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Darkness.
That’s all that could have been seen in the desolate lab.
A chilling, almost void-like darkness, where barely anything can be seen except for the outline of metal.
Sudden sparks, of light and fire, flashes from the center of the room. It illuminated cages, it illuminated grand machines and inventions, it showed blueprints for weapons, weapons for armies, and ancient weapons thought to be lost.
It illuminated a human, not like the ones seen strapped lifeless across the various tables, but instead one welding and forging.
With hair, black as night adorned with one line of red flame flowing across it, messy and untamed, tied back to make sure it didn’t catch any of the fire that sparked from their creation. They wore heavy metal and protection all over their body, and an iron mask with eye shields like diamonds across their face.
In this quiet darkness of the leaky, unnerving room where no person ever dared to step but them, only the sound of their work broke their preferred silence.
.... But not for long.
“Master Ryū!” A young, foolish soldier burst into the darkness, releasing light from the halls into the welders cave.
The person standing there did not react, didn’t even turn around. They sat in their metal chair and continued on despite the disturbance.
“Master Ryū,” the soldier continued, “I have come here with a message, to inform you that you have been summoned forward to hold conference in the main hall of the facility by Master-”
An object flew past the soldier, slamming into the door right next to their head. A tool, the young soldier slowly turned their head to see- a screwdriver to be exact- was lodged all the way into the metal of the door, only a centimeter away from their ear. They swallowed hard and felt for their left ear. It was there, thank Gods, but somehow, a bit of blood still appeared on their fingertips even though they were sure they weren’t hit.
Swiftly they turned back to the sound of scraping of a metallic chair across the floor. The form of the person originally present in the lab stood hunched over their invention, hands braced on the table. The young soldier did their best to stand strong, but they shook when the form straightened to stand tall themselves.
“How many?” The person asked. Not bothering to turn to face the soldier.
The soldier, confused by this, pressed on a nervous voice. “E- excuse me, M- Master- ?”
“How. Many.”
The soldier shrank back at the figures sharp tone. “H-how many what, Master?”
The person didn’t turn their frame as they slowly began to remove their gloves. “How many,” they methodically removed both, “more, o’ you lil Feet have to die,” the welder began untying their hair, letting down the long, black void like wave of spikes, “before they finally understand.”
The mask was removed easily, and the soldier found themselves trapped under a dark crimson stare. Fear shook them as it seemed they were now prey trapped under the unyielding gaze of a predator who was fixed on making them their meal.
“DON'. ENTER. MY. SPACE.”
The soldier flinched under the loud, booming voice. The depths of it enough to make them take quick steps back, and the heavy accent of the city making it clear where their home resided.
NYC, FOOT HEADQUARTERS. July 27, 1997, 20:46pm
It was a dark night in New York, one of the quietest they’d had in a long while. How fitting a night to find something so indescribable, so strange and other worldly, never before seen by human eyes, that even the Grand Master of their clan needed a second opinion.
However, now that the soldier quivered where they stood as the menacing figure approached, they wondered if this was all really worth the credits they would receive.
They didn’t have time to back out now though when in a flash she stood before them, their face in her hand as she pressed her nails into their flesh.
Master Ryū.
A legend within their clan, her name, her real name, was like a whisper in the wind. No one, not even the older members, knew what it truly was, and some didn’t even believe she had one, let alone that the master existed.
She wasn’t the tallest woman- not even close standing at only 5’4- but Gods did her mere presence fill a room. Her entire self, her whole existence generally, took up so much space, that even now having her so close felt almost suffocating.
“Tell me kid,” She forced their face closer to her own, almost as if she was examining another one of her potential specimens, and whispered thoughtfully, “do you scream louder than the rest of them?”
The soldier was then dropped to the ground as Master Ryū stood once again at her worktable, slowly gathering and retying her hair. The soldier grasped at their throat and gasped for the air they didn’t know was being deprived. “P- please f-forgive my disruption M- Master, b-but Master S-”
“I don’t care what that asshat wants.”
The soldier gasped in shock at her words. No one had ever dared to call their Master anything even close to foolish. “But Master-!”
