A spice that represents stability and soothing warmth.

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"I know you," the scientist says, eyes on the only true Purple Dragon in the room. "You're Taylor. You got the serum tested on you when you came in more dead than alive."

Taylor frowns a little, one eyebrow arching as she gets to her feet. "Han...Hanovitz?"

The woman nods, making her ponytail swing. "Yes." She looks to the others again, lips pursing. "Oh, I know you two," she says to Destiny and Sarina. "You're here for the turtles and the rat, aren't you?"

"If you try to stop us, it won't work," Destiny growls, spreading her wings as she bares her teeth.

Hanovitz's eyes narrow. "I'm sure it won't, Destiny," she murmurs. Her ageing face seems to soften and she reaches into her pocket, causing a few flinches around the room, but all that comes out is a set of keys. She hands them to Taylor. "Here. They're on the fifth floor, all except red. That's the fourth floor. The keys are colour coded with their masks."

"What?" Sarina asks.

Hanovitz blinks. "I'm very forgetful about keys, so—"

"No, not that. That's very useful and I applaud you but...aren't you one of them?" she asks, eyes flashing.

"Yes, but that does not mean I agree with everything that is happening." She brushes a strand of hair from her forehead. "If you succeed, fine. I'm clocking out now, so Sabrian will never know that I had any involvement. If you fail, well, then you squandered your opportunity."

Casey curls his fingers into his palm. "This has gotta be a trick," he mutters.

April shuts her eyes, fingertips at her temple. "No...she's genuine."

Taylor raises her eyebrows. "You can sense intentions? Why couldn't you do that with me?" she asks.

"I did. Why do you think I went along with your plan?" comes the smooth retort. Casey smirks. Taylor's nostrils flare as she lets out a little huff.

Hanovitz reaches for the door. "Good luck," she says. "Also, word of advice, security guards make their rounds in two hours, so make it quick."

She disappears, the clicking of her shoes fading away into nothing as she moves down the hallway. The teenagers look amongst themselves in silent confirmation that yes, that just happened. Taylor stares at the keys with wide eyes, then slowly looks back at the others. She smirks and spins them around her fingers.

"Told you I'd get the keys," she says.

"Shut up," Destiny retorts.

----------

Casey and April walk down the long hallways, brown keys clutched in Casey's hand. April keeps one hand on her forehead, sensing her way to Splinter. She finally gets a clear image of a door labelled "Reflexes 1" and she gasps as she rounds the corner. Sure enough, she spots the door and her and Casey go racing towards it.

They push it open. Inside, they find Splinter in a large cage that most closely resembles something you would get for a rodent at a pet store. His eyes are drooped with exhaustion and his kimono has been reduced to shreds, tied in strips on various parts of his body. His fur is matted and in desperate need of a wash.

Casey hurries to the cage and unlocks it while April retrieves a spare lab coat from a nearby bin. Casey slips inside and kneels next to Splinter, reaching out to shake his shoulder.

"Splinter?" he asks. The rat's ears perk and his body slumps with relief when he sees who's next to him. Casey helps him up. "Hey, stay with us."

Splinter leans against Casey as they hobble from the cage, meeting April there. She drags the lab coat over his shoulders, her expression downtrodden. Splinter's knees wobble but Casey stays strong.

"I...I could hear Michelangelo's cries," he croaks. "Please, tell me that my sons are being saved."

April nods. "Y-Yeah, they are," she breathes, her voice an inch away from breaking.

----------

Sarina opens the door to Donatello's room, light flooding over the sad scene, and she nearly drops her purple keys. Donatello remains slumped against the wall of his cage, arms chained above his head, his legs limp.

"Donnie," Sarina whispers, feeling her eyes start to burn.

She unlocks his cage and gets to work on the cuffs around his legs and arms. As soon as they're off, he sinks into her arms with a soft groan and she's struck by how cold his skin is.

She takes a moment to hold him, head cradled against her chest, and he blinks once, then twice as he peels his eyes open. He can just make out the figure in white above him, caressing his face with the softest hands that he's ever felt, and he breathes deeply. Her warmth alone makes him feel safe and he lets his eyes slide shut.

----------

Destiny gets to the room holding Michelangelo, keys clenched in her fist. Michelangelo bursts out crying and shies away when the light enters, huddling against the far edge of his cage with his arms over his face. He still doesn't notice that the person before him is Destiny and not a scientist.

