Shell Shock
Buttercup sat on the couch, staring at the TV blankly. Bubbles was beside her, playing with a small plastic doll and generally making a whole lot of noise. Buttercup couldn't hear the TV over her yammering, but she tried to stay calm. Blossom was in the back helping the professor prepare for their flight to New York City tomorrow.
"Oh Octi, won't it be so nice to grow up? We can go out late with our sisters and have so much fun." Bubbles said dreamily, lying on her back and holding Octi up in front of her. She giggled and pecked the stuffed octopus on the lips, then blushed. "Oh Octi, I never knew..." She giggled shrilly.
"Will you shut up!" Buttercup screamed irritably. "I'm trying to watch TV, do you mind!?"
"Come on Buttercup, don't you look forward to growing up too?" Bubbles asked.
"Yes I do! You know why? So I can get away from you and that stupid, stupid doll!" Buttercup grabbed Octi and hurled it across the room. Bubbles stared at her, her eyes welling up with moisture. Finally the internal dam burst and she started sobbing onto the couch.
"Bubbles? What's going on in here?" Professor Utonium demanded, marching into the room.
"Buttercup yelled at me and threw Octi across the roooooom!" Bubbles yelled sadly. The Professor turned to Buttercup but she stood up and held up one hand, silencing him.
"I know! I'm going!" Buttercup leapt over the back of the couch and marched upstairs with her hands crossed over her chest. She was getting tired of this. Bubbles never stopped, and Blossom with her high-and-mighty attitude. She couldn't wait until she could get away from them forever. She didn't need them, she would be perfectly happy by herself.
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Raphael didn't really care for these long practice sessions, but he didn't have much choice. This was his and Donatello's day for intense training, tomorrow it would be Michelangelo and Leonardo's turn. He whirled out of the way of Donatello's long bo staff and brought his sais around. He threw one down to pin the bo to the ground and kicked him in the back of the shell.
"Hit one." Raphael smirked. Donatello yanked his bo out of the ground and whirled, sending it spinning toward Raphael's shell. Raphael leapt straight up and shot one foot forward, kicking Donatello in the face. The other turtle went down to the ground with a loud grunt.
"Stop." Splinter ordered, stepping into the middle of the fight. Raphael mentally cursed himself and prepared for his masters reprimand. "Control is the key to ninjitsu, Raphael." He reminded him.
"I know Master Splinter." Raphael replied. This always happened, someone couldn't block so he got yelled at for hitting him.
Splinter sighed, staring into Raphael's eyes. "Take a rest, and calm yourself." Raphael bowed respectfully and turned to head out of the abandoned subway station that served as their home.
When he was out of earshot Raphael let out a frustrated yell and kicked the sewer wall. He took out his sais and slashed the steel, leaving scratches in the grime that covered it. He took a deep breath, relaxing himself before slid the sais back into his belt.
He was getting sick of this. He was tired of sparring with his brothers. He needed to get out of here, away from them. If only he could travel safely outside the sewer he wouldn't need them. If only...
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New York City, the city that is the center for American society. A symbol of American strength, resolve, and utter greed. Professor Utonium and the Powerpuff Girls had endured a very long flight to reach this city, so that the professor could join in the annual science conference. Scientists from every country in the world gather here to exchange ideas, theories, and show off their new advances since the last conference.
The professor had no plans to show off his girls, he didn't want them in the national spotlight. Protecting Townsville was quite enough. Still, he wasn't about to leave his little girls home alone, so he brought them along and instructed them on the way not to use their powers for anything except helping people in danger. He knew they would comply, though they each would deal with it differently.
As they approached the science building a woman in a brown jacket and loose fitting jeans hurried up to them. "And here we have Professor Thomas Utonium just arriving at the annual World Science Expo. Every year this brilliant scientist stuns the crowd with his earth shattering discoveries. Tell me professor, what have you brought this year?"
The Professor chuckled. "Now now, if I told you that everyone would have time to copy it before the fair." He Grinned. The reporter turned back to her camera without missing a beat.
"Well there you have it folks, we'll just have to wait for the expo to begin to know what new ground have been uncovered this year. This is April O'Neil, signing off." She waited for the cameraman to give her the signal before turning back to the professor with a very different demeanor. "You presentation doesn't have anything to do with the now-famous little girls does it?" She looked down at the Powerpuff Girls with a confident smile.
After Professor Dick tried to exploit the girls, everyone knew about them. Still, the professor preferred not to exploit them. "No I'm afraid it doesn't. I really wouldn't want to put them in the spotlight, people could get the wrong idea about them..."
April nodded solemnly. "I understand completely. If the world wasn't so Hell-bent on looks it would be a better place for a lot of good people."
"Well, I should go inside and set up for my presentation. It's been nice talking to you Miss O'Neil. Say goodbye girls." The Professor looked down at his girls.
"Goodbye Miss O'Neil." The girls spoke in unison before they followed their father inside. He hoped they wouldn't have any saving to do, but science was unpredictable... especially with those who would abuse it around.
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"Come on Donnie, change the channel!" Raphael was getting ornery again. His brother would complain about anything that didn't hold his attention, which was almost everything. Especially intellectual stuff like the World Science Expo. Donatello was fascinated with technology and genetics, so he never missed a chance to see it in action or learn a bit more. His brothers were different however.
"Why don't you go find another TV or something?" Donatello sat on the sofa in the middle of the subway tram to watch the news broadcast. They lived in an abandoned subway where an equally abandoned train had afforded them a nice place to live, and even had its own power source.
"Why don't you just go to the damn expo and let us watch something interesting?" Raph shot back. Donatello considered for a moment, stroking his green chin.
"You know, that's not a bad idea." Don stood and left the subway car. Mike and Leo were busy practicing under the strict tutelage of Master Splinter. A rat, transformed into a human-like figure along with the turtles themselves. He had belonged to a martial arts master, and thus learned the skills. He passed those skills onto the turtles, and forced them to re-master them every single day. Splinter was kind, gentle and wise. The turtles' mentor and father.
He wouldn't miss Donatello for a few hours, so he grabbed the thick trench coat and hat as he headed for the exit. He made his way through the sewer tunnels until he finally emerged at a manhole cover near the expo. He slipped on the coat and hat and made his way toward the building.
