Chapter Text
Baron Draxum’s POV
“Finally! After all these years I can continue my work.” I stated, staring down at the mosquito filled with mutagen perched on my finger. Suddenly, a cacophony of bangs startled the mosquito from my finger, and I quickly turned my head in the direction of the sound. I watched in astonishment as five creatures erupted from a tunnel and landed in a heap on the floor of my Lab.
“What?” I announced. How dare these imbeciles barge into the laboratory of The Baron Draxum!
The creatures instantly righted themselves and the largest of the group began what I assume will be a long-winded spiel. Hang on, are those- are those the turtles I mutated over a decade ago? How can this be? I assumed my dream of the perfect warrior had perished with them when Lou Jitsu interrupted the turtles’ mutation and destroyed my laboratory.
Perhaps all was not lost…
“You’re…beautiful” I couldn’t help but admire my creations. My thoughts were interrupted when the only human of the group recklessly and fruitlessly charged in solo. I quickly tapped into my mystic powers and conjured five purple vines that shot in the direction of the turtles.
To my shock, they jumped into action and began to run down the mystic vines towards me. I decided to conjure a Golem to test their abilities as I can see they are carrying weapons. Perhaps if I judge their individual potential, I can decide whether any will be of use to me.
The gigantic Golem grasped the ends of the vines where they had sprouted from the ground and swiftly flicked them towards the roof, successfully displacing the turtles and sending them careening down to the floor.
“Capture those specimens!” I commanded the Golem, which roared in response. The turtles leapt into action and begun to charge at the Golem. One of the turtles was significantly quicker than the rest and noticeably pulled in front of the group. I watched, enraptured, as the blue turtle dodged the Golem’s attacks and, in one swing of it’s Ōdachi, severed the Golem’s leg entirely. Impressive… There is definitely a vast, plethora of potential in that one.
The red and orange turtles seemed to work together as the smaller used it’s Kusari-Fundo to launch the larger, Tonfa-wielding turtle toward the Golem. However, it seems one of them misjudged an aspect of this attack as the red turtle face-planted straight into the Golem.
The purple turtle, wielding some kind of technologically modified bo-staff, then also tried to attack the Golem but seemed to lose control of his weapon. However, luck must have been on the turtle’s side as the out-of-control staff somehow launched itself into the Golem’s head, destroying it.
“Accidentally impressive…” I commented. However, I only have need for warriors with potential for great skill, not teens out of their depth who win battles through sheer luck. Hmmm, that blue turtle’s speed, strength, and cunning did impress me however. “With a little bit of training, he will be as formidable as I’d hoped” I thought aloud.
While distracted by my thoughts, I somehow missed the commotion created by the orange and red turtles discovering their weapons command mystic powers. However, I was pulled from my conniving thoughts by the blue turtle announcing, “I can’t wait to find out what mine does!” and charging, full sprint at me. I defensively crossed my arms before he powerfully slashed upwards with his Ōdachi as it seemingly sparkled with mystic energy. In that moment I was immensely glad I had the protection covering my arms as his formidable attack surely would have taken them if they were bare. However, there was an awkward pause as the mystic energy seemed to fizzle out before reappearing in the form of a portal underneath his feet. Unfortunately for him, the connecting portal opened directly above him, and he became stuck in a loop, falling between his portals.
While this display didn’t exactly scream ‘mystic prowess’, it did contribute to his apparent potential. The Ōdachi is a weapon that requires great strength and skill to wield properly, let alone an Ōdachi containing mystic powers. And this teenager had opened a fully functioning portal on his first try.
With my mind already made up concerning which turtle would be chosen to become my ultimate weapon, I uninterestedly fought off the purple turtle before using my powers to wrap each turtle in cocoons. I confidently stride up to the wriggling turtles, each trying unsuccessfully to escape their bonds.
“You fight like untrained buffoons! But under me, you could become true warriors. Well… at least one of you could anyway.” I trailed off; my eyes trained on the blue turtle. The blue turtle stopped struggling, shocked by my words and unwavering gaze.
“Uhh, why are you looking at me like that?” He questioned, obviously uncomfortable. I only smirked, raised my clenched fist, and slammed it into the back of his head, knocking him unconscious. The three other turtles and the human immediately became enraged, screaming threats at me for hurting their brother.
“No! Leo!"
“Put him down!”