“But nothin’!”
The soldier snapped their jaw shut at her glare. They had dared speak against a higher rank, and now they fear they may pay the price for it. Even when she turned back to her welding the young soldier felt as if that poisonous gaze was still on them. “I don’ got the time nor the care for whateve’ hell little chore your Master wants done-”
“Is that right?”
It was like ice had gone down the soldier’s back. They didn’t move. Didn’t dare breathe.
A large shadow loomed over them from behind. Its presence felt heavy, though no weight was set on their shoulders. The clanking of armored steps resonated within the dark room. The soldier didn’t dare lift their head as they shook where they fell to their knees. “M-M-Master Shredder.”
Their Master, the feared Shredder, barely offered them a glance before he walked further into the room, stopping right next to them. “It seems,” he spoke, voice deep and gravely, like it was the last thing anyone was meant to hear, “that this soldier has failed to address how urgent this summoning is. Or how my word comes before all else.”
The soldier trembled as he spoke of their insolence, knowing better then to look up and try to explain themselves. They had already failed this one simple task, and that was horrifying enough, causing the young soldier to panic internally and pray to whatever God they believed in that they would survive his wrath.
It seemed though, that Master Ryū shared none of those convictions.
“Oh drop the act tin head, you ain’t some kinda God and I don’ worship on my knees, so screw off.”
The soldier on their knees held in their gasp at the obvious disrespect being shown towards Master Shredder. They dared not, however, look towards their Master for his reaction. They didn’t need to. His annoyance and distaste at her attitude were almost radiant. However, instead of the punishment they had been expecting, Master Shredder simply trotted forward.
“Your bravery and stupidity seem to always cross paths when you are in my presence. Tell me, are you not aware that your life lies in my hands.”
A moment of silence passed between them, and the soldier was convinced that Master Ryū would realize her mistake, and then she spoke.
“Are you not aware that your daughter’s life rests in mine?”
This time the soldier did make a sound at that and immediately regretted it as both parties turned to where they kneeled on the floor. “Get on with it than Saki,” she teased cruelly with not even a glance to him, “keep talkin’. I’m sure you’d just love for all of your little subjects to know exactly what debt you beheld to me-”
A steel claw slammed in the table down onto Master Ryū’s work and the soldier held their breath. They were not surprised by the actions their Master had taken, it’s what they’d been waiting for to happen, but the reaction that received in turn left them shaking.
Because instead of fear, or apology, or groveling, or literally any emotion a sane person would show someone to who had no hesitation in disposing of them, Master Ryū simply stared at her destroyed invention before finally turning half her gaze towards The Shredder. “Great, now yo’r little outburst set us back weeks.” She spoke, like all he did was knock a cup of coffee on a stack of documents and sauntered away towards the computer systems and monitors on the other side of the room. “Hope yo’re happy.”
He growled and under his breath and the soldier coward, before ‘composing’ himself once more, though his anger and irritation were clear. “Get. Out.” Their Master addressed them, and they were smart enough to know not stare a gift horse in the mouth.
“Kickin’ the poor chump to the curb? Classy.”
“If you weren’t so useful to this clan and my operations, I’d have had you strapped to one of those tables and-”
“-and if you didn’t provide me with the materials I need to make this whole little cult of yo'rs even remotely possible, I’d have you strapped to one of these tables.” Ryū shot back like nothing, and with fake enthusiasm turned towards Saki. “Ain’t we both just lucky.”
She heard him hiss and took great pleasure in his frustration. She didn’t have the time of day to spare to him, she was a busy woman. If he wanted something done regarding his little projects then he can go bother Stockman about them, or ‘Badford’ if he was really desperate, or even Hun or something. Hell, man’s got so many lackeys trailing behind him like roaches to spoiled meat he could probably find a few brains between those ears somewhere laying around, right?! What’s so important that he’s gotta come bother-
“I suppose the informant I sent didn’t get even a word out about this evening’s findings.”
It wasn’t a question.
“Do they ever?” She ticked away on her mother board- literally, the mother of all keyboards, this thing was huge and had letters with accents and symbols on them that not even she’s ever seen before, and she’s been around. She was so focused on her typing she didn’t notice him quietly walking towards the exit.
