Cultural Exchange.

(( continued from: https://tmntorigins.rpg-board.net/t343-cellular ))


Date: Nov. 6th
Time: 1 pm
Location: A Saki Inc Laboratories building.

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A cold shower in the radiation shower left Erica's skin tingling and had iced off the drowsiness she had been feeling for some time. She stood for several moments pondering just what she could do to find cloths, she had no time to go home and change and she doubted she would be welcomed to go to this thing in a hazard suit.

But it came to her, and slipping back into the suit for now she went to the janitors closet - which was actually larger than her office damn it! and searched through the lost and found box. Wondering as she dug through a bow nearly big enough for her to jump in just how long it had been collecting!

But she found something soft, silky and green. stole the janitors key and card sets to go raid her fellow employees lockers finding a pair of green heels. Heels... she hated heels... but it would do.

Hurrying back to check on Raph and add a fresh baggy of blood before hurrying on her way to a female loo and ducking in to dress. Feeling both... ridiculously girly... and yet loving the feel of the fabric and slipping her feet into those heels, she could not do a lot with her hair but pulled the top back neatly letting the rest flow cool and long down her back. A touch of chocolate lip balm and... it would have to do. And with that she gathers up the red bra she could not wear with this dress, the hazard suit and takes them back to her cupboard of an office - where she quickly learned how to operate a small portable hacksaw and chew those fucking spears to pieces - followed by the arrow. Probably over kill but it was oddly satisfyingly fun.


Then to Baxter's office knocking on the door.

Outside a unremarkable plain dark armored van pulled up into the labs fenced in car parking to the back and side unawares they had taken a spot inhabited by a humvee hours previously and three Japanese men extied the vehicle, all dress in immaculate suits, keen and eager to meet with Doctor Baxter Stockman and get negotiations underway for.

Usually there was a team of them working with the creature. But Stockmans people had insisted there was enough handlers and lab techs and assistants here as well as top grade security.

So they were seen to a clean neat function room and Baxter Stockman alerted to their arrival just as his intern was knocking on his office door.

Twelve excruciating hours of discomfort, crammed inside of a 'transport cage' no bigger than that used for large breed dogs. In fact, that was the intended construction of this torture contraption. Perhaps big enough to comfortably transport a German Sheppard, but inhumane for a humanoid turtle. The bars were thicker, more sturdy than the typical wire kennels found in the US, because the Japanese could always one up the States somehow and took every opportunity to do so. The inside was lined with uncomfortable straw, because they still refused to treat her as anything but an animal, even though she could cry tears of sorrow and fear and had shown every single emotion, and more, as they did. The wire crate had been placed inside a wooden one, with boards spaced almost enough apart for her to get an arm through if she tried hard enough.


There was no room to stand and could only be on hands and knees or lay on her side if curled up. She had awoken inside of this crate, with the sound of the jet adding to her confusion. The lone scientist that had drown the short straw and forced to keep guard in cargo offered little comfort, nor did he seem to acknowledge that she was there.  Confused and frightened, Mei had given in to quiet tears, unsure of what her fate would be. She had a vague idea due to the earlier chatter of the scientists back at the lab, but part of her was in denial. There were no male Turtles of her unique kind. It was most likely a ploy executed by the Americans to get her onto their soil. There was money to be made from her, and it would most likely require the loss of her life.


The jet had touched down at a private location, and there awaited a vehicle, and once again her makeshift prison was transported into the back. And just like before, the same grumpy scientist had the great fortune of keeping her company during the ride...



