TMNT - Worlds Change

Twenty Five

Bellona POV

"We can gather their weapons as we collect Venus and your friends downstairs." Atlas turned a corner. I stopped.

"Or she can pick them up while we free Raph and Mikee." I reached to the radio device from Athena. "Venus, come in."

Venus POV

"Venus come in," the radio crackled. The Foot bot lunged at me. I pressed forward, fighting hand to hand.

"Little busy here Bells, what?" I tossed the Foot bot aside, leaving Leo slicing it in half.

"Raph and Mikee's weapons are on your floor. Sector..." A familiar male voice mumbled to the side and then Bellona came back on, "Sector 375."

"Bellona, who was that?" I paused momentarily in my tracks. A clang sounded behind me and I whirled to see Leo had cut down another bot. He must have seen the panic in my eyes.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. I'll see you soon." The radio went silent again.

"What's wrong, V?" I tried to shake the feeling of nervousness. I shook my head and got back into the fight.

Bellona POV

Atlas pushed open the door to a final room with control panels and two large cages.

"Raph!" I ran over, sliding to my knees where he sat. He looked ragged, but his grin was perfectly normal. "Have they hurt you?" I reached towards the bars.

"Bellona, no!" Raph tried to warn me, but the bars sent electric shocks spiraling through my body. I fell back, the breath knocked from my lungs.

"Bella," Atlas hovered over me. I rolled to the side, coughing.

"Couldn't have warned me of that, before I tried to touch it?" I gave Atlas a slight glare. He held up his hand innocently. He turned to the console.

"I'll try and shut it down from here. It will take a minute." I turned from him back to Raph.

"Are you alright, Bella? And who is this guy?" Raph asked quietly. I glanced back at Atlas behind me.

"It is... really complicated. To make things simple, he was around as a kid. He trained with Venus mostly. After we got older, there were... complications that Shredder wanted to avoid." Raph had a confused look on his face. I knew there would be questions later. "He separated us. I hadn't seen him again till today." I glanced back at Atlas. "Anything?"

"Can you give me two seconds? This is far beyond me, like Athena level beyond me." I sighed and turned back to glance at Mikee.

"How are you holding up?" He glanced up and smirked.

"So I finally get noticed, huh? That's cool, That's cool. Just ready to get out of here. Is Iris alright?" I laughed a little.

"She's actually the reason we are here so soon. When the message game through, V and Leo wanted to take time to 'strategize.' Iris went and got in the BattleShell and started gearing up. It came down to the two of them against the rest of us. They were even gonna hide it from us." Mikee and Raph looked back at me, Mikee with a stunned expression. Raph's on the other hand was the same as mine had been.

"Typical. Our 'precious leader.' I really need to talk to him." He sighed.

"Well, you soon can." Atlas pressed a few more keys and an electric wave washed away from the cage, followed by the distinct click of the lock. Raph pressed on the door, crawling out of the barely kneeling height cage. I helped pull him to his feet. Before I could move, Raph had me pulled close, his mouth pressed to mine in a passionate kiss. I was at first startled, but held close to him. All that worry that had built up started melting away. When he pulled back, I smirked.

"What you thinkin', princess?" Raph's nickname almost begged me to say it.

"Told you to take me with you." He grinned.

"Then who would have come to rescue me." A cough from Mikee, drew us out of our moment.

"If you guys are done being all smoochy smooch, which is by the way really weird and slightly gross because I never expected it from you two, can we go now? Iris and my nunchucks are calling." I glanced up at Mikee and Atlas, who seemed to have a darker expression for a moment. He seemed to shake himself and then wave us on.

"Come on, I can take you to the others."

Venus POV

"About time you showed up!" I sliced through one bot as Bellona slid down the hall, slicing the legs from beneath another. Leo tossed Raph and Mikee their weapons. With all of us fighting, the bots dwindled to nothing. But, I knew more were on their way. "We need to get out of here, fast."

"I can help with that." My blood ran cold. I hadn't heard that voice in Brooklyn knows how long. "Hey, Venus."

"Atlas." I stood, watching him walk towards me. He pulled one of the Kunai at his belt and I moved to defect it. Only, it was not directed at me. It was at the hall camera.

"We need to move quickly, if we are going to get everyone out. The camera would tell them where we are going." Leo came to stand at my side, defense mode on. Atlas took one look, and lightly bowed his head. "It's up to you to trust me, Venus. I'm not who I used to be." I contemplated for a moment. I glanced at Leo, who in a moment like this chose to take me in and trust me when I could have been a threat. He nodded to me.

"Fine, but we must move quickly."

Athena POV

"I don't like it." Venus said softly at my side, as we lead the way back to the lair. The bots had left us for the most part alone after Atlas joined us, which only set Venus off more. The boys, though two weary and worn, kept the turtle in question at close watch. Bellona and Iris were at their side, though Bellona talking to both Atlas and Raphael.

"People change Venus. You saw what happened when we were freed." She sighed, her worries seemed to seep from her. I glanced back at Raphael. He seemed... agitated by Bellona's close bond. I turned back, speaking only with my mind to Venus this time.

"You never told her, did you? Why Shredder took him?" She sighed aloud again, but spoke back within.

"No. It would only have caused her pain. But now, I fear that this Táobīng could be more trouble than he is worth."

"Master Dante always said, "Once Conquered, always a Traitor." And yet you gave him a chance. Why?"

"Because I want to hope that there is good in people. No matter where they started, it is where they end up that matters. Because that is where they put themselves." I glanced at her. I knew all this had changed her, but I didn't realize just how much until now.

"Then let's hope. For all our sakes."