Here's the next chapter, hope y'all enjoy it! (Also follow, vote, and comment if you want!).
Karai, a squad of foot clan soldiers, and I were currently jumping from rooftop to rooftop in search of the turtles, word on the street has it that they have been spotted in this area.
I halted my movement at the sound of weapons being clashed and some kind of guns being shot.
Furrowing my brows, my mind immediately concluded that the turtles must be nearby and were currently fighting something that was definitely not human that had...laser guns?
"Are you coming?" Karai asked, brows raised as she snapped me out of my thoughts.
Realizing that all my companions had paused as they waited for me to follow them, I cleared my throat and tried to appear as impassive as possible.
"Yeah," I nodded, crossing my arms and continued following them, coincidentally, in the exact location I heard the noises.
The closer we got to the alleyway the louder and louder the noises got. Prodding my curiosity as well as surprising me that Karai and her chaperones couldn't hear them. But, in their defense they don't possess supernatural hearing.
When we reached our destination, Karai turned towards the soldiers and notified them of our spying mission.
As soon as Karai finished talking, an extremely loud voice could be heard over a dozen or so laser guns being shot, and weapons being clashed.
"When fighting is concluded, the ones called 'the turtles' will be defeated by Kraang."
Exchanging curious glancing with Karai, we both walked toward the edge of the building to check out the alleyway below us.
There, in the alleyway, was the Hamato clan fight some kind of high- tech-alien-robot-creatures.
"They're fighting robots?" Karai asked, voicing my question out loud.
"Seems like it," I replied, watching Leo tear the robot apart. when, out of nowhere, an alien-brain-old-gum-looking creature came out of the remains of that torn suit.
I knew that this whole situation was beyond worrisome, but considering I was going to be a part of it, I decided to add a little humor to it.
"Oh, so that's what happens to old gum after we get done with it. I have always wondered. Guess that answered that curious question of mine," I quipped.
Karai smirked in amusement at my words as she continued to observe the fighting, "This town starting to get more interesting than I originally thought," She mused aloud, obviously intrigued by how this situation is unfolding.
'Guess she finally found something to keep her entertained in this boring town.'
Feeling the hairs on the back of my neck prickling a little, the sensation of eyes boring holes into the side of my head caused me to glance back at the fight. Dark-blue eyes widened to the size massive saucers as they met my light-brown ones. But then a smirk started to spread across his face as a playful and curious glint appeared in his eyes.
'What's he up to now?'
He turned his attention back to the fight and single handedly took down all the robots, even going as far as showboating over his brothers.
'Trying to impress me it seems, interesting.'
Finally bored with observing, Karai motioned for us to leave, seeing the fight is over with anyways. I glanced down one more time and met the judgmental eyes of Raphael before disappearing.
*********
"Father!" Karai's voice echoed throughout the lair, drawing everyone's attention to us as she announced our arrival. Following after her, I hopped down the two-story drop as well.
Shredder stepped forward towering over Karai as I stood off to the side, listening intently for any noise coming in my direction.
"We spotted the turtles fighting some guys in suits but, there were actually slimy, brain-squids in robot bodies," Karai explained.
"Your mission is to destroy them and find Splinter. Everything else is a distraction," he scolded, voice harsh with piercing eyes.
"Distractions?!" Karai's voice was shrill as she argued, "Father, don't you want to know what's going on? Robots and creatures, splinter's disciples are turtles, mutants!" Motioning towards Bradford and Xever as she continued: "Your own men got turned into freaks! Don't you think we should be finding out what's going on? I mean there's more to life than your vendetta!"
'Oh no, she's going to regret saying that.'
"There is nothing more!" Shredder spat darkly, jaw clenched, seemingly trying to maintain his rage as he continued: "Have you forgotten what Hamato Yoshi did to me...to us."
Frowning, Karai seemed at a loss for words.
"Every-day Splinter lives is a stain on our honor that we must wipe clean. Stay focused on your mission Karai," Shredder's voice held a sinister tone to them as he placed a hand on Karai's shoulders, and from the look on the girl's face, I could tell she wasn't too sure how to feel about this whole situation, and I couldn't really blame her.
Thinking for a moment or two, there was a new fire behind Karai's eyes, "Yes, Father."
