Iɴᴅɪɢᴏ & Sᴀɴᴅsᴛᴏɴᴇ || ᴀ ᴛᴍɴᴛ ғᴀɴғɪᴄ '¹⁶【✓】

02 || 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑

The blade whistled through the air, missing Violetta's face by millimeters as she ducked and spun, her own weapon slicing upward in a precise counter-attack. At eighteen, she had grown into one of the Foot Clan's most effective weapons—lithe, deadly, and unquestioning in her loyalty.

"Too slow," she taunted her opponent, her hazel eyes cold and focused beneath the half-mask covering her lower face. The years had hardened her pale features, erasing the curious girl who once hid forbidden technology under her pillow.

Across from her, Rory growled in frustration, her dirty blonde hair now streaked with a blood-red dye—a mark of her specialized combat unit. At twenty, Rory had become renowned for her brutality in combat, her aggression often crossing the line between efficient and excessive.

"Again," Rory demanded, retrieving her weapon from where Violetta's strike had knocked it away.

The sisters circled each other in the training arena, their movements drawing the attention of other Foot soldiers who paused their own exercises to watch. Matches between Violetta and Rory had become legendary within the compound—not just for their technical skill, but for the unmistakable tension that crackled between them like electricity.

Violetta adjusted her stance. The long-healed but never-forgotten scars on her shoulders pulled slightly with the movement. Those childhood punishments had served their purpose. The girl who once questioned now executed orders with mechanical precision. The wonder that once filled her eyes when glimpsing the outside world had been methodically extinguished through years of conditioning.

Rory lunged forward, her attacks more aggressive than necessary for a training session. Each strike seemed aimed not just to defeat but to humiliate, to prove something that went beyond simple combat prowess.

"Getting sloppy, Vi," Rory sneered as their blades locked. "Too much time playing favorite for the masters?"

Violetta's expression remained impassive as she broke the lock with a twist of her wrist. "Focus on your form, not your jealousy."

The comment hit its mark. Rory's eyes flashed with anger as she pressed her attack, movements becoming less disciplined, more raw. This was the difference between them now. Violetta fought with cold calculation, while Rory burned with ambition and resentment.

Their sparring continued until the familiar sound of a staff striking the floor echoed through the training hall. All movement ceased immediately as Karai entered, her presence commanding instant respect. As Shredder's lieutenant and adopted daughter, she embodied everything the Foot Clan valued—lethal skill wrapped in unwavering loyalty.

"Enough," Karai said, her voice carrying easily across the now-silent room. "Violetta, Rory—with me."

The sisters exchanged a brief glance before falling in line behind Karai, their rivalry temporarily set aside in the presence of their superior. As they walked through the facility's corridors, Violetta noticed Rory straightening her posture, trying to match Karai's confident stride.

For years, Rory had made no secret of her desire to become what Karaiwas. She's Shredder's most trusted soldier, the commander who led missions rather than merely participated in them. She studied Karai's techniques, emulated her fighting style, and even adopted elements of her appearance. It was devotion bordering on obsession.

Karai led them to a briefing room where Eric Sacks awaited, his expensive suit at odds with the martial atmosphere of the compound. Though he had aged, his eyes retained the calculating intelligence that had made him both a successful businessman publicly and Shredder's most valuable ally privately.

"Our guests arrive," Sacks said with his characteristic smile, which was charming on the surface but never quite reached his eyes. "Karai has selected you both for a special assignment."