unspoken, fragile, and unresolved.
Back in the lair, the atmosphere was lighter—at least on the surface. Karai stood at the edge of the dojo, arms crossed, silently observing. She didn't speak, but her sharp eyes missed nothing. This new life as Splinter's daughter, surrounded by siblings who laughed and trained instead of obeyed and executed, still didn't feel real.
In the center of the dojo, Cat and Leo sparred—fast, focused, and clearly showing off.
"Keep your center low," Leo coached, dodging one of Cat's fans. "You're rushing your strikes."
"I'm trying not to!" Cat huffed, then pivoted into a cleaner move.
From the sidelines, Mari sat with Mikey, checking the bandage on his arm. Her eyes flicked toward the match every few seconds.
Mikey flinched as she adjusted the wrap. "Ow—gentle, Nurse Mari."
"Maybe you should stop throwing yourself into death matches," she muttered, but her voice lacked bite. She glanced at the sparring pair again—longer this time.
Cat swung wide again, and Leo caught her fan mid-strike. "Good control that time," he said with a nod.
Cat lit up like a lantern. "Really?"
"Don't get cocky," Leo added with a faint smile.
Across the dojo, Karai raised an eyebrow, mildly amused.
Mari's jaw tightened.
"You'd think they were auditioning for favorite sibling," she said flatly.
"Huh?" Mikey blinked.
Mari didn't answer. She just kept wrapping his arm a little more tightly than necessary.
In the ring, Cat launched forward, more graceful this time—fast enough to graze Leo's shoulder.
He stepped back, surprised. "Better. You're getting faster."
From the side, Karai gave a short, approving hum. "She's not bad."
Cat beamed.
Mari stood up.
Mikey blinked. "What? Did I say something?"
She folded her arms, eyes fixed on Leo and Cat. "It's just funny," she said coolly. "Karai shows up, and suddenly everyone's trying to prove something."
Mikey tilted his head. "She is our sister now. We're just trying to make her feel welcome."
"Right," Mari muttered. "Welcome."
Suddenly—splat!
A water balloon exploded on Leo's shell. He spun around, dripping.
Mikey grinned. "Oh yeah, son! Never underestimate the water balloon arm."
Karai actually laughed—a short, surprised sound that made Leo flush red and freeze in place.
From beside her, Splinter sighed and covered his face.
Leo let out a frustrated growl and charged Mikey. "You're dead!"
"No, no, no—my arm!" Mikey squeaked as they tumbled across the mat, crashing into Donnie.
Raph watched the chaos for a beat... then dropped his sai and jumped in.
Mari watched them all pile together, Cat laughing beside him, Karai still smiling faintly. Her lips pressed into a line.
Karai tilted her head toward Splinter. "Is this how training always goes?"
"Yame," Splinter said with a sigh. "My children, that is enough for today."
Everyone groaned and slowly untangled themselves. They bowed together and filed out toward the living room.
Cat skipped ahead, still glowing from the praise. Leo walked beside her, chatting.
Mari lingered behind, silent, gaze flicking to Karai.
Karai hadn't moved from her spot—still watching, still unreadable.
"Karai," Leo called gently from the doorway, "you coming?"
She didn't turn. "In a minute."
Mari looked at her for a long moment. Their eyes met.
No words.
Mari turned and followed the others out, jaw tight.
The lair had fallen quiet, shadows stretching across the walls as the night deepened. The soft hum of the underground echoed faintly, broken only by the occasional drip of water.
Karai lay curled on her side in the quiet of her room, breathing slow and steady—but her eyes snapped open the moment the lights dimmed.
No more waiting.
No more hiding.
Her movements were quiet, efficient, laced with purpose. She strapped on her gear with practiced ease, every motion driven by the fury coiling beneath her skin. Shredder had stolen everything—her past, her future, her mother. She couldn't let it continue.
Tonight, it ended.
She slipped toward the exit, silent as smoke—only to freeze when a voice cut softly through the air.
"Where are you going?"
Karai turned.
Cat stood in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes wide and anxious. Her pink mask was slightly crooked, like she'd rushed to catch her.
