[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/CRteBS6.png?2[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/J7eZeoY.png?1[/img][/center] Something felt off. Leonardo wasn't sure what it was, but the air felt different as his brothers traversed the rooftops of New York towards the location where Alopex had seen the Foot Clan nights before. Maybe it was just the fact that he was out with his brothers for the first time in recent memory. But this didn't feel like excitement. No, this felt more like apprehension. Like there was something waiting around the corner to jump them. He shook it out of his mind as they approached their final destination. It was a shabby looking warehouse built over the water. It leaned slightly on stilts poking out of the murky depths of the river. Some of the windows on the sides were broken, their frames dangling on rusted hinges. It looked like it was more likely to fall down on itself than hold a fighting tournament. But Leonardo trusted his adopted sister, even if Raphael was wary of her after her desertion. [color=f7941d]"You know what the sad thing is?"[/color] Mikey whispered as they climbed onto the roof of the building. [color=f7941d]"This place's rent is probably more than we'll ever make in our lives."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Do you even know what rent is?"[/color] Raphael shot back at him. [color=f7941d]"No, I heard it on TV,"[/color] Mikey grinned broadly. [color=ed1c24]"Yea, that's kinda what I figured,"[/color] Raph chuckled. Meanwhile, Leo peered through the skylight of the building, looking for any sign of the ninja clan's activities. Unfortunately, all he found was disappointment. He opened the window and dropped down into the building, surprising the other three turtles. [color=92278f]"Leo what the hell!?"[/color] Don called after him, rushing to the opening. [color=0054a6]"It's fine,"[/color] his brother responded. [color=0054a6]"The place is empty."[/color] He made his way down the meandering catwalks of the warehouse, cross-crossing the steel walkways towards the pier-like floor below. He could see, even from up here, that there had been some sort of fighting. As Leo got closer to the ground level he clearly saw dried blood on the floor, and some of the wooden planks were broken, revealing the water sloshing below the warehouse. Leo approached, bending down. He ran his fingers over the broken boards. The force to break an old board like this wasn't all that hard. He could see it was from a sloppy strike. Whoever the Foot were recruiting, they weren't the best of the best. At least not yet. Maybe that's what Oroku Saki's plan was. To start a new Foot clan here, move on, and start another one somewhere else. If he did that, he could have eyes an ears everywhere on the planet. [color=ed1c24]"Looks like Al lied,"[/color] Raph grumbled, breaking Leo's concentration. [color=ed1c24]"Nothing here but a bunch of junk and gross smelling air."[/color] [color=0054a6]"She didn't lie, Raphael,"[/color] Leo waved his hand around. [color=0054a6]"Look at all the signs we have. Blood, broken boards, and a bunch of scuff marks in a big circle in the dust on the floor. It's just obvious that they weren't gonna stay in the same place for very long. We'll have to keep looking."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Yea, okay,"[/color] Raph shrugged. [color=ed1c24]"Or she lied, because she doesn't want to deal with us anymore. She left, and sent us on a wild goose chase."[/color] Raphael had taken Alopex leaving the hardest. Leo knew that. But he also knew Raph's anger masked his hurt more than anything. [color=0054a6]"She's her own person, Raph,"[/color] Leo shook his head. [color=0054a6]"But she wouldn't lie. Besides, she'll come back to us eventually. You know that."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"No, I don't, Leo,"[/color] Raph replied through gritted teeth. [color=ed1c24]"And I'm not gonna pretend she will. I did that with Artie, and I ain't gonna do that again."[/color] There it was. Al leaving had triggered feelings about their other sister back into his head. He wasn't mad at Al for leaving. Well, he was, but that was normal for Raph. But most of his angst came from their first loss. The one that still loomed over all of them. [color=0054a6]"Don't put that on her, Raph,"[/color] Leo stood up for their adoptive sister. [color=0054a6]"That's not fair."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Yea, well, life ain't fair,"[/color] Raph pushed Leo away. [color=ed1c24]"Now let's go finish our wild goose chase."[/color] [color=0054a6]"Splinter would not send us on a wild goose chase!"[/color] [color=f7941d]"Uh, guys?"[/color] Mikey attempted to interrupt. [color=ed1c24]"Yea, sure, there's no way he could be wrong about the immortal ninja."[/color] [color=92278f]"Guys!"[/color] Don yelled at the bickering siblings. The two of them turned to see what the fuss was about. The wall facing away from the river was currently buckling in, before it crumbled. From the other side, dozens of small, robotic drones poured in. Their metal jaws snapped hungrily as they approached the Turtles, who drew their weapons in response. The four of them jumped into action, slicing, dicing, and smashing the robots in succession. They were like four scythes cutting through a field of wheat. But this wheat fought back. And they were quickly getting backed up towards the river. [color=92278f]"Hey guys...we are Turtles,"[/color] Donnie reminded them. [color=0054a6]"Good point, Don,"[/color] Leo smiled. [color=0054a6]"Everyone into the drink!"[/color] The four of them smashed through the back wall and splashed down into the river. [color=f7941d]"Oh man,"[/color] Mikey gagged as they came back to the surface. [color=f7941d]"I can't believe the humans want to live by the river."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"I can't believe it!"[/color] Raph raged. [color=ed1c24]"She sent us into a trap!"[/color] [color=0054a6]"Come on, Raph,"[/color] Leo shook his head as he tread water. [color=0054a6]"Look."[/color] The robots were now taking nose dives off the pier into the water, almost fanatically trying to get to the turtles. [color=92278f]"Fascinating,"[/color] Don mused as he watched. [color=92278f]"It's almost like they're programmed to come after us. But...how?"[/color] The words rattled around in Leo's brain and he considered them. Someone was trying to get the turtles. Someone was coming after his family. His family. [color=0054a6]"Guys,"[/color] he became stone faced, [color=0054a6]"if they're tracking us..."[/color] [color=f7941d]"They might be tracking Splinter!"[/color] Mikey realized as well.