Together As Mutants (Book Six)

CXLXVI. Rescuing Them - Michelangelo

Michelangelo and Annalise race through the streets as they search for any sign of their little boy. Mikey swings his nunchucks back and forth absentmindedly and Annalise holds onto an onō that she grabbed before they left.

She glances at the weapon with slight anxiety in her stomach. The last time she wielded this weapon was very long ago.

Mikey perks up as he notices something laying in the middle of the street. "Hey, what's that?" he asks.

They move to it together. Annalise kneels and picks it up, examining the purple fabric. It's torn, crumpled, like it was torn off in a struggle. She pouts as she tries to think back to all those detective shows she used to watch.

Her stomach churns. "Could it...be the Purple Dragons?"

"Oh no," Mikey groans. "I hate those guys!"

"And I bet they took Mitch," she retorts. "If we hurry, I bet we can find him before it's too late!"

He nods, scooping her onto his back as he takes off into a sprint, speeding all the way to the old fortune cookie factory that acts as their hideout. He keeps piggybacking Annalise up to the roof, her arms remaining secured around his neck. He notices some loose paneling and shimmies down through the gap.

They touch down on a rickety ledge, and they can see Mitch tied to a chair as soon as they peer over the edge.

"What are you guys gonna do to me? Are you guys really a gang? Why do you smell funny? You know what? I don't like you. All you are is a bunch of bullies with nothing better to do! Get a life, you stupid idiots!" he rambles. "My aunt used to be with you guys before she realized how stupid you are! Ha!"

"Sid! Shut that kid up!" Fong growls, holding his head. "Hun said he'd be back with Miss E and the others soon!"

"I tried! He doesn't listen!" Sid replies, wringing his meaty hands.

"Just gag him or something!" Tsoi snaps. "Obviously."

"Those insolent turtles will be by soon to save his sorry butt," Fong growls. He points at Mitch and scowls. "You better hope Hun doesn't come back and rip your tongue out for babbling!"

"Ha! I can't be silenced that easily, boy!" Mitch boasts.

"Okay Lisey, I've got a plan," Mikey whispers as he turns his wife towards him. "I'm gonna go down and kick their shells. You stay here with my grappling hook. Keep watch."

"What? But-" she starts.

He pecks her nose, pressing the mechanism into her hand. "Sorry cupcake, too dangerous."

He turns and leaps down to the floor. She sighs as she watches him latch his kusarigama chain to a nearby pipe, hollering out "BOOYAKASHA" with his usual vigour. She purses her lips, spinning the hook.

"Fine, it's probably better that way," she mumbles.

"DAD!" Mitch cheers as Mikey touches down near his chair.

"Tsoi! Sid! Get 'em!" Fong commands.

Both gang members run at Mikey, who smacks them with his nunchucks easily. Sid swings his fist at the turtle's head, but the elusive terrapin retreats into his shell, bounces once, pops out and kicks him in the face.

Annalise watches as her husband takes on Fong and the stunned Tsoi, noticing that some of the other Dragons have come in from whatever they were doing on the outside. It's just two more; one giant Hispanic that she recognizes as Rocco and the other a rather scrawny blond.

They race up the stairs towards where Mikey is fighting, but Annalise can see that her husband is completely outmatched and won't be able to stand alone for long.

"You stole a mother's child," she mutters under her breath. "I'm not responsible for your injuries."

She looks at the ceiling, then at the grappling hook. She slides her axe into her belt, aiming the hook and taking a deep breath. It's time for her to be brave again.

She fires the hook, latching it on the same piping that Mikey had previously used. She takes a deep breath, leaping off the ledge and careening towards the ground with a shriek.

"CHOP CHOP LOSERS!" she howls, using the first thing that came to her mind.

She plows into the two men, smashing Rocco into his friend and sending them to the ground. Both men groan heavily as she lands on top of them, her heart pounding.

"Oh god, I'm sorry," she squeaks.

"That's my girl!" Mikey whoops as he leaps and smashes his foot into Fong's face.

She scrambles off of the gang members as Fong collapses next to the unconscious bodies of Tsoi and Sid. She releases the grappling hook, letting it clatter to the ground as she grabs her axe and races to her son. She cuts Mitch free, becoming instantly engulfed by her son's warm hug.

"I'm sorry, mom! Everything was so exciting!" he explains, his eyes big. "Copeland said it'd be fun so I thought it'd be fine and then...oh shell, it was crazy!"

"It's okay, little man. We're just glad you're fine," Mikey says, ruffling his hair. His eyes light up and he grins. "Did you see the hand and eye made out of light?"

"Yes! Magic!"

Annalise laughs, giving both her boys a kiss on the cheek.

"Come on. We've got to discuss a fitting punishment with grandpa and the others back at home," she says pointedly to Mitch.

"Aw man," the little boy groans.

"Let's just hope those PDs don't get in a lot of trouble with Hun for losing their bargaining chip," Annalise comments.

"Ha. Good luck," Mikey giggles.