When Shadows Rise | I

Ch. 20 | The way of silence

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Talia's remembered her mother once saying: "Never make promises you can't keep." At the time, Talia did not understand. Before that line of advice, Talia always thought that promises were unbreakable; you could never turn your back on one. Her mother calmly explained that making a promise was like playing with fire— the good intentions behind the promise would keep you warm for a little while, but if you were not careful, a blazing inferno of disappointment would consume you in its path. When Talia thought about that comparison, she seemed to realize that was probably the reason why she never heard a "I promise. . ." sentence from her parents. In her parents way of thinking, actions spoke louder than words. Not only that, but it was also connected to how even with all the money her family had, they still could not give her everything. If she were to be honest with herself, Talia thought her parents were doing her a favor; it was not like she needed any of the lavish goods most people desired.

Priya agreed to reveal the location of the warehouse, but not before telling Talia to promise that a) she would not tell anyone else about this and b) to stop pursuing for answers in fear that Talia's life would be in potential danger.

Outwardly, Talia gave her word. Inwardly? She broke it by telling April as soon as she and Priya went their separate ways. This was not something Talia thought she could keep to herself. Also, as much as Talia appreciated that Priya cared for her well-being, being asked to quit looking into this mystery was simply out of the question. How could she stop knowing that she knew her mother's murderer? That he was out there somewhere?

If there was a chance that she could find him and dig up everything her mother did prior to her death, she could not ignore it. She couldn't.

***

"This is a stealth-mission only," Leo reminded his brothers in the dojo. Everyone already had their ninja suits on, but they were only waiting for their father to give them the green-light.

Mikey, who was stretching, smiled and squealed, "Oh my god, can you believe this is our first ever serious mission? This is going to be so much fun!"

"All we're going to do is break in and find anything that is of use to us. If we encounter any Foot ninjas tonight, we won't engage, but retreat."

Raph stopped sharpening his sai to look at Leo and ask, "What makes you think The Foot might pay a visit to the warehouse?"

"If our hunch is correct that the warehouse is the birthplace of Genesis's dirty business deal with Shredder, then The Foot could go back and try to get rid of the evidence. Of course, assuming at all that they haven't done so already."

"Oh, so no fun, then? I like this mission already." There was a dripping edge of sarcasm in Raph's voice.

"Did you forget the last time we fought up against one? There were five of us, and yet we still had difficulty overpowering he or she!"

"The only reason why they retreated was because they knew they couldn't take us down all at once. Our skills are on the same level as theirs— maybe even better."

Leo shook his head. "Even if we technically 'won' the fight, I still don't want to take any chances. What if he or she brings more comrades to the party?"

"Whoever they were, it was like they knew every offense and defense trick in the book," Donnie remarked. "They must have an amazing Sensei— that Sensei being Shredder, obviously."