Karai's expression faltered for a split second. "Go back to bed."
"You're leaving," Cat said. "To fight him. Alone."
Karai said nothing. She didn't need to.
Cat's voice wavered. "You can't do that. Please—just tell Leo, or Donnie, or—me. I'll help."
Karai stepped forward, her tone gentle but firm. "This isn't your fight."
"You're my sister now," Cat said quietly, her voice breaking. "That makes it my fight too."
The words caught Karai off-guard.
A beat of silence passed between them.
Cat took a tentative step forward. "You don't have to do this alone."
Karai's eyes softened—for just a moment.
Then she sighed. "I'm sorry, Cat."
Before the younger girl could react, Karai stepped in and drove her fist into Cat's stomach. The breath whooshed out of her, and she crumpled to the ground with a surprised, pained gasp.
"I can't risk anyone else getting hurt."
She knelt beside her, guilt flickering in her eyes.
"This ends tonight."
Cat coughed as the smoke thinned, her eyes fluttering open. Her vision swam for a moment before clarity hit—and with it, the memory of Karai's fist and the cloud of smoke.
She jolted upright, clutching her aching stomach.
"Guys!" she cried, her voice hoarse. "Sensei! Somebody!"
Footsteps thundered toward her almost immediately. Mari burst into the room first, her eyes wide with panic.
"Cat?!" she dropped to her knees beside her sister. "What happened?! Are you okay?!"
Before Cat could answer, Leo skidded into the room, still shaking off the grogginess of being knocked out. He saw Cat and his face paled.
"Cat!" he rushed to her side opposite Mari. "What happened—where's Karai?!"
Cat coughed again, wincing. "She... she left. Said it was her fight. I tried to stop her..."
The rest of the team flooded into the room—Splinter, Donnie, Raph, and Mikey—faces tense with confusion and concern.
"Cat!" Mikey exclaimed, already kneeling beside her.
"Leonardo," Splinter said, stepping forward, his voice tight with urgency. "What has happened?"
Leo looked up, his expression heavy. "She's going after Shredder. Alone."
Cat nodded weakly. "I caught her sneaking out. She said it had to end tonight. I... I didn't stop her in time."
Mari's fists clenched. "You tried. She sucker-punched you! That's on her."
"She didn't want me getting hurt!" Cat says.
"SO SHE PUNCHED YOU?!"
Splinter's expression darkened as he turned away slightly, sorrow in his voice. "I was a fool. I fear I told her too much... too quickly."
Donnie was already pulling up his wrist device, fingers moving fast. "I can track her. She can't have gone far. If we hurry, we can still catch her."
Leo stood, eyes fierce. "Then we go now."
"I'm going too," Mari said at once, causing Cat to roll her eyes but she didn't comment.
Splinter nodded.
"Come. We must not waste time."
The Shellraiser rolled through the shadows, its tires crunching over wet concrete as the mutant family inside scanned the scene ahead. Outside, vans and motorcycles lined the perimeter of an abandoned structure—Foot Clan insignias marked everything.
Leo's heart dropped. "They got Karai," he breathed. "We're too late." His voice hardened. "Raph, fire up the weapons."
But Splinter reached out, stopping him with a firm hand. "No. It's too dangerous. Follow close, but don't let them spot us."
Inside Stockman's lab, the air reeked of chemicals and burnt wires. The walls pulsed with faint green light as bubbling vials and crude machines cluttered every surface.
Stockfly flitted anxiously over his workstation. "Whatever you require, I can create it. More mutagen, a few chemicals, and some—"
"Stockman."
The voice was sharp, commanding.
"Ahh!" Stockfly yelped, startled by Shredder's sudden appearance. He dropped one of his chemicals into a half-mixed vial. It bubbled ominously.
"Oops. Um... that should be okay." He turned, feigning composure. "Master Shredder."
"Is the mutagen ready?" Shredder asked coldly.
"Prepared to your specifications. The serpent DNA is ready."
"No," Karai gasped from across the room. "You wouldn't—!"