Then the vehicle stopped and the man climbed out to rejoin his team, cursing at them in his native tongue. The cargo hold was closed and securely locked. Enough sunlight filtered in through the lone obscured widow to spare her of complete darkness. Wiping her eyes with the long aqua braid of her bandana to clear her vision, she began looking for any possible way to escape. The scientist had stripped her of all 'gear' upon capture, but opted to leave the bandana because she seemed more withdrawn without it. They had no idea, nor would they care, that it was her most precious possession, given to her by her late 'father'. She pulled frantically at the bars, hoping and praying for a weak point, but unfortunately this crate had been well constructed. Usually such efforts would earn a painful electrocution from the horrific metal shock collar she was wearing, but she knew as brilliant as these scientists were, this temporary transport cage had not been infused with the same high-technology as her prison back in Japan.


The turtle-teen's attempts halted when she spotted something discarded carelessly on the floor of the vehicle.  A half-eaten apple that the scientist had been chewing on during their land trip. It had been left behind, probably to tease her. It had been over 48 hours since her last 'meal' and her stomach was reminding her of that fact. Compared to her diet of mostly unfit vegetables and worms that she would not touch, an apple was a delicacy. She shoved her left arm through the opening of the metal bars, then through the wooden boards, straining and pushing, trying desperately to reach. Her efforts earned her a few jagged splinters in her soft skin, fingertips barely brushing the object of her desire, but it remained just out of her reach. Taunting.

Baxter was waiting a bit impatiently for the Japanese team to arrive. When they finally got there he stood from the function rooms large smooth rich dark table and straighten out his cloths before answering nodding to his intern to open the door.

Hello. Good day to you. Please come in. He told the men when he opened the door.

Can I get you gentleman anything? Coffee? Tea?

"pfft stop your whining." Daichi told his companion when they had first gathered, the third man having had to come out of hiding in with the freaking beast and had joined them cursing. Hiroto just smirked at him. Thats what you got for loosing at mahjon with them...

They had followed a lab coat into the large fairly unremarkable but clean white building. Bloody gaijin and their love of huge buildings. The three men did take a moment once inside to freshen up in a mens' loo on the way and now fresh, clean and of course dressed impeccably they were ready to face the infamous scientist Doctor Baxter Stockman. Whose reputation and knowledge in engineering and cybornetics was renown globally. It was there for a surprise he was interested at all in their venture in bio entities war fair but he had a male turtle in captivity and rumored had it would have another soon. And of course having had success with Simone Bonesteel in the past none of the men here would doubt another male would be delivered as promised.

The three of them were let and greeted with a respectful bow and soft "Yōkoso," into the room by a petite young woman and greeted by the tall dark scientist. Daichi offered his hand first for shaking to Baxter Stockman. Hiroto lining up beside him to also shake hands both men returning the scientists greeting. "Coffee, please." Daichi nods agreeably.

"Tea." Hiroto said also shaking hands.

Erica studied the men when they came in. But for most the part as she understood it she was to remain quiet and serve. The dress shimmering as she moved to untuck for seats for the men to sit down on waiting for the last jap to make his drink order.


Daichi sat comfortably. Hiroto with a slight grump, he was enjoying the moving and walking and standing after having been in a plane for twelve hours and then some more time driving about new york following a fucking gps.


(( Yōkoso - Welcome. ))

Continued from Code Purple

---

Nothing like a good nap to get the chaos rolling. The purpled-clad turtle had been kept in the humvee while Bonsteel caught up on much needed sleep, though, he would occasionally check in on the critter and give in a low dosage of sedative. to keep him from trying to escape. Conscious, but too drowsy to make much of an effort. The hunter had even left a banana in the cage just in case the thing needed to eat. One thing he knew, those drugs were not easy on an empty stomach. Not that he cared.. but these things were worth more if still alive.



Noon had rolled around and it was 'go' time. This time he wouldn't even bother calling Dr. Stockman. He would just show up with prize in hand and make his demands. And that's exactly what he did.


The trip didn't take long and soon he was pulling beside the van which housed the female, though he was completely oblivious to that fact. He made his way inside, leaving the caged reptile secured inside of his humvee, and after speaking to a few people, was directed to the place of his 'client', unaware he was in the middle of a meeting with the Japs...


He knocked loudly on the door before inviting himself in....