When he finally wrestled his way inside it was packed with gadgets and gizmos he couldn't name. The sharpest edge of technology, and he was right here with it.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" His gaze was drawn to a figure up on a podium in the very back of the building. "Welcome to the World Science Expo for 2003! Where we'll unveil the future!" Polite applause broke out from the crowd. "Now, we'll start things off with the most brilliant man this century. Professor Thomas Utonium!"
A kind looking man in a formal suit approached the podium and cleared his throat. "Hello, everyone. I know everyone's eager to see my contribution, and I hate to disappoint. Behold!" He gestured grandly, and three little girls pushed a cart onto the stage with a blanket covering the top. The girls looked strange, without fingers, toes, ears, or even a nose.
"Thank you girls. Now, what I'm about to unveil is just a prototype, but I believe it will revolutionize modern medicine." He yanked the blanket aside, revealing a machine roughly half as big as he was. "The Molecular re-sequencer! This thing will have the ability to rearrange the genetic make up of any creature. It would be possible to mend wounds, and replace body parts."
The crowed gave a long, awed sound while Donatello stared at it. A molecular re-sequencer? If it did what he said, it could possibly let him and his brothers exist in this upper world instead of hiding in the sewer.
"Are there any questions?" Professor Utonium asked. "Yes, you in the front." Donatello listened while he answered several questions. Finally he raised his own hand. "Yes, you in the suspicious looking trench coat and hat."
"Could it be used to combine... or separate... the DNA of a particular creature?" Donatello asked. The professor stroked his chin, deep in thought. Finally he replied.
"In theory, but that's not what I designed it for. It was designed to supplement modern medicine and save lives." The questions continued but the turtle's mind was still on that device. He knew he could never possess it short of stealing it, and that wasn't his style. Still, it was an interesting theory...
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The expo came and went without incident. Bubbles was incredibly bored after listening to all the horribly scientific explanations and questions. Why couldn't smart people talk with normal words? Buttercup seemed cranky from the long wait too, but Blossom looked thrilled as they left the building that night with the device in tow.
"Did you guys see that toaster/egg scrambler/juice maker? That thing could really help out in the morning!" Blossom yapped on and on while Bubbles and Buttercup exchanged a droll glance.
"We saw it all! We were there!" Buttercup snapped. "Unfortunately..."
"I'm sorry for dragging you girls out here, I know there are things you would rather be doing." The Professor sighed. "I'll tell you what, as a treat for behaving so well during the expo, I'll take you all out for a pizza."
"Okay!" Even Blossom agreed instantly. The Professor chuckled and led them to a nearby pizza place. They went inside and the professor ordered them a large pepperoni pizza.
"Hey, did you girls notice something strange about that guy in the trench coat?" Buttercup asked as they took their seats to wait for their food to finish cooking. The sequencer thingy was set beside the table so they could keep an eye on it.
"Yeah, his hand looked green." Bubbles commented.
Blossom snorted. "Okay okay we get it, you two don't like intellectuals."
"No really, his hand was green, and he only had three fingers!" Bubbles insisted.
"Now girls, that's enough." The Professor's voice was soft, but none of the girls interrupted him. "You should know better than to make fun of peoples' physical differences behind their back." Bubbles and Buttercup lowered their heads in shame while Blossom smirked.
"Yeah girls." Bubbles and Buttercup glared at her until a figure walked in. He was dressed in normal enough clothes, but something in his eyes set off several alarms in the minds of the crime-fighting trio.
Buttercup cleared her throat. "I'm uh, going to go to the bathroom." She stood up.
"Hold on I'll come with you." Bubbles announced. The Professor gave them permission and they floated into the bathroom. Instantly they used their X-Ray vision to watch the suspicious man through the wall. He didn't even approach the counter, instead roaming through the building like he owned the place. In a few moments he sidled toward the Professor's table.
As quick as a flash they watched his hand dart under the cloth, removing something from the professor's device. "I knew it!" Buttercup exclaimed as he ran for the door suddenly. Neither Blossom nor the professor seemed to have noticed. "Come on Bubbles, let's go nab him!"
The two girls streaked out of the building. The man was running down the alley beside the building. "Hold it right there pal!" Buttercup and Bubbles flew after him, but by the time they reached the alley he was nowhere in sight. "Where on Earth did he go?" They could hear sounds of fighting from somewhere...
"Hey, look!" Bubbles pointed to the ground, where a manhole cover was missing. They streaked up to the sewer entrance and looked inside. "Eeewww..." Bubbles groaned at the smell, but Buttercup shushed her. At the bottom was the man who'd stolen the piece of the device, but he was unconscious with no sign of what happened to him.
"Come on." Buttercup floated into the sewer. Bubbles hesitated, but finally decided to follow. Buttercup pulled the device from the man's coat, picking him up out of the dirty sewer water. "Okay buster, what do you think you were doing robbing the Professor like that?" The man stirred, but was still groggy. "Answer me man!"
Bubbles watched until she heard a splashing sound. It wasn't close, but with her enhanced hearing and the echo of the sewer, she could probably hear a mouse sneeze from a mile away. "Buttercup, what's that sound?"
"Shut up! I'm interrogating him!" Buttercup slammed the crook into the wall. Bubbles wanted to follow the splashing sound, but there was too much of an echo. She couldn't tell which way it was coming from. "Why did you rob the professor! Answer me!" Buttercup raised her fist.
"Okay okay!" The man panicked, raising his hands. "I was ordered to take the piece! I don't know what it was for or who wanted it! The order came in the mail! Now please leave me alone." Buttercup glared at him.
"Just because I'm a kid doesn't make me stupid." Buttercup slapped him across the face. "The truth!"
"I caaan't!" The man looked so frightened Bubbles had to pity him.
"Forget it Buttercup, we have it back and he's sorry, aren't you mister?" Bubbles asked. The man nodded vehemently. "Let's go back before Blossom and the Professor get worried." Buttercup looked willing to stay and slap the guy around a bit more, but she let him fall in the sewer water.
"Try it again and see what happens." Buttercup threatened him one last time before she and Bubbles floated up out of the sewer. "Geeze some people. They don't learn unless ya make 'em." Buttercup punched her own hand, grinning. Bubbles was unusually thoughtful on the way back to the pizza place. She had to wonder... who'd knocked the man out before they got there?
