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ilovebeingcringe · 3 months ago

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Nikki's Story (TMNT!2012 Oc Fanfiction)

(A/N: This is a short two-chapter fan fiction I created for my TikTok account dedicated to my 2012 tmnt oc named Nikki. This tells the story of how she met and joined an alliance with the turtles. These two chapters take place in the middle of season two sometime after episode 10 and 11, after everyone discovered April is part alien and before Karai discovered Splinter was her true father. I'm not a professional writer so forgive any mistakes you might see or if this is cringe :| Enjoy!)

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Chapter One: Patience and Control

Karai stood in an empty parking garage, a safe distance away from the unnamed assassin. She ran a hand through her obnoxiously pink hair, the other one placed on one hip in a smug and casual stance.

"Well, I have to admit, this is a first for me," The assassin teased, her voice muffled behind her led mask. "Talking turtles? Really?"

Karai uncrossed her arms and brought them down to her sides, clenching her fists impatiently. "Your job isn't to question me. These four boys are the bane of my existence, especially their pet rat they call their master. I want to use them as bait."

"Oh, a lil' rat trap?"

"Of sorts, yes."

"If you want me to bring you the turtles, why not just pick up the rat while I'm at it? Y'know, kill two birds with one stone?" The masked girl asked.

"As much as I hate to admit it, the rat is far too skilled beyond both our years combined," Karai explained. "He dwells within their secret base anyway. Finding and kidnapping him is too much to ask for, even from you. Besides, like I said, this needs to stay between you and I only. I don't want you getting caught and our secret exchange getting out."

The pink-haired assassin shifted forward, a short giggle escaping her lips. "Oh, that's right. Daddy said no, didn't he?"

"Do not patronize me, Stalker," Karai snapped back, referring to the assassin as her nickname, gained from the other gangs around town.

"Shredder has been too docile recently; too quiet. If only he'd listen to me for a change, he'd understand why this is the perfect opportunity to attack and sweep those stupid turtles under their feet while they're still off guard."

She grumbled under her breath to herself, "Of course, he's too busy focused on completely unimportant matters... Like, expanding his already successful underground business and building that stupid mansion upstate."

"Well, it should be a relatively simple task for little ol' me," The Stalker replied, cracking her fingers. "You want 'em warm or cold? Well, I suppose they'd be cold either way being reptiles and all, heh."

"You may use any means necessary, but I want them brought to me alive, understood?" Karai responded.

"Eh, less fun, but doable. I've been wanting to get my sneaky hands on these mutant rumors spreading around the city anyway. You wouldn't happen to know how your little turtle friends came to be, would you?" The Stalker asked, stretching the rest of her lanky body out.

"That's irrelevant. Just do what I'm paying you to do. And if you get caught, keep my name out of your mouth. Got it?"

The Stalker half-heartedly waved Karai off. "Yeah, yeah whatever fills my pockets, princess. In any case, I'll soon know more about this mutant mush than even you."

Her advanced gas mask booted up, small beeping and pink led lights in the goggles shortly followed after.

"I always do."

"Late, again, O'Neil," April's math teacher observed, adjusting her glasses.

"I know, I know! I'm sorry! Really, I have a perfectly valid excuse this time!" April tried explaining.

"I'm afraid it doesn't matter. I'll have to write you up for a detention young lady."

"But-"

"Morning, loser!" A peppy and unique student blurted out as she walked through the class door, equally late. "What kind of subservient, inferior, childish slop-you call trigonometry-do you have planned for us today?"

The teacher scoffed at her rebellious student's attitude. "Excuse me? Miss Hoffman, where on Earth do you get off talking to me that!?"

The tall girl, adorned in black and pink street-style clothing popped a gum bubble in her mouth before responding. "Uhhhh, New York City?" She replied with a cocky smirk across her thin face.

"Absolutely unacceptable behavior Nicolette! I've had just about enough of you! Forget the detention April, go have a seat. I have my hands full with this piece of work right here," The teacher grumbled, pulling a stack of paper out from her desk.

April sighed in relief and walked off to her desk. She eyed the unruly girl behind her before having a seat. This new peer of hers transferred to her school district nearly two years ago. Nicolette Hoffman. Lovingly referred to as "Nutcase Nikki," by the rest of the student body. She was a rebellious, strangely-behaviored, lunatic, outcasted by other teens her age that no adult in the world had enough patience for. She did and said whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted with no shame.

However, April-with her new found sixth sense-couldn't ignore what she was feeling around Nikki. Her gut was telling her that there was something important about that strange girl. She couldn't pinpoint what it was, however. As an outcast herself, April also felt empathetic and inclined to befriend Nikki. As often as she tried, she always failed in doing so. Nikki never seemed to be interested in making friends and would dismiss April instead.

After class, April caught up with Nikki in the hallway. Attempting to be neighborly once again.

"Uh, hey, Nikki!" She called out, running up to the wild, pink-haired girl.

"Ah! Hey, Freckles!" Nikki observed upon turning around.

"Hey, listen, I know it wasn't really your intention, but I wanted to thank you for saving my butt back there. The teacher was about to give me detention before you walked in and, uh... well, y'know..."

"Oh, it was my intention," Nikki replied before stopping at her locker.

"I... Wh-What?"

"Yeah, I wanted detention!"

"What? Why?!"

Nikki explained flatly and-oddly-casually, "Because, detention's in the library and there's a really cool hidden room behind one of the bookshelves. I turned it into a hangout. I get to sneak in there and do whatever I want if no one else is in the library with me."

April stood and stared at Nikki, completely dumbfounded. "You can't be serious..." She replied in shock.

"Completely!" Nikki said back with her signature crazed smile.

"What... What do you do in there?"

"Y'know... research. I stole a bunch of stuff from the science labs that I don't have at home and I use it in there." Nikki winked at her with a sly grin.

"Hey, O'Neil!" Casey shouted across the hall.

He slid up to the two girls and leaned against the lockers. "We still on for our study-sesh tonight, right Red?" He asked April.

April opened her mouth to reply, but stopped, eyeing Nikki by her side. "Actually, Casey... Sorry, but I can't. I, uh... have detention."

Nikki and Casey's eyes both widened in surprise.

"What!?" They both exclaimed in unison.

"Yeah! Late to first period, again... Heh, it sucks, but live and learn y'know?"

"But, I ju-"

"Uh, I gotta run to ladies room!" April announced rather loudly, deliberately interrupting Nikki. "I need a girl buddy to come with me! C'mon, Nikki!"

"Wait, I-"

April snatched Nikki by the wrist and dragged her to the girls room before she could protest.

"What, the heck April? What're you doing?" Nikki demanded, yanking her hand away from April.

"I wanna see your hangout!"

Nikki crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. "Uh-uh. No dice, little lady. It's a called a secret hangout for a reason."

April smirked and put her hands on her hips. "Well if you wanna keep it a secret, then I suggest you show me where it is. Wouldn't want it getting rumored around the halls and discovered by the staff now, would you?"

Nikki raised as eyebrow at the short, orange-haired girl, staring up at her with a mischievous smirk. She smirked back and huffed out a short laugh.

"Huh, I never pegged you for the black-mailing type, Freckles. Fine, whatever. I'll sneak you into the library after school and show you the place. But you gotta leave immediately after, deal? Believe it or not, I got work to do."

"Deal!" April agreed happily.

"This doesn't mean we're friends by the way. I have no clue why you're so insistent on that. Trust me, we're both much better off," Nikki informed her, holding the bathroom door open.

April walked underneath Nikki's arm as she exited the door, not bothering on ducking on account of their drastic height difference.

"Oh, c'mon!" She huffed. "We have a lot more in common than you think!"

Nikki laughed at the thought. "Hah! You have no idea.."