********
Stepping out of the shadows, I jumped onto the water tower announcing my presence to Leonardo. He quickly drew out his katana and turned around. Once he noticed it was me, he lowered his katanas.
"How'd I know you'd show up?" Leo asked, cobalt-blue eyes steadily watching me.
"Cause you're not good at hiding from me," I responded a bit playfully.
Leo grinned up at me, his blue eyes holding a mischievous glint, "Like last night?"
" Oh! Were you there? I didn't notice," I sarcastically remarked, only making the usually calm teenager shoot me a look.
"I did see a bunch of robots, though," I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible whilst I decided to dig. "What's their deal?"
"Their deal is they're incredibly dangerous. Stay away from them," Leo commanded sternly, pointing his katana at me.
'So am I.'
"Well, they sound like fun," I drawled, crossing my arms as I grinned wickedly.
"Maddix, seriously stay away from them," Leonardo spoke flatly, expression somewhat annoyed.
'Hmm...Seems this method isn't working. He's not going to tell me anything if this keeps up. I better change my approach.'
"Something seriously bad is going on with them. what is it?" I inquired with a dead serious tone ignoring his previous statement; eyes locked onto his.
"I'm sorry, Maddix, but I'm not sure I should tell you anything," He replied, his stare unchanging. "Raphael says I can't trust you."
"He makes a good point. You do barely know me," I stated matter-o- factly, jumping down the tower. "For all you know, I might be planning your demise."
"I don't think you are," He retorted.
I let out an amused huff and planted my hands on my blades as I asked: "Really? Then what do you think this is?"
Looking at me like he knew exactly what was going on, Leo spoke: "I think it's a cry for help. I think you're looking for a way out of the Foot Clan and I can help you."
'Wow. He truly believes he got me all figured out. Good luck with that, I can't even figure me out.'
Snorting loudly, my tone was biting as I started to pace around him: "So much you know."
"I know that if you wanted to me dead, you wouldn't have helped me," he stated confidently, heartbeat stead, believing his words to be true.
'Or I was just following my instincts. Plus, I kind of need you alive to finish my mission.'
Laughing in disbelief, I shook my head and said with an amused voice: "You're adorable, stupid but adorable."
Clearly caught off guard, he spluttered, "Re-really, you think I'm..." before dodging my dagger being thrown his way.
'I decided to ignore his words as I went back to the task at hand. Figuring out these alien creature's mission. No longer really caring about my mission with shredder at the moment. I wanted answers.'
I stared at him evenly for a moment with an impassive expression.
"Can you just tell me this one thing?" I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
"What?"
"Are these Kraang going to invade us?" I inquired hesitantly, not sure if I truly wanted to know.
"Not with us around," Leo declared.
"Well don't let all that confidence go to your head," I drawled.
Leonardo's posture somehow became even more rigid. He began pacing back and forth across the rooftop, like a wild animal trapped in a cage too small for comfort. His securitizing gaze focusing directly on me. He finally stopped in front of me. Unsure what he wanted, I got into a defensive stance.
"Look, you want to play games? I can handle it. But I need your word on something," He stated sternly.
'What now?'
Raising my brow, I merely kept an inquiring gaze and waited for him to continue.
"You will not attack my brothers," The usually polite and awkward teen demanded harshly, his dark blue eyes coldly probing me.
'That I can do. I'm only after information anyways. It's not like I have a vendetta against them. That's all Shredder.'
"I give you my word," I proclaimed, my voice confident and stare determined, "No harm will come to your brothers from me."
Leo blinked in surprise at my proclamation, and I took his stunned form as an opportunity to escape and vanished into the darkness, tapping into my supernatural speed to getaway faster.
*********************
That night, Karai and I followed after the boys in the shadows. Each for different reasons. Mine was to evaluate the threat level of the Kraang and Karai was to gain proof of these beings to her father.
Lightly jogging over, I peered from my hiding spot behind the wall before the Worldwide Genome Project building, hoping to figure out why they are at an DNA building.
Listening, I tried my hardest to overhear anything important, but sadly they only talked about the lock.
Not certain if this is a Kraang building or not, I turned to Karai to make a plan only to see an empty space where she should have been and quickly looked back at the building to see Karai following them way too close.
'Of course. Always the reckless one.'
I pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes before quickly headed for the building.
