Donatello returned to the lair...hearing them talking about Chuck. Venus and Ninjara came out of hiding, echoing the sentiments that Chuck was another weirdo with beliefs. Don sighed before opening the door.
"No more of this talk," Splinter scolded, he was cross. "We have no right to say his beliefs are strange. Some people would think us strange, or a person believing in normal ninja strange."
Splinter looked at Donatello, knowing his son better than a normal father would. "Come, Donatello...how did your talk with Mr. Lee go?"
Donatello slightly gasped at the realization that he could be so easily read. "Well, I get a sense that he believes in what he says."
Chuck walked through the lobby, saying hello to the cute girl working the desk. She was 5'9" with long black hair a fourth of the way down her back, eyes that danced with the merriment of life, rosy red cheeks that make any flower pale in comparison and a smile that just doesn't quit. "How was class?" she smiled.
"Easy as usual," Chuck grinned back.
"Good for you." Then she caught a whiff. "Oh, you definitely need a shower after that workout."
"That's where I'm headed," he told her.
"Ok, see ya later."
Chuck hated lying to Terri, but he couldn't suddenly blab about the turtles. It was to big a secret to tell just anyone. And he didn't know her that well. Of course, that could change.
Chuck walked upstairs to his room and immediately sensed something wrong. His door was ajar. He tensed up, ready for anything. He cautiously entered and looked to his left. He sensed a prescence. Chuck turned and was bowled over, landing on his back. Pimiko was sitting on his stomach, her knees on the floor at his sides. "Hello, love," she beamed.
"Get off, Pimiko" he said flatly.
"Make me," she teased.
Chuck pushed up hard on his stomach, lifting her off him. He kicked his legs again, up and out, pulling his body to his feet.
"Aww, that was over to fast."
"Sorry Pimiko." Though Chuck didn't mean it.
"Something wrong, dear?" The laughing face that he had loved was replaced with one of concern.
"Ummm, you might say that." He was struggling to find the right words.
"Is it about my father? I didn't believe the reports. Which turtle killed my father? I swear revenge!"
"You can't get revenge. Not on God."
"So you were involved," she shrieked. "But why? You had everything. With my approval we would have ruled the Foot together."
"I can't Pimiko. Not anymore."
"You and those freaks will suffer! I promise!" She pulled out a knife out of her leg strap and threw it at the television she had stolen for him. Sparks flew and started a small fire inside the set. Chuck got an extinguisher from his kitchen and she was at the window. "I promise to get my revenge!"
Well that went well, Chuck thought as he extinguished the fire.
"Awww, C'mon Donnie," Raphael egged his brother on. "How can you believe this shit?"
"Need I remind you, of things that seem to be without our understanding them?"
"But a god, Don?" Venus was spiritual, but wasn't taught to believe in one God.
Donatello threw a glare the way he threw a punch. "I'm suprised to hear disbelief from you, Venus, especially with your training in kuji-kiri. You of all people should know the realm of the unexplainable."
"But," Splinter cut in, wanting only to calm his son. "ninja are masters of doing the seemingly impossible."
"What are you saying, master?" Donatello was confused by what Splinter was, or not, saying.
Splinter sighed. He was unsure of how to express what he was feeling. It was easy being their sensei, or teacher. He could easily order them in the way of correcting their technique. But only having the ability to talk when the turtles did, he did not have the experience of interpersonal relationships. "Be careful, my son."
Donatello felt his anger rise. It was becoming harder to control. He focused by stomping off to his lab. "Careful? I'm always careful! I exude careful!"
It was late and Chuck was dead tired. He took a long shower. Running over in his mind all that's happened. Shredder's judgement, meeting Splinter, feeling other presences in the lair, Pimiko's threat. Turning off the steaming stream of water. He opened the curtain and retrieved his towel. He pulled on a pair of silk pajamas.
Chuck couldn't help being restless in bed. He tossed and turned. Something kept nagging him to warn the turtles.
Pimiko angrily paced before Tatsu. "That jerk! How could he wimp out by using God as an excuse for betraying my father?"
Tatsu looked blankly. He hadn't had much experience with women. He never knew the right thing to say. He wanted to comfort, but also to destroy Chuck for causing her pain. "Pimiko, let us send out patrols to follow that traitorous scum."
