KIA

Part IV

Shredder fingered the silver handset, drifting his fi

ngertips over the blue stone in the middle of the chain. He didn't spare a glance for his warrior standing only a few feet away without moving or saying anything.

"Beautiful." He murmured, "Much as I remember it."

David walked over to him, a thin black data pad with straps around it in his hands.

"So that's the weapon of Unuma." He commented.

Shredder flashed him a dangerous look and David lowered his eyes. Clearly, this was nothing to do with him. Two foot soldiers approached, one baring a shiny black box with the red symbol engraved on the top. Shredder laid the handset into the Chinese silk and closed the lid. The foot bowed and left, never once turning their back.

David swallowed.

"Kia performed as expected?"

"Perfectly." Shredder now looked up at the figure before him, "Just as I would have."

David tried not to look relieved. To show relief would be to say that he was stressed or nervous and both of these were symptoms of weakness in the Shredder's eyes. He had lasted by the evil monarch's side for longer than most others by keeping his true emotions buried.

"The dictate station you requested." He held out the data pad with the straps, "With this you have mobile access to Kia's matrix."

Shredder took the data pad and strapped it over his armour.

"These are the standard features." David pointed out, risking sounding like he was telling the Shredder what to do but needing to explain it before he killed Kia, "Modes of attack, weapons…styles. And these give you personal control like stop, attack, pause, kill…we can program anything you want into them."

Shredder gazed over the little device that held so much power.

"What is it to return Kia to its original state."

David reframed from saying that Kia never had an original state and pointed to the blue touch pad.

"What about what it saw?"

"That mode only occurs when the program is shut down. We can't get the voice to function with the chip…yet."

Shredder deactivated Kia and the figure dropped to the ground. With the mask still in place she was blind and groped around, gasping for air.

"Who attacked you?" He demanded.

When she didn't respond he gripped the knot at the back of her mask and pulled it away to reveal plastered down black hair and pale skin. He gripped her around the neck and made her face him.

"Who attacked you?"

Her eyes were bloodshot yet the colour of her pupils was becoming the brightest blue that reflected all that was around her. Without focusing on his face, without even knowing who he really was, she muttered garbled sentences with only one true word.

"Leo."

Shredder dropped her and she slumped on the ground.

"The turtles." He sneered, "Still they thwart my every plan. They are the even present thorn in my side, the nightmare of my perfect dream…Hiya!" He slammed his fist into a wall, leaving broken plaster and cracks in its place, "They must be eliminated!"

"We can use Kia." David suggested, "You wouldn't even need to be present."

Shredder turned on him, eyes blazing.

"You think I'm afraid?" He demanded, "You think that I would hide as I let this Kia do my bidding?"

"No!" David yelped, "I only meant that…Kia…must have formed friendships with the turtles. Why else are they out searching for her? For you? She's their weakness. She can be used against them."

Shredder drew himself up to full height, David's reasoning only just saving himself from a fate worse than death.

"On our terms." He muttered, "We must lure the turtles to us." He snickered as he walked away, "We will tell them what we have done and then destroy them with that knowledge."

Donatello broke out the icepacks and tossed one to each of his brothers. They grabbed them, pressing the cold pouches against their amphibian skin. Mike groaned, sure he had a bruise on his face underneath the green complexion.

"I tell you, I reckon that soldier fights like the Shred dude." He muttered, "He even kicks like him!"

"Maybe he's Shredder's son or something." Don suggested and got a glare from Raphael, "Okay, so the creep's incapable of love but he could have a son. We've seen what the genetics lab at his old empire could do."

"They were a slight botch up." Raph muttered, pressing the pack to his thigh and wincing at the pain he invoked, "This one's pure genius if that's what he's done."

"What do we have to do to kill this guy?" Leo demanded, "He seems invincible."

"From our perspective, perhaps." Splinter spoke for the first time, sitting on his favourite couch with an old book in front of him, "But to those like him, he is only human."

"One Shredder is quite enough for this world." Michelangelo protested, "Imagine two or three…or three hundred!"

"I'm trying not to." Raph retorted.

The doors opened and they looked up.

April bearing the best thing they'd seen in forty eight hours. A bag of pharmaceutical products and, more importantly, a five stack high of pizzas.

"I could kiss you!" Mike cried and then cringing as his jaw ached.

"I thought you could use a little…refreshing." April chuckled, setting the bag down and then flinging the pizza's their direction, "Supreme for Leonardo. Meat lovers for Raph. Spicy chicken for Don and a supreme with pineapple and no anchovies for Mike."

Without a word the four turtles hoed into the pizzas, forgetting their injuries. April smiled at Splinter and sat down near him.

"One vegetarian pizza."

"Thank you." Splinter nodded, still pouring over his book.

"Whatcha reading sensei?" Mike asked with his mouth full.

"I am looking for the silver handset that the Shredder now has." Splinter murmured, "It does not appear to be Japanese in origin."