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Two swords flashed in silver arcs while a pair of nunchuks whirled in a furious pattern. Leonardo enjoyed these training sessions. It was nice to let off some steam and improve his skills at the same time.
He whirled, launching a double slash as his more nimble brother. Michelangelo jumped the blades and lashed out with one foot, which Leonardo ducked easily. Master Splinter watched the exchange with a practiced eye, noting every single flaw in their fighting style. Finally he stepped in, stopping their fight an allowing them to rest.
"Whew, finally. Time to relax and order up some pizza." Michelangelo instantly walked toward the phone hanging on the wall. Leonardo frowned and looked in the train. Raphael was watching a kung-fu movie with a bag of corn chips, but he couldn't see Donatello anywhere.
"Where did Donatello go?" He asked. Splinter looked toward the exit, running one withered hand over his chin. Before he could speak however Donatello burst into the hideout excitedly.
"Master Splinter! I've made an incredible discovery!" He rushed toward them and began speaking without waiting for a reply. "I was just at the World Science Expo, and one of the scientists there made a device that can rearrange the molecules in a living organism! It can recombine their entire DNA structure!"
"What does that have to do with us?" Leo asked.
"It could make us human!" Donatello exclaimed. Leonardo and Splinter both stared at him in surprise. Michelangelo made his way over to them from the telephone.
"Dude, did you just say... human?" He asked.
"Yes! If my theory is correct. If it can re-grow and manipulate molecules, there's no reason it couldn't replace the turtle DNA in our bodies with human tissue. We're halfway there anyway, it wouldn't take much to finish the process." Donatello explained. The others were thoughtful. "He's at the pizzaria with his three daughters! If we hurry we can catch him!"
"Be human..." Leonardo looked up at the ceiling.
"Live up there, without hiding." Michelangelo added.
"Please, do not plan action without further knowledge." Splinter warned them wisely. "Only a fool acts on a path that is unsure." He turned to Donatello. "Are you sure this... device works?"
"Well no it wasn't demonstrated, but I think if I get my hands on it I can figure out how it works." Donatello replied.
"You cannot reveal yourself to him. It is far too dangerous, especially if he has such a device." Splinter sighed. "My sons, I know you grow restless. However, you cannot risk being seen. Only through the art of invisibility have you lasted this long. To reveal yourself unnecessarily could bring grave consequences." The turtles sighed in unison.
Leonardo put one hand on his head. Splinter was right, it was stupid to reveal themselves on the vague hope that this device could work. He thought he heard something leaving the subway, but he figured he was imagining things.
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Raphael had overheard the entire conversation. A device that could make them all human... he could leave this place without worrying about being overwhelmed. He was tired of living in the shadows, being forced to live by his brothers. He wanted to make his own way out in the world, and if this was the only way, then so be it.
He made his way to their usual pizza diner and peeked in the window. Sure enough, he saw a tall man in a business suit sitting with three strange looking little girls. They had something beside the table, covered with a thin blanket. Could that be the device Donatello told them about?
Raphael watched the small family finish their pizza and leave the diner. He followed a distance behind them, keeping to the shadows. The brunette girl with green eyes whirled several times, but he kept well out of sight until he was sure she had resumed her walk. Finally they reached one of the larger hotels in the city, and they made their way upstairs.
Raph memorized the floor they stopped at, and made his way up the fire escape. Her found the small family inside one of the hotel rooms. The girls were already dressed in small nightgowns, which meant they would be sleeping soon. Good, that would make it much easier.
Raphael waited for more than an hour to make sure the family was asleep. The moon had risen high into the dark, starless night. He pushed the window open and crept inside without a sound. The three girls slept on heedless. He made his way to the bedroom door and turned the doorknob silently, pushing it open. He turned one more time to make sure the girls were still asleep. They both were... both? Weren't there three?
"SURPRISE SUCKER!" Raphael whirled in time to see a green flash of light streaking toward him. He leapt back with a flip, slamming his feet into the girls face and sending her sailing right over him. The girl landed feet first on the wall and kicked off, sailing toward him again. The girl was flying... these were no ordinary girls.
"What's going on...?" One of the other girls mumbled as the others woke up as well. Raphael quickly took out one of his sais and hurled it at the bed. The other two girls shrieked in surprise, but the sai embedded itself in the bed between them, the two outer blades wrapped firmly around their small stomachs. They were pinned to the bed.
"Ack! What's going on!?" The blond girl exclaimed, trying to push the sai off of her. She couldn't get leverage on the bed however, not enough to remove the weapon.
The brunette girl slammed into the back of his shell, sending him to the ground. "This wierdo's breaking in!" She yelled. Raph rolled on the ground, then flipped to his feet easily.
"Hey, relax, I'm just here to borrow something!" Raph got in a solid fighting stance. The brunette girl scoffed.
"Borrow, right. You picked the wrong people to borrow from pal!" The brunette launched herself at him, but Raph leapt back, kicking off the wall and sailing right over her shimmering green light trail. He rolled to the door and pushed it open, emerging into the living area. The girl followed close behind, but he whirled and slammed one foot into the side of her head.
She rebounded and slammed into the far wall, punching a hole straight through to the hallway beyond. "I gotta get outta here." Raph said to himself, looking around quickly. He spotted the covered bundle sitting on the couch, so he hurried and grabbed it, running for the window.
"No you don't!" A crimson light shined from behind him, slamming into his shell. Strangely, he didn't feel any pain. In fact, he felt better than ever. He leapt through the window and slid down the fire escape, vanishing into the shadows around the base of the building. The brunette girl ran to the fire escape, but didn't see him.
"Damnit!" The girl punched the windowsill, splintering it, before she went back inside. Raphael took off down the street quickly. He would return the device when they were done with it... a sudden return with it unharmed. No harm done, and much good done. He thought it was a good idea.
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Buttercup fumed as she stomped back into the hotel suit. How could she let some giant green thing make off with the professor's device? Stupid mutant piece of... she then remembered Bubbles and Blossom still pinned to the bed by that weird weapon he'd used. She flew into the bedroom. Her sisters were staring at her worriedly.