She smiled. "And how shall we do that? You know how skilled in kuji-kiri he is."
"Well, I already sent out a patrol and if they fail, I will destroy him personally."
She smiled. She should have felt betrayal, as he had gone behind her back. Perhaps he is worthy of my father's place. Of course, she realized that if she didn't marry him, she'd have to kill him. Otherwise he would kill her for leadership.
"Dear Tatsu," she drew closer. Their bodies awakening to each other for the first time. "How is our mad doctor coming along?"
Chuck Lee rose and donned a fresh ninja uniform, with only his eyes visible. He grabbed a few weapons and grappling hook.
He made his way to the roof, using the fire escape. After an effortless windup, he watched the hook sail across the expanse between apartment buildings, hooking on a vent. He stepped off the building, falling with the rope in his hands. The rope snapped taut along with his muscles. Throwing his legs in front of him to cushion his stop against a wall, he started walking up the building. He had always loved this part. Feeling free in doing something not many others had.
Doctor Cornealius Quease was humming happily in his lab. Finishing his latest masterpiece, four robots with the highest caliber of intelligence and movement.
It did not matter to this 40-something-year-old that he never left the lab. It did not matter that his benefactors wished for these robots to look like some sort of mutated turtle.
He gladly gave up his freedom when his son and wife turned up missing. First, his son actually ran off. All children go through that phase where they think they know more than than their parents. His child was no different.
His wife was the love of his life. She had taken him totally by suprise. One glance during his college days was all it took and for the first time his mind was off of science.
Cornealius was a boy genius and by 16 his professors had trouble staying ahead of him. By age 22, he was showing new theories to his instructors. Of course, that did not go over well. But they couldn't compare with his love for science. They had stagnated in teaching and lost their love.
He had not even heard Pimiko and Tatsu enter. Pimiko derailed his train of thought by speaking. "And how are the toys coming along?"
Don was muttering. "Can't believe...after all these years...still can't trust..."
Suddenly Don heard a soft voice. "Be still and know I am the Lord."
"Huh? Who...Who said that?" Donatello tensed up as he glanced over his lab.
"Be calm."
"Who...Who's there?"
"Know that Chuck is a true friend. I have brought you together to stop evil."
A feeling of peace entered Don. Okaaayy, he thought.
"Boy, Don really seemed upset over nothing." A confused Venus observed.
"Don's always been on the sensitive side." Mikey was as confused as Venus.
"He'll pull through. He's always there when we need him." Leonardo said, hoping to sound more believeable than he felt.
Just then a pair of jeans at the ladder that was the entrance/exit to the lair. "Hey guys," said the cheery April O'Neil. She was followed by her boyfriend, Casey Jones, who was followed by Irma Peterson, April's secretary.
"Anything up?" Asked Casey. Casey had been very athletic in his younger days, to the point of being a bright star for the National Hockey League. During his rookie year, an opponent used a hockey stick illegally, nailing him behind the left knee. After two years of long rehabilitation his knee was almost as good as new.
Casey had seen April's report on television of the escalating crime wave and decided to do something about it. He slung a golf bag over his shoulder which held a couple bats, hockey sticks, cricket bats and golf clubs.
That's how he came to meet the turtles. They all came up with the same conclusion. April would be upsetting whoever was behind the crime wave. Once the bad guys were subdued, they went their seperate ways. After a few more meetings, they, the turtles and Casey, made an alliance. It evolved into friendship.
Casey had been able to pick up April at the station and bring her to the turtles' lair. It was love at first sight for both of them, once April saw Casey without the hockey mask he usually wore on patrol.
"Don's in a funk," said Leonardo cautiously. It sounded weird, even to him.
"I thought that was Raph's job," a puzzled Irma said. She had not known the turtles long. In fact, she didn't believe they existed when April finally confided in her the adventures she had. Irma chalked it up as an overworked mind. But April had been so insistent in taking Irma to the turtles, Irma agreed.
It was to Irma's dismay to discover that they needed to go into the sewers. It was more than she had bargained for. Was this the first truth to what April had been telling her and not a fabrication from an overworked mind?
Irma warmed up to the turtles once she got used to the five foot, walking, and talking turtles. She somehow liked their humor and kept up with it.