"The penthouse was owned by Robert Gent." April explained, "The man who owns all the docks around the eastside. He's a collector of weapons from all eras and centuries. It could have come from anywhere."

"Did his database have any reference to the handset?" Don wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

"Nothing. It's like it didn't exist." April found the t.v. remote and stared at it.

"It did exist." Raph growled, "And now the Shredder has it. I can't believe that psycho warrior just leapt off the balcony like that! It's like he has no fear of splatting on the ground."

"Not unless he wants to be road kill." Mike shook his head.

"If Oroku Saki wanted this handset, we can be sure it will only be used against us." Splinter remarked, closing the book.

April pressed the remote and the t.v. station lit up, half a dozen sets glowing at them brightly.

"Whatcha lookin for?"

"The news station." April explained, "I thought Gent might say something in his news interview about the handset."

After fiddling the station switched over and a blonde headed reporter was giving a spiel on the crime spree running rampant through the streets.

"Looks like the purple dragons have been out on the town." Leo nodded.

"And we've been too busy to do anything about them." Raph growled.

"If you chase two rabbits, you will lose both." Splinter murmured.

"Purple rabbits." Mike chuckled to himself and turned his attention to the news broadcast, "She's a pretty reporter." April glanced at Mike who coughed on his pizza, "But nothing on you April."

"Cute Mike." She raised her eyebrows.

"Seriously though. Have you ever thought about being a reporter?" Don asked, "You'd look great on t.v."

"I don't think so." April grinned, "Where's the volume on this thing?"

She turned up the noise factor and the blonde reporter's voice filled the lair.

"…with no signs of the police commissioner or his troops to stop them. There's been an update on the Greyson disappearance. An anonymous call alerted police to the disappearance of Professor Greyson's work colleague, David Carter. Apparently he vanished the same night as the professor but had packed his apartment, obviously preparing for a trip. The two have been invariably linked together. If anyone has any information about David Carter or has seen this man…"

But what to do was lost in the turtle's amazed stare. Up on the screen, for the whole world to see, was the man who had pretended to bee Kia's brother. His serious face with strong cheek bones and crew cut black hair filled their eyes.

Splinter's eyes narrowed.

"Oh please tell me it wasn't just that easy to find the blighter?" Mike moaned, "Turn on the telly and he's there! That's like comic book stuff!"

"He worked for the genetics lab!" Raph stood up, "He's probably been there for years!"

"And he made his professor disappear!" Donatello tossed aside his empty box, "Probably to gain control of the lab!"

"He was also then stupid enough to be reported to the police as missing, with probable cause of kidnapping." Leo said in a somber voice.

All four looked at each other.

"It's a trap." They said simultaneously.

"So who cares!" Raph grabbed his sais, "He's the guy we're looking for! We gotta go after him and maybe then find the Shredder!"

"Dude…go walking into a known trap!" Mike shook his head, "Stupider things have been done…but not many!"

"He's our only link to finding Kia." Don protested, "He's the only one who may know who and where she is."

"They could have a legion of foot soldiers waiting for you." April argued, "You'll be killed! He's just using Kia to get you to come to him. He's calling the shots. It's too dangerous!"

"The risk is great." Splinter murmured, "A serious risk."

"But is she worth it?" Don asked, looking pointedly at Leo who was standing with his hands hanging by his sides, staring at the floor.

"Worth it?" Leo whispered, "Maybe…"

Michelangelo looked at Splinter.

"What do we do sensei?" He implored.

"This is Leonardo's decision." Splinter said firmly, "I will not make it for him."

Leo swallowed and looked up at his brothers. They looked at him with eager anticipation, wanting direction. This was his moment to make a leadership decision.

"No." He said, "We will not go to the genetics lab. We will not walk knowingly into a trap."

Raph folded his arms. Don blinked and Mike looked at them in confusion.

"Leo…We have to do something bro."

Leonardo closed his eyes and rubbed his head where his bandana covered his face. He wanted to go, so badly. It was clear as day that the genetics lab was a trap. But Kia could be on the other side. She could be in need of help, waiting to be rescued.

But not by them. No.

"I said no." He looked up, his face cold and silent, "And my decision stands."

Stiffly he walked towards his room, entered and shut the door quietly behind him.

Michelangelo stared in amazement at the closed door.

"Oh shell." He muttered, "Master Splinter…"

"His decision." Splinter held up his hands, "And sometimes leaders cannot make the decision they would personally want. They must consider all those involved. And if it means hurting themselves, they make it."

"The very reason I'm not leader." Raph muttered.

April wanted to say she was relieved. She wanted to collapse in relief, knowing that the turtles were safe from the Shredder's clutches. But she knew the blow Leo had dealt had been more devastating than any blow, in particular to himself.

In the dimness of the lights of the lair, a figure dropped from the second balcony onto the ground level in silence. Eyes glowing in the darkness, the lone warrior jogged towards the doorway and left silently into the sewer.

He had only gone part of the way down when standing in his way was Raphael.

"You think you can just walk out on us, you've got another thing coming." He said darkly.

Leonardo glared at him.