Don awoke a short while later - luckily after the bumpy ride in that cage.  The drugs had worn off by then, but his body still felt like lead...and sore.  If he could pull together any rational thought, he would chastise himself for not getting more sleep.  His reflexes were slower, but his overactive mind was still able to keep up with his thought process.  And that was finding Raph before he was captured.

Now Don was awake and just looked around the cage he was in.  It was definitely a cage, he was sure, but he still had no idea where this person was taking him.  Speaking of his captor, Don saw out of the corner of his eye something lying on the ground.  Even if his brain couldn't make it out, his nearly-empty stomach could and it let out a low rumble to get his attention.

Mustering up enough strength to reach for the banana, he grabbed it and sniffed it.  His mind told him it was edible so he peeled it and he slowly consumed it.  Boy, it had to be the best banana he had ever eaten with how hungry he was.  Once he was finished, he tossed the peel outside his cage and tried to get some more sleep.

It was boring listening tot he four men discuss terms.

A weeks quarantine for the female in the 'holding' cells. Then fleshing out the wheres, hows and whens of keeping her contained after that was up. And how they intended to split any incurring profits made.

Erica was introduced, and her biological knowledge of mutants and aliens touted about. But for most the part thankfully the men had very little interest in her, dollar signs in their minds and eyes about this venture.

She was just making fresh teas and coffees when Bonesteel came in. And not bothering to acknowledge the hunter she simple went about handing out the drinks and cookies, dodging a step to the left so Hiroto's hand aimed at her knee missed and the move looked accidental.

Baxter stood - "Who dares !? I am in - uh Bonesteel." He quickly turned his angry reception into a smooth oily look of glee. "I take it you have another beast? - excellent excellent we will have to come see them when they are both secured. Erica." He looks at the girl. In that... lovely dress.

"Take our friend to receive his just payments and then go see to securing the second beast." He orders cooly.

Erica nods. Last thing she wants to do is go anywhere with Bonesteel, she felt she might kick the man in the shins with these god forsaken heels for the pain he caused Raph. But she schools her features and places the tray away. "This way." She agrees opening the door the man had just come sweeping into.

Ah. So the Japs had arrived. Bonesteel quickly recognized the head scientist- the man he had dealt with after capturing the little aqua female. She didn't seem so small back then but compared to the males, she was tiny. It ran through his mind that the males may actually kill her, but that wasn't his problem. He had come here for one thing and one thing only. But if there were more of these creatures out there, he was certain that Baxter would be a repeat client.


Giving a nod to the Japs and regarding Baxter with the same gesture, he followed the little mouthy intern out of the room, leaving the scientists to hash out the details of their deal. But not without poking his head back in and reminding Stockman of their deal. The unharmed shell was his as part of payment.


Following the intern, there was a cold silence there, until the Hunter decided to break it. "This one ain't as busted up..." He told her, knowing that she had put hours into patching up the Red one.


"Went down much easier..."

Bax waved the man away with a nod - yeah he knew!

~

She had to admit she did not like how... exposed she felt in this dress - but the way it flowed and shimmered and the sheer silky softness of it against her skin was incredible.

And distracted her momentarily from thoughts over all she had heard in the meeting room. Wondering if she had sufficiently impressed the men enough to remain among those working with Raphael... and which ever of his brothers had been snared, and the female whom was here too obviously.

She blinks and looks at Bonesteel surprised he was speaking to her. "That is good." She answers sounding pleased of course - as she was glad to not have to pull more of those spears out of another big turtle. "Ra - uh the first one will make a full recovery." And maybe a tad touch of pride here at her skills - after all by all rights Raph should have died... the injuries and blood loss... But she had scraped him through - just. And a little smugness, that despite him delivering a creature whose impalings should have spelt the ends she had stopped it. "Though extracting the arrow and spears could not happen without massive damage to them." And she thought she pulled off quiet a convincing sorrowful tone.