"What happened? Where is it?" Blossom asked. Buttercup delayed answering while she pulled the weapon from the bed, freeing her sisters.
"It got away, with the professor's device thing." Buttercup admitted.
"What!? Buttercup how could you let it get away!?" Blossom demanded incredulously. Buttercup sneered back.
"Hey lay off! I didn't see you jumping to the rescue!" Buttercup retorted.
"I didn't think a Powerpuff Girl could be beaten by one stupid stinking turtle thing!" Blossom shot back.
"Oh yeah!? Well-" Buttercup was cut off by the professor's sudden appearance in the bedroom.
"Girls, I heard all kinds of commotion, what happened!?" He rushed to the bed to make sure they were okay.
"Buttercup let a criminal get away!" Blossom exclaimed. Buttercup glared at her hatefully. How she wished she could get out of here right now, but of course that wasn't an option.
"Professor, it was weird." Buttercup looked up at his face. "I tried to use my eye beams to stop him, but it didn't seem to have any effect. It was like it was immune to my powers." The Professor stared at her curiously.
"And he left this." Blossom held up the strange three-spiked weapon. The Professor took it and examined it carefully.
"I don't know what it is... but don't worry girls, we'll find him. I just hope we find him soon, if that device falls into the wrong hands... it could be terrible." The Professor ran one hand over the weapon. Buttercup lowered her gaze to the bed, knowing it was her fault the freak got away. "Do you remember what the intruder looked like?"
"A giant turtle." The girls replied in unison.
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Raphael hurried through the shadows toward a manhole cover near the turtles' new home. He doubted anyone would see him on these streets this late at night, but he wasn't about to take chances. They'd thought the Foot Clan gone once before, only to have it return a while later. He wouldn't risk their new home again, though hopefully it was only a matter of time before they left it.
He neared the desired manhole cover, but didn't move to open it. He heard something behind, a faint whisper of sound, but enough to be something unpleasant. Burdened as he was by the device, he wouldn't be able to fight very effectively.
As quick as a flash the ninja turtle leapt backward head over heels. He put the device on the ground and pushed himself off from it, reaching for his sais as he landed. He was surprised to only find one, until he remembered he'd left the other one behind to hold the other girls back. His pursuer now stood where he had moments before, watching him.
"Not bad for a freak of nature." Its voice was surprisingly soft and dulcet, a sharp contrast to the almost devilish look of its body. Its voice transformed into a dark hiss. "Now give me the device!"
"No way pal, you're not getting anything." Raphael whirled his one remaining sigh in front of him. His attacker grinned and lunged at, two crab-like claws snapping at the turtle. Raph deflected one with his sai, barely avoiding the other and planting a solid kick into the things face.
The figure's head snapped backward... then reset itself with a wide, evil grin. "Is that all the strength you have? How disappointing." It grabbed his arm and twisted, sending him to his knees from pain as his arm was wrenched almost out of its socket. "You shouldn't fight a battle you cannot win." The figure laughed evilly.
Raph spoke through clenched teeth. "You talk too much... pal..."He jumped into the air, spinning around fast enough to pop his own arm back into place before he came down behind his attacker, kicking it in the back of the head. The figure stumbled forward off balance. "You're not getting anything!" He grabbed the device the turned to leave.
"FOOL!" The voice howled in rage behind him. Before he knew it the ground beneath him erupted upward in a wave of searing power. He screamed despite himself, feeling his strength ebbing. Finally he fell into unconsciousness on the New York City street.
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News of Professor Utonium's missing device spread quickly the following day. Still, April O'Neil found it hard to focus on this assignment. The turtles had told her that morning that Raphael had gone missing some time last night. They'd scoured the entire sewer system, but they couldn't find him anywhere. It wasn't unusual for him to disappear, but usually he let someone know he was gone.
She sighed as she reached the floor where Professor Utonium and his daughters were staying. When she exited the elevator there were already several dozen police officers scouring the hotel suit, but the professor and girls were out front talking with police.
"Okay, roll it." She told her cameraman as she walked toward the group. She stopped and turned to face the camera. "This is April O'Neil reporting on a daring late-night robbery that took place early last night. I have here the victims, Professor Utonium and his three daughters, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup." She approached the group. "Excuse me, can I have a word with you?"
Professor Utonium looked tired of the constant questions, but Bubbles floated up to her face quickly. "I'm telling you it was a turtle! A big, slimy, icky TURTLE!" April stared at her in surprise, not saying anything.
Blossom sighed and pulled her down to the floor. "Bubbles, the police didn't believe us, why would the press?" April turned back to the camera, trying to think of a response.
"We'll be right back..." She waited for the cameraman to give the signal before she turned toward the elevator. "I'll be right back." She closed the elevator doors and took out her cell phone, hitting the quick dial. She waited until someone picked up. "Were you guys watching?"
"We heard it, but we don't believe it." Leonardo's voice came back. She could hear the others chattering in the background. "Raphael would never steal anything..." his voice didn't sound too sure however. April poked her head out of the elevator, looking around to make sure she was still alone. She saw one of the cops walking toward a small collection of bags with a bag in his hand containing what she recognized instantly as one of Raphael's sais.
"It was him... one of his weapons is here!" She ducked back into the elevator. Leonardo swore softly into the phone. "I don't get it. Why would he try to steal a genetic re-sequencer? He's not very technology oriented."
"It's a long story, I'll explain later... hold on a second." April waited while Leonardo talking away from the phone with the others. After a few minutes he came back on the line. "Master Splinter wants to meet with them and get this resolved before this anti-turtle stuff sends us back to square one."
"Right, I'll handle it." She hung up and left the elevator, approaching the family again. "Excuse me..."
"Please, no more questions." The Professor groaned.
April looked to make sure no cops were listening, then knelt down toward the family, whispering. "I think I know who did this. I can take you somewhere that can help, but I have to do a job here. One of you can go." The four Utoniums stared at her. Finally Blossom volunteered.
"I'll go, everyone else can stay here for the interview." She said. April nodded.
"Go to the alley behind the pizzaria two blocks from here, they'll meet you there." April said. Blossom nodded and quietly floated out the window of the suit. April cleared her throat and stood up to resume the interview.