"Out of my way Raph." He said strongly, "I'm going alone."

"What is this? A one turtle show? Going out for fame and glory?" Raph grabbed his arm as he tried to pass him and held tight, "Want to take Shredder out on your own?"

Leonardo glowered at him and his vice like grip on his arm.

"I can't." He admitted angrily, "I'm not going to find Shredder. I'm going to find Kia."

"On your own? I don't think so."

Leo tried to yank his arm free but Raph held on tighter.

"This isn't up for negotiation." Leo snapped.

"Well it deserves explanation!" Raph exploded, "You're just sneaking off in the middle of the night to face hundreds of foot and one ancient creature who can't be killed! Are you insane?"

"I won't let you take the risk." Leo yelled back, "It's my risk to take, not yours!"

"What?" Raph demanded, "Who's to say whose risk it is?"

Leo yanked his arm free and tightened his bandana.

"Kia was…she is personal to me. She is dear to me. I can't explain why, I wish I could, but I can't let her be tortured or held by that monster in a genetics lab. I'm going to free her. But I'm going alone. She's not precious to you Raph. She's not part of your heartbeat. She's not your risk to take." Leo's voice broke and he paused to gain control of his emotions, anger and sorrow mingled together. He closed his eyes for a moment then looked up at Raph with clarity, "I will risk for her. I will risk much for her. I cannot ask you to do the same."

Leo stepped away, striding down the sewer corridor, when Raph's small still voice captured his attention.

"You never had to ask. You're my brother." Leo turned and looked at Raph, veiled by the darkness of the sewers, "And I will risk all that you would risk."

Leo swallowed as Raph walked closer and held out his hand.

"Brothers." He said in a voice that was both gentle yet passionate.

Leo felt a lump rising in his throat and he clasped Raph's hand strongly.

"Brothers." He managed to say.

Suddenly two more hands clapped over the top of theirs and Leo looked to his left and right to see Donatello and Michelangelo standing by his side.

"Brothers." Don grinned, "Besides, whose gonna get you into that genetics lab if I don't go?"

"And whose gonna make all the bad jokes if I don't go?" Mike chuckled, "Face it Leo. You're not going alone."

"It seems I have no choice." Leonardo smiled, relief washing over him like a cool breeze on a hot day.

"Stubbornness is a trait you all share." Splinter said behind them and Leo looked at his master, "I am not to go with you. But I wish you the best my sons."

"Thank you." Leo nodded and looked at the other three, "Shall well?"

"The shell we shall!" Mike banged him on the shell, "By all means fearless leader, lead the way!"

The Greyson Genetics Laboratory. It was a glass building built on an old warehouse. The ugly brick structure beneath was used primarily for storage. The lab was on top, glittering in the night light, reflecting everything around it. The glass section was three stories high with a domed roof.

The lab was sectioned off by police fences and lighting. Of course that never stopped four ninja turtles. They leapt off an adjacent building and suctioned onto the side, sticking to the glass with their climbers. Rain was falling so clambering up the wall was very tricky.

At the second storey Donatello pulled out his laser cutters. Expertly he scooped out a piece of the glass. Raph pressed his climber on it and as it came free he tried to lower it gently onto the floor inside the room. It struck the carpet then landed flat. Quickly all four slid inside.

They were in the office section. Carpet floors. Dark computers. Weird forest pot plants.

Leo jogged to the doorway, looked around and signaled their advance. Scoping out that level Leo guessed it to be no more than pencil pushing offices. They headed to the third level by climbing the cabling of the lift shaft.

This floor was profoundly different.

No carpet. No normal computers. And no ugly pot plants. It was clinically clean, having no smell, no distinguishing features and no real character.

Just a long, dark corridor with dull blue lights showing just how long it was.

"I don't like this." Don murmured.

"We're in enemy territory." Mike replied softly, "What's to like?"

"Eyes peeled guys." Leo cracked his fingers, ready to grab his katana, "Mike…don't peel back your eyelids."

They walked out slowly, barely breathing as they looked at the black glass on either side of the corridor, unable to see pat it.

Abruptly the doors hummed closed behind them. They spun around to stare back at the blank wall that had been a door. Suddenly lights flickered and the glass paneling became alive with light and soft blue colour. The corridor they were standing on began to move slowly down, heading towards the distant end. The turtles looked around in confusion, waiting for the attack. None came. Instead a clear, generic voice began to speak above them.

"Welcome to the Greyson Genetics Laboratory." A small room off to the left lit up behind the glass paneling. The turtles looked in curiously as they were treated to a tour of the centre.

"Founded by Professor Greyson four years ago, the genetics laboratory was putting an idea into action. For so long the human mind and technology were worlds apart, unable to marry the two together. Professor Greyson's idea, now a reality, was to court the two ideas until he could marry them."

The holo image of Greyson flickered up before him. He was laughing as he gave a speech at the opening of the centre. He turned, snipping a ribbon and standing in front of the building they were in now. To one side stood David, clapping and smiling along with the rest.