She lead him down the halls to Baxter's office.

Yeeeah. Bonesteel usually wasn't one for conversation, and Erica had been sort of a brat earlier, but.. why not. The only non-mutant company he'd had all day. Though, he was usually awkward around females and hell... all people really. He was better off without any hindrances and he certainly knew that Erica was off limits. He may be a big game hunter and did bounty work, but he was not a cradle robber. She couldn't be any older than 19 tops. Besides, even if she had been of appropriate age, he had a pretty good feeling they wouldn't mesh well. She seemed to have a love for the beasts he captured.


It was equally surprising that she responded, and of course she would be glad that the other Turtle wouldn't require as much care. And then came the update on his weaponry which caused irritation and deep down, he was aware that she probably hacked is tools up to get back at him. Irritating, but not something to completely become bent out of shape over. He was loaded thanks to bringing the Red Turtle in, and his bank account would grow now that he had Purple. He could buy more.. but the Hunter had always been sentimental when it came to his weapons.  


"Well I'm sure you did everything you could..." To destroy them, he knew. But no need arguing at this point.


Soon they were at Baxter's office and he followed her inside to collect the funds, then he would lead her to where the Purple beast was being kept. Maybe later today he would investigate those croc tracks and the belly slide. Always busy!

There was a little stab of triumph as he took the news his equipment had not, unlike Raph, made it through. He took it well admittedly and even seemed to shrug it off. Though Erica was certain as much as he was not fooled by her fake sadness over their demise that he was a little irritated. And she decided to take it as a small, very tiny vengeful sort of victory. "I did... admittedly my sole focus was ensuring Ra- Red did not die... But I did what I could yes." too ensure those particular tools would never see use as hunting implements ever again. Paper weights? Yeah maybe."your efforts tested my ... Skills to their limits with Red... And I do recall you appeared hurt too... Do you require any aid?" because that was whom she was, a healer.

They were at the office, and here it was time to pay the Bonesteel. Erica had hesitated a few seconds with recalling the safes pin after they had entered the office, but she did and finally opened it pulling out the briefcase she knew was for Bonesteel. And there was a little distaste on her face, not at him... But the cash.. She opened the case up for him to look and be satisfied it was there. "I've not kept all the money I have earned here." she admitts in a soft tone turning to close the safe and let Simone have his moment to either look through the cash or just close the case and take ready for their next bit of walking to the back park lot to retrieve the next turtle. "donated most, gave some to my Grandmother... Only kept what I needed. Plan to release my own songs with mine..." And she was not sure why she told him that, but it was not like he could do much with that information she figured and it was a safe neutral zone of talking. Opening up a course for discussion if he wished... He did not seem the type to normally talk much, to people, but he'd also been the one to break the ice between them so perhaps he needed a little human chatter... And she may not like him much but she was innately a kind, warm, friendly, giving person. And without a friend... More?... to protect from potential death by arrow through the skull and seeing as he had not this time hurt the other she felt she didn't need to be rude, cold or discourage chatter if he wanted to talk.

The safe closed and back out of sight, and the 'floor' given to him to chatter if he wanted to, she went around the desk again to open the door for Bonesteel, withdrawing her pager From between her bosoms where her phone also was buried to send a buzz and short text to ask for the pulleypuller and transport cage, to the two scientist that had been with her throughout Raphael's care - encase the next turtle needed any sort of care she preferred working with those that would not argue or in fact say much of anything that went on outside the 'care' given.

And they'd even let her sleep curled up around Raph in her lap! Though this could be because doing so let them have some hours of working hard at barely working as it were.

Was the little mouthy intern seriously offering to patch him up? That was certainly a shock but he wouldn't even briefly consider it, not being one comfortable with any form of touch... even if the person was trying to be helpful. And surely she would take delight in causing more pain.


"Nah, I'm good." He assured her, deep down knowing that she didn't care about his well-being. Perhaps just trying to be polite or stay out of that meeting.. even though she had made demands to speak to them.


