Dialogue: Venus de Milo part 1

 **Setting: The lair, dimly lit with shadows creeping across the walls. Mizuki and Nishamura stand in front of Splinter, who is sitting cross-legged, a flickering light from a nearby lamp casting a warm glow. Tension hangs in the air.**


**Mizuki:** Dad, we need to talk. 


**Splinter:** (looks up, sensing the seriousness) What is it, Mizuki? 


**Nishamura:** (arms crossed, voice low) It’s about Venus.


**Splinter:** (frowns) Venus? You mean… the sister you both claim to remember? 


**Mizuki:** Yeah, we saw her. She’s with Big Mama. 


**Splinter:** (shocked) With Big Mama? That is… troubling. 


**Nishamura:** (snaps) Troubling? It’s worse than that! She’s fighting for them. She’s not the same. 


**Mizuki:** (frustrated) How could she join them? After everything? 


**Splinter:** (sighs) This is not easy. I don’t remember her. I only remember saving seven. 


**Nishamura:** (voice rising) Seven, but she was one of us! You think she just vanished? 


**Splinter:** (stern) I do not know what happened. 


**Mizuki:** (leans closer, urgency in her voice) But she’s real! I saw the scar on her eye, Dad. How could she do this? 


**Nishamura:** (glares at Mizuki) You don’t get it! You were just a baby! You didn’t see her get hurt! 


**Mizuki:** (defensive) I might have been a baby, but I felt it! 


**Splinter:** (interrupts) Enough! This is not helping. 


**Nishamura:** (hands clenching) We have to find her. We have to help her. 


**Mizuki:** (nods, eyes brightening) Yeah! Maybe we can convince her to leave Big Mama. 


**Splinter:** (calm but firm) It’s not that simple. Big Mama is dangerous. 


**Nishamura:** (deadpan) Doesn’t matter. She’s our sister. 


**Mizuki:** (playfully nudges Nishamura) Okay, Nishamoron, but how do we even start? 


**Nishamura:** (glares) Don’t call me that. 


**Mizuki:** (grinning) Fine, but seriously! We need a plan. 


**Splinter:** (thoughtful) You must approach this carefully. 


**Nishamura:** (scoffs) Careful? She’s stuck with the enemy. 


**Mizuki:** (serious now) What if we could help her remember who she really is? 


**Splinter:** (cautiously) It’s possible, but it requires strength and unity. 


**Nishamura:** (bitter) Unity? You mean like the way we lost her? 


**Mizuki:** (softly) Nish, we can’t think like that. 


**Nishamura:** (voice low, almost a whisper) You don’t know what it was like. 


**Splinter:** (leans forward) Tell me, Nishamura. What happened? 


**Nishamura:** (pauses, eyes dark) I met her once. She was… different. Not like all of you. 


**Mizuki:** (curious) Different how? 


**Nishamura:** (tightens jaw) She understood me. We connected. 


**Splinter:** (concerned) But she is lost now. 


**Nishamura:** (shaking head) No. She’s not lost. She’s just… changed. 


**Mizuki:** (determined) Then we have to help her change back. 


**Splinter:** (nods, slowly) If we pursue this, we must be prepared. 


**Nishamura:** (stands tall) I’m ready. 


**Mizuki:** (raising fist) Me too! 


**Splinter:** (smiles slightly) Then it is settled. Together, we will find her. 


**Nishamura:** (looking away) Together. 


**Mizuki:** (grins) And I’ll make sure we don’t lose anyone else. 


**Splinter:** (voice steady) Then we begin at dawn. 


**Nishamura:** (nods, resolute) Let’s do this. 


**Mizuki:** (playfully) And no more sneaking out without telling me, okay, Nishamoron? 


**Nishamura:** (glares, but there’s a hint of a smile) Stop it. 


**Splinter:** (chuckles softly) It is good to see you both united. 


**Nishamura:** (quietly) Let’s just get her back. 


**Mizuki:** (smiling) Right. One step at a time. 


**[The tension eases slightly, but the determination remains palpable.]**