A Never Ending Bond, Chapter 8 - Strange Fate

K-three woke to find himself hanging from a set of shackles. To his left, hung Yoshi and Kaz from similar shackles. They seemed to be in some type of storeroom. His body ached from the Tasers, but he tried to pull himself free anyways. Inside, he could feel Mira’s pain and he wanted desperately to be with her. There was no way of knowing what shape the brothers were in. But K-three feared they might be dead by now. Glancing at the two young mutants beside him, he guessed the only reason they were doing better was because they were not fully mutant turtles and their DNA was not breaking down as quickly. It gave him a tentative hope.

K-three glanced around the room, noting that their weapons and phones were gone. He made sure they were alone before he spoke. “Kaz? Yoshi?” Both opened their eyes just a bit and he let a heavy breath of relief. “Are you alright?”

Kaz tried without success to lift himself up a little to give his aching wrists some relief. “It feels like I’m being torn apart from the inside out.”

Yoshi groaned. “Yeah, I feel like my muscles are turnin’ to jelly.”

K-three was twisting his hands inside his cuffs. “Do you think you can walk?”

“Don’t know.” Kaz tried again to stand. “It hurts to move.”

“We need to get out of here.” K-three tried again to pull free, but he was still weak.

“You’re not going anywhere.” Kyoudai entered the room with four soldiers. “Not until you tell me where your hiding place is.” The young man’s eyes went to K-three. “And why you are not affected by the anti-mutagen.”

“Because I’m not a mutant.” K-three glared, squaring his shoulders and somehow managing to look intimidating despite his chained hands. “I’m Turtleoid.”

“I see. Then you will be the one to give me the location of the others.”

K-three snorted. “I’ll never do that.”

Kyoudai’s eyes narrowed above the metal mask as he marched forward and took hold of Yoshi’s mask, yanking his head back to expose his throat. “Oh, I think you will.”

Although he had no strength to fight him, Yoshi growled. “Don’t tell him nothin’!”

K-three growled, but said nothing. Kyoudai glared at the two and hit Yoshi across the face, leaving a bloody cut along one side.

“Leave him alone!” K-three pulled at his bounds.

Kyoudai smirked behind his mask. “I will not. Not until I am given the location of the young ones.”

K-three was a little confused by the question. All he could figure was the guy was talking about Shinta and Katsu, and he would never give that up. He would rather die. “No.”

“You will or you will watch these two suffer and die before your very eyes.” Kyoudai slammed his gauntlet covered fist into Kaz’s stomach.

The turtle opened his blue eyes to glare at him. “You still hit like a girl. I’ve kicked your ass before and I’ll do it again. Just let me loose.” Kyoudai’s response was to hit him in the jaw. Kaz’s head jerked back and when he leveled his gaze at the young man again, he spat in his face a mouth full of blood. It was Kyoudai’s turn to growl as he hit him again. Kaz snarled, baring his teeth.

“Stop it!” K-three couldn’t let this get out of hand.

Kyoudai moved to stand in front of the Turtleoid. “I will, when you tell me what I want to know.”

K-three just glared back. “Never gonna happen.”

Kyoudai’s cold brown eyes held the turtle’s gold gaze for a linger moment. “As you wish.” He turned to the Foot near the door, giving them some kind of signal. He shot the three turtles one last look over his shoulder. “I will return in one hour. I’m certain by then you will be ready to speak.” As he left the Foot soldiers pulled out several weapons – katana, tanto, shuriken, whip, bo, and nunchakus. The three turtles exchanged looks, reaffirming their silent agreement to say nothing.

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Star rolled the pen on the counter back and forth. It was so boring to work week nights. But no one else wanted the shift and she was the new girl, so of course she was stuck with it. She glanced up at the two teens browsing the row of CDs. The two were having an animated conversation about who the best rock band was. She didn’t honestly care as long as someone bought something – soon. Because they’d been standing there for at least fifteen minutes and she was starting to suspect they were shoplifting.

And as much as she might not have cared if they did or not, she didn’t want that to happen on her shift. Sighing, she lifted her head to look at them more directly. “You guys need help with anything?”

“Uh, yeah.” One strolled over waving a CD and the other followed. “We were looking for the most recent Avenged Sevenfold album. But all it looks like you have is the last one that came out last year.”

Star took the CD case and examined it. “Yeah, looks like it. You want me to check in back to see if the new one ever came in?”

The second guy nodded. “We’ve looked at three other stores already, but you guys have the most recent stuff.”

Star frowned. She didn’t like leaving the front without someone watching it. But it was nearly closing time and she needed to get these guys hooked up and out of there, so she could lock up. She straightened up. “I’ll check. Will you guys be cool here for a minute?”

“Sure.” The first one smiled at her and she turned her back on them with a roll her eyes. She walked through the door leading to the storage area. Her boss was a bit odd in that he didn’t like her coming back here, but he hadn’t been around today. She had no idea why he didn’t want her back here. But the guy was just weird all around with his sunken eyes and skeletal arms. She rubbed her face. Ever since she’d started this job, she’d been really tired.

