The rain buckets down heavily in the streets of Gaotin, turning the ground slick, wet and glistening in the four moons' light. The city's liveliness never ceases in the downpour; mothers and their children bustle past you, intoxicated men burst out of pubs to can merrily and clumsily in the rain.

Your group swiftly walks down the streets and through the tunnels, alongside fellow foreigners and civilians. You match your stride with Raphael and watch Gwendoyln stroll ahead of her crew. Everyone is rushed, focused on whatever mission is before them. You wish you were focused on yours, but kidnappings make it hard to hunt for your allies.

A sudden grasp of your hand makes you jerk and look down. Raphael holds your hand firmly in his, guiding you to follow the crew as they go around a bend. You look up at him with a raised eyebrow, soon catching his eye and the blush that spreads across his face.

"You were about to walk into the wall." He mumbles, releasing your hand rather quickly. You hold back a smile and keep walking.

No more than a few minutes later you approach a tall building with every window shining with light. Raphael stares up at it in almost a hypnotic state until you nudge him.

"Snap out of it, hot shot." You say, gesturing to the doors where the crew has already gathered around. Raphael nods and rushes over in time to hear Gwendoyln's plan.

"The princess Y/n and Raphael will meet with the emperor, present our proposal under the notion that the Luminal Council has set it forth. Once he signs the contract, we will be permitted to sail through the Orionis–Centauri Star System." She explains. You nod slowly as you look up at the building. No doubt you will have to travel to the top floor, and pass who knows how many guards, greatly reminding you of your fifth-test simulator. Hopefully you can recall it in time...

Raphael nudges your shoulder to break you out of your trance, and you realize everyone is waiting for you.

"Your Graciousness, are you ready?" Osric inquires with a tilted head and slanted smile. While you know he cannot see, you smile up at him.

"Yes, yes I am.." you take the coiled document from his rough, work-worn hands and glance at Raphael. "Try to keep up, ey?" You smirk.

He grins, a competitive glint in his eye.

"I was about to say the same thing to you, sweetheart."

You both waste no time in running into the building and racing up the stairs. Dashing up the second flight of steps, you realize you completely tuned out Gwendoyln as she told of the deal you were to give the emperor.

"Comæ pavœ!" You curse under your breath.

"What is it?" Raph huffs out between short, steady breaths as he runs alongside you.

"I didn't hear a single word about the deal! I have no idea what to say!" You gasp out, secretly panicking.

"Well then it's a good thing I did and do." He grins and runs past you, dashing through a door leading to the 20th floor. You pause for only a moment and glance upwards. There are at least 80 more floors, and the only way to access a levitating tube is with a keycard, say from a guard... you grin. There's no way Raphael could get all that done with his limited knowledge of this planet, its customs and security measures. You race up the stairs to two floors above Raph, and slip around corners and hug the walls. Sneaking up behind two guards, you grab one and lock her in a chokehold. The other guard jumps and turns to you with his blaster ready. You hold tight to the female guard and glare at the other, when Raphael sneaks up behind him and knocks him out.

"Nighty night." He grins. You knock out the other and gaze at him with surprise.

"How did you get up here so fast?" You demand. Without a word, he holds up a key card with a triumphant smirk, and you groan with slight amusement as you follow him to the levitating tubes.

~~

Aboard the Fugitoid's ship, Leonardo stares out at the planet of Orionis as they approach. Their specific destination is Gaotin, where they hope to find Raphael and Y/n, or at the very least, Captain Gwendolyn. As they begin to enter the atmosphere, the humans and mutants don their space suits and prepare to search the city for their brother and ally.

"Be ready for anything, team. And I mean anything." Leo warns as the cargo doors open for them.

"Like Raph going Dark Side?!" Mikey gulps, glancing around timidly.

"Or turning into an awesome space pirate!" Casey grins a nearly toothless grin.

April rolls her eyes with a groan and punches Casey's shoulder while frowning at Mikey.

"Quit joking around, you two! This is serious!" She snaps, observing her surroundings closely.

"The suit's trackers aren't picking up Raph and Y/n anywhere nearby." Donnie sighs. "If they're here, we'll have to find them some other way."

"Well, we knew that plan was a long shot. Plan B.." Leo steps forward to a passing alien and holds up a piece of paper with Gwen's face on it. "Excuse me sir... or ma'am.. uh, have you seen this pirate?? Any information on her would be greatly appreciated." He says, staring at the being with hopeful eyes. It replies with terrified shrieks and gibberish before scurrying away.

"Um... what??" Mikey speaks up first, everyone staring at the alien as it runs off with bewildered faces.

"That was not the best alien to start interrogations with.." the Fugitoid remarks, wringing his wrists with his robotic hands. "Come, my friends. We will find your brother and the Princess. I can feel it!" He cheers the group on with cheerful eye-screens, gesturing for them to follow as he walks into the sea of extraterrestrial bodies. They follow with heavy feet and hearts, the buildings towering overhead and the rain beating down on them making them feel small and very hopeless in this great big unfamiliar city.

(Y/n's rugged space suit:

Raph's rugged space suit:

I am so so so sorry this is late!! I caught this nasty bug from a birthday party over the weekend and I just coULD NOT write. It really drained me, and I'm just now feeling good enough to write. And, also, happy Halloween/ 31st, whatever you're into. Of course, I'm not really up for a lot of sugar or going out in general, but enjoy your night!! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!!)