Chapter 8 Part 2

Chapter 8 Part 2

Shredder’s Private Dojo 7 Weeks Earlier

Karai’s tea felt warm on her lips. Her uncles recipe as she had been told. An aura of calm swept through her body like a spell.

That made sense. He always seemed magical in her memories. So full of life and joy. It brought the best out of many. Including her father.

But that man who used to smirk and laugh and tease with her uncle was not the same man across the chabudai in that moment. Not much proof was needed for this to be clear. Just by walking in the room he felt dark and cold like a forgotten corpse in the snow. Not many of Karais memories of her younger father were intact. Partly due to how long ago it was. Partly due to the fact that her parents went on missions frequently throughout her childhood. Partly due to the effects of her. . . “surgery”

But she could recall certain distinctions. His laughter. His smirks. His gentle yet firm arms as he carried the girl on his shoulder. Yet Karai could have been confusing him with her oji. That happened often. Sometimes when she tried to picture her father’s face without his helmet and mask all she could see was her oji.

Her train of thoughts along with the eerie silence of the room was broken by her sensei. “TCRI has located mutants within the city.”

What?

Mutants? The very demons who proved to be even more wretched than yokai and even oni by killing a quarter of the clan? Including her oji and . . .

mama.

“They have hired us to retrieve and deliver a specific 4. Turtles.” Her sensei rose from his seiza and moved slowly to the earthen walls of the dojo. A mural of a battle was painted on it. The face of the general was illuminated by the light of the surrounding rooms. Arms crossed behind his back he continued. “Their objective is to bring them back to their new stronghold alive and unharmed.”

Karai broke from her silence, letting one of her many questions slip out of her mouth. “What is wrong with their original stronghold?”

“Why do you think they want a specific 4 and not all of them? Yet.” Her sensei’s voice oozed with disgust and disappointed from her stupidity.

Wait. There are MORE!

“They are dangerous and skilled. Not to be taken lightly. Do you understand?”

Karai straightened at the cold remarks shaking her shock away as best as she could.

“Hai Sensei.”

Her father turned to her with a softer expression(at least from what she could guess).

“Which is why I will trust you with the mission.”

What?

Her father opened the door to the small balcony that viewed over the training rooms. She followed but made sure to keep a distance behind him. “You are to go undercover at the school the mutants are attending. Recover as much information as needed, report back to me as needed, and then.” In one fluent motion a kunai was thrown, barely missing Karai’s cheek as it flew and splintered itself into a wall. “Strike when the time is right.”

Karai thought over the proposal. Mutants were dangerous enough on their own from what she had been taught but trained warriors . . .

No. She had been training her whole life to avenge her clan. Her family. She couldn’t back down at the sight of a challenge.

“Hai Sensei.”

Shredder stayed seemingly frozen as he gazed onto the troops. That was her cue to leave. But as she started to he continued. “And one more thing.”

Karai’s eyes widened slightly. What? Did she miss something? A cue? A part of her mission?

“Ensure that there are as few survivors as possible. But of course leave no mess behind.”

“But our goal is to keep the mutants alive and unharmed.” Surprise and fear rushed in her body. Why was he being so cruel? Something’s wrong.

“I said their goal is to keep them alive and unharmed. I however have other plans.” His voice oozed with a substance like venom. Cold, dark, and insuring death upon those it landed on. Or in this case a deathly chill upon Karai. “But I am confident that you will be successful.” Another kunai was thrown this time slicing Karai’s cheek. She wanted to run but her muscles dared not move other than to allow a small gasp past her lips. “Correct, my daughter?”

Fear, as she had learned as a child was a very powerful thing. Flexible as nunchaku deadly as katana. But she had to remain the stronghold her father was determined to have her be. No matter what. ‘No exceptions, my daughter.’

“Hai Father.”

“Do not forget your place, child.”

. . .

“Hai Sensei.”

Somewhere in Harlem Present Day

What are you doing? Why are you holding back? Just KILL THEM.

Karai had her enemies trembling before her. Weakened and with no escape. The perfect opportunity to finish this.