At the end of the school day, Nikki successfully snuck April into the library after stopping by the principal's office to give him her detention slip. After a few more minutes, waiting on everyone to clear out, they promptly slid to the back of the library. Nikki slid a large bookshelf that was pressed against the wall to the side. Revealed behind it was none other than the secret room she promised.

"Oooh..." April whispered out in awe.

"Hurry up, c'mon," Nikki urged, yanking her inside before sliding the bookshelf back.

April studied the small room. It looked to be an abandoned office space. A small window snug itself in the corner. In the middle of the area was a long table cluttered with stolen science equipment from the biochemistry lab. The walls were adorned in sheets of crumpled paper and notes, as was the floor.

"Wow! What have you been doing in here?" April asked, Nikki.

"Like I said, research," She replied flatly as she gathered papers and rearranged beakers, flasks and test tubes.

"What's this room doing back here?"

Nikki dug out a dusty textbook from a filing cabinet hidden away in a corner. She handed it to April, revealing it to be an old school yearbook.

"Back in the late 80's, there were quite a few renovations done to different areas around school. They haven't touched much of it since then, especially the library, but somehow this little office got buried in all of it," Nikki explained, turning the pages to photos of the old library.

"Woah, neat!" April hummed in curiosity, flipping through the book.

She handed it back to Nikki before turning her attention to the rest of the room.

"This whole school-heck most likely the whole city-has all types of hidden gems like this!" Nikki added. "And you know I love poking my head into places I'm not supposed to."

April giggled as she observed one of the papers on the wall decorated with sloppy scribbles of advanced equations and formulas she couldn't begin understand. She chuckled to herself amusingly.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I sometimes forget how crazy smart you are. You hide it pretty well behind that spunky attitude," She teased Nikki.

She smirked and stood proud. "I like to think of myself as somewhat of a mad genius!" She boasted.

"Alright, you got to see the forbidden texts. Now scram, Freckles." Nikki pointed a thumb at the small window behind her, indicating April's exit.

April whipped around, taken aback by the sudden eviction. "What? No! I wanna stay a little longer!" She protested.

With a heavy sigh and a roll of her eyes, Nikki picked April up and flung her over her shoulder with ease. "We had a deal, O'Neil."

"But I have so many questions! What's all this for?"

"Nothing you need to concern your pretty little head with," Nikki shot back, shuffling towards the small window in the corner.

April huffed at Nikki's unflattering comment and latched onto her, refusing to let go.

"Ack! Get off you little parasite!" Nikki choked out.

"Nuh-uh! Lemme bond with you!"

"No, you dork!"

Nikki stumbled around the room, awkwardly knocking herself and April into the wall and table. April refused to budge, practically glued to Nikki and determined to make a new friend.

"Ugh! April, I couldn't even begin to explain to you what I've been studying in here! Heck, even I barely understand it and everyone knows I'm the smartest teenager there is," Nikki explained, rather boastful.

"So then let me help you!" April insisted.

"I don't need help! And I definitely don't needto tell you anything. This is... my thing. Now off! Get out!" Nikki attempted once more to pry the tiny girl off of her.

"Ugghh! I want to be your friend, Nikki! Why won't you open up to me? Why do you hate me?!"

Nikki slowly processed April's question and fell silent. April felt Nikki's tense shoulders relax as she sighed heavily. The lanky girl released her grip off April, placing a gentle, shaky hand on her back. April followed suit, allowing Nikki to slide her off her shoulder and gently set her down on the floor.

"I don't hate you, Freckles," Nikki replied, rather quietly. She pursed her lips and awkwardly avoided eye contact. "Like I said, it's just best for the both of us if we weren't friends. I make myself unlikable for a reason."

"But, why? Look, I know what it's like to be different. In more ways than I can say... But, what I mean is, I understand you!"

Nikki placed her hands on April's shoulders. "No." She stopped her, a firm tone in her voice. "You really don't, April."

Nikki sighed, a somber and regrettable look in her eyes that she desperately tried to hide. "I... really shouldn't've agreed to let you in here. You gotta go. I mean it this time."

"Nikki, I-"

"Just go. I have a lotta work to catch up on."

"Alright... I'll go. I'm sorry, Nikki."

Nikki watched in silence as April climbed out the window and finally left.

"Yeah... Me too," She mumbled to herself before turning around and walking back to her work.

Along the rooftops of New York, in the blackness of the cold night, four humanoid turtles sprang from building to building, their two human teenage acquaintances followed closely after.

"I don't get it, Donnie, what could the Kraang possibly benefit from, from keeping files of all the humans they've captured?" Leo asked his brother as he swiftly hopped from one rooftop to the next.

"The Kraang are remarkably organized. I have a theory they assign each human they've kidnapped into separate groups after they finish experimenting on them," Donnie replied.

"Based on what?"

"Well, lots of things! Strength, intelligence, endurance... From what I've studied, the Kraang have many different rankings of status and power, a bit like humans in our world do. However, they may function more like a bee or an ant colony. I can only assume they're newly abducted humans function the same way after they've been brainwashed and mutated into slaves."

"Yeesh. Harsh, bro," Mikey shivered.

"But, why would we need to risk our hides again, sneaking into the TCRI building for this data?" Raph asked.

Everyone halted and regrouped on top of a high building to catch their breath.

"If we had those files, there's a chance we could rescue any humans currently abducted by the Kraang, here on Earth. Not only that, but if we were able to completely erase that data, we could prevent anymore human kidnappings the Kraang may have planned in the future," Donnie explained.

"We could keep them from experimenting on people and turning them into mutants!" April exclaimed. "We would save thousands of lives! Keep people from losing their family members..."

Donnie pulled out his T-phone, projecting a small screen that displayed confidential files he'd stolen from the Kraang throughout the year.

"It took me quite a few months of hacking and snooping around, but I managed to download the layout to the upper floors of the building. Now, we finally have an in depth map of the top five floors!" He zoomed in on a specific location on the map. "They have hundreds, if not thousands of computer rooms, but this room contains all the information we'll need."

"Right. Nerd stuff," Casey commented, leaning on top of April's head.

April shoved him off and readjusted her head band. "Do you think they still have information about my dad and I in there? Even after we escaped them?"

"With the Kraang's cutthroat organizational skills, I wouldn't put it past them. Especially after we discovered that you're part Kraang, too." Donnie replied.

"I don't know Donnie, sneaking into TCRI for this doesn't seem like it'd be worth the risk," Leo said.

"Trust me, Leo, I've put a lot of thought and study into this! We have their blueprints. Our chances of success are high!"

Leo crossed his arms over his chest, still unconvinced.

"C'mon, Leo, we haven't had any good action for months now!" Mikey urged, elbowing his big brother.

"Eh, that's true. The Foot have been pretty quiet lately. Most of our nights consist of bullying petty thieves," Raphael added.

Casey butted in, leaning his forearms on top of Raph's head. "Yeah, I'm bored!"

Leo rolled his eyes and sighed. "Okay, okay..." he huffed out, stuttering over hesitance. "Fine, we'll do it. Just... don't tell Master Splinter."

"Yes!" Everyone cheered in unison.

After a few more hours of patrolling, April and Casey went home-being a school night and all-while the turtles made their way back to the lair.

"Y'know, while we're in there, I could try getting a basic understanding of the Kraang's anatomy..." Donnie murmured to himself. "I wonder if they have a queen that lays eggs too."

"Eugh. Gross!" Mikey gagged.

Leo grimaced at the thought as well. "Let's just focus on getting the data you need while we're in there, Donnie. I don't wanna risk any of us getting captured."

"Oh, please those Kraang droids are getting soft! I've seen old ladies fight off purse snatchers better than could fight off us," Raph huffed with pride.