“Where are you taking our brother?”
I paid them no attention as I slung the unconscious turtle over my shoulder and begun to walk towards the exit. I immediately noticed that my lab had become damaged at some point during the fight and was seconds away from exploding. As I walked past his fallen Ōdachi, I quickly collected that as well – my perfect warrior would need a powerful weapon to match after all.
The yells and screams of the turtle’s brothers quickly faded into the distance as I walked further from my demolished Lab. While I abhor the destruction of my workshop, I can’t help but feel optimism for the future now that I am so close to finally achieving my dream. And it is all thanks to the reappearance of this red-eared slider mutant turtle.
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I quickly made my way to my secondary laboratory. I hadn’t visited this workshop in years, preferring to utilise my primary laboratory which was much larger and could contain my extensive equipment needed for the creation of my mutants. However, this location was perfect for now as it is extremely secluded and only myself, and a very few trusted associates, know of its existence and how to access the hidden, mystical entrance.
Upon entering, I promptly laid my creation and his Ōdachi on the floor before beginning to rummage around the dust-ridden laboratory in search for a specific piece of equipment that I had created over a decade ago, but never ended up using. After finally uncovering the contraption, I dragged it into the middle of the room and begun the process of readying the machine.
A faint grunt from the bound mutant caught my attention and I moved quickly to cut the cocoon away from him and set him in the chair of the contraption before he fully regained consciousness. I swiftly programmed the contraption to enclose cuffs around his arms, one around each bicep and forearm, to securely lock him into the chair.
The turtle finally stirred awake and looked blearily around confused for a second before the situation seemed to catch up to him all at once. His eyes shot open fully and he immediately tried to fly out of the chair to no avail. His bound arms kept him in place, and he frantically looked down at them while continuing to tug, hoping to be freed from the contraption.
“There’s no point in struggling, I’m afraid.” I announced, alerting the alarmed turtle to my presence.
“Where am I? What are you going to do to me?” He rapidly begun firing questions at me, no doubt in full panic mode.
“You are in my laboratory, and I am going to make you into the ultimate weapon. But first, to do that, I must wipe your memory.” I gestured vaguely to the machine he was bound to; his struggling seemed to increase ten-fold.
“I originally created this device for Lou Jitsu. However, he escaped my clutches before I was able to use it on him.” I lamented as I continued to prepare the machine for its purpose. “Unfortunately, this will be excruciatingly painful for you. However, it will all be worth it in the end.” A resounding beep from the machine notified me it was ready, and I programmed it to proceed.
“This will stop you from biting your tongue off during the procedure.” I held up a mouth-guard shaped piece of rubber in front of the turtle’s eye-line and watched as his eyes darted between it and my face. He wisely took the hint and just barely opened his mouth wide enough for me to shove the chunk of rubber in.
The turtle’s chest began to heave in fear as the machine begun to move, a section being lowered down to encase his head around his temples. The electric current of the machine mixed with the turtle’s screams of agony as the machine begun to wipe his memory. Every muscle in the turtle’s body tensed simultaneously as the excruciating procedure continued until he finally passed out after three minutes.
I looked forlornly over the turtle’s unconscious frame as the contraption finished, retracted from his head, and released his confines. The slumped form of the turtle slowly started to rise as consciousness returned to the teen. His eyes met mine and I saw only confusion, no signs of fear or recognition.
“Wha’ happened?” He slurred, clearly exhausted from the procedure.
“What do you remember?” I questioned. His eyes drifted as he tried to remember but came up blank.
“Can you tell me your name?” Again, he seemed to contemplate my question before drawing a blank.
“That’s alright.” I tried to soothe him, although it came out a bit awkward to my ears, having never comforted anyone in my entire existence.
“My name is Baron Draxum, and I created you. You will be the greatest and most revered warrior this world has ever seen. I will train you in the ways of the mystic arts and the powers you can wield with your Ōdachi. An old friend of mine, Oroku Saki, will teach you the art of ninjutsu and mastering the twin katana. You will be known as The Blue Spectre.”
A/N: I hope the part where Leo will be fighting with both his Ōdachi and twin katanas isn't too weird for any readers. I absolutely loved and was extremely inspired by this beautiful artwork (created by Nuleah Santos) and couldn't help myself:
This is the way I envision him as 'Spectre'. He looks sooo cool! <3