Buttercup sat on the couch, staring at the TV blankly. Bubbles was beside her, playing with a small plastic doll and generally making a whole lot of noise. Buttercup couldn't hear the TV over her yammering, but she tried to stay calm. Blossom was in the back helping the professor prepare for their flight to New York City tomorrow.
"Oh Octi, won't it be so nice to grow up? We can go out late with our sisters and have so much fun." Bubbles said dreamily, lying on her back and holding Octi up in front of her. She giggled and pecked the stuffed octopus on the lips, then blushed. "Oh Octi, I never knew..." She giggled shrilly.
"Will you shut up!" Buttercup screamed irritably. "I'm trying to watch TV, do you mind!?"
"Come on Buttercup, don't you look forward to growing up too?" Bubbles asked.
"Yes I do! You know why? So I can get away from you and that stupid, stupid doll!" Buttercup grabbed Octi and hurled it across the room. Bubbles stared at her, her eyes welling up with moisture. Finally the internal dam burst and she started sobbing onto the couch.
"Bubbles? What's going on in here?" Professor Utonium demanded, marching into the room.
"Buttercup yelled at me and threw Octi across the roooooom!" Bubbles yelled sadly. The Professor turned to Buttercup but she stood up and held up one hand, silencing him.
"I know! I'm going!" Buttercup leapt over the back of the couch and marched upstairs with her hands crossed over her chest. She was getting tired of this. Bubbles never stopped, and Blossom with her high-and-mighty attitude. She couldn't wait until she could get away from them forever. She didn't need them, she would be perfectly happy by herself.
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Raphael didn't really care for these long practice sessions, but he didn't have much choice. This was his and Donatello's day for intense training, tomorrow it would be Michelangelo and Leonardo's turn. He whirled out of the way of Donatello's long bo staff and brought his sais around. He threw one down to pin the bo to the ground and kicked him in the back of the shell.
"Hit one." Raphael smirked. Donatello yanked his bo out of the ground and whirled, sending it spinning toward Raphael's shell. Raphael leapt straight up and shot one foot forward, kicking Donatello in the face. The other turtle went down to the ground with a loud grunt.
"Stop." Splinter ordered, stepping into the middle of the fight. Raphael mentally cursed himself and prepared for his masters reprimand. "Control is the key to ninjitsu, Raphael." He reminded him.
"I know Master Splinter." Raphael replied. This always happened, someone couldn't block so he got yelled at for hitting him.
Splinter sighed, staring into Raphael's eyes. "Take a rest, and calm yourself." Raphael bowed respectfully and turned to head out of the abandoned subway station that served as their home.
When he was out of earshot Raphael let out a frustrated yell and kicked the sewer wall. He took out his sais and slashed the steel, leaving scratches in the grime that covered it. He took a deep breath, relaxing himself before slid the sais back into his belt.
He was getting sick of this. He was tired of sparring with his brothers. He needed to get out of here, away from them. If only he could travel safely outside the sewer he wouldn't need them. If only...
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New York City, the city that is the center for American society. A symbol of American strength, resolve, and utter greed. Professor Utonium and the Powerpuff Girls had endured a very long flight to reach this city, so that the professor could join in the annual science conference. Scientists from every country in the world gather here to exchange ideas, theories, and show off their new advances since the last conference.
The professor had no plans to show off his girls, he didn't want them in the national spotlight. Protecting Townsville was quite enough. Still, he wasn't about to leave his little girls home alone, so he brought them along and instructed them on the way not to use their powers for anything except helping people in danger. He knew they would comply, though they each would deal with it differently.
As they approached the science building a woman in a brown jacket and loose fitting jeans hurried up to them. "And here we have Professor Thomas Utonium just arriving at the annual World Science Expo. Every year this brilliant scientist stuns the crowd with his earth shattering discoveries. Tell me professor, what have you brought this year?"
The Professor chuckled. "Now now, if I told you that everyone would have time to copy it before the fair." He Grinned. The reporter turned back to her camera without missing a beat.
"Well there you have it folks, we'll just have to wait for the expo to begin to know what new ground have been uncovered this year. This is April O'Neil, signing off." She waited for the cameraman to give her the signal before turning back to the professor with a very different demeanor. "You presentation doesn't have anything to do with the now-famous little girls does it?" She looked down at the Powerpuff Girls with a confident smile.
After Professor Dick tried to exploit the girls, everyone knew about them. Still, the professor preferred not to exploit them. "No I'm afraid it doesn't. I really wouldn't want to put them in the spotlight, people could get the wrong idea about them..."
April nodded solemnly. "I understand completely. If the world wasn't so Hell-bent on looks it would be a better place for a lot of good people."
"Well, I should go inside and set up for my presentation. It's been nice talking to you Miss O'Neil. Say goodbye girls." The Professor looked down at his girls.
"Goodbye Miss O'Neil." The girls spoke in unison before they followed their father inside. He hoped they wouldn't have any saving to do, but science was unpredictable... especially with those who would abuse it around.
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"Come on Donnie, change the channel!" Raphael was getting ornery again. His brother would complain about anything that didn't hold his attention, which was almost everything. Especially intellectual stuff like the World Science Expo. Donatello was fascinated with technology and genetics, so he never missed a chance to see it in action or learn a bit more. His brothers were different however.
"Why don't you go find another TV or something?" Donatello sat on the sofa in the middle of the subway tram to watch the news broadcast. They lived in an abandoned subway where an equally abandoned train had afforded them a nice place to live, and even had its own power source.
"Why don't you just go to the damn expo and let us watch something interesting?" Raph shot back. Donatello considered for a moment, stroking his green chin.
"You know, that's not a bad idea." Don stood and left the subway car. Mike and Leo were busy practicing under the strict tutelage of Master Splinter. A rat, transformed into a human-like figure along with the turtles themselves. He had belonged to a martial arts master, and thus learned the skills. He passed those skills onto the turtles, and forced them to re-master them every single day. Splinter was kind, gentle and wise. The turtles' mentor and father.
He wouldn't miss Donatello for a few hours, so he grabbed the thick trench coat and hat as he headed for the exit. He made his way through the sewer tunnels until he finally emerged at a manhole cover near the expo. He slipped on the coat and hat and made his way toward the building.