"No way, dude, they have the advantage of being cold and slimy. I hate when they cling to my face like those tiny aliens from that one movie!" Mikey insisted.

Donnie rolled his eyes and shook and his head. "Ugh, that movie had you too scared to sleep in your own bed for weeks..."

"Heh, yeah... Can we watch it again when we get home?"

"No!"

"As the leader, I'd just rather be more safe than sorry, Raph," Leo told his hot-headed brother.

Raphael scoffed. "Yeah, you would. But if I were leader, I'd be more fearless than that!"

"Oh, is that right?"

"Ahhh!"

An unknown voice emerged from the shadows, catching Raph off guard, making him scream in a high pitched tone.

As they listened to the strangers menacing giggling, the boys immediately unsheathed their weapons and grouped together, facing back to back.

"Yeah, real fearless, Raph," Donnie mocked.

"Shh! Who's there? Show yourself!" Leo demanded the stranger.

A tall, knobby-limbed girl with bright pink hair and a led gas mask stepped into the street light, revealing herself. "Hi there!" She greeted, energetic and peppy.

"Who are you?" Leo asked, carefully.

The strange girl snapped her fingers. "Ahh, sorry! Giving you my name would kinda' ruin the whole "masked villain" gimmick I got goin' on."

"I'm pretty good at giving nicknames if you want one!" Mikey offered enthusiastically.

"Mikey!" Raph hissed at his younger brother.

"I mean most folks around here already call me The Stalker. You could go with that!"

Leo grumbled impatiently. "Whatever, it doesn't matter! Why are you here?"

"Oh, hah! Sorry, where are my manners? I'm an assassin!" The Stalker, replied.

"What?!"

"Y'know, the guy in the movies who gets paid to kill people? Although, in your case, I'm actually here to kidnap you. Speaking of, you guys mind getting in this big Santa Claus bag?" The strange girl asked, holding up an over-sized sack.

Donnie shook his head in shock and confusion. "What? No! Who sent you?" He demanded, carefully sticking the sharp end of his bostaff in the girls face.

The Stalker placed a finger at the pointed tip of his blade and casually tilted the staff down. "Heheh! Easy there little guy. Don't start something you can't finish..."

"Who sent you!?" Leo repeated, a low growl in the back of his throat.

"Afraid I can't give that information. Anyway, into the sack you go!" The Stalker whistled at the turtles like a group of dogs.

"Wow, rude," Donnie scoffed.

"Okay, screw this!" Raph blurted out and lunged at the girl.

She simply shifted to the side, causing Raphael to plunge into a pile of trash bags. She let out a sinister snicker at his slip up as the led eyes on her goggles replaced themselves with X's.

"Well, I wouldn't mind the harder option, if that's what you want. I'll be honest I've been needing the exercise, anyway!" The girl jested.

She unsheathed a morning star from the holster on her back and flipped it in her hand. She then pressed a button on the handle, automatically elongating its stick.

The other three boys followed suit after Raph attacked. The assassin, however, was too quick for them. With each strike they missed, she teased them with unnecessary commentary. Her sinister mockery dug under their cold skin like needles, their patience growing thinner and thinner by the second. Especially Raph's.

"Ugh! Hold still so I can beat your face in!" Raphael bellowed as The Stalker skillfully shifted and avoided his attempted stabbing.

"Aww... Did I hurt your feelings little man?" The girl taunted, smirking behind her mask. "I didn't peg you for someone with such a small temper. I try not to hold to that whole short person stereotype!"

She flipped over Raph and kicked him in the shell, sending him toppling over on his front side. Raph's face burned with rage as he sat up screaming. "Rahhhhh!"

"Is all this mockery really necessary?" Leo scolded, attempting and failing to fight the girl as well. "You're acting really immature!"

"Eh, maturity's not my style. I can certainly tell it's yours though, judging by that fifty-foot pole up your butt!"

The Stalker grabbed Leo by the tails of his face mask and yanked him to the ground while kicking his sword out of his hand. She bent over, looking down at him on the ground. "Letting loose a little would do you good!"

She jumped up and dodged Mikey who attempted to attack her from behind, sending him flying into a brick wall.

"Agh! She's too fast!" He groaned. "How is she, like, everywhere?"

"Simple, little buddy!" The Stalker replied, leap frogging over him, sending him to the concrete. "You're just slow! I mean your turtles aren't you? It's in your nature."

Donnie attacked the girl from the side, swinging his bostaff down. Without a blink, The Stalker caught it in her hand and snapped her head to side. Donnie's eyes widened slightly in surprise, taken aback by her intimidating stature. She spun in the air and rabbit kicked Donnie away, sending him flying into an empty dumpster as she snapped his bostaff over her knee.

"Listen boys, as much fun as this has been, I don't wanna really be spending all night on this job, y'know what I'm saying?"

"We're not going anywhere with you!" Leo spat at her, finally managing to strike her in the face with his fist.

The Stalker only reacted with a heavy sigh, cracking her neck. "Alrighty then, if that's how you wanna play..."

She swung her morning star at Leo, who used both his swords to block it off. All four boys went back to fighting off The Stalker, who easily blocked and avoided each punch they threw at her. By the end of the battle the boys were badly bruised, exhausted and incredibly frustrated. Donnie had no choice, but to use the only smoke bomb he had left as a last resort. The boys swiftly snuck away down the man-hole in the alleyway they were fighting in, leaving the pink-haired girl alone and surprised.

"Huh," She murmured to herself, looking around the empty alley. "That's a first."

"You lost them?!" Karai exclaimed.

"I know right? Definitely not like me!" The assassin girl bragged. "Y'know, I don't think you gave them enough credit, princess. Those boys really put up a fight!"

Karai sighed in frustration. "Fine, if you can't do it then-"

"Hey, hey, hey, who said I can't do it? I've never backed down on a job so far and I'm certainly not planning on doing so anytime soon!" The Stalker interrupted. "Besides, this job is... interesting. My first time interacting with mutants!"

Karai tightened her lips and rolled her eyes. "Fine. You have two weeks, starting today. If you can't bring me those turtles then the deal is off."

"I gotcha' princess!"

"And stop calling me that!"

"She was so fast, Master Splinter!" Leo insisted. "I could barely see her! It was like she'd disappear and reappear at random."

He pulled his hand away from Splinter after he finished wrapping it. "She was like an illusionist! She did everything she could to distract and confuse us!"

Splinter hummed in thought, tending to his sons' wounds. "Hmm. A trickster."

"Yeah, not to mention obnoxious!" Donnie added. "She was so cocky and smug, just because we couldn't beat her!"

Raph pushed away from Master Splinter in frustration, letting out an intense growl. "Oh, we'll beat her, alright! Beat her into the ground! Beat her so hard, she won't be able to recognize her own face!"

"Yame!" Splinter scolded Raph. "We've discussed this, Raphael. That temper and violent tendency of yours is not the ninja way."

"You don't understand, Sensei, she was so mean!" Mikey prostested.

Donnie nodded in agreement. "It was like she knew exactly what to say to get under our skin!"

Mikey let out a pathetic dog whine. "Yeah, it really hurt my feelings!"

"That is exactly why she beat you," Splinter replied, closing his first aid kit.

The boys raised an eyebrow at him.

"I've discussed with you all before, the importance of keeping calm and collected in the midst of battle. Frustration and anger do not mix well with combat. Otherwise acting on impulse may be your biggest mistake and you might do something you would not be proud of."

He stood up, tucking the first aid kit under his arm as stared longingly at his old family photo across the dojo.

"Remember my meditation techniques I've taught you. This girl is using underhanded tactics as a means to distract you. Remind yourselves in the moment that these harmful words do not mean anything. You boys know your worth. You are not what a bully refers to you as."

"So then, what do we do?" Leo asked.