The image faded and a room lit up to their right.

"The idea of genetics and technology was spawned when Professor Greyson, a doctor for many years, realized that human minds were weak. Weaknesses that manifested in mental disabilities, dementia and even physical disabilities like paralysis." Images of bed ridden patients, men women and children, flashed before their eyes, "He proposed that by refining microchips with genetic connections, the human condition could be stabilized."

"Impressive." Don breathed, his breath fogging up the glass. He tried to look back but the conveyer belt ride kept moving them on.

"Sounds creepy." Raph muttered, "When does this merry go round end?"

"Ssh."

"Experimentation on animals began in the labs third year, being able to exert control over the animals and even providing knowledge to them. But only in the last few months has the centre experienced real break through."

A room lit up with holo doctors working at their stations, peering through microscopes, inspecting the tiny micro chips that could be inserted into the brain.

"Using a set of high frequency notes which humans cannot hear, the micro chip could be activated. And using thousands of different combinations, the chip could alter the control, giving the human the ability to control his or her actions, to send signals from the brain to the body and for it to respond. It is the most highly efficient and detailed input/output device created."

"This doesn't sound so bad." Mike shrugged, "He wanted to give people a better life."

"But if you can exert control over yourself just by using high note frequencies…what's to stop someone exerting control over you?" Leo whispered.

"Of course we could make animals do what we wanted. But the ultimate test was to see if a human brain could handle the amount of information required." The voice remarked, changing in tone, "The world of the critics claimed it to be a dangerous innovation, just begging for flaws. What if a super human was created? One who could download data in an instant, know things without studying or even be given a vocation for a day…like a vet."

Leo stiffened.

"The darker side of genetics. Professor Greyson once said if you pushed hard enough you can turn anything that was once good, evil. And we found out exactly how far we could push it."

Suddenly both sides lit up and the turtles went shell to shell in the middle, surrounded by cages of foot soldiers battling it out in front of them behind the glass walls. They were methodical, like mime actors, striking each other with eerie slowness. The soldiers took no notice of them, fighting each other blow by blow.

"By processing data files on every possible fighting style, the information was downloaded into one special chip and surgically inserted into a human mind. It was, in effect, killing intelligence animated. Of course this process will take years to be accepted by the world. But here is one we've prepared ahead of time."

Abruptly the floor simply disappeared below them.

As they fell Raph stabbed his sai into a wooden beam. Don grabbed his leg, Leo grabbed Don's tech bag and Mike clung to Leo's foot.

Mike looked down. He was two inches from the ground.

"Ah guys?"

He dropped down, his brothers following.

They were in a large room. The echo of space was around them and though they had plenty of room, they felt consumed.

Bursting into flame around them, torches lit up like beacons against the walls of the warehouse level showing just how many foot soldiers were lining the walls.

There were hundreds. They stood against the walls, sometimes their lines being three thick and they glared at the four turtles. But they didn't move.

"Why aren't they attacking?" Don whispered.

"You're complaining because they're not attacking?" Mike demanded.

At the far end a small platform was lit up and standing upon that was the horror of horrors.

Leo's skin went cold. Raph gripped his sais tighter. Don licked his lips and Mike tried desperately to think of a pun for that very moment.

The Shredder looked back at them through the darkness that lay between them. He was more potent than ever, glowing with an inhuman light that defied this world. His armour shone, his eyes blazed and he cracked his fingers tightly. Around one forearm was a black data module.

As a side thought, David stood to his right bearing the Shredder's banner, a black drape with the red symbol on front.

"We meet again." The Shredder said, his voice carrying through the silence.

"For the last time." Leonardo said, hoping he wasn't lying. He also hoped he sounded braver than he felt, "Let's end this."

The Shredder stepped off the platform and walked towards them.

Raph shifted anxiously on his feet. Don put a hand on his arm, calming him down.

The Shredder stopped twenty feet before them, standing in the darkness.

"Yes. The end." He snickered and clicked his fingers. A spotlight blazed just to his right lighting up a perfect circle area.

Kneeling in the light was the lone warrior, the red symbol upon his face.

"Stand." Shredder ordered, touching the pad.

The warrior stood.

"I believe this to be a friend of yours." He undid the mask knot and drew it off slowly. With a flourish he flung it aside and stepped back.

Leo's legs went weak as his worst fears were confirmed.

Standing before them was Kia.

"Allow me to introduce Kia." He said in a cold voice, "More appropriately, Killing Intelligence Animated."

Her hair was slicked back and her eyes darkly shadowed. Her pupils were a strange blue colour and they reflected the shocked expressions on the turtle's faces.

"You monster…" Raph said, getting his voice back.

The Shredder ignored him and walked away.

"Come back here and fight Shredder!" Leo demanded, stepping forward. Suddenly Kia side stepped into his path and clawed her hands, squatting in an attack position.

"Kia is me. She is my killing intelligence animated."

Leo looked in dismay at Kia who showed absolutely no recognition towards him. He put both swords in one hand and reached out to her.