She had only gone a few feet into the back when she heard a strange noise. It sounded like muffled curses and groans. Unable to stop herself, she moved in the direction. It was strange just how much room was in the back of the music store. It was nearly three times as much as the store front itself.

Someone gave a cry of pain and a gruff voice growled. “Leave ‘im alone!”

Her eyes widened in recognition. Yoshi! She hadn’t seen him since the night in the park, when…. She wasn’t sure what had happened. All she remembered was waking up and feeling sore the next morning. She didn’t remember him leaving or her going to sleep or anything. She hadn’t known what to do after that. There had been a definite spark between them and she was very interested in seeing where it went, but she couldn’t remember what had happened. Was he mad at her? Had they ended on good terms?

Yoshi’s roar of pain brought her back to the moment. “Yoshi!” Another male voice called in a panicked tone. Star started towards a junction in the hall she was in, but paused as a shadow moved ahead of her. She edged to the corner to peek around. Three guys in black jumpsuits came out a door and moved off through a back door that she hadn’t known was there.

The room they’d come out of had a small window, so she crept over and peered inside. She pressed a hand over her mouth to muffle the scream that wanted to escape her. She flattened herself against the wall beside the door. What the heck was going on! There were three giant turtle things in that room along with another guy in black. But I know I heard Yoshi…

Kaz sagged in his chains, dangling like a rag doll. He was spent. The poison in his system was eating him alive and the beating he’d just endured was not helping matters. It was merely breaking down the already vulnerable blood vessels on the surface of his skin and the tender organs his shell protected. Beside him, Yoshi ground his teeth in pain. The dagger sticking out of his left thigh, produced a stream of blood that was pooling on the floor beneath him.

K-three had taken the worst of the beating. Lacerations covered his body and shurikens were stuck in the tops of his feet and in the tender flesh of his underarms. But he was still holding his own. He didn’t have the poison fighting him from the inside. “Yoshi! Are you okay, Yoshi?”

“I’m fine. Havin’ a bit of trouble stayin’ awake though.” Yoshi’s head lulled to one side and rolled almost uncontrolled back to rest on the bridge of his shell.

The lone Foot soldier moved forward with another blade. During the whole ordeal not one had spoken. But they didn’t have to. The three knew what was wanted and until one spilled the location of their home, they’d continue being tortured. The soldier pressed the tanto to Kaz’s throat. The turtle lifted his head, eyes a cold blue. “We won’t tell you anything.” The blade dug into his flesh, causing blood to trickle down his chest.

K-three tried to kick at the soldier, but the chains on his ankles prevented him from moving much. “Get your hands off him!”

But the blade pressed harder and Kaz hissed as it dug into his flesh. “Kill me, if you want. I won’t let Kyoudai anywhere near my family!”

Yoshi groaned. “Don’t waste your breath, Kaz. This scum don’t know what real family is.”

Star listened outside the room, her hand still pressed to her mouth and her heart pounding like a drum. Family? These men in black were trying to hurt Yoshi’s family? She recalled how he’d been so protective of his younger cousin at the arcade. How he’d rushed to his side when they’d started fighting. She recalled how he’d smiled at her in the park and how warm his green eyes had been. She edged back to the window to look at the three turtles. Without even trying she could guess which was Yoshi. He was slightly taller than the others and much bulkier. As she watched, the turtle opened green eyes to glare at the man holding a knife on a second turtle. There beyond the pain and anger were the eyes she knew – soulful and deep. It is him!

Without another thought she threw open the door. The ninja turned just in time to meet the heel of her boot as she kicked him square in the jaw. He fell to the floor like a rock. Yoshi’s mouth hung open, gaping at her like a fish without water. “Star?”

Her name from his lips only confirmed that he was the Yoshi she knew. She grabbed the keys from a box where they’d been laid. K-three looked the girl up and down. She was pretty small and wasn’t likely to stand much of a chance if the other three Foot came back. “Better unhook me first, just in case the others come back.” She did as he asked, first pulling the shurikens from where they stuck into his flesh.  Then he took the keys to unlock the other two turtles.

Yoshi nearly crumpled to the ground when his hands were unshackled. She caught him, supporting him. His green eyes were full of confusion and longing as he met her pale blue ones. “I don’t understand… You took off. I thought…” He looked away. “I thought you didn’t like me anymore.”

Her fingers gently pressed his cheek, making sure to avoid the cut, so he would meet her gaze again. “No, that’s not it at all. I’m not sure what happened. But that is definitely not it.”

K-three cleared his throat, making them look at him. “I hate to break this up – whatever this is, but we need to get out of here now. Kyoudai will be back soon. It’s been nearly an hour.” He pulled Kaz’s arm over his shoulders.

Yoshi nodded and looked down at the blade in his leg. It would have to come out. He couldn’t walk with it in there. Gritting his teeth, he yanked it out and let it fall to the ground. “Ready.”