"Hm. From what I've learned in my years, the only way to defeat a trickster is to fight fire with fire. Use her own tactics against her."

The boys sighed in thought. "Hai, Sensei," They all replied in unison.

Splinter retreated back to his room to leave the boys to think.

"Master Splinter's right. This strange girl is just a bully. She's more skilled than us, sure, but with proper planning, I think we can beat her," Leo told his team.

"Yeah, beat her into a pulp," Raph mumbled behind clenched teeth.

"With everything that Master Splinter told us, still in mind," Leo emphasized, more-so directly at Raph.

Throughout the rest of the week, the turtles and The Stalker found each other again, attempting and failing to defeat her each time. Her blatant bullying and insults grew nastier and more malicious every night. The boys coped with her verbal abuse as best as they could. Raphael, however, showed small signs of struggling.

But, with the help of Casey and April, and of course plenty of advice from Splinter, their plans and skills strengthened and they grew closer and closer to victory.

"C'mon, why can't we come with you guys this time? We can help!" April insisted.

"I'm sorry, April, it's just too dangerous. This girl is... unhinged," Donnie replied with a shiver.

"So what? We could take her!" Casey shot back.

Donnie scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"We totally could!" Casey protested. "Just let us come with this time! April and I could be a good distraction."

April chimed in enthusiastically. "Yeah! There's no way she could take on all of six of us at the same time!"

"Well..." Leo drew out in thought. "With our new plan, a few extra hands might be just what we need..."

"Yeah?" Casey chirped hopefully.

Leo sighed. "Alright, but I need you guys to do exactly as I say, got it?"

April and Casey cheered.

That night all six teenagers practiced their plan excessively before leaving the sewers to initiate. They found themselves in the same alleyway they first met The Stalker in, keeping quiet and heavily alert.

"Oh, look at this..." The familiar taunting voice echoed from within the shadows.

"Yeah that's right! You got no chance going toe to toe with the one and only Casey Jones!" Casey boasted, wielding his hockey stick.

"Casey, shut it!" Raph hissed.

"So sad... Needed to invite new friends to the party 'cause you couldn't handle me on your own?" The Stalker teased.

"Ignore her..." Leo whispered at everyone as a reminder.

"Heh, no problem for me anyway. I've had my fun and I'm getting a bit bored beating you losers up everyday. I've got a job to finish."

The Stalker jumped down from the rooftop in front of the group, her morning star swung over her shoulder.

"Hello again little turtles..." She greeted menacingly. "You boys picked a good night to bring your little friends along. I've been going too easy on you."

"Yeah well, uh... So have we!" Mikey shot back.

The Stalker snickered at his attempt at back talk, bringing her morning star down. "Yeah. Cute."

In a flash, she lunged straight to Leo, swinging at him. He blocked her off with his swords as the rest of the group fled away in the shadows. Leo and The Stalker dueled as she continued on with her usual banter.

"So, have you guys finally decided to give up? Or are you dorks so dense you can't take a hint to stop trying?"

She was suddenly interrupted by a kick in the face, courtesy of Donnie, after he jumped out of the shadows. Following suit came Mikey, who clocked her in the back of the head with his nunchucks.

Instead of shouting in pain, as predicted, The Stalker giggled. She grabbed Leo by the wrist as he swung his sword down and pulled him closer to her masked face.

"So, is that how you wanna play? Trying to beat me at my own game? Well you boys know I love games... Heheheh..."

Leo pulled away and swiftly shifted into the darkness.

"Aww! Cowering away where I can't see you? Wouldn't expect less from you guys! Ahahaha!"

The turtles, April and Casey refrained from replying or reacting as The Stalker had hoped. They only continued their plan of attacking her one by one. Meanwhile, April and Casey distracted her by pelting her with random garbage and deflecting her attention with noises hidden in the shadows. It seemed to be working, but with each punch she absorbed, the louder her maniacal cackling grew.

"Guys... She's messing with us... I think she's letting us hit her," April whispered.

"What? Why? That's insane!" Donnie exclaimed.

"Seems pretty on-brand of her, D..." Mikey replied.

The Stalker caught her breath from her fit of giggles and gasped. "Woo! You guys are fun! I've been needing motivation like this!" She cackled.

"Okay, she's starting to freak me out..." Casey murmured, pulling at his collar.

"Alright, that's it!" Raph growled and ran at her like an angry bull. "I'm done being patient with this clown!"

"Raph no!" Leo shouted.

Raph belted out a battle cry and unleashed the full week of pent up anger he had at The Stalker. She responded with more taunting giggles as she fought back. The two swung and fought with each other a good long minute as the rest of the crew went back to their original plan of attacking her one at a time.

"You think you little dorks can tire me out!?" She asked them, her voice growing more menacing, loud and unhinged. "I'm ten times more a warrior than you mutant freaks could ever dream to be! I can do this for days!"

"Rrrrrr, shut up, shut up, shut up!" Raph screamed in rage and punched her in the face with all his might.

Her mask flew off, spinning in the air and skidding against the concrete. The Stalker fell to the ground, holding her face in her hands. Quickly, she recovered from the blow and stood up spinning around to face Raph. Staring at the turtle was a thinned face girl adorned in freckles and framed with a long nose. Her eyes-accompanied by dark, heavy circles-were blood-shot, bright green and tiny-pupiled, piercing into his soul. Plastered across her long, thin cheeks was a wide, crazed, toothy smile, that a stream of blood escaped from, dripping down her jaw and neck. Raph, however was more surprised at her age. She was just a teenager like the rest of them.

"Oh-ho-ho, now it's a party!" She exclaimed, her voice horse and gritty.

"Wha-That's!-"

"Get her!" Leo commanded, interrupting April's exclamation.

"Guys!" Casey called out, trying to get the boys attention.

They were too focused on the strange girl, determined to take her down. She laughed like a hyena as they grew closer and closer to their goal. She was clearly, finally, losing the battle, but seemed far too happy about it.

"Guys! Stop!" April pleaded, upon discovering the familiar girl.

"April, what are you talking about?" Donnie asked from over his shoulder. He grabbed the girl by the arms from the back, keeping her restrained.

"We know her! Stop!" Casey shouted.

"Oh, hey Freckles! Surprised I bet, huh?" The girl greeted her classmates before getting struck in the face again.

April ran up to the boys holding her hands out. "That's enough! She's my friend!"

"Friend? She's a dangerous assassin, April and she's been trying to kidnap us all week!" Raphael snapped back.

"Which is why we should talk to her instead of this needless violence!" April said back.

"Oh, shell no! I earned this!" Raph growled. He turned back to the girl and punched her straight in the gut.

She wheezed out from the blow and coughed. "S-S...So April, how's your weekend been-cough!"

"April, how do you and Casey know this girl?" Leo asked.

"Dude, everyone at our school knows her! That's Nutcase Nikki!" Casey replied enthusiastically.

"Oh, she's that crazy girl you told us about?" Mikey asked. "The one who moved into town a few years ago?"

"What are you on about, Mikey?" Donnie asked from behind Nikki, still holding her back while Raph laid into her.

"Well, if you guys ever cared to listen to April once in a while, you'd remember the crazy girl that goes to her school that she keeps trying and failing to befriend!" Mikey shot back.

"Aw, what a polite little guy!" Nikki commented. "Your friends here could learn a thing or two from ya'!"

"Shut up!" Raph demanded, landing another blow to her jaw.

"Alright, Raph, take it easy," Leo, told him.

"Why should I, huh? We've been taking this psycho's abuse all week!"

"Remember what Master Splinter told us about control! You don't want to end up doing something you might regret!"

Raph froze, mid punch, staring at Nikki's bruised and bloodied face. She stared back at him blankly, her breathing ragged and labored. Raphael closed his eyes and breathed in and out slowly, finally bringing his raised fist down.

