"
Is there a ninja criminal organization working in New York's shadows? This is April O'Neil for Channel 6 news," the TV blares behind me as I prepare for my night on patrol. "
Archeologist and adventurer Lara Croft, who was kidnapped last week from the New York Natural History Museum, claims that she was held against her will by a criminal organization known as The Foot, an organization known to be active around the time before the Keene Act. She says the ninja warriors stole the artifact she recovered from Japan and tortured her for information. We attempted to reach the NYPD, but they refused to comment on the situation. This is April O'Neil signing off."
I sheath up my swords to my back, and head for the door to our home. I pull the correct series of pipes, and the stone wall slides back reveal the sewers. Tricking through the mucky water, I can't help but enjoy the silence, and the alone time. We've been working so much as a large team, we haven't had much time to ourselves.
And I'd be lying if I said the burdens of leadership weren't weighing heavy on me. Leading a group of headstrong, stubborn heroes is more than I ever could have guessed, and even Master Splinters training was starting to wear thin along with my nerves.
Still, he always knew this was my destiny. This is what I was born to do. And I won't stop. Not until this world is rid of the injustices that plague it.
Pushing up on a manhole, I exit into the muggy New York night, and quietly scramble up the side of a building onto the rooftops. I feel alive up here, the air blowing against my clammy skin.
I waste no time in taking off, sprinting from roof to roof, scanning the city, my city, for wrong doings. The lights of the skyline beckon me like the stars did the explorers of old, and instantly I'm in the heart of Manhattan. The rooftops are higher, the wind gets stronger, and my heart begins to pump faster.
And almost instantly, a flurry of movement behind me stops me in my tracks. I unsheathe my swords and take a defensive position as a voice mocks me from the darkness, "
So...here you are. I doubted my men, even as they came back broken, beaten, or killed. I couldn't believe that you...were alive. That the rat had survived and made others."
"
Shredder," I growl at the voice, "
show yourself."
The shadows of the rooftop swirl in a cyclone, out from which steps a man, easily six foot eight, clad in terrifying armor. He eminates power from him like light from the sun. It almost knocks me down. Yet, I stand tall. Master Splinter told me many times that he is a master of the dark arts and intimidation.
"
I figured you'd be in Japan, getting your prize," I chuckle as the two of us circle each other. "
Got cold feet?"
"
Fool," he responds, grabbing a sword from his back. It shines in the moonlight, and seems to crackle with electricity. "
There are other ways of obtaining rare items than the physical. The Kusanagi is already mine. And it will be your doom."
"
You'll never win, Shredder," I growl. "
As long as my brothers, our allies, and I draw breath, you'll never win. As long as good people still inhabit this world, you'll always have people to knock you down."
"
Then I'll just kill them all!" He rushes at me with the blade held high, but not before I press the distress button on my belt, alerting my brothers I'm in danger. He slashes with precision, and I barely manage to parry his strikes. I spring of my heels and twirl over his head, attempting to slash at him from above, but a tendril of darkness shoots from one of his hands and sends me tumbling across the rooftop.
"
Magic? You can't just beat me through fighting skills?" I taunt him.
"
Hehe. Fine, have it your way," he responds with venom in his voice. He rushes me again, attacking with the blade and his feet, in a flurry of movement so fast I can't keep up. He breaks down my defenses and lands kicks and punches, but I manage to keep the blade from piercing my skin. Still, each time on of my blades meet his, my bones are shaken. The sword has magical power behind it, that's for sure.
A roundhouse kick sends me sprawling, blood flowing out of my mouth, dripping onto the tar of the roof. I wipe it away and roll to my feet quickly, catching him off guard, slicing at two of what seem to be weak sponts in his armor. I feel my blades strike flesh, and I can;t help but smile. I deliver a quick kick to his chest that sends him stumbling back, blood spilling out of his wounds.
But Shredder just laughs. As if it means nothing. And then I notice his wounds close up. In a matter of seconds. I don't know if it's magic or something else, but the wounds don't even slow him down, let alone stop him, "
Fool of a creature. You cannot defeat me. I have lived for centuries, and I will live for centuries more, and this world will be mine."
"
I don't think so, Shredder. Not as long as we're here to stop you. Or any other people who are decent in this world."
"
Which is why I'm going to kill you," he growls and comes at me again. I attempt to parry the blows from the Kusanagi, but each blow saps my energy. Each blow destroys my willpower, and after a few exchanges, I drop to my knees, battered and broken. Shredder raises the sword above his head and brings it down swiftly. I attempt to dodge it, but the blade comes down on my shoulder, hitting my shell, but still slicing through it slightly, catching the muscle. Sharp stings of pain flow through my body, blood spilling out.
He dislodges the blade and goes for another sweep, but is struck by a flying green blur. I look up to see Raphael and Donatello engaging the dark ninja master, and Michelangelo leans over me, "
Relax, bro. We're gonna get you out of here."
Darkman joins Raph and Don, while Rorschach helps Mikey drag me away from the action, transferring me down a fire escape and back into the sewers before I black out.