Tiger Claw silenced her with a strip of duct tape over her mouth.
"Make sure she is secure," Shredder ordered.
Footbots dragged Karai into a cage and locked her above a vat of glowing mutagen. Her eyes widened in horror.
Tiger Claw watched with narrowed eyes. "You are more ruthless than I thought... mutating your own cub."
"I have no intention of mutating her," Shredder said, picking up a white lab rat and holding it above a second cage. "She is bait. When the turtles attempt to rescue her, I will drop them into the mutagen." He tossed the rat down into the cage—where an albino snake lay waiting. "This will mutate them into mindless serpents."
He turned, voice full of venom. "I want Splinter to witness his own pupils become one of the rat's deadliest predators. Then, when his spirit is broken... I will shatter his body."
The snake waited silently... and then struck, devouring the rat in one swift motion.
Tiger Claw's nose twitched. He sniffed the air. "I smell the rat."
In a flash, he drew his blaster and fired at the ceiling. A flare lit up the shadows—revealing the silhouette of Master Splinter above.
Then everything exploded into motion.
Splinter leapt down, silent and fierce. His children followed immediately behind. Raph landed directly on Stockfly, knocking him into his machines.
"Welcome, my old friend," Shredder said with dark satisfaction.
Splinter's voice was like steel. "Let my daughter go."
"You are welcome to rescue her," Shredder said, stepping forward, "if you can."
Footbots emerged from hiding, weapons drawn.
The battle began.
Sparks flew as blades clashed against metal. The turtles fought hard, outnumbered but unyielding, while Splinter and Shredder locked into a vicious duel of fury and memory.
"Yes!" Shredder roared. "Fight me, rat!"
Mari's blade flashed yellow in the smoke as she and Raph fought back-to-back. "Can't say I'm loving the family reunion," she growled, slicing through a pair of Footbots.
"Then hit harder," Raph snapped, grinning despite the chaos.
Across the lab, Cat moved quickly through the smoke, her fans twirling with surprising precision. She wasn't as strong as the others, but she was fast—and she used it to knock down smaller bots before they could flank her brothers. Her eyes scanned constantly, always glancing toward Karai's cage.
But the trap was waiting.
Donnie lunged at a bot, only for it to sidestep. He stumbled back—and straight into a cage. It slammed shut, forcing him to drop his weapon.
"Donnie!" Cat cried.
More cages dropped—trapping Raph and Mikey. Raph cursed and slammed his fists against the bars.
"Cat, get back!" Mari shouted, pushing her sister aside just before another set of bars fell.
Too late. Ropes lashed out and tangled around Splinter, yanking him down.
Leo was the only one left free. For now.
His katana glinted in the flickering light. With a swift twist, he jammed it into the cage's gears just before it fully locked. Sparks flew, the mechanism grinding—and then it stopped. The bars retracted.
Leo ran.
"Hang on, Karai!" he shouted, skidding to her cage. He ripped the tape off her mouth.
"Thanks," she breathed, her voice raspy but clear.
They shared a small smile.
Then—
"Leonardo!"
Splinter's voice cut through the noise.
Leo turned just in time to see Shredder's claws flash down. He ducked—but the strike hit the chains holding Karai's cage.
Snap.
"Karai!" Leo shouted as she plummeted.
"Miwa!" Splinter cried, horror strangling his voice.
Shredder's mask twisted in panic. "Karai, no!"
The cage dropped into the vat of mutagen with a wet, hissing splash.
Cat stood frozen, hands over her mouth. Mari's eyes went wide with disbelief. "No. No, no—"
The cage burst open.
Karai rose, gasping—no longer human. Her body shimmered with scales, her limbs elongated, her forearms sprouting small, snapping snake heads. A long, twisting horn curled from her brow. Her breathing was ragged, unsteady. Her eyes darted wildly.
She stumbled.
Splinter broke free with a roar, cutting through the remaining bots and catching her before she hit the ground.
"My child," he whispered. "Miwa..."
Karai stirred in his arms—and then shrieked.