"Kia?" He called gently, "Kia can you hear me?"

"Kia. Attack." The Shredder punched in the frequencies and Kia's head tilted as though receiving orders.

"I won't fight her." Leo swore, "Kia…listen to me!"

She began to advance towards him, her face bearing grim determination.

Leo remained firm as Kia stood before him.

"Don't do this Kia. You've got to hear me." He implored, "Listen to me. I'm your friend. Kia…"

"Leonardo?" She tilted her head, "Leonardo…"

Leo's shoulders relaxed.

"Ye…"

Suddenly her hand cracked across his windpipe and the air exploded out of Leo's lungs. Spinning away with the force of the blow he collapsed on the ground, wheezing, trying to breathe. A roar went up from the foot soldiers and Shredder sneered.

Kia didn't give him a second glance. She looked at the other three and began to advance.

"What do we do?" Raph yelped.

"We can't hit her! She doesn't know what she's doing!" Don cried and whipped out his bo to block a blow. He was forced on the defense, backing up constantly, "She's just obeying orders!"

Raph grabbed her but Kia spun around, kicking him twice with her right and then up on the left. He was knocked sideways as Mike ran towards her, spinning his nun-chucks crazily. Kia didn't move.

At the last second he stopped, unsure what to do now.

Kia head butted him and Mike lurched back moaning. She spun around, grabbed Don's bow and flung him aside like a rag doll. With terrifying precision she began to fight them all at once.

Leaping into the air she performed a flying dragon and kicked, grabbing a nun-chuck as she did so, winding that around Raph's wrist, twisting and grinding him to the ground. Out of his sheaths she yanked his sais, twisted and flung them at Leo who was off the ground and advancing. He sliced them aside with his katana and swiped with his sword, trying to get her to back off.

The sword scraped her side, Kia not moving an inch. She punched, cracking his head back, slamming him in the chest and flinging him over her shoulder. Don and Mike ran towards her at once. She leapt, split kicked and while still in the air, slam punched downwards, and barely missed Raph's head as he rolled away.

The chant of the soldiers was deafening, crying for their demise.

"She could've killed me then!" Raph roared, "Why is she toying with us?"

"Because she can." Leo gasped, clutching his throat, "Shredder knows we won't touch her."

Kia sprinted towards Mike. Don pole-vaulted towards her. At the last minute she bent backwards, his kick going right over the top of her. He skidded on the ground, losing his bow to her hands. She snapped it in half, spun it around and began to throw it like a javelin at Mike.

"We can't do nothing!" Raph yelled and balled up his fist. Slamming it into her shoulder Kia was thrown aside.

She rolled, spun and was up on her feet faster than blinking with the broken bow still in her hand, glaring at him. Raph stared in disbelief.

"That would've knocked Mike out!" He shook his head, "Not possible!" He grabbed the tip just before it could strike and tried to wrestle the bo from her.

"It is if her pain receptors are disabled!" Don called, "That's why she's a super human! She can't feel pain!"

Raph went flying.

"Well I can!" He coughed, spitting up blood.

"Any chance of cracking the frequency code using the shell cell?" Leonardo demanded, hurriedly back stepping as Kia ran towards him.

"There are thousands of frequencies and millions of ways of scrambling them!" Don yelled.

Kia twisted past Leo's swords, grabbed his wrist, slammed it on her knee and cracked her elbow back into his beak. Before she could finish him off Mike clutched her in a cruncher grip around her chest. He fell backwards, holding her to his chest.

"Get lucky!" Raph roared at Donatello who was already fiddling with the shell cell.

Kia snapped her head back, striking Mike's jaw. He groaned but wouldn't let go. With strength that was not possible from her small frame she pushed back his arms, twisted and began to pounding mercilessly into his chest.

"Donny!" Leo cried, dragging Kia off Mike. She tried to kick him. He grabbed her foot before it could connect. Kia simply threw her entire

body around, striking him with her other foot.

She landed like a cat, on all fours, and looked at Donatello who glanced up instinctively from his fiddling. She snarled and stood up.

"Ah…guys!"

Michelangelo was trying to get his breath back. Raph was spitting blood, stumbling towards Kia while Leo was trying to stand upright.

Kia went into a roll, scooped up an abandoned sai and hurled it at Don. He turned at the last second, the sai skittering off his shell.

"Kia stop this!" Leo cried, staggering towards her.

She spun around, called by her name and tilted her head.

"You're not like this! You're not a fighter!" Leo felt the world go dizzy and he gulped for air.

Kia sprinted towards him. He went down on one knee and turned. Instead of slamming into his shell she rolled around his shell, tripping him up.

Leo's back to her she gripped his shell, vaulted over the top of him and then tossed his entire body weight over her shoulders, forcing a katana from his hand before he landed heavily.

Within the blink of an eye she landed on top of him, crushed her knees into his shoulders and raised the sword.

Leo's eyes grew wide.

"No!"

Her eyes blazed blue as she brought the blade down.

"No!" Raph, Don and Mike yelled at once.