The hunter took the money, checking it briefly before closing the case once again. She seemed humble enough, hiving her own funds away, and keeping only what needed for a future dream. "So not intendin' to be Baxter's right hand forever huh? Well good for you.." And he meant it. He had seen enough of Dr. Stockman to know he was a quack job.


He followed her out of the room then took the lead, out to the quiet parking lot. The brief case was slid beneath the seat and then he locked up the cab before leading her to the back of the humvee. The back hatch rose slowly, the daylight filtering in and exposing the caged Turtle, who appeared to be sleeping....

"May be a mans- or womans" Her cheeks blush a little here. "hand in marriage one day... maybe something traditional... may not be technically legal but what do I care about a piece of paper?" Erica chuckles, closing the door to the office and following Bonesteel this time. "Just like money, I do not need a lot of it really." She smiles at him, a genuine smile at least.

To her it felt like talking to one of her fathers work colleagues. She had met a few of them. "But no... not Stockman's." She concludes nodding to the two waiting scientist that had helped her earlier with Raphael.

Erica's eyes took in... one of Raphael's brothers... not Michelangelo and she was not aware she let out a light sigh of relief at that, not Raph's little brother Mikey. Though she felt sorry for whom ever it was... and her hands at once slid in between bars to touch the gear he was wearing. Donatello.

Raph had said something about her talking about 'spot's' sounded like Donatello. This had to be Donatello. She was first seeing how lucid he was. Her touch a light brush over his snout and cheek, drawing back and waiting to see if that disturbed him waving the two scientists closer. And a brief glance at Simone, forgetting he was the one whom put Donatello in this cage. That he was a hunter. "Their shells are beautiful."

Donatello leaned against the bars while trying to sleep off more of these drugs, but the only think he succeeded in doing was getting some rest. His eyes were still closed as the humans approached the cage. He heard them talking as they came up to it, but kept is eyes closed to seem like he was sleeping.

The moment the woman touched him, his eyes opened and he met hers. He still didn't really move much, but enjoyed her gentle touch immensely. He wanted to talk to her, but with the hunter there, he said nothing. He just gave the woman a smile to let her know he appreciated her kindness.

he way she talked to him- like a human being- made it hard for him to remember that she was a teenager... off limits. Not that he was looking for a relationship. Due to his busy schedule, those never lasted.. and most women were damn tree-huggers these days. It didn't matter. He was better off alone.


Leading her into the back of the humvee, he took a step back to allow her and her men a chance to get up close, though it seemed that it was only her making any sort of movement. The way she touched that beast, and the way he responded.. yeah. She definitely had a way with the critters.


Then came her comment about their shells.. "Yeah. Would make a fine coffee table. Stockman promised me one.. " And he wouldn't accept Raph's... it was too busted up.


"That one seems more docile than the Red one. Should be easier to work with."

Erica glanced at Bonesteel and she shakes her head a little, still her mind on Donatello right now and not registering fully what he said "No... it's much more beautiful where it is - and his eyes... no human will have that color." She smiles warmly back at the caged turtle and whispers, for his ears only, though anyone close enough could hear it. "Donatello?" just to be sure it was him.

He was heavily drugged she could see it, his blood shot gaze and lethargic sort of apathy about his situation.

Her hand drops to Don's and gives it a squeeze. "Come on, lets get him inside with Ra... uh Red he needs time to sleep off the drugs and will need food and water." She speaks to the two scientists as then helps get the pulleypuller into place - even in her dress and heels and they begin the process of unloading Donatello and onto a trolley lift to be taken in.

Even if Erica really really wanted to do nothing but let him go - but Like Raph, even if not so injured he still needed a little recovery care. She looks at Simone. "Are you coming in to see their new holdings or you going?" She asks, mostly to be polite and because if he still had business there as the intern it would be her task whilst Baxter was busy to see to it. "And thank you for passing the message on - I didn't really expect you too - but I think I wowed the ... men enough to remain close and work with them."