Not like she’d care.
“My Foot Ninjas have found something quite... peculiar down by the shore of the Bay. It’s something that I believe can come into great use for my army someday, if trained correctly.”
She rolled her eyes at his small talk and pulled up the blueprints she’d saved of some government tech she stumbled upon earlier.
Might as well start on a new one.
“Just get Baxy to check it out or somethin’-”
“This is not something I trust Stockman to look into.”
Oh? Now that got her attention.
Still though it wasn’t enough, and she refuses to relent.
If he wanted her to investigate whatever the hell it is that badly he’d have to pique her interest first.
She doesn’t take empty leads for anyone.
“Look Sak’, I ain’t interested in what- or whoever yo'r little culties have found so-”
“It’s not a what, or a who, it’s an it.” He cut her off rudely and stopped near the exit of her lab like he thinks he’s got her on a hook or someth-
“-and it’s alive.”
With that he was gone, leaving her there staring at her screens where multiple blueprints and projects and ideas were being shown. Every single one of them ready to get started, every single one of them more powerful than the last. She had everything she could need to begin right away....
“.... Damnit.”
-
She continued to curse and glare at Oroku Saki, or as everyone seems to address him now as ‘The Shredder’ (very original by the way), from where she stood at attention by his throne in a room packed with people rubbing shoulders together and chattering ‘quietly’ among each other.
Gross.
Little foot wannabes and whoever else was curious enough to show, which, in retrospect, was everyone, was there displaying their ugly mugs to the Foot Clan’s main meeting hall.
‘Not like they had a choice.’ She thought with a sneer as she noticed a few figures approaching them.
‘Because of course.’
She did her best to ignore them as they approached but it’s hard to ignore those who make attention seeking their hobby.
‘A talent really.’
“Stockman, Bradford, Hun,” The Shredder addressed the trio, “I asked that you be here before anyone else, I didn’t expect to be show this type of disrespect like this from you.” Two of the men bowed while the other stood their standing, staring uncaring at the sight of the crowd.
‘Not interested if they aren’t here for you huh?’ Ryū wanted to ask but decided against it.
There will be time for that later after all.
“My apologies, Master Shredder.” Bradford spoke.
‘Who else should speak but a pup to his master.’
“Dr. Stockman wished to present you with something that would greatly help expand your army and asked for our assistance in the matter, the time simply seemed to-”
“I did not ask for any excuses.”
The whole room went dead quiet. Every person there now turned towards their Master, attempting to seem undeterred, but the threatening undertones of the words left them all uneasy.
Ryū simply stared ahead at nowhere in particular, face slack and eyes lidded, already bored of it all.
Seems she wasn’t the only one as Stockman did a very dramatic bow and fake apology for his tardiness. “I’m so sorry mAsTeR sHrEdDer,, but once you see what I’ve been working on it’ll all be worth it. After I’m finished no one, not even you, will be able to deny- !”
“Silence.”
‘Good thing he said it before I did.’
Stockman seemed to reluctantly shut his mouth and was pulled down to kneel next to the other three, grumbling all the while.
“I will decide what to do with you three later. Stand where you are assigned. Any further disturbances will be met with direct punishments from me personally.”
Ryū tried ever so hard (not) to hide her smirk as Dr. Stockman begrudgingly came over to stand next to her with Bradford, muttering under his breath about petty revenge and whatever else. “Well, well, well, Ms. Torrensa,” Bradford stupidly addressed her, “you look very gorgeous tonight,” she continued ignoring him, even giving a yawn for show, “and as unapproachable as usual.”
“And yet here you are.” She said with great mourning.
“Yes,” he chuckled suggestively and leaned into her space, “yes, here I am indeed.”
Like a flash Bradford suddenly stood straight and still, like a statue unable to move.
Which is basically what he was.
No one even saw Ryū move or use the pressure point, and even if they did, no, they didn’t.