Kia held the hilt tightly, staring straight ahead. It was as though she couldn't understand what she had just done.

Leo gulped for air, the tip of his own sword suspended just above his throat.

His three brothers were frozen. They didn't dare move in case she continued the blow.

"Donny…what did you do?" Mike whispered.

"I didn't do anything." Don murmured, the shell cell forgotten.

There was silence from the soldiers. And from the platform there was dark anger.

Kia blinked, as though coming back into focus. She raised the sword again and brought it down…only to stop just before nicking his throat.

This time her eyes widened slightly and her mouth opened.

"Leo?" She whispered as though just recognizing him.

Leo couldn't breathe, the air crushed out of him.

Kia breathed labouriously and tilted her head. She was receiving orders. She frowned, swallowing but not following through.

"No!" The Shredder tried again.

Again her head tilted but Kia's unblinking eyes weren't focusing. Blood trickled out her nose. She was losing her grip.

Once more he tried and suddenly her resolve came crashing down. She raised the blade and screeched. The blade grazed the side of Leo's neck, burying itself in the floor.

Her shaking hands let go of the sword hilt and she looked at them like she'd never seen them before. Her eyes widened, receiving orders but she wasn't following them.

Gasping, pain was realized and stricken she collapsed to one side, jerking as the Shredder tried mercilessly to regain control of her fragile mind. Blood dripped from her ears.

"Stop it!" Raph roared at the Shredder as she convulsed on the ground.

Leo bent over her and cupped his hands over her ears, trying to stop the frequencies from entering her mind.

The Shredder cried at the top of his voice, ripped the data pad off his arm and flung it at David.

"Foot!" He bellowed, "Attack!"

Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael went shell to shell around Leonardo who was trying to soothe Kia's tormented mind. He looked up. The foot were advancing. Kia went limp in his arms. The Shredder had stopped trying. He brushed a strand of hair from her face and stood up.

"Leo…" Mike murmured, looking around.

Leonardo knew it was hopeless. They were half beaten, bloodied and barely able to stand. Now they had to fight their way out of a room full of soldiers. He yanked his sword out of the ground and bared them together.

"It's now or never." He muttered, "Brothers?"

"Always." Raph nodded.

"Definitely."

"Affirmatory." Don pressed a button on his shell cell and looked up.

The foot were only a few feet away now, crushing them with their inevitability.

Suddenly the world seemed to end. Bricks and mortar went flying from a wall as an armoured truck crashed through. The foot scattered as beams fell from the ceiling, the support structure of the building above losing strength.

"No!" The Shredder screeched as the truck barreled through the rows of soldiers, skidding around the turtles and through another wall, "Stop them!"

In the confusion Leo scooped Kia up in his arms and he dashed after his brothers who were following the fleeing foot soldiers as the building collapsed around them.

The rage filled scream of the Shredder echoed off the walls of the buildings nearby and police sirens were already careening towards them. As the human officers ran towards the genetics laboratory, the warehouse level collapsed, bringing down the other three levels with it. Exploding glass and bricks shot out toward them and they leapt back.

"What did this?" One man yelled.

"Was anyone in there when it happened?"

"Let's hope not."

They didn't see the shadowed figures blending into the night light, disappearing from view.

The rain was falling heavily and it was a dangerous climb to the top of the cathedral. But it was the safest place for the moment.

Michelangelo peered over the edge of the rampart between two ugly gargoyles. He could see the red and blue flashing lights of the police. Patrol cars were filling the streets, trying to find them.

"It's a hot town tonight." He remarked.

Leonardo gently laid Kia down on the concrete, keeping a hand underneath her head.

Her eyes were closed, her face bloody and bruised. Scoured on her side were a few cuts and wounds. Blood had dried in her ears and from her nose. A little still trickled out of her mouth and her skin was as pale as the under belly of a fish. The rain swept back her hair, cleaning some of the blood off.

Leo touched her chin.

"I feel like yelling sanctuary at the top of my lungs." He choked.

"I wouldn't." Raph muttered, looking over the rampart with Mike, "We've stirred the town up enough for one night."

"Is she gonna be okay?" Don knelt down.

Leo shook his head.

"I don't know. She won't wake up."

"What do we do?" Raph demanded, "Where do we take her?"

"She needs a hospital and doctors." Leo murmured, "She could have anything. Internal bleeding, broken bones…anything. If we don't take her, she could die."

"If we do…" Don put a hand on his shoulder, "They'll X-ray her. They'll find the microchip."

"Besides, that's where the foot would look for her first." Raph agreed, "If they don't get her, the humans will turn her into an experiment of some kind."

"I don't remember you being a doctor Raphael." Mike retorted, "If she doesn't get proper medical attention…"

Leo wiped the rain off his face and looked up.

"We take her to the lair. Master Splinter will know what to do. Hopefully he made it back with the battle shell in one piece." He stood up, feeling his body protest, aching from the battle, "Don. You and Raph go to a pharmacy and get some supplies. Mike and I will go through the cathedral drain and meet you at the lair."