Raphael growled, but managed to control it to ask Casey if he wanted to spar.
"Sure Raph." Casey started to follow Raphael to the training area.
"Don't beat him up to much. We have to work out later," Ninjara winked at Casey.
"Gee, Ninjara, have I ever lost a fight?"
"Oh, you mean sparring?" Her face beginning to light up as if with a sudden realization.
Raphael caught on and blushed fiercely.
Chuck entered into the sewers where he approximated the lair to be. He carefully avoided the traps the turtles had shown him. A sense of urgency was upon him. But as he neared the lair, he became more nonplussed. He recoginized the sounds of April and Casey and the turtles. But there were others he couldn't place. He dropped to his knees. This was the opening to their lair. Putting his head through, his jaw opened beneath his ninja mask. The turtles he had grown accustomed to were there, but a female fox and female turtle? Apparently the guys' best kept secret.
Venus De Milo was the female turtle. She also stood at a height of 5 feet. Mutated by the same mutagen that affected Splinter and the guys. Splinter had missed her in the dark sewer when he had rescued the guys. She was washed down the sewer and turned up in New York's Chinatown where she was discovered by a Chinese arts Master Chung I.
Chung I took her back to China where he was able to raise her in isolation and martial arts. She became Shinobi, mistress of stealth.
Ninjara came from an uncharted island off the coast of Japan. She ran away at an early age for Hiroshima. Chein Khan took her in and showed her the art of the assassin.
She had been sent to New York to kill a political leader that couldn't be bribed. The turtles came across her before she reached her target.
Raphael had point that night. He had gotten to her first and tackled her. After the initial shock of meeting another type of non-human melted away, Raphael found himself lowering his head, his lips meeting hers. Both taken aback by the fireworks they felt.
Over the last year, their meetings had been frequent and short. Chein Khan had sent others to kill Ninjara for not completing her mission. She had managed to stay one step ahead of them.
Chuck decided to make himself known. He dropped to the floor and the room went silent as a ghost town. All eyes were on him.
"Hey dudes and dudettes, this is our new comrade-in-arms, Chuck Lee." Michaelangelo piped up as he headed for the kitchen.
Ninjara stepped forward to the bottom of the stairs. Chuck removed his ninja mask so they could see his caucasian features. Ninjara appeared dismayed, "Another human?" Her hand moving slowly to her katana on her back. The humans rolled their eyes. The inside joke lost on Chuck.
Raphael and Casey entered. Casey pulled a hockey stick. His most favored weapon. Raphael put a hand on Casey's shoulder to relax him.
"Yeah, dear, another human. I can even vouch for him"
"Oh," as she started to pull away her hand from the sword and turning to face him. "The one that taught you to kick properly?"
Raphael rolled his eyes, obviously tormented at such a reminder. "Yes, dear."
A swift shock crossed Chuck's face, but he quickly suppressed it. He made a mental note for the possibility of learning more of this. He finally discovered his voice. "So, who is everyone?"
Raphael spoke up. "Well, you've already met us or shall we go over that again?" He flashed a wicked smile, then continued on, "And my girlfriend, Ninjara."
Chuck couldn't hold back any longer, "Woah, girlfriend?" That sounds wild.
Michaelangelo returned from the kitchen carrying a bowl of punch. "Yeah, wild," he snickered, "especially when whip cream is around." He carefully set the bowl down.
Raphael reached over and playfully bapped his brother. Michaelangelo tried to look innocent as Raphael snickered.
The female turtle approached Chuck and bowed. He returned it with one of his own. "I am Venus DeMilo."
"I never knew you existed. Perhaps after introductions we can learn more of one of one another."
"Of course."
The four Foot soldiers entered the alley behind Chuck's apartment. One continued up the fire escape to hide in his room. Another, carrying a duffel bag, took off his Foot uniform and stuffed into the bag. He walked into the lobby and picked up a newspaper. The final two hid in the alley.
"I'm April O'Neil and this is my sometimes boyfriend, Casey Jones."
"Sometimes boyfriend?"
"Hey now, you know you are my one and only." They gave each other a quick peck on the lips.
"Yes, Miss O'Neil, I, of course, recoginize you. And I do know Mr. Jones, through skirmishes." Casey Jones was a hero of sorts, but no ninja.
