The Call (a TMNT fanfiction)

Chapter 4: Breaking Rules & Breaking In

"So what's the plan?" Mikey asks, raising his eye ridge and slashing his nunchucks around.

Everyone turns to me, as if I have any idea what we're supposed to be doing.

Well, they're right. I do.

"We'll split up into groups. Leo, Casey and I in one, and then Raph, April, Donnie and Mikey in the other. Raph, I'm going to ask you to be the leader for yours. Use your brain before your weapons. Everyone, listen to Donnie if he tells you something boring about chemical reactions or whatever the heck he talks about, most likely, he's right and if you don't listen, then you'll be blown into pieces," I explain, looking them each in the eyes.

I turn to Leo and Casey. "Leo, you're a very skilled fighter and where the three of us are going, we're going to need that the most. Casey, from what little I know about you, you are eager and enthusiastic about punching and beating people up, which I fully support in this situation."

I turn towards everyone and fix my face to be set stern. "I want you all to keep in mind that the Dark Angels are not like the Foot or Purple Dragons. They're clever and ruthless. Make sure to expect the unexpected. You need eyes on the back of your heads."

"Mikey, remember: save the jokes and cheering for after the fight. After, after. Not when you think you won. We probably won't win. But that doesn't mean we can't accomplish what we're going for. Does everyone have their Shell Cells?" They all nod. "Raph, your group is going to the Headquarters. Make your way to the Subway Stations and keep going through the Trolley way. Just go right through. There will be a switch, although you'll have to feel the wall for it. Switch it and you'll enter the Headquarters."

"Wait, what do we do then?" Mikey asks.

"Fight as many as you can. Chances are, there aren't going to be as many as there were earlier. I want you to find badly injured people. We have a safety room that I'm almost positive no one has invaded yet." I give them the instructions to that room and add, "Make sure no one is following you."

"Leo, Casey, we're going to be following some of the Dark Angels to their hide-out. Our mission is to get my sensei back and free as many captives as we can. Everyone, remember: stay safe and don't stay any longer if you get injured or you're overpowered. I swear, they multiply by the millisecond. Call each other if you need anything."

"Wait, how do we know if it's a Dark Angel or one of the workers?" Raph asks.

"Dark Angels wear all dark colors. Agents will just be wearing regular clothes like jeans and a t-shirt. It's to help us blend in better in the public," I say. "If you see anyone in a karate outfit that's green, red or any color besides black or white, they're students. Even if they insist on fighting, don't let them. If they're dressed in white long sleeves and black pants, they're specifically warriors, trained especially for situations like these. They've got the skills and weapons. Let them fight unless they're injured."

Everyone dispersed to get their things, and I watch Leo's gaze and put a hand on his shoulder. He looks at me, surprised.

"Leo," I say firmly. "I want you to know that you don't have any big duty. All you need to do is help, and that'll be good enough. I promise. Our lives don't depend on you, so I don't want you to feel that pressure you normally do." I pause and then pull him in quickly for a hug, our first one. 

He hesitantly hugs back.

I pull away and his eyes look a bit glazed over for a second. "Leo, are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah, sorry. I'm okay," he says. "Let's do this." 

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