Without a word Don and Raph leapt over the edge of the rampart, sliding down towards ground level.

Leo lent down and gently lifted Kia up.

"We'll take the stairs." Mike suggested and kicked opened the barred door at the top of the cathedral.

Leo paused for a moment on the rampart, letting the rain wash away his pain.

"Sanctuary." He whispered.

Splinter knelt down by Kia's side. She was laid in his bed, limp and broken with no sign of life. Out of the bottles his sons had procured he selected a few and found the bandages.

"Hot water. Clean cloths. Green tea." He ordered and his sons hurried to obey.

Gently he bathed her face, his sons watching intently over his shoulder.

"Leave my sons." He said, knowing that they wanted to see if she would be alright. But he couldn't work with them breathing on his neck.

"Master Splinter…" Leo protested.

"I said go!" Splinter barked and they deserted his room reluctantly. Splinter knew instinctively that they were only just outside, sitting before his door, waiting for news. But he had to blot their pain out of his mind for just a while as he concentrated on Kia's brokenness.

"Just as you once watched over me." He murmured, "So I will watch over you now."

He cleaned and bound her wounds, removed the bloodied black robes of the Shredder and laid a warm blanket over the top. Some where in her confused mind, Kia must have known she was safe as she breathed deeply and relaxed into the bed.

Like a father Splinter stroked her face, running his fingers through her hair just to let her know that he was there for her.

His claws brushed against an old scar. He lifted the hair aside and saw where the surgery had been performed to insert the micro chip. Kia frowned and cringed in her unconsciousness.

Splinter took his hand away and sighed.

He got wearily to his feet and hobbled out to the lair. His sons had fallen asleep at the door way. Raph was snoring softly, leaning against a column. Mike was leaning on him, muttering in his sleep. Don had collapsed on the floor, half curled up using his arm as a pillow. Leo was leaning against his shell, slowly drooping towards the ground.

His sons were not stupid. They knew it would take many days for Kia to heal. Her wounds were grievous and not just the wounds of the body of which they had unwittingly afflicted. But the battlefield of her mind was a wreck. She drifted in and out of consciousness, barely able to eat, never opening her eyes.

Splinter did not say it to his sons, but he feared she would never wake up. She had taken far more than physical blows and perhaps, in her mind, it would be easier to give up than to fight through the chaos of her mind.

For three days Splinter barely left her side. For three days his sons sat outside the door, waiting anxiously.

On the fourth day Splinter sighed, took up his walking stick and hobbled outside.

All four looked up expectantly.

Splinter gazed at them.

"She is past the worst. She will live."

Raph closed his eyes and breathed a silent prayer. Don felt a lump rise in his throat and turned away. Mike cried yes and nearly collapsed in relief. Leo stood up, tears pricking his eyes.

"Can I see her?"

"Not yet my son." Splinter put a hand wearily on his shoulder, relief filling his body as well, "Not yet."

"When?"

"She needs time."

How much time, Splinter mused, he didn't know. He still spent a great deal of time by her side but took moments aside to attend his sons. Some sense of normality began to creep back into the lair.

April visited with some clothes for Kia. Casey dropped by with news of the surface world. His sons practiced slowly, recuperating from their ordeal.

Splinter watched this from his doorway. He then shut the door and knelt down by Kia. Her back was to him as she faced the wall. Tentatively he reached out and stroked the scar on the back of her head.

"The wound goes deep." She croaked.

Splinter smiled sadly.

"It has healed."

"Perhaps some wounds are not of the body..." She turned and looked at him, "But of the heart." A well of tears was threatening to break loose but she swallowed them down painfully, "Who am I?"

"I do not know." He answered truthfully.

"Neither do I. No one does." She rubbed her eyes. They had returned to a pale blue instead of the brilliant blue of before, "I have no memories. Nothing of my life. Except the few days I was here before. That is my past. That is all I remember."

"It's a start." Splinter smiled, touching her face, "You also have this." He laid some sheets of paper into her lap and Kia fingered them.

They were the sketches she had done the last time she was there. Grazing pencil marks across the pages, dark and light, blurred and crisp they depicted her time in the lair. Tears trickled down her face, splashing onto the pages. In her sorrow she put them aside.

"I don't even know if that is my gift…or if it was programmed into me."

"It is you." Splinter said firmly, "A part of you they couldn't erase." Kia sighed, "Leonardo wishes to speak to you."

She froze, clutching the blanket around her.

"I can't see him." She shook her head dismally, "No…not now. Not yet. Maybe not ever."

"That is your decision. One that is your own to make."

Kia swallowed.

"What do I do now? Where do I go from here?"

Splinter got to his feet and gripped his walking stick.

"That is up to you. But you will always have a home here, my daughter." He tapped to the doorway. He paused and looked at her, "Would you like some green tea?"

She gave a small smile.

"That would be nice."

She lay back down and faced the wall. Splinter guessed she would be asleep before he returned.

