From The Shadows: Goodbye || BOOK 3 (TMNT)

Chapter 3. Arrivals

     "Well, well, well," Sasha says as she saunters up to Noah's cell. "You're coming with me."

     Noah frowns. "Where?"

     "To New York, of course."

     His eyes widen. "But-"

     "I took care of our little Adachi friends." Sasha places her hands on her hips. She flips her hair. "Master Shredder is temporarily disbanding his soldiers here. Starting fresh. Which means you get to come back with me." 

     "How could you do such a thing?!" Noah snaps. "How could-"

     "Don't act so surprised," Sasha hisses. "Let it be known that you did this."

     Sasha threw the cell door open. She marched over and hoisted him off the ground, pushing him out of the prison. Every corridor and room was empty. Cleaned out. Not a single soul besides Noah's—and Sasha's if she still had one.

     A sense of dread washed over Noah's aching heart. Failure. 

     A car sat waiting outside the lair. Two Foot soldiers opened the back doors. Sasha pushed Noah inside and rounded the vehicle to get in her own seat. Another soldier was already at the wheel. 

     The ride was silent. Not a single word. Sasha paid no attention to Noah's constant fiddling. She watched the passing trees. It had been quite some time since she enjoyed a peaceful car ride. 

     They drove up on a private lot, with a small private jet prepared for Sasha and Noah. The two unloaded from the car and boarded the plane. 

      "Get comfy," Sasha says as she handcuffs Noah to his seat. She slumps into her own and yawns. "This will probably be the best sleep you've had in a while."

     Noah didn't doubt Sasha. It had been a long time since he had sat in a chair so comfortable. He would try his best to get some sleep on the long flight but had little success. Noah was restless. The dread never escaped him. How terrible he felt for those Adachi ninjas and Sasha. But what else was he to do? He couldn't let Carrie die. Yet, the guilt of burdening another with such sought-after power did not feel good either, even if it was the only way to wake his daughter. 

     For the last portion of the flight, Noah did manage to fall asleep. His slumber was cut much shorter than he would have liked, though. Sasha jolted him awake.

     "Unfortunately for you," Sasha snickers, "we're here."

     Noah only groaned and rolled his eyes. Right back to worrying and feeling dreadful.

     They were picked up by another car with another Foot soldier as the driver. This car, much nicer than the first, added no extra comfort for Noah. Just like the first, the ride was made in complete silence. 

     As the vehicle approached the abandoned church—where the Foot called home—panic overwhelmed Noah. His heart pounded in his chest. It was the only thing he could focus on. He felt as though he was drowning. Choking on his words.

     Sasha pushed him inside, guiding him to the doors Noah dreaded the most. Foot soldiers kindly pushed the doors open for them. At the end of the grand hall was the set of stairs that led up to Shredder's throne. He sat there, with his mutants and Karai by his side.

     Sasha pushed him to his knees.

     "Welcome back, Doctor," Shredder mocks. "Take him away."

     Rahzar and Fishface stepped down, grabbing either arm and dragging him away. Noah was tempted to reveal Sasha's true past to Shredder and his goons. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to. Even with such a malicious grin upon her face as he was taken away, he couldn't. 

     "Master Shredder." Sasha bows. 

     "This is the girl with powers unimaginable?" Rocksteady scoffs. "Puny!" 

     "Puny?" Sasha repeats. She glares at the mutant.

     "Puny!" Rocksteady spits.

     "I would love to prove you wrong." Sasha grins. She looks to her master. He nods.

     Rocksteady marched down the stairs. Sasha stepped back, almost to the end of the room, giving enough room between the two. Rocksteady stomped his foot, let out a monstrous roar, and charged. Sasha held her arm out in front of her. The shadows cast in the room began to swirl around the rhino's feet. She swept her outstretched arm across her body. The ribbon of darkness rose around his horn. In one swift motion, she brought her arm down with a balled fist. The ribbon tightened, guiding Rocksteady's head into the ground. His body slid to her feet. Sasha released the tension in her arm and the shadows dissipated. Sasha stepped to the side, satisfied with the easy victory.

     "I still do not have full control of them yet," Sasha confesses to Shredder. "There is a sharp learning curve. It is incredibly difficult to use them while fighting at the same time."

     Sasha sensed movement behind her. Before Rocksteady could make his move, Sasha held her two hands in front of her, almost in a fist. The shadows returned around the rhino's wrists and ankles. Her fingers twitched as she tried to contain him. 

     "Physically, you are incredibly strong. But your mind is..." Sasha flicks her wrist, her palms now facing her. The shadows spiral up the mutant towards his temples. His eyes, along with Sasha's, turn completely black as the darkness probes his mind. She stretches her arm behind her. Rocksteady walks forward. Her arm follows the mutant as he mindlessly approaches Shredder's throne. At the foot of the stairs, Sasha points to the ground. The rhino bends to one knee and lowers his head before Shredder. A sadistic smile forges her lips, "Weak," she whispers.

     Sasha closed her eyes. Upon opening them again, her eyes returned to normal. Rocksteady's soon after. He shot up, shaking and holding his head.

     "These abilities are difficult to maneuver," Sasha continues. "And fairly painful for me. But, under your guidance and direct training, Master Shredder, I can hone them."

     The corners of Shredder's lips curled upwards in a malevolent grin beneath his mask. "Settle into your new quarters. We shall not waste any time."

     Sasha bowed her head. Karai stepped down, leading Sasha out of the throne room and down the many corridors that made up Shredder's lair.

     "It is good to see you again, Karai," Sasha says.

     The two had been friends in Japan, some time ago. Sasha, with her newfound passion to serve the Foot, now remembered their friendship as genuine; although, that wasn't always the case. It had been quite a while since they'd seen each other. However, Sasha's little performance worried Karai—the mind control especially.

     "How were things in Japan? It's been years since I've been back."

     "Boring. A lot more interesting things happening here."

     "I suppose."

     Karai led Sasha to one of the many rooms they had used to house their kidnapees. Karai opened the door. Sasha stepped inside and smiled.

     "Thank you."

     Karai nodded before taking her leave. Sasha sat on the bed. Her happiness soon faded. Her lips curled down and her eyes narrowed as she pulled Noah's letter from her pocket. She eyed the envelope with disgust and annoyance. She placed both hands at the top, ready to rip it to shreds. Despite her anger, her mind would not allow it. 

     Don't, don't, don't.

     The word repeated itself over and over in her head. So, she didn't.