When he finally wrestled his way inside it was packed with gadgets and gizmos he couldn't name. The sharpest edge of technology, and he was right here with it.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" His gaze was drawn to a figure up on a podium in the very back of the building. "Welcome to the World Science Expo for 2003! Where we'll unveil the future!" Polite applause broke out from the crowd. "Now, we'll start things off with the most brilliant man this century. Professor Thomas Utonium!"
A kind looking man in a formal suit approached the podium and cleared his throat. "Hello, everyone. I know everyone's eager to see my contribution, and I hate to disappoint. Behold!" He gestured grandly, and three little girls pushed a cart onto the stage with a blanket covering the top. The girls looked strange, without fingers, toes, ears, or even a nose.
"Thank you girls. Now, what I'm about to unveil is just a prototype, but I believe it will revolutionize modern medicine." He yanked the blanket aside, revealing a machine roughly half as big as he was. "The Molecular re-sequencer! This thing will have the ability to rearrange the genetic make up of any creature. It would be possible to mend wounds, and replace body parts."
The crowed gave a long, awed sound while Donatello stared at it. A molecular re-sequencer? If it did what he said, it could possibly let him and his brothers exist in this upper world instead of hiding in the sewer.
"Are there any questions?" Professor Utonium asked. "Yes, you in the front." Donatello listened while he answered several questions. Finally he raised his own hand. "Yes, you in the suspicious looking trench coat and hat."
"Could it be used to combine... or separate... the DNA of a particular creature?" Donatello asked. The professor stroked his chin, deep in thought. Finally he replied.
"In theory, but that's not what I designed it for. It was designed to supplement modern medicine and save lives." The questions continued but the turtle's mind was still on that device. He knew he could never possess it short of stealing it, and that wasn't his style. Still, it was an interesting theory...
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The expo came and went without incident. Bubbles was incredibly bored after listening to all the horribly scientific explanations and questions. Why couldn't smart people talk with normal words? Buttercup seemed cranky from the long wait too, but Blossom looked thrilled as they left the building that night with the device in tow.
"Did you guys see that toaster/egg scrambler/juice maker? That thing could really help out in the morning!" Blossom yapped on and on while Bubbles and Buttercup exchanged a droll glance.
"We saw it all! We were there!" Buttercup snapped. "Unfortunately..."
"I'm sorry for dragging you girls out here, I know there are things you would rather be doing." The Professor sighed. "I'll tell you what, as a treat for behaving so well during the expo, I'll take you all out for a pizza."
"Okay!" Even Blossom agreed instantly. The Professor chuckled and led them to a nearby pizza place. They went inside and the professor ordered them a large pepperoni pizza.
"Hey, did you girls notice something strange about that guy in the trench coat?" Buttercup asked as they took their seats to wait for their food to finish cooking. The sequencer thingy was set beside the table so they could keep an eye on it.
"Yeah, his hand looked green." Bubbles commented.
Blossom snorted. "Okay okay we get it, you two don't like intellectuals."
"No really, his hand was green, and he only had three fingers!" Bubbles insisted.
"Now girls, that's enough." The Professor's voice was soft, but none of the girls interrupted him. "You should know better than to make fun of peoples' physical differences behind their back." Bubbles and Buttercup lowered their heads in shame while Blossom smirked.
"Yeah girls." Bubbles and Buttercup glared at her until a figure walked in. He was dressed in normal enough clothes, but something in his eyes set off several alarms in the minds of the crime-fighting trio.
Buttercup cleared her throat. "I'm uh, going to go to the bathroom." She stood up.
"Hold on I'll come with you." Bubbles announced. The Professor gave them permission and they floated into the bathroom. Instantly they used their X-Ray vision to watch the suspicious man through the wall. He didn't even approach the counter, instead roaming through the building like he owned the place. In a few moments he sidled toward the Professor's table.
As quick as a flash they watched his hand dart under the cloth, removing something from the professor's device. "I knew it!" Buttercup exclaimed as he ran for the door suddenly. Neither Blossom nor the professor seemed to have noticed. "Come on Bubbles, let's go nab him!"
The two girls streaked out of the building. The man was running down the alley beside the building. "Hold it right there pal!" Buttercup and Bubbles flew after him, but by the time they reached the alley he was nowhere in sight. "Where on Earth did he go?" They could hear sounds of fighting from somewhere...
"Hey, look!" Bubbles pointed to the ground, where a manhole cover was missing. They streaked up to the sewer entrance and looked inside. "Eeewww..." Bubbles groaned at the smell, but Buttercup shushed her. At the bottom was the man who'd stolen the piece of the device, but he was unconscious with no sign of what happened to him.
"Come on." Buttercup floated into the sewer. Bubbles hesitated, but finally decided to follow. Buttercup pulled the device from the man's coat, picking him up out of the dirty sewer water. "Okay buster, what do you think you were doing robbing the Professor like that?" The man stirred, but was still groggy. "Answer me man!"
Bubbles watched until she heard a splashing sound. It wasn't close, but with her enhanced hearing and the echo of the sewer, she could probably hear a mouse sneeze from a mile away. "Buttercup, what's that sound?"
"Shut up! I'm interrogating him!" Buttercup slammed the crook into the wall. Bubbles wanted to follow the splashing sound, but there was too much of an echo. She couldn't tell which way it was coming from. "Why did you rob the professor! Answer me!" Buttercup raised her fist.
"Okay okay!" The man panicked, raising his hands. "I was ordered to take the piece! I don't know what it was for or who wanted it! The order came in the mail! Now please leave me alone." Buttercup glared at him.
"Just because I'm a kid doesn't make me stupid." Buttercup slapped him across the face. "The truth!"
"I caaan't!" The man looked so frightened Bubbles had to pity him.
"Forget it Buttercup, we have it back and he's sorry, aren't you mister?" Bubbles asked. The man nodded vehemently. "Let's go back before Blossom and the Professor get worried." Buttercup looked willing to stay and slap the guy around a bit more, but she let him fall in the sewer water.
"Try it again and see what happens." Buttercup threatened him one last time before she and Bubbles floated up out of the sewer. "Geeze some people. They don't learn unless ya make 'em." Buttercup punched her own hand, grinning. Bubbles was unusually thoughtful on the way back to the pizza place. She had to wonder... who'd knocked the man out before they got there?
