Pimiko, Tatsu and Quease watched the robots on the screen. Each controlling a robot. Quease had to take two. There was no one else in the organization that Tatsu or Pimiko trusted. The robots eyes looked like black marbles. In each left eye was a little camera for viewing and controlling.
Leeonardo was at a jewelry store. Dawnatello was in a bank. Mikeyangelo in a convience store. Rafaello in the Federal Gold Reserve.
Police were there in a matter of minutes...but bullets just bounced off. There was nothing the police could do.
SweetEmotion laid on a garbage bag. Her breath and pulse returning to normal. She mewed at the pain as she tried to stand. She found an empty box and laid down. More like collapsing and, then, falling asleep.
Don and Chuck reached the roof. Donatello spoke, "You're really worried about these clones, aren't you?"
Yes, I am," Chuck wasn't picking up on Don's need for talk. They started to jog across the wide roof, side by side.
"How good are these clones?"
"Well, after my teaching Raphael how to kick, what does that tell you?"
"Ut-oh."
"Exactly."
"We gotta stay in the shadows."
"Awww, C'mon Ninjara. This alley is dark enough."
She kept on the lookout, slinking along the wall. "A ninja would do the job right."
"Got it covered. I'm ninja and I'm right."
Raph, she sighed worriedly to herself.
Leonardo and Lotus worked together much better. The perfect ninja students using signals to silently communicate. The perfect students of martial arts. Not knowing real fear. Never facing loss in battle, they perhaps had overconfidence.
Their sparring was truly a sight to behold. Neither of them got the advantage, at least for long. They secretly sought new tricks for each other, to get the advantage and make the strike. Otherwise their sparring was of the highest caliber, poetry in motion, neither getting through the other's defenses.
Leonardo pointed upward, signaling time to remove themselves from the sewers. They weren't likely to see this threat in the sewers. Lotus nodded and followed.
Michaelangelo and Venus were getting along. Venus had suggested the business district in town. They moved silently to that end.
Venus sensed Michaelangelo's tenseness. Tensing her. Her ability was in magical arts. Actually the guys had some training, but Venus had more practice.
They stopped to look down an alley. Bodies were strewn in the alley.
"That looks odd," Venus remarked.
"Not really. Looks like they lost a fight. Lost to us," Michaelangelo giggled.
"I'm going down."
"Perhaps we should wait."
"Do whatever you want. I, for one, can take care of myself."
Michaelangelo had a premonition to reach for his turtlecom.
"Excellent, doctor. You took out those punkers nicely."
"Thank you, M'Dear, Pimiko" Cornealius said with an air of sophistication.
Tatsu grunted his displeasure at Cornealius' flirtation. Recoginizing it as small, said nothing.
Pimiko turned away from Cornealius and toward Tatsu with a little appreciative smile of being flattered.
Tatsu wondered if Pimiko could be showing true feelings.
Donatello and Chuck jumped across to the next building and continued to jog. There was to much of a gap to jump again and would take to long for the fire escape. Chuck pulled out his grappling hook and rope. He swung the hook over his head and a strong toss caused the hook to sail across the expanse, wrapping itself around an antannae. He pulled hard to make sure it would hold.
"Oh, you're not going to suggest we walk on the rope, are ya?"
"What's the matter turtle, chicken?" Chuck teased before he could stop himself.
Donatello answered slowly. "No. Just don't like heights. Especially falling from them."
"Don't worry. Just hang on tight," and then added, "and don't look down."
Donatello peered over the side, wondering how he never noticed how tall the buildings were before.
"I told you not to look."
"I figured if I did it now, I wouldn't later."
Chuck tied the rope to the fire escape so he could loosen when they got across. Chuck crawled onto the rope and turned upside down. He pulled himself forward, hand over hand, inching his way across. His movement and the wind rocked him. Finally, he was across.
Donatello had not followed. He climbed to the escape under the rope and pulled out his bo. In this way he slid across. Bracing himself for the stop against the wall, by lifting his legs. Chuck helped him up, then started pulling in his rope.
Donatello put his staff away. "I was thinking." They turned to face each other. "Maybe you should show me things before the others."
"I wouldn't mind Don, but I'm not sure where to begin. I'll need to reteach ya all on the techniques. You and your brothers need speed. Perhaps by practicing submerged.
"I do have a suggestion, try throwing weapons. Like shuriken, darts, knives, etc."
"Ok. Got it."
"Don't go toe-to-toe with them. You will lose. I am worried for you guys."
Raphael jumped to the shadows, in front of Ninjara, instantly alarming her. She said nothing. Raphael growled low, "I"m taking this thing out."
"We should call Mr. Lee."
Raphael handed her the turtlecom. "You call. I kick ass."