"Fine. I'll spare you. This time," He grumbled lowly.

Nikki smirked. "Lucky me."

Catching Raph by suprise, Nikki's piercing, blood-shot eyes rolled to the back of her head and she went limp. She was out cold.

"Oh, uh. O-Oops," Raph mumbled,

"Oh my gosh, Raph!" April scolded the hot-headed turtle, pushing him away to look at Nikki.

Leo sighed, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "April, listen, I'm really sorry about your friend, but... she needs to be interrogated. I know she seems nice back in school, but this is who she really is, whether you like it or not."

"Just... be careful with her."

In an abandoned warehouse, the crew regrouped and tied Nikki securely to a chair, waiting for her to wake back up. April paced back and forth, her brain racked with questions. Casey, meanwhile, explained who Nikki was to the boys.

"Basically, from what I've heard, she transferred to our school district about two years ago and she's been causing trouble ever since. She's got a really smart mouth and rebellious attitude that all the teachers at school really can't stand her for. And everyone else just thinks she's really weird and... kind of creepy. So, no one really talks to her."

"And why again, April, have you been wanting to befriend her so badly?" Donnie asked, baffled.

"Because I keep having that... feeling, again!" April snapped back.

"The feeling you get when you gotta throw up?" Mikey asked.

"No! This... sense I keep having that gives me this weird feeling about certain things. It kept telling me something about Nikki that I just... had to know."

April held her arms, looking back at her classmate, slumped over in the chair. "I would never have guessed it'd be... this."

Donnie placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, offering his condolences. "I'm sorry, you had to find out this way, April. I guess we get now why she kept pushing you away, huh?"

April sighed solemnly. "Yeah..."

"And on top of this, we haven't made any progress in finding that data we still need from the Kraang," Leo added.

"If you ask me, this whole week has been a waste of time," Raph grumbled. "We could've been kicking alien-robot, butt! Not putting up with this freak of nature."

"Maybe take it easy on the name calling there, Raph? April's pretty upset," Donnie nagged his brother.

"I'm just sayin'!" Raph protested. "We could've gotten all those files of all the abducted humans you were going on about and maybe, just maybe, could have even saved them! April's obnoxious little friend here has been keeping us from possibly preventing any human from ever getting mutated again!"

"Dude!" Mikey snapped, with a disapproving glare.

He gestured towards April, who was still clearly upset.

"Read the room, yo," Casey said.

"Groan..." Nikki stirred in the chair, finally coming-to.

April gasped and turned around, slightly leaning forward in anticipation.

"Ugh..." Nikki lifted her head up and blinked her eyes open. The unique group all stared back at her in a mix of hesitance and concern.

"Well... here we are..." Nikki murmured groggily, plastering that obnoxious smirk across her face.

Donnie rolled his eyes. "Wow, you never take anything seriously do you?"

Leo stepped forward and yanked at the collar of Nikki's hoodie. "Talk."

"'Bout what, exactly?" She shot back.

"Oh, I am tired of your smart mouth! Who do you work for?" He demanded.

Nikki smirked at the blue-masked turtle sinisterly. "Your little girlfriend. Karai."

Leo's eyes widened in shock as he let go of Nikki's collar and stepped back. "K-Karai?"

"Heh, yeah. She wanted me to bring you guys to her and use you as bait to snuff out the rat."

"Master Splinter?" Donnie asked in shock.

Nikki squinted at him in confusion. "Is that what you call it?"

"Hey!"

"Is Shredder apart of this too?" Raph asked, stepping forward.

"Nah. Originally, daddy said no to the idea, so princess hired me behind his back," Nikki explained, casually crossing her legs.

"What?"

"Like many of the mobs and gangs around town-that I'm sure you hero dorks have already met-Shredder takes part in illicit practices, if you know what I mean," Nikki explained.

"Underground business?" Donnie asked.

"Black market, gray market, shadow economy, whatever you call it. He owns multiple, so he gets pretty busy beyond being an edgy supervillain. He's been pretty pre-occupied getting his new mansion built out in the woods upstate, so Karai took advantage of his absence. As she loves to do."

"How do you know all of this?" Casey asked.

"I know everything."

"Pfft, nuh-uh."

April stepped forward. "Nikki, I have to know... How... What happened to you?"

"What're you talkin' about, Freckles?"

"Why... Why are you an assassin? The skills you have... At your age, that's just something I can't wrap my head around."

Nikki awkwardly shifted her gaze, hesitant on her choice of words. "Well... Sorry April, but that's for me to know and me to know only."

"What? No! We have you tied, you have to tell us!" Donnie, insisted.

"Nah."

Nikki casually stood up from the chair, the ropes around her falling loose. The crew jumped, completely taken aback. She stretched out her lanky body and placed her hands on her hips.

"I escaped those ropes minutes ago while you guys still thought I was unconscious. Thanks for all that information I've been needing on the Kraang by the way! That's kinda' the only reason I took up this job in the first place, heh heh!"

"...HOW?!" Raph, screamed in defeat and frustration.

"Don't you worry your slimy little heads. Now that I got what I needed out of this, I'm calling off the deal between Karai and I. April, Casey, it's been a pleasure! I'm sure you and I have a mutual agreement now that if you spill the beans about my secret identity, I'm telling everyone about your mutant buds here. I'll see you two losers bright and early at school tomorrow!" Nikki said, turning around and walking away.

"Wha-No! We're not finished with you!" Raph demanded, lunging at her.

Leo held him back. "Just leave it, man!"

Nikki pulled a grappling hook out from one of the many pockets in her cargo overalls and hoisted herself up towards a hole in the ceiling of the run-down building. "I'll see you dorks, never!"

She flipped and jumped away in a flash, disappearing into the black sky. The turtle crew all stood at the warehouse floor, staring up at the hole in the ceiling the mysterious assassin just escaped from, slack-jawed and at a loss for words. Raph, however, was preoccupied throwing a temper tantrum on the side lines.

------

Chapter Two: New Discoverings

Mikey sat in the middle of the conversation pit in the lair, eyes glued to the tv. On the the screen appeared a hulk of a man, fighting in a boxing arena. His moves and fighting techniques were remarkable. Sitting nearby was Leo, emersed in an action comic and Raph, idly watching the television as well.

"Man... Chrissy Rock was so cool..." Mikey mumbled in awe.

Donnie emerged from his lab, yawning and stretching out his sore muscles. "Watcha' guys watching?"

"Old boxing matches of Christoph Hoffman!" Mikey replied excitedly.

"Ooh, I could go for some Chrissy Rock action!" Donnie replied, sitting down next to him.

"I don't get the hype for this guy..." Raph grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Uh, hello? Christoph Hoffman? The greatest, strongest and most inspirational warrior to ever bless this Earth?" Mikey shot back, matter-of-factly.

"I'm just saying, it's suspicious how a rich guy could have the whole world smitten without any conspiracies about him!"

"Well he's a cult classic, Raph!" Donnie insisted. "Christoph Hoffman will go down in history as a strong, brave, charitable and selfless man."

"Yeah, the guys a war hero. Even Master Splinter idolizes him. He's encouraged us to study his fighting techniques for a reason," Leo added, eyes still glued to his comic.

Donnie turned around to face his brothers. "And, along side his wife Ava Hoffman, those two became one of the most successful and ideal couples in all of New York. Ava's the smartest biochemist in the country! Her work is remarkable and has always been an incredible inspiration to me!"

"Y'know... before they went missing and all..."

"Yeah..." Mikey mumbled solemnly. "I really miss them. I hope nothing bad had happened!"

"Well, we know old Chrissy has the skills to defend himself so... I'm sure they're doing just fine! Maybe just... taking a break or something," Donnie reassured his little brother, hesitance stuck in the back of his throat.