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Two swords flashed in silver arcs while a pair of nunchuks whirled in a furious pattern. Leonardo enjoyed these training sessions. It was nice to let off some steam and improve his skills at the same time.
He whirled, launching a double slash as his more nimble brother. Michelangelo jumped the blades and lashed out with one foot, which Leonardo ducked easily. Master Splinter watched the exchange with a practiced eye, noting every single flaw in their fighting style. Finally he stepped in, stopping their fight an allowing them to rest.
"Whew, finally. Time to relax and order up some pizza." Michelangelo instantly walked toward the phone hanging on the wall. Leonardo frowned and looked in the train. Raphael was watching a kung-fu movie with a bag of corn chips, but he couldn't see Donatello anywhere.
"Where did Donatello go?" He asked. Splinter looked toward the exit, running one withered hand over his chin. Before he could speak however Donatello burst into the hideout excitedly.
"Master Splinter! I've made an incredible discovery!" He rushed toward them and began speaking without waiting for a reply. "I was just at the World Science Expo, and one of the scientists there made a device that can rearrange the molecules in a living organism! It can recombine their entire DNA structure!"
"What does that have to do with us?" Leo asked.
"It could make us human!" Donatello exclaimed. Leonardo and Splinter both stared at him in surprise. Michelangelo made his way over to them from the telephone.
"Dude, did you just say... human?" He asked.
"Yes! If my theory is correct. If it can re-grow and manipulate molecules, there's no reason it couldn't replace the turtle DNA in our bodies with human tissue. We're halfway there anyway, it wouldn't take much to finish the process." Donatello explained. The others were thoughtful. "He's at the pizzaria with his three daughters! If we hurry we can catch him!"
"Be human..." Leonardo looked up at the ceiling.
"Live up there, without hiding." Michelangelo added.
"Please, do not plan action without further knowledge." Splinter warned them wisely. "Only a fool acts on a path that is unsure." He turned to Donatello. "Are you sure this... device works?"
"Well no it wasn't demonstrated, but I think if I get my hands on it I can figure out how it works." Donatello replied.
"You cannot reveal yourself to him. It is far too dangerous, especially if he has such a device." Splinter sighed. "My sons, I know you grow restless. However, you cannot risk being seen. Only through the art of invisibility have you lasted this long. To reveal yourself unnecessarily could bring grave consequences." The turtles sighed in unison.
Leonardo put one hand on his head. Splinter was right, it was stupid to reveal themselves on the vague hope that this device could work. He thought he heard something leaving the subway, but he figured he was imagining things.
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Raphael had overheard the entire conversation. A device that could make them all human... he could leave this place without worrying about being overwhelmed. He was tired of living in the shadows, being forced to live by his brothers. He wanted to make his own way out in the world, and if this was the only way, then so be it.
He made his way to their usual pizza diner and peeked in the window. Sure enough, he saw a tall man in a business suit sitting with three strange looking little girls. They had something beside the table, covered with a thin blanket. Could that be the device Donatello told them about?
Raphael watched the small family finish their pizza and leave the diner. He followed a distance behind them, keeping to the shadows. The brunette girl with green eyes whirled several times, but he kept well out of sight until he was sure she had resumed her walk. Finally they reached one of the larger hotels in the city, and they made their way upstairs.
Raph memorized the floor they stopped at, and made his way up the fire escape. Her found the small family inside one of the hotel rooms. The girls were already dressed in small nightgowns, which meant they would be sleeping soon. Good, that would make it much easier.
Raphael waited for more than an hour to make sure the family was asleep. The moon had risen high into the dark, starless night. He pushed the window open and crept inside without a sound. The three girls slept on heedless. He made his way to the bedroom door and turned the doorknob silently, pushing it open. He turned one more time to make sure the girls were still asleep. They both were... both? Weren't there three?
"SURPRISE SUCKER!" Raphael whirled in time to see a green flash of light streaking toward him. He leapt back with a flip, slamming his feet into the girls face and sending her sailing right over him. The girl landed feet first on the wall and kicked off, sailing toward him again. The girl was flying... these were no ordinary girls.
"What's going on...?" One of the other girls mumbled as the others woke up as well. Raphael quickly took out one of his sais and hurled it at the bed. The other two girls shrieked in surprise, but the sai embedded itself in the bed between them, the two outer blades wrapped firmly around their small stomachs. They were pinned to the bed.
"Ack! What's going on!?" The blond girl exclaimed, trying to push the sai off of her. She couldn't get leverage on the bed however, not enough to remove the weapon.
The brunette girl slammed into the back of his shell, sending him to the ground. "This wierdo's breaking in!" She yelled. Raph rolled on the ground, then flipped to his feet easily.
"Hey, relax, I'm just here to borrow something!" Raph got in a solid fighting stance. The brunette girl scoffed.
"Borrow, right. You picked the wrong people to borrow from pal!" The brunette launched herself at him, but Raph leapt back, kicking off the wall and sailing right over her shimmering green light trail. He rolled to the door and pushed it open, emerging into the living area. The girl followed close behind, but he whirled and slammed one foot into the side of her head.
She rebounded and slammed into the far wall, punching a hole straight through to the hallway beyond. "I gotta get outta here." Raph said to himself, looking around quickly. He spotted the covered bundle sitting on the couch, so he hurried and grabbed it, running for the window.
"No you don't!" A crimson light shined from behind him, slamming into his shell. Strangely, he didn't feel any pain. In fact, he felt better than ever. He leapt through the window and slid down the fire escape, vanishing into the shadows around the base of the building. The brunette girl ran to the fire escape, but didn't see him.
"Damnit!" The girl punched the windowsill, splintering it, before she went back inside. Raphael took off down the street quickly. He would return the device when they were done with it... a sudden return with it unharmed. No harm done, and much good done. He thought it was a good idea.
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Buttercup fumed as she stomped back into the hotel suit. How could she let some giant green thing make off with the professor's device? Stupid mutant piece of... she then remembered Bubbles and Blossom still pinned to the bed by that weird weapon he'd used. She flew into the bedroom. Her sisters were staring at her worriedly.