Leonardo and Lotus stayed vigilant for trouble. Slightly relieved at finding none. Tension was still pretty thick. Leonardo went to the fire escape and Lotus silently followed.
Venus stood about six feet behind the form. She began kuji-kiri, expanding with her mind to meet with the enemy's. It was not there. She could not attack it psychically.
Michaelangelo turned on the turtlecom. "Don, Chuck, Come quick. I think we're gonna need ya."
"Be right there, Mikey."
Donatello closed the com and they raced for the fire escape. The sewers would be the quickest, safest way there. "Shouldn't be to far. We didn't seperate that long ago." Chuck offered hope.
They reached the manhole. Donatello pulled out his bo and used it to pry the cover open as Chuck moved it to the side. Donatello jumped in first and and Chuck replaced the cover. The turtlecom went off again. Don and Chuck were worried, evident on their faces, not saying anything to the other. Could it be Michaelangelo again?
"Guys, We need help!" Exasperated Ninjara. "Raph had to push his luck. I tried to stop him, but he thought Mr. Lee had already taught him all he needed to know."
"Ok, Ninjara. On our way."
"Call Leo and tell him to meet you with Mikey. As soon as the five of you are together, retreat to the lair."
"Got it." Donatello was glad that Chuck had an answer to two crises at once.
"WhooHoo! Alright doctor. These tests are successful!"
The doctor grimaced to himself. Only he knew that testing was incomplete.
"Such luck. Findinging the turtles on our first night out." Tatsu said in a charged way.
"Pulverize them!" Pimiko was animated. For the first time, since she and Chuck had been together.
Pimiko was controlling Dawnatello. Raphael had jumped onto its back. His legs wrapping around Dawnatello's mid-section. Thrusting his sai into the shoulders. Horrified that they didn't go in. "Shit."
The android's arms reached back and easily seized the outer edges of Raphael's shell behind his shoulders. Easily plucking him as if a farmer was plucking the feathers off a chicken. With a force, Raphael was thrown into a wall. Ninjara let out a howl, "Raph!"
"Purrfect," Pimiko purred.
Donatello called Leonardo on the run, "Leo, Chuck wants you and Lotus to meet me with Venus and Mikey."
Something urgent in Don's voice told Leo not to question. "On our way, Don."
Chuck had already left Donatello at a sprint. Chuck began praying, almost, seemingly a foreign thing. It seemed like ages. "Oh Lord, Please protect the turtles and their friends. Thank-you for this day You have made. Please let everything turn out alright."
Michaelangelo pulled out his numbchucks and swung them at the robot's back. They hit and fell to the pull of gravity. Michaelangelo kept at it.
The robot threw Venus to the side. Fortuneately an unconcious gang member broke her fall.
Splinter sat, legs, crossed, eyes closed, meditating. He hated this. More and more. It was becoming very difficult to meditate. He silently cursed himself for his old age. Feeling past his prime. Wishing he could do more than offer advice.
Chuck showed up in time to see Raphael hit the wall. Ninjara jumped the clone from behind. She was as unsuccessful as Raphael. She tried holding on for dear life, but the clone pulled her off like lint off a shirt.
Chuck snuck up and swung his katana at the clones knees. The blade shattered when it struck solid metal. "Crap." Chuck muttered, not expecting the robot or whatever this was to be so strong.
Suddenly a big fist blurred in his vision. It struck hard, knocking him down. "Ninjara! Retreat Now!"
Chuck attempted to kick out this things knees. His feet stopped, it wobbled a bit. Steadied itself by raising one leg. Chuck narrowly rolled out of the way.
Leonardo was already fighting bravely by the time Donatello got there. Lotus and Leonardo were on each side of the 'bot. It kept twisting to strike, but they moved out of the way. Missing with the swing of their swords also.
Venus was off to the side. Michaelangelo's unconcious head in her lap. "Oh, Mikey I'm so sorry."
Donatello went over to her, "Venus, we gotta get outta here."
"But Mikey's hurt and it's all my fault." Slowly looking up at him. Tear-stained cheeks glistening from the lights of the city.
"We'll fix him. We'll just take him back to the lair. But we gotta go. Or will you let the same thing happen to Leo and Ninjara?"
Venus swallowed the lump in her throat. Stuffing the sorrow she felt as deep as she could. "You're right, Don."
Donatello went over to help Leonardo and Lotus. He pulled a dirk from beneath his belt. He threw it. It struck, embedding itself in an inch of skin and fell to the ground.
Leonardo and Lotus turned in the direction from which the dagger had come.
"Time to go." Donatello said, pointing to the manhole he had left open.
