Race. [TMNT 2012]

051. Restored; Raphael

I wake up with more energy than I've in months.  Startled by my dream, I nearly fall flat on my face as I struggle to get out of my bed.  With a racing heart, I throw my bedroom door open and head out into the main room.

   "Leo!  Mikey!" I yell as I glance around. There's no one to be seen; not even Michelangelo, who normally claims the television by this time.

   Switching to plan B, I ungracefully twirl around and run for Donatello's lab.  I kick the door open and, looking around, I realize he's gone as well.  I search under the desk, behind cabinets, and even in a weird closet full of chemicals.  The purple-clad brother has vanished into thin air.

   As I head to their bedrooms to continue the search, a bad feeling begins to bubble in my stomach.  What if I'm too late?  What if they're already out there fighting those mindless mutants, and I can't save them?  Even worse is the thought of them already being dead.

   Their empty bedrooms seem to support my theory, and I automatically feel nauseous.  I pull my T-Phone out and quickly dial Leonardo's number.  I put it up to my ear and pace around the main room as I wait for him to pick up.

   "Hello?" Leonardo's voice sounds on the other end of the phone.

   Relief flood me as his presence registers with me.  He's alive.  "Leo!  Where are you?" I demand, suddenly aware how breathless I am.  Running around trying to find my brothers was not fun.

   "We're near Shredder's lair," Leonardo answers me promptly.  Something about his tone makes him sound anxious.  "We've found something really weird.  Why are you calling?"  he asks almost suspiciously.

   I barely hear his question.  They must have spotted one of those mindless mutants.  And if there's one around, then there must be more.  They're going to get attacked!

   "Don't do anything!" I order him sharply over the receiver.  I scramble to get my sais and then I bolt out into the sewer tunnels.  I have to get there as fast as possible, before my dream of losing them becomes reality.

   "What?" Leonardo questions me.  I can practically see the puzzled expression on his face.

   "Just don't do anything! I'm on my way," I respond hurriedly as my heart pounds against my plastron.

   "Raph, what's-" Leonardo starts to press the issue, but I quickly hang up and increase my speed.  I have to reach them before time escapes me.

   I reach the surface quicker than I expect to.  I leap across rooftop after rooftop, the air soothing me for the first time in a while.  Though the dark clouds cast ominous promises of more dangerous rain, the whipping wind provide a hint of comfort.  It reminde me that I'm a ninja; that I can do anything I put my mind to.  It also makes me recall that I am a guardian of New York City and I need to start acting like it.

   Out of my peripheral, I see a flash of red.  Looking down, I saw that the streets are abandoned and empty.  All except for a familiar face.

   "April!" I drop down to her side and keep pace with her as she jogs down the sidewalk.

   She doesn't seem too surprised to see me.  "Oh, hi Raph," she pants without sparing me much of a glance.

   "Where are you going?" I ask.  She looks like she's in a rush.

   "Donnie told me that they found something worth investigating at the Shredder's lair," April chokes out as her feet continue to pound against the pavement.  "They wanted me to go for back-up."

   I feel a thorn stab me in the heart.  They called April up to replace me since I was hiding in my bedroom.  I guess Leonardo really has given up on me.

   Well, that is about to change.  "C'mon," I tell April.  With a determined expression, I bolt ahead, ignoring the burning feeling in my lungs.

   "Wait up!" April yelps, before picking up her speed as well.

   As we approach the Shredder's lair, April and I slow our paces. I stop behind a dumpster to catch my breath. Once I can think again, I peek around the object to scan for my brothers. It isn't hard to spot them, considering Michelangelo is bouncing around like a fool. I can't hear him, yet I still know he is babbling on about something stupid; possibly comparing the mission to a comic book he read.

   Fortunately, I can't find any mindless mutants lurking near the perimeter. I brush perspiration away as I realize my dream hasn't come true after all. However, that also leaves a stone of dread in my abdomen. If Leonardo wasn't been talking about the mutants, what did he mean?

   When I'm sure that the coast is clear, I lead April over to the group. "Guys!" I whisper as I rush over to them. They're in a good position, secluded from people by the shadows of the building. Once again, I am reminded how awesome it is to be a ninja.

   "Raph!" Michelangelo exclaims gleefully as he bounces around in excitement. "You're here! I knew you'd show up, dude! Leo and Donnie said you wouldn't, but-"

   "Yeah, yeah." I pushes his face away and turns my expectant gaze on Leonardo. "What's going on, Fearless?"

   It's Donatello who answers. "We detected some Footbot activity going on here," he explains swiftly in his matter-of-fact voice. "Also, the building has been completely rebuilt. The roof doesn't have a gaping hole in it anymore."

   "Tiger Claw must be using it as a hideout then," April comments, which Leonardo nods at.

   "Right," the blue-clad turtle says. "And with active Footbots roaming around the city again, I get the feeling that he's got Boxter Stinkboy working for him."

   "That's an unlikely pair," I remark with a low growl.

   April gestures at the sky and asks, "You think they might have something to do with the clouds?"

   Donatello shrugs.  "I'm not sure, but it can't hurt to investigate. All we have to do is sneak inside, get a peak of what they're up to, and get back out. It'll be as easily as combining H2O and sodium chloride."

   Leonardo turns toward the window he's planning to enter through. "Fall in, team," he commands with a twitch of his head.

   "Wait, you can't!" I protest. All of the horrible things that could happen to them inside there flash by my vision. If they get caught, they will be turned into turtlecakes. And with Tiger Claw's sudden alliance with the Purple Dragons, they'll be way too strong to beat. I can't let them risk their lives for something that might not even be true.

   "Why?" Leonardo asks, turning his squinted blue eyes on me. He still wears that mistrustful mask towards me, as if I'm some kind of criminal.

   I'm not sure how to reply. If I tell them about my dream, they might think I'm losing it. They don't know about the mindless mutants, nor are they aware of how contagious they are. I'll just sound like I'm making something up.

   "You just can't!" I reply, which sounds more feeble than truthful.

   Leonardo shakes his head, seeming a bit humiliated. "You've got to stop telling us that we can't do stuff, Raph. We're going, with or without you. You can stay here if you don't want to get involved."

   Then, with a hand motion, my brothers and April leap into the building. I don't miss the sad look that Michelangelo casts me before he disappear, which only makes me feel more guilty. I am finally reaping the results of being a terrible brother, and it hurts. Bad.

   Taking a deep breath, I make a quick decision. I dive through the window to follow them with only one thought swirling around my head:

   I am going to protect my brothers, no matter what happens to me.