"Please...don't, please. No more," he begs. "I hate those Squirrelanoids."

"Mikey," Destiny whispers.

He looks up, baby blue eyes sparkling with tears, and a sad smile breaks across his face. "Desti-bear?" he squeaks. She nods, moving towards the cage and starting to unlock it as he unfurls himself. "I knew you'd come."

The second she has the door open, he scrambles into her arms. He buries his head against her chest, heartbeat soothing against his ears, and she returns the hug with a gentle ferocity.

"Hey, it's okay. You're safe now," she murmurs, stroking his head. "I'm here."

He refuses to release her from the hug. Not yet. He has to be sure that he isn't dreaming.

----------

Taylor races towards Raphael's room, heart pounding in her throat. She shoves the door open almost a little too hard and he blinks wearily as the sliver of light explodes across his room. The silhouette of a girl appears in his blurred vision. A stab of rage shoots through him, but it dies out under the wave of pure and utter relief that envelopes him.

Taylor rushes inside and unlocks the cage, pulling open the door and unlocking his cuffs with trembling hands. He slumps into her arms and she just manages to catch him, lowering his tired body to the ground. His head comes to rest on her lap as he goes limp against the blessedly cool linoleum.

"Raph? Raphael...please, hold on," she pleads, tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

His emerald skin is bruised and marred with cuts, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. His once-vibrant green eyes are clouded with pain, unable to focus on the dark-haired girl above him. A few tears drip onto his face and he flinches.

"Tay..." he croaks.

"Sí, sí, I'm here. Estoy aquí," she whispers. "I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry..."

He manages to lift his arm high enough for his fingertips to brush the edge of her jaw. She grasps his hand and holds it against her damp cheek as her mouth twists with sorrow. She brings her free hand to his head, brushing it and making his eyes close.

There's the sound of clicking and Taylor looks up to see Destiny in her wolf form, Michelangelo perched on her back. Her fierce eyes glitter with concern at the sight of Raphael and she lowers herself until her belly touches the floor. Michelangelo hops off and hurries up to Taylor.

"Help me get him on her back," he pleads, getting one arm around Raphael's shell as he tries to tug him up. "Come on, bro. Mikey's here."

Raphael's head slumps against Michelangelo's shoulder and he mumbles something incoherent. Taylor takes his other arm and slings it over her shoulders, hoisting him up with Michelangelo's help. They get him onto Destiny's back and Michelangelo climbs back on, holding out his hand for Taylor to join them. Once mounted, the wolf races down the tight hallways, maneuvering herself down the stairs and out the side door.

Destiny returns to her human form once they're at the ShellRaiser, helping to get everyone inside. Raphael passes out as soon as he's lying down. Michelangelo takes a seat next to him, gently patting his bicep before curling up at his side. Taylor waits by the door, arms crossed over her chest.

As Sarina, Casey, and April emerge from the building with Master Splinter and Donatello, Destiny goes right back in. She uses her wolf to leap up the steps almost a flight at a time, blue keys clutched in her jaws.

It doesn't take her long to locate him. She finds him inside a room with a warning label slapped across the door. He's strapped to a table, muzzle over his mouth and nose, his eyes reddened and his body trembling. Destiny moves to him and unlocks his cuffs. Too impatient to undo the muzzle the right way, she unsheathes her claws and tears the strap holding it on and tosses it to the floor. The second it's off, he sucks in a deep breath.

"Oh my god, Leo..." she says, hands moving to cup his face.

His hands grip her wrists, holding her in place as he shudders. "Des...Destiny..." he mumbles, too weak to say much else.

"It's me, Leo. Hold on for a little longer," she murmurs.

She helps him into a sitting position and he slumps against her, face pressed into her shoulder and his breath on her neck. His hands grab at air until they manage to get a grip on her shirt. His movements are urgent, as if he's fading fast and there's something desperate that he has to tell her before it's too late.

"I love you..." he croaks, barely audible, eyelids fluttering shut. "Love...you...D-Des..."

Her heart pounds harder and she stands up, bringing him with her. "I...I love you too," she says.

She helps him limp from the building. The second they get out, Sarina is already racing towards them. She sweeps to Leonardo's other side and together, the girls get him into the ShellRaiser with his brothers and father. They climb inside and shut the doors.

The ride home is silent.