The robot performed double lower blocks. One hand hitting Leonardo in the plastron, the other hitting Lotus in her stomach. They reeled backward, falling on their butts. But quickly rolled out of the way toward Don, who was already helping Venus with Mikey.
"WooHoo! Looks like two turtles down."
"Yes, Pimiko. Our plan is working."
Pimiko felt uneasy in hearing Tatsu saying that. It had been her father's plan. His alone. A sudden wave of bereavement flowed in. She quickly pushed it down. There was no time for sentimentality.
Doc Quease interrupted her train of thought. "Ummm, if I may, I have a question."
Pimiko and Tatsu looked at the doctor in unison, "What?"
"Who or what are those things? A female turtle and female fox?"
Pimiko and Tatsu looked at each other blankly. Confirming Cornealius' worst fear. They didn't know either.
Cornealius turned toward the operating console. He could give the androids a real test. Giving them their own minds to return. He flipped the switch.
Splinter allowed himself to relax a little. Leonardo he breathed with a sigh of relief. Leonardo was fine. Splinter reached out again. Something was troubling Leonardo. "Mikey?"
"C'mon Chuck."
He scrambled for the manhole and almost fell in. Ninjara jumped in and pulled Raph in. Chuck reached up to help Raphael slowly come to the bottom of the sewer.
Just as Raphael was down, Chuck froze. It was as if his blood turned to ice.
"Return to base." He knew that evil, raspy voice.
"Uhh, Chuck. I need some help with Raph."
Chuck snapped out of his trance. "Uh, sorry Ninjara." He put Raphael's arm over his shoulder.
"Man, he's heavy. Do you make a habit of picking heavy boyfriends?" Chuck didn't even laugh at his own weak joke.
"Master, Mikey's hurt." Leonardo burst in with Venus and Mikey. Lotus was bringing up the rear. Making sure nothing followed.
Michaelangelo moaned and slipped out of conciousness again.
"Take him to bed, quickly."
They laid him down. Splinter worriedly watched. He noticed the fractur in Mikey's shell. "This is not good."
"I...I think...I can fix it." The battle to keep from crying was evident.
Splinter looked at Venus tenderly. "You can do it," he encouraged softly.
Lotus entered, "Look what I found."
Ninjara and Chuck, supporting Raphael, came in.
"Raph's hurt," Ninjara sniffed, tryring hard not to show she had been crying. As soon as Chuck had said he wouldn't tell, the flood came. No one dared mention the twin streaks of wet fur on her face.
They laid Raphael on his plastron. Chuck traced the hair-line fracture. "Umm, guys? We have a problem."
Master Splinter was the first. His eyes followed Chuck's finger tracing the crack.
The others gathered round. "Like Mikey's, only in a different place."
Chuck's mind flew off of Raphael. "How is he?"
"He should be fine...Venus is with him right now."
"And her?"
"She's fine...thanks to Mikey...Venus is trying to return the favor."
"May I look in?"
"I do not see why not." Splinter led Chuck to the guys sleeping area. Venus was standing over Mikey with her eyes closed, seemingly concentrating. A light green mist appeared between between her hands and Mikey's body. It grew darker. This mist settled on Mikey. He let out a soft moan. When the mist evaporated, Venus lowered her hands and opened her eyes.
"Ugggh...I'm a bit tired."
"Rest, Mikey." Venus soothed.
"Ok, Venus." He smiled weakly.
Venus turned, a bit suprised to see everyone staring at her. "Where's Raph?"
"Where's Raph?"
"He's hurt, Venus...Like Mike...can you heal him too?"
"Of course," Venus walked to where they had laid Raphael on the couch. She repeated the procedure she performed on Michaelangelo a moment ago."
The cat awoke. The cat stretched. The cat walked.
With each step she drew closer to her objective. With each breath she drew closer to his space. Soon they would be sharing. The two would be one.
Pimiko and Tatsu stared at Cornealius in amazement. "Don't we have to control the robots?"
"No, M'Dear. I have given them the highest intelligence. You have not allowed me to complete testing, otherwise the turtlebots could have taken care of themselves."
"Meaning?" Tatsu asked.
The doctor started to answer, but never got to finish. Pimiko had felt a sudden wave of oddness. She admired his sagacity, but that is as far as it went. Pimiko was amazed at the men in her life...Erudite, yet devious. First was her father, he had taught her well. Father, she remembered. Gotta push that down. Then there was Chuck. He hadn't decieved her, until recently with his recent desertion. Suddenly she needed to be alone. "Get out!"
"But my lab..." Quease started to protest.
"Get out!" She reached for the katana strapped to her back.
"We're going." Tatsu grabbed the doctor and dragged him out.
Pimiko instantly broke down. Falling to her knees, the sword slipping out of her hand. "Why?" she lamented, "Why do my loved ones leave?"