He closed the door behind him and saw Leonardo standing before him, imploring him with his eyes. Splinter nodded and walked away.

Kia heard the chink of china in her dreams and opened her eyes blearily. Her body felt so tired though she slept for so long. But she was thirsty.

"Tea for two?" She whispered and rolled over. And froze.

Leonardo was kneeling by her side pouring the steaming liquid into the cup. He could barely look at her, staring instead at the green tea that swirled around.

Kia gripped the blankets tightly around her as though they would offer some kind of protection. All she could see before her was someone she had nearly killed. And that thought filled her with dread.

"Leonardo…I'm sorry." She blurted at the same time as he said,

"Forgive me Kia."

She frowned.

"What is there to forgive? You rescued me."

Leo set the cup down.

"I turned my back on you in the sewer, when I thought you had betrayed us."

Kia shook her head.

"I had betrayed you." She protested.

"But not willingly." He argued, "You didn't know what control they had over you. But I accused you…I lost my temper at you."

"It was understandable. Leo…I was about to lead the foot to your doorstep with or without my knowledge." She forced herself up on one elbow, "I was about to kill you. I was about to destroy you and though I could see it happening I couldn't stop."

"You did stop." Leo finally looked into her eyes, "You did. You destroyed the control they had."

"For that moment." Kia shook her head, "What happens if it reactivates? Who will I hurt the next time? Whose life will I destroy?"

"You stopped." Leo insisted.

"Because of you." She confessed, "Only because of you. Will you always be there? Can you say that you will never leave my side?"

Leonardo wanted to say he would. He wanted to declare it to her. But the words got lost in his throat.

"I'm a danger to those around me." Kia lay back down, her strength leaving her as quickly as it had come, "A bomb with no timer."

"You're a beautiful young woman." Leo professed, "Who has a whole life to live before her. And you can live it here. You can stay with us and we'll help. Donatello could invent a dampening field for the chip. We could learn how to dismantle it. You wouldn't have to leave us…" She looked away and he felt his hand take her chin and look at her, "Me. You wouldn't have to leave me." Tears were dribbling from the corners of her eyes and dripping off her chin. He swiped them away with his thumb, "I don't want to lose you."

"I…" But Kia's words were lost as she kissed Leonardo's lips. It was brief but filled with longing. Longing that she would stay. That he wouldn't lose her.

As she sank into the cushions his hand moved from her face to clasp her hand and rub his thumb over the top.

"You won't lose me." She whispered, exhaustion sweeping over her, driving away all her energy.

Late one night, only a few days after Leo's visit to Splinter's quarters, the master's doors opened silently.

A figure slowly crept out of the room into the darkness of the lair. She avoided the pockets of dim light, keeping to the shadows. On the small coffee table she left some papers. Silently she opened the archway and glanced back.

From the second balcony Splinter watched, his eyes glowing yellow in the light. Whether or not she saw him, he didn't know. If she did, she didn't show it.

Like a shadow herself she disappeared into the sewers.

Splinter sat on his chair sipping tea and reading a book when his sons finally decided to join the world of the living. Yawning and scratching they stumbled out, not even awake until their first coffee.

Leonardo went immediately to Splinter's quarters and peered inside.

Splinter sighed and turned a page.

A split second later Leo came running out.

"She's gone!" He looked at his three brothers, "Kia…she's gone."

"What!" Don yelped and ran to his computer, "Impossible. The door alarm didn't go off!"

Mike pointed to the severed cabling.

"Could that have something to do with it?"

Leo yanked his swords off the wall where they were kept.

"We have to go after her."

"Leonardo." Splinter looked up, "She's gone. Let her go."

"What!" He exclaimed.

"Sensei, you can't be serious." Raphael exploded, "She's not well enough to go anywhere! We have to find her and bring her back!"

"She knew what she was doing." He responded calmly.

Leonardo shook his head.

"No." He swore and started towards the door. Then he stopped and turned, "You knew she was going to leave."

"She made a choice." Splinter nodded, "She has gone to find herself."

He sank to his knees.

"Will she come back?"

"When she finds herself." Splinter stood and gestured to the small sheaf of papers, "She left a gift."

Don picked up the pages and looked down at them.

"Her sketches." He handed them out, "She drew us all. Master Splinter, Raphael, me, Mike…" He looked up, "Yours isn't here Leo."

Raph frowned, gazing at his sketch.

"Perhaps…perhaps she wanted to take you with her." He said.

The trucky glanced over at the young hitch hiker he'd picked up. She looked young, younger than any he'd seen before. Her black hair cupped her face where the collar of the jacket wasn't up around it. She didn't have much with her. Just the clothes she was wearing and the piece of paper she kept staring at even when the road lights didn't give nearly enough light to see by.

"So what are you running away from?" He asked in a deep voice.

She touched the page gently and looked up.

"Is it still running when you mean to return one day?" She asked quietly.

"Sounds more like a journey."

"Then I am going on a journey." She glanced over her shoulder at the disappearing horizon of New York, "And one day I will return."

End