So why couldn’t she do this. Why were her muscles held strained and taught? Messages from the inner thoughts in her brain were being sent to her body. But it refused to move like a rambunctious child.

You have one mission in your life. One. Just. Complete. It.

She was already in the perfect stance. Her weapon had been sharpened to a t. All she had to do was strike. Just. Strike.

Have you forgotten what they did to you? The foot? Your family? Complete the mission. Kill them.

Raph was so fucked.

His twin was gone. His youngest brother was gone. And the brother he did have with him was trembling next to him.

And what was the worst thing? He was helpless to protect any of them. Hell, he could barely catch his breath right now through the white hot pain of his own shell.

Why was this taking so long? Shouldn’t they be dead right now? He couldn’t hear Donnie screaming in agony?

Raph dared to pry his eyes open only to be met with their attackers amber ones. They were like some kind of cobra, piercing through the night and into his soul. Her eyes were wide in what he assumed to be cunning bloodlust. Her blade was raised so that one swift swing could slice Donnie’s head open like a can of tuna.

With the renewed fear Raph looked to his little brother. His nerdy sassy little brother. Who beat him at almost every video game he played. Who . . . had his arm stretched out infront of his body?

Was he really still trying to protect him? Cause he was pretty sure they were past that hope of someone making it out of this. They were both pretty royally fucked.

. . . Holy shit he’s trying to take the blow.

With that thought in mind, Raph squeezed Donnie’s shoulder harder and tried pushing his little brother back behind him. No way was he gonna take this blow. No damn way was Raph gonna let him do that while he could still protect the only brother he had left now.

Redirecting his gaze, he looked back up at there attacker with wide frightened eyes. Her eyes were sharp but her pupils remained unfocused as she looked the 2 turtles up and down. Weapon still raised.

And then her gaze . . . softened.

And then for a moment a wave of silence washed away the tension as eyes met eyes.

Breaking the silence, their attacker swiftly lowered her blade and muttered something under her breath (judging by the tone it sounded like a curse but the word itself was completely incoherent to Raph). She then spoke up. “The southern dock. Third warehouse down the row. Your associates are there. But you must leave now. TCRI is to retrieve them by midnight.”

Why the hell were they in a warehouse? How was TCRI involved with any of this? Why were these black market exchanges always at midnight?

Their attacker sheathed her weapon and took slow steps to the edge of the roof. Stopping briefly she turned her head slightly, one eye looking at them. “You may leave now. But this.” She paused before continuing. “Isn’t over.”

Raph was still processing all the information that had been dump on him like a waterfall. It took a few minutes before he could respond. “Thank-” When he looked up she was already gone.

Holy SHIT. What time is it?

Raph quickly yanked his phone from the pouch on his belt. Already 10:30?! They had to move now if what that random lady said was right. Without thinking Raph jumped to his feet and started off the roof to the dock.

But his younger brother nearly tripped him. Donnie was frozen in place, huffing air like it was evading him as fast as it had entered him.

“Donnie! Come on! We gotta go!”

He didn’t react to Raph was saying or doing but only flinched at the shouting. His breathing picking up speed.

Oh

Raph knew when his brothers were having these moments he needed to give them time and space. But they currently had zero time and the panic made him feel like they were loosing space for tension.

So Raph tried to find a middle ground by kneeling next to his brother. His arm firmly placed on his shoulder to ground the purple clad turtle. “D.”

This time Donnie looked up at Raph. Panic and confusion written all over his face. Raph didn’t really know what to do so he settled on trying to pull a Leo.“Come on. Let’s bring our brothers home.”

That seemed to readjust the young genius. “Right. Let’s go.”

After the elder of the two help the younger up, the ran back onto the rooftops once again. This time determined to bring their brothers home once for all.

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So yeah this chapter is a little long. But hopefully that’s a really good thing. Hope y’all enjoy this chapter and soak yourselves in the tiny bit of fluff and relief I gave you because you won’t be able to have that for a little bit. Again hope you guys like this chapter and my story because I’m tryna rap it up before Tottmnt(I probably won’t though). Cowabunga turtle fanz!