Secrecies in the dark :TMNT 2014:

14

"So they're aliens?" Vern asked me as I had explained everything to him. I raised a brow as I shot him a questioning look.

"No, that's stupid. They're reptiles." I replied as I relaxed against the seat again. "They help people I guess..." I added on as I looked back out the window.

"Heroes in the half shell." Vern said as I turned to look at him once more with a faint laugh, "okay, then..."

"Come on, it's not that crazy. I-the animal kingdom is full of...I used to have a dog that could moon walk." He rambled out as I pursed my lips into a thin line and nodded.

He pulls up to the front gates of Sacks home and switches of the van's engine. "Thanks for the ride, Vern." I said with a smile as I take off my belt and hop out of the van.

I walk over to the silver intercom box by the gates. I pressed the button and spoke into the speak. "Hi I'm Katelyn. I'm here to see Eric Sacks." I spoke out as the gates momentarily opened up for me to walk in.

I take in a deep as I stepped inside and headed to the front steps that led to his large black front doors. "Welcome, Katelyn. It's great to see you again." Sacks said as he opened one of the doors to his home.

"I'm sorry to barge in on you like this Mr. Sacks."

"No, no, no, please. Come inside." He replied as he stepped to the side to allow me to step inside. "Thank you," I said softly as I stepped inside and he closed the door behind us.

"So what brings you here Katelyn?" Sacks asked as we walked side by side down one of his large open lighted hallways. "I've been working on a story and I have this theory that there are these vigilantes that are fighting against the Foot. I think you and Mr.O'Neil may have created them." I informed as he stopped and turned to look at me.

"I'm not sure I-"

"Can you please tell me everything that you know about project Renaissance?" I asked him as there was a long pause as he then took in a deep breath.

"As you know Katelyn. New York is overrun by the FootClan. Heroes are not born, they are made. Project Renaissance was a dream, a dream that died with your father."

"What if it isn't dead?"

"That's impossible, we lost all our research in the fire, all our specimens; everything. I've spent the last fifteen years trying to replicate the results." Sacks explained as I take out my phone from my jacket pocket and tapped into my gallery.

"You didn't loose everything in the fire." I began as I access the snap shot I took of the turtles a few nights ago; zooming in on the photo before handing him my phone.

He sighed, taking my phone in his grasp. His gaze met mine for a moment before his gaze dropped to the photo. I couldn't help but smile as I take in his shocked expression.

"This can't be real." He finally said as he looked back at the screen and then looked back at me once again. "It is real. I saw all four of them."

"Do you really want to know about Project Renaissance?" He asked me as my eyes lit up once more as I nodded eagerly.

"Yes."

"Come with me." He informed as I followed him to another other room in his house which was dimly lighted with a few yellow candles on a small rounded table and a lighted Japanese art styled painting.

"I was born in Japan. At a military base in Oakanowa. My father went to Vietnam; didn't come back. I was an outsider in a foreign land." He began as I watched him move around the room as the large wooden doors closed behind us.

"A freak." He added on as I turned my gaze back towards the painting. "I was a powerless and helpless boy. Until a local sensei took me under his wing and he saved me." Sacks informed as he moved around the small rounded table and back towards me.

"He taught me lessons that I later shared with Mr. O'Neil. Ninth Century Japan." Sacks began as he pointed towards once of sections of the painting which showed homes inflames, and people running away from the burning village.

"An evil warlord ruled the land. He poisoned the water supply, bringing on the dark ages. Death and disease and suffering ran rapid." He added on as he moved around me once more.

"And I didn't like the FootClan and what they'd like to do to our city. And then one day a hero rose. A great alchemist, discovered the antidote to the warlord's poison. To cure all for his evil." Sacks stated as he kept his gaze fixated on the painting.

"We were trying to recreate that curial. We developed a mutagen. Capable of stimulating self repair on a cellular level." He informed as I turned to the painting before looking back at him.

"What were you going to do with it?"

"Imagine New York City," he began as he moved around the room once more, coming from behind me as I followed his every move.

"Being victim to a chemical attack. His mutagen would be able to reverse its affects. It would save the city. It would save the people. Those test subjects; those turtles running in their blood is the last of this precious mutagen." He explained as I nodded in reply, oh my freakin god..

"Up to a few moments ago, I thought we failed. I thought they died in the fire. How? How could they have lived?" He said in disbelief as I smiled softly at him, "it was because I saved them."

"Of course you did." Sacks said with a smile as I turned my gaze back to the painting. "Katelyn, the mutagen posses powers. Beyond our wildest of hopes." He said softly as he looked down to pull out one of his cards from his pocket.

"Whatever resources you need, I'm here." He said as I gently take the card from his hands and hold it in my grasp. "Let's work together, we'll find them. The course of human history may depend on it." He added on as I met his gaze before he smiled once more.

"I'll walk you out."

＊ ※ ＊

"So did you get the answers you wanted?" Vern asked me as I got back into the van and buckled in. "Yes, I know I'm not crazy. These are the same turtles back in the lab." I informed as I couldn't help but smile.

"Wow....that's insane." Vern said as I laughed with delight. "I mean I thought I would never see them again but they're alive and are-are huge!" I explained as Vern smiled in reply.

As he was driving us back home I saw a small scrap yard up ahead. "Hey Vern, I know I may be pushing you here...but do you think we could make another stop up there?" I asked with a shy smile as he turned to look at the scrap yard.

"The scrap yard? Why?"

"I'm working on a project with Amy and I need some car parts." I said, partly lying as Vern gave me a steady look before he nodded.

I smiled with delight as he pulled into the scrap yard and I got out of the van. "I'll be right back! I just need a few bits and pieces!" I ensured as I head over to the main office of the facility and got right to work.