TMNT: Shadows of Destiny

Chapter 15: The woman named Karai

Celeste channeled the ice element through her body in a attempt to drop her blood pressure and slow her heart rate enough to make it to the bridge without passing out. Her teeth chattered and she held her sides and she ran, jumped, dodged and evaded her pursuers. There was easily about 20 black clad beings and they were fast, way too fast for her and for more deadly then the ones she had faced at the warehouse. She tried to read their moves and sense their auras but there was none, they weren't human.

She could see the bridge coming in to view and she bolted it across the freeway and towards its bright blinking lights. She ducked behind the first pillar and climbed it to the top of the first support tower then ran across the top cable until she made it to the second support top. There was more shadows there and she could lay low high above everyone else and any danger.

She laid down flat on her back and tried to breathe as quietly as she could. From her spot it was a 50 foot drop to the bridge below and she dared not even look over the edge in fear of revealing herself. She heard shuffling below her and held her breath. They were searching for her but didn't realize she was above them.

"Celeste?" Donnie asked quietly.

"I'm on the second support tower, at the top." She whispered ever so silently into the phone still pressed to her ear.

"Okay...We can see the bridge now, we are almost there." He whispered back.

She held the phone over her heart and felt the sedative starting to kick in. Her felt and hands were becoming heavier and heavier by the minute.

And then an unfamiliar female voice broke the silence. "You've given us much trouble lady mage."

Celeste whirled around. Standing a mere 3 feet from her was a woman...at least that what she though it was based on the slenderness of the body, wearing a black ninja suit and some impressive looking silver armor on her chest and shoulders. Her face was totally covered by a metal plate an on her head sat a samurai like helmet of the same color. Her black eyes burned with malice as she stared down at the helpless mage.

"I thought that my minion Rahzar could teach you a lesson in meddling but he proved entirely useless and then Kraang Prime. I had high hopes for it but alas, your powers have proven too resourceful. It's a shame though that you succumb to a simple tranquilizer dart considering how much power your body holds." The woman must have been smiling beneath her mask.

Celeste's could barely make out words as her tongue lost its mobility along with the rest of her body. "Who.....are .....you?"

"You should ask those turtles you hang around. They could tell you all about me." She laughed.

"Karai....?"

She bowed stiffly and properly. "Dozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu."

Celeste recognized the words. It means "a pleasure to meet you" in Japanese.

"And now....I want the Crystal back that you have so conveniently taken from me." Karai held out her hand.

"It's not yours to take!" Celeste hissed.
She said sharply. "You cannot fight the entirety of the Foot Clan and you are not necessary to access the power of the Kyrst. I am giving you a chance to save your life. Hand it over and you go free."

Celeste shook her head and gritted her teeth. "As if the word of an assassin is worth anything."

"Spoken like a true mage. Well then....Shinei!!!! She produced a long thing katana from her back and swung it.