“I see you’re still using unorthodox methods to win your arguments, pRoFeSsOr Torrensa.” Baxter spoke then as both scientists collectively ignored the struggling groans coming from Bradford as Hun held in his laugh. Before she could answer though, a sudden composition came from the back of the room, where the two giant double doors opened, and three elite Foot Clan soldiers walked in.
“Sit on a dick, Stockman.”
Dr. Stockman sputtered next to her but with one look from the man in power didn’t utter a word and just glared forward as the three elites came to the front of the stairs that lead to the throne.
One of them, the middle one, held something in his arm. It was small and looked square-ish covered by a baby blue cloth, possibly a cage, and had something inside.
It was.... squirming?
This caught the attention of those standing by the throne, interest immediately peeked, though Ryū made sure not to show even a bit of it. She knew better than that. The others, however, couldn’t help but lean in, trying to catch even a glimpse of what it was.
They didn’t have to wait long.
The elite slowly set the cage on the ground and tilted his head to look at his Master.
The Shredder nodded curtly, and the cloth was removed.
The whole room gasped silently.
On display for all to see behind the thin bars of the small cage was.... something.
Something tiny, and whimpering.
It was about the size of a newborn, maybe a little smaller, with emerald-green skin and a....
Was that a shell?
“Is- is that supposed to be a turtle?” Hun asked brilliantly and Ryū would have mocked him if she herself wasn’t stumped in pure fascination.
“Yes, it is!” Stockman said excitedly next to her and ran forward to take a closer look at the creature. As did Bradford (who could suddenly once again move), and Hun, and many of the other patrons in the room. Ryū simply stood where she was, hand on her chest at the emotions she couldn’t correctly express except compare it to that of actual shock. She wasn’t used to being caught off guard.
She even almost jumped when The Shredder after being silent suddenly spoke, forgetting for a moment where she even was.
“My elites found this… thing roaming around as they were patrolling the Bay for another matter unrelated to this finding. I ordered them to bring it here today to see what I might do with it-”
“Give it to me!” Baxter spoke, the eyes of a mad man adorning his gaze as he stared intently at the small humanoid turtle creature that cowered back into a corner at his stare. “I will find out what it is, observe and experiment, learn how it came to be, from where it came to be and what makes it tick. It could be the key to unimaginable power-”
“Nah.” Bradford interrupted, pushing Baxter aside and looking at the animal disgusted. “Let us have it in the Dojo. I don’t know what this yokai thing is but I know it shouldn’t be doing all that. Let’s just kill it or something, maybe turn it into a guard dog? We could definitely beat it into some form of submission-”
“Could just eat it.”
Almost everyone turned to Hun in disgust. “.... What?. It’s an animal, right? And if it ain’t meant to be alive, then we kill it and eat it, turtle soup style-” Baxter shoved him and stood in front of the cage protectively and the room erupted.
“You can’t just kill it! It needs to be studied-”
“It needs to not exist-”
“It needs to be trained!”
“It must to be destroyed!”
“Then we’ll eat it!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“Let me have it!”
“No let me- !”
“Ugh nobody touch that thing- !”
“It’s a demon- !”
“It’s a Yokai- !”
“It’s a monster!”
Ryū drowned them all out.
She took a step forward, then another, and didn’t stop.
When The Shredder noticed her quiet descent, he gave a wave of his hand to the elite nearest to the cage. Said elite gave his Master a hesitant look before reaching down and opening it.
The room went quiet once again except for the three babbling Stooges. They didn’t even notice when the small creature began to crawl out and the whole crowd stepped back.
Ryū remained steady and pushed on.
Literally.
When she reached the group of three, she effortlessly pushed them all aside like curtains, her eyes never leaving the small thing.
It was shaking like a leaf in a storm, either from cold or fear she had no way of knowing. It was looking around the room whimpering and making noises that sounded like small chirps, like a duckling looking for its family.
Then it looked right at her.
Big, dark blue sapphire eyes peered at her from the floor, shiny with old and unshed tears. Small pudgy cheeks puffing a bit as it cried out softly and frightened. It really was no bigger than a child. In fact, that’s what it probably was.
Only a babe, smaller than most she’s ever seen.