"Ummm..We've fought? I think I would have remembered you."
"My story is that I was once with the Foot."
"Ummm..guys...Why is this Chuck guy here if he is part of the Foot?"
Chuck cleared his throat to regain Casey's full attention. "I am a retired elite gu ard. Perhaps after introductions we can all share our stories."
Donatello returned from his lab to see what all the commotion was. "Hey Chuck..."
"Hey Don."
Irma stepped forward as Chuck came down the steps. She offered her hand in friendship. "Hi. I'm Irma Peterson. April's assistant." Irma was about 5' 11" and not much was striking about her. Mousey brown hair, hazel eyes. She usually wore a skirt to cover gangly legs. Teased about her height, as she had grown taller than most of her classmates in junior high. Though, years of being out of school had given her the ability to grow in maturity and personality. Making her open to the prospect of finding Mr. Right.
"Hey, you are a good friend too, Irma."
"Not just a sometimes friend?" Casye was getting April back. April's face went from fake anger to puppy dog face of adoration as faces usually do when in lo ve.
"Hello. I am Lotus Blossum." Before Chuck stood a 19-year-old Asian girl. 5'2" with raven-like hair cut short at her neck. She had typical Asian features, narrow-dark eyes, a small frame that became smaller at her waist. Years of martial art training gave this to her.
At the young age of 13 she was already surpassing her masters. Defeating them in every sparring instance...unequaled in weapons, especially the katana. She came to America for adventure. New York seemed to be the big town to find the wild time. She had no idea that one night in seeking a new challenge, having broken into everything and finding no fulfillment, she had met the turtles while they were on patrol. Being strangers they had battled, only Leo was left, the others had tired. Leonardo couldn't bring himself to giving up. It would dishonor his sensei and his training. But the feeling of an unknown emotion was welling up in him. Starting with admiration for this girl that outlasted his brothers and meeting him with every attack and defensive move.
"I was once a ninja for hire. Until Leo showed me the error of my ways."
Chuck glanced at Leonardo, "Woah, didn't think a turtle could turn red so fast." Apparently another story for Chuck to hear.
Michaelangelo appeared out of no where with pizza in hand. "So Chuck, what brings ya here?"
"I have felt unrest. There is going to be great trouble. I have something to share You four, known as the TMNT, are targeted. I might be also."
"Almost complete." Cornealius kept buzzing about the robots.
"Ready to send out?" Pimiko was chomping at the bit for her revenge. They say revenge is sweet and to her it was no less palpable."
"Yep...just gotta...there." Cornealius closed the door on the robots head. "Now for the test drive."
"Send them out!"
"But Pimiko..." Tatsu cut in.
"Send them out! Each their own way. A jewelry store, a bank, appliance stores. I don't care!"
Cornealius shifted around, not liking the idea of sending out his creations without running tests. Tatsu and Pimiko had made it clear that their authority was not to be questioned.
The guys looked at Chuck, waiting to see what he was going to say. The females were beginning to look worried.
"Targeted? Bye whom?" Don asked.
"By the Foot?"
"Well, why don't ya spit it out?"
"I was third-in-command. I knew some inside stuff. And this stuff is what brings me here."
"I was sensing trouble." Splinter interjected.
"Yes. I think I have a pretty good idea of what's about to happen. The Foot have all sorts of people working for them, some more willingly than others. It has to do with some new technology. The Foot are trying to give it's warriors an edge over you."
Mikey's eyes widened with disbelief. "The Foot hasn't won...ever."
"Well, Mikey, when you are leading an army that is able to offer wealth and control ... you destroy obstacles. Shredder admired Thomas Edison, who tried over ten thousand times before he was successful with the lightbulb. When asked if he ever got tired of failing, his response was 'Not at all. I just discovered a new way that doesn't work.'"
"Shredder's a dimwit."
"Very funny," Ninjara giggled.
"Bright observation there, Raph."
Splinter rolled his eyes.
Chuck cleared his throat to reclaim the conversation. "Basically what Shredder has been trying to do with a scientist is try to figure out how to beat you by programming people. Better skills of having to train them for years."
"Yes. Oroku Saki has always seeked the easy road. It is part of the evil in him."
"Agreed, Splinter. But now the challenge is to show Pimiko and Tatsu the error in following."
