Hey guys! Sorry it's been so long, but this chapter has really been giving me some trouble. No way was right, and everything just felt wrong about it. Then I was struck with this, and thus this chapter was born. Hope you all like it, and I hope it makes up for my long period away from it.
Enjoy guys!
This chapter focuses on all three groups, and everything that happens, happens roughly around the same time.
Disclaimer: All rights reserved.
'''''Change in place.
Raphael felt his eye twitch for what must have been the umpteenth time in the space of an hour. It was bad enough that he was down here, in the dark underground tunnels, searching for giant insects of the flesh eating kind. That was enough to make his skin crawl, though he wouldn't openly admit it.
What made it worse was the fact that he was down here, searching dark underground tunnels for giant insects of the flesh eating kind with no one but his idiotic brother for company. A brother who, he honestly believed, was trying to drive him out of his mind. It was his honest opinion that one of them wouldn't be coming home alive.
"Buzz buzz! What was that Raph?" The older turtle growled in response, casting a deadly gaze towards Michelangelo. He seemed unperturbed. Grumbling, Raphael walked on ahead, paying no attention to how quiet Mikey had suddenly become. That is, of course, until said turtle let out a bloodcurdling scream, one that caused Raph to jump almost out of his shell and swing around, sais flashing and heart hammering against his plastron.
"What! Where is it!?" Mikey looked terrified.
"I-it's...i-it's…"
"What? Spit it out for crying out loud!"
"It's on y-your shell! It's crawling up your shell Raph! Oh God, it's crawling up your shell!" Raphael almost shrieked (but he didn't) and swung around violently, thrashing his sais outward in a blind attempt to hit something he couldn't see.
"Where is it!? Get it off me! Get it off!" Panicked, Raph swung around too fast, losing his footing and tripping, landing gracelessly on the ground. A tense silence followed, broken by Mikey's sudden hysterical laughter. Turning his attention to his brother, Raphael growled darkly.
"O-oh man! You should have seen your face! Gotta say, nice landing dude." Mikey bent over double, laughing hard and never noticing his brother standing and stalking towards him.
"Mikey…" His voice dripped with threat and warning, sais clenched tightly in his hands. Mikey immediately stopped laughing, righting himself and looking at his advancing brother. He raised his hands in surrender and began backing away.
"Eheheh, lighten up dude, it was only a joke...Raph, seriously bro...Ok, c'mon, you know murder ain't the answer!" With a meep, Mikey turned and ran from the irate turtle who immediately gave chase.
"Mikey! Get back here!" Michelangelo just kept on running. Raphael growled to himself as he ran him down. Hope the others are havin' more luck than us…
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Donatello, by comparison, was having a very interesting time with the Doctor. They'd already discussed numerous scientific theories, and the Time Lord had told him different tales of his adventures, all the time scanning the tunnels they were currently walking down and any that led off of it. The Doctor was currently sitting on his haunches and holding a piece of stone in the blue beam of his Sonic Screwdriver, the glass of his thick rimmed glasses glinting in the slightly pulsating light.
"So, you're saying that aliens have invaded this planet before? How many times?"
"Too many to count. And more are coming. Believe me. This planet hasn't seen the worst of it yet."
"But why this planet? What's so special about Earth when there are billions of planets out in the cosmos?"
"Because the humans are so noisy. Sending out satellites and probes and drones and radiowaves. You're getting noticed. And not always in a good way." Don was silent for a moment.
"Then why haven't there been more reports? Surely, if what you say is true, there would be more sightings and more contact."
"Well, because the human race is still too young to fully comprehend its place in the universe. Although, it is starting to finally grow up. It is taking notice. Especially at Christmas." The turtle nodded.
"I remember hearing about that. The Christmas Star, the Christmas invasion before that. They said they were either a hoax or a stunt."
"But you don't believe it."
"No." The turtle stopped and looked at the Doctor. "Doctor, forgive me, but I need to know. You and the Professor, are you alien?" The Doctor didn't even glance at the turtle, seemingly more interested in the stone he was holding.
"Yep."
"I mean, as in extraterrestrial alien."
"Yep."
"I see." The Doctor dropped the stone and stood, pulling his glasses off and looking directly at the young scientist.
"Does that bother you?" Don shook his head smiled a little, looking a little relieved.
"It actually makes sense that you both are. The things that you've both said, the fact that neither of you seem bothered by our appearance, and the way you handled that Hornet. Most people would run. Well, most humans anyway." The Doctor flashed a grin.
