***
Dextra looked around as she entered the old subway station. It was larger than Master Hadrian's chamber and much brighter.
Donatello disappeared for a moment and returned with a glass of water for her. "Feeling better?"
Dextra nodded as she took the glass of water. "Thank you for rescuing me, again."
"Don't mention it," Don said. Mikey thought he saw Donnie blush.
Dextra's eyes widened as Venus walked into the room, followed by Master Splinter. Mike did the introductions. Raph was leaning against a wall not too far away. Dextra reminded him of one of those Manga Anime girls, with her big eyes and green hair. Leo watched her as well. He wanted to trust Don's judgment, but they had to be careful.
Mike sat between Venus and Dextra on the couch. "So," he said. "Where ya from?"
"I grew up in Ireland," Dextra answered. She chewed on her fingernail nervously. "I think I should go."
"Why?" Don asked. He didn't want her to go just yet. "I mean, those dogs may still be out there."
Dextra cringed visibly. "My master will get upset if I'm gone too long."
"Overprotective?" Venus asked.
"Not really, he's just…I have to go," she repeated.
Don noticed how tense she was. "At least let me give you a ride," he said.
Mike stood up. "I'd come along, but I've got a show to do."
***
Hitoshi was furious. "How dare she!"
Jiro sat on his bed, a simple frame and mattress, and watched his brother pace. "She did what she had to do."
Hitoshi turned to his little brother. "She's denied us our revenge!"
"She could have just killed us," Jiro pointed out. "She should have killed us. If any soldier had spoken to father like that he would have been dead."
Hitoshi looked down at the Rank uniform he was wearing. "I will not."
Jiro watched his brother carefully. Hitoshi removed his mask. "I will not serve under her."
Jiro shook his head. "Be reasonable, brother."
"No! She was not the one to defeat our father, and she's sleeping with one of those freaks!"
"You don't know that," Jiro tried to tell him.
"She has no rightful claim. I don't care if she is descended from the original line, her blood is tainted."
Jiro could do nothing to stop his brother from walking out the door. He sighed and turned on the radio he kept on the shelf over his cot.
"This is Michaelangelo, and welcome back to The Sewer Hour."
He lay back on his bed. He remembered back to when Wick had introduced him to the show, and even after they had tried to trap the turtle host, Jiro still listened, when no one was around to hear, of course.
"Tonight I've got a special treat for you all! I recently picked up a demo tape, well, it's really a CD, of a local girl group called Dragon's Kiss. Here's the first track, 'Leaving on a Jet Plane', which some of you may recognize."
Dragon's Kiss, how interesting…
…All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go.
I'm standing here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say Goodbye
But the dawn is breaking its early morn
The taxi's waiting his blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die…
***
Aura leaned back into the window after Hitoshi had disappeared from sight. She sighed. "I was afraid of this."
Hitoshi was now AWOL, and that meant trouble. Not only for him, but for her as well. One of the reasons she'd kept him in her army was to keep an eye on him. Now, she couldn't do that, and she had no idea where he was going.
"Your majesty."
Aura cringed at the high pitched voice. "What is it Wick?"
The small dragon crawled up onto a tall stool beside her. "I just thought you might like to know that the human, Quease, has decided to leave us."
Aura decided to not respond, not really caring whether the 'good' doctor had really left of his own will, the Rank had killed him, or if they had simply thrown him out. Very few things mattered to her at the moment, one of which was…
"And my messengers?"
"They have not returned," Wick informed her.
Aura sighed and rubbed her temples. "Leave me, and see I'm not disturbed for the rest of the night."
"Yes, your majesty." Wick left the room, leaving Aura alone with her thoughts.
She pulled her gown off and dressed in a set of her old street clothes.
…So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a Jet Plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go…
Aura heard the familiar tune as she slipped her earphones on.
***
Dextra nervously pointed out the directions through the New York streets. She had tried desperately to try and get Donatello to reconsider, but he refused to let her go without him. She finally decided to just give the wrong directions and wing her way home…literally.
"Here," she said so quietly that Donatello almost didn't hear her. He pulled to the curb.
"You sure?" He asked, looking around at the run down buildings.
"Yes, thank you for the ride," Dextra said hastily. She shifted into the form of a sleek white cat and leapt away into the shadows. Donatello looked confused for a moment before frowning and starting back home again.
Dextra leapt onto a wooden fence before morphing into a crow and taking flight. Master Hadrian would be pleased with her tonight, that was for certain.
Five minutes later, she flew into the open window of her master's workroom. He didn't turn as she transformed, a large grin dominating her face. "I found them Master."
Hadrian now looked over and Dextra gasped. He looked older than before, the wrinkles deeper and his hairline had moved back. "Good girl," he wheezed. He limped over to a large table and unrolled a map. "Now, show me."
Dextra traced the path from memory onto the map of the city's sewer system. "It's an old station," she added.
Hadrian nodded and covered his mouth with his fist as he was overcome with hacking coughs. Dextra tried to steady him but he pushed her away. "My strength is running low. That last sorcerer lasted longer than most, but I knew it would not last. I do not have much time."
Dextra bit her bottom lip. "We must hurry."
***
Ignatius was reading a local newspaper when he heard a knock on his door. He folded the paper in place and pushed himself out of his chair. He turned into the hallway from his study while casting an illusion to make him look human and placed his hand on the knob.
"Aura! Come in, come in, girl." He ushered her in and showed her to the living room. "I didn't think you'd have time to come and visit your old father."
Aura looked directly into his eyes. "I'm going to see mother."
Ignatius inhaled deeply and shut his eyes. "That won't do any good, daughter."
"I want her to know, everything. Please take care of things while I'm gone."
Ignatius nodded and hugged his daughter tight. "Take care."
… There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around I tell you now they don't mean a thing…
***
"Raphael?"
Raph looked away from the movie screen and saw Aura lowering herself into the projector room. "Hey, what're you doing here? Thought you had some royal ruling things to do. Not that I'm complaining."
He scooted over to let her sit but she shook her head. "I just came to say goodbye."
Raph pulled his legs back around and stood. "Excuse me? Goodbye? You're leaving?"
Aura smiled gently. "Just for a little while. There's something I need to do. It'll only be a couple weeks."
"Weeks?" Raphael squeaked.
Aura kissed him. "Don't worry, you'll never miss me."
He took hold of her hand and squeezed it. "I wouldn't bet on that."
"Finish watching your movie, Raph, I know you've been waiting for this one."
"Can't you at least stay and watch with me?" Raph tried to hold onto her a little longer.
"Plane leaves soon, babe, if I stay I'll be late."
"Then catch the next one."
Aura sighed. Raph pulled her against him and kissed her fiercely. "You promise to be back soon?"
"I swear," Aura replied breathlessly.
… Everyplace I go I'll think of you
Every song I sing I'll sing for you
When I come back I'll wear your wedding ring…
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a Jet Plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe I hate to go…
Well now the time has come to leave you
One more time please let me kiss you
Then close your eyes and I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave you alone
About the times I won't have to say Goodbye…
***
Um, I'm not sure who owns the lyrics to 'Leaving on a Jet Plane', but I don't…