She hissed and attacked the Footbots in a frenzy, tearing through metal with vicious grace. Her mutated body moved with unnatural speed, coils lashing, venom spraying from her fangs.
Leo and Donnie stared in shock.
Mari's face twisted in fury—at Shredder, at the mutagen, at herself. "How could you do that to your daughter!!"
Cat, pale and trembling, stepped back. Her eyes stayed on Karai, wide and glassy.
Leo snapped out of it and leapt to Donnie's cage, breaking the mechanism and freeing him.
Donnie didn't waste a second—he dropped to a console and worked quickly, popping the locks on the others cages.
The moment Raph was free, he barreled forward, yanking Cat behind him just before a beam collapsed.
"Mari!" he shouted.
"I'm fine!" she shouted back, slashing down a collapsing support. "Get out of there!"
But the lab was burning.
Mutagen spilled, mixing with sparks. Flames danced across the walls and ceiling. The air grew thick with heat and smoke.
"No! My lab!" Stockfly wailed.
Shredder shoved him aside, eyes blood-red with rage. He turned on Splinter.
"You! Hamato Yoshi!" he bellowed, claws drawn.
Splinter met his glare, shielding Karai with his body.
"You did this!"
He charged.
But before he could strike, a heavy support beam crashed down, splitting the lab in two.
Flames burst between them.
"Go!" Splinter barked. "Take your siblings and go!"
"We gotta get out of here!" Donnie shouted over the fire, shielding his face.
Leo's eyes remained locked on the darkened corner where Karai had vanished.
"Not without Karai."
Splinter stepped forward, urgency in his voice. "Karai, you must listen to me. We must go—"
But before he could finish, a white blur coiled around him.
Karai's serpent form lunged forward, wrapping her long tail tightly around Splinter. Her reptilian eyes were wild, confused—driven by instinct rather than memory.
"Sensei!" Cat screamed, frozen in place. She took a step forward but Mari grabbed her arm, holding her back.
"Don't," Mari said tightly. "She's not herself."
Splinter gasped, struggling. "Daughter... please..."
The snake paused.
Her body trembled.
"Fa... th... er?" she hissed, the word barely formed.
Splinter's face softened, relief flickering through the pain. "Yes. You still know me."
Karai's eyes darted away. With a sudden hiss of anguish, she released him.
But the moment shattered. She twisted toward Raph, baring her fangs—and spat.
Venom struck him in the eyes.
"AHHH!" Raph screamed, staggering backward.
"Raph!" Cat cried, rushing to his side.
Mari beat her to it, pulling a cloth from her belt and dousing it with water from Donnie's pumpkin container. "Hold still," she snapped, voice trembling.
Donnie reached them a second later. "Easy, Raph. Let me see—"
"Enough! I can see fine now," Raph growled—but he didn't push them away.
"Wait!" Leo shouted, but it was too late.
Karai vanished into the smoke, her snake-like body disappearing into shadow. Only silence remained.
Leo's fists clenched at his sides.
The lab groaned, fire crackling higher.
"We gotta get out of here!" Donnie shouted over the roar, coughing through the smoke.
Splinter turned away from the destruction. His silhouette looked smaller than usual—frail.
Splinter's voice came quiet, flat. "We should go home, my children."
He walked off without looking back.
Mikey lowered his head, trailing after him. Cat stayed behind a moment longer, staring at the path Karai had taken. Her voice came barely above a whisper.
"She... she still knew him. Even like that."
Mari didn't respond. Her eyes were glued to the scorched ground.
"She could've hurt him," Cat said, stepping closer. "But she didn't."
"Don't get your hopes up," Mari muttered. But her voice lacked bite. Her hands were clenched into fists.
Mikey, trailing beside Donnie, looked up hesitantly. "You can make a retro-mutagen for her, right?"
Donnie swallowed. "I don't know, Mikey," he said softly. "I hope so."
They moved together toward the Shellraiser.
Mari walked in silence. She didn't say a word.
Cat hung her head, her fingers twitching nervously.
And Leo stayed behind, staring into the fire until the last of the smoke blurred everything else.
