「ABSENCE」 TMNT 2012

9; Illusions

    "Master." Jeff dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "I delivered the message."

    "What took you so long?" Shredder's low voice filled the throne room, and his presence surrounded Jeff as he stood. As if sensing the darkness around him, Jeff swatted at the air like one would smack a fly. It didn't seem to trouble him. He just made sure it didn't touch him and walked forward.

    "I had a little business to take care of in the city," Jeff responded nonchalantly.

    Shredder's eyes narrowed to thin slits. "And you needed two days to do so?"

    Jeff stopped and frowned. "It was actually a day and a half."

    "You did not ask my permission to be gone longer than I ordered you to."

    Jeff held up his arms in a shrug. "Do I ever?"

"Jeff, I'm done with you playing these games." Shredder stood from his throne. "You are nothing but a nuisance to me."

Jeff's features hardened. Quickly, he caught a glimpse of red reflecting in Shredder's helmet. It shifted slightly.

    "If it makes you feel any better, I brought you a present," Jeff offered, raising his hands in front of him as Shredder stepped closer.

    "This has gone on long enough," Shredder growled. "I'm fed up with your disobedience."

    Jeff squirmed beneath his master's hard gaze. "Just calm down, okay? I didn't hurt anyone."

    "Jeff." Shredder reached out and grabbed the man around his neck, lifting him off the ground. Jeff tensed up and began coughing. He latched onto Shredder's hand for support, feeling as though his body would separate from his head if he didn't hang on. The two men locked eyes as Jeff gasped for as much breath as he could intake.

    "Do as I say, or suffer the consequences," threatened Shredder. He flung Jeff through the air, where he made hard impact with the floor and jumped up, breathing heavily. He turned around and stormed out of the throne room, rubbing his neck.

Karai met him as the doors closed behind him, and they walked down the hall together. "You okay?"

"Fine," Jeff grunted. He coughed twice and cleared his throat.

"Where were you yesterday?" Karai looked up at him, watching him carefully.

Jeff rolled his eyes for emphasis. "It's none of your business."

Karai squinted at him, then shrugged. "Fine. Don't tell me."

"I won't."

    "But I'll find out, one way or another."

    Jeff scoffed. "Yeah, sure. Whatever." With that, he pushed open one of the many doors lining the walls and disappeared into it. Karai's footsteps lingered in the hall for a moment, then retreated down to her own living quarters.

    Jeff stepped back out of the room he shared and closed the door softly behind him. Then he walked back the way he'd come. When he got to the throne room, he pushed the doors open dramatically and entered with all the confidence a Jeff could have, which was a lot. Guards, two on either side of the doors, made sure no one else would try to eavesdrop.

"Welcome back," Shredder greeted, once more resting on his throne.

Jeff ignored the customary, respectful bow, and strolled right up beside Oroku Saki. An extravagant chair, similar to the Shredder's protruded from the floor behind Jeff. He plopped down on the hard stone as if it were a comfortable, cushioned couch, and splayed out across it, legs resting on one armrest, while his head was supported on the other.

"What news do you bring me?" Shredder asked without giving Jeff a second glance.

    "I told the girl what to tell April. She called her right away, and they met up at a coffee shop this morning. April was pretty shaken up." He chuckled to himself, like watching people express any emotion but happy and content was one of his hobbies. Which it was. "From what I could pick up over the horrible signal of their phone conversation with the turtles, they're taking steps to find Jones."

Shredder nodded, his eyes glinting. "Good. We will wait until they appear."

"Do you want your present now?" Jeff asked.

"What do you have for me?"

Jeff grinned and expertly snapped his fingers. Two Foot ninjas were let in by the sets of guards posted at the entrance. Together, they wheeled in a large, wooden crate, bolted shut by iron nails to keep prying eyes from catching a glimpse of the contents. Shredder watched intently as they pulled out the nails and peeled the lid up.

    They both reached inside and grabbed either end of whatever was inside. It took strength to get it out. Their muscles tensed beneath the weight, yet they managed to lift a heavy missile to display for their master. Shredder's eyes widened just slightly; he was impressed. The missile looked to be about five feet long, and maybe three feet thick. The exterior was a whitish gray, with glowing purple etchings all across it. The tip was completely black.

    "Kraang Prime sent this," Jeff explained. "He said they finished it sooner than they planned to, and he wishes you the best of luck."

Shredder stood from his throne and descended the steps. When he stood before the gift, he ran his fingers along it gently, the urge to use it consuming him. But he knew he must wait for the opportune moment, and that moment was fast approaching.

"Lock it up securely. Place the best ninja of every company to guard it day and night. Shifts every two hours. I want each one of them alert at all times," Shredder ordered.

    The two ninjas set the missile back into the crate, returned the lid to it's place, bowed their heads, and left the room. Shredder didn't sit back down until they had left and he sensed their presence back in their issued battalions. Only then did he seat himself back onto his throne.

"This is the one," he decided. "This is the plan that will succeed against my old friend."

"I don't know how they've managed to avoid us all this time, especially outnumbered as they are," Jeff mused.

Shredder leaned forward, resting his chin on his fists. He stared off into his own world. It was a world of darkness. Of hate. "Never underestimate the power of teamwork. The rat has trained them well. Better than I thought he was capable of. Perhaps . . . we could use some of his strategies."