"Aside from that. Donnie?" Leo piped up. "Have finished mapping a proper route of the Kraang's TCRI building?"

"Oh! Nearly finished!" Donnie replied confidently. "I have it all planned out!"

"We'll be able to steal the Kraang's data of all the abducted humans they have on file, get out of there without them even realizing, and get back home faster than you can say Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis!"

"Nuh-uh! That's not even a word!" Mikey protested.

"Is too! Look it up if you want," Donnie shot back, matter-of-factly.

He pulled a purple usb from out of his shell and held it up. "Using the Kraang's technology, I created a specialized usb that'll be able to handle taking in all the data from their computer. A regular old usb wouldn't be able to handle their advanced technology without exploding."

"Good work, D."

"My sons," Master Splinter announced, emerging from the dojo.

"S-Sensei!" Leo choked, hoping his father didn't hear their secret plan.

"I thought you boys were going out tonight."

"Oh, yeah, we are!" Raph, replied, plastering a fake smile on his face.

"W-We're just waiting on April and Casey to get here, heh!"

Splinter hummed in thought. "I see. Do not stay out too late. Since this... assassin was assigned to you, I fear for what else the Foot Clan may be planning."

"Psh, we took care of her easily!" Raph boasted, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "Trust us, Master Splinter, we can handle ourselves just fine."

"I mean it Raphael," Splinter replied firmly. "Be careful and cautious. And look out for each other. Ooh is that Chrissy Rock?"

He sat down next to Raphael to tune in.

The next night, the turtles, April and Casey emerged from the sewers, taking their plan to sneak into the Kraang's TCRI building into action. Donnie's map was fully drawn out and everyone was given strict instructions.

On top of the roof, Leo turned around towards everyone to give his pep-talk. "Remember guys, let's make this straight forward. In and out, like Donnie planned. We need to make this quick since Splinter set that curfew on us. Full stealth mode."

Acting fast, the group slid in through the ceiling opening, keeping themselves fully alert and pressed against the wall. They quickly made their way through the maze of hallways, skillfully avoiding any nearby Kraang-droids and quietly taking out the ones who spotted them.

All was going well and the plan continued smoothly until Leo turned a sharp corner and rammed right into someone he least expected.

"Nikki!" Everyone whisper-screamed in unison.

The group of teens excessively shushed each other in a hushed panic, immediately trekking back to a more safe and hidden corner.

"What the shell do you think you're doing here?!" Raphael whisper-yelled at the pink-haired maniac.

"I should be asking you dorks the same!" Nikki shot back in an equally hushed and frustrated tone. "Get out of here before you armatures get me caught!"

"No way! We were here first!" Leo insisted.

Nikki rolled her eyes. "Doubtful."

"We are so close to getting the data we've been needing, don't you dare take that from us more than you've already been!" Donnie growled at her.

"What are you idiots even talking about?"

"We planned this heist weeks ago!" Donnie spat. "We could've gotten it done and over with already if you hadn't been trying abduct us to the Foot Clan!"

Nikki giggled. "Heh, heh, oh yeah. That was fun."

"Guys we're way too exposed out here!" April scolded them. "We can't sit here and bicker all night. Nikki?"

"What, Freckles?"

"Back at the warehouse-when you pretended you were still unconscious-we accidentally gave you a bunch of information about the Kraang. That's what you're here for too, isn't it?"

Nikki eyed her suspiciously. "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. What's it to you?"

"For now, let's just work together and help each other. With Nikki's skills, we could get what we need and get out of here quicker!"

"What?! No way! I don't wanna work with this shady, nutjob!" Raph protested.

Nikki scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself sweetie. I don't need you hero dorks slowing me down either."

The group was soon interrupted by the sounds of nearby droids, murmuring to each other about the strange noises they were hearing.

Donnie quickly pulled his map out. "Look, we know our way around this place. If you keep your mouth shut and get us where we need to go, you can take this map with you for whatever shifty plans you have."

Nikki hesitated for a moment, torn between her enemies and the droids slowly making their way closer. With a defeated sigh, she finally gave her answer.

"Fine! Deal."

The droids turned the corner and Nikki promptly ripped their heads off without even turning around, catching the other group of teens by surprise. Everyone continued on as planned and, within minutes, finally found their way to the specific computer room marked on Donnie's map. They closed and locked the doors behind them as Nikki swiftly took out the droid occupying the room.

Leo sighed in relief and turned towards Donnie. "Alright, D. You're up."

Donnie nodded and quickly got to work, typing and searching through the Kraang's computer while everyone else stood guard.

Nikki stood behind Donnie, her hands on her hips as she watched the screen. "By the way, I still need my mask back from you dorks," She commented.

Donnie's eyes widened slightly and nervously he cleared his throat. "R-Right... Uh..."

"Oh, Donnie took that apart in his lab," Mikey informed, casually.

Nikki stared daggers at the back of Donnie's head with a crazed smile, her left eye twitching. "Did he now?"

"U-Uh, found it!" Donnie announced, pulling out his usb stick and promptly plugging it into the computer.

In an awkward silence, everyone watched and waited as the usb took the information from the Kraang's computer.

Nikki let out an exasperated sigh. "This is taking too long."

Donnie glared at her. "Well of course it is! It's decades of information."

"Yeah, that's what Ethernet cables are for," Nikki responded pulling her own specialized tech out from her pockets.

She plugged a cable and small device into the computer, next to Donnie's usb.

"H-Hey, wait. Don't-!"

Nikki casually shoved his face away as her hands nimbly danced across the keyboard.

In an instant the rest of the data files quickly inserted itself into the usb, a satisfying small jingle played afterwards on the computer. Donnie stared at the screen slack-jawed.

"Oooh, neat," Mikey observed.

"Heh, that's the first time I've seen someone upstage you with their brain, gap-tooth," Casey snickered.

Donnie growled and clenched his fists. "Shut it, puck-mouth! How'd you even-?"

"It's just basic computer science, nerd," Nikki interrupted him.

"But, y... You're-"

Nikki began typing away at the computer once the usb was finished downloading, not even looking at Donnie. "I wasn't lying when I said I know everything."

"Nikki is, uh, kind of a prodigy like you are, D," April explained to the dumbfounded brainiac.

"Uh-huh, yeah. Now! That being said, get out. You got what you needed, now it's my turn," Nikki instructed the group, flatly, eyes still glued to the screen.

"Wha- No!" Leo protested. "You saw our plans, why don't we get to see yours?"

"Because it's personal. Out."

"No, it's shady is what it is!" Raph shot back. "What could an evil-genius-assassin want with personal information from alien robots?!"

"None of your business, that's what!" Nikki hissed at him. "Now beat it, losers."

April stepped forward towards Nikki. "Nikki, c'mon. You're shutting me out again. Whatever issues you have with the Kraang, we can help!"

"No you can't, Freckles. I'll shut out anyone and everyone as much as I want 'till the day I die. I don't want your help and I certainly don't need it either! Now leave me alone!"

April winced at her harsh words and fiddled nervously with her nails.

"Hey, you can't talk to her like that!" Donnie scolded her, planting a hand on April's shoulder.

"Hah! I can talk to anyone, anyway I want!"

"Wanna bet on that?" Raph threatened, cracking his knuckles and gritting his teeth.

Nikki turned back to him, her familiar crazed look glazing her eyes. "Oh, are you suggesting a rematch short-stack?"

"Guys, keep your voices down!" Leo nagged.

The computer interrupted the group's banter with a cheery beep. Everyone turned their heads towards the screen. To the turtles surprise, the face cards of their idols Christoph and Ava Hoffman appeared. Nikki quickly went back to typing on the computer, her face twisted in determination and hesitance.