She bent down, just a little as she noticed it curled into itself a bit as the woman drew closer, and slowly reached one hand out.
Tears started falling from its eyes- one of them, she noticed, had a barely noticeable iris- but she continued slowly.
“What- why is-?”
“She’s crazy, I knew she was- !”
“What is she doing?”
“Ryū?”
She gently set her hand near it and waited.
A tense minute passed in the deathly silent room, a nervous buzz vibrating from the bodies around them.
The tiny creature then moved to her and all the soldiers in the room reached for their weapons in case it was to attack.
It didn’t, of course, it simply leaned into her touch, seeking out warmth for its cold, hurt little body, and when it nuzzled her palm when she opened her hand, part of her- a part long buried under cruelty and hate- knew she was done for.
Ryū picked up the tiny critter and cradled it in her arms like she saw the sitters do with Saki’s own daughter many times. The little turtle just stared at her, no longer shaking or whimpering. Instead of fear, now it looked upon her in curiosity, weakly lifting a hand to her face and softly bopping at her with its small, three fingered hands.
“It’s perfect.” She said breathlessly, already entranced and captivated by the utter impossibility of this child’s existence. It yawned tiredly and smacked its lips at her, eyes fluttering shut as it nuzzled closer to her chest for more warmth.
Feeling safe enough to sleep in her arms.
“-and it’s mine.”
She decided then with absolute certainty, standing up from where she had fallen to her knees and walking with a newfound determination away from the crowd, from the stooges and the lackies, from the throne.
She ignored the incredulous looks sent her way, not like she would care otherwise, but the outraged shouting from Dr. Stockman was something she paid attention to with great joy.
“She can’t do that! That isn’t her choice to make! She can’t-!”
“- Master Shredder I highly recommend that you not let this-!”
“- What’s she even gonna do with it-?”
“SILENCE.”
The room had erupted in another spectacle, with shouting coming from everyone and raised voices filled with fear and uncertainty.
Ryū reveled in it all, enjoying the chaos erupting, that this little creature created with just its mere presence. She looked down at the small thing cradled in her arms as it slept on despite the shouts of rage and terror.
Oh yes, she could definitely work with this.
“Saki,” she called through the loud room, catching the attention of all including him in power as she quickly walked straight through the doors, “consider your debt, paid.”
-
Ryū entered her lab and immediately locked the doors. She knew what she did was pretty risky, especially bringing up any kind of debt Saki- The Shredder- owed in front of his Feet, but this would be worth it.
She knew it would.
“Well little darlin’,” she spoke to the creature as it slept on, occasionally cooing in its sleep while she burst into a sudden fit of laughter, “you caused a real ruckus out there.” She busted a gut at the memory of Baxter trying to get to her before he was pushed back by the crowd, the face he made? Ha! Priceless!
“Imagine that. Yo’re barely crawlin’ and ya already caused a huge mess in the place. Now that is what I call talent honey.”
The small thing didn’t even stir at the unknown praise it received.
“Well,” she walked further into her lab, “whatever the case, yo’re mine now, so I better start thinking what to do with you cuz I dead ass ain’t givin’ ya over to Stockboy, ‘r else ya might just end up on his wall.”
She huffed a laugh and walked towards her motherboard, typing in a file name:
: Experiment 0:
Age: ----
She shot it a glance, and guessed the little thing couldn’t be older than a few months, maybe less.
Weight: ----
“Hmm.” She went ahead and set it on a scale, cooing quietly at how small and light this little creature was. She typed in “A filled medium Blenderbottle™”.
Name: ----
....
The warrior looked down at the little being in her arms, who at this point was basically using her hair as a blanket.
“Hmph, yo’re gonna need a strong name kid. Somethin’ fierce, but simple. Fittin’ for a future warrior such as yaself.”
The little turtle gurgled quietly and pressed closer to her, gripping at her hair it its dream and sighing in content when she gently caressed its face. The child smiled in its sleep as it was rocked gently in the arms of its unknowing new guardian.
“Ya probably had a pretty rough start at this, didn’ ya? But you’ve been given a second chance now, and yo’r real story starts today, right here, right now.
... 작은 사자.”