"What happened? Where is it?" Blossom asked. Buttercup delayed answering while she pulled the weapon from the bed, freeing her sisters.
"It got away, with the professor's device thing." Buttercup admitted.
"What!? Buttercup how could you let it get away!?" Blossom demanded incredulously. Buttercup sneered back.
"Hey lay off! I didn't see you jumping to the rescue!" Buttercup retorted.
"I didn't think a Powerpuff Girl could be beaten by one stupid stinking turtle thing!" Blossom shot back.
"Oh yeah!? Well-" Buttercup was cut off by the professor's sudden appearance in the bedroom.
"Girls, I heard all kinds of commotion, what happened!?" He rushed to the bed to make sure they were okay.
"Buttercup let a criminal get away!" Blossom exclaimed. Buttercup glared at her hatefully. How she wished she could get out of here right now, but of course that wasn't an option.
"Professor, it was weird." Buttercup looked up at his face. "I tried to use my eye beams to stop him, but it didn't seem to have any effect. It was like it was immune to my powers." The Professor stared at her curiously.
"And he left this." Blossom held up the strange three-spiked weapon. The Professor took it and examined it carefully.
"I don't know what it is... but don't worry girls, we'll find him. I just hope we find him soon, if that device falls into the wrong hands... it could be terrible." The Professor ran one hand over the weapon. Buttercup lowered her gaze to the bed, knowing it was her fault the freak got away. "Do you remember what the intruder looked like?"
"A giant turtle." The girls replied in unison.
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Raphael hurried through the shadows toward a manhole cover near the turtles' new home. He doubted anyone would see him on these streets this late at night, but he wasn't about to take chances. They'd thought the Foot Clan gone once before, only to have it return a while later. He wouldn't risk their new home again, though hopefully it was only a matter of time before they left it.
He neared the desired manhole cover, but didn't move to open it. He heard something behind, a faint whisper of sound, but enough to be something unpleasant. Burdened as he was by the device, he wouldn't be able to fight very effectively.
As quick as a flash the ninja turtle leapt backward head over heels. He put the device on the ground and pushed himself off from it, reaching for his sais as he landed. He was surprised to only find one, until he remembered he'd left the other one behind to hold the other girls back. His pursuer now stood where he had moments before, watching him.
"Not bad for a freak of nature." Its voice was surprisingly soft and dulcet, a sharp contrast to the almost devilish look of its body. Its voice transformed into a dark hiss. "Now give me the device!"
"No way pal, you're not getting anything." Raphael whirled his one remaining sigh in front of him. His attacker grinned and lunged at, two crab-like claws snapping at the turtle. Raph deflected one with his sai, barely avoiding the other and planting a solid kick into the things face.
The figure's head snapped backward... then reset itself with a wide, evil grin. "Is that all the strength you have? How disappointing." It grabbed his arm and twisted, sending him to his knees from pain as his arm was wrenched almost out of its socket. "You shouldn't fight a battle you cannot win." The figure laughed evilly.
Raph spoke through clenched teeth. "You talk too much... pal..."He jumped into the air, spinning around fast enough to pop his own arm back into place before he came down behind his attacker, kicking it in the back of the head. The figure stumbled forward off balance. "You're not getting anything!" He grabbed the device the turned to leave.
"FOOL!" The voice howled in rage behind him. Before he knew it the ground beneath him erupted upward in a wave of searing power. He screamed despite himself, feeling his strength ebbing. Finally he fell into unconsciousness on the New York City street.
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News of Professor Utonium's missing device spread quickly the following day. Still, April O'Neil found it hard to focus on this assignment. The turtles had told her that morning that Raphael had gone missing some time last night. They'd scoured the entire sewer system, but they couldn't find him anywhere. It wasn't unusual for him to disappear, but usually he let someone know he was gone.
She sighed as she reached the floor where Professor Utonium and his daughters were staying. When she exited the elevator there were already several dozen police officers scouring the hotel suit, but the professor and girls were out front talking with police.
"Okay, roll it." She told her cameraman as she walked toward the group. She stopped and turned to face the camera. "This is April O'Neil reporting on a daring late-night robbery that took place early last night. I have here the victims, Professor Utonium and his three daughters, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup." She approached the group. "Excuse me, can I have a word with you?"
Professor Utonium looked tired of the constant questions, but Bubbles floated up to her face quickly. "I'm telling you it was a turtle! A big, slimy, icky TURTLE!" April stared at her in surprise, not saying anything.
Blossom sighed and pulled her down to the floor. "Bubbles, the police didn't believe us, why would the press?" April turned back to the camera, trying to think of a response.
"We'll be right back..." She waited for the cameraman to give the signal before she turned toward the elevator. "I'll be right back." She closed the elevator doors and took out her cell phone, hitting the quick dial. She waited until someone picked up. "Were you guys watching?"
"We heard it, but we don't believe it." Leonardo's voice came back. She could hear the others chattering in the background. "Raphael would never steal anything..." his voice didn't sound too sure however. April poked her head out of the elevator, looking around to make sure she was still alone. She saw one of the cops walking toward a small collection of bags with a bag in his hand containing what she recognized instantly as one of Raphael's sais.
"It was him... one of his weapons is here!" She ducked back into the elevator. Leonardo swore softly into the phone. "I don't get it. Why would he try to steal a genetic re-sequencer? He's not very technology oriented."
"It's a long story, I'll explain later... hold on a second." April waited while Leonardo talking away from the phone with the others. After a few minutes he came back on the line. "Master Splinter wants to meet with them and get this resolved before this anti-turtle stuff sends us back to square one."
"Right, I'll handle it." She hung up and left the elevator, approaching the family again. "Excuse me..."
"Please, no more questions." The Professor groaned.
April looked to make sure no cops were listening, then knelt down toward the family, whispering. "I think I know who did this. I can take you somewhere that can help, but I have to do a job here. One of you can go." The four Utoniums stared at her. Finally Blossom volunteered.
"I'll go, everyone else can stay here for the interview." She said. April nodded.
"Go to the alley behind the pizzaria two blocks from here, they'll meet you there." April said. Blossom nodded and quietly floated out the window of the suit. April cleared her throat and stood up to resume the interview.