"Huh? Ava Hoffman? Chrissy Rock! This is where they've been? Abducted by the Kraang!?" Leo exclaimed in bafflement.

"What kind of business do you have with the most successful and idolized couple in New York?" Donnie asked, suspiciously.

"Ugh! You guys don't need to see this! Just leave!" She urged, a hint of desperation in her tone.

"Hoffman? Nikki... that's your last name... right?" April asked.

The computer buzzed a deeper, grating beeping noise, interrupting the groups banter. Nikki spun back around at the noise. In bold red letters, new information projected underneath the couple's face cards displayed on the screen.

"DECEASED."

The room was dead silent. Quiet enough to hear a pin drop. Nikki was frozen, staring completely blank faced at the screen. Her usually exaggerated and smug expression was dead-pan and unreadable.

"They're... They're your parents, aren't they?" April asked, her voice small.

Nikki didn't respond. She only continued to stare at the screen, her blood-shot eyes illuminated by the bright red lettering. No one knew what to do or say next. It was an incredibly tense and shocking situation. Mikey, as he often does, broke the silence.

"Your dad is Chris Hoffman?!" He exclaimed.

Donnie placed a hand on his head in disbelief. "I-I thought the rumors about them having a daughter was fake!"

"Guys, this really isn't the time..." Leo murmured through gritted teeth.

April gently placed a comforting hand on Nikki's forearm. "Nikki... I'm so sor-"

"Don't."

"Ah!"

Nikki grabbed April's wrist, rather harshly, earning a pained yelp from the ginger-haired girl.

"Don't you dare, pretend to be my friend right now!" Nikki growled at her.

"N-Nikki, let go! You're hurting me!" April protested.

Nikki's voice grew louder and her anger grew stronger. "You think I want your pity!?"

"Nikki, that's enough! Let her go!" Leo commanded, unsheathing his sword.

"I told you idiots to get out! I told you to leave me alone!" Nikki shouted at the top of her lungs.

"You're an assassin!" Raph responded, taking out his sais. "We have a perfectly valid excuse!"

Unbeknownst to the group of bickering teens, many Kraang droids were alerted by their loud banter. Large groups of droids, wielding their guns all charged at the door, loudly banging on it.

"Oh, perfect!" Raph growled sarcastically.

"All for nothing... All this time!" Nikki's voice cracked as she broke down. She scratched at her tired, tearful eyes and pulled at her hair. Heeling over she held her head in her hands, her body shaking in a heated rage. She huffed angrily and snarled like an animal.

A few of the teens took notice of her concerning behavior. The banging on the door grew louder and harder. "Nikki?" April called out to her friend in a hushed whisper.

The droids finally busted the door open and burst into the computer room. Nikki sprung up, unsheathing her morning star. She belted out a banshie shriek.

"I'LL KILL ALL OF YOU!"

With hulk-like strength and rage, Nikki plowed through the sea of Kraang-droids. Every blow to her body she took from them was ignored, like a freak of nature. Through incredible skill, technique and mainly blind rage, Nikki guided the group of teens through the rows of Kraang, assisting their safe getaway.

"She's nuts..." Casey blurted out in disbelief. "Insane."

Raph smiled enthusiastically at Nikki's anger. "Incredible!" He added on.

Soon, the turtle crew and Nikki escaped out a window of the TCRI building and retreated onto a nearby rooftop, hidden away behind garbage and clutter.

The boys whooped and hollered from the rush of excitement, exchanging high-fives and small celebrations. April watched Nikki's meltdown from the side, in concern. Nikki ranted to herself, holding her face in her shaking hands, tears of frustration and defeat pouring from her eyes. She huffed rather heavily, trying to work herself through her panic attack, groaning from the pain of lasers and beatings she received from the many droids she plowed through.

April tried grabbing her attention again. "Nikki?"

Nikki was far too gone to hear her. She had grown mad from the weeks, months, years of sleep deprivation. The last two years she spent looking for her parents-all the late nights of research, the trauma she encountered while posing as an assassin in secret, the loneliness, the pain she forced herself to endure for so long...

It was all for nothing.

"Nikki? Hey, hey, take it easy..." April tried to coax. By then, the boys stopped celebrating, too painfully aware of the breakdown happening before them.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Nikki snapped. "A-All for nothing! Nothing! Idiot! That idiot! Why? Why did he think he could... Huff, huff... Ghn! A-Ah!"

Nikki babbled incoherent nonsense to herself, attempting and failing to stand up straight. The adrenaline had quickly subsided, leaving her aching and wincing in pain.

"Just-just try to calm down. You're injured!" April tried reasoning with her.

"U-Uh, April?" Donnie piped up quietly. "I think it's best we just... let her tire herself out..."

April remained silent, painfully watching her friend sob and scream until her voice ran horse. Nikki forced herself to stand upright, her breathing heavy and ragged, her wounds raw and exposed.

"Pant... pant... N-Nothing..." She mumbled to herself over and over again. "Nothing... nothing... N-Nnn... Uhn..."

Nikki's body fell limp and she collapsed to the rooftop like a sack of bricks. April shouted out in surprise and immediately ran to her aid. Donnie and his brothers followed idly behind.

She knelt down, frantically observing Nikki's wounds. "Oh no! No, no, no, no, no... Donnie? I-Is... Is she...?"

Donnie promptly checked her pulse and shook his head in relief. "It's alright. She's still with us. Just... exhausted."

"We have to help her!" April insisted, lugging Nikki into her arms.

"Wh-And do what?!" Raph asked, exasperated. "Take her to the lair? We can't just bring an unconscious stranger into our home! Especially if Master Splinter see's her. He doesn't even know we were doing this!"

"Nikki's not a stranger! She's my friend!" April snapped back at him. "We wouldn't have gotten out of there had it not been for her!"

"We wouldn't have been caught had it not been for her!" Raph corrected. "If your friend wasn't such a psychopath, she wouldn't have been shouting and screaming at us and alerting the droids!"

"She wouldn't have been shouting and screaming at us if you heartless jerks would learn to read a room! You need to understand when is and isn't the right time to keep pushing and pushing someone until you send them over the edge!"

"What am I? Her keeper!?"

"Guys! That's enough!" Leo scolded.

April and Raphael fell silent, looking back at Leo.

"April's right! We need to learn when to take responsibility. Nikki saved us and it's only right we take her home and ask Master Splinter to heal her."

"Wh-Leo, are you nuts? We'll be grounded for months!" Donnie exclaimed.

"He's right dude!" Mikey added. "I don't know how long I can go without watching Super Robo Mecha Force Team Five."

"This isn't up for debate! Our duty as ninja is to set things right," He replied firmly, looking Raph square in the eye.

Raph only crossed his arms and rolled his eyes.

Leo snapped his fingers at Donnie. Hesitantly, the brainiac lifted Nikki's unconscious body up and slung her over his shoulders.

"We're going home. We need to hurry and get out of here before we get caught by any straggling Kraang-droids."

The rest of the crew followed after Leo in a heavy silence, anticipating the consequences yet to come.

—

"You boys went behind my back to infiltrate the most dangerous building in the city!?" Master Splinter shouted at his sons.

"W-We're sorry Sensei, but our mission was a success!" Donnie informed him.

"And yet you are holding an unconscious known enemy in your arms!"

"We didn't know she was gonna be there Master Splinter!" Leo replied.

"Master Splinter, please," April pleaded. "I know she was our enemy, but she's a friend of mine from school! And we wouldn't have gotten out of there if it weren't for her in the first place. Nikki saved us!"

Mikey nodded in agreement. "Yeah! We're sorry for going behind your back, Sensei. But, we wanna make things right!"

"She's good, deep down. I know it!" April insisted. "Please, help us heal her."