I took one last look around and entered the building after Karai. My footsteps echoed in the empty halls as I walked slowly, listening for any other sounds. I took another measured step before hearing the boy's voices echo into my ear and headed into that direction.
I found a perfect spot on one of the beams on the ceiling to crouch on, the shadows easily keeping my location a secret as I listened into their conversation.
"-Looks like they're collecting DNA from every plant and animal species on Earth," Donatello's voice echoed throughout the lab.
'What were they doing with all this DNA?'
"What?" Leo exclaimed whilst I literally froze in shock, awaiting their verdict on this situation.
"Building blocks, dude,' Mikey casually said in a chill manner despite the seriousness of the situation, "I'll drop the science on you later."
"I wonder what they're doing with all this DNA," Donnie voiced my thought.
"Whatever it is, it can't be good," Leo announced, clenching his fists in determination, "Let's shut this place down."
I stared at the machine a second longer before my stare went back to the boys. There was not much I could do from here. Maybe there was nothing I could do at all. All I had were my weapons with nothing to take down a machine that big. My main goal was to...my mind went blank. What? I wasn't prepared for this kind of situation and just followed Karai into a deathtrap.
"Hey, where's Raph?"
Then, I heard him, "Gotcha!" He said, holding Karai down.
'I knew she was following too close. It's almost like she wanted to get caught. Actually, now that I think about it, that was probably her plan.'
"Karai!" Leo shouted, exasperated.
"Ka-who?" Donatello questioned, apparently not filled in on Leo's latest adventure.
"I'm here too," I announced, jumping down from the beam and into the light, causing the boys to jump a little.
The exasperation on Leo's face seemed to increase at my appearance, "Of course you're here."
Not too long after my arrival, Karai and Raphael started attacking each other.
'We should be fighting these Kraang, not fighting among ourselves. I better stop this before they draw attention to us.'
"Whoa," I stepped between the two. "Relax."
"Relax?!" Raphael spat, sending me a hardened gaze, "how can I relax when I have to worry about the two of you following us and ruining our missions!"
"I'm not here to ruin your mission! I just want information! That's it! You have my word!" I argued, mirroring his gaze.
'It wasn't a lie. I did want more information. I needed to know the threat level of these aliens before I proceeded. Leo wasn't going to give me any of more info, so I decided to gather it myself. And I definitely didn't have any intention of ruining their mission. I just didn't consider Karai dragging me down. I should have known better.'
"And how am I supposed to believe that! I don't even know you, so your word means nothing to me!" Raphael went on, suspicion seeping into his voice.
"Look, you don't have to believe me, heck you don't even have to trust me or my word, but what I do hope you understand is that while we're here arguing about trust or whatever, there's something scarier and bigger scheming, plotting-something, and it could end up killing people or heck even lead to the end of our planet! And none of us even know anything about them!" I Argued back.
Leo, in a flimsy attempt to ease the tension, stepped in between the infuriated Raph and my considerably impatient self, "Alright, can we not argue for half a second here?"
Face contorting into a look of almost disgust, Raphael spat: "You're defending her now?"
"Yes, I am," Leo spoke with a defensive tone of voice, before he suddenly spat: "If Maddix wanted me dead I'm pretty sure she wouldn't have saved my life."
"You trust them?" Raphael asked before motioning to Karai, "Do you really trust her? She's one of them, she'd kill us without a second thought."
'He's not wrong. She definitely would.'
Dark blue eyes darting to my own tentative and skeptical face, Leo then erupted in a way I had never witnessed.
"Nobody trusts anyone! That's the problem!" He shouted, face fiery and voice fierce, "And while we're here arguing about who's on what side, the Kraang could be mutating the city for all we know! Maddix is right, we need to work together on this!"
Booming voice echoing in the lab, I couldn't help but admire the kid. So, concerned for others, Hamato Leonardo was a noble person. He knew what was important. He cared about protecting the innocent and maintaining his humanity. He was a natural leader, and I stared at everyone's silent, contemplative faces, I felt a renewed sense of respect to the guy.
Karai, who seemed to be only half paying attention at this point spoke up: "Slipping into a coma bored here."
"Oh, I'll show you coma soon," Raphael threatened and started a fight with Karai once again.
