Suite at the Shellstead

Takes place after 2014 TMNT. It's neat thinking about a few "what-if" scenario's. Always open to feedback!


New York City Sewer Den

4:00 EST

"You're tuned into Channel 9 Eyewitness News, your numero-uno station for the Big Apple, this is Kev Peterson reporting. We have a breaking story this afternoon - a robbery attempt was foiled and a busload of elementary students are safe after a nearby armored car bombing in downtown Manhattan. Police are saying those at large left evidence that they are the same rumored 'Foot Clan' involved in the Time Square disaster earlier this year..."

A pair of pointed ears turned towards the nearby television. Splinter, a five foot tall, genetically mutated rat, had been quietly meditating beforehand until he overheard the news. His eye cracked open, well aware that the Foot weren't merely rumors. They were, in effect, his greatest fear.

"... so keep your eyes open folks - the NYPD Crimeline is only a tweet or speed-dial away. We're also receiving new details on the children's rescue, and there's no doubt their story will fuel the ever growing buzz about New York's own mysterious crime fighting team. First on-scene and standing by with the details, here's our newest up-and-coming field reporter, April O'Neil..."

Knowing he had more than mere suspicion about who the mysterious crime fighters were, Splinter suddenly turned to watch the footage of downtown Manhattan. He was more than concerned now, but when April appeared onscreen, his worry mostly vanished. Because despite the chunks of concrete torn out of the building right behind her, she was calm - relaxed even. Before she spoke, she gave a quick nod towards the camera, as if to tell him things were just fine.

And he believed he. He'd seen the same look on her face just after she'd rescued them from the fire in Sach's lab almost sixteen years ago.


"Thanks, Kev. April O'Neil here, reporting live from downtown here at Global Banking; where an armored car out front was robbed using high power explosives. These kids standing here with me were just on a field trip visiting the nearby Metro Art Museum when their bus was moved to safety by rescuers just seconds before the blast occurred, which was so powerful, it caused all this widespread damage to the block here."

Vern, her cameraman, had panned to the nearby damage then followed back to April - where a group of young boys huddled close around her, staring intently. Vern had to stifle a laugh as the kids quickly snapped back to reality.

"So boys, can you tell me and everyone out there about what happened?"

"Yeah, I can!" A blonde haired boy piped up with wide eyes. "It was huge."

April nodded. "The explosion?"

"No, it's muscles!" He nudged the darker haired boy next to him excitedly. "He had on a mask too right, Josh? Dude, I know you saw him too!"

"Rob, it's called a bandana, stupid!"

"Hey, don't call me stupid, Captain Know-it-all!"

"Boys!" April gently scolded them after stifling a laugh, then pointed at the camera. "You're on live T.V.!"

They looked at the camera, then at Vern, who couldn't help but laugh as he zoomed in on their faces. "Oops."

"Yeah," the tallest boy with glasses piped up behind them, "this isn't Mrs. Howard's class, you guys. Show a little decorum!" Pleased with getting to boast his vocabulary, he went back to dreamily staring up at April.

"Okay, sorry," Rob conceded, but Josh quickly added, "Yeah, he's the real know-it-all."

April put on her best face, hoping to salvage the rest of the interview. "So, anything else about your rescuers?"

Rob said, "Yeah, the way he pushed our bus out of the way... if he hadn't done that, we'd have been really hurt."

"Yeah," the chorus of of kids agreed.

"Also... it was green, I think."

"Green? Oh, his bandana was green?" April quickly added with a wink, hoping he'd be smart enough to play along. "He must not want anyone to see his real identity."

To her relief, he took the hint and began nodding too. "Yeah," he added coolly.

The quiet one in the back stepped forward and held out a piece of paper. "Here, Miss O'Neil, I drew a picture of it for you."

"Why... thank you. What's your name?"

"Alister."

April looked down at the crudely colored drawing and went silent for a moment. The boys wasted no time in filling in the dead air time though...

"Hey Crayon-head, don't you ever stop drawing?"

"Shut up, Josh, or I'll draw you as a pig next!"

"Kids!" April finally intervened with a small giggle, then briefly held the picture up to the camera. "They're so creative, aren't they? Well, I hope their rescuers know that anyone with a heart in this city thanks them many times over for their bravery. I know we can all sleep a little better tonight. Live from downtown, this is April O'Neil. Back to you, Kev."


"Thanks April. I certainly feel a lot safer in the Big Apple tonight, how about you all? And now the weather, up next after these messages..."

Splinter's relief relaxed into a gentle laughter that echoed throughout the sewer den. But just as he turned back to meditate, a sudden realization hit him. With a swift move, he grabbed the nearby T.V. remote and rewound it a few seconds. He went through frame by frame, until he came to when April had shown the picture. Much to his relief, she had stealthily placed her hand in front of it just before entering the view of the camera.

"Hmm," Splinter pondered, as he zoomed in on the picture further with a few clicks of the remote. He kept moving closer in, just enough to see flecks of green and orange crayon between her forefinger and thumb.

"Michaelangelo!"


"Guys, that was totally cool - like Mythbusters cool." Mikey's blue eyes gleamed with excitement as he looked toward his brothers, waiting for them to agree.

"You mean the way those kids didn't scream their heads off when they saw you?" Donatello asked as he backed their T-van into a nearby garage.

"No, I mean how fast those Foot Soldiers high-tailed it outta there when they saw that armored van was empty the whole time. Did you see the look on Karai's face?" Mikey tried his best to mimic her - gaping mouth and googly eyes.

"I know Leo sure did." Raph's mouth twitched in a half grin as he slammed the van's door shut. "I saw him having a little staring contest right before they hauled ass out of there empty handed." He pried the nearby manhole cover open with his sai and gestured his brother to enter first.

"You have quite an imagination." Leo told him - but his eyes told a different story just before he jumped into the sewer beneath them.

Raph noticed. "Yeah right, imagining," He snorted to himself, then yelled down the manhole, "Remind me never to take you to Vegas - your bluffing stinks worse than this sewer!"