Donatello looked quizzical. "And how do we do that?"
"Not sure, Don. But Venus and Ninjara are unknown to the Foot. They may be our ace-in-the-hole."
It was almost spookular. Leonardo and Ninjara pulled out their own katana's and started polishing them. Looking very serious, Ninjara spoke, "Hey, I'm there ... especially to keep Raph from getting hurt."
Raphael threw a glare at Ninjara, but it melted into a look of tender love.
April glanced at her watch. "Uhh, guys, I hate to say this, but Irma and I have to be at work in a few hours."
Irma looked disappointed, "Yeah, you're right April. Maybe I could use the Internet to find out about about this science."
"Good Idea, Irma. Let's go."
Casey jumped up after them. "I'll make sure you girls get in safe," he volunteered.
"What's next?" the quiet Lotus piped up.
The orange tabby cat was cornered by a growling pack of dogs. Habitual to their nature they picked on the poor, defenseless thing. They had been masterless long enough. They were getting closer to their wild side. The call of the wild and the need for blood.
Suddenly the cat shimmered and began transforming. She was growing into a woman. A brown-haired, hazel-eyed woman. A five foot-five naked woman.
The dogs yelped and turned tail. They couldn't attack what they just saw.
The second the dogs were gone, the woman reverted back to cat form and fainted. It had been a battle. Her collar, bearing a nametag, said "SweetEmotion."
"Perhaps a good nights rest. I'm going to have to go over training for all of you."
"Maybe I could help in training," Venus spoke.
"Oh, Venus? What training do you have?"
"I am shinobi. Trained in magical arts."
"Ahh, well, that is something I don't believe in, but may be needed."
"May I show you?"
"Not right now."
Venus shrugged her shoulders and walked over to the pizza. She started discussing the toppings with Michaelangelo. "But...But..Leo helped." Mikey was defending himself.
"Why don't we look for these imitators? Unless Mr. Lee could take us to the lab."
Chuck shook his head. "Sorry. This I do not know. I did offer names, telling Saki that it would be ironic for you to be defeated by warriors with similar names. Though it was respect."
"Oh? What did you come up with?" A skeptical Raphael shot out.
"Leeonardo, Rafaello, Mikeyangelo and Dawnatello."
"Dawnatello? A female?"
"What can I say? Everyone loves a turtle."
"I guarentee the ninja warriors with similiar names will be the best of the best. They will be faster than you. Probably smarter too. The problem is... I don't know when they will be unleashed. So, if you spot them....do NOT engage them."
"Sounds like a challenge, finally," Raphael growled.
Lotus spoke up, "If these clones are as dangerous as Mr. Lee says, then we should search in pairs."
"I got Raph." Ninjara grabbed his arm with her right hand and her sword in her left, resting on her left shoulder.
"I'll search with Leo." Was Lotus' offer.
Michaelangelo looked at Venus, "How 'bout it babe?"
Venus answered cautiously, "Ok...but don't call me babe."
Chuck shrugged, wondering what happened to his suggestion of sleep. "I guess that leaves you and I, Don."
"Fine with me. But before we head out...you guys wait here."
The group all murmured to themselves, wondering what Donatello was up to. Donatello emerged a minute later. He handed Leonardo, Raphael, Michaelangelo a mini-turtle shell. "It opens like this," demonstrating with his own by squeezing the sides together. The top shell flipped up. "The panel for communicating is self-explanatory. I've been tinkering with this idea for some time. Guess I'll have to make more so we all have one."
"Cool, Don," Chuck commented, peering over Donatello's shoulder.
"Ok, guys...here is the plan," said Leonardo, taking charge, "We'll go out and be back before dawn. Sleep the day and go out again."
"Just remember guys, if you see a clone call Don so I can get there."
"Hey dude, is it me or are you being paranoid?"
"No Mikey...just cautious. Remember even Master Splinter sensed trouble."
Sensing the urgency, Splinter spoke, "Go my pupils and friends. Remember the darkness is your protection. Do not leave it. Make me proud."
"Yes, sensei." Leonardo bowed from years of respectful habit.
"What directions shall we go?" Ninjara asked.
"Lotus and I south, you and Raph north, Mike and Venus east and that leaves west for Don and Chuck."
"Ok, fearless leader."
"Good luck guys."