Don liked listening to the girls sweet voice.  He wondered what her part was in all of this but when she said his name, he gave her a nod.  Then when she mentioned Raph, he finally found his voice...sort of.  "Ra-Raph...?" he rasped out, not having much strength but to whisper at the moment.  It sounded like she knew where he was. He weakly returned the hand squeeze.  There was so much he wanted to ask her.  Hopefully he would get the chance when these damned drugs wore off.

She certainly had a way with the beast- damn tree hugger. Hearing her offer, Bonesteel shook his head. Nah, think I have a croc to track..." And he gave her a suspicious look, having a gut feeling that she knew something about that beast. He headed out of the back of the vehicle and waited for the team to remove the Turtle from the cargo hold, then gave a nod in the nearby van's direction.


"Bet that's where the lil female is.." Just a hunch. His keen ears had picked up on the faint sounds inside as the critter strained for a scrap of discarded food.


"Tell Stockman I'll be back for my cage.."

Erica had been offering Don a small nod.

Perhaps knowing he would need the comfort of knowing his brother was inside somewhere and alive. "You will see him shortly." She whispers and almost missed Simone's refusal and words he had to be else where.

Had a croc to track.

It was possible it meant an actual croc... or croc mutant... but - her eyes flickered off to the far left through the fence towards where Leatherhead had come from and gone into the storm drain hours ago and her heart sank, eyes widening a little. There even from this distance she could tell there were deep treads left by his massive weight and form.

She turns her attention away from the spot though in a flash and tries to be casual. "oh... I will... uh... good luck... with the croc."

And she looks now to the van and places a hand against it. "I'll be back."

And with a last glance to the spot her best buds prints were she lead the two scientists and Donatello into the labs.

Hearing the woman say that he would see Raph shortly made him smile again. But he soon frowned once he remembered the scene where he found the phone. He tried speaking once more now that the hunter was gone.

"I-is he...o...kay...?"

The mention of the croc completely went over Don's head as he was being lead away to hopefully see his brother alive and well.

Pulling the trolley along and knowing her fellow scientists would not care less about her talking to him, they had not when she had been talking to Raph, she looks at Don over her shoulder and nods. "He is... I wont lie though, he came in here in a terrible state and almost dead from blood loss... but I have given him nearly two liters of ... blood back and he is patched and was resting deeply last I checked on him." She tells Donatello in a low voice.

She did not know what would happen when Raphael came awake. No doubt a lot of fury - and even more if he sees Don trapped in this godforsaken cage... but also the two would need to see each other she knew for comfort.

So... after deliberating and deciding if Raph came awake in a towering temper she'd just have to do whatever she could to try calming him...

And decided she dragged as the other two pushed the cage into the long room where the 'aquariums' were, bringing Donnie's cage over to Raphael's so he could see his larger brother.

((continued from Street Life ))

Sammy rolled his eyes. This girl was impossible. She really needed to trust him, because honestly, he was the only one right now that actually had her best interest. Then he got a message saying that two more turtles had arrived and looked at Mel.

You want to go see some mutant turtles before we go?

Maybe that would get her in a better mood.

Don feared as much.  But it sounded like Raph was doing much better, so he took comfort in that.  But there was something else nagging at him about the blood loss thing.  "Where...did you get the...blood?"  Because being mutants, no ordinary blood would do the job.  When or if one of them ever needed a transfusion, one of the brothers had to volunteer to give the injured turtle some of theirs.

Then in what seemed like forever, Don saw Raph for the first time in days. "Raph..." he wheezed, trying to sit up straighter so he could see his brother better. His vision swam a bit, but he finally succeeded in getting more upright.

" Mutant turtles? You know at this point I'm not surprised considering what has happened today. Sure I will see them." Mel replied now a little curious about the mutant turtles and it would give her something else to think about.