Slowly Donatello rose from his computer chair. He cracked his neck and stretched his spine; he hadn't moved from his chair in over 10 hours, not even to go to the bathroom or refill his depressingly empty coffee mug. Six years ago his brothers would have come in and literally dragged him out after 4 hours, but not anymore. Things had changed.
He walked sluggishly over to the bathroom. Everything was dark. He'd actually gotten quite used to it, and couldn't remember the last time he'd seen daylight, or even turned on the lights for that matter. All he really needed was the light of his computer.
After relieving himself, he walked into his kitchen. It was a tiny room, large enough to hold only a sink, a fridge, a microwave, a coffee pot, and a single counter space. There was no stove or dishwasher, those things weren't necessary.
Exhausted, he popped yet another frozen dinner into the microwave. There was no need for coffee tonight, he was going straight to bed afterwards.
Once the dinner was done heating, he plopped himself lazily back at his desk. There really was no other place to relax in "The Cave." That's what Mikey had named it when Don first moved in, because it was literally built out of a natural chasm underground, off of a sewage way underneath Washington DC. It was about the size of a large apartment, but when you added in all the tech equipment, it was severely lessened in living space.
Mikey, of course, had never been there, but Don had sent him pictures via email. After the death of their Master four years ago, Mikey had vowed to never leave the lair. As time went by, Don had started noticing how firmly Mike had chosen to stick to his vow. Although, if things had gone differently, they'd all still be living at home in New York City.
Don leaned his head back in his chair as he relived those happy days of being at home with his brothers. Visions of training and laughing and having a constant source of comfort danced in his head. Slowly, he drifted off to sleep, his mind clinging to what used to be, and simpler times.
Mike felt something light land on his chest. He jumped slightly, only to realize that it was just Sparks, another one of the cats he had padding around the place. She was also one of the older, pregnant cats, making her one of Mikey's favorites.
"Hey sweetie, what time is it?" He glanced at the clock on the TV. "Wow, slept another 16 hours, again. I really need an alarm clock." He slowly stood, leaving the chubby cat on the couch, and walked over to the kitchen. Glancing in the fridge, he pulled out a soda. and plopped himself down at the table.
"Who am I kidding," he said, head in one hand. "There's no need for an alarm clock, there's nothing to do." He took another swig of his soda and decided that the couch was a much comfier place to sit. With an luck he would fall back asleep again.
Turning on the TV, he automatically switched to the news to see what sort of havoc the country had thrown itself into this time.
"In recent News, the Prime Ruler has started calling upon the youth, in preparation for the upcoming strike against France. Children ages 12 and up are being dragged from their campuses, some hands in chains. Many are unwilling to participate, as if being ripped from their parents wasn't enough. Others, especially the younger generations, who were separated from their families at a much younger age, are eager to begin this transition. Serving in the Prime Rulers army is the greatest honor that these young ones now get to experience first hand."
Mike rolled his eyes and gave a disgusted sneer.
"For our local news this evening, three second level girls have gone missing. All are under the age of ten. One of their teaching officers stated that he last saw them at 8:30 last night, leaving from their last schooling session of the evening, and were on their way to the dining hall. No one has seen them since. If these females are spotted, please call the local Detection Agency immediately, so that we can get them back on track."
Mike turned off the TV instantly. There was only so much of the news he could take each day without wanting to vomit.
The government had gone berserk only 6 years ago, and already the world changed. Only France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, England, and all of Australia had managed to remain out of the Prime Rulers grasp. America and Japan had gone first, followed soon after by the whole of Africa. The Head Mistress saw to it that Africa was given the highest of technology and artillery, and together, the two countries and entire continent took down all of Asia. Most every other country fell soon after that.
Only a month later, the Utroms were exposed to the humans when they came down from their home-world in an attempt to stop the Prime Ruler. He, however, was able to persuade the human life forms that these creatures were here for an invasion of the earth, which was quite how it appeared. In fear, the now growing empire of the Prime Ruler took its attacks up against the Utroms, and destroyed the majority of their ships, forcing them into retreat. They haven't visited since.
Mikey sighed and leaned his head back. The Shredder had assassinated their governments, taken over the world, the free and controlled countries are at war, children are separated from their families at birth and sent into battle at age 12, and the world was fully aware of alien life forms. Not only that, they had also unknowingly destroyed all hope of getting help from said alien life forms. All Hell had literally broken loose, and there was nothing anyone could do about it!
With thoughts of the good-old-days surrounded by his brothers and beloved father bouncing around in his head, he fell into yet another nightmare-plagued sleep.