"So you knew all along, you just needed confirmation." Don looked a little sheepish.
"I confess to having my suspicions." That simply made the Doctor's grin larger.
"You know something, Donatello? I'm beginning to like you more and more." Don was about to say something when the Doctor suddenly silenced him, a frown on his face.
"What's that sound?" The turtle settled into a stance, ready to take action if needed. The Doctor ran to the wall, pressing his ear flat against it. His frown deepened. He could hear muffled scratching and humming coming from inside the wall.
"Doctor? What is it?" The Time Lord beckoned for him to be quiet.
"Shsh…" Stepping back, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a stethoscope, putting the buds in his ears and the diaphragm to the tunnel wall. Don looked perplexed.
"How did you get that in your pocket?"
"Bigger on the inside. Now shush." The Doctor walked along the wall, seemingly following whatever he was listening to. All too soon, he stepped back, pulling the buds out of his ears and replacing the stethoscope in his pocket.
"What was it?"
"I don't know. I hate not knowing." He drew a breath. "One thing's for certain, though. I think we're getting close."
"Close to the nest?" The Doctor shook his head.
"No, close to one of the tunnels that feeds the nest. Come on, we'd better check it out before we head back."
"Is that wise, Doctor?" The Time Lord once again flashed him a grin.
"Nope, not in the slightest." Donatello sighed and matched the Doctor's brisk pace down tunnel. All the while, he couldn't help but wonder what they were about to get themselves into.
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As missions go, this was definitely the most interesting. Leonardo watched the Time Lady closely, taking note of everything that she was doing and asking questions when he felt he needed answers. The Professor didn't seem to mind her audience. In fact, until he spoke, she seemed to forget that he was there at all.
"Found anything Professor?" She hummed.
"No, not really." She turned her gaze to him. "You know, you could help me look for clues instead of watching me work." Ok, so maybe it did bother her a little.
"Sorry. I'm just kinda out of my depth with this. Scientific research seems to be more of Donnie's thing." She cocked an eyebrow.
"But this isn't research. This is tracking. Something I feel I'm right in assuming is one of your fortes." Leo straightened a little, though he didn't seem to realise he'd done it.
"Well, when you put it like that…" The Professor chuckled a little and turned her attention back to the floor. She sighed as the silence crept in again.
"Leonardo. If you want to ask me a question, please just go ahead and ask it." Leo faltered a little, looking a little shocked. How did she know? She glanced over her shoulder.
"It's practically radiating off you, young man."
"Ok. You and the Doctor, you said that you weren't something. What were you going to say?" The Professor stood, clapping her hands together to rid them of dirt.
"I was going to say that we're not from around here. Though I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that." Leo nodded, but wasn't convinced. He decided to choose his next question very carefully.
"Then, where are you from Professor?" She cocked an eyebrow, golden eyes glinting in the torchlight. She smiled a little.
"There really is no need to be so guarded, Leonardo."
"Forgive me, but I have trouble believing I can trust someone I've only just met." She nodded.
"Understandable I suppose." She sighed, resting against the dirty wall, before immediately pulling away and wiping herself down with a grimace.
"Forgot where we were for a moment. Now, to answer your question. As I said before, the Doctor and I aren't from around here, and it really is too long a story to go into at present." She went quiet for a moment, listening intently to the silence of the tunnel. Something was off. She frowned, switching off her torch and making her way along the tunnel and beckoning Leo to do the same. The sudden change in mood and atmosphere signalled the end to their conversation, at least for the moment. Leo's hand reached up, gripping the hilt of one of his swords, ready to release it from the confine of its sheath at a moment's notice.
The Professor stepped cautiously, eyes to the ground and ears straining for the slightest sound. She stopped. There was something near to them. She could hear the scuffle and shift of feet in the darkness. It seemed to be coming from inside the wall itself, and it was getting closer. She stopped, feeling the wall. It had suddenly changed, feeling jagged and earthy instead of the man-made concrete they had been walking down. It felt like it had been dug by something recently, something biological. The wall suddenly gave way to an opening. She listened intently, gasping and pushing herself into the wall, motioning for Leo to do the same. He drew his sword, ready for the attack. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her screwdriver, thumb gently resting on the switch. The sound was coming closer...closer...closer…
She nodded to Leo and leapt out at the creature with a cry...
And there you have it! As I say, apologies once again for the tardiness of this chapter. I hope to get more out shortly.
Thanks for reading guys!