Master Splinter stared solemnly at the group of distressed teens, hesitating a moment. He finally let out a sigh and gestured towards the dojo.

"Come."

Everyone hurriedly followed after him. Splinter instructed Donnie to lie Nikki down on the floor as he retreated to his room and returned with his first aid kit.

"While I do not approve of you all lying to me..." He started. "I am proud of you for swallowing your pride and doing the right thing. Compassion and empathy are one of the strongest weapons a ninja could possess."

He sat down along with the rest of the group as he inspected her wounds.

"This girl is a child. All of your ages..." He observed, a hint of astonishment in his tone.

"Yeah. She goes to school with April and I," Casey informed him.

"A dangerous assassin at her age..." He murmured. "How did this come to be?"

"We don't know, Sensei. She's always been so secretive. Never tells me anything," April replied. "I've been trying to befriend her ever since she transferred to our school. I can empathize with her, but she always pushes me away."

"She must have a very personal reason then," Splinter said. "I know your intentions are well, April, and you mean only to show her kindness, but you must also understand boundaries. If you truly wish to befriend this girl, you must allow her to trust you on her own time."

April looked down at Nikki, regretfully, as Splinter continued to tend to her wounds. "Yeah. I suppose you're right."

The turtle crew spent the next few minutes explaining to Splinter everything that happened and what Nikki did for them at TCRI.

"I wanna make amends with her, Sensei. As much as I hate to admit it, she has awesome skills and she's wicked smart like Donnie. She'd be a great ally," Leo told his Master.

"Mm. I can understand why, Leonardo. You may offer her your friendship. But do not push it, if she does not accept."

"Yes, Master Splinter."

Splinter packed up his first aid kit once he finished dressing Nikki's wounds. "I understand that this friend of yours is unpredictable. Proceed with caution when she awakens. But I do suggest thanking her properly for saving all of you."

"Hai, Sensei," Everyone replies in unison.

"Groan..."

"Gasp! She's waking up!" Mikey exclaimed.

"Ugh... Ngh..."

Nikki stirred and winced as she slowly gained consciousness.

"Easy, Nikki! You got really banged up," April told her, helping her sit up.

"Urg... April? Agh, my head..." Nikki grumbled. "Whas'... What's goin' on?"

She lifted her head up and gasped at the sight of Splinter. "Oh, jeez giant rat!"

"It's ok! He's friendly! He won't hurt you," April assured her.

"Yeah, trust me," Casey added. "I know he's the scariest thing you've ever seen, but he's chill."

Splinter eyed Casey down angrily at his little comment, causing Casey to smile back at him sheepishly.

Nikki huffed out and grimaced, clutching the pain in her chest. "Mrrg... 'Spose he's not the biggest rat I've seen since living in New York..." Nikki mumbled as she shifted further into a sitting position, rubbing her eyes. April kindly assisted her.

"How do you feel?" Leo asked her.

"Oh, y'know, like I was hit with a million bricks. Nothing new to me though," She replied smugly, only to immediately heel over and cringe in pain.

"What... happened? Where am I? I can't remember anything after we..." Nikki trailed off, her eyes slowly widening in realization.

"Oh... "

"Um... Nikki..." April murmured quietly.

Nikki stayed silent, staring at the ground. She appeared hesitant and deep in thought.

"We, uh, we wanted to thank you for what you did for us back there," Leo told her, breaking the awkward silence.

"Yeah, I hate to say it, but you're talented. The way you tore through all those Kraang bots... that was amazing," Raphael added.

Mikey nodded enthusiastically. "You got mad skills, yo! Seriously, where'd you learn to do all that?"

"And, I have to admit, you do have an impressive mind," Donnie said. "Maybe not as impressive as mine, but-"

"What we're trying to say is..." Leo interrupted Donnie, trying to avoid getting Nikki riled up. "We're very grateful for your bravery and courage. And... we also wanted to apologize for being so... intrusive. That wasn't right."

Nikki sighed and rubbed her shoulder.

"I'm not... used to... feelings. I guess? But..." She huffed out another sigh, shaking her head. "I get it. It's whatever," She managed to mumble out, awkwardly avoiding eye contact.

"Truce?" Leo asked, holding out his hand.

Nikki hesitated a moment, before bringing her hand up too. She grumbled, "Alright. Fine. But this doesn't make us friends. Allies-acquaintances, maybe, but not friends. I don't do the whole buddy-buddy thing."

"I can settle for that," Leo replied with a smile.

"Nikki," Splinter began. "May I ask how such incredible skills came to be at such a young age?"

Nikki shifted uncomfortably at his question and hesitated. She opened her mouth to speak, but grimaced again from pain. April put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Y'know there's a lot about me I'd rather not talk about," She replied. "But... you guys did save me too, so I guess I owe you this much."

Hesitating once more, she explained, "My parents aren't as great as they perceived themselves to be. I was raised to be a weapon. Not a daughter. My dad taught me everything he knew."

"Chrissy Rock? With moves like that, I'd believe it," Donnie commented.

"What do you mean by "weapon", Nikki?" April asked.

"Well... My dad was a German mafia don. My parents ran a series of underground businesses together, which was how they gained their success. They didn't plan to have me, but when they did, they wanted to make the most of it, so they turned me into... this. And I'm leaving it that, so... there's your answer."

The group stayed silent in awkwardness and empathy for a short moment.

"See, I told you!" Raph blurted out. "There's no way anyone as crazy rich as they were could be genuinely good people!"

"Raphael," Splinter uttered firmly.

"I can't believe it!" Mikey exclaimed in disbelief. "Chrissy Rock? He's... bad?"

"And Ava too?" Donnie asked. "She was never using her scientific genius for good?"

"I am shocked and disappointed as well my sons. But, regardless... thank you Nikki, for saving my family. You are immensely gifted and have great potential."

Nikki winced at Splinter's praise and waved him off. "Ehhhh, nah, maybe not gifted. Just... don't mention it... Really, don't. It was an accident anyway. Just, y'know, blind rage? Hot head here knows what I'm talkin' about."

Nikki pointed at Raph, smugly, who crossed his arms and snarled. She tried standing up, only to immediately heel over again and fall to the ground.

"Ghng!" She grunted, holding her side.

"Woah, woah, easy! You're badly injured!" Donnie told her.

"Trust me, nerd, I've had way worse. I don't wanna be here any longer than I have to be. I'm not tryin' to owe anyone any favors," Nikki grumbled back, trying to stand up again.

April helped her balance herself out. "Nikki, we didn't help you for a favor, we helped you because you were hurt!"

"Pfft! Yeah, I wasn't born yesterday. What're you, just bein' nice?"

"Uh, yeah!?" April shot back, exasperated. "What you've never seen basic empathy before?"

"Girl, look at me. What do you think?"

"Ok, fair."

"Thanks, uhh, Mr. Rat, for the band-aids," Nikki turned to Splinter, blanking on his name. "Really, I appreciate it. But I gotta bounce."

"But, you can barely walk!" Donnie protested.

"I've barely crawled my way back home, Dorkatello, I'll be just fine," She shot back from behind her shoulder.

"But-!"

"Leave her be," Splinter stopped him, holding his hand out. "She has made her decision. It is clear she knows her own limits."

"Uh, Nikki!" April called out.

"Freckles?" Nikki responded over her shoulder.

April hesitated at first. "I... I put my number in your phone. Just... text me when you get home, so we know you're safe."

Nikki stared in thought for a moment before finally cracking a small smile. "Alright. Sounds like a deal, O'Neil," She replied, hobbling away on her morning star.

(A/N: Thank you for reading! I have more stories and ideas in mind for Nikki, so stay tuned! And feel free to check out the short animatics I've made of her on my TikTok linked my bio!)

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