Star frowned at Yoshi and the blood dripping down his leg. "I don't think that's such a good idea." She allowed him to lean against the wall and squatted to yank the mask off the fallen soldier. Taking it, she found the seam and ripped it open. "Maybe not the most sanitary thing, but it will have to do." As she tied the mask around his thigh, Yoshi blushed.  Both her hands and breath were warm against the sensitive skin.

Kaz frowned, his eyes locking on the man that lay face down on the floor. "Let me down, K-three."

The older turtle frowned. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I just see something." K-three slowly lowered Kaz to the floor. The younger turtle reached out to pluck something out of the back of the soldier's neck. "What do you think this is?"

K-three took the small object and rolled it around his palm. "Some sort of mind control device."

Kaz snarled. "Lanius..."

K-three shook his head. "We'll deal with him later. Right now we need to get you two home and figure out what happened to everyone else. Shinta is the only one that got away before I blacked out." He hauled Kaz back to his feet and Star pulled one of Yoshi's arms over her shoulders. He tried not to put too much of his weight on her smaller form, but he was terribly weak from the anti-mutagen. "Come on." K-three opened the door a crack to check the hall beyond. To his great relief it was empty. They were in no shape for a fight. 

At the end of the hall was an exit and he turned towards it, but Star stopped him. "No! That's the way those other guys went."

K-three glanced at her. "How do you know?"

"Because I saw them leave that way." She looked around. "This way. I know another way out." Turning back towards the front of the store, she led the way, until they reached the doors she’d come through earlier. "Wait here." She let Yoshi lean against the wall again. Hurrying into the front of the store, she was surprised to see the two teens still waiting.

"Hey, did you find it?""

Star blinked at them for an instant. Then it struck her that she had forgotten the CD. She shook her head as she ushered them quickly to the door. "Nope, sorry, don't have it. Try back next week." The two boys sputtered as they were shoved out the door. "Sorry, we're closing." She shut the door and locked it as they stared at her in shock through the glass. She smiled at them and shut off the lights, flipping the open sign to closed. Strolling quickly back towards the storeroom area, she paused to be certain the teens were gone before opening the door. "Okay, let's go."

Yoshi groaned softly as she took his weight again. Star looked up at him in concern. "You okay, big guy?"

He forced a smile. "Yeah. But we better get movin'." Star nodded and helped him through the door with Kaz and K-three trailing behind her.

Yoshi looked around them as she walked them through the store to another door that opened into an opposite alley from where the Foot had exited earlier. He observed the rows of shelves with music. "Where are we?"

Star blushed a little. "Um, my knew job." He blinked at her in surprise. "Yeah, I guess it wasn't as great as I thought it was. I always thought my boss was a bit off, but this is just crazy."

Kaz spoke up from behind them. "He's not really skinny and creepy with beady eyes, is he?"

Star frowned as she pushed open the door. "Yeah, he is."

K-three tried to close the heavy metal door quietly, but his efforts were in vain as Kaz suddenly pushed away from him to grab Star's arm. In one swift movement he pulled her away from Yoshi, one hand grabbing at the nape of her neck. She gave a sharp cry and Yoshi turned, slamming his cousin against the wall with a raised fist. "What the shell do you think you're doin'!"

Kaz struggled under his larger cousin's furious grip. "Wait! Look!" He held up his hand, revealing the small device. It was just like the one they'd pulled off the soldier earlier.

Yoshi's eyes widened, but he still glared at him. "You could have warned her at least."

Kaz shook his head. "No, I couldn't. Whoever is monitoring her might have overheard."

K-three frowned. "We are just lucky you found it before we got home. We don't need to be followed."

Yoshi turned to find tears trickling down Star's cheeks. He pulled her to him and brushed her hair from the back of her neck. "Let me see." She slowly moved the hand she had pressed to her neck. Blood dripped down her back and he ground his teeth. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah." But her voice was quaked with pain, causing Yoshi to glare at Kaz again.

"Alright, we need to move. They'll see we are missing soon. We need to find a phone and get home." K-three turned Kaz down the alley. Yoshi again leaned on Star, but with a bit more caution.

"I'm sorry. I don't have a cell or you could use it." She said as they moved off.

"No, it's better you don't. It's likely they'd be tracking it anyways." K-three assured her. They were several blocks away when Kaz began to sway. "Kaz?"

He was panting. "I...I can't go on...too weak..." His knees buckled and K-three struggled to ease him to the ground. The black blotches were beginning to appear beneath his skin.

Yoshi, who was also appearing a bit disoriented, groaned and plopped heavily on the ground. "A break sounds really good."

K-three rubbed at his aching ribs, which he was pretty certain at least one was broken. His own breathing was heavy as he measured Star where she knelt beside Yoshi with a concerned frown. "Stay with them. I'll get to a phone." Placing a hand on each turtle's shoulder, he squeezed warmly. "Hang in there guys, we'll be home soon." He turned to the end of the alley, pausing only for a split second to look back at them. He was not going to let another brother die.

A Never Ending Bond, Ch 9 - What the Future Holds

TMNT Bound Series - Complete Table of Contents