"Okay, wait a second!" Donatello shouted, waving his hands, "I need someone to explain what the heck is going on here! Who are these girls!"
"Yeah, and how do we know them?" Michelangelo tacked on, only to continue with a search-y puzzled like expression, "Wait. Do we know them?"
I let out a sigh and rubbed at my forehead already bored of this whole situation and ready to just leave. I turned to my attention back to the fight just in time to hear Karai ask: "So this is the stuff that turns people into monsters, huh"- pointing to the green slime like stuff in the machine-"How's that work?"
"Why don't you lean in a little closer, and I'll show you?" Raphael dryly retorted.
"Enough!" Leonardo exclaimed, getting in between the two, "You're gonna set off"-only to get shoved and accidentally hit a button setting off the alarm- "One of those."
"Nice going, Leo," Raphael complained.
Droids appeared not too long after the alarm and started surrounding us. What followed next was quite possibly one of the most long winded, dragged-out speeches of my life. I couldn't believe what this day was becoming. I never should have invited Karai on this mission.
The six of us attacked with zero hesitation. Striking them down one after the other. Until more Kraang showed up with plasma cannons.
'Oh, great this just keep getting better and better.'
"We're trapped," Leo cynically murmured, but Karai just spoke over him, tone of voice mocking.
"No, you're trapped."
My eyes shot over to Karai's own, sadistically twinkling ones, and gave me a troublesome smirk, letting me know she's up to something.
Temper suddenly flaring, I immediately took an aggressive step forward and hissed: "Karai, don't..."
Ignoring me, Karai nonchalantly hovered her finger above one of the buttons saying: "What happens if I do this?"
"Highly undesirable outcome," The Kraang warned, causing her eyes to twinkle with mischievous delight as she drawled: "Well, now I gotta."
"Karai! Karai! You don't do it," Leo yelped, rushing forwards as he tried to stop her, but it was too late, she already pressed it.
'How predictable...Karai not listening.'
The ooze rose up and mixed with the DNA, creating a new creature of which the world has yet to see. Tentacles began to emerge and grabbed the droids still surrounding us and smashed them. The creature soon escaped the machine and what came out looked like a giant octopus with jellyfish eyes.
"Aww." Michelangelo cooed at the meow noises the creature let out, "He's so cute."
However, before I could even offer a response, our ears were met with the deafening sound monstrous roars as the creature began to extend its head. The droids left began firing at the mutant hybrid as it screeched in retaliation.
"Oh my gosh..." was all I could manage while watching a rabid hybrid attack everything in its path.
Mind going a mile a minute, I heard Michelangelo trying to come up with a name and Karai's amazement at this creature, but all I could do is stare at the hybrid completely dumbfounded.
Voices sounded off in a mixture of fear, anger, and annoyance in the background.
Snapping back to reality, I was just about to join the fight when my hearing in the mist of chaos picked up something-more specifically Karai, whispering to herself.
"I'll show you something more important than your vendetta."
'So, she finally got her proof for her father. Good for her, I guess. '
"Well, see ya," Karai called out in a breezily manner, dragging the droid with her to the exit.
Eyes widening, I stare up after my partner with the most furious and incredulous of gazes.
'Really Karai, really?'
Leo's face struggled to remain stoic as he looked up at her retreating form. "You're not gonna help us beat this thing?" I noticed the look in his eyes betray his true emotions: anger and betrayal as he called back, "It's your fault!"
"I'll let the heroes handle it," Karai voice was light and airy as she replied, a smirk resting on her face.
'This is why I prefer to work alone.'
His anger finally showing, Leo shouted furiously, "I trusted you!"
'Which is a big mistake in the first place. Adding this to my mental list: never trust Karai, ever.'
"I know!" She answered, her eyes shifting back to him, "That's messed up, right?"
I frowned, not entirely sure what to think of this whole situation, but one thing I did know was: 'She was definitely raised be shredder. No doubt about it.'
I gave Karai an indignant look and was about to say something-not sure what when she beat me to it.
"Have fun stopping that thing!" Karai called back one last time, without a drop of sincerity as she left.
'What is your endgame here, Karai?'
"Maddix," a voice called out.
I turned to him, "yeah?"
Leo looked confused, as if he'd just found something that didn't make sense. "Why are you still here?" He asked.
I furrowed my brows and responded honestly: "I..., I Just didn't want to leave a mess that was partial my fault."
Feeling that familiar prickling sensation, I glanced up at the boy staring at me with an oddly satisfied expression...as if he was proud of me or something.
It made me uncomfortable. So, decided to bring him back to reality: "Do you want to continuing chatting or do you want to help your brothers?"
Snapping his focus back to the battle, he murmured: "right." And immediately we invaded the electrical currents being shot as us.
Breaking free from one of his tentacles, Raphael exclaimed: "nice try, Octo-punk!"
"No, no! Octo-eyeball-jelly-bug! Let's just call him Justin," Michelangelo excitably rambled in the background.
'Justin?'
Before I could react, I was knocked flying across the space and went crashing through the wall, an ache started blooming from the bottom of my back to my neck. I groaned, blinded by the pain briefly as I laid there unwilling to move.
'Dang, that hybrid is strong.'
"Maddix, get up!" Leo shouted in panic, "Hurry, Maddix!"
With a grunt, I pushed myself up, rubbing the back of my neck before my eyes landed on the creature and a noise of horror leaving my lips as I sprang to my feet, another wave of pain coursing through me.
"How are we going to beat this thing," I hissed, backing away from Justin slowly, with the precision I had been trained with, my shoulders up, reading to charge for it.
Justin let out a shriek and lunged for me, but I skidded out of the way. Justin in his rampage, knocked Michelangelo and Raphael down, and electrocuted Donnie.
Out of nowhere, Leo let out a battle cry as charged at the hybrid avoiding his electricity in the process.
"Hey, Justin!" he called out as he deflected the bolt heading straight at him with his katana and then raised his other katana, letting the sparks flow through the weapons from the previous attack and then stab the tank, causing it to explode and the blast to hit the raging hybrid. Justin let out a screech in pain and slammed through the wall.
"Take that, Justin!" Michelangelo cheered.
"Come on! Let's get out of here!" Leo exclaimed causing the five of us to retreat the burning building.
A sigh of relief escaped me as we escaped the building, and all stood on a staircase catching our breath.
Leo looked up at me, his stare noting uncertainty, "Your eyes were glowing gold back there."
My eyes grew widen and my arms fell back to my sides.
"You're obviously not a mutant, but you're not human either," Donatello muttered, giving me a curious look, although still an air of annoyance probably either from being left in the dark or the Karai situation maybe even a mix of both.
I narrowed my eyes on him, "I am human."
"Human beings-!" Raphael joined the conversation in anger only to stop mid-sentence to regain his composure, "I don't know if you know this, but a human being can't actually survive being thrown through a metal wall or get up that quick with zero injuries."
There was a prolonged silence as I frowned, glaring holes through the mutant. "You probably wouldn't believe me." I stared down at the others with an empty stare. "None of you would."
"Uh, hello," Raphael began gesturing to himself, "Mutant." He then gestured to the burning building behind me, "aliens. So, unless your freaking Black Cat on vacation from messing with spiderman, I think we can handle it."
'Of course, he chose a villain.'
"Fine then," I took a deep breath, mentally preparing myself for rejection. I swallowed hard and looked the boys dead in the eyes, "I'm a werewolf."
A long silence passed between the five of us as the boys watched me, confused. Their mouths hung open slightly as I watched their brains quietly process the words. Leo furrowed his mask, opening and closing his mouth as if he kept thinking of what to say and then changing his mind rapidly. Donatello eyes darted around rapidly in thought, seeming to be thinking of theories maybe. Michelangelo and Raphael looked like I spoke a different language.
"I'll let the four of you process this newfound information," I clapped my hands in a somewhat breezy manner. "Later, boys," I called, slinking off, disappearing into the night.
Leo almost immediately called after me, "This Conversation-Not over! We're finishing this later!"
'Of course, it's not. I'm sure I can only avoid you for so long, especially since we have a common enemy now.'
'But in all seriousness, I need to figure this whole alien situation out. If they are here collecting DNA from every living species, it can't be for anything good. Especially since we are already dealing with a mutant situation that might just so happen to be the alien doing. I need more information on these extra-terresrestrials before I determine if I should aid in eliminating them or not.
Sorry Shredder, but I'm going to have to put a hold on getting your information for a while.